Scion - Petro Campaign - Downtime 08
The last three months that have passed since our adventures with Hod have been busy. Between catching up with friends, working with Adam to produce a new jet, planning a wedding, debuting an album, fawning over Quinn’s baby, and visiting Olympus, I’ve had my hands full. But you know, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I thrive on this stuff. ^_^
So as I mentioned in my last journal, I reconciled with my mother. I’m welcome in Yomi again, and I spent about a week visiting shortly after returning from Chicago. One of my objectives in going there was to turn Ophelia, Sadako, and Mercy into elite shikome. That is, after all, mostly why I scouted them out. First, though, I had to transform Mercy and Sadako in normal shikome. Audrey and Sadako had become very close, so Audrey insisted on turning Sadako. She did so with all the trappings of a Valentine’s Day romance, with wine and flowers and classical music. *sigh* It was beautiful. She even bought Sada-chan a Ferrari! I’d promised Tabby that she could turn Mercy (which was sort of a concession for not allowing her to turn Claire in Ireland). Her approach was less romantic and more direct than Audrey’s. >_<
In Yomi, I took the three newest shikome to see the Dark Mother, and she made them into elites. Their behavior now isn’t much different from what it was before they were turned (which is really the point of making them elites). Well, that’s not entirely true. The fierce insanity of the shikome still simmers below the surface. But Ophelia’s still a fun-loving, artistic cybergoth, Sadako’s still a cocky thrill-seeker, and Mercy’s still focused yet caring.
Part of my objective in creating my new elites was to have one elite per non-elite shikome so that they could help look after the non-elites and keep them in line. Really, Audrey does a fine job of that, so it wasn’t strictly necessary, but it’s still worked out pretty well. Tabby has Robin, of course. Mercy keeps an eye on mischievous little Emilie, but really she’s kinda like the shikome den mother, so she helps look after all the rest. Audrey, of course, is in charge of the rest (aside from Tabby), but she’s particularly fond of Sophie. Ophelia and Steph are both more interested in having fun than causing trouble, and Sadako has found a sort of kinship with Kaori, both of them being Japanese and sharing a certain ravenous outlook.
I really look forward to the day when all my shikome are elites. ^_^
Still, that does bring me to a matter that’s caused me a lot of worry. See, at one point over the past few months, Robin told me something troubling about Tabby. Tabby had begged her not to tell me, but she felt that she had to let me know (it’s good to know that my shikome are loyal to me above all else). You know the pendant Miko gave me long ago, the one that returns lucidity to a shikome’s mind when she wears it? Well, Tabby generally keeps the pendant and uses it on the lesser shikome when she feels like it. She’s especially fond of using it on Robin. And she’s discovered that even in their lucid states, the shikome don’t mind what they’ve become. Most of them are perfectly happy being shikome (which speaks to the success of my stringent guidelines on shikome recruitment). But Robin once asked Tabby to wear the pendant, and the reaction was…disheartening. Tabby was horrified at what she was.
Tabby’s the only shikome I have (aside from Amy, who was killed in Shikoku) whom I didn’t select carefully and who didn’t come to me willingly. I always worried about that, but knowing that the real Tabby, the one underneath all the shikome madness, is horrified at what she’s become really upsets me. I tried to bring it up in a roundabout way later, but Tabby insisted that she loved being a shikome and that she would consider it the worst kind of betrayal if I ever tried to purify her like I did Miko. But of course she’d say that. That’s the madness talking. Miko felt the same way before I cleansed her. I guess the taint is sort of like a drug that keeps her from acknowledging what she is.
I considered finding a way to purify Tabby immediately. But then I discarded the idea. I need Tabby as she is. And as I discovered after visiting Olympus and talking to Dionysus a few weeks ago, that need will only grow as I attempt to enact my plan to use Erebus against Mikaboshi. Yeah, I know I’ve kept that a secret up to now, but now that I know it’s possible, even inevitable, it’s time to be a little more open about it.
You see, I was able to meet with Dionysus while I was in Olympus. Persephone arranged it. He actually defied all my expectations. I was afraid of being swept off my feet into some wild orgy of wine and sex, but that’s not the Dionysus I met. He was quite genteel and very wise. He is associated with wisdom in some myths, and the reputation is well deserved. I liked him quite a lot. But then again, I suppose it’s hard not to like someone so charismatic. I should know. ^_^
Anyway, I learned from Dionysus that gaining a connection to Erebus is possible, and that I could potentially influence him though such a connection, especially given his apparent interest in me. The fact that Erebus is not hostile toward the gods helps a lot, but I already knew that and it’s one reason I’m pursuing this plan in the first place. According to Dionysus, descending into the depth of Suko-no-Kumi to commune with Erebus is possible-it’s what Cybele did-but doing so is an invitation to madness. Instead, I’ll need to work through a Dark Mother of my own. It’s how the other gods (like Izanami and Dionysus) connect with Erebus, and is likely the only way I’ll be able to seduce him without becoming lost in his blind madness.
This brings me back to Tabby. She has the potential to become a Dark Mother. I already knew that, I just didn’t know how important that would be for me. So if I’m to succeed in destroying Mikaboshi (in as much as he can be destroyed at all), then I need Tabby as a shikome. I need her to become what Miko was. So I must sacrifice not only my own purity for the sake of the Amatsukami, but Tabby’s as well. Once Mikaboshi has been defeated, then I’ll purify us both. Until then, I need to deepen Tabby’s tainted connection to Erebus.
And Dionysus told me how to do that. I have to infuse Tabby with some of Erebus’s dark essence, which I can acquire from Cybele, though of course that will mean communing with her, which is an intimidating prospect. Once Tabby has absorbed the dark essence, it will ravage her spirit as it transforms her, so in order to survive the experience, she’ll need to consume divine flesh. So I intend to feed her from my own body, thereby deepening and empowering the connection between us even as she becomes a Dark Mother. I am not looking forward to being cannibalized by my dearest shikome, but it’s a necessary evil.
Yeah, I know how messed up this is, but have you ever actually read any mythology? Par for the course. That’s all I’m saying.
So anyway, aside from my meeting with Dionysus, my visit to Olympus was radiant. ^_^. Sunlit meadows, soothing music, cool pools, nymphs, satyrs (and not the gross kind that joined the titans), and ambrosia. I had a great time just lounging around and relaxing with Echo and Persephone. I’m glad those two have made up now that I’m not such an issue for them.
I also talked to Persephone a bit about the things Amaterasu and I discussed recently. I explained how I feel it’s my fate to become Amaterasu’s shadow, a goddess of darkness to compliment her light. Persephone was quite supportive of that. She really seemed to like the idea, provided I don’t lose the light side of myself and become only darkness. I assured her that wouldn’t happen; it’s the combination of light and darkness that makes Amaterasu and me so compatible. ^_^
I’ve also come to realize again how important my relationship to Persephone is for both of us. Her approach to me isn’t that different from my approach to Feng Yi. We’ve both waited a long time for someone who really gets us, someone who understands the way we see the world. I’m drawn to Persephone and Feng Yi because we are kindred spirits. That’s precious to me in a way that’s very different from the connection I share with my other scion friends. And, call me weak, but I let the intimacy of that connection draw me back into Persephone’s bed. I know I resolved to end that relationship, but I couldn’t help falling back into it. You try resisting the allure of both Echo and Persephone and see what you do. Yes, that’s right. Echo helped her seduce me again. She encouraged me to get involved with Persephone again because she wanted to do so as well. Ah, my dear Echo ^_^. She used to be jealous of my relationship with Persephone, but now that she’s a part of it, she wants me to be with Persephone…as long as she can be with her too and Persephone respect Echo as my wife.
Gods, my love life is complicated. >_<
Anyway, speaking of my love life and Feng Yi, we’ve been getting together at least once a month. Usually she comes to Red Mountain (she likes it here because there’s always something new and interesting going on ^_^), but I visited her at her estate in Hong Kong as well (it’s gorgeous!). It’s so easy to just be myself around Feng Yi. I always have so much fun when she’s around! ^_^ She’s been sending me beautiful poetry every week, and I’ve turned some of it into song lyrics for my music. I’ve sent her plenty of gifts include demo tapes of my latest work. Echo gets a bit jealous from time to time, but I think she understands the connection Feng Yi and I share, and she knows that Feng Yi won’t come between us. I think sometimes she’s just jealous that she’s not the one getting all the attention. ^_^ I can understand that.
Feng Yi has continued to help me develop my attunement to pure darkness, so my powers over darkness have improved. I brought her in on the Erebus thing and we discussed walking the fine line between pure darkness and corrupt darkness. It’s something she’s had to deal with as well. See, no one else I know really understands these things! ^_^
Feng Yi’s a bit anxious, though, because her father is grooming her to be a diplomat. But that’s not really what she wants. I offered her some advice on the matter. I told her that we’re about to become gods, and when that happens, fate is going to lock us into whatever divine role we’ve assumed for ourselves. If she lets herself be pushed into the role of diplomat and it’s not what she wants, then she’ll be miserable, like Hades or any number of other gods and goddesses who are unhappy with their purviews. So I encouraged her to follow her heart and become who she wants to be, not who her father wants her to be. She was really encouraged by that. ^_^
Apparently she’s also run afoul of another scion, a daughter of Yama named Dari. They aren’t trying to kill each other or anything, but they’ve become rivals and Dari keep spying on and sabotaging her. That’s annoying. Feng Yi thinks it has something to do with competition over Buddhist souls. I’ll have to look this Dari and up and see what the deal is.
I think my favorite time with Feng Yi over the past few months was the week we spent in Ibiza. But first, I should talk a little about the new club in Ibiza. See, Ibiza is a Mediterranean destination on the coast of Spain known for its hot nightlife and club scene. Hell, there are entire music compilations named for the place. I’ve been there several times in the past, and enjoyed myself immensely. It features some of the best trance clubs in the world!
Anyway, they recently opened a new club there that’s exclusive to scions. No one else can get in unless they are accompanied by one of us. It’s called The Amp Room and was apparently something of a pet project for Dionysus. It features glorious classical decorations and three separate dance halls (one a dedicated jazz club) replete with private rooms and all the amenities you’d expect in a five-star club. There’s even a pooka doorman who checks your virtues when you enter. The place is fantastic! ^____^
Naturally, I attended the opening night, and I brought Feng Yi, Echo, and my elite shikome along for a week of festivities. It was quite a party. The music and dancing were great, and it was fabulous to just see and be seen, especially since I’ve reached another plateau of divine beauty. I can honestly say I was the hottest woman there. ^_^ And it felt so good to just flaunt it. It’s so tiresome having to tone down my appearance every time I’m around mortals. >_< Storm was there with his girlfriend, Joanna, Jacob’s son Caleb, Caleb’s valkyrie protector Svalla, and James, one of his followers. I was going to join them, but something happened with a drunken patron (must have been a hero playing out of his league without any divine stamina) and Caleb got into a fight. I decided not to get involved-Storm was obviously watching to see how the kid handled himself. Sadly, they left afterward, so I didn’t get a chance to say hi.
They were back a couple of days later, though and we all went over to join them for awhile. It was nice to catch up. It was also amusing to note Storm’s discomfort when I mentioned Tabby’s upcoming wedding. He didn’t seem to know what to think about the way she was flirting with him, given her commitment to Robin…but then again, he doesn’t live in my world. ^_^
The rest of the week was great too. We went clubbing almost every night, relaxed on the beach and went shopping during the day. Tabby went off to enjoy some private time with Storm at least once, while Feng Yi and I arranged for some private time to explore the darkness and each other. We even explored the silence…which was fascinating for me, since I normally surround myself with music. There’s really something very, very intimate about the sense of touch when sight and sound don’t get in the way.
I returned to The Amp Room a few times over the next month or so, and was even invited to perform there a couple times. The big event for me, though, was the debut of my new album, but I’ll get to that later.
Let’s see, a number of smaller things also happened recently. Tanith is living at Red Mountain for the time being, mostly hanging out in a nearby river. I made a deal with her to renew the follower geas to empower my elite shikome. In return, I have to continually pursue artistic endeavors. Not really a challenge since I do that anyway. ^_^
Miko and I have grown even closer. Like Echo or Feng Yi, I really like being around Miko. She makes me happy. We both want to deepen our intimacy, but I can’t. I just can’t expose her to my taint like that. It’s so hard to resist, especially when I feel how deep our love for each other has become. But I can’t disregard her purity, can I? Just thinking about it fills me a conflicting mixture of determination and longing. It’s so confusing. So…changing the subject…
I went to visit Suchette in New Orleans again as well. I always enjoy spending time with her, and this time we even scheduled a recording session. See, since Quinn hasn’t really been able to perform during her pregnancy, she’s not appearing on my latest album, so I wanted to feature Suchette as another vocalist whose work I respect and admire. She appears on three of my new tracks, and her voice is absolutely stunning! ^_^
Aside from that, Suchette is doing very well. She’s actually taken a young DJ under her wing, a girl named Jenny Meadows who actually resembles me quite a bit. I guess there’s a bit of an obsession going on there…but Jenny is a charming artist. She’s a big fan, so she was thrilled to meet me, and I listened to some of her music and gave her lots of pointers. I even let her assist me with Suchette’s recording session. Ultimately, Suchette is grooming Jenny to become a vampire, but she wants to make sure she’s tough enough for it. It’s also something of an experiment for Suchette. She doesn’t even know if a Caucasian can become an Adze vampire.
I should also mention that Suchette still craves my blood. She’s been careful not to reveal this to others, though (especially Jenny). She doesn’t want it to become an issue for us. And I don’t mind feeding her from time to time. I enjoy the intimacy. (Wow, I really have this need for intimacy among people I feel really close to, don’t I? Nothihng wrong with that, I suppose.) But I do appreciate her discretion.
And speaking of vampires, I have Keiko working on arranging a meeting with David Bowie. I intend to find out if he really is the Vampire King. ^_^
In other news, Adam and I have been working hard to produce a new jet. After renovating the interior of the old one, I decided to sign it over to Ray for his personal use. Meanwhile, Adam designed a brand new jet for us to tool around in. It’s a real piece of work, all sleek lines and elegant wings. It looks like something out of a near-future sci-fi film, but I’d expect no less from Adam. It’s fast, maneuverable, and stealthy too. The interior is classy and spacious-traveling in luxury never felt this good! We licensed the design to a specialized business jet manufacturer, so they’ve built a prototype for me and will be offering the jet for sale commercially once they get their production facilities geared up. I financed the whole thing, and it will be nice to get a return on my investment when the jet hits the market. ^_^ And thanks to Keiko for actually handling all the business details of the arrangement. I don’t know what I’d do without her.
Now, on to the big “family” events. First off, I’m proud to announce the birth of Keiko Veronica de la Cimitiere, Quinn and Pierre’s daughter. She’s named after Keiko (for whom Quinn still has feelings) and me (Veronica’s my middle name), and we’re calling her Veronica. She’s an adorable little rokurokubi, with rich mocha skin and deep brown eyes that make you want to melt. Dahlia and Kimiyo can’t get enough of her. It will be so nice to see Rose, Alandra, and Veronica grow up together, but I imagine we’ll have our hands full once they become toddlers. ^_^
Speaking of Rose, she’s growing so fast and becoming more adorable every day. Miko is completely enamored of her (which is good because she’s babysitter #1 since Mercy became an elite shikome^_^). I’m away so often that I sometimes get really depressed that I can’t spend more time with her, so I make up for it by keeping her with me practically all the time when I’m home. I just feel so content when I’m holding her in my arms. ♥ ^__^
We had a big wedding for Tabby and Robin. Whereas Keiko and Oda wanted a small, private wedding, Tabby wanted hers to be a big deal, so I spared no expense and used the occasion as an excuse to host a huge get-together, inviting practically all friends. Pierre, Elisa, T-Bone, Adam, Storm and Joanna, Jacob and Delilah, Carina and Sam, Cesar (but no Helena), Maneki, Hinako, Oiwa (her little black veil was adorable!), Cathy, Fukuda-san, my shikome and youkai…it was like a huge reunion. Sadly, Ray was conspicuously absent. I know he doesn’t care for the shikome, so I kinda thought he’d bow out of this one. Tabby was so disappointed, though. She really likes Ray and desperately wants his approval.
We held the wedding in my gardens on Red Mountain in front of Miko’s shrine. Robin dressed in a beautiful traditional bride’s dress, while Tabby wore a woman’s black suit ensemble with a classy little miniskirt. I officiated over the ceremony (Tabby insisted), and I can’t tell you how touching it was to pronounce them wed and to see the look of true endearment in their eyes as they gazed at each other. ♥sigh ♥ The wedding rings were provided by Storm. They were beautiful crystalline rings cut from a single diamond. My gods, Storm has a flair for the romantic that any woman would admire!
The reception was an event on its own, a huge party that gave everyone a chance to enjoy themselves. Some of the stories that flew around would have sounded like tall tales if we hadn’t all experienced such things first hand. There was a lot of reminiscing about taking down Daitokuji. ^_^ Guests took turns admiring Alandra, Rose, and Veronica, and I’m pretty sure I saw T-Bone and Dahlia getting a little cozy in a darkened corner. ^_^ I was surprised when Delilah, Jacob’s girlfriend, approached me for advice on getting Jacob to marry her. I gave her what advice I could, but had to admit that I didn’t have a lot of experience in that department myself (it was really Echo who dragged me into marriage, not that I minded. ^_^). Still, I think I helped a little. I guess we’ll know if I receive an invitation to Jacob’s wedding in the future, huh? ^_^
Finally, the last major event of the past three months was the debut of my new album, Between Darkness and Shadow. I’ve been working on it since Hikari and Yami were released, but it was a challenge to complete it with everything else that’s been going on. It’s a bit different from Hikari and Yami in that I mixed styles on this one. The tracks all fit together nicely, but they present a mixture of trance, industrial, and gothic rock. I’m exceptionally pleased with my work on this album, and I feel it represents a new direction for my music, a more mature trend that really brings together diverse elements into a cohesive whole. I mix the thick darkness of heavy guitar and industrial beats with the uplifting qualities of trance movements in a way that I feel expresses me better than anything I’ve done before. The album also explores themes that have been important to me over the past year, from heartbreak and loss to the joy of new discoveries, the advent of birth, and the closeness of intimate friendship. Sera, Kimiyo, Echo, and Dahlia all provided their best work for this project, inspired by the difficult times they’ve faced on and off throughout the past year or so. The lyrics of several songs came from Feng Yi’s poems, and as I’ve already mentioned, Suchette provided some vocals for me.
All in all, I’m extremely pleased with the way Between Darkness and Shadow came together. Its release is a big event for me, so I was absolutely thrilled to work with Christopher de Sangre, Dionysus’s principle representative for The Amp Room, to plan a special live performance of the new album at The Amp Room along with a big release party. The debut party was a big hit. I knew I had a lot of mortal fans, but I didn’t know I had so many scion fans! Of course, all my friends got special VIP invitations, and most of them made it, even Ray! (I would have been offended if he hadn’t come). T-Bone wasn’t there, though. I suppose getting him to both the wedding and the debut was too much to ask. Dahlia was pretty pissed off that he didn’t come to see her perform at the big event, though. I think their relationship, which seemed to be going so well at the wedding, suffered a big setback. >_< But Adam, Ray, Elisa, and Pierre showed up, as did Storm, Cesar, Carina, Maneki, Cathy, and Sam. Jacob didn’t come, but he did send a huge bouquet of yellow roses and black baccara to wish me well. Miyako even came! She hates me, so I didn’t expect her to show up, but I have a feeling that Cathy cajoled her into it. Even if all she did was sit glumly in a corner booth and stare with derision at the other club-goers, it was still nice to see her there. A rather charming, if mischievous friend of Pierre's named Saltmarsh Andy was there too. He told wonderful stories, but I got the feeling they were as much fiction as fact. Still, I think Emilie would like him.
I had a wonderful time. But now I think I need to get away from everything for awhile. It’s time I retired to my estate with Echo and just relaxed with her and Rose for awhile. So if you don’t hear from me again for awhile, rest assured that I’m just enjoying some time alone with my family. ^___^
So as I mentioned in my last journal, I reconciled with my mother. I’m welcome in Yomi again, and I spent about a week visiting shortly after returning from Chicago. One of my objectives in going there was to turn Ophelia, Sadako, and Mercy into elite shikome. That is, after all, mostly why I scouted them out. First, though, I had to transform Mercy and Sadako in normal shikome. Audrey and Sadako had become very close, so Audrey insisted on turning Sadako. She did so with all the trappings of a Valentine’s Day romance, with wine and flowers and classical music. *sigh* It was beautiful. She even bought Sada-chan a Ferrari! I’d promised Tabby that she could turn Mercy (which was sort of a concession for not allowing her to turn Claire in Ireland). Her approach was less romantic and more direct than Audrey’s. >_<
In Yomi, I took the three newest shikome to see the Dark Mother, and she made them into elites. Their behavior now isn’t much different from what it was before they were turned (which is really the point of making them elites). Well, that’s not entirely true. The fierce insanity of the shikome still simmers below the surface. But Ophelia’s still a fun-loving, artistic cybergoth, Sadako’s still a cocky thrill-seeker, and Mercy’s still focused yet caring.
Part of my objective in creating my new elites was to have one elite per non-elite shikome so that they could help look after the non-elites and keep them in line. Really, Audrey does a fine job of that, so it wasn’t strictly necessary, but it’s still worked out pretty well. Tabby has Robin, of course. Mercy keeps an eye on mischievous little Emilie, but really she’s kinda like the shikome den mother, so she helps look after all the rest. Audrey, of course, is in charge of the rest (aside from Tabby), but she’s particularly fond of Sophie. Ophelia and Steph are both more interested in having fun than causing trouble, and Sadako has found a sort of kinship with Kaori, both of them being Japanese and sharing a certain ravenous outlook.
I really look forward to the day when all my shikome are elites. ^_^
Still, that does bring me to a matter that’s caused me a lot of worry. See, at one point over the past few months, Robin told me something troubling about Tabby. Tabby had begged her not to tell me, but she felt that she had to let me know (it’s good to know that my shikome are loyal to me above all else). You know the pendant Miko gave me long ago, the one that returns lucidity to a shikome’s mind when she wears it? Well, Tabby generally keeps the pendant and uses it on the lesser shikome when she feels like it. She’s especially fond of using it on Robin. And she’s discovered that even in their lucid states, the shikome don’t mind what they’ve become. Most of them are perfectly happy being shikome (which speaks to the success of my stringent guidelines on shikome recruitment). But Robin once asked Tabby to wear the pendant, and the reaction was…disheartening. Tabby was horrified at what she was.
Tabby’s the only shikome I have (aside from Amy, who was killed in Shikoku) whom I didn’t select carefully and who didn’t come to me willingly. I always worried about that, but knowing that the real Tabby, the one underneath all the shikome madness, is horrified at what she’s become really upsets me. I tried to bring it up in a roundabout way later, but Tabby insisted that she loved being a shikome and that she would consider it the worst kind of betrayal if I ever tried to purify her like I did Miko. But of course she’d say that. That’s the madness talking. Miko felt the same way before I cleansed her. I guess the taint is sort of like a drug that keeps her from acknowledging what she is.
I considered finding a way to purify Tabby immediately. But then I discarded the idea. I need Tabby as she is. And as I discovered after visiting Olympus and talking to Dionysus a few weeks ago, that need will only grow as I attempt to enact my plan to use Erebus against Mikaboshi. Yeah, I know I’ve kept that a secret up to now, but now that I know it’s possible, even inevitable, it’s time to be a little more open about it.
You see, I was able to meet with Dionysus while I was in Olympus. Persephone arranged it. He actually defied all my expectations. I was afraid of being swept off my feet into some wild orgy of wine and sex, but that’s not the Dionysus I met. He was quite genteel and very wise. He is associated with wisdom in some myths, and the reputation is well deserved. I liked him quite a lot. But then again, I suppose it’s hard not to like someone so charismatic. I should know. ^_^
Anyway, I learned from Dionysus that gaining a connection to Erebus is possible, and that I could potentially influence him though such a connection, especially given his apparent interest in me. The fact that Erebus is not hostile toward the gods helps a lot, but I already knew that and it’s one reason I’m pursuing this plan in the first place. According to Dionysus, descending into the depth of Suko-no-Kumi to commune with Erebus is possible-it’s what Cybele did-but doing so is an invitation to madness. Instead, I’ll need to work through a Dark Mother of my own. It’s how the other gods (like Izanami and Dionysus) connect with Erebus, and is likely the only way I’ll be able to seduce him without becoming lost in his blind madness.
This brings me back to Tabby. She has the potential to become a Dark Mother. I already knew that, I just didn’t know how important that would be for me. So if I’m to succeed in destroying Mikaboshi (in as much as he can be destroyed at all), then I need Tabby as a shikome. I need her to become what Miko was. So I must sacrifice not only my own purity for the sake of the Amatsukami, but Tabby’s as well. Once Mikaboshi has been defeated, then I’ll purify us both. Until then, I need to deepen Tabby’s tainted connection to Erebus.
And Dionysus told me how to do that. I have to infuse Tabby with some of Erebus’s dark essence, which I can acquire from Cybele, though of course that will mean communing with her, which is an intimidating prospect. Once Tabby has absorbed the dark essence, it will ravage her spirit as it transforms her, so in order to survive the experience, she’ll need to consume divine flesh. So I intend to feed her from my own body, thereby deepening and empowering the connection between us even as she becomes a Dark Mother. I am not looking forward to being cannibalized by my dearest shikome, but it’s a necessary evil.
Yeah, I know how messed up this is, but have you ever actually read any mythology? Par for the course. That’s all I’m saying.
So anyway, aside from my meeting with Dionysus, my visit to Olympus was radiant. ^_^. Sunlit meadows, soothing music, cool pools, nymphs, satyrs (and not the gross kind that joined the titans), and ambrosia. I had a great time just lounging around and relaxing with Echo and Persephone. I’m glad those two have made up now that I’m not such an issue for them.
I also talked to Persephone a bit about the things Amaterasu and I discussed recently. I explained how I feel it’s my fate to become Amaterasu’s shadow, a goddess of darkness to compliment her light. Persephone was quite supportive of that. She really seemed to like the idea, provided I don’t lose the light side of myself and become only darkness. I assured her that wouldn’t happen; it’s the combination of light and darkness that makes Amaterasu and me so compatible. ^_^
I’ve also come to realize again how important my relationship to Persephone is for both of us. Her approach to me isn’t that different from my approach to Feng Yi. We’ve both waited a long time for someone who really gets us, someone who understands the way we see the world. I’m drawn to Persephone and Feng Yi because we are kindred spirits. That’s precious to me in a way that’s very different from the connection I share with my other scion friends. And, call me weak, but I let the intimacy of that connection draw me back into Persephone’s bed. I know I resolved to end that relationship, but I couldn’t help falling back into it. You try resisting the allure of both Echo and Persephone and see what you do. Yes, that’s right. Echo helped her seduce me again. She encouraged me to get involved with Persephone again because she wanted to do so as well. Ah, my dear Echo ^_^. She used to be jealous of my relationship with Persephone, but now that she’s a part of it, she wants me to be with Persephone…as long as she can be with her too and Persephone respect Echo as my wife.
Gods, my love life is complicated. >_<
Anyway, speaking of my love life and Feng Yi, we’ve been getting together at least once a month. Usually she comes to Red Mountain (she likes it here because there’s always something new and interesting going on ^_^), but I visited her at her estate in Hong Kong as well (it’s gorgeous!). It’s so easy to just be myself around Feng Yi. I always have so much fun when she’s around! ^_^ She’s been sending me beautiful poetry every week, and I’ve turned some of it into song lyrics for my music. I’ve sent her plenty of gifts include demo tapes of my latest work. Echo gets a bit jealous from time to time, but I think she understands the connection Feng Yi and I share, and she knows that Feng Yi won’t come between us. I think sometimes she’s just jealous that she’s not the one getting all the attention. ^_^ I can understand that.
Feng Yi has continued to help me develop my attunement to pure darkness, so my powers over darkness have improved. I brought her in on the Erebus thing and we discussed walking the fine line between pure darkness and corrupt darkness. It’s something she’s had to deal with as well. See, no one else I know really understands these things! ^_^
Feng Yi’s a bit anxious, though, because her father is grooming her to be a diplomat. But that’s not really what she wants. I offered her some advice on the matter. I told her that we’re about to become gods, and when that happens, fate is going to lock us into whatever divine role we’ve assumed for ourselves. If she lets herself be pushed into the role of diplomat and it’s not what she wants, then she’ll be miserable, like Hades or any number of other gods and goddesses who are unhappy with their purviews. So I encouraged her to follow her heart and become who she wants to be, not who her father wants her to be. She was really encouraged by that. ^_^
Apparently she’s also run afoul of another scion, a daughter of Yama named Dari. They aren’t trying to kill each other or anything, but they’ve become rivals and Dari keep spying on and sabotaging her. That’s annoying. Feng Yi thinks it has something to do with competition over Buddhist souls. I’ll have to look this Dari and up and see what the deal is.
I think my favorite time with Feng Yi over the past few months was the week we spent in Ibiza. But first, I should talk a little about the new club in Ibiza. See, Ibiza is a Mediterranean destination on the coast of Spain known for its hot nightlife and club scene. Hell, there are entire music compilations named for the place. I’ve been there several times in the past, and enjoyed myself immensely. It features some of the best trance clubs in the world!
Anyway, they recently opened a new club there that’s exclusive to scions. No one else can get in unless they are accompanied by one of us. It’s called The Amp Room and was apparently something of a pet project for Dionysus. It features glorious classical decorations and three separate dance halls (one a dedicated jazz club) replete with private rooms and all the amenities you’d expect in a five-star club. There’s even a pooka doorman who checks your virtues when you enter. The place is fantastic! ^____^
Naturally, I attended the opening night, and I brought Feng Yi, Echo, and my elite shikome along for a week of festivities. It was quite a party. The music and dancing were great, and it was fabulous to just see and be seen, especially since I’ve reached another plateau of divine beauty. I can honestly say I was the hottest woman there. ^_^ And it felt so good to just flaunt it. It’s so tiresome having to tone down my appearance every time I’m around mortals. >_< Storm was there with his girlfriend, Joanna, Jacob’s son Caleb, Caleb’s valkyrie protector Svalla, and James, one of his followers. I was going to join them, but something happened with a drunken patron (must have been a hero playing out of his league without any divine stamina) and Caleb got into a fight. I decided not to get involved-Storm was obviously watching to see how the kid handled himself. Sadly, they left afterward, so I didn’t get a chance to say hi.
They were back a couple of days later, though and we all went over to join them for awhile. It was nice to catch up. It was also amusing to note Storm’s discomfort when I mentioned Tabby’s upcoming wedding. He didn’t seem to know what to think about the way she was flirting with him, given her commitment to Robin…but then again, he doesn’t live in my world. ^_^
The rest of the week was great too. We went clubbing almost every night, relaxed on the beach and went shopping during the day. Tabby went off to enjoy some private time with Storm at least once, while Feng Yi and I arranged for some private time to explore the darkness and each other. We even explored the silence…which was fascinating for me, since I normally surround myself with music. There’s really something very, very intimate about the sense of touch when sight and sound don’t get in the way.
I returned to The Amp Room a few times over the next month or so, and was even invited to perform there a couple times. The big event for me, though, was the debut of my new album, but I’ll get to that later.
Let’s see, a number of smaller things also happened recently. Tanith is living at Red Mountain for the time being, mostly hanging out in a nearby river. I made a deal with her to renew the follower geas to empower my elite shikome. In return, I have to continually pursue artistic endeavors. Not really a challenge since I do that anyway. ^_^
Miko and I have grown even closer. Like Echo or Feng Yi, I really like being around Miko. She makes me happy. We both want to deepen our intimacy, but I can’t. I just can’t expose her to my taint like that. It’s so hard to resist, especially when I feel how deep our love for each other has become. But I can’t disregard her purity, can I? Just thinking about it fills me a conflicting mixture of determination and longing. It’s so confusing. So…changing the subject…
I went to visit Suchette in New Orleans again as well. I always enjoy spending time with her, and this time we even scheduled a recording session. See, since Quinn hasn’t really been able to perform during her pregnancy, she’s not appearing on my latest album, so I wanted to feature Suchette as another vocalist whose work I respect and admire. She appears on three of my new tracks, and her voice is absolutely stunning! ^_^
Aside from that, Suchette is doing very well. She’s actually taken a young DJ under her wing, a girl named Jenny Meadows who actually resembles me quite a bit. I guess there’s a bit of an obsession going on there…but Jenny is a charming artist. She’s a big fan, so she was thrilled to meet me, and I listened to some of her music and gave her lots of pointers. I even let her assist me with Suchette’s recording session. Ultimately, Suchette is grooming Jenny to become a vampire, but she wants to make sure she’s tough enough for it. It’s also something of an experiment for Suchette. She doesn’t even know if a Caucasian can become an Adze vampire.
I should also mention that Suchette still craves my blood. She’s been careful not to reveal this to others, though (especially Jenny). She doesn’t want it to become an issue for us. And I don’t mind feeding her from time to time. I enjoy the intimacy. (Wow, I really have this need for intimacy among people I feel really close to, don’t I? Nothihng wrong with that, I suppose.) But I do appreciate her discretion.
And speaking of vampires, I have Keiko working on arranging a meeting with David Bowie. I intend to find out if he really is the Vampire King. ^_^
In other news, Adam and I have been working hard to produce a new jet. After renovating the interior of the old one, I decided to sign it over to Ray for his personal use. Meanwhile, Adam designed a brand new jet for us to tool around in. It’s a real piece of work, all sleek lines and elegant wings. It looks like something out of a near-future sci-fi film, but I’d expect no less from Adam. It’s fast, maneuverable, and stealthy too. The interior is classy and spacious-traveling in luxury never felt this good! We licensed the design to a specialized business jet manufacturer, so they’ve built a prototype for me and will be offering the jet for sale commercially once they get their production facilities geared up. I financed the whole thing, and it will be nice to get a return on my investment when the jet hits the market. ^_^ And thanks to Keiko for actually handling all the business details of the arrangement. I don’t know what I’d do without her.
Now, on to the big “family” events. First off, I’m proud to announce the birth of Keiko Veronica de la Cimitiere, Quinn and Pierre’s daughter. She’s named after Keiko (for whom Quinn still has feelings) and me (Veronica’s my middle name), and we’re calling her Veronica. She’s an adorable little rokurokubi, with rich mocha skin and deep brown eyes that make you want to melt. Dahlia and Kimiyo can’t get enough of her. It will be so nice to see Rose, Alandra, and Veronica grow up together, but I imagine we’ll have our hands full once they become toddlers. ^_^
Speaking of Rose, she’s growing so fast and becoming more adorable every day. Miko is completely enamored of her (which is good because she’s babysitter #1 since Mercy became an elite shikome^_^). I’m away so often that I sometimes get really depressed that I can’t spend more time with her, so I make up for it by keeping her with me practically all the time when I’m home. I just feel so content when I’m holding her in my arms. ♥ ^__^
We had a big wedding for Tabby and Robin. Whereas Keiko and Oda wanted a small, private wedding, Tabby wanted hers to be a big deal, so I spared no expense and used the occasion as an excuse to host a huge get-together, inviting practically all friends. Pierre, Elisa, T-Bone, Adam, Storm and Joanna, Jacob and Delilah, Carina and Sam, Cesar (but no Helena), Maneki, Hinako, Oiwa (her little black veil was adorable!), Cathy, Fukuda-san, my shikome and youkai…it was like a huge reunion. Sadly, Ray was conspicuously absent. I know he doesn’t care for the shikome, so I kinda thought he’d bow out of this one. Tabby was so disappointed, though. She really likes Ray and desperately wants his approval.
We held the wedding in my gardens on Red Mountain in front of Miko’s shrine. Robin dressed in a beautiful traditional bride’s dress, while Tabby wore a woman’s black suit ensemble with a classy little miniskirt. I officiated over the ceremony (Tabby insisted), and I can’t tell you how touching it was to pronounce them wed and to see the look of true endearment in their eyes as they gazed at each other. ♥sigh ♥ The wedding rings were provided by Storm. They were beautiful crystalline rings cut from a single diamond. My gods, Storm has a flair for the romantic that any woman would admire!
The reception was an event on its own, a huge party that gave everyone a chance to enjoy themselves. Some of the stories that flew around would have sounded like tall tales if we hadn’t all experienced such things first hand. There was a lot of reminiscing about taking down Daitokuji. ^_^ Guests took turns admiring Alandra, Rose, and Veronica, and I’m pretty sure I saw T-Bone and Dahlia getting a little cozy in a darkened corner. ^_^ I was surprised when Delilah, Jacob’s girlfriend, approached me for advice on getting Jacob to marry her. I gave her what advice I could, but had to admit that I didn’t have a lot of experience in that department myself (it was really Echo who dragged me into marriage, not that I minded. ^_^). Still, I think I helped a little. I guess we’ll know if I receive an invitation to Jacob’s wedding in the future, huh? ^_^
Finally, the last major event of the past three months was the debut of my new album, Between Darkness and Shadow. I’ve been working on it since Hikari and Yami were released, but it was a challenge to complete it with everything else that’s been going on. It’s a bit different from Hikari and Yami in that I mixed styles on this one. The tracks all fit together nicely, but they present a mixture of trance, industrial, and gothic rock. I’m exceptionally pleased with my work on this album, and I feel it represents a new direction for my music, a more mature trend that really brings together diverse elements into a cohesive whole. I mix the thick darkness of heavy guitar and industrial beats with the uplifting qualities of trance movements in a way that I feel expresses me better than anything I’ve done before. The album also explores themes that have been important to me over the past year, from heartbreak and loss to the joy of new discoveries, the advent of birth, and the closeness of intimate friendship. Sera, Kimiyo, Echo, and Dahlia all provided their best work for this project, inspired by the difficult times they’ve faced on and off throughout the past year or so. The lyrics of several songs came from Feng Yi’s poems, and as I’ve already mentioned, Suchette provided some vocals for me.
All in all, I’m extremely pleased with the way Between Darkness and Shadow came together. Its release is a big event for me, so I was absolutely thrilled to work with Christopher de Sangre, Dionysus’s principle representative for The Amp Room, to plan a special live performance of the new album at The Amp Room along with a big release party. The debut party was a big hit. I knew I had a lot of mortal fans, but I didn’t know I had so many scion fans! Of course, all my friends got special VIP invitations, and most of them made it, even Ray! (I would have been offended if he hadn’t come). T-Bone wasn’t there, though. I suppose getting him to both the wedding and the debut was too much to ask. Dahlia was pretty pissed off that he didn’t come to see her perform at the big event, though. I think their relationship, which seemed to be going so well at the wedding, suffered a big setback. >_< But Adam, Ray, Elisa, and Pierre showed up, as did Storm, Cesar, Carina, Maneki, Cathy, and Sam. Jacob didn’t come, but he did send a huge bouquet of yellow roses and black baccara to wish me well. Miyako even came! She hates me, so I didn’t expect her to show up, but I have a feeling that Cathy cajoled her into it. Even if all she did was sit glumly in a corner booth and stare with derision at the other club-goers, it was still nice to see her there. A rather charming, if mischievous friend of Pierre's named Saltmarsh Andy was there too. He told wonderful stories, but I got the feeling they were as much fiction as fact. Still, I think Emilie would like him.
I had a wonderful time. But now I think I need to get away from everything for awhile. It’s time I retired to my estate with Echo and just relaxed with her and Rose for awhile. So if you don’t hear from me again for awhile, rest assured that I’m just enjoying some time alone with my family. ^___^