Chapter Fourteen

He was a shapeshifter. Jess made the observation as she wandered through The Onyx. He was up on the stage playing an acoustic guitar and singing in a voice that was way too amazing to be human. Tables were packed with Night People listening to the singing shifter. There weren't many humans in tonight. Jess hoped that didn't mean Malachi was out finding his blood donors somewhere else.

It wasn't as busy as the last time when she'd come looking for Tally, but it still wasn't easy to locate Malachi. The lights were too dim and the veil of cigarette smoke that hung in the air made Jess squint her eyes up with irritation. She paused by the bar, resting against it and scanned the crowded tables.

'Hey, what can I get you?' the bartender asked.

'Oh, nothing. Thank you.'

'You sure?' he asked leaning across the bar and leering at her. 'It's on me.'

'She said no,' the familiar voice startled Jess. She turned to her left and found herself looking into Luke's glittering green eyes. The bartenders gaze flitted between the two of them before he walked away leaving them alone.

'Luke. What are you doing here?' Well this was awkward. She hadn't been expecting to see him until tomorrow, and she definitely hadn't expected him to be here. He shrugged his shoulders and looked away from her.

'I could ask you the same question.' He made the statement without even looking at her, his eyes focussed on the optics lining the wall behind the bar.

Under normal circumstances running into Luke unexpectedly would have flustered her, especially after what had happened earlier, but now she had more important things to worry about. 'I'm looking for someone, maybe you know him - Malachi Thorpe.'

'Yeah, I know him - vaguely.' Luke replied. 'He's around here somewhere. Don't tell me you're friends with him?'

'Not even close,' Jess said. 'But it's really important that I speak to him.'

'Does Caleb know you're here?'

'No, this was kind of a spur moment decision.'

'Well,' Luke began. 'I bet he wouldn't be too happy about you coming down here to speak to Malachi without him.'

'Like I said,' Jess replied. 'It was a spur of the moment thing.'

Luke nodded. 'If you run into any trouble give me a shout.'

'I'll be fine,' Jess told him. Not wishing to drag their uncomfortable attempts at conversation out any longer Jess walked away. The shifter on stage finished his song and was rewarded by a round of applause, a few members of the audience whistling and whooping. I really hate this place, Jess thought as she wandered through the tables. It was impossible to be here without thinking back to that night two years ago when she and Dora had first come.

They hadn't really known what to expect - they had been too excited to give it much thought. Some of the older witches they knew at school were forever talking about it and what an amazing time they'd had there. One thing was certain - Jess and Dora had had a night that neither of them would ever forget. It was the first time that either of them witnessed first hand just how heartless and cold blooded the night world and the people in it could be.

Soon after arriving they had been approached by a small group of vampires asking them for help with a 'problem'. They hadn't liked the sound of it and politely asked the vampires to leave them alone.

'You'll do what we say, witch!' The tallest of the vampires had grabbed Dora's wrists and twisted them behind her back, two more stepped forward and grabbed Jess in the same way. They proceeded to march the two girls over to a door which led to a large empty room. The vampires had the girls heads pushed down to face the floor so that when they entered they didn't notice the other girl who was tied to a chair in the middle of the room.

'Dora! Jess!' cried a voice filled with a desperate fear. Jess recognised the voice even though it was obscured by terror. It was Ellen Nicodemou, a human girl from their school. She was one of the very few human girls that Dora and Jess actually got along with. Ellen was the envy of practically every girl at Stanford DeWitt High School - the reason for this was her boyfriend, Cameron Granger. Unbeknownst to Ellen and all those other girls Cameron was a vampire. Jess had never liked him - he was cold, cruel, calculating and used his charm and charisma to collect humans who lived to obey him, like loyal little puppy dogs.

Cameron was stood in the corner. 'Jessica, Dora, so nice of you to stop by.'

'What's going on?' Dora yelled angrily.

'Well,' Cameron began matter of factly. 'Ellen here is being a very bad girlfriend.' The vampires had let Jess and Dora look up to face the room. They could see the silent tears trailing down Ellen's bewildered face. 'You see, I asked her a question. And she won't tell me the answer.'

'I've already told you a million times, Cameron,' Ellen sobbed. 'I don't know what you're talking about! Why are you doing this?' The answer to this soon became clear. Cameron's' other girlfriend, Kyra - who also happened to be a vampire - had gone missing. Rumours were circulating. Apparently a vampire hunter had come to town and Kyra wasn't the only bloodsucker who was unaccounted for. For some reason - known only to themselves - the vampires were convinced Ellen knew who the mystery hunter was.

'We've had practically every witch in this club parading through here tonight trying to cast a truth spell on her,' Cameron continued. 'But for some reason she's immune. I can't even read her thoughts.' Jess knew why that was. Mr Nicodemou had dated a witch for almost two years, a friend of Diandra's. They were so in love that he even proposed - which made her confess her secret to him; she was a witch. Mr Nicodemou hadn't liked that and had broken off their relationship immediately. She was still very fond of Ellen, even after the break up, and when she found out that the girl was dating Cameron she cast a protection spell on her making her immune to mind manipulating magic. Jess knew this because Diandra had told her - her aunt was the biggest gossip around.

'So, this is where you come in,' Cameron said confidently. 'You're a very powerful witch Jessica, if you can't break her no one can.'

'Even if I could break her, as you so charmingly put it,' Jess said angrily. 'There's no way I would. You guys are scum!' I would never ever help a bunch of low life parasites like you!'

Rage bled into Cameron's eyes instantly. 'Low life! Scum! Parasites! How dare you be so disrespectful! We are vampires, gods! You and all the other lowly witches should get down on your knees and worship us!'

'Someone is seriously deluded,' Dora said patronisingly.

'What did you say, witch!' Cameron roared angrily.

'Nothing, oh great one,' she replied sarcastically.

Ellen was taking deep, heaving breaths. 'Vampires? Witches? What are you talking about! What is wrong with you people!' This was the very reason Jess kept her distance from the humans - they just couldn't handle the truth, and when they stumbled across it things tended to get really messy. That night at the Onyx was no exception. Cameron flew into a wild rage, ordering the vampires to teach Jess and Dora a lesson. Jess knew vampires were strong, but the beating she got that night made her realise just how strong. And as for Ellen? No one really knew the exact details of what happened to her, but soon after she and her father moved away, and according to Diandra, Ellen was now a patient in a private psychiatric unit. Apparently Cameron had found someone who could break her, someone who's magic was much stronger than that of the witch who'd cast the protection spell.

They tore into her mind and ripped it apart, finding nothing useful, and leaving her in a state so bad that she didn't even know her own name. It made Jess sick, and as the memories of that night engulfed her she found herself crying again. Through her tears she finally spotted him. Malachi was sat at a table by the wall, alone.

She wiped away the tears angrily and strode over to him. 'Malachi,' she said coldly, standing beside his table.

'Jessy.' Malachi looked up at her with faint but sweet surprise. He looked around as if searching for someone. 'Where's that handsome boyfriend of yours?' A disturbing smile was stretching across his face slowly.

'I know you've been helping my sister,' Jess replied, ignoring his question.

'Ah yes,' he said with a smirk. 'She's cute that sister of yours' - even cuter than you.' He flipped open a box of cigarettes and shoved one between his lips, cupping the flame of the lighter as he lit the end.

'Tell me where you got the ingredients for that spell.'

Malachi let out an abrupt laugh, harsh and mocking. 'Now why would I want to do a thing like that?'

'Just tell me Malachi!' Jess yelled. 'This is serious! Someone could die because of what Tally's done!'

Malachi raised his eyebrows and gave an appreciative nod of his head.

'She's a powerful little witch, I'm impressed.'

'If you don't tell me who your contact is right now, then I'll - I'll -'

'You'll what?' Malachi smirked.

'Then I'll make you pay.'

Malachi was laughing again. 'Ooohhh, I'm scared!'

Jess's blood was boiling. 'She's not the only powerful witch around here Malachi. If you don't help me then I'll personally see to it that you feel ten times the amount of pain that you helped my sister to cause.' Jess wasn't used to making threats like this, but she meant every word of it. She'd had enough of these people. It was all well and good taking the moral high ground and shaking her head at them disapprovingly, but if she didn't do something to stop them they would just go on hurting people, ruining innocent lives for their own enjoyment. She hadn't been able to stop what had happened to Ellen, but it wasn't too late for Laila.

Malachi was still laughing. Jess took a deep breath and suppressed the urge to start shaking him. 'Look Malachi,' she said through gritted teeth. 'All I'm asking is for you to give me the name and address of the witch you were dealing with.'

He shook is head and took a long hit of the cigarette. 'No can do Princess, that's classified information.'

'Don't you even care that someone could die if you don't help me!' Jess cried. She knew it was a stupid question, but she just didn't know how to reason with him.

'Why should I?' He asked coldly.

'Because I'm begging you!' Jess yelled.

A huge grin lit up his face. 'You're begging me now? He let out more raucous laughter. 'This is just too funny!'

'Malachi, please! What do I have to say to get you to help me?'

'Now that is an interesting question,' he replied thoughtfully. 'Leave it with me. I'll get back to you when I've decided whether or not there actually is anything that a pathetic little wannabe like you can say to make me help you. But don't hold your breath.'

'I'm not leaving until you tell me what I want to know,' Jess said fiercely.

'Then you're going to be waiting for a very long time.' Something inside Jess snapped. Images of Lailas' disfigured body lying lifeless in that hospital bed flashed vividly through her mind. Without thinking she took a step forward and lunged at Malachi, grabbing him by the shirt.

'Listen to what I'm saying you piece of shit!' Malachi's eyes grew wide with a mix of shock and amusement. 'You may think that you and your vampire buddies can go around this town doing whatever the hell you want, but that's going to stop!' Malachi opened his mouth to speak but was silenced as Jess shook him abruptly. 'Shut your mouth Malachi! I'm not done talking yet!'

Malachi's eyes narrowed as Jess moved in closer to him speaking slowly and deliberately. 'Now I'm going to tell you this for the last time. You are going to help me. Got it?' The amusement was gone from his face, replaced by a cold emotion that Jess couldn't name. He was pissed off.

'No one tells me what to do Jessica, especially not some goody goody witch. Now get your hands off me before I break every bone in your body.'

'I'm not moving until you agree to help me.' Jess replied in a low steely voice.

'Don't say I didn't warn you.' She didn't even have a chance to react. Before Jess knew what was happening Malachi had gathered all his strength, grabbed her roughly by the arms and threw her into some nearby tables. She landed with a bone bruising thud, her head rebounding off the table as it smashed down. Over at the bar Luke was on his feet.

'Jess!' He ran across the club, vaulting over chairs and knocking past anyone in his way. He had been watching the whole thing - he cursed himself for not stepping in earlier, but he knew Jess would not have appreciated his efforts.

'Jess! Are you okay?' He was leaning over her, gently brushing the hair out of her eyes, touching her arm softly as if she would shatter any second. 'How do you feel? Where does it hurt? Do you think you've broken anything?' Jess struggled into a sitting position and swatted his hand away. It was clear to Luke that she wasn't injured. She was irritated. Really, really irritated. Her eyes were fixed on Malachi who was still sat at the table, smoking his cigarette, calmly watching the shifter up on stage.

'Get out of my way,' Jess said hopping off the table and pushing past Luke.

'Jess...' Luke called after her as she marched back over to Malachi. 'I don't think that's such a good idea.'

Malachi glanced up as she approached his table, tremors of anger rolling through his eyes.

'Don't you ever, ever touch me again!' Jess said locking eyes with him. Malachi stubbed the cigarette out and relaxed back in his chair.

'Take my advice Jessica,' he said with menace. 'Get the fuck out of here. You are really starting to piss me off, so far I've been nice - '

'Nice!' Jess screamed. 'Nice! You call throwing me halfway across this club nice!'

Luke walked up behind her and placed a hand on her arm. 'Come on Jess, let's go.' Jess jerked away from him quickly.

'You keep your hands off me!' she yelled at Luke. Jess was angrier than she had ever been, and anyone who got in her way tonight was going to get the full force of that anger.

'Listen to him Jessica,' Malachi said coolly. 'Go.' Jess had lost her ability to be reasonable and it had been replaced with the overwhelming urge to be irrational. Letting out an angry scream of frustration she reached for an empty glass bottle on a nearby table and swung it towards Malachi, shattering it across the front of his face.

'Jess!' Luke cried out in shock.

'I'm done fooling around Malachi!' Jess yelled. 'And don't think I'm scared of you because I AM NOT!'

Thick rivulets of blood welled up from the gashes and trickled down Malachi's face. He stuck the tip of his tongue out of the corner of his mouth, catching a few drops.

'That was not smart,' he said in a low growl.

'Come on Jess,' Luke said, taking hold of her more forcefully this time. 'We're leaving before someone really gets hurt.' He ushered her away through the staring crowd that had gathered around them.

'This isn't over Jessica!' Malachi called after them. 'This is not over!'