Chapter 55

December Twenty-fifth 3:00 a.m. E.S.T.

"Jean, you're back!" Kelly cried out happily as she ran out to meet him in front of Langley.

After a passionate embrace and kiss, she looked him up and down. "What on earth happened to you? I've been so worried..."

"I'm fine, mon amour. There's nothing wrong that time and a few feedings won't fix. I'll tell you all about it later. For now, is there anything you desperately need from your apartment? We need to get away from here."

"Arthur ordered me to stay here until it was nearly dawn."

"I release you from any and all orders that Arthur has given you. From now on, you don't need to obey any instructions he gives." After a moment's consideration, he added, "Unless you want to, of course." He refused to rule over his fledgling with an iron fist as Amunet had.

Kelly's expression grew concerned. "What's happening?"

"The barjot is hanging us all out to dry. His plans call for the mortals rising up and slaughtering the vast majority of the new fledglings. I ... I refuse to allow him to use you in such a manner. We'll go south and work our way to Central America or even farther. There, we'll vanish into the shadows and live as vampires were intended to."

Kelly nodded slowly. "There's nothing at my apartment that I can't leave behind. Let's go."

Hand in hand, they ran southward until they had to take shelter from the dawn.