Satin Bruises

"I left right after dad came and picked Conner up. We had our allotted visiting period, and by god, we weren't going to have a second more. I truly hate that man," Reilly finished, pulling in to her usual spot. Behind them, Micah's Toyota Tundra idled. He pulled into a spot as the girls got out of the car. The sun was rising on the horizon, casting an odd gilded glow over the apartment complex. Silently, the group headed up the stairs to the apartment. Now that Raleigh had time to sit, she found that she did feel a bit battered after her fight with Richard.

The group entered the still apartment, Reilly bee lining for the kitchen. After being on her feet for so many hours, she was starting to feel exhausted. She stared at the complex coffee maker, thinking how simple it had been only a few hours ago. With a gentle nudge, Jason had her seated at the island, and was already grinding coffee beans. He set the sugar bowl near her elbow, and as the machine whirred and seeped the coffee he turned to regard the woman at the counter.

"How are you not dead on your feet?" She asked him.

"I've worked for Jean-Claude for a long time. You get used to the hours," he smiled at her. Raleigh laid on the floor in the living room, letting out a painful groan. Reilly and Jason turned and looked at her while Micah lifted her effortlessly and placed her on the couch. He gingerly looked at her black eye, lifted her shirt to look at her bruised ribs, and smiled at her.

"You are something else," he muttered as he wandered into the kitchen for some ice. Raleigh sat up to follow him, but the leopard king shot her a glance that clearly said 'sit your ass down'.

Raleigh groaned and laid back down. "I don't know what you're freaking out about. I'm fine, Richard's a wimp."

"Yes, you're fine. Because walking around with a black eye and broken ribs is perfectly fine," Reilly retorted. Raleigh held up one hand, flipping her sister off. Jason chuckled while Micah dumped some ice into a plastic sandwich bag, wrapping it in a kitchen towel. The coffee maker finished it's cycle and Jason poured the hot liquid into separate mugs, handing one of the mugs to Reilly. She put a few teaspoons of sugar and cream in her coffee, sipping it and savoring the flavor.

"Raleigh," Jason called. "You want some coffee?"

"Oh, good Lord, yes!" Raleigh called back. Micah lifted her head, sat underneath her, and lowered her head carefully onto his lap.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Jason. She'll have to skip the coffee," he answered.

"Oh hell no," Raleigh groaned, trying to sit up. Micah laced one arm around her waist and pushed her back down. Raleigh glared up at him.

"You don't need any stimulants right now."

Raleigh raised one eyebrow seductively and put on her man-eater smile. "Then why are you here? Technically, you're a stimulant."

Reilly turned and looked at her sister, appalled. "Raleigh Cassidy! You just got the shit whipped out of you by a pissed off, self loathing, werewolf and you are trying to get laid?"

"Reilly Corrine. Shut the hell up."

Jason looked at Micah, who just nodded and lifted Raleigh, carrying her to her room. Raleigh moaned and groaned about how she wasn't tired and she didn't want to go to her room. The last thing Reilly head from her sister's mouth was, "Mother fucker, I want a cup of...and THAT is supposed to make me shut up?!". The bedroom door shut quietly and nothing else was heard.

Reilly shook her head, drinking deeply from her mug and watching Jason clean the bean grinder. He seemed relaxed and content, wetting a washcloth and wiping down the counters as if he had actually made a mess. Reilly smiled at the little home maker werewolf. Jason paused and looked up, realizing Reilly was watching him.

"Are you out of coffee?" he asked innocently. Reilly shook her head softly.

"Is the coffee okay?" Reilly nodded, drinking some more. Jason's eyebrows knitted together.

"Are you hungry?" he asked, running out of questions. Reilly shrugged. Jason was finally uncomfortable.

"Why are you staring at me?" he asked, blue eyes boring into Reilly's. Reilly put down her cup and leaned forward.

"I just thought that you were cute, making coffee and cleaning the kitchen. You're just like a stay-at-home mom," she laughed. Jason laughed and sat on the counter, regarding Reilly and her southern accent.

"Where are you from?" He asked.

"Savannah, Georgia. We moved here to be closer to my son, but you already knew that."

Jason nodded. "Yeah, I did know that. Jean-Claude had me do some research of my own on you two. What I don't know, is what your childhood was like."

"We were normal kids, until our mother died. She had this...library...we weren't allowed in it and one day, while Warren, our father, was gone we snuck in. We went through her drawers and her books, just looking. Raleigh found her spell books. We went through them, found out that we were...inclined...and that's when we started harnessing our powers. Of course, we had help from our crazy grandparents."

"Crazy grandparents?"

"Yeah, Grandpa James and Nana. They're our father's parents. They dabbled in the supernatural during World War II."

Jason raised his eyebrows. "For which side?"

Reilly just smiled at him and winked, confirming what Jason suspected. "Of course we don't share their views," Reilly explained softly.

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Micah helped Raleigh out of her clothes and into some more comfortable pajamas. After he gently laid her down on the bed, he stripped down to his boxers and climbed in bed next to her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close to him. He took a deep breath, inhaling her sweet scent, and nuzzled her neck. Raleigh shuffled down further under the covers, her wounds already healing from her magic. She rolled over slowly, being careful of her tender ribs, and looked into Micah's chartreuse eyes. He winked at her and kissed her forehead.

"Micah," Raleigh whispered. "Why are you so willing to drop Anita?"

"That's a complicated story," Micah replied. "Do you really want to hear it?"

"Yeah, I wouldn't have asked."

"I used to love her, I wanted her to be mine...just mine. She didn't want anything to do with it. Deep inside, she hates all of her lovers because of what they are, but she needs them."

"And you still tolerate her because she's your Nimir-Ra," Raleigh finished.

"Pretty much."

"Then why don't you get a new one?"

Micah paused and looked at Raleigh. "Who do you recommend?"

Raleigh shrugged. "Anyone would be better than her, really."

Micah smiled at her, finally understanding where she was coming from. She wanted him to out Anita and make her the new leopard queen. The idea actually sounded pretty good.

"You want me to make you my Nimir-Ra," Micah said. Raleigh smiled wickedly. Micah kissed her again.

"It would help things along, don't you think?"

Micah chuckled. "Why do you want to be my Nimir-Ra?"

"Why don't you want me to be your Nimir-Ra?"

"I never said I didn't want you to be," Micah retorted. "I just want to know your motives."

"You shouldn't have to run your pard with someone that hates you. She's going to try to turn them against you. You need a Nimir-Ra that won't betray you. I'm on your side, you know that."

Micah rolled over onto his back, pulling Raleigh on top of him. She kissed his chest and throat while he play with her hair. After a few moments of silence, Micah finally spoke.

"I just need to know one thing, besides the fact that you'll have my back and won't undermine my authority," Micah whispered.

"What?"

"What happened between you and Aleksi?"

Raleigh sighed, deflating. "What exactly do you want to know?"

"Everything, I guess."

Raleigh sat up against the headboard and took a deep breath before beginning her story. "We met in Russia when I was eighteen, he went everywhere with me, followed us home, even payed for me and Reilly to go to college. Aleksi and I fell in love, he treated me like a princess. After he discovered our heritage and our powers, he hired us to work for him, just like Jean-Claude has. When he discovered that Reilly had a child, he wanted me to leave them. I refused and he got violent. Told me that he would kill them if he had to. He told me that they were holding me back. Push came to shove and I left."

"Just like that."

"Yeah, just like that."

"You two are like actresses in a huge production. Polar opposites back-stage, but when the curtains open, and the audience confronts you, you close ranks, seamlessly. You are the most effective pard I've ever seen," Micah teased, wrapping a strand of Raleigh's hair around his finger. She smiled, not in the mood to talk anymore. Slowly, she leaned down and kissed him. He responded, smoothing her shirt up over her head. With gentle movements, Micah eased Raleigh under him, sliding off the pj bottoms. With a self-satisfied grin, Micah eased his face between her legs, and proceeded to bring her using tongue, lips, and teeth. Five times.
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"It's not a Hilton, but you should get a least a few hours of solid sleep," Reilly said, inspecting the fluffy mass of blankets and pillows she had set on the sofa. She turned to face Jason, who was much closer than she remembered.

"I don't see why I can't just bunk with you," he suggested, face innocent. Reilly laughed to herself.

"You'll actually be more comfortable out here," she said, tone brooking no arguments. She turned to head back to her room, but Jason held onto her wrist gently, bringing her back. Still holding her wrist, he pulled her into him, and kissed her chastely. She let him do it for a moment before pulling away.

"Well, can't blame a guy for tryin," he said, giving her a tiny smile. She shook her head, more amused than not.

"I can, but I won't. Sleep well Jason," she chuckled, heading off to bed. She needed to move new places more often. Everyone wanted to kiss her these days. Reilly entered her bedroom, the sheets still mussed where Conner had been sleeping. A pang of sadness went through her, and she slipped out of her clothes. A moment later, she was fitted up in silky pajamas, and between the clean white sheets, smelling Conner's watermelon shampoo on the pillow next to her face. With a wistful smile, Reilly slept.
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"I just don't see why we have to do the protective wards tonight," Raleigh whined, clutching a bucket of permanent markers to her belly, following her sister into the circus.

"You're awful cheerless for someone who had such a good time this morning," Reilly answered, clutching two grocery store bags full of protective amulets and charms. Raleigh smiled wickedly, remembering just exactly how good a time she had.

"I'm just saying, it's my night off, I should be out drinking my brains to mush!" Raleigh exclaimed. The girls entered the employee door, and Bubbles was there as usual.

"Ladies," he murmured.

"Riese," Reilly answered. Reilly smiled graciously, Raleigh suggestively, and they kept walking.

"Besides, you don't need me for the stupid spells!" Raleigh continued, gesturing wildly. Reilly laughed.

"They shouldn't take more than two or so hours. Do you want to go? I can meet up with you for a late dinner when I'm done," Reilly suggested, reaching the huge iron-clad door. She juggled the bags for a moment, before Raleigh opened the doors with a huff. Reilly smiled her thanks.

"What am I supposed to do til then?" Raleigh asked, slouching after her sister.

"Take out Micah?" Reilly suggested, heading out of the main room, and down into the bowels of the nest. Raleigh pondered that for a moment, following along behind her sister.

"That would work, I head there was a new sports pub opening..." Raleigh considered. Reilly shook her head. Sports pubs, Jesus.

"Oh, I should mention, we're going to meet Jean-Claude's second in command tonight, some business called Jean-Claude off," Reilly remembered, as they reached the office. Raleigh opened the door and stepped into the office without acknowledgment. With a sigh, Reilly followed and was stopped dead in her tracks halfway into the room. Leaning against the desk was the single most beautiful man Reilly had ever seen. He was introducing himself to Raleigh with a courteous nod and smile. They shook hands, and he turned to look at Reilly.

She felt like she had been hit by lightening. Perfect cobalt eyes sat over an aristocratic nose and a naturally pouting mouth. A shock of the most golden blonde hair she had ever seen hung in smooth waves to his collarbone. His face was mostly covered by the hair, and some trick of the light which left it in shadow. However, when she hadn't answered his hello, he shifted his head to look at Raleigh in confusion. Through the hair she could see the ridges of scar that cut his profile. Her knees went weak. Reilly wanted him so badly that she hurt all over. Blood rushed to her face, burning her cheeks, and brightening her eyes. She shook her head, embarrassed. She was sure that everyone in the room knew what she was (or rather, wasn't) thinking. At least, the look on Raleigh's face suggested that. Clearing her throat, she regained a tiny amount of composure.

"I'm sorry, Reilly. I'm Reilly Gallion," she said, still blushing slightly. She moved forward to shake Asher's hand, and he spoke, ruining the hard won control she had just got.

"I am incredibly pleased to meet you, Miss Gallion," he answered, deep voice ringing like angelic bells. And then he took her hand. His skin touched hers, and her pulse spiked, jumping in her throat. He frowned, hearing her erratic heart. The movement crinkled his arching eyebrows, and Reilly could hear her brain stop working. She just wanted to watch him all night. He looked into her eyes, the normally crystalline sea color misting over. With a pleasant shock, Asher knew what was going on. He smiled gallantly, turning her hand so he could kiss her knuckles. His perfect lips moved over the fingertips, lingering for only a second longer than necessary. It was enough. Reilly's knees gave out, and in the second before she blacked out, Asher's face registered surprise, then humor, and she was gone.

"Does she do this often?" Ashed asked Raleigh, cradling the unconscious woman to him.

"Never," Raleigh answered, bursting into laughter.

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"Smooth there, Venus," Raleigh's voice laughed from somewhere above her. Reilly blinked her eyes open, turning to look at her sister. Apparently, someone had put her on the sofa in the office, because Raleigh was perched on the arm, looking thoroughly entertained. A damp cloth was on her forehead, and she removed it to sit up.

"How long was I out?" Reilly asked, cheeks burning again.

"Only a few minutes, just long enough for Asher to get you on the sofa, and grab the washcloth," Raleigh answered, indicating the vampire, who was leaning in the same place as before.

"Are you well, mon cherie?" Asher asked politely, palms resting loosely on the desk behind him. Reilly's cheeks burned more, and she nodded.

"Thank you, I believe I'm alright now," Reilly said automatically.

"We think you stopped breathing," Raleigh informed her, gleefully. Reilly snapped a glare to her sister before standing shakily. Raleigh moved forward to catch her sister if she fell over again. Asher remained leaning against the desk, watching the twins. He was delighted at the polar opposition of the twins. One twin was literally falling over herself with passion for him, while the other was acting as if she didn't even notice him. Either way, he thought they were delightful.

"Please forgive me," Reilly murmured. She placed the amulets and stones on the floor in front of her in a pentacle, and grabbed the markers from her sister. She tried not to meet Asher's eyes, but her predisposition for being polite drove her to making eye contact whenever she spoke to him. His cobalt eyes drove her crazy, she felt her head swim again. For a second, she thought about asking Raleigh to stay.

"Will you be needing me for anything?" Asher asked politely, still standing stone still.

"Oh no," Reilly said. "Not at the moment. Eventually I'll need to meet with everyone, to attach the spell to them. All you need to do right now, is stand there and look magnificent, which I can see that you are excellent at."

"Merci," Asher purred. Raleigh smirked and rolled her eyes. Her sister was shameless, not nearly as shameless as herself, but she was learning.

"Well, this is not my specialty, so I'm going to go," Raleigh said, turning to leave, but Asher stopped her with a question.

"What is your specialty, if you don't mind my asking?"

"I bring things to me, not repel them."

"Repel them?"

"Yup, I will be fortifying the Circus. It'll protect our people from certain spells, possession, things of that nature. I'm even going to throw in a spell that will weed out traitors," Reilly explained.

"Weed out traitors?" the vampire inquired, his curiosity piqued. "How so?"

"I can do anything with that particular spell, turn people purple, I can even make it impossible for them to step foot in the perimeter. However, I'm going a different direction. Traitors will be compelled to tell the truth about everything. Who they're working for, what they're getting in return, things of that matter, and other, more interesting things," she said, with a gleam in her eyes.

Asher looked at Reilly, who was drawing symbols on the floor, then looked at Raleigh with a thoroughly impressed look on his perfect, aristocratic face. Raleigh nodded in confirmation then told Reilly to call her when she was done, they could go out for drinks afterward. In the mean time, she was going out to dinner with Micah. Once she was out of the room, she pulled out her phone and called her Nimir-Raj.

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Micah and Nathaniel sat on Anita's couch watching a soccer game. Anita sat at the dinner table, pouring over a book she picked up earlier. The air was thick with tension, as usual, because earlier Anita had snapped at Nathaniel. Micah, being Nathaniel's pard leader, snapped at Anita.

The game went to commercial and Micah's cell phone sprang to life. Micah jumped, startled, and grabbed his phone. He smiled when the caller i.d read "Raleigh G."

"Hello?" he answered.

"Hey you. What are you doing right now?"

"I'm watching soccer with Nathaniel."

"Germany and Russia?"

"Yeah."

"Who's winning?"

"Right now...Russia."

Anita looked up from her book, curious about who Micah was talking to. "Who is it?"

"So what's up?" Micah asked, ignoring Anita's question.

"I was wondering if you would like to come watch the game with me. You can bring Nathaniel if you want."

"Sure, I'd love to. Hold on a second," Micah took the phone from his ear and looked at the other leopard. "Hey, you want to come watch the game with me and Raleigh?"

Nathaniel shrugged his shoulders, then shook his head. He was going to let them have their night. Anita, on the other hand, was livid.

"Looks like it's just going to me and you tonight," Micah told Raleigh.

"Alright, am I getting you or are you meeting me at the pub?"

"Which is good for you?"

Raleigh paused, then said in a wicked voice, "I'll come get you. Be there in fifteen."

"See you then."

Micah hung up the phone and got off the couch, heading upstairs to change. Anita followed closely after him, getting more pissed off by the second.

"Where are you going?" she snapped when they reached the bedroom. Micah slid his shirt over his head and searched his drawers for another shirt that was actually clean.

"I'm going to a sports pub to watch the rest of the game," Micah said simply.

"With Raleigh?" Anita crossed her arms over her chest and shifted her weight to her left. Micah found a grey shirt and put it on before just looking at the pissed woman.

"Yes with Raleigh. Got a problem?" he goaded.

"As a matter of fact I do!" Anita snapped. "You are going out with my coworker and rival! What part of that isn't wrong to you? Plus, I am your Nimir-Ra, you aren't supposed to go out with another woman!"

Micah stared at Anita, appalled that she had the stones to bring that up. "Aren't supposed to go out with another woman? What about all your FUCKING BOYFRIENDS, Anita?! What about them? You can have all these fuck buddies and I can't go have dinner and watch a soccer game with a woman? What the fuck is wrong with this situation?!"

Anita's mouth hung open in shock. Micah had never raised his voice to her, let alone cussed at her. "You have been fucking her...haven't you?"

"Even better, I've fucked her twice so far, once in her office and this morning at her house," Micah growled cruelly. Anita's hands fell to her sides.

"And I'm having a meeting with the pard tomorrow. Raleigh is becoming the new Nimir-Ra."

"How can you do this to me?" Anita whispered, quaking with rage.

"Easy, all I wanted was for you to be with me...you didn't even have to love me. As a matter of fact, you hate me Anita. You hate the fact that I'm a leopard. You can't even fucking look at me."

Anita swung out, her hand landing hard on the Micah's cheek. Micah growled, his eyes glowing. Anita slapped him again, and once more before he grabbed her arm roughly.

"If you hit me one more time," Micah growled, his beast pushing under his skin. "I will put you on your ass, do you understand?"

"Fine, go on your date, replace me. When you get back your stuff will be outside. Get out of my house."

"I will be delighted."

Micah went down the stairs and out the front door where Raleigh was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. He climbed into the black Eclipse and leaned over the center console, placing a rough kiss on her lips.

"Well, good evening to you too," Raleigh laughed.

"Anita kicked me out," Micah answered. "She's not happy."

"Reilly was right," Raleigh sighed, "we are going to need a bigger place in St. Louis."