Fandom: Night World, LJ Smith

Disclaimer: Blehmeh.

Dedication: Um. To marijuana! Okay, maybe not. To…to riding your bike midday past the three-piece suits.

Summary: The fourth and final Wild Power needs to be found, and time is running out. Circle Daybreak is taking more desperate measures. But is accepting the aid of a traitor to the Night World desperation or brilliance? And what about their own agent - loose cannon Belladonna Turner?

Author Note – sorry for the OOC'ness of the other characters, it's been a while since I last read the series over.

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Where There's Moonlight, I See Your Eyes

Chapter Eight

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"We have it, Thierry," I crowed as I strutted into the study, Nick's hand in mine. I couldn't help it – since he had told me that his mind was, quite literally, all about me, I'd felt so possessive and protective and so tender towards him. It was like I couldn't bear to let go of him.

At my triumphant words, the entire inner circle spun to look at me. Faces broke out in smiles and relief. I chuckled as Gillian, Jez, Keller, and Iliana all smothered me with hugs. "Guys, I was gone for, like, two days."

That didn't really seem to appease them. Wonder why.

I crossed to Thierry, dropping the stone onto his mahogany desk with a definitive thud.

"Ugly little thing though. But it did save my life."

"Your life?" Thea asked. "How did it save your life?"

"And more to the point," Hannah broke in, "why did your life need saving in the first place?"

I saw Jez shoot Nick a threatening look, but then her silver-blue eyes flicked to our entwined hands. Oh, so someone finally noticed? I felt a little miffed. Jez raised a questioning look in my direction and I looked innocent, glancing at Nick. His cocky shadow of a smirk was back on his face, and all-in-all, he looked thoroughly pleased with himself. I rolled my eyes.

"Well done Bee!" Thierry's eyes glowed, and he picked up the crystal between two delicate fingers. "Hannah's right though – how did everything…?" His question trailed off.

"Well." I began, comfortable with my audience – Iliana's violet eyes were wide, Mary-Lynette's face was curious. Even Morgead looked interested.

"We got in okay. In fact, it all went according to plan until Lukos – this totally ugly wolf? Kinda figured it out. Because apparently, Nick doesn't make a habit out of making pawns. So right as I'd picked up the crystal, I turned, and, like, Lukos and Ragnar –"

"RAGNAR?!" Rashel looked shocked. "He was there?"

"Oh, yeah. The only time the crystal would be left unguarded was when he arrived, because the puffed-up, power-crazy loon insisted on some sort of meeting. So anyway, I turned, and he was there. Along with Lukos. And then I reach for my knife, right, and –"

"Your knife? You? Alone? Against two Night People?"

"Yes," I said exasperatedly, shooting David an annoyed look. "Let me finish!"

"Whoa, where was Nick?" Maggie broke in mistrustfully.

I sighed. "Nick was being held back by a couple of vampires. That's what I'm coming to – Ragnar said that if I didn't put the crystal back, he'd kill Nick. So I threatened to smash it."

Gasps from around the room.

"You didn't!" Poppy squealed, grinning. Sick sense of humor, that girl.

"Hell yeah I did!" I returned, baring my teeth. "So he – Ragnar – launches himself at me, and he's just about to rip my throat out, but then Nick," and here I let go of his hand and poked him slightly, "manages to fend off both vamps on him, and yanks Ragnar off of me, with perfect timing. Then I go into the fight – oh Rashel! I lost that knife! The one with silver and wooden blades?"

Rashel shook her head. "Bee! That was lignum vitae!" She sighed. "I'll get you another one for Halloween."

"Appreciated. Anyway, Nick and I get rid of one leech between us, and then he tells me to go get the crystal – which I've oh-so-intelligently dropped. Behind me, Nick and the remaining leech are basically killing each other. But when I near the crystal, Ragnar is standing, like, practically on top of it. I managed to grab it and stake him through the foot –" and here all the vampires in the room winced. "And spin away. He grabs me and nearly breaks my freaking wrist – asshole – and I drop the crystal again. But here's the thing –" I fixed Thierry with an intense stare. "It glowed! That's where it saved my life – it suddenly explodes with light. It was…" I shook my head. "So bright. Blinding, almost. It managed to blind Ragnar enough that I could get away. By then, Nick had gotten rid of the puppy and the leech behind us, so we headed out of the attic."

"Not both of them," Nick corrected. "You got rid of Lukos."

I inclined my head modestly. "Well, yeah, I guess so. That's how I lost my knife, for your information, Rashel. Fighting evil, so don't look so offended."

"You're saying this crystal lit up?" Thierry looked curious.

"Yep, that's exactly what I'm saying. Lit up like a million billion Christmas lights in one itty-bitty rock."

"Fascinating." He offered it to Iliana, who took it and began turning it over in her palms.

"The rest is…uh…anticlimactic." I looked nonchalant as Jez and Gillian (whose ear Jez had discreetly and hurriedly been whispering into) fixed me with the beady-eyed 'I know you're hiding something so you'd better spit it out' glares that only your best friends seem to be capable of giving you. I stuck my tongue out at them, earning a nasty glare from Ash, who had caught my look.

"Bee, Nick – Circle Daybreak can't thank you enough. Truly, words can't express –"

"Hell yeah they can!" Jez broke in.

"I'd like to propose a toast to Bee's noble try! It went well." That was, obviously, from Gillian.

"Nice job girl!" Poppy shrieked, as Keller and Rashel echoed that statement.

"I didn't think you'd do it!" Morgead looked impressed, and I scowled at him.

"Guys, please!" Thierry looked amused as the hilarity died down. "Bee – thank you. You have no idea how –"

"Thierry, enough already. I just did what anyone else would do. And it turned out well."

Thierry grinned. "Thea, Iliana – can you alert Aradia and Mother Cybele immediately? Thank you." Then he turned to Nick.

"Nick," he began formally. "Circle Daybreak is indebted to you too, and if there is anything you desire, please don't hesitate to tell us."

Nick was as frosty and cool as ever. "I think I have all I could ever want."

My heart raced at those words – they sounded sardonic and dispassionate, but I could feel the twinge between us, that connection we had experienced earlier swirling around us again.

"Well…" Thierry looked pensive. "We've already set aside a room for you, unless you're going somewhere."

I looked up. What would be happening? We hadn't really discussed anything. Not that we'd need to, I guess. He's my soulmate – it seems pretty cut-and-dried that he'd be staying with me, with Daybreak. Which was good.

Nick didn't reply, but merely nodded. Thierry gave him a warm, if still doubtful, smile and pulled out his phone.

"Hello, Nilsson? Nils, I need you to come up to the study and take Mister…ah…Nick to his room. Yes, thank you Nils."

"Um, Thierry – I'm sure you want to cross-question Bee some more, but it's going to have to wait until later," Jez said forcefully, her and Gillian coming up behind me and grabbing one of my arms each. I struggled a little, but as if on cue, they both dug their nails in.

I squealed. "You guys!"

Thierry looked confused and a little freaked. "Um, I'm not sure that –"

Hannah leaned over Thierry's shoulder. "Oh, let them go. I'm sure they have a lot to catch up on." She crossed to us and slung an arm around my shoulders. "I'll even go with them to keep them out of trouble." Gillian, Jez, and Hannah all shot Thierry their widest, most innocent grins. I shot them dirty looks – geez, they could really pull off that innocent act. Gill's Harman eyes positively glowed with virtuousness, and Jez's rarely-seen dimple was showing in her cheek. As for Hannah, her wise face was looking uplifted and saintly.

These bitches were good.

Thierry, at this point, looked terrified. "Um…just don't take too long." He nodded vehemently, turning his gaze to Delos and James, who had been trying to get his attention for several minutes now.

With that, Jez and Gillian dragged me away, Hannah giving me a scarily wide smile.

"I, um – I'll just be a moment," I told Nick, eyes big.

What on Earth is wrong with them? Nick asked; his lips not moving.

I started. I hadn't realized that the connection included telepathic abilities when not touching.

I think that I'm in for the third degree. Wish me luck. I inclined my head slightly as I heard the door open. Oh, that's Nils. The one with the long hair in the ponytail? All this was relayed mind-to-mind as Gillian and Jez continued pulling my out of the room, my heels dragging on the thick, fluffy carpet.

The moment I was outside the room, they shut the door firmly and all three of them turned to glare at me, hands on their hips.

I tried the innocent approach. "What's up?" My eyes were so round and simple that I was in danger of resembling a basset hound.

No answer. The glares intensified. Ah, screw it. I can't do innocent. I tried for charming. I put on my best smile. "Is something wrong?"

Okay, this was getting weird. My eyes flicked from face to face – Gillian's elfin, knowing look; Jez's cocky expression, and Hannah's one of anticipation. You know, that really parental I-know-what-you're-thinking look.

"What?" Playing dumb this time. "Do I have something in my teeth?"

The three of them sighed in unison, and shuttled me into an empty room, Jez pushing me down onto a sofa.

"You guys, this is creeping me out. You're acting like the Stepford Daybreakers or something."

Gillian giggled a little at that one.

I leaned back more comfortably and raised an eyebrow.

"You. Him. Holding hands." Hannah said accusingly. "Explain."

"I second that motion!" Jez chimed in.

I turned my gaze to Gillian. "Gill – what do you have to add?"

She smiled wickedly, her delicate cheekbones making her look completely innocent and at the same time, evil. "Like a breath of midnight air, like a lighthouse, like a prayer –"

"That's enough out of you, missy," Hannah scolded. "Do you have something pertinent to say?"

"You make fun, yet I'm the one attempting to do some good."

I rolled my eyes. "Gillian – there is a real world. Open up to it. Embrace it. Please."

She giggled once more. "Okay, okay. So, tell us. You were holding his hand."

Okay, I still had a few tricks up my sleeve. Time for defensive. "What, like that's so weird? Come on! Hannah, you're holding Gill's hand right now! Friends hold hands occasionally."

"Hah! Friends!" Jez looked triumphant, her snapping blue eyes victorious. "I thought you hated the guy?"

"I did. But when someone saves your life a couple of times, you end up feeling pretty charitable towards them."

"He saved your life? That is so…" Gill trailed off, her eyes gleaming.

I sighed. These girls knew me too well. "Y'all are acting crazy."

At this, they all gasped and acted injured. "Did I say something to offend you?"

"Do frogs croak?" returned Hannah, scowling.

"Okay, I'll bite. If there's nothing else besides friendship there, why are you smiling like that?" Jez asked.

Was I smiling? I reflexively reached up to touch my face. Damn, I was! I turned my head and caught my reflection in a mirror – I had this huge goofy smile on my face. I tried to turn it off, but it just came right back.

"You look like a damn Christmas tree, girl." Jez observed, whistling through her teeth.

"Um, I'm just happy we got the crystal," I invented pathetically.

Hannah rolled her eyes and all three of them flopped next to me on the sofa, muttering about 'hard-headed freaks' and 'stubborn brats'. Huh, wonder who they were referring to.

"Bee, were you always this stupid or did you take lessons?" Gillian asked conversationally. I glared at her.

"Okay, guys, you've officially gone mad. If that's all the craziness for today, I think I'll just go check on –" I barely caught myself from blurting out Nick's name. Shit. All the girls had predatory expressions on their faces.

"Check on whom, Bee?" Jez asked pleasantly, her tone musical.

"Um. The crystal. Yes." I began backing towards the door, my hand feeling behind me for the doorknob.

"Don't. Even. Think about it." Gillian snapped out. She beckoned. "Come here."

I hung my head and slouched over. I knew when I was beat.

And I wasn't beat yet. I could play this game all night.

"What?"

"Bee. Why were you holding Nick's hand?"

"Because I was being friendly."

"That's awfully nice of you."

"That's how I am," I agreed with Hannah. "A regular saint."

Jez made a noise of disbelief. "That's the biggest piece of bullshit I've heard all year."

I feigned hurt. "Jezebel, I can't believe you! You, of all people, would say such things."

"Oh, sorry, Belladonna, it just slipped out."

We glared at each other for a moment. Then the silence was broken by Gillian, who gave a wide yawn.

"Well, I'm really tired. I think I'll turn in."

I looked at her suspiciously.

"What? It's been a long day."

"So I can go?"

"Oh, yeah, sure." She giggled. "Night." Then she turned to Jez with calculated slowness. "Hey Jez. Where do you think Nick's been put?"

I froze, trying to figure out the counterstrike to this unanticipated new move. "Oh, I don't know Gill. You know, it's lucky I have Morgead – if not, I'd definitely be finding out and paying him a visit."

"Mm. I mean, don't get me wrong – I love Thierry, but did you see Nick's eyes? They're so…"

"Mystical!" Gill chimed in.

"Exactly. And that face!"

"Forget the face," Jez cut in. "Did you see that body?"

Okay, that was it. I spun and sat back down. "I wasn't at all convincing?"

The three of them broke into giggles.

"Not to us," Hannah said kindly, patting me on the back. "It's so obvious you had a crush on him. Even when he first arrived, you couldn't take your eyes off him."

My mouth fell open. "For your kind information, Hannah, I did not have a 'crush' on him in any way, shape, or form. I loathed him."

"If you say so."

I shut my eyes, rubbing my eyelids tiredly. "He's my soulmate," I said, in a voice that was barely audible.

That got a reaction.

"WHAT?" the three shrieked in unison. Jez hugged me. "Bee, that's wonderful!"

Hannah joined in, poking me in the side.

Only Gill remained quiet. "Is it? What's wrong, honeybee?"

"I dunno. I mean…it just happened, out of the blue. Well, no, it didn't. The first time I got an inkling of anything, it was when he bit me -"

"He bit you?" Jez sounded indignant.

"Well, yeah. This was at the beginning; I didn't want him to go eat some innocent girl."

The others nodded in understanding. "But then…well, I saw into his mind. And it was so…" I trailed off. "You know? But I figured that was just the normal blood bond."

Jez looked sympathetic. "Uh, babe? The blood bond doesn't allow you to see into someone else's mind. It just enhances telepathy."

"I didn't know that!" I snapped. "I mean, there were no sparks when we touched, no instant rapport –" I paused. "He knew what I was thinking. Even though I didn't tell him."

"Sounds like the soulmate bond to me."

"Uh-huh," I said absently. "Look, you guys – can I explain this tomorrow? I'm really tired, and I…I…"

"Have things to sort out with a certain ice sculpture?" Hannah nodded understandingly.

"Yeah, we'll quiz you more tomorrow," Jez promised. I rolled my eyes.

"Night, honeybee," Gill called, as I left the room in a near-daze, closing the door behind me.

He had known. He had known what I was scared of; he'd had symbolic belladonnas in his mind since we began the journey. But he didn't even know me!

And I felt something else welling up, beneath the confusion and lo – uh, emotion.

Anger.

Why hadn't he told me? Why hadn't I known?

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The next update may be a bit of a while – I'm making an international move, so you can imagine how hectic things are. I love my One-gig pen drive :D such a useful expenditure of $38. Bwahaha. Anyway – it might be a while. Sorry.

Notes

Nilsson being called Nils – Nils is a real person and a real name. It's German for 'guardian', and also a derivative of Nicholas, the patron saint of thieves, sailors, Christmas, among other things.

Like a breath of midnight air… - Love Heals, a song from RENT.

You make fun… - La Vie Bohème, another song from RENT. Well, actually it's the intro, sung by Benny.

- WalkThruTheFire.