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The Mercenary

Chapter 1

"What the hell are you talking about? I don't have to go with you!" Reid's eyes instantly took the shade of midnight black, recognizing what he believed to be a threat to his life. She took on a defensive stance, her knees bent and arms spread.

"Reid. Don't do anything rash. I don't want to hurt you," she attempted to calm him.

"Hurt me!" Reid was circling her now, and she moved to keep him in her sight at all times. "You can't hurt me!" He threw a blast of power at her, and she lithely dodged it, leaving it to fly into the forest, uprooting the trees in its path. She flicked her wrists and two short daggers fell into her ready palms. Reid laughed as he rapidly fired three more blasts of power towards her.

Through a series of acrobatic moves, she flew through the air, dodging every blast. Her dagger flew through the air, piercing Reid's thigh, and he fell to the ground, howling in pain. She landed on all fours next to him and whispered in his ear.

"I'm so sorry." Then she slammed his head against the road, rendering him unconscious. As she rose, she met three pairs of black eyes that belonged to three very angry members of the Covenant.

She crouched, her dark curls swaying, over Reid's motionless body, surveying the three teens before her.

"Caleb. Pogue. Tyler," she whispered, her eyes meeting each of theirs, in turn.

"Who are you?" Caleb demanded, his black eyes shining in the night. This brought her to attention, her head snapping up, and her second dagger on call in her hand, which lay dangerously close to Reid's neck.

"One wrong move," her voice was laced with malice, "and he dies. I want no Using." At this, the remaining conscious Covenant members flinched. She nodded, understanding they would do nothing that would jeopardize the life of their friend. "Follow me," she commanded, as she stood and lifted Reid effortlessly into her arms, cradling him as if he was a small child. Caleb briskly moved to walk next to her, more cautious than before, and the others followed suit.

Gazing up at the sky, she took note of the dark clouds that would soon pass over them, taking with them the slight rain that was currently falling down. Quickly, she began walking faster, till she was running, and the Sons of Ipswich were panting to keep up with her.

They flew down the street, till at last they reached the parking lot, where Tyler's black Hummer was parked. She pulled the keys out of her pocket, causing Tyler to frantically pat his pockets, and unlocked the doors. As Tyler opened his mouth to question her, she spoke again, seemingly unaffected by the vigorous run they had just completed, "Not now. Questions later. Get in." She unceremoniously tossed the unconscious Reid into the passenger seat and buckled him in. The Sons obeyed without question; they were still too breathless to utter a coherent word, let alone a sentence.

As soon as they were buckled in, she twisted the key into the ignition and sped off, doing well over 150. She drove the car with skill and ease, never breaking a sweat, though she weaved through traffic and ran through at least three red lights. Tyler started to turn green just as they skidded to a stop in the parking lot of the Spencer Academy dorms.

Her movements became faster, frantic even, as the rain began to lessen. She jumped out of the car, yanking Reid with her and throwing him over her back. Without bothering to see if the others were following, she raced into the dorm building.

Racing through the dark halls, she followed their scent, Reid still on her back, until she stopped in front of his and Tyler's dorm room. She kicked down the door without checking to see if it was unlocked. Throwing Reid onto the nearest bed, she flew towards the dresser, rummaging through the drawers till she found a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. She doffed her clothes and quickly put them on. Only when she heard the door fly back up onto its hinges and lock into place, did she realize her mistake.

Before she could turn, a blast of power knocked her to the floor. Deftly, she picked herself up off the ground and threw a dagger at Caleb. He caught it with his power and threw it back at her. Pogue and Tyler circled around her, throwing random blasts of power at her. It was all she could do to dodge all their attacks and she was starting to lose her breath.

In a last attempt, she pulled out her last four throwing knives from her boots and flung them at Caleb, Pogue and Tyler. They caught them easily in midair with their power, and Caleb melted them, his eyes furious. Her mouth fell open, and her chocolate brown eyes widened in fear.

Then the molten globs of silver flew at her, pinning her by her ankles and wrists to the wall. The searing hot metal burned through her flesh, and then solidified, so she was held captive on the wall. Her ear-splitting scream was never heard, as a piece of the curtain swiftly ripped off and fastened around her mouth.

Tears were streaming down her face, her eyesight marred by the salty results of her pain. Caleb stormed up to her, his face inches from hers.

"I'll ask you again. Who are you? What do you want?" he growled. As she looked into his eyes, more tears flowed from hers. She hadn't expected this. She had expected some resistance, but not these…monsters. She had come right back to what she had tried to run away from in the first place.

But then something changed. Caleb's eyes suddenly melted back to their natural brown, and he staggered away from her, sweating profusely. Pogue caught him, and steadied him.

"Are you okay, man?" Tyler questioned. Caleb didn't respond, but Reid moaned from his position on his bed. He opened his ice blue eyes, and raised a hand to his head. Tyler immediately looked over to him, and stared intently at him, his eyes still black as night. Reid sighed in content and dropped his hand from his head, as the pain had been removed.

"Thanks, Tyler." Reid turned his head to look at her. "Well. I don't usually let girls get into my pants before I get into theirs, but you can be an exception." She turned her head away from him, tears still streaming down her face. Reid glanced at Caleb then back over at her, as if he had just realized that she was pinned to the wall and gagged.

"Holy shit! What did you guys do?" Reid stood up and strode over to her, removing the gag. She let out a strained whimper, and her breathing came in deep gasps. Then she hardened her expression and closed her eyes. Slowly, she pushed against her confinements and the silver ripped out of the wall. The Sons of Ipswich watched in amazement as she fell to the floor, on her hands and knees, sweating from the effort. Reid's eyes turned black and he looked at Tyler. "What happened?" he whispered. Tyler filled him in, using the Power, and Reid suddenly turned back to look at her.

"You had better start explaining, or you'll never make it out of here alive." She lifted her head, looked into his eyes, and nodded. Her eyes narrowed in concentration and she slowly but methodically ripped the silver off her ankles and wrists, mouth set in a grim line. They came off easily, but her skin came off with them. Blood was now pouring from her wounds, and she closed her eyes once again. The skin began to mend back together, tightening and weaving itself until it looked as if nothing had ever happened. Then she looked back up at the Sons, who were staring wide-eyed at her.

"I will explain everything. But first, I need you to give me your clothes," she whispered. Reid laughed.

"I don't think you're in much of a bargaining position," Pogue spoke. "And besides, I have a girlfriend." Tyler snorted. She stood up and glared at him.

"You must. Or he'll find you. I cannot afford for you to be killed." At the concern in her voice, the boys obliged, stripping down to their boxers and helping themselves to the clothes in the dresser. She took a match out of her pocket, set the clothes in a pile in the shower, and set them on fire. When they were just a pile of ashes, she turned the water on, washing the remains down the drain. Then she went back into the dorm and sat on the bed in front of the waiting boys.

"My name is Blythe. I am a vampire…"

A/N- Well, you know the drill. Read and review! Thanks to Marah and Draco's Secret Lover for reviewing the prologue. I hope you liked the first chapter!