4: Flashbacks

Qualina left that night promising to bring back the elixirs needed to transform Jolie.
 Jolie was slightly nervous, as was Jack, however he knew this was the only way they could move forward with their lives.
 If Jolie could access their information systems, she could delete their files and send Kraven off their trail by leaving false clues to their location...

 Jack took a seat at the small dining table. He hadn't slept properly for weeks, and his eyelids grew heavy.
'Jack, why don't you go to bed?' he heard Jolies voice in the distance. It sounded like she was in a corridor and her voice was bouncing towards him.
 He finally let his body take over, and he closed his eyes to embrace the darkness of sleep...

***

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
 Screams. Ear piercing screams could be heard along the east corridor of the Coven mansion. Jack immediately stood up from his desk and checked the clock on the wall.
 1am.
It was the time of night that the mansion was most busy. Were the screams serious? Or just some of the new kids messing around?
 Jack slowly opened the door of his room and looked down the corridor. The door to the left study was wide open and he could hear sobs from inside.

This was strange.
The sobs sounded so much more distorted in his dream than they had on the actual night. It was creepy.
 He stepped through the door of the left study not knowing what to expect. But what he saw was beyond anything he could of imagined anyway...

A young vampire with flame red hair lay face down on the ground. She was dead.
 Jack felt sick to his stomach. What on earth had happened here? His pulse quickened as he scanned the room.
'Leon!' Jack shouted.
 His best friend lay on the floor clutching his chest. Jack knew he wasn't going to make it. He had been stabbed in the heart, and there was no recovering from this.

Jack knelt beside his best friend. He looked into the eyes of the only man he had ever dared trust or even consider to be a friend.
 Leon let out a small smile and coughed.
 'Told you you'd outlive me Jacko,'
'Leon, what happened? Who did this?' Jack began to sob.
That night had started out like any other, now he was losing his best friend.
'K-k-'
Then Leon closed his eyes for the last time. His body went limp under Jack's touch.
'No! Leon!'
 ' Please help me!' another voice whispered from behind him.

Jack turned to see Adele on the floor. She didn't look injured, but she looked extremely scared and in terrible shock.
 'Here take my hand,'

Jack helped Adele to a sitting position.
 He was shaking so much he could barely hold her up. Who had done all of this? Why? And why had nobody else come running to the screams?

'Who did this Adele?'

'I don't know,' she replied. Her voice was barely there. Jack noticed a slash on the top of her head that was healing at a rapid pace thanks to her being a vampire.

'I wasn't facing the person when they came in, I only got a blow around the head. Everything went black, and now I've just opened my eyes to two of our Coven dead.' She began to sob in fear and shock.
 Jack pulled her close to him and kissed her head.
 'Its going to be okay Adele, I promise,'

***

Jack let out a small whimper in his sleep which caused Jolie to tap him. But he was still in such a deep sleep, nothing she did would wake him...

***

'You wanted to see me Adele?'

Jack sat on the sofa in Adele's room and looked at his surrounding. Everything in this room was so girly. Typical Adele.
 It had been a week since the murders.
Jack and Adele had left the study that night and gone to Kraven their Coven leader. He had hired extra security around the mansion and promised that the case would soon be solved.

'Yes I did,' she replied. She stepped from behind the bed wearing....well....barely anything.

'I just realised I never really said thank you for the other night. You made me feel so much better that night and I don't know what I would have done if you were not there,'

'Well... in a way I wish I wasn't there. But I'm glad I helped you,'

Adele moved towards him. What was her plan?
 Jack couldn't help but enjoy the view. He had not seen a woman like this since Claudia passed away. His lack of sleep and food also meant concentrating on something other than Adele was pretty impossible. He had no energy to look away. At least that is what he told himself.

Adele moved over to sit next to Jack on the sofa.
 She knew she was sexy and she always used it to get her own way. But this time Jack gave her the benefit of the doubt. She had suffered with him that night, and he knew they would always have an emotional bond because of that.

'Have you fed this week?' she asked. She placed an arm around him as a comforting and kind gesture.
 Jack replied with a shake of the head. Food wasn't on his mind right now.

'Why don't you have a lie down?' she suggested. 'You look like death... excuse the expression.'
 'On your bed?' he asked
'If you like,' she smiled back.
Jack stood and moved towards her bed. The sheets smelt of her perfume and the musky warmness of her body.
 Her body... mmmmm.
Adele moved next to him.
 'I've been so scared since that night last week. I haven't slept either,'
'We wouldn't make a fixed vampire if you placed both of us together,' chuckled Jack. He was glad of some company, and the fact she was wearing pink lace only made the situation even better.

He placed his hands on her waist and behind and pulled her closer.
'Stay with me tonight,' she breathed.
Jack smiled and gave her a squeeze in response.
She let out a girly squeal and giggle and pulled him towards her.

'Promise this won't get weird between us,' Jack said. He looked at her pale green eyes. Now he understood why all the male occupants of the mansion wanted to get into this room. She was gorgeous. He looked down to where the top of her nightie began.
 His desires grew and he could feel himself getting flustered.

'I promise,' she replied.

She placed her hand in the back of his hair and pulled him upwards to meet her lips.
 Oh my.

She tasted so good. Her warm breath caressed his cheek as he kissed her, each time getting more and more greedy with his mouth.
 Eventually he felt her tongue meet his. She had fed less than hours ago, he could still taste the blood in her mouth.
 That pushed him over the edge, and before he knew it he was peeling off her pink lace...
'Jack,' she breathed.
'Jack...Jack...Jack...'

***

'Jack?!'

Jack woke up in shock and sat bolt upright. Jolie's voice had invaded his dream and caused him to return to the present day.

'You were moaning in your sleep...' she said.
Jack felt embarrassed of his aroused state and headed towards the door.
  He needed some air.

3: The Pink Visitor

'Qualina?!' gasped Jolie.
 She couldn't believe her eyes. Qualina was her best friend within their Coven. She was extremely brainy, and Jolie was jealous of that. If it wasn't her individual looks that attracted Jack, she at least prayed it could be intelligence.
 Qualina narrowed her eyes and stepped through the doorway.
How did she find us? Jolie thought.

 'Do you have any idea what you've done?' yelled Qualina. Her face showed nothing but rage and concern.
 Jack was sitting on the sofa with his head in his hands.
  Coward.

'Qualina? H-h-how did you find us?' Jolie stammered. She was confused and scared. If Qualina has found them its only a matter of time until the rest did.
 'I told you I'm not just a pretty face Jolie. I've been tracking you since you left. I knew something was wrong that last week you spent at the mansion,'
'You had no right,' Jack spat his words towards her like daggers. He was furious. He needed to know he had full control over the situation, and letting somebody find them poked holes in that security he needed.

'Come here Qualina,' Jolie pulled her best friend close and almost cried with relief. She was so scared and seeing her best friend came more as a comfort than a shock.

'You stupid girl Jolie. I don't know why you're risking your own life for this guy,'
'I am still in the room pinky,'
'Yes I know, and its very unfortunate,'
'Ladies!' snapped Jolie.
 Qualina and Jack narrowed their eyes at each other. They had never been the best of friends.
 'Sit down Jolie, I need to talk to you both,'

Jolie walked over to the sofa to face Jack. She knew she was only assisting what had happened that night at the mansion, but she knew she was still as good as dead if they found her. Well... technically she was already dead.
 Qualina parked her behind next to Jolie, trying to avoid eye contact with Jack. She hated him for dragging Jolie into all of this. If she could teleport to the night that Claudia died, she would of happily grabbed the steak from her killer and done it herself. Claudia was the reason for all of this...

Everyone fell silent as they sat down.
 'They're onto you both,' Qualina spoke softly as the broke the silence.
Jack moved his hand along his jaw bone and stared at one spot on the sofa in deep thought.
 How could I have let this happen? If Jolie gets caught.. I'll never forgive myself. I can't lose someone all over again.

'How?' asked Jolie.
 She was sick of waiting around for them to find her. She couldn't live like this forever.
'They've sent out undercover vamps all over the nearest towns to the mansion. Luckily for you, I managed to hack into the system and I know they haven't searched here yet.'
'But...?' continued Jack.
 He knew it was only a matter of time.
 'But,' she moved on 'it won't be long until they do. I suggest you both move again.'
Jolie grunted.
'How long are we going to have to keep running? Away from the Vampire community our knowledge of that night means nothing,'
'I don't think Kraven is willing to take that risk,' Qualina looked down. She knew they would be caught eventually. Kraven would stop at nothing to protect his authority and power.
 He is the leader of their Coven, and has been for the past 700 years.

'So what do we do from here?' Jack finally let words escape his mouth.
'I don't know,' replied Qualina.
'Well thanks for the warning and brilliant advice pinky, but I think we'll be fine,'
'Jack!' Jolie frowned and stared at the man she loved. 'Qualina could be punished for her action of coming here tonight, if they ever found out. The very least you could do is be grateful for her loyalty.'
 'I do apologize,' he looked down as he spoke. This was so out of character for him.

'The only thing I can suggest is to get you back into the mansion and try to snoop around the files related to your search,'
 Jolie closed her eyes. She knew her best friend would come up with a crazy idea like this.
'Thats ridiculous Qualina! They would recognize me in an instant,'
'Thats the thing,' she replied 'I've been working on my alchemy skills. I've managed to create an elixir to change your body shape,'
'Go on...'
'Well, if we changed the way you look very drastically you would easily get in if you kept your head down, the last place they expect you to be is right under their noses!'

 'She has a very good point,' Jack lifted his head up.
All three vampires looked at each other with a small smile.
 'Lets do this,'

2: Intimacy

When they arrived back home Jolie went to their sleeping room. She felt exhausted.
 Jack was her maker, meaning she had a stronger bond with him than any other vampire. Their bond was strong, but the past few years it had frayed at the edges.
 They were not a couple, or committed to each other in any way, other than him being her maker. They had slept together once, on a night that was by far the best of Jolie's vampire life. The connection she felt to him that night was amazing. Her veins were on fire and her mind was in another world. How he held her so gentle, yet he moved with force and passion.
 They never spoke about that night.
 She knew that to him it was a mistake, and he promised her it would never happen again. She knew Jack was in love once. A vampire named Claudia. She was his world, his passion, his reason for carrying on. Until that awful day...

He told Jolie that she reminded him of her, which broke her heart, to think this may be the only reason he sticks around. She almost plays the shadow of Claudia, which fills the dark hole within Jack.

Her thoughts were interrupted when Jack walked into the room.

'What are you thinking about Jolie? Your shoulders are tensed, and I know that means one thing,'
'I'm thinking about us... and home, and -'
'This is home now,' Jack shot back.
 His abruptness irritated Jolie. She was not a child, and she certainly wasn't going to be spoken to like one.
'You have no idea what I'm thinking Jack. You have no idea who I am, what I'm feeling, what my dreams are, and you certainly don't give a damn about finding out either,'
'Don't be ridiculous Jolie.'
'I'm not,'
 Two could play at the sharp sentence game.

Jack pulled on her waist to twist her towards him. His touch felt comforting, which went against all of her feelings two minutes ago. She loved him. There was no avoiding it.
 'You know I hate it when you say things like that Jojo,'
'Jojo? You haven't used that name since...'
'Since before that night we were together, I know.'
'Why are you so cold when it comes to that night? Do you regret it? Ever since, you've been so distant and formal with me, and that's not the Jack I fell-'

 She cut off. She wasn't about to argue with him and then tell him she loved him. No. This wasn't the right time or place.
 His hand felt so nice resting on her waist.

Jack pulled her closer and pressed his face into the tamed waves of her hair.
 'I do not regret that night Jolie,'
'Then why won't you talk about it?'
'Well, if you really want to know, its because I didn't want to hurt you. That night, when we were dancing in the Coven mansion, you looked so beautiful. You reminded me so much of Claudia that night and I-'
'What?!'
'This is why I can't tell you Jojo!'
'Don't you dare call me Jojo,'

'How could you look at me and take me to your room, the whole time thinking about her! You never slept with me that night Jack, you slept with her.'
'No I didn't Jolie, it was you and I-'
'I don't want to hear it. I am on the run because of something I did to defend your ass, so don't you dare try to pull wool over my eyes with your lies. You are acting just like your father.'

'Don't you dare mention my father!'

Jolie was so angry. All this time that night meant nothing to him. Nothing at all. She thought back to the night that they danced together just before it happened. She was so in love with this man, and the way he looked at her made her stomach flip.
 She remembered she was wearing her dark pink dress that night.

They both stood in silence. Both of them radiating anger and love. Two raw emotions that blended together to create lust. Their eyes burned into one another and Jolie felt herself relax that little too much...

Knock knock knock.

They were not expecting any visitors. They hadn't made any new friends in the town yet.
 Their desires would have to wait for now.

Jolie moved over to the front window and peered out hesitantly.

 'Oh my,' she breathed.
'You're never going to believe who it is...'

1: Hiding

Jolie felt relaxed. It was a feeling she wasn't used to, to say the least. She closed her eyes and focused on the  feeling of Jacks body against her back. But this was harder than she thought.

Images flooded into her mind without warning..

  Rain, rain, rain, a clap of thunder and the panting of her ragged breathing. She didn't need to breathe, so the action was extremely alien. Something she hadn't done for around 160 years. Damp vegetation slapped against her legs as she ran.... running....running. Where was she going? She had no idea. She looked at the stars above her, praying that she wasn't caught.
 A rustle behind her caused her to push harder. Her throat was burning, and she was still breathing....

'Jolie?'
'Huh?' She opened her eyes and realized she was breathing once again. An action so human that she felt embarrassed. There were to be no weaknesses shown to Jack.
'You were breathing...really heavily,' he turned her head towards him and glanced down at her shining eyes.
 Darn.

She didn't know what to say or do. The flashback came as such a shock to her, she was stunned.

'The sun has set, do you want to take a walk?' he asked.
She smiled at him, showing her fangs just a little bit. Jack had always liked her smile, it was like she was up to no good, which he liked...

'That would be great, I need to get out of this house.'

They slowly walked in silence towards the beach. None of them needed words to express how they were feeling. They were anxious and scared. Of course Jack didn't let this show. He kept a brave face for her sake, and his own.

When they arrived at the beach, Jack inhaled sharply, which caught Jolie off guard. Why was he doing this? Was he feeling sorry for her? This annoyed her so she inhaled sharply to show it.
 Jack smirked and Jolie couldn't help but break a smile. It was the first time she had in weeks.

'We're going to be okay Jack, right?'
 He didn't say anything. Instead he grabbed her and kissed her hard. Almost like she was hope, and he was gripping onto it with every part of his being.

'They won't find us,' he finally said, 'I promise.'