Observing that Denise’s eyes were closed, Vivienne swayed slowly until she managed to see Casey clearly and glared at her ward questioningly. 

Comprehending what Vivienne was asking, Casey nodded and blinked her eyes repeatedly. -Please let her get that hint.  Your eyes, Vivienne.-

Pressing a light kiss into the dirty-blonde hair, Marion let a longing purr from her chest and pulled away far enough for Denise to stare directly into her twinkling blue eyes. “Mmm, Loved One.  Let me look at you.”

Denise lost herself in the swirling blue eyes that bore into her very being. “M…my pleasure, Marion.  I could look into your eyes for an eternity.”  Denise leaned up on her toes and stole a kiss from her Marion. “I said I wanted a kiss.”  She giggled and took a happy step back, pointing to the raised dais where she’d carved out her seat. “If you notice, there is a place for you as well, Darling.”

“So much for looking into my eyes.”  Vivienne made herself sound playfully sad. “Years go by and you can only stand here with me for a few seconds.”

Denise put her hands on her hips and shook her head stubbornly. “No, that isn’t it at all.”  Tying her messy hair in a bun, Denise cupped Marion’s face and resumed looking into her blue eyes.

“Loved One…”  Marion leaned to Denise’s hands lovingly. “...Like I promised, I am back.”  Blinking her eyes softly, Vivienne continued, “...I didn’t expect this..all this..love.”  Sliding one of Denise’s small hands from her cheek, Marion kissed the top and smiled. “It took me a little bit to understand from the comics you drew to understand the complexity.  I thought you were a painter though.”  Vivienne slipped in the comment and then pushed the straps of Denise’s dress down to reveal the teal flower pattern on her skin. “I get that you hid history and planning in the glossy pages, but where is the rest of your passion, Loved One?”

Jumping up and down happily, Denise pulled her dress back in place covering her flower. “Not in front of the guests please, Marion.”  She winked and pointed to Marion’s corresponding throne. “You have a seat and I will show you everything I have, starting with the first time.”

Taking the opportunity to kiss Denise’s other hand, Vivienne swiveled on the back of her boot heel and began walking with the little hip bumps to mirror Marion walking up the stairs on their first night.  Ascending to the top of the carefully carved dais, Vivienne decided to take a chance when she sat down.  Turning to the side of her ornate chair, Marion stretched out the best she could to mimic how she posed during the class. “Shameful, My dear.”  Vivienne teased and bounced her feet on the opposite arm of her seat. “I can’t stretch out comfortably, how will my darling artist capture this moment?”  Focusing quickly on what Marion would do, Vivienne popped four buttons free on her tight red blouse, showing off the curvature of her supple breasts.

Darting to a small alcove that she’d carved out behind the rows of texts, Denise pulled out an easel and set it up just in time to see Marion posing in her seat.  Stopping in her tracks, Denise temporarily lost the will to breathe and let out a little squeak of surprise and desire.  Once she recovered, Denise shivered and shakily pointed to her Marion. “Wh..what…are..”  She glanced over to her captives and then back to Marion. “Yes, class.  The others.”  Twitching lightly and blinking her eyes, Denise nodded nervously. “I..I..”  She touched her sweaty brow and tried to form words. “Dif-Different but good, Marion.”  Taking a step and catching the easel around her foot, Denise got tangled momentarily and had to pick up the wooden stand where it crashed on the ground.  Blushing wildly, Denise laughed. “Sorry.  It’s just been a very long time, Marion.  You are still stunning.”

Recalling the intimacy that Marion and Denise shared, Vivienne leaned up in the chair and swirled one of her fingers at the trembling artist. “I recall your curves with these fingers right here, Loved One. So much fun mixing the teal and making you flourish under my silky touch.”  Winking one of her majestic blue eyes, Vivienne continued. “If I recall..” Marion cooed, “...You have a dirty little artistic streak in you, My Sw-ee-t.” 

“All of my special work is back here, out of harm’s way.”  Denise plucked a canvas stretched over an old pine frame. “It is a dream come true.”  She placed the first painting she created of Marion on the stand and turned it to face Marion. “The quad painting.”  Denise grinned wide and pointed to the red lines and cracks in the paint that had been filled over time. “So special.  This one is infused with blood from all types to keep its appearance.”  She waved her green runed hand over to Faye and Sylvie. “Vampire blood keeps the integrity the best.”  Denise ran over to the library and pulled a thick graphic novel from the middle of the books. “Here is a miniature version of why.”  Denise winked. “While you know that I am more than I appear…”  Denise did a little playful spin, “...I have to keep this one imbued with the blood of something that radiates..”  She waved her hands over her head indicating the entirety of the cave. “..power, energy and magic.”

Swallowing hard and glancing over her shoulder when Denise did her playful spin, Vivienne confirmed with a simple and quick nod from Casey that what was a few feet away from her is what the ward had been seeking. “My glow-flower?”  Marion called across the cave from her seat and smiled widely at Denise. “I haven’t seen it in years..”

“Sixty-eight to be exact, My Darling.”  Denise spoke up and bounced lightly on her toes.

Finding the opportunity to strike, Vivienne moaned lightly and ran her hand around her partially covered chest then curled her fingers out towards Denise. “Mmm…Come to me, my sweet and bring that lovely piece with you.”  Swiftly nibbling on her lip, Vivienne thought of a finishing line that Marion once used. “Unless you want me to beg, Loved One.”

Wildly blushing, Denise suckled on her bottom lip remembering the last time Marion had mentioned begging. “No need for that my dear, I will happily come over and sit in your lap.”  Denise smiled and plucked the painting from the easel, hugging it tightly to her small frame. 

Using her entrancing smile, Vivienne waited until Denise got within arms reach before sitting up and patting her lap lightly.  With a quick and subtle flex of her shoulders, Vivienne made sure that the unbuttoned blouse slipped away from her shoulders, exposing her arms and the tops of her firm and round breasts.  When the look of complete adoration crossed over Denise’s features, Vivienne opened her hand and gracefully helped the smaller woman into her lap. “Look at you being shy, no need to hug the painting so tightly…”  Vivienne paused and pressed her index finger to Denise’s lips where she felt Denise lightly kiss the digit. “Anxious little minx.”  Marion echoed and reached for the painting. “Let me see this delightful piece.”  She winked one of her lovely blue eyes at Denise. “We have all the time in the world now, your Marion is back.”  Coaxing the painting free, Vivienne held it with one hand and pulled Denise into her chest with the other in a comfortable hug. “I love … your vision, your mind.”  Pausing for a split second, Vivienne slowly uttered, “My..Darling.”

“All for you, Marion.  Everything.”  Denise looked up with her deceptively pouty hazel eyes, “It’s just the two of us now, right?”  Denise sighed and closed her eyes content against her Mairon’s chest.

“Mmmhmmm..”  Vivienne purred in affirmation, then held the painting up.  Within a blink of an eye, Vivienne’s claws extended and pierced the painting and ripped wildly, sending pieces of the canvas across the chair much like a flag being ripped apart by a hurricane.  Following the decimation of the painting, Vivienne snapped the old wooden structure that held the painting firmly.

Feeling her energy being sapped, Denise rolled out of Vivienne’s lap and fell to the floor clutching her chest. “Arrrrghh….Nooooo..” She cried a hollow echo through the cave and lost control of her illusion, turning back into the gray skinned lich that she was.  “Wh…why….”  Denise reached for bits of her precious painting and desperately tried to hold it together. “M…Marion??”