| Summer Series 2002: The Journey of the Fool Story the 3rd ~ The Empress By Kuzibah |
| Disclaimer: Spike is not mine, more's the pity. Spoilers: For "Grave." Archive- Please email request. Feedback- Absolutely. ******************* -Dakar, Senegal Spike threaded his way carefully through the homeless that slept in this narrow alley, blissfully unaware of what went on behind the doors of the buildings beside it. Spike came to one of the doors, but before he could raise his fist to knock, a panel slid open to reveal a pair of black-and-yellow eyes. "Yeah?" a voice growled. "I'm... William, childe of Angelus," Spike said, hoping that name still meant something here. "I need to talk to Adair." "King Adair died forty years ago," the voice inside told him. "His daughter Peprine holds the throne now." Spike set his face in an expression of pleasant surprise. "Little Peprine?" he said, trying to sound like an indulgent uncle. "Peprine's the Queen already. My stars, how time flies. Well, I can talk to her just as easily, I suppose." The black-and-yellow eyes rolled in an obvious expression of doubt, and then the door opened to admit the vampire. The Hroonta demon that let him in waved one tentacle. "Follow me," he said, and led Spike down a darkened hallway. They entered a room hung with silks and lit with coals burning in brass braziers. The only furniture within was a plush, cushioned chair, which contained a large Hroonta, deep red in contrast to her pinkish servants. "Who is this?" she demanded. "Your Majesty," Spike said, bowing low. "I can't believe you've forgotten me. Why, I used to bounce you on my knee whenever my Sire, Angelus, and I would visit with your dad." Queen Peprine made a sound a bit like laughter. "My father banished my mother, one of his servants, soon after he got her with child," she said. "I seized the throne in a bloody coup when he died without a legitimate heir. So, I don't know who you were bouncing on your knee, but I can assure you it wasn't me. Now what do you want?" Spike took an unconscious step back towards the door. "I... I've come at a bad time, I see," he said. "It's really not that important..." "You wanted something from my father," Peprine said, "and you will tell me what it is." "My... ah... Sire, Angelus, once did a favor for your father," Spike said, glancing around the room in a futile attempt to find escape. "He promised Angelus that if he or any of his progeny were ever in need of assistance, we could come to him." "So, another of my father's lackeys comes looking for a handout," Peprine said, "and I'm expected to pay up." Spike stifled a grin at the thought of Angelus's reaction to being called a lackey, and inched further back. "Well, it wasn't actually me," he said. "In fact, Angelus and I aren't even that close anymore..." "Halt, vampire!" Peprine snapped, and Spike froze. "I do have use for you. If you wish to earn some money, I am willing to pay you a fair reward and secure passage for you as far as Tangier." "What do I have to do?" Spike asked warily. "I owe a tribute to the Demonic See," she explained, "and I need someone to see it gets there safely. I was going to send some of my loyal subjects, but it will be much easier to send someone human-looking. And seeing as how you need the money... and safe passage..." As much as Peprine was making this sound like a negotiation, Spike knew it wasn't. "And what is this tribute?" he asked. "Bring the tribute," Peprine commanded, and several of her servants scurried to comply. Spike was hoping for something small, a stone he could carry in his pocket, perhaps. Barring that, something crated, that could simply be sent to the ship's storage and ignored would be his preference. But Spike had some experience with demonic tribute, and knew it wouldn't be that simple. Sure enough, the Hroonta returned a few minutes later leading a humanoid demon on a chain. It (the gender was not obvious) was small, shorter than Spike, and slim, with limbs that seemed disproportionately long for its body. It's skin was streaked and mottled with shades of green, and it had a line of fur from the top of its head to the base of its spine. It was making little sounds, like the cooing of a bird, and was clothed in just a few sheer cloths. "How am I supposed to transport that on a passenger ship?" Spike asked incredulously. "I think people are going to notice it's not exactly human." Peprine made a noise of dismissal. "Self-centered vampire," she muttered. "You are going to a Muslim country. The human women there cover their bodies entirely with clothes." "Brilliant," Spike said, his sarcastic tone obvious. "Do you wish to be paid or not?" Peprine said angrily. Spike growled a little, but held his tongue. "We will secure passage to Morocco this very night," Peprine went on. "When the tribute has been delivered, you will receive your money. Are we agreed?" Spike eyed the green-skinned demon, which was standing quietly with its head bowed. "Agreed," he said. Go to the next part ~ The Emperor Main Menu ~ Return to Summer Series 2002 Menu |