Chapter 20: Ravenhill Confrontation
"Come in, sit down," Manny had made no move to go near her, but then he knew how uncomfortable that made her.
She knew he was just luring her into a false sense of security. Making her feel comfortable by not going near her or touching her.
Yet.
She chose the farthest seat from his and made sure she was facing him the entire time.
He sat down and waved his hand at the table in front of him.
"Tea? Coffee? I can get you some wine-"
"Stop it. And tell me what you want," Den wasn't about to start with all the nice bullshit, pretending to have a normal conversation with him.
She was going to listen to what he had to say.
"Straight to the point. I always liked that about you," he leant lazily on his hand and smirked at her, "I know you're worried about the pretty boy and his little humdrum family. It's strange, they're very...mysterious. I could only find out a few things about their businesses, but practically nothing about their personal lives. Almost as though they were protected."
Den did not speak. She kept her emotions in check and made sure to keep her face impassive. She wouldn't let him have ANYTHING to hang over her head.
Seeing as he wasn't to get a rise or information from her, he continued.
"I want a contract. I want you back, Den," his voice sounded like honey but it no longer had any power over her, "I want things back to the way they were before with you and I. If you come and live with me, you will want for nothing. You can even make up your pub and make it into a fancy restaurant. Do you see that paper there?"
Den looked down at the table where he gestured and sure enough, in front of her was a few pieces of paper she hadn't noticed before.
She picked them up and scanned the words on the top sheet.
"A simple, legally binding contract. You stay with me and never see Anders again. No harm will come to him."
Den felt sick, but Manny wasn't done.
"No more hitting. No violence. I'm sorry my temper got the best of me," he smiled at her and she had a feeling he wasn't sorry at all, "all you have to do is stay with me, in a willing relationship. What do you think, Ari? Want to give it another shot?"
Den was silent for the longest time and just stared at the words on the paper until they became a jumbled blur.
"What do I think?" She said quietly, her gaze slowly back over to look at him, "I think...you're still a fucking psycho. And as for your contract?"
She held the pieces of paper up in both hands and making sure she watched his face, pulled and tore them apart until they became two parts.
She then threw them to the sides, keeping her eyes on him.
His smirk hadn't even faltered.
"Your contract means fucking nothing. You will leave me and Anders alone and his family. We're getting married," her mouth began to run ahead of her, despite having never talked about this with Anders, "and we're going to have children and a life together. And you will stay away. Or I will kill you."
Manny actually laughed at her. He stood up slowly and laughed heartily.
"Oh, Zo."
"No. I was NEVER yours," Dru stood up when he slowly began to pace towards her, stepping hurriedly away to keep distance between them, "you don't own me. You never did and NEVER will!"
"Finally figured out what that means, yes?" He chuckled darkly and for a moment, she swore she saw something dark flash in his eyes, "I was wondering what took you so long."
Inside her head, Den was trying to remain calm. But then, she heard Dru's voice.
'Keep him away! Don't go near him! He's not what he seems! He's-he's from my time!'
Den froze in terror as she stared at Manny. He...he was there with them as well?!
But then...who was he? Had he been a friend or an enemy?!
As she stared into his eyes, she knew that there could only ever be one role he played.
Xx Anders xX
"Fuck! I should have checked on her!" Anders paced back and forth, his hands grabbing at his hair in frustration, "I thought she was acting strange, but-but I thought it was the party planning and the meetings stressing her out! Shit, where could she be?!"
"Have you tried ringing her again?" Axl stood behind the bar, wanting to pour himself another drink, but only to calm Anders down.
"She's turned it off. It goes straight to voicemail," he wanted to kick himself for not noticing her absence sooner.
"Anders, getting yourself worked up isn't going to help. Maybe she just needed some space from everything?" Mike offered but Anders just shook his head.
"No... Den would have said she needed time to herself. I know something's wrong," he gave his brother a desperate look, "I can feel it...so can Fili."
Everyone went silent again as they watched Anders walk over to Olaf and Ingrid. Olaf had instantly offered his second sight to see if he could tell where Den was.
"Do you see anything?" Anders looked down at Olaf, but his granddad just shook his head.
"Nah, mate. The way is blocked off," he opened his eyes again and looked genuinely concerned, "something strong and powerful isn't letting me see where she is."
"Can you keep trying? See if there's anything?"
"It might not work, Anders," Ingrid reached out and gently took the back of his hand in a comforting way, "we're not as strong as we once were. It might be sheer dumb luck before he gets anything."
"Dumb luck?" Anders had a sudden epiphany and turned quickly towards Mike. His elder brother just arched his brow as Anders practically bounded towards him and behind the bar. He quickly moved to the back wall and tore down the city map that had been put there.
Mike had originally pinned it up 'for show' for some of the locals and would make out of towners circle their favourite places in red pen.
He flattened it out in the bar in front of his brother and looked almost triumphant.
"Mike, we've done this before. It's really a game and I know you can win-"
"Anders," Mike held up his hands and shook his head, "you know it won't-"
"We have to try. I know you can do it!" Anders kept smoothing out the sides of the map, making sure everything was clear, "You clear your head and you just point. I bet you won't find her and you bet you can!"
"Anders," Mike placed his hands on his waist and gave his brother a pitying look, "it's not going to be any use. Even if I try, the chances are-"
"Mike," Anders suddenly stopped his brother talking by grabbing his shoulders and holding on, "I know. I know how desperate and unlikely it sounds and the chances are slim. But...but this is the only chance, Mike. Don't you see?"
Anders's fingers dug into his shoulders to the point it was almost painful, but Mike didn't care. He couldn't take his eyes off of his brother's face as the worry and desperation crept in.
"Please, Mike. We have to try...she's important to me. I-I love her."
Never in all his life had Mike heard his little brother say those words about anyone. He'd had numerous flings and messy relationships, but never had he fallen in love and if he even came close to affection, he never admitted it.
Mike knew he couldn't let him down. And he liked Den. She was good for him and he didn't want to think about her in trouble.
"Stand aside," he patted his brother on the arm and made him move away, "let me see if I can still do this."
As Mike shut his eyes, everyone sneakily crept a little closer, wanting to watch him.
It had been a couple of years since he'd done the trick and what usually only took him a couple of seconds, lasted a few minutes as he REALLY concentrated.
And then, he dropped his finger onto the map on a random street.
"There. I thought about and just let it flow and-Anders?"
When everyone looked about, Anders was gone. The only sign that he'd left was the front door gently swinging open.
Xx Den xX
Den now knew that Manny was not all that he seemed.
"Oh, Ari," he tutted, as if she was an idiot, "I've known about you for so long. Since the moment I met you, I knew who you were. You're special. But it's not Ari, is it? Or even Den? Sweet, little Dru."
'Get out! Get out, now!'
But Den could barely move, she was quivering with such fright.
"How do you know my name?" She whispered and backed farther away. They began a slow circle around the other, Manny stepping closer and closer to her.
She wanted to stay by the door, but she remembered how quick he could be. How no matter how fast she thought she was, he would always be there after her.
"You know me from another place," his voice purred and the words rolled over her like a wave or a thick blanket, "concentrate, Dru. You know exactly who I am, even though we never met."
Den could not keep her eyes open as another vision pulled her into the blackness.
The Hill. The Snowy peak amongst a battle. Her beloved slaughtered before her eyes.
And a pale, tall monster.
An Orc.
With one arm and scars upon his face.
Smirking gleefully at what he had just done.
Dru's eyes flickered open when she felt a pressure around her throat, but she could not move her body.
Yes. She did know who he was.
He had the same, gleeful smirk and cold, malicious eyes.
"Call me by my name," his hand stroked her, almost lovingly and his nails raked over her pulse.
"Azog," she managed to choke out, tears spilling down her face.
"Dru," he stepped closer and pressed his body against hers, "now it's about to get really fun."
And suddenly, the spell was broken. She could move again.
Xx Anders xX
Anders had never moved so quickly in his life.
He saw the name of the street and instantly ran out of the pub, not caring if anyone was following him or calling him to stop.
He had to get to her.
He jumped in his car and sped off, knowing exactly where he was going.
It didn't take him ten minutes to find the street, but...now he was here, he realised he didn't know WHERE she was. Could he run up and down the place, looking for the right building?
No, there were too many apartments. He couldn't even hazard a guess at what one she'd be in and some had more than 50 floors.
"Fuck," he pulled up and hit the steering wheel in frustration, "Den, where are you?"
He tried to think of a plan quickly, but nothing new came to him. Maybe he should have waited for Mike.
There was no one else that could help him now.
'Don't give up!' He heard Fili's voice loud and clear in his mind and suddenly, he knew he wasn't alone. And that Fili may be able to help.
"Fili...Dru is in danger," he tried to concentrate as he gripped the wheel in his hands, "we have to find her. I know I don't have powers like Mike or Olaf, but...I have you. I can't sense Den, but you can find Dru. Where is she? Come on, Fili!"
There was a moment of silence in Anders's car, the only sound being his heavy breathing.
And with his eyes still shut, he only saw darkness.
'This way.'
His eyes flickered open and he was very surprised by what he saw.
A small figure, clad in brown armour and foreign clothes stood to the side of his car. He had long blonde hair, a matching beard and braids in a strange fashion.
"So that's what I looked like," Anders said mostly to himself, forgetting for a moment the dire situation at hand.
When Fili suddenly began to walk off, Anders immediately hopped out of his car and followed.
No one else seemed to see him or if they did, they paid him no mind. And he didn't stop for anyone, just carried on.
He led him straight to an apartment complex and stopped, staring straight up.
"She's up there. The room is guarded. They're armed."
Anders followed his gaze and looked up at the large building. He figured Manny would own a place like this.
He already knew she was here and somehow had lured her out.
A strange, tingling sensation spread through his body and he looked back down.
"Did you feel that-Fili?" Anders turned about, looking for any sign of 'himself'.
'Let's not waste time. Remember your grandad's warning.'
He turned again to the building and stared at the door ahead of him.
Bright blue, with no numbers and not even a letterbox.
Only a name.
'Ravenhill.'
"Stay away from the blue door!"
"Jesus, Olaf. When you're right, you're right," Anders scratched his head and looked around. If the place was guarded as Fili said, then Olaf's prediction about going through the door may prove deadly.
He had to find another way up.
As discreetly as he could (or as discreetly as he thought he was being), he went around the edge of the building and found the fire escape.
Jumping up and grabbing the ladder took a few tries, but he managed to get it down and clamber up it.
He still had no idea what floor she was on when he clambered up, but then he really should not have doubted the way fate works.
Because as soon as he realised he didn't know, he heard the screams and shouts from the floor above.
Xx Den xX
Manny was leaning down to kiss her, but the spell was already broken. She could move again and with repulsion and disgust at having him so close, she lashed out.
"No!" She screamed and clawed at his face as she tried to get his grip off of her. But her fury spurred him on. His hand grabbed the back of her neck roughly and the other, the front of her shirt.
In one hard pull, he ripped it far enough to expose her bra and would have pulled it off of her body, had she not managed to disentangle herself and shove him away with one powerful push.
"I WILL NEVER BE YOURS! EVER!" She got enough distance between them and managed to get around him. She dashed to the door, not looking back at him.
Manny was laughing as he watched her.
He laughed and laughed as she reached the door and desperately tried to pull the handle. And then, when she began to slap the wood and call for help, he couldn't help but feel he'd planned everything well.
"Oh, Denny," he moved towards her again and she turned about, watching him cautiously, "you still are mine. I suppose I can give you something to make it better for you."
He reached into his trouser pocket and Den felt every fiber of her being spike in revulsion. The clear Ziploc bag.
The White powder in the bottom.
Just a pinch in a glass of water or even...forced down her throat.
"You stay away from me!" She hissed and thought quickly. She ran back around him and grabbed the bag she'd dropped on the floor. Picking it up, she reached inside, grabbed the handle, and held out the blade towards him.
For the first time, she had the element of surprise, and Manny's smug features faltered.
"YOU STAY AWAY FROM ME OR I WILL KILL YOU!" She screamed in anger and looked around her quickly for another exit.
"That's rather impressive. But dangerous," his eyes flashed with anger as he smiled 'sweetly', "you best put that down encase someone gets hurt."
Den was not listening.
She'd spotted a window behind her and keeping the knife up, moved quickly.
She tried to open the window, but not only was it shut tight, but one look told her she'd have no way down.
"I wouldn't jump, you'd break all those lovely bones of yours," he tilted his head and just observed her, loving the way she panicked and looked like a trapped rabbit, "and there's no point in screaming for help. Most of the buildings are mine and the people are on my payroll. They know all about my crazy parties. I make women scream on a regular basis."
A wave of nausea swept through Den, but she wasn't about to give up without a fight.
There was another window across the room.
She ran by him as fast as she could, keeping the knife held up.
She got to the window and looked down.
By chance, there was a fire escape. And a few steps below, there was a familiar figure. All clear, logical thoughts of escape flew for a moment at the sight of him.
"Anders!" Den cried out and banged on the glass, "Anders, I'm here-"
"Don't even think about it, you little bitch!"
A sharp pain spread through her head and she suddenly felt herself fly backward.
Manny had gotten her hair and tugged her backward with as much force as he could.
Her body flew through the air and she landed badly on her back, crying out at the impact.
The knife jumped out of her grasp and skittered across the floor, out of her reach.
She tried to keep her eyes open and will away the pain and the pull of darkness as she threatened to blackout.
"Your little boyfriend won't get far," Manny loomed over her, "my boys will take care of him."
Before she had a chance to get up or even scramble away, he fell to the floor and straddled her hips.
His hand shot out and gripped her around the throat as she tried to get free.
But Den was NOT going to give up without a fight.
When his other hand came out to backhand her across the face, it didn't even seem to quell her fight.
She reached out and clawed and slapped what skin she could reach and wriggled and squirmed about, making it as difficult for him as she could.
Even when he got the powder pouch out, she fought him so hard that he couldn't get it open and in the end, he had to give up with it.
But his hand moved from her throat and began to pull and tear at her clothes. This time, he tried to get his hands down her trousers.
But before he could, they were both distracted by a sudden crash and the sound of splintering wood.
Someone had broken down the door...
Xx Anders xX
Anders had heard the shouts from above and whilst he hadn't seen her, he could tell it was Den.
He knew he couldn't get in through that window though. He had nothing to break it with and he had no idea if Manny was trying to lure him out.
Luckily, the window below was open and as he clambered in, he looked around him.
No sign of anyone else.
Quietly, he found the stairwell and made his way up one flight, knowing that taking the lift would have been stupid.
Once he was on the floor he needed to be, he was a lot more cautious.
Quietly, he looked around the corner and peeked down the hallway. He hadn't been sure what door led to where, but it was pretty easy to guess where Manny and Den were.
A guard stood outside, watching down the hallway. Even from his position, Anders could hear Den's shouts and cries.
The man didn't even blanch.
He didn't have a plan, he felt his anger rise. And then he felt Fili's.
'Go. Fight!'
Anders had only been in a couple of fistfights in his life and a few tiffs with his brother's, but nothing like this.
But as Den's screams grew, he no longer cared if he 'could'.
He just turned the corner and walked straight on towards the guy.
"Where the fuck do you think you're going, mate?" The man let his hands fall to his sides and clenched and unclenched his fists.
Anders had hundreds of witty comebacks, but he felt filled with something he'd never experienced before.
Sudden flashes filled his head that he'd seen before. All the times Fili had run into battle, both alone and with his company.
He was strong.
Brave.
Everything that Anders had not been. But now was.
"I said, where the fuck-"
Anders cut the man off with a mean right hook, planting it firmly on his jaw.
The man fell to the side, but Anders was not surprised he didn't keel over completely.
Even his best wasn't QUITE good enough.
Still, it brought him some time.
Whilst the man was distracted, Anders brought his good leg up and kicked the man in the gut.
But he'd seen it coming. He grabbed Anders' thigh and brought him down with him.
In an awkward tumble of limbs, they landed punches and kicks, Anders surviving solely on Fili yelling instructions.
'Duck! Right! Kick! Get him, you beauty!'
They both managed to disentangle themselves from the floor, Anders gaining some distance.
He had a feeling the door was locked and as the guy stood up slowly, getting his composure, Anders knew there was only one way in now.
With all his force, he ran forward, tackled the guy around the waist, and kept going.
Barrelling them both straight into the wooden door.
They crashed through, the wood splintering and breaking around them as they landed on a heap on the floor.
Considering he'd taken the brunt of the attack, the man was out like a light as soon as his big noggin hit the floor.
Anders, winded, just rolled off and groaned in pain.
But the distraction had given Den a chance.
Manny looked away and loosened his grip around her and as soon as she saw his weak spot, she swiftly sat herself up and punched him in the nuts.
He fell away from her, clutching at his groin and she shoved him off and scrambled forward.
"Anders!" She managed to get herself up, running over to the two men.
She grabbed his head gently and helped him back up.
"Are you alright?" He groaned and tried to will away the aches in his body.
"I'm fine, are YOU alright?!" She helped him stand and looked him up and down, "You just broke through a door!"
"I know, I-" he stopped dead when he finally saw the state she was in. Her top was torn to expose her bra and her torso was covered in red welts. But her face...Manny had already given her a black eye.
"You fucking Bitch!"
They both turned, holding one another tightly as Manny got up and glared them both down.
"Den-"
"Anders, he's not what he seems!" She grasped his shirt and pulled frantically at him, "It's him! He's-he's Azog!"
"What?" Anders turned back, looking in disbelief at what she had just said.
"We need to go!" She tried to pull him towards the door, "Please, we have to leave, now!"
"Oh, she's telling the truth. But you and I both now, that's not the end. Right, Fili?"
Anders turned back and stared Manny down.
But this time, he could also see what he had not before.
It was like double vision.
He still saw Manny, but he also saw the large, pale Orc that had killed him. That had thrown him off the tower.
"If you walk out that door, I will have people torch your family's businesses down. One by one, their lives will be destroyed, until they have nothing. And then, you'll be BEGGING me to take you back," he smirked at Den, relishing in the fear even if she couldn't look him in the eye, "come on, babe. I-"
"She's not fucking staying. And neither am I. And you will NOT," Anders sneered and pointed a finger at him, "touch ANY of my family or hers! If I have to beat the shit out of you right now to get it into your thick skull, I fucking will!"
The display of bravado had not sat well with Manny. The first time Anders had done it in the park, he hadn't taken him seriously. But now, he was.
"Come on then, you little bitch. I killed you once, I'll happily do it again!"
Anders moved towards him but was stopped as Den held on tightly to his shirt.
"Anders, please. I can't-I can't let him hurt you again. Please," she whimpered, desperately wanting to run away from everything, "don't fight him."
"He'll hurt both of us and more if we walk away now," he pressed a quick kiss against her lips before turning back to Manny, "this ends today. He's not hurting the woman I love."
Den felt powerless as she finally let Anders' move away, letting his shirt slip from her fingers.
Anders walked straight up to Manny, nose to nose, and didn't even blink when Manny scoffed at him.
"Think you've got a big dick now? You can walk out that door and save yourself from all this hassle. I'll look after her," Manny winked at him and Anders wanted to spit in his face.
"If you think I'm leaving her here with you, you've got a-"
Anders couldn't even finish his threat.
Manny moved quickly and punched him HARD in his stomach. Winded, he would have fallen on the floor, but Manny grabbed him by the cuff of his shirt and forced him to stay standing.
"I warned you, you cunt," Manny brought back his hand and clenched his fist.
'Aim for the jam bags!'
Anders used his elbow and hit Manny in the one place he was always told never to hit another guy. But then, this dick deserved it.
Manny, already sensitive from Den's assault, cried out and keeled over, his hand gripping Anders to pull him down as well.
Like before with the guard, they ended up in a tangle of flying limbs on the floor, swapping punches and kicks.
Den looked on in horror. She wanted to help, she wanted to fly in and jump on Manny's back but she knew she'd be a hindrance if he got his hands on her. He'd use her against Anders'.
But fate had other plans.
The guard, having regained consciousness, stood up on unsteady legs and watched for a moment as he observed his boss getting attacked.
And then he pulled out his gun and aimed.
Before he could fire, however, Den, having grabbed the vase off of the table by the door, raised it high and brought it crashing down against the back of his head.
He groaned and fell down again, the gun falling out of his hand. She swept it away with her foot and seeing that it had only winded him, proceeded to kick him as hard as she could.
Whilst Den was distracted in trying to knock him out again, Anders and Manny rolled around the floor like wild dogs.
One would have the upper hand and then, with a quick hit or a swift kick, the tables would turn.
It all came to a head when Manny spotted the knife that Den had brought with her.
He turned about and reached for it, grasping the handle.
'Anders, watch it!'
Anders was just in time to grab Manny's wrist as the man aimed the blade straight for his chest.
He lay beneath him, struggling against the power. His focus was on the blade, even as Manny talked above him.
"Just give up now! I will spare your life this time! This world...it's so much more than what we had before," he grunted as Anders managed to overpower him, turning the blade away so it faced sideways, "just leave and let me have her!"
Finally, taking his eyes away from the knife, he looked into Manny's.
And whilst he knew it was Azog, he could also see...that Manny was very much human. He was cruel and evil, but he wasn't a monster...and he could be killed a lot easier.
"You will have nothing. In this world," Anders felt a surge of power move through him and knew that Fili was giving him what strength he could, "or the next!"
With great speed and strength that he had never possessed, Anders managed to turn Manny's wrist with the knife and pushed it forward.
The blade plunged into his chest and Manny gasped in shock and pain as it penetrated his heart.
He was alive for only three seconds more before the life vanished from his eyes and he fell against Anders.
Anders had never liked the sight of blood, so when he managed to roll Manny away and pulled the blade out, he recoiled when a fresh spurt exited from the open wound and landed on the front of his shirt.
He threw the blade away in disgust and turned about at the sound of Den's cry.
"Anders, look out!"
Den, who had been repeatedly kicking the man, had not weakened him enough. He'd finally had enough of her incessant kicking and with one quick knock against her, he swept her feet out and sent her crashing to the floor.
And when he saw Anders, throwing the knife aside and scrambling out from beneath his dead boss's body, he flew into a rage.
He reached forward and picked up the knife before hurriedly scrambling to his feet.
"You'll fucking pay for that!" He walked towards Anders, the knife held out.
Anders tried to scramble up quickly, but Den could see he wouldn't make it in time.
She had to stop it.
She had to help!
She looked about her and saw...the gun on the floor.
She picked it up, aimed it at the man's back, and without any hesitation, fired one shot.
The man grunted, stumbled.
And then fell onto his knees.
Anders watched as the man crashed down onto the floor in front of him, the life leaving him just as quickly as it had Manny's.
He was frozen in horror, but he looked away when Den let out a loud cry.
"Oh, God...oh, god, what have I done?!" The gun fell from her hands and she shook as sobs wracked her body, "Oh, God!"
Anders moved quickly to his feet and went straight to her, avoiding the bodies as best he could.
He fell to his knees and pulled her close against him.
"Den, come on," he managed to use what strength he had, ignoring the pain in his body as he struggled with her, "we have to go."
Den was a wreck.
She'd just killed a man.
All her senses had told her to protect Anders and now, a man was dead because of her.
'Den, move!' Dru's voice sounded in her head, 'Anders is right here, you need to do as he says!'
"Den, look at me. Please."
Finally, with tears still streaming down her face and unable to control her vocal cries, she looked at him.
"We need to go," he held her face and it felt like she was safe as he stared at her, "we need to leave. Please, come on!"
Unable to get out any words, she nodded and let him move her about.
Quickly, before he moved to the door, he picked up the discarded gun and did his best to wipe off both her own and his fingerprints. He then placed it beside Manny's body and went around the place.
"Your purse," he picked it up and held it against her, "that's it?"
She nodded again and he urged her out, finally leaving the apartment behind them.
He pulled off his jacket and wrapped it around her, shielding her naked torso from anyone who would see it.
Anders knew that they weren't out of the waters until he got her home. But he had her out of there and the farther they went, the safer it got for them.
But when they walked away in such a hurry, Anders had forgotten one thing.
He'd forgotten to wipe down the prints from the handle of the knife.
