Love Bites (REPOST)

Chapter 30 ~ Final Outcome

Vashti shuddered as Adam sucked her life-force from her, her eyes rolling up
into her head. Suddenly the room faded and she was falling, falling downward,
past mountains, cliffs, down, into the bowels of the earth, the stone walls
sizzling with heat, burning, dripping. Still she fell a long, long way, her body
spinning, turning, rolling through space, the world growing darker, fissures
containing white hot magma zooming past. Still she fell.

Finally she landed in a quiet place, the only sound the low groans of plates of
earth shifting, and the hiss of geysers, burning liquid shooting up in brilliant
spray. Then she heard the sounds of wild laughter, then cries, then roars,
growing louder.

"You have come," a voice hissed behind her.

Vashti turned to see the demon, smiling lasciviously at her. It offered the
Queen its scaly arm. She hesitated, then took it.

"You will be treated well, Vashti. Only satisfy us and your life will not be
hard," the demon lisped at her, pulling the jewels from her hair and letting
her black locks flow down her back. The demon caressed her face gently with its
clawed hand. 

"There are some with grudges, but you will appease them. Be willing.
Subservient. You are no Queen here, but servant. Remember, you are a servant,
and all will be well," he hissed, leading her through the darkness. Vashti
knew she would suffer. 

All demons were liars.

*********************************

Adam fed until the Queen stopped shuddering, then released her, letting the
lifeless body fall to the floor. It lay there only a moment, before bursting
into flame and burning away cleanly, leaving no ash, no sign that Vashti had
ever been.

Adam licked his lips.

"Talon licking good," he said to Hermione who still lay before him. Her eyes
were healing now and she could make out his shape.

"Adam?" she said, peering at the form before her.

"That's Queen Adam, Dr. Granger," he hissed at her. The flame in his blue eyes
went out, and he shifted them toward Severus, then back at the prone Queen
before him. He looked thoughtful, then straightened and walked lightly over to
Vashti's throne. He brushed the seat off with his hand, then sat down
delicately, wriggling a bit as he settled in.

"This could use some cushion," he mused.

The minions were all silent, hugging the walls in confusion and fear. Adam's
eyes washed over the shadowed creatures.

"You minions…get over here," he said.

Slowly the creatures moved toward the throne, cringing and fearful. They didn't
know if they would be accepted. They formed a ragged line in front of him. Adam
made a face.

"You are some damn ugly creatures," he said, scowling at them. "You can trust I
won't be creating any more of you."

The creatures keened in fear. The new Queen didn't like them…that meant death.

Adam's eyes rested on them compassionately.

"But since you are here, I guess you can stay," he said, "just don't fuck up."

The creatures all began a rather hideous dance of joy, hissing, snarling and
striking each other, blood flowing and wounds healing. Adam grimaced and waved
his hand limply.

"Go back to the shadows…puhleeeeeese!" he said. They obeyed him immediately.

Adam looked around the catacombs with a critical eye.

"This will never do. There is some redecorating in our future, boys," he called
to the minions.

Victor tried to slink back up the passageway. A sentient vampire could survive
without a clutch. But Adam felt him trying to leave.

"Tut, tut, handsome. Get in here," the Queen said.

Victor turned and walked slowly toward the throne. He stopped in front of Adam,
and knelt on one knee. Adam's eyes washed over him hotly.

"You're the one I need to thank for this," Adam said. "What is your name?"

"Victor, my Q…q…queen," the vampire replied, tripping over the title.

"Well Victor, thank you for helping me reach my full potential. Life was very
dull for me. I think being an undead Queen will raise the level of my half-life
to exciting, at least," the chubby Queen said, eyeing the handsome vampire.

"Yes, my Queen," Victor responded.

Adam looked at Victor consideringly for a moment, then over at Severus. His eyes
quickly shifted to Hermione as she stood up, her sight restored. What to do
about her?

Adam's eyes fell back on Victor. He scowled slightly. The vampire was gorgeous,
but he was a sentient. He could only control him so much. Then he looked at
Severus. If he turned the wizard, he too would be a sentient. Adam already knew
the Potions Master would not service him. His eyes shifted back to Victor.

"Listen, Victor. I am in need of a king to rule beside me. You are now bound to
me, thanks to your old Queen's generous gift before she went to Hell. You now
have a choice. To live as my king, or die. I would not be a Queen if I were not
a woman in nature. I am tired of being alone. You are drop dead gorgeous. You
know what I expect," Adam said imperiously. "If you choose death, I will kill
you and find another sentient more aligned to my needs. What is your answer?"

Victor looked at the Queen. Half-life or death? This was not his ideal option,
but better than oblivion. Plus, he would rule.

"I will be your king, my Queen," he said. 

Well, he could always pretend Adam was Vashti. He had liked taking her from the
back anyway.

Adam gave him a smile.

"Wise choice, Victor," he said, grinning hungrily at the vampire, who went a bit
paler.

Adam looked over at Severus.

"Professor, I release you from the curse," he said.

Immediately, Severus' eyes returned to normal. He bowed to Adam.

"Thank you, Adam," the wizard said sincerely. His black eyes shifted to
Hermione, who looked at him forlornly. 

"What of Dr. Granger?" Severus asked Adam.

"You can take her with you," Adam replied.

He pulled the bottle of Restoration Potion from his robes pocket.

"You might want to give her this first. She isn't completely turned and has my
life force, but isn't bound to me. I cannot release her as I did you," the Queen
said.

Severus walked forward. Every minion in the catacombs hissed as the circle of
water approached the new Queen. Adam took out his wand and banished the ward.
The minions began to advance toward the Potions Master hungrily.

"Get back there. I didn't tell you to eat anyone!" Adam scolded. "As of now, you
are all restricted to small animals."

The minions hugged the walls again…muttering. Adam scowled at them and they fell
silent. Severus advanced and Adam handed him the bottle. The Queen watched as
Severus walked over to the witch.

Severus looked down at Hermione, taking in her pale features.  She was still
lovely.

"I must say you make an appealing Queen," he said to her. Hermione smiled, her
fangs showing. Severus blinked at the frightening display. He opened the
Restoration Elixir.

"Drink this. Quickly," he said offering her the bottle…then. "Wait."

Severus leaned down and kissed her cold lips. He shuddered.

"You're much better warm," he said, handing her the open bottle.

The Queen drank it down, and grimaced.

"It's the basilisk bladder," Severus said with a smirk.

Hermione began to shudder and doubled over in pain, shrieking as the Elixir took
effect. Once more she gasped for breath and suffered the sensation of insects
crawling over her. The witch felt nauseous, but didn't vomit. The feeling passed
and she straightened, restored. Hermione embraced Severus tightly.  His long
arms wrapped around her as well, rocking her gently against his body.

Adam sniffed. They really were a sweet couple. He was going to miss hearing them
fuck.  He centered himself and did his best to look regal.

"All right. All Living out of my domain. I have ruling to do," Adam said
brusquely. The reality was, he didn't want them to see him cry. They had both
been good to him and he would miss them.

Hermione approached the throne.

"Thank you, Adam," she said to the Queen. Then she leaned forward and kissed him
on the mouth. Adam nearly gagged, and waved both taloned hands at her irritably.

"Ew," he said, "Now that was just nasty, Dr. Granger," he said, sputtering. "Now
if the Professor was to…"

"Forget it, Adam," Severus growled, walking up and taking Hermione by the arm
and leading her through the entranceway.

"Such a hardass," Adam said affectionately as he watched them leave.

Then his eyes turned to Victor, who swallowed.

"So, did you and Vashti do it here for everyone to see, or is there more private
accommodations?" Adam asked. Hell, he was randy. It was time to break Victor in.

"We had a crypt, my Queen," Victor replied.

Adam rose and walked toward the vampire.

"Escort me there, my king," he said, his blue eyes beginning to glow.

Victor bowed.

"Yes, my Queen," he responded, taking Adam's arm and slowly leading him through
the catacombs.

It wasn't the ideal situation, but at least he was alive.

*****************************

A/N: Ah Adam, the compassionate Queen. Well, he's got Victor now and an eternity
to enjoy him. Severus and Hermione are free now and all is good with the world.
Except for Vashti. But everyone has to pay for their sins. Please review.