Selenity owns Fire Blossom, Annabellina and Frank. Nyneve owns Saxen Maverick and Moksha. All other characters belong to somebody else.

Chapter 8

Revival. Discussion. Knight.

It would seem to a casual observer that Deathscythe and the Ravana were evenly matched. Scythe and saber clashed again and again. Significant damage hadn't yet been dealt to either suit, but minor scratches were prevalent on both. Flurries of bullets flew between them, some tearing metal, some scratching. It would appear they were equally talented and powerful. But Duo had a distinct disadvantage. He only wanted to fight Maverick. She was going to kill him.

"Good Vyasa, do you have to do that?"

"Yes."

"But…" Maverick motioned to the shirtless Gundam pilot, "It's an invasion of privacy. Not to mention perverted."

"Come on, Saxie. How else will I get a look at their tasty, muscular-"

"You are a very sick girl!"

"No, what would be sick is if I totally stripped them."

"My tasty muscular what?" Duo asked, sitting up on the table. In an instant his oxygen was cut off by two tightly squeezing arms.

"Sorry we killed you, Duo!" She finally let go and he took a gasping breath.

"You guys killed me?"

"Well…actually Saxie killed you. Welcome aboard the Tsunami! In case you forgot, the grumpy one is Saxen and I'm Effie."

"Ah." Duo nodded, pretending he actually understood any of this.

"What about one of those zappy collar things?" Effie suggested, clapping her hands excitedly, "That could really work! I mean, every time she gets all 'grr!' then ZAP!"

"Only you…" Saxen shook her head.

"I thought it was a good idea," Effie said sulkily, leaning back into her chair.

"We really do need to find someway to keep Drusilla from biting people," Van Helsing interjected, cutting off the long, pointless conversation he knew was about to begin.

"Why don't we ask Washu?"

"We have no way to contact her."

"I know!" Effie squealed happily. She turned to the computer and carefully typed 'Washu is stupid'. In an instant, the screen flickered and Washu's indignant face appeared.

"Who wrote that?" She demanded.

"I did," Effie raised her hand, but cut Washu off before she could begin, "But only to get you here, because I think you are the most wonderful, brilliant being in any universe. And prettiest too." She gave Washu the toothy smile of one selling scuba gear to fish.

"Aww, I knew there was a reason Effie's my favorite! Flattery will get you everywhere in life," she told Saxen and Van.

"I'll tuck that away," Saxen snorted. Washu chose to ignore her and turned back to her favorite.

"So what's up?"

"We need information on restraining vampires."

"Vampires? We have vampires?"

"That Sacred One we tried to tell you about?" Saxen raised her eyebrows.

"Well excuse me," Washu rolled her eyes, "If I was too wrapped up in matters of interdimensional importance to listen."

"But seriously Washu, how do we keep her from biting people? I suggested a zappy pet collar but some people…" she glared at Saxen, but Washu didn't notice.

"I can work with that," she said pensively.

"You can?" Saxen nearly choked.

"Well sure. If I design it to immobilize her whenever she acts hostile toward anybody; that would work. It would take about a day unless…" She looked at Effie, "Unless I had some help."

"Help?"

"Well, if you provide the power for immobilization I can whip this doodad up in about an hour."

"Umm…will it…?" Effie trailed off nervously.

"It won't."

"Then sure." Effie shot Saxen a gloating smile before turning back to Washu in a superior fashion. Then she fell off her chair.

Duo sat on the bed in his cabin. Everything was so amazingly confusing here. He didn't know what was going on, and couldn't understand half of the 'explanation' he was given. Why did his life have to change? He, well, he hadn't been happy per se, but at least he knew where he belonged.

"Why are you hiding?" He turned around quickly. It was the third woman, with the dark hair.

"I'm not."

"You are. The brightest little star in the sky, and he wraps himself in darkness so no one can see. Not a one knows, not a one cares." She tilted her head. "Do you like songs?"

"Umm…sure." She nodded sagely.

"I can tell. There's a song in your heart. It's a waltz. It beats and twirls and will never, never end. For who but he who calls himself Death truly wishes for real life?" Duo blinked. Was it just him…or was she almost making sense? He felt a little dizzy. His mind was just a tad clouded. Drusilla smiled at him, but then she sighed and looked up at the ceiling.

"I'm just so lonely. I do all I can for Daddy and Grandmum and my dear, sweet Willy. Yet they all left me. My Willy left me. And I his mummy after all. He went away to dance with her on our grave. Our great grave of black."

"Whoever left you must be crazy," Duo said vaguely. He felt rather dazed. Drusilla watched the ceiling for a few more moments before looking back at him.

"You wouldn't leave me, would you little star? I could give you my kiss, and you would be my dark prince. And we shall tell everyone that we are having a tea party and have not invited them," she took a step closer, "I'll bring the stars, my precious. Stars for the stars and we shall laugh and you shall be my knight in armor of night. Knight of night, night of knights. But what to write in your schoolbook? Do you want it?"

"I…I…" Everything was blurred. He wasn't sure what was going on, but his head spun.

"Got to choose, ducky, or it will all leave with the spring rain."

"I…I do."

She smiled at him, and she took him into her arms and squeezed. She kissed his cheek. He noticed her lips were very cold. With a final glance at him, she bent down and flicked out her tongue, tasting his neck.

Then she bit.

"Duo? Duo, where did you go?" Effie jogged down the hallway. "I have good news for you, Duo!"

"He's here, sweets."

"Oh, good. I-" she stopped short when she turned. Drusilla stood, Duo cradled in her arms like a baby. He was very pale, and she could see two perfect holes in the side of his neck.

"No…"

"There's nothing you can do, Effie!" Saxen grabbed her friend by the shoulders and mightily resisted the urge to shake her.

"I am not going to let him die!"

"If she gave him her blood, there's nothing we can do for him now!"

"There's something I can do!" She rolled up the sleeves of her lime green sweatshirt and approached the limp form.

"You can suck out vampire blood?" Saxen asked sarcastically. Effie was clearly hysterical.

"No." She glanced back, "But I can burn it out."