PART ELEVEN
Jenica sighed, rubbing her arms before glancing over at Emily, a scowl marring her face. Her silver-blue eyes narrowed as she took in the title of the current book Emily was reading. "Why in the Hell are you reading that? You already KNOW how to do it!"
Emily looked up slowly, her sapphire blue eyes widening behind her gold framed glasses. "I know, it's merely for educational purposes."
"Educa- ARE YOU NUTS?"
"No need to shout, Jenica." Emily said softly, her British accent coming through crisply. "I'm not deaf, what's the matter, love?"
"I don't think we should be sitting in here on our asses when there's work." Jenica said gruffly, dropping down on a wooden chair, picking at the frayed edging of her cut off jean shorts.
Setting aside the book, Emily sighed, rubbing her temples. "We've done all we can for the moment, we lost the trail."
"Again."
"Again. Though with some patience I'm sure we'll pick it up again."
*****
"Who's Isis?" Ken asked curiously, watching as Shannon brushed her hair.
Shannon cocked an eyebrow, looking at him through the mirror.
Ken blushed somewhat, though he was unable to take his eyes off of her. Off of the mirror. Imagine his surprise when she had instantly discarded some of the Vampire myths.
"Isis… is, one of…" Shannon frowned, trying to explain it. "She was made… no… she BECAME… a vampire. Glenn was made, along with another, who's dead now."
"And Isis will lead us to Jaden?"
"Wherever Isis is, you can bet Jaden will be. They act like they're… sisters or something." Shannon's upper lip curled in disdain. "Lovers, best friends, that sort of… thing."
Ken turned away from her, a thoughtful look on his face. From what he had gathered, Shannon hated Jaden with a passion stemming from their initial meeting, something to do with insults. Then factor in Jaden had tried to kill Shannon, bad blood there.
He wasn't sure about the Isis bit though. He got the impression Shannon was jealous of Glenn's infatuation with the woman but at the same time, he could tell Shannon feared Glenn and hated him as well.
This was all giving him a migraine.
******
"Where too next?" Isis asked, turning around to stare at David.
He shook his head, sighing heavily. "I don't know… I don't know what to do anymore, Isis."
Isis blinked, wondering where that had come from. David was the take charge one of the group and this was the first time she had seen him with his defenses down so to speak.
"Isis, face it, wherever or whatever you say, Jaden and Jeff are going to do. They look to you for the answers. They only listen to me because you do."
"You give orders without reason," Isis said gently. "They're used to bein' let in on what's goin' on, David."
"I'm not used to letting anyone in on anything."
"I know this."
David held her even stare for a few minutes longer before looking away, feeling confused. He didn't know what to think about anything anymore. They'd been on the move for a year now. Jaden had somewhat recovered from John's death though she had taken to wearing all black.
Black Widow. It was a nickname Jeff had come up for her, teasingly, but it stuck.
It seemed to be the truth.
Though Isis could say the same.
David had to wonder if he was next on the death list. It seemed whenever a man became involved with them, he died. He brushed that thought aside, he was centuries older than the both of them, more powerful, more experienced, they couldn't kill him even if they wanted too.
As far as he knew.
He had a pretty good idea of the extent of Jaden's power. She was strong, no doubt about it, could fly. She could go days without feeding.
Isis, he had no clue honestly. She had long been dormant so her powers were unknown to him. He knew for a fact she kept them reigned in, though he wasn't sure why. He also knew she could delve into other's mind, now there was a creepy thought.
He looked suspiciously at her, watching as she read a paper, wondering if she was reading his thoughts right now.
Isis looked at him and arched a quizzical eyebrow.
He smiled at her.
Isis chuckled and returned to her paper.
David walked out of the room, nodding as Jaden passed him in the hallway, halting when he seen Jeff busy painting a mural on the ceiling, watching for a minute as the scene unfolded monstrously fast. He didn't understand Jeff either. From what he'd been told, Jeff had committed suicide, a depressed young vampire unwilling to live anymore.
Now he was back and he never seemed down. Not counting the John episode. Jeff didn't seem romantically interested in Jaden anymore, just regarded her with regret and an understanding that came of being intimate with someone.
They reminded him of siblings.
Jeff was a royal pain in David's immortal backside however. Jeff didn't trust him and had never bothered to hide it. David was also curious about Jeff's feelings towards Isis.
Isis. All roads led back to her, didn't they? At first he had thought there was something between them but she treated him like she did Jeff, as a brother. The only one she let her guard down with was Jaden and even then, Isis always seemed to be looking off into the distance.
Groaning, David ran a hand down his face. "I'm five centuries too old for this." He muttered.
*****
Even though Jaden was dying for something to do, she had a feeling whatever, whoever they were going to see was about to wrack their world more then it already was.
"What's going on, Isis?" Jaden demanded bluntly.
Isis looked up, folding her paper closed and smiled grimly. "We're goin' huntin'."
"For what?" Jaden had a sneaking suspicion she knew.
"Well… I've been listenin' in to some interesting' thoughts and two states over, there is a young vampire who's VERY, VERY curious 'bout us."
Jaden smiled slightly. "How come I get the feeling this is a girl's only trip?"
"Got our leather suits?"
"Been waiting a decade for you to come around."
Isis stood up, her black eyes twinkling. "Let's not waste time then."
