Part 20

Susanna didn't know where she was running, she just knew she had to get away. They'd found her. She should gave known hiding from Tiegra would be impossible. And of course, Ethan would come wagging his tale behind her.

Some safe hiding place this was turning out to be. She should have killed Selene before she left. Then no one could have dragged any answers out of her.

*Now* what was she going to do? If Tiegra and Ethan could find her, then how long before Obsidian and her cronies came?

"Susanna? Are you okay?"

Susanna stooped running to see Shanna had caught up her, concerned. "No, I'm *not* okay," she said shakily.

"Was that girl one of the ones who - " Shanna trailed off.

Susanna shook her head. "No. Not at all. She was my - we were - " She broke off.

Shanna's eyebrows raised. "I get it. You two were involved?"

Susanna sniffled miserably and nodded. "I loved her," she whispered. She turned away, looking over all the students spread around the grass and the outside eating area. Everyone looked so normal. "I hate my life," she muttered.

"I hate to cut in on the bonding, but I think there might be a problem?"

Susanna and Shanna turned to see Carter behind them. His expression was as concerned as Shanna's. Susanna's eyes rolled. "Could this day get any worse?" She turned around to storm off, and stopped dead.

Two people who were practically screaming *vampire* were prowling amongst the students. Pierce and Morticia.

"From the look on your face I would say that's a *yes*," Carter said, taking her arm.

Susanna allowed him to pull her away. "I need to get out of here," she whispered.

Carter's eyes narrowed. "Let's go."

* * *











Morticia scowled, watching Carter and some redheaded girl leading Susanna away. "What's *he* doing?"

Pierce frowned. "Do we know him?"

Morticia nodded. "That's Carter Truman. He's one of Obsidian's spies."

Pierce raised an eyebrow. "Ah. I forgot."

Morticia glared at him. All these people trying to get their hands on Susanna - she and Faith were never going to get to complete their plan.

Pierce glanced over at her. "What?"

"Nothing." She turned away and headed off, deciding it wasn't a good thing for a pissed off vampire to be around so many people.

Pierce caught her arm. "You're up to something you're not telling me about Morticia."

Morticia just looked evenly back. "I don't - "

"And don't lie to me," Pierce said pleasantly. "You know I'll force the truth out of you one way or another."

Morticia didn't know where her self control not to slaughter him was coming from. She didn't understand how any of the others could put up with him either. Still, just because he knew didn't mean he she was going to let him stop her. "We're not planning on taking Susanna back to Obsidian," she said with a curl of her lips. "Faith and I are going to kill her."

"And when were you planning on letting the rest of in?"

Morticia just smiled. "You're not going to stop me." She yanked her arm free.

"Obsidian will just be pissed beyond belief," Pierce warned.

Morticia just shrugged. "No Susanna, no obsession. Faith and I can help her deal. Simple as that." She turned and walked away.

No Susanna, no more problems. That was the plan, at least.

* * *














Part 21

"I never wanted any of this," Susanna whispered. She was back in the house. Most of the group - noticeably minus Kathryn were sat around the table in the kitchen. Ethan and Tiegra had found her. Pierce and Morticia had found her.

She might as well consider herself as good as dead.

"Why don't you tell us the *whole* story," Bridget suggested. "Then we can figure out what do."

Susanna wasn't happy about it, but there was no other choice. So she told them everything. From finding her soulmate connection with Obsidian, Obsidian kidnapping her and changing her so they could be together forever, herself waking up, freaking and running.

"Who were the other two?" Carter asked.

Susanna frowned. "The redhead in the cafeteria was one of my lovers." With the vampire hunter group I was part of before."

Shanna frowned a little. "Two? I only saw the one in the cafeteria - her."

Carter tapped his fingers on the kitchen table. "There was this guy around, asking questions about Susanna. Tall, dark and creepy?"

"Ethan," Susanna said with a sigh. "My other lover." She watched the group exchange glances. "So I have an active sex life, so sue me." She sighed again. "Or I used to."

"They're here to..." Bridget left the question open for Susanna to finish.

"They're concerned for you," Shanna suggested. "If they love you."

Susanna looked away, not even wanting to think about that. It only made her feel bad that she had run off, unable to be with either of them.

"They won't understand," she said. "You *can't* let them find me."

There was an uncomfortable silence. Then Susanna noticed something strange. The whole group *wasn't* there.

"Where's Jack?"

* * *












Tiegra felt like screaming. "I feel so fucking useless! I hate not knowing what to do!" She was also tired of being stuck in Ethan's car, helpless and stupid.

"Susanna - or "Sarah" - probably will be avoiding school now," Ethan said thoughtfully, ignoring her. "But those new friends of hers will be around."

Tiegra stared at him, not sure how he could remain so calm and cool about this.

"So we find one of them, grab them, and interrogate them, get to Susanna before those Night World scum and take her home," Ethan went on.

"Stop the car," Tiegra ordered, spotting a tall lanky boy with stringy blond hair. He'd been in the cafeteria with Susanna at lunch.

Ethan stopped the car, frowning at her, annoyed. Tiegra got out and stopped in front of the boy. They boy stared at her, confused. Can I help you?"

"You were in the cafeteria with Susanna this afternoon," Tiegra said bluntly.

The boy studied her. "Who are you?"

"A friend of hers. I'm Tiegra. What's your name?"

"Jack."

Ethan appeared behind him, his hand on Jack's shoulder. "If you tell us how to find her, then we won't have to hurt you."

Jack turned. He didn't seem startled by Ethan or the least bit intimidated. In fact, he had the surprised, dreamy look that most *girls* got. "Wow," he breathed.

Tiegra's eyebrows raised a little. "Maybe there are *other* ways Ethan can get you to talk, huh, Jack?"

Ethan glared at her, and his eyes rolled. "Sorry pal, I'm spoken for."

Jack shrugged. "How come *all* the cute ones are taken?" Then his expression became serious. "What do you guys want with Susanna?"

Ethan folded his arms. "To take her home. And save her from the Night People who are stalking her, and incidentally, are most likely to kill the rest of you too."

Tiegra caught Jack's chin in her fingertips and turned him to look her in the eye. "Are you going to help us or not?"

* * *






Part 22

Kathryn scowled as she went thought her classes that day. She couldn't believe that that Susanna bitch was actually being *accepted*. After what she *was*. A killer. Hunted by both the Daybreakers and the Night World.

Her lip curled. In the Night World there was a reward out for Susanna's capture. Maybe that was something she could do. She didn't have to give them her name, just Susanna's and where she could be found.

If the rest of the group was going to betray her, then fuck them. Kathryn was sure the Night World would love to know where the hideout was. Providing, of course, there was something in it for her.

Later in the afternoon as she sat outside at lunch, two strangers were stalking amongst the students. Both dressed from head to toe in black. Both Night People.

Kathryn watched them, curious as to who they were looking for. She caught a scrap of their conversation, including the words "Susanna" and "kill her".

Kathryn decided it wouldn't be very hospitable if she didn't help the new people find what they were looking for. She stood up. "Hey," she called.

The girl turned and scowled at her. "What?"

"You're looking for Susanna Lomax? I know where she is," she said bluntly.

The raven-haired girl eyed her suspiciously. "Are you - ?"

"Yes." Kathryn smirked and nodded.

The guy with the ice cold amber eyes turned to study her. "Let's go somewhere more private."

He took her arm in a tight grip, leading her off campus to a sleek black car. A blonde girl was in the driver's seat. Kathryn was pushed in between the black haired girl and the guy.

"Have you guys got names?" she asked finally.

"Why don't we start with yours?" The guy suggested, smiling coldly.

"Kathryn Mandrill."

"Raven's sister?"

Kathryn scowled. "Don't even talk to me about that bitch."

The guy chuckled. "All right. I'm Pierce. That's Morticia. That's Glory."

"What's her deal?" Glory asked, smiling unpleasantly.

"Kathryn thinks she knows where Susanna is," Pierce said, his tone pleasant. There was a hidden sense of malice in his voice.
"How do you know it's Susanna Lomax were looking for?"

Kathryn shrugged. "Well, as far as I know, there's only one Susanna on the Night World's Ten Most Wanted. She's a vampire hunter, tall, blonde, thin? Made into a vampire recently?"

"It's her." Morticia's voice was laced with bitterness and hatred. She gripped Kathryn's throat and dragged her close. "Where is she?"

Kathryn met the smouldering dark eyes without flinching. "What's in it for me?"

Morticia let go, blinking in surprise. She clearly wasn't used to being questioned. Kathryn waited. She could give them what they wanted, if she got something worthwhile in return.

Pierce was frowning at her. "It depends what you want."

Kathryn paused. She had wanted to kill the bitch obviously there was no way Morticia was going to let her. "I get to torture her?"

Morticia actually smiled. "We might be able to work something out for that one."

Kathryn smirked. Finally, things were starting to go her way.

"Can we go get this over and done with now?" Glory asked impatiently.

"Take us to her," Morticia demanded.

Kathryn nodded.

* * *
Part 23

Susanna was becoming increasingly worried. She couldn't believe she hadn't noticed Jack was gone. If the Night People had seen her with her earlier and were hurting him...

If something had happened to Jack because of her she would never forgive herself. The others would probably never forgive her either.

"Calm down," Bridget said. "Jack can take care of himself."

"But there are people looking for me..." Susanna trailed off, shuddering.

She jumped up, pacing around the kitchen. She wished there was someone else with her who had been through this, who could reassure her that everything would work out.

But there was no one there. She had to figure out a way to deal with this herself. So far, she wasn't doing such a great job.

She heard the front door opening.

"Is Susanna there?" Jack's voice came in from the front hall.

Susanna felt relief rushing over her. Before she realised it she had run over to Jack and hugged him tightly. Jack was more surprised than she was.
"I missed you, too." He studied her. "Are you okay?"

Susanna let go, embarrassed heat flushing up her face as she stepped back. She saw Bridget and Shanna exchanging glances. "It's just...there's...something..." Susanna sighed. "It's a long story." She was about to sit down again when she noticed the strange expression on Carter's face.

"What?"

She followed his gaze to the two shadows beside Jack's own. She frowned. Jack met her eyes. "They said it was important to see you."

Susanna opened her mouth, but everything she wanted to say died on her tongue when Tiegra and Ethan stepped forward. She stared at them, and they stared back at her. Their expressions were carefully blank and controlled, all emotions well-guarded.

A heavy, tense silence hung in the air. No one seemed to know what to do next.

Then Ethan stepped forward, reaching out for her. "Susanna..." he began.

Susanna just stared at him, tears welling in her eyes. "I can't," she whispered. She pushed past Ethan and run up the stairs, shutting herself in her room.

*Now* what did she do?

* * *