Chapter 45-Dark Pandemonium

Salene had been in a dreamless sleep when she was jolted awaked by a crash on in her suite.

She instantly reached for the flashlight on her bedside table and wildly flung the light around the room. She was dismayed to see a sheepish Bray getting up off the floor.

"What the hell?" she threw the covers off her bed with fury, "How did you get in here?"

Bray had apparently tripped over her rug and fallen in the dark as he crossed the room towards her bed.

"Liv picked the lock, but that doesn't matter. Sal you've got to get out of here."

"Why?"

"It's happening Sal, we're being attacked."

Salene froze for a moment in time before she kicked into gear. "The kids, where are they?"

"I'll show you."

This had been their plan all along in the even they were attacked. Like always 'mother hen' would care for the chicks, and nothing would seem to amiss about that. Unfortunately the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry as Bray and Salene soon found out.

Jack, Mikhail, and Amber were passing them on the way out, "The fight is outside guys," Jack stopped them.

"Yeah where are you two off to?" Khail questioned.

"I'm showing Sal where we're keeping the kids."

"They'll be fine without her," Amber said, "Let's go see if we can prevent a bloodbath."

"You're a tough chick right Salene?"

Salene smiled at Jack in reply, "Right…but I haven't really trained with you all this week so I'll just…"

"Doesn't matter if you've trained or not, come on," Amber started up again. She was really tense and eager to get things over and done with.

"No," Bray said firmly as Salene began reluctantly following the other three out.

Everyone was confused, "No? Bray come on we don't have time for this…"Mikhail urged. All she could think about was little Rylan. They had no idea what they were up against and she just wanted to get it over and get back to her son.

"Yeah Bray, we do not have time for this, maybe I can just…" Salene was saying, pleading with her eyes for him to just let things be.

But Bray just wasn't reading the signs, "I'm sorry Sal, but I can't let you do this!"

"She can handle herself!" Amber said in frustration.

The group had completely stopped now. They really didn't have time to sit here and argue things out. Bray knew that, but the safety of Salene and his unborn child came first. "I don't doubt that, but she's…"

"Got a mind of her own, thank you!" Salene interjected.

Mikhail sighed, "Jack why don't you run ahead and make sure your little traps are set properly."

"Salene and I will go help head up the security near Tai-San."

"Did you just hear me Amber? I make up my own mind. You're not the boss of everyone."

"Oh don't be selfish Sal. You've been doing nothing for weeks, the least you could do is be a look out!"

Bray knew Salene was going to hate him for awhile maybe even forever, but enough was enough. They had wasted plenty of valuable time dancing around with the subject. He couldn't hold this secret any longer. It was bursting at the seams of him and he needed to get it out. Things would just be much simpler if everyone knew.

"She's not being selfish, she's pregnant."

Amber stood there jaw clenched in absolute disbelief. The foyer grew absolutely silent until Jack coughed.

Mikhail didn't know what to say or do so she quietly made her way out to the unfolding battle scene and Jack and Amber soon followed suit.

Salene didn't know what else to do but punch Bray and run off crying. She didn't know where she was going, but she needed to be alone.

In the end Bray was left standing alone in the empty lobby rubbing his aching jaw.

~0~

Danni fought with frustration. She hated Fleur Isle and its inhabitants, and she especially hated being in such proximity to Bray. She no longer loved the man and she didn't hate him, but she was still deeply hurt that he hadn't tried to rescue her.

She felt like a discard; just another girlfriend to write off. And now she feared he was doing the same to Kyra, who had become one of Danni's best friends.

Yes, she was slightly perturbed that Kyra had gone all this time without telling her about Bray. But Kyra's own brand of Techno had saved Danni's life. Bray had left her to die. How could she ever forgive him for that?

"Watch out!" someone called, pulling her out the way of a bat in full swing.

She hurtled backwards into them and then she felt their steady arms wrap around her as they rooted their stance, trying to prevent them from falling, but to no avail.

She turned over to face her savior, surprised, yet relieved to see Josh. She sat there in awe a moment as a few inconceivable thoughts and emotions coursed through her before she pulled away from him, standing.

"Thanks," she muttered quickly, leaving him to pick himself up off the sand as she moved back to the fight.

'What was that about Danni?' she cursed herself as she brought down the opponent that had originally attacked her.

She had mostly felt gratitude, but to be gripped in Josh's arms molded closely to him for a fraction in time had awoken something entirely new in her. She liked how it felt to be that close to him and that fact alone scared her.

~0~

The scene before Tai-San played like a silent movie. The night air was filled the metallic smell of blood, sweat, fire, and salt. It was right out of her dreams.

She watched her opponent carefully. It was no wonder the woman had been named Viper. She moved like a snake, able to mirror all Tai-San's moves, her squinty eyes never leaving Tai's, and she inflicted a blow great or small however and whenever she felt. But Tai-San knew the same moves and she knew that the woman's state of deteriorated health would soon get the best of her. They were an almost even match.

"Give me the formula and I'll let you live."

"What if I don't let you live?"

Lani smirked at her, "Your confidence was never flattering."

"Neither was your pride."

The woman sneered at her, "Just hand it over."

"It doesn't exist."

Lani growled, clearly frustrated. She was growing tired. She leapt at Tai-San, but the other woman was too quick and swiftly side-stepped her. They continued to circle one another, dancing out of one another's reach when the other advanced, intending to land a blow. But Tai-San hadn't counted on Lani having the strength to knock her off her feet with a simple shove backwards.

She hit the sand hard and Lani pounced on her. They rolled around, Tai-San trying to get from underneath the other girl's weight, but Lani wouldn't let go.

She felt like she was drowning as spots littered her blurring vision. Everything began to slow around her and she could hear her heart drumming in her ears. She grasped the sand in search for anything to club Lani with, but it was no use. She felt herself steadily growing weaker. Life was being choked out of her.

As the night became darker Tai-San felt Lani go limp atop her, but she was too far gone.

'This is it,' Tai-San thought as darkness engulfed her, 'this is where I die.'