Jack bit his lip as he watched Kennedy and Kingsley circle Schuyler and Mimi. Kennedy was panting hard, her thin chest heaving with each breath, with Kingsley was shaking with rage as he glared at Mimi and Schuyler.

Kingsley lunged towards Mimi, but she didn't even flinch, and he pulled back without touching her. Kennedy hissed, her eyes wild, and for one second Jack thought she was going to attack Schuyler, but Kennedy stayed where she was, her eyes locked on Kingsley. She was afraid, Jack realized.

"You think you stand a chance against us, Half-Blood?" Kennedy taunted. She reached out and flicked Schuyler on the arm, but Schuyler barely spared her a glance. Schuyler's eyes were locked on Kingsley, who was standing in front of her.

"You think you stand a chance, Semael?" Mimi shot back, her smile sharp and mocking. "I know what Schuyler can do, and I know she can beat you. I trained her."

Jack yanked on his bonds in frustration, unsurprised when the chains didn't move. He reached out hard to Mimi with his mind, the equivalent of shouting in her face, but still she refused to respond. He didn't want to distract her, but he needed some answers. What had Mimi meant when she said she was the daughter of Gabrielle? Jack had thought she was bluffing, but then the jewel had responded to Kingsley's words. Was it possible? Was it true that Gabrielle was her—their—mother?

"You know Kingsley, you were so cute when you thought I actually had feelings for you," Mimi said, bringing Jack back to the brewing fight. Mimi laughed, but Jack could see her eyes were hard and flat as she watched Kingsley's every move.

Kingsley's lip curled into an angry snarl, but his voice was calm when he spoke. "You hurt my feelings, Mimi. But don't worry. I'm over it. I've always known you're a capricious little slut," he said viciously.

Jack's hands curled into fists, his muscles straining as he pulled against the chains. He'd had more than enough of Kingsley's degrading comments about Mimi.

If Mimi was similarly bothered, she didn't show it. "Well, I guess you wouldn't stay bothered for long, would you, Kingsley? I mean, no matter what you do you'll always have Semael waiting to throw herself at you. You've always been good at settling for sloppy seconds."

Kennedy shrieked, her hands like claws as she lunged for Mimi. Her hands tangled in Mimi's hair and yanked hard, snapping Mimi's head back. Jack gasped, but a second later Mimi ducked under Kennedy's grip and grabbed the other girl's arm, ducking low as she flipped Kennedy over her head.

"Sky, watch out!" Oliver yelled, and Jack turned to see Kingsley pull his switchblade out of his pocket. Schuyler danced back as Kingsley flipped the blade open and lunged for her, his movements lightning fast.

Mimi came darting up behind Kingsley and kicked him sharply in the back of his knee, causing him to stumble and almost fall. Kingsley turned to Mimi with a snarl as Schuyler turned and blocked the blow Kennedy was aiming at her face.

For a moment, Schuyler and Kennedy locked arms, Kennedy bearing down on the smaller girl, before Schuyler ducked and rolled away, springing to her feet a second later. Kennedy lunged for Schuyler again as Kingsley and Mimi feinted and parried, each striking and withdrawing but never landing a blow on each other.

Jack tugged again on his bonds, scowling when he heard a Silver Blood laughing behind him. Jack watched Kennedy knock Schuyler to the ground as Kingsley narrowly missed stabbing Mimi in the shoulder. Jack bit his lip so hard he felt blood well up in his mouth. He had to help them, but he had no chance of breaking the chains on his own, and Mimi had him locked out of her head.

Jack let out a slow breath, and though it went against every instinct, he closed his eyes, doing his best to block out the fight. From his old memories, Jack knew he had a knack for reading others' thoughts, but he hadn't had time to explore the skill in this lifetime. Now wasn't the time to try and teach himself, but Jack couldn't think of another option.

Reaching out with his mind, Jack found the familiar signature of Mimi's thoughts. Concentrating as hard as he could, Jack pushed Mimi away and reached out through the glom, seeking other minds.

-Azrael, knew we shouldn't trust her/Abaddon, betrayed us before, never faithful, if only Kingsley had listened, but he still wants her, hate/envy Azrael, Half-Blood stronger than I thought, too strong, need to escape—

Jack wrenched himself away from Kennedy's thoughts, his chest heaving as if he'd run a marathon. It was a horrible, sickening feeling, completely different from sensing Mimi's thoughts. Jack shuddered at the thought of doing it again, but he knew he had to try. He could hear Bliss and Oliver yelling out warnings and encouragement to the girls, and from their panicked tones Jack knew things weren't going well. Jack took a deep breath, then reached out again with his mind.

-watch Mimi's back, aah! my shoulder throb/pain don't think about it, Kingsley too strong, need help, have to protect OliverBlissJackDylan, watch out! Mimi bleeding, Kennedy's eyes, hatred/fear, I can't help her, need to keep fighting—

Schuyler!

Jack felt Schuyler physically jerk when she heard his voice in her head, and Jack winced when he felt her tumble to the ground under a blow from Kingsley's fist

Jack? What? In my head, how's that possible/what's going on, Jack help Mimi I need—

Schuyler, listen to me! Jack felt her flinch in shock and fear as he yelled at her, but Jack didn't have time to feel bad. Schuyler, you have to free me, Jack said, and he figured it could only help when some of his fear and anxiety leaked through. Get the keys from Kingsley and let me go. You and Mimi need my help!

Someone screamed, and Jack was ripped away from Schuyler's thoughts as his eyes snapped open. He turned to see Bliss staring in horror at the center of the altar. Kingsley had Mimi pinned to the ground, his knees holding her hips in place as he used one hand to hold her wrists over her head. In his free hand, Kingsley held his knife, the blade poised to plunge into Mimi's heart.

"No!" Jack yelled, knowing it was useless. Next to Kingsley, Kennedy laughed in triumph as she darted back and forth, blocking Schuyler from reaching Mimi.

Kingsley ran the knife teasingly down the front of Mimi's chest, cutting her shirt open to the navel. She strained against him, trying to break free, but Kingsley kept her arms pinned in place. He dragged the flat of the knife over Mimi's cheeks, smiling tenderly at her. "Shh, love, just shh," he said, and Jack's stomach curled.

Kingsley flicked the knife against the button of Mimi's jeans, the steel echoing against metal with a dull ping. "What was that you were saying about faking your feelings for me?" Kingsley asked. He leaned down and kissed Mimi's cheek, before raising his head and looking directly at Jack.

"What do you think, Jacky-boy? Should I take a little taste?"

Jack glared back, his whole body shaking with rage. "You—"

"NO!"

Jack and Kingsley both looked towards Kennedy, who had spun to glare at Kingsley. "You promised!" she yelled. "You swore to me you were done! You're supposed to want me! You're supposed to—"

Whatever else Kingsley was supposed to do, Jack never found out. Schuyler leapt forward, taking advantage of Kennedy's distraction, and wrapped the taller girl's long black hair around her hand. Schuyler yanked back hard, and Kennedy shrieked as she was thrown onto her back. Schuyler didn't pause, just leapt over the other girl and threw herself onto Kingsley, wrenching him away from Mimi.

Jack gasped as Kingsley's knife grazed Mimi's face, but the blade only left a shallow cut as Kingsley swung his arm up, trying to dislodge Schuyler. Schuyler wrapped both her arms tight around Kingsley's neck, her legs clinging to his hips as she squeezed.

Kingsley tumbled sideways, trying to dislodge Schuyler, and Mimi leapt to her feet, turning to throw Kennedy over her hip in the same move. Mimi's shirt was hanging open all the way to her navel, and after a second she shrugged it off, turning back to face Kennedy in just her jeans and black sports bra.

Mimi tossed back her head, her long blonde hair shimmering like a golden flag. She laughed, her eyes alight. "Come on, Semael," she said, tilting her head back and exposing her neck. "You know you want to."

Kennedy growled and lunged for Mimi, and Mimi laughed and danced easily out of the way. Jack's eyes narrowed as Kennedy continued to chase Mimi across the altar. He didn't think Kennedy realized, but Mimi was drawing closer and closer to the pillar where Oliver and Bliss were tied.

"Get OFF of me, you freak!" Kingsley twisted, trying to pull Schuyler off of his back. She kneed him hard in the side before dropping to the ground, panting for breath. Kingsley lunged for her, and before Schuyler could dodge, he grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her across the altar.

Jack gasped as Schuyler crashed to the ground a few feet in front of him. He opened his mouth to ask if she was okay, but then Schuyler pulled herself up and waved a hand towards him, clearly saying she was unhurt. Jack's eyes widened. He'd seen what was in Schuyler's hand.

"How dare you, you little abomination," Kingsley hissed, glaring at Schuyler as he advanced towards her. Schuyler's eyes widened and she scrambled to her feet. "I'm going to rip you limb from limb," Kingsley growled, his fangs bared as he stalked towards Schuyler.

Schuyler backed up until she almost collided with Jack, her eyes wide and pleading. "I'm sorry Kingsley!" she said. "I didn't mean to! I just didn't want you to take my mother's necklace. Please don't hurt me!"

"It's too late for that," Kingsley said. His eyes were narrowed to slits as he stalked Schuyler, his switchblade back in his hand.

"No!" Schuyler gasped. She spun and threw her arms around Jack's waist, reaching all the way around the pillar as she hugged him. "Don't let him hurt me, Jack, please!"

Jack felt Schuyler's hand lock with his behind his back, and then something cold and heavy fell into his palm. It took everything in Jack to keep from grinning in triumph. She'd done it. Schuyler had heard his message, and she'd listened. Jack twisted his bound hands, turning to fit the key into the lock.

Kingsley grabbed Schuyler's shoulders and yanked her away from Jack, and Jack fought to turn the key. He knew that Schuyler had been faking in order to get close enough to give him the key, but he also knew that Schuyler was no match for Kingsley, and the other boy would be enraged when he realized Schuyler had tricked him.

Schuyler raked her fingernails down Kingsley's face as he tried to wrap his hands around her neck, and he hissed and pulled back before slapping her sharply. He punched Schuyler hard in the stomach, driving her to the ground. Schuyler gasped in pain and scrambled back before straightening up and settling into a fighter's crouch.

Jack felt the shackles around his wrists snap open, and he pulled impatiently out of the chains before reaching down to free his feet. Behind him, he could hear the Silver Bloods growling, calling a warning to Kingsley, and Jack put the key in the lock and wrenched it open even as Kingsley spun towards him.

Jack yanked at the chains around his feet, struggling to free himself. Kingsley had shoved Schuyler aside and was coming for him, knife drawn and ready. Jack twisted back and almost tripped over the chains. Kingsley smiled in triumph, but before the knife plunged down Kingsley was seized from behind and thrown to the ground.

"It's about time you decided to help us," Mimi said, offering Jack her hand even as she turned and blocked the blow Kingsley aimed at her face.

"Ready for this?" Mimi asked, gesturing to where Kingsley and Kennedy where moving towards them, their faces masks of hatred.

Jack rolled his shoulders, feeling the blood Oliver had given him flowing hot through his veins, fueling his strength and rage. "More than ready."

Mimi smiled at him, his bloodlust reflected in her face. "Good. I'll take Kingsley, you—"

"No," Jack said, shifting to switch places with Mimi as Kingsley and Kennedy began to circle them. His eyes flickered to the bloody cut on Mimi's cheek. "He's mine."

Chapter title comes from a Dr. Who episode of the same name. Thanks to everyone who's stuck with the story this long—believe it or not, the entire thing is written (yes, really) and will be posted in increments over the next few weeks. And of course all kudos are due to my wonderful beta, SoloMoon.