Allo again! Okay sorry I haven't thanked you guys for reviewing, but I've just been so anxious to get the next part up for you. I'll do a special thingie at the end of this chapter (hope I remember by the end of this)
A/N Oh! And another thing, the title and what this story was originally about have nothing to do with this story. This was supposed to be light-hearted and fun, but since I've actually developed a plot, it's getting more dark and serious.
* The title was supposed to be Ah! The Trials and Tribulations of High School! Notice it was tribulations, NOT tibulations ( typo ), this has nothing to do with leg bones! Uhh, the tibula is in the leg , right?
Don't expect mush in here, 'cause this is Pre-Huntress,so Jez & Morgead aren't involved. But just to let you know, I'm currently working on another Jez/Morgead fic ( yes, another! Blame my muse, it won't shut up at 4 in the morning) that's Post-Huntress. Coming soon to a website near you!
Disclaimer: All characters except for Chester belong to L.J Smith. Plot is mine.
"How 'bout we throw him over there, in the corner where we can all keep an eye on him," Morgead suggested to Jez as they dragged Chester between the two of them into the dilapidated garden shed behind Val's father's equally dilapidated house. It wasn't that one of them couldn't carry the lifeless werewolf by themselves, just that seeing as how neither of them had a car, they'd had to walk to the rendezvous point; and it was somewhat easier they found, to spin some wild tale about their "friend" here having a bit too much to drink and getting into a brawl, than to have people question them as to why one of them was easily carrying a man the same size as them (or larger in Jez's case), in a fireman's carry.
Jez concurred, and quickly let her side of Chester's body flop insensibly to the floor. Morgead sighed and did the same, showing no concern as the 'wolves head hit the rotten timbers of the floor with a hollow thud. He straightened up and turned to regard the rest of the group who had gathered there as he had commanded nearly an hour before to wait for him and Jez. Pierce leaned casually against the back wall, somehow managing to retain an amused smirk on his aristocratic face throughout this whole ordeal. Val sat on a decomposing couch with the stuffing trying to escape from the upholstery in some particularly degraded areas. His arm was wrapped awkwardly, albeit comfortingly around Thistle's diminutive child-like frame. The sudden loss of her companion had hit her hard, as evidenced by her fetal position and the distant look in her violet eyes. Morgead sighed again. Jez was right; I need to start acting like a leader. That's what they need, someone strong to hold us together, so we can face whatever they throw at us. We need to protect ourselves, 'cause no one else sure as hell will.
" Okay, what do we know so far?" He questioned the dead silence. He waited a few heartbeats while gazing at Val and Thistle, hoping they'd shed some light on the situation, seeing as how they were the first ones on the scene. No answer was forthcoming though, so he sent a questioning look to his second in –command, Jez. She returned his glance with a slight shrug.
A wintry voice finally cut through the silence with an undertone of contempt and exasperation. " Val and Thistle were the first ones there, going to check up on her since she was absent, unusual behavior for her. Nobody at the Teen Shelter said they heard or saw anything unusual, but you know how they are; everything's always hectic over there, music blasting, people coming and going, no order or way to keep track of people. Not to mention they're smart enough not to rat on whoever took her, (or worse) especially if it's gang related."
"You'd make a good cop, or some mob boss' errand boy someday," Jez stated wryly, trying to lighten the grave atmosphere.
Morgead and Pierce ignored that comment as they continued with their conversation." What makes you think it was gang related?" He asked, beginning to trace a path throughout the debris scattering the length of the shed.
" I arrived soon after Val and Thistle, they called me over. There were definite signs of a struggle, broken furniture, some blood, which Thistle confirmed to be Raven's.It was most likely a group effort." Came Pierce's business –like response.
" It'd have to be a Night World gang. Maybe some rival vampires, or a wolf clan. If it was wolves, that might explain our buddy Chester here's sudden bout of courage to jump at our throats. I think he knows something." Morgead declared, and stalked over to the 'wolf, whose healing process was kicking in. "But what's their motive? We're not really a hard-core gang. Sure we've roughed up a few places and people, picked up some girls (us male members at least), just juvenile stuff. We haven't directly threatened any gang, hustler, or crime boss, Night World or human."
"Maybe that's just it. Little things here and there, just enough to show that we have potential, we could take over the territory." Pierce suggested.
" Which by the way, does not sound like a bad idea," proclaimed Jez with fervor. "It's about time someone ended the Santos' rule. It's pitiful seeing vampire, werewolf, and 'shifter gangs cowering in submission to some Hispanic vermin, who were lucky enough to escape the border guards and come here when there were still vampire hunters in the area." ( A/N No offense to Hispanic ppl, it's just the characters at this point in time do not like them. I have nothing against them!)
"And we were toddlers, and couldn't do nothing about it." Morgead added, taking up the call.
" Hear, hear. Only now, after about 20 years is the Night World getting strong again. There was barely anybody left after the hunters were finally weeded out" Pierce chuckled along with them.
" Wait, was the window open?" Jez inquired getting back on the subject. She went over to stand by Pierce with her arms crossed. Pierce delayed his answer, coping with the sudden change of subject.
"No, they went in and out the door, why?" Val answered for Pierce as he slowly came out of his trance.
" Well, then they most likely weren't Night Worlders. Raven's room was on the second floor. If they were nightworlders, they would've taken the easy route out the window, so there was no problem getting past pesky vermin, and they would have no trouble subduing Raven, carrying her out the window, and jumping two stories to the ground." Concluded Jez.
" They might've closed the window behind them." Val interjected.
Jez snorted, rolling her eyes, and sharing one of " those" looks with Morgead. "Please, they're not going to try to cover their tracks by closing the window behind them, when they already left enough evidence of an abduction in the room behind them. And I don't think it was a Night World gang who closed the window behind them, just to throw us off, and make us think it was humans. This wasn't well planned out, just a grab'n go operation."
"Like McDonalds." Snorted Val.
" Yeah, right." Morgead said with raised eyebrows. He turned to Jez. " But if it was humans, maybe a faction of the Santos, then how did they know how to subdue Raven. It would've taken about ten grown men to take her down, and like Pierce said, it was only a few people. And I don't think the vermin gangs have had enough skirmishes with the Night Worlders to know that they're different, or how to control… or kill them."
"Easy" Jez countered, her wide grin displaying her delight that she'd got one over him, " Someone, gave them that information, for personal gain, most likely." She turned to give a pointed glance in Chester's direction, who was finally coming to. "Him?" Morgead questioned incredulously.
"Why not, he's everybody's bitch. We all know that. He'd turn his own mother in to the Council if it were to his advantage." She responded as his explaining it to a daft person.
Morgead's anger smoldered with the spark that this realization kindled, and with the knowledge that Jez had figured it out before him. He was the leader, not her.. He advanced on the piteous figure that was Chester, vainly trying to clear its jumbled senses.
Chester's head wobbled precariously on its perch as he gaped at the menacing figure with bleary eyes. He opened his mouth to say something, perhaps in his defense, but Morgead's fist found its way to that mouth, silencing any hope of justification. Chester's head snapped back with a crack, and his eyes rolled wildly in his sockets. Morgead's fist pulled back for another round, but was sharply interceded by a slim, white hand. His emerald eyes snapped to amethyst ones framed by a veil of gossamer. He pulled guiltily away as Thistle said quietly with child-like simplicity; " We need him. He knows. He can help."
"Right" Morgead agreed shakily as he stood up. His gaze met Jez's as she smiled quickly at him, gloating over his loss of control.
" I think you should sit out for this one, " She articulated, coming over to crouch by the now whimpering form of Chester.
"By all means, the stage is yours." Morgead replied with a mocking bow and sardonic twist of his sensual lips.
Jez locked gazes with Chester, and began to stroke his head, like you would a child, or a small puppy. His breathing slowed as his eyes took on a glazed look.
You're safe now, we're not going to hurt you, okay Chester? She cooed to him telepathically. He nodded in response and smiled slightly. Such a little lamb, everybody's so mean to take advantage of you, they shouldn't do that, should they Chester. Jez continued as a statement, not a question. He nodded again as Jez moved his head to her lap, and his countenance took on a decidedly euphoric look (Morgead couldn't help but notice).
The rest of the gang gathered close, but was sure to leave some breathing room for Jez. Even Pierce huddled near, an envious appearance overtaking his features. Playing mind games on vermin was one thing, but to put the moves on a fellow NightWorlder was playing in a totally different ballpark. They all knew it took extreme power and concentration to pull that off.
They're bad people and you're better than them. But we're your friends; we're the same kind of people. You made a mistake, Chester, you helped the wrong people. We Night Worlders need to stick together, to put those vermin in their place, not to help them. But we can fix that. Yes, we'll fix it for you because we're your friends. Just tell us who did this to you, who took advantage of you, who did you tell how to hurt that poor girl, one of your own kind?
Chester's brow furrowed in a slight frown, " I told them she was different, that they needed to use wood. It was only a few guys. No one else knows."
Only a few guys, we can handle them. Probably a few of Santo's men trying to get in their boss' favor by bringing in a few hoodlums. Though Jez will have to put her ambitious dreams on hold, we don't want to cause too much trouble. Pierce's telepathic voice cut into Morgead's mind.
What do you get in return, Chester? Money? A nice little treat, preferably some live and tasty little morsel of a miscreant? Queried Jez gently.
" Protection ,power." Was his straightforward answer.
" This is getting us nowhere" Growled Morgead under his breath. "Patience is a virtue, Morgead." Jez replied quietly, out-loud.
Do you know where the girl is Chester?
" Th-They didn't tell me. But I followed them. Just in case, you know? Always good to have an extra chip to bargain with." He responded, sounding more like his usual self.
Where, Chester? Where is she? Jez insisted a little more harshly than she intended to.
" Ahh…" Chester blinked afew times, becoming more lucid. Jez's hands dug into his hair as she forcefully repeated her question.
He's coming out of it.Morgead said mentally to Jez.
I know that Dammit! She snapped back savagely.
" An warehouse, controlled by one of Santo's men, down by the docks." Chester finished in a rush. "H-Hey!" He cried sharply sitting up, and narrowly missing Jez's head. He swayed for a moment before he was pushed roughly back down by a multitude of hands.
"Address?" Morgead snarled, fangs bared and eyes ablaze with hellfire.
" Y-You can't do this! I have friends!" Chester howled struggling to be free.
" I have friends too, and one of them is hurt. You are going to tell me where she is." Morgead stated coldly, his face an expressionless mask.
"O-or what? Huh? You're gonna beat me into unconsciousness again? What's with you? You so insecure that you have to assert your dominance violently with everyone you meet?" Jez's eyebrows shot up nearly to her hairline at that last comment.
Morgead stood tense for a moment, back rigid and jaw clenched, before he drew a knife from his boot.
" What's the diagnosis doc? Is he up to another round?" Morgead asked directing his question at Jez.
" He's free to go."
" Good. Now this, my little furry friend, isn't silver, so it won't kill you, but it'll sure hurt like hell just the same as if it were silver. You might heal instantly, but that just means we get to have more quality time together, so we can get to know you, and you can get to know Old Yeller here better. Would you like that?" He asked, patting the knife. Chester made a snall noise in the back of his throat, but held strong. Gotta give him credit, Fido's showing some back-bone.
"That's what I thought." Said Morgead, leaning over with a now disturbingly eager grin.
The five vampires crowded over the struggling body like demonic hyenas eager with anticipation for the feeding. Feral howls and shrieks ripped the quiet of the night as steel flashed with the light of the impassive moon, watching with the cold silence of a scorned lover seeing her vengeance played out before her in all its glory, and the pungent aromas of blood and fear perfumed the air.
Errrrr.. .That was a bit too dramatic of an ending. Sorry, I get like that sometimes. Again I say that this story is getting much more serious than it was intended to. Oh, and all those grammar mistakes in the dialogue (telepathic and out-loud) I meant to do. Umm, I'd be very surprised if you understood any of the gang politics, I don't , and I wrote it. J
Okay, now with the thanks: Note, long reviews get long responses!( Not that I don't appreciate that you reviewed at all, it makes me sooo happy that you actually do, It's just that my creative juices are gone by now, gotta recharge)
First of all, thanks to Fay, who took the time to actually e-mail me. She now gets to read all the chapters before I post them. Luv'ya!
Leopardess: yes, this is ( obviously by now) before Huntress. I'm not going to end with Jez leaving, I'm gonna end before then.Glad you like it! J
Dreamdust: yeah, I kinda know what you mean. No offense to anybody else. I'm glad you think that I'm not one of those people. Wow!
Greeneyes: I'm trying to keep up that jealous part for you, I really am!
xSilverwingx: sorry about the absence of mush, but this is pre-huntress. I am going to put out a story with ( hopefully) enough mush for you ! J
clairekygal: Yeah, I was kinda thinking that too, so I went back and rewrote the last scene of the 2nd chapter. That was really bothering me. I have trouble translating what I'm thinking onto paper, so I often confuse people, and not portray something the way I wanted to. Thanks for the constructive criticism1 J
Jen: Just to let you know, I have all the bacon so the dogs obey only me! Hehe. I love your stories too, you gotta update more often too.
Lilol'me: Glad you like it! Er, sorry about another cliffhanger! I hope you liked the party!
ICE: I tried to make this chapter longer for you! Really, it's; 2,815 words! Yay!
Tamashii: Thanks! I really thought the characters were …well… out of character, but your review fixed that. J
Amy: I definitely agree with you, there are not enough J/M fics out there, that's why I started this. Maybe you can hop on the bandwagon, hmm?
Raven Mandril: I'm trying to update more often , I really am! It's only been a couple weeks since my last update, compared to the couple months between my previous posts! Hope you liked it!
Candika: Well, here's the next part for you! Enjoy! ( Wow I use a lot of exclamation points!)
DragonFire: No!No! Please don't sue! I'm broke enough as it isJ Glad you think it's tasty!
Galaktis: Ohh! It's cute , thank you. I'll try to keep the cuteness up.
Sporky: I'm writing, writing! Hehe.
Plkitten13: Oh you took the plunge, you were the first to review1 Thank you! Sorry I took so long to actually thank you. J
Fallen: Wicked, I like that! I hope you like it too!( The rest of the fic, that is) J
Okay, I'm done with the smiley faces , and the reviews.
Please review more!