9

Samhain

Nov. 1, 1999.

Jennifer sighed as she slipped into her robe, tying it tightly. She looked over to Jacob, dressed in his own, smaller replica of his mother's robe. Unlike him, she wore a thin, sheer black garment, plain but would probably sell well in a Victoria's Secret store, which was why she hated wearing it. But it was what she wore every Samhain for the annual sacrifice, and she was never one to break tradition.

She took the toddler's hand and led him out, sent him to stand by his father, and she took her place on the opposite side of the aisle. Michael, of course, wasn't wearing anything different, this was his own little tradition, a tradition that made him stand out like a sore thumb amidst the men in formal, black robes. Wynn droned on quite a bit, and she only knew to pay attention when her robe was tugged off. She moved forward to the alter with Michael. As she did at their wedding she picked up a ceremonial knife and cut her palm as Wynn spoke.

"Spirits! Gods! Except our offer of mortal blood! These two whom bring forth children to your heathen ways spill the crimson life fluid in dedication to you!!..."

She cringed in pain as she squeezed the flesh, allowing her blood to flow onto the altar, mingling with Michael's. She felt horribly naked in front of the other men, and Michael seemed to glare at any that dared stare at her, the transparent material allowing everything to be shown. She then went and lifted Jacob, took him to the alter, and took the knife. She gently pricked his finger and squeezed a drop onto the small puddle, then kissed it for him and sent him back to where he had been.

Soon enough it was time, and they moved back to where they had been. An old, limping dog was brought in, probably picked off of the streets. Wynn nodded to her and she sighed, hating this part. She helped them get him on the altar and she examined him, at least he was very ill, apparently blind in one eye. He had a cold, and she was told he had been tested positive for rabies. She picked up a needle and pet his head. "Good boy, this won't hurt you." She injected some fluid into him, and soon he was dead. Everyone left the room except Wynn and a couple others, so the dog could be burnt.

She changed herself and Jacob quickly and went to the garage, where Michael waited in the car. She put Jake in his seat and then got in next to Michael, buckling up. She sighed softly and nodded for him to go. One thing Michael loved about this car- it had tinted windows, allowing him to drive without having to worry about being noticed.

She closed her eyes, watching the phantoms of her past play through her memory. Sad images of her childhood with Jamie, her time with Laurie, losing Jamie and finding love in Michael, who she was convinced would never love her. Everything had been explained to her by Wynn, and she had accepted it wholly. But it still nagged at her that Michael had come to help her so he wouldn't lose his wife, his possession, and his son, his blood.

She smiled softly as his hand rested on hers, she opened her eyes and looked at him, he was paying attention to the road, his free hand on hers, his other still on the wheel. She smiled more, and sighed. "Yeah," she whispered. "I know."

Truthfully she didn't, but he always seemed to like to hear that from her. Maybe it was progress on her part, maybe he was human, maybe he was just weird for a psychopath killer.

Maybe she was just imagining things.

Yes, it was short, but the next chapter will be a bit deeper and will bring her patient Andrew back into the picture. Stay tuned and keep reviewing.

SA