Anita finally got to bed at four in the morning. She threw dropped her clothes on the floor, not even bothering with her nightshirt, and crawled into bed. Micah and Nathanial automatically shifted to give her room, and she slid between their overly heated bodies. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she fell asleep the instant her head hit the pillow.
She laid spread eagle on Jean-Claude's black sheets, while the arduer rode her body hard. He stood at the door staring down at her with disgust and pity, marring his beautiful face. Anita watched those long elegant fingers grasp the knob, and throw the door open. His lips twisted upward into a cruel smile. Anita raised up to see what was happening, even as her body arched with need.
"There she is boys, the great Executioner, a bitch in heat. Just wait your turn; she'll take you on, no pushing. We are all gentlemen her, nest pas. No worries, everyone will get their turn."
Richard, Jason, Micah, Nathaniel, Zane, Jamil, Shang-Da, Asher, stood there waiting. The line went on forever with every 'man' Anita knew.
Her eyes widened in fright and she screamed, "NO!"
"Don't worry boys, she's riding it hard. No isn't part of her vocabulary, anymore. You got a hard cock; she has a hotbox. Who's first?"
"Me." Richard walked up naked, glaring at her with hate-filled eyes. "You thought you were better than me, no way. This is all you are good for." He pounded into her without any thought for her feeling. Anita's body took over as she screamed. The arduer opened, hitting everyone in the room. "Come on, boys, the more the merrier. Right Anita?"
The dream went on endlessly for Anita. Zebrowski and Dolph climbed onto the bed with her. They told her that when they finished with her that they had an order of execution for her and her boy toys. They laughed while they moved into position.
Anita screamed at the top of her lungs. Her eyes popped open, she breathed heavily only to find herself in the exact position of her dream. Only this time it was with Micah and Nathaniel.
"Anita, are you okay?" Micah asked.
Her body shuttered in pleasure as the arduer hit hard, for real this time. She bent down to capture his mouth with hers, biting his tongue.
"Just hurry, hurry please, Micah, it's bad."
Micah and Nathaniel tried to comfort and pleasure her, at the same time. When it was over, she burst into tears.
"Did I do something wrong? You were already on me when I woke up, Anita." Nathaniel withdrew from her, and into himself.
"No, it's just; I had a horrible nightmare that's all. I'm sure I'll be fine now."
Closing her eyes in exhaustion, she again fell asleep. This time she dreamed of everyone dying - Jean-Claude, Asher, Jason, Micah, all of them. Whenever it showed their killer, it was always her.
Finally, she climbed out of bed and into a shower then went for coffee. "Maybe Jean-Claude will know what's happening."
"I do not know what's happening, Mon Chardonette. It was unimaginable in its intensity. Nothing can even compare to it, not Belle, nothing," Jean-Claude exclaimed. His hands brushed his hair from his forehead.
"Not even, Anita?"
"I love ma petite, Asher. This was different; no, not even she can compare. I was nude when I awoke and look." He bared his neck, showing the blonde haired vampire the fresh bite marks.
"Mon Dieu, Jean-Claude, but they are tiny, almost childlike. You don't suppose, Musette or even Valentine could. No, they're not powerful enough for something like this. If I didn't know better, I would say you've taken all four marks."
"Don't be ridiculous, that only works for humans. No, this is something else." A very tired Anita walked into the office. "Ma petite, are you ill?" He looked at her pale face and the dark circles under her eyes.
"Thanks, I know I look like shit. No, every time I shut my eyes last night, the dreams, Jean-Claude, they were horrible. All my worst fears in Technicolor, I even woke up riding not only the arduer, but Micah and Nathaniel." She looked at the dark haired vampire pointedly.
"Mon Dieu, ma petite, are you all right?" He gathered her close in a comforting hug.
"Yes." She snuggled into his chest, only to sniff him. "What the hell? I'm having nightmares, and doing things I've never even imagined myself doing, you...you're fucking someone else." She pushed him away screaming at him. Her fingers clenched into fists as she yearned to draw her gun.
He forgot about her heightened senses in his confusion. "No, ma petite, you aren't the only one to have, such real dreams. Mine weren't nightmares, more a ravishing." He couldn't keep the smile from his face, remembering the intense pleasure he had experienced.
"So, I experienced my worse fears, and you get what, great sex?"
"I don't know, Anita."
She looked at him closely. He never called her by her name. This must really bother him.
Jason walked into the office carrying a package. "Boss, this came for you."
Opening the box, the scent of vanilla wafted into the room. It was the same scent he had smelled, in his coffin. "Mon Dieu, we are in, as you say, deep shit."
"Well, what is it?" Anita demanded, trying to look into the box.
"Invitations." Jean-Claude tried to understand the repercussions.
"From whom, mon ami?" Asher looked on his oldest friend and former lover, with concern clear in his husky blue eyes.
"The Mother, she has awakened. She wishes to meet her newest child and welcome him and his family to the Council."
"That doesn't sound so bad," Anita said nonchalantly, still trying to see into the box.
"You do not understand. It isn't a real invitation. It's a summons. She will judge us, and if found unworthy we die - everyone."
"What do you mean unworthy? Who's this Mother? You mentioned her before, if she's what tried to jump on with Belle. It's no big deal. I sent her packing, so she can't be that bad."
"Don't be insolent, Anita. You speak of things you know nothing about."
"Well, I would if you'd ever tell me." She glared at him with her chin going higher by the minute.
"She created us, the Mother of Darkness, they call her. Every vampire is traceable to a Council Member, who she created. She holds the power each of them have and, rumors say, even more, which haven't manifested in any of her children. She cannot die by any means, not sunlight, holy water - nothing. She doesn't have to sleep; she doesn't lose her soul. Even the weres are descended from her blood. Have you ever wondered why we can control them? It's all because of HER! You no more beat her than she let you go. The real question is why, and what does she want with us now?"
He started pacing the office floor, wringing his hands as he tried to see the possible outcomes.
"Jean-Claude, you're scaring me."
"Good, for once listen, before you go off half-cocked. The things you've seen and fought are nothing compared to her. We can only hope she judges us as worthy, and we leave mostly as we came. We are to leave tomorrow night. She's sending a jet for us." He glanced down at the invitation. "Sacre Blu, it's worse than I thought."
"Would you quit doing that?" Anita's nerves were close to snapping and seeing her normally calm lover so agitated only made it worse.
"The Dragon is to escort us." Jean-Claude looked even paler than normal as he stared into Asher's pale blue eyes.
"But, he retired from the Council long ago. Why is he back? Because she, oui, he is her firstborn." Asher's golden blonde hair moved over more of his face as he reasoned this out shaking his head in understanding.
"Why's he called the Dragon?" Anita looked between the vampires, as they communicate with their eyes.
"It's said that is what he was, before she changed him. Her bite changed him into a man, and then later he became her first child."
"But, dragons aren't real," Anita sputtered in disbelief.
"Are you sure, ma petite? What of Chimera and Obsidian Butterfly, they too were myths?" Jean-Claude shook his dark curls. "No, he's very real. Once you see him, it's easy to believe what he was before."
"Who does this affect?" Anita didn't like the way this was quickly going from bad to worse.
"Everyone, I'm afraid. You, your pard, Richard, his officers and mine. It's a show of strength."
"Then, who watches St. Louis?"
"No one will have to, while under Council decree, it's considered frozen. No one would even consider challenging my position. They would fear her eyes turning on them."
"What does she look like? I mean she has to be really old right, older than the Earthmover?"
"I never saw her during my time with Belle, but yes she's very old. Many say the Dragon is older, but no one knows for sure. They always talked about her beauty even Belle de Morte spoke of her with love and admiration."
"You mean the Council doesn't fear her? She can't be that bad then right." Anita tried to smile encouragingly.
"She is their Mother, Anita. She isn't called the Mother of Darkness for nothing. They may not fear her, but we would be fools not to. Go make whatever preparations you need to. I don't know how long this will take. None of us have a choice; to refuse is to sign our own death warrant..."
Anita shuddered at the thought. Whenever she closed her eyes, she saw her nightmares from the previous night. She vowed not to be the cause of anyone's death. "I'll be ready, Jean-Claude. Don't worry we will get through this just like everything else. I love you." Anita kissed him softly then left to go home and pack.
"You are scared, Mon ami. What aren't you saying?" Asher placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It was her, Asher. It was the Mother, the scent is the same, and she sent this."
He handed a small note written in an elegant script to Asher, who read it aloud.
You were very sweet last night,
like a wild berry on my tongue.
I can't wait to taste more of you,
all of you.
Mother
"Sacre Bleu," Asher exclaimed as he handed the note back to his friend.
Just then, a wind blew into the office, it released the scent of vanilla and a woman's own unique smell; a throaty laugh played over their bodies in demanding strokes. It held them in place as they felt soft hands stroke them through their clothes. Their pants fell away and they could do nothing but feel. Breaths hitched, Jean-Claude again felt her straddle his lap as she pressed him into the chair. Strong hands stroked Asher. He watched Jean-Claude's eyes roll back in pleasure as his neck started to bleed where the bite re-opened. Asher could almost see the ghost fangs sink into the flesh. His concentration faded when a warm mouth engulfed him. Ghost hands held him suspended in midair. They moved him as they pleased and he was helpless to their will. Asher felt tiny fangs prick him at the very root of his manhood. The fangs slid in tenderly, lovingly then the pleasure hit him. Throwing his head back, he screamed as it rushed through his body.
Jason and Damian ran into the room their eyes went wide at what they saw. Asher hung in the air while Jean-Claude opened his eyes and tried to focus on his surroundings. He turned to Asher, only to stare in disbelief; the scars had faded from his body, leaving him unmarked except for two tiny fang marks at his groin. The ghost hands lowered Asher slowly to the ground. He caught hold of the desk to keep from falling. Jean-Claude's gazed upon his former lover, feeling himself grow hard again.
He ordered the intruders to leave, "Get out, and lock the door behind you."
They ran from the room, knowing better than to disobey when the Master used that tone. On the other side of the door, Jason looked at Damian. "What the..."
"Do not ask, little wolf. I'm not sure we want to know." Damian turned with his arms crossed over his chest, returning to his stoic guard position.
Inside, Jean-Claude removed what remained of his clothing, helpless to do anything else. If he were honest, he didn't want to do anything else. Asher harshly tried to catch the breath he didn't need. A ghost hand touched him, streaming power back into him, as he once again grew hard. The hand guided him into the ghost's silky warmth. He felt Jean-Claude there beside him. It brought back memories of loving Julianna like this. The two former lovers gazed longingly into each other's eyes. Their ghost lover seemed to read their thoughts. It pulled Asher toward Jean-Claude. They kissed after so many years and the old feelings came rushing back.
The next hour seemed to blend into a myriad of untold pleasures. In the end, as they felt her leave, Jean-Claude and Asher found themselves joined as one. Jean-Claude lay back as Asher made love to him. Telling him how much he missed him, wanted him, needed him and loved him. They bit into each other's neck, triggering their release. They lay back afterward, sated and content.
Asher asked, "What now, Jean-Claude? Do you throw me aside? Do you hide me like a dirty secret or do we tell Anita?"
"I don't know how everything will work out, Mon Chardonette, but I won't lose you again. You do realize we bear not only each others marks but hers as well." They knew their ghost lover was none other than the Mother of Darkness.
"Oui, mon cher, I understand what you meant; it's indescribable. Belle's power is not such as that. A man would give anything for it to remain within his reach."
"Cher ami, that's my fear. What will she ask me to do? What do I have that she would want? She already gave me the greatest gift, by healing you. Mi amour, your beautiful face is yours once more."
Asher's hand felt his now smooth face then trailed down his body. "What price must I pay for this gift? You're right, mon cher, we must take care. If she can touch us anywhere, I don't know how much we can do."
"We have to try to prepare as much as possible. She seems to appear, when Anita isn't around, perhaps we should keep, ma petite, with us."
"Must we?"
Jean-Claude softly sighed, while he combed his fingers combed through Asher golden hair. "I think, no matter how tempting the Mother is we need to find out what she wants. We can't afford to give her more power than she already has."
"You have the most delightful children, Belle."
Buffy applied lipstick, while she talked with her youngest childe. Belle reluctantly brought her second-in-command and her most favored childe to Buffy's room as ordered.
"They were delicious. Although, I'm put out with you for not healing Asher. If you aren't going to take care of your children, I'll remove them from your line." Buffy's eyebrow quirked, waiting for an answer.
"Yes, mother, I'm sorry." Belle couldn't bring herself to touch Asher; he horribly disfigured after the priests had finished with him.
"If you aren't careful, I'll let you see exactly how it feels for your sire to turn away from you."
"Yes, Mother," Belle replied properly contrite. "How long will you keep my Musette?" She looked lovingly at the little blonde.
"You'll have to find another toy, baby. This one caused you to reach too high. I'll keep her, or kill her, you choose."
"NO! Don't kill her," she shouted. "Please, Mother, keep her. She's yours, just don't kill her." Belle fell to her knees and reached for Buffy's hand. Her beautiful eyes filled with tears at the thought of her Musette gone forever. She could live with the knowledge that she was alive, even if they couldn't stay together.
"Belle, Mon amour." Musette had remained silent, until she realized that she was never to return to her beloved sire. She started across the room in an attempt to reach Belle's side.
Buffy flicked her wrist, sending the small vampire crashing into the far wall. "Don't interrupt again. I'm speaking to my daughter. You reached too high, and got burned, figuratively. If you aren't careful it will become fact." Musette keened where she lay crumpled on the floor. "Leave us, Belle; I need to have words with my new maid. Now, Belle," Buffy ordered.
Belle glanced one last time at her childe and lover; her shoulders sagged as she quietly closed the door. Musette tried to run after Belle. She found herself suspended in the air. Her eyes went wide as she fought against the invisible force that held her. Buffy walked over to stand underneath her.
"I can see why my baby girl likes you. You're her dress up doll. Let's see about changing that shall we." She slashed her hands in the air, and Musette's clothes shredded. "You have no body; you're little more than a girl except for that hair." Ah, I know." Musette felt burning slices against her scalp as her long beautiful hair fell to the floor.
"NO!" Tears fell down her cheeks, remembering how much Belle loved her hair.
"SILENCE!" Buffy roared, causing the walls to shake. "That's much better. Hannah," Buffy called. An older woman dressed entirely in black entered the room, not once glancing at Musette. "Fetch some boys clothes for this ragamuffin. We'll teach her some humility. She's your new helper. If she gives you any trouble, punish her anyway you wish." Her hands arched downward, sending Musette plummeting to the ground.
Hannah's strong fingers wrapped around a small arm. She pulled the tiny vampire from the room.
"Let me go."
Musette struggled, trying to get away, with no luck. Hannah had known Buffy as long as Dalith. She was the shewolf, and the third creature given human form. The two women were the closest of friends. Hannah mothered Buffy and Buffy let her.
The St. Louis group waited at the airport for their escort. Damian was the first to notice the giant man. People cleared a path for him, because of his size, unusual coloring and beauty. Above all else, Dalith had the beauty only possible from mystical sources. His hair was fire red, unmatchable by human means. It glowed under the airport lighting, or so everyone thought, in truth, it glowed from Dalith's inner fire. One couldn't help but stare as he drew closer and his eyes came into focus. They flashed gold with the warmth and wisdom beyond imagination. Dalith seemed dipped in reds and golds from his head to his toes, even his skin held a golden sheen.
"Damn, he's pretty." Cherry stood slack jawed, along with the entire group.
Dalith stopped before Jean-Claude, slightly nodding his head in greeting. "The plane is this way." His voice rumbled, making it easy to imagine him breathing fire. He simply turned and walked back the way he came.
Anita couldn't stop the shivers his voice caused. They followed him to a private runway only to stop short. "Jason, what's wrong? Oh..." She couldn't believe her eyes. There on the runway stood a plane beyond imagination. It made Donald Trump's plane appear dinky and cheap.
"Is that gold? Who would put gold on the outside?"
"Someone with more than she could ever spend, even in her lifetime. Come we need to leave."
Dalith hid his smirk at their expressions. Mother loved blowing people's minds with her wealth. He knew she would enjoy the plane. He had it custom-built as a gift. He wasn't as isolated as the Council thought. He and Hannah kept everything going the way Mother liked. Dalith, as dragons do, knew where the largest treasures lay hidden. Over the centuries, he stole them away from man. It seemed only fair, since man had stolen it from the dragons or his other brethren. There were hidden chambers throughout the fortress, and around the world filled with gold and jewels.
As the plane prepared to take off, Jean-Claude smelled vanilla. "Ah, Mon Dieu, not here, not now."
"What's wrong with you? You've acted weird since this started."
"I need to speak to the Dragon a moment, ma petite."
"You can't get up, we're taking off," Anita exclaimed.
"Anita, this is important. I won't die," he snapped, already up and moving quickly toward the back of the plane.
She watched him go with hurt obvious on her face. Micah tried to comfort her, but she pulled away from him. She felt as if she was losing Jean-Claude, and possibly Asher as well. She didn't understand why, or how to stop it from happening.
Dalith sat in a private sitting area, which Jean-Claude burst into breathing heavily. His eyebrows rose in question, until he smelled Mother's scent on the dark haired vampire. "You may want to step through that door." He pointed to a private bedroom.
Jean-Claude practically burst through the door, quickly shutting it behind him. He leaned against it, realizing he had barely got there in time. An unseen force pulled him onto the large bed, stripped him even as he sank into the waiting heat. He felt come into the room and Asher move behind him. They moved together as if they shared the same body, the three of them - their ghost lover, Jean-Claude and Asher. Buffy rode them hard this time. Her passion wasn't the same gentle touch from before; it came crashing down like the tide repeatedly hitting the shore. She expertly took them to the edge of pain as only a vampire lover knew and understood. The men bore teeth and nail marks on their chests and backs. They switched positions with Asher as the delicious middle of their lover sandwich. Two sets of fangs sunk into his neck, forcing his body to arch as a scream escaped his mouth. Jean-Claude joined him with a shout at his own release.
They heard a gasp behind them, without turning, they knew Anita stood there watching them, for how long it didn't matter. "This is what you had to talk to the Dragon about? How long Jean-Claude, how long have you been fucking him?" She asked with a hard voice and dead eyes.
"Do not speak about him like that. I made love to him yesterday, for the first time since he came back to me. I'm not ashamed of it. I share you, with numerous others and say nothing, Anita. Your feelings are involved with more that just Micah. Don't you don't dare to sit in judgment of me."
"That's the arduer and you know it."
"Oh, really, ma petite, the arduer makes you want, not need, or feel for another. More than just your body's involved with your couplings, yet you'd deny me, us, where there has always been love. No more, Asher is in my life and my bed. You will accept it," he declared, staring at her with hard blue eyes.
She had seen him look at others this way, but never her. "And, if I don't, then what, Jean-Claude? Will you choose him over me?" Her arms crossed over her chest as her chin rose in challenge.
"Don't ask questions you won't like the answers to, ma petite," he purred, sending tingles down her spine.
"Stop it, no games, this is too important."
"Quit acting like a child. You cannot take all the prizes for yourself. Grow up. There is more here than your feelings. Now, if you'll close the door, we'll join you in momentarily." She stormed from the room, slamming the door behind her. Jean-Claude lifted Asher's face, kissing him tenderly. "No, mon cher, I won't give you up again."
They heard the throaty laugh brush over them as they fell back onto the bed once more. Half an hour later, the two vampires joined the others. Jean-Claude decided to sit beside Asher, rather than returning to his seat next to Anita. Several hours later, they landed at a private airstrip, where several limousines met them.
"Where are we?" Anita asked their escort.
"Everywhere, and nowhere, the beginning," Dalith answered cryptically, as he walked off the plane.
She glanced out the window to see that they were in the middle of the desert. They climbed into the limo, whose darkened windows made it hard to see where they were going. Anita rode with the pard, rather than share the car with Jean-Claude and Asher. The cars pulled up to a strange mixture between a medieval fortress and a fairytale castle. Different levels added over the years melded together to create an impressive home, giving it a magical and imposing appearance.
"We have set aside the east wing for your needs. Your things are waiting for you in your assigned rooms. There are two hours allotted, before your meeting with Mother. I suggest you use it wisely, should you need anything dial #1 on the room phone."
Dalith walked off, leaving them gawking after him. As soon as he was far enough away, he broke out laughing.
Come to momma, baby. Can't wait to hear what her face looked like when she found them.