The Mary Sue Virus: Beyond Death
Oct. 4th, 2010 06:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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marysuevirusTitle: The Mary Sue Virus: Beyond Death
Chapter Thirty Four: All the Old Familiar Faces, part one
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.
The Mary Sue Virus: Beyond Death - Index Link
She was in the middle of a stack of long over due paperwork when the sensation of death slid across her skin. Blinking, Aedan looked up at the door and frowned. It wasn't a vampire. That much, she was sure of. It had been a couple of days since Jean Claude had picked her up at the last crime scene and she'd made a point of avoiding him as much as she possibly could. Neither exhaustion or alcohol could excuse her behavior when he'd been trying to put her to bed. And nothing she did could wipe away the memory of his eyes as they'd stared at her, the feel of his hands as they'd glided over her skin, the eagerness she'd felt in him.
The frustration and hints of anger in his voice when she'd fallen asleep on him. Again.
She knew that he was letting her keep this distance, that he could close the gap she'd put between them anytime he wanted to. He wasn't a man to be kept from what he wanted and, for some reason she couldn't fathom, he wanted her. As much as she wanted him even if she was unwilling to admit that to herself. She'd made sure to come in after she knew he'd gone to sleep for the day and then left again before he'd woken. And he'd seemed content to keep it that way. Maybe he was as confused by things as she was. Maybe he needed time to figure things out. Maybe he was just waiting for the right time before he made a move, the way a snake or cat would lay in wait for what seemed an age before striking out at its prey. Whatever his reasons, she was glad he wasn't pushing the issue.
But that didn't explain the sense of death that she could feel out in the hallway. And it didn't explain why that sense of death was almost... warm. Living. Alive. She'd never come across that sensation before. Even her own powers were chill and... well, dead. That sensation was coming closer, too, until she knew it stood just outside her doorway. With carefully controlled motions, Aedan set the paperwork aside and then checked to be sure her gun was within easy reach.
There was a knock at the door, a single rap no doubt made by a pair of knuckles, then the door opened and Bert stuck his head in. The smile on his face left Aedan with a queasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. His eyes did a quick scan of the office. Once assured that there was no one else present, he stepped in and took up the entire doorway. "Aedan, I'm glad I caught you without a client."
"What do you want, Bert?" It felt odd saying that. Her upbringing had drilled into her that anyone older than her should be addressed with respect. The first time she'd called him Mr. Vaughn, he hadn't stopped laughing for ten minutes.
"I've brought you a special client," he announced, then hastened to continue when she rolled her eyes at him. "I think this one will interest you."
"I've got a lot of paperwork to get caught up on, Bert. Can't you send this one to one of the other animators?" she asked, motioning to the pile of papers with one hand.
"He doesn't want one of the other animators. He wants you. He asked for you specifically." Bert positively beamed at her. Aedan knew the look in the man's eyes. It was greed. And pride. She knew that Bert was still touting her as the next Anita Blake, just not where she could hear him. And every time a client asked for her specifically, he could just see dollar signs and felt as if his description of her was vindicated. One of these days, she was going to lose her temper and shoot him for it. Sighing, she shook her head and made a motion with one hand.
"Fine."
Bert stepped out of the door, further into the room. Another man followed after him. And though he wasn't as tall or as broad as Bert, he was still just as imposing. Power clung to the man, cloaked him as if he lived and breathed it every minute of every day. Perhaps he did. He didn't seem conscious of the power that bathed him. In fact, he seemed as if he might be rather down to earth. Aedan found this peculiar because most of the people she'd met who carried the kind of power this man did were arrogant about it.
He stood at a slightly shorter than average height, around five foot six or so, and his skin was that beautifully rich shade of black that shone with hints of blue. The only word that came to mind when she looked at him was ebony. He had no hair on his head, only a salt and pepper colored beard on his chin that he kept trimmed short. His eyes glittered in the overhead lights, as black as a night without the moon, and they were filled with intelligence and something more. Aedan should have been able to put a name on it, but she wasn't sure what it was. She only knew that it seemed familiar somehow. And in his hand, he carried a gnarled staff that was carved with a myriad of faces.
It was the staff that made everything come together in her brain. The almost warm death around him, the imposing sense of power. All of it spoke to a fellow practitioner, but not one exactly like her. Her client, and she was beginning to doubt that that was what he was, was a vaudaun priest. The moment she understood that, his lips spread in a broad smile that showed her brilliantly white teeth.
Something prompted her to stand, to cross the room and greet him with a smile and an offered hand. The man took it and shook it, letting it go after a decent amount of time had passed. Whatever test he'd given her, it seemed she'd passed. Aedan turned to Bert. "Thank you. I've got it."
Maybe Bert knew what the man was. Maybe he'd just thought he'd get to sit in with her on one of these meetings. Whatever it was, her dismissal saw him frowning. But Bert didn't say anything. Instead, he nodded to her and to her guest. "If you need anything else, Mr. Boule, please don't hesitate to ask."
"Of course. Thank you and good evening, Mr. Vaughn." The man's voice was deep and rich, like the most expensive chocolate or coffee. The two men shook hands, then Bert retreated from the office. Aedan shut the door behind him before motioning toward the chairs set before her desk.
"Please. Have a seat, Mr. Boule."
"Call me Christophe. And I will call you Aedan." There was a hint of an accent there. Given his religious affiliation, she was willing to guess he was Haitian. He waited until she'd taken her seat before he sat, displaying a set of old world manners that one didn't see amongst many of the living.
"Christophe." The name didn't sound as exotic when she said it. Probably because she wasn't sporting that accent. Offering him a smile, she crossed her arms just under her chest and gave the appearance of being relaxed. "What brings you to Animators, Inc.? And specifically to my office."
"I have come about your demon problem." His tone suggested he found the demon to be just as foul and corrupt as she did. Intriguing.
Her best bet, she decided, was to play this cool. "How do you know there's a demon problem?"
"There is no way to hide such things from me. You know I work with the dead. You recognized my staff for what it is."
"The faces on it are the loa," she replied. His smile broadened and he nodded his head.
"Very good, child. So you know a practitioner when you meet one."
Aedan smiled. "Technically, you're the first vaudaun priest I've ever met. I've dealt with a few people who dabbled in vaudou. But no one who held as much power as you do. I felt you coming a few seconds before Bert knocked on the door."
"And I felt you when I entered the outer offices. You're quite strong for one so young, child." She took it as the compliment it was meant to be. He settled deeper into the chair. "Tell me about this demon."
"You do know its an open police investigation?" she asked. Technically, she could tell him whatever she wanted him to know since she was federal and Dolph was state. But she didn't want to step on anyone's toes. And, frankly, she needed to score all the brownie points with Detective Rudolph Storr as she could. He hadn't been happy about seeing Jean Claude there to pick her up and, while she'd been right to point out that it was her life, she still had to work with the man.
"Of course, child. I also know that you are consulting with the police. That is the reason I've come to your office." There was a hint of something akin to distaste in his voice, making her wonder just what event had put it there. After a few moments, she let a smile slide across her face and shook her head.
"Dolph thought you were nuts, didn't he?"
Christophe inclined his head and made a gesture with his hand that was meant to encompass not only himself as a person but himself as a priest of a misunderstood religion. Most people would call it voodoo. And, technically, that was right. But some people made a distinction between vaudou and voodoo. Mostly because anyone who didn't know the religion thought of nothing but snakes and chickens and zombies when they heard voodoo. Or dolls you pricked with pins to inflict suffering upon another soul. Most people didn't know that vaudou, or voodoo, actually had its basis in the Catholic religion. It wasn't just strange rituals meant to bring the dead from their graves. There was a reason behind everything that happened.
Christophe Boule was obviously one of those men who wished to keep his distance from the stigma of voodoo and its practitioners. Almost unheeded, a face rose up in her mind. It was a woman that Aedan had never seen before, with black eyes and brown skin filled with many lines and a head full of white hair caught up in a bun. The woman glared daggers at her, as if she could harm Aedan through memory. A name rose up out of the murk.
The woman's name was Dominga Salvador. She'd lived in St. Louis. She'd been a vaudun priestess. And she'd been evil. Anita had used zombies to kill her, had used her power to compel the dead to end the woman's life. The same power that now ran through Aedan's veins. She had to fight off the shudder brought to life by the hateful stare the memory continued to give her. And she had to fight to shove the memory back down into the pits of darkness. When she finally climbed out of her thoughts, it was to see that Christophe was regarding her with curiosity. "Someday, Aedan, you will have to tell me why I felt death touch your shoulder just now."
Oh, crap. That couldn't be good. Not bothering to acknowledge his comment, she continued on with their original conversation. "I'm sorry. Detective Storr isn't a very tolerant man these days. And if you went into his office and asked questions about me, I'm sure that only made his attitude worse. How do you think you can help me with this demon problem you think I have."
"I know that a family of five and three young men have thus far been killed by the demon. I know that their bodies were found missing organs and that the young men had had their heads removed." Aedan fought the urge to swallow at the images his words evoked. "I know that they were all practitioners of witch craft and should have been safe within circles of their own power. But the demon ripped through their magic as if it was little more than tissue paper."
She stared at him for a few moments, confusion clouding her eyes, then she nodded and motioned to the staff. "The loa?"
"Of course. They tell me all that goes on in my city. Forgive me for not seeking you out earlier, but I was needed in Haiti." He leaned forward in his chair and pinned her with an earnest look that said he was as unhappy about the demon killings as she was. "This demon is unnatural. And the person who summons it is evil. Neither one of them should be allowed to continue along their path. I wish to aide you in destroying the demon and the sorcerer who calls it."
"Why?"
"This kind of evil eats away at all of the city. Not just the soul who serves it and the souls it destroys. All souls. Evil such as this will leave a taint behind that will only continue to draw evil to it." Christophe frowned at that. Aedan could see that he really meant what he said. He wanted the demon and its summoner destroyed. "I believe in protecting the innocents in my city. Their lives and their souls. This abomination must be stopped. The sorcerer hides from view, but he cannot hide from the loa. They see him and they tell me..."
"You know who is doing this?"
"Not yet. Not until he strikes again. But we cannot wait for such an event. Every death tears at the fabric of the spirit world."
"Mr. Boule... Christophe... I wish it was that easy. But until we can actually catch the sorcerer in the act, we can't do anything. The courts won't allow me to go in and shoot a man because the spirits have told you that this is the person." Aedan sighed and shook her head. She really did wish it was that easy. "I don't want anyone else to die, either. Trust me. I'd rather not have those images seared into my brain for the rest of my life. But the legal system has a long way to go until its caught up to the supernatural world."
The black man sighed and shook his head. She swore she could see the weight that rested upon his shoulders. It was obvious that he really did want to protect the community. Unfortunately, she knew that she was right. The courts wouldn't take the word of a man they saw as nothing more than a voodoo priest. As much as she wished they could do it his way, she knew that they had to follow more official channels. When he looked at her again, there was deep sorrow and pain in his eyes. And a hint of confusion. "I am sorry to have troubled you, Aedan. I don't know why I thought to come here. Something compelled me to do so."
"You haven't troubled me, Christophe. I would be grateful for any help you can provide me. But we are bound by the rules, which sucks big green ones." His gaze narrowed on her, which she thought peculiar. It was almost as if he recognized her or something. There was no way he could know just who she was. Was there? Aedan focused on the end of his sentence. "What do you think compelled you to come here?"
"I honestly don't know. I'm not sure I can explain it and not come off sounding like a complete lunatic," he replied.
"Try me. I've heard quite a few strange things in my day."
He was silent for a long time. She could feel his power shifting around him, as if it were trying to comfort him. Or help him. It was oddly pleasing and Aedan allowed herself to bask in the feel for several minutes. Finally, the shifting slowed, then stopped, and Christophe looked up at her with the oddest expression on his face. "Have you ever felt as if you're two people? Or that you went to sleep in one world and woke up in another?"
Aedan sighed. Boy had she ever. "All the damn time." She had a sneaking suspicion that she and her friends had been joined by someone else from their own world. But how did one broach the subject without sounding like a total fruit cake? Hmmm. Perhaps it was time to catch a bite to eat. "Give me just a moment, Christophe."
He nodded and watched as she picked up the phone, then dialed a number. It rang about four times before it was answered. "Hello?"
"What have you got going on right now, Minette?" she asked without preamble.
"I was going to do some work with Micah on the coalition. Why? What's wrong? You sound weird. Did something happen?"
"Yes. But it isn't bad. Can you put Micah off for an hour or two? I want you to meet me and a friend for dinner." Even before Minette could pull the phone away to ask the question, Aedan heard Micah rumble out an answer in the background. "I won't hog her all night, Micah. Promise."
There was an answer of laughter. "I can spare her for a couple of hours. Have a good dinner, Aedan."
"Where are we meeting?" Minette asked.
"The steakhouse you and I went to that one day."
"Okay. I'll be there in about fifteen minutes to half an hour. Is that okay?"
"Just fine. I'll see you there." She pressed the button to hang up the line, held it down for a few seconds, then let go and listened for the dial tone before dialing out again. She did this three more times, contacting each of her friends and asking them to meet her at the steakhouse. When she was done, she looked at Christophe. "I'd like you to come with me. I think, once you get there and meet everyone, that things might clear up."
He considered her words for a minute or so, then nodded his head and waited for her to rise from her chair. He stood then and moved for the door, opening it for her. The two of them moved silently up the hall to the outer offices. Craig was manning the desk as they passed. He looked up at Aedan. "Where are you going?"
"I've got a meeting to make. Tell Bert I don't know how long I'll be gone."
"You know he isn't going to be happy about this, Aedan," Craig warned, but he was smiling as he did so.
"Bert will live. Thanks, Craig." With that, she led Christophe out the door.
~*~*~*~*~
The restaurant was mostly quiet. There were several tables on one side of the place that were filled with loud, boisterous families. But the other side was empty and quiet. Since it was a distance from the main floor, it was the perfect place for this meeting to take place. Aedan and Christophe arrived first. After being seated, they'd each ordered drinks, Coke for her and coffee for him. Conversation was left for later, when every one got there.
Rhiannon was the next one to come through the door and found them without the help of a server. She smiled as she approached the table, but it was tempered with confusion at the sight of the strange man sitting with Aedan. Their server brought her a tea. Isis showed up next. She stuck with water. Janika and Minette came in together. Once they had their Diet Cokes, they turned to look at Aedan. "So what did you want us here for?" Janika asked.
"Ladies. Meet Christophe Boule. He came to the office tonight to offer help with one of my cases. But that isn't why I wanted you to meet him. Christophe, if you would, tell them what you told me back at the office."
"Which part?" He sounded just as confused and curious as the others likely were.
"The bit about two people."
"Ah. Right." Christophe glanced around the table, measuring the look on each face before finally speaking. "Have you ever felt as if you're two people? Or that you went to sleep in one world and woke up in another?"
A ripple of shock went around the table. One by one, the girls all turned their attention to Aedan, the same question shining in each of their eyes. Aedan only nodded at them.
"So you think that he's someone we know from..." Janika trailed off, unwilling to voice the whole thing in case Aedan was wrong.
"Yeah. I do. He said he felt compelled to come see me. Experience has taught me that we all kind of end up finding one another, though I'm not the expert that you or Rhia are."
"That's true. Something about the virus ensures that we find one another." Janika sounded thoughtful, as if she'd never considered it before. "Maybe its so that we can kind of keep an eye one each other. I don't know. Your guess is as good as mine."
"This is the first time I've known the virus to pull someone in so late, though. I mean..." Aedan began, only to have Christophe interrupt her.
"The virus? The Mary Sue Virus?" Bingo. She'd been right.
"Yes. The Mary Sue Virus."Janika confirmed.
Christophe looked from one face to the next, studying each one carefully. He finally went back to Janika. "Daz?"
"Got it in one," she smiled. "My Sue's name is Janika Odon. I'm a profiler and I work on occasion for the FBI. I'm dating Asher. And you are?"
"There aren't many guys in our circle who would likely end up in one of the MSVs." Rhiannon replied. "It could be Trae, but something tells me no."
"That would make you Nan, then." Christophe was starting to sound more and more relaxed. Perhaps it had been too weird for him, knowing he was one person while being caught up inside another. Gods knew it had originally thrown Ldf for a loop the first time it had happened to her.
Rhia inclined her head. "Rhiannon Fitzpatrick. I'm your local witch and vargamor to the Thronnos Rokke Clan."
Aedan watched as Christophe turned his attention to the remaining three of them. She could feel the scrutiny behind his gaze as it raked over each of them slowly. She swore she could see the gears of his mind turning as he began processing everything else. Finally, his eyes returned to Isis and remained, studying her with deep intensity. "I'm fairly sure I know who the other two are, but I'm not sure about you. I have ideas, but..." he trailed off with a shrug. He didn't have to say that he wasn't sure, because the line up for the MSV changed almost constantly from one story to the next.
"SFC. Here, though, I'm Isis. Werelion and Regina of the pride. I fully blame my presence here on them. They're bad influences." There was a hint of seriousness at the last, but most of her voice held teasing.
Christophe turned to Minette. "Gin?"
"That's me. I'm stuck in the body of a woman named Minerva Poulson. Everyone calls me Minette. I'm a wereleopard. And let's not get into the rest of the weird shit that's happened since we got here."
"Why does it figure that Ldf gets to be the pistol packing animator?" Christophe smiled as he said it.
"Maybe because Anita Blake is my favorite fandom. And not just animator. Necromancer. And human servant to Jean Claude. And a Federal Marshal. And maybe a billion other things. Aedan Kinkade." She paused and turned to look at the other women. "Ladies, say hello to Christophe Boule. St. Louis' resident vaudou priest and the host for Samu."
They all blinked. Another round of shock spread through them. Silence hung over them, which was a good thing because their server returned and asked if they were ready to order their meals. The six of them took a few minutes to place an order. Once the server wandered off, the promise of refills on their drinks still hanging in the air, it was Janika who turned to Christophe. "Sam? Really? I didn't think you were up on this universe."
"I made the mistake of clicking on some story and... here I am. I haven't got a clue how it happened."
"The virus is actually in the story. We still don't know how it works, but we know that much," Rhiannon told him. "Clicking the link activated the virus. But how did you end up finding Aedan?"
"The demon murders," he replied. Minette frowned while Rhia actually shivered. No doubt she was recalling what she'd seen at the first crime scene. Just thinking of that scene made Aedan wish she'd ordered something much stronger than Coke. But she was trying to avoid the temptation. It would be so easy to fall into the grip of alcoholism. And Jean Claude had been right the other night. She really didn't need it. She just had to keep telling herself that. "The loa whispered her name to me. I sought her out to help her with the demon. We need to end the slaughter."
"Loa?" It was Isis who asked the question.
"The spirits of vaudou," Christophe explained patiently.
"Ah." She still didn't look as if she fully understood.
"They correspond to deities in other religions to some degree. Its kind of hard to explain, Isis," Minette replied. That seemed to satisfy both Christophe and Isis. She smiled in understanding while he nodded. Silence fell again as the server returned with a couple of baskets that held their appetizers. Onion rings and cheese sticks and chicken strips. They each reached for one of the delectables and nibbled before taking up their conversation again.
"Has anyone figured out why we've been sucked into this world?" Christophe asked before taking a bite off his onion ring.
"Its obviously something to do with Anita's death." Janika frowned as she considered it. "And it looks like we've all gotten something from her. Though the distribution seems uneven. She somehow found a way to spread her magic around to more than one person so no one who was tied to her died when she did."
"I think we need to find out who or what killed her," Aedan added. "Find out who's responsible and kill them dead. All of them."
"All of them?" Christophe frowned, then snagged himself a chicken strip.
"We were in the car with her. We were stopped by a mix of humans, vampires and lycanthropes." Minette sighed. "And we watched them attack her."
"There was nothing we could have done." Aedan practically snarled the words out. Her reaction earned her a curious look from the other people at the table. She blushed and sucked down some Coke. "Sorry. Its a sore subject with me." She paused and waved a hand, as if erasing the previous moment. "On top of Anita's murder, we need to stop the demon killings. Solve the lycanthrope killings. Did I miss anything?"
"Hook you up with Jean Claude," Minette teased. Aedan shot her the finger, which earned a round of laughs from everyone else. "You aren't fooling anyone here, honey. We all know you've got it bad for him."
"Fuck you."
"Been there, done that. Got the t-shirt, even," Minette replied. "You'll have to come up with a better retort."
"Fine. The next retort I make will involve silver rounds to your ass. Try explaining that to your leopard friends."
"That's just mean."
"And don't you forget it."
~*~*~*~*~
"She's lost to you. You know that, don't you?" Her voice cut across his thoughts and prayers in much the same way he thought a knife would cut through flesh, piercing him to his very soul. He imagined that he'd be bleeding profusely simply from the hate in her tone.
"No one is lost to God's light, so long as they're willing to repent, woman. You know this." And so she should. She'd grown up the daughter of a preacher, had married a preacher. Her problem was she allowed her hate to cloud her judgement.
"She'll never repent. You drove her away. You drove her right into the hands of the demonic. You'll never bring her back to God's light." She was a harpie, put on this earth to test a man of faith. He'd failed God's test before, but not again. Glancing up from his journal, he took in the sour expression that she'd allowed to settle onto her face. There were lines of displeasure around her mouth and eyes, which were pinched with frustration and annoyance. It was a look he'd come to know well, as she'd worn it for years now. She just didn't get it, never had wanted to understand his work.
"She'll repent if given the chance to do so. Her mind is clouded with the evil that these demons carry within. If she's purified of her sinful thoughts and ways, she'll repent."
The woman reached out and ripped the photograph from his hand, a photograph of the girl when she'd barely reached the age of ten. The child's face was filled with sorrow and confusion and just a hint of fear. He remembered that day clearly, as he'd had to have one of his talks with him. He'd put the fear of God into her, made her see the error of her ways. And she'd been good for a little while, had kept the evil at bay. But it had come back, and he'd been forced to put the fear of God into her once more.
"She's a base whore. You and I both know it. Just like her..." the woman's words died the second the back of his hand made contact with her cheek. Her head snapped to the side, her hair following to hide her face from his view.
"You will not speak of either one of them in such a manner. Not in my presence, not ever," he ordered forcefully. He saw some of the tension slide out of her, watched as her shoulders went slack. She turned to look at him, eyes glazed and soft. The imprint of his hand stained her cheek. Meekly, she nodded her head. "Show me that you meant no disrespect. Get down upon your hands and knees and beg my forgiveness. Pay homage to your God."
She sank down to her knees slowly, her eyes still soft and unfocused. He watched as her hands reached out for the zipper of his trousers. Even though he was a man of God, his flesh was weak. Something about the way she responded to him made him hard. He would repent for his lustful thoughts later. When she wasn't willing to wrap her lips around his cock and suck him until he poured his seed down her throat. He could always pretend that it was her...
The sound of the zipper was loud in the cluttered office. Her hand wrapped around him, a gentle touch that belied the harsher emotions that ruled their relationship. And then her mouth, so hot and sweet and tender, wrapped around him. Thoughts whirled and swirled together, one face being replaced with another until he was back in a low rent apartment with a woman sporting auburn hair and laughing eyes.
Sucking sounds filled the air as she worked at him. Lost as he was in his memories, it didn't take long before his hands were curled around her head, holding her face still as his hips snapped out a staccato rhythm and shoved his cock deep into her throat. She coughed and gagged around his length, her hands pushing at him in an effort to shove him away from her. But he was stronger than her, held her close while he fucked her face, while he came down her throat. And when he was done, he tossed her aside like a used tissue.
"You're a monster," she hissed from her position on the floor, on all fours like a dog. "God will punish you for such crude behavior." Before he could guess her intent, she scrabbled across the floor to where the picture had fallen. Her hands trembled when she picked it up, grasped it at both corners and pulled. The sound of it ripping was loud, like the sound of his heart shattering when he'd had to send the girl away from him.
Anger washed over him, saw him doubling his hand into a fist. It struck with a meaty thud, sending the bitch sprawling on her stomach across the floor. When she tried to gain her feet, when she was once more on all fours, he drew back a foot and kicked her. Something cracked and she went down again. She didn't move again, simply lay there and sobbed softly into the wooden planks beneath her.
"Be warned, woman. I will not tolerate any more disobedience from you. More of your talk will be met with more of my fist. You know the rules." He reached down and fisted his hand around the collar of her blouse. She moaned when he dragged her to her feet, arms curled tightly around her abdomen. "Await me in our bedroom. I don't believe I'm finished with you yet."
"Yes, husband." She was almost to the door when he spoke again, stopping her in her tracks.
"She will come back to the light, my dear. You'll see. She will come home to us and I will purify the evil from her soul. And after that, after she's once more pure and chaste and perfect, then I'll welcome her back into the flock with open arms." Despite her mouth having just worked its magic on him, his cock stirred at the very thought.
"Yes, husband." The door closed behind her with a soft click.
He bent and retrieved the picture, stared down at the split image of a little girl with a serious look on her face and sorrow in her eyes. Again, his cock stirred. Yes. One day, she'd return home to their flock. And he'd purify her of her sins, no matter what it took. And then, when she was once more clean, then he'd show her the grace and glory of God's light.
Oh, yes. He'd show her.
~*~*~*~*~
The hum of chatter moved in waves around the gathered members of the pack, rising and falling like the chest of a slumbering child. Rhiannon watched from her place beside the large rock throne that had given the pack its name, watched as the pack no doubt speculated over the reasons for Richard to call such a special meeting. Especially since the full moon wasn't that far off. It had to be a really special event that had him calling them together now. And she couldn't begin to imagine what it is.
Sighing, she watched as the members of the pack, all in human form, milled back and forth. She was reminded of the film footage she'd seen of music festivals like Woodstock, where people seemed to ebb and flow in large groups. There shouldn't have been people left where they'd come from, but there were always two to take the place of one. It seemed to her that the pack moved like that, two new faces replacing just one each time she looked back to a certain spot.
Energy was building around them, filling up the empty meeting space that the pack called their lupanar. It prickled along her skin, like ants marching along her arms and legs and spine. All of that energy belonged entirely to the pack itself. None of the higher ranking members had shown up, more than likely still with their Ulfric. Richard had yet to show up, suggesting that he was perhaps in some kind of pre-meeting meeting with them. If that were the case, shouldn't she be part of it?
A thick rope of energy touched her from behind before moving out over the assembled pack. The touch of that energy brought all voices to silence. Every single pack member turned to look at the large rock throne, anticipation taking up residence on each face that she could see. As her eyes moved over the crowd again, she spied Jason near the front. She knew he hadn't been there before, so it was possible he'd only just arrived. Seeing her attention, the blonde winked and smiled at her briefly, then turned back to the throne.
The wave of energy grew, prompting Rhia to turn and watched as Jamil made his way toward the stone seat of power. It was easy to see Richard behind him, the man's shoulders far too broad to be hidden behind many men. Shang-Da took up the rear position, both men apparently doing their job even though they were in the middle of the wolves' sacred meeting place. Any fool who set foot in the clearing and tried to do harm would never make it out alive.
A flash of ashy blonde hair caught Rhia's attention when she would have turned back to face the gathered pack. There was someone walking with Richard. Closer inspection told her that it was a young woman. She looked familiar, but Rhia couldn't recall where she'd have seen the woman before. Richard had one hand positioned solicitously at the small of the woman's back and he was smiling down at her with a tenderness that Rhia had only seen in the man's bedroom. As if sensing her eyes upon him, Richard turned and caught Rhia's gaze with his own. The smile he sent her way was a little too smug.
Something was going on and she wasn't sure she was going to like it.
As the four of them stepped up by the throne, Shang-Da and Jamil took up their positions on either side of the chair. Richard moved to stand before it, the blonde at his side. Someone tossed out a howl that was soon echoed by a few others. The Ulfric lifted his hands and motioned the pack to silence. "I know you're all wondering why I've called you to the lupanar tonight, when the full moon is so close at hand. If you'll give me a few minutes, I'll explain it all to you. I have important news that couldn't wait."
His words prompted them to fall silent. The energy that had gathered around the pack quieted, too, as if it was as eager for this announcement as the pack. Once he had everyone's attention, he allowed sadness to fill his eyes and turn his mouth down at the corners. "You all know how I felt about Anita. We had our differences and we fought, but deep down, I never stopped loving her."
A low murmur started up and moved through the pack. Based on the way the feel of their energy shifted, it was safe to bet that there were those out there who were secretly glad that Anita was no longer part of Richard's life. Her gaze flicked to the men beside him. If they felt any of that, none of it showed on their faces. Again, a motion with his hands brought them all to silence once more.
"Anita was my lupa. Despite constantly looking, I never found someone to take her place." More like he'd never wanted to find someone to take her place. Even Rhia knew that. But she kept the thought to herself, kept her face neutral. There was no need to get the man upset with her. Well, no more than he had been when she'd told him that she was no longer going to sleep with him. That she'd given her heart to another. That discussion had not gone well and he'd made every attempt he could since to snub her. "With Anita's death, I realized that I needed to get back to looking. I needed to find someone who could accept me for who and what I am."
Again, another murmur ripped through the crowd. It lasted for nearly a minute, then died down on its own. When it was silent again, he reached out and took hold of the woman's hand, tugging her closer to his side. She smiled up at him, brushed prettily a moment before he dropped his head to press a kiss to her lips. Something that felt unpleasant rippled through Rhiannon. "I've found her. Everyone here knows Dr. Lillian. The woman serves the lycanthrope community without prejudice or complaint. As does her niece. I'm sure many of you have seen Constance with her aunt, working diligently to ensure that we all get the care we need."
Richard fell silent, allowing the pack time to place the blonde. Rhiannon remembered seeing her at the Circus after Janika was shot. Her impressions had told her that the woman was capable, though not quite as friendly as her aunt. Her attention had seemingly always been focused on her patient with little time for chit chat. Not that this was a bad thing in a health care professional. Just off putting.
"Constance and I have been dating off and on for some time now. After Anita's death, our relationship changed. We grew closer." As if that needed stating. Rhia could already see where this was going. He was going to declare Constance the pack's new lupa. Which wasn't entirely a bad thing. They'd proved that having a human lupa wasn't the horrible thing they'd all thought it would be. And Constance had spent plenty of time around the lycanthropes, so she would have no problems with them. Still, Rhia couldn't quite help the feeling that she was being openly snubbed.
"Tonight, I'm declaring that Connie is lupa to the pack." Noise rose among the pack, a debate as to whether or not she would be a good lupa. If she should be lupa. Rhiannon had heard before all about the problems some of the pack had had with Anita as the lupa. She didn't think that Richard's announcement about Constance would be met any better than it had when he'd made the same one regarding Anita.
Again, Richard turned and pressed a kiss to Connie's lips. This time, it was lingering and sweet, the kind of kiss that new lovers shared with one another. And again, that something unpleasant poured through Rhia. When they broke apart, Richard lifted his hands to call for silence once again. He got it. Slowly. It took a while for everyone to finally settle and give him the quiet he'd asked for. As soon as he had the attention of everyone present, their faces turned up toward him expectantly, he slipped his arm around Connie's waist and tugged her just a little closer.
"There's more to my announcement than publicly making Connie my lupa." He paused and allowed a sense of eagerness to grow amidst the pack. The look on his face suggested that the news he had to share was exciting, something they just had to hear. Rhia held back the sigh that tried to bubble up her throat. She was part of the pack now, which required her to be here whether she wanted to be or not.
When he was sure he had everyone's undivided attention, the hand that had been resting on Connie's hip inched over until it could lay pressed against her belly. The unpleasant feeling returned, stronger this time, churning almost violently in her stomach. Rhia was sure she knew what was coming and it shouldn't bother her the way it was. She had no deep emotions for Richard. They'd had their short little fling and it had been good, but he'd never made her feel the way Nathaniel could. So she didn't understand this miasma of hatred and rage in the pit of her stomach.
"Just today, Connie found out that she's pregnant." Richard beamed with the words. Connie beamed with the words. Rhia felt as if she wanted to rip them both limb from limb with her bare hands. "We're going to have a baby."
The news should have pleased her. Even though she knew that he was making the announcements public, showing his affection for her before the entire pack, just to spite her because she'd chosen Nathaniel and brushed him aside, she shouldn't have been this deeply affected by things. It was almost as if she wanted to throw herself into a rage. That was a trait that was very unlike her. Unhappy with the way she was reacting, she closed her eyes and worked at finding her center.
She allowed that part of her that was her magic to reach out with ghostly fingers and seek out Mother Earth. The cool feel of the ground rose up to meet her magic, the different layers of dirt and soil, of tree and grass roots reaching out to touch her and offer her comfort. It was an old exercise, one she didn't do much anymore because she was almost always grounded. But the ball of hatred and rage that had sprung up out of nowhere was as foreign to her as bringing harm to another soul had thrown her off balance. She had to right herself and push those negative emotions away.
They fought her. Almost physically, it seemed. Somehow, she wasn't sure how, the emotions fought. They wanted to remain inside of her, wanted her to let go so that they could burst forth. Something about them was familiar, though she couldn't place where she would come across them or how that could be. Rhia dug deeper into the earth, sent her magic seeking farther. Slowly, steadily, she fought the emotions back until she had them locked away in a heavy wooden chest and once more felt like herself.
When she opened her eyes, it was to find that the lupanar was filled with activity. Richard and Connie had stepped out into the midst of the pack. Many of them were milling around the two, shaking hands and chatting. In some instances, the lower pack members were treating her with the respect due to one of the alphas. Rhiannon could see that Shang-Da and Jamil were close at Richard's side, always on the alert for danger. Which left her by herself up by the throne.
"Rhia?" Well, almost alone. She turned to find Jason staring at her. Concern darkened his eyes and turned the corners of his mouth down. He looked as if he wanted to reach out and touch her, one hand hovering in the air between them, but was obviously holding off in case it was unwanted. His brow crinkled. "Are you alright?"
"Yes. Just trying to ground myself. Why do you ask?"
"Because for a minute there, you smelled like someone else. Someone who..." he stopped and shook his head, sending his hair flying around his head.
"Someone who what?" she asked, curious.
"Nothing, I have to be imagining things. Is everything okay?" His gaze glanced back toward the spot where Richard and Connie stood. Ah. Of course. He thought she was upset by this turn of events. When he turned back to her, she offered him a smile.
"I'm perfectly fine, Jason. I wish him nothing but happiness. Maybe this is what he really needs. Someone who can accept all of him without flinching or complaint. If he can find that in Constance, then I'm happy for him."
Jason studied her for several long moments with intensely sharp eyes. "You really mean that, don't you?"
"Of course I do. I'm happy with Nathaniel. Richard was only a passing thing for me. Someone to help me cope with the loss of someone I loved deeply. Really, I was the same for him. We helped each other live again in a time of great sorrow. There was nothing more to our relationship than that. And perhaps some short lived, heated passion."
"I never realized it before." The blonde wolf shook his head. Rhia frowned.
"Never realized what before?"
"You're really level headed. Much more level headed than he deserves. Now I know why Marianne sent you here."
Rhia let one corner of her mouth curl up in a faint smile. "Oh? And why is that?"
"Because someone has to keep his ass in line." The look on his face when he said that, all wolfish charm and mischief rolled up into one, saw her tossing her head back in a full throated laugh. Indeed.
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter Thirty Four: All the Old Familiar Faces, part one
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.
The Mary Sue Virus: Beyond Death - Index Link
She was in the middle of a stack of long over due paperwork when the sensation of death slid across her skin. Blinking, Aedan looked up at the door and frowned. It wasn't a vampire. That much, she was sure of. It had been a couple of days since Jean Claude had picked her up at the last crime scene and she'd made a point of avoiding him as much as she possibly could. Neither exhaustion or alcohol could excuse her behavior when he'd been trying to put her to bed. And nothing she did could wipe away the memory of his eyes as they'd stared at her, the feel of his hands as they'd glided over her skin, the eagerness she'd felt in him.
The frustration and hints of anger in his voice when she'd fallen asleep on him. Again.
She knew that he was letting her keep this distance, that he could close the gap she'd put between them anytime he wanted to. He wasn't a man to be kept from what he wanted and, for some reason she couldn't fathom, he wanted her. As much as she wanted him even if she was unwilling to admit that to herself. She'd made sure to come in after she knew he'd gone to sleep for the day and then left again before he'd woken. And he'd seemed content to keep it that way. Maybe he was as confused by things as she was. Maybe he needed time to figure things out. Maybe he was just waiting for the right time before he made a move, the way a snake or cat would lay in wait for what seemed an age before striking out at its prey. Whatever his reasons, she was glad he wasn't pushing the issue.
But that didn't explain the sense of death that she could feel out in the hallway. And it didn't explain why that sense of death was almost... warm. Living. Alive. She'd never come across that sensation before. Even her own powers were chill and... well, dead. That sensation was coming closer, too, until she knew it stood just outside her doorway. With carefully controlled motions, Aedan set the paperwork aside and then checked to be sure her gun was within easy reach.
There was a knock at the door, a single rap no doubt made by a pair of knuckles, then the door opened and Bert stuck his head in. The smile on his face left Aedan with a queasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. His eyes did a quick scan of the office. Once assured that there was no one else present, he stepped in and took up the entire doorway. "Aedan, I'm glad I caught you without a client."
"What do you want, Bert?" It felt odd saying that. Her upbringing had drilled into her that anyone older than her should be addressed with respect. The first time she'd called him Mr. Vaughn, he hadn't stopped laughing for ten minutes.
"I've brought you a special client," he announced, then hastened to continue when she rolled her eyes at him. "I think this one will interest you."
"I've got a lot of paperwork to get caught up on, Bert. Can't you send this one to one of the other animators?" she asked, motioning to the pile of papers with one hand.
"He doesn't want one of the other animators. He wants you. He asked for you specifically." Bert positively beamed at her. Aedan knew the look in the man's eyes. It was greed. And pride. She knew that Bert was still touting her as the next Anita Blake, just not where she could hear him. And every time a client asked for her specifically, he could just see dollar signs and felt as if his description of her was vindicated. One of these days, she was going to lose her temper and shoot him for it. Sighing, she shook her head and made a motion with one hand.
"Fine."
Bert stepped out of the door, further into the room. Another man followed after him. And though he wasn't as tall or as broad as Bert, he was still just as imposing. Power clung to the man, cloaked him as if he lived and breathed it every minute of every day. Perhaps he did. He didn't seem conscious of the power that bathed him. In fact, he seemed as if he might be rather down to earth. Aedan found this peculiar because most of the people she'd met who carried the kind of power this man did were arrogant about it.
He stood at a slightly shorter than average height, around five foot six or so, and his skin was that beautifully rich shade of black that shone with hints of blue. The only word that came to mind when she looked at him was ebony. He had no hair on his head, only a salt and pepper colored beard on his chin that he kept trimmed short. His eyes glittered in the overhead lights, as black as a night without the moon, and they were filled with intelligence and something more. Aedan should have been able to put a name on it, but she wasn't sure what it was. She only knew that it seemed familiar somehow. And in his hand, he carried a gnarled staff that was carved with a myriad of faces.
It was the staff that made everything come together in her brain. The almost warm death around him, the imposing sense of power. All of it spoke to a fellow practitioner, but not one exactly like her. Her client, and she was beginning to doubt that that was what he was, was a vaudaun priest. The moment she understood that, his lips spread in a broad smile that showed her brilliantly white teeth.
Something prompted her to stand, to cross the room and greet him with a smile and an offered hand. The man took it and shook it, letting it go after a decent amount of time had passed. Whatever test he'd given her, it seemed she'd passed. Aedan turned to Bert. "Thank you. I've got it."
Maybe Bert knew what the man was. Maybe he'd just thought he'd get to sit in with her on one of these meetings. Whatever it was, her dismissal saw him frowning. But Bert didn't say anything. Instead, he nodded to her and to her guest. "If you need anything else, Mr. Boule, please don't hesitate to ask."
"Of course. Thank you and good evening, Mr. Vaughn." The man's voice was deep and rich, like the most expensive chocolate or coffee. The two men shook hands, then Bert retreated from the office. Aedan shut the door behind him before motioning toward the chairs set before her desk.
"Please. Have a seat, Mr. Boule."
"Call me Christophe. And I will call you Aedan." There was a hint of an accent there. Given his religious affiliation, she was willing to guess he was Haitian. He waited until she'd taken her seat before he sat, displaying a set of old world manners that one didn't see amongst many of the living.
"Christophe." The name didn't sound as exotic when she said it. Probably because she wasn't sporting that accent. Offering him a smile, she crossed her arms just under her chest and gave the appearance of being relaxed. "What brings you to Animators, Inc.? And specifically to my office."
"I have come about your demon problem." His tone suggested he found the demon to be just as foul and corrupt as she did. Intriguing.
Her best bet, she decided, was to play this cool. "How do you know there's a demon problem?"
"There is no way to hide such things from me. You know I work with the dead. You recognized my staff for what it is."
"The faces on it are the loa," she replied. His smile broadened and he nodded his head.
"Very good, child. So you know a practitioner when you meet one."
Aedan smiled. "Technically, you're the first vaudaun priest I've ever met. I've dealt with a few people who dabbled in vaudou. But no one who held as much power as you do. I felt you coming a few seconds before Bert knocked on the door."
"And I felt you when I entered the outer offices. You're quite strong for one so young, child." She took it as the compliment it was meant to be. He settled deeper into the chair. "Tell me about this demon."
"You do know its an open police investigation?" she asked. Technically, she could tell him whatever she wanted him to know since she was federal and Dolph was state. But she didn't want to step on anyone's toes. And, frankly, she needed to score all the brownie points with Detective Rudolph Storr as she could. He hadn't been happy about seeing Jean Claude there to pick her up and, while she'd been right to point out that it was her life, she still had to work with the man.
"Of course, child. I also know that you are consulting with the police. That is the reason I've come to your office." There was a hint of something akin to distaste in his voice, making her wonder just what event had put it there. After a few moments, she let a smile slide across her face and shook her head.
"Dolph thought you were nuts, didn't he?"
Christophe inclined his head and made a gesture with his hand that was meant to encompass not only himself as a person but himself as a priest of a misunderstood religion. Most people would call it voodoo. And, technically, that was right. But some people made a distinction between vaudou and voodoo. Mostly because anyone who didn't know the religion thought of nothing but snakes and chickens and zombies when they heard voodoo. Or dolls you pricked with pins to inflict suffering upon another soul. Most people didn't know that vaudou, or voodoo, actually had its basis in the Catholic religion. It wasn't just strange rituals meant to bring the dead from their graves. There was a reason behind everything that happened.
Christophe Boule was obviously one of those men who wished to keep his distance from the stigma of voodoo and its practitioners. Almost unheeded, a face rose up in her mind. It was a woman that Aedan had never seen before, with black eyes and brown skin filled with many lines and a head full of white hair caught up in a bun. The woman glared daggers at her, as if she could harm Aedan through memory. A name rose up out of the murk.
The woman's name was Dominga Salvador. She'd lived in St. Louis. She'd been a vaudun priestess. And she'd been evil. Anita had used zombies to kill her, had used her power to compel the dead to end the woman's life. The same power that now ran through Aedan's veins. She had to fight off the shudder brought to life by the hateful stare the memory continued to give her. And she had to fight to shove the memory back down into the pits of darkness. When she finally climbed out of her thoughts, it was to see that Christophe was regarding her with curiosity. "Someday, Aedan, you will have to tell me why I felt death touch your shoulder just now."
Oh, crap. That couldn't be good. Not bothering to acknowledge his comment, she continued on with their original conversation. "I'm sorry. Detective Storr isn't a very tolerant man these days. And if you went into his office and asked questions about me, I'm sure that only made his attitude worse. How do you think you can help me with this demon problem you think I have."
"I know that a family of five and three young men have thus far been killed by the demon. I know that their bodies were found missing organs and that the young men had had their heads removed." Aedan fought the urge to swallow at the images his words evoked. "I know that they were all practitioners of witch craft and should have been safe within circles of their own power. But the demon ripped through their magic as if it was little more than tissue paper."
She stared at him for a few moments, confusion clouding her eyes, then she nodded and motioned to the staff. "The loa?"
"Of course. They tell me all that goes on in my city. Forgive me for not seeking you out earlier, but I was needed in Haiti." He leaned forward in his chair and pinned her with an earnest look that said he was as unhappy about the demon killings as she was. "This demon is unnatural. And the person who summons it is evil. Neither one of them should be allowed to continue along their path. I wish to aide you in destroying the demon and the sorcerer who calls it."
"Why?"
"This kind of evil eats away at all of the city. Not just the soul who serves it and the souls it destroys. All souls. Evil such as this will leave a taint behind that will only continue to draw evil to it." Christophe frowned at that. Aedan could see that he really meant what he said. He wanted the demon and its summoner destroyed. "I believe in protecting the innocents in my city. Their lives and their souls. This abomination must be stopped. The sorcerer hides from view, but he cannot hide from the loa. They see him and they tell me..."
"You know who is doing this?"
"Not yet. Not until he strikes again. But we cannot wait for such an event. Every death tears at the fabric of the spirit world."
"Mr. Boule... Christophe... I wish it was that easy. But until we can actually catch the sorcerer in the act, we can't do anything. The courts won't allow me to go in and shoot a man because the spirits have told you that this is the person." Aedan sighed and shook her head. She really did wish it was that easy. "I don't want anyone else to die, either. Trust me. I'd rather not have those images seared into my brain for the rest of my life. But the legal system has a long way to go until its caught up to the supernatural world."
The black man sighed and shook his head. She swore she could see the weight that rested upon his shoulders. It was obvious that he really did want to protect the community. Unfortunately, she knew that she was right. The courts wouldn't take the word of a man they saw as nothing more than a voodoo priest. As much as she wished they could do it his way, she knew that they had to follow more official channels. When he looked at her again, there was deep sorrow and pain in his eyes. And a hint of confusion. "I am sorry to have troubled you, Aedan. I don't know why I thought to come here. Something compelled me to do so."
"You haven't troubled me, Christophe. I would be grateful for any help you can provide me. But we are bound by the rules, which sucks big green ones." His gaze narrowed on her, which she thought peculiar. It was almost as if he recognized her or something. There was no way he could know just who she was. Was there? Aedan focused on the end of his sentence. "What do you think compelled you to come here?"
"I honestly don't know. I'm not sure I can explain it and not come off sounding like a complete lunatic," he replied.
"Try me. I've heard quite a few strange things in my day."
He was silent for a long time. She could feel his power shifting around him, as if it were trying to comfort him. Or help him. It was oddly pleasing and Aedan allowed herself to bask in the feel for several minutes. Finally, the shifting slowed, then stopped, and Christophe looked up at her with the oddest expression on his face. "Have you ever felt as if you're two people? Or that you went to sleep in one world and woke up in another?"
Aedan sighed. Boy had she ever. "All the damn time." She had a sneaking suspicion that she and her friends had been joined by someone else from their own world. But how did one broach the subject without sounding like a total fruit cake? Hmmm. Perhaps it was time to catch a bite to eat. "Give me just a moment, Christophe."
He nodded and watched as she picked up the phone, then dialed a number. It rang about four times before it was answered. "Hello?"
"What have you got going on right now, Minette?" she asked without preamble.
"I was going to do some work with Micah on the coalition. Why? What's wrong? You sound weird. Did something happen?"
"Yes. But it isn't bad. Can you put Micah off for an hour or two? I want you to meet me and a friend for dinner." Even before Minette could pull the phone away to ask the question, Aedan heard Micah rumble out an answer in the background. "I won't hog her all night, Micah. Promise."
There was an answer of laughter. "I can spare her for a couple of hours. Have a good dinner, Aedan."
"Where are we meeting?" Minette asked.
"The steakhouse you and I went to that one day."
"Okay. I'll be there in about fifteen minutes to half an hour. Is that okay?"
"Just fine. I'll see you there." She pressed the button to hang up the line, held it down for a few seconds, then let go and listened for the dial tone before dialing out again. She did this three more times, contacting each of her friends and asking them to meet her at the steakhouse. When she was done, she looked at Christophe. "I'd like you to come with me. I think, once you get there and meet everyone, that things might clear up."
He considered her words for a minute or so, then nodded his head and waited for her to rise from her chair. He stood then and moved for the door, opening it for her. The two of them moved silently up the hall to the outer offices. Craig was manning the desk as they passed. He looked up at Aedan. "Where are you going?"
"I've got a meeting to make. Tell Bert I don't know how long I'll be gone."
"You know he isn't going to be happy about this, Aedan," Craig warned, but he was smiling as he did so.
"Bert will live. Thanks, Craig." With that, she led Christophe out the door.
~*~*~*~*~
The restaurant was mostly quiet. There were several tables on one side of the place that were filled with loud, boisterous families. But the other side was empty and quiet. Since it was a distance from the main floor, it was the perfect place for this meeting to take place. Aedan and Christophe arrived first. After being seated, they'd each ordered drinks, Coke for her and coffee for him. Conversation was left for later, when every one got there.
Rhiannon was the next one to come through the door and found them without the help of a server. She smiled as she approached the table, but it was tempered with confusion at the sight of the strange man sitting with Aedan. Their server brought her a tea. Isis showed up next. She stuck with water. Janika and Minette came in together. Once they had their Diet Cokes, they turned to look at Aedan. "So what did you want us here for?" Janika asked.
"Ladies. Meet Christophe Boule. He came to the office tonight to offer help with one of my cases. But that isn't why I wanted you to meet him. Christophe, if you would, tell them what you told me back at the office."
"Which part?" He sounded just as confused and curious as the others likely were.
"The bit about two people."
"Ah. Right." Christophe glanced around the table, measuring the look on each face before finally speaking. "Have you ever felt as if you're two people? Or that you went to sleep in one world and woke up in another?"
A ripple of shock went around the table. One by one, the girls all turned their attention to Aedan, the same question shining in each of their eyes. Aedan only nodded at them.
"So you think that he's someone we know from..." Janika trailed off, unwilling to voice the whole thing in case Aedan was wrong.
"Yeah. I do. He said he felt compelled to come see me. Experience has taught me that we all kind of end up finding one another, though I'm not the expert that you or Rhia are."
"That's true. Something about the virus ensures that we find one another." Janika sounded thoughtful, as if she'd never considered it before. "Maybe its so that we can kind of keep an eye one each other. I don't know. Your guess is as good as mine."
"This is the first time I've known the virus to pull someone in so late, though. I mean..." Aedan began, only to have Christophe interrupt her.
"The virus? The Mary Sue Virus?" Bingo. She'd been right.
"Yes. The Mary Sue Virus."Janika confirmed.
Christophe looked from one face to the next, studying each one carefully. He finally went back to Janika. "Daz?"
"Got it in one," she smiled. "My Sue's name is Janika Odon. I'm a profiler and I work on occasion for the FBI. I'm dating Asher. And you are?"
"There aren't many guys in our circle who would likely end up in one of the MSVs." Rhiannon replied. "It could be Trae, but something tells me no."
"That would make you Nan, then." Christophe was starting to sound more and more relaxed. Perhaps it had been too weird for him, knowing he was one person while being caught up inside another. Gods knew it had originally thrown Ldf for a loop the first time it had happened to her.
Rhia inclined her head. "Rhiannon Fitzpatrick. I'm your local witch and vargamor to the Thronnos Rokke Clan."
Aedan watched as Christophe turned his attention to the remaining three of them. She could feel the scrutiny behind his gaze as it raked over each of them slowly. She swore she could see the gears of his mind turning as he began processing everything else. Finally, his eyes returned to Isis and remained, studying her with deep intensity. "I'm fairly sure I know who the other two are, but I'm not sure about you. I have ideas, but..." he trailed off with a shrug. He didn't have to say that he wasn't sure, because the line up for the MSV changed almost constantly from one story to the next.
"SFC. Here, though, I'm Isis. Werelion and Regina of the pride. I fully blame my presence here on them. They're bad influences." There was a hint of seriousness at the last, but most of her voice held teasing.
Christophe turned to Minette. "Gin?"
"That's me. I'm stuck in the body of a woman named Minerva Poulson. Everyone calls me Minette. I'm a wereleopard. And let's not get into the rest of the weird shit that's happened since we got here."
"Why does it figure that Ldf gets to be the pistol packing animator?" Christophe smiled as he said it.
"Maybe because Anita Blake is my favorite fandom. And not just animator. Necromancer. And human servant to Jean Claude. And a Federal Marshal. And maybe a billion other things. Aedan Kinkade." She paused and turned to look at the other women. "Ladies, say hello to Christophe Boule. St. Louis' resident vaudou priest and the host for Samu."
They all blinked. Another round of shock spread through them. Silence hung over them, which was a good thing because their server returned and asked if they were ready to order their meals. The six of them took a few minutes to place an order. Once the server wandered off, the promise of refills on their drinks still hanging in the air, it was Janika who turned to Christophe. "Sam? Really? I didn't think you were up on this universe."
"I made the mistake of clicking on some story and... here I am. I haven't got a clue how it happened."
"The virus is actually in the story. We still don't know how it works, but we know that much," Rhiannon told him. "Clicking the link activated the virus. But how did you end up finding Aedan?"
"The demon murders," he replied. Minette frowned while Rhia actually shivered. No doubt she was recalling what she'd seen at the first crime scene. Just thinking of that scene made Aedan wish she'd ordered something much stronger than Coke. But she was trying to avoid the temptation. It would be so easy to fall into the grip of alcoholism. And Jean Claude had been right the other night. She really didn't need it. She just had to keep telling herself that. "The loa whispered her name to me. I sought her out to help her with the demon. We need to end the slaughter."
"Loa?" It was Isis who asked the question.
"The spirits of vaudou," Christophe explained patiently.
"Ah." She still didn't look as if she fully understood.
"They correspond to deities in other religions to some degree. Its kind of hard to explain, Isis," Minette replied. That seemed to satisfy both Christophe and Isis. She smiled in understanding while he nodded. Silence fell again as the server returned with a couple of baskets that held their appetizers. Onion rings and cheese sticks and chicken strips. They each reached for one of the delectables and nibbled before taking up their conversation again.
"Has anyone figured out why we've been sucked into this world?" Christophe asked before taking a bite off his onion ring.
"Its obviously something to do with Anita's death." Janika frowned as she considered it. "And it looks like we've all gotten something from her. Though the distribution seems uneven. She somehow found a way to spread her magic around to more than one person so no one who was tied to her died when she did."
"I think we need to find out who or what killed her," Aedan added. "Find out who's responsible and kill them dead. All of them."
"All of them?" Christophe frowned, then snagged himself a chicken strip.
"We were in the car with her. We were stopped by a mix of humans, vampires and lycanthropes." Minette sighed. "And we watched them attack her."
"There was nothing we could have done." Aedan practically snarled the words out. Her reaction earned her a curious look from the other people at the table. She blushed and sucked down some Coke. "Sorry. Its a sore subject with me." She paused and waved a hand, as if erasing the previous moment. "On top of Anita's murder, we need to stop the demon killings. Solve the lycanthrope killings. Did I miss anything?"
"Hook you up with Jean Claude," Minette teased. Aedan shot her the finger, which earned a round of laughs from everyone else. "You aren't fooling anyone here, honey. We all know you've got it bad for him."
"Fuck you."
"Been there, done that. Got the t-shirt, even," Minette replied. "You'll have to come up with a better retort."
"Fine. The next retort I make will involve silver rounds to your ass. Try explaining that to your leopard friends."
"That's just mean."
"And don't you forget it."
~*~*~*~*~
"She's lost to you. You know that, don't you?" Her voice cut across his thoughts and prayers in much the same way he thought a knife would cut through flesh, piercing him to his very soul. He imagined that he'd be bleeding profusely simply from the hate in her tone.
"No one is lost to God's light, so long as they're willing to repent, woman. You know this." And so she should. She'd grown up the daughter of a preacher, had married a preacher. Her problem was she allowed her hate to cloud her judgement.
"She'll never repent. You drove her away. You drove her right into the hands of the demonic. You'll never bring her back to God's light." She was a harpie, put on this earth to test a man of faith. He'd failed God's test before, but not again. Glancing up from his journal, he took in the sour expression that she'd allowed to settle onto her face. There were lines of displeasure around her mouth and eyes, which were pinched with frustration and annoyance. It was a look he'd come to know well, as she'd worn it for years now. She just didn't get it, never had wanted to understand his work.
"She'll repent if given the chance to do so. Her mind is clouded with the evil that these demons carry within. If she's purified of her sinful thoughts and ways, she'll repent."
The woman reached out and ripped the photograph from his hand, a photograph of the girl when she'd barely reached the age of ten. The child's face was filled with sorrow and confusion and just a hint of fear. He remembered that day clearly, as he'd had to have one of his talks with him. He'd put the fear of God into her, made her see the error of her ways. And she'd been good for a little while, had kept the evil at bay. But it had come back, and he'd been forced to put the fear of God into her once more.
"She's a base whore. You and I both know it. Just like her..." the woman's words died the second the back of his hand made contact with her cheek. Her head snapped to the side, her hair following to hide her face from his view.
"You will not speak of either one of them in such a manner. Not in my presence, not ever," he ordered forcefully. He saw some of the tension slide out of her, watched as her shoulders went slack. She turned to look at him, eyes glazed and soft. The imprint of his hand stained her cheek. Meekly, she nodded her head. "Show me that you meant no disrespect. Get down upon your hands and knees and beg my forgiveness. Pay homage to your God."
She sank down to her knees slowly, her eyes still soft and unfocused. He watched as her hands reached out for the zipper of his trousers. Even though he was a man of God, his flesh was weak. Something about the way she responded to him made him hard. He would repent for his lustful thoughts later. When she wasn't willing to wrap her lips around his cock and suck him until he poured his seed down her throat. He could always pretend that it was her...
The sound of the zipper was loud in the cluttered office. Her hand wrapped around him, a gentle touch that belied the harsher emotions that ruled their relationship. And then her mouth, so hot and sweet and tender, wrapped around him. Thoughts whirled and swirled together, one face being replaced with another until he was back in a low rent apartment with a woman sporting auburn hair and laughing eyes.
Sucking sounds filled the air as she worked at him. Lost as he was in his memories, it didn't take long before his hands were curled around her head, holding her face still as his hips snapped out a staccato rhythm and shoved his cock deep into her throat. She coughed and gagged around his length, her hands pushing at him in an effort to shove him away from her. But he was stronger than her, held her close while he fucked her face, while he came down her throat. And when he was done, he tossed her aside like a used tissue.
"You're a monster," she hissed from her position on the floor, on all fours like a dog. "God will punish you for such crude behavior." Before he could guess her intent, she scrabbled across the floor to where the picture had fallen. Her hands trembled when she picked it up, grasped it at both corners and pulled. The sound of it ripping was loud, like the sound of his heart shattering when he'd had to send the girl away from him.
Anger washed over him, saw him doubling his hand into a fist. It struck with a meaty thud, sending the bitch sprawling on her stomach across the floor. When she tried to gain her feet, when she was once more on all fours, he drew back a foot and kicked her. Something cracked and she went down again. She didn't move again, simply lay there and sobbed softly into the wooden planks beneath her.
"Be warned, woman. I will not tolerate any more disobedience from you. More of your talk will be met with more of my fist. You know the rules." He reached down and fisted his hand around the collar of her blouse. She moaned when he dragged her to her feet, arms curled tightly around her abdomen. "Await me in our bedroom. I don't believe I'm finished with you yet."
"Yes, husband." She was almost to the door when he spoke again, stopping her in her tracks.
"She will come back to the light, my dear. You'll see. She will come home to us and I will purify the evil from her soul. And after that, after she's once more pure and chaste and perfect, then I'll welcome her back into the flock with open arms." Despite her mouth having just worked its magic on him, his cock stirred at the very thought.
"Yes, husband." The door closed behind her with a soft click.
He bent and retrieved the picture, stared down at the split image of a little girl with a serious look on her face and sorrow in her eyes. Again, his cock stirred. Yes. One day, she'd return home to their flock. And he'd purify her of her sins, no matter what it took. And then, when she was once more clean, then he'd show her the grace and glory of God's light.
Oh, yes. He'd show her.
~*~*~*~*~
The hum of chatter moved in waves around the gathered members of the pack, rising and falling like the chest of a slumbering child. Rhiannon watched from her place beside the large rock throne that had given the pack its name, watched as the pack no doubt speculated over the reasons for Richard to call such a special meeting. Especially since the full moon wasn't that far off. It had to be a really special event that had him calling them together now. And she couldn't begin to imagine what it is.
Sighing, she watched as the members of the pack, all in human form, milled back and forth. She was reminded of the film footage she'd seen of music festivals like Woodstock, where people seemed to ebb and flow in large groups. There shouldn't have been people left where they'd come from, but there were always two to take the place of one. It seemed to her that the pack moved like that, two new faces replacing just one each time she looked back to a certain spot.
Energy was building around them, filling up the empty meeting space that the pack called their lupanar. It prickled along her skin, like ants marching along her arms and legs and spine. All of that energy belonged entirely to the pack itself. None of the higher ranking members had shown up, more than likely still with their Ulfric. Richard had yet to show up, suggesting that he was perhaps in some kind of pre-meeting meeting with them. If that were the case, shouldn't she be part of it?
A thick rope of energy touched her from behind before moving out over the assembled pack. The touch of that energy brought all voices to silence. Every single pack member turned to look at the large rock throne, anticipation taking up residence on each face that she could see. As her eyes moved over the crowd again, she spied Jason near the front. She knew he hadn't been there before, so it was possible he'd only just arrived. Seeing her attention, the blonde winked and smiled at her briefly, then turned back to the throne.
The wave of energy grew, prompting Rhia to turn and watched as Jamil made his way toward the stone seat of power. It was easy to see Richard behind him, the man's shoulders far too broad to be hidden behind many men. Shang-Da took up the rear position, both men apparently doing their job even though they were in the middle of the wolves' sacred meeting place. Any fool who set foot in the clearing and tried to do harm would never make it out alive.
A flash of ashy blonde hair caught Rhia's attention when she would have turned back to face the gathered pack. There was someone walking with Richard. Closer inspection told her that it was a young woman. She looked familiar, but Rhia couldn't recall where she'd have seen the woman before. Richard had one hand positioned solicitously at the small of the woman's back and he was smiling down at her with a tenderness that Rhia had only seen in the man's bedroom. As if sensing her eyes upon him, Richard turned and caught Rhia's gaze with his own. The smile he sent her way was a little too smug.
Something was going on and she wasn't sure she was going to like it.
As the four of them stepped up by the throne, Shang-Da and Jamil took up their positions on either side of the chair. Richard moved to stand before it, the blonde at his side. Someone tossed out a howl that was soon echoed by a few others. The Ulfric lifted his hands and motioned the pack to silence. "I know you're all wondering why I've called you to the lupanar tonight, when the full moon is so close at hand. If you'll give me a few minutes, I'll explain it all to you. I have important news that couldn't wait."
His words prompted them to fall silent. The energy that had gathered around the pack quieted, too, as if it was as eager for this announcement as the pack. Once he had everyone's attention, he allowed sadness to fill his eyes and turn his mouth down at the corners. "You all know how I felt about Anita. We had our differences and we fought, but deep down, I never stopped loving her."
A low murmur started up and moved through the pack. Based on the way the feel of their energy shifted, it was safe to bet that there were those out there who were secretly glad that Anita was no longer part of Richard's life. Her gaze flicked to the men beside him. If they felt any of that, none of it showed on their faces. Again, a motion with his hands brought them all to silence once more.
"Anita was my lupa. Despite constantly looking, I never found someone to take her place." More like he'd never wanted to find someone to take her place. Even Rhia knew that. But she kept the thought to herself, kept her face neutral. There was no need to get the man upset with her. Well, no more than he had been when she'd told him that she was no longer going to sleep with him. That she'd given her heart to another. That discussion had not gone well and he'd made every attempt he could since to snub her. "With Anita's death, I realized that I needed to get back to looking. I needed to find someone who could accept me for who and what I am."
Again, another murmur ripped through the crowd. It lasted for nearly a minute, then died down on its own. When it was silent again, he reached out and took hold of the woman's hand, tugging her closer to his side. She smiled up at him, brushed prettily a moment before he dropped his head to press a kiss to her lips. Something that felt unpleasant rippled through Rhiannon. "I've found her. Everyone here knows Dr. Lillian. The woman serves the lycanthrope community without prejudice or complaint. As does her niece. I'm sure many of you have seen Constance with her aunt, working diligently to ensure that we all get the care we need."
Richard fell silent, allowing the pack time to place the blonde. Rhiannon remembered seeing her at the Circus after Janika was shot. Her impressions had told her that the woman was capable, though not quite as friendly as her aunt. Her attention had seemingly always been focused on her patient with little time for chit chat. Not that this was a bad thing in a health care professional. Just off putting.
"Constance and I have been dating off and on for some time now. After Anita's death, our relationship changed. We grew closer." As if that needed stating. Rhia could already see where this was going. He was going to declare Constance the pack's new lupa. Which wasn't entirely a bad thing. They'd proved that having a human lupa wasn't the horrible thing they'd all thought it would be. And Constance had spent plenty of time around the lycanthropes, so she would have no problems with them. Still, Rhia couldn't quite help the feeling that she was being openly snubbed.
"Tonight, I'm declaring that Connie is lupa to the pack." Noise rose among the pack, a debate as to whether or not she would be a good lupa. If she should be lupa. Rhiannon had heard before all about the problems some of the pack had had with Anita as the lupa. She didn't think that Richard's announcement about Constance would be met any better than it had when he'd made the same one regarding Anita.
Again, Richard turned and pressed a kiss to Connie's lips. This time, it was lingering and sweet, the kind of kiss that new lovers shared with one another. And again, that something unpleasant poured through Rhia. When they broke apart, Richard lifted his hands to call for silence once again. He got it. Slowly. It took a while for everyone to finally settle and give him the quiet he'd asked for. As soon as he had the attention of everyone present, their faces turned up toward him expectantly, he slipped his arm around Connie's waist and tugged her just a little closer.
"There's more to my announcement than publicly making Connie my lupa." He paused and allowed a sense of eagerness to grow amidst the pack. The look on his face suggested that the news he had to share was exciting, something they just had to hear. Rhia held back the sigh that tried to bubble up her throat. She was part of the pack now, which required her to be here whether she wanted to be or not.
When he was sure he had everyone's undivided attention, the hand that had been resting on Connie's hip inched over until it could lay pressed against her belly. The unpleasant feeling returned, stronger this time, churning almost violently in her stomach. Rhia was sure she knew what was coming and it shouldn't bother her the way it was. She had no deep emotions for Richard. They'd had their short little fling and it had been good, but he'd never made her feel the way Nathaniel could. So she didn't understand this miasma of hatred and rage in the pit of her stomach.
"Just today, Connie found out that she's pregnant." Richard beamed with the words. Connie beamed with the words. Rhia felt as if she wanted to rip them both limb from limb with her bare hands. "We're going to have a baby."
The news should have pleased her. Even though she knew that he was making the announcements public, showing his affection for her before the entire pack, just to spite her because she'd chosen Nathaniel and brushed him aside, she shouldn't have been this deeply affected by things. It was almost as if she wanted to throw herself into a rage. That was a trait that was very unlike her. Unhappy with the way she was reacting, she closed her eyes and worked at finding her center.
She allowed that part of her that was her magic to reach out with ghostly fingers and seek out Mother Earth. The cool feel of the ground rose up to meet her magic, the different layers of dirt and soil, of tree and grass roots reaching out to touch her and offer her comfort. It was an old exercise, one she didn't do much anymore because she was almost always grounded. But the ball of hatred and rage that had sprung up out of nowhere was as foreign to her as bringing harm to another soul had thrown her off balance. She had to right herself and push those negative emotions away.
They fought her. Almost physically, it seemed. Somehow, she wasn't sure how, the emotions fought. They wanted to remain inside of her, wanted her to let go so that they could burst forth. Something about them was familiar, though she couldn't place where she would come across them or how that could be. Rhia dug deeper into the earth, sent her magic seeking farther. Slowly, steadily, she fought the emotions back until she had them locked away in a heavy wooden chest and once more felt like herself.
When she opened her eyes, it was to find that the lupanar was filled with activity. Richard and Connie had stepped out into the midst of the pack. Many of them were milling around the two, shaking hands and chatting. In some instances, the lower pack members were treating her with the respect due to one of the alphas. Rhiannon could see that Shang-Da and Jamil were close at Richard's side, always on the alert for danger. Which left her by herself up by the throne.
"Rhia?" Well, almost alone. She turned to find Jason staring at her. Concern darkened his eyes and turned the corners of his mouth down. He looked as if he wanted to reach out and touch her, one hand hovering in the air between them, but was obviously holding off in case it was unwanted. His brow crinkled. "Are you alright?"
"Yes. Just trying to ground myself. Why do you ask?"
"Because for a minute there, you smelled like someone else. Someone who..." he stopped and shook his head, sending his hair flying around his head.
"Someone who what?" she asked, curious.
"Nothing, I have to be imagining things. Is everything okay?" His gaze glanced back toward the spot where Richard and Connie stood. Ah. Of course. He thought she was upset by this turn of events. When he turned back to her, she offered him a smile.
"I'm perfectly fine, Jason. I wish him nothing but happiness. Maybe this is what he really needs. Someone who can accept all of him without flinching or complaint. If he can find that in Constance, then I'm happy for him."
Jason studied her for several long moments with intensely sharp eyes. "You really mean that, don't you?"
"Of course I do. I'm happy with Nathaniel. Richard was only a passing thing for me. Someone to help me cope with the loss of someone I loved deeply. Really, I was the same for him. We helped each other live again in a time of great sorrow. There was nothing more to our relationship than that. And perhaps some short lived, heated passion."
"I never realized it before." The blonde wolf shook his head. Rhia frowned.
"Never realized what before?"
"You're really level headed. Much more level headed than he deserves. Now I know why Marianne sent you here."
Rhia let one corner of her mouth curl up in a faint smile. "Oh? And why is that?"
"Because someone has to keep his ass in line." The look on his face when he said that, all wolfish charm and mischief rolled up into one, saw her tossing her head back in a full throated laugh. Indeed.
~*~*~*~*~
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![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-05 02:53 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-05 03:09 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-09 08:20 pm (UTC)I've been waiting for this moment since we first discussed it. You didn't disappoint.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-09 08:57 pm (UTC)and... um... which moment was that? i'd like to know which one i didn't disappoint with.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-10-10 02:08 pm (UTC)Oh, and welcome to Samu! Cool.