If Jack ever got out of the ropes, she would hang Riddick with them. Furious at his disobedience to her, she struggled, the ropes tearing at her skin.

"I'll kill him I ever get the chance." She growled, frantically looking around the room for a way out.

"Wil you?" Xanthe appeared by the side of bed. "Oh, dear… Jack, did he?"
Jack hide any trance of emotion. "He wanted to vex me further; this was his idea of a joke." She paused. "Untie me quickly." It was a command, not a question.

Xanthe obliged, quickly pulling the knot on her hands loose, sighing all the while. "You two will kill each other one day."

"If I get my way, it shall be him before myself." Jack muttered darkly, assessing the damage to her wrists. "Nonetheless, why have you come at such an… inopportune time?" Jack finished untying her feet herself, and moved off the bed to get her clothes.

"You killed War, Jack. A god!"

"Yes, I know this." She laced up her bodice.

"There needs to be a new War."

"That would be smart." She pulled on her leather pants, and roamed around for her shoes. She barely listened as Xanthe spoke. She never said anything of importance anyhow.

"They want you."

"Of course." Jack kept searching for her boots. Where had the moron Riddick put her shoes?
"Jack, I'm dying, can you help me?" Xanthe started tapping her foot, watching her sister ignore her once more.

"Yes, right."

"Hell's pit, Jack, listen to me!" Xanthe screamed.

Jack slowly turned back, a bit unnerved. Her sister never had been this irate, and slowly, ever so slowly, Jack gulped. "Xanthe… sorry, it's just that--"

"I don't care Jack! You killed War. They need a new God and for some reason they think that you would be a worthy choice." Xanthe's fury was unbridled and she stormed back and forth in room.

"I won't do it."

"You have to."

Jack shook her head. "No, I don't. War is supposed to give someone his red sword to change hands. Murder is murder. Perhaps if I was in want to be Death, then this would be a problem, but it's of no concern to me."
"But by default, you must."

Jack looked at her sister and shook her head. She grabbed her dagger from the desk. Quickly, she found her boots hidden under the desk. As she laced them, she said, "No, my plans are more important than such a trivial incident."

Xanthe was left to hear a door slam and her audible sigh filled the room. There seemed there was nothing to do.

***

Riddick's mouth was filled with ale; it tasted more like horse piss to him. The barmaid was a cute, sweet thing with large breasts and a nice tight ass. He grinned at her, and when she returned with a smile, he pulled her down into his lap. "What's your name?" His eyes flashed in the dark bar.

"Kel'byne." She nervously smiled at him.

"You know who I am."

She nodded furiously. "Of course, all the men backed away when you entered, M'lord."

He laughed. "I am not your lord."

"Oh, but you are. You have helped us much."

He licked his full lips and whispered in her ear, "Then would you like to help me tonight?"

A small blush engulfed her cheeks and she nodded and looked up as her named was called. "I must get back to serving."

He nodded and patted her butt as she ran away. Little girl. She had no idea what she was getting in to. He surveyed the room. Mostly men, hitting on the busty barmaids. A few rough women were in the corner, probably planning an attack on a jealous husband. He leaned back in his chair, and looked at the cup that rested on his table. He would only have to wait a little bit more to do with the barmaid that Jack couldn't.

***

Jack furiously stormed around the small town of Paero, just before her castle of Ariago. Alec had told her that Riddick had seen riding out before the sun fell down. She mumbled a curse and kicked her foot into the fresh mud. Pouring down onto her clothes, the clouds above rumbled as thunder crashed and a flash of lighting ignited the sky. The town was poor, Jack could see the blindfolded. Most of the houses were falling apart, the rain probably drenching the poor people now, as most of the roofs were falling down onto them.

She slipped into the bar, looking around, seeing three of her finest in the corner. The three sisters of Pail'ryion. "Sceun. Nadmi. Dritiva."

The three sisters looked up, and then Nadmi said, "Lady Jack, sit 'ere."

Jack pulled a nearby stool towards the table, and sat. "My three sisters of Pail'ryion, what are you doing here, instead of at Ariago?"

"Followed yer 'usband, we did." Dritiva said quietly, narrowing her eyes on the dagger she rolled around in her hands.

Jack controlled her anger, raised her eyebrows, and said, "Oh? Where is my ever loving husband?"

Sceun laughed. "Flirtin' wit' sum wench. Goes by Kel'byne. Sneaky wench; steals money from d'em drunkards. 'e went upstairs a bit ago."

"Oh, did he?" Jack pursed her lips tight together. She stood up from the stool and walked over to the bar. "Where's Kel'byne?" She demanded.

"Who're you?"

She rolled her eyes. "Jack."

"Look here, Miss Jack, I'm Nikamael; I own this whole bar, and I can kick you out if you keep that attitude."

"And I can burn down this whole village at the snap of my fingers. I am Lady Jack the Sybil-Escurio Isles."

Nikamael's face went flat. "Oh, oh, M'lady, I didn't know it was you. I had never heard of you coming into--"

He kept on stuttering and Jack put up her hand. "I do not care, now where is that wench Kel'byne?"

"S-she went upstairs with a customer… second room on the right."

She patted his hand, knife clutched tightly in the other, and said, "See, that was easy," and she walked to the stairs. She peered up, the dusty lamps burning the oil and she walked up. Her body cringed as she heard the moans, of which she assumed were passion. She walked down to the second room, and listened. She didn't figure Riddick would be so quick, but nothing came out of the room, and she easily kicked the door down.

Riddick was ontop of girl, a knife against her throat. His head had quickly turned to face Jack and he muttured, "You stupid bitch."

Jack didn't know whether he was talking to her, or the girl, but she jumped towards him and pushed him off the girl, tangled in Riddick's arms and they fell to the floor, Jack crushed by Riddick. She vaguely had heard her scream, and as she searched around from the knife she had clutched her hand, she looked up just in time to see Riddick press it to her throat.

TBC…

A/N: I know, short, but hey, you got something didn't you? I will have more later, hopefully this week. However, I have a job now and stuff so it's hard to squeeze time in for writing this story, but I've gotten my Riddick muse back. Thanks to all those who reviewed last time; review again if you will!! : )

-Saph