to Everyone who's been reading along :) im SOOOOOOOO sorry this bit has taken so long, exams, crisises and writers block ! but here it is, R&R or i'll get bored and thats a bad thing :):):):):):)
"Artemis?" She snapped awake in a second, her prophecy of dreams had failed to be fulfilled, her sleep had been deep and dreamless. "Yes Lucifer" He stepped into view and shook his head "I thought for a mere moment that I might have caught you sleeping, I see I was wrong" she smiled to herself, no need to cure the young of their illusions.
She slid off of the couch in an easy sinuous movement and smiled at him, "There's no rest for the wicked" With anyone else she would have followed that statement with a wink, but with Lucifer she doubted his ability to take the statement in humour. Raw colour flooded his face "Amaris…I.." She flicked a finger in a reproving gesture before moving into the small study, a light was beeping.
"Keep whatever it is behind your teeth for the moment, I've got mail" she tapped a series of random patterns onto the desk and a screen flipped over, "Hmm no one I know, but since this accounts known only to a few it must be important" She pecked quickly at the keyboard, she wasn't a technical whiz kid but she managed.
Lucifer watching caught the slight paleness in her face and acted on instinct "Amaris, what's wrong?" Her eyes flashed from the deep bronze of distress to a pure black, so dark he was sure he could almost see stars there, she made a motion that told him to read her mail.
The screen was a secure mail server in black and silver decoration, his eyes travelled down to the message.
From : LadyBeelzebub@WorldsEnd.net
To : NightsFirstLady@nightworld.co.uk
I find you more than unfit to rule, prepare to go down in the time honoured way, and the blade will bite you as it did the hunter, when a tame falcon turns on your hand.
You Have Been Warned
She was beyond furious as she watched Lucifer read, so far beyond that one more step would send her careening into a blood driven rage. He turned to her, confusion in misted topaz eyes "What does it mean?" she hauled in the reins of her temper, stopping herself right at the edge of zero tolerance. "It's a challenge, a warning if you like, there'll be an attempt on my life, an effort at a coup to thrust me from power" He studied the message again "And the bit about the hawk?" that was the horrible part, the thing she had feared since last night, but she said it, admitting it at last to the open air.
"That means I've been betrayed"
***
She smiled as the tiny alarm on her laptop went off, message received by recipient, she knew Artemis well enough to anticipate the moments of blood fuelled rage she'd suffer; the Redfern temper was infamous, now was the time to move on, the time to act in stealth was over, now she could literally take the prize and her solution was at hand.
She looked up and motioned with her eyes her partner walked across the room "Its time" The other woman nodded before running a caressing hand over her cheek. They left the room together, walking into a hall that was almost full of people. "My children it is time, the Redfern's and their Vampire underlings have repressed us long enough, protecting their vermin, and keeping open connections with the Daybreak scum. Now is the time to act, now is the time for us to rule"
The roar of approval that met her statement was almost drowning, she looked around for him and found him missing, it brought a slight frown to her face. She turned to the woman beside her. "Siren, where is he?" The younger witch scanned the hall, and seemed to come to the same conclusion.
"I haven't seen him since yesterday night, after the club" Her voice had a sudden over tone of dislike to it, apparently the club idea had been one she didn't like, but it was necessary. All of it was necessary, and now their tame hawk had flown the nest, this was not a good thing, not a good thing at all.
"The shock troops have left?" Her partner nodded and she smiled. "Then it doesn't matter where he's gone, even if he tries to warn her he'll never get there in time.
***
She had ripped herself back into violent control at the same time as the motion sensors on the hallway carpet had gone off, the fact the ones on the lift had been disabled showed this to be an inside job, but then she already knew that. Her eyes flashed over to Lucifer, the reflection in the screen showing them to be a dark burning blue black.
"How good are you with weapons" His eyes flashed and then covered over like a smokescreen, "I can use a gun, and I have a black belt in three martial arts" A beginner for someone in her operation, but good enough, she pulled one corner of the fireplace and the entire thing moved revealing a dark wood cabinet, they didn't have long.
Moving with a speed only the technically dead could manage, she walked in and tossed a few things out to her nephew. "Pair of Colt peacemakers, put them around your waist, put the sawn off repeater across your back and strap on all of the bullets in some way or another, if you loose me, then head for the country. I know it sounds beyond belief but Daybreak will take you in, I've done them a few favours in my time." She didn't add her final thought, if you get out of the city alive. She certainly wouldn't have let any of her predecessors relatives get out alive, in fact when she had been with Hunter at the taking of London none of them had gotten out alive, of course that had been werewolves, the grudge memory was shorter.
Now all she had to do was outfit herself, there were a few things that couldn't be left behind, she carefully strapped the Redfern sword to her waist, the swords shape had been changed in the seventeenth century to allow it to be more easily hidden, but the stark design remained the same. The giant pigeon blood ruby in the middle of a platinum basket hilt, on the stone itself was the family crest, the star eyed lion engraved forever. The knives she managed to strap on quickly, good thing she was still wearing the outfit she had put on in the early hours of the morning to pace.
Suddenly she swore and raced into the back bedroom to grab a duster coat and pair of bikers boots, she pulled them on before grabbing a dazzling array of weaponry and placing on and around herself, finishing off with an pair of jewelled stiletto's holding up her hair. Turning she found Lucifer watching her with an odd look on his face, she made a questioning gesture with her hand which he answered with a grin.
"I was just thinking, if we weren't related, we should date" his voice was almost subvocal but was still laughing, almost teasing her. A smile flashed, breaking the tension that had held her face. "I'm afraid that we are related though, so at the moment we'll have to drop the dating idea." Her own voice sounded cool but her amusement had dimmed the blaze in the killing blue of her eyes.
A crash in the background heralded the beginning of the end of her door, she couldn't help the smile that was creeping onto her face, the bloodlust was rising. Reaching back into the cupboard she flipped the switch she found there, before saluting the painting over the fireplace.
Catching Lucifer by the back of his jacket she pushed him towards the window, it was thirteen stories down, jumping was not an option. Sliding the window open she pointed to a long gleaming stretch of wire, she wasn't going to speak so she gently reached out with her mind.
*Put these on* she handed him a pair of leather gloves *Now slide the wire, and do it fast* pulling on her own gloves she watched him go, he wasn't rappelling down, he was simply letting his weight drag him, faster and faster. The gloves would rip through before he reached the ground, a sharp crack behind her and a cry of pain. The door had broken.
Turning squatting on the windowsill, like the ghouls of nightmare tales she watched them enter the apartment. Apparently she had been wrong about grudges not holding as long among the 'shifter community, three of the four were 'wolves and the fourth was a war witch, all were male, they could see her, silhouetted by the rising sun. Something in their eyes told her that they expected fear, she smiled, gently bringing a hand to her lips and blowing a kiss before falling backwards out of the window.
A double somersault before she managed to catch the wire, impact biting it into her fingers, through the gloves, the stickiness of the blood seemed almost unreal, the pain as her body hit the wall didn't. Gathering speed as she hurtled downwards, the pain in her hands gained immediacy as the wire sliced through muscle and tendon it was why she wore gloves, even if the fingers detached if they were in close proximity to her hand they would heal.
Her feet hit the black bags of rubbish that graced the back alley and she stumbled, Lucifer's fingers steadied her, and she walked him backwards until they hit the building. Looking up she saw the witch's head return to the room above he had obviously been watching to see if she survived. Looking at her wrist she smiled "Four" Lucifer's voice a murmur in the stillness "four what?"
She shook her head "Three. Two. One" There was a sudden sound, like the whuff of a large amount of sand being dropped before the windows of every single flat in the apartment block shattered. A second later the penthouse roof exploded outwards in a volley of flame and debris. It was really quite an impressive show, she would have to compliment Morningstar next time she saw him, he really did know his stuff.
Looking over her shoulder she saw the gleam in Lucifer's eyes as he watched the mounting flames, the slight smile curving his mouth was something spectacular to watch it brought his resemblance to her brother into close proximity. No wonder they had wanted him out of America. He shook his head and a brief expression of disgust chased its way across his features, it was then she caught it, he had been revelling in the destruction, perhaps the person who wanted her dead was doing her a favour after all, the boy was learning and learning fast.
"Did they blow up your apartment Artemis?" She laughed before starting to stroll nonchalantly out of the alley way, beckoning him to follow. "Of course not, I blew up the flat, with them in it, it rather neatly stops them getting hold of anything of value, unless of course they try to raid the estate"
She snickered at that thought, raiding the Redfern estate indeed, she doubted they could find anyone willing to even attempt to go through four centuries of magical and mundane protection, and if they did, well, they wouldn't get out again. *Where are we going?* Lucifer was a certain presence inside her mind, he sensed that she wouldn't want to talk about their destination out loud, sensible child. *The dark side of London, rebellion may have started here, the first skirmish if you like, is there's, but I'm going to the place where my support is, I intend to win this war if it kills me*
The shiver that ran up her spine at that thought had to be wrong, but she wasn't going to count her hunters until she had fed them their own stakes, so, she was going into the dark heart of her territory, she was going to Camden, and then she was going to start killing people, the thought she had to admit, was a happy one.
"Artemis?" She snapped awake in a second, her prophecy of dreams had failed to be fulfilled, her sleep had been deep and dreamless. "Yes Lucifer" He stepped into view and shook his head "I thought for a mere moment that I might have caught you sleeping, I see I was wrong" she smiled to herself, no need to cure the young of their illusions.
She slid off of the couch in an easy sinuous movement and smiled at him, "There's no rest for the wicked" With anyone else she would have followed that statement with a wink, but with Lucifer she doubted his ability to take the statement in humour. Raw colour flooded his face "Amaris…I.." She flicked a finger in a reproving gesture before moving into the small study, a light was beeping.
"Keep whatever it is behind your teeth for the moment, I've got mail" she tapped a series of random patterns onto the desk and a screen flipped over, "Hmm no one I know, but since this accounts known only to a few it must be important" She pecked quickly at the keyboard, she wasn't a technical whiz kid but she managed.
Lucifer watching caught the slight paleness in her face and acted on instinct "Amaris, what's wrong?" Her eyes flashed from the deep bronze of distress to a pure black, so dark he was sure he could almost see stars there, she made a motion that told him to read her mail.
The screen was a secure mail server in black and silver decoration, his eyes travelled down to the message.
From : LadyBeelzebub@WorldsEnd.net
To : NightsFirstLady@nightworld.co.uk
I find you more than unfit to rule, prepare to go down in the time honoured way, and the blade will bite you as it did the hunter, when a tame falcon turns on your hand.
You Have Been Warned
She was beyond furious as she watched Lucifer read, so far beyond that one more step would send her careening into a blood driven rage. He turned to her, confusion in misted topaz eyes "What does it mean?" she hauled in the reins of her temper, stopping herself right at the edge of zero tolerance. "It's a challenge, a warning if you like, there'll be an attempt on my life, an effort at a coup to thrust me from power" He studied the message again "And the bit about the hawk?" that was the horrible part, the thing she had feared since last night, but she said it, admitting it at last to the open air.
"That means I've been betrayed"
***
She smiled as the tiny alarm on her laptop went off, message received by recipient, she knew Artemis well enough to anticipate the moments of blood fuelled rage she'd suffer; the Redfern temper was infamous, now was the time to move on, the time to act in stealth was over, now she could literally take the prize and her solution was at hand.
She looked up and motioned with her eyes her partner walked across the room "Its time" The other woman nodded before running a caressing hand over her cheek. They left the room together, walking into a hall that was almost full of people. "My children it is time, the Redfern's and their Vampire underlings have repressed us long enough, protecting their vermin, and keeping open connections with the Daybreak scum. Now is the time to act, now is the time for us to rule"
The roar of approval that met her statement was almost drowning, she looked around for him and found him missing, it brought a slight frown to her face. She turned to the woman beside her. "Siren, where is he?" The younger witch scanned the hall, and seemed to come to the same conclusion.
"I haven't seen him since yesterday night, after the club" Her voice had a sudden over tone of dislike to it, apparently the club idea had been one she didn't like, but it was necessary. All of it was necessary, and now their tame hawk had flown the nest, this was not a good thing, not a good thing at all.
"The shock troops have left?" Her partner nodded and she smiled. "Then it doesn't matter where he's gone, even if he tries to warn her he'll never get there in time.
***
She had ripped herself back into violent control at the same time as the motion sensors on the hallway carpet had gone off, the fact the ones on the lift had been disabled showed this to be an inside job, but then she already knew that. Her eyes flashed over to Lucifer, the reflection in the screen showing them to be a dark burning blue black.
"How good are you with weapons" His eyes flashed and then covered over like a smokescreen, "I can use a gun, and I have a black belt in three martial arts" A beginner for someone in her operation, but good enough, she pulled one corner of the fireplace and the entire thing moved revealing a dark wood cabinet, they didn't have long.
Moving with a speed only the technically dead could manage, she walked in and tossed a few things out to her nephew. "Pair of Colt peacemakers, put them around your waist, put the sawn off repeater across your back and strap on all of the bullets in some way or another, if you loose me, then head for the country. I know it sounds beyond belief but Daybreak will take you in, I've done them a few favours in my time." She didn't add her final thought, if you get out of the city alive. She certainly wouldn't have let any of her predecessors relatives get out alive, in fact when she had been with Hunter at the taking of London none of them had gotten out alive, of course that had been werewolves, the grudge memory was shorter.
Now all she had to do was outfit herself, there were a few things that couldn't be left behind, she carefully strapped the Redfern sword to her waist, the swords shape had been changed in the seventeenth century to allow it to be more easily hidden, but the stark design remained the same. The giant pigeon blood ruby in the middle of a platinum basket hilt, on the stone itself was the family crest, the star eyed lion engraved forever. The knives she managed to strap on quickly, good thing she was still wearing the outfit she had put on in the early hours of the morning to pace.
Suddenly she swore and raced into the back bedroom to grab a duster coat and pair of bikers boots, she pulled them on before grabbing a dazzling array of weaponry and placing on and around herself, finishing off with an pair of jewelled stiletto's holding up her hair. Turning she found Lucifer watching her with an odd look on his face, she made a questioning gesture with her hand which he answered with a grin.
"I was just thinking, if we weren't related, we should date" his voice was almost subvocal but was still laughing, almost teasing her. A smile flashed, breaking the tension that had held her face. "I'm afraid that we are related though, so at the moment we'll have to drop the dating idea." Her own voice sounded cool but her amusement had dimmed the blaze in the killing blue of her eyes.
A crash in the background heralded the beginning of the end of her door, she couldn't help the smile that was creeping onto her face, the bloodlust was rising. Reaching back into the cupboard she flipped the switch she found there, before saluting the painting over the fireplace.
Catching Lucifer by the back of his jacket she pushed him towards the window, it was thirteen stories down, jumping was not an option. Sliding the window open she pointed to a long gleaming stretch of wire, she wasn't going to speak so she gently reached out with her mind.
*Put these on* she handed him a pair of leather gloves *Now slide the wire, and do it fast* pulling on her own gloves she watched him go, he wasn't rappelling down, he was simply letting his weight drag him, faster and faster. The gloves would rip through before he reached the ground, a sharp crack behind her and a cry of pain. The door had broken.
Turning squatting on the windowsill, like the ghouls of nightmare tales she watched them enter the apartment. Apparently she had been wrong about grudges not holding as long among the 'shifter community, three of the four were 'wolves and the fourth was a war witch, all were male, they could see her, silhouetted by the rising sun. Something in their eyes told her that they expected fear, she smiled, gently bringing a hand to her lips and blowing a kiss before falling backwards out of the window.
A double somersault before she managed to catch the wire, impact biting it into her fingers, through the gloves, the stickiness of the blood seemed almost unreal, the pain as her body hit the wall didn't. Gathering speed as she hurtled downwards, the pain in her hands gained immediacy as the wire sliced through muscle and tendon it was why she wore gloves, even if the fingers detached if they were in close proximity to her hand they would heal.
Her feet hit the black bags of rubbish that graced the back alley and she stumbled, Lucifer's fingers steadied her, and she walked him backwards until they hit the building. Looking up she saw the witch's head return to the room above he had obviously been watching to see if she survived. Looking at her wrist she smiled "Four" Lucifer's voice a murmur in the stillness "four what?"
She shook her head "Three. Two. One" There was a sudden sound, like the whuff of a large amount of sand being dropped before the windows of every single flat in the apartment block shattered. A second later the penthouse roof exploded outwards in a volley of flame and debris. It was really quite an impressive show, she would have to compliment Morningstar next time she saw him, he really did know his stuff.
Looking over her shoulder she saw the gleam in Lucifer's eyes as he watched the mounting flames, the slight smile curving his mouth was something spectacular to watch it brought his resemblance to her brother into close proximity. No wonder they had wanted him out of America. He shook his head and a brief expression of disgust chased its way across his features, it was then she caught it, he had been revelling in the destruction, perhaps the person who wanted her dead was doing her a favour after all, the boy was learning and learning fast.
"Did they blow up your apartment Artemis?" She laughed before starting to stroll nonchalantly out of the alley way, beckoning him to follow. "Of course not, I blew up the flat, with them in it, it rather neatly stops them getting hold of anything of value, unless of course they try to raid the estate"
She snickered at that thought, raiding the Redfern estate indeed, she doubted they could find anyone willing to even attempt to go through four centuries of magical and mundane protection, and if they did, well, they wouldn't get out again. *Where are we going?* Lucifer was a certain presence inside her mind, he sensed that she wouldn't want to talk about their destination out loud, sensible child. *The dark side of London, rebellion may have started here, the first skirmish if you like, is there's, but I'm going to the place where my support is, I intend to win this war if it kills me*
The shiver that ran up her spine at that thought had to be wrong, but she wasn't going to count her hunters until she had fed them their own stakes, so, she was going into the dark heart of her territory, she was going to Camden, and then she was going to start killing people, the thought she had to admit, was a happy one.