(Author's Note: Wow, I had a lot more reviews on that last chapter than usual. Probably had something to do with the fact that it's been two months since I updated. *sigh* Sorry about that. With the end of the school year and me graduating, I just plain didn't have time. Hopefully, it'll never go that long again.
Kay: Thanks, I'm glad you like it. I hope you keep reading it!
Mandy: If I told you what happened to Michael, it would ruin the story. lol. No, actually, I don't know for sure what happened to Michael (and I wouldn't tell you if I did. *wink*), although I suppose he's probably locked up in a cell somewhere too. And you're not supposed to know what's going on with Damian. That's the suspense (or so I hope). *grin*
Redaura: You'll know what happens soon enough. And sorry, can't answer any of your questions. I either don't know the answer, or I don't want to tell you the answer. hehe. And I'm typing away as I speak.
Orange: Well, hopefully Jenny will get to beat on both Troy and Hunter, because if she doesn't… Well, what kind of story is this anyway? ;-)
Baloo: Well, technically, your comment was on a different chapter, but if you happen to see this, thanks for the review. I'm glad you liked that line; it was one of my favorites. (And anyone else reading this, take my suggestion and read Baloo's FG story, The Resurrection! It's absolutely fantastic!)
Laney: Wow, that was a great review. Being compared to LJS herself makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Thanks a lot! It's always good to hear that, especially when I'm *trying* to write at least a little bit like her. Your review gave me a great ego boost (not that I needed it, hehe).
ECHSGoddess: Yours was only on the first chapter, but if you happen to see this, thanks!
Ice: I'm trying tow rite more, and I hope I don't let you down. Thanks for the review!
MysticalMirage: Wow, what great timing! You left the review right before I logged on to post this part. Guess you have to wait less than most, huh? lol. But really, thanks a lot for the review. It makes me feel good that you think so highly of my writing, because I'm really trying to do good. And sometimes I just don't know about myself. :-p As for your prediction about Damian… Well, like I told all the others, I just can't say. If I told you, I'd have to kill you. ;-) (j/k!)
Okay, I think that was it for reviews. Thanks you guys for reviewing, and for being so patient with me! I know two months is a long time to wait. I'll honestly try to keep it going a little faster, especially now that I'm graduated. )
*Chapter 26*
On the third day of Jenny's capture, something finally happened.
She had been in the corner of the room doing sit-ups, trying to keep her body going for when she could get out. That, and she had nothing else to do. She had been isolated for three days, day and night becoming one long period of nothing but food coming through a slot in the door. Thank God she had her watch; without it she wouldn't have any idea how long she'd been here. She'd spent the time trying not to think about Damian, because that only brought her pain she didn't need right now.
As she pulled herself up for another sit-up, the door opened. Jenny jumped to her feet, eyes wide. The door hadn't opened once since she'd been put here. The guard – not Damian; he hadn't been back since locking her in here – pushed someone inside and slammed the door quickly. He slid back the window and peered inside.
"Sorry, vermin. Your life of single blessedness has come to an end." He closed the window, chuckling at his cleverness.
"Bastard!" Jenny yelled after him, even though he probably couldn't hear her. She had to get her digs in somehow.
She turned her attention to the figure lying sprawled on the floor.
"Raina!" she gasped and instinctively rushed to help her up. Raina pushed Jenny's arm away and stood, shaking red curls off her face. Her green eyes blazed with fury as she faced Jenny.
"Oh great," she moaned. "Not only am I kidnapped by a bunch of disgusting vampires, but now I'm stuck in here with you!" She glared at Jenny and dusted off the tight black pants she wore.
"Good to see you too, Raina," Jenny said sarcastically. Raina was not going to get to her, not in this place. She wouldn't let her. She refused.
Raina sneered but didn't say anything else. Instead, she scanned the small room. "Alright, isn't there a way out of this trash heap?" She went to the door and began pulling on it.
"Don't bother," Jenny sighed. "There's no way out. Trust me. I've had three days to find that out."
Raina scoffed. "Trust you? After you told us to help that vampire boy, who, by the way, is working for them. I know because I saw him."
Of course Raina would use that against her. But she's right, Jenny told herself. It is my fault about Damian. She opened her mouth to apologize, but Raina kept going.
"And besides, just because you couldn't find a way out doesn't mean I can't. I think I'll just see for myself."
Jenny sighed again. Halloween suddenly seemed too far away. "Have at it," she breathed and flopped down in the corner to watch.
Raina spent the next ten minutes examining every stone in the wall, every crack in the stone floor. She even looked down the small hole in the floor that passed for a toilet. Finally, she hunched her shoulders and leaned against the wall opposite Jenny, sulking.
Jenny smiled, watching her. "So, find anything?" she asked brightly.
Raina pointedly kept her back to her. After a moment of silence, she finally spoke. "Why are we here, anyway?"
"I have no clue." Jenny shook her head. "Nobody will tell me anything. You didn't hear anything, did you?"
Raina turned back to Jenny, rolling her eyes. "If I did, would I be asking you?"
"Oh, give it up, Raina!" Jenny snapped, suddenly angry. Raina closed her mouth, her eyes widening slightly. "I am not about to sit in here listening to you bitch and moan for the next 24 hours. I don't care if you like me or not, we're on the same side here. And if we're not careful, we're not getting out of here alive." She stood and walked over to Raina. "If you have a problem with that, let's take of it right now. If it will make you feel better to fight me, fine. As long as you shut up after that." She stopped and stared at Raina, her face inches from Raina's.
Green eyes narrowed at Jenny and something flashed behind them. "Maybe I do have a problem."
Jenny lifted her chin defiantly. "Then why don't you do something about it?"
"Don't tempt me, Jenny," Raina breathed. The two stared at each other for a minute, neither speaking. Jenny could practically feel the tension racing through the air between them. She almost hoped Raina would fight her. She'd been cooped up in this room for days, bored out of her mind, sick with worry for herself and the others. Fighting Raina offered a chance to work out some of the frustrations that had been building up inside Jenny. If she only knew why the hell they were here! Or if the others were still alive! For days, Jenny had been coming up with more and more questions, without a single answer.
Do it, Raina, something in her mind cried. And for a moment, it looked like Raina would take her on. Her eyes gleamed with the light Jenny usually saw when Raina was hunting. Then Raina sighed.
"This is ridiculous. Much as I'd like to beat you down, it wouldn't get us anywhere."
Jenny's jaw dropped. "Wow, Raina. I think that's the most sense I've ever heard you make."
Raina ignored her, pushing by her to drop down in the corner. "Doesn't mean I have to like it," she muttered. "Just stay out of my way, Jenny."
Not so easy to do in a small cramped room. Jenny hoped she wouldn't be forced to kill her anyway.
***********
As it turned out, Jenny didn't have to spend very much time with Raina. After only a few hours of tense silence hanging between the two, a guard came back. They both stood as he unlocked the door and came in the room. He stared at them a moment, a smug grin on his face. Jenny and Raina shared a glance – they really were on the same side now. Confusion flooded Jenny's mind. The guards hadn't come in before, except to bring in Raina.
"You," he finally said, pointing to Raina. "Come with me." He held up a pair of handcuffs and jingled them. Raina looked at Jenny, her green eyes wide in suspicion. Jenny shook her head slightly to let Raina know she didn't know what they were going to do.
"Where are you taking -"
The door slammed behind them, cutting off Jenny's question.
Odd. It was very odd. Jenny had been there for two days and not once had a guard come to take her somewhere. Why now? Why Raina?
To distract herself, she dropped to the floor to do pushups. She only had until tomorrow.
Tomorrow. It could very well be the last day of her life. The thought sobered her quickly. I might not live to be 18, she thought. She'd spent much of her life hunting and killing, but she'd never really thought about herself dying. Then again, dying while trying to rid the world of a bloodsucking leech was one thing; dying while a prisoner in this underground ... whatever it was... was something else entirely. She didn't want to die this way. She wanted to go down in flames of glory, a martyr for the cause of humanity!
Actually, screw that. She didn't want to die at all.
***********
The guard brought Raina back three hours later. The sound of the door slamming woke her from a sound sleep, and she sat up with a jerk. Raina stood in front of the closed doors, staring blankly at the opposite wall, one hand hovering at her throat.
"Raina?" Jenny mumbled, half wondering if she was still asleep. Slowly, Raina turned her eyes to meet Jenny's, and Jenny saw a tear slide down one cheek. She jumped to her feet, all animosity between them forgotten. "Raina, are you alright? What did they do?"
Raina blinked at the shiny wetness in her green eyes, forcing more tears to spill. She opened her mouth as if about to speak then shut it again. Silently, she reached up and pushed the hair from her right shoulder. Beneath the hair, two small wounds gleamed, deep and red, and Jenny gasped involuntarily.
"Who…" she began, but Raina shook her head and pushed past her. She tossed herself into the corner, drawing her knees up to her and resting her forehead on them. Her entire body trembled.
Jenny nodded. "Alright. We'll talk when you're ready."
Raina huddled in the corner for about twenty minutes, swaying back and forth slowly, her eyes squeezed shut. Jenny sat on the hard rock floor in the opposite corner, her eyelids growing heavy. Just as Jenny was about to doze off, Raina lifted her head.
"Jenny," she whispered. "I'm so scared."
Jenny got up and moved to sit by Raina. Raina looked a serious mess. Jenny had never seen her lose it this much. She had always had a facade of steel, which Jenny admitted she'd always admired despite not liking the girl. Raina had never let anyone see if she was scared or hurting – she worked hard at her ice-cold bitch image. Now, her red hair hung limply over tense shoulders, and her green eyes were open wide and shiny with tears.
Looking like that, Jenny had a hard time hating her. She wrapped an arm around Raina's shoulders and squeezed. "It's okay. You can tell me. What happened?"
Fresh tears spilled down Raina's cheeks, and her lower lip trembled. "I … They took me to see Troy."
Sympathy filled Jenny. She'd met Troy, and she knew how he could make you feel. After all, he'd almost broken Jenny's arm. "What did he want?"
Raina took a deep breath and turned to look at Jenny, sitting up straight and holding her chin high. She stared Jenny right in the eyes. "Me."
Jenny blinked. That wasn't the answer she had expected. "I'm sorry… What? He wants you?"
"They took me to this room, his room," Raina whispered, her eyes glazing over. "He said he wanted me to be his queen." She turned back to Jenny and grabbed her wrists. "He said he was going to be king, and he wanted me next to him."
Something clicked in Jenny's mind. "I am your lord… I will take what is mine. Death to anyone who gets in my way." Troy had said those very words to her in his 'office.' And now he wanted Raina to be his 'queen.'
"Oh my God," Jenny breathed, suddenly understanding. "He's not working for Hunter. He's going to try to take over!" She stood, every nerve in her body suddenly on fire. She couldn't let it happen. As if the Night World wasn't bad enough under Hunter and the Council. With Troy in charge… It would be like the 10,000 years of vampire rule all over again. The Night World would overrun the human world, no longer content to hide in the shadows. They would all die unless someone put a stop to it!
Raina, still sitting on the floor, coughed pointedly. Jenny shook herself out of her thoughts and looked down at Raina. "Oh, Raina, I'm so sorry. It's just… Don't you see? If Troy takes over, that's it for humans. We can't let that happen."
Realization filled Raina's face, the tears in her eyes drying with resolve, and she stood. "You're right."
"We need a plan," Jenny said, thinking aloud. "We need to somehow organize everyone who's here, to take him on as a group tomorrow. It's the only way."
"It's not the only way," Raina whispered. She turned to Jenny, her eyes widening. "I'm the one he wants. He said he wants me by my side tomorrow. I don't know why he wants me, but I can kill him."
Jenny stared at Raina. "You're willing to take that risk? You could be killed, Raina. Or worse, if you don't do it in time… He could change you."
Raina crossed her arms over her chest. "Well, that's a chance I'm willing to take."
Respect filled Jenny, and she nodded. She felt suddenly close to this girl she'd hated for so long. Raina might pretend to be spiteful and unlikable, but when it came down to it, she knew what had to be done and was willing to do it. Maybe she and Raina could actually put their differences aside and be friends.
The memory of Raina knocking Jenny flat on her back outside the apartment building in Chicago surfaced in Jenny's mind.
Then again, maybe not.