CHAPTER ELEVEN

 "Steven! Away from the employees and change your clothes!" a harsh, older voice barked from behind me. I jumped and felt Steven's fangs slightly puncture my neck.

 Steven quickly stepped back, after lingering over my blood, looking like a little boy with his fingers caught in the cookie jar. He quickly changed his posture to one that's waiting for a command. I turned around to see someone not much older than Steven and myself.

 "Please pardon Stevens... rudeness. Did he take any blood or anything else?" The man asked, all harshness gone from his voice. His manservant came up from behind him and came swiftly towards my neck.

 I jumped back - not wanting to trust this interesting looking man or his interesting looking manservant - straight into Steven. I felt the coolness of the slushy and his skin and jumped to the side. Both of them reached out to me when the man finally intervened.

 "Steven, go change your clothes. Mark, come back here, you're scaring the lass," was what he coldly interjected. Steven gave another glance at my neck and went towards the restrooms. The butler - Mark - went back behind the guy.

 "To whom am I addressing this apology?" he asked with interest.

 "To whom am I thanking?" I warily asked back.

 "Ahh, a girl who knows how to show her mind. Come with me on a walk, you have some time before they decide who to eliminate,"

 I hesitantly followed as Steven came up in just shorts looking pissed off. I didn't think that he would have that nice of a body. I looked him over, noticing scars in various places. Now, at least, he had lost his tail - but his eyes still had a golden glow.

 "Come come, lady. Pay no attention to him," I passed Steven, still nervous but nearly salivating, and walked outside with "the leader."

 "Did you know that Steven's wanted to meet you for some time now?" he asked, surprising me. I looked back and Steven was keeping his eyes averted.

 "No I did not know this," I said back in a casual matter.

 "Did you also know that you are severely wanted in the supernatural world?" he asked just as casual.

 "Yes, that's why I'm living up here: to try and stay away from all of you. Why are you asking me anyways?"

 "I forgot to tell you; my name is Jericho Dante," he evaded.

 "Well, Jericho, will you answer my question?"

 "Only after you tell me your name," he looked slyly over at me.

 "It's Jessabella Stergin," Steven made the same mistake that Greg made, and got an evil looking glare.

 "Well, Jessabella, what I know you don't know is that Steven is my servant, my plaything, if you will. I can tell him to do anything,"

 "Nice to know," I told him, unsure of where the conversation was going.

 "I could tell him to seduce you, kidnap you, or kill you," Steven looked extremely uncertain and sad at that part.

 "Are you trying to blackmail me?" I asked him, bristling up at the thought.

 "No, I'm just naming the possibilities," he tried to assure me.

 "Well I don't like the "possibilities" so far," I told him back. He stopped walking and grabbed my arm. Quickly he dragged me to him until we were centimeters apart.

 "I can make you the owner of him, if I want. I can have him protect you. I can have him please you in every way pleasurable. I can make him your messenger boy," I didn't like the thought of having a slave, or having another roommate.

 "Well I thank you for your offer, Mr. Dante, but I decline your interesting offer," 

 "It wasn't an offer, it was a request. And a request from the leader of the WeiVie clan," Mark said coldly and harshly behind me. I picked off the silver dots on my neck that were my dried blood.

 "That's beautiful," Jericho murmured, his eyes lighting up. "What is it?"

 "My blood," I told him, putting the dots in a small bag. Soon they would turn into pure silver and I could work with them.

 "May I see it?" he asked, nodding towards my little bag of silver. I fisted my hand around it.

 "Sorry Mr. Dante, but I'm going to use this for a special reason,"

 "May I have just one then?" I gently tossed the bag into the air and caught it a couple of times, thinking and listening to the gentle clinking. I looked at Jericho's face again and thought that it'd be better not to anger him.

 I picked out a medium-sixed chunk of silver and held it out to him in the middle of my palm. With greedy interest, he took it and viewed it from every angle. I looked at an outside clock, seeing if I would have time to eat, or at least drink.

 "You never answered my earlier question," came Jericho's voice.

 "Pardon?" I asked, coming out of my thoughts.

 "If Steven took blood or anything else from you. I suspect he did, your power doesn’t seem quite your own,"

 "That's because it isn't,"

 "Well, you have my permission to take whatever back, with interest," he said pleasingly. I looked at Steven who returned an interested look back.

 Putting my blood-made silver into my pocket, I walked up to him and stopped. Up close I could see the tones of his muscles better - he was one trimmed, fit, fine man. He read my thoughts with my own power and smiled. I growled and stood slightly on my tip toes to kiss him.

 Instantly my power started flowing back to me through his lips. He took the time of my frozen stature to wrap his fingers into my back belt loops and bend down so I was flat footed. He pulled me close into a deeper kiss as I took more of my power from him. Soon, though, my power was out of him and I started taking from his power.

 Quickly he took his fingers out of my belt loops and backed up a step, breaking our connection. I stepped with him and wrapped my arms around his neck to keep him bent forward enough to make our lips touch again.

 Painfully he dug his nails through my uniform into my lower back as he started breathing harder. In return, I dug my nails into his neck. He moaned and started shaking, and bit my lip. I broke the kiss before he could get much blood.

 He kept his nails in me as be bent forward to lightly kiss my bad cheek. I growled and dug in my nails deeper. He hissed and slightly pulled away, taking out his own nails.

 Out of courtesy, I took out my nails and he took a step back. I licked his blood off of my fingers as Jericho talked again.

 "I think the debt is repaid, but for this, I still owe you," he lifted up the silver. "You're defiantly not human, Jessabella Stergin," he murmured as I walked back to the college.

CHAPTER TWELVE

 "The two finalists are..." Sensei let it hang in the air as she grandly opened an envelope. "Derek Koster and," she let it hang again as she opened another envelope. "And Jessabella Stergin! Congrats, you will have ten minutes to prep and make sure you have all of your items,"

 I let out a big whoosh of air I was holding in as Chris came up behind me. I looked at him and noticed he was a bit pale.

 "Are you all right Chris?" I asked, stepping up to him.

 "Hmm? Oh, yeah, I'm fine, just a bit tired, a bit under-powered, and hungry," he told me in a distracted, humorous manner. I smiled sweetly and stepped forward, closing the gap between us. In one small, sweet motion, I put a hand on either cheek and pulled him down to me. I gently kissed him, giving him back his powers.

 When he stood straight again, he looked renewed and refreshed. Slowly and savoringly he licked his lips.

 "Mmm, lilacs," he mumbled. I licked my lips and let the spicy sweet flavor settle in my mouth.

 "Mmm, sweet peppers," I mumbled before I thought at nearly the same time. We both looked at each other and smiled.

 "You shouldn't have done that, you need your energy," he told me, stepping forward.

 "I got mine back," I told him, not moving. "Anyways, you need your strength if you're coming to school tomorrow." Gently he ran his fingertips down my good cheek and over my shoulder. Softly, he leaned forward, and I backed up ever so slightly, getting a brain rush.

 "I should go get my prep done though," he froze, looking vaguely disappointed.

 "You should," he agreed, and stood back. Hesitantly, I went and got my stuff from my table to move to the finalists table.

 In my same halfway paranoid manner, I set all the knives in the order that they would be used. Next, I checked to make sure that all of my ingredients were fresh and healthy.

 I felt a tug on one of my house spells and I entered the mind of Jeremiah. I read that he felt horrible and wanted to leave.

 'Nuh-uh. You'd better stay there in that house Jeremiah Josh. I've got some  things to ask you,' I scolded him.

 'Jess, are you all right? The spells on the house got weak so I'm coming to where you are,'

 'They're fine now, aern't they? Just stay there, I'm coming home within an hour.'

 'I'm still coming, I havn't seen your beautiful face for too long,' I  blushed at this, not being able to hide it as his overwhelming emotions came rushing at me.

SIXTH COURSE

 "The fifth and final course is an apple dessert preformed and presented in your own way. Contestants have three minutes to ready,"

 I calmed myself: no use getting cut. I untied my apron, sending magic through me to mend where Steven's fingers broke through the cloth. Quickly, smoothly and carefuly, I got out the cerimonial knives. I gave them one more wipe down and put them in the seaths that I put around my waist. This process was more for looks than for work.

 I pitted an apple, leaving on the bottom so it could get properly filled. I got out a pot and drizzled in a bit of apple juice, then two and a half times the ammount of cherry juice. I waited for the small pot to boil as I put in cinnamon and nutmeg.

 My contender, Derek, was rushing through his tasks. I was afraid for his helper, who happened to be Chris. As Chris held up the apple, Derek swung a long cerimonial blade up to it. The cuts were close to Chris's hand, but none cut him.

 On the last cut, the one that seperated the blossom from the apple, Derek cut all along Chris's knuckles. The apple immeadiatly dropped from his hand and he curled around his wound.

 'Keep it away from your body,' I told him through telepathy, he held out his heavily bleeding hand. I murmured a healing spell, sending it towards him.

 As I was doing this, I put nutmeg, cinnamon and a bit of brown sugar into the cavity in the apples. Gently I set it in the pot, drizzling a bit more cherry juice into it again.

 I waited a few moments for the apple to soften just a bit, glancing over at Chris from time to time. I took out the apple, careful to leave the spices in it, and put it a bit more brown sugar into the pot to make it into a sauce. As it thickened, I got out a specially-made knife with a double pointed gouge at the end.

 Carefully I cut the apple skin off, leaving the bottom on so it flares out, in an alternating swirl pattern for both apples. Skin, meat, skin, meat. I drizzled the thickened sauce onto, into, and around the apple. Lastly I cut, with the swirls, nearly down to the bottom so it would flare out.

 I grabbed a light, sweet wine, and looked around for a cup. I sensed that the person waiting was getting impatiant quickly. I slid the plate down the long table as I followed it, balancing the second plate with one arm and wine and two glasses with the other.

 Jericho looked shocked as the plate stopped directly infront of him. I set one glass on his right side and plesantly asked; "Wine, Sir?"

 He gave the go-ahead and I poured a nearly-generous serving. He looked quizzicaly at the apple and delicatly cut it, looking up ay Derek to see how far along he was.

 I went to the other represenative and set the dessert infront of her, asking if she would like wine. She denied and  I stood back and gave them space as Derek came with his apple dessert.

 Chris stood behind me and I felt his bulk warmth again. Derek nervously set his dessert infront of the represenatives and backed up to where we were. Chris moved inbetween us as if me and Derek would start fighting.

 I ignored this and payed attention to the represenatives. They had looks of interest on their faces and were harshly scrutenizing the desserts. I glanced at the clock and nearly gaped. It was already 9:30. Sensei Miorie noticed the same thing, and spoke through the micorphone.

 "Students, you may leave. The results will be posted by wednesday." The waiting students all groaned and I went to my orignal table to clean up.

 Gently I wrapped up all my ingrediants and stored them away while the janitor shut off the major lights. As a habit, I cleaned and put away my knives. Then I put all of my dirty dishes in the back sink and wiped down my table. While I was sanatizing somebody came behind me.

 I froze, waiting untill I reconized a  dim, black aura as Jeremiah wrapped his strong arms gently around my waist.

 "I'm so sorry Luv," he murmured, softly digging his nose into my neck. "I never meant to drink from you, I swear. I just didn't have enough power and my instincts took over," he started swaying from side to side, making me move with him. I felt the swish from his trench coat as I put my hands over his.

 "It's fine Jeremiah, don't worry," I reassured him, calmed by the smooth motions of his rocking. I leaned my head back on his shoulder, closing my eyes. He froze, taking a deep breath of me.

 "You smell alien," he growled, squeezing me.

 "That's because I've been here for a few hours," I told him, gripping his forearms in a warning gesture.

 "It's more than just skin deep," he said, relaxing his body but not his voice.

 "I'm fine, my power is back, and I need to get home. No more talking about this anymore. Why did you leave Sanora  at the house alone?" I asked him, changing gears in the conversation.

 "I'm not alone at the house," she said from my side. I rolled my closed eyes.

 "Did you lock the door?"

 "No, we're a completly stupid, old, generation and we know nothing about locks and the danger of nowadays," Jeremiah splease don't use racial slursed sarcasticaly into my neck and hugged me tighter.

 "You keep squeezing her like that and her head will pop off," Jericho said, standing infront of my table with his croonies behind him. I lifted my head as Steven glared at us - I shivered, moving more into Jeremiah. Steven seemed nice enough, but when he got mad and glareful, he gave me the severe creeps.

 Jeremiah moved his arms from casually around my hips to one protectivly around the front of my hips and the other up to my shoulder as Sanora spoke.

 "That'd be interesting to watch," I growled and started to go into her mind, she shyed away.

  "Not to you, of course, I've pledged my loyalty, power, and skills to you. It would be interesting if I could pop off... His, head," she said, pointing to Steven, who in turned growled.

 "We are NOT about to have a fight here," I hissed, holding Jeremiah's arms that were, in turn, holding me.

 "C'mon, Bell, I'm a trained assassian, I can kill them before they can blink. Especially since that one keeps glaring so evilly at you. You're sure that I can't kill him," she asked.

 "Positive," I told her back quickly in a deadly tone.

 "I shall see you again," Jericho promised as Mark came forward.

 Jeremiah growled and he stopped a few feet away. With a move I hardly saw, he pulled out a card and held it out to me. Cautiously I took it and Mark bowed over my hand.

 With a grand bow from Jericho, and a small bow from Steven, they left. When they were finally out of my sight, I relaxed back into Jeremiah.

 "Those are two of the scents on you. Who and where are the other ones?" he asked me, his grip going back to a soft, easy hug.

 "How should I know?" I asked back. I went on tiredly. "I'm not their owner or anything," I hated being tired and hungry, it made me agitated.

"Come on luv. We'll go home, I'll fill you up a bath and show you what real healing is like," Jeremiah told me alluringly.

 I smiled and unwrapped his arms from me. He looked at me shocked and I waved the bleach coated rag. He shook his head and smiled as I went to the dark back of the kitchen again. I sensed something with a brownish aura.

 I started looking around, focusing all my evergy on that odd brown aura. I pinpointed it and grabbed the towel as someone grabbed me. I jumped and twirled, nails long and sharp in defense mode.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

 Jeremiah smiled at me slyly and sexily and I growled.

 "You dummy, I was trying to find something," I went past him as he raised his eyebrows questingly.

 "I didn't mean to scare you. I thought you were made of more than other girls," he chuckled. I strode back towards him and pushed him against the wall.

 "I am made more differently than other girls. I was going to show you how different I was when we got home. Now, thanks to you, my energy's spent up, and I'm in a bad mood," I stepped away from him, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

 "You're not getting out of your "was" that easily, luv. I'll carry you home if I have to," he whispered devishly.

 "Please don't," I told him, looking up at him. His, smiling, rueful look dissapeared, replaced with a serious, deep one.

 "Kiss me," he whispered. I lightly shook my head.

 "Please? If you have any type of emotion, any hint for me, kiss me," I stared for a few seconds into his longing deep blue eyes. After a few seconds more, he sighed and let go of me, closing his eyes and turning to leave.

 Knowing that I would loose my chance soon, I streched up, gently grabbed his face between my hands. I turned him towards me, softly pulled him lower and lightly kissed his lips. He turned the rest of his body backed towards me, resting his hands by the small of my back and deepening the kiss. The feeling of love and lust from before reawakened and I moved to wrap my arms around his neck.

 There was a bright flare of purpleish brown, then green and an arm wrapped around my waist, yanking me back. Jeremiah yelled and I was lost in a dark swirling forest, trapped in my own mind.

****************************************

 "I think she's waking up. Go fetch the master," I heard a sadly familiar evil voice, immeadiatly reconizing it.

 "Didn't I already kill you?" I growled at the torturer.

 "Alas, you did, good jerks die hard. Strong girls don't like getting collared either, I guess,"

 I opened my eyes and looked down at my body. Firstly, I was in only my sports bra and running shorts. Secondly, there were cuffs on me, but no chains. I quizzicaly moved my arms, meeting no resistance. Quickly I threw out a punch, the cuff freezing inches before I would've hit his face. The cuffs on my wrists and ankles pulled apart, splaying me out like a starfish.

 "All you had to do was stay away from other guys, or stay by me, or just acknowlage me in my human form. But a dumb b**** like you wouldn't be able to understand," said an awfully familiar voice. He came and  stood directly infront of me.

 "Derek. You're the one that's been harassing me and trying to get to me?" the purple aura was definatly stronger than the brown now. He shifted into the handsomly dark and scarily mystifying harasser that I knew from a few years ago.

 "The one and only my white princess," he lightly dragged his fingertips over the cuts on my cheek (that I now know he made). I moved my face away, hissing at him.

 "That's not a way to treat your owner," he murmered softly to me, coming closer. I growled at him.

 "The only time that I'll be even remotly owned is if I marry, and I'll never marry someone like you," I hated this. The extreme lust but extreme fear I felt for him. With my arms being immobile I did what I could - I headbutted him. He slapped my bad cheek and backed up.

 "I try and be nice, and how am I repayed? Headbutted!" before one of his servants could reply, I did.

 "I don't know of any culture where being left unhealed and cuffed is considered nice," he turned towards me again.

 "I still havn't been able to teach you your lesson about respect, have I?" as he said this, the torturer gave him a knife. I fisted my hands - I was not going to scream for this jerk.

 "Do you know the most effective and oldest form of torture? It's the chinese papercut torture. The chinese would keep their victoms alive for hours, withering in pain, untill they said what they wanted to. After that, they just let the victom die in agony," as he was saying this he rested the blade on the top of my upper arm. I watched with my teeth gritted as he made a long, shallow cut.

 "I truly don't want to do this, but you have no respect for the higher powers," he handed the knife to the torturer and whispered. "Do it quick,"

 My cuffs streched my body to the limit as Derek sat and the torturer came towards me. He did do it quick - the cuts were long and an inch apart all down both of my arms and the outside of my legs.

 While he did this, I stayed quiet. My teeth were sharpening and my nails were growing and hardening, though. I couldn't heal myself either, it was silver he was using.

 "You must be in unbearable pain and yet you stay quiet? All I want to hear from you is a scream. Many other lords would declair more," I glared at Derek untill he uncomfortably looked away.

 "Next stage then," he murmured. The torturer went to an old box and got out a coil of something black. I felt myself pale when he uncurled the whip.

 I heard the crack and felt searing pain, but I wouldn't make a noise. It felt like he was spacing the whip cuts apart the same ammount as the ones on my arms. When he was halfway down my back, the cuts started curling around almost to my belly. I felt tears fall from my eyes, one falling and stinging into my cut.

 Each whip crack drained from my powers and brought me closer to screaming. When he reached the bottom of my back, I finally did. There were too many scars and the hardly-healed wounds from Steven. The whip stopped and Derek came forward. Gently he put a hand on my tear stained, and cut cheek.

 "That was all you had to do," he softly kissed me, sending a tingling power through me.