A/N: I don't own anyone but my OC's…though I wished I owned the guys…*sighs*
Ava stared back at the vampire as Jessica demanded for a second time, "What are you doing?! If you do not answer me then I will get it out from you!"
Her heightened sense of smell picked up traces of her brother's scent heading down the hall. Jessica started to suspect Ava was up to something and feared she had seen her leaving for town earlier.
"I was looking for Missouri as I am through cleaning the stables and guest rooms."
"She is unavailable Ava," Jessica said with the coldest tone she had. "But since you are through with your duties I shall assign another. Go down to the cellar and clear away the dust and cobwebs from the wine racks. Do not come up until you are through."
"Yes Mistress Jessica," Ava bit back the bitter edge in her voice but Jessica could hear it. She knew Ava had been angered when Brooklyn was brought to the estate. She had been shoved out from Alaric's bed and replaced by the younger slave which enraged her. Jessica watched the slave turn and head towards the cellar and waited until she could hear the slave's footsteps turn faint then silent. She then pulled the small candelabra on the wall and slipped unnoticed through the small gap in the wall.
William reentered Alaric's chambers and approached the human on the couch. Her naked body covered by a thin sheet which was becoming stained with fresh blood. Some of the wounds on her back were infected and weeping pus in random spots. The disgusting stench of infection spread through the room making the vampire's nostrils flare and face cringe. But still, her beauty was unmatched by any other slave Alaric had ever owned. The coppery locks glowed in the gentle light of the fire as the shadows danced across her face.
"I take it you like my selection in slaves," William turned around at the sound of Alaric's voice. He grinned then nodded. "This one is not like any other you've owned."
"Which is why I need to leave tonight before Winchester gets wind of anything I do," he sighed.
"What do you mean? Is there a spy amongst us?"
"I am afraid so," he looked over at the other vampire. "I suspect my dear sweet little sister is our little Benedict Arnold."
"What shall we do?"
"I have an idea," he motioned for William to follow him.
Jessica watched the slave from the hiding place in the cellar as she dusted and cleaned the wine racks. She had to know if Ava was ratting her out to Alaric. The slender figure moved busily around ensuring every spot was wiped twice before moving on. Ava knew this was Jessica's way of keeping her out of the way and away from her business.
As the vampire continued to watch her, Alaric lunged down the steps and covered her mouth with his hand.
"So you're the one who's been spying for the enemy eh? Jess I'm disappointed in you. I thought blood ran thicker than water."
Jessica struggled against her brother as he dragged her away and up the stairs. "Oh Ava was spying for me alright, only she wasn't aware of it. I tapped her mind the whole time and saw you gallop off towards town to meet Winchester and the many other times including when you were their little courier. You were going to help him steal my slave!"
Jessica continued fighting Alaric all the way to her chambers where William was waiting. In his hand was a small syringe with liquid silver inside. It was enough to keep her incoherent.
"Maybe teaching you a little lesson in betrayal will do the trick," William stepped forward and plunged the needle in her neck and forced the contents into her immortal body. Jessica screamed in pain as the poison raced through her veins. Alaric dropped her on the bed watching her writhe and curl up in agony.
"You broke my heart Jessica, you broke my heart," Alaric said coldly before stepping out and returning to his own chambers.
Missouri continued tending to the infected wounds as fever raged through Brooklyn's small body.
"Dean…." She whispered the vampire's name. Missouri raised an eyebrow at the name and continued cleaning the wounds until every single one was free of pus. The older woman grabbed the ointment Adrian had left and rubbed it over the wounds. Her heart was breaking for the slave as she had never seen such brutality before.
"Child I am sorry," she sighed sadly. Alaric stepped in noticing Missouri continue to cleanse the wounds. The smell of infection wavered and wasn't as strong as earlier. The vampire motioned for the other slaves to enter and quickly they surrounded the unconscious slave. Missouri stepped back and watched the others wrap the feverish body in several thick blankets then carefully lift the bundle up and out of the room. Another slave entered and gathered Alaric's possessions and clothing along with Brooklyn's clothing and packed them in the steamer trunks.
"Take them to the Suburban along with Brooklyn. I will be there shortly."
The slave bowed and waited for his fellow slave to return before hoisting the first trunk down the stairs. Alaric looked over at Missouri who was silent throughout the whole thing.
"My father shall be arriving here in a day along with my brother. For now you will be responsible for running the household in my absence."
"Is Mistress Jessica alright?" She asked.
"She is not feeling well and wishes to not be disturbed," Alaric lied but knew she would buy the excuse.
"As she wishes," Missouri acknowledged. Alaric turned and left his chambers leaving Missouri to clean up. The vampire hurried down the stairs where William was waiting along with eight of his best men. All bowed their heads then straightened up as Alaric approached.
"Is everything in place?" Alaric asked already knowing the answer.
"Of course Alaric," William said with a smile. "Too bad you did that to your sister as she would've gone after Winchester and given me a chance to eliminate him."
"Knowing my adversary he will learn of my plans and come after us. So don't worry William," the dark haired vampire smiled in anticipation.
"The roads are clear so we should make Saint Louis in a day," Alaric waited for the human to open the door for him. The vampire stepped in and sat beside Brooklyn who was wrapped in several blankets. Her body shivered as the fever raged on showing no mercy to its victim. Alaric looked over sensing the tiny movements beside him.
"Dean…." She moaned in pain. Alaric glared at the human knowing she was calling out for him.
Dean sat up and touched his forehead feeling the burning heat against his fingers. He ran his hands over exposed flesh and felt the heat all over his body.
"Brooklyn," he whispered. The pain in his back had subsided hours ago giving way to the dull throbbing which continued to plague him. Dean hurried and grabbed his gear and hollered out to Sam.
"Sam! Sam!" He screamed at the top of his lungs as he rushed through the house. John grabbed his son by the shoulders and spun him around.
"Dean calm down!" John shook his son. "What are you screaming about?"
"I need to get her now!" Dean couldn't explain it but he broke free from John's stronger grip. John put his hands up then retrieved his keys from his jacket pocket.
"Take my truck."
Dean gripped the keys and slipped them from John's hand and nodded at his father before rounding up Sam and heading out the door.
Nancy grew concerned for her mistress as Jessica had not summoned her to give her list of errands to the human. She finished up the dishes and wiped down the counters and tables before heading up the stairs and towards Jessica's room. She knew the vampire hated how some treated enslaved humans but Jessica had always shown compassion towards Nancy and even finding a small token of her appreciation from time to time like the cross she wore which was hidden by her dress. The cool silver against her skin was a comfort to the human offering solace during dark days.
She arrived at the doors and lightly rapped on them then quietly called out her mistress's name.
"Mistress Jessica, it's me Nancy," she knocked again then slowly turned the knob and pushed the door open. Nancy peered inside and saw the still form of the vampire on her bed. Upon first glance any human slave would've dismissed it as the vampire at rest. But to Nancy something was off and the alarms were blazing in her mind. Cautiously she stepped across the threshold and closed the door behind her.
"Mistress are you alright?" Jessica didn't stir. Nancy moved forward as the fear filled her body. The fire gave off a soft orange glow across the vampire's normally cool pale skin revealing nothing outwardly wrong. Nancy hurried to the side of the bed and knelt down to the vampire's face. Her lips were tinged in blue and Nancy gasped in horror.
"Missouri!" She screamed at the top of her lungs and raced out the door.
The small caravan moved south, keeping off the main roads and on the secondary routes. Brooklyn remained still beneath the blankets but continued whispering Dean's name. Alaric ignored the pleas coming from beneath the huddled mass and focused on being in the warmth of Barbados and away from Dean Winchester. The driver eased the vehicle onto another road going deeper in the woods. The human knew where he was going for he had driven the route countless times for his master and his master's father.
"Will, when you are hungry I had the kitchen slave pack you something to eat," Alaric motioned to the basket in the front seat.
"I will wait until you are off in Saint Louis," he responded. Alaric nodded and lowered the seat until it was flat and curled up beside his slave refusing to let her go even as he slept next to her. Will drove on checking through the rearview to make sure William was right behind. He pushed the accelerator harder kicking the speed up to 75.
"Keep up," William looked over at the driver who sped up keeping several car lengths behind the black SUV.
The pickup truck came to a screeching halt at the gates of the estate and Dean leapt out before Sam had the door open on his side. The vampire burst through the door unable to pick up Brooklyn's or Alaric's scents. Sam caught up and started up the stairs with Dean behind him. The younger vampire had honed in on Jessica's scent and sensed something was wrong with his beloved.
"Jess!" Sam stormed in her chambers and nearly dropped to his knees at what he saw. Missouri was examining the vampire while Nancy looked on.
"Someone poisoned her with silver," she motioned for Nancy to step in. "See here where this injection site is?" Nancy nodded her head. "This little bit of liquid is silver."
"I'm going to kill Alaric!" Sam bellowed from behind them. Nancy yelped in surprise at the sight of the brothers standing behind them. Missouri stood up and addressed the vampires.
"Good afternoon gentlemen," she greeted them cordially. "Nancy fetch me some cloths and water," Nancy hurried out and brushed by the brothers.
"Where's Alaric?" Sam demanded before Dean could ask. Missouri looked up at him with a cool expression.
"My master has left and I am in charger until his father and brother arrive tomorrow."
"Where did he go?" It was Dean's turn to question the slave.
"My master does not inform me of his travels. But he did pack his belongings along with the slave girl Brooklyn's. He did leave about a few hours ago but other than that I do not know anything else."
Dean spun on his heels and rushed towards Alaric's chambers where the faint hints of infection wafted across the vampire's sensitive nose. He knew it was Brooklyn who was ill as Alaric's scent was strong and healthy. Dean walked through the room and examined everything closely. Any small clue as to where the bastard was heading was crucial and Dean went through every drawer and shelf until he was standing before the couch. Her scent was strongest here and it was at the spot Dean dropped to his knees and ran his hands over the fading warmth. The deep earthen scent tingled his nose as the comforting scent filled his being.
"I'm coming," he told the spot before standing to rise. As he turned, Dean spotted as slip of paper sticking out from the fire place. The vampire snatched the scorched fragment and noticed the name Saint Louis on the unburned part.
"Saint Louis…." Dean whispered to himself. "That bastard!"
And the hunt is on!!!
