BALTIMORE, JAN. 4th 9:30 P.M.
According to Mr. Nightshade Felicia would be the closing act; she was actually surprised by the turn out at the club. "One thing I'll give Dominic…he knows how to draw a crowd." She thought to herself.
While she performed Dominic watched from the back, he then heard her do the song requested at the end…by the end he was sobbing while giving her a standing ovation.
Later on she was getting ready to call it a night when she heard a knock at the door, "Who is it?" she asked.
"Lachlan Copperpot madam, may I come in?" the voice behind the door answered.
"Sure." She answered, Lachlan stepped in and said, "Mr. Nightshade was very pleased with your performance tonight, and he was rather touched that you sang 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' as your last song."
"Tell him he's welcome," She said, as she turned and faced the mirror she said, "I still don't get why he'd want me to sing such a sad song though?"
"I can't really tell her why…I guess this answer will have to do." Lachlan told himself, "Madam, I've been with Mr. Nightshade since he was in his mid-20s and I can tell you, since I've been in his service I've seen his past and known his history…and not all of it is good fortune."
"Really," Felicia asked curiously, "like what?"
"A-hem?" A voice said through the open door, Lachlan and Felicia both looked to see Dominic standing behind him, "Lachlan…don't you think you've said enough already?" he asked. Then he looked at Felicia and said, "Lachlan, could you leave us…I need to speak to Felicia in private."
Lachlan nodded and closed the door behind himself, Dominic looked at Felicia for a moment and said, "You made this heart very proud tonight little missy, and for that I thank you."
"You're welcome," Felicia told him, "what was Lachlan trying to tell me…about your past?"
"I believe that files under 'none of your business', what happened lies between Lachlan and I and that is where I'd like to keep it." He told her, he then laid a slip of paper with a phone-number on it by her hand.
"What's that for?" Felicia asked as he left, he turned to look at her and said, "Just in case you have a change in heart."
"That's not going to happen." She told him.
As Dominic entered his limo Lachlan looked at him and said, "I'm sorry sir…I should've known better than to tell her, I mean it was 7 years ago and it's still a sensitive subject for you. But she did ask me and I had a feeling to give her at least a small answer."
"Well you were about to explain to her how I became a Dark-One myself, of course I'd been one longer than that…I just needed a little help resurfacing my memories."
Dominic then looked at his watch and said, "My final guest for the night should be arriving at the airport now, accompanied by a few of my associates." Dominic told Lachlan.
JOHN F. KENNEDY AIRPORT, JAN. 4th 10:00 P.M.
Dominic's Private Jet landed and docked itself, Morrigan and Michael got off where they were confronted by two other people. "Ah, Ajax and Othello…so you two were called back as well, didn't go well with the droid did it?" Michael asked.
"Ehhh…he had it coming." Ajax told him.
"We'd have probably had better luck if someone had kept there mouth sealed a bit better." Othello added, looking at Ajax.
"Hey…I said I was sorry!" Ajax argued, his fists starting to flicker with fiery energies.
"Hey, hey, HEY…save it for the ring you two, you're in the presence of a lady, best be on your most gentlemen-like behavior." Michael said, getting between the two before it got too quarrelsome.
When the four of them disappeared, Jon, Donavan, and Anita got out of the luggage compartment. "Well, we're here…not what?" Jon asked.
"Give it time; our next action will reveal itself." Donavan told him.
As the limo left the airport Morrigan asked, "So what is Mr. Nightshade like?"
"He's a generous man, a real man of chivalry to…but cross him and he won't hesitate to take you down a peg." Ajax told her.
"So he's a Darkstalker too…or so Michael tells me, pray tell me what is he?" Morrigan asked.
"Well, I'm afraid he's a human like a few of us…but Morrie, Ajax and I have a pool going as to what powers he has…the only two of us who know for sure are Michael and Lachlan, and their lips are sealed." Othello told her.
"So I've seen." Morrigan said, eyeing Michael.
Suddenly the limo came to a stop, Michael looked outside and said, "Ah, we're here," he then opened the door and helped Morrigan out of the limo; she was followed by Ajax and Othello.
When she reached the study, Lachlan came in and said, "Mr. Nightshade will be with you shortly, please wait here."
"I don't have anywhere else to be." She said to him, as soon as he disappeared she looked at the assortment of photos Dominic had over his fireplace, one that caught her eye was one containing a woman and a young girl, they looked so happy, the girl looked to be no older than 4 or 5. Another one showed the woman in the first picture with Dominic, it was a wedding photo, Dominic's skin looked a little tanner and their faces seemed to reflect better (if not perfect) times.
"Enjoying my life Miss Aensland? I look at those pictures sometimes…reminds me of where I stand in this world." Said a voice from behind her, she turned to see Dominic carrying a couple of wine glasses and a bottle of Merlot.
He poured an equal amount for both of them and said, "Please, have a seat."
Morrigan sat down and looked at Dominic, "I was thinking that you called me here for more than a glass of wine?"
"Ah yes, Morrigan…are you aware of the turmoil, the battle going on against the humans and the Darkstalkers?" Dominic asked.
"I can take human form if you haven't noticed, but yes I am somewhat in-tune with what you are talking about." Morrigan told him.
"Well," Dominic started to say, but took a sip of his wine glass before continuing, "I am proposing a treaty between the Demon World and Earth in a few weeks, and if the U.N is willing to sign it as well as a couple of the Demon World nobility I believe I could make a better world for all of us."
Morrigan actually laughed at Dominic, Dominic cocked his head and asked, "May pray tell what's so funny?"
"I will…do you think anyone will follow your dream? Do you possibly think anyone will accept us? Now that's a laugh." She told him.
Dominic smile faintly, shook his head in pity and said, "Morrigan, Morrigan, Morrigan…I think you underestimate my influence, but that doesn't have to become nor will it become a card in this game, when I look upon a Darkstalker…such as yourself…I do not see your appearance as a determining of malice, but quite the opposite, that I leave to the narrow-minded and blind-sighted, the hypocrites of this world."
"Really, and who else have you gotten under your ideals?" Morrigan asked.
"Well you've met a few of them already, and I have gotten a few others that you might know to join my cause…including one of your rivals." Dominic told her.
"Demitri? I don't believe it." Said Morrigan.
"I kid you not Morrigan, he signed a contract with me…and if you were to do the same than I believe I'd have the two most powerful clans supporting me." Dominic said taking out yet another contract and opening it to the signature page.
"You know Demitri and I are enemy clans, if he finds out I signed a contract with you he'd really mess you up a great deal."
"I suppose he would, but I think he won't lay a harming hand on me nor you." Dominic said smugly.
"And why is that?" Morrigan asked as she handed him back the signed contract.
Dominic then took the contract and with a chuckle, "Because like most people, he didn't read the fine print…if he had he'd have found the paragraph saying that he could not wage war against me or anyone else who has sided with me."
"And have I made such a foolish mistake?" Morrigan asked.
"Do you want the truth, or the sugar-coated response?" Dominic asked.
Morrigan then got up and started to walk away, "I'll take that as a 'truth', well yes…in the fine print of your contract you agreed that you wanted to remain here with me, for as long as you like."
"You mean like a marriage?" Morrigan asked.
"More like a relationship." Dominic answered.
"Then here's what I say to that." Morrigan told him, she then went to her true form and kicked the back of Dominic's chair, causing both it and it's occupant to go flying across the room. But Dominic did a backflip, landing back on his feet again. "Now Morrigan, don't see this as a prison sentence…but more as a chance to live in the lap of luxury without having to be controlled or influenced by anyone."
"Sorry, but I don't think so!" Morrigan protested as she charged at him and gave him a hard kick to the chest; Dominic blocked it though and seemed to absorb to blow. He then tried to karate chop Morrigan but missed by a mile, "Is that the best you can do?" She asked mockingly.
Dominic laughed and said, "Feel your cheek, I think you'll be surprised."
Morrigan ran her hand by it and then looked at it, it was bleeding, "How'd he—? There's more to him than meets the eye." She thought to herself.
Dominic then removed his dress jacket, leaving him with nothing but his dress shirt and slacks on.
"Are you sure you want to continue fighting me?" Dominic asked, "Or have you had enough?"
"Like you've had enough." Morrigan said with a cackle. She then decided to try one of her ranged attacks, but just as it was about to strike him Dominic suddenly vanished only to reappear only a few feet from Morrigan, "How'd you?" Morrigan asked. Dominic only answer was his right fist cold-cocking her in the good cheek (face I mean), which was followed by another karate chop, Morrigan jumped out of the way of that one only to find when she landed a cut along her right thigh. Morrigan then thought about the scars on Michaels' back and what was happening to her.
"Finally coming to your senses love?" Dominic asked in mock sweetness.
"I think I figured it out, you can mentally conjure invisible blades." Morrigan told him.
"Yes, my Nightblader ability…but I've evolved beyond that I can use these to create something I call a 'Dimensional Slipstream', it allows me to go a great amount of distance in a short amount of time for a short amount of time. This ability let's me dodge far ranged attacks or attacks that would most likely kill me by simple entering a different time and space than my surroundings, to a person it'd look like I had just disappeared."
Dominic then disappeared again only to reappear behind Morrigan and put his arm around her waist, "So why don't you just give up?"
"I'm afraid I don't know the meaning of the word." Morrigan said through barred teeth, managing to use some of her flexibility to give Dominic a kick in the face, he (Dominic) staggered back a bit, he had a minor nose-bleed now but he didn't care. Dominic then brought his hand down in a vertical karate chop and vanished again, Morrigan knew she had to be careful now, had to be able to react quickly. She just slowly turned about the room, she knew he couldn't stay in that slipstream forever…heck he'd even told her that." Suddenly she felt something like a sword cut into her back, she turned around to find no one there.
"What's wrong Dominic, afraid to face me now?" Morrigan asked in a clear voice.
Dominic appeared right in front of her and grabbed her throat, "You mean like this?"
Morrigan kicked him again, he staggered back, this time she knew not to let up, she kept kicking him high and above the belt, and throwing an uppercut or two in there. Finally she decided to use her Shadow Blade and finish this, but to do this she knew she'd have to gain some distance from him, and that would leave him with an opening. As her attack came at him a smirk came from the corner of his mouth, he then brought his right hand up and immediately something blocked Morrigan's assault, she could faintly see the blade shape, gold, indigo, and magenta sparks from both weapons meeting. Dominic then walking along the attack until finally reaching Morrigan and placing his hand in front of her chest (not on it, but in front of it) and said, "You fought well," he then flicked his wrist and sent Morrigan flying across the room and hit the wall behind her (a distance of 10-15 yards), as she slid down back to the floor she looked at Dominic, a few fragments of her clothing floated down beside her. He suddenly vanished and reappeared in front of her, his right hand raised, she could feel one of his invisible blades pressing against her neck. "Don't bother and just face it, you lost…now it's decision time, you can live here with me, and be treated like the lady you are…or you can refuse me, I'll cut your jugular, and you can die as Demon World's little succubus whore," Dominic said coldly. "your decision?"
Morrigan looked down at the ground, she knew Dominic had her now…part of her wanted him to kill her, but there was part of her that found the darkness in him sort of charming, caring. Sort of a loving type of darkness, she then let her eyes fall to the ground and took human form again.
"Where am I staying?" she asked.
Dominic drew his hand down and nodded saying, "You made the right choice."
He then helped her up and said, "I'll see if Lachlan can patch you up a bit, as for me I'm getting some tissue paper."
Morrigan sat back down in the chair she had when she arrived, the grand-father clock in the room chimed the half hour 10:30.