Chapter 21: What Goes Up…
Beneath Las Vegas…
The sewers beneath Vegas were dark, filthy, and smelled of disgusting refuse. All in all, the last place the queen of vampires wanted to be trudging through at the moment. A sickening hall of all the shit and crap humans flushed down the toilet, and she had to walk through it all. It was very unbecoming for one such as herself.
But trudge through it she did, despite the disgust she felt, especially when her boots occasionally splash through puddles of… things she'd rather not know the origin of. She had enough issues on her hand as is.
Being trapped in the sewers thanks to that brat Walter was just one of them. The other was managing her forces now that she was separated from them. An issue that would've been a problem for a human… but for the queen of vampires…
She stopped for a moment and raised her hands before her, a ball of swirling shadow forming before her. A smirk crossed her face as she contacted Sierra. It took a few moments of concentration, but eventually she made contact with her second in command.
"Sierra." she called, her voice echoing through the sewer.
Her fledgling froze, 'Master?'
A chuckle sounded from Mariana's throat, "Yes Sierra, it is I, your master. You seen to have forgotten I can contact you from any location no matter the distance or obstacle."
'S-sorry master.' Sierra apologized, 'You just surprised me.'
Mariana just shrugged it off, "Think nothing of it Sierra. Besides, there are more important matters ahead of us."
The queen felt her servant stiffen, 'Master, all the troops are armed and moving as ordered. We'll be arriving at the aqueducts within the hour.'
"Ah, and that's just it." Mariana grinned, "See, I ran across a rather obnoxious brat a short time ago and learned something important. There are explosives planted about the entrance to each aqueduct. They aim to bury our armies. I want you and the others to disarm. Then I want you to bring the army to the Fountain Hotel, you should know the route, and join me in my assault."
Sierra was silent for a moment as she absorbed all of her masters directions. Mariana sighed and rolled her eyes, "That means now, Sierra."
Had Marian been there, Sierra would have straightened further and saluted. Instead, she merely stuttered some more, 'R-right, of course master! We're on it!'
Mariana's grin widened into an unnatural expression, literally reaching from ear to ear, "Good. Oh, and if it's not too much trouble Sierra, could you tell my dear Jenifer to head to the Fountain Hotel now? Royalty does need an escort you know."
The vampire leaned against a dank wall as Sierra relayed her message and got back to speaking to her, 'She's on her way master. The area should be cleared for arrival…' she was silent for a moment.
Mariana sighed, obviously Sierra had another question on her mind, "What is it now Sierra?"
'Master… what happens if she meets Jack and the others?' Sierra asked nervously. And for good reason. Given Mariana's recent… mental instability, there was no telling how the vampiress might react to mentioning the teen and his allies.
Surprisingly though, Mariana just giggled happily, "Tell Jenifer that her orders still stand. Kill Mercer and Walter, but bring Jack to me. I don't care if she has to cripple him first, but Jack must live."
'R-right, understood sir!'
"Excellent." Mariana purred, her grin fading, "I shall see you and my army shortly Sierra. If you do not fail, you will be handsomely rewarded."
She saw the vampire nod hurriedly, 'T-thank you master! We'll be there as quick as we can.'
With that promise, Mariana closed the connection, looking about the sewer around her. Her grin faded away into nothing and she sighed, "It'll all be worth it in the end Mariana…" she told herself.
The water splashed around her legs as she began walking forward, her blood red eyes forward, "Once the brat and Mercer are dead, Jack and the world will be yours…"
Vegas…
Jack watched as the scenery slowly passed by the car window, nothing but a blur of gray's, silvers, and neon. Lots and lots of neon. But would one expect anything less from Sin City? From the great Vegas? Jack certainly didn't. Sure, he'd never really gone to the city before, but he knew of its reputation.
The streets were crowded with cars, the sidewalks just as full of normal people going about their lives in this odd city. Most were tourist, interested in relaxing either from their tedious day jobs, or from long weeks of college schooling. But all of them ignorant to the threat marching through the sewers below them.
Mariana was somewhere below them, making her way to the Fountain Hotel. A heavily populated location, thousands of people passing by. If she beat them to it, who knew how many people would be slaughtered before the ragtag group managed to get there and put a stop to her once and for all.
Which was why Jack was a bit impatient that the silver Rolls Royce that Walter drove (Could he possibly be anymore British?) was being delayed by traffic. He was drumming his fingers against the dashboard, his entire body tense while he sat up front. Mercer sat in the back, hood up while Walter drove. Jack sat back and readjusted his hat to keep the sun out of his eyes.
"I need glasses or something." he mumbled. If he was going to work in the day (Even if it was roughly 3 in the afternoon now) he needed better protection.
Walter let out an amused chuckle, making Jack glare at him, "Something funny Walter?"
The older man shook his head, "I was merely laughing at the situation itself. One of the greatest vampire hunters in the world, working with two vampire teenagers to take down their master, who happens to be the queen of vampires. You must admit, it is quite the peculiar situation."
Jack crossed his arms and resumed looking out the window, not bothering to answer. Alex looked between them and sighed, "I'd have to agree with Walter. This is very weird. Even for us Jack."
The teen let out a snort, "Trust me, even before I was turned this was not the weirdest thing I've gone through Mercer."
The two other passengers exchanged looks at that, but both decided the less they knew the better. Jack had been acting strange ever since they started on their way to the Fountain Hotel. Neither knew what was bugging him, just that he was acting pretty strange regardless.
Ignoring their looks, Jack looked down at his other hand, which held his cell phone in it, 'Maybe I should…' he thought to himself.
With something as threatening as a vampire army moving through the lower levels of Vegas, the Autobots would be their best defense against them… maybe. Jack honestly had no idea. The bots had only ever fought one vampire, himself. And in a matter of seconds he'd managed to knock Arcee out.
If there was any other vampire in that army with even a hint of skill, then there was a chance they'd be overwhelmed and slaughtered. A vision of the bots being brought to their news, thousands of rabid vampires tearing them apart as they tried in vain to fight them off, flashed through his mind. Jack clenched his eyes and his hands.
'No… this is my fight. I won't put them at risk for it…' they'd gotten too involved as it was. The bots were not vampire hunters. They were defenders, but vampires were an entirely different league from cons. A league Jack would not suck them into.
Enough people lost their lives over this. Jack wasn't going to add the bots, Miko's, Raf's, or especially his mother's life to that number. A brief flash of seeing her scarred with the injury he inflicted on her passed through his mind.
Jack closed his eyes tight and tried to will the memory away. He didn't want to think about that ever again. He'd hurt her, and that was the end of it. There was nothing left to focus on now, nothing but killing Mariana. When that was done, then he'd decide what he wanted to do with the rest of his life.
A hand shook his shoulder, waking Jack from his self introspection. He blinked a few times and looked to see it was Walter.
"What?" he growled.
The older gentleman ignored the hostility and pointed ahead, "The Fountain Hotel is merely a block ahead. Perhaps it would be prudent if you and your friend exited and made your way there, post haste."
Jack looked ahead to see that Walter was right. Though it was obscured by a few large buildings, Jack could see the fountain just poking out, with many people stopped in front of it. A water show must be about to start, as they all held various cameras and phones to record the coming spectacle.
And if Mariana was about to emerge from the fountain… Jack immediately started unbuckling his seat belt, "Good idea. Mercer, you coming?"
The hooded teen nodded and began unbuckling himself. Jack reached for the door as his friend did the same. And then the world suddenly flipped around. Something hard and heavy hit the side of the car, sending it screeching across the street and slamming past several other cars as it did.
Suddenly it flipped, knocking Jack and Alex up into the roof. The car slid on its side and crashed into a street lamp, sparks flying everywhere. The two fell back in their seats, Jack unable to move from the neck down.
"Shit. My necks broken." he cursed, and then felt his bones snap into place again. A moment later he had full mobility and immediately tried to figure out what was going on.
First he heard screaming, lots and lots of screaming. Then he heard the sound of several thousand people running in a panic. Third, he saw Walter laying in his seat, stunned but alive. Jack could smell it. Whether he was unharmed was anyone's guess. Looking behind him, Jack saw Alex slumped down on the far door, also unharmed.
"What the hell was that?" Alex groaned, rubbing his head.
Jack looked up at his door, now facing the sky, and started climbing up, "I don't know, but I intend to find out." he growled.
Rotating himself so his feet were on the console between himself and Walter, Jack thrust forward and knocked the door off into the sky. The teen then grabbed the edges where the door once was and pulled himself up and out of the car. The door landed a ways away, in the middle of a panicking Las Vegas.
The area was quickly clearing as people abandoned their cars to run from whatever had knocked them into the lamp post. Looking across the clearing of street, Jack felt his dead heart stop. A familiar coated figure with blonde hair and red eyes with a military cap twisted backwards on her head, was walking towards them.
"Shit shit shit!" Jack cursed and ripped the other door off, offering a hand to Alex.
Alex rubbed at his eyes and took it, Jack heaving him out in one fluid moment. He crouched on the edge of the car, "What's going on Jack? What hit us?"
Jack looked over at Jenifer, who had stopped a good twenty feet away, "Best guess? Her." he pointed at the werewolf.
Alex cringed, covering his crotch, "Her? Why did it have to be her!?"
Jack stood up with a shrug, "Second to last boss Alex. And it looks like she's giving us time to buff up."
It was true, the werewolf had stopped and seemed to be… waiting for them to get ready. Her hands were resting by her sides, hovering by the holstered sub-machine guns on her hips. But besides that, she didn't move at all. All she did do was tilt her head down in a nod to confirm what Jack said.
"Great…" Alex groaned, "Time to get ready for her to crush my balls again."
Jack pulled his Cassul out and armed it, before his eyes flicked to Mercer, "You could always use your shadow to make a cup you know." he pointed out.
"…Oh." Alex said sheepishly. And then Jack took off, leaving his hat to float off amongst the now empty street. It was amazing what one psychotic werewolf could do to a street of several thousand if not million people.
With a flicker of movement, Jack and Jenifer found themselves sliding by each other, weapons pointed at each other. Jen opened fire on Jack, filling him with silver rounds. Pain filled his body, but Jack ignored it, spinning on his back and firing shot after shot into Jenifer.
She flipped forward, rolling to her feet and twisting around to pepper him with more rounds. Jack brought up a weakened shadow to deflect them and sprinted around it, circling her and firing. Jenifer shielded herself with her face as the rounds bounced off or barely harmed her.
Jack skid to a stop in front of the wrecked car, arms and legs spread wide. His coat billowed out behind him, casting long shadows out. Jenifer turned to face him, her eyes narrowed and her own coat billowing behind her. Jack ignored the burning feeling on his neck.
"Not much a talker, are you!" he called.
Jen replied by shooting him in the knee, making it go limp. Jack grabbed at the injury and let out a pained laugh, "Hehe…ow…" he chuckled, grinning all the while.
His red eyes flicked back up to Jen, and he stood back up. His knee still steamed from the injury, "You know, at this point the pain just doesn't bother me anymore." he emptied a clip from the Cassul and slammed a new one home.
"All I want is to kill Mariana." he told her, keeping his voice level, "Is that too much to ask Jenifer? She stole my humanity from me, tried to make me kill my own mother. You've got to understand why I don't want to work for her."
Jen looked to the side for a moment, an unsure look on her face. Jack grinned, feeling he'd gotten to her. Then she shot him in the shoulder. Jack took a single step back from the impact, feeling the silver burn his flesh.
"Okay…apparently not…" he grumbled, feeling the bullet expelled from his body. He was really starting to hate silver at this point.
He looked up at the clouded sky, bits of blue peaking through. It would have been peaceful any other time, but with the werewolf (Who was reloading) trying to kill him, and Mercer doing god knew what, it was far from peaceful. The distant panicked screams were ignored by Jack as he continued to watch the sky.
It, it and the sun were weakening him. Making him susceptible to Jenifer again. He knew it, and she knew it. If it was blocked she would fall eventually. Even with Mercer, the sun would leave them too weakened to fight her…
Briefly, Jack felt Alex jump over him using his shoulder and engage Jenifer. The sound of snarling slashing and spilling blood filled the air while Jack continued to stare up at the sky, wishing it would just… go dark…
"Jack!" Alex called out, right as Jen snapped his arm and kicked him in the crotch with a dull thud.
His friend didn't hear him, but Alex didn't double over in pain. He grinned at Jen instead, "I wore a cup this time."
She narrowed her eyes, then twisted his arm to make him cry out in pain. Then she shot him in the crotch three times.
"OW!" he screamed, his voice a few octaves too high, "What the hell is your problem with my balls!?"
Jens response was to kick him across the street where he crashed into a building with an echoing crash. With no more civilians around, the teen merely lay there, trying to recover from his castration. Jack continued to stare up at the sky.
The werewolf looked from Mercer to Jack with a frown on her face. What was wrong with him? Last time when she attacked Mercer it provoked Jack into charging in blindly. It was as if he were distracted by something, or just didn't care! Or, he was ignoring her!
No one ignored her. She may hide in the shadows, but in combat she was never ignored. Jenifer stormed forward, her guns in hands and stopped a few feet from Jack with one pointed at his head. She rested her finger lightly on the trigger. Jack didn't move.
Her frown turned into a full sneer, and she pulled down on the trigger. A lone shot echoed through the empty section of the strip. Jack's head jerked back and a small smile appeared on Jen's face. Now he would fight back, no questions asked.
Jacks free hand curled up and he slowly looked at her with his eyes wide open. A single bloody hole rested in his forehead, quickly sealing up. His face was expressionless except for his wide eyes, with his pupils nearly non-existent. It was as if staring into an endless pool of blood.
The expression on his face made Jen take a step back, as the entire atmosphere of the strip began to change. Neon lights began shorting out, sparking and then falling silent. Doors shut tight, sealing their few remaining residents inside. Cars briefly started blaring their alarms before they were silenced.
Wind began blowing down the street, catching her cap and sending it flying. Jacks hair was a ragged mess from the wind, billowing with his coat. It really did need a trim at this point.
A sudden unanimous groan echoed from the many cities of Vegas. Jen looked up confused before realizing it was the wind, literally making their glass facades shimmer and flex under the force of its power.
Jenifer shielded her face with a hand and looked to the right down the street where the wind was originating from. Fear rolled up her spine as she saw a massive fog bank rolling towards them. It was huge, like a giant grey sand storm. Every building and vehicle it passed over was engulfed and nearly invisible to either her or anyone else.
The werewolf took a hesitant step back as the massive fog bank loomed over the two of them for a moment. And then, like a tidal wave, it crashed around them engulfing her vision in nothing but thick grayness. Nearly pitch dark, but with no light to see.
It was never ending and nearly palpable. Jenifer looked around, tightening her grip on her weapons as she tried to find Jack. She didn't hear him, the fog muted every sound that even her hearing couldn't pick it up.
She couldn't see him, and all vampires smelled the same to her. She was fighting blind! What kind of fight was this!?
A vicious growl escaped her throat, that of a rabid animal, and was swallowed up by the fog. She continued spinning around, trying to find Jack. Instead, all she got was a chuckle from the vampire. And she couldn't pin point it. It was everywhere, an endless chuckle that was all she could hear.
The chuckle started to grow deeper and louder, shifting from a chuckle into a laugh, "Hehehehe," it started growing louder and started to descend into madness. A never ending laugh that made Jen drop her weapons and cover her ears, whimpering.
Finally, Jack spoke, "What's the matter, mutt!? You wanted a fight, well now you've got one! You've fought me on your own turf, now let's see you face me in mine!"
Jenifer backed towards what she was though was the sidewalk, and ran into something. She froze and reached behind her and felt… cloth. Cloth and cold flesh beneath it. Her blood ran cold and she stumbled away to see the shadowy visage of Jack standing there, arms hanging by his side. Only his red eyes were completely visible, the rest of his body hidden by the fog.
She saw him raise his pistol and pull the slide back, "Now, let's begin, shall we?"
Beneath Vegas…
"Come on, let's move!" Sierra ordered, yelling to the twelve hundred or so vampires following her down below the sewers. The army had been split into two groups where they would eventually converge and meet their master at the Fountain Hotel. From there they would begin on their reign of chaos and start to wipe the taint of humans from Las Vegas.
The only problem was the fact that moving thousands of vampires in battle armor through the sewers was not easy. The filth, water, and overall disgusting condition of the sewer made it difficult for the massive army to move through it.
But luckily, many of the vampires were afraid of Sierra, or rather her position with Mariana. Being the second in command granted many privileges to the young vampire, including a degree of respect.
Respect that was not being paid to her at the moment, "We're moving as fast as we can you bitch!" one of them called, "There's over a thousand of us moving through this shit tunnel, we can only move so fast!"
Sierra scowled, "Keep up the pace, it's only going to get slower when we meet up with the other half of the army. And we cannot keep our master waiting forever!"
Many vampires grumbled to themselves as they crossed on either side of the large pool of shit and piss in the center between them. They were vampires. That did not mean they were immune to things as disgusting as that.
Sierra sighed and continued forward, taking the lead as was befitting her status. She herself was dressed in a Kevlar vest, black combat pants and black combat boots. A large gas mask was hung around her neck, as it was around the neck of every vampire. With the sun still up, they didn't want it to hurt them or weaken them.
These vampires weren't like say, Jack or Mariana. Sunlight would weaken them far more and make them susceptible to standard weaponry. But if the sunlight could not hit them, then their power remained. Hence the heavy body armor and masks.
But thoughts of that aside, the army of vampires continued marching through the sewers for a good half hour, until they came to the convergence point. It was a large circular dome shaped area, with the water of the sewer running underneath the large cobblestone clearing in the center. Only a few ancient lights illuminated the area, and the gentle sound of sewer water echoed off the dome walls.
Sierra put her hand on the tunnel they were in and immediately recoiled at the touch of something wet and sticky, "Ew…" she muttered, wiping it off on her pant leg before approaching the convergent point carefully.
It seemed clear, but there was no telling what traps Jack and his cronies might have laid out for them there. And though Sierra doubted it, it was better to be safe than sorry. She stepped out to the edge and let scanned the area.
Nothing but weak pale light met her gaze and she smelled no sign of blood. Only the pungent aroma of the sewers. Her nose wrinkled in disgust and she looked back to the army behind her, waiting patiently for the all clear.
"Go." she ordered quietly, "It's all clear."
The message was relayed down the endless column of vampires and they began spilling out into the convergent area. Sierra at the front, still scanning for any sign of a possible trap.
"Ow!" one of the vampires suddenly yelled. Sierra whirled around, along with several others, to see a vampire had fallen flat on his face at the entrance to the tunnel. Sierra rolled her eyes and trotted over to the vampire.
"What happened?" she demanded with arms crossed.
The vampire rubbed his head before looking up at her, "I…tripped on something, sir…" he said and looked over at his feet.
Sierra narrowed her eyes and approached where he'd tripped. The others parted to let her examine what he'd tripped over. Running her hands over the ground (And mentally cursing all the while) Sierra didn't find anything at first…
"I don't…" she paused when she felt a loose cable in her hands. Pinching it between her thumb and fore finger, Sierra lifted it up and felt it tighten against something.
Very gently, she followed the wire to the wall and saw something sticking out of the ground. She didn't register what it was, because its purpose was evident to anyone with two brain cells.
"EVERYONE OUT OF THE TUNNEL NOW!" she roared, immediately backing away from the entrance.
No one else reacted in time, as several explosions ripped through the tunnel, specifically the top. Smoke billowed into the tunnels as vampires were torn apart, their bodies smoldering into ash that quickly mixed with the sewer water. The shockwave ran down the tunnel and out into the convergent point, knocking several hundred vampires out of the tunnel into the clearing.
And then, the entire structure collapsed, the street above caving in. Various cars slid in, their passengers gone and their alarms blaring. Smoke billowed out from the cave in, and the vampires backed away as light started spilling into the cavern.
Of the original twelve hundred vampires with Sierra, roughly eight hundred had been obliterated in the explosives. Another hundred were now separated from the main body, and roughly half the number with Sierra were seriously injured. It would take hours for some of them to heal, and much blood.
Sierra for her part lay on her ass, staring up at the ceiling as her body knit itself back together. She felt a few bones crack back into place, and her hearing quickly return. Once she could hear the startled cries of her vampires, she slowly got to her feet, taking a few unsteady steps as she did.
"Status report!" she croaked, her voice hoarse and weak.
Most of the vampires didn't hear her, still getting over their shock. But a few did and one approached her with his UV mask on, "Ma'am, we're going to have to call off the invasion. There's barely a hundred of us left standing after that."
Sierra scowled and grabbed the vampire by the throat, "Are you suggesting we abandon our queen because of one explosion? Especially when Vince is leading the way for more vampires to come? We're not calling this off! Understand!?"
The vampire scowled behind his mask but nodded, "Yes. Sir." he grumbled.
Sierra shoved him away, "Good, now go check on the-"
Another series of smaller explosions went off above her. Sierra and the vampire both ducked down and covered their heads. Every vampire did that in fact, as the explosives started circling the entire dome above them with a loud 'bang, bang, bang'!
Sierra realized this quickly, "Everyone back away from the center!" she ordered. The vampires able to do so, quickly moved to Sierra as the last of the explosives went out, followed by a low groan from the ceiling. Everyone looked up to see various cracks quickly streaking up the dome towards the center, where they met up.
A single fracture shattered in the center of the dome.
And the entire structure came tumbling down, with roadway and sidewalks falling into the newly formed pit. Smoke billowed around the wreckage, a large cloud that blinded the vampires for a good few seconds. Once it stopped billowing, it took a full minute for it to clear before they could finally see before them.
The entire dome had caved in before them, effectively blocking all passages to the Fountain Hotel. Light streamed in through the hole, leaving the vampires with a small sliver between the hole before and behind them to hide in. They spread out to form a semi-circle as the smoke in the center of the crater cleared before them to reveal a lone man in a long gray coat standing on a piece of rubble.
Two bayonets gripped tightly in his hands and his golden cross dangling from his neck. His pale blue-green eyes swept over the vampires in front of him.
One vampire summed up what the others were thinking, "Who the fuck is that!?"
And was then impaled with over a half dozen bayonets before turning to dust, "Hold tour tongue," Father Anderson ordered, "The dead don't speak."
The other vampires tightened their grip on their weapons, their red eyes staring at the priest with immense hatred. Father Anderson grinned and stood up, eyeing the remains of the vampires before him.
"Do the dead dare walk the earth before my eyes?" he asked, "Will the undead raise an army, fall in and advance. Would those who would turn their backs on god and praise a heretical order, dare presume to meet my gaze!?"
Several hisses met his challenge. Sierra pulled out her pistol and tightened her grip on it. This human was so dead he didn't even know-
Father Anderson continued to rant at the undead army before him, interrupting Sierra's thoughts "Iscariot will not allow it! I will not allow it."
Two bayonets slid out of his sleeves and into his hands. He promptly folded them into a large cross, sparks flying from where they met, "You will be cut down like straw, trembling before my rod..." Anderson grinned wider, if that was possible, "Amen!"
The vampires roared angrily at the priest and charged at him in the middle of the daylight. Anderson leaped backwards, and the battle commenced…
Fountain Hotel…
Jenifer hit a nearby car with a heavy thud, bouncing off and landing on the ground, "Oh come on…" Jack called, casually strolling after her, "Is this the best Mariana's dog has to offer?"
For the past few moments, Jack had toyed with her. Disappearing and reappearing at random, taunting her, and attacking where she'd least expect it. Whatever she'd done to Jack had made him lose it now. There was no moon, she couldn't assume her werewolf form. Before this sudden shift, she'd assumed she wouldn't need it…
And now she was paying for it. A fact far to present in her mind as she wiped a bit of blood out of her mouth. Jack shook his head as he followed her. He saw his red eyed shadow in the distance, "Come on Jenifer, you were putting up such a good fight earlier. What happened?"
She started backing away, trembling. The battle was lost, she would admit that. But when Mariana emerged from the Fountain, she'd kill Jack, she knew it. So Jen turned and began to run, only to slam right into Jack, who rapped his hand around her neck.
"You're going nowhere." he hissed, and slammed the Cassul against her chest. In response, Jen slammed her SMG's into Jacks chest and his chin, leaving the two in a stalemate. Jen narrowed her eyes at Jack, whose face was shrouded in shadow. Only his red eyes were visible.
But Jen knew that with a pull of the trigger, she would blow his heart and then his head apart. Even a regenerator couldn't survive that at once. Sure, getting his torso incinerated wouldn't kill him, but that was only because the heart had to be destroyed first. Then the head would come next.
Jack knew it to, which was why neither of them had moved. Jen was confident of her victory, she knew Jack wouldn't risk death to take her out. The psychopath would let her go and she'd live to see another day.
-SLICE!-
A black blade cut through her right arm, the one with holding the SMG at Jacks chest. Jen looked at her attacker in shock. Alex stood there, panting and grinning, "That…was for…my dick." he growled.
Jen had no time to retort, as Jack grabbed her remaining arm and pulled her towards him. His leg shot out, slamming into her knee and tearing it to shreds as he did. Jen cried out silently in pain. Jack pressed the Cassul against her chest and fired three times. The silver rounds tore through the werewolves chest.
Her eyes went wide and blood dribbled out of her mouth. Jack shoved her away and she hit the ground with a thud, a great bleeding hole where her heart used to be. She stared up at the sky as the fog began to clear somewhat, no longer appearing like night.
She felt her body slowly starting to fail as the silver entered her system and began killing her. It didn't bother her that much, to her surprise. It was inevitable, and she was…glad…
A small smile broke Jens face. A happy free smile, that stayed there even when her eyes glazed over and her entire body ignited in white fire. Jack and Alex stepped back as she slowly burned before them.
And then, as the flames seemed to die down… A massive flaming werewolf shot out of the burning corpse into the sky, letting loose a single lone howl that made Jack's skin prickle. And then it too, disintegrated into ash gone forever.
A light breeze blew the ash away from where Jenifer had once laid. A piece of paper flew up to Jack, who grabbed it before it vanished. It was scorched and barely holding together. All Jack could make out before it disintegrated was that it was a black and white photo of Jen and a large blond man, close together and both smiling.
And then it was gone in the wind.
Jack watched her ashes blow away, a small smile on his face, "You fought long and you fought hard. I'd have gladly died by your hand." his eyes flicked to the Fountain Hotel, "If I didn't have other business to complete first."
Alex tapped him on the shoulder and Jack looked at him, "You alright man?" he asked, handing him his hat.
Jack smiled and grabbed it in his hand, "Yeah, I'm fine." he placed it on his head, engulfing him in blessed shadow.
He then turned to the massive fountain fully, "Come on." he said, walking up to it and standing under a nearby tree in front of it. The massive curvature of the building made it quite imposing and impressive. Like a stage.
"Go figure." he muttered. Alex walked up next to him.
"What?"
Jack motioned to the fountain, "It's a giant stage. The perfect place for a 'queen' to show up. The only question is whe-"
He was cut off when the entire city started to shake. He and Alex looked around as buildings trembled and the ground beneath them groaned as if something big were passing underneath it. Jack looked down to see a large crack spreading beneath his legs towards the fountain.
"Jack!" Alex called. Jack looked up and saw him pointing at the fountain.
Jack quickly followed his gaze and his jaw dropped. The entire fountain was turning blood red. Blood was pouring from the fountains, quickly staining the rest of the body of water its eerie red. As this happened, a seductive deep chuckle echoed over the fountain as mist engulfed its edge.
The two vampires stepped back as the spears of water that were emerging from the fountain swirled together, taking the form of a feminine figure. Her features slowly took the form of a figure Jack knew and despised with all his undead heart.
Mariana grinned and walked across the water towards them, with a sway in her hips and a grin on her face. Her orange glasses flashed in the uneven light of the sun. She stopped at the edge of the fountain and raised her arms up to the sky, still grinning. Her thick black hair spilled down her back and she laughed happily.
Pillars of blood erupted around her and into the sky, "Jackie! I'm home!"
A/N: Next chapter folks. We're at the tail end here, the next chapter is the finale, and then the epilogue to tie things up. Whew, this was a HUGE chapter, so much is going down! Please tell me you guys thought this was as awesome as I did! I mean I had a BLAST writing this thing once my cold died down and let me start on it (I was supposed to post yesterday, but colds ruin everything). Please please let me know what you thought! I need to know if I did this justice, if this was a good chapter or not! Let me know in the reviews guys! And remember to PM me with questions!
Bye!