Chapter 11

As the car drew closer to Arkansas, Kiley went over her options. They were painfully few. She angrily thought, what is it with vampires? Right about now, she could be on a plane somewhere far away from both Shane and Eric Northman. She had to get free of these restraints. As the car neared Texarkana, Kiley decided that it was now or never.

"I have to pee," she said.

"Hold it," replied Josh from the front seat.

"We're still over two hours away," said Kiley, whining and squirming on the seat.

"No," said Josh.

"Unless you want me to pee all over the back seat, you need to pull over," said Kiley.

Josh gave an irritated noise that sounded almost like a growl.

"Find a gas station," he said the to the driver.

They pulled into a busy minimart and stopped. Josh got out and opened the backseat door. As the werewolf that had been sitting beside her got out, Josh pulled on a pair of gloves and leaned in. He took out a key and unlocked one side of the handcuffs. He quickly snapped it onto his own wrist and looked at her.

"Shane doesn't want you to be harmed, but if you try anything, I promise you that I will teach you a lesson," he said.

"I only want to use the bathroom," said Kiley with an urgency that expressed the truth of her words.

Josh pulled her out of the car and draped a jacket over their hands joined together, hiding the handcuffs. He walked her inside the store. There were several people inside waiting in line to either pay for gas or for their other purchases. There were others looking through the store shelves, but none gave the handsome couple holding hands a second glance.

Josh walked her to the bathroom and when an elderly lady exited, he quickly hustled her inside. He locked the door and walked her to the toilet. He turned away from her and was doing his best to ignore her. At least, he had the decency not to look, thought Kiley. Unfortunately for him, that was a mistake. Kiley fiddled with her pants buttons for a few seconds.

"A little help here," she said.

"You've got to be kidding me," said Josh.

When Josh turned to her, Kiley poked him in the eye. As he was momentarily vulnerable, she shifted her position and struck him as hard as she could with her elbow to his face. While her fist might do some damage, it would also hurt her. But, her elbow was mainly bone and it was capable of striking harder and inflicting much more damage. She had surprised him and his hands went immediately to his wounded face. Kiley could see blood seeping from between his fingers.

"You fucking bitch," he growled.

Kiley viciously kneed him in the groin and he dropped to the floor on his own knees in pain. She didn't waste a second and kicked him as hard between the legs as she could. Josh cried out in pain and anger and fell over, clutching his wounded genitals. Again, she attacked him. This time connecting a well-aimed foot to his already damaged face. That almost rendered him unconscious and Kiley dropped down to him and began to dig through his pockets for the key. When he started to become aware of what she was doing and moved in response, she grabbed his balls and yanked them so hard that she was sure he thought that she was trying to tear them off and castrate him. He cried out in pain and rolled around as Kiley's fingers found the key. She swiftly uncuffed herself. Even though the silver hurt her to touch it, she rolled Josh on his stomach and handcuffed his hands behind his back.

"You bitch, I think that you have permanently damaged me," he hissed.

"You watch your mouth or I'll show you just what I can really do," said Kiley.

She saw Josh's eyes widened in fear and if she wasn't so scared herself, she might have enjoyed the feeling of intimidating him. She stood up and stared down at him.

"You and Shane are trying my patience," said Kiley. "If you keep messing with me, I just might forget that I am not a killer."

She phased out and walked through the exterior wall to the outside. She peeked around the edge of the building and saw the two other werewolves waiting by the car. It was then that a commotion in the store caught their attention and they headed inside. No doubt, Josh had been discovered, thought Kiley. She returned to her human form and ran to the car. When she leaned inside the driver's side window, she found the keys still in the ignition. With a smile, she jumped inside and pulled out of the parking lot, driving normally so that she wouldn't attract any attention.

Even though it pained her to return to Dallas where Eric Northman was, that was still her best chance of getting away since Parker was there. She drove for a few miles and when she thought it was safe, she pulled the car over and rummaged throughout it, looking for a phone. Finally, she found one in a discarded jacket. She checked the horizon and the sun was going down. She quickly punched in Parker's number.

"It's me," said Kiley.

"Are you alright?" asked Parker. "Where have you been?"

"I have other problems besides Eric Northman," said Kiley.

"Are you coming back here?" asked Parker.

"Yes, I'm on way," said Kiley.

"I'm at our old place," said Parker.

Kiley knew then that he was in trouble and warning her to stay away. They had never lived together.

"Parker, did that loud neighbor finally move out?" asked Kiley.

"No, unfortunately, he's still there," said Parker. "You would think for as much money as this places costs me that the sound insulation would be better."

"I'll be there, soon," said Kiley.

"I know you will since you always do the right thing," said Parker. "I want you to hurry and don't look back."

Poor Parker, thought Kiley. She knew how much it was costing him to warn her off. Yet, he held no value and Eric had said that he was unimportant to him. So, once it was discovered that she wasn't returning, Parker should be let go.

"I'll see you, soon," said Kiley.

"Goodbye, Kiley," said Parker.

Parker hung up the phone and the man holding a gun to his head removed it. Slowly and with his hands in plain sight, Parker closed his phone.

"She is on her way," said Parker.

The man looked outside the window and the sun just set below the horizon. He took out his own phone and dialed a number.

"Yes, Sir, you were right. She got free and is on her way back," he said.

A pause and the man said, "Of course, Sir."

In a few minutes, Eric Northman alighted on Parker's balcony. He stared through the glass at Parker and waited.

Pulling up Parker by the arm, the man walked Parker to the door and opened it.

"Invite him in," said the man.

Parker didn't resist and said, "Come in."

Eric walked inside and sat down on the sofa. He had been right to guess that Kiley would be able to get away from her kidnappers and that she would return, yet again, to Parker. Her fright had woken him up in the morning. Even though the sun had hurt him painfully, he had looked outside his window and saw her being dragged to a car and driven away. After a few painful minutes in the dark after he shut the window blinds, he had been forced to drink a bottle of that vile Tru Blood in order to restore his vision and heal his skin that had been touched by the sun's rays. He had called his human and had him find Parker who really beginning to irritate him since things would have so much easier if he had not been helping Kiley.

"Why don't you just leave her alone?" said Parker.

Kiley was remarkably valuable. With her little gift, she could go anywhere and nothing was beyond her grasp. Her nature would not allow her to realize the full deadly potential of that little gift of hers. He was somewhat incensed that she had run away after playing the little pet last night. But, he had to admit that she had convinced him, in such a manner that he wouldn't mind her lying to him again.

"Kiley is no longer your concern," said Eric. "You gave up that right when you abandoned her."

"She doesn't want to be with you," said Parker.

This human had interfered in his affairs and Eric decided to twist the knife and hurt him.

"Then, it must have been my imagination last night since I distinctly remember her writhing underneath me and calling out my name as I fucked her silly," said Eric.

"You bastard," said Parker.

Eric only smirked and said, "You really don't know what you missed since she fucks like a pro even if it was her first time."

A pained looked passed over Parker's face and satisfied Eric began to walk around his apartment.

"It must not have been as good as you think, or why did she run away?" said Parker.

"Because it's much easier to run away than admit the truth," said Eric.

"What truth?" asked Parker.

"That she enjoyed it as much as I did," said Eric.

Shane walked up and down the line of werewolves. He was beyond irritated and was tempted to rip all their throats out. Incompetent animals, he thought. Not only had it been necessary to glamour the law enforcement of Texarkana and several humans in the minimart, but there was not any payoff for it. Kiley had managed to escape. He turned his gaze on Josh and catalogued his considerable injuries. She had beaten the crap out the wolf. No small thing, he thought. However, the werewolf was lucky that she didn't use her gift on him.

"Do you have any idea how much trouble you have caused me?" demanded Shane.

"We are sorry, Sir," said Josh.

"Aren't you just a little embarrassed that a girl beat you to a pulp?" asked Shane.

"With all due respect, Sir, she isn't exactly a normal girl," said Josh.

"I warned you to take precautions and that she was dangerous," said Shane. "Did you hurt her during the attack?"

Josh knew Shane would hurt him if he had, no matter how much damage that creature had inflicted on him.

"No, I didn't have time to do anything," said Josh. "She was vicious."

"She probably isn't far," said Shane. "I will look for her and you track her scent along the road."

Josh nodded and Shane gave him a scathing look and flew off. The other werewolves let out the breath that they had been holding. They all shifted and began following the scent. Probably only Josh realized how close they had come to facing the full force of Shane's wrath. Shane did not tolerate failure, especially where this girl was concerned.

Kiley sat on the hood of the car and watched the sun set. She phased out and just sat there. She was already so tired of running that she was almost tempted just to return to Eric Northman. Even though she had the ledger, he still wasn't going to let go. What if he used Parker against her? She had forgotten about that fact. But, he wouldn't hurt him, at least, not until he got that ledger back in his possession. And she didn't have anywhere else to go. She would not lead the trail back to her grandmother since Eric wasn't even aware of her existence. And her grandmother couldn't help her anyway. She was alone, yet again. She watched the sky darken and fought her feelings of hopelessness.

So, lost in her own world was she that she was not aware of Shane's approach.

"Hello, Kiley," he said.

She moved off the hood of the car with that peculiar motion she had when she was not solid and faced him. Shane gazed at her and saw that his once pretty agent looked tired and disheveled. He also saw that she looked at him with a wariness that was no doubt due to the werewolves.

"Why were you bringing me back?" she asked. "Was it because you wanted to kill me yourself?"

"No, I only want to protect you," said Shane with a pained expression.

"Well, you didn't tell those werewolves that, since they seemed to be under the impression that you were going to kill me for...for betraying you," said Kiley.

"They are werewolves, they don't reason so well," said Shane.

"Things have changed," said Kiley.

She was skating around the fact that she had slept with Eric Northman, thought Shane. A fact that Josh had been only too happy to impart with.

"They haven't changed for me," said Shane. "You are still under my protection, if you want it."

Kiley gazed at him, she was so lost and he had always kept his word to her.

"This is your fault," she said.

"Then, let me handle it," said Shane.

Shane walked to her and said, "You aren't as lost as you think. I can help you so that you do not lose yourself."

"I...I don't know if I can trust you," said Kiley.

"It would cause me too much distress to let you become something that you don't want to be," said Shane.

Even in this state she could cry, thought Shane, as he watched a tear roll down her cheek. That tear cause a little stab of pain in his cold heart. For, her pain was a result of his actions.

"Then, help me," said Kiley.

"It would be quicker to fly," said Shane.

"I would have to become detectable for that," said Kiley.

"He's going to figure out eventually where you are," said Shane. "I have no desire to hide that from him."

"Won't he just come for me?" asked Kiley.

"Let me worry about that," said Shane.

Shane held out his hand and was relieved when Kiley slipped her solid fingers into his. He pulled her close and noticed that he had missed her smell. He had missed many things about her, he realized.

"Hang on," said Shane with a smile. "This isn't exactly first class travel."

She tightened her arms around him and Shane flew them back home.

When the time began to pass without the appearance of Kiley, Eric checked his senses and was surprised that he could detect her. He was also surprised by where she was. Against all logic, she was back in Arkansas. He was halfway tempted to confront them. But, he didn't doubt that his arrival might be expected and prepared for.

He turned his eyes to Parker and wondered if the human had somehow managed to warn her off. Was the human developing a backbone?

"I don't think she's coming," said Parker. "Maybe, she decided not to trust me."

"I'm sure that you had something to do with it," said Eric.

"You man heard everything that was said," said Parker.

Eric turned to his man and said, "Take him back to Louisiana."

"Wait, you can't do that," protested Parker.

"Who's stopping me?" said Eric. "You may yet prove useful."

Eric walked to the balcony and smiled at Parker, saying, "My accommodations leave a lot to be desired, but I'll do my best to make you feel right at home."

Upon arrival at his home, Shane left instructions with the Weres guarding the grounds to step up their surveillance. His vampire guards were also given notice. Shane doubted that Sheriff Northman would be foolish enough to come for her out in the open. Of course, he would be mad, probably furious. No, he would either try to go through proper channels and demand that she be returned to him which wouldn't do him any good since Arkansas would not cooperate. Or, he would attempt to retrieve her by by stealth and Shane was ready for that.

Kiley looked miserable and Shane asked, "What's the matter?"

"It feels like he is always in my head," she said.

Shane cupped her face in his hand and said, "Dawn will come very soon. Come with me, I can help."

Shane led her downstairs to a room that was obviously used for his daytime slumber. When she saw where they were going, she began to balk. He gently pulled her along and closed and locked the door.

"You are secure in here," he said. "I'm not so rotten as to take advantage of you in this state."

He didn't add that he wanted to. But, he had kept his hands off her for so long that he was used to dealing with wanting her and not acting on it.

Shane laid down with her and wrapped her in his arms.

"Just relax. I want you to imagine putting everything that has to do with Sheriff Northman in a box and when you have everything inside, you close that box shut. Now, you put that box in a room inside your mind and close the door. Build a wall in your mind over that door and nothing inside that box can get out," said Shane.

Shane petted her and felt her relax.

"With time, you'll learn how to do that little exercise and ease your mind," said Shane.

"I feel a little better," said Kiley, sounding extremely tired and sleepy.

"I'm sorry, Kiley," said Shane.

"I still have something to blackmail him with," said Kiley.

"Do you? You always were good at having a backup plan," said Shane.

"Are...are you disappointed in me?" she asked.

"There is nothing for me to be disappointed by," said Shane. "It was my fault for listening to my king and sending you on an assignment that you were hopelessly not prepared for."

He was angry, of course, but not with Kiley. He could not fault her for giving in to Sheriff Northman's influence. She was woefully inadequate for dealing with a vampire like that even without the added stress from having his blood inside her. And it was his fault that she ended up in that vampire's bed to begin with, he thought.

Shane held her and his presence did soothe her. And when the sun came up and Shane fell asleep, Kiley breathed a sigh of relief since she knew that Sheriff Northman slept also.