Holding Court with Lillith

BY: Cassy

Disclaimer: You know who belongs with who...I sure ain't making any money off this.

Rating: PG

Kash: Is that Asher I hear in the background influencing your speech patterns?

Lillith: Non, Kashauna, dear...I believe that if this dream-spell is going to be used it might as well serve SOME purpose. Seems a shame for one of my line to WASTE energy

Kash: How do you mean?

Lil: As for allowing that impudent Cimries to think I'd allow him to breed with MY granddaughter...well....*waves hand absently* Oh, that...why you gave me the idea yourself...with the dream setting chosen for Asher and Esther...let them work out some of their problems...provided they survive *cold smile*

Cim: My queen...I had no idea you were present...at our little negotiations.

Kash: What idea exactly? You know...Crystals negotiation skills leave a bit to be desired....

Cim: I thought they were quite sufficient

Kash: That's just cause you could have gotten away with murder had you wanted to.

Cim: Ohh I think she would have drawn the line at that

Lil: How...inobservant of you my child....and careless...did you honestly believe that such a spell could go unnoticed when cast in my immediate vicinity?...the idea of using the dreamscape to not only terrorize your precious friends, but test their very souls as well...CAN they overcome their differences, biases and hatreds to work together to be free of the spell

Cim: I had not realized it would bother you all that much my liege. Had your Grandaughter not...involved herself would you have stepped forward...would you be here now?

Lil: Do not presume to question me whelp

Cim: I would never be so bold highness. (holding out the book of fairytales to you) Have you any thoughts my Queen...I should so enjoy hearing any suggestions you might have...I am saddly lacking in information regarding this...group...perhaps you would be willing to offer some insight...in exchange for...something of course.

Lil: Your bargain with Astoroth placed you in a position of endangering beings I have a purpose for...particularly the White Tiger...you also broke one of Lucifer's very few laws...by endangering innocents...two unborn. And what could YOU offer ME? youngling...

Cim: (looking unconcerned) No one shall be brought to harm by this highness. I have no interest in harming any innocents...I merely weave a dream...for their parents...surely there is no harm in that. As to what I can offer you...I wouldn't begin to guess that that highness...I have only myself and my services to offer in truth...but surely even a Queen as high as you must upon occasion rely on those beneath her to engage in some...menial tasks.

Lil: *steepling fingers together ans smiling serenely* and for oh, say Asher...to walk out in the sun because he does not remember that he is a vampire, thus bringing about the deaths of the White Tiger and the mother of one of the unborns, no innocents would be endangered...

Cim: (shaking head) I had not considered that highness. In dreams such things COULD of course cause death...if the dreamer believed they should...but not knowing...surely that would save them from such a fate.

Lil: Do not play the ignorant with me Cimries...you yourself said that if they were not freed from the spell, they would be tabula rasa when their bodies were wakened...the effect of the rising sun is the same on vampire flesh whether they are aware or not...and they would not know to seek shelter while trapped in the dream...the lupanar IS outdoors fool, and you do not have the power to stop time

Cim: Yes my queen...IF they were woken without their memories...but I have given your Grandaughter the oppurtunity to restore those...it was she after all who took them...that was never my intent. The dream I had initially woven would not have lasted until the dawn highness. I do have some sense you know...it was quite a straight forward dream.

Lil: True...*motions to him* come sit here at my feet, youngling...tell me what exactly did Astoroth offer you in exchange for this...prank

Cim: (looking to where she gestures before gritting his teeth and doing as she bids) Information my queen...a substance highly prized to one such as me.

Lil: *stroking his head like a lapdog* Information about WHAT....

Cim: (resisting the urge to growl and move away) About a woman my queen...about a treacherous female who owes me a great deal....and I shall collect...however many lifetimes it takes.

Lil: *chuckling* and does this female have a name?

Cim: (biting his tongue) She has had many names my Queen...countless names...but I wish to know her new one.

Lil: If I didn't know better I'd say that this woman once broke your heart...but you don't HAVE a heart, do you child...tell me the most common of her names...now

Cim: I do not have a heart...and she has had no common names...she has been Marie, she has been Constance, she has been Veritas and Sabine, she's been Beatrice, Helen, Lesandra, Kali, Morgan, Felecia, Delialah...she has been all and none...but I shall find her. (moving away) This leads us nowhere highness...you wish something yes...what? You wish to twist me like so many other males round your pinky...that will not happen. I serve yes...but I do not serve you. You wish something of me...take it up with my over lord...or deal with me now...but I will not play these games with you.

Lil: *face going cold...grasps his face in an iron grip* I am head of your line whelp...you would do well to remember it...as a matter of fact I happen to know of whom you speak...at least two possibilities given those names...heed well my terms...you will do what you can to make sure my granddaughter is successful in her quest to restore the memories of her...friends... You will NOT attempt to breed with her...EVER...nor to aquire her eggs for siring children out of...IF I am pleased with your performance, I MIGHT grant you the current name of this female, but I will definitely grant you a chance at a child...merely NOT with my granddaughter

Cim: (eyes narrowing on a cool smile) And I my Queen am dead...and a demon...I WAS of your line in life...but I do not recall seeing your face then...hearing your voice...I remember only being sacraficed in YOUR name...do not think to own me now...when you so willingly cast me aside then. "wrenching free of your grasp" However as you have so kindly offered me what I wish...I would of course be most willing to see your Granddaughters friends restored. It makes little difference to me.

Lil: You are not to let her know of your assistance or even your presence...also do not tell her immediately that she is free of her bargain with you...*evil smile* I wouild like to see her sweat a bit...and if you REALLY please me, I shall offer to be the dam of your child myself...you ARE a rather comely child...and I alone of all female vampires have the magicks necessary to bear a living child...else how would there be so many demons, non?

Cim: How pray tell do you suggest I make her....sweat...while offering my assistance at the same time highness...she seems...rather naive but surely the others would notice if I made the game too easy.

Lil: *laughs* I see you do not know my granddaugher very well...she is EASILY flustered...just thinking that she HAS to allow you to sire a child of her will be stressful enough...your job will be to see to it that she is in the "right place at the right time" It will be up to HER to recognize what needs to be done

Cim: Obvisouly you over estimate my powers highness. I know not what right time and place you speak of...I merely intended to let the fairytales flow as they willed...each finding its own participants...I have no knowledge of memories or their restoration. I work in dreams...not in the river Nix and its tributaries.

Lil: *pouting frown* Fine then...you may make your presence know to Crystal...and provide transportation from dreamscape to dreamscape for her when she requires it...but the rest stands as dictated

Cim: I'm afraid that making myself known to her...would not garner the reaction you seem to think it would. The child is quite...well she is something that I would rather not deal with again...she quite takes the joy out of negotation....however I can provide her with a means of transportation...though it does take a bit of the sport out of it...don't you think. (Wicked grin) Why not equip her with a wand...she will be playing fairy godmother after all...and she is skilled with a wand yes? And perhaps wings...and the appropriate costuming of course. I have seen those cherubic Godmothers Disney seems so fond of...such cute cheeks.

Lil: *delighted peal of laughter* Oh she will be quite mortified by such an appearance! You ARE truly wicked...perhaps I shall allow you to begin collecting part of our agreement tonight, oui *gives him a sultry leer*

Cim: I should not wish to be distracted and risk the safety of our guests highness...I am not as skilled at the art as you are...it takes all my concentration to hold the shards together.

Lil: Very well then...once this fiasco is cleared up...

Cim: I hesitate to mention this my Queen...but the matter of the Aviatra has yet to be...handled...I can not truly give her back into your Grandaughter's keeping so easily...she is an enemy...one I can not free so readily.

Lil: I understand that child...I believe that it would be best not to include her in the fairytales at all...*evil smile* don't you think it more fitting to let her believe that her existence as an Aviarta was the dream rather than the reality...it should make it all the more challenging to convince her of the truth and free her...the decision shall ultimately be her own

Cim: I am pleased to find that what I have heard of you is truth highness...you have a most cunning mind. It pleases me to do as you wish in this matter. Perhaps all shall work out to benefit all of us equally...Astoroth shall have his nemisis safely tucked away, I shall have my...child....and you highness...what is it that you truly desire...the awakening of your Granddaughter...or is there some larger prize you seek here?

Lil: *smiling* Ah ah ah...I can't tell you all my secrets...I DO wish the safe awakening of my granddaughter...but there is something else I seek...I'll let you know what that is when the time comes...now shoo...be about with your dreams

Cim: "nodding" As you wish highness...secrets are meant to be kept and I leave you safely to yours...I have dreams yet to make...and as you have mentioned...the night is only so long.

Lil: *once he's gone* Kashauna, I wish to speak with you...woman to woman

Kash: Yeah? I hope you're not expecting any highness this or highness that from me...cause it ain't happening.

Lil: Of course not, dear...whether you believe me or not I actually wish you well with Lucifer...he and I were too much alike for it to have ever lasted...but you, well...I believe the poor fool actually loves you

Kash: I don't know what you find pitiable in love...especially love that is returned...but to each their own...I always thought we might...that is to say you and I might get along in other circumstances...if all that I've heard of you is true.

Lil: I already know who I will tell Cimries is the woman he seeks...although with the list of names he gave, I know of THREE possibilities...two of which I will not give over to him, one of those because she is already in his grasp and the fool doesn't even realize it, the other because I have opther intentions for...the third, which I will tell him of, is Belle Morte...she has been a pest lately and he will make an excellent tool for tormenting HER

Kash: You think Belle could have been Cimiries...uhm...lady friend? Kash: As to that...who exactly do you think the others could have been?

Lil: very likely...the other two that I think fit the possibilities would be Fata and the Absorber...although I seriously doubt that the latter is the one he seeks, she has always sought to keep her host's identity secret...however, if he is so fool as to not recognize Fata's taint riding the Nightengale then he does not deserve to capture her

Kash: Fata is of your line?

Lil: *harsh laugh* hardly...she is a much lesser demon, for all her airs of superiority and powers...

Kash: Now that's trippy....you know Cim's story right? He wasn't just josh'n when he said he was sacraficed in your name...he was...quite literally...course I don't know how many ritual sacrafices you've attended in your time...so well maybe you did know...or maybe you didn't...but the Priestess...she cut out his heart and sent it up as an offering to you.

Kash: You were right though about the breaking his heart thing...he did love her...or well thought he did...wanted to have a life with her...kids the whole nine yards...she refused to give up the power of being your priestess...and sacraficed him instead...cut his heart out with her own lily white hands...he didn't take it well.

Lil: How touching...hmmm *taps chin* if I remember correctly, Belle WAS one of my priestesses before she was turned by a vampire not of my line...the little bitch has been trying to usurp my place as Queen ever since she attained her Council seat

Kash: "shrugging" Touching isn't the word I'd use...imptus for a really big grudge against womankind...but not touching. I think I'd have been pissed as well to find myself bound to an altar and having my heart cut out by the person of my dreams...course that's neither here nor there. Maybe it was Belle...though how she could have been all those other people in between is a kicker if you ask me. She and Fata do strick me as the type to cut out a man's heart at the mere notion of children though.

Lil: And what about YOU, dear? If Lucifer decides he'd like to sire children by you?

Kash: I rather doubt I can have childeren...and I'm kinda opposed to bringing about the apocolypse by giving birth to the anti-christ...but I guess I'll burn that bridge when I get to it...if I get to it.

Lil: *smiling indulgently* the mother of the anti-christ will be HUMAN, Kashauna...something you haven't been for a very long time

Kash: Point taken...so that's something I needed worry about....guess that leaves it all up to whether or not we can work a child into our busy schedules...of course if I find him sleeping with some tramped out human female I will be forced to remove his testicles and use them as stress balls.

Lil: They'll just grow back...already tried it myself...he IS the "seducer of virgins" after all

Kash: Yes....a well deserved title in fact...but he does have his good points...even if he hasn't the sense of humor to recognize it.

Lil: *sigh* yes, his lack of humor...good luck in working around THAT

Kash: Ohhh I've managed so far...what about you Lillith...if you're past the stage of wanting my beloved...have you chosen an new boy toy to set your sites on?

Tam: *walking through with a sleeping Jewel Celeste* Sorry to interrupt your little tete a tete, ladies, but I need to tuck this little one in and get some sleep myself....

Kash: "grinning at Lillith" Saved by the bell...or by the infant in this case. "nodding to Tam" Sweet dreams to you and yours.

Lil: *nodding at Tam* Bon nuit, madame...as a matter of fact, Kashauna, I've decided to enjoy breaking Cimries as my latest project...after I've used him in my vengence on Belle of course

Kash: Good luck with that one...breaking him may take...a while. He's a stubborn one...but he does have a nice ass I'll grant ya that.

Lil: Oui...and I do enjoy a good breaking if it takes longer...who knows, perhaps I may even decide to spare his mind and make him my consort if he impresses me

Kashauna: Well good luck with both...or either....I'm for bed...sweet sleep to you all.

Lil: I may pay Astoroth a little visit after all this is over, as well...it would be delightful to crush his hopes after allowing him to think I'm offering him aide in his ambitions

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