"You ain't have to go there . . . how'd I know that girl up in that club was a vampire, with her fine ass? And even if you put me on blast to Dy, that still don't mean you can drive! Plus, it ain't gotnothing to do with nothing, because I didn't get bit."
"That's 'cause I had your back-but now you trying to talk about me and my driving up here in frontaNeterus . . . man, you know I'll take my earrings out over that mess!" She pushed Send and stuck out her tongue at Earl."Now. Dyanne got the update about what happened in that stepper's club."
"So! Dy andme real cool on the team. She's our communications czar, and ain't putting me on blast like that."
Barbara flashed him a brilliant grin. "I know, but she's laughing her ass off-you ain't gonna never live it down."
"You ain't right, girl."
"They're always like this," Alicia murmured to Damali, trying hard not to smile, but her dimples gave away the restrained mirth. "My apologies, but the girl can drive a tank in a firefight though."
"Hotep!"A woman yelled coming up the steps, her footfalls quick as lightning. When she got to the top of the stairs she shrieked and ran over to Barbara, hugging her profusely. Slightly taller than Barbara and much stronger than she appeared, she hugged her Guardian sister off her feet, laughing. The newcomer's almond-hued skin was tattooed with gorgeous spiraling dragons and Adinkra symbols across her shoulder blades that framed the edges of her olive-green tank top. Her beautiful brown eyes were merry, and her pretty mouth was set in a pout as she dropped Barbara down and flung her russet-toned dreadlocks over her shoulders. "Me and Lissa oughta not even speak to you, heifer. How you gonna come to the jazz fest and not tell the Chicago team and meet the Neterus!"
"Girl . . .see , what had happened was," Barbara said, laughing. "Aw, Jackie, don't be mad, for real-"
"No, for real, Lissa is coming up here to kick yo skinny little ass." Jackie put one hand on her hip, but her smile was wide as she wagged a finger at Barbara.
At the sound of the keys in the door, both Guardian sisters temporarily stopped arguing and raced to the steps as a six-foot-tall, black-linen-suited, statuesque brown beauty barreled into the multipurpose room, braids and M-16 swaying.
"Earl," she fussed with a big smile. "The onliest thing keeping you from getting your asses kicked for leaving me in Chicago when the Neterus was in the areais you giving me my props."
"You are glamorous and an Amazon, boo-you know I had to coin a phrase just for you, baby.Glamazon!"
She sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes at him, but then laughed as she flipped Barbara the bird."So, where they at?"
The Neteru team looked from one to the other, trying not to laugh as Barbara hid behind Jackie, playing around. Using Jackie as a body-shield, the tiny, curvaceous woman with the Halle Berry-style short haircut, white linen suit, and designer shades pointed at her six-foot, muscular brother who was just as fly. Earl was rocking tan linen and matching gators, and didn't look like he was ready in the least to go round-for-round or pound-for-pound with Lissa.
"It was all Earl's fault," Barbara said, laughing harder as Lissa lowered a weapon at her with a wide grin.
The moment Earl took a breath, Barbara, Alicia, Lissa, and Candace jumped on him, verbally pelting him. It was clear who had the verbal advantage, and after a while he simply gave up, smoothed a palm over his gleaming bald head with a sigh and shrugged.
"I can't do nothing with 'em, can't take 'em nowhere. I'm putting out a plea for a transfer with the Neteru team. Need some more male Guardians up in Chicago to have my back, feel me?"
"Humph," Barbara said, and finally turned her attention to the Neteru team. "It didn't have to beall that, Earl."
For two seconds the room was still and then suddenly it erupted into booming laughter.
"Okay," Owa said. "You have now met Detroit and some of the Chicago team. Initial looks mighta been deceiving, but you think we can handle some vampires up in the house?"
"Most definitely," Carlos said, pounding Shabazz's fist.
The transporter bats didn't screech, they shrieked as theywhirred Vlad the Impaler with his newly reclaimed wife into Vampire Council Chambers. Nuit