This story contains mature subject matter involving two women. i.e. The subtext is maintext around here folks! So scram if you don’t relish the thought of two hot babes gettin’ it on! They may also bear some small resemblance to the legendary duo created by Ren Pics. No copywrite infringement intended. Let’s face it. Once you start dabbling in fan fic it’s hard to write female characters who don’t end up looking like Ren and Lucy! Sigh!:} But they are ever so lovely aren’t they? Comments can be sent to Gaiagal@msn.com

The golden haired apparition crouched near the edge of the rooftop. Hooded green eyes, flecked with gold, stared at the building across the street. Their gaze fixated on the old warehouse, which had been converted into a nightclub, with an intensity somewhat akin to a raptor studying the entrance to a rabbit’s warren. Occasionally the tip of a wet pink tongue would flick outward to run over wind burned lips. One hand rested on the cold concrete between bent knees, where she silently squatted upon the balls of her feet. The other hand lay motionless along her left thigh.

The watcher wore black leather pants, which were well broken in by years of hard use. A tight black t-shirt hugged her chest like a glove and her leather biker’s jacket hung open in front despite the frigid night air. A sudden gust of wind caused the metal chains on her Harley Davidson boots to jingle almost merrily as they slapped against the heavy leather encasing her small feet. The watcher tensed, green eyes glowing eerily in the dark. The noise halted abruptly as if ghostly fingers had captured and silenced the jangling chains. The watcher returned to her motionless vigil, without even the hint of a warm breath wafting out into the silent darkness.

The creature would smile faintly each time its eyes flicked across the midnight black and chrome Hogg parked next to the club’s entrance. A lavender neon sign hung above the black doorway declaring the establishment to be named the “Flame”.

The silent one cocked her head to the right as her mind was invaded by keen sensations of hunger and anxious need. A wicked grin crept over her lips and she bared her teeth as shaggy blond bangs fell over her forehead. ‘Silence!’ She forcefully commanded with her mind. ‘We will feed soon enough’. A brief impatient whine was heard and then her companion returned to their silent vigil with a sigh born of infinite tolerance.

The petite blond sent a mental caress to her loyal companion and then re-focused her attention on her initial objective. The black bull terrier inched imperceptibly closer to the edge of the rooftop. His purple-blue tongue briefly licking abnormally long canines.

The snow continued to fall softly to the ground, covering the world in a pristine blanket of virgin white. The petite predator suddenly tensed again and moved to join her familiar at the precipice.

A car door opened down the street and a long, shapely leg emerged, followed by a well-toned body, crowned with a long ebony mane of hair. The deep bluish-black of the woman’s hair glowed darkly under the streetlights as it cascaded around her broad shoulders. The blue-eyed beauty stood nearly six feet tall, when she straightened up and softly closed the door of her cherry red, 1965 mustang. She inhaled deeply, trying to hold onto the smell of the newly upholstered, white leather seats. It was a job which had taken her countless hours, but the thrill of driving around town in the now totally restored classic, was well worth the effort. She could hardly wait until the spring so she could cruise along the coast with the top down. Giving a deep sigh of satisfaction, she scanned her surroundings for any signs of danger, then turned and moved quickly towards the Flame. She was looking for another type of thrill altogether tonight.

The watcher grinned, giving her face an almost elfish appearance. At last, suitable prey. The games were about to commence.

The dark haired stranger stopped briefly to run her hand over the leather seat of the big Harley parked near the club‘s entrance. She closed her eyes and smiled as she imagined the feel of the big engine purring between her legs, the wind whipping through her hair...Suddenly, a frown creased her lovely brow and she looked upward, as if sensing she were being appraised. Then she shook her head and turned to enter the bar. Disco music wafted out onto the air as the door slowly swung shut behind her.

The leather clad woman sucked in a sharp breath, and scuttled backwards, ex-spelling the breath in a loud hiss. Pain gripped her heart like a vise, holding her immobile. The light dimmed in her eyes as the cobblestone streets of downtown Charleston, South Carolina faded away.

“Ariana.” she sighed. “No, not possible...” as her memories washed over her in a white-hot flood.

Warm night air pressed down upon her and the creature remembered. She remembered a time and a place when she still had a name. When she last thought of herself as something other than the soulless damned. She had been known by many names over the century to the humans who once worshipped her as a goddess. Artemis, Diana, Hecate, Kali...they ran together in a meaningless babble of mortal tongues. Only one stood out in her ancient mind, her true name, the name of her heart. She recalled a time long ago of brief happiness. A time when she knew love. A time before the endless nightmares came to haunt her sleep. A prayer long buried, bubbled up from her mind’s subconscious depths. “Gaia, earth mother. Hallowed be thy name. She who is the mother of all that has ever been, all that is, and all that shall ever be. Blessed be Gaia. Blessed be. Hear this, your servant‘s humble prayer...”

The scent of jasmine wafted through the air. Its light aroma wrapped itself around the woman held captive in the moonlight. She stood frozen, motionless, her skin like alabaster and ivory gleaming in the silvery glow from above. Her still features held an image of rapture, as if she were caught in the throws of passion. Her eyes opened slowly yet held no hint of the emotion etched moments ago upon her face. She began to blink rapidly, then remembered to inhale. Her breasts heaved upward as air rushed into her lungs. A wicked smile lifted the corners of her full lips, and her eyes narrowed to mere slits as the breath she had just taken escaped with a sigh.

Soon a figure began to emerge from the shadows, she tilted her head to the side, closing her eyes again as she allowed the fire in her loins to slowly warm the blood that crawled sluggishly through her veins. Her breasts began to heave as her passion rose within, muscles bunched and tensed as she threw her head back and called out with her mind. ‘Ariana! Come to me! Come to me my love! You’ve kept me waiting far too long as it is...’

Heavy breathing echoed loudly in the otherwise silent night. The sound of footsteps scraped along the graveled path leading to the temple of Artemis in Ephesus. A tall, yet graceful form burst out of the shadows and flew up the marble steps. The smaller woman listened to the sounds of the mortal as she was drawn helplessly forward. The goddess stepped backwards, taking a seat upon a gilded throne, which gave her an unimpeded view of the nubile young woman moving swiftly though the atrium, and into the temple’s inner sanctuary.

The young woman at last reached her destination and threw herself on the ground in front of the reclining deity. She let her weight fall forward upon her arms, as she gasped for breath. Waves of ebony silk slid forward obscuring her face and allowing her a moment to try to regain her composure. ‘As if that was possible.’ she thought quietly to herself. ‘How could a mere human woman ever hold the attention of a creature who was perfection itself. Timeless, powerful and so breathtakingly beautiful. A creature possessing the kind of beauty that men would gladly destroy entire nations to possess.’ Not able to wait any longer, the crouching woman raised her eyes upward. Pale blue sought out the one she adored. The one being she would sacrifice everything for, even her very life. She smiled shyly, then gasped audibly as an electric thrill ran down her spine.

The goddess flowed to her feet effortlessly, then knelt before the woman patiently awaiting her command. Strong fingers slid through soft, dark tresses as her other hand gently brushed a dusky cheek. “Ariana”, the ancient whispered. “Ariana....I have waited so long for you...so long.” A look of panic crept into the young maiden’s sapphire gaze. “I...I’m sorry. My goddess I beg your forgiveness...My uncle, he...” “Hush, Hush my love.” The goddess replied, as she laid a finger against full, red lips. Leaning forward slightly, emerald eyes bore into anxious pools of blue. Slowly, the lady of the moon pressed cool lips against the trembling mouth of the woman in front of her. “Ariana.” She sighed. “Even the sound of your name gives me such pleasure. Does the sound of mine so move your own heart?”. “Yes. Always. In every way.” Was the heartfelt reply. “Say it. Say my name. I would hear it from your sweet lips. The lips of the one I hold above all others.”

“Selene. Selene...my goddess, my love...My beautiful lady of the moon. Selene....” The dark haired beauty’s voice trailed away and her eyes began to burn with her need to be closer to the object of her desire. In a sudden show of strength the long legged beauty surged to her feet pulling the smaller blonde’s body along with her. She crushed the firm body of the other woman against her own and claimed now warm lips with a fury that always surprised herself. Ariana would never understand how this usually cool, aloof woman could move her to such acts of fiery passion. She swept the now smiling goddess into her strong embrace and strode purposely toward the bedchamber. She set small, bare feet once again on the ground and then tore the silken toga from Selene’s body as she anxiously pressed her back onto the silken sheets.

Blue eyes now swept over the ivory skin of her lover, worshipping and adoring the well muscled, yet undeniably womanly form lying so intimately posed before her. Laughter, like glass washed over the Greek maiden’s body as she quickly shed her own clothing and joined her lover on the bed. Amused by her timid beloved’s unusual behavior the goddess allowed the young woman to dictate the pace of their lovemaking. The eternal enchantress threw back her head and arched her back upwards seeking more contact with a firm thigh. Warm wetness slid along Selene’s skin as she felt the effect of her own beauty upon the woman who strained against her. The goddess wrapped strong legs around Ariana’s hips and urged her partner to thrust harder. “Yessss...Take me...” the smaller woman hissed as her hands trailed downward to grasp firm buttocks, jerking their bodies even closer, until their throbbing passions met and ground relentlessly against each other. Wetness mingled as the dusky youth plundered her more experienced lover’s mouth, eager lips bruising the soft ones pressed hungrily against her own.

As the goddess felt her lover’s passion begin to crest she grabbed a fistful of dark locks and tore her hungry lover’s lips away from her mouth bending Ariana’s neck so far backwards it was almost painful. Ariana growled her displeasure, which only caused the blond goddess to laugh once again, as her cherub’s lips parted in a snarl and she attacked the lovely neck laid bare before her. Sharp teeth sunk deeply into her lover’s yielding flesh as she sought the only release left to her through all the ages. The power and the pleasure of the blood. Ariana’s blood, so much sweeter than any others. The goddess’s eyes slowly closed in satisfaction as the heady passion of the mortal’s life fluid filled her. She cried out in ecstasy as release flooded her and she tore her mouth abruptly away from Ariana’s neck lest she take too much. The human girl shuddered from head to toe and screamed out the goddess’s name. “Selene! Selene! I love you.” she sobbed and fell limply against the smaller woman’s now still form.

The petite blond easily shifted her much larger lover’s weight off of her body. Gently she held the now sleeping woman in her arms. A single blood red tear tracked down her cheek. She nuzzled her face deeply into dark locks, which still carried the slight hint of jasmine. The lady of the moon already mourned the loss of her love, even though the mortal was still quite young. For what was the span of one human life to one such as her, one who has lived an eternity.

The goddess sighed as she listened to the wind that had begun to rustle the leaves in the trees outside the temple. Gently she untangled herself from the sleeping mortal’s arms and slipped silently from the room. Still naked she left the inner sanctum of the temple and stepped out into the night. The moon once again drew her gaze as she basked in it’s soft light. “I am here.” she whispered. “I heard your call, and I am here.” The night breeze whirled around her still form as she felt the voice of the one who made her invade her mind. “You waste your time indulging in the foolish whims of mortals. You squander the gift I have given you. All that you are is wasted upon the one in your bed. Do not try my patience Selene. Let her go. You can not belong to another, for you are mine alone. It is as it has always been, and as it shall always be.” The voice then faded from her mind as quickly as it had come.

The goddess re-entered the temple and fell on her knees in front of the altar. Wrapping her arms around herself, the ancient one sobbed. The pain in her heart would have destroyed a human. Selene wished again that she could die, that she could cease to exist. Her heart ached within her chest and for the first time in centuries she felt afraid. Afraid of the loneliness that waited to claim her if she ever lost Ariana. Of course, it was inevitable that she would lose her some day. That was the destiny of those with mortal blood flowing through their veins. To live so briefly and then simply cease to exist. Only a few were chosen to live forever and Selene knew the Earth Mother would never allow her to initiate Ariana into the way of the Mysteries.

Standing in the shadows Ariana watched the one person who had always made her feel safe slowly fall apart. Selene at long last appeared almost human and frighteningly frail. So frail and so utterly lost. The mortal’s own eyes filled with tears as she moved forward and knelt behind her immortal consort. Warm, loving arms wrapped themselves around the little blond. Slowly, pain filled green eyes stared up at her. Eyes filled with longing and despair. Selene curled herself into the larger woman’s arms and wept like a child. She gave Ariana the greatest gift she had ever bestowed on another. She let the raven-haired beauty look into her heart, into her soul. She let Ariana see the young girl she once was, filled with hopes and dreams. At long last the goddess remembered what it was like to be human. What it meant to truly love another with all of one’s being. Ariana pushed sweaty blond bangs out of Selene’s eyes and kissed away her bloody tears. Slowly the couple rose. The tall beauty wrapped a strong arm around a slim waist and led her lover back into the bedchamber. The night was still young and Ariana had much to teach Selene about love.

An anxious whine pulled the leather clad woman back to the present. Suddenly tensing her muscles, she leapt out into the darkness. Spreading her arms wide, she glided downward like a great bird of prey ,to alight on the snow covered sidewalk below. She rose silently, brushed the accumulated powder from her shoulders and shook the icy flakes from her hair. Briefly she ran delicate hands through her short blond locks and shook her head once more to clear the cobwebs from her mind. The black leathers she wore creaked softly from the cold as she stalked towards the door of the Flame.

As her hand touched the doorknob she looked up at the neon sign flashing lavender fire above her head. She growled menacingly and bit down with sharp teeth on her own tongue as red hot flames suddenly obscured her vision. Screams assaulted her ears, the cries of the dead and dying as the flames consumed all in their path. Her vision spiraled downward into the temple where she sat on the marbled floor. In that moment, she felt the heat on her skin and the pain in her cold, cold heart as she looked down at the still form in her arms. A pale, limp body lay across her lap, the face covered in blood, as fading blue eyes looked up at her in confusion. “Selene?” the mortal gasped out “Why? Why?” Then a soft smile crept across once rosy lips as the goddess’ lover reached up to touch her cheek one last time. “I love you...” The lady of the moon threw back her head and roared, baring her fangs to the heavens and screaming, “Nooooo!!!!No!No!No!....Ariannnaaaa!!!!”

Blinking, the vampire briefly froze and swallowed hard, tasting the metallic tang of her own blood as it rolled down her throat. Her features hardened and she forcefully closed her mind to the past. Making a conscious effort to relax her taut shoulder muscles, she opened the door and stepped into the main entrance of the club.

A stocky redhead perched upon a wooden barstool, looked up from the magazine she was reading, by the cash register. She shivered as she felt the icy wind blow through the door. Frowning, she looked around for the person who must have just entered the bar. There was no one to be seen. Mumbling something about never trying any of her girlfriend’s experimental “concoctions” again, she returned to leering at the naked women in the tattered Playboy magazine she held on her lap.

The vampire smiled almost sadly as she reflected on the state of the modern human. They hardly made the chase worth the effort these days. All of their thoughts centered around money, drugs and sex or some combination of all three. There was no more magic in the world, no great thinkers, no one like.....The small blond paused at the top of the stairs leading to the dance floor. She scanned the dimly lit interior searching for the object of her desire. Frowning, she glided down the steps and halted at the edge of the pack of humans gyrating wildly on the dance floor. Where had the tall, dark beauty gotten off to, she had to be inside somewhere.

Drunken women continued to bypass the vampire as if she were not there. Occasionally veering jerkily to the side as an unnatural coldness washed over their senses. Giving an uncomfortable shiver, they quickly moved onward. Suddenly the dark one felt a presence hovering over a leather clad shoulder. Cocking her head to the side, she ceased breathing and willed her heart to stop beating. How had a mere mortal managed to approach her so closely without her noticing. No one had ever been able to do that before unless.....Unless they were bound to her by a blood bond, but she had shared the vitae flowing through her ancient veins with no one since....

The blond jumped forward and turned with a hiss on her lips as a hand fell on her shoulder and a husky voice said. “Excuse me, but I was wondering...Oh, my goodness, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” the dark beauty stammered.

“How did you see...I mean, You didn’t? I mean, um...You didn’t. Startle me that is.” The smaller woman sputtered as she straightened from the defensive half-crouch she had fallen into and tugged downward on the waistband of her jacket. Lifting her chin and squaring her shoulders, she looked up into slightly bemused blue eyes. An ebony eyebrow crept slowly upward as the taller woman searched for a suitable reply. Finally, she settled on a self-deprecating laugh and extended a well manicured hand to the lovely blond standing in front of her. “My name is Ana. Ana Krateriskoi ......, and I was wondering if I could buy you a drink?” Green eyes narrowed as the undead beauty began to smirk. The evening suddenly began to look a bit more promising. Perhaps the chase would be different tonight, perhaps this kine would be worthy of all of her attention rather than the rudimentary consideration she customarily gave her night‘s dinner.

“Yes. I would like that.” the little blond replied as she stood grinning up at what she now considered to be her adversary in this evening’s games. What lovely blue eyes the woman had, and such lush red lips, they were so familiar...

“Huh?” the musing vampire grunted. “I said.” The mortal slowly repeated, as she punctuated each syllable by poking a finger at the blond’s head..

“Do...You...Have...A...Name?” As she pulled her nose away from the offending digit, a familiar scent washed over the vampire and she briefly closed her eyes as she tried to identify the faint aroma.

A name? It had been so long since anyone had asked. Well, since anyone had lived long enough to ask. She frowned slightly as she tried to remember what she had last been called. It seemed like she had been in the land of the Celts at that time What was she called then? Danu, Epona..umm...Fea? No...that was Spanish for ugly, which the goddess had never been seen as in any civilization. How odd, she had not really thought of herself as a goddess in so long. Then again, people today had no gods or goddesses that they worshipped with any fervor.

A frown creased a pale brow as the vampire searched for an appropriate name to give the waiting mortal. Why must mortals insist on giving everything a proper name anyway? Was it not simply sufficient that some things, some beings just simply were, just simply existed. As an impatient sigh escaped her companion’s lips, it suddenly hit the little blond. That scent...it was... “Jasmine, It’s Jasmine...” she sighed, unaware that the words had been audible. “Jasmine?” The tall woman repeated with doubt as she took in the petite hell’s angel-like visage before her. “Are you sure about that?” she asked, as she placed her hands upon her hips in a don‘t bullshit me sorta way. “You don’t really look like a ‘Jasmine’ to me....”

The vampire twitched her head absently as she rejoined the land of the living. She blushed slightly as she realized she’d been thinking out loud. “Yes, Jasmine. Why? Is there some problem with that? Does it not please you?” she continued in an anxious voice, not quite sure why it suddenly mattered what her food thought. “No” the brunette drawled, with a hint of irony “but you have to admit, that get up you’re wearing. Well, it just doesn’t look like something, someone named ‘Jasmine’ would wear.” The ancient one laughed and without thinking smiled warmly at her new acquaintance.

“Well, as they say, looks can be deceiving. However, you may call me...Jazz, if you would prefer to do so.” the vampire said as she cocked her head to the side and presented her companion with an irresistible grin. “Just Jazz?” Ana replied. “Yes, just , as you said, Jazz.” “Well, just Jazz...What do you say we get that drink now?”. Bowing slightly at the waist the former goddess gestured for Ana to lead the way. A toothy grin stretched across the petite predator’s face as she admired the leggy beauty’s firm ass. She could hardly wait to sink her teeth into it! The newly christened Jazz chuckled darkly to herself. Perhaps she would get the hang of this modern day word play yet.

If you ask for it. It shall be written. Otherwise........ :}