Dance of the Alavus - Part One

(Characters of EFC belong to it's creators and not me, so don't sue! This is strictly for entertainment purposes only. Thanks. C & C is welcomed)

Occours somewhere in Season Five of Earth: Final Conflict...

There....Renee...

Howlyn smiled thinly as if he could sense her already. They were losing - the Humans that is. Despite Renee Palmer's efforts, their hybrid chambers continued to flourish on the earth below. Soon enough it would be theirs once more, and he, Howlyn would rule over all of the Atavus and the hybrids as it was destined to be. The human Sandoval had been most useful indeed. Juda seemed to have a sort of fondness for him, like sort of a pet, even though Sandoval was dangerous. After all, anyone who would be a traitor to his own species, would indeed betray the Atavus.

Yes he would outlive his use..it was only a matter of time.

But Sandoval was not the one he wished to think upon. Oh no, it was Renee - beautiful and defiant. A paradox - a human he could not feed upon nor join with in the hybrid chambers.

Howlyn's eyes glittered. There was another way to join with the Human, one that he anticipated keenly. Despite Juda's scornful remark that Renee would not last long in his bed, Howlyn knew better. He could feel the life force so strong within her, and had he been able to feed upon her, she would have been truly magnificent indeed.

But he wanted her physically, their bodies joined in a nexus of pleasure that could only be shared by those of similar passions. Renee Palmer was his equal, his opposite, and the only one he truly desired.

Desire...no, he needed her like - like the air that he breathed!

Howlyn slammed his fist against the wall and snarled, wishing at that moment he could vent his frustrations on something, someone, anyone. Although Juda knew his needs, he tired of her. Tired of her assumation that she would reign as his Queen, tired of her twitting him about Renee Palmer.

Damn her! Damn her to the Void, but she had cast a spell upon him that would only be quenched once he had her! Howlyn closed his eyes as he gritted his teeth. That she had such power over him! It was not to be borne! That was why he wished to dominate her, conquer her, slake his passions upon her body until he was spent at last.



Hold her against him in the blackest of nights - his slave, his concubine, his Queen. Look into those eyes and see that spark that had been within them when he had touched her. Oh she had been defiant, but he knew - he knew that Renee Palmer desired him as much as he desired her.

Now, with victory so close, he would have that chance, for she was coming to the mother-ship.

He smiled. Ah, he could almost smell the sweet perfume of her now.

Impatiently, he strode over to the comlink and contacted Sandoval.

"Is she here yet!" Howlyn exclaimed.

"No, but she is enroute." Sandoval's voice was calm and steady as it always seemed to be.

"Bring her here - the moment she arrives!" Howlyn barked and disengaged the connection.

****

Seconds, minutes, hours, Howlyn was not sure when she arrived, but it was Juda who alerted him to her presence on board and it was she who brought Renee Palmer to him. Howlyn's eyes devoured Renee, and he could not help but compare her fairness to the dark sultriness of Juda.

"Here she is, my lord.." Juda purred.

"That is obvious." Howlyn scowled at Juda. "Leave us!"

Renee stood there silently, whether waiting for an opportunity to do something or not, Howlyn was not sure, but he was ready.

Juda paused for a moment, her eyes filled with jealousy. "She won't last long, Howlyn. *I* know that." She smirked.

"You know NOTHING!!" Howlyn lunged at her and Juda took a step back in alarm.

Howlyn had been anything but pleasant to be around lately.

"I know you lust after this - this human like a fool!" Juda spat.

Howlyn extended his hand, the glowing talons extending from his fingertips. "I am leader of the Atavus, bitch.." He said coldly. "Or must I remind you of that fact?" His eyes glittered.

"You would take your anger out on me!" Juda looked shocked.

"I care not for your attitude..." Howlyn came closer to Juda. "Go. Go and vent your frustrations on Sandoval. You will obey me - you and the rest! Now GO!" Howlyn roared and Juda left, but not before bestowing a parting barb at Renee.

"Enjoy it while you can, human. It won't be long."

"GO!" Howlyn's voice seemed to shake the room itself.

Juda left and the doors to Howlyn's chambers shut, leaving he and Renee quite alone. He retracted his talons as he smiled as his guest.

"Renee Palmer..I knew you'd return to me."

"It's not to you I return." Renee said stiffly.

"No?" Howlyn circled her, admiring the way she stood. Her breathing was slightly quickened and he could sense the excitement running through her, even if she hid it quite well.

"I've come to negotiate.." Renee finally said.

Howlyn laughed. "Negotiate? Oh my, but that IS amusing!!"

Renee glared at the Atavus angrily.

"It's not amusing!" Renee spat.

Howlyn stopped laughing, but his face still held a bit of a smirk. "Oh of course not. Humans are in the minority now aren't they?"

"How would you feel if you knew that your race was about to be taken out of existence?" Renee said softly.

Howlyn blinked, for he had not expected such vulnerability within this strong woman.

"Perhaps.." He paused. "Perhaps it was time. Species are born.and then they die.."

Howlyn had stopped circling her and now faced her, his body just barely touching her own, his lips mere inches away from hers.

"Not us.." Renee shook her head. "We'll resist you to the last, Howlyn."

"And what of you? You just said you were here to negotiate with me and then in the next breath, defy the inevitable." He smiled into her eyes.

"Allow the remaining humans to live, Howlyn - not for feeding. or for hybrids..just let them live."

"We cannot. You know that as well as I, Renee.." He turned from her. "We must feed to live."

"Then you are nothing but parasites!" Renee yelled. Howlyn turned in anger and gripped Renee's arms painfully.

"And what are YOU, dear human! You are parasites of the worst stripe! Oh yes! Your kind think that you're the only beings that ever existed! That you and you alone are superior! Well now it's time that you realize the truth!" His eyes blazed into Renee's.

"What truth!!" Renee spat. "That you're destroying MY people, MY world so you feed off humans and make the hybrids your slaves!"

In anger Howlyn extended his talons once more as he brought them to Renee's face.

Coolly she said, "Go ahead, Howlyn."

His eyes narrowed at her defiance as he took his taloned hands and gently, ever so gently touched the side of her face.

"You I cannot feed upon, nor can I kill you.." Howlyn whispered gently. "But I think you know just what I wish to do with you.."

Renee could barely keep the flush from her cheeks but Howlyn noticed it and the rise of heat from her body.

"Yeeeessss.." The Atavus taunted. "You want the same, don't you? A lover who is your equal.." He retracted his talons and drew his arm around her waist to draw her closer. His lips were against her forehead as he spoke, tickling Renee and sending a dark thrill through her.

"That is the truth, isn't it, my lovely Renee.." Howlyn said silkily.

"N - no." Renee made her body tense up for his seductiveness was melting her resolve and revealing her weakness. She was attracted to Howlyn in a way she didn't understand at all. It was something she hadn't revealed to anyone, not even Street. Perhaps that was partly why she had sought to kill the Atavus - so that her own inner demon could never be released. To do so would make her worse that Sandoval.

Howlyn chuckled gently. "Your lips lie to me but your body does not. I know, Renee. I know your secret.."

"I have no secrets!" Renee shivered as Howlyn pressed kisses against her hair.

"Give in to me.." Howlyn murmured, the edge of passion in his voice. "Give in to me and I shall give you everything you could desire."

"Except the freedom of my people." Renee said, closing her eyes.

Howlyn sensed that vulnerability once more and decided that he had the upper hand.

"Perhaps.." Howlyn swayed on his feet and it was almost as if they were dancing as he held Renee.

"Perhaps?" Renee asked, willing herself not to fall under Howlyn's spell, but knowing that deep inside she was.

"Pledge yourself to me, give yourself freely and willingly to me this night and I shall spare - some of the humans."

"I don't trust you." Renee knew better than to take Howlyn's words at face value.

"Of course you don't." Howlyn smiled as he looked once more into her eyes. "But then you came to negotiate? Those are my terms."

Renee bit her lip. To have gone so far only do wind up here, the pawn of Howlyn.

"I - need proof. Absolute proof." Renee said.

Howlyn growled. "Damable woman! All right!" He snared as he parted from her momentarily. He stalked to a com and contacted Sandoval.

"Sandoval! You will take a select number of pure humans in all the major cities of Earth and then you will - "

"Yes?"

"They will be left alone. Fit them with a mark that they shall not be used for feeding or for hybrids."

"But, that's - " Sandoval was cut off harshly by Howlyn.

"You will do it, Sandoval and once that is done, Juda will alert all Atavus of this order. Is that understood?"

"Yes, it is, Howlyn."

"Good." Howlyn cast a look where Renee was standing stock still. He cut off the transmission and walked back to her.

"I have fulfilled my end of the bargain, Renee. Now what of yours?" His dark eyes held a triumphant light within them and Renee knew that her time was up...