Chapter Seven
Jamal walked out of Elixir, on his way to meet Ian. Apparently he and Chris had been working on something that could maybe make this life he'd been dealt not so bad after all. At least he had something to hope for now. He was just beginning to smile and relax a bit when bad news came right in his face.
"Caleb, Livvie."
"Jamal. Just who we were looking for." Caleb said. "I believe you may have something that belongs to me."
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Jamal replied, completely confused.
Caleb's eyes were growing more and more furious each second. This constant search for what was his was making him impatient and ready to kill. "I think that you do. I've been searching for a few days and it seems to me there are two people I can ask to give back what doesn't belong to them. It's either you, or Casey."
"Well, Caleb. You're barking up the wrong tree 'cause I've got nothing of yours."
Caleb walked closer towards Jamal, backing him into a wall while Livvie looked on, just as furious. She knew now for sure that none of these people in this town would ever be her friends again. They were all working against Caleb and that meant they were also against her.
Caleb's hand moved to Jamal's neck, applying pressure as he spoke. "Do not hold out on me Jamal. It's not a smart idea."
A threatening voice called from behind him. "Caleb."
Caleb's hand loosened slightly from Jamal's throat as he turned to look around. "Do you ever take a break?" he asked.
"I could ask you the same question." Rafe replied.
Livvie glared at Alison, whose mood was decidedly less happy since they stumbled on this little scene.
"What seems to be the problem here?" Rafe asked as he moved towards Jamal, more than ready to fight.
Caleb's hand relaxed on Jamal's throat, but just slightly. "This really does not concern you, slayer."
"No? I see that you're about to snap the neck of a person I consider a friend of mine. Pardon me if I'm concerned."
Alison had had enough. She didn't want them to fight with anyone today, least of all Caleb. "OK, just stop - both of you. Caleb, please, just let him go."
"There she goes, thinking that her wish is everyone's command. Ali, that may work with your precious Rafe, but Caleb answers to no one, least of all you." Livvie's eyes were glowing with hatred.
"Livvie, please. Put your fangs away, OK? I'm so tired of this." Alison glared at her.
"Then why don't you just go away Alison, I'm so tired of you thinking the world revolves around you. You should be coming here to thank us, instead of interfering - as usual. For some insane reason, Caleb actually saved your life."
Alison meant it when she had said earlier. She had a book full of responses to say to Livvie, but she wasn't fighting today. In fact, she really didn't want to ever have to fight again. She looked over at Rafe and realized that he was not budging. No surprise there, she sighed. She decided to try and reason with all of them. She wasn't feeling well again. She wanted to go home.
"What is going on here anyway? Why are you attacking Jamal?" Alison turned to speak to Caleb.
"I wouldn't exactly call this an attack, but to answer your question, he has something that belongs to me." Caleb answered, still staring at Rafe.
"Jamal, is that true?"
"I have no idea what he's talking about." He said.
"He's lying." Caleb's hand tightened on Jamal's neck again.
Rafe moved to stand near Livvie. "Caleb. I'm warning you. Let him go."
Caleb chuckled, "Or what?"
"Or I might have to do something to the one person you care about, other than yourself of course." Rafe replied. Livvie started to inch away, shooting daggers at Rafe with her eyes.
"Rafe. Stop it." Alison moved in between him and Livvie and glared a warning at him. "I'm serious. That's enough. Caleb, Jamal doesn't have what you're looking for. He says he doesn't and he doesn't lie."
"Maybe he doesn't - but I bet he knows who does." Caleb's hand closed tighter, Rafe grabbed Livvie's arm, causing her to cry out.
Alison glared at Rafe again. "Whatever. I'm not letting any of you do this anymore. I'm tired; I'm so tired of all of this."
"Alison, are you forgetting how you got away from Joshua?" Livvie asked, her voice laced with venom.
"No. Livvie. I remember it all to well. So, to make you feel better let me say this. Caleb, thank you for your part in getting me away from Joshua. I appreciate it. But I couldn't be more serious. This has to stop. I just want you and Livvie to leave us alone. Just go ahead and live your lives, and keep away from the people I love when you do."
"Alison" Caleb laughed again, "Are you seriously trying to threaten me?"
Alison moved toward Caleb and grabbed his arm, startling him enough that he released his hold on Jamal. She whirled around and stared at him. Rafe let Livvie go and was at her side in seconds.
"No. I'm saying it's over." She looked over at Rafe and then back to Caleb and Livvie. "You and Rafe need to find a way to tolerate each other. This war between all of us - it's done. It's finished. I'm not fighting with either of you anymore."
"Really?" Caleb said, amused at how serious she sounded about it.
"Yes. As long as you truly leave us alone, that is. If you start to threaten my friends and family again, well, then we'll have to stop you."
Caleb grinned wickedly as he leaned close to her ear and whispered. "You and what army?"
"Do something to anyone I care about and you'll find out soon enough." She snapped at him.
Caleb looked over her head at Rafe and continued to grin. "She's tougher than I thought."
Rafe just glared back, refusing to give him the pleasure of an answer.
"So. Are you leaving?" Alison said as she stared at Caleb.
Convinced for the moment that Jamal was telling the truth, he decided to back away. "Sure. I'll go. But if I find out you're holding out on me" he said with a look in Jamal's direction. "There'll be hell to pay."
And with that - he grabbed Livvie's hand and disappeared into thin air.
With a sigh, Alison turned to Jamal. "Are you OK?" She asked, her voice full of concern.
"I'm fine. You sounded pretty serious there - Spunky." He said with a grin.
"I mean it. I'm done." Alison said as she looked at Rafe, knowing he'd have a different opinion. She wasn't arguing about it tonight. She meant it when she said she didn't want to fight. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to get some sleep. She was suddenly unbelievably tired. She turned to walk towards their door and stumbled a bit. Jamal caught her and steadied her a spilt second before Rafe did.
"Alison. C'mon. You've had a big day. Let me get you home." Rafe said as he took her arm.
"Rafe, it's OK. I'm fine." She said as she turned toward Jamal. "Jamal. Were you lying? Do you have what Caleb's looking for?"
"I have no idea what he's talking about." Jamal said, honestly.
"OK. If you do, please just give it back. This whole thing has gone on long enough." Alison pleaded.
"OK." Jamal promised. "Ali, listen. I wanted to give this back to you. I'm sure you won't be needing it but I figured..."
Alison felt Jamal press an envelope in her hand. Her eyes filled with tears. It was the letter she wrote the night she was saved from Joshua.
Rafe looked on, puzzled as he heard her say, "Thank you."
"Don't mention it. I'll catch you both later." Jamal said as he walked away.
"Later." Rafe called after him.
"Alison," he began, wanted to know what she meant by this little speech she'd just given.
"Don't do it. Don't. Not tonight Rafe. I'm not arguing with you tonight." She started to walk away.
"I don't want to argue." He said, chasing after her "I just want to know - what the hell was that?"
"What? That I'm done fighting with Caleb and Livvie?"
"Yeah."
"I mean it. I am. It's just a vicious cycle that's never-ending and someone needs to be big enough to back down."
"And let him do whatever he wants?"
Alison stopped and turned to look at him. "Rafe. You weren't listening to me. I said he'd need to leave us alone, and leave the people we loved alone. There aren't many in this town who don't fit that description."
"And if he doesn't? What happens then?"
"Then we deal with it. Not before." Alison replied as they stood in front of their warehouse door. "Besides. We'll be too busy to worry about them anyway."
Rafe knew that was impossible but couldn't help but smile down at her. "Too busy with what?"
"Getting on with our lives. Starting our business, our home together. Fighting vampires has kept us from all of that for way too long - don't you think?" She asked as she stepped into his arms.
Still worried about the future he leaned down to kiss her, and reluctantly agreed. "It has been - way too long."
Jamal walked out of Elixir, on his way to meet Ian. Apparently he and Chris had been working on something that could maybe make this life he'd been dealt not so bad after all. At least he had something to hope for now. He was just beginning to smile and relax a bit when bad news came right in his face.
"Caleb, Livvie."
"Jamal. Just who we were looking for." Caleb said. "I believe you may have something that belongs to me."
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Jamal replied, completely confused.
Caleb's eyes were growing more and more furious each second. This constant search for what was his was making him impatient and ready to kill. "I think that you do. I've been searching for a few days and it seems to me there are two people I can ask to give back what doesn't belong to them. It's either you, or Casey."
"Well, Caleb. You're barking up the wrong tree 'cause I've got nothing of yours."
Caleb walked closer towards Jamal, backing him into a wall while Livvie looked on, just as furious. She knew now for sure that none of these people in this town would ever be her friends again. They were all working against Caleb and that meant they were also against her.
Caleb's hand moved to Jamal's neck, applying pressure as he spoke. "Do not hold out on me Jamal. It's not a smart idea."
A threatening voice called from behind him. "Caleb."
Caleb's hand loosened slightly from Jamal's throat as he turned to look around. "Do you ever take a break?" he asked.
"I could ask you the same question." Rafe replied.
Livvie glared at Alison, whose mood was decidedly less happy since they stumbled on this little scene.
"What seems to be the problem here?" Rafe asked as he moved towards Jamal, more than ready to fight.
Caleb's hand relaxed on Jamal's throat, but just slightly. "This really does not concern you, slayer."
"No? I see that you're about to snap the neck of a person I consider a friend of mine. Pardon me if I'm concerned."
Alison had had enough. She didn't want them to fight with anyone today, least of all Caleb. "OK, just stop - both of you. Caleb, please, just let him go."
"There she goes, thinking that her wish is everyone's command. Ali, that may work with your precious Rafe, but Caleb answers to no one, least of all you." Livvie's eyes were glowing with hatred.
"Livvie, please. Put your fangs away, OK? I'm so tired of this." Alison glared at her.
"Then why don't you just go away Alison, I'm so tired of you thinking the world revolves around you. You should be coming here to thank us, instead of interfering - as usual. For some insane reason, Caleb actually saved your life."
Alison meant it when she had said earlier. She had a book full of responses to say to Livvie, but she wasn't fighting today. In fact, she really didn't want to ever have to fight again. She looked over at Rafe and realized that he was not budging. No surprise there, she sighed. She decided to try and reason with all of them. She wasn't feeling well again. She wanted to go home.
"What is going on here anyway? Why are you attacking Jamal?" Alison turned to speak to Caleb.
"I wouldn't exactly call this an attack, but to answer your question, he has something that belongs to me." Caleb answered, still staring at Rafe.
"Jamal, is that true?"
"I have no idea what he's talking about." He said.
"He's lying." Caleb's hand tightened on Jamal's neck again.
Rafe moved to stand near Livvie. "Caleb. I'm warning you. Let him go."
Caleb chuckled, "Or what?"
"Or I might have to do something to the one person you care about, other than yourself of course." Rafe replied. Livvie started to inch away, shooting daggers at Rafe with her eyes.
"Rafe. Stop it." Alison moved in between him and Livvie and glared a warning at him. "I'm serious. That's enough. Caleb, Jamal doesn't have what you're looking for. He says he doesn't and he doesn't lie."
"Maybe he doesn't - but I bet he knows who does." Caleb's hand closed tighter, Rafe grabbed Livvie's arm, causing her to cry out.
Alison glared at Rafe again. "Whatever. I'm not letting any of you do this anymore. I'm tired; I'm so tired of all of this."
"Alison, are you forgetting how you got away from Joshua?" Livvie asked, her voice laced with venom.
"No. Livvie. I remember it all to well. So, to make you feel better let me say this. Caleb, thank you for your part in getting me away from Joshua. I appreciate it. But I couldn't be more serious. This has to stop. I just want you and Livvie to leave us alone. Just go ahead and live your lives, and keep away from the people I love when you do."
"Alison" Caleb laughed again, "Are you seriously trying to threaten me?"
Alison moved toward Caleb and grabbed his arm, startling him enough that he released his hold on Jamal. She whirled around and stared at him. Rafe let Livvie go and was at her side in seconds.
"No. I'm saying it's over." She looked over at Rafe and then back to Caleb and Livvie. "You and Rafe need to find a way to tolerate each other. This war between all of us - it's done. It's finished. I'm not fighting with either of you anymore."
"Really?" Caleb said, amused at how serious she sounded about it.
"Yes. As long as you truly leave us alone, that is. If you start to threaten my friends and family again, well, then we'll have to stop you."
Caleb grinned wickedly as he leaned close to her ear and whispered. "You and what army?"
"Do something to anyone I care about and you'll find out soon enough." She snapped at him.
Caleb looked over her head at Rafe and continued to grin. "She's tougher than I thought."
Rafe just glared back, refusing to give him the pleasure of an answer.
"So. Are you leaving?" Alison said as she stared at Caleb.
Convinced for the moment that Jamal was telling the truth, he decided to back away. "Sure. I'll go. But if I find out you're holding out on me" he said with a look in Jamal's direction. "There'll be hell to pay."
And with that - he grabbed Livvie's hand and disappeared into thin air.
With a sigh, Alison turned to Jamal. "Are you OK?" She asked, her voice full of concern.
"I'm fine. You sounded pretty serious there - Spunky." He said with a grin.
"I mean it. I'm done." Alison said as she looked at Rafe, knowing he'd have a different opinion. She wasn't arguing about it tonight. She meant it when she said she didn't want to fight. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to get some sleep. She was suddenly unbelievably tired. She turned to walk towards their door and stumbled a bit. Jamal caught her and steadied her a spilt second before Rafe did.
"Alison. C'mon. You've had a big day. Let me get you home." Rafe said as he took her arm.
"Rafe, it's OK. I'm fine." She said as she turned toward Jamal. "Jamal. Were you lying? Do you have what Caleb's looking for?"
"I have no idea what he's talking about." Jamal said, honestly.
"OK. If you do, please just give it back. This whole thing has gone on long enough." Alison pleaded.
"OK." Jamal promised. "Ali, listen. I wanted to give this back to you. I'm sure you won't be needing it but I figured..."
Alison felt Jamal press an envelope in her hand. Her eyes filled with tears. It was the letter she wrote the night she was saved from Joshua.
Rafe looked on, puzzled as he heard her say, "Thank you."
"Don't mention it. I'll catch you both later." Jamal said as he walked away.
"Later." Rafe called after him.
"Alison," he began, wanted to know what she meant by this little speech she'd just given.
"Don't do it. Don't. Not tonight Rafe. I'm not arguing with you tonight." She started to walk away.
"I don't want to argue." He said, chasing after her "I just want to know - what the hell was that?"
"What? That I'm done fighting with Caleb and Livvie?"
"Yeah."
"I mean it. I am. It's just a vicious cycle that's never-ending and someone needs to be big enough to back down."
"And let him do whatever he wants?"
Alison stopped and turned to look at him. "Rafe. You weren't listening to me. I said he'd need to leave us alone, and leave the people we loved alone. There aren't many in this town who don't fit that description."
"And if he doesn't? What happens then?"
"Then we deal with it. Not before." Alison replied as they stood in front of their warehouse door. "Besides. We'll be too busy to worry about them anyway."
Rafe knew that was impossible but couldn't help but smile down at her. "Too busy with what?"
"Getting on with our lives. Starting our business, our home together. Fighting vampires has kept us from all of that for way too long - don't you think?" She asked as she stepped into his arms.
Still worried about the future he leaned down to kiss her, and reluctantly agreed. "It has been - way too long."