Chapter 25: Battle Plans.

Three days.

Three long days.

72 painful hours.

I banged my head against the wall for what felt like the hundredth time since that god awful moment in the Chamber. "We have decided to let you stay" They said. "We all need to stick together if we are to survive" They said. But I bet when they said 'survive' they didn't count me in the equation as I was slowly gulping down water and oxygen like I hadn't seen them in years or left the glorious cool liquid flow down my throat, soothing the burn. This was not survival, I should have just sacrificed myself in the first place.

"Britney get your butt back here." Eliza scolded me as she poked out her hip and crossed her arms. I hadn't seen Marco in days and I only think I saw Logan when he came into the bedroom at night but I couldn't be sure since I was partly asleep and he was gone by the morning. Instead I have spent my time learning how to defend myself once again – which, as it did before, ended with Eliza kicking my butt and throwing me around like a sack of potatoes. I didn't understand what I was doing wrong. She said hold your hands up, I held my hands up. She said punch, I punched – rather accurately I might add. But she always seem to flip me over on my back with enough force to wind me every time.

"I can't." I puffed and took another long sip of my water. Sweat was dripping down my body at a disgusting rate as if I was some guy.

"Why not?"

"Because the dead don't walk."

"Stop being so dramatic," She rolled her eyes at me and started walking over towards me. Oh god that was worse. I should run. But to run I needed to be able to move my legs, this was problematic. "Now, get up and keep trying."

"I think I'm good."

The door opened with a loud bang making us both jump. "Britney, your needed in the chamber." Dustan informed me as he entered the room further. I looked at the vampire with wide eyes and a partly worried expression.

"Why?" I asked hesitantly.

"I don't make the rules Britney."

"You don't make anything do you?" Eliza counted as she flipped a small dagger in her hand and placed it back in her belt.

"Eliza, shut up." Dustan scolded her with a firm tone that surprised both me and Eliza. Dustan noted our surprise but he didn't make a move to explain himself as he turned his attention to me. "Now Britney."

I nodded my head mindlessly followed Dustan over towards the Camber entrance, the entire time in complete silence. I looked up towards Dustan as his stern expression was set and I suddenly realized what was wrong. "You were there in the camber." I started catching his attention and making him stop dead in his tracks, but he still wasn't looking at me. "When that fight broke out between the werewolves and the vampires?"

Dustan slowly turned to me and I saw the differences in his appearance. He had bittin into a werewolf recently, the blood boil under his skin, his fore head was no longer frowned and his top lip was no longer curled up to reveal his sharp canines. Hi eyes tho, his eyes were black with the red and blue veins in his eyes glowing through the darkness like neon lights. It was frightening beyond belief.

"What happened to your eyes?" I asked him reaching up and placing my hand on his cheek as I looked into his eyes.

"It's the blood Britney." He started to explain. "Werewolf blood isn't something all vampires can handle, it's different."

"Different how?"

"Their supernatural creatures like us, their venom shots through you and makes you veins glow just like this." He pointed towards his eyes. "One taste and you can become addicted to the stuff, but if you go back for a second taste, you usually don't survive long enough to taste the bitter liquid on your lips."

"So it will go away?" I asked him wanting to find out if he was okay.

"I'm struggling with it, that's why Marco has kept me away."

"Is there anything that you can do? To stop it, I mean?"

Dustan chuckled and reached out to me, wrapping his arm around my shoulder and pulling me into a hug. "No Britney, nothing." He hugged me tight. "But don't worry, I'll be here to keep an eye on you for a long time to come."

"Good." I pulled back and smiled at him. "Now, as for this Camber meeting, I really don't think I want to go." I told him, spinning around, facing the way we came and started to walk back towards Eliza.

"Oh no you don't." Dustan made a grab for me, grabbing my hand he pulled me back towards the Camber door.

"No!" I screamed. "Let me go!"

I felt a strong arm around my waist before I was suddenly lifted up off the ground and thrown over someone's shoulder against my will. "I've got her from here Dustan." Logan's voice ordered as he whirled around with me on his shoulder and kicked open the Camber doors.

"Put me down Logan!" I hit his back trying to b=get my point across.

"This brings back memories doesn't it?" He chuckled as he jumped, repositioning me on his shoulder.

"Of your kidnaping days?" I questioned, "Yes, yes it does."

He laughed deeply this time. Spinning me around he started laughing so hard my body shook before he stopped and lowered me back down on my own two feet. He ran his thumb over my knuckles and drew me in to his arms. "You know something?" he started.

"I know many things my un-noble kidnapper." I smiled as I faced him, looking up into his perfect eyes.

"Did you know that," he started again as he cuddled me in his arms and kissed my forehead. "If I had the chance, I would kidnap you all over again."

"I don't know wether to say thank-you, or to file for a restraining order." I giggled as he kissed my neck.

"Thank-you, will do just fine." He muttered against my neck.

I looked back over my shoulder to see the rest of the Chamber, practically empty except for the small collection people standing around the long table on the stage – their attention was completely focused on the task at hand, and whatever was laid out on the table. "What's going on?"

"Nothing." He waved off my concern. "So are you giving Dustan trouble?"

"No of course not, now stop changing the subject." I playfully hit his chest. "Now what is going on?"

Logan took a deep breath. "They wanted to ask you a few questions about the inside of the castle."

"Their planning something?"

Logan nodded slowly.

I nodded in understanding and made my way over toward the gathering by the table. There was a representative from each class of the underground but there was some people who stood more than others. I smiled as I walked up towards then, right past Marco and into Kyle's arms. The tall elf hugged me back with a wide smile spread across his features.

"It's been a long time Britney." He whispered near my ear.

"I've missed your company." I beamed at him.

"I trust Logan has been on his best behaviour?" he asked as he looked over my shoulder at Logan, who was standing rather close.

"Yeah, he's been okay." I smiled.

I looked to the side and found Conner leaning over the table listening intently at what Marco was saying and Lena standing supportively by his side with her hand on his back. I smiled at the two of them as I started to walk over and quickly leant in to hug Lena.

"How have you been Britney?"

"Good. I am so glad you're here."

"I wouldn't say that just yet." Marco quickly interjected. "Britney, can you help us?"

"I can try. I never really got to explore the castle too much." I answered honestly.

"Did you go to the gardens?"

"All the time, it was the one place I was allowed to go."

"Good. I need you to try and remember where the statues were."

"Oh, uh okay." I tried to rack my brain for the useful information but was coming up short.

"Anything?" Marco pressed me

"I'm trying?"

"Try harder Brit." He demanded in a tone I wasn't used too. He was becoming impatient, the stress of the impending war was beginning to take its toll on him.

"Marco give her time to remember, I'm sure it's not something she can recall easily." Conner defended me.

"We don't have time!"

I felt a tug on my arm and turned around to see Logan grabbing hold of my hand and leading me over towards one of the corners of the room. "Relax Britney."

"I'm trying. I really am, it's just that I didn't really want to remember that time so I blocked it out." I explained to him but he quickly hushed me.

"It's okay." He whispered as he cupped my face. "Remember when you were sitting on the bench and I came back to give you your glasses?"

I nodded my head remembering that day clearly in my mind.

"Good." He smiled at me. "Now close your eyes, and I want you to try and picture it, try and remember talking to me, try to remember what was around us." He coached me. "Do you see it?"

I nodded my head.

It was the night Peter and I had watched the sunset, we had had a good time and I remember asking why he chose me, the answer was a lie of course but in that moment I had believed every word.

I saw myself there, sitting on the bench, thinking about everything that had happened to me and my inner struggle with that small voice inside my head that warned me of the traitorous king and his motives.

"You shouldn't yell at the shadows. I thought you'd know better than that." Logan had said to me as he stepped out of the shadows.

"Good Britney, Now do you see what is around us?"

I focused on the image.

"You disappear for a whole week and you ask have I've been!" I all but screamed at him.

"Shh. I'm supposed to be talking to you so keep your voice down." He hushed me as he looked around making sure no one was coming.

"No, it's blurry."

"Focus on me, can you see me clearly?"

"I have something for you." Well now you've got my attention. I spun back to him and waited in anticipation as he fished through the bag he had with him and pulled out something wrapped in a cloth.

Unwrapping it I found my big black framed glasses that I had left behind. He went back and got them for me. Who knew he could be such a nice guy. "Thank-you."

"Well you better thank me, I went through hell trying to get those, almost got arrested twice."

"Yes."

"Good. Now look over my shoulder, what do you see?"

"You must promise me you won't tell anyone about the glasses. You can only wear them when no one is around."

"Pink flowers."

"What else?"

"Come on, I want to show you something."

I looked up into his eyes and gladly took his hand letting him pull me up. I had no doubts about taking his hand and following him, I had been doing it for so long now, I missed him, I trusted him.

"There's a fountain somewhere in there."

"Hidden or out in the open?" Marco quickly asked, clearly he had been ease dropping.

"Hidden by the hedges." I nodded sure of myself.

They all quickly waisted no time in getting back into their plans, moving there little wooden pawns around the table like children playing with their toys.

"What now?" I looked up at Logan.

"Now, we go to war."

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Grab your torch and pitch forks, Off to war we go! A little confusing? There were a few flash backs in this chapter just to help trigger those memories as I know it has been a long time – my bad – if you're having trouble reading or understanding let me no! Or if you have any questions xo

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