ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: The usual suspects. See Part 1.

RATING: NC-17 over all. This part, probably strong R.

DISCLAIMER: What Joss said about BtVS and fanfic still goes, so I'm only doing what he wants me to do. But he still owns Buffy and Angel. So do UPN, the WB, Fox and Mutant Enemy. No infringement is intended.

DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME: See warning about dolphins and the laws meant to protect them as posted in the last chapter.

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Journey - Part 20c

It was a great pity, Mai reflected as she uncoiled to her full, formidable length, that she wasn’t free to do as she pleased with the girl who was now deep in an ensorcelled slumber. Sun glinted off the Slayer’s oiled skin, her hair was a delicate tousle of blonde waves across the quilt, her full lips were slightly parted, and she presented the most delectable picture of available, wanton sensuality that Mai had ever seen. The child was surpassingly lovely, and it was not surprising that she had managed to both enthrall Angelus and attract Wulf’s attentions. For that matter, Mai began to suspect that even Spike’s rumored inability to kill this particular Slayer had little, if anything, to do with her fighting skills and a few lucky breaks. Mai had heard about the assassins he’d hired a year ago--how not?-- and she’d wondered why he’d called them off. Perhaps he was no more immune to Buffy than were Wulf, Angelus and Mai herself.

Spike’s feelings about the girl were not at the issue at hand, however, although she might do well to learn more about them for the future. Even Angelus feelings weren’t the issue. Or, not entirely. After all, if he were treating the girl as he had every other paramour he’d ever taken, Mai would doubtless already have enjoyed her own taste of the Slayer’s sweetness. And she wouldn’t be worried about how the girl might affect the game between Wulf and Angelus.

If she were free to do as she wished, she would be coiling between Buffy’s slightly parted thighs, rubbing her cool--and highly sensitive--scales against the girl’s most intimate secrets. The tip of her tail would be delicately teasing Buffy’s hidden pearl while Mai took the time to find out if the taste of her lips were as honeyed as their pouting fullness promised. Under other circumstances, Buffy might even find herself hidden away in the Lamia dimension, where the Slayer’s existence as Mai’s concubine would skyrocket Mai’s status to heights that even her association with Angelus hadn’t brought her.

Or, utterly destroy herself and her House, beyond hope of redemption, if Buffy decided to fight what would be a most pampered and luxurious captivity. Though only if she won the battle. Mai surmised that Buffy might well win.

Really, it was much too risky to involve herself with the girl, directly. It was abundantly clear to Mai that Angelus had no intention of sharing, and there was no way Mai could trespass without inviting an all-or-nothing battle with him that she had no taste for.

Still, it was even more risky not to find out exactly what Buffy meant to Angelus, and--most important of all-- what he meant to her. Mai’s next moves with regard to both Wulf and Angelus depended upon the Slayer, and there was only one way to find out what she needed, one way to get the answers she sought. With a fleeting regret for what would not be, Mai coiled around Buffy in a protective, rather than an amorous manner, and rested her head on the girl’s shoulder.

It was time to see what magic could reveal.

Buffy sighed and took a sip, before falling more deeply asleep.

Mai lifted herself up, her lower coils still lapped around Buffy, rocking her gently. Walking in the girl’s dreams had been quite the revelation. Angelus, the Scourge of Europe denying his own pleasure, because his partner was in pain? Such consideration was almost incomprehensible. Mai congratulated herself on her earlier decision not to trespass on Angelus’ territory. And, as she had suspected, she would be far better off continuing her alliance with Angelus than she would be in switching her allegiance to Wulf. Mai smiled nastily. Wulf would, of course, continue to press his luck in that regard. Doubtless, Angelus would destroy him. Possibly, Buffy would help. Mai was now assured that the girl would never, ever, have anything to do with the other vampire and the demoness had just been given a far better understanding of exactly why it was that Angelus was able to hold this Slayer. It had more to do with who Angelus had been for the past one hundred and fifty years--and hadn’t that been quite the revelation!--and with the relationship "Angel" shared with Buffy, than with the way he had overpowered her. Wulf, or any other vampire, could keep her in chains for a century, ravish her into delirious orgasms night after intoxicating night, and the girl would never break, never willingly submit. It did not diminish what Angelus had done in capturing her. Rather, it made it all the more likely that he would successfully keep her at his side for as long as he desired. Mai had the suspicion that the time would never come that Angelus did not want Buffy.

Again, it came back to that surprising soul. Angel’s curse had been a well-kept secret. Darla hadn’t been forthcoming with any explanation as to why Angelus was no longer in her train, while no one but Spike could ever get a sensible answer out of Dru. Spike, himself, had been as closemouthed as Darla, perhaps at his great-grandam’s insistence. It was not a secret Darla could have wanted known.

Mai was relieved that she herself had not known about it until it was no longer an issue. True, Buffy had dreamt of being reunited with the soul, but Mai dismissed that as merely the girl’s subconscious trying to reconcile her growing love for the demon with her tiresome human morality. She was clearly too deeply in love with Angel/Angelus ever to free herself, and sooner or later, she would accept his delightfully murderous nature as part of what made him the magnificent beast that he was. If Mai had learned about the soul, she would have instantly broken her contacts with Angel . . .and would have missed the opportunity she presently enjoyed.

She briefly considered her options, though she was fairly certain only one was truly viable. She could, of course, let Wulf make his attempt to destroy Angelus and steal Buffy in the hope that he would kill Angelus before Buffy destroyed Wulf, himself. Then Mai, armed with the Crucimentum drugs Angelus had used, could sweep in and carry the girl off. But, the only way she could possibly hope to keep Buffy enslaved would be to keep her permanently weak with drugs. Or mingle her own blood with Buffy’s, and turn her into a vampire, in the manner which had seen the creation of the very first of the breed. The former would be boring and the later wouldn’t particularly enhance Mai’s status. She was really much better off continuing her alliance as it was. Mai shrugged off her disappointment. Lamia and vampires were virtually eternal, measuring their spans in centuries, if not millennia. The lovers might be faithful to each other for a dozen decades or so, but sooner or later, the idea of including others in their intimate games would begin to take on a certain appeal. If Angelus ever decided to invite someone else into the bed he shared with Buffy, Mai intended to be at the top of his guest list.

Hmmm. Perhaps there was something she could do now that might pay off in that regard, later. Mai reached for the cooler and considered its contents. She found the neatly wrapped bowl sitting on ice, and smiled. Yes, these would do nicely, she thought as she reached for the small knife Mr. Sung had thoughtfully provided for the paté.

Buffy’s eyes slowly opened as the silk scarf was withdrawn from her body. Blinking, she sat up, realizing that the scarf had in fact been the cool touch of Mai’s coils. The demoness was stretching out full length, closing her eyes as she luxuriated in the hot sun. Buffy shivered, not unpleasantly. She knew that Mai had done nothing that she need worry about. Buffy did not examine too closely the reasons why she felt such certainty in that regard.

Buffy also realized that, somehow, her Slayer senses were no longer being triggered by Mai’s presence. That, too, ought to worry her, but unaccountably, it didn’t. So, Buffy watched placidly as Mai shifted back to human form, and asked the question she had, oddly enough, been too shy to ask earlier.

"Does that hurt? Scrunching your tail down into human-sized legs? Turning your scales into skin?"

"Does it hurt when a bird flaps its wings?" Mai smiled. :"My body was designed to shift between the two forms. There is no discomfort."

"But still," Buffy pressed, "the demon is your true form."

"So it is, with me," Mai said aloud. As it is with Angelus, both women thought.

"Do I have time for another swim?" Buffy asked, nodding her head toward the dolphins.

"Of course. But, perhaps, not so long as last time."

Buffy was a little saddened to think that this would be her last opportunity to play with the pod. The seemed to sense her slight melancholy and butted up against her affectionately, before engaging her in a game of tag. Eventually, though, she knew she had to return to shore. She bade her friends a last farewell, and turned back to the shore.

"You really should try these, Mai said as she lifted a small crystal bowl out of the cooler. "Mr. Sung’s recipe is quite extraordinary."

"What is it?"

"Dessert," Mai said lightly, removing the wrapping and showing Buffy the bowl’s contents. A variety of luscious berries were steeping in an aromatic liquid. The scent rising from the bowl was mouthwateringly good.

"Yum," said Buffy, taking the spoon Mai handed to her and digging in. Ripe, rich liquid hit her tongue with the first taste. Buffy closed her eyes and swallowed, finding that a delicious heat settled immediately in her belly, and slowly worked its way out along her veins.

"Wow! That’s good," Buffy said, scooping up another spoonful. Smiling, Mai unwrapped her own bowl. "What’s on the berries?" Buffy asked between mouthfuls.

"A little wine, a little magic," Mai said lightly. "I really don’t know everything he puts into it." She did not mention that she herself had added one or two things to Buffy’s portion. Angelus would most likely discern what she’d done. And be devoutly grateful to her for it. They finished their deserts in companionable silence, and Mai began to pack things away. "We really ought to be heading back, now." In fact, they had at least an hour before sunset, but Mai knew that, in a very short time, Buffy would not thank her for keeping her from Angelus a moment longer than she had to.

"All right," Buffy said, reluctantly putting on her bathing suit, once more. Mai hid her smile as she herself quickly dressed. In a few moments, they were heading back to the cottage.

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Our journey is anything but over.

FEMFIC        PART 20b        PART 21    FEEDBACK

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