Disclaimer: The Night World is the work of L.J Smith. Only the story is mine and a few extra characters. Alexa, the clichéd villain- she's mine.

14

Mare decided that she had to act tough to fit in. So she knocked on the door and when met with a werewolf tried one of Ash's jokes.

"So…seen any lampposts lately?" She sneered.

The werewolf just opened the door cautiously. "Who are you?" He growled.

Ash sauntered up behind Mare. "She's with me and Quinn."

"Right. Um…" He opened the door wider to let them in, and shut it abruptly behind them. Mare had a vague feeling that they were trapped.

The music was booming so loud Mare could barely think. Without looking back, she joined the throng of Nightworlders dancing to the music. She saw several men give her appreciative glances. "Right, I'm here on a mission." She thought. "Let's take advantage of the attention." She swayed towards the bar where she saw a shapeshifter staring at her. She could almost feel Ash glaring in her direction. Mare felt very shy all of a sudden.

But Ash could do this. "Anything he can do I can do better." She thought. Besides the shapeshifter was kind of cute, even if she already had a soulmate. He was a brunette.

She sat down next to him, sneaking a glance at Ash who was surrounded by a mass of girls all hanging onto his every word. "Humph." She murmured. She caught herself, and turned to the shapeshifter, smiling sweetly. "Hi. My name's Mare."

She almost saw him gulping. He gathered himself together. "Jasper." He managed.

"So… do you know anything good to do around here?" She said throatily. Inside she was laughing at herself for trying to be seductive.

"Um… dancing?" He managed.

"Do… you…want to dance… with me? She said prodding him in the chest seductively.

"Uh. Sure." He smirked as he saw all the jealous glances from most of the male nightworlders in the club.

They got up and began to dance. To Mare's amazement, a lot of the men in the club started to follow her around. Quinn sat in the corner trying not to laugh as Ash began making a mental hit list of all the men he was going to kill.

Mare turned to the shapeshifter as he cleared his throat. He whispered in her ear. "There's something I want to show you out the back."

Mare looked at him with astonishment. No way had she expected it to be that easy.

"Come with me."

Out of the corner of her eye, Mare saw Ash going where they were headed being led by a gorgeous vampire. She sighed relieved inside.

The shapeshifter took her out of a door which led into a dark alleyway. He took her to a warehouse, following behind Ash and his partner. Quinn decided to follow them anyway, and no-one paid him attention since in the Nightworld he was notorious for his love of a dangerous proposition.

The door shut behind them with a bang.

Mare fought the impulse to gag. She saw Ash and Quinn smiling appreciatively as though they liked it. She tried very hard to do the same.

A witch was tied to the wall and her injuries were horrendous. It was a miracle she was still alive. Mare couldn't stand it any longer.

"Who is she?" She demanded.

The shapeshifter failed to notice the dangerous lilt to her voice. "A witch who wanted to be a Daybreaker. We tried to beat some sense into her. She hasn't complied."

Mare nodded towards Ash. She grabbed the shapeshifter and growled into his ear. "You are so gonna pay for that."

"W-What?" He gasped as she seized him by the throat. Mare hit him hard on the head, knocking him unconscious. "I might not be able to kill you. But I can take you to the Daybreakers you despise so much."

She saw that Ash had done the same to the woman he was in. She couldn't feel much sympathy for her.

But she did feel sympathy for the witch who wanted to be a Daybreaker. She went up to her compassionately.

Alexa was beside herself with glee when Mare went up to her. She had had her minions beat her up badly so she could get in on the sympathy vote. No-one would suspect her.

Mare asked her, "What's your name?"

"Alex." She replied.

"I'm from Circle Daybreak. You can come with us if you want."

Alexa pretended to be timid. "Uh. Yes… please."

Mare smiled. So did Alexa.

Thanks for all the reviews this time guys! It makes me one very happy writer!

Tessadragon- Thanks! 

Xanthia Nightshade- Blame it on being a vampire and Ash's soulmate. And Rashel of course. She has one temper too! Glad you liked Ash driving off the cliff! Hee hee!

Morrigue- Thanks for reviewing! I like the lover's tiffs as well!

Undeveloped Story- I will write in some more Ash and Mare interaction next chapter or the one after! (I want a Hunter too! Where did you get yours?)