A Stranger in the Night

My heart raced as the car sped down the road. Draven decided to drive as Mason was no where to be found, which was very unusual. Draven was driving like he was leading a rally car race, with us all being flicked around like rag dolls in the back. Lucas was in his van following us and leading a large part of his pack who were following in the two vans behind us. Eligio was in the van with Lucas and Bronson. Shiloh and Carter were in the other two vans with the rest of the pack. Maybe I should have gone with one of them rather than be part of the rally car team. My body felt awkward and I was beginning to feel ill. I didn't know if it was the car ride or my nerves that were making me feel sick, but all I know was that if it kept up, I would be emptying my stomach contents onto the floor or out the window shortly.

"Hey...Luna...you ok?". Jess rested her hand on my shoulder as I laid my head back on the head rest. I nodded briefly, trying to relax and let the breeze racing through the window cool me down. "Yeah I'm ok. Just not feeling 100%.". Jess reached over and slapped Draven on the arm hard. "Would you cut it out! You're making her sick!". Draven flinched away as she went to swat him again. "Stop it. She'll be fine. I'm just trying to get there ASAP! Luna? You're ok aren't you?". I nodded briefly again but had to hold my hand over my mouth for a moment. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to centre myself. I needed to get a hold of myself, if I couldn't control my emotions, I wouldn't be any use to anyone.

We had been driving for several hours now and still have some distance to go before we reached Ravnos House. We had a plan on how to get in to Ravnos House but apart from that, we had no idea about where we would find Alex, Silvano and Marco let alone how we were planning on getting out. I watched the tree line blur as we sped past and I could feel my eyes growing heavy. With everything going on, I decided to close them and before I knew it, I had drifted off to sleep.

An ear piercing scream echoed through my head. "No! I won't! Do what you want but I won't tell you where she is.". I instantly recognised Alex's voice but I couldn't see him. Only hear him. "You will tell me where the girl is or I won't be so friendly next time round.". The deep, dark voice made my whole body cringe. Another scream echoed again, this time only louder and filled with pain. "Stop it!" I screamed as loud as I could. I know it was only a dream but I wanted them to stop hurting him. "Who was that! Someone is here! Guards! Lock him back into his cell!". The deep voice shouted. I heard Alex struggling as he was grabbed. "Luna! No!". I instantly woke up out of my sleep by Jess shaking me. "Luna! Wake up! What's going on? Did you see Alex?". I was so confused by what had just happened and wasn't paying enough attention to brace myself as Draven brought the car to a screeching halt on the side of the road. He spun around in the car to face me. "What the hell! What do you mean she saw Alex?", Draven interrogated me. He grabbed my arms and shook me before Jess shoved him away. "Luna! Did you connect with him?". I pushed them both away from me and jumped out from the car. The 3 vans pulled up behind us on the side of the road. Lucas being the first to jump out and rush to my side. "What's going on?". He asked as he took me into his arms and held me tightly. "Luna connected with Alex!". Jess cried out as she climbed out of the car. "She can help us find him in Ravnos House! You need to tell us everything you saw!". I got angry and forced myself out of Lucas' arms, shaking my head profusely. "I didn't see anything! It was just a dream and it was only people talking.". Draven jumped at me. "Luna! You did! You connected with him! Hell I could kiss you if it didn't mean that Jess would rip out my throat!". Jess chuckled and nodded in agreement. "You need to tell us what they said.". I racked my brain trying to make sense of what was going on as well as trying to remember what had happened. "There were two people. One of them gave me the creeps and was asking him where she was. Alex refused to tell him and was being tortured. When I screamed for it to stop cause I couldn't listen to Alex scream anymore, I think they heard me and moved him a cell. But they thought I was there....".

The group looked at me puzzled. "What do you mean they thought you were there?". Lucas enquired as he approached me. "They asked who I was and sent guards to find me.....". Draven and Jess looked at each other before looking straight at me. "Well aren't you just a box of hidden talents and treasures.". Draven joked. "Little miss...your connection to Alex was so strong that you must have astral travelled to him subconsciously whilst you were asleep. Are you sure they didn't see you?". I nodded. "I think so....I mean, I couldn't see anything. It was all black.". Draven nodded at me as well. "OK. Well that's ok. We can work with this. If they didn't see you, it means they don't know what you look like yet. Only Meredith does. So as long as we don't run into her we should be fine. We will just say that your one of our donors and try and get you in that way. You may be able to connect to Alex again when we get there.". The group continued to discuss the plan for once we got there. I was off in my own little world, not 100% sure how the hell all of that just happened. It's never happened for me before so why would it now. Before I knew it, we were piling back into the car and vans and speeding off.

It had been some time that we had been driving for now and I could feel the anxiety in me rising. I constantly had bits of frost covering my forearms, but I kept wiping them away hoping no one would see. Jess and Draven were now seated in the front of the car together, with me in the back with Antonio. Antonio was one of the enforcers that stayed at Ventrue House. Draven insisted he come along for reinforcements but Jess had already explained to me that he has a a strong loyalty to Alex and would do anything to protect him and I, so there was no time like the present. Jess and Draven did not speak a word since we started driving. He had tamed his driving a little now, but I think it had more to do with the fact that now one of his hands was holding Jess' hand. They didn't need to speak any words but you could see the love they had for one another and right now, their minds were focusing on one thing...to get through this. "We are here!" Draven shouted, startling me out of my distant thoughts as I watched the tree line continue to blur past. "Don't forget Luna. You are a new donor for Ventrue House. Donors don't get treated the way you would normally be treated. But we will protect you.". I nodded back at his words, trying to swallow the thought that what was coming would not be pleasant for me. Jess reached back over her chair and grabbed my hand, squeezing it tightly to reassure me. I squeezed her hand back in acknowledgement. Antonio leaned over and whispered to me, "You've got this. From what I hear, your talents will help you. Trust your instinct. I promise I will not let anything happen to you Luna. You have my word.". I smiled at him as I patted my hand on his leg. "Thanks Antonio.".

As I looked up ahead through the window, the dark and decrepid, old House came into view. It rivalled the size of Ventrue House, but the energy here was alot darker. I felt a chill go over my body, as if someone had just walked over my grave. I had to take several deep breaths to control my anxiety again as the car came to a rolling stop. The vans weren't behind us anymore and that made me even more nervous. Draven must have caught me looking for them as he grabbed my hand and said "It's ok. They've gone a different way and will be coming in shortly. They know the signal.". I always forget that Draven and Lucas have been to battle before together against other clans, so they would have already sorted a plan together. "Luna, can you try and pick up on Alex before we get out the car. If things turn bad, we need to know a route to get to him or at least a sense of direction on where to find him.". I nodded and closed my eyes. I tried to concentrate on Alex as much as I could. In my mind, I began to call his name through the darkness. "Luna....". My heart stopped. Did I connect to him? "Luna...how did you....". His voice was soft and full of pain. I tried to focus on him again, willing myself to be closer to him. The darkness began to lift and I could see the faint light coming from the flames of a lit torch on the wall. The flames casted shadows across the room as they danced back and forth. My eyes followed the light across the damp stone floor to a darker part of the room. I could make the figure of someone out and as I focused my energy on making the room brighter, Alex's bloody and bruised body came into view. His cheeks were sunken in, his eyes dark and bruised. He was chained to the wall by two large chains attached to each hand. His body was slumped over. He was weak and needed to feed desperately. "Luna...how did you find me...you need to stop...it's....too....dangerous....". I began to weep as my heart broke for him. "Alex...we are here....we are coming for you!". I wanted to reach out and touch him and tried to push my hand towards him. "Noooo!". I was shaken out of it by Draven dragging me out of the car. "Move bloodbag!".

"Hurry up and stop daydreaming. I am here to see King Ravnos and you are holding me up. Stupid girl!", he shouted as he pushed me into the ground, my hands hitting the gravel hard enough that it actually hurt and I got a few small cuts on them. "Come on girl! Get up!". Jess put her hand under my arm and began to lift me up. As looked up at the vast staircase that laid ahead of me. At the top, as the door opened and cascade of Halflings flooded out the door, followed by a young girl and by an older man. "Draven my boy! It has been some time! What do I owe the pleasure?". My whole body cringed again as the old man spoke. I assumed it must have been King Ravnos. His dark hair and facial features bore some resemblance to Meredith. "Ah you know me, I was just in the neighbourhood and thought I should pop by. Don't suppose you've seen my brothers at all? Mum and Dad are a bit worried. They have disappeared and no one can find them.". The King had a look of deep thought on his face, before he answered, "Hmmm, well they were here a few days ago but have since they left. Not sure where they were going. Didn't say. Not that I am surprised. Your brother Alex was always one who walked his own path.". Draven chuckled loudly. "And don't I know it.". The King laughed with Draven. "Well come on boy. Come on in and have a drink with me.". Draven nodded and began walking up the stairs, knocking me over again as he walked past. Jess caught me before I hit the ground. "My God! You are the most clumsy pet I've ever owned! Draven you said she would be a good one!". Draven turned back to Jess and laughed. "Sorry darling! Can't always pick the good ones.", before turning back to the King and shaking his hand as he met him.

"And what company do you bring with you Draven. I have never met these people before.". The King inquired, causing Draven to step back for a moment before smiling at the King. "Forgive me your highness. This is Jess, my mate.". Jess smiled and bowed to the King. "This is Antonio, a servant of Ventrue House who is now on errand duty cause he can't drive for shit.". The King laughed loudly as Antonio bent down. "And this is Precious. A cute little pet I bought for Jess. It's her first time out of Ventrue House.". The King looked me up and down. "Not too bad Draven. Bit clumsy like you said, but not too bad. She smells delicious too.". I gulped at his words and stood behind Jess to avoid his line of sight. "Come on! Time for a drink!". The King ushered us inside behind him as the Halflings and the young girl followed us in. The door slammed shut behind us and a large beam was lowered down to lock the door in place. How the hell was Lucas supposed to get in now.