Prologue

A man with immaculate hair, which one could judge because of the severity of
the cut, was a military one. His eyes were a light brown matching his hair.
His skin was darkly tanned from all the marchin he did as a foot shoulder. He
wore brown leather armor and a bronze breast plate, at his waist hung a
gladius, the signature weapon of the Roman Army. Unrolling a dark brown
cloth, dark grey nails that were newly made fell into his hand. The nails
were wider than his thumb and were as long as his hand. He picked up a hammer
and started to pound the nails into soft skin and bone. First the wrists,
then the ankles.

As the nails were driven into Kaliya's wrists and ankles, Judas, her
lifemate, shared in her agony. Their minds and souls were one as Kaliya was
crucified. The post that she had been tied to beforehand rubbed into the open
wounds from the flogging that she had undergone. The pain was too much even
for the two of them, somehow being redoubled along their bond. Kailya looked
up to meet the spiteful gaze of the woman named Celeca who had betrayed the
village Kaliya, Judas and their newly born child had been staying in. Celeca
was using the very powers that Kaliya had been teaching her to use. Powers
that pertained to the mind and body's functions. Somehow Celeca had twisted
Kaliya's teachings so that she would be able to change the bond between Judas
and Kaliya so that it only amplified the pain that Kaliya had shared with him
in hopes to lessen it. Red hair that had once been lustrous and had reached
Kaliya's knees was now shorn off. In some spots it had been torn from her
scalp taking skin along with it. Blood dripped down from the wounds on her
scalp to mix with the blood all over her body.

"Why...?" Kaliya managed to whisper, feeling her throat somehow slowly close
up as her her own body weight caused her to choke to death. Her purple eyes
held a river of regret and a burning need to understand *why* Celeca had
betrayed the village. To think that Kaliya had taken in Celeca, treating her
as a sister... It made the little remains in her stomach heave to the surface
in a dry vomit that made her throat throb heavily in pain. She knew that her
neck was quite swollen.

"Why? Why!? WHY!!" Celeca screamed hysterically at Kaliya, stepping toward
the other woman. Her voice was full of hatred that burned coldly to Kaliya's
senses. Senses which even dulled by pain, still managed to feel the depth of
the emotions that Celeca viciously projected toward her.

"Because bitch, Judas was mine!" The dark woman hissed venomously, long black
braids swinging behind her as she looked up at Kaliya. Celeca's strong
cheekbones, aquiline nose, and icy blue eyes had once been beautiful, but
twisted up with hate, bitterness, and jealously, her features and her very
body had been consumed by the raging cold within her, making her a crone
before her time. "He was mine! I never did tell you that I was from his
village did I? He courted me, you know." Celeca began to circle Kaliya, still
talking with a conversationonal tone that chilled Kaliya. <Could this be
true...?> Kaliya began to wonder, her thought processes began to slow down as
death pressed down on her. "We were together for several moons before I even
allowed him to approach my bed. He was quite persistent you know? Or maybe
you don't  you frigid bitch!" Celeca shouted the last upon seeing that what
she was saying before that wasn't affecting Kaliya to the extent that Celeca
wished.

//She lies Kaliya, my seshari. That... bitch never shared a bed with me, nor
did I ever even approach her. You know that she wasn't of my village. You
visited my village quite often seshari, and you would have known of *her*.//
Judas soothingly said along the mental link that they shared. He was on his
way toward Kaliya but was still too far away. It would take him several days
before he was with Kaliya again and by then.... she would be dead. His heart
froze as another wave of agony rolled through his body as a sudden sharp pain
almost made him fall off the horse that he was riding hard toward Kaliya.
//Seshari! The pain!// Judas struggled to remain consious, making an effort
to wrap his hands in the mares mane so that he could stay on.

Celeca stood back from her work and nodded in satisfaction before packing the
last of fine sand into all of the wounds that she could reach on Kaliya's
body. The sand would burn and make Kaliya writhe in pain as it slowly seeped
into her wounds and her blood stream. "Then you came.... And stole Judas from
me with your witchery! Oh, but I've taught you a lesson icarcaj! I've used
what you taught me and distorted it, changed it until it suited my needs then
I betrayed you to the Romans. A mere night right after you had given birth to
your daughter." Celeca crooned up at Kaliya her eyes darkening to an almost
black blue with cruel pleasure and anticipation.

"Do scream Kaliya, scream while I go after your child. That oh so precious
child that you and Judas love so much. Scream in your open grave while I
raise up your precious Windore in my image. I'll tell her that you and Judas
abandoned her, raise her up to hate and loathe you. Twist her until she
enjoys the sight of pain and blood, until she has no heart left, until she
will willingly kill Judas with a song in her heart..." Celeca saw the pain
and bewilderment in Kaliya's eyes and smiled wickedly. "I don't want Judas
anymore bitch, you've already had him and I am no ones spoils. No I'll move
onto bigger game. With someone to share it all with. A daughter!" She turned
around laughing and left the clearing, when she as out of sight, she leaned
against a tree and listened to the agonized screams that echoed through out
all of Celeca's senses. She basked in the mental anguish, greedily gobbling
it up like a fine wine.

//"Judas! Windore!"// Kaliya screamed both with her mind and her voice
simultaneously. //Kaliya, sheshari!// Judas roared in shared pain as what he
saw/heard with her senses surged into him, making him lose control of his
horse. He tumbled off as his body fiercely convulsed. //Windore!!!// He was
torn between going to his beloved and going back to Rosien for their child,
their beautiful daughter. Windore, for whom Judas had ridden to the location
of Jesus when husband and wife saw that Windore had trouble breathing. He had
gone for Jesus in hopes that the breathing which Kaliya and Judas knew could
be fatal for a newly born infant, could be healed. . .

Judas was too late for Kaliya when he arrived, and when he went back to
Rosien for their child he was to late for her also. Believing that Windore
had been taken by Celeca and the Romans, he betrayed Jesus, hoping to strike
a bargain with both of them. Little did he know that his sister-in-law Oralin
had managed to escape with Windore when Celeca and the Romans she had used
before to raid the village came back for the child. In retaliation they had
killed everyone there. Oralin fled North, to where she knew Judas and her
husband's sister would be.

He went to Jesus after he was crucified, and became one of the undead,
cursed, and little did he know, also blessed. For in the times to come, he
would re-meet Kaliya, reborn. Once, she was taken away from him, the second
time he was taken away from her, the third. . . The third time Judas, now
Dracula meets Kaliya reborn as Kaisean Menard. . .

~<(*)>~

The line of the two most powerful Eternals (Judas and Kaliya) ever born was
changed forever by the tragedy that happened. The daughter named Windore,
borne of Judas and Kaliya was changed by what happened to her parents, she
grew up, never knowing anything of them, her Birthrights remained silent. She
went on to have children of her own and the line continued. The birthrights
began to awaken bit by bit, sometimes skipping a generation. Now in the
second millenium after it all began, the last and only descendant is born.
Her name is Willow Rosenberg, named after one of her ancestors. And as Willow
finds the mate of her heart and soul she will find the truth of her heritage.
Here begins the passage of blood, met with blood.

~~~~

Part 1

The past year in L.A. since Willow Rosenberg had decided to attend UCLA
instead of Sunnydale's university, had been full of many things, both good
and bad for her. She had settled in nicely with Angel, Cordelia, and Doyle,
the four of them had created a tight team that had pulled through with one
another. When Doyle had died she had shared the grief that Cordelia and Angel
had felt, dispensing comfort and words with them. She remembered going off to
wallow in her own guilt soon after that long night, Willow went upstairs to
the roof and looked out at the city which she had made her home.

Willow remembered the sheepish grin Doyle wore when she found him staring at
Cordelia during one of their research sense. She had talked to him afterwards
trying to get him to talk to Cordelia and tell the brunette of his feelings,
Willow had almost succedded until Cordelia had popped up on them telling them
that Angel was back from his latest demon hunt. Willow saw Doyle shake his
head silently and turn toward Willow with a sad smile on his face before
following Cordelia. She grieved for the love that had never been fully
realized until it was too late between Cordelia and Doyle.

The redheaded witch had developed a strong friendship with Cordelia, they
became almost like sisters to each other, both learning things about each
other that they had never thought they would learn. Willow had also
strengthened the fledgling frienship she shared with Angel. And despite her
romantic feelings toward the dark vampire she had managed quite successfully
to hide all trace of her feelings toward him. Feelings that had been with her
even before Buffy had come to Sunnydale.

She hadn't known Angel was a vampire then but she had seen him around, on the
edges of the crowds that throunged the Bronze. He had always been there,
protecting those who needed it, even coming to her own rescue once or twice.
Though when she had tried to thank him he had vanished. Willow had begun to
fantasize about the mysterious dark stranger when Buffy had arrived. Then her
saviour had turned out to be Angel, a vampire, Buffy's vampire. Out of
loyalty toward Buffy, Willow had buried her feelings for Angel deep into her
heart, only examining them in the safety of her room and when it was daytime.
Over the months her crush on Angel had grown into something deeper. Finally,
when she looked at herself soon after one of his visits on her for
information, she saw love in her eyes. It was the night just before word of
the Judge had reached the Scooby Gang. Right before Angel had lost his soul
and become Angelus.

For some insane reason something deep in Willow had been drawn toward Angelus
darkness just as she had been drawn toward Angel's light. She didn't know
what it was, but it had scared her, it had almost made Willow give into
Angelus when he had gone after her first at the school. Willow was not only
drawn toward Angelus, she craved him. Craved him with every fiber of her
being. Hidden deep within her essence, a part of her recognized Angelus. The
same part that had recognized Angel, something Willow had realized after
another encounter with Angelus at the cemetary when she had been patrolling
with Buffy. He looked so much like Angel as he stood underneath the trees
watching them with silent eyes as they fought off several vampires.

It had been Willow who had comforted Buffy, who had understood in some way
because she too loved Angel. Willow had done her best for the Slayer, had
managed to do so in such a way that she had never had revealed her feelings
for Angel. Then the seemingly impossible had happened, Willow had found the
disk that had Ms. Calendar's notes for the soul-restoration spell on it, not
just her notes but the whole thing. When Willow had done the spell in the
library, she remembered the hope that had gone through her, hope and regret.
A seeming paradox to her, for Willow wished that both Angel and Angelus could
exist as one. Something she had realized would never happen. . .

~<(*)>~

New Orleans

Kaisean Menard knew that life couldn't get any worse yet she still continued
to dig herself deeper into the grave as she had spun her excuses for having
missed practice with Methos. She just hoped that it wasn't a permanent grave.
Kai gulped when Methos turned eyes that had gone flat toward her as he turned
around. < Oh, fuck... I'm in deep crap now....> She thought with dread. The
seventeen-year-old girl tried to inch her way back unobstrusively. Kaisean
stilled instantly when he moved easily with her. <I will give my kingdom for
any help against him...> She thought silently backing into a wall. Her almond
shaped purple eyes widened slightly, imploring anyone, *anything* for help.

//All you had to do was ask my love.// Judas voice within her mind was a
welcome distraction, the exact help she was looking for. Kaisean realized
that the wall she had been backing into was in reality Judas' solid body. He
smiled slowly, baring his teeth playfully at the oldest Immortal who amusedly
backed up one step before looking at Kaiseans eyes then into Judas' or as he
was more commonly known nowadays as Jarod. Kai gripped his arms gratefully as
they encircled her waist, leaning back into his body and laying her head back
to rest against his shoulder in a gesture so familiar and comforting to the
them both that it never failed to relax them. She slid her hands down his
arms to his hands, entwining them with her own to finish the action.
//J'taime, seshajel// Kaisean sent to Judas in a mixture of French and
Akkadian. Akkadian being the language that they liked to speak amongst
themselves. She opened her mind more fully to Judas allowing him to see how
she felt, a deep boundless love that had been with her since she could
remember. A love that grew with every day, becoming stronger at the same time.

Judas rested his head against Kaisean's, tilting his head slightly so that he
brushed his face against Kai's hair. The blended scent of jasmine, roses, and
a faint hint of sandalwood. He looked closely at Methos, noting that the
other man wasn't truly serious about his anger toward Kaisean. Judas shared
his impressions with Kaisean and felt her startlement. //Ah seshari, you
think Methos would truly get mad over something like this?// She thought
about it while he began to speak. "Relax Methos, Kaisean did not deliberately
be late for her lessons with you. I was the one keeping her up all night
while she taught me how to play cradle."  Judas said softly, his voice seemed
to echo through the room with sheer power, something that Judas usually
controlled when out in public but while in his home, he never bothered unless
there were guests. His voice was sheer magic, darkness with hints of light,
he was capable of doing things with his voice that other men would need their
bodies for. Judas could reach out with his voice and delight ones senses or
make nightmares occur.

He brushed a kiss against Kai's head, feeling his slowly beating heart skip
as he felt the rapport that existed between himself and Kaisean Menard. A
rapport that had been between the two through the ages, when Kaisean was
Kaliya, Judas' wife. Kaliya and their daughter Windore, for whom he had
willingly betrayed Jesus Christ.... in hopes that he would be able to save
their daughter, the only tangible part of his life left after Kaliya's death.
Judas had been insane with the grief of losing his lifemate. The one person
in his life who was meant for him, the cliched other half of his soul.

"So Kai's been teaching you cradle huh? My deepest sympathies to you." Methos
laughed as Kaisean freed herself from Judas' arms and leaped after him. She
mockingly snarled in anger, rushing the eldest Immortal. Laughing merrily,
Methos ran out of the salle, heading for the numerous couryards that were
apart of the grounds. Judas smiled, his lips barely turning up as he shared
in the warmth and pleasure that Kaisean felt as she chased and caught Methos,
making the Immortal fall into one of the bathing pools that were all over the
grounds. Judas could hear Methos' exclamations of irritation mingled with
laughter in his tone. Judas turned around and made his way outside to join
them. He would never let anyone take Kaisean away from him again, if someone
did. . . He would go on such a rampage that his past deed would look angelic.
Twice, *twice* he had lost Kaisean, once she had been taken from him, the
second time he had been taken from her. . . It had taken him several
centuries before Judas found Kaliya again, reborn as Kayla MacLeary.
 

Part 2

Los Angeles

"Come on Willow, it's the chance we need to go somewhere for a vacation that
we so richly deserve. Besides it's also the perfect time, Angel said that
there shouldn't be much trouble in L.A. for the rest of the summer." Cordelia
Chase looked at Willow, her dark eyes were open wide with hope and a bit of
desperation. Willow couldn't exactly blame the brunette since she was in the
same condition. "Come on Willow." Cordelia sat down across from the redhead,
crossing her legs gracefully and leaning forward slightly. "You know that you
totally agree, you're the one always calling for a break for everything, how
we seriously need to relax. All you have to do is help me convince Angel,
we'll even drag Wesley along with us."

"Cordelia I agree with you totally, but have you really thought about this? I
mean where will we go? How are we getting there? Where are we staying and for
just how long?" Willow grinned in understanding, and sat back further into
her seat. < I do agree with you Cordelia, and I'd be totally happy to help
you if you have any actual plans for all of this. Think of this as a shopping
expedition, I *know* you know how to plan those. > "Ever since the thing with
Wolfram and Hart occured, everyone here had been on edge. *I'm* jumping at
shadows, I know that Angel has though it's not as obvious as with the rest of
us. So tell me Cordelia, do you have any plans or are we going to look like
fools?

"Well, actually I do have some ideas. I have some cousins in New Orleans, I
haven't seen in them in a while, but they're both really cool. Their names
are Kaisean and Tenshi Menard. I'm positive that they'll let us stay with
them." Cordelia babbled hurriedly, sounding a bit like Willow in the process.

"Really? All four of us?" Willow asked incredously, both of her eyebrows
lifting in suprise. < How the hell does Cordy expect her cousins to take in a
relative they haven't seen in 'a while' and three strangers at the same time.
Cordelia has quite a bit of faith in them. I wonder why. . . >

"Hell yeah! Their place is huge!! The whole gang in Sunndale and us could go
over and stay with them and there would still be room for more. All I have to
do is call them." Cordelia looked at Willow excitedly and startled squealing
in pleasure when Willow grinned and nodded her agreement.

"Ok, I'll help you win Angel over and even Wesley too." Willow sighed as she
stretched, rising to her feet. She looked down at Cordelia inquisitvely as
the brunnete seemed to brim with excitement. "What are you waiting for Cordy,
don't you have a call to make?"

Cordelia snapped to her feet and fairly ran for the nearest phone just
outside of Angel's office. She took out her phone book from her bag and laid
it down on a table while she sat down. Quickly dialing the number she waited
patiently for someone to answer her. After exactly three rings someone picked
up. In a tone that sounded fairly pleasant considering it was around 2
o'clock in the morning in New Orleans, a rich feminine contralto answered.
"Hello?"

< Oh shit I totally forgot about the time distance between L.A. and New
Orleans. I hope it's Kaisean, she doesn't sound too pissed off. . . > "Hello,
it's Cordelia Chase, is Kaisean or Tenshi Menard there?"

"Cordelia! It's good to hear from you. It's Kaisean, what can I do for you
girl?" < Oh thank you God! It's Kaisean. >

"Hey, you gave me an offer a while ago to stay with you and Tenshi for
vacation. . .Is it still open? Not just for me, I don't want to really
impose on you or anything Kaisean, but would it be possible to bring three
guests also?"

There was a moment of long silence from the other end of the line before
Kaisean said, "The offer is still open Cordelia, I don't know about your
friends though. Give me a couple of minutes. I'll call you back ok? I need to
talk to Adam, Tenshi and some of other people that live at my home." Kaisean
paused then went on to say. "But I think that they'll probably agree. We
could use something new here." Loud musical laughter erupted from the
reciever that Cordelia held in her hand. "Oh shit girl, I'll see you later,
Tenshi just came in with his boyfriend and is severely making fun of Adam." A
click on the line signaled that Kaisean had hung up.

< Boyfriend? I didn't know that Tenshi was gay. > Cordelia thought when she
remembered Kaisean's twin Tenshi. < Huh, well that side of the family's
always been a little strange, I mean I know that father was adopted into the
family after his real parents died which is why when Aidan Menard looked
nothing like his brother Jason Chase. >

< God, I remeber how bad Kaisean and Tenshi looked at their parents death. It
was over six years ago, I was twelve and they were ten. God to lose your
parents at that age. They cried for a whole week that I was there before
turning so silent that I was afraid that something bad would happen to them.
The pair of them looked so heartbroken, like something inside of them had
died. I rembember being so scared for them when they lunged toward the grave.
Then this tall man, Adam appeared and gently, so gently that it amazed me
considering how much they were struggling to free themselves. He said
something to them, I couldn't hear it, then they slowly settled down, all the
while holding them close. It seemed like forever when they finally did.
Father said something scathing to Adam then mother ushered me out of there
pretty quickly. When I looked back father was quickly following us. Then I
looked back behind him and saw Adam, he looked so mad, there was such a dark
look in his eyes, with so many emotions in them. . . I always wondered what
father said to him, but knowing him it must of been something *really* bad. >

~< (*) >~< (*) >~

New Orleans

"I just got the strangest call from our cousin Cordelia Chase." Kaisean
murmured as she resettled herself into her position at the story-telling get
together that was taking place among one of the hideaway places where they
all could unwind. These niches varied in size and were usually known only to
those present at the current gathering. There were rocks and boulders on
which dozens upon dozens of cushions of all sizes were placed. Stuck in
between rocks were dozens of candles, magelights hung from thin strong chains
hanging from the branches around the clearing.

"Delia is our only cousin dear sister." Tenshi said in an arch tone, he
looked at her from across a mound of pillows on which he had collapsed next
to Damon, his boyfriend of over a year. Tenshi rolled onto his elbows and
poked Damon's side, awakening the older man from the doze that he had slipped
into as soon as he had relaxed in the easy atmosphere that surrounded the
large group of friends. "So tell me Kai, what did she talk to you about?"

"Cordelia asked if she could stay here with us... and bring along three of
her friends. *I* said that it'll probably happen but, I needed to ask the
rest of you all." Almost instantly the murmur of voices that buzzed in the
clearing quieted down as word reached the others that were spread out on the
outskirts of the rocky platform. "So." Kai raised an inquisitve eyebrow and
looked around. "What do you all think?"

Kaisean felt a hand rest lightly on her waist, she turned into Judas' embrace
settling herself against him comfortably. Judas raised her head with a single
fingertip and kissed her lightly on the lips before speaking. "I believe that
some people staying with us would not be too much of a bother, in fact it
might prove entertaining. More so for others of course." His voice was strong
and firm as he spoke thoughtfully, thinking that this might prove just the
diversion needed for some of the Clan.

"Methos?" Kaisean asked, looking at her guardian, mentor and friend. The
eldest Immortal gazed at one of the magelights hanging just over Kai's
shoulder, wondering if several people would be able to deal with the chaos
that was the Keep. < I know that we wouldn't be able to keep everything
hidden from not only Cordelia but any friends that she'll be bringing along,
for *however* long they'll be staying. Probably for the whole summer. > The
eldest Immortal thought. For some reason Methos liked what he had seen of the
brunette, despite having that bastard Jason as a father. Why Aidan's parents
chose to adopt their friends child, Methos never knew, but he was sure that
they were well and truly drunk at the time. To be stuck with Jason, the
arrogant little prick... Cordelia, although she had struck him as being
spoiled, still had a decent part of her that wouldn't be sullied unless the
truly tragic occured. "Yes, I'm ok with it."

When Methos didn't go on to explain his answer, Kaisean nodded and looked at
Tenshi who grinned widely and nodded decisively. "It'll be fun having Cordy
around. She always was fun when she wasn't being her usual snobby self." Kai
laughed in agreement and fished out the cordless phone from where she had
placed it next to her and Judas. She stood up and walked off to the side so
that she could talk to Cordelia in semi-privacy. More so that she wouldn't
disturb Deanna as she told/showed the rest of her story. Judas watched
Kaisean for a moment before deciding to join her.

Kaisean hopped onto a lone boulder with several cushions and punched the
number Cordelia had given her. Almost immediately the phone was picked up,
and Cordelia's happy voice filled the line. "Hello, Angel Investigations. We
help the helpless. Cordelia is on."

"Cordelia, it's Kaisean. I've talked to my brother, and to Adam, they've both
agreed. I'm also willing to make arrangements for your transportation if you
wish?" Kaisean asked, remembering how Cordelia's father had declared
bankruptcy. And boy had the bastard come crawling back to his brother's side
of the family. Fortunately for Kaisean and Tenshi, they were not able to
access their accounts except for certain circumstances which Jason had
certainly not met.

"That was fast Kaisean! Thanks, and yeah I would be so grateful if you
provided us a way to get to New Orleans. I'm not sure when we want to leave
and come back, I have to go tell my friends about this. Thanks again Kaisean,
I really appreciate the three of you doing this for me." Cordelia fairly
gushed, her voice full of sincerity. Kai could almost see the other girl
grinning in excitement and shock. "I know that it's probably late for you,
it's almost 1:15 for you isn't it."

"Yeah, don't worry though, most of the people that live here adjust very
easily to a night or day schedule, at the moment we're on a night one. None
of us won't be going to sleep earlier than four or five." Kaisean reassured
Cordelia.

"Huh, well I've gotten a bit used to a night schedule myself." Cordelia's
voice seemed to be full of irony to Kai and the redhead silently wondered
why. "Goodbye Kaisean, tell Tenshi and Adam that I said 'Hi and thank you'"

"No problem Cordelia, I will. Ciao." Kaisean pressed the button that ended
the conversation and sat up, stretching a bit. Beside her Judas watched
appreciatively as Kai moved with a liquid grace that he loved to admire. He
would sometimes watch her for countless hours when she was deeply involved in
a kata or dance.

"Cordelia sounds truly grateful that about your words to her. I detected a
bit of tenseness however in her voice, something has made her scared Kai.
That's one of the main reasons why she wishes to escape L.A. She needs relief
from something, or someone." Judas stated as he stood up, holding out his
hand to her. She accepted it and allowed him to pull her to her feet.

"I didn't hear that, shit. . . Do you think she will bring danger here?"
Kaisean questioned worriedly, looking up into Judas' dark blue eyes. What she
saw there made her heart beat faster involuntarily as it always did, no
matter what else was in his eyes. Whenever he looked at her, he always
managed to make her do a double-take, wondering just how it was that she had
finally found him again. What she had been through to be with him again.

"No, not intentionally." Judas answered, he brought his hand up and threaded
his fingers through her long hair, luxioriating in the silken feel. He moved
his head down that little bit that seperated his lips from Kaisean's and
rested them against her own. "Come seshajel, now is not the time for such
thoughts, we have a long night ahead of us do we not?"

Kaisean nodded in agreement and was startled when he led her back to their
rooms instead of back to the gathering. < Why the hell is that Kai? You knew
how this night would end up, but you got a wee bit too involved with thoughts
on Cordelia that you forgot about the night that Judas promised to you. > And
as always, Judas the little devil that he was heard everything that she was
thinking.

//Kaisean. . . // He whispered in her mind, his mental voice was more
seductive than usual as he extended psychic seduction threads that started in
on her mind, making forget for the moment what she had been talking to him
about. Judas enjoyed those rare times when he was able to actually achieve
such a state in his lifemate, usually their minds were simply too tightly
entertwined for his powers to work in such a way. They both had so much fun
when they did however. . . It wasn't better between them when he could use
his powers like this, simply different. Different in a way that had delighted
Kaisean when he first showed her. Judas grinned wickedly in rememberance.
//Oh seshajel, it's going to quite a long night for us.// Judas took her in
his arms, and dissolved into mist. In that form both Kaisean and Judas
experienced the wild sensations of drifting off into the air, only to be
brought back together by their willpower alone. A second later they were in
their quarters.

Tenshi smirked as he saw his sister and Judas stand close to each other,
apparently talking about something. He was glad that his twin had finally
found Judas, it had been so hard for him when she started having dreams. . .
and nightmares of herself in another form much like her own. Kaisean was
addressed as Kayla however in dreams that turned out to be real memories that
were awakening in her mind. He watched as she slowly grew crazy, not knowing
why it was all happening. Then she found out, and the shock of her lifetime
had occured in those few moments when she found the explanation. Or... at
least the begining of it, which led to something totally new to her
experience.

To be honest it had been quite a ride for himself also, especially since it
was something Methos had never seen let alone never thought to experience
which was quite saying something for an Immortal of Methos' age. And that
alone had amused the twins countless times. He turned back his attention to
Deanna as she continued to weave her story. A story that was basically a book
come to life with Deanna's fertile imaginations and skill with illusions. Her
skill with illusions was one reasons why she was always the one who was
consulted when anything considering illusions of her particular specialty,
terrain, was needed.

The group of young males and females, some who only *looked* young but were
in reality hundreds to even thousands of years old, was quiet and watched
with appreciation as the story unfolded. They all made up the Clan Ki'mera,
an extended family that stuck close together and were friends. Some more so
than others. They numbered almost 50 and lived in New Orleans for most of the
year. The Clan had only been in existence for a year yet the dynamics within
it had been clearly established almost from the beginning. It had been fun
for everyone watching Kaisean squirm when she realized everyone wanted her
and Judas to assume leadership of the Clan. A leadership that had been
uncontested since they were put into place.

* * *

Part 3

Los Angeles

Cordelia and Willow decided in the little time left before sunset, just how
they were going to approach their idea to Angel and Wesley. It took them
three days before they were able to get Angel and Wesley's aggrement. Hours
of work on the vampire and the watcher had been spent trying to convince them
of the validity and sensibility of their idea. When Angel and Wesley finally
caved in, Willow and Cordelia had broked into a happy dance that had made
Wesley laugh hysterically and Angel involuntarily grin. The four of them
discussed long and hard just how long this vacation could last. They finally
decided that they could stay for the entire summer from July until September.

"Willow! We really need to go shopping for some clothes, I mean you have
nothing appropiate for the night life in New Orleans." Cordelia shouted
across from her room across from Willow's. The apartment they shared with
Dennis, their resident ghost, was one that was perfect for the two of them.
"Hurry up Will! We have a looonnnng day ahead of us! Get your butt in here
girl!"

"Jeez Cordelia, I'm ready. Calm down Delia." Willow muttered as she finished
getting ready, tying her hair up with a leopard print claw. She was thankful
that she hadn't actually cut her hair like she had thought about the summer
right after she had graduated. Willow stood up and walked out of her room and
to where Cordelia was waiting for her in the hall. The brunette grinned
letting Willow know that she wasn't really mad. The pair made their way to
Willow's car, a brand new Infinity that had been a gift from her parents. The
witch made great use of the car and often drove Cordelia around when she
could. "So where to?"

"I figure we'll start off on Downtown, then move onto Melrose, and finally
the Promenade where we'll have dinner." Cordelia announced as Willow drove
down the street. She couldn't wait, she hadn't been shopping like this since
she was in Sunndale, and had never had the chance to really explore the shops
in L.A. "We'll have to stop off by the bank Willow. I have that account that
I told you about.

The reason why Cordelia had never really used the money in that account was
because she hadn't wanted her father to make use of the money in it. It was
in her name and was comprised for the most part of gift money and bonds from
her cousins, uncle and aunt. They had also told Cordelia that she wouldn't be
able to access the money in the account until she was 18. She had around
fifty thousand dollars in it, and was using most of the money to attend
college. Today however she would use that money to fund her shopping spree
with Willow who had quite a tidy sum herself.

"So what do you think of this Willow?" Cordelia held up the black wraparound
skirt with a golden embroidered border. Willow looked at it carefully and
imagined the other woman in it, she finally nodded. Cordelia looked don at
the skirt the at the price tag, smiling when she found out the price. "And
it's a good bargain to. Ok, I'm definitely getting this."

Willow spotted something she had to have and bounded over to it excitedly. It
was a long dress with long sleeves, made of a burgundy colored silk
embroidered on the waist in simple flower and vine patterns. The top of the
dress was a modest v-neck in the front. In the back, it was covered in a
sheer burgundy silk that allowed most of her entire back to be seen. Simple
but classy, seductive but innocent at the same time. The dress entranced
Willow as she held it up to herself as she looked into a nearby mirror.
"Cordelia." She called softly.

"Willow what's up..." Cordelia's mouth dropped when she saw the dress in
Willow's hands. "Oh my god Will, that has to be the most perfect dress for
you! And you bought the perfect shoes for that!"

"Really? I love it, it's perfect, I mean look at it!" Willow twirled around
with the dress clutched in her hands and grinned happily. "I'm going to try
it on." She swept into the changing room. The dress looked even more perfect
on her than when it was on the rack. It was just the perfect thing for her. <
Oh God! What luck, it's beautiful. I look beautiful in it! > She heard
Cordelia come in. Willow pushed the curtain out of the way and went to where
all the mirrors were, looking at herself in the view. Cordelia gasped when
she saw her, bringing her hand up to her head. She gave effusive compliments
to Willow who practically glowed in the dress. They finished their shopping
in that store and moved on.

It was 11 a.m. when they both finally stopped to refuel and have lunch. After
a brief discussion they decided to eat at Johnny Rocket's, both women
deciding to indulge in celebration of their successful shopping spree. Willow
and Cordelia looked over the small menus and ordered what they wanted.
Several minutes later Willow's burger, fries and chocolate shake arrived.
Cordelia's chilli fries and vanilla shake was set down in front of her.

Willow crossed her legs and started to eat, when she crunched down on her
fries she remembered what she had wanted to ask Cordelia. "Delia? How come
you never mentioned you had any relatives before?"

"Why? Oh, I guess I'm a bit embarassed. My father is considered the black
sheep in the family. He was adpoted when he was about eight when his parents
died. Michel Menard was a close friend of my father's father. So, Michel
adopted him because no one else in his family wanted responsiblity for my
father. Anyway, father was really bitter about it all, and disliked his new
guardian. Especially since he hated Aidan, Michel's only son. Uncle Aidan and
father had an uneasy alliance after Michel died. Father moved here to
California for college and never made contact with the Menards again. He
later heard that Aidan married Tamae Musanari, but he didn't go to their
wedding. The first time I met my cousins was when I was 10, they are both 8."

"Really? How far apart were they born?" Willow asked, enthralled with the
story that Cordelia was telling her. She never thought that Delia had such an
interesting family life.

"Kaisean and Tenshi? Oh jeez, they're twins. Kaisean is older by 10 minutes.
They're both pretty strange, I mean when I first saw them I thought that they
colored their hair and eyes. I mean no one has the kind of coloring that they
have." Cordelia rememberd a movie she had seen and shook her head
reprovingly. "Although, Elizabeth Taylor does have natural violet eyes, I
mean that's one thing that she's famous for. Other than the number of
husbands she had."

"Violet? They have purple eyes? Goddess, that is unusual." Willow said in
shock. She knew that the color was possible in nature for eyecolor, but was
extremely rare. In fact Willow thought that the color was actually pretty if
combined with the right coloring.

Cordelia nodded her head in agreement. "Kaisean has long hair, red like
yours, except that she had a natural streak. I remember playing with her hair
one day, and I parted it, you know to pull half of it up in a tail? Well,
beneath that layer of red hair is a layer of black. About one inch thick,
after that it's all red again. When all of her hair is down it just looks
like she has a streak framing each side of her face. Tenshi's the same way
except that he has black where she has red, and red where she had black.
Kaisean eyes are this really rich color made of different shades of purple.
Tenshi's are gray of different shades also." When she finished describing her
cousins she grinned at the look on Willow's face.

"That's. . . Whoa. That's cool, but freaky at the same time." Willow finally
managed to say, closing her mouth which had dropped open in shock. Willow had
a wierd sensation of seeing the people described to her in her minds eye. The
world flashed briefly before her eyes before fading to a scene of a young
woman with red and black hair and purple eyes. The hair quicklly turned all
red however, and the simple black dress she was wearing metamorphsed into a
deep blue toga that draped from the woman's figure gracefully. A silver rope
was wrapped around her waist.. Willow looked into Cordelia's dark eyes in
startlement when the image dissolved in her mind. She confusedly said, "Oh
Gods, what a rush."

"Willow what happened?" Cordelia asked in concern, the redheads eyes were
wide open in shock and somewhat dazed. Cordelia grew more concerned when
Willow didn't answer.

"It's nothing. . . I think." Willow flashed Cordelia a reassuring smile
filled with confidence though there were still hints of chaos in her gaze.
Cordelia shrugged it off, but in the coming days she would remember the
episode with startling clarity.

When they finished shopping at around five o'clock that night. They dropped
off their bags to their apartment and went to Angel's place where they would
finish up the arrangements that would be left in place when they finally left
L.A. in . . . Willow looked down at her watch and saw that it was June 29th,
which meant that there would be three more days. The witch knew that the days
would pass very quickly, and before she knew it the four of them would be on
the plane to New Orleans.

< Oh God! New Orleans! > Willow thought in sudden excitement, finally getting
it into her head that she would be leaving California for the first time in
her life. It had been mostly her choice however, never to leave California.
She had been to San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Palm Springs, even
Lake Tahoe sometimes. But this would be the ifrist time that she would be
leaving the state. Willow couldn't help but be excited. Not only was she
going on vacation somewhere else other than a city within a couple hours
drive from L.A. it was New Orleans! The Big Easy! Willow could not wait to
delve into the magic culture she knew existed in the city. Then there was the
awesome music that dominated the city. Jazz in all it's variety of forms.
There was so much to do. And she had lot's of time to explore, the whole
summer, and she would be with Cordelia, Wesley and Angel. Angel who was one
of people she had come to know so well in L.A. and believed herself to be
blessed because of that.

Coming to know Angel had been one of the truly pleasurable things of moving
to L.A. Her friendship with the vampire had grown strong. Strong enough that
she told him things that she normally would have told Xander or Buffy for
that matter. It had reinforced her love for Angel. Something that she would
be eternally grateful for. Willow now knew things about him that she had
never learned while in Sunnydale, things about his past and about his
personality, she knew things few others knew of. Willow just hoped that her
impact on him was the same.
 
 

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