Resurgence

24

 There were cars everywhere and the building was occupied by men in military gear. Karenina flashed her building ID at them and we were allowed in. We were then met by Amanda, who seemed more annoyed than anything.

"Follow me." She spoke as we walked down the hall where the cubicles were, past the elevator and down a floor or two. There were empty white rooms and one had a door open. We were led into the room. There was a short redhead with a wolf cut, sitting on a chair with a silvery and very tight bodysuit. She looked very nervous and she had pink eyes. Scarleth.

"Scarleth? What the hell are you-" Jackson turned his attention to the next person. She was tall, lithe, and she had long arms and arms. She was blonde with her hair in a ponytail and she had the bluest eyes that I had ever seen. She was tan as well.

"Jackson?" She asked him.

"Mom?" Jackson asked, his eyes welting up with tears. They ran to each other and started to sob in each other's arms. Scarleth looked at us awkwardly.

"It's...been a while." I responded to her. I was not in the mood to feel anything for anyone besides me for the time being.

"Yeah, I know. I'm sure you all have lots of questions." She took a deep breath and looked down.

"I think Jackson would, at least." I responded, shrugging. After Jackson pulled away from his mother, he looked at Scarleth.

"Why are you here?" He asked, crossing his arms.

"I...fucked up. Being a ruler is a lot harder than I thought it would be." Scarleth looked defeated.

"I figured that you'll learn eventually. Not feeling like your husband and you taking over was a good idea, was it?" Jackson was almost smirking.

"It wasn't." She took a deep breath again. She was trying not to cry from what I could tell.

"Well, what happened?" Jackson raised his brow.

"I spent all the money in the coffers trying to fix what Felixin broke and trying to negotiate with the other officials. I just couldn't do it anymore. And then Lord Axel called for my head on a stick so I had to go." Scarleth groaned, burying her hands in her hair.

"And how did you revive my mother?" Jackson asked.

Scarleth sighed, looking up at him from the floor.

"She's not really your mother. She's a perfect clone of her that my father made as an attempt to overthrow my husband and I." Scarleth sighed. "But she ended up running with me."

Jackson looked partially crushed. "Well, I don't know what to think of that."

"You're telling me." The clone of his mother sighed. "I know I'm not the real thing but I know that she loved you. And it seems like those feelings are still in my system."

"I know." He sighed. "What's going to happen now?" He asked Amanda.

Amanda sighed. "Well, the CIA and the people at Area 51 would prefer that we take custody of them. Apparently they've been dealing with staff shortages after the incident."

"Well, at least you don't have to go to them." Jackson shrugged.

"Also, if you guys feel comfortable, we can go ahead and hold the briefing." Amanda spoke to us.

"I guess so." Karenina sighed.

"Alright, unfortunately this was not one of our most successful missions." Amanda sighed, looking crushed. "We ended up destabilizing the vamps and they no longer wish to communicate with us. We lost Brendan as well."

"I wish we hadn't lost him." I spoke, looking at the floor. My eyes were dry but there was pain in my chest all over again.

"I think this is one of those cases where we were damned if we didn't damned if we did." Amanda sighed. "I know that won't make anyone feel better about it but there's that."

"I know." Kyra crossed her arms. "But we failed miserably."

"We did." I sighed. I was now a bald, burned, and traumatized disaster and my friends were equally crushed by what happened.

"I wish there had been a way to save him too, Erika." Amanda sighed. "Devin's brother, Raymond, died in a mission ten years ago. I feel like we failed both of them. I failed both of them."

"I remember him. He was a good guy. So was Brendan." Karenina sighed. "I think all of us are grieving him, more so my daughter."

It was true. Scarleth sighed.

"I feel like I should go. Is there another room that we can stay in until you decide where to house us?" Scarleth seemed uncomfortable. "Sorry, I've just never been good with feelings."

"You're fine." Amanda spoke. "Kyra, do you mind opening up Room 302 for the women? And get Miracle to order some things for them to be more comfortable. Food, blankets, whatever."

"Yes, ma'am." Kyra walks off with the two women. Jackson sighed.

"Are you okay?" Amy asked.

"I, I have a lot of mixed feelings right now." Jackson took a deep bite. "I think I'm gonna walk back home with Heather."

"Okay, be safe." I hug them both. "Make sure he doesn't do anything stupid." I tell Heather. She nods and they walk off. It's just Karenina, Amy and Grayson.

"More aliens, joy." Amy sighed. "I wonder what the Founder thinks of this."

"No idea. I didn't see him on the way here." Karenina sighed.

"I have no idea where he is. Maybe his office?" Grayson asked.

"Maybe. I do need to talk with him about something." I tell him.

"You know where his office is?" Amy asked. I nodded. At least I think I do. I leave to go find him. I see that Alberto is in his office, looking solemn.

"Erika, what happened to you?" He almost jumped out of his chair.

"Don't you know?" I asked him, too exhausted to relive my worst nightmares.

Alberto sighed, "I'm sorry. I wish there had been prior knowledge of what the vampire was capable of." My eyes start to water. Shit.