PART TEN

Two Months Later…

"Any word from John yet?" Jaden asked softly when Isis and Jeff walked into the house.

They exchanged looks, Jeff rubbing the back of his neck while Isis looked like she was ready to cry.

That was all the answer Jaden needed.

"Darlin', I'm sure he's alright." Isis said softly, walking over to take Jaden's hand in hers.

"No, he's not, Isis. If he was, you'd know, you'd be able to reach him through his mind." Jaden replied coldly, not about to be lied too, even if it was for her peace of mind. "John's either unconscious or dead."

Jeff looked back and forth between the women before deciding now would be a good time to go elsewhere, somewhere out of the line of fire.

Isis ran a hand through her black hair, chewing on her lower lip. "J, he's probably dead." She said finally, her voice a low monotone. "It's been three weeks now. He left on a regular errand and never came back. Chances are a werewolf got to him, or one of them did."

Jaden didn't know what to say to that. She'd inwardly figured as much but to hear the words spoken aloud. It gave the whole thing a finality. Swallowing hard, she flew out the open window.

*****

Jeff looked up from his place at the table, building a castle of cards when David walked in. "Where have you been?" He asked conversationally.

David grunted.

Jeff turned in his seat to watch the big man walk out of the room, cocking an eyebrow, wondering what the hell that was all about.

*****

Ken watched as Shannon embraced the larger man, well, vampire. He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling awkward. Obviously, these two had a past.

Shannon smiled, brushing her eyes with her knuckles. "Glenn, this is my fledging, Ken."

Glenn surveyed the child- in his mind, Ken was definitely a babe- thoughtfully. "Better choice than your last one." He grunted.

Ken shifted uncomfortably, never having heard about another one.

Shannon frowned. "Don't you dare harm him! He's mine!"

Now Ken was REALLY uncomfortable.

*****

Isis sighed heavily, running both her pale hands through her hair. "Damn… this ain't good." She murmured, nodding when Jeff stood besides her.

Jeff looked down at the pile of ashes she was studying. "Um… did we barbecue?" He asked slowly, knowing this wasn't the time to joke but unable to help himself.

"No…"

"What- please, Isis, tell me this ain't what I think it is." Jeff watched as she stooped down, shifting her fingers through the ash. "Isis?"

Isis couldn't answer, all she could was shake her head. In denial that this was what her heart already knew. She couldn't stop running the cold ashes through her fingers, knowing that once they had been a body, a body that could laugh, ran, cry, love.

Never again.

*****

Jaden looked up from her place on the couch when Jeff walked in. She frowned, seeing he was carrying Isis and got to her feet, hearing David getting to his as well. "What is it?"

Isis numbly held out a small, brown leather pouch.

Now trembling, Jaden took it. Apprehension coursed through her as she rolled it around in her hand, not wanting to know what was inside but having a strange feeling she already knew.

David's keen brown eyes were taking in Jeff and Isis, noticing the streaks of dried blood running down both their cheeks. "What happened?" He asked softly.

Jeff just shook his head, sinking down into a plush chair, cradling Isis against him, his eyes locked on Jaden.

Jaden took a deep breath before opening the pouch and pouring it's contents into the palm of her hand.

David moved quick enough to catch her when she fainted.

*****

Sedona stirred in her chair, frowning when she heard an odd noise. She stood up, her white robes pooling about her feet as she quickly made her way over to a large crystal in the center of the spacious room. She ran her hands over it a few times, eyes searching the shard.

So… the youngest of them all had fallen.

Sedona shook her head, pushing away from the crystal. She started to turn her back only to catch sight of something she hadn't anticipated.

"A Hunter…" She murmured.

*****

Ken sighed, wondering what the Hell he was doing, acting like a servant. He groaned, dropping Shannon's trunk at the foot of the bed. In the past year she along with her creepy friend, Glenn, had dragged his unwilling ass all over the United States.

A year, a fucking year! They roamed from city to city, town to town. He couldn't for the life of him figure out WHAT they were doing in this current shit-hole. This place was tiny. Honestly, if he would've blinked, he'd of missed it.

Sighing, he wondered if he should unpack but decided against it. Ten to one, they'd be on the move again soon.

*****

Shannon frowned, watching as Glenn ran his hand along the stair banister. "What is it about this place?" She demanded, looking around the burnt exterior of the house they were in. She'd been surprised when Glenn insisted they come here. The outside was scorched though the damage hadn't been as bad as it appeared.

Now they were inside what she guessed had been a living room, a parlor, whatever the hell they were called. She tapped her foot impatiently, not understanding why they were here. "Glenn?"

Glenn snapped out of whatever was holding his attention and looked at her. "What?"

"What are we doing-" She gestured around. "here?"

He smiled mirthlessly, walking over to what had once been a fireplace, now nothing more than charred wood and marble. He inhaled softly, placing his hand on the mantle and caressed the distorted edging. "This, my dear, is where Isis and I were made."

Shannon blinked, folding her arms over her chest. "You brought me to this hellhole just so you could reminisce about your fucking girlfriend?" She demanded, sounding more than a tad annoyed.

"You sound jealous."

"Should I be?" Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "I mean, come on Glenn, from day one, it's been nothing but your little obsession with that raven haired bitch, mind filling me in?"

"It's none of your concern, Shannon." Glenn said quietly, an underline of danger in his tone.

She ignored it. "Look, the ONLY reason I'm with you now is because you're the best way for me to get my hands on that little whore Jaden, the ONLY reason. All I want is to end her miserable existence the way she TRIED to end mine, that's it."

"Is it now?"

"Yes."

Glenn turned to face her, his blue eyes crinkling in amusement. "How interesting…"

Shannon groaned when he gave her a beckoning look, her feet carrying her across the floor to him of their own volition. "I hate you." She whispered passionately.

"Mmm-hmmm…"

*****

"Someone mind tellin' me what the hell is goin' on?" Isis demanded, stepping between Jeff and David, glancing at Jaden for the answer.

Jaden rolled her eyes, motioning to them. "The usual."

The usual meant David had given Jeff an order and Jeff had told David where to shove his orders.

"Ya'all need to knock if off." Isis said flatly. "This fightin' shit ain't cuttin' it."

[You need to tell your boy here to start watching his ass.] David said in her mind.

Isis fixed a pointed look at him.

Jeff frowned. [He talking behind my back?]

"WILL YOU BOTH STAY THE HELL OUTTA MAH HEAD?"

Jaden watched as Isis stormed into the bedroom they were sharing, wincing when the door slammed behind her. "You two need to quit it." She scolded, planting her fists on her hips.

David just shot Jeff a disgusted look before following Isis.

Jeff sighed, running a hand over his face. "I don't know Jaden…. We've been running for the past year and it's wearing on both mine and Davey's nerves."

"You are wearing on each other's nerves."

"That too."