Jessica Makes a Painful Sacrifice

Over the next several hours, Jessica compels her human followers one by one to submit to Jade. Alexis, Monica, Holly, Shreya, Lauren, Nicole, Ambika are all enthralled to follow Jade to the garage, where they wait in vans to be taken to Elizabeth's mansion. Charlotte, excited to learn of the existence of Báthory Erzsébet, her obsession, did not need to be enthralled. Jessica's feelings were hurt by how quickly the professor abandoned her for a chance to serve Elizabeth. This only served to harden her heart towards the other fickle humans.

Jessica knows that some will become food, and others slaves. Increasingly, she doesn't care. Jessica had already forgotten Carmen and Liya. The dominant emotion that she feels is relief. I don't need to hide from a vengeful Elizabeth anymore.

She thinks of Sally, who is still out, looking for a meal to bring Jessica that won't be missed. Sally is different. While Jessica's heart has hardened to indifference to the other humans, she cares greatly for Sally. Sally took care of me, taught me, fed me Jessica thinks. She loved me and I took her for granted. I can't give her over to Elizabeth's cruelty.

Jade and Jessica sit in Shreya's penthouse. Jade is tapping her foot impatiently.

"Where is that petulant cow, Sally?" Jade says, impatiently. "I want to get out of here already."

"I don't know" Jessica says, truthfully. She hopes that Sally doesn't return before sun up. She hopes that Sally hides. Jessica sadly realizes that that is unlikely, though.

Sally comes through the door at 4am. "Mistress Jessica, I brought you a human girl. She is down for some vampire role-playing with us" Sally says, holding the hand of a human girl. The girl is pretty, at least under her overdone goth makeup. She is off balance, clearly under the influence of something. Sally looks at the couch and sees a smirking Jade.

"Shit" Sally says, turning to run, but in the blink of an eye Jade is off the couch holding both humans by the arm.

"Thank you Sally for bringing your friend. I love a two-for-one" Jade says menacingly. Jessica sees the panic in Sally's eyes, and a tear runs down her cheek.

"Jade... Let me talk to Sally in private" Jessica begs.

"Fine" Jade says, roughly pushing Sally towards Jessica. "I'll keep get guest company". The other human is grinning, thinking this is part of the 'game' that Sally promised her.

Sally and Jessica sit together on the bed in the master bedroom. They hear a scream from the living room. Damn, Jade doesn't waste any time, Jessica notes sardonically.

"Sally... I'm sorry... We weren't careful enough" Jessica says, tears forming in her eyes.

"What will happen to me?" Sally asks dejectedly.

Jessica pulls Sally in for a hug. "Elizabeth wants me to drain you in front of her. I won't let that happen" Jessica says, stroking Sally's back. She kisses Sally, softly at first, and then passionately. For the last time.

Jessica breaks the kiss. "Sally. We are going to run away together. Just you and me. I love you." Jessica says intently, gazing into Sally's eyes and enthralling her.

"I love you too, Jessica. So much." Sally responds.

"Before we leave, you need to go to sleep. I am going to bite you. Okay?" Jessica asks. "When you wake up, we'll be together, far from here."

Jessica leans in, and whispers something inaudible in Sally's ear. Sally nods. Jessica presses Sally's face to her breast, holding the girl tightly. Sally kisses, then sucks on the breast.

They hear another scream from the living room. Jade is dragging out her attack on the poor girl.

"Are you ready?" Jessica asks.

Sally nods, and brushes her hair off of her shoulder. Jessica leans in and kisses Sally's neck. Sally moans. Jessica bites down. Sally yelps once but then resumes moaning. Jessica grabs a fistful of Sally's hair, yanking her head back as she feeds from Sally's neck. Jessica swallows mouthful after mouthful of Sally's exquisite blood. Sally's eyelids droop, and then close. Sally has lost consciousness, but Jessica continues gulping her blood. Sally's heart weakens and then stops. Jessica gently rests her body on the bed, and cries into her hands. She is sad, but also proud of her final defiance against Elizabeth.

Jessica returns to the living room. The human girl, drained, hangs upside down from the fixtures that Jessica had installed in the ceiling.

"Where is Sally?" Jade asks suspiciously.

"I drained her. We can leave now" Jessica says defiantly.

Anger flashes red hot in Jade's eyes. "You stupid bitch. You were supposed to bring her to Elizabeth!"

"You were supposed to bring us to Elizabeth" Jessica says, smiling at Jade.

"Fine" Jade says, the fury plain in her voice. "Let's get the fuck out of here."