And all the people in the right wing (rock)
And all the people in the underground (rock)
I find myself stupified, coming back again
All the people in the high rise (rock)
And all the people in the projects (rock)
And all la gente in the bario (rock)
They stood in the center of the crowded club. Ozmandayus, TC and Graham all with sneers of disgust on their faces as they watch the bodies of dozens of vampires gyrate to the music. Love's Bitches surround them, glaring, wondering at their presence here, on their turf. The B/X'ers are deep into Spuffy territory, in the heart of operations in Effulgia. They're here, in the dimly lit gothic club entitled The Den, for one purpose only. To seek out the leader of Love's Bitches.
"Look at them." TC grates, repulsed. "I hate this place. I don't want to be here."
"We have to be, brother. Otherwise, trust me...we would not." Day reminds him, just as disgusted.
Why, do you like playing around with
My, narrow scope of reality
I, can feel it all start slipping
I think I'm breaking down
Day's eyes search the club, looking for the proud blonde head of VelvetBlood. He had received the summons from EMCEE. Velvet had agreed to the contract. There was to be a grand celebration, toasting the end of the Shipper Wars. He hated it. He hated it almost as much as he hated these dead, soulless beings all around him. His skin twitched from being in their presence. He wanted to watch them all crumble into dust. And now, that was as good as impossible. All that was required was he and Velvet's signature, and he would never be able to dust another single one of them. It was disappointing, to say the least.
Graham stands beside TC, looking nervous. He's new to the BXXX tribe, and not yet prepared for dealing with this many of the enemy at once. Day sympathizes. He remembers the day when he had been shocked and appauled at their numbers. Now, after all these years...he was simply uncomfortably numb.
But I don't get it
Don't you think maybe we could put it on credit
Don't you think it can take control when I don't let it
I get stupified
He sees a flash of movement out of the corner of his eye. Not the wildly uncontrolled thrashing of a dancer, but the slow, controlled movement of a proud leader. He sees flashes of her; her legs, a hand, her back...but never her face, through the masses. She breaks away from the crowd, descending the stairs of the upper level down towards the dance floor.
He takes her in...the tight leather pants, the deep blue silk tank top that dipped down to reveal firm, full cleavage, the high, sandalled heels that showed daintily red painted toes. Finally he sees her face, eyes done in heavy black khol, lips painted a glossy cherry red, blonde hair pulled up, with tendrils sneaking out to tickle the line of her neck. She looks vital, pulsing with energy and power. He could feel it radiating off of her from across the room. As if sensing him as well, she lifts her head and their eyes meet...
If all fails...
If all fails...
Day watches the slow smirk tilt one side of her full lips. She's amused by his bravado in coming here. It irritates him to no end that she doesn't fear him. She walks towards him, slowly, not rushed, letting him know that he was not her top priority...that she was the one in control here. It infuriates him.
And don't deny me
No baby now, don't deny me
And darlin' don't be afraid...
Velvet never breaks eye contact with him the entire time she walks slowly towards him. He looks irritated. He knows that she's playing him. Drawing it out, letting him know that she didn't give a damn.
'Good.' She thinks. 'Let him wait.'
When she reaches him, she stops, barely inches away, getting in his personal space. He doesn't flinch, just meets her gaze steadily. She respects him for that, just as she respects anyone she doesn't intimidate. Which were few...
Look in my face, step in my soul
Look in my face, step in my soul
Look in my face, step in my soul
Look in my face, step in my soul
She smiles slowly, her eyes making a slow, deliberate sweep of his body. Black slacks and a snug gray fitted-tee. She meets his gaze again and allows pure, sexual hunger pour into the stare.
Look in my face, step in my soul
Look in my face, step in my soul
Look in my face, step in my soul
Look in my face, step in my soul
She brushes past him, jolting his shoulder as she does so. It was rude, purposeful and calculated. She did it, as she did many other things, just to piss him off.
Passing by a waiter, she plucks a glass of red Merlot from his tray and half-turns so that she is in profile to Day. She brings the glass to her lips and drains every last drop, setting it back on the tray before continuing towards the back of the club, to her office.
But I don't get it
Don't you think maybe we could put it on credit
Don't you think it can take control when I don't let it
I find myself stupified, coming back again
Day watches as the crimson liquid disappears between her lips. He sees the still red tainted empty glass as the waiter passes by him, and watches Velvet vanish into a doorway in the back of the club.
"What the hell was that all about?" TC asks him, angered and confused at Velvet's little display.
"We're supposed to follow her." He tells him calmly.
"How do you know?" Graham questions lightly, not wanting to anger his Emperor.
Day doesn't look at either of them, keeping his eyes on the empty doorway Velvet now waits behind. He nods towards the glass.
"It was symbolic." He explains.
"Of what?" TC asks, his eyebrows drawn together in confusion.
Day smirks, despite himself. 'Oh Velvet,' he thinks 'We understand one another all too well.'
"She's already fed." He says flatly, walking away from them to the back of the club.
TC and Graham share a look before following their Emperor.
'Into the lion's den...' TC thinks before slipping into the room after Day and Graham and closing the door.
Look in my face! (step into my soul!)
Look in my face! (step into my soul!)
Look in my face! (step into my soul!)
I begin to stupify!
Day stands forefront, TC and Graham flanking him. Velvet sits in a satin-upholstered chair behind her desk, her feet propped up on the edge. She smiles coldly at the three men before her.
"To what do I owe the honor of this visit, gentlemen?" she asks sweetly.
"Cut the shit." Day snaps sharply, drawing an amused grin from Velvet.
"Ooh, Ozy wants to play." She purrs.
Kicking her legs off of the desk, she stands, walking around it towards the B/X'ers.
"So, I take it you received the summons?" she questions Day.
"Yes. You actually signed the contract. Why now?" he asks, honestly curious.
Velvet stops in front of him, regarding him openly. "Spike is about to embark on a journey that, if we do not have peace now, could potentially be extremely bloody, on both of our sides."
"The Africa spoiler?" Day asks, a little shocked at Velvet's insight. Could it be that she actually payed attention to political matters? That she wasn't just a pretty bauble to flaunt as the leader of a powerful ship? They had enough members that they didn't need one. Even unorganized, they would be deadly in battle, outnumbering B/X'ers on a massive scale.
Velvet smiles, knowing that he was surprised. Yes, she actually did her job. And she did it well. Only one other person knew just how deep she went. Her Lanna...and Lanna would never tell. Let them believe she was a bubble-headed ditz. It made sneaking up from behind them even easier.
"Yes. With rumors flying around about a B/X romance next year, and a de-chipped Spike...things could get ugly very quickly." She tells him calmly.
"You ship is already ugly enough to begin with." Graham sneers boldly.
Velvet raises an eyebrow, amused by the young charge standing up to her. She looks at Day, giving him a pointed look. He grins. It was an interplay that few would understand, but that they knew exactly what it meant. She was promising him she wouldn't drain the boy dry for his insolence, and he was telling her that he knew it. And that she had permission to play with him.
Tapping a finger against her lip, she saunters over to Graham. He immediately looks worried. She stops very close to him, reaching out to trail a fingernail down his cheek.
"Little boy talks big." She purrs softly. "Let's see if he can fill Daddy's breeches."
She grins evily and his eyes widen, his body going stiff with fear.
"None of your games, Bitch." TC growls, halfway unsheathing his Soul Sword.
Velvet pouts prettily and swipes her hand away from Graham's cheek, scratching him as she does so. Blood wells up in the shallow cut. She winks at him.
"Consider it a battle wound." She murmurs, before walking back to her desk. "If that's all you came for, Ozy, then you have my permission to leave, unharmed. But know that if you so much as pull out a toothpick, you'll be dead within seconds."
She turns around to give him a meaningful glare before sitting back down behind her desk. The three B/X'ers turn around without another word. Velvet waits until Day is almost out the door before adding...
"Oh, and Ozy? Tonight is the last night we can legally kill each other. So, if you've any aspirations in that area, be sure to act on them tonight." She smirks, telling him without words that she doesn't think he could kill her. That she would best him in battle.
Day glares at her and slams his fist into the wall, cracking the plaster, and strides angrily out of the room without a backward glance.