Bloodsong Ch. 01

Nicolai seemed to mull that over. Valerie could almost see the notion take root in his mind and dig its way in. She knew he knew that what she had said was believable and made sense, and the reason it did was that it was true. Jack was the one who cared about her, in his own sick and twisted way. The game of cat and mouse they had been playing for the last seven years was theirs and theirs alone. Nicolai was just the guy who loomed over Jack's shoulder while he attempted to deliver intimidating speeches, and although he wouldn't say a word about it, he'd resent it immensely if his best friend turned out to be the first to get his hands on her. Nicolai seemed to have reached a similar conclusion, because he gestured at his cronies to stand aside before returning his attention to her, his face grim and serious.

"Go. And don't even think about dropping him off in the desert, you bitch."

"Wouldn't dream of it." She already had a far better place in mind. "Here's to hoping we never meet again." Something she knew he would support wholeheartedly, even if he'd never breathe a word about it. Which he didn't.

With a wide, cheerful smile, Valerie marched towards temporary freedom, dragging her prey behind her.

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The body had been left in the gardens of the manor, hidden inside a shrubbery. They walked towards it as quickly as they could without drawing attention, which turned out to be easier than expected. It was barely dawn. Not even the house-slaves were up yet, and everyone else was inside, either asleep or passed out. Valeriana led the way, twitching nervously while she walked. When they reached the spot, she parted the bushes and took a step back to allow Jack to observe her handiwork. He gave the body a quick once-over, craned his neck to examine the detached head, hmmd to himself and whistled.

"An accident, you say?" She gave him a stiff nod. "Granted, I haven't killed that many people, but I'd think you'd need to put at least some effort in biting somebody's head off. It doesn't sound like a thing that can just happen by chance."

"I know it doesn't!" she cried. "It just...I don't...didn't..."

"So you two were making out and you got a bit too excited?"

"No!" Without warning, she burst into tears and flung herself at him. Jack grabbed her, looking somewhat stunned. When her pitiful sobs reached a crescendo, he put his arms around her and patted her awkwardly on the shoulder. "Oh...oh gods, what am I going to do? I never meant for this to...father will kill me." There wasn't a doubt in her mind about that being true. Out of his four daughters she had always been his least favorite, and with good reason. Ruining the match he'd worked so hard to bring to fruition, and in the way she had, would be the last drop for him. "Or...or I'll be denounced to the High Council, and they'll arrest me and..."

"Why did you do it?" Jack asked at last, when she stopped shaking long enough to be able to breathe normally. "It just doesn't seem like you. If it was done in self-defense..."

She shook her head sadly.

"It wasn't. Not in a way father or the Council or anybody else would accept as such. He just wanted to take what...what he was entitled to have. Never buy a new toy without testing it first, he said. I...I told him I wasn't sure...that we ought to wait 'til...but then he came at me and threw me on the ground and I just...I panicked and..." Was she imagining things, or had he just gripped her waist a little bit tighter? "...and now he's dead and I don't know what I'm supposed to..."

"You did the right thing, though I wish you hadn't killed him." Something dark and angry flashed through his eyes, but when she lifted her puffy pink face to stare at him, it was already gone. "I'd very much have liked to end him myself, and wouldn't have gotten in nearly as much trouble for it. Still, what's done is done. Here." He searched his pockets and took her hand, gently prying her stiff fingers from her palm before dropping something cold on it. "My car's keys. It's parked somewhere on the end of the lane outside the gates. Drive it to Blackburn Hill and ask to speak with my aunt Marabeth. She's bound to leave Barashi in a few days; tell her I said she has to take you along."

"L...leave Barashi? But I..."

"It's the only way to ensure your safety. Don't worry, she'll look after you. And wipe your tears," he commanded. She obeyed without thinking, though she couldn't prevent herself from sniffling a bit as she did. "There, much better. Now go. I'll join you on Earth as soon as things have calmed down."

"Wait. Earth?" He released her and heaved a sigh.

"Earth, yes. Now hurry, before someone else comes along."

"Yes. Of course." Impulsively, she stood up on her tiptoes and deposited a chaste kiss on his cheek. "I know I don't say it too often, but you are a good friend, Jack. Thank you. I'll remember this forever."

"Yes, yes. As if I'd ever let you forget about it."

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Westmont was framed by sea on the southern and eastern side, and by desert on all others. Valerie reached the road as the sun was about to set, which was just as well. The jeep she had stolen was sturdy and unobtrusive enough to suit her purposes – and moreover, had a full tank -, but came with nothing resembling air-conditioning, or even a fan, and she didn't much care to travel under a burning sun. The trip would be uncomfortable enough as it was, she thought, sneaking a look at the figure slumped on the seat next to hers. Jack was still sound asleep and looked disarmingly innocent, seeing as he wasn't busy trying to chop her into interestingly shaped pieces. At times like that, she could almost remember what her old self had seen in him; something that could be redeemed, instead of needing to be cleansed with fire.

Valerie drove with one hand on the wheel and the other on the sword, while the sky turned orange and purple and Westmont became a distant blur. It was a nerve-wracking experience, to be sure. Without knowing how strong the dosage she'd administered had been, there was no telling how soon he would wake up, and she intended to cover as much distance as possible until he did. Ideally, she'd reach her hideout before then and leave him restrained there for Nicolai to find, which would save her from having to exchange words with the bastard. After the day she'd had, chatting with the enemy was the last thing on her mind. All she wanted was a warm meal – she had last eaten before arriving and discovering about the takeover, which had been roughly a day ago – a warm bath, a fluffy bed to fall onto, and to be able to reorganize her thoughts and plan. Seeing as the last one happened to be the only option she could take care of while on the road, she stared ahead and pondered.

After lamenting how little intel she had about the happenings of the last days, she reached an unsavory conclusion.

She'd have to talk to him after all.

Jack would possess all kinds of inside information that she'd need, if she intended to rescue her companions and drive the invaders out of town. Now that she had escaped unharmed, the task was starting to look much simpler than she'd thought. Marabeth had been the biggest treat her group had faced over the last seven years. With the evil bitch gone and her chosen replacement sitting oblivious next to her, things were bound to pan out in their favor. She couldn't hope to face the entire horde alone, but once she found and freed the others, getting them to leave would be child's play. Their present lack of a competent leader – Nicolai was just a windbag on legs, and everyone else would be busy fighting for the position instead of trying to strengthen it – would give them the window of opportunity they needed to attack and obliterate the enemy once and for all. They'd just need to act fast.

"Well, Jack," she mused, turning to the side and hitting the gas pedal. He couldn't hear her, of course, but that was irrelevant. "I guess we are going on a road trip!"