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Romantic Executions: Continued	By : PrettySin Category: Anita Blake > Het Views: 3495 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Anita Blake series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 42
- 43
- 44
Alright… this site is fucking up the spelling and grammar of this story every time I post. Rest assured that when I put the document in the ‘type box’ that it’s as perfect as I can get it. *Sigh* Hope you can understand what was meant.

Oh yeah… Property of Laurell K. Hamilton… not us. Bluh.
********************

Artou lounged against the car door, watching as Aahz struggled with her bag. She didn't know he was there, of course. If she did, she'd be hurrying to her car, not dawdling. As it was, he was well encased in shadows, the car he was leaning against hidden by a tree. The lamp above him hadn't been used in quite some time, it was obvious in the layer of grime that covered its surface. If she looked hard enough, she'd see the faint flash of his eyes or hair, but that was only if she looked.

Oh, she'd been careful enough in the past months, having caught him following her several times. But there were times like these, where he was permitted to just sit back and watch her. It was beginning to become an obsession, following her. At first it had just been orders. Find Jean-Claude's human servant, follow her, and drive her from town. Use any methods. Someone at the top wanted Jean-Claude out of power, but that wasn't why Artuo was following the woman around. He'd been doing this for years, after all. He had it down to a perfect art, by now, and he enjoyed it.

'Any methods', they'd said. He smirked, the expression lost in the dark. How he did love his methods... He pushed off of the car as Aahz opened her car door and disappeared. He moved into the half-light, and caught a flicker of movement from the inside of her car. Good. She'd seen him. He bowed low, straightening his back only when he heard her car start.

It wouldn't be long now. Not long at all...

**********

Aahz double-checked that the doors and windows of her childhood home were shut and locked. There was no entrance... and the blessed cross she'd hung over the door should help. A bit.

She shivered. That... vampire... had been following her for three months. At first, she'd thought she'd been dreaming... making it up... but she wasn't. The bastard had bowed to her.... and it was scaring her. She swallowed. She's ask Jean. And he hadn't returned any of her messages thus far, as painful as that was.

Tonight... she'd pull him into a dream. She'd speak to him there. She couldn't take this fear any longer.

**********

Jean-Claude was shaking his head as he entered the dream. Non! He knew what was happening, and he did not like it. Not one bit. He opened his eyes in the dream, taking in the landscape... if one could call it a landscape, he thought scathingly. He pushed back the feeling of guilt, focusing on the tight ball of bitterness and anger that had formed inside of him.

Aahz knew she was in the dream now, but fear still pulled at her. "Jean?"

"My name is Jean-Claude. You would do well to remember that." He crossed his arms over his chest, a scowl threatening to break through his mask.

She jerked, feeling as if she'd been cut. "I... I need to talk with you. You weren't returning my messages-"

"And do you not think there is a reason for that?" He asked, his voice cold.

"Jean...Claude.... I don't... I don't understand but I'm being fol-" He cut her off again.

"Being a fool?" He snorted softly. "Non. I can understand that perfectly."

Aahz felt her eyes sting. "I'm serious... Jean, I'm sc-"

Jean-Claude let his arms drop to his sides, "Will you desist? You know my name, Aahz. I would appreciate if you would use it instead of persisting with this ridiculous pet name!"

She jerked harder as she felt something slice at the skin above her left breast. "I'm only asking you to listen to me... please...."

His voice was no longer harsh, but soft, nearly vulnerable. "I stopped listening when you did, Aahz. I am through. I can handle no more at this present moment.”

"Jean, I'm sorry... I just-"

"Non." He shook his head, his walls slamming back into place. In the dream, the landscape changed, walls surrounding the place where Jean-Claude had stood. "You wished space, Aahz." His voice floated from everywhere at once. "Take it." The walls collapsed, leaving empty air in their place.

She awoke, gasping as tears ran down her temples, something warm and wet spreading on her left breast. Aahz sobbed, curling into a ball. She'd killed it. Killed any chance of them being together. She ached as the sobs wracked her body. She wanted it to end. She wanted to die. She wanted Jean... her love... and she wanted this fear to stop... she wanted this to end.

Aahz swallowed. No. If it ended for her, it would for him. Jean-Claude would die in truth, and she couldn't bear that. Biting her lip, she blinked, noting for the first time the red stain spreading on the front of her nightgown.

**************

Forrest unlocked the front door with the spare key Misty had literally thrown at him. She'd had her second appointment, and she hadn't called him afterwards. She hadn't answered the door when he'd knocked, either. Taking a deep, unneeded breath, he stepped into the room, braced for the worst.

The house was dark, despite the fact that her car sat in the driveway.

"Princess?" His voice was soft, hesitant, but it carried in the hushed silence of the house.

A soft sob was heard from her bedroom.

Forrest tossed the key in the general direction of the couch, shutting the front door behind him and hurrying towards the bedroom. Please, please let it be okay...

She sobbed louder, curled in a small ball in the middle of the bed.

He moved to the bed silently, crawling to sit next to her. "Princess...?"

She didn't move, didn't respond though her sobbing seemed to grow worse if possible.

"Misty..." He reached out to touch her, resting a hand tentatively on her shoulder.

She swallowed before screaming into the mattress, clawing at her hair.

Screaming in pain and frustration... fear and anger. Screaming.

Forrest winced but didn't pull back, instead pulling his screaming lover to him, wrapping his arms around her in a gentle embrace. Fucking hell... He shut his eyes, trying hard not to scream himself.

Misty continued to cry for minutes... maybe hours until she had nothing left to give, her body and spirit exhausted. "Lymphoma... and breast..."

He blinked his eyes open, stilling the soothing rocking motion he'd started at some point in her distressed hysterics. "What?"

She sniffed, pulling back. "Lymphoma. Cancer in my nervous system. Breast cancer..." She swallowed. "They're going to try chemo but..."

"But it's not likely to help." He finished, his shoulders sagging slightly. There was no way this was possible. No fucking way.

"I'm sorry." Her throat ached, and she shivered. "I'm so sorry..."

He shook his head, "It's not you're fault, Princess..." He stared blankly down at the blankets. They were going to try chemo. He remembered what it had done to his Aunt Mary... Killed small parts of her at a time... She'd died anyway, though her death had self-inflicted. Either way, he didn't want to see small bits of the woman he loved die, or all of her, for that matter. Unless... Aahz's words came back to him, and he looked up, eyes still vacant. "I've got an idea."

Misty swallowed. "What?"

Forrest ran a hand through his hair, "If we... well, I, turned you... The cancer would freeze..."

"Turned me?" She tilted her head. God, she couldn't think.

He swallowed, "Made you a vampire."

Misty looked at him, biting her lip.

He looked down, shrugging. "I... Sorry. Maybe I shouldn't have suggested it..."

"Do you think Mel would understand?"

He blinked, looking up again. "Most likely. If we explained the circumstances..."

Misty swallowed. "I don't want to die Forrest... not truly... I'm not ready to leave you or Mel..."

"I'm not ready for you to leave me either." Forrest shifted, wrapping her up in a hug. "And I highly doubt Mel's ready to lose you."

Misty buried her damp face in the crook of his neck. "How?"

He rested his cheek against her hair, explaining the process to the best of his knowledge.

Misty swallowed again. "I want Mel to know everything... I won't lie..."

Forrest nodded, "I wasn't expecting you to."

"I know I just... I can't think..." She bit her lip. "Kiss me... please... make me forget?"

He cupped her cheek, his thumb stroking her cheekbone in the way that only lover's can really master. "I love you."

She swallowed. "I love you too."

He leaned down, brushing his lips over hers.

She clung to him, holding onto him as if he was the only thing she had left.

He cradled her against his chest, keeping the kiss light. It wasn't until much later that they parted.

***********

Melissa sat cross-legged on the couch, tilting her head at Forrest and Misty. They were seated across from her, one in each of the lazy chairs. She knew what they wanted to ask her, it was pretty obvious. They wouldn't be fixing her with that weird penetrating look unless they had something important to interrogate her about. And as she'd already made sure it wasn't about Darien...

"Mel... hun..." Misty swallowed, her throat still sore from her screaming.

"Yeah?"

Forrest glanced at Misty. "This is important... but we don't want you to flip out, okay?"

Melissa shrugged, "I already know what you want. It's okay. I don't mind."

Misty blinked. "What we want?"

"Yeah. You want to get married, right?" The young were shrugged, "Like I said, I don't mind. I think it'd be really cool, actually."

Misty felt her eyes tear up, and she looked down as a sob welled her throat. God... what a fairy tale...

Forrest reached over and took Misty's hand, shaking his head. "No... It's not that, Mel."

Melissa frowned, "Then what is it?"

Misty took a deep breath, meeting her sister's eyes. "I've got cancer... breast... and lymphoma."

Melissa blinked, clearly not understanding what it was Misty had said. Then it clicked, and Forrest watched as Melissa's face crumbled. "Are you sure? It could be something else..." Please let it be something else...

Misty started to cry, moving to hug her sister. "I'm sorry sweetie... I wanted... I wish but..."

Melissa bit her lip, hugging Misty back. It had to be something different. It had to... She couldn't lose Misty now!

"I..." Misty swallowed, rubbing Mel's back. "Forrest... had an idea..."

"What... kind of idea?" The question that would normally have held innuendo was flat, and Forrest stood, moving over to them.

Misty kissed her sister's temple, brushing her hair back. "Forrest? I..."

Forrest sat on the couch next to Melissa, not quite touching, but close. "If Misty was turned... if she became a vampire, her physical body would technically die. The cancer wouldn't be able to go anywhere. It'd freeze."

Melissa looked up, her face dry and eyes over-bright. "You want to make my sister a vampire?"

"I'd still be here, Mel." Misty bit her lip. "Right now... they want me to try chemo... but I've researched this... and the type I have... I'm not going to get better..."

Melissa looked down, swallowing hard. "If Misty wants to... go ahead."

"Mel... if you're not... I'm not ready to die." Misty hugged herself. "I'm not... I'll lose you... and Forrest... I can't..."

Melissa bit her lip again, shutting her eyes. This couldn't be happening. She wanted to go back to when everything was normal... when everyone was happy...

Forrest sighed, "Mel... I don't know how else to convince you... I don't want to let go of Misty any more than you do."

"Forrest, I gave my opinion, okay?" Melissa kept her head lowered, forcing the words out. "I don't want to lose Misty, and if this'll save her, then do it."

"I'm sorry." Misty pulled her legs up to her chest, hugging herself. "I'm..." She buried her face in her knees.

Melissa raised her head slowly, shaking her head, "It's okay. Well.... it's not okay, but it's not your fault..." She reached over, hugging her sister. "I've... got to go. Moon's all tomorrow-ish, and I need to get ready..."

Misty nodded, hugging her sister back. "Love you, Mel."

"Love you too." Melissa stood slowly, moving in the direction of her bedroom.

Misty looked at Forrest, crawling to him. She needed to be held.

***********

Darien stood tall next to the Ulfric, trying to ignore the stares of the rest of the pack. Something was wrong with Melissa... and she wasn't talking... He glanced back up at Richard as he started talking.

Melissa kept her gaze on the ground, listening with half an ear as Richard introduced Darien. Both Jason and Stephen had tried to cheer her up, figure out what was wrong, and tickle it out of her, and both had gone away confused. Darien had asked what was wrong, and she'd ignored him. She looked up as Richard finished speaking, and blinked as he turned to Grace. Oh. The pregnancy/wedding thing.

Grace smiled at her fiancé, stepping up next to him.

Richard slipped an arm around her waist, smiling back. "We've got an announcement to make."

"Announcement, announcement, ann-oun-cement..." Jason singsonged from behind Melissa, "Here we sit like birds in the wilderness, birds in the wilderness, birds in the wilderness... Here we sit like birds in the wilderness, waiting for the news..."

She turned slightly and glared at him. "Shut up, Jason." He held up his hands in surrender, taking a step back. Whoa. Someone was in tune with their bitch-side today...

Darien frowned at Melissa. That wasn't like her... at least not what he'd seen of her.

Grace looked at Melissa who was trying to stare down Jason. "Everyone's attention. We're only saying this once."

Melissa sighed, turning around again. Why did she have to listen? She'd already heard it...

Grace's look sharpened. She'd have to talk with the teenager.

Darien cursed inwardly. Melissa was in trouble now.

"The Ulfric and I... are going to have a baby."

Melissa looked away from the Lupa, tuning out again as the Pack first murmured, then nearly roared their consent.

Richard watched Melissa out of the corner of his eye for a moment before returning his attention to the Pack at large. She was the only one not cheering. Something was definitely wrong.

Grace squeezed her fiancé. "Richard... they need to greet Darien."

Darien furrowed his brow, still clapping.

Melissa actually stepped back as Richard said the words that allowed the other Pack members to surge forward to greet Darien. This wasn't fair... None of it was.

Grace waited until the Pack had calmed, its members crowding around Darien before she slipped away from Richard, moving towards Melissa.

If the younger were knew the Lupa was approaching, she made no sign of it, staring at the ground as if it had some particularly interesting secret to tell.

"Melissa."

She jerked slightly, looking up. "Yeah?"

Grace took a deep breath. She wouldn't snap. "What's wrong?"

"Everything."

"Melissa... I can't help if you won't talk to me."

Melissa shook her head, crossing her arms over her stomach. "Has it ever occurred to you that maybe I don't want to talk?"

Grace opened her mouth to reply but was cut off by Richard.

"Sure, it occurred to us." Richard stood next to his Lupa, frowning slightly. "But it's clear you need to talk. Start talking."
"
No."

Grace fought the urge to growl, her eyes flashing. "Now, Melissa. You will not disrespect your superiors. And you will not start fights with those of higher rank in the pack."

"I didn't start a fight with him." Melissa looked away from them, biting back another sigh. Dammit.

"Yes. You did. You were trying to show dominance by staring him down."

Melissa shrugged. Whatever.

"Melissa... You're new to the pack. You don't know what you're doing. You could get killed doing this." Richard's tone was less kind than his words, his frustration clear.

"Yay for me..." Melissa muttered, nudging a rock with the toe of her shoe.

Grace fisted her hands. "Yay for you. I don't know what has crawled up your keister and died, but you will not disrespect us. We aren't you mother or sister, we're your pack leaders-"

Melissa felt a growl escape her throat, and she turned back around to face them. "Do not talk to me about my family."

"This Pack is your family-" Grace tried to place a hand on the girl's shoulder.

Melissa pushed Grace away, stepping back herself. "No, it's not! I didn't want this! I didn't want any of it!" Tears pricked at the back of her eyes, and she furiously brushed them away.

Richard didn't have time to think, moving forward to catch Grace before she fell.

Grace gasped, staring at the girl before she stood again. "Melissa... Hun. I just want to help-"

A good part of the pack was watching now, whispering furiously.

"I don't want help!" Melissa felt a sob catch in her throat, "I just... just want everything to be the way it was..."

Darien pushed through the Pack, hugging Melissa. "Bit... talk to me... you don't have to talk to them but you're going to explode. Please..."

Grace swallowed, eyeing the boy.

Melissa turned in Darien's arms, burying her face in his shoulder. "I'm fine..." She forced the sob back, sniffing.

Richard watched the two young wolves for a moment. Melissa wasn't fine, that was obvious enough.

"Liar..." Darien rubbed her back. "Tell me. We can go into the woods..."

Grace looked up at Richard, unsure.

"No..." Melissa shook her head, swallowing. She didn't want to tell anyone... She just wanted it to go away.

Richard took Grace's hand, leading her away. He was as curious as everyone else was about what had Melissa off, but she obviously needed privacy, and she wasn't getting that with everyone staring.

"It's not going to go away because you want it to Bit... I'm sorry... but ignoring it only makes it worse..." Darien rubbed her back in small circles.

"You don't even know what it is..." She sniffed, pressing her face into his shoulder.

"I know..." He kissed her temple. "Tell me...."

She shook her head again, pulling back enough to look up at him.

Darien frowned. "Melissa..."

Melissa flinched minutely. Shit. He'd used her name... "I don't want to talk about it, Darien... at least not here."

Darien paused, taking her hand. "Come on..."

She let him lead her away, trying to ignore the stares of the Pack as they passed.

He led her deep into the forest, pausing under a large tree. "Here?"

She shrugged, looking around them. Was there any other way she could stall it?

Darien sat on the ground, waiting.

Melissa leaned against the tree, worrying her lip between her teeth. Dammit. There was no way to get around telling him...

He tilted his head, watching her.

She sighed, finally looking down at him. "You remember my sister, right?"

"Yes.... she's nice."

Melissa nodded, continuing after a moment of silence. "Cancer runs in our family... Mom's side."

Darien stared at her. Oh.

Melissa swallowed, hugging herself. "She's got breast cancer... and lymphoma."

Darien let the words sink in before he pulled her down, into his lap. "God, I'm sorry, Bit..."

She shook her head, not noticing as a tear slipped down her cheek. "It gets better..." She sniffed, looking at anything but Darien.

He kissed her temple, waiting.

"Forrest wants to make her a vampire..." She wiped at her eyes, "Says it'll freeze the cancer..."

"Bit... why would that be bad?" Darien furrowed his brow. "Chemo... I don't think it helps much with Lymphoma..."

"It's not bad." Melissa swallowed, "I don't mind, but Dad... He already thinks Misty's... well. You heard him."

"Bit... if the chemo doesn't work... lymphoma kills. Her immune system won't work and..." Darien swallowed.

"I know." She bit her lip, "I looked it all up when I found out it ran in the family... I know what'll happen, Darien. That's the issue. I don't want to lose my sister, but I don't want to have to go back to my dad. I don't know when Mom's going to be back, so..." She shrugged hopelessly.

"Why would you have to go back to your father?"

"He'll come back to get me during the day or something. I know he will."

Darien furrowed his brow. "Could you call your mother?"

Melissa shrugged again, "She's always working... Besides, I think she's in New York or something."

“I won't let him take you... and Forrest won't either. I'm sure something could be arranged. You could stay with Grace and Richard during the day..."

Her eyes widened, "Shit! Grace... I've got to apologize to her..."

"Sh... it'll be alright. She's nice." Darien kissed her temple again. "And she'll understand."

Melissa shook her head, "I don't want her to know... She's got enough going on without my problems..."

"And I'm sure she's worrying her arse off... you'll have to tell her. It'll be easier for her."

She bit at her lip, fighting the urge to stand and pace. "I suppose..."

"I'll come with you." Darien cupped her face. "And you can come to my place when ever you need to."

She managed a slight smile, "You do realize that I'm going to be over there nearly every day, right?"

"No! She's figured out my secret plan! Bloody hell..." He tried to joke, falling over backwards.

She fell with him, turning over until she was settled comfortably on his stomach, her face even with his. "Some plan. Plans like that only work when the other person doesn't have the same one..."

Darien smiled slightly, brushing his lips over the corner of her mouth. "You just like sleeping with me."

"Maybe." Melissa shivered, "You can't say that it wasn't interesting."

"Mm. Especially with your hand being where it was in the morning."

She blushed, "Where it was didn't exactly seem to be minding."

"Of course not, Bit. It's you." He brushed his lips over hers again. "We should head back. They'll send out a search party... and the last thing you'll want is to be found necking with some Brit in the weeds."

"Hey... we aren't necking yet..."

"We will be if we don't get up."

She sighed softly, "Suppose you've got a point..."

"You tell me, you're laying on me." He smirked.

She rolled her eyes, sitting up reluctantly.

Darien swallowed, watching her push her hair back. Bugger.

Melissa stood, offering him a hand up. It was times like these that she really shocked herself. Something terrible could happen, something that was literally life threatening, and her hormones would still react to a boy.

He smiled, letting her help him up. "Thanks, Bit."

"No problem." She smiled back, unwilling to let his hand go.

He threaded his fingers through hers. "So... when are we going to the movies?"

"Oh." She blinked. "Um... No idea."

He paused. "If you don't want to go... with this stuff happening, I'll wait."

She shook her head, "It's not that... I want to go, but Misty..." She bit her lip. How was she going to convince her sister?

"I know." He brushed his lips over hers. "I will wait... just as long as you promise not to go for another lad. I'd pine away."

"Have you seen the boys around this place?" She wrinkled her nose, brushing her lips back over his.

"Yes. I certainly wouldn't date the apes... homely lot too..." He smiled, resting his forehead against hers. "Thus... you should just... claim me... and we'll be good."

"And how am I supposed to do that?" She quirked a brow.

He sighed, his face flushing. "Will you... Melissa... be my girlfriend?"

Aw... He was cute when he blushed... Not that he wasn't cute when he wasn't blushing, but - "Of course."

Darien grinned, hugging her tight. "Thank you."

Melissa hugged him back, "You're welcome."

He kissed her neck before pulling back.

She shivered, letting him lead her back into the Lupanar

************

Grace ran a hand through her hair, standing from her place beside the throne to pace. The pack was quiet, talking calmly among themselves.

"Richard... I..." She shook her head. "I shouldn't have pressed. She's a teen... I mean..."

"Love..." Richard shook his head, standing to intercept her path. "You did what you needed to do. She disrespected Jason, you, and me. I'm almost positive that it wasn't you that set her off."

Grace swallowed. "But I could tell she was upset-"

"Like you said, she's a teen. Most of them get upset just for the fun of it."

"So... I should have just... left it alone... I mean... God. I'm going to be a horrid mother..." Grace's face crumpled.

He shook his head again, pulling her to him, "You're not going to make a horrible mother. Relax, Love. It'll be okay."

She sniffed. "I will too! I was all insensitive... and yesterday, Karen's daughter came in with her baby while I was getting my purse... and I held the baby and it started crying!"

He kissed her temple, "That doesn't mean anything... Most babies don't want to leave their mothers for months..."

Grace stayed quiet for a moment, resting her head on his chest. "I still feel like the wicked witch..."

Richard's lips quirked, "You shouldn't... Mel will be okay, and I'm sure Karen's daughter's baby's going to be no worse off for it."

"You sure?" Grace bit her lip, meeting his gaze.

"Yeah... I'm sure." He smiled, raising a hand to brush her hair out of her face.

"You're laughing at me, aren't you?"

"Only a little."

She smiled back. "Mean man..." Grace licked her lips before brushing her lips over his.

He pressed his lips to hers, pulling back slightly after a moment. "Yeah... but you like me..."

"Mm. Like might be pushing it." She kissed his jaw. "I prefer... love..."

He smiled slightly, tilting his head for her. "Oh, do you?"

"Don't you?" She nibbled a thin line along his jaw, bracing her hands on his shoulders.

He shivered, resting his hands on the familiar curve of her hips. "Always..."

She kissed down to his pulse, sucking the throbbing bit of skin into her mouth.

He made a noise in his throat, his hands sliding around to pull her closer.

Grace shivered, nibbling carefully at the flesh there.

Richard hands slid back to her hips, noting the extra curve her pregnancy was just beginning to provide.

She licked a path back up to his lips, kissing him gently. "I hate being in public..."

He kissed her back, shivering as the air made the trail of wetness on his neck cool. "I know, Love..."

She kissed him, deciding the pack could ignore their kisses as she slid a hand into his hair.

He pulled her up against him, returning the kiss eagerly.

She made a small noise in the back of her throat, pressing into him.

Richard pulled back as Melissa's voice reached his ears. "See? We weren't the one's caught necking..." Her tone was something not quite teasing, but not serious, and she was smiling slightly.

Grace blushed deeply as she caught sight of the kids.

Darien smirked, squeezing Melissa's hand. "We could always go neck..."

Richard let Grace go, taking her hand instead.

"That's not a bad idea..." Melissa smirked back at Darien.

Grace smoothed her hair. "What did you two want?"

Darien shrugged, looking at his girlfriend. He bit back a grin. Girlfriend.

Melissa shrugged, "Just had to tell you that I need to talk to you tomorrow." No way was she telling someone else tonight.

"I take it you're better?" Richard raised a brow.

Melissa shrugged again. Better? She wouldn't go so far to say that... But she was improving, and she could fake the rest.

Grace tilted her head. "Talk when, sweetie?"

Darien blinked. She'd been angry earlier... now sweetie? Mood swing much?

"Tomorrow morning work?" Melissa didn't seem to notice the change, tempted to just turn and walk away.

"Alright." Grace bit her lip, fighting the urge to tell the girl she was sorry.

"Okay." Melissa managed a bright smile, giving into the temptation to leave.

Darien shrugged at the leaders, following.

Grace furrowed her brow, looking up at her husband to be.

Richard shrugged as well, squeezing her hand gently. They'd find out tomorrow, he supposed.
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Romantic Executions: Continued