To Protect the Ones We Love We Go to Extreme Ends

A.N: Hey all hope you like this chapter!
All characters are from Kelley Armstrong's amazing Darkest Powers series. Some characters are OC's.

Plan of Action, Has No Action?

Chloe's POV

We'd finally begun to agree on things. Like who was going with whom (Derek was refusing to leave my side so he went with me of course) and where each team would go. Which building they were sent to destroy and which building held people who could become more allies.

"I suppose there is more work put into battle plans then I thought." Simon brought up one night at dinner. Since they'd returned we'd grown accustomed to sitting around the same table for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There was a lot to catch up on and not enough time to explain everything.

"Chloe?" Chris called for me and I looked up at him following him off to the side as Derek watched us. "We're going north." He instructed me and I looked back at my family.

"North?" I said and I knew Derek could hear me he shut his eyes for a moment as Chris sighed behind me,

"Is it necessary to ask him?" He asked and I nodded, "then just get over here Souza." Derek stood saying something to his Dad before walking to us.

"So?" I prodded and Derek wrapped an arm around my waist.

"North should be fine." He told Chris who glared at him.

"Wasn't asking you." He snapped back and Derek looked down at me.

"Well, Derek and I converse before we decide what to do. It's what couples do." I replied and Derek began to play with my hair. Sort of like a puppy would and I held back a giggle at that thought.

"Couples, bleh! I liked the devious ruthless Chloe a lot better."

"She's still here, she just doesn't need to be ruthless to decide where to be ruthless."

"Fair enough. So we're conquering the largest of the Clouds buildings first which means there is a high chance of actually running into Saint Cloud himself."

"Wait what!?" Derek yelled and I looked up at him.

"Did you not hear the research?" I asked and he looked back at our family, "we'll also have Val, Chris and a few others with us. We'll be fine."

"We could die though."

"Chris you're not helping!" I scolded him as Derek began to fret more leaning more on his left foot then his right. The thing about Derek was his subtle movement; leaning to the left meant literally everything.

He was worried, sad, mad, annoyed, stressed or jealous. Leaning to the right meant he was, blissful, peaceful, happy and calm. Then he was usually neutral for everything else and surprisingly he stood up straight whenever he did a math question.

"I'm going to finish breakfast." Derek said dragging me back to the table with him.

"What if we really do see Saint Cloud?" I whispered and he shrugged.

"I suppose we'll have to take him hostage or kill him."

"Well I'm tired of death." I replied sitting down beside Tori with a sigh, "I deal with too much death as it is."

"Well that is kinda what you are." Tori told me and I couldn't help but wonder if she meant because I'd faked my own death or because I was a necromancer.

I'd sent Liz in first like usual just to scope out the surrounding. The only problem was she wasn't coming back, we'd been crouched down here for at least half an hour.

"Forget it Chloe lets just go in."

"No," Derek argued with Chris, "think about it rationally Chris if even Liz can't return then it'd be even more dangerous for us."

"Grow some balls Derek." He replied reaching out to pull on the rope signally the first attack, "this isn't the first time I've done this." I sighed standing up and opening the ventilation system.

"Come on," I replied sneaking through the system searching for a way in.

"Chloe!" I heard Derek's voice call and looked back at him.

"Follow Chris, we'll meet in the center. Come on Tori." I started crawling farther into the center of the building.

"Why are we crawling through vents?" Tori asked, "this is disgusting."

"Oh please Tori it's just the ventilation system, I can suggest the sewers next time if you'd rather."

"Don't you dare!" She snapped as I pushed the vent opening into the room below.

"All clear." I hissed swinging down into the empty hallway.

"Now where do we go?" She asked and I shrugged,

"Open as many doors as we can," I replied pulling the door to my left open to find it empty, "see what we can find."

"These are empty." Tori called from the other end of the hall.

"This one too." And that was how we began opening doors and searching.

"Got someone!" She called and I moved to look in behind her. The room was dark and I nudged Tori farther in.

There was a scraping sound and then I heard the floor creak. Something was in here, however there was no telling what it could be.

"Were here to help you."

"I should hope so." A deep voice replied as the light flicked on and the door slammed behind us. As my eyes adjusted I noticed Liz was floating in the room, she wasn't moving and her eyes looked dead. Which for a ghost is rather difficult.

The man who spoke was at least 5'8, he had blonde hair and blue eyes. His face was void of emotion like he didn't want us to know what he was thinking when we entered. He had an air around him like he was more important then everyone and his eyes were glancing between Tori and I.

"Saint Cloud." I hissed and he grinned at us nodding his head. I couldn't help but detest the man even more to openly admitting he was the man who singularly destroyed our lives.

"Take a seat girls." He gestured to the two seats in front of his desk.

"Why should we?" Tori asked as I pulled the chair back and sat down. Skipping over Tori's useless question.

"How did you freeze Liz?" I asked and he looked at me,

"I can teach you Chloe, there is so much I want to teach you." He replied moving to take my hand which I pulled back from.

"That's just too bad there is no way she'd stay with you." Tori snapped and then the door flew open.

"Chloe?" Derek said looking around his eyes flickering in worry only relaxing when he noticed us, and then his eyes stopped on Saint Cloud. "You."

"Ah, Derek I was wondering how long it'd take you to sniff us out." He commented and I rolled my eyes, "please join us take a seat."

"Get up." He growled, "either you come willingly or we kill you."

"I understand you're anger, all of you are mad but it's not what you think. The Cabal had no part in the Edison Groups vicious plans."

"Bullshit!" Tori replied, "You're just trying to weasel your way out. The Cabal created the Edison Group to get away with torture and murder!"

"I had no part in the creation, yet the Cabal gave them money and files. I had no idea what she was going to do with them." He told us standing and moving around the table, "take me a hostage but think this through I've instructed all my guards to leave and the only people here are here because they have come to learn there abilities. Everyone here has signed themselves in, and we give them the best care until they control it or they want to leave."

"Just turn around." Tori said, "I'll bind his arms."

"If it's not your fault who is running the E.G?" I asked and he looked at me.

"Brilliant Chloe, I heard you liked films can you see the plot line here?"

"You don't get to know me."

"My ex-wife started the group and I trusted her. I let her do whatever she wanted it was too late by the time I realized it. I've done everything I can to diminish the business that she's spread across the world."

"Bull-"

"He's telling the truth." Tori cut into Derek, "truth spell."

"I had to start within my own company to find the rats sending her my information."

"I don't believe him." Derek replied and I shrugged.

"He's coming willingly like you asked." I replied taking his hand in my own. Kissing his cheek he stared at Saint Cloud pushing him to walk in front.

"Lead us out then." Derek replied and we all followed suite behind the blonde man.

We weren't far from the other even I could tell because I could hear them around the corner muttering something about Derek.

"Did they insult you?" I asked and Derek shrugged, "Derek?"

"Just wondering where I ran off too."

"There you are Derek don't take off next time dude." Chris said as he turned the corner his eyes locking in on Saint Cloud.

"Who's that?" Simon said moving to stand by Chris pointing at Saint Cloud.

"Who do you think?" Someone spoke up, "it's Silly Saint Cloud."

"You're a lot bigger then the last time I saw you Chris." Mr. Cloud said staring at Chris who glared at him.

"Shut up old man." He snapped back, "tell me what lies are you telling these guys? Did you tell them your sob story?"

"Christopher-"

"Shut up Cloud, no one wants to hear about how it's not your fault cause it is!" Val yelled out and I looked up at Derek.

"I used a truth spell." Tori said and Chris looked from Cloud to her.

"He could just be finding ways around it." Someone suggested and Tori glared in their direction.

"Excuse me, are you calling my spells incompetent! Say that to my face you worm!"

"Tori calm down, anger won't help you control your gift-"

"Don't talk to her!" Simon yelled standing up for his sister against Mr. Cloud.

"Enough!" A deep voice yelled over us and I froze. I knew that voice, I've always known that voice.

That was the tone he used when I was in trouble. Like when I dragged mud into the house and across the white carpet. When I broke one of the picture frames of Mom because I just wanted a closer look at her. Yes I knew that voice very well.

"Dad?" I called out as he strolled towards us. As he got closer I started to notice him more, the same green eyes that stared down at me when I was little. The brown hair that always seemed to be the color of my favorite milk chocolate bars.

"Chloe." He whispered pulling me into a hug, "I was so worried when George St. Cloud told me you were missing." I froze in his arms.

"You two know each other?" I asked as Derek pulled me away from my father with a growl.

"Yes. I've known you for a long time Chloe." St. Cloud spoke up, "perhaps later we can talk about it." He suggested and I moved farther back into Derek.

"You, you betrayed me?" I asked looking at my father, my own father who betrayed me! He sighed looking from me to Derek.

"Perhaps we could discuss this later. All of it in private."

"Oh trust me we will. Extensively and excruciatingly painful if I have it my way." I hissed taking Derek's hand in mine.

"Well…I guess we have to hostages to bring back to camp." Chris said giving me a sad smile as I pulled Derek away from the crowd.

"You alright?" He asked and I shook my head, "you will be. I promise that love." He whispered pulling me into his chest as he kissed my forehead.

"You don't need to promise that Derek. I know as long as I have you, I'll always get better and be happy." I grinned up at him, "as cheesy as that sounds."

"Well I could make it even? Would you like me to ask if it hurt when you-" I covered his mouth with mine before pulling away.

"Please don't finish that cheesy pick up line."

"Personally I just think it's horrible." Tori said from behind me and I jumped turning to face her, "before the two of you suck face again we are leaving."

Derek and I nodded as we followed her outside and into one of the vans. I was relieved to notice that neither St. Cloud nor my father was in the one we were. I didn't think I could handle anything more today.

"Sleep." Derek whispered in my ear and I leaned on him, "I'll carry you to our tent love, don't worry about it." I yawned nodding my head as I felt his hand brush through my hair.

"Der?"

"Yes?" He asked moving his head to rest atop my own.

"I love you." I yawned again letting my eyes fall shut hearing him say,

"I love you more." Before I drifted off to sleep, hoping I'd never have to wake up and face the drama tomorrow would bring.

A.N: Hey all hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please read my other work which as of now has all been updated! o.O I know right I UPDATED EVERYTHING!

Stay tuned .

~Raksha~.~Souza~