A/N Hey guys! First and foremost, I am so sorry we haven't updated this in so long. We originally intended to have it complete by the end of summer but then that fell through and we got busy with school. I'll try to update more often! Please R&R!

Chapter 7

LYNN

Lynn sat uneasily in the back of the van, adjusting her position every time the van hit a pothole or bump. It wouldn't take a detective to tell that she was anxious. She didn't have any idea why Anika would want her on this special kidnapping trip, but it was probably to keep her from snooping around the gangs headquarters and escaping with any valuable information. But still, she couldn't see how on earth she was supposed to help on this mission. True, she had spent three years creeping around in the darkness, making sure that nothing could hear or see her. Maybe that was why Anika wanted her, but it was a lot different creeping around in another human's territory, trying to kidnap this person's wife and two-year-old daughter. Lynn didn't know if she would be able to do this job, if Anika did get her involved with the kidnapping. They would be breaking apart a family.

One part of Lynn said that a man who was trying to tear apart her family, to kill her friends—the people who'd accepted her when she'd come out of Tartarus—led this family. But that didn't change the fact that Donovan's little girl would probably have to grow up fatherless, with a broken family, and Lynn didn't wish that feeling on anybody.

As this battle raged on inside of Lynn, their van came to jolting stop. Just like the last time Lynn had gotten out of this vehicle, Anika stood up, and so did the others around her, only this time, they had an addition. Elanna stood (up) haughtily, with an air of knowing something that nobody else did. Lynn had heard everything that the people at Camp knew about Elanna, and she was quite sure that she couldn't be trusted. Unfortunately, working with Elanna was Lynn's only hope of ever getting her sister back. She would just have to watch this girl very carefully to make sure that she kept her side of the deal. That was all that mattered.

As everybody filed out of the van, Lynn took in her surroundings. They were in an old parking lot, and from the look of the cracked pavement and the graffiti-covered walls of the old buildings that encircled the lot, it appeared that nobody had been using it for quite a while. It was an ideal place to park their van, seeing as driving through a sleepy little town in a big black fifteen-passenger van with heavily tinted windows probably wouldn't be the best idea if they wanted to be inconspicuous.

"How far is this lot from the Pierce's home, Anika?"

Anika, who'd been talking quietly with David, turned and faced Lynn. "It's a seven minute walk, according to our GPS, Miss Stacey. We decided to leave the van somewhere not too far from our destination so that we can easily get to it when needed. I doubt we'll need it that much, seeing as we'll be holding Mrs. Pierce and her daughter hostage in their own house." Anika smiled at the irony of it. "Just think," she said, "Donovan leaves them where he thinks they'll be safe and sound, and then they end up getting captured in their little safe haven. Won't he be surprised when he gets our little ransom note." Bradley and Haydon both smiled, and David laughed outright. Anika's tone became serious again when she saw that Lynn wasn't sharing in their merriment.

"Alright then, let's get going."

"Well, this is quaint, isn't it?" David's smile flashed. "I especially like the lovely trim. It contrasts nicely with the stone façade."

Lynn rolled her eyes as Bradley asked in a condescending voice, "When did you become a house critic?"

David just laughed while Lynn turned her attention back to the house in front of them. David had a point. It was a very nice house. With its dark brown gables and farmhouse windows, it reminded her of what a cottage out of a fairytale might look like. It was perfectly sized for a small family, and it was obvious that those who lived there weren't exactly lacking the funds to keep their house in high fashion. From the outside, it looked like it would fit right into the neighborhood it was located in, which was a nice gated community, and it seemed the ideal place to settle down and start a family. The one thing that bothered Lynn was that this place seemed too perfect. This house belonged to a man who had killed his own kind, who had the extremely dangerous ability to bring back the dead and conjure up monsters. She wondered if Kiaria Pierce even knew what her husband was really doing.

"Well, Miss Wythe, it's time for you to work your magic." Anika's play on words got a chuckle out of David, but the others pretended not to notice. Lynn got the notion that she wasn't the only one who found David slightly annoying.

Elanna walked up to the front porch, and knocked on the sturdy oak door. The rest of the group, who had backed away to stay out of sight, saw the door open and Elanna disappear before it was closed again.

About five minutes later, Elanna poked her head out and motioned to Anika, telling the group to come on in.

It can't be this easy, thought Lynn as they walked up to the door, there's no way she could just let us in that quickly. How can Mrs. Pierce trust her that much to just let her bring strangers into her house?

Mrs. Pierce turned out to be a short, very pretty little Asian woman in her early twenties, with straight black hair, startlingly crystal blue eyes, and a pleasant smile. As she led the group down the front hall Lynn looked up at the fancy staircase, and saw a little girl's face peering out from between the banister rails. Mrs. Pierce continued down the hall to a comfortable living room, where she motioned for them all to sit. Elanna took a seat in an armchair in the corner, and Lynn sat on the couch, sandwiched between David and Mrs. Pierce. Anika, Haydon, and Bradley remained standing.

"Meili Grace, come here! Auntie Elanna is here with some friends!"

Lynn was still on edge, but she finally took a good look around. The room was spacious, with scattered furniture. Some of the art on the wall was adorned with Chinese figures.

The pitter-patter of little feet on hardwood flooring echoed, and a tiny face peeked through the doorway. The toddler's silky black hair was pulled into a small ponytail spouting out the top of her head. She wore a sweatshirt that came down past her knees, with sleeves that completely enveloped her arms.

Meili looked around shyly at the strangers. Her big, bright brown eyes widened when she saw Elanna. "Aunnie Enuh!" she exclaimed happily. With a speedy pitter-patter, she ran towards Elanna.

Elanna pulled the girl onto her lap, hugging Meili tight. "Sweet darling girl, do you want to help me? Auntie could really use a cutie like you to solve a problem."

"I help you!" Meili said, bouncing on Elanna's lap. "I help you!"

It happened in a flash, so fast that Lynn could barely process the situation.

Elanna eyed Anika, Anika signaled Haydon and Bradley, and they both came from behind the couch. Haydon clasped his hand over Mrs. Pierce's mouth, and Bradley grabbed her and lifted her off the couch. She kicked, eyes wide, screams muffled as Bradley held her with his strong steep grasp. Haydon pulled out duct tape from his cargo pants pocket, and started securing her hands, feet, and mouth.

Lynn was so shocked, it took a moment for her to register that Meili was wailing. Elanna still held her tight, a slim, evil grin playing the corner of her mouth.

"Anika, your phone," Elanna commanded. Anika tossed the old flip-phone to Elanna, who caught it easily and dialed a number. She set the phone on the armrest. There was a shrill ring, and then an answer.

"Who is this?" The voice was firm, male, and smooth. Donovan, Lynn presumed.

Meili let out another wailing cry. "Dadda! DADDA!" the toddler blubbered.

"SHUT UP," Elanna said harshly. "Hello, brother dearest. How lovely it is to talk to you on this fine afternoon."

"Elanna, what are you doing?"

"After I helped you pull that disappearing stunt, I got kidnapped by these horrible, awful people!" She winked at Anika. "They tortured me, forcing me to tell them what they wanted to know!"

"Leave. Meili and Kiaria. ALONE." Lynn could hear the seething anger through the phone.

"I would do that happily, but I don't think their captors would be as willing. They really want to see you!"

"I don't care what they're giving you in return for your services, Elanna, but if they are so much as bruised after this, I will have you writhing on the floor before my feet begging for mercy before I kill you slowly and painfully. Is that clear?"

"Crystal! However, I am being held at gunpoint—" she winked again, "—and so, I can't do much from this end. See, if you don't arrive in the next hour, I fear you won't get the privilege of killing me since my corpse will be lying next to your precious wife and daughter's.

There was an audible snarl on the other end.

"See you in an hour, brother."