Juliet I had just calmed Jem down a bit when some unexpected guests stormed through the door. The first was Count Sang, and trailing after him was a girl I didn’t recognize, that seemed to share his fair hair and blue eyes. After her was a pair of twins wearing identical frilly maids’ uniforms. They all looked very shell-shocked. I walked over to the Count, and asked him what the problem was. I was startled by his answer. “Luce broke into my house through the window, and attacked us.” He gestured to the small girl, and then to the twins. “Oh, this is my daughter Belle, and my servants Angelina and Selene.” Belle bowed deeply. “Sorry for the intrusion.” She whispered. The twins did the same. “It’s no problem.” I said frantically. “Where is the boy?” Jem jumped from his spot on the couch, and winced. “Don’t tell me you left Gabriel there alone with Luce!” He screamed. The Count stared at him. “Weren‘t you with Luce when I asked her to bring my daughter back?” He asked, puzzled. Jem scowled. “Yes, but I don’t think that’s relevant at the moment. Why isn’t Gabriel here with you?” Mister Sang looked to the floor. “I think he may still be in the cellar…” He muttered. Jem bolted up, and re-buttoned his shirt. He rushed out the door before any of us could do anything at all to stop him. Gabriel A man with light brown hair and kind grey eyes slid down the staircase. When his eyes met mine, he frowned. He walked into the cell, and put a finger under my chin. He tilted my head upward, and looked into my eyes for a minute. He was freezing, even compared to the damp cellar. When he let go of me, he muttered something incomprehensible. “Who are you, exactly?” He asked. “My name is Gabriel Fenris.” I said, shaking slightly. He bobbed his head up and down, clearly deep in thought. “Yes… well, I’m Oliver Finn, a hunter of sorts.” He explained. Oliver’s eyes scanned me from my shirtless chest to the collar I now wore, and he looked perplexed. “I didn’t know Luce was into S&M.” He muttered. I rolled my eyes. “Please just get me out of here.” I begged. He raised both of his eyebrows, and picked up the key on the ground. “Who said I was going to let you go?” He purred. My shoulders were aching, and the cold stone floor was hardly comfortable. I itched to move around. Mister Finn looked at my chest once again. He skimmed over the three pale scars that ran across it with is frozen fingers. “So you’re a Loup, huh?” He whispered. I nodded, wishing I could button my shirt up. It hung limp from my shoulders, with all the buttons snipped off. The ground was littered with the bits of plastic and glass shards. “There is a girl upstairs.” Oliver said, very softly. “Is it possible that you know her?” I thought for a moment. “What does she look like?” I asked, feeling utterly lost. He ran his fingers through his layered hair. “She’s just a bit older than you, with hazel eyes, purple hair, and a lipring. She has very pale skin, and as of this moment, a gaping hole in her shoulder.” He said, without much feeling. Horror jolted through me like lightning. “Sera?” I gasped. His face lightened. “So you do know her!” He exclaimed. Sera was here. That meant she must have been the person who came in earlier! He walked over to me, and grabbed my forearm. I instinctively pulled my hand back. He gripped my arm tightly, and slid the small key he held into one shackle, then the other. The metal clasps fell off of my wrists, and I lowered my arms. Oliver still held my right arm firmly, and he led me up the staircase. I didn’t bother struggling, because I already felt exhausted. Lying on the living room floor was Sera. She was a wreck. She was covered in bruises, and her shoulder was wrapped in a blood-soaked bandage. Upon seeing me, she smiled, and lifted herself off the floor using only one hand. Her other arm seemed to be useless at the moment. I tried to walk over to her, but Oliver pulled me back forcibly. “You both are coming with me.” He said. Sera shook her head, and pulled out a switch blade with her good hand. She pressed it to the man’s neck. “I don’t think we are.” She said, simply. He swallowed, and smiled unexpectedly. “Try me.” He whispered. Her gaze was fierce, but I knew in my heart that she couldn’t do it. I was dead wrong. In the next minute, she jabbed the knife into Mister Finn’s chest. He coughed and sputtered for a moment, and relinquished his grip on me. I ran over to Sera, and wrapped my arms around her. I looked back at Oliver, and he straightened up, pulling the blade out of his chest. There was no blood on his tan suit. None at all. I stared in awe, and Sera grabbed my hand. She bolted through the front door, and pulled me after her. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “If life isn’t just a joke, then why are we laughing?” Yay! Another chapter completed! Comments and constructive criticism are appreciated!