NOTE from the PHOENIX: I am SOOOOOO sorry this took so long!!! I just couldn't think of what to do! I hope this works out. There will be a few more chapters, that will come more quickly than this! I promise!

WARING: This chapter get very violent.

SPOILER: Since this chapter has a touchy subject I wanted to assure readers before hand if they want such asurance. At one point things looke they are about to go very, very wrong, however, I promise that things do not go too far.

Chapter Fourteen

"I've changed my mind."

"Daniel..."

"Janet, we can't do this. It's not right."

"Not right or not safe?"

"Both."

Janet sighed, knowing that Daniel was right on both accounts. She reached out and carded her hand into his hair. Daniel smiled sadly. Janet could see the stress in his eyes. As much as he wanted to give Ezra the gun that Jhan was holding she knew that he feared the consequences. To upset the balance could lead to disaster. If Ezra was unable to kill Jhan he would undoubtedly slaughter all of the women in the camp.

"A little girl is dying from having her innocents ripped from her, that's what's not right here, Daniel."

"I know. However, is one gun with a single clip going to be enough? Even in experienced hands, I doubt it."

"We need to try."

Daniel hesitated but eventually he nodded. Leaning in Janet gave him a gentle kiss that quickly became more passionate. Breaking free of the kiss he held her tightly against his chest. Janet could hear his heart racing painfully from the stress. He had just released her from the embrace when Ezra burst into their tent.

'You have to leave, you have to leave now!'

'Ezra, what's happening?'

'It's Jhan, he's in a rage. With Tila dying he took Ara...she...she's so young, she was just trying to make the encounter bearable...she didn't mean to, it was an accident.'

'Ezra, slow down. What happened?'

'She cried our your name instead of Jhan's.'

'Oh no...what did he do?'

'He killed her," Ezra broke into tears 'and now he is demanding Janet.'

'I thought you said he couldn't do that.' Daniel said in horror.

'Daniel, he's angry, he's so angry. If I deny him this he will break tradition and tear our homes apart. He already suspects that you are here.'

'He's doing this as his first move to flush me out.'

"Daniel," Janet asked anxiously "what's going on?"

"Jhan killed another woman."

"And now he wants me." Janet added having heard Ezra use her name.

"Yes."

"I should go."

"Janet, no..."

"It will give me a chance to get the gun."

"No." Daniel said firmly. "Absolutely not."

"I can take care of myse..."

Janet was cut off by a high pitch cry coming from outside. Ezra turned pale as he eyes widened in horror. Before anyone could move to see what was happening Jhan tore open the door to the tent. Daniel grabbed Ezra's arm and pulled her back so that he could stand in front of both her and Janet.

Daniel's protective stance infuriated Jhan further. There were five other men with Jhan, but he didn't really need them to win this fight. With the speed of a snake he lashed out and grabbed a handful of Daniel's hair. Daniel grabbed Jhan's wrist and tried to twist himself free, but the trained warrior had a distinct advantage.

"Daniel!"

"Janet, run!"

Jhan and his men had little interest in the women at the moment, but Janet was not about to turn tail and flee into the woods. Jhan used his grip on Daniel's hair to drag him out into the open. He released him in order to strike Daniel between the shoulder blades. The powerful blow instantly dropped Daniel to his hands and knees.

Trying to get to his feet Daniel was doubled over again as Jhan kicked his ribs with enough force to break bone. Gasping for breath Daniel spat blood onto the mossy ground. Jhan reached down and picked Daniel up by the throat. Daniel was forced to grab Jhan's wrists to try and support some of his own weight to keep Jhan from choking him.

'How many of my women have you ruined with your touch?!' Jhan demanded.

'I'm not the one who ruins women.'

'I am going to tear you apart, but not before I tear open your female.'

'Touch her and I will ki...'

Daniel was cut off as Jhan increased his painful grip on his throat. Ezra had been holding Janet back, but she managed to untangle herself from the terrified leader. Janet rushed up behind Jhan and with surgical precision struck him hard over his left kidney. Jhan cried out in unexpected pain and dropped Daniel.

Seeing his chance Daniel threw himself at Jhan. Two of Jhan's easily pulled him off their leader and held his arms behind his back. Jhan turned on Janet. When she went to strike him again he deftly caught her wrist. Jhan jerked Janet closer and with her wrist still captured he used his free hand against her lower back to press her against him. Janet fought against him, but she was no match for his power.

'Jhan!' Daniel cried. 'I'll do anything, please don't hurt her.'

'By the time I'm done with her I'll have you be begging me to let you kill her yourself.' Jhan purred.

'No, please, please...'

'Stop begging, it's pathetic.'

Jhan pushed Janet into the arms of one of the other men and turned his attention to Ezra. She was shaking so hard she looked on the verge of collapse. Jhan looked down on her in disgust.

'Traitor.' Jhan spat. 'You will be taken by every man under my command as many times as it takes for pain and dehydration to release you into death.'

'No,' Ezra wept 'please, allow me an honorable death. It is the least you can do for me.'

'You are to be put on display in the middle of camp at night fall, and every night fall until you are of no use to anyone.'

'Please...'

Jhan stuck Ezra across the face hard. She cried bitterly, but she did nothing as one of Jhan's men tied her hands behind her back. When they went to force her to walk towards camp she doubled over and began vomiting violently as her fear overwhelmed her. Tears slipped down Janet's face as she watched them drag Ezra away.

"Daniel, we have to help her."

"I'll think of something." Daniel assured with far more confidence than he felt.

"Hopefully it will involve saving us some how as well."

"Hopefully."

Janet looked over at Daniel and forced a sad smile. Seeing her bravery caused a slight smile to touch his lips as well. Jhan saw the exchange and walked up to Daniel with a snarl on his face. Daniel watched him apprehensively, waiting for another painful blow. Jhan did not disappoint and brought his knee up into Daniel's stomach hard. With several ribs already broken the dry heaving he was sent into brought him to the edge of passing out.

"Leave him alone!" Janet snarled.

'I think that was a demand.' Jhan chuckled. 'You are a brave one. I am going to have fun with you, I bet you ride like a wild horse.'

'Jhan,' Daniel gasped 'Jhan, I have a powerful weapon. A gun. I will show you how to use it, if you let her go.'

'I don't need anymore power.'

Jhan backhanded Janet hard enough to knock her unconscious. Crying out in frustration and rage Daniel battled hard against the men holding him. Jhan walked back over to him calmly and smiled brightly. He crossed his arms over his chest and studied Daniel for a moment.

'I will make a deal with you.' Jhan said. 'If you tell me which of the women you have defiled here I will simply kill them. It will be a quick and painless death, and I will set you and your female free.'

'I didn't touch any of them.'

'You expect me to believe that?'

'It's the truth.'

'Tell me of just one of them, and you and your woman will go free.'

Daniel looked over at Janet and swallowed hard. For a brief second he considered exchanging one of the women's lives for Janet's. However, he knew that she would never forgive him for such an act, no more than he would ever be able to forgive himself. When Daniel shook his head 'no' Jhan shrugged and then struck him hard enough to cause darkness to take him as well.

Jolting awake Daniel instantly began fighting at the tight bindings around his wrists. Siting on soft animal furs he leaned forward to try and get to his feet. He soon discovered that his wrists held him captive to the sturdy wooden pole that held up the roof of Jhan luxurious tent. Daniel looked over and found Janet sitting on the floor in the far corner of the tent.

Although unbound Janet wasn't attempting to go anywhere. Jhan had her placed in a simple dress made of fine silk. With her knees hugged to her chest Janet stared blankly at the fur covered floor. She had told Daniel several times that she could handle this situation if it ever arose, but he could see that had all been bluff for his sake. Trembling violently Janet panted heavily for each breath.

"Janet." Daniel called softly.

'Ah, you're awake.' Jhan's voice purred. 'We've been waiting for you.'

Daniel tensed as Jhan walked out from behind him into view. The strong man reached down and hauled Daniel to his feet. Daniel jerked at the knotted cloth around his wrists until they bled in an attempt to break the bindings. Jhan noticed his effort and chuckled.

'I don't know how you managed to give the females the courage to try and defy me, but I will teach them that such disobedience will only lead to suffering.'

'If you push them too far they will rise up against you.'

'Perhaps you are right. I should just slaughter these ones and capture new ones. Thank you for the advice.'

Daniel looked away in disgust. Jhan laughed and turned his attention on Janet. She couldn't help but cry out as he snatched a handful of her hair and pulled her to her feet. Daniel's stomach turned sickeningly as Jhan forced her into a deep kiss. For a second Janet look like she was returning kiss, but it became clear that she was just looking for a good grip on Jhan's lip.

Jhan roared in pain as Janet bit down on his lip hard enough to draw blood. When he freed himself from her his lip was torn and bleeding heavily. Jhan struck her hard and knocked her back to the floor. He grabbed her by the arm and jerked her back up onto her feet.

'That's the kind of spirt I like to see. I think I'll keep you alive long enough to bare me a son, if he has half of your fight he'll make a great warrior.'

"I am going to kill you." Janet hissed.

'We need to teach you how to speak, you're like an animal.'

"Janet, there is a gun here somewhere."

"I already looked, it's not here."

"Damn it."

'Those doesn't sound like words of loving reassurance.' Jhan mocked.

Daniel feared that Jhan was about to drag Janet over to the animal skin bed. Instead he shoved her forward and pushed her into Daniel. Janet seemed just as surprised and looked up at Daniel fearfully. Jhan stepped up behind her and pressed against her back. Daniel closed his eyes as he realized that Jhan intended to rape Janet against him.

"It's going to be okay, Daniel." Janet whispered.

Janet's brave words sent a flash of ice through Daniel's blood. He was the one that was supposed to be protecting and comforting her. He stared into her eyes and found only courage. Even as Jhan groped down her sides she kept her eyes locked on Daniel's. Forcing a brave smile of his own Daniel leaned forward and kissed her forehead gently.

Calm despite the animal at her back Janet gave Daniel a soft kiss before resting her head against his chest. Jhan wanted them both fighting and crying for mercy, but they weren't going to give him the satisfaction. With her hand free she slipped them around Daniel's waist. At first he thought she was just embracing him for support, however, she started working at the bloodied cloth that bound his wrists.

Daniel was amazed by her ability to think, let alone work to escape, during this ordeal. He attempted to help her while they both ignored Jhan's escalating passion. The fact that Daniel had pulled so tightly against the cloth was making the knots impossible to untie. Janet suddenly gasped sharply as her entire frame tensed.

'She's uncut,' Jhan noted with satisfaction 'I think I'll keep her that way.'

"I'm sorry, Daniel." Janet whimpered. "I can't unti..."

Janet stop with a gasp of pain. Welding her eyes shut she gave up on the cloth and embraced Daniel tightly. Tears traced down Daniel's face as she buried her own against his chest and began crying as well. He had been trying not to look a Jhan, who was only inches from his face, but he could still feel the monster's hot rancid breath.

"I love you, Janet. We'll make it through this...somehow."

Janet just nodded and held him closer. When Jhan pulled away to remove his clothing Daniel wanted to start screaming, but he kept quiet. Closing his eyes he rested his head on top of Janet's and continued to try and free himself from the strong cloth. The anger and frustration was sapping his strength, but he couldn't just give in.

Daniel froze as Jhan pressed Janet harder up against him again. There was a sharp breathless cry of pain, however, it hadn't been from Janet. For a terrifying moment everything was deathly still. Unable to keep his eyes close Daniel opened them slowly.

Daniel automatically jerked back, striking his head against the wooden pole that kept his captive. Jhan was staring at Daniel sightlessly. There was an expression of shock and pain painted across his grotesque features. Blood leaked from the corner of his mouth and suddenly he collapsed the floor, revealing his killer.

'Gaius!' Daniel cried in relief.

"Daniel," Janet whimpered "what happened?"

"Gaius just murdered Jhan."

Having narrowly escaped a painful and humiliating fate Janet did not question Gaius's motives. Gaius stared down at Jhan as the pool of blood expanded. Satisfied that the man was dead he walked behind Daniel and cut the cloth free.

Daniel was just fast enough to catch Janet as she passed out. Lifting her up Daniel took her over to the bed. Keeping her in his arms he sat down and cradled her. Gaius stepped up to the pair and stared down them.

'Thank you, Gaius, thank you so much.'

'You are free to go.'

'What?' Daniel asked in shock.

'Killing Jhan places me next in line to lead. I decide your fate now, and I choose to set you both free.'

'I am surprised you didn't kill him long ago. I could always see that you hated taking orders from him.'

'I did. However, murdering a powerful leader has its risks as well as rewards.'

'What made you do it now?'

'I could not stand by and let Ezra fall to the disgusting fate Jhan had sentenced her to.'

'You risked everything for a woman?'

'She is more than a woman...she is my mother.'