Chapter 3
Saturday April 11th, 1998
London, England
The Hidden Pearl
9:15 pm
It had been three months since Buffy had entered Ginny's life, not only becoming Ginny's best friend but her mentor and trainer as well. Ginny had taken to the role of being the Slayer quite quickly, especially since, as Buffy pointed out, it was a great way of dealing with frustration, something she had a lot of thanks to her work at the club and Francois in particular. Ginny had made sure to stay on Francois' good side ever since the incident the night Buffy first started at the club and so had not had to suffer anymore curses thankfully. Unfortunately for Ginny, she was still forced to suffer through Francois' ministrations and explanations of how he planned to claim her when the opportunity arose in five months time, giving Ginny much ammunition to fuel her anger and frustration, making the vampires that Buffy pitted her against that much sorrier.
Buffy had been right in that Ginny's magic would appear when it was most needed, scaring both girls one night while Ginny was fighting a vampire. The vampire started running towards Ginny, jumping into the air and levitating towards her. What surprised and scared both girls was when Ginny started running towards the vampire, intent on attacking it when she too suddenly started levitating through the air, colliding with the vampire mid-air and hauling him to the ground, staking him the minute they hit, the vampire disappearing in a cloud of dust.
They had arrived at the club at their usual time around eight o'clock that evening and Ginny had spent the past hour working the main floor, waiting for Francois to arrive. When she noticed him walk through the door, she quickly handed off her tray of drinks and made her way into the room that Simon had put on one side for her to use whenever Francois came in. Ginny waited for a short while before Francois entered the room, a young man entering behind him. Once Francois was in the room, Ginny made her way over to where he stood waiting for her to greet him.
"Good evening Francois," Ginny greeted as she walked up to where he was waiting for her, finding herself suddenly pulled into a rather demanding kiss by Francois while one of his hands kneaded one of her breasts roughly, causing her to whimper in pain. "Have I done something to upset you?" she asked quietly when he released his hold on her lips.
"Not yet," Francois said. "That is merely a reminder that I own you, understand?"
"Of course," Ginny replied, hoping her nervousness didn't show through in her voice.
"Good," Francois said as he stepped back from Ginny, and allowing the young man behind him to step forward towards her. "Fyre, I'd like you to meet my son," he began.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Ginny said holding her hand out towards the young man before raising her eyes, only to come face to face with probably one of the last people she ever expected to see.
/-/No, it can't be…it's impossible…it can't be her but her eyes…I've seen those eyes before,/-/ Blaise thought as his eyes locked with Ginny's for the briefest of moments but long enough for Blaise to notice the look of recognition flash through her eyes when she recognized him. /-/Can that really be Ginny Weasley?/-/ he wondered as he took in the appearance of the young woman before him.
"Blaise, I'd like you to meet Fyre Kensington. Fyre, this is my son Blaise. Why don't you greet him properly," Francois suggested.
"Greet him properly?" asked Ginny in confusion.
"Yes," Francois said as he pushed Ginny forward towards Blaise, giving her a harder shove when she still wasn't moving, causing her to fall forward slightly towards Blaise, who thankfully was quick enough to catch her before she fell. "Now greet him properly, the way you greet me when you see me. I have to see to the arrangements for his gift," he instructed.
"Welcome to The Hidden Pearl, Blaise," Ginny said as she leant forward and pulled Blaise into a kiss.
/-/I know that voice,/-/ Blaise thought as he felt Ginny's lips touch his moments before his father left the room.
"Don't," Ginny said quietly as she tried to pull Blaise closer when he tried to step away after his father had stepped out.
"We don't have to," Blaise said.
"Yes, we do," replied Ginny desperately. "If your father walks in here and sees us apart he'll think I did something to turn you off and then I'll…"
"You'll what?" asked Blaise in concern. "What will he do to you?"
Ginny quickly peeked out the door before turning back to Blaise. "Oh Gods, he's coming back," she whispered frantically.
"What will he do?" Blaise demanded as he took a hold of Ginny's head in his hands and looked deep into her familiar blue eyes. Seeing the amount of fear contained within them, he pulled her forward into a heated kiss as he backed her into the wall, lifting her leg up and wrapping it around his waist as he let his hand slide up and down her thigh.
Ginny tightened her grip on Blaise when she heard Francois chuckle after he re-entered the room, her grip pleading with Blaise not to step away from her just yet.
"Now now Blaise," Francois chuckled as he watched his son kiss Ginny. "Once I've claimed her, I might consider sharing Fyre with you but not before. I've arranged for you to have your own Pearl. Fyre, why don't you escort Blaise next door and then return here," he instructed.
"Of course, Francois," Ginny said as she finally broke the kiss and allowed Blaise to step back from her, taking his hand in hers and leading him out of the room.
"Fyre…" Blaise began when they stopped outside another door.
"Don't," Ginny pleaded, leaning up and kissing Blaise on the cheek before leaving him alone and making her way back over to the room where Francois was waiting for her. "Francois?" she called when she walked into the room and didn't see him anywhere within, only to have her world go suddenly black.
Inside the room Ginny had left Blaise at, Buffy waited, trying not to have a complete meltdown. Smoothing down the sides of her dress Buffy sighed before glancing at the clock, he was late…then again why was she complaining, he being late wasn't a bad thing, it was Francois' money going to waste, but gave her more time to put off the inevitable that she had sentenced herself to. With a sigh she glanced around the room, making sure everything was in place…the bed was made, over on the other side of the room was a table where a few covered trays sat, various foods and such, a pitcher of wine, most everything to make a celebration out of what was nothing more than a sex exchange quite honestly. One last glance at the pitcher of wine, she turned and moved back towards the center of the room to avoid giving in to the temptation to have a drink to calm her nerves. Hearing the door open, she turned towards it, watching as a man entered; well no, he was still a boy in a man's body. He was certainly Francois' son; he was tall, with the same sandy brown hair and brown eyes, as he drew closer though she could see a kindness in his eyes that wasn't in his father's. He was handsome; there was no denying that, God willing this might not be as hard as she had feared. Taking a breath she locked away a good deal of herself, who she was before the trip to limbo and coming here, before slowly sinking slightly towards the ground in a curtsy, more reminiscent of when she used to compete in ice skating. "Welcome Sir," she spoke softly.
"Blaise," he interrupted quietly as he stopped next to her, "My name is Blaise, 'Sir' is what I call my father and his peers."
"Blaise," she repeated before looking up at him, "Would you like a drink? Something to eat, perhaps?"
"A drink, certainly," he agreed before she turned and made her way towards the table and poured a glass of wine. Turning back she crossed the steps back to his side and held it out to him. He took it, taking a drink, all the while keeping his eyes on her. "You don't have to wait for me to give you permission to do something. At least not when we're in a private setting like this, I know there are other rules in the main room."
She nodded slightly before going to get a glass for herself. Leaning against the table she watched him as he looked around the room, smiling when she saw the tell tale signs of someone who was nervous. "So…" she drew his attention back to her. "If I may, I have a few things I would like to say…"
"Go ahead," Blaise nodded before taking another drink of his wine.
"I know that for all intents and purposes, anything you say goes, but if I may, there are a few requests that I have. I will be honest; I have only been with three men in my life, only one of those more than once, so I'm not as experienced as some, but I do know enough to teach you a few things about carnal knowledge as it was put, though I imagine you have some knowledge on the matter that your father would not know of," she paused as he smirked. She smiled in response before continuing, "I don't know anything of sex games, and I don't believe that pain is a part of pleasure. I know that I can't stop you from wishing to go that route." /-/Even if I could technically beat the crap out of you if you tried to chain me up or something…/-/ "But there is nothing that I can teach you in that regard…and I have a request, let us be honest here, your father has pretty much paid for my services in whatever regard you want to use them, for the next several meetings. If you would be willing to concede this one thing, can we not kiss? To me a kiss is a sign of love and in my relationships I have learned just how important that can be…" she trailed off once more to watch him before he nodded and waved his hand slightly for her to continue. "I can teach you a few things, if you wish to learn how to use a woman, I can teach you that…it's quite easy unfortunately. On the other hand, I can teach you how to enjoy the pleasure you can find with a woman, and how to give her pleasure in return, how to give up control and how to take it without breeching the point of harm."
"And to make love, can you teach that?" he countered quietly.
Buffy ducked her head as she focused on the wine in her glass. Swallowing she looked up at him before shaking her head, "I have only had one true love, and I was only with him one time. I can't teach you how to make love to a woman because you must love that woman, and we both know that you'll never love me. There are women out there, who you will take into your arms and love with at least a part of your heart, but hopefully all…what we have here is perhaps at most the relationship of a mistress, we may be good together you and I, but we will never have love in our relationship. Even so, I don't think you can teach someone how to make love, it's something that you can only experience with someone that you love…"
Falling silent she watched as he nodded slowly before crossing the room to the table and setting his glass down next to her hip, turning he pulled out one of the chairs before pulling one of her hands from the glass and leading her to sit. He took the other chair before picking up his glass once more. "It's my turn to be honest," Blaise began slowly before leaning back to watch her. "I know you've met my father, the simple fact that he has…acquired your services made that clear, though your wording earlier also told me you had met him personally. In many ways I am similar to my father, looks obviously, we're both exceptionally smart, and both have a bit of a wicked streak…but in every other aspect I am nothing like him. That doesn't mean I don't know my place in the world and how to live up to expectations…"
"You're the only son of a very wealthy and powerful man. It would be abnormal if you did not know how to live up to expectations," she countered with a smile.
"Touché," he grinned, "As for your requests, to be honest, Summer, you're right, I do have a bit of knowledge my father doesn't know about. And I agree with you, pain does not belong in the bedroom. And sex games, bondage, everything in that regard reminds me entirely too much of some of my father and his friends other activities…I'm not sure how much you know about some of the patrons of the club…" he paused before nodding, "By the look in your eyes you know enough to at least know of what I mean."
"I don't know what you're talking about," she countered quickly.
Blaise chuckled humourlessly, "It's all right, Summer, whatever happens between us, be it conversation or other, stays between us. You might find this hard to believe, then again you might not, I don't know you well enough to be able to judge…but I don't follow my father's opinions in his choices. In this war, I honestly do not have a side; neutral some call me and those like me…I would prefer one outcome, but I will not actually step up…"
"And put yourself where, if the outcome is not as you wish, it could be exceedingly harmful for you and those you care about," Buffy continued.
"Exactly," he nodded. "Perhaps it makes me a coward, but there are other circumstances involved beyond my control."
"Sometimes the wisest course of action is to live to fight another day," she shurgged lightly. "And you're right, I do have knowledge of the war of which you speak, and just who some of the patrons are in that war."
"Something tells me that you have the most interesting tale to tell, Summer," he smiled before taking a sip of his wine, "As I was saying though, I do not believe in that either, so that is not a problem to be had. And I do not wish to learn how to use a woman, I know enough about that from watching my family. Your views on love seem very set in stone, and I imagine it was a great man who managed to steal your heart so tightly that even now you love him so… I don't know if I agree with your opinion on what it is to make love to a woman, for I have never been in love, but you are right that what we have, will never be love. We may become friends, even learn to love each other in a way, but we both know that we could never be more, that my place dictates one thing for my life, and as wonderful a woman as you seem to be, and no doubt are…it would never be accepted. No offence intended of course."
"None taken," Buffy smirked slightly, "Besides, my family would never approve of you either."
Blaise laughed, "Summer Andrews, I do believe we might become very good friends. You have a great deal of spice to you, and no doubt an Irish temper to match that fiery hair of yours…"
"I have been told I have quite the temper, but I think that it has more to do with the fact that I have always had strong emotions," she shrugged. "I did have a few other concerns though…"
"That you did," he nodded. "I've never looked at kissing the way you do, but if it makes this easier on you, then by all means. This will be a relationship of sorts for both of us, a rather unconventional one I suppose in the minds of some, but one just the same. I don't want you to be uncomfortable in any way if I can help it…"
"I think you're a good man, Blaise," Buffy smiled. "And thank you."
"You're welcome," he smiled, "So, that leaves us with just the matter of you teaching me how to enjoy pleasure."
Buffy chuckled lightly; this really might not be as bad as it could have been. "Yes, it does," she agreed as she rose and set her glass down, before taking his hand and pulling him from his chair. "I take it that you have no desire for any of the food that they provided for your birthday party?"
"Not really…"
"Good," she smirked before taking his glass and setting it down, then stepping back to untie the bows on either of the spaghetti straps on her gown, the fabric falling to the ground without the straps to hold it, revealing the familiar black bikini that was her uniform. Stepping over the pile of silk, she took his hand and pulled him towards the bed, "So begins lesson one…"
Wednesday April 15th, 1998
London, England
On the way from The Hidden Pearl to Ginny and Buffy's Building
1:43 am
Four nights after Blaise first came to the club, he and his father had come as was becoming clockwork, each spending their individual time with their 'pearls' as Francois called them, before leaving to go home. Blaise however, immediately made his way back to the club, he had to find out more information, if Fyre was Ginny Weasley as he thought…and it wasn't like he could just ask Summer about it.
He had been surprised to see both women leaving the club just before one-thirty, and quickly followed them, he might be able to talk to Fyre in her apartment…it would certainly be safer than talking at the club. The last thing he expected though was to see three men appear from the shadows in front of the two. Even more astounding, when he went to go help them, he saw Fyre slug one and it stumble back while Summer kicked at the other two, sending them flying back long enough for her to get between Fyre and the one she was fighting, the guy disappearing moments later before Summer turned and punched one of the two she had knocked away in the beginning, fighting both of them before they to just…disappeared. Though as he drew closer during the fight he saw the last one disappeared in a cloud of dust…vampires?
"Fyre?" Summer asked softly as she slipped an arm around Fyre's waist, "Come on, we need to get you home."
"Let me help," he spoke up, Summer's head snapping up to look at him as Fyre's turned more slowly.
"I'm fine," Fyre started to argue.
"No Fyre, you're not," Summer countered. "I can't carry you home on my own if there might be more of them about. The last thing either of us needs is to be getting killed," she continued quietly.
"All right," Fyre agreed reluctantly before Blaise stepped up and carefully lifted her into his arms instead of simply helping her walk. Summer nodded before leading the way to their building, Fyre looking anywhere but at Blaise as they made the journey, fortunately without anymore incidents.
"You can put me down now," Ginny said, once they were inside her apartment.
"Are you okay?" he asked softly as he lowered her to the couch.
"That would be my question too," Buffy echoed as she moved around the kitchen preparing hot choclate as had become tradition whenever Francois left Ginny hurting.
"I'm fine you two," Ginny said as she went to stand up, only to have Blaise gently push her back down to the couch.
"Somehow I seriously doubt that," he countered as Buffy just snorted from the stove.
"Honestly guys, it's nothing he hasn't done before and it faded quickly the last time" Ginny trailed off as she realized what she just admitted to.
"How many times?" Buffy growled as she came into the room.
"Does it really matter?" snapped Ginny.
"It does if it means I'm bloody well going to kill him! Bloody hell, Fyre, I thought it was just the one time. Why didn't you tell me you were in pain?"
"Summer don't," Ginny pleaded as she rose to her feet. "If you go after him, he'll know I told and that will only make things worse for me, trust me on this. You have no idea what he made me do a few nights ago," her eyes flipping to Blaise for a moment before she focused on Buffy once more. "I got penalized for not reacting to his request fast enough. He's getting more and more demanding of how I act and if I don't do exactly as he wants, what he did tonight and a few nights ago are only the last in a line of things he's done and Gods help me if something goes wrong with his plans for me…"
Buffy took a deep breath fighting back the urge to protect her, before nodding, "Alright Fyre, I'll stay out of it and keep my mouth shut, but please don't hide when you're in pain from me again," she asked softly.
"You're asking me the impossible, Summer," Ginny countered.
"How is it impossible to tell me when you're in pain when we're here?" Buffy argued gently. "I know you can't say anything at the club, but when it's just the two of us…I can't help you if I don't know, Sweetheart."
"Because maybe I don't want you to know," replied Ginny angrily as she tried to fight back tears.
"Oh Sweetheart," Buffy whispered, before leaning forward and placing a gentle kiss against Ginny's brow. "I'm sorry. I won't push, but just know, I'm always here for you if you need me. Sisters remember?" she continued low enough so only Ginny could hear before pulling back. "Do you want Blaise and me to go now?"
"If you wouldn't mind," Ginny said.
"Of course not," Buffy smiled before grabbing Blaise's hand and pulling him towards the door. "Breakfast is on me, Love," she called over her shoulder before shutting the door behind them. "Do I even want to know why you were following us?" she turned on Blaise once they were in the hall.
"I came by to see you and you were gone, so I wanted to make sure you made it home okay...obviously you can take care of yourself though," he shrugged. She raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. "I'll see you tonight then?" he continued softly.
"Of course," she chuckled lightly. "Goodnight Blaise," she smiled before nodding towards the elevators.
"Goodnight Summer," he smiled back before making his way towards them, only to go down, then come back up, grateful to find Buffy no doubt in her apartment, as he made his way back to Ginny's door.
"Summer, really I'll be…" Ginny sighed in aggravation as she opened the door, only to come face to face with "Blaise?"
"I think she's actually heeding your request," he shrugged, "Can I talk to you though?"
"You shouldn't be here, Blaise," Ginny said. "Especially without Summer here. If your father were to find out…"
"I'm fairly certain he won't find out," Blaise countered, "and I promise it will only be a short time. It's probably safer to talk here than at the club..."
"Come in then," Ginny said as she stepped back to let Blaise into the apartment. "What do you want Blaise?" she asked as she walked back over to her couch and sat down, a little harder than she intended causing her to wince in pain.
"Can I help with the pain?" he began softly.
"Help how?" asked Ginny in concern, not sure where this conversation was heading.
"I always carry a few potions around with me, healing potions, and I do know more than a few healing spells..." he shrugged slightly. "If I know my father, he has a great deal of fondness for torturing spells...they hurt like hell..." he trailed off knowingly.
"I would be eternally grateful for anything you could do to help ease the pain. He's done it enough that I should be able to fake it tomorrow night," Ginny said.
"Merlin's blood," Blaise swore softly before shaking his head, quickly hunting through the pockets of his coat he found a small vial and un-shrunk it before passing it to her. Thankfully it wasn't the 'pink potion'; once she had drunk it he cast a few spells to cover any lingering pain. "Better?" he asked gently.
"Much," Ginny sighed in tired relief. "Now what can I do for you? Why did you come back here?"
"I know who you are, Fyre," he began, taking a chance that he was right.
/-/This isn't happening. He can't know. He barely knew me at Hogwarts, how can he know me now? I don't look anything like I did before,/-/ Ginny thought worriedly. "Excuse me?"
"I know who you are, Ginny," he continued gently.
"Get out," Ginny ordered, quickly getting to her feet and walking towards the door.
"Hey, hey," he held his hands up, "Look I'm not here to force you to do anything, I'm not going to tell anybody, I just want to let you know, I'm here if you need anything..."
"How? How could you…Ginny Weasley died months ago. And why would you care? I mean you're a Slytherin for Merlin's sake. Have you forgotten that Ginny Weasley was a no nothing Gryffindor who almost got expelled from school one too many times to count and who failed practically all her O.W.L.s and wasn't important enough for her parents to even notice or care that she'd run off? Why should you, of all people, care whether or not I'm Ginny Weasley? You barely knew her so what difference does it make if she's gone?"
"You're right; I am a Slytherin, that's why I couldn't ever really act like I noticed you. But you were kinda noticeable, at least to anyone who was actually watching. Look at what you did to Draco? I still have a laugh every time I think about it...I learned a long time ago that it doesn't matter what others say or think about you, as long as you know the real you and are happy with who you are. I screwed up, none of us noticed you until you were gone, and by then it was too late. And your family is a bunch of spoiled brats if you ask me..." he trailed off with another shrug.
"Why are you doing this Blaise? Why do you care about a mistake like me?" demanded Ginny, near tears.
"You're not a mistake," he frowned, no idea why she would even call herself that.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Ginny said sadly. "You didn't have to stand there and listen to your parents talk about how big of a mistake it was for them to have you and how they couldn't deal with raising you anymore because you were a disgrace because you failed all your O.W.L.s without bothering to find out why, or even care why."
Blaise sighed, shaking his head, and they said the Slytherin families were the bad ones. "Fyre, I want you to listen to me alright?"
Ginny nodded as she slid down the wall next to her door, her arms wrapped around her middle protectively.
"Your parents are a couple of inconsiderate, brainless, complete utter fools who never should have had one kid let alone seven," he spoke bluntly, "You are not a mistake. If you were would you have anyone in your life? Would Summer give a care about you if you were a mistake? Would I be here talking to you now that my father has some insane obsession with you? Would I be willing to just leave and continue to for all intents and purposes as far as the world is concerned, think that Ginny Weasley is dead when in reality I know full well she's alive and living in London? No, people don't care about 'mistakes'; they care about other people. You're who you are, not what others want you to be, you were never a mistake."
"Oh Gods Blaise," Ginny cried. "I'm afraid. I'm afraid of what your father is going to do to me…"
"I know," he whispered as he moved to sink next to her, pulling her close as she cried, "I know...Summer and I will be here for you as much as we can..."
"Blaise you have to help me. It can't be him, please…" Ginny pleaded.
"I'll do everything I can," he promised, his mind flashing to the only person who could possibly outbid his father. "It will be okay Fyre, it will."
"I pray to the Gods you're right Blaise," Ginny said quietly.
"I know," he agreed softly. "I know."
Tuesday September 1st, 1998
London, England
The Hidden Pearl
8:15 p.m.
Four months had past since Buffy first met Blaise and Blaise confronted Ginny about her secret. In turn he had later confronted Buffy about being the Slayer, and for some strange reason considering she had only known the man for two months, she told him that she was the Slayer, leaving out that Ginny was though. As he had predicted at their first meeting, she did grow to care for him in a small regard, he wasn't Angel, he never would be and would never hold her heart that was still firmly in the hands of her former lover, but she did love Blaise in a way, just as he loved her in a way. And the sex was fantastic…
Outside the relationship with Blaise, she and Ginny continued to pass the time in pretty much a well-established routine, they would do a quick patrol before work, then head to the club for the evening. The nights that Francois was especially hard on Ginny, or just whenever Simon felt like it, it seemed, Ginny would be allowed to leave after Francois left. Sometimes Buffy was let go early, but more often then not she had to finish her shift. They would meet for a quick patrol of the sewers in the morning, catching any stragglers, or the nights that Ginny left work early she would hit the cemeteries to visit the newly dead they suspected from reading the obituaries each morning at breakfast. After a nap in the morning, once Ginny really got used to the advantages of being the Slayer, and the fact that you didn't need quite as much sleep as the regular Joe, they would spend the afternoon training, Buffy having turned her living room into basically a training area and they would relax and such over in Ginny's living room.
Ginny was really coming along in her training, and Buffy had to laugh at memories of Giles her first year under him, understanding in a whole new way how he must have felt trying to get her to train and do the studying and everything…but at least she had the advantage of Slayer abilities when training with Ginny. And they did some studying, Buffy making sure she knew what that annoying scabby demon looked like first and foremost.
As the weeks trailed away and the end of the bidding came for Ginny, Buffy watched sadly as her friend and Sister Slayer, and in a way 'her' Slayer like she had been Giles', began to withdraw a bit, fear of what was to come getting to her. Buffy knew from Blaise that he had tried to subtly get Draco Malfoy to have his father put a bid in on Ginny, but so far it had appeared the one and only plan they had wasn't working, leaving both more than a little worried for what was to come, Buffy more than Blaise knowing just what would happen when Ginny finally slept with someone for the first time…and the last person Buffy wanted to be that man was Francois Zabini…
Both of them did their best to keep Ginny's mind off what was to come, taking day trips here and there, Blaise tagging along sometimes, as Buffy's companion of course, sometimes it was just the two of them. They went up to Ireland, to Galway, neither Blaise nor Ginny quite understanding why Buffy very determinedly searched through the graveyard for a rather large collection of graves dating back to 1753, or why she proceeded to remove all of the weeds and such from the one lone grave without any words written on the wooden marker. Both also were left wondering just who 'my Angel' was when she painstakingly carved the words and the numbers 1727 - 1753 into the wood with one of the daggers she always carried around. Ginny though, flashed back to Buffy mentioning someone by that name…but why would she be putting it on the grave of a man dead over two hundred years she didn't know. Other trips saw them seeing Scotland, Wales, other parts of England, more of France and a few other surrounding countries.
All too soon though, the one-year anniversary of Ginny's first day at the Pearl was upon them, and the bidding for her last necklace was finished. Buffy headed into the Pearl with a heavy heart, and concern filling her mind when she hadn't found Ginny at home, knowing she had been called into work late the night before. She glanced around the halls, only finding Jenny who also hadn't seen her, both concerned for their friend, before finally separating ways knowing they had to.
"See you later Summer," Jenny called as she walked into the main club, Buffy turning and making her way towards the private rooms and the one that was set aside for her and Blaise basically.
"Thanks," she called back, "If you see Fyre, tell her I'm buying breakfast."
"Will do," echoed back at her before Jenny disappeared completely into the main club. Glancing back towards the changing room Buffy sighed, worry for Ginny taking over most of her mind…God willing Francois would be as gentle with her as he had been in the past. Though she doubted that very much with the aggressive behaviour he had been displaying over the last few months.
Her thoughts were so focused on Ginny that she didn't realize the door in front of her had opened until she was pulled inside only to be slammed against the back of the door. "Miss me," she chuckled as she let her head fall back against the door, Blaise's mouth doing wicked things to her neck.
He pulled away and looked up at her face, one thigh pressed between hers and holding her up so the tip of her toes barely touched the floor, one hand on her hip holding her there as the other rested on her rib cage under her left breast, "Let's just say I had a dream last night that left me seriously needing you…"
"Oh?" she raised her eyebrows.
"Yes, now shut up," he countered before returning to her neck and his hand moved up to massage her breast. Chuckling she did, raising her legs to wrap around his waist while she set to work unbuttoning his shirt.
"So…" Buffy began, still in the slightly blissful afterglow of sex where they had collapsed on the bed. "How was your day?"
"Prior to the exquisite hour I just had?" he smirked as he raised his head enough to look at her.
"You're making small talk exceedingly hard, Mr. Zabini," she grumbled before smiling. "Really now, how was your day…"
"It was a good day," he shrugged, "I'm really enjoying the vineyards, and its nice having a house to myself…"
"Don't you mean a Villa or Mansion to yourself?" Buffy teased. He had Ginny and herself out to the Villa for sort of a private Graduation party after he finished school and was given the Villa and the vineyards and in turn the quite successful winery as a start to making his way up the ranks of the family businesses. It was just the three of them, a night Francois wasn't going to be in to the club, and they were there for a few hours, walking through the vineyards and enjoying the Italian air and countryside, a bit of an adventure for both girls, the first time to Italy for both of them. After the longest lunch she ever had, the two had been returned to London to spend the rest of the day resting before an easy night at work that night.
"Cheeky witch," he shot back, "But as I was saying, I had a good day. Course being summoned to dinner with my mother and father wasn't the highlight of my day…" he sighed. "You sure I can't arrange for a vampire or fifty to end up locked in the house with my father and then you can get away with killing his vampire self?"
Buffy rolled her eyes, "No, I already told you, besides, something tells me your father would end up dusting all the vampires before they ever came close to biting him…"
"True…even if they did they might not like the taste of his blood," Blaise chuckled darkly. "Speaking of the legions of the undead, did you guys have an easy patrol?"
"There are times I question telling you my secret," Buffy chuckled lightly as she rolled over to rest on his chest, tracing designs on his skin as she looked at him. "And yes, it was very easy. I'm thinking word has gotten around that there's a Slayer in town."
"That's a good thing…"
"Not when it means there's nothing to beat the crap out of when I'm frustrated about something," she countered. "And you're avoiding the subject, Blaise. We were talking about your day, not mine."
"Alright, alright," he grumbled, "My morning and afternoon were good, dinner sucked, then my father and I came here and it made up for the horrible dinner. Happy?"
"Ehh… pretty much," she shrugged before frowning, "Wait a minute, you said your father was at dinner with you and got to the club with you?"
"Yes, why?" he frowned slightly, concerned at the growing look of confusion on her face and the spark of fear he saw in her eyes.
"Fyre has been at the club since last night, she was summoned in the middle of the night. I saw her come in when I was doing drinks. I didn't get a chance to talk to her though…I figured it was your father, what with the bidding ending this morning, but if he just got here now, who was it that Simon summoned her here for? And now that I think about it, I don't remember seeing your father…"
"That's a very good question," Blaise agreed softly, his mother had mentioned that his father had been home the night before when they were at dinner. "Have you seen Fyre at all?"
"Not today, she never came home after shift, and Simon wouldn't tell me anything so…Jenny's keeping an eye out for her for me…" Buffy trailed off, suddenly getting a very bad feeling in her stomach. "Something's wrong…" she began as she sat up, seconds later a scream tore through the halls of the club. "Dear God, Ginny," she whispered as she scrambled off the bed and bolted towards the door, dimly realizing that Blaise must have cast a spell because she was suddenly clothed once more, not like she cared. When she reached the door that led to the room that was reserved for Francois and Ginny, she found it locked and was just about ready to kick the damn thing down when Blaise appeared next to her and cast an unlocking charm as other girls peered down the hall, unsure of what was going on.
Pushing open the door, Buffy stopped in shock at the sight that greeted them.
Saturday September 5th, 1998
Wiltshire, England
Malfoy Manor
8:15 a.m.
After finding the scene that greeted them in the room, Buffy had proceeded to walk over to Francois and punch him hard enough that he promptly collapsed unconscious while she smirked, that had felt so good. By the time she turned around, Blaise had picked Ginny up carefully before walking over so Buffy could wrap her arm around his waist as he apparated from the room, appearing in a very nice entry way of some sorts. Quickly he walked to the room down the hall and laid Ginny down, Buffy kneeling next to her as he disappeared only to return with a guy around his age with blonde hair and blue-grey eyes, who promptly informed Blaise he was out of his mind. Blaise was insistent though and sent Draco as she figured out his name was from the conversation, on his way to get the family's medi-wizard while they took Ginny upstairs to a bedroom.
When the medi-wizard arrived, both were forced from the room and Blaise managed to get Buffy as far as a lounge down the hall, after a few minutes he had brought up something she hadn't even realized she had said back at the club.
"So," Blaise began while he watched Buffy pace up and down the room while the medi-wizard took care of Ginny. "How do you know Ginny Weasley?"
"Who?" she stopped to look at him, but he didn't miss the flash of panic in her eyes.
"Ginny Weasley, youngest and only daughter of the Weasley family, her brother Ron was in my year at Hogwarts, she disappeared off the face of the earth just shy of two years ago…and she's now known as Fyre Kensington," he finished carefully.
"You're out of your bloody mind," Buffy shot back.
"You called her Ginny," he countered evenly.
"No, I didn't…"
"Summer, you can't lie," Blaise smirked.
"You would be surprised," she sighed as she sunk down into a chair. "Look, I won't tell you anything. I know nothing, that's all I'm going to say."
"It's okay," he answered softly. "I know that she's Ginny, I've known since that night at your apartment building after we first met…"
"She doesn't though," Buffy spoke with another heavy sigh.
"She never told you?" Blaise frowned.
"No, and no, I'm not going to explain how. Let's just say it's related to my day job," she offered as she watched him with hard eyes.
"I won't say a word," he held up his hands, "I did some research though, some really old and really hard books to get a hold of… About the Watcher's Council and Slayers…" Buffy merely raised an eyebrow as she watched him, not sure exactly where this was going. "There's mention of a few Slayers with the power greater than that of an average Slayer…magic would be my guess. She's a Slayer, isn't she? That's how you know about her past, part of why you're here now…"
"I repeat, I don't know anything," she very clearly enunciated each word.
"It's alright," he nodded, a small smile playing around his lips, "I won't say a word to anyone, even her, and I'll never mention it again unless you bring it up, or it's a matter of life or death or something. I just wanted you to know that I know something in case you ever need to talk…"
Buffy gave a sort of snort thing before rising and beginning her pacing once more, stopping about her third trip across the room she glanced over her shoulder at him, "Thanks," she smiled before continuing on. Blaise merely smiled as he watched her move.
They had been allowed in to see Ginny soon after, the medi-wizard explaining he had done all he could for now and she would wake up when she was ready. For the next three days Buffy stayed by Ginny's side, staying as far away from Draco Malfoy as she could so she would keep from hitting him as he was far from happy to have them there and made no bones about it to Blaise, until finally, finally, the younger girl woke up much to Buffy's relief. After finding something for Ginny to wear, Blaise having gone to both of their apartments and packing up the stuff that he knew was theirs and not provided by the club, though he did come back and raise an eyebrow as he mentioned the collection of weapons they had to which Buffy had stuck her tongue out at him before returning to her vigil, the two girls made their way down to where Blaise was waiting with breakfast.
"Where are we?" asked Ginny after Blaise pulled her chair out and helped her sit down.
"Someplace safe," he answered vaguely.
"Good, she's awake," snapped Draco as he stormed into the breakfast room, grabbed Ginny by the hand and dragged her out of her chair. "Time for you to be leaving," he said as he dragged Ginny out into the hall.
"Take one more step and I'll break your stuck up, spoiled brat nose," Buffy threatened as she chased after them, putting herself in front of them.
"I'd like to see you try," Draco snapped as he pulled his wand out and pointed it at Buffy. "Both of you are leaving this house immediately. I will not have either of you here when…"
"Draco?" purred a voice from behind Buffy, stopping Draco's words. "Who might these two young ladies be? Good morning, Blaise."
"Uh...hello," Buffy greeted when she turned and saw the older woman, obviously Draco's mother, standing beside a man, obviously his father, with long blonde hair...interesting...
"Draco?" Lucius pressed. "Did we not teach you proper manners? Introduce the young ladies and let go of the poor girl's wrist."
"They were just leaving, Father," Draco said. "I was just showing them to the Floo point."
"Actually, to be honest, we were having breakfast with Blaise," Buffy spoke up quickly, Blaise said they were safe here; she was bound and determined to try and keep them there until Francois had time to cool down, or they came up with another plan.
"I see," Lucius said as he took in the two women before him, a flash of recognition flashing through his eyes when he took in the redhead his son had a hold of, the five blue pearl necklaces not going unnoticed either. "Draco would you let the young lady go. She looks like she's been through enough without you dragging her around the Manor in such an undignified manner, which certainly does not stand up to your breeding. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were raised a Weasley the way you are treating our guests."
Ginny tensed when she heard the name Weasley cross Lucius' lips, a fact that did not go unnoticed by either of the elder Malfoys.
"How many times must I tell you to release your hold on her, Draco?" snapped Lucius in irritation when Draco had still not let go of Ginny's wrist.
"It's alright, Mr. Malfoy," Ginny said quietly, lifting her eyes to meet Lucius' gaze. "Draco's right. It's time for us to be going."
"Fyre..." Buffy began glancing at her. "It's not safe..." she continued quietly.
"I don't have a choice, Summer," Ginny said as she pulled her wrist out of Draco's hand and started to walk past Buffy, Lucius and Narcissa, figuring the Floo point was somewhere behind them since that's the way that Lucius and Narcissa had approached from and they were both still wearing their travelling cloaks. Ginny never made it very far before her injuries caused her to hiss in pain and start to collapse sideways. Luckily for her, she was next to Lucius at the time and his reflexes were quick enough to catch her before she hit the ground.
"Are you all right, Miss…" Lucius trailed off as he helped Ginny back to her feet.
"Kensington, Fyre Kensington," Ginny replied quietly.
"Would someone kindly explain to me what is wrong with Miss Kensington?" Lucius asked looking between the three young people as he continued to hold onto Ginny, not wanting her to collapse once more. "Draco? Blaise?"
"She's injured," Blaise spoke up, sending Draco a look. "We came here to ask Draco to have your family medi-wizard look at her," he continued.
"Is there a problem with your own family medi-wizard, Blaise?" asked Lucius curiously.
"He was...unavailable."
Lucius looked down at the young woman standing next to him before looking back at the others. "That settles it then, Miss Kensington and her friend Miss…"
"Andrews, Summer Andrews," Buffy answered.
"Miss Kensington and Miss Andrews will stay here until further notice," Lucius said. "It is quite apparent that Miss Kensington has been seriously injured somehow and needs time to recover. She can do that here."
"Mr. Malfoy, that's really not necessary," Ginny tried to argue.
"I insist," Lucius said. "I order you to stay, end of discussion."
"Of course," Ginny found herself saying, not quite sure why she was giving in so easily.
Buffy's eyes widened as she realized exactly what must have happened; there was no way Ginny would give in that easily unless she had absolutely no choice in the matter. /-/Thank you Mom!/-/ "Can we possibly return to breakfast now?" she asked softly, glancing back at Draco and glaring at him with contempt, only Blaise who was beside him saw it before she looked back at Lucius, glare gone.
"Certainly," Lucius agreed. "I hope you won't mind if my wife and I join you."
"I don't think so," Buffy shrugged, looking over at Ginny, she had a feeling Ginny had no clue whatsoever who the man next to her was...she certainly wasn't that calm with Angel after her first time, but then again that could have had to do with the fact that he was all psycho soulless demon...
"Are you all right, Miss Kensington?" asked Lucius in concern when she failed to answer.
"I think I need to sit down for a bit," Ginny said only to find herself being picked up and carried back into the breakfast room before being placed gently into one of the chairs.
"You know, I kinda like him," Buffy whispered to Blaise. "Certainly nicer than his son…"
"I heard that," Draco hissed under his breath as he brushed past her and Blaise.
"I really don't like him," Buffy muttered under her breath, smiling when she heard Blaise nearly choke on his laughter as they walked into the dining room, he leading her over to her chair and pulling it out so she could sit, the others already seated.
"Mr. Malfoy, we really don't want to be an imposition…" Ginny began.
"You're staying, end of discussion," Lucius ordered.
"Of course," Ginny said quietly in submission.
"You have a lovely house, Mrs. Malfoy," Buffy spoke up after a few minutes of silence. "Well, at least the part I've seen so far," she continued sheepishly. Small talk could be a good thing... right?
"Thank you, Miss Andrews. I take it my son has not been playing the good host while his father and I have been away," Narcissa said.
"Well in his defense, I was a bit preoccupied," Buffy offered, sending a small smile Draco's way, to which he scowled.
"Well, we'll have to make sure you get a tour now that your friend is awake," Narcissa replied.
"Cool," Buffy grinned.
