Fic: Gift or Curse Chapters 41C & 42
X-Over: DWP with Laurel K. Hamilton’s Merry Gentry & Anita Blake ‘Verse
Rating: NC-17 - Some violence, definitely a few sexual interludes. If this is your ‘cup o’ tea then read on.
Summary: What if Miranda was a powerful Master Vampire and Andy was blessed by a Faerie Fertility Goddess, prophesied to be together, all while running a fashion empire? Neither will be prepared for their ‘worlds’ converging or being unwitting pawns in a power-struggle in their supernatural/magical worlds.
Characters: Miranda, Andy, Lily, Doug, Nigel, Emily, Serena; Merry Gentry Series’ Characters; Anita Blake Series’ Characters
Shout-Out: Thanks to my betas - Jackalopetrope, Seelyfey, Punky_96, and Melanacious. I definitely couldn’t have done it without y’all. Also thanks to the Laurel K .Hamilton Fan Sites: Gentry & Blake which were lifesavers in terms of research.
Disclaimer: Devil Wears Prada characters belong to Lauren Weisberger and 20th Century Fox. I make no money off of this and I intend no infringement. Also, I don't own Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake and Merry Gentry universe and I mean no infringement there either, I make no money from this.
Spoiler Alert for Merry Gentry Series
*******************************************************************************************
Chapter 41C
****
Suddenly the Darkness engulfed her whole body, muffling the shout of anger and fright coming from Miranda. She and Senura tried to fight their way pass more Guards, blood and gore flying everywhere. However, when Andy saw a Weretiger bite into Miranda’s leg, it unleashed a powerful fiercely protective force inside her. Since she wasn’t exactly helpless, she tapped into her lineage directly tied to Divinity. So as the Darkness tried to engulf her entirely, Andy’s hands began to glow a whitish-green color. The glow began to pulse bigger, pushing back the Darkness. Screams of the Unknown resonating as the Light touched the Darkness.
How dare you? Do you really think you can stop me from claiming you?! Marmee Noir was not used to having her Powers thwarted.
She could do little more, however, without gaining physical form, and although feeding on both the Necromancer and this Faerie would gain her the powers necessary to awaken she was being denied at every turn. And as most ego-manic-psychotic-powerful-vampires, she shifted her full attention on Andy so that it would allow her to vent her Powerful-Vampire-Queen-sized-tantrum.
Andy felt something like glass-shards hitting her astral walls. The pain resonating inside her from Marmee's attack left her unfocused, interrupting her magic. Every nightmare she’d ever had swirled through her head, increasing her terror, suffocating her. Almost as if Marmee was holding her head under a metaphysical pool of dark water.
Feeling a leak of pain and fear coming down her link to Miranda, Andy renewed her struggles. All of sudden it was if a puppeteer was controlling her. Andy’s hands reached up and clasped around own neck, squeezing down. A deadly chuckle echoed in her head and she could hear psychic cries of pain from her fully formed ink tattoos as Marmee continued to shred her psychic walls that tapped into her magic. Another dark laugh echoed in head followed by a sneering tone.
Did you really think your petty magic was a match for a god?! Another wall shredded causing Andy to leak out a little scream. She could feel a warm liquid beginning to dribble from her nose and left ear.
You can end this. Join my line, be my disciple, kneel before me as your Queen. You and my 3rd can be a fully blessed union as part of my Line. Another shred, another scream. Because if you do not accept this gift I will take it from you.
Andrea! Came a psychic shout from Miranda. Andy could hear the pain in her voice. Instead of it increasing Andy’s fear it only awakened her anger. Suddenly she remembered she wasn’t a Child of the Darkness she was a Child of Light, with a Mother who had a few ‘gifts’ of her own.
Concentrating, trying to tune out the taunts from Marmee and the pain she was inflicting, she sent out a mental S.O.S. to her Mother. She might have some ‘wiggle room’ to help since Miranda was otherwise occupied.
Mother!
Andy! Where are you? I can feel something’s wrong!
It’s this crazy bitch Marmee Noir. Maybe Jean-Claude can help, but hurry because I don’t know how much longer I can last.
Hold on sweetie. Just hold on! I just found you for Goddess’ sakes. Until I get there; call to your Goddess, tap into her energy Andy.
Bearing down, closing her eyes, trying to block out the psycho-bitch-from-hell. Trying to breathe, Andy focused on the Goddess Gaia and the Goddess Badb. She could see their psychic threads; one green, the other orange. Both were becoming wispier due to the Queen’s attack, weakening Andy’s connection. She reached out with her diminishing energy, grabbing onto each thread and with some relief watched their color grow deep and brilliant. Andy dropped her shields, strengthening her resolve she called out to her Goddesses.
Chapter 42
****
We have been waiting for you. Goddess Gaia sent soothing waves of energy, while healing Andy. The Goddess Badb appeared to be pacing as if trying to work off energy. This Vampire is no god! She will be dealt with in time. For now you must save your Mate. Remember Andrea, you are the Daughter of the Earth and all its elements. More importantly, you are descended from a line Blessed by three Goddesses. This creature of the Dark will destroy all that we or you hold dear; she threatens the balance. You are an Elemental Andy; use these Gifts to help you extract your Mate, and allies, then leave, or kill her before it is too late. But know that if you do NOT kill her it will change everything, bringing about a period of great peril, particularly for your Mate and Champion.
Suddenly Andy was filled with a bolt of energy. The smell of thunderstorms and roses grew strong. Her eyes felt as if someone poured warm seltzer in her sockets; sizzling and balmy. Then for a few moments there was silence, like cotton was stuffed into her consciousness, blocking out all sensation and sound. It was at this moment that Andy reached, reached deep, tapping into those green and red threads, pulsing them, allowing that energy to fill her, strengthening her psychic walls. It allowed her to ‘see’ from the space they were trapped in; Senura was launched into a wall, a sword plunged into her stomach, while a hand with wicked looking dagger-like nails moved towards her neck. With her heart in her throat she saw Miranda, laying on her back in a growing pool of blood, holding up a protective hand in front of her face - she hadn't had time to fully shift.
The resulting rage and energy pulsed and grew. The red bled out and the green grew more brilliant. With that growing rage she pushed out a shrieking Marmee, the sudden psychic break causing pain to the Queen. But Andy wasn’t finished with her, not by a long shot. But first she had to save Miranda and Senura.
The Queen grew puzzled as she watched the creature in front of her. She watched as a greenish glow was edging around Andy’s skin, until finally, a greenish-orb surrounded the girl, shutting out Marmee's psychic attacks, no longer allowing her to roll the impertinent creature. Liberated from Marmee’s control, Andy lifted one hand in Miranda’s direction. Green energy arced from her fingers and bolted across the Darkness, landing with a splat near Miranda's body, halting a surprise attack from one of the Queen’s guards. Green energy arced from her fingers and bolted across the Darkness, landing with a splash near Miranda's body. Everyone watched the Queen's hopeless attempts to use the Darkness to fight back against the green fire, but the light pulsed and grew, pushing back the Darkness.
In its wake green shoots of plant-life begin to instantly unfurl. Grass, lush and green dusted along the floor, and one plant in particular began to grow and grow, filling the room with an exotic scent; a grassy knoll on humid summer night. Roots and vines of all sizes slithered, thickened, and grew, causing the ground to shift and become uneven. One vine began wrapping around the Queen’s guards. Thorns appeared along the vine, squeezing, digging into the skin, eliciting screams from its victims. Another greenish glow began to surround Miranda, her back bowing from the energy zipping through her body. The sound of African drums, rhythmic, deep, the base rattled along Andy’s spine, signifying ancient, Earth, soulful, magic.
No! How dare you?! Suddenly more Vampires and Weretigers, Werelions, spilled into the room. Andy could feel the Queen attempting to push back against her newly awakened shields, like a finger pressing against a bubble, the pressure shifting around the Queen’s deadly power. However, Andy was more worried about her Mate and Senura, she just saved them. She hoped her Mother would get here soon because she didn’t know how long she could hold up. A shift in the air and suddenly a lukewarm hand touched her shoulder and her fear receded as she realized it was Miranda, healed and whole, standing next to her to lend Andy strength.
We have to kill her Andréa. If not she will not only kill us, but she’ll kill everyone of my Line.
Ok. No pressure, right? Andy thought. But if we kill her won’t that kill all Vampires and Weres? Won’t that kill you??
It might. I just don’t know. But perhaps my time has… arrived.
No! I don’t agree with that! There has to be another way!
The choice was suddenly taken from her, however, as a heavier dark mass, leaking great power crashed into her protective green aura, almost bringing Andy to her knees. Marmee Noir. Her power coalesced striking against the green shield, weakening it so that she could destroy the insolent creature. But before she could strike again the air shifted, swirling… moving as one great dark mass. A warmer energy crashed into the room, scenting the air with roses.
Mother!
But she wasn’t alone; along with the Princess, was Doyle who was fully shifted into a Kelpie (a horse-like creature), Rhys spilled a dull brightness into the room; his power was steeped in Death-he was Cromm Cruach, and he communes with the Dead. Galen stepped into the room, shivering at the already present Elemental power Andy was emitting. Known as the Green Man, Galen’s power was directly connected to earth fertility or plants. The resulting earth magic already present in the room from Andy pulsed his own magic. But it was her Mother who brought both life and death, the ultimate Circle of Life, Hand of Flesh and Blood, and something else. It was the last part that should’ve concerned the Queen-but she’d always been a bit clueless.
The ground rumbled beneath their feet, the air shifted even more, the scent of some wild and powerful magic like the smell of ozone and hot sand dusted the air. Andy and Miranda watched as a swirling grayish-black circle of energy swirled in front of the their eyes, making the Queen pause in confusion and alarm. It grew and grew until a set of huge hooves were the first things to break through. Large muscles and the corded strength of a horse that … had 8 hooves, with giant wings along its haunches, dark as night, with red eyes, and huge. One would almost miss if it as it almost blended into the Darkness of the room if it wasn’t for the glowing moon bright, half-Sidhe Princess, with blood-red, hair spilling down her back riding it.
But they weren’t alone. Other things… more nightmarish, some similar to Andy’s magical tattoos except bigger with more legs or arms or wings. Kelpies, 3-headed hounds the size of ponies, goat-like creatures more vicious-looking than their earth-bound counter-parts, or mantises-like creatures bounded into the room. They were the ultimate ‘monsters-under-the-bed’ attacking anything that appeared to have the Queen’s signature.
It was feral, uncontrollable, and powerful, magic.
Rating: NC-17 - Some violence, definitely a few sexual interludes. If this is your ‘cup o’ tea then read on.
Summary: What if Miranda was a powerful Master Vampire and Andy was blessed by a Faerie Fertility Goddess, prophesied to be together, all while running a fashion empire? Neither will be prepared for their ‘worlds’ converging or being unwitting pawns in a power-struggle in their supernatural/magical worlds.
Characters: Miranda, Andy, Lily, Doug, Nigel, Emily, Serena; Merry Gentry Series’ Characters; Anita Blake Series’ Characters
Shout-Out: Thanks to my betas - Jackalopetrope, Seelyfey, Punky_96, and Melanacious. I definitely couldn’t have done it without y’all. Also thanks to the Laurel K .Hamilton Fan Sites: Gentry & Blake which were lifesavers in terms of research.
Disclaimer: Devil Wears Prada characters belong to Lauren Weisberger and 20th Century Fox. I make no money off of this and I intend no infringement. Also, I don't own Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake and Merry Gentry universe and I mean no infringement there either, I make no money from this.
Spoiler Alert for Merry Gentry Series
*******************************************************************************************
Chapter 41C
****
Suddenly the Darkness engulfed her whole body, muffling the shout of anger and fright coming from Miranda. She and Senura tried to fight their way pass more Guards, blood and gore flying everywhere. However, when Andy saw a Weretiger bite into Miranda’s leg, it unleashed a powerful fiercely protective force inside her. Since she wasn’t exactly helpless, she tapped into her lineage directly tied to Divinity. So as the Darkness tried to engulf her entirely, Andy’s hands began to glow a whitish-green color. The glow began to pulse bigger, pushing back the Darkness. Screams of the Unknown resonating as the Light touched the Darkness.
How dare you? Do you really think you can stop me from claiming you?! Marmee Noir was not used to having her Powers thwarted.
She could do little more, however, without gaining physical form, and although feeding on both the Necromancer and this Faerie would gain her the powers necessary to awaken she was being denied at every turn. And as most ego-manic-psychotic-powerful-vampires, she shifted her full attention on Andy so that it would allow her to vent her Powerful-Vampire-Queen-sized-tantrum.
Andy felt something like glass-shards hitting her astral walls. The pain resonating inside her from Marmee's attack left her unfocused, interrupting her magic. Every nightmare she’d ever had swirled through her head, increasing her terror, suffocating her. Almost as if Marmee was holding her head under a metaphysical pool of dark water.
Feeling a leak of pain and fear coming down her link to Miranda, Andy renewed her struggles. All of sudden it was if a puppeteer was controlling her. Andy’s hands reached up and clasped around own neck, squeezing down. A deadly chuckle echoed in her head and she could hear psychic cries of pain from her fully formed ink tattoos as Marmee continued to shred her psychic walls that tapped into her magic. Another dark laugh echoed in head followed by a sneering tone.
Did you really think your petty magic was a match for a god?! Another wall shredded causing Andy to leak out a little scream. She could feel a warm liquid beginning to dribble from her nose and left ear.
You can end this. Join my line, be my disciple, kneel before me as your Queen. You and my 3rd can be a fully blessed union as part of my Line. Another shred, another scream. Because if you do not accept this gift I will take it from you.
Andrea! Came a psychic shout from Miranda. Andy could hear the pain in her voice. Instead of it increasing Andy’s fear it only awakened her anger. Suddenly she remembered she wasn’t a Child of the Darkness she was a Child of Light, with a Mother who had a few ‘gifts’ of her own.
Concentrating, trying to tune out the taunts from Marmee and the pain she was inflicting, she sent out a mental S.O.S. to her Mother. She might have some ‘wiggle room’ to help since Miranda was otherwise occupied.
Mother!
Andy! Where are you? I can feel something’s wrong!
It’s this crazy bitch Marmee Noir. Maybe Jean-Claude can help, but hurry because I don’t know how much longer I can last.
Hold on sweetie. Just hold on! I just found you for Goddess’ sakes. Until I get there; call to your Goddess, tap into her energy Andy.
Bearing down, closing her eyes, trying to block out the psycho-bitch-from-hell. Trying to breathe, Andy focused on the Goddess Gaia and the Goddess Badb. She could see their psychic threads; one green, the other orange. Both were becoming wispier due to the Queen’s attack, weakening Andy’s connection. She reached out with her diminishing energy, grabbing onto each thread and with some relief watched their color grow deep and brilliant. Andy dropped her shields, strengthening her resolve she called out to her Goddesses.
Chapter 42
****
We have been waiting for you. Goddess Gaia sent soothing waves of energy, while healing Andy. The Goddess Badb appeared to be pacing as if trying to work off energy. This Vampire is no god! She will be dealt with in time. For now you must save your Mate. Remember Andrea, you are the Daughter of the Earth and all its elements. More importantly, you are descended from a line Blessed by three Goddesses. This creature of the Dark will destroy all that we or you hold dear; she threatens the balance. You are an Elemental Andy; use these Gifts to help you extract your Mate, and allies, then leave, or kill her before it is too late. But know that if you do NOT kill her it will change everything, bringing about a period of great peril, particularly for your Mate and Champion.
Suddenly Andy was filled with a bolt of energy. The smell of thunderstorms and roses grew strong. Her eyes felt as if someone poured warm seltzer in her sockets; sizzling and balmy. Then for a few moments there was silence, like cotton was stuffed into her consciousness, blocking out all sensation and sound. It was at this moment that Andy reached, reached deep, tapping into those green and red threads, pulsing them, allowing that energy to fill her, strengthening her psychic walls. It allowed her to ‘see’ from the space they were trapped in; Senura was launched into a wall, a sword plunged into her stomach, while a hand with wicked looking dagger-like nails moved towards her neck. With her heart in her throat she saw Miranda, laying on her back in a growing pool of blood, holding up a protective hand in front of her face - she hadn't had time to fully shift.
The resulting rage and energy pulsed and grew. The red bled out and the green grew more brilliant. With that growing rage she pushed out a shrieking Marmee, the sudden psychic break causing pain to the Queen. But Andy wasn’t finished with her, not by a long shot. But first she had to save Miranda and Senura.
The Queen grew puzzled as she watched the creature in front of her. She watched as a greenish glow was edging around Andy’s skin, until finally, a greenish-orb surrounded the girl, shutting out Marmee's psychic attacks, no longer allowing her to roll the impertinent creature. Liberated from Marmee’s control, Andy lifted one hand in Miranda’s direction. Green energy arced from her fingers and bolted across the Darkness, landing with a splat near Miranda's body, halting a surprise attack from one of the Queen’s guards. Green energy arced from her fingers and bolted across the Darkness, landing with a splash near Miranda's body. Everyone watched the Queen's hopeless attempts to use the Darkness to fight back against the green fire, but the light pulsed and grew, pushing back the Darkness.
In its wake green shoots of plant-life begin to instantly unfurl. Grass, lush and green dusted along the floor, and one plant in particular began to grow and grow, filling the room with an exotic scent; a grassy knoll on humid summer night. Roots and vines of all sizes slithered, thickened, and grew, causing the ground to shift and become uneven. One vine began wrapping around the Queen’s guards. Thorns appeared along the vine, squeezing, digging into the skin, eliciting screams from its victims. Another greenish glow began to surround Miranda, her back bowing from the energy zipping through her body. The sound of African drums, rhythmic, deep, the base rattled along Andy’s spine, signifying ancient, Earth, soulful, magic.
No! How dare you?! Suddenly more Vampires and Weretigers, Werelions, spilled into the room. Andy could feel the Queen attempting to push back against her newly awakened shields, like a finger pressing against a bubble, the pressure shifting around the Queen’s deadly power. However, Andy was more worried about her Mate and Senura, she just saved them. She hoped her Mother would get here soon because she didn’t know how long she could hold up. A shift in the air and suddenly a lukewarm hand touched her shoulder and her fear receded as she realized it was Miranda, healed and whole, standing next to her to lend Andy strength.
We have to kill her Andréa. If not she will not only kill us, but she’ll kill everyone of my Line.
Ok. No pressure, right? Andy thought. But if we kill her won’t that kill all Vampires and Weres? Won’t that kill you??
It might. I just don’t know. But perhaps my time has… arrived.
No! I don’t agree with that! There has to be another way!
The choice was suddenly taken from her, however, as a heavier dark mass, leaking great power crashed into her protective green aura, almost bringing Andy to her knees. Marmee Noir. Her power coalesced striking against the green shield, weakening it so that she could destroy the insolent creature. But before she could strike again the air shifted, swirling… moving as one great dark mass. A warmer energy crashed into the room, scenting the air with roses.
Mother!
But she wasn’t alone; along with the Princess, was Doyle who was fully shifted into a Kelpie (a horse-like creature), Rhys spilled a dull brightness into the room; his power was steeped in Death-he was Cromm Cruach, and he communes with the Dead. Galen stepped into the room, shivering at the already present Elemental power Andy was emitting. Known as the Green Man, Galen’s power was directly connected to earth fertility or plants. The resulting earth magic already present in the room from Andy pulsed his own magic. But it was her Mother who brought both life and death, the ultimate Circle of Life, Hand of Flesh and Blood, and something else. It was the last part that should’ve concerned the Queen-but she’d always been a bit clueless.
The ground rumbled beneath their feet, the air shifted even more, the scent of some wild and powerful magic like the smell of ozone and hot sand dusted the air. Andy and Miranda watched as a swirling grayish-black circle of energy swirled in front of the their eyes, making the Queen pause in confusion and alarm. It grew and grew until a set of huge hooves were the first things to break through. Large muscles and the corded strength of a horse that … had 8 hooves, with giant wings along its haunches, dark as night, with red eyes, and huge. One would almost miss if it as it almost blended into the Darkness of the room if it wasn’t for the glowing moon bright, half-Sidhe Princess, with blood-red, hair spilling down her back riding it.
But they weren’t alone. Other things… more nightmarish, some similar to Andy’s magical tattoos except bigger with more legs or arms or wings. Kelpies, 3-headed hounds the size of ponies, goat-like creatures more vicious-looking than their earth-bound counter-parts, or mantises-like creatures bounded into the room. They were the ultimate ‘monsters-under-the-bed’ attacking anything that appeared to have the Queen’s signature.
It was feral, uncontrollable, and powerful, magic.