I would like to thank the following people for taking the time to read and review my last chapter. Your support and comments are always so lovely and its wonderful to hear you are enjoying the story. A big big thank you to... Aria, acetwolf94, Digimonfan, Ilsuik, xiMenagerie, AmberQueen, AdaYuki, general-zargon and Theresa-Nolan.

xXx

Chapter Twenty Seven

Somewhere between listening to the endless sounds of torture and shaking through multiple panic attacks, Lia had come to realise it was only a matter of time before someone tried to rescue her.

Under any other circumstances that would have been a blessing: in this situation, not so much.

By remaining alive, Lia was only placing Si and Jaden in further danger.

Every second she remained breathing was a second closer to her boys busting down doors. And she knew, without a doubt, they would be coming for her...

The risk of them being hurt in a rescue attempt or worse, reversing her imprisonment and confining Jaden, was too high to be allowed to remain a possibility.

Her second realisation of the evening was her jailers wouldn't be too pleased to find an unemployed, divorced, thirty-something American woman in the place of Jaden; an all-powerful being they had obviously enjoyed tormenting for centuries.

Centuries... Christ! A few hours alone in this place had almost driven her insane. Adding torture and deprivation to that... unfathomable!

Lia, back on track! She couldn't afford to dwell on her dark imaginings, not right now.

So... Lia figured her jailers might be so angry they would kill her outright. Definitely the best case scenario! However those endless screams had additional prepared her for the possibility of a slow death.... moving on!

With such thoughts in mind, Lia had been yelling into the darkness. So far her attempts to cause a scene or gain attention had been futile. No one had walked down the corridor, well... not anyone she could see. Her eyes had adjusted a little but it was still pitch black and it was making her eyes tired from straining.

"Heyyyyyyyyyy!" This time she decided to drag the word out. Why not? It was mildly entertaining.

Lia was beginning to get the sickening feeling, she wouldn't be dealt with on her own terms. They would come for her when they were ready and not before. Perhaps the isolation and deprivation was an attempt to condition her in some way. Weaken her. Make her vulnerable.

It wasn't having the desired affect if that was the plan.

She was becoming more hysterically nervous her boys were seconds away from coming and pissed off that she was hanging like a piece of meat. The longer she hung there the more reckless she could feel herself becoming and instead of dreading the arrival of Jaden's tormentors she was expectant.

Lia wanted to see the person responsible for Jaden's suffering. She may not be a fighter, but if it killed her (and no doubt it would!) she was taking a chunk out of that monster. Fighting dirty wasn't beneath her and if it took teeth and nails, even hair pulling, she was getting at least a drop of blood.

The suffering Jaden had endured for as long as he did, added to the destruction of her own family by the hands of demons, was her motivation for her impending pay-per-view throw down. It wasn't going to be much of a show, since every muscle in her body was practically immovable from strain, but she could cut someone down to size with her tongue alone if need be!

Speaking of which... she might as well give yelling another go... "Hey. Can anybody hear me!?

Nothing. Damn!

"How rude..." Her words unconsciously uttered made her hysterically laugh. Dear God, Amalia. She had finally lost it. Complaining over the punctuality of her own executioner. Only she would complain about their timeliness and manners...

Tilting her head back against the cool cavernous wall, she sighed.

"Lia?"

Amalia's head snapped forward, jolting her neck aches and shoulder pain. Did someone just say her name? Was she going mad...?

"Hello? Is somebody there?" Her words seemed swallowed by the darkness before a gentle repetition echoed along the hall. Strangely enough, she spoke gentler than before. Unsure if she had actually heard her name or if it was her desperate imagination.

She listened intently. Please somebody be there...

A sob. She was sure of it. Someone was sobbing in the dark! Could they have spoken to her? Could she have simply imagined it being her name...?

"Hello? I'm a prisoner here too. Please talk to me..."

The silence was deafening. With her entire soul she begged them to speak to her. Just to hear another person was giving her a glimmer of hope, some anchor from hysteria. Please speak to me...

As the moments seemed to drag into an eternity, Lia could feel wetness on her cheeks. She was crying. What a night!

You are falling apart, Lia...

Her tears fell silently as the darkness surrounded her. There was nobody there, it must have been-

"Lia. Is that really you?"

Amalia couldn't breathe for a moment. A second later she was sucking in air hysterically as if she had been drowning. It couldn't be... It was impossible!

Every rational explanation for the voice in the darkness was being shattered by its familiarity. There was no way she wouldn't recognise it.

And yet there was no way it could be them! Unless...

"Tina?"

Taryk was not in his happy place.

There were so many things wrong with his current situation he wasn't even sure what was pissing him off the most: that his deal making had finally requested payment, that he was sandwiched between two strangers on a small couch or the adolescent demon who was munching on Doritos potato chips and sprinkling crumbs down the shoulder and sleeve of his new jacket...

Crunch-crunch.

Well that solves it! The crunch-crunch of Doritos was currently the most irritating, closely followed by the demi-god beside him whose blade was perched across his knees facing Taryk's direction.

Threaten all you want half breed, you'll find nothing but death here...

Little prick. It grated that he was forced to associate with these losers. Unfortunately Jaden wasn't as selective of his clientele and a good deal was simply a good deal, regardless of the mental incapacity and general idiocy of the dealer.

Crunch. Seriously! That Dorito had better have gone in whole! If he had to listen to nibbling for another second or watch crumbs roll down his sleeve he was not going to sit still...

That's it! Before the crumb had even rolled to his elbow, Taryk struck. Spinning on his seat he caught the demon by the throat, mid nibble. The sound of swords being unsheathed and guns being cocked were instantaneous and not wholly unexpected... this whole scenario was one drop of blood away from a mass slaughter...

Squeezing his fist until the little demons eyes almost bugged completely out, he leaned in close...

"Put it in whole or spend the rest of your miserable existence being fed through a straw"

None of the room's occupants had launched at one another yet but the tension was palpable. Swallowing against the hand at its throat, the demon raised the remaining chip to its mouth. And the smart little thing ate it whole...

"Wise" Taryk sneered as he shuffled back around to face the front. Jaden looked less than pleased at the interruption but not surprised. So the nibbling hadn't only irritated him, huh? Fuck them. He had a debt to settle. No other reason for his presence.

"Just teaching table manners".

He shrugged.

Jared shared an exasperated glance with his brother.

Bloody Taryk. Bloody was actually a useful adjective to describe the renegade demon whose history was crammed full of battles. Jared wondered absently what kind of deal his brother had brokered and what leverage he had over the warrior to get him here at such short notice. He hadn't even believed Taryk still alive.

Sitting on the arm of a sofa at the back of the room, Jared had his knee bent and his full length coat still on. No point getting comfy... not to mention not much space for it. The sofa was crammed with demons and a dark hunter he didn't recognise.

Acheron was standing, back against the wall, near the door. Regardless of his crossed legged and casual pose, Jared could see the intensity with which the Atlantean was watching the crowd and the plans unravel. He wanted vengeance.

Justice

The word shimmered into his mind in an unmistakable accent. He stared down the Atlantean, he might consider him an almost-friend but he didn't need any more voices in his head. Ash simply nodded in understanding and returned his attention to the front of class.

Jaden was finishing up his strategy. Jared had known his brother too long and had fought beside him in too many battles to believe what he had spelt out to his audience was the whole story. There would be more... No doubt he would hear the unedited version after the masses had departed.

"Tell me something I don't know" Jaden didn't waste any pleasantries. As soon as the kitchen door was shut behind him, the question was out of his mouth. The demon before him was a low level guard he knew well. He was surprisingly slender for a demon but that was part of that species advantage; no one ever expected them of being one of the strongest demonikyn alive. Standing at his fully grown height of 145cm with ice white hair, Rydion was an unusual sight especially when surrounded by Jaden, Jared, Ash and Xypher.

"He's trying to turn them" There was no need to elaborate or guess who the "he" was, however...

"Them?"

"Noir has all three sisters"

For a heartbeat of time, Jaden stopped his pacing. "Impossible"

It was impossible... he had felt the life leave Franceska's body and closed Tina's eyes as she lay motionless in the wood. Both were dead.

"When is death ever the end?"

Jaden quirked an eyebrow. He knew the demon before him had "died" more than once... same as Jared and Ash. He had a point. Often power wasn't unleashed until "death" or through death. Could this truly be the case with the Watson sisters? Where they all alive?

More importantly what condition were they in. Everyone knew Noir wouldn't stop until he had received what he wanted. The torment he would have put the sisters through would be unimaginable... the sisters may already be lost to them. And what did that mean for Lia? If death was the catalyst of choice...

Jaden closed his eyes.

"Has he succeed?"

"With at least one"

"He is trying with the other two?" He tried to not allow his emotions to be present. One of those two would be Amalia. No way, Noir could turn her. At least not so fast.

"One. He has plans for both though"

Jaden nodded. "Anything else?"

"Yeah... he knows you better than anyone else on the planet. Don't be so sure he doesn't know your plan before you even formulate it"

Jaden growled at the thought, even though he knew the words were wise and likely true. You never truly know a person until you break them down and see how they react... Noir had tortured Jaden for centuries and knew his base form and motivations... his stubbornness and loyalties.

Jaden just hoped that the transformation Amalia had caused within him would be the curve ball in his arsenal and bring something to the battle Noir couldn't expect...

Gloria watched the red haired demon carefully. In fact, he was her new obsession. Jessie seemed to have adopted the demon as if he was a sea monkey experiment. Dressing him up, doing his hair and making him watch enough movies to make the poor guy culturally literate. Well, 80's culture literate.

She had to admit, the punk look suited him. It suited the outcast look about him that had nothing to do with his height, hair colour or shyness but everything to do with that shadow in his eyes. The loneliness and sadness almost made her want to weep for him.

He was perched on the bottom stair, knees bent awkwardly as if he kept forgetting how long his own legs were and that he should have sat one stair up to accommodate them. He hadn't taken his eyes off the conversations going on in the meeting room aka living room. The projector, was humming violently, and Gloria had warned them it might not make it though the presentation. That was before she had seen the occupants of the room and decided the projector wasn't the only thing that might not survive...

They were terrifying! And so many! Gloria didn't like violence. Since she was a product of violence she couldn't stand to see it or hear about it. Hence she was paying no attention to the presentation at all. She wondered why Si wasn't in there. Did he believe he didn't belong? Did he care for violence? She hoped not, there was something calm and soothing about him.

She would have blushed if she was capable. Instead she decided to be brave and risk another conversation with him. He didn't look up until she sat beside him on the stairs. She hid a smile at the shock, fear and blush that spread over his face as he shifted closer to the wall to make more room between them. She silently hoped it wasn't the fact she was a ghost that was causing him to shift... the blush made her guess he was just shy around girls. She hoped that was the reason...

"I'm sorry for running off earlier"

She watched his throat move as he swallowed nervously. She felt a little thrill at her ability to affect him. It had been so long since she had felt anything like excitement and joy.

Her words were also true – she was sorry for running away. She just wasn't ready to face her death yet. To say it was still a sore point for her, would be a major understatement. The mask she always wore wasn't as substantial as she had hoped and cracked over an innocently delivered question.

Plus, for a few moments she had forgotten she was a ghost, insubstantial, gone.

She had been speaking as a girl to a boy and not as a ghost to a demon. It was taking time to assimilate to being a ghost, being around her 'new family' it was so easy to forget. So easy to forget she wasn't just a girl, anymore...

It was never going to be that simple again. Gloria wished she had valued the simplicity of just being herself, when she was alive.

"I didn't mean to upset you" His voice was very quiet, almost a whisper but it did manage to jerk her from her mental depression.

"I know" Gloria smiled. It had been evident on his face. The shame and embarrassment. She hated that she had caused him to feel such negative emotion when he had already, obviously, been through so much.

Si simply nodded without making eye contact. He was still glued to the meeting and the strategy. Gloria didn't want to distract him from saving his friend; she just couldn't stop herself from speaking to him…

"Why aren't you in there?" Nodding toward the once family orientated living room, now filled to bursting with an assortment of warriors.

"I... I don't want to be around the demons" He blushed an even brighter shade of red at his admission.

"Neither would I"

As Si nodded once more without looking at her, Gloria wished he would make eye contact. Turn and look at her fully. She was almost sure she saw a tiny smile – a small curl of one side of his lips but it was so hard to tell.

"I am truly sorry your friend is missing"

More nodding. Gloria wanted so badly to break through his shell...

"Would you like to be friends?" As the words blurted out in a rush, Gloria turned her face away quickly. She could not believe she had said that! How pathetic it must have sounded. Desperate. She internally groaned – he was shy and she blows a potential friendship by…

Her internal dialogue was interrupted by an almost nervous little laugh. She turned back to find Si, finally facing her, looking straight into her eyes.

"Yes, Gloria. I would"

His smile momentarily mesmerised her, making her forget all of the reasons why things were not simple anymore, and this time she was the one who blushed.

Noir looked out over his army fighting, feeding and fornicating below him. The cast iron window frame he was leaning against was as black as his current mood. He couldn't help sneering down at them. He truly despised demons; an unexpected emotion since he lived surrounded by them but true none-the-less.

As a source god of a darker power, demons had always flocked towards him. That he ultimately brought them nothing but misery always made him smile and surprised him – there would always be fresh recruits to replenish the trash.

Even though they might mean nothing to him; Noir wouldn't deny demons had their uses. And talking about demons with uses…

"Report!"

His demand made the demon hovering in his doorway, jump slightly.

"The prisoners are communicating"

Noirs smile was slow. "Let them"

"My Lord-"

"I said, let them!" By the Gods, he hated being interrupted or questioned by the help. "Anything else?"

"Rydion is missing from his post"

Another slow smile split Noirs features. "Kill him when he returns"

"Returns, my Lord?"

Sigh. "Yes, returns! Do I need to continually repeat myself!"

"No, my Lord"

Shooting a contemptuous glance in the demons direction, Noir couldn't believe how pathetic the demon appeared. He was practically seconds from circling his shoe on the floor in bashful embarrassment.

"Is that all?"

"Yes, My Lord"

"So I can assume everything has been put in place?"

"As instructed, My-"

"Yes, yes, yes." Noir muttered impatiently. His plan was slowly coming into play and he could honestly say he could not wait for the punch line! "Bring Franceska"

"Franceska, my Lord?"

Noir spun with annoyance, his overcoat slashing a black arch. Wisely, the source of his annoyance shuffled out as quickly as it had arrived.

A soft and seductive chuckle drifts from the shadows….

Glaring in Braith's general direction, Noir moved towards his desk. Papers, weaponry and blood splatter decorated the enormous oak table top. "Must you spy on me?"

"When you are so entertaining, brother? Yes, I must"

The growl caught in his throat. He didn't have the energy for this conversation. For the last few days, Braith had been relentless in trying to pry his battle strategy from him. Eager to discover the curve ball he was going to bring to the party.

"You're so confident the girl will do as she was told?" It was more a statement than a question.

"Yes... although there are ways to find out in advance"

"Do tell?" He had her – as she sauntered from the shadows, all long elegant limbs and flaming blue hair. He couldn't imagine anyone else suiting blue hair. It was natural and a glaring indication into the woman's personality. She was the greatest of extremes – a burning hot flame or glacial cold.

Oh, the three of them had been formidable! And they would be so again…

"And ruin you finding out first hand?"

Braith chuckled and tsked at him. "So secretive. So exciting"

Stepping up to his back, her arms wound around his waist, her undeniable scent of blood and sex rushed over him. Red tipped claws scratched provocatively down his chest to cup him.

"Admit you have missed me" her whispered words rushed across his neck.

He had. Noir would never admit it, though. It was a game and he wouldn't succumb so early in the round. "You first" She nipped his shoulder playfully.

Plus, he knew what the seduction routine was in aid of. "You can't seduce the answers from me"

"Maybe, maybe not. You would be surprised what can be seduced out of a man... or what he could be seduced into doing"

Noir mused with a slight grin. "Shame they are sisters and not men"

"You will let me finish Jaden, myself?"

Noir sighed and moved from Braith's reach. Back to work so soon… disappointing. "Was that a question or statement?"

The seductive tone of seconds before was gone. They were all business once again.

"Statement"

Settling into his chair, he flicked through his research absently. The smile finally returning to his face.

"Yes. You are but one of the surprises I have in store for him"

Lia couldn't decide what would be the most devastating reality... that the voice in the darkness was not Constantina but some mind trick caused by insanity or enemy impersonation ... or the realisation her baby sister had been alive (in some capacity) and a prisoner in this hell hole for three years. Tears were clouding her vision for both scenarios...

"Is that really you, Tina?"

The sobbing in the darkness reminded Lia of being children in their mother's house. Nightmares shared together... Franceska's fear of the darkness. Lia was almost positive it was her baby sister. Then again, she might be clutching at misplaced hope.

Guilt and feelings of failure were crushing down on her lungs. If that was Tina in the dark...

Three years! Lia couldn't swallow that reality. She had mourned Tina. Mourned her endlessly but never once did she feel like her sister was still alive or around. For Tina to have been in need for three years and Lia never to have even known or helped her was unbearable.

"I can't believe you're here" The whispered words were definitely Tina. Seconds ago Lia had been awaiting death, calling for it. And now... Lia just wanted to get to her sister.

"Are you OK?"

"Define OK" Wry humour was evident through her tears.

"Oh, honey. I can't believe this! I never even imagined..." you were alive. You were hurting. You needed me.

"What are you doing here? How did you know I was here?"

"I didn't. I didn't. I honestly had no clue" She took a deep breath trying to calm herself "I honestly had no clue"

"Then how? Why? Are you alright?"

"Define alright" she smiled into the dark at the faint tear filled chuckle "I ..." How could she explain this? She had sacrificed herself to save her boyfriend, who she loved but had only known a couple of days, never knowing that Tina had been here the whole time... "I took someone else's place. You don't know him"

"Someone else's place? Here? Are you nuts?"

She smiled at her sisters ire. God, to think she never expected to have another sisterly argument.

"I love him"

"Matt?"

"Gods, no. You don't know him. I met him recently"

"And it's gotten you here? My recommendation; dump him"

Lia laughed. For the first time since her arrival, her heart felt a little lighter. Regardless of the dire setting, hearing Tina's voice and talking to her was providing comfort and a break from the hysteria and worry that had been plaguing her.

"Tina... are you alright?"

Sigh. "I don't know"

"Are you hurt?"

Silence. She didn't want to push but the worry was killing her. "Yes. That's not our biggest problem though..."

Lia waited. Her heart pounding.

"They want something from us. Or perhaps want us to do something. I'm not entirely sure. They have spent most of their time with Fran-"

"Fran! You mean, Fran's alive. Here?"

"Yes"

"My god... " Lia couldn't even breath for a minute.

"I don't know what they want, Lia. But I know they are willing to do anything to get it. Anything."

"I have been hunted down. I don't know why either but I was told it has something to do with a power they believe we have"

"Power?"

"Long story and I'm not even sure. Think sci-fi on speed"

"Do you think they have the wrong people? That it's a mistake?"

"No" After everything her family had been through, after all the drama with Jaden, she knew it was not a coincidence or mistake. "What's happening with Fran? Where is she? And where are you? I cant figure out where your voice is coming from"

"I think they have been torturing her. The screams, Lia..."

Lia choked. Terror taking hold.

"They took her a while back. I don't know where. I hate not knowing!" Lia shared that thought "I think I am to your left, the echo is making it hard to tell"

Lia nodded even though Tina couldn't see.

"This guy you are trying to save. Any chance he isn't a complete jerk and may come save us?" Tina's humour was tinged with desperation.

"Yeah, he will come"

"You are sure?"

"Positive"

She wouldn't let Jaden be sentenced back to this slavery but she couldn't allow her sisters to remain here either. She needed to plan this carefully. There would be no chance in hell, pun intended, that Jaden would leave her behind.

Lia hadn't been able to plan her last mission well, she intended to take her time with this one...

She couldn't chance a mistake. Her sisters and Jaden's freedom counted on it.

"Braith"

Four pairs of eyes turned to Ash - "Braith?"

Acheron nodded. The blue tiled kitchen they were huddled in was not used to five fully grown beings. He was practically toe-to-toe with Zypher and Jared. "That's what I've been told. Apparently the low level power excel before a larger more devastating blast is her power signature. She gets off on the fear beforehand"

"Wait, Braith?" Jared muttered. "The blue haired mega bitch, Braith?"

Nod. "The very one"

"Never met her" Jaden was deadpan. If Ash hadn't noticed the slight tremble in Jaden's right fist, he would never have guessed the emotional torment the man was going through.

"You don't want to" Xypher evidently recalled the woman from the permanent scowl he was sporting "She disappeared millennia ago. Noir and Azura have been searching ever since"

"Any idea where she was?" Ash knew from personal experience that it was hard to hide for that length of time, especially for such a powerful being. And that's assuming her 'disappearance' was voluntarily. Detaining a being that powerful wouldn't have been an easy mission either.

Xypher shook his head "None"

"Forget where she was, what does it mean that she's back?"

"She is cunning and blood thirsty. In short, nothing good"

"Fan-fucking-tastic"

"We will need to factor her into the plan..."

Jaden said nothing. He knew he should be paying attention and gathering intel but the slither of the moon that remained in the night sky was haunting him. He just stared out of the window above the sink, full of the left-overs of a family's usual routine, the cups and plates.

It still felt wrong that everything was capable of continuing on around him when he felt like it had all stopped. Stopped dead - he still felt like he was standing on the other side of the room, watching as Lia was taken.

The moon was a reminder that his happiness had always had a time limit. He needed to get Lia back. He needed her back or he would die trying.

The old saying 'it is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all' was wrong. He could never return to the way things used to be - it would never be the same and he couldn't bear to continue on without her.

She isn't gone yet, brother...

Glancing up, he caught Jared staring at him in the reflection of the glass. Very true...

Jaden swallowed the lump in his throat and turned back to the conversation.

"I'm just saying... its bad enough going against the evil we know about. Braith is an additional threat we don't need."

"It is, what it is" At Jaden's words they nodded gravely.

Ash materialised in an opulent hall on the other side of the world. It was dusk and the earlier corn blue sky was now a beautiful midnight blue. It seemed a lifetime away from the war room and battle strategy. Arches were decorated with flowing drapes unsettled by the gentle evening breeze. Savitar was standing at a small wet bar pouring himself a drink. His wet suit was pulled down to his waist, revealing damp skin, bare feet and hair that had been finger combed back from his face.

"Braith has been found. She's back with Noir and Azure."

When no response came, Ash sighed.

"You're not going to tell me anything are you?"

Sav turned around, leaning back on the bar, tumbler in hand. "You know the answer to that, Grom".

"Have you had experience of Braith?"

"Some."

"And?"

"And it's not good. Could be worse..." Sav curled his lip "Not by much"

"Are you coming in on this?"

"Help Jaden gain his happily ever after?" Snorting Savitar placed his glass on bar and walked towards the arched door. "No"

Talking to his back, Acheron tried a different approach. "You claim he does everything for his own survival; ask yourself how different that is from hiding on this island and remaining disconnected from your role?"

As Savitar came to a halt, Ash knew he had hit the right nerve.

"Playing games with fate and intervening only causes destruction"

"And is it the pain it causes others that keeps you here or the pain it causes you?"

Sav turned with a growl but Ash was already gone...

The clink of metal meeting china had eventually lulled her granddaughter to sleep across her lap and as the final minute passed, Liza finally placed the spoon gently beside her now cold tea.

Smoothing back the stray curls loose from her granddaughters braid she awaited the arrival of her visitor.

She knew they were hovering outside her store; waiting and contemplating. To anyone else it would look as though they were unsure of whether to enter or not bother; to Liza she knew it was fated that they walk into her store and hear her words.

That it was inevitable, however, didn't make it occur faster and it was almost an hour before the bell hanging precariously on the back of the front door chimed with their arrival. Liza didn't look upon them as she knew they were hiding in the shadows of her dolls; rows high and stretching along three of the four walls.

Not even the blue flashing emergency lights still assisting with the devastation outside could illuminate a person who did not wish to be seen.

"Isn't it unusual for a doll store to be open so late?"

"Yes. If the sole purpose of remaining open was to sell"

"What is your purpose for remaining open?"

Liza smiled. "To answer the three questions you have"

The voice remained silent for a few moments. Unmoving in the dark.

"And?"

"To answer your first question:Yes"

"Then?"

"Second question: No"

Silence. Liza could just make out a nod coming from the darkness.

"And lastly, I don't have an answer only a description"

"Which would be?"

"Bloody"

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Have a lovely weekend.

Emmalisa x