Chapter 2

In that full second, before the meteor hit the pub, Rose had already assessed the situation. Being a vampire, Hunter’s ass would be fine. Rose, despite not knowing what sort of being she is, would've survived it, too.  She was fast and strong, and could easily avoid it.

Jericho, on the other hand...

Rose knew nothing about Jericho. Judging by his injury, he could easily be human. The man also just stood there like a suicidal maniac as the giant stone came hurtling toward them. So, with extreme force, she pushed him toward Hunter before the collision. Jericho grunted, his body still unmoving, but he went where she needed him to go. Dust and debris fell heavily on them as the pub’s ceiling caved in.

"This way! Rose! Come with us!" Rose heard Hunter scream amidst the chaos. But it was hard to locate them with all the smoke. Coughing out the dust that invaded her lungs, she navigated around the debris until she could see just enough of the two men to follow them. Her head was spinning, most probably from a relatively large chunk of stone that fell on her earlier, but she trudged behind them. 

Once in the clear, Rose immediately stood before Jericho. 

"What the hell were you thinking?" Rose yelled at him, pushing at his chest. "Were you trying to get yourself killed? Is that why you wanted to meet there?" 

Jericho's eyes met hers lazily as if he were entranced. 

"What's wrong with him?" Rose asked Hunter, her mounting anger halted for a moment. 

"Ahh..." the vampire responded, just as confused as Rose was. But then his face lit up after a while, "Yeah! The old priest told me about this. Jericho here gets these trances...a seizure or something. It gets triggered when Jericho is under stress. He says we just need to guide him to sit down until it's over." 

Rose scoffed in disbelief. What the hell?

First, she woke up after over a century to find out she was getting married off to a stranger. Second, she found said stranger in a potentially dangerous place. And now, he's having a seizure. Did he even want to get married? Or did he just want to die? Why drag her into it in the first place? Rose stared at Hunter in confusion. 

"Don't ask me. I only just met him yesterday. He's apparently from the South." Hunter said with his hands in front of him, "Father Benedict told me to look after him until he resurrects you. Get him acquainted with our area and stuff." 

"Is that why you brought him here? To get acquainted with our area?" Rose questioned Hunter, pointing at the rubble behind them.

The vampire was now full waving his hands in front of him, "I'm sorry, I forgot. I didn't realize about the meteor... Please don't hurt me." 

"My apologies. Was I out for long?" Jericho's voice interrupted their conversation, and Rose returned her attention to him. "I get like this sometimes. It’s a bit embarrassing, really." he said, but his tone betrayed his words. He was still grinning at her as brightly as before.

Rose continued to glare at him, unimpressed, "So I've been told," she commented heartlessly before walking off. Father Benedict will have to answer for this himself.

***

The old priest put the hard-bound book carefully back to where it belonged, smirking as he heard the library door open.  He didn't even have to look up to know who it was. Rose, above all else, always had a temper.

"Funny. I thought you would come for me as soon as you got the message. But you hunted down your future husband and gave him grief instead. I wonder why/ Were you curious about his looks, perhaps?" he said.

"He will not be my future husband. I refuse to take part in any of this." Rose countered, angrily glaring at Father Benedict. 

"Well, that's too bad. Because you know as well as I do that you have no choice." Father Benedict replied simply, "We’ll be announcing your engagement tomorrow to the council.”

Father Benedict paused, looking at Rose from her head to her toes, "So I suggest you clean that filth off of you first." 

Rose huffed, "Father--" 

"Oh, I almost forgot. I want you to meet a couple of other lads first." the priest said, motioning for someone outside the open door, "Come in. Come in." 

"What is it this time?" Rose asked in frustration. 

"I want you to meet your new team." Father Benedict announces.

"Team?" Rose blurted out in confusion as two men entered the room.

"Meet Trick and Ty.” Father Benedict said as two strange men entered the room, “From now on, they will be assisting you in your investigations. Along with Jericho, of course, as soon as you both gain the strength that the curse should provide you once you're married." 

To say that Rose was speechless was an understatement. She barely even processed what the men looked like. "Both? What do you mean 'as soon as you both gain the strength...?" she only managed to ask. 

"Oh, did I not explain it to you thoroughly?" Father Benedict coughed, scratching at his head.

But this did not fool Rose. Not anymore. She slammed her fists on the table in front of her, "You told me that the power would be mine alone. That's why despite myself, I considered it..." 

"So, you considered it." one of the men said, despite not being invited to the conversation, "That's surprising. I figured Rose Cristian, the famous guardian of the New Catholics, would at least have the decency to find power herself and not take a shortcut."

"Who are you to say--" Rose whirled towards the man, glaring at him. From the extent of his beard and the muscles that threatened to tear through his thin shirt, Rose was certain he was a werewolf. Her scowl deepened. How could a werewolf help her with Joanna?

"Tyrone Wells. He does not mean to be judging, Rose...er...Miss Cristian." the man beside Tyrone answered instead. If Tyrone was huge, this man was the complete opposite. Rose had never seen someone as scruffy as him. His glasses were crooked in ways she didn’t even think was possible, and his clothes hung loosely on him. But his nails were painted blue and almost every inch of his skin was covered in tattoos, making him look dangerous. He was also obviously a wizard. 

"Who--" Rose started, but she was again cut off. 

"I am Trick Hale, Miss. At your service." The thin man straightened, giving her a small salute.

Rose sighed. "If you were really at my service, then why...do you keep interrupting me?" she asked through her teeth. 

"Oh, Sorry. I didn't mean..." Trick paled, but Rose dismissed him with her hand. She turned towards Father Benedict.

"I don't need help. Take these kids back to wherever they came from." Rose said, "While you're at it, drag Jericho back to wherever you found him, too. I will be in my chambers once you finally figure out another plan that does not involve any of them." 

The old man sighed tiredly. "Rose...did you really think that every time I say you have no choice, I say it just to be difficult?" 

Rose paused, studying the priest carefully. Father Benedict had the immortal blessing of the Christian God, and he had been the leader of his loyal followers for centuries. Rose had always been amazed at how ageless he looked. But at that moment, it seemed like the years had caught up to him all at once. He looked haggard and tired, and his hands shook as he pushed his spectacles further up the bridge of his nose.

The priest stepped towards Rose, closing the short distance in a moment to look into her eyes. He grasped her shoulders steadily and Rose gulped at the serious look on his face.

"Do this one thing, Rose, and I swear to you, you will be free of Joanna. Forever." 

A beat passed between them before Rose finally nodded her assent. For now, she will pretend that she’s going along with his plan. But once she finds a way out, she will do everything in her power to vanquish Joanna with her own strength, once and for all.