A/N: 06.11.2018

Good day, all! I hope enjoy this latest chapter and a new friend! I'll give you all more information at the end of the chapter.

Also, answer to the trivia question from the last chapter: the phrase "sookie sookie, now" comes from the song "Groove Me" by King Floyd and Regine from the television show Living Single. Special shoutout to nickey79 for guessing it correctly first.

Enjoy!

Chapter 7: The Diamond Club

The next morning, Ichabod, Abbie, and Edom were on a commercial flight, bound for Chicago. Edom had managed to secure viable, work-related reasons for Abbie and Ichabod's departure from their jobs and Sleepy Hollow. The team did their best to withhold from extremely emotional good-byes and were successful for the most part. It was always hard for the Mills sisters to separate, old wounds of the past had never truly healed in that regard. Still, they managed their farewells, everyone praying it was only temporary. While Abbie, Ichabod, and Edom headed for Chicago, Osiris decided to follow up on rumors that Set was heading for the Middle East.

As they were on the plane, Abbie, who was seated next to Ichabod, was staring out window. She gazed at the clouds as they passed underneath them. Edom looked over at her and softly laughed.

Abbie looked at him, "What?"

"Jenny did the same thing when we travelled," Edom answered. "She later mentioned the concept of gliding over it all."

"It was something we dreamed up as kids. Getting away from everything, leaving Sleepy Hollow together to just go out in the world. Get away from all the hell we had to deal with."

Ichabod took hold of Abbie's hand.

"Seemed a lot better option than where we were at the time."

"I can imagine," Edom said, ruefully. "I know I've said it before but I am so sorry for your hardships, Abbie."

Abbie thought about it, "I'm not. I wouldn't able to deal with all of this if I hadn't gone through that." She looked at Ichabod, "I wouldn't be where I am now."

"A long and tumultuous journey," Ichabod said.

"Yeah. But worth it."

After landing in Chicago, they got off of the airplane and headed straight for their hotel to get some rest before heading out that night. Edom had his own room while he provided one for Ichabod and Abbie. The engaged couple wished they could take him to explore the city but they knew that would have to wait. Abbie decided to put it on her list of things to accomplish after their trials were over. After taking the day to relax, night fell on the city. Edom knocked on the door. Abbie opened it and found Edom holding up garment bags.

"What's this?" Ichabod asked.

"We need to put on our best," Edom said.

"Why?" Abbie asked.

"The place we are going to is of six-star quality and I know the owner. If we come in not looking our best, she'll never let me hear the end of it."

"Someone who can hold something over you? Oh, I am so in!"

"Hurry and get dressed." Edom stared at them both. "And don't get… distracted."

"We are engaged," Ichabod reminded.

"Yet and still."

"We'll be along."

"In a minute." Abbie smiled, devilishly.

Edom stared at her then turned away without a word.

Abbie just laughed.

"You're quite devious," Ichabod declared.

"You'd know better than anyone."

Minutes later, Abbie was dressed in a black cocktail dress that hugged her curves rather snuggly. But just right, in hers and Ichabod's opinions. Ichabod was dressed in a fine, dark blue suit. While he looked great, Abbie could tell that her fiancé was slightly uncomfortable in his attire.

"You look fine, Crane," Abbie said.

"Thank you, my love," Ichabod said. "Just…"

She walked over and adjusted a few things for him. "I know. It takes some getting used to."

"Would I be wearing something like this for our wedding?"

She smiled at him. "You can wear whatever you want. It's what you'll be wearing after the wedding you don't need to worry about."

"And what will I be wearing?" he asked.

"A smile."

"Of this, I am certain."

Someone knocked on the door.

"Do we have to let him in?" Ichabod asked. "You look quite fetching in this dress."

"Down, boy," Abbie said. "We have to work."

"Very well."

Abbie opened the door to find Edom was wearing a black suit. She whistled. "Look at you!"

Edom chuckled, "Abbie, you're too kind." He looked over, "Hm. You also wear that dress very well. I'm surprised he didn't protest you opening the door."

"Oh, no, he did."

"No shock there." Edom looked at Ichabod, "Apologies, Ichabod. I wasn't able to find attire you would be accustomed to on such short notice."

"This will be fine," Ichabod said. "For the evening, at least."

"You wear it well."

"As do you."

Edom bowed, "Thank you." He looked at them both, "Are we prepared to leave?"

"When you are," Abbie said.

They went downstairs and got into a rental car Edom had secured with the angel getting in the driver's seat. He drove the car toward the heart of downtown Chicago.

"Where we goin', Ed?" Abbie asked.

"The Diamond Club," Edom replied.

"The Diamond Club? Sounds fancy."

Edom chuckled, "It very much is."

Edom drove for another couple of minutes before pulling into a parking garage. After exiting the car, Edom led Ichabod and Abbie down a back alley then down a set of stairs to the basement of a skyscraper. They came to a metal door and Edom knocked on it three times.

An eye-slot opened on the door and the guard asked, "Password."

"Knockin' on heaven's door," Edom replied.

The eye-slot closed and the door unlocked. The door opened and the guard smiled, "Welcome. Always good to see you, Mr. Thane."

"Thank you, Jackson," Edom replied as they entered. "Good to see you, as well." He presented Ichabod and Abbie, "These are my friends."

"Then they are more than welcome," Jackson said.

Ichabod and Abbie nodded at Jackson, respectfully, and he returned the gesture. They realized that, when the guard smiled, Jackson's teeth were fangs and his hands were covered in light-colored scales. Edom caught that they saw that and simply smiled. They walked for a while longer down a dark hallway until they came to large double doors.

The doors opened to reveal large, prohibition-era style restaurant and bar. It was colored a bright white with large dance floor and stage at the other end of the room with a full band already playing jazz music.

Abbie smirked, "Okay, this place is cool."

"I've always liked it," Edom said.

A waitress walked to them and smiled, "Mr. Thane!"

"Nicolette, my dear!" Edom said, hugging her.

"It's so good to see you," Nicolette said, rubbing his back. She released the hug. "You look well."

"As do you."

Nicolette smiled at Ichabod and Abbie and they noticed her eyes looked identical to those of a tiger. "Friends of yours?"

"Very much so," Edom said.

"Fantastic. Best table for one of our best patrons. Right this way." Nicolette led them through the club toward a private platform to right of the stage.

"Here we are," Nicolette said, presenting the table.

"Thank you, Nicolette," Edom said as he, Ichabod, and Abbie sat down. "Would please let the Madam know I'm here?"

"Of course!" Nicolette nodded before walking off.

Ichabod examined the club, "A lovely place."

"Very," Edom agreed.

"So, then. Whom are we here to see?"

Edom looked up as a woman walked toward the microphone on stage. "Her."

Ichabod and Abbie turned around to see a woman who seemed to be of Asian origin approach the microphone. She had a slender build and was wearing a black dress with diamonds sown into the cleavage area. The band began to play soft and the woman began performing Nina Simone's rendition of "I'm Feeling Good". Abbie and Ichabod became enthralled with her voice immediately.

"Whoa," Abbie whispered.

Edom smiled, "Yes, Jessica's voice has always had that effect on people."

Jessica continued singing the melody building toward an amazing climax. When she finished, the entirety of the restaurant applauded her. She took a bow along with the band members. She was about to walk off of the stage when Nicolette stopped Jessica and whispered in her ear then pointed toward the table Edom and others were sitting at. Jessica looked at the table and smiled.

Jessica walked over to the table and stopped. She had a huge smile on her face. "Edom Thane!" she said, excitedly.

"Jessica," Edom smiled as he stood up. Ichabod and Abbie followed suit, showing respect.

Jessica hugged Edom. "It's so good to see you."

"Good to see you, too, my dear," Edom said. They broke the hug, "How are you?"

"You know. Living. Singing. Nothing's changed."

"Some things have. The place looks fantastic."

"I do what I can. Please, everyone, sit down." They all did so and Jessica looked Ichabod and Abbie, "The Witnesses?"

"These are them."

Jessica extended her hand to them, "Jessica Quinn."

"Abbie Mills," Abbie shook her hand.

"Ichabod Crane," Ichabod shook her hand.

"A pleasure," Jessica said.

"You sing beautifully," Ichabod said.

"Seriously," Abbie said. "Good thing we don't run into you on karaoke night."

Jessica laughed, "Thank you both so much. But it has been forever since I've done karaoke. I should do that some time."

"If you want, there'll be a mic in Sleepy Hollow waiting for you."

Ichabod had a look around the restaurant then back at Jessica, "Ms. Quinn."

"'Jessica', please," Jessica insisted.

Ichabod nodded. "Jessica. This establishment seems to have… a few supernatural beings, at work and at leisure, here."

"A clever eye, Mr. Crane," Jessica said.

"By all means, 'Ichabod'."

Jessica smiled. "Yes. I have this place as a safe haven for beings who just wish to walk away from it all. I provide them with a place to live and enjoy themselves. My primary rule is no combat in my place business."

"Good rule," Abbie said.

"Our kind host, Madam Jessica Quinn, is a lumen wizard," Edom explained. "A wizard who wields the powers of light. She is a very well-known defender of innocence and having this place be a safe haven for people of varying origins."

"It's a dirty job but someone has do it," Jessica explained. "It has its perks, though. The vast amount of magic I've learned has granted me a lot, hence the long life and halfway decent looks."

"'Halfway decent'?" Abbie asked. "No offense, Ms. Quinn, but you're beautiful."

Jessica smiled bigger, "I really like you two." She stared at Abbie, studying her face. "You… remind me of someone."

"Maybe you've met my father? Ezra Mills."

Jessica nodded slowly as realization came over her. "Of course, of course! You're that Abigail Mills!" She took hold of Abbie's hands, shaking them happily, "Hello! It's so good to finally meet you!"

Abbie smiled. "You've met my father?"

"And August Corbin," Jessica let go of Abbie's hands. "They spoke about you in glowing terms. It's great to match a name with a face and not just through pictures."

"Dad talks about me that much?" Abbie asked.

Jessica nodded, "And your sister. He was in here not too long ago. Happier than I think I've ever seen him. He said that he was getting to reconnect with both you. The joy on his face."

That brought a big smile to Abbie's face and made her heart feel a lot warmer.

"And, may I say, Abbie… may I call you 'Abbie'?" Jessica asked.

"Of course," Abbie replied.

"You're even more lovelier than the photos that August and Ezra carry on them at all times."

"Thank you."

"How is your sister? And August's son? Are they well?"

"They're great," Abbie said. "Happily in love with each other."

"That's really good to hear," Jessica replied. "August constantly worried about all of you."

Abbie looked down, a bit saddened. "Yeah. He was good about that. Caring and all."

"He was a father. That's what fathers do."

"I'm starting to get that."

Jessica looked at Abbie and Ichabod's interlocked hands and Abbie's engagement band. "It seems 'happily in love' is shared trait with the Mills women right now."

Abbie shrugged, "Lucky us."

"I doubt luck had much to do with it." Jessica waved at Nicolette then looked back at her guests, "Please, order whatever you like. It's on the house."

They ate and talked for another thirty minutes. After they finished eating, Jessica looked at the three before settling on Edom. "Now, as much as I love catching up and making new friends, I imagine that this isn't a social visit."

"With great regret, it is not," Ichabod said.

"Jessica," Edom said. "Did you know that Set is alive?"

"No, but that makes sense," Jessica replied. "His followers have been active all over the world and only in the last six months or so."

"What have you heard?"

"Set is looking for the Sacred Sites."

Edom nodded, "Yes, that we can confirm."

"Wasn't August keeping those secret?" Jessica asked.

"Very. His files were stolen from Sleepy Hollow over a year ago."

"Taken from right under our nose," Ichabod said.

"We only just recently retrieved them," Edom added.

"Well, I heard a rumor about what Set wants," Jessica said. "And you're not gonna like it."

"At no point does that surprise me," Edom said.

"He wants to use the power of the sites to restore his full power. But to bring back the age when chaos wasn't just a possibility in a small area…"

"It was widespread from nation to nation," Edom said.

"And with the capabilities that people possess now for war in this day and age," Jessica said, "that much chaos could give him more power than he has ever had before."

"For starters," Edom rubbed his forehead.

"But there is something Set is missing," Jessica said. "The information on the Sites themselves and how best to use them. Some people have been hunting them lately and any information about them."

"So I've heard." Edom dropped his hand, "I took the Raven's Ledger from the library here in town not too long ago."

"I heard someone grabbed it." Jessica smiled, coyly, "You were on the list of suspects."

"As is typical. Have you seen Edgar?"

Jessica laughed. "Have I seen him? He comes in here, at least, every six months to hear me sing. And hit on me."

Edom smirked. "Can't say that I blame him."

"Flatterer." Jessica picked her glass of wine and took a sip. "Keep 'em coming."

"Oh, he can't too much, anymore," Abbie said, smiling.

Jessica gasped. She gazed at the angel. "Edom Thane! Have you finally found a woman who tickles your fancy?!"

"She'd do more than tickle it."

"Abbie!" Edom shouted.

Abbie and Ichabod laughed.

Edom looked at Jessica, "Her name is Claudia and she is a lovely person."

"You know, it's been decades since I left Chicago. Maybe I should stop by Sleepy Hollow and pay this lovely woman a visit."

"You would be more than welcome."

A young man walked up to the table, "Excuse me, Madam Quinn."

"Yes, Austin?" Jessica asked.

"There are some people trying to gain entry," Austin explained. "We think that they followed your guests."

"Set's cult," Edom said, angrily.

"They certainly did not waste any time," Ichabod said.

"Think Set's here?" Abbie asked.

"I highly doubt it but we can't take chances," Edom answered. "We should probably get going."

"I'll have your pursuers stalled and get you out the back way," Jessica said.

"We do not wish to bring trouble to your door, Jessica," Ichabod said.

Jessica laughed. "Ichabod, you're so sweet. But you don't need to worry. If trouble isn't at my door, the door isn't worth opening."

"And your rules?" Abbie asked.

"They're my rules. I'm not allowing violence on my property and I'm not giving you guns to go kill them. I'm helping you avoid the trouble. I don't like trouble."

"Thank you, Jessica," Edom said.

"Edgar is staying in Seattle," Jessica informed. She waved at Nicolette and ordered, "Go get my address book."

Nicolette nodded and walked off to do as instructed.

"They'll probably be some people waiting for us at the hotel," Abbie pointed out.

"We'll have to risk it," Edom said.

"Do you want me to send someone with you?" Jessica asked.

"Let me answer that," Abbie said. "Jessica, your place is a safe haven, like you said. Quite frankly, we haven't seen safe in about three years. Once we get back to the hotel, we got this."

Jessica smiled. "Oh, I like you! Please, invite me to your wedding!"

Abbie laughed. "You're in." She glared at Ichabod, "Once someone makes up their mind on the details!"

"I beg your pardon!" Ichabod said, offended.

"Can we, please, focus?" Edom asked, exasperatedly.

Jessica laughed. "I really like them."

Nicolette walked back over with the address book, handing it to Jessica, "They came with more people, Madam."

Jessica exhaled, harshly, as she flipped through the book. "I hate it when people think they can just barge in where they want to." She looked at her other employee, "Deal with them, Austin."

"Yes, Madam," Austin replied before walking off.

Jessica found the address and copied down on a spare sheet of paper. She handed the paper to Edom, "This is where you'll find Edgar." She waved her hand in a circle. There was a flash of light and a bronze coin appeared. She handed the coin to Edom, "This will gain you entry to his home."

"Thank you," Edom nodded as he took the coin.

Jessica looked at Nicolette, "Nicolette, go on back to work and help Austin if our guests get… rowdy. I'm getting our guests out my way."

"Yes, Madam," Nicolette said before walking off.

Jessica motioned for everyone else to follow her and they headed backstage.

"We owe you a great debt, Jessica," Ichabod said.

"Oh, please," Jessica said. "This is almost a standard night for me. As you said, I have some very interesting clientele."

They walked for a while until they ended up in service hallway of the Club. Once there, Jessica spread her palms out and light began to show from them.

"What hotel are you staying in?" Jessica asked.

"The Ramada on 62nd Street," Edom said. "Fifth floor. Rooms 510 and 511."

"Got it." Jessica's eyes glowed and pressed her hands forwards, miming putting them against a wall. "Are you sure you don't want anyone with you?"

"Like Abbie said, we can handle it."

"Keep me in the loop, Edom," Jessica requested. "And, please be careful."

"Always a pleasure, Jessica," Edom bowed to her.

Jessica smiled and gave him a nod. She looked at Abbie and Ichabod, "Keep an eye out, Witnesses. I can already tell your road ahead… well, 'bumpy' is an understatement."

"Why break tradition?" Abbie asked.

The light from Jessica's hands engulfed the three travelers.

When the light faded, Edom, Abbie, and Ichabod found they were in the couple's hotel room.

"Oh, she's definitely invited to the wedding!" Abbie said.

Edom walked to the door and peeked out of the peep hole, finding there were two men standing by their rooms, dressed as hotel staff.

"Two outside," Edom said, whispered.

"What do wanna do?" Abbie asked.

"I left my bag packed, in case this very scenario occurred. I'll take care of our 'guests' while you two gather your things."

"A sound plan," Ichabod said.

Abbie grabbed Edom's arm and whispered, "Can I keep this dress?"

Edom felt back the urge to laugh. "Yes. I did buy it."

"Sweet."

Edom shook his head then looked at the door. He put his hand on the door handle. "Excuse me for a moment."

Edom threw the door open and used his supernatural speed to rush at the two men waiting for them. In the span of seven seconds, Edom had knocked them both out and disarmed them. Edom dismantled of the guns that the men had but kept the other one. He scouted down the hallway, in both directions, and found no one else was coming.

Edom looked at the Witnesses, "We're in the clear for now. Hurry." He left the room.

Ichabod and Abbie looked at each other and laughed.

"Never a dull moment," Abbie said.

"Ever," Ichabod added.

A/N: Nope. Never a dull moment. So, then, about Madam Jessica Quinn. She is inspired by my girlfriend and my girlfriend's daughter gave Jessica her name. Also, my girlfriend is an AH-MAZING singer! Wow, you guys should hear her. Jessica Quinn is also inspired by Papa Midnite from Constantine.

So, next chapter, our Witnesses will get to meet the one and only Edgar Allan Poe. Plus, Sophie returns to Sleepy Hollow. Don't miss it, folks!