"So, what did Eric say?" Selana inquired once Azazel returned.
"Don't worry, darling, he's gone. He won't be coming back, I guarantee it," Azazel said smoothly, smiling at her.
She didn't look satisfied. "But won't he just go after Kayla? And it doesn't seem right that he'd stop worrying about Kayla just to see where I was…that's not like him at all."
"I talked to him," he insisted, "He doesn't even know where Kayla is. They moved." But she still looked unconvinced and thoughtful, so he added, "Don't think about it, Selana. Eric's gone, and your friends are safe."
"I guess you're right," she said, but she was frowning. "But it doesn't add up."
"Like I said, don't worry about it. Anyways," he said with a smirk, "I know that you would rather be doing something else right now."
She smiled in reply as they started down the hall
Nick had been in numerous car chases before—this was nothing to him. He could easily get away from Kurt, Kevin, and Kenshin, but he had to lead them on for a while, at least, so Eric could get away with Kayla. But when he thought about it…Eric had never told him what to do after he got rid of Kurt, Kevin, and Kenshin. He hadn't even told him where he was taking Kayla…had he been tricked? Growing angry, Nick slowed down to the speed limit and pulled into the closest parking lot. If Eric were going to push him out of the picture, he'd just have to get back at him in the only way he could think of.
Kevin, Kurt, and Kenshin had all noticed that there was only one person in the car, but they weren't suspicious—Eric could have easily tied Kayla up and put her in the backseat, or in the trunk. It was when he slowed down that they started to suspect something. By the time they had parked next to him, they all knew it was Nick.
"Where is Kayla?" Kevin demanded instantly. He got out of the car and pulled Nick out of his, looking ready to kill him.
"I don't know," Nick answered truthfully, pushing Kevin away from him. But that wasn't good enough for Kevin. He punched Nick square in the jaw, sending him sprawling on the pavement.
"Kevin, stop!" Kurt shouted, holding Kevin back. "Let's hear what he has to say before we resort to violence."
"Thanks," Nick said, rubbing his jaw and standing up. "Like I said, I don't know where they are. Eric tricked me. I was the distraction, and he took Kayla without telling me where to go. I want to get back at him."
"I don't believe him!" Kevin growled, glaring daggers at Nick. "He's going to lead us into a trap, and then we'll never be able to save Kayla…"
"I believe him," Kenshin stated. "Eric would probably have a better plan than this, and Nick already said that he doesn't know where they are, so he can't lead us into any traps. I think we should trust him."
"You're siding with him? He's the b that beat Kayla! And you trust him?"
"I believe him, too," Kurt admitted. "And if we don't get his help, then we have no idea where to look for Kayla. Our only choice is to trust him."
"I can't believe this," Kevin muttered, rolling his eyes. "Am I the only one who's sane?"
Kenshin smiled at Kevin sympathetically. "I see where you're coming from," he started. "But if you want to help Kayla, first you've got to find out where she is. And we can't very well do that by ourselves, can we?"
Kevin's look shot daggers at Kenshin, but he took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. "So, where is she?"
Nick shook his head. "I told you already, I don't know. I don't know why I ever fell for Eric's lies in the first place."
Kurt shrugged. "You've got me there. But I know somebody who might know… We've got to go find Sel."
"What? While Eric has Kayla? We can't waste that kind of time!" spouted Kevin.
"But Sel knows Eric better than any of us. Maybe she knows where he'd take Kayla. And besides, we've got to make sure she's ok."
Nick looked a little confused. "Isn't Sel with you guys?"
Kurt sighed. "She went back to Azazel."
"Or maybe she just said she was going back to Azazel, but she was really going somewhere else. Ever thought of that?" asked Kevin.
Kurt laughed. "I read her plane ticket, Kev. She went to the Caribbean. And I'm going there, too. Anybody with me?"
"I am," volunteered Nick immediately.
Kevin sneered at Nick. "You can't be trusted."
"No, but if Kurt keeps a wary eye about himself, he'll be just fine," commented Kenshin.
"So you're not going with them?" asked Kevin.
Kenshin shook his head. "I have a duty to my employer," he said, a smile tugging at his lips. "Or at least, that's what I tell myself. In reality, it might be that I don't feel like returning to Hell anytime soon; a century was long enough for me. But we're wasting precious time here talking."
"You're right," said Kurt. "Nick, let's go."
Kevin and Kenshin watched Nick and Kurt drive off. "So," said Kenshin. "What do we do now?"
Kevin sighed. "First, we've got to get back to the beach house. I don't know how long this'll take, and although I want to start looking for Kayla right away, we shouldn't leave unprepared. Besides, I need to get my laptop."
Kayla, sitting at the end of the bed, looked up when Eric walked in. "I was hoping you'd do what you did last time…and stay away until night."
Eric smiled as he walked over to sit down next to her. "Wouldn't that have been boring?" he asked, putting his arm around her shoulders.
Kayla shrugged but didn't pull away—what was the point? "Yes, but I'm sure I could've found something to do."
"Like escaping? No, I don't think so, my love." He kissed her on the cheek as a knock sounded on the door. "Ah. That would be breakfast." He left her to open the door and usher in a servant laden with two trays of food. She set them on a table in the corner and left hurriedly, but Kayla didn't move. "Aren't you hungry?" asked Eric.
"Not really," is what came out of her mouth, but her stomach protested very loudly. "Well…maybe a little…" She sat down at the table and dished up as Eric did the same, but stopped just before taking her first bite. "It's not drugged, is it?"
Eric laughed. "Of course not! I like you as you are. That was just to make coming here easier."
"Speaking of which, where are we?" asked Kayla.
"I knew it," said Eric. "I knew you were just pretending to cooperate. You really think you can lull me into a false sense of security, do you?"
Kayla laughed weakly. "I hoped. But…there's no reason to be fighting against you; it won't accomplish anything. I'll just have to wait for my friends to find me, and they'll give you your just desserts."
"I'm sure," commented Eric, smiling. "But am I to understand that you intend to be agreeable towards me until then?" Kayla nodded silently, and his smiled widened. "Good. I'm sure this can't last forever, but when your friends come to kill me, I will die a happy man. How does it feel to know you've fulfilled a dying man's last request?"
"Sickening," said Kayla truthfully.
"You know," Nick said to Kurt after they got on the plane, "I'm going to love getting back at Eric, but I still would like some sort of payment for my help."
"I knew it," Kurt replied, rolling his eyes. "What do you want? Money? Sel and Kayla have plenty of that."
Nick grinned. "I was thinking more along the lines of some time with Selana."
"No way," Kurt answered instantly, glaring at Nick.
"An answer that fast? It should be Sel's decision, anyway, not yours. And last I heard you liked Kayla. Why the sudden change of heart?"
"I don't have to answer that," Kurt said stiffly.
Nick laughed. "I bet you want her for the same reason I want her. And if that's the case, then you're making the right choice. She's great in bed. Kayla just…doesn't get me in the mood. That's why I hit her."
Kurt was clenching his fists, trying to stop himself from decking Nick in front of so many people. "I don't want Selana for sex," he said through gritted teeth, "She's been used for that too much. By you, Kevin, Azazel…"
"All right," Nick said, still smirking. "We'll see who she decides. The sensitive guy, or the one who can pleasure her."
Several days passed. Eric, as before, brought Kayla books to read, games to play, etc. to keep her from dying of boredom, but she was staring off into space when Azazel entered her room. "Hello, Kayla."
She nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of his voice. "What are you doing here? Why aren't you with Sel?"
Azazel smiled as he locked the door behind him. "Well, I heard that Eric had gotten a hold of you, and I came to visit. Is that so bad?"
Kayla didn't look convinced. "How did you get out of Hell?" she asked, watching him warily as he crossed the room toward her.
He shrugged and smiled. "That's my little secret. Don't worry about Sel; she's safely awaiting my return to her. Isn't Eric around?"
"I think you know very well that he's not here. Isn't Sel enough for you?"
"Yes, she's more than enough. It's just that I can't help but notice what a large male following you've got, and I wonder why…" He reached out a hand to touch her, but she slapped it away.
"Don't touch me. I have enough trouble with Eric; I don't need the Devil to worry about, too," she said viciously.
Azazel grinned. "You're strong-willed, for one thing, and definitely not a bad looker. I wonder what else there is to you…"
Of course, by the time Eric returned, Azazel was long gone.
"Have you got anything yet?" asked Kenshin, his patience running thin. He and Kevin had been sitting in the beach house doing seemingly nothing for the past few days—Kevin claimed he was searching the Internet for information about where Eric might've gone. Kenshin didn't think he could stand this much longer; he couldn't help but think about what Kayla must be going through.
"Almost," said Kevin for what must've been the eleventh time that day. Kenshin sighed and went back to the TV, flicking through the channels like a robot. There was, as usual, nothing of interest on, not that he planned on actually watching anything. He had to find something to do…
"Hey! Watch it!" yelled Kevin as Kenshin's sword whizzed through the air just over Kevin's head.
Kenshin smiled, settling into a defensive stance. "If I'd wanted to kill you, I would've done it long ago. Don't worry, you're perfectly safe."
"I don't feel safe," muttered Kevin as he watched Kenshin move through various stances and steps, fighting an imaginary opponent. Kenshin moved with the grace of a cat, the speed of a serpent striking and then pulling itself back in, and the gleam of bloodlust in his eyes. Shaking his head, Kevin forced himself back to work. He had recently tapped into Eric's bank account; it was just a matter of time until he found Eric's transactions, including the purchase of plane tickets, gas for his car, or whatever other means of transportation he'd used.
"I've got it!" he shouted suddenly a few minutes later. Kenshin was so startled by this outburst that he nearly fell over.
"Got what?" he asked, righting himself and sheathing his sword. The murderous gleam faded and was replaced by Kenshin's usual calm, innocent look.
"He took her to the Caribbean. How he would've gotten her on the plane with him, I don't know…He probably threatened her or something. But…Oh my gosh… You don't think he's working with Azazel, do you?"
"It would appear that he is. Can you contact Kurt and Nick?"
Nick and Kurt had been trying for days to get into Azazel's dimension, but to no avail. It didn't help that they couldn't seem to agree on anything, down to which hotel to stay in. With patience and tempers running thin, both of them were ready to give up, until one day when they saw Eric on La Isla Des Demona.
"Do you think we should follow him? He could lead us to Kayla," Nick said.
"You better not have known about this," Kurt said, glaring at Nick. "No, I think we should make him tell us what's going on…and then make him open the portal."
"Good enough for me," Nick answered, but Kurt had already teleported.
The next thing Eric knew, he was on the ground. Then Kurt grabbed his shirt and hoisted him to his feet. "What are you doing here?" he demanded.
Eric saw Nick coming towards them, and expected to see Kevin and Kenshin, too, but didn't. With only two of them, it might be easier to lie his way out. "I was checking up on Selana," he said quickly, but smoothly. "You see, I was supposed to deliver her to Azazel after I retrieved Kayla, but she was gone before I got the chance to get Kayla. I tried to find where she went, but couldn't. I came here to tell Azazel that I had no luck, but she was here. I was just going back to my darling Kayla when you attacked me."
"All right," Kurt said, and Eric smiled. They bought it. "You're coming with us, though."
"What? Don't we just need him to open the portal?" Nick asked, glaring at Eric.
"You're more of an idiot than I thought you were," Eric sneered. "If you let me go, I'd just go back to Kayla." This was working out better than he'd planned. Now he could get back to Kayla with the help of her friends. "I'll tell you where Selana is, and I'll stall Azazel. I know for a fact that he's not with her right now. Then you can leave without having to worry about him."
Selana had just finished getting dressed when the door burst open. She turned around, expecting it to be Azazel, and was thoroughly surprised to see Kurt and Nick. "What are you doing here?"
"We're leaving," Kurt said quickly. "I said I'd come to get you."
"I thought you forgot," Selana said, looking confused. "Since Kayla's okay and everything. What's Nick doing with you?"
Kurt quickly explained everything, while Nick added in his two cents when he thought it was necessary. After hearing everything, Selana sat down on the bed and buried her face in her hands.
"I feel so stupid! I never should have believed what Azazel said. I knew something wasn't right," Selana groaned.
"You can pity yourself later, Sel," Nick said. "We have to go now."
"No! We can't leave now. Azazel will be back any second!" Selana said, looking up at them worriedly.
"That's why we have to leave now. So he doesn't catch us," Nick insisted.
"You don't get it! He's probably coming down the hall right now…you have to hide!"
"Hide? We don't have to, Sel. Eric's stalling for us," Kurt said.
She glared at him and said, "You trust Eric to do something like that? You have to hide. Get in the closet, now!" She jumped up and ushered them into the closet.
"How long do we have to stay in here?" Nick asked.
Selana shrugged. "Until he leaves or until he falls asleep. Now be quiet!" She shut the closet door just as the bedroom door opened.
"Hello, Kayla," said Eric, sauntering into her room. "It's good to see you're dressed. We're leaving." He took her by the arm and led her to the door.
"Where are we going?" she asked, unresisting.
"Somewhere else," muttered Eric, peering up and down the hall—a hall Kayla recognized.
"We were in Hell all along? I should've known!"
"There'll be enough time for discussion later. Hurry up." Eric led her to the portal, where they stepped out onto La Isla Des Demona. Kayla looked around hopefully, Eric warily, and then they continued on to the shore, where a boat was waiting.
"Uh oh…" muttered Eric, and before Kayla could cry out, he slapped a hand over her mouth and dragged her back into the jungle with him. "Don't make a sound," he hissed, showing her his gun. "Or I'll shoot. Understand?"
Kayla nodded wide-eyed, realizing that Eric could shoot both Kenshin and Kevin before they even knew he was there. She and Eric waited silently while her two would-be rescuers disembarked and headed straight to the crater/portal. A minute or two after they left, Eric dragged Kayla with him down to the boat, where they sailed to the next island and an airport. They were on a plane to South America before Sel's rescue was complete.
"Don't look so down," said Eric, watching Kayla stare wistfully out the window. "I can take care of you better than any of them could."
Kayla shook her head. "I know about your alliance with Azazel," she said abruptly.
Eric laughed. "It wouldn't have been hard to figure out once you realized where we were."
"No, I'd guessed at it before then. While you were gone, he came to me."
"He what?" said Eric in a low voice. "What did he say? What did he do?"
"What do you think he did?" asked Kayla, making eye contact with Eric.
"I knew I couldn't trust him," muttered Eric.
"You can't trust most criminals," replied Kayla sarcastically.
Eric, catching the hidden meaning in her words, leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. "You can trust me…"
Kayla didn't reply. She was staring out the window, searching for a silver lining on the clouds below.