Disclaimers:
      º  If you haven't read the main disclaimers in the prologue and part 1 ... then continue at your own peril.
      º  Not yet beta-ed
      º  Warning 1: Intimacy between Andy/OC. Miranda/Andy
      º  Warning 2:  Lotta Violence.
      º  Warning 2:  Blood play between vampire lovers.
      º  Authors note: This update is about 38 pages long (as per Google.doc count)
      º  Feedback: Tastes like chicken. I love chicken.


One man's dream; another vampire's reality...


"You are a vampire. And you are more. You are Brethren. Use it!"

'How!' Andy wanted to know. How the hell was she supposed to use anything when she could barely keep her insides from spilling from her mouth in pain induced nausea?

Andy wasn't haven't a great deal of fun with this latest lesson.

"Oomph!"

She struck the wall hard, fell to the ground, blood gushing from her split bottom lip; her body ached.

In fact, Andy wasn't ashamed to admit that the previous three weeks of erotic dreams of sex, blood and hunting had been far more pleasant. And at least there'd been no broken bones.

But now, she wondered if she had in fact done something to tick dream Miranda off.

Her hair follicles ached ... even her eyelashes whimpered in agony. She could barely breathe and her fingers were numb and for that she was at least thankful given that they had been smashed and twisted and very likely beyond repair.

She had moved pass the ability for tears; those had dried eons ago, her dry sockets ached too much to tolerate the salty moisture. And screams had been repeatedly sucked from her lungs by forceful impacts with the wall, a hammering fist or a kick to the gut each and every time.

"It is not a 'thing'. It is not a 'beast' which resides inside you, to be locked away and unleashed only when needed."

She couldn't figure out what she'd done wrong.

"Every day. Every hour. Every second," the lecture continued, "It. Is. What. You. Are."

"Oh god." Andy grunted out as foot or something hard slammed into her back, driving her to the floor.

'She's trying to kill me.'

This lesson what or whatever it was, torture, punishment had begun the minute she'd descended.

It had been dark but Andy had immediately been able to make out the steep stairs forming in the dream land for her to descend. Andy had reached the bottom stair, stepped down and sensing a vague but familiar presence that had almost reminded her of Miranda she had snickered at the S and M feel to the place.

In that instant it had been as though she'd been robbed of all sight. An unnatural darkness had descended upon the world. Blind Andy had reached out in the dark to get her baring. She'd been grabbed from behind by a cold presence, struck in the back of the head and then slammed face first into a wall she would have sworn had not been there seconds earlier.

Andy had known right away that she'd been in for a world of pain.

She'd been right.

"Distractions are costly in the battle." Miranda's voice reached out to her. "Too often the young fail to grasp the meaning of survival. Endurance is that which truly marks the spirit of a champion."

Andy knelt bowed over on the ground, clutching her injured arm to her aching ribs, while trying to shake the cobwebs from her brain.

"Why are doing this?" She wheezed out.

"It's not about whether or not you are stronger, or faster, or smarter." Miranda's voice seemed to emanate from some shadowy alcove. "This is about pain and endurance."

Pissed off by the unfairness and unwarranted attack, Andy rose to her feet prepared to fight back. She was slammed again, this time the fist catching her under the chin, flipping her over until she landed hard, belly down on top of her arm re-breaking it on impact.

"Miranda." She groaned, swallowed hard and climbed to her feet again. "Miranda, stop this."

"How many times can you get back up after being knock down—after being broken?"

Swinging blindly as she felt the presence drawing nearer, with her unwounded arm, Andy connected with thin air. How did one combat something that seemed to be made from air.

"Will anger rule you? Will pain defeat you?" Andy clamored back to her feet. "How does it feel, knowing the people you trusted, befriended, the man you gave yourself to in your mistaken assumption of love, drugged you, violated you sexually, and then drained your blood dry?"

"Shut up!" Andy yelled. A blow to the gut flattened her on her back. She rolled over into a ball, groaning from the crack in her ribs.

"And Christian, another lover ... were you drunk that night, in Paris when he sweetly coaxed you to spread your legs—distraught over the possible loss of your not so darling chef? Did he whisper to you about how different you were from other girls?"

"Shut up." Andy grunted; she forced her body to stand, once again taking a defensive posture.

"As long as you're standing, as long as you can get back up, Andy Sachs, survival, triumph is always within reach. But if the enemy can put you down... and keep you down... then all is lost."

On an on it went. Until Andy was emotionally drained from the verbal assaults on her psyche and physically overwhelmed from the physical attacks.

Andy whimpered, a broken lump of pulp on the ground. Her head spinning, her ribs cracked, her nose broken. She wasn't so sure anything but her back and skull remained intact, and she wasn't so certain about the skull.

"Get up."

"I can't."

Blood gushed from her nose; her eyes were swollen, her right arm was twisted at an odd angle and her left wrist was fractured. Her right leg hurt like a sonuvabitch.

"Get up."

Maybe death would be better. Maybe she wasn't strong enough for this. She'd been fighting, it seemed from the moment, Christian had made an appearance at her door. If this is all there was too look forward to. Pain. Pain. And more pain. Why go on?

"I can't."

"I do not accept that."

"Fuck you!" she choked out, and then groaned in pain.

"The weak die—they are weeded out like the chaff—you have only just begun, a few pitiful taps and already ... you prove yourself unfit for existence."

There was a long drawn out silence as she lie on the ground panting, drawing in shallow breaths.

"Finish her off."

"What?" Andy tried to blink through her swollen eyes. "No! You don't just kill someone for not passing a stupid test!" Goddamn it ... why couldn't they just give her a few days and let her take it again. Or just pass her with D. This was joke. It had to be.

But she could feel whatever it was that had been tormenting her getting closer. Andy she shook her head and found herself seriously backpedaling on that 'why go on' question. Because she absolutely ... did not want to die.

"No!" she called out. "Miranda, don't do this! Don't do this!"

"Finish her!" echoed from all around her.

Desperate, Andy used her elbows to drag herself backwards towards, crying out in agony with each move. It was getting closer toying with her.

"Finish her."

"Please don't do this." The wall was at her back and she clenched her jaw and cried out when her right tibula snapped. "Oh god!" She clenched her jaw again and bit down hard on her split lip. Andy roared in agony as she pressed her back against the wall and pushed up with her left foot.

"No!" She thrust out her the hand with the fractured wrist. "That's enough!"

Wheezing, she felt her blood gushing to her feet, like water from a fountain. Shoots of fiery pain shot up her right leg from the light pressure she bore on it. Her head was cloudy and fuzzed from concussion.

"I've had enough of the bullshit!"

She tried to focus, shaking her head, waiting for the attack trying to brace herself for the killing blow.

"That's enough." Miranda voice reached out like salvation and grace. And the cold presence Andy felt was suddenly gone.

But she was too frightened to let herself fall over.

Suddenly another was there, beside her whispering soothingly in her ringing ear; a finger stroking an unbruised section of cheek, as if to say 'There. There. Good doggy.'

"Miranda," Andy choked out. "Why?" her voice weak and small. "Why?" The tears came then torturing her swollen eyelids.

"You were made to withstand this and more."

The touch felt all wrong, the fingers too wide, too long and rough like the brittle texture of papyrus parchment. But Andy found she absolutely did not give a fuck, because that touch felt so infinitely much better than the ass kicking she'd just lived through, that she whimpered at the sweetness of it, moving her face closer to the touch as though it were her only lifeline.

"Whenever we think we have reached our limits of endurance, we must expand those limits." Andy nodded unable to see the elder vampire, even without having been blinded by the unnatural darkness, her eyes had swollen shut. "Lesson's over, Andy."

Andy used her left leg to allow herself a slow slide down the wall. She didn't dare sob, weep.

"You're not Miranda," She whispered. Miranda, not even dream Miranda had ever called her Andy. Doubtless ever would.

She sensed the shift in the air and heard the rustle of movement as the impostor squatted down beside her and extended a slashed wrist. Dangling it before Andy's nose.

"Blood calls to blood." The impostor whispered. "Drink, Andy Sachs." Andy slowly leaned her head towards the scent of blood. "Slowly. I offer you the ichor of the gods. Savor it."

Andy found herself sinking into bliss as blood coated her tongue and slid down her throat warming every cold place and making the hurts more bearable. She whimpered when the wrist was taken away.

The blood was different, not sweet like the real Miranda's well her 'dream Miranda's blood. This blood was bitter but potent more than she could remember from any other dream. The wrist was placed to her lips again and Andy drank until she was endanger of gorging herself. She felt drunk, dizzy and lightheaded from the beating and from the blood.

She felt the world spinning, but her fogged mind held on to her discovery.

"You're not Miranda." she whispered, her tone like that of a petulant child. But she was relieved that even in her dreams the Miranda she knew, and still cared so deeply for would not go this far. Could not be this cruel.

"How astute." The voice, now masculine whispered with fondness. "We'll meet again. Childe of my childe."

Andy yelped when she was eased onto her back.

She closed her eyes and thankfully unconsciousness claimed her.


"So much more than I could have ever hoped for."

Yupanqui stood there for a moment his assessing gaze roaming over the broken face and body laying at his feet. There was no time to draw this out, else he would pleasure so in teaching this one all that he knew and in the manner in which he had learned.

"So very like my Miranda. And yet so vastly different."

He crouched above the young vampire, his fingers caressing her temple.

"My time draws nigh swiftly. The sands in the hour glass are ever shifting."

More. There needs to be more. And he would give it. He knelt and pressed his lips near her ear.

"Find me," he whispered, "You are my blood, Andy Sachs. Find the link between me and thee. Follow it. And find me." His dream form faded away. Yupanqui's essence returned to his sleeping body.


Andy wakened with a sickening jolt.

"Oh my god!"

She groaned, clutching an arm against the ghost of soreness in her ribs.

"What in the hell was that!"

Eyes darting around wildly, she felt a wave of panic upon noticing Raja had not yet returned.

Otis! Andy tried to clear the lingering cobwebs from her brain. She'd go see Otis.

She tried and failed to sit up.

Her body trembled with fatigue; a wave of lethargy took hold of her limbs and Andy tried to keep her heavy eyes from drooping closed again.

A vision flashed before her, Andy reached out a hand towards the hallucination with a sudden sense of desperate longing.

"Miranda." She whispered.

A loud popping sound filled the hovel and then a ringing that had her cringing at its loudness and shrill tone pierced the thin membrane of her eardrums.

Andy clapped her hands over her ears; the world fractured like a mirror. Shards splintered around her and then suddenly the pieces flew back together.

Andy was no longer in the hovel she now shared with Raja.

She blinked as her vision came back sharply into focus. She knew this room. Stunned, she glanced around fearfully. She knew exactly where she was. This is impossible.

She searched diligently for anything out of place, some sign of a distortion, evidence that this was a dream. But everything was in place, everything as she remembered.

The grandfather clock in the corner giving the hour of seven-thirty a.m. was exactly in the spot Andy remembered. Even in other dreams which had seemed real, felt real, there'd been some since of displacement. Something that let her know she was no longer in the realm of the physical. Sometimes it was as simple as time passing too quickly or too slowly. Darkness that was unnatural.

But this...

Movement caught her attention.

Andy felt the world dip, spin and then right itself again as she came face to face with her dream and fantasy. Miranda entered the office, her head bent, brow slightly furrowed as she looked over whatever she held in her right hand, a mug of steaming coffee in the other. Andy could smell the freshly brewed scent.

Her eyes roamed with reckless openness over the soft lines of the Marc Jacobs dress Miranda wore, a short slit up each side, just above the knee. The belt at Miranda's waist served to accentuate the round curves of her hips, where Andy knew her hands would fit perfectly, and the soft rise of the dress' bodice unadorned by jewelry; her pale slender neck was a naked invitation.

Andy stifled a moan as Miranda was seated, dragging her eyes upward, tearing them from Miranda's lips and finally settling on the startled blue eyes. Miranda's lips parted for a moment forming no sound. And then the words came, a stilted question whispered in a tone which conveyed undisguised shock.

"How did you get in here?"

A pale brow arched when Andy didn't immediately reply.

"Miranda?" Andy murmured, uncertainty in her tone.

This could not be real. But the evidence that the seated woman was just as stunned and just as confused as Andy was evident in her uncharacteristic limited verbal reaction.

"This is a dream." Andy blurted.

Andy felt the heavy weight of silence fall between them as she regarded Miranda who appeared to be lost in thought. The young vampire was not ignorant of that current of attraction which fluttered between them on the air like the low vibe of electric current.

It pushed and pulled at her once.

Andy's gaze moved from Miranda's face to the inviting column of that slender neck.

Before Andy realized she had moved, she was in front of the elder vampire leaning down, trapping Miranda in the chair, Andy's hands gripping the armrests so tight the material creaked and moaned.

"Did you do this!" Andy snarled.

Miranda blinked drew back again startled, staring at the younger vampire with a quizzical expression. She studied Andy as though she'd never seen her before.

"No." She answered finally, lips thinning with displeasure. "Explain yourself."

Andy had no answer to give. Words that might have tumbled from her lips in a fountain of babble dried upon her tongue.

Standing so close, Andy's nose wrinkled slightly. Miranda's scent invaded her senses, and there was something else another's scent which possessively covered the woman. It was at once foreign and familiar.

Andy tried to shake off a sudden dark rise of jealousy.

But she wanted nothing more than to scrub that alien scent from the woman with her own. It was driving her insane, some part of her recognizing the significance and meaning behind such a marking and equally recognizing that she found it... unacceptable.

Miranda stiffened as one of Andy's hands rose from the arm of the chair to touch the fading puncture wounds on the left side of the fashionista's neck. Andy lips curled with unspeakable fury at the physical evidence of another vampire's mark on the otherwise perfect flesh.

"What the hell are you doing?" Miranda demanded her tone soft, deadly. A tone Miranda used when displeased or when unsettled.

"Who...?" When Andy finally found the ability to speak, the words confused her. "Who is Yupanqui?"

Her undead heart quickened as she watch the sudden skittering thrum of false pulse at Miranda's throat. Heard the soft gasp of surprise.

"Andrea?" Miranda tone had lowered, dread coloring it with a tremor. "What have you been doing?"

"I dream about you." She whispered, staring at the mark on Miranda's neck like a cobra under the sway of a snake charmer. Her fingers brushed against the puncture wounds again evoking a shudder from the elder vampire. Andy spoke gruffly, her voice cold and menacing. "Maybe I should ask what you've been doing." She was not in control. Her brows knitted in confusion as she tried to combat the spell she'd fallen under.

Andy's nose sniffed along the column of Miranda's neck. Her tongue darted out to lick the wounds.

"Andrea?" Miranda warned. "Andrea you are dream-walking untrained." Her voice, though strained had taken on a note of urgency. "You have to wake up. You have no idea what you can invite..."

'She's yours.' The soft voice whispered in her ear, drowning out Miranda's warning. 'As was always meant to be.' It was the voice from the earlier dream that morning, masculine soothing, seductive.

There was a low buzzing in her ear, a hum spreading through her veins, quick fire racing through her arteries.

"Andrea?" She heard Miranda's concern whisper like a faint call under the harsh roar of wind. "You must wake up!"

Andy was frozen, as though her limbs had been trapped in quagmire.

'Can a Childe posses its creator?' That strange voice whispered. 'I've often wondered.'

Andy groaned, eyes fluttering as she fought against the pull which felt like slumber—Confusing since Andy was certain she was already asleep.

"I don't understand." She murmured softly, seeking out the voice.

"Andrea!" Miranda's voice faded away to nothing.

'Perhaps, if that which has been created is strong enough.' The voice seemed to answer his own question.

"What..."

'Childe of my Childe.' A tenuous thread reached for her essence and latched on. 'You smell of wild things and death.' Curious, Andy mentally tugged on the thread; whatever was on the other end yanked hard and Andy felt as though she were falling.

Andy jolted staring at the form before her, a form of shadow and wind.

'Your maker hides much.'

"How the hell do you know my maker?" Andy hissed, backing away from the presence. "Who are you?"

'Your destiny as you are mine.'

A strong hand gripped her by the back of the neck and yanked her close.

'And as such I offer you again the ichor of gods.'

A bleeding wrist was shoved to her mouth and before censorship of action could take hold, instinct took over and Andy drank.

'You. Will. Endure.'

Agony and power roared through Andy's veins as potent blood violated her being. She would have broken free but paralysis held her steady. It was like seeing a thousand realities existing at once and Andy felt as though she'd been stretched thin through all of them.

History unfolded in her mind, the images unfurling so rapidly her brain throbbed as though it were an overflowing milk jug. There were memories which were not her own and so violent, she gagged upon the blood spilling down her throat and yet it continued to flow like a waterfall down her gullet until she feared it would choke her. Drown her.

Andy groaned and whimpered helpless to free herself as she was force fed blood as foul and vicious as it was potent.

"Stop!" she bellowed in her mind. "Stop it!"

"Andrea!" Miranda bolted from the chair and around her desk to straddle the young woman who lay thrashing about on the floor. "Andrea!" Miranda struggled to pin her in place before Andy could do serious injury to herself.

The young vampire's eyes were wide open, as though trapped in a trance, their glow bright nearly blinding.

"Andrea." Miranda shook the young vampire. Andy stilled... stared at Miranda as though finally seeing her. Andy whimpered. "Andrea, what has happened?"

In lieu of an answer, Miranda was shocked as the woman shoved her aside, rolled on top of her pinning her to the floor. Brown eyes latched on to elder vampire's throat.

Miranda barely had time to register her own gasp as Andrea's thigh pressed against her center.

"Mine." Andy snarled.

"Andrea what are you...?"

Before Miranda could recognize the need to put forth resistance, the fledgling vampire lowered her head, and struck with the alacrity of a serpent.  Andy latched on to Miranda's neck with her teeth and bit down. Hard.

"Uh!" The fashionista's stunned cry was disrupted by the next shocking occurrence.

Thread-thin cylindrical tubules extended from the tiny fistulas at the points of Andy's fangs, piercing the veins in the elder vampire's neck.

Miranda's initial cry of pain was drowned out by Andy's crazed desire to leave her mark behind in a possessive declaration; an instinctive retaliation against the encroaching scent of another on the elder vampire.

"Oh god!" Miranda froze, her mind succumbing to the overwhelming snare of euphoria and arousal. "Andrea? How are you...?"

Her fingers buried themselves into Andrea's hair, clutching the young vampire close. Her mind swimming in fog even as she knew that this could not possibly be happening and should not be happening. She should not be allowing this to happen.

The word 'mine' tumbled through her brain, from Andrea's thoughts and Miranda stiffened again prepared to forcefully thrust herself and the young vampire out of the shared dream. And then that soft muscular thigh pressed against her center again. And Miranda's hips rocked instinctively against the source of friction.

She gasped at the flare of heat in her sex.

And it felt too god-damned good to stop.

Miranda arched her hips off the floor a last time. Andy gave a final thrust and withdrew her fangs from Miranda's neck, both vampires cried out in synchronous release.

Miranda opened her eyes, sat up abruptly, clutching her shirt to herself in modesty at finding herself alone on the floor of her town house office, her clothing askew. She raised a hand to mop the damp hair from her forehead.

Her brow crinkled with initial confusion.

"No."

Her eyes widened in alarm as she felt the slow trickle of blood down the side of her neck.

"Oh dear god." She dropped her face into the palms of her hands. "Andrea. What the hell have you done?"


Andy's eyes sprang open; she lurched into a seated position.

Pressed her back against the wall.

Panting, she drew up her legs, hugged her arms around them tight and rested her sweaty forehead on the balls of her knees.

Oh god! I'm going crazy.

She took in several shallow breaths as the throb of climax abated.

"Happy fucking Thanksgiving." She whispered tonelessly.


Philipe's attention span suffered.

His thick brow furrowed with displeasure.

The scent of fresh water, aquatic life, and engine oil, wafted through the open window along with the frigid air of winter but those usual comforts accompanying the brisk winds sweeping from the river into the office were sorely lacking.

Having read the same paragraph ten times, Philipe couldn't have hazarded a guess as to what the document pertained.

He was being lead about like a fool. He was certain of it.

Weeks had passed since his uninvited intrusion upon that ghastly Halloween nightmare the Americans had considered a banquet and his hands remained empty. The pronouncement would soon be made. And the coronation would no doubt happen at the gathering of Solstice.

His lips twisted with distaste. And Andrea Sachs, it appeared was as elusive as Miranda Priestly.

How was it, Philipe wondered, that a mere commoner, a human had managed to vanish so well? Were Jacqueline and Christian not looking diligently enough? Did they already have the girl? And conspired to keep her from him. Perhaps she'd been a bone they'd tossed at him for appeasement.

Disgusted by the distraction, Philipe shoved the papers back into their folder and tossed the item across the desk.

His dreams remained unfulfilled and this was an intolerable situation.

Her image burned his mind.

That woman.

His face scowled into a frown.

Philipe rose from his seat, smoothing his suit and tie. She pursued his thoughts relentlessly, every waking moment it seemed to him, was devoted to the white-haired self-proclaimed queen of fashion. That she was beautiful could never be disputed. That her arrogance and poise, gave many men the thrill of imagining bending that cold iron beneath masculine providence, melting the ice with the mastery of firm hands, he would never deny in his private musing of having been such a man.

The vein along his temple throbbed and stood out in sharp relief.

She'd been lovely Halloween night but then she always had been even when she'd been a simple common fledgling clawing and scratching at the walls of success.

He'd thought her a spitfire, hot coals smoldering beneath a blanket of light frost. Even as a young naive human, Miranda Priestly had played the games well. Philipe had thought he'd played them better only to learn and to his own humiliation that he had been wrong. He was wiser for it. All the more determined.

Philipe knew and stung from the intimate knowledge that the woman was as malleable as stone. She burned with all the heat of an arctic ice cave. Her soft purring mouth dripped nothing less than poison. And he'd wakened many nights sweating, his hands held in the phantom position they had assumed in his dreams, around that pale swan-like neck.

Miranda Priestly tainted everything she touched, like a disease souring and shriveling the fruits of the vineyard. And the Brethren would fall prey to her infection, as had their master, if something was not done.

Philipe reached into a desk and removed a photo. Crossing his expansive office he stood before the large picture window, over looking the Frasier River and the shipyard his forefathers had built from the sweat, blood, and from the broken backs of thousands. It was but one of many of his families' interests, business ventures... But this had always been Philipe's favorites. Because it was the first that had gotten the family its now long-standing fortune.

His frown deepened the lines of an otherwise flawless visage. He must safeguard the family fortune.

The very notion that Miranda Priestly would control—have say in his birthright burned to the core.

He lifted the photo in his hand and studied the picture. Again, he thought, a lovely girl, lovely enough he wouldn't have turn down what pleasures may be had. But he could discern nothing of the specialness which had Jacqueline practically frothing. A look into the girl's background had yielded no more an impression of specialness than the picture he now held. That she was smart, bright, was evidence from her school marks, but nothing  had stood out... nothing in the data he'd had compiled about the woman made him salivate with rabid fascination.

It was ... disappointing.

He knew Miranda. Philipe shook his head... if the clothing diva was distracted then she hid it well. And this girl, well Philipe could not see how she might be the cause. There had to be more. Something Jacqueline was withholding.

The girl's parents were dead. Apparently murdered. Philipe suspected he knew the party responsible. He found it odd indeed, that even this had not drawn Andrea Sachs into the light? Or had it? Why are you so important to Jacqueline Follet?

With his left thumb, he idly traced the face in the photo. Still the fact that Miranda had even hired the girl was remarkable on its own. However unlikely, Philipe mused, perhaps he had missed something.

No matter.

He returned to his desk and press the buzzer on his intercom.

He would find out soon enough.

"Devon." He spoke into the device and then released the talk button.

Not thirty seconds later the door to his office opened, Devon entered, a burly man with a face hardened from years of hard labor and questionable tasks, many of them unpleasant. He met Philipe's gaze with a bland expression, his posture straight, his eyes, one blue the other gray and cloudy were inscrutable. The scar... from temple to cheek gave Devon the appearance of a dangerous man, as it should, Philipe reasoned. Devon was dangerous as were most men who'd spent much of their youth and lives behind bars.

And behind that bland expression lurked the kind of mind that Philipe had come to appreciate.

Philipe had also come to appreciate the mistakes of his own youth, that he had given Miranda as a sacrificial offering to his Lord, rather than feeding her to Devon, now that had been a rather glaring error. She would not have fared quite so well. He allowed a moment to ponder that image. He doubted there'd have been much left of the now fashion icon as Devon's appetites were neither refined nor easily sated. The image pleased him for but a moment.

"Andrea Sachs," Philipe shoved the photo across the desk, "Employed at the New York Mirror, and now a missing person except it seems, no one is looking for her. Not family. Not friends." Philipe arched a brow. "Our associates seem to be having some difficulties locating Ms. Sachs. Help them. Find her."

Devon lifted the photo, studied it closely for all of a minute and then laid it back on the desk. He gave a brief nod in Philipe's direction and then headed for the door.

"Oh and, Devon, I prefer her alive. And in reasonable enough condition," Philipe smiled. "to answer some questions."

Devon paused at the door and then nodded once again before exiting the office.

Philipe settled back and sighed.

There. He'd have the girl soon. Devon was not in the habit of disappointed him. And if he found the girl of little use—the corner of Philipe's lips rose in a dark smile—then Devon might enjoy the distraction.

And Jacqueline would answer for the misinformation and for many other things.

Stretching, Philipe rose from his seat removed his jacket and tie. He strolled across the floor, pushed open the door and stepped into the room closing the door behind him. He eyed the bed and its lone occupant for a moment and then moved swiftly across the room pulling open the heavy drapes, allowing sunlight to pour into the room in a rush.

A plaintive groan followed. Slender hands moved swiftly to the sheets dragging them up the bed and over the dark head of hair, save for one dyed streak of silver. Philipe was quickly at the bedside yanking the sheet down and off the bed, unbuttoning his vest, shirt and trousers as the sleeper slowly awakened into awareness.

Divesting himself of shoes and socks he kicked off his pants and tossed them into a pile with the remainder of the clothes and bounded onto the bed straddling the woman about the waist.

"The hours toil away. There is much to be done and you would sleep the day away."

Jacqueline's lips twisted into a smirk.

"Well," she ran her well manicured nails down his chest. "Someone kept me very, very busy last night." They moved together repositioning so that her legs fell on either side of the outside of his thighs.

"Indeed," Philipe grinned, "You've been so generous with your time, what could I do but take advantage of what you... so graciously offer?"

Jacqueline chuckled huskily. "Umm, I see your point," She pressed her body up against his, "But I am not complaining. After all is this not meant to be a day for being thankful."

"Well then, you should begin by thanking me now."

"Too bad I must soon return to my duties, see to mine, and then check in on things in Paris."

"And then?" He eyed her curiously.

"A visit to Miranda or at least a call, as I have told her I was summoned here to assist." She smiled. "And I thought I'd check in with Christian, see how the search for Andy Sachs is going?"

"It's taking more time than I imagine for you to locate a mere human." Philipe took notice of the guarded expression. Jacqueline would never fair well in a game of Poker.

"Apparently she's quite resourceful."

"And she has no reason to think, you are looking for her?" Philip questioned.

"None."

Philipe's eyes hardened, his smile cold, "I am very," he grabbed her thighs and yanked them wider apart, "very disappointed."

He spent the next several hours demonstrating the severity of his disappointment.

"We'll find her," Jacqueline croaked hours later, bitter and in pain.

Philipe withdrew from her, yanking her up from the bed and tossing her to the floor, he sneered at his handy worked which had already begun to heal. "Your existence depends upon it."

He observed her while she dress, his eyes narrowing at her hasty exit from the room.

After Jacqueline's departure, Philipe strolled across the room, not bothering with his discarded clothing. He stepped into his office and grabbed up his phone.

"Devon." He smiled thinly. "I think you will find our associates have become more hindrance than help. See to them, will you?"


"You okay?" Raja stepped into the hovel, concerned at finding Andy huddled in a corner.

"No, not really." Andy glanced up at the woman.

Raja sniffed. "You smell different."

"I feel different." Andy snorted bitterly. "Where have you been?"

"Taking care of your business," Raja hedged. "Everything's set." She frowned as she assisted a weakened Andy to her feet. "We need to head out if we don't wanna be late for your appointment."

Andy nodded slowly, her apparent distraction giving Raja cause for alarm.

"What's going on, Prada Girl?"

"I just..." Andy shook her head. "You ever had dreams that seemed too real? Right down to the smell, every touch, every taste?"

Raja stiffened. "Be wary, of deals made in dreams, baby vamp." She studied the young vampire closely. "In our world, If you're having dreams that seem real, feel real..." She held Andy's gaze and flinched at the haunted and wounded look in those brown eyes,"... it's usually because they are. You wanna talk about it?"

"No." Came the answer. Slowly Andy blinked as though waking from a daze. "Not yet." Andy's brow furrowed slightly and then smoothed.

Raja relaxed considerably as the young vampire lost the slightly glazed look to her eyes. Andy nodded; the odd weakness fading from her limbs and she was able to stand on her own power.

"Let's get going, huh." The vampire offered a forced smile. "We have a date with a superhero."

---

The ungrateful undead


Serena smiled at her companion.

Though she felt some wariness at having invited the young vampire along, as the woman had yet to truly prove herself but given the present situation Serena felt there was safety in numbers.

"So who are we fetching?"

Serena's spine stiffened with tension at the question. "A young stray who has found herself in a bit of trouble." Until Miranda deigned the young woman trustworthy, Serena was inclined to go with the notion that the less knowledge had, the better.

Serena's companion chuckled.

"I'm sorry." She shrugged at the Brazilian's sardonic expression, her own openly curious. "From what I know about Miranda, I find it difficult to imagine her picking up strays."

"It is not your place to speculate or to imagine." Serena's eyes narrowed. "You know little about Miranda Priestly if anything at all. Few do." Serena turned her attention back to the road. "Your curiosity will neither be appreciated nor welcomed. Do not make me regret."

The woman raised her hands in a placating gesture and turned her attention to the view outside the passenger window.

Easing her way down the side streets to avoid the Parade barricades, Serena grabbed her phone on the first ring and held it to her ear.

"Yes, Miranda. We're on our way now." She grimaced and glanced at her passenger. "Yes. Actually I did bring company." Offering the young passenger a forced smile of reassurance, Serena explained into the phone. "I'd rather not take any chances with our prodigal's safety."


"Sense of humor."

Raja smirked as she and Andy approached their destination: Eleven-eleven Faust avenue. A swanky and upscale all purpose costume shop.

"Your contact definitely knows how to pick her spots."

"Given how we met," Andy shrugged, "and what she was wearing at the time. It makes sense. No one else would have a reason to set up a meeting point here."

Andy chuckled, studied the costumes in the window and for a moment briefly considered the merits of costuming herself at night, patrolling the city, stopping crimes in progress. She sneered at the unlikelihood. And then what—draining the muggers or would be rapists dry?

Caught in the fantasy her breath practically hitched as she imagined her fangs buried in the the neck of prey. She grimaced at the turn her thoughts had so quickly taken. Not exactly a noble motive.

"I know what you're thinking." Raja leaned in close, whispering in Andy's ear. Amusement colored her tone. "You have that hungry look about you."

Andy drew back turned away from the store front window and blinked her eyes until the illumination faded. Her heart beat or fake one had begun to race.

"Am I that transparent?" She asked gruffly, unable to shake the edginess which had been with her most of the morning. It was struggle pushing thoughts of those dreams from her mind. Keeping the memory of sensations at bay. She didn't need the distraction, not now. It was bad enough before with images of Miranda constantly flooding almost every thought and now this...

She avoided Raja's gaze by casting her own about.

The streets weren't exactly deserted, no surprise there. New York was as always busy. Holiday or not. No one seemed to pay them any notice. Andy could hear the sounds of the Thanksgiving day Parade in the distance. She could hear the thrum of millions of heart beats hammering out a percussion of excitement.

She ached to be among them, to feel their warmth seeping into her skin. Still, even now, just being out and under the sun was like an emergence from a dream of eternal night. It felt good.

A warm hand wrapped around her upper arm.

"Not really, but I can feel you."

She glanced sharply at Raja. Raja smiled, eyes hidden behind dark glasses as were Andy's.

"I did explain to you what would happen." Raja reminded.

"So you did." Andy gave a negligent shrug. "It's a little disconcerting." She looked at the woman fully. "And you? It doesn't bother you?"

"If not you, someone else." Raja glanced away. "It would have happened sooner or later. At least this way it was my choice."

Andy arched a brow. "I have a feeling a long talk is in order." Her gaze raked over the woman with whom she now shared an intimate connection and yet still knew very little about.

"It'll have to wait," Raja looked toward the street observing the car pulling up to the curb. "We have company."

"Our ride's here." Andy's voice held a slight tremble. "Ready?" Raja caught on to Andy's nervousness immediately moving in closer to the vampire.

"I've got your back."

There was someone in the front passenger seat that Andy was unable to make out clearly through the tinted window. Raja opened the back door for her. Andy ducked her head in then gasped at the three people seated in the back.

The driver looked over her shoulder with a surprised but gleeful smile. Andy froze, not recognizing the dark haired woman at all. But then she'd never gotten a look at Wonder Woman's face. She could have been wearing a wig, but the build and smell was all wrong.

"Well," the woman grinned, waving a photo of Andy at the the others. "What a nice surprise."

"Shit!" Andy hissed jerking back from the hands reaching out to grab her and bumped into Raja.

"A fucking trap." Raja snarled.

Andy wasn't so certain about that. The strangers in the car seemed as shocked to see her as she was to see them, but there was little time to speculate about it.

A masculine hand grabbed onto the material of her jacket. The car began speeding from the curb, tugging Andy along beside it as her captor tried to jerk her into the back.

Raja running along beside the car, reached around Andy and backhanded the male holding onto Andy's jacket. His head rocked back from the blow. She jerked Andy free, and held onto her to keep the young vampire from tumbling to the ground.

They spared no time for deliberation as Raja held Andy by the arm and took off running. There was a squeal of tires as the driver of the car slammed on the breaks. Andy's pulse roared in her ears as she heard the shouts from behind.

"Get her!"

"Call Christian! Get the others here! Now!"

Racing down the streets and several blocks over Andy and Raja lost themselves in the crowd of parade watchers. Ducking through the swarm with their heads low, looking over their shoulders, they slipped from the gathered parade fans and headed towards the nearest alley and underground access.

They rounded the corner, making tracks down the alley and were cut off at the fence as three new faces appeared, grinning smugly and baring their fangs.

"Well. well. well." Andy spun around, at the sound of the voice coming from behind them; she instinctively pushed Raja behind her. "All that looking and seems we only had to wait long enough for you to come to us."

She glared at the two men and three women from the car standing at the mouth of the alley.

Andy tilted her head to the right and the left, sizing up the vampires as they came closer. She heard the clinking of the chain-link fence as the other three climbed over it. Andy decided at that moment her life had crossed into the boundary of the ridiculous. Maybe she really did have a big target pasted onto her back as it seemed reality and now even in dreams she couldn't go a day without being attack.

"Christian's gonna be very happy to see you."

"Actually, you're going to have to disappoint Christian," Raja snarled and Andy could feel the tremble of tension in the body pressed against her. "You're not touching her."

Andy backed toward the wall, keeping Raja shielded with her body. She outstretched an arm to keep the woman behind her from leaping into an attack.

Her own blood quivered with fury at having been cornered but risk to her companion, held the young vampire in check.

"We'll compromise," A male vampire offered eying Andy up while smiling with triumph. "Come with us willingly." He sniffed in Raja's direction and his smile broadened into a knowing grin. "And we'll let your pretty little pet go."

"Don't fall for it, Andy!" Raja sneered moving from behind the young vampire to stand at her side. "The fanger's lying and this pretty little pet's about to kick his ass." Andy grinned slightly at the threat. She had a suspicion she was about to learn a little more about the woman who'd offered up her submission.

"Two to eight." One of the female vampires spoke up. "I wouldn't bet against those odds if I were you."

"Perhaps four to your eight..." The Brazilian accent floated breezily down the alleyway from behind the vampires that had been in the car, "might better even those odds." 

"Serena!?" Andy tensed, her expression gob-smacked as she recognizing the accent from Halloween night. I've stepped right back into bizzaro world again.

"Hello, Andy. It is good to see you are well."

Responding to Andy's shock, Raja began to hiss, the sound raising the hairs on Andy's arm.

"No. Raja." Andy placed a hand to Raja's arm. "She's on our side." Andy assured with a gentle squeeze.

"Indeed," Serena smiled warmly, "the world is very small at times. Do you also find this to be true?"

"Sometimes a little too small." Andy rolled her eyes and then stared at Christian's goon squad. "Let's get this over with then." At Serena's nod, Andy sighed and offered a quirk of a smile. "We both know how she loves to be kept waiting."

Andy's attention was momentarily drawn to the attractive young woman of color standing at Serena's side. She only got a brief glimpse enough to almost cause a double-take but Christian's vampires were on the move.

And she became immediately schooled in the fact that a fight with her own kind was nothing at all like the skirmishes with the Others. Things happened in a blur of movement. Their speed was intimidating and like nothing she'd ever before witnessed. The vampires left contrails, a visible trail of streaks like those formed in the wake of an aircraft.

Serena, the vampire with her and Raja had formed a protective circle around Andy.

Their cover was drawn away as the fighting intensified in earnest.

Andy snarled as long nails sliced down the length of her forearm. She tried and failed to follow the contrails of the vampire circling her. Earning shallow slashes to the stomach and more to her arms as the vampire toyed with her.

"Andy Sachs," Words from the dream rang in her ears, the voice was back, its memory filling her head. "You are a vampire. And you are more. You are Brethren. Use it!"

A deep slash to Andy's cheek followed on the heels of that advice. The sharp pain under her left eye, centered Andy's focus; her vision shifted. Her awareness slipped into overdrive.

"It is not a "thing". It is not a 'beast' which resides inside you," that voice whispered again from memory, "to be locked away and unleashed only when needed. Every day. Every hour. Every second, It. Is. What. You. Are."

The inner shift was like the last piece of a puzzle box sliding into place. And it was like nothing which had happened to her underground when confronted by the Others.

This. Was more.


She focused on work, hoping for a distraction.

Miranda refused to let her mind ponder over the events which had occurred in that room just that morning.

She couldn't not yet.

The moment her mind wandered, she was overcome with arousal so intense it threatened to undo her, and what followed was a nauseating sense of dread and foreboding that would have had her rocking in fear if she allowed.

Something was terribly wrong. Fledglings did not make such quick strides in ability as Andrea had apparently made. And yet Miranda had bore witnessed to it, a dream which hadn't been a dream at all, constructed by Andrea, a vampire Miranda had sired.

There was a frightening and very logical answer for the power she'd felt pouring from the girl.

The answer had come in the form of the question spilling from the young vampire's lips.

And though such a gift should suggest a favorable show of honor towards Miranda, she knew her Lord better than even he would imagine. He gave nothing freely without exacting a price that left one writhing in anguish over the payment.

He was up to something. Toying with them. The prudent questions now were, why? And why now?

A buzzing sound filled her office.

The contact sheets slipped from Miranda's hands, spilling to the floor.

She stared at her trembling hands as though they belonged to a stranger. Power surged through her and with the surge Miranda was on her feet, the move bumping the large desk and overturning it. She stared blankly at the upturned desk, and when lifting her head, her eyes glowed.

Miranda's head whipped towards the entrance of her office. "Andrea," whispering from her lips and not a second had passed before she was out the door.


Andy caught the movement in peripheral.

With a roar she spun around and trapped the wrist in her grip before the attacker could draw back.

Using surprise as leverage she swung the female vampire around and slammed her into the wall, following up with a knee in the small of the vampire's back. She yanked back and up on the arm she held; it snapped out of joint and the vampire screamed. The sound was drowned out by the ongoing parade and the cheers of the crowd. She yanked the vampire back by her head and slammed her face forward into the wall repeatedly, crushing the skull and before the female could crumble to the ground in a dead heap, she had already crumbled into ashes.

There were more vampires hopping over the fence pouring into the alley from the direction of the street. Andy her small group were becoming overwhelmed. She lost sight of Raja, Serena and the blonde's friend in the melee. She fought with solid focus a vicious streak rearing its head as she slashed with unsheathed claws and bit with sharp teeth and kicked out breaking ribs and legs weakening her opponents before going in for the kill.

These vampires were here on the behalf of Nate and Christian and Andy would rather kiss the sharp end of a wooden stake before being taken.

Andy ducked the fat fist aimed for her temple, barely moving out of the way as blur of darkness whizzed past her taking her assailant down. Sleek and black, the large cat hissed as it shook the hapless vampire across the ground like a limp dish rag, its teeth digging into the flesh until the vamp was torn apart exploding into a pile of dust and ash.

Her failed attention cost Andy as a blade dug into the small of her back. With a cry of pain Andy whipped around and dropped to one knee. Agony ripped through her kidney, her right hand reaching for the dagger to yank it free.

"Andy!" Serena yelled her name.

The large vamp advance upon her.

Andy yanked the blade free with a cry and then embedded the dagger into the thigh of the approaching vampire. He stumbled back cursing her in French. And then raised his fist to slam it into the side of temple face. The sound of his fist connected with the side of her head was horrendous. The blow spun Andy around, three hundred and sixty degrees, on her knees. Vaguely she made out the shape of the large cat bounding toward her at a pace of fury. The cat was cut off as a large vampire launched itself at the beast and then wrestling it to the ground.

Shaking her dazed head, Andy glanced up, glaring at the vampire with defiance as he dug the dagger from his thigh.

Andy struggled to regain her feet.

She swayed, her vision darkening as he grinned at her. He raised the dagger apparently too angry about having been knifed in the thigh to remember that Christian wanted her alive. He faltered and Andy looked beyond him trying to focus on what she was seeing or not seeing, the sound drowning out the parade in the distance.

It was as though a wind tunnel had opened up in the alley-way, garbage and debris spun from the ground in its wake as the small tornado ripped down the alley coming straight towards them. The vampire holding the dagger turned to stare and remained frozen until a scream was torn from his lungs. He was lifted from the ground, flames engulfing his body as he was flung sideways. He crashed into the wall with such force, that where his burning body splattered apart was now encrusted with ash embedded into the wall.

Andy dropped to her knees, unable to make out a shape as her vision began to fail her, the sharp throb in her head flared with vengeance. Familiar heat intense, fierce and yet oddly gentle brushed across her cheek like a caress.

And then 'It', whatever it was, was on the move again, a dizzying cyclone of sheer fury as Christian's remaining vampires were rent apart. And then that raging wind was gone and Andy let unconsciousness claim her.

"What the hell was that?" Serena turned to her companion at the question. Constance's complexion had ashened considerably as she stared from the piles of dust to the empty mouth of the alley. Like Serena was covered in wounds, slashes, her clothing ruined.

"You do not ever want to know." A grimace of dread accompanied Serena's advice as she glanced at Andy's crumpled form on the ground.

Bloodied and bruised, Raja, the clothing having been shredded and lost in her transformation, stood in human form over Andy's prone body. Her expression dark and angry.

She whipped around at the sound of movement, spying the twitching of muscle as a fallen vamp began to come to. In less then a heart beat Raja was upon the vampire which had been rendered unconscious before the mysterious wind had appeared.

"What the hell is she doing!?" Constance snarled. "We need that vampire for questioning."

"Stop." Serena held the other vampire back. "We do not need him for questioning."

"She's not of the blood." Constance strained against Serena's grasp. "It is unlawful for her take vengeance!"

"Stop it!" Serena hissed. Annoyed, she turned on her companion and slammed her against the wall holding her there with a look of warning. "The kill can be sanctioned! But if that minion gets away, he'll run straight back to his friends. And there are those among who do not need to know that you and I were here!"

"Fine," Constance snapped. "Let me go."

"Do not interfere." Serena warned with a low growl, her fangs bared. She released the woman from her hold.

Raja turned on Serena with a deadly snarl and a baleful glare for the vampire at Serena's side.

"Get Andy to safety." Serena spoke quickly. "We cannot assume other vampires are not on their way here as we speak. We will meet again when it is safe."

"If you set us up..." Raja spoke threateningly.

"You need to get her tended." Serena continued, ignoring the accusation.

"What's so important about this weak fledge?" Constance stared down at the unconscious vamp with disdain. "Seems like a whole lot trouble over nothing."

"Maybe you should just mind your own business." Raja growled.

"And maybe you should educate your baby vamp," Constance sneered, "in how to fight her own battles."

"She doesn't need to..." Raja took a menacing step toward the surly vampire. "She's got me."

"Get. Andy. Out of here." Serena stepped in between the two. "I will make arrangements for another meeting."

"Yeah right. Like I'd let you at her again." Raja sniffed. "And how do we know this wasn't a trap set by you?"

"Don't be stupid." Constance spat. "If I'd wanted your baby fledge dead. She'd already be dead and from the looks of her it wouldn't have taken much."

"I'll be sure to let her know you said that."

"That is enough, you two. Raja, It is not safe for her here." Serena snapped and then glared at her companion. "And it is seldom a wise thing to jump to conclusions." She glanced at Andy's prone form and then back at her own companion. "Or you will likely find yourself caught off your guard."

Raja sneered and lifted Andy onto her left shoulder. Spinning away she ran and leapt over the chain link fence.

"Come on." Serena snatched her companion attention and quickly hid her surprise at the expression of sorrow and longing on the vampire's face. They began gathering the pieces of Raja's and the dusted vampires' discarded clothes. But there was nothing that could be done about the blood.

"Through here." Serena directed. "We will have to clean ourselves up quickly and then double back to pick up the car." The two vampires raced for the fence and leapt over it.

"Serena?"

The Brazilian looked up at the touch on her wrist and met her companion's gaze.

"Why is a fledgling vampire allowed to consort with a shape—?"

"It is we you should be worried about, Constance." Serena's expression darkened. "We get to deliver the news of our failure to Miranda."

Serena frowned at her companion's unconcerned shrug.

"So, who is she?"

"Miranda?"

"No. The fledge." Constance persisted, her lips down-turned in a soured expression. "Why is she so important?"

"Because she is."

---

These prodigal childer


"Oh crap." Andy croaked as she came to with a groan. "I feel like I got hit by a mack truck. Twice."

"I'm not surprise." Raja smirked but there was an edge to her tone. "He was built like one." One dark brow rose, "You came to a lot sooner than expected."

"How long was I out?" Andy fought to concentrate through the gauzy film her brain seemed to have been enshrouded within. As the fog cleared she recognized Raja's hovel, and that they were both naked. The latter becoming a state she was quickly becoming accustomed to.

"Not long. About two and half hours."

"Jesus." Andy shuddered with disbelief, "I've taken hits from Janks that didn't hurt as bad as that single blow."

"He fractured your skull. And you lost a lot of blood from that poke to your kidney." Raja shook her head. "That's one of many things you need to learn about Vamps, Prada Girl. Most are an even match, with those down here, with the exception of the aged and experienced. But there are some who are much more powerful than the Others. The Others rely on brute strength and some agility. But Vampires are sheer raw power and fast. With experience, we learn how to get around their strengths and compensate for our weakness. But the Undead are not always hindered by the laws of physics."

"Yeah. I get that." Andy grunted. "Were you hurt?"

"Minor scratches. We heal quicker than Vampires if the wound's not too bad." Raja's expression darkened. "You let yourself get distracted, Andy," she accused. "Vampires have a lot of tricks and any one of them might have seen your remains on the bristled end of a street cleaner."

"Ugh."Andy raised her head, a little irritated by the lecture, considering it was coming from the source of her distraction. "I'll try to remember that." She whimpered, lowering her throbbing head back to the pallet. "But it's not like I actually expected you to turn into a panther." Andy looked around weakly.

"God, and what was that thing?" Andy groaned again at the sound of her own voice. "It moved like a..."

"I got no idea." Raja actually shivered. "But I don't want to ever run into it again."

"Well whatever it was," Andy smiled weakly, "it seemed to be on our side."

"For now..."

Andy rolled her eyes.

"Where are Serena and her...?"

"Probably reporting back to that Christian person or whoever it is that wants you so bad."

"Serena?" Andy frowned detecting the woman's agitation. "She wouldn't do that."

"The blonde with the accent?"

"Yeah that's Serena. She helped me, Halloween, when I was stupid enough to confront Doug and Lily on my own. I just didn't recognize her at the time. And she helped us today remember?"

"Maybe she has her own agenda."

"Like what?" Andy frowned.

"Who knows." Raja insisted. "She's a vamp. They all like playing their twisted little games."

"I'm a vampire as well Raja."

"Yeah," Raja sniffed, "I'm not likely to forget that."

Andy glanced away from the venom in the woman's tone. "What is your problem?"

"Look, we were almost killed being at the meeting place your helpful Serena set up." Raja glared at her and shrugged, "I'm just saying maybe we shouldn't be so quick to trust your friend."

"She's not my friend." Andy shook her head. "But I do know she didn't set us up."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Are you always this paranoid and distrustful?"

"Yeah." Raja lifted her chin defiantly. "And that's exactly what's kept me alive."

"Listen," Andy persisted, "I know Serena okay. And I'm pretty sure I know who her boss is." Andy groaned again, head pounding like anvils were being hammered in her brain. In spite of her own insistence that Serena was no threat, Andy was even more confused than before. Miranda was still protecting her. But why?

The dreams... "In our world, if you're having dreams that seem real, it's usually because they are."

"Of course, you'd take her side." Raja's accusatory tone snapped Andy from her thoughts, "Your kind always sticks together no matter what."

"What the hell!" Andy forced herself to sit up, ignoring the wave of nausea and the pounding in her head. "I don't know what you saw," Agony flared in her back but she stared at Raja dumbly. "But from where I was standing, I wouldn't exactly call what happened today a tearful reunion between lost kin."

Something like hurt flickered in the woman's eyes and then vanished. "What—the fuck—ever." Raja sighed bitterly, throwing her hands up in a gesture of futility. "You need blood." She laid her nail over her wrist.

"Stop!" Andy reached out, slapping the hand away before Raja could draw blood. "What the hell's going on with you?"

"Nothing." Raja spat out. "Nothing that concerns you."

"Raja?"

Andy gripped the woman by the arm.

"What!?" Raja yanked free of Andy's grip and would have risen but Andy caught her again by both shoulders.

"Stop fighting me," Andy hissed through clenched teeth, furious and in pain, while glaring Raja in the eyes. Unknowingly pinning the woman in place with the weight of her stare and her will. "And tell me what is wrong with you."

"Don't," Raja choked out.

Andy felt the powerful tremor run through the woman's body. Raja parted her lips, a pained expression on her face.

"What the hell is going on Raja?" Andy demanded.

"Don't," Raja whispered and tore her gaze away with what seemed to be enormous effort. She leapt to her feet but didn't move away. "Please don't do that." She lowered her eyes.

"Do what?" Andy questioned faintly, growing weaker, she leaned her unwounded side against the wall. "Jesus Christ, Raja! You're the one acting like a bigoted paranoid maniac when I'm the one who's had my ass practically handed to me almost everyday since I've been down here. So what the hell am I doing that's so wrong all of a sudden?"

"You're one of them. You're different Andy, but you're still one of them." Raja wrapped her arms around her middle and shook her head. "And you could never understand."

Andy studied the woman closely compassion overriding her frustration and anger. Something about the encounter had clearly rattle the woman. But Andy could make no sense of it since Raja had insisted on going along because of the possible danger to Andy.

Andy gingerly extended a hand, waited, holding her breath until Raja except the offering of truce for what it was.

She gently coaxed Raja to the floor. Disregarding her own pain Andy pulled the woman into an embrace. Raja tensed and then relaxed into her arms. Andy held on tightly rubbing soothing strokes down Raja's back. The young vampire was completely baffled by this turn in the arrogant woman.

In the brief time Andy had known her, and in the even shorter time in which they'd shared this weird metaphysical bond, she'd sensed anger, bitterness and frustration in the woman but there had always been n overbearing wealth of self-confidence flowing from Raja like water spilling over a damn.

Andy wasn't sure what to make of the mess of emotions she sensed now, not the least of the emotions being fear.

"What is it, Raja?" Andy softened her tone, eyes widening as she felt tears soaking her neck.

"They gave her everything." Raja whimpered. "And left me to..." She seemed to struggle, wanting to bring the words forward, and Andy closed her eyes for a moment allowed herself to feel and what she sensed was something broken inside the woman, Raja and inside the large cat which had fought to protect her earlier and in the numerous other beasts that lurked within the soft shell of human flesh.

"Shh... It's okay." Andy crooned gently. "You don't have to. You don't have to tell me anything until you're ready."

Raja whimpered holding onto her tightly. Andy gasped in surprised pain.

"I..." Raja whimpered again, "Please." Andy's nostrils flared as a different feeling began pouring from the woman in her arms and an intoxicating scent drifted upward to her nose. "Please, Prada Girl. Just..."

Andy swallowed, closed her eyes as the woman murmured unintelligibly and then bared her throat.

Instinct driven, Andy's right hand lowered to the woman's hips, her left cupping the woman behind the head and beneath silky texture of braids. She nuzzled the side of the bared neck, her lips brushing across the supple flesh, feeling the woman shiver in her embrace. Andy could feel the tingle behind her eyes.

Suppressing a wry smile, she thought of how easily this biting thing had become addictive.

She cast a surreptitious glance around, ensuring that no one seemed about to intrude upon them. She turned her lips back to their work, her fangs extended, scraping lazily at the skin. In spite of the pain her body began to hum with arousal.

Raja moaned, her warm breath tickling Andy's ear. "Please," She whispered. "Don't make me wait."

Andy groaned and pierced the soft skin presented to her for the taking. She offered no resistance when the hand on Raja's hip was guided to the slick heat between Raja's thighs.

Later Andy lie still, her eyes closed with Raja wrapped around her. The pounding in her head had ceased and the agony in her lower back was now a nagging ache. Miranda was again most forefront in her mind, but she pushed the vampire fashionista aside for the moment.

"Feel better?" Andy teased gently.

"Much." Raja grinned and stretched against her, purring with contentment.

"So, you wanna tell me what's really bothering, you?" She frowned noticing the woman avoided looking her in the eyes.

"Can it wait?" Raja asked softly. "I'd rather know more about you."

"Not much to tell." Andy tossed out.

"Umm," Raja grinned. "Somehow I doubt that. Otis says you were a news reporter. A damned good one."

"Otis talks too much." Andy growled with irritation.

"So tell me, Andy Sachs, intrepid news reporter." Raja chuckled. "Tell me what happened. Who was this Doug and Lily you've mentioned. Or this Christian person those other vamps mentioned."

"This your version of pillow talk?" Andy forced a smile, but hardness had crept into her tone. "Cause I gotta tell you it's a mood killer."

"Well, you tell me some of your secrets," Raja rubbed against her teasingly. Andy shivered. "And later I'll tell you some of mine."

Andy shook her head and sighed.
 
"Christian... was a mistake. The biggest mistake of my life..." she began, sharing with Raja the truth or at least what she knew of it. Nate. Lily and Doug, omitting only the Miranda's identity.

"A very powerful vampire," Andy shrugged. "Or I'm assuming she's powerful, helped me. I knew her before. Before I was turned but I didn't know what she was. Anyway, I was dying again. Maybe I did die. I'm not sure." Andy chewed her upper lip and stared up at the ceiling. "She kept me alive with her blood. Or brought me back with it. But the moment I got better, I went to confront my friends... or my sires, I guess is what you'd call them."

Raja arched a brow.

Andy laughed. "Incredibly stupid I know." She shook her head. "But I wasn't thinking. Suddenly the nightmare was real and had been perpetrated by people I'd always trusted. It was Halloween night. I found Doug and Lily—there was a fight. I manage to get away, barely, and suddenly Serena was there, dressed up as Wonder Woman.

I didn't know who she was at the time. I ran before she could tell me. But... she managed to arrange for Otis and Estell to be there to help me. And well, here I am. I don't know why she or the vampire she works for has been helping me."

Drowsy from her borrowed blood, Andy began drifting in and out...

"And this powerful vampire that Serena serves," Raja tone was speculative, "is the one who kept you alive all that time by feeding you her blood?"

Andy tensed, opening her drooping eyelids.

"Yeah, why?"

"You've got a lot to learn, Andy." Raja chuckled. "You know most vampires now and well most of the Others don't particularly care about history, or knowing about the old traditions." She looked bitter suddenly. "Where I come from, everything is about tradition. Studying it, living it until you practically choke on it." Andy pressed a hand between Raja's breasts and pressed a kiss to the woman's cheek, to calm her. It seemed to work as some of the tension eased out of the slender frame. Raja smiled again. "There's a simple reason this powerful vampire has been helping you, Prada Girl."

Fully awake now, Andy sat up and stared at Raja expectantly.

"She's your sire."

"What!"

"She's your rightful sire." Raja sat up, squeezed Andy's arm gently. "Though I'm surprised she let you leave." Raja frowned and then shook her head. "Then again, no I'm not. As I said not a lot of Brethren or the Others are up on a lot of the old traditions. Few of the Kindred societies teach them these days and even fewer practice them."

Andy tried to follow but her mind was in a whirlwind.

Miranda?

"Why?" Andy managed. "Why is that?"

"Most of the traditions are too risky to practice now with the growth and spread of technology." Raja shrugged, "And those in power probably find burying the old traditions to their benefit. If the younger generations don't know they can declare themselves independent of houses or that they can challenge an Avatar's or a Lord's right to rule it keeps them in line. And prevents instability of powerful houses and civil wars that could very easily spill over into the human world."

Andy nodded, vacantly. Raja seemed to be warming to the subject. And Andy was sure it was all very interesting information. It might even be important to know. And Raja certainly seemed to have been pulled out of her funk but Andy's brain was still stuck in the repeat track of a holy helluva revelation.

Miranda?

Had that been the reason Serena had set up the meeting? Had Miranda known all along?

Andy's jaw clenched. Had she known that night she had offered to make Andy her pet? Had she known when she had stood there telling Andy she was nothing, less than nothing.

Unaware that Raja had ceased talking and now studied her with wariness and concern, Andy's thoughts continued their downward the spiral.

She called me a taint. Sharp ache lanced through her chest as though Miranda had only moments ago spoken those hurtful words. "...the unwanted white trash... thrown into the mix of blue bloods."

And those dreams? "In our world, if you're having dreams that seem real, it's usually because they are." Fury rose to a simmer in Andy's veins and was in danger of boiling over. "Those dreams were real." A potent surge not unlike what she'd experienced in that alley surged through her body.

"What?" Raja leaped to her feet as Andy rose from the pallet and began rummaging through the clothes Raja had mysteriously acquisitioned for them.

What Nate and her friends had done had been horrendous. But the thought of Miranda toying with her... that just felt worse. And it fucking hurt like hell.

"Prada Girl!" Raja gripped her arm as Andy now dressed stormed towards the exit of the hovel. "Andy?" She stared at the vampire's face with confusion. "Where are you..." She snatched her hand back at the flash of rage in the vampire's eyes. "Andy?"

Andy clenched her jaw, body a taut bow of tension as she suppressed an overwhelm to lash out at something, anything.

"I need some air." She stepped around Raja, leaving the woman mystified at the abrupt turn in her demeanor. "Do not follow me."


"It's very likely they were simply trolling the area because of the parade," Serena shrugged "on the chance that Andy would be there hiding in the crowd. Or simply for the thrill of sneaking a meal under broad daylight. They got lucky. We'll have to be more careful."

"And you let her leave." Serena flinched at the statement and the glittering coldness in the eyes accompanying it. "With Andrea."

"Yes." She answered, her calm voice belying the icy tremor running down her spine. "She was... I thought it was dangerous remaining together." Serena added. "I couldn't be sure if more of Christian's people were lurking about and had been alerted."

"And you just... trusted this..." Miranda frowned tilted her head, seeming more curious than her expression and tone of voice let on.

"She's not exactly like the Others. Raja, Andy called her. She's a familiar." Serena fought to prevent babbling. "Andy's pet is a shape-shifter."

"Really." Miranda's eyes widened just a fraction. "Andrea trusts her?"

"It appeared that way to me. The pet was very... protective."

"Apparently not protective enough." Miranda nodded though she suddenly seemed distracted. Serena thought her employer looked decidedly pale. Her hands trembled and held a tighter grip on the book in her possession.

"Will she..." Miranda began and stumbled on the words, drawing in a sharp breath. "A familiar." She whispered.

"Yes." Serena answered. "They are highly prized commodities for the potency of their blood, their fighting skills and their power." Serena frowned, "Though how one ended up here in the city and living underground is a mystery." Serena lips twitched into a smile. "But trust Andy Sachs to come into possession of a such a..."

"You are babbling." Miranda ground out and Serena flinched. And reminded herself not press her luck, so far, Miranda had demanded payment in flesh for absolutely fuckery that was today's encounter and that could change in the blink of an eye. "Andrea's..."

"She'll recover. And she's safe. Help," Serena stressed the latter word, "Arrived just in time."

Miranda's expression remained unreadable. But sweat had begun to bead above her brow. When she spoke again her voice was strained.

"This pet of hers... find out everything you can about her. If she proves to be a threat. If you even suspect she intends Andrea harm, I want her eliminated."

"Yes, Miranda."

Serena headed for the door almost certain she heard a soft moan, that sounded almost akin to someone reaching climax.

Her eyes widened out she practically ran out the front door of the townhouse, hiding her smirk almost certain that somehow Miranda would know and remove her head for it. But there was other business to attend. Serena would be speaking to Otis and Estelle but she at the moment she had a gut feeling she knew someone who could give her more immediate and in depth answers about Andy's pet.

There was no mistaking the animosity between, Constance and Andy's Raja.

And there was no mistaking the strong family resemblance. But for the difference in complexion the two women could almost pass for twins.

Serena frowned as she stood on the bottom step to the entrance of Miranda's townhouse. Constance was nowhere to be seen.


Andy was neither worried nor afraid as she stepped up and back out into the sun.

By now, though he might not have the particulars of what had transpired Christian would have had word that there had been a sighting and an altercation. Neither Christian nor Nate well if Nate were awake, would think her foolish enough to venture out again on the same day. For a moment worry flared that one of those vamps when calling for reinforcements might have given a description of Raja and that Raja was likely one of the Others.

She shook her head, dismissing the concern. It wouldn't matter. The way she and Raja had been dressed, it probably wouldn't cross their minds that she and Andy had been dwelling deep in the city's belly.

Raja was a big girl. She could take care of herself. For now, Andy had other concerns and they burned her blood with the searing potency of rage.


Raja slipped her mini tool kit into her back pocket, eased open the front door and then stepped into the apartment. She eased the door shut behind her, smirking as it made not the slightest whisper of sound.

"You never were any good at sneaking up on me."

Startled, she spun around coming face to face with the woman that had been with Serena.

"I can't say the same for you." Her expression darkened. "What the hell are you doing here, Constance?" Her tone was accusatory. "In my city."

"Looking for you. Father sent me. He wants you back. We all do." Constance entreated gently. "We thought," the vampire sighed, "that given time, realizing how difficult it could be on your own, that you'd wise up, come home." Her expression hardened. "But you didn't." Her tone became resentful. "We'd hoped I could stop you before you did something stupid." She rolled her eyes. "Apparently I'm a little too late."

"You are." Raja smiled triumphantly. "So why don't you just go home."

Constance shook her head. "Not without you."

"I'm not going back to that."

"Come on, Raja." Constance disdainful tone, pricked at her heart, "Don't be an idiot. You're just making things hard on yourself."

"You mean, I'm making things hard on you." Raja sneered at the woman's expensive garments. "Looks to me like you're doing pretty good on your own."

"This isn't our world, Raja." Constance pressed. "We don't belong here."

"You're the one who don't belong here." Raja sniffed. "But as far as I'm concerned, I've found my rightful place."

"You're rightful place?" Constance threw her head back and laughed. "With a fledgling vampire who can barely hold her head above water?"

"You don't know, Andy." Raja hissed. "You don't know the first thing about her." She backed towards the door, opening it without looking. "Go home. Constance. I don't need you here." Her heart gave a twinge at the flash of hurt in her sister's eyes. She couldn't afford to let it sway her as it had in the past. Why can't you see? They gave you everything. Fed you all the lies. Constance was one of them. You never once tried to understand what it's like to be me. "I don't want you here."

"It's for your own good." Constance glared at the closed door Raja had escaped through, stinging from the words her sister had hurled before leaving. "If you won't listen to reason. Then I'll just have to force the issue." Raja was confused. That's all. This world had turned her upside down. Today was proof enough that Raja had somehow gotten in over her head and Constance knew she had to save her.

She hurried out the door, and picking up Raja's scent, she tracked the shape-shifter to an underground access.

She watched as her sister slipped under the city, her jaw clenching so tightly she was endanger of it breaking.

My sister should not be living like this.


Serena shook her head with irritation, waiting long enough to ensure, the woman did not follow Raja down the access, she pulled away from the curb, before Constance could recognize the car.

It was only after four pm in the afternoon and this day was showing definite signs that it was not going to get better.

Serena groaned and would have smacked her head on the steering wheel, but while she would likely survive the collision, she couldn't say the same of the other drivers on the road.

She circled around the block and debated on whether or not to go back to Miranda's or head over to Constance's apartment and wait for the woman there.

She was sorely missing the days when the worst there was to cower from was a Miranda Priestly nuclear detonation within the offices at Runway. And Serena's only duty had been procuring a willing human female for Miranda's feeding when the Avatar lacked the time to make arrangements for herself.

She'd been slowly working her way into Miranda's trust and having come from a long line of vampires, had held steadfast to her family ancestral beliefs that patience, loyalty and devotion were what really counted in the end.

She hadn't counted on this. In the blink of an eye she'd gone from loyal servant to body guard, enforcer and trustee, and she had hardly had time to allow the abrupt propelling of her advancement catch up to her.

Papa would be proud.

She couldn't help wondering how her life or unlife had suddenly become so complicated.

Oh yes. she spared a moment to sneer at the revelation. She was suddenly beginning to understand exactly why Emily had so many times in the past expressed such a clear aversion to Andy Sachs.

Andy Sachs was pandemonium walking. She was disruption personified. She was a dichotomy that could neither be named nor pinned down and explained. She was unpredictable. Andy Sachs was...

Serena slammed on the brakes. Her eyes growing large with shock.

Andy Sachs was at this very moment out in broad daylight, walking the streets as though she had not a care in the world.

Unbelievable.

Serena growled.

She depressed the accelerator squealing tires as she peeled off, and steered her car onto the next street. She pulled over to the curb and waited. She stepped out in front of the woman who was so lost in thought not only had she not recognize it was Serena in the car she had barely missed being struck by not moments ago but also did not see the statuesque blonde she was about to plow into.

Serena folded her arms over her chest just as Andy smacked into her, bounced back and then stared at Serena bemused and then frowned.

"What are you doing?" Serena demanded.

"Get out of my way."

Serena backed a step at the look in the woman's eyes.

"Andy!?" Serena spoke with cautious concern. She sidestepped when Andy tried to walk around her. "Andy, please get in the car. It's not safe out here for you." Serena looked around nervously and then backed to young fledge. "I promise whatever has happened we will work it out."

"Why?" Andy glared at her. And then shrugged her shoulders with resignation, falling in step with the tall blonde.

"Are you going to run away again?" Serena watched carefully as Andy walked beside her to the car, watching for any signs the young vampire was about to bolt and concerned over what had her in such a snit.

"Not this time." Andy settled into the front passenger seat. She was done with running. From bullying werebeast packs. From Christian. Nate. From Miranda.

"Did she put Christian up to this?"

"My god," Serena mouth gaped in shock at the question. "Andy no."

"Then why today? After all this..." Andy ground out, "What kind of sick game is she playing with me?"

 "It's not a game." Serena assured. "She just wanted to talk." Following Andy's lead she stared straight ahead out the windshield.

"Yeah sure she does, because our last discussion went so swimmingly." Andy lips thinned with bitterness.

"And she has since regretted it." Serena interjected with earnestness.

"Ri-ight." Andy snorted her disbelief. "I think we're talking about two different people. She never regrets anything."

"Then try to believe no matter what else you may think of her, she wants to help and she would never intentionally harm you."

"Did she know?"

"Know?" Serena's stomach knotted with dread. Oh no. "Andy..."

"Did she know that she had sired me?"

Serena slowly blew out the breath she hadn't needed to to hold. Relief flooded through her that this was not about Andy's parents and yet at the same time she was even more on edge with dread at how Andy was going to react when she found out.

"No. Andy that's not why she's been helping you. She knows now. She did not until last night." Serena reached out tentatively and placed a hand on Andy's arm. "Andy I promise you, she didn't know. And she did not purposely orchestrate any of this by putting Christian Thompson and your friends after you." Serena squeezed. "That's not how she works. And I think you know this to be true."

It would have been easy to dismiss this as a lie, except Serena's appearance on Halloween night, and then Serena or someone Serena knew managing to get blood to her after one of the more violent run-ins with a pack belied that notion. Andy said nothing else, her mind soaked in confusion.

If Miranda hadn't known then why would Miranda let her walk away, only to have someone watching over her?

She closed her eyes replaying that night in her mind. One moment sticking out, the words at the time she'd been too numb to hear, and they'd been drowned out by the more hurtful words spewing from Miranda's lips before and after but had apparently stayed in some corner of her mind, waiting ...

"All you do is run away." Miranda voice was hoarse and rough against her ear. "I'd have given you anything, everything." Andy felt shock ripple through her as her cheek was pressed against the cool door. "I trusted you." Her heart was pounding so hard it roared. "I needed you, Andrea." Miranda trembled against her. "I turned around and you were gone. I called you..." Miranda grabbed her shoulders and spun her around. Andy jerked back, her head bumping the door. Blue eyes glittered at her with inhuman luminescence.

Reeling from the memory, Andy shuddered, doubting the woman had meant to reveal so much and yet she had.

She turned her attention out the window observing the passing scenery, soaking in the sight of the city under the sunlight, as Serena cautiously navigated down streets.

Her heart trembled.

Miranda had wanted her even then in Paris. Maybe even before. Andy recalled her vague mention of plans. So what had this meeting meant to Miranda? Apparently she'd sanctioned it, and Andy had been under no illusion, when she'd first recognized Serena in that alley as to where they had been meant to go.

"Miranda is very powerful. And very important in the courts." Serena proceeded but there was hesitancy in her voice as though it was not something she should be divulging. "There are those in the courts who wish her harm... such as Jacqueline, Christian and there are others. And they would use you to do it. And her children if Miranda did not keep them under such heavy guard."

"She is an Avatar." Andy tensed.

"Andy." She felt a gentle squeeze on her arm. "I don't know what you've been told. But I can imagine. It's not all true. Not all Avatars are..." Serena paused. "Miranda is harsh, brutal and she can be cruel. You know this to be true. But she's not a mindless beast. Andy she's not a monster. I think you also know this to be true in your heart." Serena smiled. "Or you would not be in this car with me now."

Andy blinked, shook her head. She opened the car door.

Slamming on the breaks, Serena reached out to the young fledgling. "Andy don't..."

"I'm not running, Serena. But I need to clear my head. I'll be safe."


The hours did not past peacefully.

The walls of the house were like vacuumed sealed bags straining against an inevitable implosion.

A light rain had begun to fall; mist created of chilled air and moisture rose from the ground.

Down the city block, muted sounds of family gatherings and televisions tuned to football games reached sensitive ears.

A shutter of movement, on the sidewalk below, too swift for the human eye, brought with it a bludgeoning of emotional upheaval which sledge hammered the frame of the house from the outside as though by sheer force of will it could bring the very foundation to crumble.

Miranda moved from her post at the window and maneuvered around the arm chair to sit the now empty whiskey tumbler on the nightstand beside 'Andrea's' bed.

The soft whisperings of her gown against her hypersensitive flesh were erotic notes of music in her ears. Her nipples had pebbled into hardened peaks and now strained in rebellion against the fabric.

The upstairs lights were shut off; hurried steps carried her down the stairs.

Andy crossed the street at a brisk pace; before she could knock the door swung violently open.

With a negligible show of strength Miranda yanked the younger vampire from the porch into the mudroom, the small outer hall between the front door entrance and the door leading into Miranda's foyer. Andy barely had time or presence of thought to slam the outer door closed behind them.

They stared, breathing labored, eyes glowing inhuman brown, blue, each illuminating the features of the other in the otherwise darkened vestibule.

"Sire." Andrea whispered. She had meant it to come out as sarcastic note of derision, rather than as a breathy exhalation of want tumbling from her lips. She'd failed.

Miranda whimpered, stunned by the sound and unable to formulate in her own thoughts how that title affected her, undid her coming from the lips of her only Childe. The word, spoken out loud between them made it real. Miranda moved closer unable to tolerate the distance between herself and Andrea.

There was a tangible pull of visible evidence, not merely longing or sexual desire, but a connection more potent than biological kinship, and that went deeper than lust, and a bond stronger than love. Nothing like this had she ever experienced with Yupanqui.

She'd made a Childe. There was blood between them.

Space itself seemed to fold in the short distance between them and their lips were suddenly fused together.

Miranda kissed Andy senseless. She dominated the young vampire's lips, mouth, tongue, tasting finally what dreams had only hinted. She joined their bodies together, gasping at the shock of Andy's clothes; the cold and damp seeped through Miranda's gown and soothed her now feverish skin.

The younger vampire wrenched herself away from the soft seductive lips, breathing as though she'd just run a marathon. Miranda extended a hand to caress the soft face only to have her hand batted aside.

Her eyes widened at the look of fury on the younger vampire's face. Strong hands gripped Miranda by the shoulders, slammed her against the wall, the reverberation of pain from the impact, flared brightly in the pleasure center of Miranda's brain and sent out a shock wave which spread through her body like a ravaging fire.

"Stay out of my fucking head," Andy hissed, "and my dreams."

"Took you long enough." A smirk lifted the corners of Miranda's lips. Andy averted her gaze, staring at the wall to the right side of Miranda's head.

She wanted to spout angry accusations, bitter recriminations but the small space between them was too thick with want, the connection she could now feel was too potent, and was something she was suddenly realizing she had desperately needed. Alone and drowning in her strange new world and her own evolution, only in those shared dreams had she felt... anything remotely resembling belonging.

Miranda studied her, putting up no resistance as Andy warred within herself. She hadn't expected their reunion to go like this. Having so little control with Yupanqui, Miranda never allowed herself any roll but aggressor outside his bedchamber. Even in dreams, she'd dominated Andrea. Her eyes fluttered clothes for a moment, in self-mockery.

Another truth. Another revelation. She'd been giving Andrea control since the first day they'd met. In her own way submitting herself. Never truly resisting anything Andrea absolutely wanted. Walking away twice from Miranda. The choice to come back.

"Is this a game to you?" Andy voice was thick with emotion and rough with anger and confusion. She glared at the elder vampire, her narrowed gaze burning with hurt and a sudden desperation to believe. She had a sire. And it wasn't Nate or Doug or Lily and it would never be that bastard Christian.

Don't let it have all been some sick game.

Furious and aroused she moved swiftly, spinning Miranda around. The elder vampire had the presence of mind to turn her face to the side and brace her hands out. Andy pressed her bodies against Miranda's forcefully earning a gasp as her cold and wet clothes pressed against Miranda's back and legs. She linked their fingers together, where Miranda's hands rested braced against the wall on the sides of her head.

Andy studied that perfect profile, greedily feasted on the glazed expression of lust. Miranda's fingers clutched at hers, squeezing their linked digits together. Miranda's hips pressed back and Andy could almost feel the bare skin through the barrier of clothing between them.

The ragged breathing expelled from their lips echoed in the small mudroom

"Is it?" Andy growled.

Miranda parted her lips to speak and found the words evaporating as the younger vampire ground her pelvis into Miranda's hips.

Andy slid an arm around Miranda's waist, her other hand, with claws extended sliced away at the back of Miranda's short gown exposing the smooth expanse of pale flesh, the sensual line of Miranda's back, the perfect curvature of the elder vampire's ass barely covered by the skimpy silk black panties.

Her free hand slipped between their bodies. Nails lightly scritching down Miranda's back. Miranda's head fell back at the sensation and Andy nipped her sharply on the left shoulder causing the elder vampire to suck in sharp breath.

Miranda groaned at the sound of expensive silk panties being shredded. Andy's hand slipped between her thighs from behind and pressed hard against her center. Miranda jerked, moaned and banged her forehead against the wall.

"Oh!" Her hips thrust backward pressing her sex against the fingers teasing the opening of her slit. "Don't stop.

"Tell me," Andy whispered. She leaned forward to the side, looking the elder vampire in the eyes. Her finger's stroking up and down Miranda's slick and wet slit. "Tell me."

Miranda's usual cool gaze burned with a fiery intensity. Her expression raw and open.

"I... I want..." Miranda swallowed, the muscles along her jawline twitching. Her left arm slid down the wall to reach behind, her fingers dug into Andy's thigh through the material of Andy's damp slacks. "I need you with me."

Andy thrust three fingers deep inside the elder vampire.

It wasn't nice. It wasn't gentle.

Miranda's cries of pleasure bounced off the walls of the mudroom. The arm around Miranda's waist held her tight, as Miranda kept one hand braced against the wall to keep her head from slamming through the plaster as the force of the younger vampire's thrusts lifted her off her feet.

Miranda clawed with one hand behind her at Andy's slacks where she could reach, ripping pieces away to lay in tatters on the floor, desperate to feel the flawless skin against her fingers.

They made it to a bedroom, clothing strewn in shredded pieces along the floor like Hansel and Gretal's breadcrumbs.

Miranda's soft cry filled the room as her right breasts was stroked and pinched; a nubile tongue licked and suckled her left. She reached out to touch to caress.

"Shh." A firm hand pressed down on her belly to still her. "Let me do all the work."

Miranda was being driven insane as the sweet mouth teased her, suckling, licking biting her nipple, as Andy's right hand twisted and pinched the left. Miranda lie there, writhing with want, staring up into glowing brown eyes that glinted with dark hungers and feral desire.

Miranda cried out loudly as long nimble fingers glided over her clit, circling it, teasing and then pinching. Jerking it like a miniature cock between index finger and thumb.

Her body was inflamed.
 
The soft whimpers of need spilling from the young vampire's lips as Andy's teeth bit down hard on Miranda's right nipple sent surges, pulses of flame to Miranda's sex, causing an overflow of wetness. She hadn't broken skin... hadn't yet taken blood but Miranda quivered with anticipation as sharp fangs scraped at the sensitive flesh crowning her breast.

She arched her back, pressing the mound more firmly against the young vampire's mouth, a gesture of acquiescence and permission.

An unspoken yes.

Miranda was close to begging.

Andy lifted her head, meeting Miranda's gaze, running her tongue across the sharp points of her fangs, a gesture so erotic Miranda thought she'd come from the sight of it.

"Take from me." Miranda murmured huskily. "Blood of my blood. I offer ichor of the gods."

A shudder rippled over the girl's frame, her eyes dilating widely and with the efficiency of an adder she struck. One fang piercing the center of the nipple the other into the flesh of the puckered areola.

Miranda roared, nearly climaxing from the intensity of the pain. Her nipple throbbed. Andy's fangs sank deep, her mouth fastening around the wound, she drank.

Andy lapped greedily at the bite inflicted around Miranda's areola, hardly recognizing herself and the dark wants teasing the edges of her mind. Some part of her wanted to recoil, to put a stop to the madness before it got too far out of hand, but Miranda's arching into the rough suckling of her breasts, the soft moans of "harder" and "more" ceased all worries and concern.

"Andrea. Andrea. Don't stop." Miranda's sopping wet sex rose from the bed to press against Andy's hip.

And she no longer remembered why she had wanted to end this.

She dragged her mouth down Miranda's belly, licking, sucking flesh, her fangs cutting tiny slivers that beaded with blood and Andy lapped up the evidence. Growling at the elder vampire's hisses of pleasure.

The vampire fashionista's head tossed from side to side, her body aching for release as Andy reveled in the control she'd been given.

Miranda's submissiveness was euphoric and so different from the Miranda in her dreams it fed the primal fires of Andy's voracious hunger.

She bit Miranda's inner thigh, and the elder vampire hissed. Miranda's hands immediately moved to Andy's hair, brushing the long strands aside to peer down at Andy's face between her legs. Luminescent brown eyes met the luminescent blue.

Andy grinned wickedly and without warning plunged her tongue into Miranda's sex. Miranda's mouth parted unable to give sound to the cry as Andy devoured her... owned her leaving the Sire with no mistaken impression as to whom was possessing whom.

Miranda lost count of her climaxes.

With sharp nips of blunt teeth Andy made promises that dragged harsh pants from Miranda's lips. And then her fangs drew shallow stinging cuts on Miranda's clit. The elder vampire wailed, her head thrashing the bed, as she held the younger vampire's head in place between her thighs.

She ground her sex against Andy's relentless mouth, hard, holding back nothing.

Andy sucked at the shallow cuts, lapping their potent yield and then licked gently at the abused nub, sealing the wounds.

Three fingers thrust deeply, twisting in and out of Miranda's wetness and then four stretching her, making her wetter until Andy tucked in her thumb and drove her hand deep inside elder vampire's soaked sex, relishing in the ability to let go.

Miranda's scream of pleasure was a feral and exultant cry of pain and bliss. Her sole focus, the joining of their bodies and the pulsing connection between them which flared brighter and stronger with every taking of blood and every climax pulled from her shuddering vampiric frame.

It left her shaken inside. She'd not set eyes on the girl in almost a month's time.

One night—real, tangible no shrouds of dreams between them—there was nothing to which Miranda could compare this.

And now more than ever Miranda was determined. She could not lose this...

Her body ached from the abuse. But it was the sweetest ache she'd ever known as she drove her hips to meet the pounding of Andy's slender fist.

Legs splayed wide, her nails dug blood trails into Andy's back and Miranda greedily lapped the drops from her fingers. Andy's fever pitch arousal saw her shattering with climax a moment after Miranda's enormous eruption.

"Andrea," spilled like a chant from the elder vampire's lips, over and over. "Andrea.

Later Andrea curled around her, spooning the elder vampire from behind. Miranda sensed the tension in her frame as Miranda heard the new Emily and Serena moving around downstairs. For a moment she regretted the tattered garments littering the floor. But only for a moment.

"There are two vampire downstairs."

Miranda smiled. "You're observational skills astound me." Miranda sighed at the continued tension. "Serena and the new Emily." Miranda turned on her back. Andy's arm fall across her breasts and Miranda hissed at the soreness and the small ripples of pleasure.

Grinning smugly, Andy leaned over and gently kissed the abused nipples.

Miranda ran her fingernails fondly along a sun-kissed cheek. "You're not staying."

"No." Andy whispered. Her expression hesitant. "I've got... there's..."

"Your pet," Miranda kept her tone neutral, well aware of the intimate nature between Andy and her familiar. Short of killing Andy's familiar there was nothing Miranda could do to sever that bond. She was not exactly happy about that. But Miranda would do anythind that she could to avoid pushing the young vampire away again.

"It's late." Andy nodded. "I kind of stormed off earlier. She'll worry if I don't turn up."

"I want you back here." Miranda turned her gaze to the ceiling.

"I am not going to hide behind you," Andy hissed.

Miranda flinched and Andy nipped her shoulder in apology for her defensive tone.

"I'll be back." She looked down into Miranda's eyes. "But I won't be treated like your pet."

Miranda snorted. "I think you've communicated that well enough." Miranda hesitated and then continued, "Andrea, it's not just Christian that concerns me, there are other things going on right now that..." She closed her eyes. "Be careful."

Andy studied the woman's face, the shuttered expression and closed eyes.

"Do you need me here because you want to protect me?" Andy asked candidly. "Or because you want me at your side?"

The elder vampire pursed her lips. "If my answer is yes—to both?"

"Will having me here endanger you?"

"There are always dangers." Miranda opened her eyes and studied the younger vampire. "My children are..."

Andy tensed. "Has someone threatened the twins?" Something dark and deadly flared in Andy's eyes, the swift change was startling and alarming. Miranda smoothed the tension away with a gentle caress of her fingers from Andy's left temple to her cheeks..

"I wish it were that simple. I could deal with a blatant threat and be done with it." Miranda sighed. "To be honest, I have no idea how Christian and Jacqueline plan to use you against me." She shrugged. "And as for my girls... there are always dangers for them as well."

"They hugged me once." Andy revealed out of the blue. "I've never forgotten it."

Miranda nodded, her expression thoughtful. "They are... oddly obsessed with you."

"A trait they picked up from their mother?" Andy teased.

Miranda rolled her eyes, refused to dignify that charge with a reply.

"When you were here they were adamant that I help you. After you left they asked about you constantly."

Andy blinked, a little surprised at that but it eased one of her concerns. "What are we going to do about Jacqueline, Christian and Nate? We may know you're my sire which puts a kink in at least a part of their plans but they don't know."

"They soon will."

Andy's expression darkened. "I don't want them to get away with this."

"Andrea, they won't." Miranda clenched her jaw. "They have much to answer for." More than you know. "In a few weeks time, I will be in a position of power to properly handle, Jacqueline, Christian Thompson and anyone else in liege with them..."

"And until then," Andy smiled bitterly. "I'll be constantly looking over my shoulder waiting for them to strike." She shook her head. "No thanks. I can't wait that long."

"And exactly what do you think you can do?"

"I don't know." Andy shook her head. "But I'm not going to hide behind your skirt like some leashed and frightened little puppy."

Miranda studied the young vampire another confession on the tip of her tongue, but a quick flash image of that avenging dark angel that had reared it murderous head just moments ago and on behalf of the twins convinced Miranda to keep silent. Andrea was still too tempestuous and unpredictable and despite the changes, she was still so very young.

Tell her now and you may as well gift wrap her for Christian and Jacqueline and have her shipped special delivery to their hands. It is not yet time for Andrea to know what happened to her parents.

Miranda shuddered, mentally accepting her decision as the only one she could make in the moment.

"I don't intend to hide you," Miranda relented. Well it had been her attention. But Andrea was proving too strong willed to remain in hiding much longer. Perhaps it was time to meet the problem head on. "We'll sit down with Serena... and deal with it."

"And Raja?"

"Raja?" Miranda frowned. The frown didn't relent when she recognized the name of the pet. "Of course."

"Okay." Andy leaned over her kissed her on the lips, Miranda moaned, deepening the kiss her arms wrapping around the younger vampire's waist and pulling her on top. "I'll be back. Soon." Andy promised. "I just need time to say good bye." She shrugged. "At least ... to everyone that matters."

Miranda observed the woman climb from the bed, regretting she hadn't been able to reciprocate during their mating. Anxiety over their parting filled her with dread.

"There ... you have clothes in the closet of your... Stephen's old room."

"Were you that sure of my answer?" Andy grinned over her shoulder.

Not at all. "I live on hope." Miranda arched a brow.

"I recall you mentioning that." Andy had paused at the door.

"It's good to know that not everything I said fell on deaf ears." Miranda smirked.

Andy laughed and disappeared from Miranda's sight down the hall. Grabbing her cell phone Miranda placed a call to Roy, making arrangements for Andrea's safe transportation.

"Roy will be waiting." Miranda informed when Andy returned showered and dress, the sleek black Chanel slacks clung to her legs and hips temptingly. The burgundy hooded linen shirt, played well against her complexion.

"Then I won't keep him waiting, too long." Andy made her way over to the bed, leaned over Miranda's naked and healing body, and she passionately kissed the elder vampire, her hands roaming freely. "You're addictive." Andy whimpered breaking the kiss as arousal spiked through her veins once again.

"You are a fiend." Miranda sniffed, her body aching again for more after those teasing touches.

"Your fiend." Andy smirked.

"Are you?" Miranda's tone though teasing, there was hint of seriousness behind the question.

Andy considered this. And gave a brief nod.

"As long as we're clear on the meaning of that possessive nomenclature. Sure I am."

She braced her hands on the bed on either side of Miranda's body and trailed kisses down her neck and chest.

"One for the road?" Andy whispered.

"God," Miranda groaned, grasping at Andy's shoulders, "We don't have time."

"There's always time." Andy murmured against Miranda's thigh.


Standing in the middle of the foyer, Andy paused, still sensing the presence of Serena and the other Vampire in the house.

She noticed the torn clothes which had been scattered on the floor were gone.

She shoved a hand in her pocket and felt yet another wad of bills. She rolled her eyes, looked towards Miranda's den and then back up the stairs, and with a growl low and feral she warned the female vampire whose scent she recognized from the alley...

"Mine."

Satisfied, she headed out the door into the early morning whose sun was still hours from rising. Andy glanced up and over her right shoulder to find Miranda watching.

Andy inclined her head in a nod and then climbed into the car.

"Roy drop me off..."

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