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Buffy and other characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, et. al and used without permission. No copyright infringement intended & no money earned.
Jean-Claude and Asher approached Buffy quietly; unexpectedly she whirled around into a defensive stance. They held up their hands showing they meant her no harm and came in peace.
"We only want to say thank you, petite sorcière. I am not certain how you did what you did, but I thank you for it all the same."
Jean-Claude bowed deeply from the waist, while Asher continued to stare at Buffy. He didn't seem able to take his eyes off her whenever she was near. Buffy sent him what she hoped was a reassuring smile. She imagined he was more then just a little bit confused. Everything he thought he knew about the past about his capture and torture was based on lies and deception.
"Asher, where will you stay? You are staying in St. Louis, aren't you?" Buffy asked the golden haired vampire.
"He will stay with me, petite sorcière, naturellement," the Master-of-the City answered quickly, eager to continue down the path of reuniting with his old friend and former lover.
Looking between Jean-Claude and Buffy, Asher cautiously answered. "Oui, I will be staying in St. Louis. There is unfinished business between he and I, but non, I will not be staying with you Jean-Claude. I understand here," he pointed to his temple, "that what I believed was untrue. Oui, it was all a lie. But, it does not mean those feelings have disappeared from here," Asher replied tersely, placing his palm over his heart.
Buffy watched sorrow fill Jean-Claude's eyes as he started to reach out to his former lover, only to withdraw into himself once again. Asher looked like he might shatter if that were to happen; he was not yet ready for the familiarities and intimacies that Jean-Claude craved from him. She knew she had to do something to help the man whose scars went much deeper than his outer shell. Buffy did what came naturally. She opened her mouth and stepped right into the middle of it.
"Well, you could stay with me? My house is certainly large enough, including a basement that's perfect for your where you can set up your coffin. It's perfect for daytime napping. We won't crowd each other. Heck, you don't have to see me, or anyone else," she glanced to look at Jean-Claude, "if you don't want to. We can come up with something that works for both of us. I have one rule that's nonnegotiable, though. You can't force weres to feed you through your animal to call."
"I do not have an animal to call. The Master of Beasts provided someone when needed," he answered quietly, more than a little embarrassed.
"Do not worry, Mon Cher, my wolves will feed you," Jean-Claude quickly answered, trying to relieve Asher from further embarrassment.
"RRNT! Wrong answer. Ooh, look the vacancy sign just flickered off, the hotel's all booked," Buffy snapped, crossing her arms. Her mouth turned down mutinously as she stood her ground against the two vampires.
"Then it is settled, mon chardonneret; you will come live with me at the Circus. My wolves will gladly feed you, mon ami, and we can start repairing this breach between us," he pleaded softly.
"Non, Sacre Blu, I will not live with you!" Asher shook his golden head in frustration. Golden strands of hair flew around his head, hiding and revealing his scared face in turns, before it settled back into place, once again shielding his scars from the world.
Shaking her head in exasperation at these two, Buffy suggested, "How about you negotiate with Anita for some of her leopards to feed you? You pay them something reasonable and you've got yourself a place to stay." Both men look at her with their mouths wide open in slight surprise.
"Hey, I'm blonde not dumb. Asher, go face the big bad Queen Z now that she's finished with her queenly rounds. Jean-Claude, I suggest you go play referee. She tends to shoot first and asks questions later."
Buffy shooed them off with her hands then tiredly climbed into the car. She closed her eyes, sighing deeply and relaxing her body against the soft leather seats. Her brief respite didn't last long as she forced her eyes open when she heard the door open. She watched, with no small amount of pleasure, as Damian folded his tall frame into the backseat of the limousine. He handed over her weapons and shoes without comment. You're a quiet one, aren't you? Buffy caught him staring at her in the dimly lit car. She doubted those pale green eyes had missed much in his long life. Buffy once again felt an attraction to him she didn't yet understand.
"You're much more than you appear tiny warrior. There are many hidden truths, we haven't yet seen. I can sense it there behind your eyes," he said, in his cool quiet voice.
"What do you mean? I haven't lied to you about anything. I came here to help rescue your missing people. That's what I've done."
"Yes, you spoke the truth of this and your help was greatly needed. But, you're no mere witch; the magic you use is ancient. Its like has not been used for centuries. How could you know this magic? I do not feel the years of age on you. Who are you, truly?"
"Wow, that's the most I've heard you say since we've met, cryptic guy," Buffy laughed, "Maybe when I know you better, Damian, we can swap life stories. I'd like that. I think we could be friends. I don't have any here, and from what I've seen, you don't either. What do you say?" she asked, waiting for his answer with more anticipation than she realized.
Damian bowed his head. "And I would like to know you better as well, Daughter of the Moon."
Buffy's head jerked up. Her eyes grew wide with shock before returning to normal. She took another look at his aura and wasn't surprised that it fairly shouted at her, almost calling out to her own. Does he somehow know who I am? There's more to this man than people think.. I'll need to step carefully around him. I could so easily fall for him, and this just isn't the time for romance. No matter what 'Dite would says. That's where I always messed up before. I have to put other people first, especially when it comes to helping Anita tame her inner bitch. Sheesh, I can't figure out if she needs a spanking, some sex or a good slay. I wonder if this is how Mom felt trying to raise me. Man, being all grown up sucks! 'Cause, Damian, can we say - yum.
The doors opened on both sides and Richard, Anita, Asher, Jean-Claude and Jason crawled into the car. Asher sat next to Buffy, moving closer to her until she glared at him and he stopped, fearful of offending this intriguing creature. Jason stared at her with a look of reverence on his face and kept inhaling deeply. Richard was sniffing as well, only more discreetly.
Buffy realized, due to her fatigue that she had allowed her shields to slip and that she was leaking power. The weres smelled vanilla, forest, rain and some under lying scent that was all woman, which was so tantalizing; it called to them like mother's milk. She closed her eyes and mentally knitted her shields closed, leaving open only a small pulse. The weres would still feel the moon's comfort but not the pull. An audible sigh resounded through the car.
"I'm sorry. Tonight took more out of me than I realized," Buffy whispered then closed her eyes hoping to stop any discussion.
"Rest, ma petite sorcière, you have earned it," Asher whispered.
Buffy smiled to herself then gave into the impulse and snuggled closer. No one else knew what to think about everything that had happened tonight, especially everything this tiny blonde had accomplished. Jean-Claude was thankful to have Asher once again a part of his world; Asher at least no longer blamed him for Julianna's death or his torture. Richard was still having trouble believing how she had healed the others. He knew about magic, had even witnessed it. It wasn't even on the same playing field as Buffy's, and her capabilities.
Anita felt torn between feeling thankful Richard, Jean-Claude and their people were safe and her inability to trust Buffy. She couldn't help feeling that Buffy was just too good to be true, and subsequently was waiting for the other shoe to drop, probably on her head. She comes out of nowhere, can do anything, not to mention was tiny, blonde, and beautiful. Get back on track, Blake. Something's off about this. She's just too perfect. No one comes to help without wanting something in return. Everybody does what they do for a reason; I don't care what they say. I don't care what anyone else says, I'm keeping my eyes on her. If she's here to hurt us, I will find a way to kill her, period.
Asher felt as if a weight had lifted from his shoulders. Centuries of anger that he had harbored toward Jean-Claude did not disappear by simply knowing the truth. But, it helped to know Julianna's faith in Jean-Claude was not in vain, and that he had not abandoned them, as he had been encouraged to believe. Learning the truth about his painful past brought Buffy to mind. To Asher it felt strange to even think about another woman. His every waking thought for nearly two hundred years had centered on his pursuit of vengeance against Jean-Claude for his beloved Julianna's death. He gazed down at the small body leaning against him. Who is this golden goddess snuggled next to me so trustingly? She is unlike anyone I have ever met before; she didn't even blink when she saw my scars. Asher smiled to himself, admitting that he could not wait to know her better.
Jean-Claude dropped Buffy, Asher and Gregory, off at her house. She liked the young wereleopard. She saw the abuse he had suffered and hoped to find someway to help him. He and his twin, Stephen, a werewolf, were gorgeous young men, with their waist length butter-yellow hair and blue eyes. She had agreed that whoever fed Asher would spend the night, to be available when he rose. Buffy also understood this was Anita's way to spy on her, but that was okay with her. This arrangement worked out for Anita, as well, since her house was quickly reaching its maximum capacity for housing people. Buffy showed the two men around the house, before taking her leave and saying goodnight to them. She headed for the study to meditate. She had suggested everyone meet back at her place after getting sleep and rest. She knew there would be plenty of questions, and things she needed to share with them, and felt better about doing that in her own home. Meditating was her way of preparing for what would come next.
Gregory followed Asher into the den so that he could feed. They relaxed afterward, watching DVDs and talking, getting to know each other better since Asher was no longer a threat and appeared to be staying around for a while. Gregory curled up next to Asher and was soon fast asleep, partly from the feeding, and partly from the danger and drama-rama from the last few days. The vampire decided to check out his new home, and hopefully run into his housemate. He found her in the front study, and was more than a little startled to find her floating above the ground. Moonlight beamed down on her from the skylight. Her golden hair had come alive with silver and bronze highlights, while a golden glow surrounded her and beneath her closed eyes, a shimmer of glowing blue peeked out.
"Mon Dieu!" Asher exclaimed drawing in an unneeded breath. And in that moment he knew he had never seen anything more beautiful, more alive, yet untouchable in his life. When he had called her a golden goddess, he now knew the name matched her perfectly. He wondered, was she a benevolent or vengeful goddess? Asher felt a cold shiver race down his back when Buffy's eyes suddenly opened. He froze in his tracks not knowing whether to stay or flee.
Buffy looked at Asher, the light making his golden wavy hair even shinier. She smiled, floating gently down then stood up. "Are you feeling better? Tummy all nice and full?"
Asher didn't know how to respond at first. Then he suddenly threw his head back as he started laughing. His laughter had the power to seduce and he intentionally poured his power into it. He suddenly realized that he wanted this woman more than he had wanted anything else other than vengeance, in a very long time. Asher hadn't allowed himself to think of wanting someone because of the way Belle Morte had treated him after he became scarred. Buffy must have put a spell on him, but he found himself not caring in the least.
After feeling his laugh shiver over her skin and down her spine, she walked toward him, hips seductively swaying with each step that would make any houri (Muslim nymphs of paradise) proud. Her finger mimicked their gentle motion as she admonished him. "Now, now," Buffy said in a husky whisper, throwing in everything she had learned from Aphrodite. "It's not nice to try and use your powers on poor unsuspecting innocents, such as me."
Asher again gasped for air he didn't need as Buffy stepped closer to him, his eyes glued to her hips. He felt himself grow hard at once. As she got even closer and her voice washed over him, it was like nothing he had ever felt before, not even in Bella Morte's presence. He felt his heart beat faster, Sacrebleu, he thought to himself amazed. This should not be possible. She stood in front of him looking deeply into his pale blue eyes. She reached up and pressed her hand against his heart and Asher felt it beat even faster, as warmth course through his body. He broke out in a fine sheen of sweat as he realized he was close to orgasm. Quite unexpectedly, she pushed him away and put her hands on her hips, eyes sparkling with a green fire, and a not so pleased, though strangely satisfied, expression on her lovely face as she achieved the desired effect.
Asher tried to adjust himself more comfortably in his pants, as much as he could while still sporting a raging hard-on. He felt his anger rise, but before he could say a word, Buffy spoke.
"Look roomie, here's another ground rule for you: if you want to be friends, don't try to use your powers on me. I know what Belle Morte is and what she gives her children. No one should have to do or feel something against their will, just because someone else is stronger, whether it's muscle or magic. I'd never perform magic on you without asking," she told him sternly.
"What you just did to me was magic, was it not? You are no better than Belle Morte. Teasing me for sport to torture, and then showing me what I cannot have because of what I am," he hissed.
"Oh, for goodness sake, get over yourself! I didn't start that, you did! Great, I sound like I'm five years old. I know you've gone through some hard times in the past, join the crowd. No one's life is easy these days, not in the circles we run in. The scars you have on the outside don't compare to the ones on the inside. Those take a lot longer to heal. If you let someone help you, it goes faster and somehow becomes easier, I promise. I'd like to be that friend if you'd let me, Asher," Buffy told him, never taking her eyes from his face.
"Why? Why should you care? Why would a beautiful woman like you want to be around someone ugly and damaged like me?" His voice was full of pain and doubt, but in the back of his eyes was the faintest glimmer of hope.
"You're beautiful to me, Asher. I felt your love for Julianna, the way you protected her, mourned her and missed her. I can help you heal if you'll let me. It's what I do, what I was born to do, what I want to do. I understand how you feel, the anger, the emptiness, the need for vengeance, the ache for any feeling as long as you feel something. Someone helped me through it. I'd like to honor his gift and his memory by returning that favor." Buffy had tears trailing down her cheeks. "If you let me, I can help you find yourself again. I'd like to meet the real Asher."
Asher looked at Buffy. Her eyes were soft, pleading and full of hope. He could feel the truth of her words and almost taste the sorrow. The one emotion he didn't feel was pity, which surprised him the most. Asher nodded his head in silent agreement not trusting his ability to speak.
"It's getting close to dawn. Since, your coffin isn't here I guess we should find you a room. Gregory will probably want to sleep with you, or nearby, since he's supposed to guard you. I guess tonight we'll settle for a slumber party in my room. It's the only one with black out windows. Come on let's go put the kitty to bed. Oh, and Asher, you can't mark me so you don't bother trying. Just get a good day's sleep," she called over her shoulder.
Buffy walked out with Asher following behind her, shaking his head, unashamed that the thought had entered his mind. Who would not want to possess one such as she? After collecting Gregory, they climbed the stairs to Buffy's bedroom and prepared themselves to climb into her large bed. She raised her eyebrow when the men started pulling off their clothes. They reluctantly left their lower halves clothed. Buffy played the middle to a Gregory and Asher sandwich. She felt Asher's soul leave and placed her hand over his heart, as though keeping his body safe until his soul's return.
Buffy woke to pounding at her front door. She reluctantly extracted herself from the bed, realizing it was almost evening. They had slept straight through the day. The pounding got louder, and she heard Anita cursing and kicking her front door. Ah, what a refreshing way to start the day, beginning round two with the wicked bitch of the west. Buffy walked downstairs and opened the front door smiling with sarcastic sweetness at Anita then walked away. She went into the kitchen and started the coffeemaker.
Anita stalked in followed by Richard, Jamil, Shang-Da and surprisingly Jean-Claude. It must be later than I thought. That means Asher will be up soon; guess the boys will come down as soon as he's fed.Buffy turned around smiling at everyone ignoring the fact she only wore a pair of boxers and a tank top. The men enjoyed the view, Anita noticed and wasn't at all happy that Richard and Jean-Claude weren't able to keep their eyes in their heads around the blonde.
Just then, Asher came down the stairs with Gregory bounding down behind him. Gregory went to Buffy in greeting; she scratched him gently behind the ears as a hello. Anita wondered if he was going to roll over so she could scratch his belly. He suddenly smelled his Nimir-Ra and moved toward her in supplication. Anita smirked at Buffy and allowed him to touch her then told him to get up.
Buffy witnessed this quietly, with one delicate blonde brow raised in consideration. Man, I've got my work cut out for me with her. She's worse than Cordelia ever was. Playing the role of good hostess, she asked, "Would anyone like some coffee? Have a seat and tell me what I can do for you."
Before Anita could say anything, Jean-Claude spoke up, beating her to the punch. "We have some questions for you ma petite sorciere. You have helped us with the Council and in getting our people returned safely, and for that, we thank you. But we have been betrayed before by people we knew and trusted, even those who are our own. We do not know you, it is therefore still difficult to trust you, even after all you have done for us."
Buffy was quiet for a moment looking at everyone in the room, gauging their true feelings through their thoughts and auras.
Trying to decide how much to tell them without telling them everything. Finally, she came to her decision, and started with the old tale..."Earth was a paradise for demons until man came. The Powers realized man couldn't survive if the demons remained so they drove them from this dimension. The last to leave bit a human creating the Vampire who grew in numbers. Shaman, sorcerers, forced a spirit with heightened powers to merge with a girl to create a "warrior" to fight the vampires. She had all their strengths and none of their weaknesses. The vampires had no souls and there were holes that allowed some demons to escape back to earth. The holes were closed quickly but not before some demons escaped through to remain on or return to earth. When the warrior died another took her place chosen by the Spirit. This continued on for centuries, the warrior fighting until falling in battle to be replaced by another warrior. The last known warrior fought the greatest evil that ever existed, the First Evil."
"She won. As a result, demons ceased to exist and her world no longer needed warriors to protect it. The gateway collapsed on the last warrior. She fell through it only to land here, in in your world. She didn't realize the Powers weren't through with her, that her service to them wasn't complete. They told her this world was in need of a great warrior, that you needed her," she said in a quiet calm voice. Looking at everyone around the room she said, "I was, am, that last warrior."
Asher gasped, "You have died." His entire frame melted bonelessly into the couch as if someone had cut his strings.
"Yeah, should probably get frequent flier points or something. This was like number," she wrinkled her nose as she mentally counted, "uh, four, yeah four." Buffy grimaced at the number.
"You're certifiable. There's no way someone can die four times, and come back without any side effects!" Anita gave Buffy her version of the evil eye, which coming from Anita appeared similar to her normal expression. "And, we're supposed to believe you're some prophetic warrior from another dimension sent here to help, yeah right. Do I look blonde to you?" Her dark eyes roved over Buffy's sun-kissed tresses as if they were responsible for any and all irrational thought and deed. "Didn't think so. How bout once more?! This time with the real truth!!" Anita snapped sarcastically.
"Anita," Richard said firmly, "she's telling the truth. I can smell it on her."
"Well, if you're some mystical warrior then how come you do magic? Normally, warriors and magic wielders run along very different paranormal lines," Anita threw out, still unconvinced by Buffy's story.
"When I arrived in your world, my head was full of magical knowledge and how to properly use it," Buffy explained, with a casual shrug. "Best guess I can come up with is that the Powers thought it'd come in handy here. Have to say, they haven't always been so generous and I'm not gonna complain."
"So, you're saying that you just showed up here able to shield yourself from powerful beings, see people souls and auras, perform moon magic, which make your eyes glow with freaky iridescent color, and oh yeah, you're super strong and fast equal to or possibly even more than that of a master vampire or alpha shifter. And, we just need to believe you when you tell us that it just suddenly appeared like subliminal messaging, or osmosis or something? Yeah, right! Lady, who do you think you're dealing with?" Anita snapped out in a heated tirade. She was breathing so hard as she finished that her chest was heaving. sneered.
"I think that I'm dealing with a hard-nosed, uptight, jealous, psycho bitch at the moment. Hopefully, you'll take some Midol, spank your inner moppet and get over it," Buffy snapped, while her eyes started to glow in equal measure as her temper rose. Everyone felt the power as it lashed out at the angry necromancer. Anita's knees buckled underneath her, and she would have fallen on her ass, if not for Richard. "Sorry, but you really need to talk to your inner bitch and have her stand down until she knows the whole story. To answer some of your rather rude questions, I've always shielded my power to some degree or another; if I hadn't then I'd have drawn every demon and vampire from miles around. Believe me, the Hellmouth drew enough crap nightly for me to deal with; I didn't need more. The Powers provided me with the knowledge of your world." Buffy's eyes lighted on each of the players as she continued to speak. "Its political structure and history, including the main players' relationships, strengths and weaknesses. Moon magic was part of my prior life. They simply showed me how to more readily access that inherent power, which is what causes my eyes to glow. Anything else is pure Buffy, and what I've always been." Attempting to diffuse her growing irritation, she nonchalantly added, "You're welcome to stay for pizza, or leave, either way, I don't give I flip," Buffy said as she exited the room.
Anita started to follow after her when Jean-Claude grabbed her, shaking his head. "Non, ma petite, I do not think it wise to antagonize her anymore than you already have. She spoke the truth to us here today. You are simple too angry to feel it. Buffy lowered her shields enough to reassure us that she was speaking truthfully. Buffy's powerful, but wants to help us, Anita." The Master of the City paused as he waited for former human servant to acknowledge his words. He caught her dark eyes with his hypnotic blue ones. "Her person and her power call to me, but it is you that I want, ma petite."
Jean-Claude had tried to convince Anita into allowing him to mark her again, and wondered if this situation would help or hurt his cause. He knew deep in his mind that he felt drawn to Buffy. He was unsure whether it was her power or her beauty, and though he'd never admit it to another soul, he feared her. Were he to mark her, he wondered who would become the servant and which the Master? Non, better to stay the course with ma belle petite. Better, the devil you know.
Buffy stalked to the gym where she found herself changing clothes before she had even eaten breakfast. The pizza wouldn't arrive for another hour, which gave her enough time to work off the Zombie Queen's 'tude. Buffy moved through her Tai Chi routine, relaxing her mind and body. She became lost in thought as she ran through different ideas on how to approach Anita about anger and power issues. Buffy's anger was so high that she didn't realize even Asher and Gregory had followed her. The leaned against the doorway as her workout continued. She moved into gymnastic layouts to bring her heart rate up. Buffy performed several tumbling passes ending with a double front layout and round off finish at the base of the wall. She smoothly went straight up, plucking two swords from the wall, and finishing the move with a backflip. She was a blur of silver and flesh faster than the human eye could follow.
They watched mesmerized, as the tiny blonde went from moving slowly as if through water to a quickened pace that only those with enhanced sight could detect and follow. Gregory turned around rushing back to the others. Asher couldn't take his eyes off Buffy, who stood on the mat with the swords crossed over her chest. She had her eyes closed and was breathing deeply, as though waiting. For what, he did not know.
Gregory rushed back into the kitchen, "You've gotta come see this. It's so cool. She's like that chick in the Matrix; hell no, she's Neo. No. Oh, I don't know what she is, just come see. But, we gotta be quiet so she won't stop."
Everyone followed him and found Asher still standing in the doorway watching Buffy. Silently they watched as she started her kata slowly moving the swords in perfect sync side by side. It was like a deadly dance as she moved with preternatural grace across the floor. The swords went faster and faster. She moved in opposite attack thrusts, as if fighting two different opponents. The momentum picked up and she whirled like a dervish, moving so fast only silver blurs were seen. Everyone realized at once, that she was defending herself from every direction simultaneously, before she suddenly stopped. She went down on one knee, one sword in front and one behind, eyes closed, breathing slowly calming, patiently waiting to defend other attacks.
Buffy calmly stood up, taking in her audience. She returned the swords to their wall mounts before then calmly walked past the crowd. "Pizza here yet?" she asked innocently. Asher and Jean-Claude started laughing before the others joined them, even Anita. "I'm going to jump in the shower and be down in a bit."
Buffy quickly showered and dressed in low-rise jeans and baby tee that showed off her toned stomach. She brushed out her hair, drying it quickly and leaving it to hang down her back to her hips. For the first time, she realized how long her hair had gotten. Must have something to do with the time difference. Shrugging to herself, she decided she liked it.
The gang had set up the pizza and drinks buffet-style in the dining room, when she joined them. She sent them all grateful smiles as loaded her plate with a meal worthy of a lumberjack. Jason's jaw dropped when he noticed the amount of food she had pilled on her plate. Buffy snagged a Dr. Pepper and settled onto the seat next to Asher on the couch just as the doorbell rang. She gave Jason a pleading look, and he moved to answer the door. A few moments later, Jason returned, with Damian entering the room after him.
"Well, it looks like the gang's all here. You guys can dig in, there should be plenty. If not I'll call for more." Buffy chirped, digging into the mound of pizza on her plate. Not addressing the vampires, figuring they'd already fed before coming to her house.
When the food had been demolished between Buffy and the weres present, they went into the entertainment room and waited to see why Buffy brought them all together.
"Because of what happened last night, I think there are a few things we should talk about. Some things we need to discuss as a group, for strategy stuff and planning, but a couple of other things I need to talk with Richard and Anita alone regarding their packs," Buffy announced, as a beginning explanation.
Richard and Anita tensed, "What about my pack? Are they in more danger?" Richard asked, with a low growl in his voice.
"Whoa, down boy. Not yet, Richard, but there are some things your pack need. I think I can help them if you let me. It would strengthen your pack. Anita, it would also help your pard. But that's something that should be discussed in private though. First, there are more important things to focus on."
"What is so urgent, little warrior?" Damian asked in his quiet, calm voice.
Jean-Claude gave him a sharp look. Damian wasn't present for Buffy's story. How did he know she is a warrior?
"I know we've been on a roller coaster of fun for the last 48 hours, but I think this ride just started. The Council isn't going to be happy about Travel Dude's death. Paddy Cakes is going to be out for blood over the loss of his son, and Triumvirate. It's weakened him a lot. And, if the Council doesn't kill him, I can guarantee he'll com back to save face. We need to prepare for, if not a full-blown war with the Council, then at least some heavy backlash. Have you thought about this?" She looked at them as they took in everything she had just told them.
"Mon Dieu! We cannot fight the Council! We've signed our own death warrant!" Jean-Claude whispered, his pale complexion seemed to turn almost translucent.
"We can so fight them! Mr. Oliver thought he could take us on and we proved him wrong! The Traveler's gone and The Master of Beasts would be too if someone wasn't such a Boy Scout!" Anita countered hotly, throwing a glare at Richard.
"I told Richard not to kill Paddy Cakes. If he had, the Council would have no choice but to declare an all-out war. They love nothing more than to prey on the weak and steal power. I'm hoping that a weakened PC is too much of a temptation for them to pass up. It should give us time to gather our strength and learn to work as a team. Anita, have you even thought about how vulnerable your pard is with due to its size? Have you considered merging it with another pard that has the same problem? The pack is the strongest were group were group in St. Louis. Its also the largest and its Ulfric can call his beast in its true form. We have to look at the big picture people. The Council will use every person associated with us that they can. The stronger each person is the less damage they can do. Everyone has to quit looking at everything from their own backyard. The big question is do you want to come out of this whole and sane?"
"If Belle Morte comes, we are powerless against her. Neither Jean-Claude nor I can do anything to defy her orders. She is the head of our bloodline," Asher stated with much trepidation.
"That's why you work as a team. Where one person has a weakness, another lends their strength. We can do this people; it will just take everyone pulling together. I once fought a hell god with the help of a hand full of my friends."
"A hell god!" Anita exclaimed.
"Yeah, she needed my sister to open the portal to get her back to hell sweet home. I kicked her ass, with mucho help from my friends and a huge-ass Troll hammer, but the portal had already opened. So, to close it, I jumped in. I gotta stop doing that. Anyway, that time I died my second death and even went to heaven, literally. Four months later, my friends did some major dark mojo, which resurrected me. Please, don't try this at home kiddos; I don't recommend it to anyone professionally trained or otherwise. And look what happens, a year later, I'm portal diving again; wonder if I can get those frequent flyer miles?" With a devilish glint in her eyes, she verbally tosses at Anita, "Hey, Zombie Queen, ever wonder what you're doing to those people's souls when you do your zombie-raising-people-from-the-dead thingy?"
Anita's mind whirled, trying to wrap itself around everything she had just heard. She was in heaven and they raised her, actually brought her back soul and all, four months later? She felt the blood rush from her face as the nausea burned the back of her throat. Anita tried to breathe slowly through her nose, refusing to puke. Oh my God! No way! Her eyes closed as the world tilted around her again. When things felt somewhat settled, she opened them, only to find green eyes filled with compassion and understanding staring back at her. Who is this girl? She's come into our lives, turns my world upside down, and has me questioning everything I thought I knew. I can't figure out whether to shoot her or thank her.
©CJSPlace 2004-2010TOP