Hello! If you're reading my story (BLESS YOUR SOUL), please leave a review sharing your comments...love it, hate it, whatever. Honestly, I just want some feedback on anything at all and whether or not I should pursue a career in writing/editing novels. This is the first thing I've written to share publicly because I'm too nervous to actually apply myself and share with anyone I know xD ANYWHOO go ahead and read on friends..Ciao!

Special thanks to the recent (and not so recent)people following/favoriting this story (it means a lot). I can't believe its almost going to be a year since I started this story. SCARY.

P.S. Sorry I got all deep and whatnot. Its that time when I need to think about college and what I want to do with my life so I'm confuzzled. BTW should I add Kieran to the mix or nah? Leave reviews about what y'all want, people!

P.S.S- Uh I don't own the Drake Chronicles, it all belongs to Alyxandria Harvey. Except I want my own Nicholas Drake...I should put an ad on Craigslist xD

Chapter 9

Lucy

"I'm in a situation. I need your special set of skills with her." There was a small pause as Jack listened to the portion of the conversation I couldn't hear. "The sooner the better. Actually if you can come by tonight I can have have her with the Drakes by midnight. Just wrap it up over there and be here by five."

With the Drakes by midnight. I'm going back home? I thought this to myself as Jack ended his call.

"You're sending me back?" I asked suspiciously.

"Yup. I'll have Alara personally escort you there safely."

"Why the sudden change of heart? Not that I'm complaining.." There was no way it was that simple. He had to have ulterior motives.

"Well, since you aren't going to recall a single moment of this I might as well tell you."

What do you mean I won't recall?

"Let me begin from the start. I told you our blood was lethal to all those who drank it but that's not completely true; there are exceptions. Mateo bit and drank your blood right? And afterward it led to his death. Well I had a similar expirience with a woman, Vera, except in this case she didn't die. She only got extremely sick; she went through a diferent type of bloodchange. Honestly, I grew hopeful she'd become like me with the affinity for parapsychology."

"How is this at all relevent to me and my situation?!"

"Vera came to me a few months after her eighteenth birthday. She was expiriencing unusual things headaches, migraines, that sort of thing. Similar to what's going to happen to you. It wasn't long before we discovered her talent. Vera invades minds and takes memories."

"Oh please. You really expect me to believe that? This isn't some Sci-Fi movie Jack; this is my life you're intervening in." He only smiled sweetly.

"Believe me or not, it doesn't matter. After tonight you won't remember a thing. I'm not sure how far back we should go." He cocked his head to one side. "Maybe just before you met the Drakes? Or maybe I should tell Vera to wipe you clean? Yes! Perfect, that'll do."

Despite my disbelief, suspicion and dread began to crawl down my spine. I shuddered. A week ago, I would've punched the person who told me I'd be able to communicate with thoughts. Oh, God, Jack was serious. I panicked.

"Jack, you won't get away with it. What about the Drakes? What'll happen when they ask about my kidnapping? About my captors?"

"It won't matter. You won't remember anything, not the Drakes, not your adoptive parents, not even your own name."

"No." I whispered but grew louder with each word. "No. You can't do this to me!"

"You said it yourself, princess. You won't forget or forgive anything that's happened since you've been here. Later you'll see. This is the only way we can be together, forever."

He used the word 'together' again. Jack's whole purpose was to stop being alone. He didn't want to be the only of his kind. I knew what I had to do.

You're right. I can see it now.

You can?

Suddenly I felt a strange pull. It was confusing and amazing all at once, this feeling. Like a magnet I fell head first into Jack's thoughts.

CLICK

He was confused and suspiscous. Why had she agreed so easily? Although he was questioning my actions he deeply wanted to believe my words and the hopefull look in my chocolate eyes. She's so beautiful...

SNAP

Like a rubberband snapping back into shape I came into my own mind. The expirience was amazing. A great deal of these new powers reminded me of water. Delicate but dangerous at the same time. The mind-speak was like skipping rocks in a pond but reading someone was like an ocean's wave. Thoughts came continuously and held buckets of information: thoughts jumbled and spilled over one another, his and my own. Not just thoughts but feelings and I could see through his eyes. I could sense his subconscious' eagerness to beieve me. I could see myself through his perspective. Jack's thoughts glided over my own and I was in awe of this new sense.

Honestly, this much information gave me a huge headache but it was worth it. I finally knew how to hit this performance out of the park.

Yes, it'll be hard letting the Drakes go but I can learn to stay, here with you. They won't understand what's going on with me. Only you do. Because you and I are the same. I'm sorry about earlier...I was scared and I didn't know if I could trust you. Heck, I should thank you for saving me, for this nice room and for telling me the truth about who I am.

Really Lucy? You mean it?

Jack's caramel colored eyes were wide and hopefull. I only nodded this time and kept my cool when he wrapped his arms around me. This was my chance, I thought, as I put my arms around his neck and stood on my toes. This time he was more gentle with his kiss . And I kissed him back eagerly as my back ended up against the thick door a few minutes later.

"Jack?" A knock at the door. Alara's voice was met with a low growl on Jack's part. I giggled at his frustrated expression meanwhile he traced light kisses along my jaw.

Later. I promised as I fixed my hair and licked my lips. Go and then come back later.

Wait for me?

Of course! Where would I even dream of going?

Alright I'll be back, a few hours tops. Bye, love.

With that he stepped out the door and into the hallway where Alara was waiting. I slipped into his head effortlessly once more.

CLICK

Alara was telling me (him) Vera was here early. I asked what she was doing here, it was only around four afterall. Vera needed to tell me something about the Drakes and Montmarte. We reached the end of the hallway where Alara used her key on the elevator and we both entered. I was only counting the minutes before I could visit Lucy again.

SNAP

My headache increased from a dull throbbing to a light ringing in my ears. I needed to learn how to seperate my thoughts from Jack's. But it'll have to wait till later. Alara's timing couldn't have been more perfect. She had another key to the elevator which meant Jack wouldn't be missing his until he came back to visit my empty room. I did a little happy dance and jumped onto the bed, smiling a Cheshire grin.

"Sayonara suckers." I whispered as I held a silver chain, the same one I'd seen around Jack's neck, in my greedy hands. The key at the bottom glinted in the sunlight.

Solange POV

I winced as my mother glared at my siblings and I. My dad sat on the couch, still as a statue, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Solange Ambrielle Drake, how could you have done such a thing?! What in the name of God were you thinking?!" Mom's voice was as sharp as knives.

"MOM ENOUGH! It won't be a problem because we're going to find Lucy first." I argued. I was tired of her scolding and my father's frustrated silence.

"And if we don't?" Her body slumped next to my dad's on the couch. "What happens then? I have no idea what to make of this. These people left no hint whatsoever, no trace they were even here. Not to mention Montmarte has many connections and therefore a headstart."

"But at the least we'll have Lucy back safe! Isn't this all that matters right now? I can understand you're angry with me but shouldn't this rest on the back burner meanwhile Lucy is somewhere out there?"

Mom put her head in her hands after dropping down on the couch."You don't understand Solange. We CAN'T find Lucy with nowhere to even begin."

Everyone stopped the moment she finished her sentence. Nicholas snapped his head up towards her.

"Why are we even discussing this? She said she was done fighting. No one's come for a ransom or anything like that. It's already done. She's dead." Nick's words were drained of all emotion.

Then I was pissed. "How can you say that Nicholas?! Lucy is not dead! I can't fucking believe ANY of you!" Before anyone said anything, I stormed out into my shed outside.

As soon as I made it inside, I dropped to the floor and curled into a ball. I was seething and crying at the same time. Mad at the injustice and crying for Lucy because a part of me truly believed Nick. I'd seen the look on his face in Hallows Brooke. But another part of me felt I would know if she were truly gone. I thought of when Lucy and I were years younger, attending the third grade together.

"Luh-Luh-Lucy." I whispered from behind the green bathroom stall. Her yellow rain boots squeaked as her small steps grew louder. Finally she peeked from behind the stall door.

"Sol? What are you doing in the bath-?" She took in my appearance. Her large brown eyes grew even wider as she studied my wet, disheveled clothes and tears rolling down my face. "Why are you crying?"

"Ashley and Karin and Maria pushed me in-in a p-p-puddle. I yelled for my brothers but they couldn't hear me and you were in recess detention and I just sat whole class was laughing at me and I was cold and I didn't know where to go so I came in here. H-How did you find me anyways?" I sniffed a few more times.

"Recess is over and I saw you didn't come inside. I told Ms. Garcia I needed to tinkle but she didn't believe me. So I yelled that I was going to wet myself in her carpet if she didn't let me go!" Lucy grinned largely. I giggled.

"Really Lucy? Then what happened?" I asked eagerly.

"She just stood there looking scared with her mouth opened. She didn't say anything so I just left to come find you."

We just stood there in the stall for a few minutes grinning and giggling. I stopped giggling when I thought about how mad Ms. Garcia was going to be.

"Lucy you're going to get in sooo much trouble, we both are! Let's go back!" I glanced around and darted for the door but she grabbed me before we left.

"Wait Sol, you're wet! Here take my jacket and my gloves. Oh! And you can wear my leggings! My mom made me wear two to be extra warm but you can have one. Take my hat, it's pink so you it will be cute with your pink jeans!"

Lucy gave me her bright yellow raincoat and she made me put on the white tights underneath my pink (wet) jeans. Her gloves and beanie made me even warmer. I was still wet but I already felt better. Even though we both looked ridiculous. Lucy took my wet jacket and pulled it over her black shirt. Her white leggings disappeared under her yellow rainboots. Meanwhile I was wearing a combo of yellow, pink, and white.

I couldn't have been happier.

"Sol, next time something bad happens to either of us we'll find each other, okay? And then we'll stick together and help whoevers in trouble! Pinky Promise?" She stuck out her pinky finger and I smiled.

"I Pinky Promise!"

Even as we'd grown up together, no matter how silly, we'd never broken that promise. Not when Lucy fell down the stairs when she was ten. Or in the eighth grade when Bailey Mathews slapped me because her crush liked me. Or the time when Lucy got in a fight with three girls and we both got beat up. (However, I found out during suspension Lucy had actually started it by telling some cheerleader she looked like a Pepto Bismal spokesperson. It was the school's chearleading outfit so multiple girls took offense to that.)

I didn't intend to break it now. I got up from the floor and dusted myself off. One look over to the property told me everyone was still in the living room, which meant nobody would notice me sneaking away. I looked around my shabby shed for a lantern, finding one tucked neatly on a shelf. I grabbed it and moved over to the small three by three table in a corner. Sliding it against the floor, I winced at the noise it made before it was completely out of the way.

Searching for the one floorboard, protruding an inch from the rest, I wrestled it away.With that one out of the way the remaining four boards came out with ease.

"C'mon, I know you're in there somewhere!" I stuck my hand in and searched until I felt the corner of a wooden box. "Gotcha!"

There were plenty of these all around the house hidden in floorboards, furniture, and even in disguises like cereal boxes. The wooden box contained cash, a flashlight, a bottle of water, matches, a single vial of blood, a compact first-aid kit, a swiss army knife, and a stake. I shoved all but the flashlight in a stray backpack lying around and placed all the floorboards where they were, undisturbed.

As I moved silently out of the shed and into a tunnel opening, I prayed I wasn't making a huge mistake. Using the flashlight I made my way outside the property, underground, and clutched on to hope.

A few hours later:

I hadn't jogged this long in ages. At the start of my walk, I was focused on being as silent as possible. But after being sure nobody had followed I had started at a brisk pace. After the first hour my breath was sounding haggard and my legs were killing me. The worst part: I was still near the woods aka the house.

My plan thus far, was to get out of the house...check. But now what? I hadn't really thought this far ahead but I'd be damned if that's what was going to stop me. I checked my wristwatch and figured everyone knew I was gone. It was an hour before midnight, I had no phone (ditched it at the shed) and decided to start searching around for anything.

Walking aimlessly for half an hour paid off when I reached a long stretch of road. It was the only one leading in or out from the large property we owned.

Snap

I whipped around to find nothing but the trees for company. I let out a breath of air and examined the road with my flashlight. There. Right underneath my feet were large, black skid marks. No one besides us were ever on this road. They had to have come from Lucy's captors. How had we not seen these on our way to and from Hallows Brooke? Before I began to get excited about the find, chills ran down my spine. That sensation of not being alone came and went.

SNAP...CRUNCH.

I immediatly grabbed the stake from my backpack and skimmed the edges of the woods with my eyes. Those were the sure sounds of a twig snapping and a second footstep before this person or animal stopped in its tracks. I started to take cover behind a tree when I stopped dead in my tracks. A pair of liquid amber eyes stood fifteen feet across from me on the other side of the road . It was way too tall to be a wolf or an animal.

"Who goes there?!" The moment I spoke they disapeared. Holy shit, what the hell was THAT? I'm that stupid bitch in the movies that gets killed for being a dumbass.

Why the hell did I leave my phone? Now my mom won't be able to track its GPS to find my dead carcus being devoured by bambi and whatever other woodland creatures were roaming around. Now I held both the knife and stake hoping I wouldn't have to use them. In the distance I heard a quiet hissing noise...or some sort of purring?

I walked onto the middle of the road and followed the noise, making sure to stay aware of my surroundings. I didn't have to walk far, maybe ten feet through the trees, when I saw a pair of headlights.. A mangeled path through the brush and trees led to a car in the woods, its hood wrapped around a tree. Looking back to where I was the skid marks led to the edges of the forest and dove straight until a tree stopped it. The hissing was coming from under the hood and the purr was from the engine; it was still on.

Fearing for whoever was inside, I ran towards it. "Hello?! Help's here, where are you?! Hello, anybody!?"

There was definitely blood on the driver's side and I freaked. Where were they? I followed a trail of blood and winced. There was so much. My breath was coming out in loud puffs and the temperature was dropping more. Who knew how long this person had? I picked up my pace and followed at a jog, leaving the wreckage behind me.

And then I heard it. A whimper. I snapped around and found a girl in white collapsed onto a nearby tree. She was trying to rise and walked a few feet away from me, trying to continue her way. My heart surged, she's a fighter.

I made my way towards her and cringed when she crumpled to the floor. Already, she was rising and continued a few more steps before stopping to lean on a tree.

I ran to her, heart beating, and helped her stand. She lifted her head, barely awake, and I gasped. She leaned on me whimpering the whole time, and my knees grew weak.

"Lucy?" I whispered and fresh, hot tears fell down my cheeks.

"Help me." Lucy cried. "It. Hurts." I asessed her wounds through my blurred vision. I had to be strong for her if we were going to make it back to the house.

In a white shirt, jeans, and sneakers, Lucy was covered in a multitude of bruises from head to toe. There was a gash on her forehead and another two on her thigh and arm. Shit, how the hell was I supposed to get her home?

I took the first-aid kit from the backpack and took count of what I had. Gauz, tequila, a sewing kit, hydrogen peroxide, a small container holding some sort of balm, and band-aids were stuffed into the small box. I helped Lucy sit up against the tree and muttered some reassuring words while she moaned. I grabbed the tequila bottle, it had about five shots worth inside, and made Lucy drink it.

Meanwhile she coughed and sputtered, I poured the hydrogen peroxide on the three large gashes and began assembling the needle and thread.

Lucy, forgive me, this is going to hurt like a bitch and probably scar.

I was no doctor but I knew how to sew and the bleeding was starting to stop. I began and as she started whimpering again I got sloppy, but didn't stop until all three cuts were sewn up tight. I poured more of the peroxide on them and then slathered the balm over them too. I wrapped the gauze tightly around each wound and stood. I removed my jacket and wrapped it around her curvy frame.

Now, the impossible. "Lucy, I need you to get up, I can't do it by myself." I pleaded. She stirred and used the tree for leaverage. As soon as she leaned on me, we started on our way.

After ten minutes of walking at this horrifically slow pace, my senses went into overdrive. The sensation came again; we weren't alone. I stopped again at the nearest tree and let Lucy lean on it, as I helped her sit up against it. Taking the stake and knife from the backpack I stood. Planting my feet firmly on the ground, I waited.

"Who's there?!" I shouted into the open air. "Come out, where I can see you!"

To my left there was movement and I didn't hesitate to fling my knife in that direction. I heard the unmistakable sound of it hitting flesh and then a growl. I gripped the stake harder and drew a breath.

"What the fuck Solange?! Christ, that hurts!" Logan moved from out of the shadows and yelled at me. I almost passed out with relief right then. The knife was stuck firmly into his forearm. He shook his head and whistled. It pierced the thick silence and I heard Quinn before I saw him and Conner emerge also.

"You guys there's no time, I found Lucy! Please yell at me later but just hurry she's bleeding!" I yelled at them. They froze and I pointed towards the tree where the darkness hid her. Quinn cursed and they all rushed over.

"She'd injured pretty bad. Conner call mom and tell her we found Sol and to get medical supplies ready." Quinn ordered as he picked Lucy up and started moving quicker than I ever could towards the house.

We jogged on the road (he was careful not to move Lucy too much) until headlights appeared. Sebastion was driving the jeep and stopped directly in front of us.

"Is that Lucy?! What in the-?!" Sebastion started until I cut him off.

"Just drive, I'll explain later. Hurry Sebastion, please!"

He only nodded and then we all raced towards the house.

DUN DUN DUHHHHHHNNN :0 The next chapter will explain how Lucy ended up in the woods and I'm sorry if the small time warp was confusing. They are really fun/cool to write though! Please review with your thought I need some critiscism (I don't know if I spelled that wrong or not but I'm too lazy to google it) and or anything really! Anyway thanks for reading and the next chp will be up soon!