A/N: Here's chapter forty-eight! The D.A.N.G. Squad unites…Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Bloodlines, but I do own my OCs. Some leftover lemons from the harvest.

"A mind Discipline?" Cadmus asked, "That's insane."

"It's true." Miranda took a sip of blood, "That's what behind all of this."

"Hmm…" He said, "Guess it makes sense. Those humans running after me didn't really seem to know what was what…but who would be possessing them?"

After Cadmus got the call from Miranda, he figured it would be a better idea to invite as many people over to his room to explain the situation than to tirelessly call each person one by one.

Slade rested his hand on his fist, "In any case, defeating whoever's behind this will reverse it." He said, looking at Miranda, "That's what you said, right?" He asked, and she nodded.

"Damn that fool." Dragomir sat back, "It's him, I smell him all over this."

"Who?" Ferrum asked.

"I doubt he would want me spraying it. He would rather say it himself." Dragomir sighed.

"Who are we targeting?" Angelique asked, "If you know anything, you should tell us."

Dragomir chucked, "I'm on thin ice with him as it is. If this is how he expresses his anger when his toe is stubbed, I don't want to think about what he does when a gnat bites him and leaves a rash."

"Can you at least tell us where to go?" Tess asked.

"Negative." Dragomir yawned. When glared at, he shrugged, "I don't have a damn clue! He doesn't glue himself to places. If he's a close friend of mine, then you should all know he's got the mentality of a tomcat."

"If you're friends with him, maybe you can persuade him to stop." Tess said.

"Look, I'm not using insight or crystal balls here, it could be anybody. It's a hypothesis. There's margin for error."

"Well, we can't just aimlessly walk around and look for anyone who mildly offended the Camarilla once. We'll either get killed by the millions of people in the state, or ruin the Masquerade." Cadmus said, "Look, the fact that it's a mind Discipline narrows it down."

"Yes, and despite the remoteness of the attack, we can confirm that the culprit is still in the state maybe even in the city." Miranda said, "Only Madame Vaska could conduct Dominate attacks across countries. And while this particular Kindred could compare to her maybe, they're not as reputable."

"So who do we know that has Dominate?" Slade asked.

A pause. Miranda's eyes slid over to Cadmus, "When you were fighting the humans, what color was the dust around their heads?"

"How the hell should I know?" Cadmus asked.

"You should know that mind Disciplines leave a stigmata, a signature, revealing which power it resides to." She said, "I would figure someone Dominated by LaCroix every other week would remember that."

"…when I was Dominated by LaCroix, I wasn't exactly in control of my mind anymore, genius."

"Just try to remember."

"I don't know…they looked creepy…uh…purple…"

She closed her eyes and crossed her arms, "So it was Dementation. A Malkavian. Do we know a high-ranking Malkavian enemy?"

He thought about it, then he clenched his fists, "Gideon."

Dragomir nodded, "As my hypothesis goes, at least."

"He's…Sabbat, ain't he?" Ferrum asked.

"And you're friends with him?" Tess asked.

"If he throws dumpsters at his friends, then yes." Dragomir said.

Cadmus laughed, "Yes!" He stood up, "Finally…this dirtbag is gonna die…aw…this is a long time coming…" He said.

"And…we're sure it's Gideon, right?" Slade asked.

"Well, if he can lobotomize Kindred, then he can probably brainwash entire states, no problem." Miranda said.

"Damn it…" Cadmus said, "None of us in here can beat him…though…his generation is too low."

"Dragomir can." Slade said.

He blinked, "He can?"

Dragomir adjusted his glasses, "Depends what mood the man's in."

"You have to do it." Cadmus said, "If we're fenced in like this for even a few days, it leaves us unable to fight the Sabbat or anyone else properly."

He sighed, seeming unhappy with the choice he was put up against, "Strauss can't?"

"Why are you so hesitant?" Tess asked.

"I pity him…" Dragomir mused, "Ah, well, to hell with it. I'll knock his lights out."

Cadmus looked at Miranda, "How come Strauss doesn't just do it?"

"Aside from the fact that leaving your king out in the open is a very dangerous option?" Miranda asked.

"Fair enough." Cadmus said, looking at Dragomir, "Good luck. Why don't we help clear a path for you?"

"I would be honored." He said, rising from his seat, "Might I burden you for a glass of blood before we make way?"

"Sure." He smiled, "Take some for the road, too."

"I'm not sure if any amount of showers can make me feel clean after that venture…" Raven mused bitterly, heading downstairs to sit with her childe.

Rainy smiled and held her arms out, "Come here, let me help you relax."

She was warm from the water she was just under, her lips sweet against Rainy's. Rainy let her sit on her lap, she pressed her fingers against Raven's neck and shoulders as she massaged her, "At least we helped save the world…that counts for something."

"Yes, and I'm sure the Camarilla will keep us safe for it." She rested her forehead against Rainy's shoulder.

"What did you think of all of them?"

"They were an odd batch. Whenever I work with others, they seem to be odd. I'm glad we didn't stick around very long."

She kissed the top of her head, "I liked working with others…everyone was a new face aside from Phaedra…"

"You've always been a little more social than me…"

"A little…but not much…"

She scratched her fingers along Rainy's scalp, "I hear it's very dangerous outside."

"I know…Phaedra called me and told me to stay inside."

She sighed, "I hope we have enough blood stored…"

"I think we'll be fine." She squeezed her, kissing her neck, "Just relax."

Raven closed her eyes and rubbed circles around Rainy's shoulder blades, "How have you been?"

"Fine." She smiled, "You were…you were just so cool down there…so cool, that…" Raven felt her swallow hard.

She gently held Rainy's face, "What's the matter?"

She kissed her on the lips, snaking both her hands through her hair, as she lightly tugged on it. Raven's eyes closed, she moved her head away to press kisses against her jawline, "I see…"

Rainy half-gasped, half-sighed as their kiss ended. She peeled her blazer off, then took her blouse off, undoing her skirt as well.

"Is there something you wanted me to do?" Raven asked, "You're going to have to guide me."

"The same thing as last time…that…that is…if you're in the mood."

"Well, you took the reins last time."

"I know." She smiled, "Did you want to do it down here or in our room?"

"Let's go upstairs." Raven's fingers traced through her childe's hair before she stood and went upstairs with her.

Rainy tried to take her bra off on the way up, but she was getting so excited, her hands were getting tangled in it. When it finally came off, she took off her panties as well, "Do you feel relaxed? At ease?"

"I do." Her smile was so soft and almost motherly. "Thank you very much, Rainy."

"I want you to orgasm for ages."

Raven chuckled softly, "I'll do my best." She stepped closer and put one delicate hand around Rainy's waist, the other caressing her cheek before she pressed her lips against Rainy's, slowly drawing out her tongue.

She gave a rather loud sigh for a voice as soft as hers. She inched Raven towards the bed, trying to take her robe off, but her hands were shaking too much.

Raven chuckled, "What's the matter, dear?"

"I'm…picturing you naked right now…"

"Let me help you then." She took her robe off and lightly tossed it on the dresser. She looked Raven up and down, swallowing hard as she shuddered.

The dark haired woman laid herself across the bed, "If only I could eat berries…I'd love to try that…"

"Hmm?" Rainy tilted her head to the side, "Berries?"

"Aren't they an aphrodisiac?"

"Oh…yes…they could be…" She slowly got on top of her, smiling, "I'll try to do my best without their help."

Raven ran her hand down the smooth expanse of Rainy's back, twirling a strand of her hair with the other hand, "You look so pretty."

"So…so do you…I…I…"

"Hmm?" Raven held one of her cheeks.

Rainy rubbed her stomach with one hand, and clasped a breast with the other, "Let me…l-let me get to work…"

"Don't let me distract you."

She slid down a little, grabbing both of Raven's breasts, while her mouth suckled over Raven's stomach. Her thin tongue slithered its way over Raven's navel, causing Rainy to melt and groan with glee.

Her sire let out a smooth sigh, her body trembling beneath her. Her soft legs slid against Rainy's sides, her fingers of one hand tangled in her hair.

Rainy kept suckling, when she had enough of fondling Raven's breasts, she reached down to between Raven's legs. Instead of rushing ahead in, she massaged her inner thighs, and the joints nearby them.

This was apparently a very sensitive area for Raven.

"Ooh!" She jumped, the sensation of her cold fingers massaging areas that had never really been touched much was not an unwelcome one. "S-Sorry…" She giggled.

She looked up, her eyes blurred in a warm state of heaven given how dazed her response was, "Sorry…" She eventually said, "Should I continue?"

"Yes, please…"

She nodded and pressed in deeper, "Or…if you'd like…I could start pleasuring you."

Raven's eyes closed, "Please, whatever you're ready for…"

She gave another nod, holding her steady and rubbing her inner thighs for a little bit more. Then she started touching her sex gently, sighing as held onto her tighter with her free arm.

A sigh passed through Raven's lips as her back arched. She wondered where Rainy had learned this and wanted to thank her teacher.

Rainy's free hand quickly caught Raven's back, giving it a soothing rub. Occasionally her hand would pause so her thumb could trace over where she rubbed.

Meanwhile, she explored a bit further, knowing both the speed and the intervals at which to travel quite well.

In only seconds, Rainy had Raven in the palm of her hand, literally.

Raven's voice was half the reason Rainy felt the need to do this. After all, that was what she used in those caverns the most, those bitter remarks, the bold challenges. So hearing her sire scream, scream for the sake of her, it certainly didn't help Rainy's predicament.

Rainy tried to control her giggles, but it turned into laughter, "I hope we don't have neighbors close by."

"Ah—ah—I-I hope not…mmm…either…"

She smiled, "Let me know when I've done enough. I don't want to make you sore." She said, "Alternatively, I can go deeper, if you'd like."

Raven cozied herself in the sheets, "And what about you?"

She paused, "Actually…" Her voice got quiet (which was really saying something) "I…uh…I wanted to talk to you about that…"

"Oh?"

"I was…I was wondering…if…if you could do…what I'm doing to you…to me…"

"I could try. I won't be any good…"

"It's okay…I'm not picky or anything…I just…I also don't want to…force you…to do things you don't want to do…"

"Of course not." Raven sat up, pushing Rainy's shoulders against the mattress. "I want you to guide me." Her thin fingers were firm as she spread Rainy's legs, "And I want you to be honest if something doesn't feel good. I won't learn if you don't help."

"Wait…wait…can…can we kiss first?"

"Of course." Raven leaned in and kissed her lips, letting Rainy win the battle for dominance.

She sighed, fisting Raven's hair, "It…it's so hot…down there…"

"Can I see…?" She whispered.

"Yes…yes…please…" She squirmed, "For the love of god…touch me…"

Raven sat back and palmed her sex, then simply smoothed her fingers over the lips, "Is this alright?"

She groaned to the ceiling, as Raven's hand felt completely soaked. Rainy started building up a rhythm, shuddering with ecstasy.

"S-Should I try to go in?"

"Uh-huh…g-go ahead…"

Rainy felt a pair of fingers slowly enter her. At first, they felt foreign, strange. Raven's brow furrowed, and then it snapped. The fingers curled and reached in a little deeper, sending a rush of heat across Rainy's body.

Rainy tried to suppress a scream, her voice likely couldn't take it, "Yes…yes…you're doing…great…" She said, in a hushed whisper.

Raven smiled, leaning in to kiss her navel just as Rainy had earlier. Her ministrations only got faster.

She gave another breathy sigh, "Just…just a little bit more…then…that'll be enough…"

"Take as much time as you need." Raven soothed, running a hand over one of Rainy's breasts.

"I…I love you…"

"I love you too, Rainy." She looked in her eye and smiled, dragging her fingers across a sensitive spot.

She moaned, lashing a hand out and grabbing Raven's wrist, to keep her hand there. She finished herself off, coating Raven's hand with more of her love in the process. She rode it out for a bit longer, until she rested back on the pillow, relaxing.

Raven slowly extracted her fingers, "Mind if I rinse off?"

"Of course I don't. I'm sorry…"

"Don't apologize." She chuckled, returning after only a moment or so to lay and cuddle with her childe.

She squeezed her, "I'm sure I'll get another call from Phaedra once it's safe outside."

"Yes, that's good you're in contact with her…" She played with Rainy's hand, kissing her neck, "Then maybe we could travel to a library together."

"Mmm-hmm." She said blissfully, "Until then, we'll sleep…"

When Ella woke up, she almost forgot she was in another room. It was strange to wake up relaxed, at ease. Phaedra was sitting in an armchair with a glass of blood across the room, reading, but that didn't disturb her as much as having Derek within a certain radius.

"Good morning, darling." Phaedra said as Ella sat up, "How did you sleep? Was my couch alright?"

"Don't you mean, good evening?" Ella asked.

"Ah, yes. That would be…more correct, I suppose." She chuckled softly and set a bookmark between the pages, "Are you thirsty?"

"No…I'm alright, for now…"

Poe entered the room, looking around, "Is it still…dangerous outside…?"

"I believe so." She said, "It is growing quite frustrating…"

Poe nodded, sitting quietly on the couch, giving Ella plenty of distance.

Ella looked from Poe to Phaedra, "Are attacks like this common?"

"No." Phaedra said, "I've never heard of it."

"Oh…okay…I guess being cooped up in here isn't that bad."

Phaedra turned a page, "I spoke to Derek last night."

"…why would you do that?"

"Because I wanted to sort things out between the both of you." Phaedra said, "I had him weeping."

"…really?"

She nodded, "I cracked open his shell, at last. He was very upset about his sire, for one. She was his first love, and, she didn't care for him much. She died before his agoge could be completed which left him in a lurch. He will never be able to become Prince or progress through the ranks of a Ventrue. He realizes that, but, he's trying to cast it aside."

"And?"

"His life as a human was miserable. He was cold and rejected, he didn't get along with his family, his peers in general. He sought to get away from them, from what I can understand, but now he regrets it immensely. He wishes he was never Embraced at all…or, so, that's what he said last night." She shrugged, "From what I could understand, it was bottled in because he didn't want to show this side to you. I think he wanted to show you that you had to accept your life as a Kindred."

"Right, I see…"

"He begged for you to return last night but I decided it was best to let him wait a little while."

She pouted and crossed a leg over the other, "Alright then."

"I could come with you if you'd like. Alternatively, you don't have to see him at all."

"I'll make that decision when I feel comfortable." She said, "Although…maybe I should just ask for my own room. It isn't nice for me to hole myself up here…"

"It isn't problem, sweetheart."

The door burst open, Victor came in, some of his clothes shredded, and mild amounts of blood on him, "My, I didn't expect it to be this bad." He said, "I've fought winter storms nicer than what was out there. How can they all be so trapped in that mental fog?"

Ella blinked, "You're the guy who told me about my lineage."

"Yes, Victor Madison. Forgive me for forgoing the knocking…I thought…given the circumstances…"

"Victor." Phaedra stood up and smiled, gently hugging him, "Please, let me fix you a drink."

"I'm not sure I have the time, though I do appreciate the offer." Victor smiled, but it quickly faded, "I know it was most unwise of me to head through the streets, but…there's a message I need to give to Strauss." He said, "Donatello, our Regent, is a traitor."

Time slowed down for Poe, everything else went silent, aside from Victor's testimony, "He's really a Baali." The Tremere went on, "One of those…infernal wretches. Unfortunately, he escaped after a brief skirmish—"

"Where is he?" Poe shot up like a rocket, his voice sounding entirely unpleasant, yet familiar.

Victor looked at him, "I'm sorry son…but he escaped, in which direction, I have no idea…my Gargoyles nearly finished him off, but—"

Poe approached him quickly, fisting his jacket and pressing him against the wall, "You need to tell me. Now."

Phaedra swallowed hard, stepping closer, "Please be careful with him Polonius…he's fragile…"

Victor gazed back at Poe's intense eyes with fear. He grabbed at Poe's hands, trying to release himself. Ella also sat at the edge of her seat with nervousness. Poe eventually gave up, he let go of Victor, and left the room. "Wait!" Victor said, "You can't go out there now! It's practically suicide!"

Phaedra sighed, "Let's go."

Victor watched as Ella stood up as well, "It is most unwise." Victor said, "If three Tremere couldn't handle him, it's doubtful that any other collection of vampires of the same size would. Not to mention the fact that there are rabid humans out there."

"Polonius isn't going to stop until the Baali is dead." Phaedra said.

"I don't recommend sending a Cappadocian neonate after them." He said, "I will show you and Poe the path to where he last trekked, but for now, that is all I will involve myself. It won't be simple. Getting past kine will be the easiest part."

She turned back to Ella, "Then please, stay put. I'm terribly sorry for the inconvenience."

Ella nodded, "I understand."

Phaedra gave a worried sigh, "Let's go." She said to Victor, taking her axe and heading to the streets with the Tremere.

A/N: Just what the doctor ordered, more trauma for Poe…Thanks for reading!