Title: Underworld Slayer Part 8 - Full Moon, First Night
Author: Nopporn Wongrassamee aka the Evil Author
EMail Address: EvilAuthor@aol.com
Spoilers: Anything goes
Summary: BTVS/Underworld crossover. Los Angeles has been a haven for those fleeing the vampire/lycan blood feud. That was until two new refugees arrived.
Disclaimer: Characters and concepts belong to their owners who I'm too lazy to list.
Author's Note: Selene and Michael are not part of Buffy's inner circle. Don't expect everyone to act as though they are.
"You're leaving me?" Selene asked Michael in disbelief.
"No, no, no," Michael said quickly, taking her in his arms. "It's just for the three nights of the full moon. Oz takes a bunch of newly made lycans - the ones who can't control the change - and anyone else who wants to go out of the city to some wilderness retreat where they can't hurt anyone. A lycan can get out of the field trip if they prove they can go the whole three nights without going wolfy."
Selene frowned. It made sense. Lycans who couldn't control themselves during the nights of the full moon were prone to hunting down and killing the first non-lycan they could find. Those were typically the young and new ones who hadn't learned to control themselves yet. But still.
"Why are you going?" Selene asked. "The moon doesn't make you uncontrollable."
"Oh, Oz gives these self control and meditation classes during the day," Michael replied. "I thought I ought to look into it."
Selene hugged him close. "I just don't want to lose you," she whispered.
"I'll be fine," Michael said soothingly. He chuckled. "After all, I'll be the toughest one out there after Oz himself."
"That's not what I meant," Selene mumbled.
"Huh?"
Selene pulled back and looked into her lover's eyes. "I've heard. stories about Lycan women."
***
The sun had dipped below the horizon when a Lear jet with blacked out windows touched down on the private airfield outside Los Angeles. The small plane rolled to a stop near the limousines that had been provided for the plane's passengers.
The instant the sun was gone, men in business suits piled out of the limousines and took up guard positions around the jet. They were obviously armed with automatic weapons. The leader of the men was obviously uncomfortable in his own suit, but appearances must be kept up and good first impressions made.
The leader stepped forward as the plane disgorged its own guards. An elegantly dressed, young looking woman followed them out. The woman was attempting to put on an air of aristocratic disdain, but coming off more like a startled rabbit.
The leader of the local contingent extended his hand. "Welcome to California," he said, reciting a well-practiced speech. "The Prince of San Francisco sends his greetings."
"The Elder of the United Covens sends his as well," the woman replied, placing her hand in his. He took her hand and planted a light kiss on its back. She smiled, relaxing. "Ah, it's nice to know there are some civilized vampires out here. I expect the Order of Aurelius won't be as polite as you are."
"Not if what half I've heard about them is true," the man replied. "I'm Cash."
"Erika."
***
A couple nights later, Selene practically stormed into Scooby Central. Bowling rudely past several Scoobies, she joined her squad just outside the armory. Jamal, she noticed, was present, so he could probably control himself when he saw the moon. Ash wasn't; but as Selene had learned since coming back on duty, Ash was usually the last one to arrive.
"Gee, you're cheerful tonight," Dawn commented, noticing Selene's mood.
"Michael's gone on that lycan field trip," Selene said shortly, pacing.
"Hey, don't worry about it," Jamal told Selene. "I'm sure Oz won't let anything happen to your hubby."
"It's not that," Selene replied. "It's just these stories I've heard of lycan females."
"Yeah, I know," Jamal said dreamily. Selene threw him a murderous glare. "Uh, that is."
"Don't worry about it, Selene," Dawn said. "Oz'll keep your guy on the straight and narrow. He's been in that position himself."
"He has?" Jamal asked in surprise. "He won't even look at wolf women in anything but a platonic way. And trust me, a lot of them have thrown themselves at him. He's still carryin' a torch for that witch."
Dawn shrugged. "Well, I guess that's no surprise. He."
"Ah, ma petite," Lestat said softly to Selene, distracting her from Dawn's gossip. "If you are lonely, perhaps I."
"Don't make me hurt you," Selene told the kid, throwing him a withering glare. He withered.
"Alrights boys and girls, listen up," Ash said loudly as he finally joined them. Gossiping ground to a halt as everyone turned their attention to him. "Tonight's the first night of the full moon. You all know what that means. We'll be carrying tranquilizer rounds instead of gel rounds tonight. Any questions?"
Selene raised her hand. "Why tranquilizer rounds?" she asked.
"Oh, right, you're new to LA," Ash said. "Despite the prohibition against making new vamps and wolves without permission from the Slayer herself, there's always at least one new wolf out every full moon. Everyone always claims that it was an accident."
"Accident?" Selene repeated. How does a lycan get created by accident?
"Yeah, Oz himself got bit by a toddler," Dawn added.
"Exactly, so if you run into a werewolf on the rampage, tranq him," Ash told her. "The serum is specially tailored for werewolves. Aside from that, it's just a regular patrol tonight." He rapped on the trashcan next to the armory entrance. "Yo, Oscar, open up. It's Ash."
The lid of the trashcan inched open. Oscar eyed them all suspiciously through the narrow gap. "Oh, it's you again," he said as if they were something disgusting dropped on the floor. By now, Selene understood that this was a part of the furry green demon's personality. "Go on in. The taser rifles are fully charged and ready to go. Remember, one to a team now!" With that, Oscar disappeared into his trashcan.
"Taser rifles?" Selene asked as Ash led them inside the armory.
"One of these," Ash said, taking what looked like a science fiction ray gun from a rack that was holding half a dozen others. "We kind of inherited them from the previous tenants of Scooby Central. They fire an electrical beam that'll stun almost anything. That includes werewolves in full wolf mode."
Selene made skeptical noises.
"Ooh, I think the lady wants a demonstration," Jamal said. He morphed into full manwolf form. Unable to speak in this form, he gestured at Ash, indicating that he wanted the human to shoot him.
"Jamal, you're not going to develop an immunity to the tasers no matter how many times you get zapped," Ash told the lycan.
Jamal just growled something unintelligible back.
"Suit yourself," Ash sighed. He fired the taser from the hip, unleashing a writhing blue white beam that struck Jamal square in the chest. Jamal collapsed into a twitching heap and morphed back to human form.
"Looks effective," Selene commented as Dawn bent down to revive the stunned lycan. "So why aren't these standard issue?"
"We don't have many of them," Ash answered. "We can reproduce most of the parts, but I'm told that there's a critical component that only the government can provide. Which they don't."
"WOO!" Jamal exclaimed, suddenly awakened by Dawn waving smelling salts under his nose. He sat up. "Do it again, Boss!"
"Sorry, Jamal, but that's all the sadomasochism you're getting for the night," Ash told him. "All right everyone, load up!"
***
"I don't like this," Kahn muttered.
"Don't like what?" Erika asked.
They were in the Presidential Suite of the Los Angeles Hilton. The luxurious accommodations had been booked for them by the San Francisco vampires. The San Francisco vampire coven was the closest major vampire coven to Los Angeles that the United Covens had regular contact with. So it made sense for Erika to make her living arrangements in Los Angeles through San Francisco.
"Everything," Kahn replied. "Where should I start? Let's see, a great deal of our security depends on the San Francisco coven, the so called 'Kindred Clans', founded by a bloodline renowned for politicking, infighting, and backstabbing each other. And because they're so busy infighting, they never could spare the energy to fight the war with the lycans. And then there are the rumors that they've actually arranged a secret peace with the lycans. Odds are that they'll betray us at the drop of a hat."
"Kahn, you're a terrific Death Dealer, but this is politics," Erika replied. "And politics happen to be my specialty. The San Francisco coven dare not betray us or they'll face the wrath of the United Covens."
Kahn grunted skeptically.
"No, the only uncertainty here is the Order of Aurelius," Erika said confidently. "Cash and his people I can understand. The Order's Elder, Heinrich, is a religious fanatic. Who knows how he'll react to being ordered around by Marcus."
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. It was Cash, returning from a scouting mission of the city. As soon as he was let through security, Cash headed straight to the bar and poured himself a full glass from the first bottle of heavy liquor he saw.
"I take it you found something interesting?" Erika asked. Fascinated, she watched as Cash downed the drink in a single gulp. Normally, vampires preferred to spike their blood with alcoholic beverages rather than drink it directly. The practice mitigated the following hangovers.
"You could say that," Cash croaked, pouring himself another glass. "I found a night club that's popular with the local vampires. It's also popular with the local lycans as well."
"You got caught in a battle?" Kahn asked.
Cash downed his second drink and began pouring more. "Only the battle of the sexes, man," Cash told them. "Three, maybe four, lycan girls came onto me while I was there."
"WHAT?"
"Honestly, I know you guys think we're pretty lax in our attitude toward lycans, but these guys in LA." Cash shuddered. "They were like partying with each other."
"That's." Erika groped for an appropriate word. ".insane."
"Insane does describe the Order," Khan said grimly. "I hadn't realized that they had degenerated so far."
"That's just it," Cash said, downing another drink. "According to everyone I talked to, the Order of Aurelius is dead."
***
"So, why are we in a graveyard?" Selene asked.
It had been a quiet night. So far, there had been exactly one new lycan on the rampage tonight. That one had been intercepted and captured by Slayer herself on the other side of the city. Dawn had passed on the news she had received from Scooby Central.
"We got a possible NVB here," Ash replied as they waited over a particular grave.
"New Vampire, Buried," Dawn answered. At Selene's confused look, she added, "It's a cultural tradition among the local vamps. When they make a new vampire, they bury the poor sap alive so that he has to dig himself out. We've been trying to break them of the habit."
"Why would they bury a newly made vampire?" Selene asked, aghast at the notion.
"It's a holdover from the days when the Order of Aurelius was in charge," Ash answered. "The vampires here think that's how it's supposed to be done because that was how they got changed themselves. We're bringing them around, but." Ash shrugged.
"Hold the yakkin', fellas," Jamal said from the ground. He had his ear to the grass. "I'm hearing movement down there."
A fist punched through the surface, followed in moments by the rest of the vampire. Eyes aglow and fangs bared, the newly risen vampire looked around deliriously, obviously starving for blood.
"Now, calm down, we're here to help." Ash began.
The new vampire's gaze swiveled to lock on to his voice. With a roar, he launched himself at Ash. Ash's taser rifle came up, as did Selene's guns. They held their fire when Lestat and Jamal tackled the new vampire in mid-flight. As the two manhandled the struggling newbie to the ground, Dawn rushed forward and thrust a clear plastic bag filled with a red fluid into the new vampire's mouth.
"Drink! Drink it!" she shouted at the vampire. "It'll help!"
The vampire drank. In moments his struggling subsided.
"You okay, now?" Dawn asked, putting away the now empty blood bag.
"Uh, I think so," the new vampire said. He looked around in confusion. "What's going on?"
"Oh, well, that'll take a little explaining," Ash said, stepping forward.
The new vampire wasn't paying attention. He was busy staring at Lestat's face. "Pat?" he croaked.
***
"Angelus is the leader of the Los Angeles coven?" Erika said, not quite sure whether she wanted to believe Cash or not. A couple centuries ago, Erika had actually met Angelus once at one of innumerable parties that she so loved. She had spent a night's dalliance with him and once was more than enough for her. Angelus was far too much in love with pain for her tastes.
"Angelus the Death Dealer?" Khan said incredulously. "He was one of the most zealous Death Dealers I've ever met." Erika recalled that Khan had been at that party too. She also recalled that Selene had not, typically avoiding that party as she had so many others so that she could hunt lycans. Khan continued to speak. "Why would Angelus let his vampires fraternize with the enemy?"
"Let them?" Cash laughed humorlessly. "Man, as near as I could tell, he's encouraging them! I have no idea why."
"Well, I suppose we'll find out when we meet him," Erika said as dismissively as she could muster. Inside, she practically dreaded meeting Angelus again. "Cash, you did learn what sewer he's headquartered himself in, yes?"
"Oh yeah, I guess you could call it that," Cash replied. "The Wolfram and Hart tower. He's the CEO of Wolfram and Hart's LA branch." He sighed at his empty liquor bottle. "I always hated lawyers."
"You're joking." Inside, Erika was berating herself.
"I did mention that the Order was dead, right?" Cash said, bristling. "That means Angelus obviously doesn't feel bound to live in caves and sewers."
"It's not that," Erika muttered.
"What's the matter, Erika?" Khan asked.
"Our coven employs a branch of Wolfram and Hart to handle our legal interests in the human world," Erika explained. "If we had known that Angelus was in charge of the LA branch, we could have sent him a message through them and saved ourselves the trip. Damn!"
"Look on the bright side," Khan said. "Our visit is uncovering a lot of irregularities that I'm sure Marcus would like to hear about."
"You're assuming Angelus just won't have us 'disappeared' before we can report our findings," Erika said sharply.
A dry chuckle drew their attention. "Oh, c'mon, you geezers, this is the modern world," Cash told them. "Just call up your boss or send him an e- mail telling him what's going on. That way, if you get 'disappeared', he can avenge you. Then you make sure Angelus knows what'll happen if anything happens to you guys. It's Scheming 101."
"Of course, how silly of me," Erika said, slightly relieved. "Get another bottle, Cash. I feel like a drink myself." She went to the hotel phone. "But first, I need to make a couple calls."
***
"Your name is Pat?" Selene asked "Lestat".
"No, no, I am Lestat!" her teammate replied almost frantically.
"I knew you were an Anne Rice fan, Pat, but geez!" the new vampire - he had said his name was Josh - said, rolling his eyes.
"So where do you know 'Pat' from?" Jamal asked, grinning.
"Oh, we were in the same LARP group together."
"You guys were LARPers?" Ash asked no one in particular.
"You got a problem with that?" Pat asked.
"Yeah, I do," Ash replied. "What's wrong with guys? Tabletop RPGs are obviously superior to LARPs."
"Oh, c'mon."
Selene shook her head in bemusement as the conversation devolved into a debate on the merits of different kinds of roleplaying games. Tuning the debate out, Selene wondered what Michael was doing.
***
"Now girls," Michael was saying, "don't make me hurt any of you."
The dozen or two female lycans surrounding him practically purred in response. They sounded as if they wouldn't mind if he hurt them. Michael hadn't quite expected them to be like this.
Why had no one warned him that lycan females came into heat during the full moon?
Author: Nopporn Wongrassamee aka the Evil Author
EMail Address: EvilAuthor@aol.com
Spoilers: Anything goes
Summary: BTVS/Underworld crossover. Los Angeles has been a haven for those fleeing the vampire/lycan blood feud. That was until two new refugees arrived.
Disclaimer: Characters and concepts belong to their owners who I'm too lazy to list.
Author's Note: Selene and Michael are not part of Buffy's inner circle. Don't expect everyone to act as though they are.
"You're leaving me?" Selene asked Michael in disbelief.
"No, no, no," Michael said quickly, taking her in his arms. "It's just for the three nights of the full moon. Oz takes a bunch of newly made lycans - the ones who can't control the change - and anyone else who wants to go out of the city to some wilderness retreat where they can't hurt anyone. A lycan can get out of the field trip if they prove they can go the whole three nights without going wolfy."
Selene frowned. It made sense. Lycans who couldn't control themselves during the nights of the full moon were prone to hunting down and killing the first non-lycan they could find. Those were typically the young and new ones who hadn't learned to control themselves yet. But still.
"Why are you going?" Selene asked. "The moon doesn't make you uncontrollable."
"Oh, Oz gives these self control and meditation classes during the day," Michael replied. "I thought I ought to look into it."
Selene hugged him close. "I just don't want to lose you," she whispered.
"I'll be fine," Michael said soothingly. He chuckled. "After all, I'll be the toughest one out there after Oz himself."
"That's not what I meant," Selene mumbled.
"Huh?"
Selene pulled back and looked into her lover's eyes. "I've heard. stories about Lycan women."
***
The sun had dipped below the horizon when a Lear jet with blacked out windows touched down on the private airfield outside Los Angeles. The small plane rolled to a stop near the limousines that had been provided for the plane's passengers.
The instant the sun was gone, men in business suits piled out of the limousines and took up guard positions around the jet. They were obviously armed with automatic weapons. The leader of the men was obviously uncomfortable in his own suit, but appearances must be kept up and good first impressions made.
The leader stepped forward as the plane disgorged its own guards. An elegantly dressed, young looking woman followed them out. The woman was attempting to put on an air of aristocratic disdain, but coming off more like a startled rabbit.
The leader of the local contingent extended his hand. "Welcome to California," he said, reciting a well-practiced speech. "The Prince of San Francisco sends his greetings."
"The Elder of the United Covens sends his as well," the woman replied, placing her hand in his. He took her hand and planted a light kiss on its back. She smiled, relaxing. "Ah, it's nice to know there are some civilized vampires out here. I expect the Order of Aurelius won't be as polite as you are."
"Not if what half I've heard about them is true," the man replied. "I'm Cash."
"Erika."
***
A couple nights later, Selene practically stormed into Scooby Central. Bowling rudely past several Scoobies, she joined her squad just outside the armory. Jamal, she noticed, was present, so he could probably control himself when he saw the moon. Ash wasn't; but as Selene had learned since coming back on duty, Ash was usually the last one to arrive.
"Gee, you're cheerful tonight," Dawn commented, noticing Selene's mood.
"Michael's gone on that lycan field trip," Selene said shortly, pacing.
"Hey, don't worry about it," Jamal told Selene. "I'm sure Oz won't let anything happen to your hubby."
"It's not that," Selene replied. "It's just these stories I've heard of lycan females."
"Yeah, I know," Jamal said dreamily. Selene threw him a murderous glare. "Uh, that is."
"Don't worry about it, Selene," Dawn said. "Oz'll keep your guy on the straight and narrow. He's been in that position himself."
"He has?" Jamal asked in surprise. "He won't even look at wolf women in anything but a platonic way. And trust me, a lot of them have thrown themselves at him. He's still carryin' a torch for that witch."
Dawn shrugged. "Well, I guess that's no surprise. He."
"Ah, ma petite," Lestat said softly to Selene, distracting her from Dawn's gossip. "If you are lonely, perhaps I."
"Don't make me hurt you," Selene told the kid, throwing him a withering glare. He withered.
"Alrights boys and girls, listen up," Ash said loudly as he finally joined them. Gossiping ground to a halt as everyone turned their attention to him. "Tonight's the first night of the full moon. You all know what that means. We'll be carrying tranquilizer rounds instead of gel rounds tonight. Any questions?"
Selene raised her hand. "Why tranquilizer rounds?" she asked.
"Oh, right, you're new to LA," Ash said. "Despite the prohibition against making new vamps and wolves without permission from the Slayer herself, there's always at least one new wolf out every full moon. Everyone always claims that it was an accident."
"Accident?" Selene repeated. How does a lycan get created by accident?
"Yeah, Oz himself got bit by a toddler," Dawn added.
"Exactly, so if you run into a werewolf on the rampage, tranq him," Ash told her. "The serum is specially tailored for werewolves. Aside from that, it's just a regular patrol tonight." He rapped on the trashcan next to the armory entrance. "Yo, Oscar, open up. It's Ash."
The lid of the trashcan inched open. Oscar eyed them all suspiciously through the narrow gap. "Oh, it's you again," he said as if they were something disgusting dropped on the floor. By now, Selene understood that this was a part of the furry green demon's personality. "Go on in. The taser rifles are fully charged and ready to go. Remember, one to a team now!" With that, Oscar disappeared into his trashcan.
"Taser rifles?" Selene asked as Ash led them inside the armory.
"One of these," Ash said, taking what looked like a science fiction ray gun from a rack that was holding half a dozen others. "We kind of inherited them from the previous tenants of Scooby Central. They fire an electrical beam that'll stun almost anything. That includes werewolves in full wolf mode."
Selene made skeptical noises.
"Ooh, I think the lady wants a demonstration," Jamal said. He morphed into full manwolf form. Unable to speak in this form, he gestured at Ash, indicating that he wanted the human to shoot him.
"Jamal, you're not going to develop an immunity to the tasers no matter how many times you get zapped," Ash told the lycan.
Jamal just growled something unintelligible back.
"Suit yourself," Ash sighed. He fired the taser from the hip, unleashing a writhing blue white beam that struck Jamal square in the chest. Jamal collapsed into a twitching heap and morphed back to human form.
"Looks effective," Selene commented as Dawn bent down to revive the stunned lycan. "So why aren't these standard issue?"
"We don't have many of them," Ash answered. "We can reproduce most of the parts, but I'm told that there's a critical component that only the government can provide. Which they don't."
"WOO!" Jamal exclaimed, suddenly awakened by Dawn waving smelling salts under his nose. He sat up. "Do it again, Boss!"
"Sorry, Jamal, but that's all the sadomasochism you're getting for the night," Ash told him. "All right everyone, load up!"
***
"I don't like this," Kahn muttered.
"Don't like what?" Erika asked.
They were in the Presidential Suite of the Los Angeles Hilton. The luxurious accommodations had been booked for them by the San Francisco vampires. The San Francisco vampire coven was the closest major vampire coven to Los Angeles that the United Covens had regular contact with. So it made sense for Erika to make her living arrangements in Los Angeles through San Francisco.
"Everything," Kahn replied. "Where should I start? Let's see, a great deal of our security depends on the San Francisco coven, the so called 'Kindred Clans', founded by a bloodline renowned for politicking, infighting, and backstabbing each other. And because they're so busy infighting, they never could spare the energy to fight the war with the lycans. And then there are the rumors that they've actually arranged a secret peace with the lycans. Odds are that they'll betray us at the drop of a hat."
"Kahn, you're a terrific Death Dealer, but this is politics," Erika replied. "And politics happen to be my specialty. The San Francisco coven dare not betray us or they'll face the wrath of the United Covens."
Kahn grunted skeptically.
"No, the only uncertainty here is the Order of Aurelius," Erika said confidently. "Cash and his people I can understand. The Order's Elder, Heinrich, is a religious fanatic. Who knows how he'll react to being ordered around by Marcus."
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation. It was Cash, returning from a scouting mission of the city. As soon as he was let through security, Cash headed straight to the bar and poured himself a full glass from the first bottle of heavy liquor he saw.
"I take it you found something interesting?" Erika asked. Fascinated, she watched as Cash downed the drink in a single gulp. Normally, vampires preferred to spike their blood with alcoholic beverages rather than drink it directly. The practice mitigated the following hangovers.
"You could say that," Cash croaked, pouring himself another glass. "I found a night club that's popular with the local vampires. It's also popular with the local lycans as well."
"You got caught in a battle?" Kahn asked.
Cash downed his second drink and began pouring more. "Only the battle of the sexes, man," Cash told them. "Three, maybe four, lycan girls came onto me while I was there."
"WHAT?"
"Honestly, I know you guys think we're pretty lax in our attitude toward lycans, but these guys in LA." Cash shuddered. "They were like partying with each other."
"That's." Erika groped for an appropriate word. ".insane."
"Insane does describe the Order," Khan said grimly. "I hadn't realized that they had degenerated so far."
"That's just it," Cash said, downing another drink. "According to everyone I talked to, the Order of Aurelius is dead."
***
"So, why are we in a graveyard?" Selene asked.
It had been a quiet night. So far, there had been exactly one new lycan on the rampage tonight. That one had been intercepted and captured by Slayer herself on the other side of the city. Dawn had passed on the news she had received from Scooby Central.
"We got a possible NVB here," Ash replied as they waited over a particular grave.
"New Vampire, Buried," Dawn answered. At Selene's confused look, she added, "It's a cultural tradition among the local vamps. When they make a new vampire, they bury the poor sap alive so that he has to dig himself out. We've been trying to break them of the habit."
"Why would they bury a newly made vampire?" Selene asked, aghast at the notion.
"It's a holdover from the days when the Order of Aurelius was in charge," Ash answered. "The vampires here think that's how it's supposed to be done because that was how they got changed themselves. We're bringing them around, but." Ash shrugged.
"Hold the yakkin', fellas," Jamal said from the ground. He had his ear to the grass. "I'm hearing movement down there."
A fist punched through the surface, followed in moments by the rest of the vampire. Eyes aglow and fangs bared, the newly risen vampire looked around deliriously, obviously starving for blood.
"Now, calm down, we're here to help." Ash began.
The new vampire's gaze swiveled to lock on to his voice. With a roar, he launched himself at Ash. Ash's taser rifle came up, as did Selene's guns. They held their fire when Lestat and Jamal tackled the new vampire in mid-flight. As the two manhandled the struggling newbie to the ground, Dawn rushed forward and thrust a clear plastic bag filled with a red fluid into the new vampire's mouth.
"Drink! Drink it!" she shouted at the vampire. "It'll help!"
The vampire drank. In moments his struggling subsided.
"You okay, now?" Dawn asked, putting away the now empty blood bag.
"Uh, I think so," the new vampire said. He looked around in confusion. "What's going on?"
"Oh, well, that'll take a little explaining," Ash said, stepping forward.
The new vampire wasn't paying attention. He was busy staring at Lestat's face. "Pat?" he croaked.
***
"Angelus is the leader of the Los Angeles coven?" Erika said, not quite sure whether she wanted to believe Cash or not. A couple centuries ago, Erika had actually met Angelus once at one of innumerable parties that she so loved. She had spent a night's dalliance with him and once was more than enough for her. Angelus was far too much in love with pain for her tastes.
"Angelus the Death Dealer?" Khan said incredulously. "He was one of the most zealous Death Dealers I've ever met." Erika recalled that Khan had been at that party too. She also recalled that Selene had not, typically avoiding that party as she had so many others so that she could hunt lycans. Khan continued to speak. "Why would Angelus let his vampires fraternize with the enemy?"
"Let them?" Cash laughed humorlessly. "Man, as near as I could tell, he's encouraging them! I have no idea why."
"Well, I suppose we'll find out when we meet him," Erika said as dismissively as she could muster. Inside, she practically dreaded meeting Angelus again. "Cash, you did learn what sewer he's headquartered himself in, yes?"
"Oh yeah, I guess you could call it that," Cash replied. "The Wolfram and Hart tower. He's the CEO of Wolfram and Hart's LA branch." He sighed at his empty liquor bottle. "I always hated lawyers."
"You're joking." Inside, Erika was berating herself.
"I did mention that the Order was dead, right?" Cash said, bristling. "That means Angelus obviously doesn't feel bound to live in caves and sewers."
"It's not that," Erika muttered.
"What's the matter, Erika?" Khan asked.
"Our coven employs a branch of Wolfram and Hart to handle our legal interests in the human world," Erika explained. "If we had known that Angelus was in charge of the LA branch, we could have sent him a message through them and saved ourselves the trip. Damn!"
"Look on the bright side," Khan said. "Our visit is uncovering a lot of irregularities that I'm sure Marcus would like to hear about."
"You're assuming Angelus just won't have us 'disappeared' before we can report our findings," Erika said sharply.
A dry chuckle drew their attention. "Oh, c'mon, you geezers, this is the modern world," Cash told them. "Just call up your boss or send him an e- mail telling him what's going on. That way, if you get 'disappeared', he can avenge you. Then you make sure Angelus knows what'll happen if anything happens to you guys. It's Scheming 101."
"Of course, how silly of me," Erika said, slightly relieved. "Get another bottle, Cash. I feel like a drink myself." She went to the hotel phone. "But first, I need to make a couple calls."
***
"Your name is Pat?" Selene asked "Lestat".
"No, no, I am Lestat!" her teammate replied almost frantically.
"I knew you were an Anne Rice fan, Pat, but geez!" the new vampire - he had said his name was Josh - said, rolling his eyes.
"So where do you know 'Pat' from?" Jamal asked, grinning.
"Oh, we were in the same LARP group together."
"You guys were LARPers?" Ash asked no one in particular.
"You got a problem with that?" Pat asked.
"Yeah, I do," Ash replied. "What's wrong with guys? Tabletop RPGs are obviously superior to LARPs."
"Oh, c'mon."
Selene shook her head in bemusement as the conversation devolved into a debate on the merits of different kinds of roleplaying games. Tuning the debate out, Selene wondered what Michael was doing.
***
"Now girls," Michael was saying, "don't make me hurt any of you."
The dozen or two female lycans surrounding him practically purred in response. They sounded as if they wouldn't mind if he hurt them. Michael hadn't quite expected them to be like this.
Why had no one warned him that lycan females came into heat during the full moon?