Attention readers! Yes, I have changed the name of Bite to Break Skin to Memory. Why? Well, I had a long enternal war over it, waging off and on for a good four hours. I have come to the conclusion that this is a title better suited for the sequel to Four Different Ways to Hate You. I have finished the last five chapters (four more after this one), and hope to have them up soon! Happy reading! - xxAkikuxx
Setting: Chase Young's citadel. Present day. The next afternoon.
Chase had noticed that KJ was in a strange mood the next day.
She wasn't paying very much attention to things, and had a shorter temper than usual.
"Remember that whole honesty thing I was talking to you about?" He asked.
KJ nodded.
"Start talking."
She frowned. "Or what?"
This startled Chase.
"Or I will be forced to break the alliance that I had made with you."
KJ shrugged. "Go ahead. It's you who'll suffer later."
She was right. If Chase threw her out, Shix could get to her, and then he'd be in even more trouble.
He frowned as well, and didn't reply.
She smirked. "That's what I thought." She turned to walk away, and Chase watched her go back to the library.
A few more uneventful days passed before Shix attacked again.
He snapped his fingers, and appeared in the citadel-his cackling bringing attention to himself.
"You're back." Chase observed, raising an eyebrow.
Shix nodded. "I'm back, and prepared to taste victory. KJ...have you thought about what I've said?"
Chase turned to KJ, his anger rising. "What! I thought that we had a deal!"
KJ looked down. "If you can keep secrets from me, why can't I keep secrets from you?" She asked him.
Shix's cackling didn't allow Chase to respond.
"Chase, I challenge you to another fight. If you win, I'll release everyone, and you can kill me. If I win, I get to turn you into a cat, and take possession of your citadel."
Chase's eyes momentarily flitted over to KJ.
"What about me?" She asked for him.
Shix smirked. "You are free to do as you please. Why, you could leave and never return here, if you wanted to."
KJ knew that, but she chose to stay there to watch the fight anyway.
"Whenever you're ready." Chase said impatiently.
"Let's not fight here." Shix suggested. "After all, I wouldn't want to ruin my new citadel."
Chase rolled his eyes.
Shix napped his fingers, and the three of them were transported to a barren spot in the middle of a desert.
Both Chase and Shix got into low fighting stances as their fight started.
Shix ran in first, again, with a roundhouse kick to Chase's side.
Chase jumped back to lessen the impact, but Shix followed up with a heel of hand to Chase's abdomen, knocking him back.
Smirking, Shix snapped his fingers and delivered a knee to Chase's solar plexus, followed by a powerful thrust kick, knocking Chase to the ground.
He walked over and picked him up, so that Chase was standing again.
"Not so tough now, are you?" He sneered. "But beating up on a paralyzed fighter is no fun." He snapped his fingers again, and Chase dropped low in a protective stance.
"So that's what happened." KJ noted. Up until Shix's explanation, she had been confused.
Chase was able to land an uppercut, before Shix countered it with an elbow smash to Chase's head, followed by two slicing chops (first left, and then right) down his neck.
With Chase's head being down, Shix kneed him in the stomach, and pushed him away with an extended thrust kick, hitting his chest.
KJ winced while watching Chase hit the ground, and have trouble getting back up.
He only landed a hit or two before Shix caught his left hand. Chase put his right hand on Shix's wrist (of the hand holding Chase's left hand) and bent it backwards.
Shix released his hand, and wrist roll/grabbed Chase's right wrist, so that Chase was bent forward with Shix controlling his arm.
Shix elbowed Chase's spine, and heeled him in the stomach before releasing him completely.
Chase crumpled to the ground, and didn't get up.
KJ watched in horror as Shix stood over him, cackling.
He snapped his fingers, and Chase was turned into a black panther.
Shix turned to KJ. "I'll be in my citadel if you decide to accept my offer." He told her. "I'l leave what to do with the cat up to you."
He winked at her before snapping his fingers, and disappearing.
KJ shuddered. "I think he was hitting on me."
She walked over to cat Chase and knelt down beside him.
"I hate to say this, but you got what you deserve." She informed him.
He gave her The Look.
She laughed and started to pet his head.
"Don't worry-I have a plan."
KJ reached into her pocket and pulled out a cell phone. She dialed a number, and quietly spoke to the person on the other end.
Ten minutes later, an aircraft landed dangerously close to them. The door opened, and out stepped Jack Spicer.
