Charlie’s POV

The time had come. We were going to get Kayla back and if anything stood in my way...well...it wouldn’t be standing for very long. I was taking four men with me - Mitchell, Edward, Emmett and Jasper. I needed Mitchell to show me the way, Edward was going to save Kayla and Emmett and Jasper was back up.
I was going to bring Loren down.



Kayla’s POV

My captor had a family. Funny, how we don’t think of the enemy as a husband or a father. We just think of them as the evil bastard who is making our life hell. I knew that Zachariah was a good guy. So I couldn’t read his mind to be 100% sure but I didn’t have to. I could feel it, I could see it.
Now that I knew my captor wasn’t out to kill me, I had another problem. I had no abilities. Something was stopping them but I didn’t know what. Was it this room that he had locked me in that blocked them? Or was it something else?
I lay down on the floor, my back against the wall. I put my arm under my head as a cushion and closed my eyes. I would think about it later. I had all the time in the world to think about it. I could be stuck here for a long time.
I woke up to light. There was light shining in my face. That was odd since I always woke to darkness. I opened my eyes and saw that little circle of light that always followed Zachariah. And sure enough there he was watching me with worried eyes.
I sat up and yawned.
“What’s up?” I asked him.
“I have to go,” he whispered. “I have to leave right now.”
A huge crash sounded outside, shaking my cell.
“What’s going on?”
“I have to save Loretta and Kyo,” he ignored my question. “You understand, don’t you?”
“Of course I understand,” I said, as another crash shook my cell. “But are you going to leave me?”
He smiled at me. “I’m not leaving you alone, Michaela.”
Angry shouts could be heard now after the two big crashes.
“Who thinks they can take me?” I heard someone shout. I was sure I recognised that voice. It was male and loud and sounded like he was smiling. Sounded like he wanted a fight, like that was all he was interested in.
“You two keep them here, I’m going to find her.” A velvety voice that I knew only too well. I smiled.
“Friends of yours?” Zachariah asked as someone screamed in pain.
“I think so,” I replied. I knew now that the guy that shouted before was Emmett. “Is that why you’re leaving?”
“Loren’s onto me,” he explained. “He knows I’m not torturing you or anything. He wanted me to kill you but when I refused he said I either kill you or he kills Kyo. I’m trying to save both of you.”
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Zachariah looked behind him towards the door. It sounded like someone was trying to get in.
“Did you lock the door?” I asked him.
“Yes, in case Loren came to check that you were dead,” he answered. “I didn’t want him to find me in here because then he would make me kill you in front of him.”
THUD! I could hear the wood in the door rattling together.
“Is there some kind of spell on the door?”
“Yes, no one without a key can get in or out.”
“Jasper!” I heard the velvety voice shout. “Help me with this door!”
“At least you know the spell is vampire-proof.”
Zachariah smiled slightly but he looked uneasy. I guess it wouldn’t look good for him if he was caught in here with me. And as the two vampires pounded on the door, he was getting more and more worried.
“You have to unchain me,” I said. “That way it looks like you’re helping me.”
“I don’t have the key for that,” he said. “I didn’t chain you to the wall.”
“Why would you come without the key?” I asked, annoyed.
“I only came to warn you that you’re friends were here,” he replied, irritated at my ungratefulness. “Is this the thanks I get?”
“I could break free if I had my abilities but someone stole them!”
There was a metallic snap as a hinge flew off. I heard it clatter on the stone wall.
“Your abilities!” he exclaimed, grabbing my unchained wrist
“What are you doing?” I tried to pull away but he held on tight.
“The bracelet you’re wearing is the one I got the Shadow Hunters to steal.” He held my wrist to the light and I could see the bracelet Edward had bought me for my birthday. It was glowing slightly not brightly enough to see in this darkness. “I put a charm on it that strips you of your Azdi abilities but also your Azdi qualities, like your vision and strength.”
“If I take the bracelet off...”
“Then you’re abilities are restored.” He unclasped the bracelet and it fell to the floor. As soon as it was off my skin I could see perfectly again. I could see everything, even where the light from the circle did not touch. I could see how dirty this place was. The walls were covered in dirt and I wasn’t looking any better. The silver dress I was wearing underneath my graduation robe wasn’t so silver now. My arms and legs were covered in cuts and bruises from the stone floor. I could hear clearer too. I could hear Zachariah’s heart beating and my own heart too. I could feel my strength returning, its warmth flooding my entire body. And I could hear Edward’s thoughts. He knew I was in here. He could hear my heart beating and my thoughts but he had found me mostly by following my scent. Such a clever vampire.
I yanked on the chain, just like I had done my first day here and it was ripped off the wall. Loose stones fell too.
I stood up and brushed as much dirt off me as I could. Another metallic snap told me the second hinge was off the door.
“Should I let them in now?” Zachariah asked, standing up.
“No,” I said, smiling. “Let them feel like heroes when they break the door down.”
“Are you still trying to open that door?” I heard Emmett laugh. “Let me do it for you.”
With an almighty thud the door was crashed open. The pieces of wood that were the door fell to the floor.
Emmett walked in first and snarled when he saw Zachariah. Next was Jasper, his eyes searching the room for anymore bad guys while calming me and Zachariah down. And last was Edward. He was a right mess. His eyes were dark black and there were dark purple circles under his eyes. He looked so depressed and lost. His eyes showed nothing. He looked even paler than usual if that was possible. When he saw me his whole face broke out in relief. He laughed and ran to me, picking me up in his arms. He kissed every part of my face even though it was probably as dirty as my dress.
“Are you hurt anywhere?” he asked me, scanning my face with his eyes.
“No, I’m fine.” I kissed his lips as tears slid down my cheeks. “I thought I’d never see you again.”
“I thought I’d lost you,” he whispered. “I was going mad without you.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and held him close to me. I breathed in his honey and lilac scent.
“Is this the guy, Kayla?”
“I am not ‘the guy’!”
“That’s what ‘the guy’ would say, isn’t that right Jasper?”
“I’ve been protecting her, not hurting her!”
I ignored the argument between Emmett and Zachariah and just held onto Edward. Emmett wouldn’t hurt Zachariah but then again Emmett did like a fight.
“Leave him alone, Emmett,” I called out to him. “He’s done nothing wrong.”
“You’re lucky she’s here,” Emmett growled to Zachariah.
“You heard Kayla, Emmett,” Jasper said. “Leave him alone. We’ve got to get back to Charlie.”
Charlie! Was he ok? Was he hurt? Was he in trouble?
“Calm down,” Edward said, placing me carefully back on the ground. “He’s fine. He’s with Mitchell and they’re trying to find Loren.”
“What?” I shouted. “Why is he doing that?!”
“Loren had you kidnapped,” Edward said, confused. “Of course Charlie’s going to go after him.”
“Why aren’t you lot with him? You can’t let him go alone.”
“Mitchell’s with him,” Emmett said. “He’s not alone.”
“Mitchell will get torn between loyalties. He won’t be of any use!”
I couldn’t believe Charlie would do this alone. It was like he was asking for a death sentence. He should have more than just Mitchell with him. I ran to the door.
“Where are you going?” Edward called.
“To find Charlie!”