Jo looked up, seeing Carlotta Givens coming into the LNF behind the
others and her eyes narrowed. She grabbed at the book to her left and
growled a bit.

“Get out of my club.” Jo ordered and Carlotta put her hand out, a dark
blue shimmer appeared and she shot the orb out at Jo. It struck the
tomboy vampire directly in the chest and Shane yelled.

“JO!” Shane tried to bolt for her, but Carlotta put her hand up and
Shane stopped. She fought whatever invisible barrier was holding her.

“Bitch.” Shane muttered and Jo got up off the floor, wincing at the pain in her brain.

“Back off, Carl!” she hissed. “We have to undo this. Help me or die.”
Jo ordered and Carlotta looked over to Bette, who shrugged. Alice
pushed her way through the crowd.

“She’s a good guy! Girl! Vampire!” Alice said, then muttered, “I hope.”
Carl shot Alice a look as Alice went over to Jo, extending a hand.
“You’d better be on the up and up. Or I’ll personally drive a fucking
Buffy The Vampire Slayer stake through your unforgiving heart.” Jo was
taken aback, nodding.

“Deal.”

“If we could all just.” Bette began, immediately trying to establish
order, and then it began, the vortex exploded into the room, sending
everyone scattering.

“That’s it, I’m out of here!” Tonya yelled, dropped Dana’s hand and
bolted for the door. Jo narrowed her eyes, reaching out and locking the
doors with a power not her own.

Amy. Jo thought, it was a power Amy had, so she was still alive.

“Of course she is.” JadedRogue said, emerging from the back of the bar,
materializing there, Windwalker at her side, towering over her.

“I think it’s time.” Windwalker said.

“For what? What is going on?” Candace demanded, stepping out of the
crowd that was huddling together for safety. “Why are we here? What are
you doing?”

“Someone” Jo began, looking over at the Rogue, “fucked with reality. We are going to put it back.”

Jaded shrugged and looked up at Windrider for confirmation that it
really wasn’t her fault. How could she know somebody had cursed her
program?

“How?” Carlotta asked, still holding the book as if it would ward off Jo.

“With a fucking computer program, who the hell are you?” Susan demanded
and Carl swallowed as Susan moved to her, staring her down. Lara let
out a soft chuckle from the back of the room. In spite of everything,
she still admired Susan’s strength, her will.