Chapter 144 - A Private Moment

I used the moment of distraction on Captain's part to inspect JJ's state. Compared to the result of his previous scuffle with Christina, he was almost pristine. Some nicks here and there, a set of ten holes in his shirt near his heart, but no blood.

I lifted my hand to them, touched the torn skin, and frowned. "Why there's never any blood?" I muttered. "It's there, isn't it?"

"It is, but I much prefer it being inside." JJ curled his own fingers around mine, rubbed his thumb over my knuckles absentmindedly. "Thankfully, as a vampire, I have an ability to enforce that preference on it."

The humour in his voice, audible despite the exhaustion that mirrored mine despite having emotional origins more than physical, made me raise my eyes to his and smile with some relief. "That's good. No refills here for you."

He hummed in agreement, then glanced over my shoulder. "You found yourself an interesting teacher, ma chèrie. It's very rare to see someone so unprejudiced and friendly, especially in circumstances like that. I'm afraid that others of your kind will give you much grief over our connection."

I snorted, scowled. "Let them. They need me too much, especially now… The stuff I've seen out there, it was so horrible, JJ. All these deformed, mutated people… But that's at least reversible. Ghost's a real master of his business. He had these feelers—so thin, I don't know how long he spent perfecting them. You just have to see. Desmond told me the demon turned vamps straight into ghouls. Now that's…" My mumbling was interrupted by my yawn. "I think I should sleep before telling you any more."

Despite my words, I didn't let go of him. There was a comfort in his touch I desperately needed. He killed a person (admittedly, one that way past her expiration date) before my eyes, with these very arms, and all I wanted was to let hug me tight with these very hands, and screw the audience.

Then, as if he read my thoughts—or my face, which was much more probable—and put his arms around me. Immediately, my knees bucked, and if JJ didn't hold me tight, I would've fallen on the ground there and then. And then would've fallen asleep, too.

"The car is going to come for us in ten minutes. Elder stated she wanted to speak with you as soon as possible, Diana, and with you, vampire," Captain's voice came from somewhere behind me. I could hear the bottled down hostility in it even through the haze I was in. The next words came through his teeth. "If you wouldn't mind."

"How polite," JJ sounded mildly amused. I felt his fingers brushing over my hair and burrowed tighter into his chest. "Ma chèrie, will you be alright if I leave you with your coven-mates for a few hours?"

It took me a second to understand the question. Then, with great reluctance, I unpeeled myself from his skin to look into his eyes. I so, so much didn't want him to leave. "Do you really need to?"

JJ sighed. "I want to give Christina a small burial. Her body can't be left lying on the street." He paused. "Not only because of my personal respect for her, but because in killing her, I broke the ceasefire enforced by the Circle."

"Oh." I nodded in understanding, then gave myself another minute to stay close to him before finally making a step away from JJ. "I won't tell anyone."

JJ smiled at me, then—without the same gentleness—at Captain. "It's not you I have worries about."

I frowned and gave Captain a sharp sideways look. "Well, if anyone tattles, I will know who that was."

Captain didn't look all that impressed, so I noted to repeat the threat when I was more awake and didn't just spend five minutes clinging to someone like to dear life.

After this, JJ went back to Christina's body. I followed a few steps behind in morbid curiosity.

From up close, the corpse looked even less like the Christina I remembered. Even her voluminous hair turned into dust. Yet, she laid in a pool of blood that seeped through the cracks in her paper-like skin. It was like her body had two hundred years to decompose while the blood stayed fresh.

While people didn't seem to incline to drive anywhere but outside of the city with a giant ball of fire rolling on its streets, eventually someone would come there and see that red pool. I thought I could use magic to put it into the ground, but I was unsure if I could spare the effort.

JJ knelt next to the husk that was left from Christina. He tucked the sword under his belt and then gently picked up Christina's body, like it could break at any moment. Which it probably would.

My eyes fell to the hilt of the sword as I worried if it won't break through the belt, when recognition jolted through me. "Wait, is this my sword? It was on sale!" I took another look. "God, it's all dented. What were her claws made of, stone? That's sixty thousand down the drain… Would've been worth it if I could sell it as a vampire-killing sword… Though with how things are going, I might actually be able to…"

"Oh, ma chèrie," JJ grinned at me. "I'm so sorry. I will pay you later for it."

He didn't look very sorry, but I wasn't truly angry either. I shook my head and smiled right back. Then, as my eyes dropped to Christina, that smile dimmed. "Go, JJ. I will see you later. Don't let other vamps bully you." I yawned again, glanced up. "Oh, one more thing."

He raised his brows in silent question. Instead of the answer, I carefully leaned into him over the corpse he held in his hands to plant a sloppy kiss on his lips. Then I patted his baby-smooth cheek with satisfaction. "Here."