REALLY LONG SUPER HIATUS THAT I FEEL TERRIBLE ABOUT. SORRY. IM ACTUALLY REALLY EXCITED FOR THIS STORY AND I HAVE A PLAN FOR IT. OKAY HERE YA GO.

DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN THE CHARACTERS JUST THE PLOT.

FANG

Max has some nerve. After all these years... After she abandoned us on that damned island, she captures us and is holding us prisoner.

And, she's got a whole new family...kids! And then she tortured me. With that...woman, Bridget. It's been presumably several hours since Max had left, about thirty minutes since the other two left after being prompted by a message on the girl's tablet.

"Fang?" Angel was noticeably concerned about me, didn't want to pry into my head after that horrible experience.

"I'll be alright, everyone...We'll be okay." I tried to reassure them even though I had no idea how. After Max disappeared I had to take on the role of leader and it was hell. I don't know how Max stayed sane all those years being our leader. Everything that goes wrong somehow leads back to you and you have to fix it. It is terrifying.

"Aw. What an adorable sentiment." The girl who looks like a Max without wings said as she walked into the room.

"Elly, right?" I asked. My bindings clicked off. We all gaped at her.

"What? Did you think you were our prisoners?" She scoffed,"We're a little more civilized than that. Thank you."

We stood warily, watching her with suspicious eyes.

"Seriously. I have trust issues, but I'm your former leader's daughter. No need for hostility." She turned around entering a code into the keypad by the door, "Besides," She tapped her hip where her jacket skillfully hid a weapon of some sort, "If you step out of line, I'll end you."

No teasing smirk. No winks, or smiles to unveil it as a joke. All seriousness. I nod at the group and we follow her out into the corridor.

"I will bring you to the conference room where you will be briefed and then you have a very important decision to make." She sounded like tour guide as she walked and led us through hall after hall and pointed out things like,

"That's the cafeteria." or "That's the library." or "That's the laundry room."

Nothing helpful towards an escape plan like where we were, where the exit is, or the nearest window.

I studied her as we walked. She seemed about 16, confidant, dangerous even. She had no wings to speak of even though she was Max's daughter. She was wearing a fitted blazer with dress pants and heels. The exact opposite of anything Max would wear. Her hair was dark brown, with waves in it. Her skin was tanned and her eyes were the same as Max's. But, unlike Max she was all business. All work and no play. She talked seriously, and walked with a sense of duty.

A woman on a mission.

"Here we are." She gestured for me to walk through the open door. As I walked in I noticed all the people already gathered there.

After the entirety of the Flock was in the room, Elly joined what seemed to be Max's family by the wall. I hear the door click shut and lock.

Across the table in the middle of the room stand Max. Her hands clasped in front of her, biting her lip in anticipation.

The room is silent.

"So..." Max said awkwardly, "I guess you're wondering why I gathered you all here today."

MAX

I felt like a-schoolgirl-talking-to-her-crush-nervous. My stomach was twisted in knots and I was biting my lip like I was out for blood.

"Is that the best you could come up with, Mom, really?" A tall woman in the back says as she comes forward to stand next to me. Surprise, it's my eldest daughter. Phoenix.

"You have a lot of explaining to do, Max." Fang crossed his arms and leveled his glare at me. Which if you know me at all you'll know I hate when my authority is challenged.

I mimicked his stance and glared back at him fiercely. I felt Phoenix shudder next to me. My gaze was cold. Unyielding. From my peripheral I could see my family tensing, anticipating a fight, the Flock was doing the same.

"Fang," I began coldly, "I will explain what you need to know. Nothing more. Nothing less." I narrowed my eyes, "Furthermore, you will respect me in my compound, you will listen, and you will not speak unless spoken to until I am finished." He clenched his jaw in agitation.

"Am I clear?" His eyes never left my face.

You could have cut the tension in the room with a knife. Behind me to my left I could sense Lisa and Bridget, seemingly leaning nonchalantly against the wall, but I knew they were fully prepared to jump into action. Behind me, I could feel Leon's worried gaze focused on me. Brick, off to the side, sitting backwards in a chair, gripping it tightly, looking somewhat intimidating with the shades and biker look. My children fidgeting to my right. Elly calmly staring at the Flock. Mo's wings shifting as she prepares for a fight. Nick, with his hands in his pockets, giving off the pretense of coolness, but is really entirely ready to spring into action.

My eyes never leave Fang's. Those onyx orbs that used to turn my legs to jelly. Now they only serve to infuriate me.

After an excruciatingly long silence, he takes a seat waving for the Flock to follow, never once taking his eyes off of mine.

The tension leaves my body as I take a seat as well.

"Good." I say.

"Then, let's begin, shall we?"

BAM THERE IT IS. MORE TO COME. I'M STILL SORT OF SETTING UP THE BACKGROUND BEFORE I ACTUALLY PROGRESS WITH THE STORYLINE. THERE WILL PROBABLY BE ONE MORE INTRO CHAPTER BEFORE I BEGIN IT. THANKS LOVES.

TILL NEXT TIME.

~WiseChic~