#duskwood au

[taillesscomet2]

A strange idea by Duskwood №5

What if MC was Jennifer's younger sister (brother). After it became clear that Hannah's disappearance is connected to this. She continues to investigate the case not for Hannah's sake, but to find her sister's killer

[lyon-amore]

   "I will always be there," he saw how she blushed from that kiss, he couldn't help but smile when he saw it. “Through the good and the bad, I will always be by your side, Jake.”    "I also want to be there for everything you need, Macie, I am never going to leave you."

Photography / Fotografía

Inspired by my AU where Jake and Macie already knew each other before the events of Duskwood, I love this AU so much

[julesthoughts]

Trap of Lies

Chapter 21

This is a dark AU collaboration started by @x3kristax3. You can find the other chapters here.

TW: Mentioning of Torture and Violence

MC POV

After ages, I was finally able to persuade Alan to leave his house. Of course, only with him, alone he would never let me go. His proximity drove me insane, and his constant advances got on my nerves. I kept telling him that I wasn't ready because of what had happened. He showed understanding, but still, it didn't stop him from trying again and again. It's been two weeks since I left Jake and honestly, I was hoping to get back to him as soon as possible. Back in his warm arms, look into his soft eyes and feel his soft lips on mine.

I shook my head slightly to break the train of thought. I couldn't think about Jake that much now, he was my weakness and weakness wasn't allowed right now. We went to the flower stand and as I was looking around, my favorite flowers caught my eye. I took a bundle and smelled them, a lump forming in my throat immediately. The memory of Jake watching me here back then came flooding back. He was a stranger and yet I felt drawn to him in a way. The corners of my mouth twitched up briefly, but I immediately put my face back to normal.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and put the flowers back as Alan wasn't going to buy them for me anyway. Alan had his back to me, and he was talking to someone, but I couldn't see who it was as he was completely hidden by Alan. I wanted to take a closer look, but suddenly I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder. I could already guess who it was, but I turned around to confirm my suspicion. In front of me was a red-haired beauty and I saw relief on her face. I put my arms around her, and she hugged me tightly to make sure I was really in front of her. I heard her sigh joyfully. The last time we saw each other was before I was kidnapped and held captive.

I wanted to detach myself from the hug, but Jessy wouldn't allow it. "MC, Jake told us everything. Everything. Would you explain to me why you are with him?” She whispered in my ear. The way she pronounced the word him sent chills down my spine.

I leaned closer to her ear and whispered, "I know what I have to do. Please be on standby, Jessy. You're the only one I trust completely." She loosened her grip, and I broke the hug. She put her hands on my cheeks and wiped my tears from my face with her thumbs. I didn't even realize that I started to cry. She gave me a compassionate smile.

"You can't let him see you cry. You can do it, I'll always have your back. You are so incredibly strong.” She took my hand while saying this.

Jessy looked so innocent and sweet, but when it came to her loved ones, she knew no bounds. When she cast her eyes on Alan, I saw pure hatred blazing in her irises. She hated this man like no other person in this world. I knew she would do anything to help me, and I was beyond grateful for that.

"Listen, I'll try to persuade him that I can meet you. I miss you and I could really use a girls day,” I sighed.

She knew that when I said girls' day, I didn't mean a normal girls' day. We wanted to catch up. I saw that Alan had finished his conversation and was approaching us. He put his arm around my waist. "Hello Jessica," he said cold as a stone.

Jessy rolled her eyes and I spoke to Alan, "Alan, I'd like to go with Jessy. She's on her way home and I haven't had a chance to meet her. I'd just like to have some girl time with her."

He took my chin in his fingers and looked deep into my eyes, scanning me. I sighed softly and my eyes softened, getting the answer I wanted. "Only if you promise to come back. I'm worried, you're not fully recovered."

He drove me crazy with his care. It was his fault that I felt so bad. Take a deep breath, MC! You have to pull yourself together if you want to reach your goal and get back to Jake. Since getting back together with Alan I've had serious problems controlling my temper. Knowing that I was pretending to love the man who put me through all the torture made me frustrated.

"Don't worry, I'm feeling pretty good today and besides, Jessy is with me,” I said shortly. I just couldn't speak long sentences with this man without losing my temper.

Out of the blue he took my face in his hands and kissed me firmly but sweetly on my lips. I kissed him back, I had to keep up my acting. I wanted this kiss to end, but Alan let the kiss deepen. What was the matter with him? I opened my eyes and saw that he was looking to the right. I followed his gaze and my heart shattered into a million pieces.

Jake stood there and his eyes were on us. He didn't even grimace, but there was pure pain in his eyes. His eyes made my heart clench painfully. Alan was really enjoying Jake's suffering and I broke the kiss abruptly. Alan glared at me, but I smiled sheepishly, "Alan, you know I'm not that fond of kissing in public." That was the truth, Jake respected my opinion and wouldn't kiss me in public.

Alan stroked my cheek, "Sorry, my feelings for you took over for a moment."

Fucking liar. I didn't understand what that was about, did he want to see Jake suffer? He didn't seem to realize I saw Jake and I took advantage of that. I kept acting the innocent woman in love with Alan. I said goodbye to Alan and when I turned around, I saw Jessy buying some flowers. She gave me a bunch of my favorite flowers and my eyes shone with joy, "Oh Jessy, that wasn't necessary. Thank you!"

On the way to the carriage, I saw Jake walking towards my father's trade business with his head bowed. He avoided my eye contact, and it broke my heart. I had broken his heart in the worst possible way. I began to have doubts as to whether he would even want me back once I had achieved my goal.

As we got into the carriage my lips started to tremble, Jessy already noticed from the outside of the carriage that I was watching Jake. She put her arm around me, and I let my head rest on her shoulder, exhausted.

"So, I'm waiting for an explanation. I know you know he was behind it all. Why are you with him?" She asked when the carriage took off.

I sighed shakily and tilted my head back. "You're right. I know it and I hate his every touch. Every time his lips touch mine it sends a shiver down my spine. But I have to go through this if I'm going to have a quiet life with Jake.” I pulled the ring out of my corset and held it in my hand, my eyes shining as I looked at it. “The question is if he even wants me back.” I spoke my thoughts out loud.

"Oh, my love, you still love him?” she asked happily. "Everyone thinks you don't love him anymore, including him. He needs to know that!"

"No!" I protested heatedly. "He mustn't be involved, do you hear me? And earlier he walked in the direction of my father's business. Something tells me that my father is helping him on the right path.”

Jessy shook her head, "Don't you want to give him at least a glimmer of hope?" She bit her lip, and I could tell immediately that she was holding back something. I ignored it.

"He doesn't need that, if I judge my parents correctly, they will have already given him hope. And if my assumption is right and my father really helps him to get back on the right path, then it would be more than wrong to involve him in it,” I said while bringing my head back to a normal position and avoiding Jessy's gaze.

I hid the ring again and let out a bitter sigh. What did I do in my previous life that my current life is such a mess? I treated the ring like a religious artifact. A talisman. A lucky charm.

Jessy watched me and she realized, "He doesn't fully trust you yet, does he?”

"No, I can tell by his behavior. He still checks me everywhere and I wouldn't be surprised if he even sent someone to check if I'm really going with you. So, you know if we get to you soon, then there will be acting!"

She started giggling and I joined in, after a while the carriage stopped, and we got out. Arm in arm we walked into the house, giggling. As soon as the door slammed shut, our giggles stopped, and we got serious. She took me in her arms again and let out a soft sob, I stroked her back soothingly.

"He stopped by our place," she said softly, resting her chin on my shoulder. "He doesn't think you don't love him anymore. He thinks he can't give you the life you deserve and that's why you left him."

That was the coup de grace for me. Jake was more than hurt, he really thought he wasn't enough for me. All my dams broke, and I burst into bitter tears. I clawed Jessy's back and she pressed me even tighter in a reassuring way.

"He only thinks that because I told him Alan could offer me a better life. Oh god what have I done! For a short time, I was disappointed in him for hiding this dark secret from me. I'm no better if he knew what kind of secret I was carrying."

"Hush. Calm down for now, ok? I'm here and we can talk, ok?” She held me in her arms while I shed my tears. She started rocking us back and forth and at some point, I giggled because I felt a bit silly. She pulled away from me and took my shoulders in her delicate hands, "You are such a strong woman! I don't even know how you stand it all. You've already been kidnapped twice and each time a man was a reason. Your father was the reason for your first kidnapping, and Jake was the reason for your second. I hope there isn't a third party!"

I had to giggle even though it wasn't funny at all. She was right, somehow men put me in danger. She looked at me in shock, probably because I was giggling. Shortly thereafter, I lost myself in thoughts about my first kidnapping. The memories flooded me like a giant wave.

"Ok, I see. Let's sit down and you tell me everything. Did you ever talk about your first kidnapping?"

"No, never. I don't want to burden anyone with this,” I answered quietly.

"Come on, tell me. I'm listening, you know we've been through a lot." She took my hands in hers and her face was so open, it was enough for me to burst out.

"I was kidnapped at night. They somehow managed to break into our house, I wanted to scream, but they immediately stuffed a rag in my mouth. I didn't stop thrashing around. At some point it was enough for one of the kidnappers and he hit me on the head with something, so I lost consciousness.”

Jessy squeezed my hands tightly, which gave me some support. I continued, "I woke up tied to a chair and they told me that my father had some kind of debt. They must have left a threatening letter offering an exchange. My father pays the debt and gets me back in exchange. They wouldn't tell me what kind of debt he had, but I didn't believe them either. They tortured me and kept sending my parents small gifts.”

"Gifts?" Jessy asked unsuspectingly.

"Not normal gifts. It started quite harmlessly at first, they just pulled my hair out and brought it to my parents. At some point they removed one of my fingernails and brought it to my parents. They always brought these little gifts at night and displayed them on their doorstep. I mean, how nice can a morning start for parents when they find their daughter's fingernail nicely wrapped on their doorstep? At some point they cut off my scalp like a slice of cheese and sent it to my parents, I got a scar from it.”

I turned my back to Jessy and lifted my hair on the right and showed her the bald spot with the scar. Hair never grew back there. She gasped and was shocked she had never noticed.

"Jessy, how are you supposed to notice? I usually wear my hair down and if I have a different hairstyle, I cover it up."

She nodded glumly, "What happened when they did that?"

"Nothing at first, they also tortured me like that, just for fun. Mostly psychological, they held a knife to my neck and threatened to kill me, enjoying the fear in my eyes. But it was always just empty threats, but I didn't understand that at the time, and I was terribly afraid afterwards.”

"This is so horrible, how long were you trapped there and how did you get free?" She asked as she wrapped her arm around my shoulders and hugged me tightly.

"Five days and the debt has never been paid as my father personally released me. At that time, he came into my room completely out of breath and freed me from my bonds. He was different. I don't know how to describe it, Jessy."

"How different do you mean? Hey you're shaking, calm down. Don't rush, take your time.”

After ten minutes I stopped shaking and stared at the opposite wall. "My father... His eyes were so dark and so empty. At the same time, I saw relief on his face when he saw me. None of the men who tortured me were anywhere to be seen. My father got me home as fast as he could. He didn't answer any of my questions and just told me everything was fine. I was treated by a doctor and for days I kept asking my father what his debts were.”

“What did he say?” Jessy asked, concerned.

"He said they lied, he never had any debts, and it was just unhappy customers."

"And you believed him?"

"No, but I never asked again as he would never tell me the truth."

"It seems everyone has some dark secrets, even the two of us," giggled Jessy.

“White Night,” I whispered, reminiscing.

"Mhm, exactly. I have to say I miss our time there at times, but I would never trade my life now for that life.”

"If Jake found out I worked for a secret service that takes people down. Oh saint.”

"But then he would understand why it was so easy for you to leave him. We've been trained to ignore other people's feelings for just such missions.”

"I know it's not usually difficult for me, but Jake is the first man that has truly won my heart and made me weak."

"That's how I felt with Walter at the time. The love for him was stronger than my will to stay in this service."

I saw how Jessy closed her eyes, I did the same. We put ourselves back to that time, I will never forget the time back then, especially because that's where I met Jessy for the first time.

.......................................

Once again, we took down a criminal, it's always been like that here. A sleazy asshole who presented himself as a good businessman but only exploited the poor and stole even more. We only ever brought down those who did evil.

Here we were in our hiding place, a shabby wooden hut in the woods. As we planned how to take down the next one, there were a few reports again that someone was torturing the poor people because they couldn't pay their bills on time. I always got angry when I heard stuff like that. People already had nothing and worked hard just to afford enough food and then there comes this rich bastard who can afford anything and tortures these poor people.

Jessy and I were assigned to track him down and bring him to our hiding place. The boss wanted to take care of him personally, so there was probably something private involved. In the evening Jessy and I found each other in a bar. The whole time we were looking for the man, Jessy kept looking at a brown-haired man who looked back at her. After a while I pretended to leave earlier. I nodded to her where he was sitting, and she swung her hips and sat down next to him. Jessy has always attracted everyone's attention and so we decided that she should seduce him.

I was standing around the corner when I heard Jessy's voice and a strange male voice, I knew that my mission had come. I came out of hiding and hit him on the back of the head with a rock, not too hard. Just so he lost consciousness. The boss gave us a carriage that we could use to transport him. We put him on the back seat of the carriage, and we sat down in front and set off. When we got to our hideout, we dragged him into the cabin and took him to the room our boss had asked us to use.

He sent us out, he wanted to do it alone. I didn't ask any questions, but before long we heard bitter cries of pain. He tortured him, something must have happened between the two personally. Jessy was sitting in another room, I went to her and saw her staring at the wall, lost in thought.

I sat down next to her and asked, "What do you think he's doing to him?"

She shrugged, "I don't know, but I don't care." At first, I thought she was mad because she wasn't allowed to be there, but I saw that she had a small smile on her face.

"It's the brownie from the bar, isn't it? I saw your looks, my dear."

She put her hand over my mouth, her eyes wide, "Hush!" I understood, I got up and closed the door. I sat down next to her, and we whispered despite the door being closed. Love was not allowed in this service as it made you weak. You had to be able to think neutrally and not be influenced by love.

She began to relate, "I bumped into him in the market. I almost threw his bread down but was able to catch it. I apologized a hundred times, but he kept saying it was ok. He was so nice and so understanding. We met again and again at the market, I noted his times when he went to the market and at some point, he bought me a bouquet of flowers. That's when I knew that he too was coming to the market regularly at the same time on purpose. Well, tonight in the bar, that was him. I just couldn't take my eyes off him, not only because he's handsome, but also because I just can't get him out of my head. The meetings in the market were like little dates, I would like to give it a chance, but as long as we are in this service it doesn't work, and I don't want to leave you alone.”

"Jessy, you know I follow you everywhere," my voice got even quieter. "When do you want to leave here?"

She looked at me with big grateful eyes, "You would really take that risk for me?"

"Of course, Jessy. You're my best friend and I didn't intend to spend the rest of my life here either." I took her hands in mine and squeezed them lightly to show her my support.

"Tonight? Let's leave the White Night tonight,” Jessy said.

“Deal,” I said smiling. It was decided. Tonight, we will leave the White Night service. Since it was hunting time again at the moment, we didn't come home. We all slept here, and I hated lying to everything and everyone at home. Once a year we are trapped here for two weeks, and we bring down one by one.

We went to sleep and waited for the boss to go to sleep. We had already packed our things and when it was quiet in the hut, we got up quietly. We snuck out of the bedroom and tiptoed to the front door. We heard heavy footsteps, and we knew immediately who it was. I held my index finger to my lips to tell Jessy not to give a peep. We hugged the wall as tightly as we could and held our breath. My heartbeat quickened as the footsteps stopped in front of the open door. Luckily for us, there was another pillar on the wall so he couldn't see us.

The steps came closer, and he murmured, "The door is usually always closed. Hello?"

I closed my eyes and cursed myself. How could I forget to close the door? He walked into the door frame and grabbed the doorknob and closed the door. When the footsteps became quieter, we breathed a sigh of relief and left the hut as quickly as possible.

We ran through the woods in the middle of the night until we got to town. Jessy was so happy that she turned several times in circles with outstretched arms and cheered, "So this is what freedom feels like!"

I giggled and joined in her joy, and we held hands and twirled each other in circles. We celebrated our newfound freedom. My heart did a little jump of joy. I just couldn't stop smiling. Jessy laughed and took my shoulders in her hands, "You will be my maid of honor if we should work out!"

I smiled and I nodded happily like a little kid, "Oh Jessy, I would love to do that!"

We made our way home, it was early in the morning when we got home. Jessy went to her house and I to mine. When I entered our house, I heard my parents in the kitchen, they were eating breakfast. Their conversation ended when the door slammed behind me. Immediately, the kitchen door sprang open, and my mother hugged me tightly. I told them what had happened, and I saw relief but also concern on their faces. It might not have been the best idea to just flee.

……………...........................

Jessy and I came back to the present and we started laughing, but concern graced her face. She looked at me questioningly, "I'm surprised the boss never looked for us." I bit my lip and immediately her eyes almost popped out, "Wait! You know something I don't know about!"

"Damn it," I sighed. "I met the boss in town a month ago."

"What?!" She exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell me that?"

"I'm sorry, I was so stunned by what he said to me that I had to process it myself and then all things happened." I hung my head and was terrified that Jessy would be mad at me.

She lifted my head by taking it in her fingers, "Then tell me now."

"He babbled and told me that he had a wife with a child at home. He immediately regretted it when he saw my victorious smile on my lips. I threatened him that if he hurts us or anyone, we are close by a hair, the rest of the service will find out about his little secret. He said he has his eyes everywhere, but he trusts us because we haven't told anyone about it either. At least that's what he thinks. He doesn't know that my parents know or Walter.”

"And it should stay that way.”

"But I swore to myself I'd tell Jake, he deserved it,” I said agonized.

"If you want to tell him I'll have your back, ok? Once again you made sure that I can lead a normal life."

“I'm so glad you joined this goddamn service, as soon as I saw you, I knew I wanted to be friends with you,” I confessed.

She then just took me in her arms. Jessy loved hugs, but I had no problem with that. I put my arms around her, and I giggled. I was happy again for the first time. But the thought of going back to Alan immediately made my joy vanish.

"Jessy, how far would you go for me to reach my goal?"

"Regarding Alan?"

I just nodded and looked at her.

"I would walk over corpses,” she said sternly. That was enough for me, no matter what I had in mind Jessy would help me.

Jessy winced when there was a knock on the door, "Oh crap! How could I forget that?"

"What did you forget?"

"Your parents wanted to come over. They wanted to see if I had heard or seen anything from you. I have a hunch they're going to bring-“ Jessy was interrupted by a voice that was all too familiar to me, "Jessy?"

"Jake," I whispered, shocked. Jessy motioned for me to be quiet as she walked towards the door. You couldn't see me from the front door.

She opened the door, "Jake, what are you doing here?"

"I'm supposed to bring this from Charles. He says it'll be later, he thinks we won't be able to until tonight.

“We?” Jessy asked confused.

“Yes, we. I'll come with them, I want to know everything too. Can't you tell me now if you've heard from MC?"

"Jake, this is not a good time. Please come back tonight."

"Jessy, you saw it today at the flower stand too! How they kissed. Or should I say how Alan kissed MC?"

"How may I understand that?" Jessy continued to act as if she didn't know anything.

Jake raised his voice, "Oh come on! Everyone there could see that she didn't want that kiss.”

Oh no!

[x3kristax3]

Trap of Lies - Chapter 28

A/N: This is the last chapter of Trap of Lies BOOK 1! the writers that have joined me on this has taken this story to a whole new level that I could never done myself. The writers that have been here from start to see the changes in their confidence with writing this story has been nothing short of amazing. This is not the end fully! we have some plans but we are keeping it a close knit of writers to keep this story alive. I hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as we loved writing and coming up with this plot twists along the way. We have something up our sleeves that is coming up but give us a bit as we are doing some changes to the way we are writing and expand all of our writing even more. If you have missed any of chapters are just finding this story for the first time now please check out the masterlist here to get caught up. please keep in mind this story has lots of trigger warnings, while some chapters are mild there are others that are pretty heavy, please make sure you read those above each chapter before starting!

TW: Talk of previous violence and murder

Jake's POV:

She never showed up and I'm worried for her after seeing her with Alan this morning at the shop. Something in my mind and heart tells me to ride to Jessy's. As I get up to her and Walters I see one of the sable boys putting her horse in the barn. I dismount Midnight and see Phil leaving the house which worries me more. What has happened that he's leaving his sister's place this late at night and looking like he's been digging. Especially knowing they haven't been in contact for years. As I knock on the door Jessy answers and she has bandages and alcohol in her hands.

"Please tell me you know where she is!" I raise my voice.

"Don't use that tone with me Jake. She's upstairs." She lets me in and I want to run to her side.

"He isn't here is he?" I ask, she knows who I'm talking about.

"No but she's in bad shape so be gentle please." Her voice is soft but firm and I'm worried.

I follow behind her up the stairs to the guest bedroom and she knocks. I hear a weak voice say to come in. We open the door and she's on the bed holding a rag to her side. She looks up at me and even in pain she has that gorgeous smile. I see the dirt on her body and bruises and the rag that is starting to show blood.

I'm worried for her but Jessy is heading to her side to take care of her. I walk up to her and grab her free hand as I stand not wanting Jessy to mess up.

"What happened, my love?" I ask and Jessy looks up confused as to why I called her that.

"We will talk tomorrow. I need to rest," her voice is weak but firm as Jessy wraps her up and checks her for anywhere else. Once she is done MC lays down. I lean down and kiss her forehead. I know they are not going to undo what that devil did to her but I will make him pay. Jessy walks out of the room and I follow her, needing some kind of answers.

"Please tell me what happened to her." I plead.

"It's her story to tell you, just go home please. I will send for you when she's able to talk." She's firm and I can't blame her. I'm the reason she got into this mess. 

"Can I please lay with her? We were supposed to meet at our spot by the lake tonight." I state looking at her door.

"Fine only because of what happened tonight" she sighs. It's like she knows something with MC but I will let her tell me on her own. She opens the door and I see MC has fallen asleep. "Just be gentle, she's really hurt and don't be shocked if she wakes up and pushes you away. I'm not sure what's going through her mind right now."

"As long as he doesn't show up, I can handle whatever happens." I say walking in and taking off my coat.

"You don't need to worry about him anymore, but she does." She closes the door and I stand there looking at MC sleeping. She looks peaceful. It's almost like this is the first good sleep in weeks which worries me for what she has gone through.

MC POV: I wake up in the middle of the night, I remember everything so I know I am at Jessy. I feel a body next to me in bed but I don’t think any of it as it is probably Jessy to make sure I’m okay all night. I sit up and grab the night coat she left for me next to my side of the bed which I put on. I see the balcony doors and I get up. I turn to let her know I’m stepping outside and I see a sight I am not used to, a sleeping Jake which makes my heart melt. I open the door and head outside, I leave the door slightly open as to not wake him up. After these last twenty four hours I should be worried for what is to come. However, I know Phil and Jessy both will make sure the events of tonight do not come back on me or any chances of the bobbies putting the blame on Jake. I stare out of the back yard and have never in my life been more grateful for those closest to me. I feel the bandages and they are still secure. 

Alan was destroying my spirit and until tonight when I looked into his eyes just before killing him, I hadn’t realized it. With this holding me captive, the physical and emotional abuse. I was hoping for some answers but I could not dare bring myself to ask that monster in front of Phil. I feel he knows Jake but maybe as something else. I know I had heard people speak to Jake as William and also as Leader which makes me have questions for him once this all calms down.

I’m focused on my thoughts. I don't hear the door open more until I feel a hand on my back. I don’t even jump or flinch as I know this is the second safest place for me at this moment. The first is in his arms. I lean back into him with my eyes closed just feeling his warmth against me.

Feeling him hold me, his heartbeat, his breath instantly makes me feel safe. He instantly calms me down. I should be feeling scared in the darkness, that's what I’m told to believe as I’m a woman, but not with him. With him the dark of night calms my soul, calms my darkness in me. I hear the owl hooting, the wolves howling, animals of the night walking around. I also feel at home for the first time in weeks. Last time before last night that I saw him my heart broke because I didn’t want him involved in this, in my vengeance for that monster. I told everyone near to me to make sure he stayed away, I couldn’t let him see me like that. When he saw the darkness come over me at Jessy’s he was scared but still tried to hold me close. It was like he knew in his heart that I still belonged with him. Everyone dear to us has said I'm the reason he's changing. I'm the reason he's becoming a better man. What he and them don't know is he is my reason for those things. He's the reason I had to let my darkness out and put an end to all of this so we can live a quiet life together. 

I never thought in all my years I would find this feeling but that day when he first protected me from that monster my heart knew I belonged with him. I know he's felt the same way. The way my parents look at eachother even after all these years together. The way I saw Jessy look at Walter for the first time, true love. True love knows no boundaries, I thought as a child I had found my forever but he ran off into the world after his world fell apart and I gave up on finding that love again. Until I saw this man, the man that holds me tight but gentle at the flower stand two years ago. The man that stood up for me for the first time in my life wasn't my brother or father. The man that promised my mother and father he would let me fall in love with him and save their business. Yes this man held secrets from me, but I am not better. I have held secrets about my past from him as well and now they must come out if we want an honest future together.

I spin around and look up into his blue eyes as the moon hits them and everything in this world disappears besides us at this moment. I put my hand on his face to make sure this isn’t a dream as neither of us have said a word but this spark of fire feeling between us makes me know he is really here. I tilt my head up towards him as I lean in and I see him lean in as well as he grabs the back of my neck softly and our lips crash. He tastes of cider and cinnamon and he still smells of the lake spot which makes my knees go weak under me. As soon as he realizes it he pulls away and catches me carrying me back inside to the bed as he sits me down. He pulls the chair in front of me and holds my hand.

“My love, you should be resting, not standing outside.” His voice is soft but I know he is concerned in the best way.

“I’m not who you think I am, Jake. I have a dark past, one filled with secrets, lies, and deceit. This past is not much different than yours that I found out about which is why I can’t be angry at you. Have you ever heard of the words White Night?” I ask and he shakes his head yes. “I will tell you about it but before there are other things I need to tell you.” I look into his eyes hoping what I have to say does not scare him away from me. I tell him about being kidnapped because of my father, I show him the scar on the right side of my head that for these two years I kept hidden from him. I feel the tears fall and my body shaking, he moves next to me on the bed and holds me as I nuzzle into this chest as the tears won’t stop.

“MC, scars and all I will always love you, but this doesn’t make you a horrible person. Just like what Alan did to you is not your fault.” his voice is soft and I nuzzle into him. Trying to muster up the courage to tell him about White Night. Jessy told me she would help me tell him but it must happen tonight. 

“That is not the secrets, lies, and deceit that I am talking about, darling.” I close my eyes. “White Night is not just words or a place.” I look into his eyes and I know he’s confused. “They are women who take down the worst of the world. They deceive men, usually at bars or markets and lure them into a house where they are never seen again. These woman, are not allowed to fall in love because love makes us do stupid things.” I sigh.

“Darling, how do you know all of this?” His words hurt because there was a secret he never found out because I made sure of it.

“I was a part of it. After being taken because of my father I needed to learn to protect myself. I needed to know how to handle being tortured and not break. I could not put my life at risk because I couldn't take care of myself. However, Alan must figured it out because the torture was way worse. What saved me was not knowing and his desire for me."  As I speak these words the tears return. 

I look into Jake's eye and see the hurt. He still holds my waist but there is space between us, space I am not used to when it comes to him. However, I know he needs to take in hearing this from me and I can’t deny I would need the same thing. 

“Have you killed before?” His words are soft but I know he needs the answer.

I shake my head yes and I look away again from him, scared he might walk away from me and I can’t blame him. Hearing those words from someone you love is hard, let alone a woman. “This is also how I met Jessy.”

‘Who else all knows about this?” his voice is concerned for my safety, I hear it.

‘Walter and my parents know fully. Eric had figured it out on his own when he became a bobby. This is a secret that if you decide to walk away from me and never come back that you must take to your grave. Please, if the person in charge finds out anyone outside of the organization knows about this, everyone Jessy and I love will die with us being last and forced to watch. I know because I was forced when I was in it to do this to others.” I hear the plea in my voice. I never wanted to use this tone around him, but he needs to understand the urgency of this secret.`` I also need you to understand that because of what happened tonight, I have started a war and one I am afraid of losing because of what that means for this town.’

 "Love, don't ever think I will stop loving you. You are the light to my darkness. These weeks without you by my side has been hell. What was worse was knowing my past caused it all to happen because I couldn't let it go and refused to let you walk away from me. Also, don't ever think I will never do anything in my power to keep you safe. If you started a war I will stand by your side to fight with you." I see the tears in his eyes and I feel mine starting again.

"No you are not to get brought into this war. I know you feel responsible because of why I was kidnapped but you are changing your life around. This is just the start of this war and you will stand by my side but not involve yourself. Do you understand?" I demand and he accepts with that smirk of his because we both know if anyone else was to tell him that he would not accept so easy. He is changing his life around and we will make sure of it. 

He lays me back down and lays next to me on top of the blanket and we fall asleep with me nuzzled into him so it doesn’t hurt me anywhere.

Jakes POV:

I watch her sleep as she cuddles into him best she can. It was always how she fell asleep best on the couch was curled up against me which I know she feels safe. I would love to sleep but this information and secrets she told me. I still have no idea what happened to the Devil but I know she feels safe enough to tell me her darkest secrets.

How can a woman as gentle and cultured admit to these things in the middle of the night. I know I need answers but she needs rest and to heal. 

I find myself watching her breathing and I see her eyes flutter as she dreams. I see her start to twist and turn almost like trying to move away from someone. I run my hand along her hair and face softly to calm down her dream which seems to help. I know her and I will work through those demons in her mind because of what has happened. 

I do see she's scared, she's not the same MC she was before and I know why. I will do everything in my power to help her back to see those eyes sparkle even in the darkness.

I see the sun coming up and I know I need to get back to my home to get ready for the day at the business. I hope she stays with Jessy but after the doctors visit she will do as she pleased. She's stubborn when it comes to that. As I walk down the stairs I see Jessy and Walter eating breakfast.

"Thank you Jessy." I state putting my coat on.

"Jake, I heard you two up talking. If you have any questions don't be afraid to ask even me okay. Once I know what she told you there are probably more questions." she states, and it isn't lying. I do have more questions.

"She told me about her father and how you two met. She also doesn't want me involved in this war." I let out a sigh just wanting to protect her. I told myself I would also and seeing her in this shape hurts me.

I watch Jessy walk into the kitchen and I know she's getting another plate.

"I know your use to her being fragile Jake. However, know these woman in our life know how to protect themselves." Walter states.

"I know, we are told to keep them safe and protect them but these two are definitely special." I look up at the stairs and I see MC coming. She stands at the top of the stairs and I go to take a step.

"Jessy will help her. You should go before people start to talk Jake." He stares.

I look up and she is standing there staring at me. I want to listen to him but her eyes are pleading for my touch so I give in to her and run up the stairs to her. I kiss her softly and she deeps it. She never liked kissing in front of others but she never mind those close to us. As I pull away I look into her hazel eyes and I see those specs of green. "I will come back tonight to check on you." 

"Jake, I love you" her words are soft but they aren't words we say often to each other.

"I love you, MC" I kiss her forehead and walk down the stairs and out the door.

—------------

After spending the day at the business and Dad, Mom, and MC came by towards the ebd of the day I found myself closing up shop. MC is standing next to me in a simple dress to make it easy to check her bandages from the doctor. Everyone tried to talk her into going home with her parents or going back to Jessy but she turned them down. She wants to be by my side and I will never tell her no. I lock up the door and turn towards her and put my hand on her cheek. I feel her melting at my touch and I know everything will be okay and I kiss her forehead which she sighs.

"What is it, MC?" I ask her softly.

She grabs my hand that's on her face as she looks into my eyes. I know she's struggling with everything that has happened these last couple weeks but we will be okay. "I just missed this'' she smiles softly.

I brush a strand out of her face and I want nothing more than to kiss her but I know how she feels about that. It was never something and that moment when Alan kissed her I knew she didn't love him. 

We hear a horse come up "Jake, MC hope you are staying safe" Eric says as he dismounts his horse.

"Yes brother, Jake is keeping me safe" she says looking at him.

"You should go home with Mom and Dad. This is a courtesy visit. Alan is missing so for your safety stay away from eachother," he states.

"If Alan comes back I would rather be with someone who can protect me from him. Especially after what he did." She states crossing her arms.

"What do you mean what he did?" He asks.

"Don't worry about it Eric" I state, knowing MC doesn't want to show him.

"No, I am acting Chief. If he did something to hurt you I need to know so when I find him I:can have him arrested." He states

She lets  out a little chuckle. "He kicked me in my side and my back, and stabbed my side. I managed to get away from him."

"I will keep a watch please stay safe." He gets back on the horse and rides off. As we watch him leave she grabs my hand again and I walk her back to my manor. 

As we get there I see Charlotte standing outside the door.

"Sir, Phil needs to discuss something with you." She hands me a note.

I don't look at it as I told him to never contact me. "Thank you" i say as I dismiss her. I will admit he is stupid to not see what is front of him when it comes to her. I had seen it for a while, the way she will do anything for him. She would follow him  off the end of this world. I decide to finally open the note from Phillip 

Jake,

I have received some information about your past that I must share with you immediately. Please forgo our previous arrangement and meet with me quickly. It is imperative that I deliver this straight to you in person. 

Phil

I'm standing there looking at this note. He knew one secret I was always looking for was who my father was but no. He could not have found it out this fast unless it was purposely being hidden from me.

I feel a hand on my arm and I see MC standing there. She looks at me "what's about your past?" She asks.

I realized she read the note. "I have an idea but where I must go in your condition I do not want you coming with me." I cup her face gently.

"Jake, you know you can't stop me" she demands and I chuckle. I see her eyebrow raise and her unamused by my chuck.

[hacked-by-jake]

Jake being the MWAF and purposely send MC's number because he's obsessed with them. He kidnapped Hannah so he can communicate with Mc

(´。＿。｀)

Damn. I don’t know what to say. That's a... thing?.. 😶

That would be the biggest plot twist in history! And even if it would be really creepy and like wtf?? It would be interesting. 👀🤔

[of-the-eventide]

"You know... Even before you joined the Scions, you caught our eye quite quick." "Was it my good looks and pleasant personality?" "...I see what you're doing there... But no, most definitely not."

[wreckedchaos]

She Melted

⚠️⚠️⚠️18+ only 100% smut

A/N: This story is based on Trap of Lies, which is a dark 1700 duskwood AU collaboration. There is no plot in this, just borrowing the setting and the Jake and MC we created for this story.

She was sitting in the parlor trying to read one of her favorite books. The room was dark in details between the colors he picked and the night sky but she felt safe in this house, with him. She could look up from the couch and see him in the study working. She could hear the quill dragging the ink across the parchment and all she could think about was the way his hands felt pulling her body close.

They had spent the day with her parents who had taken him in like their own son. Yet she was still madly in love with him, has been for the two years since he entered her life. She would do anything for this man. Her mind thought back to earlier when they kissed deeply and he pulled away giving her such lustful eyes. Those same blue eyes she caught in the at the flower stand and she learned where they came from. His were full of love and a feeling of home though when she looked in them, even when they were full of lust. Any other man would have been slapped for that look, but not him, it made her weak in the knees when he looked at her like that.

She realized she hadn't turned the page in ten minutes as all she could think about was him. His jet black hair, blue eyes, those soft lips, and his hands on her waist. She couldn't take it anymore, she had no idea how he could focus on working. She put her book down on the table in the center of the room. She stood up smoothing out her skirt and top and walked towards him. Her heels clicked on the hardwood floor and she didn't care if he knew she was coming her way. Her steps matched her pulse 

He had heard coming towards him and could not help but smile. He had been trying to figure out how to get her away from that book and not mess up on this paperwork at the same time. He should of been done but his mind kept wandering to her and that kiss earlier. He looked up just as she stopped next to her. Her small frame was a work of art to him, well really most men in this town, but she was his. This wasn't a forced relationship, he made sure of it when he saw her. He wanted to her honestly love him and choose a life with him, no matter what happened. He watched her sit on his desk and cross her legs at the knees. She was purposely showing her calf to him and he knew what needed him just as much as he needed her tonight.  Normally they slept in separate rooms, but tonight that was not going to happen.

"Jake, can you stop working tonight" her voice was soft but demanding. He knew in that moment what she needed. He put the feather down and grazed his hand along her calf up under her skirt.

He saw her body melt to his touch and her soft skin against his hands was driving him crazy as he watched her melt and thought about that kiss earlier. This same kiss he knew was on her mind as he did that purposely when they snuck away together alone.

He stood up and her breathing  hitched as she looked into his blue eyes. This man could do anything he wanted her to her in this moment and she wouldn't stop him even for a second.

He spread her legs hiking her skirt up more as he stood between her legs. His one hand on her thigh as the other was on the back of her neck and his mouth inches from hers. He could smell the cider she had been drinking, the smoke from candles burning. He also knew she had the taste of honey in her mouth as he made sure to always have it as she loved to suck on it as she read. 

He watched her eyes close in anticipation of what he was going to do and he just smirked. He leaned in and whispered in her ear. "Why don't you join me in my room tonight and go get ready while I put out the lights" his voice is soft but demanding as his hand on her thigh squeezes her off skin.

She whimpers at the touch and his words. Turning her head towards his needing to feel his lips on her before they separate again. As her lips gently touch his the kiss becomes demanding and her body aches with desire for this man. She knew if she didn't pull away they were going to right on his desk.

As she pulled away his hands still were on her neck and thigh she looked into his eyes. She saw his desire in them and knew she wasn't going to think tonight and after everything that was perfectly okay in her mind. 

Biting her lip she looked him up and down and she knew in his mind he was undressing her and it sent a shiver through her body. "I'll go get ready and meet you in bed" her voice is soft and ready to let him take control of her.

He couldn't move though, he didn't want too. Instead his hand slid further reaching her lips between her legs as his other hand moved to her back untying her top with on hand. There was no way he could let her out of his sight now. He had to have her in this moment as she looked so full of desire.

His lips crashed into hers as he slipped a finger inside her and she moaned into his mouth he took her gaping mouth as she was enjoying what he was doing and slid his tounge into her mouth. This position was new for them, they always moved to the bed before getting here but tonight he couldn't help himself. He slipped her sleeves off her shoulder seeing her corset as she hadn't put on her under dress due to the warm weather and he saw her breast. His mouth instantly when and kissed and the top of them as his fingers continued fucking her. She leaned back as she started with one hand to undo the corset which drove him insane that she could do that with everything that was going on.

He pulled away and looked into her hazel eyes and saw how much she needed this as well tonight. The unplanned desire of having her on his desk was making his pants strain against him.

His fingers found her spot that drove her insane and his thumb rubbed her clit. He knew in that moment as her body arched towards him that her last release after everything was with him. No other man would let her release like she needed too.

He went for the sensitive part of her neck and kissed her roughly there, nibbling slighty against her skin. Her moans told him she was close. She couldn't contain her desires tonight and he knew exactly what she needed, this being first. He stood up but not stopping his fingers as his other hand grabbed her chin making those lustful eyes look into his. "Cum for me, MC."

She looked into his eyes, he never said those words to her on his desk. It was always a spot that was forbidden for this. However, the look in his eyes told her body everything it needed to know. He was going to let her get the full release she needed and not stop until she was done. She adjusted herself so not to cum on her skirt and she kissed him again as she felt her first orgasm of the night release, she moaned into his mouth.

He smiled as he kissed her, knowing she needed it and much more. He pulled away when she was finished, sliding his hand along her thigh and stepping away from her. 

She whimpered at the space between them but knew where they were moving things. She slid off his desk standing in front of him wearing only her skirt in this moment as the rest had been taken off already.

She placed her hand on his clothed chest and looked up at him, biting her lip. She knew she sold her soul to him in this moment by the look of lust in his eyes was all she needed.  Her voice was soft but not in a scared away, as she knew he would never push her too far specially after everything they had been through. "I'm yours, Jake" was all she could say. 

"Head up to my room. I will be there shortly as I put out the candles." He says grabbing her chin to look into her eyes.  She bites her lips and nods her head and she walks away from him. She knows he's watching her every step as she leaves the study. 

Darkness held the house in its comforting embrace. Her keen eyes had adapted to the lack of light by the time she opened the bedroom door and stepped inside to find it too was a charcoal etching of shadows. It had become normal to her, and she’d stopped bumping into things a while ago. Usually, she’d throw on the nightgown she kept in there for moments such as these, but something inside her rebelled at the idea of wearing it now. Instead, she reached for Jake’s soft cotton sleep shirt and tugged it over her head, heart racing as the shirt swamped her small form. She felt like she was doing something she shouldn’t have been, something exciting or forbidden. The neckline sagged and gaped. It was long on her, falling almost to her knees, but it was rich with Jake’s warm, enticing scent. It enveloped her and roused that familiar sweet ache of desire he could kindle in her so effortlessly. She fought the urge to bury her nose in the worn collar. A small, coy smile curled her lips at the thought of him reprimanding her for stealing his clothes, knowing the reward after would keep her warm through many dark, cold nights. She thought about running to him but instead stood in front of the mirror he had for her. 

He hurries and puts out all the candles in the house that were lit, he didn't need them lit to walk through his house. He opens the bedroom door she had closed. He sees her standing in the mirror, her hair falling down her back in one of his shirts. He unties his shirt and pulls it off realizing she has missed his touch to be in that shirt. However, looking at her is driving him crazy, he notices her eyes are closed and he takes the chance to walk up behind her and wraps his arms around her small frame. 

The sight of her in his sleep shirt was something he could never get use too. He would smell her in that forever when he put it on and he was perfectly happy with that knowing she belonged to him. He leans in and growls in her ear, "you know what this sight does to me."

She leans back giving herself fully too him but not opening her eyes. His touch, his scent, his voice sends the best chills and she knows its him behind her. "I know" she smirks opening her eyes and she catches him staring at her. His one hand reaching down under the top of the shirt and grabbing her right breast. His fingers play with her nipple as his other hand slides under the bottom of his shirt playing with her again. 

Her moans drive him crazy as her head tilts back against him. She feels his hard bulge against her back knowing he needs relief as well. She tries to pull away but he pulls her back. "Where do you think your going?" He voice using that dominating tone that drives her wild when she is like this. His fingers not stopping their playing but giving her no release or even close.

"I…." She stopped she she gelt his fingers slide in her again. He was not letting her think, knowing exactly what to do to her.

"Use your words, MC."

"I wanted to give you release." She looks into his eyes in the mirror and sees his smirk.

He leans into her ear and growls "watching you like this will give me all the release I need when I'm fucking you hard." He feels her body go weak and smiles as he look down at her against him. “Lets get you in bed, but this needs to go” he states tugging on the shirt as he moved his hands a way from her.

She pulls it off in one go as she stands there, she feels him back away but hands on her hips. He gently moves them to the bed and pushes her back. Her legs are hanging off the end of the bed as she looks at him still in his pants and shes naked on his bed. She see’s the smirk on his face as she adjusts herself for what is about to happen. She leans up on her elbows and as she looks in his eyes her breathing hitches again, feeling the wetness and desire between her legs and throughout her body.

He undoes his pants and takes them and his underwear off and grabs the back of her thighs. “Tell me what does my love need?”

His voice as she says those makes her body feel on fire, as she looks at him standing between her thighs both of them naked. “I need you, all of you. I can handle everything you do to me, Jake.” she manages to get out.

With those words he leans over and kisses her deep, lining him hard cock with her wet enterance. He feels her moan into his mouth, as he pushes against her but not entering. He feels her hips buck and he smirks as he moves his mouth down her neck. As he feels her buck again, he can’t control both of their desires any longer and thrusts into her, filling her completely. He watches her body arch and head tilt back but he keeps his mouth on her neck as he stays there, thrusting just oh so little enough to drive her wild.

He knows in this moment, shes losing all control of her mind and body as she bucks against him to fuck herself under him. He bites on her neck and hears her yelp but her body doesn’t stop. He moves his hands from her thighs to her hips to stop her, holding them tight. She grabs the blankets under her trying to fight against him but as she looks into those blue eyes she loses the control and her body tightens around him. He knows what is about to happen and starts relentless pounding into her.

He feels her orgasms not stop as she watches her body arch and shake under him. He knew she needed this, but hadn’t realized just how much after everything they had gone through. As he watches her, he knows she’s about to go weak. He thrusts into her harder, feeling himself close. Normally at this point he would pull out of her but her body is holding him in and he can’t control himself anymore. As he thrusts deep in her he explodes inside her, her eyes shoot open as she looks up at him, realizing what just happen but feeling him fill her has her body wanting more of him. 

Once they both finish, Jake pulls out and picks her up bringing her to the pillows. He lays her down and lays next to her,  pulling her close to him. He looks into her eyes as his fingers draw circles on her body.

 Once they both catch their breathe, she looks into his eyes. “You have no idea how much I needed that.” she turns her head and kisses him deeply. 

When she pulls away, he runs his hand from her stomach up to her face and runs her fingers along her lips. “I know exactly how much you needed that, but lets get you cleaned up.”

He goes to get out of bed to grab a towel and wet it but she grabs her hand. “I love you, Jake.’

He kisses her hand, ‘I love you too, MC.” he leaves and comes back with a wet towel from the basin and cleans her up as she lays in bed. After he is done he lays back down and watches her fall asleep as he holds her.

[shioplet]

Summer Time Render is Duskwood AU! Well, at least the MCs are

I don't know if I'm mixing my fan girl selves 'cause after reading so much Duskwood fanfic I watched Summertime Rendering but...

The first time I saw Ajiro Shinpei, my thoughts were "JAKE!!". And after definitely getting to know him a bit more, "DEFINITELY, JAKE!"

I can't help but feel like Shin is how Jake would be if he was younger, free and without whatever tragic backstory he has that made him extremely distant of others. But I guess it works without the latter as well, he was somehow distant at the beginning of the anime for reasons... <3 <3 <3

Black hair ✓

Intelligent ✓

Objective ✓

Calm/collected/Tries to control emotions ✓

Can be overprotective ✓

HOT ✓

Art by: deadprince

PS. Ushio can be MC too! Stubborn/Extremely helpful/Outgoing/Can be boyish/Easily attracts others/Forward/WhatIsDangerAttitude

I just love both pairings so much! <3 <3 <3

Another PS.. Hannah can be Mio lmao

[babeczka415]

Before the Lies

Trap of Lies Prequel

Before the lies and deceit Maebell Celelic Carter And Jacob Owen Lewis knew each other. Their mothers knew each other and they became obviously close to each other. When you would see one you would see the other. Until life turns their whole world upside down.

Their fate is entwined from such young ages that it was only time their paths crossed again at that flower stand where he saved her. Could their life have been different?

Will their connection as children hold them both hostage through the years? Will their lives continue to keep them close? Or will their lives as they grow up change how they see each other?

Master List

Each chapter is written by one of these amazing writers! Make sure you follow each and follow the hashtag #before the lies as each THRUSDAY there will be a new chapter

@julesthoughts @duskwoodgirl4life @paigenoelchas-blog @raemae17

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

[duskwoodgirl4life]

Before The Lies

This is a 1700 dark AU each chapter as been written by amazing people if you are new to the story start with trap of lies which can be found here the rest of the chapters for before the lies can be found here.

Chapter 7

It was late at night as Charles prepared to Tonight  meet with the mystery man again. He got in contact with him and asked to meet. The designated meet up location was  behind an alleyway, where there was very little light. There was a hint about who the mystery man was and  the more Charles thought about it, there was only one person it could be. 

Standing in the damp, dark alleyway, the only sound that could be heard was the sound of the water hitting the ground. Charles looked into the shadows of the night and saw a dark figure coming closer to him. This time, he could make out more details about the other man, as it was clear now that it was a man. He was dressed very smart, his shirt had a gold pattern that matches his waist coat. He wore plain black trousers with a long and black coat that hovered just above the ground. Charles also noticed the gentleman was walking with a black cane which had a silver handle on the top. 

As the figure got closer and closer to Charles, the hairs on the back of his neck started to stand up. He had never been nervous about meeting anyone before but this was different. There was something off about this but he couldn’t put his finger on it. He held his breath for a few seconds before slowly breathing out. 

"Do you have what I came for?" The figure spoke slowly, blowing smoke into Charles’ face. 

Charles answered, “Yes. Everything you need to know is in this file."  His hand shook slightly as he handed the file over.  

"Excellent. This is very good.  Very good indeed. I knew I was right about you." A look of concussion hit Charles’ face as he remembered he had heard that voice before.  It was Angus Barnett. 

Charles suddenly realized that he had been selling secrets to Angus, shock ran across his face.  Angus saw the shock appear on the other man’s features. Angus just stood there looking at Charles, with a grin on his face. In a fit of panic, Charles rushed away from that dark place as quickly as he could, all the way home, hoping that no one would see him coming out of the shadows.

Once home, he rushed to his study and wrote out a note, addressing it to Nathaniel. l He would meet him at the shop in the morning. This note  instructed Nathaniel to alert all the helpers  that gathered secrets and have them  for him to keep a special watch on Angus Barnett. 

Finding out about Angus had Charles worried.  Why hadn’t he figured it out sooner.  If he had, he wouldn't have sold him one of the biggest secrets ever. Charles started to wonder, when this was all said and done in the end, would it have been worth it.  Worth going to battle against Angus.  He was a powerful man and when he wanted something he got it. There was no way of knowing what he was going to do with the information he just obtained. Charles had to come up with a plan to find out what Angus Barnett was really up to. 

Charles' thoughts turned to Janice. His face showed so much concern for her. He didn't want anything awful to happen to her, especially now he knew that Jake's father is Angus Barnett. Janice was a sweet, kind, caring woman and all Angus did was use her for his own sick pleasure. Charles wanted nothing more than to try and protect Janice as much as possible. 

Over the next few days, Charles kept a special eye on Janice.  He felt it was down to him to make sure that she was looked after and safe. The thought kept returning to him, He felt that in some way he owed it to her, after he sold one of his biggest secrets to be Angus.

 Charles received daily updates from Nathaniel about Angus and his movements. He reported that something big was about to go down.  Drugs would be brought into the docks and unloaded by Angus's men and were due to arrive in a  couple of days. Charles told Nathaniel to keep reporting back and find out where Angus was taking the drugs. 

The next morning, Charles was met at his shop by a very anxious Nathaniel. He had a note in his hand from Angus. The bastard wanted another meeting that night and Charles was to come alone. Panic started to rise in his body as he read the note.  He tried to retain his composure and think of the best way to deal with this situation. He told Nathaniel to send word to Angus that he would meet him  tonight at the agreed place. Charles paid Nathaniel well for his services, before he left the shop and the worried shop owner behind.. 

The day felt like it was never going to end. Charles had been in a panic all day thinking about this meeting. As soon as it was  closing time, he hurried  home to prepare for his meeting with  Angus. 

Mary greeted Charles with a soft smile and a kiss each evening when he arrived home.  After supper, Charles told Mary that he was going to an important business meeting and would be back soon. He didn't like lying to his wife and he wasn't about to start. Picking up his hat and coat, he left the comforts of his home and  made his way to the meeting place. 

Arriving at  a tavern that he had not been to before, Charles made his way inside to wait for Angus. The tavern was filled with smoke and there was a man in the corner playing the piano. The walls were decorated with a floral pattern.  All around the room, there were women draped across men's knees, the men touching every part of the woman’s body. 

The lighting made the room just about visible, the low flickering of the candles burning away on each table. Silence consumed the room when a loud bang was heard coming from the door. No one dared to speak until they were spoken to. Angus came walking across the room, hitting the bar with his cane, and a woman quickly came over with his drink. Drink in hand,Angus turned his attention to Charles, who was sitting in the corner. Beads of sweat started to roll down Charles face, he had never been this nervous before. Angus walked over and slammed his drink down onto the table causing Charles to jump slightly. Angus sat down looking right into Charles eyes, he could see the panicked look on his face. 

"You're wondering why I requested you to meet me here tonight." A small chuckle left Angus’ lips. Before Charles could reply, he spoke again, "I know you have information on the drug deals that are happening soon. I want that file by tomorrow." Angus downed the rest of his drink and left the tavern. 

Charles was left in a state of shock. Why did Angus think he had information on a drug deal that was supposed to be happening soon? Getting up from the table, he made his way home in a daze. He did not know what the hell he was going to do.

Nathaniel came to the shop the next morning, with some very important information about what was going to be happening with the drugs coming in. Charles was so happy to hear this news. Thanks to this young boy, he had just what Angus needed. Nathaniel handed him the piece of paper that had listed the dates when they would arrive. 

The first shipment was due in the next couple of days and the boat would arrive by nightfall. There would be a group of men already there to take possession of the drugs.  From there they will be taken back to an unknown location. The second shipment would arrive one week from the first and so on, in total 5 shipments of drugs would be arriving at the docks. Charles knew this was something Angus was keen on being a part of and he would deliver the information Angus needed. 

[juaxii]

" SO YOU'RE REALLY JUST GONNA LEAVE ME HERE ? " Their eyes were piercing yours, angry tears dripping down their face. There was no dramatic rain or thunders to make the atmosphere melancholic. The silence of the night was enough to drive both of you to the verge of madness. "After all we did... all the secrets we told to each other, the memories, you're just gonna leave like that? Like nothing mattered!?" Their voice was shaky, silked with venom and hatred. "I shouldn't have done this in the first place.. getting attached. It was wrong of me..."

It was wrong of you to think their reaction would've been anything else. Since the day you shifted, they were attracted to you. It wasn't even in the plan, your script was written in another way, and yet they broke out of the 'code', one could say. The walls that they built around themself to protect them from the cruelty of the world was broken, all because you decided to pay attention to them, spend time with them. And their mind, now clouded with you and thoughts of you, tickly covered by ignorance, could not stand the mere thought of you being gone. Why? Because you had a family waiting for you? Friends?

WELL WHAT ABOUT THEM?!

Did you not care about them? Was it all an act to gain a sick pleasure of experiencing something new?! Was that all this was to you? A MERE GAME?

And now you had the audacity to stay silent despite their screaming, their voice of fear. Fear of losing yet another person they loved, another person they could rely on and trust. It all sounded cliché and daft, and yet true in their head.

"It was all a game to you, wasn't it?"

But it wasn't. You were merely scared of getting too attached.

[lyon-amore]

It's been a year since Richy managed to get Hannah out of the mine and Michael Hanson died in that mine. The group has grown apart, divided between those who wanted Hannah to confess to the accident and those who wanted their friend to be calm.

Jessy has contacted everyone again, wanting to bring them all together for a weekend to try to recover the friendship they once lost and try to fix things.

What everyone thought was going to be a quiet weekend will turn into the most hellish weekend they will ever forget

Story to wait for the Moonvale game and write the chapters and to entertain you in the meantime with this crazy idea. Enjoy it.

[julesthoughts]

Trap of Lies

Chapter 26

This is a dark AU collaboration started by @x3kristax3. You can find the other chapters here.

TW: Torture, violence, detailed scenes of violence, light sexual acts

Phil POV

Completely drained, I stood in my bathroom and reviewed the evening. I looked at my hands, still dirty with dirt and blood from the nasty son of a bitch and his horse. I went to my bathroom and washed my hands and face. I took off the dirty clothes and put on fresh clothes.

I saw the remaining blood residue in my sink that was not washed away by the water. I cleaned up the remaining blood and burned my clothes in my oven as there was no point in trying to clean them.

A thousand thoughts ran through my mind, but they all ended in relief. We were able to save MC in time and the devil of the whole drama is finally dead. Jessy promised to take care of MC because she saw that I still had something to do.

I braced myself with both hands on the sink and lifted my head. I saw myself reflected in my mirror. It still wasn't over. We had to find the devil's father.

"Agnus Barnett," I whispered. "Where are you?"

It was maddening! I asked each of the Whispers if anyone had heard that name before. Nobody knew him, but there had to be someone.

He's got people he bossed around. He did not run this business alone, he had employees. This man knew how to hide himself. He was the master at hiding and running such a big business.

I couldn't do this alone, I needed help from someone I trusted 100%. Dan. I immediately made my way to Dan, although it was the middle of the night, he was always willing to help me. I walked to his house because I didn't want to draw attention to myself.

When I arrived, I knocked firmly on his door and he opened the door a little annoyed. "Can't you even wait until morning?" he asked me grumpily.

"No time," I hissed and immediately I saw regret on Dan's face. Not wanting to contradict me, he let me in.

He tiredly ran his fingers through his hair and got his clothes to change. I looked at him confused and he just raised an eyebrow knowingly. "I know that look, you didn't come here for a tea party."

It's been a while, but with this sentence, Dan actually managed to make me smirk. Dan got dressed and then approached me, putting a hand on my shoulder. "You look like you just committed murder."

When he didn't get an answer, his eyes widened. "Shit, who did you kill?"

"Alan, finally. But that's another story. We have to find the devil's father."

I took the blame on myself first, I didn't want to implicate MC even though she ended up being the one who killed him.

Dan suddenly looked at me seriously, "Do you know anything? Did you find out anything?"

"No!" I almost yelled, desperate. "But someone has to know something. I want to keep Jake out of it so he can focus on his new business.

"Amy," Dan suggested. "She might know something, after all she adores Alan and would do anything for him."

"How do you know that?" I asked.

"Jake told me she said she saved MC. I don't really believe it, but one thing's for sure, she'd die for him. She doesn't have to know Alan's dead, but we can pressure her to do that her answers could save his life."

"I knew you would be of great help to me. Now we just have to find out where she is."

I was glad I turned to Dan, he was always reliable, even if he could be a bit grumpy at times. Now all we had to do was find out where Amy was. I could see that Dan was already brooding.

"Any idea where Amy might be? The prostitutes are all over town, it would take us forever to find her," I paused. "Wait! I have an idea. I'm sure Charlotte can figure something out."

Dan nodded and we made our way to my bar. Once there I found Charlotte at a table with a man. I gave her a knowing look and she said goodbye to the man and walked towards me.

"What do you need to know?" she asked, since she already knew that look from me.

"Find out where Amy is at the moment, nothing else matters for now."

She nodded and got to work. Dan and I went to my office and tried to think if we really didn't know Agnus.

It wasn't long before there was a gentle knock on my door. I opened the door and Charlotte's eyes looked at me proudly. She whispered, "There's some kind of brothel across town, that's where she works."

I thanked Charlotte and nodded for Dan to follow me. I put a staff member in charge of running the bar. As we walked out of the bar, we made plans for how best to get to Amy.

"We register like normal guests and say that we would like to see Amy. Simple and uncomplicated," said Dan.

I hesitated, "It's a good idea per se, but I don't want to be recognized. I don't need rumors."

"Then we'll dress up a bit. A hat and a fake beard will do," Dan said, and we made our way over to his house. After we dressed up, I had to smile a little. A beard didn't suit me at all, but I had to go through with it now.

We took a carriage and made our way to the other side of town. We parked the carriage and got out. We entered the strange building and arrived at some kind of reception. A black-haired woman was sitting at the reception and there were men everywhere, smartly dressed. It must be the pimps.

Dan addressed the lady, "We'd both like to see Amy."

I was expecting everything, but not her next words, "No need to be so formal here. Room 9, she'll do whatever you want."

I grinned internally. Will she also answer our questions?

We both looked for room 9 and found it. We knocked and a gentle voice called us in. As she turned around, she gulped hard. She recognized us.

"You're not here to consider my service and I was about to leave anyway."

Dan chuckled darkly, "The receptionist told us that you do everything for us. I'm sure you'll also answer a few questions for us."

"What do you want? I have a date with Alan!"

I roared laughing, "Oh, I guess this isn't going to work out."

"What does this mean?" she asked in panic.

Dan took a step towards her, "If you want to see your beloved prince, then answer our questions."

She sat on the bed, sighed, and gestured for us to ask."

"Where is Alan's father?" I fell right in with the door, I didn't want to waste any more time.

She looked at us in shock, "How do you know I work for him?" She immediately put her hand to her mouth.

"That's easier than I thought," Dan chuckled. She shook her head in disbelief at her own stupidity.

"So, you know more than we thought. Well, I'm waiting for an answer."

"I don't know. For heaven's sake, I'm just a prostitute. He won't tell anyone where he is, at least that's what Alan always tells me."

"But you know who works for him, give us a name and location of this person."

She hung her head and said nothing more. I was right, she knew who worked for him. Dan sat down in a chair and spread his legs. "Either you answer this question now or you have to satisfy me."

I saw disgust on her face, Dan didn't seem to be her thing at all, and he seemed to have noticed and taken advantage of it. He knew that she would never willingly touch him if he gave her the choice.

She walked up to Dan, putting each hand on his knees and looking deep into his eyes. "I've had to touch more obnoxious guys than you. Come on, take off your pants. I'll satisfy you."

Dan smiled. What was going on in his head? "That's your job, if you're supposed to please me then you're supposed to do all the work."

With that, she winced and made a gagging sound. "Fine! You won. The name is Poke, he sells his wares in a park, behind a shabby shack. I don't know what time he is there though."

"There you go," Dan said as he rose from his chair.

"Are you releasing Alan? I gave you answers!"

This time I chuckled darkly, "Oh he's been free for a long time."

She looked at us confused and so we left her. She was lucky that she was a woman and not a man. No matter how much I detested a woman, I don't hurt a woman's hair.

Dan and I left the building and took the carriage to said park. I felt we had a better chance of finding this poke at night. We pulled our fake beards off our faces and parked the carriage a little further from the park.

We sneaked through the park to the shabby shack. We heard a branch snap behind the shack and immediately I ran behind the shack and there was a stranger to me.

"Poke?" I asked.

"Jesus Christ, who told you my name? What do you want to buy?"

"Answers."

As he tried to run away, Dan grabbed his collar and pushed him against the back door of the shack and to our surprise the door swung open. Dan didn't hesitate and shoved him into the cabin where he slammed into the opposite wall. I followed Dan into the shack and locked the door from the inside.

When I turned around, I saw Dan standing behind the man, holding a knife to his neck. He was helpless at our mercy.

"So, Poke, I'll ask you questions and you'll answer them well."

He just nodded and flinched as the blade of the knife digged a bit into his neck from his nod.

"Where's Agnus?"

"I don't know," he said pleadingly.

"Lie!" I roared and looked around the shack. This seemed to be the gardener's hut, since only gardening tools were lying around here. Everyone knows garden tools are the best torture tools.

I took a smaller saw and took Poke's hand and sawed off his pinky. He cried out, but I slapped him, and he just whimpered while blood dripped onto the floor.

"Answer me or all your fingers will be off."

He didn't say anything, and I held the saw to his ring finger. A grinding noise arose as I took an extra long time on his bone. I looked deep into his eyes, but still got no answer, so I cut off his next finger.

The game went on until all his fingers were off and there was a puddle of blood beneath us. Tears streamed down his face, and I saw that he was about to finally answer me.

I put his fingerless hand in front of his eyes and put the saw on his wrist. "Last chance," I threatened him.

I began to rock the saw back and forth slowly, letting him watch as I sawed his wrist. I kept sawing but stopped when I sawed through his bone and left his hand hanging on a piece of skin. He saw his wrist swinging on a thread of skin in front of him.

I took his fingerless hand and yanked with all my might, skinning part of his forearm in the process. His wrist fell to the ground with a loud splash, and he cried out at the top of his lungs.

And he answered.

"Ah shit! He lives in a rather large mansion, he spends all day there and rarely leaves it. The villa is only guarded from the inside. It's very isolated. In the middle of the forest, there is no street and no house number."

"How many guards?"

"Five or six. Two stand right in front of his office. Two stand at the entrance of the house and there are usually two walking around the mansion."

He was getting weak, and I could see Dan using all his muscles to keep holding him up.

"End him," I said to Dan.

Dan dropped him on the ground, leaned over him and slit his throat. Blood spurted out of him and for a brief moment I saw gratitude in his eyes. I didn't really want to go that far, but the thought of Alan getting his drugs from his own father's business infuriated me. And those drugs he used on MC.

MC had never done anything to anyone but Alan, but he deserved it.

We left the cabin, we took the carriage to Dan's house and we planned to find Agnus before dawn. The thought of what Richy and Alan had done to MC brought out the inner beast in me.

We didn't bother to clean up, just thinking how to find this mansion in the vast forests. We decided to stop by Alan's house and see if we could find anything. Once there, we broke down his front door and searched everything. Dan winced when he saw the huge bloodstain on the floor.

I roughly explained to him what had happened, and that MC is now safe.

"Good thing that son of a bitch is finally dead," said Dan.

I just nodded when I found an envelope. Inside the envelope was a painting of a mansion, and Dan gasped. "I know this mansion, how could I forget that! I rode past the mansion."

We each took a horse and rode off, Dan leading the way. It was a long and difficult ride. So many hurdles, detours and strong currents. No wonder no one has found him on such a path. I saw the villa and we brought our horses to a stop and put them in a meadow where no one could see them. We gave them an apple to eat as a reward.

We made our way to the mansion, and as Poke said, it's not patrolled from the outside. Dan pressed something cold metallic into my hand. A pistol and a knife. I hid the gun in my holster and the knife in my belt pouch.

I don't care that we had to kill everyone in there to get to Agnus. We had to shut down the source to end this drug business. And the source was Agnus.

We entered the premises and crept to the large front door. As big as the door is, it was easy to break open.

In the foyer, two muscular men immediately ran toward us, but Dan and I each drew our knives and slit their throats in one motion. We didn't hesitate and went further into the villa, where we met another man. Dan stabbed the blade of his knife into his neck and life drained from him too.

A man attacked me from behind and choked me off, Dan didn't know how to act. No matter how he tried to attack the man behind me now, he would hurt me. I turned the knife over in my hand and just swung it back. I hit the man behind me as his grip on my neck loosened.

My knife was stuck in his stomach, I pulled it out with all my might and immediately slit his throat before he could start screaming. He gurgled and blood spurted out of his mouth.

I coughed and gasped, he had a strong grip on it.

"Son of a bitch," I cursed under my breath.

After my breathing settled, Dan helped me up and we walked up the stairs. At the top we arrived in front of a huge wooden door, it was powerful. Two men stood to the right and left of the door and unfortunately, they noticed us immediately.

"How did you guys get in here?" asked the man on the right.

"With a little help," Dan said, brandishing his bloodied knife in his hand.

He threw the knife and it hit the wall next to the man on the left. He sneered but stopped laughing when Dan aimed his gun at him and shot him in the head. Now we could make some noise, we were busted anyway, and Agnus knew we were here.

I walked a little towards the man on the right when suddenly another shot rang out and I felt a warm liquid splash on my face. The man in front of me sagged and Dan blew smoke from his gun.

I tried to open the door, but it was locked. "Wimp," I whispered to Dan, shooting the lock with my pistol.

The door opened and I saw an older man, but that black hair looked all too familiar. There sat the likeness of Alan.

He looked at us with wide eyes, for a brief moment I saw a flash of fear in them. But immediately I saw pure hatred in his eyes.

I wiped the blood from my mouth with my right hand and gave him a friendly smile like a businessman.

I had to look like a psycho.

"Hello Agnus."

[x3kristax3]

Trap of Lies

A/N: please make sure you are caught up on all the chapters otherwise you will be lost. Here is the masterlist.

Chapter 22

Sitting there I knew Jake couldn't see me and Jessy was making sure it stayed that way. How could I be so dumb everyone thst saw that kiss knows now. Which means only one thing, HE knows. I start to fidgit and a cup drops and  it breaks.

Shit, shit, shit.

"Jessy, who's here with you?" Jake asks her.

"I have someone from my past over. Please just come by later with her parents." She states.

I'm trying to clean uo the mess, staying quiet and unseen until I see boots standing in the doorway and my heart knows who is there. I need to focus on my emotions, I can't break this act. 

"Why didn't you tell me she was here?" He asks.

"Because I told her not to," I say, holding my cold tone towards him.

"Look, she's with Alan, Jake. Her and I needed to catch up and have some girl time and that's exactly what was happening." Jessy grabs his arm to pull him out as I stand up.

He comes closer to me and puts his hands on my cheeks. I feel my walls crumbing so I close my eyes. "Please MC, just tell me the truth. Are you doing this for revenge?" He asks.

Hearing him say those words I open my eyes and I see the look in his eyes, he's scared which means my hazel eyes have turned black but he doesn't let go of my face. I grab his wrist and push them away. "Jake, I meant what I said when I left you. Please don't look for something to hold onto me when there isn't anything there." I move away from him and turn away.

"MC, please talk to me. I know something isn't right. I know your heart." His voice makes me want to let this wall down and just hold him.

Jessy comes and looks in my face without saying a word she knows my walls are breaking down. “Jake, you should really leave."

She’s trying to get him out because she knows my mind is on hunt mode and he shouldn’t see this. I need to control this darkness inside of me, but the more and more I’m with Alan it’s just harder to do. I just scared him but he doesn't know I still love him with every piece of my heart. I wanted nothing more than to kiss him when he grabbed my face and looked into my eyes. His touch sends shivers through my spine because I miss him. 

"Fine, just know I am going to be taking over your father's business." He says and I hear him walk away. Jessy follows them and I hear them whispering and then the front door closes.

I feel the tears falling down again and I fall to my knees. Jessy comes and hugs me tight. "Sweetie, you need to let him back in. You're going to lose yourself if you don't even a little bit."

I know she's right but I can't ask him when he's turning his life around. She rocks me until I stop crying and there's another knock on her door.

"Okay either I'm popular today or everyone knows you're here," she laughs.

I let out a laugh as we both got up. I walk to the door with her and see my brother. His brown hair and green eyes make him recognizable. I haven't seen him since before everything happened and I'm unsure if he even knows as he's been so busy with being a step below Alan at the bobbies.

He sees me and instantly pulls me in for a hug, "Alan told me you were here." His hug is so tight I can't breathe and I smack him to get him to loosen up.

"Hi to you too Eric,'' I say once he lets go. I know Alan sent him to check to make sure I am here. However, Alan doesn't know that like Jessy he's fiercely loyal to those he loves no matter what.

"Come on in Eric" Jessy says making sure no one else is coming.

He walks in and we head into the parlor. "He wants you to go back, that's why he sent me." He states.

"I want to see Mom and Dad. I haven't since I left Jakes" I say. Saying his name my heart breaks and they both can tell it. They each hold a hand of mine.

Eric knows about my past. When he went into the bobbies there were some open cases they asked him to look into for missing people. So he asked Jessy and I about it as our descriptions kept coming up. We told him the truth. He kept it a secret and resealed those cases to protect us.

"I need to know, are you planning something against him?" He asks, looking into my eyes.

I hate the thought of lying to him but with him being Alan's right hand man I can't take the chance of Alan figuring it out. "No I am no." I state.

"Why did I see Jake leave here by the way?"

"He was dropping something off I asked Charlies for and he saw MC." Says Jessy.

"You know I have to tell Alan right?" He states looking at Jessy.

"Nothing happened expect me breaking his heart again." I get up and look out the window. I see a carriage coming up the parhway and I know who's in it. 

"I'm going to have to go Jessy. As much as I want to stay to see my parents. Give them a hug for me and let them know what we talked about." I state, turning around and Eric is standing behind me looking out the window as well.

I know he just wants to protect me. He knows Alan is a dirty bobby but there isn't anything he can do without evidence. This is another reason I'm with him for now, on top of my own revenage. I want to help my brother clean up the bobbies and get rid of all of the dirty ones. There's a family bringing drugs in and they are getting away with it because of this. He learned this and I have a feeling Alan is connected after being tortured and drugged.

I look in his eyes "I will let Jessy know any information I find out for you okay?" I say putting my hand on his chest.

"I'm worried about you MC. Please don't go this long again without updating someone." His eyes are soft and I know it's worrying everyone. Even when I was with Jake I was always checking in with everyone. Being held captive without anyone knowing is pure torture because they are my family and just want to help.

There's a knock on the door and Jessy servant gets it and walks in with Alan. "I thought you had run off" he says, acting concerned as he comes to me and pushes Eric out of the way.

"Never, my love," I say, trying to control my temper while being in the same room as him.

Jessy comes up and hugs me tight, "We need more of these days together again. It's felt like forever" she smiles at me. 

I know she's putting on the act again to help me out.

I don't even get a word out before Alan jumps in. "She needs more time to heal after what she went through Jessica. This shouldn't have happened." He states taking my hand but I pull away from him.

He glares at me for pulling away, "no the doctor said I should get back to living my life normal as long as I feel okay with it. Seeing Jessy and my family more often is included in that Alan." I have lost my temper for the first time in two weeks and his eyes are dark.

I can tell he's controlling his anger with Jessy and my brother both right there but I know his signs. "Then tomorrow let's go see your parents and tell them the news. Since they probably don't know you've been with me." He takes my hand again and pulls me out.

Jessy goes to follow but my brother stops her and I know she wants to hurt him for his actions.

Jessys POV:

It's been a few hours since MC left and I'm worried. She let her temper out with Alan and that has never ended well with him from what I remember when they were supposed to be getting married. When she first told me about Jake it wasn't someone I knew, even though at the time I knew everyone in this town. I had later learned why when I met him. I knew him as a different name which concerned me for her safety but the way they looked at eachother was pure love. I had to let her be happy. 

I hear a knock on the door as I realize I have been pacing in the kitchen while the servants got tea and some finger food ready. I knew who was at the door but I still jumped. I went out and they were sitting in the parlour. Jake had really come with Charles and Mary but I needed to get Charlies away for a bit. He had to know what his daughter was up to.

"Charlies, do you have a moment to come into the study? There's this drawer we can't seem to get open that is very much needed." I ask looking directly at him.

"I can do it" states Jake.

"I rather he does it but thank you Jake." I state.

Charlies looks at me and knows there isn't an issue. Thst there is a discussion that needs to happen completely in private. "Sure, Jessy. And how many times do I have to tell you, you can call me Dad'' he smiles. 

He knows I hate calling any man since my father walked away but it's always stood that I could. He follows me in and he closes the door. I face him and he knows it's about MC.

"You saw her today?" He asks.

"I had a chance to get her away. I will tell you, he still has her heart. She is carrying the ring in her corset." I sigh.

"What else did she tell you, Jessy?"

"She told me a lot. Especially about that time she was kidnapped before we met. She also is on her own personal hunt." I look away from him as I say that. That saying was something we promised would never come out of our mouths again when we fled.

"She's seeking her revenge" he sighs in relief.

"I'm sorry she couldn't tell you," I look at him knowing this is the hardest part of telling him. "Also, she demanded that Jake knows nothing about this."

"Mary and I figured that much. I know she hasn't told him about how you two met." He states as he starts passing the room.

"We should go back before he comes looking." I say as I go to the desk and pretend to fight with the drawer.  He opens the door and I open the drawer.

We head back out to the parlor and I see Jake is pacing. When he was here earlier she broke his heart again. I know she told me not to give him hope but I have too. I walk up to him as he has his back to me and put my hand on his back gently.

"Jake, I shouldn't be telling you this but I can't watch your heart breaking like this." I sigh as I get ready.

"I just don't understand MC. How can she claim to love a man who's the reason for her pain?" He stares out the window.

"She doesn't love him, that's the thing. Just please know this, she still holds you in her heart." I sigh hoping I didn't give him too much hope.

He turns around and stares at me with those blue eyes. "I know she still loves me. When I grabbed her face before I saw something in her eyes before she closed them but I wasn't prepared for when she opened them. I have never seen her eyes turn so dark. I'm worried for her safety with him."

I look at Mary and Charlies and sigh. I want to tell him but MC would straight up hurt me if I did so I turn away.

"Is she okay?" Mary asks.

"Yes, she knows what she's doing. Also, when he came and picked her up she lost her temper with him a little bit and he said they would come see you tomorrow." 

I swear Charles' eyes look like they are going to pop out of his head when I say that and it concerns me as the past with Alan before Jake entered the picture for good.

"What aren't you telling us Dad?" Asks Jake behind me.

"I know you are not fully ready as it's only been two weeks but tomorrow morning you are taking ownership of the business." 

"Why?"  I hear the concern in Jake's voice and I know he's trying to understand everything but there are important pieces of information he is missing.

"When you came into our lives Jake, MC was supposed to marry Alan. The agreement was that Alan's family would pretty much take over the business if he was to take care of her. I'm afraid he remembers and will come and look to collect. However if I don't own the business it voids that out."

"So you are telling me, if I take it over first thing in the morning. I have a chance of having her back in my arms by this time tomorrow?" 

His voice holds a sound of hope. I see the hope and love in his eyes he carries for her but even if that is the case, MC won't give up her hunt. She knows if she doesn't end this once and for all he will just keep pushing his way between them.

"There is a chance, but that depends on her." Mary states, trying to keep his hope up. 

I see him relax for the first time in a while hearing those words. "There is one thing I must do," he states.

"You are not to go see her at Alans." Charlies states.

"I just need to see her one more time today. Everytime I saw her today my heart broke. I PROMISE all of you I won't say anything to her or Alan."

"Jake, please don't. She is going through enough and you might not like what you see" I say as I cover my mouth.

"What are you talking about? Is he abusing her?" He demands answers.

"She didn't say but his tone when she let her temper out scared me but she held her own like it wasn't the first. So please just let her come to you." My voice is begging him and he notices it.

"Fine but if you hear or see anything let me know. I know she didn't want this kiss from him. She didn't even like when we kissed in public." He states, walking out and I hear the door close.

"You aren't lying to him are you?" Ask Mary concerned for her daughter.

"No but I told Charles, she's on a hunt. Jake won't like seeing her like that." I sigh as I sit down next to them.

Jakes POV:

As I walk out of Jessy house, I know there are things they are hiding from me. I just don't know why. Does MC have something to do with it? I know when I grabbed her face I saw a wall breaking down. However, when she closed her eyes I thought I was getting her back but her eyes were so dark they scared me but my heart tells me it's because of Alan.

Why did I have to tell them I wouldn't go see her? I just need to make sure she's okay. What harm would it be to go that way and just see if I see her outside?

I decide to mount Midnight and head towards Alan's. I get up there and I stop and I see her and him outside the carriage. He's holding her arm tight and I can tell he's trying to put her in her place. It's one thing about himz I've always despised. He never let her be true to herself and now he seems even worse. It's like he knows he can break her and tame her.

I see her raise her other hand to him and he stops it mid air. Her demeanor is that she's scared. She and I had talked about him and why she didn't trust him and it was due to this temper. He lets go of her one wrist, but still holds onto her. I hear her raise her voice and then she shakes her arm and storms off into the house. I know something is right but I can't step in, she isn't mine to save anymore no matter what hope everyone tries to give me. I ride off on Midnight trying to get rid of that scene in my head.

[hacked-by-jake]

Headcanon of mine:

Jake is a professor/lecturer at uni , he is wanted by the government because he wants to give out information out of the administration he works for....

And God have mercy the uniform he wears is just 🧎

[artic-willow]

"We were a family."

Sooo, just a random idea I had, it's basically just Sumer (MC) and Jake was dating even tho Azure have lost her father some time ago and they have some relationship issues. Jake started to be the father figure she needed but then Jake and MC broke up so Azure is now more sad because she thought she have finally find a good family.😕