The Sleepers Awake

Severus noticed it even more now. As he never failed to be touched by it, he could only imagine what his uncle must be thinking.

"Mais oui, yes it is," said Uncle Julian as he replied in a mixture of English and French. "How can I help you?"

He was clearly intrigued about the mademoiselle with the lovely speaking voice. What could she want with me, he was thinking. Her voice sounded very familiar, but taken as he was by the shock of the moment he did not place it.

"I am a friend of your nephew's...I am your nephew's partner - Severus," she replied.

Severus was looking quite pale - which was saying something with the tan he had. Erszhebet leaned in close to him on the sofa and held him as she spoke. He was trembling slightly.

"Sir, I am from Paris myself and Severus is here with me. I understand that it has been quite some time since you last spoke or saw each other," continued Erszhebet, her voice raising slightly in the end as if asking a question.

Severus held onto her tightly and watched her as she spoke.

"Yes, that's right," said Uncle Julian quietly. He thought to himself for a moment. He was shocked that Severus actually had a girlfriend. Julian used to despair that Severus' unpleasant ways would condemn him to a lonely, empty life. This was most remarkable indeed. He wondered what kind of woman had warmed the cockles of his nephew's icy heart.

A pause.

"How is he? How is Severus doing? Is everything alright? He isn't hurt is he?" asked Uncle Julian sounding worried. He was worried Erszhebet had bad news for him. It would not have surprised him.

"Oh, he is fine actually. Don't worry. He is here with me in Paris at the moment," replied Erszhebet. "We have only been here for a few days, not very long."

"That's good to hear," said Uncle Julian as he let out a sigh. He sounded really relieved.

Lord knows what he had been expecting as a reply, thought Erszhebet fleetingly. She thought about scanning him through the phone and then decided that would be inappropriate. Aunt Livia might but she was not Aunt Livia.

"Sir, Severus would like to see you," said Erszhebet. "It's been so long - he was not sure if you would even want to be bothered if I can be honest with you. That is why I am speaking with you. It has been too long, but he does want to see you; to make up for lost time so to speak."

"I understand; I would love to see him," said Uncle Julian warmly. "I have missed him and never a day goes by when I have not thought of him. I have not seen him since he was a young man."

Severus let out his breath quietly as if he had been holding it in and blinked rapidly.

"I live not too far from you; Severus tells me you live in the Marais," said Erszhebet. She explained that she lived on the Île St-Louis and gave him her address and phone numbers for home and the mobile.

"Ohhh," said Uncle Julian witha contented sigh. "My most favourite place in the whole of Paris. I know exactly where you are my dear."

"Well, we can come to you or you can come to us," said Erszhebet with a smile. Her smile went through the phone to the kind gentleman at the end other end.

"How about if I come to see you first," suggested Uncle Julian. "I would love to see my nephew and see the Île again. I can't get there often enough to be honest."

"Fantastic," replied Erszhebet. "How about today for lunch and then we can take it from there?"

"Cool beans," said Uncle Julian.

Erszhebet laughed. That was a peculiar expression she often used herself - it was quite an American expression, although extremely rare and the French did not have an equivalent. Uncle Julian was definitely of the Beat Generation.

"Ahhh you are a fan of Mr. Kerouac," laughed Erszhebet. "So am I."

"Really?" asked Uncle Julian. She was too good to be true.

The two then had a 10-minute conversation about Jack Kerouac and the Beats in enthusiastic rapid-fire French. Some of it was quite funny and they had a good hearty laugh.

Uncle Julian was enchanted with the lovely mademoiselle. He wondered to himself what she looked like with such a voice and cultural interests. His nephew did have a good brain himself so of course any woman he would be interested in would have to as well to get on with him.

Severus looked amazed and then annoyed with Erszhebets chumminess with his uncle.

Erszhebet caught the frustrated expression on her partners face and came to her senses.

"I am sorry, Sir, but I must go," said Erszhebet. "There are a few things to do before we see you."

"Ahhh well, I understand," said Uncle Julian. He was disappointed. He could have spoken to her for hours if it were possible. "And please, none of this Sir business. Makes me feel old."

Erszhebet laughed. "Like you have one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel," she said.

Uncle Julian roared. He had a wonderful rich laugh that just warmed you to the heart. "That is quite a unique way of putting it my dear. But yes, it suits me just fine. I look forward to seeing my nephew and meeting you." Yes, he thought, he was definitely looking forward to this.

"Cool beans," said Erszhebet with a smile. "Would 1:00 suit you?"

"Wicked," said Uncle Julian with a laugh. "Outie 5000; I've got to bust a few moves myself!"

It was Erszhebets turn to crack up. Oh she was going to like him a lot, she thought, she could tell. The man was into Hip-Hop culture as well it seemed.

"Are you a fan of Snoop?" asked Erszhebet as a joke.

"And Eminem, 2Pac, Biggie, Slick Rick, all the old school Macdaddys," said Uncle Julian. "Its all good knowhutAhmsayin?" He did a few bars of 'The Message' and then 'White Lines'.

Erszhebet cracked up. She had a rich laugh that came from the soul and it touched Uncle Julian and made him feel - alive. "Something else that we have in common. Please tell me you love the Beastie Boys. 'Intergalactic'."

"Da bomb, wicked joint; All-lat and well Phat," laughed Uncle Julian as he then rapped a few bars. He was really enjoying himself with her.

Erszhebet started rapping back and before they knew it they had done the whole thing including sound effects. The two of them lughed uproariously at the whole thing. They had the Beasties New Yawk Accents down to a 'T'.

Severus couldn't believe it. What the hell was it that they were doing? He could not understand a word of it. To him it sounded like two kneazles in a fight. He felt completely left out.

"Oooh Big Up my man!" said Erszhebet laughing so hard she almost wet herself. "Check dis West Side homie! Latas"

"Peace out, Boo, Aiiiiiii!" said Uncle Julian as he laughed. He actually flipped some gang signals at the other end and Erszhebet saw them fleetingly before he hung up the phone. Her powers, ever-evolving, made it possible to see this curious site as she gave in to temptation. She had not managed to catch a glimpse of anything other than his hands. He did not have the hands of someone who was old enough to be her father, she thought fleetingly.

Erszhebet laughed out loud and fell back on the sofa after she had hung up the phone.

Severus wondered what the hell was so funny.

[[[]]]

"Ohhhh Severus, he is BRILLIANT!!!" said Erszhebet enthusiastically. "I can't wait to meet him!"

"So I noticed," said Severus, his face a stony mask. "What was that all about?"

Severus was regretting the whole bloody thing/font>

"What?" asked Erszhebet, perplexed.

"All of that bloody carrying on...," hissed Severus with scowl.

Erszhebet looked at him like he was from another planet. He was being very unreasonable and unpleasant.

"What is the problem, Severus?" said Erszhebet. "You were the one who said that you wanted me to phone; you were the one who said that your uncle would love me. We got on all right - why does that have to be a problem? It just happened...you heard."

Severus did not answer.

Erszhebets eyes narrowed at him.

"I am sorry if it offends you that we actually get along...I will make sure I am rude to him so that he hates me. Feel better?"

Erszhebet got up and stormed up to the bedroom and slammed the door shut. Severus' pissiness was pissing her off.

"Oh fuck," Severus hissed to himself under his breath. "Once an asshole always an asshole," said the dark little voice inside him. "Jealous aren't you Sev."

"Damn it," said Severus as he buried the annoying little voice yet again.

He sprinted upstairs and tried to open the door, but found that he couldn't. Erszhebet had locked it.

Severus banged on the door.

"Come on Severina, open the door."

Silence.

'Merlin's Beard,' he thought. 'She is really upset'. They had been so happy these past few days and now it was all ruined.

"Severina - open the door. We can't talk like this..."

Silence.

"All right, if you want to play it that way," he snarled.

Severus whipped out his wand. "Alohomora," he said.

No click.

He tried a few lethal hexes and the door remained shut and unharmed.

Severus tried the handle again and yet again. The door still would not budge.

He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. Wizarding ways were not going to work, that was obvious. Some old fashioned begging and pleading might work for some people but not for him.

"Damn it Severina, this foolishness has to stop," said Severus. Merlin's Beard, that was not the right thing to say either.

Silence.

"I am sorry - please open the door so that I can talk to you," said Severus. "I was wrong and I am sorry." So much for not grovelling or begging. Thank God no one else was here to witness this.

Click

Severus did not need to open the door; it opened for him. He stepped through the doorway. Erszhebet was lying across the bed face down with her head in her folded arms. This was yet another development - she had unlocked and opened the door without even looking at it and not moved from the bed. Which also meant that she had locked it and kept it locked using her power.

Erszhebet still did not move in the slightest; not so much as to even turn her head to look at him.

Severus could not stand this from her. It hurt. His stomach was twisted in knots. He walked over the bed and stretched out next to her.

She moved away from him.

"Severina, don't be like this. Please talk to me," said Severus.

He was really sorry now. He reached out to touch her and saw her flinch. That really got him where it hurt. He could understand it if it were the people who had abused her, but not him.

Silence.

"It was wrong of me; I don't know why I reacted like that," said Severus.

"Because you are too fucking insecure and jealous," came the answer as Erszhebet turned on her side facing away from him. She still refused to look at him.

Severus blinked rapidly. It sounded horrible coming from the woman he loved. "I am struggling, Severina, you know that," said Severus. "You are my first girlfriend and this is the first real relationship I have ever had."

Erszhebet was surprised at these revelations and turned over to face him. She just looked at Severus incredulously with her mouth slightly open and waited for him to speak.

Severus looked at her and sucked in his breath sharply. She had not been crying but she was angry. She was angry and her eyes took an almost deep green hue with flashes amber and gold. He noticed something else. Her fringe was off her face and Erszhebet now had a widow's peak and her dark hair had hints of gold and auburn.

Severus sprinted to the dressing table, picked up a hand mirror and brought it back. Erszhebet still did not move and he held it up in front of her.

Erszhebet gasped at the sight of herself, especially her eyes and the widow's peak.

"This is mad," she said. "Too motherfucking mad!!"

"There is a lot that you do not know about your kind," said Severus. "This is least of it."

Erszhebet raised a hand towards her eyes.

They were now the palest sky blue with hints of a rich deep blue, gold and silver. She was calming down.

"Your eyes, the way they change - unless you can learn to control that they will always be the first thing that gives you away in the Wizarding world," he said.

"Severus, what I am I going to do?" asked Erszhebet. "They will give me away in this world too." She was clearly in a panic.

Severus put his arms around her and rubbed her back. It was incredible how she had taken on the characteristics of the Bathorys just through a change in her emotions. Strong emotions must have accelerated the transformative process Erszhebet was undergoing. And Severus was the one who was responsible for it. Mentally he cursed himself.

Whatever Severus had been ready to admit about his romantic immaturity was momentarily forgotten.

Erszhebet wrapped her arms around Severus. "Hold me," she said. There were no tears and she was not asking. She was telling him what she wanted, very straightforward, no holding back.

Severus let his mask slip slightly. It was such a departure for him that anyone would want a cuddle from him and also demand it. However, Erszhebet was not just anyone and he gave her what she wanted. He did not mind it, not in the slightest.

Severus was in awe at the changes taking place within her to the core of her being. It was one thing to have read about these things in books, and quite another to witness them first-hand. Despite these changes she was still essentially the same in personality and temperament. Erszhebet still had the qualities which he loved her for.

After some moments Severus spoke again.

"I am sorry about what happened downstairs," he said softly.

Erszhebet sighed and rubbed her eyes.

"Severus, I know that you are still adjusting to all of the chaos; so am I and I think you are fogetting that," said Erszhebet. "But you have to understand. There are bound to be other people who find me interesting as I might them. It does not mean anything that we get on except that we...get on.

And if it does; at the end of the day it is you that I am with. It is you who shares my bed and that I want to make love to. It is you that I want to share my life with and that I want to be with. You are the man I come home to every night.

Your uncle and I clicked - you yourself said that we would. He seems to have embraced the Mugissant world and probably does not get the chance to explore it very much with very many people, much less someone who has lived in it the way I do. Although he does not know that about me yet - that or anything else. Anyway, I know what the majority of Wizards are like about us...your uncle is quite exceptional in his interests as you yourself indicated. But this; it was just a telephone call."

Erszhebet trailed off. She was not a Mugissant no matter how much she identified with it. She wasn't of the Wizarding world either. She was in some strange universe that was unique to her people. Her people - whoever they were. There was a whole part of her life based in Eastern Europe that she knew nothing about. Transylvania - how weirder could it get?

Severus looked her and nodded. It was true, no matter what he was the one whom Erszhebet loved. No one else could take that away. But he was a man with many insecurities and complexities and it was always these things that took over.

"I could hear it in his voice," said Severus stonily. "I could feel it. He is fascinated with you already."

"And what if he is, Severus?" asked Erszhebet. No matter what, Severus did have a valid point. Even Erszhebet herself knew the Julian was as interested to spend time with her as he was his nephew based on that one exchange. "Your uncle is not going to make a play for me - he strikes me as an honourable man in the same way that you are. It would seriously compromise his ethics and his reconciliation with you to do such a thing even if an attraction developed. You obviously do not trust me. Hopefully one day you will trust me enough to not let any one else's interest in me bother you. If we can't trust each other then we are doomed."

Silence, but Erszhebet could see that Severus was listening to her and considering every word.

"Severus, it has been some years since you have seen him. You have more important things to be concerned about than whether or not your uncle might develop any sort of interest beyond friendship in me. Don't create problems where there aren't any. It won't do any of us any good, least of all yourself," said Erszhebet wisely.

"Considering what you have told me about yourself before we met he is no doubt fascinated as to what sort of woman is it that has captured the malevolent heart of the 'Greasy Git of Hogwarts'. Did that ever occur to you? No, it didn't. Attraction can be sex, but it can also be many other things, Severus. Things that are more intellectual than physical or emotional."

Severus ran a hand absently through his hair. Erszhebet was right of course. He had been a right fool; a total prat and right git. Erszhebet set him straight. She was coming into her full powers and was, like her Aunt Livia, not someone to mess with.

"I do trust you, Severina," said Severus. "It's nothing to do with you. It's me."

Silence.

"Are we ok, Severina?" asked Severus? "Are things alright between us?"

Erszhebet looked at him incredulously. And then her countenance changed in a way that Severus had not seen before. Her eyes literally flashed. This was yet again something new.

"Of course they are," she said sensuously as she rolled over onto her back and parted her short red silk kimono with the dragon on the back and then her long legs. "Although you are quite a challenge Professor Snape. Being with you is quite an interesting challenge. Make me yours then if it so pleases you..." Spoken like one of her kind as she stroked the wetness between her legs and proceeded to pleasure herself. It could have been Livia in front of him rather than the woman he loved.

The gauntlet was thrown.

Not once had Erszhebet broken eye contact and the magnitude of the challenge within this most private of interludes rocked Severus to his innermost depths.

Before he even had a chance to think about it, Severus has yanked her hand away and was fucking her like he owned her and Erszhebet gave it right back to him. Thrust for thrust. Scratch for scratch. Stroke for stroke. Bite for bite. Even their tongues were doing battle. This was not about love or romance or even a power play for dominance. This was raw undiluted sexuality and it took their relationship to a new level as Erszhebet fully claimed and used the power within her to claim what was hers as Severus did likewise.

Severus dared to look into Erszhebet's eyes. They were now a shocking deep dark red with flecks of bright amber and gold and they shone brightly. Gods, how beautiful they were but also frightenin at the same time.

He closed his eyes against her formidable power, but need not have bothered. Erszhebet could get to the core of his soul without needing eye contact and without him being aware of it. 'You are mine,' he was thinking. 'You are mine and I will damned if anyone else knows you like this'.

Severus was given in totally to the raw heat that engulfed them both and he could not stop. It was frenzied, hard and exquisitely passionate. There was a tremendous release as he let go in the heat of his own orgasm.

Even Severus would have had to admit that he felt much better afterwards. But he was somewhat taken aback by what had just happened. He needed time to really take in all of these drastic changes and why he felt so possessive and threatened by the thought of anyone else being attracted to Erszhebet. If he didn't get it sorted out it would undermine their relationship and he did not want that.

Severus stole several glances at Erszhebet as she sat at her dressing table and made herself up. He marveled at how much her eyes had changed yet again and how she owned her power and what she was now body and soul although mentally she had some way to go before really understanding it all.

But it would always be Erszhebet's eyes that would haunt Severus and sometimes overwhelm him until the moment they took what was thought to be their last breath together on this earth.

Erszhebets eyes would now forever after remain a bright amber, but with hints of deep red, green and gold.

The truest mark of the most powerful of her kind.

The truest mark of the revered and much feared Bathorys.

[[[]]]

By the time all was said and done it was 11:00am and they were running late. They would not have much time to get the shopping done and the lunch prepared. Severus and Erszhebet rushed amongst the window-shopping throngs crowding Rue St-Louis-en-l'Île.

"Damn tourists," muttered Erszhebet under her breath once they returned home. Like most people anywhere else in the world she could do without so many strangers crowding the streets of the city where she lived. She had no patience for them when she was in a mad rush.

They were having lunch on their roof terrace since it was such a lovely day out. There was a slight breeze so it wouldnot be too hot. The canopy was pulled out to block the sun overhead. It pulled out from the spacious glass room that led out onto the terrace. The room at the very top of the house was one of the few concessions to modernity in the otherwise aristocratic flat.

There was lamb with mint sauce, rotisserie chicken, baby new potatoes, a savoury rice and vegetable medley, pasta salad, spiced runner beans with a hint of garlic and onion, bouillabaisse and sliced hot bread fresh from the boulangerie.

For dessert there was a simple Apple Tarte au Tatin with lashings of Crème Fraîche, Apple and Lemon Sorbets and the world famous Apple brandy Calvados from Normandy. Along with this was the obligatory strong French coffee and herbal tea.

The table was set and the hot food arranged on their portable warmers at five minutes to one.

At 1:00pm exactly the doorbell rang.

[[[]]]

Severus hesitated.

"Do you want me to get that?" Erszhebet asked him.

There was only the slightest hint of a nod as Severus indicated 'Yes'. Their earlier disagreement was best put behind them.

Erszhebet started to go down to answer the door while Severus waited on the roof terrace trying not to fidget. Severus changed his mind and caught up to her.

"I will answer the door; it's cowardly to hide away up here," said Severus. "I can't leave it to you to do everything for me."

"He is genuinely looking forward to seeing you Severus, you will be fine you'll see," said Erszhebet with a smile. "And it's not a problem. I will always do what I can for the man I love."

Severus gave Erszhebet a gentle kiss.

"I am grateful that you do, Miss Bathory," he said before racing down to get the door.

[[[]]]

Julian de la Montagne Ste-Geneviève had taken extra care with his appearance. That was saying something for himas usually he was nothing less than immaculate anyway. He may be 63 years old, but he did not look it at all. He looked like a man in his 40's.

Julian's long wavy hair fell just past his shoulders and was a rich lustrous russet brown that had highlights of gold and red from the summer sun. There were the odd strands of silvery gray here and there, but nothing too obvious. His large eyes were a rich toffee brown with a hint of green to them. He had taken good care of his body and at 6'2" was fit and trim. He was not delicate as his sister Séverine had been. The women in their family tended to be a bit on the delicate side, even if they were tall. Séverine had been rather petit, taking after their mother.

Even his skin did not show his age. He was a fan of Mugissant alternative remedies such as aromatherapy and homeopathy. He practiced Hatha and Ashtanga Yoga and did indulge in Buddhist Meditation at the Buddhist Centre. Julian was also not above having the odd massage at Bliss either now and then when he could get to London or New York City.

In spite of what most Mugissants thought such practices did work and were magical in their own way. He tried to take good care of himself as good magical practice required a sound body and an equally sound mind, he believed.

Julian was also a fan of Chinese Martial Arts and had gone to China to study Shaolin Kung Fu at the Shaolin Monastery. It had taken years, but was one of the few Westerners to have become a Master. He was able to keep it up with one of the oldest and most revered of all the Chinese Masters, Master Lee Tang Wu. It kept Julian in great shape and his mind and reflexes were razor sharp.

Severus' uncle was in better standing than men half his age. Given that Wizards and Witches led very long lives that was saying something. It was a rather formidable achievement.

Julian was dressed immaculately in dark blue tailored Gautier pants and a white shirt whose sleeves were rolled up exposing strong lightly tanned arms. Instead of a jacket he wore a dark blue and white argyle-styled sweater laced with dark red and gray tied around his shoulders. The rich blue of his garments suited him and he was strikingly handsome in his French couture.

He had a jet black Prada carrying case in one hand and wore gleaming black Prada boots. Like Erszhebet he too appreciated the finer things that life had to offer. It was easy to be that way when one could afford it. In the other he carried a large bouquet of rare orchids from the best florist in the whole of Paris.

Julian de la Montagne Ste-Geneviève was the epitome of laid back Parisian chic and a true gentleman.

It was a beautiful day to be walking to the Île St-Louis. Julian was quite intrigued by the young woman on the telephone. It had been many years since his wife Hélène had died and despite the odd short-lived involvement here and there, no one had ever captured his imagination from the outset since Hélène. No one except for a French artiste whom he adored and almost worshipped from afar with every breath in his body. Now this woman, she was the stuff of which his dreams were made of.

Besides, there were not many in the Wizarding world who shared his Mugissant interests. Especially his own peculiar Mugissant interests. Sharing his interests would have been a very necessary requirement.

His mind wandered to that sensuous voice from the telephone and he replayed the conversation in his mind as he walked. What had happened to his nephew to have brought a woman, such a fine woman into his life, he wondered. It was most curious indeed.

Julian was now crossing the Pont Marie and he could see Erszhebet's impressive house in the distance. He realised in that moment that he had not even know the young woman's name. If he had then he most certainly would not have waited until lunch. He would not have been able to.

Julian de la Montagne Ste-Geneviève was Severina's biggest fan and had followed her career closely ever since seeing her when she made her debut at the age of 16 in a club in the 14ème of Montparnasse singing lead in a band. He adored and almost worshipped her from afar with every breath in his body.

At long last he was going to meet the only woman, save his late wife, who had captured his imagination. The two milieus were about to become one.

How ironic that Julian not only did not know he was about to meet her, but that the woman of his dreams was his nephews intended.

It would come to pass that Severus may have been right to be insecure after all.