#4622  Penthesilea
     
12:28 a.m.

     *Penthesilea came around to the sound of gunfire and Kodiak barking orders. Ever cautious and still not quite sure of her motor control, Penthesilea remained still and used the inspeaking.*

Penthesilea: (inspeaking) Need help, my lord? *She heard something that sounded like a flash/bang grenade and hoped that no one was around to see her flinch.*

Kodiak: (inspeaking) No thanks, my dear. It's handled. *This assurance was followed by another small explosion. Penthesilea made a note to send Dante a hefty sum for damages when this was over. She liked the man and blowing the hell out of his club had not been part of the plan!

Penthesilea: (inspeaking) You never let me have any fun! *There was another burst of gunfire and, at a distance, a man screamed.*

Kodiak: (inspeaking) Once we are alone, my dear. You can have all the fun you want. *The shooting stopped.* Stay still, my lady. The rest of my team is about to join us. *Penthesilea obeyed. Moments later, three new voices joined Kodiak's. Then someone lifted her up from the floor. She knew from the careless way that it was done that it was not Kodiak and they were again on the move...*

#4624  Penthesilea
     
Madridoor -- Downtown

12:42 a.m.

     *The van made good time despite the pouring rain of the tropical storm. The citizens of Madridoor, accustomed to such meteorological tantrums, were going about their business pretty much as usual, which meant traffic was heavy despite the hour. In the back, Kodiak discreetly held pressure on Penthesilea's neck. He hadn't taken much. Only enough for show but he still felt that he had abused his lady.

Kodiak: (inspeaking) Are you alright, little one?

Penthesilea: (inspeaking)Of course, Beloved. You didn't hurt me. You couldn't. *What she sent to him through the bloodbond was all the reassurance that the Darklord needed. With his back to the others, he smiled slightly, just for her.

     Present but unseen, Pan rode in the van waiting for his chance. When a city police car pulled up behind the van, Pan put his pipes to his lips and played a song only the driver could hear....*

#4626  Penthesilea
     
12:44 a.m.

     *The cop called for backup and several cars quickly joined the pursuit. The van blew through the next intersection causing a multi car collision in which, by Divine Intervention, no one was hurt. Kodiak did his best to protect Penthesilea from the violent motions of the van. She was still a little groggy from his attack and he knew they were getting close to the river. It wouldn't be much longer...*

#4632  Penthesilea
     
12:45 a.m.

Quote
     *The cop called for backup and several cars quickly joined the pursuit. The van blew through the next intersection causing a multi car collision in which, by Divine Intervention, no one was hurt. Kodiak did his best to protect Penthesilea from the violent motions of the van. She was still a little groggy from his attack and he knew they were getting close to the river. It wouldn't be much longer...*

     *The van screamed through another intersection. The river was just ahead. The driver tried to make the turn and failed. The van crashed through the railing and sailed out over the rolling water....*

#4634  Penthesilea
     
12:45:06 a.m.

*Kodiak arrived in his bedroom with his Lady in his arms. Since time was of the essence, he put her down on the bed, kissed her goodbye and, taking a deep breath, "stepped" back to the sinking van..*

#4646  Penthesilea
     
1:30 a.m.

     *Kodiak eluded the police searching the area for anyone who had been in the van. Once he was clear of the search area, he found a public phone -- his cell did not survive the dip in the river -- and called Keil. The demon-vampire was not happy to hear that his prize was missing and presumed drowned. Kodiak hung up the phone and waited for the car Keil was sending for him....*

#4648  Penthesilea

3:30 a.m.

     *Kodiak was ushered into Keil's presence immediately upon his arrival at the mansion. A couple of Keil's women smiled at him while standing behind their master's back and Kodiak knew that they were just as happy that Penthesilea would not be joining their little group. Keil himself was anything but.*

Keil: Tell me what happened. *Kodiak gave him a completely truthful and accurate account of the evening's proceedings -- leaving out only the part about carrying the Lady off to safety in his apartment where he intended to enjoy her favors later! * You're sure she's dead?

Kodiak: Sure? No, I'm not. She was alive when she was swept away from me. If she didn't drown, she'll turn up and we will collect her.

Keil: And WHY should I trust you with that assignment? Why shouldn't I just KILL you? *The screaming demon vampire was standing nose to nose with Kodiak wearing his hunting face. Kodiak didn't blink.*

Kodiak: Because I'm the only man, vampire or not, who has a prayer of getting her now that she's warned. *Kodiak put all of his powers of persuasion into making the demon in front of him believe him. The Darklord felt his lady in the back of his mind, somehow reinforcing his will with her own.* I'm too valuable to you to kill. *Kodiak waited. Slowly, Keil returned to his human visage.*

Keil: You are right. There will be other women. *He waved his hand in dismissal.* My car will take you home. You have the rest of the night off. *Kodiak didn't really want to take the car and driver but figured that arguing the point would be a bad idea so he nodded to Keil and left.*

#4650 

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#4655  Penthesilea
     
Kodiak's Madridoor Apartment

The Morning After......

*Kodiak wandered out of the bedroom still a little dazed while making a mental note to let his lady have "fun" a lot more often! He found Penthesilea sitting in the middle of the living room floor surrounded by an impressive array of armament.*

Kodiak: You raided my weapons locker? *Penthesilea looked up at her lover with a sassy, satisfied grin on her face.*

Penthesilea: No. Mine. Sleep well, my love?

Kodiak: When you let me. *He crouched beside her on the floor and kissed her deeply -- before she had the chance to kiss him first!*

Penthesilea: Sorry, beloved. You had no complaints at the time.

Kodiak: Ah... no I didn't. *He grinned at her.* Who needs sleep anyway?

Penthesilea: Exactly my point. *She indicated the hardware on the floor.* Your bloodbonded lover will be joining you on the job later today. I'll have Hermes hack into the city's computers and make it look like Silver and my new ID arrived on the same day so no one should be suspicious of my showing up the morning after Silver Steele's disappearance. Speaking of which...
     *Penthesilea picked up the remote and turned the sound up on the television, which Kodiak hadn't even noticed was on so thoroughly did Penthesilea catch and keep his attention. The lead story on the news channel was the disturbances at The Ages and the disappearance of the club's singer, Silver Steele. The cameras showed the growing shrine outside the club and a visibly distraught Dante was interviewed. Penthesilea turned it off.* I feel bad about that. He's more upset about me disappearing than he is about the damage to his club.

Kodiak: Dante is a good man. We'll find a way to make it up to him. *Penthesilea looked up at her lover.*

Penthesilea: When this is done, I want him to know that I'm alive, at least. Nothing that happened was his fault.

Kodiak: We'll tell him everything we can, my dear. Now, I want to hear about the "new you" -- preferably over breakfast. *Penthesilea smiled.*

Penthesilea: We can do that. *They rose from the floor and headed for the kitchen...*

#4659 

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#4661  Penthesilea

Meanwhile, back at the Castle... in MoonCat's lab...

     *The sisters were hard at work when Daemon contacted them. The news that a powdered form of Black Lotus not only existed but was practically on their doorstep did nothing to ease their minds. As soon as Daemon had finished his report, Spirit went to the transporter room. Taking the controls herself, she was able to locate Swiftmoon and transport her and both of her precious cargoes into the Castle without anyone noticing. Then the two of them went at once to MoonCat's lab where the older sister was already setting up the tests that they would run on the deadly powder Daemon had sent them.....*

#4663 Penthesilea
     
The Keyholder's Bedroom

     *Ares dropped Penthesilea and Kodiak off in her bedroom and then, after a quick briefing from the Mobile Unit, returned to Kodiak's apartment with the mobile. The lovers looked longingly at the bed, resolved to reacquaint themselves with it later and got down to the business at hand. They would have to appear at dinner. It would be Kodiak's first appearance since Penthesilea had declared him her Consort and it was going to turn into a major affair once people realized that he was back. He headed off to his quarters to see what Miranda had added to his wardrobe in his absence while Penthesilea dug into her closet with the same idea.
     She pulled out her favorite pants, a shirt and a heavy sweater and changed into them from the considerably lighter clothing Madridoor's climate mandated. She had some difficulty zipping the pants and sighed. The lack of exercise and the excellent food at The Ages was rough on a demigoddess's waistline.....