Just when you thought things couldn't get more complicated...
Back to the Mighty Ducks ALL ACCESS ZONE !!!!E
"Hey Chase, c'mon, we got a heist tonight!" His closest friend, Randall yelled from the doorway. Chase looked up and waived his hand at his friend agitated.
"I'll be right there." Taking out paper, he quickly scribbled 'WANTED: Good Worker, Waitress, Dishwasher, See Chase'. Tacking the sign up next to one of the windows, Chase took off to go on his heist.
The girl trudged through the snow. Muffling a cough, she squinted down the road. With the storm, she had trouble recognizing where she was. Seeing a car ahead of her, she motioned for assistance only to be covered with slush. Glaring, she picked herself up and continued on. Bright lights caught her eye--a good place for directions. She plodded across the street and blinked as she came up to a large diner. "Chase's Place," she murmered reading the sign. She wondered how she had never noticed the small building, but then decided that she must have been outside of her territory.
Gingerly, she tested the foor but it was locked. She walked around the other side of the building, wondering how to get in when a paper flew into her and onto the wet snow. Bending over, she picked it up. "WanD: Good bass, bait on, fish washer, sea Chase". The water had smudged the ink terribly and the girl re-read the words puzzled. Suddenly, she smiled. "Oh I get it, this is a Sea Food Resturant!" Sticking the ad in her pocket, she stood outside the door, waiting for some one to come.
Jake jumped off of the building clutching the jewel, cops on his tail. Duke, thinking that it was a good learning experience--and sick of Jake's begging--sent him in alone with the others as back up. Leave it as the one time he gets to go solo for a pigeon to fly in the open window and set off the alarm. Turning a quick corner, he dove behind one of the garbage canisters. He held his breath; he heard the cops slow down. Pulling out his gun (whenever the gangs faced police, they opted for guns instead of the sabers they used normally) and counted to five. He hated police and didn't have as much of a conscience as his master, Duke. Hearing the police walk closer, he counted three more.
"Hey Charlie, you think that he's here?"
"Of course he is, I can smell that skanky criminal smell..." Jake counted to five again, starting to get angry.
"But Charlie, there aint no footprints..."
"We should check it out, go to that garbage canister, I'll hit the back." Jake bit his lip waiting, and scared. Seeing the garbage canister being pulled he took off shooting his gun three times. He didn't stop running as he heard the officers' guns clicking. Tripping on the ice, he closed his eyes, waiting for the shots to hit him.
Five seconds later, Jake opened his eyes. "What the-?" The cops were walking the opposite direction talking to a girl. The cops continued off and the girl turned towards Jake. Silver eyes gazed at him. Jake jumped up, but she was gone. He was confused. Who was the girl who saved his life? Could she be an angel? Where was she from? Did she know who I am? Jake scratched his head and walked back out to where the others were supposed to wait for him.
"That's it," Duke said quickly, "He's been gone too long. I'm going in." >br?"C'mon, Duke," Randall said calmly, "you know Jake, he's probably just taking his sweet time as usual."
"More like triple checking absolutely everything to make sure it's more than perfect," Paul grunted, casting another look at his watch.
"Hey guys," Jake panted, a little out of breath. The gang pulled out their guns and spun around, only to see Jake. When they saw it was him, they all laughed and put their guns away.
"Don't DO that!" Duke said, relieved to see him. "I was afraid something had happened to you."
"Something DID happen to me!" Jake exclaimed, "Damn pigeon... I don't care if they're distantly related, from now on I advocate slaughtering poultry!"
"Get to the point," Paul yawned.
"I turned around and I saw the cops comin' and had to duck out the side door. They saw me and started chasin' me, I was sure I was dead because I tripped, but some girl talked to 'em and they all ran in the other direction!" Jake sat down panting. He had told his entire story in one breath. Duke looked very alarmed.
"And you're alright? You don't look hurt... did they see you?"
"Nah, I'm fine, Duke; they're gone."
"They must've been close. No sirens." John Paul mused out loud.
"And the girl?" asked Randall, "what'd she look like?"
"I dunno... a girl!" The boys all rolled their eyes. "Well," Jake murmured, "She had silver eyes." Duke looked up at that.
"Silver?" Jake nodded. "I wonder..." Duke said silently to himself. He turned back to Jake. "Well, assuming those weren't contacts, I'm sure we can find her again and thank her somehow. There aren't too many ducks out there with silver eyes." Jake nodded enthusiastically. He definitely wanted to find that girl...
Chase cupped his hands together and blew on them for warmth. "Not a good day..." he muttered. First Chase has lost a waitress, then he left the run early just so he could interview people for the job, and now-to top it all off-someone had stolen his help wanted sign. Chase walked into the club and hung his coat behind the counter, waving absent mindedly at various people that greeted him. "Where the hell am I supposed to find a waitress?!" He finally complained impatiently.
"Right here." Chase turned to look in front of the counter; he didn't see anyone. "uh, look down." the voice said, a little embarassed. Chase smiled kindly at the girl that was looking up at him. She was just short enough to be completely hidden by the counter.
"Can I help you, young lady?"
"Yeah. Are you Chase?" Chase nodded as the girl continued, "Funny though, this doesn't look like a seafood restaurant."
"A seafood restaurant?" Chase repeated, confused.
"Yeah, on your sign. That's what it said." She held up the sign and showed it to Chase. He laughed heartily.
"Oh, the snow must've made the ink run. I'm just looking for a waitress... this is just a normal club. Where did you find that?"
"On the ground." The girl replied with a smile, handing it to him. Chase shook his head and tossed the sign into the garbage.
"What a waste of paper. I don't suppose you'd know anybody that might be intrested in being a waiter here. Maybe an older brother or sister perhaps?"
"I got just the girl for you." the girl said happily.
"Really?" asked Chase, excited.
"Yup. Adorable, sweet, cute, and always service with a smile!"
"Who?" Chase asked eagerly.
"Me," The girl replied with a smug grin. Chase's jaw dropped.
"You?" he asked. The girl nodded. "How old are you?" Chase asked her cautiously.
"22," The girl said firmly. Chase smiled, thinking of Jake. Come to think of it, the girl looked nearly his age, or perhaps a little younger.
"I don't think so. Try again."
"21?" the girl asked nervously.
"I'm sorry, Miss, but I think you're a bit too young for this job. I'm looking for someone who can wait on tables, bus tables, and wash dishes." >br? "Sure, I can do that!"
"No." Chase said firmly. He walked out from behind the counter and began to walk out, but the girl stopped him.
"Please," she pleaded, "I NEED this job! You don't understand what it's like to have nothing at all!" Chase shook his head.
"No, now let go. Oh no you don't, don't give me that big silver eyes act, I can see right through it, come on now, I... oh, well, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try you out on dish washing for today. After all, silver eyes are a good luck symbol for money." The girl smiled and hugged him.
"Oh, thank you Chase!" She said gleefully, "I promise I'll work really hard!"
"No you won't!" Chase warned her, "You're too young to be working really hard. I'll give you some easy jobs and a few days pay, but that's it, okay? And I'm only doing this because I feel bad for you, so don't go around telling people that I'm nice!" The girl nodded enthusiastically and ran off to the kitchen. Chase walked to the front of the club, shaking his head.
The girl was obviously a gutter snipe, or some such thing, probably without a home, and Chase could vividly remember the last time he met up with such a child. Chase laughed, thinking of how little Duke had changed in the past thirteen years. He paused as he reached the front door, and looked back at the kitchen. "How do you like that, I never found out her name." Chase started for the kitchen when the rest of the Brotherhood came in.
"Hey Chase!" Randall called to him in greeting, "I see you took the sign down, so, got a new waitress?" Chase smiled.
"I suppose you could say that."
"So?" asked Randall, pulling out a cigarette, "Is she cute?" Chase smiled and pulled out a lighter, deftly giving his friend a lite.
"Yes, very cute."
"Do you think I've got a chance with her?"
"Doubtful."
"And why do you say that?" Randall asked huffily.
"Well," said Chase, "That depends. How well do you like twelve year olds?" Randall stopped cold and glared at him, watching Chase laugh.
"I thought you said she was cute," he growled, flicking his cigarette ashes into Chase's tip jar.
"Oh, she is! Cutest little girl I've ever seen! She'd be a bit prettier if she didn't hide her hair under that hat, though." Randall shook his head.
"Why am I always the one that gets the practical jokes played on me?"
"Easy," Chase replied, patting him on the back, "You're the one that thinks most with his cock... pedophile!" While Randall shouted his obscenities, the rest of the BOTB members that went on the heist walked in. Jake hunched his shoulders over.
"C'mon Duke, it was one fluke..."
"Almost cost you your life," Duke replied, ignoring Jake's pleas.
"But Duke, I'm 13, I should be able to make my own choices," Jake whined.
"Should is correct..." Duke muttered, annoyed. Jake, fed up with being insulted, took off towards the table where Hector and Dak were talking at. Duke shook his head.
"INCOMING!!!!" Duke spun around to collide into a young waitress. She fell down on the ground and Duke quickly kneeled next to her.
"Oh geez, I'm so sorry," Duke began.
"No, no, it, it was my fault... I should look where I'm going... oh, I'm really sorry," The girl stuttered, picking herself up. Duke noticed sunglasses on the floor next to her. "Miss, are these yours?" She looked up at him, silver eyes staring into his blue eyes. "Silver..." he murmured. Duke searched his mind--what did that remind him of? The girl quickly grasped the glasses. "Aren't you a little young to be a waitress?" Duke asked.
"Nah, I'm 22!" She said brightly, skating off. Duke smiled and walked to his table, shaking off the strange sense of deja vu he had just recieved.
"So, what's ya poison, Kid?" The tall, orange haired waitress asked Jake, sucking a bubble gum bubble back into her mouth with accquired skill. Jake slammed his fist down on the table. "Throw me a Corona!"
"Right, Coke." Jake glared at her.
"What, you got wax in your ears? I said BEER!"
"Look, I got orders from Chase not to give you anything but Coke." Jake looked over at the table close by to discover Chase waving at him. Jake folded his arms, mumbling something about psychotic homicide. Dak laughed at him.
"Face it buuuddy! You're never gonna get away with it. Why don'tcha try flirtin' with the waitresses instead of gettin beers out of them?"
"Flirt? Me?" Jake asked, puzzled. Dak rolled his eyes.
"You little choir boy, WATCH!" Jake sighed as he watched Dak whistle at one of the waitresses. As usual, all he got was a slap in the face.
"Gee," Jake said sarcastically, that looks like fun."
"Yeah," said Hector optmistically, "the slapping helps to keep me alert!" Jake looked at him carefully. He didn't think it was possible for Hector to be alert. Dak leaned back again watching the crowd.
"Why don't you ever go out with anyone, Jake? I mean, I know Duke doesn't really date but you don't have to copy everything he does." Dak asked, observing Jake carefully.
"Me? Date? Yeah right... I'd..." Jake's voice trailed off. Dak wondered why Jake was avoiding the subject.
"Are You gay?" Dak flew backwards as Jake slammed his fist into his face. Dak rolled his eyes and rubbed his beak. The blow did him no serious damage, but sometimes he just didn't understand Jake. A crash quickly diverted their attention...
"YOU FUCKING BITCH!" The three jumped up from their table running towards the commotion. Two of the waitresses were in a cat fight, and the smaller one was seriously getting hurt. "You little BRAT! I TOLD YOU TO STAY OUT OF MY WAY" The older one snarled, slamming her into the wall. The younger girl moaned, struggling in the grasp of the other girl. Duke and Chase came up and quickly separated the two. Ariums calmed the crowd, and soon everyone was back in their seats.
"Get out." Chase told the older waitress.
"You can't fire me without a week's pay!" The waitress demanded. Chase glared at her.
"I said get out!" he growled. The waitress walked out of the restaurant in a huff. Duke was kneeling beside the younger girl, checking her for injuries. He removed her hat and sunglasses to discover the girl he had bumped into earlier. She bit her lower lip and shivered, probably to keep from crying. Duke smiled at her kindly.
"Now I KNOW you're too young to be a waitress." He said gently. The girl cracked a smile at him. Chase shook his head.
"I told you to stay in the back and wash dishes." He reproached her softly. She winced.
"I thought I could be more of a help out here... and I was until I went to her table." Jake knelt beside her and stared at her.
"Duke," he murmured, pulling on his sleeve, "That's her. That's the girl..." Duke looked at Jake
"You sure?" Jake nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving the young waitress. Duke smiled at her. "Looks like you've got some explaining to do, Miss." The girl looked up faintly, struggling slightly to rise but Duke held her down. She eventually quieted down as Duke, Arimis, and Chase carried her out. Jake trailed behind, still in awe. Duke quietly laid the girl on a counter.
"Duke?" Jake walked up next to him. The girl by now was in extreme pain and could hardly lift her head.
"Jake, you might wanna leave for this..." Duke warned. Jake shook his head and planted his feet firmly on the ground. Arimis walked up behind the girl, straightening her back. She moaned at the slight touch. Duke looked at her.
"Miss, it looks like you banged yourself up quite a bit... it's going to be painful getting this shoulder back in place..." The girl looked up at Duke and nodded. Arimis and Chase, as if on cue, both walked up behind the girl and grabbed hold of her waist while keeping her back straight. Duke grabbed her arm and quickly pulled forward. The girl let out a small scream, choked by a quiet sob as Duke relocated her shoulder. Jake watched in shock barely moving. Duke quickly wrapped up her shoulder. "You okay miss?"
"Yeah...I'm fine...thank you, sir" she moaned. Duke smiled at her.
"The name's Duke. Duke L'Orange." Duke held out his hand to the small girl. Immediately, he paused. She froze, eyes widening, mouth gaping. Duke looked tentatively at her. Slowly, she gingerly took his hand. "And who are you?" Duke asked. The girl took a deep breath.
"My name is Amber." Duke smiled at her.
"Well Amber, it's gonna be a few days before we can let you go, for safety's sake, but after that you'll be good as new."
"Y-you mean I've gotta stay here?" Amber stuttered. Duke nodded.
"I'm sorry. You couldn't get out if you tried. It's possible that we could take you back to where you live if you tell us where..."
"NO!" Amber said quickly, "I uh, I think I'd be better off here." Duke looked up, confused.
"I see..." Duke realized that she must've sustained a few more head injuries than he had thought... "C'mon guys, we'd better let her get some rest." As the others walked out, Jake lingered at the doorway.
"Thank you." he said softly.
"For what?" asked Amber.
"My life," Jake said nervously, "Y'know, back in the alley?" Amber looked up blankly.
"How'd you know that was me?"
"Well," Jake said with a laugh, "Your eyes gave it away."
"Well, I couldn't let you die, could I?" Jake frowned.
"Most people wouldn't be of the same opinion. Who cares about a worthless criminal like me?"
"You know, I think I know exactly how you feel." Jake looked up in suprise.
"Are you a thief?" Amber shook her head quickly.
"Uh, no, but I've uh, met a few." Jake nodded distantly, noticing how nervous she seemed to get when asked about herself.
"Are you sure we can't take you to your home? I'm sure your parents'll be worried about you." Amber smiled sadly at that.
"I don't have any parents." she said calmly. Jake blushed.
"Oh, damn, I'm sorry, I didn't know."
"It's alright, I mean, how could you have known?" She said good naturedly. Amber suddenly froze and looked up. She had promised her sister, Mara, that she'd meet her at seven. "I can't stay here!" She exclaimed, trying to sit up. Jake stopped her and held her around the waist for a moment.
"You can't, you're too sick." Jake slowly let go of her, and helped her lie back down again. Amber stared at him for a moment, wondering who he really was. Jake shifted his shoulders slightly. "So, your name's Amber?" He asked. Amber nodded her head. "Funny, I woulda thought you'd have been named for your eye color... like something with Silver in it." Jake continued on, trying to make conversation. Amber quickly cut him off.
"What's your name?" Jake supressed a small laugh.
"Sorry, I usually provide my introduction... Jake." Amber looked up towards him trying to sit up.
"Short for Jacob?" She asked curiously.
"Nah, it's just plain ol' Jake. Jake DeCharmante to be precise." Jake noticed Amber's face grow pale again. She pulled herself up and jumped off of the counter, swaying on her feet.
"I gotta get out of here!" She yelled, trying to run. Jake wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to a stop. She flung her arms wildly, in an attempt to free herself, but Jake held her firmly. Wondering what to do in a situation like this, Jake quickly leaned forward and kissed her. Amber froze. Their bodies were touching, Jake's arms around her back, faces almost beak to beak. Jake let her go and stood back, wondering what had come over him. Amber allowed him to silently guide her back to the counter. "I think you're right...I-I'd better stay here," she stuttered. Jake nodded his head.
"I think I should stay with you."
"I'd like that."
"Hey, so THERE'S the punch drunk little squirt of a waitress that knocked out the bitch from hell!" Heck said happily, walking in with Dak. Jake's face turned red as they walked in, one word leaping to his mind...competition.
"How old are you anyway?" Dak asked her.
"22." Amber replied. Dak and Heck looked at each other before making a buzzer sound. "I don't know," she confessed. "I never knew my parents; there are no records." Dak nodded his head and pat her hand.
"You're not alone... Well, it's nice to meet ya, Shrimpy."
"Shrimpy?!" Amber exclaimed angrily. She stuck her toungue out at Dak who laughed in response.
"I like Shrimpy, she's got class!" Heck got at eye level with her, staring attentively at Amber, making her quite nervous.
"Uh, do you want something?" She asked him quickly. Hector blinked.
"Dammit! I lose again! It's not fair!" Heck jumped up and began pacing around the room, pouting. Jake and Dak rolled their eyes at each other.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Amber," Jake said, grandeously. "-looks like I forgot the introductions again. This is Dak, and uh, that's Hector."
"Nice to meet you." She giggled as she looked once again at Dak.
"What's with you?" Dak asked, pretending to be offended.
"Don't you and Heck have something better to do?" He muttered.
"Nope!" Heck said brightly. Amber laughed a little and turned back to Dak, deep in thought.
"Dak?" She asked finally, "I need you to do me a favor."
"Yeah, just in case you might wanna tell me what she looks like."
"Kinda tall, black hair, silver feathers, and really green eyes."
"Well, I hope I can find her..." Amber smiled slightly.
"Trust me, you can't miss her." Dak nodded and walked out getting right to his assignment. Jake smiled; one down, one to go. Amber frowned.
"What wrong?" asked Jake.
"I forgot to warn him not to try to pick her pocket. Oh well, if he does, then he'll learn it the hard way." Jake tilted his head to the side, getting ready to ask her more about this girl when Heck slid right into him, toppling him over onto the ground. Jake, pissed, pulled out a gun and pointed it at Heck's head.
"What's the fuck's the big idea?!" he exclaimed. Amber gasped as Hector tripped him sending Jake to the ground.
"I REALLY gotta get outta here!" She murmured, watching the two of them wrestle on the floor. Jake was now sitting on Hector, his gun pointed directly at Heck's head.
"Say good bye!" Jake yelled pulling on the trigger.
"NO!" Amber yelled. She noticed with shock that a stream of water escaped from the gun, squirting directly in Heck's face.
"Oh man!" Heck yelled, "Ya got me!" Heck jumped up, sending Jake sprawling onto the floor once more. "I'll get you my druggie," Heck said with an evil cackle, "AND YOUR LITTLE SHRIMP TOO!" With that, Hector promptly ran out of the door way. Jake turned to look at Amber, who was still looking at the gun in terror.
"You really thought it was real, didn't you?" Jake asked gently. Amber looked up at him, a little ashamed of herself. "I'm not allowed to carry a real gun on me all the time. I barely ever get one even when we go on heists." He said kindly. Amber smiled at him, noticing that they were alone once again. "Why do you keep trying to run off like that?" Jake blurted out. Amber smiled. He was definitely cute, but not very subtle.
"It's just that I've heard bad things about the Brotherhood." Jake looked suprised at that.
"You've got the wrong gang, you're probably thinking about the Black Rose Society." Jake said with a laugh.
"And what does that mean?" Amber asked sharply.
"Well, it's just that they're the gang I've heard the worst things about. They're really evil." Amber glared at him and crossed her arms.
"Yeah right, The BOTB's got the worst rep in the Guild! They're the most hated gang around."
"Are not. The BRS is, everybody knows that." Amber shook her head and turned away from him, completely disgusted. "You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you were offended by what I was saying."
"If you knew better then you'd be right." Amber snapped.
"Why are you so eager to defend the Black Rose?" Amber paused.
"I-I just think it's better, that's all." Jake looked at her uneasily. Amber was becoming more and more secretive by the minute, and it bothered Jake to no end. He had the sudden urge to demand why she hated the Brotherhood so much, why she didn't want to stay, and most importantly, what was she afraid of?
"Dak's in the Brotherhood. Do you hate him?" Jake demanded instead.
"No." said Amber quietly.
"Heck's in the BOTB too. Do you hate him?"
"No." she replied again.
"I'm in the Brotherhood. Do you hate me?"
"No." Amber whispered, refusing to look at him. Jake looked at her sadly.
"Then why do you hate it?"
"Because I'm...I...I can't tell you."
Amber looked at him. This man was older, and seemingly more sane than the other people around him. She smiled as it occured to her that he reminded her a bit of Aathos. "I understand we have a young patient here. Are you two getting along tolerably well?" Amber and Jake nodded silently. "I'm glad to hear it. I'm sorry, what was your name, young lady?"
"Amber." She said softly. Arimus paused and went pale.
"Amber? How old are you?" Amber shrugged.
"I don't know." Arimus stared at her a moment.
"I see. I-I'd better leave you to rest. Good bye, Miss Van Drake." Amber looked up at him, wondering how he had known her last name. He walked to the door and turned around, smiling at her kindly, "Don't worry my dear, you're perfectly safe here." Arimus looked at her once more rather carefully, "You know, it's odd, you don't look a thing like your sister." After Arimus had left, Amber sat up and screamed, struggling to get to the door.
"I'm gonna die," she cried. Jake wrestled her back down to the counter with very little effort.
"Calm down! What the hell is wrong with you?!" Jake finally yelled, losing control of himself. "I already told you, we're not gonna hurt you!" Amber looked up at him sadly.
"I'm sorry, " she whimpered, "I-I can't explain it to you...not now."
"Explain WHAT?!" Jake pleaded with her. Amber rested her head on the pillow refusing to speak. Exasperated, Jake got up and paced the room. Just then Duke came in.
"Hello there, Amber," he said with a smile, "Feeling better?" Amber nodded at him, smiling. "Now I know this counter's a bit uncomfortable, so if you wanna, we'd like to move you to another room." Amber looked up at him.
"Sure." She said weakly. Duke got a few other guys into the room, and with their help, moved Amber to the next room over with a bed in it.
"How's that?" Duke asked. Amber smiled up at him.
"Thanks Duke." Duke smiled and nodded.
"Don't mention it, Kid." Amber stared at him a moment longer in amazement. Was this really the mortal enemy that Maxine and Heather had told her about?? And Jake... was he? Amber yawned, unwilling to think about the subject any further that night. Instead, her thoughts turned to Dak and where he was right now.
"The things I do for girls!" Dak muttered aloud, searching the park for this friend of Amber's.
"Excuse me." Dak jumped as he heard a quiet voice behind him. Spinning around, Dak found himself face to face with an older girl with black hair and eerie green eyes. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you, but I noticed the necklace around your neck..." Dak nodded.
"I'm a friend of Amber's. She said you'd be here. Look, Amber's real sorry she couldn't come, but she ran into a problem at her new job." The girl looked alarmed.
"Is she alright?"
"Don't worry, she's just fine." The girl smiled at Dak, relieved.
"Thanks, and by the way, if I were you, I'd keep your hands to yourself." Dak looked at her puzzled. He reached into his pockets for the wallet he'd lifted off of her and realized it was gone...along with his wallet. When Dak looked up, the girl had disappeared without a trace.
Jake paced back and forth in his room. This Amber girl amazed him and he wanted to figure her out. There was something strange about Amber which made her all the more enticing to him. Shaking his head, he thought about the events of that evening. Why had she defended the BRS? Jake wondered. He lost his train of thought when Dak came running in.
"ALRIGHT! Where's the shrimp?!" Dak yelled.
"Amber?" Jake asked.
"Yeah, that lady who she had me find stole my fucking wallet!!! BITCH!!!" Jake began to turn pale.
"Stole your wallet? How?" Dak shrugged.
"I lifted hers and then she told me to keep my hands to myself so I looked in my pockets and BOTH of the wallets were gone! When I looked back up the lady was gone." Jake ran out of the room, panic stricken. Dak was a trained thief... only a professional could've pinched his wallet like that, and dissappearing was the Lady Smuggler's trade mark. Did that mean that Amber knew her personally? He couldn't believe what he had just heard.
Hesitantly, he walked into Amber's room. He stared at her as she slept softly in the bed. Walking closer to her, Jake studied her carefully, noticing how extremely thin and frail she was. He noticed, not for the first time, how beautiful she was. Slowly he looked downward at her boots. On the heel of the right boot he saw a tattoo... it was a rose, in black ink. A knot formed in Jake's throat... Amber was from the Black Rose Society. Jake began to tremble with anger. He should have realized it sooner.
Jake bit his lower lip as he ignited his saber; He knew what he had to do, why he had to hate her. Jake looked towards the sky, confused, "Then why can't I do it?" he choked out...
<< "Don't worry my dear, you're perfectly safe here..." >>
Amber stirred. She froze as she saw the saber at her throat. She felt sick when she realized that Jake was the one that held it. Amber closed her eyes, thinking about how the others were right about the Brotherhood... ruthless murderers. Amber thought that she was even beginning to like him. She felt her face grow pale as she watched the sharp edge of the blade...
"Jake, I..." Amber stuttered. Amber looked down, waiting for the blade to touch her neck.
Nothing happened.
Amber looked up to see the saber fall to the ground. Jake looked sick. "Amber, I... I'm sorry," Jake choked. "I can't." Amber looked at Jake with disbelief. "Why didn't you tell me?" he pleaded. Amber winced.
"I couldn't...I was frightened...I thought you were going to kill me."
"Never," Jake said with a small smile. "So you're a member of the Black Rose Society?" He asked quietly. Amber shook her head.
"No."
"But the tattoo..." Jake stammered, "And the lady Dak met...wasn't that the Lady Smuggler?"
"It was."
"I don't understand," Jake murmured, "If you're not in the Black Rose, then why were you so frightened?"
"Because," Amber whispered with a weak smile, "I'm the Lady Smuggler's little sister." Jake stared at her once more.
"I won't tell the others." he whispered. Amber's eyes lit up in amazement once again
"You won't? But I thought the BOTB was evil..."
"Do you think I'm evil ?" Jake asked with a smile, looking into Amber's eyes. He leaned towards her as she wrapped her arms around Jake's neck. Jake and Amber kissed slowly. There was no need to rush...Jake knew what they'd set into motion...They were breaking all the rules.
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