The Mary Sue Virus: Beyond Death

[ladydeathfaerie]

Title: The Mary Sue Virus: Beyond Death
Chapter Thirty: Aftermath 
Fandom: Anita Blake universe
Rating: 18 and up
Warnings: graphic sex and violence, language, anything else i can toss in.
Disclaimer: the recognizable characters and places contained herein are the property of LKH. i'm merely borrowing for the sake of entertainment. no money is being made from this venture. the Sues are the sole property of their originators, Ginevra, Dazzledfirestar, Nanaea, SilverFoxChan and ladydeathfaerie. the concept and title of The Mary Sue Virus are used with permission from Dazzledfirestar. all beta work, plot bunny shooting and ass spanking is being done by Gin.

The Mary Sue Virus: Beyond Death - Index Link 

The reverberating crack of the gun's shot was loud in the silent parking lot. No one was speaking. There was no screaming. There was nothing but the ugly echo of the weapon firing. And silence. Dead silence.

Panic. The metallic scent of blood. Fear. Confusion. Anger. Dirt and earth and cold. It all filled him as he tried to put together what had just happened. He hadn't heard anything until it was too late, hadn't seen anything. Hadn't felt or smelled anything out of the ordinary. But he'd been so focused on her that he hadn't really paid attention. And now...

He couldn't even think it.

Finally, sound seemed to come flooding back. There was screaming from the shadows, a masculine voice carrying on about demons and angels. His eyes sought the source, saw a dirty and foul bit of humanity being dragged into the light by Truth as if he were nothing more than a length of string. Stale sweat and cheap whisky flooded his nose and he felt his lips peel back in a snarl. It was the same cowardly piece of trash that had stabbed him.

The man was covered in dirt, his clothes worn far too long and more holey than whole. Greasy, stringy hair hung from under a knit cap that was raveled at the edges. Under the stench of unwashed body and dirt and alcohol, he could smell blood and semen. All he could think of was shaking the filthy little man until his neck snapped. He wasn't even fit to drain. He hadn't been aware he'd moved for the bastard until a hand came to rest on his chest.

"Vile, unclean demon! You've corrupted her! My angel. My sweet angel! You've made her a whore! Die, fucker! Die!" There was a gleam of light along the barrel of an old revolver as the man lifted it. Then Truth had the man's hand in his hold. He ripped the gun away and the night was filled with the distinctive cracking sound that let him know Truth had broken the man's wrist. It was followed by a sharp scream of pain.

He opened his mouth to ask why the man hadn't been disarmed already, but there was a faint touch to his cheek and he gave his attention to the body he held in his arms. "Asher? I'm cold." Janika's face was far too pale, the hand against his face colder than he'd been before he'd fed. Crimson stained the soft peach of the shirt she'd put on, leaked through the denim jacket she'd put on over it. The shot wasn't near any organs, shouldn't have been life threatening. It was low on her side, near her hip. But he and Jean Claude had taken her blood not all that long ago. "Why am I cold?"

He didn't even remember catching her, going down to the ground on his knees so he could hold her. Jean Claude had stripped his shirt off and was in the process of pressing the expensive garment to her wound. Her heart was slowing even as he stared into her beautiful face. She was going to die. He would lose her, as he'd lost Julianna and Anita. A snarl of rage twisted his features and the acrid scent of urine filled the air. He was going to kill the little man, rip him to pieces with his bare hands.

"Asher. This is not the time," Jean Claude's soft voice dragged his attention away from the man once more. He turned to look at his oldest friend, unable to keep the fear from his face.

"He will die for what he has done. I will kill him myself."

"No, Asher. No." There was pain and regret in Jean Claude's voice. A sorrow that ran deep and felt very old. "I cannot bear to see you lose another love. It would destroy me. You must help her. The man is already dead. He will keep for a time longer. You must help her. I cannot."

He understood what the other man meant. He nodded. There was only one way to keep her alive until a doctor could help her. He would have to mark her. Now. Before she slipped any further away from him. He'd planned on doing it later, when she'd had time to consider it. He'd planned on asking her, planned on allowing her to decide. But there was no choice now.

"Asher?" Janika's voice was weaker, soft and little more than a whisper. He didn't have much time. He offered her a smile, hoping that it was truly a smile and not a grimace. Taking her hand in his, he lifted it to his lips and kissed her.

"Relax, mon ange. I will not hurt you. I just..." he trailed off, unsure what he was going to say. "I am going to help." She offered him a soft smile, then her eyes slipped closed. Panic lanced him and he drew up his power, pulled it around him like a cloak. Asher clutched at the hand he held and felt a small trickle of relief when she curled her fingers around it. "I will do what I can to help. It requires that I share my life-force with you. I would not do it under such circumstances, but..."

"Its okay," she whispered, words slurring. Her eyes hadn't opened, but her hand still held his firmly. She hadn't faded away yet, but there wasn't much time. "Do what you have to."

He nodded, even though she couldn't see it, and then pushed his energy at her. He felt it sink into her, become one with her body. She let go a soft sigh, then relaxed in his hold. He was barely aware of the sound of a door slamming open. But the feel of cold power slid over him and he realized that Aedan had come. He ignored her, his free hand gently stroking Janika's hair back from her face. "Please, mon ange. Do not leave me. I have only just found you. Please do not go."

~*~*~*~*~

The back door slammed into the wall, the sound echoing loudly in the night. Asher barely took note, simply cradled Janika to his chest and murmured to her softly. The man Truth had found was still screaming, his words making no sense. Wicked had climbed from the car and was searching the immediate area in case that the dirty little man hadn't come alone. The scene was orderly and chaotic all at the same time. "Jean Claude?"

It was Aedan's voice and she sounded as if she were afraid. He stood to find her searching around, gun bare in her hand and eyes wild with some unnamed emotion. When she saw him, her eyes went wide with shock. Then she hurried to his side, Minette following after her. Both women looked confused. "What the fuck is going on? I felt... something, then nothing and I thought that you..." Her voice trailed off when she spied Asher holding Janika to him. "Oh dear Gods."

"What happened? Jean Claude? Is she going to be okay? What happened?" Minette's voice was hoarse, a bare whisper. There was so much in it that he simply couldn't pick any one emotion out.

"I thought it was you," Aedan whispered, gun pointed at the ground. Her hand shook ever so slightly. She kept glancing between him and Janika. "When I realized that you were gone, I thought it was you." Her free hand lifted and she laid her fingers against his chest. As if she were seeing for herself that he really was okay. Her hand was warm against his flesh, a slight tremor running through it.

"I closed the links to protect you, Aedan," he told her quietly. He brought one of his hands up and laid it over the one she'd settled against his skin. As if she'd been shocked by electricity, she jerked her hand away and turned to look at Janika. He watched the way her hand tightened on the grip of the gun, the weapon tapping her leg in an irate, staccato rhythm that attested to her rattled nerves. Carefully, he eased the links open, allowed himself back into both of their minds. And nearly staggered at the thick cloud of emotion and thoughts.

There was confusion and rage on both of them, a deep sense of worry that seemed to have no explanation. Minette was ready to do battle for the fallen woman, ready to rend into pieces anyone who stepped in her way. There was a snarl forming on her lips as her eyes found the struggling pile of flesh and bones that Truth held with one hand. The same odd feel of duty circled Aedan. But it was what he found beneath it that intrigued him most. Guilt. She felt guilty and he couldn't imagine why.

He knew it the moment she spied Truth's prisoner. Her shoulders snapped tight with tension and she stalked toward the little man, the weapon she held lifted and pointed directly at his face. "You made a big mistake, buddy. A very big one."

"God will protect me. I am the righteous. Its my sworn duty to send the demons to Hell!" the man babbled. He was afraid, but strong in his conviction. "Look at her. Such a sweet and virtuous whore! I've cleansed her, purified her soul. My bullet pierced her side like a lance of Holy Fire! She's saved. Saved from eternal damnation for consorting with the evil demons."

Aedan stepped forward until she was in his face. The gun had been shoved roughly into the waistband of her leather trousers at the small of her back. Her hands were fisted in the man's filthy clothes. "I don't think you understand exactly what you walked into here. Those demons aren't the ones you have to be afraid of. They won't get a chance to hurt you. Because I'm going to kill you. Slowly. I'm going to take one piece of you at a time. And I'm going to love hearing you scream. When I'm done, there'll be nothing left to bury. I'll feed you to the dogs, you putrid son of a bitch."

"God will protect me against the wicked. I'm His warrior." Again, that same conviction tainted his words. He truly believed what he was saying.

There was nothing on Aedan's face when she spoke next, simply a blank mask that matched the utter emptiness in her voice. "God isn't here, you stupid fuck. I am. And He isn't going to stop me."

"Aedan," Jean Claude closed the distance to lay a hand on her arm. She jerked away and lifted a hand to wrap around the man's throat. The other reached once more for her gun.

"You're going to die and you're going to see that there is no God. There's only anger and pain."

He reached for her again. This time, he pulled her against him and held her there, even though she struggled to free herself. Her thoughts were black as the night around them, filled with death and rage and the need to make it right. "Aedan. Enough," he whispered in her ear. "He is not your concern."

"He's going to die," she hissed, then reached between them with a free hand. Minette soon joined them, her hand reaching out to rest on Aedan's arm. The tension seemed to grow, as if they were both sharing their feelings back and forth, intensifying the emotions of one another. "I'll even be nice about it."

"Aedan." He tried to gain her attention with his voice, but it slid off of her as if she were immune. "Enough."

"You can have a choice, you little shit," she began and lifted her gun up for him to look at. "You can die by the gun, by my gun, which I can make quick and painless. Or you can die by her hand." At that, she motioned to the woman beside her. "Show him your hand, Minette."

Minette took a step closer, her hand slowly sliding into that in between version with long, sharp claws that came from her leopard. The dirty man snarled a curse and tried to jerk away from Truth. The vampire's hold was firm.

"Trust me. She won't make it quick or painless."

"Jean Claude?" Asher's voice broke the tension. He turned to look at his friend. Janika was cradled in his arms, her head resting limply against the blonde's shoulder. "She needs a doctor. Soon. Her heart is steady, but she has lost too much blood."

"Truth. Take him inside and confine him in a room until a decision can be made about his fate," Jean Claude instructed.

"As you say," Truth bowed his head, then dragged the homeless man off after him, heading for the door leading into the Circus. Aedan struggled again to free herself from Jean Claude's hold, obviously intent on going after the man. Frowning, he tightened his grip on her and sent out a call for aide. Cherry. I have need of you. Please find Dr. Lillian and bring her with you to the parking lot behind the Circus. Janika has been injured.

"Let me go!" Aedan demanded. "I'm going to kill him. He's going to pay for what he's done."

"Of course he is, ma poupette. But we must see to Janika first. Is she not more important to you than that man?" Those words did what nothing else had been able to. She slumped in his embrace, sagging as the rage drained out of her. Minette's hand was a hand again and she turned to go to Asher's side, to kneel beside the injured woman and touch her brow gently.

"Is she going to be okay?" Aedan whispered before she turned to look at him. He could see in her face the fear that the other woman would die. Jean Claude offered her a soft smile, leaning down to press a kiss to her forehead.

"She will be fine with medical attention and rest. But why are you so worried?"

"She's my friend," Aedan shrugged, as if that was supposed to explain everything she was feeling. Perhaps it did. Hadn't he had to make such a decision about his friend once? He stared down into her face, sure that there was something more to this than mere friendship. But he could find nothing, sense nothing, that would tell him if he were right or not. He nodded and drew her close, once more folding her in his embrace. She didn't fight him, merely leaned into him as if she were taking strength from him.

"Your loyalty to your friends is admirable, Aedan. It is a good quality to have. But do not let it, or hatred, blind you. Your concern should be with her. Not the fool who is responsible." Jean Claude lifted a hand to tuck a few strands of hair back behind her ear. She sighed and slipped her arms around him for a hug.

"He's going to die, Jean Claude."

"Of course he will, ma poupette," he whispered. "But you will not concern yourself with him. I will not have you dirtying your hands on someone like that."

"But he..." she protested, tipping her head back so she could look up into his face.

"Will be dealt with. I promise. There will come a time when you will have to do something that goes against the very laws you have sworn to uphold. This is not that time. You will leave him to me."

She stared at him, eyes large in the dim lights. He could see clearly the haunted look in them, though he found no reason for it. Her cheeks, which had been rosy and flushed from her encounter with Richard, were pale and drawn. "I thought I'd lost you."

The words were whispered so softly, he barely heard them. If they'd been alone, he'd have shown her exactly what hearing that sentence from her lips meant to him. But other people had joined the party now. Richard and Shang-Da had followed Aedan and Minette up the stairs. Richard had sent his Hati out to patrol the area. Coming on their heels were the remaining wolves and the rats that were still at the Circus. Many of them had already spread out to offer cover.

"Jean Claude." Richard's arrival saw Aedan withdrawing from his hold. She stepped away from them and moved toward Minette. The Ulfric watched her go with a concerned expression on his face before turning his attention back to the vampire. "We should move this inside. Someone's bound to have heard something. The last thing you need is the cops breathing down your neck."

"Of course, Richard. You are correct," he nodded and turned to survey the scene. Aedan and Minette had moved off some distance from everyone and they were talking heatedly, their hands gesturing wildly. He frowned, wondering what it was about. It was obvious that they were talking about Janika, but he thought this went beyond the man responsible for her injury. "Would you escort Aedan back inside?"

The wolf king seemed surprised by his request. He shot a look once more at Aedan, then nodded. "Of course. You expect her to try something."

"She would be able to get past any one of my vampires. You would pose a problem for her. And I know you will not hurt her. She has been shaken by this event. Deeply." He turned to look at Asher. "Take her inside, mon ami. I will have Dr. Lillian and Cherry awaiting you."

Asher said nothing, merely rose with Janika in his arms and turned for the door. Cherry, there has been a change of plans. Please meet Asher in his room. He is bringing Janika with him. Thank Dr. Lillian for me. Shang-Da returned and shook his head at Richard to let his Ulfric know he hadn't found anything. The rest of the group was beginning to make for the door. Jean Claude, Wicked, Aedan, Minette, Richard and Shang-Da were the only ones left outside.

"Take Minette inside," Richard told his Hati. The man nodded once. He crossed the distance between the two parties and spoke quietly with Minette. Aedan shot a glare toward them but said nothing as her friend went silently with the wolf. Once the two of them had disappeared inside the building, Aedan turned and paced back to where Jean Claude and Richard stood.

"Richard will escort you inside. Please, ma poupette. Allow me to handle this. As soon as Dr. Lillian has seen to Janika, I will make sure you are informed of her condition."

"The son of a bitch is going to die, Jean Claude. And if you don't do it," she hissed, stepping toward him until she almost touched his chest. "Then get the fuck out of my way, because I will." Her statement was punctuated by the harsh, metallic click of her gun. She spun away from them and stalked toward the back door. He shared a look with the Ulfric, who was trying hard to hide a grin, then the man followed after her. After a nod to Wicked, he turned for the open door.

He didn't understand Aedan's sudden, intense desire to kill this man. Until Anita's death, she'd never met Janika before. One would think, after over half a millennium of life, he'd have learned to figure out women. His new human servant was as much a mystery to him as his last one had been. As if he needed any further complications in his life.

~*~*~*~*~

Shang-Da was a solid presence at Minette's back as she made her way carefully to the room she shared with Micah. She wasn't sure why he was still there, but she was deeply thankful. Seeing Janika on her back with blood soaking through her clothes was something she simply couldn't face right now. Not when the act had been right at what amounted to her back door. For a moment there, she'd forgotten all about her change in power and status. She'd simply been Minette, the low man on the totem pole, worried that there was a bullet out there with her name on it. Then she'd seen the man and she'd known that he was responsible not only for Janika's wound, but Asher's, too. And the predator in her, the leopard, had snarled and begged to be released.

She still wanted to rip him apart with her fangs.

What was worse, the part of her that remembered being Gin couldn't shake the fear that Daz was going to die. And she'd known, without even having to talk to Ldf, that the other woman blamed herself. Her Sue was supposed to be the protector. She'd already seen that side of Aedan Kinkade shining through. From the very moment they'd landed in this reality, it had been there. A bright beacon in the darkness. And Aedan, along with Ldf, was kicking herself for the potentially deadly situation Janika, and Daz, had found herself in. She'd tried to convince her friend that it wasn't the case, that she had no way of knowing what was going to happen. Aedan hadn't wanted to hear it. And she wasn't the only one who felt that way.

Minette had to wonder if this would have happened if she or one of the other weres had been with the trio when they'd stepped outside. But there was no way of knowing. Even Jean Claude and Asher seemed to have been blind sided by this turn of events. It was a big mess. All she wanted to do was make sure Janika was okay, then perhaps throw herself into Jason or Micah's arms and let them hold her until the world made sense again.

She couldn't allow herself comfort until she was sure Janika would recover from her wound. And until she was sure that Aedan had calmed down. The other woman was strung so tightly that it was giving Minette a headache. Their brief conversation had been almost painful to deal with. The anger and rage had eaten at her, served to further aggravate her leopard to the point that Minette thought she wouldn't be appeased until she had the taste of fresh blood and raw meat in her mouth. The conversation that had flowed between them hadn't made any sense.

It had been a mix of Aedan and Ldf, her desire to hurt the man almost a physical thing. Minette had tried to talk her out of it while assuring her at the same time that she wanted nothing more than to abuse the man, to make him scream in fear and pain before she ripped him limb from limb. And she had. But rational thought had managed to squeeze past the need for retribution and keep a tight hold on her more animalistic side. Still, if she were given the opportunity of five minutes alone with the nasty little fucker, there wouldn't be pieces big enough left to bury.

The door to her room was open and Micah was waiting for her. So was Jason. Just seeing them helped ease the tension from her shoulders. They both stared at her for a few moments, as if simply assessing that all was well with her. Jason's eyes shot past her head to where Shang-Da stood behind her. She saw his head nod in silent thanks. Before they could envelop them in their arms, she turned to the man behind her and gave him a slightly wobbly smile. "Thank you. For everything."

"It was my pleasure," he told her. The look in his eyes let her know that there was more than one meaning to his words. Then he nodded to the two men standing at her back and turned to head up the hallway. No doubt to go back to the living area and wait on Richard. When she faced Jason and Micah again, both men pulled her into their arms and hugged her to them. They pulled her into the room without a word, the door closing firmly before either of them spoke. "How is she?"

Minette looked at Micah and shook her head. "I think she's going to be fine. Jean Claude said she will with Dr. Lillian's care. But she looked awfully pale. I think she lost more blood than they were letting on."

"She was with both Jean Claude and Asher tonight," Jason informed her.

"Oh crap," she moaned before moving to sit in a chair. Things had been so hectic, she hadn't even noticed it. After turning that bit of news over in her mind for a few heartbeats, she looked up at the blonde and offered him a tight smile. "If you value your life, do not tell Aedan that."

"She reacted to this badly?" Micah moved to settle on the arm of the chair. The heat of his body soothed her and she sighed, inching closer to him.

"Badly is a kind word. Aedan was going to shoot the guy in the middle of the parking lot. She was itching to pull the trigger. I've never seen her so upset before," Minette shook her head and closed her eyes. She could still see the paleness of Janika's face, could still smell the fresh blood as it poured from the wound the homeless man had made. She could also still see the way Aedan had reacted when she'd seen that Jean Claude wasn't injured. Whether the woman was willing to admit it or not, she was falling for the Master of the City. It was only a matter of time.

"She won't hear it from me," Jason shook his head, then offered Minette a cheeky grin. "Let some other poor bastard be on the receiving end of her temper. I'm smarter than that."

"I should hope so." She couldn't stop the grin that came. Jason knelt on the floor before her, between her legs, and leaned forward to hug her to him. "I'd hate to think I'd gotten myself involved with a dumb blonde."

He looked up at her, eyes twinkling with mischief, then glanced toward the bed. "How about we go climb in that big bed and I prove to you that there are no dumb blondes here?"

"That sounds like a very smart idea." She turned to Micah. "What do you think?"

"Smartest thing I've heard him say all night."

~*~*~*~*~

Richard was mildly surprised to find Aedan stalking the floor of her room. He'd half expected her, after her parting shot to Jean Claude, to seek out the man who'd shot Janika and repay him in kind. She still clutched the gun in one hand, the weapon moving against her leg with obvious agitation. She barely noted him as he stepped through the doorway, never once breaking her stride. He stood with his back against the door, arms loose at his sides, watching her pace back and forth. She was wound tight, energy swirling around her almost like a cold wind.

"She'll be fine, Aedan. Dr. Lillian is very good at what she does. She'll take good care of Janika," he told her, keeping his voice low and gentle. She didn't stop, didn't even slow down. He wasn't sure why she was so upset. But her agitation was as tangible as the power that spilled from her.

"I know she will." Her words were spoken almost absently, as if her mind wasn't fully on the conversation at hand. He frowned and watched as she paced up and down, her lips moving silently. He realized she was muttering to herself, keeping her voice quiet so that he couldn't hear her. Which made him wonder just what it was that she was muttering about.

"Jean Claude won't let the man get away with this. I can promise you that. He's as ruthless as they come when the need arises."

"I know," she said, again in that same tone she'd just used. He got the impression that she wasn't really paying attention to him, that her thoughts were on something else entirely.

"He'll make him scream before he lets him die," Richard added.

"Right."

"I'm going to strip naked, paint myself blue and proclaim you leader of the free world."

"Whatever you say," Aedan nodded, then turned and kicked a chair over. She hissed in pain and stared at the wall, then turned and stared at the door. "Shit! Mother fucking cock sucker! Shitshitshit!!!"

He could see by the look in her eyes that she was about to go do exactly what Jean Claude had feared she would do. There was gleam in her eyes that he recognized so well. He'd seen it in Anita's eyes more than once over the years. Except Anita had never allowed her anger to rule her decisions. If Aedan did this in her current frame of mind, if anyone got in her way... He had to find some way to stop her, before she hurt anyone. And he had to stop her without hurting her.

He could only think of one way to go. Drawing up his power, he let it swell up through him, let it fill the room around him. Aedan's head jerked up and she narrowed her eyes on him. She hadn't reached out to rub at her arms, but he knew it was close. "Aedan."

"What the hell are you doing, Richard?" she snapped, crossing her arms over her chest. He thought that she'd perhaps done it to keep from rubbing at them.

"I don't know why you're so upset, but you need to calm down. Let Jean Claude handle this. You should be more concerned about Janika. Dr. Lillian is the best. She'll take care of her. I promise you. Just relax."

"I should have seen this coming. After the attack on Asher, I should have known that the little freak wouldn't let it go. He could have killed her. Could have killed any one of them." The words came out softly and he thought he understood. Then the anger slid from her face, taking the color with it, and she started trembling. He crossed the room to her side and carefully took the gun from her hand. After setting it on the top of the dresser, he gently pulled her into his arms for an awkward hug. Aedan clung to him, fine tremors running through her.

"Blaming yourself won't change what happened," he whispered before turning her to face the bed. "You're too uptight. Let me help with that."

There was no snappy comeback. She let him urge her over to the bed, then simply stood there as he tugged the tight leather down her legs. When he looked up at her face, he saw a lost, frightened little girl staring back at him. It made him wonder who this woman was, who she'd been before she'd been thrust into the position she was in now. Had Anita made a mistake in giving her power over to someone so young and untried? Had she understood what she was doing when she'd put everyone's lives into a stranger's hands?

"Lay down on your stomach," he instructed. She blinked at him before she climbed up onto the mattress and laid down, her face buried in the pillow. He joined her, then easily shifted her over into the middle of the bed. He straddled her thighs, knelt over her and gently brushed her hair away from her back. He curled his hands around her shoulders, found nothing but tension waiting for him, and slowly began working the knots from her muscles with capable, careful touches.

Aedan heaved a long, low sigh and went limp beneath him.

~*~*~*~*~

"She's going to be weak for a few days. She's lost quite a bit of blood. But she'll be okay," Lillian told Asher as he gently stroked Janika's hair from her face. She was still unconscious, her skin still deathly pale. But he'd been assured by the doctor that such things were normal. Lillian had been quite displeased to find that Janika had shared blood with both Jean Claude and himself. But she'd started the petite red head on antibiotics and some blood to replace what she'd lost. She'd also cleaned the wound and made sure the bullet wasn't still inside before she'd stitched it up.

"I cannot thank you enough, Dr. Lillian," Asher said quietly, rising from the bed so that he could cross to the woman's side. He wasn't sure if he should shake her hand or hug her or if there was something else he could do. She stared up at him with a gentle smile on her face. It wasn't something he'd seen there very often. The woman was nothing if not practical.

"There's nothing to thank me for, Asher. Since Jean Claude took over the city from Nikolaos, things have been better for all of the shapeshifters in St. Louis. Not just the rats. All of us. That's because of him," she said, then glanced toward the bed at Janika's still form. "Anita was good for him. And you. For a time. But it was obvious even then that, despite her love for you, she wasn't enough. You needed someone for yourself. You couldn't have her and you couldn't have him. This is exactly what you needed. I hope she's worthy of your love."

"She is funny and beautiful and brave. And she makes me smile when I feel as if I have nothing to smile about."

"Then don't let her go." Asher nodded at Lillian's words, then watched as the moment of compassion left them. She once again became the practical doctor, the softness leaving her face. "I'll have my niece come back in a few hours to check on her. She'll make sure that Janika isn't running a fever, that she hasn't broken her stitches. The usual. If you need anything, don't hesitate to call."

Lillian began packing up her bag, carefully putting everything back into it. Asher suspected she did so in an orderly fashion. Everything in its place. When she straightened, she moved for the door. "I want her on complete bed rest for the next several days. Until she builds her strength back up. The most strenuous thing I want her doing is rolling over. If she has to go to the bathroom, carry her."

"Of course, Dr. Lillian," Asher agreed, holding back the smirk her words had brought to life. He suspected that, once she'd had time to rest for a while, Janika would be very unhappy with those instructions.

"She's going to be groggy when she wakes up. I gave her a pain killer and it was fairly strong. It should last for several hours, so I'll have my niece bring more when she comes. And make sure she gets some protein into her system when she's ready to eat. It will help with the weakness and the blood loss." There were no more instructions to deliver. Lillian went out the door quietly, closing the wooden panel behind her to offer him privacy.

Asher returned to the bed, once more taking a seat beside Janika's petite frame so that he could reach out and touch her. The fear that she would die still coursed through his veins. Memories of his imprisonment at the hands of the church fought for a place in his mind, the conjurings of his imagination demanding he relive the horror he'd felt about Julianna's death. He'd imagined her screams of pain as the fire had consumed her, as the smoke had choked the life from her. He'd pictured the flesh melting from her bones under all of that heat.

For so long, he'd blamed Jean Claude for not saving her. Then Anita had shown him love again. He'd realized that his old friend had agonized over Julianna's death, carried such guilt for not being able to do something. His anger had faded under the fountain of their combined love. But it hadn't been enough. Lillian had been correct. Anita had shared herself with so many, he was simply another face in the crowd. Or so it felt. He knew she'd loved him almost as much as she'd loved Jean Claude. But she'd loved everyone. It had felt as if there was no room left in her heart for him. So he'd sought someone on his own.

Not actively. And not at first. But he'd found himself glancing longer and longer at women. Found himself wondering what it might be like to have someone of his own again. It had been such a long, lonely time since Julianna. Until the night that he'd had to go to Danse Macabre because Gretchen was causing trouble. Jean Claude had been tied up, so he'd asked Asher to go in his place. He'd found himself cornered by a very determined red head with vibrantly green eyes and the desire to dance with him.

He'd been attracted to her from the very first. Something about her had screamed at him to protect her. She was so petite and delicate looking and, that night, she'd been mingling with things much bigger and stronger than her. Dangerous things. He'd thought she was drunk when she'd asked him to dance. He'd told her no the first three times she'd asked. The fourth time, he'd simply shaken his hair aside and showed her the winding scars that twisted half of his face into something hideous and grotesque. He'd thought, as with everyone else, she'd run screaming from his monstrous appearance.

She'd surprised him by regarding him with a cool, professional stare for all of two seconds. Then she'd lifted a hand and laid it against his cheek. Her fingers had traced the melted flesh so tenderly. Then she'd frowned and he could swear he'd seen anger in her eyes. "Holy water. Priests can be such assholes. I know they used to use such methods hundreds of years ago. I don't think I've ever seen a scar pattern like that before. It must have been hell for you."

Her words had taken him by surprise and it had been purely a spur of the moment thing when he'd asked if she would consider going some place a little quieter, where they could talk. They'd gone to a small diner and they'd talked. All night. Until there had only been a half an hour or so until dawn. She'd scribbled her number on a napkin and pushed it into his hand with a smirk on her face. "Call me."

He'd been lost since that very moment.

He couldn't lose her. It would kill him.

"Asher?" Her voice was soft and husky, laden with the remnants of pain that couldn't be dulled by the drugs and filled with sleepy confusion, as if she didn't know what had happened or where she was. She was blinking at him, eyes large and unfocused as she struggled to focus on him.

"I am here, mon ange," he smiled down at her. She shifted, as if she planned on sitting, then hissed and subsided against the bedding. He reached out to stroke his fingers over the pale perfection of her cheek. "You should not attempt to move. It has not been long since you were injured."

"What happened?" she frowned. He watched as her eyes rolled and spotted the bags that Lillian had hung from the frame of the canopy with a wire coat hanger. One contained a clear fluid that he couldn't name. The other held blood, meant to replace what she'd lost. "We were going to dinner with Jean Claude, weren't we?"

"We were. But we were attacked. You were shot."

"Shot?" she lifted her brows and attempted to shift her position. He settled a hand against her shoulder to keep her from moving, then carefully grasped her under the arms and helped pull her up a little bit. "Why would someone shoot me? Did you catch him? Did the police take him? What..."

"There is no need to worry, Janika. He is being dealt with. I want you to focus on resting and healing," he told her, smoothing her hair back from her face with one hand. She frowned at him. Then her eyes went wide.

"Did anyone else get hurt?"

"No one else was injured. Please. Do not overtax yourself," he ordered gently. She nodded and allowed herself to sink into the softness of the mattress. Silence ruled for several long beats of his heart before she reached up with one hand and curled her fingers around his. He took hold of it and brought it to his lips, ducking his head so that he didn't have to lift it up too high. "I was so worried that I would lose you, mon ange. So afraid."

"I won't leave you, Asher. Even when I'm old and grey. I won't leave you," she promised with a sleepy smile.

"You do not have to grow old and grey, Janika," he whispered. He had to tell her, before the guilt ate at him. "I did not wish to do it this way, but you were so weak. Dying. I could not let you die. I had to save you. I had fully planned to ask you later, to let you decide. But there was no time. I... You were dying. I had to do something."

"What did you do?" she asked. He heard a faint thread of fear in her voice. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"I gave you the first mark. You do not have to finish them if you do not wish to. I will understand. But you... I had to do something to save you."

She stared up at him for a few seconds before speaking. "You gave me the first mark? What first mark? What did I miss on my trip to La-la land?"

"The first mark. I have started the process to make you my human servant. I..." he trailed off and looked away. Her fingers tightened around his, drawing his eyes back to hers. She smiled up at him before lifting his hand so that she could drop a kiss on it.

"Thank you, Asher. Thank you for caring enough to want to save me." He said nothing to that. He had no words. Nothing he could say just yet. The emotions were too fresh and new, too rare and precious. Later, when she wasn't ill and he wasn't afraid.

He'd tell her later.

~*~*~*~*~

Meng Die stood outside the room that Truth had taken the homeless man to. She leaned against the wall next to the door, her face set in hard lines that spoke of pain and suffering. Jean Claude nodded to her. With one look at the door, she left. He wasn't sure if she wanted to have a chance to hurt the man in the room beyond or if she was simply angry at being given guard duty. After taking a moment to consider what he was going to do, he pushed the door open wide.

Both Wicked and Truth were inside with the man. Though it was obvious neither one of them had done anything to him, the man still cowered in a corner. The room was unfinished, no furniture or rugs. Nothing on the walls. Nothing but a few iron rings and a single bare bulb burning overhead in the ceiling. It cast unflattering light over the room and made monsters of his guards. He looked at the man, but he spoke to the two vampires. "He has been searched thoroughly? There are no more weapons?"

"All he had were a pair of hand guns. They have been disposed of already." Truth informed him.

"Demons! God will protect me from your evil taint," the man shot at him, though there was a liberal dose of fear coloring his words this time. Jean Claude allowed his gaze to settle on the miserable lump of humanity and frowned. The stench was stronger in such an enclosed place, dirt and filth and old sweat mingling with the foul odor of fresh urine. Beneath that, barely discernable, was the metallic smell of fresh blood. While everything else repulsed him, that singular smell enticed him. It gave him ideas. Perhaps he would ensure that this one died slowly. Painfully. Without mercy.

The way Julianna had died.

Jean Claude knew that his decision to deal with this man was based solely upon events in his history. Events set in motion by the church. Events that had driven a wedge between himself and Asher, filled both of them with a deep sorrow that neither had been able to cleanse. There'd been no way for him to save Julianna. He'd been unable to rid himself of the guilt since. This was his opportunity to make right his wrongs. He would do anything for Asher. Anything.

"Truth. Fetch me chains. Shackles with a short length should do nicely. Wicked. Rid the man of his clothes. The stench is offensive."

Truth left without a word, carefully closing the door behind him. Jean Claude stood where he was, watching as Wicked moved toward the man. The mortal tried to defend himself, hands curled into claws so that he could rake at Wicked's face. But the vampire was too fast for him and the clothes were soon in a pile on the floor, leaving behind a skinny old man who was obviously scared and cold. It was only a few minutes later that Truth returned, a set of heavy chains clanking noisily in his hands. He moved to homeless man and, together, he and his brother bound the captive to the wall.

They stepped back when finished and waited for their next set of orders. Jean Claude knew he could have delivered the message silently. But he wanted this miserable scrap of humanity to understand just how bad things were going to get for him. "Take his clothing and burn it. He will not require it any further after this night. Leave us."

"Of course," Wicked inclined his head. Truth gathered up the pile of filthy cloth. The two of them glided for the door. It closed with a faint sound, leaving the two of them alone. Oppressive silence settled around them like a mantle as the man watched him. His eyes burned with his manic, unwavering faith while his body shook with fear. He should be afraid. So very afraid.

Recalling the look on Janika's face, the paleness in it, and the mixture of fear and rage that had taken over Asher's face, Jean Claude felt himself snarl. The move exposed his fangs. The man quivered in his bonds, arms pulled up over his head while his feet were bound to the walls on either side, legs spread slightly. "Back, demon. God's Love is mine and you will not steal it from me. You will not turn me from my faith. God protects me."

"God," he lifted a brow in a superior manner, then gestured around him with both hands. "Do you believe that God dwells here? This is my domain. God does not live here. Nor has he been invited. He will not save you from me."

"I am never far from His grace. Do to me what you will. God will spare me." The old man clenched his jaw a moment, then broke into a litany of words meant to inflict harm. "Foul demon from Hell. You have no sway over me. You can't harm me at all. You and your filthy kind will be purged from the lands. When that happens, my angel will be freed. Whole again. Pure. No taint of evil. Nothing of your carnal desires will remain."

"Your angel?" Jean Claude pursed his lips, then smiled. "Ah, yes. The sweet and beautiful Janika. So petite. So lovely. So willing and eager. Shall I tell you how eager she was? Do you wish to know just how loudly she moaned while Asher and I took her from both front and behind? She wanted us both, had us both at the same time."

"No! You clouded her mind, made her want those unnatural things. She's pure. I have to save her from you," the man spat, shaking his head in denial of the things he was being told.

"Her breasts fit perfectly into my hands, even while her body clung to mine so enticingly," Jean Claude strolled closer. The man's muddy eyes never left him, tracking his movements carefully. They were so wide, he could see the whites of them. "She has the softest skin. And her blood. It was so rich as it flowed down my throat. She gave it willingly, allowed me to take what I wanted."

He moved behind the man and lightly ran a finger down his back. The touch barely grazed his skin but it was enough to send a shudder rippling along the captive's spine. "Lies!" he hissed. His hands fisted around the chains holding him. "My angel would never fornicate with you willingly."

"But she did. She begged and pleaded for more. She allowed me to bury myself inside of her. I sodomized her and she wanted more from me. And when she climaxed, it was with a melodious cry of ecstasy. She did the same for Asher. She loves him. He will make her his human servant and she will be pleased by it. She will remain by his side and never grow old."

"Lies! You're lying! She loves me. I heard her whisper the words in my ear, felt her hands touching me when she said it! She loves me and she wants me to free her from your demon thrall."

Jean Claude strolled around to face him, allowing his gaze to flick down the length of the man's body. He stopped at the ugly, reddened scratches that covered his manhood. They still oozed a small amount of blood. "Janika would never want someone who did such things to himself. Tell me. Do you imagine her mouth wrapped around you? Sucking at you hungrily, greedily. Like a babe at his mother's breast? She has done so with Asher. She enjoys it."

"NO!" The man shook with rage and fear. Jean Claude could smell the blood just under his skin, could hear it pounding in his veins. "She's mine! She wouldn't give herself to you unless you forced her to. You tricked her with your demon magic."

"Demon magic. You know nothing of what you speak," Jean Claude brought his eyes back up to stare at the man. They'd gone dark, almost fully black, as he prepared the first of his tortures for the filthy excuse of humanity. He drew the arduer to him, called upon it as if it were a long lost love. Built it until he knew that a breath of it would drive the man insane with need. At the same time, he sent out a call. "Yet. But you will."

He reached out and pressed the tips of his fingers to the man's chest, leaned forward until their faces were mere inches apart. With a smile, he pushed the hunger and need into the other man's body. Blood raced for the man's groin, pooled low and filled his shaft. He didn't have to look down to see it happen. He could smell the fresh blood that beaded up on the scratches as thin, fresh scabs tore because he swelled larger, firmed up. "My simple touch can bring you to such immediate, full arousal. To the very dizzying heights of need. Do you wish me to take you in my hand and give you pleasure? Give you the release that your body needs? Do you want me to show you how perverse and deviant I can be?"

The man couldn't form the words, though his mouth worked. His body shook with the desire that poured through it, his hands fisting so tightly around the chains that his knuckles went white. His hips shifted forward as if seeking the touch of a hand or the warmth and tightness of a mouth. Something to ease his need. Jean Claude allowed his hand to glide lower, drawing shudders along in its wake. "Don't touch me!" The command was hoarse and weak.

The man's hunger beat at him.

"I will not touch you. Not for this. But later, when you are in the final throes of your climax, you will feed me. Make no mistake. My sweet, dangerous Aedan was correct. You will die for what you have done here this night. Slowly. Painfully. Begging for more and begging for the end. I will take every last ounce of your blood until you are no more than a husk. But before that..."

As if on cue, the door opened and Meng Die stepped inside the room. She closed the wooden panel behind her and started across the room, her hands stripping her clothes from her body. Her hungry gaze fastened on the man.

"Before that moment, Meng Die will be allowed to play with you."

No one heard the screams that followed.

~*~*~*~*~

Minette blinked up at Richard's face, slightly confused to find him answering Aedan's door. He was in nothing beyond his pants and his hair looked tousled. As if he'd just climbed from the bed. As if he and Aedan had been... She flushed the moment the thought slipped through her brain and she ducked her head. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."

"You haven't interrupted anything, Minette. Other than a nap." She could hear the smile in his voice. When she glanced back up at him, there was a faint frown on his face. "Its been a long night."

"It has. Is Aedan... Um, Janika's awake. Aedan wanted to see her when she woke up," Minette told him, stammering through the words. Why the hell did the man make her nervous now?

"She dozed off a while ago," he glanced back over his shoulder. She could see Aedan on the bed, head turned away from the door. The other woman was on her stomach, still wrapped in Richard's shirt.

"Damn. I don't want to wake her, but I know she'll be pissed if she doesn't get to check on Janika."

"Stop talking about me like I'm not here," Aedan's voice was low and hoarse, filled with exhaustion. Minette was sure she was pushing herself again. Slowly, the woman dragged herself from the bed and stood scratching at her scalp while her mouth stretched in a yawn. Richard's shirt was far too large for her, leaving her hands hidden in the sleeves. The bottom hem brushed her mid-thigh. She rubbed sleep from her eyes, then stretched. Minette heard the soft snaps of her spine as it re-aligned itself. "Let me go to the bathroom, then we'll go see Janika."

Minette watched Aedan disappear into the bathroom. The moment the door shut, she turned to look at Richard. He shrugged one shoulder and held the door wide, allowing her to step into the room. Once he closed it, she frowned. "What was she like tonight?"

"What?" he blinked, obviously caught off guard by the question.

"Earlier. Before and during sex. What was she like?"

"Oh." Richard gave it thought and she watched as his mouth slid into a compressed line. "She was kind of unhinged. I was afraid she'd hurt herself. As if she hadn't fed in a while."

"Crap. I was afraid of that." Minette ran a hand through her hair. "She isn't. She's pushing. And then she gets past the point of rational thought. I'm afraid she's going to hurt someone if she keeps this up."

"Its happened before?" Richard asked softly. Minette nodded. Not that she planned on telling him that it had happened with one of his wolves. She didn't want to see this more amicable Richard go away. And she didn't want to see Aedan back on the ledge she'd been on earlier. If she shot Richard now, even just hurt him a little, she'd never forgive herself. Maddening as the man could be, there was still a great deal of good to him. There had to be. Anita had obviously cared for him.

"I'll bring it to Jean Claude's attention. Let him deal with it. I've got enough crap to deal with on my own," Minette told him.

"I'd like to see that confrontation," he smirked. "I'm sure it would be one hell of a fight."

She couldn't help the grin that came at that. She imagined it would be just like the one that Aedan had had with Edward just last night. Before she could say anything, Aedan came out of the bathroom and headed for the door. "Let's go."

"Like that?" Minette looked at the shirt. Aedan stopped and blinked, then looked down at what she was wearing. Giving a shrug, she stepped out in the hall.

"Why not? It covers the important stuff, doesn't it?"

"Are you even wearing any underwear?" Minette hissed.

Aedan chuckled, one corner of her lips curling up in a knowing grin. "You are such a prude. Come on and hurry up. I want to get some sleep sometime before the sun comes up."

"Well?" Minette asked, following her up the hall. "Are you?"

In reply, Aedan lifted the bottom hem of the shirt and flashed her bare ass at them both. Minette flushed crimson while Richard's laughter echoed up the hallway. Why her?

~*~*~*~*~

The soft knock had barely finished sounding on the door before Asher was calling out a welcome to whoever stood on the other side. The wooden panel swung wide to reveal Aedan and Minette. Janika could see some form of mischief shining in the taller woman's eyes, while the shorter one looked utterly flustered. She wondered idly what the two had been up to. Then the expressions on both faces faded as they got a good look at her. Minette hurried over to the bed while Aedan took the time to close the door. Her actions were sharp and controlled.

"Hey," Janika smiled and reached out to take Minette's hand the moment she stood beside the bed. Aedan moved closer at a slower pace.

"How do you feel? Jesus. You had us so scared." Green eyes searched her face carefully, as if she were looking for some hint of the truth there.

"I feel really good. Dr. Lillian gave me some bitching pain killers. And Asher won't let me lift a finger." She watched as Aedan's gaze lifted to the two bags suspended from the bed's frame. A frown slid across the woman's face and Asher tensed beside her. He'd been sitting next to her ever since she'd woken. His sudden tension told her she was missing something.

"Lillian says that she will be fine with some bed rest. The wound was clean and not life threatening. She would not have had problems had it not been for my selfishness." Asher admitted softly.

Aedan turned her attention to him and the words that came out were filled with heat. "It wasn't your fault, Asher. If I'd done my job the first time, this wouldn't have happened."

"What do you mean, Aedan?" Janika frowned. Aedan moved closer to the bed.

"If I'd caught the son of a bitch after he stabbed Asher, you wouldn't have gotten shot."

"The same man did this?" Janika blinked at that. Asher took her hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a kiss to the palm. Then he looked at Aedan and shook his head.

"He ran away after stabbing me. How would you have found him?" he asked, his voice low and even.

"I'd have borrowed one of the wolves and tracked him. Merle got his scent. I know that..." she stopped and shook her head. Janika thought she looked tired. And she understood the guilt that seemed to be driving the woman.

"Aedan. It isn't your duty to protect everyone. You can't physically do it."

The woman's eyes flashed and she turned to stalk away from the bed, arms crossed over her chest and head bowed. "But it is my job. I'm a cop, damn it. I'm supposed to protect people. Especially you." The words came in a whisper. Janika glanced from Minette to Asher and back. They looked as clueless as she did. Finally, Asher slid from the bed and moved to Aedan's side. He turned her to face him, lifted her face with his hands until she looked up at him. Janika could see she was struggling with the weight of her perceived guilt.

"Aedan, you risked your life to save mine. And earlier, I saw a woman who would die for her friend if she could. You cannot blame yourself for everything that happens. This was not your fault. You are only one person. Neither one of us blames you." His face was hidden from view, his back to her. But Janika was sure she could picture the look on his face. "You will wear yourself out if you continue this. All that is important is that Janika is safe and she will live. The man responsible will not. Let the rest of it go."

She said nothing, simply nodded her head and began to pull away. Asher caught her in a light embrace, wrapping his arms around her while dropping a kiss onto the top of her head. Janika smiled to see it, then almost laughed when Aedan leaned back and looked up at him in shock and surprise. "What was that for?"

"Thank you, Aedan. From both of us. I do not think I mentioned that I am grateful you saved my life. And I am very grateful to know that Janika has such loyal friends." Asher nudged the woman toward the bed so that she missed the knowing smile that slid over his face. "I was unaware that the Ulfric allowed people to wear his clothes, though I must admit that shirt looks far better on you than on him."

Janika laughed to see twin spots of red blossom in the woman's face. Minette turned to stare, then broke out into a fit of the giggles. "You're blushing."

"I am not," Aedan retorted, once more crossing her arms over her chest.

"You are! This is priceless," Minette chuckled. Even Asher laughed softly at that. "I need to write this on a calendar somewhere."

"Fuck you."

"I thought the Ulfric had already done that," Janika replied, her tone filled with wickedness. Aedan shot her a look.

"You should be resting, you know. Gunshot wounds are tricky. The blood loss can make you hallucinate." The statement brought forth more laughter. Aedan finally smiled. She took the hand that Janika held out to her. "I'm glad you're okay. When I saw you... I would have killed him myself if not for Jean Claude. Don't ever scare me like that again. I don't want to lose a friend here."

Janika nodded. She knew what Aedan meant. More than that, the part of her that was Daz knew that it was Ldf who'd said that. And she understood all too well what the woman was not saying. "I'll do my best. Just promise me that you won't go apeshit and try to be Rambo or something."

Aedan managed a faint smile. "I'll do what I can."

They fell into a light conversation then. The topic of her assailant was dropped, as was the fact that Aedan personally blamed herself for what had happened earlier. Instead, they spoke on all manner of subjects that came to mind. Anything that didn't touch on the subject of her injury was fair game. Janika shamelessly told them about her encounter with both Asher and Jean Claude and how amazing it had been. She noticed that he was silent during the discussion and wondered if she'd embarrassed him by going into it. But she also told them about his bite and how wonderful it had been. She thought she saw a flash of pride on his face at that and decided she'd probably tease him about it later.

One thing she did notice was the way Aedan acted while they spoke about the threesome. She almost carried off the bored expression but she could see a hint of vulnerability in the other woman's eyes and on her face. And maybe just a touch of jealousy. She found that terribly interesting. It would seem that Aedan was not as immune to the Master of the City as she wanted people to believe.

They chatted on and on until a strange woman knocked on the door and barged in on them. Standing at the same height as Aedan, she had ash blonde hair and hazel eyes. While she didn't glare outright at Janika's guests, it was obvious by the expression on her face that she was displeased to find them there. When she turned that look on Aedan, the redhead returned her look with one that would have frightened a centuries old vampire out of his boots. The woman introduced herself as Constance Peters and she was a registered nurse. She was also Dr. Lillian's niece and had showed up to look in on the patient.

Aedan and Minette didn't take the hint when the woman suggested that Janika needed rest and stuck around while the nurse took her blood pressure, her temperature and checked on the wound. When she was done with that, she brought out another bag of blood and fluids, then changed out the ones that had slowly dwindled to nothing. When she was finished, she finally turned to Janika's guests and made a motion with her hands. "I think perhaps its time you go and allow my patient some rest. You can check up on her later, once she's had some time to heal."

"I'm afraid that your bedside manner isn't going to drive us away. If Isis and Rhiannon were conscious, they'd likely be here, too. Don't make me act rude and kick your ass. I respect your aunt too much to do that," Aedan replied in her best cop voice. Constance stared at her for a few moments, then smiled.

"They don't frighten you at all, do they?"

"No. It would be bad for my reputation if I let a few vampires and shape shifters rattle me. I'm supposed to be a bad ass, you know," Aedan grinned. Then her gaze slid past the blonde to look at Janika. "She's going to be okay, right? I mean, no bullshit. She'll be fine?"

"My aunt is a fine doctor. And your friend was lucky to get hit in such a relatively safe place. With some rest, she'll be fine. There's nothing to worry about. I promise."

"Thank you. You don't know..." Aedan's words were cut off by a knock at the door.

"Richard?" Minette frowned. Aedan glanced at the woman, then turned and crossed the room. The door opened to reveal the Ulfric. He had Aedan's cell phone in his hand. Without a word, he handed it to her.

"Kinkade." Aedan put the phone to her ear. In less than five seconds, all of the color drained from her face. She frowned and closed her eyes. taking a deep breath. "Give me twenty minutes. I'll be there."

"Aedan? What's wrong?" Janika asked.

"Sorry. I have to go." Her voice was curt and she was gone before Janika could ask her anything else. She gave her attention to Richard, who was still standing in the open door.

"Detective Storr?" She hoped she was wrong. Richard nodded his head. The night just kept getting better and better.

Crap.

 

Comments

[dazzledfirestar.livejournal.com]

I fucking knew it!! I so fucking knew it!!! :D I don't know how I knew, but I knew!

Wonderful work, as always, my dear. :) I lovelovelove this entire chapter. I hope Meng Die has fun. *evil grin*

And Asher! Oh... *huggles him* I love that you worked in how they met and some backstory there. And I lovelovelove how he's all guilty and conflicted because he didn't get a chance to ask if she wanted to be his human servant! Of course she does! My god! LOL

Again, wonderful, wonderful work! *GLOMP*

[ladydeathfaerie]

you knew it? damn. i had hoped i'd used some serious misdirection there. i must be slipping.

i think Meng Die will have much fun.

i seriously tried to remember if i'd mentioned that elsewhere and figured that i hadn't if neither Gin or i could recall specifics. so we did a quick chat session about it while i was working on that part last night and that's what we came up with. she'd have had to be persistent to get him to notice her longer than it took to tell her no. he was all guilty because he didn't want to force her into something she didn't want.

i'm glad you enjoyed it so much, hon.

[sessys-fangirl.livejournal.com]

Oh thank God Jean-Claude wasn't hit.

But fuck, it was Janika! @_@ * huggles Janika/Daz * You need to get better!

But the little fucker that shot her has got it easy. Aedan was right if either Rhianon or I was conscious, the man wouldn't have stood a chance. Not to mention we'd be at Janika's side.

Oh that guy's gotten off light and only has Meng Die to torture him. But he's going to get it when Jean-Claude finally gets around to him. That man is going to wish he hadn't been born


* stalks outside the door *

And poor Asher! Damn near lost his woman again. I'm surprised he was talked down. But it was probably a good thing though. Asher would have shredded him to pieces.

Great chapter LDF, I was truly shocked that Jean-Claude hadn't been hurt and that Janika had been. But now, she's going to be ok, and all will be well...at least for the majority of the people at the Circus.

* grinz evilly * >:-)

[ladydeathfaerie]

trust me. if it had been Jean Claude... the psycho would never had made it to the door. Aedan would have shot him on sight. no questions asked.

that little bit of plot has been waiting in the wings since almost the beginning. Gin and i plotted it out ages ago. now that she's got the first mark, she'll heal up fairly quickly. with the transfusion and bed rest, she'll be right as rain soon enough.

and psycho boy hasn't gotten off easy. Meng Die is a sadist. she'll hurt him so badly, he'll wish for death. all Jean Claude is erally going to do is drink him dry.

i don't think it was so much that Asher was talked down as it was he only had one choice. either he killed the psycho and watched Janika die, or he forgot about the man and helped her. that was it.

glad you liked it, hon.

[nanaeanaven]

While I can see Isis taking him down, I doubt Rhianon would go that far. I don't see her being very big on violence, what with being a witch and all ... Of course, I'm sure she wouldn't object to someone else making the bastard pay for what he did to Janika....

[nanaeanaven]

I knew you wouldn't kill off Jean-Claude, but I really didn't see that one coming. Poor Asher. *huggles him* And, wow, Richard is being nice. lol!

Great chapter, hun.

[ladydeathfaerie]

yeah. it was a touch of a twist. i did what i could to keep you guessing up until the end. fortunately for Asher, Jean Claude was thinking about things so... yeah. its all good for him and Janika now.

and yes. Richard's being nice. he's capable. we know he is. we just don't get to see it often.

glad you like it, sweetie.