"Jean-Claude, could you send someone to retrieve Asher's coffin and his belongings from the mansion" His dark head inclined in an elegant arc to show his approval. Now that she had Asher taken care of, Buffy continued with the rest of those present. She decided to start at the top and work her way down, so to speak. "I've thought about this situation and what led up to it and think I've come up with a solution that benefits everyone. When the Council held the weres and vampires as hostage, they had you at their mercy," Buffy explained to the room. "There are spells that can link your souls to your coffins. I'd be willing to include your entire your entire Kiss as well. I can use the combined spells to create locks for the coffin rooms. Then, you wouldn't need guards, and it would remove the risk of any possible future hostage situations either. It's kinda like installing a magical security system. By linking the lock to your soul, it locks or unlocks in time with your soul's awareness," she paused, allowing her words to sink in to the room at large.
There were huge repercussions if they allowed her to implement the locks; it was a huge step toward freeing the weres, even if they didn't know it, which they didn't. Buffy ignored the heavy silence in the room as she turned to the blonde vampire who now shared her home.
"Asher, I can do the same for you, although no one can enter the house or grounds without my permission." She paused, knowing everyone had overheard her offer. "Think about it and let me know," Buffy said, sending him what she hoped was a friendly smile. She knew the next part of the program wouldn't be as pleasant, or as easy
Buffy turned to look at possibly the oddest couple she'd ever known. "Richard, could I talk with you and Anita in my study please?" She turned and left the room, expecting them to follow. Buffy hid her smile when she heard them behind her attempting to "whisper fight." They would never learn. The 'quiet' fighting stopped when they approached the door. Buffy muffled an internal sigh at the mulish expression on Anita's face, as she walked passed her through the doorway. She raised an eyebrow at Jamil and Shang-Da when they tried to enter after Richard had stalked through. Why me? She often wondered, sending a quick look upward. Had she really been that bad in her former life? Shaking her head, she closed the door in their faces.
"Please sit down. I wanted to talk to you about the munin. Your pack needs the munin, especially if this develops into a war. I already explained the dangers for Anita to try to channel it. There's one other reason. Please understand I'm not trying to get into your business. But, I have to say this. I know that you, Richard and Jean-Claude are in a strange place right now. The big question is what would happen if Anita was able to take the munin and became the pack's Vargamor, but then ended up with Jean-Claude rather than you, Richard?" Buffy's eyes bored into the him and he shifted in his seat. Her eyes seemed to pierce him into his soul as her words filled the room, although she spoke softly, calmly. "Are you going to look past it and allow her to continue to help your pack?" Those jewel-toned eyes shifted to the room's other occupant. "And Anita, could you continue as Vargamor and watch him choose a different lupa as a mate?" She watched them closely, reading their facial expressions, body language and auras.
Richard and Anita looked into each other's eyes, each seeing the love, jealousy, possessiveness, self-doubt and fear of the other.
"No, I don't think either one of us could live that way," Richard replied, while Anita looked down and away feeling conflicted, but nodded her head in agreement.
"Good. Glad we're on the same page. This is what I want to propose to you. I'll take a member from your pack, and your pard, and teach them to channel the munin. I think Cherry would be the perfect choice for the pard, if you agree Anita," Buffy said, turning to the dark-haired Nimir-Ra. Anita nodded and Buffy then turned her full attention back to Richard. "There's a full moon in a few days, Richard, with your permission, I could attend and meet your pack. Normally, the Vargamor is one of the older pack members, but I should be able to tell if anyone has healing abilities. They'd have to come and live with me for the next month. And, with some hard work, and depending on their commitment then I could have them ready the next by the next Lupanar. That goes for Cherry too. She'll have to live with me for the next month as well. Will that cause any problems with you or your pard?" Anita didn't bother to reply just shook her head, causing her dark curls to tumble about her head. "Good, we're all in agreement then."
Buffy stood in one boneless move, walking from where they had sat talking to looked out the front windows. She was lost in thought for several moments, while her guests stared at her, wondering about the woman before them.
She spoke over her shoulder in a soft tone that seemed to reach out wrap around them. "If you know any other honorable leaders in the were community, please let them know my offer is open to them as well."
Richard rose to his full height to address the small woman who had already saved his pack from certain death and offered them something it had never thought to have - hope. Hope to become a true pack. "You are most welcome at the Thronnos Rokke Clan Lupanar, and we thank you for your help." Richard said formally giving a slight bow of respect then he left the room.
Anita continued looking at Buffy, trying to figure her out. Her urge to draw her gun was barely under control, but wasn't certain why. Anita was starting to believe everything she had heard. Thinking things over, and being honest with herself she finally realized she was angry because she was afraid of Buffy. Maybe not so much of the power she possessed but of her, the woman. She seemed so comfortable in her own skin. She was mystically and magically powerful, she was beautiful, and she seemed completely at ease with who and what she was and her place in this world, and it royally pissed her off. Would whichever man she didn't choose run to this tiny woman for comfort? Anita couldn't bear the thought of it.
"I don't want either of them, Anita. Believe it or not, I'm here to help. And, a relationship isn't in the stars for me right now. Even if it was, they're not my type. Don't get me wrong, they're both nummy treats, as an old friend would say." Buffy smiled into her reflection in the window as she remembered Spike. She turned back to face her Anita so the other could see the truth behind her words. "But, every girl has her own shopping list and they aren't on mine," she said with a Gallic shrug.
Anita blew out her breath, along with a bark of laughter. "I guess, I do need to spank my inner bitch, huh?" She drawled, smiling at Buffy for the first time.
"Who knows? With all the leather I'm sure Jean-Claude has bought you, she might like it."
In perfect understanding, they left the room laughing. Looks of utter shock and amazement graced every face as they rejoined the larger group.
The night of the Lupanar had finally arrived. Buffy admitted she didn't think it would ever come soon enough. She was ready for the great outdoors after being stuck inside performing soul security spells for the past few days for Jean-Claude's Kiss. Though, to be fair it wasn't Jean-Claude's fault. She had offered and he had merely accepted said offer. Still if he asked her to secure just one more room, she was going to zap him but good. Buffy wondered what he would look like with fried, frizzed out hair. She could see it now. The vain vampire would go screaming from the room and probably hide until his glorious locks returned to normal. She giggled at the mental picture, glad no one was around to wonder at her mental health.
Now, she just had to get in the car with Anita and ride out to the middle of nowhere and get surrounded by dozens of werewolves. Buffy gave herself a mental shake. Anita showed up at her house, honked the horn, growled at her as she got in then proceeded to ignore her the entire trip. She did make some sounds that may possibly have been born from gratitude when Buffy handed her a steaming cup of coffee, other than that just silence. Buffy decided to leave her alone and let the snippy necromancer drive. She leaned back in her seat and meditated for the remainder of the drive
Anita had pulled into a wooded clearing. She still hadn't spoken as she turned the Jeep off and purposefully turned away from the passenger side to look out into the night. Buffy sighed as she waited in silence for Richard to come for them. It was going to be a long night. She saw him moving through the woods bare-chested, wearing barely there cut off shorts. Anita finally noticed him when he reached the clearing's edge and got out to greet him.
In the immortal words of Cordelia Chase, "Hello Salty Goodness!" Too bad he's not on my shopping list, oh, yeah and he was such a world-class wuss at heart. Goddess, I'd so like a pair of the rosy glasses this guy looks through!
Buffy climbed out and joined them once they finished macking on each other. Mmm, those shorts must leave her wanting to scratch him behind the ears. Bad, bad Buffy. Ooh, I so need to scrub away that mental picture. She opened her senses and was able to track the ten wolves that had followed closely behind Richard, though they stayed hidden in the trees. Buffy also took immediate notice of the massive number of werewolves within the five miles of woods around her. She looked up at the full moon, smiled and winked.
"Hello, Richard. Do we have enough time to meet your friends or should we head for the Lupanar?" she asked quietly.
Richard raised an eyebrow at Buffy, shrugged his shoulder and responded, "Come on out guys. She knows you're there."
"Jamil, that means you too!" Buffy whispered, knowing he could hear her. Jamil was the farthest back and to her left, partly blocked by the Jeep. "Hey, everybody! I'm Buffy. I'll let you in on a lil' secret - I'm terrible with names, but I never forget a face. Give me some time and I'll get to know each of you." She gave them her brightest smile.
The wolves sniffed the air then murmured, "Vanilla, Rain, Forest, and the Mother... She smells of the Mother."
Anita whispered to Richard, "Why does everyone keep saying that? Who's the Mother?"
He looked at her and said, "The Moon. The Moon is the Mother of all weres."
Buffy allowed them to rub against her taking her scent. With a mischievous grin, she asked, "Who wants to race?" With that, she suddenly darted off like a jaguar, in the direction Richard had come from, with Selene guiding her.
Richard grabbed Anita's hand cursing - afraid this close to the change the others might attack Buffy. He reached the lupanar mere seconds behind the pack to find Jamil, Shang-Da and Sylvie flanking Buffy. To his surprise, the pack hadn't attacked, instead they crowded around, snapping at one another in their efforts to get close to her.
She gave him a significant look. "You can handle this or I will."
Richard released his power over the pack and they reluctantly pulled back, filling the air with pathetic whines and howls. He strolled forward to take Buffy's hand, while still clutching Anita's in his other, and escorted her toward the rock throne.
"This is Buffy Summers. She has come to find and train for us a Vargamor, so that once again the munin can be called."
Ecstatic howls and yips echoed through the clearing.
Buffy stepped forward. "The best suited will need to have an innate gift to heal. I know moon magic and will call on the Moon Mother to help find the right person to provide your pack with a healer. Remember, the munin can heal both body and spirit."
She stepped down into the middle of the opening, the pack created for her. She raised her face to the moon, palms raised, her voice a mere whisper, that only a were could hear. "Mother, it is I, your daughter. Your children of the forest need a healer. One to call the munin to aid the pack in time of great injury of body, mind or spirit. Help me Mother to find your tool to help protect your children."
The moon shone on Buffy's full body, turning her into a living statue of the finest gold and silver. Her eyes glowed blue, as one beam of light shot from her left palm to point directly at a man in his early forties. He slowly, with some uncertainty, crept toward Buffy, moving to the edge of the moonlight surrounding her. The beam around Buffy gradually faded, leaving her face last.
She smiled and once again softly whispered, "Thank you, Mother."
Looking down at the man at her feet, she smiled and extended her hand to him. He crawled forward and licked it. She allowed the submissive affection for a moment then she pulled him up, kissing him on both cheeks and said to him, "The Mother chose you to aid your pack. You are submissive to no one, but your Ulfric and his Lupa. What is your name?"
"I am Robert, Lady," he said humbly. He was of medium height, with a lean frame and chestnut brown hair and eyes to match.
"Robert, after the full moon you will come and stay with me for a month. I will teach you to call and control the munin. Is that all right with you?" Buffy couldn't only smile tenderly at the man, who although physically older than her still kept an innocence about him. She thought it was his large expressive eyes.
"Yes, Lady, I'd do anything to help my pack," he answered earnestly.
"Please, it's just Buffy. I have to warn you, it's going to take hard work." She extended her hand to cup his face tenderly. "I have a feeling you'll be a wonderful Vargamor." She stepped forward to engulf Robert in a warm embrace. He buried his nose in her hair breathing in her scent. She released him and he reluctantly let her go as she walked back to his Ulfric and Lupa.
Buffy laughed at the expressions on their faces. "Did I give you the wiggins again?"
"I don't know what to think, and this is the second time I've seen you do that," Anita groused petulantly. She hated feeling so out of her league around Buffy. It wasn't fair. Anita controlled the urge to throw something, or better yet shoot something, or someone, someone blond that is.
"How about thanks and we will leave it at that," Buffy responded to the petulant tone in the other woman's voice.
"Thank you Buffy," Richard said, stepping in before Anita said or did anything to ruin the moment. "You're giving my pack a great gift. You and Anita better leave before everyone changes." He saw twin mulish expressions and went onto explain. "I'm not sure how the pack will respond to you after all of this. If I'm not careful, they could vote you in as the wolf queen, and I sure as hell don't want to fight you," Richard intoned, his somber tone softened by the slight sparkle in his eyes.
Buffy laughed as she started walking toward the jeep. Jamil slipped away and joined her, prowling silently by her side. "Got something on your mind, big fella?"
"You'd be a good lupa," he murmured.
"Sorry, the position is already filled. Does your Ulfric know you're playing matchmaker?"
"She isn't honorable. Richard doesn't see it, yet. She holds tightly to both men but will not choose between them. This situation is killing him. If she truly cared for him, she wouldn't let this continue. Only pain can come of it," Jamil sounded troubled.
"It would be great if we could solve other people's problems for them. We always think we can see exactly what they should do. It's not easy to realize you love two people, let alone force yourself to choose between them."
Buffy stopped to stare at the pack's Skoll. He saw what the pack needed and was trying to achieve those goal. Richard was the Ulfric, and the pack needed their Ulfric to lead them. Problem was wanting those things wouldn't make it so. Anita wasn't Richard only problem, although Buffy thought Jamil would like to lay most of the blame on her doorstep. She could see where he was coming from, loyalty and that, but he had to get real where the head dog was concerned.
"Richard has his own problems. His desire to change the pack system is admirable, but he needs to step up to the plate. If he isn't going to be a true leader, change his attitude, and handle the outside forces endangering his pack by whatever means necessary, he should step aside. Your pack's former leaders ruled through pain, domination and death. Until he deals with that legacy, he can't replace it with something better just because he says so. As for being lupa, thank you for the compliment," Buffy said formally, bowing her head. "But, my destiny lies elsewhere. My concerns include all weres, not just your pack."
She sent him a meaningful look as she stepped back from him. "You had better head back Jamil, I'm sure your Ulfric may have some things to discuss with you." Dismissing him, Buffy called over her shoulder, "Anita, are you ready to go?"
Buffy looked at Anita under her lashes on the drive back to her house. "Can I ask you something without you jumping down my throat?" She waited for Anita's answer and got the obligatory head bob. "How do you feel about your pard?"
"They're mine to protect. Gabriel put them through so much hell and Elizabeth keeps pulling at them and trying to bully them. I'd kill anyone that hurt them," the answer came quick and hard through the dark of the Jeep.
"Even Richard or Jean-Claude?" Buffy pushed Anita for the information she needed.
"What do you mean? They'd never harm my pard. They've sworn to protect me and mine, as I've sworn to protect them and theirs. Look, we don't know each other very well, but you should understand something about me, once someone has my protection it's theirs for life, theirs or mine," Anita responded, practically biting the words out like Pac-Man with power pellets.
"Whoa, Kemo Sabe, I'm not trying to make you angry. Just trying to understand the dynamics here. And, trying to figure out a way where the least amount of people end up as cannon fodder. I don't think you understand what it's like having a beast inside you. The 'warrior' in me is part of me. I had to learn to accept that, but it is its own entity, which needs to do what it's meant to do, or I have big problems. Huge major Linda Blair problems, believe me, it ain't pretty." Buffy paused to see if Anita was following where she was trying to lead.
"Richard has a wolf inside him, though, one he hasn't accepted, but it's there none-the-less. Once he does accept it, he's going to expect his mate to fall in line down the little wolf trail. Richard, the man will compromise as much as he can; Richard, the wolf will react instinctively and defensively. What would happen if your pard caused more danger for you? The wolf - the Ulfric - will break through to punish, quite possibly even kill, depending on the danger, as is his right through his eyes, through his wolf's eyes," Buffy explained calmly.
She wasn't trying to hurt Anita. She just wanted her to think about what she was doing to Richard, the wolf, and the pard with her choices. If she wanted Richard in her life, she needed to find another leader for the pard. It was just that simple. Well, not human simple, but simple in animal kingdom terms. This was starting to give her a migraine, which was nothing new. The entire "Anita mission" gave her a migraine. She spent hours meditating after each encounter with this woman. Tonight wouldn't be any different. It looked like it was gonna be one of those really long meditation sessions.
"I don't believe you! Richard would never harm an innocent! You don't know him! You're way off, Buffy!" Anita's heated reply was loud enough to cause Buffy to wince.
Buffy worked hard not to sigh at the other woman's stubbornness. Anita simply refused to listen to anything that didn't fit what she wanted to hear. Buffy remembered when she was much the same. She also had somewhat of an excuse though, she was freakin sixteen and in love for the first time. Damn it, this lady needed to grow up. I thought she had some type of degree in this field what the heck happened to that.
"Talk to someone you trust about wolves and their mates. Talk to Richard, his jealousy is tearing him apart and the wolf is leaking through. If the wolf takes control without Richard making peace and accepting him first, all hell will break loose."
"How do you know so much about weres and wolves in particular?"
"My best friend from high school dated one. Oz was easygoing, like Richard, until his jealousy made him lose the control he thought he had," Buffy explained. A soft smile came to her face when she thought about Oz. She missed the laidback wolf. His terse one-word sentences and calm demeanor had always soothed the Slayer.
"You said something about Jean-Claude. Why would he hurt the pard? He has the wolves and most of the pard is already working for him in the clubs," Anita asked, changing the subject. She couldn't imagine Richard hurting anyone, his killing Marcus came about more from her pushing him into it rather than from his own inclination. Anita was starting to come to terms with witnessing it and hoped that they could work their way past it and her reaction to it.
"JC's about control and power. He can't call the leopards to him, but they were his, the same as the wolves. When you took out Gabriel and took over the pard, he lost his control over them. He'd have given you the second mark if Oliver Twist hadn't come to town, and then he'd have them back in his control through you. Vampire politics. What's theirs is theirs, what's their human servant's is also theirs." Buffy shrugged in the dark although Anita couldn't see her, it didn't matter. Women everywhere knew the lay of the land with regards to this thinking. "You no longer bear his marks, Anita; he has no control over you. Therefore, he's effectively lost the pard, as well. If he can't convince you to let him mark you again, he may think removing or using the pard as leverage, may convince you. They're pawns to move about the board the same way they've always been."
"Jean-Claude's done some underhanded things in the past but he wouldn't do that. You told me with the shields in place, he can't mark me. Is that true?" Anita shook her head denying Buffy's words and scrambling for anything to hold onto to guard against it. Her very words and actions negating each other, yet she still wouldn't see the truth.
"Yes, he can't get in, but the shields are temporary. They won't last forever. You need to learn to build your own, and for the next month, I'll be busy training the Vargamors. You could sit in for part of the training and learn, if you like," Buffy offered, hoping Anita would at least try to take the first step. She wondered how the other woman stumbled into her field as an Executioner if she blinded herself to the reality of what she supposedly executed.
"Fine," she answered, starring out at the dark road before she continued speaking. "Just let me know when and I'll be there. Oh, I'll bring Lillian. She's the wererat that runs a clinic for lycanthropes where Cherry works. She's already a doctor. The Rodere's King, Rafael, helped me out once in the past and is a stand up guy. He'll want to meet you first, before he allows Lillian to stay with you. She's very important to the were community."
This time Buffy released her sigh in a soft exhale, allowing the air to fog the passenger side window. Her finger drew runes in the clouded area before it slowly evaporated. "Anita, I'm not trying to hurt or anger you. I just don't want to see you or your pard hurt. From everything, I've seen and heard, they've suffered enough. Once Cherry finishes her training, she should be able to help heal their minds and spirits."
She paused trying to find the words to say what she needed to say to the woman beside her. "I think Jean-Claude may truly care for you. He's power hungry and makes no excuses for it. If you take something he wants away from him, I'm not sure how he'd react. There's another problem I'm not sure either of you have thought about." Buffy closed her eyes as the images Selene had shown her came rushing back to her. "If you become his true human servant there's a real possibility you might share each other's powers. The results are endless and frankly none of them pretty. Could you start raising vampires from their coffins? How about Jean-Claude? Could you imagine him with necromancer powers? The possible combinations between you two give me nightmares, and believe me my dreams keep me busy without any help from you. What about his power from Belle Morte, how would it effect you? Would you become a succubus?" Buffy rambled on throwing out the highlights of catastrophic possibilities. She didn't think Anita could handle the details, although by the slightly green shade she was turning that last comment might have been a little too much.
Anita startled and jerked the steering wheel, causing the Jeep to swerve. When she had it straightened out, she pulled the car to the roadside, sending Buffy her patented death glare. "What the hell are you talking about, Blondie!!? Jean-Claude isn't an incubus. When he marked me before, I didn't feel any different, only an increased appetite and the creepy dream walking!" she screamed at Buffy, leaning her upper body toward the petite witch, trying to intimidate her with the force of her anger, and perhaps breast size.
"Didn't you ever wonder why his laughter or when he puts power behind his voice, you got wet and felt it all the way down your spine? Come on Anita, you've slept with him. Wasn't it more intense, didn't you come more times than you thought possible? He's from Belle Morte's line. She's not known as the Beautiful Death because she's dead and beautiful. Haven't you ever heard of the little death? Hello Anita, wake up and smell the orgasm! For a Vamp Executioner, you sure don't know much about the Master of the City you live in, especially since he's your boyfriend!" Buffy rolled her eyes at the hardheaded woman who liked to throw stakes at glass coffins. Anita accused Richard of being a Boy Scout, but she was worse. She floated happily down the River Nile, and she should probably think about changing her name to Cleopatra.
"Well how the hell do you know this anyway? Oh wait, The Powers put it in your head right? I mean it isn't like you could just look this shit up in a bo..." She stopped cold at the smug look on Buffy's face.
"Yeah, some info the Powers gave me. Just basic background, but the rest was from some of the books in my study and off the internet, blasted machine!" she giggled. "My bad. Just a memory of me and Scoobies researching some Big Bad before we'd go kick its ass."
"Scoobies? What's a Scooby?"
"Just the friends I grew up with," Buffy smiled sadly.
Anita pulled to a stop in front of Buffy's house. She climbed out, but before she went inside, she looked at Anita and added, "Think about what I said, Anita. I'm here if you want to talk. And, any time tomorrow that you want to bring Cherry over is fine."
After dropping Buffy off, Anita drove to the Circus of the Damned to see Jean-Claude. Buffy's words kept playing repeatedly in her head or rather, one word in particular - succubus. Just thinking about it made her shiver. She remembered studying them in college and was happy they were only a myth. The mere thought she could become one or even like one gave her nightmares. Anita still couldn't believe she cared about two men and had slept with both - separately. The thought that if she become a succubus more than just those two could be added to the list, almost made her physically ill. She felt determined to make a liar out of Buffy. No way was that true about Belle Mort or Jean-Claude being an incubus. She slammed the car door and marched into the Circus, going straight through to Jean-Claude's office not saying a word to anyone. Throwing open the door, she startled Stephen into jumping back. Jean-Claude merely looked up and gave her a dazzling smile.
"Ma petite, I didn't expect you, but of course, I am so glad you are here! Come in, come in."
He waved Stephen out as he fluidly rose from his chair approaching her. His midnight blue shirt left him bare from neck to waist, while his trademark leather pants fit snugly into matching black knee-high boots.
Anita caught her breath at the sight of him. He should look ridiculous in the clothes he wore, but he didn't and sometimes she hated him for that. She put her hand out to stop him, knowing that if he touched her, she'd be lost.
"Stop right there. I have some questions for you. Go and sit back down, this could take awhile," she told him, sharply.
He raised an eyebrow at her tone but obeyed. Jean-Claude knew from experience Anita wouldn't budge once the bit was in her mouth. "What can I do for you, ma petite?"
Anita started pacing the room. Her steps quick and full of frustration and doubt. She stopped suddenly to turn and face her beautiful vampire. "Tell me about Belle Morte," she threw out, while watching his reaction.
Her question startled Jean-Claude, but he quickly recovered. "She is head of my line. They call her the Beautiful Death. Only the most beautiful belong to her line."
"Figures. What's her power base, what kind of vampire is she, her second source of nourishment?" Anita's questions came rapid-fire one on top of the other.
Jean-Claude became deathly still the way only a vampire could. He eyed Anita as questions filled his mind. Who could have told her? Why else would she ask such questions? What will she do? Will I lose her? How will I fight the Council without her? Will I lose my city? As doubt assailed him, he hesitated.
"I'm waiting for an answer, Jean-Claude." Anita stood with her hands on her hips, foot tapping and her eyes had taken on that cold, hard glare he knew and hated.
"Sex is her second source of nourishment. She is a succubus," he whispered, his eyes wavered from her momentarily.
"Does her line inherit her power?" Anita asked. She had to know, wanted to know and hated Buffy even more as she heard the answer.
"Oui, in one form or another. We call it the arduer."
"Do you still want me to become your human servant?" Anita asked in a husky whisper.
"You know I do, ma petite, more than anything."
"When a person becomes a human servant, they share the vampire's powers to some degree. Heal quicker, faster responses, that kind of thing right?" He watched her face closely as he simply nodded his head in answer. He feared her reaction should he speak aloud. "What happens if the human servant has powers? Does the vamp share those powers, as well? I mean you could taste the food I ate, right. If I took all four marks, or say just three could you say - raise a zombie!" Her dark eyes turned harder, colder if that was even possibly.
His eyes flew wide as he realized the full implication of her words. Knowing he needed to stop what was happening, he tried to formulate an answer she would accept. Before he could do or say anything, however, Anita whirled and headed for the door. Jean-Claude caught her in a flash.
"Non! Ma petite, please let me speak! Let me try to explain. I did not think about the arduer; it is so much a part of me, has been so for over four hundred years. I never even conceived it could transfer to you!"
Anita studied him, wanting to believe him, but found she couldn't. Not yet. "I'm sorry Jean-Claude I need time and space to think about this. Leave me alone to do just that. I'll call when I'm ready to talk." She turned and walked away from him.
He stormed to his desk and threw everything to the floor, screaming, "Damn it Anita!" Suddenly, understanding dawned, and he stiffened growling, baring his fangs. "BUFFY!" He stormed through the Circus, flying off into the night with vengeance in his heart.
(Note: Also for the sake of this story Damian is of Belle's line, he's certainly gorgeous enough.)
Buffy sat in the Living Room talking with Asher and Nathaniel, when she suddenly stiffened and excused herself. She quietly went to the front door, mentally allowing Jean-Claude through the protection spell on the house.
He stormed in and as soon as he saw her grabbed her by the throat pulling her up to meet his eyes. "You have interfered where you do not belong, petite sorciere. What is between me and ma petite is none of your concern."
"Put her down, Jean-Claude," Asher growled, as he appeared in the hallway.
"Do not interfere Ma Chardonneret, this is between me and Mon sorciere." He threw over his shoulder without turning away from the staring contest he and Buffy were currently locked into.
"Jean-Claude, are you through pissing on my walls?"
He looked up at his hand still raised in the air, though it held nothing but air. Looking around to see where she'd disappeared to, he found Buffy standing across the room, leaning against the wall with an unfriendly smile on her face.
"Come into the study, JC. I think it's time you had a good talking to, and afterward maybe you should ask Asher some questions."
Feeling his impotent frustrations slowly fade away, Jean-Claude sent Asher a questioning look. The golden haired vampire simply shrugged his shoulders and followed Buffy into the study. Jean-Claude reluctantly followed them feeling like a naughty schoolboy about to be reprimanded for doing something he shouldn't.
"Sit down and shut up before I get cranky; believe me you don't want that! Now, I'm guessing Anita came to see you and from the lovely hello, it didn't go so great. The question of the night is are you mad for getting busted or because you may lose Anita? Heads up, Captain Morgan, don't bother lying, I'll know," she warned.
He stared at the tiny blonde as her eyes started to glow the brilliant royal blue he knew represented the influx of her power. Words suddenly poured from him like water from a fountain.
"When I first marked Anita, it was for survival and power after hiding my own for so long; I needed the show of strength while we were dealing with Nicolas and afterward once I claimed the city as mine. But, as I am sure you will agree, she has this way of getting under your skin though; I care for her. If it came to a question between her or my city, I do not know what I would do. Our relationship has not been, how you say without rocks. Her power is so much of what makes up Anita that you cannot separate the two. I do not even think she realizes that. I did not think about the arduer; I do not know if it would pass to her if I marked her again or even beyond the second mark."
"What if I told you it would? And, Richard that would never accept Anita because of it? And, you couldn't ever form a Triumvirate because the infrastructure would fall in on itself. Anita might come to terms with the idea of a ménage a trois if Richard were a different type man. But, he isn't. His past and what Raina and Gabriel did to him left deep scars."
Buffy paused for effect before she hit him with the final salvo. "The arduer would leave her open to la Belle as well. How would you feel if she had access to your lovely petite?"
Jean-Claude looked at Buffy sadly shaking his head; lost in his own memories of trying to control the arduer. He shuddered at the thought of seeing Anita trying to deal with what took him near decades to control. She could barely wrap her mind around caring for the two men she was already involved with, for her to feed the arduer with possibly whoever was nearest when it reared its hungry head, or commit to having a number of would-be pomme de sangs, would crush her.
"I think you should talk to Asher for a clearer perspective. Did you know Julianna was a witch? Asher knew but loved the woman first and always. They worked together to close off each other's powers, unless they freely chose to grant a boon. Before she died, Julianna sent her power into Asher to ensure his survival," she said quietly.
Blood tears slipped down Jean-Claude's face at the news. His lovers had hidden this aspect of their lives and love. He felt anew the pain of Julianna's death and his failure to save her or Asher.
"Think carefully before you decide what you want, because you just may get it. Believe me, I know; in fact, I'm living proof. Talk to Asher, search your heart then talk to Anita. I can help you if you'll let me; it's your choice. But most importantly, it has to be Anita's choice."
He got up to leave the room but as he reached the door, Buffy called out, "Oh, I almost forgot. Asher agreed to let me heal his scars. I'd appreciate your help with the ceremony. It's tomorrow night, while the moon's still full. Are there others from Belle's line here? The ritual will work best if those he has some type of bond with to help the process along."
"Damian, he too is from Belle Morte's line," he answered. He remained facing the door while he worked to gather his shattered emotions back under control.
"It's best to have four. Gregory and Nathaniel would work if they agree. They've willingly fed him, which forms its own bond. It's weak, but will have to do," Buffy said as she explained the additional requirements for Asher's healing.
Jean-Claude bowed his head as he silently slipped from the room. He had much to think about before the dawn.