Part 11
The fight of course, was a complete disaster, Alina cradled several vicious injuries. Tala's wolf had done most of the damage to the Night People, but they'd come out in the end Wild Power-less.
They sat in the Daybreak mansion with the rest of the Wild Powers and the recent soulmate couples.
"You lost the Wild Power?" Rashel said bluntly.
Alina sighed. "It wasn't our fault," she said, annoyed.
"If you knew there was the possibility of the girl being a Wild Power you should have said something," Rashel snapped.
Alina just glared, irritated. Since when was Rashel in charge?
"We didn't notice there was anything particularly different about her," Tala snapped back at Rashel. "We saw the Night People were eyeing her and - "
"Well if they were suspicious of her, then you should have been too," Rashel snorted.
Alina and Venus exchanged glances. "In our school the Night People play a game with the humans," Tala explained. "They take the new or unpopular students, making them thing they're their friends, and then they kill them. We saw them eyeing Ivory and thought we might be able to save a life. Only then she turned out to be the Wild Power. We didn't know."
Rashel just glared at them. She opened her mouth but before she could speak, much to Alina's relief, Thierry cut in before she could.
"So we know who the final Wild Power is, but we don't know *where* she is." Thierry sighed with impatience.
"It wasn't our fault," Alina snapped for a second time.
"I'm not saying it was," Thierry said. "But what are we going to do?"
No one said anything. Alina didn't know what to do anymore than anyone else. They had to get Ivory back, that was pretty much a given. But the question was how, and no one had an answer.
Alina shuddered to think what would happen if the Night World Council convinced Ivory to join them.
"I hate to state the obvious here, but it seems like we have a deadlocked situation," Ash said with a sigh.
"Instead of stating the obvious, state something *helpful* for once," Thea snapped, rolling her eyes.
"Of course, for you that would be a stretch," Poppy said brightly.
Alina didn't understand how anyone could make jokes when the situation was so dire, but the atmosphere had lightened considerably.
"I suppose we would always contact a few spies and see what they cam come up with," Hannah said finally.
"I guess that's better than nothing," Rashel muttered. She kept glaring at Alina's group.
Alina just let it go. The loss hadn't been their fault directly.
"What have we got to lose?" Thea said
~Maybe everything~ Alina thought.
* * *
Part 12
Ivory stared at Sherry in disbelief. Sherry looked back at her rather blankly. Ivory sat back on the soft leather seats of the limo. She was really supposed to believe all this?
A secret society of witches, vampires, werewolves shapeshifters, all living amongst regular humans, joined together in a giant underground organisation?
It was just insane. This end of the world thing Sherry had been talking about was just some fantasy game they were all playing.
"You don't believe me," Sherry said bluntly.
Ivory laughed, the sound was hollow and strange, a laugh she didn't recognise. "No, I don't believe you." She looked around, wondering how to get out of this. She tugged on the door handle, but it was locked. "I want to go home."
"Not going to happen," Sherry said with a faint smile. "You don't even know where you are."
Ivory frowned, realising Sherry had a point. Great. So she was stuck with two lunatics who really seemed to believe they were vampires. ~This is all a dream,~ she told herself. ~I'll wake up in a few minutes and laugh at myself for being so stupid.~
Drake sighed heavily. "How else do you explain all of this then?" he asked calmly.
Ivory opened her mouth, then shut it. She thought back to the party, the scary people there, the aura of darkness surrounding them, the guy who had tried to bite her, the strange blue blast she done to save herself...
Alina had warned her to stay away from the party, she had told Ivory she'd be sorry if she went. Ivory cursed herself silently, wishing she had listened now.
But after thinking back...how else did she explain it?
The truth of Sherry's words were slowly starting to sink in. Ivory wasn't sure exactly how she was supposed to react. "It's true," she whispered. "Oh God, it's really, really true."
The end of the world was going to happen.
"Think of it as a new beginning," Sherry said as if reading Ivory's thoughts. "When we get rid of the humans or enslave them all, the Night People will be in charge."
Ivory frowned. "But what sort of Night People is a Wild Power?"
"We think you're a lost witch," Sherry told her.
Ivory looked at Drake, who wasn't saying much. He just sat there, a blank expression on his face. Ivory looked away. What was *his* problem?
The limo had come to a stop. "Now what?" Ivory asked.
* * *
Part 13
It was a dangerous job but someone had to do it. Night World had spies of their own hidden amongst daybreak, so why didn't Daybreak have their own spies?
Mace Redfern considered himself lucky that no one had been able to figure him out yet. He'd received word that somehow the Night People had managed to get hold of the final Wild Power. He wasn't really sure he believed it. But he had to be on the look out for her.
He was supposed to be meeting with some Daybreakers later. He didn't even know what the girl looked like, only knew that her name was Ivory Blessingway. That was all anyone seemed to know.
From the window he was looking out he watched a black limo pull up in front of the house. He watched as a girl with cherry-red hair got out, followed by a guy who looked like the essence of darkness. Mace scowled a little. They started heading in the direction of the mansion. The girl stopped, glanced back at the limo, then almost dragged a second girl out.
The second girl looked rather nervous and unhappy. The Wild Power, he guessed.
How the hell was he going to convince her he was one of the good guys?
* * *
The limo had finally stopped, but Ivory decided she didn't want to get out. She peered out the door at the huge dark and creepy mansion. ~How cliché~ she thought dryly.
She sat still while Sherry and Drake got out. They started heading for the mansion. She remained where she was, hoping they would just assume she was following, then once they were inside she could get out and just run.
But it was wishful thinking. Sherry stopped, seeing Ivory wasn't following. With a heavy sigh she stalked back to the limo, grabbed Ivory's arms and dragged her out. Ivory sighed with impatience. It looked like she was going whether she wanted to or not.
As she followed Sherry to the house, she caught a glimpse of a figure in one of the upstairs windows, a figure outlined by darkness, watching her. She shuddered and looked away.
No one knew where she was. How would anyone be able to come and rescue her? Chantal probably wouldn't have missed her yet. If Ivory didn't come home tonight then she would just assume Ivory had slept over after the party.
Her heart was beating wildly in her chest, making her feel sick with nerves. She wasn't sure how she felt about this whole end of the world thing. The present world didn't seem to like her very much. Maybe if people like her - Night People - took over and she helped - then things would be different.
Sherry knocked twice on a set of huge double doors and headed inside. Drake had been silent, standing behind Ivory, stone faced. Sherry gestured for Ivory to come forward. Ivory took a deep breath and headed into the room.
The room was spacious, decorated in dark coloured, twisted paintings on the walls, black candles dotted about the place, black leather furniture, a splash of red and silver thrown in every now and then.
Ivory's fear was fading at the horror-movie set up of this. It was starting to seem amusing.
Two people were behind the marble desk. A woman was sitting in a large black leather office chair, midnight hair cascading to her shoulders, smoky blue eyes in a face that could have belonged to a high fashion model inspecting Ivory.
The guy behind her was big and muscular, blond, face expressionless. He looked slightly Nordic. Ivory got the impression he wasn't someone you wanted to see mad.
The woman in the chair saw her looking. "Ignore Mace," she said dismissively. "He's my bodyguard. He only does what I tell him to." Her eyes twinkled.
Ivory got the joke, but she didn't feel like laughing anymore. Mace? Charming, she thought dryly.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Asfixia Redfern," the woman answered, inspecting her long black nails. "Head of the joint Council."
Ivory was surprised. The head of the Night World was a woman?
"Ever since we got rid of Hunter Redfern and his boring ancient ways, we girls have managed to take over," Asfixia was saying with a smile.
"Why should I join you?" Ivory asked, folding her arms. "What have you got to offer me?" She was impressed with how confident she sounded, when she really didn't have a clue what was going on.
Asfixia sat back in her chair. "How about your own enclave? Your own private town? Servants to boss about, vermin to torture, everything you could ever want."
Ivory wasn't so sure about vermin to torture. Who was vermin, anyway? She wondered if she wanted to know. But having her own town...people to control, no one to tease her for being weird...things done her way, or else...That did sound rather enticing.
"I'll think about it," she answered.
"Drake, why don't you take her to one of the rooms?"
Before Ivory could protest, Drake had taken her arm, fingers clenched above her sleeve. He led her to a room on the second floor and pushed her inside. He didn't say a word. Fine, Ivory thought. She heard a key turn in the lock. She sighed, sinking into a chair.
How was she going to get out of this?
* * *
Asfixia didn't trust the Wild Power girl. It was a gut reaction. She was a witch, and one who didn't know how to use her powers at that. She was the type who was more likely to give into Daybreak. She made a face.
But there was always ways of dealing with problems.
"You don' trust her, do you?" Sherry said, brining Asfixia back to reality.
"I think she might turn against us," Asfixia said with a frown.
"But you're planning on doing something about it," Drake said, coming back into the room.
Asfixia studied him. Drake was like most if the Redfern vampires she knew. Cold, cruel, did what he wanted for no one but himself. Plus, he was gorgeous.
But there was something *different* about him. Something had changed since the last time she'd seen him. From the outward appearance he didn't look any different. It was something about his manner. Only someone who knew him well would notice the difference.
"Yes, I do have a plan," she answered, fixing him with a stunning smile. "If she seems like she's going to betray us, kill her."
Drake remained silent. Sherry was smiling.
"That's not a problem, is it, Drake?" Asfixia asked, head tilted to one side.
Drake shook his dark head. "No problem."
Asfixia and Sherry exchanged glances.
Poor Drake, Asfixia thought. He was such a lousy liar when it counted.
* * *
Part 14
It was a risk, even now Asfixia had gone to bed. Mace slipped through the darkness of the mansion to meet the Daybreakers about the Wild Power. She didn't exactly seem too thrilled with the Night World, which should be a good thing.
Asfixia's snobby atmosphere was driving him insane. Maybe he should just kill her. That thought cheered him up slightly.
He found the small diner without much trouble. Three girls were sitting at a table. As it was so late and they were the only ones there, he guessed they were the Daybreakers.
"You must be Mace Redfern," a blonde girl said.
Mace nodded, studying the game. She was human? One girl had piercing amber eyes, and the third girl had long coppery hair.
"Alina Gould, Venus Mandrill, and Tala Acevado," the blonde girl - Alina said briefly. "Is she there?"
Mace nodded. "They brought her in earlier. She's somewhere on the second floor but I don't know where."
He wished he had more info for them. All he could tell them was Ivory Blessingway was at the Night World mansion.
"What about Sherry, Elle and Drake?" Tala asked him.
Mace scowled a little. "Sherry's still hanging around, I don't know what Elle's doing, and I don't give a damn about what Drake's doing. He just doesn't seem to care."
He watched the girls exchanging glances. He realised he probably sounded jealous, but wondered if he really cared.
"And Asfixia?" Venus asked.
Mace smiled faintly. "Believes I'm her good lieutenant."
Alina nodded. "Good. Keep it that way."
"What'd you want to do about the Wild Power?" he asked.
There was an uncomfortable silence. They didn't seem to have much of a plan for a rescue mission.
"Well for now just try and talk to her," Alina said finally. "Come back here in two days time, and if you haven't gotten anywhere we'll come up with something else."
Mace nodded and left the diner. Talk to the Wild Power. Should be easy enough...
* * *
Alina sat back in the uncomfy plastic seat of the all-night diner. She closed her eyes and sighed heavily.
"Do we trust him?" Tala asked. Her tone was doubtful.
"You don't trust him?" Venus asked.
Alina opened heavy lidded eyes. "Why not?"
Tala just shrugged uncomfortably. "I guess he just seems a little creepy."
Alina could understand that. She wouldn't like to be alone with Mace, even though he claimed to be Daybreak.
"He's Asfixia's bodyguard for one thing," Tala pointed out. Venus snorted. "Like he'd really give his life to protect Asfixia," she sneered.
Alina smiled faintly. Such a good decoy, a Daybreak spy bodyguard for head of the Night World. But she could understand why Tala was a little distrustful. Mace might not be all he seemed.
"Well we'll just have to wait and see what happens in two days," she said finally.
"And if he doesn't turn up?" Venus asked.
Alina didn't know.
* * *
The fight of course, was a complete disaster, Alina cradled several vicious injuries. Tala's wolf had done most of the damage to the Night People, but they'd come out in the end Wild Power-less.
They sat in the Daybreak mansion with the rest of the Wild Powers and the recent soulmate couples.
"You lost the Wild Power?" Rashel said bluntly.
Alina sighed. "It wasn't our fault," she said, annoyed.
"If you knew there was the possibility of the girl being a Wild Power you should have said something," Rashel snapped.
Alina just glared, irritated. Since when was Rashel in charge?
"We didn't notice there was anything particularly different about her," Tala snapped back at Rashel. "We saw the Night People were eyeing her and - "
"Well if they were suspicious of her, then you should have been too," Rashel snorted.
Alina and Venus exchanged glances. "In our school the Night People play a game with the humans," Tala explained. "They take the new or unpopular students, making them thing they're their friends, and then they kill them. We saw them eyeing Ivory and thought we might be able to save a life. Only then she turned out to be the Wild Power. We didn't know."
Rashel just glared at them. She opened her mouth but before she could speak, much to Alina's relief, Thierry cut in before she could.
"So we know who the final Wild Power is, but we don't know *where* she is." Thierry sighed with impatience.
"It wasn't our fault," Alina snapped for a second time.
"I'm not saying it was," Thierry said. "But what are we going to do?"
No one said anything. Alina didn't know what to do anymore than anyone else. They had to get Ivory back, that was pretty much a given. But the question was how, and no one had an answer.
Alina shuddered to think what would happen if the Night World Council convinced Ivory to join them.
"I hate to state the obvious here, but it seems like we have a deadlocked situation," Ash said with a sigh.
"Instead of stating the obvious, state something *helpful* for once," Thea snapped, rolling her eyes.
"Of course, for you that would be a stretch," Poppy said brightly.
Alina didn't understand how anyone could make jokes when the situation was so dire, but the atmosphere had lightened considerably.
"I suppose we would always contact a few spies and see what they cam come up with," Hannah said finally.
"I guess that's better than nothing," Rashel muttered. She kept glaring at Alina's group.
Alina just let it go. The loss hadn't been their fault directly.
"What have we got to lose?" Thea said
~Maybe everything~ Alina thought.
* * *
Part 12
Ivory stared at Sherry in disbelief. Sherry looked back at her rather blankly. Ivory sat back on the soft leather seats of the limo. She was really supposed to believe all this?
A secret society of witches, vampires, werewolves shapeshifters, all living amongst regular humans, joined together in a giant underground organisation?
It was just insane. This end of the world thing Sherry had been talking about was just some fantasy game they were all playing.
"You don't believe me," Sherry said bluntly.
Ivory laughed, the sound was hollow and strange, a laugh she didn't recognise. "No, I don't believe you." She looked around, wondering how to get out of this. She tugged on the door handle, but it was locked. "I want to go home."
"Not going to happen," Sherry said with a faint smile. "You don't even know where you are."
Ivory frowned, realising Sherry had a point. Great. So she was stuck with two lunatics who really seemed to believe they were vampires. ~This is all a dream,~ she told herself. ~I'll wake up in a few minutes and laugh at myself for being so stupid.~
Drake sighed heavily. "How else do you explain all of this then?" he asked calmly.
Ivory opened her mouth, then shut it. She thought back to the party, the scary people there, the aura of darkness surrounding them, the guy who had tried to bite her, the strange blue blast she done to save herself...
Alina had warned her to stay away from the party, she had told Ivory she'd be sorry if she went. Ivory cursed herself silently, wishing she had listened now.
But after thinking back...how else did she explain it?
The truth of Sherry's words were slowly starting to sink in. Ivory wasn't sure exactly how she was supposed to react. "It's true," she whispered. "Oh God, it's really, really true."
The end of the world was going to happen.
"Think of it as a new beginning," Sherry said as if reading Ivory's thoughts. "When we get rid of the humans or enslave them all, the Night People will be in charge."
Ivory frowned. "But what sort of Night People is a Wild Power?"
"We think you're a lost witch," Sherry told her.
Ivory looked at Drake, who wasn't saying much. He just sat there, a blank expression on his face. Ivory looked away. What was *his* problem?
The limo had come to a stop. "Now what?" Ivory asked.
* * *
Part 13
It was a dangerous job but someone had to do it. Night World had spies of their own hidden amongst daybreak, so why didn't Daybreak have their own spies?
Mace Redfern considered himself lucky that no one had been able to figure him out yet. He'd received word that somehow the Night People had managed to get hold of the final Wild Power. He wasn't really sure he believed it. But he had to be on the look out for her.
He was supposed to be meeting with some Daybreakers later. He didn't even know what the girl looked like, only knew that her name was Ivory Blessingway. That was all anyone seemed to know.
From the window he was looking out he watched a black limo pull up in front of the house. He watched as a girl with cherry-red hair got out, followed by a guy who looked like the essence of darkness. Mace scowled a little. They started heading in the direction of the mansion. The girl stopped, glanced back at the limo, then almost dragged a second girl out.
The second girl looked rather nervous and unhappy. The Wild Power, he guessed.
How the hell was he going to convince her he was one of the good guys?
* * *
The limo had finally stopped, but Ivory decided she didn't want to get out. She peered out the door at the huge dark and creepy mansion. ~How cliché~ she thought dryly.
She sat still while Sherry and Drake got out. They started heading for the mansion. She remained where she was, hoping they would just assume she was following, then once they were inside she could get out and just run.
But it was wishful thinking. Sherry stopped, seeing Ivory wasn't following. With a heavy sigh she stalked back to the limo, grabbed Ivory's arms and dragged her out. Ivory sighed with impatience. It looked like she was going whether she wanted to or not.
As she followed Sherry to the house, she caught a glimpse of a figure in one of the upstairs windows, a figure outlined by darkness, watching her. She shuddered and looked away.
No one knew where she was. How would anyone be able to come and rescue her? Chantal probably wouldn't have missed her yet. If Ivory didn't come home tonight then she would just assume Ivory had slept over after the party.
Her heart was beating wildly in her chest, making her feel sick with nerves. She wasn't sure how she felt about this whole end of the world thing. The present world didn't seem to like her very much. Maybe if people like her - Night People - took over and she helped - then things would be different.
Sherry knocked twice on a set of huge double doors and headed inside. Drake had been silent, standing behind Ivory, stone faced. Sherry gestured for Ivory to come forward. Ivory took a deep breath and headed into the room.
The room was spacious, decorated in dark coloured, twisted paintings on the walls, black candles dotted about the place, black leather furniture, a splash of red and silver thrown in every now and then.
Ivory's fear was fading at the horror-movie set up of this. It was starting to seem amusing.
Two people were behind the marble desk. A woman was sitting in a large black leather office chair, midnight hair cascading to her shoulders, smoky blue eyes in a face that could have belonged to a high fashion model inspecting Ivory.
The guy behind her was big and muscular, blond, face expressionless. He looked slightly Nordic. Ivory got the impression he wasn't someone you wanted to see mad.
The woman in the chair saw her looking. "Ignore Mace," she said dismissively. "He's my bodyguard. He only does what I tell him to." Her eyes twinkled.
Ivory got the joke, but she didn't feel like laughing anymore. Mace? Charming, she thought dryly.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"Asfixia Redfern," the woman answered, inspecting her long black nails. "Head of the joint Council."
Ivory was surprised. The head of the Night World was a woman?
"Ever since we got rid of Hunter Redfern and his boring ancient ways, we girls have managed to take over," Asfixia was saying with a smile.
"Why should I join you?" Ivory asked, folding her arms. "What have you got to offer me?" She was impressed with how confident she sounded, when she really didn't have a clue what was going on.
Asfixia sat back in her chair. "How about your own enclave? Your own private town? Servants to boss about, vermin to torture, everything you could ever want."
Ivory wasn't so sure about vermin to torture. Who was vermin, anyway? She wondered if she wanted to know. But having her own town...people to control, no one to tease her for being weird...things done her way, or else...That did sound rather enticing.
"I'll think about it," she answered.
"Drake, why don't you take her to one of the rooms?"
Before Ivory could protest, Drake had taken her arm, fingers clenched above her sleeve. He led her to a room on the second floor and pushed her inside. He didn't say a word. Fine, Ivory thought. She heard a key turn in the lock. She sighed, sinking into a chair.
How was she going to get out of this?
* * *
Asfixia didn't trust the Wild Power girl. It was a gut reaction. She was a witch, and one who didn't know how to use her powers at that. She was the type who was more likely to give into Daybreak. She made a face.
But there was always ways of dealing with problems.
"You don' trust her, do you?" Sherry said, brining Asfixia back to reality.
"I think she might turn against us," Asfixia said with a frown.
"But you're planning on doing something about it," Drake said, coming back into the room.
Asfixia studied him. Drake was like most if the Redfern vampires she knew. Cold, cruel, did what he wanted for no one but himself. Plus, he was gorgeous.
But there was something *different* about him. Something had changed since the last time she'd seen him. From the outward appearance he didn't look any different. It was something about his manner. Only someone who knew him well would notice the difference.
"Yes, I do have a plan," she answered, fixing him with a stunning smile. "If she seems like she's going to betray us, kill her."
Drake remained silent. Sherry was smiling.
"That's not a problem, is it, Drake?" Asfixia asked, head tilted to one side.
Drake shook his dark head. "No problem."
Asfixia and Sherry exchanged glances.
Poor Drake, Asfixia thought. He was such a lousy liar when it counted.
* * *
Part 14
It was a risk, even now Asfixia had gone to bed. Mace slipped through the darkness of the mansion to meet the Daybreakers about the Wild Power. She didn't exactly seem too thrilled with the Night World, which should be a good thing.
Asfixia's snobby atmosphere was driving him insane. Maybe he should just kill her. That thought cheered him up slightly.
He found the small diner without much trouble. Three girls were sitting at a table. As it was so late and they were the only ones there, he guessed they were the Daybreakers.
"You must be Mace Redfern," a blonde girl said.
Mace nodded, studying the game. She was human? One girl had piercing amber eyes, and the third girl had long coppery hair.
"Alina Gould, Venus Mandrill, and Tala Acevado," the blonde girl - Alina said briefly. "Is she there?"
Mace nodded. "They brought her in earlier. She's somewhere on the second floor but I don't know where."
He wished he had more info for them. All he could tell them was Ivory Blessingway was at the Night World mansion.
"What about Sherry, Elle and Drake?" Tala asked him.
Mace scowled a little. "Sherry's still hanging around, I don't know what Elle's doing, and I don't give a damn about what Drake's doing. He just doesn't seem to care."
He watched the girls exchanging glances. He realised he probably sounded jealous, but wondered if he really cared.
"And Asfixia?" Venus asked.
Mace smiled faintly. "Believes I'm her good lieutenant."
Alina nodded. "Good. Keep it that way."
"What'd you want to do about the Wild Power?" he asked.
There was an uncomfortable silence. They didn't seem to have much of a plan for a rescue mission.
"Well for now just try and talk to her," Alina said finally. "Come back here in two days time, and if you haven't gotten anywhere we'll come up with something else."
Mace nodded and left the diner. Talk to the Wild Power. Should be easy enough...
* * *
Alina sat back in the uncomfy plastic seat of the all-night diner. She closed her eyes and sighed heavily.
"Do we trust him?" Tala asked. Her tone was doubtful.
"You don't trust him?" Venus asked.
Alina opened heavy lidded eyes. "Why not?"
Tala just shrugged uncomfortably. "I guess he just seems a little creepy."
Alina could understand that. She wouldn't like to be alone with Mace, even though he claimed to be Daybreak.
"He's Asfixia's bodyguard for one thing," Tala pointed out. Venus snorted. "Like he'd really give his life to protect Asfixia," she sneered.
Alina smiled faintly. Such a good decoy, a Daybreak spy bodyguard for head of the Night World. But she could understand why Tala was a little distrustful. Mace might not be all he seemed.
"Well we'll just have to wait and see what happens in two days," she said finally.
"And if he doesn't turn up?" Venus asked.
Alina didn't know.
* * *