Chapter Text
The Quiet before the Tempest
Chapter 1
It was three days before Beltane and base was abuzz with preparations, even Raelle was getting excited for the sacred pagan holiday of debauchery that was Beltane, they would celebrate the festival in the face of all the uptight morally superior puritanical non believers who wanted to stop the ritual at all costs, preferably by exterminating all witches. Hatred for their kind all but drove the practice underground, but here on the haloed grounds of Fort Salem, Beltane was enjoyed in all it’s majestic beauty, chaos and lust.
Striding though base Tally was a sea of nerves, she had been trying to get ready for this ritual she knew very little about, she had been hounding her sisters for information; did you get a gift for your partner? Did the reel take into account where your heart lay? Was there a chance she could be partnered with a stranger or a man or both. Her sisters had not been much help, ‘Trust in the magic of the reel, of Beltane’, was all the information they gave, and to relax and enjoy. ‘this gives me nothing to go on… thanks a lot sisters.’
To add to her stress Sarah was off base, gone to Washington DC to meet with the President, congressional leaders and other more covert meetings for the last week, but thank the goddess she was due back later that day or early the next. Tally missed Sarah deep in her bones, she ached for her company.
But at that very moment Tally had a huge problem she was going to have to face on her own, she had received a direct order to appear for an audience with the Imperatrix at once. Tally was walking into the last place she ever wanted to visit again, the office of the head of matrimonial affairs and the bastion of the intimidating Imperatrix. She had been avoiding the woman for weeks now and doubly so since her engagement to Sarah, they had managed to kept it quiet, only the core group knew about it. Tally smiled to herself thinking of the morning her unit found out, her sisters had gaped at her when she came in the morning following her date with the General in the dress from the night before.
It really was closer to noon by the time she dragged herself out of Sarah’s bed to face her unit. She had held up her left hand showing off the unusual stone ring.
“She ask me to marry her….”
It took several long seconds for Rae and Abs to snap their mouths shut and engulf her in a tight hug.
Tally was absentmindedly spinning the ring with her thumb tucked in her palm, her right hand hovered inches from the wood not quite ready to knock on the door, she did not feel like justifying her choices or who she happened to be in love with to this supremely arrogant woman. Tally took a deep shaky breath and rapped twice, standing at attention waiting for the door to open, hands clasped behind her back still fiddling with her ring.
“Good finally, Craven come in,”
Tally did as she was told.
Coming to parade rest in front of the older woman’s desk, eyes refusing to meet the Imperatrix’s hard stare.
“Well well, Tally Craven it seems like you’re the last of your line, I understand you tried to deny your heritage until recently ummm?…. Is that right Craven?”
“No, not exactly, I had no idea of my heritage until a few months ago. My mother hid it from me….”
“So you say, so you say… “ the Imperatrix rudely interrupted, “Well however it happened, I am very happy to have your line rejoin the great tapestry of New World Witches and hope you will choose an appropriate partner to handfast with and provide us healthy offsprings and continue the Craven matriline well into the future.”
Tally wanted to scream as she bit the inside of her cheek, “With all due respect that’s probably never going to happen, I’m in love,… with a woman” she added, “and besides I have zero desire to be your brood mare for the cause…Ma’am.” Tally said flatly her eyes never leaving the spot on the wall just over the Imperatrix’s right shoulder.”
“Five years is not that long, then you can be out of the contract and you can go back to your little girlfriend …”
“No! I would never do that to her, ever! You can’t ask that of me, I don’t know how you can you sit there, Miss high and mighty wallowing in your heteronormative bullshit !How can you not take peoples gender identity and preferences into any kind of account, and you just go on matching witches into perfect little straight pairs, well that’s never fucking going to happen with me!”, Tally was done, and was yelling rather loudly at the Imperatrix.
“Craven you impertinent little bitch…” The older woman was seething with fury, stepping out from behind her desk and baring down on Tally who was doing her best to stand her ground, staring out the window now, the redhead noticed the sky darkening and storm clouds building rather quickly. “Craven I’m talking to you, Craven look at me!”
“No… I cannot and will not do as you ask, I am already spoken for, I love her, and I’m never leaving her, so find someone else to pressure into replenishing the ranks for you.”
The sky was black now and a fork of lighting raced across the sky. Tally’s heart pounded in her chest, the Imperatrix was seething, leaning into Tally’s face, the redhead could feel her breath against her cheek, her knuckles where white as she clenched her hands behind her back not giving the Imperatrix the satisfaction of trembling in the face of pure venom.
“Craven you’re willing to throw away a promising career for some woman, are you serious? Who is she anyway… I can make your life hell here, both of your lives…”
“DIANA ! Stand down now!” General Alder commanded, eyes flashing as dark as her dress blues. She was standing in the doorway, having thrown the door open to find her lover being threatened by the Imperatrix. Sarah had felt something was wrong with Tally the moment she landed on base and had followed her gut to the Matrimonial offices and immediately heard shouting all the way down the corridor, Sarah had gotten the gist of the argument and swiftly made her way down the hall.
“You don’t command me Sarah, this is a private conversation between me and this young Cadet here.”
“Take Tally off your list, do you hear me Diana ?” Sarah cold tone sharp and dangerous.
“But Sarah…”, Diana, the almighty Imperatrix’s said with so much snobby High Atlantic lilt it made the air curdle, “We have a lost line to add to the great tree, you can’t really believe I will let this opportunity slip though my fingers?” Diana continued, haughty and incredulous at the same time.
“Tally will handfast with no one of your choosing, am I making myself clear?”
“General, how is this any concern of yours who Tally decides to handfast with?”
“Because…” Sarah softened for a nano second as she glanced at Tally who was blushing but gave her an almost imperceptible nod of permission.
“Because she is marring me. Tally is my fiancé, she is marrying into one of the oldest lines you can’t possibly object, can you Diana,” Alder declared voice dripping with finality.
“We are done here.”
“Tally?” Sarah offered her hand, “Let’s get you out of here.”
The relieved cadet took Sarah’s hand, and walked towards the door as the Imperatrix’s honed in on Tally’s ring, she wondered if she could use any laws to break up this highly inappropriate union. This wasn’t over, not by a long shot.
Finally alone in the hallway Sarah pulled Tally to a stop, gripping her by both shoulders, dipping her head to look into Tally’s eyes.
“Darling, are you alright?” The older woman asked, concerned because Tally looked so shell shocked, this was so unlike Tally, usually so verbose, but she just looked at Sarah with tears brimming.
“Come with me,” Sarah led her into an empty office and traced a quick sigil over the door before turning to her lover once more and hugging her tightly, pulling her to her chest, her hand cradling the back of Tally’s head, her face pressed into the junction of neck and shoulder, Sarah let out a sigh of relief when she felt Tally’s arms wrap around her back squeezing her too.
“I’m so glad you’re home, goddess I missed you,” Tally finally said her voice wet with tears.
“And I you, more then you know, I came back as soon as possible, and I’m so glad I did.”
Alder had been miserable the past week away. It was the longest she had been away from Tally since they had met back on Skye all those months ago, the intense connection had been almost instantaneous the minute their eyes had met across the tasting room bar.
Sarah pulled back so she could get another look at her fiancée, she needed to fall into those soulful brown eyes.
“Sarah….I need..”
“What my love ?”
“Please just kiss me…”
And Sarah did, both hands cupping Tally’s jaw, lips brushing, teasing until Tally invited her lover in, lips parting, tongues rediscovering each other. Sarah deepened the kiss stepping into the redhead’s space until she backed her against the door, all sense of where they were gone in a flash of pure desire.
Tally’s hands were trying to open the double buttons at the neck of Sarah’s dress blues, she needed to feel her lover’s skin, she kissed the chiseled jaw sucking on Sarah’s neck right below her ear as she finally freed the buttons, working the coat open until she snaked her hands inside.
Sarah’s chest was heaving as she tore the velcro open and pushed Tally’s fatigue jacket to the floor, insinuating her leg between Tally’s thighs.
The younger woman erupted with a groan, her body betrayed her need as she ground down shamelessly onto Sarah’s muscular quad.
Tally’s hands on her belt made Sarah snap out of her lust and she stepped back making Tally whine in frustration.
“Wait Tally, please wait, soon I promise my love but I don’t want to get into this 2 doors down from the Imperatrix’s office, let’s go to the cellar it’s private and close and I could use a drink, how about you?”
Sarah picked up her lover’s jacket and handed it to her while she straightening her own uniform, she leaned down and kissed Tally once more before reversing the sigil and walking out into the hallway with as much dignity as ever, save for the purpling mark just visible over the high collar.
General Alder’s private cellar, was a scotch collectors wildest dream, rare bottles and barrels lined the walls, bottles so old you could no longer read the label. Only The General knew the history of every single one. Alder had been on a trip to secure new single malts before The Hague had so rudely interrupted her leave and set into motion the insanity and horrors of their time in Scotland.
At the center of underground room surrounded by bottle racks and casks was a very comfortable sitting area with a fireplace crackling away as the two women enjoyed each other. Tally was straddling the general in the overstuffed leather armchair, already down to their tight under shirts, kissing like they hadn’t seen each other for a year, Tally had Sarah’s braid fisted and was making her tilt her head back, teeth grazing down the long neck occasionally licking the erupting sweat, humming over Sarah vocal cords, making the older woman groan and tighten her grip on Tally’s hips, rocking her closer, Tally resisted trailing kisses down to the hollow of her lovers throat, out along the elegant collar bones tugging the tank top off her shoulder, and kissing right over her heart, something about the way she felt the pulse increase violently as she kept teasing made her feel powerful.
“I missed you so so much, I can’t wait to be your wife,” Tally panted as she kept ravishing the older woman tugging at the hem of her tank has she kissed her with a desperate need.
That was the switch that let the passionate Sarah out and banished the cold General demeanor to the back of her mind as she surged up, Tally instinctively closing her thighs around the raven haired woman, Sarah laid them down on the soft carpet by the fire, the amber glow accentuating the beauty of her fiancée’s copper locks, Sarah sat back on her heels, gazing down at her lover letting out an awed gasp at the way Tally looked at her with an expression that completely overwhelmed Sarah. She was not sure anyone had ever looked at her that way before, with trust, desire, and an unwavering love beaming up at her, Tally giving her the most radiant, dimpled smile.
“You’re so beautiful….” The awe and gravel in Sarah’s voice making Tally shiver.
Done waiting, the redhead sat up to pull at the shirt that still covered her lover, discarding the tank top to the shadows, Tally kissed the raven haired woman on the sternum before her hands slowly unbraided Sarah’s wild mane.
After Tally was done, Sarah ran her hand roughly thru the messy curls, settling them over her shoulder, looking at Tally with a mischievous look in her eye.
It didn’t take long for them to divest themselves of the rest of their clothing, Tally in her lap head thrown back. Sarah’s mouth moving slowly, Tally impatiently trying to push her towards her rock hard nipples, but the general was immovable. She was going to take her time savoring the burning skin, as Tally devolved into begging.
“Fuck. Sarah Please…”
Sarah bit her shoulder, and Tally tightened her hands already buried in her lovers hair, the tugging arousing Sarah to the point of boiling.
“Sarah just please take me, I need to feel you…. just… touch me please.’’ The wanton edge in her lover’s voice and her own growing need made Sarah relent, she supported Tally as she leaned her back between her legs and kissed and sucked her way down the center of her chest and licked over to a sensitive nipple.
Tally sighed a drawn out, “Yeeeees,” as Alder raked her teeth to the tip, then taking her in her mouth once more and lavishing her breast. Tally was so mad with need she guided Sarah back to her lips and kissed her deeply making the older woman purr. Their legs and arms wrapped tight as they held each other close, nipples occasionally brushing, eventually Sarah worked her hand down to cup her lover. .
“Goddess you’re soaking….I need to, may I….” Sarah asked as she curled her fingers into her folds.
“Yes! Do it Sarah I want you inside.” Tally shifted higher on her lap to make more room for Alder’s hand, her eyes closing as she felt two long fingers sink into her core, promising ecstasy.
And it didn’t take long for Tally to reach her peak riding Sarah’s hand meeting her lover’s thrusts grinding her clit into the calloused palm.
“Goddesss, Sarah please more I’m so close….”
And with that Sarah easily slid in another digit, curling them just so, as she bit down on Tally’s shoulder, it had the desired effect as her lover came all over her hand screaming her name, walls tightening painfully around her fingers, but she kept going though her Tally’s orgasm bringing her down with exquisite care, easing out to hold her tightly, the younger woman had tears running down her face the emotions too overwhelming to keep bottled up.
“I love you so much, thank you, thank you I don’t think I’ll ever get enough off you, Hw did I get so lucky?”
“Cant fight destiny darling,” Sarah said as she lay back content to wait to see what her lover had in mind.
Tally was straddling her, enjoying the dare in Sarah’s eyes. Tally teased herself for a minute sliding herself over defined abs, reaching back between Sarah’s legs, nudging them wider, never looking away from the smoldering indigo eyes. After prolonged ‘torture’ Tally won the staring contest as her fingers pinched the hard nub and Sarah arched off the floor with the most erotic groan.
Tally pulled her hand away and tasted Sarah essence, before traveling to the source, settling between her legs, Tally wrapped arms around the general’s legs with and pulled her lover closer.
“Sarah look at me please,”
As soon as she had her lover’s undivided attention she took her in her mouth worshiping Sarah, taking her to new heights over and over again.
Sarah was laughing pushing the determined younger woman away, she couldn’t take anymore at the moment.
“Stop Tally….I can’t, save some of that energy for Beltane it’s only a few days away and I have plans for you but I need my strength and so will you.”
That got Tally attention as she reluctantly crawled up Sarah’s body and and rested her glistening chin on a heaving chest.
“Tell me more General, tell me about Beltane again are we…?”
“You’ll just have to wait a see my love, but I think you’ll enjoy yourself very much.”
“Do all of you have to be so fucking cryptic? Rae and Abs have been no help. I don’t know anything. I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do.”
Sarah laughed, one of her rare deep rumble barks that made Tally’s toes curl, “You don’t have to do anything, just be there and trust the reel. The rest is magic, trust me.”
“You know I do.” Tally loved the easy way they lay with their bodies intertwined with easy comfortable intimacy.
“So tell me about your trip? Anything new?”
Sarah closed her eyes the world intruding on the peace she felt when she was alone with Tally. But life was like that, she knew that better than anybody after over 300 years of service. She kissed the top of Tally’s head.
“Yes I think we finally got a new lead on Hearst and also large Camarilla cell out west, I was going to call a meeting of our team in the morning to brief everyone and get going on confirming the intelligence.”
“What? really? What do you need me to do?”
“Darling, can you let it go until tomorrow and stay with me tonight? I’ve missed you next to me.” Sarah asked hopefully.
“Yes of course, you don’t think you could get rid of me that easily do you? besides I’m not done with you yet. but right now I’m so hungry.”
“I’m sure you are, you’re always… hungry.”
Tally heard the double meaning behind the word but chose to ignore it, her stomach was already rumbling at the thought of food.
“How about some nachos?”