Disclaimer: see Verse 1.  Also note that this chapter is a little… racier than the previous ones, and is a bit closer to the R side of ratings.  *cough* just so you know.

The Everblack Bible

Verse 9

She Who Comes with Fire

By Random1377

Margarete pushed herself away from the wall she had been leaning against as the door to the Dollhouse creaked open.  "What happened?" she asked, nodding to Alice's still form.

"She had to use that stupid book," Yuri muttered, shifting the exorcist's weight slightly in his arms, "but we got some good information."

"Really?"

"No," Yuri said sourly, "not really.  All we figured out was that the little doll thing in there was made by someone using the Everblack – that's it, unless she got more out of it than me."

Margarete pursed her lips.  "Well that's… nice," she said slowly, "now what?"

"I guess we go to that inn we passed a couple miles back until she wakes up," Yuri said hesitantly, "I don't know what else we can do… do you?"

"No," Margarete shrugged, "I guess not…" she grinned suddenly, "of course, the place looked pretty small… might have to share a room."

Yuri unconsciously wet his lips, recalling with sudden clarity how the spy's mouth had tasted… and at the same time finding himself more and more aware of Alice's slender body, resting so easily in his arms.

"Might have to," he conceded a bit stiffly, "let's go."

Margarete's grin faded as she fell in step behind him.  Hey God, she thought, keeping her eyes on the uneven terrain in front of her, do me a favor, can you?  I'm not really good at this 'love' stuff, you know?  Well, of course YOU know, but anyway, I was always better at the wham-bam-thank-you-man kind of romance, and this heartsick stuff just isn't me… so… can you give me a hand here?  Help me figure out how to make him see that I'm not just-

"Hey," Yuri said softly, cutting into her thoughts, "about ummm… about the other night."

"Yeah?" Margarete asked, her pulse quickening slightly.

Yuri was quiet for a moment, then he whispered, "We should… talk about that when we get a few seconds."

Margarete's grin returned, but she bit back her instinctual reply of 'why just talk when we can do so much more?' and went instead with a simple, "Alright."

Silence fell as they continued walking… but Margarete's mind was filled with chaos as she analyzed and reanalyzed Yuri's words and tone.  He wasn't cold, she thought critically, but he wasn't really like, burning with passion, either.  Then again, he IS holding Alice, so maybe he wanted to keep it cool for now, but when we're alone – ahh!! I feel like a schoolgirl!! Hey God… thanks, I owe you one.

Margarete's giddiness remained intact through their entire walk, fading only slightly as they reached the inn and Yuri insisted on staying with Alice until she awoke.  She longed to get those few seconds he had quietly mentioned, hoping against hope that they would reveal a desire as deep as hers… yet wondering if anyone could actually want another person more than she wanted him at that moment.

**

Alice woke with a start, blinking in confusion as she stared up at the ceiling.  "Where am I?"

"The best place on Earth," a voice chuckled, "well, potentially."

She blinked, leaning up to find Yuri sitting on the edge of her bed, laying a small paperback novel on the sheet and grinning down at her with unmistakable mischief in his eyes.  "This stuff is so trashy," he laughed, tapping the cover of the cheap romance with his forefinger, "I should take lessons from whoever wrote these – these guys get all the women."  He raised his hands suddenly.  "And before you go shouting 'pervert,' it was Margarete that got you dressed for bed, ok?  I closed my eyes the whole time!  …well, almost the whole time."

Alice tried to return his smile, but for some reason, she could not manage it.  Laura, she thought dully, I… I didn't WANT to kill her.  Why did I do that?  It sounded so reasonable when we were down there, but now… God have mercy, I didn't even give her last rights!  She shivered slightly as she glanced to where the Everblack was tucked into the inn's small wardrobe.  Every time I use it; I lose another piece of my soul, don't I?

"Hey," Yuri said quietly, his smile fading at the soft, slightly desperate squeak that worked its way free of Alice's throat, "it's alright… it's ok now…"

The exorcist sighed as once again, she found herself in Yuri's arms… but this time, she had no intention of just passing out – her feelings simply would not be contained anymore.  She wrapped her arms around his heavily muscled chest and purposely shivered harder, trying to push all of her fear out, entirely surrendering the ideas of decorum and restraint.

She was so tired of those ideals these days.  Being proper and polite all the time took so much effort.  When was she allowed to bend the rules?  When was it ok for her to be passionate and forward?

Damn it, when was it her turn to be human?

Alice tightened her hold on him, turning her face so she would not be speaking directly into his chest and trying to vocalize all of her fears and doubts even as they threatened to overcome her. "I k-killed h-her," she sobbed, "it was s-so e-easy!  Yuri, I killed her!!"

"Hey – hey," Yuri whispered, unnerved by the emotional tidal wave the young woman seemed to be building up inside, "it's… come on, Alice, you said it yourself – she was beyond salvation!  There was nothing you could have-"

"I didn't even try!" the young woman exploded miserably, "Yuri… what am I becoming?!"

Before he could reply, Alice pulled back, looking up at him with streaming eyes.

"S-stay with m-me tonight, Yuri," she hitched, tilting her face up and offering her lips to him, "stay with me a-all night, ok?  Don't let me be alone.  I can't stand it anymore!"

Yuri just stared, remembering her behavior after she first used the Everblack Bible… and trying to sort out the confusion of feelings as he thought of his promise to Margarete.  Goddamn it! he thought tiredly, could this get any more messed up?!

Naturally, it could.

Alice blushed as she realized just how bold she sounded, and she took his right hand in hers, staring into his eyes and trying to get her breathing under control as she carefully whispered, "I'm not asking you to make love to me tonight, Yuri… maybe… maybe someday – maybe even someday soon, but not tonight."  She brought his hand to her lips, kissing the palm as he gaped at her.  "I can't pretend that I don't love you anymore," she said simply, "and I don't want you to think that I'm throwing myself at you, but I do want to be with you, Yuri."  She swallowed, no longer able to meet his eyes as she concluded, "Please tell me you feel the same way – even if you have to lie, ok?  Just… for tonight – I'll worry about the rest tomorrow, but be mine for tonight… please."

She had barely finished speaking when Yuri slipped his hands under her arms and pulled her body tightly against his, bringing his lips down almost all the way to hers.  "I wouldn't be lying," he whispered, looking from her lips to her eyes and back again as he tried to focus on the here and now and push thoughts of the blonde down the hall out of his mind.  "God, I want you so bad…"

Alice swallowed, feeling faint as she breathed, "Want, Yuri… or love…?"

A pained expression crossed the young man's face as he turned away.  "I don't know," he whispered hoarsely.  "So, umm… I s-should go."

As he tried to pull away, Alice's hands shot out, linking behind his neck and pulling him back into her embrace.  "Stay," she whispered quickly, bringing her lips closer to his, "Yuri… stay…"

Even though he was in possession of the soul of Seraphic Radiance, one of the most powerful beings on Earth, Yuri found that he was scared – not of hurting Alice, because he would never do that – but of not being able to control himself and making her do things she did not want to do.  She had already said that making love was out… but what if he lost it and did it anyway?  Even if she gave in and let him take her, wouldn't that hurt her more than any physical attack?  And what about Margarete?  He had already kissed her (well, she had kissed him, but he sure hadn't stopped her), so did that make him unfaithful somehow?  Should he just tell Alice that he needed more time to figure things out?

In spite of his misgivings… he found it very difficult to say no as Alice leaned up and touched her lips to his.  In an instant, he had pushed her back onto the bed, hungrily suckling on her delicate pink tongue as her breath rushed through her nose and tickled his face.

Alice felt like she was caught in a landslide, her reason and sensibility being buried under a ton of passionate kisses and fumbling, gently powerful hands.  Wasn't I just saying… we shouldn't do this tonight? She thought dizzily, willingly lifting her hands as she felt a tug at the bottom of her nightshirt.

Waiting was somehow no longer as important as it had seemed a scant two minutes ago, and before she quite knew what was happening, Alice found her bare chest up against Yuri's and her fingers wrapped almost possessively in his spiked brown hair, soft gasps and sighs filling the air as she felt a hand first on her knee… then higher, moving towards the center of her being.

Her eyes snapped open as the fire of passion inside of her was quenched.  "Y-yuri," she panted, trying to pull free as words and rules flared in her mind, "Yu-yuri – please… s-st-hhhhuuhhh!!"

A strangled gasp escaped her as she felt his fingers making contact with her in the most intimate way possible, held in check only by a thin layer of fabric, and it was… incredible.  It felt strong, and hot, and demanding, and right to have him touching her this way – as if her body was designed to react only to his touch.

"Y-yuri," she panted, hearing a buzzing in her ears as he began to massage her, "p-please… you have to… to stop… please!"

Yuri could not hear her – he was lost in the shaking of her body and the soft, almost maddening smell of her skin as he lapped and sucked at her shoulder.  Flowers, he thought distantly, making his fingers moving a bit faster and reveling in the pleasured cry his actions brought from her, she smells like wildflowers.

Alice knew that she was losing her control, but all she could think of was an obscure text, only briefly read in one of the many arcane tomes she had been assigned during her training.

A certain rule about chastity.

"Yuri – you're destroying me," she managed, drawing a deep breath as his fingers hurriedly pulled at the last barrier between them.  "Please… Yuri…"

As he reached forward, intent on touching her directly for the first time, a desperate cry rang out in the small room.

"You're destroying me!!"

Stunned, Yuri yanked his hand away, quickly rising up on his knees as Alice curled herself into a ball.

"You're destroying me," she sobbed, "please stop… I'm so sorry, Yuri… but please… we have to stop now…"

"I'll do whatever you say – just don't hurt me, sir." Margarete's teasing words echoed in Yuri's ears, ringing of admonition and knowing.

See? He thought, half weary, half angry, I KNEW this would happen!  'Self control,' huh?  Well, old man – looks like you were right… I don't have any at all.  He glanced at Alice's panting, flushed, sweat drenched body, his eyes traveling over its soft curves to a number of small, clearly visible… bite marks.

God… what AM I??

Alice was lost in her memories.  "A practitioner must keep his body pure," she remembered reading, "this simple rule, above all others, is most often overlooked – for while the effects of sullying oneself are not immediately evident, the sins of the flesh will slowly eat away at the practitioner's will and very holiness itself, until he is no more than a common man… weak… defenseless against the darkness… and knowing exactly what his crime has been."

She opened her eyes, gasping as she found herself alone.  "Yuri, wait!" she called, grabbing her nightshirt as the door to her room swung slowly shut.  "Let me explain!!"  Struggling with the garment for a moment, she tugged it on and hurried to the door, flinging it open and finding herself face to face with a very grim-looking Margarete.

"You can't go out in that," the blonde said, the comment hitting Alice as absurdly out of place, "sit down."

"But Yuri," Alice countered, trying to push past the woman, "I have to g-"

"I said sit down," Margarete grated, catching Alice by the upper arm and pulling her effortlessly back into the room.  Slamming the door behind her, she yanked the struggling girl close, hissing, "He's gone."

Alice froze, sensing the barely contained rage behind the older woman's voice.

"Good girl," Margarete grumbled, keeping Alice close to her and whispering dangerously, "Now you tell me exactly what happened – exactly what you did to make Yuri look the way he looked – or I will be very, very cross with you, do you understand?"

Somehow Alice knew that making Margarete 'cross' would not be a good idea.  "It's… private," she said softly, trying to relax, since she knew that she was not going to be able to fight her way free of the other woman's powerful grip, "but if I find him now, I can make it right."

Margarete considered this for a moment, then slowly eased her grip.  "You can't go after him in that," she said simply, "he went straight for the door – and as dark as it is out there, you won't be able to find him… especially not if he doesn't want to be found."

"Well I'll change," Alice said quickly, "and… and I can find him – I've got a prayer that-"

"A prayer?" Margarete snorted, feeling her composure slipping, "Honey, that's the one thing you won't have if you hurt him again."

Alice blushed as she rummaged through her wardrobe for a traveling dress and any Bible besides the Everblack.  "I… didn't know he meant that much to you," she murmured awkwardly.

When she looked up again, Margarete's face was crimson.  "You should mind your own business," she snapped, "haven't you hurt him enough?  Don't give me that innocent face!  Look in the damn mirror, you little tramp, you've been leading him on for a year now – don't deny it!"

Alice wet her lips, choosing her words very carefully as she slipped her nightshirt off.  "I love Yuri," she said simply, "I'm not leading him on, I just can't… give him what he deserves right now – someday, yes, but not-"

"So you're a tease," Margarete cut in.

"No," Alice replied flatly, frustration and guilt overwhelming her normally polite exterior, "I'm an exorcist – but if I sleep with him, I won't be that anymore, I'll just be… I'll just be Alice."

Margarete's lips compressed into a thin line as she retorted, "So?"

Alice's shoulders slumped.  "So," she said softly, "I can't be 'normal' until I dispose of the Bible.  It's too dangerous to leave to anyone else – you saw what it did to me!"  She averted her eyes, unused to speaking so boldly as she concluded, "If I can save even one life by making sure the Bible is destroyed… isn't that worth a few more weeks of celibacy?  …isn't that worth a broken heart?"

There was a long, uncomfortable silence, broken when Margarete finally whispered, "Oh, well, ummm… I see.  That's… that's different then."

"I want to give myself to him," Alice said quietly, remembering the dress in her hand with a look of dull surprise, "and I will, when this is over."

Since her head was down, she could not see the pained expression that crossed Margarete's face.  So there it is, Margarete thought sullenly, I really don't know why I'm surprised – it's always been… her thought trailed off as she spied the Everblack Bible, its spine barely visible at the back of Alice's closet.  I didn't know it had… silver on it, she thought suddenly.

"I'm going after him," Alice announced, bringing Margarete's attention back to the conversation at hand, "I have to explain things to him."

"Yeah," Margarete nodded, frowning slightly as she took another look at the Bible.  I wonder what it says, she thought curiously.

Alice, not noticing the other woman's line of sight, shifted from one foot to the other.  "Can you… look after things until I get back?"

"Uh huh," Margarete said, forcing a smile to appear on her face, "you go find him, I'll stay here."

I can almost read it from here… maybe after she leaves, I'll just take one quick peek.

Hesitating, Alice said, "I'm really sorry."

As the younger girl hurried out, Margarete nodded again, but more to herself than in response to Alice's parting comment.  Just… one… peek…

Before the door had even swung shut, Margarete had crossed the room and wrapped her hand around the Bible's (too) warm binding.  Drawing it from its resting place, she flipped it open, a soft sigh escaping her as silvery words appeared on the pages.  With half-lidded eyes, and a disturbingly vacant smile, Maragarete began to read.

**

"Yuri!"

Alice paused to catch her breath, laying her hand on her Holy Book of Martyrs and focusing on the image of Yuri's face she had selected as her marker.  It was a simple spell, and yet, since it required utmost concentration, she had not managed to learn it for some time.  Even the most destructive spells were not terribly complex; they simply required a great deal of power and focus.

And through the trials and tribulations she have overcome, Alice found that power was the one thing she possessed.

Now if I could just have the wisdom to go with it, she thought dismally, turning right and starting to walk, at least I can do this much… it's so dark tonight!

She kept her hands firmly on her bible and glanced around nervously.  The threat of being attacked loomed over her, and being as how her magic – her only real defense – was not the fastest counteroffensive tool available, she decided it was best to have every edge possible.

A branch snapped in front of her.

"Yuri…?" she called hopefully.

A soft laugh was her response, coupled with a timely parting of the clouds obscuring the moon.  Alice gasped as she found herself at the edge of a small clearing, populated currently by three men – Yuri, another, taller man in a dapper looking jacket, and a small man with sandy blonde hair.

None of the three seemed to notice her, or if they did, they did not acknowledge it.

"Laugh at me again, and I'll break your neck," Yuri said flatly, cracking his knuckles threateningly.

The taller man smiled broadly.  "But surely you can see that my offer has merit," he said reasonably, clearly continuing a conversation already in progress, "you saw what happened to the girl when she read from the Bible… it could easily be ten – or a hundred times worse next time.  Each hour it is in her possession weakens her, boy, it is only a matter of time."

"Don't call me boy," Yuri advised, his voice cold and hard.

Jones, Alice thought suddenly, putting her hand on a tree trunk and leaning closer to get a better look, that has to be Jones!

The shorter man cleared his throat.  "Now, young man," he said reasonably, "there is no need to go losing your composure over-"

"I wasn't talking to you, old timer," Yuri cut in harshly, "and you can believe that when I get back, I'm making sure that tear of yours is trashed!"

"Feel free to try," the shorter man said lightly, "but I think you will find your 'wife' rather reluctant to part with it… and truly, it is such a lovely trinket."

"Shut up!" Yuri ordered, bristling visibly.  "If you hurt her or any of my friends, you won't even know what happened to you – that's how bad I'll mess you up!"

"Ooo such strong words," the taller man exclaimed, clearly delighted.  "Are you going to summon one of your pet monsters to fuse with, harmonixer?  Maybe… show us your god-slaying might?"

Alice bit her lip as Yuri stared at the two, seemingly seeing them for the first time.  "Look," he said slowly, "you came at me like men instead of trying to jump me from the shadows… I respect that.  It's honorable and stuff, but I'm only gonna tell you one more time."  He looked taller man directly in the eyes.  "If you hurt any of my friends, you'll get hurt ten times worse."

"So you'll kill us ten times over?" the taller man inquired, his eyes shining with glee as his voice took on a conversational, almost jovial tone.  "Hey, I just want to make sure I understand the consequences if one of your young lady friends should happen to expire before her time."

"Mister," Yuri whispered, "if that happens, you're gonna find out that there are ways to hurt you haven't even dreamed of."

Alice felt a chill work through her at the honesty in her companion's voice.  He'll use it, she thought suddenly, he'll summon the Seraphic Radiance if they do anything to Margarete or me – I know it!  Her hand gripped the tree a little harder as another thought occurred to her.  He said he loved me… well, he didn't say it, but I know he does – so would he go crazy, like the time he tried to fuse with the-

A rustling sound cut into her thoughts, and she looked over her shoulder.  "Margar-"

Her voice died in her throat.

"Hello, Yuri…"

All eyes turned to the sound of Margarete's voice, and the taller man barked a short, harsh laugh of surprise.  "Well!" he exclaimed.  "Two unexpected visitors!  And one looking so… radiant."

If Alice had not been so filled with fear, she might have found the man's pun mildly amusing.  However, the sight of the tall blonde enshrouded in a flowing, ever-shifting blanket of angry red flame somehow stole the very humor from her… as did the sight of the Everblack Bible, clutched loosely in the woman's right hand as she strode right by Alice without so much as a single glance.

"Miss Zelle," the shorter man said politely, his eyes never leaving the bible in her hand, "you're looking very lovely tonight."

Margarete's face broke into a broad grin, but it never quite reached her eyes.  "You're threatening my Yuri," she whispered coolly, "you shouldn't have."

"I think," the taller man said, his smile somehow not as full as it had been, "that we should be going, my good man."

"Hmm," the shorter man hummed, "perhaps so, perhaps so."  He bowed formally.  "Always a pleasure, Miss Zelle."

The space around the two seemed to bend, rippling and warping out of shape in the now-familiar Gate spell… but before the two could disappear, Margarete raised her hand.

Alice clapped her hands to her ears as the two men suddenly screamed, their backs arching painfully as the glow that enfolded Margarete sprang into being around them.  "Stop it!" Alice cried.  "Margarete, please! You're killing them!"

"I think Yuri's been hurt enough in his life," Margarete said conversationally, her hand slowly balling into a fist as she completely ignored Alice.  "I don't think you should try hurting him again."

"Margarete!"

Alice's eyes flashed to Yuri, a wave of relief washing over her as she found him looking as nervous as she felt.

"Stop this," the young man said, his voice almost firm.

"But darling," Margarete said brightly, "I can't have people trying to hurt you – you understand that, right?  I just can't have it."

Yuri cast Alice a warning glance, as if to say, 'don't you dare try to get into this,' and stepped between Margarete and the two screaming men.  He took a deep breath, and much to Alice's shock… he began berating the tall blonde.

"How dare you," he said flatly, "this is my fight, Margarete, how dare you try to make me look stupid!"

Margarete's brow furrowed.  "But Yuri," she said defensively, her voice still lacking any trace of its usual timbre, "I have to protect the man I love, you can understa-"

"You're embarrassing me," Yuri hissed, sweat breaking out on his brow as the struggles of the men behind him grew weaker, "am I a man, or am I a pathetic little boy?"

"A m-man," Margarete stammered uncertainly, "but Yuri I-"

"Is a man's place to be protected by a woman!?" Yuri snarled, startling Alice with the vehemence in his tone.  "Release them now, Margarete."

Instantly, Margarete's fist unclenched and the two men collapsed to the ground, one of them managing to re-cast the Gate spell, leaving the space behind Yuri empty.  "Sorry darling," she said humbly, "don't be mad at me… I just wanted to make you happy."

Swallowing hard, Yuri stepped closer to the woman, his eyes flicking to Alice in a clear, 'don't move' expression.  "Of course you do," he said soothingly, taking another step and raising his hands in a placating manner.  "Now let's get back, ok?  We've still got a long way to go."

Margarete gave him another of her brilliant, empty smiles.  "Oh let's not," she said giddily, "let's run off – the two of us!"  She threw her head back and laughed – a jagged, broken sound that grated on Alice's nerves like fingernails on a chalkboard.  "We can go anywhere we want to with this book, Yuri… it's so incredible!"  Her eyes took on an unhealthy gleam.  "That little tart wanted to keep you both for herself – I could tell… but I know you love me more, don't you darling?"

Though Alice knew what Yuri's response would be – had to be, considering the situation – it still hurt that he was so quick to reply, "Yeah, of course – you know I love you most of all!"  She frowned as the young man's eyes drifted to something on Margarete's chest – something she could not quite see.

Margarete beamed, opening the Everblack Bible and glancing down at it, the flames around her shifting from red to an angry violet.  "I found this wonderful song," she whispered, her eyes scanning the pages, "I think you'll really like it, dar-"

"Alice," Yuri shouted suddenly, "cure her – now!"

"R-right!" Alice fumbled, quickly bringing up her Holy Book of Martyrs.

"You!" Margarete hissed, the flames shifting once more to a dead black as she whirled on the younger woman, the black pages of the Bible turning on their own to a different page full of silver writing, "You… can't… HAVE HIM!!"

Yuri raced to Margarete's side and tried to reach through the flames to grab the Everblack Bible from her hands, but instead of intense heat, cold – unlike any he had ever known – leached the strength from his knees, sending him to the ground at the woman's feet as she glanced down into the book and began chanting.

Alice finished her incantation a bare moment before Margarete, the blue aura of the healing spell leaping into existence around the older woman.  What does Yuri think this will do? she thought, wetting her lips as Margarete cut herself off in mid-sentence, her face taking on a most peculiar, almost confused expression.

Abruptly, the older woman threw her head back and cried out, the flames winking out of existence as if they had never been.  "Get the Bible," Yuri cried, rushing forward to catch Margarete as she collapsed.

Alice darted in, snatching the Everblack out of the older woman's grasp.  What's… that…? she thought, confused as she spotted a small, lingering twinkle of blue on Margarete's chest a moment before Yuri's shoulder blocked her view.  It looked like a tear, but-

"Let's get her back to the inn," Yuri gasped, still feeling the effects of the black flames as he hoisted the woman's limp body into his arms.

"But what about Jones?" Alice asked, nervously scanning the quiet clearing.

"Forget it," Yuri grunted, staggering towards the inn, "did you see what she did to them?  They're not coming back tonight."

"Right…"

Together, they hurried back down the path, too concerned about their fallen comrade to notice the dark, considering eyes watching them from the opposite side of the clearing.

Continued…

Author's Notes: As you can see… the rating on this chapter is a little higher than the others due to some *cough* unforeseen circumstances (hey, the story writes itself!  Any author can tell you that. :P)  Hopefully, the few readers of this story that are out there won't be discouraged.  And hey – was it just me, or was Margarete using the Everblack??  How could she, when she's not a magic user?  …hmm, how indeed.

Pre-read on this verse was by Aegis, who patiently sifted through the first 4 drafts and unflinchingly let me know which parts sucked so I could get them to at least a tolerable level. ^_^

Feedback is always welcome on any page with review features, or by e-mailing me directly at random1377@yahoo.com