He had carried Scully back to her room and put her in bed.
She had been shaking nonstop while she'd recounted the
details of her attack and rescue. And as she spoke he
covered her with the blankets and pulled them up to her chin,
shielding her from any imagined threat.
Some time before dawn, the Baroness had come to see to her
troubled guest and sat down on the bed beside her.
"Agent Scully, what you need right now is rest. I can help
you if you'll let me."
Scully had glanced back to Mulder, looking for some kind of
reassurance. "Don't worry, Scully. I'll stay in here
tonight. You won't leave my sight—promise." With that
said, Scully turned back to her hostess and nodded.
"Close your eyes, Dana. Close your eyes and listen to the
sound of my voice. You're safe now...you're safe and no one
can harm you." Mulder watched as the Baroness's words lulled
Scully's trembling form into a peaceful slumber. "Sleep now,
" she said very slowly and almost inaudibly.
When Scully was fast asleep, the Baroness rose and began to
walk toward the door with Mulder trailing close behind.
"She'll sleep straight through till the evening. Right
now, I must take my leave of you, but we'll talk more then."
She touched her cold soothing hand to his cheek, and bid him
good-bye.
And now the day had passed. Scully had indeed slept through
very peacefully; he, on the other hand, had barely any rest.
At one point during the early morning hours, he opened the
bedroom door to go retrieve a book from his own room and
found one the hounds that he had seen patrolling the property
standing sentry at Scully's door. Taking no chances, huh?
When the soft knock came, he nearly jumped to answer before
the sound had the chance to wake his sleeping partner. The
servant on the other side of the doorway smiled politely and
gestured toward the cart in front of him. "The Baroness left
instructions for a light meal to be brought here before the
sunset."
Mulder motioned for him to remain quiet and stepped aside to
let him through. He looked out into the hallway, and, sure
enough, the guard was still at his post. After the cart had
been prepared and Mulder's coffee poured, Phillipe left the
room in silence.
Mulder returned to the window and leaned heavily against the
frame. He watched the last fleeting rays of light fade
beyond the horizon as he inhaled deeply at the rich aroma
rising with the steam from his mug. He was just beginning to
feel almost human again when he heard the stirring from the
bed behind him.
"Mulder?" the weak voice called out.
"Right here, Scully. Right where you left me." He smiled as
he sat down beside her on the bed and handed her the mug of
steaming salvation. "Did you sleep well?"
"Thanks," she said taking the offering from his hands.
"Better than I expected to, that's for sure." She
brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped one arm around
them on top of the blankets. Another knock came at the door,
and Mulder was up in a flash to answer.
Scully looked up and saw the mountain that was Sebastian
enter the room. "How are you feeling?" he asked with genuine
concern.
"I'm fine, thank you. How is the Prince?" The fear on her
face startled Mulder. She makes that same face when I'm
the one in a hospital bed.
"You will see for yourself. He has asked me to extend his
invitation for you to witness Kindred justice. I will be
waiting at the front door in one hour to escort you." With
an effortless turn, Sebastian left the room and closed the
door behind him.
"I'm not sure, Scully, but I don't think we have the option
of declining this 'invitation'. You feel up to this?" The
amusement in his eyes sparked the twinkle in her own.
"Go primp, Mulder. I'll be ready in forty-five minutes."
She showered carefully, allowing the hot water to soothe her
and the scent of the perfumed soap to surround her senses.
When she returned to her bedchamber, she was startled by the
presence of a young girl brushing out the fabric of a gown
hanging from the top of the bed frame. "Excuse me, who are
you?"
Quickly, the servant turned to Scully and smiled. "I'm
sorry, miss, I meant to be here before you went to bath, but
the courier was late. I was sent by my mistress to help you
prepare for this evening...and to give you this." She held
out an elaborately folded note.
"Thank you." Scully gave the paper a perfunctory once over.
The parchment paper was heavy and even held the slight aroma
of all things timeless. She carefully undid the circle of
wax used to keep it sealed. The writing was a beautiful
torrent of flourishes from the tip of a quill. I know
you have no need for the trappings of your sex, but it would
bring me the greatest pleasure to see you adorned as the lady
you show yourself to be. . It wasn't unsigned but the
sender was unmistakable.
When she finished reading, she looked again at the gown.
Rich, dark green velvet hung down and flowed in glorious
waves of soft cloth. It was then that she noticed the
alabaster box lying on the bed. "What's this?" she asked
glancing back to the still smiling servant.
The giggle in her voice earned the girl one of Scully's
patented raised eyebrow stares, but even that couldn't quell
the glee on her face. "Open it!"
With a sigh of frustration, Scully turned her attention back
to the package on the bed. Her small fingers quickly undid
the spring catch and lifted the lid to reveal the most
breathtaking thing she had ever seen. Tentatively, as though
it might burn her, her fingers reached out to touch the
treasure. Her eyes traveled over the emerald encrusted cross
Celtic cross hanging from the white gold chain woven in
the fashion of an old Irish wedding knot.
She found herself dumfounded—Dana Katherine Scully was
speechless. She turned to the girl behind her, searching for
some explanation. Instead..."Come, m'lady. We haven't much
time left to get you ready."
When Scully came to the top of the stairs, she saw her partner prowling the
front foyer. All in black, cashmere turtleneck and beautifully draped wool
pants, she realized with no small amount of humor that he was fitting into this
world more and more everyday. He had always had the ability to absorb his
surroundings—an ability that served him well. When she cleared her throat, he
looked up and was, to put it simply, stopped dead in his tracks.
She was stunning. The dress she wore came just off the curve of her shoulders
and traveled down into long, formfitting sleeves. The neckline that stayed just
this side of modesty, cascaded into the torso that draped perfectly over every
curve and flared from the waist into a full skirt that trailed behind her as she
began to descend one step at a time. A simple gold chain belt wrapped around her
hips and hung down in layers. Around her neck, Mulder couldn't help but notice
the absence of the cross her cross...the one that gave me hope when....
"Someone's obviously got an admirer," he chirped, trying to hide the irritation
at the ornament around her neck.
"Mulder, believe me when I tell you that no woman in her right mind would pass
up the opportunity to wear an outfit like this." Lifting the skirt slightly, she
offered him a trifling curtsy.
"You really do look like you're about to hold court," he replied with a deep bow
from the waist. "Come, Lady Dana. I believe your chariot awaits."
They stepped outside to find Sebastian leaning against the car. "Ready to go?"
When they arrived at the clearing, they stepped out of the car and looked around
at the crowd that had gathered for the event. The diversity of the faces was not
lost on the two mortals. Scully turned to Sebastian with a quizzical air and
asked, "Is everyone here a vampire?"
With more amusement than they had seen him demonstrate thus far, Sebastian
answered. "Yes, Miss Scully. All those gathered here tonight are Kindred. Stay
close to me for the time being."
Club kids and Goths, businessmen, artists, and otherwise ordinary looking people
thronged about, talking and laughing, as if this were a party of sorts. "Even in
this world, it takes all kinds," the Baroness said in good humor as she
approached the befuddled agents. "I'll see to them from here, Sebastian. I
believe Morgan needs you for the final preparations." Thanking her politely, he
took his leave and headed toward the large circle of standing stones they had
seen from a distance.
Mulder looked at the striking sable haired woman, adorned in a simple black
velvet evening gown and looking slightly out of place. For the first time, he
noticed a small gold cross around her neck, not unlike the one his partner had
worn since she was a child. Not tonight though huh, Scully? When he felt
her gaze on him, he looked up and smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, Baroness, I
didn't mean to be rude. I just couldn't help but notice..." his words trailed
off as he gestured toward her neck with a nod of his head.
"No need to apologize, Agent Mulder. In case you hadn't noticed, crosses in and
of themselves, to not repel vampires for the most part. Symbols of religion
offer no protection unless the bearer has true faith—only then does the symbol
cause an effect. That kind of faith only comes along only once in every ten
million people or so. This token," she spoke as she lightly touched the dainty
piece of precious metal, "was a gift from my grandmother. It's one of the last
remaining vestiges of my mortality."
"What's going on?" Scully cast over her shoulder, unable to pull her eyes away
from the activity within the circle that held the Prince and his emissary.
"Just as in mortal life, each Kindred must decide for themselves what gods to
worship," the Baroness explained smoothly. "For Morgan, the choice was made well
before his Embrace. He is a priest of Dagda."
"The king of the Tuatha de Dannans—the lore holds him to be the father of many
of the gods of the Druidic Pantheon," Mulder said offhandedly, as if reading
from a textbook. The Baroness stared at him in surprise.
"Don't worry," Scully deadpanned, "you get used to him doing that. Please go
on."
Smiling in amusement, the Baroness continued. "You're absolutely right, Agent
Mulder. You see Morgan is a Druid—one of the original Druids. And in the
practice of his faith, it is not uncommon for a convicted criminal to be
sacrificed. Your attacker, Agent Scully, has won for himself the honor of being
just such a sacrifice."
Scully watched as Sebastian made his way back toward them. "We're ready to
begin. Agent Mulder, take your place with the Baroness. Miss Scully, please come
with me."
"Why? Where are you taking me?" Still slightly skittish from her previous
night's adventure, Scully wasn't eager to be separated from her partner.
"You will be in safe hands. In this ceremony, there is a special role for the
one who has been offended." Taking her by the elbow, Sebastian left very little
room for argument.
Mulder began to protest as he saw her being lead away, but the sudden feel of a
cool hand taking his recaptured his attention. " She won't be forced to have any
part of the ceremony she'll feel uncomfortable with. If it would make you feel
more at ease, I can arrange for you to be closer to her than was planned," the
Baroness offered sympathetically.
"No...I'm sure she'll be fine." It came out as more of a pout than he had
intended, but at this point he really didn't care. When the Kindred in
attendance began to gather closer, Mulder tried to distract himself with the
details of what was to happen.
Looking around, he made a more systematic inventory of the area. The stones the
made up the circle stood twenty feet high and displayed ceremonial etchings that
he didn't immediately recognize. Inside the ring, and in the center of a burnt
area of ground, stood a ten foot tall effigy of a man woven of unpainted wicker;
the head and arms were solid and a pole protruded up from the ground and through
the center of the hollow chest cavity that allowed room for the accused held
within to be bound.
And in fact, there was the Giovani, tied to the pole with a stake through his
heart. Around the stake, Mulder noticed a long rope that extended well past the
scorched earth. "Can you explain what's going on?" he asked with genuine
curiosity.
"If you like. The one that is to die has been woven inside the wickerman. As you
can see, he has been run through the heart by a wooden stake. Despite what they
say on Buffy, a stake through the heart does not kill us. It puts us in a state
known as torpor—a very deep sleep that we cannot awaken from until the stake
has been removed or we have been revived by some other means."
Mulder had been nodding his understanding, showing that he was following what he
was being taught, and soon he realized exactly what was about to happen.
"So the guy inside the wickerman is going to be set on fire and then the stake
will be removed from his heart so that he's awake and aware of everything going
on around him. That's sadistic!" he cried in outrage. His eyes searched for
Scully and found her standing on a large rock just inside the circle.
The Baroness replied in a calming tone, "Perhaps...but nevertheless necessary.
Remember, Fox, this upstart would have gladly killed your partner if he had not
been stopped. An example must be made of him if you and Dana are to remain
safe."
"And you support this?" he asked, turning his venom on her.
The threat in her eyes appeared as if from nowhere, and without any doubt in his
mind, Mulder knew he had gone too far. "I support my Prince." Her words, simple
and to the point, were enough of a warning for him to let the matter drop. "I am
here in my capacity as Seneschal. Whatever the vehicle of completion, the
Giovanni subjected himself to final destruction. He must suffer the consequences
of his actions." She looked across the distance that separated her from her
Prince and, with a nod of his head, she knew the time had come. "Excuse me for
just a moment. It's time to call the assembly to order."
Stepping to the front, she raised her voice above the hum of the crowd. "I speak
now for your Prince and call this congregation to order. He has declared Elysium
here—there will be no violence of any kind. Let the word go forth from this
place that this is what happens to those who would dare to break the Prince's
law." She stepped back to her place beside Mulder.
All eyes watched as the two priests, dressed in robes of white, began the
prayers, blessing the sacrifice. They took handfuls of dirt and cast them into
the pile of kindling beneath the wickerman.
"The Druids believe that all things are interconnected...fire, water, earth,
wind...we are all made of the elements of our mother—Nature—of whom Dagda is
the Father. By sending this Kindred to his final destruction he is being given
back to the force that spawned him," the Baroness mused to no one and anyone who
wanted to understand.
Mulder watched with dread as Morgan approached his friend, holding a blazing
torch. If he tried, he could just make out what was being said.
"Miss Scully, it is the custom of my people to allow the victim of an offense to
exact the justice due," the Prince stated in a matter of fact tone. He offered
her the torch, and with a faltering hand, she took it in her grasp.
NO, SCULLY! DON'T DO IT! Mulder screamed with a tortured, silent cry.
"Or," Morgan turned suddenly sympathetic, "you may chose a champion to act on
your behalf." The fear and anguish on her face melted the ice of his blue eyes.
"I've dedicated myself to the preservation of life. I cannot be the one to
decide how this...creature...dies or who will be the one to kill him." She
handed the torch back to him, her body visibly shaking. "And I can't watch you
do it either."
"Very well," his face accepting and nonjudgmental. Staying by her side, he
turned and handed the torch to Sebastian. "If you would..."
The priest came to stand facing the front of the wickerman. He raised his hands
to the sky and mouthed the final blessing. Bending from the waist, he touched
the torch to the brushwood. Walking clockwise, he stopped at the side and
repeated the ritual before continuing to the rear.
"North, south, east and west...the sacrifice will be scattered by the four
winds," the Baroness narrated in a whisper as Mulder continued to watch in
horror.
When all four corners where set ablaze, the entire assemblage waited until the
flames reached the wickerman itself. The fire caught and spread quickly through
every twig. The wood being consumed created and inescapable prison of flame for
its occupant, and now it was time for him to see it.
Reaching down, Morgan took hold of the rope in both hands and pulled back
ruthlessly so that the wooden stake that had impaled the victim's heart was now
pitched skyward and away.
Instantly, Vitello Vindigni's eyes shot open. The agony-torn shriek of torment
that came from his mouth echoed across the field and rang in the ears of all
that heard him. As the fire touched his feet the smoke surrounding him billowed;
as more and more of his dead flesh was consumed, the smoke blackened, until,
finally, nothing remained of him but the dust he had come from.
The smoke dissipated almost immediately, but the fire still burned.
Morgan looked over at the quaking form standing on the rock. He stretched out
his hand to help her down, and stood close enough to feel the shaking of her
body. "It's over now," he said in the softest tone he could find. "Miss Scully,
now that you've seen the horror of Kindred society, will you give me the chance
to show you its beauty?"
She looked at him with confusion and fear and all the trust she had ever felt in
her life. "Yes," she replied with equal parts uncertainty and excitement, but in
her heart, she knew she would go with him wherever he asked.
He led her, his hand resting against the small of her back, to the Doosenberg
parked a distance from the crowd, and soon they were gone.
Seeing his partner starting to leave, Mulder tried to go after her when heard
the voice of the Baroness behind him. "You cannot help her deal with that which
you do not understand yourself."
"What?!" he shot back.
"I know what you feel for her, Fox. I can feel it in you. But take my word on
this...leave her protection in the hands of those better equipped to guard her.
With Morgan, she will be safe in every sense of the word."
He knew she was right. He couldn't protect her from the things that went bump in
the night. But since when was Dana Scully swept off her clinically detached
feet so easily.
"Give her the chance to experience this society in a way that she'll appreciate
it most. And, " the Baroness continued with a playful gleam in her eye, "I
suggest you allow yourself to do the same."
Coming back to himself, he fell in step with his hostess's humor. "I'm assuming
by the look on your face, you've got something in mind, though I'm not sure I
want to know what it is." He was smiling now and began to close the distance
between his body and hers.
"No...I think you'll like the plans I've made for you. I regret that I won't be
there to enjoy it with you, but I will be leaving you in very competent hands."
As if summoned, two of the more attractive females from the crowd appeared on
either side of the Baroness and nuzzled against her affectionately. Gesturing to
her left she said, "I'd like you to meet Eris." He reached out and shook hands
with the decidedly innocent looking young woman, despite the fact that her
clothing revealed more than it covered. "And this is the Primogen of the Bruaha
clan, Extasy."
He cocked his eyebrows at the petite brunette standing to the Baroness's right
and gave her a smile that might have affected a mortal woman. Indescribable
except to say that she exuded sex in a tangible form, the Primogen appraised the
new plaything she was being given. "So you're Fox Mulder," she said, her voice
gravel coated with honey.
"Most people just call me Mulder." Ewww, boy.
"I'm not most people, Foxy." She smiled at him, and the hairs on the back of his
neck stood up and paid attention. She turned back to the Baroness, "Thanks for
the toy. Does he require any kind of special care or feeding?"
"Extasy, he's under Morgan's protection and should be treated as such. Behave—do you understand me." Her tone may have been maternal, but Mulder saw the
knowing expression punctuating her words for her. "I want him returned to the
house before dawn and unmarked."
"Morgie ruins all our fun. But I can play with him, right?" Extasy asked
eagerly.
"I think you should really ask Agent Mulder if he wants to be played with."
Before anyone had a chance to drag the conversation farther into the gutter than
it had already traveled; she began to back away into the crowd. "Don't worry,
Foxy. I won't be very far away."
When she had disappeared from sight, Mulder address his guardians. "Well, I
can't complain about her taste in babysitters, " he quipped with a lopsided
grin.
The two Bruaha faced each other and laughed out loud. "This is going to be
good," the unified chorus sang. "Come on, Mulder," Eris continued, "we're gonna
show you our playground."
Extasy reached out and took a firm hold of the front of his belt. And with a
wink and a smile, she turned and led him to the black convertible waiting by the
edge of the woods.
As she watched the taillights pull away, the Baroness became aware of the
presence approaching from behind. Without turning, she spoke to the nightcrawler
that had stopped just short of her left shoulder. "Don't worry, Alex. Despite
first impressions, I would trust her with my own life."
"It's not her that worries me." He was quiet and sober, "Do you know where
they're taking him?"
"Actually," she answered turning to face him at last, "you'll be meeting the
Nospheratu and Toreador Primogen in the alley just outside the club where he'll
be. You can check on him when you're finished, if you like."
"Perhaps," he replied thoughtfully.
"If there is a problem, Felix Knight knows where I'll be. You can contact me
through him. Miss Scully is very well protected—she's with the Prince." She
looked at him warily, and then offered further, "But if you feel that Agent
Mulder is unsafe when you find him, have Felix send word to me and I'll have him
removed from the situation."
His smile at that moment held all the mystery of the Mona Lisa's various moods.
"Thank you, Baroness."
From a polite distance, her driver called. "Excuse me, Baroness. We should leave
now if you're to be on time."
She cast her eyes to the side. "Thank you, Mike. I'll be right there. Please
call ahead to Krane and make sure all the arrangements have been attended to."
When she turned back to the nightcrawler, he was gone.
End
Survival Of the Species II
by Niffusa
Mulder peered out the large window at the slowly setting sun
and tried again to process the tale Scully had told him hours
before. What the hell was going on here? The
assurance they had been given—that here they would be
protected—had been proven true, but last night was a little
too close. For Scully to have been attacked within the house
itself... How did he get through the house's defenses?
But despite the near miss, Scully was unharmed Thanks to
the Prince .
