For Mature Readers Only

# 8
May '06

Strange Tales Presents

Witches

The End
Part 1
Written by Megan Curtis

"Long time no see." Topaz looked up from the magazine she was reading. A smile instantly lightening her face as she stared at the perfect specimen of man stepping out of the bathroom of the hotel they were staying at.

Arthur had changed into a dry pair of jeans and gray t-shirt that seemed to accent the muscular body hidden underneath. She gave a little sigh. God he was beautiful. He was a knight with a white horse from the island of Avalon . He was funny and sweet and seemed to genuinely like her. Here she was, sitting on a bed with her legs tightly clamped shut when all she wanted to do was close the distance between them and throw him down on the bed next to her and have her way with him.

The non-horny part of her mind disagreed. Although it agreed that Arthur was drool worthy, it chimed up to remind Topaz that her heart had been broken before. Sure the heartbreaker was a werewolf and the hottie in front of her was a knight, but Topaz should still keep her distance.

"What are you reading, luv?" Her breath momentarily caught in her throat, Topaz didn't answer at first. The accent, the term of endearment, the genuine curiosity and love in his eyes. It was all too much for her. She had pushed him away, rudely, but he didn't care. He seemed to take her rejection of any physical relationship in stride. As if it wasn't really a concern to him. As if just being around her was enough for him.

To hell with being rational.

"It doesn't matter." She threw the magazine on the floor and leapt to her feet, closing the distance between them and jumping into his surprised arms. Her lips met his own and she muffled the exclamation of surprise he muttered. His initial shock melted away as Topaz wrapped her arms around him.

"Topaz," he mumbled into her mouth, his hands trying to touch her everywhere at once. He realized that their bodies were not nearly close enough.

She gave a small screech of surprise as she felt his hands on her butt, lifting her up off the floor. Guessing what he wanted, she wrapped her legs around him, groaning with frustration that they were both wearing pants.

He took a small step and then another until his legs touched the bed. Then he leaned forward, cradling her to him as they fell onto the bed. With more support, his hand roamed to the front of her body and his lips released hers as he wrestled with her shirt.

"Arthur," she moaned, her own hands trying to shed him of his shirt. This was so right. Everything about it felt right and wonderful.

Until it didn't.

She felt a slash of pain through her temple and cried out. "Arthur!"

Hearing the cry, he stopped his attempt at unhooking her bra and glanced at her face and the pain he saw written there. "Topaz? Luv, what's wrong? Am I hurting you?"

But she didn't answer. She wasn't in the room anymore; she was miles and miles away.

She felt the heat before she saw any of the explosions. The sky was black with smoke from various fires and the magic's being thrown about. A lightening bolt struck near to where she was crouched. Ducking, she noticed the body lying near her. "Arthur!"

His forehead had a gash that was bleeding down onto the ground where he lay. She could see the gradual rise and fall of his chest and when she felt for the pulse it was there, but soft. "Arthur? What happened?"

Topaz heard a scream behind her and turned in time to see another lightening bolt find its target and hit Lilith. She looked more pissed then shocked as she fell backwards onto the ground and didn't move again.

"Die you vampire bitch. Die!" Another bolt hit Lilith's prone body.

Priestess Beth seemed to hover above the field of battle, raining lightening bolts and carnage wherever she was. Other Knights of Avalon were strewn about, covered in blood as small imp-like creatures hacked at their bodies.

"Look at me little girl." Topaz realized it was her that Priestess Beth was addressing and she glared at the other woman. "You had such potential. It's too bad you had to side with Clea." She pointed towards another body, the white hair stained with blood but still recognizable.

"Clea!"

"You're power can't help you anymore. I've become more powerful than any Priestess of Avalon has ever been." She glared down at Topaz before throwing another lightening bolt.

Topaz screamed as the hot, white agony crashed over her. But then she felt the soft mattress below her and saw the worried eyes meeting her own. Arthur's hands were on either side of her head, holding it steady while making her look at him. She could see him mumbling some words as he looked at her, not breaking eye contact.

"Arthur?"

He stopped talking and gave a small sigh of relief. "Are you back with me?"

"I...think so." She ran her hands along his arms, noting that they were solid and very real. "I've never had a vision like that."

"You have had visions before? Of the future?"

"I...yea. It happened once before. I haven't told Clea because I wasn't sure if it was a real future or some sort of hallucination. The other one wasn't as real. It was like I was watching something from far away. This time it was like I was there. I was there. Everything was so real."

He gave her a small kiss to reassure her but it turned into something more. He tried to reign in his passion. "What did you see?"

For a moment she wanted to tell him that she had seen his mother, raining down destruction and death. That she had seen his own dying body before her. But she couldn't. "It wasn't the future, it doesn't matter." She wrapped her arms around his head and pulled him down for another deep kiss. It won't happen. I won't let it happen. I will not loose him. Part of her was scared. What if she died? What if he died? His pulse had been so weak in that vision and if she were weak or dead, she wouldn't be able to bring his soul back into his body.

It wasn't the future, she repeated to herself. Gradually, through more kisses she pushed the horrible vision to the side and concentrated on the very real vision before her. Arthur was planting kisses along her collarbone, moving achingly slow for her taste. It was in this frustration that a thought came to her.

"Did you know that I'm empathic?"

He nodded and continued his exploratory kisses, now focusing on her stomach.

"So I can sense what you're feeling right now."

"Good," he mumbled as he slowly unbuttoned her jeans. Then he gave a little gasp and locked eyes with her.

"I can also amplify emotions in others."

"This is going to be faster than I would like, but it is your own fault. I can not wait another second for you."

"Excellent," she purred arching into his caress.

They were rudely interrupted by a loud banging on the door. In a swift move, Arthur was off the bed, sword in hand, approaching the door cautiously. Topaz was slower to act, regretting the sudden absence of his heat; she sat up from the bed.

"Topaz!"

"Shit." She fell back on the bed in frustration as she realized who it was.

"Topaz! Open the fucking door!"

Arthur continued to stare warily at the cream door as if expecting a giant troll to burst inside.

"Just a second," Topaz struggled to get off the bed, picking up her pants from the floor. Her shirt took more time to find but eventually she was dressed. Arthur had not moved from his pose and she tapped him on the shoulder. "It's my...friends. The one's who called earlier." He gradually relaxed and lowered his sword, glancing around to locate his own shirt. "Where have you been hiding your sword?"

He gave her a frustrated glare as his sword disappeared in the crack between the bed and the wall.

Before opening the door she gave him a sympathetic kiss. "I'm sorry for this. Don't worry, next time we won't have any interruptions."

His face brightened. "Next time?"

"Yea, next time. I...uh...I lowered your emotions. Sorry for amping them up in the first place."

He kissed her. "It is not as painful as it once was. Thank you." She understood his message. Although they had not consummated their relationship, her acknowledgement of his feelings and her own had relieved some of the heartbreak he had endured silently. She felt giddy with the rush of feminine power.

"If you don't open this fucking door in the next five seconds I am punching my way through it!"

Topaz swung the door open and let the queen of feminine power rush into the room. "It's about fucking time. Jesus, we were out in that hall forever. They were going to call security! Can you believe that? Fucking French." Lilith ushered a heavily bandaged Vicki into the room and swung their bags onto the bed. "Jesus Christ, it smells in this room. What the hell have you-" she cut herself off as she caught sight of the tall handsome man standing in the room. "I didn't know you had a guest. Damn? Where did you find him?"

"Avalon."

"Nice." She stepped to the side and let Vicki come more fully into the room, her bandaged body and face partially covered by a giant hat and coat. "We had a little trouble in Rome ."

Topaz covered her surprise well. The last time she had seen either woman was on the banks of Avalon. Lilith and Vicki had been considered tainted, unworthy to cross into the dimension where Avalon lay. Much to her astonishment Clea had been in agreement and had allowed the recently formed team to splinter. Before Topaz and Clea returned from Avalon, Lilith and Vicki had set out on their own adventure. While trying to catch up to the two beauties, Topaz and Clea had their own argument, causing the little group to fracture once again. But nothing matched the fracture seen along Vicki's face as she gradually started taking off the bandages.

"Go slow," Topaz advised. "If scars have started to form the bandages will rip them open when their removed. The less blood you have the easier it will be on me. Arthur," she turned to look at him, a smile instantly crossing her face. She reached for a piece of paper and started jotting down a list. "I need you to go this shop. It has some herbs that I need." He nodded, pleased to be able to leave the room. "Take your time, I have plenty of other preparations that I need to do first."

"I will return as quickly as possible. Ladies," he gave a small bow before grabbing a jacket and walking out of the door.

Lilith watched him go, her mouth turned up at either end, a predatory gleam in her eyes. "So...what do you need us to do?"

"Vicki, I need you on the bed. Were going to have to strip you, that's why I sent Arthur away."

"Thanks," Vicki croaked out. Smiling was impossible but she appreciated Topaz's concern. Especially since Lilith's concern had changed to annoyance. Vicki might be wrapped up but she had not missed any of Lilith's coy glances at the tall man. And by Topaz's abruptness towards the vampire, she hadn't missed anything either. "He seems very nice." Topaz smiled at her as she helped to unwind the bandages along Vicki's arm.

"He is."

"You found him in Avalon? He came to Paris with you?"

"Sort of," she blushed but ignored it. "He has powers and wants me to help him with them."

"I'm sure he left his magical home and followed you looking for a teacher."

Topaz smiled at her. The two women had hardly spent any time together, talking or getting to know one another. Other than their first meeting they'd hardly said a single word to one another because they'd been separated so soon. This was nice to talk. Topaz removed the last bandage and patted the other woman's arm. "I need you to lay back on the bed. Try to get comfortable, I don't know how long this will take.

"Can you fix her? I mean, can you make her look normal?" Lilith sat on the bed next to her lover, careful not to touch her marred body. Seeing her naked, scarred, and vulnerable form was starting to unnerve Lilith.

"I don't see why I won't be able to. These were injuries from physical means, not magical. It makes it a little easier." She sat on the floor next to the bed, her legs crossed and eyes closed. It took a moment of concentration but then Vicki began to glow a bright blue.

Lilith smiled as she watched. The scars along Vicki's abdomen began to fade, as did the ones on her breasts. The bruises on her shoulders and arms faded too. Her leg scars and bruises followed the other pattern. Her face was the last part of her body to heal but slowly the tissue of her cut cheek and nose started to weave back together. At last she was healed and the blue light went away.

"That was some display of power."

Topaz grinned under the praise and stood up to examine her patient. Vicki's eyes fluttered open and she smiled as she glanced over her body and felt her face. "Oh thank God." She started to cry as she moved her limbs. "Oh thank you Topaz."

"Yea, thanks." Lilith smiled and opened their bags, pulling out some clothes. "Here you go, Vic. You don't want to be eye fucked when Topaz's knight comes back."

Vicki didn't say anything as she took the clothes. Topaz coughed to cover her embarrassment at Lilith's crudeness.

"How was Rome ?"

"Fine," Vicki answered.

Lilith only shrugged. "Good food. We ran into something strange. That's how Vic was hurt. She was kidnapped when we were in the Vatican basement."

Unconsciously, Topaz reached her hand out and grabbed Vicki's.

"It was Sam...what was his name? Buchanan?"

"You were in the Redeemers with him weren't you Vicki?"

"Yes, but this wasn't the Sam I knew. This Sam was dark. He looked like a Goth. But Sam was more of a camouflage wearing kind of a guy; big guns loud explosions. The Sam back in Rome tortured me." Vicki flinched but pressed on in her retelling. "He used that knife with precision. He used the rack too. It was torture with finesse. That is not Sam Buchanan."

"So...a shape shifter? Or some sort of glamour magic?"

Lilith nodded. "That was my idea too because after I'd kicked his ass Sam morphed into Liz."

"Liz? One of the girls we left on Avalon?"

"That would be her."

Topaz could feel pieces of the puzzle starting to fall into place but everything was still a mystery. "I had a dream that we were on Avalon fighting Priestess Beth."

"So you think that's what we should do? We should go back to Avalon?"

The dream flashed back to Topaz. She could see Lilith and Vicki being hurt. She could see Arthur being hurt. But she also felt that these events could be changed. Either way they had to go to Avalon.

"Yes. I think we should go back and find out what's going on."

"I'll hit the bar, tell me when you're ready to go." Lilith ran out of the room before anyone could say anything to her. Vicki watched her go, feeling empty but a little stronger.

Topaz turned to pack the various belongings scattered in the room. "I guess we'll need to leave soon. Hopefully Arthur will be back soon."

"You can ask me what you want to ask me."

"Vicki, we aren't that close of friends so it's not really my place."

"Hell, I don't have many friends left so it might as well be you."

"She's our teammate and Clea chose her for a reason. But that does not let one fact go unnoticed. She's a vampire."

"And I'm having a relationship with her."

"That much is obvious. I didn't realize she was a lesbian."

"Ha!" Vicki just started laughing. "She isn't. I don't know what the hell she is. But she is not the faithful kind. I might have had bandages all over my face but I could still see her checking out every good looking man and woman the whole train ride here."

"You don't seem very upset."

"I'm not. I don't care about her. She's a good lay, but ever since Nash-" She paused a moment. The name came out of her mouth so quickly and without thought. A twinge of pain at the mention of her dead lovers name stung her heart for a moment but she continued. "Ever since Nash every relationship has been physical, not emotional. I was hoping that Lilith and I might feel something for each other but...I enjoy her company but I think that's all this is."

"Well I'm all packed." Topaz glanced around. "I think Arthur has various weaponry stashed around the room so we'll have to wait for him to pack his stuff. He should have been back by now. I didn't send him too far away."

Vicki closed her eyes and smiled. It held a melancholy note. "I think I can guess what's keeping him."

Lilith smelled sex. The moment she had opened that hotel room she'd smelled it. But she knew that it was unfinished sex. It had been almost a week since she'd been with Vicki. There had been a little interlude with some tourist on the train, but nothing satisfying. However, a handsome, athletic, ready for sex knight was too tempting for her to ignore.

He came rushing into the lobby, paper bag full of whatever crap Topaz had sent him out for. Lilith watched him walk towards the elevator. The hotel had over thirty floors, he had a long wait. Silently she sidled up next to him and lightly grabbed his arm.

"Arthur?"

He jumped in surprise and shock. "How did you-?"

She smiled in her enchanting way that somehow made her look meek and virginal. "I'm very quiet." His brows met in suspicion so she continued. "Topaz is on her way down right now. We decided to go back to Avalon. She's going to meet us over here."

Lilith started to walk away from him. She'd seen the hallway off the main lobby. It led to a janitor's closet. It was dark enough and hidden so that they wouldn't be interrupted. He started to follow her but stopped at the entrance to the hallway.

"Why is she meeting us here?"

"Does it matter?" The shadows fell across Lilith's face, only her eyes glowing from the darkness. "She won't be down here for a little bit. Plenty of time for us to become better...team mates."

Arthur walked towards her. Lilith thought that she had convinced him when she saw him drop his bags. His hands reached out towards her. A shiver of anticipation went down her back and she smiled, her teeth flashing in the dim light.

His hands grabbed her neck and slammed her back against the wall. "Demon, do not try to tempt me." Lilith's eyes flew open in surprise as he pulled her forward before slamming her against the wall again.

"You like it rough?" she spat out.

"I know about you Demon. The daughter of a demon becomes a demon herself. You are nothing but a demon whore. Do not try this again."

"You seem a little tense. Is Topaz not putting out to your liking?"

He dropped her like she had caught fire. "When this is over, I want you to leave. I want you to stay away from Topaz and myself. Understand?"

Lilith stayed on the ground, secure in the knowledge that she could kill him at any moment. "This team is an all girl kind of thing, boys aren't allowed."

Arthur glared down at her. "Whore." He left her in the hallway.

She stayed there for a moment. It was always strange to have a man tell her no. It didn't happen very often but it always inspired surprise rather than any feelings of anger.

"Excuse me, miss?" Lilith glanced up at the American voice she heard. "Are you ok?" He was tall and athletically built. She smelled sweat on him, like he'd just worked out.

"I..." she stood up slowly. "I just dropped something." A head tilt. "Thank you. It's nice to know some men still have manners."

He turned a little red and grinned. "Well...I just wanted to make sure you didn't need any help."

"Oh, but I do." Lilith took a few steps backwards until she was up against the wall. "Care to help me?"