Chapter 2

As I sat I felt such a sense of peace along with a semblance of control for the first time since my phone rang when that text arrived. The moment I sat in the pilot seat of my plane and started my check list calm descended. The flight itself seemed to pass so much easier and quicker just having control and the familiarity of the 'home run'.

I was grinning from ear to ear taxiing along my runway towards my hanger; home at last. The stress started to weigh heavy as I climbed from the plane. Jake was bouncing so I sent him off to get the car. It was at the other end of the hanger in the garage. I wanted to do the final checks without his distraction. I carried my luggage out of the plane and placed it beside Jakes. I nicely got all the chocks in position when a hand went over my mouth and an arm restrained me from behind. I tried to fight using any technique I know but my dark haired assailant overpowered me completely. His arms like steel bands pinning me in place. The strength and power of the icy cold grip is painful.

He pulled me up tightly against his body, lifting me at an angle off the floor so he could run. The hanger became a blur as we sped away. Any infinitesimal doubts that a vampire had taken me whisked away as fast as the landscape. The hand was removed from my mouth as he ran, he still had me securely restrained using his arm as he ripped away my jewellery. It seems he is in league with my last kidnappers; I just hope they haven't learnt about my toe ring or the phone. I feel like a rag doll shaken and tossed as he runs at a blurring speed.

Instants later we stopped. It's a relief to be dragged into the back seat of a car. The car accelerated away as we hit the seat, the door slamming closed behind us. He threw me across the car, my legs restrained across his lap with an arm, his other hand on my shoulder, most of my body laid across the seat. The car made for a much comfier ride even with the side of my face forced into the scratchy checked upholstery of the back seat. I knew screaming would be pointless. I bided my time.

It was almost a relief to be taken straight away, no more time for waiting and worrying. I just hope Angela is okay.

The vampire kept me restrained with his hand heavy on my shoulder, preventing me from moving and seeing much out of the windows. The car felt to change direction a few times. Some of the turns were taken so fast and hard it hurt as the hands held me firmly. I guess they are trying to reduce the chance of any trackers following us. The little I could glimpse out of the car windows, gave me the impression we, eventually, were heading in the direction of Port Angeles. I suppose the car helps hide my scent.

We left the road onto a rough overgrown track. The bouncing caused both me and the car to groan with abuse. We finally bounced back onto a paved surface before skidding to a halt inside a warehouse. The large doors rolled down closing off the escape route and the reduced light making it harder to make out the interior of the space as I was dragged from the car. The driver walked at human speed back from the door he had just closed.

"Well, it seems we managed to get you away from your bodyguards much easier than we expected," gloated the red head female vampire as she walked towards me from a door on the far side of the warehouse.

"Is Angela okay?" I was defiant, all I care about is Angela's well-being.

"For now," came the mocking reply.

"You have me now, so let her go," I had to try.

Laughter met my words as my dark haired captor dragged me across the room in response to a nod of the head from the red head.

"Victoria, I assume," I questioned the red head as I was dragged away.

She raised her eyebrow and smirked but never replied.

The dark haired male threw me into a small room, the only light was from the dirty roof lights far above in the warehouse roof. As soon as the door slammed I looked around. Angela was curled up on a blanket in the corner of the room. I sighed in relief when I saw Angela's exhausted eyes meeting mine.

"Are you okay?" I whispered, not wanting the vampires to overhear us too much with their super sensitive hearing.

She nodded and gave me a weak smile. I put my finger to my mouth to ensure she didn't say anything about my actions as I kicked hard at my toes to activate my toe ring, yes, bruised toes again! I pulled the phone out and sent Jasper a text message. I have never been happier that he had instructed me to switch off the keypad sounds along with all other sounds phones usually make, it's not even on vibrate if it rings. I sent the code word then details about where I thought we were knowing they would be able to locate me from the signals from the ring and the phone. I sent brief details of the three vampires I had seen. I replaced the phone, leaving it switched on this time.

I smiled at Angela and crossed my fingers to show her I hoped rescue would arrive soon.

Angela looked weak and exhausted but relatively unharmed. I just hope help arrives in time.

After I put the phone away, I dragged myself upright. My neck throbbed. I hadn't realised how badly bruised and sore I was from the capturers rough handling. I made it across to Angela and tried to help her sit up. I got her sat propped in the corner but just the act of sitting made her dizzy. I wished I had some water to give her.

The door was thrown open, bouncing back only to stop with a shudder as my captor thrust out his hand to stop it. He marched across and roughly grabbed my arm dragging me out of the room. He slammed the door shut as we exited, leaving Angela alone again.

I guess I was thrown in with Angela long enough for them to talk freely to each other; to give a run down of my capture and any chance of any rescuers finding us.

I was tossed onto the concrete floor. The vampires surrounded me. I needed to buy Angela as much time as I could, to give the others time to reach us. I waited for the red head to speak, I thought she must be Victoria but she had still not confirmed my guess.

"How can such a small insignificant human cause so much trouble? You are the reason I lost my mate and for that you will pay," after all her glaring at last she started talking, well spitting at me with words thrown in!

"Why me?" I asked hoping to keep her talking.

"Such a sweet smelling pet isn't she Laurent," she looked over at the driver, who just grinned at her. "James only ever had one pet escape from him, she was stolen by another vampire and turned. Since she was keeping you as a pet James decided taking you would be the perfect revenge. She will pay too but I feel like having a snack first," she stalked forward with a cruel smirk.

"What about Angela?" I was running out of time, I tried to stall her.

The laugh that rang out from her was so musical but the sadistic look on her face made it all the more menacing, "Riley is still young so always hungry, he did so well bring you here without eating you he deserves a reward." My captor had a name now, he was beaming in praise from his mistress.

"No!" I screamed as she blurred towards me grabbing my arm. I felt a sharp pain then felt the sucking as she drained my blood. Her black eyes had rolled back in her head, I could hear a contented purr as she drank my blood. I could feel myself becoming light headed. I'm running out of time.

Hope sprang as I saw two blurs crashing into Riley and Laurent. The squealing tears ripped through the air. Victoria ripped her teeth from me, dropping me in a panic as she set off; the rat deserting the sinking ship she ran away from the combat.

I felt weak, woozy and light-headed, an unnatural heat building coursing through my veins. My eyes struggled to keep up with the action unfolding around me. A black horse size streak whooshed past me barrelling onto the back of the diminishing form of Victoria. I heard another screeching tear and saw a red ball roll across the floor. My stomach clenched as I realized it wasn't a ball, it was her head.

The first blurs that dispatched Riley and Laurent were stood over me, their words came to me but comprehension took a few more moments.

Alice was telling Jasper if they didn't push more venom into me I would have a really long change or my heart give out and die in the process. Then Sam gave them his permission to bite me without affecting the treaty. More words about feeding frenzy but it was okay, followed by a comment about golden eyes. With the little energy I had left I lifted my arms to them to give my trust and permission. Cold pressure pushed through into both of my arms, the bitter cold turning to heat as it spread.

Pain startled me back into more awareness as my arms got wrenched out and up, my whole body jostled. I heard angry words then felt relief as I recognised the voice of the other half of my soul. More cold pressure forcing into my arteries, this time into my neck then I heard a scream of panic. The cold at my neck disappeared.

The burn just kept building but more cold hands and pinprick scratches then a paralysis spread. Calm and relaxation flooded through me. "Angela?" I croaked out in a panicked voice. Where was my friend, had I ensured her safety?

A set of hands grasped my hand, the touch gave me such peace and completeness and I heard a voice pointing out relief at that touch bought me.

I heard another familiar voice telling me Angela was safe, they would take care of her.

Voices I recognised but couldn't find enough energy to put names to, confirmed no other vampires had been in the area and the three had been taken care of.

The conversations around me were becoming more distant but I heard the treaty was still intact.

I allowed myself to relax further knowing everyone was now safe. The paralysis spread through me but the burning pain still consumed me from within. Waves of calm relaxation allowed the darkness to overwhelmed me, I hid in a dark quiet place in my mind.