Anita finally got to bed at four in the morning. She fell asleep the minute her head hit the pillow. She found herself spread out on Jean-Claude's black sheets. The arduer rode her naked body hard while Jean-Claude stood at the door looking at her with disgust and pity. He opened the door to show men waiting in line. Anita raised up to see what was see what was happening, even as her body arched with need.
"There she is boys, the great Executioner, a bitch in heat, no less. Just wait your turn; she'll take you all on, no pushing, no pushing."
Richard, Jason, Micah, Nathaniel, Zane, Jamil, Shang-Da, Asher, stood there waiting. The line went on forever with all the 'men' 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 hot box. Who's first?"
"Me." Richard walked up naked, looking down at her with hate. "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 completely, 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. The told her that when they finished fucking her, they had an order of execution for her and her boy toys. They laughed while they both fucked her.
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, its 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 dreamt of everyone dieing - 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 chardonnet. 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 child-like. 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. The one thing she had never gone in for was anal sex.
"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 taking it up the butt and you're fucking someone else." She pushed him away screaming.
He forgot about her heightened senses in his confusion. "No, ma petite, you aren't the only one to have, such real dreams. Only mine were not a nightmare, more a ravishing." He couldn't keep the smile from his face remembering the intense pleasure he had experienced.
"So, I get 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 be bugging him.
Jason walked into the office carrying a package. "Boss, this was just delivered 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 repercussion of the situation.
"From whom, mon aimé?" 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. We are to be judged by her, if found unworthy she will kill us all."
"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, 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 is 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 be our escort." 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 first born." 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 seemed to be talking with their eyes.
"It's said that is what he was before she changed him. Her bite made him able to change to a man then later he became her first child."
"But dragons aren't real."
"Are you sure, ma petite? What of Chimera and Obsidian Butterfly, they too were myths? 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 situation 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 a Council decree it's considered frozen. No one would even consider challenging. 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. The Dragon's said to be older; but it isn't known for sure. They always talked of 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 it to sign our own death warrant.."
Anita shuddered, she could see her nightmares from the previous night when she closed her eyes. She wouldn't 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.
"You are scared, mon aimé. What didn't you say?" 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
"Sacrebleu," Asher exclaimed as he handed the note back to his friend.
Just then a wind blew in 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 sheath straddling his lap, pressing him back in the chair. Asher felt a strong hand stroking him. He saw 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 he felt a warm mouth engulf him, pulling his body closer. It suspended him in mid-air as the ghost hands moved him back and forth. Asher felt the 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, lock the door."
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 stoic guard position.
Inside, Jean-Claude removed what remained of his clothing, helpless to do anything else. If he were honest with himself, 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 together 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 back lay sated afterwards.
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 chardonnet but I'll not 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 now what you meant before; it's indescribable. Belle's power is not such as that. A man would give anything for it to remain within his reach."
"Cher aimé that's my fear. What will I be asked 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 your's once again."
Asher's hand felt his now smooth face then trailed down his body. "What will be the price for this though? You're right, mon cher, we must be careful. If she can touch us anywhere, at any time, I don't know how much we can do."
"We have to try and be prepared. She seems to show when Anita isn't around, so perhaps we keep, ma petite, with us."
"Must we?"
Jean-Claude softly sighed, 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 made the most delightful children, Belle." Buffy applied lipstick while she talked with her youngest childe. Belle reluctantly brought her second-in-command and most favored childe to Buffy's room as ordered. "They were quite 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 was so ugly after the priests 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, 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 close, or kill her, you choose."
"NO! Don't kill her, keep her, Mother. She's yours, just don't kill her."
"Belle, Mon amour." Musette tried to go to her sire.
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 literally." Musette keened where she lay crumpled on the floor. "Leave us Belle; I need to have a few words with my new maid. Now, Belle." 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, but ended up suspended in air. Buffy walked over to stand underneath her. "I can see why my baby girl likes you. You're her dress up doll. Well, let's just change 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, 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." Buffy sending Musette plummeting to the ground.
Hannah's strong fingers wrapped around a small arm, pulling her 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 She-wolf, and the third creature given a 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 noticed the giant man first. People cleared a path for him due to his size, unusual coloring and beauty. Above all else, Dalith had the beauty only capable from a mystical creature. His red hair was the fire red, unmatchable by humans. 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, knowledge and wisdom beyond anyone's 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's 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. heard it. They walked to a private runway only to stop short. "Jason, what's wrong? Oh.." Anita 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'd put gold on the outside?"
"Someone who had more than she could ever spend, even in her lifetime. Come we need to leave." Dalith hid his smirk. 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 were hidden. Over the centuries, he stole them away from man. It seemed only fair, since it was stolen from dragons or others of his kind. There were hidden rooms 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 been acting weird ever since this started."
"I need to speak to the Dragon a moment, ma petite."
"You can't get up, we're taking off."
"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 evident on her face. Micah tried to comfort her, but she pulled away. She felt as if she was loosing 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. Dalith's eyebrows rose in question, until he smelt 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 made it in time. An unseen force pulled him onto a large bed, stripped him even as he sank into the waiting heat. He felt Asher move behind him just as he pulled out. They moved as if they shared the same body, all three of them - their ghost lover, Jean-Claude and Asher. Buffy rode them hard this time. Her passion wasn't the gently touch from before; it came crashing down like the tide hitting the shore repeatedly. She expertly took them to the edge of pain as only a vampire lover knew and understood. Both men bore teeth and nail marks on their chests and backs. They switched positions with Asher as the delicious middle of their lover's 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, fucking Asher? 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, Anita, with numerous others and say nothing. Your feelings are involved with more that just Micah, 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 stared at her with cold hard blue eyes.
She had seen him look at others that way but never her. "And if I don't, then what, Jean-Claude? Will you choose him over me?" Her arms crossed 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 being such a child. You cannot take all the prizes for yourself, grow up. There is more involved here than just your feelings. Now, if you'll close the door, we'll join you in a moment." 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 on the bed once more. Half an hour later, the two vampires joined the others. Jean-Claude chose to sit beside Asher, rather than returning to his seat beside Anita. Several hours later, they landed at a private landing strip where several long black limousines met them.
"Where are we?" Anita asked their escort.
"Everywhere, and no where, the beginning," Dalith answered cryptically, as he walked off the plane.
She glanced out the window to see that they were surrounded by 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 a car with Jean-Claude and Asher. The cars pulled up to a strange mixture between a medieval fortress and a fairytale castle. Different level added over the years melded together to create an impressive home, giving it a magical and imposing appearance.
"The east wing has been set aside 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.