Dodging the edge of the Neteru shield and past Big Mike's huge hand when the older Guardian attempted to flat palm his chest, the agile smaller Guardian jumped down the steps and ran toward the two women.
"Bobby, no!" Marjorie shrieked.
Berkfield was down the steps running after Bobby. "Son, no!"
Dan was on Bobby's heels, Glock raised, as the younger Guardian crossed the twenty-five-foot distance in an all-out sprint.
Before Dan could fire to cover his man, Bobby had swept up the hooded female and had her squarely behind him. "It's Jasmine! Hold your fire!"
The other crimson-hooded being lifted her head to reveal that she was human. Her eyes locked with Dan's and he slowed his dash to a jog then stood completely still.
"Gabrielle sent us," Jasmine wheezed, her gaze going to Bobby before it went to Yonnie.
Bobby stroked her long, black hair away from her face, stared into her almond-shaped eyes and kissed her hard. His fingers traced her small face, remembering every touch as a tiny flicker of blue static caressed her fragile, Asian features. "Sanctuary," he shouted back toward the team.
"Dude," J.L. said slowly, coming down the steps still armed, "we can't--"
"They stay!" Bobby shouted across the clearing. "Robert, listen to me--" "Stand down, Dad! Tell him, Rider!" Bobby said, breathing hard, now body-shielding Jasmine with outstretched arms, his weapon cocked.
Yonnie and Carlos just looked at each other for a moment as tension bound the team in silence.
"She was, uh... well, his first, at uh, Gabby's," Rider said, his expression strained to the limit as Marjorie covered her mouth. "The timing is bad, but since when did that stop our team, huh?" He looked at Yonnie. "If Gabrielle sent her, and I can vouch for the fact that she's an initiate of hers... she's clean." Rider peered around. "Aw, c'mon, guys... if they're initiates, they haven't taken a dark oath yet."
"What about the other one?" Mike said, only lowering his shoulder cannon by a hair.
"She's everything Christine promised," Dan murmured, walking toward the young woman who cowered on the ground. "What?" Marlene croaked through a strangled whisper.
"Oh... man . . ." Carlos dropped his shield. "Everybody hold your fire."
"When did my daughter come to you, Daniel?" Tears brimmed and fell as Marlene pushed her way to the back porch rail.
Dan looked up at Marlene from where he stooped beside the hooded young woman. But his attention soon left Marlene as a pair of wide, stricken gray eyes met his. He pushed the crimson hood back from the girl's face and a profusion of shoulder-length, auburn curls spilled forward, partially covering her creamy tea-and-milk complexion. "What.... is your name?" Dan whispered in awe.
Rider slapped his forehead. "Oh, for the love of Pete! Not now, son."
"When," Marlene repeated, "did Christine come to you, Daniel?"
"In the mansion compound," Dan said quietly, his eyes never leaving the gray ones that held him for ransom. "She told me she would come bearing a message... God, you're gorgeous."
Marlene shook her head and leaned against Shabazz.
"And she told me you would be mine," the young woman whispered, drawing Dan closer.
"You stay," Dan said quietly. "Sanctuary granted."
"Coven vibration, man," Yonnie said through his teeth. "You need to back up off that, brother, until we're sure what we're dealing with."
"Jesus wept and I know why," Big Mike said, shaking his head and finally lowering the cannon.
Dan helped the young woman up. "She stays--or I'm out, with Bobby. Period. Fuck it. End of discussion. A team angel sent her! For me, that's enough of a passport." He and Bobby stood shoulder to shoulder in front of the two hooded women.
"My daughter is an angel?" Marlene's eyes searched Dan's.
"Yeah," Dan said flatly. "In my mind, she just earned her wings."
"Shit . . ." Jose said. "Can't do nothing with that. I guess they stay, huh?"
"The message?" Yonnie shouted, losing patience.
"Que pasa?" Carlos yelled, opening his arms with a frown. "You don't roll up on a Guardian compound under these circumstances unless you bringing serious word or knowledge. We can't carry dead weight, especially not right through here. So, what's up?" "I'm Heather," the girl behind Dan said. "Jasmine and I are the last ones left at Gabrielle's. She said not to speak to you unless the space was sealed with a prayer."
"Mar, you up for it?" Carlos said, issuing an apology with his eyes toward Yonnie and Tara.
Marlene nodded as the two vampires walked away and the team drew near the porch. Once Marlene had