The Price of Desire

Disclaimer: I do not own Victorious

A/N:

Chapter 14 (Stylist of Death)

Trina followed Jason and Sikowitz to the front of the hair stylist, Mercury was starting to lock his doors. The man was a tall, slender man with long blonde hair and movie star sunglasses. His clothes were a mixture of flashy disco colors, almost eighties retro. She had to fight the urge to laugh at this man's outfit. If this was what Mercury looked like, she couldn't wait to see Venus.

Christy had gone around back, hoping to get in that way. She was best fit to take out any gang members hiding around that area, making for an easier time taking out Mercury and Venus. Though, this time, they were going to hopefully not kill anyone. As Mercury turned, his eyes fell onto Sikowitz's bald head. His lips fell and he slowly shook his head. "I'm sorry, but we're closed."

"You don't understand!" Jason started with a charming smirk. "It's an emergency, just look at my Uncle's head! Surely you have something to remedy this!" Mercury tapped his chin and lifted his shoulders.

"Yeah either a comb or a razor. However…" He turned his attention to Trina and slowly ran his hand along the handle of his door. She raised an eyebrow as his fingers gripped the handle tightly. "Perhaps there is something I can do for you." He grabbed her wrist and pushed the door open. "Come, enter my salon." She let out a yelp as he whisked her inside. What the hell was wrong with her? Unless the gang had gotten smart and he knew her appearance, in which case, this was trouble.

"My hair is just fine, thank you." Mercury slammed the doors shut just as Jason was about to enter. He clicked the lock and threw Trina into a chair. Jason let out a shout and started pounding on the door. "What the?"

"Shatterproof glass." He kicked the chair and arm cuffs wrapped around her wists. She let out a yelp and looked up, growling angrily. She did not appreciate this. She took a look at her surroundings and let out a disgusted moan. The floor was a tacky looking tile with silver and black swirls on each tile. The ceiling had stars and planets hanging from above, and the walls were painted black with rockets, stars, and planets painted along them. The chairs lined against the walls resembled astronaut chairs. The whole place needed to be torn down.

"You know, my own hair stylist does wonders for me." She watched as Mercury walked to the counter behind her and picked up some barber shears. She clenched her fists and jerked forward, growling vehemently. "In fact, I have an appointment with her in about a week…and I warn you, if you touch my hair, she won't be happy."

"You might wish for your friend and his uncle to stop pounding on my doors, it could attract some unwanted attention. As for your hairstylist, I'm sorry, but you're going to have to miss that appointment." She rolled her eyes and glared at the arm cuffs. Jesus, she hated being vulnerable.

"Why don't you stand in front of me and talk to me?"

"You think I don't know who you are?" He leaned forward, his head next to hers. His breath hit her neck and swirled into her nose. Her stomach lurched with disgust, what kind of mouthwash did this prick have? "My boss wants something from you, and I'm hearing that you are an elusive little shirt. The police are attacking our sectors, we're not sure if you had anything to do with that though, surely you wouldn't go back on our little 'warning'."

"Oh? That? I had nothing to do with the police involvement, that was your own doing."

"How so?" He sneered and rose up as her lips curled into a smirk.

"Someone neglected to remember that my dad is the Deputy Chief, rank two, of the LAPD. The third in command. Of course if he and his family goes missing, the police are going to investigate. That has nothing to do with me. Not only that, but there are security cameras in that house, what police officer of Dad's rank wouldn't have cameras set up through his own house?"

"Shit!"

"Exactly. The Deputy Chief rank one, also known as the Assistant Chief, and the Police Chief, are good friends with Dad. So naturally, the Assassins have declared war when they took Dad. You had to see it coming. Now, about what you may be about to do…Yes I have something you want, but it is not on hand right now, is it? If you kill me…then you kill the person who knows where it is. Also, murder can't look good on a resume for a highly respected hair stylist. You know I'm right."

"Shut up…" He held the shears to her neck. She tilted her head back very slightly and swallowed as he pressed gently, not cutting, against her jugular. "I'm a high member in this gang, you think you're the first I've ever killed? Don't worry, I'll make your death quick."

She moved her eyes to the doors where Jason was kicking with all his might, even Sikowitz was trying to bash the windows with his walking stick. Her heart started racing as sweat began running along the side of her face. This was the closest to death she'd been, the closest to being helpless, and she loathed it. What if she died here and let down everyone that mattered? What would Tori say? She clenched her eyes shut as Mercury chuckled maliciously. And what of Jason? They'd really begun to make a connection. She wanted to know if there was something there, anything at all. She simply couldn't die here.

"Mercury, where are your gang members right now?" She kept her calm composure, trying her best poker face possible. He removed his shears from her neck and slowly looked to the door leading into the back area. She smirked subtly as she saw a hint of blood running from beneath the door. "You neglected the fourth member of my party, Mercury."

"What!"

"Yeah, you know, the other martial arts girl that uses a sword. Christy."

"Shit! Venus is in the back!" He started towards the door, leaving Trina enough time to look down towards the button on the chair that he'd kicked. She smirked and struck it with her foot, releasing the arm cuffs.

"I wouldn't be worrying about her right now, Merc." She hopped out of the chair, grinning as the stylist turned towards her. His eyes widened as she started rubbing her wrists. She narrowed her eyes and glared at him from the corners of her sockets. "Bad mistake, Mercury, I don't very well appreciate being restrained or held down. There are people who discover this the hard way. Now, I'm sorry, but I can't let you go in there after Venus."

"Why? What power have you got?" He scoffed. She threw her fists down and took a step forward, growling slightly.

"You locked Jason out there, so you're stuck out here. When I'm done with you, Mercury…you'll be going to maximum security. Pretty sure you won't be seeing Venus after today."

"You…bitch…" He twirled his small blade with his fingers and clasped tightly on the handle. "I'll kill you."

"And I'll knock those freakishly tacky glasses off your ugly mug." Mercury let out a roar and ran towards her, swinging his blade wildly in the air. Did they all just charge like this? "And there's your first mistake." She sidestepped and leaned forward, kicking her foot against his back. He yelled and fell forward. She straightened herself and glared as he started to move back around. "Actually no. Your first mistake was attacking my family. And you thought I was just going to cooperate with you and hand over the chip? Are you fucking insane?" He narrowed his eyes and she rolled her head to the right, scanning his outfit up and down. "On second thought, don't answer that."

"You little cunt."

"Excuse me, what was that?"

"You heard me." He flung the barber shears at her head. Her eyes widened and she quickly leapt to the side. Mercury pulled another blade from his back pocket and tackled her to the ground. She'd left herself wide open! Crap! She let out a loud grunt as he pinned her body over her wrists and held the blade to her throat. She looked up into his eyes as her chest slowly rose and fell. "Go ahead, knock off my glasses."

"Fuck you." She let out a grunt as he thrust his elbow into her stomach and pushed the knife against her throat. If he applied any pressure, she was a goner. It was best to avoid testing this. She slowed her breathing and closed her eyes.

"You're not really in the position to say that. Are you now?" The pounding stopped, had Jason given up? She opened her eyes and looked to the windows. Jason was no longer there. No, that couldn't be right. She slowly stretched her arm out, trying to reach for the blade on the ground, but it was too far from her. She was screwed. "It was nice knowing you, Vega. I'll be sure to let your family know you went out fighting."

"You think it's over, you space age freak of nature? Is that what you think?" She could see her life flashing before her eyes. As her heart started to frantically increase in speed, she was only becoming more and more afraid of impending death. "You think I'm just going to give up like that? You're dead wrong."

"Hmm, I'd say you're the one that's dead." He withdrew the blade and moved it along her body to point just above her heart. Her eyes widened as he started turning the blade to a ninety-degree angle. "I'm going to carve you up. Got that? Anything left to say?"

"Just one…I think your salon is incredibly tacky."

"What?" His expression fell flat and she closed her eyes, nodding with certainty. "Seriously? That's it? That my salon is tacky?"

"Yes. It's tacky and needs a makeover. Contrary to popular belief, retro is not in." She took a deep breath and felt her body starting to ache. God she wanted to get out of here.

"Whatever. Goodbye Trina." Just as he lifted his hand to make his first stab, the back door flew open and he froze. Trina tilted her head back to see a tall woman with long red hair standing in the doorway, she was holding two bloody knives. Her eyes were wide and a sword was piercing through her abdomen. "V-Venus! Venus baby!" Her face scrunched in pain and she let out a whimper as she fell to the ground. Christy revealed herself, panting heavily, her martial arts uniform was soaked red from a mixture of her blood and various gang members.

Before anyone could react to anything at all, the front doors crashed open, Sikowitz had just driven his van through. Glass flew out all across the room. Mercury slowly looked back as Jason stepped into view and fired a gunshot into the back of his neck. "Get off her." The man gurgled and fell to the side. Trina's eyes were wide with shock, she was too stunned to even move. Christy dropped her sword and ran to her side.

"Trina! Are you okay?" Trina scrunched her face and let out a very tiny whimper. Of course Jason hadn't left her, why would he? Same for Christy, she made it. Jason ran to her side and knelt down.

"Trina, talk to me."

"I-I-I was so close…" She tried to sit up, so Jason helped steady her by placing a gentle hand against her back. Christy did the same. It was a damn good thing they packed those guns. She threw her arms around Jason's neck and brought her forehead against his shoulder. "I couldn't move out from under him. I know I'm not weak, but damn it, I was open! Sikowitz warned me about being open…"

"We all make mistakes," Sikowitz commented as he walked up to them. "It happens. Glad we managed to get inside in time." He looked back to his car, still in good shape, and took a deep breath. "Christy, let's back that car out of the salon." Christy gave him a look, then looked back to Trina for a second. She pressed her lips together and slowly stood up.

"All right." After the two of them were gone, Trina pulled her head back and looked into Jason's eyes.

"You're seeing me at my worst right now, Jason." Jason smiled at her and lifted his hand, brushing her hair back.

"I'm just glad to be seeing you at all." She closed her eyes and chuckled dryly. She had a lot to learn. She probably could have gotten away from Mercury in hindsight. "What happened in here…"

"I got cocky."

"Well then…" He smirked and tilted his head to the right. "Don't get cocky."

"Now there's an idea. Nice to see you kept trying to get in…"

"I couldn't lose you." She swallowed and cleared her throat. She really couldn't think of a damn thing to say to him. She was ashamed that it came to her being whittled to a helpless being.

"I could have gotten away from him."

"Yeah you could have, but you didn't."

"True. I don't know what I'd do without you and Christy. Without you."

"I'd be lost without you. Just saying." Her heart pulsed and her eyes flicked to his. So soft, so genuine. The heat shot up to her cheeks and her lips separated. Jason's eyes drifted to her lips. Was he going to kiss her? Now wasn't the right time, was it? They still had to save the others. But she wanted this kiss to happen. Why? Why did she want that? Her heart pounded heavily in her chest and her lips trembled with longing. She closed her eyes and started to lean forward.

Just as their lips started to brush together, sending a spark through their bodies, they were interrupted by a loud moan. Jason pulled away and her body flushed. They looked over to the door and saw Venus rolling onto her back, she was still alive! "What do we do about her?" Trina asked as she pulled away half-heartedly. She was pissed.

"I guess we could at least try to bandage that wound and let the police do the rest."

"Right…I'll go get Christy…" She turned away and cursed beneath her breath. Jason touched his fingers to his lips and slowly shook his head. There would be time for feelings and emotions later, right now Venus was just a reminder that more important things were at stake here.

Well, Sector C's out in an epic chapter. Let me know what you thought of this chapter, and then read the next and comment, have a feeling you're going to like it. I'm going to double update because I didn't get around to updating last night's.