I didn't have to worry much about leaving them behind, I was tackled from behind as I ran and dragged roughly to the ground. I felt the sharp crack when my head connected with a rock on the ground (just my luck) and saw Jonathan's silhouette smirking down at me darkly before everything went dark.
I groaned and rolled onto my side as pain exploded within my skull. This day could not get much worse. I was faintly aware of the fact that I was bleeding profusely from some unseen wound near me ribs. The pain that had started as a sharp stabbing in my head had now spread to a bleak, numb, pounding across my entire body. Everything hurt, I was thirsty, and it was cold.
I knew before I saw him, that Jonathan had taken me again. It was really starting to piss me off how this guy could not just leave me out of his little squabble with his brothers.
The devil soon appeared within my cage. I must have passed out because one second I was alone and then, when I opened my eyes, Jonathan was grinning down at me like a cat who'd just caught a tasty looking mouse. He cocked his head to the side as he began circling my form.
"We really should stop meeting like this" I said in a breathy rasp, resorting to sarcastic humor when all else failed.
The grin on Jonathan's face widened and he dropped down beside me; crossing his legs at the ankles and propping himself up on his elbows as he reclined against the stone floors.
"I'll stop taking you against your will, if you stop running away" Jonathan offered, using his usual charm.
My laugh was interrupted by a sudden fit of coughs. Eventually, my breathing returned to normal, and I rolled onto my back to stare at the ceiling.
Jonathan and I settled into a comfortable silence. After a few moments of neither of us speaking, I turned to look at him.
He was staring at me, his hazel eyes sparkling with some hidden amusement. I truly hated this man, with every fiber of my being- but at the same time he was a complete paradox. You could hate him, despise him, sure. But it was impossible not to like him. He had that charm and wit that came along with every other raging sociopath, he was just a sea of contradictions.
"Can I ask you something?" I inquired, turning the full force of my gaze on him. This, only seemed to amuse Jonathan further.
"You may" He replied curtly
After a brief silence, I spoke "Do you ever feel…remorse, for hurting people?"
Jonathan's face became wistful, but he didn't reply. When I raised my eyebrows in accusation, he smirked and shrugged his shoulders lightly.
"I said you could ask me a question. You never inquired, however, if I would answer the question."
"And will you? Answer the question, I mean?"
"Which one? You've asked four, now" Jonathan grinned infectiously.
I marveled at the idea that I could have such comfortable conversations with the man who most undoubtedly, would be my death.
"So," Jonathan said pleasantly as he lifted himself from the ground in a too quick movement "before I return to my role as the devious antagonist, I'd like to ask a question of my own"
"You may precede"
Jonathan smirked at my formality before continuing in a more solemn tone.
"Which one do you care about most, of my brothers?"
I started at this; it wasn't the question I was expecting. Turning thoughtful, I brought a mental image of each Felling brother to the forefront of my thoughts. Out of the three pictures, one shone out in particular, like a blazing beacon that demanded to have my attention. I recognized the face, but knew at the same time, that I would never let that certain Felling brother know what I thought of him. Neither would I let Jonathan know of my preferences; though, I didn't doubt that he already had his own ideas.
The growing smirk on his face confirmed my suspicions.
"Not going to answer the question?" He asked
"Which one, you've asked two" I retorted cutely.
I saw a familiar flash behind Jonathan's eyes, and couldn't help the shudder that shook my spine.
"I like you, Chloe" Jonathan sighed, as he raised the sleeves of his shirt to above his elbows "Which is why," He paused to crack his neck "Out of all of the terrible deeds I've done- I'm going to regret this one the most"
I felt the color drain from my face when Jonathan advanced on me with deliberate slowness. In an instant, he had his hand out, fingers extended around my throat. With a flick of his wrist, I flew into the stone walls beside me with a deafening crack, and felt agony explode from every vain in my body. A small yelp escaped my throat when Jonathan's fingers snaked through my hair and yanked me to my feet.
He caressed my face while shushing me with mock concern.
"Now, now, lovey. No need to cry, this is only the beginning."
Third Person POV
Gabriel kicked the almost dead human aside once he had his fill, and examined his brother with disinterest. As amusing as Damon's fits of rage usually were, Gabriel had more important things on his mind besides appeasing his temperamental older brother.
"Jonathan is very close to crossing a line that he doesn't want to cross" Damon growled as he stared at a brick wall.
For what reason did Damon find this particular wall so interesting, Gabriel hadn't the slightest idea. He wasn't even sure Damon knew why he was staring at it.
Gabriel chuckled "And why is that Damon? You think that Jonathan is incapable of fending for himself if you were to attack him?"
"I'm not stupid, nit-wit." Damon snapped back "I know that I would probably lose if I were to fight against Jonathan. But I also know that I would try my god-damn hardest to take Jonathan down with me"
"You would probably lose that battle as well" Gabriel commented softly.
Damon's icy eyes snapped up to Gabriel's and he could feel the full force of Damon's resentment.
"Why are you even here?" Damon snarled, "Have I not made it abundantly clear, that I dislike you."
"There's never a moment in the day when you don't remind me of it, brother" Gabriel sighed wearily. "But I guess I kind of figured that we could come together to defeat a common enemy and claim a common prize"
Gabriel didn't have time to react before Damon hurled him, like a rag doll, into the large trash bin at the end of the alley. As Gabriel recovered, Damon slammed the trash bin lid on his brother's head and took the bin in both hands before tossing it at the opposite wall. The wall that, ironically, Damon had been staring at not one minute ago.
"You figured wrong" Damon nearly screamed, giving the trash one last kick before storming away.
Gabriel sat among the filth and garbage, fuming. He let Damon get away with most things, but this time, the elder vampire had taken things too far.
Within the blink of an eye, Gabriel was back in the alleyway, storming after Damon; his eyes already swimming over with red.
"Damon" Gabriel yelled, appearing behind his brother and pulling the vampire up by the back collar of his shirt. He relieved himself of the weight almost immediately, throwing Damon with all the force he could muster into the street, hoping that his landing was a hard one.
Before Damon could pull himself to his feet, a large truck rolled past, crushing Damon under its tires as it went.
Gabriel stared at this with a smug expression on his face. His good humor was wiped clean away when he saw the glare that Damon was throwing him as he rose; bloody, and angry from the pavement.
"You," Damon seethed "will pay for that Gabriel Felling"
Gabriel was about to mutter out a snaky reply, when a very unwelcome visitor interrupted their little fight.
Both brothers turned to see a werewolf approach, with something being held within its maw.
At the same time, Nathaniel and Peter appeared. They must have seen the new wolf approach from wherever they had been.
Damon growled at the werewolf's gall to march up to him and shove the item in his hands, before running off.
"God-damn mongrel beast" Damon snarled
"Watch it" Peter warned, his eyes darkening.
Damon cocked his head to the side as he took a threatening step towards Peter.
"Excuse-me?" Damon grit out slowly. "I suggest you watch it, mutt. Or I might be inclined to rip off your tail and wring your neck with it"
Gabriel rolled his eyes dramatically "Damon will you shut up and show us what the dog gave you, already"
For the first time, Damon's attention was on the box. He stared down at it before slowly, lifting the lid. Inside, was a small note:
Save her if you can,Otherwise, I'll have myfun with what's left of her -Jonathan
Damon moved the note aside to see what rested in the silky confines of the box. When his eyes finally registered what it was, his screams of fury echoed off of the alley walls for minutes after they were all long gone.
On the ground the box lay with the note beside it, the contents had been left inside. Resting in the silky cushion of Jonathan's gift was a pale, slender, bloody, finger. And it was unmistakably, Chloe's.
A/N : Review, review, review!