Chapter Seventeen

"Zander," Gia tapped his shoulder as she approached him at the bar at Jake's. He twirled around, surprised to see her but also concerned. "What are you doing here?"

Gia took a ragged breath. "I wanted to apologize."

Zander looked taken aback. "For what?"

Gia swallowed hard. "When we hugged, earlier… I compared you to Nikolas."

Zander stood up and led her to a chair. When they sat down he asked her why she would apologize. "Because," she explained. "You're my friend. You're the only person I have right now. I haven't even been checking up on you, trying to make you feel better. You have both Emily and Elizabeth to lose and here you are, worrying about me. Nikolas is with them, he needs me to be strong and faithful and the second I am in another man's arms I compare him. I betrayed both of you."

Zander leaned in. "No you didn't," he said softly. "That is not true. That hug… was friendship between the both of us. We both know there was nothing more to it, and Nikolas will too. Okay? And this nonsense about you betraying me? Gia, where do you come up with such things?"

Gia just shrugged, tears in her eyes. "I feel like I have nothing left. I honestly think they're dead." Gia's voice cracked. Zander sat back in his chair. "It's been too long," Gia went on to say. "He only wanted revenge. He may have kept the girls alive to—," Gia cut herself off. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry."

Before Zander could say anything, someone exclaiming both of their names cut off their conversation.

"Juan! Juan Santiago?!?" Gia exclaimed as she sprung to her feet to meet him. Zander stood behind Gia and he and Juan exchanged glares. "What are you doing here?"

"I came back as soon as the tour was over, have you heard anything?"

Gia just shook her head.

"Why did you come back Juan?" Zander demanded. "You and Emily are history."

"From how I understand things, so are you and Emily."

"He's with Elizabeth now," Gia informed him curtly.

"I heard Lucky's alive." Juan just didn't know when to shut up. "Where do you think you'll stand when Elizabeth comes back?"

"We're a little too worried about them coming back alive to think about it," Zander said. "Why don't you scram?"

"I don't take my orders from you, Smith," Juan barked. "I may have lost Emily to you but at least she knew well enough to end things."

"All right, both of you stop, I am not in the mood to deal with a bar brawl tonight," Gia cut in. "Juan, we will talk with you later."

Juan watched the two leave Jake's and recalled his words to Zander. Where would Zander stand with Elizabeth? More importantly where did Juan stand with Emily now that she wasn't with Zander anymore? Or what if Elizabeth went back to Lucky? Where would Juan stand with Emily with Zander in the picture again? Juan walked to the bar and ordered a beer to drown his on coming headache.

*****

Jack sighed with relief as Rafe finally answered the phone. "Rafe!" He exclaimed, "What the hell were you doing on the phone?"

"Getting into a fight with Allison," Rafe sounded irritated as he spoke.

Jack snickered, "I told you she'd be mad at you."

"Oh shut up!" Rafe snapped at him. "Where are you at?"

"I walked further east into the woods then I had realized," Jack began to explain, but he was suddenly interrupted by the sound of a female scream coming from the cabin in the distance. He jumped in alarm, "Did you hear that?" He gasped, wondering if that could possibly be what he thought it was...

"That sounded like a scream!" Rafe exclaimed, "Could that possibly have been them?"

"I'm thinking it's definitely a possibility," Jack nodded his head in agreement, "Theirs a cabin with a light on right in front of me, it came from that direction. I'm going to check it out."

"Alone?" Rafe spoke in alarm, "Wait for me!"

"There's no time! I don't need a vampire slayer to defend me! I can handle this on my own. Just get here as soon as you can and be my backup!" Jack told him, he shut the phone off, and nearly flew to the direction of the cabin.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Elizabeth's screaming had saved Nikolas' life. It was enough of a distraction for Tom to stumble with the gun, and for him to miss his aim. Nikolas was then able to break free from his grasp and pick up a fight with him. He kicked at Tom, causing him to drop the gun. They struggled, both trying to get to the gun. Nikolas punched Tom's jaw, sending Tom reeling backwards. Tom quickly retaliated and jumped Nikolas, sending them both to the floor.

Lucky, Elizabeth and Emily all desperately tried to free themselves from their bonds. Lucky was starting to panic. Memories of being Helena's prisoner were all too fresh for him. The three friends stared helplessly with wide eyes as Nikolas and Tom fought. Their lives depended on who would win this fight but for all three of them their primary concern was for Nikolas. If Nikolas lost this fight then he surely would be the first to die. He would have no chance.

Nikolas and Tom rolled around on the floor, dragging each other from getting to the gun but finally both were within reach of it. They both aimed for it but Nikolas was fortunate to grab it. Everything happened so quickly, Nikolas' head was swimming.

Elizabeth gasped as Nikolas held the gun in his hands, and aimed it at Tom. His face was exploding with anger and rage as he held the gun to their kidnapper.

"Now who's in charge here," Nikolas sneered, as he struggled to steady the gun in his hands.

"Nikolas," Emily gasped, in shock.

Tom only looked at Nikolas with a laugh, "You honestly think I'm that stupid. I suggest that you better put that gun down."

"I should just shoot you right now," Nikolas threatened.

"Well if you do that, then I'll just have to do this," Before Nikolas could even blink, Tom had already pulled a knife out of his pocket and considering he was just inches from Emily, he grabbed her, causing her to let out a scream. He pushed the knife firmly against her throat, pulling her head close to him. She cringed, as he was so close to her.

Elizabeth and Lucky were both now struggling to break free from their chairs, but they were both helpless.

Nikolas' hands were now shaking, as he didn't know what to do.

"I suggest you put that gun down and toss it over here, before I slice her throat," Tom warned, "Emily will have a very painful death here if you don't kick that gun over here-" it was then where Tom felt another unexpected hand grab him from behind.

Tom immediately slammed the mysterious young man into the wall, but the young man had managed to hang onto Tom's arm. Tom engaged in a fight with him. Nikolas, still feeling slightly shaken, started to untie Lucky. Another young man, a blonde, came running in and quickly untied Elizabeth and Emily.

"Jack!" the blonde called over his shoulder as he was helping Elizabeth stand up.

"Rafe?" Lucky recalled meeting both Jack and Rafe at the hospital only a few days ago. "How did you guys find us?"

A sharp cry from the corner of the room stopped all would-be conversation. Everyone's attention snapped to the two men fighting each other, but they were no longer fighting. In fact, both were frighteningly still. Rafe took a quick, jagged intake of air as he saw the blood-stained knife on the floor.

TBC