Epilogue One
Vlad
Living your life with one single obsession is a difficult task. When friendship comes along and offers it's hand, it is unwise to reject it, even if it means giving up hope of obtaining a long held goal. Vlad Masters took that friendship in the form of a shape shifting Kitsune named, Michie. The fact that he was, under the Kitsune's powerful spell escaped him entirely, as he was happy with his new companion and rarely recalled his devotion to his love.
Michie had created a little realm for herself and Vlad, causing him to mostly forget about his past goals, winning Maddie as his own. But, without the glamour, without the spell he was not hers. Michie hated the fact that Vlad refused to let go of the one woman he could never have, of course the fox spirit held the same dilemma. She could not let go of the one man who would never truly love her. It was though he held her under a spell of his own.
Vlad had asked very little of her, showered her with worldly gifts, she did not mind that she siphoned off his power so she could keep her physical form in the real world, and came up with crafty solutions to the bad side effects which being linked to a spirit such as her self caused him, but finally she decided it was time for her to depart.
The fox spirit's heart was heavy on the day she walked through Vlad's mansion, saying good bye to the ghostly servants Vlad kept in his employ. They told her they would be sad to see her go, then calmly resumed their work.. They had noted as always that since the fox spirit had entered their master's life over four years ago, that life had become easier.
"Human's are fickle," Michie's mother had told her on many occasions. "Never align your heart with them." Michie decided that her mother was right. Human's were nothing but trouble, especially the human named Vlad Masters.
Vlad was found where he predictably spent the first hour of every morning, in his study, reading a paper, demanding that he not be disturbed. Michie held no fear of breaking that rule. She walked bravely into his study without invitation.
"Micky," Vlad said as he looked up briefly from his reading. "Is something wrong my dear?"
Michie sighed deeply as she looked down at her hands and repressed her tears. Showing deep emotions to Vlad was bad, he was good at manipulating weaknesses, and even though Michie had roughly 300 years on Vlad, she was still completely disarmed by the man.
"I came to say good-bye," Michie answered, not looking up but instead at her tiny silk slippered feet. It was only then that he noticed his companion standing before him in half human, half fox form. He folded his paper and observed her for a few moments.
"I have been called to Inari," Michie said not lifting her head to meet his eyes. "I have a quest to complete in order to gain a new tail."
"I see," Vlad said his voice cold and emotionless. "When can I expect your return?"
"I will not be returning," Michie answered telling Vlad that she was prepared to end her link with, and not doing so would cost him what was left of his sanity. She smiled sweetly as she walked forward and placed on the table a sticky rice cake.
"What is this?" Vlad asked as he raised both eyebrows. He sighed, the little fox spirit could be such a nuisance sometimes.
"It is meant to break our link Darling," Michie answered softly. Vlad sighed heavily. He was not a stupid man, he'd done his research on spirits such as Michie, he knew she could destroy him quite easily, and severed links with Kitsune often resulted in the death not to the victim, but to the Kitsune.
"Sweet little Micky," Vlad said as he stood and took the spirit's hand. "Why would you want to sever our link? I have quite enjoyed your companionship these years past, and I believed you enjoyed mine.
"You cannot love me," Michie said. "And I will not stay if you cannot love me."
Vlad blinked at the spirit in surprise. "I cannot love you?" he asked. "Where did you get that strange notion from?"
"You!" Michie hissed growing angry. She looked at Vlad for a moment. She could drain the life power from him easily, drive him insane, kill him with a word. He belonged to her, but not his heart and that's all she wished for.
Vlad put his paper aside and looked at the spirit in consternation. "What ever gave you that idea?"
"Maddie! Maddie!" Michie sang. "Oh how I love you Maddie Maddie Maddie." Her eyes flashed angrily as her tails twitched. She had the urge to hypnotize him to erase the woman totally from his evil little mind, but then she would lose the essence of who he was, and Michie cared too much for her half ghost to destroy him.
"You have misheard me my dear," Vlad said with a oily smile. "Micky, Maddie…They sound quite similar."
"I have not misheard you Plaid!" Michie spat angrily. "You have asked me to change my form no less that twelve times in the last six months! You betray yourself and your love for the pitiful human woman." She turned her back to the half ghost and sighed deeply.
"Micky," Vlad said soothingly. "Do you think you are second best in my heart?"
"I think," Michie replied. "That you have no heart!"
"Oh Dear," Vlad said as he put his hand on her shoulders and turned her around. "And what would you say if I had learned your real name?"
Michie narrowed her eyes. "I would say you are a liar!"
"And if I told you I could break the link between us without your help?" Vlad continued.
"I would destroy you," Michie hissed. Vlad laughed and hugged the Kitsune tightly.
"Don't leave me Micky. I'd be lost without you." Vlad said then smiled evilly. "And of course without you I would be completely free to harass Jazz Foley. Didn't you promise her your protection."
"That's low!" Michie shouted. "How dare you sink to such a level as to take advantage of my promise to someone else."
"Desperate times call for desperate measures, Love," Vlad responded as he smiled.
"Bah!" Michie growled. "I am not your love." She turned and walked out of the room. Vlad chuckled and picked up the paper again. Thus completing their morning ritual of the past four years and so it would continue for the happy couple for many, many years to come.
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I hope you enjoyed the first of my three epilogues for Jazz's Jitters. I thought I'd make my muse happy and start with Vlad first, after all she has chosen to take Michie as her name.
I have been bothered by my use of Michie as a means for Vlad to find love and happiness, after all there is NO WAY Vlad is ever going to stop being obsessed by anyone but Maddie, for him to say he loved anyone else and forget Maddie would make him irredeemably OC. Of course, his love for Michie can be explained in what Michie is, a Kitsune. I suggest you read up on Kitsune to understand their powers and those which Michie holds over Vlad (I provide a link at the very bottom of my profile to a very interesting link about Kitsune).
So it is that because of her powers over him (and that Michie has weird taste in men)…Vlad and Michie live happily ever after.
My muse Michie wants me to point out that she in no way finds Vlad attractive.
Please review and I might become inspired to tell you what becomes of Jazz and Tucker next. I'm saving Danny and Sam for last.