"Sweetheart, let me explain!" Kurt pleaded.
It did not look good as Alannah's eyes were already glazing over, something that happened when she was detaching herself from a painful situation. She was already dressed, with the black bag in her hand.
"It is for you, Chairman Blackwood. He said it was important!" Alannah said, passing the phone to Kurt. Kurt tried to touch her, but she backed off.
Kurt put the phone to his ear and said, "I will call you back!" and hung up.
"So it is true then, you are not a businessman wanting to open a training school, but the head of the British Syndicate," Alannah asked, her voice breaking with emotion.
"It is true. I am Kurt Blackwood, the Chairman of the British Gang and leader of the Forger's Gang. I wanted to tell you the truth, but.. Kurt said.
"But, what?" Alannah demanded.
Kurt explained, "I wanted to be sure that you were interested in me for me, not Kurt the chairman."
"Do you think I am that shallow? Seriously? " Alannah said with a hurt look in her eyes.
"He didn't know you, Alannah!" Xan said.
"But you did Xan, you knew! I am a cursed one, and you knew there could not possibly be a future for us! You allowed him into my family's home and for me... for me to have feelings for him. How cruel can you be, Xan? Is it not enough that you own me and everyone I care about? You have to use me to entertain your friends on a business trip. Akihiko was right; all Syndicate Chairmen are heartless and stupid! " Alannah spat furiously.
"That is not fair, Alannah. I never treated you like a commodity!" Xan shouted.
"But, I am one!" Alannah shouted back.
"I want to buy your freedom. Xan has already agreed." Kurt blurted out.
Instantly, he regretted saying it when he saw Alannah's face. The look of confusion, betrayal, hurt, and anger she gave Kurt made Kurt's heart hurt.
"You want to buy me like a sack of potatoes or some prostitute?" Alannah said quietly.
Of course, he wanted to own her! How could she be so stupid in believing otherwise? " She thought.
"No, it is not like that! But your debt has to be paid. That is gang law! " Kurt said, exasperated.
"You are right, Kurt, debts have to be paid! So, how much was last night's worth? £5,000, or maybe even £10,000? I leave you to negotiate it with Xan! " Alannah said as she turned to walk to the elevator. Kurt grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.
"No! I am not letting you go like this! You know what we have is special-don't pretend you don't feel it because I know you do. I am not going to give up on you, Alannah, not ever! " Kurt shouted.
"I warned you once to never touch me without my permission! I am a Nine Tails. You do very well to remember that! " Alannah said with a voice full of venom. Kurt was surprised at the tone of her voice and dropped her wrist. She was no longer his sexy little vixen from last night; she had turned into a fighter.
Alannah walked into the elevator and turned around. Do you know what the worst thing is, Kurt? The worst thing is that I almost trusted you! " Alannah whispered.
"No, please!" Kurt said as the elevator doors closed. Kurt banged on the doors, "Alannah! Alannah! Please come back! " Kurt shouted.
But it was no use; she was gone. Kurt felt like his heart had been ripped in two. He went to the sofa and sat down, putting his head in his hands. He had just lost the woman who made him feel whole and alive.
"Don't worry mate, she will come around. She is just surprised, that is all. " Xan said softly as he sat down next to Kurt.
"I should have told her from the start!" Kurt said.
Well, maybe. But you are right, she would not have touched you if she had known you were a Chairman, "Xan said.
"What should I do?" Kurt asked.
Wait a few hours, and we will go and see her. She would have calmed down by then, and she would be more comfortable at home. What I said before still stands. She does love you. It is plain to see. " Xan said, putting a comforting hand on Kurt's shoulder.
Meanwhile, Alannah had gotten into the car. "Please take me to the nearest taxi rank," Alannah ordered.
"Er Miss, I was expecting to take you in the opposite direction!" The driver said
"Do I need to get out?" Alannah asked.
"No, Miss!" The driver said and drove off.
About an hour later, Alannah stood outside of her destination: the Jaded Moon warehouse in the docking district. She banged on the door and heard the guard open the observation window.
"What do you want?" The Guard asked.
"A chance to fight!" Alannah said.
"Huh, what fighter's family are you?" The guard asked, and Alannah showed her tattoo.
"Wait here!" The guard said as he shuffled away. He came back a few moments later and opened the door.
"Well, how nice it is to see you, Alannah. It has been a while!" A tall female said,
Hannah! " It is nice to see you too! " Alannah said with a small smile as she stepped in.
Hannah had been sold off that day by Alannah. However, Hannah had shown great business sense and managed to make enough money to buy her freedom. Instead of going home, Hannah had set up an unauthorised fighting arena.
Are you in trouble? Do you need money? You know I can help with that! " Hannah said as she hugged Alannah.
"No, I just want to fight! I am sure you have got a couple of matches lined up that I can do! " "Oh," Alannah said, with false enthusiasm.
"Are you sure? These are unauthorised matches; you could get into trouble! " Hannah warned, and Alannah just shrugged.
Fine, but these are no rules matches. Are you sure you are up to it? " Hannah asked.
"You know, Tao took me to these fighting pits when I was first starting out," Alannah said.
"Alright! There are no women today, but I guess that does not bother you either. The next match starts in 45 minutes! " Hannah said, guiding her to the female changing room.
"Weapon?" Hannah asked.
"Bare-knuckle or fan sword," Alannah said.
"There in the back there." Hannah indicated the weapons in the back.
"Is it there?" Alannah asked.
"Yes, there is Jade wine. But as your friend, I advise you not to take it. Hannah said, seriously.
"Thanks for the advice, I'd best get ready!" Alannah said, and Hannah went out of the room.
Alannah let out a sigh and bound her hands with bandages for support. She went into the back and got two fan swords and checked that they worked. She also grabbed a bottle of Jaded wine and took a big sip.
Jaded wine was a mixture of painkilling drugs and stimulants. It gave the fighter an incredible buzz, focus, and the ability to block out the pain. However, fighters could get addicted if they are not careful.
Alannah warmed up, and she felt the wine fulfilling its purpose. By the time she was called to fight, she did not have a care in the world.
Let's get this party started! She mumbled as she walked out to a roaring crowd.
=========================================================================================================
A few hours later, Xan and Kurt arrived at the Nine-Tails warehouse. Everything seemed normal, as the guys were having dinner.
"Hey, Probie! Welcome back! Did you have fun last night? " Ethan said, earning him a glare from Bruce.
Kurt was surprised, as he was expecting a hostile reception.
"What can we do for you?" Bruce asked.
"We are looking for Alannah. Is she here?" Xan asked, and there were confused expressions around the table.
"We thought she was with you!" Aiden said.
"No, she went to train with Matt this morning!" Kurt spoke quickly.
"No, I came home as she never turned up." I thought she called it off because she was spending the day with Kurt. " Matt said with a shrug.
"Aiden, go get Tao and Maya now!" Bruce said, and Aiden, hearing the worried tone in Bruce's voice, ran off.
Tao and Maya came running to the table.
"What is wrong, boss?" Tao asked.
Alannah has gone missing! Xan said.
"Are you sure she is not in her room or garden area?" Tao asked.
"No, we checked just before dinner!" Ethan said.
"What happened?" Maya asked, her eyes narrowing.
"What do you mean?" Tao asked.
"Meaning, she was very happy when she left here and now she is missing." So, what happened? " Maya asked.
"They argued," Xan said, and a groan erupted from the table.
"How bad?" Tao asked.
Why does that matter? We need to find her! " Kurt said, frustrated.
"What do you think we are doing, Probie?" Ethan said, not looking too happy.
Bad, it was very bad, "Xan admitted, and the Nine-Tails looked at each other worried.
"What?" Xan asked.
"You are not going to like it!" Adam warned.
"Tell me now!" Xan commended
"She's at the Jaded Moon, probably bashing the shit out of someone or vice versa," Bruce said.
"Jaded moon? I am going to kill her! " Roared Tao.
"Tao.." Maya said, trying to calm him down, but it was no good.
"Nine-Tails, we are going to the Jaded Moon and we are getting Alannah back!" Tao ordered, and all the men jumped up and ran to their rooms.
"Where are they going and what is the Jaded Moon?" Kurt asked.
"Jaded Moon is a no-rules fighting ring. You only go there if you are desperate for money or on a suicide mission. Tao prohibited any Nine Tail from ever going there! " Xan said.
"And the weapons?" Kurt asked.
"Because we are going to bloody need them!" Tao said, handing Xan and Kurt a gun.
=========================================================================================================
Come on, this is pathetic-even for a Nine-Tails!" remarked a Tiger Claw fighter.
"Tell that to the 6 people I sent to the hospital!" Alannah snapped.
It was true she had won 6 fights, but not without a cost. She was probably beaten up pretty badly, not that she could feel much. Alannah wanted to keep fighting until the rage or memory of Kurt was erased from her body.
The fighter threw her against the cage side, winding her. Alannah quickly turned and blocked a punch. She then kicked him in the side several times, breaking him a couple of ribs. The fighter backed off, gasping, and Alannah went on the attack again. She kicked him in the groyne and pushed him to the ground.
"Ben was right; you are nothing but a whore!" The fighter said It was at this point that Alannah truly lost it.
"I am not a whore!" She screamed as she straddled him and punched his face over and over again.
She didn't notice the people in the crowd getting angry or Xan telling Hannah to open the cage.
"That is enough!" Tao boomed, and Alannah looked round.
"What is it you want, Tao?" Alannah snapped.
It is time to come home! It was only then that she saw Xan and Kurt.
"You! Why are you here? Have you come to check on your little whore? I loved you! Did you know that? Did you? " Alannah screamed.
It was then that Tao noticed how dilated Alannah's pupils were. "Alannah, how much-jaded wine have you had?" Tao asked as he watched Alannah look at Kurt like he was some sort of prey.
Alannah, answer him!" Bruce shouted.
"Enough to win 7 fights!" Alannah said, spitting on the floor.
"Shit!" Matt said. She had enough drugs in her system to sink an elephant!
Aiden and Ethan, get the boss and Kurt out of here now! Make sure the door is locked and do not open it until I say so! " Bruce ordered quickly.
"What? No!" Kurt said he was moving forward, but Bruce, Matt, and Tao stepped in the way, forming a protective wall.
"You are protecting him? After all these years of shit and all, I have done it! Of course, all you Chairman stick together! " Alannah spat as she tried to pull Kurt out and the Twins did as they were told.
Can someone please explain what is happening? If I could just talk to her, "Kurt said."
"Not a chance! She is high on jaded wine; it is going to take three of them to take her down as it is. They don't need you to get in the way! " Hannah snapped.
"This is your fault; you are supposed to be her friend!" Xan snapped back.
"You are supposed to be as well! She had some issues working out as someone had upset her. No more guessing who that person might be! I warned her not to do it! " Hannah retorted.
"I don't think it will take three of them to take her down," Kurt said, and everyone just stared at him.
You have not seen her on a full rampage, have you? Well, you are in for a treat, my friend! " Aiden said, and Ethan nodded.
Back in the cage, Alannah wanted to fight and was pacing like a trapped lion. The last fighter's body had been pulled out and the gate had been bolted.
"What are you waiting for?" Alannah shouted.
"For you to come to your senses! Come home now! " Tao shouted.
"I don't think so!" Alannah said with a smirk.
"Don't! Cover your eyes! " Bruce warned as Alannah suddenly created a cloud of dust and sand with her feet and hands. How stupid of them not to notice the pile she was creating when she was pacing! The whole cage was consumed, and the next thing the audience saw was Matt falling unconscious to the ground.
"Wow, that is going to hurt in the morning!" Ethan said sympathetically.
The dust cloud cleared enough for everyone to see each other.
"Alannah, please stop this! We are family! " Bruce said, looking at her in the fighting stance.
"No, we are just a group of people that passed the Triad's sick little test! We are just a bunch of products shoved together trying to make the best of it! " Alannah said.
"Shit, she is pissed! What on earth did you do? " Aiden asked accusingly.
"Yeah, what did you do to our big sister Probie?" Ethan said, staring at Kurt.
Well, I might have forgotten to mention that I am the British Syndicate Chairman! " Kurt admitted.
"Shit!" The twins groaned in unison.
"So, you are just using her then?" "Hannah I said with a snarl.
"No! I love her! " Kurt growled.
"Enough of this!" Tao roared, and he went in for the attack. Alannah moved aside easily and elbowed Tao in the middle of the back. Tao turned, and Alannah was stuck in the middle of Bruce and Tao. Bruce and Tao try to press home their advantage by attacking both at the same time. Alannah was having none of it. She quickly did a standing jump up and, using their bodies to lift, managed to get to the roof of the cage. She then swung and did a dual kick to both their faces. Alannah then put her legs through the cage roof and dangled upside down.
"Fucking hell, Alannah!" Bruce shouted.
"Oh no, you don't!" Tao said as he grabbed both of Alannah's arms and pulled her down.
Alannah, on higher ground, was unpredictable and dangerous. Alannah fell to the ground with a thud. Alannah quickly got up and was about to attack again until she heard two voices.
"Oi! Get off of us scum! " Ethan and Aiden shouted. Alan Ah looked over and saw some men from the Tiger's Claws Gang attacking them. Xan and Kurt were trying to hold them off, but they were being quickly overwhelmed. Xan was cursing having to leave their guns at the gate. The Tiger's Claws were taking advantage of the fact that their three most powerful fighters were in the cage, and Adam was out in front watching for trouble!
"NO!! Ethan and Aiden! " Alannah said as she raced to the door. Nothing matters anymore, apart from keeping her little brothers safe. Hannah, open it now!
"It just bolted!" Hannah shouted, and Alannah burst through the gate.
"Get your filthy hands off my brothers, my boss, and my boyfriend!" Alannah roared.
"What happens if we don't, sweetheart?" One of the Tiger's Claws Gang challenged
"Then I will mother fucking kill every single one of you!" Alannah shouted in reply.
Some of the Tiger Claws backed off, but one of them tried to attack her. Alannah quickly punched the man, and he dropped unconscious on the floor.
"Who is next? Believe me, when I say, I hope all of you are! " Alannah said as she stood over the body. The rest of the men were scared and ran away, releasing the twins, Kurt and Xan.
Alannah! " The twins shouted, running towards her.
"You are safe. No one is going to hurt you. You are safe!" Alannah mumbled as she blacked out.