3

A thin silhouette was slowly walking towards the house where Jack And Clarissa were staying.

He was swaying violently, as if he was about to fall.

— Joel!—Clarissa shuddered, clearly feeling the presence.

There was a soft, rhythmic knock on the library window.

Clary felt her knees tremble.

Strange, why would she be afraid of Joel? It's definitely him!

A thin silhouette appeared in the window against the background of the moon.

— Clary... Clary!— when Joel flew into the house through the window, the vampire witch immediately jumped up and hugged the guy.—Clary, I feel so bad... I'm ready to lose consciousness...—

— Joel, Joel! You won't pass out...—Clarissa buried her fingers in his fiery hair.— My beloved...—

— Claire, I'm cold...—Joel croaked...—

Taking out a blanket, Clarissa hugs her lover, wraps him up and rubs him quickly.

— Quiet, my dear... Oh, my God, how icy you are... I'll examine you now, and then I'll try to warm you up...—

There were almost no wounds on the body, Clary looked at it several times from all sides.

Joel was trembling, trying to say something all the time, but his lips wouldn't obey in any way.

— Now, let's see what I have here...—Clary let out a nervous laugh for a second.

Prowling around, the witch collected everything necessary to disperse the blood.

Rum, red pepper and ginger... Yes, all this helps...

St. John's Wort also went there.

Carefully, the pot landed on the edge of the fireplace. There was a hook, which Clarissa moved with a lever directly onto the fire.

— Now, dear...— bending down, the witch kissed her beloved on the temple.— If it doesn't work out, I'll break the rules...—

Looking at herself in the mirror, Clarissa Fallen felt someone's presence.

No one was here... or was it??

***

Clarissa woke up in the morning.

Joel was sleeping next to me.

It's good that you don't have to go to school today ...

Sitting on the bed, the girl stroked the soft fiery red curls of her beloved.

Joel smelled of the earth, not the sun, as before.

— My beloved...— noticing that Joel opened his eyes, Clarissa put her arm around his shoulders, leaning over.— You have no idea how beautiful you are in a dream...

— Clary, I felt so bad yesterday...—Joel put his arm around her.— I'm sorry, I made you worry yesterday. I don't even remember how I came to you...—

— Here are your glasses.—Clary picked up the taped glasses from the nightstand and handed them to him.— If you want, I can fix it.—

Jack Cassidy, standing outside the door, sighed loudly. He was thinking about what was going on.

His amulet reacts to Joel Gabriel, who was not like that... Completely different from everyone else...

it was scary to think that Clary might fall in love with him...

— You look like you're judging me.—Clarissa said, coming out into the kitchen.— We need to make coffee, Joel is not feeling very well. And help me with the heating.—

— Okay. Clary, I've never judged you. I'm glad you're doing well in your life...—Jack sighed.

—It's not like you.—Clary narrowed her eyes.

Joel was lying on her bed, he seemed to be fine now, but he was so pale...

— Joel? If everything is really bad with you, I can talk to the director and you won't go to lessons for a while.Jack looked into the room.

— Uh... Mr. Fallen? How ridiculous it turned out! I'm not used to you yet.—Joel was confused.

— It's all right...—Jack said.— Don't be afraid of me. Besides being a teacher, I'm a father. I heard you were attacked...

How do you feel now?—Jack felt a note of pity in his heart.

There is true love between Joel and Clarissa... It's noticeable in their aura...

— It seems to me that I feel better... Although the doctor would have known better...—Joel sat down more comfortably and leaned his back against the wall.— I'm in pain throat. I don't want to bother you, but... Can you take a look? I remember how you helped Diana with a bruise...— Joel shifted from

the neckband Clarissa had put on him.

— They tried to strangle you with something similar to a thin leather belt. Put the bandage back, the hematoma will resolve quickly!

Joel pulled the bandage back into place.

— It's such a strange house...— he said softly.

— We like it. As you probably realized, we are a very strange family... I can't explain everything. If you want, you can come to

whenever we want.— Jack felt a push in the back.— Now, Clarissa, I'll move over! —

— My dad didn't tire you with his boredom?—Clary asked, bringing in two mugs of coffee. The third one was upstairs and Jack took it - it was his mug.

— Okay, I'll leave you.— Jack turned around and left.

— Joel, did you scratch the bandage again?—Clarissa asked.— I can see that she's in the wrong place. —

— You're too attentive. No, I wasn't itching, Mr. Fallen was examining my wound.—Joel winced when Clarissa corrected his bandage.

— My dad? My father is not the best doctor. I think even my medical skills are better than his...—Clarissa chuckled.

— When you bandaged my neck, you were more than a professional.—Joel objected.

— Well, so I used the directory.—Clarissa waved her hand in an incomprehensible direction.

***

At school, Joel felt quite ordinary until lunch break came.

The face control of his stomach sent everything away.

Joel looked at himself in the mirror and splashed cold water on his face.

He wasn't really sure, but he seemed to have lost some of his sensitivity...

— What's wrong with me?—the guy asked his own reflection.

He remembered what he had felt the other day at Clarissa's house.

Or rather, he didn't feel...

he didn't feel his own pulse...

— Clarissa, do you have a smart bracelet?— my favorite in the hallway.

— What is not, is not... Shall we go to the Nickelback on Saturday?—Clary looked at him intently.— Is something wrong? —

— Well... I don't know how to explain it to you...—

***

Clarissa felt Joel's pulse and carefully listened to his heart, pressing her ear to his chest.

—You're right...— after a pause, she said.

— And what should be done?—Joel asked in a whisper.

His lips trembled.

— I don't know...—Clary froze, staring intently into the void.

Everything she had thought about so often came crashing down on her in an instant. Jack's behavior, his constantly shaking amulet...

— Joel...—Clarissa exhaled to hide a very strong desire to cry.—I love you so much, Joel... So, now you need to avoid doctors. If at least one person finds out about your peculiarity... Then it will be bad...—

The heart began to cry such a bitter and sad song.

Burying her face in her red hair, Clary finally began to cry.

—I feel like you know what's wrong with me...—Joel said softly.

— Yes... I know, Joel... I'd like to lie, but I can't... —

***

— Clary, honey, whose sneakers are down here?— when Jack was at home, he immediately felt: there was clearly a smell of dark magic in the air.— Clary! Clarissa! —

— Yes, Jack?—Clarissa came out of the library, wrapped in a blanket like an ancient Greek tunic.

Behind her was Joel in his swimming trunks.

Jack exhaled loudly. At that moment, he wanted to kill them both.

***

—. Love is quite an ordinary feeling! Why do you have such a strange idea in your brain that Joel and I can't be together?—Clarissa smashed her teacup on the floor.—Jack... Did anyone set conditions for you when you got married? Has anyone ever said: she doesn't suit you?—

— You have a second bad experience. And my wife... She's beautiful... She was beautiful... I even saw a shadow of the good in everything bad and vile. It helped exonerate a couple of criminals. There are no such people in the world anymore... If you think that our cases are similar, you are mistaken like no one else in the world... Joel... Joel is cursed and we came here to rid this world of him... That's what we're here for... We're here because Joel Gabriel has to die...—

— What? Joel... So this is Joel... Because of him we are... He is the target...—

The light bulb went out.

One by one, the lamps scattered in sparks, scattered, throwing sparks on the carpet.

Jack felt the presence of someone nearby.

The glass of the broken cup crunched under his foot, it seems, pierced the shoes, but there was no pain and no blood.

And it was too dark for the evening...

Clary ran her hand over her shoulder and felt icy sticky fingers.

A disgusting crunch, his shoulder was squeezed to the point of pain, Jack heard Clarissa's scream from afar.

The man ran down the corridor, which stretched and stretched...

— Not there!—The archangel's cry rang in his ears.

**

Joel went into the kitchen and saw Jack and Clarissa unconscious.

— Clarissa!— shaking his beloved by the shoulder, Joel held her gaze for a second.

So white now... Is she alive?

What should I do now?

— Clarissa... Please stay with me... Stay with me...— he didn't really know why, he whispered in the girl's ear.

Either out of desperation, or something gave him a sign...

A bright white light separated from Joel's lips and began to scatter in the air in an almost invisible and intangible mist.

Clarissa opened her eyes:

— Joel...—

— What's wrong, Clary? Does it have something to do with my condition?—Joel swayed and sat down next to Clarissa on the floor.— My head is spinning...—

— Can you wake Jack up? I'm talking about him.—The witch pointed out.— And I'll find something that will remove the dizziness.—

The girl went to the library for what she took from time to time. Thick crimson hemoglobin liquid, smelling like iron.

Clary took some herbal tea and poured it into a glass of blood.

— Here. Don't look or smell. Just drink!—

Joel Gabriel threw back his head and started drinking.

Clary listened to his breathing.

Now it seems Joel has started to breathe...

he leaned over Jack and something white shone in the air.

— We need to put him on the sofa... And then we'll talk...—Clarissa lifted Jack into the air.

— I'll help!—Joel said, fighting the urge to drink again.

— Don't worry.—Fallen waved him off.

Jack hadn't regained consciousness yet, but it felt like he was just sleeping now.

— It's true that my name is Claire Fallen...—Clarissa went into the kitchen and pulled up a chair for herself.—I didn't know who you were when I met you. I love you very much and that's why I couldn't tell you everything about myself before... I'm a witch. Once I was bitten by my husband, a vampire with a very strange name at that time Brooklyn... And I already have... I don't want to name the real figure. I am more than one hundred years old...—

Joel sighed. Some quiet and trembling sigh escaped from his lips.

— For some reason I knew that you should be just like that. You couldn't be any different. Apparently, you and I were drawn to each other by fate. And why did you and Jack show up here?—the guy asked.

— You... You're cursed, Joel. Those who killed you awakened this curse. You will stop being yourself. You'll be different... And we came to this city because you have to die... But now I can't! I love you so much, Joel...—Clarissa felt her heart start to cry again.

— You're talking...— Joel Gabriel feels tears coming.—You're saying someone killed me. Maybe...—The red-haired man hugged the witch.— I will be useful, perhaps... I really hope so...—

— You're a zombie... It is unknown when you will change...—

***

— Jack, are you not going out now when Joel is home? Someone wanted to end it, and after Joel himself is not against it...—

Clarissa and Jack turned around.

— It's okay, I'm already used to the idea that I'm going to leave this world soon. There is no need to pretend that everything is in order.—the guy sighed.— When... When will you do it?—

Jack felt his eyes sting.

— Let's see what can be done... I don't believe in good things, but maybe we can still do something...— he said.

His voice trembled.

— Jack or Francis... I don't care what your name is! Don't delay it! Make... Do everything right...— so tall guy suddenly became smaller and weaker than anything in the whole world.

Joel slid to the floor and sobbed.

— Why me? Tell me, why me?— cold tears fell on the floor, just as cold and indifferent.

***

The next morning, the three of them went to school together.

— After class, we will go to the place where everything happened. Joel, I'll try to do something for you...— Jack got out first and opened the door for Clarissa and Joel.

— I don't want to say anything bad to you, but... When you say you're going to try, you don't have to do anything. If and not it will turn out, you can always say that you tried...—

Joel and Clary walked down the path to the school building, while Jack stayed in the car.

Now that he was alone, the man stopped restraining himself and still began to cry.

He felt sorry for both Joel and Clary...

Very rare cases when he felt so sorry for someone ...

After collecting the unverified tests, the man went to the office.

—Oh, it's you, Francis. I haven't seen you for two days...—Colleen, the chemistry teacher, waved at him.

— My daughter got sick. I don't think I should have left her alone.—Jack said to the girl.

— Yes, yes... Francis, what do you do after work?—Colleen suddenly changed the subject.

— Believe me, this is not the best time. And... I'm not the one who would suit you... Sorry...—Jack walked briskly to his desk.

He loves his wife too much to be attracted to anyone... He wouldn't betray her.

— Francis, you're kind of gloomy.— someone told him.

Cassidy opened his notebook and stared at it unseeingly.

Thoughts beat against the barrier of tears and could not break through it in any way.

When it was time for his lesson, Jack often asked out of place and sometimes misjudged their work.

***

— Lessons are over, Daddy, and I got a few A's. Are you happy with me?—Clarissa was standing in the doorway.— Jack... Jack, you

Did you fall asleep?—

— I feel very bad...—Cassidy whispered.— I don't understand what it is... As if...—

— I can guess. I just don't understand... Is your condition caused by Joel?—Clary gently helped Jack up.

Now the big man weighed lighter than air, Clary was even surprised by this incomprehensible lightness.

Jack crawled up to the car as if he had a load of at least several tons on his shoulders.

— We'll get there now... Joel! Oh, there you are. Get behind the wheel, and we're in the back!—Clarissa gasped.

Still, a deceptive feeling, Jack is not easy at all...

Joel starts the car. He's scared and his hands are shaking.

— Come on, drive home, Joel!—Clarissa tried to say it quietly, but instead of a calm order, some hysterical voice broke out scream.

The weather is starting to deteriorate.

Jack holds his chest, the air enters and exits his lungs very painfully.

— No... We can't go home, Clarissa...—He turned to the witch.— Turn around, look out the back window...—

Clarissa turned around. Now the witch was also afraid.

— And... where do we run to?—she asked.

— Oh, I don't know, Clary! I... wait. Reverse and turn into the forest. I know... Or rather, I feel it...—

***

When the asphalt was replaced by a forest road, it became even better and easier to drive.

Either the strange heaviness that pulled them back has disappeared here...

— I can breathe... I can breathe now, Clary. Although it is difficult... Something is brewing... It's swelling up here like some kind of damn the tumor... But it will be more deadly. It will sweep us all away...—

There's sweat running down Jack Cassidy's face, like he's burning up with heat.

— We'll leave and you'll kill me?—Joel turned at Jack's direction.

— You will live. At least not yet... Joel, we're going to need you. We will not be able to win this war if you are not with us. Help us...—

The house grew up because of one of the turns, as the inevitable end of everything.

He stood like a monument to the completion of everything...

— We are in place...— Jack came out so exhausted, as if he was destined to leave the world, and not Joel.

— What are we going to do? I am ready to help you in everything and I don't care what happens to me in the end...—

This house had no doors and when Joel drove up to the marked place, the car slowly sank down on a moving platform.

— Are we going to hide here?—Clarissa asked Jack.

— We will arm ourselves here. We need to be more prepared. Then we'll have a chance.—

The upper part of the house was not real, everything was hidden below. The main part is a huge bunker.

All the walls here are covered with weapons of a specific type. Hardly anyone else would call such a place an armory.

— Joel, take a bottle in the shape of a cross from the shelf. Do it yourself. It may hurt, but we need to know how much time we have left. Yes, yes, this.—Jack turned in his chair and stood up.— Pour it on your palm.—

— What, right in the palm of your hand?—Joel's eyes looked huge through his glasses.

— Don't be afraid, it can't hurt too much. It will hurt, but only for a few seconds.—Clarissa told him.

Joel splashed a bright red liquid on his hand.

At first, the palm began to smoke, bright red smoke went.

Joel bit his hand, tears sprang from his eyes. A wild scream resonated from the walls of the bunker.

— Does it hurt?—Clarissa asked sympathetically.— I didn't think that in your case it could be so painful...—

— My hand... It doesn't even just hurt... Clary, can you stop this?—Joel asked.

— Be patient... Come on, I'll try to ease your pain...— Clary took the red-haired guy by the arm.