The young woman with the beret was wandering through a desert. Tears
finally sprung to her eyes, though she had fought against them for some
time. She wasn't quite sure where she was and she did not care for now.
The same message kept playing in her head.
"Mary Sue, it's Delgado. I regret to inform you that your brother Kenobi was killed while on assignment. He set an exemplary standard to all of us and was a fine, noble young man whose memory and inspiration will forever live with us in our mission. Rest assured, your brother shall be avenged and the guilty punished."
All Mary Sue knew now was that she was going to take revenge in her own way. It was that vampire whore and that traitor to demon hunters that had been responsible. Mary Sue could almost hear their screams in the night air.
****
It was a lovely cool night in Prague. Django and Drusilla had just been to see a ballet together. Drusilla was dancing and pirouetting around the street, as they walked back to their lodgings. She was such a mad ballet fan tonight. Dru had went to meet the star performers afterwards, alone as she'd insisted. Django grinned at his dancing girl. They had had a lovely time here after Drusilla begging him to come. She had spoken so highly of it from bygone days and of course, Django was prone to a bit of Bohemianism himself. Although still wary of the mysterious attack in Florence, the couple had felt relaxed so far during their stay in Prague. There had been no repeat attacks. Django hoped that it had been a one off thing, although Drusilla's words from just before and just afterwards still haunted him. In such a romantic city though, even those concerns had slipped away for a time.
"I would have went with you, you know pet." Django said softly.
Drusilla giggled at that and looked like a cat caught in the canary cage. "You would have been bored my love." she replied. "Besides, I wanted to congratulate them on a brilliant performance. An artistic triumph they was!" Dru looked sideways, contemplating something.
"Will they be likely to be doing any repeat performances in the future love?" Django asked playfully.
Naughty Dru looked evasive at that and Django knew better than to inquire further. Sometimes a mystery was best. "I think they shall retire from ballet." Dru giggled. They seemed so tired by it all. Poor dears!"
****
Delgado tried to reason with the young woman one more time. They were in a small, cramped hotel room, where she had requested to meet for information. Delgado had almost feared the meeting and had suspected Mary Sue's mental state at this time. "Won't you reconsider? Our resources are completely at your disposal. We want to get the murderers just as badly as you. Let us help."
Mary Sue swivelled her twin automatics and placed them in her holsters. "Your organisation has helped me all it can." she replied all business like with just a hint of venom. "I very much doubt you want them as badly as me." Mary Sue turned and looked at Delgado with a steely gaze. "Kenobi was my brother! It is for me to avenge him. Your men had best keep out of my way. All will suffer when I catch those responsible."
Delgado nodded sadly. "I understand."
Mary Sue tested the weight of a battle axe in her hand and when satisfied, put it into her suitcase. She prepared her spring-loaded wrist blades. "I thank you for your help, Mr Delgado and for giving Kenobi something to believe in." Her voice began to croak with emotion here. "But I also curse you for infecting my brother with your idealism." Mary Sue snapped her suitcase shut and left without another word.
Delgado slumped on the hotel bed and sighed. What a great asset this girl would have been in his organisation. Instead she followed the ways of a cold hearted mercenary. And this may just be the incident that would lose her soul to hatred.
****
Django was having a nightmare. In the dream he was long gone from this earth. And still his Drusilla was running, fearfully, beaten and weary. There was no escape for her. Still the enemy came that desired to torment her. Django felt wrenched with helplessness. He awoke in a frenzy, but Drusilla was beside him and comforted him with kisses and whispered assurances.
As they tried to settle down again, Drusilla lay against her brave knight's chest. "You worry about the bad people, my love. They're out there. I can see them. They burn with hatred. They burn but I'm cold." Django kissed her forehead and encircled her waist in his arms.
****
It was still early evening. Django and Dru sat in a pretty little outdoors cafe, enjoying the cool breeze. Django had been a bit more pensive since having his nightmare and Drusilla had been unable to completely lift his mood. What was worse though was a little worm niggling inside Drusilla's brain. It wanted to make her say something and she knew it would only make Django even broodier. Dru kept putting it off, but still it kept coming back, trying to press words into her mouth. The more she spoke, to Django, lovingly of all her time in Prague, the more the temptation to tell him all.
"More wine, love?"
Django was broken out of his reverie. "What? Oh, no thanks pet. Have to keep a clear head. What with evil plots possibly about and all."
Drusilla sighed in vexation. "You're not being a good companion tonight love. The cobblestones have noticed it about you too. You shouldn't worry so about everything. You're supposed to be making your princess feel all safe. Not worrying her so that you're about to fall into a hole of depression and need to be dug out."
Django smiled warmly and touched Drusilla's little fingers on the table with his hand. "Sorry love. You're right. It's just that I'll feel a lot less paranoid when we go to see that underworld contact and find out if there's someone after us for real or not."
So far so good. But then Drusilla couldn't help blurting it out. "The sky whispers of death tonight. It hasn't whispered to me like this so, since I almost got killed by that angry mob here." Oooops! Bad worm! Drusilla wished to take it back but it was too late. Django's eyes widened in horror.
"Nearly got killed? Here?"
"I don't know why I said that really." Drusilla pleaded with Django, wanting so to change the subject. She knew he wouldn't be happy now. "Please love, it was the bad worm that made me say that. But he's gone now. My brain gobbled him up. He can't spoil things for us anymore."
Django gripped Drusilla's precious hand more firmly. "Dru, love. The truth."
Drusilla nodded sullenly in defeat. "It was quite a while back. The mob would have killed your little princess if it wasn't for Spike. He was much nicer to me back in them days. I didn't get better afterwards though. I needed some of my sire's blood and a ritual. He's a bad 'un now too of course. Another soul beast! Sometimes I think I'm being punished for having the wrong friends."
The change over Django's demeanour was palpable. He looked very pale. He swallowed with difficulty and rose, beckoning to Dru. "Right. Let's go love." Django's voice was so no nonsense, right then. Most of the time he was happy to let Drusilla call the shots. This was different for him. He tapped his fingers on the table impatiently. Drusilla found herself relenting to him.
Django walked swiftly through the streets. Eyes darting around everywhere. He pulled Drusilla along beside him. Drusilla was confused, despite it all. "Love, what's wrong? Tell princess or she'll be cross."
"This place is bad news for you Dru." Django explained hurriedly. "I'm not Spike. If he could only barely protect you, what could I do? We're going to go see the underworld contact and then we're getting out of Prague. The sooner the better!"
Drusilla whimpered at that but Django paid her no mind. Drusilla thought he was being very silly. She had always loved it here and had yearned to return one day. To leave so soon! This was almost as bad as going somewhere with Spike. Dru was not one happy bunny. What is it with these men and their annoying ways, Dru asked herself, remembering another silly incident with the men in her life.....
It had been just after Angelus had killed the interfering gypsy, Jenny Calendar. Spike had never understood Angelus's more subtle nuances. Spike and Angelus had had a rivalry of course, going way back. And Spike was using this latest opportunity to chide his grand-sire. "What? You didn't even bite her? Not even a little nibble?" Angelus had rolled his eyes and was obviously close to breaking point with the young pup. Drusilla liked to see them fight but sometimes even she was afraid of what Angelus might do to Spike, if he pushed hard enough.
"You're supposed to be a vampire you know!" Spike continued. "Draining pretty girls is supposed to be part of the fun." Spike got an idea here. He didn't really believe it of course. Still it gave him something to ride Angelus about. Spike's face lit up. "Oh I get it! Didn't want her to suffer any more than was necessary, eh?" Spike chuckled.
"What are you talking about now?" Angelus growled. He looked warningly to Dru. Do something with your boy, Dru, the look seemed to say. Dru had frowned inwardly at that. Why were we women always getting the blame? But there seemed to be something more. Was Angelus really getting all flustered? Embarrassed? Maybe his recent goody-goodness was still a sore point for him.
"Angelus loves Jenny! Angelus loves Jenny!" Spike began to chant.
"Stop it!" Angelus snapped with rage.
"Angelus loves Jenny! Angelus loves Jenny!" Spike mocked again. This was fun this.
"Come on, stop it!" Angelus almost seemed to plead.
"Angelus loves Jenny! Angelus lo-" Spike caught the way Drusilla was looking at him and promptly shut up. "Sorry love." he spluttered in apology and was generally quiet for the next few minutes.
Drusilla smiled sweetly to herself at the memory. And then she remembered she was supposed to be angry with Django. Glancing his way, Dru saw that he hadn't seemed to notice. Drusilla continued to sulk with him, even starting to pull against him as they walked. "Rotten smelly-pants!" she grumbled.
Django stopped for a moment and turned to his pouting princess. "Dru, love?" He tried very hard to keep his voice soft. He was sick with worry for her. Couldn't she see that? He tried reasoning with her. "I'm sorry. It's not me that wants to spoil your fun. It's just that getting out of here might be the only real way I can protect you. Don't be difficult about this love."
Drusilla stood her ground. "I don't see why we should be in such a hurry to leave. I want the buildings and cobblestones to make music for me all night! They have such lovely dolls here. It's good for Miss Edith to see how proper ladies behave." Drusilla smiled mirthlessly in triumph. "It occurs to me that I'm the strongest and fastest one here. I don't see why we should have to leave Prague now. And we're not going to."
Django sighed at a loss. "Can't we at least go and see the contact? Don't you want to know if someone has a vendetta against us?"
Drusilla held Django's gaze for a while, pouting as she did. And then she shrugged sweetly at the small request. "Okay then dearie. But can't we do some window shopping on the way? I haven't seen any quaint little shop boys all night."
****
A slaughter house, somewhere. Mary Sue stood in silence, still as a statue and stared at the large pieces of meat on the hooks. Somehow being here seemed to be the only thing that soothed her right now. Let them bleed! That was the way to do it. Let them bleed as long as possible and then.....
"Mary Sue, it's Delgado. I regret to inform you that your brother Kenobi was killed while on assignment. He set an exemplary standard to all of us and was a fine, noble young man whose memory and inspiration will forever live with us in our mission. Rest assured, your brother shall be avenged and the guilty punished."
All Mary Sue knew now was that she was going to take revenge in her own way. It was that vampire whore and that traitor to demon hunters that had been responsible. Mary Sue could almost hear their screams in the night air.
****
It was a lovely cool night in Prague. Django and Drusilla had just been to see a ballet together. Drusilla was dancing and pirouetting around the street, as they walked back to their lodgings. She was such a mad ballet fan tonight. Dru had went to meet the star performers afterwards, alone as she'd insisted. Django grinned at his dancing girl. They had had a lovely time here after Drusilla begging him to come. She had spoken so highly of it from bygone days and of course, Django was prone to a bit of Bohemianism himself. Although still wary of the mysterious attack in Florence, the couple had felt relaxed so far during their stay in Prague. There had been no repeat attacks. Django hoped that it had been a one off thing, although Drusilla's words from just before and just afterwards still haunted him. In such a romantic city though, even those concerns had slipped away for a time.
"I would have went with you, you know pet." Django said softly.
Drusilla giggled at that and looked like a cat caught in the canary cage. "You would have been bored my love." she replied. "Besides, I wanted to congratulate them on a brilliant performance. An artistic triumph they was!" Dru looked sideways, contemplating something.
"Will they be likely to be doing any repeat performances in the future love?" Django asked playfully.
Naughty Dru looked evasive at that and Django knew better than to inquire further. Sometimes a mystery was best. "I think they shall retire from ballet." Dru giggled. They seemed so tired by it all. Poor dears!"
****
Delgado tried to reason with the young woman one more time. They were in a small, cramped hotel room, where she had requested to meet for information. Delgado had almost feared the meeting and had suspected Mary Sue's mental state at this time. "Won't you reconsider? Our resources are completely at your disposal. We want to get the murderers just as badly as you. Let us help."
Mary Sue swivelled her twin automatics and placed them in her holsters. "Your organisation has helped me all it can." she replied all business like with just a hint of venom. "I very much doubt you want them as badly as me." Mary Sue turned and looked at Delgado with a steely gaze. "Kenobi was my brother! It is for me to avenge him. Your men had best keep out of my way. All will suffer when I catch those responsible."
Delgado nodded sadly. "I understand."
Mary Sue tested the weight of a battle axe in her hand and when satisfied, put it into her suitcase. She prepared her spring-loaded wrist blades. "I thank you for your help, Mr Delgado and for giving Kenobi something to believe in." Her voice began to croak with emotion here. "But I also curse you for infecting my brother with your idealism." Mary Sue snapped her suitcase shut and left without another word.
Delgado slumped on the hotel bed and sighed. What a great asset this girl would have been in his organisation. Instead she followed the ways of a cold hearted mercenary. And this may just be the incident that would lose her soul to hatred.
****
Django was having a nightmare. In the dream he was long gone from this earth. And still his Drusilla was running, fearfully, beaten and weary. There was no escape for her. Still the enemy came that desired to torment her. Django felt wrenched with helplessness. He awoke in a frenzy, but Drusilla was beside him and comforted him with kisses and whispered assurances.
As they tried to settle down again, Drusilla lay against her brave knight's chest. "You worry about the bad people, my love. They're out there. I can see them. They burn with hatred. They burn but I'm cold." Django kissed her forehead and encircled her waist in his arms.
****
It was still early evening. Django and Dru sat in a pretty little outdoors cafe, enjoying the cool breeze. Django had been a bit more pensive since having his nightmare and Drusilla had been unable to completely lift his mood. What was worse though was a little worm niggling inside Drusilla's brain. It wanted to make her say something and she knew it would only make Django even broodier. Dru kept putting it off, but still it kept coming back, trying to press words into her mouth. The more she spoke, to Django, lovingly of all her time in Prague, the more the temptation to tell him all.
"More wine, love?"
Django was broken out of his reverie. "What? Oh, no thanks pet. Have to keep a clear head. What with evil plots possibly about and all."
Drusilla sighed in vexation. "You're not being a good companion tonight love. The cobblestones have noticed it about you too. You shouldn't worry so about everything. You're supposed to be making your princess feel all safe. Not worrying her so that you're about to fall into a hole of depression and need to be dug out."
Django smiled warmly and touched Drusilla's little fingers on the table with his hand. "Sorry love. You're right. It's just that I'll feel a lot less paranoid when we go to see that underworld contact and find out if there's someone after us for real or not."
So far so good. But then Drusilla couldn't help blurting it out. "The sky whispers of death tonight. It hasn't whispered to me like this so, since I almost got killed by that angry mob here." Oooops! Bad worm! Drusilla wished to take it back but it was too late. Django's eyes widened in horror.
"Nearly got killed? Here?"
"I don't know why I said that really." Drusilla pleaded with Django, wanting so to change the subject. She knew he wouldn't be happy now. "Please love, it was the bad worm that made me say that. But he's gone now. My brain gobbled him up. He can't spoil things for us anymore."
Django gripped Drusilla's precious hand more firmly. "Dru, love. The truth."
Drusilla nodded sullenly in defeat. "It was quite a while back. The mob would have killed your little princess if it wasn't for Spike. He was much nicer to me back in them days. I didn't get better afterwards though. I needed some of my sire's blood and a ritual. He's a bad 'un now too of course. Another soul beast! Sometimes I think I'm being punished for having the wrong friends."
The change over Django's demeanour was palpable. He looked very pale. He swallowed with difficulty and rose, beckoning to Dru. "Right. Let's go love." Django's voice was so no nonsense, right then. Most of the time he was happy to let Drusilla call the shots. This was different for him. He tapped his fingers on the table impatiently. Drusilla found herself relenting to him.
Django walked swiftly through the streets. Eyes darting around everywhere. He pulled Drusilla along beside him. Drusilla was confused, despite it all. "Love, what's wrong? Tell princess or she'll be cross."
"This place is bad news for you Dru." Django explained hurriedly. "I'm not Spike. If he could only barely protect you, what could I do? We're going to go see the underworld contact and then we're getting out of Prague. The sooner the better!"
Drusilla whimpered at that but Django paid her no mind. Drusilla thought he was being very silly. She had always loved it here and had yearned to return one day. To leave so soon! This was almost as bad as going somewhere with Spike. Dru was not one happy bunny. What is it with these men and their annoying ways, Dru asked herself, remembering another silly incident with the men in her life.....
It had been just after Angelus had killed the interfering gypsy, Jenny Calendar. Spike had never understood Angelus's more subtle nuances. Spike and Angelus had had a rivalry of course, going way back. And Spike was using this latest opportunity to chide his grand-sire. "What? You didn't even bite her? Not even a little nibble?" Angelus had rolled his eyes and was obviously close to breaking point with the young pup. Drusilla liked to see them fight but sometimes even she was afraid of what Angelus might do to Spike, if he pushed hard enough.
"You're supposed to be a vampire you know!" Spike continued. "Draining pretty girls is supposed to be part of the fun." Spike got an idea here. He didn't really believe it of course. Still it gave him something to ride Angelus about. Spike's face lit up. "Oh I get it! Didn't want her to suffer any more than was necessary, eh?" Spike chuckled.
"What are you talking about now?" Angelus growled. He looked warningly to Dru. Do something with your boy, Dru, the look seemed to say. Dru had frowned inwardly at that. Why were we women always getting the blame? But there seemed to be something more. Was Angelus really getting all flustered? Embarrassed? Maybe his recent goody-goodness was still a sore point for him.
"Angelus loves Jenny! Angelus loves Jenny!" Spike began to chant.
"Stop it!" Angelus snapped with rage.
"Angelus loves Jenny! Angelus loves Jenny!" Spike mocked again. This was fun this.
"Come on, stop it!" Angelus almost seemed to plead.
"Angelus loves Jenny! Angelus lo-" Spike caught the way Drusilla was looking at him and promptly shut up. "Sorry love." he spluttered in apology and was generally quiet for the next few minutes.
Drusilla smiled sweetly to herself at the memory. And then she remembered she was supposed to be angry with Django. Glancing his way, Dru saw that he hadn't seemed to notice. Drusilla continued to sulk with him, even starting to pull against him as they walked. "Rotten smelly-pants!" she grumbled.
Django stopped for a moment and turned to his pouting princess. "Dru, love?" He tried very hard to keep his voice soft. He was sick with worry for her. Couldn't she see that? He tried reasoning with her. "I'm sorry. It's not me that wants to spoil your fun. It's just that getting out of here might be the only real way I can protect you. Don't be difficult about this love."
Drusilla stood her ground. "I don't see why we should be in such a hurry to leave. I want the buildings and cobblestones to make music for me all night! They have such lovely dolls here. It's good for Miss Edith to see how proper ladies behave." Drusilla smiled mirthlessly in triumph. "It occurs to me that I'm the strongest and fastest one here. I don't see why we should have to leave Prague now. And we're not going to."
Django sighed at a loss. "Can't we at least go and see the contact? Don't you want to know if someone has a vendetta against us?"
Drusilla held Django's gaze for a while, pouting as she did. And then she shrugged sweetly at the small request. "Okay then dearie. But can't we do some window shopping on the way? I haven't seen any quaint little shop boys all night."
****
A slaughter house, somewhere. Mary Sue stood in silence, still as a statue and stared at the large pieces of meat on the hooks. Somehow being here seemed to be the only thing that soothed her right now. Let them bleed! That was the way to do it. Let them bleed as long as possible and then.....
