Jade awoke with a start. She breathed in with a gasp, eyes wide. She crawled upwards with a sharp scream.
"Rhyannon!"
"Mistress, they have gone," an elderly vampire spoke quietly near the back door.
"What?! You let her leave with my children?!" Jade let out another scream.
"Your daughter and Rhyannon fought me off, Mistress," She said lightly again as she dusted off a few charred bits of her dress.
"You all will get them back," Jade hissed.
"Yes, Mistress," there was a pause, "But your daughter has wished her and Shilah stay with Rhyannon until.."
"Rhy is her God Mother. I am her mother! She will be home with me!" Fire nearly spilled from her eyes.
"Mistress, think of what you can do without the children around. You now can do more. Now you will not be limited," the elderly woman whispered quickly.
"Helen, they are mine!"
"Yes, Mistress. In time you shall get them back. They will return. But for now, you have much to do," she came up to Jade and gave her a pat to the side of her head.
Jade slapped the hand away, "You may treat Evan as such, but not I! I am your new master, not he. You will treat me with respect. Never look down to me. I may be human now, but I am still the same. I will be powerful again."
"I am sorry, Mistress." She bowed, "We are just used to you..."
"What? Say it."
"Being a little kinder... is all..."
"Kind never got me anywhere," She sneered. "Now tell them down there that they have until sunrise to get the caverns done. " She went to turn away, then stopped, "Helen, bring me my plans. Then go back to your work. Spells, rituals, potions, prayers. Every single one - on my desk by tomorrow's eve."
"Yes, Mistress," she nodded. "Shall I bring up your medicine later?"
"No," she said in a low tone. Jade turned and pushed past the elderly vampire, "I won't be sleeping tonight. There is much work to be done."
She walked into the house without another word to the woman. Jade balled her hands into fists. In the house, there were signs of a struggle. Broken glass, charr burns from electricity and fire balls, and splintered wood everywhere. Anger rose again, and she slammed a fist into a living room wall. The punch knocked a hole into the plaster. She bit down on her lower lip.
Jade started up the stairs. She kept her head down, blocking out everything except for her thoughts. She paid not mind to the busy sounds of Helen going to and fro in the house cleaning up from the fight between Claira, Rhy, and the old lady herself. She paid no mind to the super human work being done outside. She passed by her children's rooms without a glance. Jade openned the door to her office, glided to her desk, and slumped down. Her files and papers were already sitting on the desk. Peeking out from the stack was a loose leafed paper Jade had never seen.
She picked up the paper and looked at it. Scrawled in red crayon were rushed words from a nine year old: "Mommy, I love you. We are staying with Auntie Rhy 'til you get better. Shilah and I will be okay. I do love you."
Jade's brows furrowed with a grimace. She crumpled up the piece of paper.
"Mommy loves you both," She whispered, "But they will pay."
Jade openned all the plans and flpped out blue prints. Green eyes scanned the pages, writing things here and there.
"Helen!" Jade shouted.
"Yes, Mistress?" She said as she appeared before Jade with speed quicker than most could believe was movement at all.
"The plans begin within the week."
"So soon?"
"Don't question me."
"Yes, Mistress."
"They will see. They will all see."
