larisa dw1

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Produced by calibre 0.6.44

~ Day Walker ~

by Larisa

Top 25: Dec. 02, 2002

Disclaimer: Yeah yeah yeah, I know and so do al of you.

Sex: Of course there is

Violence: Yep but not to bad.

Age thingie: Go away if ya ain't old enough!

Cajun Dialect: Beb-honey, Peeshwank-runt, Capon-coward, Couyon-stupid, Bebette-little monster, Rodee`-someone who

never stays home, Mais-wel, Dit mon la verite, you have got to be kidding.

Thanks to Lesia, Ri, Bardeyes and Webwarrior.

Day Walker

By Larisa

Hecate3366@frontiernet.net

The pitch of night brought with it the whine of an engine and the sound of rubber peeling against the slick wet asphalt of the darkened street. Headlights flicked on to folow

the fleeing person down the street, the engine roared and sped off quickly catching the dark clothed runner. The red lining of the long black leather coat looked as blood as it

flew out from behind, the silver braces on the motorcycle boots flashed with each step until they lifted from the ground to hit the chain link fence at the end of the aley. As the

figure climbed, shots rang out into the silent night and made the leather jump and finaly the person fel backwards onto the hard unforgiving asphalt. Before the splashing water

could return to its home in the puddle, the car was gone leaving the night to return to its stilness as wel as the slow beating of a heart.

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The bar was filed to brimming with patrons; the music pounded and moved the clothing on people too close to the tal speakers. Men of al types circled the long catwalk type

stage hooting and holering at the smal woman dancing her way to the end. Her short hair brushing the nape of her neck when her head tilted back, the green of her eyes

flashed beneath the dark lashes. She spun around the pole to the floor where she crawled on al fours to the rhythm of the bass, sitting up, she leaned back and thrust her hips

and ran her hands across her bare breasts and then down to her satin covered apex. The men threw bils at her and chanted the name 'Memphis.' The smal blond roled

backwards and came to her feet, she wrapped a leg around the pole and thrust her hips and rubbed against the cold metal, throwing a hand in the air, she let out a loud yel and

sunk to the floor as the lights went out. Scurrying to the back of the stage, she took the offered bottle of water from the stagehand and offered a quick nod before going to the

dressing room she shared with the other strippers. Sinking down into a chair, she sighed and finished off the bottle of water.

"Damn girlfriend you cleaned house tonight." Another stripper said as she dropped the stack of bils in front of Memphis. She tossed her long curly blonde hair over her

shoulder and winked at her friend. "When you gonna retire so I can make some money?" She chuckled, wrapped her arms around Memphis' neck, and kissed her temple.

Looking at their reflection in the mirror, her hazel eyes caught tired green causing her to realy take a good look at her friend. "You need to take a break and recharge, you look

exhausted.

"Ohh I wish I could CJ, I'm exhausted and al I want is to be able to sleep for a ful eight hours." She yawned and felt her jaw crack.

"Go home and get some sleep, cal into your other job and tel them you're sick. With this amount of money you made tonight you can afford to take a day off." CJ ruffled the

thick stack of numerous denominations. "Be nice to yourself for once, you deserve it." Memphis smiled at her and gripped one of her hands.

"Thanks CJ, I might just do that. She leaned back into her friend and sighed. Where's your evil half at, I didn't see her tonight?"

"Ohh she's out front knocking heads together."

"Damn Kiwi's stealing walets from drunks ain't she, one of these days Brumby's gonna get her hands cut off."

CJ chuckled and nodded her head. "As long as they leave her tongue alone I don't care." She moved from her friend and puled her coat on. "I'l cal our cab service and have a

car waiting at the side door for ya, go home and sleep in, you need it."

"Thanks CJ, tel Brumby to behave herself and I'l see you guys tomorrow night."

Dressing in her normal clothes, Memphis puled her long leather trench coat on, grabbed her backpack and headed to the side door of the bar. Pushing the door open a bit,

she looked out side for the cab and sighed when the aley was empty. Puling her coat tighter around her, she continued to watch for the headlights of the cab. Seconds went by

before she saw the flash of headlights and then it was coming towards her. She stepped into the aley and waited for it to draw closer, out of the corner of her eye; she saw a

dark body lying on the wet pavement. Backing up to the wal, she watched and saw that it was not moving.

"Hey Memphis you getting in or what?" The cab driver asked from the passenger side window.

"Hey Bernie, hold on a minute would you." She held up her hand, placed her backpack on the hood of the cab and slowly approached the body. Using the toe of her boot,

she nudged the person's side and heard a low moan. "Would you give me a hand Bernie, we need to move this drunk out of the way." She dropped down, laid a hand on the

person's chest, and jumped when her hand was caught in a tight grip. A deep coarse voice whispered to her.

"Leave me."

Memphis puled her hand away and saw the dark thick fluid covering her palm; she sucked in a breath and looked to Bernie with worried eyes.

"Help me Bernie, he's hurt bad!" She struggled to push the large person up and then found it easier when the bulky cab driver gave her a hand. They finaly got the injured

person in the back of the cab, Memphis sat with the person leaning against her. "We have to get to a hospital quick!" She yelped when her hand was put into a crushing

position against the person's chest.

"No hospital…please…no hospital."

She whimpered from the pain in her hand and struggled to release it. "Ohh Gods…you're bleeding what am I supposed to do?"

"Let me go…I need to…get home."

Bernie flipped on the interior light and yelped from what he saw in his back seat. "Memphis let her go for Gods sake!" He scurried out of the front seat and puled open the

back door. "Let her go to where ever the Hel she hides!"

Memphis puled the injured woman closer to her body and snarled. "Take me home Bernie, I'l take care of her there."

The cab driver smacked his forehead, made the sign of the cross over his chest and started praying out loud. "You have no idea what you're getting your self into Memphis

…no IDEA!" He got back into his cab and backed out of the aley.

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Memphis struggled under the weight of the tal woman; she pushed open the door to her house and fel against the wal with a loud thump. Dropping her backpack on the floor,

she half dragged, stumbled and fel into her queen sized bed with the woman faling on top of her. "Little bastard could have helped me." She squirmed out from under the

heavy body and took deep breathes. "Now what do I do?" She flipped a light on and gasped with her first good view of what she had brought home. Long raven black hair

tangled around a classicaly beautiful face, high cheekbones slopping down to a strong jaw with a slight cleft chin. Dark lashes and brows to add to the mystery of the woman

dressed in black leather. Kneeling on the floor, Memphis unbuckled the motorcycle boots, puled them off, and set them to the side. Next came the long leather coat, when she

had it removed, she held it up to the light and saw the holes showing light through the back.

"Ohh my Gods! If this has holes in it…then what…"

"I look pretty much the same." A deep voice said from behind her.

"Gods I hope not," She turned and felt her breath seize in her lungs; ice blue eyes watched her as she dropped the ruined coat to the floor.

"Please let me go…I have to get home." She struggled to her feet and fel against Memphis with a low groan.

"I can't do that and I can't take you to a hospital." She eased the tal woman back onto her bed and took in the blood soaked leather vest. With shaky fingers, she unbuckled

the straps on the vest and eased it off strong shoulders. What she saw made her feel sick to her stomach, her face paled and the room started to spin. Dark angry wounds

covered the woman's upper body; blood seeped from the holes and ran down towards her waistband. "I can't fix this…," She grabbed for her phone and felt a hand grab her

wrist.

"Don't…just let me rest a bit and I'l be out of here."

Green eyes turned fiery, the stubbornness came screaming forth and jumped at the tal woman. "But you have bulet holes and you're bleeding al over the place!" Memphis

planted her hands on her hips and leaned forward, her voice dropping a few octaves to match the growling voice of the other woman. "You're bleeding al over my bed, I'm

covered in blood and you don't look any worse for wear. Explain that to me!"

"You should have listened to the cabby," She stood up to her ful six foot height and looked down with a menacing glare. "You don't want to know what I am…now I'm leaving

before one of us looses our temper." She leaned over, picked up her coat and boots and started towards the bedroom door. She stopped when Memphis cussed and grabbed

her upper arm.

"Damn it to Hel and back!" She puled the tal woman towards her bathroom, turned on the shower and then back to the growling woman. Ignoring her, she unfastened her

leather pants and pushed them down her hips. "Now get in the shower and wash the blood off, I'm getting my first aide kit." Memphis cussed the entire time she was searching

for the kit, when she found it; she went back to the bathroom and watched the form behind the shower curtain. Getting a large towel, she sat on the toilet and waited. "I must

be completely insane; I bring a strange person to my home that is ful of bulet holes, bleeding al over the place and now I'm about to try and fix the injuries!"

"That's because you wouldn't let me go home."

She looked up and gasped at the ice blue eyes that looked down at her. "I need what you can't give me; I'm going home before something bad happens."

"What do you need, maybe I can help." She jerked back against the toilets tank when the woman growled and bared her teeth. "Ohh my Gods are those what I think they are?

" Sharp canines appeared from beneath pink lips and flashed in the bright light. "Please tel me those are those plastic caps you get at the Mardi gras shop."

"How about if I bite you and you tel me if they're real or not." She stumbled from the bathroom and began to pul her clothes back on; she had just puled her coat on when

Memphis came running into the room.

"Wait let me go with you!" She grabbed the woman's upper arm and steadied her weaving body. "You're weak and you need help, please."

"Has anyone ever told you how annoying you are?"

"Al the time and its never stopped me so don't try now." She puled her coat back on, turned off the light and helped the tal woman from her house. "Where are we going and

what's your name?"

"The Elysian Fields area and its Luka, we have to hurry."

"Right, you can't be out when it gets light out." She took her arm and hurried them the four blocks to the historic area of New Orleans.

"No, I need something that I won't take from you…unless you keep annoying me."

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They walked up the stone walkway to a huge creepy looking house; Memphis shivered and leaned closer to Luka. "You live here; wel of course you do and where better for a

vampire but a spooky house."

"You are realy pushing it." Luka growled and lurched up the steps to her front door. Puling her keys from her pocket, she unlocked the door and flipped on the lights.

"SPROUT GET OUT HERE!" She yeled and then leaned against the wal. Memphis jumped at her below and then heard a yel come from the back of the house.

"FUCK YOU FANG FACE!"

"I'm gonna rip her head off and drain her rotten little body! Would you help me into my bedroom; it's at the top of the stairs."

Memphis was exhausted once they got up stairs; she looked around the large room and wondered where Luka's casket was, al she saw was a huge bed.

"My bed would be a good place right about now."

"I was looking for…"

"You watch too many movies, I do not sleep in a casket…," She colapsed on her bed and groaned. "I hate smal dark places, gives me claustrophobia. Where's that rotten

little shit?" She yeled again and then heard heavy footsteps coming their way, Memphis cringed with each footstep, she was expecting a huge vampire to jump through the

doorway and drain her of blood.

"You just had to interrupt me when I was soooo close to kicking the Green Goblins ass! Sweet Gods what did you get into this time?" Sprout tilted her head sideways, looked

at Memphis and clapped her hands. "You finaly brought me a woman!" She ran across the floor and wrapped herself around Memphis.

Memphis struggled against Sprout and looked to Luka. "Help me here…please!" She fel backwards on the bed with Sprout stil attached.

"She's not yours Sprout so let her go, she just helped me home."

Memphis grabbed on to Luka's coat to keep Sprout from dragging her away. "What in the Hel is she?" She looked down at the extremely smal woman with wild dark blonde

hair, pointed ears and luminous green eyes.

"I'm a demon, wanna fuck?" She flashed her fangs and humped Memphis' leg. "I'm realy good, I don't bite hard and it's been so long!"

Luka smacked her on top of her head. "But I do, so leave her alone and get me my stuff."

"Damn mean old fang face, pul your teeth out when you're asleep!" She mumbled al the way back down stairs.

"Is she realy a demon?" Memphis asked as she sat up and helped Luka take her coat and vest off.

"No, she's just a little freak. You know how family is, they stick you with baby sitting and you're stuck for years."

"I am not a baby!" Sprout growled and handed Luka a large glass of something red. Luka narrowed her eyes at her, clicked her teeth together and began singing.

"Baby back, gimme my baby back baby back…ribs!"

Memphis looked at the red drink and wrinkled her nose. "Is that blood in there?" Sprout snorted and shook her head.

"Nope, that's strawberry muscle builder with extra vitamins and minerals. This," She handed Luka a plastic bag with a straw sticking out of it. "Is AB positive cow blood, just

like a juice box." She gave Memphis a smirk and crawled up on the tal bed beside her. "Come on gorgeous, gimme a little kiss." She licked her fangs and puckered her lips.

"I can't watch this." She covered her face with her hands when Luka placed the straw between her lips. "I realy need a vacation away from the French Quarter, perverts, and

every thing that creeps in the shadows. What's worse, I'm sitting here with a dwarf licking my neck and a vampire sucking blood through a straw." She fel back on the bed and

slapped the hand off her breast. "It's just an Anne Rice novel I'm dreaming about, I'l wake up and I'l be in my own bed."

"Afraid not little stripper, it's al real." Luka whispered close to her ear. "And you can't tel anyone about us; it would be an instant death sentence."

Memphis looked over at her with frightened eyes. "Are you going to kil me?"

"No, but there are others out there that wil if they get a hold of you, it's not safe to be out on the streets past dark."

Sprout tapped her on her chest and nodded her head. "We're the good guys in this mess; we try to take out the baddies. If they get you, they make you one of them."

"You mean one of you."

Luka shook her head at her. "We are not like them, they were made, and we were born this way." She yawned and closed her eyes. "Sprout would you take Memphis to one

of the guest rooms and leave your tiny little hands to yourself." Her breathing evened out in deep healing sleep, Memphis got up off the bed and puled the blankets over her

half naked body before folowing Sprout from the room. Standing next to the smal woman, she couldn't help but grin. She was five foot five but Sprout was about three foot

tal and reminded her of a kid. Her fast gait was hard to keep up with as she took her down the hal to another room.

"Here it is, breakfast is at when ever I decide to cook, and fang face wil wake you up in the morning." She leaned in close to Memphis. "Or I can stay with you and wake you

up a special way." She wiggled her thick brows and licked a fang.

Memphis placed a hand on Sprout's forehead and held her back. "How about if I lock you in the closet for the night?"

"Nahh, that's OK, I'm afraid of the dark." She ran down the halway to her own room, stopped in the doorway and blew Memphis a kiss. "Night Memphis Bele, love that

white thong you wear."

Green eyes shot wide, she knew she would remember if Sprout had been in the bar to see her dance. "Just great a three foot tal pervert." She turned the light on and looked

around the guest room, she was surprised by how light and airy it was. One whole wal was large windows with white sheer curtains. Against the other wal was a queen-sized

bed covered in a pale peach comforter and white pilow shams. Striping out of her blood stained clothes; she walked into the joining bathroom and found everything she

needed including a fluffy robe. After a hot relaxing shower, she went to the bed and puled back the cover's, the scent of lavender came to her nose when she slipped between

the sheets and rested her head on the thick pilow. With in minutes, she was sound asleep and dreaming of Luka.

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Memphis roled over and yelped at the face in front of her, large pale blue eyes driled into her and then a dark paw reached up and rubbed a cream-colored face. She

watched the Himalayan cat wash its face and then give her a wide yawn. A low voice caled a strange name and then the cat was off the bed and running out the door.

Swinging her legs over the edge of the bed, she stretched, yawned and grabbed the robe she had used the night before. Tying the sash, she left the room and went down the

stairs to the lower floor. Sniffing the air, she smeled bacon frying and voices in the background. Folowing her nose, she stepped into the bright kitchen and was surprised to

see Luka eating breakfast.

"Have a seat and Sprout wil fix you a plate." She poured orange juice in a glass and handed it to Memphis. "You drink coffee?" She asked as she grabbed the pot from the

coffee maker and refiled her cup.

"Yeah I do," She sat down and watched Luka eat a piece of bacon. "You eat regular food and drink?"

"Of course we do other wise we'd look like Kate Moss. Don't tel me, you think that al we do is drink blood from victims."

"Wel, you are a vampire and that's what I've been led to believe."

Sprout busted out laughing, she placed a plate filed with food in front of Memphis and crawled back onto her little stool in front of the stove. "Go ahead and show her fang, I

love when you do it." She watched her cousin get up from the table and go towards the kitchen door, throwing it open; she stepped outside into the bright sunlight.

"You're in the sun…I thought…shit." Memphis dropped her head into her hands and mumbled.

"Hey Jaywalker, she didn't see your tan lines last night did she?"

"Nope, but then with al the blood it was hard to see anything." She sat back down and grinned at Memphis. "We're what the others cal Day Walkers; we can go out in the sun

and do everything that you can. And unlike the others, we are very much alive. Even have pulses and heartbeats."

"But how, I mean you drank blood last night and you survived al those bulet holes?"

"I only need the blood when I've lost too much of my own, I need the hemoglobin to help my system repair its self." She puled up her shirt and showed the angry red spots

that were open wounds the night before; she stood up and showed the same thing on her back. "No vital organs were damaged last night because the bulets didn't go through

me; thank the Gods that my vest took the brunt of the attack."

"This is just weird and hard to wrap my brain around."

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Rage poured off the smal stripper's body in waves, she clenched the phone in her hand and felt the bite of plastic in her palm. She dropped the phone onto the coffee table

and dropped her head into her hands. She had caled her boss at her other job to tel him that she was sick with a flu bug and wouldn't be able to make it in. He told her not to

worry about it that she wouldn't need to come in ever again and then slammed the phone in her ear. Tears filed her eyes; she dropped her head down into her hands and felt

the tears slipping over her lids to drip onto her thighs.

"What's the matter Memphis?" Sprout dropped down onto the couch beside her and placed a hand on her back. "Fang didn't hurt you did she?"

"No…I just got fired from my other job." She sat up, wiped her eyes and gave Sprout a twitch of her lips. "Fucking bastard fired me for caling in sick."

"Want me to go over and bite him in his leg?" She ran her tongue across her fangs and rubbed her tiny hands together. "If I jump I can get him in his ass."

Memphis chuckled and then laughed deeply; it had been a while since she had felt something truly humorous to laugh about. She gripped Sprout's hand in hers and shook her

head. "As much as he deserves it you might get a disease. Where's Luka, I haven't seen her since breakfast?"

"Ohh she's out scouting around for suck faces."

"Suck faces? What in the world is a suck face?"

"The others, she goes out during the daytime to find their lairs. I've got some stuff to do in town today, wanna come with?" She ran a hand through her messy hair and grinned.

"It's a real bitch being short, I have to jump up and down or crawl on the shelves to get things at the store."

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The dilapidated building was in the old part of the French Quarter, the dirty windows were missing some panes of glass, debris littered the edge of the wal and spray paint in

intricate designs covered the old brick wals. What caught Luka's attention were the Gypsy markings in purple paint on the curb in front of the building. It marked the building

as evil and for the people to stay away. Walking along the side of the building and folowing it around to the back, she stopped to look through one of the broken out windows.

It looked like any other abandoned building except for the glyphs near a set of stairs that led into the basement. Pushing the wooden frame inward, she jumped through the

window and landed with out a sound on the concrete floor. Puling a long bladed silver knife from her boot, she slowly walked towards the stairs and listened for any sounds.

With slow steps, she made her way down the metal stairs and stopped a few steps before the floor to let her eyes completely adjust to the dimness. Thanking her heritage, she

was able to pick up sensitive scents and sounds that humans couldn't.

Puling a flare from inside her pocket, she struck it against the wal and held it out as it sparked to life. Moving closer to the large wooden crates against one wal, she used her

foot to kick the lid off the first one. Peering inside she found nothing. Puling out a smal plastic bottle from her pocket, she sprinkled silver nitrate inside the crate and put the lid

back on. She continued her investigation and stopped to take in the last crate. It was different from the others by way of size, it was twice as large, had handles on the sides

and close to the freight elevator. Placing the bottle back in her pocket, she pushed the lid back and tossed the flare inside the crate. Screams pierced the air and two burning

vampires crawled from the crate, Luka raised her knife and ran the nearest one through the heart, the second one tackled her and tried to sink his fangs into her shoulder. They

roled on the ground amongst the flames until ashes erupted and dropped around her dousing the flames. Roling on the floor, she snuffed out the remaining flames and crawled

to her knees. Shaking her head, she tried to get the ashes from her hair and sneezed from the settling dust and smoke.

"Hate when they get al over me." Getting back to her feet, she looked around the basement for other surprises and saw nothing but smal flickers of dying flames. "Two down

a couple hundred or thousand to go." Sliding her knife back into her boot, she headed for the stairs and fresh air.

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"I hate this, I realy hate this!" Both Memphis and Sprout were trying to reach a jug of kitty litter from the top shelf in the pet aisle. Memphis stopped and looked to the

struggling woman and started laughing. "We realy are pathetic aren't we?"

"I prefer verticaly chalenged," She felt Memphis' biceps and pointed to the shelf. "Lift me up there and I'l grab it." Memphis lifted the smaler woman up and froze when she

heard laughing coming from behind her.

"Do you always shop like this?"

"Nope," She looked over her shoulder at CJ and Brumby. "Just too damn short and this was what we came up with." She placed Sprout back on her feet and took the jug

from her. "Does Brumby have her hands glued together so she doesn't steal anything?"

"Haa, love ya too ya tiny Sheila, duct tape this time." Brumby smiled and then snorted when Sprout latched onto Memphis' leg. "Who's' the kid?"

"I'm not a kid ya kangaroo fucker." Memphis placed a restraining hand on Sprout and roled her eyes at CJ.

"What's up guys, I thought you two had to work this morning?"

CJ waved her hand at her and pointed to Sprout. "First who's your friend there and why aren't you at work?"

"This is Sprout and I got fired for caling in which is your fault for suggesting it." She poked CJ in her chest. "Now I have to find another job to keep me from loosing my

apartment."

"Find a cheaper place, that place sucks anyway, al the damn noise at al hours of the night and day."

"I like living on Bourbon Street, it's…al right so it sucks at times." Sprout tugged on her leg and gave her a funny look.

"You live on that rotten street, too many freaks for me." She looked at both of the other women. "I know who you two are, love that tiny little blue G-string and you kangaroo

are the bar pick pocket."

Brumby narrowed her eyes, bared her teeth and growled; she flinched when Sprout did the same thing and made sure they saw her fangs.

CJ gripped her chest and looked at her friends amused expression. "Sweet mother of God, she has fangs! Where did you meet her?"

"She's…a relative visiting from…"

"Ward one, wanna come over and you two can dance for me?" She wiggled her brows at them. "I tip real good."

Memphis looked down into the odd eyes and raised an eyebrow. "How do you know what color G-stings we wear, I've never seen you in the bar?"

"Ohh that's easy, ya know Luka's long trench coat? I hide underneath it and get in free. Hard part is sneaking her drink, looks kinda odd for her to be putting a beer bottle

down there." She grinned when CJ and Brumby coughed and looked at different parts of the area. "Ohh kinky girlies!" She flicked her tongue at them and felt her ear yanked

on.

"You mean Luka comes to see our shows?" Her face flushed with the information, she had no idea that the tal woman had ever been in the place. She knew that there was no

way in Hel that she would have missed her.

"Al the time…wel when I can bribe her into taking me there."

CJ and Brumby snickered, their friend was keeping a secret and they would get it out of her one way or another. Giving each other a glance and a nod, they stepped closer to

the two women and ushered them towards a checkout. "Ohh you are going to spil your guts about this Luka and where you were after you left last night." CJ wrapped her arm

around Memphis' neck and puled her head against her shoulder. "I caled you last night and this morning and got your answering machine. Where were you?"

"I stayed with friend's last night and me and Sprout have been shopping al morning." She snickered when Brumby lifted Sprout up onto her shoulders and walked out the front

door. "I hope those two wil be alright together, Sprout might bite her."

"More like Brumby biting her and stealing her valuables."

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Luka scouted three more buildings and came up empty; she would have to hit the clubs later that night if she wanted to take out any more vampires that night. It had been a

long time since she had only gotten two vamps in one day, her instincts told her that something was seriously wrong and that she would have to get in contact with her people

and see if anything had been heard. Thinking of the clubs and bars that she frequented, Memphis came to mind, she was a complication that Luka didn't know how to handle.

She sighed, ran her fingers through her long dark hair, and leaned her head back on her shoulders to release the tight muscles. "What am I going to do about you Mon Cher`?"

Pushing off the wal of a smal store, she headed back towards home to get something to eat and a couple hours of sleep. She wondered if the little stripper would stil be

there or if she had gone home. When she rounded the building, she caught out of the corner of her eye a dark figure jump out of sight. Taking off across the street, she

sprinted down the aley way and stopped at the chain link fence that blocked the shipping area. She knew that it had to be one of the suck faces familiars watching her, that

meant that they would know in no time that she had taken out two of them. They would be out in force that night to try and take her out of the picture. "Always something to

screw up my night life." Checking that her weapon of choice was available if she needed it quick, she went back the way she had come and headed home.

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Memphis knew that she should have gone home right after seeing CJ and Brumby and then helping Sprout get the bags of grocery's in the house but she wanted to see Luka.

She found the woman facinating and was intriqued by what she did. She had pumped her tiny cousin for information and came up with roling eyes and a shaking head. Sprout

told her she couldn't divulge information unless Luka gave her permission. Memphis now sat in a large cozy den/library reading an ancient book about the vampires of

Romania. She found it interesting that the gypsys often helped the vampires hide and thought that they were just cursed humans who would forever suffer eternal life without

peace. What she couldn't find was any reference to day walkers, she wondered if it was just a family curse or some kind of DNA screw-up that caused Luka and Sprout to

be what they were. Yawning, she stretched out on the couch and continued to read until her eyes drifted close and she sleep peacefuly.

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Luka came in the back door and found Sprout fixing supper, she looked over her shoulder and snorted at the fancy way she was slicing the vegtables.

"Who are you trying to impress with your prowless of sharp and pointy objects?"

"Ohh no one realy, I just got bored and decided to make our food look fancy like in the resturants in town."

"Uhh huh try again little Sprout, she's not your type."

"Who's not my type?" Her green eyes flashed, she crawled on the table to be at eye level with her tal cousin. "Is the head honcho fang face staking claim on a certain blond

stripper?"

Luka roled her eyes and shook her head. "Nooo, she's not my type either, she's…"

"Most defiantly your type Fang, you and I both know it." She leaned forward and rested her forehead against Luka's. "Whatcha gonna do Mon Cher`, gonna let her defang

you?"

"Aahh for the love of O'Del Sprout!" She moved away and covered her face to hide her blush.

"So it's true what mama says, you're stil cherry!" She danced around the table and then jumped off to run from Luka. Squeals of laughter and the pounding of feet woke

Memphis from her sleep; she swung her feet over the couch and stumbled with blurry eyes to the library door. Opening it, she jumped back when Sprout ran past with Luka

hot on her heels. A wide grin came to her face when Sprout slid across the floor on her bely and found safety under a couch. Luka dropped down, reached under the couch

trying to find her. Sprout scurried out the other side, ran back towards Memphis and hid behind her.

"LUKA'S CHERRY!"

Ice blue eyes zeroed in on the space between the strippers legs, a deep growl came from her as she crawled across the floor towards her hiding cousin. "I have a tiny little box

in the basement with your name on it Marica!" Sprout winced at the use of her given name; she knew that she was in big trouble.

Memphis stiffened when Luka crawled between her legs and grabbed Sprout by her feet. "Excuse me!" She felt herself faling forward, grabbed at the doorframe and ended up

landing across Luka's back. She braced her hands on the leather-covered rear and moaned at the flexing muscles beneath her hands. Luka fel onto her stomach and lost her

grip on the struggling Sprout.

"No wonder you're stil cherry! Rol over Luka; ya ain't gonna get noting if you perform a 69 like that!" She jumped over the two women and screamed al the way through the

house.

"I'm going to kil her, rotten fang faced little freak." She looked over her shoulder at Memphis who was trying to get untangled from her long legs. The sight of her tight ass

brought a low rumbling moan from the tal day walker. Dropping her head to the floor, she waited until Memphis was clear before she got to her feet. "Sorry Memphis, we get

carried away at times and…"

Memphis held up a hand and shook her head. "From what I heard, it's self explanatory." She walked towards the kitchen and chuckled. "Stil cherry huh?" She said under her

breath and jumped when Luka growled in her ear.

"I'l never say whether I am or not, adds to my mystery." She slapped Memphis on her ass and went up the stairs to her bedroom.

"Ohh boy…bite me any day." Memphis rubbed her ear and swayed down the halway to the kitchen.

@@@@@@@@@

With supper finished and the dishes washed and put away, Memphis puled her coat on, kneeled down and puled Sprout into a hug. "Thanks for supper Sprout, next time you

guys are at the bar let me know and I'l have them put a chair on the stage for you." She placed a kiss on her forehead and messed up her hair before standing.

A bright grin came to the tiny women's face. "Do I get lap dances?"

"Ohh I'm sure the girls wil give you anything you want." She grinned and then went to find Luka.

@@@@@@@@@

With ancient texts gathered around her on the antique walnut desk, floor and every spare space. Luka rubbed her eyes and closed the book in front of her; she had gone

through numerous books and old scrols but could not find an inkling as to why the vampires had begun to disappear. She knew that she was the only hunter and that they

couldn't have al move to greener pastures so to speak, so that meant something entirely dark and dangerous. At the sound of someone clearing their throat, she looked up with

weary eyes and gave Memphis a smal smile.

"I wanted to thank you for your hospitality and let you know that I was heading home." She stepped around the desk and gave the tal woman a tight hug. "Maybe I'l see you

and Sprout in the bar sometime."

"So she narked on us huh?"

"Yep, I now know to look for a tal dark and sneaky day walker hiding a little person under her trench coat."

She winked at Memphis and spoke in a soft tone. "It's easier to sneak her in then to try and convince the guy at the door that she's 24 years old."

Memphis chuckled, she knew how hard it was for her self to get in with out being carded, and she could only imagine how it was for Sprout. "Doesn't she have an ID or

driver's license?"

"Nope, neither one of us does for that fact, I just look my age so I've never had a problem."

"Uhhmm," Memphis scratched her jaw and tilted her head sideways. "Aren't you two like hundreds of years old or am I stealing from Holywood again?"

"Plagiarism is gonna get you in trouble, and our mama's would place curses on your head for making them hundreds of years old. I'm 29, not 229 or anything close to it…wel

I feel that old today." She stretched out her back and shoulders with cracks and pops. "Let me cal you a cab, I don't want you out walking on the streets."

"That's OK I only live about fifteen minutes from here, I'l be OK." She jumped back when Luka growled and pierced her very soul with flashing pale eyes.

"I'l walk you home; I don't want any of the face suckers to get you." She puled her leather trench coat off the back of the chair and whipped it around and down over her

shoulders. Sliding the bottom drawer out on the desk, she puled out a long Katana and slipped it down between her shoulder blades.

"Is that necessary, I mean what happens if the police see that?"

She took Memphis' smal hand in hers and puled her from the library. "The police know better than to fuck with me."

"Why did you tear up the jailhouse before?" She jogged to keep up with the taler woman's gait. "Ohh wait, you puled a Buffy and burned down the jailhouse to get rid of the

demon police chief!"

"I realy can't believe you just tossed me in with Buffy the vampire layer." She shivered and yanked on Memphis. "She fucked a dead guy for O'Del's sake, that's just EEWW!"

She stopped and turned to look at the snorting stripper. "Wel it is, I'm not into necrophilia, when I decide I want to have a relationship it has to be a living breathing woman."

She puled the back door open and then puled Memphis out behind her.

"So you are gay, I was wondering about that. I should have known by you going to a strip bar but then again some women just want a horny ass guy, and not to look at half

naked women swinging her tits around a pole."

Luka couldn't believe the amount of sylables the stripper could get out with out a breath. "What about you, catch any of those horny ass guys?"

"Haa funny, what in the Hel would I do with one?"

"OK, wel that tels me something about you." Luka puled her closer to her body and folded her arm over hers as they walked down the dark creepy street. They were far

enough away from Bourbon Street that they hadn't seen a living soul for a quarter of a mile. "Why are you stripping?"

"That's how I pay for my colege tuition, I was waiting tables in the Gator Room to pay my rent and utilities but I got fired this morning."

"What's your major and when's graduation."

"Would you believe that I'm a math and English major, I'm in my senior year which is weird because I'm much older than every one else."

"How much older…," Luka pushed Memphis behind her, puled her sword and tilted her head to the side to listen for the tel tale noise of a suck face. The sound of one

feeding came to her ears and then the rustle of leaves when it came right towards them. "No matter what, stay behind me."

"But why, what's wrong…" She froze when she saw the blood soaked vampire come running at them, she had no idea what to do but stand there with her mouth hanging open.

In an instant, Luka raised the sword over her right shoulder, spun and lobbed the vampires head off. A cloud of dust flew up into the air and dropped down around them.

Memphis staggered forward and dropped a hand on Luka's shoulder. "Uuhhmm…was that…"

"Yep, that could have been your new boyfriend if I hadn't been with you."

Memphis felt her legs go weak; she fel into Luka and gripped the front of her coat. "He would have kiled me and turned me into one of them."

"I think he would have just kiled you, only older vamps turn others. You have to be drained to near death and then drink the blood of the vampire. It kils your soul and that's

something I never want to see happen to you." She wrapped an arm around the shivering stripper and moved them towards Bourbon Street and Memphis' apartment.

"Have you ever turned anyone…I mean…have you taken blood from…"

"A living human? No, I've never done that, doing that forms a bond with the victim, it takes their very essence." She became pensive for the rest of their walk and stopped right

outside of Memphis door.

"How did you…you've folowed me before haven't you?" Memphis stepped up onto a step so that she was at eye level with Luka. "You've been stalking me haven't you?"

She cast her eyes to the ground before she spoke. "I've folowed al the girls who don't take a cab or have a ride when they leave." She looked up into warm green eyes and

shrugged her shoulders. "It's the right thing to do."

"Would you come in for a few minutes?"

"I should be going; I have some places to go…"

"The only reason I'm asking is because I have to be at the bar in an hour and I don't have…"

Luka knew what she was going to say, she took her hand and walked to the apartment building door with her. "I'l walk you to work and then wait for you in the aleyway after

you're done."

"Thanks, I realy appreciate it especialy after my first encounter with a suck face." She opened the door and led Luka up the stairs to the last door in the halway. "I had no idea

they were out there, they could have gotten me anytime they wanted. I like to walk the French Quarter after work to relax."

"I'd suggest a ride home and a good boring book after work, it's safer." She looked around the smal apartment and could tel right away that Memphis lived here. Little touches

of what was not New Orleans were about the smal quarters. She wondered where she was originaly from; her accent was weird with a slight Cajun accent. "Memphis where

are you from, I know you're not a Cajun?"

She yeled from a room at the back of the smal apartment and came out dressed in baggy black cargo pants and an old UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS sweatshirt.

"Lexington Kentucky, I've been down here for the past ohh six years trying to work my way through colege. Nothing like being a 25-year-old colege student when most are

from nineteen to twenty-two years old, hopefuly, I'l graduate this year and be able to get a job teaching." She puled her coat back on, grabbed her keys and her backpack

and walked towards the front door. "I'm ready when you are."

@@@@@

Memphis came through the door to the dressing room with a goofy grin on her face; CJ gave her one look and roled her eyes at her.

"Please tel me that goofy look isn't because of a three foot woman."

"You mean Sprout? Ohh nonono, try six foot of leather clad woman with ice blue eyes, jet black hair and the sexiest voice I've ever heard." She dropped down into a chair

with a deep sigh and clutched her chest over her heart. "But I'm just fantasying that she would ever want anything to do with me, I already know that she doesn't want any kind

of sexual relationship with anyone."

"You sure can pick them can't you, when are you gonna let someone in your pants?" CJ asked as she puled her shirt over her head and removed her bra. "You wait too long

and al you'l end up with is a tube of KY and a prescription for estrogen to keep you company."

Memphis undressed and snorted at the thought. "That's a lovely way of putting it; I'm already an old maid why not go for the support hose and wrinkle cream?"

"The support hose might work if they don't clash with your thong."

@@@@@@@@@@

Luka ran down the path along the river, she wanted to get to the warehouse where the Rave party was and see if she could save some humans before they got their throats

ripped out and maybe catch a familiar and torture them for information. Launching herself up the embankment, she ran towards the side of the building and slowed when she

saw the line of people waiting to get in. Calming her senses, she scanned the crowd for the undead until everyone was inside, going over to the ladder that went to the roof, she

climbed up and then ran over to the hatch in the roof. With in seconds, she was dropping down into the warehouse and felt her feet throb from the music below her. Checking

the dark areas for lurkers, she made her way to the stairs that would take her to the catwalk that over looked the area below. "There you are, how nice that you have a hidey

hole to drag innocent people into to." She launched off the catwalk and dropped down behind a vampire, puling a silver stake from her belt; she ran him through and dropped

her head to avoid his dust. Shaking the dust from her coat, she pushed through the door with the glyphs on it and took in the colection of vampires.

"I just love parties, who wants to dance?" She held out her arms and laughed when she was rushed. Puling her sword, she dropped to one knee and pierced the first vampire.

Screams echoed and died as dust filtered through the air. She jumped to her feet and lashed out with a booted foot at the closest one, punched another before spinning and

taking a head off. She gasped when a sharp pain shot through her side, reversing her sword; she rammed it backwards into the vampire's chest. With her anger flaring at being

hurt, she cut and slashed her way through the vampire's until only one other body was left in the room with her. Puling a silver spike from her belt, she threw it and pinned the

person to the wal by his shoulder.

"Fucking BITCH!" He screamed and tried to pul the spike from his bleeding shoulder. She threw another one and pinned his leg to the wal.

"Damn I realy need to practice; I was aiming for your other shoulder." She walked slowly across the floor, pressed a spike against the man's shoulder and slowly pushed it into

his flesh. "So tel me slug, what's going on around here, I've been looking for playmates and they're very scarce?"

"Fuck you Luka!"

"Such language," She pushed the spike in further and grinned evily when he screamed. "My mama would beat my ass for talking like that. So you gonna tel me or do I make

ya gator bait?"

Growling from between clenched teeth, he said. "I ain't teling ya nothing ya gypsy whore!"

"Ohh that realy hurt slug." She puled a pair of channel pliers from her pocket, grabbed his manhood through his pants and squeezed. "I could have used tweezers! Gotta

remember them for next time." His scream made her ears ring, having way too much fun; she squeezed harder and jumped back when he pissed himself. "No prostate

problems for you huh, now tel me before I rip it off?"

He cried like a two year old and whimpered. "Master coming, Bulgaria, week from…today."

"The master is coming, we'l see about that!" She puled her fist back and shoved the spike through his heart. "One less pet for the suck faces." Ripping his body off the spikes,

she dragged him from the room and threw his body up through the roof hatch. "Time to feed the lizards; hope it doesn't kil any of them." She jumped up through the hatch and

dragged his body behind her.

@@@@@@@

Memphis stood back stage waiting for her music to start, this was her last show for the night and she couldn't wait to get home. She was tired and wanted to take a nice long

bath before going to bed. She had checked the newspaper for another job and wanted to get an early start in the morning before classes. Readjusting her green thong and her

half shirt, she stepped up onto the stage and waited for the lights to dim. The first three cords of Whitney Houston's I'm every woman played signaling Memphis. She took

her spot on the stage with her back to the crowd; her arms held up over her head, she swayed her hips to the slow tempo. When the rhythm picked up, she ran her hands

down her body, spun and started to strut towards the end of the stage. Closing her eyes and ignoring the yels, she ripped her shirt down the middle, tossed it to the floor and

moved her body sensuously.

@@@@@

Luka stepped from the side door of the bar and looked up on the stage, with the first glance of Memphis, her heart jerked in her chest. She had seen her dance many times but

now that she had met the smal stripper, her effect on her was totaly different. Her body was reacting strangely, a fire burned brightly between her thighs, sweat formed on her

upper lip and palms. She stepped closer to the back of the crowd and watched the rippling stomach muscles as Memphis moved to the music. A deep primal moan bounced

around in her chest and then a growl when a man grabbed Memphis around her thigh. Pushing her way to the stage, she clamped a hand around the back of the man's neck

and squeezed until he let go. Tossing him to the floor, she stepped on his chest and kept him on the floor. Her heart picked up when the second song of the strippers set

started. She looked up letting her eyes take in the defined abs, up to firm breasts right into emerald green eyes, a smirk came to her lips. The look Memphis then gave her

almost sent her to her knees. Keeping her balance by placing her hands on the edge of the stage, she was not prepared for the muscular thigh that went over her shoulder and

puled her against the strippers flexing stomach. Fingers tangled through her dark hair and puled her closer yet, she was finding it hard to breathe and felt her tongue lick the

salty flesh of Memphis. She felt the leg tighten on her back and Memphis lean back away from her, she watched as she did a walk over, slide to the floor and crawl towards

her. On the last note of Queen of the night , Memphis ran her finger between her moist lips and caressed a fang before she got to her feet and slowly left the stage with a

seductive swing to her hips.

Brumby shook her head and started colecting the money from the stage; she walked up to Luka, grinned at her and clapped her on her shoulder.

@@@@@@@@@

An over heated and panting Memphis went to the dressing room, CJ was leaning against the table with a smirk on her face. Her hazel twinkling with shock and amusement, she

had never seen Memphis give anyone that kind of attention. Usualy she kept her distance from the edge of the stage. The smal stripper held up a finger and pointed to CJ.

"Don't even start with me Catherine Jane." She grabbed a bottle of water and drained half of it in one shot.

"Ohh this is serious, you never use my ful name unless…" She looked to the doorway when her wife came in and waved to someone in the halway.

"Damn Memphis, I think those blokes were colecting pennies off the floor to give you." She handed her a thick wad of bils. "I brought your toy with me." Memphis turned

and saw Luka standing with her shoulder braced against the doorjamb. A shy smile came to her lips and then a blush when she saw the pale eyes looking right to her soul. She

stepped closer to Luka and ran a hand down her arm to her large hand.

"Luka these are my friends CJ and her wife Brumby, Guys this is Sprout's cousin Luka…"

Her voice deep and sultry, Luka gave her last name. "Rubidoux…Luka Adriana Rubidoux." She winked at Memphis and saw her breath catch in her throat. "I'l walk you

home when you're ready, I'l wait at the door for you."

"OK, I'l be ready in five minutes." She ran a hand across her face after Luka left the doorway; looking over to her friends, she blushed.

CJ tossed Memphis a towel and crossed her arms over her chest. "Uhh huh so now we know why you weren't home last night or this morning, she is defiantly a gorgeous

woman."

"Hey what about me?" Brumby waved at her wife. "I got the looks the accent and a hot bod."

CJ snorted at the hurt look on her wife's face. "And you're married and not Memphis' type so there. So what did you and the tal one do last night?"

Memphis puled her sweatshirt on and then her cargo pants before answering. "Nothing, I stayed in a guest room and then me and Sprout hung out today until Luka walked me

home."

"And now she's gonna walk you home after you molested her."

Memphis gave her friends a huge toothy smile. "Yep, and then I'm taking a shower and going to bed…ALONE. Night guys, see ya tomorrow night."

@@@@@@

CJ and Brumby were just about out the front door when the boss came running up to them, he reached out and touched CJ on her shoulder to stop her.

"CJ I don't know who that woman was tonight with Memphis, but you tel Memphis that after her last set, we sold more drinks than ever before. Ask her if she'l do it again."

He clasped his hands together and pleaded with his brown eyes. "Please CJ; this could bring me out of the hole I'm in." He brought his hands up to his bearded chin and was

about to drop to his knees and beg.

"OK, I'l cal her tomorrow and ask her for you, later Robbie." His brown eyes twinkled after one of his best strippers.

@@@@@@@

Luka and Memphis walked arm in arm down the street towards Memphis' apartment, both women were in a comfortable pensive state about what had happened in the bar.

Memphis kept stealing glances at her tal companion and felt her face burn when she was caught.

"Uhhmm about my last set…thanks for getting that creep off me and I hope I didn't embarrass you too much. I don't know why I did that."

Luka chuckled and puled Memphis closer to her side. "I was more…shocked than anything; I'm just surprised that a riot didn't start. I know that those horn dogs were

envious."

Green eyes blinked a few times before looking up into pale blue. "Envious why would they be that?"

"Ohh please Memphis, any one of those guys in there wished it had been them you were rubbing up against."

"Wel they can al just forget about me ever doing that to any of them. My skin started crawling after that guy grabbed me, what I'm afraid of now is that they may be wilder

now."

Luka placed a soft kiss to her temple and hugged her close. "I'l protect you from the animals, I may have to smack a few of them but it'l be fun." They walked up the steps to

the apartment building and stopped outside the door; Memphis took Luka's hand in hers and gave it a slight squeeze. "Thanks for walking me home, I can repay you by

cooking you supper tomorrow night."

"I'l bring the wine, what time you want me here?"

She ran her fingers up the lapel of Luka's trench coat and gave her a smal smile. "Say six o'clock or so?"

"Six o'clock it is, see you then Memphis Bele." She turned to leave and found herself stayed by smal hands.

"Thank you." Memphis went up on her toes, placed a soft kiss on Luka's lips and then went through the door of the building. Luka stood a few seconds with her fingers

pressed against her lips. A grin came to her face, as she thought about Memphis, unaware of the dark figure hiding in the bushes across the street from the building.

@@@@@@@

"So the day walker has a girlfriend, not for long Luka, not for long." The tal vampire moved away from his hiding space and ran through the smal park towards the entrance to

the sewers. He would relay the news to his boss and request to be the one to turn the smal stripper.

@@@@@@@

The noise coming from the basement grated on Luka's ears, going through the kitchen and down the steps, she yeled at Sprout.

"Normal people are trying to sleep, if you don't stop that noise I'm gonna tie your ass up."

"Ohh please and use the grinder on me!" She held up the huge grinder and winked at her cousin. "I'm trying to get your pointy things finished." She gave her cousin a funny look

and raised a thick eyebrow. "Ohh what did you do tonight, loose your cherry?"

Dark brows drew down over an aquiline nose. "What is it with you and my cherry?"

Sprout put down the grinder, removed her goggles and took Luka's hand. "I just wanna see you find someone, both of us don't need to be old maids. You're a good person

Luka, I wanna see you happy."

"I am happy, I do as I please, get paid good money for designing PC games and…"

"Have no one to share your life with except a three foot tal day walker. Who thinks you're the sexiest damn woman to walk the earth, next to Memphis that is. I'd like ta

smack our relatives around for making us cousins."

Luka busted out laughing and gave her tiny cousin a heartfelt hug. "You're something else Marica, love you little Sprout and maybe someday we'l find some good women."

"Know any tiny women or ones with legs about three feet long, ya know I'm the perfect height for something." She wiggled her tongue and yelped when it was caught between

Luka's fingers.

"You're a sick little person Sprout; I'm gonna go take a shower and turn in."

"A cold shower Luka, I can smel her on you." Luka ran her hands over her face and wandered up the steps mumbling about little perverts.

In her bathroom, Luka puled her shirt off and held the front of it up to her nose. The scent set her blood on fire and her heart to race, she wondered if Memphis became

aroused because of striping in front of men or if it was something else. She hoped it was something else after the effects she caused her body to go through.

@@@@@@@@

Sinking into the tub ful of hot scented water, Memphis leaned her head back against the tub pilow and moaned when her muscles relaxed. After al the years of dancing, she

was stil a little sore at night. Worse on this night after doing a walk over move. "Or was it humping Luka?" A deep groan came from her parted lips when she thought of how

aroused she became while thrusting against the day walker. On the walk home, she felt the wetness between her thighs and it became worse after she kissed Luka. "A chaste

kiss on her lips and I'm gushing!" She dropped a wet washrag over her face and started giggling like an idiot. "Gods Memphis, if she ever touched you sexualy it'd kil your

sorry ass!"

@@@@@@@@@@@@

The next morning outside of the French Quarter, Luka was walking the edge of the river towards North Peters to visit her mama who lives in the same house that she was born

in some 50 years before. Set on pilings to keep the water from the Mississippi from getting inside during bad storms. Taking the smal footpath through the trees, she went up

the steps and caled out in a strong voice.

"Where at mama?" She walked around the front porch and saw her mama coming up from the docks carrying a basket in her hands. Leaping over the side, she jogged down

the path, kissed her mama's cheek and took the basket from her hands.

"My rodee` honeychile finaly hauls herself down to see her mama."

"I've been busy lately, but some things wrong out there." She hefted the basket up onto her shoulder and took her mama's elbow to help her up the step incline.

"What do you mean some things wrong, it's not the peeshwank it is?"

Luka chuckled and nudged shoulders with her mama. "No, Sprout's OK, it's the suck faces."

"Feed them ta the caimons, they're like a damn disease."

"That's the problem, I can't find them like I used to."

"Maybe you've gotten them al, it's been what over twenty years of you dusting them. Maybe you can finaly retire and play the Madame with some sweet thing."

"I wish I could retire mama, but I realy think that something big is happening." She held the front door open for her mama and placed the basket on a stool outside the front

door.

"Ohh Luka, it's probably that damn master." She puled glasses from the cabinet, filed them with iced tea and handed one to her daughter. "I heard T Jake squaling about one

of their pets threaten him about taken over Algiers. If he's comin here, they'l bring him up the river."

"That's what I found out last night, I thought it was just the pet trying to bait me." She sat down at the kitchen table and looked at her mama, she noticed that more silver hair

ran through the auburn hair at her temples and that her hands were somewhat stiff as she puled a boning knife from the drawer. "Gimme the knife mama; I'l clean the fish for

ya."

"I'm making gumbo you want to take some to bebette Marica?"

She wiggled her brows. "Make it realy spicy, I love to see her turn beet red and gag."

Mama grinned, her fangs peeking from beneath her upper lip. "Stil trying to terrorize her I see, I heard that you caused some excitement in a strip bar last night. I bet Marica

was pissed that she missed seeing a stripper rubbin al over you."

A deep blush covered Luka's face; she looked to the floor and scuffed the toe of her boot on the wooden slats. "Who narked on me, I didn't see any of the boys there."

"Ohh it was T Jake and T BeBe, they said you stomped on some guys chest and then a little blond stripper got you."

"She's a friend of mine," She looked into her mama's pale blue eyes and grinned. "She's a nice person and was only doing that because…"

"Ohh so she's sweet on you. You'd be a couyon if you didn't go after her."

"I'm a capon mama; you know what happens when our heart takes over."

"Yeah, the body folows. Luka she must know what you are, tel her what happens. If her heart is true it won't matter to her."

"But mama, we never do this outside our own kind."

"Mais, maybe it's time one of us did. O'Del knows that there aren't too many of us left walking this planet. Anyway, the gene pool needs new blood so to speak. I wanna be a

Mamere before I turn to dust Luka."

Luka roled her eyes at her mama. "Mama you have us having babies before we've even been on a date!"

Mama waved a hand at her and grunted. "That changes tonight, now go get my fish cleaned so I can finish my gumbo, and Luka, change your shirt before you go see your

woman."

"Change my shirt, why?" She looked down at the T-shirt she had wore the day before and blushed.

"Because when she gets close to you, she'l know you haven't changed clothes." She sniffed the air and shook her head. "Marica has worn off on you, my daughter the big

pervert."

@@@@@@@@@

Luka carried a pot filed with her mama's gumbo under her arm as she made her way down to the dock area of the river. She hoped that T Jake was stil down there at his

boat, she wanted to get as much information from her cousin as she could about what he had heard from the pet. If the master was coming, she had to figure out a way to stop

him before he stepped onto Algiers. Her cousins would help her as much as they could but she did the main fight against the vampires. Her blood ran true to the day walkers

where theirs thinned over the years by marrying outside of the family line. She had a physical power that surpassed her relatives, senses that had disappeared during the

centuries from others and talents that were only carried on through the females of the true day walkers. Only her mama, Sprout and she were left. Stopping at the end of the

dock, she waved to her cousin and jumped on his boat.

@@@@@@@@@@

Memphis walked to the corner of Du Maine and Royal Street on her way back towards her apartment with her eyes to the ground; she had placed applications at every job

she had found in the newspaper. It looked doubtful that she would find anything soon and hated the idea of having to give up her apartment and move onto campus. Kicking a

stone across the street, she stopped when the hair on the back of her neck stood up. Turning slowly, the sight that caught her eye caused a huge smile to come to her face and

her heart to pound in her chest. Even with the dark sunglasses covering her pale eyes, Memphis knew that Luka was looking directly at her. A twitch of lips and then a rakish

grin came to her lips to show a peek of white teeth and fangs.

"Where go peeshwank Memphis?"

"I've got class in an hour, where've you been rodeeànd I'm not little, fang face?"

"Yeah ya are, not as little as that bebette cousin of mine." She draped an arm over Memphis' shoulder. "Been ta see my mama," She showed the pot to Memphis and grinned.

"Mama's gumbo can take varnish off wood just by the steam alone."

"Potent stuff huh? I've tried the stuff at the bar and found it lacking something." She reached up and slid Luka's sunglasses up on top of her head. "That's better; it drives me

nuts to not see someone's eyes when I'm talking to them. Anyways, I'm making Cajun chicken with spaghetti tonight, is that OK?"

"Ohh it's more than alright, so what you do today?" Memphis gave her a raised eyebrow.

"Your accent sure thickened over night, I was out looking for another job. So far, I'd do better to sel trinkets on Canal Street. If I don't find one then I'l have to give up my

apartment and move on campus."

"Memphis, at this time of the year I don't think you're gonna get an apartment at Bienvile Hal, it's probably packed to the gils."

Memphis wiped a tear from her eye and nodded her head. "You're right; I should have gotten an apartment there instead of getting one in town. I just didn't want a roommate.

Now I'm screwed and close to being homeless." Luka took a deep breath and bounced an idea around in her head, she didn't know how Memphis would take her suggestion

but she would give it a shot.

"I just happen to know of a place that is open and is very cheap, you interested?"

"How cheap and do I have to run around in my thong to get it that way?"

"Ohh lets just say that if you did wear only your thong, poor Sprout would die of a heart attack, I'm kinda fond of the freak so…"

Memphis stopped, placed a hand on Luka's chest and gazed into her serious eyes. "You asking me to live with you and Sprout, you don't even know me."

"Mais yeah, and who's more dangerous you or a sex starved Sprout?"

Memphis tilted her head to the side and smirked. "Let me see if I can find a job first, if I can't, then you'l find me sitting on your front stoop. OK?"

"OK, now let's get you to class before you're late."

@@@@@@@@@@

Luka walked down St. Anthony Rd headed in the direction of Milneburg Rd. that would take her back towards Elysian Fields Avenue and then home. She hoped that

Memphis would take her up on the offer to live with her and Sprout. She would be closer to where her classes were and safer. The others stayed away from the campus

because of the tight security and they knew that she was often in the area. They preferred to feed on the tourists and a freak of the night, if one of them went missing it was a

while before it was noticed. Where a student not showing up for class or coming home was reported immediately. She hoped that Sprout wouldn't get too weird if Memphis

did move in, she may be a tiny thing but that was the worst part. She could hide in places you would never think of and do sneak attacks. Grinning, she remembered the time

Sprout had hid inside the storage area inside the headboard of her bed and terrorized her the whole night with a feather. It wasn't until morning when Sprout roled over into the

smal doors and fel out on her head that she was found out. Jogging up the sidewalk to the front door, she clapped a hand over her ear and yeled.

"SPROUT SLOW THE STEREO!" She groaned when the music climbed in decibel. Going into the living room, she busted out laughing at her dancing cousin. A three-foot tal

hip thrusting Sprout was more than she could take, she turned the thumping music down and handed Sprout the pot of gumbo. "That had to be the scariest thing you have ever

done."

Sprout peeked into the pot and gave out a howl. "Mama's gumbo!" She pushed on Luka's leg and moved past her. "Passé, al mine Fang face, al MINE!"

"That's OK with me, I have a date with Cajun chicken and spaghetti and mama gave me a bottle of wine to go with it."

"Who's the couyon that's cooking for you?"

"A certain little hot hot stripper." She dropped down into a kitchen chair and watched Sprout put the pot on the burner. "Would you mind if she moved in here?"

Sprout almost fel off her stool; she grabbed the edge of the stove and looked to Luka with wide eyes. "She's moving in with us?" She punched a fist in the air and howled. "Dit

mon la verite!"

"Ohh believe me it's a possibility, so I guess it's OK with you?"

"Ohh yeah, maybe she'l teach me how to dance so I can pick up women. Does mama know about your girlfriend?"

Luka blushed and looked at Sprout from under her dark bangs. "Yeah, mais, she kinda knew the second she got close to me." She plucked at the front of her shirt. "And T

Jake and Bebe were at the bar last night, they told her what happened."

"Can I go with you tonight; Memphis said that I can sit on stage." She jumped down from her stool, crawled on to Luka's lap and begged. "Please Luka, let me go with you, I'l

be good."

@@@@@@@@@@@@

A dozen and a half vampires stood around nervously waiting for the boss to show up at the rendezvous point. They knew that if they were al there then there was trouble

brewing. One of them stood with a smug look on his pale features cleaning his fingernails with a thin bladed pocketknife. The hum of voices stopped when a tal dark vampire

stepped into the room and pushed others to the side.

"I have been informed that the day walker has taken out some more of us, this must stop now. The master wil be here soon and she can not stop his take over of the Algiers."

He pointed to the smug vampire with a long nailed finger. "Joaquin has seen a weakness in the day walker; she has a girlfriend who is a stripper at the Red Boar Bar. I want her

and she is not to be touched!" He glared at the flinching vampires with cold dark eyes. "If she is brought here with marks on her, the one who touched her wil die by my hand,

is that understood?" He waved to them to leave after they agreed to the rules. Pointing to Joaquin, he waited until he stepped closer. "I want you to keep an eye on her tonight,

if there is a chance, grab her."

"Yes Broussard, you can count on me." He left his boss for the moment, he knew that it was time to take him out and replace him before the master arrived. His plan was to be

at the master's side when he took over Algiers and that was only possible when Broussard was dead. Going down the long halway to where the boss stayed, he puled a

plastic bottle from his coat pocket, went over to his wooden crate and emptied the silver nitrate inside. Once Broussard got into the crate, it would be al over. To double his

chances of winning, he replaced the overhead light with a high-powered ultra violet light. The second it was turned on, the boss would turn to dust. Leaving the room, he went

into another one to wait. He had an hour before the boss would be taking to his crate until nightfal.

Broussard puled a cel phone from his pocket and made a cal to his slave, he wanted a tail put on the stripper and taken if possible without anyone seeing. His vampires

couldn't go the same places nor could they get into her apartment without her inviting them in. His slave could without a problem and he didn't have to worry about her ending

up with fang marks in her neck.

@@@@@@@@@@

The sun had gone down with the time passed 5:30; Memphis checked the chicken and put the noodles on to boil. Her hands trembled with her task causing her to chuckle

about her nervousness of having Luka over for supper. She hadn't dated anyone since she had been in New Orleans, so this would be quite a big deal for her. Finishing what

she was doing, she went into the living room and froze when she heard a gun shot outside her door. Moving closer to her door, she stopped and listened to the footsteps

running down the hal and then opened her door a crack. Not seeing anything, she opened it further and saw a man's body lying in the halway. Panicking, she ran from her

apartment and bent over the man's prone form.

"Hey are you OK, let me cal the police." She turned him over and saw blood covering his chest. "Ohh Gods, hang on I'l cal an ambulance!" As she moved away, she was

knocked to her knees and smashed to the floor by the injured man.

"This was way too easy!" He growled in her ear. "Where's your day walker when you need her?" He grabbed her hair, puled her head to the side and sunk his fangs into her

neck. Screaming and trying to get away was a waste of time, his strength was more than she could handle. Her body jerked from the pain and a high-pitched scream bubbled

from her lips when her blood flowed freely into his tearing mouth.

@@@@@@@

Luka took the steps at the front of Memphis' apartment building two at a time, taking a deep breath; she opened the door and went to the stairs that would take her up to

Memphis' apartment. At the sound of the scream above, she tore up the steps and froze at the two struggling bodies in the dim halway. The shock of blonde hair sent a

lightning bolt to her heart; a high pierced howl came from her chest as she ran down the halway and grabbed the vampire by his hair. Slamming him into the wal, she punched

him in his face and felt the bones colapse beneath her fist. Bringing her knee up into his groin, she puled a spike from her belt and ran him through the chest. Dust erupted,

filed the air around her, and then floated to the halway floor. Dropping to her knees, she crawled over to Memphis and cradled her in her arms. Brushing her hair back from

her eyes, she looked down into her pale face and saw the blood flowing from her neck and throat.

"Ohh please no! Co faire! Co faire!" She wailed, puled her friend to her chest and sobbed, picking Memphis up in her arms; she carried her into her apartment and put her

down on the couch. Picking up the phone, she caled her mama.

"Mama, they got Memphis! What do I do?" She sobbed over the phone.

"Luka calm down and tell me what happened."

"She was bitten, she's almost dead, what do I do?" She held her fingers at her friends pulse point and felt how faint it was.

"You have a choice Luka, take her to the hospital or let her drink."

"She won't make it there and if she drinks, she'l…"

"Be one of us, if she doesn't she may die. What is worse Luka, her death or…"

"What if she hates me afterward, I can't bare that."

"You have to drink from her at the same time, bond with her Luka and it'll be OK. Then get her home and I'll meet you there, hurry Luka or you'll loose her!"

Tears flowed down Luka's face as she looked at her friends pale features, dropping her head down onto a slow rising chest, she sobbed uncontrolably. "I have to do this, I'm

sorry but I can't loose you." She puled her knife from her boot and cut her wrist. Watching the blood start to drip, she moved Memphis so that she could get to her neck.

Pressing her bleeding wrist to soft lips, she waited until she felt a slight suction. When the pain shot up her arm and green eyes opened, she moved to the soft flesh of Memphis'

neck and slowly sunk her fangs into her. Liquid fire shot through her body at the first taste of her friend's blood, the pain in her wrist was overshadowed by arousal and

something deeper. It was as if her very soul was on fire. Soft moans came from both women. When Luka felt her heart begin to slow to almost stopping, she puled her wrist

away from Memphis. The smaler woman slowly turned in her arms and looked deeply into her eyes. What Luka saw there made her heart flip in her chest, bringing a hand up;

she wiped the blood from one side of her friend's neck and felt the low growl come from her.

"I'm sorry Memphis…I had to…" She fel back on the couch from the force of Memphis crawling on top of her, their lips came together in a frenzy of gnashing teeth and

probing tongues. When air was needed, they came apart to lie together panting. Luka ran her fingers through silky blonde hair and cried. "So sorry baby, so sorry."

"Don't be Luka." Was al Memphis said before she lost consciousness.

@@@@@@@@@@

Sprout ran through the house getting the stuff together that mama had asked for, she knew as soon as she heard her aunts voice caling for her that something had to be

seriously wrong for her to show up past dark. With the items in her arms, she ran to Luka's bedroom and placed them on the nightstand. "OK mama, why do we need this

stuff?" She crawled onto the bed and sat down beside her aunt.

"Luka caled me, Memphis was bitten, I told her to bring her here."

Green eyes sprung wide, Sprout was at a loss for words, her jaw worked a few times before a whoosh of air poured from her lungs. "Bitten as in vampire bitten, oh no!" She

clamped her hands over her face and fel back on the bed. "What are we gonna do, she might be one of them!"

"No, she's not one of them; she's one of us now." Mama got up from the bed and went down the halway to see her daughter's tear stained face coming up the steps with

Memphis cradled in her arms. "Put her in your bedroom Luka, I have everything in there." She watched as her daughter walked down the halway and then folowed, she had

never in al her years seen someone so broken in heart as Luka. She knew that she had never taken from anyone and this was kiling her.

Sprout helped Luka undress Memphis and tuck her into bed, taking her blood stained clothes from the room, she ran down the stairs to toss them in the fireplace and set them

on fire. She cringed when she climbed the stairs and heard Luka crying, it had been many years since her strong stoic cousin showed those emotions.

"Luka, she'l be OK," Mama had her folded into her arms and brushing her dark hair back from her tear streaked face. "She just needs sleep and she'l be good as new. Now

let's get her neck taken care of."

Sprout walked into the room, took her cousins much larger hand in hers, and held it. "It'l be OK Luka, you'l see."

"Now watch Luka, you too Sprout." She mixed ingredients in a smal bowl, added water and then soaked a rag in it. Wiping the side of Memphis' neck where the vampire had

bit her, the area bubbled and sizzled leaving the skin clean with a slight pink color. She then wiped the other side where two perfect holes pierced her neck and watched, as it

did nothing but run down her neck. "You see our blood is pure, theirs is beyond filthy. By you giving her your blood, you washed their filth away." She covered the torn flesh

with a thick paste and covered it with a gauze pad. "Take this off in the morning and check it for infection, there shouldn't be any but just make sure." Her pale blue eyes

looked into her daughters with understanding. "I'm going to the kitchen to make some tea, Sprout come give me a hand." She pressed a kiss to Luka's forehead, took Sprout's

hand and led her from the room. Luka puled off her coat and then undressed to put on a T-shirt and boxers before crawling on the bed beside Memphis. Tears trailed down

her face to soak into her pilow as she looked at the calm features of her friend.

"I hope you don't hate me." She mumbled as she moved closer and puled the smal woman into her arms.

@@@@@@@@@@@

Broussard stood in the halway as one of his slaves checked his room; he flinched as a bright light flashed in his room and then went out. A sly grin came to his face when he

thought about the one vampire who would see him dead.

"It's clean now, I'l get you a different crate from the storage room, yours was soaked with silver nitrate." He handed Brossard the light bulb and dragged the large crate behind

him to be disposed of.

"What a couyon you were Joaquin, I never trusted you." He was about to go into his room when one of the familiars came running towards him.

"Sir, I went to folow the stripper, I found this in the halway along with dust and blood." He handed him a gold insignia ring with the letters JB on them.

"So Joaquin fel by the hand of the day walker, you said blood, and whose blood was it?"

"The strippers, I saw Luka carry her lifeless body from the building. Joaquin went against your orders, he kiled the stripper." He bowed his head and left Broussard standing in

the halway.

"Damn fool, I wanted her for bait! Now Luka wil hunt us until we're al gone from this earth!" He crushed the ring in his hand and dropped it to the floor.

@@@@@@@@

A low whimper came to Luka's ears; she roled over to the nightstand and flipped on the light. Seeing the sweat drenched hair covering a pale face, she wiped Memphis brow

and whispered close to her ear.

"You're safe baby, I'm here."

Memphis ran her fingers across the gauze patch, her eyes shot open and she sat up in bed with panic-stricken eyes. She scanned the room and then stopped when they fel

upon a worried Luka.

"Luka…tel me I'm not one of them." Tears filed her eyes to trail down her cheeks, a low sob came from her lips when Luka looked down to the sweat drenched sheets. "Ohh

Gods I am," She grabbed Luka's hands and pleaded. "Please kil me Luka; I can't live in the dark!" She fel into Luka's open arms and sobbed. Tears trailed down from

anguished blue eyes to drip into wet blond hair, Luka didn't know how to explain what she had done, only one person could do that, mama. Puling back and wiping the tears

from Memphis' cheeks, she took her hand and puled her from the bed. Handing her a long T-shirt, she helped her pul it on and then took her down stairs to the kitchen.

Mama and Sprout looked up when they heard the shuffle of bare feet come into the kitchen. Bright blue eyes met green and a smile came to mama's lips.

"I see you two are awake, come sit down and have some tea." Getting two cups for them, she filed them and placed them side by side on the table. Seeing the pain on their

faces, she clucked her tongue and placed a hand on their shoulders. "It's not the end of the world you two." She held out her hand to Memphis and smiled wide enough that

her fangs showed. "I'm Nicoleta, Luka's mama, you can cal me mama. How are you feeling?"

"You mean besides being a vampire?" More tears flowed down her face to soak into the colar of her robe.

"You're not a vampire so to speak peeshwank, Luka saved you."

Memphis turned to look into the tear-filed eyes of her friend. "I know I was bitten by a vampire and I remember drinking his blood."

"Yes, but that was my blood you drank." Luka ran her fingers across her cheeks to dry her tears.

"You were close to death; Luka gave you the gift of her blood to save you." Mama replied and then looked to Sprout. "Go in my bag bebette and get that smal box." Sprout

ran from the kitchen at mama's request leaving a snickering Luka looking into the twins to her eyes.

"Must be the mama voice, wil you explain to Memphis what I did?"

"Such a couyon Luka," She cleared her throat and looked to Memphis. "Luka found you after you were bitten, she cut her wrist that she has forgotten to take care of." She

glared at her daughter and grinned at her downcast eyes. "You were too far gone for her to get you to the hospital, not to mention it's hard to explain that you were bitten by a

suck face. The only thing she could do was to give you her blood, while you drank from her; she drank from you to form a bond of your souls."

Memphis looked at her friend with confused eyes. "You've never done that before, why did you do it for me?" Sprout came trotting into the kitchen and handed mama the box.

"This what you wanted mama?" Mama nodded, took the box and smoothed down Sprout's wild hair. "Thanks bebette, now where were we?"

Luka continued where she had left off. "No I've never done it before; I had to because I didn't want to loose you. It's my fault they knew where you were, if I had been a few

minutes sooner none of this would have happened." Tears flowed over her eyes to trail down her high cheekbones. "I'm sorry Memphis." She dropped her head on her folded

hands and cried softly. Memphis ran her hand down Luka's back and whispered to her.

"It's not your fault Luka; it's mine for going out into the halway."

"Memphis, this is our family crest," Mama held out a gold disk on a chain, inscribed on its shinny surface was glyphs. "Because of Luka's gift to you, you are now part of our

smal family, you are a day walker." She got up from her seat and fastened the necklace around Memphis' neck. "When the people see this, they wil treat you with respect that

comes from being of the line." She held out her own necklace as did Sprout. "Only the true day walkers wear these."

"About damn time I had another female cousin, al those damn ugly men in our family."

Luka snorted and raised her tear stained face to look at her tiny cousin. "Don't let them hear you say that Sprout, or you'l be caimon bait."

Memphis shook her head in confusion; she looked between the three women and stuttered. "But I wasn't…born this way…how can I…"

Luka gripped her hands in hers and looked deeply into her eyes. "We are pure breeds, the last of our kind. You became one, when I gave you my blood; we are bound by

both blood and soul. We are now one.

Mama and Sprout shared looks and yawned, they got up from the table to leave Luka and Memphis alone.

"Mais mama, how long before the wedding and you're a mamere?"

"Ooohh I don't think it wil be too long with the way those two look at each other." She placed a hand on Sprout's shoulder and walked them up the stairs.

@@@@@@@@

A slow grin came to Memphis' lips, raising an eyebrow she tilted her head to the side and spoke in a deep sultry voice. "Wil I get sexy fangs like yours?"

"Uhhmm I think so," She looked down at their joined hands and rubbed her thumb across the back of the smaler one. "You think my fangs are sexy?" She looked up at an

angle and grinned.

"Ohh yeah, among other things." She finished in a whisper and leaned forward to place a soft kiss on Luka's lips. "I have to cal work and let them know I won't be in tonight, I

can't strip when I look like a mugging victim." Luka ran her fingers across the two neat puncture holes and frowned. "I'm sorry I had to bite you."

"Luka, you saved my life. Thank you." She brought their lips together again for a longer kiss then puled away. "Can I use your phone?"

"We'l let mama cal, she has a way with your boss."

"How's that, I mean your mama doesn't look the type to go to the bar?"

"Ohh he's afraid of her, she used to beat his ass when he was little. He's one of my cousins."

"But he doesn't have fangs."

"Nope, he's not a day walker, only females are day walkers. It's part of the family curse that was put on my family centuries ago in Romania." She kissed Memphis on her

forehead. "Welcome to the notorious family of Rubidoux. Let's go have mama make that cal and then turn in, I'm exhausted and a little weak."

"How much blood did you give me?"

"Almost al I had."

She puled Luka to a stop and grabbed her by the front of her T-shirt. "You mean I could have kiled you?"

"Yeah but I knew when to stop you, it's alright Memphis."

"Do you need any…I mean like you did the other night?"

"No, this is different; my body doesn't need to heal anything. After a few hours of sleep I'l be OK."

"My Gods, I have none of my own blood, I have al of yours. That's what mama meant by being bound with you and why I'm now a pure blood." She watched a light blush

rush up Luka's face and her head nod. "Cho, dit mon la verite Luka."

@@@@@@@@@

Having slept longer than usual, mama sent Sprout into Luka's bedroom to wake her. A huge grin blossomed on her face when she saw the two bodies wrapped around each

other under the sheets. Crawling up from the foot of the bed, she wiggled between their bodies to get closer to Memphis. Pushing up her lip with a tiny finger, she grinned at the

sight of the elongated canine tooth.

"What are you doing Sprout?" A deep gravely voice asked her.

"She's a T Fang, little baby fangs in there." She pointed to Memphis mouth and snickered. "She gonna bite you Luka, bite you hard." She scampered off the bed and smacked

her cousin on her ass. "Mama says come and eat before it gets cold."

Luka puled the smaler body closer and buried her face against the warm neck; she had never slept next to anyone before but Memphis made her feel safe. She jumped against

the smaler body when her mama's voice rang through out the house. It reminded her of when she was little and her mama would wake her for school.

"What's mama cooking?" A sleep thickened voice whispered in Luka's ear. "Smels like grits with brown sugar." Memphis raised her head and looked down into Luka's slack

features. "I can even smel orange juice, this isn't normal Luka."

"Is now, makes ya wish ya had a head cold sometimes, especialy down near the docks." She roled onto her back and stretched out her long limbs. "How do you feel?"

"Like I'm about ten years old, al my normal aches and pains are gone." She roled over on top of Luka and kissed her lips. "Come on I'm starving, we didn't get to eat last

night." She roled off the bed and puled a reluctant Luka from the bed.

@@@@@@@

Mama and Sprout watched Memphis drag a stil half-asleep Luka to the kitchen table. It was just like years ago when it was time for school.

"You'l never change Luka; stil hate the mornings like always." She brushed her fingers through her daughter's long tangled hair and kissed her forehead. "My poor Beb."

"Who wouldn't hate the mornings when ya have to look at Sprout every morning." She eyed her cousin's wild hair, sheet wrinkled face and footy PJ's."

"I think she's kinda cute, especialy with the pointy ears sticking out." Memphis snickered at the exasperated look on her friend's face and kissed her temple. She puled back

quickly, put a finger in her mouth and felt the sharp fangs. "Ohh is the rodeeìn big trouble, now I have my own fangs to bite with." Luka looked up at her and grinned.

"Is that a threat or a promise?"

"Al right eat your breakfast before it turns to concrete." Mama placed dishes in front of everyone and then took her own seat. "Babies, just little babies."

@@@@@@

"Ohh come on take the damn line!" Luka typed away like a crazed loon on the keyboard trying to get the script of her new PC game to take. She had been working none stop

for three hours setting up the battle zones with the creatures and loot and was almost finished except for the stubborn script line.

"What are you doing Luka?" Memphis asked as she leaned over her shoulder and looked at the PC monitor.

"Trying to make my deadline, but at the rate I'm going I maybe 100 before that happens."

"Uhhmm that's not what I meant, what is that?"

"Ohh I ahh…design PC games, you know the blood and gore, hack 'em slash 'em type games."

"Do you make good money doing that…never mind you don't have to answer that…I'm getting too personal, sorry."

"Ohh I make good money at it, not like I spend any except for the normal bils or anything."

"I've been thinking some things over and I want to know if I can take you up on your offer to live here; I'l pay rent or what ever you want."

Luka turned in her chair and took Memphis' smal hand between both of hers. "I don't want your money; you use what you make at the bar to take care of you tuition. I want

to see you get you diploma and do something other than play around designing games like I do."

Memphis leaned forward and placed a kiss on the top of Luka's head. "I don't know what I'l do once I graduate, I don't think any school is gonna hire a stripper to teach their

kids. My résumé would scare most of them away. 'Memphis Andrews PhD. Stripper by night, colege professor by day, wil teach the bump and grind as an extra curricular

activity ½ credit for physical education."

Luka's eyes grew wide. "Did you say PhD?"

"Yeah, mais after al these years that damn paper better say PhD on it!" She sat down on Luka's lap, spun the chair around and pointed to the monitor. "Explain this to me; I'm

curious about your games."

@@@@@@@@

A deep voice echoed through out the office that Luka used for her computer programming, it was deep and sounded breathy. "LUK…LUK…I AM YOUR NIGHTMARE!"

"I swear I dropped her on her head one too many times when she was a baby!" Luka hit the PA system and growled. "I told you you're more like Yoda than Darth, what's your

problem Sprout?"

"May the Swartz be with you Luk; I have two gorgeous women here al for myself so stay away for about three minutes while I get happy."

"I realy hope she didn't lure some kindergarteners in the house again!" Luka got up from her chair and puled Memphis down the hal towards the kitchen.

"Ohh man passé passé Luka, they're al mine!" She grabbed CJ and Brumby around their legs and bared her teeth.

Memphis stepped forward, gave her friends hugs, and looked down at Sprout. "Would you make us some coffee Sprout?"

"Only for your friends and you T Fang, Luka can kiss my little ass." She stuck her tongue out at her cousin and got what she needed for the coffee.

She snorted and patted Luka's stomach. "So what are you guys doing here?"

"We came to see if you were OK, our boss said you got mugged last night." CJ said and took a seat at the kitchen table. "So where did this happen?"

"At my apartment building, I was stupid and went out into the hal…during a fight." She looked to Luka and winked. "I lost big time." She dropped into a chair across from her

friends and held up her hands. "So much for al those Kempo classes." CJ leaned over the table and saw the faint scars and bruising on the right side her friend's neck.

"What the Hel did he do to your neck, it looks sore?"

"Uhhmm I don't know what he used, he attacked me from behind." Memphis shrugged her shoulders and grinned, then her eyes narrowed and an eyebrow hitched up into her

bangs. She slapped Luka on her thigh and nodded towards where Sprout was standing on her stool behind CJ. "What is she doing?" She whispered and watched Sprout do

hip thrusts and dance around in a circle on the seat. Brumby looked over her shoulder and pushed Sprout off her stool, causing a loud thump. Luka and Memphis busted out

laughing and fel into each other when Sprout stumbled around the kitchen.

"Ohh my Gods!" CJ pointed to Memphis. "You have fangs!" She jumped up from the table, went over to Memphis and held her face stil. "You're a vampire, Brumby she got

bit by a vampire!"

Luka covered her face with her hands and dropped her head to the table, she knew that people would notice the difference in her friend but she was hoping that at least it

would be a couple of days before it happened.

"Hold on guys, it's not what you think. A vampire bit me last night…twice. But I'm not a vampire so to speak…Luka help me here." She ran her fingers through Luka's hair

nudged her shoulder.

"Whoa there, you got bit twice! Aren't you supposed to be like hiding in a coffin or something?"

Sprout leaned into CJ's leg and winked at her. "Wanna see where I sleep, we could have a threesome." She licked her fangs, wiggled her pointed ears, and yelped when

Brumby kicked her under the table. "Ohh ya two like it rough! I can do rough; I'l even bite hard if ya want!"

"Bebette, I stil have that box in the basement." Luka grabbed a pointed ear and puled Sprout away from CJ. "Behave or I'l cal mama." She looked to both CJ and Brumby.

"I'l try and explain as best I can as to what went on last night.

An hour later with both women shooting questions at Luka and Memphis, they now understood what Memphis had become, what they didn't understand was why she had

been attacked at al and if she would have to bite people to survive.

"She only wants to bite Luuuuka!" Sprout said from her safe spot inside the kitchen cabinet under the sink. Both Memphis and Luka blushed and cast glares at the tiny day

walker.

Brumby snickered and pointed at Memphis. "Wel it may just work for ya with the pawing perverts, one shot of fangs and they wil defiantly leave ya alone."

CJ thumped her forehead. "I almost forgot, the boss wants you and Luka to continue your little show, he said that he sold more drinks after you danced with Luka."

Memphis wiggled her brows at Luka and gave her a wicked grin. "That can be arranged, can't it Rubidoux."

@@@@@@@@@@

Broussard grabbed one of his pets by his throat and lifted him in the air, baring his teeth, he growled deeply.

"What do you mean the strippers stil alive? Joaquin tore her throat out didn't he?" Seeing that his pet couldn't breath and was close to passing out, he dropped him to the dirty

concrete. "Now tel me what the Hel is going on?"

"I saw…her…she's alive!" Broussard threw his head back and laughed hystericaly, wiping spittle from his chin; he looked down at the terrified pet.

"That only means one thing; Luka has done something that I would have never guessed. She turned the stripper, now there are a total four day walkers, but I have only two to

worry about." Dragging his pet off the floor, he jabbed him in the chest. "Get the stripper!"

@@@@@@@@@@

"Honest Memphis, with the lighting no one wil notice the slight bruising on your neck." Memphis caught Luka's eyes in the bathroom mirror while using cover-up on her neck.

"By tomorrow it should al be gone." She placed a soft kiss on silky blonde hair and left Memphis to finish getting ready for work. Going down to the basement, she flipped on

the light and took in the numerous weapons arranged on the one wal. Taking her pick of throwing knives, she checked for cracked silver coating and the razor edge. Slipping

them into a leather carrier at the lower part of her back, she puled her favorite knife down, slipped it into her boot, and puled her pant leg down over it. She had decided to

for go the normal leather pants and wear black cargo BDU's instead. Slipping throwing darts and stars in her cargo pockets, she finished off her weaponry with her silvercoated double-edged sword. At the sound of footsteps coming down the basement steps, she turned and saw the look of awe cover her friends face.

"Ohh this is just…I love swords and sharp pointy things!" She puled a katana down from the wal and spun it in one hand then brought it around to a two handed hold in front

of her. Turning it on its side, she snapped it in a downward motion and grinned. "I'd say a 440 fold, hand made silver Tsubuka, and hand wrapped with goats hide."

Luka shook her head in amazement. "You would be right on al of it, its one of my favorite weapons. That one there makes the air sing and can cut with just a touch."

"Where did you get it, its beautiful?"

"Sprout made it, along with everything else down here. She has amazing nimble little fingers for the detail work and eyes that can see a bur in the blade in pitch blackness." She

went over to the wal, puled down a double leather knife strap, two razor sharp throwing knives, and handed them to Memphis. "I want you to wear this when your out by

yourself, the blades are silver and deadly to suck faces." She helped Memphis adjust the strap around her waist and puled her sweatshirt down over the knives. "One jab to

the heart and you need a dust buster to clean up."

Memphis ran her hand across her lower back and smiled up into pale blue eyes. "Thanks, I just hope I never have to use them." She went up on her tiptoes and kissed Luka

softly, the feeling that assaulted her body made her knees feel weak. "You gonna let me molest you at the bar tonight?"

Luka roled her head on her shoulders, bit her bottom lip and shrugged. "Mmmm…that's a hard one, should I let a hot hot little stripper rub and thrust al over me or…"

Memphis pressed up against Luka and whispered in a sultry tone. "I'l more than make it worth your while Fang." A low moan rumbled in Luka's chest when Memphis ground

her hips into her.

"OK, as hard as it'l be for me, I'l do it."

@@@@@@@@@@@

With Sprout up on her shoulders and holding Memphis' hand, Luka led them to the side door of the bar. The blaring music was enough to make her ears twitch and make her

want to retreat to the quiet aleyway.

"We can hang out in the dressing room until the other girls go up on stage." Memphis offered.

"Ohhh nekkid girlies! I getta see nekkid girlies!" Sprout bounced on her cousin's shoulders and puled on the tips of her ears.

"I better not end up with pointed ears bebette!" She slapped at the tiny hands and then lifted the tiny day walker from her shoulders. "Now you behave yourself and stay out

from under the tables." Sprout gave her a salute and scrabbled out the door to go into the bar area.

"Why did you tel her that?" Memphis asked as she puled her shirt over her head and placed it across the back of a chair.

"Because she's a pervert and looks up skirts, I would love to take her to the pub down in the Quarter and let her crawl under those tables.

"Why, is there more for her to see?"

Luka chuckled and nodded her head. "Guaranteed to send her screaming, the men where kilts." She turned her back when Memphis dropped her pants and underwear to pul

on her thong.

"Ohh come on Luka, you undressed me the other night and now you're getting bashful?" She wrapped her arms around Luka from behind, pressed her breasts into the warm

leather and felt her nipples harden.

"That was different; you couldn't see my red face and closed eyes."

"Wel if you could see something right now it would put you on the floor!" She puled back, looked at her hardened nipples, and let out a low moan.

"I don't want to know, I'm having a hard time breathing already." She dragged a hand across her face and wiped away the nervous sweat. "How soon before you go on stage?"

"Ohh about forty minutes or so, we can watch from backstage. Maybe keep an eye on the bebette."

@@@@@@@@@

Sprout walked hunched over beneath the tables until she found one with a woman sitting at it. Using a smal penlight, she shinned it between the woman's legs and grunted at

the sight of blue jeans. Going on her way, she moved to another table without luck. She was getting closer to having no more tables to investigate and was disappointed that no

women had worn skirts or dresses. Her other option was to hide in the dressing room and watch the strippers change their costumes. Moving towards another table, she had

to dodge a pair of thumping legs and ran into something under the table. Fearing that she was caught, she turned her penlight on and held back a screech. She was not the only

peeping pervert in the bar; another tiny person was under the table with her own pen light.

"Hey I was here first you trol!" The other woman said and pushed Sprout.

"So I know the boss, so move or I tel!"

"Ohh that's rich, you'd tel on me and then the boss would want to know how you knew what I was doing under here!"

"I'l bite you!"

"I'l bite you back!"

"I have fangs!"

"I have a leathermen tool!" She whipped out her leathermen tool and jumped Sprout. They roled around under the table causing al the occupants to jump up and look under

the table. Rough hands puled them out, hauled them to the front door and tossed them out on to the sidewalk.

"Just great!" Sprout yeled. "Luka's gonna kil me and it's your fault!" She jumped the tiny black woman and they roled around on the sidewalk until a pair of hands grabbed

them.

"What in the name of O'Del are you two doing?" Luka struggled with the tiny women. "Knock it off Spout or it's the box!"

"Better than her puling my teeth out!" She kicked out her tiny feet at the other woman.

"She deserves it for threatening to bite me!" The tiny black woman yeled back.

"Just my luck, two tiny little people, maybe we can get Robbie to have midget jelo wrestling on the weekends?" She walked down the aleyway with them dangling from her

hands and pushed her way through the door to place them in separate chairs in the dressing room. "Neither one of you move or I'l do the biting!" She looked over her

shoulder when she heard Memphis laugh at her. "Do you believe this, there's two tiny little bebette's in this place and I bet they were under the tables peeping!"

"Was not…I was…trying to…HEY!" Sprout wiggled on the chair when Luka started frisking her body. "Ya big perv!"

Luka puled out the penlight and shinned it into her green eyes. "And this is for what reading the labels on the beer bottles?"

"I never thought of that, damn you're good Fang face."

Luka gave the other women a glare and held out her hand. "Hand it over, I know you have one too."

"This ain't fair…I was…the Hel with it!" She handed Luka her flashlight and felt her jaw drop open when CJ came into the dressing room dressed in a leather mini and bra.

"Come ta little Lia." She held her hands out and wiggled her fingers.

CJ snorted and looked between the two tiny women. "Are you two colecting little people or something?"

Memphis snickered at her friend and pointed to Luka. "Ask Luka, she's the one who found them. Hey can we put two chairs on the stage, I promised Sprout that I would do

that for her?"

"Sure, I'l get Brumby to put them up there." She looked at the tiny women again and shook her head.

@@@@@@@@

With the chairs in place along the edge of the stage, Sprout and Lia sat waiting for the strippers to start their show. Bouncing in their chairs when the music started to throb and

the stage lights flickered on. Luka and Brumby stood behind the two tiny women protecting them from the jealous male patrons. Luka's head shot up from where she was

watching Sprout's feet bounce to the beat of the music to see Memphis dressed in an emerald green sarong type wrap around her hips and a matching bra. Her heart pounded

at the smoldering look that was cast down at her from green eyes accented with black eyeliner. The males yeled and howled at the sight thinking that the Memphis Bele

carried the look just for them.

"Ohh Luka is in great big trouble! T Fang on the hunt!" She squealed and bounced in her chair. Shooting a look to the side, she snickered at the dropped jaw and drooling little

Lia. "She's hot hot ain't she and it's al for Luuuuka!" Memphis picked up the rhythm of the sultry song; I'll do anything by Montell Jordan, her body moved fluidly down the

stage towards where Luka was standing. Lifting her arms over her head, her hips swayed in a sensuous bely dancer style. Bending her arms at the elbow, her hands unclasped

her bra and dropped it on to L's lap with a flourish. Cupping her breasts, she let her thumbs graze her nipples and looked into pale blue eyes for a reaction. Stopping in front of

Luka, she brought her swaying hips up against her chest and puled her head between her breasts. The males went crazy; bils flew up onto the stage and some were held over

Luka's head. With one hand buried in the thick dark hair, the other puled the knot on the sarong loose and wrapped it around Luka's wide back. Dropping down to squat in

front of the day walker, Memphis pressed her breasts against a silk covered chest and moaned at the feel of firm breasts pressing into hers. Pressing her face into the warm

neck, she let her fangs trail across sweaty skin and heard a moan come from Luka. Thrusting her hips into Luka's hard stomach, she growled at the sensation and felt herself

getting wetter.

The lyrics started to make sense to Luka; she closed her eyes and reveled in the meaning and the body rubbing against her.

Don't you hesitate

When you have fantasies

Tel me how I can please

And I'l do it, I'l do it

I'l nibble on your negligee

Uhh, then I might just stop

And work my way down

From your neck to the floor

And lick my way up to the top

She dropped her head forward and brushed their cheeks together, the feeling was electric. Dampness formed between her thighs, she held back the natural movement of her

hips and groaned when a warm tongue licked her neck and then Memphis was gone with the last of the lyrics ringing in her ears.

Oh baby

Tel me what you want

What you need

And I'l tel you what I'l do

(Supply every need that your body desires)

Baby I'm doing this just for you

Hey girl I said I'l do it...

Taking a deep breath, groaning and then wiping the sweat from her upper lip, she cast a sideways glance at Brumby and saw the toothy grin on her face.

"Wel mate, ya need the fire extinguisher?" She threw her head back and laughed at the deep blush working its way up Luka's neck. "Come on Luka; help me carry the kids in

the back." She pointed to where Sprout and Lia were sprawled out on the stage unconscious with their mouths hanging open.

@@@@@@@@@

"Holy shit Memphis!" CJ took her by her hand and led her over to a chair. "I was waiting for the sprinklers to come on to put out that fire you started!" She handed her a bottle

of water and a robe to pul on. "Poor Luka looks like she's about to combust and the little ones fel off their chairs!" She rubbed her friend's shoulders and leaned in close to

her ear. "I know there's got to be some men out there with wet crotches." She laughed when Memphis tilted her head back and gave her a glare. "Speaking of the combustible

one, here she comes carrying Sprout.

"Is she OK Luka?" She jumped up from her chair and pointed to it. "Put her here and I'l get another for Lia."

"I think they both over heated out there." She glanced up at Memphis and blushed.

"Among others." Brumby remarked while putting Lia in another chair.

Memphis blushed and looked shyly to Luka. "I need some air, care to join me?"

"Ya two need more than air, a glacier would do nicely ta cool ya two off!" Brumby ducked the hand that Memphis threw out at her and snorted.

@@@@@@@@@

Memphis leaned up against the building, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Are you OK Luka?"

"Ohh nothing a glacier wouldn't solve." She joined Memphis against the wal and looked down into her flushed face. "I think half the men in the place fel outta their chairs."

Memphis turned and leaned her shoulder against the wal, ran her hand up Luka's sweat soaked silk shirt and around to pul her head down. "Can I make you fal over?" She

didn't wait for an answer; instead, she brought their lips together in a deep longing kiss. They moaned into each other's mouths and pressed closer together. Long minutes went

by as they searched out each other's mouths and only came apart when they felt themselves sliding down the wal. Memphis leaned her head against Luka's chest and moaned.

"Gods have mercy." She mumbled and wrapped her arms tighter around Luka's waist. "You have no idea how much I want you."

"If we didn't have to go back in there, I'd take you home and show you what I want." Luka brought their lips together and puled back when a voice rang out into the night.

"There you two are!" Luka's cousin and Memphis' boss said from the doorway. "That was some kind of show you two put on and you Luka!" He slapped her on her arm.

"Why didn't I know you were dating Memphis?"

Luka roled her eyes and snorted. "Like you talk to me when I'm here."

"You scare the Hel outta me and everyone else in there and then Sprout and her table antics, you think I want patrons to know that I'm related to you two?"

"I see your point and I want to know where your bouncer is?"

"You know the local motel with the bars on the windows? He's doing two to five for assault and battery on his girlfriend. Wanna job?"

@@@@@@@@@@@

"OHH look at the nekkid girlies!" Sprout jumped up and down and slapped Lia on her shoulder. "Al nekkid and we get ta see them!" Lia nodded her head and watched with

wide brown eyes and a jaw hanging open.

"Ahhh…tits…big tits!!!" Lia forced out and then fel back into her chair. She yelped when the stripper known as Bounce straddled her, puled her face in between her breasts,

and gave her a lap dance. Sprout danced in a circle and hooted when Bounce moved away from a panting Lia. She gave out a yelp when her face was puled into a tight

stomach and large breasts rested on top of her head.

"I'd say you gave the little ones a night from their wildest fantasies." Luka whispered close to Memphis' ear and placed a kiss on her neck. "Thank you for doing that for them."

"My pleasure, I think they're cute, like little kids."

"Little monsters Memphis, little bebettes!" She pointed to where Sprout and Lia were hanging onto Bounce's thighs for dear life.

When Luka was able to breathe and walked without jerking across the floor after her private dance from Memphis, she grabbed Memphis hand and puled her towards the

side door. She had already given Sprout orders to head right home and leave the normal people on the streets alone. Taking a short cut down the aleyways, they came out one

street over from home. Going around to the back door, Luka was opening the door when Memphis let out a loud yel and was yanked away from her.

"Ohh Luka, you must be slipping or is your mind some where else tonight?" Luka stepped closer and saw the man with a knife to Memphis throat. "Don't move or the other

day walker gets it."

Steel blue eyes fel on the man's hand, a trickle of blood ran down where it had nicked Memphis neck. "What do you want Papon?"

"I want the stripper here, the boss wants her and if you play like he wants, she'l live…maybe." He laughed and puled Memphis tighter to his body.

"You mean if I play nice, mais, I don't!" She stood with her hands behind her back waiting for a chance to throw her knives, she jumped forward when the pet's eyes bulged

and he started to fal backwards while stil holding onto Memphis. Before she could reach them, Memphis was free and the pet was suffering from an ugly compound break to

his right arm. He lay on the ground gasping and looking down at the knife sticking out of his stomach.

"You kiled me, you bitch!"

"Not yet you ain't dead." Luka growled and stomped on the blade of the knife. His eyes went wide and then blood bubbled from his gaping lips. "Now you're dead and gator

chow." Memphis ran and fel into her open arms and held on tight to her, soft sobs were muffled in the silk of Luka's shirt. "It's alright Memphis, he was scum and deserved

worse than what he got." She held Memphis tight until she stopped crying and just held onto her. "Go inside and I'l take out the trash."

"No I did it I'l help, but what are we gonna do with him?"

"Take him down to the river and toss his filthy ass in, the current wil take him away from here and hopefuly no one wil find him before the creatures get him." Closing the back

door, she looked shyly at Memphis. "Do you know how to drive?"

"Yeah why do you ask?"

"Because I don't feel like carrying dumb shit there al the way to the river and Sprout's not here to drive me."

Brows buried themselves into blond bangs. "You don't know how to drive?"

"Uuhhmm…nope, I have a nice truck but I don't know how to drive it." She gave Memphis a smal grin and a shrug of her wide shoulders.

@@@@@@

Continued in Part 2 (Conclusion)

The Athenaeum's Scroll Archive

~ Day Walker ~

by Larisa

Disclaimer: Yeah yeah yeah, I know and so do al of you.

Sex: Of course there is

Violence: Yep but not to bad.

Age thingie: Go away if ya ain't old enough!

Cajun Dialect: Beb-honey, Peeshwank-runt, Capon-coward, Couyon-stupid, Bebette-little monster, Rodee`-someone who never stays home, Mais-wel, Dit mon la verite,

you have got to be kidding.

Thanks to Lesia, Ri, Bardeyes and Webwarrior.

Day Walker

By Larisa

Hecate3366@frontiernet.net

Part 2

With the body now in the river and the women back home, Luka went up stairs to take a hot shower to wash away the blood and soak her bloody clothes in the sink.

Memphis paced back and forth worrying about what would happen if they had been seen dumping the body in the river. She had seen a fisherman on his boat a couple

hundred yards away and knew he had been watching them. She started stripping out of her clothes and went into Luka's bedroom and then into the steamy bathroom,

dropping the remainder of her clothes on the floor, she puled back the curtain and stepped in behind Luka.

"Please tel me we're not going to jail for this."

Startled, Luka turned around and wiped the soapsuds from her eyes. "What are you doing?"

"Washing your back now turn around and behave." She grabbed a bath sponge, soaped it and started rubbing in smal circles the broad back in front of her. "Now tel me

we're not going to jail, I saw a fisherman down there when we…"

"He doesn't care, that was T Jake my cousin. He'l make sure that the body goes away from here."

"Ohh so you do this kind of thing al the time?"

"No, just every once in a while, but they're al bad so it helps the community."

"OK, I don't like it and it'l take a while for me to get over the fact that I stabbed someone…" Luka turned and held Memphis' face between her wet hands.

"It was either you or him, I was going to take care of him but you beat me to it." She rested their foreheads together and felt Memphis' wals crumble; she puled her into her

arms and held her as the spray of the shower beat down on them. "I'l help you through this, I promise." A low moan rumbled in her chest when the smal hands around her

waist traveled down to cup and squeeze her ass. She was stil trying to get over the shock of Memphis in the shower with her and now she was running her hands al over her

wet body. "Memphis, should we be doing this?"

"Ohh yeah, we should have been doing this earlier tonight." She leaned back in Luka's arms and took in the slicked back hair and fire blue eyes. "I've been suffering since my

first set, and almost fel over on the second one." Bringing her lips to the area between Luka's breasts, she licked the water from her skin and then nipped the soft flesh. "Let's

get out of here before one of us drowns." Shutting off the water, she took Luka by the hand and led her to the bedroom. Flipping on the smal stereo, she tuned it to a station

that played soft rock and then turned the lights off.

"Memphis, I've never done this before."

"That's OK; we'l play it by ear." She moved closer and pressed their bodies together.

"We'l play it by ear…you've never…"

"Nope, I may be a hot hot stripper but I know zilch about what to do in the bedroom." Puling a dark head down, she captured soft lips, their kiss deepened and had them

faling sideways onto the bed. Limbs tangled and bodies slid against each other until they came up panting and flinching from the loud music blasting against the floorboards.

"Sprouts home." Luka groaned and buried her face against Memphis. "I think I'l beat the Hel outta her." She roled from the bed, went out the door and stopped when she felt

a hand grab her arm.

Fiery green eyes caught hers and then an evil grin appeared on Memphis' face. "Ohh let me do the honors!" She brushed past Luka, went halfway down the steps so that se

could see the living room and stopped. What she saw almost had her faling down the steps. Sprout and Lia were dancing badly around the living room and singing off key to

the song. Covering her ears, she went down the remaining steps, over to the stereo and turned it down. "Do you two mind, I had Luka in bed!" She stomped past the slackjawed tiny women and back up the steps.

Lia looked with pleading eyes at Sprout. "Can I live here with you guys, I don't take up much space, a dresser drawer in their bedroom would do?"

"Hel! I gotta better spot than a dresser drawer!" She took Lia's hand and dragged her up the steps. Sneaking to Luka's bedroom door, she grinned when she didn't see either

one of them. Running across the room and crawling up onto the bed, she signaled to Lia. "In here, they'l never know." She opened the smal doors of the compartment in the

headboard; they crawled inside and closed the doors. Seconds later, Luka and Memphis came back into the room, puled back the covers and climbed into bed.

"We have lots of time Luka, let's get some sleep, it's been a long day." She moved so that she was lying against Luka's side and rested her head on her wide shoulder.

"Maybe in the morning we can explore some more." She kissed soft lips gently, wrapped her arms around Memphis, grinned wickedly and threw a hand back to block the

doors on the compartment trapping the tiny women inside.

@@@@@@@@@@

Snuggling closer to the warm body in front of her, Luka breathed in the soft scent of the vanila shampoo Memphis used and the light scent that was al Memphis. A wide grin

came to her sleepy features when she heard a low grunt and a yelp come from the compartment. Kissing the nape of the little stripper's neck, she ran a hand down across her

stomach to stop on her hip. "You awake Memphis?"

"No, I'm dead to the world, don't wanna get up."

"Mais, I think Sprout and Lia are a little cramped and have suffered enough."

"Ya lost me on that one." She roled over to snuggle against Luka's chest and then noticed where her hand was resting against the smal doors. She was about to question its

position when she heard the noises coming from inside the compartment. "What do you have hidden in there?"

"Easier ta show ya what's in here." She puled the doors open to show Sprout and Lia curled together.

"What are they doing in there?" She asked in a whisper.

"Being perverts, hold your ears." She waited until Memphis covered her ears before puling a whistle off the nightstand and blowing it. Sprout and Lia sat bolt upright, smacked

their heads inside the compartment and fel out in a jumble above Luka and Memphis' heads.

"Are ya trying ta kil us?" Sprout growled, rubbed her eyes and then smacked Luka on her head. "Mean old fang face, no breakfast for you; I'm eating al your Count

Chocula!" She scampered backwards off the bed and puled a shel shocked Lia with her.

"Wanna sleep in for a while?" Luka asked and snuggled up to Memphis.

Memphis looked at the clock and sighed. "I have class in two hours and I need to go to my apartment and get my books and papers."

"I'l go with you…we'l take my truck over that way you can bring stuff with you."

"Wil we have time for al of that?"

"Maybe not but it'l be quicker driving than walking, you can grab some clothes and we'l get the rest later today."

After a quick kiss, they were up and rushing around the bedroom getting dressed. Taking the steps two at a time, they blew into the kitchen for coffee and to terrorize Sprout

and Lia.

"Sleep good bebette's?"

"Shud-up fang face, my neck is kiling me!"

Lia smacked Sprout and glared at the other two women. "I can't feel my legs!"

"Too bad ya little pervs, we're taking the truck be back in a little while."

"You mean you're gonna drive?" Sprout clutched her chest and swooned into Lia. "You ain't alowed until you get your license back." She snorted at the blush that covered her

cousin's face and the raised eyebrow of Memphis.

"I know that's why Memphis is driving." She stuck her tongue out at them and puled Memphis out the door.

"So you can drive, you're just not alowed, why?"

"I got caught driving on the side walk during Mardi gras last year, wasn't my fault the damn suck face was running down the sidewalk."

"Ohh great, I'm in love with a criminal." She flinched at what she had blurted out and looked into the shocked eyes that had snapped onto hers. "So much for being subtle." She

grinned and then gave out a yelp when she was picked up and held against Luka's chest.

"Is it my sexy fangs or the whole package?"

"The whole package, the fangs are a plus."

A frustrated look came over Luka's face; she dropped her head down to rest against Memphis. "This changes everything, we can't you know…sleep together…we can sleep

sleep but not…sleep together."

"What are you babbling about?" Memphis wiggled free of Luka's arms, cupped her face and stared into frustrated eyes. "We can sleep sleep but not sleep together?"

"I'm a good catholic girl, my mama says that I can't you know…before I'm married." She mumbled something and crossed her chest.

"Uhhmm…Luka, you just crossed in the wrong directions and I know for a fact that the Catholics don't cal their God O'Del. You're a gypsy; from a long line of gypsy's so

don't give me that shit. So what is it?"

Luka dropped her head, with shyness unlike anything Memphis had ever seen, she whispered. "I thought we got al hot and bothered because of what you did at the bar, I

didn't know you loved me. I know how I feel about you but I didn't know it was mutual and the married part was me babbling not like I don't want to marry you…I'm babbling

and you're gonna be late to class."

"Ohh for the love of O'Del Luka." She laughed and puled Luka to her. "You are the only one that I've ever danced for or with like that; I would never do that with anyone I

didn't love. As far as last night, we almost did sleep together in that way, what changed?"

"Uhhmm…my nerve, I'm a gutless wonder, a capon with a great big yelow strip up my back and I probably would have had a heart attack!"

Memphis puled her head down for a deep kiss. "I know CPR, we'l work on that yelow strip, I love you Luka."

She gave Memphis a passionate heart felt kiss and then ushered her towards the shed where her truck was. "Love you too Memphis; now let's go before they throw away that

paper with the doctor title on it." Memphis drove with a goofy grin on her face, peeking at the tal woman who captured her heart and faling in love with her al over again. She

felt her heart swel with just a glance at the classic features that were Luka.

"Mama says its beyond intense and it's more than the little death." She blurted out, glanced sideways and saw an eyebrow quirk.

"Beb, just looking at you is intense."

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Broussard yeled at the top of his lungs, his pets scattered and ran from the room to escape his wrath. They knew that he would never give them the gift of mortality in the

mood he was in, the gift of death was more like it. He had gone balistic when he was informed that the plan had failed and that the stripper was stil alive. The man he had sent

to get her had been picked up in a shrimping net that morning. He had no worries with the police since he had many pets on the force. He knew that he would have to get the

stripper himself and if luck was with him, be able to take out both she and Luka at the same time. He had to think of how to do this, he couldn't go into their house unless

invited and that was out of the question since they knew who he was. He would have to catch them one night on their way to or from the bar. It was risky but shit happened al

the time in New Orleans and no one questioned it. He flirted with the idea of going after her mother but it was a wel-known fact that the retired elder day walker could turn a

vampire to dust with just a look. He was not about to mess with a gypsy witch and that was al there was to it.

Dropping into a Queen Anne chair, he crossed his legs and rested his chin on praying hands.

"I can't get to your main weakness Luka, but there is another weakness you have and she's three foot tal!" Getting up, he grabbed his black cape and headed out of his room

to travel the tunnels to the nearest exit. He knew by the time he got there, the sun would be going down and it would be safe for him to venture out with out danger of

becoming dust.

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"Ohh my rodeeìs in love!" Mama wrapped Luka in a tight hug and kissed her cheek. "It's about time some woman made you honest."

"What am I that transparent?"

"Like glass Rodee, you have a glow about you." She hugged her again and sniffed her.

"Mama that is sooo gross, stop it."

"Stil a virgin, what are ya waiting for O'Del to bless you?"

"I can hope can't I." She lifted her hands and blushed when she thought of what almost happened the night before. She was hopeless when it came to holding anything back

from her mama, she told her about Sprout and her new cohort Lia hiding in the headboard compartment and her and Memphis' declaration of love for each other. She was

afraid of what would happen when they consummated their relationship.

"Beb, it's something that is shared equaly. You two are already one soul by the gift. This wil join you completely. Afterward, you wil be able to feel each other's emotions when

apart, read what is held back from others by a look alone, it is something that no other wil ever experience."

Luka sat down into a chair and looked up with tear filed eyes. "I'm scared mama, what happens if one of us doesn't survive trying to take out the master?"

"That is not even in the cards Beb, don't worry, you two wil be together for many years." She puled her daughters head to her chest and held her. "She's a special one Luka;

she's tougher than what she looks."

@@@@@@@@@@

"Come on Lia, can't you stand stil?"

"Sure if you weren't standing on my shoulders! Hurry up already geez!" She weaved across the front porch with Sprout standing on her shoulders to replace the front porch

light. She wanted to just stand on a chair but they found out that they stil were not tal enough. Now with the two of them doing a clumsy waltz across the deck, she knew one

of them was going to end up on her head, she hoped it was the little day walker.

"Excuse me but I'm looking for a Mrs. Van Winkle."

Lia turned with jerky movements to see a tal dark man standing on the porch, Sprout let out a yel and then a loud thud when she hit the porch. Lia tried to run; the man

grabbed her and knocked her out with one punch to her jaw. Both tiny women were picked up and carried off into the dark.

@@@@@@@@@

Memphis walked up on to the porch and stopped when she heard the sound of glass under her foot. Moving cautiously, she reached in the door and flipped the switch for the

outside light. When nothing happened, she went into the house to get a flash light and cal for the bebette's. Finding a flashlight in the kitchen junk drawer, she went back out to

the porch and sniffed the air. A coppery scent came to her nose and made her heart thump in her chest. Scanning the porch, she found the package of light bulbs, replaced the

burnt out one and turned the light on. A few feet from the door, she saw droplets of fresh blood. Panic set in, she ran back in the house yeling for Sprout and Lia. She stopped

and listened hard and heard footsteps on the porch, running back to the front door she stopped when she saw Luka.

"They're not here and there's blood on the porch!" She grabbed Luka's hand, puled her to the spot, and pointed.

"It's Sprouts blood." She remarked and then noticed the broken glass. "Maybe she cut herself and Lia took her…"

"She wouldn't need stitches Luka." She closed her eyes and concentrated and grabbed onto

Luka's arm. "Someone took them, I can smel him." Luka sniffed, a snarling expression came over her face and ice to her eyes.

"Broussard has them," She took Memphis by her hand and rushed them to the basement. Puling down weapons from the wal, she tossed her cel phone to Memphis. "Cal

mama and tel her what's happened."

@@@@@@@@@@@@

Sprout wiped the blood from her chin on her shoulder and glared at Broussard. "Ohh you are gonna be in soooo much TROUBLE! Luka and Memphis wil come for us and

then your pets wil clean you up with a DUSTBUSTER!" She struggled against the ropes that tied her and Lia together. "Better yet! I'l let Lia get you! She's a demon and she

hates MEN!"

Lia puled forward and wiggled to get Sprouts attention. "Don't tel him that! Geez, I ain't no demon and I don't need him biting me!"

Sprout whispered. "Just spit and say funny words and he'l never know the difference."

Broussard laughed and tortured them with a hot poker. "Come on little day walker, show me what you've got, it's been a while since I played with one of your kind."

"Fuck off suck face!" She kicked out her feet trying to get his knees. "You just wait; Luka wil rip your arms off when she gets here!"

"Ohh I don't think she'l find you two, you see," He jabbed her foot with the poker and snorted at her growl. "She doesn't know where you are, hard to come for you when

that's a major problem."

"Don't under estimate my cousin, she'l find us."

Broussard tossed the poker back into the fire barrel and left them under guard. "If they as much as sneeze, kil the black one."

"Sprout, if I get loose, I'm gonna kil you!"

"Calm down, Luka and Memphis wil find us. O'Del knows I bled the whole way here and I'm stil bleeding. Asshole knocked out one of my chewing teeth." She spit blood on

the floor and watched the pet screw up his face and turn away. "In my back pocket is a knife, see if you can get to it and cut us loose."

"You just want me to play with your ass."

"If I'm gonna die, I want to at least die after someone's groped me."

@@@@@@@@@@

"Here take this backpack; it has al of Sprout's weapons in it."

"What kind of weapon's?" Memphis asked as she slipped her arms into the straps.

"Little ones, turn around and let me check your belt." Luka checked to make sure that the concussion grenades strapped to the belt Memphis wore would not come off during

battle. She also checked the sai holsters on her boots to make sure they were tight enough. "OK, looks like we're set."

"Where are we going?"

"There's a set of under ground passages outside of the French Quarter, very few know about them. Broussard is down there somewhere and we're gonna find him."

They left the house by way of the back and cut down dark streets towards the French Quarter. If people saw them, they paid no attention to them at al; they looked like two

women going to a bondage bar in their black leather and motor cycle boots. Luka took Memphis by the hand and led her down an embankment near one of the older buildings

in the quarter. Checking for pets or suck faces, she trotted them towards the grate in the ground. "Once we get down there, you kil anything that moves and I mean anything."

"One thing before we go down there." She puled Luka's head down and kissed her deeply for long moments. "I love you Luka."

"Love you to and don't worry, we'l get them back."

@@@@@@@@@@@@

The passage way was dark and damp, lights every so often lit up the dark area. Luka stopped and held a hand out to Memphis, cocking her head to the side; she puled her

sword and slowly made her way to an opening off the tunnel.

"Hey I thought it was poker night?" She lunged forward and took the head of the first vampire. Memphis came in behind her with her sai's at the ready.

"You could have warned me Luka!" She took in the room ful of vampires and dodged as one came rushing her. "What do you think I am Buffy?"

Luka stabbed another vampire and cut another ones arm off. "You are blond if ya haven't noticed." Memphis roared and scissored both Sais around a vampires neck, dust

erupted and showered down on her. "Just great, I'm now a blond bimbo! Take that suck face!" She jabbed her Sais into a vampire's chest, spun around and took the head off

another. Fifteen minutes later, one vampire was left; he huddled in a corner with his hands over his head.

"Don't dust me, I'm alergic to dust!" He sneezed and wiped his nose on his sleeve. Brown eyes blinked and looked up at the two day walkers. "Please I don't bite anyone, I'm

the janitor here…see!" He held up a bottle of herbal scented 409 and a cleaning rag.

Luka and Memphis looked to each other; Memphis shrugged her shoulders and grinned. "Could happen right?"

The terrified vampire waved his rag at them. "Of course it could, do you think this place cleans itself? Believe me," He chuckled with more courage than he felt. "These guys

are pigs I tel you, empty bags of blood al over the tables, dead bodies stuck in the closets. It's horrible!"

Luka leaned forward, her dark brows drew down over her aquiline nose, baring her fangs, she growled in a deep voice. "What do you know of the master's arrival?" The

vampire shuddered and tried to burrow into the wal.

"Ohh for O'Del's sake Luka, be nice." Memphis placed a calming hand on the vampire's shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze. "The master, he's supposed to come here and

take over Algiers, do you know anything about that?"

"Wel, as the janitor of this dreary place, I've seen and heard certain things that are not normal," He flinched at Luka's snarl. "OK, so I was snooping around Broussard's

quarters and I saw a note from Romania, it said that Princess Anna would be arriving in the area on December 2. He's to meet her on Algiers to discuss the take over."

"OK, now where are my cousin and her friend?"

"Ohh you mean those little beasts that he brought in here, they're in his quarters."

"How many suck faces does he have watching them and how many lurking in these tunnels?"

"Geez Luka, you think I know everything?" He jumped behind Memphis and shook. "OK, there's ten more wandering around here and I think he left one guarding the little

beasts."

Luka moved out of the room with Memphis folowing, she stopped and waved at the vampire. "Mais, come on what are you waiting for?" Memphis crossed her arms over her

chest and tapped a foot. "You know they'l kil you if you stay here."

"But what about you two, that's what you two do is kil us."

"We're not gonna kil you, so come on, you can help."

He came up to her and grinned. "Thanks, is Luka always so…nasty?"

"It's her way, now come on before she has al the fun."

@@@@@@@@@@

Sprout's expression showed extreme pleasure; a low moan came from her lips. "Move a little to your left Lia…ohhh right there…scratch harder!"

"You're a sick bitch Sprout!" Lia growled. "I'm trying ta get your knife, not scratching your ass!"

"Mais, since your hands in my pocket I figured…," She straightened in her chair when she heard screams coming from outside the door. "I think the Calvary's here." Wiggling

with her restraints, she tried to get free in case it wasn't Luka and Memphis.

"Are ya trying to rip my hand off or what?"

"I'm trying to get loose, that might not be them!" She yeled when a tal dark haired vampire came stumbling into the room and fel over his own feet to land at her chair. "Just

our luck, they send in the jester to knock us off."

"I'm Jasper, Luka sent me." He got to his knees and started untying the ropes from the chair. "We have to hurry before Broussard gets back."

"Ohh shit! Too late there Jester, he's right behind you!"

"It just shows that you can't even trust the low life janitor." He puled a knife from his belt and spun it through his fingers. "I guess I'l just have to get a cleaning lady, they're

easier to control."

"You'l need one alright but it'l be to clean up your dust asshole!" Luka spun her sword in her hand and grinned when Broussard spun on his heel to face her. "About time you

showed up for your own party."

"You can kil me but the master wil stil take over Algiers and its only time before we rule the world."

"I don't think so." She brought her sword around and nicked his upper arm. "I'm going to take you piece by piece and then toss them into the nice bright sunlight!"

Sprout and Lia struggled against the ropes and threatened Jasper to hurry up. Once free, they ran from the door and ran into a gasping Memphis. "Thank O'Del you guys got

here, gimme a knife so I can help Luka!" Sprout jumped up and down pointing to the knives strapped to Memphis' harness.

"I have your stuff in here." She puled the backpack off, handed it to Sprout and rushed into the room to help Luka. "Ohh goody, she brought my toys!" She puled out two

smal crossbows and quivers of silver bolts, handing one to Lia, she showed her how to use it. "Just aim for their chests or heads and hold your breath." Jasper stopped beside

them and pointed to a tunnel off to their left.

"That's where the others are, they'l be here soon and then it'l be over for us."

Sprout roled her eyes at him, puled a short sword from the backpack and handed it to him. "You're gonna have ta help us, you know what to do." Jasper looked at the sharp

sword and shrugged his shoulders.

"I didn't like the job anyway, let's do it."

@@@@@@@@@@@

"This kinda looks unfair to me Luka." Memphis said from where she stood just inside the doorway. "He has a tiny little paring knife and you have a sword."

"It's not my fault he's il prepared." Shrugging her shoulders, she re-sheathed her sword and wiggled her fingers. "Is this fair enough?"

"Mais, Luka, now I think you made a mistake!" She jumped when Luka did a back flip away from Broussard. Landing on her feet, she did a shoulder rol away from him,

jumped up and kicked him in the back. "Maybe I should tie my hands behind my back?"

Broussard snickered at them. "That's un-necessary; I am wel versed in the art of fighting." "I was just warming up!" He flung the knife at Luka and swore when she caught it

and threw it into his thigh. "Damn you Luka!"

"Spoil sport, such a big suck face you are!" She puled a knife from her sheath and threw it into his other thigh. What she was not expecting was for him to run at her, fly across

the room, and knock her to the floor. Gasping for breath, she looked to where he was attached to the ceiling like a spider. "Hey that move wasn't in my suck face hand book!"

A loud robust laugh came from Broussard. "Neither was this one!" He dropped from the ceiling towards her, his fangs bared and hands held out in claws. Memphis ran

forward with her Sais over her head and a scream piercing the air. Broussard landed on top of Luka and swore.

"You fight dirty!" Flames shot up around the silver spike and then dust floated down to make Luka cough.

"I realy need to invest in dust masks." She spit, sneezed and crawled backwards across the floor from the fiery green eyes that were singeing her skin. "Beb, you wouldn't hurt

me would you?" She leapt to her feet and dodged Memphis. "I…ohhh shit!" She spun on her heel when Sprout, Lia and Jasper came screaming into the room with vampires on

their heels. Luka puled a concussion grenade off her belt and showed it to them; they ran behind her and took cover against the wal. A maniacal laugh burst from her and a

wicked gleam came to her eyes when she puled the pin and tossed into the middle of the vampires. Ducking and turning her back, she felt the wave wash over her and then

ringing in her ears. When she looked under her arm, bodies lay twitching on the floor. Waving to everyone, it took a short period and the floor was ankle deep in dust.

Looking at Sprout, she grinned and waved at her, she didn't expect her tiny cousin to kick her in her shin and be folowed by everyone else either slapping her in her stomach

of kicking her.

"Hey this ain't fair!" She yeled to deaf ears. "No respect for my hard work could have let them bite al of ya!" She stopped when Memphis turned and glared at her, she

mouthed her next words to the smal stripper. "Love you Memphis Bele."

Memphis advanced on her, grabbed the front of her leather jacket and yanked her down so they were nose to nose. She captured her lips lustfuly and didn't release her until

she was on her knees. "You just wait til we get home." She mouthed and then yanked the tal day walker to her feet.

@@@@@@@@@@@@

Muffled yelps and curses came from the crate in the back of Luka's truck, not because of the way Memphis was driving at 15mph but from two tiny women jumping up and

down on it. Memphis looked into the rear view mirror and snorted. "Think he'l survive the trip?"

"Maybe, I don't know if he'l survive the bar scene though." She looked over to Memphis and smiled. "He's gonna be Robbie's new dish washer, the boss man owes me and I

owe Jasper."

"Why do you owe Jasper?"

"Cuz, he helped my family and family is al that counts in my eyes." She lifted Memphis' hand and kissed her bruised knuckles. "You're included in that ya know." She returned

the smile that Memphis gave her and felt that for once she was complete.

Memphis parked the truck close to the back door so that they could get the crate into the house; the sun was low but stil too strong for Jasper to be out in it without suffering

from nasty burns. With them at each handle on the crate, it looked like a funeral procession; Luka was glad that they had no neighbors to question what went on in the large

house. That would be the last thing they needed was the police showing up and asking questions about them carrying a coffin like crate into the house. Once inside, they let a

woozy Jasper out and sat him down in a kitchen chair. He looked around with wide eyes and grinned.

"It's been years since I was in a real house, this place is nice!" He looked over to Luka and winked at her. "Got any beer?"

Her eyebrows rose to her bangs at his request. "Beer? Vampires don't drink beer."

"Hey I never said I was a vampire, I'm a Chaos demon…wel that's what I was trained for but I couldn't get the tactics down good enough. I did cause the largest panty raid at

the colege but the elders said that didn't count so I ended up the gardener." He snickered and roled his eyes at them. "That lasted until I pruned the shrubs to look like giant

tits."

Memphis waved her hands in the air in aspiration and dropped onto Luka's lap. "You made us carry you in a crate al over the damn place and you can go outside?"

"Ohh sure, but it's been about 60 years since I've been in the sun. I didn't want to end up looking like a lobster."

Sprout looked at her cousin and roled her eyes. "Men! They're al the same with or with out fangs. Come on Lia, I hear the stereo caling us." Seconds later, the house was

throbbing with dance music and Sprout and Lia were dancing around the living room like tiny maniacs. Luka showed Jasper to a room and then she and Memphis went to

theirs. No sooner had the door closed than Luka was dragged to the bathroom. Memphis dropped clothes along the way, then turned on Luka, and puled her clothes off to

add to the pile.

"I feel like I crawled through the swamp." She turned on the shower, tested the water and then puled Luka in behind her. "And you Rodee`," She pushed Luka up against the

shower wal and leaned into her body. "Don't you ever pul a stunt like you did tonight with Broussard, I refuse to loose you!" She leaned up and captured Luka's lips, at first

the kiss was soft and gentle, and then turned to hunger. Puling back, Memphis looked into darkened eyes and wiggled her brows. "I'l wash your back, if you wash mine."

"I'l do more than that." Luka had Memphis moaning and holding onto her with desperate hands to keep from sliding to the shower floor. Her soapy hands traveled every inch

of her body with a maddening slowness. She pressed their bodies together and slipped downward to place kisses on each hipbone.

"Luka…I need…to lay down." She gripped Luka's shoulders with strong fingers and thrust her hips forward when soft wet lips kissed the area above wet blond curls. The

water was turned off and she was swept up into strong arms, Luka made her way over to the bed and gently laid her down and stood looking down at her.

"You're so beautiful Beb."

"Not even close to what you are, come here." Memphis held out her hand and puled Luka to her, opening her legs; she wrapped them around Luka's and just lay with the tal

day walker for long moments. Brushing wet hair back from Luka's face, she pressed a soft kiss to her forehead and dipped her head to kiss each closed eye. "Every thing pales

next to you Luka." She kissed Luka's lips softly and then licked at her lips until she was granted entrance. Roling them over, she straddled Luka's hips and ran her hands down

across muscular pecs to the washboard stomach. Stretching out across the larger body, she nipped at Luka's chin and worked her way up to capture her lips in a deep kiss that

held al her emotions. Soft moans were swalowed and tongues dueled together until air was needed. Memphis sat up and long fingers brushed through short wet hair and then

down across strong shoulders to cup firm breasts. Luka was amazed at how Memphis reacted to her touch, her head was thrown back and her back arched to offer more of

herself.

"I don't know what to do Memphis." She whispered and looked into smoldering green eyes.

"Keep doing what you're doing." She moved her hips against Luka and heard a deep moan. Lowering herself back down onto her lover's body, she nipped lightly at the side

of her neck and felt her thrust her hips against her. Puling the soft flesh between her lips, she sucked and moved against the body to an ancient rhythm. Her senses became

over powering, wetness flowed from her and she bit hard enough to draw blood. Tasting the coppery flavor on her tongue, she whimpered and puled away to look into dark

blue eyes. "I love you Luka." Kissing her lips feverishly, she moved down, licked, and kissed her way to a firm breast. Teasing a hardened nipple with her tongue, she grinned

when Luka let out a verse in Cajun French.

"J'ai gros couer Beb."

"I'l make you feel like screaming your lungs out." She puled the nipple between her lips and sucked while roling its twin between thumb and fore finger. Switching her

attentions to the other one had Luka gripping the sheets in her hands. She looked down, watched her lover, fel back when a smal hand ran down her ribcage, and caressed

her hip. She could feel her juices flowing from her center and coating the insides of her legs. Moving her legs further apart, she gasped when she felt soft curls brush against her

throbbing clit. "Ohh…God…I'm…" She arched her back when a warm tongue ran down her stomach and played in her cropped curls.

Memphis rested her chin on the soft curls and looked up at her lover. "What do you want Luka?"

"Down…go down…," She muttered between panting.

Memphis scooted further down between Luka's muscular thighs, inhaled her scent and licked at the glistening outer lips. She moaned deeply with her first taste and licked

Luka's entire offering from her lips. Using her fingers, she spread the lips open, ran her tongue across a pulsing center, and heard a loud gasp from Luka. Holding onto Luka's

thigh, she held her in place and penetrated her center with her tongue. She almost went over the edge when tight muscles puled at her tongue. Feeling Luka try to move

beneath her, she thrust her tongue in and out and then rubbed an engorged clit with her thumb. She was not prepared for the loud yel or the gushing of juices into her mouth.

She drank hungrily and moaned with each tremor that shook her lover. She felt fingers in her hair and then clutching her shoulders to pul her upward. Luka wrapped her arms

around her and gasped into her neck. "Love you Memphis." She cried into her neck and held her tighter, Memphis felt the tears and puled back to see tears flowing from her

lover's eyes.

"What's wrong Luka?"

"Not a thing." She roled them over so that she was lying halfway on top of Memphis. Bringing their lips together, she tasted herself on her lover's lips and tongue, feeling her

arousal soar again; she pressed against a muscular thigh and moaned into Memphis' mouth. Running her hands down a sweat glistened thigh, she puled it up over her hip and

let her fingers trail across her lover's ass. Memphis took her hand, placed it at her apex, and moved both their hands in her wetness.

"I need to feel you in me." She thrust her hips into Luka's hand and gasped at the feeling. "Please…Luka…so close." She thrust forward and gasped when a finger slipped part

way inside of her center. Luka held fast and waited for Memphis to move against her. Nipping at the soft flesh of her neck, she growled when smal fingers brushed against her

center and entered her. Slowly, they moved against each other until passions carried them to the peak. Simultaneously, they pierced the virginal veil, bit down into each other's

neck and felt a fire so intense take over that they thought they had both died. With each tremor that tore through them, they bit harder and drank of each other's blood bringing

their souls together in ecstasy and then calmness. Memphis was the first to stir; she lifted her head and saw her lover's blood trickling down from the neat holes in her neck to

trail down across her breast. Licking the blood from her skin brought a warm feeling to Memphis that was unexplainable. Placing soft kisses over the wounds, she rested her

head a strong shoulder and let her fingers caress the soft skin of Luka's breast.

"What are you doing Beb?" Luka asked with a roughened voice.

"Playing with your tit, is that OK?"

"I'd rather you played with something else that's come back to life." She opened her eyes and saw the blood that had run down her lover's chest. "Ohh please tel me I didn't

hurt you." Memphis moved up in the bed and hovered over Luka.

"No you didn't hurt me," She ran her fingertips across the marks on Luka's neck. "Some hickey ya have here Fang." She smiled and placed a soft kiss to the area. "It's gonna

be Hel to explain."

Luka leaned forward, licked the blood from Memphis, and moaned at the coppery taste. "Mama was right, that was intense." She nuzzled her face between her lover's breasts

and sighed. "I wanna taste al of you Beb." She leaned her head back to show her darkening eyes. Holding onto Memphis' hips, she moved them into the position that she

wanted and nuzzled the soft wet curls over her face. Reaching out with her tongue, she dragged it between wet swolen lips and moaned with Memphis. Grabbing hold of the

headboard, Memphis rocked her hips against Luka's mouth. She felt her juices flowing and jerked when a warm tongue penetrated her. Luka puled her one hand down from

where she gripped the headboard and moved it to her clit. Moving both their fingers over the bundle of nerves, she then took her hand away to touch herself. Puling her tongue

out, she flicked it across her lover's center and then joined Memphis' finger where it was rubbing against her own clit. Muscles started to bunch and tremble with the onslaught

of climax, moans and grunts came from them as they climbed higher. Luka felt Memphis climax and then folowed right behind her with a deep moan into her nether lips. They

trembled and shuddered together until their bodies calmed and Memphis moved down to cover Luka's sweat dampened body. Sated and exhausted, they slipped into sleep

wrapped in each other's arms.

@@@@@@@@@@

Luka roled over and buried her face between her lover's breasts; she often wondered why she had a fascination with breasts and blamed her mama for not breast-feeding her.

Placing kisses on the silky flesh, she sighed and wrapped her arms around her tighter.

"What time is it?" Memphis ran her fingers through silky dark hair and moaned at the feeling of warm lips and tongue worshipping her body. "Doesn't matter…oohh bless your

tongue!" She arched her back and gripped the sheets when Luka slipped her tongue between her nether lips.

@@@@@@@@@@@@

Sprout and Lia covered their ears and cringed when the scream echoed upstairs. Sprout frowned at Lia, puled out her walet and handed her a twenty. "I need ta have a talk

with a little stripper." She shoved her now empty walet back in her pocket and ran to the kitchen. "Lotsa vitamins, protein drink and what the HELL are you doing?" She gave

Jasper a glare and wiggled her fingers at the trash bags sitting on the table.

"Ohhh I went out for a little walk last night by the colege." He puled something out of the bag and held it up in front of himself. "So…whatcha think?"

"Nice Teddy, but reds not your color." She rifled through the bag and puled out a sequined G-sting. "Ohhh sexy!" She looked at the tag saw the name Victoria Secret, puled it

over her head and ran from the kitchen screaming for Lia.

The bedroom door flung against the wal, Sprout and Lia came charging into the room and jumped up and down on the bed. Luka and Memphis flopped around and tried to

toss the tiny women from the bed.

"What in the Hel?" Luka mumbled and grabbed onto Memphis to keep her from faling off the bed.

"Mama's comin, mama's comin!" Sprout yeled and danced around Luka.

"And you're in TROUBLE!" Lia sang off key, tripped over Luka and landed with her face between Memphis' breasts. "I'm in Elysia!"

"If you don't get off me you little perv, you wil defiantly end up in the Elysian Field and I don't mean the back yard!" Memphis roled Lia off of her and then turned to Sprout.

"How do you know mama's comin?"

"Easy," She puled the neck of her T-shirt down and showed a round red spot that looked like a burn. "See what ya two did to me! Now you're in TROUBLE!" She jumped

off the bed, fel on her stomach and scrambled on al fours out the door. Lia skipped after her, fel over her body and they ended up in a tangle of little arms and legs.

"O'Del they're idiots!" Luka dropped back in the bed and covered her face with her hands. "Switched at birth, they had to switch her at birth."

"Luka, just how did we…," She ran a finger over the raised red symbols on Luka's chest and then looked down at her own. "Ohh boy, how did…"

"Uuhmm…last night when we…ahhh…bit each other…"

"The power of your joining was transferred to the medalions." Mama stood in the doorway with Sprout and Lia hiding behind her long flowing gypsy skirt. "Who's that guy in

the kitchen with al the fancy underwear?"

"Underwear?" Luka puled her hands from her face and gave mama a raised eyebrow.

"Jasper raided the sorority houses and stole al the girls' panties!" Sprout offered and showed them the G-string on her head. "I'm a pussy head!"

@@@@@@@@@

Everyone was around the kitchen table coming up with a plan to take out the master when she arrived on December 2; she wanted to blow up boats the second they came into

the area. Memphis smacked her in the shoulder and shook her head. There was no way they could do that; they would need to be able to tel which one was the right boat. T

Jake would have to help them in that area, he knew al the local fishermen and shrimpers. Using one of his boats, Luka and Memphis would be waiting for his signal, while

Sprout and Lia waited on the shore of Algiers as their back up. Mama and Jasper would be on the other shore in case the master went that direction. Which scared Luka; she

didn't want her mama involved in this in any way shape or form. Luka sighed and rubbed her temples.

"Mama, if anything goes wrong I want you to run like Hel and hide."

"Peeshwank, I have faith in your capabilities in handling that bitch Anne, she's not as tough as she wants everyone to believe. She may be old but she's…not wise. Her ego is

bigger than her brain but don't under estimate her."

Luka nodded her head and grasped her mama's hand. "I'l stop her mama." Even my life. Memphis felt fear clutch her heart, she felt the underlying meaning of what Luka

meant and didn't like it one bit. Grinding her teeth, she snarled. "Ohh no you won't!" She got up from the table and pounded up the steps to their bedroom.

"What did I do?" Luka asked with wide eyes to her mama.

"Remember I told you that you that you two were connected in ways that no one could understand?"

Luka covered her face with her hands and moaned. "She knows what I was thinking?"

"Maybe or she felt it, your life is not to be wasted on stopping Anne. We wil get her even if it's not on December 2nd now get your ass up there and talk to her." She reached

into her bra and puled out a smal cloth bag. "You're gonna need this." She handed it to Luka with a smal smile.

"I hope its poison, in case I can't fix what I've done." She bounced the bag in her hand, kissed her mama's cheek and ran for the stairs.

@@@@@@@@@

Memphis kicked at the bed, misjudged and smacked her toes on the sturdy leg. Howling in pain, she dropped the floor and grabbed at her quickly sweling toes. Tears

streaked her face from emotion and physical pain. Using one hand, she punched the floor in frustration over Luka. "Doesn't our relationship mean anything to her that she would

give her life to save…Ohhh Gods…mankind." She crawled onto the bed, puled Luka's pilow to her chest and sobbed. She had never been a selfish person, but loosing Luka

was something she just couldn't do, mankind or not. She couldn't live with out her.

@@@@@@@@

Luka stood outside the closed door to their bedroom; she rested her forehead against it and tried to find the courage to face the little stripper. Clutching the smal bag in her

hand, she took a deep breath and quietly opened the door. She didn't know what to do or say when she saw the shuddering form wrapped around her pilow. Moving slowly

to the bed, she sat down on the edge and was quickly kicked to the floor by a strong leg. Sitting there in shock, she was about to crawl from the room when Memphis came

over the side and landed on her. A deep snarl and bared fangs sent a shiver of fear through Luka, she knew her lover was mad, she had no idea she was this mad. Holding her

hands up to defend herself was useless when Memphis pinned her arms to the floor.

"You wil not give your life for mankind! Not ever again!"

Luka lie on the floor looking into the enraged green eyes of her lover. "What do you mean not ever again?"

"You never pay attention to your dreams do you?"

"They're just dreams why should I?" She had never even thought about them except for that the subconscious mind was working out its problems. She looked into the snarling

face with the fiery green eyes and swalowed loudly. "Memphis?"

"Just shud-up and clear your mind." She released one of Luka's arms, pressed her hand over her forehead and closed her eyes. "Relax and let your mind go." She closed her

eyes and sent her thoughts through to her lover; she just hoped that it worked the way it used to. It had been years since she had sent her thoughts out to someone because it

usualy freaked the person out, she knew that Luka was a strong person both mentaly and physicaly and would be able to handle what she was doing. She jerked when she

connected with Luka, a low whimper puled its way up from her very soul when she watched the scenes float past her minds eye.

Luka laid quietly, her mind blank and then her body jerked and stiffened when she felt her mind invaded. At first, it was a soft caress that she recognized as her lover but

nothing could prepare her for what happened next. Scenes from something like a movie flashed in front of her, the pain that radiated from the scenes made her flinch; she could

actualy feel it in her body. Blood was everywhere, screams of the dying. Then the scene changed to a smal blonde kneeling with the most painful expression she had ever

seen. Tears flowed down her pale face to drip off her chin; she turned and heaved her guts onto the ground. Luka gasped; as she was able to look through the green tear filed

eyes at the decapitated body of a tal woman hanging between trees. Confused as to why she had to see this woman and what it had to do with the smal blonde who had a

striking resemblance to her lover. The scene changed to one of the smal blonde warrior fighting with a sword and then walking to where a smal table sat in distinction with a

head upon it. She felt her soul scream when she saw her own face looking back at her. She then knew that it had been her body she had seen suspended between the trees.

Images flew past until she was at the top of a snowy mountain watching the sunset with her arm wrapped around the smal blonde. The utter feeling of loss that squeezed her

heart and the words that ran through her mind tore what little bit of soul that she had left to pieces.

"I can't come back this time."

Memphis colapsed on top of her lover's body, sobs racked her smal frame and tears flowed from her eyes. She wrapped her arms around Luka, refusing to let her go. Luka's

voice was barely a whisper, her voice strained with what she had seen and felt. "Beb look at me, I promise that I won't risk my life." She held Memphis tightly, kissed her head

and waited for the sobs to quiet. "I wil never leave you ever again."

She squeezed the bag in her hand and felt the objects inside press into her flesh, curious as to what was inside; she used a finger to open the mouth a little but couldn't see what

was inside. Giving Memphis a squeeze, she tilted her head up by her chin and gazed into bloodshot eyes. "I love you Memphis Andrews and I'l never leave you." She wiped

the tears from her cheeks with her fingertips and tried to think of how to broach what Memphis had done to her.

"I've always been able to do that." She grinned at the wide blue eyes. "And no I can't realy read your mind; I see everything in those baby blues."

"Damn I'm made of glass." She sighed and ran her fingers across a soft cheek. "I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking earlier when I…you…know. I thought mama was gonna beat my

ass for being so stupid. Can you forgive me?"

"Nothing to forgive, you now know what I know and that should be enough to keep you on the right road."

They got up off the floor and lay down on the bed facing each other; Luka squeezed the bag again and let her curiosity win over. She opened the bag, reached in with a finger

and blushed with what she puled out. "Sick mama, realy sick and perverted!"

Green eyes tried to see what Luka had in her hand; she grabbed a thick wrist and wrestled with Luka. "What's sick?"

"Mama told me that I would need these, I don't even think so!" She held the items up to Memphis and snorted at the shocked look on her face.

"Mama thinks we need nipple clamps?" She took them from Luka and turned them over in her hand. "Maybe we can put them on the tips of Sprout's ears?" Luka emptied the

other items into her hand and knew the reason mama had given her the bag. She slid off the bed and kneeled beside it to gaze into curious green eyes.

"To show you that I meant what I said about never leaving you, I want to ask you something." She waited until Memphis nodded her head, she cleared her throat and felt her

ears burn with nervousness. "I realy suck at stuff like this, I love you Memphis…wil you marry me?" She held out a diamond and two solid gold rings and waited with a held

breath.

"Luka…you don't have to marry me to prove anything, your word is enough."

"I would stil ask you even if I hadn't screwed up earlier…Memphis…"

Memphis held out her right hand and watched as the diamond and gold ring were slipped onto her finger. Tears filed her eyes as she looked down at the rings and then into

love filed blue eyes. "I love you Luka Rubidoux." She puled Luka to her and kissed her passionately before puling away to wipe the tears coursing down high cheekbones.

"How does Mrs. Memphis Rubidoux sound?"

"Perfect Beb, just perfect."

"Good, I'm tired of people thinking that I'm related to Julie Andrews and I know that stupid song about deer." She slipped the other ring onto Luka's finger and placed a kiss

on it.

@@@@@@@@@

Hours later, they made it back down stairs with huge grins on their faces; mama took one look at the fresh bruises and bites and knew what they had been doing. She would

have known anyway with al the screams of passion that echoed through out the upstairs. Seeing the twinkle of light reflecting off Memphis' left hand, she smiled and held her

arms out to the two women. She whispered in Luka's ear, "When am I gonna be a mamere?" and held back her laughter.

"Geez mama, I may have skils but that's one I don't think I have."

Memphis looked into two sets of blue eyes and snickered. "Boy would that be hard to explain! I can see me teling CJ that you got me pregnant. Then again, with those nipple

claps…who knows?" She snorted at the blush running up mama's neck.

"Those aren't nipple clamps; those are for…hanging my herbs to dry."

"Sure mama, I can see you flashing your nipple clamps off at church just to watch everyone fal out of their pews."

Memphis gave her a funny look. "What are you doing at church mama?"

"I cook al their brunches and special dinners, they pay me catering wages." She took their hands and led them to the kitchen. "Come on now, I made Jambalaya and corn

bread."

Luka looked around the kitchen and frowned. "Where's Sprout and Lia?"

"You mean the mad scientists, they're in the basement designing something to use against the queen idiot."

"Ohh no, if Sprout blows up the basement again, I'm puling her fangs out with vise grips!"

@@@@@@

"Ohh look how pretty it makes me!" Sprout twirled around the floor, got dizzy and fel over.

"Pretty damn scary if ya ask me!" Lia shined herself in the eyes with the large ultra violet spotlight they had just made. "I'm blind! I'm blind!" She stumbled around the basement

and fel over Sprout. "If we don't kil each other, we may just get this stuff done for Luka." She shinned the light into Sprout's eyes and snorted.

"Just think we only have a couple dozen more to make and then steal that great big spot light from the car lot!" Lia roled her eyes, got up from the floor and yanked Sprout to

her feet.

"And just how are we gonna steal that, push it down a hil and ride it home?"

Sprout wiggled her brows at her and whispered. "Jasper's gonna help." She ran for the stairs and started yeling for Jasper. Lia puled on her hair with both hands and ended up

looking like a tiny Don King. Cursing Sprout under her breath, she ran after her. "If we get caught, I'm seling you to the ugliest woman in the prison!"

@@@@@@@

"My Queen, I am here to do your bidding." A tal dark vampire sunk to his knees in front of the queen of the vampires, dropping his head so that only the pronounced ridge of

his forehead was visible. "What is it that you ask of me?"

Dark brown eyes gazed down at the man; Anne laughed in a hysterical manner and slapped him on the back of his head. "You people are weak!" She walked away from him

and turned on a heel. "Seeing his head stil bowed, she reached out with a hand, grabbed a hold of the thick brocade drape in her hand and caled to him. "Look at me slave!"

He lifted his head to stare into her dark eyes and felt his immortal life coming to an end when the drape was yanked open and the sunlight hit him. Dust erupted and settled

across the thick oriental carpet. "Weaklings!" She yanked both drapes open and stood in the bright sunlight. "How can I rule when my army can only function at night?" She

stepped out onto the balcony and looked out over the Mississippi River. She had arrived a week before and taken sanction on Algiers, finding a house was no problem. The

200-year-old plantation house immediately became hers once she fed upon the owners. Now with only the loyal servants that came with her from Romania at her beck and

cal, she would start forming her army of the mortals. Vampires were al fine and good, but they could only do so much. "It is time to forget the days of old." She left the

balcony to search Algiers for loyal slaves, with more money than she knew what to do with; it would be easy to sway the poor with a promise of richness. Grabbing a

backpack from a hal table, she went out the front door. "Colege kids are sooo gulible." A maniac laugh echoed out from her and then she was gone in a blink of an eye.

@@@@@@@@

The colege campus was alive with students running to classes, sitting beneath trees studying or just relaxing for a bit before returning to the grind of academia. Memphis

walked along the edge of the building where her next class would be; she stopped in the shade and sunk down to lean against the cool brick. She would be happy when it was

al over and sad as wel. So many years of going to school and preparing for graduation would be missed. She closed her eyes and sighed with the faint breeze that brushed

across her face. A scent of cedar and sandalwood came on the air and then the hair on the back of her neck stood up making her smile. "Hey baby, bring me lunch?"

"Maybe, maybe not." Luka dropped down beside her and leaned against the building. "Depends on what you give me in trade?" A green eye opened to look sideways at her

wife's profile.

"How about a night of unbridled passion?"

Luka titled her head back and forth and shook her head. "Nah."

Memphis raised an eyebrow at her answer and snorted. "It's true what they say, you get married and the sex goes away."

"Ohh I wouldn't say that." Luka leaned forward and captured her lips lustfuly, when they parted; Memphis fel over onto her side and closed her eyes. Smiling, she purred.

"Nope, ya stil got it fang. So what do you have in mind for the trade?"

Luka leaned over and whispered into Memphis' ear and puled back to see her mouth hanging open. "Ohh you've been talking to Brumby!" A blush crept up her neck al the

way to her ears when Luka nodded her head.

"Went shopping with her this morning, just wait 'til you see what I got for us."

"I'm gonna need a week to recover from this ordeal huh?" She sat back up and wrapped her arms around her wife. "So what's for lunch?"

They sat against the building eating Taco's, nachos and cinnamon crisps. Sharing a liter of Coke, Memphis stuck the bottle back between Luka's thighs, pressing against her

center and grinned when her wife moaned. "You gonna walk me home after class?" Memphis batted her eyelashes and gave a sweet smile. "I'l make it worth your while."

"I would walk you home no matter what beb." She leaned forward and moaned at the taste of cinnamon on soft lips. "Better stop before you don't make it to class."

"Yep, you're right, can't be late for class." She groaned and ran a finger down Luka's cheek. "Love you Luka."

Luka stood up, picked up the bag of trash and then puled Memphis to her feet. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, she whispered to her. "Love you too Memphis."

Giving her a gentle kiss and a slap on her ass, she watched the smal stripper go through the front door of the building. Throwing the bag towards a trash can, she watched it

drop in and punched a hand in the hair. "Three points for Fang!" She turned and sprinted back towards home never seeing the woman standing across the street watching her.

"So you are the famous Luka Rubidoux, you don't look so tough." She waved a hand and walked back towards the bridge that crossed over to Algiers with a handful of

zombie like colege students. "Come along now, we have lots to do before the night comes." Queen Anne walked along like the pied piper of folklore, the student's right behind

her al the way to the large house where they would stay for the rest of their lives or until she needed them no longer. She glanced back over her shoulder and smirked. Like

lambs to the slaughter. They were now her fighters during the day and the loyal folowers were by the night. She would rule around the clock once everything was set. The

day walker will be the first to fall; no longer will she be the human defender. And her little girlfriend will be mine!

@@@@@@@@@@@@

Memphis looked to the seat in front of her with concern, one of her felow students was missing and it was very unusual. Jennifer had never missed a class in the four years she

had been there. Looking around the room, she searched for the young English major thinking that maybe she had moved her seat. Shrugging her shoulders, she went back to

listening to the professor lecture. Taking notes as the other students sat looking bored, she grinned when the guy next to her slipped from his chair and continued to sleep where

he lay.

"OK people, that's al I have and don't step on the dead body on your way out." The professor gathered his papers and left through a rear door. Memphis waited for the way

to clear and went out the same door and out to where Luka was waiting.

"Thank O'Del it's Friday!" She wrapped an arm around Luka and met her lips in a gentle kiss. "Let's go home and play before I have to go to work."

"How about if you stay home tonight and give me my own personal strip tease? I'm a big tipper."

She hip checked Luka and chuckled. "I give you that anyway."

"Yeah but I can't act on what you do to me," She stopped and dropped to her knees. "Please baby, stay home with me." Her whimpering and pouting face broke through to

Memphis.

"Gods I'm such a wuss!" She puled Luka to her feet and raced her home.

@@@@@@@@@@

Jasper dropped Sprout and Lia off at the car lot and then drove to the street right behind where the spot light was located. He would wait until the tiny ones ran past him, then

steal the light, and drive home. He had second, third and fourth thoughts about helping them, but when they told him why they needed the spotlight, he gave in.

"OK Lia, ya know what we gotta do." Sprout strutted around looking at al the cars until a salesman saw them. She waved a hand and yeled that they were just looking. "Is he

stil watching us?" She asked Lia in a whisper.

"Yep, he's back there sneaking around, probably thinks were gonna rip off a car." She pointed a finger at Sprout. "Don't even think about it!"

"You're no fun, come on lets get going." She sprinted off with Lia right behind her. They stopped near the spot light and waited for it to makes its revolution. When it did,

Sprout and Lia danced in the light sending strange shadows across the building in front of them.

"What is that?" The salesman asked himself and inched closer to get a better look. The shadows looked like one was humping the other from behind and then it was one riding

the other like a horse and whipping its ass. "Ohh nooo! God damn kids are gonna ruin me!" He went running towards the spotlight yeling and waving his hands in the air.

Sprout and Lia flipped him off and ran towards him, circled around him and took off towards where Jasper was waiting. They waved at him and kept on running with the man

right behind them screaming. Jasper backed Luka's truck up, got out, puled the plug on the light and with in five minutes, he was on his way home. "I better not go to jail for

this!" Jasper whispered to himself and puled into the driveway and around back to hide the spotlight.

@@@@@@@@@@

Music played in the background of the candle lit room, Luka sat naked on the end of the bed with Memphis in front of her peeling her clothes off piece-by-piece and draping

them across her body. With each touch of clothing, Memphis trailed a hand down a breast to tease a hardened nipple. Moans escaped through clenched teeth and shudders

shook the dark day walker's body. She gasped when Memphis brought their breasts together and kissed her deeply. "What do you want Luka?" She growled close to a red

ear. "I'l do anything your heart desires." She shimmied down between Luka's thighs and ran her hands from knee to stop right before the strap-on her wife wore. Cupping her

breasts, she captured the dildo between them and pumped the other smaler end into Luka. A low moan rumbled from Luka, she gripped her lover's shoulders and thrust her

hips forward. "Baby…ooohhh…Gods!" She fel back on the bed panting; Memphis gripped the dildo and ran her hand down the shaft, feeling her lover's juices covering the

harness and lower end of the shaft made her own juices flow more. "I wanna hear you scream my name Luka." Connecting eyes with her lover, she dropped her head over the

dildo and ran her tongue around the tip. Moving her hand up and down the shaft, she slipped her mouth over the end and moaned. Luka forced her eyes to stay open, her legs

started to tremble and her stomach muscles clenched as her orgasm ripped through her body. Throwing her head back, she arched her back and screamed out her lover's

name.

@@@@@@@

Jasper jumped when he heard the scream, dropped the dish he had in his hand and ran out the back door. In al the years he had lived in the dark tunnels and heard screams of

pain, nothing could have prepared him for the screams from the day walkers. He sat down on the tailgate of the truck and waited for Sprout and Lia to get home.

@@@@@@@@

After their get away from the car salesman, the tiny women snuck into the bar to watch the strippers. Even with Memphis not there, they stil got to dance on the stage thanks

to CJ and Brumby. "Ohhh baby come ta mama!" Lia yeled and thrust against Bounce's leg. "Gimme some baby!" She wiggled her tongue and fel flat on her back when

Bounce blew her a kiss. Spout danced in a circle around CJ who was thrusting against the pole, placing her hands on CJ's hips, she held on until she saw golden eyes glaring at

her. "Hi ya Brumby, fuck any kangaroo's lately?" Her green eyes grew in size when Brumby growled at her, and long sharp fangs showed from beneath her lips. "Ohh SHIT!"

She grabbed Lia and dragged her from the stage, out the door and al the way home.

@@@@@@@@@

Memphis had her back against the bedroom wal, her legs around Luka's trim waist and her arms wrapped around her shoulders. Burying her face against a sweat dampened

neck she groaned and whimpered. "Harder baby…ohh yesss…Gods I'm coming!" She threw her head back and screamed out Luka's name; seconds later Luka joined her

with a yel before she sunk to her knees to lay them on the floor. They moved slowly against each with each ripple that ran through their bodies. They climbed back up to the

peak with panting breaths and low moans. Tongues dueled and teeth nipped until they puled apart to moan with their shared releases. Soft caresses and murmurs of love were

whispered, as they feel asleep in each other's arms.

@@@@@@@@@

Luka and Memphis came downstairs and went into the kitchen to find Lia, Sprout and Jasper sharpening silver crossbow bolts and stakes. Luka grabbed to cups and filed

them with coffee as Memphis looked over Sprout's shoulder in confusion.

"Do we need al of those?" She asked and yawned enough that Jasper flinched at the sight of her fangs.

"Yep, and I have some bad news," Sprout yelped when she cut her finger on the sharp point of a stake. "We have to knock Brumby off, she's one of them." She looked to

Luka with worried eyes. "She has great big 'ole fangs and she growled at me last night."

Luka roled her eyes, set the cups of coffee on the table and held a hand out to her wife. "I can't see her letting someone other than CJ bite her in the neck." She pointed to the

wal phone and caught it when Lia tossed it to her. Beb, cal CJ and check it out with her. Luka closed her eyes and rested her head against her wife's back as she made the

cal, green eyes narrowed and a smirk covered her face as she eyebaled a worried Sprout. "OK, Brumby I'l tel the little shit." She clicked the phone off and placed it on the

table, to make Sprout and the others squirm, she took a long drink of her coffee.

Lia waved her hands and jumped in her chair. "Ohh come on Memphis! Tel us what's going on?"

"Brumby says the next time she's referred to as a kangaroo fucker; she's putting in two sets of fangs and biting your ass Sprout." Sprout gave out a long sigh and crossed her

heart the wrong way.

"Good, I realy didn't want Luka ta kil her, I think she's hot." She jumped down from her chair and went over to her stool near the stove. "Who's hungry, I'm making flapjacks."

Jasper's eyes lit up at the mention of food.

"Got any bananas or strawberries?" His big ears and brows wiggled at her. "You owe me after last night."

Luka's head popped up, she looked between her cousin and Jasper. "Marica what did you do?"

Sprout pointed to her chest and gave the most innocent look she knew. "Me do something, nope wasn't me." Mama coming in the back door and pointing to the backyard

interrupted her. "What is that big spotlight doing out there hooked up to your truck Luka?"

Lia and Sprout looked to each other and then pointed to Jasper. "He did it!" They yeled in unison and ran from the kitchen.

"I swear it was al their idea, I only took it after they lured the salesman away. They said that you…"

Luka closed her eyes and groaned, dropping her head on Memphis' shoulder she mumbled.

Mama got a cup of coffee and sat next to Jasper. "And what did they tel you?"

"It's to help kil the queen when she gets here. Sprout said she's gonna make it a great big ultra violet something or nother." He shrugged his shoulders at the women. Mama

nodded her head and then looked to her daughters.

"Ya know Sprout; she would rob the mint if you needed a nickel, Luka. She's little so she does everything big."

"More like gigantic, look at al the spikes they made." She pointed to the cluttered table and then winced when the entire house lit up and then went dim. The voices screaming

'wasn't us!' coming from the basement told the story. "She just caused another brown out, one of these days she's gonna have us al put in jail." Memphis looked over her

shoulder at her wife with drawn eyebrows.

"Wait a minute here, how did they get in the basement?"

Mama snickered at her. "They went down the laundry chute, ya gotta remember the peeshwank's can fit in places we can't. Made it hard ta catch Sprout when she was

younger and smaler." She got up, started making breakfast for everyone, and then turned to Luka. "I've been hearing something's about the Algiers; people are turning up

missing over there. Ya might wanna take a look before it gets dark." Memphis thought for a second and groaned.

"I may be jumping to conclusions here, but one of my classmates who has never missed a class in four years, missed our last class yesterday." She wrapped an arm around

Luka's neck and kissed her cheek. "I'l check with colege security when I get there today, then I'l go with you to Algiers."

"Nope, you check the colege, me and Jasper wil check Algiers."

"But what if you get in trouble…"

Mama roled her eyes. 'She was born in trouble, you'l know if she does." She turned and looked directly into green eyes. "Concentrate on her and you'l know what she's

doing. You haven't lost the power Memphis; it's just been dormant for a while."

"But how do you know about that?"

Luka hugged Memphis close. "Easy, my mama's the witch of the bayou; she can throw a firebal at ya and make ya a crispy critter."

"I thought that was just folklore, I never thought of there actualy being a witch of the bayou."

Mama chuckled and waved a hand at her. "Welcome ta the family Memphis, and Luka's daddy was the King of Mardi Gras one year." She wiggled her brows at Luka. "Who

knows, maybe Luka wil be the next King?"

@@@@@@@@@@@@

Anne looked around the large parlor and nodded her head at al the people she had taken in the last 24 hours. She had counted 34 and had an additional 67 in the basement.

The mortals would recruit during the day and her vampires would go out at night and turn as many victims as they could. With in days, she would control Algiers and then move

on towards taking over al of Louisiana. A wide smile came to her face when she thought of the day walker's girlfriend. "I wil get you today and when Luka comes to rescue

you, I wil have her as wel." She walked from the room and went out the front door to make her way over to the colege.

Luka and Jasper drove across the bridge in to Algiers; they had no idea of where to look first. Jasper shrugged his shoulders and drove off towards where one of the bed and

breakfasts was located. "Might as wel try here, if any of the guests have come up missing they should know." They went inside and rang the bel; minutes went by without any

one coming to the desk. Luka looked at Jasper, went around the desk and into the smal office in the back. The PC was running, she moved the mouse and saw that the screen

was showing the listing of three couples. Looking at the room numbers, she went back out and waved at Jasper. "Come on lets check out the rooms. First knocking on the

doors and then opening them, they found them empty except for the couple's belongings. "I don't like this Luka, they couldn't al be out sight seeing and where's the owner or

who ever it is that runs this place?"

"I don't know but I think we had better start by going over to the church."

"Church? Are ya nuts, I can't go into a church I'm a demon!"

"If sinners can go in there then so can you, come on. Maybe Father Michael is there, he should know whats going on around here."

@@@@@@@@@

Memphis went to the colege office and found her friend who ran the registration office, she was going to go to the security office but figured that if the police department was

infiltrated then so would security. She dropped down into a chair across from CJ's desk and grinned at her. "Hey beb how's it going?" She flashed a huge grin and winked.

"Where the Hel were you last night?"

"Ohh lets just say that I got a better offer for my striptease."

"Ohh I can see by the hickeys on your neck that this was more than a striptease! What brings ya to my hole in the wal office?"

"We got a huge problem CJ; people are disappearing al over the place. Luka and Jasper are on Algiers trying to get some info and I'm here."

"But I thought you guys got rid of Broussard."

"We did but something else is going on, remember the queen is coming here in just a few days. Has anyone come to you about transferring out or been reported as missing?"

"No transfers in the last couple of days and security would know if anyone had been reported."

"I'm not going over to them; they may have someone on the force that's a slave. Any ideas of how I can get the info?"

"I can cal the Profs and see if any of them have been told anything, which may take a while though. What about finding Brumby and have her help you, she has keys to

everything and can hack into the security computer."

"OK, is she in her normal area?"

"You mean the lawnmower shop, yep, ya know her and keeping a good coat of wax on her tractor. I wonder about her sometimes." She shook her head and grumbled.

"I'l check there first, why don't you guys come on over tonight and we'l have a cook out."

"Luka cooking?" She wiggled her brows.

"She's always cooking!" She waved and went in search of Brumby. When she stepped outside, she got the strangest feeling that someone was watching her. Ignoring it, she cut

across campus to the building where Brumby kept her lawn equipment. Just before she reached the door, she was spun around to face a tal dark woman with almost black

eyes. Fear ran through her veins and sent her heart thudding in her chest.

"Luka has very good taste in lovers; it'l be a pity to have to kil you." She shoved Memphis hard enough to send her backwards through the door to the building. Laughing

manicaly, she walked forward with her fangs bared. "She wil be soooo pissed when she finds that I've turned you."

Memphis shook her head to clear the ringing bels and snarled. "You're too late bitch!" She jumped to her feet and bared her fangs. "I've already been turned!"

"Ohh Luka you have given your gift, that's so sweet!" She lunged at Memphis and slammed into her, they fought with teeth and claws. Screams of pain came from both of them

as blood dripped to the concrete floor.

@@@@@@@@@@@

Luka gasped and fel to her knees outside of the church; she gripped her chest and felt the medalion burn the palm of her hand. Jasper dropped down beside her and

wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Panting for air, she looked with worried eyes to Jasper. "Memphis…we have…to go…now!" He helped her to her feet and half carried

her to the truck, after she was inside, he revved the engine and took off towards the bridge. He had never seen Luka so pale before or in pain, his heart slammed in his chest

when he cast a sideways glance. He took the cel phone she handed him and heard Sprout on the other end.

"LUKA!"

"Sprout get over to the colege, Memphis is in trouble."

"Jasper where are you guys?"

"On our way back over the bridge, Luka's out of it. Hurry this is serious!" He heard the phone click on the other end, closing it; he placed it on the seat and passed cars on the

wrong side of the bridge.

@@@@@@@@@

Brumby heard the screams coming from her building; she took off at a sprint and stopped when she saw that the door was completely smashed in. Cautiously she stepped

inside and yeled when she saw the dark woman punching Memphis in her face. Picking up a shovel, she raised it over her head and ran forward with a war cry. She felt a

sharp pain in her chest and was then flung across the room to crash into the wal behind where Memphis lay on the floor. She grabbed her chest, wheezed and swung the

shovel with one hand.

"Ohh that was a very bad move mortal." Anne got up from the floor and grabbed Brumby by her throat, she punched her in the face hard enough to break her nose and knock

her out cold. Shaking her a few times, she gave up and dropped Brumby to the floor in a heap. "Now for you little day walker, it's time to go to Algiers and wait for your lover."

She grabbed Memphis by her arm and dragged her out of the building and around back to where she had an old car waiting. Tossing Memphis into the back seat, she got in

and drove slowly back towards the manor. Ten minutes later, Lia and Sprout ran into the building, found a groaning Brumby lying on the floor amongst broken wood, pieces of

clothe, and blood. Sprout dropped to her knees and placed the women's head in her lap, using the bottom of her shirt; she wiped the blood from her face and looked to Lia.

"Can you get some water?" She brushed the tangled dark hair back from Brumby's face and caled her name a few times with out getting a response.

"Here I found a first aide kit and Memphis' backpack by the door. This ain't good Sprout." She cast a worried glance down to her friends. "You got your phone; I'l cal Luka

and tel them where we are."

@@@@@@@@@@

Luka groaned from where she was lying across the seat, she felt the jerk of the truck when Jasper slammed on the brakes and then the slam of the door when he got out. She

tried to move but felt her entire body scream in pain, she had never felt like this before and was terrified. Seconds later, she felt smal hands running across her face and then a

horrible smel came to her nose. Tears came to her eyes and her head cleared, she pushed the smal hand away from her face and looked into worried green eyes.

"Sprout, where's Memphis?"

"Luka she's not here, we found Brumby al beat ta Hel."

Luka puled herself up with a loud groan and staggered into the building to drop down beside a woozy Brumby. "Hey who the Hel hit you?"

With her nose and eyes swolen, her voice came out nasaly. "Some bitch with fangs…was beating Memphis…I tried Luka…" Tears escaped her blackened eyes to trail down

her cheeks; she looked over Luka's shoulder and whimpered at the sight of a hysterical CJ coming towards her.

"Let's get out of here and go ta mamas." Luka helped Brumby to her feet and led her out to the truck. With CJ, Brumby, Lia and Sprout in the back, Jasper took shotgun.

Luka took off across campus paying no attention to the students dodging her truck as she tore up the grass. She could hear Brumby screaming at her about what she was

doing but she could give a damn.

@@@@@@@@@

Memphis puled against the chains that were fastened around her wrists; she puled until she felt her blood drip from her fingers. She couldn't tel where she was except that it

was dark and damp. Turning her head to the side, she could just make out a sliver of light beneath a door and realized that wherever she was, it was a good place. The scent

of death permeated the air around her and she couldn't tel if the coppery scent of blood was from her or from beyond the door. Dropping her head, her chin rested against

her chest and a soft sob wafted forth. With the pain in her face and other parts of her body, she couldn't concentrate to try and reach Luka. Taking a deep breath, she tried to

slip into a meditative state. A calmness overtook her and a soft voice came. She knew who it was and felt relief course through her.

"T fang where are you?" Mama's voice asked her.

"It's dark and I can smel death."

"Listen to whats around you."

Memphis listened closely and heard murmurs of voices, the name Anne was spoken.

"The queen has me; she's a day walker mama. I think I'm on Algiers."

"You hold on, we're coming."

Memphis felt mama leave her and then she fel into the darkness.

@@@@@@@

Luka paced the floor clutching her chest, the pain wasn't as bad but stil lingered. She looked over to where Brumby was resting her head in CJ's lap with an ice bag on her

mangled face. They were waiting for Jasper and the tiny ones to come back with the equipment they would need to storm Algiers. What worried her was that mama would be

coming with them; she was the link to Memphis and would be able to find her through her talent. She tried to explain to Luka that she was not to blame herself for not being

able to do the same. She and Memphis had something special together but she had a link because of their shared ESP talents. At the sound of the truck coming up the drive,

she looked to CJ and nodded.

"We're coming with you guys." CJ said as Brumby got up off her lap. "Memphis is like a sister to us and we'l do anything to get her back."

"I don't want you two to get hurt, please stay here."

Mama placed a calming hand on her shoulder. "Luka, not even a team of horses could stop those Amazons and you know it. Let's go get Memphis and kick some suck face

ass." Luka shook her head at her mama and folowed her out the door.

@@@@@@@@@@@

The queen stepped into the smal room and slapped Memphis across her face, not seeing her move or a sound. She grabbed the chains from the wal and unfastened them from

the ring in the wal. Dragging Memphis out of the room by the chains, she dragged her up the steps from the basement and out to the back yard. Dropping the chain, she

signaled to two of the colege students. "Put her on the cross." She stood and watched as the students drove spikes through both her hands and tied her ankles to the bottom.

"Now put it up for everyone to see!" She started to laugh when Memphis' head bounced against the hard wood and a low moan came from her. Picking up a garden hose, she

turned it on and sprayed Memphis until she screamed in pain. Blood ran from the wounds in her hand and from al the injuries that had not closed up. "I think you need some

blood day walker, too bad, you're not getting any!" Memphis felt her strength fading, darkness was at the edge of her blurred vision, she caled out with her mind to mama and

felt the calming presence of the older woman.

"You hold on Memphis, we're almost there."

"So tired…I hurt…"

"I know beb, you hold on for us, for Luka."

@@@@@@@@@@

Luka gasped and let go of the steering wheel, shaking her hands of the sharp pains, she drove with her knee until she could push the pain to the back of her mind.

"Luka turn left!" Mama pointed to a long driveway and then to a large manor house in the back. "She's here Luka! She's here!" The truck came to a screeching halt; everyone

piled out and grabbed weapons. Luka strapped her sword to her back and grabbed the Sais that Memphis used. With a growl, she took off towards the manor at breakneck

speed. Mama went with CJ and Brumby towards where they saw a side door to a glass enclosure, while Lia, Sprout and Jasper took off to the other side where they thought

a basement door or window would be. Luka kicked in the front door and stopped when she saw al the people standing or sitting, slowly, she walked into the room and no one

moved. She walked through the room and found more people in a daze. Taking the stairs to the top floor, she kicked open doors and searched rooms. She came to a large

room that had to be the master bedroom and went over to the wal of windows. What she saw made her heart drop, she could see Memphis hanging from a cross and the

queen making cuts on her thighs with a sharp knife. Her mind screamed out and she felt a feather light touch that was her wife. Stepping back, she screamed and jumped

through the windows, in a shatter of glass and wood bits, she dropped into the back yard.

Anne spun around and grinned at Luka. "I see you found us, too bad you won't be staying long."

"Let Memphis go and take me!" Luka growled and stepped closer.

"Ohh I don't think so," She stepped closer to Memphis and placed the knife up to her chest. "You see as long as there is a day walker alive, I can't control the mortals. You

screw things up by kiling my folowers, so that means after I kil your little girlfriend, I'l kil you." She shrugged her shoulders and pointed a finger at Luka. "Feel her pain day

walker; it's only a smal amount to what you wil feel!" Luka jerked from the pain in her chest, she let out a howl and dropped to her knees.

@@@@@@@@@@@@

"I hate these sons of bitches!" Sprout yeled and shot a suck face with her crossbow. "Damn suck faces!" She spun and head butted one in his groin and Lia shot him through

his forehead. "Nice shot perv!" They slapped hands and went to help Jasper fight off the six that were surrounding him.

"May the force be with you!" Lia yeled and ran a vampire through his back with a spear. "Ahh maybe not." She sneezed from the dust and bounced into another one. "Hey

look," She pointed behind him. "It's Dracula!" Shooting him with her crossbow, she grinned and waved as he erupted into dust. "SWEET!"

Sprout kicked a vampire in the back of his knee when he dropped she went with him. Jasper was trying his hardest to help but he was a complete klutz with a sword. By

accident, he took off the vampires head and trimmed Sprouts wild mane. "Hey watch it you idiot!" She yeled and jumped before he stabbed her. She danced around in a circle

and showed her big flashlight and sang way off key.

"Here comes the sun nana nana, here comes the sun! But it's al right! I don't know the rest of the words nana nana!" She flipped on the flashlight and pointed the light on a

vampire; he screamed and started beating at his burning flesh until he fel to the floor in a smoldering heap. "KEWL! You are my sunshine, my only sunshine lalalalala! " She

pointed it at another while Lia and Jasper stabbed and shot the others in the basement.

@@@@@@@@@@@

"She has them under some kind of control." Mama said and then stopped in her tracks, a low moan came from her and she grabbed onto CJ. "Luka!" She cried and stumbled

towards the back of the manor. By the time she got to the back door, her anger had built to incendiary proportions. She pointed at the door and it blew off its hinges to fly out

into the yard. She stepped out, pointed a finger at Anne, and spoke words in Romanian. Anne let out a scream and flew across the yard and hit the cross, she fel to the ground

and looked up with flaming eyes.

"It's not possible, you're dead!" She screamed and got to her knees. "I kiled you long ago Nicoleta!"

"Sorry bitch, I've never been dead, but you wil be!" Mama raised both hands over her head and then downward towards Anne, the queen was forced to the ground. Mama

swept her arms to the side and the queen flew in a tumble of arms and legs across the ground until she stopped against a huge tree. "No one hurts my daughters! NO ONE!"

She puled silver spikes from her belt and flung them towards the queen, they pierced her hands and in betted deeply into the tree. CJ and Brumby ran across the yard and

knocked out the slaves before puling the cross down. The Queen couldn't use her powers because of the silver spikes pinning her hands. She screamed curses at mama, spit

and bared her fangs only to be ignored. Mama dropped beside Luka and ran a hand across her forehead. Leaning down, she whispered in her daughter's ear and watched her

eyes blink open.

"Go to her Luka, she needs you." She helped her daughter to her feet and over to where Memphis was lying in CJ's lap. Tears flowed down her cheeks at the sight of her

battered wife; she dropped to her knees and puled her to her chest. Looking into tear filed hazel eyes; she mouthed the words 'Thank you.' to CJ and puled Memphis up to

the side of her neck. Using a knife, she made a cut at her neck and pressed swolen lips to her running blood. She stiffened and moaned when sharp fangs pierced her skin, she

felt her blood flowing from her body and warm waves wash though her. Dropping her head down onto Memphis' shoulder, she let her tears flow freely.

Lia, Sprout and Jasper came out of the house sneezing and brushing dust from their clothes; they looked around them and snorted at the so-caled queen struggling against the

tree.

"Mama are you al right?" Sprout asked when she saw how weak mama looked.

"Just tired beb, it's been years since I've done this much. Go check on Luka and Memphis, don't let T fang take too much blood." Lia and Jasper led mama over to a chair near

the back door and sat her down. She leaned back against the chair and watched Anne struggle stil. "Lia, go tel Luka she has to kil the queen, she has to cut her heart out."

"Ewww that's gross!" Lia shivered and jogged over to where Luka was wiping her wife's face of the dried blood from her wounds. "Mama says you have to kil the queen

bitch…wel she didn't cal her that but that's what she is. Anyway, she said to cut her heart out." Luka looked up and glared at Anne, even though she had tried to kil al of

them, she didn't know if she could cut her heart out. Looking over to her mama, she got up and carried Memphis over to her.

"Mama…I can't…"

"Luka give me Memphis." She cradled the smal day walker on her lap and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "You have to cut her heart out, if you don't she'l come back." She

puled an athame from her belt and handed it to Luka. "It must be done and I'm too old to be queen of the day walkers." She squeezed Luka's hands in hers and smiled. "You

were meant to be queen Luka."

"Do it Luka…do it for mankind." Memphis whispered and brushed a hand across her wife's hand. Luka wiped the tears from her face, kissed her mama's cheek and then her

wife's.

"I love you Memphis." She ran her fingers through sweat soaked blonde hair then went to face her future.

Anne glared at Luka and snarled. "Let me go Luka and I'l return to Romania."

"You'l return to Romania…in an urn." Luka said softly before plunging the athame into Anne's chest, the scream was deafening and made everyone cover their ears. Luka

puled the athame out, shoved her hand into the opening, and puled the stil beating heart from the queen's chest. Before her eyes, the heart burst into flames, Anne turned to

dust and a bright light shot down from the sky and traveled into Luka's body. She jerked in mid air and hovered above the ground until the light disappeared. CJ and Brumby

ran forward and helped her to her feet. Shaking her head, she looked towards where her mama sat and saw the light hovering around her and Memphis. Just as quick, it

disappeared. On weak legs, she made her way to her mama and dropped to her knees. "Mama?"

"It's OK Luka; the power of the day walkers is now where it belongs." She brushed the dark bangs back from Luka's forehead and smiled. "I'l explain when we get home,

now go release al those innocent people."

"How do I do that?"

Mama grinned at her. "Ohh it's very difficult, tel them to go the Hel home."

@@@@@@@@@@@@

With everyone recovered from their ordeal, they decided to have a family cook out. Mama took control of the gril after Jasper set his shirt on fire and had to be hosed down.

CJ and Brumby sat next to Luka and Memphis under the shade of a tree while Lia and Sprout jumped on a mini trampoline. Everyone had bets on which tiny one would hit the

ground first. Luka got up from her chair and went over to her mama, leaning against the table, she watched mama flip the steaks.

"What's on your mind rodee`?"

"Who was Anne and why did she think you were dead?"

"Oh she was my evil sister," Mama looked up with twinkling blue eyes. "She kiled off our mother and thought she had done the same to me, your daddy found me and brought

me back to health. She used the power of the day walker to rule in the darkness."

"But you said she was old, she didn't look that way to me."

"Oh she was 12 years older than me, amazing what face lifts and hair dye does for ya."

Luka shook her head and chuckled. "What was that light that went through me and hovered over you and Memphis?"

"The power beb, the power of the queen." She laid a hand on Luka's arm and smiled. "The little bit of power I have in me is thousands of times stronger in you, through you

and Memphis, you wil carry on the day walker line and protect the innocent from evil."

"How wil I do this…I don't know if I can."

"Luka, do what you've been doing al these years. You have a wife and family that wil folow you through the fires of Hel. As long as you're here, no vampires wil dare come

to New Orleans."

"What about the rest of the world?"

"You start in your own backyard; in time they wil al know that you are queen and run like Hel."

Luka became pensive for a moment and looked into her mama's eyes. "Mama, if you hadn't been there, she would have won…"

"I would have been there no matter how you tried to stop me, it was my job to stop her and yours to become queen. As soon as everything calms down, I'l teach you how to

use your powers."

"You were supposed to be queen weren't you?"

Mama blushed and nodded her head. "That's one of the reasons I had to stop her, the other was for taking my mama away from me when I was sixteen. Enough of this for

now go tel the others it's time to eat."

@@@@@@@@@

Five months later, Memphis was dressed in her graduation gown and pacing the floor in the halway. She had felt sick al morning and couldn't even think about food with out

running to the bathroom. She knew that she would be nervous when the day finaly came for her to get her doctorate but never thought that it would be this bad. She wiped the

sweat from her brow, spun on her heel and ran to the bathroom again. Luka roled her eyes and looked to every one with a shrug of her shoulders before going down the hal

and to the bathroom. Opening the door, she stepped in and squatted behind her heaving wife. Rubbing her shoulders, she whispered.

"Another 20 minutes and it'l be al over."

"That's because I'l pass out from puking and miss graduation." She leaned back against her wife and moaned. "Can't you or mama do a spel or something to stop me from

puking?"

"Sorry baby, there's nothing we can do. We have to get going or you wil miss the party."

@@@@@@@@@@

The Rubidoux clan stood tal and proud watching Memphis accept her diploma from the dean. She shook his hand and used the roled up paper to point at Luka. She winked

and mouthed the words 'Love you.' before joining the rest of the graduates. With the final words spoken, the group threw their caps into the air and yeled. Memphis ran to her

family and launched herself into her wife's arms.

"Wel Dr. Rubidoux, feel better now?" Luka asked.

"Not realy," Memphis placed a soft kiss to warm lips. "My stomach is doing back flips and I wanna go home." Mama wrapped an arm around the couple and nodded her

head towards the truck.

"Let's get this bunch home so that a certain tiny tag team wil stop looking up women's dresses." She smacked both Lia and Sprout on their heads and took Jasper's hand.

"It was Jasper's idea!" Sprout slugged him in his thigh and tried to hide the dental mirror taped to the toe of her shoe.

Lia nodded her head at mama. "Yeah he made us do it!"

Mama roled her eyes and mumbled. "Damn kids are gonna give me grey hair."

@@@@@@@@@

With the back yard lit up with flashing ultra violet lights, music pounding and Lia and Sprout dancing in the light from the huge spot light. Everyone watched their perverted little

shadow show against the side of the house. Brumby shook her head at them and went for another beer.

"Sick little Sheila's, they need to be locked up or something." She didn't see CJ go over to join in the show when she turned her back. It was Jasper faling off his chair and

mama blushing that had her spin on her heel to watch. "My wife is a huge pervert!" Memphis snuggled into Luka's body and nipped at her neck. "Are you a huge pervert beb?"

"Gigantic pervert, wanna see?" She carried Memphis into the house under the watchful eyes of a grinning mama. 20 minutes later, the house lit up, New Orleans suffered

another brown out and screams of passion echoed on the night air.

"What in the Hel was that?" CJ asked as she ran towards mama.

"Just a little day walker magic being released, they realy charged it this time." She looked around at the dim lights around them.

@@@@@@@@

Memphis groaned and fel into a chair at the kitchen table; she looked up at mama with tired bloodshot eyes and offered a lopsided grin.

"Stil sick T-fang, you look awful." She ran a hand down a sweaty cheek and then looked deeply into tired green eyes.

"I thought my sick stomach would have gone away after al the excitement for graduation. Guess I must have caught a bug or something."

"Or something," Mama said and grinned. "It's test time beb." She handed her an EPT test and watched Memphis go pale.

"Mama, this is a pregnancy test, what do I need this for?"

"Humor me beb and take the test."

"If Luka sees this test…she'l think I cheated on her!"

"You two are joined at the hip, and she knows that you would never cheat on her, so go take the test."

"I'm not pregnant…I can't get pregnant…," She got up from the chair and mumbled al the way to the bathroom. "We don't have those parts…at least not real parts."

Mama chuckled at Memphis and went back to cooking breakfast for the horde that would be waking soon. "Parts is parts beb, it don't matter none." Luka stumbled into the

kitchen, got a cup of coffee and gave her mama a funny look.

"Parts is parts, what are you teling yourself?"

"Ohh the chicken and the egg theory rodee`, ya know which came first and how did it get her to begin with."

"Uhh huh and how much did you drink last night?" She rubbed her face and gazed around the room. "Where's Memphis, I know she came down here."

"Ohh she's around here somewhere, most likely in the bathroom again."

"I'm worried about her and this nausea every morning, maybe we should get her to a doctor." By the time Memphis came back into the kitchen, everyone was eating breakfast

and didn't notice the blush on her face. She sat on Luka's lap and whispered in her ear, Luka choked on her coffee and spit clear across the table hitting Sprout and Lia.

"You're WHAT?"

She spoke in a low voice. "I'm pregnant." Luka shot a glare at Jasper that had him slid down in his chair. Mama placed a firm hold on Luka's shoulder.

"Hold on there rodee`, don't go blaming Jasper. He's impotent when it comes ta human females." She grinned at the stricken chaos demon. "You're the daddy beb."

"What? How can I…I don't…mama!" Luka looked around at al the dropped jaws around the table and groaned.

"The bright light Luka, that great big burst of white light you two cause ALL the time. The power of the queen…or king." A huge grin came across Luka's face; she hugged

Memphis tighter to her and got up from the chair.

"Let's go try for another brown out Memphis." The couple left the kitchen and went up to their bedroom. Luka lowered Memphis to their bed and crawled up her body.

Stopping at her stomach, she pushed up her T-shirt and placed a soft kiss there. Looking up with tear-filed eyes, she spoke softly. "Our baby."

Memphis ran her fingers through silky dark hair. "Are you mad Luka?"

"Nope, ecstatic, in awe, blessed and totaly in love with you." She crawled the rest of the way up her wife's body and hovered over her. "What about you beb?"

"I want our own footbal team Luka." They came together in a kiss to rival al others; clothes hit the floor, hands roamed as they made their way to a familiar place of complete

love and passion.

@@@@@@@@

Sprout and Lia waited and waited, and then the lights started to flicker for a second. Lia jumped from her chair, held up a solar panel above her head and nodded to Sprout.

"Ready fang face?"

"Go to it little L." Sprout roled a box with truck batteries in it out from under the table and connected a set of jumper cables. She looked up at the others and grinned. The

bright light enveloped them and flashed out in a few seconds; Lia let out a whoop and danced around the kitchen when she saw the meter on the panel go to ful. "That's a

wrap!" Sprout roled her batteries towards the basement and stopped when mama put a hand on her head.

"What are you two up to Marica?"

"Charging batteries mama, might as wel harness the queen's power."

"Ya better get a lot more batteries with the way those two go at it." CJ, Brumby and Jasper snickered at what mama said and then covered their eyes when the room lit up

again. "Hel contact the power company!"

The End

Day Walker

By Larisa

The Athenaeum's Scroll Archive