The Midnight Within

Chapter 33

Jack hated Goth bars, hated the fake angst of the posers who dressed up in black and bemoaned their fate. He loathed the street trash with the older men who were more than happy to pick up willing flesh with a drink and a wad of cash. They had no clue what real pain was. To have your life ripped apart so heartlessly by another, but Jack was a fighter and no matter what was thrown at him he would always come out on top.

The ice in his drink had melted and he was forced to turn down three different offers before the clock had even stuck midnight. What he really wanted was to go home but his intuition had told him to stick it out and it didn't take much longer for the gutter punk and his overweight friend to come through the door. He watched them get their drinks and head into the mingling crowd by the dance floor.

Making sure to keep his back to them he stayed seated at the long bar against the wall watching the double doors open and close at least another dozen times. It gave him time to think about his past to remember things he didn't want to think about. Like the doctor's wife who had been on the run after the war. Her husband claimed to be a vet so he could get a job with the circus that Jack's family ran. It didn't take Jack long to fall in love with the mysterious Jade, and like a spider caught in a web he was soon be spending every night with her.

Then fate raised its ugly head and Jack found himself robbed by thugs outside a bar one evening after he had taken that days take to the bank and ended up at the only tavern in town. Left to die in the muddy street he could hardly remember what had happed to him. All he knew was that Jade had appeared and scooped him up, taking him someplace close. He never knew why she had spared his life that night. He suspected it was more about his money than her love for him. She revealed her true face to him, embracing him right then and there.

He awoke fully healed, starving and horrified by what she had done to him. He couldn't return to life he knew it and had rejected the life she had forced on him. He couldn't stand to look at her and eventually fled. He crossed continents until he found Ming in some small forgotten village in the mountains of Japan. Ming offered to help him, but it would be at a steep cost. She warned him that he could even die and to Jack death was better than being the monster he was. He accepted her offer and never looked back.

" This is the last time. "

Jack looked up, the smile dropping from his face. " Perhaps. What took you so long? "

" I like to take my time. " Black leaned his back against the bar, his eyes on the dancing throng.

" I'm not paying to take your time. " Jack took an envelope from his jacket pocket, setting it on the counter next to his drink. Inside the envelope was a phone and ten thousand dollars in cash.

" And if I don't finish the job? "

" You owe me Sebastian. You owe me for years of paying off other people to keep their mouths shut. For you all the time I spent cleaning up that mess you made and loss of my top earner. "

" We both know who killed Katia. " Black's voice was hard and flat.

" And she was dealt with. Too bad you didn't get to witness it, although I could make sure you suffer the same fate. It would be easy. " To make his point Jack held his palm up and a tiny blue flame sparked to life. " Now go and do what you do best. "

Black picked up the envelope, the smile gone from his face. " Take care of your problems? "

" If that's how you want to look at it then yes. "

" Like that girl and her friends in California? "

" Now that was interesting." Jack downed his drink and pushed off from the bar, never looking directly at Black or either of the twins. " Just make it quick and for gods sake, don't leave any evidence like the last time. I had a hell of a time dealing with the press, thank god they blamed they all blamed that commune leader up in the hills. "

" What about his friends."

" Do what you want with them. "

Jack tossed a few crisp bills down onto the marble bar top, It was unlike him to think so much about his past but seeing them made his realized that sometimes you just couldn't keep your skeletons in the closet. He put on his coat, gave them a curt nod and walked away from the bar. Black watched him go, feeling a mix of hate and amusement. He turned his attention to the dance floor and caught sight of Daniel bounding up the stairs to the second level. How this skinny punk could be a threat was beyond him but he now had a job to do. Nodding at Shatter and broken he pushed himself off from the bar. It was time to have some fun.

Jack made his way to the door. He thought about going home but he had a lot to do at the office and one more client to meet that night, He hated the fact that goblins always seemed to want to meet after midnight and always wanted him to find them babies but sometimes you had to do nasty things to make it in this world. Pulling out his phone, he was looking down when someone shoved the door open, running right into him. He grabbed her arms, his dark eyes searching her face. Either this was complete coincidence or his boys had been having some fun before their meeting.

" Well, if it's not my favorite artist. " Mia looked flushed and in no mood for small talk. In fact she looked worked over. He grinned down at her, his hands holding her arms. She had to be here for Daniel and it made him wonder what Black had done.

" I'm sorry. Jack. I didn't See you there. " Mia forced a smile, her eyes moving over the crowd behind them.

He wanted to laugh, knowing that she was there to look for Daniel. He wondered if she knew Black and the twins were here as well. Maybe it would be in his best interest to stay and watch the fireworks, but he had a goblin king to deal with and although he wanted to stay he couldn't.

" You really need to call me. I have something I want you to paint. It will be worth your time." He pulled a card from his pocket, his eyes shining. " Maybe we should go for drinks? Not here of course, it's about to get crazy. My bar is just down the street if you have a bit. I knew your father back in the day, I bet you don't remember that. "

Mia's face whitened even more. " I remember and no, I won't ever work with you. Now if you excuse me. "

" You don't want to go in there, trust me. It's going to be a real bloodbath. " Jack grinned down at her, loving the look on her face. She was going in no matter what he said.

" I have to and so help me god if I find out you are behind this then your time is up. "

" It's your funeral. " He lifted her hand to his lips, kissing it before releasing his grip on her.

" You son of a bitch! " Mia slapped him. " You did this, you brought these bastards here! Did they kill Nick so you could frame Daniel? "

" They had nothing to do with the gutter punk murdering his step father. He did that in cold blood. And my boys are here just for the clean up. I wouldn't try to stop them if I was you. "

Mia's panic was back as her mind raced. Could Jack be telling her the truth? And if so then what kind of monster was Jack? And how much time did she actually have? She didn't say another word as she shoved past him, fuming and scared shitless. She had to find Daniel and Zakk before the vampires did.