Another run at Jade

[Jessica's POV]

Over the next several hours, Mary, Catherine, and Jessica strategize, without much progress. There are a dozen places where Elizabeth could be holed up that they know about. There could be about a million more that they don't know about. For better or worse, they concede that Jade is their only lead.

Jessica finds it hard to focus on the discussion. Mary's words were agonizing, because they were fundamentally true. Jessica had actively suppressed her conscience for so long, because she liked feeding without consequences. Carmilla has been a an understanding friend. But now, Carmilla was dead, and Mary was a much harsher judge.

"I know Jade. She's a real addict" Catherine says. "She'll be crawling up the walls by now."

Jessica looks at the clock. Almost 5 am.. Mary stands up from the table.

"Excuse me. I'm going to step out for a bit of fresh air" Mary says, a looking a little shaky on her feet. I don't think she's fed all night. Catherine smirks.

"Going out to feed you mean? It's okay, you can say it, we know. Bon appetit. I hope they scream" Catherine says. Mary ignores her, walking out of the house. Catherine turns to Jessica.

"She's such a poser. When no one's looking, she indulges like the rest of us" Catherine says. "Can't fight nature."

"I don't think that's true" Jessica says softly. She has no doubt that Mary is going out for fresh blood. But Jessica is certain that she won't terrorize or kill anyone to get it. That is possible...

"Let's go check on our friend, Jade" Catherine says, standing up from the table.

Jade's eyes look fairly crazed. Her wrists are bloody from yanking on the handcuffs. Jessica is glad she didn't chew her hands off to escape. The human is stuff ****, just out of the reach of Jade's feet. Jade snarls at Catherine and Jessica when they enter.

"Anything to tell us?" Catherine asks Jade. Jade just squints at them. Her face shows defiance, but Jessica can see that she is flagging. Her bruises from the previous night haven't healed, her movements are stiff. She needs blood Jessica thinks.

"Just give me a bite of her, and I'll talk" Jade says dejectedly. Catherine's lips curl into a smile. Catherine roughly pulls the still **** human to her feet, holding her out to Jade. Jade stretches out, and sinks her fangs into the neck of the offered girl. The girl whimpers, but doesn't awaken. Jade sucks hungrily, her eyes closed. Blood runs from the corners of her mouth as she feeds sloppily. Catherine yanks the girl away, eliciting a from Jade.

"More after you talk" Catherine says firmly, dropping the girl. Jade licks her lips.

"There's another blood factory. About forty miles from here" Jade says.

"She's lying. I'd have known. There's no other blood factory nearby" Jessica says, angered.

"Maybe, maybe not. You think Elizabeth told you everything? Or me? She's good at keeping people compartmentalized" Jade says. Jessica scowls.

"I can give you the second address. Take it or leave it" Jade says, energized by even the small amount of blood that she ingested. She smiles knowingly.

"Of course, Elizabeth probably knows that I'd tell you about it. Maybe that's what she told me to do? Or maybe not" Jade says, shrugging.

"This is pointless" Jessica says, her frustration boiling over.

"It's all we have" Catherine sighs. "It's getting late. We should move again before sunup."

"You said that I could feed" Jade says impatiently. Catherine lifts the girl back up, and let's Jade drain her dry. Jessica says nothing.

"I feel much better" Jade says, a dumb smile on her face.

"Jessica, I'm going to undo the cuffs so that we can bring her back to the car. Jade will behave if she knows what's good for her. Make sure she doesn't try anything" Catherine says.

"Wait... What?" Jessica says. We didn't discuss this...

Catherine removes the cuff keys from her pocket. There is a click, and they are undone. Jade smiles. She slams her head back, hitting Catherine in the nose. As Catherine staggers backward, bleeding, Jade barrels forward into Jessica, knocking Jessica onto her ass. Fuck! What was Catherine thinking? Jade rushes to the stairs, and out what sounds like the front door.

"Catherine! What the fuck!" Jessica stammers. "She's going to go straight to Elizabeth!"

"I'm counting on it" Catherine says clumsily, resetting her broken nose. Catherine smiles, her face a bloody mess. "Don't worry. Mary will track her. Mary can't fight for shit, but is stealthy."

The hurt must be plain on Jessica's face because of what Catherine says next.

"I'm sorry that we didn't tell you. I wanted your surprise to be genuine. To sell this to Jade. It was Mary's idea, actually... Not telling you."

I'm sure it was Jessica thinks bitterly.