Selenity owns Fire Blossom, Annabellina and Frank. Nyneve owns Saxen Maverick and Moksha.
Chapter 18:
Flirt. Dress. Rum.
Effie stood in front of Lynx, standing on tiptoe to smooth his collar. Saxen had exited the corridor and Van Helsing had politely excused himself. They weren't sure where he had disappeared to. She took a deep breath. She loved Lynx of course. More than anyone else in her life. But he could be so, so…unsocial.
"Now, these are my friends, so I want you to be nice" she said, sounding like she might have been speaking to a preschooler. Lynx smiled lazily and tilted his head.
"When have I not been nice"
"I'm hoping that's rhetorical" Effie replied with a wry smile and, taking a deep breath, pulled him into the galley. Duo and Tabby were still inside. They had begun eating, but seemed to have abandoned that plan in favor of flicking napkin balls at each other in some kind of impromptu sport. Tabby was winning. They looked up quickly when they heard her enter.
"Oh, hey Eff, we were just" Duo cut himself off when he noticed the other man standing next to his friend. His eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "Who's he"
"This is my brother, Lynx. Lynx, this is Tabby and Duo." She forced a smile. Tabby smiled broadly.
"It's nice to meet you. Effie talks about you all the, well, never." Her enthusiasm didn't dim. Effie regarded her in slight shock. She wasn't blind, she knew her brother was definitely an attractive man. But still…
"Charmed." Lynx shot her a very bored look through his sunglasses, then focused his attention on Duo.
"What's he doing here" Duo asked Effie, the smile stuck on his face very tight and obviously fake.
"Feeling protective, sweetheart" Lynx approached the younger boy looking very feline and predatory. "Aww, aren't you just the cutest little thing" He licked his lips quickly and smiled toothily. Duo gave him a very befuddled look.
"What are you"
"I'd love to get to know you better" he tilted his head down so he was staring at Duo through locks of his unnaturally colored hair. "I'm sure we'll get along well. Very well."
"Lynx. My cabin. Now." Lynx looked like he was going to respond, but quickly quailed under the wrath of Fire Blossom. He exited the room, but not without one last look at Duo.
"Effie, is he really your brother" Duo asked, looking very uncomfortable.
"Guilty" she said with an embarrassed shrug.
"How old is he" Tabby asked, leaning out the galley door, trying to get another glimpse of him.
"Around twenty."
"Do you think he'd date a younger woman" She asked, fixing her hair and smiling a smile not unlike Lynx's own. Effie had to try and contain the giggles she was suddenly overcome by.
"No. Definitely not."
"You don't want to date him, Tabby. No offense Effie, but he's weird. Does he treat everybody that way, or was he just trying to freak me out"
"Well, umm" her hands suddenly became unbelievably fascinating"he was, well…he was kind of hitting on you."
"What" Duo and Tabby cried in unison.
Effie stood on a pier. The wind was blowing, ruffling her hair. It was very dark, but every time she tried to create a ball of fire to light her surroundings, it got blown out. Turning around, she made out the shape of a man walking toward her. As he came closer, she was able to make out a few of his features. He had long, scraggly black hair, a red bandanna, two braids in his beard and was wearing plenty of beads and things, some knotted into his hair. He opened his mouth to speak to her-
"Effie! Wake up"
She sat up quickly in bed. Another weird dream…what could this one mean? Saxen stood at the door to her cabin.
"We're on the job. Washu just sent us into the dimension of the new Sacred One."
"Oh. That's good" she pushed herself out of bed, straightening her nightshirt.
"Washu told me we should go to Drusilla's room."
"Dru? Why" Effie asked curiously, pulling on a pair of sweatpants. Saxen fixed her eye on Effie.
"Only Vyasa knows why Washu does anything" she commented. Effie laughed.
"So true, Saxen."
After she was satisfied with her appearance, Effie joined Saxen and the two made their way to the vampire's chambers. Once they reached the door, they looked at each other. Effie raised her hand slowly to knock, but the door swung open. Drusilla stood in the doorway, looking very pleased with herself.
"Come in, preciouses, come in and see what daughter has made for mummy's birthday."
Saxen gave Effie a questioning glance, and the younger woman shrugged. They entered the room.
Miyu and Tabby were already there. They were shuffling through what appeared to be a large, antique armoire.
"These are so cool" Tabby grinned excitedly. "I mean, totally out of style, but it's neat"
"The firecracker is pleased with our work, Miss Edith" Drusilla told her doll with a brilliant smile"There shall be cakes and punch after supper tonight."
"What are we doing" Saxen asked, always the level-headed one.
"Well, since apparently the new Sacred One is like in the way past, Drusilla is lending us dresses so we don't stick out like hobos at the society ball." Ignoring the strange simile, Effie came forward first. Sure enough, Drusilla's wardrobe was packed full of gorgeous old dresses.
"Wow, Dru! Are these all yours"
"This and those, a bit and a bite, vixen."
"Right" Effie was so engrossed in shuffling through the gowns, she didn't bother being confused by Drusilla's strange words. She chose one and pulled it out, holding up to herself.
"So guys, what do" she looked back and noticed Saxen still standing back by the door. "Saxie, what's up"
"I do not wear dresses."
"Oh, come on, girl, it's just being undercover" Tabby said"I mean, floor-length isn't my style, but I'm playing along."
"I will not wear a dress" Saxen insisted coolly, crossing her arms. "And that is final."
"Vyasa, help me." Saxen prayed quietly, fidgeting with her skirt. Her dress was a deep, forest green with light tan vines patterned across it. Her hair was still in her usual austere braid, but Effie and Tabby had wrapped it into a complex looking bun. She brushed a strand of hair away from her eye-patch, which looked severely out of place.
"Oh, stop complaining. I think it's kind of fun" Effie did a small twirl. Her rose colored gown had several frilled layers in the skirt, as well as plenty of lace around the neckline. She stopped, placed a hand on her stomach, and inhaled as best she could. "Except the corset. How did girls wear these things all day long"
"Slaves to fashion" Tabby said. "This was way before women's lib." She fiddled with one of her long, pleated white sleeves. The bodice of her dress was a deep navy, and the skirt was navy as well, with a long white ruffle around it.
"I feel at home. Mummy's cooking in the kitchen, and Miss Edith is trying to steal the plum pudding" Drusilla said with a bright smile, wrapping her arms around herself and spinning around. Her dress suited her perfectly, a luxurious scarlet with a plunging neckline and gold lacing. These were the kind of clothes she wore regularly, and she truly was right at home.
"It's not so bad" Miyu remarked slowly. Her dress was a smoky charcoal, not very fancy, but still very pretty.
"Can we deal with the fact that I'm wearing tights for a moment" Duo asked, pulling on said tights and scowling.
"Well, we didn't have knee socks or anything for you, Duo. You have to blend in" Effie told him, trying very hard not to laugh. Van Helsing had no comment. He, like, Dru, was not dressed drastically different than usual. Lynx had remained onboard Tsunami, as most people in the past did not have purple hair. He had flashed Duo a very toothy smile as they left, which did not make Duo very happy at all.
"Well, we're not going to find a Sacred One just standing in the street" Saxen loaded her revolver and slipped it into her bodice. Van Helsing arched his eyebrows at her, but she ignored him. "So let's get this over with so I can get out of this torture device."
Obeying the grumpy bounty hunter, the group filed into a tavern. They were immediately met with a cacophony of sounds, women and men laughing, screaming and talking, drinks being poured, chairs scraping and slamming. It was packed, and they were pressed against from all sides as they made their way through.
"Lech" Tabby muttered under breath as a rather oily looking man stared at her. She wasn't alone. The five women had attracted a great deal of attention when they entered. Duo put a protective arm around Effie's shoulder and glared around the room, daring anyone to make a move on her.
Saxen was not so lucky. Despite her stony expression, it was only a few minutes after they entered that a man approached her, a very stupid smile on his face.
"'Allo there" he began, grinning and displaying quite a few missing or broken teeth.
He was cut off by the sudden realization that he was staring down the barrel of her trusty revolver.
"If you can get only one thing through your thick skull tonight, let it be this. Look at me again and I swear to mighty Vyasa, I will remove any reason you may have to desire and see anything I might have to show you."
He was not an intelligent man, but he knew that there were less violent women who would be more than happy to go with him elsewhere in the tavern. He left rather quickly, and Saxen stowed her gun again.
"Very nicely handled" Van Helsing whispered as he came up behind her.
"Thank you."
They spent about an hour searching the tavern. When Effie could not find a Sacred One anywhere within, they exited into the alley.
"When we find this one, I'm getting in on the action" Tabby boxed the air"You ditched me last time and I'm not gonna be left out."
"Right, Tabby" Effie smiled slightly. "All yours."
Stumbling footsteps interrupted them. Saxen quickly cocked her revolver and Van Helsing reached for his crossbow. The others tensed, ready to fight. As the smog in the alley began to blow aside, the walker came into view. He seemed barely able to stay on his feet, swaying dangerously. He also appeared to be singing to himself under his breath. Effie squinted at him, then her eyes widened.
"That's him" she said in a hushed tone, so only her friends could hear"That's my dream guy." There was silence and several odd looks.
"You sure Effie? He's kind of…" Tabby searched for the word. "Drunk." Fire Blossom puzzled for a second before she blushed slightly.
"No! Let me rephrase: that's the guy from my dream."
"Oh." A collective sigh swept through the group. But by now, the man had come upon them.
"Yo ho, yo ho…" he looked up and reeled slightly before his eyes focused on them. "Oh. Hello there. If one of you lovely ladies would be so kind as to point me in the direction of the nearest tavern" he slung an arm around Effie's shoulder"I would be happy to buy you a drink." Effie seemed slightly uncomfortable but still calm at his selection until she realized that he was looking down her dress. Pushing him off she growled.
"Pervert" Then her eyes went out of focus for a moment. She could see the power. "Oh, you have got to be kidding me"
"What is it"
"He's the Sacred One."
"What" Tabby threw her hands in the air. "I cannot believe this! You guys go out and you fight a super-powerful vampire chick and her demon lackey. When it's my turn, I get a dude who's so drunk he can't find his own way to buy booze! This sucks."
"You wouldn't happen to have rum, would ya luv" The Sacred One ignored the others, instead slurring at Drusilla. She smiled broadly and toothily.
"Better than that, precious darling. Much better than nasty rum." She swayed towards him. Van Helsing started to stop her, but Saxen held out a hand to hold him back. The group watched in mesmerized silence as Drusilla reached him and kissed him, first gently, then more passionately.
At first he looked confused, but the Sacred One quickly wrapped his arms around her. When she drew back, she smiled at him. But this smile was not predatory like her first one. It was gentle and soft.
"Let me save you." She gently pulled him down until they both lay on the road. She then, slowly, drew one of her long nails across his throat. She cradled him to her dead heart as the blood poured out of him. When finally his face turned pale and cold, she stood, pulling him up with her. "Homeward bound, lovies"