AN: Man I'm so lazy.. I've had this chapter awhile.. but meh.. six weeks until school starts again yeah! It makes me happy, cause then I'll have time to write again XD
Warning: This chapter contains violence and character death. Reader discretion is advised.
Liika forced herself not to tear the clothing and toys Bryan had sent to 'their' rooms for Nadya and herself to pieces. She wanted no charity from Bryan, nor did she want to be reminded that they were at his mercy. A precarious mercy at that.
Most of the clothing sent for her were in Bryan's own colors, orange, blue, crimson and white. She avoided any of the garments that contained two or more of the colors. She had no desire to look like Bryan, or to be acknowledged as Bryan's property, although she knew that the entirety of the Abbey knew who she 'belonged' to.
At least Nadie's clothing was a bit better than her own. Virtually none of it was color coded as hers was, and in fact looked like regular baby clothing. It appeared that Bryan and Tala couldn't just conger baby clothing like they could older women's clothing. She wondered if they realized that both the clothing they had sent her, and the clothing they had sent Nadie was too big, especially her clothing. Surely Bryan wasn't disillusioned about her size?
It struck her then that he wanted the clothing to be too big and that Tala had anticipated this want when ordering the clothing made. Bryan wasn't fond of people looking at his 'possessions' and it only made sense that he'd have overly large clothing made so that none of her 'attributes' could be shown off. Not that she had any attributes to begin with. She was virtually flat-chested, and had a narrow torso that looked much like a pre-pubescent boy's. The only difference was that her hips and pelvis flared a bit, particularly after she gave birth to Nadie.
Again she wondered at his jealousy. Not very many men found her attractive. Surely he didn't think that any one at the Abbey would actually be interested in looking at her scrawny, 17 year old body? She couldn't help but scoff at him and the absurd idea.
However, even with the rather annoying clothing, and 'charity' received from their 'hosts', Liika wasn't overly miserable. At least she wasn't alone anymore, with no one but a ten month old baby to keep her company. Mariah stayed with her faithfully, not trying to cheer her up, but at least trying to make the dire situation better than it seemed.
The two women spent much of the day alone in Bryan's rooms, playing with the baby and talking quietly. Mariah filled Liika in to the entire situation—the prisoners in the dungeons as well as Emily's whereabouts. Liika was as horrified as Mariah had been to find out that Tala had merely given her away like a prize at a raffle.
"You mean he just gave her to him?! Who the hell does he think he is?!" She cried, absently steering Nadya away from the cement floor to keep her on the thick, circular rug, and playing with her toys.
"God apparently," Mariah replied dryly.
Mariah looked tired and almost sick. Her normally bright and lustrous hair hung limply around her face, not dirty (Liika had told her she should shower while Bryan was out) but just…worn. Her eyes were dull, and had heavy purple bags under them, showing the fact that she hadn't slept well in days. Her clothing had been dirty and ragged until Liika had adamantly demanded that she get changed into some of her clothing. It fit Mariah better, and was actually the right size. The colors no more flattered Mariah's pale complexion, than Liika's but they had to make due. Both firmly believed that the rest of their friends would be saving them any day now. Believed that they wouldn't let them rot in the hands of the Demolition Boys for long.
Liika sighed, falling back to lean on her hands, her eyes drifting close. "Poor Emily," she murmured, "I just hope Ian is better to her than Bryan is to me."
"Bryan isn't that horrible to you," Mariah said softly. "He hasn't beaten you, or taken Nadie from you."
"Maybe, but he and Tala threaten me constantly with her. The only reason Bryan doesn't abuse me is because he knows he has me cowed with Nadie. He knows I won't do anything stupid if my baby's on the line. …He knows that I would do anything for her, even pretend that I actually care for him." She shuddered at the very thought, trying furiously to fight the tears that burned the backs of her eyes. "But that's not even the worst of it. The worst is watching him with Nadie…and watching her with him. It's like she's forgotten who Kai is…she does things with Bryan that she would only do with Kai. It was instantaneous too. Like she could immediately recognize the fact that he was her biological father."
Minutes passed in silence. Mariah wasn't really sure what to say to her best friend, and had no practical experience to draw from. If Nadie became attached to Bryan there was nothing they could do about it. Mariah just prayed the Kai and the others came to get them out as soon as possible so that they wouldn't have to deal with that major problem.
The light that was trickling in the dusty window—one of the first things Liika had done when Bryan left was throw open the blinds—was fading fast as night descended upon the miserable, desolate Abbey. Mariah and Liika continued to chat quietly, eating sparingly when a servant brought them food, feeding Nadie when necessary. Bryan and Tala had been gone for hours, though this didn't exactly upset the two young women. Neither was looking forward to their 'masters'' return.
It was about 7 o'clock and Nadie had curled up in her mother's arms after drinking a bottle and eating some mashed fruit. Mariah was dozing in the chair across from Liika, while Liika stared silently out of the window into the pitch black, completely oblivious to the world around her.
Neither of the women heard the door open and close, nor saw the dark figure that stole into the dark rooms.
It was only when a hand landed on Liika's shoulder that she came out of her reverie, and would have jumped, screaming, if another hand hadn't covered her mouth at the same time.
"Shh…" a husky, but smooth voice hissed in her ear, "I have come to help you, but if you scream, we shall all be dead."
Liika stilled instantly, her body freezing in fear of the unknown. Who could be helping her? And who the hell could have gotten so far into the Abbey with out being found out?
As soon as the hand was removed from her mouth, Liika turned her head and found herself gazing into eyes almost the same shade of aqua as her own. "Who are you?" She whispered, her eyes narrowing at him.
The man—obviously young—straightened, his black cloak billowing around him as he did so. He looked down at her, a kind look and benign smile on his face. Bright orange hair peeked out from under his hood, oddly matching is rather blank turquoise eyes. White flashed briefly from under the cloak as he moved, his eyes darting around the room. "We have no time," he said quietly, glancing at the sleeping Mariah. "Wake her, we must leave. Their business in the dungeons will soon be completed."
She was afraid to ask what sort of business they might have in the dungeons, and instead focused on the problem at hand: whether or not to trust the mysterious stranger that told them he was there to help them. "If you won't tell me your name, how am I to trust you? It would be really very easy to call someone and have you captured." Liika said, distrust evident in her voice.
The man barely blinked, and instead moved across the room to open the door and peer out into the pitch black hallway. "As I told you Miss Tomoda, we don't have time. Your master will return shortly. Unless of course you prefer to stay with the man that raped you?"
There was something in his voice, an edge that told her he was trying to goad a reaction out of her. It was almost the same tone Kai used when he wanted her to do something she didn't want to. Reverse psychology. "How do you know my name?"
He turned, sighing silently, his eyes meeting hers once more. "My name is Brooklyn Kingston, I am the owner and founder of the BEGA corporation. I have decided to sponsor the Angels, in hopes to rid the world of the menace that is Biovolt." He explained quietly. "I know your name because I have been watching you and your resistance for a very long time. Now come along, or I will leave you. Your friends await outside the gates."
Liika frowned minutely, but decided to trust him. Even if he wasn't who he said he was, and wasn't there to help them, he couldn't possibly be worse than Bryan and Tala. And what if he wasn't lying about their friends being waiting? Could Kai possibly be working with the strange, cloaked Brooklyn?
She quickly brought herself to her feet, cradling Nadya against her shoulder, and crossed the two feet to the chair Mariah occupied. Reaching out, she shook the pink haired girl's shoulder gently, allowing her little time when she opened her eyes to think.
"Come on Mari," Liika whispered urgently, "They've come for us." She then lowered her voice, her eyes darting to where the man named Brooklyn stood watching. "But be on your guard. I don't know if we can trust him yet."
Mariah was wide awake in an instant, her eyes following Liika's glance. She nodded silently and stood, padding after Liika s they headed towards the door.
"Never mind anything you have here. Everything will be provided for you again on the outside." Brooklyn said in a hushed tone.
Liika froze just as she was passing through the threshold of the door, suddenly remembering something very important. "Here Mari, take her," she hissed at Mariah, shoving the sleeping baby into Mariah's surprised arms. "I have to go get Akala."
Tala had confiscated Akala upon establishing her in Bryan's rooms, however, he had put her in such a place that Bryan would be responsible for her rather than Tala himself. He had locked her in Bryan's bedside table, and Liika, though she sorely wanted her back, hadn't had the time to break her free from the wooden prison that surrounded her. Until now that is.
She silently stole to Bryan's side of the large bed and eyed the surroundings for something to break the lock with. Panic started to well within her when she could not find anything at all that would help her break and/or pick the lock or table. She couldn't just leave Akala! It was out of the question.
Yet, just as the panic grew to a breaking point, the black clad young man appeared beside her, a small black device in his hand. Wordlessly he clicked a button on the side and a tiny drill bit appeared from the end and started to rotate in a counter clockwise direction, a small whirring noise emitting from the device.
He knelt down and stuck the drill into the key hole, not even flinching when a relatively loud squeal of metal on metal echoed through out the small alcove and beyond. Liika flinched, nervousness spreading throughout her chest. Surely someone heard that?
However, within seconds of the loud noise the drawer lock clicked, signaling its unlocking. Brooklyn opened the drawer and extracted the white beyblade that lay motionless in the dark oak enclosure.
"Here," he said, standing once more, and placing the white blade in her hand. "Now let's go. Someone will know we're here now."
And with that, the two quickly rejoined Mariah and the baby and stole out of the rooms, into the depths of the Abbey.
xx
Dull thuds of flesh striking flesh, the low grunts of pain that followed, and screams of agony were the main sounds that echoed through the dark, dank, and wretched dungeon. None of the prisoners had anything to say, and the guards were far too terrified of their masters to speak up against the awful torment they were putting the prisoners through. Not that they would have anyway. They didn't really care what happened to the five cell inhabitants. They, like the rest of the inhabitants of the Abbey were hardened to the point of emotionless, and brainwashed to believe that the Biovolt way was the only way.
"Tell me Kon," Bryan hissed, his hand squeezing Rei's neck, as he pushed the black haired teen up against the damp stone wall of the cell. "How did you beat me? What trick did you use to slip through my Falborg's talons?"
Rei hissed in pain, translucent tears streaking down his grim ridden face. His physical pain had long since moved past the point of numbness, and now Rei could feel little beyond Bryan's large hand choking what little air he could breathe out of him. He was dying, and both of them knew it. The little black dots that so many said precluded death by suffocation were dancing before his eyes. He shut his heavily bruised eyes, praying that death would come quickly, and thanking whatever God may be out there that his pretty Mariah wasn't here to witness his final moments, though he sorely wanted to know what fate befell her. He could die in peace just knowing that she would live, and not be tortured. "If I answer you…" he wheezed, his eyes slitting open once more, "Will you tell me what Tala did with Mariah?"
Bryan sneered, his eyes flashing with icy distain. "Your answer means nothing to me, a mere curiosity on my part. However, it will bring me great amusement to tell you that your bitch now belongs to me."
Rei flinched outwardly, grief flooding his few remaining senses. He remained silent, choosing not to give Bryan the further satisfaction of hearing this grief vocalized.
"Oh yes, she belongs to me." Bryan continued, seeing that the news was obviously upsetting the half dead teen. "She is to be my slave for the rest of her life. She will serve me and my malenkaya until I tire of her and throw her to the common soldiers. Such a pretty thing like that, it would be a waste not to have someone enjoy her." He smirked nastily. "I would, but for some reason I have no interest but in the mother of my child. Perhaps I should make the pink bitch bear my child as well…I could do it without ever touching her…what do you think Kon? Wouldn't she look pretty with my brat on her hip? Not as pretty as the malenkaya, and the brat would be merely second rate, but she'd still look prettier none the less."
Bryan's baits had their desired effect on Rei, and once more the Chinese teen began to struggle, ignoring the flaring pain that seared every part of his body. His legs lashed out at the large Demolition Boy, and his hands clawing at the wrist that held his neck. "You won't touch her you fucking bastard! Do you hear me, you leave Mariah alone!" He screamed, rage blinding all his other senses.
Crude laughter bubbled up in Bryan's throat, amusement dancing in his eyes. "What's the matter Kon, did I strike a chord?"
"Whatever did you say to him?" Came Tala's drawling voice from just behind Bryan.
The lavender haired Demo boy turned his head slightly to see Tala standing right behind him, blood spattered all over his front and face. He smirked, squeezing more firmly on Rei's neck. "I merely asked him if he thought the bitch would look prettier with my brat on her hip."
Tala chuckled, his eyes moving over Rei's struggling, but broken form. "Now, now Bryan, you shouldn't taunt him like that. It'd be much more fun to show him. Too bad that he won't live to see it happen."
Rei howled in rage, and struggled harder, finally managing to free himself from the neck hold Bryan had on him. He fell to the floor, and though he tried to get up and attack the laughing pair, he couldn't. His energy had finally given out. It was almost over for him. He could feel the blackness creeping around the edge of his vision.
"Tell us why… why do you take such pleasure in torturing people?"
The two Demolition Boys turned their attention away from Rei and towards the small black haired boy that cowered beside the unconscious Foxy, and the already dead Johnny.
Johnny had been the first to go, after attacking Tala as soon as they walked into the cell. Wolborg had appeared in a flash of light, and before any of them knew what hit them, Wolborg had killed the red haired Scotsman in a bloody mess. Tyson still lived, neither Tala nor Bryan had bothered with him as he was unconscious and delirious with fever. Foxy and Rei had tried to put up a fight against the beatings that they were receiving, but failed as Rei was already seriously injured and Foxy was not a fighter at all. Kevin was left mostly untouched, except for the few times Bryan had backhanded him when he tried to interfere with his 'business' with Rei.
"Torture?" Tala echoed, a mean smile slipping onto his lips. "I do not torture people young kitty, I give them what they deserve. Treason is a crime punishable by death."
Kevin glowered. "But how can you live with yourself? Beating someone to death for fun…" He made a disgusted face.
Tala and Bryan tossed each other a look and shrugged. "It's all in a matter of how you look at things, when you hate something as much as we hate Angels, you find it easy to do things that normal people would find barbaric." Tala then strolled over, crouching down before the sullen Kevin. "Take your little heroine Liika for example. She was fully capable of stabbing Bryan with the intent to kill, just because she hated him. Or Kai, who would gladly beat me to death given the chance. The point is, the ones you look up to so much aren't really any different than Bryan or I."
"You're wrong!" Kevin shot back instantly, his eyes glazed with tears. "Kai is nothing like you, and Liika isn't either! Fighting back in self-defense isn't murder! He raped her! That is also a crime punishable by death."
Tala was unfazed, and Bryan looked indifferent, as if the small White Tiger's words had had no effect on him. "In this world, a crime is only a crime if I make it so."
"But that doesn't make sense," Kevin continued to argue. "So raping a defenseless woman is not a crime, where standing up for what you believe in is? That's bullshit!"
Tala shrugged again. "It's life. Now, if you will excuse us, this conversation is over. You can do what you can to help your friends, but I don't imagine that Kon will live through the night. Come on Bryan."
With the cold words, both older teens strode out of the dungeon cell, the door clanging loudly behind them. Kevin merely shuddered, tears leaking out of the corners of his eyes and down his cheeks. Slowly he crawled over to Rei, looking at the older boy hopelessly. "Rei?" he whimpered, afraid to touch him.
Rei cracked an eye open, trying to smile reassuringly at the younger teen. "It's ok Kevin…I'm fine."
"No you're not," Kevin whispered, swiping at his eyes. "You're dying."
Rei wheezed a small chuckle, fighting back the wracking coughs that took over his body. Kevin tried to ignore the blood that was now seeping from Rei's mouth.
"Death...is nothing to be afraid of Kevin," Rei said softly. "It's a release. And in the world I see coming, those who die are the lucky ones." His eyes began to drift close, his breathing growing even more shallow.
"No!" Kevin cried, gripping onto Rei's shoulder. "You can't leave me alone here Rei! Johnny's dead, and Tyson might not be far from it. I can't be alone here!"
"You're not alone Kev," Rei breathed, "You'll never be alone. I'll always be around to look out for you. And I'm sure I'll see you one day soon."
"They're going to win aren't they?"
Rei could only smile sadly before he started coughing, blood spattering from his lips.
And then suddenly he was silent. His chest no longer moved up and down, nor did the sound of his raspy breathing echo through the dingy cell.
Rei Kon was dead.
xx
The three teens, one carrying the baby, sped through the dim corridors of the Abbey, the two girls not really knowing where they were going, and hoping that the young man they followed did. Both girls kept throwing nervous glances around them, as if they expected Bryan or Tala to pop out of the shadows at any moment and catch them before they could get to safety.
Brooklyn seemed unconcerned, though they could not see much of his face as the enormous black hood covered it. However, just from his posture and the quick but casual steps he took, they could tell that he was not nearly as nervous or panicked as they were. This of course confused them further. They were about to be caught any moment, and he was strolling as if he hadn't a care in the world? It didn't make a whole lot of sense.
As if sensing the confused looks the two young women were sending at the back of his head, Brooklyn crooked his head backwards a bit, a small smile touching his lips. "You could just ask me why I do not fear us being captured, instead of glaring incredulously at my back."
Liika and Mariah flushed. "Sorry," Liika whispered, "Why don't you then?"
"Is it not obvious? I have people on the inside."
The answer was stated as if it should have been painfully clear to them, but neither Mariah nor Liika had thought of that. The game that was the war for the world just got a bit more complicated.
However, when Liika opened her mouth to comment on this, two deep and loud voices echoed from further down the hall, sounding if they were heading towards them.
Brooklyn froze instantly, his cloak whooshing around him. Within seconds he had turned, scooped the two girls underneath his abnormally large cloak, and huddled them as far behind one of the creepy statues that lined the particular hall they were in. Liika and Mariah also froze, squeezing against the taller man as tight as they could. Liika prayed that Nadya would stay asleep, or would make no noise, for they didn't know what was lurking down the hallway towards them.
"Be silent!" Brooklyn urged between his teeth, his turquoise narrowed and anger filled. Apparently he hadn't expected the interruption.
The two girls and the baby were silent.
"Did you really tell Kon that you were going to make Kitty birth your brat? I'm surprised that you would even entertain the thought of touching her." Came Tala's voice.
A snort followed. "I wouldn't. There are other ways as you know. And yes I did, I said I thought about it. He had resigned himself to death at that point, and was beginning to bore me. So when he asked me what you did with her, it gave me the perfect opportunity to put a little fight back in him before he gave up completely."
Mariah's fingers clamped down so hard on Liika's arm that Liika winced, drawing in air so sharply a small hiss escaped her lips. Brooklyn glanced down at them both, sending them warning looks. Tears were beginning to gather in Mariah's eyes, and she was biting her bottom lip so hard it was starting to bleed.
"It's really too bad though, that he wont live to see that. That would probably kill him in full health," there was a nasty laugh, "Of course, whatever time he has left—probably no more than a few minutes—will be miserable anyway, watching his teammate die and seeing the Majestic's mangled corpse. Remind me to thank Jade for Wolborg, that flame haired idiot might have actually injured me if Wolborg hadn't have gotten to him first."
The two young men were right beside their hiding place by then, and Brooklyn tightened his grip on the two girls, his head pressing firmly against the stone statue at his back.
Liika and Mariah barely felt Brooklyn's warning squeeze, as both felt the blood drain from their faces. Rei was dying, or dead, and Tyson must not be far away. The only Majestic in the dungeon was Johnny, so he must be dead too. Three more deaths on their side… and none on Biovolt's. Things were starting to look even direr
"Haha, I'd like to see the look on Hiwatari's face when he's told that two of his teammates are dead!"
It was the final straw for Mariah, who had began to shake uncontrollably, the tears running down her face in rivulets. However, she kept herself composed, if only to not wake the sleeping child in her arms. Liika knew her best friend was on the verge of screaming—Liika herself was close as well—and so she slipped her hand into Mariah's, squeezing it meaningfully. Mariah nearly crushed Liika's hand.
Gradually the two obnoxious voices drifted off down the hall, and Brooklyn, as well as Liika, let out the breaths they had been holding. Mariah was eerily silent, and merely moved away from Brooklyn when he let them go and continued down the hall.
Liika didn't really know what to say to her, and was beyond grief at the news as well. She had loved Rei and Tyson well, they were her teammates, her brothers. Johnny she hadn't liked all that much, but she had still respected him as a fine blader and a good guy, even if he was obnoxious and loud. To be killed by a rabid bit beast was a horrible way to go.
xx
The rest of the journey out of the Abbey was uneventful, much to Brooklyn and Liika's relief. Mariah still just floated along, a blank, dazed look on her face. It was almost as if with Rei's death Mariah died as well.
As soon as they exited the Abbey, Mariah shoved the (incredibly) still sleeping Nadya into Liika's arms, and hurried to catch up with Brooklyn, her head down and her fists clenched at her side. Liika frowned, tears leaking from the corners of her eyes. She was worried about Mariah. And rightfully so.
Brooklyn still looked unruffled, Rei's death obviously not weighing on his conscious. But then, why should it? He hadn't known the black haired Chinese blader, hadn't loved him as the they had. Still, at least he didn't look happy at the death.
Of course Liika couldn't see inside his mind.
Inside Brooklyn was smirking at his good fortune. It looked as if his plans were all going perfectly. Already Biovolt was destroying members of the Angels (he found them extremely irritating, annoyingly haughty and far too sure of themselves). Soon Hiwatari and Jagen would make their final moves to destroy Biovolt, and in turn destroy themselves.
And it was all going to happen on his terms and turf. Life was grand.
Schooling his face into a sympathetic frown, Brooklyn turned, and stopped allowing the two girls to catch up. "You're friends wait in the alley two blocks away from the compound. As does a car."
Mariah remained expressionless, merely nodding her head vacantly, and coming to a stop beside him. Liika nodded also, but her expression was a bit more suspicious than it should have been in Brooklyn's opinion.
Liika hadn't missed the gleeful arrogance that had flashed through Brooklyn's eyes as he turned. Or at least that's what she thought she saw. She bit her bottom lip. Perhaps she was being too hard on him and had just mistaken relief for conniving?
She dispelled her suspicions when he smiled softly at her and held out his hand to lead her in the direction Mariah was already heading in. Behind the alarms were sounding throughout the Abbey compound.
"We run from here Miss Tomoda."
Liika nodded again, sighing and shifting Nadya into a position that might make it possible for her to run with the child. However, as if sensing her doubts about her ability to run with an eighteen pound baby in her arms, Brooklyn reached over and took Nadya from her and nodded in the direction Mariah was running in. Nadya chose that moment to awake, and upon discovering that she was being carried in a strange man's arms started screaming. This of course drew attention from the Abbey walls.
Brooklyn cursed, hitching the baby up further in his arms. "Go!" He hissed, and sent Liika running ahead of him.
xx
Jade jolted in her seat, the harsh ringing of the alarm bells echoing loudly throughout her small, normally quiet office. She was on her feet in seconds, reaching for the phone to quickly dial the number of the one person that would know what was going on.
Deep in the pit of her stomach, Jade knew what was going on. Only two things could set of the high security alarm: a direct attack on the Abbey, or a prisoner escape.
And she knew they weren't being attacked.
Which meant that one or more of the prisoners had escaped, and again she had a feeling of which ones they were. If it were any of the ones that occupied the dungeon, the alarm wouldn't have sounded—they just weren't that important. No, only one person's disappearance could cause the most extreme of alarms to go off.
Liika Tomoda.
Jade sighed then held her breath, listening to the line ring, waiting for the inevitable news of the small blue haired girl, and the new heir to Biovolt's disappearance.
"Did you find them?!"
The red haired woman didn't even flinch at the unforgiving, demanding voice that blared through the small phone speaker.
"I suppose this means my suspicions were true. Liika Tomoda and the baby are missing?" She said carefully, her tone bordering on cautious.
A moment of silence followed her pronouncement, and Jade almost wondered if he had hung up on her. "Tala?"
An annoyed and angry sigh. "Yes. Along with the pink haired bitch."
Jade's eyebrow's shot up. Two women and a baby? An impressive escape, especially out of the heavily guarded Abbey. "How did they get out?"
When another silence followed the question, Jade couldn't help from quirking her lips slightly upwards. She could just imagine him scowling, and glaring at some peon soldier, frightening the daylights out of him. He was rather adorably predictable sometimes, if someone cared enough to watch him.
"That's just the question isn't it? How the hell do two women and a fucking baby get out of the most tightly secured compound in the world?"
"Were they locked in?"
Tala paused, then spoke a few words rapidly away from the phone. Jade wanted to roll her eyes in exasperation. Apparently not, if Tala's angry retort was any indication.
"No. We apparently forgot to lock the door. But that shouldn't matter. There are guards stationed at every entrance and in every hallway in the Abbey. There is only one unguarded hallway in this hellhole, and Bryan and I patrolled it ourselves."
Jade made a humming sound of understanding, nibbling on her bottom lip. "Hold on, I'll see what I can dig up, I'll call you back."
"Good girl," Tala replied, a smirk in his voice. "I knew I liked you for a reason. Valkov out." With a click the line fell dead.
Jade let her breath out in a loud whoosh, willing the blood to leave her blushing cheeks, and the flutters her stomach. Damn him.
Quickly she shook off the disconcerting feeling that always accompanied a brush with Tala Valkov. Her eyebrows furrowed in concentration as she sat back down in her chair and scooted back towards her computer, wasting no time in calling up old security videos.
She had a hunch that the two girls had not escaped alone, and in fact had a pretty good idea who had helped them. What disturbed her was not the fact that they escaped, but that he had not come to her for a way to get them out of the Abbey. Jade wondered if he knew about her almost betrayal, her feelings for Tala. She was after all, his second-in-command, why wouldn't he come to her for something this big?
The computer system that was set up in Jade's temporary office in the Abbey contained the highest of the technology that was up to date with the day, and even some that was so advanced the rest of the world had never seen it. She had access to every file on the internet, and in every computer system in the world, as well as every file, security code, camera, video, and anything else in the Abbey. She could control the entire building from her tiny office, and no one could interfere. It was a statement of the trust Tala had in her.
It did not take her long to find the files she wanted, which was a history of every security video for the last two years for the regularly unguarded corridor in the west wing (the personal quarters) of the Abbey. However, as she went to click "find October 29, 2004" her hand slipped on the mouse and the computer ended up opening a completely random file dated, January 13, 2003. Jade was just about to close the file in annoyance when movement on the screen caught her eye.
Spencer appeared, as well a shorter, obviously female figure. They were standing in the empty hallway, conversing about something. Spencer looked around every few seconds, while the girl didn't look worried. She continued to gaze up at the blond with somber, but affection filled eyes. Finally, after a few moments more of conversing, Spencer leaned down and placed a small, chaste kiss on the girl's lips then glanced down. His hand skimmed over her stomach, and his lips moved, half smiling, half frowning in worry. It was at that moment that Jade realized that the girl's stomach was bulging slightly with early pregnancy. Cold shock washed over her.
Spencer had fathered a child.
She wondered if Tala knew, but dismissed the question immediately. If he knew, then he would also know that the child that was still growing in the womb in the video would be the real heir to Biovolt, not Bryan's Nadya.
The new question was why Spencer hid it? Where was the baby? And where was its mother? She sensed something far deeper at work than a hidden child.
Without another thought she picked up the phone and hit the redial button, the excitement of her discovery setting her stomach whirling with new fluttering.
"Did you find anything?"
Tala's voice shook Jade from her daze and she blinked, dismissing the cobwebs from her mind. "Yes, but not exactly what you're looking for."
"What the hell does that mean?" The scowl was back, she could tell.
"It means that I found something completely different, something not at all related to the missing women, but something extremely important all the same," she replied tartly. If he was going to be a jackass, then she was going to be snarky right back.
Tala half growled, half sighed in attempt to reign in his failing patience. "What did you find Jade?"
"I was looking through old security videos to see if I could get the video for the last few hours for that hallway in the west wing. Unfortunately I clicked the wrong thing and it brought up a file dated January 13, 2003."
"And this is relevant how?"
Jade ignored his sarcastic and impatient tone and continued. "It was, as expected, an old surveillance video, but what was on it I found to be extremely interesting, as well as confusing.
"Spencer was standing in the middle of the hallway, with a girl no older than me, they were talking. Then he leaned down and kissed her, and then, to my great surprised, ran a hand over her stomach. An obviously pregnant stomach. Tala I think Spencer has a child somewhere, one he's hiding from you."
Silence reigned, and once again Jade wondered if he had hung up on her. Apparently her guesses about his ignorance on the subject were correct. Tala was rarely completely silent, the only exceptions being when he was contemplating, or when he was extremely surprised. She voted the former for this situation.
"You're sure it was Spencer?"
She scowled. "Of course I'm sure."
"Of course."
His tone confused her further. He was…calm. She had expected him to be angry, raging even, at the news that his trusted comrade had kept something so important from him. Did he know something she didn't?
"Tell me, what did this girl look like?"
"It's hard to tell, the picture isn't the best of quality, and it's black and white. But I'd say 5'5 or 5'6, leggy, with long, slightly spiky dark hair, tied up in a high pony tale."
Tala hissed slightly. "Very well. I'm coming to your office. I want to see it. In the mean time find me the videos I want. I want proof that someone helped those two bitches out of here."
"Yes master."
"Oh and Jade?"
"Yes?"
"Nice work pretty. I am very impressed." Click.
Did he just purr at her?
xx