threat6

Part 6

Nathalie shifted nervously from one foot to the other, unsure of what to do next. She glanced back at Morgan to find the window empty. She turned back to Christopher and eyed him warily.

�What do you want?� Nathalie asked, ignoring the hand that Chris was holding out. For all she knew, he could grab her and teleport her to some dangerous place where he could knock her unconscious and leave her there to die.

He let the hand drop, and crossed his arms. �Nothing much,� he said. �Just wanted to meet the person who has the Dark�s so upset.�

�Well, now you have.� Nathalie said, still refusing to move off the step. She was watching his hands carefully to be sure that he didn�t have any of that power-binding rope. �Now, can you get off the bike so I can go?�

   He shrugged and moved away from the bike. Nathalie kept a distance from him as she made her way to it. She swung one leg over, still watching Chris, then put in the keys and hit the ignition switch, and it roared to life.

�I�ll be seeing you.� He said and teleported away, without looking around to see if he was being watched. Nathalie did look and found that the street was deserted.

She sighed and shuddered, slumping in the seat. Why is everyone intent on scaring me to death?

�At this rate, I�ll have a mental breakdown by Friday, and its already Tuesday.� She said to herself.

�Keery?�

Her head came up, and was relieved when she recognized Blaise�s voice. �Blaise,� she sent back, relieved that it wasn�t her brother or Christopher. �Hi.�

�Are you okay?� He asked. �I haven�t seen you for a few days.�

�I know.� She said sheepishly. �I�ve been avoiding you guys. Trying to make sense of it all.�

�Understandable.� She felt his worry for her.

She asked,�What?�

She got the mental equivalent of him shaking his head and shrugging. �I just got the feeling that you were upset a few minutes ago.�

�More so than usual?� She asked. �I�m fine now, Blaise. Christopher just paid me a visit. That�s all.�

�Christopher Murray?�

Nathalie shrugged. �I guess.�

�What happened?�

�Nothing much.� She hoped that it would be enough to leave it at that, as she revved the engine and reached behind her for her helmet.

Always the perceptive one, Blaise knew that there was more. �And?�

Nathalie sighed, and dropped her hands into her lap. �No secrets. Right. Oh, and I just found out that Morgan DiPietro is a TP.�

�Morgan.� He hissed the name almost like a curse.

Nathalie drew her brows together in confusion, he had always been cold and distrustful of her, but never with the vehemence that she sensed from him now. �Blaise?� She asked. �What about her?�

�Nothing.� He said, quick and sharp, in a way that made her not want to ask more, though it made her wonder just how much he was keeping from her.

�Fine,� she said, mirroring his tone. �We�ll talk later. Really, Blaise, I�m fine.�

His sense told her that he didn�t believe her one bit, but left it at that and left her alone. She sighed in relief, and put on her helmet. Reaching out with her mind, she sensed that Jake was not at home and headed there, once again.

                                                                               * * *

Christopher teleported back to the spaceship and sat at one of the windows, looking out. The red glow of the room made the water outside look strange and unnatural. The water looked cold, devoid of life which was no coincidence since the ship was frozen partway in a glacier in the frigid Northern Atlantic.

A few hours had passed since his �little meeting� with Nathalie. The setting sun over the ship was barely visible through the ice, and would soon be setting over Nathalie�s home. It was almost time.

A flash greeted the entrance of another Dark. Chris looked up from his perch and smiled. �Hey Ben.�

The young man smiled. Benjamin Zamolodjikova was one of the newest breakouts and one of Chris� closest and most trusted allies. He had his blond hair cropped short, and his thick blond eyebrows stood bushy over deep-set, cold blue eyes. He was ruthless, cold, one of Chris� best students, skilled at setting traps and getting good at other skills.

�So,� Ben said. �Is everything ready?� He clapped his hands and rubbed them together eagerly.

�Almost,� Chris said from his perch. The spot smelled of Jake�s cologne and threatened to make him gag. He sat up and ran a hand through his hair. �These past few days have been hell for our fearless leader. His goody-goody big sister has caused his conscience to resurface.�

�Conscience?� Ben sneered. �A Dark does not have a conscience.� His English was thick with a Russian accent that made him almost unintelligible to everyone but those who knew him well.

�Yes,� Chris said, feeling confident in himself. �He feels guilty about what we have planned for Nathalie.�

�What should we do about him?� His interest piqued, Ben was eager to do something.

�Nothing yet.� Chris said. �Nathalie first.�

�Ah,� Ben said eagerly. �Is the trap ready?�

Chris nodded. �Yes.�

�What�s the plan?�

�I�m gonna tell her that I need her help because Jake is hurt.� Chris said, then held up a hand as Ben opened his mouth to ask a question. �I know, she won�t believe me, but what if I tell her that I can�t turn to the Dark�s because we turned on him. Which is an idea that I have entertained on occasion.�

Ben chuckled. �So, she�ll just come?�

�If she thinks that he�s hurt, she�ll come.� Chris said as he pushed his hair out of his face and stood. �He�s important to her, even though they�re opposites, enemies even.�

Ben was smiling broadly. �Genius Chris.�

�Thank you,� he grinned back, taking a little bow. �Now, if you excuse me�I have a plan to get underway.�

�Oh,� Ben bowed slightly, a comical wry twist on his full lips. �Don�t let me keep you.�

                                                                             * * *

Nathalie looked out her bedroom window, pillow hugged tight to her chest. The stars shone bright in the clear sky. Mindless staring at pinpricks of light from stars millions of miles away was good. A meteor sped across the sky and she smiled.

A knock on the door brought up her head.

�Come in,� she sat up and rubbed her eyes.

The door opened and her mother peeked her head in. �Hey honey.�

Nathalie tried to smile, but it came out strained. �Hi.�

Her smile faded, replaced by worry. She entered the room, closed the door and hurried to her daughters side. She placed a hand on Nathalie�s shoulder and leaned down to look into her freckled face with dark bags under tired blue eyes. �What�s wrong honey?�

She knew that was coming. Her mother was far more perceptive than she had given her credit for. Though the way she had been acting the past few days, Nathalie really couldn�t blame her for being worried. Nathalie drew up her knees so that her mom could sit beside her on the window seat and tried to give her the most reassuring look that she could, though had the feeling that she failed utterly. �What makes you think that there�s anything wrong.�

�Give me a break, Nat.� She said, not fooled. She reached up to push some of Nathalie�s hair out of her face. �You can�t fool me, I know you too well.�

Nathalie closed her eyes and sighed. �Nothing�s wrong Mom. I�m just tired, long couple of days, you know.�

�Wanna tell me about it?�

�Not really.� Nathalie admitted. As far as she knew, her mom was oblivious to her children�s jaunting around the world, and didn�t feel that it was the time to tell her. �There�s been an old boyfriend coming around. He won�t leave me alone. I�ve been hiding here, trying to get away from him.�

�Oh, honey, I�m sorry.� She said, caring and sympathy replacing some of the worry in her eyes. �Who is it?�

Go away Mom! Nathalie ordered silently. �It�s just Robert. He�ll go away in a few days. Really, Mom, I�ll be fine. A couple of days rest and I�ll be back to my old self.� She wasn�t lying exactly. Robert was her most recent ex-boyfriend and he had had a hard time letting her go. But he hadn�t come around for a few weeks.

It felt strange to lie to her, her mother was someone who she confided in and trusted with everything. Well, not everything. But she had a feeling that she would be telling far worse lies before this was all over.

Nathalie hoped that the fib was enough and to her mother�s credit, she didn�t press her. Thank God!

�Can I get you anything? A snack, something to drink?�

World peace? She thought ruefully. The location of the Dark�s ship.

�Hot chocolate, please. Extra marshmallows.� Nathalie said smiling sweetly. Leave it to her mother to always know what it would take to make her feel better. Nathalie just hoped that hot chocolate would help.

�Will do.� She leaned over to kiss Nathalie on the forehead, her hair sweeping forward and her perfume wafted toward her, floral and familiar. Nathalie reached up and hugged her mother tight.

�Oh,� she exclaimed, surprised and hugged her back. After a moment, Nathalie released her and allowed her mother to climb to her feet.

�What was that for?�

�Just for being my mom.� Nathalie smiled at her mother, this time feeling that she had succeeded.

�That�s my girl.� She smiled back. �One hot chocolate coming right up.�

�Extra marshmallows, remember?�

�Right.� She headed for the door.

Nathalie grabbed her pillow again. �Hey Mom?�

�Yeah, Nat?�

�Thanks.�

She smiled and opened the door, walked out and closed it softly, leaving Nathalie alone again. She felt better inside, less mentally exhausted, calmer. She was gazing out at the stars again when her mother returned a few moments later with the hot chocolate.   She smiled and left the room without a word.

Nathalie sipped in silence, letting the warmth of it seeping into her soul. Chocolate was the ultimate soul food. She finished and set the cup on the window sill.

�Nathalie?� A voice came into her head.

What now?

�Yeah?�

�It�s Christopher.�

�I know.� The tension flooded back into her muscles with the flow of adrenaline. �What do you want?�

She could sense a small hint of reluctance in his thoughts. She never expected what he said next. �Your help.�

She almost laughed. �My help? You have a whole bunch of Darks to turn to, why me?�

Christopher was silent for a moment; so long, in fact, that she thought that he had become discouraged and had left her alone. When he finally spoke, his words made her jump like she had been touched with a live wire. �It�s Jake.�

Panic surged through her. �What about him? This is a trick.� She said, though it hurt her to be so cold.

�No trick.� Chris said, with the mental equivalent of him shaking his head. �He needs your help.�

�What happened?�

Christopher sighed and she sensed that it was hard for him to ask for a Light's help. That, or he was a really good actor. Nathalie's instincts said that it was the latter of the two and begged her not to trust Darks, especially not this Dark. �He�s hurt.�

Instinctively, Nathalie reached out with her mind to find her brother and found only emptiness. All her life there had been at least a very dim feeling of him; not a presence, really, just a feeling in her that Jake was there. Panic surged up. �Where is he?�

�He�s hurt.� Chris repeated. �You can�t sense him �cause he�s been tied up with �mit rope.�

�No, he�s just got his shields up.� She said, refusing to accept the fact that Chris needed her, or that Jake couldn�t take care of himself.

�A few Dark�s turned on him �cause he�s starting to go a little soft.�

He sounded like he was astounded that his people had turned on their leader, but again her instincts told her to be cautious. In her first meeting with him, she had sensed that he was independent, ruthless, someone that would go to the lengths that he was going to get what he wanted, and she sensed that that was her.

�What do you mean he�s going a little soft?�

Chris sighed. �He�s not as Dark as he should be.�

�Huh?� Nathalie asked. �You gotta be a bit more specific that that.�

�It�s hard to explain to a Light.�

His evasion was telling her that she was tripping him up, that his plan was faltering. �Try, or I�m cutting this off.�

He was silent for a moment, probably trying to think of what to say. �He�s got emotions that he shouldn�t have, guilt, sympathy.� Christopher said, hissing at her.

She laughed out loud. �I know my brother,� Nathalie said. �Cold as ice, that one. Nice try. Bye Chris.� She tried to separate her thoughts from his, but he held on.

�Wait.� He called.

�What? If he�s doing so badly, why don�t you go?�

�They�re watching me pretty good, waiting to turn on anyone at the top. It happens, it hasn�t happened for a few years. It was due. One thing about us is that there�s always someone who wants to be at the top.� He said, she sensed sadness in him. �I can�t help him.�

Nathalie tossed the pillow and blanket to the other side of the window seat angrily, and jumped to her feet. �Damn it!� She cursed herself. Christopher was getting to her. Though her instincts were screaming at her that this was a trap, the absence of Jake in her mind was telling her heart that she didn�t care. �How bad is he hurt?�

�Pretty bad.� He suddenly seemed relieved that she had changed her mind.

She sighed. I�ll just check it out, maybe he�s there, and maybe he�s not.     �Where is he?�

�Northern Greenland. He�s in a cave in the iceberg.� Chris said. �Get him out.� He hesitated, choking on the next word, if it was possible to choke on a telepathic work, that is. �Please.�

Nathalie felt a little more scared and a little more suspicious of this being a trap. Earlier, he had seemed too proud to ask for help and if her was saying �please� then it was serious. She pushed away her feelings with some effort.

�Okay.�

Nathalie crossed her room to the closet and pulled out her winter coat from the very back. It was going to be cold on the glacier. Her mind was screaming �no,� but she ignored it. Jake needed her.

I�m coming Jake!

                                                                          * * *
Christopher brought his thoughts back into his own mind and sighed. �Whew, that was close.� He said.

�But she�s coming?� Ben asked. He had been listening in, but most of the conversation had escaped him.

Christopher nodded. �It was close.� He affirmed. �But, yeah, she�s coming.�

�Shall we go?�

�We shall.�

Together they teleported to the cave that Chris had told Nathalie about. It was a large cavern, full of icy stalactites and stalagmites, and it was cold, silent and lonely.

Christopher picked up the coil of �mit rope from the ledge where he had left it an hour before, and wound it around his hand, feeling his strength weaken, then unwound it and sighed as his powers returned.

�She�ll be here any moment, if only to prove me wrong.� He replied as he checked the knots on the rope. He headed for a ledge where he could see the entire cavern. �I can handle her myself if you want to go.�

He hoped the hint was obvious, but Ben just smiled. Clearly wanting to see the master at work, Ben ducked behind an outcropping out of sight. This is gonna be too easy!

Christopher sighed, raised his shields as high as he could and still be able to sense other�s without being able to be sensed himself. He was starting to get impatient and think that she was not going to come, when a flash signaled Nathalie�s arrival.

She appeared with her back to him, looking frantically around for her �injured� brother. �Jake?� She called. �Jake, where are you?�

Christopher smiled. He looked down to make sure that Ben was crouching out of sight.

�He�s not here.�

Nathalie swung around so fast that she almost fell on the ice at her feet. �Christopher?� She exclaimed, eyes wide. �What�s going on? Where�s Jake.�

�He�s not here.� He said, fingering the rope hidden in his lap as slowly he slid the lasso larger.

�This is a trap.� She said with certainty. She started backing away, breathing hard, arms crossed over her chest.

�Perceptive, aren�t you.� he said. �Too bad it took you so long.� He raised his arms and with a flick of his wrist, sent the coil sailing at her. It landed neatly about her shoulders and pulled tight. After only a moment, her knees began to wobble and she fell.

Christopher jumped forward to catch her, not to aid her, but to finish the job of tying her up. He bound her hands in front of her and secured her arms to her sides. Tying the rope tight enough that her winter jacket was a hindrance, even if she could muster enough strength to try to escape.

�Why are you doing this?� She asked, trying to struggle, though her strength and powers were bound by the rope. �Let me go!�

Christopher laughed at her weak attempts. He reached down and lifted her into his arms. She wiggled hard to try to get free but he tightened his grip enough to hurt her. �Don�t take it personally.� He stepped carefully on the ice, moving toward the place that he had readied for her, a pit eight feet deep, with a spiked floor on one half.

�No, Chris, don�t!� She pleaded, her voice shrill with terror as she turned her head and saw the pit. �Please!�

He sighed. �This �miss innocent� act may work with your brother, but not on me, Nat.� He said coldly.
He stopped at the edge, ears beginning to ring for Nathalie had given up on the pleading and had changed to high-pitched screaming for help, right in his ear. �Have fun.� He waited a moment as her screams escalated and tossed her in. �All too easy.�

She shrieked as a spike speared her arm, another opening a deep gash in her cheek.

He brushed his hands together and headed away. Nathalie yelled again in pain and desperation. �Help! Don�t leave me!�

Christopher retuned to the ledge where Ben was sitting, laughing at Nathalie�s screams. �Nice work.� He said.

Chris comically bowed to Ben. �Thank you, thank you.� He said. �I�m here now till Friday, return engagement.�

�Let�s go.� Ben said, jumping down off the ledge.

�You go,� Chris motioned him away. �I�m gonna stay for the festivities.�

Ben smiled and disappeared in a flash, while Christopher sat back, fingers laced behind his head, and listened to Nathalie�s cries for help.

Music to his ears.