From One to None

"I told you it wouldn't work." Snarled Tommy. "I've lost him." He sat back in his seat, removing his hands from Aden's temples.

"What do you mean, 'you lost him'? I just sent him to the church! He should have met her by now." An exasperated Jason flung his arms in front of him towards the unconscious man on the table. Then pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I know! I saw! Did you bite him?!"

"Of course, I bit him. He wouldn't take the apple. I had to do something. We need him to remember everything, Tommy! Everything except…"

"I know. The love. The point I'm making is that the bite damaged his trust in the memories. He has succumbed to his own doubts. I cannot reach him."

Jason stormed to the head of the table and grabbed Tommy by his shirt collar. "Try harder!" He growled.

Tommy raised himself from the seat unfazed by the clenched hands at his throat. He calmy replied, "I told you to get Joey."

"Joey is unavailable. Maybe I can help?"

Tommy and Jason snapped their heads to the door to see the source of the voice that just interrupted them. "You! How did you find your way here?" snarled Jason as he let go of Tommy forcefully.

"I have my ways," the stranger smiled as he approached the man on the table. "I came for the boy. Joey has requested his presence. I trust we won't have an issue?" He smiled at the pale man who looked as if he could explode in anger.

"He's unconscious," Tommy offered. "He's lost. Even to his memories. I don't think he'd survive the trip."

"Hmmm." The stranger hummed as he placed a hand on Aden's chest. "Strong heartbeat. Steady breathing. He'll be fine."

Jason let out the breath he was holding and glared at the dark stranger. "Look, Jinka! Nickolas wants…"

"What Nickolas wants," Jinka interrupted, "and what Nickolas gets isn't always the same thing. You know Joey. What do you think would happen if I were to be delayed here much longer?"

"But…"

"Relax, Jason. I'll make look like you put up a good fight." He watched the man's eyes widen a bit as he dove across the table, landing a fist in his throat.

*

Aden woke up slowly surrounded by bright light. He lifted a hand to his shoulder where he remembered bleeding but found no wound. He tried to focus his eyes on his surroundings but there was nothing. Just light. The forest was gone. The church scene, the people, everything. He was lost in an expanse of brilliant light. Oddly enough, he felt at ease here. Peaceful, almost. He tried to sort the memories he had already relived, but even they were gone.

What was his name? Kaden? Brayden? No, it's Aden. Yes, Aden. He lived in Tacoma, worked in investigations with… Carmicheal? No, Carma. Yes, Carma and Paul and Brian. And Rose. Who is Rose? A freelancer? Yes. Does he like her? No, he loves her. He needed to get back to her somehow. Scanning the horizon in every direction, he wondered which direction he should travel to get back to his life with Rose.

"Hello??" He yelled only to have it echo back to him. "Heeellloo… I need help!" Song lyrics started rolling through his mind. 'Just hold on a little longer, help is on the way A brighter day is coming, for those who believe and pray Help won't help tomorrow, if you give up today Just hold on a little longer, help is on the way.'

Though he didn't know the song, hearing it play in his mind put him to rest. He chose to lie on his back where he was and wait for whatever or whoever would rescue him.

Rose followed Allie into a large cathedral looking building just inside the tree line. They met Joey in the main hall of the building. Allie bowed with respect to Joey. "You two have met, I presume."

Joey returned the bow. "Yes, we have." She answered then directed her attention to Rose. "I'm glad you decided to come."

Rose hardened her expression towards the older woman. "You said Aden would be here. Where is he?"

Joey smiled slightly. "Jinka just phoned. They should be here before sundown. Come. I understand there's a young woman in need of your services."

"What are you talking about?"

"Didn't your detective friend call about it? The woman found dead in Jerome? Was it?"

"How did you know…"

"Your touch sends information both ways, my dear. Come, she doesn't have much time left."

"She's dead. She's got all the time in the world." She let her sarcasm hand in the air.

"That would be true had she not perished at the hands of a demon."

"Demon?"

"Yes. Adrian killed her with his own hands."

"How does that change things for the girl?"

"Demons are forbidden from killing humans for any reason. They can convince humans to kill others or even themselves but they, themselves cannot do it."

"Sooo? What then? You think I can resurrect the girl?"

"If you go to her in time, yes."

"And if I don't get to her in time?"

"Then she will become demon herself. She's an innocent. Would you rather not help an innocent when you have it your power to do so?"

Rose stared slack jawed at the woman. Her mind was reeling at the things she was saying. Obviously, she knew demons had to be real because she was alive. She often thought of herself as a demon because of her seemingly inability to die. "I- I don't know how." She admitted shyly.

"Come. Let us go to the girl. You will know what do when you touch her." She turned on her heel and led Rose through the door on the right side of the main hall. Rose followed through the door and found herself standing in a morgue. She looked behind her to find the door they had just come through was a glass door leading into a hallway similar to the one in Washington. The back wall was lined familiar looking metal drawers where bodies were kept for identification and or autopsy. Joey walked to the third drawer from the left and opened without bothering to get the attention of the attendant on duty.

Rose walked up to the body that Joey had uncovered to the shoulders. The girl was indeed young. She looked to late high school, early college age. Fair appearance for her age. Her neck sported a gaping wound which made it clear she had bled to death. Instinctually she rested her hand on the wound. She felt the electricity flow through her fingers upon their touch. She closed her eyes to focus on the woman's last memory of her life.

She saw Adrian sitting quietly in the bar drinking lemonade. She watched the bartender flirt with her during close up. She felt the pavement beneath the woman's shoes as walked to her car and felt the fear rise up in her throat as Adrian called her by the name Twila. Her neck stung on the impact of Adrian's claws. His yellow eyes burned into her gaze. "That's one," He whispered.

She opened her eyes slowly, taking slow breaths to avoid the usual panic attack that came with her encounters with that yellow eyed hunter. "No," she whispered to herself. "That's none." She placed both hands on the girl. One on her heart, the other on her head. "Come back to us Amy Fisher. Your time has not yet come." She felt a surge of energy rush through her and the lights flickered for a few seconds. When the girl gasped for air, she let go.

The attendant came running in the room with a look of complete shock. "Who are you? What are you doing in here?!" He demanded.

Joey put a hand on the man's shoulder causing him to look into her eyes. "Call a doctor, sir. This girl needs some help." The man's expression changed form that of surprise to relaxed. He looked towards Amy Fisher who was now sitting up on her drawer slab, wrapped in the sheet. He stared at the girl who had no sign of any wounds and nodded without question. He left the room to make the call.

"We have to go now Amy. You will be alright. Just wait here for that man to come back with a doctor. Okay?"

"Okay," Amy nodded.

Rose heard the man coming down the hallway as she followed Joey through the glass door before he could arrive. The door closed behind them, leaving them in the main hall of the cathedral building. "How did I do that?" Rose questioned.

"You are a phoenix, my dear. That's just a small tidbit of the power you have."

"But how? Last I heard, only Jesus could raise the dead."

"Anyone God chooses to give power can do that, and more. Jesus himself said that to his disciples. It should be of no surprise that a phoenix would have such a gift."

"But…" She shook her head in confusion at Joey's words. The answer she had been given didn't clarify things for her at all. She chose not to query further. "I saw Adrian leave a note on her body in her memories." She said changing the subject.

"It was just a note informing the officers to notify you about it. Good thing, too. One day more and Amy would have been lost forever."

"You know… I don't remember life being this weird before."

Joey seemed to be ready to say something to that but was interrupted by a young man with goat looking legs. "Forgive the intrusion, Joey. But Jinka has arrived. He awaits you in the cabin."

"We'll be right there, Justin. Thank you." The creature went the way he came with equal vigor. "He's a faun. Just in case you were wondering." Rose merely nodded and closed her mouth which had been hanging agape upon the arrival of the messenger, Justin. "Come. Jinka has brought to us your husband."