“You already owe me a story about a key or something.” Casey offered and crossed her arms defensively. “Yet you went and flittered off before you finished that.” Casey wiggled one of her hands like a little bird flying off.

Faye turned in a circle looking around at the edges of the woods that surrounded the farm. “You know, Vivienne forgets what she is going to say as well.” Faye stopped turning and pointed across the street. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news..” Faye reached for her second bag of blood and drained the contents dry, licking her lips afterward. “..But I think the witch went that way.”

“Please, my love. Refrain from telling our friends that I have issues with recollection. I am very aware of the conversations we have had.” Vivienne calmly called out with her light accent from within the barn. “What is surprising is that you haven’t figured out that I answer questions put to me in my own way and in my own time, Faye.”

Sylvie followed Faye’s finger and laughed, “I think that is the section of woods where Vivienne charmed the dog.”

Casey and Faye started giggling and looked at the barn as Vivienne spoke. “I would prefer we not speak about that little song and dance. I assure you the dog is resting comfortably.”

Walking down the path towards the street, Faye looked over her shoulder to the others. “You were saying key?”

Following suit, Sylvie first picked up the rucksack and then trudged down the rocky path in pursuit of Faye. “Oh, right. The key.” Sylvie giggled, “That is easy. You heard the explosions, right?”

“Who didn’t?” Faye responded.

Casey wrapped her arms through Sylvie’s and kept pace, “Um, why are we leaving without Vivienne?” Casey looked back at the barn when she heard a few pieces of wood breaking.

“I am aching to hunt something since I have been laying in place getting somewhat abused for the last few hours.” Faye marched to the edge of the woods and sniffed the air before crossing into the darkened forest. “Besides, the faster we catch up to her, the better.” She looked back at the other two women following her. “Let’s not give Denise time to recuperate.”

Sylvie stopped for a moment and took both of Casey’s hands into her own. “I didn’t mean to upset you.” Her irises phased into half-moons when she continued. “First, the key and string..that was an indication of electricity.” Sylvie hopped in place playfully for a moment, “That was how I knew how to use the cluster bomb thing.”

Faye traversed through the trees not leaving a sound as she passed, “That is a strange gift, it would drive me crazy.” Faye turned as soon as she heard crunching of leaves and sticks behind her. “Casey, you are like a herd tramping through here. Be a little more quiet.” She winked and smiled.

Pulling her hands free from Sylvie’s light grip, Casey looked up at the sky and started rubbing her temples lightly trying to fend off the growing headache she was getting. “Unreal.” Taking a deep breath, Casey stopped short of screaming at her two companions. “How the hell are any of us not batshit crazy right now?” She stomped her foot and then pointed behind her, “Bombs, strange bubble white stuff, a fucking honest to god necromancer just tried to kill us with walking dead..” Casey started breathing faster and her comments came out faster, “..Vampires fly away and come back, blood in tow..” Casey stumbled and leaned against a tree for support. “..You three, meaning Vivienne included are acting like it’s a normal fucking afternoon in the park.” Sliding down the length of the tree, Casey slowed her breathing and tried to calm down. “Human? Is it because I am the only living person among us?” She wiggled her finger, “A dangerous situation, I am aware.” She started tapping on her ample chest. “Painfully aware that I could be early morning breakfast.”

“Drama queen.” Faye laughed and kept her steady pace through the tall pines. “My motive is good old-fashioned revenge.” Faye deftly marched past a low branch and continued, “When I used to do my whole Cyberlily thing, I would get angry and then I would calm down.” She stopped and looked up at the stars to get her reference point before she kept walking. “Then I would design the means to overcome what my opponent had created.” Faye pointed in the distance, “If what I saw on that T.V. was right, then we have about a mile or so remaining before the mine entrance.” Faye heard a small creek and kept to the left, “God knows I love having my memory back, stay to the left here and we follow the creek.”

Squatting down beside Casey, Sylvie gave the young woman a brief hug. “I didn’t think about how this would look to you, Sorry.” Gripping Casey’s hand once more, Sylvie continued. “When I flew off, it was because I knew we needed blood.” Sylvie stopped and pondered momentarily, “I mean I knew I needed it, I also needed more clothing.” She pointed at her new set of military clothing, complete with green and beige digital camouflage. “You didn’t even ask where my dress was.” Sylvie added, giggling lightly.

“Sorry.” Casey muttered and leaned against Sylvie resting her eyes. “I have been a bit preoccupied given Denise just had me pretty much frozen on some loveseat, then tried to kill me.” Casey sighed, “I apologize for not noticing that you’d joined the army.” Poking at Sylvie’s cargo pocket on her pants, Casey added, “The dog tags? You were going to tell us about the tags?”

Sylvie stood up and pulled Casey to her feet and pointed to Faye who was fading in the distance. “Yes, I will. We have to keep up with her though.”

Sighing as she walked, Casey nodded. “I was comfy, damn it.” Casey raised her voice a bit so Faye was sure to hear it. “We should wait for Vivienne, you know.”

“She can track us easily enough.” Faye’s answer lightly echoed off the trees. “It’s also keeping my mind off the fact she is naked and I can’t get her image out of my mind.” Faye felt a little twinkle-twinge pulse from between her legs. “It is taking all that I have not to go back and jump all over her.” Suddenly overwhelmed with the scent of rosemary, Faye stopped marching and doubled over like she was in pain. Images of Vivienne’s sculpted legs flexing and relaxing as she walked in the high-cut white thong made Faye reach out and grip a pine tree until the bark and wood shattered in her hands. -Have mercy. I can see her and feel her now.- Desperately trying to fight the erotic heat swelling within her, Faye pushed herself hard from the tree and resumed marching. Walking oddly for a time so she could attempt to dry the wetness that had covered her inner thighs, Faye barely registered that the tree had snapped and crashed with a loud bang.

“How’s about keeping the noise down, Faye.” Casey laughed then turned to Sylvie. “I think we all know what just happened to Faye.” Casey touched her nose and then winked at Sylvie. “So you were going to tell me the story? I need the distraction to keep me sane.”

Reaching into her pants pocket, Sylvie pulled the small metal tags free and dangled them. “I picked them up just before we finished things with Brian.” Sylvie shrugged, “I didn’t know what they meant at the time so I just wrapped them around my wrist.” Flicking her wrist and hand, the tags circled and tightened around Sylvie’s wrist and she palmed them. “You headed up towards the barn and I flew off.”

“Yes.” Casey sarcastically commented, “You mentioned it was a blood thing before.”

Nodding in agreement, Sylvie picked up the pace so they two would eventually catch up to Faye. “My initial thought was to head to the closest hospital and raid their trauma reserves.” Whirling her finger to simulate an emergency light, Sylvie took a breath and kept talking. “The closer I got to Petersburg the more lights I saw. The effects of the attack were still being dealt with.”

“That bad huh?” Casey quipped.

Nodding in agreement as her eyes shifted to the blackness of a new moon, Sylvie squeezed Casey’s hand tight. “The fallout from it will be monumental.” Sylvie stopped for a split second looking into the distance, then shook herself free. “Anyway, I knew that going anywhere near a facility in the city would likely be overrun.” She flipped the tags from her hand once more, “So I remembered the small base on the outskirts of town, Fort Gregg.”

Raising one of her light brown eyebrows and shaking her head, Casey responded, “I don’t know what you are talking about, I don’t know the area really.”

Sylvie laughed, “That’s fine, it's all just part of the story anyway. The important thing is to know I went to the base.” She tugged on her own clothing. “I knew from just basic conversations that the base is a quartermaster school, so while I was searching for blood, I knew I could also find clothing to wear.” Catching the scent of lilies mixed with chai, Sylvie pointed in front of her. “We are almost to Faye.” She paused, “I found a small warehouse that had most anything you’d need to outfit a soldier.” She pointed to her boots. “I quickly grabbed things I knew would fit myself and Vivienne, then headed out of the building.”

“That doesn’t resolve the blood?” Casey added.

Sylvie chuckled and slowed down to match Faye’s pace. “No, it doesn’t. But this does.” She pointed to the name on the tag, ‘Kino’. “Imagine my surprise that the street I was standing on was named Kino Way.”

Faye stopped walking and looked at the elder vampire. “You have got to be kidding me.” She shook her head in disbelief. “Again, that would drive me crazy.”

“Oh, it gets better.” Sylvie quickly added and nudged the group forward. “I followed the sign for the hospital and found that it was nearly empty and who it was named after rooted the feeling in stone.”

“Which was?” Casey asked.

Sylvie dropped the dog tags on the ground and kept walking, “The Reverend Derek Kino Memorial Hospital.”

“No fucking way.” Faye stumbled on a raised root and caught herself just before she fell.

Reaching out to help Faye by grabbing her arm, Sylvie laughed. “I am seldom shocked by the little puzzles that come to light when I see something or get a feeling.” She paused for another breath, “Since the facility was not part of the immediate emergency situation, the place was all but empty.” She patted one of her cargo pockets where a blood bag was stashed, “I helped myself to their supply, and used the backpack I found in the warehouse to bring back enough for everyone.”

“I need to be around to see you do something like that again, so cool.” Casey laughed.

A few minutes after the conversation ended, the trio reached the mine entrance and found the metal door to the entrance secured. Squatting down and turning her ear to the cave’s depths Faye held her finger to her lips and listened intently.

“The creek is draining in there somewhere, I can hear it.” Faye whispered and looked at her companions. “It also smells like dried blood in there, almost like rust.”

Tapping on the unused rail beneath their feet, Casey snickered. “Rust? This doesn’t look to be in the best of shape, Faye.” Casey studied the entrance and the bars on the gate. “This is it. I remember it from the TV and the thing Denise showed us.”

“So we go in.” Faye half snarled. “Part of me wants to do to her what I did to Drake.” Reaching out with one hand, Faye gripped the gate and yanked it from its hinges.

When the sound of breaking metal clashed with the screeching of the hinges partly turning, Sylvie put her hands over her ears to drown out the reverberation in the forest. “I think she knows we are here now. What happened to stealth? We could have surprised her.”

Blinking and tilting her head, Casey was reminded of the presentation that Denise had given her. “You know, I swear that gate shouldn’t have been there. The vampire chasing her tore it off the hinges just like you did just now Faye.” Casey shook off the strange feeling. “It was the breaking of the metal that made me think of it. Strange.”

Tossing the heavy door to the side, Faye shook her head and replied to Sylvie. “I doubt it, she’s been a step ahead of us the entire time. It was sheer luck that I fooled her long enough for us to get free.” Shrugging her shoulders, Faye looked at Casey. “Maybe she replaced it. I don’t think it matters really.”

“Going in is probably a bad idea.” Casey spoke up and nibbled nervously on her lip. “Faye, she froze me without a word and flew me to a loveseat before I knew what was going on.” Casey walked to the side of the entrance and leaned against the dirt mound that the mine was carved into. “I don’t know if you recall, but this is the cave where she captured a vampire and used its blood to reveal things on the stones.”

“So, the source of her magic?” Sylvie inquired. “I wasn’t there for all this ; you have mentioned a television a couple times now.” Pursing her lips and thinking for a couple of seconds, Sylvie took off her rucksack and set it beside Casey. “I take it that is how she laid out everything that happened?”

Snickering lightly as she walked into the dark hill, Faye snorted, “Yeah, her monologue.” A concerned look came over Faye and she looked at Sylvie, her green eyes blazing. “Why are you leaving the blood out here?”

Emptying her cargo pockets of her reserves, Sylvie answered quickly. “In case we need it later, and so she can’t use it. Casey just said that she used blood to reveal things in the rock.”

“Good plan.” Casey pushed herself from the hillside and peeked in the entrance. “Something tells me this is another trap.”

Just like the images cast from the TV, the cave glittered with the shine of copper through the walls and bore the marks where heavy picks had once pulled the semi-precious metal from the earth. Slowly and steadily the little rail system sloped downward and deeper into the earth, exposing the ancient root systems adding moisture to the air making it more dense as the small group made their way through the winding path. Heavy beams of squarely cut pine appeared at regular intervals, seemingly holding up the weight of the earth and reinforcing the walls so it wouldn’t collapse on itself.

Walking past an overturned mine cart, Faye peeked into the small bucket and saw it was half full of copper. “I never thought I would actually be in a dungeon.”

Curious about the comment Faye just uttered, Sylvie tapped her friend on the shoulder. “Dungeon? Sorry, I don’t get the reference.” She looked around the shaft, her eyes settling into quarter moons as she did so. “Looks like a deeply dug mine to me. Oddly, not mined clean of metal.”

“Don’t dungeons have chains and cuffs to hold people?” Casey added while clutching at her chest lightly. “Man it's hard to breathe down here. Denise failed to mention that in her little presentation.” Looking behind her for the entrance, Casey felt a little dread settle on her. “I wonder where Vivienne is.”

Spinning around after Sylvie touched her, Faye stopped her pace downward. “A game,

Sylvie. A series of games really, including video games.” Faye closed her eyes and concentrated for a moment. “I used to be sort of a room bound geek that enjoyed imagining places like this.” Going silent, Faye focused and thought about Vivienne for a couple seconds. “Mmmm, I like this. Casey, she’s fine. If what I feel is right, she’s looking for something.”

Stepping back and wrapping her arm around Casey’s waist, Sylvie smiled. “Here, lean against me and you worry about breathing. I can hold your weight without any problem.” She chuckled a bit. “I suppose being a vampire in this situation is a bonus.”

Faye reached a small junction where the tunnel split into four directions. “Here I am without my twenty-sided.” She looked back at Casey and Sylvie. “I was following the sound of water, but it’s coming from all directions now.”

Light headed from the lessening of oxygen to breathe, Casey felt herself swaying as Sylvie held her. “I…I can’t seem to remember much about the inside of this place, I think Denise glossed over all of it to brag about the cave or something.” Casey yawned and laid her head on Sylvie’s shoulder before closing her eyes. “I just re..remember her falling through a hole in the floor, into a big blue cave.”

“Yeah.” Faye turned in time to see Casey’s eyes shut, “Hey!” She shook the ward and made her lift her head. “No sleeping on the job. Stay awake.” Faye glared at Sylvie, “Make sure she keeps her eyes open while we figure out where to go.”

“Jus..just make me like..” Casey yawned again and smiled at Sylvie. “..like you two.”

Both vampires shook their heads simultaneously, with Sylvie speaking first. “That wouldn’t solve anything, Casey. You’d be out for a few hours and then wake up almost unable to think of anything except feeding. Besides, I don’t think that is a decision to be made just because you are lightheaded.”

“That is up to you and Vivienne.” Faye added and placed her hand on the rusted metal cart rail. “Naturally we are without the hunter and tracker…However…” Feeling the water passing beneath them, Faye looked up and smiled. “I have a hunch that what we are looking for is hidden just below us.” Standing up and going to the far left branch, Faye touched the other walls and rocky floors in the other directions before making up her mind. “This keeps with the idea that the creek is to our left.” She motioned for Sylvie to follow, “It won’t be much longer, assuming we can find the entrance.”

Sylvie shook Casey and made her open her eyes once more. “Faye we have to back out, she’s not going to last much longer down here.” Glancing up, Sylvie spotted a small birdcage with little bones scattered below. “Oh, right. They used canaries to determine toxicity for the air.” She wrinkled her nose, “It is telling that the cage is here at this junction.” Kissing the top of

Casey’s curly auburn hair, Sylvie urged once more, “Let me get you topside, You wait on Vivienne and I will escort Faye.”

Lifting her head and pushing herself so she could stand, Casey shook her head. “No..I..” She took a wheezing breath, “I will be alright, We aren’t splitting up again.” Relying on the ongoing commands that Vivienne placed in her mind, Casey focused on the depth of shaft the group decided to take. “This somehow feels familiar.” She pointed to the curve in the tunnel, “There might be another overturned cart?” Spotting a long handled rusted pickaxe, Casey opted to use the long wooden pole to lean on and walk. “I need to support myself to stay awake, Sylvie. Thank you though.”

Reaching out to take both of their hands, Faye led the small group another few hundred feet down and around the bend and spotted the cart Casey mentioned. “You were right.” Looking back, Faye smiled at Casey. “So the entrance should be around h…” Taking one final step, Faye’s foot lost solid ground and when she tumbled through the illusionary floor, she dragged her companions with her. “Heeeeerrreee!!!”

-Splash!-

All three women landed in a vast pool of blue, sending water all over the corners of the large blue sparking cave.

Cresting the surface of the cold water, Casey coughed and spit the water from her chest easily and swam for the edge. Pulling herself out of the water first, Casey reached down and helped the twin vampires out and then sat on the smooth floor. “That was invigorating.”

“Welcome.” Denise laughed from the other side of the cavern. “I was wondering what was keeping you.”

Poking through the floorboards that she’d ripped up and found nothing, Vivienne placed her hands on her bare hips and took a steady breath. -I have to be missing something.- She told herself and turned to face the expertly crafted statue of the news woman Wendy Richards. Walking over to get a closer look, Vivienne peered closely and noticed that the statue was almost lifelike in its appearance. Risking a touch, she placed her hand on the stone and felt it to be warm to the touch.

-Should be as cold as the rest of the works in here.- Vivienne thought to herself and walked around the sculpture before seeing an oddity. Trailing a couple of her fingers over the bridge of the solid nose, Vivienne felt a small divot at the inner corner of the eye socket. A quick tingle went down the length of Vivienne’s spine as she came to the realization of what she was studying.

-Somehow you are a statue. There’d be no reason to have the injuries sustained from a lobotomy on a work of art.- Vivienne took a step back and with a brief look of bewilderment in her blue eyes, balled up her fist and punched through the shaped marble and stone, sending pieces of the stone and dust through the air. Much like she’d picked through the wood of the floor, Vivienne looked inside the remains of the statue for any hint of the piece Casey had referenced.

-It has to be up here somewhere.- Convinced that there were no hollow parts to the remains of the figurine, Vivienne slowly walked along the sections of the makeshift museum of art looking for clues. Carefully pulling each item off the wall and studying the frames and the canvases within, Vivienne shook her head in frustration.

-What am I missing? The house perhaps?- Vivienne looked out of the open barn doors and at the broken white washed home and ruled it out immediately.

-No. She even kept the marionette in here. This is the heart of her creative process.- Trailing the gray painted lines along the wall, Vivienne used her fingers to feel for possible hidden compartments that the walls could have hidden. After ten minutes of feeling the same grain in the wall without any evidence of a patch or offset seam, Vivienne admitted to herself that the walls were solid and held nothing of interest other than the frames attached to them.

Sensing a color difference from the corner of her eyes, Vivienne raised one of her long eyelashes and walked back to the series of comics hanging nondescript out for everyone to see. -Why didn’t I see this before?- Vivienne smiled and shook her head as she looked into her own eyes gleaming back at her from the cover of the first comic book. Lightly flicking the glass that protected the thin sheets of glossy paper, Vivienne shattered the protective barrier and pulled the small book free of its confines.

Beyond the bloody visage of the title she’d noticed before of ‘Vampire Vixens’, Vivienne saw that the rest of the cover was covered in smears of black, green and teal that blended and highlighted her own sparkling blue eyes while a set of women in the background were set in various poses mostly kissing and hugging. Opening the cover, Vivienne quickly flipped through the contents of the story and once she reached the end, set the book down. -The entire first night, almost to the letter of what she showed us on the screen.-

Shattering the other frames, Vivienne gathered the other twenty books and quickly read the contents of them all, the cartoon images providing slices of the story at a time with bubbled conversations and fantastic magic riddled through the horror concepts that they all had. Unlike a normal comic, the usually blank frames to separate concepts and action within the colorful story it meant to provide these frames were outlined in strange symbols. -Hieroglyphs?- Vivienne wondered to herself as she learned more and more about her enemy.

Half way through the stack, Vivienne came to a particular section within the kyanite cave and re-read it three times to be sure. Visually the art depicted vampire blood on the floor revealing glyphs and the heroine gleaning a powerful spell. Much like Casey predicted and Vivienne suspected, the heroine created an art piece and then covered herself in tattoos that matched Denise’s line by line. Frame by frame Vivienne studied how the glyphs in the pictures glowed and the kyanite dissolved into the markings on the woman until the living body was replaced by the gray matter looking woman with black hair. Green chat bubbles outlined with black pronounced to the world what the woman had become. Four letters in neat calligraphy that spread in an arc through the bubble spelled out ‘Lich’ while the woman below the revelation had her hands raised with green streaks of lightning pouring from her fingers, streaking across the frame itself as though the sparks would jump from the page.

Studying the different panels on subsequent pages, Vivienne learned all she needed to about the creature that Denise had become. Foremost Vivienne figured out that Denise was no longer living and just as much undead as she was. -You don’t use blood, but you do use energy.- Tracing the words on the pages, Vivienne determined that Denise’s magic worked almost like starting a fire. Flipping through more of the vague text and pictures, Vivienne calculated that most of the time the lich needed to be clear minded, have an energy source and a spark. Picking up a few of the books she’d read, Vivienne backtracked until she found what she was looking for. Food. Massive intake of calories provided the base energy needed to use the magic. Kyanite could be used as a supplement or even to enhance the spell being used. -Source. What changed?- Vivienne re-read after the lich proclamation and smiled. The source shifted from eating to draining. Pages of withered husks combined with the ever present mineral kyanite reinforced Vivienne’s suspicions. -You take their life. The healthier the more latent energy.-

Pages upon pages of dark images bounced through Vivienne’s mind as she learned the depth of Denise’s plan to get ‘her Marion’ back. -Pictures do speak a thousand words.- Vivienne reflected as she deciphered the artwork. The approach was simple, first start small. Change and alter the mind of one, then two. Two will turn to four and four to eight. Provide the group what they want and give them power to effect change. Define your enemy, show them the depravity and what they are doing. -In this case, vampires proved to be the best and most nightmarish.- Vivienne read on. Show them that they are chosen, they are unique and are the saviors. Place a neat and pretty bow on it in the name of love. Noticing that there were runic teal hearts all over the pages, Vivienne tossed the book on the pile with the others.

-Once they love you, they will follow without question.- Vivienne commented to herself and sighed, still looking for the one thing that could tip the odds in her favor. Pages of deception filled Vivienne’s mind as she watched the lich recruit, train then release the hatred on her vampire brethren. The Awakened weren’t just soldiers, they were latent energy to be fed from. They did her bidding without question and many pictures showed them worshiping Denise, kissing her toes. Vivienne read past the rise of ‘The Darla’s’ four champions, and focused on the others. Lines of people standing at Denise’s kitchen door, all hungry, all with the look of heaven in their eyes. Panel after panel showed the lich corralling three into the farmhouse, and only two would emerge.

-Extermination to the extreme.- Spells on the pages told Vivienne that ‘The Loved One’ would simply erase or replace the people that disappeared, like they never existed. -Nothing here is telling me how..- Stopping in mid thought, Vivienne’s mouth hung open when she watched Denise’s magic weave its way through the earth and find her bronze canister. Drawn in impeccable detail, Vivienne witnessed the magic steal a handful of her grave soil while sacrificing a fist sized piece of kyanite as well as three of Denise’s devoted. Frantically scanning the pages, Vivienne stopped when she saw what looked to be a man hunched over a bench working on the quartz that adorned the ferronnière.

Although shadowed, Vivienne easily made out that the jeweler was of Italian descent and there was only one person she knew that understood the potential of crystal. -Sebastian. Brother you are supposed to be dead and underwater.- A few pages later, Denise was tearing open a package and unwrapping the ferronnière from a little piece of paper with the initials C.D. imprinted like a watermark on the page.

-Denise is bad enough.- Vivienne rubbed her temples and set the book of betrayal on top of the others. Pacing across the floor for a few minutes, Vivienne pushed the fact her brethren brother was still alive and focused on Denise. -One thing at a time.- Walking back to the pile of comics, Vivienne picked up the first couple and turned each page again looking for something to help her.

This time Vivienne found what she was looking for. Chiseling the portrait in her mind, Vivienne saw Denise and Marion wrapped around each other in Denise’s bedroom. Dropping the book and letting it land with a heavy thud; Vivienne took off to the back side of the loft and found the plain white wooden door closed with the bronze door knob begging to be used.

Twisting the knob and opening the door revealed the room to look almost like a partial set from a movie studio that was trapped in the 1950s. Devoid of any curtains, Vivienne noticed that the walls were made of natural paneling and the wide wooden floors covered with a tan carpet made of early nylon. Just like what she’d seen in Denise's little tale, there was a small dresser along with a double sized sleigh bed.

Laying in the bed under a small pile of blankets, Vivienne saw a body sized lump carefully positioned to appear like whatever was under the covers was resting peacefully. Gripping the edge, Vivienne pulled away the heavy cotton to reveal a mannequin on its side. Unlike other nondescript models used in a store, this one was carefully crafted to emulate every angle and curve that matched Vivienne, down to carefully painted blue eyes that nearly matched her own.

-Fake as the tale you believe.- Vivienne told herself and had a quick revelation. Reaching for the head of the model, Vivienne pulled the long black silky wig off and flipped it in her hands a few seconds before noticing the rest of the garments the mannequin was dressed in. Quickly pulling off the maroon button blouse and the tight-fitting black pencil skirt, Vivienne pulled the clothing onto her naked frame as she practiced the voice she’d recalled Marion using.

“Not a dream, Denise..” Vivienne’s voice came out as her own light French. Adjusting her tone as she spoke Vivienne replayed the tone in her head from the television. “Not a dream, Miss Crow..Denise…” Vivienne pulled the wig on her head and wiggled it in place so that the bangs hung over her forehead and finally got the voice to match perfectly with what she heard. “Mmm, My dear…” Vivienne purred seductively, “...Denise…I’ll always be with you.”

Satisfied that she would easily pass for what Denise thought of with Marion, Vivienne headed for the door and stopped when she spotted her bare feet. -Heels or boots?- Spinning around, Vivienne searched under the bed and found the black calf length boots. Slipping her feet into the soft leather, she stomped them into place and tousled the wig to give it a little more volume. -Perfect.- Racing out of the door, Vivienne noticed Denise’s small art bag and then glanced at the discarded comics. Placing the stack back in order then inside the carry-all, Vivienne raced out of the barn and headed for the mine.

Minutes ticked away as Vivienne made her way to the mine entrance. Following both the heavy scent of fresh blood and the internal feeling of where Faye was, Vivienne knew that she was only a few minutes behind the small troupe that had gone to face Denise alone.

Tracking the blood to its source at the entrance, Vivienne knelt down and opened the small military ruck and pulled a couple bags of blood from it. -Finally.- Delving her four fangs into the thick plastic, Vivienne sucked the contents dry within seconds. Blood. Heavy and thick, the staunch liquid soothed the gnawing burn in Vivienne’s throat and reinvigorated the ancient vampire as it settled quietly in her stomach. With every passing second, Vivienne could feel the strength returning to her muscles and her body repairing itself. Discarding the first bag, Vivienne drained a second bag and then a third in rapid succession. Much like a person devoid of water from traveling in the desert, Vivienne had such a rush of power and relief from the crimson life-giving fluid that she dropped to her knees. Rubbing her temples lightly, Vivienne felt the cloudy haze erase from her mind and give her clarity of purpose. Shoving the empty containers back in the pack, Vivienne stood up and grabbed the art bag before she headed into the mine.

-It’s now or never.- Vivienne felt the near panic and concern Faye seemed to be emanating and headed down the thin passage quickly. Almost as if she were tracking her partner via radar, Vivienne made her way to the blue hued opening in the floor and peeked into the large cavern.

Unlike the vision that Vivienne was provided by Denise the first time, looking down into the deep cavern was akin to witnessing another world. Walls glittered with copper and kyanite along with seams of onyx glass that had been pressed into place by eons of pressure. Water fed in from one side, creating a small waterfall that reflected off the metallic walls as though pearls rolled down and splashed into the ice blue pool below. Stalagmites of salt and kyanite reached up from the flooring like inhuman fingers looking for the sky.

Wanting to get a better and more in-depth look, Vivienne slung the art tote over her shoulder and climbed into the strange cavern. Landing without a sound, Vivienne took a deep breath and instantly felt like she’d not only crossed into another world, but this naturally carved cavern didn’t enjoy her presence and wanted her gone.

“Well.” Vivienne looked around the cavern and addressed Denise. “You have kept yourself busy since I have been gone, Loved One.” Vivienne pointed to the smoothly shaped walls that had been carved to hold a myriad of artwork, specifically multiple rows of graphic novels to match what she was carrying in the back across her chest. “It was lovely for you to leave these where I could read them.” Vivienne walked slowly and clasped her hands behind her back, and observed a pair of twin copper tables that had been shaped directly from the earth. “Experiments, yes?” Vivienne ran her hand over the smooth surfaces and reached for a vial of red liquid on another carved shelf just above the tables.

“M..Marion?” Denise sat up on her rounded throne and blinked her mustard eyes. “I..I…you came.”

Sniffing the contents of the beaker, Vivienne turned Marion placed the crystal back in the neck and faced Denise. “As I promised, I was only ever a kiss away.” Spinning on her boot heel, Marion pointed to the three captives held in midair close to the twin tables. “Just like in the comic.” She patted the bag, “You caught them in your telekinesis.”

“You really read them?” Denise smiled and stood up, and waved her hand across her undead body resuming her living form. “Th..they are here to stop us..um..me.” She ran her hands through her dusky-blonde hair to allow the curls to reform. Sucking on her light red lips,

Denise took a hesitant step forward from her ornate chair, “I..I tried to do like you asked, Marion.”

Marion smiled and walked to the book shelf and began pulling the works out of the bag and placing them in the empty spaces. “Love in a positive light as I recall.”

“Like you asked.” Denise beamed and swaggered over to Marion. “Kiss me, it’s been too long.” Denise breathed in and laughed, “You remembered the lavender.”

Marion removed the bag and handed it to Denise, and then placed one finger on the woman’s lips. “All in due time, my lovely little morsel.” Vivienne walked around and placed her hands on Denise’s shoulders. “You were all obsessed with a test outside, now it is time to relax.” Getting close to her ear, Vivienne used some of her blood and forced her breath to smell like cherries. “You know…” She blew lightly across Denise’s long enough for the lich to smell the fruit, “...That vial over there reminded me of cherry-coke.”

Falling against Marion, Denise pulled her partner’s hands from over her shoulders and clutched them to her waist. “Y…you mentioned it was like we kissed.” Denise turned and

buried her face in Vivienne’s chest sighing gently. “It’s been so long.”

Observing that Denise’s eyes were closed, Vivienne swayed slowly until she managed to see Casey clearly and glared at her ward questioningly.

Comprehending what Vivienne was asking, Casey nodded and blinked her eyes repeatedly. -Please let her get that hint. Your eyes, Vivienne.-

Pressing a light kiss into the dirty-blonde hair, Marion let a longing purr from her chest and pulled away far enough for Denise to stare directly into her twinkling blue eyes. “Mmm, Loved One. Let me look at you.”

Denise lost herself in the swirling blue eyes that bore into her very being. “M…my pleasure, Marion. I could look into your eyes for an eternity.” Denise leaned up on her toes and stole a kiss from her Marion. “I said I wanted a kiss.” She giggled and took a happy step back, pointing to the raised dais where she’d carved out her seat. “If you notice, there is a place for you as well, Darling.”

“So much for looking into my eyes.” Vivienne made herself sound playfully sad. “Years go by and you can only stand here with me for a few seconds.”

Denise put her hands on her hips and shook her head stubbornly. “No, that isn’t it at all.” Tying her messy hair in a bun, Denise cupped Marion’s face and resumed looking into her blue eyes.

“Loved One…” Marion leaned to Denise’s hands lovingly. “...Like I promised, I am back.” Blinking her eyes softly, Vivienne continued, “...I didn’t expect this..all this..love.” Sliding one of Denise’s small hands from her cheek, Marion kissed the top and smiled. “It took me a little bit to understand from the comics you drew to understand the complexity. I thought you were a painter though.” Vivienne slipped in the comment and then pushed the straps of Denise’s dress down to reveal the teal flower pattern on her skin. “I get that you hid history and planning in the glossy pages, but where is the rest of your passion, Loved One?”

Jumping up and down happily, Denise pulled her dress back in place covering her flower. “Not in front of the guests please, Marion.” She winked and pointed to Marion’s corresponding throne. “You have a seat and I will show you everything I have, starting with the first time.”

Taking the opportunity to kiss Denise’s other hand, Vivienne swiveled on the back of her boot heel and began walking with the little hip bumps to mirror Marion walking up the stairs on their first night. Ascending to the top of the carefully carved dais, Vivienne decided to take a chance when she sat down. Turning to the side of her ornate chair, Marion stretched out the best she could to mimic how she posed during the class. “Shameful, My dear.” Vivienne teased and bounced her feet on the opposite arm of her seat. “I can’t stretch out comfortably, how will my darling artist capture this moment?” Focusing quickly on what Marion would do, Vivienne popped four buttons free on her tight red blouse, showing off the curvature of her supple breasts.

Darting to a small alcove that she’d carved out behind the rows of texts, Denise pulled out an easel and set it up just in time to see Marion posing in her seat. Stopping in her tracks, Denise temporarily lost the will to breath and let out a little squeak of surprise and desire. Once she recovered, Denise shivered and shakily pointed to her Marion. “Wh..what…are..” She glanced over to her captives and then back to Marion. “Yes, class. The others.” Twitching lightly and blinking her eyes, Denise nodded nervously. “I..I..” She touched her sweaty brow and tried to form words. “Dif-Different but good, Marion.” Taking a step and catching the easel around her foot, Denise got tangled momentarily and had to pick up the wooden stand where it crashed on the ground. Blushing wildly, Denise laughed. “Sorry. It’s just been a very long time, Marion. You are still stunning.”

Recalling the intimacy that Marion and Denise shared, Vivienne leaned up in the chair and swirled one of her fingers at the trembling artist. “I recall your curves with these fingers right here, Loved One. So much fun mixing the teal and making you flourish under my silky touch.” Winking one of her majestic blue eyes, Vivienne continued. “If I recall..” Marion cooed, “...You have a dirty little artistic streak in you, My Sw-ee-t.”

“All of my special work is back here, out of harm’s way.” Denise plucked a canvas stretched over an old pine frame. “It is a dream come true.” She placed the first painting she created of Marion on the stand and turned it to face Marion. “The quad painting.” Denise grinned wide and pointed to the red lines and cracks in the paint that had been filled over time. “So special. This one is infused with blood from all types to keep its appearance.” She waved her green runed hand over to Faye and Sylvie. “Vampire blood keeps the integrity the best.” Denise ran over to the library and pulled a thick graphic novel from the middle of the books. “Here is a miniature version of why.” Denise winked. “While you know that I am more than I appear…” Denise did a little playful spin, “...I have to keep this one imbued with the blood of something that radiates..” She waved her hands over her head indicating the entirety of the cave. “..power, energy and magic.”

Swallowing hard and glancing over her shoulder when Denise did her playful spin, Vivienne confirmed with a simple and quick nod from Casey that what was a few feet away from her is what the ward had been seeking. “My glow-flower?” Marion called across the cave from her seat and smiled widely at Denise. “I haven’t seen it in years..”

“Sixty-eight to be exact, My Darling.” Denise spoke up and bounced lightly on her toes.

Finding the opportunity to strike, Vivienne moaned lightly and ran her hand around her partially covered chest then curled her fingers out towards Denise. “Mmm…Come to me, my sweet and bring that lovely piece with you.” Swiftly nibbling on her lip, Vivienne thought of a finishing line that Marion once used. “Unless you want me to beg, Loved One.”

Wildly blushing, Denise suckled on her bottom lip remembering the last time Marion had mentioned begging. “No need for that my dear, I will happily come over and sit in your lap.” Denise smiled and plucked the painting from the easel, hugging it tightly to her small frame.

Using her entrancing smile, Vivienne waited until Denise got within arms reach before sitting up and patting her lap lightly. With a quick and subtle flex of her shoulders, Vivienne made sure that the unbuttoned blouse slipped away from her shoulders, exposing her arms and the tops of her firm and round breasts. When the look of complete adoration crossed over Denise’s features, Vivienne opened her hand and gracefully helped the smaller woman into her lap. “Look at you being shy, no need to hug the painting so tightly…” Vivienne paused and pressed her index finger to Denise’s lips where she felt Denise lightly kiss the digit. “Anxious little minx.” Marion echoed and reached for the painting. “Let me see this delightful piece.” She winked one of her lovely blue eyes at Denise. “We have all the time in the world now, your Marion is back.” Coaxing the painting free, Vivienne held it with one hand and pulled Denise into her chest with the other in a comfortable hug. “I love … your vision, your mind.” Pausing for a split second, Vivienne slowly uttered, “My..Darling.”

“All for you, Marion. Everything.” Denise looked up with her deceptively pouty hazel eyes, “It’s just the two of us now, right?” Denise sighed and closed her eyes content against her Mairon’s chest.

“Mmmhmmm..” Vivienne purred in affirmation, then held the painting up. Within a blink of an eye, Vivienne’s claws extended and pierced the painting and ripped wildly, sending pieces of the canvas across the chair much like a flag being ripped apart by a hurricane. Following the decimation of the painting, Vivienne snapped the old wooden structure that held the painting firmly.

Feeling her energy being sapped, Denise rolled out of Vivienne’s lap and fell to the floor clutching her chest. “Arrrrghh….Nooooo..” She cried a hollow echo through the cave and lost control of her illusion, turning back into the gray skinned lich that she was. “Wh… why….” Denise reached for bits of her precious painting and desperately tried to hold it together. “M…Marion??”

Now free of the liches telekinetic spell, the three others fell to the ground with a heavy thud.

Casey quickly patted her pants pocket and sighed in relief when she felt the small metal square. “Viv!” She pulled the lighter free and tossed it to her mistress, “Catch. Burn it all.”

Denise looked up with her mustard eyes doused in fear, “Can’t be…no…stop, I beg you… Marion…please…”

Jumping from her carefully carved throne, Vivienne caught the lighter midair then with her vampiric speed, managed to gather up all of the tattered remains of the first painting in a pile. Standing over her prey like the huntress she was, Vivienne’s cold blue eyes bore straight into Denise. Taking the moment to snatch the two small pieces of the painting from her enemy’s hand, Vivienne lit those on fire then tossed them on the pile of kindling and canvas.

Wicked flame of green and teal leapt from the small pile and released its magic as the flame penetrated the worn cloth. Flashes of the spidery lightning bounced as though a circuit had been severed. Arcs of energy popped and flashed as it jumped from piece to piece, making wild noises and leaving the smell of ozone permeating in the cave.

Wild eyed, Denise managed to push herself to her feet and raise her green runed hand in the effort to stop the pile from burning. Six tentacles jumped from her rune and at first headed for the remains of the painting. When a spark jumped and connected the fire to the tentacles, they started to transform and curled back on Denise. “Stop!...No..I command…You are mine to cont…” Denise’s pleading and screams were cut short.

Wrapping tightly around the withering lich, the magic squeezed her like a snake and kept

Denise from concentrating. Unable to fight any longer, Denise glanced once more at her Marion standing over her. A couple more seconds passed and Denise’s tentacles dug into the stone floor and created a small shadow-like door and pulled her into it as the flames consumed the last of the painting.

When the floor returned to its shiny blue rock, Vivienne looked up to see her companions walk to her. Faye wrapped her arms tightly around Vivienne’s small waist. Vivienne leaned over and kissed Faye gently then looked back at the floor again. Reminded of the little Shakespearean line that Denise uttered during the battle, Vivienne took a breath. “Human madness is oftentimes a cunning and most feline thing. When you think it fled, it may have but become transfigured into some still subtler form.”

Faye reached up and turned Vivienne to look at her, “Where is that from? It seems familiar.”

“Herman Melville, Moby Dick.” Vivienne kissed Faye’s soft hand. “I know a little literature, you know. I don’t just read medical journals.” She winked.

Sylvie walked over to the shelves of graphic novels. “Should we destroy the rest?” She looked back at the rest of the group questioningly.

“We would likely have to destroy the entire cave, I get the feeling that the books are only part of the issue.” Vivienne pulled Faye into an embrace and kissed her. “I missed that.” Vivienne sighed and looked at the other two. “I am unfamiliar with the necessary workings on how to collapse a cave.”

“You know you are a liar.” Faye laughed and took a step back, placing her hands on her hips. “You said all your kisses were for me.”

Vivienne raised one of her long eyebrows as she pulled off the wig and tossed it to the ground. “They are, mon amour.”

Faye started heading for the cavern entrance and began climbing up the sheer face of the crystal laden wall. “Then why did you kiss her on the head?”

Sylvie pointed to Casey, “Come on, climb aboard while they work out the kissing issue.” She laughed and pointed to her back. “You just hold tight and we will get out of here.”

“I am not looking forward to being unable to breathe again, Sylvie.” Casey walked over and hopped on Sylvie’s back and wrapped her arms around the vampire’s neck.

Sylvie laughed, “I will run really fast, how would that be? Time me, see if I can get us out in under a minute.” Sylvie adjusted Casey on her back and climbed up the wall and disappeared into the mineshaft.

Vivienne fluffed her hair from where the wig had matted it down. “All part of the act, my love.” She winked and followed Faye into the mine. “I forget which one of us said that we are lovely actresses.” Vivienne reached the four-way intersection and studied the layout for a few seconds. “Intriguing. While I have admitted that I do not know how to collapse a cave, does that stop me from closing a vein?”

Turning to face Vivienne, Faye smiled. “Act? You kissed her.” She pointed to the wooden beams. “Good chance that it will drop the tunnel if you knock them down. We should be deep enough that it won’t do anything to the ground above.” Striding to stand beside her girlfriend, Faye punched the first beam. “I still think you owe me something for that kiss.” Pulling the remains of the reinforcement Faye waved her hand so that Vivienne would take over. “Your turn, Viv.”

“Why so violent, mon amour?” Vivienne laughed and tugged on the other supports, breaking them free without shattering them like Faye had. “Let’s just jam this up..here..” Vivienne took the top support and pummeled the top of the mineshaft until the ground shook and crumbled the walls to close off where the cave entrance was. “Perfect.” Vivienne turned and grabbed Faye to her as the cloud of dust passed over them. “While we make our way back to Ravenstead Manor, you think of something that I ..” Vivienne scooped Faye into her arms and headed for the surface, “...owe you.”

Giggling as she felt herself get pulled into Vivienne’s arms, Faye clamped her hands around her partner’s neck and kissed Vivienne on the cheek. “I missed this.” She laid her head on Vivienne’s shoulder. “We need a very long break, my love.” She cleared her throat and smiled. “Or should I say it like you? Mon amour?”

Vivienne reached the exit of the mine and gazed her oceanic blue eyes at Faye. “It sounds strange coming from you, Faye.” Pressing their lips together, Vivienne felt the heated rush of being connected to Faye once more. Daintily darting her tongue out, Vivienne purred with relief and satisfaction when Faye’s pointed tongue meshed with hers for a few minutes.

Clearing her throat politely, Casey tried to interrupt the couple. “Let’s close the entrance here and get our collective asses home?”

Laughing once more, Sylvie grabbed Casey’s hand. “Let’s give them a few more minutes. We still have hours before sunrise.” Walking towards the road with Casey in tow, Sylvie added, “It gives us a bit of a head start.”

Arriving at Ravenstead manor in near record time, Vivienne and her companions entered the giant home through the helicopter pad entrance. Parting company from Casey and Sylvie, Vivienne carried Faye once more into their bedroom and quietly closed the door so it wouldn’t alert the rest of the manor to her re-arrival. Setting Faye carefully on the bed, Vivienne stripped out of the clothing that made her look like ‘Marion’.

Seeing her partner’s bare pale and creamy skin, Faye slipped off the bed and walked over to Vivienne, and ran her hands over the ancient vampire's shoulders to the tops of her breasts. “I see why that woman was enamored with you, love.” Faye snorted and walked her fingers up to Vivienne’s cheeks. “I don’t think I will be able to use ‘my dear’ for quite some time.” She perked an eyebrow, “Forgive me?”

Waves of relief mixed with excitement pulsed through Vivienne’s form as she felt the light touch that Faye possessed. Nuzzling into the twin hands that cupped her face, Vivienne sighed and nodded. “I can certainly live without using the term.” She purred lightly. “Just never stop doing things like this, mon amour.”

Faye pulled Vivienne into a quick but passionate kiss before taking a step back and looking around their huge room. “I am still not a fan of you exposing yourself to the world.” Faye winked, “Just me.” Turning so that the back of her dress faced Vivienne, Faye wiggled her hips. “Unzip me?”

“My pleasure.” Vivienne reached for the tiny zipper and pulled it straight down without any hesitation. “I will mirror the sentiment, Faye. I am not going to deal with you being exposed to the world either.” Vivienne took a couple steps forward and ran her fingers over the huge round scar that indicated where the spear had gone through Faye’s chest. “Mon amour, you can use blood to remove this scar if you wish.”

Faye stepped out of her dress and pulled her undergarments free, tossing them to the floor. Turning around to press herself into Vivienne, Faye peered lovingly into her partner’s warm blue eyes. “What about that long silky black hair of yours? Can’t you do the same?” Faye reached under Vivienne’s arms and pulled them tightly. “Will you love me any less with a wicked scar?” Pressing lips against Vivienne’s long neck, Faye planted a small kiss before pulling back with her nose scrunched. “You smell..” She paused and untangled herself. “...all chemically.”

“You read my mind again, Faye.” Vivienne clasped Faye’s hand and pulled her to the right side of the room and opened the nearly hidden door to the bathroom. Unlike the beach house and its separate shower and tub, this decadent room was designed almost futuristic. The floors matched the rest of the house with the blue pearl granite, the sinks with a matching smooth rippled marble with faucets that activated without knobs. Vivienne pointed to the glass walls and door of the steam-shower, its blue hued electronic panel glowing brightly. “It is a steam room, shower and a tub all built in with a touch screen to set the water and how you want it to caress you.”

“Does that hold three people?” Faye stood and looked at the large glass box in awe.

“Nevermind, let’s get in and you tell me all about what happened while we were captured.” Faye pulled the door and stepped into the tub, pulling Vivienne with her. Undeterred by the little blue computer panel, Faye ran through the menus and picked the settings for the shower and then turned her attention to Vivienne as the steamy hot water began to stream on the couple.

Stepping back into the hot stream, Vivienne drenched her mangled hair and slicked it back just before she applied her shampoo to it. “What would you like to know, exactly?” Massaging her scalp, Vivienne concentrated and funneled a touch of her blood so that her hair would regrow as they showered.

“Marion. Explain the whole Marion thing.” Faye stepped closer and kissed Vivienne with a sparkle in her green cat eyes.

Knowing what Faye wanted, Vivienne palmed more shampoo and carefully began washing Faye’s hair. “I love this bond. I can still feel you like I did before I freed you. It is comforting.  I can feel our bond.”

Faye murmured to herself and slowly turned around and pressed her back into Vivienne. “I know. It has to be the soil.” Faye lay her head back on Vivienne’s shoulder for a second, relaxing in her lover’s arms. “Don’t lose focus. Tell me about the whole Marion thing.”

“Short story is that I did pose nude for that class. When Denise showed me that in her little TV show, I knew that was true.” Vivienne unhooked one of the shower wands and rinsed the rose-colored bubbles from Faye’s hair. “Me going back for a week was true. I did it on a whim. I saw an ad asking for models for an art school.” Satisfied that Faye’s hair was squeaky clean, Vivienne hung the wand back in place and cleared her own hair of shampoo. “The rest was frankly a delusion. I never went to her house, I have not used any form of the name Marion, Marie, Mary in quite a long time.”

Faye reached for a washcloth and the rain scented liquid shower soap, and began washing Vivienne starting with her lover’s slender hands. “I caught parts of the television. I wanted to stay still and not let her know I was faking. So, I heard it all.” Faye crested Vivienne’s shoulder and stopped at the curve of her neck. “So, you didn’t spend any time with her at all?” Faye asked with a touch of uncertainty.

“Mon amour…” Vivienne took Faye’s sudsy hand into her own, “No. I told you before, this…” She tapped on Faye’s chest, “..is the first time I have been in love.” Vivienne’s blue eyes began tearing up with a hint of red. “While it's only been a few days, Nothing I have experienced has matched how I feel with you.” Vivienne sighed and pressed a light kiss on her girlfriend. “I am yours.” Vivienne slowly choked out while the red tear slid down her face.

Faye wiped the single tear from Vivienne’s ivory cheeks. “I..I know. Somehow I know.” She clutched Vivienne’s hand that was pressed to her chest. “I love you, Vivienne.”

“First sigh…sight.” Vivienne choked lightly on the words. “I love you, Faye.” Vivienne’s blue eyes glimmered with delight, “The faster we finish in the shower…” Vivienne sighed and placed Faye’s soapy hand on her breast, “The faster we can enjoy each other.”

Feeling the rush of the moment pulsing in her veins, Faye stumbled and fell into Vivienne’s arms. “You still make me wobble.” Faye chuckled and found strength in her legs, “Distract me, while I get this horrible smell off you.”

Vivienne helped Faye regain her balance and opened herself up to being washed. “I promised not to be obtuse and ignore your wishes.” Vivienne winked, “With that spirit in mind, I will continue.”

“Please do.” Faye laughed and sensually rubbed the soap laden cloth over Vivienne’s body.

Purring softly as her lover kept washing every square inch of her body, Vivienne resumed what she’d learned. “You know most of it. She masterminded everything to bring ‘Marion’ back as well as keep her energy levels up so she could extend her life.” Vivienne shrugged, “Killing vampires? She did that because she could see the past and knew what I used to do.”

“So she was doing your job to bring you home faster.” Faye mentioned flatly.

Vivienne nodded and turned around so Faye could wash her back. “She gained followers, killed them for power. She used our brethren as the catalyst to bring her a flock.” Vivienne sighed, “They loved her for it.”

“I sense there is more to this.” Faye shivered unexpectedly.

Looking over her shoulder, Vivienne nodded slowly. “Sebastian.” Vivienne paused. “Brother by the same creator. I think he was the one that made the quartz on the jeweled band you destroyed.” Vivienne turned back and rubbed her face with her hands, “You would know the moniker that he took on.”

Faye blinked her green eyes in disbelief, “You can’t be serious.” Faye felt an icy chill go down the length of her spine.

Nodding slowly and turning to face her lover, Vivienne slowly completed her thought. “Yes. The world’s most known vampire. Count Dracula.” Breathing deeply, Vivienne continued. “He isn’t really the Count that the books proclaim, nor is he Vlad the Impaler.” Vivienne pulled Faye back into her arms and smiled. “We can deal with him later. I thought I killed him, apparently I didn’t complete the job..” Vivienne brushed a pink strand of hair from Faye’s eyes. “...I will have to remedy that at some point. He didn’t like me before I nearly killed him.”

“How..how..” Faye asked quietly, “You don’t lose, right?”

Reassuring her partner, Vivienne took the washcloth and filled it once more with soap. “Typically, no. He’s been a little thorn in my side for a few hundred years now. Very talented with crystals and their inherent abilities.” Washing her lover’s neck gently, Vivienne leaned close to Faye’s ear. “Let’s not worry about him now. We have lots of time to figure out his plan.” She paused and blew steamy air across Faye’s ear. “I think we need to see if we can stay here in Ravenstead Manor.” Vivienne pulled back far enough to slide the cotton cloth around Faye’s butt. “We could easily travel to France.”

“That sounds like a great idea, no matter what is going on out there.” Faye cooed softly. “You promised to teach me French, right?”

Smiling widely, Vivienne nodded and swished her regrown long hair. “Indeed, Mon amour.”