Cassandra's fear choked her, clawing at her throat and making it difficult to swallow. Ferris backed away from Nickolas, grinning. Tossing a last look in her direction, the man left the room.

Cassandra drew a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves. They had to get out of here. She didn't know how, and she wasn't sure if it was even possible, but they had to try. Whoever these people were, that Nickolas had gotten involved with, they weren't going to let their victims live.

"Nickolas?" Her voice was small, weak whisper.

He didn't turn to look at her. His head was bowed low over his chest, and there was blood dripping from his nose. He was breathing so shallowly. What was wrong?

"Nick? Nickolas?" Tears formed in her eyes, and she struggled to keep the sound of them out of her voice. She had to remain calm and collected, quiet. The man in the room with them was doubtless just like Ferris, and they would need all their strength to escape. "Talk to me." He turned his face away.

He blamed her. The realization stung, and she blinked rapidly to keep her tears at bay. If it hadn't been for her, he never would hav been in this situation. Thinking back, she wondered how many things had happened to him as a result of her presence.

Of course, he was right to be angry with her. She was just extra weight that he had to carry around and worry about. She found herself wishing fiercely that their captors would end her life and free him of his obligation.

Rough hands took hold of her arm. The ropes, that bound her wrists, were cut, and she was free. Cassandra barely had time to register the fact before she was jerked out of her chair.

With a strangled gasp, she began to struggle, fighting against the ironlike grip. Raw fear held her tightly. There was nothing Nickolas could do to help her, and it was doubtless he would want to, besides.

"We don't have time for this." The voice was gruff and feminine. "Can you stand?"

Fingers pressed into her flesh, and Cassandra nodded weakly. What was going on? Just like that, her captor released her, moving swiftly to Nickolas's side.

"It's been a long time since I saw you last, Nickolas." The tall figure reached up and jerked off the scarf which had been covering a strikingly beautiful woman. "We don't have much time. I don't know where Granger is: Ferris didn't see fit to give me that information. I only know we have to get out of here while we have the chance." The woman jerked his head up, but there was a gentleness to her touch as she wiped the blood from his face. "I need you to promise me that you're not going to do anything stupid—as in fight me—when I set you free."

"We're not children, Julian." Nickolas's voice was almost inaudible, but Cassandra noted the way his eyes never left the woman's face.

"Perhaps, but that's never stopped you from acting like it before." Julian raised a brow. "Promise?" Nickolas nodded curtly.

A knife flashed, and there was a blur of movement. Cassandra couldn't have taken more than two breaths. She blinked in confusion, swallowing tightly. Where Nickolas had been, Julian was sitting, the rope trapping her in place.

"Nickolas!" Julian squirmed. "We don't have time for this!"

"You're right. You don't." Nickolas smiled.

"You promised." She protested.

"I lied; get used to disappointment." His voice was dry, emotionless.

"You don't understand! Without me, you'll never make it out of here." Desperation fluttered across Julian's features.

"Maybe not, but that doesn't mean I won't try." Nickolas gave the rope one last jerk. "With any luck, Granger and Ferris will rid me of the trouble you inevitably cause me."

"Look, you're in danger!"

"Tell me something I don't already know." Nickolas snorted.

"I want to help you!" Julian was exasperated.

"Hmm, nope, bored now. Bye-bye." Nickolas turned to go, reaching out to take hold of Cassandra's arm.

"You have to trust me, Nickolas! Look, I risked pretty much everything to get put on this team. Do you think we weren't scrutinized for months after you disappeared? Granger couldn't believe that only one of us had turned, and he was on the hunt for the blood of anyone who agreed with you." Julian was already struggling with her bonds. "You blew your cover, all right? Whatever happened in that village—those men you beat—Granger knew it was you. Now that he knows you're alive, he'll come for you no matter the cost."

Cassandra looked up at Nickolas, and saw the emotions flash across his features, betraying the truth. He had knowingly blown his cover to save her. Whatever mess he was in, it really was all her fault. He'd fought to save her, endangering himself at the same time.

"You're going to have to trust me, and we're going to have to work together on this one if we both want to get out alive." Julian hissed

"What's in it for you?" Nickolas half turned back, folding his arms nonchalantly across his muscled chest. It was a power move: he was toying with Julian, letting her know he was completely in control of the situation. "I don't recall you being self-sacrificing. Don't tell me thoughts of the past are making you sentimental."

Julian released a humorless bark of laughter. "No, I'm doing all this for myself. You're not the only one who wants out. I was young and stupid when Granger recruited me. I'm exhausted with the whole thing now. I didn't sign up to fight you; that's a battle I wouldn't win, and I know it. And unless you haven't noticed, I'm not exactly ready to die yet."

"Keep talking." Nickolas turned the rest of the way around to face her. "What do you have to offer me?"

"Cut me loose." She raised a brow.

Nickolas half shrugged, flicking the knife out of one of his sleeves and proceeding to cut her bonds. "One wrong move, and I'll slit that lovely throat." He smiled, his voice even, almost gentle. Cassandra detected an underlying threat in his voice, however. "And I mean one. I'm not particularly well-acquainted with mercy."

"Obviously." Julian stood up quickly, shaking off the ropes. She was seemingly unaffected by the threat, but in the dim light, Cassandra could just make out the beads of sweat beginning to form on the girl's upper lip. "Now, let's move. I'll tell you what I know as we go."

The statement left no room for question, and Julian began to quickly walk the opposite was from the door they'd entered. Cassandra swallowed tightly, confusion crushing her. Whatever was going on here was so far beyond bigger than she could have ever imagined. She felt small and insignificant, and she didn't know what she was supposed to do.

"Come on." Nickolas's voice was gentle, and his hand closed around hers. "Whatever happens now, stay close to me." He squeezed her hand gently.

"Hurry." Julian's voice cut through the growing darkness. There was a crack and then the creaking sound of old hinges. "This is the only way out without being seen."

The sound of swift footsteps descending a ladder met Cassandra's ears. Sweat began to form on her forehead and upper lip. Surely, there was another way. Going down a ladder in the dark wasn't exactly her idea of fun.

Nickolas squeezed her fingers gently, as if sensing her unease. "We'll be right in front of you."

She let him go reluctantly and listened to his footsteps on the ladder rungs. There was no other way. If she stayed here, they'd be caught, and they would never get another chance to escape. Swallowing, she tried to rally her determination, but her fear struggled fiercely within her.

Chagrin suddenly washed over her. She was showing herself to be a coward in front of Nickolas—who was afraid of nothing and no one. Whoever this Julian was, she and Nickolas had a past of some sort, and Cassandra could understand why. They were both fearless and strong.

She knew then that there was no chance of Nickolas returning her feelings. The idea donned on her as clearly as if she could see it standing there in front of her. To him, she was nothing but a spoiled, silly girl that was in constant need of his assistance.

She sat down heavily in the darkness and slid to the edge of the hole. She was going to do this, and maybe, just maybe, if Nickolas saw that she could be strong and brave, he would like her half as much as she was beginning to realize she liked him.

The first step was difficult. Stepping out into the dark nothingness, she could only trust that her foot would find purchase. With the firm ladder rung beneath her foot, however, she found herself rallying. She didn't have time to be scared right now. All the same, she was only too happy to have her feet on solid ground.

"This way." Julian's voice was slightly off-putting in the pitch black.

Nickolas's hand closed over hers, and he began pulling her along. Her natural caution made her tense at the quick pace they were moving without checking their surroundings. Nickolas's thumb gently traced a pattern on the back of her hand, and she realized she'd been clutching his fingers as though they were her lifeline.

"All right, Julian. Talk." Nickolas's voice was quiet, but there was an edge to it.

"Really, Nickolas? Right now? We're running for our lives if you hadn't noticed." Julian said.

"Yes, right now. Either we'll all in now, or we're all out, and you're on your own. I don't want there to be any chance for you to get greedy and betray me." Nickolas said frankly. "Plus, I need to know what's going on, and who's to say we'll have time when we get out of this place?"

"Fine, but I told you: I need your help. Why would I betray you after that confession?" If someone could audibly roll their eyes, Julian was doing it.

"It wouldn't be the first time. Now, start talking." Nickolas's tone left no room for argument.

"Granger started getting antsy after you. . .left. His work started getting sloppier, and you could see the desire in his eyes every time he talked to you. He's getting close to making his move, and it's driving him close to madness that he's almost done with this whole revenge thing." Julian's whisper was loud in the close darkness.

"Oh, Granger will never be done, Julian. Haven't you figured that out yet?" Nickolas said.

"I know. At this point, I'm beginning to think he plans to take over England entirely. His influence is spreading, and he's sinking his claws into as many powerful people as he can find. He has an army, Nickolas. It's not just a handful of skilled assassins anymore. He's setting the country up to fall right into his waiting hands." Julian's voice betrayed her worry.

"Damn." Nickolas hissed. "I thought we'd have more time."

————————————–——

This chapter kept stretching on and on, so I decided to cut it in half. They're both pretty short installments, but I figured that was better than overwhelming you with a huge amount to read.

So they're free. Do you trust Julian? What do you think of her? What sort of past do you think she and Nickolas have? How will that affect Cassandra and his 'relationship'? What do you think will happen next?

I hope to have the next installment of this chapter up by tomorrow or the day after. I'm having a bit of a 'break week', so I should be able to do a lot of writing. I'm pretty excited! I want to get a lot of chapters written so I have plenty of material to post. I would like to finish this book before the end of June, but I guess there's no telling. When I look at my outline, I realize there's still so much left to be written, and I wonder if it's stretching on too long. . .I hope not. . .Anyway, I'll let you go now! Happy reading!