Living as Lenore: Chapter 27 "Making a Deal"
Title: Living as Lenore
Author: Luna (aka Luna_del_Cielo on lj)
Fandom: Supernatural/Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Cast of Characters: Tara/Lenore McLeod, Fergus McLeod/Crowley, Loki/Gabriel, Anya, Castiel, Kali, Eli, Angel, Darla, the Immortal, Bilquis, Spike, Drusilla, Dean, Sam, Scoobies
Rating: T
Summary: Willow tried to bring Tara back…and she did. Unfortunately, she was brought back to life in 1672. Now 'Lenore' has to deal with witches, demons, pagan gods, and even angels, as she struggles to find the red-haired woman she sees in her dreams.
Pairings: Multiple pairings that will include the characters: Anya, Gabriel, Kali, Tara/Lenore, the Immortal, Willow - at least.
Spoilers: BTVS S6E19 ‘Seeing Red’, SPN S2E3 ‘Bloodlust’. Spoilers for Crowley's past in S6 “Weekend at Bobby’s” and Trickster/Loki's past in S5 ‘Changing Channels’
Warnings: Character death, Femslash (nothing explicit)
Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural or Buffy the Vampire Slayer. If I did then fewer people would have died in each of those shows :)
Read specific chapters here: Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19 | Chapter 20 | Chapter 21 | Chapter 22| Chapter 23| Chapter 24| Chapter 25| Chapter 26|
Or all of the entire story here: “The Need was back. It called to her like a siren; deadly and duplicitous it desired nothing more than to turn her into a beast that would feed upon her very brother.”
Making a Deal
A/N: Warning: Some darkness and violence up ahead.
Staines, Great Britain
May 1, 1860
Lenore awoke in a position that reminded her too much of being Petrali’s captive in Sicily. Thick iron manacles were clasped around her wrists and ankles and attached to the corner wall of a small, dark cellar. Her body felt foreign to her; her lethargic limbs refused to listen to her mental commands and she said a quick prayer in her mind asking for strength.
“Rise and shine, Lenore!” a cruel male voice rang out. Lenore looked up and saw Angelus giving her a malicious grin as he held aloft a seven-inch blade covered with blood.
Worry twisted in her gut. Oh God. Did they have Drusilla? Was she already too late?
Without warning Angelus slashed the knife over her right cheek and she hissed as the Dead Man’s Blood came in contact with her own.
“Ya know, I never did get to thank you for your hospitality back in France,” Angelus smiled amicably as he passed the knife from one hand to the other in a casual manner.
“You’re welcome,” she answered sarcastically as she focused on not moaning in pain. When Dead Man’s Blood came in contact with a vampire’s blood it spread through them like black oil followed by a lit match that literally burned them from the inside, sapping all of their strength and leaving them in great pain.
But Lenore had to focus. Angelus had to die. Darla had to die. It must be done.
Angelus chuckled as he pulled up a chair across from her. “I am just so happy that I can repay your previous kindness. Of course, not just for you, but for your little descendant Drusilla as well.”
The flames that burned within her flared at his words. She struggled to present a calm demeanor. “Who?”
Letting out a roar of laughter, Angelus called for his mate. “Oh Darla, darling. Please bring in little Dru.”
Darla, decked in a white dress that was already speckled with human blood, dragged Darla down the cellar steps and threw her at Lenore’s feet. Her face was already twisted in her demon visage and Lenore noticed two fang-sized holes in Drusilla’s neck. Shivering and panting, Drusilla saw Lenore and flung herself at her ancestor. Lenore rocked back at her weight and winced as the smell of flesh blood reached her nostrils. Her body, already hungry and in need of healing, reacted immediately by extending rows of fangs.
“Grand mummy, help me. They want to make me a demon!” Drusilla wailed, her voice cracked already, as if she had been screaming the entire time Lenore had been unconscious.
Lenore let out a grunt as she twisted her face away from Drusilla. No. She could not and would not feed on family. Again.
“Oh my god, look at her,” Darla laughed scornfully. “I throw her a bone and she backs away like a virgin at an orgy.”
Angelus wrapped his arm around his mate’s. “It is certainly bloody pathetic.”
“Mmm,” Darla licked her lips salaciously. “You just said my favorite word.”
“Bloody?” Angelus asked with a quirk of his lips.
Darla grinned and quickly ripped Drusilla away from Lenore. “Shouldn’t let this all go to waste,” she said as her fangs bit into the girl’s wrist.
“Stop!” Lenore begged. “Leave her be.”
“Why? Because she’s your family?” Angelus scoffed in amusement.
Drusilla had already said it so it was no longer a secret, Lenore supposed. Yet…there was something about the way he said it. Like he had known…
“Yes,” she snapped vehemently as Darla gave her a doe-eyed look while drinking slowly from Drusilla. “Release her, now.”
Laughing again, Angelus bent down and used the knife to slice through the front of her dress, cutting through her skin in the process. This time a moan did escape her throat and she hated the satisfaction she saw in the bastard’s eyes.
If only Buffy could have seen what this creature was like before his curse. He was a beast, truly.
Angelus’ eyes lit up as he tore back the upper half of her dress, leaving her only in a lacy white camisole. “Well, well, well. What do we have here?” She froze at his curious tone and then jerked back as he tried to finger the golden heart-shaped locket that hung around her neck.
“Don’t you dare!” she rasped as he tried to grab the only thing she had left of Loki’s.
He gave her an exasperated look, like ‘do you really expect me to listen to you?’, and grabbed it anyway. However, as soon as he touched it his skin began smoking like he had been struck with holy water.
“What is that?” he snarled angrily as his demon visage took over his face. Darla had dropped Drusilla and was staring at her lover in concern.
“Powerful magic,” Lenore answered truthfully - even if she really had no idea how to access that magic at the moment. It was hard enough just for her to stay conscious at this point so she couldn’t really see herself accessing the locket’s power.
“Stupid fucking witch,” Angelus spat. Then his eyes gleamed in triumph. “Drusilla, take the locket off your grand mummy.”
Drusilla, appearing dazed, glanced between Angelus and Lenore. “Do it!” Angelus barked.
“Don’t,” Lenore whispered as Drusilla approached her.
“Do it or I’ll kill her!” Angelus shouted as Darla giggled gleefully, enjoying this manipulative show.
Gently, Drusilla unfastened the locket from Lenore’s neck. “I don’t want you to die, grand mummy,” she said with giant rolling tears falling down her cheeks.
Angelus yanked Drusilla’s hand and forced her to toss the locket onto the floor. “Oh, she didn’t tell you? Your grand mummy is dead. In fact, she’s just like us,” he informed her viciously.
Drusilla’s expression was one of betrayal and pain. “No! You lie!”
“Do I?” Angelus rubbed his fingers over Drusilla’s bleeding wounds and then smeared the blood over Lenore’s lips in one sudden movement.
Oh God. The blood. The Need. Oh God it was back and it was so strong, her own special siren song. It smelled sweet and thick and she knew it would taste so delicious…
Drusilla’s scream of horror when Lenore’s fangs sprung out again brought her back to her senses. With deep resolve, she bent her head down and rubbed her lips over her shoulder in an attempt to rid herself of all the blood.
“I thought you were going to save me!” Drusilla sobbed.
Guilt rocked through her and Lenore looked away shamefully. “I will,” she promised.
“No. You won’t,” Angelus grinned - right before he proceeded to drain Drusilla and then force his blood down her throat.
Lenore struggled against her chains. She screamed. She cursed. She fought to find the strength to do magic - to do anything.
But she couldn’t. Because Fate was, apparently, a bitch.
Laughing ruthlessly, Darla threw Drusilla’s corpse over her shoulder and headed out of the cellar while Angelus stayed behind a moment to gloat.
“Really thought you could have saved her, didn’t you?” He saw her eyes harden and he shook his head. “Aw, how sweet. You really thought you were special, didn’t you? That you were a superior breed of vampire, strong, friend to pagan gods, and a powerful witch. But at the end of the day, you’re nothing.”
“You’re nothing.” Those words from a memory long ago echoed in her mind. She heard her father’s voice - Mr. Maclay’s voice - reverberate through their house.
“When are you gonna get it through yer head, girl? You ain’t special. In fact, Tara, you’re nothing. And don’t forget it.”
Nothing. She was nothing. She couldn’t save Drusilla. She couldn’t have the person she loved - none of them, actually; Kali, Loki, Willow.
Nothing.
Tears sparkling in her eyes, she spoke in a measured tone to Angelus as he lorded over her. “I take it this is the part where you kill me?”
“Kill you?” he burst out laughing. “Trust me ‘lil darlin’, I would love to. Problem is, Bilquis would be mightily angry if I did that.”
Her breath caught in her throat. “Bilquis?” she whispered in horror.
Angelus knelt, pinched her cheek, and winked at her. “Aw, aren’t you cute? You really thought Drusilla was the end game, huh? I mean,” he snorted and shrugged his broad shoulders, “don’t get me wrong. She’s a great consolation prize and loads of fun. In fact, we was just gonna kill her, but thought turning her would be the cruelest thing to do to you.”
She was panting now. Lenore didn’t need to breathe but that didn’t stop her from sucking in great mouthfuls of air. “Why?”
“Why?” Angelus laughed. “To keep you busy, of course. I’ve been wanting a chance at you for years and when Bilquis gave me your family’s information so I could track them down and torture them ‘till you finally came runnin’ home, why, how could I turn down such a glorious opportunity?”
His words cut into her very soul. She had known there would be a risk leaving Alaska but she couldn’t let yet another member of her family suffer the evils that Fergus had been dealt. But now…now her mistake would cost the lives of her other family.
“Where is she?” Lenore asked angrily.
Angelus pretended to look at his watch. “Hmm…probably ankle deep in the blood of all your damn vegetarian vampires,” he smirked.
Angelus had left over an hour ago and still Lenore was weak from the Dead Man’s Blood. That’s it. First Petralli and now Angelus. No way would she ever be stupid enough to get caught like this again!
But she had a beacon of hope - the locket. She knew if she could reach it she would be alright. The problem was, she was still chained to the wall and Loki’s locket was a good fifteen feet away.
Lenore sighed. Guilt, shame, and terror were coursing through her body and she felt ill from the sheer magnitude of it all. However, regardless of her moment of self-doubt she knew she had to succeed in getting out of here and creating a portal back to Alaska so she could warn her clan.
Or save them if she was already there.
God she hoped that Bilquis was not there. After all, was it even possible for the vampire to cover so much ground in only a week?
Possibly.
Probably, if she had been planning this ahead of time.
Dammit.
She felt her mind becoming less of a muddled mess even though her body was still weak, so Lenore decided to use her magic. She focused every entity of her being on levitating the locket to her. One minute passed, then five, then fifteen, but eventually it scraped across the cold stone floor and into her hand. A sob of surprised joy tumbled out of her and she refastened the locket around her neck.
“What is it?” she inquired as she hastily brushed the tears away from her eyes.
He ran a hand awkwardly through his short hair. “I made it…with the smallest bit of my…myself.”
That stilled her. “Like your powers?”
“Something like that,” he shrugged. “It’s highly uncommon…perhaps never even done…but I fused it with that locket so that way if you were ever in trouble again I’d be able to feel it. I figured it would make your magic more powerful as well to help you, in case some sicko like Petrali ever got a hold of you again.”
Lenore pressed her lips together in determination. She had her pride but her clan was more important. If this locket could connect her to Loki and get him to help her, then so be it.
Holding the locket against her chest, she let herself fall into the warmth that it held. Closing her eyes she saw a pure streak of white light gleaming in the blackness of space. She mentally followed the plane as quickly as a comet streaks through the sky, all the while mentally chanting Loki’s name. The path directed her to Loki’s home in the mountains and, even though she was upset with him, she smiled wistfully at the sight. The light continued to guide her through the living room, down the hallway, and into Loki’s bedroom.
…Where he was occupied. With a woman.
She had promised herself long ago that she wouldn’t cry anymore over Loki and she didn’t, but the burst of pain in her heart took her breath away.
“Loki!” she cried mentally through the locket’s connection.
He didn’t answer her, so she shouted again - and cursing at him to look at her at the same time.
Eventually he did, and he stared at her in surprise. “Lenore?” he whispered. His eyes looked almost glassy and he squinted, as if he couldn’t quite see her.
“Shush, darling,” a throaty feminine voice silenced him as she grasped the back of his head and redirected Loki to his previous activity. “That was just the wind.”
Lenore screamed again for him to help her but the woman just smirked at Lenore and clapped her hands.
And suddenly Lenore was back, fully awake, and completely alone in the cellar.
So help her, she would kill Aphrodite someday.
The locket was helping. Its power was still just as great, even if it couldn’t get her Loki. But she was focusing on its magic and her own magic, and her body was regaining its strength. By the time she was able to walk, although she was still greatly wounded thanks to Angelus’ sadistic prowess with a blade, she was limping out of the cellar and into the bright sunlight of day. Her eyes scanned her surroundings and she realized that she had no idea where she was. Grunting in frustration, she summoned more energy to do a locator spell and was quickly on her way - tattered dress and all - back to her inn. All of her supplies were there for the portal ritual.
Grimacing, she tried to keep to the shadows and alleys of the small village of Staines - she knew her current prostitute look wouldn’t win her any friends. She still attracted some attention but then she figured, what the hell? Her friends were probably dying right now, her descendants had been murdered and vamped because of her, and did it all even matter anymore?
She opened her room door with more force then she meant and winced at the loud noise. Hopefully no one came to check in on her. Between her temper and raging bloodlust at the moment she didn’t know if she’d be able to control herself.
Yes, her lack of eating well here in England, her torture, the momentary temptation of Drusilla’s blood, and her rage at Bilquis was churning within her, forming a volcano of destruction just waiting to happen. Never before had Lenore felt like this - so violent, so angry - not even when hunting with Kali
She wanted to rip apart Bilquis with her bare hands.
But before she stepped into the room she realized that someone was waiting for her, laying on the bed. Her hands curled into fists and she hoped this was another of Bilquis’ lackeys. Her bloodlust demanded to be sated - if human blood was not allowed then the lives of demons would suffice.
“Temper, temper,” he chided as he sat up and winked. “Don’t want to be breakin’ the doors of this precious little inn, now do you?”
“Fergus,” she growled as she went to the wardrobe where her goods were stashed. “This isn’t a good time.
He rolled his eyes. “Well I bloody could figure that out, on account of you looking like some London whore who just met Jack the Ripper.”
“Shut up!” Lenore suddenly shouted at Fergus, desperately needing some outlet for anger. She had just noticed her wardrobe was bare - likely the work of Angelus and Darla. “Right now my clan, my family, is getting murdered! All because I was stupid enough to follow some stupid vision of a crossroads demon trying to steal my descendant - you! And now I’m bloody stuck here because all my supplies have been stolen!”
Fergus barely reacted to her rant, choosing only to raise a single brow. “Why, this reminds me of your tantrums from when you were a toddler.” He frowned then, like it pained him somehow to remember his human years. “Anyways, luv, you’re in luck.” He held his arms open like an actor awaiting applause. “Cavalry’s here!”
Lenore snorted and folded her arms. “Thought you wouldn’t be doing me anymore favors, Ferg?”
He bristled at the use of his disliked human nickname. “Not unless it serves my own needs, of course,” he smiled charmingly.
Lenore pursed her lips. Time was running short but she didn’t know if she could trust her brother anymore. Thus far he hadn’t given her much reason to. “And just what are your own needs?”
“Well I love chaos, darling. And your little do-gooder crew have created quite a stir in the underworld, which of course is always entertaining. But mostly,” he leaned forward and Lenore held her breath, wondering if he would display that he still really loved her and that a speck of humanity existed within him. “But mostly Van Helsing’s team is in hot pursuit, but the Queen of Sheba is quicker and already at your camp. See, I want Van Helsing’s little whore, the slayer, dead. But with Bilquis already at your camp Van Helsing’s team won’t have an opportunity to fight them.”
Her forehead crinkled as she mulled over his rather confusing words. “And why do you want the slayer dead?” she asked with mild concern - because even though she hated the thought of a girl dying, a slayer of all people, she knew she needed to get to Alaska fast and cut the chit-chat.
He shrugged. “Does it matter?” Fergus asked. “Anyways, I can transport you to Alaska with me, demon powers and all, and even give you a fighting chance.”
“Anything,” she said quickly.
Was it just her or did a small smile flash across his face? She shook off the feeling of dread and mentally prepared herself. “I can make sure that all those vampires get killed.” He frowned. “Well, Bilquis may be tricky-”
“-That’s fine. I want to kill her with my own bare hands.”
Fergus did smile then, a brilliantly sadistic smile. “Excellent. Anyways, the only problem is such a display of power would need a little something to kick-start the magic.”
“What?” she asked warily.
He chuckled. “Certainly not your soul, silly,” he chuckled. “My oh my, the look on your face.”
“Spit it out!” she snapped in frustration.
“I overheard Angelus and his whore this morning-”
Her pupils nearly went black from the rush of adrenaline that coursed at that name. “Where? I will kill them myself!” she swore.
“Oooh, my little kitten grew into her tiger claws,” Fergus smiled mischievously.
“Fergus!”
He rolled his eyes. “Oh, they’re in some bloody stupid barn. But do you want them or the big fishy?”
“Big fishy,” she replied. She would get Angelus and Darla later.
“Anways, as I was saying, I overheard Angelus talk about some powerful locket you have. That just may be what I need to kick-start the magic of ass kicking.”
Lenore froze. “No, something else.”
“Lenore,” Fergus sighed. He waved his hand and the air shimmered until a snowy landscape appeared. It was distorted, like watching a badly tuned television channel, but Lenore saw hundreds of figures fighting - and many of them dying.
“Oh God,” she gasped.
“Indeed, this is what your precious God allows,” he snorted. “Anyways, you’re running out of time luv. Now, I want to help you, I really do, but I don’t have the power to do it on my own.
Lenore hesitated and fingered the locket lovingly. This was a precious gift to her. After all, Loki had forged it from his own spirit. It was powerful and held a deep amount of love and beauty inside. She couldn’t part with it…could she?
Then she remembered flesh slick with sweat and moans and her heart broke again. Loki had tossed her aside - why shouldn’t she do the same with his gift? If it could save her clan…
“Fine.”
“Excellent,” Fergus smiled secretively as he took the locket from her. Then, without warning, he pressed his lips to hers for a quick kiss. His touch burned her and she felt something powerful transpire - the deal was sealed.
Upper Alaska near the Colville River,
May 1, 1860
Fergus and Lenore popped into existence onto a watchtower that her clan had built when they first settled here. Below them, half a mile away, a bloody and fierce battle raged on. Here in the western hemisphere it was already night and swords and daggers gleamed under the moonlight. Her clan members were fighting bravely but she could tell that they were outmatched against the hordes of vampires like them, djinn, and the half-breed vampires. Bodies littered the floor and her keen eyesight already identified several of them.
Her bloodlust ignited again like lightning on dry leaves.
She would have bolted had she not felt Fergus’ hand on her shoulder. “One moment, little sister. Back-up is just about here.”
“Who?” She was still confused by how her brother was going to help her.
He smirked and playfully ruffled her hair. “Why, demons silly. Who else?”
The atmosphere became charged and the scent of sulfur tinged the air. Looking down she saw fifty bodies, mostly men but some women, appear. “Who…?”
“Van Helsing’s army. My comrades down south were able hop on up thanks to your deal.”
“WHAT?”
Fergus chuckled. “Now that they’re possessed this ‘lil army can pop into wherever they like and they’re more than strong enough to take on Bilquis’ army.”
“FERGUS!” she cried out in horror, realizing what she condemned these poor humans to endure.
He grinned merrily at her outburst but then his expression sobered. “Don’t get killed, Len. I would be most…disappointed if you did.”
Then he disappeared, leaving her even angrier than she had been minutes ago.
But no matter. She would deal with him and the demons later. Right now her clan was all she worried about.
Leaping down from the watch tower she sprinted lightly over the snow, snatching a sword away from one of Bilquis’ men and beheading him in one swift movement. Satisfaction flooded her at the sight of his head flying through the air and the coolness of his blood hitting her. She continued running towards the center of the battle, decapitating and slicing where she could. But occasionally she would see a familiar face dead in the snow and it would make her stumble.
Patience, their newest Council member, with her mouth agape in a silent shriek.
Alice, the eternal fifteen-year old who had been with Lenore since 1819, her eyes closed in silent defeat.
Alka, the Albanian council woman dead at the feet of her secret love Déshèng, who was now brutally fighting three vampires in revenge.
And more, and more.
Lenore emerged into a clearing of bright red snow, dyed from the gallons of blood spilt this night. She saw Bilquis dancing with a sword in hand and laughing as three vampires attacked her. Eli was bravely fighting her, as she expected, and so was Kitra, the most ancient of them all, and Jae, her personal bodyguard.
Rage swelled within her as Bilquis’ blade tore through Eli’s shoulder, almost severing his right arm. “BILQUIS!” Her voice erupted from her throat on a wave of pure fury and all heads turned to her.
Bilquis blinked in surprise and was nearly beheaded by the opportunist Jae in the process; however she quickly kicked the vampire twenty feet back. “Lenore,” she purred. She clearly was trying to take control of the situation regardless of her surprise. “Fancy seeing you here. I thought our mutual friend had you quite occupied.”
Lenore stretched as she fell into a battle pose, ignoring the pain that flared when she did so - wounds infected with Dead Man’s Blood took longer than just a few hours to heal. “I am going to kill you,” she called out calmy, her voice ringing as righteously as the church bells on Sunday.
Laughing, she shook her head. “Please. Not even your eldest can take me on with the support of her weak friends. You think you - you - a weak two-hundred year old vampire can succeed?” Bilquis laughed scornfully. “You are nothing compared to me.”
Nothing.
No. She was wrong. Angelus was wrong. Her father had been wrong. Tara had felt like somebody because Willow loved her. But Lenore? She knew she was somebody. She had loved fiercely, even if she had lost them. She had killed demons bent on inflicting pain and death to humans, even though she was a beast just as feared by those humans. She had fought against her bloodlust time and time again, and won. She had helped others do the same, and hopefully saved their souls in the process.
No. Bilquis was wrong. Because Lenore McLeod was somebody.
Her body coiled like a cobra at those words and she allowed herself a small smile. “You’re wrong,” she contradicted simply. Then her body flew through the air in a magnificent arc as she slashed her blade down. Bilquis met it with her own with a look of astonishment at the strength of the blow. Gritting her teeth, Lenore pressed the blade aggressively forward and Bilquis stumbled back.
“You’re feisty. Such a shame you prefer to live on common cattle instead of realizing that it is the humans who should be farmed,” she stated, her tone light with an underlying sense of anger and malevolence.
Lenore’s blade whistled through the air and their swordplay began anew. “And it’s a shame about your dress.”
Bilquis gave her a quizzical expression just a second before Lenore’s blade ripped through the fabric of her shirt and scratched her skin.
“You foul little whore!” Bilquis screeched in indignation as Lenore reveled momentarily in her Buffy-esque moment with a sly smile.
Bilquis’ movements became quicker and suddenly harder to predict as she channeled her rancor. Lenore realized she was outmatched by this ancient vampire but she didn’t let it show. Her people were depending on her now.
Her sword was suddenly knocked out of her hand and Lenore was kicked to the ground. She pressed her hands through the snow and into the earth and channeled the elements. The sky was already a sea of clouds and wouldn’t need much coaxing to perform. “Levitatas!” she shouted. Lightning cracked through the sky and Bilquis looked up in alarm. She raised her sword to catch the bolt crashing down upon her and the air crackled with energy.
Lenore had expected the massive spell to harm Bilquis, but instead the Queen of Sheba smiled triumphantly as the electricity crackled over her body. She bent her sword towards Lenore and suddenly the bolt escaped its confines and shot right into her. Without proper warning, Lenore was defenseless and she was thrown dozens of feet at the impact. Her body groaned in protest and she struggled to right herself.
“You really should have taken my offer when I gave it to you, Lenore. You should have disbanded. Instead, you chose to defy me. And now I will have your head on a pike,” Bilquis stated evenly with a genial smile and predatory eyes.
“No, you will not harm her!” Jae snarled as she raced towards Bilquis. With a heavy sigh, the older vampire spun around Jae’s racing form faster than the human eye could see and plunged her hand into her back. Bilquis’ arm came out bloody and she licked her beating souvenir.
“Honestly, Lenore. Where do you pick up this riff-raff? I was only playing with them because I wanted to kill time just in case you managed to show,” Bilquis informed her in a bored tone.
Lenore stood shakily to her feet. “Yeah, well I brought some more recruits.”
Bilquis pursed her lips and looked over the battleground. “Hmm. Yes. That was rather enterprising of you. Didn’t think you’d be one to work with demons though.”
“Guess I’m just a fun box of surprises,” Lenore stated grimly as she advanced with a slight limp towards Bilquis. “Nieva, Agua, Hielo!” she chanted. The snow circling Bilquis melted to flow up and encircled the vampire before freezing into a thick cage of ice. With another thought, Lenore telekinetically snatched her sword away and flung it into the distance.
She had to kill Bilquis soon. These spells were sapping her fragile strength, even if she tried to pretend otherwise.
A burst of heat stalled her movements as the ice around Bilquis burst apart, sending sharp icicles flying. “Did you really think that you’re the only one here who understands magic, little Animal Drinker?”
Lenore just snarled in response and directed a punch that was easily blocked, yet her kick made contact with the Queen of Sheba’s nose. Lenore concentrating on all the fighting skills she had learned while with Kali and Loki-
Ugh, Loki. The thought of him with that absolute whore Aphrodite only increased the vigor of her fighting.
But Bilquis was strong - very strong. Soon she was straddling Lenore and had her hands on her throat. “I’m going to rip your head off with my bare hands, you worthless little lamb. You were a fool to challenge a lion.”
The pressure on her neck made her eyes bulged and she glanced around but saw that her people were all either dead, too badly injured, or in battles of their own. She was alone.
“Where is you precious God now, Lenore? The one you fight to save your brethren for? Oh, that’s right. He doesn’t exist,” Bilquis ridiculed her in a voice that dripped with disdain.
The pressure increased and Lenore placed her hands over Bilquis’ wrists and tried to pull the other vampire off, but her grip was too tight. Black spots induced by the pressure spotted her vision, and then the spots burst into red dots.
So this was the end. She had lived for two-hundred years only to die in some frozen wasteland. She had never even been given the opportunity to see Willow again, her Willow that would be so heartbroken after ‘Tara’s’ death and would never learn that she did still live.
Willow.
Lenore wasn’t sure what happened, but suddenly Bilquis was thrown off her and she quickly stood to face the shocked vampire.
“How did you do that?” Bilquis hissed. “You are but a child to me!”
“Guess I put on my Huggies Pull-Ups today,” Lenore stated with mild amusement. Hope flared within her and somehow she knew she would win. Because honestly, there was no other acceptable outcome.
Enraged, Bilquis snarled and leapt for her but Lenore ducked to the side, yanked down the vampire’s legs, and straddled her body. “This is for Jae and Drusilla,” she said as her hand plunged through the vampires ribcage, breaking bone in order to free the heart.
Bilquis’ eyes widened in fear as Lenore’s hand gripped her heart. “Have mercy,” she suddenly begged.
She could be sincere. She could be lying. But in the end, it didn’t matter. Lenore was past that now. She just wanted revenge. Perhaps it was wrong of her, but she enjoyed the sound of Bilquis’ screams as she ripped out the ancient’s heart, killing the Queen of Sheba once and for all.
A/N:
References
*Re: Jack the Ripper: Yeah, I realized that happened in the late 1880s but I couldn’t help but use that line because it seemed perfect.
* Huggies Pull-Ups-their slogan is “Mommy, Wow! I’m a Big Kid now!”
Author: Luna (aka Luna_del_Cielo on lj)
Fandom: Supernatural/Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Cast of Characters: Tara/Lenore McLeod, Fergus McLeod/Crowley, Loki/Gabriel, Anya, Castiel, Kali, Eli, Angel, Darla, the Immortal, Bilquis, Spike, Drusilla, Dean, Sam, Scoobies
Rating: T
Summary: Willow tried to bring Tara back…and she did. Unfortunately, she was brought back to life in 1672. Now 'Lenore' has to deal with witches, demons, pagan gods, and even angels, as she struggles to find the red-haired woman she sees in her dreams.
Pairings: Multiple pairings that will include the characters: Anya, Gabriel, Kali, Tara/Lenore, the Immortal, Willow - at least.
Spoilers: BTVS S6E19 ‘Seeing Red’, SPN S2E3 ‘Bloodlust’. Spoilers for Crowley's past in S6 “Weekend at Bobby’s” and Trickster/Loki's past in S5 ‘Changing Channels’
Warnings: Character death, Femslash (nothing explicit)
Disclaimer: I do not own Supernatural or Buffy the Vampire Slayer. If I did then fewer people would have died in each of those shows :)
Read specific chapters here: Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Chapter 15 | Chapter 16 | Chapter 17 | Chapter 18 | Chapter 19 | Chapter 20 | Chapter 21 | Chapter 22| Chapter 23| Chapter 24| Chapter 25| Chapter 26|
Or all of the entire story here: “The Need was back. It called to her like a siren; deadly and duplicitous it desired nothing more than to turn her into a beast that would feed upon her very brother.”
Making a Deal
A/N: Warning: Some darkness and violence up ahead.
Staines, Great Britain
May 1, 1860
Lenore awoke in a position that reminded her too much of being Petrali’s captive in Sicily. Thick iron manacles were clasped around her wrists and ankles and attached to the corner wall of a small, dark cellar. Her body felt foreign to her; her lethargic limbs refused to listen to her mental commands and she said a quick prayer in her mind asking for strength.
“Rise and shine, Lenore!” a cruel male voice rang out. Lenore looked up and saw Angelus giving her a malicious grin as he held aloft a seven-inch blade covered with blood.
Worry twisted in her gut. Oh God. Did they have Drusilla? Was she already too late?
Without warning Angelus slashed the knife over her right cheek and she hissed as the Dead Man’s Blood came in contact with her own.
“Ya know, I never did get to thank you for your hospitality back in France,” Angelus smiled amicably as he passed the knife from one hand to the other in a casual manner.
“You’re welcome,” she answered sarcastically as she focused on not moaning in pain. When Dead Man’s Blood came in contact with a vampire’s blood it spread through them like black oil followed by a lit match that literally burned them from the inside, sapping all of their strength and leaving them in great pain.
But Lenore had to focus. Angelus had to die. Darla had to die. It must be done.
Angelus chuckled as he pulled up a chair across from her. “I am just so happy that I can repay your previous kindness. Of course, not just for you, but for your little descendant Drusilla as well.”
The flames that burned within her flared at his words. She struggled to present a calm demeanor. “Who?”
Letting out a roar of laughter, Angelus called for his mate. “Oh Darla, darling. Please bring in little Dru.”
Darla, decked in a white dress that was already speckled with human blood, dragged Darla down the cellar steps and threw her at Lenore’s feet. Her face was already twisted in her demon visage and Lenore noticed two fang-sized holes in Drusilla’s neck. Shivering and panting, Drusilla saw Lenore and flung herself at her ancestor. Lenore rocked back at her weight and winced as the smell of flesh blood reached her nostrils. Her body, already hungry and in need of healing, reacted immediately by extending rows of fangs.
“Grand mummy, help me. They want to make me a demon!” Drusilla wailed, her voice cracked already, as if she had been screaming the entire time Lenore had been unconscious.
Lenore let out a grunt as she twisted her face away from Drusilla. No. She could not and would not feed on family. Again.
“Oh my god, look at her,” Darla laughed scornfully. “I throw her a bone and she backs away like a virgin at an orgy.”
Angelus wrapped his arm around his mate’s. “It is certainly bloody pathetic.”
“Mmm,” Darla licked her lips salaciously. “You just said my favorite word.”
“Bloody?” Angelus asked with a quirk of his lips.
Darla grinned and quickly ripped Drusilla away from Lenore. “Shouldn’t let this all go to waste,” she said as her fangs bit into the girl’s wrist.
“Stop!” Lenore begged. “Leave her be.”
“Why? Because she’s your family?” Angelus scoffed in amusement.
Drusilla had already said it so it was no longer a secret, Lenore supposed. Yet…there was something about the way he said it. Like he had known…
“Yes,” she snapped vehemently as Darla gave her a doe-eyed look while drinking slowly from Drusilla. “Release her, now.”
Laughing again, Angelus bent down and used the knife to slice through the front of her dress, cutting through her skin in the process. This time a moan did escape her throat and she hated the satisfaction she saw in the bastard’s eyes.
If only Buffy could have seen what this creature was like before his curse. He was a beast, truly.
Angelus’ eyes lit up as he tore back the upper half of her dress, leaving her only in a lacy white camisole. “Well, well, well. What do we have here?” She froze at his curious tone and then jerked back as he tried to finger the golden heart-shaped locket that hung around her neck.
“Don’t you dare!” she rasped as he tried to grab the only thing she had left of Loki’s.
He gave her an exasperated look, like ‘do you really expect me to listen to you?’, and grabbed it anyway. However, as soon as he touched it his skin began smoking like he had been struck with holy water.
“What is that?” he snarled angrily as his demon visage took over his face. Darla had dropped Drusilla and was staring at her lover in concern.
“Powerful magic,” Lenore answered truthfully - even if she really had no idea how to access that magic at the moment. It was hard enough just for her to stay conscious at this point so she couldn’t really see herself accessing the locket’s power.
“Stupid fucking witch,” Angelus spat. Then his eyes gleamed in triumph. “Drusilla, take the locket off your grand mummy.”
Drusilla, appearing dazed, glanced between Angelus and Lenore. “Do it!” Angelus barked.
“Don’t,” Lenore whispered as Drusilla approached her.
“Do it or I’ll kill her!” Angelus shouted as Darla giggled gleefully, enjoying this manipulative show.
Gently, Drusilla unfastened the locket from Lenore’s neck. “I don’t want you to die, grand mummy,” she said with giant rolling tears falling down her cheeks.
Angelus yanked Drusilla’s hand and forced her to toss the locket onto the floor. “Oh, she didn’t tell you? Your grand mummy is dead. In fact, she’s just like us,” he informed her viciously.
Drusilla’s expression was one of betrayal and pain. “No! You lie!”
“Do I?” Angelus rubbed his fingers over Drusilla’s bleeding wounds and then smeared the blood over Lenore’s lips in one sudden movement.
Oh God. The blood. The Need. Oh God it was back and it was so strong, her own special siren song. It smelled sweet and thick and she knew it would taste so delicious…
Drusilla’s scream of horror when Lenore’s fangs sprung out again brought her back to her senses. With deep resolve, she bent her head down and rubbed her lips over her shoulder in an attempt to rid herself of all the blood.
“I thought you were going to save me!” Drusilla sobbed.
Guilt rocked through her and Lenore looked away shamefully. “I will,” she promised.
“No. You won’t,” Angelus grinned - right before he proceeded to drain Drusilla and then force his blood down her throat.
Lenore struggled against her chains. She screamed. She cursed. She fought to find the strength to do magic - to do anything.
But she couldn’t. Because Fate was, apparently, a bitch.
Laughing ruthlessly, Darla threw Drusilla’s corpse over her shoulder and headed out of the cellar while Angelus stayed behind a moment to gloat.
“Really thought you could have saved her, didn’t you?” He saw her eyes harden and he shook his head. “Aw, how sweet. You really thought you were special, didn’t you? That you were a superior breed of vampire, strong, friend to pagan gods, and a powerful witch. But at the end of the day, you’re nothing.”
“You’re nothing.” Those words from a memory long ago echoed in her mind. She heard her father’s voice - Mr. Maclay’s voice - reverberate through their house.
“When are you gonna get it through yer head, girl? You ain’t special. In fact, Tara, you’re nothing. And don’t forget it.”
Nothing. She was nothing. She couldn’t save Drusilla. She couldn’t have the person she loved - none of them, actually; Kali, Loki, Willow.
Nothing.
Tears sparkling in her eyes, she spoke in a measured tone to Angelus as he lorded over her. “I take it this is the part where you kill me?”
“Kill you?” he burst out laughing. “Trust me ‘lil darlin’, I would love to. Problem is, Bilquis would be mightily angry if I did that.”
Her breath caught in her throat. “Bilquis?” she whispered in horror.
Angelus knelt, pinched her cheek, and winked at her. “Aw, aren’t you cute? You really thought Drusilla was the end game, huh? I mean,” he snorted and shrugged his broad shoulders, “don’t get me wrong. She’s a great consolation prize and loads of fun. In fact, we was just gonna kill her, but thought turning her would be the cruelest thing to do to you.”
She was panting now. Lenore didn’t need to breathe but that didn’t stop her from sucking in great mouthfuls of air. “Why?”
“Why?” Angelus laughed. “To keep you busy, of course. I’ve been wanting a chance at you for years and when Bilquis gave me your family’s information so I could track them down and torture them ‘till you finally came runnin’ home, why, how could I turn down such a glorious opportunity?”
His words cut into her very soul. She had known there would be a risk leaving Alaska but she couldn’t let yet another member of her family suffer the evils that Fergus had been dealt. But now…now her mistake would cost the lives of her other family.
“Where is she?” Lenore asked angrily.
Angelus pretended to look at his watch. “Hmm…probably ankle deep in the blood of all your damn vegetarian vampires,” he smirked.
Angelus had left over an hour ago and still Lenore was weak from the Dead Man’s Blood. That’s it. First Petralli and now Angelus. No way would she ever be stupid enough to get caught like this again!
But she had a beacon of hope - the locket. She knew if she could reach it she would be alright. The problem was, she was still chained to the wall and Loki’s locket was a good fifteen feet away.
Lenore sighed. Guilt, shame, and terror were coursing through her body and she felt ill from the sheer magnitude of it all. However, regardless of her moment of self-doubt she knew she had to succeed in getting out of here and creating a portal back to Alaska so she could warn her clan.
Or save them if she was already there.
God she hoped that Bilquis was not there. After all, was it even possible for the vampire to cover so much ground in only a week?
Possibly.
Probably, if she had been planning this ahead of time.
Dammit.
She felt her mind becoming less of a muddled mess even though her body was still weak, so Lenore decided to use her magic. She focused every entity of her being on levitating the locket to her. One minute passed, then five, then fifteen, but eventually it scraped across the cold stone floor and into her hand. A sob of surprised joy tumbled out of her and she refastened the locket around her neck.
“What is it?” she inquired as she hastily brushed the tears away from her eyes.
He ran a hand awkwardly through his short hair. “I made it…with the smallest bit of my…myself.”
That stilled her. “Like your powers?”
“Something like that,” he shrugged. “It’s highly uncommon…perhaps never even done…but I fused it with that locket so that way if you were ever in trouble again I’d be able to feel it. I figured it would make your magic more powerful as well to help you, in case some sicko like Petrali ever got a hold of you again.”
Lenore pressed her lips together in determination. She had her pride but her clan was more important. If this locket could connect her to Loki and get him to help her, then so be it.
Holding the locket against her chest, she let herself fall into the warmth that it held. Closing her eyes she saw a pure streak of white light gleaming in the blackness of space. She mentally followed the plane as quickly as a comet streaks through the sky, all the while mentally chanting Loki’s name. The path directed her to Loki’s home in the mountains and, even though she was upset with him, she smiled wistfully at the sight. The light continued to guide her through the living room, down the hallway, and into Loki’s bedroom.
…Where he was occupied. With a woman.
She had promised herself long ago that she wouldn’t cry anymore over Loki and she didn’t, but the burst of pain in her heart took her breath away.
“Loki!” she cried mentally through the locket’s connection.
He didn’t answer her, so she shouted again - and cursing at him to look at her at the same time.
Eventually he did, and he stared at her in surprise. “Lenore?” he whispered. His eyes looked almost glassy and he squinted, as if he couldn’t quite see her.
“Shush, darling,” a throaty feminine voice silenced him as she grasped the back of his head and redirected Loki to his previous activity. “That was just the wind.”
Lenore screamed again for him to help her but the woman just smirked at Lenore and clapped her hands.
And suddenly Lenore was back, fully awake, and completely alone in the cellar.
So help her, she would kill Aphrodite someday.
The locket was helping. Its power was still just as great, even if it couldn’t get her Loki. But she was focusing on its magic and her own magic, and her body was regaining its strength. By the time she was able to walk, although she was still greatly wounded thanks to Angelus’ sadistic prowess with a blade, she was limping out of the cellar and into the bright sunlight of day. Her eyes scanned her surroundings and she realized that she had no idea where she was. Grunting in frustration, she summoned more energy to do a locator spell and was quickly on her way - tattered dress and all - back to her inn. All of her supplies were there for the portal ritual.
Grimacing, she tried to keep to the shadows and alleys of the small village of Staines - she knew her current prostitute look wouldn’t win her any friends. She still attracted some attention but then she figured, what the hell? Her friends were probably dying right now, her descendants had been murdered and vamped because of her, and did it all even matter anymore?
She opened her room door with more force then she meant and winced at the loud noise. Hopefully no one came to check in on her. Between her temper and raging bloodlust at the moment she didn’t know if she’d be able to control herself.
Yes, her lack of eating well here in England, her torture, the momentary temptation of Drusilla’s blood, and her rage at Bilquis was churning within her, forming a volcano of destruction just waiting to happen. Never before had Lenore felt like this - so violent, so angry - not even when hunting with Kali
She wanted to rip apart Bilquis with her bare hands.
But before she stepped into the room she realized that someone was waiting for her, laying on the bed. Her hands curled into fists and she hoped this was another of Bilquis’ lackeys. Her bloodlust demanded to be sated - if human blood was not allowed then the lives of demons would suffice.
“Temper, temper,” he chided as he sat up and winked. “Don’t want to be breakin’ the doors of this precious little inn, now do you?”
“Fergus,” she growled as she went to the wardrobe where her goods were stashed. “This isn’t a good time.
He rolled his eyes. “Well I bloody could figure that out, on account of you looking like some London whore who just met Jack the Ripper.”
“Shut up!” Lenore suddenly shouted at Fergus, desperately needing some outlet for anger. She had just noticed her wardrobe was bare - likely the work of Angelus and Darla. “Right now my clan, my family, is getting murdered! All because I was stupid enough to follow some stupid vision of a crossroads demon trying to steal my descendant - you! And now I’m bloody stuck here because all my supplies have been stolen!”
Fergus barely reacted to her rant, choosing only to raise a single brow. “Why, this reminds me of your tantrums from when you were a toddler.” He frowned then, like it pained him somehow to remember his human years. “Anyways, luv, you’re in luck.” He held his arms open like an actor awaiting applause. “Cavalry’s here!”
Lenore snorted and folded her arms. “Thought you wouldn’t be doing me anymore favors, Ferg?”
He bristled at the use of his disliked human nickname. “Not unless it serves my own needs, of course,” he smiled charmingly.
Lenore pursed her lips. Time was running short but she didn’t know if she could trust her brother anymore. Thus far he hadn’t given her much reason to. “And just what are your own needs?”
“Well I love chaos, darling. And your little do-gooder crew have created quite a stir in the underworld, which of course is always entertaining. But mostly,” he leaned forward and Lenore held her breath, wondering if he would display that he still really loved her and that a speck of humanity existed within him. “But mostly Van Helsing’s team is in hot pursuit, but the Queen of Sheba is quicker and already at your camp. See, I want Van Helsing’s little whore, the slayer, dead. But with Bilquis already at your camp Van Helsing’s team won’t have an opportunity to fight them.”
Her forehead crinkled as she mulled over his rather confusing words. “And why do you want the slayer dead?” she asked with mild concern - because even though she hated the thought of a girl dying, a slayer of all people, she knew she needed to get to Alaska fast and cut the chit-chat.
He shrugged. “Does it matter?” Fergus asked. “Anyways, I can transport you to Alaska with me, demon powers and all, and even give you a fighting chance.”
“Anything,” she said quickly.
Was it just her or did a small smile flash across his face? She shook off the feeling of dread and mentally prepared herself. “I can make sure that all those vampires get killed.” He frowned. “Well, Bilquis may be tricky-”
“-That’s fine. I want to kill her with my own bare hands.”
Fergus did smile then, a brilliantly sadistic smile. “Excellent. Anyways, the only problem is such a display of power would need a little something to kick-start the magic.”
“What?” she asked warily.
He chuckled. “Certainly not your soul, silly,” he chuckled. “My oh my, the look on your face.”
“Spit it out!” she snapped in frustration.
“I overheard Angelus and his whore this morning-”
Her pupils nearly went black from the rush of adrenaline that coursed at that name. “Where? I will kill them myself!” she swore.
“Oooh, my little kitten grew into her tiger claws,” Fergus smiled mischievously.
“Fergus!”
He rolled his eyes. “Oh, they’re in some bloody stupid barn. But do you want them or the big fishy?”
“Big fishy,” she replied. She would get Angelus and Darla later.
“Anways, as I was saying, I overheard Angelus talk about some powerful locket you have. That just may be what I need to kick-start the magic of ass kicking.”
Lenore froze. “No, something else.”
“Lenore,” Fergus sighed. He waved his hand and the air shimmered until a snowy landscape appeared. It was distorted, like watching a badly tuned television channel, but Lenore saw hundreds of figures fighting - and many of them dying.
“Oh God,” she gasped.
“Indeed, this is what your precious God allows,” he snorted. “Anyways, you’re running out of time luv. Now, I want to help you, I really do, but I don’t have the power to do it on my own.
Lenore hesitated and fingered the locket lovingly. This was a precious gift to her. After all, Loki had forged it from his own spirit. It was powerful and held a deep amount of love and beauty inside. She couldn’t part with it…could she?
Then she remembered flesh slick with sweat and moans and her heart broke again. Loki had tossed her aside - why shouldn’t she do the same with his gift? If it could save her clan…
“Fine.”
“Excellent,” Fergus smiled secretively as he took the locket from her. Then, without warning, he pressed his lips to hers for a quick kiss. His touch burned her and she felt something powerful transpire - the deal was sealed.
Upper Alaska near the Colville River,
May 1, 1860
Fergus and Lenore popped into existence onto a watchtower that her clan had built when they first settled here. Below them, half a mile away, a bloody and fierce battle raged on. Here in the western hemisphere it was already night and swords and daggers gleamed under the moonlight. Her clan members were fighting bravely but she could tell that they were outmatched against the hordes of vampires like them, djinn, and the half-breed vampires. Bodies littered the floor and her keen eyesight already identified several of them.
Her bloodlust ignited again like lightning on dry leaves.
She would have bolted had she not felt Fergus’ hand on her shoulder. “One moment, little sister. Back-up is just about here.”
“Who?” She was still confused by how her brother was going to help her.
He smirked and playfully ruffled her hair. “Why, demons silly. Who else?”
The atmosphere became charged and the scent of sulfur tinged the air. Looking down she saw fifty bodies, mostly men but some women, appear. “Who…?”
“Van Helsing’s army. My comrades down south were able hop on up thanks to your deal.”
“WHAT?”
Fergus chuckled. “Now that they’re possessed this ‘lil army can pop into wherever they like and they’re more than strong enough to take on Bilquis’ army.”
“FERGUS!” she cried out in horror, realizing what she condemned these poor humans to endure.
He grinned merrily at her outburst but then his expression sobered. “Don’t get killed, Len. I would be most…disappointed if you did.”
Then he disappeared, leaving her even angrier than she had been minutes ago.
But no matter. She would deal with him and the demons later. Right now her clan was all she worried about.
Leaping down from the watch tower she sprinted lightly over the snow, snatching a sword away from one of Bilquis’ men and beheading him in one swift movement. Satisfaction flooded her at the sight of his head flying through the air and the coolness of his blood hitting her. She continued running towards the center of the battle, decapitating and slicing where she could. But occasionally she would see a familiar face dead in the snow and it would make her stumble.
Patience, their newest Council member, with her mouth agape in a silent shriek.
Alice, the eternal fifteen-year old who had been with Lenore since 1819, her eyes closed in silent defeat.
Alka, the Albanian council woman dead at the feet of her secret love Déshèng, who was now brutally fighting three vampires in revenge.
And more, and more.
Lenore emerged into a clearing of bright red snow, dyed from the gallons of blood spilt this night. She saw Bilquis dancing with a sword in hand and laughing as three vampires attacked her. Eli was bravely fighting her, as she expected, and so was Kitra, the most ancient of them all, and Jae, her personal bodyguard.
Rage swelled within her as Bilquis’ blade tore through Eli’s shoulder, almost severing his right arm. “BILQUIS!” Her voice erupted from her throat on a wave of pure fury and all heads turned to her.
Bilquis blinked in surprise and was nearly beheaded by the opportunist Jae in the process; however she quickly kicked the vampire twenty feet back. “Lenore,” she purred. She clearly was trying to take control of the situation regardless of her surprise. “Fancy seeing you here. I thought our mutual friend had you quite occupied.”
Lenore stretched as she fell into a battle pose, ignoring the pain that flared when she did so - wounds infected with Dead Man’s Blood took longer than just a few hours to heal. “I am going to kill you,” she called out calmy, her voice ringing as righteously as the church bells on Sunday.
Laughing, she shook her head. “Please. Not even your eldest can take me on with the support of her weak friends. You think you - you - a weak two-hundred year old vampire can succeed?” Bilquis laughed scornfully. “You are nothing compared to me.”
Nothing.
No. She was wrong. Angelus was wrong. Her father had been wrong. Tara had felt like somebody because Willow loved her. But Lenore? She knew she was somebody. She had loved fiercely, even if she had lost them. She had killed demons bent on inflicting pain and death to humans, even though she was a beast just as feared by those humans. She had fought against her bloodlust time and time again, and won. She had helped others do the same, and hopefully saved their souls in the process.
No. Bilquis was wrong. Because Lenore McLeod was somebody.
Her body coiled like a cobra at those words and she allowed herself a small smile. “You’re wrong,” she contradicted simply. Then her body flew through the air in a magnificent arc as she slashed her blade down. Bilquis met it with her own with a look of astonishment at the strength of the blow. Gritting her teeth, Lenore pressed the blade aggressively forward and Bilquis stumbled back.
“You’re feisty. Such a shame you prefer to live on common cattle instead of realizing that it is the humans who should be farmed,” she stated, her tone light with an underlying sense of anger and malevolence.
Lenore’s blade whistled through the air and their swordplay began anew. “And it’s a shame about your dress.”
Bilquis gave her a quizzical expression just a second before Lenore’s blade ripped through the fabric of her shirt and scratched her skin.
“You foul little whore!” Bilquis screeched in indignation as Lenore reveled momentarily in her Buffy-esque moment with a sly smile.
Bilquis’ movements became quicker and suddenly harder to predict as she channeled her rancor. Lenore realized she was outmatched by this ancient vampire but she didn’t let it show. Her people were depending on her now.
Her sword was suddenly knocked out of her hand and Lenore was kicked to the ground. She pressed her hands through the snow and into the earth and channeled the elements. The sky was already a sea of clouds and wouldn’t need much coaxing to perform. “Levitatas!” she shouted. Lightning cracked through the sky and Bilquis looked up in alarm. She raised her sword to catch the bolt crashing down upon her and the air crackled with energy.
Lenore had expected the massive spell to harm Bilquis, but instead the Queen of Sheba smiled triumphantly as the electricity crackled over her body. She bent her sword towards Lenore and suddenly the bolt escaped its confines and shot right into her. Without proper warning, Lenore was defenseless and she was thrown dozens of feet at the impact. Her body groaned in protest and she struggled to right herself.
“You really should have taken my offer when I gave it to you, Lenore. You should have disbanded. Instead, you chose to defy me. And now I will have your head on a pike,” Bilquis stated evenly with a genial smile and predatory eyes.
“No, you will not harm her!” Jae snarled as she raced towards Bilquis. With a heavy sigh, the older vampire spun around Jae’s racing form faster than the human eye could see and plunged her hand into her back. Bilquis’ arm came out bloody and she licked her beating souvenir.
“Honestly, Lenore. Where do you pick up this riff-raff? I was only playing with them because I wanted to kill time just in case you managed to show,” Bilquis informed her in a bored tone.
Lenore stood shakily to her feet. “Yeah, well I brought some more recruits.”
Bilquis pursed her lips and looked over the battleground. “Hmm. Yes. That was rather enterprising of you. Didn’t think you’d be one to work with demons though.”
“Guess I’m just a fun box of surprises,” Lenore stated grimly as she advanced with a slight limp towards Bilquis. “Nieva, Agua, Hielo!” she chanted. The snow circling Bilquis melted to flow up and encircled the vampire before freezing into a thick cage of ice. With another thought, Lenore telekinetically snatched her sword away and flung it into the distance.
She had to kill Bilquis soon. These spells were sapping her fragile strength, even if she tried to pretend otherwise.
A burst of heat stalled her movements as the ice around Bilquis burst apart, sending sharp icicles flying. “Did you really think that you’re the only one here who understands magic, little Animal Drinker?”
Lenore just snarled in response and directed a punch that was easily blocked, yet her kick made contact with the Queen of Sheba’s nose. Lenore concentrating on all the fighting skills she had learned while with Kali and Loki-
Ugh, Loki. The thought of him with that absolute whore Aphrodite only increased the vigor of her fighting.
But Bilquis was strong - very strong. Soon she was straddling Lenore and had her hands on her throat. “I’m going to rip your head off with my bare hands, you worthless little lamb. You were a fool to challenge a lion.”
The pressure on her neck made her eyes bulged and she glanced around but saw that her people were all either dead, too badly injured, or in battles of their own. She was alone.
“Where is you precious God now, Lenore? The one you fight to save your brethren for? Oh, that’s right. He doesn’t exist,” Bilquis ridiculed her in a voice that dripped with disdain.
The pressure increased and Lenore placed her hands over Bilquis’ wrists and tried to pull the other vampire off, but her grip was too tight. Black spots induced by the pressure spotted her vision, and then the spots burst into red dots.
So this was the end. She had lived for two-hundred years only to die in some frozen wasteland. She had never even been given the opportunity to see Willow again, her Willow that would be so heartbroken after ‘Tara’s’ death and would never learn that she did still live.
Willow.
Lenore wasn’t sure what happened, but suddenly Bilquis was thrown off her and she quickly stood to face the shocked vampire.
“How did you do that?” Bilquis hissed. “You are but a child to me!”
“Guess I put on my Huggies Pull-Ups today,” Lenore stated with mild amusement. Hope flared within her and somehow she knew she would win. Because honestly, there was no other acceptable outcome.
Enraged, Bilquis snarled and leapt for her but Lenore ducked to the side, yanked down the vampire’s legs, and straddled her body. “This is for Jae and Drusilla,” she said as her hand plunged through the vampires ribcage, breaking bone in order to free the heart.
Bilquis’ eyes widened in fear as Lenore’s hand gripped her heart. “Have mercy,” she suddenly begged.
She could be sincere. She could be lying. But in the end, it didn’t matter. Lenore was past that now. She just wanted revenge. Perhaps it was wrong of her, but she enjoyed the sound of Bilquis’ screams as she ripped out the ancient’s heart, killing the Queen of Sheba once and for all.
A/N:
References
*Re: Jack the Ripper: Yeah, I realized that happened in the late 1880s but I couldn’t help but use that line because it seemed perfect.
* Huggies Pull-Ups-their slogan is “Mommy, Wow! I’m a Big Kid now!”