Succubus Companions pt 4

Seraphine dove trying to catch the Solar’s hand but she was too late. The instant the solar touched Melrazia there was a brilliant flash. Melrazia screamed as her body began to glow. The Succubus’ body began to contort and spasm.

Seraphine watched in horror and she tried to prepare a spell to stop the magic flowing through her friend’s body. She felt strong hands grab her from behind and pull her away from her friend. She struggled until she heard the solar’s voice in her ear. “Calm yourself demon and watch.”

Seraphine looked over at her friend and realized the screams and convulsions were slowing. Melrazia’s arms and legs were no longer crooked. Her broken wing was straightening itself before Seraphine’s eyes and the tears in it were mending. Tender new skin covered the stump where her other wing had been.

The solar released Seraphine and she fell to Melrazia’s side looking her over. By now the red-haired succubus was breathing deeply, her eyes closed. The expression on her face was one of awe and wonder. Seraphine reached out and stroked her friend’s hair which was now both thicker and longer than it had been moments ago.

Eventually, Melrazia smiled and her eyes fluttered open as she felt her friend’s caring caress. “It’s okay, I’m okay,” she smiled to her friend reaching out and squeezing Serpahine’s other hand reassuringly. Seraphine helped her friend to her feet.

Melrazia stood up and stumbled a bit off balance.

“Your wing,” Serpahine said softly pointing to the space Melrazia’s wing should have occupied.

The solar shook its head. “Some things are beyond my ability to heal. I am sorry.”

Melrazia shook her head and offered a slight smile. “It’s okay. Tomorrow I may morn its loss, but for now I am just happy to be alive.” She turned her head to the solar. “Do not think I am ungrateful solar, but why did you spare me?”

The solar shook his head. “’Twas not I who spared you,” the solar replied. To Seraphine the solar’s expression almost seemed pitying. “Nor have you been totally spared, demon. A hard road lies ahead of you yet before you will be ready to begin your new life.”

Melrazia nodded. “Somehow I expected as much. Can I have a few more minutes?”

The solar nodded. “A few minutes more. It will be many years before you two will cross paths again.”

Seraphine watched the exchange in confusion and with growing concern but Melrazia offered her a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, Seraphine. I can’t really explain it all now, but I had a vision. I have an… audition with a new lord,” Melrazia explained softly hugging her friend close. She tapped the dagger she had given Seraphine. “Keep this I think you will need it more often that either of us would like.” She stepped back and tears clouded her eyes as she gazed at Seraphine. “Thank you, for everything.”

The solar put its hand on Malrazia’s shoulder and looked at Seraphine with even more pity. “As hard as your friend’s journey will be, it will pale in comparison to the path before you.” The solar spoke a trigger word and then in the next second the solar and Malrazia were gone.

Seraphine stood silently staring at the place her friend had been standing. She blinked back a few tears. In the background she was aware of the priest chanting. Too late she realized it was the banishment spell. She turned around in time for the room to fade out of existence. Back in her own room once again, all her conflicting motions caught up with her and she sank to the ground crying.

Succubus Companions pt 3

Seraphine sat on the floor, her legs tucked under her chin. On one side of her lay a pile of books, on the other a pack of clothing, supplies, and more books. She wore high boots, leather pants and vest, and a light shirt. Her belt held many pouches within which were tucked a few coins, a few parcels of food, her own dagger, the dagger Melrazia had given her, a trio of half-charged wands and the few reagents for the few spells she knew.

Though she would not have admitted it, could not have admitted it if she wanted to survive, the streaks down her face were from tears. She had waited hours for the summoning and it did not happen.

Despite her hope in the mage, she had also talked to a couple of the demon sorcerers and mages but none were both willing and able to help her. The most any of them gave her were some expressions of condolences and some half expired wands. Unable to sleep knowing the danger her friend was in, she spent all night and much of the day gathering what supplies she could. Now, he too seemed to have been a dead end.

Fatigue and despair were catching up with her and she closed her eyes. “Forgive me, Melrazia,” she whispered softly. She was starting to drift off when she felt the pulling. She blinked awake only to be dazzled by blinding lights all around her.

When the light faded, the first thing she noticed was that her back was no longer to a wall, though her books and pack were on the floor beside her. Even the floor was different. A few seconds before it had been dark, rough, and filthy stone and now it was bright, polished, so clean she could almost see her own reflection in it.

She looked up to see she was in a room that could fit her entire living quarters with room to spare. Around her was a golden blue hum of a circle of protection.

Seraphine swallowed and looked up. “I was starting to think you weren’t going to summon me,” she said more softly and with far more emotion than she intended.

“I almost didn’t,” a voice answered her. She jumped to her feet and turned to face the speaker. Instead of the young mage she was expecting, she faced a balding man in white and gold robes. Hanging from his neck was a medallion that was glowing a white-blue. A heavy mace hung from his rope belt. A priest, she realized quickly, and a powerful one at that.

“However, my son was most insistent,” the priest continued, “And I will admit as to being curious about why a demon would plea so urgently for another of her ilk. And so after consulting with Torm, I fasted and studied the spells I would need. Thus here we are.”

Seraphine nodded. She glanced at the circle and noticed that unlike the one the mage had used this circle and the glyphs that composed it were divinity based, carved into the stone, and completely flawless. Furthermore she noticed other spells woven into the circle as well. She was unable to recognize them. Even had she any intent of trying to break the circle, to do so was far, far beyond her abilities. Instead, she carefully unbuckled her belt and let it slide to the floor.

Crossing to the far side of the circle she turned and faced the priest. “Will you help me?” she asked.

“That depends,” the priest replied. “I have some questions for you. Whether or not I will help, depends on the answers.”

Seraphine sighed and her shoulders slumped but she regained her composure quickly. “Very well, ask away. Though I beg of you, please make it quick. Every moment we waste heightens the danger my friend is in and lessons the chance she can be rescued.”

The priest nodded once then dove in. “What plane are you from?”

“I do not really know,” Serpahine admitted. “If it has a proper name, I have never heard it spoken that I can remember.”
The priest frowned but continued.

“Seraphine, is that your summon name or your real name?”

“Both,” Seraphine replied.

The priest raised an eyebrow. “You freely give your name?”

Seraphine shrugged. “I don’t have the time or patience to worry about that right now.”

“You truly believe your friend is in danger?”

“I know she is. The prince of our realm has taken her for a prize. He rapes, tortures, and kills the lesser demonesses that capture his fancy. He has been known to drag it out for weeks to the point where in the end his victims even lose hope that they will die. Demonesses have been known to mutilate themselves or even commit suicide just because they think he has an interest in them.”

The priest seemed to ponder this information.

“If we were to rescue your friend, would your friend, this prince, or his minions be a threat to us?”

“I do not believe my friend would unless she is hurt or disoriented, and if she is, I will calm her if I can, or kill her if I cannot.”

“You would kill your own friend?”

“If that is what it took to keep her free from the prince, I would do so without hesitation. I know…” she paused as the word seemed to burn her mouth and rephrased. “I think and hope she would do the same for me.”

“What about the prince and his minions?”

Serpahine shook her head. “I do not know, but I do not think he would bother to chase her. Can you keep your spells from being traced?”

“Possibly, “The priest looked thoughtful.

“If you are able to keep your spells from being traced, I do not believe he would bother you. I think he would consider that too big a distraction from his wars,” Seraphine said carefully.

“I will look into it,” the priest stated. He looked over the succubus. “What did you offer my son for his help?” the priest asked.

“I, I cannot say,” Serpahine stated glumly, her shoulders drooping. “I gave my word.”

“Even if I make telling me a condition of helping you?”

Seraphine blanched, her hands curling up into frustrated fists that clung to her sides. She faced the priest, desperation making her bold. “The truth spell you have used on me makes it clear that you wish to determine if I am trustworthy. Yet if you force me to break my word, I will have proven myself untrustworthy to you or your son. This is a cruel trap you have set for me, yet if I must be ensnared by it for you to help my friend I will do so. But can it be enough to say what I offered him is both better and safer than what he has already planned and attempted and that unless he attempts to hurt me or my friend I have no intention of harming him in any way. I have no wish to see him come to any harm, by my hand or anyone else’s.” Her voice went up in both volume and octave as she progressed so that by the end she was yelling.

Stunned, the priest listened to her tirade. When it ended, he nodded softly. “Alright. I have two more questions. “What name can be used to summon your friend, and why should we rescue your friend?”

“She is called Melrazia,” Seraphine answered. “You follow Torm correct? You should rescue her because Torm knows both justice and mercy, and Melrazia deserves both. She may be a demoness, but she has struggled with her nature. She is not like most other demons. She is not as cruel—usually—as other demons. She tries to—often tries to—spare others when she can. When she found out she was to be given to the prince, she gave me one of her daggers and bid me to escape beyond the prince’s reach.”

For a long while there was silence as the priest stared at her. At long last he nodded. “Wait here, I will be back.” With that he crossed the room to a door, opened it and stepped out of the room.

After what seemed like an eternity to Serpahine the priest returned. Following him into the room were two others. One was the mage from the day before. The other, however, took Serphine’s breath away in a mixture of fear and awe.

Dressed in white, and almost seven feet tall with white wings and hair, the figure carried a sword that was almost as impressive. Serpahine could not tell if the eyes were glowing or if the eyes were replaced by glowing orbs, but either way she trembled as the figure turned to face her. The expression on the perfectly carved face was both impassive and unreadable, and yet Seraphine could not help feel that the being in front of her was sizing her up and finding her wanting.

“Is this, are you, a solar?” Seraphine asked hesitantly, awed and terrified of the figure in front of her.

“Yes,” the rich androgynous voice seemed to reverberate in the very air.

“Are you here to kill me?” she asked.

“That remains to be seen. I was sent to witness, and to kill if you or your ilk proved to be a threat,” the solar replied. “I will also ensure the demon lord will not be able to trace any spells used here.”

“Good,” Seraphine breathed a sigh of relief. She was terrified of the Solar which could likely kill her and Melrazia without any effort more than a thought. Still, death at the Solar’s hands would be relatively quick and painless and completely without malice which was more than anything that awaited the succubi in their home plane. Even better the Solar seemed prepared to listen.

“Tell us about yourselves and why we should help you,” the priest said.

Serpahine sighed and quickly summarized the lives of Melrazia and herself, including the lives they tried to spare and those they took in weakness. She explained how Melrazia warned her to run and the fate that awaited Melrazia and pleaded for her friend’s life. At the end she pleaded with them to rescue Melrazia and just set her on a deserted island somewhere that could support her.

“She speaks truth,” the Solar said at last.

The priest nodded and then bowed his head in prayer as did the solar.

Moments later the solar spoke. “So be it.” Spreading his hands the solar spoke Melrazia’s name and with a sharp crack a gate unlike any Seraphine had ever seen appeared in the air. Unlike the gates that Seraphine was used to this one glowed white and blue with golden wisps thrown in for good measure. The gate rotated until it was horizontal and hovered about two feet off the floor.

Gently it deposited a bloody and broken whimpering creature on the floor. Horrified, Serpahine realized upon closer examination that the creature was actually Melrazia. One wing had been sheered off completely; the other was a twisted, tattered mess. Bruises and cuts seemed to cover every inch of the succubus. Her arms and legs were broken in multiple places. Her jaw was broken and one eye was glazed over so badly Seraphine wasn’t even sure if Melrazia could even see from it.

Seraphine fell to her knees beside her friend wanting to hold her, comfort her in some way, but knowing that if she were to try she would only make her friends agony worse. “Oh, Melrazia, I am so sorry. I failed you,” she whispered through tears that came so hard she could barely see.

Melrazia reached up and gripped her friend’s arm as tightly as she could with broken fingers. “You didn’t fail me,” she rasped. “He only just started on me,” the demoness shuddered, a move that caused her to cough up blood for several long moments. When at last she stopped, Melrazia eyed her friend. “Do not blame yourself, Seraphine. This is not your fault. He told me of his plans for me. You rescued me from so much worse.”

Melrazia looked up at Seraphine with her good eye. “Thank you,” she rasped with all the feeling she could put into her voice. “At least now I can die free of his touch.”

“Stand aside,” a voice behind Seraphine ordered.

Seraphine looked behind her, startled as she belatedly realized the Solar was now right behind her. It seemed to be staring at Melrazia its face an unreadable cold mask.

Seraphine looked back to Melrazia who seemed to show none of the fear and dread Seraphine now felt. Instead, Melrazia’s look was one that Seraphine could only describe as one of acceptance as she nodded to Seraphine.

“Fiend, you have been broken of flesh, but not yet of spirit or even fully of mind. Will you accept the judgment Torm has passed down on you?”

Melrazia nodded and the solar reached down for her, its hand glowing in holy power.

Succubus Companions pt 2

Seraphine was propelled through the portal with such force that when it ejected her she rolled into a glimmering field with such force it bruised her side and wings. She hissed in pain as she stood up, eliciting a half-awed and half-terrified curse. She clambered to her feet and looked around.
She stood in a well lit, incredibly spacious attic of some kind. Judging from the number of pillars, the wide windows, and the storage doors at the far end, she guessed she was in some kind of warehouse. Much of the far end was dusty, filled with cobwebs, and otherwise empty, but the nearer portion was swept clean but otherwise cluttered with bookshelves, tables, desks, candelabras, armoires, and chests of all kinds. Every flat surface including large sections of the floor were covered with heaps of books, sheaves of paper, bubbling potions, spell components, and the occasional piece of discarded clothing. A large bird cage on a stand stood in one corner.
The golden, glittering, semi-translucent wall surrounding the nearly twelve foot diameter circle she stood in and the intricate ruins laid out on the floor didn’t surprise her. Only an idiot or a very, very powerful mage or priest would summon a gate without the protection of a summoning circle. What did surprise her however as she turned around was the brilliant blue white shimmering wall that snapped up around the only other occupant of the attic.
Behind that wall of light, the young mage tilted his head as he studied the succubus. A few locks of his jaggedly cut mahogany brown hair drifted into his eyes as a brow arched up. He absently pushed it out of as he ran his hand through his hair. He took a step towards the summoning circle, his blue and gold robes swishing audibly around him. “Well, this is unexpected,” he stated his eyes watching the trapped demon.
Seraphine met his gaze with a half smile. “Not what you expected?” she purred. Despite his confidence she could sense his nervousness, and she couldn’t help but admire his self control. He’s young, but already pretty powerful to cast a gate like that, she thought to herself. Maybe I can get him to help me save Melrazia.
“Quite honestly, no,” he replied. His blue eyes watched her intently as she studied her prison. “I did not intend to pull you here, and I apologize for the inconvenience. I am not sure what went wrong, but no matter. I will send you back and will trouble you no further.” He began to chant.
“Wait! Don’t you at least want my name?” Seraphine called out desperately.
The mage paused in his chant. “Not particularly. I have no wish to deal with a demon of your caliber. I know how such dealings usually turn out,” he replied wryly, preparing to start again.
“You mispronounced the name,” Seraphine blurted out, unwilling to give up so easily.
“Pardon?” The mage looked intrigued.
“You mispronounced the name of the Quasit you were trying to summon. Thus, I was able to come through instead,” Seraphine explained her eyes darting around desperately.
“Go on,” the mage stepped back gesturing for her to continue.
“A gate not properly keyed with a name like that is like an open invitation. You never know what will come through,” she paused as a sudden thought came to her as she caught sight of the cage again. As the realization struck her like a slap to the cheek, it both filled her with dread and with hope at the same time. “You were trying to capture a familiar weren’t you?”
The mage narrowed his eyes and for a tense moment Seraphine thought he was going to banish her but he finally nodded. “Aye. An Imp or a Quasit make powerful familiars.”
Seraphine regarded him for a moment. “You follow a dangerous path mage, are you sure you wish to pursue it?”
“You sound like my father. I think I will send you back now.” The mage’s voice grew tight.
“Wait, I can help you. There’s an easier and safer way.” Seraphine stalled, and resisted the urge to smile as she noticed the slight irregularity in the flicker in one small spot on the golden wall that made up her prison. Got you, she whispered to her self.
“And when you’re done you will want either my life or my soul, if not both. Do you take me for a fool? No thank you.” He nearly spat, so disgusted was he.
“I want neither your life nor your soul.”
His eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Then what do you want?”
“My friend’s life. Her life is in danger. You can cast a gate. You can summon her here and then let her free.”
“What in Selune’s name makes you think I would let a demon free?” The mage growled angrily.
“Send her to another plane then. Just not the same one you pulled us from. She will die there,” she pleaded.
“Why should I do this? What would I get out of this?”
“I can help you get your familiar.”
He snorted. “Not good enough, I can get my own familiar.”
Seraphine swallowed hard. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves she closed her eyes and let it out. “Not one like what I am offering. Not a full fledged succubus. If you do this for me, I will let you bind me as your familiar.”
When she opened her eyes, the mage was pacing. At last he turned and glared at her. “Even if I could do what you say, and I can’t—I don’t have the ability to cast multiple gates in a day—how in the nice hells do you expect me to trust you?” he almost snarled.
Seraphine played her hand. Or more accurately she played her foot; sliding it across the smudged rune. Ordinarily a properly drawn rune would be impervious to such a move from a demon as lowly as a succubus. However, the rune was already smudged and so was vulnerable and the tip of her boot managed to smudge it more. The rune strained and flickered out and the wall came down in a series of rapid sparks and sizzles.
As the backlash of the failed spell hit the mage, he screamed in anger and fear, and his personal shield flickered and fell. He put his hands to his sides gasping trying to clear the pain from his mind while he watched Seraphine walk over to one of the tables and sit on the edge of it.
She shifted her position sliding further onto the table and letting her legs dangle. She picked up one of the beakers, examining the bubbling green liquid with a critical eye, her long red nails tapping on the glass.
“I don’t expect you to trust me, I ask only that you help me. I can point out that I could have killed you at any point in the last ten minutes.”
“Then why don’t you?” gasped the mage.
“First, it would be a waste. Then there’s the fact I really do need your help. I can’t do what I need on my own, and there’s little chance I could find another mage to help me in time. And then there is the fact that you have not harmed me yet, and I do not feel the need to kill just to prove I can.”
“If I help you, you will agree to be my familiar? And you will tell no one of this?” he asked at last hesitantly.
“I swear it.”
“I will need help, I cannot do this on my own,” he stated flatly.
“Is there anyone you know that could help?” She asked, chewing her lip, nervous that he wouldn’t agree.
The mage nodded slowly. “I know of one that can help. But it will be hard to convince him. He is a powerful priest and he has little love for demons.”
“Is he a good man?” Seraphine asked. “Is he fair?”
The mage nodded to both. “Aye, about as just and fair a man I know.”
“Then bring him here, and I will try to convince him.” The mage hesitated and Serpahine tried to smile reassuringly. “I won’t leave this room or do anything to bring harm to you or him or anyone unless attacked. Better yet, banish me and I will get my books and you can summon me back tomorrow.”
The mage nodded. “What name should I use to summon you?”
Seraphine thought for a second. “Just use my name, Seraphine.”
The mage nodded again. “I will summon you again tomorrow then Seraphine. But I feel it only fair to warn you that even if the priest believes your story, and looks past his abhorrence of demons, he likely may refuse to help you for another reason altogether.”
Seraphine tilted her head in question.
“He is my father,” the mage explained and with that spoke the spell to send Seraphine back to the abyss.

Succubus Companions

Seraphine rushed down the stone corridor of the citidal, her wings folded up tightly against her as she squeezed around balors and errtus. At every intersection and turn she looked around to make sure she was not being followed. When she came to a less used side corridor, she paused, looking both directions so fast her dark hair whipped around her face. Satisfied she was clear, she ducked down it. A couple more twists and turns beneath the gothic like arches that marked the doorways and intersecting corridors, and she came to a dead end. She tapped on one of the side walls and a section of wall slid to the side revealing a dark stairway.
She slipped down the stairway pulling the wall closed behind her. When she reached to bottom of the stairway, a torch flared up out of the darkness, nearly blinding her. At the same time cold steal met her throat. Seraphine flinched and resisted the urge to step back or lash out, as her eyes blinked to adjust to the sudden light.
A moment later the blade disappeared and was replaced with a hug. “Sorry Seraphine,” A soft, sultry voice half whispered, as the light from the torch was briefly blocked by Seraphine’s own body. The figure released her and stepped back, the hidden room brightening almost instantly.
As her eyes adjusted, Seraphine could make out a thin figure with red hair and black bat-like wings similar to herself. Unlike Seraphine, the other young woman was dressed in rags and was much thinner. Despite her thinness, her rags, and the terrified expression on her face, the other succubus still managed to exude an atmosphere.
Seraphine looked with concern at the other succubus. “What happened to you, Melrazia?”
Melrazia trembled as she looked at her fellow succubus with wide frightened eyes. “The Prince took a fancy to me. My mother however saw it as a chance to gain favor. I hoped if I starved myself he would forget about me. Mother saw what I was doing and brought me a pair of slaves and would not leave me alone until I agreed to feed on them.” The redheaded demon’s eyes met Seraphine’s as she whispered, “I tried not to, but I killed them Sera.”
Seraphine saw the hurt, guilt, and frustration in her Melrazia’s eyes, the same feelings that she herself felt when she failed to control her nature around the helpless or innocent, not that there were many of either in the Abyss.
“It’s alright Melra, I’m sure you couldn’t help it, and they wouldn’t have lasted long here at any rate. At least you were able to make it far more gentle and compassionate than it would have been otherwise.”
Melrazia, attempted a smile to show that the words of comfort were appreciated, but failed. In the end she shrugged. “I guess, but it doesn’t make it any easier.”
“No it doesn’t,” Seraphine agreed glumly. “So what are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. I don’t suppose you’ve gotten any closer to finding a way to cast a portal out of here?” At Seraphine’s forlorn headshake, Melrazia sighed. “Neither have I. I had thought to disfigure myself so badly as to take away the Prince’s fun, but Elandria already tried that.”
Seraphine grimaced at the reminder of what happened to their mutual acquaintance. Seraphine had no love for Elandria, who was a true succubus in every sense of the word, with the cold, cruel, evil nature that seemed diminished in Seraphine and Melrazia. Still, while a part of Seraphine delighted in the thoughts of the tortures that Elandria must have suffered and craved the chance to inflict such on another being, the majority of her shivered in disgust and fear.
The Prince, in reality a Demon Lord who controlled this plane of the Abyss, had a particular fondness for pretty lesser demonesses, including succubi. In particular, he had a fondness for inflicting the most exquisitely agonizing tortures and disfigurements upon his victims either before or while raping them, often drawing the experience of torture and rape out for days.
The only thing more horrifying and agonizing than what he did to his preferred prey was what he would to those that angered him, and few things angered him more then depriving him of his fun.
Elandria, in the desperate hope of making the Demon Lord lose interest in her, had cut off her own breasts, ears, nose and part of her cheek. The Prince was so enraged that he spent three days locked in a room with her. When he was done, he cast her broken body down into the center of his thrown room where it took her three more days to die as she was slowly eaten away by demon-cursed maggots that the Prince had introduced into Elandria’s eyes and sex.
Seraphine bit her lip as she thought desperately, “There has to be something we can do. Maybe I can seduce one of the Prince’s sorcerers for a portal scroll.”
Melrazia shook her head softly. “I doubt that would work and even if it did, I don’t think there is time to save us both.” She razed her eyes and Seraphine saw the sadness and regret. “I came to say goodbye and thank you Seraphine. You are the closest thing to a friend as demon can have.”
Melrazia pressed her dagger into Seraphine’s hands. “Take this to remember me by. I have the mate. I intend to use it when they come for me if I can.”
Seraphine took the dagger and tucked it into her belt. “I’ll try to find a way to get us out of here,” she promised.
Melrazia snorted, giving her red hair a toss. “If you have the chance, you’ll do the smart thing and run Seraphine. Be well.” With that, the red headed succubus took her leave, slipping up the stairs and leaving Seraphine in the dark as the dark haired succubus tried to figure out how to save her friend.

***

Two mornings later Seraphine was rushing down another corridor trying to get to the chambers that Melrazia shared with her mother, in order to tell Melrazia that she had found a general willing to take them with him to the frontlines of the Blood War. When she got to the chambers Seraphine saw the door was open and the chambers ransacked.
She slid the dagger out of her sheath and entered cautiously, stepping carefully over debris littering the floor. When she reached Melrazia’s bedroom she saw Melrazia’s mother lying in a pool of black ichor, one dark wing nearly torn off.
Seraphine made her way to the fallen succubus leaning over her. “Where is she?” She demanded.
“You’re too late,” Melrazia’s mother croaked, dark blood bubbling out of her mouth with every word. “The Prince already took her.”
“If the Prince took her why are you dying?” Seraphine asked suspiciously.
The older succubus opened her mouth, but it was a deeper voice behind Serpahine that answered. “Because she tried to demand a higher payment from the Prince,” the Balor rumbled, chuckling in twisted amusement. “She sought to become a courtesan. Instead all she earned was her death.” He cocked his head looking over Seraphine. “Your friend is gone.”
Serpahine gripped her dagger tighter, “How long ago?”
The Balor shrugged. “A couple of hours ago.”
Seraphine swore and dogged around him, heading towards the inner sections of the massive citadel near the Prince’s throne room and quarters.
She was nearly two thirds of the way there when she saw a dark circle of energy open up in front of a small, winged Quasit and crimson tentacles reaching out to ensnare the creature.
A summoning spell, Serpahine realized. A desperate hope surged through Seraphine and she raced to the dark portal, grabbing the Quasit and throwing the surprised creature several meters down the corridor, and grabbing the crimson tentacles with both hands. “Sorry, this one’s mine,” she hissed as she was pulled through the portal.

Roses and Fangs: ch. 3. Convergence pt. 7.

Kara smiled as she rested her head against Sam’s shoulder. Her arms were currently looped around Sam’s neck, and his own were gently resting around her hips as they swayed gently. They had gone out with a group of friends to one of the very few dance clubs in the city, and Kara was enjoying the slow song the clubs dj was currently playing.
Kara smiled as she thought about how sharp Sam looked in his black shirt and dress pants, and how her own red cocktail dress complimented the crimson handkerchief that peaked from his breast pocket. With her heels on she was actually slightly taller than Sam, though if anyone noticed no one said anything. She knew from the looks and some of the whispered comments that she and Sam looked good together. Yet one thing still bothered her.
“I should have put on some hose,” Kara winced as her leg brushed against Sam’s as they danced.
“Why? You look fine,” Sam reassured her.
“I changed earlier,” Kara replied softly. “I’m always a little hairy afterwards.”
Sam chuckled lightly, “I wouldn’t have noticed if you didn’t say anything, and I don’t think anyone else could even tell.
Kara growled lightly, “It’s not funny. It’s itchy and gross.”
Sam quit laughing, but he kept his amused smile. “Sorry it itches.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re mocking me.”
“No,” he replied. “I just don’t get why girls make such a big deal about shaving.”
She smirked, “Yeah? Well, when our legs aren’t all smooth and shiny you guys seem to think it’s a big deal.”
“Ah I don’t know. I happen to think you’re quite pretty when you have hairy legs. Especially when you also have a busy tail to go with them.”
“Shush you.” Kara giggled and playfully hit him upside the back of his head, but she smiled as the music changed and she spun around to face away from him.
Her smile grew as he wrapped his arms around her pulling her gently back into him and he whispered into her ear, “I love you.”
There was no hesitation in her answer, nor was there anything but total and complete honesty when she answered. “I love you too, Sam.”

Roses and Fangs: ch. 3. Convergence pt. 6.

Sam met Shelly’s eyes. “What about you?” he asked.
The blonde vampire’s eyes flickered from Sam’s to Kara’s and back. “I don’t know,” she replied honestly, “but I don’t base my friends on who or what they are.”
She looked to Kara and tilted her head. “Jacqueline likes you and speaks highly of you. If she considers you friends, then I will too. Whether you decide to consider me one or not is up to the two of you.”
Jacqueline softly spoke up, “Kara, Sam, I know I don’t have the best track record when it comes to judging character, but I trust Shelly really wouldn’t have introduced her to you if I didn’t think she was a good person. I’m sorry I didn’t ask you first.”
Kara leaned over and patted Jacqueline’s hand reassuringly, “Now you know for next time, and it is nice to see you making friends.”
Something chirped and Shelly pulled out her phone looking at it. “I need to call my family,” she looked at Kara, “Don’t worry, I won’t tell them about you. Mom and Dad like to check in on me every week though.”
Kara shrugged. “It wouldn’t even matter if you did, it’s gonna get out eventually.”
Shelly shook her head. “Not from me. Especially not my family. As I said, I consider you a friend.”
She slid back her chair and slid away. “Sam, Kara, it was nice meeting you. I’ll see you around.”
“Nice meeting you too,” Sam said graciously. Kara echoed him.
“I’ll go with you, Shelly if that’s okay?” Jacqueline asked.
“Of course. I could use the support. I love my parents but they can be very… overbearing.” Shelly winced.
Jacqueline collected hugs from Sam and Kara, and then followed her roommate out the door.
Kara resumed eating, wincing as she realized her meal was now nearly room temperature. “Well, she seemed nice enough,” she said at last.
“For a vampire you mean,” Sam finished for her.
Kara shook her head. “Sam, I’m scared of vampires, but that doesn’t mean I hate them all.”
“Are you scared of me?” Sam asked softly.
Kara sighed sadly. “I try not to be, but it’s hard to fight instincts and twenty years of having my parents instilling in me that every vampire I meet will try to kill me.”
Sam wrapped his arm around her and they finished their meals in silence.
***
A couple of days later Jacqueline found herself walking up the hill toward Stuart hall with Trina, a beautiful half-Asian girl with soft brown eyes and dark hair. Though she often seemed very submissive and rarely met anyone’s eyes, or spoke up, Jacqueline found Trina to be a sweet, cheerful girl with a wicked since of humor and a penchant for mischief.
Trina had just finished a story about her latest prank on her roommate with whom Trina was in a good-natured prank war with, when Shelly came up from behind them. “Hey, girls,” Shelly greeted them brightly.
“Hey Shelly,” Jacqueline smiled.
“Hello Shelly,” Trina gave a wave then turned to Jacqueline. “I just remembered I have a report due Monday, and I want to get it done before the weekend. I’ll catch you later, okay?”
Jacqueline blinked, “Um okay.”
Shelly sighed as Trina hurried on ahead. “She’s definitely afraid of me.”
Jacqueline shrugged. “Maybe she just remembered the report.”
Shelly shook her head, “Even, if she does, she’s just using it as an excuse. She is terrified of me, though she hides it well. Most people wouldn’t notice.”
Jacqueline looked over at her friend. “I guess I am one of those people, then. She looked the same to me.”
Shelly bit her lip and lowered her voice slightly. “I’m not sure how much Kara and Sam have told you, but Weres have much better hearing and smell then humans. They can even see in the dark better humans. Vampires don’t have quite as good hearing or smell, though we do have better vision.” She paused and hesitated slightly. “Vampires and weres can smell fear really well. Vampires can also sense things like heart rate and muscle tension.”
Shelly kicked a rock on the pavement venting her frustration slightly. “She was relaxed while she was talking to you. The moment I said hi her heart rate went way up, she tensed up and grew afraid. Her voice changed slightly too.”
“Wow, you guys are like superheroes,” Jacqueline observed. “With all these awesome powers you have.”
Shelly stopped suddenly and grabbed Jacqueline’s arm spinning the girl around till they looked each other in the eyes. “We are not better than you Jackie. We may be stronger, faster, and have senses that are more sensitive then you, but that doesn’t make us better,” She spoke angerly.
“In fact, in many ways it makes us worse. Many of us have an enhanced brutality and savagery to go with those enhanced senses, speed and strength. And we have other weaknesses too. Never forget that Jackie. It just might save your life.” With that, she stalked on ahead while Jacqueline hurried to catch up.

Roses and Fangs: ch. 3. Convergence pt. 5.

The weekend came and went without Kara, Sam, and Jacqueline seeing much of each other. Kara spent the evenings in her room shut away, riding out the effects of the full moon. Sam spent allot of his free time either in the art labs or in his dorm working on his art. Jacqueline was spending time with her new roommate whom was fast turning into a good friend.
By Monday, all three were feeling tired and dragging themselves to classes. During the one of the classes she and Sam shared, Kara kept stealing glances at him as she took notes.
After the class, she hung back to ask the professor some questions. By the time she was done, Sam had already left. She looked for him in the humanities plaza but didn’t see him. She headed on to the cafeteria and grabbed herself a pita pizza. She took her time eating it. When she was done she headed over to the art building.
She found him in one of the drawing classes. There were about fifteen students in the room seated in a semi circle with their easels in front of them.
They were facing a model that Kara didn’t know whether she was a student or not. The model was in a quasi-Victorian dress with fishnets. Although the model was in a suggestive pose, Kara was amused to discover she was relieved the model wasn’t nude.
The professor, a woman in her forties with chestnut hair that was just beginning to show signs of grey, waved Kara in. Embarrassed, Kara walked over to the professor. “Can I help you?” the woman asked Kara quietly.
“Sorry, my friend is in your class and I was curious,” Kara said.
“Well, we’re just doing some position exercises, the professor stated, but you’re welcome to stay and watch if you like.” The professor looked up over her class and called out, “Time.”
The students all tacked fresh paper on their easels while the model changed positions. She stretched out on her back, giving it a slight arch and raising one knee up to reveal the fishnets she wore under the gown. The sensuality of the model’s pose wasn’t lost on her audience and many were paying more attention to her then their sketches.
Even Sam didn’t seem quite immune though he didn’t seem quite as distracted as some of the others, especially the other men. Even so, he didn’t seem aware of Kara’s presence as she pulled up a chair beside him and Kara ruefully felt a pang of jealousy for the look that the model was able to present and the attention she commanded and secretly wondered if she were a vampire.
As she settled in beside him she noticed in the minute or so he had already managed to lay out the general shape of the model on paper, the dark charcoal lines stark against the white paper. As he began to fill in the shape with more defining lines, Kara noticed Sam was being a bit more generous with some curves and a bit less with others. In fact the general body shape didn’t quite match the model’s at all, even though the lines of the dress that Sam was making seemed to match. It was almost as if he was drawing someone else in the exact same pose and dress.
Knowing the extent of Sam’s talent Kara couldn’t believe that usch a discrepancy was anything but deliberate. Intrigued she looked down at the pile of sketches on the floor beside the easel and saw a consistency in the discrepancies that carried through all his drawings. In face even the texture of the model’s hair was consistently different then that of the model’s.
“A more egotistical and self-centered girl who saw these might think that you were drawing her instead of the model,” she whispered.
Sam blinked and seemed to notice her for the first time but went back to drawing quickly. “If that self-centered girl was sitting beside me right now, she would be right,” he whispered back.
“Time.” The call cut across the room causing Sam and the other students to add their current sketches to the piles and start over as the model chose a new pose. As Sam settled into his new drawing, Kara impulsively leaned over, tilting her head against his shoulder. One of his lines went errant and he paused for a moment blinking, but then he smiled and adjusted for the unexpected motion.
Something inside Kara that she could no longer deny crept into her thoughts and she admitted to herself that this felt right to her. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the professor looking at her, and she wondered if she was about to be thrown out of the classroom, but then the professor flashed a smile and winked. Taking that to mean that the professor was condoning her behavior she continued to snuggle against Sam while he worked.
Allowing herself to shut her eyes and take in the scents of the wood, charcoal, dried paint, and sweat that permeated the room, she focused in on the smell that was Sam and found to her surprise that though it still triggered racial instincts buried deep within her, the smell was also deeply comforting to her on a level that she could not describe. In that moment she realized that deep inside she had already made a decision, and that despite the fact it petrified her, that she couldn’t imagine any other future. Taking a deep, terrified breath, she let it out in a single word, “yes.” Reaching around to squeeze Sam’s arm as he paused his sketching she repeated herself as if to reassure herself of her resolve, “Yes.”

***

Sam hadn’t really been paying attention during the class, and while he realized that many of the other students, male and female were seemingly ruptured with the admittedly sensuous model, he was not. Instead, he was zoned into his own thoughts, daydreams really, imagining it was Kara that was modeling and not some sensuous housewife the professor happened to know.
He was startled then when Kara was suddenly beside him commenting about the lack of accuracy off his drawings with a wry amused expression. Her amusement relieved him, though he was embarrassed that she realized what he was doing, at least she didn’t think he was obsessed. In fact, judging by the way she was resting her head on his shoulder, she seemed to find the gesture somehow comforting or reassuring. He wasn’t sure which.
Aware that the professor was watching them, he quickly resumed his work. However a new energy and passion poured itself though the simple charcoal and made itself present on the paper. If Kara wasn’t modeling for him, at least she was beside him. Beside him in a way that she had never been before, and the sheer power of the emotions he felt were translating themselves to the page. He allowed himself to be lost in the moment.
So it was understandable that the sudden smell of fear radiating of Kara caused him to be distracted and he almost missed her first whisper. He blinked, uncertain at first as to what she meant, but then she squeezed his arm while repeating herself, and the way in which she snuggled closer to him, as if drawing strength from him left little doubt as to what she meant. He wrapped his arm around her, and though it was an awkward way to draw, he spent the remainder of the class like that.

***

Early that evening after their classes were over, the two of them were in humanities plaza, Kara laying with her head resting comfortably in Sam’s lap. Kara still felt nervous, but that nervousness was mitigated somewhat by Sam’s reassuring touch. Even more reassuring were the smiles of some of their mutual friends. Even Erica paused just long enough to flash a wave as she passed by.
As it started to get dark they decided to grab food. For reasons neither would remember later they both agreed on the cafeteria in Virginia Kettering hall. Both were feeling exceptionally hungry and their trays were quite loaded by the time they were ready to sit down.
As they swiped their meal cards, and looked for a place to sit, Kara noticed Jacqueline seated with a group of girls laughing and seemingly enjoying herself immensely. One girl in particular, a blonde seemed to be sharing allot of laughs with Jacqueline. She seemed to notice Kara staring at Jacqueline and gave her a nudge. Jacqueline looked up, and seeing Kara flashed a big smile and tossed a friendly wave.
“Jacqueline seems to be looking a little happier,” Kara remarked as she and Sam sat down together a few tables away.
“Yeah, looks like she made some new friends,” Sam replied. “I’m glad for her, she seemed kind of lonely.”
“Yeah definitely,” Kara nodded thoughtfully. “I just hope they treat her well.”
“Better then that creep from last summer, for sure.” Sam’s brows darkened. He tried unsuccessfully to suppress a shudder at the unpleasant memory.
“I’m sorry you had to kill him,” Kara stated softly. She leaned in, resting her head on his shoulder.
Sam wrapped his arm around her. “I’m not,” he replied honestly. “Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t enjoy it, but in the same situation I would have done it again. I probably would have even if he hadn’t come at me with the knife.”
Kara looked up at him questioningly. “It’s one thing to hurt someone cause you need to eat, to defend someone, or to defend yourself. Hell, it’s even one thing to do it as part of a consensual sex act. But there is nothing more evil then to hurt someone simply because you enjoy it. And that creep did. Trust me I could smell it on him,” Sam explained. “People like him are far and away the most dangerous kind of predators.”
Kara looked away. She knew Charley hadn’t been the first kill for either of them, although until that point all of Kara’s had been animals. She wasn’t sure about Sam, and she really didn’t want to know.
“So what do you think of the ribs,” she asked changing the subject.
If the abrupt change in topic surprised Sam he didn’t let it show. “Better than I would have expected from a cafeteria,” he admitted. “But overall the food here is pretty good.”
Kara nodded. “You should attend an event that the university does the catering for,” she grined. “The catering here is amazing. Better then allot of restraints even.”
Sam grunted. “You’ll just have to take me to some of them.”
Kara smiled. “If I’m allowed to bring a date, I will.”
She looked up and noticed the group that Jacqueline was with cleaning up and taking their trays to the conveyer. She was about to wave a farewell when she realized that Jacqueline was dragging the blonde their way. “Hey, Jacqueline,” She stood and greeted the younger girl with a hug then moved to the side as Sam followed suit.
“Hey Kara, Sam,” Jacqueline beamed, as she then moved around the table and sat down across from the couple. The blonde girl sat next to her. “Shelly these are the people that saved my life last summer. Guys, this is my new roommate Shelly.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Shelly reached her hand across the table to Sam and then Kara. As Kara shook it her eyes met Shelly’s and she froze while they reacted. Sam also noticed the reaction and tensed up. As Kara drew her hand back, Jacqueline also froze realizing from Kara’s look and Sam’s glare that she might have made a mistake.
Shelly, cleared her throat and tried to stay relaxed. “Jacqueline told me allot about you,” she said softly so that only the four of them could hear, “but she didn’t tell me that either of you was a vampire or a were. Please don’t be mad at her, I don’t think she realizes we can recognize each other.”
Jacqueline was pale as a ghost and looking down like she was about to cry. “I thought that if Erica knew Shelly, it would be alright,” She floundered helplessly. “What did I do wrong now?”
“You just endangered Kara and me,” Sam was looking livid at this point, and Kara reached out to squeeze his arm.
“Relax Sam, she didn’t realize what she was doing. I’ve barely started to explain things to her.” Kara’s voice trembled more then she wanted but she tried to calm Sam down.
“Jacqueline, remember how allot of weres are still afraid of vampires?” Shelly asked gently. When Jacqueline nodded, she continued, “sometimes, they have good reason. Vampires are allot like humans, some good, some not, some prejudiced, some not. Weres, at least the few that I’ve met are much the same. It’s not always a good idea to bring the attention of a were to a vampire or vice versa, at least without asking first.”
Jacqueline looked down, “I’m sorry.”
Surprisingly it was Sam that reached across and patted Jacqueline’s arm. “Just ask us next time, Jacquie. Okay?”
Jacqueline looked up at the nickname and nodded. Despite being upset, the fact that Sam used a nickname for her both pleased and relieved and a wisp of a smile briefly touched her lips.
Shelly gave her roommate an uncomfortable smile. “I think I am making your friends nervous, I’ll just meet you back at the room.” She turned to face Sam and Kara. “It was nice meeting both of you.” She hesitated briefly then continued in a very soft voice that Jaqueline could just barely hear. “You two look good together.”
Jacqueline nodded sadly but Kara shook her head. “Stay if you want.”
Shelly blinked and looked at Kara. “You sure? I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
Kara shrugged. “There seem to be allot of Kindred here, and as you figured out, I’m with Sam so no doubt I’ll be meeting allot more. I may as well start getting used to it now.”
Sam’s hand reached for Kara’s and gave her a reassuring squeeze, but he remained quiet and Kara sensed he was feeling as nervous as she was.
Shelly chewed her lip lightly. “For what it’s worth, I’m a little nervous too. I don’t really have many were friends. At least that know what I am. It was kind of…discouraged when I was growing up.”
She shrugged apologetically. “My family isn’t exactly what you call progressive."

Roses and Fangs: ch. 3. Convergence pt. 4.

Kara looked up from her screen, startled as someone knocked on her door. “Come in,” she called. She flinched as the door opened to reveal Erica carrying a brown bag.
If Erica saw the flinch she ignored it and gestured to the edge of Kara’s bed. “Mind if I sit?”
“Go ahead,” Kara saved her work and turned to face Erika trying very hard to hide her anxiety. “Thanks again for switching with me.”
“No problem, I hope Monday is enough time for the moon’s effects to be less…” Erica hesitated searching for words.
“Problematic?” Kara supplied helpfully. “Yeah. Saturday is the full moon so by Monday it will have waned enough that I can handle it without shifting.”
“Good, that works out for me anyways. I have an exam on Tuesday that will be a bitch.” She reached into the bag she had brought with her pulling out two cans. “Want a beer?”
“Please,” Kara shrugged reaching over to nudge the door shut. “Aren’t you on duty?”
“Not for a little while yet,” Erica shrugged as she popped open her own can and took a sip.
Kara sipped her own and awkward seconds passed slowly as she and Erica sat eyeing each other over their beers. Finally Kara broke the silence. “So somehow I doubt you just stopped by to share a beer, so what exactly is it you do want?”
Erica sighed and sat holding her beer in both hands. She let out a slow breath before meeting Kara’s eyes, wincing at Kara’s flinch when their eyes locked and reacted “Sam is in love with you.”
Kara nodded slowly never taking her eyes off Erica. “I know. He’s made it pretty clear.”
Erica studied Kara’s face intently. “And do you feel the same about him?”
Kara sighed setting her beer on the desk behind her and leaning forward. “I told him not to pressure me,” she growled.
“Relax, he doesn’t even know I’m here.” Erica held up her hands as if to shield herself from Kara’s anger. “I came on my own. I realize you and I have never exactly been as close friends as I would have liked, but I always liked you almost as much as Sam does. Haven’t I always treated you as a friend?”
Kara relaxed a little and nodded. “Yeah you have.”
“Then can you accept that I might have my own reasons for wanting to know if you feel the same about my cuz as he does about you??”
Kara hesitated for a few seconds before finally nodding slowly. “Okay, I’ll accept that. I guess it would only be natural to know if a were dared to love a vampire.”
Erica sat up and slamed the remains of her beer onto the desk next to Kara’s, leaning down so she looked Kara in the eyes. Kara flinched and backed away as the dark-haired vampire glared at Kara. “I don’t give a damn that you’re a were, Kara. What I care about is the fact my cousin is so in love with you that it sometimes hurts to watch. He has never even looked at another girl. You are the girl he wants.”
The vampire continued to glare at Kara. “I know he does,: the werewolf said softly.
“Do you love him?” Erica pressed.
“Of course I do.”
“As much as he loves you?” Erica’s eyes searched Kara’s.
Kara hesitated. “Probably.” The vampires arched her eyebrows but Kara continued before she could speak. “He is so intense about it, and at times his intensity almost scares me. I do love him, Erica. I just don’t know if its as much as he does me, or even if I love him enough,” she admitted softly, her eyes dropping to stare at her lap.
Erica backed away from the werewolf, taking her beer with her. She sipped it thoughtfully, the silence in the room building into a palpable tension. At last she tossed the empty can into the trash and headed for the door much to Kara’s relief.
As she opened the door Erica turned around to face Kara. “Kara, I can’t tell you what to do, but I think you are causing yourself and Sam both allot of unnecessary pain.”
Kara sighed, “What if they come after us?”
“This isn’t the seventeen hundreds anymore Kara. It’s not even the nineteen hundreds. I doubt that many will come after you, and if they do, you’re not alone.”
Kara blinked. “You don’t care if I date your cousin?”
Erica shrugged. “You gotta follow you’re your heart Kara.” With that she walked out and pulled the door shut behind her.
She’s so scared of vampires she can’t see what’s in front of her, she thought to herself sadly. She’s missing out because she is afraid of what the vampires will do to her if she goes out with Sam. She shook her head sadly. Well, there might be some that would do something stupid, but there’s bigots everywhere. I just hope she won’t let her fears prevent her from a chance at happiness.
Back in Kara’s room, Kara was turning thoughtfully back to her computer, her mind only half focused on her assignment.

***

The next day Jacqueline came back to her new dorm room to see Shelly stocking up the refrigerators. “Hey, probably only want to use the one in front,” she suggested, as the dark haired girl came into the room and closed the door.
“Why’s that?” Jacqueline asked.
“Well I store the blood in the back one,” Shelly explained. I hide it behind some pop cans, and it comes in sealed packs but, I find the smell and taste still tend to get into everything else,” she scrunched her nose up. “And if its unappetizing to me, I can only imagine what it would be like for humans.” She shrugged.
“Um yeah, I’ll use the one in the front then,” Jacqueline smiled. “Thanks for the warning.”
“No problem. Thanks for not getting all grossed out by your blood drinking roomie.”
Jacqueline chuckled. “It’s just nice to have a roommate that doesn’t seem to hate my guts.”
Shelly shrugged. “Well I haven’t had any problems with you yet. I’ll admit it’s a challenge living with humans, but it is easier now that I don’t have to hide what I am from you.”
She gave a warm smile as she finished with the refrigerator and stood up. “The other girls want us to join them for dinner at VWK. I figured we could hang out a bit until then if that’s okay?”
The darker haired girl couldn’t contain her grin. “Sounds great. What did you have in mind?”
Shelly cocked her head to the side. “Well I figured we could talk while we figure out while we rearrange the room a bit. What do you think about moving the desks around to the side and putting the refrigerators over there?”
By the time the knock on the door told the girls it was time for dinner, the two had managed to rearrange the room at least twice to find the maximum open area and were already coming up with ideas for how to spend the weekend. Shelly couldn’t help but notice how happy her roommate seemed just to have someone that genuinely wanted her around and couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to make her so sad and lonely.

Roses and Fangs: ch. 3. Convergence pt. 3.

Twenty minutes later Jacqueline heard the sound of a key turning in the door. She turned around in time to see a slender girl with long wavy blond hair and narrow rimmed glasses glide into the room. The girl sat her backpack just inside the door and paused running her hands nervously down her crimson turtleneck and jeans before shutting the door and turning back to Jacqueline.
Cracking a smile, the girl shyly extended her hand. “Hi you must be the new roommate. I’m Shelly. I was told you know what I am even though you’re um… a human.” She finished lamely.
Jacqueline smiled taking the hand and shaking it lightly. “Yeah, I do. I’m Jacqueline. You can call me Jackie if you really want.” She glanced Shelly over as shelly picked up her bag and went to her desk.
As Shelly powered up her laptop she looked over. “I um, had the top bunk when Michelle was here, but if you want it we can trade. I really don’t have a preference, I just took it cause it was easier for Michelle and me.”
Jacqueline shook her head with a grin. “Nah bottom bunk is fine with me. I’m just glad to get out of the floor I was on.”
Shelly frowned, her brown eyes focusing on Jacqueline intensely. “That bad huh? Must be if you agreed to share a room with me, knowing what I am.”
Jacqueline shrugged. “Not really, just none of the other girls wanted anything to do with me.”
“Well, you shouldn’t have that problem here. Everyone on this floor seems friendly,” Shelly shrugged. “I think everyone is human except for Erika and me. Well maybe not Trina. I kinda suspect she might be a werecat.”
“Werecat? Don’t you mean werewolf?” Jacqueline blinked.
“Nope. There’s many kinds of were creatures. I’d know if she was a werewolf. I am pretty sure she’s a were though, the way she avoids directly looking at anyone’s eyes but tries to look just above or below them. Usually that means were or vampire. On top of that she doesn’t smell human.”
“So if she’s a werecat what will you do?”
“Why would I do anything? Unless she or her family try and attack me, I’m not going to do anything. She seems nice enough.” Shelly smiled uneasily. “I guess you’ve been told a bit about the history between vampires and weres.”
Jacqueline nodded as she plopped herself down on the bunk. “Some. I was told weres and vampires don’t get along real well.”
Shelly’s smile disappeared. “Yeah that’s true, though things aren’t as bad as they used to be. I don’t know what you know about the history, but from what I know there’s fault on all sides of it, but the majority of it rests with us. We didn’t treat any of the were races well, enslaving some, killing others, playing them off against each other, that kind of thing. We can’t change history, but I hope someday we can all get along.”
She turned back to her laptop. “Like computer games?” she asked as she loaded one up on her system. “Personally, I’m addicted to RPGS and online worlds.”
Jacqueline shook her head. “Tried Second Life a few times. That’s about the most of my gaming.”
“Ah played that for a couple years. Got tired of the drama.” Shelly let out an exaggerated sigh. “All the roleplay sims were all about who was sleeping with whom, or who got changed from a neko to a demon by what virus. Got pretty stupid and predictable after a while.”
Jacqueline fell back into her bed chuckling lightly. “Yeah that was pretty much my experience there too. I just couldn’t get into it.” She smiled over at the vampire. “So mind if I ask you a personal question?”
Shelly looked back and arched an eyebrow. “Shoot.”
“You’re not exactly what I expected as a vampire,” Jacqueline began.
“Ahh, you want to know why I don’t have the whole goth wannabe or Lolita seductress thing going on?” Shelly cracked a wide grin.
Jacqueline blushed and nodded.
“Well, don’t believe all the stories you read. Real vampires are as diverse as humans. I never really got into the goth scene. Too pretentious for me. Besides I always felt more at home with books, pencils, or computers then I did with people, though I probably was the only nerd homecoming queen in the whole history of my high school.”
“You were homecoming queen?” Jacqueline blinked.
Shelly giggled. “Yep. I hadn’t planned on running but the little high society socialites picked on one of my friends led by Dana the lead cheerleader, and I decided to teach them a lesson. Dana was so sure she would be homecoming queen but she messed with the wrong vampire. By the time I was done, I was homecoming queen, Whitney was runner up, and Dana didn’t even get a single vote.”
“Wow, how did you accomplish that?”
Shelly grew more serious and her brown eyes intensely peering into Jacqueline’s. “I used my vampire abilities. Whatever we are, we are still predators. One of our natural abilities is to attract humans—and each other—to our selves. Some of us are better then others at it.” She shrugged. “I happen to be quite good at it when I want to be. That was one of the few times I wanted to be.”
“Must be nice, to be able to charm anyone you want like that.” Jacqueline couldn’t quite keep all the envy and pain out of her voice.
“It can be, but it can be a curse too. You tend not to know if someone likes you for you or if they like you because of your pheromones. You also tend to attract allot of creeps.”
“I know all about creeps,” Jacqueline said softly. Unbidden tears welled up in her eyes and she looked away.
Shelly blinked then walked over to sit beside Jacqueline. She was actually a little shorter then Jacqueline but she pulled the darker haired girl into her arms holding her close till she quieted. “Shhh. I’m here. No one will hurt you if I can help it. And if I can’t I’ll make them pay.” Shelly’s words were intended to comfort Jacqueline, but the vampire was surprised to find she meant every one.

Jaqueline's Song (Roses and Fangs)

Everyday
I wake up wondering
Just what I will get from you
Everyday
I lay here shivering
Praying I’ll find something new

Every night
I hide all these bruises
I feel very deep inside
Every night
I wish nightmares of us
Were something I could confide

‘Cause every day with you
It’s It’s like roses and fangs
And you know it’s such a shame
‘Cause you know that I love you
What will I get from you?
And every day with you
I never know how it hangs
And you know I hate this game
What will I get from you?
Will it be roses or fangs?

Every time
I feel the sting of your hand
I die a li’l more inside
Every time
I decide to make a stand
Instead I must run and hide

‘Cause every day with you
It’s It’s like roses and fangs
And you know it’s such a shame
‘Cause you know that I love you
What will I get from you?
And every day with you
I never know how it hangs
And you know I hate this game
What will I get from you?
Will it be roses or fangs?

You know your love can be the sweetest thing
But your anger makes you a tyrant king
And you’re killing the queen the way you reign
Oh can anyone out there end this pain?

‘Cause every day with you
It’s It’s like roses and fangs
And you know it’s such a shame
‘Cause you know that I love you
What will I get from you?
And every day with you
I never know how it hangs
And you know I hate this game
What will I get from you?
Will it be roses or fangs?

What will I get from you?
Will it be roses or fangs?

What will I get from you?
Will it be roses or fangs?