DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE HOLLOWS BY KIM HARRISON!

Sorry for the extra long wait:(

RPOV

I gaped at Al. I'd have to kill Trent? I shook my head. No freaking way. I looked over at Trent. He looked like he was kicking himself. In hindsight, it was pretty obvious. The dead can't dream. At least, they aren't supposed to. Al was smirking at us, silently laughing as Trent and I both realized how dumb we were.

"I told you so," Al muttered. He crossed his arms, and raised his eyebrows. "Can we get back to Sparagmos, already?"

Holding back a rebuke, I walked around him. He and Trent followed suit, coming to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me in the middle. Al placed his heavy hand lightly on my shoulder, and Trent gripped my fingers tightly. Even though they were showing me support, I bit my lip, feeling unsure. How was I going to do this? I hated Nick, and after everything he's done to me, how can I save him from this hell? I guess we could give him the freedom that he so did not deserve, and then sic the men-who-don't-belong on his ass. Hell, I could call Captain Edden of the FIB.

Somewhat satisfied, I squared my shoulders, and met Nick's eyes. He was squinting at us suspiciously. I reddened when he noticed the lone tear I had forgotten about. Al's warm glove-free fingers wiped it away, leaving a cool smear on my skin and I licked my lips. God, what was wrong with me? Why was I so damn emotional today?

With that gut-twisting feeling that I was making a mistake, I said in a crystal-clear voice, "Deal."

Nick's gaunt face brightened, then darkened. "Wait, I want something else," he said quickly, and I rolled my eyes. Was he serious?

"No," Al snorted. "The deal has already been made. You cannot add to it, you fucking dumb sac."

"Don't, and I won't make good on my end." he said snottily, thinking he had us.

Trent tensed next to me, and I squeezed his fingers. He glanced down at me and I smiled at him confidently. He relaxed. Al chuckled. "Don't, and your soul will be forfeited to Rachel."

His face darkened, but still, he leered at us. "Even so, she'll die in a week."

"Even so, " Al drawled, mocking him, "if she were to die, as her teacher, it's my right to claim everything of hers, including your soul." He grinned at Nick, showing his white, blocky teeth. "Newt's terrible, but I'm sure I could compete with the . . . awful things I plan to do with you. And unlike her, I don't need to keep you functioning."

Nick paled, and a shiver slipped down my spine. Sometimes, it was easy to forget what Al was, and hearing him eagerly discuss torturing Nick had me trembling at just the thought of what he would do if he claimed Nick. Poor son of a bastard would be better dead. Of course, I had nothing to fear. Al wouldn't hurt me . . . if I kept from provoking him, anyways.

At Nick's silence, Al continued, "So, it's settled!" He clapped in delight, but after spending so much time in his kitchen with him lecturing me, I heard the forced cheerfulness when Trent and Nick didn't. "You," he said, pointing at the human eight feet from us. "Back in the box you go."

"Wa-!" He exclaimed, and he vanished in a blink of an eye.

My shoulders sagged, and Trent dropped my hand, only to wrap his arm around me in comfort. I knew I should have pulled away, but he was warm, and he smelled nice. I leaned into him, breathing in deeply. Yes, he smelled very nice. Al's hand slipped from me, and I felt a tug as he twirled a curl of mine around his digit. How funny was this? My ex-nemeses were comforting me. I smiled against Trent's shoulder. Funny, indeed.

"How much will it cost her to buy Nick?" Trent was asking Al from over my head, bringing me back from my thoughts.

"I've pressed charges against Newt," Al sighed, his breath hot on my ear and temple. "I'll convince her in handing over Nick, and I'll drop the charges." Oh, so that's why he was down. He was going to lose all that he could have gotten out of Newt, in exchange for Nick. Ouch.

"Shouldn't take long," he mused. "Give me a half hour, and that little fucker will be mine." He paused. I turned my head, and looked up at Al. He smiled at me, then frowned at Trent. "Don't touch anything." He threatened. "Rachel knows how I'll get." And he popped out, leaving Trent and I wide-eyed and completely alone.

I cleared my throat, and walked out of his arms, embarrassed. Walking back to the seat nearest to the fire, I said, "Don't mess with any of his books. He'll go spitting-mad." I grimaced as I remembered when not even a day ago, he'd attacked me. Yeah, right. He'll go crazy on your ass.

Trent shuffled his feet behind me, then followed, sitting down on the couch across from me. I eyed the distance, hating myself nearly as much as I hated the distance between us. I met his eyes, seeing that same urge I had to close the space. I gulped. Dropping his gaze, I got cozy on my seat, shifting my body around until the armrest supported my back, and my knees were drawn to my chest.

I stared at the flames, pretending I was alone and that my teacher was going to be back any minute. The silence was becoming awkward, and I certainly wasn't going to break it. I heard Trent sigh every now and then as the time passed. He made no move to speak to me, lost in his own mind.

As the fire crackled, I became aware of Trent's eyes on me. I peered at him from around my red, tangled curls, and he kept on gazing at me with his brows furrowed in concentration. He sat with his arms resting on his parted knees, and he was very still. "Ahh, Trent?" I asked after a few moments. He exhaled deeply, and he hung his head, showing me the top of his translucent hair.

"Sorry," he muttered, keeping his face cast down. "I was just . . . thinking."

I hadn't clue what to say, but I eventually settled for, "Oh."

He harrumphed, and I returned my attention to the fire. God, what was taking Al so long? Didn't he promise to be back in thirty minutes? "How long has it been?" I wondered out loud.

"Ten minutes," Trent answered me, not knowing my question had been rhetorical. My goodness. Only ten? It felt like an hour has passed. "Feels longer, though, doesn't it?" Trent said softly, echoing my thoughts.

"Yeah. Yes." I mumbled, fighting my desire to look at him. I extended my legs, and draped them over the other armrest. I scooted my body down, stopping when my neck was supported by the armrest. I closed my eyes, and folded my arms over my middle.

The loud silence continued on. Every other minute, or so, Trent would shift himself around on the long couch. At some point, while I was deep in blank-stare mode, he "accidentally" kicked the little table hard, and I jumped. He apologized amid a fit of barely contained laughter at my expense. I claimed it only startled me a little, and he outright laughed at me. I glared at him, and he got louder, holding his sides. Unable to help myself, I joined in, and Al re-emerged, staring at us as we chuckled and giggled like idiots over something completely stupid. I blamed Trent.

Al shook his head, and I bit my tongue to keep from laughing. I sat up straight, putting my feet on the plush carpet. Trent had gone quiet, and as I met his gaze, he smiled at me warmly. I returned it thinly.

"So, Al," I said after I finally reined in the giggles, "How did it go?"

He smirked and went to sit next to Trent, who scooted away cautiously. Al lifted an ankle atop of his knee, and spread his arms on the back of the couch. "I'll give you the short version, itchy witch." He said, eyes on me. "Newt was upset at first, understandably so, but she eventually gave in to my generous offer. Nick's mine." He boasted.

"That fast?" I asked, surprised.

"Well, I did say I was giving you the short version, didn't I, Rachel?"

I narrowed my eyes at him. "So," Trent butted in, "What's next?"

Both men looked at me, and I pursed my lips, thinking. "Ah," I said, unintelligibly. "I propose we untwist Nick's curse first and, afterwards, he'd be free to go." I glanced at Trent. "But he might want to stick around with you until you cough up the dough."

Both men nodded in unison. "Well, let's bring back that little piece of meat." Al said, standing and plucking Trent up by his shoulder, forcing him to his feet. "I want that curse of his removed, now." Al added in a hard voice.

"Yeah, me too." I grumbled, pushing myself up with a grunt.

"Me three." Trent muttered, eyeing me from under his brow. For the first time, I noticed that there were dark circles under his eyes. They were faint, but I still grimaced.

A second and pop of displayed air later, Nick was there, standing on the ugly version of Al's door with his clothes disheveled. He blinked a few times, and then he scowled at us. "It's about time," he said.

Al stepped around the table and went for him, becoming a blur of green and white. Nick's eyes widened, then his body crumbled to the floor after Al struck his face with an audible crack. I winced, feeling the blow myself. "I own you," Al was snarling. "Don't think for a second that you are safe because you are no longer Newt's. You belong to me for the time being."

"Al," I whined, then shut up when he turned his satisfied grin to me.

"What? He never stated he wanted safety from any of us." I looked pointedly at him, and he grunted. "He's mine," he grumbled sullenly, even as he moved away from Nick's hunched form. I wasn't complaining. I mean, I would like to punch Nick so hard he'd fall on his ass, but still.

Trent and I went to stand by Al as Nick caught his breath. Together, we waited impatiently as the human slowly gained his feet. His face was red, and where Al had slapped him was beginning to show hints of purple. I think Al gave him a concussion. Oh well, I thought, he did smart-mouth at him.

"Jump me to reality and then give me my money." Nick panted, his breath coming in and out in quick inhales and exhales. "I'll give you my blood afterwards."

"Give us the blood, and after we untwist your curse on Rachel and I, we'll take you to the other side of the lines, and you will receive the cash." Trent said easily from beside me.

His face stiff, Nick refused. "No. I want to be free of this hell hole and have my money. You'll get your end of the deal then."

"No," I barked, putting my hands on my hips.

"It's either my way, or no way." Nick grinned ugly, and I felt like slapping him myself.

Al growled softly in his throat. "No," I repeated.

"I want my freedom and money first." My eye twitched when I caught a quick flash of some unknown emotion dash across his thin face. It was so subtle that I doubted it's appearance.

"No."

"I don't want to be anywhere near you when you try to untwist that curse." Nick said harshly, almost in panic. I saw that flash of uncertainty again, and my warning bells began ringing louder. "Look," Nick pleaded. "Can you blame me? I don't trust any of you." Nick focused his attention on me. "After this, I swear I won't bother you again."

"I don't trust you, Nick," I mocked. "Can you blame me?" After a moment of private thinking, I licked my lips. "We'll meet you halfway."

Nick made a sour face. "Like what?"

"We'll take you to reality." I felt Trent's and Al's surprise. I pressed on before they could argue with me. "You'll give us your blood-"

"Then you give me my money," Nick gleefully interrupted me.

I glared at him for a good five seconds, and continued. "After we're successful on untwisting that curse of yours, you'll get your money."

Nick's wrinkled brow smoothed out. "The destination will be of my choosing." He countered.

"Right," I snorted.

"We'll go to my compound," Trent said, startling me. "In one of my interrogation rooms." Worry flitted through Nick's face. "We'll do it there."

Al clapped once, then said, "When shall we go?"

"Now," Nick and I said simultaneously, and I eyed him suspiciously. He was planning something. I could feel it.

Again, sorry for the wait. I couldn't decide if I wanted to make this to be the final chapter. But I opted to write what was supposed to be the end of this chappie into the other.

So, just so we're clear, the next chappie is the final chapter. \(^o^)/