Jill joined us around Jade.
“What’s the plan, Jill?” I asked.
“Two options,” she replied. “Back to the roof and cross over to the other building hand over hand, or we can try jumping out of the window. I am not sure we are going to have time for the roof option and they could pick us off with their guns as we are caught crossing. The other option is to jump out the window, you with Jade and Rose with me. I saw what you did on the two story drop. Can you handle it with a three story one carrying somebody?”
The infusion of blood had helped me energy wise and I could no longer feel myself bleeding as my wounds continued to heal, still it was not something I would normally try even at full strength and certainly not carrying somebody.
“We can do it,” Rose said. Taking up the sword I had used to cut Jade’s bindings she strode towards one of the big windows on the side of the room that faced the building we had made our crossover from. Using the sword she punched out the glass and removed the sharp bits from the edges.
Looking out we saw the cops had cordoned off the area from several blocks out and there were SWAT trucks in view and many armed cops. A few shifters and vamps were being herded into police vans under armed guard. There were dead littering the streets as well as glass from blown-out windows and pieces of brick and furnishings from the explosions scattered across the pavement. We could not see the front entrance from here and I wondered if Clive was still there or if he had entered the building or run off when the cops arrived.
“Can you hold another glamour?” I asked Jill. “I’m not sure we are ready to be taken by the cops just yet.”
Jill hesitated, thinking and accessing her remaining power. “Maybe for you two,” she said. “Not long, though, a minute at the most.”
“Then you two go first,” Mom said. “They won’t see you jump, and you might make it past the cops’ perimeter before the glamour fades. We will follow and put up some resistance, drawing the cops’ attention to us.”
I already had Jade over my shoulder. She was in and out of consciousness, barely stirring. I had seen her in this state before. The blood had helped but she needed more. Coffee, chocolate, red wine or steak would help and if we could make it past the cops, that would be our first order of business.
“Do it,” I said, and I felt the glamour once again attaching itself to me. Not hesitating, I jumped with Jade over my shoulder. Concentrating as hard as I could, I invoked the vamp trick of showing our descent. I had been real good at this, but the extra weight coupled with my weakened state and additional distance was too much and as we landed my left leg gave out with a crack, broken. I toppled over, Jade spilling to the ground beside me.
There was no comparison to the pain of getting shot or stabbed. Breaking a leg was much worse and I whimpered slightly, tears already running down my face as I lay on the concrete pavement of the sidewalk. That woke Jade, however. All of a sudden she was on her feet and propping me up we stumbled away, me on one leg, trying not to drag my other on the ground. I sensed it was a compound fracture, the bone breaking the skin, and I felt more of my blood dripping down to my ankle.
As we made our way slowly across the street I sensed Mom making the jump with better success than me. Another explosion sounded above us as Andre’s men breached one of the two stairwells. Shouts came immediately from the cops as they spotted Mom and Jill. We only had seconds now as I felt the glamour already fading.
I pointed at Jewel’s building with my free hand. The other was draped across Jade’s shoulders as she continued to walk me away.
“There Jade. We have a friend there where we can hide.”
Jade was at the edge of her strength, trying to support me as we staggered our way through the entrance. The lobby was deserted and we made our way to the elevator.
“Fourth floor, Jade,” I said remembering that Jewel lived on the fourth floor.
The ride up took ages. I started to lose my eyesight as things got really blurry. Forcing myself not to pass out, I said, “Can you sense which apartment has witches, Jade? That is the one we want.”
She didn’t respond, but she drew us to the left as we exited the elevator, and knocked on the second door down.
Jewel opened the door. We were a mess, I knew. Jade was naked and about to pass out, while I was covered in blood and had a broken leg.
“I brought another friend to sign your yearbook,” I said as she stared at us, shock showing on her face.
Holding me on the other side she helped us inside and plopped me down on a small sofa in the living room. Her mom, also a witch, entered the room at the same time.
Jewel’s mom took charge, not even questioning her daughter or our presence.
“Get that girl a robe,” she told Jewel.
Tears streamed down my face. I was covered in blood and still bleeding all over the nice couch. I had draped my broken leg over the edge of the sofa trying to take some of the pressure off. It looked as though my shin bone was broken and I saw the bump of the leg bone showing under my leather pants.
“Towels and some blankets as well,” she shouted, as Jade swayed and collapsed on the floor.
“Rags and some hot water and our first aid kit!” she added. I heard Jewel now heading towards the kitchen. “A knife and scissors,” she said as she noticed my broken leg.
“Is your friend injured as well?” she asked, looking at Jade now unconscious on a throw rug next to us.
“She needs food,” I said, grunting somewhat from the effort of crying and talking at the same time. “Coffee, chocolate, red wine for starters,” I added. “Coffee for me as well.”
“Not your standard first aid then. I assume you don’t want me to call an ambulance?” she said.
“Not a chance, please no,” I answered.
“My name is Tracy. I’m Jewel’s mom. She told me she met you this morning.”
Jewel returned with the things her mom requested and they draped a blanket over Jade and put the robe on a nearby chair.
Tracy lifted my leg up and I whimpered with the pain. “I will need to cut the pants,” she said.
“If you can set the break, it will heal,” I responded. “Don’t worry about the other wounds, they’re already healing.”
She had already tried cutting the leather pants with the scissors and failed. Grabbing the knife she told Jewel to hold down on my thigh. “This is going to hurt,” she said and as she started cutting I passed out from the pain.
I woke up, still stretched out on the sofa, with Jade looking down on me this time. I smiled. The pain was just a throbbing, something I felt I could tolerate if I didn’t move my leg. My head was propped up on two pillows and I was covered with a blanket. Tracy had removed all my clothes with the exception of bra and panties. Peeking under the cover, I saw they and I were blood stained. The cuts and stabs were already closed up and healing. My lower leg was covered in bandages and there was a splint wrapped with more bandages, what looked like two pieces of wood flooring panels on either side, holding my leg straight. I managed to wiggle my toes on the broken side, not without some shooting pain but I could tell I would heal. A break like this might normally take a vamp three or four days to heal completely. I was guessing with my changes I would heal it much faster.
“Missed you,” I whispered. Jade gave me a brief kiss on the lips. She wore a bathrobe, obviously too small, and looked sexy as Hell.
“Drink some coffee,” she said and helped me scoot painfully back to a semi-sitting position against the pillows, my legs stretched out.
“You’re up,” Tracy said, entering from the kitchen. She grabbed the remote of the coffee table and turned the TV on. “We’ve been watching the news of your adventure on the TV in the kitchen and Jade told me what had happened to her. You slept through the night and Jewel finally went back to sleep a little while ago. I am keeping her home from school today. The cops still have this area blocked off and it’s a real mess outside.”
“I talked to both Jill and
Rose,” Jade said. She had regained her color and was now in her standard shifter mode. “They managed to get through the police blockade with a little help from a minor snowstorm Jill whipped up. Clive was in a police car and ripped out of there when he spotted them, with two of his Fallen with him. They are on the road. Jill got hold of a fast car and they are having a grand old time leading him away from here. Rose is covered up in the back seat while it’s daylight. She also managed to get hold of that reporter we used in North Carolina and did a phone interview. Our story has been accepted by the cops as they have managed to confirm it from a few of the surviving vamps and shifters they captured.
“They are still looking for us and they are not happy at all with the death and destruction in their city but they understand it was a rescue operation. Jill has done a fantastic job with the public relations and from watching the national news I see most of the pundits are still portraying us as victims and heroes in all of this.”
She paused, and added, “This issue of Clive and the Fallen, Jane. This is a terrible thing, bringing manifested angels into the human world. It is simply not done. Jill told me what the Angel of Death had to say to you.”
“How are you?” I asked.
“Much better.” She smiled. “That was not fun. Andre had prepared for both my shifting and my magic and I was in a bad situation. I am glad he is dead. I have had a couple of pots of coffee, every drop of red wine in the apartment, and Jewel even managed to round up some chocolate for me. I am not fully recovered, but I am getting close.”
“We owe you much,” I said to Tracy in between gulps on the warm coffee. “I have ruined your sofa.”
“It helped that I knew who you were,” she answered. “Your story and reputation is well known. I stand with you in your efforts. My husband is caught on the other side of the police line and they are not letting anyone in or out yet. He knows you are here but will also stand with us and keep your presence here a secret. It looks like the cops are assuming you two escaped as well.”
“As soon as the cops lift the roadblocks we will be out of your hair,” Jade said. “I don’t like the idea of Clive chasing after Jill and your mom. I told Jill a little about how hard it is to kill Clive and with two of the Fallen with him, they will have little chance if they are caught.”
We spent most of the afternoon watching TV, a marathon of South Court, Season Two. They only got a few episodes in on Season Three before Clive went on the run. Every time his handsome face would appear, Jade would mutter a few choice words. Still, it was an interesting show.
Many of the characters thought his character was the Devil. Little did they know how right they were. Not much acting required on his part. It was the perfect role for him.
I had managed to prop my legs up on a coffee table, and the pain was receding. I knew it was healing much faster than it would have before I met Jade. I was confident it would be good to go by nightfall.
Jewel had gotten up and watched with us, Jade filling her in on the real Clive. Jewel was in heaven, part of a real adventure. Jade had signed her yearbook right next to Jill’s name and caused a little dragon to appear below her signature. Touch it and it would spit fake fire across the page.
Tracy borrowed some coffee from a neighbor as we had depleted her stash in short order and nobody was getting out until the cops cleared the area. The cops had done a door to door check on people in the building, making sure everyone was doing well. Tracy told them all was good on her end.
Shortly after dusk Jill called. They had managed to meet Mom’s jet at a small airstrip and they were in the air. Clive had not found them. The cops had an alert out on him. He had taken our place with the “arrest on sight, armed and dangerous” label. He would have to keep the low profile, much as we had been doing lately. The cops had lifted our roadblocks an hour earlier and the area was clear. We could leave at any time.
“So what do you suggest we do?” I asked Jade.
“I could use some down time,” she replied. “We need to give him some room to find a hiding place, then we can pin his location and go after him.”
“Down time is good with me,” I laughed. “I don’t feel much like dancing right now.
“Any suggestions?” I asked Jewel.
“Las Vegas was great,” she replied. “My parents took me there on our last vacation. They wouldn’t let me gamble but everything was great.”
“Mom gave me a credit card,” I said. “I have never been to Vegas and always wanted to go.”
“It’s a long drive,” Tracy said, joining the conversation. “You will need a car.”
“I’m not much on driving,” Jade said. “Maybe we could rent a limo or something?”
“Mom won’t mind at all,” I laughed. “Let’s see if we can find one willing to drive us there and take us around for a few days or so.”
“I’ll look some up on my smart phone,” Jewel said. She started calling around for us shortly after that.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: A WEDDING
JEWEL MANAGED TO FIND a service that would rent a limo for a week. They had just hired a new driver and his calendar was clear. It cost a small fortune because we were covering his expenses and hotel as well.
Tracy lent us a couple of her Seventies style sun dresses and flip flops. They were a bit big on us but would do for now. We were eager to get some Vegas shopping done.
Jewel’s phone rang and it was the driver. He had pulled up outside the front entrance.
As we left the building, Oracle Joe was standing at the open rear door. Still wearing his tin foil hat, cigar in his ear, he smiled.
“Fancy meeting you here!” he chortled.
“Yeah, small world,” Jade said. We both gave him a hug and got in the back.
“Something’s up,” Jade whispered to me as well settled in.
“Well, duh,” I whispered back, content to put my trust in Oracle Joe once again.
Pulling out, he said, “I’ve taken the liberty of making you reservations at a really nice hotel. I have also gotten you a suitcase of clothes donated by the good sisters back home in the trunk. It’s an eight hour drive and we have one stop to make in Vegas before we get to the hotel so make yourselves comfortable. You both look like you could use some rest.”
“Wow, that’s awesome,” I said. “What’s in those boxes up front with you?” He had a big stack in the front seat almost to the roof of the limo. They looked like clothes boxes.
“Yeah, that,” he replied. “Clothes for your first stop. You have a decision to make. Take your time, no hurry. If you decide you want to make the first stop, you can change on the way.” He started handing bags and boxes back to us.
Jade and I took the two large boxes first, opening them at the same time. Out came the black material and beautiful lace of matching black wedding gowns.
Jade and I looked at each other as we held the dresses out before us. There was a tear rolling down her cheek.
“Are these for us?” Jade asked.
“Well, they’re not for me,” Oracle Joe said. “My feeling is that this is very important but as always, free will, yada yada. Jade, you will need to be in full vamp mode for the wedding, also important. Jane, please explain to her what this means.”
“Give us a minute,” I said, sliding closed the window that separated him from the back. We needed some privacy. He had just hit the interstate. We slid towards each other, shoulders touching, our black wedding gowns in our lap, holding hands, thinking, not saying anything yet. Tears were coming down my cheeks as well at this point. I was ready. I would do it in a minute. Jade was my soul mate. I was as certain of that as I could be. Still, she needed to know what a vamp wedding meant. Vamp weddings are rare, and they are always for life. A much deeper bond is formed than just a blood bond. The death of one invariably leads to the death of the other.
We sat that way for a while, just thinking. Jade had rested her head on my shoulder and we were still holding hands. After a while she leaned forward and ki
ssed me tenderly on the lips.
“Will you be marrying me then, Jane?” she asked. “I know what a vamp marriage means, and I know what happens when one dies. I love you and this is what I want.”
“Well, then,” I replied. “Of course I will marry you. Let’s see what else we have in these boxes.”
“We are going to exchange some blood,” I told Joe as I opened the window back up. “Try not to watch.”
“Thought I had seen it all already with you guys,” he laughed.
We had some questions for Joe.
“No rings!” Jade said.
“It’s taken care of,” Joe responded.
“What about family?” I asked.
“It’s Vegas,” he replied. “Quick wedding, party some other time.”
“Why now?” asked Jade.
“No time, no time, must be today” he said. “I don’t know more than that. Like I said, it’s important. Everything is arranged. You just need to be there and be dressed when we arrive.”
I knew there was no going back on a vamp wedding. Once the bond was formed it was for life, and for death. Jade had been the Angel of Death. She knew from experience what happened to one when the other died. Even being separate for an extended period of time is painful on the bond. It was so much deeper than that formed by blood alone, although the exchange of blood was part of the ceremony. For that reason vamp weddings were rare and those that could correctly perform the ceremony very few. It was a commitment that not many would undertake. For me, I knew I was ready.
“What do you think?” I asked Jade.
“Let’s do it.” She smiled.
“The wedding is on, Oracle Joe.” I laughed. I had never been happier. I reached up to close the window between the driver and the back again. “We’re getting dressed now.”
“Take your time,” he replied. “Still several hours before we get there.”
Elvis is in the Building Chapel, the sign said when we pulled up a few hours later. In smaller letters it said, Vamp Wedding Certified. We were dressed in our matching black wedding gowns, with combat boots and black jewelry to match. We even had found some black lipstick and eyeliner in one of the bags. We were going typical vamp Goth style for our wedding.
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