CHAPTER 14

Mark was waiting at the staircase when Jaden emerged from her bedroom. "You look nice." He said, taking in her dress and upswept hair.

"Thank you." Jaden stared at him, not bothering to hide her amusement. "This is the first time I've ever seen you dressed up."

"It will be the last." He promised, looking a bit uncomfortable in his black suit.

"Aww…" Jaden teased, taking his arm and allowing him to lead her down the stairs.

"Don't make me hurt you." He grumbled good-naturedly.

Jaden started to reply but halted when she seen Amaranta approaching, her purple eyes only for Mark. "What is going on with her?"

"Other than I'm trying to avoid her?"

"Mark," Amaranta held out a diamond covered hand. "Care to dance?"

"I promised the first one to Jaden." He lied instantly.

Amaranta's gaze turned to Jaden, her eyes suddenly becoming cold. "Lucky girl." She murmured.

Jaden met Amaranta's stare and offered her biggest, phoniest smile. "To the victor…" She whispered as they passed Amaranta.

"You're wicked." Mark chuckled.

"I know but be my date tonight will you? I don't feel like having Batista mooning over me any more."

"Notice that too?"

"I'm not that far gone old man." Jaden shot back. After her encounter in the bedroom with Batista, Jaden's 'spider senses' had gone haywire. Something was very wrong here, she just couldn't put her finger on it, for some an "amicable" companion, to steal Amaranta's words, Batista sure was pushy.

They danced to a couple waltzes, occasionally stopping in order to be introduced to someone or another, by midnight the place was packed.

"I didn't think there were so many of us." Jaden whispered, awed by the numbers. "And to gather in one place, isn't that risky?"

"Money buys anything, including acceptance, most likely mortals think we're all eccentric rich people, which is the norm for this city." Mark replied.

"May I cut in?"

Jaden frowned when she was swept away, by none other than Batista. "That was rude." She snapped, not in the mood for anymore of his soft admonishments or fawning.

Batista seemed to know the game was up because his eyes hardened, the usual gentle smile he had for her was replaced with a mocking one. "Jaden, I don't have time for you to come around my dear." He said coldly.

"You're immortal, all you have is time."

Mark watched as Batista and Jaden danced around the ballroom, apparently exchanging words. He was just about to go reclaim his friend when Amaranta appeared, her hand out.

"You're free now." She said softly.

"I'm tired." He lied flatly.

"Mark…" She whispered, pressing her body against him. "Just one dance, it won't kill you."

Mark stared down at her, feeling more and more uneasy, this beautiful woman reminded him of a spider.

Amaranta's eyes flashed, as if reading his mind.

"I think Jaden and I are leaving." He said, gently but firmly trying to push her away.

Amaranta held fast to him, her strength more than surpassing his own. "So soon?"

"We're loners."

"You're lonely, you miss your woman." Amaranta stated coldly, sounding annoyed.

Mark sighed heavily. "Yes, I miss her."

"She's gone mad, missing her will not change that."

Frowning he shoved her away, realizing that they were no longer in the ballroom. "What's going on Amaranta?" He demanded. "What do you want from us?"

"From you Mark." She breathed, moving towards him, her eyes pleading, her arms outstretched as if to embrace him.

"What then?"

"Just a kiss, just one simple kiss."

"Come with me."

Jaden winced as Batista's fingers dug into her wrist. "Let me go!" She ordered angrily, noticing that no one even looked their way, instead it seemed as if the ballroom was clearing out. "I mean it!"

He whirled around and slapped her, sending her flying backwards.

Jaden avoided the floor, willing herself to rise into the air, glaring down at him.

Batista grinned, revealing his fangs. "I do so love a challenge."

"What's wrong?" John demanded when Isis suddenly stopped, watching as she stumbled away from him, leaning against a tree.

"I don't know…" She admitted, pressing her hand to her forehead.

"Isis?"

She looked up to find him standing over her, his blue eyes worried. "I'm fine John, just gimme a moment to… to rest."

John nodded, grabbing her elbow to steady her as she began to fall. "Isis!"

She slumped against him, shaking her head as if to clear away something. "I feel funny."

He tilted her chin up, studying her thoughtfully.

Isis shivered as if a cold wind had cut through her when in fact there wasn't even a slight breeze. She was surprised when she felt cool lips pressing against hers, responding automatically, her arms going around John's neck.

The kiss lasted for only a minute and when they pulled away, they just stared at each other. Then, simultaneously, their eyes widened.

"Oh my god! What're we doin'?" Isis shrieked, backing away from him, her hands on her face. "What have we done? John?"

John shook his head, staring at her as if just seeing her. "Isis, those people… all those people we killed…" He whispered. "They didn't even deserve it." He turned away from her, hunching over as if in pain.

Isis hesitantly approached him, placing her hand on his back. It was light a veil had been removed from their eyes, their vision now clear instead of… bloody.

"Amaranta." She said softly.

"What?" John didn't bother straightening himself or turning around, just clenched his eyes shut, trying to block out the screams of his innocent victims.

"Amaranta! Mark and Jaden are with her and…" Isis grabbed his shoulders, shaking him furiously. "We've got to find them John!"

He nodded, blue eyes clearer then they'd been in a few nights, his jaw set as if steeling himself. Inside his heart was breaking because he was afraid that he had frightened off the love of his life.

Isis smiled sympathetically, preparing herself for another long sprint, she was dealing with the same issues.

Mark stared down at Amaranta, his nostrils flaring. "Kiss you? You're a beautiful woman, I'll grant you that, but you're not my type."

Amaranta's purple eyes widened with anger. She quickly closed the gap between them, slapping him across the face. "You'll regret that." She said softly, raising her fingers to her mouth, tasting the blood she had drawn.

Mark's glared down at her, his own eyes practically glowing. Growling, he moved to push past her only to wind up on his back.

Amaranta towered over him. "Where do you think you're going?"

Jaden frowned from her place near the ceiling, watching as Batista circled the floor, his eyes never leaving her. "This is getting old really fast!" She yelled down at him, wishing she could just fly off, but couldn't because she wouldn't leave Mark behind.

"So come down and play a new game with me." He challenged, an evil yet sensual smirk on his lips.

"I'll pass if it's all the same…" Jaden sighed, wondering just how long she could keep doing this.

Batista growled in the back of his throat, deciding to up the game. Moving to fast for Jaden to watch he leaped onto a table then into the air, one large hand wrapping around her ankle.

Jaden screamed as she was dragged down to the marble floor.

Jaden woke up with a headache. "John?" She murmured, reaching across the bed for him. When she felt his arm she sighed in relief. "All a dream…" She rolled over to him, snuggling her face in his side.

John pulled her on top of him, his muscular body slick with sweat. "What did you say?"

"Oh John, I had the most horrible dream…" Jaden whispered, her eyes still closed. "It had…" She trailed off, eyes opening slowly, blood tears spilling down her pale cheeks.

Batista was staring up at her, his brown eyes mocking. "Ready for round two?"

Jaden woke up screaming.

"Jaden, calm down!" Came Mark's voice.

Jaden opened her eyes, frowning when she felt something cold on her wrists. Her gaze slowly moved down to her arms, surprised to find heavy gray chains cuffing her to the stone floor she was sitting on. "Mark, what happened?"

His green eyes peered at her from out of the darkness. "Last thing I remember is Amaranta's fist coming at me…" He rubbed his head. "That ol' bitch sure does pack a punch."

Jaden frowned. "I was in the air and the next thing I know, I'm here."

"Batista dragged you down here."

"What the fuck is all this about? Do you have any idea?"

"Something tells me it's not about us."