Chapter 23

Riddick's POV

He's bad, this Blaze character. Call it a feeling. Call it whatever the fuck you want, but he's bad. The animal inside knows it. Kyra would know it, but Jack's holding her back. What the fuck for, I can't tell. I keep watching you when you're unaware. Your muscles are tense cuz they're shortening, becoming tighter. You're too relaxed as of late and that's unacceptable. This thing you have of constantly trying to cut Jack out of your life is starting to show its toll on you. You don't even see it, but it's there. Jack wants out, but Kyra wants reign over her world as it is now. One sides got to give, but neither one will. How fucking stubborn of you.

Pissing me off really, but we keep walking in silence, sticking to the shadows, avoiding the lights and the people. We're walking slightly side by side. You keep inching your way to the front by taking short, fast steps. I ease my side so that I allow you to be a toe's length or so in front of me.

"Jason?"

You break the silence, cutting the air around us sharply and allowing all those in the area scouting for us to pinpoint our presence. This had better be good woman. Your choice of names doesn't go unnoticed. You're back to using our cover. Good girl.

"What?"

"Hate you."

It'll pass. I show no emotion at your admission of feelings.

"Just don't look back."

Don't know why I say that. Don't look up was used on that fucking planet. Don't look down was used on Crematoria. Don't look back was for you. I don't even know what it fucking means, but I said it anyway.

Your shoulders straighten a little. You're preparing for something big. I watch out of the corner of my eyes as you start glancing around. Not aimlessly, but with determination. I smelt them, the ones who are watching us. Two, maybe three. Too far to tell for sure. Gun powder is all over the street. This part of town must assemble their own weapons by hand. It's everywhere. Your head's a little higher too. We must be close. Wasn't that far from the start, just well hidden. Well hidden means these people are prepared. It was a winding road we came from. Meant to confuse those chasing someone. Make them get lost. Make them easier to ghost their asses when they're confused.

It smells different. Blood. Fresh blood. Can't help but notice the blood. My arms start to tingle. My eyes start to shift as I see glimpses of movement in the shadows. Not kids this time. To heavy set. This may not be a trap, but it's definitely an area where there was a kill not too long ago. You're breathing wrong. To quick. Fucking nerves. Wouldn't tell from the outside. Outside you look like a shiv. Sharp, long, and lethal.

You shift your walking stride a little. It may look like you hit a loose rock and are compensating for not watching where you're going, but it's not that. It's something else.

"Aislin…breathe deep, woman."

"I smell it, husband."

Shit. Fresh blood and armed men surrounding me. Surrounding us. I'm calm. I always get out, but where are you taking me? Not enjoying this, Kyra. I pull my shivs out and lay them flat against my arms. No one will be able to see them. I'm too fast. I grab your shoulder. You turn around angry. You'll get over it.

"Take. These. Now."

You glance at the inner part of my arms take in the view of my shivs I'm allowing only you to see. I wait, but growl to indicate that I'm both serious and impatient.

"What about you?"

How utterly touching, thinking of me again. Not a surprise really, Jack.

"You'll need these in order to play, Aislin."

"Don't want to play. They'll be no time, Jason."

Stupid. Fucking. Woman.

"I'd better not be smelling your blood when this day if over, woman."

I pause. A scent is getting stronger. Fresh blood walking towards us. I angle my head slightly to concentrate on a dark, secluded alleyway. In the distance is a man walking towards us. You stop and stand slightly apart from me. Smart woman. You can probably smell the anger radiating off of me by now.

"You'd better move that ass into the light so she can ID you. Standing like that in the dark tells me to ghost your ass."

Your mouth is awfully tight lipped, woman. Maybe Kyra's on my side after all, letting me lead. Guess you can trust my eyes for the only job they're good for: seeing in the dark places. You're ready to spring into a fight if necessary. I've heard the release of your blade at the tip of your shoe. Preparation. Smart woman you've become Jack, thinking with your instincts and not your heart. You're both present now. Kyra and Jack. Together. As one.

"Child, would you like something to eat?"

I remain still as his voice carries from the dark alley. It's code. Code for what exactly?

"Water to make me clean. Vegetables to make me strong. Bread to make me fat. Meat to feed my brain."

A child's code. He's walking into the light now. Slow deliberate steps.

"Jack?"

"It's me Blaze. Call off the sharp shooters."

I glare at Blaze as he waves his hand to signal his shooters. He's left handed. Noted.

"Come child, we have much to discuss."

No wonder Jack liked Imam. Blaze speaks just like him.

"Don't fucking ignore him. He's not to be ignored."

"Oh course not child, but maybe Mr. Riddick wouldn't mind handing over his shivs first before I address such a…man as he."

I hate being talked to like that, but I wait. I wait for your reaction. It'll tell me everything I need to know.

"The only time those shivs leave his hands, is when they are imbedded in the nearest man's skull."

Interesting. Very interesting.

"Very well. Come child, we need to talk." We? I watch as Blaze shifts his weight off his right leg to his left.

"Talk then. Here. I'm with him now, Blaze." Direct Kyra. Love that.

"I am not concerned about him. I am concerned about you and his hold over you, child."

I growl. It's clear now that I want nothing more than to slit his throat.

"We're family now Blaze. But you're right, we need to talk."

"I wish to talk with you dear child, but not like this."

Pick up on his choice of words woman. Pick up on his fucking scent woman. He's trying to play us against each other.

"I wanted to see you Blaze. I wanted to talk and…" I hate it when you don't finish your thoughts.

"You wanted to know about how the business is running? I'm helping more kids now Jack. More than I ever thought possible. With help, mind you, but the silent partner is working out wonderfully. Come inside child."

Silent partner? Fuck. I notice the shift in his stance again.

"What's with the blood Blaze. You wounded?" Is that concern I hear in your voice Kyra.

"A little scratch, child."

"Bullshit."

"Your mouth seems to have overdeveloped a strong liking for the foulest of language, child. That is NOT ALLOWED HERE."

The man's colours are showing. Interesting.

"You know, I'm real sick of men telling me what's allowed and what's not. Fuck it. I came for my shit Blaze. My SHIT. Now."

There's the set of balls I knew you had woman. But hiding shit from me? Not cool.

I tilt my head slightly to get a better view of the aging man in front of me. He's nicely built, and time has been good to him. I know what he's going to do, and for some reason I allow it to happen. You need this woman. You need this to break ties with him.

A hand strikes out and you're not ready for it. It catches you on the side of the face. Your body turns slightly as it tries to absorb the impact. I wait.

"Mr. Riddick. I will not allow any child to speak to me the way young Jack has just done. You must understand that I run a very strict business, and to show weakness only breads disrespect."

Now you choose to address me?

"She's a woman."

"Pardon?"

My head tilts back up to its original position. I can smell his scent on you Kyra, and I don't like it.

Age has not meddled with your hearing old man.

"She's a woman." I say it slower this time to make sure I enunciate all the syllables. The sarcasm is not lost on you.

"She's but a child, Mr. Riddick, and as such should be treated – "

"You ever wonder what blood tastes like?"

"I'm not sure I understand your question, dear man."

"It's funny. Standing here, inches from you, and smelling blood seeping from its wound. Most of the blood you're hiding from her isn't even yours. A fresh kill, how interesting."

"Mr. Riddick, I am sure you are mistaken, I have but a scratch."

"Do you know her?" I ask pointing at you, extending my arm. I wait for his eyes to shift to you.

"Of course."

"Wrong answer."

"And why's that?"

"She's not Jack anymore."

A/N: thank you for all of your reviews. I'm going to try to update more often. If you have anything to say...just review.