A/N: Jeff was removed from the story because when I started writing BBB2, Jeff was tossed in there for my amusement. Then I popped Jaden in there and when I got around to writing BBB3 she took an interest in John Cena so I killed off Jeff! He'll be back eventually, as will Glenn so don't miss him too much! The focus bounces back and forth between characters because I liked exploring them, again, all written off the cuff so things bounce.

CHAPTER 4

Mark and Jaden were more than worried when Isis hadn't returned by the next evening, both thinking that someone or something had gotten a hold of her. So they set out in the woods, determined to find her, alive or dead.

Figuratively speaking of course.

It wasn't that hard to track her, her scent was all over the place, so was Jeff's.

That, of course, made Jaden panic, remembering when Jeff had tossed her through a window.

They found her sitting, rocking back and forth, shifting something in her fingers, a spot of disturbed ground telling them she had slept in the earth.

"Isis, baby…" Mark trailed off when he seen what she was rubbing in her hands.

Ashes.

"Oh no… Jeff…" Jaden whispered, dropping to her knees. "He…?"

Isis nodded, looking up to reveal her bloody, ash stained face. "He stayed up until dawn and let the sun… let the sun…" She started crying again, bringing her hands to her face.

Mark pulled her up into his arms, soothing her. "Jaden, back to the house."

Jaden nodded, standing up, looking numb.

When Mark started back towards the cabin, Isis reached out. "The ashes! Scatter the ashes!"

Jaden hesitated a moment before doing as bid, feeling her heart drop down past her ribs.

Once they were inside, Isis disappeared into the bedroom she shared with Mark.

Mark glanced at Jaden helplessly before following his distraught mate.

Jaden sank down onto the couch, staring into the still raging fire, unable to believe that Jeff was dead. She only snapped out of her reverie when she heard footsteps on the snow, crunching along towards the house, whoever it was not bothering to be stealthy.

Growling angrily, she got up and quickly made her way outside via the back door, all her predatory senses kicking into high gear. When she made it around front, all she seen was a heavy winter coat in front of the living room window, the person wearing it obviously peering inside.

Rage filled her, contorting her face into something decidedly not human, fangs out and eyes blazing red. Snarling she leapt, growling in the back of her throat when her prey tried to pry her off his or her back.

Jaden merely wrapped her legs around her next meal's waist and tore away the hood, driving her fangs straight through the person's neck. Draught after draught she drained, slowing down when she began to catch images of this person.

Then, reeling back, she realized who she had been drinking from.

John!

***

"Isis…" Mark sat down besides her on the bed. "Come on baby, stop crying."

Isis raised her head off the pillow, looking ghastly with blood streaking through the ash she had rubbed all over her face. She just stared at him.

Mark sighed, standing up and walking into the bathroom. After turning on the hot water, he returned to the bedroom. Mark quickly undressed Isis before carrying her to the tub, gently laying her down in the water.

Isis was silent and docile through all this, allowing him to wash her body and hair. Just sitting, letting the steam caress her. Finally she lay back against the cool porcelain, closing her eyes.

Mark gazed down at her, studying her while he tenderly washed her arms. Sometimes he forgot how young she had been, still was. In the few years they had been together he had grown to love her more than anything, but he couldn't recall a time he had ever asked her about her dreams or aspirations. Perhaps he thought they didn't matter any longer, apparently though, to Isis they had been everything.

Children.

He still couldn't believe she wanted children. He had never given much thought to having kids, never seeming to have the time for them. If they were still mortal, he would love to have children with Isis, they'd be so beautiful.

"My hair and your eyes, beautiful indeed." Isis murmured, never opening her eyes.

Mark almost blushed.

"Don't worry about it beloved." Isis smiled slightly. "I'm content now. I have you by my side and Jeff is at peace now." Her eyebrows drew together slightly, recalling what Jeff had told her, her eyes flying open. "Mark, the people in town, they know what we are."

"What?"

"They know we're vampires and they're comin' to kill us, sometime soon, any day now. They'll attack while we're asleep, when they know we'll be defenseless."

"Jeff tell you this?"

She nodded.

Mark sighed, running a hard through his hair. "Then we'll have to leave, as soon as possible."

"Where too this time?"

"I don't know, maybe head to Texas, I still have a place there."

"Texas?"

"Everyone there is used to my odd hours so it won't seem strange if I'm only seen out and about after dusk." Mark explained. "The fact that I have two women with me won't matter much either, might incite a bit of gossip but…"

Isis punched him, not appreciating the grin on his face. "You're a pig."

***

"Oh shit! John? John!" Jaden carefully lowered him to the porch, knowing that his mortal body probably wouldn't stand the shock of being moved, also knowing that he was dying from blood loss. "God… no, no!"

John's eyes opened, the normally gorgeous blue now dull and filmed over. "Jaden?" He whispered, wincing with pain. "I had to- had to warn you."

"Quiet and let me think!" She whispered furiously. "Just quiet…. You'll be all right."

John was chuckling softly to himself. "The people in town… they're coming… tomorrow morning to kill you all." He actually managed a harsh laugh. "And to think I didn't believe them when they tried telling me what… what you are."

"John, I'm sorry! I didn't mean for this to happen." Jaden cried, staring down at him.

John shrugged nonchalantly, though it obviously took a great deal of effort. "At least I get to die with a beautiful woman holding me."

"How can you joke at a time like this?"

"For the same reason you're so serious."

Jaden was frightened.

***

"Did you hear that?" Mark asked, starting to stand up.

Isis grabbed his hand and pulled him back down. "I didn't hear anything'," She whispered, a seductive smile on her face. "How bout you join me in here?"

Mark didn't need a second invitation.

Jaden could only watch as the life quite literally drained from John, unable to tear her eyes away. Finally she gnashed her teeth across her wrist and made a gaping wound, lowering it to his mouth. "Drink." She breathed.

John stared at her like she was out of her mind.

"Unless you want to die…" Jaden started pulling away.

With surprising strength, John grabbed her arm and brought it to his mouth, drinking deeply of her blood, his eyes widening.

Jaden hissed with pleasure, watching him while wondering if this was the smart thing to do, then quickly shoving the thought aside as it was way to late for that now. "That's enough John," She said at last, trying to pull away. "I said that's enough!" She shoved him forcefully away.

John fell back startled, gasping as his body started changing, his eyes all over the place as he struggled to take in everything at once.

Jaden rubbed her now healed wrist, staring at him. This wasn't going to go over well with Mark and Isis, not at all.