Chapter 27

   Jill, Jonathon, Verona, Briana, Autumn, and the rest of the Mayfair family, about 40 people all together, stood outside the warehouse.

   “So, this is it?” One of my Mayfair’s asked. Jill stared at the warehouse.

   “Yes it is.” She said, and the group divided into teams of 5 or 6. Jill, John, and Autumn were the smallest group. The teams each went to a separate entrance.

   Jill led John and Autumn to the center entrance and the trio walked in and scanned the area, trying to find signs of Samar and Marlee. They walked towards the back of the warehouse, listening for any noises and being as stealthy as possible to not alert the other vampires.

   About 20 feet in, they heard a noise coming from their left. The three froze where they were and listened closely. They could hear very muffled voices.

   Autumn, Jill, and John looked at each other and nodded slightly and walked slowly down the hall towards the voices, watching their steps carefully so they would not be heard.

   Samar pulled back from Marlee’s neck and glanced towards the hall.

   “Did you hear something?” Samar asked. Ankimon shrugged.

   “Go check it out!” Samar demanded. Ankimon glared at his friend and left the room through the back. Samar turned his attention to the barely conscious witch. She was very pale, her eyes unfocused, and fluttering to stay open.

   “It’ll be over soon.” He said, and smirked.

   “How about now.” A voice challenged. Samar stood up and turned to see Nomikna, John, and another girl standing there.

   “Come to join the party?” Samar asked, the only thing he could say. Nomikna, she’s still beautiful. He thought. Nomikna glared at him, and he winced. That look still hurt.

*****************Flashback**************

   He saw her talking with a group of her friends, and he ran up to her, hand fingering the velvet in his pocket. When he came up to her, she turned and he thought he had died. She was so beautiful to him.

   “Nomikna, I need to talk to you.” He said a big grin on his face.

   “Good, I needed to talk to you too.” She said her face a little grim. He could feel his heart sinking.

   “Ladies first.” He said, trying to not embarrass himself. He watched in numbness as she said goodbye to her friends. She grabbed his arm and he was truly alive.

   “I don’t know how to say this…” She said, as they walked off to a more quiet area.

   “Just say it. Are you ok? Is Ankimon ok?” Samar asked, trying to think of a reason for her seriousness.

   “No, we’re fine…I want to talk about us.” She said, looking into his eyes.

   “Oh, that’s what I wanted to talk about too.” He felt a little better, She’s just nervous He reasoned.

   “I don’t know how to say this…so I’m just going to say it…I want to break up.” She said, and he was sure he felt his heart shatter.

   “What? Why?” He stammered.

   “You’re not the same guy I fell in love with. I kept thinking it was a phase, it would go away, but you’ve changed. I don’t love the person you’ve become, or changed my brother for that matter.” She said, and he could tell she meant it.

   “I’ll do better; I promise…we can work it out...” He said, desperately.

   “We’re past fixing this.” She said, and sighed. “Now, what did you want to talk to me about?”

   “It doesn’t matter.” He muttered, but it did matter. It was everything. He watched as she walked away, and he felt his heart breaking with every step she took. He took the velvet case out of his pocket and opened it; he stared at it for a second, and shut the lid with a snap. He shoved it back into his pocket and stormed away, a single tear falling down his cheek was the only thing that gave away his true emotions.

   He turned to catch one last glimpse of her and saw her friends in the distance, huddled together. They were looking at him, and he could tell they were laughing. Samar glared at the group and stormed over to them. He shoved himself in the middle of them while saying “I’ll get her back, just you wait and see.”

********End of Flashback***********

   “You know what, or should I say, who we are here for.” Jill said. Samar smiled and looked at Marlee.

   “My will will be done anyway. If she isn’t turned, she will die, and I know you won’t allow that, Nomikna.” Samar stated, and Jill continued to glare at him.

   Wait for the opportune moment. Jill thought, remembering what her parents told her as a child. Samar walked over to Jill and stood in front of her, his eyes roaming over her to get a good look at her.

   “I had always wondered if you were still around.” Samar sneered.

   “You should know better than to wonder.” Jill challenged back. Samar laughed and she took her chance. She quickly slugged him in the jaw.

   “That was for everyone you’ve ever tormented.” She stated, and quickly kicked him in the midsection before he could recover.

   “That was for John.” She quickly rebounded again, giving him a spinning kick which hit him in the side of the face.

   “That was for Marlee.” She said, as she watched Samar fly into a wooded pillar.

Jill walked over to him and took her heel and jabbed it into his stomach. Samar groaned.

   “That was for corrupting my brother.” She said, and lifted her foot and lifted him up by the jacket lapels, and hit him once more across the face.

   “And that, you arrogant jerk, is for me.” She said, and dropped Samar who landed in a heap. Jill sighed and turned around. Jill and Autumn were watching her, but John was with Marlee.

   “What?” Jill asked “I’ve got a lot of pent up rage.” She added with a small smile.

   The friends smiled, but it wasn’t all that happy. Jill and Autumn moved closer to Marlee and John. There was a loud commotion throughout the place, the battle had begun.

   Marlee looked up at the small group.

   “Hey.” She said, very weakly that her voice was barely audible.

   “Sh, save your strength.” John said. Jill and Autumn looked on sadly and left the room to help the others.

   “Marlee-“ He started, but her eyes slipped closed. She was loosing too much blood. John pulled her limp body closer.

   “You can save her.” A voice said.

   John looked up to see Aphrodite standing there.

   “What?”

   “Change her.”

   “I can’t, I couldn’t do it to her if she didn’t want it...”

   “John, listen to me. Its fate, it’s supposed to happen.” Aphrodite said her eyes soft. It was obvious she meant the words.

   John looked down at Marlee and pushed a lock of her hair from her face.

   “She’ll be ok.” Aphrodite said, speaking about John’s unspoken fear. John looked uncertainly at Marlee one last time and made his decision.

   Jill and Autumn worked on helping the others. Jill stalked through the warehouse, helping anyone who looked like they needed it. Jill rounded a corner and bumped right into someone.

   “Sorry.” Both of the muttered, and Jill looked up to see Ankimon there.

   “What are you doing here?” Jill demanded.

   “Same thing you are, trying to help.” Ankimon said.

   “You don’t mean that.” A voice said. Both Jill and Ankimon turned to see Samar standing there. Jill looked back at Ankimon, shock on her face.

   “You lied to me.” She said, her voice dripping with venom.

   “No, I didn’t.” Ankimon said, slightly pleading.

   “Nomikna, impressive.” Samar said, sarcastically.

   “I thought you’d be down longer.” She said.

   Samar smirked “Can’t keep a good dog down, now can you?”

   “Who said you were good?” Jill shot back at him. Ankimon tried not to laugh.

   “Still trying to be a comedian, I see.” Samar said.

   “Ever the observant one. Now can we either end the pleasantries or go our separate ways?” Jill asked.

   “We’ll end, but I need my revenge.” Samar said, and rushed towards Jill. The two began to engage in hand-to-hand combat, both getting in punches, but neither getting the upper hand.

   Samar gained it, and rammed Jill into the wall and dust fell from the wooden planks.

   “Samar, stop. The place is falling apart.” Ankimon said, torn between helping his friend and his sister.

   John sighed and tried to remember his change. John slowly bit into his wrist, and held it to Marlee’s pale lips. He ran his hand down her throat, forcing her to swallow, and drink the blood. John could never figure out how it worked, the exchange of blood, but it did.

   After a short period of time, John withdrew his wrist, feeling slightly faint from blood loss. Marlee stirred and looked up at him.

   “John?” She asked, feeling groggy. Her brain feeling like there’s a fog over it.

   “Come on, let’s get out of here.” John said, and helped her up. Marlee slung an arm around his shoulders and John slid an arm around her waist. They stood there for a second, letting Marlee gain her equilibrium.

   John looked over to where Aphrodite was, but she was gone. John mentally shrugged and the duo began to slowly make their way to the nearest exit.

   “To the death,” Samar said “that was what we agreed upon, Ankimon.”

   “Yes, but leave my sister out of it.” Ankimon said and threw Samar away from Jill. Samar landed by the opposite wall.

   “Go.” Ankimon said to Jill.

   “But-“

   “Nomikna, go.” Ankimon said and added “Help your friends and get out of here, the place is going to come down, and I want to know you’re far away when it does.”

   Jill looked uncertainly around the room, and left in search of Autumn and John.

   “You told me you’d leave her alone. I’m not the one whose trust had been betrayed.” Ankimon said to Samar.

   “Are we really going to do this?” Ankimon asked Samar as he got up and walked over to him.

   “To the death.” Samar said.

   “To the death.” Ankimon agreed, and the former friends began to fight.

   John and Marlee slinked through the warehouse, trying to find an easy exit.

   “Marlee?”

   “Hhhmmm…” She said, obviously still groggy from the after affects of being changed.

   John stopped and looked closely at her. Marlee was still very pale, and looked on the verge of passing out.

   “You ok Mar?” He asked, feeling concerned for her.

   “Tired.” She said, and her eyes slipped closed for a moment.

   “Marlee, come on, stay awake, just a little longer, I promise.” John urged, and her eyes slipped open again. John smiled at her and Marlee gave him a weak smile in return.

   John was still worried about her though, his time after being changed was still fuzzy, but he didn’t remember seeming like death warmed over. He shuddered at the thought. Marlee was looking at him curiously, and he shook his head, they could talk about it later. She nodded and they began their search again.

   The fighting was everywhere, and John had to stop again to find away around the mass of people.

   “What’s wrong?” Marlee asked.

   “I can’t find a safe way out. Almost like we need a distraction.” John said, half to himself. John didn’t see the sly smile working on Marlee’s face. He then turned to look at her.

   “No.” He said.

   “You don’t know what I’m going to do.” Marlee said, and John sighed and hoped she didn’t do anything too stupid or dangerous.

   At the same time, Marlee hoped she was strong enough. She was still queasy, but she could feel the fog gradually lifting. The vampiric strength was slowly mixing in with her powers. She also hoped that the vampirism wouldn’t affect her powers, and concentrated on calling a flame.

   She knew she wouldn’t be able to control it, but she knew others could, at least long enough to get everyone out. Marlee felt the power, faint, but it was still there. Her mind called it forward and her whole body felt acutely alive again. She felt the power grow and then expel from her, and watched as a small flame on the far wall to the left of them caught. She smiled.

   John looked at her in amazement.

   “How did you-”

   “Don’t ask now, please, but yes, come on, let’s get out of here.” She said.

   “What about-“ John started but Marlee cut him off.

   “They’ll get out, trust me. Let’s go.” She said, feeling a little better after using her powers, strangely, she didn’t feel weaker. They two got up and went off to the right and kept to the shadows, hoping they wouldn’t be noticed.

   Jill ran out of the room, silently wishing Ankimon luck. She shoved all thoughts of her brother from her mind and took one last glance at them. She saw the roof looked like it was about to cave. She hesitated for a moment.

   Ankimon can take care of himself. She reasoned and ran down the hall, looking for Autumn and any other of her friends she could find.

   She pulled out a hunting knife and hurried down the corridors, keeping a keen eye out for any attackers. She heard a noise to her left and saw a younger witch, much younger than Marlee, struggling with a vampire twice her size. Jill ran over to help, and stabbed him through the back, not to kill him, but enough to would him for awhile.

   The vampire fell to the ground in pain. Jill looked at the girl, who was watching her in shock.

   “Get out of here, this place is falling apart.”

   “But I can’t. It’s my duty to-“ The young witch began to plead.

   “Do, or die. You won’t be any good to anyone dead.” Jill reasoned and the girl looked thoughtful.

   Jill let out a frustrated sigh. I don’t have time for this. She thought and left the girl on her own, but she could have sworn she saw her get up in search of an exit.

   Ankimon and Samar continued their fight, it wasn’t really a fight, neither had their hearts in it.

   “We’re going to be at this all day.” Ankimon pointed out.

   “We agreed to the death.” Samar said, simply.

   Ankimon shrugged and glanced around for a second. The warehouse was creaking, and chunks from the walls and ceiling lay shattered on the floor. He could have sworn he smelt smoke.

   “You ready to continue this?” Samar asked, sounding slightly annoyed.

   “Let’s do it.” Ankimon said, and the two lunged at each other, determined to be the last vampire standing.

   John and Marlee finally made it out of the warehouse. Marlee looked at John, a smile on her face. John stood next to her, and placed his hands on her waist and gently spun her to face him. He kissed her and pulled away to look into her eyes.

   “Don’t ever do that to me again.” He whispered. Marlee gave him a small smile, and lifted a hand to his cheek, caressing it slightly.

   “You don’t have to worry. Let’s get out of here.” She said.

   “No, Jill and I set up a place to meet if we would get separated. That way, we knew who made it out alive.” John said. Marlee nodded and figured as much.

   “But after that, let’s leave. Go somewhere just the two of us for awhile.” Marlee suggested, and John nodded at her in agreement. They smiled once more at each other and had one last kiss before they left hand-in-hand to the meeting place.

Chapter 28

   Jill hurried down the hallways; she still had not found Autumn. She heard a noise behind her and she spun around, and stood still. Her eyes scanned the darkness to see anyone. She didn’t see anything.

   She then felt someone bump into her. Jill started and spun around, lifting her hunting knife.

   She smiled when she saw who it was.

   “Trying to kill me?”

   “Yeah, well. Ya know how it is…” Jill said, still smiling at her friend.

   “Know the way out, I saw a fire back that way.” Autumn said, pointing from the direction of where she came from. Jill looked at her.

   “Uh, I think so, but we gotta get everyone out of here.” Jill said.

   “You don’t mean-“
   “Yup.” Jill said.

   “I always knew your big mouth would get us somewhere.” Autumn joked and the friends laughed.

   “Ready?” Jill asked.

   “As ready as I’ll ever be.” Autumn admitted. The two began running to the hall that split off to the right, and yelled as loud as possible “FIRE!” hoping they could get everyone to leave the rundown warehouse.

   The witches were not that stupid, and began rushing out of the ‘house, some beams falling to the floor which were engulfed in flames. Almost everyone wasn’t killed in the fire. Most got out.

   Jill and Autumn were the last ones out before the warehouse collapsed. Jill spun around and looked at the warehouse in horror.

   “Jill?”
   “Ankimon.” Jill whispered, and stared at the flaming remains of a building.

   “I’m sure he got out.” Autumn said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

   “Come on, we have to meet Marlee and the others.” Jill said, and took one last glance at the warehouse before leaving the grounds, two tears streaming down her face. One for the lost brother, and one for the lost love. She then blinked them back, determined to not let their downfall be hers as well, and followed Autumn away from the warehouse…sirens blaring behind them.

   Jill, Autumn, and several of the Mayfair’s walked into Tarpits. They saw John and Marlee seated at a large table, sipping their coffees.

   Everyone walked over and sat down. They all talked the night away. After a week, it was decided on the total deaths of the night.

   The Mayfair family lost about ten of their family members, and another was added, Marlee, but she was accepted after much debate between the elders. No one, at this time knew what had happened to Ankimon and Samar.

Epilogue

About 5 Years Later

   John and Marlee walked into the desolate cemetery. John’s arm was wrapped around her waist, and hers was around his. They walked silently through the maze of tombstones and stopped at one. It was newer and very basic looking.

   “I can’t believe it’s over.” She said. John nodded, but his eyes gave away his thoughts.

   “I think he tried to help me.” John said, and Marlee looked at him questioningly.

   “He always gave me subtle advice. I could never figure out if he meant to help me or not.” John said, explaining his thoughts. John frowned at the end, and Marlee looked down at the tomb.

   “I say lets not let him waist anymore of our time.” She said.

   “I don’t think we’ve heard the last of Ankimon.” John stated. Marlee shrugged. They stood there for a moment, contemplating their words. A moment later, they turned and left the cemetery.

   He stood in the cemetery, leaning against a tree. He saw them walk up and hid behind the tree he was at now. He could not hear what was said, but he watched them anyway. He wanted to go to John, to beg for forgiveness, but he was too severely injured in the warehouse. He was still recovering and probably would always be.

   He watched them leave, and smiled sadly at what he saw—a very pregnant Marlee.

   “They lost her.” A female voice said.

   “Don’t worry, my love, we will find Lucy. I won’t rest until we find our daughter.” Ankimon turned to face Aphrodite. She nodded. Ankimon noticed she was still visibly upset.

   “Where’s Samuel?” She asked, Ankimon smiled.

   “He’s safe.” He answered.

   “With whom?” Aphrodite snapped, and Ankimon remained silent.

   “Mom!” A voice said. They turned and saw a small Samuel; he was older now, about 6 or 7. He was walking with Jill. Samuel ran ahead of her, but to Aphrodite and hugged her leg.

   “What did you do to him?” Aphrodite demanded. Jill glared at her and walked up to the pair.

   “I didn’t do anything. I was watching my nephew while his mother is neglecting him because his sister is-“

   Aphrodite slapped Jill before she could finish her thought. Jill glared back at her.

   “Don’t talk about things you don’t know about.”

   “You should be thanking me that I was watching your son.”

   “Thankful for your corruption?” Aphrodite said, obviously still disliking Jill.

   Jill turned to Ankimon.

   “I can’t do anything right, can I?”

   “You did good.” He said, and Aphrodite glared at him.

   “I’ll see you later.” Ankimon said to Jill, and she nodded.

   “By Sammy!” She said, and the child waved enthusiastically as she left.

   “How are we going to find her? They are making so we don’t.” Aphrodite said, still sounding depressed over the situation.

   “We will, Aphro, She’s our daughter, we must.” Ankimon stressed.

   “I can’t believe you let her watch Samuel, especially after she lost…”

   “MY sister did not loose Lucy!” Ankimon yelled.

   “Let’s not fight about…”

   “Mommy…Daddy?”

   “Yes Samuel?” Aphrodite asked the little boy.

   “Auntie Will didn’t woose wucy!” Samuel said, defending his aunt. Ankimon smiled. Aphrodite looked at Ankimon in disgust.

            “Come on Aphro, let’s go. It’s late. And Samuel needs to get to bed. We can continue this another time. But I promise you, if I have to go to the ends of the earth, I will find Lucy. No matter what it takes.” He vowed, and the vampires left the cemetery. Unaware what the future held for them, or their lost daughter, Lucy.