Annabelle walked toward her intended destination, mentally making a list of all the ways she could, and would, break the rotten lowlife who took her best friend. Her knuckles turned white as she clenched her fists by her side.
I warned him... she thought. I told that bastard what would happen if he ever hurt her.
Her boots clacked against the pavement as her pace quickened. She shook her head to try to clear her thoughts. She needed to focus, and be alert. She couldn't afford to mess up or raise any flags. She took a deep breath and tuned into her senses.
That's when she heard it. The quiet footsteps that accompanied hers, each foot fall gradually drawing closer. She looked up ahead and decided to turn at the next ally, and just cut through the backstreets to get to the warehouse.
She made her turn and waited in the shadows
Within a few moments, a dark figure rounded the corner. She pressed her back up against the wall of neighboring complex, holding her breath. She watched as the figure walked a few steps ahead before stopping to look around.
Her suspicions confirmed, Anna slowly reached into her boot to grab her dagger and stalked forward.
Vex kept his pace behind the girl, stopping every now and then to avoid suspicion. He watched as she turned a corner, and took his time in his pursuit.
What in hell is this woman doing slinking about the streets in the dead of night?
He gradually approached the junction and rounded the corner, slightly disoriented to see his mark had vanished.
Suddenly, he found himself being knocked to ground. His head smacked hard against the concrete as his midsection felt the weight of someone straddling him, with the coolness of a blade against his throat.
He blinked his eyes open see the woman from the bar astride him, her green eyes flashing angrily at him. He smirked. Well, this was a lovely surprise.
"Hey now, love. I don't know what you've heard about me, but I am just not that kind of girl." He huffed, widening his eyes at her.'" You could at least buy me dinner first" He pouted.
"Why are you following me?" she hissed at him, her blade pressing against his skin.
"I wasn't following you" he lied, trying to move from under her. Then rethought his position.
She tilted her head at him, her auburn locks falling over one shoulder." Oh Really? So you just happened to be walking along the exact same path, at the exact same time, going exactly the same way?"
He raised his hands in mock surrender, before rolling his eyes. "Stranger things have happened"
She narrowed her eyes at him, though her grip on the knife loosened slightly." Doubtful"
Vex seized his opportunity and knocked the blade from her hand, before reversing their positions
He stared down as second of surprise flashed across her face, a satisfied smile making a home upon his.
She glared up at him.
"Isn't this a precarious position to be in?" He thought aloud, watching as her cheeks reddened.
"Tell me" he continued, his hands pinning her wrist above either side of her head "What are you doing roaming about the streets this time of night?"
She squirmed under him for a few moments, trying to free her hands, before eventually slumping her shoulders back against the pavement.
She closed her eyes for a second, her momentary fear giving way to irritation.
Vex stared at her as the expressions on her face raced from panicked, to furious, and finally to resignation. She had her head turned away from him until then,as she looked up at him, her facial features settled on a look he could only identify as idle boredom.
"Look, I'm kind of in a hurry. " She sighed
"I noticed, with the whole "haste to jump my bones" bit "He smirked again, his eyes alit with amusement. "Not that I'm not flattered".
She rolled her eyes at him "I truly couldn't help myself" she replied dryly.
"' course you couldn't" He quipped.
Anna closed her eyes again, taking a deep breath, before trying again.
"Listen" She started, peering up at his face. "I don't know why you're here. And I don't really care." She watched, holding his attention." I've got something I need to tend to, so I'd really appreciate it if you could just let me go". Her eyes searched his face, as she calculated her next move.
He was quiet for a moment, as if considering her plea, before speaking again.
"Afraid not. I'm Sorry" He smirked again, obviously pleased with himself.
"So am I" she muttered, before slamming her body forward and head-butting him. She rolled out from under his unconscious body, grabbing her weapon from the ground. She stood up and looked down at his still form, a slight pang of guilt creeping in before she dismissed it.
She shook herself off and ran.
Anna walked up to the boarded up building, finding a door along the back that was easy enough to open. She silently let herself in, following the sound of chattering voices and sinister laughter.
Sure enough, she found Tommy and his lackeys huddled around a poker table, bragging about their latest conquest.
"Oh, and the look on that slut's little face. " He laughed, tossing back the bottle in his hand. "Such a pretty little face, she had." He continued. "I almost wish I'd 'aver kept it. " He looked almost regretful, before a slimy grin spread across his face. "But not as much as I wished I'd kept some other parts!" His buddies howled in laughter, as Anna swallowed the bile that rose in her throat.
She took a slow step forward, walking down the dark corridor towards the gang.
She was roughly ten paces away, getting ready to strike, when she heard one of DuPont's boys call to him from the opposite side of the room.
"Hey, Tommy! Look what we found in the alley!"
Anna watched as two men hauled a body towards the center of the room. As they drew closer, she was able to make out the familiar mop of black hair and leather clad body of the man she ran into earlier.
From the looks of it, he was still unconscious.
She gazed on as they tied him to a chair. Tommy walked in a predatory circle around the man, poking at him every now and then, before stomping his foot in frustration like a petulant child.
"Would someone please wake this useless sack of flesh up?" He barked. "It's no fun when they're not awake". He whined.
Just then, the shaggy haired man stirred, his eyes slowly taking in his surroundings, before he spoke.
"Tommy" He purred. "My old friend. I've been meaning to visit".
One of DuPont's goons stalked forward and punched the captive below the ribs.
"Save it, Mezmer" Tommy spat, circling him again. He motioned for his men to come closer, as he crouched down in front of him.
"Face it, Vex" He punched him in the jaw, as one of his guys passed him a bat. "You're through. " He walked behind him, and unfastened his hands, only to grab them and bend back to in unnatural angle. There was a sickening pop and cracking noise as the man's screams filled the room.
As if snapping out of a trance, Anna finally found her voice.
"Hey, Douche Canoe!" She yelled, walking towards the center of the room.
All eyes turned to her, including the Mesmer's. The gang leader looked at her appraisingly.
"Well, if it isn't the lovely Ms. Morgan" He sneered "Pray tell, to what do I owe the pleasure, lass?"
Their captive forgotten, the Red Caps turned to start circling her, the blood lust evident in their eyes.
Undeterred, she walked towards Tommy, her features remaining cool and collected.
"Where's the ring, Tommy?" She asked calmly.
Instead of answering her, he simply cackled. He tossed his head back, revealing the blood soaked diamond ring hanging from a chain around his neck. Clara's ring.
Anna fought to remain her composure, speaking evenly. "I told you what would happen if you hurt her".
Tommy stuck his nose in the air, casting her a smug grin.
"And I told her what would happen if she ran" he countered, idly staring at his bloodstained fingers. "Not my fault the bloody bitch didn't listen".
Annabella looked up at the five other Red Caps in the room, her voice taking on a strange tone of calm and authority as she addressed them. "Leave. Now" She ordered. The men stood up, their backs erect, and walked obediently out of the building.
She watched as they leaved, a smug grin on her face, before she turned her gaze back to the ring leader.
His air of confidence from seconds before had been replaced with growing anxiousness, as she continued to advance on him.
He threw his hands up in surrender, stumbling backwards.
"It looks like you're all alone, DuPont". She started, her voice now hauntingly calm and almost wistful." So you have two choices." She paused, watching his eyes grow wide as she raised her palms, creating a circle of fire around him. "You can call the Dark Fey elders, right now, and Confess to the slaughter of a light fey, and thereby risking the start of a new war. For which the penalty is death. Or" She paused again, noticing the spark of hope behind his eyes.
She stared him dead on then, her slow malicious smile causing his face to fall." Or, I can save them the paperwork". With that, she flicked her fingers out in a pulling motion, watching with a vacant expression as the air from DuPont's lungs vacated his body, and water took its place, bubbling out of his nose and mouth. The Red Cap man clawed in vain at his chest, before finally falling into a lifeless lump on the dark cement floor.
The flames left as quickly as they appeared, as she bent over his limp form and yanked the chain off of his neck.
A slow whistle caused her to spin around.
"Bloody hell. Remind me never to piss you off, love" A tired, but familiar voice carried over from across the room.
Wincing, and mentally kicking herself for leaving a witness, She walked over to the dark haired man still tied to a chair, and unbound him.
Now, overly aware of just how much she had exposed herself, she stood awkwardly with her hands at her sides, rocking on her toes. She was careful to look anywhere but at him as he flexed his sore wrists and theatrically cracked the bones in his neck.
She could feel his gaze on her, but adamantly refused to return his stare. Instead, she spoke to the floor.
"Are you...uh.. Okay?" She asked
A gave her a wry smile then. "Oh, yes. I'm just peachy". He winced, before cradling his abdomen with one arm.
Anna finally looked up, appraising his body. For damage, she mentally added.
She stepped forward and gingerly grabbed his hands, turning them over. When she noticed him choke back a scream, she frowned.
"Hmm"
The man rolled his eyes. "Care to share with the rest of us?" He drawled.
Instead of answer, she splayed her fingers right below his sternum, and pressed down with moderate pressure.
He double forward and yelped, before glaring. "Christ, Woman. Do you enjoy inflicting pain on the helpless?" he hissed at her.
"You're not helpless" She stated, then frowned. "Though you are pretty messed up"
"Not the first time I've heard that, pet" He winked at her.
She ignored him.
"Can you walk?" She asked
"Yeah, but-"
"Good. Then get up"
[Author's Note: I'm not really pleased with how this chapter turned out, but if I didn't write something, it would go in the muse graveyard. I've got way too many potential story lines that have gone to die there, never even making it onto a keyboard. Anyway, please read and review! I'm trying to decide if I should scrap this project or not. Thank you! ~Kate]