Fighting For My Undead Soul

Chapter 8

Lena's POV

It took a little over an hour before we made it back to town. My right eye had healed completely, though the left one was still blurry. Spencer said it shouldn't matter right now. We weren't expecting a fight, though Cassie and I hadn't expected anything to happen before either. We pulled up to the Oasis and for a second, I was in high school again.

My parents would kill me if they knew where I was going right now, I thought to myself. But I held onto Art's hand and glared at the back of her friend's head. I would do anything right now to prove my worth. Things had been weird between me and Art since she had gotten sick. I wouldn't let this chick come in and shake things up even more.

I felt Cassie's gaze on the side of my face. Probably remembering her own version of that night so many years ago. I didn't return her look, choosing instead to get out of the car and walk to Spencer's side. On the drive here, he explained how he had come across this lead. Besides the fact that hunters and other vampires are our only real threats, he had talked to a friend of his who heard rumors that Valerie and her people were preparing to strike. With everything that had happened with the hunters, we had been weakened and the thought of her and her clan had sort of left our heads. Which is probably exactly what they wanted. Spencer figured they had taken Art to be used as ransom. They wouldn't want a full-on war, so he claimed they wouldn't hurt her permanently, but they have always wanted what the Monticello's have. Power and money. They were going to use her as a bargaining tool.

Cassie joined us as we walked up to the building. Upon entering, I realized the inside hadn't changed. To my left, I spotted the same tables that were situated across the room from the bar. I looked to the dance floor, where people were grinding and making out. It was still daylight outside, but the place was crowded. I recognized a female leaning against the bar, watching us. Brooke. Cassie noticed too, her shoulders instantly squaring. Brooke motioned for us to follow her with her head. Spencer led the way without hesitation, also having noticed her presence. I remembered the hall she took us down. Last time I did so unwillingly. We entered a room with a table and booth, and I saw myself sitting there, tears streaming down my face. Fear for Artemis' life taking control of my young, human body. A ripple of coldness flooded through me, and I shuddered. Here I was again, still fearing for her life.

I wanted to grab Brooke and smash her face into the table. To demand that she tell us where Art is. My hands twitched as I took a step towards her. She wouldn't see me coming with her back to me. I could destroy her within seconds. Hands wrapped around my left arm, pulling me back. My head whipped towards Cassie, anger burning in my eyes. She silently begged me not to make a move. I wanted to ignore her; I was going to. A hand on my right shoulder halted me again. I looked to Spencer this time and his face was firm, but the slight shake of his head was pleading. My eyes roamed over his face, studying his features. His eyes the same colors as hers. His lips the same shape. He wouldn't let them harm her. He wouldn't let them get away with any of this. I stopped moving and their hands slowly retreated. I turned my attention back to Brooke, who was still waiting with her back to us.

My impatience was growing with each second. There was a slight tremble in my body as rage wanted to pour out. Art had been missing for almost two days at this point. I was done playing games and waiting. I wanted her back now. As if I willed it into existence, a door opened in front of us. My heart skipped a beat as I waited to see who walked through. Maybe it was naïve, but the thought that it might be Artemis was at the forefront of my mind. Instead, it was a man. His face was familiar, and I was sure he had been here years ago as well. "Roman," Spencer greeted him, his voice made of stone. Roman flashed him a lazy smile. "What brings you here, Spencer?" his voice sounding bored.

Spencer left my side to walk over to the booth. He sat down, making himself comfortable. "You know why I'm here and you know I'm not leaving without her." Cassie walked over to him, standing protectively over his side. I followed, sitting on the edge of the table, opposite of where Spencer sat. I didn't trust them enough to make myself as vulnerable as Spencer had and I had nowhere near the same skills in combat as I'm sure he possessed. I sat with my arms crossed, glaring at anyone who would make eye contact with me. Fuck you, and you, and you, I thought to myself.

Roman smirked at Spencer's antics and snapped his fingers. Brooke immediately grabbed a chair from the corner of the room and brought it over to him. I snorted out loud, lap dog bitch. She glared in my direction, but stepped back, blending in with the rest of Roman's entourage. "Who are you?" I dared to ask. Roman's attention turned to me. I didn't like the way his eyes roamed from my legs up to my head, like he was picturing my body without clothes on it. His eyes said as much as they met mine and a boyish grin filled his face at having been caught.

I rolled my eyes in disgust and crossed my arms defensively. "I'm Roman, Valerie's twin brother," he answered. He had light brown eyes and the same black hair as she did. I hadn't seen Valerie since that night so long ago, but he did share a lot of qualities with her from what I could remember of her appearance. He was handsome, well, more than handsome. He was fucking hot, but clearly a scumbag if he had a hand in taking my fiancé. The grin didn't leave his face as he waited for me, or anyone else, to speak again. I cursed myself, realizing I may not be hiding my thoughts too well.

I decided to keep breaking the silence, "How long are you planning on making us wait to get her back?" I figured transparency was the best method to use here. No use making small talk and letting them avoid the situation at hand. They had someone we wanted, and they clearly weren't going to give her up right away. Roman kicked his legs out in front of him, crossing his ankles and putting his hands behind his head. "She'll be along when my sister is done playing with her."

I stood to charge at him, but Cassie was a blur moving past me. Her outstretched hand barely grazed Roman's face before she was picked up and slammed into the ground by a man twice her size. He knelt over her, pushing her onto the floor with one hand on her throat. She gasped for air as she clawed at his hands. I was frozen, helplessly watching as the life was choked out of her. I saw Roman glance behind me and the look of amusement on his face vanished. He snapped his fingers and the man let go. Cassie pulled herself onto her hands and knees, still wheezing for air. I rushed to her side, picking her up as she had me hours ago and helped her cross back to our side of the room. My eyes met Spencer's as we moved, and I realized what had rattled Roman. For the first time ever, I saw why Spencer was the one everyone called when they were in trouble. His eyes were dark, clouded with rage. Strands of his light blonde hair had fallen in front of his eyes and onto his cheeks, casting shadows along his face. His jaw was clenched tight and his whole body trembled the tiniest bit as he held himself back.

We reached his side and I gently pushed Cassie to sit at the booth. She was breathing easier now, but I could see purple bruises coating her neck. Spencer didn't move from the spot where he now stood. His glare was unwavering as he sized Roman up, waiting for someone else to make a move. "I don't want a fight, Spencer," Roman said, his palms up in a gesture of peace. "Artemis isn't here. I won't tell you where she is, but I'll tell you where she will be when the time is right."

Spencer chuckled darkly. He turned his head in my direction slightly. He didn't speak, but his eyes were warning me. We were done playing games. They were going to tell us where she was, willingly or not. I quickly looked around the room. There were ten of them and only three of us. I noted one exit, which was the way we entered, and one door that I didn't know where it led to. The room was empty, except for some chairs and the booth and table. I would only be able to rely on my newly heightened abilities. I thought about Artemis and where she might be, what she might be going through. My heart ached to see her face and hear her voice. I longed to make up for all the mistakes I've made the past few months. I nodded to Spencer, readying myself to possibly get my ass kicked.

He started walking towards Roman, Cassie and I flanking his sides. Roman's people stepped up, ready to intercept us. "We want to renegotiate," Spencer said, his fist connecting with someone's face. Everything changed instantly. I moved quickly, dodging attacks as I tried to make my way to Roman. I took an elbow to the face and stumbled back, shaking my head wildly back and forth. I smiled as blood dripped from my mouth, noticing that my blurry eye had finally healed, and stepped back into the fight.