Birth of Jaiden

by Malone Wright, Jennifer

  Then, she passed out again.

  Alex laughed and looked over at Michael. “Leave it up to her to wake up just long enough to complain.”

  Michael and Josh both burst into laughter.

  Through the entire conversation, Josh had been getting out an IV bag and preparing to insert it into her arm.

  “I don’t know how you guys put up with that all the time,” he told Alex.

  “You just have to have a good sense of humor and let it slide off.”

  Josh nodded. “I bet.”

  Alex took his time to look around the semi. It wasn’t the same one that he had been in before. That one had a little corner set up for Josh’s medical stuff and there were, like in the other, several bunks for them to sleep in. That semi, though, had an entire wall covered in weapons.

  “Wow,” Alex said as his gaze slid over the large variety of guns, crossbows, and swords.

  Michael acknowledged it with appreciation. “Yup, we like to spice it up.”

  Alex went to the wall and removed a long sword. The silver gleamed brightly against the light inside the truck; the emerald jeweled hilt gave it beauty to match the silver that spun around the handle.

  Alex felt power when he lifted it. “Where did you get this?”

  “From Malcolm”

  “What?”

  “From Malcolm.” Michael held out his hand for the sword and Alex gave it to him. “Six years ago, we finally found Malcolm and it was a terrific battle. I pinned him to the ground with several bolts, all of which had missed his heart, and then, I took this sword from him. I took the sword and his lady sliced me almost clean through with hers.”

  Michael lifted his plain white tee shirt to show off his scar by his stomach.

  Since the sword had left Alex’s hand, he wanted it back; he wanted to hold it again. “It feels so powerful.”

  “I know.”

  “Do you know why?”

  “That, I don’t know. I wish I did, though.” When he turned to put the sword back on the wall, the door rolled open again and Deanna appeared with Danielle.

  Earlier, he had failed to notice that Danielle wasn’t wearing her usual pretty clothes. That night, she was wearing black jeans covered to the knee by black cowboy boots. Her top half sported a burgundy vest, buttoned up the front all the way over her breasts so that one had only a glimpse of her cleavage. Why is she wearing that? He felt like so much had changed with her that night, like he didn’t even know her at all.

  “What’s going on?” he asked

  “Danielle is going to help Victoria,” Deanna explained as Danielle sat next to Victoria.

  “Danielle,” Alex asked. “What’s wrong?”

  She took Victoria’s wrinkled hands into her own and shook her head. “I’m not supposed to do this; I don’t even know if I will be able to.” She sighed and bowed her head into Victoria’s hand. “But, I must try; we need to move tonight and she is our only chance.”

  “You don’t have to. She woke up earlier so we know that she’s going to be ok.”

  Obviously frustrated, Danielle’s brown eyes met Alex’s blue ones. “Alex, we don’t have the time to wait. I need to give her the strength now.”

  “Ok.” He would agree with almost anything Danielle wanted, eventually. “If that’s what you really want.”

  “It is.”

  Danielle stood over Victoria. Her eyes fluttered closed in concentration and she held both of her hands palms down over Victoria. She moved them slowly about an inch above making contact. It was a deep and silent moment before a light began to come from within Danielle. She was glowing, a white light, just how you would assume an angel would glow.

  The light filled her body and seeped out; it created the most beautiful aura that Alex had ever seen. Moving her hands which were now almost transparent, she made contact with Victoria.

  Victoria convulsed and her chest lurched upward. Alex watched as her eyes popped open and she inhaled with a deep gasp. Her body relaxed but her eyes stayed open.

  Danielle’s light began to fade. Unlike a witch, such as Victoria, her body did not become weak when she used her power. Alex went to Danielle and put his arm over her shoulder. She was an angel healer and his best friend, and he loved her for that.

  Danielle grasped Victoria’s hand. “Are you ready?”

  Victoria nodded. Her voice was only a gravely whisper when she spoke. “Do we still have time?”

  “Yes.” Danielle released her wrinkled hand. “We do, but we must move quickly.”

  They all moved quickly and gathered the members of the council and the slayers which they needed and met in a clearing in the woods.

  They were all there. Alex watched them all joining hands. The injured, the weak, the strong, the powerful, they formed a large circle of bravery.

  Alex took Danielle’s hand in one of his and Christopher’s in the other. The circle was relaxed. Victoria, now fully charged and fully clothed, knew what she had to do. Her hands were joined with Deanna and Jeremiah.

  Alex closed his eyes, as did the entire circle. The power flowed through them. Victoria remembered with video camera imagery what she had seen the day before, what she had felt within the mountain. Her memories passed from one hand to another, from one mind to another.

  It was terrible. Alex could barely handle seeing Jaiden being cared for the way that Victoria had seen her. He wanted her out of there with a fierce passion that bordered on being equal to his anger when his family had been slaughtered.

  Their circle closed when Victoria lost control of her thoughts; it was the same moment that she had run from the sight of the bodies hanging from the ceiling.

  It was all gone.

  “Was it enough?” she asked

  “Yes,” Michael told her and he marched away, followed by his slayers. Alex knew they were going to immediately prepare for the infiltration of the mountain. Sunrise was upon them shortly.

  Damion spoke before the rest of them could part. “Since it’s only the council here now, I want us to have one last meeting of the minds before we do this.”

  They all nodded.

  “First, this may be the last we see of any one of us. We need to be as one together inside. Levine can sense us, so can Malcolm, but Levine is more in tune to things out of the ordinary. She is powerful and we have all seen it. Do not let her sense you.”

  Danielle focused her eyes on the starlit sky. “Do not for one minute forget the life at stake inside there. We go in and plant the bombs, we save Jaiden, Stewart and Isabella if we can, then get out. Got it?”

  She lowered her eyes to meet every one of theirs.

  There was a variety of nods and agreements.

  “Well then,” Alex said. “Let’s go see what the valiant slayers would like us to do.”

  They found the slayers back at their semis. Again, Alex was stuck with a romantic view of the brutal fighters. Everything they wore was either black or dark grey. The women all wore sexy black tops and snug pants but not the disgusting painted type that women in the movies wore. The men were either shirtless or in tank tops as well. They all had weapons strapped in every possible place of their bodies. Guns, crossbows, those UV flashlights, bandoliers on some, backpacks for others, it was endless.

  Alex watched intently. They were focused on the mission, they were bred for battle, they trained every day, they had only mortal powers yet they were better than an army of powerful beings.

  He heard footsteps behind him. It was Deanna. He waited for her to approach and quietly asked her, “Will you make it through this?”

  She actually snorted at him. “Of course I’m going to make it through this.” She paused. “You know, Alex, its hard sometimes…being a good person, because I get angry and I am human. You, now, you know what it feels like to spill blood, to want to spill blood, and you hate yourself for it.”

  Alex nodded. It was all true.

  She continued, “Well, sometimes, even a human being wonders what it would be l
ike to kill. Human nature is to be angry and to want to hurt. And I feel that way a lot. I train myself to hurt, to kill if I have to, and I never have. And tonight, even though these are not humans, I am going to kill.”

  “Yes.”

  “And I am excited about it.”

  Alex finally turned his head to look at her. She looked radiant; her hair was pulled back into two French braids in the back of her head, with a black beanie cap covering her bright red hair. She wore slightly baggy black jeans and a dark brown turtleneck sweater.

  He thought briefly about changing his outfit. Then, he changed gears back to her. “You will be great.”

  He took her head in his palms; she looked up at him and he kissed her forehead.

  Alex knew he did not have time to talk to every member of the council before they went in; time was running short. He did go change his outfit, though, and he had to have his coat, his vampire coat. Before he donned it, he strapped on his shoulder holster and two forty-five pistols. Like guns would do any good with vampires. He adjusted his own sword close at his hips till it was a snug fit and hidden beneath his coat. He took a final moment to himself, closed his eyes and prepared for the killing he would have to do throughout the night.

  Then, they were there, gathered in the forest together and ready to go. Michael stood on a fallen tree and gave a speech while Damion supported his talk.

  Michael announced, “We are moving in pairs and threes. If you don’t have buddy who is a slayer, then pick one. This is important because we are the ones planting the bombs.”

  To emphasize, he waved the little light thing around in front of them.

  Alex could feel the sun pushing itself up. The sky was becoming light and that meant that Malcolm and Levine would be going to sleep soon. He thought of Jaiden and Isabella and said a prayer for them.

  Damion explained who would be doing what mission. Alex, Danielle, and Jackie would save Jaiden. Deanna, Chris and Michael were to find Isabella. Those were the two main missions. Damion and the rest of the slayers were going to place bombs and fight until the missions were completed. Victoria and Jeremiah remained back at the semis to protect them.

  Michael raised his voice. “This is the most important part, you guys.” He had the crowd’s attention. “In one hour, there are going to be massive explosions. You will most likely survive these because most of the explosion is going to be from the lights. But, by sunrise, you will want to be as far away from this place as you can get. We are blowing the entire thing.”

  Alex and Chris caught each other’s gazes.

  “What about us?” Chris asked.

  Michael smiled. “You, sir, are with a powerful witch, she will protect you. And you,” his eyes moved to Alex, “you are with your guardian angel, are you not?”“You do want me to die.”

  Michael only laughed.

  The next thing he knew, Jeremiah was at his side and thrust a syringe into his hands. “Take this.”

  “But it didn’t work last time.”

  Jeremiah snorted. “Didn’t I tell you I was going to fix it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, then, deal with it; if it doesn’t work, then you are no worse off, right?”

  Alex shrugged. “I guess so.”

  “You’re welcome.” Jeremiah stalked off. “Oh,” he called over his shoulder, “I gave some to Chris too.”

  Alex twisted the capped syringe around between his fingers for a moment before he uncapped it with his teeth, took his jacket off of one arm, and emptied the contents of the syringe into his body. Again, like before, he felt nothing.

  It was time to rock and roll.

  ***

  “They are going to come here.” Levine, dressed in a red silk robe and matching high heels, whipped back the covers on their bed.

  Malcolm sighed. “Darling, I know they are going to come here. I don’t know what you are afraid of.”

  He climbed under the mountains of blankets. She blew her breath out and climbed in after him.

  “I am not afraid of them. They fear me, I know they do, I just don’t want them to destroy my home.” She pouted.

  “It will be all right, darling.”

  Levine watched as her husband closed his eyes and immediately fell asleep; he didn’t know the things she knew. They were on their way and she would not rest knowing they might attack at any moment.

  She rose from the bed and went to talk to her guards.

  36

  In the cover of darkness, Alex flew out of the trees with Chris, Michael and Jackie right beside him. In an instant, he had toppled his chosen guard and snapped his neck. Chris, Michael, and Jackie had done the same. None of the four guards had uttered a sound.

  The shift change was to happen any second. They waited silently, two on each side of the door. When they heard the movement and voices on the other side of the door, Michael sent a hand signal to everyone who was waiting between the trees.

  It had to be simultaneous when they went for the guards coming out. If it didn’t happen at exactly the same time, then it wouldn’t work. They couldn’t take the chance that any of them would have time to scream to alert those inside.

  The doors opened and the four replacement guards gasped in shock at the sight of their fallen comrades who lay broken on the forest floor in front of them. When the first of them glanced up to find the source of the murdered guards, it was their cue to attack.

  Alex sprinted for his target, covered the guard’s mouth and sunk his fangs into the tender flesh of his neck. Immediately, he felt rejuvenated by the blood of his victim. He needed the fresh blood; the more he had, the better he would perform in battle.

  Chris, Michael, and Jackie chose snapping necks for their method. The guards’ bodies dropped to the ground. Alex and his team drug them out of sight, into the trees.

  A swift signal from Michael to the tree line brought forth a multitude of people who rushed the doors. Alex watched as they disappeared one by one into the mountain lair with only their minds as a map to guide them.

  Deanna passed Alex on her way through the door and held up her hand for a high five. He slapped her raised hand and she continued silently on her way. Grinning, he followed her through the doors and waited while Damion, the last through the doors, shut and bolted the door the way it had been.

  Alex glared at him as he passed. He had a vision of Damion’s lips all over his precious angel. Alex actually gagged slightly and felt disgusted. Damion shot him back a confused look but kept moving through the tunnel.

  Alex shook off his frustration with Damion and hurried to find his team. He knew he had to keep the mission as a priority. He had to concentrate on finding Jaiden and Isabella.

  Without telepathy, he had to find Danielle and Jackie the hard way. Luckily, they were waiting for him at the corner of the first bend. He motioned a hand signal to them in the direction that he wanted them to go.

  Alex finally felt his adrenaline pumping. The slayers moved quickly through the tunnels, tucking their little bombs into unseen crevices in the cold, damp walls. Danielle was at his side and Jackie right behind them.

  This is just too smooth to be working, he thought, something seems just too easy about this.

  He made the turn into the next tunnel and down the spiraling stone stairway. Where are they? If he knew Malcolm and Levine at all, he knew they would not simply let their lair be invaded.

  As they descended the stairway, he heard the muffled screams of the people held prisoner and he was unsure of how he was going to feel about them later. He could feel Danielle at his back. He could smell Jackie there too; she was bringing up the rear of their group. None of the slayers were in sight but he could smell them close as well. If he could smell them, he knew damn well that the evil vamps in that lair could smell them too.

  Danielle brushed her hand against his back. She sensed something; he could tell by the simple touch. He braced himself for a kill and sniffed the air. It wasn’t human, had to be vampires. But, his only
concern was how many of them they had to fight. They cautiously descended each stone step knowing something waited for them below.

  They know we’re here.

  On the fourth step from the bottom, Alex decided the best plan of action would be to jump out into the line of fire and surprise the enemy. He risked taking his eyes off the landing to signal to Danielle and Jackie what he intended to do. They nodded in agreement; even Jackie, who, as a mortal, risked the most, bore no fear in her eyes.

  Alex softly placed his left foot on the third stair and prepared for the jump. He held up his hand with three fingers extended, and then two. The second his index finger folded, the three jumped the last four steps to the landing.

  On each side of them, three vampire guards stood wielding one sword each. It took only half a second till Alex had his own in his hands.

  “Freeze!” one of the guards called out.

  Alex had absolutely no intention of freezing. Instead, he bounded high into the air and forced his sword down into the guard closest to him.

  Danielle ran the opposite way and landed a swift kick to the hand of the vamp. His weapon clattered to the stone floor which allowed her a fair fight of hand to hand.

  Jackie shot a bolt from her crossbow into the second guard on Alex’s side, killing him in mid-attack on Alex. She turned swiftly and shot another bolt at the other guard on Danielle’s side, right in the heart.

  Damn, she is good.

  Alex’s last vampire guard snarled, then turned and ran.

  Jackie moved to follow.

  “Stop!” Alex commanded and threw his arm out. “You’ll never catch him. Besides, they know we’re here, anyway.”

  Danielle’s fight ended with her vamp being a pulp of vampire mess on the floor. Jackie aimed her UV flashlight and flicked it on. They watched, well, Alex turned his eyes away, as what was left of the vampire turned into a pile of dust.

  She did the same to the others lying on the ground. Then, they took the swords and carried them for extra weapons.

  “Let’s go.” He led the way down the tunnel to the left. Torches lined the shiny, damp walls. Their shadows crept along the walls with them while Alex concentrated on remembering what Victoria had shown them. It was the cave of closed doors; they were almost to the room with the archway.