…
There's no place for us.
What is this thing that builds our dreams
Yet slips away from us?
..

Jesse Speaks

All I could hear was raspy breathing, my struggling intake for breath and it was starting to drive me crazy.
The room I was in was bleach white, not even behind my eyes was there relief. I would have shielded them but the chains and leather straps held me tightly to the surgical table.
I could feel the drugs wearing off me again, my mind clearing ever so slightly but not enough that I could think of a way out. It felt like I had been here for months and as the lights began to dull I felt my heart race again.

The first time I woke up here, Zeno was there to greet me with all his power and instruments. I could feel the blood crusting on my bare chest, my throat stinging as I tried to break the straps, to get out before Zeno decided to drop back in again.
If I got my hands on Tatiana I would kill her slowly, torment her beyond belief. My anger helped to steady my breath and my head became heavier, aching as I strained against the bonds. They wouldn't break and I dropped fully back onto the table, staring up at the lights.

'Get much sleep?'
I felt my pulse race when I heard his voice and I strained harder against the bonds, desperate but when I realised I couldn't get out this way, I tried to relax, tried to keep my anxiety from Zeno.
'Can't imagine how this would help.' The light above me was moved and replaced with a smiling Zeno; if only I had enough saliva to spit at him.
'Regardless we have a lot of work to do today.' He moved from my vision and I tried to twist to follow him, but all I saw was tools of a torturers trade. 'Forgive me I would stand you up but this… little concoction I made up,' he leaned over me again, in view enough so that I could see him ready a syringe with clear liquid, 'I won't say what is in it but you need to be flat for it to work.'

'So this is it, this is the great and powerful Zeno?' I snarled angrily at him, my eyes fixed entirely on his well-groomed face. He paused in preparing my arm, intent on listening to what I had to say. I had to catch my breath, trying to steady my thoughts as everything became disjointed.
'You send a shifter, a girl to get me, and now your relying on your toys to break me?'
Zeno grinned and shoved the needle straight into my arm, making with wince.
'I thought it would be nice, I mean after all you and I are one of a kind.' I wanted to snarl that we weren't but my eyes drooped, my entire right side feeling as though it was on fire.
'Thought you might find it boring if I played with you using our… powers.'

I knew my body was trembling but there wasn't much I could do about it. It was all over in a minute but it felt like a century, and once I had control over at least my breathing I glared up at Zeno.
'What sort of name is Zeno…?'
Running his hand through his slick black hair, Zeno smiled and flicked his wrist, the table turning around. My head lolled to the side not of its own free will, Zenos cold finger holding my chin tightly.
I felt disgusting but what my eyes saw only made me regret being the same as Zeno.

Cages were lined up along the wall, like some sort of crazy scientist would have his lab rats set up; except they didn't have rats in them. From what I could tell, most of the people were dead; their bodies twisted and decaying and the ones that were alive barely looked human any more, moaning in pain quietly. My eyes traced along the cages in horror but stopped when they fell on a familiar figure. Tatiana stood in the corner, leaning back on the off-white wall casually.
'I can't even remember; it was so long ago that I chose the name; had something to do with a famous genetic scientist; suitable don't you think?'
'That's stupid.' It was all I could think of forcing out as Zeno gently stroked my arm only to shove in another needles, only this one was linked to a bag which hung over head. Zeno seemed to get angry, leaning over me with a sharp dagger.

'No, stupid is what your friends are going to be falling for.' He looked over to Tatiana and nodded, she just remained where she was seemingly hesitant. Zeno looked over his shoulder at her and gave a cold smirk.
'Lover boy will still be alive. We're just going to have a little fun aren't we Jess?' he patted my face and Tatiana stood straight, not breaking eye contact with me. I tried to speak to her telepathically, to beg her not to do anything that would harm my friends but whatever was in the drip, it was hard to even think of my name.
'Shifter!'
At that there was a shimmer around her and then she wasn't standing over there; I was. She lifted up my shirt and slipped it on, eyeing me quickly before a few physical features were corrected. Concern rose like vile in my throat and I glared at her, me, as she sent a death glare at Zeno and marched from the room.

'Don't you hurt them, I'll kill you!'
One last attempt; I tried to use my strength to break the bonds, to zap myself as Ben poetically puts it but nothing seemed to work. I could feel Zenos strength forcing down on me and I groaned pathetically.
That laugh drowned out all other noises again, staring down at me from his great height.
'I'd be focussing all that rage on surviving Jesse, what I have in store for you is far worse.'
I tried not to show him my fear; believe me I tried but as he held up the dagger with a gleam in his eye, I felt it coil in my stomach.

Tatiana questioned herself the whole time she drove back towards the hunters nest; this was what she had signed up for but was she willing to go this far? Is this what she really wanted?

Sadly, for Tatiana as she drove in the form of Jesse, it was a sick sort of twist that she wished she could drop. She couldn't now of course but she was starting to hate herself even more than she thought possible. She had no idea what Zeno was going to do to Jesse; had she have known she more than likely wouldn't have done it but it was too late now.
Now here she was driving to yet another event that would surely confirm her as being the monster she is.

Why she ever thought that the hunters would accept her, why Jesse would feel the same sort of attraction she had to him, she did know; foolish hope and praying. God wouldn't be listening to her, only the devil and right now Zeno was the devil that had her on a lead.

Tatiana stopped the car a distance away from the house; that would be the first give away if she rocked up in a car. It was almost late arvo and the shifter stood outside the old house, deciding whether to knock or just walk in. If he lived here, just waltzing in seemed the way to go.
The shifter stepped into the house, noting how quiet it was. Carefully she made her way up the stairs, stalking along the hall and looking into the rooms until she found Jesses.

Quickly choosing a clean shirt, she took a moment to look at Jesse in the mirror; his chiselled body strong from years of training; if only Zeno looked this good.
Not wasting any more time, she walked confidently back down and into the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of water and gulping it down.

'Jesse! We were starting to worry.'
You shouldn't stop; she thought and turned around to see Claire with an armful of coffee mugs.
'Just, popped off for a bit.' Tatiana grinned, helping Claire and hesitating when Claire frowned up at Jesses face.
'A bit? We were about ready to seek you out. What were you thinking?'
'I just couldn't stay here.' Tatiana said sadly, never used to hearing her voice as someone else's.
Claires face dropped and wrapped her arms around herself. Tatiana knew why Jesse felt so rotten last night, now it was just trying to decide if she wanted this new Jesse to get angry or to become depressed. Choosing somewhere in the middle, "Jesse" scoffed at Claires silence and moved out of the kitchen to the study, making sure that everyone was in the room.

She had a plan to get them back to Zeno without them knowing, but she wasn't sure if it would happen tonight or tomorrow; these were hunters after all, cautious creatures but also so very hot headed and stupid.
She was about to take a seat when all eye turned to her, some relaxed but some were furious and Adam got to his feet, marching up to Jesse.
'Where on earth were you?'
'China. Busty Asian Beauties web site froze.'
Adam seemed speechless and Tatiana fought the urge to giggle, even when Dean had a perverted grin on his face.

'This isn't funny, Jesse.' Ben spoke up, standing and fixing up his black shirt. Tatiana snarled, Ben raising an eyebrow but he seemed to connect this anger to what he and Claire got up to last night.
'What's gotten into you?'
Tatiana was going to answer but growling came from beside her and she looked down at the white dog; ears back and snarling furiously. Everyone locked eyes on Jesse now, confused and Tatiana growled back at the dog as it tried to snap at her legs.
No one helped and before Tatiana could regain control, Dean and Ben leapt at her, holding Jesses arms as they forced him back to the wall. Tatiana snarled herself but in that moment Adams eyes widened slightly and she knew that her flaring eyes would have given her away.

A silver knife was dragged across Jesses arms and Tatiana flung her head to the side, watching as Claire kept it pressed against the bubbling skin. Crying out, Tatiana struggled to get out of the men's grips and her last hope to get them to take the silver away was to flicker back to her favourite shape; a woman she had killed a long time ago, this sort of beauty shouldn't be dead.

'Get the chain!'
They were all prepared and Tatiana fought them, managing to punch Dean in the chin and get a good feel of Bens junk but Claire hissed, shoving the knife between Tatiana's shoulder and collar bone.
With a loud shriek, Tatiana tried to rip it out, wanting to kill them all herself but she was forced into a chair and heavy silver chains wrapped around her. The constant burn of it against her was going to drive her mad but she managed to calm herself, flinging her head back to stare at the ceiling.

They all stood around her and Tatiana laughed now; it was all she could really do.
'Where is Jesse?'
'Should I tell you? Would you want to know?' she yelled at Claire. 'You know to me and him, you don't seem to be the caring sort of bitch.'
A sharp sting on a slap came from Adam and Tatiana calmed enough to watch Adam intently through the dark strands of her hair.
'Where is my son?'
A vile grin grew on Tatiana's face; this would get them to Zeno in no time.
'He had a play date with Zeno.'

'Where?'
'I could take you…'
Claire scoffed now and stood close to Ben who shook his head.
'We dared to give you the benefit of the doubt, why should we trust you now?'
'Because otherwise Jesse is going to be cut into pieces, and I don't think that would go down well with you lot.'
A few of them left the room, discussing whether to trust her and Tatiana flexed, trying to slip between the chains but it sizzled against her and she gasped, angrily stamping her foot. The white dog, Pearl or something sat in front, teeth bared as she barked. Tatiana rolled her eyes and barked back, Pearl keeping her game face on but taking a small step back.

'You're going to take us to him, but one wrong move…' Claire marched towards the shifter and ripped the knife out, making the shifter wince. 'I'll kill you.'
'We knew you would be stupid enough to show your face.' Dean growled, pushing Tatiana to the floor and tightening the chains around her. Tatiana tried not to laugh; even if they knew it was a trap, it was too easy to get these hunters to do what she wanted. Heaved off the ground, Tatiana was led outside and into the seat of a car.

'Where are we going?'
'Straight until I tell you to turn.'
Dean rolled his eyes and slammed the door and Tatiana only then let her face drop and grimace as the pain spread over her body. She tried to control it, this was nothing compared to what was coming for the hunters.

Hello,
I am sorry I have been gone for so long, I don't know why... just needed a break from the story to get my head I the right spot. Any way, we are not far from the end now. Thanks for your patience and for reading!

Silver-Kirin
xXx