A/N: Thanks again to those who reviewed...Damn, I really want a tuna melt right now. Someone go get me one.
XxxxxX
Really, the Mall of America was the best.
So many stores, and so many things to filch. So far, she'd already taken a few video games, new toys for her cats, two pairs of shoes, and a month's worth of chocolate. Oh, sure, her parents were rich and she could easily afford this stuff, but where was the fun in that? She needed a hobby, anyway.
What was even better was that there were so many people here. The security guards couldn't possibly keep up with everyone. And even if they did catch her in the act, she could easily run away. She even knew how to get past the cameras. She had plenty of experience at this, after all.
She reached into her large designer bag to check on her stolen goods. A smirk came across her face as she felt the Golden Tiger Claws. She had taken it from the monks about a week ago. It had been pathetically easy to do. They fell for the old Woozy Shooter trick again, and she unleashed her kittens on them for good measure.
She was honestly surprised that they hadn't come after her yet. But perhaps they just assumed it was Jack who took it(she snickered at the thought of him getting whooped by angry monks). Or maybe they just haven't noticed. They honestly didn't strike her as particularly bright people. Especially that dark skinned one.
Meh, whatever. As long as they didn't figure out it was her, she didn't care. And since she wasn't stealing anything big, she doubted that they would notice.
She decided to get a snack at the food court. It was the one place that she couldn't steal from, since the food was behind a counter, and most of it wasn't prepared yet. But she didn't mind paying there. It wasn't like the food was expensive, or anything.
She purchased two slices of pizza and a fruit smoothie. She sat alone at a small table and observed her surroundings as she ate. She smirked as she spotted a couple of mall cops nearby. One was taking off for his cigarette break and the other was playing a game on his phone. Really, they made it too easy sometimes.
She stifled a laugh as she threw away her garbage. She hadn't finished her smoothie yet, so she carried it with her as she exited the mall. After locating a dark spot where it would be safe to use her Wu, she made a beeline towards it.
There was a real thrill that came with stealing. Knowing that she was doing something wrong, but doing it anyway, and getting away with it made it even better. She also loved the sense of power it gave her. It made her feel like she could do anything. Like she was on top of the world. It was purrfect.
But that sense of power was quickly stripped away. Before she could register what was happening, a large hand roughly grabbed her arm. A second later, she was gone.
The only thing left behind was the smoothie she dropped in surprise.
XxxxxX
Okay, seriously, someone was going to pay for this.
She was currently sitting somewhere in Chase Young's place, surrounded by several lions. Normally, she would be ecstatic to be around such large, lovely felines, but not now. One reason was because she was just freakin' catnapped, so her mood was a bit sour. Another reason was that these lions were guarding her. If she tried to pet one, she was fairly sure that she would lose a limb.
Honestly, the Chinese man had just flung her in this room, ignoring her indignant protests, and walked out without a word. What the hell was happening? Did she do something wrong? Did he need her for something? Really, the jerk had some nerve.
After an excruciatingly long five minutes, the door to the large room she was in opened. To her disappointment, it wasn't Chase. She was really wanting to give the man a tongue lashing. But to her surprise, she knew the person who came through.
"Jack?" she asked, shocked. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, uh, hey, Ashley," he responded. "Chase sent me in here to talk to you. He said that since we know each other, I would have a better chance of getting through to you."
"What?" she demanded. She was so, so confused. "He does know that I think you're a loser, right?"
"Yeah, I did try to tell him that," Jack sighed. "But he just told me to 'listen to my master', which pretty much ended the argument."
"Wait, you're 'master'?" she echoed. "Did he actually take you on as an apprentice? What's going on?"
"That's what I'll tell you, if you just calm down," he responded, sounding annoyed. Really, he had some nerve. "Anyway, long story short, the master is rounding up all us evil-doers. He wants to make us his loyal servants and we'll help him take over the world and all that jazz. He's already got me, and now it's your turn."
It took a few moments for this information to sink in. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold up there, Genius Boy," the blond girl sputtered. "I never agreed to anything like this! And I am not anybody's servant!"
"Yeah, that's how I felt at first, too," the pale boy replied nonchalantly. "But Chase was very...persuasive"
Her eyes widened at this. What had Chase done to make Jack so subdued? She actually felt a bit worried. Sure, he was obnoxious and annoying, but he still had a way of growing on a person.
"Jack-" she started.
Just then, the door opened again. This time, it was her kidnapper who came through.
"Now, now, don't worry yourself over Spicer," he said. "It's yourself that needs to be taken into consideration at the moment."
If it wasn't for the big, man eating cats in front of her, she would have marched over to him. "Yeah, myself, who was just catnapped! What the freakin' hell, man?"
Chase frowned at her outburst. "First of all, I will not tolerate such disrespect," he growled. "Second of all, I believe that Spicer just explained – although, rather briefly – why I brought you here."
"Okay, dude, you need to take me back, like, right now," she insisted. "I don't care about your little plan."
Chase waved his warriors away and came to stand before her. "You don't even know what I'm offering," he said. "If you think you're a good thief now, I can make you even better. I can train you steal the most coveted jewels in the world, the finest clothing, the rarest species of cats. All I ask in return is that you swear loyalty to me and help me obtain my goals. I'm giving you one chance to do so willingly. So, what do you say?"
"I already said no, like, twice already," she scoffed. "Let me go!"
"Are you sure?" he asked. There was now an edge to his voice. He obviously didn't like being turned down. "You'll never be able to achieve true evil on your own. But I can help..."
"I don't want to be true evil," she groaned. This was getting annoying. "I just steal and stuff for fun."
"You're even worse than Spicer with that attitude," he said, now clearly annoyed. "You only serve to humiliate the Heylin side with this ridiculous "cat burglar" get up."
"Do I look like I care?" she retorted.
"I've had enough of this!" he finally snapped. "One last chance: will you join me or not?"
She turned her head away in frustration. This guy just didn't listen. "Ugh, for the final time, no!" she snapped.
Almost as soon as she got the words out, she heard Jack gasp. She turned her head back and screamed. There was a dragon in front of her! The things massive jaws were only a few inches from her face. When she recoiled, it let out a deafening roar that blew her hair back and almost busted her eardrums.
"Oh my God! Please don't hurt me!" she cried. Eaten by a dragon. So not how she always imagined dying.
"I'm not a man who takes 'no' for an answer, Ashley," it growled at her. "And I'll do what it takes to keep my subordinates in line. If you won't accept your new station willingly, I'll have to use a more forceful method."
She barely had time to register that this thing was freakin' Chase when she felt a large, clawed hand grasp her head. Although she couldn't see it, the claw glowed with a black light and sent magical energy into her body. She screamed as she was overcome with a sudden, intense pain. It felt like her very being was being split in two.
It wasn't too long before she blacked out.
XxxxxX
Both master and apprentice watched as a pair of leopard's carried the now unconscious girl away.
"You're wondering what exactly I did to her, aren't you, Jack?" the older man asked.
The young genius started at his master's question. That had been exactly what he was wondering. "Yes, Master," he answered. "It look pretty, uh, painful."
Chase gave a boy the small grin. "It's a special spell I developed a while back," he explained. "It's a bit like mind control. What I do is implant a suggestion in one's head – like being loyal to me, for example – and over time, it will grow until it consumes that person's entire mind. I've used it on a good deal of my warriors, actually."
"So, she'll basically be your willing slave in a matter of days? Weeks?" Jack questioned. He was suddenly glad that he caved so easily.
"Mmm, it might be a week or two before she gives in completely," Chase mused. "But it will be fun to watch her struggle in the meantime."
XxxxxX
A/n: Another chapter down. Yay! So, I start classes again tomorrow. Meh.
Thanks to RaverLynn for her suggestions and advice. It's so nice to have your beta five feet away from you.
Review, please! :)