Rob gently nudged Ethel in her hospital bed, wincing in preparation to be hit back, but it never came. She remained unconscious as the monitor beeped around her, it had been two days and Rob was starting to get worried.
"Please don''t kill me for this," Rob whispered, deciding he had to wake her up as soon as possible. If a gentle nudge wasn''t going to do it then it was time for drastic measures, in his mind. His open palm drew back, as he talked himself into swinging.
"Please," he muttered, they needed Ethel now that Zack was gone.
He squeezed his eyes shut and brought his hand down as hard as he could. Ethel''s eye shot open before he could make contact and she seized his wrist with an iron grip.
"Rob," she gasped, looking up at him. "What the hell do you think you''re doing?"
"Oh, thank God," Rob exhaled, collapsing into the chair beside her bed. He ran his fingers through his hair as he tried to figure out where to start. "Jake took Kenzie and left you for dead. Once the police know you are awake they are going to have a ton of questions, and Zack joined Greed," Rob''s voice broke a little.
"Zack did what? Of all the stupid moves he''s made this is...." Ethel sat up in bed, she pulled the IV from her arm with one fluid motion.
"Wait, where are you going?" Rob asked, watching her stumble out of the bed. "Are you sure you''re ready to leave?"
"I''m going to check on Ashley," Ethel retrieved her clothes and headed into the bathroom, "You are going to take me to her room,"
Outside of Ashley''s hospital room, Jessica and Deb arrived. Jessica leaned against the brick wall, stopping Deb before she entered.
"Zack may be in there, but we have to keep this professional. Lust got Kenzie, he''s going to take one more. That needs to be our focus," Jessica said, giving Deb a look that screamed don''t get emotional.
Inside the room, John overheard them talking before turning to Kyle, "Last time Jessica saw you, you just finished killing her friend, Abby," John reminded him. Kyle''s jaw tightened, realizing what Jessica might do if she saw him there.
"Best I go for now," he muttered, slipping into the bathroom before Jessica could catch sight of him.
Ethel followed Jessica and Deb into the room, pale but steadfast, Rob helped to keep her steady. John jumped from his chair, offering it to her with a weak smile, she nodded and took a seat.
"Where is Zack?" Deb looked around seeing everyone else was there.
"I''m sorry but Zack won''t be joining us right now," Ethel replied tersely, sharing a look with Rob. "Jake has Kenzie," She scanned their faces, seeing the questions they didn''t dare voice. "He couldn''t just sit around as he put it, he is out there looking for them,"
"The police are at a loss on this, they''ve called in the RCMP," Jessica stated, "It''s best if we all get out of here before they start asking questions we can''t answer," The group nodded in agreement.
"Then we take Ashley with us," Ethel declared, looking down at her vessel, which was still in a coma.
Rob poked his head out the door to see if the coast was clear, his gaze landed on a familiar figure: an RCMP Field Agent who was leaning over the nurses station and shamelessly trying to flirt. The young man''s eyes caught Rob, and he shot him a smile as he approached.
"Long time no see," the agent greeted, a half-smile playing at his lips as if he anticipated the conversation they were about to have. "I was hoping we could have a chat about Lindsey—sans your signature sarcasm."
"Hope is a wonderful thing," Rob quipped, unable to resist. "Especially when coupled with unrealistic expectations."
"You haven''t changed at all," The agent put an arm around Rob, who was clearly uncomfortable with the whole situation. But wanting to give the others a chance to leave unnoticed, Rob allowed the agent to pull him away to a waiting area down the hall.
"So tell Rob," The agent started, keeping his voice level, as if they didn''t have a history. "Is she drinking again?"
"She doesn''t have a problem," Rob answered, side-stepping the inquiry. "When she was like that it was because she had just lost her brother, she just needed time."
"People can backslide," the agent suggested, scribbling some notes down. "She''s been missing for over a week, I just want to make sure we can narrow down the reason why,"
Rob eyed him skeptically. "And here I thought you were just trying to humiliate your ex. Glad to see you''ve grown up a bit, I sure hope you don''t backslide, Spencer."
Spencer realised that Rob still hadn''t forgotten what had happened all those years ago. This case was going to be messy from start to finish.
---
Meanwhile, Ashley lay still on the couch in the safe house, her breaths shallow. Ethel hovered nearby, hands trembling with uncertainty. John paced behind her, an anger building in him.
"Just sitting here isn''t helping anyone, you need to do something," he spat, letting his anger out. "Kristian and Olivia are gone because you wanted to hide from Greed instead of fight, and Ashley..." His gaze lingered on the frail form on the couch. "She''s slipping away because you were busy making out with Lust."
"John," Ethel started, but he cut her off.
"You''re getting us killed, I thought you took us in to help us. You said we wouldn''t have to hide anymore. Why didn''t you train us to fight back, maybe we would all be here if you did,"
He glared at her, with tears welling in his eyes. Ethel''s mouth felt dry, her convictions suddenly brittle. "I... I don''t know why I didn''t."
John stared at her for a moment before rushing out the door and slamming it behind him, leaving a heavy silence in the room, Ethel whispered to the stillness, "I''m so sorry Ashley. I never meant for any of this." She squeezed the girl''s hand, even as uncertainty gnawed at her.
"I would ignore what John said," Kyle said, stepping into the room, his presence darkening the room. "He''s angry, looking to cast blame and his loyalty has shifted elsewhere. He needed a reason to leave you and follow another."
"You mean Zack," Ethel looked at the sin. "He''s not a Supreme,"
"Correction, He''s not one yet," Kyle reminded her, his tone gentle. "But his power is undeniable,"
---
Across town, within the sanctuary of their apartment, Jessica tried to provide Deb with some semblance of security. "I''m not addicted to my work; I can stop anytime, and it certainly doesn''t affect my social life," she assured her, as it was clear Lust was targeting workaholics.
"He took Kenzie and Lindsey," Deb countered, her eyebrows furrowed in thought. "Lust is making this last round of kills personal."
"Ms. McLeod," Rob interjected, recounting the necklace Zack found at the mill. "We need to go talk to her, She says she wants to keep the balance, right, well Lust winning must be shifting things,"
"Maybe, but lots of civilizations have come and gone," Deb explained biting her lip. "Wiccans don''t save everyone and everything has its time."
"We have to try, she is close to Greed," Rob said, looking at Jessica for some support. "And Greed is scared of Lust, that was pretty clear in the hospital."
"I think before you go, I need to fill you both in on everything I know," Jessica motioned for them to follow her, leading them into her office.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
The map sprawled across Jessica''s desk, each dump site labelled. Jessica traced a line from the university down to the nightclub, her finger pausing at the mill.
"Jake''s never taken a person at random," she declared, looking up at the pair. "He didn''t just kill them on the sites of these frequencies, he took them from them too,"
Deb leaned in, brow knitted. "But why, why are these frequencies important at all?"
"Well, some believe these frequencies can be used to attach supernatural beings to an area. Killing at them increases the call," Her finger tapped a small bakery on the map. "We can set a trap for Lust, we know he is going to take someone from one of these spots on the map, so we set a trap for him on one,"
Rob slumped back, lines of defeat etching his features. "But if we fail won''t Lust has everything he needs? Won''t he win? it''s too risky."
"Which is why I''m bringing the big guns," Jessica patted the holster at her hip. "This fire 45 calibre rounds made from the nails of the cross and blessed by the pope himself,"
"Still," Deb interjected, "We''d be giving Jake everything he wants. I''m with Rob on this one, it feels way too risky."
Jessica rolled her eyes. "One way or another, Jake is going to come and take the last person, at least this way we have some control over the situation."
"I think we need to talk to Ahmed first," Deb suggested.
"Ahmed?" Jessica''s brow furrowed.
"He''s kind of had visions about some of the victims," Rob said, trying not to give too much away. "He might be able to see who Jake''s last target is,"
"Psychic?" Jessica asked, giving Rob a sideways glance.
"Something like that," Rob replied, averting his eyes.
---
Across town, Ethel sat vigil by Ashley’s side, her hand on her wrist to track her pulse. Each raspy breath Ashley drew made Ethel shift uncomfortable in her chair.
"You know there may be a way to save her without Lust," Kyle acted as though an idea had just come to him.
"What do you mean?" Ethel whispered, gently fixing Ashley''s hair. "How can I fix this?" She looked over at Kyle with desperation on her face, Kyle smiled as he prepared to tell her how to cure.
---
Back at the apartment, Jessica raided the cache. The arsenal was a mix of pistols, a crossbow, and Deb''s customized knives.
"Thought you stopped being an exorcist," Rob eyed the assortment of weapons.
"I retired, yes. But I''ve made enemies," Jessica retorted, checking the chamber of her rifle with practiced ease.
"Zack still hasn''t answered any of my texts," Rob muttered, but Jessica cut him off.
"Keep your phone close, regardless. He''s lost, he''s just searching for them. Remember that."
The door swung open and John wandered into the room. He looked over to Rob and then to the massive weapons cache.
"Uh, I don''t know what exactly is going on here," He seemed a little scared by the vast array of vessel-killing devices.
"We''re going after Lust," Jessica said, as if it were obvious. "Do you want in?"
"Hell yeah I want in," John replied, closing the door behind him.
---
Ethel watched Kyle carefully as he stood over Ashley, his eyes filled with something that looked like sorrow.
"Supremes and their vessels share a bond deeper than blood," Kyle began, his eyes locked on Ethel''s hand. "The ones you make, they''re part of you, you shared a piece of your demon with them. They are meant to give their all to you,"
"How exactly does this help me save her," Ethel snapped, her gaze not leaving Ashley''s pained expression. "Are you going to tell me or not?"
"Being a Supreme gives you abilities you can''t even imagine, that spark of power can be transferred," Kyle said, leaning in closer. "You stole yours from me, but you can give it to her to save her life."
"But I wouldn''t be a Supreme anymore," Ethel started to think about the idea.
"Everything comes at a cost," Kyle admitted, his lips curving into a half-smile. "You would forfeit your throne, become a mere vessel again. And there''s a chance... well, you end up giving up more than that,"
"So it could kill me?" Ethel questioned, watching Ashley shiver uncontrollably.
"It all depends on how far gone she is," Kyle answered, watching Ethel closely.
"This is what Lust wanted, isn''t it," she whispered, "He wanted to make sure Greed couldn''t gain more power by adding another supreme to his covenant,"
"I would assume," Kyle watched, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth, he knew Ethel would do anything to save her last vessel.
---
Across town in his quiet bedroom, Ahmed met his mother''s concerned reflection in his doorway. She could still see the small scar on his neck from the blade, she hadn''t let him leave the house since.
"Mom, I''m fine and this room is starting to feel a little bit like a prison," Ahmed pushed gently, he wanted to go out and help his friends.
"Sweetheart, that psychopathic man is still out there," his mother protested, sitting next to him on the bed.
"Mom, I can''t stay in this house forever," Ahmed said, he gave her a small squeeze.
"I''m just worried," his mother sighed, her eyes softening as she looked at him. "You''ve been through so much recently, I worry about you,"
"I will be ok," Ahmed affirmed, looking her in the eyes to show he was ready. "I survived everything that has happened to me. I will be ok," Ahmed went to get up but his mother held on, with a small smile Ahmed sat back down and continued to hold her.
---
Jessica''s hands were steady, the tazer stick a familiar weight as she watched John pace in front of her. Deb leaned against the wall, her dark eyes tracking their movements as they waited for Lust.
"You''re sure you want to do this?" Jessica asked, feigning concern.
"I need to be able to fight like you and Zack," John said, pausing mid-stride, his eyes locked on the cattle prod.
"Then let''s do this," she replied, and with a swift motion, the tazer buzzed to life, connecting with John''s side. His body jerked once before he hit the ground, out cold.
"Jessica! What setting did you—" Deb started, but Jessica was already upon her, the cold metal of the handcuffs clicking around her wrists, pinning her to the bike wrack outside the bakery. Deb''s struggle was instinctive as she tried to slip her wrist out of the cuff.
"Listen," Jessica said, pressing a finger to her lips, "Jake was planning to take someone close to Zack; I''m offering him another option"
Deb, still reeling from the shock, locked eyes with Jessica, searching for some semblance of sanity. "You''re saying he would have taken me,"
"We both know you never for a moment gave up on being an exorcist or protecting Zack, even if it meant harming your relationship with me," Jessica nodded, her gaze suddenly distant as she heard movement from the bakery.
In that split second of distraction, her .45 clattered to the floor, her hand releasing it as though it burned. The door creaked open, and Jake strolled out, smiling down at them.
"Now THIS is a twist," he declared, eyeing Jessica''s abandoned weapon.
---
Meanwhile, in Ahmed''s modestly furnished living room, Rob paced with restless energy while Ahmed sat, brows knitted in confusion and disbelief.
"Zack joined Greed? Voluntarily?" Ahmed shook his head. "Why?"
"Jake took Kenzie," Rob explained, running a hand through his hair. "You didn''t see his face when he did it. He looked like he had nothing left."
"Then what am I supposed to do? We both know I can''t really help when it comes to finding living people," Ahmed exclaimed, frustration lacing his words.
"I know, but remember when Jake tried to kill Leona," Rob leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. "It was because she knew about the frequencies. So if Jake targeted you it must be because he thought you knew something,"
Ahmed''s eyes widened as realization dawned. "You''re right, he had no idea I was a Siren. Not then." Understanding clouded his expression. "But I have no idea what he thought I knew."
---
Back at the bakery, the click of the handcuff breaking echoed sharply, as John''s vessel strength easily broke them. Deb''s relief was palpable as she lunged into his arms, her body shaking with sobs.
"Jessica..." she gasped, trying to pull herself together.
"Shh, I''ve got you," John murmured, wrapping her in his protective embrace.
---
In the safe house, Kyle watched Ethel place her hand on Ashley''s forehead and the other over her heart.
"Once you start this you can''t stop it, Ethel," Kyle warned.
"I was never a good Supreme, but I can do this one good thing," Ethel retorted, taking a deep breath.
"You know Amanda''s deadline is almost here," Kyle pushed, his gaze sharp. "As a mere vessel, you won''t stand a chance against her,"
"Then so be it," Ethel shot back, her determination unwavering. "I handle Amanda even without this power,"
"Sure you can," Kyle said, tilting his head. "I assume you''ll be taking Ashley somewhere safer than this, you know so Amanda doesn''t kill her too. It would real waste of power if you didn''t,"
Ethel rolled her eyes, turning her attention back to Ashley, it had to be done. She closed her eyes, focusing inward on her aura. She was searching for the spark of power inside herself, ready to give it away.
---
Ahmed tapped his phone screen with a frown creasing his forehead. The silence from Brian wasn''t normal, filling him with unease. He typed out another text message, hoping Brian might know why Jake had targeted him. The text remained unread, with no reassuring bubbles of an incoming reply.
"Damn it, Brian," he muttered, shoving the device into his pocket, While Rob sat next to him.
The ping of an incoming text filled the silence. Not Brian—but John. Ahmed''s heart skipped as he read the message: *Jessica''s been taken by Jake.* He gave Rob a worried look as he texted back for more details.
"Rob! Man, keep it together!" Rob''s own voice echoed strangely in his ears, but it didn''t sound like him, It sounded off and wrong.
---
In the chill of the cave, Jessica''s senses snapped to attention. Her chest rose sharply with the intake of the damp, earthy air. The hard ground beneath her, the jagged stone wall digging into her side. Lindsey''s gaze met hers, as she sat herself up.
"I know you," Lindsey observed, tone flat with resignation.
"We may have crossed paths the odd time," Jessica grunted, tugging at her restraints. She twisted her wrists, causing them to loosen, before she slipped her hands out. A mental inventory began. Ankle knife? Gone. Sleeve blade? Absent. Switchblade? Also missing.
"Jake was thorough," Kenzie chimed in, as she watched Jessica check her pockets. "He took everything."
"Everything visible," Jessica corrected under her breath, her fingers inching toward her jacket lining.
Then Jake was there. he was all smiles as he noticed Jessica had escaped from her bonds. "Looking for this?" he asked, pulling the tazer from his pocket with a flourish. His smile widened as he dangled it just out of reach. "I have to say, I''m impressed with your arsenal."
"You should see how I use it, I''d be happy to give you a demonstration" Jessica quipped, looking Jake dead in the eye.
"I wish we had the time for it," he retorted with a chuckle.
"How much time do we have?" Jessica asked.
"I''m just waiting for a new moon," Jake said, pocketing the tazer. "I''m afraid I have bigger fish to fry,"
"You won''t beet Greed, you pushed Zack right to him," Jessica explained.
"I''m not worried about him, I have my own plan to take of that problem," Jake replied, turning on his heel and leaving her with the echo of his footsteps.