She blinked trying to focus her eyes. Darkness. Everything around her was darkness. She was also moving. She tried to move her arms but she quickly discovered they were bound behind her back. As the adrenaline pumped through her veins, she became more alert. She was in a car. A car trunk to be more precise. She was suddenly overwhelmed with panic. Memories of the last car trunk she had been trapped in clawed at her mind. She couldn't catch her breath. Tears were pouring down her cheeks and her only thought was getting out of the trunk.

*****

Pam noticed the sudden change in Eric's expression. He looked as if he had been slapped.

"Master?"

"She's awake." He clutched his chest and sat abruptly behind his desk. "She's panicking." He steadied himself and tried to calm her through the bond.

Breathe, dear one. Breathe. Tell me where you are.

***

A wave of calm engulfed her. She knew it was Eric. She closed her eyes and searched for the mind driving the car.

Another hour to Jackson. I'll have to get gas soon. Porter can get us something to eat while I pump gas. We can't leave the car. Someone might hear something if the bitch wakes up.

Jackson. Why would they take her to Jackson? It didn't matter. She had to get Eric to find her. She and Eric had tested their recent telepathy for distance and found the range to be about 10 miles. She knew she was probably way out of range, but she new the bond would let her call to him.

Eric! Find me! Help me! They're taking me to Jackson! ERIC!!

***

Eric jumped to his feet and flung open his office door. Pam was on his heels and followed silently through the bar and out to the parking lot.

"They're taking her to Jackson. We'll get there first."

"Did you 'hear' her?" Pam asked once Eric was racing toward the interstate.

"No exactly. I felt her. It's like she willed the idea into my head."

"Who has her?"

"Humans. I can only assume it's the Fellowship bastards."

***

Humans. She could tell they were just humans. Their mental signatures were crystal clear to her. She took a deep breath and allowed Eric's comfort to engulf her. Her eyes had finally started to adjust so she tried to see what she was into. The cramped car trunk must mean she was in some sort of compact car. She knew there should be a trunk release. Let's hope this group of criminals hadn't removed the trunk release like the last car she was trapped in. She just needed her hands. She sighed in relief that she still had on her yoga pants and tank top. The trunk was sweltering in the evening heat and the material would allow her to contort more easily. She pulled her knees to her chest and gained some leverage by pushing her feet against the roof of the trunk. She wiggled her hips and slid her bound hands over her behind. YES! Her victory was short lived when she saw and now allowed herself to feel the zip-ties digging into her wrists.

"Dammit." She whispered. But at least she had her hands in front of her.

***

Eric clutched the steering wheel tighter and looked at Pam.

"She's had a rush of excitement. I believe my bride is working out a means to escape."

"She's a resourceful little telepath."

"Even so. I'll enjoy ripping her captors' heads from their shoulders."

***

She felt around the small trunk and grimaced as the car bumped and jostled around. She smiled as the brake lights illuminated the trunk. She could kick out the lights! But then realization kicked in. The flip flops she wore from the gym were long gone. She fumbled some more and felt around for anything with some weight she could use. Some old rags, an igloo cooler. Wait! A fire extinguisher! Thank God whoever these guys were they believed in auto safety. She pried the small extinguisher from the plastic bracket and fumbled to turn it butt-end against the back of the trunk. She felt the car slow and her heart started racing again. She pounded the light and used all her strength to shatter the red and yellow plastic. Four heavy whacks with the fire extinguisher and the brake light burst free. A rush of fresh air whipped across her face.

Eric, find me. Find me.

She tried to catch herself as the car turned sharply. She slammed head first into the back of the trunk. Smarting from the blow, she tried to plan her next move. She had to get out of the trunk. She felt around the top edge of the cramped space looking for the release hatch. Nothing. Dammit. It must be an older car. Maybe she could knock out the other light. She maneuvered herself around in the cramped space until she was facing the other tail light. Suddenly, she stopped.

She's awake. She's bumping around back there.

She yelped as the car bumped and skidded. They had left the road. She could hear the crunch of gravel and dirt under the tires. She clutched at the extinguisher and was fully intent on planting it in one of their skulls. The car lurched to a stop and she heard them scramble from the car. The sudden rush of air pushed the hair from her face and she swung at the closest person he could reach. The fire extinguisher made contact with the side of the man's face and she used the opportunity to clear the side of the trunk. Thanks to the still lasting effects of her husband's vampire blood and her strong survival instinct, she was able to land on her feet. She took off at a run, not caring what direction she was heading in. She almost made it to the edge of the woods, when she was knocked down. The second man had her by the ponytail and was dragging her back to her feet.

"Let me go!"

"Shut up, whore!"

"Who are you?! What do you want?"

"Shut up." He released her hair and snatched her by the arm. He pushed her off balance and she tumbled to the ground. The force of the fall caused her to scream out in pain. Her knee had taken most of the force of the fall and she could feel it start to swell. Suddenly, rage filled her entire body. She rolled to her back and used every ounce of strength she had and kicked her attacker in the stomach. As he puffed the air from his lungs and tried to regain his balance, she scrambled to her knees. She swung her bound fists as hard as she could against his face. She screamed with rage and pain as her hands made contact with his hard skull. He grunted in pain but still didn't fall. He swung violently and connected with her cheek. She saw the white light of pain shoot through her eye as she crumbled to the ground. His boot connected with her stomach and she felt the ribs crack.

"Let's just kill her."

"No, we're supposed to take her back to Pritchard. " Apparently the first guy had recovered from the blow to the head.