Vanessa and Dante get in the car and head off for the club, leaving Nero and the others to worry about the possessed child upstairs. Only 3 hours until sunrise, so they have to make this quick. Vanessa smiles, feeling in better spirits than she has for a long time-- no pun intended. Amidst all the critical eyes of those who didn't understand, Papa Ghede had come when his daughter called and saved them from the demon! Armande was back safe and sound, her Childe had bravely drummed on...though he had been an inch from permanant death...and Vanessa was finally cured of the demon-taint! It was a good night.
Vanessa smiles and glances at Dante as she drives. "You did very well tonight, mijo. You made me proud, and contributed to the zero death-toll of our pack. Now you see what a clan you have been born into! We are Kindred like the others, but hold so much more power by our connection with the loas!"
Dante's face takes on a pleased look during Vanessa's praise. "Yeah, sister, I can see that!" he says with a faint trace of Caribbean accent. "You were right-- everything you promised. Hey-- I wasn't gonna stop drummin' an' look like an ass. That King o' Tears ain't got NOTHIN' over Papa Ghede!" Dante hits his hand lightly on the dashboard and grins a huge toothy grin while looking at Vanessa. Vanessa can't help but laugh although she can sense her Childe's arrogance, and a trickle of worry creeps into her blood.
"You're right about that...and speaking of that, I felt when you channeled Damballah. You were right-- you ARE a natural channeler. Of that I'm very relieved. You come across as...arrogant at times. I wasn't sure if you really could channel. Only future or present mambus and houngan can channel the loas. If we can get this city up and running, and if you're a good student, you'll be houngan over the voudoun in no time. You have the drive, the ambition, the desire, the ability, and the cockiness." Vanessa grins a crooked grin and keeps her eyes on the road.
"Hey! I have a lot to be cocky about, an' you're damn right I have the desire AND ability to be houngan! With what you've given me, already I could take over!" Dante says, resting his elbow on the car door and putting his other hand on his hip, leaning away from Vanessa and giving her a half-lidded eyebrow-raise as if daring her to refute that.
"It's no big challenge to control the mortals with our powers, as you've already seen and will see tonight. What you have to remember as MY Childe is that I love voodoo, I love the loas, and I love the voudoun community, and I will NOT have an egotistical, power-hungry BOY take over and run them into ruin." Vanessa keeps her eyes on Dante's the entire time she's speaking, and as she finishes, she allows mottled scales to flicker across her skin and her eyes to turn yellow and slitted for just a moment to remind him who his true superior is.
Dante's mouth hangs open for a second as he lets Vanessa's words and temporary appearance sink in, and then when Vanessa's eyes return to the road, the spell is broken.
"Now look here, bitch, this is MY city! You're the visitor! An' I sure as hell--" The car suddenly swerves to the right as Vanessa drives onto the side of the road, and Dante's thrown forward as she slams on the brakes. She throws open her door, grabs Dante's by the collar, and pulls him across the front seat and out of door, and then slams him against the side of the car. Both her and Dante's eye film over with yellow, slitted lenses as a power-struggle begins. After a few seconds, Dante's eyes return to their normal appearance. Vanessa stares at him for a long moment, reading him.
Power...position...prestige...he wants complete control over his women...he wants to hear them praise how big he is and cry out how good he is...he wants to point to any woman he desires, call 'hey you!' and force them to give him a blow-job...he's always fantasized about being ridden by a loa that makes him walk over to the mambu Sharique, take her, and fuck all of that arrogance and untouchable-ness out of her so that look of superiority in her eyes extinguishes...he wants to see her look at him in amazement, and fall down prostrate on her face before him.
Vanessa raises an eyebrow and the corner of her mouth turns up in a smile. She wonders how long until she, herself, is included in one of these power-trip domination-fantasies.
"Dante..." she says his name in such a tone that his blood grows chilled. She grips his arms in her hands and pulls him towards her until they are hidden by trees and bushes. Keeping her eyes on his, she begins to change. Her skin grows scaley, her legs fuse together into a long tail, and her arms disappear into her torso. Her mouth gets wider and her head flatter until she takes on the form of the giant cobra. She wraps around Dante, starting with his ankles and coiling around until she wraps around his neck with her flicking tongue inches from his eyes.
Dante can't support the weight of the giant snake, and falls backwards onto the wild grass with Vanessa wrapped around him. Her mouth opens and her long fangs protrude-- poison dripping from them. As a drop falls onto Dante's chest, the skin sizzles. She places her fangs against his neck, and presses slowly. She can feel his flesh trembling beneath the pressure of her fangs.
A million thoughts go through Vanessa's mind. A Serpent of the Light SHOULD be arrogant...just not SO arrogant that he is stupid. She never wanted to make a Childe...perhaps she should destroy this one for talking to her like that...ah, but then Carter will order her to make another. She feels a pang of frustration, and pulls back her head.
Slowly she reverses her magick so her body reverts back from snake to woman with her arms and legs wrapped around Dante's body and her face still inches from his.
"You are lucky, Dante. Your short new life was seconds from being over. Undertand this: I was commanded to make a Childe, and I'm a perfectionist. If I find too many flaws with my creation, I can break it and start again. Do we understand one another?" Vanessa says in a low voice. She releases Dante from his paralysis.
Dante feels himself able to move again, and nods his head quickly.
"All right then, we're wasting time." Vanessa gets up off of Dante and stands, and watches as he shakily stands, as well. The two walk wordlessly back to the car and get in.
As they approach the club, Vanessa glances at Dante-- who has been sitting stiff and still beside her-- and smiles at him using her blood to make herself extremely likeable and trustworthy.
"Stop sitting there feeling sorry for yourself. You learned that unpleasant lesson, now learn a pleasurable one. You ready to find a girl to take home and use your influence upon?" she asks with raised eyebrows.
Dante looks at her reluctantly, and sees her sitting there radiating such carefree joy that he wonders for a moment if this is the same woman. He blinks a couple of times, and then can't help but smile, as well.
"Yeah, I'm ready teacher. So teach me!" he says with a grin.
Vanessa pulls into a parking spot, and the two get out and begin walking towards the club together. The club is just closing, and the crowd is streaming out slowly to converse, make any last hook-ups, and find their cars.
Vanessa points to a black girl in a mini-skirt and high platform shoes who's walking quickly and fumbling around in her purse. Vanessa puts her head close to Dante's and whispers.
"She OK? Looks like she might have some arrogance that needs pounding out, eh Dante?" she asks, elbowing him.
Dante smirks and nods his head slowly. "Yeah she does-- I can tell just by the way she walks! Stupid bitch probably wouldn't even look at me if I snapped my fingers!" He starts towards her before Vanessa can grab him. "Hey! Bitch!" he shouts.
The girl waits a moment to continue fumbling before slowly raising her eyes to fix a "puuu-lease, what you tryin' ta talk to ME for?" look on her face with raised eyebrow. Dante's temper gets the better of him, and he reigns all his blood to fill his countenance with a terrifying aura. The girl freezes-- her mouth falling open-- and she drops her purse from nerveless fingers. As she starts to scream, she turns and quickly snatches her purse up before bolting off in a random direction. She almost trips and falls at one point, but her terror is so strong that it makes her keep to her feet, and she continues running.
Dante laughs. "Oh YEAH bitch, RUN! You hear me, RUUUN!" he calls after her, cupping his hands around his mouth.
Vanessa rolls her eyes and puts a hand to her forhead. "Dante, come here." she says in a low voice, and Dante turns and comes back.
"You right-- that felt REEEAL good." he says, all smiles.
Vanessa closes her eyes a moment-- fighting back a smile-- with her fingertips on her forehead. "Good, Dante. You get out all the frustrations you've ever wanted to, just do it on your own time, OK? The sun will be up in a few hours, and I have things to do back home. Now listen. The key to the game *I* play is this: lure them to you by making them want you so bad they can taste it. Once you get them locked in your room, then take off the gloves. So many complications avoided this way. Got it?"
Dante nods eagerly. "Oh yeah, I see what you're saying. I like that. You're a sick woman, Vanessa. I like you!" Dante says looking at her with new appreciation. "Hey-- we got any rules about Childer and their Sires...you know..." he says grabbing his crotch and nodding at her with a cocky grin.
"*WE* don't, no, but I haven't seen anything I want." she replies, folding her arms and raising an eyebrow.
"Oooh! You COLD, woman!" he says shaking his head and pretending to shiver. "All right, all right, I got it. Let's find another woman."
Vanessa nods. "Good idea. And before you get any more ideas-- such as a fantasy that involves humiliating me-- just remember that Thursday we're going to channel the rainbow-serpent consorts together. You got anything to show, you show it then." she says, and then nods her head towards a slight young blonde girl in her early 20s. "How about her?" she asks to change the topic.
Dante folds his arms and leans back, giving Vanessa the once-over after her challenge, and then looks to where she's pointing. He takes in the girl, and a smile creeps onto his face.
"Ain't never been with a white girl...yeah...this will be nice..." he says slowly, and walks towards the girl. Vanessa stands and watches as her Childe turns on the charm. The blonde girl looks at him hesitantly for a moment, and then laughs and turns her eyes down as he puts his arm around her. After a moment they're both laughing and talking, and Vanessa sees Dante motion towards her, and they approach.
"So I was just telling Melody that after surveying this whole scene of dogs, she's the first fox I've seen!" Dante says, and-- scanning Dante's emotions quickly-- Vanessa can feel resentment coming from him that this girl is only giving him the time of day because his powers compel her to.
"Oh yeah, you're the hottest chick I've seen all night! So hot...and delicious...I just want to taste your creamy skin..." Vanessa forces herself to say convincingly while activating her own powers of attraction and trailing her fingers over the skin of Melody's neck. Vanessa moves her mouth quickly to Melody's neck, and begins kissing and sucking lightly. She flicks her hand quickly at Dante, and Dante nods with a smile. He moves his mouth to Melody's ear and begins to whisper what he wants to do to her when he gets her home, and once Vanessa detects that the girl is arroused, she quickly bites her neck and begins to drink. Melody closes her eyes and moans, and Vanessa--distastefully-- moves her hands across the girl's breasts and stomach. 'The things I have to do for a drink!' she thinks in disgust, wishing she could twist the girl's head off when she's done drinking from her.
When she has finally drunk her fill, she licks the wound closed and stands up straight. Melody is looking a little unsteady on her feet, and staggers into Dante.
"Man-- she has that affect on everyone!" Dante exclaims in pretended frustration while helping to steady Melody, but gives Vanessa a look of desire over the top of Melody's head. Vanessa wipes her mouth and gives Dante a bored look.
"Come on, you two. Let's go home." she says, and the three walk back to the car-- Dante helping Melody to walk.
They drive back to the mansion, get out, enter the house, and walk down the hallway of the main floor. When they approach Vanessa's room, Vanessa stops and makes to look for her keys. "Have a good night..." she says, winking at Dante.
"What-- you ain't comin' with?" Dante asks hopefully.
"No...I told you, I have things to do. You go on. Just remember to turn on the camera before you begin!" Vanessa whispers and wiggles her eyebrows at Dante. Dante laughs and shakes his head, and then opens his bedroom door, helps Melody in, and shuts the door behind them.
Vanessa puts her keys back, looks up and down the hallway, and then tip-toes over to Armande's door.