Momma? Why?

[Zodiac]

Epilog



His name was Jack. The last name did not matter much. Everyone in the camps was on a first name basis, so no one had ever asked him what it was. There was a past attached to the name, the same as others within the tribe, but here it did not matter. He was basically a hired gun. Invited in for a purpose by the (so called) 'queen' of this group. It was not the Ritz and it was hard work at times, but so far he had been able to lay low and be safe in relative comfort. Amanda had not cared he was a white supremacist. She saw his potentials as a gun for hire and invited him in.

He sat in the back of his truck considering the events of the previous night. Everything had been normal till she appeared. He had assumed she was one of them at first till he saw her eyes. Those beautiful eyes that seemed to swallow his very soul and pull at his heart strings. When she asked for his help, he could not refuse even if he wanted to. He was in service to the real queen of this place suddenly and it felt good. Normally his work was simply that-just work, but now it had been a pleasure beyond normal. Suddenly, everything he felt was so important had changed. He eyed his Aryan tattoos and wondered how much to remove them or at least have them covered up. The entire idea was suddenly silly and stupid now. Now, he had a purpose.

When everything was done, Jack was a bit sad the queen was gone, but he was not unhappy. She had sought him out before she had left again. Once more he had fallen into her eyes as she kissed him. A moment of pain that quickly faded and she was gone again.

Gone, but not totally gone. She still spoke to him privately in his thoughts. All she asked was he keep her updated on what was going on in the tribe when she 'called' and to keep the other 'queen' safe. That, and one final favor.

"Now, my sweet one,"

Jack smiled and sighed as he 'heard' her voice within. Elsewhere his 'queen' stood beside a pool hugging her blood sister tightly. He climbed out of his truck and put on his normal no-nonsense scowl the majority always seen him with. Regina commanded and he was ready to obey.

***

Amanda awoke at the sound of water being poured. Weakly she turned her head and saw Jack pouring into a small glass. "Sorry, I thought you might be thirsty when you woke up. Just stopped by to see how you was doing."

"Thank you," she tired, and failed to sit up in the bed. She gestured for the glass and Jack brought it to her. One arm supporting her after helping her to sit up as she drained the water eagerly. "What news?" she sighed as he eased her back down.

"Nora and her brat went to town. No clue what about. Everyone else is cleaning up after the fiasco last night. A couple went to try and get what we need to set up a old style transfusion for you. No damage done to you except your wrists and some blood loss. I set your wrist already, so go easy with it for now."

"How many dead?"

"Seven. It could have been much worse. A place has been found to bury them. No clues to tie them to us."

"And Angela? She picking out her throne now I suppose."

"Your kid vanished. No one has seen her since the shooting started." Jack answered and cocked his head as Amanda began to laugh weakly.

"I knew it. I know her." she smiled. "She had me in her hands and could not finish the job. Sentimental idiot. Calls herself Regina and acts like that?"

"Well," Jack began. "Can I ask you a question?" He waited till Amanda nodded yes. "Have you ever killed anyone personally that got in the way of you being in charge here?"

"Some had to die, yes." she coughed.

"That's not what I meant. Did you yourself personally take a gun, knife, whatever and actually kill someone?" he clarified.

"That's what guards are for,"

"I see." Jack stood up and took the empty glass and slipped it into a vest pocket. Amanda watched in curiosity. Her eyes growing wide as Jack showed her an empty vial corked. "You are right. That's what guards are for. Adevarata Regina sends her regards."

"Wha..." she choked. It was getting hard to speak now.

"She told me you would be proud in a way. What she told me to pour in your water was a potion taken from a book your mother had given her. One she was told never to use anything out of because they were spells and potions of pure black evil and hatred. It will paralyze you, lull you to a sleep you will never wake up from. Actually a merciful death if you ask me. She said an autopsy would show nothing as well. Not like anyone takes anyone to the morgue here when they die."

"F...f....**** you!" Spittle escaped her mouth as she forced the words out.

"I had that pleasure when we first met, remember?" Jack said without a hint of emotion in his voice. "She is watching you now, by the way. Through my eyes."

"Cow....ward!" Amanda made an attempt to get up but was still too weak from loosing so much blood.

"Use what time you have left to make peace with the Goddess. Those are her words, not mine." Jack reached out and gave Amanda a soft push, causing her to fall back onto the bed. She tried to move again, but her limbs suddenly felt like lead weights. She laid gasping for breath as Jack exited the trailer.

"How is she?" one of the pair who had been asked to keep guard on her asked.

"Sleeping still. Just let her rest till they get the transfusion gear back. I'll be back later to see if I still have a job or not."

The men nodded and Jack headed back into the camp proper. Once out of eyesight, he turned into the woods and made his way to a tree his queen told him would be waiting. The glass and the vial dropped into a hollow of it, followed by some leaves where no one would ever look for it when the hunt for clues may or may not start. Jack then doubled back part way and emerged among the other trailers and RV's. Several people saw him. Some waved and others grew quiet. His queen told him this would be the case. A penance for serving the false Regina, but it would not be hard or last for too long. All things take time, and soon he could be a valued, respected member of this tribe. His past forgotten. His skills appreciated. A close knit home that would weave him with them. He had a new job now, and the thought filled him with a comfort he knew little of before he met Regina. Assure the safety and well being of Nora/Regina and her child, Mary and be the true Regina's eyes and ears. He knew how to reach her if anything should happen she would want to know about.

"Thank you, my dear one." her voice filled his head again and Jack felt happy. Like a child praised for getting a good grade in school. "Start making your new life now. Forget that silly nonsense you were part of."

This was his home now. His queen had said so. He had a new purpose in life.

Jack loved it here.


FIN