A/N: Finally, I found time to bring another chapter to you guys. There's only one more chapter after this! Hope you enjoy it! Drop a review if you want an epilogue and let me know what you would want to read in it. Also, I realized that for some reason I wrote that Chloe's eyes were blue in the last chapter…not quite sure why I did that. Haha. So just ignore it. Sorry about that. Happy Reading

"I should go." Alek stated reluctantly, moving towards the open window.

"You do know there's a front door." Chloe commented wryly, green eyes filled with amusement.

"The last thing I want to do is run into your mother. She can be quite intimidating sometimes."

Rolling her eyes, Chloe smiled to herself as Alek slipped out her bedroom window. He glanced back as he left, sending a warm thrill through her. Only after she was sure he was gone did she allow the joyous laugh that was building inside escape her lips.

Chloe flopped down on the bed, landing on her back. Things were suddenly looking up. Her future didn't seem so lost now, because she knew no matter what that Alek would be there. He always was.

In that moment Chloe realized just how much she had begun to depend on Alek being there for her. Even through the while Brian debacle, he had waited for her. The knowledge that someone wanted her that much gave the blonde an unfamiliar feeling of giddiness that she hadn't experienced before. Just the thought of seeing Alek later made an embarrassingly dorky smile threaten to appear on her face.

Her phone chimed from her pocket, drawing Chloe out of her thoughts. As her green eyes read the message, she froze in surprise.

Meet me at Hannah's last stop. Here now.

-Dad

Jumping into action, Chloe grabbed a dark colored jacket from her closet and slipped her arms through it. Heart racing in nervous excitement, she grabbed her phone and hurried down the stairs. As she locked the front door to the house she received an incoming call. After she fumbled to pull the phone from her pocket, her hands shook as she read the caller id. Oh. It was Brian. She bit her lip and slowly replaced the cellphone in her back pocket. It was for the best. Surprisingly, she had no desire to answer his call. In fact, she kind of hoped he would get the hint and move on.

Shoving all thoughts of Brian away, Chloe continued her trek down the street towards the last stop in the beloved book she adored as a child. She was finally going to be face to face with her father.

Watching the blonde glance at her phone and ignore the call, Brian shook his head in confusion. Despite the fact that Chloe wanted there to be distance between them, he just had to see her. Earlier Brian had gone to visit his grandmother, and things had gone tremendously well. With no one else to turn to, he had hopped in his car and driven to Chloe's house. He thought she would be happy for him. Apparently, he would never find out since she would not even take his phone call.

As she walked down the dimly lit street, he felt confusion and curiosity come over him. Where was she going this late anyways? The English guy whom she hung out with flashed through Brian's head, and he grit his teeth in anger. What did she see in him anyways? What did that prick have to offer that he didn't? She didn't even want to be friends anymore. What the hell was up with that?

Taking a deep breath, Brian started up his car and made a sudden decision. He knew what he had to do.

"Hey mom, you home?" Jasmine called, entering the loft.

With a sigh, she placed her purse on the table and turned around. Why were all the lights off? Her mom would usually wait up for her as part of the Control every part of your daughter's life plan. All traces of sarcasm disappeared when she saw her mom sitting silently in a chair, back facing her.

"Mom?"

Jasmine approached the chair and touched her mother's shoulder, only to gape in shock as the elder woman fell lifelessly onto the floor.

"Mom!" She cried in surprise and worry, not noticing the figure approaching her from behind.

As she knelt down to check for a pulse, Jasmine felt a stinging in her neck.

Hissing in pain, she reached a hand up and felt a dart embedded deep in her skin. Before she could face her assailant, Jasmine felt her body go numb. The brunette collapsed onto the floor next to her mother, unable to move. A pair of shoes entered her line of sight, and the attacked dragged her body to the sofa and set her on it in a seated position.

Jasmine felt rage and betrayal flood through her when she saw the face of the person who did this. Zane.

Chloe stopped by the fountain right outside the Halliday Theater. She remembered throwing coins into the fountain with her dad as a young girl, back before he left. Looking back, she realized that her life used to be so simple. It was crazy really, how much things have changed. And how much she has changed.

"Chloe!"

The blonde turned in surprise at hearing her name. "Brian? What are you doing here?" She managed to question after she got over the shock of seeing him.

"I met my grandmother today." He stated, ignoring her question. "I just…I wanted to tell you about it. I had no one else to turn to."

Chloe felt her words choke up in her throat. Poor Brian. He was just another casualty in the battlefield that came with being a Mai. She should have cut him out of her life a long time ago, for his own good. "Now isn't really a good time."

"Well, when is Chloe?" He demanded. "I don't understand you. One minute you seem to like me, then the next you say we can't see each other anymore? What game are you playing?"

"I'm not playing games." She countered, crossing her arms. "I just…It's not safe around me, okay?"

"Is it that blonde guy? Because you know I'll-"

"No, it's not Alek." She denied, shaking her head. "I'm not who you think I am. And I really can't say anymore, okay? Now, you need to go."

"What? No, I-"

"Brian." She interrupted impatiently, flashing her claws out. "I can handle myself."

Stumbling back in undisguised surprise and confusion, Brian stared at the girl in front of him; suspicion was written all over his face. "W-What are you?"

"That's not important. But you need to go, this doesn't concern you."

Seeming to finally heed her warning, the brunette took a few steps back towards the way he came.

Not waiting to see if he would listen, Chloe turned and ran to the building behind her. She pushed easily through the doors, containing her surprise at the doors being unlocked. Despite his promise, a part of her had doubted he would be here. Her father had been absent her whole life, why should she count on him now? But, she desperately wanted answers. And she wanted to be able to trust him.

Stepping into the spacious theater entrance, she glanced around her surroundings. There were huge white pillars lining the entrance area. A beautiful crystal chandelier hung from the dome-shaped ceiling. Failing to see any sign of her father, the blonde felt her heart drop.

What if something had happened to him?

Hearing noises from the second floor, Chloe began walking upstairs. "Dad?"

Following the sound, she ran into a circular room on the second story. Catching sight of a figure standing on the opposite side of the room, she paused. "Dad?"

He actually showed up! He wanted to see her. Now all the questions she had would be answered. He could help her learn more about her past and maybe even-

"I believe you have me mistaken for someone else." The voice answered, stepping into the dim moonlight that came in through a small window. Suddenly, four other people stepped out from the shadows, outnumbering her.

"If you hurt my dad-"

"I haven't seen him." The man interrupted. "Our only job is to take care of you."

"Well, in a few minutes you're going to wish you were in a different line of work." Chloe commented, slipping into a defensive stance and waiting for her opponents to make the first move. They didn't disappoint.

Alek entered Jasmine's loft and immediately sensed something was not right. The lights inside were all turned off, and everything was eerily quiet. Upon walking into the living room, the blonde Mai tensed at the sight that greeted him. Jasmine and Valentina were sitting unnaturally still and in complete silence.

Hearing footsteps behind him, Alek paused and quickly dodged the paralyzing dart as it whizzed past him. Not giving his opponent time to fire again, he quickly darted forward and knocked the gun out of the other person's hand. Delivering a kick to the black-clad assailant's chest, Alek sent the other man stumbling back.

Quick to retaliate, the intruder swung his fist and landed a blow to Alek's face. As Alek fell from the hit, his opponent scrambled for the dart gun. Acting fast, Alek jumped back up and crushed the man's hand under hit foot and kicked the gun to the opposite side of the room. Howling in pain, he struggled to get up, but found himself pinned flat on his back with a set of sharp claws at his throat.

"Why are you here?" Alek growled lowly, his eyes alight with fury.

The other man remained silent.

Sharp points pierced skin and caused the intruder to flinch in pain. "I'll ask again. Why are you here?"

Digging his claws in deeper, Alek watched in satisfaction as small streams of blood rolled down the other man's neck.

"Okay, okay." He finally gasped, unable to handle the pain.

Gaining a sense of familiarity at the voice, Alek gripped the black mask and ripped it away from his enemy's face. The blonde was startled at the face that stared back at him.

"Zane."

The man in question smirked and sarcastically replied, "Great deductive skills, detective."

"You sick bastard." Alek growled angrily, unable to resist the urge to punch Zane in the face.

Grimacing in pain, Zane could feel his head ringing from the hit he took to the head. "It was nothing personal. Only following orders."

"Orders? To do what exactly?"

"Provide a distraction." Zane answered simply, waiting for the other Mai to realize what was happening.

"Distraction?" Alek echoed in confusion. "Why would-" He broke off mid-sentence as comprehension flickered across his features. "Oh god, no."

Zane watched in sick fascination as Alek understood his role in everything.

Brown eyes alight with pain, Alek felt a cold chill of fear overcome him. "Chloe."

A/N: Should this be the end of Brian's part in this story? Let me know what you think! Thanks for reading.