Kashauna: Hey

Tamara: Good morning...what's got you up and about at this hour?

Kashauna: I slept most the day away....what about you?

Tamara: Just picked myself off the floor from being french-fried.

Kashauna: Gigs said I should become nocturnal...I'm just trying to comply.

Tamara: *grin*...speaking of Gigs...things were getting a bit hairy when I had to leave for work last night...visit from Draco.

Kashauna: Seri looked worried and a bit confused when I told her that Gigs was a were-tiger a white one to be specific.

Tamara: She have any ideas on why a white tiger is so damned important?

Kashauna: I think so...but she got all tight lipped on me and said she didn't want to have to explain it more then once.

Tamara: Well, is she around or she gonna send an e-mail?

Kashauna: She also got a scary little smile that was way too reminiscent of Edward for me to be comfortable. She's around...let me grab her.

Tamara: k

Seri: Tamara...Asher....good morning.

Tamara: Good morning, Seri...I'm sorry Asher isn't here right now...last I saw he was with Gigs

Seri: It’s probably better that he stay with her, is Draco present with them as well?

Tamara: He was when I was knocked out...I don't know if he still is...I haven't seen or heard from them since around sunset last night.

Seri: That's not a good sign, are the marks still operating as they should?

Tamara: I'm being blocked...whether by Asher or by another...I have no way of telling...if it's Asher, I CAN force them open...but that might distract him when he doesn't need it...

Seri: Its better you don't do anything like that. Is Tyler with them as well?

Tamara: As far as I know...he was sleeping, we think he was drugged

Seri: Ramses would never drug a child.

Kashauna: Sorry to interrupt girls, just wanted to espouse a little sentiment. If the child is harmed in anyway then all bets are off, innocents are out of bounds I do hope Draco realizes this, cause I'd hate to have to kill him...okay so maybe I wouldn't hate to.

Seri: That goes without saying.

Tamara: I didn't think so...but someone meant for us to think that...making sure a very similar scent was present...I KNOW that had to be the real Ramses there earlier that afternoon...he knew too much of the truth about who the Absorber really was...only if you get to him before I do Kash.

Kashauna: Team effort works for me.

Tamara: *smile* Ash wasn't to pleased about my "happy thoughts" concerning the Council

Seri: There is no point in jumping to conclusions, what we have to do now is make sure Kylie and Gigs are protected, revenge comes after.

Kashauna: I don't personally care if he's pleased or not, they've harmed too many...and justice has been a long time coming...there are reasons I like my job.

Seri: Perfect now you've got her started again. Can we please focus here, they aren't going to hurt Gig...at least not yet, not until after.

Tamara: I think he was scared I might be crazy enough to actually TRY it...Ramses probably has Kylie spirited halfway across the country by now...if he saw Draco there, when he came for Ty, then he probably put hiding her as top priority. Seri, why a white tiger?

Seri: A pity Ramses could have been of help in this. Besides I believe the time for running is past.

Tamara: He may return once she's safely tucked away...provided she's willing to STAY hidden...from what I know of Kylie, she WON'T

Seri: Tigers have long been worshipped by many cultures, even to present day, in Asian countries they have been hunted to near extinction because of the power they can grant. Perhaps that is all the better.

Tamara: *sits patiently...knowing there is more*

Seri: All cats have been worshiped, but Tigers above others, and the whites...so rare. They are considered to be great sources of power and to find a White were-tiger....there hasn't been one in over a thousand years...the last one....he was male...

Tamara: What happened to him?

Seri: They were all so excited when they found out about his existence, it was thought that finally they might have found it. His blood...it was said that to drink it would make a vampire impervious to silver, holy items, even the sun.

Tamara: But Ramses said that not even the Council would harm a white tiger...and I know for a FACT that the blood of one will not make a vampire sun-proof...Gigs' little duck-killing tantrum the other day proved THAT

Seri: He killed himself, after he found out what they wanted to do with him. The idea was that he should have children...lots of children....Genes weren't known of back then...but they thought they could have a race of these creatures to keep as their very own food supply...to give them back their lives, to let them walk in day...to finally leave the darkness.

Tamara: So that's why they want to force Gigs to mate Gideon...I wasn't so far off on my guess about that after all

Seri: But Asher isn't dead is he? And Gigs has only been a were-tiger for what a month now? She hasn't even undergone the ceremonies of purification yet.

Tamara: We weren't aware that there WERE any such ceremonies...no he isn't dead...when he chased after her into the setting sun's light...it took a few moments for the burning to begin, and it started as more of a smoldering than anything...no big burst of flames...but the pain was excruciating. Uh oh...Seri, you've been talking with Ramses a lot lately...any chance he was acquainted with that male white tiger?

Seri: The potency of the blood increases with Age and the council is very big on ceremony...the legends have grown and changed, but everything has a root in fact...I wasn't around when the legend began and Alexander....I don't know what Padma told him....but whatever it was, the next night when it was all to begin, he was found in a drying pool of his own blood, he'd managed to slit his own through with the dull edge of a silver spoon...

Tamara: I bet they're just tickled pink about Gigs being bound to a vampire, then...she'll be around as long as Asher is...and she was marked right at the prime child-bearing age

Seri: It is possible, but somehow I doubt it, Alexander wasn't with the council long...two weeks...they had him hunted, he'd been an average young main living in India...Alexander was the name Traveler called him, Padma spoke to him in a language that was foreign to me. I couldn't understand it, only that he was very upset by it.

Tamara: The reason I asked is because I still haven't figured out HOW Ramses was able to pay us that visit in BROAD DAYLIGHT

Seri: He might have known him...it isn't impossible...I do not remember Ramses from that time, but then I remember very little but blood and screams from that time. I was new to the council then as well...Perhaps Ramses is one of those that were sent to collect Alexander.

Tamara: Even then, I can't picture anybody SENDING Ramses anywhere...he was already around 2000 by that time

Kashauna: Well all things come to an end...why the hell shouldn't it be now....they've gone too far. I do not stand by and watch my friends being tormented by anyone, certainly not by someone who's only claim to power is the blood they drain from others and the fact that they've lived a few hundred years. Scratch that thousand years....Like time is anything but temporal anyway.

Tamara: That reminds me...where the hell is Anita? JC had already loaded her, Damien (in his coffin) and a few pard members on his jet to come down here and lend a hand.

Seri: Nor can I....but it is possible he was one of those that did seek out Alexander....there was something strange in that situation in any case. Ramses has traveled a great deal in his time...he would have spent time in the jungles of Asia....it is very easy to hide in there, whole cities have disappeared beneath their vines through the ages.

Kashauna: Very good question.

Tamara: Edward around or he off on some errand?

Kashauna: Edward's here...need to speak at him?

Tamara: Just want to know if Anita's tried contacting him today

Kashauna: He says she hasn't, and I haven't heard from Chrys and Nathaniel in the past three days either. I really don't like this, I have a bad feeling.

Tamara: okay...you're starting to sound like a Star Wars script...I swear Lucas is in love with that phrase

Kashauna: Since I don't watch most Star Wars movies I have no clue what you're talking about...I think I saw the last one once...and I've tried to forget as much as possible about it.

Tamara: Self-admitted Star Wars junkie here

Seri: I don't know if this is relevant, but I do remember of hearing about the Goddess Shinarii, she was said to ride a white tiger...the people living in India in the 100's believed in her.

Tamara: The phrase is "I have a bad feeling about this." It has appeared at least once in every Star Wars movie. What was she the goddess OF?

Kashauna: I'm opposed to being a stereotype...its bad enough I'm a trekkie.

Tamara: I am an enigma. I think we're irritating the Nightingale...not a good idea...better get back to business *grin*

Seri: There were two schools of thought on that, some acquainted her with the Celeste, sister of Hades and bringer of Death....others said she was the equivalent of Diana...and that the tiger she rode was like the moon, or the silver chariot Diana drove. Some reckoned she was both...for is not night the death of day?

Tamara: True...that also might explain some of the belief about gaining an immunity to silver...but some Master vamps already possess that ability...Gretchen is immune to silver.

Kashauna: Chrys seems to be as well actually...but that might be because that's how she died after all.

Tamara: the silver nitrate

Kashauna: Yeah, and since silver is a hard metal....it accumulates in the fatty tissue of the body....she walks around every night with enough silver built up in her body to kill a full grown man...who isn't a vampire...but still she walks around.

Tamara: Ash refuses to tell me anything about that time...I still don't know how he survived the poisoning, except that you had something to do with that, Seri.

Seri: I....yes...well...it is in the past. Something has struck me though. Draco and the others believe that the Absorber would hide in a white tiger....how did he put it. She would find sanctuary with a White tiger....perhaps there is more to it then we assume. Shinarii was a Goddess...but like so many has been forgotten....and the Absorber...she has many times been confused with being one as well hasn't she?

Tamara: She can definitely pull off the mighty and terrible to behold bit. You thinking that this goddess was actually one of the Absorber's incarnations?

Seri: Perhaps there is a reason the two seem tied together....The absorber belongs with a body from birth yes? It is possible.

Tamara: yes

Seri: Fate or karma if you will has a way of reuniting souls.

Tamara: But Gigs is NOT the Absorber.

Seri: Kylie and Gigs have long been friends...even before Kylie was aware of Jules...and Gigs has only just become a white tiger...karma could have drawn the two pieces back together....Shinarri and her tiger...it had a name...Ofyra I think.

Tamara: Okay...but Gigs is bound in a triumvirate with Asher and myself...this mean I have to play decoy again?

Seri: I do not understand what you mean.

Tamara: Once Draco figures out that Gigs is not the Absorber...if his thinking follows a similar line to what you just laid out, wouldn't he be more likely to look in my direction than Kylie's? I am Asher's human servant...Julianna, his original servant was host to the Absorber...given his nomadic habits, it's doubtful that many vampires even KNOW about Ramses' ties to her, so the would look to Asher first, since he was the last known vampire to be associated with her

Seri: According to Karma and reincarnation souls are drawn together...you three have a bond in this life...It is conceivable that you were all bound before in other lives...history has a nasty habit of repeating itself...but the only one who can tell us what has happened is Jules....and if Ramses has spirited her away...then we can not ask her...and so Draco is the closest thing to answers we have...but are you sure it was Ramses the first time this evening? With so many missing it seems strange not to consider the possibility that they have been taken...because of the wording of Draco's comment...sanctuary 'with'....so all Gigs friends are suspect.

Tamara: Vlad has already made the same mistake about me...THAT was an experience I didn't particularly relish...hold on, let me check something...brb





Tamara: sorry that took so long...actually it was Ramses who said that Draco might think the Absorber would seek sanctuary with a white tiger

Seri: The wording still bothers me.

Kashauna: Well I've been researching....Ever hear of the Goddess Kali?

Tamara: Goddess of Death, yeah

Kashauna: She's also associated with a tiger....

Tamara: Some rumors of human sacrifice...hadn't heard the part about the tiger.

Kashauna: In fact according to Eastern religions the white tiger is supposed to represent the Earth, the west, the region of death and is the guardian of graves.

Tamara: Well hell...it's a wonder the council wasn't beating the doors down at the home of Siegfried and Roy out in Nevada years ago...they breed the damn cats

Kashauna: Yes, this all is very interesting...Durga is actually the one who rides a tiger....but Kali and Durga are different faces of the same goddess..Shakti

Tamara: Several religions liked triune deities...one god or goddess with three different aspects

Kashauna: Perfectly alright....I think there's something special bout it being a Were-tiger...they are already very rare...but to have a white one as well...what's the chance....and since science has figured out yet why a person turns a certain kind of lycanthrope...meaning why a were-leopard would be spotted versus solid back...you have to wonder bout these things. Yes they did...which makes a gal wonder...if the Absorber is such a triune member...with The white tiger being one of the faces....but that leaves a third space.

Tamara: Don't look at me...Anita was the one who majored in preternatural biology...I went for journalism...that's why I work third shift housekeeping *grin*

Kashauna: Yeah...we could always see what Luce has to say I suppose...I could ask Chris actually...but he's sure to be cryptic as hell...ineffability is a pain in the ass at times..

Tamara: what Draco was saying at the end there sounds like he was stealing lines from Luce, when Ash told him that Gigs' is his fiancee. Who WRITES for these guys?

Kashauna: Yes I did notice that. I haven't a clue...but I think they need to hire someone new.

Tamara: *giggle* Just remembered the change in the credits to Monty Python and the Holy Grail, when they kept having moose pop up in the credits...fired the credit writers then ended up with Wally the Wonder Llama in the credits after that.

Kashauna: This is a very good point.

Tamara: I scare myself sometimes....

Kashauna: But hey at least Luce isn't going to try and mate me with some strange tiger I don't even know...and then keep my children as sun block. Least he better not be.

Tamara: Nah...he's got more imagination than that. You should be VERY worried.

Kashauna: This is a good point...besides which he gets all agitated when other men even look at me....he'd never farm me out to someone else. Why....you know what they say. Hell hath no fury like that of a woman.

Tamara: He is such a male...ya notice that he's always lurking around, being a bother, until there comes up something that he might actually be useful for...then he disappears

Kashauna: Well that might have something to do with the fact that we are naturally on separate sides of the issue when things like this happen....or we're supposed to be. Astoroth gets really pissy when Luce interferes on my behalf.

Tamara: Poor baby

Kashauna: There's been a general up cry from most the other demons that Luce should step down because of his ties with the Avi's...namely me...and the wedding is sooo not going over well.

Tamara: Who's running that show? Astoroth or Luce?

Kashauna: Luce is technically...but any sign of weakness and they'll all descend on him like...well demons. I'm not sure he's worried at all, he could just be playing me...but what's a girl to do?

Tamara: Problem could be alleviated with a little ass-kicking on his part...put 'em back in line...WHY am I trying to help him?

Kashauna: Oh he regularly does that, but we have an agreement that we stay out of each others affairs...other wise we'd spend all our time fighting. I don't know why...maybe cause he's loveable like that?

Tamara: To YOU!

Kashauna: I can't help myself...I've always been a sucker for strays....and he's probably the strayest stray there is. Did you know that Eros had a chariot pulled by leopards....

Tamara: nope

Kashauna: Dionysus had one pulled by panthers...guess you learn something new all the time.

Tamara: Knew that Thor had a cart pulled by goats, though :-)

Kashauna: so'd Cupid...and Bacchus.

Tamara: Cupid and Bacchus are the Roman equivalents of Eros and Dionysus.

Kashauna: Yeah....strange isn't it.

Tamara: The Greek culture is the older...the Romans "borrowed" a lot of stuff from them.

Kashauna: Yeah I know.

Tamara: hmmmmmm...never did see much on Egyptian mythology beyond a few basics, back when I was heavily interested in the stories...wonder what Bast was goddess of?

Kashauna: Hold on and I'll see.

Tamara: Most of what I ever saw was centered around Isis, Osiris, Horus, and Set.

Kashauna: Bast or Bastet Bastet (originally a lion goddess symbolizing the fertilizing force of the sun's rays), became the cat goddess, the patroness of the domestic cat and the home. She is often seen in human form with the head of a cat and holding the sacred rattle known as the sistrim. Bastet is also associated with the eye of Ra, the sun god, and acts as an instrument of his vengeance. She ruled over pleasure, sex, dancing, music, and joy.

Kashauna: yeah....they seemed to be the major ones.

Tamara: She sounds like she could easily be associated with Belle Morte.

Kashauna: She does indeed. You've gotta wonder how many of these so called deities were in fact just vampires or lycanthropes. Or fey.

Tamara: Never HAS been determined what Belle's original nationality was...and all great cats are hers to call...I still think that she was a necromancer in life...Anita was exhibiting too many similarities in NiC.

Kashauna: This is a very good point...I wonder about the Queen of Nightmares as well.

Tamara: I'm betting Lillith on her.

Kashauna: Really? You think...then I might in fact have to have a small discussion with her.

Tamara: Oh? Keep in mind I was going with that because Lilith was supposed to be the ORIGINAL vampire/succubus.

Kashauna: Seeing as how she's the mother of all Demons...or so its said...I'd like to make sure she and Luce are firmly EX and if not...maybe I'll just let you have Draco and scratch her eyes out instead.

Tamara: Who ELSE would be their Queen?

Kashauna: This is a very good point...who else indeed?

Tamara: And with kids like that...of course she'd be "Queen of Nightmares".

Kashauna: Of course. So long as she keeps her grubby mits of my man.

Tamara: I wonder if there is a correlation between Lilith and Aechidna the mother of all monsters?

Kashauna: Very good question. You know with trines involving women it always comes down to the age old Maiden/Mother/Crone thing.

Tamara: Hmmm...age-wise then Kylie/gigs/me...Ky's around 26 I think...Gigs IS a mother, and 30...I'm starting to go gray already at 36.