"She's what?!"
"Gone," Jenny mumbled, shaking her head. "Mari's gone. Just like Carl." She stared at the ground between her feet, trying not to look at Raina. She was sitting in one of the swings at the park, halfheartedly pushing herself back and forth. Raina stood in front of her, flame-colored hair falling wildly around her shoulders and her hands on her hips. Her green eyes glared at Jenny accusingly.
"And you did nothing to stop it? God, Jenny, being in this group means looking out for each other!"
Jenny gritted her teeth and stayed silent. She wasn't about to argue with Raina now. It wasn't smart to get into a shouting match with Raina when her mind wasn't completely on it. And at the moment, Jenny's mind was in the stratosphere.
A hand fell gently on Jenny's shoulder, and she looked up to find Michael standing behind her. He and Gunther had gone to dispose of the two vampire bodies just as Raina had been arriving, and now Michael looked absolutely livid. His face was flushed and his eyes smoldered like two burning coals.
"I should have known I couldn't leave her here with you, Raina," he said in a low voice.
Raina's face instantly changed. She stood there with a sultry smile and batted her eyelashes at Michael. "Michael. I didn't realize you were back."
"I can tell. Raina, why don't you give Jenny some slack for once. You're always railing on her. You know she did the best she could. You wouldn't have done any better in her place."
"I would have saved Mari," Raina said, the smile fading. "That's why I'm leader."
Michael shook his head, his dark curls bouncing against his forehead with the motion. He opened his mouth to say something, but the response came from an unlikely source.
"Raina, quit being such a bitch," Gunther said. He came up on Jenny's other side and stood - all six-foot-four-inches of him - with his arms crossed over his chest and a stubborn set to his jaw. He glanced down at Jenny on her swing and gave her a quick wink.
Raina stood staring at the trio, her mouth open slightly in disbelief. Her face went white and Jenny could see waves of fury sliding across her face. For a few seconds, they just sat and stared at each other. A little growl of anger slipped past Raina's lips and she whirled on her heel. After a few steps, she turned around and pointed a finger at them.
"You guys are going to regret this," she snapped. "You'll wish you never crossed me!" She stalked out of the park in a huff.
The three remaining were silent for a few seconds, then Michael murmured, "What was that she said about looking out for each other?"
Jenny sighed. "Yes, we'll have to be looking out for her - over our shoulder, behind us. Now she's really going to hate me."
"Don't worry about it, Jenny," Gunther said, stepping in front of her. "She won't stay mad. She'll come crawling back."
"I hope you're right," she breathed. "It's not safe to be us with those vampires out there."
***********
Jenny sat forward in her seat and peered out the window. "Right here," she said, pointing. Gunther turned his car down the narrow dirt driveway leading to Ashton's house. Michael sat in the back seat, deep in thought. The three of them had decided that the best step to take next would be to go straight to the source. Jenny had convinced them that Ashton didn't really seem to be on the side of the vampire kidnappers; she had, in fact, seemed to be running from something.
Jenny prayed that her instincts were right - if they weren't, the Executioners might be in some deep trouble. Just in case, they had armed themselves heavily for a fight. Jenny herself wore her knife strapped to her forearm and a deadly lignum vitae sword in a sheath on her back under her sweatshirt; she needed only to reach over her shoulder and pull it out. Michael and Gunther were similarly armed. If needed, Jenny figured they could probably survive going against half a dozen vamps. Any more than that and it was a toss-up.
Gunther parked next to a tree in front of the house, and the three got out, carefully scanning the area. It appeared safe, but they would be on guard.
"That's her motorcycle," Jenny said, pointing to the black Harley Davidson next to the porch. "She's here." And I hope Damian isn't, she added to herself. She found it easier to trust Ashton than Damian, and she had told the others that she had killed Damian. Not to mention that she just didn't want to run into him again. If they touched . . .
Michael stepped in front of Jenny and looked at her pointedly. "Let me go first."
She nodded and they walked up the steps single file, Michael leading and Gunther holding up the rear. Michael knocked, and after a minute, Jenny saw the curtain in the small window next to the door move slightly. Then Ashton opened the door.
"Hi," she said, smiling, but looking slightly confused.
"Hi Ashton," Michael said. "Do you remember us?"
Jenny stood smiling at Ashton, trying to look as friendly as she could.
Ashton nodded, "Yes, of course. I'm sorry. Where are my manners? Would you like to come in?" She stepped back, holding the door open.
"Sure, thanks," Jenny said quickly, poking Michael in the back. They followed Ashton into the house.
"We just need to talk to you for a second," Michael added as Ashton led them down the hallway to one of the doors that had been locked when Jenny had been there. The door now stood wide open and revealed a normal-looking living room. They entered the room and Ashton motioned to them to have a seat. Gunther sat in a reclining armchair in the corner, and Jenny sat next to Michael on a beige couch. Ashton seated herself in a chair opposite the couch.
"I would offer you guys something to drink, but I'm afraid I don't have anything right now," Ashton said, smiling at them each in turn. Jenny thought Ashton paused longer on Michael than her and Gunther, and a little stab of jealously ran through her stomach. Ashton looked especially beautiful today. She wore a delicate white blouse that contrasted her pitch black hair and accented the pale blue of her eyes. Half of her hair was pulled back in an intricate knot on her head, and the rest fell over her shoulders. Jenny again felt plain and ordinary. She fought the feeling and looked at Michael, trying to ask him with her eyes how they should start.
Michael cleared his throat. "So, Ashton, are you enjoying being here?"
"Yes, I am," she answered, still smiling, but looking like she was wondering why they were here. "Everybody's been really nice."
"And how is your grandfather?" Jenny asked, staring at Ashton.
Ashton stared back blankly. "My . . ."
"You said you were living with your grandfather. How is he?"
"Oh!" Ashton laughed, but it sounded forced. "I'm sorry. Yes, he is also doing well."
"So where is he now?" Jenny asked, leaning forward in her seat. "Can we meet him?"
Ashton's smile slipped and she looked nervously at the three of them. "Okay, I know you guys know I don't live with my grandfather. Why are you here?"
"We need to know why you're here, Ashton," Michael said, gently. "It's important that we know."
Ashton bit her lip and stared thoughtfully at the floor. "Why do you need to know?"
Jenny decided to take a chance. "Ashton, we know you're a vampire, and we know about the Night World. We also know you're not here just for pleasure, and we want to know why."
Ashton's eyes widened. "But how do you know . . .?" She stopped and stared at them. "You are humans, aren't you?"
Gunther snorted and Jenny hid a smile. Michael rolled his eyes and answered Ashton seriously. "Yes, we're humans. But we know everything about the Night World."
"But how do you know? Why aren't you dead?" Then, as if answering her own questions, Ashton breathed in sharply and abruptly looked more nervous than before. "You're . . . You're the Executioners, aren't you?"
Jenny nodded solemnly. No need to say more and volunteer more information than needed.
Ashton covered her mouth and stood quickly. "Oh my God, you're going to kill me, aren't you? I've heard of you guys. I may be a vampire, but I'm not much of a fighter." She glanced toward the door.
The Executioners stood also, and Michael walked up to Ashton. "No, we're not going to kill you, Ashton," he said softly. "If we're right about you, you're a renegade vampire, hiding from the Night World, and in that case you're our ally."
Jenny stepped up next to Michael. "What are you running from?"
"We need to know," Gunther added, appearing on the other side of Ashton. She was surrounded now.
She looked at them fearfully. "I . . . Why do you need to know?"
Gunther looked at Jenny, and she nodded her approval.
"Two of our friends have been kidnapped by vampires," he said. "Vampires that didn't get here until after you arrived."
"We think they may have something to do with why you're here," Michael added.
"If you can tell us who these vampires are, we might be able to get our friends back," Jenny finished.
Real fear blossomed behind Ashton's eyes. "There are others here? New ones?" She sat shakily in her chair, and the trio backed off a little.
Michael kneeled in front of Ashton and took her hand. "Ashton, who might they be? We need to know, and if you tell us, we can help protect you."
Ashton shut her eyes and frowned. "You're right," she said softly and opened her eyes. "I am in hiding. My family . . . we were involved in Circle Daybreak, the reconnaissance end. We were given assignments to carry out, spying on the Council. My father discovered that someone in the Council - one of the Elders - is leading some kind of underground action. Something that involves stealing humans. I don't know exactly what . . . He died before he could tell us, but there's something big going down on Halloween."
Jenny's eyes widened. "A blood feast?" A blood feast was when a large group of vampires gorged themselves on humans - live humans - and gained power. The Council had outlawed them years ago, but they were still possible.
Ashton shook her head. "I don't know. Possibly. The Council discovered our involvement with Circle Daybreak and killed my parents. I got away and went into hiding. If they find out I'm here, they'll kill me."
"We won't let that happen," Michael told her, squeezing her hand. "Will you help us get our friends back and stop whatever is going to happen on Halloween?"
Ashton smiled faintly and nodded. "Yes, I'll help."
"What is going on here?" a voice interrupted from behind them. Jenny's eyes widened and she whirled around. Damian stood in the doorway, eyes narrowed at them all, but specifically at Jenny. He wore a tight black T-shirt and black leather pants. A helmet dangled from one hand. Jenny's stomach dropped to her feet as her eyes met his. She again felt some part of herself being pulled toward him helplessly, and she tore her eyes away. "And what are you doing here?" he said to Jenny nastily.
She swallowed and glanced at the others behind her. They were suddenly staring at Jenny in surprise. Ashton raised an eyebrow and looked curiously back and forth between Jenny and Damian.
"You two know each other?"
Jenny shut her eyes and prayed.