Dalia lead Felhas, his imps, and the prone body of Chiana Vitrano into the back room. She ordered the tall, well preserved woman to be placed on the blanket inside the circle inlaid into the very stone of the floor. One side was not completed, allowing for entrance by the demons. It was obviously painful for them, and she did so enjoy watching their torment.

Nodding, she ushered them out and performed the quick ritual of dismissal. Taking up the chalk and athame, she closed the cirle, and then invoked it, with herself and Koya inside it. "Koya, dear, stand to my right, please. Don't be so nervous, I just need you here to help me raise a larger cone of power. I need your strength, and nothing more." She smiled sweetly to the woman, and knew she would comply.

Earlier, while awaiting Felhas, Dalia had told Koya a story about Chiana's unfortunate death, her desire to have been turned in life, and how she felt pity on her. She told her that she felt it was her duty to do what she could, since she was able. She failed to mention the whole plan to use Chiana against Valentine, or the fact that Chiana would be bound to her, unable to say no to anything Dalia instructed her to do.

Dalia began the ritual, arms moving in the sigils of protection. She called upon Bill again, knowing he would make an appearance for this. "I call you, Bill. It is Dalia Niniane Blackthorne, and my summoning name is Hallizforevol! I command you to appear and aid me in my magick!"

A subtle mist of smoke, smelling of cherry cigarellos, and there was Bill, in all his golden-boy glory. He was luscious, just as he always was when he appeared before Dalia. Koya gasped at Dalia's side, but the woman was smart enough to keep quiet. "Hallizforevol? Lover of Zillah? Come now, my flower. That will soon become insulting to your new lover, won't it?" He chuckled, and walked the circumfrance of the circle, close but not close enough to burn himself. He paused, studying the face of the dead Chiana. "New plaything? Or should I say, old, plaything? Did we get careless, Dalia dear?" Chuckling again, he came to rest behind Dalia, his arms circling her waist. His breath hot on her cheek, voice gruff and sensual, "What is it you ask of me, my flower? Let me guess, life for this one?"

Lyric appeared suddenly, the soft intake of breathe alerting them all of her presence. Dalia knew she would keep quiet, but she risked a stern look over at the girl before speaking. "Yes. Help us to bring her back to life, Bill, my love. Please." She added the 'please' because she knew it would throw him off guard, and perhaps make him forget she had yet to bring Bellora to him.

"Done. On one condition. When she does die again, I get her soul." He smiled, bent to caress Chiana's cheek. "She will look so beautiful in my bed, beneath me." He rose, ignoring the color that rose in Dalia's cheeks, the clenching of her jaw. A chant began, and he motioned for Dalia and Koya to take it up once they heard the words. He moved to stand between the two of them, taking Dalia's hand in his, and then placing a taloned hand around Koya's waist, much to her surprise and horror.

Moments passed, Dalia was parched and shaking from the anger at Bill and at her own jealousy, but she shoved it all aside and continued. She held her palm up, allowing Bill to slash it. He pierced Chiana's breast, over her heart, and pressed the bleeding gash of Dalia's into it, forcing her blood to enter the dead woman's body. Dalia had not known what to expect, but she allowed him to do all the work as she continued to chant. He slashed his own clawed hand, and pressed his own blood into the wound over Chiana's heart, then stood to watch it instantly heal, leaving a demon mark scar.

"Cease." With a sharp motion of his hand, he halted their chanting and bent to lift the still seemingly lifeless body of Chiana. He held her in his arms, cradled, easily as if she had been a child instead of the tall, well muscled woman she was. "Kiss her, breath your life into her, and she is yours."

Dalia bent her head, lips pressing into the cold, waxy dead lips of the woman. She parted them with her tongue, and breathed deeply into Chiana's mouth. They watched as her chest rose with the forced air, and Dalia swore she felt an exhale on her cheek. Bill did the same, breathing into the woman deeply. His tongue snaked around, tasting her lips and mouth, and he grinned evilly at Dalia, enjoying the flash of jealousy in her eyes. Done, he laid the body at her feet. "Arise, Chiana Rae Vitrano, and meet your Mistress. Arise to your new life, and see that your wishes have been fulfilled. Arise, Vampire! Arise, my demon pet! Arise, live, and walk in the sun like you once did, for you are of my breath and blood, as well as your Mistress's."

This startled Dalia as much as it must have startled Koya, for she had not planned on Chiana becoming vampire, let alone being able to walk in the daylight! She had known the ritual and resurrection would tie the woman to her until death, but she had not planned on this! No matter. What would be, would be. She could make use of this little surprise, she was sure.

Koya did as instructed, standing where she was told, chanting when she was told, but her mind was reeling. Was she really witnessing this? Was she truly participating in a ritual---with a demon?

Lyric's prescence made her that much more nervous. She felt she should go to the girl, talk to her, calm her. She felt the overwhelming urge to grab the girl and run for their lives. But she didn't. She looked over her shoulder, smiling at the anxious young woman, and winked. This seemed to calm the girl, and it did wonders for herself, as well.

Koya watched as the demon bled Dalia, preying that she was not needed for this. She stiffened as she stood by her, touched her. Relief washed over her as the woman at her feet came to life, and Koya sunk to her knees, emotionally and psychically drained. Rightly so, for little did she know, Koya had supplied all the power for this spell.

Koya opened her mouth to speak, but thought better of it. The demon was still here, and this was Dalia's doing. She might screw something up if she spoke. So, she sat there, smiling kindly to the woman who had just been resurrected, and watched Lyric hover around the circle, not daring to set foot in it and break it.

Dalia smiled, triumphant. He had done it for her, and Koya too. She hadn't had to use any of her own power. It was good to be queen.

Muttering the quick dismissal chant after kissing Bill on the lips in thanks, the women were alone. Stepping over the line to break the circle, she knelt next to Chiana.

"You are in my home, Chiana. I have brought you back and done my best to give you that which you were denied so coldly in life." In a soothing voice, she went on. "Do you remember how you died, Chiana? The poisoned sucker? I have tried to right a wrong done you."

She tucked her skirts under her and seated herself, a hand resting on the cool, well muscled arm of Chiana. "I don't like to be the bearer of bad news, Chiana, but they found Valentine responsible for the crime. She escaped prosecution by killing herself. She's alive, now, of course. Vampire. Demon posession, rather long story. Another aquaintance of yours, Belle De'Morte? She was responsible for that little fiasco." A wave of her hand, as if this was trivial.

She watched the woman's shoulders stiffen, watched her clench her fists. She waited for the woman to speak. Before she could, she wanted to insure that Chiana would be no trouble to her. "You will stay here, of course, until you decide what it is you would like to do. Unfortunately, the only spell I could use to bring you back has bound you to me, but trust that I will not abuse the bond. Lyric, make sure that Zillah's workroom is cleaned out and go with Chiana to furnish it. Dawn approaches, and I must sleep. Take money with you, you know where it is. Let her pick out whatever she wants and needs." Her eyes had not left Chiana's tense figure, but she knew she would be obeyed. With a soft smile, however, she looked up lovingly at Lyric. "I am so tired, lover. Koya is too, can you see? We will sleep if you would be so kind as to help Chiana. I know you must have so much to do, but, would you be a dear? Buy yourself some new things, while you are out today." She knew that would melt Lyric's obvious hardened attitude. It did.

Yawning, she rose, and held a hand for both Koya and Chiana to rise. "Koya, dear, I do not know how to thank you for helping me tonight. What would I have done without you?" She frowned, turning to glance at Lyric as a snort of derision was heard. What was this? Had the girl figured out what had gone on? Was she far more adept at magick than Dalia had thought? She'd have to test this, but later. Her limbs were already heavy, filling with lead. Dawn. She had to hurry, or she'd be forced to sleep here, on the floor instead of her bed.

Rushing up the stairs, leaving the three woman behind to deal with the details, she collapsed on the bed. Discovering, in fact, that it was already occupied. She smiled, snuggling into the demonic arms that reached for her. Bill.

Her last thoughts were of his words as he brushed hair from her cheek,"You are so sneaky, my pet. I am falling harder and harder for you. Are you sure you are not demonic in nature? I see your plans, and I approve. Rhydin will never be the same. I made a good choice in bringing you back, Dalia. They will tremble at our feet."

And she was gone, sleeping the sleep of the undead.