The Depth of Ritual [Part II of II, Closed]

[Damon Fauci]

[Closed as it's a log]

It was just before dawn.  The faint hints of twilight touched the darkness of the night though the sun had a distance to travel before it would break the horizon with its light.  The time when mortals like Titania would still be asleep, one deep enough for dreaming.  That is what Damon took advantage of in the small hours of the Solstice before the day of greatest light was about to break.  She'd tasted of his blood a week ago, and while the connection would be weakened with the passage of time, part of that connection would always remain within her.  He tapped the power of that connection now and used it like a thread to walk into her dream.  Whatever it was that her subconscious was currently entertaining her with, regardless of the location and who else was there and what was going on, suddenly she would feel him present in the dream with her.  Not see him, he did not insert himself into her dream so overtly, but his voice would over power the current setting and anyone else who spoke.  Pressing also on her conscious her mind to stir it.  "Titania.  It's time to wake.  Answer your front door." For he was using this dream connection to his advantage.  Establishing a link between them that would disclose her location to him faster than following her scent ever could.  He had been her head but a minute, and already the vampire was almost there.  About to stand on the stoop of her new home.

the night shift.  Her sleep pattern did not get thrown off.  Dreams she was having lovely dreams, dreams that she did not want to waken from.  But she heard that voice, oh she knew the voice, she would pout prettily in her dream, before she did wake up.  Sitting up in bed, she would grab her robe, from beside the bed. Slipping into the silk lilac purple robe with a large flower pattern over it.  Tying the belt at the waist.  The silk green slip she had slept in peeking out.  Feet were bare as she slipped from her bed, not even wondering how Damon knew where she was.  She stretched her body out, lifting her hands to make small fists and rub at her eyes, yawning she went down the steps to open the kitchen door.  For that was the door that she used.   The other door well she did not even know if it would open.  As the door creaked a bit at the opening, she would greet him.  "Morning Damon."  The words came out on a yawn, that was covered by her hand, so the sound might of sounded muffled.  She did not even ask how he found her, for she figured he would know where she was at when he wanted or needed her for something, logically.

He was indeed there.  Standing there as if he belonged, which was the same air he exuded no matter where he was regardless of whether he'd ever been there or not.  Normally this was the time when he would put himself down for a rest, and let the sun do it's business without bother to him.  But today, this was a special occasion.  And special occasions called for special turns of events.  Looking as polished and tailored as ever in his simple but expensive black attire he would flash Titania a devil-may-care smile, as wolfish as it was brief.  "My, don't we seem to be slow to wake.  Not a morning person?  Dare I say I'm glad to learn this about you, Titania."  The smirk that played on his lips was suggestive, but Damon was not suggesting romance.  If she was better suited for the night as a human, well.  The possibilities.  "However, I'm come here to question you on a different matter.  Today is the Summer Solstice, the day of great power I was alluding to during our last lesson.  Had you any luck constructing a circle of your own?  Are you needed at work today?  And most of all, bella...."  He leaned in, looking down on her with his bottomless black eyes as he murmured into her ear.  "You had an accident when I saw you last, and I am glad to see you well."

She half wanted to reach out and pinch him.  But she knew he was there, it was not an odd figment of her imagination.  Especially with what she had been dreaming it was an odd thing to have Damon there.  But that was alright.  He had more time!  She had been in a deep sleep when he he woke her!  She crossed her arms under her chest.  "No, I am not a morning person."  She would not growl at him, but she wasn't all sunshine and rainbows at the moment.  She was a night person, its why she hated, getting the early morning shift at work.  Now she would look at him, perking up at his words, her head was giving a nod.  She did remember that.  "I did!  I have my circle now.  I also have squatting gypsies near the barn, so please don't frighten them."  She did not think that Damon would but she did not want anything to ruin the harmony which was created.  She was still learning from them and they were content for now where they were.  "I have the day off."  She did she had worked the past two days previous, but today was her day off.  She did not meet his gaze, she would look elsewhere, she knew the pull there, even if he had not used it expressively on her.  "I am well.  I want to thank you Damon for your help."  She knew Xavier did not make things easier, and she was glad that Damon had not washed his hands of his student because of the boyfriend.

"It would give me little pleasure to teach a corpse, Titania."  It was a strange way to say your welcome, but Damon was not the conventional sort of man.  A wanton smirk played upon his reddened lips, and he winked his brows at her.  Humor, that is what his comment contained.  His rather unique sense of humor.  Then, he turned from her.  Raven black eyes seeking out the barn.  "You have gypsy here?  Of what clan?"  He studied the edifice and what of their camp he could see, if anything, before he turned to face her once more.  His expression gave little away, and certainly neither of his questions was very revealing beyond the fact that he knew the gypsy had a number of clans.  Then, he grinned.  One that was as proud as it was handsome.  His tone chiding.  "Now then Titania did you just imply that I am frightening?  Well, well.  The truth comes out.  As for your gypsies, it will be a day of great celebration for them, I'm sure.  As it is for me, now that I've been told you do not have work.  Our next lesson is at hand, and we have only a short time before sunrise to prepare and many preparations to make.  Might you show me to your circle, Bella?"  He had made no move to enter her dwelling.  Even now as he asked the question only his brow cocked at her with questioning, he was not so bold as to take a step forward or anything else. 

"I dare say a corpse might not be as agreeable as I."  She might of just awakened, but she had her wits, they had settled down now.  As he turned to look out there she would give a small nod.  "I do...but I didn't think to ask that."  She frowned, he might or may not be able to tell anything from their caravan that was just slightly visible next to the barn.  It was where they wished to be, and she was not one to try to fight them.  The caravan was not decked out in many colors, unless one counted the fabric that wrapped around the top.  They were mostly red and blue with a few other colors thrown in, but if he could see that or not was only he that would know.  "They are really informative."  She then gave a grin at him.  "You know you can be very frightening, I am just either not smart enough to be scared or to eager to learn to be afraid."  She was glad he seemed to be pleased of the gypsy's presence and that he wasn't going to go harass them.  Oddly she felt safe with them there.  Now he had asked nicely and they had preparations as he said, so she would step back. As words left her lips.  "Damon won't you please come in.  I think you would like to see my basement."  Oh she knew that it would upset Xavier, but he did not know about the circle, and her thoughts were not to upset Xavier but to show Damon what had happened in her basement.  he was the one that urged her to have a circle.  "The gypsies out front along with two women came in and helped me get it ready."  If he stepped inside they would go through the shoe room, into the kitchen, then she would walk towards the stairs in the kitchen that would lead to the basement.  Giving him a look before she would move on the stairs.  She did not want to waste time, when it sounded like they had precious little before things were to start.

Before he said his next words, Damon made certain to have her gaze in his command.  "You are safe, Titania."  Damon nodded towards the barn and the wagon.  "As are they."  Words chosen very specifically, and once spoken he released her from his gaze by looking away.  She had granted an invitation, and he immediately took advantage.  He crossed her threshold at a languid gait, thought if he knew where the entrance to her basement was he might move with more purpose.  "As for the gypsy, it's information they may not be willing to give.  You were smart to seek their aid, however, their knowledge comes from an ancestry centuries older than even I.  Passed along, guarded devoutly.  They keep to their vagabond ways so that they continue to be overlooked.  After all, who pays attention to nomads?"  A crook of a smile, as he gestured to the expanse of her home.  "Lead the way, Bella.  When the ritual is complete and we are afforded more time you can take me on a tour of your home so I might make all the appropriate comments a gentleman of my stature would be expected to make."  Wouldn't want his pupil thinking him rude, now would he?  Not one to waste time, as he was lead by her he would begin instruction.  "You don't seem at all alarmed that made an appearance in your dream, Bella.  Might I ask why?"  Damon thought, perhaps, that she remembered the taste of his blood and either knew or did research about its effects.

When gazes did clash and he held hers, it was not a effort on his part, and she could not look away until he did.  She really did not fear Damon, not in the way that many would.  She gave a nod at his words, for it was him that gave her the idea, she just happened to stumble upon them.  "They said they are traveling around the area.  I told them they could stay upon my land for as long as they wished too."  It was a verbal agreement, they offered to let her learn things from them, and she let them use the land to come back to after their travels.  She did not know how long they would stay or come back, she did not ask.  A part of her figured they would disappear one night while she was sleeping.  Funny for if she had not been paying attention the gift of gypsies that fell into her lap might not of been.  "Not many."  She answered him even though it was not a question that needed an answer.  She let out a laugh.  "It's not fully decorated yet.  The basement was my first thought.  It was decorated but Xavier did it...and I just..." She shook her head.  She had not recalled it that night, but something told her that it had been there.  She had just taken it for granted that he was there in her dreams.  "I...just assumed it was something you could do?  That the bond between teacher and student grew it would make sense."  But now that he was questioning it, she paused on the steps she did not turn on a light, Damon did not need one and she well she knew the steps well.  "Did you give me blood that night Damon?"  It was the questions, the fact he was there, and she was rather not her best that night.  Xavier's reaction to Damon also played into her thoughts.

"Ah yes.  Boyfriend.  His name nor his person have business in our work today.  So we will both do our part to put him far out of our minds, yes?"  A charming smile was given to her, one that played upon closed lips rather than show her the full of his grin.  He would not allow the silence to linger, but put this direction to practice immediately by a smooth segue into another subject.  "I'm pleased to hear the basement was your first thought.  It means you take your studies seriously, and how I do covet a diligent pupil."  Titania was right in her assumption.  He did not need a light to see down her basement stairs.  His eyes made easy business of seeing in the dark, and followed after her at the pace she set.  "As a matter of fact I did.  Or rather, my blood touched your lip.  It was your tongue that gave my blood to you.  My intention that day was to use it to rouse you to consciousness, a vampire's blood can be quite miraculous that way, but before anything could come of it He Who Has No Business In Our Conversation Today came and made swift business of carrying you off.  At any rate, what you were guessing at with your astute question is correct.  To ingest my blood is to form a connection with me and to feel the vampiric blood's various other effects.  While the majority of those other effects wane and fade away after time, the connection shall always remain.  The more of my blood one has, the stronger the connection.  I warn you of this now because in order for us to do the ritual that is the lesson today I will need to be present in your circle, and in order for your circle to allow that it must read us as One - connected by blood in our bodies.  And in order to be connected...."  He would let the sentence trail off, leaving it for her to finish.  If she could finish it, he would know she truly understood what it was he was asking and why.

Was that possible?  When she was practicing her magic, it was, she did not need the distraction.  Did it mean she didn't love Xavier, no, it just meant she had to clear her head, from anything that could distract her.  "Yes, we can do that."  And then she smiled, as they moved along, a nod of her head.  "It would be wrong of me to take my studies in less of a light then you."  He told her in the beginning how it was if she wanted to learn things, it wasn't something she could do half arsed.  Once they reached the basement, she would use the trick that she had learnt before, and the candles would begin to light up the basement.  Their fire twinkling and shining back from the black tile floor.  In the middle of the basement was the circle.  The circle was in the color of the elements and placed in the correct direction correspondence.  She stopped and turned towards Damon as his words.  "Instinctively."  That had to be why her tongue had drawn his blood into her mouth.  She never thought she would do such a thing.  The thought of blood was a bit...icky for lack of a better word.  Her head was nodding at that, a small grin at the name for Xavier in that.  Did it bother her to have a connection with Damon?  No.  It wasn't something that gave her ill thoughts.  She paused as he spoke.  "In order for us to be connected we must share blood.  The first time we met, I remember that conversation Damon."  It was her way of saying she knew and she was not backing down.  It was something she needed to do, she felt it was so, and that was why she felt no fear.  She did not move, she watched him, because she did not know how things were done.  But she was willing for he said it was what needed to be done.

[. . . to be continued . . . ]

[Damon Fauci]

Damon stopped on the second to last stair.  From this position, he could better see the full of what Titania had done with the basement.  "I'm impressed," he said after taking his time with his observation.  "Had you not told me you had help of gypsy, I would be able to tell.  Their influence is here.  They are a distrusting people and rightfully so considering the judgements and wrongs trust open them by dominant cultures, but for those that they accept as ally. . . tread with care and great fortune may be in store.  Just take care what you give away.  Anything can be used by gypsy."  He spoke from experience, though it wasn't quite personal experience.  Petsha's clan had welcomed him when he was a small child, and because of who Damon's father was it was to the clan's best interest to do so.  As a result, his relationship to that tribe of Kalderash was different than most outsiders.  His observations complete, Damon stepped down to the landing.  While he drew close to her circle, he took great care to remain at least a foot's distance away from its perimeter.  "Have you put the circle to use as of yet, Bella?  And are there any preparations you must do in order to put it to use now today?"  Beyond the preparation that he brought to the table, of course.  That bit of business would be taken care of when all the rest was ready.

She was glad that he was impressed.  Not because of some odd reason but because he was the one that was teaching her, if he thought the room was not done right, it would of been upsetting.  "People should not be lumped together, everyone should be judged on their own."  That was how she felt, and the two gypsies that were there, had some bartering.  She paused a moment, head tilting, "What you give away?"  That sounded a bit strange and she was wondering about that.  Titania had no previous dealings with Gypsy's until they met at the right time, her looking for some might of had something to do with that.  She would move carefully along with Damon stopping when he did as well.  She shook her head lightly, "I have not used it for it just got finished two nights ago."  She had been busy with a few things, "But it has been fully prepared."  She had double checked what she was told by the women and the two men.  Everything that she was told had to be done, was.  "It is ready to go."  That was the truth of the matter, she did not have a reason to believe any of the four that had helped had a reason to not be truthful on that aspect.  She looked at the floor she liked the sound it made when one walked upon it, oddly enough, it was a comforting room to her.

"Yes.  Words.  Information.  Actions.  Gestures.  Anything you have and everything you are can be of value to them, should they choose to put it to use.  I have seen gypsy curl a healthy man's body into a twisted pretzel of pain by using no more than a button from his coat and the skillful use of his signature, on a sales contract that exchanged hands between they and he.  One example of many, I assure you."  There were examples in his memory that would inspire a far deeper terror, but he did not wish Titania to think that she was unwise in cultivating their friendship.  What good was growth without risk, and certainly the best allies are the ones who are hardest to win over.  "A virgin voyage, hm?"  Said with a sly curl of his beastly lip.  "No better day than this one, unless one considers Halloween.  But the energy of that holiday while more powerful is far more unpredictable.  Today's energy, the Solstice energy, has its strength in day, not night."  Damon slipped his hand into the rear pocket of his pants, and he pulled out an object wrapped in a piece of blood red fabric, with streaks of yellow.  With the wrapping on it was no larger than 4 inches, no thicker than 3 inches.  Still.  Quite a thing to carry in one's pocket.  "This must be placed within your circle.  The fabric must be spread out flat and the object must be placed on the sun you'll see stamped in ink at the fabric's center.  This must be done, however, without your bare fingers touching the object.  I cannot do it for you, as this is your circle.  You must place the items within at its center."

That did make sense.  She had nothing against the men that she allowed to sleep on her land.  She had offered them shelter, which they did not wish, they requested the use of the land.  They had a small fire at night which they often cooked the wild game upon.  They would eat what she cooked, even helping out without her asking.  A girl could get attached to such a thing.  She was sure they were capable of many things.  But any with gifts would be such.  There was a fear of such gifts that they had, but there was a respect that had slowly been building.  She nodded at that, "It is."  To the fact he called it a virgin voyage, what better place and time to have one?  With the person that helped her with these things, she thought no one else would be better for such a voyage.  A glance to him, "You will be okay with the day?"  She usually saw him at dusk or at night, but she did not know what sort of vampire he was.  She did not just reach out and grab the item, she asked questions first.  "Touching the fabric is okay?"  As it was in her circle she also had another question.  "Do I need to be in the circle with it to place it or is it better if I stay outside of the circle as well."  The way he spoke she had  feeling she could go inside of the circle, for the circle was indeed hers, but she wanted clarification so she did not mess anything up.

"Titania.  We're in a basement."  His grin was brief.  A flash of charm and cunning, then it was gone.  Was he wrong to assume that come dawn this underground room would still be relying mostly on candle-light?  Regardless, Damon could walk the day.  It was not something he preferred, and to do so came with its small irritations - and if abused, consequences - but he didn't speak that fact now.  He had worked hard to master the use his will to influence the weather around him to a modest degree, enough to cloud the sky in his immediate proximity, or to flood it with fog, or sometimes even snow and rain.  Such things he usually employed if he had outdoor business during the daylight hours.  "You may touch the fabric.  Only I am to touch the object through the entirely of the ritual, and I think you'll find you have an easier time of the task if you do it within your circle.  After you do, I will explain what we will be doing today and then we will make our exchange."

It was a small basement, the only windows were in the room off to the right.  The majority of the basement cloaked in darkness, save for the candles.  She had lights down here but she liked candles better. She gave a small nod then, as her hands came out to the fabric.  Once she had the item in her hand, she would slip into the circle.  She always entered it from the south.  At the very same spot she would step into the circle every time.  The doorway if one could call it such was in that very spot.  "The Circle prefers us to enter and exit through the south."  Thats one thing they had told her and she planned on goin gwith that.  As she was in the circle she knelt down, taking the fabric to spread it out in the center of the circle.  Fingers careful not to brush against the object, waiting until the fabric was unwrapped and opened.  She then concentrated on the object.   The way that the item had been inside the fabric it was not far from the sun stamped on the inside.  Using her gifts, the item would be placed as Damon said, upon the sun.  Then she would stand up and move towards Damon once more.

"I'll keep that in mind."  It would be senseless for him to instruct her to go through the trouble of creating a circle for her use only to desecrate it on its virgin voyage.  Raven black eyes watched Titania within the circle.  A slight upturn of the corner of his lips as he saw how she applied her gift  to get the object within the fabric to the center of the yellow-inked sun.  As for the object itself, it was a small ear-horn, the likes of which Beethoven used to use - it was not, however, the one Beethoven used to use.  In fact, because of this ear-horns small size, it could be theorized that this instrument had been meant for a child, or for someone of very small stature.  "Wonderful."  Said with a nod as she joined him on the outside of the circle once more.  Into his other back pocket he reached, and out from it he produced a piece of paper.  It said this:  Au akhemu seku, shemau her hat ek / Sefekhi pu en-ek imem iger / Uau su ami em khu / Unu en-ef duat.   Damon held the piece of paper in a manner that would allow her to see this writing, and the instruction would begin.  "These four lines complete a ritual which began shortly after we parted ways last, Bella.  The first part of which was performed by an ally of mind, who gave me that cloth, the object sitting upon it, and a number of small discs which I gave a trusted cohort of mine.  The second part of which was the placement of the small discs in various locations of a dwelling which is an incredible distance from here.  These four lines and the work we do today are the third part, the completion of this ritual.  I am told that after we enter the circle you may say or do anything you feel necessary to consecrate and empower your space.  Then, the first line of this paper is spoken by you - and only by you - three times.  The second line is spoken only by you three times.  The final two lines are spoken together, and you must continue to speak them as you draw down the power of the Solstice and its light into your circle and channel that power into the object you have just placed in the sun.  I am told that when the ritual is successful, we will know."  How they would know, Damon didn't know for sure.  Petsha while more often than not obliging liked to be vague at times, and from the twinkle in the old man's eye Damon was certain the leader though he was being humorous.

She did not think that he would do that anyways.  That would of made it all for naught and then it would not work the way he wished.  She could of attempted to do so with the cloth, but the chances of setting ti back down the item might of moved away from the sun.  The item she had looked at it, when she concentrated to move it where it needed to be.  She looked at the words that he had, and she glanced to him.  "When I speak the first words, do I repeat it three times before you speak the second line three times?  Or as in three times in a row as I speak it once you speak we speak and start over?"  She had a feeling it was the first, but one never knew and she did not want to make a mistake.  She was nodding as he spoke for the words made sense to her.  If anything felt odd when she entered the circle she would be able to tell him.  When she had entered it a moment ago for the brief moment she felt the power of the circle coming closer to her once.  That small tingle of tapping in.  She would nod slowly, best to get the questions out of the way.  "As long as we will know."  She did not ask any questions on how they would know she was sure Damon would tell her if she didn't get clued in.

"Neither."  Damon corrected her with smooth, sanguine tones, giving her a smile that was as calculating as it was handsome.  "On the contrary, you are the only one who will speak these words.  It is your circle, your power, and your voice that will conclude this ritual for me.  That is the meaning of the first line on this paper - you are establishing yourself as the chanter and the doer of the magic.  The second line is establishing me as the vessel, connecting me to that object now sitting within your circle.  The third and forth lines are spoken together to charge and dedicate the object as a magical conduit for information.  Drawing on the power of the discs that have been placed far from here and pulling that thread all the way from that location to this object, so that the channel is opened and cemented between them and what is spoken in the presence of the discs will spill out from the mouth of this horn.  Is that an apt explanation?"  If he had explained it clearly, Titania would know exactly what the ritual they were doing was for - it was a magical wiretap.  Come the completion of this ritual, so long as Damon had this ear-horn in his possession he would be privy to all that was uttered in the locations of those twenty discs at the St. Louis coven house.  To do this magically was far more involved than the technologically based bugging methods of earth, but it was worth it.  Electronic signals would be hard pressed to travel from earth to Rhy'din without elaborate wiring. . .and the Three would not expect to be spied upon in this manner simply because even a vampire of Damon's skill did not have the power to execute such a magical feat.  It took a different kind of power to do that.  Such as Titania's. 

It dawned on her and she would give a nod of her head.  "Oh!  That makes sense."  She would listen to the way he spoke, and then repeat.  "So I say the first line, three times.  THen I say the second line, three times.  Then we say the last two lines together, three times. "  She was not trying to be difficult she wanted to make sure that everything was correct.  This was the first time Damon had wanted her to do something and she did not want to mess it up.  And that was a ingenious idea to have such a wire tap.  And it was best to use items that others would not expect.  Did it bother her she was barefoot and in her pajama's no.  She rather thought it was more helpful bare feet touching the tiles.  She took a breath.  A small grin slipping over her features.  "This shall be fun."  She did think it sounded rather fun and exciting. 

It was good that she was asking.  Better to ask now and have it clear and correct, then to assume and step into the circle and perform things erroneously.  Especially since she didn't have it quite right yet.  She would find Damon patient, if not a little amused.  He did not expect her to automatically know how to do a ritual such as this, especially since it was a complex endeavor that she was jumping into at the third part, instead of being present through the entire process.  He would have to consider that, should he ask her to do such a favor for him again - inviting her to at least witness the parts of the task that were done by hands and persons other than herself.  But that was a thought to be mulled over another time.  "Yes, yes.  Then no.  I will not speak any of the words on this paper.  You must repeat last two lines together as many times as is needed for the ritual to take hold, and when that time comes I am told we will know though I cannot tell you know.  We will simply have to find out.  And I do hope it will provide enjoyment - enough that it will make being stirred from your slumber prematurely worthwhile."  He would pause there until she confirmed that she understood the spoken part of this task.  If she did, then he would proceed to the matter of the blood exchange.

She did not want to mess things up.  A small nod.  "The last two lines, I say them as if they are one line, no?"  As in she would say Au akhemu seku, shemau her hat ek x3, Sefekhi pu en-ek imem iger x3, then Uau su ami em khu / Unu en-ef duat as many times as it was needed.  If that was wrong he would need to speak up otherwise that was what she was going to do!  Jumping in at the third part was something that he would know there would be questions.  Just not to many.  She did not question a lot of the things he said.  Just the parts that she needed to have right.  She looked to him, for further instruction.  A small stretch of her form as she had been sleeping and she was still waking up, though she was more awake now then when she had answered the door.

"Correct.  You say them as one line."  Why they weren't written as one line then he couldn't speak to.  It had been Petsha's daughter who wrote the words the Kalderash leader had dictated down on the piece of paper, and the old man had stood over his daughter's shoulder to supervise and make sure she was exact and precise.  "And they are repeated that was as one line by you until the sign comes that the deed is done."  As Titania now understood how the ritual would go once they were inside the circle, he could move on to the other matter.  The paper was offered out to her to take, as she was the one who would be speaking the words written upon it when the time came.  "Now.  The matter of the blood exchange.  I will take only what is needed, and I will give you only what is needed.  Pay absolutely no attention to how this exchange happens between us, as its for the purposes of magic and is not in the least indicative of how a vampire feeds and what that feeding feels like for the one the vampires drinks from."  If she wanted that experience, and she had agreed on their first meeting to be dined on in that way, that lesson would come at a later time when there was no other business to attend to. 

[. . . to be continued . . . ]

[Damon Fauci]

She need have no fear about that.  Damon was quite apt at leading someone through the blood-letting process.  The act of taking a single step closer to her and pressing the pad of his thumb upon her forehead at its center was one fluid motion, executed with flawless speed.  The words he spoke touched more than her ears, they would tickle at her mind as he had earlier that night when he'd pressed his voice into her dream.  "Relax, and relinquish to me."  Under the pressure of his thumb her forehead would tingle.  His thrall seeping a daze into her mind which would spread lazily through her body.  His arm was around her waist now, when exactly had that happened?  Then the hand that had touched her forehead a mere second before had already titled her chin and brushed her hair back, if it was hanging down and in his way.  Perhaps even before she could register those touches, his head was bent and his teeth were pressed into her flesh, making two clean punctures which released her blood to his lips  much like a cork freed champagne.  All of it was that seamless, and his arm around her waist was there to support her should she swoon.  For some, the vampire's bite alone was enough to make them weak at the knees because with the act of drinking came a connection.  Like she had when she was dreaming, once Damon's bite claimed her flesh she'd be able to feel him inside of her, like a second consciousness.

It was a surprise at first, the quickness of the movement, but it really should not of surprised her.  Relax, she could do that, especially when it was not just her ears that heard such but it was coming from inside as well.  Thinking she did, she knew he wasn't going to hurt her, and she relaxed completely.  Even when the tingle happened, her whole body relaxed nothing tensed.  Head tilted backwards at his hand tipped her chin, the hair moving back tickled slightly.  She had been registering such feelings when she noticed that Damon was drinking the blood from her throat.  Later she might realize that the punctures might of felt some pain, at the moment, her attention was on the feeling of the blood bubbling out to him.  Her eyes closed as she was completely relaxed, no fear had been in her gaze before.  Her hand that did not have the paper lifted to touch his shoulder, mostly to hold her upwards.  The connection would be much stronger this time then from the small one of the other night.  It was how it was suppose to be.  She had not lost her footing, just a bit of needing to be steadied.  Thankful for the around around her back at that very moment.  Her thoughts not really going anywhere else, except for feelings, and that odd feeling she wasn't alone.  She knew she wasn't she knew Damon was there..but it was a different feeling.

When a vampire fed for hunger, there was pull from the lips as the desire was to take at a speed faster than the blood was naturally relinquished from the veins.  Damon did not do this now, and so it was one of the ways that this occasion between them did not properly represent what it was like to be a vampire's meal.  What blood flowed from the punctures he'd made, and at the pace that the liquid came from the wound, only this he drank.  The pressure of his lips over the area of soft skin was there only to prevent her blood from dripping down her flesh or anywhere else but his mouth.  The reason he chose to drink so shallowly from her was simple - the more he drank from her, the larger and stronger the impact of his blood on her body and mind when he gave it to her in return.  It was not that Damon didn't want such a connection and effect established in Titania, in fact that was quite the case.   But such things required the proper timing, and to hum with a vampire's blood and urges would prove. . .distracting to her, to put it tactfully.  He needed her focus to be on this ritual, not on other things.  This is why, after the flow of her blood already started to dwindle from the small wounds he'd made of her neck, Damon released his teeth and drew back.  One arm was still around her.  The other was now at his own neck.  The sharp of nail on his index finger slicing his own flesh deeply enough to cause bleeding.  There is where he willed her mouth to be - with both the press of his hand now on the back of her neck, and the will of his consciousness beating inside of her like a second heart beat.

The differences between the two she would not know.  He did tell her that things were different between what they were doing and when a vampire really fed.  But she would not know the parts that were different.  Probably a good thing that she did not have blood running down her neck for that in itself would of been a distraction to her.  Oddly enough.  He made good sense on how things should go and she would not question that.  As the flow of her blood slowed down, and his drinking quit she had not moved just yet.  When he opened his own flesh, she had a thought in her head about that, and then with the willing and the press of his hand on the back of her neck, her head moved rather quickly to his neck, where his blood was spilling out, her mouth lightly latching on to drink from him.  It was a good thing that Damon knew what he was doing, in this aspect.  Her eyes were still closed, as she drank down his blood.  Her thoughts were on nothing but what was going on and the ritual that was about to come. 

There was always temptation when he gave the gift that was his immortal blood.  It manifested now in the stir of the beast inside of him, the primal suggestion that perhaps there was more to be gained by cultivating Titania was a far better priority than the droll wiretapping of St. Louis.  But Damon would not be the man he was if he hasn't learned well now to ignore the most base instincts of his own nature, and today would be no different.  Thus Titania would given no more of his blood than he intended, which also happened to be less than he had taken from her.  She needed only enough inside of her that the circle would read his presence inside of her, just as her blood within him would do the same in reverse.  Of course, when it came to the blood it really didn't matter the fashion in which it was given - as this was Titania's second taste, the connection between her and Damon would strengthen.  His blood would taste familiar on her tongue, perhaps even welcome despite the fact that it was against her mortal nature to think such.  There would be a brief, temporary surge of the acuteness of her senses that would be accompanied by an rush of adrenalin - suggesting to her that perhaps she was invincible, larger than life.  Because he'd taken so little of her blood and given a restricted amount in return she would be without the pang of hunger, there would be no predatory urge to hunt, and there would aversion to daylight.  She would, however, perhaps find that the nighttime was a very lively and comfortable phenomenon, and when nighttime came she might find her thoughts wandering to him now and then.  These things he could not prevent, and he'd warned her of that.  The arm that was not around her waist would come between them now, a firm pressure that would separate her lips from his neck before anything got out of hand.  He spoke as well, to help stir her from the daze of the exchange.  "All finished, and just in time for dawn.  It's time to invite me into your circle, Titania."

Temptation was a witch.  Something that many had to learn early on to resist.  It was something that she could for the most part resist.  As he said, the circle had to read them as one, even if they were two seperate bodies.  It had tasted familar as she recalled the first time she had his blood.  She had introduced him to Xavier that night, and she only hoped that Xavier's reaction to Damon was simply because he was scared, not for anything else.  It was a bit like when you cut your finger you pushed it into your mouth automatically.  Taking Damon's blood into her mouth was much the same, it was an automatic reaction.  She always did like the night.  And then the contact was broken her gaze blinking a moment, as she looked at his neck.  That was until he spoke.  She nodded, as she began a step backwards, her fingers held onto the paper.  She walked to the south end of the circle.  She did not know if he needed words, for he very well might, she would speak them.  "Damon please come into my circle."  She would step inside and wait for him, for she did not know where exactly they should stand in the circle.

If she looked at his neck long enough she would be able to see the cut healing on its own, with an ease that looked as simple as the zipping of a zipper.  As for her neck, he had chosen to leave the bite marks there - only one rare occasions when it suited his best interest did he use his blood to heal the cuts he made with his fangs, he rather liked seeing his handiwork on display as the punctures healed at their own mortal pace.  Once her invitation was made Damon followed behind Titania into the circle.  He was no gypsy, no wiccan, no witch nor wizard but he did work with the energies of the will and for that reason he could feel the strength of power in the space he'd just entered.  Making his way across the space, Damon came to stand on one side of the ear-horn, choosing to stand in the area of the circle that represented the earth.  It was the element most appropriate to house him here, considering what he was.  With a gesture of his hand he invited her to stand across from him, and his fingers beckoned for her to begin whatever it was she needed to do to settle herself here and commence this inaugural ritual in her new place of power.

It should come as no surprise to Damon that she would watch such.  The way his skin just pieced itself back together was a bit facinating.  As for her own marks upon her neck, they did not bother her, and for work purposes it would be easy enough to cover them.  Once they were both in the circle, she moved opposite him, where she was directed.  A deep centering breath before looking to him.  She felt the connection between them.  Once she felt comfortable and the circle was humming, she would lift up the piece of paper, wetting her lips before she looked to Damon.  Almost a are you read.  Then she would begin to speak, the words were said at a pace that did not rush or seem to slow.  "Au akhemu seku, shemau her hat ek. Au akhemu seku, shemau her hat ek. Au akhemu seku, shemau her hat ek."  A pause inbetween the next set she was to say three times, "Sefekhi pu en-ek imem iger. Sefekhi pu en-ek imem iger. Sefekhi pu en-ek imem iger."  She was glad that the paper was in her hand for the words were foriegn to her tongue.  Without to much of a pause she would began to speak/chant the last two lines, a small pause between the sentences but both were repeated and would be until she was suppose to stop.  Her eyes would dart between Damon and the paper, once in a while to the object in the center of the circle. "Uau su ami em khu / Unu en-ef duat."  Her mind was not soley on the the items and what she was saying, her mind was calling out to the power of the day, along with the power of the circle.  Not only did she have the tingles of having Damon's blood in her, she felt the power from the circle making her own power feel that much stronger, along with the power of the day, all coursing through out her.  Her locks looked as if a wind was brushing against them, as she concentrated, the words repeated most carefully, coming out of her until she did not need to read the paper any more.

When she looked to him to see if he was ready, he gave a slight nod.  To ensure that his presence here was not rejected by the circle which was attuned to her power, he would be moving with great care during this entire affair as to not stir the pot.  While she chanted the first line, Damon's eyes were fixed around her.  He was tuning his senses to the vibration of the circle, so that he could track the progress of the ritual as she completed it.  As she repeated the second line - the one which was naming him - he felt a strong rush of the power that had been building within the circle directing itself towards him.  The result was a pressure firm enough that it was nearly invasive.  If he had need to breathe, he would have felt it difficult as the energy surrounded and pushed into him, it was that strong.  The greatest push was after the third repetition, and then ease followed.  As she moved on to the final two lines, by the third repetition the horn began to shake.  More violently with each repetition, until the horn slowly lifted from the ground hovering between them as it quaked.  Finally, the ear-horn announced that it had been successfully tuned by letting out a blast of sound could make a person's ears pop.  Damon gritted his teeth to keep from making the sudden movement of covering his ears, and instead he gestured to Titania to stop speaking.

[. . . to be continued . . . ]

[Damon Fauci]

It was a good thing that she had been looking to Damon, for it felt as if she had zoned out completely into what she was doing.  It was the gesture he made that cut off any more words from falling out of her mouth.  The speaking would stop as she would wind herself down looking over to Damon.  She did not move, she wasn't about to do such until he made a motion, for she did not want to ruin anything.  She still felt the humm of the power running through her veins.  Chocolate gaze would keep watch.  Drawn between Damon and the ear piece.

The sound of the ear-horn lasted nearly a minute after she was done speaking.  When the sound ceased, the object fell back on the cloth, rolling over a few times before it went still.  Looking from it up at Titania, Damon dropped his gaze again as he knelt slowly down on one knee.  Reaching out, he picked the horn up with his right hand.  He felt a surge pass between him and the object - a feeling that was very similar to having air pulled out of his lungs.  Mouth opened as if he was going to cough, but the cough never came.  Instead, they would hear a voice coming from the horn as clear as one could hear someone speaking over the telephone - 'I understand your postion, Zachary, I am simply telling you that this is the fifth message received from her within the past week.  Her demand to know why she is there….'  The last few words grew more muffled until the horn was quiet.  That was Laurent, the coven leader's right hand man.  Talking to the coven leader, Zachary.  Damon could only assume that they had left the room that was tapped, for the voices to fade so abruptly.  Pity considering their topic of conversation, but still.  A wan, wolfish grin spread across his Italian features as Damon had won the day.  Standing up with the horn in hand, a wave of his fingers beckoned Titania to exit the circle.  When she did, he would follow after her.

Lids blinked as she looked down at Damon and the item.  Then the words came out rather clearly, that meant that it really did work.  Not just the loud sound, but the words, it was more proof right.  That what Damon had requested had actually worked.  She would slip from the circle exiting the same way that they had entered.  Once she was out of the circle she felt the power that had been winding down, slowly seeping out of her veins.  It wasn't that she couldn't do things without the circle, but it centered her, and gave added power.  Her chocolate gaze glittered like a little kid on Christmas morning as she turned to look back to Damon after they had exited the circle.

Christmas morning indeed.  "Well done, Bella.  Very very well done."  From his pocket, Damon pulled out a handkerchief.  Carefully stuffing the bell of the ear-horn with it.  This is what Petsha told him to do when he did not want to hear what the horn picked up from St. Louis.  "it seems your circle works marvelously, wouldn't you agree?"  He glanced at it, raven black eyes dropping to the floor.  "The cloth you can keep.  Or trade, perhaps.  Were you to show that to your gypsy friends they very well might be willing to give you something of great value in exchange for it."  Once the horn was well-stuffed, Damon slid it into his back pocket for safe keeping.  He was eager to return to his dwelling and put the object to use, but aristocratic manners ruled and he wouldn't leave Titania's house so quickly after she'd just completed a service to him.  "How do you feel?"  A question that should be asked, since she'd tasted his blood not long ago.  "I'd advise a large breakfast, when you get hungry."

One had to know that such a thing, along with the sampling of his blood, had to be a bit exciting.  She was still a teenager, even if she acted older at times.  Once in a while the rare glances of her true age would slip out.  She would nod her head.  "I dare say that I have no complains with my circle."  She did not, not a single one.  "I am glad it worked."  She did go back into the circle the way they exited to pick up the cloth before exiting the same way.  Fingers playing along the cloth, she did not want to leave it in the circle, and it was a good thing that Damon mentioned it.  She gave a small nod.  "They do have alot of interests."  It was true, and it was nothing that he did not know.  Now if it was her, she would want to go play with her new toy as well, it was logical.  How did she feel, that was a question that she took a moment to answer.  "Alive."  That was the best word to sum up everything that was coursing through her.  She would give a small nod of her head, before looking at Damon.  "Thank you for the words."  As in letting her know that a large breakfast was going to be a good thing for her.

Alive, it was not and answer that surprised him.  Considering the day, the ritual, and his blood it was exactly how she should feel.  His smile was tempered but distinctly pleased.  "Yes, I'd imagine so."  He moved towards the basement stairs, a notification without words that he intended to move their conversation to the floor above.  "I daresay this was quite a successful lesson, wouldn't you agree Bella?"  He glanced at her over his shoulder before he started up the stairs.  "I will not linger in your presence much longer, and I will be candid with you about why - the longer I remain with you, my nearness to you will stimulate the more...darker qualities of my blood which currently resides in you.  Strengthening its effects.  Most of which should live from you by tomorrow morning, if not the day after.  In the meantime, you should take advantage of this day of power.  Use it to give yourself something that you desire.  Tapping into the energy of the Solstice nothing short of amazing things are possible." 

She let out a twinkle of a laugh as he moved to the stairs which she followed.  She figured when he went on his own she would begin cooking that breakfast, she was often the sort that ate breakfast and she had a feeling todays should be bigger.  As they got to the stairs the candles in the basement would go out, like a woosh of air went over them.  Going up the steps she would speak.  "I have to agree!  I am glad it worked!"  She was, indeed and she would pause once they were upstairs.  "That is wise of you Damon."  It was because if he had stayed around the power of his blood wanted her to drink more or something, that could be interesting.  A smile.  "Are you going to pass by the gypsys on your way out?"  A glance around she was curious she knew he said that they had nothing to fear from him.  She was curious she couldn't help it.  "Another time we can have another lesson?"  She liked the lessons.

"I will not.  They're your gypsies, and I will not force you to share."  Said with a wan smirk as he reached the top of the stairs, heading in the direction that he remembered her front door to be.  When she asked after another lesson, Damon mulled over the possibilities.  The resulting grin was beastly, and quite pleased with himself.  "Of course there will be another lesson, Bella.  In order to receive it, however, you will have to use the connection between us afforded to you by my blood in order to find me."  That would be a lesson all of its own.  "Though I must warn you, the lesson that follows you will find quite different than any others I've taught you so far."  Yes. . .already the plan was forming.

She grinned, he wasn't making her share her gypsies, why that pleased her she couldn't say.  But please her it did.  She did not think he was done with her, for she still had many things to learn and yet a part of her had to ask.  "How will I know when to do that?"  She frowned because she was curious in that aspect, if she found him how would she know the next lesson was ready?  She gave a small nod of her head, not all lessons would be in the same vein if they were there would be no growth, her head bobbed.  He had said there would be growth, she remembered that, which was a good thing.  Less likely to be taken by surprise.  She was not stalling him, she knew he wanted to go, but he should be used to her questions when it came to things like this.

"Well I don't know Titania, how will you know when to do that?"  It was said with feigned innocence and curiosity.  He was good as molding his expression to reflex the same curious inquiry of his tone - when need be, playing a part was something he could do rather well.  After a moment of treating her to that falsely innocent act, he winked his brow at her and flashed her a devilish grin.  "If you ask me, that does sound like another facet of the very same lesson.  Until you find me, Titania."  He bowed his head at her, the gentlemen's way of excusing himself, before he would slip out her door into the daylight. It was time to go play with his new 'toy'.

As he left, she took the words he said to her head, and she began to make her breakfast.  Eggs, ham, bacon, pancakes, sausage, buttered toast.  Food the smell would waif out of the house earlier then normal.   She was suddenly hungry like a wolf.

[ Fin. ]

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