From: al019@chebucto.ns.ca (Brad Filippone)
Subject: Re: A story we can all create..
Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2001 06:00:58 +0000 (UTC)



So it was that, peeking through the tiny cracks in the wall of one such
building, she witnessed a scene that was at once both horrifying and
exhilarating!

For Xel had been a silent witness to the conflict between Bella and Murgonj.
She hadn't quite known what to make of the woman's survival of such a
horrible wound and of her subsequent slaying and partial devouring of her
foe.

She had heard of vampires, but they were just stories, weren't they?  But her
suspicians were confirmed but what she heard Bella and the other woman,
Babydoll was her name?  speaking of the matter.

Then the outdoor battle against the flying warriors ensued.  Xel didn't see
it, but she heard it, she'd have to have been deaf not to.  And then everyone
had gone off to battle elsewhere, leaving her there in her hiding place to
consider what she had seen.

And she resolved on a desparate course of action.

She slept on it, not moving from her spot between the walls.  When she awoke,
she looked through the crack again.

The woman Bella was there alone, slumped sideways over the large chair that
had been occupied by the man Cain only hours before, her legs dangling over
one arm and her back against the other.  Can't be too comfortable like that,
Xel thought.

Then she took a deep breath and thought, well, here goes.

Sneaking back outside though a hidden opening in the outer wall, the way she
had come in, she then reached up to the open window, and pulled herself up
and in, landing with a quiet thud on the floor inside.

Bella heard her land, turned her head, and was in an instant on her feet.

"Who are you?" she demanded, "And why are you here, you impertinant little
whelp?"

"Please forgive me, lady, I have a request to bed of you!"

"Leave at once the way you came, or you'll never leave at all!  Ever!"

"Can I explain?  I think I can help you some way."

"Help me?  You don't even know who I am!"

"I know something of you." And, bravely, she told Bella what she had been
witness to.

"Give me one good reason," asked Bella, "Why I shouldn't just rip out your
heart right now!"

"I know what you are!  You're one of those vampires I've heard about, aren't
you?"

"Well?"

"I...I want to be a vampire too!"

Bella, unable to believe the request, through back her head with laughter.
"You must be kidding!"

"No, I'm not kidding.  I'd give anything.  I said I could help you.  I mean,
I'll be your personal servant if you want, for as long as you want.  But
please just do this for me!"

Bella forgot her anger.  There was something about the girl, certainly.

"Why do you want such a thing?"

"After you live like I do, you welcome a chance to not have to scrounge for
the tiniest morsal of food.  Besides, I like what you did to that man." She
smiled.

Bella laughed again, only this time, the laughter was warmer.  Yes, she
thought, there's something about this girl.  She reminds me of someone.

"What's your name?" she asked.

"Xel."

"Just Xel?"

"Just Xel.  It's short for Xelerina." Suddenly embarrassed, she added, "Only,
please, don't call me Xelerina."

"Very well.  I must you, you remind me of my kid sister.  That is why I'm not
tearing you apart for this intrusion.  She was impertinent too.  You know I
havn't seen her in a very long time.  Since before my embrace."

Trying to endear herself further to Bella, Xel hoped to make conversation by
asking, "Why don't you visit her?"

Bella laughed again, "If she's still alive, she'd be five hundred
seventy-three next month!"

"Of course!  I should have guessed!" Xel joined in the laughter.

When the jocularity subsided, Xel asked, "So what are you going to do to me?
I'm not afraid of dying.  I took a chance.  If you kill me, well, I die.
That's just the way it goes."

"No, I'm not going to kill you.  But you need to know two things!  First, the
embrace is not something to enter into lightly.  You're mistaken if you think
we don't need to scrounge for nourishment.  If you know anything about
vampires, you know that.  Kill the wrong person at the wrong time to feel off
of and you'll find yourself quickly surrounded by stake wielding lynch mobs."

"But I would live you serve you.  In your position, you're not wanting
anything."

"Well," Bella agreed, "Amost anything." The other important thing you must
know is that just because YOU want to feel the embrace, doesn't mean I want
to do it.  There are things I must consider.  Creating a new kindred is a
great responsibility, like a pair of humans creating a child."

"I wouldn't know about that."

"But I like you.  You've made a good first impression on me.  You're brave,
I'll say that for you." She paused a moment, lost in thought.  "I'll tell you
what, Xel.  Be my servant, like you suggested.  There are many things I know
of you can help me with, but they are difficult, not for the faint of heart.
When you've served me long enough, and I shall determine what 'long enough'
is, I will let you know.  If this plan does not meet with your approval, you
may go out the way you came in, never sleep in my walls again, and I'll just
pretend you were never here.  Is that fair?"

Xel didn't even pause to consider.  "Yes, that's fair.  I'll do whatever you
say and I won't let you down!"

"Very well then, Xelerina...Ah!  don't grimace like that!  You serve me now
and I'll call you what I want!...step closer to me so I can get a better look
at you."

Again the girl didn't pause.  She walked right up to her new mistress
obediently.  Suddenly, Bella snatched up Murgonj's dagger, which she had
earlier placed on table and grabbing Xel's wrist, she dragged the blade
across the girl's right palm.  Xel didn't even flinch.  She felt the pain,
but steadfastly refused to acknowledge it.

Bella smiled in approval.  "Excellent!" She drew the bleeding hand up over
her face as she looked up to receive the dripping red liquid.  It ran down
the edges of her face and her tongue made quick appearences lapping up any
drops that landed at her lips.  She then carressed the hand with her entire
face, rubbing it all around

"A-positive," she said.  "You're just my type!"

----

The Lord of the Vale was very impressed with Jo's reaction the the nightmare
he had given her.  He was in a way disappointed that she had resisted the
terrifying situation so well.

"If I can't get to her through fear, perhaps she will weaken under the
influence of another emotion."

----

Jo became aware that she was lying in bed.  Had it all been a dream?  Her
torture at the hand of her friend?  She opened her eyes.

She did not recognize her surroundings.  It was a bedroom, but where?  Whose
bedroom?

She sat up and the bedclothes slipped down to her waist.  She was wearing a
thin blue nightgown.  But she didn't own such a nightgown.  What was going
on?

The room was moderately furnished and decorated.  A vanity could be seen near
the foot of the bed.  There was a picture on it.  It was a wedding picture
from the looks of the gown the girl was wearing.  She got out of bed and went
for a closer look.

The girl in the picture was her!

She looked at the groom's face.  And she thought, no, this can't be!  What is
going on?

Sergeant Benton entered the room wearing a housecoat over pajamas.  "Hello
darling," he asked.  "Up so soon?  I thought you'd be dead until noon after
last night."

"John!  What is going on?"

"What's wrong, Jo?  Are you still disoriented after the accident?  Still
having the bad memory spells?"

"What is this place?"

"Woking.  Don't you remember?  You picked the house out yourself?"

"No, I don't.  Where's the Doctor?"

"You want me to call Doctor Winters?"

"No," said Jo, not even knowing who that would be.  I mean THE Doctor."

"Winters is the only doctor you have, Jo.  You've got me confused."

"THE Doctor.  The scientific advisor of UNIT."

"The what of what?  What are you talking about, honey?"

"UNIT!  Brigadier General Lethbridge-Stewart and you and all that."

"I didn't know you knew Lethbridge-Stewart."

Slightly relieved, Jo said, "Good, you've heard of HIM then.  Can you call
him up?"

Benton shook his head.  "If you know him, surely you must know he's over in
Ulster right now.  Trouble there again.  It's all over the news."

There was a noise from one of the other rooms, and a youngish female voice
could be heard shouting, "That's MY crumpet!  Don't you take it!"

Benton shouted through the door.  "None of that nonsense, you two!"

Jo had taken all she could.  She felt that not only her memories, but her
very emotions were being toyed with, manipulated.  She sank into Benton's
embrace.  She felt safe there.

----

The Doctor didn't get very far before encountering a pair of guards.  There
was a finally dressed woman there.

"You are the Doctor, I presume?  I am the Priestess Shanneril.  I apologise
for keeping you waiting.  You needn't have broken out, you know."

"My humblest apologies, my lady.  I have a friend who's been..."

"I am aware of the situation, and I bring news.  I've just been imformed that
a young lady was seen out in the desert near the place where Gorthund and
Kepla found you.  I understand your need to find your mate, so therefore I
will forego our interview until your return."

"My thanks to you then.  Might I borrow one of the birds?"

"Yes," relplied the priestess.  "And Gorthund and Kepla will accompany you,
as you probably do not know your way around the desert yet.  Go at once.  But
your attempt to escape from your appointment with me must be answered for.
We will discuss that later.  Go now."

"Thank you again."

A short time later, the Doctor, Gorthund, and Kepla were landing their
airborn steads at the site of the TARDIS landing.  The Doctor dismounted and
walked to the spot where the police box's impression could still be seen in
the sand.

Kepla said, "I don't see any girl here.  Was the report mistaken?"

Gorthung replied, "It must have been.  I don't see how she could have escaped
if Prak took her to be sacrificed.  Unless she is at the oasis."

He pointed to the northeast where the trees that the Doctor had noted upon
arrival were seen.  It seemed logical to search that area.

"Wait a moment," the Doctor said.  He got down on his knees and sifted his
fingers through the sand.  Quickly, had found what he was looking for.  He
held aloft the key for a quick look, and then pocketed it.

They set off toward the oasis.  After about a quarter of an hour, they were
there.  It was beautiful.  An odd sight in the middle of a desolate
landscape.  A grove of trees hid a tiny pond.

There WAS someone there, but they didn't see her at first.  Tattered clothing
could be seen at the edge of the pool.  From around a corner came into sight
a young woman.  It was not Jo.  The girl splashed as she swam, and she
suddenly spotted the newcomers.  She quickly paddled over to the shore and
climbed out.  She didn't bother to go for her clothes.  Stepping towards the
threesome, she asked the Doctor, "You are the Doctor?"

"Yes," he replied.

"I come from Jo.  She wants you to know she is safe."

"Forgive me, Miss, but I need some assurance that you're telling me the
truth."

She smiled, "She said to tell you that she can beat you at draughts, but you
still think the game is too simple for you.  She hurt her coccyx when yours
and the Master's TARDISes were held inside each other."

The Doctor returned the smile, "She did indeed.  Very well, where is Jo.
And, by the way, who are you?"

Her smile broadened, "My name is Soolisa."

----