Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.
She groaned in satisfaction as she satiated herself on the last of the Vorta's blood. She took several deep breaths to calm herself down; the taste of Royan's blood had nearly driven her toward sexual ecstasy, and she needed all her wits about her for her powers to be fully functional.
It had been fun luring Royan into the cave where she had hid. He and his Jem'Hadar had been exploring this planet as possible use as a base, but when they landed here, they had found more than foliage. It had taken her three days to track down and kill all fifteen of the landing party, then another two to defeat the reconnaissance teams that followed. And during that time, she had feasted upon Royan, letting him luxuriate in the pleasures she offered him. He had buried the dead bodies of his men without question, and now he was dead as well, broken and limp.
She hadn't paused to break the bond, but she wasn't worried about the consequences. If the Founders had to terminate Royan's template, she didn't care; it wasn't her problem.
She buried the Vorta near his men, then returned to the cave. She needed time to absorb the new powers that his blood had bestowed upon her, and she needed rest.
…
Her eyes snapped open, and she grinned as she sensed another Vorta presence nearby. She stretched out her mind to find them and was surprised to find the Vorta was female.
She was a bit disappointed, but she would make the best of what she was given. The Vorta was slightly different from the other females she had seen. Instead of the androgynous haircut that prevailed amongst the species, this female wore her hair down, and more than that, she wore gold earrings near the tips of her ears. She was pretty, and even had some makeup on her lips and eyes.
Lilith pulled back and laughed softly. The Vorta female was as good as dead.
…
My queen is riding by today, she's such a pretty thing!
Kilana turned her head at the quiet voice she heard on the wind. It was the voice of a small child, a girl most likely. She noticed a cave off through the trees and marched toward it, and as she did, the voice got louder. She gestured her First over.
My queen will be a bride today, she's marrying my king!
"Do you hear that, Jena'tiklan?"
"What are you talking about?"
She tilted her head and strained her ears, then continued her march toward the cave. Jena'tiklan followed, bewildered. They reached the ragged, dark entrance, and Kilana made to enter.
"Kilana!" Her First's voice broke her trance and she took a step back.
"What, Jena'tiklan?" Her voice was a little more cross than she meant it. She threw him an apologetic smile to make up for it.
"Are you certain it's wise to go in there?"
"I feel I must. Wait here. Or better yet, return to the others. If I need you, I'll call."
Before he could protest, she strode into the darkness, following the voice.
All the bells ring out today and all the people sing...
She wandered around fallen boulders, further and further into the darkness. The voice guided her, drew her onward, and her common sense that told her to listen to her First was fading with every step she took.
She finally reached the back of the cave and could barely glimpse a shadow ahead.
The bride and groom be wed today and every bell will ring.
A figure turned around and Kilana gasped. A woman stood before her, with long, luxurious dark hair, and dark eyes that seemed to glitter in the dim light. It seemed she was the source of the singing, and even though she had stopped, Kilana couldn't get that song out of her head.
"Who are you?"
The woman smiled. "Some call me Lilith. What's your name, my sweet?"
The Vorta flinched at the term of endearment. "Kilana," she breathed.
"You're a very pretty woman, Kilana. I'll bet those Vorta men can't get enough of you."
Kilana frowned. "Vorta are not intimate in that manner, Lilith."
The woman laughed, and the sound of it stung Kilana's ears. She looked the Vorta up and down and laughed some more.
"I wouldn't know it by that outfit you're wearing. You seem a bit...obvious."
Kilana glanced down at her revealing top. "I was told this was...attractive. I don't know what attractive is, you see..." She trailed off and looked away, and Lilith snorted. She had seen Keevan use this tactic: the point was to appear vulnerable, almost delicate, but it was just a facade to throw off their opponents.
"You can drop the act, sweetheart. There's no need to keep up any pretense with me."
The smile slid from the Vorta's face faster than Lilith could blink. "As you wish. I will be frank with you, Lilith, in the interest of friendship," she said diplomatically. "Why are you here?"
Lilith grinned, and perhaps it was a trick of the light, but her teeth appeared to be very sharp...
"I am here because you are here, my dear little Vorta. I brought you here, to this cave."
"Why? To talk?"
She laughed. "If only you knew where you stand right now, Kilana." She started to circle the Vorta, and with each circle she crept closer to her. That delectable scent was pouring off of her, and Lilith inhaled it.
"What are you doing?" Lilith was pleased to hear a note of fear in her voice.
"Has anyone ever told you that you smell...delicious?"
Kilana caught a glimpse of red in Lilith's eyes and she frowned in confusion.
"Not really, no. Why do you say so?"
"Because you do, my pretty little Vorta." These names that Lilith kept calling her were making her uncomfortable.
"So you're here because I am here. What do you want with me?"
Lilith's eyes twinkled merrily. "It be easier to show you than to tell you. May I?"
Kilana considered it, then nodded. Lilith made her slightly uneasy, but she was curious.
The woman slowly approached the Vorta female, then, before she could blink, Kilana was on her knees before the woman, and Lilith had a good grip on the Vorta's long hair. She was also laughing gleefully.
"Oh, my dear Vorta, that curiosity of yours will be the death of you. As the people say where I come from, curiosity killed the cat. I've got a question for you, kitty-cat. Have you been following the reports on the death of certain Vorta males?"
Kilana nodded and gritted her teeth. "Yes, I've read them."
"Do you want to know more?" The woman's breath was strangely cold on her ear. Kilana nodded again.
"I killed them, sweetheart," Lilith said simply. "Just as I am going to kill you. And maybe you'll join Borath, Royan and the others. Do you believe in an afterlife, babe?"
A tear trickled down her cheek as she shook her head no.
"Such a pity." Lilith twisted the Vorta around so that the woman was behind her, then pulled her hair down so that her throat was exposed. She laughed as Kilana reached for her termination implant, and with a simple command from her mind, Kilana's hands were frozen at her sides.
"I hope you served the Founders well, Kilana."
With one swift motion, Lilith's fingernail slashed the Vorta's throat, and Kilana breathed her last breath.