Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, thanks to whoever does. I will return them to you relatively unharmed. I'm also not making any money off of this story, please don't sue me.
Tansy is my own creation, even though she is a compilation of many people, real and otherwise.
Archiving, if you want to archive this story, just ask me and tell me where and why.
This as an alternate universe story (big freakin' duh) so don't flame me for messing up someone's storyline. If you're going to flame me, do it over something important, like bad grammar, or excessive use of unnecessary violence.
All feedback is much appreciated.
Dramatis Personae: (Authors Note, some of these people are mentioned in passing, and some of them will show up in later chapters)
Tansy: Our heroine, my own creation.
Damon & Stefan Salvatore, Tansy's housemates. 'The Vampire Diaries' by L.J. Smith
Eric Draven, an old friend. 'The Crow: Stairway to Heaven' the sci-fi channel?
Spike & Angelus, friends/drinking buddies of Damon's. 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Joss Wheedon.
Louis & Lestat, close friends of Tansy's. 'Interview with the Vampire' Ann Rice (A.N. I'm working with the movie versions.)
Duncan MacLeod, Tansy's antique dealer/lunch partner. 'Highlander' I'm not sure who has bragging rights for this one.
'Max's Boys' The Lost Boys, again, I'm unsure on the bragging rights. But if I owned David (or Michael or both) I'd brag.
Now on with the story
Chapter one 'Rosebud'
It was early evening as Stefan Salvatore walked home, his superhuman senses alert to the world around him. When he was within a block of the house he could smell blood, and quickened his pace. He could see the house now, the porch light was out and Tansy was nowhere to be seen, ~She always waits on the porch for me.~ He thought to no one in particular. Standing in the driveway the smell of blood was even stronger, and he could see a heap on the steps, ~Oh God.~ He thought to himself, ~Damon's finally done it. He's finally killed her.~ He crept to the porch, tripping the motion detector, causing the porch light to come on, it's light revealing Tansy lying on the steps. Her thick ginger hair was fanned around her head like a lion's mane. Her eyes were closed and the front of her shirt was covered in drying blood. Judging by the fact that the side of her neck was completely shredded, most of the blood was probably her own, ~Damon isn't usually this messy.~ Stefan thought to himself, trying not to gag. Stefan reached out to touch Tansy's skin, steeling himself for the angry, dark jolt of Damon's aura that would still de clinging to her. But it wasn't Damon's aura that hit him, it was someone else's. Just as dark, but where his brother's was hot and angry, this one was cold and sadistic. It was the aura of someone who enjoyed causing pain. Stefan didn't recognize it. He picked Tansy up and carried her into the house, laying her on the couch. He went into the kitchen to find Damon. He found a note stuck to the refrigerator door with a magnet that stated simply, 'Vampires Suck.' Stefan recognized his brother's handwriting and snatched the note. "Little Brother, the Boys are having a bit of trouble with a Slayer. I'm off to Sunnydale to help out. Tell the Minx goodbye for me, she's off having lunch with MacLeod right now or I'd tell her myself. I'll be back in a few days"
Stefan walked back into the living room, his mind spinning. Someone had just tried to kill Tansy and he had no idea who, or why. Tansy appeared to be sleeping peacefully. She wasn't breathing, but then again, she never did. ~I should try and clean her up.~ Stefan thought. He wasn't about to try changing her shirt, she was touchy enough about that when she was conscious, but he could at least wash the blood off.
He had just finished when he noticed that Tansy was holding something, he uncurled her fingers and discovered a perfectly formed black rosebud, "Draven." He picked up the phone and dialed.
In Eric Draven's apartment a crow screeched, snapping him from his reverie, it was then that he realized the phone was ringing. He picked it up cautiously, as if it might bite him, "Hello? Who? Is she alright? A black rosebud? I'll be there before morning."
It was still dark when Eric pulled into the driveway, revving his motorcycle's engine. Stefan opened the door before Eric could knock. Both Immortals hesitated momentarily before hugging each other briefly. Stefan stood aside, "You should come in before the neighbors get suspicious." Eric walked into the house, "Where is she?"
"On the couch. I left the rosebud in her hand."
"Good." Stefan led Eric into the living room and stood in the doorway while Eric crouched next to Tansy and took the rosebud. He rocked back when the vision hit him, "It was someone old, powerful. He caught her from behind." Eric suddenly screamed in agony. Stefan hurried over, but Eric pushed him away and continued explaining through clenched teeth, "He had a knife. He seemed so strong." Eric came out of the vision and shook his head to clear it, "He wasn't really stronger than Tansy, he just seemed like it. That knife was like liquid fire." Stefan was puzzled, "Knives don't usually hurt us." Eric got to his feet and pointed out where the knife marks were different from the bite marks, "See this? The cut has this white edge to it." He paused, "Shouldn't she have healed by now?"
"Yes, she should've. I don't know why she hasn't." Eric took Tansy's hand and closed his eyes in concentration. Stefan watched while Eric found what he was looking for, "She needs blood. The blood of an Immortal, someone stronger than she is." Stefan smiled for the first time that night, "I know just who to call."
In the basement apartment shared by two of Tansy's oldest friends the phone rang. Lestat got to it first, "Hello? Salvatore! How've you been? Who? We're on our way." He hung up the phone, trying not to smash it against the table in anger. Louis looked up at him from the sofa, "What's happened?"
"Someone attacked Tansy." Louis bristled, "Tell me who so I can kill the bastard." His tone was dangerously quiet. Lestat laughed, "Easy Louis. They don't know who did it. Tansy is still out cold. We should get over there before it gets too sunny."
Just before dawn there was a knock at the kitchen door, Stefan finished securing the blackout curtains in the living room and then went to answer it. Louis pushed past him as soon as the door was open, Lestat smiled and shook his head. Stefan and the older Vampire shared a comradely, one-armed hug.
"How've things been above ground lately?" Lestat asked, stepping into the house, "Not bad, not bad." Stefan replied shutting the door. Lestat seemed to mentally smell the air, "Where's the elder Salvatore?"
"Sunnydale California. He went to help Angelus and Spike with some Slayer trouble."
"Are those two still up to their old tricks?"
"As far as I know, they're as big a scourge as they ever were."
"What are they doing in California?"
"They went to teach Max's boys a few things."
"I see. You said that Tansy needed blood. Let's go give her some." The two Vampires walked into the darkened living room, Louis was sitting dejectedly in an armchair, "It didn't work." As soon as Lestat saw Tansy, he was no longer his usual jovial, extroverted self. Worry creased his brow, "We owe whoever did this Pain. A lot of Pain." He knelt next to the couch, bit his wrist, and then he held it to Tansy's lips. She swallowed a couple mouthfuls of his blood reflexively before his arm healed. Nothing happened. Stefan sighed heavily. Lestat closed his eyes and shook his head slowly. Louis buried his head in his arms, trying not to sob. Eric looked at each of them in turn, "Is there anyone else in town stronger than Tansy?" Stefan looked up, "Duncan. Maybe Duncan's strong enough." Louis posed the question that was on everyone's minds, "Who is Duncan?"
"Duncan MacLeod, he's an old friend of hers. She was having lunch with him just before she was attacked."
The sudden ringing of the phone startled Duncan so that he nearly dropped his katana in the middle of his kata. He swore in Gaelic and answered the phone, "Hello? What? And you think that I... I'll be right there.
Less than ten minutes later, there was another knock at the kitchen door, Stefan let Duncan in and led him to the living room. When Duncan saw Tansy, another Gaelic expletive escaped through his clenched teeth. He took a small knife from his boot and laid his palm open, again Tansy only got a couple mouthfuls of blood before the wound healed. Again nothing happened. Eric scratched his head, "The five of you together are stronger than Tansy alone, right?" There were murmurs of assent from all sides. Lestat smiled a slow, easy smile, "What exactly do you have in mind Draven?"
"Well, maybe if the five of you combined your blood it would be strong enough to heal her." Duncan looked at Eric numbly, "You have a sick mind Draven. But that just might work." Now Louis studied Eric intently, "And why won't you be helping?"
"Two reasons. One, Tansy's a lot stronger than I am. And two, no blood." Stefan went into the kitchen and came back with a wineglass. Each Immortal, save Eric, bit or punctured his own wrist or palm. Between the five of them, they soon filled the glass. Eric held it for Tansy, who drank all of the blood. The wounds on her neck healed. The bite marks healed entirely, the knife wounds left a minute web of silvery scars. Tansy groaned, "Why do I feel like I've been hit by a Mack truck?" No one answered. Tansy licked the roof of her mouth, "And whose blood did I just drink?" She opened her eyes slowly, Eric's face swam into focus in front of her. Tansy smiled, "Eric." She looked past him at the rest of the room's occupants, "Louis. Lestat. Duncan. Stefan, are we having a party?" Lestat laughed, "She just recovered from being mostly dead and she wants to have a party. She's going to be alright."
"Mostly dead? What are you talking about?" Tansy asked, sitting up and folding her legs under herself. Duncan sat next to her on the couch, "What do you remember after leaving my house yesterday?"
"Well, I walked home, as usual. Then, about halfway here, a wave of Hunger hit me...
Do you want Tansy to continue her story? Do you want to know who attacked her? Is there anything else you want to know? I'll only continue this story if people are interested.
Tansy is my own creation, even though she is a compilation of many people, real and otherwise.
Archiving, if you want to archive this story, just ask me and tell me where and why.
This as an alternate universe story (big freakin' duh) so don't flame me for messing up someone's storyline. If you're going to flame me, do it over something important, like bad grammar, or excessive use of unnecessary violence.
All feedback is much appreciated.
Dramatis Personae: (Authors Note, some of these people are mentioned in passing, and some of them will show up in later chapters)
Tansy: Our heroine, my own creation.
Damon & Stefan Salvatore, Tansy's housemates. 'The Vampire Diaries' by L.J. Smith
Eric Draven, an old friend. 'The Crow: Stairway to Heaven' the sci-fi channel?
Spike & Angelus, friends/drinking buddies of Damon's. 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' Joss Wheedon.
Louis & Lestat, close friends of Tansy's. 'Interview with the Vampire' Ann Rice (A.N. I'm working with the movie versions.)
Duncan MacLeod, Tansy's antique dealer/lunch partner. 'Highlander' I'm not sure who has bragging rights for this one.
'Max's Boys' The Lost Boys, again, I'm unsure on the bragging rights. But if I owned David (or Michael or both) I'd brag.
Now on with the story
Chapter one 'Rosebud'
It was early evening as Stefan Salvatore walked home, his superhuman senses alert to the world around him. When he was within a block of the house he could smell blood, and quickened his pace. He could see the house now, the porch light was out and Tansy was nowhere to be seen, ~She always waits on the porch for me.~ He thought to no one in particular. Standing in the driveway the smell of blood was even stronger, and he could see a heap on the steps, ~Oh God.~ He thought to himself, ~Damon's finally done it. He's finally killed her.~ He crept to the porch, tripping the motion detector, causing the porch light to come on, it's light revealing Tansy lying on the steps. Her thick ginger hair was fanned around her head like a lion's mane. Her eyes were closed and the front of her shirt was covered in drying blood. Judging by the fact that the side of her neck was completely shredded, most of the blood was probably her own, ~Damon isn't usually this messy.~ Stefan thought to himself, trying not to gag. Stefan reached out to touch Tansy's skin, steeling himself for the angry, dark jolt of Damon's aura that would still de clinging to her. But it wasn't Damon's aura that hit him, it was someone else's. Just as dark, but where his brother's was hot and angry, this one was cold and sadistic. It was the aura of someone who enjoyed causing pain. Stefan didn't recognize it. He picked Tansy up and carried her into the house, laying her on the couch. He went into the kitchen to find Damon. He found a note stuck to the refrigerator door with a magnet that stated simply, 'Vampires Suck.' Stefan recognized his brother's handwriting and snatched the note. "Little Brother, the Boys are having a bit of trouble with a Slayer. I'm off to Sunnydale to help out. Tell the Minx goodbye for me, she's off having lunch with MacLeod right now or I'd tell her myself. I'll be back in a few days"
Stefan walked back into the living room, his mind spinning. Someone had just tried to kill Tansy and he had no idea who, or why. Tansy appeared to be sleeping peacefully. She wasn't breathing, but then again, she never did. ~I should try and clean her up.~ Stefan thought. He wasn't about to try changing her shirt, she was touchy enough about that when she was conscious, but he could at least wash the blood off.
He had just finished when he noticed that Tansy was holding something, he uncurled her fingers and discovered a perfectly formed black rosebud, "Draven." He picked up the phone and dialed.
In Eric Draven's apartment a crow screeched, snapping him from his reverie, it was then that he realized the phone was ringing. He picked it up cautiously, as if it might bite him, "Hello? Who? Is she alright? A black rosebud? I'll be there before morning."
It was still dark when Eric pulled into the driveway, revving his motorcycle's engine. Stefan opened the door before Eric could knock. Both Immortals hesitated momentarily before hugging each other briefly. Stefan stood aside, "You should come in before the neighbors get suspicious." Eric walked into the house, "Where is she?"
"On the couch. I left the rosebud in her hand."
"Good." Stefan led Eric into the living room and stood in the doorway while Eric crouched next to Tansy and took the rosebud. He rocked back when the vision hit him, "It was someone old, powerful. He caught her from behind." Eric suddenly screamed in agony. Stefan hurried over, but Eric pushed him away and continued explaining through clenched teeth, "He had a knife. He seemed so strong." Eric came out of the vision and shook his head to clear it, "He wasn't really stronger than Tansy, he just seemed like it. That knife was like liquid fire." Stefan was puzzled, "Knives don't usually hurt us." Eric got to his feet and pointed out where the knife marks were different from the bite marks, "See this? The cut has this white edge to it." He paused, "Shouldn't she have healed by now?"
"Yes, she should've. I don't know why she hasn't." Eric took Tansy's hand and closed his eyes in concentration. Stefan watched while Eric found what he was looking for, "She needs blood. The blood of an Immortal, someone stronger than she is." Stefan smiled for the first time that night, "I know just who to call."
In the basement apartment shared by two of Tansy's oldest friends the phone rang. Lestat got to it first, "Hello? Salvatore! How've you been? Who? We're on our way." He hung up the phone, trying not to smash it against the table in anger. Louis looked up at him from the sofa, "What's happened?"
"Someone attacked Tansy." Louis bristled, "Tell me who so I can kill the bastard." His tone was dangerously quiet. Lestat laughed, "Easy Louis. They don't know who did it. Tansy is still out cold. We should get over there before it gets too sunny."
Just before dawn there was a knock at the kitchen door, Stefan finished securing the blackout curtains in the living room and then went to answer it. Louis pushed past him as soon as the door was open, Lestat smiled and shook his head. Stefan and the older Vampire shared a comradely, one-armed hug.
"How've things been above ground lately?" Lestat asked, stepping into the house, "Not bad, not bad." Stefan replied shutting the door. Lestat seemed to mentally smell the air, "Where's the elder Salvatore?"
"Sunnydale California. He went to help Angelus and Spike with some Slayer trouble."
"Are those two still up to their old tricks?"
"As far as I know, they're as big a scourge as they ever were."
"What are they doing in California?"
"They went to teach Max's boys a few things."
"I see. You said that Tansy needed blood. Let's go give her some." The two Vampires walked into the darkened living room, Louis was sitting dejectedly in an armchair, "It didn't work." As soon as Lestat saw Tansy, he was no longer his usual jovial, extroverted self. Worry creased his brow, "We owe whoever did this Pain. A lot of Pain." He knelt next to the couch, bit his wrist, and then he held it to Tansy's lips. She swallowed a couple mouthfuls of his blood reflexively before his arm healed. Nothing happened. Stefan sighed heavily. Lestat closed his eyes and shook his head slowly. Louis buried his head in his arms, trying not to sob. Eric looked at each of them in turn, "Is there anyone else in town stronger than Tansy?" Stefan looked up, "Duncan. Maybe Duncan's strong enough." Louis posed the question that was on everyone's minds, "Who is Duncan?"
"Duncan MacLeod, he's an old friend of hers. She was having lunch with him just before she was attacked."
The sudden ringing of the phone startled Duncan so that he nearly dropped his katana in the middle of his kata. He swore in Gaelic and answered the phone, "Hello? What? And you think that I... I'll be right there.
Less than ten minutes later, there was another knock at the kitchen door, Stefan let Duncan in and led him to the living room. When Duncan saw Tansy, another Gaelic expletive escaped through his clenched teeth. He took a small knife from his boot and laid his palm open, again Tansy only got a couple mouthfuls of blood before the wound healed. Again nothing happened. Eric scratched his head, "The five of you together are stronger than Tansy alone, right?" There were murmurs of assent from all sides. Lestat smiled a slow, easy smile, "What exactly do you have in mind Draven?"
"Well, maybe if the five of you combined your blood it would be strong enough to heal her." Duncan looked at Eric numbly, "You have a sick mind Draven. But that just might work." Now Louis studied Eric intently, "And why won't you be helping?"
"Two reasons. One, Tansy's a lot stronger than I am. And two, no blood." Stefan went into the kitchen and came back with a wineglass. Each Immortal, save Eric, bit or punctured his own wrist or palm. Between the five of them, they soon filled the glass. Eric held it for Tansy, who drank all of the blood. The wounds on her neck healed. The bite marks healed entirely, the knife wounds left a minute web of silvery scars. Tansy groaned, "Why do I feel like I've been hit by a Mack truck?" No one answered. Tansy licked the roof of her mouth, "And whose blood did I just drink?" She opened her eyes slowly, Eric's face swam into focus in front of her. Tansy smiled, "Eric." She looked past him at the rest of the room's occupants, "Louis. Lestat. Duncan. Stefan, are we having a party?" Lestat laughed, "She just recovered from being mostly dead and she wants to have a party. She's going to be alright."
"Mostly dead? What are you talking about?" Tansy asked, sitting up and folding her legs under herself. Duncan sat next to her on the couch, "What do you remember after leaving my house yesterday?"
"Well, I walked home, as usual. Then, about halfway here, a wave of Hunger hit me...
Do you want Tansy to continue her story? Do you want to know who attacked her? Is there anything else you want to know? I'll only continue this story if people are interested.