Spider Web

by Danielle James

  The firm was the same as always, yet completely different. The entire building felt alien to him now. Anita was at her desk when he entered through the glass doors. She smiled at him, the same genuine smile as always, her bright green eyes framed by her red hair. Today, he wondered if it were all a disguise. He smiled back and said hello.

  “Nick, oh, we have missed you! We can’t seem to get anything done around here! Have you heard from Jules? I miss her so much,” she said.

  I bet you do, he thought, “No, I haven’t,” he said, putting on his best depressed face. “I’ll be in my office if you need me. Oh, and if anyone calls, just take a message, I’m not feeling like talking much today,” he added. Then he walked with his head down to his office. He hoped he had seemed sad enough. In reality, he was flying high and gloriously happy.

  The day seemed to drag by like watching a snail try to cross the street. Anita brought him case files a couple of times, but mostly, he was left alone. Harry came by to say hi, but didn’t come back. Nick tried to concentrate on his job. It was difficult because his mind was back at home with Jules. He had to keep up pretenses now more than ever. He opened his laptop to do some internet research for a case, opening a second window to research something else. He wanted to see if there were any myths about creatures he was unfamiliar with. He opened a page about demons. Most of it he had heard before. He saw pictures of ugly creatures that were drawn by a human, no doubt. Most demons either already looked human, or could glamour to appear human. It was how they could be visible in the world without suspicion. Not all could, though, just the ones who have mastered the talent. Unlike vampires, demons were not born gifted. Every skill they have is learned. That’s when a hushed conversation in the office next door caught his attention. It was Harry’s office.

  “So when are we supposed to be there?” Anita asked.

  “Two weeks,” Harry replied. Nick rose from his chair and walked slowly and silently to the wall separating the offices. He strained my ears so that he wouldn’t miss a single word.

  “Is Harwin going to be there?”

  “Shit,” Nick said under his breath. Harwin was a known demon among their kind. He was not well liked by other evil entities, much less anyone who considered themselves good. Anything he was involved in couldn’t be good for anyone, human, demon, or otherwise.

  “Yes. And Franchesco. They will be pleased to learn of our findings. Thanks to Nick and all his hard work, we have all the information we need to get in. Harwin will dispatch a team to the Middle East at the meeting.” Harry said.

  “Where is it, exactly? I know it’s New Mexico, but where?” Anita asked.

  “About twenty miles west of Roswell.” Harry said. Roswell, New Mexico. The military base? Why would they meet there? Nick shook his head. Everyone knew, no matter what the government said, there were alien crafts there. It was how humans excelled in technology the past fifty years or so. Reverse engineering was what they called it. Nick had snooped around there a time or two. He always thought it was pretty cool.

  But then, he remembered something. A vampire he used to know worked for the government. He told Nick not only about the alien craft, but that Area 51 was also the military base where the U.S. kept the bombs they aren’t supposed to have.

  He listened harder.

  “He already has his team picked out. Most of them already have access, so infiltration won’t be difficult.” Harry was saying. “I believe it will all go off without a hitch. It will be too far underway for anyone to do anything about it once we are discovered.”

  “This is all so exciting,” Anita said. Nick could almost hear her bouncing in place.

  The conversation turned to more work related subjects, and Nick decided that he was not feeling well again and needed to go home. He tried to think of what ‘case’ he could have worked on that would be helpful in this situation. But he was at a loss. Maybe he wasn’t as observant as he thought. The feeling in his stomach now was one of impending doom. He felt like a giant storm cloud had settled over the city, forcing its weight down on him.

  In the car, he flipped open his cell and called Phoenix. “Get Michael and the others. Everyone meet back at the mansion immediately.” He snapped the phone shut and floored it.

  CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

  Back at the mansion, Jules met Nick at the door. He scooped her up in his arms and held her tight. “I missed you,” he whispered in her ear. He breathed in her scent deeply. She giggled at him and demanded he set her down. Nick obliged, but kept his arm around her waist.

  “I need to talk to Jared,” Nick said. “Where is he?”

  “He’s on his way, but it took a bit to get him on the phone. He left it in the car, rats don’t carry cell phones, you know.”

  “Good,” Nick said and then leaned closer to her and kissed her lips. They were so sweet, like strawberry ice cream.

  “Uh hum,” Victor cleared his throat, interrupting the moment.

  “Hello, Father,” Nick said, feeling a little embarrassed, but not enough to completely let go of Jules.

  “What’s the news?” He questioned.

  “I would rather talk to everyone at once, if it’s ok, I don’t want to leave anyone out.”

  “Let’s go into the conservatory. It will not be long before everyone is here.”

  They followed Victor into a sun room. Three of the walls were glass, and the light shone brightly in. There were plants around the room; Rachel’s project. Miniature sunflowers grew in pots along one wall, roses in every corner. There were red and yellow tulips along the north wall. The room smelled strongly of the flowers’ perfume. It was intoxicating. She really was an artist with plants.

  It was not long before everyone was present. Everyone discussed their findings of the day, beginning with what Nick heard at work.

  “Harwin?” Victor asked, more to himself than anyone specific.

  “Who is Harwin?” Jules asked.

  “He is a demon, the worst kind. He would kill his own associates as soon as say hello. He trusts no one, and usually works alone,” Jolice answered. “Why is he with Franchesco?” Noticing the confusion on Jules’s and Andrew’s faces, she continued. “Francesco is a powerful vampire. He has a very formidable gift. Besides being the very thing of horror stories, he can throw fire and incapacitate anyone within a few feet of him. Both are vile, selfish, evil creatures. I don’t see how they could stand each other’s company, let alone, work together.”

  “I heard something about Franchesco from a couple of stinking leeches today too,” Jared said.

  “Leeches?” Jules asked.

  “Vampires,” Nick told her, “we are not all so civilized.”

  “I cast a spell looking for new alliances. I found many, but the evil ones do seem to be more concentrated in New Mexico,” Jolice stated.

  “Then it is settled,” Victor interjected. “Michael and Jared will go to New Mexico. Jared, you will have to let Michael fly you there. Find the meeting place. Jared must go because he has the gift of seeing creatures for what they really are; Michael, because he can get you in and out safely.”

  “As if the world isn’t already in enough trouble,” Michael mumbled to himself.

  “What do you mean?” Jolice asked.

  “I was watching CNN today. It seems like everyone all over the world is having trouble getting along. Pakistan and Iran are just inches away from war with each other. Oil and blood. The two seem to go hand in hand lately. And you know, since the U.S. declared war on Iraq, North Korea is just itching to pick a fight with us.” He shook his head. Nick could tell he was troubled by the lack of peace in the world. “They are basically screaming at us about weapons of mass destruction. And our government here is doing nothing.”

  Everyone nodded in agreement. Then Nick saw something just outside his peripheral vision. A flash of red hair. He jumped up and shoved open the window for a better look. He saw her running at an inhuman pace away from the mansion. It was Anita. She had no doubt hea
rd the conversation.

  “I think things just got more complicated,” he told the room.

  “Anita?” Jules said in disbelief. “Sweet, beautiful Anita? Why? What could she have to do with this?” She was asking, but not really expecting a reply. Nick had already told her along with the others about the conversations, and the interesting internet search. He thought maybe Jules had grown attached to Anita and was having a hard time seeing her friend as the enemy. But that was essentially what she had become. It stung in his heart a little as well, because he really liked the both of them. But what was he to do about it in the light of this new information?

  “Your dear friend is a demon,” Jared told her. “She may have everything to do with this.”

  Nick put his arms around Jules while Victor convinced Michael and Jared to go now, before it was too late. They followed out back just in time to see Michael swoop Jared up in his arms and fly southeast.

  “It’s going to be ok,” Phoenix said to Andrew, who looked like he just sent his best friend off to be killed.

  “What if they get caught?” he asked.

  “They won’t. Between the two of them, Jared can turn into anyone or anything, and Michael can fly faster than anything. They will be fine,” he assured Andrew.

  Jules wove her fingers in Nick’s and squeezed. “I’m scared,” she admitted.

  “Really, I won’t let anything happen to you,” he reassured her.

  “I’m not scared for me; it’s the people I care about. What if something happens to Andrew? Or you?” Her face was horror stricken.

  “I’m not going anywhere, and we will all protect Andrew.” Nick paused, “Father has gone to see what Anita heard. All we can do now is wait.”

  They all went back inside. Andrew, Jolice, and Phoenix stayed in the living room, discussing possible motives and strategies. Jolice tried a tarot reading. Nick asked Jules to join him in a walk in the woods. He really just wanted some alone time with her, and there was something he needed to ask her.

  They walked for about thirty minutes in silence, just holding hands. She was more agile and faster than he, having to slow down and wait for him on occasion. Jules was the one to break the silence.

  “Nick, I want to say something,” she began. “I know that I’ve only just come to terms with the way I feel about you, but it gets more intense with each passing minute. I am so scared. What if I lost you? I don’t think I could bear to lose another love.”

  Nick’s heart skipped a beat, and she cocked her head slightly when she heard it. He was excited, despite the situation with the Dark Alliance. She had never used the word love in his direction before, and it made his heart sing.

  “Jules, there was something I wanted to ask you. I know you are scared, and I wanted to make you a promise. I can assure you, I never break a promise,” he said, taking in a deep breath and gathering his courage, “I promise to be with you forever and ever. I promise never to leave you. I promise to never, ever, break your heart.”

  “Thank you, Nick,” she whispered.

  “I’m not done yet,” he told her. He reached into his pocket and grasped the item his father had given him this morning. “I know you have been hurt, I know you have lost. Giving you my promise is only half of what I wanted. I want to ask you for a promise in return.”

  “Anything,” she said.

  Nick took a step back and bent down on one knee, “Julia Martin, I promise to love you every day for the rest of forever, and I ask you to do the same. When this is over, will you marry me? Will you be my wife for all eternity?” A hard lump rose in his throat as he spoke the words and he held up the diamond ring that had once belonged to his mother. Nick had considered buying a new one, but Victor insisted Jules would love this one more.

  Jules paused, a shocked look in her now amber eyes. They were so intense; Nick couldn’t tell what emotions lie underneath. “Yes, Yes I will,” she whispered. “But not when this is over. Now.”

  Nick jumped up and hugged her close. He was, in fact, the happiest creature on earth. “Thank you,” he whispered in her ear. He slid the ring on her finger and kissed it, then the other fingers on that hand. “But, you don’t want to wait?”

  “Not unless you want to. I’ve been thinking about us, and I want to be with you more than anything. I know you plan to keep your promise, but things happen. I want to be your wife before there’s ever a chance I won’t get to.” She put her arms around his neck and stared into his eyes, and he knew he was looking at his destiny. His soul mate.

  They headed back to the house, walking hand in hand. Jolice waited at the door, a huge grin spanning the width of her face. She looked, giddy. “Well?” she asked expectantly.

  “I guess you already know?” Jules asked.

  “I did a reading, looking for information about the Dark Alliance, but I kept getting love instead. Someone proclaimed their love, and you are the only ones I could think of,” she eyed us both suspiciously.

  “Do you have any idea when Michael will return?” Jules asked her.

  “In a couple of days, why? And why are you avoiding the question?”

  “He is the closest thing to a minister around here, and I want him to perform a ceremony,” Jules answered matter-of-factly.

  “A wedding ceremony?” Jolice inquired fervently.

  “Yes, we are getting married. As soon as possible.” Jules grinned through the words. Nick could only stand beside her and smile like an idiot.

  “Oh, there is so much to do! Andrew!” She was running into the house to spread the news.

  CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

  For the next three days, the house was full of activity. Andrew and Jolice made over Jules excessively. Phoenix went out to fetch enough material for a dress, and Jolice was fitting the material to Jules’s figure. Phoenix also brought back four tuxedos, even though they told him it was not necessary.

  Victor and Rachel were just ecstatic about the decision to get married right away. They welcomed Jules into their family with open arms, as Nick knew they would. Rachel brought in flowers from all over. Victor and Nick built a gazebo in the back yard, to serve as an altar.

  Nick told Jules that they could get married in a church if she wanted, but she assured him that they were having a shot-gun wedding, and it would not be prudent to try to find a church available. “Besides,” she told him, “It would be wrong to ask my new family to pretend to be something they are not. I want everyone there, wings, fangs, and all.”

  When Michael and Jared returned, they were told the news. Michael said he had never performed any ceremony before, but Jules assured him anything he came up with would be just fine. Michael agreed, honored that she asked.

  They had to find time to discuss the issues about the Dark Alliance. They sat around a fire out back, swapping stories.

  “Anita heard enough,” Victor began, “she told Harry, and they are informing the others. I expect we will have visitors soon.”

  “Let them come!” exclaimed Phoenix. “I haven’t been in a good brawl in decades.”

  “We were very lucky in New Mexico. We escaped without being noticed. But what we found is disturbing.” Jared informed everyone about their mission. “They are planning to go to Pakistan and North Korea. There are already enough Dark Alliance residents in the military that there will be no problem getting into Area 51. They have a plan to launch nuclear weapons from the U.S. at Russia, among others. And they will respond by launching more at us. The idea is to take over the human race, by starting World War III.”

  Everyone was shocked. World War III would effectively cut the number of humans on the planet.

  “But, why?” Jules finally asked.

  “Because humans are vermin to them, they want control. They want to be free to do whatever they want. Evil does what comes naturally. I understood from what I heard that any humans that survive, and some will,” he shook his head and paused for a moment, “will be herded, like cattle. Kept locked up and forced to procreate, a foo
d source.” Jared’s face was a mask of horror and revulsion.

  “How many?” Victor inquired, speaking barely more than a whisper.

  “I counted six vampires, four werewolves, eight witches, and a lot of demons.”

  “What can we do?” Andrew wondered aloud.

  “I don’t know yet, but we only have about ten days to decide.”

  Nick awoke the next morning feeling wonderful. It was the day of the wedding, only four days after he asked Jules to be his wife. Things were moving so quickly, yet not fast enough for him.

  Nick sauntered out to the yard to help with the last minute preparations (if there were such a thing in a wedding thrown together in four days.) Jolice and Rachel had draped everything with white and pink roses. The gazebo was wrapped in white gossamer ribbons, two white pillars in the middle to make an altar. Nick wondered what Jules was doing now, and if she was as nervous as he was.

  He wasn’t nervous about her, but the ceremony itself. He had been told it was perfectly natural. He wondered if he would feel differently when it was official, when it was permanent and binding. He hoped so. There was nothing more important to him than Jules, and he would spend the rest of eternity making her happy.

  Jules stood in front of the full length mirror. The woman staring back at her was beautiful. Her dark hair was piled loosely on her head, her eyes a deep sea blue. She had yet to get used to her eyes changing color. She liked blue, she decided, and examined the rest of herself.

  The off-white gown Jolice had sewn to fit her figure was stunning. It had thin straps over her shoulders, a fitted bodice, and it flowed gracefully down to her feet. She was very talented. Jules was grateful for all she had done for her in the past several weeks. She had become a sister to her. Jules silently wished her real sister could be here for this, but she knew she couldn’t handle the truth. It would be too much for her to bear. Besides, it would be very dangerous for anyone without supernatural powers around here for a long time, she supposed.