Chapter 60: Empty Threats
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Alex tried to open his eyes but it did him no good, a blindfold of duck tape covered them. Darkness encompassed him. Every inch of his body hurt. He tried to move but to no avail, his hands and feet were taped as well. Frigid rain soaked his clothes and hair for the hundredth time in the past twenty-four hours. The last thing he remembered was Karma's pointing finger and the pain that shot through his body. It felt like a thousand needles going through his veins and skin.
What did she do to me? He wondered.
"Good morning Alex," a smooth voice whispered in his ear.
"Is that Karma?" Alex asked. "I can't tell."
"You always did have a good attitude when you were in a dangerous situation, you should just hope it doesn't get you killed," the voice said.
"So, you are going to kill me?"
"Maybe," Karma taunted. "It all depends on Dakota."
Alex sighed. "So I'm the bait is that it?"
"You got it sweetie."
"Can we kill him anyway?" Another voice asked.
Xander.
"We'll see," Karma replied. "If we do it'll be after we take Dakota to the Council."
"You know, why even take Dakota to the Counsel," Xander asked. "Why don't we just kill him our way?"
"Because, then we'd have to come up with a good explanation for the Council, and besides, Paul really wanted the opportunity to get a hold of him," Karma explained.
"Uh, excuse me, the bait has a question," Alex said, he tried to adjust his position in the grass.
"What?" Xander sounded annoyed.
"Where are we?"
"Listen," Karma suggested.
Alex listened. He could hear flowing water and wet grass numbed him through his shirt. "I hate guessing games...in the woods, by ...water?"
"Ooo, he's smarter than I thought," Karma laughed.
"Can the bait ask another question?"
"Go on."
"Xander, why do you hate Dakota so much?" Something hard hit him in the face.
Xander's shoe.
Alex could taste the leather in his mouth, he spit.
Xander grabbed him by the back of the neck, the power slowly left Alex's body. "You really want to know you little bastard?" The hatred filled his voice. "For one thing he's the epitome of everything that I despise, I get rid of people like that, the other reason is that he has the potential to become more powerful than me-"
"And he's better than you and it drives you crazy," Alex finished, he struggled against the weakness. The shoe drove into his stomach. He tried not to think about his plan, Xander would read his mind, and then it would fail.
"Dakota is not better than me."
"Oh, but you know he is, while you're destroying he's been building up, sacrificing himself, he left so I wouldn't get in trouble," Alex coughed.
Xander's hands clamped around his throat and he felt as if someone had sucked all the energy from his body. Then the icy sharp pain came. He didn't fight for his power, he simply let go.
"Xander, off," Karma yelled. "Dead bait does us no good in this situation."
Xander reluctantly let go and stood up. "Don't think you're off the hook." He said.
"Empty threats," Alex laughed weakly.
He heard Xander growl and take a few steps toward him. "Xander," Karma warned.
"Where is he?" Xander asked impatiently.
"He has five minutes, don't worry, he'll show."
"And then," Xander said as he squatted down by Alex. "We can kill him, and you." He patted Alex on the cheek hard. "If he doesn't show, then we can kill him right?"
"Don't worry Xander, I'm here."
Alex turned his head in the direction of Dakota's voice. "Dakota, leave it's not worth it."
"No, no, he can't leave now, he's got to come with us," Karma said.
"First I have a few things to say to you."
"Kristopher, what a pleasure," Karma said, she didn't try to hide the distaste in her voice.
He paused and though for a moment. "Karma, I'll pray for you," Kris said. His eyes changed and he looked rather confused.
"I'm overjoyed."
"Okay Xander, Karma, you wanted me," Dakota said.
"You, are coming with us," Xander said.
"In more official terms, you are under arrest, blah, blah, blah and if you fight it we have the license to kill you so let's go," Karma said.
Xander griped Dakota's arm. Karma dragged Alex to his feet, "You're coming with us too," she said.
"What, wait, you said if I came-"
"And you trusted me?" Karma gave him an evil smile. "Really, I thought you were smarter than that, let's go Xander." And with that, they disappeared into the forest.
Kristopher looked at David, who stood in the shadows, watching. "So what do we do now?"
"We get Riley, and we go fight this, the best we can."
"Okay, let's go."
