The Cost of Betrayal

Chapter Twenty-three

Maura turned to Joey, "Forg-" Her words were cut off by a rough hand from behind. Her eyes widened in shock and fear as she was pulled backward away from the dance.

Joey stood firm in his spot, he couldn't do it. He wouldn't do it. He didn't care what Birsha ordered, this was not in him.

Birsha was watching from a distance, his eyes narrowed as he waited for Joey to finish his task.

"Do it, Joey," he could hear Chastity whisper. Her maliciousness surprised Birsha. Maybe she would be a better fit than he thought.

Chastity was watching the show in earnest, that nerdy b***h deserved this. She couldn't wait for little miss goody two shoes to learn what real life was all about.

Birsha was waiting with bated breath, he had to time this perfectly. Little did Chastity know, Maura was going to remain untouched. He turned to her, "Quiet, you stupid piece of ass! I have to hear what's happening," he snapped.

Chastity looked down and sighed, "Yes, Master." She wished she could speak when he did this.

He grabbed her roughly by the arm, practically dragging her toward Joey and Maura.

"What are you doing?!" Joey could hear in his mind. He could feel Birsha's anger pulsating through his telepathic link.

"NO, I won't do it!" Joey held fast, he knew that Birsha's strike would be swift and painful. "She doesn't deserve it!"

Chastity watched in shock as Birsha lifted his fist and landed it squarely on Joey's jaw. The action caused him to jerk his head roughly to the side. He touched his jaw gingerly, this was going to hurt tomorrow. But he still wasn't going to do this, not even pretend to do it.

Birsha grabbed Joey's face with one hand and got close to him. "You will do it. Or there will be serious consequences." He threw Joey's body away from him, he used magic to make him get closer to where Micheal dragged Maura.

Micheal was holding Maura down, his eyes were changed, he seemed more dangerous. As if he were enjoying this. "Come on, Joey. You know the plan."

"Micheal, what is wrong with you? She doesn't deserve this! Let her go!"

Micheal's laugh was frightening, shaking Joey to the core. Joey shook his head, "I can't. I can't do this." He lunged forward and hit Micheal, knocking him back and away from Maura. His change in behavior threw Micheal.

"We are supposed to do this!" He crawled closer to Maura, who was frozen in fear. She didn't know what was going on, or why.

Joey crawled over Maura, he wanted to protect her from whatever Birsha's plan was. He had to, he could feel it. His desire to help her was overwhelming whatever control Birsha was exuding over him. Micheal rushed towards them again, his features had taken a ghastly change, Joey almost didn't recognize him as his long-time friend.

Birsha stepped into the clearing just then, "Stop!" He rushed towards the boys and Maura, he had a look of concern on his face. "Maura! I saw Micheal come up to you and then drag you away." He made a show of looking over her, feigning worry rather well. "Are you okay?"

She nodded silently, tears welling in her eyes. "Thank you, I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't come." Her voice broke and a tear escaped, trailing down her cheek.

He smiled at her, using his thumb to gently wipe the tear away. "Don't cry, Maura. I'll keep you safe." He turned to Micheal and Joey and pushed them out of the clearing with a flick of his wrist. He helped Maura up and took her by the elbow, "Come on, we have to report them to the headmistress."

Maura nodded silently, she still was having a hard time wrapping her head around what had happened. Birsha gently led her back to the school and to the hall.

"Mr. Prodromus," Birsha called.

Stefan turned, "Yes, Mr. Birsha, how can I help you?" He asked as he turned to face Birsha, "Miss Maura, what's happened?"

Birsha stepped up, "I can't say for sure, but I happened upon Joey and Micheal, they were being rather," Birsha tried to look as if he were thinking about a way to put it delicately. "Rude to Maura."

Stefan looked around, "Where are they? Are you alright Miss Maura?" He looked extremely worried. He was certain that BIrsha was the problem. Not Joey or Micheal. "Where's your date, Mr. Birsha?"

Birsha looked behind him, and the back at Stefan, "Oh, I must have left her to tend to Maura."

Stefan shook his head, "We have to get her to her the headmistress and then to her mother." He guided Maura away from Birsha, much to his dismay.

They walked away from the festivities and to the offices. He sat her down once they were away from Birsha, he didn't want to risk any kind of contamination, "Was he involved at all?"

Maura shook her head, "No, he actually saved me." Her voice broke again as she recounted the events to Stefan. She reached up to touch the necklace her grandmother had given. "Oh my god! It's gone!"

"What?"

"The necklace from my grandmother. I can't lose that! I can't!" She cried, she sobbed heartbroken into her hands. "I swore I would never take it off. I have to get it back!"

"We'll find it, Miss Maura. I promise, but you need to get home and stay safe." He lifted a phone and dialed Bella's number. He quickly told her the bare minimum, telling her to get there as soon as she could.

"Your mother will be here shortly," he reassured her. As he rubbed her arm soothingly he worried about the necklace. He didn't know what to do about the necklace. He had a feeling that it was more important than she realized.

"Mr. Prodromus," the stern voice of the headmistress called out. "Go find the boys responsible, I'll stay with Maura."

Stefan nodded, he knew what she was hinting at. Maura would be safe with her. He left the building, searching for any signs of Joey and Micheal.

He stopped when he could hear Micheal, "You are so stupid! Why didn't you do what Master told you?"

"Master?" Stefan mouthed curiously. He couldn't believe he was hearing Michael refer to anyone like that.

"Because she doesn't deserve this! She should be happy!"

"Ha, happy is having power, and Master is giving it to us! This is what you wanted, just as much as Chastity and me!" Micheal insisted. "And now you've gone and screwed this up! The school is going to f**k us over. Probably kick us out because she is a dumb b***h. I don't know even know what Master sees in her!"

Joey inhaled sharply, "I don't know either, but I can't do this anymore. I am breaking my contract."

Micheal laughed crazily, "Break. The contract? That's rich! You can't and you know it! We signed those willingly!"

His crazy laughter was irking Joey more, he was well aware of the fact that he couldn't just break the contract. There was a steely resolution as he looked Micheal in the eyes, "You think I don't know that? Or what it was signed in?" He looked up at the moon and stars, he pulled a knife from his pocket.

Micheal's eyes widened in disbelief, "NO! You can't!"

Joey lowered his voice, and Stefan strained to hear, "By my blood, I break my contract. May the goddess have mercy on me." He plunged the knife into his chest swiftly and pulled it out again. He knew that if he hadn't there was a chance he would have survived.

"NOOO!" Micheal called, his mind temporarily returning to his sanity.

Stefan rushed from where he was, "What happened?" He looked down at Joey, the light fading from his eyes quickly. "Oh, no." He bent down and tried to stop the blood flowing freely from Joey's chest.

Micheal's features changed before Stefan's eyes, and he disappeared from view. Joey looked at his history teacher and with his last breath whispered, "Keep her from him."

Stefan nodded, he knew he would be able to keep Micheal from Maura. But he would need to know who Master was. And he had a feeling he already knew.