Trudging through the snow and rock, Vivienne slowly made her way to the entrance of the barn. Every muscle in her body ached to race in and save Faye, regardless of the consequences. Vivienne had faced the fact that she was sufficiently weakened to such a degree that she knew that she couldn’t use her gaseous form or even heal again. Catching the scent of burning Kevlar once more, Vivienne stopped briefly to pull off what was left of the outer coating of her suit. Pulling off the plates on her legs and arms, Vivienne’s grip tore away the armor reducing it to crumbles as she did so. “Thankfully I still have some strength left in me, Faye.” When the last of the plates drifted harmlessly in the snow, Vivienne noticed the splotches of bluish and gray skin where it used to be beautiful and pale white.

-I could claim you right now, ancient one.- A dark voice echoed in her mind.

“I have been low on blood a few times as you are well aware.” Vivienne quietly debated with her inner demon as she looked over the remainder of herself, starting with her hair. Hardened acid had eaten away at the length as Vivienne had raced to save Sylvie. Flipping her hand to the back of her head, Vivienne grimaced when she realized that her silky black hair that flowed to the base of her spine was now barely touching her shoulders. It was only after pulling her hand away, that she felt a clump of her mane come off in her hand. Solid black had been replaced with thick streaks of lifeless white and no longer felt vibrant, but wiry and brittle.

-Nothing a little blood can’t fix, right?- Her inner voice laughed.

“Astute observation, but there are only three sources of blood that I can sense right now.” Vivienne’s legs refused to listen to her will briefly as she dreamed about the thick and iron rich liquid quenching the fire in her throat. Sylvie was the most obvious and the most disposable in Vivienne’s mind. A vampire she’d only known a few hours and had almost no tie to her in any way. Supernaturally rich, Vivienne also knew that vampire blood had the ability to boost her willpower and stamina for whatever lay inside the structure in front of her. Shaking off that thought, her mind settled on Casey. Her ward. Entrusted ally. The one person aside from Faye who would never leave her side willingly and offered her blood without hesitation. Vivienne felt her legs shuffle backward for a split second before stopping. “No. She needs to settle this thing with Brian…she needs…”

-You need. Why do you care now? You haven’t for your entire existence.- The black bodied voice edged from its hole taunting Vivienne.

Recalling that she’d commanded Casey to remain calm, Vivienne took her own advice and resumed walking. “I love them all. That’s why I care.” Vivienne no longer cared about how her body was thin and gaunt, her hair partly white and falling out or even the holes in the cotton-spandex suit that now showed off more of her body than it covered. “Faye is out of the question as well, you demon. I couldn’t take her blood…I would ask.” Vivienne wiped a thin pink tear from her watery blue eyes, “No..I wouldn’t have to ask…she’d offer it. Love does that.”

Just as Vivienne felt the weight in her heart lift to the point where she could walk again, a brief cool wind rustled her tattered hair and rolled an old baseball cap over the toe of her left boot. Vivienne looked down and saw a clean and pristine white baseball cap with a faded blue bill, and the word “Cubs” written in script across the front. Content to ignore the cap and keep walking, Vivienne caught the hint of rose hips emanating from the former captain’s hat. Without thinking much about it, Vivienne picked up the hat and kept walking to the doors. She flipped the hat through her fingers a couple times and couldn’t shake the feeling that the hat was trying to tell her something.

The demon laughed once more. -It’s a hat. You either wear it or you don’t.-

Vivienne finally reached the entrance to the two-story structure and noticed a nail to hang the former captain’s hat on. “I will decline, thank you.” Vivienne raised her eyebrow and looked once more at the cap, “Most certainly puzzling.”

Stepping into the barn, Vivienne found it hard to believe that the building in its current state had anything useful that the farm used. It appeared to be more of a house or apartment rather than a place to hold equipment or tools. The floor was made of red brick pavers that had been perfectly hammered into place and filled in with pearly white sand that emanated enough heat to keep them dry. Vivienne’s blue eyes circled up from the floor and counted the four wooden stalls made of oak and mahogany, fastened by iron bands and locked with a little lever. Well lit by both the overhead lighting and the emulated flickering flames from the wall sconces gave the entire area an almost cozy feeling.

Beyond the four horse filled stalls, a small living space had an older looking three cushioned flower-patterned sofa and a matching green loveseat. Weathered and somewhat old wool rugs were spread over the living area, having prints of farm animals woven into them. Completing the living space were two newer looking rocking chairs made from pine and recently stained.

Vivienne spotted the stairs that led to the second floor and what looked to be both an art studio and a museum. Where the landing of the stairs ended she could easily see a cart with ink and paint, brushes, chalk and charcoal. Unfinished canvases were haphazardly strewn across the little studio and contrasted with the meticulous way the rest of the floor looked.

Almost as if the art were on show, the walls were painted a simple gray or with blended streaks of colors that matched the rows of paintings for each section. Vivienne noted sections that were traditional farm life with scenes of horse riders, wheat fields and groves of pansies. Yet another wall had a row of art dedicated to the pop art of the fifties, complete with its renditions of over advertising and recreations of various root beer and cola signs. Most of the section was dedicated to a comic image with the deep red and yellow name of “Vampire Vixen” that appeared in a script with blood dripping from its edges. Radiating and blue diamond eyes were clearly visible on the covers of the comics that were preserved behind fine wood and glass. Beyond the paintings and at the end of the showcases, stood a statue of a woman with natural bright red hair and holding a microphone. Vivienne spotted the statue’s other hand that held a cup of coffee and remembered where she’d seen the woman. “Fourteen News plays all the time in the hospital. You always have that coffee on screen too.  Interesting.”

Vivienne’s heart erupted with anticipation when she felt Faye within a few steps of her. Barely noticing the huge horses in the stalls as she clomped by, it took the sound of a horse ramming the gate for Vivienne to notice what was occurring. Studying the stallions as they neighed and frantically danced around, Vivienne realized what was happening after the third fell over with a mouth full of foam and blood. When the last horse stumbled and collapsed dead in its hay, Vivienne sighed. “I am still contaminated.” She immediately thought of the overly clean hat she’d tossed on the nail before she entered. “Puzzle answered, it would appear.”

Making her way to the living room, Vivienne immediately spotted Faye right where she suspected she would be against the back wall of the barn. Leaping over the furniture, Vivienne got within a couple feet of her partner before stopping and balling up her fists in rage, “I can’t get close to you..mon amour. I can’t risk spreading what is on me…” Vivienne backed away from Faye reluctantly and squatted down to look at her lover closely.

Faye was placed on a small set of plush blankets in a small sitting ball, with her arms loosely around her knees. Black-pink hair hung down over Faye’s eyes blocking them from

Vivienne’s sight. Gnarled and wicked, the stake-spear poked from the left side of Faye’s chest keeping the young vampire immobile. Vivienne noticed the barbed spear head and the dried blood on it before sniffing the air and studying the blankets for more. “Faye, my love. I am here.” Vivienne softly whispered, “Thankfully you have controlled your blood loss. Just a little longer and I will have you free.” Completing the grim outlook on the comatosed vampire, Vivienne saw garlic all around the blankets in a ring as well as the heavy scented pods like handcuffs around Faye’s wrists and ankles. Dangling low around Faye’s neck, a silver wired necklace hung with the pungent cloves carefully carved into delicate white roses. “Clever whoever you are, Stinking Rose.” Vivienne blew a kiss to Faye, “I don’t want to leave your side mon amour, but I am no use like…” Vivienne stopped in her confession.

Deliberate and unhurried footsteps trailed across the thick beams overhead. Vivienne tilted her ear slightly listening until the heeled steps stopped. Perking a thin and half white brow, Vivienne heard a sharp click of a dial being turned just before the soft thrum of a motor being turned. Vivienne stood quietly as a rustling of paper and a quick press of a button preceded the sounds of a needle scraping the vinyl of a record. Seconds after the soft scratching started, the soft voices of The Everly Brothers permeated the entire barn with the song, “All I have to do is Dream.”

“..Dream, dream, dream, dream
Dream, dream, dream, dream
When I want you in my arms
When I want you and all your charms
Whenever I want you, all I have to do is
Dream, dream, dream, dream
When I feel blue in the night
And I need you to hold me tight
Whenever I want you, all I have to do is
Dream
I can make you mine, taste your lips of wine
Anytime, night or day
Only trouble is, gee whiz
I'm dreamin' my life away..”

Creaks of the wooden steps echoed above Vivienne and she looked up to see a set of low-heeled black Mary Jane shoes making their way down. Vivienne stood up and walked backwards until she came to the edge of the stairs coming face to face with a small woman wearing a blue and white full swing-dress right out of the fifties.

Denise’s dusty-blonde hair was pulled back in the front with a white headband decorated with daisies, while her long wavy locks were tied with a ribbon of ocean blue. Centered in the middle of her forehead sat a polished and perfectly cut piece of black quartz that was the size of a quarter, hanging from an emerald and silver ferronnière. Covering her chest, Denise had a perfectly tied artist’s apron that covered her dress so little splashes of paint or pieces of charcoal wouldn’t ruin the garment.

Slowly spinning in a circle, Denise stopped once more in front of Vivienne and her thin lips crested a sly smile. She shifted her weight and blinked her light-hazel eyes. Lifting one of her feet at the knee, Denise leaned forward and planted a light kiss on Vivienne’s marred cheek. “Marion.” Denise ran her thin hand down Vivienne’s arm, “Marion…It is like a dream come true. Welcome home.” She clasped one of Vivienne’s hands within her own speckle painted artistic hand and twirled herself to the ongoing entrancing melody. “Relax, Marion.” Denise winked, “We have all the time in the world, it’s on repeat.”

Feeling the tension grow within her dance partner, Denise let herself spin once more and wrinkled her nose. “First things first, my darling.” She let Vivienne’s hand loose and walked over to the table in the living room and poured two glasses of wine. She wiggled her lime green index finger from her runed hand towards Vivienne. “It appears that you have had a rough evening and smell simply gravely.” Denise flicked her wrist once and a sparkling green light danced its way across the floor before simply passing over Vivienne with a shower of sparks. “Much better, Marion.” Denise sipped from her glass, “I know it isn’t what you remember, but I had to update it for your arrival.” She pointed the glass of red wine she held at the horse stalls, “I do wish you had hurried past the Clydesdale's, I was looking forward to riding with you by the river.”

Another sip of the rich red wine, Denise set her glass down and walked over to Faye and lifted her head up by her chin. “I forgive you, Marion. We were apart for a very long time.” Sighing, Denise pulled her hand free of Faye’s chin, allowing the unmoving vampire's head to bounce back in place. Walking back to stand in front of Vivienne, Denise lifted the vampiress’s hands and kissed them sweetly one at a time. “Almost like I remember them, love.” Denise’s green magic crawled over the surface of Vivienne’s marred hands and weaved them back to their normal pale shade. “Like it never happened.” Denise dabbed her finger on Vivienne’s nose and purred lightly, “When are you going to kiss me, Marion?” Denise winked and rose up on her toes so that she could peer into the pools of blue.

Flood gates opened and Vivienne’s anger rushed through her veins like a torrent of hellish water breaking free of its riverbanks. With blinding speed, Vivienne’s claws flicked from her hands and drove like ten knives through Denise’s face and body. Blind rage followed as chunks of meat and bone splattered in a mess across the furniture, walls and red brick flooring.

Vaguely aware that she’d caved into the monster within her, Vivienne vaulted over Denise’s mostly eviscerated form and began tearing away the flesh with her fangs. Biting into one shoulder, Vivienne internally relished the crunching of in her jaws as she sensed the arm slide free and hit the floor. Still eager to sedate the blind rage pulsing through her, Vivienne tore the tender neck muscle from Denise and spat it on the stairwell. With a howl akin to a fox, Vivienne opened a long slit down the length of Denise’s back and pulled her spine free, slamming against the brick and watching the round bones skitter to the far reaches of the barn.

-Wait.- Suddenly feeling the dry and burning feeling in her throat, Vivienne came back to herself and watched as the rest of Denise’s remains fell to her knees and landed quietly. -No blood?- Vivienne sensed an electrical current in the air followed by the deep scent of ozone.

Flashes of green lightning streaked through the rafters then down the side walls before sizzling on the floor and emitting swampy green sparks. Pulsing the floor green for a couple seconds, the tiny streaks formed into groups of eight and quickly ran across the floor like a myriad of tiny spiders. Avoiding the charged ground, Vivienne quickly jumped and landed on the first platform of the stairwell and kept vigilance trying to anticipate where the streaks would go next.

Rather than striking Vivienne, the lightning critters encapsulated the chunks of the fallen woman and released their energy. Pieces of Denise’s skull danced like spinning tops for a split second before reforming in their proper place under the discarded ferronnière. Hollow rattling of shattered and splintered bones echoed in the small space and rolled themselves across the floor, forming a normal skeletal structure.

Knowing she had very little experience with magic directed at her, Vivienne knew that she needed to stall for more time to figure out a way to overcome the obstacle. -Weaknesses revealed themselves once I had the time.- Witnessing the lightning dissipate, Vivienne’s blue eyes sparkled and she leapt down from her perch intent to shatter the spine of her foe once more. Much to her dismay, Vivienne’s pinpoint attack failed the moment she bounced off of an unseen barrier and landed harmlessly on her butt.

Picking herself up from the brick floor, Vivienne watched as the necromantic magic kept rebuilding Denise. Tendons pulled themselves free where they’d been cut into chunks and began layering themselves, pulling the bones together in a series of small snaps. Once all of the sinew was connected, the goopy sound of meat crawling across the floor captured Vivienne’s attention. Chunks of sliced muscle oozed like slime over the bony frame, locking itself in place with a little hiss.

Moments later, Denise’s structure had enough muscle in place and she began lurching towards the stairs like a zombie. Hesitating briefly at the first step, the half-formed body flexed its arms and legs then seemingly remembered how to move properly. Denise blindly grasped the handrails and made the journey up the two flights of stairs.

Denise opened her palm wide and strands of green streaked up and over her arms, through her skull and back down to the rest of her body. Glowing briefly from the strands, the magic faded away and left behind newly created veins and arteries.

White hot anger replaced wounded pride and Vivienne dashed up the steps in an attempt to finish what she’d started. Hoping that Denise was using more magic to rebuild herself than to focus, Vivienne thought that speed might give her a chance to find a weak spot in the barrier she’d encountered. Vivienne didn’t have time to contemplate much of her plan before her eager blue eyes saw a black beam appear from the quartz on Denise’s forehead and slam into her. Vivienne’s senses returned to her and she was on the brick seemingly paralyzed by four little rings of black swirls of dirt around her wrists and ankles.

Unconscious for a few seconds, Vivienne lifted her head in time to witness Denise’s organs being sewn back together and carefully packed back into her body lovingly by the thin strands of green. Forming a small green hand, the wisps implanted Denise’s heart under her ribcage and subsequently sacrificed itself with a shrill scream to lock the organ in place.

Lacking the blood to command her body to change into any form that would free her from the ringed shackles, Vivienne resigned herself to letting the scene play out. -She doesn’t want you dead ancient one.- The demon within cackled. -Perhaps it is a cat playing with a mouse. Reluctantly, Vivienne had to agree with the devil inside her once more. While pondering and running various scenarios in her head, Vivienne caught the whiff of her grave soil in the rings that held her firmly in place. “How did you get…” Vivienne stopped herself and visualized the missing layer of dirt from her container. “Impossible.”

Yellow orbs backed in red formed within the dark sockets of Denises’ skull. Denise slowly shook her head when she heard Vivienne speak. Pointing to the shredded remains of her skin, began making small circles in the air and the dermis swirled and caught in an unseen vortex and pressed itself into a smooth putty-like ball. Floating its way to the studio by black and green tendrils, Denise’s grotesque and graying skin hovered an inch from her body. As if spinning on a potter’s wheel, the blob spread thin and then peeled layer at a time to press itself onto Denise’s body starting with her skull.

Overlapping pieces molded like facial clay to the proper depths then smoothed itself out to define her visage. Vibrant and living pink flesh that once formed her lips was now black and glossy. Denise’s once lightly shadowed and sleepy look in her eyes, was now entirely replaced by dark gray rings that blended into the lighter dead look emanating from her cheeks. Straying from the dark sockets, slime green tattoos of strange and unknown hieroglyphic symbols embedded themselves from her brow to the hump of her cheeks. Sprouting from the smooth shape of her skull, Denise’s once frisky and bouncy blondish hair was replaced with long black locks with light gray highlights that formed soft wings by her ears.

Vivienne watched helplessly as the quick messy work she’d made was reversed with almost no effort. Changing its consistency, splatters of the ball landed on Denise’s shoulders and spread like a gooey glaze down the remainder of her body. Denise gleefully spread her arms out and allowed the dead mass of skin to curve and tuck itself into the crevices of her musculature giving her proper definition. Having reached and covered her feet, Denise waved her hands across her chest and recreated her plump breasts complete with dark gray nipples. Raising one of her long black devilish eyebrows, she waved her index finger back and forth as if to tell Vivienne that she’d been naughty. “Now Marion. I know you were excited to see me again, but that was a little much.” Crossing one of her arms over her bare chest, Denise waved her runed hand and the scattered blue cloth that was once her dress fluttered its way to its master. “Then again you have always been a tad aggressive.” Denise winked and blew a kiss to her captive and nodded to the scraps of cloth.

Vivienne heard the sounds of tearing and cutting, but didn’t see anything but Denise’s nude form directing her magic like a conductor would control a symphony. Initially taking its former shape in a patchwork of blue and white, Denise shook her head. “No, this simply won’t do.” Focusing her mustard yellow eyes on her cart, a set of wickedly curved green and black barbed needles flew into the cotton of her old dress transforming it. Little squares of blue were weaved into shades of forest green and lengthened into strips that formed a bodice. Darting and weaving through the new bodice, ash and black colored thread twisted and braided thick enough to give a tight corset to the new dress. White tattered tufts of cotton swiveled and formed into three long trumpet like pieces. Silvery ink flowed from the green barb into its filament subtly blending with the two colors into a sheen that coated the twin sleeves and skirt as they fastened themselves in place. Rounding out the shapely dress, the dark needles crochet their way around the base leaving behind weblike lace as the hem.

Taking a brief moment to wink at Vivienne, Denise twisted her body to hide as much of her nude form as possible and raised her arms in the air. Slipping itself over her head, the new dress traveled down Denise’s body and cinched its corset just under her breasts then settled calmly on the floor. Before returning to the cart, the twin needles made a lace collar with a small green opal in its center and tied around Denise’s neck.

Completely clothed, Denise once more faced Vivienne. “Much better.” Gliding over to a small stand, Denise picked up the marionette she’d worked on for a few days. “I had hoped I wouldn’t have to use this, Marion.” Black sand flew out of the quartz and sealed with her runic magic to the small mannequin. “Our long time apart has clouded your judgment, so I will simply have to control you until I have the time to correct your attitude.” Waving her fingers, the strings to the marionette looped around her fingers and she made the doll stand up.

Vivienne felt her body get released from her shackles and she stood up against her will. Vivienne opened her mouth to speak and felt her lips press back together.

Fluidly moving the strings, Denise walked Vivienne to the sofa and made her sit down. “Let’s get you comfortable, shall we?” Denise made her way down the steps, dangling the doll as she did so. “We have catching up to do.”

Rationalizing that the big man she was attached to was more a brute than a quick-witted assassin, Sylvie hurriedly leaned over and bit into Brian’s thick wrist about the time he’d raised his hand to employ another spell. Streams of tasteless blood pulsed over Sylvie’s tongue from the four fang holes she’d just created as Brian pulled his wrist free, screaming profanity as he did so. Experience with the Ripped had taught Sylvie that their blood was utterly useless and in some circumstances even poisoned her brethren. Knowing that she was low on her own blood reserves, Sylvie contemplated taking the chance that Brian’s blood would nourish her but ended up spitting it out when she got a flash vision of her doubled over in pain.

Brian felt the vampire atop of him tense up, giving him a chance to react. Figuring that only his spells would do any lasting damage to Sylvie, Brian needed time enough to stop the flow of blood from his wrist before anything else. Regardless of physical damage, Brian knew that his opponent was much lighter than he was and had extensive training on how to push and pull based on weight. Pushing as hard as he could, Brian grabbed the vampire first by her throat and second between her legs and heave-tossed Sylvie the best he could.

Thankful that Brian didn’t employ a spell that she’d have to try and avoid, Sylvie used the inertia to spin once and kick off her shoes in time to dig her claws into the wall. Suddenly grateful that the acid fog had eaten away most of her soothsaying costume, Sylvie didn’t have to worry about the folds of the tight dress tangling in her legs as she moved slowly between the wall and the ceiling. “Can’t you see what you are doing?” Sylvie offered after seeing a circle of shadows circling Brian for a few seconds. “This is the opposite of what you claim to want.”

Aware that the only useful tool he had to repair himself was fire, Brian summoned a set of wicked flames that spread over his wrist and nose. Blood swirled and flowed backwards into his wrist and the orange flame seared the holes closed. Burning away the cotton he’d shoved in his nostrils, the fire twisted its way to the shattered cartilage and fused it so the blood would stop. Reminiscent of a dragon, Brian expelled two lengthy streams of smoke from his nose as he stood up and followed Sylvie with his eyes and runed palm. “I’m not going to fall for your charms, leech.” Without warning, Brian clenched his fist and punched the floor as hard as he could and released the magic he’d focused on while watching his enemy.

Misshapen lines of putrid green pulsed from Brian’s hand and through the cracks of the wood flooring briefly before the ground started shaking. Sounds like boiling water echoed and the house started to sway abruptly, causing chunks of plaster and most of the bedroom floor to fall away. Brian let the magic run its course and lifted his hand and stumbled backwards into the hallway. “You have fun.” Brian commented before bringing his glowing hand up and shooting a small volley of molten metallic shards into the cracks on the wall where Sylvie crouched. Burning their way around the cracks, the metal sawed its way in a rough circle until the two ends met and made the wall collapse.

Having only the ceiling as an escape, Sylvie skittered from the section of wall moments before it fell into the shaking abyss. Following her dangling hair, Sylvie’s moon eyes knew why Brian had uttered his last line. Plumes of white steam flowed through a wide gap in the bottom floor bringing with it gusts of volcanically hot air. What started as a small ember glow, oozed its way through the hole and bubbled up as a small lake of lava right under the vampire. “Some gift.” Sylvie grumbled as the waves of heat pulsed under her. “What’s next, other than roasted vampire?” A low rumble percolated from the red molten pool and Sylvie rolled her eyes wishing she hadn’t tempted fate. Deciding that the best way out of the situation was to head for the window, Sylvie scooted sideways along the ceiling and watched the lava start to take shape.

Deep yellow and bright orange lava tinged with red stretched the rock into the shape of a pair of rising hands as the creature rose from the pool. Much like a devil rising from the pits of hell itself, the radiant creature began to take on a female form easily twice the size of a normal woman. Glowing drops rolled over the voluptuous outline, gluing themselves in the right places to form a heavy musculature to carry its massive weight. Almost as if terrified to hold the lava monster back any longer, the earth broke away and freed the thick mass.

Sylvie jumped through the window and rolled on the ground the second that the fiery woman broke away from her smoldering pool. “Casey!” Sylvie raised her voice, “Brian is alone again, get out of the bathroom.” Flame curled its way out of the broken window and the magma-woman blob poured to the ground where it left a burnt and ashen spot where it landed. Sylvie began backing up towards the clean cornfield as she watched the monster begin stomping its way towards her. “Not quite the woman of my dreams.”

Already downstairs and searching for her unbroken dagger, Casey had been released from the cement like mud when Brian was tackle-pushed out of the bathroom. Fortunately, while she was trapped in the thick mud, her body was able to finally regenerate and fix the damage that Brian had caused. “Amazing, Vivienne.” Kicking glass and wood around, Casey scanned the floor and spotted the blood knife peeking out from underneath the sofa. “There you are.” Casey smiled and felt that the tide was finally turning her in her favor. No sooner had Casey secured the dagger in its sheath, the ground started to shake violently and the floor splintered under her feet leaving a long dark rip in the ground. -There has to be a way to stop this.“Come on Rivers, think.” Casey hastily told herself and hopped over the widening crack towards the fireplace. When the soft red glow started coming from the open cracks in the earth, Casey frantically looked around for a better escape route. “Only the kitchen..damn.” Rumbling came from below Casey’s feet once more, making the fire-irons on the hearth start to shake. Before jumping out of the way of the newly opening crack, Casey grabbed the arrow headed poker for defense. “It’s all tied to your hand..” Casey whispered to herself and walked into the kitchen.

Relief washed over Brian after the short bursts of magic stabilized his weakening condition. Suspecting that the earthquake and lava were keeping Casey and Sylvie occupied, Brian slowed down and thought about his situation. “Let’s see where you went.” Spreading his fingers, Brian touched his temples and let his magic flow once more. Magic gently weaved its way through Brian’s skin and took control of his optic nerve, melting the colors of the world leaving things in black and white. Pulling away his hand, Brian scanned the house with the last effect of his magic. White areas of the house faded and became translucent as though he saw the world as a large X-ray. “I spy…” Brian smiled as he spotted Casey through the walls, hiding directly behind the wall closest to the entry of the kitchen. “...Right where I want you.”

Unable to discern sounds properly through the rumbling of earth and the pop-cracks of fire in the house, Casey watched the entry to the kitchen. Spotting a long shadow forming from the reddish light, She raised the barbed poker over her head and waited until the shadow had taken up most of the space before swinging. Aiming for what she thought would be Brian’s head, the poker struck true with a heavy wet smack as though she’d hit a mass of oatmeal. “What in the hell?” Casey asked when the poker was sucked from her grip. Having lost the element of surprise, Casey darted over the table and stood by the sink with a chair held up in defense. What she thought was Brian, was nothing but mud in the form of a body.

“When are you going to come to your senses, Casey?” Brian commented from behind his mudman. “Just drink the tea on the table. It’s seriously right behind you..” He laughed and willed the mud forward, “What are you going to do, punch mud? I will just make it solid again.”

Keeping the chair between herself and the approaching mass, Casey caught a glimpse of Brian holding up his hand and controlling his latest creation with a tiny tendril of green connected to his hand. Figuring that she couldn’t hurl the dagger fast enough to hit Brian’s hand, Casey scanned the kitchen for another option. When the heavy sound of the iron poker hit the ground, Casey saw a glimpse of hope. Backing up from the shuffling wall of amorphous mud, Casey watched Brian make a mistake and kick the poker back towards the fireplace. -I have been thrown through them easy enough, Let’s use them to my advantage.Hurling the chair as hard as she could at the construct, Casey sprinted right into the wall she’d been hiding behind.

Lowering her shoulder, Casey hit the wall with as much force as she could and sent plaster and wood in a small wave into the living room. Following the flying debris, Casey rolled past the cracks in the floor and managed to grip the fire poker on her first try. Knowing that she had a small window of surprise, the ward quickly spun on her heels and brought the iron shaft with a bone shattering crunch against Brian’s knees. Barely aware that he’d howled in pain, Casey stood up as the big man was falling backwards. “How about I do this, Fucker.” Casey growled and once Brian was flat on his back, jammed the three headed arrow through his wrist, pinning his magic hand to the floor.

Hearing the excruciating howl from Brian, Sylvie smiled for the first time since she had started avoiding the punches from the lava girl chasing her. Absolutely sure that one punch would reduce her body to cinders, Sylvie had been slowly forced deeper into the cornfield. Sylvie paid careful attention to the licks of flame that would occasionally jump off the monster like a sunflare, setting a wide swath of corn on fire and making her use precious blood to keep the waves of heat at bay.

Stumbling back into a crop circle, Sylvie saw a bleached white skeleton laying on the bed of broken corn and knew that this was where Vivienne had fought one of the horsemen. Ducking out of a particularly nasty attempt to capture her, Sylvie scooched back over the skeleton and happened to loop her hands around a thin metal chain with the name ‘Angelie Kino’ imprinted along with a series of numbers on a small set of tags. Without knowing why, Sylvie flipped the small chain around her wrist and kept backing away from the blob-woman that was bearing down on her. When a near miss caught the sleeve of her tattered dress on fire, Sylvie figured she’d had enough of the elemental. Patting her sleeve until it was smoldering, Sylvie stumbled into the center of the corn ring and looked down. “Not good.”

Laying directly under her small feet were the eight-leftover claymore mines that Vivienne had disarmed earlier, except that the casing was no longer olive green but a tame bleached white. “Humm..cleaned?” Sylvie knelt over and picked up the tightly wound bundle of explosives and by doing so avoided a swing that was intended for her face. “Alright..That was a little too close, madam.” Hustling in the direction of the farmhouse, Sylvie frowned as she studied the bundle she’d grabbed without reason. “How in the world do I use these…even if they still work…” Mysteriously, Sylvie saw a long black silk kite string take up most of her vision. Sylvie was about to trace the kite string in her vision when a volley of burning hot rock nicked her arms and legs, leaving burnt gashes where they’d hit.

Falling to the ground, Sylvie rolled out of the way as the monster attempted to jump and land on her. Burning heat radiated where the molten rock impacted the ground, setting Sylvie’s hair and clothing on fire once more. “Crap.” Sylvie had to ignore the burning and shifted the explosives to her other arm to avoid the mines from going off due to the heat. “Let’s not find out that way!” Jumping to her feet, Sylvie sprinted through the cornrows until she broke free of the long green leaves.

“Oh boy.” Knowing she was a few feet ahead of the blob, Sylvie quickly unraveled most of the wire from around the claymores and shoved ends of the spliced wires back into the tops of the explosives. “Oh..oh…come on..oh boy..” Sylvie panic spoke just as the monster burned its way out of the corn. Her frantic fingers working in a blur, Sylvie somehow managed to get the wire into all eight devices just as the monster roared once again. “Oh no..” Flattening herself to the ground, Sylvie managed to get out of the way of her pursuer’s fire when the woman’s arms turned into twisting flamethrowers. Showering the area in yellow-orange fire, Sylvie shoved herself from the ground and plowed back through the missing window by the kitchen as the flames threatened to overtake her.

Landing hard enough to shatter the kitchen table and all of the objects sitting on it, Sylvie briefly smelled the scent of fresh peaches in the air before she saw the last of the tea splatter against the door leading into the basement. Relieved that the concoction Brian wanted to force feed Casey was finally completely gone, Sylvie didn’t wait for the small triumph before escaping the kitchen through the hole Casey had made.

“Sylvie?” Casey looked just in time to get pushed into the hole in the floor where Sylvie had burst through to help fight Brian. “No…wait! We can’t leave….” Casey screamed as she disappeared in the tunnel.

Sylvie jumped to the ceiling and held on with her talons watching both Brian and the fire monster. “Just a little more…” Fire engulfed the kitchen for a brief second before the heavy woman shaped mass entered the room.

Tossing the batch of explosives to Brian, Sylvie watched as the bundle went tumbling out like a yo-yo unraveling mines from the wire she held the end to. She scrambled over to the small chandelier still burning brightly with four lightbulbs.

When the claymores landed on the struggling mage, Sylvie jammed the exposed wires in her hand into the live light bulb socket and threw herself with all her might into the hole behind Casey.

-KABOOOM!-

Eight loud explosions flared behind Sylvie, forcing the two women to tumble to the edge of the tunnel. Sylvie reached out and gripped Casey’s ankle with an unnaturally iron grip to stop her from going over the edge. “Gotcha!”

Casey looked over the edge and into the dark abyss where the first of Brian’s earth shattering had occurred. “Ohmygod..ohmygod..ohmygod..pull me back…back…” Casey frantically screamed.

“You aren’t going anywhere.” Sylvie huffed quick enough to blow her singed hair from her face. She gently pulled the young ward back into her tunnel and started to go back. “I didn’t know what it meant at first.”

Casey flopped onto her back breathing heavily and clutched her chest. “Didn’t know what… what?”

“The kite string.” Sylvie half laughed and crawled out of the hole to peek her head out. “Oh my.”

Casey didn’t want to move after the ordeal, “Is…he…” She inquired and forced herself to move against her better judgment.

“It even had a key on it…ewww.” Sylvie muttered and pulled herself out of the ground. “You might…wait. Let me…”

Confused and in pain, Casey made her way to the junction of the hole and looked up in time to see a set of bright white moon eyes. “Key?” Casey heard a snap of metal then heard the sound of a fire extinguisher going off. “Is he..?”

Sylvie sprayed the CO2 canister all around, dousing the flames and solidifying the left over molten rock. “Yeah, it isn’t pretty either.” She looked back down and saw Casey’s bloodshot liquid brown eyes. “Sorry, I didn’t know what else to do.”

“I’m a big girl, I can handle it.” Casey thrust her hand out where Sylvie gripped it and easily hauled her up. Instinctively Casey turned to look where she’d pinned Brian to the floor and saw the big man’s remains. Dropping to her knees out of both relief and sorrow, Casey turned away from the shattered corpse before she grabbed Sylvie and started crying softly. “How did…how did this…” She sniffled, “How did this…h-happen?”

Setting the big canister down, Sylvie knelt down and wrapped Casey in her arms. “I don’t quite know, Casey. I have only seen this.” Sylvie pulled back and wiped Casey’s eyes free of tears. “I’ll listen if you want to discuss it.” Running her thin undead fingers through Casey’s wavy auburn locks, Sylvie used her free hand and tilted Casey up by her chin, “I just know that from what I saw here…” She snorted, “...He wasn’t going to listen or stop until you did what he wanted, or killed you both.”

Something inside Casey knew and felt that Sylvie was telling the truth. Casey pulled back from Sylvie’s soft embrace and finally had the courage to stand and look at the destroyed house. “Thank you, Sylvie.” Closing her eyes and drawing in a hesitant breath, Casey finally turned to face the area where she’d last seen the man she once loved. “There really isn’t much left is there..” Casey asked and didn’t really expect an answer. What remained of Brian’s body after the series of explosions wasn’t much. Half of his head lay on the stair, one arm had become part of the door, his once huge chest was completely gone. Casey looked around and noticed muscle and chunks all over the hearth and walls. Finally, she saw the iron poker still had his runed hand still pinned in the floor. Casey covered her face with her hands and began crying once more. “So surreal…” She sobbed.

Sylvie picked up the extinguisher and sprayed the retardant over more of the hot spots she noticed, and chose to start talking more about the key and string. “You asked about a key.” Sylvie kicked some of the solid lava rock from around her feet. “I will give you a quick run down on things that I kinda see.” Satisfied that the house wasn’t going to catch fire or the rock was going to reform into the monster lava woman, Sylvie tossed the mostly empty cylinder into the kitchen. “Sometimes they are straightforward like with Vivienne and Faye.” She laughed. “That was severe sexual repression that would NOT get out of my sight, so I fixed it.”

Casey half laughed and wiped away the tears streaming down her face. “What a fix.” She hoarsely whispered.

“You try having the two of them naked in your head for days.” Sylvie walked beside Casey and furled her eyebrows. “Um…Look at..oh wow.”

Casey suddenly saw what stopped the vampire from telling her story. All of the color in the room seemed to get replaced by foaming white bubbles. Much like a cleanser running down the porcelain of a tub or a sink, everywhere the foam touched bleached the area white or closed the cracks in the ground. “I think we need to get out of here, can the story wait?”

When Brian’s remains lost all of their flesh and left bleached bone behind, Sylvie glanced at the tiny set of dog tags around her hand. “Indeed.” Sylvie winked, “Maybe it’s time to check on Vivienne anyway.”

“Fuck!” Casey suddenly recalled her mistress. “I can’t believe….”

Sylvie pointed at the creeping white floor. “We best be moving.”

Relying heavily on the twin commands that Vivienne had placed in her mind, Casey walked up the rocky path to the entrance of the barn. “For one reason or another, I can’t see anything clear inside.” Casey uttered and took a couple more steps, feeling the weight of the night bearing down on her. “The silence is also making me a little un…” Casey looked to her right where Sylvie was and saw nothing. “Sylvie?” Casey turned in a full circle and looked up in the effort to find her new friend. “Sylvie?” She asked again in a worried tone.

Casey snorted and shook her head in disbelief. “I guess this is my day of betrayal.” While the command from her mistress kept her calm, Casey still felt the loss of Brian deep down. A few short breaths, Casey shook her hands as she walked to the entrance of the barn. “Later. I’ll deal with it later. Like the little girl.”

Dropping her hand to the handle of her lone dagger, Casey scanned the half dark barn. She first noted that the overhead lights were turned off and that the sconces with imitation flame were the only light source, creating an eerie yet almost warm feeling. Passing the stalls of dead horses, Casey jumped and nearly screamed when she noticed that the four horses were devoid of color and had small foamy bubbles slowly pouring from their mouths. “Eww.” Quickly clamping her hand over her mouth, Casey hurried past the stables and finally saw the living space.

Denise looked up and turned her head in order to see the auburn haired woman. “Casey.” Denise’s yellow-red eyes burned with excitement. “You are every bit as striking as I have seen.” She pointed one finger and the dagger on Casey’s hip disappeared. “You won’t need that my dear.” Denise looked down towards the sofa, “Your little maiden there is quite the morsel. I approve of keeping her around.”

“Keep me around?” Casey asked while still a little shocked from the disappearance of her belt and weapon. Seconds after she asked the question, Casey spotted the comatosed Faye in the corner with the spear still in her chest. “What..the fuck…?”

Undeterred by the young thrall, Denise flicked her wrist and watched Casey freeze in place. “Allow me to help you understand a bit, Miss Rivers.” With a curl of her runed hand, Denise lifted the twenty something woman into the air and floated her over to the empty loveseat. “Welcome to my home.” Denise peeked over the sofa once more and didn’t see Sylvie. “I could have sworn there were four guests.” Cackling lightly, Denise shrugged her shoulders and lowered Casey to a comfy sitting position. “Vampires are a finicky lot, Perhaps she decided to not join us.” Denise bowed her head and watched Casey’s eyes dart all over the barn. “Allow me to introduce myself. Denise Crow.” She waved her hand again and lightly laughed when Casey slumped against the back of the loveseat. “There.” She wiggled one of her gray and thin fingers. “Now you can move around on the seat there, but let’s not try and leave again. I wouldn’t want to hold you in place again.”

Once the spell holding her in place wore off and the tingling in her arms subsided, Casey saw Denise and Vivienne on the sofa. What unfolded before Casey’s chocolate eyes was unbelievable to the young ward. “Viv?” Casey inquired as she looked over her mistress.

Spread out like the most beautiful model in the world, Vivienne lay on her side in a lacy white wedding nightgown outlined in pearls. Glued to her perfectly shaped hourglass body, Vivienne had a separate small cone brassiere that pushed up her plump breasts. Trailing down her bare tummy to her round hips, a set of tight lacy white panties outlined and pushed against her deep purple pussy with a tiny spot that emanated the scent of rosemary. Topping off her fifties wedding night look, Vivienne had a set of blue bellflowers as a corsage delicately affixed to her wrist. “You mean Marion?” Denise nodded and kept running her fingers through Vivienne’s short black hair. “I see, she is going by Vivienne these days.” Denise bent over and kissed the top of her captive's head. “She is home now, so the illusion isn’t necessary. Marion is her name, Miss Rivers.”

“Vivienne?” Casey began to stand up when she saw the undead finger from Denise point outward. “Right, I am not allowed to move.”

Denise tilted Vivienne’s head back and kissed her lightly on her faded rose lips. “She learns quickly, Marion.” She sighed and let Vivienne resume her former pose. “Casey. I can sense that you and Brian have resolved your issue, I do wish you hadn’t killed my student.” Dancing her fingers across Vivienne’s breasts then across the vampire's tummy Denise purred lightly before resuming her little speech. “Sometimes love works out and sometimes it doesn’t.” Acting as though she didn’t have a care in the world, Denise twirled Vivienne’s hair in between her fingers, “I feel like I have known you forever as well. Brian even created his own visage of you at the quarry a few days ago.”

“I don’t know who you are. Vivienne hasn’t mentioned you at all.” Casey calmly stated.

Growling lightly, Denise’s yellow eyes began to glow intently. “You will call her by her real name, little girl. Marion.” She curled her green hand up. “That is strike two. One more time and I will have to take action.” Denise whispered into Vivienne’s ear. “Perhaps you want to reinforce it for me?”

Casey held up her hands, “No need. I didn’t mean to upset you, Miss Crow. I am just used to calling Marion by her current name. It won’t happen again.”

Petting Vivienne like a little dog, Denise settled back and smiled. “Thank you, Casey.” Denise flipped her long gray-black hair over one of her dead shoulders. “Yes, yes…I know I can see your past, but it is so much better to share like this.” Denise casually dipped her finger below the waistline of Vivienne’s tight panties then withdrew quickly. “Not right now. I remember that you like being discreet, Marion.” Denise slipped her own black hair to the side and kissed Vivienne once more, lingering on her lips. “Mmmhm…I am just so excited to have you home. We have to clear up these last few outlying issues before we can continue our lives.”

“You know, if you want to cuddle..um..Marion…” Casey peered into Vivienne’s icy blue eyes, “She has the most adorable fox form. Cute little black ears, silver fur and a fluffy tail.” Denise clapped her hands and laughed, “Oh, my…you are a clever girl.” Denise clapped her hands lightly. “It’s settled. Casey I think we can keep you around for daytime activities with myself.” Denise shook her head, “It’s been such a long time and while it’s a tempting offer, I prefer her like this.”

Casey shrugged, “You know about me through Brian, so why don’t you start the evening. Tell me about yourself and how you came to know Marion.”

Wiggling her partly misshapen nose, Denise looked at the empty coffee table. “I am a rude hostess.” Denise partly turned back to where the others had gathered for their gifts and flicked two fingers, levitating a teapot along with a tea bag and a small cup then floated them over. “Tea?” Denise raised one of her long sinister black eyebrows.

“No thank you.” Casey quickly frowned and realized she hated any mention of the word. “I’m good, thanks.” When the items landed quietly on the table Casey shifted as far away from the table as she could. “I am just excited to hear about you both.”

Adjusting the black intricate collar on her trumpet dress, Denise took the time to study Casey. “I will be happy to tell you our love story in just a few minutes.” Denise raised one of her long eyebrows. “Casey. While I have decided that you are useful to Marion and myself, do not be fooled by my .. generosity.” A green solid beam shot from her palm to the second floor and wrapped itself around another doll and made it fly straight to Denise’s hand. “While not as intricate as my Marion’s, this will certainly do the trick for you.”

Feeling sharp needles shoot through her body, Casey felt her body lock up once more. Unlike the spell that simply moved her across the room, this variation came complete with intense pain. “No…need…” Casey pleaded as the pain engulfed her and tears flowed down her cheeks. “Please…too…too…”

Denise made Vivienne stoically sit up and she wistfully walked over to Casey and scooped a set of twin tears on her fingers. “These will do just fine.” Streaking the salty liquid down the length of the clay doll, Denise flicked her finger and released Casey. “Do we have an understanding now?” Denise blinked her devilish yellow-red eyes and smiled. “I did it out of love, you know.”

“Brian said the same things.” Casey muttered and flopped backwards on the loveseat, thankful that the needles were no longer driven into her nerves. “I am not convinced that this is love.” Casey amended as she rubbed the pain from her wrists. “I can’t see how causing pain is showing love.”

Weaving her green light all around the clay figure, Denise nodded slowly as she willed the doll to take a miniature form of Casey. “Brian was not quite ready to deal with love in a positive manner.” Denise blew on the doll as if to dry paint. “None of them really understood.” Swirling her long green dress, Denise spun and walked back to the sofa. “Perhaps Raollet. The rest?” Smoothing her silky dress beneath her bottom, Denise gracefully sat down and displayed the doll. “My lovely Casey, Everything you see here was in preparation for my Marion to come back to my arms.” Denise snapped her fingers, making the marionette force Vivienne back into her lap. “There we go, my love.” Setting the doll beside the marionette, Denise crossed the little figure’s legs.

When she felt her muscles involuntarily move to make her legs cross, Casey lost any pretense of being happy. “Okay, you made your point. I don’t need to be controlled.”

“You’d be amazed at what small enchantments can accomplish.” Denise started twisting Vivienne’s hair through her hands again. “I get to maintain things without the expenditure of..

we will just call it energy.” Denise traced her long fingers around the perfect curves of Vivienne’s face. “So many great topics. Where to start?” Denise nibbled on her lip a moment. “Casey. Let’s begin with you.”

“I can’t wait.” Casey sighed and pointed down. “May I have control of my legs back, please?”

Denise nodded, “Certainly. You can move now.” She pointed to the young ward. “Let’s bring up a perspective.” Denise waved her hand at the floor for a moment and like creating a small movie set, Vivienne’s Virginia Beach home appeared with Casey and Vivienne discussing Casey’s wardship. “The past is at my fingertips.” Denise winked. “I don’t suppose we need the dialogue?”

“No, I know what happened.” Casey sighed and scooted back in her seat, rubbing her legs.

“Excellent!” Denise bent over and kissed Vivienne’s ear. “You picked the perfect cover, my love. I know while you care for her, you are not in love with her.” Denise’s red behind the yellow in her eyes seemed to flare, “You are beautiful. Eye Candy. When you walk by, people turn their heads and look. You get attention with those little pouty lips of yours.” Denise blew lightly and made the image disappear in a cloud of sand. “That makes you extremely useful, so I agree with Marion’s assessment of your value.”

“Viv-Marion would never describe what we have like that. I gave myself to her because I felt the connection, not some arbitrary value.” Casey took a deep breath and glanced over to Faye.

Denise dismissed Casey’s response with a light hand wave. “Tell yourself whatever you need to.” Denise paused and looked at Faye as well. “Love will come in time.”

“Tell yourself whatever you need to as well.” Casey uttered too fast to take back.

Denise lightly laughed, “Let’s see now. What was the next topic?” She pointed to Casey. “Come over here. Marion is quite hungry, I have looked at the red ring in her eyes too long now.” Denise gently turned Vivienne’s head and looked into the vampire’s blue eyes. “No need to suffer needlessly, right darling?”

Having never seen Vivienne with deep red rings surrounding her soft blue eyes, Casey hesitated for a brief moment. “Um..Denise, can Marion respond if I ask her a question?”

“Scared?” Denise’s thin wiry smile crossed her black lips.

Casey shook her head, “Not at all. I would just like to speak to Marion.” She reflected on the double commands still in her head. -No Fear, Keep calm.-

Denise cleared Vivienne’s bangs from her eyes, “My Marion has always been able to speak. She is just being shy. The marionette is just keeping her complacent with her body.” Denise wiggled her fingers, “When she first saw me she was so overwrought with excitement that her claws did a little damage that I had to recover from.”

Casey looked over the barn as she walked over to Vivienne. First kneeling down, Casey scooted over to Vivienne and placed her hand softly on the ancient vampire’s cheek and warmly smiled, “You are a work of art, Marion.” Casey winked, “I can’t find a flaw in..you.” Pushing her long curly hair away from her neck, Casey leaned forward, “Take your time, I will think about the manor…oh..” Casey winked, “..Leave the marks.”

Vivienne felt the magic of the marionette fade into the background much like a movie would change scenes like a slow fade. “Interesting choice, my ward. I will endeavor to comply with your.. request.” Vivienne knew that her captor was making a grave mistake by letting her feed from her ward that was already laden with her own vampiric magic. While not as strong as Faye’s blood to her, Vivienne did get a slight surge of balance and strength from ward-blood. “Allow me to take advantage of this..perk.” Vivienne’s gleaming white fangs quickly locked in place and her mouth began to lightly water anticipating the relief that Casey’s blood would provide to her burning throat.

Casey shivered as Vivienne’s fangs pierced her skin with a slight tear and pinch of pain.

“Mmm..oh…yesss..” Feeling the rush of exciting pain, Casey wrapped her hands around Vivienne and kept her mistress close as Vivienne gently pulled the blood from the four holes in her neck. Casey blearily looked up at Denise with her swimmy brown eyes, “Miss Crow, thank you for this. Your…mmm, love is generous.”

Blood. Source of life and power. Arterial and thick, Vivienne felt her body re-energize to match the excitement that Casey had experienced from the four bites. -Somehow she knew.- Vivienne told herself as she counted to eighteen in her head. Blood swirling on her tongue, Vivienne carefully plugged the four holes and blew on the clots she’d created. Keeping to the more formal tone that Casey had started Vivienne gently smiled, “An experiment if you will, Miss Rivers.” Vivienne pulled away and settled back in Denise’s lap. “You wanted a work of … art on your neck, A real artist tries new techniques.”

Denise clapped and leaned over to give Vivienne another kiss. “Yes, Marion. I knew you would start to remember how things were before you left.” Denise waved Casey away. “Remember that generosity in the coming years. You may take your seat now.” Looking down at her prized possession, Denise cooed lightly, “Show me your eyes, Darling.”

With new blood coursing through her, Vivienne knew that the red hunger rings would have disappeared from her eyes and restored her enchanting blue orbs. Unwilling to lose the small amount of movement she was allowed to have, Vivienne turned slowly and gazed at the gray face hovering above her.

“There they are. Unique, sparkles of unwavering blue.” Denise trailed one of her long black fingernails over Vivienne’s cheeks. “You are the only vampire I have ever seen with blue eyes, Marion. Made for me.”

Clearing her throat softly, Casey waited until Denise had looked at her before pulling her knees to her chest. “I could go upstairs and admire your studio, if you both need time alone.” She meekly hid behind her knees and gazed up. “You..you have so many wonderful pieces up there.”

Gently rubbing the tattoos that adorned her cheeks, Denise sat for a moment contemplating. “I do want some alone time with Marion, but that will be later.” Pride welled up within her after the praise of her artwork, “You have lots of time to gaze over my studio. I would have pointed you to the house where I have other pieces, but you and Brian seemed to have created quite the mess over there.”

-Mess. Whatever.- Casey thought as she kept her knees tightly against her. “How..how many more pieces do you have?”

“All in due time, My dear girl.” Denise gently traced her fingers over Vivienne’s ears, “I have it all sectioned off..by..”

Casey lifted her head up and smiled, “By your flow…my mom calls it her flow.”

Clearing the gray-black hair from the front of her face when a slight breeze passed through the barn, Denise carefully folded the strands back to their place behind her ear. “That is certainly one way of putting it. Phase is another and yet a third is called their period.” Denise pressed her black stained lips on Vivienne’s forehead, “Let’s explore this topic a bit more shall we? You did say you were excited to hear about us.” Denise watched as Casey slowly nodded her head. “You see, art is how I met my lovely Marion. Did you know she was a model?” Denise laughed and gazed longingly into Vivienne’s eyes. “I was so young, in my final year of the art institute.”