A/N 1: As in the previous chapters – ideas for fic and character development, questions, plotbunnies, suggestions, flames, character pictures, corrections, additions, comments, and everything in between can be mailed to hack_heaven@usa.net
A/N 2: I do not encourage underage drinking. If nothing else, then because the hangovers are hell. Trust me on that (although you probably won't. In fact, you probably won't believe me until you experience your very first hangover. But that's okay – we all go through that at least once :P)
A/N 3: Yes, like most of the other new characters, Prue is going to be a semi-regular. Rina and Frank will show up again, too, but it will take a little longer. And trust me – we haven't heard the last from Erik, not by a long shot.
Also, I haven't forgotten about the loose ends regarding Ryan and Blade, and Diana's sudden dizziness. Don't worry, in a few chapters, Ryan is pretty much forced to tell the truth.
Italics indicates thoughts
* * *
Chapter Thirteen: Power Plays
* * *
Blade, Jordane, and Zach arrived at the motel shortly after noon. It was one of the more expensive ones, chosen because of its large rooms and fairly discreet location in the suburbs.
Blade checked in under an alias, and left the spare key to the room at the desk with the order to give it to 'some friends who'll be arriving later'. They had deliberately picked one of the few rooms big enough to house them all – it would be easier that way.
Zach opened the door and sighed at the sight of the big beds.
"Sleep," he mumbled and dropped his bag unceremoniously on the floor, before collapsing on the bed.
Jordane smirked, but quickly picked a bed of her own.
Behind them, Blade locked the door, and closed the curtains. The room wasn't completely dark, but it would be dark enough to sleep in. He kicked his bag under the large table, then looked around. Zach and Jordane were already half sleep, and it was dubious that Laetitia and the others would arrive anytime soon.
Blade kicked off his booths, then stretched out on one of the soft beds and fell into a dreamless sleep.
* * *
It was just starting to get dark outside when Jordane woke up. It took her a moment to realize where she was, then another to realize that neither Blade nor Zach were awake yet.
She shook her head to clear her mind a bit, then grabbed some clean clothes and stumbled into the bathroom. The large mirror above the sink caught her attention and she stopped. Despite her cocky attitude and apparent confidence Jordane had never cared much for mirrors – she never liked when she saw in them.
She ran a hand through her hair, and studied her reflection with a slightly bitter taste in her mouth. The electric blue hair dye had started to fade, and left a dusty bluish color behind. The green tips were a bit less faded, but they, too, needed to be dyed again.
The artificial light made the crisscross of small scars on Jordane's arms stand out more than usual, and she looked away. In her pocket lay her ever-present small knife, and its weight had a strangely comforting effect on her. For a moment Jordane felt tempted to pull it out...it could help her. It always did. It unleashed her pent-up emotions without hurting anyone else, and left her with a rare feeling of...if not tranquility, then at least indifference.
She wanted to, but...
The sound of movement in the main room alerted her to the fact that her teammates were awake.
Jordane sent the mirror one last hateful look, then quickly put on her clothes and walked out of the bathroom. As she entered the main room, Blade looked up. Jordane could feel his probing gaze linger on her arms, searching for any telltale red lines, but she forced herself to ignore it and continue to her bed.
Zach yawned and reluctantly got out of bed.
"Don't know 'bout you guys, but I need a night off," he said and put on some clean clothes. "There's gotta be a good club or something around here."
Jordane lit up at the prospect of a night out. It had been too long since she last had the chance to go on a pub-crawl (or clubbing in this case, since it was pretty stupid to pub-crawl in a town you didn't know).
She sent Blade a questioningly look. He frowned and slowly put on his clothes, while he considered their situation. It would probably be a while before the others showed up – a couple of hours, minimum – and this was a town where nobody would be able to recognize them.
He nodded slowly.
"Sure. Why not?"
Zach grinned and grabbed his jacket. Jordane smiled.
"Thanks."
Blade just nodded curtly and ran a hand through his hair. Zach wrote a quick note, then tossed the keys to Blade.
"Well, let's go. I can hear the Guinness calling."
* * *
The room was completely dark when Laetitia, Aaron, Hal, and Pheonix finally arrived. Laetitia turned on the lights and took a look around. Some bags were lying in the general vicinity of the table, and three of the beds showed clear signs of having been used. A piece of paper on the table caught Pheonix' attention, and she picked it up.
"'In town, will be back later'," she read.
"Without us? That's not nice," Hal complained, but didn't sound too upset. She was too tired to go out, anyway.
Laetitia shook her head.
"Leave your stuff somewhere, and let's get something to eat. Knowing them, it can take a while before they get back."
There was a general agreement as they dumped their bags on the floor and headed for the nearest fast-food joint.
* * *
The bar was actually rather cozy, despite of the fact that is was located in the more questionable part of town. After waving his fake ID card and scowling at the bartender, Zach quickly got his beer and left in search of some female entertainment.
Jordane took a quick look around, then settled down at the bar, chatting with one of the bartenders.
That left Blade alone to find a table in the corner and spend some much-needed time by himself. He wasn't social by nature, and he was in no mood for any drunk, female companions. One particular thickheaded woman started to move across the room, towards Blade's table, but a dark scowl made her change her mind.
Blade leaned back and took a drink of his glass of scotch.
It was nice to be able to relax a bit after the last few, hectic days. He needed time to recharge, to get a good night's sleep, just like his team did. They couldn't afford to be exhausted when they were on the run. Exhausted people made mistakes, and mistakes could get them killed.
Across the room, Zach was chatting with a young woman, and Blade smirked. Red hair, low-cut top, nice figure – the kid had taste.
Blade let his gaze wander across the room, until it finally settled on Jordane...who was no longer alone. Blade frowned. Next to her sat a man, slightly younger than Blade himself. Blond hair, a rather naive face, tight, blue sweater and light gray pants. Some bright orange drink with an umbrella in front of him.
Blade groaned mentally.
Fuck. What a wimp. That wasn't a man – that was an overgrown kid that had nothing to do in a bar like this.
The kid leaned closer to Jordane and whispered something. Jordane giggled, and Blade groaned again before taking another drink of scotch.
Melee, damnit, I though you had better taste than that, he thought and shook his head in disgust as the kid sent Jordane another childish grin.
The kid leaned closer and put his hand on Jordane's knee.
That did it. Blade downed the rest of his drink and stood up. The rational part of his mind told him that he had no right to get involved in Jordane's affairs, but as usual, he ignored it. He could have overlooked it if Jordane had been flirting with some human badass, but a human *wimp*?
That guy didn't deserve to live – his sole purpose in life was to waste perfectly good oxygen. If Blade had dragged him outside and beat him up, he would have been doing humanity – and mutanity – a favor.
He approached the bar and Jordane looked up.
"Blade?" she asked surprised.
The kid looked up as well and all color drained from his face. Blade could be *very* intimidating when he wanted to be, and right now was one of those times.
"Beat it," Blade snapped and motioned towards the door. "She's with me."
The kid looked like he wanted to protest, but his survival instincts took over and he quickly got up.
"Blade!" Jordane objected. "You have no right to do that!"
"You work for me," Blade replied coldly. "That's all the right I need."
He looked at the kid who was still standing nearby.
"Why are you still here? Move it, dick."
The young man quickly left, and Blade smirked slightly.
Jordane just sent him a look that would have made most other men run away screaming, then turned around and stalked out of the back entrance. Several people hurried out of her way - not bad for someone who was at least half a feet shorter than most of the other bar patrons. It was an obvious challenge, and not one Blade was going to turn down.
He cursed under his breath, then followed his wayward second in command.
* * *
The back entrance ended in a small alley that was only lit by the faint light of the neon-signs above the bars and clubs. Not that Blade minded. The alley was disgusting enough already; there was no need to make it any worse.
As he had expected, Jordane was waiting for him, standing with her hands on her hips in obvious defiance.
"Why the fuck did you chase him away?!" she demanded angrily. "I was having fun with him, damnit!"
Blade moved closer and crossed his arms, a gesture that only added to his already imposing figure. The black trenchcoat, the shoulder-long black hair, and the permanent pissed-off expression were the finishing touches to an image that was enough to make most humans back away in fear. Blade knew this, and exploited it ruthlessly.
Jordane, however, didn't back down, but settled for a challenging look.
"Well?" she demanded. "Was it because he was blond? Or was it the fact that he didn't look like he was going to kill anyone who looked at him wrong?!"
Blade sent her a cold look.
"I don't mind the fact that he was a loser, Melee. If you want to date some gutless dick-head, then fine by me. But as long as you work for me, you do NOT date humans! They are nothing but a pathetic race that got left behind when the rest of us evolved. You can obey those rules, or you can leave. The choice is yours."
Jordane's eyes flashed with barely controlled rage, and Blade took a step closer. He cared about Jordane, but sometimes she was too rebellious for her own good. She had to learn to follow orders, and preferably before her temper got all of them killed.
"Do you really think you can take me on, Melee?" he asked in a low voice. Jordane unconsciously took a step back. "Even if you went into a berserker rage, I could take you down in a heartbeat. *Never* forget that."
Jordane's eyes darkened and she clenched her fists tightly, but didn't reply. Even though she knew that this was one argument she wouldn't win, she was still resisting, and Blade had to admire her stubbornness, even if he didn't agree with it.
The sudden flash of anger in the bluish-green eyes was the only warning Blade got, even with his powers to help him. Jordane stepped forward with a downright murderous look on her face, but Blade had years of training on her. Before Jordane could react, Blade had backed her against the wall and pinned her arms above her head. Jordane tried to get loose, but Blade was unrelenting.
"Don't *ever* try to play with me, girl," he half growled. "You're out of your league."
Some of the anger seemed to disappear from Jordane's eyes, and she stopped her struggle to get loose. Two pairs of eyes – one pair ice blue, the other an odd bluish-green – locked, and the two found themselves trapped in a battle of wills.
Unable to look away, Jordane licked her suddenly dry lips and felt Blade's grip on her wrists tighten.
For a long moment neither moved. Then Jordane finally looked away, and Blade let go of her.
"Go get Zach. We're going back to the motel," he ordered curtly, and nodded at the door to the bar.
Jordane didn't argue.
* * *
Coming up: The Guardians get to safety – or at least they think so.
