Hello friends! :D Here is a chapter, and I hope you enjoy!!!

I'm actually surprised at how so many of you liked the last chapter! I thought it was a bit filler-ish but thank you! Hope you like this one too. <3

~Music~

The Only One (Evanescence)(I'm actually addicted to them right now, and this song is perfect, especially for the beginning of the chapter.)

~Edit~ yours truly (Ignore the cigarette in Videl's/Jamie's hand in one of the pic. Smoking is bad, and Velah hate smoking too.)

Chapter Thirty-One

~Nobody's POV~

The next morning, Angelique wakes up to the sun filtering in through the tiny gap of the curtains. Sitting up, she yawns, running her fingers through her tangled brown hair. Blinking, she makes out the dark shapes of the couch, the television cabinet- and then freezes when she can't feel Thea next to her.

"Thea!" she whispers, "Thea, where-"

"Shh."

Angelique looks to the left, and sees Videl sitting against the headboard of the lefthand bed. In the dim light, she can make out his amber eyes looking right at her, and then she sees the small mass beside him. Thea is sprawled next to Videl on her side, her forehead almost touching his hip, one of her hands on his jean-covered thighs. Her chest rises and falls rhythmically, and in sleep, she appears peaceful.

Angelique looks at Videl. His eyes are cast onto Thea, and she is startled by the protective gentleness in his predatory eyes. He runs a single one of his fingers, one of the few not studded with rings, through Thea's cruelly short blonde hair. Then, he looks up at Angelique again, "The idiot is sleeping."

For some reason, Angelique can't contain the smile that spreads across her face, but she quickly masks it by snippily saying, "Stop calling her an idiot."

"You called me an ass," he says in the same hushed voice, "And she called me a peacock. My God, the two of you are going to run out of animals to associate me with."

Angelique shakes her head, and then stands up, crossing the small distance between the beds, and looking down at Thea. "She's been through so much, hasn't she?"

Videl snorts, and then looks up, gazing seemingly into nowhere, "We all have."

"She lost her parents and both her siblings within two years," says Angelique, not seeming to notice what he said, "All to this supernatural crap."

Videl purses his lips, and then says in a low voice, "As have I."

Angelique looks at him quickly, "What?"

A shadow passes over Videl's eyes, and he snaps, "Nothing."

"Your family is gone?" asks Angelique. She sits down at the edge of the bed, at Thea's feet, and looks across at Videl, "What happened?"

"I don't want to talk about it," says Videl, turning away moodily and staring at the wall, "I don't need to talk about it."

"That's how I know you need to," says Angelique softly.

He grunts, and says, still not looking at her, "My mother was killed by the same monsters that killed Thea's parents. My little sister was raped, and then killed herself. My father was killed by..." Videl looks down at Thea, "By her."

Angelique's eyes widen, "But she-"

"But he was killed mostly by the lust of power," says Videl in a dull voice, "And my brother and his young wife were killed by Loki."

Angelique stares, "I thought Archer...Thea said that he's still alive."

"I lied to her," says Videl in the same dull voice, "Her father has already killed people in front of Thea, or has killed them because of her. She doesn't need to know how else her father is a monster."

Angelique looks down at her hands. Then, she says quietly, "I can't tell if that was a kind decision or a brutal one. What if she finds out one day?"

"Then she finds out," says Videl, "At least she won't be slammed by it all right now."

"She said you saved her life," says Angelique, "Why? Why even help her, if her father is responsible for the death of your brother, and she killed your father?"

"This is where I stop talking," says Videl, and his eyes narrow dangerously. But then, he softens ever so much, and adds, "But she saved my life once too."

Angelique wrinkles her forehead in confusion, "When?"

"I..." Videl hesitates, and images flash through his head: the stone room, the knives, Thea strapped down, the blood, Thea screaming terribly, him laughing...

Videl bares his fangs, but not towards Angelique. Then, not looking at her, he snaps, "Nevermind."

He feels something warm on his wrist, and surprised, he looks down to see Angelique's fingers resting lightly on his skin.

"I don't know everything that happened," says Angelique softly, "But I see you in opposites. One day, you're so cruel to Thea, you make her cry. And then, I wake up to see her sleeping beside you."

"I suppose that just makes me a devilishly complicated character," says Videl, his mouth twisted in a half-smirk. He moves his hand so that his fingers now envelop Angelique's. She hastily looks down at the bed. But she doesn't pull away.

"You though," says Videl, his brows furrowed, "You aren't quite so complicated. You're purely good and innocent." He leans forward- they're now only inches from each other's faces. Angelique feels his hot breath on her cheeks, and she's thankful that it's still almost dark in here, although she suspects that Videl can see anyway.

Videl raises his hand and ever so softly, runs his thumb over Angelique's jawline. His touch is so light, it causes goose bumps to form over her arms. She sucks in a breath.

"I suggest you close those full lips of yours before I do something about them myself," murmurs Videl, removing his hand and resting it on Thea's shoulders instead. While Angelique shuts her mouth, Videl adds in much more of a brusque voice, "I should be able to take us away from here tomorrow."

Angelique nods as-a-matter-of-factly. The spell has been broken. "It's Thanksgiving. We should do something to keep Thea's mind off of things."

"Like her father trying to kill her?" asks Videl, "I'm not sure much will distract her from that."

"We can try," says Angelique.

"Really?" Videl keeps his voice down so that he won't wake Thea, "Loki has been put under a spell by an evil witch who also whipped Thea bloody. She's not going to forget this anytime soon."

"She doesn't need to forget," says Angelique as she stands up. "She just needs to be distracted. It's different."

"Hmph," says Videl, "I'm curious what you have planned."

"I haven't planned anything yet," says Angelique, getting her clothes from the pile of hers and Thea's next to her bed, "I'm working on it."

"I'm not putting anything on it," says Videl.

"Well I'm going to try," says Angelique resolutely, walking towards the bathroom and very conscious of Videl's gaze tracking her.

"I can't decide," calls Videl, "If your stubbornness makes you just annoying, or just plain sexy."

Angelique closes the bathroom door very firmly behind her.

Videl arches an eyebrow, but then turns away when he hears Thea shifting from next to him. He glances down at her and sees that her green, slightly bloodshot eyes are open. She yawns, and looks up at him blearily.

"Finally," he says, "I thought you died."

"Sorry to disappoint you again," says Thea, "Maybe you should just kill me and get it over with. And save Loki the trouble."

"Someone is certainly in a pessimistic mood," says Videl. "Pleasant dreams?"

"No," says Thea crankily, "Not at all."

"What a pity," says Videl.

"Where's Angelique?" asks Thea, sitting up.

"Are you tired of me already?" asks Videl.

"I was tired of you the first day in San Francisco," says Thea.

"You really are cranky," says Videl, "Maybe you need food. ANGELIQUE!"

"WHAT?!" she shouts back from the closed bathroom door.

"I think Thea needs food. She's being extremely bad-tempered to me, and I haven't done anything."

"You're a big boy, you can take care of yourself!" she calls back.

Videl snorts, and then swings off the bed, "No sympathy whatsoever."

Thea stumbles off the bed and unsteadily picks up her clothes, wincing when she bends her wrist.

Videl rolls his eyes, and then holds out his hand, "Let me see your wrist."

"No," says Thea, stalking towards the bathroom. Then, she cries out in pain as Videl takes matters into his own hands and simply seizes her injured wrist. "ANGELIQUE, VIDEL JUST GRABBED MY BROKEN WRIST!"

"YOU BETTER NOT MAKE ME COME OUT THERE, VIDEL!" yells Angelique.

"Then tell her to be more cooperative!" retorts Videl, and then inspects Thea's still-swollen wrist before releasing her and saying, "You'll be fine soon. It's just a broken bone. I would have healed from it hours ago."

"Well good for you," says Thea, making a face at him and walking into the bathroom.

Videl follows her, and then knocks on the door. When an upheaval of shouts filters through the door, he snaps, "I'm not coming in, but I'm going to go find a couple rabbits or something to sustain me. Attempt not to get killed."

"We'll try," says Thea in an annoyed voice. "Now buh-bye."

*

Most of the restaurants are closed for Thanksgiving, so Thea and Angelique eat breakfast from little packs of cereal from the hotel. While they pour the milk inside the containers, Angelique says, "I can't really figure out what we can do today. Most everything is closed, and we don't have a car to go anywhere."

"We don't have to do anything," says Thea. "We could just-"

"We could simply lie out on the lawn and relax," says Videl, walking inside precisely at that moment. He has changed clothes, apparently tired of his blood-stained clothes from the last couple days. Now, he is wearing a button-down salmon shirt with three quarter length sleeves and dark pants that have huge holes at the knee, so that the pants almost look split. He's wearing the same black boots, and the same rings glitter from his nose, his ear, and his fingers. "And you forgot this," He dumps her backpack next to her seat, "I went through a lot of trouble for that."

"I was so enjoying the peace," says Thea, "And then you had to interrupt."

Angelique smiles a little, looking down at her cereal.

After they eat, they walk down Main Street again, not able to figure out anything else to do. It's slightly chiller, so Thea puts on her BCU sweatshirt and wraps her arms around herself. However, it is still sunny, and Videl mysteriously pulls out two pair of sunglasses from his pockets and gives one to Thea. He slides the other pair on his own face.

"I don't need them," says Videl, at Thea's confusion, "But my beautiful eyes are a bit too recognizable, don't you think?"

Thea humphs as Angelique takes out her own sunglasses from her purse and perches them daintily on her sharp nose. She looks very pretty, and Thea notices that Videl has a hard time looking away from her.

Most of the afternoon is spent in tranquility. At one point, an energetic Schnauzer leaps up on Videl's legs, yipping, and as the owner apologizes, Videl regards the dog imperiously, saying, "I'm so sorry, but I'm not available. And besides, dogs with beards aren't my taste."

Thea bursts out into laughter, the first time she has laughed for a long time. Even Angelique smiles at the pun, which the owner of the dog doesn't comprehend. Videl smirks as the three of them continue down the street.

"And I suppose dogs without beards strike your fancy?" asks Angelique.

"Certainly," says Videl, "But the beards are just too furry. Gets stuck in my teeth." He is smiling too, looking at Angelique.

It is unfortunate that such things cannot last. But as the world so often happens, it doesn't. Because at almost that precise moment, as Thea is continuing to laugh, a figure walks around the corner, a figure with tangled black hair, a green cape, and bloodshot silver eyes.

Thea sees him first. She freezes, causing Videl to run into her. Grabbing her shoulder to steady himself, Videl says, aggravated, "Watch it Thea, I-" He breaks off as he raises his face and sniffs the air at precisely the same second as his amber eyes fixate on Loki.

Loki is standing about ten feet from them. His eyes are glassy, and drawn, and his fingers wrap around the silver dagger in his hand.

Videl holds out his arm, barring Thea and Angelique. His cats-eyes narrow at Loki, his lip curling dangerously. He glances at Angelique, whose brown eyes are very wide.

At that moment, the silver dagger flies through the air, right towards Thea, and another flies in quick succession, towards Videl. She screams, and swipes her wrist forward. The dagger aimed at Videl misses its target, falling to the ground a few feet from him, but the one aimed at her would have pierced her chest had Videl not grabbed Thea and turned her away from the blade. As it is, the wicked point whistles past so closely, Thea sucks in a horrified breath.

"Hold onto my hand, Angelique," says Videl loudly as Loki curses, and as passersby begin to scream. "Thea, don't let go of me! Don't let go!"

Thea clutches Videl's arm, looking at her father with eyes of anguish. She forces herself to turn away, just as black smoke envelops her, Videl, and Angelique, and the three are thrown into the mists of time and space.

*

"Thea, are you all right?" demands Angelique as soon as the mist clears. They are standing in a parking lot at a gas station. It's significantly warmer here than even North Carolina, and the sun is shining brightly. The gas station isn't crowded, with only a few men standing around the outside, smoking cigarettes.

"I love how you always take into consideration my well-being," says Videl dryly. He looks furious, and his hands are shaking. His eyes are drawn from anger and exhaustion. "It makes me feel so loved."

"I'm...fine," whispers Thea, swallowing hard, "Where are we?"

Angelique looks around, taking in the palm trees and the small marsh in a narrow canal next to the gas station, "I'm not sure...wait." She squints at a sign next to the road, "I can't read what it-"

"Kissimmee," says Videl. "It says 'Lowest prices in Kissimmee."

"Florida," says Angelique, "We're in Florida. And about ten or so minutes from Disney World."

"What?" Thea asks. She looks like she is trying to forget about the appearance of her father. "Disney World?"

"We might as well go there," says Angelique, "We definitely can't stay at the gas station all night."

"I've heard about Disney World," says Videl, "And my answer is-"

"Your answer is yes," says Angelique severely. Videl raises an eyebrow, but doesn't protest, "But we'll need to drive, unless Videl-"

"No," says Videl, "Videl will not be making any more trips for a long time."

"You can drive," says Thea, looking at Angelique.

"No," says Angelique, "I'm not stealing a car."

"Thea, please use your so-called angelic skills to persuade Angelique," says Videl. "I'm going to get food for the two of you so you don't drop from hunger."

"I am not driving," pronounces Angelique as the two of them stand outside the gas station. Thea is beginning to get very uncomfortable by the group of truckers gathering near the convenience store. "Not if it means stealing a car."

"Please," begs Thea, "Videl can't drive, and neither can I."

"How old are you again?" asks Angelique.

"Fourteen."

At that moment, two of the truckers approach the girls. Thea moves away from them, not liking their large build, their smell of cigarette smoke, and their tattooed arms.

"Is there anything we can do for you, lady?" asks one of them, looking at Angelique with hungry eyes.

"No," says Angelique, narrowing her eyes and putting her arm around Thea's shoulder, "There isn't."

"Pretty sure there is," sneers another one, reaching forward and taking Angelique's wrist as the first one puts his meaty hand on Thea's shoulder.

Thea snarls, and slaps the man's hand. The man shouts as the skin on his fingers peels back as if burned.

"You let go of me!" exclaims Angelique, kicking the first man in the shin. He laughs, keeping ahold of her and beginning to pull her away from Angelique just as the other one recovers and redoubles his efforts on Thea.

"Thea!" exclaims Angelique, but Thea's knife comes out from her waist and slices the man's hand. He curses, and Thea slams him back, beginning to scream. The other man is still pulling Angelique away from her, even though Angelique is struggling mightily.

At that moment, Videl leaps on the man pulling Angelique and throw him roughly to the ground. His eyes and his hair are wild, and he bares his fangs at the brute of a man, "Get away from her!" he hisses.

The man stands up. Videl is clearly younger than both of the men, but Videl is easily more fierce. "Look," says the man, "We were just jokin' around, we weren't gonna do anything to-"

Videl snarls at the precise second Thea kicks the other man in a place very sensitive for the male species. "Get out! But first," Videl smirks, his eyes swirling, "Give me the keys of the car you just took from the man inside. I saw you do it."

The man, trembling, hands Videl the keys.

"Thank you," says Videl curtly as Thea scuttles away from the man, sheathing her dagger. She is panting. "And stay away from us if you want to live. And I mean that quite literally."

The two men hurry away, looking back at Videl as if looking at a ghost.

"I have food," says Videl, gesturing towards the plastic bag a few feet from them. He must have dropped it whilst running over to the two girls, "If anyone was curious."

Angelique looks angry, "Why didn't you help Thea?! I could have taken care of myself, and I-"

"I'm sorry," says Videl, "I saw Thea burning someone's hands and also stabbing them with a knife. I saw you being pulled away. Tell me again who I should have been helping?"

"Thea!" exclaims Angelique, "The answer will always be Thea!"

"Thea had herself under control," says Videl, "And had he been completely sane and not missed this particular altercation, her father would have been extremely proud of her."

Thea can't help but smile, a sad smile, but a smile nonetheless.

Videl looks back at Angelique. "Now, for the love of God, drive the vehicle," he says, "It's rather exhausting vanishing and appearing hundreds of miles in two consecutive days."

"It's also against the law to steal a car," says Angelique, still slightly shaken.

Videl holds out the car keys to Angelique, "Says the girl who wore stolen pajamas last night."

Angelique flushes, "That was different! I was pajama-less!"

"And I'm tired." Videl yanks open the door to the Nissan. "Now drive. Please."

"Did Videl actually say please?" asks Angelique, reluctantly taking the car keys from Videl and climbing in the driver's seat.

"Don't know," says Thea, trying to stay cheerful, but not succeeding particularly, "I can't decide if I was dreaming or not."

"You two are hilarious," snaps Videl.

Have a great day! <3

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