June 2008
Disclaimer See Part 1
Feedback: This is my first try and not being a native English speaker, it's so much more challenging. Constructive criticism if greatly appreciated, so feel free to drop a line or two at steinwillard80@gmail.com .
PART EIGHT
Chapter 23
Gillian was armed to the teeth. Having had to leave the village had been hard enough, but to be stuck in a 21 st century city, like New York which was overrun by vampire slayers, she had to watch her back at all times. She hated living in this time period. People didn't appreciate the superior power of vampires as was the case back in the village. She missed being there, having a young human woman or man in her bed everyday as well as steady supply of fresh blood from her bed partners. She was well-known for her sexual appetite and was sough out by potential lovers all the time in exchange for her protection or a few expensive baubles.
Since she was thrown out of the village a few weeks ago, the few times she had fed were very unpleasant. She was disgusted by the taste of drugs and disease she had tasted in the blood of many of her donors. She was so disgusted that she had killed them afterwards – just to make sure she would never ever have to taste their tainted blood again.
But there were more important matters she needs to attend to. She needed an ally and quickly, before Tahlia came baying for her blood. Drake was an idiot for thinking he could just waltz in and destroy Tahlia's lover forcing Tahlia to seek the dawn. The Queen was very dangerous and from what she'd heard, Drake's head was ripped clean off his body. She shuddered just thinking about such as brutal way to die.
She looked up into the dark eyes of the man in front of her. She hated the situation she found herself in. He was her only hope.
“I don't know anyone else I can trust.” Her voice was strained.
“If you were ostracized by the Queen, then I'm sorry but I can't have anything to do with you.”
Gillian stepped closer and placed her hand on the muscled chest of the man.
“I had thought that there was something important between us, but I seem to have been wrong. How can you do this to me?”
The man's dark eyes stared at the woman with contempt. “What we had was simply sex. You are too ambitious and thus bothersome to have around all the time, Gillian. You have always had your designs on the Queen and had been using everyone who crossed your path, to get closer to her. So don't you dare try to make me feel guilty.” The man turned his back on her. “Please leave now. I do not want you to be seen here with me.”
Gillian voice was dripping venom.
“I swear that one day I will make you pay for your betrayal.” She disappeared in a cloud of mist.
Blowing out a long breath, the man bowed his head. He should've listened when he was warned against Gillian. The woman is deranged. Grabbing his cloak from a nearby chair, he made his way to the door.
****************
James was sipping on his coffee, looking at his daughter as she was pacing up and down in the living room.
“Don't you want to come sit next me, honey? You are making us dizzy.” He smiled when she turned to look at him. Since he can remember, Jemima had never been one to panic easily, but since their return from Romania , Jemima had been very jumpy and Tahlia in turn never let her out of her sight. The Vampire Queen was standing at the window, looking outside. Even Tahlia was different. She was more watchful than before and those black eyes didn't miss anything. “You will have to sit down, dear, because I want to discuss something very important with the two of you.”
Curios, Jemima came to sit next to her father. “What did you want to talk about, Daddy?”
James placed his coffee mug down and folded his arms.
“When are you two planning on getting married?”
The question fell into a deep pocket of silence. Even Rafina who was carrying in a tray from the kitchen stopped dead in her tracks. Looking around, James saw the look of surprise on the faces of the other vampires in the room. Pierre and Jonas who were busy playing chess turned to stare at Tahlia, who in turn was staring unblinkingly at Jemima. Jemima was just gaping at her father.
“I didn't expect this reaction, but I would still like to have an answer though.” He was now looking at Tahlia. Those unreadable black eyes were just staring back at him.
“Our unions are so much more intense than that of humans, James.” Out of the corner of his eye, James saw Jemima turning her head to look at Tahlia. “If we decide to get married our way, Jemima will forever be bound to me. If I am killed, she will be bound to a solitary life.” Tahlia turned to meet Jemima's eyes. “I would like to leave that decision to her.”
“I didn't know that. Forgive me, for not discussing it with you first before bringing it up, Tahlia.” James turned to look at where Jonas and Pierre were sitting. “Is that part of the reason that those two are still bachelors?” he asked jokingly and grinned when the other two men frowned at him. Picking up his mug he made his way over to them.
Tahlia smiled back at him and held out her hand to Jemima.
“We will be in the study, if anyone needs us.”
They left the room, taking the awkward silence with them.
^^^^^^^^^^
Jemima stepped into the library first and turned to face Tahlia when she heard the door closing softly behind her. Tahlia came to stand very close to her, forcing Jemima to look up into her face.
“I should've told you about our binding ritual and its significance, but I wasn't sure you would want to know about it so early.”
Blue eyes studied black eyes for a few seconds before the blue eyes turned warm.
“I've never been one for marriage, but my dad will have your hide if you refuse to make an honest woman out of me. Thus, I suggest, we go for a human ceremony. Just a small gathering of friends and family. What do you think?”
Tahlia smiled and gently touched Jemima's cheek. “You should know though that my fear of binding you to me through a vampire ritual has nothing to do with the fact that I do not love you. I cannot stand the thought of you being bound to me for all eternity even after my death. As an immortal you will find life to be dull and deadening at times, imagine being alone and having to live through every second while the loneliness eating away at your soul. I refuse to let you live through that.”
The black eyes became suspiciously damp and Jemima pulled Tahlia into her arms. Was this the kind of existence Tahlia had? She gently held Tahlia, pulling her head into the curve of her neck
“I understand, my love, and I never doubted your love.”
They stood like that for a long time holding each other in silence. Tahlia suddenly stepped out of the embrace. Her eyes were hard.
“Something's wrong. Juan just arrived.” She looked down into the blue eyes. “I will have to meet with him.”
Jemima nodded and placed a quick kiss on Tahlia's lips. “I will keep myself busy until you return.”
The black eyes stared deeply into hers. “Promise me you will not wander outside alone. I will come for you and then we can go hunt together.” Satisfied with Jemima's nod, Tahlia left her.
************
Juan, Pierre, Jonas and Joan were waiting for her in the conference room. Juan bowed low when she entered. “What news do you bring, Juan?”
“Gillian is here in New York .”
Tahlia nodded. “I have her followed and my source informed me about her presence a while back.” The black eyes narrowed slightly. “There is something else you want to tell us, I presume.”
“She came to ask for my assistance, but I turned her down.” The bodyguard looked uncomfortable. “It looks as if she's taken over where Drake left off.
Tahlia came to her feet slowly and for a brief moment, Juan though she was going to howl in frustration, instead she just closed her eyes as her hands curled into fists.
<What is upsetting you so, my love? >
It was Jemima. Over the past few weeks, she'd become mentally attuned to Tahlia's moods that she could sense her anger so acutely.
<Gillian is the new leader of the renegades. I will have to go out and look for her. She can't be allowed to reunite them.>
There was a long silence before Jemima spoke again.
<Just not tonight, baby. I need to have you with me tonight.>
Tahlia turned and saw that the others were staring at her with anticipation.
“Gillian is after Jemima and that makes it my fight. I cannot ask you to risk your lives. Tomorrow night, I will go out and look for Gillian and after I have dealt with her, I suggest we call a meeting at the village afterwards. We need to identify the rotten apples and root them out.”
“Since we still have the hunters around we can just as well put them to work, Tahlia. I will take them out tonight and try and find out where Gillian's lair is.” said Jonas and looked towards Pierre . “Are you in, Pierre ?”
“Yes. I will be going to ground in a few years and might just as well make use of my powers now while I can.”
Every eye in the room was on him now.
“You're going to ground?” Tahlia asked softly. Pierre was always the one who exuded a zest for life. Even after his mate was killed, he still performed hid duties and never once hinted that he wanted to take time off. Thus it is a shock to hear him talking about going to ground. Jonas she knows had gone to ground a few times over the 2 000 years, but never Pierre . She had been so preoccupied with Jemima that she had failed her friends. Before they had always made time to talk, but the last four hundred years had flown by so quickly. She walked over to where Pierre sat and placed her hand on his shoulder.
“Could I have a word with you later, my friend?”
______________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 24
Tahlia found Jemima in their bedroom, leaning against the headboard, reading the newspaper. Her blue eyes flashed with pleasure when she sensed her presence.
“I'm ready when you are,” Tahlia said gently and pushed a strand of hair behind Jemima's ear. Their eyes met and they shared an intimate look for a few seconds, before moving closer for a long, slow kiss. Afterwards they just held each other.
“ Pierre is going to ground in a few years. I just spoke to him.”
Jemima stood back. She had read up as much as she can on vampire behavior, but the ‘going to ground' phenomenon still eludes her. “Why is that?”
Tahlia went to sit on the bed and pulled Jemima onto her lap.
“It means that he is very lonely and wishes to pass time sleeping for a few centuries. I went to ground for a few decades after you have passed on and in most cases only came up when I've sensed your conception or sometimes you birth.” She pressed a soft kiss against Jemima's cheek. “ Pierre was always so happy and full of life, but I guess he must've thought about it for a while now.”
Jemima stared down into Tahlia's black eyes. “I thought that vampires could have any woman they wanted. He is an incredibly handsome man. Doesn't he have someone – a mate?”
Tahlia's dark gaze became even blacker with emotion.
“No. He lost his mate about four centuries ago when a group of vampire slayers attacked their castle and burnt her alive. They were bound by a vampire ceremony, which means that he will forever be wandering the earth never knowing true love again. Because she was vampire she could never be reincarnated again.”
Jemima pressed Tahlia's head tightly against her chest. Pierre 's situation was almost similar to theirs. If something should happen to her, Tahlia was sure to destroy herself by meeting the dawn.
“Isn't there someone who can help him? Maybe someone who can lift the binding spell of the ceremony?”
Tahlia shook her head and came to her feet not even slightly bothered by her weight. She gently placed her on the bed and came to lie next to her.
“There were rumors many centuries ago of a Druid wizard who was very powerful and who could undo almost every spell. We never put much stock in the rumor then.” Tahlia's voice was soft, but Jemima could detect the anguish. She knew Tahlia was very attached to both Pierre and Jonas, but she had always been more drawn more to the witty smiling Pierre , because Jonas and she were too similar in character. Maybe also because he could still manage to smile and laugh after all the terrible times they all and he, especially, lived through. Jemima tried to divert Tahlia's thoughts the only ways he knew best.
With a flick of her hand she had both herself and the Vampire Queen naked. She grinned when she saw a stunned Tahlia looking down her own naked frame.
“Let me help you relax for a while before we go out to feed,” she said gently and felt a shiver run down her spine when she saw the black eyes slowly running down her body. When they met hers again, they were burning up with desire. If she'd thought she was in charge, she'd thought greatly mistaken, because when Tahlia pushed her down on her back, she knew she was going to be ravished thoroughly.
Tahlia kissed her deeply before she was flipped over onto her stomach. Shivering with anticipation, Tahlia leant closer and slowly started to lick every inch of her body with the wet tip of her tongue. Afterwards, she flipped her over and repeated the torture again. By the time she reached her breasts, Jemima was begging Tahlia to take her fast and hard, but Tahlia had other plans. Every now and then she would sink her fangs deep into the soft smooth skin of Jemima's perky breasts resulting in Jemima screaming her pleasure. She stiffened slightly when she felt Tahlia's hand moving down towards the triangle between her legs. With her thumb she slowly massaged the little hard nub nestled between the soft plump lips and she felt a massive quiver going through Jemima's taut body.
“You will kill me if you don't make me come now, baby,” Jemima moaned softly and tried to hold Tahlia's hand between her legs by clasping her thighs over Tahlia's hand.
“Not yet, my love. There are still so many things I want to do to you.” With that said she moved lower until her face was on the same level as Jemima's throbbing sex. Slowly she pried her lover open and with a long flick of her tongue tasted the musky centre of Jemima. She felt Jemima's hands pushing into her hair as she grabbing handfuls of the jet-black strands.
“Yes, baby. Don't stop.” Her voice was ragged as if she'd just finished running a marathon.
Tahlia closed her lips around the throbbing clitoris and sucked hard, resulting in Jemima almost pulling a fistful of hair out of her head. She repeated the action a few times, until Jemima cried for her to stop. Lifting her head she looked into Jemima's flustered face and slowly moved upwards until her mouth was hovering above Jemima's open lips. Tahlia slowly lowered her mouth and took Jemima's in a deep kiss.
Jemima felt like she was going to have a heart attack any moment soon. Her heart was beating so fast and loudly, she could hear it hammering in her ears as her body was shaking violently from pleasure. She felt Tahlia's skillful fingers parting her lips down there and gently milking her clitoris. She gasped at the sensation just as she felt Tahlia's wet tongue slip into her mouth. They shared a deep, slow, erotic kiss before Tahlia pulled away. Her hypnotic black eyes stared deep into her eyes while her thumb was rubbing against her clit.
“Oh, baby…” she heard herself groaned.
“Tell me what you want and I'll do it.” Those bottomless black eyes were staring deep into her eyes – not blinking once. “Tell me, woman.”
Swallowing hard to lubricate her suddenly dry throat, Jemima nodded.
“I want you to use your fingers on me - fast and hard until I come,” she gasped out.
“I aim to please, my love.” Pushing her legs wider, Tahlia slanted her mouth over hers and slipped two fingers into her. The pace of the thrusts kept on increasing in pace until Jemima was almost delirious with pleasure.
Frantically, she wrenched her mouth away from Tahlia's and buried her face in Tahlia's sweaty neck. Her fangs lengthened instantly and she sunk them deep into the throbbing vein. Tahlia's gasped at the sensation and Jemima reached down low until her fingers found Tahlia's sex and fumbling for her clit, she began to rub her furiously.
With great satisfaction she heard the soft growling sounds coming from the Vampire Queen and that was the last thing she'd heard before her orgasm hit her. She vaguely remembered Tahlia grabbing her hand and holding it in place between her legs as she bucked wildly against her.
When she came back to earth, she felt the violent jerking of Tahlia's body and gently stroked her back, listening to the foreign words Tahlia was gritting out between clenched teeth before her body relaxed and she fell back against her. They lay like that holding each other tightly. With a gentle smile, Jemima stroked the dark sweaty black locks out of Tahlia's face and planted a soft open-mouthed kiss on the slack lips.
^^^^^^^^^
Finally after two more hours of lovemaking, they decided to leave the safe house to feed. They had just fed and were strolling arm-in-arm down a narrow shadowed alley, when there was a muffled sound up ahead. Jemima threw a quick glance towards Tahlia. She must've heard the sound too because the look in her eyes sharpened. It sounded like a baby crying but what would a baby do in a dark alley at this time of the night. Jemima felt Tahlia pushing her slowly behind her tall frame.
“Renegades”. She said the word with so much contempt that Jemima felt a shiver run down her spine. When Tahlia was in this mood, they usually ended up in a fight. She felt Tahlia's body jerk sharply and then she heard the crackle of bone. She cried out with alarm when Tahlia doubled over and reached out to touch her, but before she could Tahlia turned sharply to look at her and Jemima took a quick step back.
Gone was the black eyes and instead amber eyes were looking at her. Before her eyes she saw the hair sprouting on Tahlia's smooth skin until only her face was still recognizable. But not for long. Tahlia fell to her knees and Jemima could see the protruding bulge forming on her face. Horrified by what she was witnessing, Jemima wanted to run, but didn't want to leave Tahlia alone in such a vulnerable state. The next time Tahlia looked at her, she had completed her transformation. In Tahlia's place stood a big black panther, its gleaming fur stretched tightly over a muscled frame.
<Wait for me here, Jemima. I sense two renegades in the shadows ahead. They are busy feeding .>
Stunned, Jemima could only nod. The panther stealthily made its way towards the dark shadow where Tahlia said the two renegades were feeding. Looking around, she felt a cold chill run down her spine for the second time this night.
Something wasn't right. She could sense it. She thought of following Tahlia, but Tahlia would be livid if she placed her life in danger once again. She delicately sniffed the air and stiffened. The scent she'd picked up was chillingly familiar.
Gillian!
She was close-by. Up ahead in the dark she heard a chilling scream followed by a deep growl and then the sickening sound of flesh being torn. Jemima knew that the only way for her to survive this night, she would have to go and find Tahlia. Using preternatural speed she dashed towards where she could hear the deep growl of the panther.
She was just about to duck into the shadows, when she felt a piercing pain in her back. The blow was so powerful that she was flung to the floor. Clenching her teeth against the excruciating pain she carefully reached behind to touch the place of impact. Her fingertips felt a sticky wetness and moving slightly further, she touched the sharp object lodged deeply in her back. The soft hissing sound when she touched it confirmed her fear. Silver! She could die from silver poisoning if she didn't get help soon. As if they didn't have enough to deal with. Here she was with a silver ax buried in her back and Gillian's scent growing stronger. Where was Tahlia? She quickly scanned the area, but found no trace of Tahlia.
She felt an iron grip on her ankle and then she was dragged backwards on her stomach into a dimly lit area of the alley and unceremoniously rolled over on her back by a black heavy boot. The action made her groan when she felt the ax cleaving deeper into her back. Gillian was standing over her, her face contoured into a cold mask of hatred.
“So we meet again. I was hoping you'd be a worthy adversary, but all I see now is a scared and helpless fledgling.” She laughed tauntingly and gestured to one of the renegades. A tall, pale young man step forwards and grabbing her by the throat, pulled her up onto her feet. With her feet dangling in the air, Gillian stepped closer and with an elongated nail, she made a long deep incision on Jemima's cheek. Her blue eyes were transfixed on the thick dark blood that oozed from the cut she'd made.
“It would be stupid to waste a drop of your blood, seen as it contains Tahlia's and Lecrac legacies.” Jemima saw her fangs slowly lengthening and closed her eyes to block out what was to come. “With their blood in my veins, I can become more powerful than I am now.”
That last remark caught Jemima's attention. … with their blood in my veins, I can become more powerful than I am now. She opened her eyes slowly, just in time to see Gillian moving closer to bite her. She has the blood of Lecrac running through her veins. The first of the Undead to walk the earth. That alone makes her more powerful than Gillian and all the other renegade filth with her.
She was from a Royal bloodline, respected and feared by all vampires. Unwittingly her demeanor changed, from helpless submission to cold menace, making Gillian's eyes widened.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 25
Unnerved, Gillian quickly took a step back. Her eyes boring into the woman who was staring at her with sudden realization in her eyes, but that was not what caused that ominous ripple in the air. She had made a mistake by referring to the potency of Lecrac and Tahlia's blood. Right in front of her eyes she saw the scared woman chance into a dangerous purposeful creature. Her pain filled blue eyes were slowly beginning to take on a red glow as the air around her was crackling softly as she was internalizing her power. The heavy silver ax clattered to the concrete floor and even the renegade who was still holding her up by the throat could sense that trouble was brewing.
Gillian was frustrated by how quickly her careful plan had gone wrong. Maybe she still stood a change to defeat her enemy before she had garnered all her power.
“Quick. Pull her heart out of her chest now. Do it now,” Gillian shouted urgently.
The renegade's one hand quickly transformed into a claw, but before he could slam it into the blonde woman's chest, a piercing cry split the air. Gillian quickly took a step backwards to dodge the spurt of blood that splattered the concrete walkway at her feet. As if in slow motion she saw the renegade crumble to the floor. She gasped when she saw that he was literally split in two. Snapping her eyes towards Jemima, she saw the other woman staring at her with a bloodied claw and with glistening fangs.
Gesturing to the other renegades behind her, Gillian waited until the first wave of renegades was engaged in battle with the Jemima, before she slipped away. She will not take on the woman today, but will be back some other day. Fleeing into the night she could hear the grunts and tearing sounds as Jemima was slaughtering the inexperienced vampires.
***************
Running at full speed towards the alley where she had left Jemima, Tahlia felt her heart beating in her mouth. The closer she came to the alley, the stronger Gillian's scent became. What was she thinking leaving Jemima alone to confront the renegades? It was only after she had come upon the two vampires viciously feeding on a young mother, that she realized it was set-up. There where more renegades waiting a few yards, but luckily she was still in her animal form and with the agility and power of the panther she had quickly destroyed the group waiting in ambush for her. She also knew that Jemima was in mortal danger, but just as she was about to go to her lover's rescue she'd noticed the small bundle crawling on the blood-drenched concrete.
Torn between saving a defenseless human baby and her lover she had only a few seconds to decide. With her inherent vow of protection, she had grabbed the baby up in her mouth and ran to take her to a safe place. Because she was still in her panther form, she couldn't go near humans and instead took the baby to the park and after willing her to sleep and weaving a quick protection spell, the panther climbed a tree and hid the baby in the nook of the tree.
Now as she was rushing back towards the fighting sounds she was hearing, she was praying feverishly that Jemima was still alive. When she came within a few meters of the fighting, she quickly shape-shifted not caring that she was stark naked, ready plunged right into the fighting only to be shocked by the scene which greeted her eyes.
Jemima was standing in the middle in the surrounded by at least six renegades and a dozen more lying at her feet – or what was left of them. With her blond hair blowing in the breeze, Jemima was using preternatural speed moving around the vampires, slashing at them with her clays. With her keen eyesight she could see a deep oozing gash in her back. It took her a few seconds to make sure that Jemima wasn't mortally wounded before she joined the battle.
^^^^^
Back at the park, a shadow was gliding slowly from tree to tree using the cover of the night to hide its presence. She very closer now. The shallow heartbeat was calling to her through the darkness. Cloaking her presence, the tall woman glided between the lush green trees, her nose sniffing the air. She came to an abrupt stop and looked up.
There, not very high up, in the cradle of a branch was a small tightly bound white bundle. She reached out to pull it down, but before she could make contact there was a movement and she stared into two big liquid pools of blue. A baby! It was a girl and she estimated it to be around 15 months. Disgusted with herself, she shook her head. How could she not have deciphered the scent? More important how was it possible for the baby to see her. She was an ancient and cloaked, not many were able to detect her presence.
She quickly touched the toddler's mind and jerked violently when she felt the power emanating from the child's mind. That explained it. She was a powerful psychic, but that wasn't all. She also felt the presence of a master vampire in the child's mind. A very powerful and dangerous presence has left its mark on the child. Whoever is protecting this child would kill anyone or anything that tried to harm it.
She took a step back, but not before a chubby little hand reached out and grabbed a strand of her hair. Almost immediately the night stillness was pierced by the baby's gurgling. Stunned, the vampire reached out slowly and touched the baby's rosy cheek. It had been crying – possibly in its sleep, because she hadn't heard anything while she was stalking her prey, which to her disgrace turned out to be a toddler.
Her body tensed suddenly. The night had an evil feel to it. She quickly loosened the baby's grip on her hair and soundless stepped back into the shadows.
A streak of mist came from between the trees and solidified into a human form. Sniffing the air sharply, the other vampire looked up and reached out to grab the bundle. A sudden hissing sound followed by a sharp cry and the acrid smell of burned flesh. The other vampire pulled away quickly, hissing angrily.
Stepping out of the shadows, the ancient, dropped her invisibility cloak.
“When have you become so perverted that you are now preying on babies?”
^^^^^^^^
Shocked by the intrusion, Gillian took a quick step back. Her eyes glowing red in the dim light of the nearby lamppost. Her eyes widened when she recognized the sharp silver eyes that peering at her from out of the black cape.
“Paloma. Where…How…?” She carefully took another step back.
After Tahlia, Paloma Soleil was one of the most powerful female vampire warriors. They had tangled a few centuries ago and Gillian had come out the loser. She had gone underground hoping to stay out of sight just long enough to let Paloma's ire lessen a bit, before she could confront her again. Now the ancient has resurfaced after almost five centuries of hibernation. Looking at the tall frame of the master vampire and the clothes she was wearing it was obvious that she had only recently came out of hibernation. She was still dressed in leather battle gear which was the general vampire dress code of the 16 th century.
“We still have unfinished business, you and I.” Lifting her hand she pushed down her cloak and the light shone on brittle blond locks. “Now is as good a time as any to finish what we have started then.”
Feeling shiver of fear trickling down her spine, Gillian shook her head.
“I have a business proposition for you, Paloma. I will make you more powerful than you already are.”
A cruel sound, supposedly a laugh, escaped Paloma's lips. “Why would I want to side with a traitor like you? You of all people should know that what you have done warrants the death sentence. You will have to be destroyed and I will do whatever it takes to protect the laws and honor of the Race.” She cast a quick glance to the where the baby was lying looking at them with big blue eyes. “Your intentions towards that baby weren't noble. I could sense your hatred. You were going to kill it just to send a message to whoever you are running away from now.” Taking a threatening step forward, Paloma's hands transformed into claws. “Let's get this over with.”
Rising to the challenge, Gillian went for her sword and took in a battle stance.
“We don't have to do this, Paloma. It is obvious that you've just surfaced and are not strong enough yet. I will cut you down before you have even laid a finger on me.”
The master vampire nodded.
“I can not wait for you try.” A deep red glow flared to life in the silver eyes. Using preternatural speed, Paloma dived towards Gillian catching her off guard.
**********************
“I need to get rid of the bodies, before someone comes along.”
Tahlia gently pushed out of Jemima's embrace and looked down into her lover's pale face. Once the battle was over, Jemima had mutely turned towards her and held onto her with desperation until a few seconds ago. If she didn't have to get rid of the scattered bodies, she would have comforted her a while longer. She looked so fragile and scared and Tahlia almost pulled her close again.
Steeling herself though, she briskly got to work, pulling all the bodies and severed body parts into a heap, before she reached in her jacket and doused the pile with a quick flaming agent. Pointing at the pile with her hand, she visualized a blue flame in her mind and her thought sprang to the life engulfing the pile into quick flames. After a few seconds only a small pile of ashes were left and with a flick of her hand they were scattered to the four winds.
She turned to Jemima and found her staring at her. Her blue eyes looking big in her pale face.
“Come, my love. I'll take you home.” She gathered her in her arms and together they dissolved into mist.