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  “That’s right, Kayla, we’ll get through this together.” Crowley wraps an arm around my shoulders and squeezes lightly. Despite their words, I can tell they’re nervous about this. Entering the city’s dangerous to say the least. I'm not an Advanced, so I shouldn't be granted entry. If they realise that, I’m as good as dead and there won't be a thing Connor, Charlie or Crowley can do about it. Taking a fortifying breath, I grasp Charlie’s hand and walk towards the entrance. I hope we get this over with quickly, and Chris is easily found when we come back out, but right now I must do this. With or without him by my side. Which fucking sucks he’s not here. I miss him already.

  Four Brutes guard the gate to Tri-City, their massive bodies shoulder to shoulder in front of a huge metal gate. Shit. These guys could squish me into nothing with one hit, please let us all survive this.

  “Craven,” Crowley approaches one of the giant men, familiarity in his tone. “Is everything ready?” The Brute merely nods then looks over his shoulder to glance at me, seeming lost for words as he stares into my eyes. Craven turns his body to the side slightly and nods to the other Brute at the gate. Charlie pulls me forward as Connor and Crowley walk through the gate first. As I pass Craven, I realise his eyes are oddly bright blue and haven’t left mine since we arrived. He's at least seven feet tall, probably more. His head’s bald and what skin I can see is covered in tattoos. He’s handsome in a scary kinda way.

  The guys told me not to talk, but I'm compelled to say, “Craven, find me.” as I'm rushed into the city. Something about that brute called to me, and clearly something about me did to him as well. I don't get a chance to think about it more though, because when I turn around, all of my senses are overwhelmed.

  Advanced, lots of them, walk in every direction around me. Some in uniforms matching those of the guards at the gate, some look like they’re extremely wealthy, their clothes impeccably clean and hole free. Others; while clean and without holes, I can tell they’re not as affluent as some. Smells of food being cooked assault me. My stomach grumbles, twisting into a painful knot. I’m pulled through the throng of people and down streets lined with foreign things. Tables cover either side of the street, filled to bursting with items I have no names for. People push and shove at me from all directions. My already painful body quickly becomes bruised and sore.

  “Faster,” Crowley commands through clenched teeth. I try to keep up, but Charlie practically has to drag me. Where we’re going, I have no idea. All I know is my head itches and I want to eat everything I can smell.

  “In here, quickly.” Connor stands half in a doorway ahead of us, his eyes flicking back and forth, checking for guards.

  “I thought we were going to mine? This is… what is this place?” Charlie says as we explore our new surroundings. The walls are a reddish colour and the floor’s packed dirt. Nothing’s in the space, it's completely empty.

  “I’m so sorry Kayla.” Just as Connor says the words, huge men pour into the room. One grabs me from behind as Charlie shouts,

  “What the fuck?” His face is the only thing I see as I'm roughly pulled backwards. A scratchy material is thrown over my head and the world becomes dark. Arms wrap around my waist as I hear Crowley and Charlie shouting and the unmistakable sounds of fighting.

  "Strap her hands, this one can produce fire." A deep masculine voice jolts me awake. Leaving my eyes closed, pretending to still be out, I listen as the man talks to Connor.

  "Be careful with her for fucks sake! Dad!" Connor's angry tone matches how I feel inside. This mother fucker set me up! Now I'm stuck. Metal clasps are tied around my wrists and ankles, struggling will only bring more pain. "You swore she wouldn't be hurt. She isn't like the others." The fucker he’s talking to is none other than President Keeper, Connor's dad.

  "Son, you're right, she isn't. No." A cold hand wraps around my knee. I just barely stop myself from flinching. By pretending to be unconscious, I'll be able to learn what these bastards have in store for me. And hopefully, where my men are. "She's much more. Quint! I want full diagnostic tests ASAP and get those results to me within the hour! And then," Keeper removes his death grip from my leg. "Testing begins."

  Oh shit. Testing? What does that mean? Silence falls around me, but I wait a little longer before opening my eyes. When I do they meet one blue eye and one brown.

  "You traitorous bitch!" I twist and pull at my restraints, gaining nothing but bruises. "I’ll fucking burn you until you’re less than ashes!" My body breaks out in a cold sweat as Connor reaches out a hand to stroke my face. I turn my head, snapping my teeth in an attempt to take a chunk out of this cock gobbler, but he avoids my teeth by pulling his hand away.

  "Kay…"

  "Don't fucking, Kay me, you arsehole! Where are Charlie and Crowley?" My insides slither at the thought of them being harmed. If so much as one hair on their heads has been touched…

  "They're in cells. They haven't been hurt, Kayla. Dr Isaacs Junior has given you a shot. Your powers won't work.”

  Fuck! Shit!

  "I'm so fucking sorry…" Connor begins, his voice changing tone, my anger bubbles over, cutting him off.

  "Shove your sorry where the sun doesn’t shine, you arse wipe. Get. Me. The. Fuck. Out. Of. Here." Anger burns and bubbles through my body. I need to get Char and Crow and then burn this mother to the ground.

  "You'll see them soon enough. But Kay…" Connor stands and leans over me with his mouth just inches from mine. My eyes flick to his lips as I contemplate either throwing my head forward into his nose or just biting his lips clean off. Both. I want to do both. "You can't escape here. Because you're mine, I intend to keep you." He plants a quick kiss to my lips just barely pulling away before my teeth sink into his flesh. "By the way, Connor isn't home right now, but you'll see him real soon." With that cryptic and fucked up statement, Connor turns and walks from the room.

  What the actual fuck is happening? How can Connor say Connor isn't home? I'm so confused right now! As I lay there helpless on what feels like a metal table of some kind, my body cools until I’m shivering. Closing my eyes, I try to bring my fire to the surface, but nothing happens. Not even a wisp or spark. Fuck. Not now! I need to escape, and quickly, God only knows what they’re doing to my guys. But my so-called power seems to have packed up her bags and left me. Just great, I fucking rock so hard right now.

  Time moves slowly as I lay there, my body feeling like ice. Somewhere in the room there’s something ticking. I try to focus on that, trying in desperation to keep my eyes open. But eventually exhaustion takes over and I fall asleep.

  When I open my eyes again a light blares in my face burning my retinas. Snapping them shut again, I lay there and listen to the sounds of several people moving around. Calling out for help I hoarsely say, “Please, help me, I need water.” My pleas fall on deaf ears though, because no one helps me or brings me water.

  “Prepping sample one.” My eyes spring open as a tall man in a white coat appears on my left, his face blank of emotion as his bald head reflects the light into my eyes. Squinting, I look at his face as he wipes something cold against the crook of my arm and then he stabs me.

  “Motherfucker!” Baldy doesn't even look up at me as he continues to syphon blood from my vein. As it pours into the little tube at the other end of the stabby bit, I watch as vivid scarlet spurts out filling it up. Speaking for the first time, the man at my side turns, his fear-filled eyes on me, and utters the question I’ve been asking myself for days.

  “What are you?” Standing abruptly, Stabby Mc’Stabberson pulls the metal thing from my skin, causing me to flinch at the slight pinch of pain, and then practically runs from the room.

  “Jeeze, what a baby.” If he can't stand the sight of blood, then he should pick a different job. A small spot of blood runs down my arm, trickling its way to the cold surface, distracting me momentarily. A loud bang and a hiss make my whole-body twitch in surprise. Then like the harbingers of bad news, Connor and his father stand above me.
This can’t be good.

  “Dad?” Connor turns his handsome face to his dad, my eyes flick to Mr Keeper's, confusion, awe, surprise, all war within the storm grey there.

  “What’s going on? Why did that guy freak out so much?” So many questions flow through my mind at this point I can't keep up with them at all.

  “What are you, Kayla?” Turning back to Connor my anger flares.

  “Screw you, Connor, you're a fine one to ask a question like that. What the fuck are you?” Something dark flits across his mismatched eyes so quick I almost miss it. Evil.

  “Why’s your blood red Kayla? I suggest you tell me.” A sneer spreads across Keepers’ face. “It could make the difference between life and death.”

  “Err… its always red?” Now it's my turn to have a confused look on my face. “Why…. What colour’s yours?” My eyes flick between the two men, waiting for an answer, but none comes. Instead Keeper walks away, leaving Connor to stare at the small wound on my arm like it suddenly sprouted fur or tentacles.

  Bending at the waist, Connor licks the now dried blood on my skin. When his hot wet tongue hits I can't help but be assaulted with memories of his lips on mine, his tongue massaging mine. The memories speed across my mind’s eye as he licks again and again, lapping my life force like it's the key to survival. That's when it suddenly hits me.

  “You're not Connor are you?” I ask shakily as he slips his now reddened tongue back into his mouth. Not-Connor straightens himself to his full height.

  “Well observed Princess.” What. The. Fuck. The voice coming from Connor`s mouth’s not his own. “Connor’s here, of course.” The familiar stranger at my side licks his lips, a soft moan in his throat. “I let him out to play occasionally. I have to say, I like this body.” Not-Connor presses a button near my head and the table tilts me until I’m upright. I dry heave as my perspective of the room changes, allowing me to see the horrors surrounding me.

  Along the far sidewall is a row of clear tubes, inside them is a greenish liquid of some kind. With bodies. Human, some clearly dead. Others twitch, sending ripples through the sludge encasing them. Completely naked, I can see all of them are female. A throaty moan to my right makes my eyes flick to Connor. Standing before a large looking glass, he’s stripped off his clothes. He stands with his dick in his hand. Stroking it, he groans while looking at himself. Ok, this just got fucking strange.

  “Oh, Kayla, isn't Connor a fine specimen? Look at the size of this thing,” Not-Connor says as our eyes meet in the glass. My mouth opens and closes, catching flies. Suddenly, he moves like he’s made of fluid and slams himself against me. Both of us are naked, the sound of our skin slapping together echoes in the room.

  “Mmm, he wants you girl, ah…” The tip of his cock prods my clit, parting my lips. “So juicy, your body wants him too. Why didn’t you take him out in the wastelands?” His hands travel my body roughly.

  “Get your fucking cock off me, you absolute vile piece of shit!” I seethe between clenched teeth. My whole body stiffens and I'm about to call my flames until his face contorts in pure agony and he drops to the floor.

  “Don’t fight this, Connor! She could be ours this very second!” Not-Connor shouts, pushing himself off the floor.

  “Get the fuck out!” Connors true voice grinds out.

  “Connor!” Oh, fuck me this is crazy! “Fight it, Connor, you can do this,” I encourage him. His knees give way sending him face first into the floor, ouch. He jumps to his feet in one swift move not even a second later and begins to undo the metal from around my body.

  I stare dumbstruck as he works, not a single cohesive thought entering my mind. “Con?” What’s even happening right now? His face is made of stone as he works. I feel like I could throw up any second.

  The door bursts open just as our eyes meet, men dressed in the same clothes as the guards at the gate rush into the room and wrap their hands around Connor's arms before he manages to unclasp my bonds. His father casually strolls in behind them.

  “You won't push him out, Connor. And you,” he sets his evil eyes on me as the guards drag Connor kicking and screaming from the room. “It’s time we showed you what we do with insolent bitches.” Something hard hits the side of my head and in a flash of agony, I'm unconscious.

  When I next open my eyes, a throbbing in my head forces a groan from my dry lips. I'm beginning to think I'll end up with a damaged brain at this rate. Looking down, I see someone’s wrapped a thin piece of material around me, but I'm still freezing cold. I can’t believe I’m still trapped here; I need to get the fuck out. This time, I'm strapped into a seat. Leaning to one side, I see it has large wheels. Oh, this is cool! The possibilities…

  "Let me out, you bastards!" Crowley? My eyes dart around, trying to pinpoint where his voice came from, but all I can see are two large brick walls with a corridor between them. My mouth’s stuffed with material. Unable to call out, I try to push it out with my tongue.

  "Crow, they ain't listening brother. Shit!" Charlie's voice cracks with emotions as it echoes off the walls and filters to me. They’re so close!

  "Muk!" The sound’s muffled and barely recognisable, but Charlie calls out to me,

  “Kayla?”

  “Mumm um mee,” I mumble around the cloth. Fuck, it hurts my tongue trying to push it out.

  “No fucking way, that can’t be her,” Crowley growls in disbelief.

  “Um mee, mumm upp umh.” I try to convey it is indeed me and I`m tied up, but of course they can’t tell what I`m saying. Thrashing my head from side to side while pushing out my tongue, I manage to get the material out. “Oh, thank fuck! Gah.”

  “Oh, my God, it’s you! Kay, doll, are you ok?” Charlie’s voice is the best sound I've heard in forever. I’m so glad he’s ok, tears sting my eyes.

  “Ah, yes, Charlie, I`m ok. Where are we?” My mouth’s so dry I can barely get the words out. Relief and terror flood through me. Why would they leave me here alone with them? It makes no sense.

  “Babe…” Crowley begins, his voice cracking with an emotion not long ago I would have no name for, but now I know exactly what he's feeling. Because I'm feeling it too. Relief.

  “I`m ok, Crow, they took some blood but other than that, they haven’t done anything. What about you guys?” The silence that follows answers my question. Fuck. Whoever laid their hands on my men are going to fucking burn.

  Charlie asks, “Kay, can you get to us?”

  “No, Charlie, I'm tethered to a chair.” Despite my efforts, I hadn't been able to get the ropes around me to loosen. “What about you two?” If they can get to me then they'll be able to loosen these things and together we can get out of here. But Crowley`s answer leaves me crushed.

  “We’re behind metal bars darlin, we can't get out.” A small sob leaves me, bursting from my chest so thickly. I struggle to catch my breath. I'm desperate to see them. I need to ask if they knew Connor was a traitorous arsehole, but I need to see their eyes when I ask. Otherwise I won't know if they’re lying. For now, I make do with just being glad they’re not dead before I can find out the truth. But if they’re behind bars then it doesn't look like they knew about Connor. If they did know then surely they would be by his side, not here in this corridor that smells like urine and blood.

  “Have you seen him, Connor?” Crowley growls his name like it leaves a nasty taste on his tongue.

  “Yes, he was acting… odd. Had a war with himself, it was freaky.” I mean… I talk to myself often, out in the wastes you would lose your mind if you spent so much time as I did alone, but what happened with Connor was way more than that.

  “What?” Crowley asks, sounding frustrated.

  I can imagine he hates being trapped. I feel the same. Drawing a deep breath, I explain to the guys how Connor changed on the flip of a knife. How even his voice had changed. Once I finish the tale of two Connors, Charlie and Crowley go completely silent. “What are you not telling me guys?” My blood’s starting to turn to ice. The c
old here permeates my soul, making me feel sluggish and tired. My words are forced between trembling lips. I will not cry!

  “Tredici.” That one word from Charlie's mouth is enough to make me gasp out loud. Thirteen. My mother would tell me stories of the Tarot cards as a small child, making up stories for each one. Being this is an apocalypse world and there’s a severe lack of entertainment. Stories were a great way to spend time when the work was done for the day. My favourites were about the thirteenth card. Death.

  “What do tarot cards have to do with Connor?” Before anyone can answer me, the man himself pushes his way into the door to my left. He’s changed his clothes and by the fresh smell lingering in the air around him, I`d say he's washed too. Bitch. I would give my left tit to wash right now. Somewhere warm, preferably hot. His bubble butt glides past my face and I can't help but look, it's so perfect. Ugh, why'd he have to be all possessed and shit? He spins on his heel and looks down at me with a completely blank face.

  “Kayla, still so taken by this body.” Not-Connor runs his hands down the front of his black t-shirt, stopping at his crotch. Unbidden, my eyes follow. I've seen what’s under those tight black jeans and as he squeezes the bulge there my mind provides me with a mental picture. “Ah yes, you like how big and hard it is, don't you, Princess?” Snapping myself out of the heat, I flick my eyes up, meeting this arsehole’s dead ones.

  “The fuck you want, not-Connor? I've got places to be, men to kill.” Once we escape, if Crowley and Charlie had nothing to do with this clusterfuck, I’ll find out why my mum sent me here. Then we’ll leave and finally I’ll avenge my mother's murder.

  “Clever girl, Kayla. You've worked out that I'm not who I look like, haven't you?” He runs a hand over his freshly washed hair. “But I can’t let you harm Mr Masters. No, unfortunately for you, he’s a valued employee of mine.”