The Books of Aurelius" The history of a Vampire: ten
A feast of Reflections
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"So, enough of these official dealings. Time to feast!" The Master stated and mere seconds later the doors opened and fledglings poured in with carafes filled with wine and different kinds of heated blood. A second wave came bearing trays with bread and spiced meat (to Buffy's great surprise, lamb, beef and chicken). More candles were lit and somewhere a group of musicians had started a small string quartet (or maybe it was magically made music).
Buffy was welcomed at the fighters table with slaps on her shoulder and handshakes. Names were exchanged and she was sure there were more than a few that she would not remember in the morning. Charles explained how the offered blood was harvested with different methods to obtain a particular flavor and he selected a few carafes along with some of the wines for the entire clan table.
Angelus took a glass of Chardonnay and fear-laced blood. He mixed the two in his favorite goblet. After 2 large sips he trailed his eyes over the clan tables. They were having fun, they were free! Sure they had specific tasks to perform, but them as well as he did led a life in luxury. But I do not decide my own fate. He was stalling and he knew it. The foodgatherers and housekeepers were of no consequence to him. Charia was Darla's biggest competitor for dominance of the Order but that was never Angelus' struggle. The solicitors held some beautiful men and women. Some of which he knew intimately. Darla was aware of that fact but he was discreet. Ramona was looking at him trying to capture his attention and when she finally managed to get it, she winked at him but she no longer held his interest and it showed in his cold eyes. She flinched at that gaze and quickly looked away.
A clear strong laugh forced him to scrutinize the table of the fighters. The corner of his eyes caught the ray of sunshine seated there but he was pulled away by Darla who laid her hand on his and obviously spoke to the Master about him. He almost shook his head to clear it from his nightdreams and concentrate on his lover.
"Angelus dealt with the dispute with flair, Master. When all the talks between the clans were stalled, he took one vampire that held the most supporters of each clan, he had them hauled up on the ceiling of their ballroom and then called the entire dependance together. He tortured them with knives dipped in holy water and spears with flaming tips. When they died he took 2 new victims, until both clans begged that they were once again in agreement." Darla boosted about her concubine's methods. Angelus smiled, remembering the thrill of the screams but soon tuned out the Master's praises to finally set his gaze on the amazing creature he felt compelled to look at.
She was telling an animated story. Long golden hair swept up to accentuate her Sire's mark. Somehow the thought of that mark made him silently growl. Like it was obscuring something he felt he owned. His eyes traveled down her neck to her bossom, framed by the pale blue dress. She was pale too but not like moonlight, more like the early morning sun on a clear winter's day. She drew him in. The way she told her tale spoke of elegant moves and her laughter sounded like church bells afar on a crisp spring day in his native land. She seemed almost like innocence. And then her clear soft green eyes looked straight at him and he felt burned by her gaze.
Buffy was actually enjoying herself. Slowly the blood and wine cocktail that Charles had made for her warmed up her veins and heated up her brain. Who would have thought that she would find a place where she could tell her war stories about killing vamps without being thought of as a freak, and to other vamps no less. They believed her cover story of the council's librarian daughter and her illicit training to be a vampire hunter. The fighter clan was always on patrol for renegade vampires who would endanger the Order's existence, so many of her table companions had killed vampires. Of course she had met other demon hunters, a whole initiative of them but they were soldiers. They fought with guns, teasers and tranquilizers. These vampires fought with fists, fangs, ancient weapons and cunning skills just like she used to do. She felt so much more closer to these vampires than she had ever felt towards Riley's comrades.
As another clan member was telling a story about a very dumb fledgling Buffy scrutinized her table companions. Although they looked like ordinary vampires to her trained slayer eyes, she did find differences in them now that she was a vampire herself. They each had distinct personal smells. She had always loathed that Angel could smell her coming miles away. It messed big time with her stealth. She had never given much thought to how much smell was one of vampires' biggest assets. Charles, who sat at her left hand, smelled like sage and Ylang Ylang cologne. His clothes carried a hint of lavender and over all that was a distinct and warming smell of cigars. Theresa, who sat at Charles's left hand, smelled like one of Buffy's old aunts. It was a kind of heavy musk that, her aunt had confided in her, was imported straight from Spain. Roland sat up a space across from Theresa and he was covered in her smell, especially in his crotch, it carried a very distinct odor of her. But underneath that there was the smell of almond soap and cheap whiskey.
Buffy lifted her head to see if she could catch more scents. Not one of her more intelligent moves because instantly her nostrils were filled with the sandalwood soap that had always been so distinctly Angel. She turned her head slightly and looked straight into his strong brown eyes. She was rooted while all kinds of memories of the two of them flew through her mind, that was until her nose picked up another scent. One that was like a thin veil all over his body. She soon found the source of the smell sitting next to him. It was rose perfume and cherry soap, and it was all Darla, painfully reminding her of the fact that this was not her Angel but Angelus. Then she looked back at him almost to verify that fact and he raised his eyebrow and glass in a sort of silent salute to her. Before she knew what she was doing she had unconsciously returned his toast and given him a small smile.
Darla did not need to train her eyes on her lover or at the fighters' table to know that he was flirting with the newest addition to the Order. At first she felt a small surge of indignation, 'what did that little tramp think she was doing?' That was soon followed by a sharp pang in her heart. She needed to get Angelus focused on something else before he became a liability to her plans, apart that she did not want to lose his strength or the way he filled her bed. She was frightened by the prospect that he might be one sacrifice too many to make for dominance over the Order. Would she give it all up for him, let him lead her away to someplace and become renegades? God, yes! Of course he felt the anxiety in his Sire and he turned to look at her, he smiled reassuringly and moved his hand under her skirts to her inner thigh.
Charles felt a surge of lust come from his Child. He looked at her and saw her exchange with Angelus. He quickly scanned the table and room to see if others had picked it up as well, a few raised eyebrows and hushed whispers confirmed that. He needed her to stop and she needed to do it now. Suddenly somewhere in Buffy's heart at the place she always associated with Charles she felt an urgency. She turned to look at her Sire and almost missed the silent shaking of his head in a 'no'. Then his eyes went to Theresa who seemed to be asking her a question.
"Your accent seems strange to me." The woman said in a pronounced Spanish accent. "Where are you from?"
"Well, my mother is from America. So that's probably what you hear." And Buffy was pulled into a discussion about the new world. She didn't have a clue about what they were talking about but tried to answer their questions as best as possible, leaning heavily on her American History classes.
All of them missed the amused expression on the Master's face. He was growing bored lately and now new entertainment presented itself in the form of his two grandChilder.
Half way throughout the early morning the Master left the festivities and Charles announced his leave not soon after that. Buffy decided to accompany him to their floor, she was not yet secure enough with the lay of the house to make it to her bedroom in her current inebriated state. As they made their way towards the doors Buffy noticed that all the Newly Borne wore the smell of their Sires in a way she could only describe as sexual. Charles had never acted inappropriately towards her in any way. Now that she thought about it, all of the Sire/Child relationships she knew of, were always sexual. Darla and Angelus, Spike and Drusilla. Wasn't Charles interested in her like that? Was she interested in him like that?
As they came to their hallway, she waited for him to make his move, expecting the worst, but he just kissed her on the cheek and moved to his own door. "Charles, could you come in for a few more minutes. I have some questions." She asked apprehensively. He wouldn't turn her down would he? Maybe he was just tired and she should let him sleep. "Never mind, they can wait till tomorrow. Goodnight!"
He turned around and headed for her door. "No, no, my dear. I will always be available for any questions you might have. I'm sure the housekeepers have a nice fire going, we can drink another glass of whiskey and talk for a bit." They entered her quarters and sure enough there was a warm roaring fire in the fireplace and Jessy came in asking her how her evening had been. Buffy answered her and asked her to get them 2 glasses of whiskey. Charles settled in one of the two comfort chairs as Buffy settled on the couch. She got her thoughts together and took a big breath.
"Isn't it true that normally Sires sleep with their Childer?"
Charles regarded her for a few moments. He had been expecting this question just not this soon. "That is a good question and the answer is yes, sexuality can be a manifestation of the Sire/Child bond." In the silence that followed his answer, he tried very hard to figure out what her next question was going to be. Was she going to demand that he take her?
Buffy on the other hand found herself right back at her old sour spot. Why do I always get rejected by the men closest to my heart. She didn't want to be with him that way but why didn't he? She feared the answer to her next question but like a moth drawn to a flame it still left her mouth. "Why have you never wanted to sleep with me?"
Her big green eyes filled with terror and rejection almost made him laugh. Not the best way to make her feel at ease, old boy! "I feel very strong feelings for you but they are all of a fatherly nature. You are beautiful to me like a daughter is to her father. Besides I am too old and have no need for a sexual companion. I am quite content with our relationship the way it is. I hope you are too. This way you can find your own choice of a mate."
She flew off the couch to his chair and hugged him. "Oh Charles, I'm sorry I doubted you. I never will again." He tried to answer her but his answer got lost in the smoldering hug. She placed herself on his lap just like in their first bonding days. "There is something else I wanted to ask you. Tonight we fed from glasses again but how will I normally feed? Do I have to go out and hunt? Because I thought that the foodgatherers took care of that."
"That depends very much on the personal preferences. Some want the blood heated in their quarters. Some drink it heated in groups in the clan room or at a private quarter. Some want it alive, others want to hunt and request a quota and jurisdiction. The fledglings get an amount of live prey in their basement every evening. And others do it in an entirely different way, so you decide what you want and then make arrangements with Charia's lieutenant."
Well that was a stupid question, Buff. Remember the saying 'too much information'. That was it. "I'll think about it and get it sorted out. Thank you for the answer but now I really would like to get some sleep." She wasn't lying. she was actually quite tired. Who knew vamps could get exhausted? Funny the things you learn on the other side of the camp.
Charles let himself out after wishing her a good rest and explaining where she was expected the next morning around eleven. Jessy helped her to undress and redress in sleep attire and she snucked underneath the covers of her bed. She closed her eyes and lay awake for a long time. Eventually she gave up, opened her eyes and lay there watching the ceiling. What was keeping her awake when she was obviously tired? The answer came to her as an image. Angelus raising his eyebrow and glass to her. That image gave her warm tingly feelings in her lower stomach and she didn't understand it, this was Angelus not her first love. But even way back then she had always felt oddly attracted to Angelus. She was drawn to the way he enjoyed every part of his unlife, unlike broody Angel. Angelus was passionate even if it was about killing her. Buffy now understood that a slayer needs a passionate man besides her because a slayer's lifespan is too short not to be lived to its fullest. Spike always appreciated that fact. Suddenly her beautiful bed felt cold, huge and lonely. She almost laughed out loud when she came to the realization that she missed Spike. Does he even exist here or have I changed something already? I need to feel like a woman, not just a daughter! She pondered all the different angles of her thoughts while she fell into a deep sleep.
Sitting in front of his own fireplace Charles pondered some realizations of his own. He knew that every vampire has two basic desires. Blood and Sex. And Buffy would soon need the latter. He was very afraid that she would seek it in the bed of the wrong demon. Darla was tolerant of Angelus' indiscretions as long as they weren't the talk of the Order but Buffy was already a high profile player and any affair with Angelus would not go unnoticed. Would he be able to stop her? Who would be good enough for his Child? The questions and answers played hide and seek in his head and as the late morning approached he had nothing except for a headache.
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AN 4: Sorry that this one took so long to post. I have been down for the count with a back injury but I'm recovering and I hope to get more chapters out to you ASAP. Thanks again for all the reviews!! It's nice to know people are reading this.
A feast of Reflections
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"So, enough of these official dealings. Time to feast!" The Master stated and mere seconds later the doors opened and fledglings poured in with carafes filled with wine and different kinds of heated blood. A second wave came bearing trays with bread and spiced meat (to Buffy's great surprise, lamb, beef and chicken). More candles were lit and somewhere a group of musicians had started a small string quartet (or maybe it was magically made music).
Buffy was welcomed at the fighters table with slaps on her shoulder and handshakes. Names were exchanged and she was sure there were more than a few that she would not remember in the morning. Charles explained how the offered blood was harvested with different methods to obtain a particular flavor and he selected a few carafes along with some of the wines for the entire clan table.
Angelus took a glass of Chardonnay and fear-laced blood. He mixed the two in his favorite goblet. After 2 large sips he trailed his eyes over the clan tables. They were having fun, they were free! Sure they had specific tasks to perform, but them as well as he did led a life in luxury. But I do not decide my own fate. He was stalling and he knew it. The foodgatherers and housekeepers were of no consequence to him. Charia was Darla's biggest competitor for dominance of the Order but that was never Angelus' struggle. The solicitors held some beautiful men and women. Some of which he knew intimately. Darla was aware of that fact but he was discreet. Ramona was looking at him trying to capture his attention and when she finally managed to get it, she winked at him but she no longer held his interest and it showed in his cold eyes. She flinched at that gaze and quickly looked away.
A clear strong laugh forced him to scrutinize the table of the fighters. The corner of his eyes caught the ray of sunshine seated there but he was pulled away by Darla who laid her hand on his and obviously spoke to the Master about him. He almost shook his head to clear it from his nightdreams and concentrate on his lover.
"Angelus dealt with the dispute with flair, Master. When all the talks between the clans were stalled, he took one vampire that held the most supporters of each clan, he had them hauled up on the ceiling of their ballroom and then called the entire dependance together. He tortured them with knives dipped in holy water and spears with flaming tips. When they died he took 2 new victims, until both clans begged that they were once again in agreement." Darla boosted about her concubine's methods. Angelus smiled, remembering the thrill of the screams but soon tuned out the Master's praises to finally set his gaze on the amazing creature he felt compelled to look at.
She was telling an animated story. Long golden hair swept up to accentuate her Sire's mark. Somehow the thought of that mark made him silently growl. Like it was obscuring something he felt he owned. His eyes traveled down her neck to her bossom, framed by the pale blue dress. She was pale too but not like moonlight, more like the early morning sun on a clear winter's day. She drew him in. The way she told her tale spoke of elegant moves and her laughter sounded like church bells afar on a crisp spring day in his native land. She seemed almost like innocence. And then her clear soft green eyes looked straight at him and he felt burned by her gaze.
Buffy was actually enjoying herself. Slowly the blood and wine cocktail that Charles had made for her warmed up her veins and heated up her brain. Who would have thought that she would find a place where she could tell her war stories about killing vamps without being thought of as a freak, and to other vamps no less. They believed her cover story of the council's librarian daughter and her illicit training to be a vampire hunter. The fighter clan was always on patrol for renegade vampires who would endanger the Order's existence, so many of her table companions had killed vampires. Of course she had met other demon hunters, a whole initiative of them but they were soldiers. They fought with guns, teasers and tranquilizers. These vampires fought with fists, fangs, ancient weapons and cunning skills just like she used to do. She felt so much more closer to these vampires than she had ever felt towards Riley's comrades.
As another clan member was telling a story about a very dumb fledgling Buffy scrutinized her table companions. Although they looked like ordinary vampires to her trained slayer eyes, she did find differences in them now that she was a vampire herself. They each had distinct personal smells. She had always loathed that Angel could smell her coming miles away. It messed big time with her stealth. She had never given much thought to how much smell was one of vampires' biggest assets. Charles, who sat at her left hand, smelled like sage and Ylang Ylang cologne. His clothes carried a hint of lavender and over all that was a distinct and warming smell of cigars. Theresa, who sat at Charles's left hand, smelled like one of Buffy's old aunts. It was a kind of heavy musk that, her aunt had confided in her, was imported straight from Spain. Roland sat up a space across from Theresa and he was covered in her smell, especially in his crotch, it carried a very distinct odor of her. But underneath that there was the smell of almond soap and cheap whiskey.
Buffy lifted her head to see if she could catch more scents. Not one of her more intelligent moves because instantly her nostrils were filled with the sandalwood soap that had always been so distinctly Angel. She turned her head slightly and looked straight into his strong brown eyes. She was rooted while all kinds of memories of the two of them flew through her mind, that was until her nose picked up another scent. One that was like a thin veil all over his body. She soon found the source of the smell sitting next to him. It was rose perfume and cherry soap, and it was all Darla, painfully reminding her of the fact that this was not her Angel but Angelus. Then she looked back at him almost to verify that fact and he raised his eyebrow and glass in a sort of silent salute to her. Before she knew what she was doing she had unconsciously returned his toast and given him a small smile.
Darla did not need to train her eyes on her lover or at the fighters' table to know that he was flirting with the newest addition to the Order. At first she felt a small surge of indignation, 'what did that little tramp think she was doing?' That was soon followed by a sharp pang in her heart. She needed to get Angelus focused on something else before he became a liability to her plans, apart that she did not want to lose his strength or the way he filled her bed. She was frightened by the prospect that he might be one sacrifice too many to make for dominance over the Order. Would she give it all up for him, let him lead her away to someplace and become renegades? God, yes! Of course he felt the anxiety in his Sire and he turned to look at her, he smiled reassuringly and moved his hand under her skirts to her inner thigh.
Charles felt a surge of lust come from his Child. He looked at her and saw her exchange with Angelus. He quickly scanned the table and room to see if others had picked it up as well, a few raised eyebrows and hushed whispers confirmed that. He needed her to stop and she needed to do it now. Suddenly somewhere in Buffy's heart at the place she always associated with Charles she felt an urgency. She turned to look at her Sire and almost missed the silent shaking of his head in a 'no'. Then his eyes went to Theresa who seemed to be asking her a question.
"Your accent seems strange to me." The woman said in a pronounced Spanish accent. "Where are you from?"
"Well, my mother is from America. So that's probably what you hear." And Buffy was pulled into a discussion about the new world. She didn't have a clue about what they were talking about but tried to answer their questions as best as possible, leaning heavily on her American History classes.
All of them missed the amused expression on the Master's face. He was growing bored lately and now new entertainment presented itself in the form of his two grandChilder.
Half way throughout the early morning the Master left the festivities and Charles announced his leave not soon after that. Buffy decided to accompany him to their floor, she was not yet secure enough with the lay of the house to make it to her bedroom in her current inebriated state. As they made their way towards the doors Buffy noticed that all the Newly Borne wore the smell of their Sires in a way she could only describe as sexual. Charles had never acted inappropriately towards her in any way. Now that she thought about it, all of the Sire/Child relationships she knew of, were always sexual. Darla and Angelus, Spike and Drusilla. Wasn't Charles interested in her like that? Was she interested in him like that?
As they came to their hallway, she waited for him to make his move, expecting the worst, but he just kissed her on the cheek and moved to his own door. "Charles, could you come in for a few more minutes. I have some questions." She asked apprehensively. He wouldn't turn her down would he? Maybe he was just tired and she should let him sleep. "Never mind, they can wait till tomorrow. Goodnight!"
He turned around and headed for her door. "No, no, my dear. I will always be available for any questions you might have. I'm sure the housekeepers have a nice fire going, we can drink another glass of whiskey and talk for a bit." They entered her quarters and sure enough there was a warm roaring fire in the fireplace and Jessy came in asking her how her evening had been. Buffy answered her and asked her to get them 2 glasses of whiskey. Charles settled in one of the two comfort chairs as Buffy settled on the couch. She got her thoughts together and took a big breath.
"Isn't it true that normally Sires sleep with their Childer?"
Charles regarded her for a few moments. He had been expecting this question just not this soon. "That is a good question and the answer is yes, sexuality can be a manifestation of the Sire/Child bond." In the silence that followed his answer, he tried very hard to figure out what her next question was going to be. Was she going to demand that he take her?
Buffy on the other hand found herself right back at her old sour spot. Why do I always get rejected by the men closest to my heart. She didn't want to be with him that way but why didn't he? She feared the answer to her next question but like a moth drawn to a flame it still left her mouth. "Why have you never wanted to sleep with me?"
Her big green eyes filled with terror and rejection almost made him laugh. Not the best way to make her feel at ease, old boy! "I feel very strong feelings for you but they are all of a fatherly nature. You are beautiful to me like a daughter is to her father. Besides I am too old and have no need for a sexual companion. I am quite content with our relationship the way it is. I hope you are too. This way you can find your own choice of a mate."
She flew off the couch to his chair and hugged him. "Oh Charles, I'm sorry I doubted you. I never will again." He tried to answer her but his answer got lost in the smoldering hug. She placed herself on his lap just like in their first bonding days. "There is something else I wanted to ask you. Tonight we fed from glasses again but how will I normally feed? Do I have to go out and hunt? Because I thought that the foodgatherers took care of that."
"That depends very much on the personal preferences. Some want the blood heated in their quarters. Some drink it heated in groups in the clan room or at a private quarter. Some want it alive, others want to hunt and request a quota and jurisdiction. The fledglings get an amount of live prey in their basement every evening. And others do it in an entirely different way, so you decide what you want and then make arrangements with Charia's lieutenant."
Well that was a stupid question, Buff. Remember the saying 'too much information'. That was it. "I'll think about it and get it sorted out. Thank you for the answer but now I really would like to get some sleep." She wasn't lying. she was actually quite tired. Who knew vamps could get exhausted? Funny the things you learn on the other side of the camp.
Charles let himself out after wishing her a good rest and explaining where she was expected the next morning around eleven. Jessy helped her to undress and redress in sleep attire and she snucked underneath the covers of her bed. She closed her eyes and lay awake for a long time. Eventually she gave up, opened her eyes and lay there watching the ceiling. What was keeping her awake when she was obviously tired? The answer came to her as an image. Angelus raising his eyebrow and glass to her. That image gave her warm tingly feelings in her lower stomach and she didn't understand it, this was Angelus not her first love. But even way back then she had always felt oddly attracted to Angelus. She was drawn to the way he enjoyed every part of his unlife, unlike broody Angel. Angelus was passionate even if it was about killing her. Buffy now understood that a slayer needs a passionate man besides her because a slayer's lifespan is too short not to be lived to its fullest. Spike always appreciated that fact. Suddenly her beautiful bed felt cold, huge and lonely. She almost laughed out loud when she came to the realization that she missed Spike. Does he even exist here or have I changed something already? I need to feel like a woman, not just a daughter! She pondered all the different angles of her thoughts while she fell into a deep sleep.
Sitting in front of his own fireplace Charles pondered some realizations of his own. He knew that every vampire has two basic desires. Blood and Sex. And Buffy would soon need the latter. He was very afraid that she would seek it in the bed of the wrong demon. Darla was tolerant of Angelus' indiscretions as long as they weren't the talk of the Order but Buffy was already a high profile player and any affair with Angelus would not go unnoticed. Would he be able to stop her? Who would be good enough for his Child? The questions and answers played hide and seek in his head and as the late morning approached he had nothing except for a headache.
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AN 4: Sorry that this one took so long to post. I have been down for the count with a back injury but I'm recovering and I hope to get more chapters out to you ASAP. Thanks again for all the reviews!! It's nice to know people are reading this.