Marriage is Murder

"You have to stay here," Marcus told her firmly. He went outside, Kate and the house elves going with him. "You lot coming?" he looked back at Jim and Jack and Steven.

Brian and Angus ported in together, wands drawn. They heard the sounds of the werewolves.

"Damn," Brian said softly.

"We're on fire," Khaat told him, pointing to the door. He looked outside.

"Oh no," He said, feeling that he'd faced enough of his world being destroyed today. He didn't need to lose more.

"I'll see what I can do with the fire," Kate said.

"I'll help you," Angus said. "Suki's good with elemental magic. We need her with us." Kate and Angus and Suki headed off to see what they could do with the fire itself. Brian headed straight to go after James. Marcus noticed the fury in Brian's eyes. Brian wanted James. Badly. Marcus didn't want Brian making a mistake in the process of trying to stop him. He decided to go quickly with Brian.

Brant, Jack and Jim all nodded " behind you all the way Marcus." Jack said Steven nodded Jim looked and moved to his side.

"lets go teach him a lesson he won't soon forget." He said his hand gripping his wand he was tired of James and the crap he was giving Brian and Khaat. He wanted this to be over. Jack and Steven moved to stand with Marcus moving with him "When we find him we'll distract him and wear him down, you take the kill shot." Jim said looking at Brian knowing just how much he wanted him dead.

(ooc: you know we can't kill him. lol. he has to live to be a pain in all our arses.)

Marcus and Brian headed straight for the werewolves. James was there with his whole pack. All of them had huge flaming torches in their hands. Escobar stood fiercely between them and James, facing James.

"I've decided I like fire," James grinned. "I think vampires burn, don't they?"

"Werewolves burn faster. All that hair and all the empty space between their ears," Escobar hissed.

"Let's see, shall we?" James laughed.

"By all means. Lets," Escobar agreed. "You set yourself on fire, and we''ll time you."

"Patience," James said. "Not just yet."

Marcus immediately didn't like that James was waiting on something. He noticed that no one was moving. Deliberately. He had the feeling that they'd all missed what James was up to.

Then James broke out into a wide grin. "Another time, perhaps," he said. "I think we need to be going now."

Marcus started to turn, to look.

"Oh, God," he gasped. He started to run back to the house. There were two female werewolves standing beside the house, and flames were skyrocketing from the roof.

Jess heard the commotion Cassidy looked at her " gather the children were going on a trip." she told them making it sound like a game " every one hold each others hand and don't let go. Cassidy?" she asked Cassidy as many in her arms as she could and ported out Jess looked at the remaining few in her arms she could smell the smoke as she ported them to the Paris base.

Brant saw the wears his wand was out and at the ready but they didn't enter instead he watched them just stand there soon he hea4rd the crackle of the fire " Khaat, they set the place on fire" he said and ducked as part of the upper floor fell down he felt part of it hit his shoulder , pain radiated down his arm and he almost dropped his wand but he moved to her "We have to get out, Khaat." he said.

Fire. It caused her an adrenalin rush that was, in part, driven by fear. The other part was a drive not to lose some of the things that were irreplaceable. She was concerned for her children. She heard the sounds of Jess and Cassidy getting the children out.

The portrait. She would risk her life for that portrait. She raced up the stairs, dodging flame and debris as she ran. She ran into the bedroom and saw Remus's portrait over the fireplace. She grabbed it quickly.

Was there something else? Anything else she wasn't willing to part with? Truth be told, she didn't want to part with any of it.

"My children!" Brian panicked, now racing back to the house. "I'll murder you, you bastard!"

Marcus burst into the house and shouted. "Khaat! We gotta go! Where the hell are you?"

Steven shivered "Jess got the kids away" He told Brian looking at James then to Jack. " why is your family always trouble?" he asked Jack who just laughed out loud.

" Hes not my family just a pain in the ass" he said glaring at James and where he stood. Both looked at Brian. Brant ran up the stairs after Khaat watching her grab things.

"c..come on, we have to get out." He said dodging another piece of plaster as it fell to his left. He waited long enough and quickly grabbed her around her waist. " Sorry we have to go." he said

Khaat was out of time. There was no more time to get anything. Downstairs, Marcus hit the alarm on his jacket that paged Robert. This needed his attention. This was beyond what they would do without him.

Khaat felt Brant snatch her around the waist. "I can't lose..." she began. There was nothing suddenly to say. She just felt empty and lost and gave in to Brant.

"Khaat!" Marcus had started to try to run up the stairs to get her when Robert ported back into the living room. It took him only a second to smell the smoke, to see the flame.

"Where is everyone?" he asked Marcus.

"All out but Khaat and Brant. Khaat ran back upstairs, and Brant ran after her," Marcus said.

"Let's go! Out!" Robert shouted. "Now!" Brian dashed inside. Robert looked at him. "Go to Paris. Now. Bring back two crews. Open the farmhouse with one. We'll have to go there. Bring the other crew here to secure this property."

He looked, for a moment, like he was going to check the time on his watch. Instead, though,he hit a signaling button on it. Brian knew who he was summoning. He was calling Lee. He needed more reinforcements than they had even in Paris.

Jim looked to Marcus then Jack. Brant ported Khaat right to lee's room in Paris. He let her go and stumbled back against a wall his arm felt as if it was on fire. Holding it he lent against the wall. " s..sorry, for the rough ride" he said breathing hard as he sat down his arm now feeling numb. Jess made sure the kids were settled and happy she felt Khaat arrive and headed to the office.

" Khaat you okay?" she asked opening the door " the kids are safe all of them." she looked over at Brant and moved to him but he took out a bottle of pain potion.

Steven and Jim moved to stand with Marcus wands at the ready each facing James with hate and a want for his blood but each knowing they would probably only slow him down.

"Its okay," she said to Brant, trying to adjust to being whipped off to Paris.  When the door opened and she saw Jess, she breathed a bit of relief.  "I'm fine, thanks. And thanks for taking care of the kids."

She heard the sound of the organization's men snapping to attention and to action.  Someone of rank had arrived. There was a pause and then the sound of many feet moving rapidly.  She presumed some sort of orders had just been issued.

Meanwhile, Lee arrived at the estate with a handful of men. He looked at both fires.  

"Oh, hell," he sighed. "I didn't bring nearly enough people to this party, did I?"  He pressed his own alarm, summoning more people.

Escobar no longer felt Khaat's energies nearby.  She was either gone or was dead in the fire in the house.  Hoping to distract James, he fired on him.

James easily dodged the wandfire, suddenly outraged. Khaat had gotten away again.  He couldn't smell her anymore.  Escobar watched James.  Either the werewolf would leave, or it would get a whole lot more dangerous very quickly.

Jess nodded " its okay" she told her " here " she placed her hand on Khaats and drew of some of the dizziness from the port but returned to Brant. " you need to rest that potion won't hold that long." she said hearing the commotion out side. " sounds like things are moving." she said drawing off some of the pain Brant felt.

Steven, Jack and Jim all faced James all of them waiting to see if he would attack or leave. " you lose again James now Leave or die, you chose." Jack said with a low growl to his voice. Steven touched his arm and he backed down a little both looked to escobar.

"Your call escobar, whats the next move?" Jim asked.