Title: Life's a Witch and then you Die
Author: AdventureLucky7
Fandom: The Hollows
Pairing: Rachel/Ivy (Seriously I will get there, it's just going to take a bit…)
Rating: Mature, for language so far
Disclaimer: The Hollows characters and universe belong to Kim Harrison, I am just borrowing them for the story. Finding Nemo belongs Disney, or Pixar, or however that works when they merged.
Summary: What happens when Rynn Cormel forces Rachel to find answers, and she discovers answers to questions she wasn't even asking? Rachel/Ivy, Ivy/Rachel, Ravy
I watched Serena walk up the stairs; grenadine syrup was running down her face into her shirt collar. Wearing a decidedly unhappy expression Serena plopped down beside me and took the wad of cocktail napkins I was holding her way.
Kally had her hand to her mouth, trying desperately not to laugh. Getting control of herself, Kally coughed twice and then asked "So-o-o-o-o I take it that pick up line didn't work?"
Serena frowned at her, still wiping the sticky mess from her face, and muttered "I told you we should have just gone to the strip club, the best plans are made in strip clubs."
Serena's original plan had been to take me to the nearest strip club, I still have no idea how a strip club was supposed to help me hunt Ivy. Kally had rolled her eyes in response to Serena's plan and grabbed my keys. Refusing to tell us where we were going Kally hopped into the driver's seat and had taken control of our after dinner plans. Eventually we ended up in front of a club named Q4. I was surprised at first to see we were going to a human club, which then turned to shock when I noticed a pair of men holding hands and walking into the building. Apparently we were going to a gay human club.
Serena pushed past me to pay our cover and once inside we headed to a table on the second story overlooking the dance floor. For the past several hours we had danced, drank, and watched the action from our second story perch. My shock had quickly turned to interest and then relaxation as I began to enjoy myself.
Clearing my throat, I said innocently "Serena, you can hit on any breathing male and come up with a phone number. What happened?"
Narrowing her eyes at me she answered, "Even an expert like myself can't salvage the pick up line you two came up with."
Kally and I dissolved into laughter. Earlier the three of us had been discussing worst pick up lines. Halfway through the conversation Serena declared it was all about the person's delivery not the line itself. I was partial to believing her; Serena could hit on a dead man and get a phone number. Kally, however, wasn't buying it and dared Serena to get a woman's phone number with a pick up line of our choice.
Serena had cracked her knuckles, leaned back in her chair, and simply said, "Bring it."
Grinning at Kally we threw around a few ideas and settled on, "Damn woman, you are looking fine and fuckable tonight, can I buy you a drink?" Serena looked like she had swallowed her tongue but after a brief pause she gamely headed downstairs.
From our perch Kally and I watched Serena head to the bar and begin scoping out the ladies around her. It took awhile, but Serena finally settled on an athletic brunette in leather pants, and full tattoo sleeves on her arms. Sidling up to the woman Serena leaned against the bar, her body language casually confident. When Serena finally delivered the line the woman looked stunned, and then dumped her entire drink on the Were's head.
I wiped tears from my eyes, and tried to get a handle on my chuckling. The grenadine was drying on Serena's face and small bits of cocktail napkin were starting to stick. Sighing Serena looked at me, "I would challenge you to a pick up line contest, but honestly I have syrup in places not intended for syrup. Let's get out here so I can get a shower."
Chuckling again, I grabbed my jacket, "I think Ivy and I are past the lame pick up line stage anyway." A woman bumped into me as we made our way to the door, and I swiveled slightly while I apologized. Continuing I said, "Besides Ivy has been hunting me for a year, I think I have try for some subtly." What that would be? I had no idea. How in the turn do you woo a woman? Maybe I could sneak some time on Ivy's computer; surely the internet could clue me in.
"You could go with the direct approach, subtly might be confused with mix signals. If you send Ivy anymore mixed signals you are going to give the vamp a permanent twitch from trying to reign in her instincts." Kally chimed in.
Looking sideways at Kally, "When did you get to be such a relationship expert?"
"What can I say, I'm a genius. Aren't you glad I'm a member of your pack?" Kally quipped back.
"Absolutely." I said and grabbed both Weres in a one armed hug as we made our way back to my car.
The drive back to the church was quiet, Kally was dozing in the back seat, and Serena was trying to find handi wipes in her purse to clean up her face. When we arrived at the church I opened my car door, and made it three steps when I froze. The smell of redwood and putrefying flesh rolled over me, and my terror followed on its heels. The bile rose to my throat as two thoughts came to me: Ivy and the Pixies. Something had hit my church, my home, with a very, very black earth charm.
My first instinct was to charge through the front door, but looking back I saw both Weres scenting the air, they were trying to place the smell. They aren't ready I thought, not for the kind of danger that might be waiting for me in the church. I needed a plan. I needed backup.
"Get back in the car." I barked hoarsely at Kally and Serena. They both turned to me stunned, and Serena began to open her mouth. I made a sharp sideways motion with my hand cutting her off, my stomach was rolling, "Now!"
Both ladies jumped back into the car and I drove us to Keasley's. Banging on the door, I fumbled for my cell phone and dialed Ivy's number. Please oh please let her be all right. Keasley opened the door and with one look at us he motioned us in. The phone continued to ring, and went to voice mail. I hung up, and dialed again, the sweat was beginning to form on my forehead; I tried not to imagine Ivy in the church. The phone went to voicemail again. Nearly screaming in frustration I dialed Ivy's number a third time and left her a voicemail telling her to meet us at Keasley's. Pacing I told Kally, "Call David, tell him where we are, tell him to get here now."
While I dialed Jenks I rested my forehead on a wall and willed him to pick up the phone. It went to voicemail and I resisted the urge to sink to my knees. There would be time later for a breakdown, right now I needed to focus. I was barely aware of Kally's strained voice telling David where to meet us. My stomach rolled again and I thought of the nightmares that I had for several months after I thought I had lost Ivy and Jenks in the F.I.B. interrogation room. No, I would not panic, not again.
Running through my options, I knew that I could call Rynn Cormel, but I balked at the idea. Vampire camarillas are competitive to a fault, if Ivy had been attacked in her own home and overpowered, she would appear weak. Ivy had enough enemies; I would not risk her looking vulnerable unless I was sure she was in danger. Cormel would have to be Plan B.
Right now I needed a Plan A, and my brain settled on the direct route. Jih, Jenk's daughter who lived in Keasley's garden, would have to be reconnaissance. David would be the muscle, and I would be the magic. Keasley would be our back up, if he didn't hear from us every 20 minutes, he would call Rynn and bring in the cavalry.
Looking over I saw Keasley sitting patiently with the ladies, looking at me expectantly. "The church smells like redwood and road kill," I said in response to his unasked question. Keasley's eyes widened, we were both witches, and both of us had worked at I.S. The price of such a spell is a sacrifice, and we both knew the victim did not die an easy or quick death.
Give me smut on my soul any day.
Keasley motioned for me to follow him into the kitchen and he began to clean off his table. Disappearing into his bedroom for a moment, he re-emerged with a map and markers. I nodded my thanks and spread the map out; marking possible escape routes if something went wrong. When I was satisfied I grabbed a napkin and drew a rough sketch of the church floor plan. By the time I heard Serena open the front door for David I had a plan.
David walked into the kitchen shedding his coat and Keasley called for Jih in the garden. Once all three Weres, two witches, and one pixy were huddled around the table I explained what had happened at the church. Jih flew to my shoulder, her wings red in distress, and I walked everyone through our reconnaissance mission. I refused to think of it as a rescue mission. Ivy, Jenks and the Pixie hoard were fine; there was no other option to consider.
Kally pressed a bag in my hands once I was done talking, and I looked down to see my spare leathers and splat gun that I stash in my car. I went to change, and left David to explain to the ladies why they were staying behind.
Walking out of the bathroom I saw David crouched down talking to two wolves. One was silver, her coat fading to black half way down her legs. The second wolf was beautiful mahogany with a splash of white shaped like a candle flame on her chest.
Keasley appeared in my line of vision and handed me a sound dampening charm, it would help hide our approach to the church. Nodding my thanks I stepped into the kitchen. Seeing me both wolves perked up, and came over to butt my leg with their heads. I bent down to scratch their ears, and they whined at me voicing their displeasure. Staying behind went against every Were instinct they had, wolves were meant to hunt in packs.
Sighing I looked at both wolves, "Guard our backs and protect Keasley, we will be back before you know it." Kally, the silver wolf, huffed and pressed her nose to my cheek in goodbye before trotting out the back door. Serena cocked her head at me for a moment, and then followed her pack mate.
David stood up and explained, "I told them to guard the perimeter; they won't let anyone or anything in the house." I nodded my approval, everything was in place. Jih landed on my shoulder, I tucked my splat gun into its holster, and with David on my heels we began to make our way back to the church.
Well, some questions were answered this week. Rachel still hasn't quite grown a pair, but I have hope she is getting closer. No man available for the suggestion of a foursome...where is Jenks when you need him? Serena tried to take Rachel to a strip club (I couldn't resist after Lupe629's review of the story, I shamelessly quoted her)
I am also taking pick up line suggestions, I have a feeling Rachel is going to need all the help she can get with wooing Ivy. More importantly, are there actually good pick up lines out there? My experience says no...
Having said that we are headed into more serious territory for a bit, where is Ivy and Jenks? Who in the hell is dumb enough to attack the church and risk pissing off a high blood vampire who is the Tamwood heir?