Queen of Nightmares

BY: Cassy

Disclaimer: All recognized characters are property of LKH and/or the Berkley Publishing Group, and are used without permission...other characters belong to their respective creators. This is solely for entertainment...no money is being made. A/N: This is part of Kash's wedding story as told from Lillith, the Queen of Nightmares' perspective. For those of you not familiar with the legends about Lillith, she is known as both the mother of all vampires AND the mother of all demons...and was considered the FIRST wife of Adam, before the creation of Eve in some mythos. Thanks to Kash for scripting this out with me.

Lucifer was finally marrying that little Aviartra...of course my ex was not so foolish as to fail to invite me to the nuptials. I honestly did not harbor any desire to get back together with my Day Star. I admit I was puzzled for a while as to his choice of one of his mortal enemies as a bride...until I realized that the poor fool actually loved her. Males, regardless of the species, could be so...simple...at times.

So it seems I found myself being absolutely bored mindless...almost HOPING something would go wrong. Of course I was aware of a dream spell being cast the moment it started. The powers of offspring of my line, be they vampire, demon or other, have a distinctive flavor that practically sings out to me. My mood immediately brightened, since it seemed I was going to get my wish. Cloaking my presence, I moved to investigate the source of this spell.

On a hill near the Thronnos Rokke Clan's lupanar, I discovered a demon of my line...in company of one of the most bothersome of Lucifer's minions it has ever been my displeasure to make acquaintance of...Astoroth. Smiling, I remembered that my former lover's new bride had dubbed the pesky thing Astro Turf. Too bad Luce lacked a sense of humor to appreciate the joke on his lieutenant.

Perhaps this bore watching. I still thought Lucifer should have banished Astoroth to the pits millennia ago. He was nothing but trouble.

Before long, things got even more interesting. My granddaughter put in her appearance at the wedding, late as usual. Being of my line, she was partially immune to the dream-casting. Of course young Crystal took it upon herself to interfere...even though she plainly didn't understand the magicks involved. Impetuous pup.

Remaining cloaked, I observed the negotiations that ensued between her and the demon, Cimries. Once she entered the dreamscape to try to rescue her friends, I revealed my presence to Cimries. I was definitely in the mood for some sport...and he had meddled in affairs that I considered MY territory.

"If this dream-spell is going to be used, it might as well serve SOME purpose," I announced, uncloaking. "It seems a shame for one of my line to WASTE energy. However, it was rather impudent of you to presume that I would let you breed with MY granddaughter."

Needless to say, the demon was surprised to see me. To his credit, he recovered quickly. "My queen," Cimries bowed, dutifully obsequious. "I had no idea you were present...at our little negotiations."

I gave him one of my best condescending sneers. "How...unobservant of you my child...and careless. Did you honestly believe that such a spell could go unnoticed when cast in my immediate vicinity?"

"I had not realized it would bother you all that much, my liege," he replied. Then the demon grew a little too bold. (I hid my pleasure at this. He would be fine sport indeed...a long time in the breaking.) "Had your granddaughter not...involved herself would you have stepped forward? Would you have involved yourself?"

My voice grew cold as winter, "Do not presume to question me, whelp."

He groveled satisfactorily, however insincerely. "I would never be so bold, highness." Then he held out a book to me. Taking it, I saw it was a collection of fairy tales and myths. I saw in his mind that he planned to use this book as a pattern of sorts to salvage his dreamcasting.

I still was not willing to grant him a reprieve yet. "Your bargain with Astoroth placed you in a position of endangering beings I have a purpose for...particularly the White Tiger."

"Have you any thoughts my Queen? I should so enjoy hearing any suggestions you might have...I am sadly lacking in information regarding this...group." He was practically fawning. "Perhaps you would be willing to offer some insight...in exchange for...something of course."

I smiled to myself. I did indeed have some thoughts on how to work this little "misfortune" to my amusement if not my advantage. I am not called the Queen of Nightmares without good reason. But I needed to let this demon whelp know that I had the advantage here.

"You also broke one of Lucifer's very few laws...by endangering innocents...two unborns," I informed him gravely. With a wave of my hand I summoned a dream-throne and took a seat. I left Cimries standing. "Now what could you possibly offer ME, youngling?"

Cimries didn't appear to be very concerned about his predicament. "No one shall be brought to harm by this, highness," he shrugged. "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 at that, highness. I have only myself and my services 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."

Poor boy...he didn't seem to grasp the situation clearly. Steepling my fingers together, I smiled serenely and enlightened him. "And for, oh say...Asher...to walk out into the sunlight because he does not remember 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?"

He shook his 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."

"Do not play the innocent with me, Cimries," I commanded. "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 on vampire flesh is the same 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."

"Yes, my queen, if they were wakened without their memories," he conceded. "But I have given your granddaughter the opportunity 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 straightforward dream." He was quite comely when he pouted like that.

"True," I motioned to him. "Come, sit here at my feet youngling. Tell me what exactly did Astoroth offer you in exchange for this...prank?" He actually gritted his teeth before obeying my summons. Yes, he should prove quite entertaining to break...but business before pleasure.

"Information, my queen," Cimries answered my question. "A substance highly prized to one such as I."

Stroking his hair like a lap dog, I prompted him to continue, "Information about what...?" His hair was so wondrously soft.

He was delightfully petulant at my treatment of him. The tension singing through his shoulders told me the tale of his struggle to be properly submissive. I half expected him to growl at me. "About a woman, my queen," he replied. "About a treacherous female who owes me a great deal...and I shall collect...however many lifetimes it takes."

"And does this female have a name?" I chuckled. Males really were quite amusing creatures.

Cimries' tone was clipped as if he were having great difficulty restraining his temper. "She has had many names, my queen...countless names...but I wish to know her new one."

"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." Then in a commanding tone, I demanded, "Tell me the most common of her names...now."

"I do not have a heart, highness...and she has had no common names. She has been Marie, she has been Constance, she has been Verita and Sabine, she's been Beatrice, Helen, Lesandra, Kali, Morgan, Felicia, Delialah...she has been all and none...but I shall find her," he declared, moving away from me and standing again. His frustration was plainly evident. "This leads us nowhere highness...you wish something yes...what? You wish to twist me like so many other males around your pinkie...that will not happen. I serve yes...but I do not serve you. You wish something of me...take it up with my overlord...or deal with me now...but I will not play these games with you."

In a blinding blur I was standing, his face in my iron grasp, my visage cold and merciless. "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 acquire 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 definitely will grant you a chance at a child...merely NOT with my granddaughter."

Cimries' eyes narrowed and he smiled coolly, "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 sacrificed in YOUR name...do not think to own me now...when you so willingly cast me aside then." I allowed him to wrench free of my grasp. "However, as you have so kindly offered me what I wish...I would of course be most willing to see your granddaughter's friends restored. It makes little difference to me."

"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," I smiled evilly. Crystal's continued insistence on defying my wishes was incentive enough to cause her some minor discomfort. "I would 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?"

Cimries took on a thoughtful countenance, calculating my offer, "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."

"I see you do not know my granddaughter very well," I laughed. "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."

He put his hands on his hips in a gesture of irritation. It was positively adorable...business FIRST, Lillith...plenty of time to play later. "Obviously you overestimate my powers, highness," he grumbled. "I know not what right time and place you speak of...I merely intended to let the fairy tales flow as the will...each finding its own participants...I have no knowledge of memories or their restoration. I work in dreams...not the River Nix and its tributaries."

I gave him my best frowning pout. "Fine then...," I grumped. "You may make your presence known to Crystal...and provide transportation from dreamscape to dreamscape when she requires it...but the rest stands as dictated."

"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 negotiation...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?" He got a wicked grin as a plan began to form in his head, "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."

That elicited a delighted peal of laughter from me. Cimries was going to make a wonderful toy. "Oh she will be mortified by such an appearance! You ARE truly wicked...perhaps I shall allow you to begin collecting part of our agreement tonight, oui?" I leered at him sultrily.

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

"Very well then," I waved my assent to wait. "Once this fiasco is cleared up...."

Cimries seemed a bit nervous. "I hesitate to mention this my queen," he began. "But the question of the Aviartra has yet to be...handled...I cannot truly give her back into your granddaughter's keeping so easily...she is an enemy...one I cannot free so readily."

"I understand that, child...I believe that it would be best not to include her in the fairy tales at all," I smiled evilly. "Don't you think it more fitting to let her believe that her existence as an Aviartra 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."

"I am pleased to find that what I've heard of you is truth, highness," Cimries beamed smugly at me. "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 nemesis 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?"

Smiling, I waggled a finger at him, "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 your dreams. The night grows short."

Cimries nodded in acceptance of his dismissal, "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." Bowing, he vanished, entering into the dreamscape.

Oui...this handsome demon with a grudge against some woman from his past will make an excellent tool for tormenting Belle Morte with...whether or not she was really the one he sought vengeance against was neither her nor there...the little bitch had been quite the pest during recent centuries.

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