Trapped Between Two Mates

Episode 3

Present Day

"You're with him?" I asked Jason, my voice dripping with disbelief. We were riding in the back of a cage like animals being carted to the zoo. Jude had truly lost his mind, treating me like I was some dangerous beast. Five years of running from my murderous mate had gone down the drain faster than water in a broken sink.

Jason kept avoiding my eyes, looking as guilty as a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"Of course not, Loise, I want you to live," he mumbled, still not meeting my gaze.

"He called you his best friend," I pressed on, feeling my heart twist painfully. "He said he sent you to trick me but you fell for me instead. Is that true?"

"Yes, I fell for you," Jason admitted, finally looking at me.

"That's not what I mean," I cut him off, feeling sick to my stomach. "Were you spying for him? All this time, Jason, pretending to be my best friend, telling me you love me. Was it all an act?"

"Loise, I..." Jason started, but was interrupted by a familiar, infuriating voice.

"Such a heartbreaking reunion, isn't it?" Jude called out as he jumped from his car, strutting towards us like he was on a catwalk instead of a dirt road. "Jason never said he worked for me. Just like you, he was my best friend, and he betrayed me by siding with you."

I rolled my eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. "Everything you say is a lie. I want to hear it from him!" I retorted, feeling like I was choking on my own anger.

Suddenly, a scream pierced the air, making everyone jump. Jude pulled out his sword, looking around like he expected ninjas to drop from the trees. Another scream came from up ahead where some guards were tending to a flat tire.

"Stay here," Jude commanded, as if we had any choice in our rolling prison.

"Oh sure, we'll just cancel our dinner plans and wait here, shall we?" I muttered under my breath, earning a surprised look from Jason.

As more screams filled the air, Jason turned to me. "Loise..."

"You don't need to tell me anything," I snapped. "I've had enough from your best friend there."

"Listen to me, Loise, don't..." Jason tried again, but was cut off by a woman's voice.

"Shadowblade," she called out, opening the back of the truck. Her eyes lit up when she saw me, and she bowed her head like I was royalty. "It is an honor to be in the presence of the deadliest assassin to ever walk this supernatural earth."

I blinked, wondering if I'd accidentally stumbled into some bizarre parallel universe. "Is she talking to you?" I asked Jason, completely baffled.

"No, I think she's talking to you," Jason replied, looking just as confused.

"Please, let me help get those off," the woman said, extending her hand towards me. I took it hesitantly, feeling like I was in some weird dream where nothing made sense.

As she used magic to burn off the locks on my chains, I felt a mix of awe and fear. I'd seen witches before, even lived with them for a while. They were powerful and deadly, like a thunderstorm in human form.

"Shadowblade," two other women appeared, dropping to their knees faster than a clumsy waiter. "It is an honor to be in your presence."

"Just go with it," Jason whispered. "This is our way out."

I nodded slightly, putting on my best 'deadly assassin' face. "I, uh, thank you," I said, trying to sound mysterious and dangerous. "You may... uh, please get up." I helped them to their feet, feeling ridiculous.

"Alpha Jude's discovery shook the whole supernatural world," one of the witches explained. "Everyone has wanted to know who the Shadowblade assassin is for years now. We're glad to know that she is finally reborn inside you. We have seen the bodies you've left behind; we'd never dare to come against you. Instead, we seek your help."

Bodies? Assassin? I felt like I was starring in a movie I hadn't read the script for. "I'm sorry, but I'm not..."

"The Shadowblade assassin is a little tired now," Jason interrupted smoothly. "We'd like to get some rest before anything else."

The witches looked at him like he was something nasty stuck to their shoe. I knew that witches lived without men, drawing power from their purity and the strength of mother earth. They probably saw Jason as useful as a screen door on a submarine.

"We should kill you..." one of them started, her eyes glowing ominously.

"No, no!" I stepped between them, feeling like a referee in a supernatural boxing match. "He is my friend. He helped me."

The witches' faces softened slightly, though they still looked at Jason like he was a particularly annoying fly.

"Let's take you home," one of them said, and I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and utter confusion.

As we started to leave, I couldn't help but mutter, "Well, this day has certainly taken an interesting turn. One minute I'm a rejected mate on the run, the next I'm apparently the world's deadliest assassin. What's next? Am I secretly a unicorn in disguise?"

Jason snorted, trying to hide his laughter, while the witches looked at me in confusion. I sighed, realizing that my journey was far from over. In fact, it seemed like it was just beginning, and I had no idea where it would lead me next.