by Alice Brown
His kiss was so gentle and light, it felt like a feather playing across her lips. It ended almost as quickly as it started, and Erica blinked open her eyes only to find Kevin had disappeared and Jennifer was now sitting in the seat Kevin had just occupied seconds before.
“Let’s see what this baby will do!” Jennifer announced excitedly. She seemed even more excited about the car than Erica was.
As they pulled out of the driveway, Jennifer was all too willing to show Erica the gizmos and gadgets that came with the car. Erica thought with some bemusement that Jennifer had missed her calling in life. She should have been a car salesperson. “Here is your cruise control,” Jennifer stated while pointing to the button. “And look, you even have control of the radio built right into the steering wheel!”
“Now, you should recognize this button,” Jennifer continued. “It is the same one I have in my car. It is for the car phone, and should be used only in emergencies. One push of that button, and I promise you Kevin will be on the other end, immediately!” She continued chattering.
The girls arrived at school with only minutes to spare. Erica tried to ignore the stares that were aimed their way as she pulled into a parking spot. She was accustomed to the stares when Jennifer was driving her Mustang. No one ever took a second look at her driving an old relic of a car, though.
As she stopped the car and headed for class, she had to admit, the car drove like a dream. Knowing Kevin, he already had her old car towed to the nearest junkyard, which meant she really had no choice but to keep the new one. Oh, the hardships of life!
* * * *
Kevin was a little surprised that Erica didn’t throw anywhere near as big of a fit over the new car as he had anticipated. That was a good thing, because her old one had already been flattened. Unfortunately, his good luck was not to last.
His phone went off shortly after the girls left for school. “Hey, our drug runners finally took the bait. We have a major sting operation going down in an hour. I thought you might like to be in on the action,” Marshall stated to Kevin on the phone.
“Damn right I want to be there! Make sure no one else takes my bike, I’ll meet the team on site,” Kevin replied as he quickly headed for his car.
Forty-five minutes later the team was in place, waiting for the drug runners to show up. Kevin and Alec were the team members assigned to handle the transaction, or sting, and everyone else was in place hidden nearby. Kevin instructed Marshall to send a text to Jennifer with instructions to get Erica to the back of the building and explain why. “Jennifer should have her earpiece with her. Hopefully, after you send her a text, she will activate it,” Kevin stated just prior to taking his position in the parking lot, waiting for their drug runners to show up.
* * * *
Class had been in session for thirty minutes when cell phones started vibrating throughout. It was a standard rule to turn off ringers, but a quick glance around confirmed at least thirty phones vibrating, with their owners quietly checking the incoming text message. Jennifer’s cell phone was also lighting up silently. She quickly glanced down at her phone, and then Erica noticed her begin to speak very quietly and quickly. She had bent her head down with her hand up alongside her face. Erica couldn’t hear a word she stated, but after a moment realized she must be wearing an earpiece similar to Kevin’s. Erica leaned closer, trying to catch a word or two of what Jennifer was saying. It sounded like Jennifer was humming rather than speaking any words. A moment later, Jennifer reached over and placed her hand on top of Erica’s, calmly stating, “We need to get out of here, now!”
Just as Erica reached down to collect her things, the intercom system started chiming. She stopped short, wondering what was going on. They usually only interrupted class if it was an emergency.
An announcement followed a series of chimes, declaring the school was on lock down. No explanations were given, but gunshots suddenly went off, sounding like they came from the parking lot. A few people panicked, and several girls screamed. The instructor gave up teaching, trying to keep the class calm instead. He had his work cut out for him.
Erica’s own heart constricted in fear as she wondered what in the world was going on. Of all the days for Kevin not to be here with her, the thought kept oozing into her head that this had something to do with Shawn.
Jennifer glanced over and saw the terror on Erica’s face, and knew she was going to have her hands full. She reached over and lightly squeezed Erica’s hand, and then whispered, “Everything is going to be okay, I just need to get you out of here.” She watched the instructor as he tried to maintain some order in the room, waited until he had turned his back to jump up and sneak out the exit door, towing Erica behind her. The intercom system in the halls was still going strong, chiming and announcing for everyone to stay calm and stay put. Everyone was instructed to remain inside the building and away from the windows.
“What is going on?” Erica whispered in sheer panic as she was being dragged down the hall. Jennifer glanced behind her shoulder to see Erica’s face looking ghostly pale. She hoped she wouldn’t be carrying Erica out to her brother in a dead faint. That would be a load of fun to explain! On second thought, it would serve her brother right, the big jerk! He could have at least warned her this morning before they left for school! Obviously, he had known he would get an earful from her since he left his dirty work for Marshall to do in contacting her. “That’s okay, dear brother. You will have to face me sooner or later!” she muttered to herself. She took another glance back over her shoulder, where Erica seemed to be just hanging on.
Jennifer sighed. She guessed she had better come up with something to tell Erica before the girl gave herself a heart attack. “Sir Lancelot and Prince Charming are making a major drug bust out in the parking lot,” she stated casually, but with a dark scowl on her otherwise beautiful face. They were heading towards the back of the school building where Jennifer had been requested to stash Erica until the action was over with.
“Where are we going?” Erica found herself whimpering, cringing as even she realized she sounded like a lost child.
“Sir Lancelot Kevin doesn’t want you so near the action, although for the life of me, I don’t know why he even allowed you to come today. Trust me I have all intentions of discussing that one with my brother later. For now, we are just going to wait things out in the back of the building. He will tell us when it is safe.”
* * * *
As luck would have it, the drug runners (otherwise referred to as “the clowns” by the VCTF team) not only came with the drugs, but also with enough ammunition to start a small war. Even after all this time, Kevin still found it amusing to watch a human shoot one of his kind, knowing full well they hit their intended target, and have that target continue advancing towards them. He always found the famous “Oh crap, what do I do now” look priceless! The team had things under control in very short order. The only problem had been that the college security team decided to get in on the action when the gunfire started going off.
Unfortunately, this was something that the team had not anticipated, and to say the security team caused more problems than good was a severe understatement. They should have expected this since they notified the office as to what was about to happen in the parking lot. The last thing they needed was for any students to stumble into the middle of their setup. The office had issued an immediate loudspeaker announcement informing all personnel and students to stay inside and away from windows.
They also contacted campus security to inform them of the situation. After watching security in action, Kevin would have bet that they had very little, if any, practice shooting off their firearms. This came to light as soon as the security officers became involved in the situation. One security officer managed to hit one of the drug runners, although Kevin still wasn’t sure how that had happened. The drug runner was hit in the abdomen, and it didn’t look like the guy was going to make it very long.
Kevin shook his head just thinking
about the extensive paperwork that was going to make for back at the office. Too bad the guy wasn’t going to make it either. Kevin would have loved the chance to interrogate him.
They had their own interrogation system, but at this point they would just have to settle for the other two that were now in their custody. Another security guard accidentally hit Alec in the calf, aiming for the drug runner standing about two feet away. Thankfully, Alec covered it up, and the officer never even knew he hit anything. The team would be drawing straws back at the office to see who would get the pleasure of digging the bullet out of his leg. Now that would be fun. Nothing quite like an injured, pissed-off vampire!
As Kevin glanced around at what had started out as a smooth operation and quickly turned into a clusterfuck. He shook his head in dismay. The entire operation would have been over with in less than five minutes, had the security team not become involved. As it was, it was twenty-five minutes later before everything was wrapped up and under control. Kevin would never understand why humans attempted to handle firearms when they shouldn’t. It wasn’t that he had anything against guns, or humans having guns, as long as they were in the right hands. Unfortunately, it seemed too many humans had guns these days, quite often kids, and had no idea how to handle them. And that was just wrong in his book.
* * * *
Jennifer stopped when they reached a dark corner at the end of a hallway. The hallways were completely deserted. Everyone else seemed to be taking the lockdown seriously. She and Jennifer were standing facing one another, talking about whatever Jennifer could come up with to get Erica’s mind off of what was happening out front. Erica blinked, and found Jennifer had whirled around and had dropped down into a crouched position. Erica looked up, wondering why Jennifer made the hasty move, and spotted Shawn twenty feet away from them. He looked as composed and calm as ever as he leaned up against a wall, arms crossed, as if he had been waiting for them all day. In that deep rich voice of his, the one that had originally turned Erica’s head and now scared her to death, he calmly stated, “Erica, you will come with me.”
Jennifer immediately half hissed, half snarled, “Oh hell no!” She continued hissing at him, but Erica glanced up into Shawn’s eyes. Even though he looked calm and composed, there was only one word to describe what was in his eyes: death.
Shawn stayed where he was, staring at Erica with his cold, black, murderous expression on his face. Erica realized they were almost at the back of the building, completely secluded from everyone else. Jennifer had stated that the team was doing a drug sting out front. That meant chances were good that the entire VCTF force was just out the front door. How could they get from where they were to the help that they so desperately needed? How could she notify anyone that she and Jennifer were in trouble? She briefly wondered if Jennifer’s earpiece was still transmitting. Could Jennifer get word to the team? Unfortunately, there was no way of asking without Shawn hearing, so there was no way of knowing if help was on its way.
Jennifer made certain that Erica stayed behind her. If Shawn wanted Erica, he would have to go through her first. This asshole vampire, now standing up against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, made her nostrils flare! The expression on his face clearly stated that he felt he could take Jennifer on, and once finished with her, Erica would be his. That thought alone made Jennifer livid. She continued hissing in his direction, showing her fangs, followed by the occasional deep-throated growl.
“My beef is not with you, blondie,” Shawn stated in a lazy voice, as if Jennifer’s warning had little effect on him whatsoever. “Just give her to me, and I’ll consider leaving that pretty little face of yours alone.”
“Fuck you, asshole, over my ashes!” Jennifer hissed, as a black fury rolled through her. She had had enough of this arrogant asshole!
“As you wish,” Shawn drawled calmly. He remained motionless, leaning against the wall, looking as if he had all day to wait it out.
He turned his attention back to Erica. “I am hurt that you would leave me and shack up with someone else, sweetheart. Come with me now, and I’ll consider forgiving you and let your lover live.”
“I do not belong to you anymore,” Erica found herself replying with a glare. Although her heart was racing, and she knew he was able to hear it, she was happy to note her voice didn’t quiver. “I filed for divorce through the society’s judicial system. I am no longer married to you.”
“What?” Shawn exclaimed, a shocked expression skating across his features. “I did not consent to a divorce, so it is of no value. You are mine to do with as I see fit! Now come, woman!” he snarled, as if he were speaking to a dog.
“She is not going anywhere with you. She is under our society’s protection. Once they read her mind and saw everything you had put her through, they granted her an immediate divorce. You are not allowed to be near her,” Jennifer stated in an attempt to shift Shawn’s attention off of Erica and back on her. If he came after her, at least she would be somewhat of a fair fight. With Erica, well, she simply didn’t have a chance.
Help hadn’t arrived yet, and knowing she couldn’t leave things to chance, Erica knew she had to do something. Just the thought of Jennifer having to face Shawn’s wrath alone made Erica’s heart constrict in fear even tighter. Oh sure, Jennifer was a vampire, but Erica didn’t think she was any match against Shawn. She suddenly thought about the cell phone clipped to her belt. Very slowly she moved her hand to her side where the phone was hidden under her shirt. She did this while making certain she stayed behind Jennifer, hoping her movements went unseen. She only had time to hit one button, and then hope and pray that help would arrive, before it was too late.
As Erica pressed the speaker button, she wondered if she was signing her death sentence. If someone answered on the other end, Shawn would immediately know what she had done. She held her breath, waiting for someone to answer, almost wishing they wouldn’t. She released it a moment later when all was quiet.
Now she was confused. When Kevin had given the phone to her, he had explained to her it was a direct link to him. However, he had never quite explained exactly how it worked. Maybe the call had to go through the office first. Or maybe, if the entire team was on-site, no one would be available to respond. But then again, wouldn’t Charles be available?
Perhaps Kevin was in animal form and unable to communicate. Whatever the situation was, her plan had fallen short of its original purpose, and she had no backup plan. At this point, the only communication that could possibly help them was Jennifer’s earpiece, and Erica still had no idea if it was still transmitting. Knowing she was running out of options, Erica could taste true fear and horror in her mouth. Shawn had them cornered, and he knew it. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be standing there with a smirk on his face! Think, Erica, think!
* * * *
The team had just finished handcuffing the drug runners when Jennifer’s conversation with Shawn came across the earpieces. Kevin glanced up to spot Marshall quickly heading his way. A few seconds later his cell phone rang and he knew who it was without even looking at it. Although he was glad to see she had remembered the button on her phone, he knew for her own good he had to ignore the call.
“Don’t answer that, Kevin!” Marshall warned as he approached, also well aware of who was trying to call him.
“I know, and so help me, when I get my hands on that bastard, he is going to pay for everything he has ever done!” Kevin spouted off, clearly frustrated.
“Look, the backup team is on the way. They can handle getting our drug runners down to the office. We need to come up with a plan. No matter what his plan is, Shawn will have to go through us in order to get the girls out of there,” Marshall stated.
“You’re right. How far out is our backup team?” Kevin responded.
“They are arriving now,” Marshall stated with a slight grin, as he glanced up and nodded towards an approaching van.
“Let’s get the team together and come up with a game plan. I wa
nt to be inside in three minutes,” Kevin stated. He then spoke in a low tone to Jennifer through the earpiece. “Jen, help is on the way, we need three minutes.”
As the team gathered together to come up with a game plan, they all were able to hear all communication going on between Jennifer and Shawn. Unfortunately, ten seconds after the team came together, all hell seemed to break loose inside the building. They knew Shawn was attacking Jennifer, obviously tired of playing the waiting game.
Kevin, Marshall, and Joshua charged into the school all at the same time. Kevin broke off from the group once inside, and the others assumed it was to change forms.
Marshall and Joshua quickly came upon Jennifer, lying on the floor, bleeding and obviously in a lot of pain. Shawn had disappeared, and there was no sign of Erica, either. As the men stepped up to Jennifer, Marshall heard Joshua’s breath hitch as he noticed her right arm hanging precariously off to the side, and a knife sticking out of her abdomen.
Marshall took a few seconds to assess Jennifer’s injuries, and then gave a quick command to Joshua. “Stay with her and protect her, I’m calling for backup and medical.” He then took off in a dead run to locate Erica.
“I need all available team members inside the school building immediately. Subject is on the loose and has hostage! Spread out and make sure all exits are covered!” Marshall stated in his earpiece, and then added, “Charles, I need Jordan with wagon at the college immediately. We have a member down.”
Marshall was relieved when Charles didn’t come back with questions as to who was injured. He didn’t want to be the one to tell Charles O’Rourke that his oldest daughter was injured.
