A/N: So, this prompt once again came from Facebook's DWP - MirAndy page. The guys 'n' gals on the page keep my muse happy.
Summary: Miranda is a very successful nightclub owner. Andy is new to town and applies for a job at one of Miranda's nightclubs. Andy then finds out that Miranda is not all she claims to be.
Disclaimers: The usual disclaimers apply. Do not own them and definitely do not make $$ from them.
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Andy tried to relax into the night but she could feel the undertow of anger raising from the basement behind the deep thrum of bass from the DJ as he blasted 80s music through the sound system. The 80s night was a one-off to mark the clubs fifth birthday. It was a genre of music Miranda usually avoided to stay ahead of other clubs.
Both Nigel and Miranda were behind the bar with her when she spotted a woman looking at her appraisingly. The blonde streak through the front of her hair making her stand out.
As Andy greeted her with a small friendly smile, she ordered a Pernod on the rocks. Moving with ease to dodge Nigel, her foot slipped beneath her on a small patch of water and her head bounced off the floor as wetness pooled around her. The last thing she remembered hearing before darkness descended was the light tinkling laughter and the slight French accent exclaiming to all that Miranda obviously only hired inept bartenders.
When Andy woke, she heard Serena cussing in Portuguese. Opening her eyes she flinched at the light and caught the muttered words in lightly accented English. "That French skunk, I will tear her throat out one of these days."
"My love. Please calm yourself. There was no serious harm done to me, just the shitty implication that I am useless." Emily's voice was soft and she heard a door snick shut.
Groaning, Andy sat up until she was pushed back into the cushions by the Brazillian. Squinting, she realised she was in Miranda's office. "What happened?" Andy asked, her eyes tracking the Brazillian immortal.
"You slipped, Andy and smacked your head," Serena stated. "I thought Miranda was going to tear Jacqueline's throat out when she laughed but she somehow managed to remain calm." Serena ground her teeth noisily. "Jacqueline may not be so lucky if she insults my Emily again."
"Who's on the bars?" Andy frowned.
"Nigel and Miranda." Serena stopped pacing and grinned. "And now Emily. I should warn you Miranda is not amused. There are a few people asking for some blue concoction she is struggling to make."
"Oh shit. I should head on out there." Andy tried once again to get up and was pushed back down. She growled at the immortal woman. "Serena, let me up."
"Chill, Andy. We sent Jocelyn out to get you some new clothes." Serena explained.
Andy looked down and realised she was no longer wearing the clothes she had been. She was confused.
"You were wet through, Andy. Not only from the water." Serena licked her lips. "Your head initially bled pretty badly but started to knit back together quickly."
"How badly?" Andy queried.
"Enough to cause Miranda to be concerned and Emily to have to stay away," Serena explained. "I helped you up and dragged you in here." She waved her hand airily. "That way, people thought your injury wasn't too bad.
"But my clothes?" Andy felt vulnerable.
"I stripped you out of the bloody wet clothes when you started shivering, Andy." Serena's smile turned on her hungrily. "You are very beautiful, Querida. Not that I would say that in front of my Emily, she would tear my throat out." Serena's laughter rang through the room. "Oh dear, I believe I may have pissed off my English Rose."
"She heard you?" Andy whispered.
"Of course." Serena swallowed nervously. "Uh, so did your love. Jocelyn and Miranda are here, I should..." Serena spun on her heel and moved towards the door as it was flung open.
Miranda stalked past without even glancing at the other immortal woman and Serena almost ran from the room.
Andy closed her eyes as Miranda's thoughts filtered through her mind noisily.
"...the bloody cheek of it...those words...vastly inappropriate...She knows Andréa is mine..." Miranda was clearly not amused.
"Miranda, can you dial it back a notch, my head hurts." Andy grinned at the silver-haired immortal woman but the smile wasn't returned.
Miranda handed her two aspirin and a bottle of chilled water with her lips pursed as Jocelyn slipped into the room and shut the door quietly.
Knowing she had not reached Miranda verbally, she spoke via their mind link. "Yes, I am yours. It was a lovely compliment though, Miranda. Serena clearly believes you are fortunate."
"I know I am." Miranda finally smiled and Andy was relieved.
She caught Miranda's blue eyes and saw a hint of concern. "I'm okay, my love. I just want some clothes and to return to work."
"No more work tonight, Andréa," Miranda spoke softly.
"But..." Andy started to speak but Miranda held her hand up placatingly.
"Jocelyn will be assisting Nigel while I take you home. You need to rest and recuperate." Miranda stated.
"But..." Andy wanted to argue that she was okay. Her stomach growled and she realised she was hungry.
"You lost a lot of blood and although the ability to heal helped you recuperate, while you were out cold, we noticed a few things that are concerning," Miranda explained hesitantly.
Andy opened her mouth to argue but snapped it shut when she realised it would be in vain. She felt the sharp sting of pain on her bottom lip and ran her tongue over it, tasting blood. Raising her hand, she was surprised when Miranda swatted it away gently. She felt the skin knitting together. "Miranda, what's happening?" She asked.
Miranda turned away. "You seem to have developed quite the sharp canine's." She spoke out loud. "Although we have bonded I have not drained you to the point of death then had you drink from me. And although you have smaller tastes of my blood, not enough to trigger immortality. This is not normal, my darling." Miranda's frustration was palpable.
Jocelyn stepped closer and placed the bag of clothes down beside Andy. Miranda almost growled when she brushed the hair from Andy's head.
Andy gave Jocelyn a smile and she stepped back fearfully. "I don't wanna bite you, Joss." Andy was surprised by the woman's sudden fear, but she did not experience an overwhelming hunger from the move like Emily had from hers a few days before.
Jocelyn stepped close again, stroking a finger along Andy's face. "Still warm." She whispered. The hand came to rest against her neck. "Your heart still beats, but faster, like the fluttering of wings." She looked at Miranda. "You said she drank from you?"
Miranda nodded. "Yes, during our day-sleep."
"Hybrid. Not fully immortal, but no longer fully human." Jocelyn's head popped up. "The spirits say this phenomenon happens only once a millennium." She frowned. "There will be a greater meaning for this, Andy." She offered a nervous smile, and her head tilted to one side, "I will need to commune with the spirits further. They will need an offering. Now, are you hungry?"
Andy felt the burning thirst and swallowed hard, pushing the feeling away. "A little thirsty, but I'm really hungry. My need for Chinese food seems immeasurable." Andy grinned as her stomach followed her whim by grumbling loudly.
Miranda snatched her cell up and connected to someone immediately. "Joaquín, I need Chinese food brought to my office immediately." She read Andy's thoughts easily. "Kung pao chicken and Stir-Fried Lo Mein with Beef and Broccoli," Miranda smirked. "That's all. She looked at her mate and smiled. "You shall have all your heart desires, my darling." She turned to Jocelyn. "Can you find out more about this thing...this hybridity."
"There is a name for this, Miranda," Jocelyn advised calmly. "A Dhampir." The witch frowned. "Legends say this is usually the result of a union between an immortal male and a human. I suppose I can assume you have been near no male immortal?" Jocelyn grinned at Andy while Miranda huffed.
"No, no men since Nate." Andy blushed. "And that ended way before I left him."
"And you don't usually partake in blood?" Jocelyn asked.
"No, just...well, you know." Andy could feel herself growing warm at the thought of her time that day with Miranda.
"Mm, well, hopefully, I will have answers for you by this time tomorrow. Now, I must go but tell me one thing before I do..." Jocelyn smiled. "...it's been a while since I tended a bar. What's the blue concoction all the women are chasing, how is it made?"
"The Blueberry Salute? It's three-quarters of an ounce of coconut milk, half an ounce of blueberry schnapps, and one ounce of rye whiskey. Shake the contents together and strain it into an ice-filled glass, before topping with one and a half ounces of Izze sparkling Blueberry Juice and garnishing it with blueberries." Andy grinned. "It's my signature drink."
"Well, I'll try to do it justice." Jocelyn laughed. "I'll see ya later, Andy. Miranda." She nodded once at the immortal woman before patting Andy's cheek and sweeping from the room.
Andy's stomach growled and Miranda shot it a look. "Are you sure it is simply hungry for Chinese food?" She asked. "I felt the thirst acutely, yet you pushed it down."
"Just Chinese food, for now." Andy reaffirmed as a knock came at the door.
Andy sniffed and scooted to her feet. She swayed before collecting herself. "Whoa, head rush. I think Joaquín's here." She spotted the surprise in Miranda's eyes and grinned. "Well, the last thing I need is for him to see me in my panties. I'll just go change." She grinned at Miranda and sniffed again before pulling her face. "He smells like trodden in dog shit and my Chinese food doesn't cover it."
The fleeting thought had Miranda chuckling as she grabbed the bag and moved to Miranda's personal bathroom. "Yes, he does, my darling. That's his own brand of hashish you can smell. Disgusting, isn't it?" As the door closed she heard another quiet knock and Miranda bark. "Enter."
"Well, I suppose marijuana is better than the coke his dealer friend was peddling," Andy said as she looked into the mirror and saw what Miranda had observed.
Her canines sat on her lower lip and her eyes were noticeably luminous in comparison to what they usually were. Her face was flushed but her cheeks weren't sunken. She tried to cover her teeth with her lips and winced as they retracted to smaller points. She hadn't realised it would hurt.
"It gets easier, my darling." Miranda's voice held reassurance and she felt better immediately. But she knew these changes would certainly take some getting used to.
Taking the time to wash her face and neck free of blood, she saw her hair was matted in parts and frowned. She looked longingly at the shower until her stomach grumbled again.
Stepping out of her panties, Andy pulled the fresh pair Jocelyn had provided up her legs before grabbing the jeans and doing the same. She changed quickly into another Crimson Mist t-shirt and flattened it across her rumbling tummy.
Shrugging, she made her way out of the bathroom to find her meal laid out at the small coffee table in front of the dark leather sofa Miranda was sat comfortably at. She sniffed and caught the scent of the food and rushed to sit beside Miranda. Grabbing the first container, holding her Kung Pau chicken, she started to devour her supper.
Miranda moaned in delight as her tongue ran over her lips. "Delicious."
"I've had better." Andy continued to eat until she had finished the container and sat back happily. Once again, her thirst rose and she rubbed her throat as she tried to push it away.
"You're thirsty," Miranda stated.
"I'll try a glass of water." Andy huffed.
"You can try, but I am unsure if it will help," Miranda said softly. "Think about it carefully, my darling. What is it you desire?"
"Jacqueline Follett." Andy's mind produced the answer before she could even consider what she'd said.
"Once again, your wish is my command, although I had hoped to give you Irv Ravitz's throat on a silver platter." Miranda's lips quirked in the ghost of a smile. "I'll be right back with your little drink." Miranda stood gracefully and moved towards the door. "Are you sure, Andréa?" She asked.
"Oh, yes," Andy whispered.
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Miranda stepped through the hustling bar, her eyes focussed on the back of one person, the one her Andréa wanted. Jacqueline Follett.
Stepping behind the petite dark-haired woman, Miranda smirked as she tapped her shoulder. She caught the woman's eyes as she turned. "Come with me." Miranda knew her eyes would be blazing, compelling the woman to follow.
Jacqueline nodded and her smile widened as the French woman shrugged nonchalantly. "Bien sûr."
Miranda spun on her heel, safe in the knowledge that the woman would follow her. She spotted Emily and Serena gazing at her curiously as she led the woman to the back of the club and caught Nigel's soft exclamation of surprise. She muttered an explanation loud enough for her family to hear and saw each of them try to hide their surprise.
As she swept back the curtain leading her from the club, she caught Serena's large smile and knew that she believed the woman was getting what she deserved.
Miranda broadcast her thoughts to the waiting brunette. "Lie down, be still. Look ill, if you can."
Sweeping ahead to her office, Miranda opened the door and gestured for the woman to enter ahead of her.
Jacqueline stalled as she caught sight of the pale young woman on her couch and she rushed over. "Putain! Pourquoi n'est-elle pas à l'hôpital?" She demanded.
"It's too late for the hospital, Jacqueline." Miranda found herself saying softly.
"Fils de pute!" Jacqueline ran her fingers through her hair and knelt beside Andréa. "I should not have laughed. Oh dear, Lord, forgive me. I'm sorry, chèrie."
Miranda's saw Andréa's sight movement as Jacqueline bent her head, oblivious as she muttered a small prayer in French.
Andréa cupped the French woman's chin in her hand and looked at her intensely, her eyes almost glowing. "Jacqueline, I do not accept. You understand that, don't you?"
Jacqueline nodded dumbly. "Oui."
"I will let you go, once I have had a little taste. Will you let me?" Jacqueline nodded again and her lips parted as she looked up at Andréa from her place on the floor.
"So thirsty." Andréa's voice whimpered through her consciousness and to help she projected images on what she needed to do as she watched impassively.
Andréa breathed overJacqueline's lips, inhaling sharply and as Jacqueline made as if to catch her lips, she turned her face away and her lips stroked the carotid artery.
Miranda watched as Andréa's canines lengthened and felt the prick of her teeth against the soft tissue of Jacqueline's neck as if it was her own mouth. She felt Andréa take in Jacqueline's life's essence in small draughts, closing her eyes against the images the woman's mind threw up.
Miranda knew the first sting of their fangs hurt immensely, and she could see Jacqueline starting to struggle against Andréa's firm grip, her fear and panic overwhelming her.
"It is time to stop now, my darling," Miranda said.
Jacqueline stopped struggling as Andréa tore her mouth away, pushing the woman back as her hand came up over her mouth.
Something had clearly changed and Andréa retched. She stood up quickly and rushed to the toilet. Miranda winced as she heard the woman throwing up violently.
Looking down at Jacqueline, she could sense the initial pain had subsided. The woman's eyes were dark and she was clearly aroused, her desire spreading through her body like a wildfire, the scent of it hung in the air.
Miranda smirked and stepped towards the woman, swaying as she hummed mindlessly. "Jacqueline, regarde moi."
The French woman continued to hum, her eyes on the bathroom door. "She is simply...merveilleuse." Jacqueline breathed.
Miranda turned Jacqueline to face her and saw the small pinpricks in her throat. A droplet of blood was forming at the wounds. Miranda bent and lapped the wound, healing it easily.
Pulling back slightly, she tilted Jacqueline's face up, two fingers under her chin and glared down at the woman. "You will forget this ever happened. You will remember laughing at Andréa as she slipped and you will feel ashamed, so much so that you will seek out her email and offer for her to write about a subject of your choice for that little magazine you edit. If you feel light-headed it is because you have imbibed of too much Pernod. Do you understand?"
"Oui, un peu too much Pernod." Jacqueline agreed happily.
Andréa came out if the bathroom, looking pale. She glanced at the two women and frowned.
"You may go now." Miranda hissed at the woman, releasing her.
Jacqueline stood up quickly and trotted away. As she swept through the door, they heard her final words, a cheery goodbye. "À la prochaine."
"Until next time?" Andy queried softly. "I don't think so." She licked her lips, her mouth set in a grimace. "God, I fucking hate Pernod."
"The anise takes some getting used to." Miranda held her arms out and Andréa rushed into them, nuzzling her. "Are you okay, my darling?" She asked softly.
"Can we go home? I just want a shower." Andréa whispered.
"Home?" Miranda's mind focused on that word and a blaze of happiness unfurled within her. "Yes, of course, my darling," Miranda stated, brushing a soft kiss on her mate's cheek. "We shall go immediately, Roy is already waiting for us."
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Their arrival at the townhouse was heralded with loud clicking on the marble tiles and Andy was stunned as she was thrown into her butt when a very large Saint Bernard jumped up on her smothering her face with kisses. Loud laughter erupted from her as she heard Miranda chuckling lightly, clearly amused.
"Patricia, down!" Miranda stated firmly between her light chuckles.
The dog did as she was bid, but not in the way either of them expected, sitting dutifully on Andy's lap. Andy's laughter increased as the dog tilted its head to the side and panted with her tongue lolling to the side. "You're such a beautiful big girl." She ruffled the dog's fur and scratched behind her ear. "But you weigh a freakin' ton. Up."
Patricia stepped off her huffily and Andy groaned as she stood up with Miranda's help. "The canine Priestly likes you, my darling," Miranda spoke softly.
"I like the canine Priestly. She's absolutely gorgeous." Andy smiled sadly. "I always wanted a big dog, but with Grandma not being fully mobile, well, it just wasn't to be."
"I am absolutely certain Patricia shall not mind having another person willing to spoil her rotten." Miranda clasped her hand and led her towards the kitchen. "I'll make us some tea, wash the effects of that Pernod away."
"God knows how Jacqueline can drink that stuff. It's appalling." Andy grinned. "Do you mind if I just head up and shower?"
"After tea." Miranda insisted. "I will help wash your hair." She looked at Andy appraisingly and smiled. "As well as other parts." She whispered teasingly.
"You're incorrigible." Andy grinned.
Miranda pushed her down into a chair at the kitchen table and smirked. "Oh, I know. Now relax, I will make tea and we'll talk." Miranda spun on her heel and stepped quickly towards her as a sense of foreboding washed over Andy and held her hands out placatingly. "There is nothing to concern yourself over, my darling. I simply think we should discuss what happened this evening." Miranda attempted to reassure her but Andy could hardly process the words through the overwhelming panic she felt as the events of the night finally hit her. As Andy's eyes fell shut and she took a deep shuddering breath, Miranda straddled her lap and held her face between her palms. "My darling, breathe." Miranda brushed her lips lightly against Andy's and felt her relax. She continued to coax Andy into a relaxed state with soft kisses and gentle words of reassurance.
Finally, Andy opened her eyes and she fell into the depth of blue. She sighed, her hands clutching at Miranda's waist anchoring her against her. "What's happening to me, Miranda?" Andy husked.
"I believe your emotions may be being heightened by this new development," Miranda advised softly. "It is something you will learn to control, my darling. That I can assure you."
"I drank blood," Andy whispered as if to herself.
"I do not know if your thirst will be what mine is in this new-found state, it may seem unquenchable, but it is also something that can be controlled." Miranda brushed her hand along Andy's jaw. "I am so very sorry, my darling. I hoped we would have more time until you had to navigate this."
"This isn't your fault." Andy could feel Miranda beginning to blame herself and decided she would not allow it. She would not have Miranda feel guilt for this. Miranda had not turned her, after all.
"How can you know that? Perhaps if we had not bonded..." The thought trailed off.
Andy was concerned. She could feel Miranda pulling away. "No!" She hissed desperately. "Do not put barriers up now, Miranda. Please."
"I...but...I..." Miranda faltered as Andy's lips crashed into hers knowing she couldn't refuse the calling of that touch. Deepening their kiss, Andy's hands trailed into Miranda's hair and she nipped lightly at her bottom lip, enough to sting, but not enough to break the skin.
Miranda hummed and matched the kiss in strength and passion, her tongue twining with Andy's as it invaded her mouth. She could taste the sweetness of Jacqueline's blood and the bitterness of Pernod as well as the fresh mint from toothpaste.
Unable to resist, Andy bit her tongue and let her own blood flow into Miranda's mouth before the muscle repaired itself. As they kissed, with Miranda swallowing her blood as she moaned with pleasure, Andy let her mind roam to the moment she first saw Miranda, stood in the club doorway, the light behind her, casting a silver halo around her head.
Miranda would know just how alluring Andy had found her at that moment, she had barely admitted it to herself at the time, she would know that she had been lost in the beauty of the immortal woman's eyes the moment they caught hers. She let Miranda see the depth of her feelings fully, knowing inherently, their bond was truly unbreakable. Knowing she would not be rejected.
Miranda tried to pull away, and although she managed to break their kiss, she could not loosen Andy's hold on her. Andy looked up into startled blue eyes and grinned. "Do you need me to let you go, Miranda?"
Miranda nodded. "Yes." She breathed. As Andy let go, she slipped from her knee. "Forget tea." Miranda husked. "I can think of much better things to be doing, starting with that shower."
Miranda tugged Andy to her feet and pulled her along the hall to the spiral staircase. Unwilling to wait any longer, she turned and picked Andy up, settling her over her shoulder as she moved at superhuman speed into her own bedroom and through to the ensuite.
Andy's laughter rang through the house as she settled the woman down on the chair at her twin vanity and moved quickly to the shower.
Turning to face Andy, Miranda tugged at the hidden zipper at the side of her black Chanel dress and let it pool around her Prada clad feet before kicking it away.
Andy gaped at the woman stood in front of her in nothing but five-inch Prada heels and the smallest bra and panty set ever invented. As if awoken by magic, she tugged at her own clothes clumsily, tearing the t-shirt in her haste to pull it over her head before toeing off her boots and pulling her jeans down her long legs.
Miranda's smile turned almost feral before she kicked off her pumps and twisted the front clasp of her bra, letting it fall from her arms to land on top of the dress. Her thong followed suit.
Andy made short work of her own bra and panties, before pulling the socks off her feet and moving, somewhat gracefully, towards the silver-haired immortal in front of her. But then, in her haste, Andy tripped over one of her boots, and only just caught herself from falling. Cursing herself for her clumsiness while Miranda laughed heartily, Andy felt so much love for the woman that it seemed she forgot everything except that.
It seemed extraordinary to her that in the span of three days her whole world had changed so drastically, but it had brought her to this moment, with the beautiful immortal woman she would love for all eternity and she was thankful.
Offering a small prayer to the Goddess Diana, Andy gave thanks for her blessings and swept Miranda into her arms before carrying her to the shower.
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NOTE: So this went in a direction I never saw coming. Please let me know what you think :)