Selenity owns Fire Blossom, Annabellina, and Frank. Nyneve owns Saxen Maverick and Moksha.
Chapter Eleven:
Friends. Dancing. Duel.
"You look tired," Van Helsing said as he appeared in the doorway of the bounty hunter's cabin.
Saxen didn't bother to look up from her desk. "If you were trying to be stealthy and hoping to catch me off guard, you're not very good at it," she answered flatly, then continued to write in the small book.
He shrugged and walked over, nodding to Moksha who stood guard next to Maverick's chair. The red wolf narrowed his eyes, but didn't make any other aggressive moves.
"He doesn't want you here," she continued, then closed the book and turned to him. "What is it you want anyways?"
"I'm wondering if you've seen Drusilla," Van Helsing answered.
She shook her head. "No. But considering that you, Moksha, and myself are the only others here, and we're all okay, I'd assume she's not causing too much trouble."
"Hm. Remind me again, why are we still here?" he asked, leaning against the wall.
"We'd hardly pass for high school students," Maverick said. "And I don't want the vamp out in public."
"You think Duo and Effie can handle finding this Goddess of Chaos on their own?"
"No. And so they probably will, just to spite me."
Van Helsing laughed slightly. Saxen raised an eyebrow, sighed, then stood. "Was there anything else you wanted?"
"Nothing in particular. But…I don't like sitting around doing nothing. I can tell you don't either," he commented.
"Just one more thing we have in common," Maverick muttered.
"You say that like it's a bad thing."
"Stop hitting on me."
"What?"
"You heard me," she inclined her head at Moksha. "If you hungry, we're going to go get something to eat. Coming?"
"I guess, but…what did you mean? "Hitting on you"?" Van Helsing blinked.
"Don't tell me your nineteenth century mind can't make the connection," Maverick snapped. The vampire slayer's face was blank. She rubbed her temples then looked at Moksha. "Men are all the same."
He barked out a short laugh. "So are women. None of them make any sense."
"And you would know this how?"
"There were women in my time too."
"And let me guess," Saxen turned around and stared at him with her single orange eye. "They were prim and proper and did everything men told them. None of them bothered to think or do anything for themselves and led worthless lives."
Van Helsing's expression became stony as he took a step forward. "Tell me something, Saxen. Are you naturally a bitch or do you have to work at it?" he growled. "You don't have a clue what you're talking about, so why don't you just shut the hell up?" Van Helsing turned around and started to walk the opposite way down the corridor. Pausing, he glanced back. "Women are all alike, and women like you are identical."
Now, it was Maverick's turn to be confused. "Wait a minute…what are you talking about? Women like me…?"
"Forget it," he continued walking.
"No. I won't forget it," she replied, following him. "Tell me what you're talking about."
"It doesn't matter. She's dead, and now I'm stuck with you. That's the only thing important anymore," he answered. His face was still hard, but now his voice had softened ever so slightly.
Saxen stopped. "Then just tell me two things."
"What?"
"Her name."
"Anna."
"Did you love her?"
His fist clenched. "I could've. I never got the chance."
"So Tabby…" Effie said as she poked at the spaghetti on her plate at lunch. "Is it usually this crazy around here, or it just a full moon or something?"
Duo nodded and looked around. "Yeah. Everybody's bouncing off the walls. It's like they all ate a year's worth of Pixy Stix and washed it down with a gallon of Mountain Dew he commented."
The blond girl laughed. "Nah, it's usually almost sane around here. But you two were lucky to transfer in on Spirit Week. By the way, where did you transfer from?"
"Chicago," Effie replied at the exact same moment Duo said "New York." The two looked at each other and laughed nervously.
"Er, what we mean is," Effie began. "I transferred from Chicago, and Duo transferred from New York."
Tabby didn't look convinced. "So how do you know each other?"
"Pen pals!" Duo piped up. "Yeah, see when Effie transferred, I didn't want to spend extra money on postage so I…arranged for a transfer?"
"Uh-huh. Well, whatever," Tabby shrugged. Shabby as the story was, she didn't seem bothered by it. "So you two going to the dance?"
"Dance?"
"Yeah! Friday after the football game. It's usually pretty fun. I guess they're still in need of a couple of chaperones, but this year sounds like it'll be a blast. They've got a kind of "stars and moons" thing going on for the theme," her eyes sparkled slightly. "And from what I've been hearing, everyone will be there."
Including the Goddess of Chaos Effie thought, shooting a look at Duo, who was thinking the same thing.
"Sounds cool. Yeah, we'll be there. Hell, we might even be able to get those extra chaperones," he smiled.
"Um, Duo? I don't think—" Effie began, but Tabby cut her off.
"Great! You guys gonna need a ride?" she asked.
"Sure. Can you pick us up at the old Windsor place?"
"Whoa," Tabby blinked in surprise. "You actually live there?"
"More or less, yeah," Effie said.
"More or less?"
"Or less or more. Whatever works," she replied. "And yes, we know the stories about it. Supposed to be haunted, right?"
"That's what they say," Tabby nodded.
"Well, we haven't seen any ghosts. A vampire, but no ghosts," she said.
The three were silent, then Tabby burst out laughing. "You're too much Effie, you know that? Too much."
At that point the bell rang, and they left.
"So…still no progress, huh?"Duo asked as they walked up the winding road. With the exceptions of Deathscythe and the Ravana, the Tsunami had a serious lack of vehicles. Thus, Effie and Duo were required to walk the three-quarters of a mile down the mountain to where a bus picked them up and drove them to school in the city. Luckily, the weather for the past three days had been pristine. Of course, it was southern California in early September.
"Nope. I think she's there," Effie went on. "There's definitely an aura of chaos in the school."
"Sure that doesn't have anything to do with homecoming?" he smiled.
She laughed slightly. "It might."
"And speaking of homecoming…" Duo stepped in front of her. "You're going, right?"
"Of course. The Goddess of Chaos has got to be there," Effie answered.
"Yeah, I know. But are you going with me?" he continued.
"Well we're certainly not going to leave you home!"
He took a
deep breath. "But we're going
together, right?"
"Right. You and me and Van and Saxie and probably
Dru."
Duo exhaled, exasperated. "Yeah, okay whatever," he sighed, continuing up the hill. Effie giggled, darted forward, and caught his hand.
"But if you meant am I your date," she smiled. "Yes, I'd be honored."
His face brightened, and he squeezed her hand. They continued upwards until they came to a dilapidated old mansion. Its rosy façade was cracked in places and the red tile shingles were coming off. It overlooked the ocean, and the back was sheltered by tall trees and the front of the mountains, a perfect place to hide the giant spacecraft.
The two walked up the driveway, unlatched the back gate, and followed the rough cement pathway running between long-dead flowerbeds to where the Tsunami rested. Opening the hatch, Effie threw her backpack down at the bottom of the stairwell.
"Hello!" she called. "Saxie? Van? Dru? Hello?"
Moksha glanced down at them, smiled, then continued walking down the corridor. Smiling slyly, Effie padded off after him, Duo in tow. He led them to what they called their "living room", a large area with a few couches and the TV with the infamous movie collection. Dru sat on the floor cuddling Miss Edith and reading a book in what looked like Russian.
"Hey Dru. What's up?" Effie plopped down next to her.
"Very little, little fox," she replied, closing the book. She smiled mischievously. "They got in a quarrel today, did you know that? A lovely quarrel."
"Uh-oh. Who, Maverick and Van Helsing?" Duo asked.
Dru nodded. "They do not wish to dance. Their song is playing, but they just sit there. But…" she stood up and hugged Miss Edith to her chest. "If they will not dance, I will." And she did.
"Oooookay…" Duo replied, "Um, why don't you go talk to Maverick, and I'll talk to the big guy, okay Ef?"
"Yeah sure," she giggled. "I like it when you call me "Ef"."
He grinned and set off down the corridor. Fire Blossom went in the opposite direction, towards Saxen's cabin. When she reached it, she knocked.
"What is it?" the bounty hunter's gruff voice asked.
"Yo!" The door opened and Effie walked in. "What's up?"
Saxen was yet again seated at her desk, writing in her little book. "Nothing. What do you want?"
"Dru said you got in a fight with Van," she replied.
"It wasn't a fight. It was an argument."
"About what?"
"Why
do you care?"
"Because!" Effie sat
down on the desk. "You guys are my
friends, and I want you two to be friends."
"Since when are any of us
friends?" Maverick raised an eyebrow.
"As I see it, once this whole thing is over, none of us are ever
going to see each other again, so why bother?"
"Aw come on Saxie. You know you don't mean that!" Effie said. The hunter didn't reply. She sighed, and decided to put the issue on the back burner. "Well, anyways, we've got a little breakthrough with Chaos!"
"Oh?"
"Yeah. See, it's homecoming this Friday night, right? And everybody's going to be at the dance. So Duo and I figured we'd all go to the dance and find her there," she explained.
"Hm. Not bad.
Two issues though," Saxen answered. "One: what about civilians?"
"We can lure Chaos away
from them. I mean, she doesn't know who
she is, right? So we get her away, you
do the deed, we take her back to the Tsunami, and go onto the next one. No problem."
"I guess. But anyways, issue two: How are the rest of us supposed to blend in with a bunch of high school students?"
"They
need chaperones. So today, I signed up
my "Aunt" Saxen, my "Uncle" Gabriel, and got a guest pass
for my "Cousin" Drusilla.
Everything's clear, right down to our ride."
"Well…it's our best shot
for now. All right, fine," Saxen
sighed.
"Great!" Effie grabbed her hand and yanked her up, then started out the door.
"Wait a minute…where are we going?" the older woman asked.
"Duh! To get dresses!"
"Vyasa protect me…"
The rest of the week passed slowly, but finally Friday arrived. Duo and Effie were just as nervous and anxious as everyone else at their school, but for different reasons. Both could sense the death they could cause that night.
The evening was spent preparing for the dance, in several ways. Saxen, unable to sneak either her rifle or revolvers into the school, was armed with a pair of spinning razors that were hidden in matching wristbands. Likewise, Van Helsing had hidden knives and a stake in the sleeves of his jacket, and Duo had somehow produced a miniature lightsaber that masqueraded as a laser pointer. Effie, of course, refused to arm herself at all and had no intentions of participating in the attack. And Dru…Dru was always dangerous.
They met in the driveway in front of the house. Although all three women were attractive in their own ways, both of the men had to agree on their appearance that evening. Dru's long black hair hung free down her back, contrasting with her pale complexion. Her blood red dress was strapless and cut dangerously low. They would have to keep an eye on her that night.
Effie's usually wild taste was a tad more subdued, but not much. She wore a long, sparkly midnight blue halter dress with silver armbands. Her hair was held back with a silver clip and opal drop earrings glittered from her ears. The high-heeled black sandals added greatly to her height, making her almost even with Duo.
Even Saxen had lost her rough edge. Her metallic-looking gold dress was straight and simple, and she wore the brown leather wristbands and a brown stamped leather choker belonging to Effie. The Tiger's eye studs remained in her ears and the eye patch on her face, but the younger girl had made two loose braids near her face and left the rest of her maroon hair down. And as always, she wore the copper ring that served as her "closet".
"Wow. You clean up good," Duo commented, stepping forwards. He had opted for a black silk shirt and dress pants. A gold cross hung around his neck on a chain, and his hair was freshly braided. Putting his arm around Effie's shoulders, he looked back at Van Helsing. "Man, you're lucky, you know! Two girls!"
"Don't press your luck, Maxwell," the older man replied as he surreptitiously eyed Saxen. Effie had found him a navy shirt like Duo's and had told him to wear his long black coat to add to the "effect". She wondered what kind of an impression both he and the other women would make on Tabby.
They were about to find out. There was a honk from outside as a big silver SUV pulled up in front of the house, blaring loud punk music. The window rolled down, revealing the blond girl.
"Hey!" she waved. Effie waved back and rushed over. Tabby's dress was short and black with a shredded looking skirt and about a thousand straps tied in intricate knots around her neck.
"Hi! How are you?" she looked into the empty vehicle. "Where's your date?"
"Stag, baby," she winked at her. "Gotta keep my options open! Tonight's the night for miracles, isn't that what they say? Can't afford to be tied down."
Effie laughed. "Well, at least there'll be room for all of us now. Tabby, this is Saxen, Gabriel, and Dru. And of course you know Duo…"
"Yeah, that's one you don't forget," she smiled. "Well, whatcha standing around for? We've got ourselves a party to get to!"
They climbed in (Effie in the front, Duo and Dru in the middle, and Van Helsing and Maverick in the third row) and made small talk until they reached the school. From there, they split up. Saxen and Van Helsing took a spot in the corner of the gym where they could keep an eye on the students dancing, while Effie and Tabby darted off to the girl's bathroom and Duo went off to the snack stand. No one saw where Dru disappeared off to.
Eventually, the three students found themselves dancing to a high-paced techno song in the gym. While Tabby had slipped in with a group of students unfamiliar to the transfers, Duo and Effie found themselves dancing alone in a small space.
The boy
smiled. "Care to dance?"
She grinned back. "If you can keep up with me."
Do I know you from somewhere?
Why do you leave me wanting more?
Why do all the things I say
Sound like the stupid things I've said
Before?
Raising her hands over her head, Effie began to move her head and shoulders with the beat of song. Reaching for her wrists, Duo brought them down and spun her rapidly, then caught her by the waist and pulled her close.
Kiss me I'm dying
Put your hand on my skin
I close my eyes
I need to make a connection
I'm walking on a thin line
I close my eyes
I close my eyes…
He released her then and she caught his own wrists and twirled backwards into his arms, then twirled out just as quickly. Amused at her game, they moved together in unison for a while before he pressed his hands against hers, then put them around his neck.
Do I know you from somewhere?
Why do you leave me wanting more?
Why do all the things I say
Sound like the stupid things I've said
Before?
From the wall, Saxen and Van Helsing watched them silently, but shot each other looks. The woman, although not unfamiliar to the style, viewed it with contempt, while the man just watched confusedly. And both agreed that the sparks that had been flying between Duo and Effie were now catching and burning brightly.
Touch me I'm trying
To see inside of your soul
I've got this thing
I need to make a correction
I'm not like this all the time
You've got this thing
You've got this thing
A few feet away, Dru was now dancing with a tall blond boy. And if Duo and Effie's dancing was sensual, what was occurring between the vampire and her partner was downright scandalous. And yet, she didn't even seem to be paying attention to him. Although she had come with the plan of finding a new victim, she was puzzled at how suddenly the urge to feed had left her. So much so, that she didn't even pay attention to the boy's wandering hands.
Do I know you from somewhere?
Why do you leave me wanting more?
Why do all the things I say
Sound like the stupid things I've said
Before?
Suddenly, the spell was broken as the strobe light flashed into Effie's eyes. The first thing she saw was Tabby. She was dancing with a thin boy with white hair and glittery eyes, but that wasn't what she saw. She saw the girl's aura. The aura of power around her.
"Duo…" she said.
Kiss me I'm dying
Put your hand on my skin
I close my eyes
I need to have your protection
I close my eyes
I close your eyes…
Not needing any other words, he grabbed her hand and led her over to where Saxen and Van Helsing stood. A second later, they were joined by Dru.
"Well?" Saxen asked.
Effie looked up at her. "It's Tabby."
Do I know you from somewhere?
Why do you leave me wanting more?
Why do all the things I say
Sound like the stupid things I've said
Before?
As the song ended, as if on cue, Tabby left the white-haired boy behind and wandered over to where the rest were gathered.
"Hey y'all. S'up?" she asked.
Effie looked at her, almost helplessly. She liked Tabby. A lot. The last thing she wanted was to let Saxen and the others hurt her. But there was no choice.
"Tabby…we need to talk…"
They went out to the parking lot silently. Tabby's mood had gone from confused to wary.
"Effie…what is this? What's going on?"
"Tabby, I…we…" she tried.
"We're not who you think we are," Duo said grimly. "You're not who you think you are."
"What are you talking about?" she murmured.
"You're…Tabby…you're…" Effie took a deep breath. "You're the Goddess of Chaos."
"What?"
"And you need to
die," Saxen answered. There was a
buzz as the razors popped up and began to spin. A second later, she lunged for her.
Blinking in surprise, Tabby was tackled to the ground. However, she narrowed her eyes as the razors approached her neck. With a yell, she shoved Saxen off of her and stood up.
"I don't know what the hell this is, but," she touched her forefingers to her thumbs. "You just got way more than you bargained for." When she pulled her fingers apart, two small glowing orbs appeared, crackling with energy. They flew off, one towards Saxen, the other towards Effie. The women just managed to avoid the explosions that followed.
More of the little orbs appeared and shot off towards them, but what Tabby didn't notice was the lithe, stealthy young man who appeared behind her and jabbed his laser into her shoulder blade. Screeching in pain, she tossed three little balls back at him. Duo batted them into the air and ducked, allowing Van Helsing to catch her by the hair and jerk her head back, exposing her neck. Saxen darted forward, shot one glance at Effie, and drew the razor across Tabby's throat.
The blond girl let out a gurgle as blood began to drip from her mouth. She suddenly went limp and fell. The razors slowed to a stop.
"Tabby…" Effie said, stepping forward, but Dru held her arm out to stop her. Silently, the vampire knelt down and put her mouth over the wound. There was the faintest sound of her tongue lapping up the blood. A minute or two later, she wiped her mouth and stood.
"It does not taste the same," she murmured. "It tastes like…water."
None of them said anything else as Van Helsing carried her back to the SUV and laid her in the back. Duo climbed into the driver's seat, Effie next to him. Saxen and Van Helsing sat in the middle. Dru sat in the last row, Tabby's head in her lap, as they rode back to the Tsunami.