Mother of All Darkness
Author's note: The Vampire Council. Ohhh… I wonder just what's going happen. I've been writing more then my publishing pace might indicate, but the content is in later chapters. And as always a shout out to LordGrise for both his reviews, his input and his ideas on a various scenes, plus massive rewrites of part 14d.
A reminder about the timeline of this story, chapters one and two are Illyana in the X-Brig after killing the Elder gods and regaining her soul (but still very mentally messed up, and in fact likely getting worse). The remaining chapters are pre launch of the New Mutant comics as it takes placed on Illyana's journey (remember, story within a story); and is the sequel to my first Anita Blake/Illyana story called Snowflake's Passage (Scary things), and the end takes place… well… you'll just have to read the entire story to find that out.
Yes this is taking longer to write then I planned, hope you're enjoying the end product, if so then write a review. If not then, write a review as well and explain why.
Part 14a: Welcome to the Jungle, We got everything you want, Honey, we know the names
So you might think that it's some massive magic ritual to summon the council? Mystic sequences with fiery pentagrams, the blood of a dead goat, screaming enchantments spoken in dead languages, and of course a fight scene. Well, naaaa… Decidedly anticlimactic.
All of the power for the summoning was actually coming from the council members as they each manifested in different ways. Several of the council vampires are able to make use of vampires of their blood lines as conduits. This was true for the Dragon, Morte D'Amour, and Belle Morte. The Traveler could just throw his consciousness into most vampire bodies. That just left the Master of Beasts, who was the weakest member of the council as he apparently lacked that extra vampire pazazz to manifest other then being physically present; but apparently he'd now found a way to do what all the other cool council members were doing.
We'd gathered in a circle, roughly at hands length. Jean-Claude and I were behind Illyana, behind her shoulders. To her left was Willie McCoy who was to be the Traveler's host, then proceeding counter clockwise was the Bert who was to host Morte D'Amour , then Valerian for Belle Morte , then Bartolome for vampire Padma (Master of Beasts), then to her right Primo serving to conduct his former mistress, the Dragon. Wondered if the order meant anything, I'd bet it denoted how they were already interacting with Illyana. Rather nice that Padma and Belle Morte were roughly as far away from us as possible.
As we setup I noticed that the room was growing colder. Not sure if it was an actual temperature drop, or just what felt like mists of evil and malice that was beginning to radiate from her. Either way it was getting creepy. No weird shadow play as of yet, but… I'd swear there were things just out of sight and for a second I though I heard… ragtime music?
"How do we know that they're not already here?" Was my whispered comment to Jean-Claude. Illyana answered.
"Because it would be rude, and a violation of the agreements that have already been reached between me and the council. Plus… I would know and such knowing would make me… upset at the offenders. One's word means something with one such as I, regardless of the worth the giver may hold it."
Yea… demon. In the films it's always a contract in blood but… Ah crap… Blood. Been there and apparently had already kind of done that. I asked another question. Rather sure I knew the answer.
"How will they know that it's okay for them to manifest?"
"Because I will tell them." Was her reply.
Thankfully Jean-Claude commented upon the almost perceived manifestations that played in the corners of our eyes. "Illyana… things are flickering in our perceptions as if they are almost present but vanish if one attempts to gaze upon them, and… there are snippets of sound. It is if ghostly impressions of the old speakeasy that once was here, are manifesting. Is that of your doing?"
She innocuously replied. "Manifestations of power." But sent mentally. (I'm… not quite sure. Before I was bound in this world, demons can not summon other demons or the dead, but now… now I…. or… it might be Anita… or both of us… but… Shards, I appear to suddenly be inadvertently attracting such things due to my expressing power for this meeting. Before, when I raised Khufu, I needed to use Anita as my instrument, but now… I've been changed and I wonder just what… limits have been removed and if that removal was planned or… accidental. Do not speak aloud of it.)
I sent (So you're not deliberately doing it. Consequence of our links?) Damn, for a second I thought I saw a… dance going on? An old-time ballroom kind of dance, like from the twenties.
Jean-Claude added his input. (Likely ma petite. The blending of abilities. Those you sleep with have been known to grow in power. Perhaps your necromancer influence upon Illyana?)
Yea… that's me. The sexual energizer bunny. A rather irritating ability in that many now wished to share my bed, or send people to my bed in the hope of a power bump after a power grind I suppose. Others actually feared sleeping with me.
(My influence?) I sent as I noticed the others also looking at things out of the corners of their eyes. The… phantasms vanished if you stared directly at them. And they weren't ghosts… no sense of a presence… just… images and sometimes sound.
An apprising reply from her and a very unpleasant bit of knowledge that yet again she knew way more about me, and likely us, then was safe. (Yes yours… Do you not ward the zombies that you raise to prevent entities that seek a body from inhabiting the zombie? Plus your ability as a Necromancer was first truly shown when you slew two of Mr. Gaynor's bodyguards in your circle of power when he attempted to force you to commit human sacrifice of another. You raised a vast multitude of zombies from the cemetery and slew both Mr. Gaynor and what was her name… ahh the Senorita I think she was called.)
(No comment.) I sent back.
Crap she knew. Death sentence for me if it was ever proven. Killing in self defense by magic is an automatic death sentence. No appeal, no leniency. People suspected that I had a hand in it… but only suspected as there was no proof. Only Jean-Claude truly knew and… bet that was how she knew, back when she mind rolled him the first time she came here.
She sent (Sorry… forgot the dire consequences for those who defend themselves using magic… and yes I felt your mental turmoil over my statement.)
Jean-Claude inquired. (How much of our minds can you sense?)
(With the links open this wide and my having to not block the two of you because… well you'll see, way more then I desire. Very… distracting. And no I don't usually like having a tail. It has its uses but… reminds me that I am not as I wish to be, and tends to be off putting for almost everybody.)
Opps, guess she'd caught that thought as well. And kind of a wow on the concept of a body shamed demon. Just another part of the wide wonderful world of female experience, never even thought that female demons get that kind of crap as well. I tend to get grief about the scars on my arms and shoulder, not to mention my belly. Like there's something wrong with me for surviving vicious attacks. That and attempts at slut shaming that I get from some people (and even vampires)… sigh… Like I want to be a sexual living vampire.
I sent. (Valentina and Bartolome appear to be greatly interested in you.)
(Yes…) Was her musing reply. (I am rather curious as to the reason for their attraction.)
"It is time." Illyana verbally then it was like I heard the bong of some large bell. A ringing clear tone. The others all stiffened, and then their body language changed as well.
Willie McCoy was the least changed as the Traveler just took possession as if he was slipping on a coat or a comfy pair of slippers. He went from nervous to very relaxed and casually confident as he adjusted his tie. If a vampire could smoke I swear he'd have lit up a cigarette or something. He gave a slight flourished minor bow in our direction as he stated "Magik, I see you have brought two of your servants. A linkage of seven I sense? Most… extraordinary, and supposedly quite impossible. Yet again I am pleased that the council continues to entertain my suggestion of you joining our ranks. Do… the bar room specters serve any… purpose?"
Ok. Kind of wondered who'd come up with the idea of her joining. And apparently he could see the specters as well.
"Greetings Traveler and… No." Was her casual reply. "The spirits just showed up, I believe the powers being expressed are somewhat moth to a flame for them."
A chuckle from the Traveler. "An example then of magic behaving oddly, we have heard reports of such things since your… coupling."
Illyana said nothing, but I felt a flicker of distress from her at the word coupling.
Burt's transformation was similar to Willie's as apparently Morte D'Amour just kind of moved in, something that he was able to do only with those who were of his bloodline (a common ability it seems for most master vampires that were at the top of the pyramid power scale as it were). Burt went from resigned to looking smug and I'd have to say, somewhat sleazy. "She wishes to show off, to emphasis herself, to present her power and abilities. She being the flame of course."
And Bella Morte made her appearance rather dramatically as a full size ghostly image of herself overlaid upon Velentina. Her ghostly image was beautiful, pale and yet hinted at dark hair, with eyes the color of dark rich honey promising… Um… Velentina spoke, but we heard Bella Morte's sensuous voice and I felt things tighten within me. Damn, even her voice could do things to me. To know her is to love her, or so it is said. And as I'd said before, she'd and I had been very intimate that time she'd pulled me into her mindscape.
"Come now Morte D'Amour, she is being honest with us. I find it most refreshing, she knows that we must know some or even all of what has occurred. She presents the results so we might view it first hand. The… specters are rather unique touch. Jean-Claude, was this not Nikolaos's… bar during those oh so convenient prohibition times?"
A reply with a nastily tone from Morte D'Amour"She has taken two… my mistake, three of your favorites I believe. Asher, Jean-Claude, and even the elusive Anita. Not to mention other men that you desire."
Bella Morte replied with scorn. "They are not my favorites, such do not leave me. But Magik… I am pleased to see you take to our ways so… emphatically. Jean-Claude, will you not give answer?"
Jean-Claude apparently made a silent question of Illyana. She slightly gestured with her right hand while saying. "You may reply without seeking permission Jean-Claude. Likewise Anita may also speak without prior approval."
Bitch, I wanted to say something nasty but… I understood what she meant. Inability to control one's servants was taken as a sign of weakness. Something that… causes Jean-Claude problems from time to time as most ancient vampires don't even have the concept of free will for servants and I so don't fit in the servant category. That's me… uppity.
Jean-Claude spoke. "Yes… this was the site of Nikolaos's speakeasy. Nikolaos was quite pleased with the operation as it provided way access to prey. She did kill all of the gangsters involved once probation ended as she no longer had any use for them."
And now the bastard Padma made his appearance. Bartolome took what looked like a lie rat from his pocket and looked into its eyes. Then said "Yes."
Like the Bella Morte a ghostly image of Padma manifested over Barolome. Less clear then Bella Morte, but definitely him, turban and all. His image's body language was one of anger and hatred as he stared at me. I'd killed his son, it was either him or his son and he'd chosen his son's death so he might live. To say that he hated me would not begin to describe his feelings towards me.
"I hope it is not to flaunt her servants." He spit out the words.
"Right back at you Padma". I replied. One rule I have is to always to get in peoples face when they are being difficult, make them back down. Sometimes it's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the amount of fight in the dog. And assholes like Padma always get surprised when the little people mouth off a him.
You could see the rage on his face as he opened his mouth to make a reply. But Illyana beat him to it.
"In this time of truce and negotiation I have sworn to make no offense to any of you, or your servants, so likewise did you swear."
You could see him swallow the words he wished to say as he replied. "You did not have servants then."
"Irrelevant, we swore." Announced the Dragon from Primo, guess she'd finally shown up. Rather weird hearing a female voice from such a large man. "Or do you now wish war Padma? If so, I think you might end up standing alone as you will be forsworn upon your oath."
A scowl was his only reply as he backed down.
The Traveler chuckled. "And yet again things are not as we planned. I propose a new condition, that none of Magik's servants may join or be a member of the Council so long as Magik is a member of our august body."
Wow, apparently they thought that we were now a major threat to their personal positions. Um… not good. Such folks tend to get killed.
Before things took a turn for the worse Illyana replied. "Agreed." The others all nodded and voice their agreement as well. I briefly heard a trumpet playing a jazz tune as if in celebration.
Then, from their perspective, Illyana dropped the other shoe. "Likewise I have a new condition as well due to my changed circumstances. I declare Harm sur vous, la guerre sur moi over St. Louis and all those resident. The wolves, vampires, leopards, they are all mine. Nobody touches what's mine without permission. It's bring your own food (BYOF) while you're here. I will permit negotiations with people for sex, food, blood, but… my rules. Threats and blackmail are not considered negotiations by me. Failure to comply will be met with… punishment."
Part 14b: Welcome to the Jungle, You can have anything you want, But you better not take it from me
And of course consignation broke out as several of them began to argue. Interestingly it was just the men arguing, both Bella Morte and the Dragon said nothing and just observed the bickering. Likewise we said nothing as well. Illyana's tail flicked back and forth and as they argued, shadows grew.
Padma's host now cast a shadow that ever changed from one animal to another. Lion, tiger, bear…
Morte D' Amour's host cast a shadow of a man that kept rotting to just a skeleton and then back to a normal shadow. Heck, it even threw a rotting hand at the Traveler's shadow at one point.
The Traveler's host cast a shadow of what looked like an old man, bent and crocked, and using a cane; which he used to bat the shadow rotting hand out of the air when Morte D' Amour's shadow threw it.
Really strange seeing Primo casting a female shadow. You'd have thought somebody called the Dragon would cast an amazons shadow, but no… just what looked like a nondescript woman, apart from a massive battle axe that she kept swinging about from time to time.
Valerian, Bella Morte's host, cast a shadow of Valerian, but kept morphing into Bella Morte and then back again.
Jean-Claude's shadow decided to go dancing and proceeded to twirl off with my shadow. The two of them danced about the walls of the room; I think… I think I saw my shadow flip the bird once to Padma when she was behind his back. Left me feeling rather proud that even my shadow could be a bitch.
This time Illyana cast no shadow at all.
The shadows had given them brief pause, but then the discussion continued after Padma dismissed the shadow play as "Feminine theatrics."
Many words were said, with more then a little hand waving as wel. Both Morte D'Amour and Padma felt that it was completely unacceptable, first Egypt and now St. Louis? What was next? All of North America? The Traveler had reservations, but felt that that the declaration was reasonable considering the new situation. Reasonable assuming that they got something in return. The argument went on for a few minutes. In the end it was summarized by the declaration from Padma that…
"She seeks an empire!"
The Traveler was not buying. "Ridiculous. If she did then several of us would likely already be dead. You rail because you were planning some entertainment while you visited. Entertainment that you must now ask for, and … likely will not be granted. I advise that you do not bring up the topic."
"None of us have such sway. Why should she be granted it?"
Bella Morte now injected. "Because she's in love. And in that we have sway over her that we never had before. Things are at risk and she moves to protect them. She is protecting what her servants value. In so doing she revels herself."
The bickering felt silent and the all looked at us. Then Bella Morte spoke.
"The bindings are most complex. Anita, Jean-Claude, do you love her?"
Jean-Claude and I looked at each other, but before we could reply there was a chuckle from Illyana.
"That… is not council business. And very personal as well. I once met some ladies who thought of themselves as angels; they had a saying 'nothing for nothing'. Such intimate questions have a price. If you wish an answer then I first will have a similarly personal question for each of you, otherwise… mind your own business."
A few chuckles from the Dragon and the Traveler, but just nasty looks from the others. And a comment from the Traveler.
"I warned you, she plays the game well. Young yes… novice… no."
Morte D'Amour spoke. "We have much to offer her. Resources for those who are plaguing her."
"And she has much that we desire as well." Commented the Dragon. "Specifically Marmee Noir."
Bella Morte sounded like a cat with a dish of the very best cream before her. "Our might combined with hers will allow us to… retire the Sweet Dark and then select a new occupant for her seat."
Crap, they're planning on killing Mommie Dearest. No wonder they want Illyana on the council.
And then Illyana added the sugar to the medicine. "In return for your… acceptance of my demands. I will concede on that point, and swear to never be the head of the council."
Silence as they all looked at each other. Then the Dragon spoke. "You must agree to undertake the responsibility of… punishing those whom you have declared such control over. Otherwise the council's rulings will have no force."
Illyana nodded in affirmation after a few seconds. "I trust my servants will… inform the City's vampires that though the Harlequin have no jurisdiction here, the councils rulings will stand if I join. The Council, their servants, and those who serve them are welcome starting now; so long as they abide by the rules. If harm is done then I will return the harm two fold to the instigators and compensate the victim." Hmm, nice turn of phrase, applied to everybody equally. Liked the use of the word instigator, bet that makes them think twice of setting up a patsy.
Morte D'Amour rebuked her. "It is not allowed to speak their name unless certain conditions are met." The others all nodded and looked irritated.
I swear I could almost hear the smile in Illyana's voice. "As declared the Mother of Darkness I would point out. The… enforcers reported to her has head of the council, leaving the enforcers rather unrestrained since she succumbed to her sleep. Enforcers that you wish brought to heel as well. Since my use of the word is of great annoyance to you… so I will forbear using word until such a time as our negations are concluded. If I do join then I will abide by the rules as to the use of their name."
Additional demands or conditions were raised by the Council and Illyana. They got agreement from her that she would not take any of the Mother's servants into her service. The Mother's Servants were these weird half lycanthrope half vampire creatures that were sleeping. Sometimes one or more would awake and be taking to the service of whatever Council member did the awakening. They agreed to not bring anybody who might be deliberately brought to cause problems. Smart as failure could result in most of their court's being slaughtered if Illyana felt she had been egregiously harmed, rather liked how she refused to be pinned down on the definition. Our guests would be on their best behaviors, but you just knew that somebody was going to fuck up. I mean… right?
At the end they all looked… well… not satisfied, but done. Our dancing shadows apparently got tired of dancing and returned to being attached to our feet, and then faded away.
Illyana concluded. "Please pass your travel plans and needs to Jean-Claude if you wish us to attend to them. Don't bring involuntary slaves, they are free the moment they enter the city."
That earned us a dirty look from Morte D'Amour and Padma. Great, the council was coming and looked like we needed to provide the bedrooms as well for those who asked.
With that they all departed in their own way. Padma vanished as Bartolome dropped what was now a dead and mummified rat. The Traveler, Morte D'Amour, and Dragon just left.
Leaving Bella Morte who smiled… then eyes of dark honey filled my mind.
Part 14c: Welcome to the Jungle, it gets worse here day by day
Red lips. That's… what I first noticed.
Stunningly red lips. Just like in the beauty magazines. Moist, gleaming, and the fangs prominently displayed as the mouth that possessed the lips smiled.
The body that possessed the delicious lips was curvy and sensuous and taller then I. Dressed in something tight but centuries out of date, with a corset that definitely emphasized the pale bosomly goodness that was on prominent display. I noticed that her feet were bare and the scent of roses filled the air. She'd let her long dark hair down and was staring at me… no… not just me, me and Jean-Claude with a look of attraction and intent.
Now I know just what a goldfish feels when a cat just stares into the fishbowl. Crap, we were in Bella Morte's mindscape. I'd been here a few times before and… damn she looked good. Yummy yummy finger licking good, I wanted to…
Damn it, I'm not gay but… Belle is the only woman I'd make an exception for. She'd had me as it were when I was almost dying and she'd brought me into her mind and fed me energy and… yea sex was involved, with Bella sex is always involved. Umm, crap… A sudden recollection of Illyana sucking on my breasts and… it occurred to me that Bella was not the only woman who now did it for me as I felt things clench up.
Which re-awoke a fear that I had not yet discussed with anybody. I'm hetro, very hetro, but… It was the general consensus with the guys that my Ardeur was gathering bigger prey as it were as more powerful food was a better feed. And that Ardeur could change you, had changed more then a few of my men… Might… might it have changed me? As food for the Ardeur, Illyana was like a sixty four ounce t-bone steak with every side dish thrown in as a bonus. Might I… might it … damn. Lot of self questions about what my preferences were now. Such questions I resented (which is kind of a standard response from me).
Bella was leaning against a giant for poster bed, and when I say giant I don't mean California king size. Jean-Claude had an enormous bed as well, orgy sized I called it, and… hers is bigger. Cats were her animal to call and I could almost swear she was purring as she looked at us. We were about ten feet from her. The room was rather vague and undefined, just the bed, the floor and ceiling, and a single window that looked upon a dark sky with a full white moon.
Needed to remember that this woman had at one time secretly ruled half the countries of Europe for hundreds of years. I tried to contact Illyana mentally but nothing. Like my cry just vanished into a big empty space without even an echo.
Jean-Claude protested. "Bella, this is most inappropriate. We are servants to another and treating a sourde de sang is this way is…"
"Hush Jean-Claude. These are… extenuating circumstances. And I'm blocking access to your new toy. And I surprisingly find it easy… almost as if she is now of my line…" A grin that found amusement at things that are not nice.
Jean-Claude was presenting his cold and emotionless persona, like he always did when there was great danger. Damn, he'd love her once… no… that wasn't true. He loved her still, just as I did. You love Bella Morte, she never loves you. Bella loved nobody other then Bella.
"She is not. She is of her own line, if there is such a thing for her." Jean-Claude finished.
"Let us go Bella… please." See, I can say please. "I've seen Illyana angry and this will make her angry and… well…" Um… might that not be a bad thing?
Bella just smiled and took a step towards us. "I just wish some private words and the answers to a few questions. Is that too much to ask after all that I've done for you?"
Done to us would be a more accurate way of describing her actions.
She took another step and spoke. "Such… fire I feel in the two of you. Is fire one of the things you received from her? One can't help but wonder. Linkage of seven, an impossibility and yet… self evident. And the Ardeur sleeps within you two. Sated in a way that I have never felt before."
Yea, another little thing we'd observed. Regular feedings keep it… fed. But when I'd gotten up and tried to feed upon my wake up sex… nothing. Nothing at all.
Another step. Rather proud that both Jean-Claude and I held our ground, really wished I had a gun or a knife but no… just my clothing. Apparently her mindscape, her rules. Desire was like a perfume in the air and I just knew that if she touched us then the Ardeur just might awaken and… crap.
A warning from me. "Don't, she'll consider it rape and she kills rapists." And then I wondered just how I knew that.
"Don't what?" She playfully replied as she took yet another step.
"Try to awaken the Ardeur in us. She was vulnerable and may yet still be. She will totally kill whomever forces her into sex."
Bella paused in her progress. "Why? Was the experience so… unpleasant? For her? For the two of you? I got but a hint from Anita a few moments ago, and a quickening of her pulse. You enjoyed it so very much, and so, I think, did she. Tell me… was she a virgin? Her emanations are as if she is an awakened virgin."
Great… of course Bella wanted to talk about sex, likely all the little details about how we'd…
The two of our bodies entwined, head to tail as we feasted upon each other's sex. Once again I was on top. The men joining in as well. I scream into her sex as the pleasure takes me and I feed the Ardeur as if she was a bottomless well of power. She screams back and feeds as well. So do the vampires and I think even the weres somehow participate. We all feed and scream and scream and…
Crap, another mental flashback, and a big smile from Bella.
"So sweet. And she does have such interesting blue eyes, perhaps I should start a female collection as well?" Then her tone went a bit snippety. "But you lack such eyes Anita so… no I think."
"You think to collect her Bella?" Asked Jean-Claude in that cold distant tone of his.
"I tried once, she defeated me but now… you have breached the defensives and I have so much love to offer."
"Lust, not love Bella, lust."Replied Jean-Claude."In the end Bella is loved, but Bella does not love. That is why I, Asher, Auggie, and others left. To love so hard and never have it returned… we left rather then endure such torment."
And that summed her up, her greatest power was also her blind spot. And of course she got huffy. "Nobody leaves Bella Morte!"
In my quick glances about the room I had noticed a desk behind us. There were some papers and a paperweight upon them. I planned on grabbing the paperweight and using it as a weapon, that and my martial arts training. That's when I noticed another scent had intruded upon the aroma of roses.
A hint of jasmine!
The others noticed the scent just as I did.
"Sweat Darkness!" Warned Jean-Claude while Bella blurted out. "Marmee Noir!" And I cried out. "Crap, it's Mommie Dearest!"
Then darkness erupted from the window and enveloped us all.
Part 14d: Learn to live like an animal. In the jungle where we play
The scent of jasmine, thick in the air, strangling the scent of roses like a python with a mouse. The smell of rain on the air, as if it is just about to rain. Scattered fireflies flashing little twinkling of light in the cool dark. Quiet jungle sounds of insects and birds.
We were in a nighttime jungle, there were some small flickers of moonlight reaching the jungle floor through the foliage of the trees above; but only enough to accent just how deep the darkness really was. We, Jean-Claude, Bella, and I, were also now naked as the day we were born. Before us was an equally nude Marmee Noir. Female, slim, pale as the moon, long black hair that looked blacker then the night itself, that's all I can recall. I can say nothing as to what kind of woman she looked like other then she had cat green eyes that reflected the light.
Bella, for all her faults (conceit, self pride, arrogance, the list is long), was human as it were; at least in comparison. But Marmee Noir, she was as pure a psychopath as you get. Distilled and aged over so many millennia that it was doubtful she was actually Homo Sapiens originally; or even ever really human. Only Marmee Noir mattered, everything else was us prey at best (yea… at best, at worst… I did mention psychopath.)
We were now in Marmee Noir's mindscape. Bella's little power play had dramatically gone wrong for her, but more importantly, it had really gone wrong for Jean-Claude and I.
And apparently Bella was having a massively bad hair day as it were. Her form was thin with but a small bust, plain for form and face, and her hair lacked… well, it was short, dull and looked brittle. I wondered if this was what she really looked like or… if this was what she had once looked like.
Jean-Claude and I went back to back practically automatically. First rule with an ambush predator is never give it your back. To my surprise Bella joined us as well, this left Jean-Claude and I partially facing Mommie Dearest while Bella faced away. That spoke volumes about Belle's mindset: We were her natural allies in this. She trusted us to not let her be blindsided, and she was doing the same for us.
That thought started a domino chain falling in my head. Belle was a freaking Council member, and this was how it was? She was hiding behind us? I felt helpless because, well… how do you fight the night? My weapons weren't even here, this was a mindscape, Marmee Noir's mindscape. She was the primordial dark make flesh. She was why humans feared the dark, the very darkness itself, not what lies concealed within the darkness. There was a time she walked amongst us and fed; and when darkness falls, somewhere in the back of our minds, we remember the hungry dark and are afraid. I was helpless, just another tiny, hairless monkey, just meat for the slaughter...
And that lit my burners. That last thought wasn't mine, it was hers, and it was a lie. I focused, struggled against some unseen weight that somehow defined us, restricted us, condemned us… and it was if my rage found fuel as I felt something metaphysical crack as my power flared. A circle blazed up around us, silver and blue flames flickering and defining a space I claimed as my own. The oppression of night humidity in a jungle and the smell of jasmine cut off, and we were free to define ourselves again. And neither I, Jean-Claude, or apparently Bella, ever went unarmed in enemy territory.
Jean-Claude went old-school, of course, his garb and weapons straight out of the Renaissance: period aristocratic garb, complete with a rapier and a matching main-gauche dagger. There was a monster of a muzzle loader holstered at his side: It looked like a lupara (sawed off shotgun). I went with my vampire hunter rig, pistols and blades in all the right spots. Bella… Bella was dressed in plain ancient Roman looking garb, she d had a Roman short sword at her side but was principally armed with a heavy spear, like a boar spear but shorter, braced under her foot to receive a charge.
Marmme Noir spoke and it was if the darkness that surrounded us gave voice. "You seek to end me Bella… Take my place… as if a child such as you can understand the ocean that is I. You mush be punished and there is only one penalty." Then, I suppose, she addressed Jean-Claude and I. "A new servant and my new host. It is time Anita, the magics that bound me to sleep are unraveling and the underpinnings of creation itself have shifted. Your resistance is done."
As she spoke she morphed into her saber-toothed weretiger form that I had seen before. It was an animal with a huge head and long saber teeth, golden and tawny fur, with reddish tones, shaded rather than striped, more lion than tiger, with eyes like golden fire. And a hunger we could all feel.
She began to slowly circle us, at a distance, and we turned to keep her in front of Jean-Claude and I. Jean-Claude with his rapier and main gauche drawn, I with my Browning in my left hand and my short sword in my right. She gave a half growl, half purr and the darkness spoke again. "Too long have I been bound, denied, captive. Finally to be free, free to feed and free to bath the world in blood."
If this was just a real tiger, regardless of size, I'd be willing to bet on us; after all we had guns, swords, vampire strength and speed. But, I'd seen the kind of damage creatures a lot less impressive than Mommie Dearest could almost instantly heal from, and this was… well… metaphysical as well. Our weapons apparently gave her some slight pause. And elicited a response from her, apparently wondering how the hell we'd done it.
"I know not how you manifested such… but… it will not suffice. You are mine and mine alone."
She continued to circle us, and then a shadow briefly passed over the moon and Mommie Dearest froze, heck we did as well, but… I'd been expecting it. Ever since something had fed my rage and my power.
A flap of giant wings, the sound of air moving over a large surface as something swooshed over head. And a chuckle that also came from the darkness. "Hello Marmme Noir…." Then nothing.
A stillness then, nobody moved. The jungle went silent and everything… waited. I felt a drip of perspiration fall the tip of my nose.
Suddenly the canopy disintegrated into woody debris as a dragon smashed to earth, right where Marmme Noir was… or to be more specific, had been, as Illyana literally dropped in.
Illyana in dragon form is freaking enormous, and apparently she can be silent when she wants to be, like when she's pouncing prey. Somehow Mommy was able to sense the attack at the last possible moment, lunging to one side, but she didn't avoid it altogether as God alone knows how many tons of scales and claws slammed into the dirt of the mindscape, Illyana got her pretty good, raking her and damn near pinning a haunch. And yea, Mommy Dearest's yowl of pain was music to my ears.
Illyana had come in a direction that took her away from us rather then towards us, so most the falling wood and branches went past us. But… crap. Really hard to shoot at Marmme Noir without hitting dragon because Mommy Dearest's direction of travel was away from the dragon and right at us. Dagon on your side in a fight is great… right? Well… not quite. Imagine that you're in a fight with somebody and your dragon is protecting you. Great for stomping the foe, take that you bitch! But… really good chance of you accidentally getting stomped on as well. And if you want to shoot at said bitch, well, mind the dragon that's on your side that is in the direct line of fire. First rule of shooting, always know where your gun is aimed.
The tiger charged us as the dragon's head turned to look our way (Damn, her head was half the size of a horse when in her dragon form). Which put us squarely in line with dragon fire as well (which thankfully she withheld from belching forth). I think I was the tiger's target but Jean-Claude stepped forward and met her charge with a flourish of blade work that almost managed to impale one eye, but only resulted in a massive slash along the left side of the tiger's head as she dodged most of the strike. I managed to put three rounds into her (as the angle cleared Illyana) during the charge before a side swipe of a paw cut open my chest with inch long claw marks and sent me hurling away. A moment later Marmee Noir scored big as she sank one saber-tooth into Jean-Claude's left side.
I screamed at both the act and the shared pain, and the dragon screamed as well (downside of so many links I suppose). Jean-Claude just manly grunted at the strike as he then struggled to grip the other fang.
Then it was Marmee Noir turn to scream as Bella did a side attack that firmly planted her spear in the tiger's left side right up to the boor stop; looked like she'd tried to stake Mommey Dearest. The tiger turned its head as it opened its jaws, only to have Jean-Claude rip the other saber-tooth from its mouth in a spray of blood as he forced himself off the one impaling him.
More screaming ensured, this time I think Jean-Claude joined in, as the tiger rolled over the two of them; trying alternately to regain her bite on Jean-Claude and snapping off the spear shaft. I added 9mm rounds into the melee as opportunity presented. I was just wondering if a psychic pistol ever ran out of ammo when it did just that (Oops, my bad. Damn it! Next time believe that the gun could fire forever). Just as that happened the tiger rolled to her feet, Jean-Claude and Bella beneath her claws as it bloodedly roared at me just as my gun clicked on empty. I could feel Illyana's frustration as she couldn't re-engage with Jean-Claude and Belle beneath her. Great. Face-off with a literally prehistoric magical vampire weretiger... and all I had was my blade. She prepared to spring...
Apparently Jean-Claude, as crumpled as he was, still had had enormous muzzle-loader. He bought us all a moment as he rammed it up into Marmee Noir's soft belly, angled towards her heart, and fired both barrels in a muffled thump of rupturing tiger flesh. She staggered...
That's when Illyana's sword flared to life as she strode from where the dragon had been. She was still in full female demon form, eyes glowing yellow with power and hate and now the tiger was minus a tail. Marmee Noir turned to confront the new threat and…
And somehow I was holding the sword (?). It… was just there, and so was Marmee Noir's neck. Hot blood drenched me as I half severed her neck with my overhead swing.
Both a tiger's and a demon's scream, Marmee Noir's was from pain, Illyana's was from suppressed almost unfathomable rage as she screamed "NO ONE TAKES WHAT"S MINE BITCH!"Hellfire surrounded Marmee Noir. She instantly went back to her humanoid form, writhing in the eldritch flames and…
Then…. We were back in the chamber under the circus and all was as it was before. Apart from half the room being on fire that is.
Oh… and I knew without a doubt that Illyana had set us up.