Chapter 5
"And that is why I was in the alley," Riley finishes. Liv sat on her bed having listened to his story. "You aren't making any of that up?" She finally asks. Riley shakes his head. "You just were so against taking blood and you did that before being turned," Liv says in disbelief. "It's because of what I did in my past that made me so against hunting," Riley says. "What are you going if Zack Saber figures out who you are?" Liv asks. "Same thing I did in the alley," Riley says. "Hold it wait. Riley there is more at stake. Our coven and Finn's coven are in an alliance. You can't put that at risk," Liv says. "I may not have a choice. What I did to that guy's family… He may not give a damn about alliances," Riley points out.
"He might let it go. We you are turned your family becomes the coven," Liv claims. "I doubt it. No way he has been a vampire more then a few years. Good chance he still feels a connection to his old life," Riley thinks. Liv knew he could be right. "Why did you tell me all this stuff?" Liv asks. "I needed to tell someone. The others I think would just go to Mandy, and she I think she would just decide what she wants to do and tell me to do it," Riley admits. "I won't tell her but I think you should," Liv tells him. "Mayb when we are done here. Look I'll let you sleep," Riley says getting up.
The Next Day
The sun was down and Riley sat outside one of the buildings on the compound. "Can I get you some wood and a pocket knife so you can widdle," Malaki says coming out of the building. "I hear you have to practice on soap first," Riley says. "I am heading for a hunt. You mind coming with me to watch my back?" Malaki asks. Riley was happy to have a chance get away from the compound and Saber for a while. "Alright I'll get Penelope she is due to eat," Malaki says. The compound was surrounded by a giant fence to anyone form coming on the grounds. Outside of the fence was a forest. Something moves in the forest. Riley wonders what that was. "Its a forest, Morgan. Animals are always moving," He thinks. Trying to use advance sense he could make out what it was. Not enough clear sound for his hearing, to many scents he wasn't sure about and it to dark and covered to use the sight.
"You ready to go?" Malaki says returning with Penelope. Riley just nods and stands up again. "Remember make extra sure there are no humans in the woods. No exposure,' Malaki warns. Both Riley and Penelope nod. "There is a fox near by," Penelope says once they are through the gate. "Maybe that is what I saw," Riley says thinking about earlier. "Well I call dibs," Penelope says. "Both of you quite," Malaki says annoyed. "You trying to track something?" Riley asks. "No something is tracking us," Malaki says. Three seconds Riley felt something break on his back and than a painful feeling. It didn't take long and everything went back.
"Oh my god Riley," Britt yelled as she walked into the bathroom and say his battered his face. Blood streamed from his fore head. His left eye was swollen shut. "I'll be okay sis," he said sound very out of it. "You are not okay. What happened?" She asked sitting him on the bathtub so she could tend to his injures. "I don't want to talk about it," Riley says. "Don't they have someone who is supposed to take care of you?" Britt asks. "It was easier to get here. I'm sorry about the mess," Riley says. "I don't care about a mess... Riley you know what happened to dad," Britt says. "It won't happen to me," Riley claims. "Something worse might happen you fool," Britt says.
"Son of a bitch that hurts," Riley says waking up. He looks around sees steel bars. "Back in a cage way to go Morgan," Riley thinks rolling over to his back and regretting it right away as pain shots through his body. "Oh good you are up," A voice says. Riley looks up and sees Penelope in another small near the one he is in. "Where the hell are we?" Riley asks standing up. "Behind enemy lines. We got captured by Seth's coven," Penelope says. "Malaki?" Riley asks remembering what happened before he blacked out. "I don't know. I was trying to make it back to others to warn them when they captured me," She says.
"How long have I been out?" Riley asks. "Hours. I'm pretty sure the sun is up now," Penelope says. A door opens and Seth enters. Riley's first thought was this dork was in the worst looking suit he had ever seen. It shouldn't be his first thought but the suit was that bad. He also had that real smug smile ever asshole Riley had ever met seemed to have. "The sun is up. So when I let you out don't try to make a break for it. It would be a shame to see two with such potential turn to ash," Seth says. "You had no problem seeing Merrick die like that," Penelope says. Seth turned to look Riley in the face. "Riley it's Riley right?"
"How did you know my name?" Riley asks. "Not important," Seth claimed. "I think it is," Riley says. "I have my ways. I understand you d like playing the man of mystery gimmick though," Seth claims. A silence falls over the room. Seth knows he's got all the power right now. Penelope didn't have to tell Riley that Seth enjoyed being in power. Kip had said to her once that Seth must have been the type of kid that tortured small animals when he was a boy. "Look Riley you got put in a tough spot. I want to help you," Seth claims. "Well good I've been looking help. I need someone to answer one question," Riley says. "Ask away," Seth says.
"How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?" Riley dead pans. Seth's face shifts he can't hide he is annoyed. Seth turns and walks out of the room. "So the other are coming for us right?" Riley asks. "I hope so. But the might have no idea where we are. We don't even know where we are," Penelope says.
Back At the Compound
"Kip you have to calm down. Pacing isn't going to have the sun set any sooner," Mandy said to him. "Easy for you to say stay calm. My wife is in danger," Kip yells. "And for right now there is nothing that can be done," Mandy reminds him. He knew she was right the sun was up and would be out for hours. Malaki had only just beaten the sun rise back. Finn enters the room holding a tablet. "I think we have a lead. This building is leased under Lass Kicker Inc. Little nick name Becky gave herself once," Finn explains. Kip grabs the tablet. "Great, let's go," Kip says. "We can't be stupid about this Kip. Now damn it' I am putting my foot down. We will get Penelope and Riley back," Mandy assures them.
"I don't give a damn if we get Riley Morgan back. My only worry is Penelope," Kip says. "Morgan? Your Riley's last name is Morgan?" Finn says. "Yes," Mandy says more worried about Kip doing something dumb at first. "Don't ever say that name around Zack," Finn says. That gives Mandy pause. "Why?" "Because Riley Morgan is the name of the man..." Zack comes in. "I think found something you need to deal with now," The Brit says. Finn mouths later to Mandy. "What did you find?" Finn asks. "How Becky knew they were outside the walls," Zack explains.
Meanwhile
"Would you please stop that?" Penelope says annoyed. "Stop what?" Riley says because as far he knew all he was doing was sitting on the damn floor of the damn cage. "Tapping on the bars. You keep tapping on the bars like you are looking to see if one is weak," Penelope says. "Why would I want find a weak bar. If I could pry one free they are two close together still for me to fit through," Riley says. "Than stop tapping them," Penelope says. Riley doesn't even respond. It takes a second but than her hears it.
Tap tap tap tap
"If I can't tap the bars you can't tap your foot," Riley finally says. "I'm not," Penelope says and than looking down at her own tapping foot. "You remind me off Britt," Riley says with a smile. "Who is Britt?" It's than he remembers his claim of being an only child. "This annoying kid I used to know," He says. "I think it's been twenty minutes since Seth left. At least an hour and half since I woke up," Penelope says. "So?" Riley asks. "When was sun rise supposed to be?" Penelope asks. "I think sometime just before seven," Riley says. "And I checked Sunday would be around eight thirty. So we have a window to try and escape," Penelope says. "That is assuming we can trust that Seth guy and your sense of timing is on," Riley tells her.
"Well at least I'm trying to think of something. You are just taping bars," she complained. "Go a head and think. I'm just pointing out flaws in your thinking. Look I want to get out of here as well. But you don't escape by being stupid. We need information. For all we know they want us to try and escape or to pick a time so we running into broad daylight," Riley says. "I guess you are right," Penelope says. What they don't know is they are being listened to.
In his office Seth was with Becky listening to the bug he his coven put in the cages. "This boy he's a smart one," Becky says. "Yes he is. We will have to watch him closely," Seth says. "But he has great potential," Becky claimed. "Let's not go to far," Seth says annoyed. "Still upset about him making a joke?" Becky asks. "He has potential he also could wind up being another Merrick. I wouldn't be shocked if that is why Mandy had him turned," Seth says. "Still not over her rejection?" Becky asks showing she was jealous. Seth ignored her. He had explained this many times.
Back in the cages Penelope spoke, "I bet Kip is going nuts." "How did you two even meet? He put an ad on Craig's list? Handsome Brit seeks blonde must like moonlight," Riley jokes. "Do you actually care?" Penelope asks. "Well I'm board and you won't let me tap my foot," Riley says. "I had just left a sock hop," Penelope says. "An actual sock hop or just a dance with a fifties theme?" "I was born in 1933. I was attending secretary school much to the horror of my mother because she thought I should be getting married to a young man and planning a family," Penelope says. "So where does Kip come in?" "That night my car started to break down I limped it to this service station and there he was..." Before she can finish the door opens again.