Chapter Text
Miranda felt the moment her consciousness slammed back into her body. The need to cough was so strong but there was a weight on top of her she clawed at it. It was soil, she kept clawing, digging and gagging until she was able to pull herself out of the shallow grave. She violently cleared her lungs and took a deep breath she didn't even need out of reflex. Her throat burned as her mind swirled with questions. “what happened? Where am I? Why do I feel like I drowned?
We actually starved
What!! How long was I out! Where are the girls? Are they ok?
I can't answer all your questions, I was in and out myself. Time is fuzzy, but I remember Cruella being there. She held us as we grieved, whispering the sweetest things. I can't remember the words, just the feelings that flooded our connection. My best guess is that we've been out of the count for 7 or 8 days.
Ella helped me, why, she hates me for leaving all those years ago.
Fire raced along Miranda's connection. It was seduction at its core, jovial sparkes on the edge of a fire flickering, calling her to its warmth. Miriam locked on to it and a song filled Miranda's mind
🎶I'm giving you full permission
Love it when you're in control
You got us switching positions
Climb up on top, I let go, I'm rocking
Grip on my hip and my wrist, no stopping
I wanna ride, you come in, you hop in
We're locked in
The song continued as visions of Andrea dancing filled her mind. The young brunette was calling her through their connection. When did it get so strong? Miranda's body was hot, flames licked at her soul the closer she got. She had no idea where she was going but Miriam followed the pull through the maze. Miranda watched as Andrea's fingers ran through her hair. How? When had Andrea learned how to use their connection? If the younger woman knew how to use it, it would be next to impossible to hide anything from the woman. Andrea will learn how very unprofessional her mind can be and Miranda can't have that. Her professionalism is the only thing keeping the life she built from changing drastically!
Miranda approached the large double doors of what looked to be a library when her eyes fell on Andrea in Cruella's arms. They were leaning in. The gasp that ripped out of her was to expel the pain. Why would Andrea call her here to see this? Why would she hold Cruella so close? Why would Cruella allow it. Miranda's eyes stung with unshed tears. No, whatever this is, I want no part of it.
With vampiric speed Miranda turned and ran. She had to get out of there, out of Cruella's domain of pain and chaos. Never again will she allow Miriam to bring her here.
Miranda! Stop! You can't run from me, from us! Cruella yelled in her mind.
Miranda dodged a door that swung open, barely missing her. Crullea was there and she was just as fast.
If you just stop and listen to me I can show you everything! Cruella pleaded.
Miriam stopped Miranda abruptly. One thing Miriam hated the most is not knowing all of the facts. Maybe they were being rash? Miranda has a long history of hurt, maybe that's all she can see now. Miranda fought for control of her body. They were both stronger now that they were properly fed but Miriam managed to win the internal struggle when Cruella's body collided with hers. Sending them toppling down as she shifted. The staff in that hallway quickly vanished. The sight of two giant vampires wrestling in the hallway was enough to know that whatever task was needed in that hallway was complete.
Miriam's curiosity to know what happened was being out matched by Miranda's furry. She snarled as Crullea in her vampire form pinned her to the ground. Her back against cold marble as she yelled. “ I told you to leave her be!”
I did!
Your tongue two seconds from being down her throat says otherwise.
Miriam was being consumed by Miranda's rage, the view of Cruella about to kiss Andrea replayed in her mind on a loop. Her precious Andrea! She flipped them over and sat pinning Cruella. The stone below cracking under the force. Her fangs bared, eyes red, and clawed hand around the younger vampire's neck while the other pinned Cruella's hands above her head.
Ok, I had a moment of weakness, she called me Miranda using our connection. Hell she called you too and that was strong enough to pull your ass out of the grave! She's so strong and learning more each day for you! She wants to be her best not only for herself but for you Miranda! Not me, you!
The younger vamp's words were barely getting through to the older until Miriam squeezed Cruella's neck and the resulting moan sliced through the air and arousal trickled through their connection stunning the Elder of the two with memories from the past. Cruella closed her eyes looking to the side, refusing to give Miranda the satisfaction of seeing her embarrassment. That wasn't supposed to happen, none of this. Cruella spoke again.
Look, I can show you faster than tell you but that would require more bandwidth than our connection can handle in its current state. I did as you asked. I gave her the tools needed to better assist you in the life you two now share. I know Miranda won't believe me unless I show it all. I have nothing to hide but she has to be the one to resurrect our connection to its former state. She won't be able to hide from me.
Miranda was conflicted, she didn't want Cruella that deep inside her mind again. Miranda shutting out Cruella is how she earned the Ice Queen moniker. Closing herself off to everything, even remotely resembling feelings and emotions. Cruella was just the latest in a very long list of hurt, no that list started with her very first husband. Miranda fought the memory but lost as she stood once again in their small wooden cabin.
[Stephen, trying to shield another woman's nakedness in their home no more than ten days after her death. "I don't understand, Miriam. I saw you die.”
"Watched me die. You watched me die and you did nothing. Isn't that what you meant? You ran and hid and I tried to protect our kids. I saw you in the nook of the tree watching as I was shot repeatedly and left to bleed out on the ground. Where are my kids Stephen!”
I sent them away! Stephen trembled under Miriam's scrutiny.
“Where?” Miranda's voice was low as her rage boiled over.
“London!” Stephen whimpered in fear as Miranda's blue eyes were swallowed by red.
“Miss, Stephen here is being a little too vague for my liking and I need answers. You have three seconds to get out of my house. That is all.”
The woman didn’t even grab her clothes, just ripped the sheet out of Stephen's hands and ran as Miranda began to shift. Her vampire form was new at the time and she fumbled with the length of her new body but she got the answers she needed and never looked back at her home now painted red.]
Miranda’s mind was like an old spool of film showing all of her past pain as if she needed the remainder of what's at risk.
["Let's go back to the way it was, yeah? We could pretend this never happened.”
Miriam’s heart spasmed in her chest at her lover's words. This one promised to love her no matter what she was but in the end it was too much. “When you say ‘this’ you mean ‘US’ correct?”
The woman looked away, guilt and shame etched into her body language. Miriam slipped out of bed and dressed. She refused to be with someone who couldn't accept their true self. Miriam was a woman who loved women. This was her third lifetime, she was past the point of feeling guilty about it. She slipped away into the night.]
“Enough!” Miranda chanted in her mind as the memories flooded in.
[Miriam snuck into a town hall meeting about an upcoming vampire hunt she overheard some men talking about earlier in the week. “Stab the body and it heals, but injure the heart and the wound lasts a lifetime. We might not be able to kill them but we can make them weak.” Miriam peaked over the second story balcony as she recognized the voice. There was Cecilia sharing secrets learned during pillow talk and blissful moments after. To the outside world they were spinsters that lived above the hat shop in the center of town. Inside their beautiful home they were lovers, it took so long for Miriam to even think about a spouse but Cecilia was bold and knew what she wanted. She wanted Miriam but now Miriam knew she just wanted her dead. She snuck back out and never returned.]
Miranda squeezed her eyes closed trying to shut out the cycle of pain that is hope, rejection, heartbreak, frustration in this eternal dance. Miranda lost count of the lifetimes she's lived, of the happy-ever-afters she thought she found, she was done with it all. She had her precious girls and that's all she needed.
She learned to find a balance emotionally for her girls even if the first few years were rocky. Cara helped more than was required of her job because she saw Miranda trying her best. “Letting Cruella back in would negate all of our struggle”
Maybe, maybe not. What I do know is that I don't want to go back to the way it was before. Alone trapped in your mind. We don't have to be alone. I don't have to be alone. I want to be with Cruella, always have. You do too, but it wouldn't work back then, so you locked me away along with the thoughts and memories of her. Things might be different now, it's been over a hundred years, Miranda. We have more control, more power to wield, if you don't want her to know you want her fine, hide that away as deep as you want. At least let me have her beautiful mind.
Miranda let out a long sigh and stopped fighting herself just enough for Miriam to revitalize their connection. Miriam leaned down, the rage faded, and she swept a curl, loose from their scuffle, away from Cruella's eyes. The younger vampire refused to look at her as the flush slowly receded from the pale side of her body. Cruella would definitely still be feeling Andrea's call especially without a proper outlet but that's something the younger vampire will have to deal with later. Now Miriam and Miranda needed to see what all they missed. Turning Cruella to face her, Miriam laid her forehead against hers.
Show me, I want to see it all
So Cruella did. Two vampires laying in the middle of a hallway, two sets of blood red eyes stared deep into each other's past and present. Miranda watched from Cruella's view as she took care of them during their breakdown. Felt her worry, panic, and concern when she wouldn’t drink afterwards. They saw Cruella's day by day controlling her domain. The long meetings and even longer days. Cruella did keep her distance, but Andrea, her beautiful Andrea, noticed the woman withdraw. Andrea would start coming by to visit Cruella throughout the day, bringing her food from the kitchen. Or to tell a story about the guests taking shelter in the castle. Then they watched Cruella show Andrea the library. Felt the younger vampire's joy and pride at being able to give the space to her. The happiness and subsequent panic as Andrea scratched behind her ears and petted her. Andrea didn't know it but that was something Cruella absolutely loved for Miranda to do back when they were together. The flash bang of memories shocked Cruella and she quickly fled back, not to her work, but to Miranda. Buried in the ground more or less unconscious. They listened to Cruella's retelling of the past but with the full brunt of the woman's emotions behind it.
They watched Andrea chip away at every wall Cruella put up. Cruella, not being as practiced in the art of building walls, succumbed one afternoon when Andrea had a question about something she read in the library. They talked for hours, thought hopping from one subject to another. They ended up spending lunch together to go over more things that Andrea learned. Cruella remained professional even when the subject turned to Miranda herself but she could feel the unwavering love Cruella had with every story. Lunches turned to dinners, dinner turned to late night vent sessions as Andrea learned what Miranda had to deal with as the driving force behind Runway's progress and Cruella shared in her plight. The late nights turned to dancing under the stars and walking in the moonlight. Then Andrea called Cruella, she sat frozen in her office as her soul burned. As liquid fire raced in her veins and arousal pooled inside her. It had been too long, too many years had passed since a soulmate had called to her and her body wanted to answer. Her fangs itched to sink into the brunette's supple neck as she rode her fingers. Instead Cruella danced as she ached. Desire thrummed through her but she blocked most of it from reaching Andrea. Choosing to flirt back instead.
Miriam climbed off Cruella and sat in a sloppy attempt at a dignified position on the floor. Miriam and Miranda were at a loss of words but for very different reasons. Cruella was in the process of getting up when Andy flew past her and wrapped her arms around Miriam.
“Miriam! Miranda! You're alive! Well not alive but you get what I mean.” Andy fought back tears and quickly backed away as she remembered who she was hugging and the strictly professional nature of their relationship. “Sorry.” Andy cleared her throat and started straightening her own outfit. A cerulean blouse with black and white slacks. Cruella stood. “I'll leave you two alone.” and with that a door at the opposite end of the hallway opened and closed and Cruella was gone.
Turning back to Miriam. “Can I speak to Miranda please.” Miriam nodded then shifted, she needed some time to think anyway. “Welcome back Miranda. If you would like, it is almost time for your girls to FaceTime me, I'm sure they will be thrilled to see you up and about!” Andrea held out her hand for Miranda to grab and pull herself up. Andrea gasped as electricity raced through their laced fingers. Miranda ignored it and followed the young woman back to her makeshift office in the library.
Andy set Miranda up and as they waited for the girls to join the call Andrea stated. “I've been staying in Cruella's bedroom while she stays in the suit attached to her office. I quite like the Library and can sleep here. I have a lot more research to get through anyway. You can stay if you want or you can take Cruella's room after your call.”
The girls joined the call and they exchanged quick pleasantries with Andy before bombarding their mother with questions. Miranda shook off her stupor as she fielded their questions. Andy snuck away to find a place to rest for the night.
~°~
Cruella just made it to the suite attached to her office when the sweats kicked in. She stripped and climbed into her large four clawed bathtub determined to just ignore the need roiling inside her. She sat knees curled up to her chest and arms wrapped around them as the tub filled with cool water. It helped a bit but it wasn't enough. The fire consumed Cruella again and she longed for the days when Miranda would help. She always knew what Cruella needed. The younger vampire slipped under the water and grasped at the cool sensations of the liquid swirling around her as she thought back to the weight of Miriam on top of her. The sweet sting of claws around her neck. Her hips jerked upward in the water sloshing it over the sides. If she really thought about it she could almost feel the older vampire's claws on her skin. Feel her blood leak out in their wake. Her whispered desires in her ears. Cruella sat up quickly. No, she can't think of the past, she'll never survive her present. Standing Cruella exited the bathroom grabbing a towel on the way out, she focused on drying herself ignoring the waves of desire she knew would only get worse.
She laid in bed and curled her nude form around her pillow and cried. It wasn't fair! She could still see Andy in her head dancing, every move was confidence and charm. The song was an invitation, a pass to partake, to claim, but Cruella knew it would hurt Miranda if she did. How had Andy known how to do it but not the true extent of the effects it would have on her. Did she know? She couldn't have, she wouldn’t purposely hurt her this way. Claws shredded the pillow as she humped against it searching for relief she knew she would never get. She just had to ride it out. She threw the ruined pillow across the room as she shifted to her hands and knees. She wanted more, needed more, her inner vampire wailed in frustration and pain as thunder clapped and lightning struck the castle over and over again. She was going mad as she rode her own fingers chasing that sweet moment of bliss just for it to stay just out of reach. Cruella screamed into the mattress, it wasn't fair, to be blessed with two soulmates but suffer alone when she needed them the most. Hours had passed, wave upon waves crashed into her before Cruella mentally reached out to Miranda unaware in her hysterical state.
~°~
Miranda was furious as the castle rattled with Cruella's internal struggle. The storm blew in fast and hard. She had just managed to get back to Cruella's bedroom after her video call with the girls, when the sweats kicked in. Miranda had her own fight but being surrounded by Cruella's scent, of wet wood and damp earth soothed her ache enough for her to maintain her control. Cruella had no such assistance and so she agonizingly suffered. Miranda tossed and turned clutching at Cruella's sheets when she felt Cruella reach out to her for help. Miranda couldn't handle Cruella's emotional and physical turmoil. She didn't want to see the things Cruella's mind conjured up in her need and ran to the forest deep in her own mind. Miriam couldn't physically help Cruella, Miranda wouldn't let her, maintaining her ironclad control over her body. So Miriam reached out to mentally sooth her love as best she could. Whispering everything Cruella needed to hear, it wouldn't be enough but it would be something.
~°~
Andy knew she did something wrong when she didn't physically see Cruella for three whole days. Not once did the black and white haired woman respond to Andy in her mind. She began to really worry when she accompanied Miranda to a new photoshoot location and the tension and silence became too much. The privacy partition in the car was up and the driver was trusted by Cruella so it was safe to talk.
“Miranda, did I do something to upset Cruella and you by extension? I can't fix whatever it is if neither of you talk to me anymore.”
Miranda blinked slowly, thoughtfully before speaking but not looking at her. “Where did you learn to Call someone?”
“One of the books in the library said Soulmates enjoyed when their partners Called to them. A good partner should be mindful to Call the other often to maintain a strong connection. So I looked up how to do it, I want to be a good partner.”
“I see. Are you and Cruella partners?” Miranda tensed in her seat.
“We are Soulmates-”
“But are you together?” Miranda interrupted in a clipped tone.
“No.” Andy replied softly. She could read Miranda like a book and she knew she royally fucked up.
“Did the book tell you what happens to the person that is Called if the Caller doesn't take care of them?”
“Take care of them?” Andrea was confused.
“Yes! Take care of them.” Miranda repeated. Andy flinched in her seat as she leaned away from Miranda, shoulders touching the cool window. Miranda has never raised her voice in anger before to anyone, yet alone to her.
Andy's voice wavered as she answered. “No.”
Miranda spoke calmly but her eyes were red, this was Miriam speaking. “The sexual need it causes is like drowning in an ocean of water, you can see the surface. Your lungs burn, your body aches, but no matter what you do you'll never reach the surface. It requires your partner to pull you up to the surface. You walk across the desert for days and finally find a jug of water you won't be able to pick up, your partner has to give it to you. Do you understand what I'm saying?”
“For how long?” Andy asked in surprise and desperation. Had she really caused Cruella to suffer like that?
“6-12 hours for some, longer for others, it varies.” Miranda pinned her with blood red eyes.
“H-How long did she suffer?”
“Ten.”
“Oh my god, no, Miriam what do I do! How do I fix this?”
“You don't, give her time. Calling a soulmate isn't like a telephone call or a sexy way to get their attention. It's deeper than that. It's a call to deepen and strengthen the bond shared with vulnerability, intimacy, and usually through consummation. You provided none of that, it's a shock to the system. Cruella is strong though, she'll come back in time.”
“I don't understand, if it's so unbearable why didn't she reach out for help?”
Miranda couldn't, wouldn't, tell her the truth. It would only complicate the situation further and she desperately needed to get it under control. “To who? She's been alone, has been for decades.”
“To me? I caused this I would have-”
Miranda growled, it was low, and threatening.
“Or you! A fellow vampire would understand!”
“And rip open old wounds that haven't even yet to heal.” The omission slipped out from Miriam and Miranda wanted to scream.
Andy blinked slowly before settling back into her seat as the car pulled up to the curb outside the venue. The driver rushed to open Miranda’s door. Andy barely managed to get out “i’m sorry” before the door slammed in her face. Well it technically wasn't an audible slam but Andy could read the difference as she got out and raced to catch the older woman, notebook and pen in hand.
~°~
Andrea spent every waking moment not assisting Miranda with Runway duties hidden away in the library. Tucked away in hard to reach places. She couldn't bear running into Cruella now after what she had caused her. That fact that the vampire no longer communicated with her made her fear she ruined something beautiful before even knowing what she had. Staff dropped off her meals at the library doors and she would slink down from her hiding spot to eat before slipping back into the shadows.
Andy heard the library door open then closed. It wasn't dinner time so it had to be Miranda coming to ask her something. Peaking over the edge of the net platform she froze as she saw Cruella walking under the spot she was hiding.
Hey there, Little Bird, come join me for dinner. Don't let this beautiful place become your cage.
Andy left her hidden spot to stand next to Cruella. “I'm so sorry, Cruella! I didn-”
Cruella held up her hand to silence the younger woman. “All is forgiven. I'm aware you did not know about the full effects.” Cruella stepped up to Andy and cupped her check as she studied her face.
“You are learning so much and your will is so strong. It's a dangerous combination from someone so young. The way you learned something old as time and brought it into the modern era in such a unique way is a testament to that. I should have guided your studies but the past is the past. Until I request it of you, please do not send any music through our connection. There are not many things I fear in this way of life but I don't think I have the mental faculties to weather that again and I fear I might react negatively towards it or you.”
Andy held back tears at the pain she caused “I understand. I won't send any music and will always ask you or Miranda before I try something new.”
“Thank you. Now let's head down to the dining hall!”
Once they reach the dining space they met Miranda looking poised as ever. She had the digital version of the book on her tablet and was adding notes to the margins. Her glasses sat on the bridge of her nose and the chain dangled and clacked ever so softly against the silver bracelets on her wrists. She wore a slim black Prada dress with long black sleeves and a turtleneck. Her signature pearls rested against her covered collarbones. She was in her element, happy and content.
She’s so beautiful
“She’s so beautiful”
The two women mentally said simultaneously.
"Yes she is" Cruella led them into the room and Miranda looked up. Her eyes studied them before returning to the book with a tired sigh.
“Look at the beautiful creature I found haunting the bookshelves in the library” Cruella gestured to Andy. The brunette blush but sat across from Miranda.
Miranda turned off the tablet and shifted her focus to them. Her eyes soften briefly before walls built back up. “Good afternoon, Cruella, why are you disturbing my peace? You have a whole castle to play in and you come here. We don't even eat.”
“Ah, but our Little Bird here does! It's almost time for her dinner and I figured we'd save the staff the trip.” Cruella grinned and Miranda rolled her eyes before leaning back in her chair studying Andy.
“How are you Andrea, getting adequate sleep I hope?”
Andy had been flushed from the moment she sat down. Having these two women talk about her as if she wasn't there made it worse. Whenever these two share the same space sparks fly and if Andy is in the room with them she can feel the air vibrate. It's like a tingling sensation on the skin and a heady fog on the edges of Andy's mind. Promising all of the sweetest things if she just lets it in. Andy is afraid to do so though, it appeared after she strengthened her soulmate connection. She hasn't found out anything about it in any of the books she's read so far. She thought about asking Miranda but the fog feels sexual in nature and doesn't want to bring it up. Not unlike a teen asking the parents about sex, it'll be awkward and uncomfortable. Andy tried to clear her mind before speaking.
“Yes and no, I've been looking into the Bloodwine shortage and what could be causing it. I found out about a corporation called Umbrella.” Andrea straightened in her chair and started talking faster.
“The name only stuck out because during one of your meetings with Irv, before the elevator incident, he didn't know how to work the new system and shared his laptop screen by accident.”
Cruella mentally reached out to Miranda. Elevator Incident?
Miranda ignored her, attention solely on the brunette animatedly sharing her research. “Interesting” Cruella said to herself, wondering if Miranda never gave her precious Andrea enough wood to fully burn. Sure Andy was an extraordinary assistant but her journalistic powers were unmatched. The way she could find disconnected information, log, reconnect it accurately, and use it to form a plan was miraculous.
“It showed budgets and money transfers. A lot of which seemed to be going to a guy named Ethan Winters. I looked him up and he was employed by Umbrella until his wife and kid died. Umbrella has some sort of connection in the mountainous region of Eastern Europe. I know the winemaker Lady Dimitrescu lives in that area so I wonder if the three might be connected. Does Irv know you're a vampire and what the effects of you not getting any blood could do to you?”
Miranda was stunned, Andrea was doing it again, trying to fix a seemingly impossible problem. One that would greatly improve not only her life but Crullea's and all other vampires. It, yet again, shook at the foundation of Miranda's beliefs regarding humans and their willingness to help vs hunt vampires. With every crack, hope filled the space. The young woman has been at it for years, chipping away.
“Yes, he's a goblin, he is part of our supernatural world. He knows I'm a vampire but I don't think he understood or even cared what the consequences were. A lesser vampire, especially an elder, would have killed everyone in the building. The wine is special, more densely concentrated to sustain us. Sure some still like to partake of the human source but it's considered barbaric, too primal.”
The last word pinged around in Andy's mind and her eyes glazed over, earthy brown swallowed by a void of black. She imagined running and being cornered by Cruella just for Miranda to appear beside her. The two women held her pinned between them as they each sank their fangs in on either side of her neck. Andy's palms clutched her knees as she fought a moan and tried to clear her mind of the momentary lapse in focuse before the two noticed.
It was too late, Miranda continued onward obliviously, but Cruella's eyes pinned her to her seat. The smirk on her face told Andy that thought was not kept to herself. Shit. Andy panicked and interrupted Miranda “Is there a way we can go see Lady Dimitrescu and lend a hand? I read she hosts a vampire charity event every year around this time. Did either of you get invited to that?
Miranda pursed her lips at being interrupted and Andy quickly apologized as Cruella stood next to a seated Miranda and placed her hand gently on the woman's shoulder seeming out of habit to sooth the irritated woman as her eyes and focus never left Andy “Overly ambitious aren't we? Think you can handle being the only human in a castle full of vampires, you seem to be having some difficulty with just two.”
Andy blinked slowly, at the pair in front of her, the embodiment of power in all its forms. The fog pressed in. Fire licked at her veins and a want began to burn inside her as she watched Cruella start to pace like a predator stalking its prey. Andy confidently stated. “I'll be fine, I have the two of you at my side. Who would dare harm me at the expense of your wrath.”
Andy must have hit a button, Miranda growled and Cruella hissed “No One!” at the same time. The sheer amount of protective and possessiveness that came racing through their connection and into Andy rang her bell and arousal flooded her system causing her to bite her lip. She had to get out of there.
“Exactly, so it's settled, if either of you receives an invite we'll all go together. I need to get back to the library and prepare!” Andy quickly got up from the table, already forgetting about dinner, and rushed out of the room.
Cruella and Miranda were staring at the door the woman just exited out of when the younger of the two broke the silence. “I bet you two bottles of wine that she ran off to go fuck herself silly”