Chapter 4

Jen's eyelids fluttered open as she looked around. Still blinking sleep from her eyes she stretched and took a look around her. She was in her apartment bedroom. How had she gotten there? The last thing she remembered was seeing Gryffin disappear in the park. Could it all have been a dream? Everything was so strange last night. Not knocking Alec, after all she had learned a lot. Something told her that there was still more to learn… What was all that stuff with Gryffin about her 'progressing.' Progressing in what? They had vaguely mentioned the dream…how could they be connected?

It was good to learn all that stuff in Alec's vision though she thought as her mind skipped from topic to topic. Jen was from the past as Alec had said, cool. She now knew some about her power and knew more about the Nightworld. There were still so many questions she wanted answered and there was only one way that would happen. She had one of two choices, Alec or Gryffin. Jen preferred Alec because he wasn't as creepy… But, on the other hand, Gryffin might give her more information faster…

She couldn't shake the feeling whenever she saw or thought about him that there was more to him. He had a dangerous sense about him or something. Why was she even having this discussion with herself? She rolled over on her side and pushed the blanket off of her. She also realized that she was still in her clothes from yesterday. Jen wondered how she had gotten to her room for the second time. The last thing she clearly remembered was in the park when Gryffin vanished… as for the rest after that it was all blurry and she remembered nothing else. Frustrated, she swung her legs over the side of the bed and noticed a piece of paper on her nightstand. She picked it up and began to look it over.

It was note…

Jen,

Sorry for all the confusion. If you are worried about work, I called in and told them you were sick. Sorry again about last night…you must still have a million questions. If you want some more of those answered meet me at seven at the park, same place as last night. Oh, and refrain from going out after dark…Gryffin loves the night

Alec

Jen clutched the note in one hand and re read it. At least she didn't have to go to work…She mentally slapped herself for only caring about that at this moment. Maybe this time all of her questions were going to be answered. Jen could only hope… She sighed and pushed herself off of her bed, going toward her closet. She grabbed a pair of faded blue jeans and a green turtle neck.

Quickly changing, she proceeded toward the bathroom. She studied herself in the mirror. Her hair looked like it had been through a hurricane… Grabbing the brush she yanked it through and tried to make her hair look at least presentable. She glanced at the time, three in the afternoon. Man, she had slept late. What was she going to do now? Cara was at work…there was really nothing to do and she didn't have to meet Alec for another three hours. She could go to the mall…yes, that's what she would do. It was better than sitting at home for three hours bored out of her mind.

Jen grabbed her Gap backpack and went out the door into the chilly air. She them locked the door tightly behind her and preceded down the stairs. Sucking in a breath of air she downed the last step and glided through the parking lot. Good thing she lived in town and not far from everything. The day was bright for a winter afternoon and light snowflakes began to fall. At least it wasn't ice, which was a pain to walk on because she usually ended up falling clumsily each time. The road was deserted as she walked lightly on the sidewalk. Jen was glad for the peace and quiet. It gave her plenty of time to think.

Jen glanced around cautiously. She was keeping her guard up because of the night she met Gryffin. Never know when someone could be following… Thankfully, the coast was clear…for now. There hadn't been many instances in her life where she actually had to defend herself. Learning martial arts had proven beneficial though. Only having to use it once in sixth grade when her annoying pest, Tanner, wouldn't leave her alone.

She remembered that day pretty clearly. It was a bright Wednesday and Jen had just gone out for recess. She was sitting on a bench over by the swings reading when Tanner approached.

"Hey bookworm!" He shouted from over by the slide.

He ran over to her and continually shouted bookworm.

"Hey! Hey bookworm! Hey!"

This was a daily thing for Jen and she was really getting ticked.

"What, Tanner." She growled through gritted teeth.

"Why do you read so much bookworm?" Tanner yelled.

"You don't have to yell! I'm right in front of you!" Jen fired back angrily.

"Maybe I want to yell bookworm! Otherwise you might not hear me!" Tanner shouted, loud enough for the whole school to hear.

Jen sighed and went back to her book; maybe he would just go away… This was when she'd had her final straw pulled. Tanner slapped the book out of her hand. "Stop reading bookworm! Are your parents bookworms to? Yay! A happy family of bookworms! Oh, wait…I forgot! You don't have any real parents!"

Something inside Jen snapped, and she had taken all that she would. At the time she was staying with a set of foster parents. She didn't know her parents… Jen stood up furiously and punched him right in the face. His glasses broke and he cried out in surprise. But Jen didn't stop there she had to make sure he got the message. Rage fueling her, Jen front kicked him, which threw him to the ground. His eyes wide, he scurried up and ran away. He never said another word to her.

Of course, the tattletale had told and she had gotten suspended for harming another student, but it was worth it. For the rest of her years in the school, Tanner had never said anything else. She laughed out loud to herself at the memory as she neared the Westerfeld Mall's parking lot. Jen wondered where Tanner had gotten off too. He had finished school one year before her since he was in the grade above her. No matter if he had hurt her in the past, she would always be curious.

Jen pushed open the door of the mall and breathed in the warm inside air instead of the outside's chilly air. That trip had gone by fast and thankfully with no disturbances. Jen crammed her hands in her jackets pockets and watched all the people pass, thoughtfully. She wasn't exactly an out there person, but more of an observer. Human behavior had always fascinated her. Jen didn't make much money since she was out on her own and working at the diner in town, so she didn't have enough for college. Well, not yet…she had set up a little college fund, and hopefully one day she would be able to go. Then she would get a degree in psychology, she was already beaming at the thought.

Jen walked along and continued to study all the people. Some were tall and some were short. Some wore coats and some wore jackets. There were all ages here, from little babies to older women. It was a place of gathering and at times a place of peace…unless you were shopping around Black Friday, that wasn't as pleasant… Jen rounded a corner and noticed a wide hallway to her left. Funny, she had never paid attention to the little things. Just as she was about to turn away she heard something.

The hallway wasn't exactly dark but it wasn't as bright as the rest of the mall. There was the noise again…it sounded like someone talking in hushed whispers. The whispers didn't sound exactly happy though. She should go investigate, see if everything was all right. Her thriller side told her this was a daring idea, but the smarter judgment side told her it was too dangerous. She hesitated and considered the possible outcomes, eventually giving in to her daring side. She glanced around and saw few people on this side of the mall. Good, at least no one was staring.

Jen mentally prepared herself and proceeded down the dark hall. The hushed voices were becoming more forceful and easier to hear now. Proceeding further down the hall, she started to get second thoughts about this sudden hunger for action. The voices were closer still as she crept through the hall, trying to stay as quiet as possible. She came to a corner and could make out the voices clearly now.

Jen pressed herself against the wall and exhaled silently, trying to better understand what the voices were saying.

"I thought I specifically told you to try and find them, Dax!"

Another smaller voice murmured something un-audible that Jen couldn't make out, while the other one huffed in rage.

"What do you mean they just vanished? We had tabs on them yesterday! I give you an assignment and you fail me yet again Dax!" The angry one growled.

Jen finally grew the courage to peak around the corner. A tall man with light brown hair in jeans and a dress shirt was talking down to a slightly smaller, black-headed man in the same attire. The black-headed man looked terrified as the other one loomed above of him. The brown-headed man didn't look any older than her and the one called Dax look in his late thirties.

Jen was confused to what they were talking about in the first place. Tabs on whom? What was this all about? Why were they looking for someone?

"Why! I gave you simple instructions, track Cara and Alec…"

Jen didn't catch the rest of the sentence. The world spun, what did they want with Alec and Cara? Who were these people? Jen made a move that she thought she would never make in her entire life. She blew her cover, her safety. Spy, a career obviously out of the question. Jen stepped out of the shadows and caught the man by surprise. She didn't know if she should defend Dax or not, but he didn't seem like the threat here. Kind of like an angry boss yelling at an employee.

"What do you want with Alec and Cara?" She said, narrowing her eyes at the brown-headed man.

Brownie looked surprised that someone had heard his conversation with Dax, and let alone interfered. Dax simply looked relieved that brownie's attention was off of him. Brownie quickly rearranged his face to look innocent but threatening and dangerous.

"Excuse me?" He said smoothly, not even acknowledging her question.

Jen sighed impatiently, "I said, what do you want with Alec and Cara?"

The man looked at Dax and shot him a look of daggers. Dax shrunk even further back against the wall with a scared look in his eyes. Brownie stepped forward and studied Jen blandly, but after a few seconds his eyes lit up and his face turned into a sly smile. At that moment she thought of Gryffin, how the man seemed like his twin in personality.

"Ah, you must be the infamous Jen Farmar. How nice to actually meet you in person." Brownie replied cunningly.

Jen froze, how did he know her name? This was getting weirder by the minute.

Brownie didn't stop there, "Famous for being one of the last Wild Powers correct? Daughter of Amos Barren and princess to the throne, assuming I have it all right so far."

Jen opened her mouth to say something, like a witty reply, but nothing came out. She just stood there, dumbfounded by the man and how he knew all this. He flashed a sly smile, and then Jen saw them. Two innocent little fangs poked out of his lip-line. He was another vampire. A look of horror crossed her face and the man noticed before she could regain her composure.

"Scared? Oh, no need to be. Gryffin is much, much more intimidating but you already know that one," The man went on.

Jen couldn't seem to close her mouth. It was just hanging open like an opening to a tunnel. This man knew about Gryffin too? What else did he know?

"How do you know about-" She started.

"Gryffin? He's my boss little bookworm," The man hissed, a smile about the size of the Pacific Ocean on his face.

The smile wasn't exactly warm and inviting though, more sinister, and it was definitely intimidating. Wait; there was only one person in the whole world that called Jen that name…

"Tanner?"

Brownie nodded, "Hit it right on the nail sweetheart, but you always were smart."

Tanner smirked and then turned to Dax. He growled something Jen couldn't make out under his breath. Dax nodded and quickly brushed past Jen and down the hallway. She was alone with Tanner; in a dark hallway…this wasn't a good sign. Tanner smirked and lazily leaned against the other wall, hands in his jacket pockets. "So, little bookworm, surprised to see me? Well, the new me anyway."

Jen, grimaced at the nickname, it was quite annoying. She had a million questions. Why would Tanner join forces with Gryffin? Him of all people?

"Why Tanner? Why?" She asked, solemnly.

She couldn't believe Tanner, of all people, joined forces with Gryffin. Tanner grinned lazily, showing off his fangs again. Jen shivered at the sight of them.

"Ah, Jen, always so full of questions. Why, you ask? It was because I was told what the world was going to become. War is coming Jen, a war that human's won't win. I have to be on the winning side if you know what I mean," He explained, all to relaxed.

"Besides, it was the best thing that has ever happened to me. You really should try it sometime." Jen shuddered at the thought, never.

She shook her head furiously, "I think I'll stay human thanks."

Tanner laughed maliciously and sent the full force of his eyes on her.

"Just letting you in on a little tip. You won't be for long, so enjoy it."

Jen's blood turned to ice as he said the words; surely he was lying…wasn't he? Just trying to scare her…that had to be it.

"Well, would love to stay and chat sweetheart. But, sadly, I have places to go and people to see. Remember what I said little bookworm. I think we will be seeing each other real soon," He hissed.

With his amazing speed, as all vampires had Jen found out, he was gone. She was left in a dark hallway, alone, full of questions, and utterly terrified.

A/N: As I mentioned before this was written a while ago so the chapters have been on hold for a length of time due to other stories. If I get enough reviews then I just might start up writing it again ;)