The Mary Sue Virus: Beyond Death

[ladydeathfaerie]

Title: The Mary Sue Virus: Beyond Death 
Chapter Eight: The Wolf And The Lion
Fandom: Anita Blake universe
Rating: 18 and up
Warnings: graphic sex and violence, language, anything else i can toss in.
Disclaimer: the recognizable characters and places contained herein are the property of LKH. i'm merely borrowing for the sake of entertainment. no money is being made from this venture. the Sues are the sole property of their originators, Ginevra, Dazzledfirestar, Nanaea, SilverFoxChan and ladydeathfaerie. the concept and title of The Mary Sue Virus are used with permission from Dazzledfirestar. all beta work, plot bunny shooting and ass spanking is being done by Gin.

The Mary Sue Virus: Beyond Death - Index Link 

Rhiannon stared down at her charge and sighed. Richard had been sitting in the same spot for the last five hours. His hands were curled around a stuffed penguin that he'd stolen from the house before leaving. She could only assume that it had been Anita's and he'd taken it as a memento or some sort of security blanket. Too bad the damn thing couldn't convince him to sleep. He needed that more than anything else.

Ever since she'd arrived, it had been a battle of wills. Richard refused to rest and it was starting to show. Lines of tension had been etched deeply into the skin around his eyes and mouth, some of his healthy tan faded with the lack of attention to himself. She was running on fumes herself, tired of fighting with him to do something as simple as eat. She knew that he loved Anita. But she hadn't thought that he loved her so much that he'd let himself go to hell in a hand basket like this. She was at the end of her rope with him and was about to resort to all kinds of less ethical shit just to see him sleep for longer than it took to blink her eyes.

Setting the cup of chamomile down before him, Rhiannon knelt by his legs and took his hands in hers. "Richard, you have to sleep. This isn't doing you any good," she told him softly. He said nothing, simply kept staring at the stuffed penguin in his hands. "Richard, she's gone. You're not. The pack needs their Ulfric. If you can't pull it together, someone will challenge you. You won't survive that kind of fight."

"Maybe I don't want to," he replied softly, finally lifting his eyes to hers. There was such pain in them, such deep desolation and loss, that Rhiannon felt her heart twisting in her chest. She shifted her hands from his, wrapped tightly around the toy, until she could cup his cheeks.

"You can't talk like that. I know you cared about her, loved her so much that this hurts. But she wanted you to go on. That's why you're still here. She loved you enough to want you to have a life. Don't tarnish her love for you or her memory by simply allowing yourself to fade away. You need to rest. You need to eat something. You need to..."

"I need Anita," he replied, his voice going hard.

"Well, she isn't here," Rhiannon replied. The penguin dropped to the ground, Richard's big hands reaching out to grip her arms. He shook her roughly, a low growl trickling up his throat.

"Don't you dare talk about her! Not like that. Not to me. You don't understand...." he stood, dragging her with him. Rhiannon stared at him, calm and relaxed in his grasp.

"I understand well enough. You've tortured yourself for years with your love of her and now that she's dead, there's no one here to stop you from allowing yourself to just wallow in your self-pity. Is that what Anita would want from you? Do you think she would want you to do this to yourself?"

"She isn't here to tell me what she wants, is she?" he snarled, dragging her closer until she was mere inches from him.

"No. She isn't. But I think her choice was fairly clear even before she died. Last time I heard, she was dating the Master of the City. Since you're a little too dark-skinned to be him, I guess that means she didn't pick you."

"You...." he stared at her, fury flickering in the depths of his eyes. He seemed to be searching for something more to say.

"Go on. Call me a bitch. Its what you want to say, isn't it? Get mad, Richard. You're entitled. Rail against the unfairness of it all. At least you know you're still alive that way," Rhiannon told him quietly. When he stared at her, confusion in his eyes, she pressed on. "Get pissed off and snarl. I know you want to. I know you want to blame someone for her death. And there is someone to blame. Get pissed at them. Swear at them. Do something other than feel sorry for yourself."

"Don't you dare tell me how to feel. You can't possibly understand," Richard whispered, letting go of Rhiannon's arms. He took a step backward, as if afraid of what he might do. She followed after him.

"Do you think you're the only person who's ever lost someone they love? Do you honestly think that you're the only one grieving right now? Have you taken a look at some of your wolves? At the pard? And what about Jean Claude?"

"That cold hearted bastard wouldn't cry if his life depended upon it," Richard snarled. Rhiannon swore under her breath before fixing a steely gaze on him.

"Do you really think that he isn't mourning in his own way?" she asked him, stepping closer. Anger was washing through her, along with a deep, cloying grief that she couldn't quite explain. All she knew was that she was suddenly, inexplicably angry with Richard and his casual dismissal of other people's pain. "He's the Master of the City. He holds more power than most people can imagine and he has to keep his public face, lest someone try to come take over his territory. Don't you dare judge him because he isn't playing the angst-ridden hero the way you are."

"You're defending the corpse?" Richard looked shocked. "How can you defend him? I thought..."

"You thought what? That I was going to just agree with every thing you say? I'm not that kind of a person, Richard. I tend to call it like I see it. And what I see right now is a man acting like he's the only one in the world who's ever loved and lost someone. I've got a clue for you, mister. Everybody has lost someone they love. Everybody! You're not so special that you're the only one who gets to grieve and act like an ass."

Rhiannon didn't know where the words were coming from. But the well of grief that had sprung to life was filling her so thickly that she felt as if she were drowning in it. She felt a tear roll down over one cheek, ignored it in favor of pushing on. "You don't get to be the only one grieving, Richard. You're not the only one who's lost someone close. There are lots of people who are grieving Anita's loss. Don't cheapen her memory by denying them that right. Stop feeling sorry for yourself."

"I didn't ask you for advice. I didn't ask you to come here," he whispered, staring at her as if he'd never seen her before in his life.

"No. You didn't. Marianne asked me to come. She told me I was needed here. I didn't realize just how much I was needed until I got here and saw your pathetic face," Rhiannon countered hotly. "Its a damn good thing I am here or the pack would have already been driven into the ground. You want to sit here and grieve. Fine. Go right ahead. But don't expect me to be here to pull your ass together anymore. I don't need your shit, Richard. I don't need this and I don't need you!"

She spun away from him, already on her way to the room he'd given her so she could collect her things. Tears were still rolling down her cheeks, hot and unbidden. She had no way of knowing what they were for, but there was an ache deep in her chest where her heart was. She didn't want to explore what it meant. She could only take so much in one day and Richard's indifference and stubborn nature had already pushed her past her quota.

She didn't understand where the anger was coming from. She was normally much more level-headed and down to earth than this. But the man was infuriating. Did he honestly think that he was the only one who was saddened by Anita's death? Did he really believe that others weren't mourning her as deeply as he was? Not everybody allowed their grief to overwhelm them the way it had him, though. Some people just knew how to hold it together better. She couldn't deal with him anymore. Not like this.

His hand caught her arm when she'd gotten less than ten steps from him. He spun her to look at him and she could see the deep confusion in his eyes. It was obvious he was just as amazed by her show of temper as she was. Something had changed in his expression. The sorrow still cloaked him like a blanket, but now.... She could sense something more to him than simply his sorrow. Almost before she realized what he was doing, she found herself caught up in his arms, their bodies pressed tightly together, while his mouth ravaged hers.

It wasn't a sweet kiss. There was no gentleness to it. His lips were brutal, bruising as they crushed her own. His fingers threaded almost possessively into her hair, his hands molding themselves to the shape of her head. She gasped when his tongue pushed between her lips and dipped into her mouth. The touch of his hands, the feel of his mouth against her own, the heat of his body.... It all woke something inside of her and she was suddenly drowning in need.

He pressed closer to her, his feet moving them until her back was shoved up against a wall. By then, her arms had slithered up to curl around his shoulders. Her fingers toyed with the silken length of his hair. When he finally pulled his mouth away, she was gasping sharply for breath and she'd brought one leg up to curl around his, drawing him even closer. Then he was pressing nibbling kisses down the column of her throat. Damn, he felt good, his body tight next to her own. Even through their clothing, he felt good.

His hips ground against her own, giving her a good indication just how much he was enjoying himself. He was hard against her, the bulge in his jeans sending skitters of desire pulsing through her. She dragged her fingers from his hair to curve them into his shirt. Her nails were digging into his flesh and he ground against her harder. Her blood was pounding in her veins, in her head until it felt like someone was hammering against her skull.

"Richard! Open the door!" It was Jamil's voice and he sounded desperate. The pounding, she realized, was at the front door and not in her head. Richard ripped his mouth from hers, a low growl trickling up his throat.

"Go away! I'm busy!" he ordered curtly, his mouth returning to her neck with hunger and force.

"This is business," Shang-Da's voice called out. Richard pulled away from her and Rhiannon hurried to make herself look presentable. She had no illusions that the others wouldn't smell the lust on the two of them, but at least Richard was doing something other than moping. She had the tea cup in her hand when Richard jerked the door open.

"What the fuck?" his voice was low and curt, still holding a hint of his growl. But there was concern there, too. Rhiannon turned to find Jamil and Shang-Da standing in the doorway. She could see a third person behind them. Richard stepped back from the door and allowed them to enter. The third person was carrying a bloodied body in her arms. It took Rhiannon a moment to realize that the woman was Sylvie. Her short hair was dark in the dim light and there was blood smeared across her cheeks. "What happened?"

"Andy was attacked by humans," Sylvie replied, her gaze flicking to where Rhiannon stood. There was general dislike in Sylvie's expression that Rhiannon didn't take personally. "They used silver. They knew what he was."

"How bad is it?" Richard's voice took on the authority of his position and he motioned toward the bedrooms. He turned to look at Rhiannon. "Call some of the pack. Get them over here. We need to help heal him."

She nodded and went to the phone. There was a list in a small phone book that Richard kept by the phone. She placed at least half a dozen calls before gathering up a few supplies from the kitchen that they might need to use. Even though she was still relatively new to the pack, she knew that Andy was a newly made wolf. He'd gone to Richard for help after a rogue shifter had attacked and infected him. Richard had assigned the task of helping the young man to several of his officers. Rhiannon made one more call to Dr. Lillian before she picked up her supplies and hurried off to see if she could help at all.

She found the small group in the bathroom. Sylvie had deposited Andy in the bathtub and Richard was busy inspecting the damage. Rhiannon slipped silently to his side and offered him the small tray of utensils she'd brought with her. He looked tense, anger radiating from every single pore as he studied the figure in the tub.

Andy's hair, normally a pale shade of red, was darkening as blood leaked into it. Some of it was matted and caked with dried blood and she could see that it was from a shallow gash in his head. There was a large hole in one shoulder, the wound weeping heavily so that Andy's torso was soaked in blood. The other arm hung at an odd angle and she found herself studying it before she could stop herself. It looked as if another shot had nearly severed the limb. There were three more wounds, each one still bleeding slowly.

Richard growled. "Son of a bitch!"

"I called Dr. Lillian, Richard," Rhiannon commented softly. Her gaze went to the sheet that Andy had been wrapped in, crusted thickly with blood. There were obviously more wounds that he'd received, but she drew back so that the small group of lycanthropes could do what they needed to.

"Some of the silver is still imbedded in the wounds," Jamil said, voice tight.

"Shit," Richard shook his head. He turned to look at Rhiannon again. "Do me a favor. Go make sure the bed is ready. We're going to need it. How many of the pack did you call?"

"About six," she replied, already moving for the door.

"Call six more," Richard sent after her as she left the room. She hurried to the phone, opening the book to make the requested phone calls. When that was done, she made sure to check the fridge and cupboards, taking stock of what there was in the house to eat. There wasn't much, so she made a mental note to go to the store as soon as Dr. Lillian and the other members of the pack arrived. Then she was off to the bedroom, her mind only partially on the task at hand.

The rest of her thoughts were given over to what had happened between Richard and herself before his officers had shown up with an injured member of his pack. Her toes were still tingling from the way he'd kissed her and the memory of his possessive manner sent another tendril of need curling through her. Damn it, this was not what she needed to be focusing on. She was supposed to be here to help Richard. Not fuck him. Though some part of her knew she couldn't resist those chocolate brown eyes of his. And the feel of him pressed against her body had been like bliss.

She was willing to admit to herself that she'd been attracted to Richard since he'd made his appearance in the books, despite his tendency to be a whiny dick. It seemed her Sue found him just as appealing, too, because they were both hot for him at the moment. But beneath that, she could feel that well of sorrow. It lingered even now, after the shock of need that Richard had brought to life within her had come and gone. There was something there that troubled her, something she wasn't yet aware of. She only hoped that it wouldn't get in the way of her duties here. Frowning, Rhiannon shook herself from the thoughts that plagued her. Already, someone was knocking on the door.

She hurried to let them in. The madness was just about to begin.

~*~*~

"How is he?" Rhiannon asked the small woman with salt and pepper hair, offering her a cup of coffee. Dr. Lillian looked tired and disgusted, her face drawn in tight lines. It had been nearly an hour since the petite doctor had entered the house, a body guard and human nurse in tow. Lillian sank into a seat at the table and cradled the cup of coffee between her hands.

"He's not out of the woods, yet. It was tricky to remove the silver without further injuring him. He's lost alot of blood...." the older woman sighed and took a drink of the strong brew. A deep sigh slid from her throat and she turned her shrewd gaze on Rhiannon. "You didn't want to help us?"

"Oh, no. I wanted to help. But I thought I'd stay out of the way until you were done with your task before offering any of my services," Rhiannon smiled. "My gifts are a touch more... esoteric and some people don't think they're any good."

"Andy needs all the help he can get. This wasn't just some random attack. It was a hate crime. The placement of the shots suggests that, whoever did it, knew just how to kill a werewolf. Or any lycanthrope, for that matter," Lillian told her quietly. "It was sheer luck that their shots missed anything vital."

"What about his arm?" Rhiannon asked, moving to join her at the table. She brought the coffee pot with her, refilling the doctor's cup.

"Richard helped shift him into his wolf form. That should help heal the damage, but not all of it. Sadly, we're going to have to wait and see."

"Damn it," Rhiannon whispered, reaching up to rub at her eyes. The crisis was the first and last thing they'd needed. It had done what she hadn't been able to, had gotten Richard to act like the leader he was. But this was so soon after Anita's death. It couldn't be coincidence, could it?

"You look tired, dear," Lillian reached out to pat her arm in motherly kind of gesture. Rhiannon looked up at her and frowned.

"Does it show that much?" she asked. When Lillian nodded, Rhiannon sighed and shook her head. "Damn. I haven't been able to sleep because I've been keeping Richard going. I snatch bits here and there, but just enough to keep me from collapsing. I haven't had a decent night's sleep in over a week."

"I think you'll be able to sleep tonight," Lillian smiled. "Richard is going to be busy helping heal Andy. I think, between that and the way he's been ignoring his health the past few days, he'll sleep tonight. Take advantage of it while you can."

"I plan to," Rhiannon offered her a slight smile. Then she stood again. "Can I get you anything else? Something to eat, maybe?"

"Sit down and don't worry about me. I plan on leaving Connie here tonight, just in case she's needed. As soon as Richard has everything and everyone settled, I'm leaving. Get some rest, Rhiannon. Don't let him wear you down any more than you already are."

"When I know Richard is sleeping, I'll grab a nap," she promised.

~*~*~

It was late when Rhiannon finally curled up in a chair in the living room and allowed herself a moment to relax. She'd kept herself busy after Lillian's departure by making food for the gathered members of the pack and running errands. Finally, the group had disappeared into Richard's bedroom to pile around Andy's pale form. It was the first moment she'd had to relax since the whole thing had started. She didn't expect to drop off almost immediately, but she did. And fell almost immediately into dreams.

The first round were pleasant ones, filled with images of Richard's strong, lean form as it curled around her own. His skin was warm against hers, his muscles firm beneath her exploring hands. His mouth fed from hers, their breaths mingling together as skin slid against skin. Passion and desire flared to life between them, rushing through her in a wash of fiery liquid that had every single nerve ending in her body burning. It felt so right to be held in his arms, his hands worshipping every valley and every plain, every curve. She didn't want it to end.

Hot, hungry kisses claimed her lips and stole her senses. She didn't care, only cared about the feel of his silky skin against her own. He was hard and thick against her thigh and she shifted against him, silently begging him for more. She was eager for him, wanted him buried inside of her. She thought she heard him whisper her name, then he shifted the position of his hips until he was between her thighs. She could feel the head of his shaft nudging her lips. His eyes pinned hers with a questioning gaze. She nodded her head, wrapped her legs around his waist.

A sigh left her lips as she felt him press into her.

Richard was gone. Instead of the heat of his body, it was cold all around. And dark. The darkness was thick and pressed in on her as if it meant to choke or drown her. She didn't know where she was and could already feel panic taking hold.

The scene slowly faded into view, giving her a glimpse of tall trees outside of the car. She was in a car and it wasn't moving. It was night time and she was in a forest. It had the eerie feel of familiarity to her. There was something laying beside the car, something furry that wasn't moving. The handle wouldn't move when she tried the door. Panic filled her, making her motions quick and jerky. Tears were sliding down her cheeks, blurring her vision. She had to get out of the car. She knew it. Something terrible had happened and she had to get away before she found out what it was.

"Rhiannon...." the voice was low, choked with pain. A hand gripped her shoulder and she found herself turning, even though her brain screamed at her not to.

His face was a bloody mask of pain, a laceration at his scalp glistening with fresh blood and broken glass. Blue eyes stared at her, pleading. She could see that his body was broken and no amount of healing would fix it. He was dying and there was nothing she could do to help him. "Jeremy.... What do I do?" she begged, reaching up to take his hand in hers.

"Don't leave me," his voice was hoarse and wet. He coughed and blood welled up to slide down over his chin.

"You can't die on me. Please don't die," she whispered, clutching at his hand, even though she could feel the strength leaving it already. "Don't leave me, Jeremy. I love you."

"I love you, too," he promised softly. Rhiannon pulled out her cell phone, dialed nine one one and hoped that someone would answer soon. Even now, Jeremy's pulse was thin and thready. They weren't going to make it. "Don't forget..."

His hand went limp in her own and slid away, his head dropping forward on his chest. The phone slipped from her grasp and she reached out to cup his face in her hands. "Don't go, Jeremy. Don't leave me!"

The tears ran down her cheeks unheeded and she didn't care about the blood. She only wanted him back. His name left her lips in a wail as sobs shook her. He couldn't be dead. He just couldn't be.

"Rhiannon!" Her name rung loudly in the midst of the forest, the voice filled with authority and concern. The sobs shook her harder. "Rhiannon, wake up!"

Her eyes popped open to find Richard leaning over the chair, shaking her none too gently. There was concern in his gaze and his mouth was drawn tight. She blinked, looking around to find herself still in his living room. Frowning, she lifted her hands to her head, rubbing wearily at her face. "Are you alright?" Richard asked her, squatting down so he could look her in the eyes. She nodded, not quite trusting her voice just yet. When he lifted his fingers to carefully wipe away a tear, he frowned.

"I'm fine. Just a dream," she told him. When his frown grew, she offered him a lopsided smile. "I promise. It was just a dream."

"It was a bad one, then. You were crying and shaking in your sleep. You called out a name. Jeremy," Richard said, then studied her closely. "He was special to you, wasn't he? He's the one you lost."

She nodded, not trusting her voice. It was still painful and it had been a few years already. Richard surprised her by drawing her body in close to his, hugging her against him with a gentle embrace. That was all it took to send tears cascading down her cheeks once again. She buried her face in his chest, allowing the tears to simply fall. The soft material of his t-shirt absorbed the droplets of moisture. He murmured nonsense to her, his hands stroking over her back and through her hair, in an attempt to soothe her battered soul.

He held her like that as what seemed to be ages passed. When she'd finally stopped sniffling and no longer shook, he pulled back to look down at her. One hand guided her to the couch, where he pulled her down to sit beside him. "Tell me about him," Richard instructed quietly.

Rhiannon sighed and closed her eyes, trying to push away the hurt that thinking of Jeremy always brought. Richard's arm slid around her shoulders and pulled her closer to his warmth. She soaked it up and heaved a big sigh. She hadn't willingly talked about any of this since the accident. "Jeremy was my boyfriend all through high school. We met in English our freshman year and something clicked. We were literally inseparable. Every free moment was spent in each other's company. He's why I ended up getting involved in the Oak Tree Clan and Marianne."

"He was a wolf?" Richard made it a question and she nodded.

"We were out on a date the summer between our sophomore and junior year. Jeremy had wanted to go on a picnic. Said he knew a really romantic spot," she whispered, the words flowing to her lips faster than the images came to her head. Her Sue was in control of the conversation now as memories rushed out of the shadows to taunt her once more. Fear spiked through her as she recalled that evening and Richard's arm tightened around her. "It was beautiful. And then this... large wolf came bounding out of nowhere. It was coming straight for me and I froze. Jeremy didn't think about it. He just pushed me out of the way. I thought it was going to kill him."

"What happened?"

"There was a gun shot and the wolf hit the ground. Jeremy was bloodied and torn up. The doctor tested him at the hospital. They wanted to lock him away. For his safety, they said. But Marianne and Verne were there. Verne took responsibility for Jeremy and taught him what he needed to know."

"His being infected didn't change your mind?" he asked and she could hear the underlying tone of curiosity that he couldn't quite hide. Rhiannon lifted her eyes and stared at him.

"No. He was still the same Jeremy I'd been in love with for two years. He had a beautiful coat when he was fully shifted. And these amazingly blue eyes. I loved him in both forms. While he studied with Verne and learned how to be a wolf, I studied with Marianne and learned how to be a good witch. I didn't know until she told me that I had the gift. We continued dating through high school. The night we graduated, he proposed."

The tears came again and Richard once more drew her into his embrace, offering her solace and strength. She leaned against him, eyes closed as that night ran through her mind again. "We were on our way home from dinner. I was so happy. The ring wasn't very big, but it was from the heart. I was on cloud nine. And then... A buck ran out in front of the car."

"I'm so sorry, Rhiannon," his hand stroked through her hair.

"He couldn't shift to heal the damage. It was too extensive. And I couldn't do anything to save him," she stared blankly at the wall, her mind lost to the memories. "If it hadn't been for Verne and Marianne, I don't think I'd have ever recovered. They made me realize that I couldn't keep mourning his loss. He wouldn't have wanted that. And Anita wouldn't want it for you."

Richard stared at her for a few moments. There was something in his expression she couldn't read. Then it was gone as his eyes closed and his hands drew her nearer to him. She sighed, her own eyes slipping shut with the feel of his mouth on hers. This time it was gentle and sweet. There was no anger to color the kiss.

She inched closer, prompting him to tighten his arms around her. The kiss deepened, a groan rolling up his throat as he plundered her mouth. A fire ignited in her belly, the flames eating away at her control with merry abandon. The sound that crept from her drew a growl from Richard, then she was straddling his lap.

The sleep pants he wore were thin and she could feel his erection pressing up against her denim covered crotch. The attraction was irrational and perhaps a touch unwanted. She was supposed to be helping him deal with his loss. Not fucking the thoughts out of his head. But it felt so wonderful to be held in someone's arms again, to think that perhaps someone cared. Even if it might only be an illusion. Her arms twined around his throat, her breasts pressed into his chest. When he broke the kiss, they were both panting for breath.

"This is wrong," he whispered and she turned large eyes on him. He offered her a slightly chagrinned smile. "Its too soon for me. I shouldn't be... I don't want to take advantage. If anything happens between us, I want it to be because its what we both want and need. Not because we both feel lost."

Rhiannon nodded. "I understand. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..." she began, but he stopped her with a finger pressed to her lips.

"Shhh. There's nothing to apologize for," he promised, then gave her a good once over. "I think its time for bed. Both of us need some sleep. Come on. "

Richard stood, taking her with him. She allowed him to lead her down the hallway to the bedrooms. They stopped to check on Andy, who was buried in a pile of bodies, before they continued on to the spare room where her things had been stowed. Richard stripped off his shirt, then helped her with her jeans and bra. Then he tugged her down to lay in the bed with him. They settled with her back to his chest and his arms curled around her tightly.

It was warm and safe in Richard's arms. Rhiannon felt a sense of peace wash over her, then she was once more lost in slumber's comforting embrace.

~*~*~*~*~

The condo was small and kind of cramped as Isis opened the door and stepped inside. When Damian made no move to join her, she gave a weak smile and shook her head. "Sorry. I forgot. Won't you please come in?" she invited.

Damian's lips curved up into a smile and he stepped into the living room. Isis watched him take it in and surveyed the area from a visitor's point of view. The furniture was comfortable, slightly aged with use, but it didn't give off the appearance of mistreatment. She'd gotten it cheap from one of those charity places like the Salvation Army, only the profits from this place went to help the lycanthropic community.

The couch was done in a dark blue material, with a high back and wooden arms and legs. The two wing back chairs matched, though the material was faded on the seats. A low coffee table sat before the couch, while a matched end table sat between the chairs. A small entertainment center held her television, stereo, VCR and DVD players. It was pushed up against the wall near a curtain covered patio door. On the other side of the doors was the bar that opened up into the kitchen. It was small and bright, with white tiles and countertops. The curtains over the kitchen window were white and yellow, festive without being obnoxious.

The other half of the front area was her dining room. The table was small and round, with only a pair of chairs pushed in beneath it. There were a pair of book shelves behind it, filled with books of all kinds. The window there was covered with curtains that matched the one over the patio doors. Mismatched art in the form of paintings and small sculptures were scattered over the white walls and into nooks and crannies. Her most favorite piece was a pride of lions that rested in the center of the coffee table.

There was a short hallway that led to a small bathroom and her home office. Set against the wall was a set of stairs that went halfway up before turning a sharp corner and continuing the rest of the way to her loft bedroom. A wrought iron rail marked off the room from the stairs and Isis had hung thick drapes from the ceiling to give her a touch more privacy. Damian looked around for several long moments before taking a seat on the couch. "You have a pleasant home," he commented.

"Thank you. Its comfortable. And quiet, despite the fact that I have neighbors. They're almost never home," she explained, trying to decide if she should sit beside him or in one of the chairs across from him. The desire to sit beside him was stronger than she thought it should be and she wondered just what kind of relationship they were going to have. There was something odd about what had happened. Aedan should have been the one to wake him. Not her. She didn't know if that was something Anita had done prior to death or if it were for some other reason.

"You can sit by me. I will not bite. I've fed already this evening and you cannot donate again for another day or two," he said, a small smile tugging the corners of his lips up. Nodding, Isis sat beside him with a faint grin.

"Sorry. This is all new to me."

"As it is for me. We will have to figure it out together," he replied. His eyes fell on the statue of the lions. She followed his gaze and stared down at the sculpture. It was obviously special to her, as a flush of happiness ran through her at the sight of it. The center of the piece was a small hill or mound, the male lying there like the king he was. He looked out over the rest of his pride, the very picture of ruler and protector etched into his eyes and face. His mane was full and flowed around his head as if it were the crown that marked his station. Sitting around the hill were various females and their cubs. Each one had been given expressions of respect and awe. The lines of the piece moved with a fluid grace that spoke of the cats represented in it.

"That is an amazing piece of art. The lions look quite lifelike," he motioned toward the statue.

"It was a gift from the Rex of my first pride. It had quite a bit of sentimental value to it," she replied, her voice soft with memory. Damian turned to look at her, obviously puzzled by the comment. He could see some hint of sorrow in her face.

"If it makes you sad, why do you keep it?"

"Because its a reminder of who my true family is," she replied easily, the words just falling from her lips as if she knew exactly what she was going to say. Which she didn't. This was her Sue coming to the rescue and she allowed it to happen without fighting. When he gave her that curious look again, she pushed on, hoping that her Sue would give her all the information she needed here. "When I was younger, my parents took me on safari in Africa. It was a graduation gift. I enjoyed the trip. Africa was beautiful."

"You liked it there." It wasn't a question. But she nodded her head anyway.

"I liked it there very much."

"You were infected there."

"I was. It was a one in a million thing. Cat lycanthropy is harder to contract than the other kinds, you know. But the moon was just right and the wind blew in the right direction. I don't know. Something crazy like that." She shrugged and closed her eyes. The plains spread out before her as if she were still standing on them. The memory was strong, her ties to the memory even stronger. Both made it seem so very real. The scent of heat and musk traveled on the wind as it blew past her face. The world was caught between the brilliance of day and the shadows of night, the sun just starting to dip below the horizon.

Deep crimson painted the sky, spread across the ground like the blood of a fresh kill. It should have been some kind of warning. But she'd stood there anyway. And watched as the lion had come bounding out of the bush. "He was so beautiful. His mane was full, hints of black edging the ends. Powerful muscles rippled beneath the golden coat. Strong legs ate up the ground as he came running at me from the cover of the scrub. By the time it registered that he meant to hurt me, it was too late to run."

"What happened?" Damian reached out to take her hand. His was cooler than her own and the difference was soothing as she sorted through the jumble of images that fell out of the shadows in her mind.

"Some of the guides chased him away. I remember hearing gun shots. Then my mother was screaming and my father was shouting angrily. There were words flying so fast, I couldn't keep up with them. My body was burning from the pain of claw and fang marks. I must have blacked out, because I remember seeing the stars twinkle to life in the sky one minute, then staring up at the roof of my tent the next. There were bandages wrapped around my arms and neck, my legs and abdomen. I could hear an honest to God witch doctor chanting outside my tent. And my mother was beside me, her face so worried that I thought I was dying."

He said nothing, simply pulled her against him, his arm around her shoulder in support. She took that as a sign and kept going. "My body was burning with fever and I could hear my mother praying. They kept pouring water down my throat. When I woke the next time, I was in a hospital. The doctor was telling my parents that the blood tests had come back positive. He mentioned a vaccine. But I had no clue what they were talking about. Until later, when my mother explained everything to me."

"The vaccine didn't work, did it?"

Isis shook her head. "Not for me, it didn't. I knew it when the next full moon approached. I was edgy and nervous. We were back out on safari, so I was able to slip away from everyone when the change came. That first time.... It hurt so badly. But the one responsible found me and he showed me the ropes, as it were. When I returned to camp the next morning, I was covered in blood. My father took one look at me, picked up his rifle and left. He didn't come back until he'd shot and killed the person responsible for my change. He brought the body back. It was more than I could stand. I packed up and hauled ass out of there. I haven't seen them since."

Damian nodded and drew her into his body until her head rested on her shoulder. The touch was relaxing and she found herself letting go of the tension that had come with the memory. "My first pride was good. My Rex told me that there was nothing I couldn't do if I put my mind to it. He's the one that helped me get into law school. That statue was a gift when I graduated."

"It has special meaning to you. Why does it make you sad?"

"He died shortly after he gave it to me. Killed by someone who doesn't understand that we're really not any different than anyone else. It was his death that sent me here. Joseph's pride accepted me, but he was weak. So was his Regina," she paused and looked up at him. "Could you feel me? I mean... when you were unable to rise? Could you feel me or hear me?"

Damian cocked his head to think about it. She watched as his face rode through the emotions of his thoughts. Then he finally frowned and gave a slow nod of his head. "Yes. I believe I could. I think I was calling to you."

"Some of the others in the pride," she began slowly, the thoughts turning in her mind. "They said they could hear the voice of our Rex in their heads. I heard it, too. And then, when I was in the house.... I felt you there, calling to me. It was as if..." she paused and frowned. That couldn't be right.

"It was as if what?" he asked softly. She turned to stare at him and saw a hint of knowing in his eyes. He'd been thinking along with her and it seemed he'd come to the same conclusion.

"Damian.... " she paused and hesitated. It just couldn't be. It wasn't possible. Was it? "I think you're my Rex."

Comments

[sessys-fangirl.livejournal.com]

She was willing to admit to herself that she'd been attracted to Richard since he'd made his appearance in the books, despite his tendency to be a whiny dick.Same here sister! Same here. But I've gotten over that attraction. Unfortunately when it comes to the water scenes...I turn into a puddle just like Anita. She's devious LKH is...


"Damian.... " she paused and hesitated. It just couldn't be. It wasn't possible. Was it? "I think you're my Rex."O.O! Dun-dun-dun-ddduuunnn!!! Holy monkey's Batman! That's a twist I couldn't think of in the least.


Awesome chapter girl. You've got us by the cojones yet again! I can't wait for the next one! OOOOOO!!!!!!!!

[ladydeathfaerie]

you know, surprisingly, i was never attracted to Richard. in fact, i've never really liked him. just too.... nice for me, i guess. not that she doesn't describe him as good looking or anything. he's just never done it for me. i guess i'm weird that way.

glad to know you liked my little plot twist there at the end. i'm getting damn good at those. and to think, i was once told i had no plot.

[sessys-fangirl.livejournal.com]

Whoever said that is wrong in my opinion. We each, as writers, wok our plots out differently.

I love the way you also embellished on my Sue's background. I was actually thinking something similar, or not to what you have for her. :-)

As for Richard. He does it for me, but always manages to really fuck things up (IE: The Harlequin ) and then I think "WTF did I see in him?" And then I realize I lust after that bod of his...Ok. I admit it. But not his personality. * shakes head violently * Nooo...That personality would clash with mine as well and I would just take a damn frying pan to his head and be done with it. Poor Anita....I see why she has trouble cutting him out of her life...Oops! I'm rambling! Eek! Sorry!

* vanishes *

Yay - a fix!

[nanaeanaven]

Oh, wow. That was ... wow. Damn. I mean, it was hot, and intense, and emotional, and I think I held my breath through most of it. Shit. Great job, darling. Faboo!

Re: Yay - a fix!

[ladydeathfaerie]

i hope you don't mind my fabricating some past for Rhia. i know you said you suck at that kind of thing, so i figured i'd help you along. i hope i didn't have Richard too whiny here.

glad you liked it, Nan.

Re: Yay - a fix!

[nanaeanaven]

Mind? No, not at all. I do suck at it, and what you came up with was perfect. And you had Richard spot on, which of course means that yes, he's whiny - but not unbearably so.

Re: Yay - a fix!

[ladydeathfaerie]

well, i'm glad i did right by her. i was hoping you wouldn't mind the addition.

and its nice to know i can write a whiny dickhead just right. i've achieved one goal in life. rock on. now... on to climb Mount Everest!

[ginevrasm.livejournal.com]

I thought it was an excellent chapter, each time I read it.

And I do think you've got Richard spot on. Just when you are ready to kill him, he goes all sweet. And all of the sudden you aren't sure why you wanted to kill him in the first place.

That is, if you don't cherish a grudge the way I do.

I am eager to see what happens next. But I'll try to behave. Really, I will.

[ladydeathfaerie]

well, i hold grudges. Richard's cute ways have never worked to make me forget he's a dick. i've been rooting for Jean Claude since day one.

besides, Jason is much more appealing than Richard. so is Nathaniel, Micah, um..... just about everyone else, really.

i'm glad you liked it and as soon as i come up with an idea, i'll let you know....

[dazzledfirestar.livejournal.com]

Ah, what a wonderful treat to come back to after my computer exile this weekend. :D

It's a fantastic chapter. I love seeing a little more about the Sues. Can't wait to see what else you have in store for us. :D

[ladydeathfaerie]

i've gotten a start on it already. i'd like to get it done soon, but i'm not making any guarantees.

i do plan on, eventually, going into everyone's back history. so we'll know tons of things about the Sues before the story is over. i hope that you all will be happy with what i come up with. remember, if you have any ideas..... just let me know.

thanks for the compliment, Daz. glad you enjoyed it.

[ginevrasm]

One more excellent chapter down and a whole bushel of goodies more to go. :)

[ladydeathfaerie]

so many more goodies. so so many