As JD parked in the carpark, it felt like ice was sliding down her back. The only other time she had been there had been Kirren’s funeral, which had been very much like that of any other religion. This would be different.
Hunters were everywhere, all dressed in their hunting suits and wearing their swords on their backs. Some Sarah recognised, but most she didn’t. It seemed like everyone wanted to speak with JD, to reassure him that Simon’s death was not his fault. She tried to leave his side, feeling she was somehow in the way, but he held her hand so tightly she was forced to stay.
“If I have to endure this, so do you,” he whispered to her and made sure he introduced her to everyone that she did not already know.
She glanced about and saw Scott, Doc and Silvia standing to one side. Craig and Natalie were nearby. A middle aged couple walked over to them, but Craig turned his back on them and walked away. “His parents,” JD said when he noticed what had grabbed her attention.
“That’s the last thing he needs today,” Sarah said.
“Don’t worry. My father will deal with them.” As JD was speaking, she noticed that he was right and that his father was heading toward the couple. He did not look happy. Sarah had no idea what was said, but they soon departed and she didn’t see them approach Craig again.
The service was long and tedious. The trainers from most Sanctuaries gave speeches about the bravery of hunters and the loss everyone felt whenever one died. All praised JD’s accomplishments as a trainer and said that Simon’s death wasn’t something any trainer would have been able to prevent.
Sarah looked about her and saw that Jane was sitting with her brother, quietly weeping. She had been coping with the loss of Simon better than anyone at 14 had dared to hope, but Sarah knew that she cried herself to sleep each night. With his superior sense of hearing, JD heard her, but never mentioned it to anyone other than Sarah. Everyone at 14 had been supportive and Jane did not regret her decision to move in.
Jane somehow managed to pull herself together and gave the eulogy. It was heartfelt and sincere and nearly everyone had tears in their eyes by the end of it. Traditionally JD should have done it, but Jane had asked to and he couldn’t bring himself to say no to her.
Nobody mentioned what had happened to Christina, though it was common knowledge. Those in control of the hunter society did not accept JD’s resignation and ignored all of the rumours. In their eyes, justice had been served and they were not going to punish anyone for it, though they couldn’t formally acknowledge what had been done.
Once the service was over, the hunters left the church and lined both sides of the pathway leading to the graveyard. Craig handed Natalie over to Silvia then went to stand beside Sarah. Simon’s father, uncle and two of his cousins carried his coffin on their shoulders as they walked slowly down the pathway. Simon’s body had been dressed in his hunting suit, with his swords placed on either side; they would never be used again.
As they approached, the hunters drew their swords and raised them high in a silent tribute to their fallen comrade. They left them there until the procession had turned a corner and was no longer in sight. The actual burial would be a private family affair, though nobody would leave until it was over.
JD’s mother and father walked over and hugged both JD and Sarah before asking, “Where’s Jonathon?”
“Katie wasn’t permitted to come, so he stayed behind. It was not an easy decision for him.” His mother nodded her head in understanding.
“You should come back to 14 with us,” JD said. Sarah noticed that he had a mischievous gleam in his eyes. “There’s something that Jonathon needs to tell you.”
“Alright,” his father said. “We will.” He then left to speak to Doc, taking his wife with him.
Sarah elbowed JD in the ribs. “Jonathon is going to murder you.” His and Katie’s wedding plans had been announced the previous night. They thought about delaying, but everyone had been so depressed they needed some good news to cheer them up.
“I know,” JD said. “But I needed to get my revenge for when he made me speak with them after I was turned into a vampire.”
Sarah rolled her eyes. “Men.”
As soon as the burial was over, Simon’s parent’s approached JD. He had been expecting this, and dreading it. He had no idea what he could say to them.
Sarah made to leave, but they requested that she stay.
“I am so sorry−” JD started to say, but Simon’s father held up his hand.
“Don’t. There is no need. We know that your skills and your training methods are responsible for the rest of your team surviving and we also know you did everything humanly, and inhumanly, possible to keep him alive. We are here to thank you for everything you did for Simon. He was happier training under you than we have ever known him and you saved his life many times.”
“He was a good hunter,” JD said. It was the highest compliment any hunter could be paid. “There is going to be a gap at 14 that can never be filled.”
Simon’s parents turned their attention to Sarah. “Simon spoke of you often. He said you were a good friend and your dedication to JD amazed him. He once said that he would give up anything for JD, but you would give up everything.”
JD pulled Sarah closer to him as she said, “He was right.”
The two couples spoke for a while longer before the older pair left to talk with Jane. They were aware of her relationship with their son and had met her a few times.
“We should head home,” JD said as he watched them walk away. He was tired. It had been a stressful day for everyone. They found Craig and Natalie and the four of them went to JD’s car. Jane would make her own way back to 14. She wanted to spend more time with her family and they had agreed to drop her off later in the day.
Like the journey there, the trip back was a silent affair.
“How did it go?” Jonathon asked when JD went to see him. As expected, he found him in Katie’s room.
“As well as could be expected.” He told them everything then left them in peace. Before leaving the room, however, he paused in the doorway. “Our parents are coming to see you later today, by the way.”
“Why?”
JD couldn’t suppress his grin. “I told them you had something you wanted to tell them.”
He was hit by a pillow before he could get out of its way.
————————————-∞————————————-
Less than three months later, hunters from all over the region congregated at the church once more.
“Stop fidgeting,” Sarah said to Katie, who was playing with one of the sleeves on her wedding dress.
“I should be dressed in hunting gear. This is so uncomfortable.”
“You are getting married. You have to wear a dress,” Sarah said. “Besides, it’s not uncomfortable.”
Sarah was wearing an identical dress. When she was first shown her bridesmaid’s dress, she had asked why it perfectly matched Katie’s wedding gown and had been told that it was a hunter tradition. She hadn’t queried this and everyone at 14, when it came up in conversation, backed Katie up.
It never occurred to Sarah that Katie could be lying to her and she did not wonder why Katie had chosen a dress so much like the one she had been looking at for her wedding to Alex; she simply assumed they had the same taste in dresses. Katie didn’t care what her dress looked like so was happy to wear something Sarah would like. She would have preferred to be married in her hunting suit, as was her right, but Jonathon had put his foot down. He wanted to see her in a wedding dress and he was determined to get his own way.
They were waiting in a back room for everyone to take their seats. The church had been decorated with white and red roses and both of the women would be holding matching bouquets.
Jonathon was waiting for Katie by the alter, his brother by his side. Both were dressed in hunting suits, as was traditional. When Sarah asked why JD was wearing his, she was told that it was the custom for
the best man to do so. This time she was not being lied to.
“Are you sure she doesn’t suspect anything?” Jonathon asked.
“I’m positive,” JD said. “Thank you for doing this. It’s going to mean a lot to her.”
“And to you.”
JD shook his head. “No. The ceremony is irrelevant as far as I’m concerned. It could happen in the middle of nowhere with just the two of us as long as I make her mine.”
“I’m with you there. Is it too late to elope?”
“Katie would string you up by parts of your anatomy that you would prefer not to have rope tied around.” Jonathon grinned. He could picture Katie doing it.
“Aren’t we supposed to be nervous or something?” he asked.
JD shrugged his shoulders. “Why? It’s not as if either of them won’t turn up.”
Before Jonathon could say anything more, the sound of a single note played on a flute echoed around the church, bringing the congregation to silence. Both brothers turned toward the back of the aisle where Katie and Sarah were standing.
Katie had told Sarah that the bridesmaid had to stand next to the bride instead of behind her. She couldn’t believe how easy the other girl was to fool. She glanced at her, but she showed no sign of nerves. She still had no idea what was going on.
Katie suddenly felt uneasy and began to pray that Sarah didn’t take her lies personally. She really did not want to face her in the arena if she did.
Sarah saw the look on Katie’s face and misinterpreted it. “You can still back out,” she said.
“Sarah,” Katie said a little nervously. “You’re not a vengeful person are you? If you found out I was lying to you, you wouldn’t take it out on me in the arena would you?”
“Of course not,” Sarah said in confusion. “Why? What have you been lying to me about?”
“Never mind,” Katie said hastily. “It can wait till later. Right now I have a groom to get to.”
Sarah was still frowning in confusion as Katie took her first slow step forward. The flute player started the traditional song played at hunter weddings to accompany the bride down the aisle and Katie looked up. When her eyes met Jonathon’s, all thoughts of Sarah fled from her mind. She hadn’t cared about having a big wedding and, until that moment, she was only going ahead with all of the proper formalities for Sarah, but as soon as she saw the look of complete adoration that Jonathon was giving her, she knew that it was their day and the fact that JD and Sarah were also getting married was irrelevant to either of them.
As the ladies made their way toward the two waiting men, JD winked at Sarah, making her smile. “She really doesn’t have a clue,” he whispered to Jonathon, who was too entranced by how good Katie looked to respond.
The priest smiled at the two brides, who positioned themselves to the right of their grooms, Sarah little knowing that this had nothing to do with it being traditional for the bridesmaid to position herself next to the best man, as she had been told.
He glanced at both grooms, nodded his head to the flute player, who went silent, then began the ceremony.
“Being a hunter,” he said loudly and clearly, “is a risky and dangerous life. Too often we gather together to honour a fallen brother or sister. It’s good to be able to officiate at a much happier occasion. I have known Jonathon for a long while and, given his reputation, I must admit that his request to get married took me by surprise.”
Katie glanced at her fiancé and was pleased to see him blushing.
“But it was a welcome surprise,” the priest continued. “I had my doubts about him being able to make a success of marriage, especially at such a young age, until I heard who the bride was to be. Katie will have no problem keeping him in line. I have heard that she is better with a sword than he is and has no issue with hitting him with one when he deserves it.”
It was Katie’s turn to blush as the congregation chuckled. Even Sarah and JD were doing their best to suppress laughter.
“Like hell she’s better with a sword than me,” Jonathon said under his breath, earning him a dig in the ribs from Katie’s elbow.
“Behave,” the priest whispered to them. “This is supposed to be a serious occasion.” His voice was still full of amusement and his eyes were sparkling.
“For a hunter to be married,” he continued loud enough for the entire audience to hear, “he has to give up his right to make his own decisions. Once wed, his wife has the right to tell him what to do and can only be overruled by a Sanctuary leader or a trainer.”
He turned his attention to Jonathon. “Jonathon. Are you prepared to make that sacrifice?”
He did not hesitate. “I am.”
Then the priest turned to JD. “JD. Are you prepared to make that sacrifice?”
JD’s reply was drowned out by Sarah exclaiming, “What?”
JD turned to her and gently stroked her cheek. “You know you said you would marry me if I organised it without you knowing and I said I would in a year or so.” She nodded her head. “I kind of lied about the last part.”
Silence filled the church as everyone waited for her reaction. She stared at JD as her brain worked out exactly what his words meant. Then her eyes opened wide, she flung her bouquet over her shoulder and threw her arms around JD’s neck, pulling him down so she could kiss him. It was not the sort of kiss that should happen in public.
The priest cleared his throat to get her attention. “We are not at that part of the ceremony yet,” he said.
“Who cares?” she said and kissed JD again.
“A lot of people are watching,” JD said when he managed to pull away from her. “And we do have a wedding to complete.”
Most of the congregation didn’t know how to react. JD’s mother took control of the situation by retrieving Sarah’s bouquet and handing it back to her.
“Did everyone except me know what was going on?” Sarah asked JD after thanking his mother for her assistance.
“Very few until today. The rest were notified when they arrived. We needed to warn them so they didn’t react when they saw you in a wedding dress walking down the aisle next to Katie.”
“That explains her question about my reaction to her lying to me.”
“May I continue?” the priest asked before JD could ask what she was talking about.
“Sorry,” Sarah said.
“Now where were we? Oh yes. I missed your reply JD.”
“I said I am,” he said loudly and clearly.
The priest then took out an ivory handled knife from under his robes and JD, Jonathon and Katie all put forward their left hands. With his right, JD took hold of Sarah’s and made her do the same.
“Just go with it,” he whispered to her.
She winced as she watched the knife move across Katie’s palm, causing a trickle of blood to run along her hand and drip onto the floor. The procedure was repeated on Jonathon, then the pair turned to face each other.
The priest sliced Sarah’s hand and was about to cut JD when he paused. “Is this safe for Sarah?” he asked.
“We have no reason to believe otherwise,” JD replied. “But you had better make my cut deeper than normal. We don’t want it healing too soon.”
The priest did as requested, causing blood to flow as JD’s heart pumped it out of the open wound. As he watched, the priest could see it begin to heal, so he hastened on with the ceremony.
“By sharing blood,” he said so loudly his voice echoed, “these people are giving themselves to one another in a way that can never be undone.”
He nodded his head and Jonathon and Katie put their hands together, allowing their blood to mingle. JD took Sarah’s hand, intertwining his fingers with hers.
“Better than exchanging rings, isn’t it,” he whispered into her ear.
The priest’s young assistant stepped forward, a green velvet cushion held out in front of him. Jonathon released Katie’s hand and picked up one of the silk cloths lying on it. Using it as a bandage, he gently wrapped it
around Katie’s wound before tying it in place. She then reciprocated.
The cushion was moved in front of JD, but before he took one of the silks, he lifted Sarah’s hand up to his face and licked the blood from her palm. He only ingested a small amount of the red fluid, but it still sent a thrill through his body. He then tied the cloth around her, covering her still bleeding cut.
Sarah took the last piece of silk from the cushion, but she had a cheeky gleam in her eye when she looked back at JD. Before placing the cloth over his almost healed cut, she ran her tongue along it.
She then turned her head around to look at Jonathon and Katie. “Now that’s how you share blood.”
“Is anyone here taking this ceremony seriously?” the priest asked in exasperation.
“Of course we are,” JD said. “But you could hardly expect this to be normal.”
The priest conceded the point and continued with the wedding.
“Jonathon and JD have committed themselves to Katie and Sarah. From now on, their wives’ needs will come before their own. Katie, you have accepted Jonathon’s blood. Do you swear to show him respect and treat him with honour?”
“I swear.”
“Sarah, you have accepted JD’s blood. More literally than you needed to I would like to point out. Do you swear to show him respect and treat him with honour?”
“He’s her trainer,” Jonathon said, just loud enough for the priest to hear, but not the spectators. “She has to.” Katie kicked him.
“I swear,” Sarah said.
“I’m supposed to give a speech now about love and marriage and stuff like that,” the priest told the two couples. “But the way this wedding is going, I want to get this over and done with as soon as possible. Does anyone mind if I skip that part?”
“Go right ahead,” JD said. “I just want you to tell me she is mine at last.”
“Jonathon, Katie, you are now husband and wife. You may now morally live together and share the same bed.”
“Your place or mine?” Jonathon asked.
“Well usually it’s mine so I don’t see why that should change.”
Vampire Hunters, #1 Page 47
