CHAPTER 14

A light drizzle started to fall from the dark sky. I hoped that this wouldn't take too long. I had a Spanish test tomorrow.

Driving along a empty road, I searched for the place that we might have been headed. Five minutes later. I spotted an old warehouse up ahead, and slowed the car down enough so I could turn. Angel always had this thing with warehouses. The best place for chaos without getting busted. I stopped in front of the large metal building. It stood about four stories high, and just happened to cast a doom and gloom shadow. Great. Mike stirred, next to me.

"Sorry pal." I said before I hit him again. He slumped down further in the seat. "Have a nice nap." Opening the door, I grabbed my jacket from the seat and got out. A cool breeze was mixed with the rain. A real hair damager. The place loomed in front of me, like a big, black…thing. The gravel crunched under my boots as I strided towards the entrance. "Oh please let Angel be here." I said quietly. Stopping before the metal sliding door, I took a deep breath, then pushed it open.

The room was very large, with a high ceiling. It lit up as lightning cracked outside. My eyes were drawn to the back were there was a fire going in a fireplace.

He stood in front of it. Hands in the pocket of his long, black trench coat.

"I see my friend got one part of the job done." He said turning slowly, and looking me in the eye. The blaze of the fire illuminated him, so that I couldn't see his front. It kinda made him look sexy.

No, Bella. Not now.

"Sorry, he just wasn't fit for the part…so I filled in." My voice was calm. "Now that I'm here. Why don't you tell me why you've been" I counted on my fingers. "Stalking me, hurting me…but not killing me." I took a step closer. His face showed a small wicked smile that made me shiver. "Hey I have an idea." I continued. "Why don't we finish this so I can go home."

He shook his head and chuckled. "Bell, I don't think you quite understand the stakes here. Sooner or later you've got to be holding all the cards." Seeing that I was confused. He moved back into the shadows and came back dragging something heavy. He pushed the thing in front of him.

A girl.

Bound at the wrists and ankles, and gagged. She fell to her knees. I could see the ropes cutting into her wrists, making them bleed. Suddenly she looked up at me. Eyes wide with panic and fear. My breath caught in my throat and my stomach Knotted.

"Jess." I whispered. Her eyes pleaded for me to help her. I felt a wave of emotion, which was the reason for a lot of people's death. I desperately wanted to run to her, but my instincts told me to wait. I lifted my gaze to Angel who was smirking.

"What do you want?" I growled fiercely. His grin expanded. I stood still as he walked around me, and spoke finally:

"To be quite honest Bell, I'm getting tired of playing our little cat and mouse game."

"Who's playing?" I questioned. He ignored me and continued.

"You know it wasn't that easy to follow you here."

"Oh, I can imagine the hardships you must have endured." I cut in sarcastically. He smiled at my dry humor.

"Then your stupid vampire boyfriend had to watch your every move, which mad it all the harder."

I stepped away from him. "What the hell are you talking about?" I demanded.

"The redhead." He replied casually.

Edward. "What the heck does he have to do with any of this?" If Angel had wanted my attention before, he had it now. He was face to face with me.

"He hasn't told you yet?" His voice held curiosity.

"Told me what?" I asked nervously. He leaned in close

"He's one too." Anger floored me. I arched my arm back, and before he could move, hit an uppercut into his lower jaw that sent him flying backwards.

"SHUT UP!" I screamed. "What the hell do you know?" Angel rose slowly to his feet, whilst I stood there fuming.

"I've said all I need to say about him. Too bad you won't get to hear it from him yourself. Now…back to our earlier discussion." He wasn't even dazed! He started pacing again, and I was shaking with rage. All this time Jessica was staring at the both of us in horror. I didn't even notice. Edward? A Vampire? It can't be. How would Angel know?

"What do you want?" I asked once again.

"I've brought you here to show you pain before you die." He thought for a moment. "Or maybe I won't kill you yet…I like toying with your emotions." I stood there feeling helpless. What was I saying? Me? Helpless? Dammit Bella! You're the slayer, Do something!

"Angel…I'm sorry for you." Not really. "You and your pathetic life. Do you honestly think that I'm going to stand here and watch you kill her? Don't think so."

What happened next happened so fast, I didn't have time to move. I heard a click and turned just in time to see Mike, with a gun. There was a dull shot then I was struck with a dart in the back. A tranquilizer.

The ground rose up to meet me as I fell. The last thing I saw was Angel hauling Jess to her feet, and sinking his teeth into her throat.

No! I screamed inside my head. Then everything went black.