Deadheading the Daisies
By Wendy
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Edinburgh, 1885

"Why are we stuck in this filthy city, petal?" The dark girl stalked across the floor, fingers spread wide. "Hmmm?"

The blonde girl turned on the bed. "Dru, sweet. Come to bed. The sun will set soon and it'll be time to go out."

"The people here are thin and their blood is water. Watery water." She whined as she clambered onto the bed. With a bounce she stretched out, her mad eyes rolling. "And they taste of fish." She completed in the ultimate expression of disgust at that pitiful place and its inhabitants.

"We'll dine fine tonight. I promise." A lingering kiss on the forehead. "But first..." Lazy fingers trailed along the ribbons that held Dru's corset together. "This is just too tight."
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A sated Darla held the slumbering Drusilla to her breast. A soft knock alerted her to the lateness of the hour. "Entrez." she said, slipping into her human visage. A similarly matched pair of fair and dark stood in the doorway.

"Well. What have we been doing this fine afternoon, girlie?" The elder, her Angelus, leered. The stench of cheap ale and whiskey swept into the room, followed by the two staggering men. William flopped onto the bed, startling Drusilla awake with a hiss. He tried running his fingers up her tight stomach to calm her. She pushed his hand away, with a sleepy "No more" and turned to Darla. Her eyes pleaded for her.

"Shall we leave the boys to rest, dearest, sweetest Drusilla?" The emphasis on rest was unmistakable.

A swift fierce grin spread across Dru's delicate features and, arising, she grabbed a dolly.

"Hear that, Lady Daisy? We're going to a party! Which party dress should we wear?"

Angelus grabbed her, running his hands over her silky skin. "I think you're just as dressed as you need to be Dru."

"Angelus." A drawn out reprimand from Darla, lying supine still, but fending off the attentions of William. William the nuisance, more than William the bloody. She condescended to rise. "Red and Black, silly. We're a matching pair."
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Dru was right. The city stank. It reeked. It was foul to the highest extreme. It was dirty and muddy. Even the best areas, which the audacious pair were traipsing through.

"Can we go to the theatre?" The younger girl eagerly expressing her desire, attracting admiring glances from the some young gentlemen, who perhaps considered changing their plans for the evening.

"No. I have another place in mind." Darla firmly stated, noting with satisfaction the downcast faces of Dru's admirers.

"Where are we going then?" Dru's petulance was approaching dangerous levels. They both needed to eat soon. Darla almost wished she'd brought the boys, for their presence often took Dru's mind off her other needs. But Angel's drawl and William's manners would never have done. Instead they were cousins, from London. Up to visit relatives, one could say. Rather distant ones.

"Here we are, pet. " They had arrived at a grand looking mansion in St Andrew's Square. "Home of the famous Mrs Alberts. Known for her tea parties and seances. Rather fashionable of late, although something to keep hush from her husband. But they're always the last ones to know." Darla mocked.

"Do you know this woman?" Dru looked hurt.

"Not as well as I know you, my sweet." Darla's eyes sparked with passion. "Let's just say we share an acquaintance." And Darla mouthed "Angelus" at the giggling Dru.

"That boy would fuck a fishwife, if he thought there was a drink and some baccy in it." Dru's coarse turn of speech confounded Darla.

"Yes. He's a naughty boy. And a cruel boy. And a silly boy." She soothed her midnight princess with her soft words and a gentle sweep across the chin. Dru calmed. "Shall we go in?"

"Will there be pudding and custard?" Lady Daisy likes pudding and custard." Dru seemed afraid.

"I'm sure there will be. And lots more beside. We shall get to wreak havoc, my lamb."

"Wreak havoc, my sweet?"

"I know. Occasionally, I feel the need for a little drama in my life. Perhaps we should have gone to the theatre after all."

"Oh no. I like the sound of this more."

And they swept up the driveway, coats billowing slightly to reveal a slip of ankle.
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Mrs Alberts was only to pleased to welcome the two cousins into her well appointed home. Her new lover had told her of the clairvoyant skills of his sister, and she was only too eager test them. Her boring life was enlightened by the constant stream of fakers and charlatans that swept in and out of her green drawing room (the red one being for family only). She didn't expect this to be any different from the hundreds of other times.

The youth and beauty of the tall willowy girl surprised her. She was expecting someone more robust and matronly. False hair and more scarves. A girl of this age would normally be married, or engaged at least. This girl claimed to have no gentlemen callers, or at least according to the tall tales of the man sharing her bed. Whatever could be wrong with her.

They had tea and cake before moving onto the drawing room for the seance. Dru pouted at the lack of custard, but Darla explained how backward these provincials could be.
"But they're rich my sweet. Rich and rich blooded."

The seance set up surprised Darla with its lack of development. There were no wards, no protections against the evil that might slip into such a situation. After many years with The Master, she was almost grateful for the lack of sophistication. It would give her sweet Dru more space to play. Dru felt it too, luxuriating in the freedom, nearly dancing in the giddiness of it all. Her head swivelled from side to side, with a dreamy expression.

The ladies settled themselves around the table, and Dru got herself under control. Darla decided it would be better if she took the lead.
"Ladies, whom is it you wish to contact, tonight?" Darla started counting off the expected answers off on her hands.

"Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt." One. "Nefetari, the most beautiful woman in the world." Two. What was it with orientalism and these Brits? What was next? Ahh, yes. "Homer." That was the 'I'm educated, you fools' one.

Dru knew how to play the crowd. "These spirits are long departed. I hear only faint echoes of their essences. I..." She went into trance. Even Darla was not sure it was not genuine. "I call the elders." Dru whispered. Darla suddenly understood what to expect. A misty presence arose in the middle of the long polished table. A torn neck became more apparent. It was Dru's own spirit.

"Let me free, monster." It yelled in its extinct voice. All around the table the genteel ladies scrambled backwards, only to come face to face with the grinning Darla, showing all her teeth. The candles threw weird shadows round her and Dru's suddenly monstrous features. Dru stood and climbed up onto the table.

"Won't you dance with me?" She entwined herself around and through herself. The spirit laughed, all Dru's current madness reflected in its face.

"Have fun, my monster. Let me rest." The spirit faded, as Dru turned and leapt onto the neck of the nearest woman, dragging her onto the table.

"Now we'll have pudding, for Lady Daisy Deadhead." The woman screamed in pain. "It'll only hurt for a little bit." The screams cut off suddenly, and the powerful and beautiful woman stood once more on the table, dancing dreadfully.

Darla applauded her love's wonderful movements.
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Much later, the pair swept jubilantly out of the house, any previous unhappiness banished in the face of the marvellous evening. They giggled their way back to their lodgings, not noticing the gentlemen shying away from them. Those men, who had previously admired the couple, shrank back against walls, into doorways, up side streets, as an unknown fear and darkness struck at their hearts.

"There is no way that this evening could get be bettered, my sweet," Darla suggested.

Taking the hint, Drusilla replied. "You're right, pet. Time to move onto newer pastures. I've always fancied Paris in the spring."

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