Suddenly, the office door slammed open and Anita stalked in spitting nails. "Dolph! Have you heard the latest shit? The governor, personally, assigned a new Executioner to St. Louis. She is a Malibu Barbie. Probably got her license being either someone's niece or main squeeze. You should have seen the clothes she wore. I mean can you say, Slutty!" Anita drew a breath to continue then noticed Dolph's face.
His eyes were big as saucers when he looked at Buffy. He swore he thought her eyes glowed blue. It was so fast that he knew he must have imagined it. "Ladies, I am going to leave you alone to finish bonding. Take all the time you need." He quickly left the office and closed the door behind him.
"We need to get some things straight, Zombie Queen. I am not here to step on your toes or take away your toys. I am here to help you find the missing vampires, remember them. Or, is the pissing contest that you are so hell-bent on, more important? You don't know me. You haven't even bothered to try. So, what gives you the right to say such nasty things about me? If you ever talk like that about me again, I will kick your ass."
"You and whose army Blondie?"
"You need to come down off that high horse you are on before you get a nosebleed, Queen Z."
Anita lunged for her bur Buffy grabbed her arm and threw her back against a wall. Anita used everything she knew but the smaller girl merely swatted her away as if she was nothing. In frustration, Anita reached for her gun, in a blur Buffy attacked. Anita found herself face first on the ground with her hands held behind her and her gun thrown across the room.
"I don't like guns. I can't believe you lady. You can't win in an up-front fight so your next move is to draw a gun. Queen Z, you have some serious problems. I don't care what happened in your past, I haven't done anything to you. You have no right to treat people the way you do. It doesn't matter if you carry a gun and date the two most powerful men in the city. News flash baby, if you don't want to become a monster quit acting like one." Buffy told Anita in a whisper.
"Get off me bitch," Anita growled, squirming.
"You don't listen too well do you? Let me ask you a question. Do you even care about the missing vampires and Weres missing?"
"Yes," Anita finally admitted.
"I can find them for you."
"How could you find them? We have done everything we can to find them. Nobody knows anything," Anita scoffed.
"Now are you going to work with me on this case or not? I can do it without you. It won't be as easy and there is no guarantee how many will still be alive. It is up to you. If you agree then I want your word on it Anita, your blood oath."
Anita's head jerked up as she turned it trying to look at Buffy. How does she know about blood oaths? How could she know that are the one rule, I would never break? "Yes I will work with you. I give my word on a blood oath to bind it."
Buffy let Anita up then held out a hand to help the dark haired woman up off the floor. Anita took her hand and got up slowly. Buffy stood with her hand out for the oath. Anita pulled out a knife and nicked both their fingers then pressed them together.
"I, Anita give my blood oath to work with Buffy."
"Now that is over, we need to go to the Circus of the Damned. That is where the missing vamp's coffins are right?" Buffy asked. Anita looked at her curiously. "I had some time, to scope out information, before I met you today"
Their cars pulled up outside Circus of the Damned. Buffy stopped Anita before they went inside. "I know we didn't get off on the right foot. We want the same thing here; so, let's make the best of this? It might work better if you introduced me as a consultant. Someone RPIT brought in to help do magic. I don't think they will be too happy, having another executioner onboard."
Anita looked at Buffy with her open face and sparkling eyes and knew no one would believe she was an executioner. Anita tried but couldn't detect any power. "I don't know I can't feel anything and they will feel the missing magic, as well."
Buffy smiled a secretive smile. "I learned to shield my powers. I could teach you, frankly you leak all over the place. It leaves you open to being marked, by any vampire that decides you would make a good human servant. I can understand getting the Executioner, plus your necromancy. It must draw lots of interest. We know for most vamps, its all about sex or power. You are lucky to be involved with a vampire that wants to be with you for you. At least, if you ever decided you wanted to be his human servant it would be your choice, on your terms. Oh, stop me already, sometimes I ramble. Sorry, I never answered your question about my magic. I'll lower my shields slightly so you will believe that I'm telling the truth."
Buffy closed her eyes, so Anita wouldn't see her eyes glowing. Anita felt a huge rush of power and the hair on the back of her neck stood on end.
"That was lowering it a little? What the hell does it feel like when you open them all the way, being hit by a freaking bus?" Anita took a step away from Buffy.
Buffy smiled at Anita and sent out positive energy towards her, hoping to calm the other woman down.
"I know a temporary spell that will protect your mind. Just, until you can learn to put your own shields in place. Do you want me to do it for you?"
Anita looked deep into Buffy's green eyes. She wasn't sure if she trusted her. Anita nodded her head, wondering if she just made a huge mistake.
"Close your eyes, breathe slowly and picture a strong wall around you mind," Buffy whispered a small prayer protection.
Anita felt warmth rush over her body then a sense of safety. She smiled at Buffy, "Let's go push around some vamps."
While going through the hassle of checking in, Buffy looked around and noticed a short blond haired were dancing onstage. She couldn't tell the flavor from here but she would guess wolf. Suddenly, a tall vampire with blood-red hair and green eyes stood in front of Buffy, looking down at her. "Jean-Claude wants to talk to you immediately, Anita. Follow me." Damian stated then turned around to walk away.
"Anita, he's pretty is he yours?" Buffy chirped admiring Damian's tall graceful body.
"No he's not; he belongs to Jean-Claude, the Master of the City. Ya know, I guess he is kinda pretty. I never noticed it before," Anita sighed.
Neither woman noticed all the Weres stop and sniff as they walked by. Jason, the dancer, left the stage after hearing all the talk backstage. "She smells like rain." "No forest." "Sunshine." "The Mother's pull is strong." "Who is she?" "What is she?"
Jason rushed to Jean-Claude's bedroom hoping to get to meet the mystery woman. Damian led Anita and Buffy into a large bedroom, done in black and red satins. Jean-Claude lounged on the bed dressed only in black silk lounging pants. His long curly black hair, dark blue eyes complimented his pale skin and his slender 5'10' body. A scar shaped like a cross marred his otherwise perfect chest.
A large man with shoulder length chestnut hair and warm brown eyes leaned against the wall. He had just the right amount of muscles.
Jean-Claude stood when Anita entered the room moving forward to kiss her cheek. "Ah, ma petite, you look lovely. How are you tonight? Who is your pretty friend?"
"This is Buffy Summers; she is going to help me find the missing Weres and vamps. This is Jean-Claude, the Master of the City and Richard Zeeman, the Ulfric of the Thronnos-Rokke Clan and of course you already met Damian." Anita introduced everyone.
The men looked at Buffy taking in her long blond hair, golden skin and large green eyes appreciatively. Richard couldn't get over the sense of safety he felt from her. He knew she wasn't a Were, but the strong pull of the moon from her pleased his wolf.
Jean-Claude couldn't read the beautiful woman in front of him, no matter how hard he tried to enter her mind. He felt no power from her. Whatever she helped Anita with; it wasn't as a back up. He laughed to himself.
Anita took in all their reactions with humor, knowing they underestimated Buffy. "Buffy is a witch and knows several spells that may help us find the missing people."
"Non, that is impossible, I feel nothing from her. Try again ma petite," exclaimed Jean-Claude.
"Uh, Buffy's in the house. Here ya go JC try again. Maybe your super snooper broke." Buffy allowed a small amount of her power to leak into the room. Everyone gasped making Buffy giggle. "Is it you working now? Maybe you need new batteries?" She smiled at him brightly and her green eyes twinkled.
"Mon Dieu, how can you hide power so well, little one."
"Hey fang-face who are you calling little," Buffy huffed glaring at the dark haired vampire.
Richard couldn't stop his laughter. They heard a thud from the hallway. "Come in Jason, there is no longer a need to hide in the hall like a bad puppy." Jean-Claude called out.
The door opened and Buffy recognized the dancer from the club. He slowly entered the room, his head down as if he expected someone to hit him. With his blonde hair and sky blue eyes, Jason looked younger than twenty-five. As he reached Buffy, he inhaled her scent and looked into her eyes. Buffy noticed the mischief dancing there, even though he was in trouble. He reminded her of Xander. She sent him a positive pulse of reassurance. His eyes widened and so did his smile. Lifting his head, Jason approached Jean-Claude. He would take any punishment to be near Buffy.
Richard watched the change in his pack mate. He understood his actions, they mirrored his own. Jean-Claude saw all of this play out with narrowed eyes. Then Buffy looked straight into his eyes and he smiled. Everyone else in the room tensed as Jean-Claude's eyes widen then narrow. He would enthrall her. Buffy's green eyes looked directly into his dark blue ones. Jean-Claude started calculating how much power the tiny blonde had and whether he could tap into it. His eyes suddenly grew wide when he heard a voice in his head.
Nope, uh, not going to happen. So do you want to continue to talk like this or do you want to let everyone else come to the party. Cuz, I must say even though you are a major hottie, you look better with your mouth closed.
Jean-Claude's mouth snapped shut with a click of his fangs then he threw back his head and laughed.
"Ah ma sorcière, you are a delightful puzzle, I cannot wait to unravel. Anita, your friend is full of surprises. All of which, I am not even sure you are aware," Jean-Claude purred.
"That is enough of the party tricks, Jean-Claude. We are here to solve this case to find out who killed the dead Weres and find the missing ones. Now are you in or are you out?" Anita growled reaching for her gun until Buffy quirked an eyebrow at her. Her hand dropped back to her side.
Richard stepped closer to Buffy and quietly asked. "Why can I feel the moon's pull from you?"
"I am a daughter of Luna," Buffy answered, knowing they would assume she meant her magic. She stepped away from him in case she needed room to move.
"What is it with all of you guys going crazy over new face?" Anita glared at the men.
"Ma petite are you jealous, there is no need. I would be happy to mark you any time you wish. That would assure you that I want you above all others."
"You will not mark her again." Richard's eyes turned amber his beast stirred.
"Boys are you through washing down the walls with testosterone, or is one of you going to pee a circle around her?" Buffy asked in a bored voice. Anita glared at her, Jean-Claude laughed and Richard blushed.
"So lune sorcière how are you going to help us find our missing people?"
"A soul spell should do the trick," Buffy smiled at them. They looked at her as if she talked in foreign. "I will use the missing vampire's coffin as a link to find their soul."
Anita started cursing and kicking the furniture. "Damn it, why didn't Tammy or someone else suggest this? How come someone from out of town has to come here and tell us what was right in front of us?"
"That's easy Anita. No one probably knew how to perform this type of magic, anymore. It is old and hasn't been performed in a long time," Buffy explained.
"It's true vampires do have souls. You seem so sure, people have been arguing this for centuries. How do you that they have souls?" Anita hoped for an answer to one of her biggest concerns.
"I can feel them. Some souls are stronger than others but everyone has one. It is the moon's call that pulls their souls back to the ether. Her beams tether them to their bodies until they wake again. My teacher taught me all about the moons place in every ware's life. She whispers to their beast," Buffy told her. She suddenly turned walking over to Damian and looked into his light green eyes. "You have a strong soul."
"How is that possible? He is not a Master and will never be, no matter his great age," Jean-Claude exclaimed.
"That has nothing to with it. It is based on inner strength and who a person chooses to be regardless of circumstances. The strongest vampires in the world have the weakest souls. Look at your Council; theirs are so small they are almost non-existent. Enough of the lessons grasshopper, where do you keep all your good little vamps tucked in for the day?"
Richard's head jerked, he felt as if he watched a fast-paced tennis match and Buffy just won 40-Love. Jean-Claude looked at Damian and Jason then nodded his head. Damian smiled at the tiny blond. "Please follow me." Jason jumped up to follow too.
Buffy giggled, "Down puppy, we don't want any accidents on the carpet. I bet JC swings a mean newspaper."
Jason grinned at her, he liked her teasing him. He instinctively knew she would protect him. He promised himself right then, regardless of whom or what he had to hurt or kill he would keep her safe.
Damian led Buffy deep under the Circus into the dungeons. Could she feel my soul? Maybe I will have a chance to talk with her, once she cast her spell. He saw Jean-Claude's interest in Buffy's power, looking at her walking beside him talking to Jason. Damian admitted he wanted her too but not for power. He watched the lights shine on the gold of her hair and his heart clenched. He noticed the muscles play beneath her skin. Buffy became quieter the closer they got to the coffins. Jean-Claude hadn't lied when he said there were many layers to this woman, Damian just hoped be would get to unravel them.
Buffy noticed Damian's covert glances. He was different from any man she ever knew. His blood-red hair flowed shiny and straight down his back, his face was angular with high cheekbones but his eyes caught her attention the most. They were pale green like a cat. His tall, sleekly muscular body exuded a quiet strength; as if he made no unnecessary motions. She couldn't deny the instant attraction she felt for him. Jean-Claude was like walking sex true, but Damian was slow long leisurely weekend sex. This close to him Buffy could feel his soul. She would have to be careful not to get involved with him. Her love life had to wait. Her list of tasks from the Powers a long one.
I will have to be careful around him until Anita makes her choice between bachelor a or b. If I were to become involved with him then Jean-Claude would assume he has some control. Anita might decide because of jealousy rather than her heart. Her choices and resulting reactions are important to the future. If she allows her beliefs and soul to be corrupted then I will have no choice but to bind her necromancy or kill her. Neither one these are what I want to have to do. The war with the Council is going to be a challenge but compared to Anita, it seemed like a walk in the park.
Anita smiled at Richard as she walked over and kissed him passionately. "Hello, I was hoping I would see you today, maybe not here. Now days though I will take what I can get."
"Jean-Claude said you were coming here when I talked to him. I decided just to come here so you would only have to explain it once. I was also hoping that we could have dinner later," Richard answered returning her kiss then hugged her to him.
She turned in his arms to look at Jean-Claude smugly. Jean-Claude frowned at the couple and decided to add a little of his own special brand of romance. He tried to go into Anita's mind but only saw steel vault.
"Ma petite, what have you done to yourself? Why can't I read your thoughts? Do I not also receive a hello kiss?"
Anita felt his voice and shivers raced down her spine causing Richard to stiffen at her reaction and growled. "You do not get a kiss and I didn't do anything. It is a simple spell so no one can get into my head but me. If you could you would see me waving at you," she hissed. Jean-Claude smiled at her. "with one finger. Stay the hell out of my head. Open your mouth and talk if you have something to say."
Jean-Claude started pacing the bedroom. "Buffy, who is this woman? I have never heard of her and I would have with that much power. She comes to my town and knows magic no one has performed in years. She can look me straight in the eye like a a," he growled.
"No-account piss ant." Anita supplied with a grin
"Enough," Jean-Claude roared.
In the basement, Buffy looked at Damian then Jason. "If I allow you to stay, will you tell Jean-Claude everything you see?"
"I don't understand," he replied.
"I told him I would perform an old spell but not how I will perform it. I need to know if you will tell him, if so I will have to ask you both to leave. No one expects the Weres to be the main focus or even to still be alive. The missing Weres are just as important as the vampires."
"You think you can find them?" Jason asked, excitedly.
"Yes, I know that I can. I will your oath that you won't tell anyone what you see."
"What type of oath? What is involved?" Damian watched Buffy's face closely.
"The oath would only bind you not to reveal the ceremony and what you learn about me. You can tell them the results of what we discover, just no specifics," she stated, crossing her arms.
"It won't matter they can force us to tell them whatever they wish to know," Jason said sadly.
"The oath binds you to your own words. If you try to break it, there are consequences. Anybody asking for more will smell only the truth from you."
"Why don't you just wipe our minds, if having us there makes it work better?" Damian asked in confusion.
"There are rules to magic, for every forced use of magic there are consequences. They are dealt out on a magnitude three times harsher than if permission were granted. That is dark magic I DO NOT participate in that. I've been on the frontlines of it and it ain't pretty."
"I am willing to take your oath," Damian said. Jason looked Buffy deeply in the eyes and nodded his head.
Buffy breathed in deeply motioning for Jason to stand on her right and Damian on her left. She smoothly retrieved an athema from her boot. "Put out your left hands." Buffy cut a small star shaped symbol in each of their palms. "Now clasps hands." As they held hands, the two men couldn't take their eyes off the golden haired goddess in front of them. She cut the same symbols in both of her hands and put one on each of their hearts. She held their hands and looked into their eyes. Her eyes glowed a bright royal blue as she chanted.
"Hear me Hecate, goddess of magic. As we three call on you to bind this oath, may any who break it bear your anger? What is done in this room in your name let none ever speak of again? This daughter of the moon asked you."
The symbols on their hands glowed and a gentle wind blew sending warmth through their bodies. It ended as quickly as it began. Buffy bowed her head eyes closed and breathed deeply.
They released their hands, Jason glanced at his hand and there wasn't a mark on it. "I must warn you. If you willingly break the oath, Hecate will decide your fate, not me. She is very inventive so it wouldn't surprise me if she wouldn't say turn you into a bat or a poodle." Buffy giggled as Damian became even paler and Jason swallowed loudly.
"Now on to the mojo, Jason you are first up to bat. I need you sit down in front of me, hands on knees palm up. Call to your beast but don't change, think of your missing pack members. Your are all connected, a family each connected deep within waiting to be called in times of great need. Smell the forest, the moon, the power, the pack, feel them all around you." Buffy mirrored Jason's pose then placed her hands over his. "Your wolf longs for those missing, it needs to feel their fur, smell them taste them." Her voice held a hypnotic quality, smooth as honey. Her eyes glowed brighter and brighter, the royal blue incandescent in its intensity. A golden glow shimmered on the outline of her body. Jason's eyes turned amber with his wolf, Buffy pulled on the power following the line. She pushed the power into Jason gently then followed it as she looked for the missing pack members.
Damian watched in awe, he felt the power in the air; something underlying all the power seemed familiar to him. Something inside Damian quietly awoke recognizing a need to conquer. She looked like a golden Amazon, damn Jean-Claude, he wanted this woman. Buffy's started to remove her hand from Jason's and the glow faded away. He whimpered at the loss of contact and moved to her immediately curling around her. She soothed him gently brushing hair away from his face.
"Most of them are alive but some won't last much longer. I couldn't see any coffins around so they must keep them separate." Tears ran down her cheeks, which startled Jason. He couldn't imagine someone crying for a stranger, especially a were. He laid his head on her lap curling close around her and breathed in her scent. How can someone so tiny have such a large heart?
Buffy closed her eyes centering herself. She knew everything else had to be put out of her mind. She hugged Jason patting him gently moving him aside. Looking up at Damian, she raised her hand to him and he helped her to her feet. "Are you ready for this? I must warn you it will put you in closer touch with your soul." Buffy asked earnestly, almost hoping he would refuse. She could track one vampire but needed a connection to find the other vampires. The more information, the better-off they would be in a fight.
Damian recognized the hesitancy, "What do I need to do?"
"This will be a little trickier; we need to move the coffins as close together as possible before we lie down on them."