Yeah!! I am glad, these forums have been dead lately, and I wasn't sure if I should keep posting here or not! Right now the view counts are messed up, so I can't tell if I am getting any reads or not, lol.

Thank You so much Arcry, you are very appreciated !!

you got me as a fan












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Acky not reads as fast as bossman as den he rolls da words down on da 'puter box screeny thing, an' den me not finished yets an' den me hasta tell 'im ta rolls da words back up again an' den bossman go all bother at me Acky an me hasta reads da words fastest an some words I sorta miss.. :unsure:
But me likes all da udder words me reads, reallys

Thanks Andy! Your are very appreciated! You ROCKED that last chapter you wrote, WHEW!!!

Fan? FAN? Hell I'm not a fan - I'm a freaking TURBINE!!!!

:P

You are always hugely appreciated Foxy! You ROCK !!

This Fan-Art was sent by one of Maxical's readers, she said the pendant is a healing amulet because Maxical has been so ill - I cried like a baby! Thank You Ariel, you are so appreciated! You ROCK !!!!!




http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/114/l_feb26f991e0c432986a5978f11bc25f2.jpg




*

Chapter 96: The Tale Of The Tail


I heard Lord Kagrenac humming to himself and asked him to sing me the song. He did, in his rich deep voice and was soon joined by Clavicus Vile, then Divayth.

We do anything we can to survive,
Giving up our minds and hearts and bodies
We will not fight, and we will be torn…

When the song finished I asked to hear another. With a look of unholy mischief Clavicus began singing a song and nudging Shivani.

In Daggerfaaaaall,
they hold a baaaaall
And all of society indulges in a variety
Of scandal, they can handle -- A lot.
The Captain of the Guard
Has to search very haaaard
For a beeeeean that the Queeeeeeen
Has in her pants.
And the Court Sorceress
Will grant you a wish
To cause the King to fliiiiiing
About his lance.
Oh, it's lovely to give your love a single perfect rose
It's lovelier still to do the same not wearing any clothes.
Oh, it's lovely to abandon all your cares and fears and woes
It's lovelier still to do the same not wearing any clothes.
Yes sir, it's lovely not to wear any clothes!"


Lord Kagrenac joined right in singing loudly, and they would draw out certain words and hold them a long time and then shout others quickly. I pulled myself up to watch and try to pick up on the words. Shivani was looking embarrassed but Clavicus kept nudging her so she sang along. As soon as she started singing Divayth turned away, his shoulders shaking. Immediately after that Hannibal walked in calling out,

“I was on the other side of the castle and heard Maxical singing!“

Lord Kagrenac nearly fell down laughing, and Clavicus roared.

They started the song up again, giving us cues for when to hold the word long and when to shout. Janus picked up on it quickly. Lastly Marie joined in, laughing. The song got faster each round till it was going by in a blur of slurred words and mistakes. Then Clavicus and Lord Kagrenac started yowling to match Shivani and I, and soon it became a contest to see which could either sound the most like us or yowl the worst, I could not be sure which.

Shivani told me it was a song she learned back when she had runaway from S’Vandra for a while and lived on a pirate ship.

That night was the last time that Shivani acted like herself. She was fun, smiling, laughing, loving…silly. After that night she seemed totally different.




***

My tail was starting to move again finally. I thought I would surprise Janus with it, so when he was doing the massage on my shoulders and arms I curled it up and over and tickled the back of his neck below the cowl. He jumped a mile and turned around, but I had put it down again. I did it again, and this time I heard Clavicus Vile’s booming laugh while Janus was looking around to see what touched him. My tail was laying back flat.

“It’s not too late to get out of this, my boy. She will lead you a merry dance.”

“What? What are you talking about?” Janus sounded bewildered.

I curled my tail around his neck, laughing.

“That was you? Janus hugged me, squeezing me carefully so as not to hurt my shoulder or lungs. I made a fake choking noise like he was hurting me and pretended to go limp, lolling my head back.

“Little minx!” He said and poked his finger into my armpit.

“Mustn’t…tickle…the cat.” I tried to say it in a stern manly sounding voice, but laughed and ruined it.

“Hey you two, this is a sickroom, not a playground!” Shivani called in a strident voice, her arms were folded.

She wasn’t standing close to Clavicus as was usual for her, and she usually spoke to me in Khajiit. It surprised me to hear her speak Cyrodiilic, although I knew she could.

“Did you hear that? Now we can’t play ‘skin the cat’.” I whispered it loudly.

“I heard that.” Shivani yelled, and started heading towards the bed, her arms akimbo.

I moved into Janus’s arms and leaned against him, trying to look innocent. “What is wrong with Shivani?” I sent the thought to Janus.

He shrugged, then wrapped his arms around me and put his cheek against mine.

“Your tail is working again! You are really going to be back the way you were before! I was so worried!” Janus said it quietly into my hair and lay his face back against mine. “I have missed the funny things you do with your tail and ears.”

I twitched my ear against his face, getting him back for the tickling.

“AARGHH, that feels like a spider crawling on me!”

“I didn’t do anything…Oh no, there IS a spider crawling on you!” I tried for a serious look but failed.

“What does she do, lad?” Clavicus called out as he followed Shivani up to the bed.

“If she is asking you a question, she makes her tail look like a question mark. Sometimes she makes it look like a cane, and sometimes like an ‘S’. If she is telling you a joke she will wrap it around your leg and tug on it and say, ‘I’m pulling your leg’, silly things like that. And then her ears she can do some really funny things too. She puts them up and bends the tips down, or sticks them out to the side and makes a funny face while she is doing it. She will wait till you least expect it and either twitch her ear or tail against your skin, it feels like a spider crawling on your skin.”

“Janus is horribly disgusted by spiders. I‘m not telling any secret, just let one crawl in here and you will see.” I tickled my tail lightly across his arm.

“You can’t get me with that when I can see you do it.” Janus said with a laugh.

Hannibal walked in while Janus was telling Clavicus about these things and he started laughing. “Yes, I remember you got in trouble and almost gave Jarol a stroke with one of them. Which one was it? The snake dancer?”

“I got in trouble for everything I did. But the one that almost put him into a stroke was the one I like to call ’the snake charmer’.”

“Snake charmer? You name your tail movements?” Clavicus asked, his eyes lighting with amusemant.

“Just when I am describing them to someone else.”

“Oh we must hear this story. Do tell!” Clavicus Vile’s eyes lit with interest. He loves jokes and funny stories.

“He almost burst the veins in his face he was so angry.” Hannibal said.

Lord Kagrenac had been about to leave and he turned around and came up to the bed as well. He loves to hear about mischief.

“It was after the incident where someone had crept into his room in the night and painted hair and a beard on him using boot blacking. For some reason (ahem) he suspected Maxical was involved but couldn’t prove it, so he was already angry at her.” Hannibal emphasized the word ’someone’ when he told the story, then indicated I should tell it.

“I was in class. He asked a question and the answer began with the letter ‘S‘. I gave the correct answer, and he kept acting like he thought I was saying the word wrong. He repeatedly accused me of starting the word with the letter ‘F’. He knew I was saying it right and was just pretending not to understand to incite me, so I made my tail into an ‘S’ and turned around to show it to him. He said I was being a smart aleck and had disrespected him by facing my butt to him.”

“Let me see the ’S’.” Clavicus demanded, then roared when he saw it.

“Now, Irlav Jarol kept a list of all my ill deeds on a rolled parchment that was quite large, and he always seemed to have it on his person whenever I got in trouble. He would reach inside his robe and pull it out. Everyone thought he was extremely well endowed till they found out it was just a giant scroll filled with my ill deeds.” I had to stop telling my story to be heard over the laughter.

When it quieted down I started again. ”I think he even slept with it, because ‘The Night of the Watermelons’ he had it in his hands the second he opened the bedroom door.” I had drawled out the title of the prank.

“The Night of the Watermelons?” Clavicus asked, imitating my drawl.

“Someone filled Jarol’s bedroom with hundreds of watermelons and enchanted them so they could not be removed magically, only manually.” Hannibal piped in, emphasizing the word ’someone’ and laughing. “And someone just gave themselves away. How would you know what he did the second he opened the bedroom door? Hmmm?”

I plastered what I hoped was an innocent look on my face.

“Traven told me about it at the time, and he said it the exact same way, drawling out the words.” Janus said, laughing.

“It went around the campus that way, Delphine was the first to name it, and she said it like that. Hannibal always kept up with anything that was going around campus, he knew all the slang words even. So anyway, his skin was still quite stained by the blacking. In fact that stain lasted surprisingly long! It looked like he had dark hair and a dark beard. He marched behind me to the tower with that large parchment in his hand, and he was shaking it and waving it at me. In his white robe and waving that thing around he looked just like a snake charmer with a flute. The whole time he was berating me, and his voice was a high whiney sound. I had to cross the quad in front of everyone with him doing that. So I made my tail act like a snake being charmed out of a basket. He was behind me and had to watch it as we walked. By the time we were standing in front of Hannibal, Jarol was breathing fire. His face was as red as a tomato. He sputtered and fumed, causing spit to fly onto Hannibal.” I looked over at Hannibal, not sure if I should tell what went on then.

“You can imagine how angry that made me.” Hannibal threw in. “I began yelling at him instead of Maxical. Jarol turned as white as a sheet and stiffened up. His legs were like two boards. He fell upon the ground and kicked his stiff legs like any two year old may in a fit. Maxical was watching him with her mouth agape. So I threw a ewer of water on Jarol, and then sent Maxical back to class. Jarol had to be healed after that. I was so mad I sent him to the restoration class and let them practice on him.”

Clavicus and Lord Kagrenac were both laughing hard and demanding to see the ‘snake charmer’.

“I don’t know if I can do it lying down. I usually do it standing up and use my dress as the basket. Put the blanket over me and I will try to do it with that.”

Clavicus Vile did a very good imitation of the sound of a snake charmers flute, and I got my tail to bob and weave out of the blanket like a snake being charmed.

Lord Kagrenac was laughing so hard that I thought to myself, Uh oh. There will be a puddle below him any second.

Both Janus and Clavicus roared, so I guess Clavicus can read thoughts too. Good thing to know since I think around him all the time.

“Do the question mark next, that is my favorite!” Janus said.

“You will have to wait for another time to see it, my patient is tiring and I haven’t examined her yet.” Hannibal shooed everyone away from the bed.

I had turned around smiling and was shocked to see a malevolent look on Shivani’s face. Who was she mad at?



*

Maxical's tail. How delightful - and how Maxical! Nicely done mALX.

Hmm, now I wonder what has gotten up Shivani's skirt? Oooh, another mystery.

I wonder about Shivani - is she going into 'mother' mode? You know, where the mother tells her daughter to do as she says, not necessarily as she does! Or she may see Maxical as competition for Clavicus's affections! Hmm . . .

Oh goodness, I started laughing over the pranks. The things I would do if I lived in Cyrodiil....

And I do wonder what's with Shivani all of a sudden...

Ha - I never thought about a khajiit's tail and that they might use it for conversational emphasis like humans use their hands. Or they might use it for... other stuff. Me-ow.

Just letting you know that you have another fan lurking on the sidelines.

@ Acadian - Yeah! Her tail is working again, lol. Thank you so much Acadian!

***

@ Hauty - I am not sure, that came out in free-typing, lol. Thank you so much Hauty!

***

@ Jacki - Yeah! You're back! Thank you very much Jacki! Your story is heating up too!

***

@ Leydenne - ROFL!!!! I have been killing myself to figure that one! Thank you so much Leydenne, for reading - but especially for all your help with this fanfic forum fixes. You ROCK !!!!!!

***

@ MyCat - Yeah! Thank you so much MyCat!!! I appreciate that a lot!

Heh, Maxical is slowly comming back to us.

AT LAST I am back...typing from on top of a cushion (don't ask, and no, I am not gay)...I see that Maxical is swhishing her tail in both forums!!!

Will post more. Off to browse now...

@ Arcry - Thank you so much Arcry! I'm getting another chapter up!

***

@ Foxy - Thank you so much Foxy! I hope you are feeling better, it is great seeing you back on the forums! You ROCK !!!!



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






Chapter 97: The Spoultry Ghost



I reached the conclusion that Janus was not going to make the first move with me. I don’t know if it was the age difference, or all the people in the house…I could think of no other reason. He cuddled me all the time, there was no doubt he loved me. So what was holding him back? I couldn’t ask Shivani, she had been acting strange lately, irritable…irritating. I thought about asking Marie, but I didn’t know her well and felt uncomfortable asking her something like this. I wish S’Krivva was here to ask. I finally just decided to make the first move with him. I was tired of waiting.

Janus finished with my treatment that night and was sitting down next to me on the bed.

“Your fur is getting much softer with that ointment Traven makes for your massages.” Janus said, gently stroking the fur on my back.

“I wish he would make some for my hair, it is like straw since I‘ve been ill.” I said, tugging him to lay down beside me and moving into his arms.

“I’ll ask him to.” Janus said, pushing some of the straw-like mass out of his face.

I want you to stay the night in bed with me, will you? I sent the thought to Janus.

He turned toward me and nodded. Instantly the hand that was stroking my fur felt like it was on fire. Janus was emanating enough heat to warm the whole castle. I snuggled up against him in spite of the barrier he produced between us. I didn’t know how I should raise my face to his so he would kiss me, and was moving my cheek slowly across his jaw when suddenly Shivani appeared beside the bed, POOF! It scared both me and Janus.

“This girl needs her rest! Now out!” She fumed.

Janus scurried out like a rat deserting a sinking ship. For some reason he desires Shivani’s good opinion of him. I was surprised she hadn’t grabbed him by the ear and dragged him out from the tone of her voice.

I learned something from that experience, though. Shivani was right, everything would have come naturally if she hadn’t popped in and scared us almost into Oblivion.

Shivani turned to leave and I stopped her.

“Shivani! I don’t require a chaperone.” I was speaking in Khajiit.

“We aren’t in the wilds here, you know! Speak in Cyrodiilic like a civilized person!”

“I said, I don’t require a chaperone. I am an advlt. When Janus and I are in here alone, from now on you knock at the door and wait for an invitation to enter. I am sure being a ghost it is hard to remember conventions, but it is required for good will to abound between us. You have made it clear to me you don‘t like Janus, that is your right. But do not let it guide your actions again, nor forget that you are a guest in his home.”

I hoped she would take the hint and not pop in like an avenging angel of death next time I lured Janus into his own bed. After tonight it will be a wonder if he ever experiences arousal again.

She stormed out angry, and after she left I thought about the way she had been acting the last day. She had even lost her cultured accent when she spoke Cyrodiilic. It was as if she was a totally different person who just happened to look like Shivani. But who, and why? Whoever it was, they could not speak Khajiit.





***

“My Lord, may we speak with you for a few minutes?” Divayth Fyr did the asking, but Lord Kagrenac stood next to him.

Clavicus Vile nodded, and Shivani followed them to Divayth’s suite.

“We spoke to Traven before bringing him up to help the girl. He said that the witch drew her own blood. When she drew Janus’s blood, she hid his and didn’t use it in the girl. The only blood placed in the child was her own and mine. Gyron didn’t feel there was enough to sustain life in the girl when they were infusing it at the vat. When he said that the witch tried to use her own again, but Janus heard and it angered him that she was trying to use her blood. As far as he knows, the girl was given only my blood and his. The witch told Traven she was protecting the girl, so he kept his mouth shut. He had no inkling that the blood was tainted, neither did Janus or Gyron. That is why Gyron came readily into the sickroom. The witch has not entered the sickroom since the child was brought back to life. She is afraid of being revealed. We tested all the blood left in the crypt, every bit of it is Janus‘s. Traven is being truthful with us. We didn‘t know whether we should tell Janus, or the girl anything; but Traven may need to know. We would like your advice if you don’t mind. We do know Gyron did not do this.” Divayth spoke.

“What are you saying? Is something wrong with the witch’s blood? I did that to protect the girl from having Janus’s blood in her!” Shivani stood up.

Two men and a Daedric Lord turned and looked at her.

“Well Janus is a vampire! He killed the girl! His blood in her would make the girl his six slave! That is what he has been wanting from her all this time, when she lived with him before that was all he thought of was to have six with her. I was protecting my daughter from the fiend!” Shivani spat the words in Cyrodiilic. Clavicus looked at her strangely.

“If he had, she would no longer be a virgin and the vampire would have gone away, leaving them to be a normal couple. It was the virgin blood that drove him mad. Too bad he didn’t succeed beforehand, none of this would be going on now.” Lord Kagrenac mused aloud.

“This is my daughter we are talking about, remember?” She glared into Lord Kagrenac’s eyes.

“She is an advlt now, even I can see the blue show on her.” Lord Kagrenac asserted.

“Janus is not a fiend. I understand your upset since you witnessed his weakest moment. Kagrenac has a good point too, but this is all moot now. We can’t change what has already happened. We need to concentrate on what we must do now.” Divayth tried to ease the tension that was rapidly building in the room.

The two men looked at Clavicus Vile and waited.

“I know Vardengroet didn’t infect the girl, but he knew the conflict and didn’t speak up. He was afraid of the finger being pointed at him, so instead of acting to save the girl first and worry about it later, he left me up there breathing for her while he found a way to neutralize the vampire. That cost precious time, when all it would have taken would have been to slip the ring on her finger and go. He can get another ring, the girl was dying.”

“No wonder he was worried. He didn’t know the witch was from that area. He was the only one that could have brought it in his mind, but he knew he didn’t and still stayed to help. Even knowing the girl would finger him as soon as she woke.” Divayth reasoned.

“Aye, and that witch has designs on Janus. There is no telling what she will do to the girl when we leave. Janus has paid her off and she still stays. She has lied to the lad, telling him she visits the sickroom when she hasn‘t. She says she is watching Barbas for him while he is tied up with the girl. I haven‘t seen the dog once since the ceremony.” Lord Kagrenac looked for a place to spit. Divayth quickly grabbed a stein and handed it to him.

“Barbas hasn’t been here. I sent him to my realm and plan to leave him here when I go.” Clavicus said quietly, watching the men.

Lord Kagrenac leapt up. “Then what is she doing all this time? I didn’t bring canis root because Gyron wears the ring.”

“I am not one to interfere with mortals.” Clavicus said, but his eyes showed anger.

“You like the girl, My Lord. Can you step back and let that witch do her worst against the child? I’d stake everything I own that she has her sights set on being the next Countess Skingrad. The lad is easy going, and a good catch for the likes of her. There is no telling how far she will go to get what she wants.” Lord Kagrenac made good use of the stein.

“I will be leaving Barbas here to protect Maxical. Janus is perfectly capable of protecting her too once he realizes his own powers.”

“We plan to help that along by bringing him to the crystal tower. Malan will still be after him, and will come after the girl since she has his blood.” Divayth tapped his chin as if thinking aloud.

“Not just over the lad’s blood. Don’t forget as long as she is a virgin Malan will be driven mad by her. She is in double jeopardy from him, and he’s probably been living in those woods behind Skingrad all this time just waiting to get back into this castle.”

Clavicus paused, then leaned over smiling and whispered in Shivani’s ear. “Your daughter is about to lose her virginity.”

With a shout Shivani leapt up.

“Leave her be!” Clavicus ordered, but he was too late. Shivani had disappeared.

“That is going to be a problem if every time the kids get close Shivani is jumping between them. Maxical’s blood will start coming in soon, and if Janus takes that necklace off he will lose control again. Malan has had her blood once too, the drive to taste it again will be that much more powerful for both of them. Shivani needs to let Janus lift that burden from her, especially with Malan out there. She needs to just let nature take its course.” Lord Kagrenac grumbled.

A quiet knock sounded on the door, and Divayth called “Enter.”

It was Janus, looking miserable.

“You afraid of a ghost lad? I wouldn’t have let her run me out of there! This is your house, did you forget that?” Clavicus said, clapping Janus on the back.

“I want her to like me, she is Maxical’s mother. I didn’t make a great first impression.” Janus slumped into a chair.

Lord Kagrenac roared at that. “I’d say you’re right there, lad.”

“Maxical is putting a flea in Shivani’s ear as we sit here.” Clavicus smiled.

Janus sat up. “She is?” He pulled his necklace off and listened. “I’ve never heard her speak Cyrodiilic with Shivani before, they usually speak in Khajiit.”

Clavicus was roaring. “Told her she didn’t need a chaperone! Telling Shivani to knock and wait till she is asked to enter, oh this is good. That girl has spunk!” Then suddenly his brows snapped down into a scowl.

Janus put his necklace back on.

“I see some bad mother-in-law problems for you lad.” Lord Kagrenac laughed.

“She is acting more like Melisande lately than Melisande…you know what I mean.” Janus said miserably. “Do ghosts get spoultry?”

Clavicus looked sharply at Janus

“What is spoultry?” Lord Kagrenac asked.

“Berry Sundae.” Clavicus, Janus and Divayth said in unison.

“I think it’s time I took Shivani out of here. She has become more of a hindrance to the child than a help.” Clavicus said in an irritated voice.

My Lord, I meant no disrespect, I am just…I was just so startled when she appeared. Please forgive me. I would not offend you for the world.” Janus was obviously genuinely upset.

“Oh My Lord, we meant no harm.” Lord Kagrenac said, looking contrite.

“You gave none. Neither of you.” Clavicus said quietly. He left to go find Shivani.

***

Ooh, this was fun to read!

But. . . you know me and plots :blush: Hmm . . . I think maybe this is a clue:

After all, Melisande carried Shivani around for awhile. Has Melisande somehow gotten into Shivani, or is Shivani just acting like Barbas' mother? But, Shivani is no longer speaking Khajiit - Aha, that makes me think Melisande is really involved. Argh! Now you know why I don't try to figure plots out!

I do agree with Clavicus - someone needs to boldly go where no man has gone before and help Maxical be rid of her handicap.

Berry sundae... it always gives me the most.... interesting image

@ Acadian - Thank you so very much Acadian!!!!! Yes, I agree. It is high time she does just that. Of course, it is written and on the way, but there are a few other things that have to happen first...like getting Leydenne's permission, lol. You ROCK!

***

@ Jacki Dice - Uh Oh, do we need to call Foxy in? ROFL - Thank you so much Jacki! Since the format change it seems really hard to get readers and comments anymore, so you are appreciated tremendously for sticking by Maxical and the story!!!! You ROCK!!!

Mother-In-Law problems, gah, poor Janus. Eagerly I await the next installment. I also agree with the reasoning behind our drop in posters. Damned format...Oh, I too share Acadian's suspitions...What is Melisande up to I wonder...

Wait, where is Maxical's other suitors? Hmmm, more to ponder.

Pleeeaaase? More?

@ Arcry - Great Comment!!!! Thanks Arcry! The Melisande will be answered, but the suitors...I think she dumped Manheim and Fathis can't find her till she leaves Skingrad Castle...unless he comes into the castle...hmmm. You ROCK Arcry!!

***

@ MyCat - Thank you so much! I loved getting this, no one has asked for more since these forum changes so you are VERY appreciated!!! Here it is:



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








Chapter 98: The Witch Gets The Boot


“Shivani, when I told you that, my intention was not that you break them apart. This child will be safer without her virginity. She has had her blue show for three years now. Why are you interfering with her happiness?” Clavicus asked, his voice stern.

“Janus harmed her once! He will do it again! I have to protect her!” She snarled, her breathing ragged. She was in a rage.

“She is not a child to be protected from the man she loves. Your interference over the blood could cost her life, and has created a major problem with her health and future. I gave you an order to leave them be and you disobeyed me. I think you forget that I own your soul now. I would not have told you what was happening if I thought you would have acted as you have. Let the girl make her own choices, and you look to me to protect her from what I see wrong. You will drive her away if you keep inserting yourself. Did she not tell you that tonight?”

“She said I should knock and await invitation to enter the room.”

“Quite. You seem to be stuck in the past. Maxical is old enough to choose her mate by herself. I want your interference to stop. We have gotten along well, I don’t want to have second thoughts about whether that can continue.”

“You said you don’t interfere with mortals.”

“You are not mortal.”

“I can’t just sit by and watch while he takes her childhood away.”

“I certainly hope you won’t watch. And she has not been a child for years.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Another incidence, and I will take you back to the realm. Another disobedience, and I will send you to the part of the realm you have not seen yet. And I forbid you to interfere with those two again. Do you understand me?” His slanted eyes looked cold and hard.

“Yes.”

“I’ve noticed you have not been close with me just here recently. I think it’s time we remedy that as well. Come.” He took hold of her arm, sending a spell through his hands and into her wrist.

“What is that? It feels like a shackle on me!” Shivani asked, panicking. She began struggling to be free.

“It is a slave band. Surely you remember what they feel like Shivani? While it is on you, anything I command you will have to obey. I think it is time I taught you a lesson in obedience. Let us go to our quarters.”

Clavicus stretched out his hands and produced a vicious looking whip.

“What is that for?”

“You recognize this, don’t you? This is how disobedient slaves are treated.” Clavicus expertly cracked the whip so it made a loud pop.

Shivani seemed to go into contortions then, trying to escape the shackles.







***

“Oh no, he will leave angry with me, after doing so much for Maxical! I can’t let him leave thinking I didn’t respect him!” Janus stood up.

Divayth caught him. “Whoa lad. Kagrenac, did you not notice that Shivani called Maxical ‘that girl’ several times? That was not Shivani, that was Melisande. And she heard everything we said about her.”

“Why didn’t you signal me to keep my mouth shut?” Lord Kagrenac was fuming.

“You mean it was Melisande that broke up Maxical and I just now? Why would she do that?”

“I already told you. Because she wants to be the next Countess Skingrad.” Lord Kagrenac spat out, then spit into the stein.

“It will never happen! Even if I weren’t in love with Maxical. Melisande isn’t…nice. I think a lot of the things I liked about her personality before were Shivani in her. I was starting to not care much for Shivani the way she has been acting just recently because she reminded me too much of Melisande.”

“Lad, you are just a little too easy going, I would throw the witch out.”

“I can’t till Traven is released, and I think Melisande knows that.”

“I’d take the chance. Traven seems happy with his lot right now.” Divayth threw in.

“He is happier than a pig at the slop. The man is reveling in this.” Lord Kagrenac snorted.

“Shouldn’t we warn Clavicus Vile? And how did she get inside the ghost? Is that possible?” Janus asked, his face showing he was still distressed over Clavicus leaving mad.

“She may have just used an illusion spell to appear like Shivani, but if that is the case, what has she done with the real Shivani?” Divayth mused aloud.

“I hope Traven hurries up with his treatment of the girl so you can throw that witch out of here!” Lord Kagrenac growled.

“The crypt!” Janus shouted, jumping up. “Come on!”

Janus ran to the wine cellar and opened it. It was empty. “I was sure she would be in here.” Janus said, sounding disappointed he had been wrong. “There is a chamber in the outer wall, and Melisande knows of it.” He set off on a run, followed by Lord Kagrenac and Divayth.

Janus threw open the heavy slab of stone and entered garden path running. As he neared the chamber door Divayth stopped him.

“She may have an enchantment on that door lad.”

“How do I find out without trying it? You two stand back, I can’t be killed.” Janus put his hand to the handle and got a jolt that threw him back.

“That is my spell I gave her.“ It is draining my magicka too.

“What are you doing lad?”

“I’m going in as a vampire. It will give me resistance to my own spells. I just hope it doesn’t frighten Shivani.”

Janus grew to massive proportions before the eyes of the ancient men.

“Here, take my shield. It has reflect spell on it.” Lord Kagrenac handed it to Janus.

“Take this Janus. svck on it, your magicka will return.” Divayth gave him a Welkynd stone.

“Stand back you two. I don’t want you hurt.” Janus said, his voice deepened with his enormous change in body size.

The door lit as if an electric storm had centered on it as Janus walked toward it with the shield between it and himself. He stretched out his hand and his full battery of spells filled it. He cast a massive shield over himself and dispel on the door. Blocking with the shield he stuck the key in. The dispel did not work, and the bolts rocked his hand with pain, but he kept going. The door opened and he ran down the corridor, frightening Shivani who cowered in the back.

“Please don’t be frightened, it’s me, Janus. I’m here to rescue you Shivani. I won’t hurt you. Please don’t worry about my appearance. I will take you to Clavicus Vile.” Janus spoke quietly to calm her. Shivani ran to him. “Come, let’s go find Clavicus. It will be all right then.”





***

Janus found Clavicus Vile standing over the false Shivani with a whip. The real Shivani ran to his side and wrapped her arms around him as soon as Janus opened the door.

“Have you been beating Melisande?” Lord Kagrenac pushed Janus out of the way and charged in. “Throw in a few licks for Yagrum Bagarn and every member of his family that suffered from the loss of him.” He glared at the false ghost and spat out, “Thief.”

“Well, well! So there are two Shivani now.” Clavicus said, feigning surprise.

Divayth caught the twinkle in Clavicus’s eyes, he obviously had known before they brought the real Shivani in that the other was a fake. It looked like he had been enjoying giving her a taste of what the real Shivani had endured in her childhood, but knowing Clavicus Vile the short time he had, Divayth doubted the giant actually struck the witch.

“Why Janus, you are as big as me! We can’t have that, now can we? Put your necklace back on so I hold all the height in the room.”

“Janus rescued me My Lord.” Shivani said, smiling up into Clavicus’s face.

Janus quickly restored his necklace and shortly began to shrink back to his normal size. “Melisande had locked her in a chamber. No one could have heard her cries for help, nor broken through the magical seal she had on the door. I couldn’t have done it without Master Divayth and Lord Kagrenac’s help.”

“You and Maxical knew. You both knew before I did. Like you, I thought she was just spoultry. But Maxical thought something, and then when you said she was acting like Melisande I realized you were right. Now how could I mistake that, for this.” He looked down at Shivani. “I guess I had better stay on my toes a little better. Janus, I‘m going to need you to go sit with Maxical while we sort a few things out here.”

When Janus left, Clavicus turned to the real Shivani. “I want to clear one thing up. Tell whose blood was in those bottles in the crypt.”

“Janus’s My Lord. I was inside him all day. I watched the witch draw them herself.”

“Traven said she sent Janus on a fools errand for ingredients he couldn’t possibly get, and had her blood drawn and hidden before Janus returned.” Lord Kagrenac jumped in.

“I was inside him while he searched for ingredients. What are you talking about? What blood?” Shivani asked.

“The witch drew two bottles of her own blood and switched those two bottles out for the ones she drew from Janus. His blood was never taken out of the crypt. If she had her way, no one would have ever known till Janus tried to mate with Maxical.”

“Why would she want to do that?” Shivani asked.

“It doesn’t matter why. The fact is, it is there. And now her blood conflicts with his. They can never mate or she will change.” Melisande spit out.

“Change? Change to what?” Shivani asked, a confused look on her face.

“A werewolf. That witch has made Maxical a werewolf.” Lord Kagrenac said, looking around for a place to spit.

Shivani screamed and covered her mouth.

Clavicus wrapped his arms around Shivani. “I’m sorry Shivani. It is true. The only way we were able to save your daughter was to give her the Ring of Hircine. Her blood was conflicting with itself. She is a vampire and a werewolf, and the two don‘t mix.”

When he mentioned that Maxical had the Ring of Hircine Melisande leapt up, still in the false form of Shivani. “What? Where did you get that ring?” She was shaking with anger. “How dare you interfere! You said you don’t interfere with mortals, but so far that’s all I have seen you do! This is not your concern Vile!”

“No, but Shivani is, and when you attacked her, you declared war on me. I am involved now. Janus is too polite to throw you out, but I am not. Those things I told you I would do to you are no longer an idle threat. As long as Shivani, Barbas, or I am here; any trouble you bring to anyone in this castle I will consider it another personal attack on me. I will enjoy turning Shivani loose on you…or Barbas. And when they are finished, your soul will be brought to me. Just remember what I said I would do to it. Those were promises. You have been paid, now go.” Clavicus turned, his eyes falling on Lord Kagrenac. “Kagrenac! I believe you will enjoy escorting Melisande out the gate and sealing it behind her, won‘t you!” It was not a question.

Lord Kagrenac’s eyes gleamed. “Thank you My Lord!”

“NO!” Melisande shrieked.


*

Woh Whoa Whoa!!!


bdsn scenes on Bethesda!!!


:nuke:


This forum will never be the same again!!!


:hubbahubba:

:whistle:

:rofl:

Sorry I haven't commented much lately. I am in the throes of artistic creation.

But rest assured I read EVERY post, MaX!!!

Werewolf...And Vampire....Oh no. Well Maxical is luckier than my first Morrowind Imperial. Vampire and the Ring of Hircine, not the desired result. Oh, and I almost feel sorry for the poor witch. Almost.
Bravo, wonderful chapter.

Oh my. I certainly hope we get all this sorted out! I can't imagine the transformation of a Khajiit into a Werewolf ! And a vampy one at that.

What a wonderfully FUN web you are weaving.

I am so glad that the real Shivani is back! You have made great progress towards redeeming Janus!

Hmm, letting Melisande go. . . I wonder if she is done causing trouble. . . .