Parts 1-2

Posted: January 2004
Title: Other Worlds
Author: Sairalinde
Fandom: Real Person Fiction
Genre: RPS
Characters: Viggo/Sean B.
Rating: NC-17 Eventually
Warning: A.U. It's got it all. Allusion to rape nothing descriptive, magic, sort of character death, slight touch of schmoop.
Beta: Glorfindel
Disclaimer: This never happened...if it did well let's just say I'd be really surprised! Viggo, and Sean are real people but they do not know me nor I them. Nora Roberts is one of my favorite authors and this story A World Apart, came to mind as one to slash up, no offense meant. Basically retelling the same tale, but my way. This was written in fun that's all. Not for profit.
Notes: A.U. very loosely based on Bulgarian folk tales about dragons that can shape shift and more closely based on A World Apart. Basically I am slashing the story up with Viggo and Sean and dragons…what fun ;-)
Summary: A.U. Viggo is a NY city cop and Sean is a Lamiaslayer (Dragonslayer) from another place and time. * Told you it was A.U. * ;-)

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Chapter 1

The forest was damp and quiet, as the hunter moved silently through the underbrush. Sean was on the hunt. His steps fell silently. His eyes-green as the jade in the hilt of his sword-were ready to act, with ruthless accuracy.

For the last four days and nights he had tracked his prey, over mountains, hills, and valleys to this forest near the village of Dario. As he tracked his quarry he thought of little but the battle that lay ahead. The Lamia was his only interest, not the beauty of the forest that surrounded him, nor the enchanting sound of the nearby brook.

The hunt was what he had been born for. Sean was a Lamiaslayer. His duty as a Guardian of the Goddess of the White Palace was as a slayer. He was honor bound to protect the humans of his world. Sean himself a Zmey, was able to transform himself into something as simple as a flower garland to his preferred human form, or back to the form of his birth. He preferred his human form to that of Zmey however, sometimes he did miss his talons.

Soon he was brought out of his thoughts by a slight shift in the light to his left. His sword was brought to bear and he pivoted on his heels to face his quarry. The shimmering light started just at the edge of the clearing and there the Lamia appeared; then charged. Its yellow scaled body lunged toward him and it's sharp black claws streaked past his shoulder. Sean was not ruffled in the least. He simply settled into his stance and waited for the next assault.

This was a young Lamia and quite small. If Sean were in his Zmey form he could simply crush it with his front paw but a battle was so much more satisfying. Unfortunately this Lamia's tender age and size were not going to make this an exciting battle. Sean sniffed the air then grinned. This Lamia was not alone however. Why hadn't he noticed that before? Ah no matter he could take them both.

The second one appeared just to his right and the younger Lamia snarled and took that opportunity to charge. It would have been a smart move if Sean were truly human but a Zmeys reflexes were faster than that of a human.

The Lamia could never sense the Zmey in human form. It was one of his kind's greatest advantages. Rather than waste energy on the youth he decided to save the real battle for the larger Lamia. Sean began to chant softly and summoned a whirlwind that trapped the youth within it. He was then able to turn his attention to his new assailant.

"Zmey!" The larger Lamia cried.

"Yes, and a Slayer of Lamia. Guardian of the White Goddess…come to me. Let me send you to an honorable death, beast!" Sean answered.

The Lamia sneered at him. "It is you Slayer who will go to your death. You are outnumbered. We shall be slaying you and feasting on your bones by nightfall."

Sean sensed almost too late two more Lamia appearing beside the other. Still the odds were not against him yet. These were not particularly high ranking Lamia.

Sean simply laughed. "This day, you shall go hungry."

The battle began with the Lamia who had spoken charging him. He was not difficult to dispatch. Normally those of his ilk were all talk and no real fight. Sean was not wrong this time. The youth was still trapped in the whirlwind so he was of no concern but the other two were circling now that he had dispatched the first Lamia by running his great sword through his throat just below its dog like head.

The other two hissed their anger at the departure of their friend but were still circling…trying to judge their adversary. The larger of the two lunged and Sean side stepped quickly then turned and swung his sword easily cleaving the beasts head from his body. The last of them however was upon him before he could make any counter moves and Sean was thrown to the ground. Sharp pain issued from his shoulder where the beast had plunged its dark claws. Sean howled in pain but leapt back up quickly to continue the battle. It was a cheap move, but one he should have expected from a Lamia.

Then the Lamia turned, plunged its great clawed paw into the whirlwind and jerked the youth out from it's midst. Then before Sean could do anything they unfurled their wings and flew over the tree tops. Sean cursed and sheathed his sword then transformed into his Zmey form and took flight after the two. When he flew toward Dario he saw the village was under attack by a number of Lamia. He also saw many of his kind along with human slayers in the fray defending the village and it's people.

Why would so many attack this tiny farming village? He wondered as he followed the two attackers from the forest.

Then a sight he never thought he would see almost caused him to falter in his flight. Altinor the King of Lamias was in his human form standing in front of a great stone where the two from the forest landed and transformed beside him. Sean landed and transformed in a dead run heading for the stone. He would not let Altinor escape this time.

The great king simply snarled at Sean and then in a flash of blinding light he and all of the Lamias disappeared.

"What foul magic is this?" Sean asked the wind as he skidded to a halt in front of the great stone, his blood still singing for battle.

Other Zmey and slayers gathered around him. "What happened here?" One of the slayers asked in confusion. The same confusion they all felt.

"We must see the goddess." Sean said finally sheathing his sword. "She will know what is going on."

A few Zmey stayed behind to guard the village should further attacks take place but the rest of the slayers returned to the Palace of the White Goddess.

When the slayers entered the palace Sean realized he was of the highest rank among them so he strode in front straight to the goddesses chamber.

"My lady, your guardian knights seek your guidance." Sean announced with his head bowed.

"Yes slayer…but you are injured, should you not be tended first?" The goddess asked sweetly.

"I will heal, I must…WE must know what happened today at Dario." Sean said then.

"But were you not there? Did you not see for yourself what happened?" The goddess asked.

Sean frowned. He hated talking to the goddess sometimes. "Yes, but though my eyes saw what happened I still do not understand."

"Perfect. Come to me slayer…you are called Sean are you not?" She asked. "Let me heal you, Slayer."

"Yes my lady." Sean said stepping forward. The goddess touched his shoulder and immediately his wounds were healed.

"You wish to know where the Lamia went?" She asked.

"Yes." He answered hoping her ladyship was going to get to the point soon.

"They are no longer in our world…they have found another." The goddess answered. "Another world who does not know of the Lamia, or who has simply forgotten. They go there to feed more easily, and rebuild their numbers. They will return and take over our world and the other if we do not stop them."

Sean stood there for a moment trying to digest the possibility of another world, and the Lamia growing in numbers.

"We must go after them then." Sean answered.

"Yes, YOU must go after them, Sean." The goddess answered.

"Me…alone?" Sean asked shocked. There were other fine slayers here.

"Yes. This task is set for you, Sean. Do you accept?" She asked.

"What exactly am I accepting?" Sean asked warily.

"The chance to save not only our world but another and answer your destiny." The goddess answered smiling.

"But why me alone….all of the Lamia went with Altinor." Sean answered. "I accept my lady yes I am a great warrior but I am no match for their numbers."

"The Lamia did not all make it through the portal, of that I can assure you." The goddess answered smiling coyly.

"I see." Sean answered with a grin. The rest were probably awaiting execution in her dungeon.

"Only five actually made it through, but their numbers will grow in that other world because there are no slayers. They will thrive there if they are not tracked down and eliminated. They cannot be allowed to destroy the other world for if they do, our own will be destroyed. It is a delicate balance." The goddess said softly.

"Even against five, in an unknown world how am I to track them?" Sean asked.

"You will not be alone, in the other world you will have a guide, a warrior from the other world who will aid you. Trust in him, his name will be Viggo. He is what you need, without him your quest will fail. Though even with his aid there is great risk. Now come with me Sean, you must go now…time is of the essence." The goddess said motioning for Sean to follow her.

Sean followed the goddess into another room.

"There is much to know of this other world, Sean. Take my hand, I will grant you knowledge of this other world." The goddess said offering her hand. Sean took it and stood facing the great stone in the center of the room. Suddenly strange words and images flooded Sean's mind.

"Take this jewel, touch it to the jewel in your sword hilt and it will return you home. Now Sean, touch the hilt of your sword to the great stone." The goddess commanded.

Sean held out his sword and touched the jade jewel to the great shiny black stone.

"Go in peace, only with your strength, trust, valor, and love shall you defeat your enemies. I will make sure you arrive where you will find your guide. Our fate lies in your hands slayer…do not fail us." The goddess spoke softly then brushed a soft kiss across Sean's lips. The room began to spin and it seemed that he was being sucked into the great stone…then just as suddenly he felt himself being spat out again.

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Chapter 2

Viggo was sprawled across his bed nursing a horrible head cold when a half naked man dropped on top of him.

"FUCK!" He gasped under the other mans weight, as he stared into eyes of jade. He felt a slight twinge of odd recognition coupled with the most unnerving feeling of longing he'd ever felt before complete shock washed over him.

Viggo barely had time to think yet even admire what he was quite certain was one hell of a fever induced hallucination before a sharp dagger was at his throat. Well that felt real enough…Christ, what kind of lunatic had broken into his apartment?

"I am Sean." The almost naked and very nicely muscled man stated in what he could only describe as a British accent. "Slayer of Lamia, er Slayer of Dragons in your world."

"Uh…that's nice." Viggo said trying to remember if the medication the doctor had given him had Codeine or any derivatives of opiates in it or not. This wasn't the way he wanted to start the day…not by a long shot. "Would you mind getting that thing away from my throat?" Viggo asked trying to shove the other man off but could not. Definitely not a hallucination.

Sean frowned and then sniffed the man under him and then grimaced. "You stink."

"Thanks. Can I please get up now?" Viggo asked. So the nut case was telling him he stunk…wonderful. Viggo couldn't smell himself because his nose was so stuffed up he couldn't breathe properly; though he was pretty sure he only smelled like Vicks Vapor Rub and cough drops.

"Yes. You are not a Lamia…you may live." Sean said starting to roll off the other man.

"Appreciate it." Viggo decided to go with instinct rather than sanity for the moment. He shoved the other man and snatched the dagger. The next thing he knew, the other man had executed a neat back flip off the bed, landed on his feet beside it and all with a very large sword raised over his head poised to strike.

"Christ! You win." Viggo stated and tossed the dagger aside and held up both his hands in surrender. Hell it had been worth a shot. Besides his head felt like it was inside a kettle drum and he was pretty sure he was going to sneeze any second.

"You yield?"

"Damn right. Now put that thing down before somebody…namely me…gets hurt? Then we can go call the nice people in white coats and they'll come take you home." Viggo stated then sneezed loudly. His eyes were watering now too. ‘Great now I'm seeing two of him.' He thought with a frown.

Sean was disgusted. He'd landed on a coward, that seemed to be allergic to something.

"What is your name?" Sean asked.

"Viggo Mortensen, why?" Viggo asked grabbing a tissue off the nightstand and blowing his nose. The other man frowned then shook his head and sighed.

"We have to hunt, Viggo." Sean stated still brandishing his sword.

"Sure, no problem…just lemme get my hunting gear." Viggo said reaching into the drawer of his nightstand and pulling out his gun. "Now put the fucking sword down, Conan." Would have been a well executed line had Viggo not ended it with a cough.

"My name is Sean." Sean corrected staring at the strange object in the other man's hand.

"Well Sean this is a gun, and unless I'm mistaken gun beats sword, now put it down." Viggo said waving the weapon a bit for emphasis.

Sean searched his mind for a moment, thoughts swirling with knowledge the goddess had given him before his departure. Ah a gun.

"I'd like to have one." Sean said looking at the strange weapon.

"I'm sure you would." Viggo said sniffling. Now wouldn't be the most opportune time to sneeze.

Then Sean's gaze returned to Viggo's blue gray eyes assessing his own and he felt an odd yearning that he needed to tamp down. "I was sent to you, Viggo." Sean stated.

"Fine, we'll get to that, later. Right now put the sword down. I'd really hate to loose my cleaning deposit for shooting you." Viggo stated still holding his gun pointed at the other man's chest.

"A gun…those are quite efficient." He nodded and finally sheathed his sword. "Perhaps you are no coward and are a warrior after all. We need to talk."

"Thanks and oh yes, we need to have a nice long chat, friend." Viggo agreed, lowering his gun.

His brain felt fried. Who the fuck was this guy standing in his bedroom? Having a man—a quite gorgeous green-eyed barbarian with long blond hair, wearing little more than a pair of what looked to be leather lace up breeches and a pair of tall leather boots and a couple of leather wrist bracers leap on him out of nowhere would have been a great fantasy if the guy wasn't wielding a fucking sword and putting daggers to his throat.

Where the hell HAD he come from? He wondered as the other man stood there still eyeing his gun. Had he really been that out of it he'd forgotten to lock his door?

"How'd you get in here?" Viggo asked.

"The goddess of the white palace sent me. You are a warrior, have you killed many…dragons with your weapon?" Sean asked. He had to search out the name for Lamia's in this world in his mind. He still was unaccustomed to this strange place even if the goddess had given him knowledge of it.

"Look, it's a bit early for Dungeons and Dragons. Let's just cut the crap and you tell me where you came from." Viggo answered.

The other man shook his head. This was not going well Sean thought, then he realized the other man was starting to rise out of the bed. Sean hadn't noticed before but he certainly noticed now. Viggo was completely naked.

Sean's immediate attraction to the other man shocked him. He had felt attraction before but not anything like the elemental pull the man seemed to have on him. Viggo was as tall as he in his human form. Though not as broad in chest as he was from wielding a sword for nearly all his twenty-eight years but the man was well built all the same. Fine sleek muscles on a lithe runners body. Though the other man did seem to be unwell for some reason.

Sean pursed his lips and watched the other man. His hair was a deep honey blonde and though it was mused from sleep it was a good frame for a strong face with prominent cheekbones. Viggo's eyes were a deep blue gray and his chin had an intriguing cleft that made Sean's fingers itch to trace it. He shook his head against those thoughts, he was here to hunt Lamia not lust over his guide.

"You have a fine build." Sean commented unable to stop the compliment before it left his lips.

"Yeah?" Viggo asked slightly amused. This Sean was certainly a strange one. He reached for his jeans he'd left on the floor the night before.

"Though you do seem unwell?" Sean inquired.

"Unwell?" Viggo asked with a grin. "You could say that. I have a cold."

"Then you should get dressed." Sean answered.

"No…I am NOT cold, I HAVE a cold." Viggo said a little irritated. Why was he standing naked in his bedroom with some lunatic explaining a cold? Had the fever been that bad and now he's lost so many brain cells he's gone loopy?

After a moment Sean realized what Viggo meant. "Oh you have a cold…it's a sickness that makes you feel bad, chills, fever, sneezing, coughing?"

"Yeah all that." Viggo answered thinking dimly of a Nyquil commercial.

Sean smiled, proud that he was able to use some of his new knowledge. Viggo felt like his knees would buckle right then. Fucking hell what a great smile! He thought to himself.

"I am a stranger here, and require a guide. I was told to come to you, Viggo. That you were a warrior, that without you my quest would fail." Sean explained.

"Ok." Viggo said still not sure if the man was putting on an act or being serious. He was amazed at that thought…how could he be serious?

"I'm going to put my pants on. I want you to stay over there and keep your hands away from that sword." Viggo stated firmly.

"I have no wish to harm you , Viggo, nor any of your kind. You have my word as a slayer." Sean stated with a nod.

"Thanks, I think." Viggo said softly. Viggo lay his gun on the bed next to him and tugged on his jeans keeping his eyes on Sean the entire time. The other man never moved, just watched him. Once Viggo buttoned his jeans he slid the gun into his waistband and then crossed to the closet and grabbed a clean shirt.

"Ok, now I'm going to make coffee, and you can explain more to me then." Viggo said gesturing toward the bedroom door.

Sean strode out in front of him into the other room and Viggo followed. Whatever shape he might be in he still admired the view…what a view it was. Medieval looking leather breeches were highly underrated. He decided.

Viggo glanced over at the apartment door and noted that it was locked, bolted, and chained…no way he got in that way.

Sean turned to the window and gazed out. It was higher up than he had thought. He had only been in the white palace tower once and had not enjoyed being up that high. Then his unease turned to sheer awe when a cab came up to the curb and a woman got out.

"She rose out of the belly of that yellow beast!" Sean exclaimed pointing down to the street.

"You pay the fare, they let you out. Where the hell are you from again?" Viggo asked curiously. Then mentally smacked himself. Why was he indulging this lunatic?

"I am from Aryl. In my world, we have no beasts with round legs. I don't—wait…it was a car! A machine for transportation! How wonderful!" Sean exclaimed almost childlike in his wonder.

Viggo ginned and shook his head. "Right…uh coffee. Come with me. I want you where I can keep an eye on you." Viggo said passing the awestruck warrior on his way to the kitchen.

Sean followed him into his kitchen and began running his fingers over the various surfaces. "These are interesting. Do you have great wealth?" Sean asked running his hand over the toaster.

Viggo laughed. "Yeah, cops are just rolling in money. So you say the goddess sent you?" Viggo asked as the coffee started to brew. He still didn't know why he was even talking to this guy, but there was just something about him. In all thirty years of his life Viggo had never thought he'd be having a morning quite like this one.

"Yes, I was sent here to you." Sean answered, "I know none in this world save you."

"How did you get here?" Viggo asked unable to help himself. The detective in him just wouldn't let it go even if the guy was a nut case of the utmost degree.

"Through the great stone in the white palace. There are many dimensions. Yours and mine are two. The Lamia stole a key and has entered your world. I possess a key to get home with. I was sent here to hunt down the Lamia or as you would call them dragons to kill them or at least drive them from your world back to mine where they belong. They no longer belong in your world. I was sent here, sent to you. The goddess said without you my quest will fail." Sean explained irritated at having to keep repeating himself. He should be hunting the Lamia not indulging the man's curiosity.

"So you are telling me there are dragons loose in New York City?" Viggo asked.

"Yes. Though it is most likely that they are in their human forms." Sean answered.

Must have been a head injury or something because this guy was certainly a few fries short of a Happy Meal.

"You can't just kill people in this world. Men like me lock you up for that." Viggo answered.

"They aren't people, they are Lamia." Sean explained. "You are a warrior though…aren't you a slayer that fights evil here?" Sean asked.

"Yeah, in a way…though right now I am on hiatus." Viggo explained.

"Hiatus?" Sean asked.

"Well for right now I am not allowed to do my job." Viggo explained.

"Why?"

Viggo sighed. "It's a long story but basically I broke my bosses nose."

"You hit your goddess?" Sean asked in shock.

"Goddess? Uh no I hit my captain and HE deserved it…but well hell we were talking about you." Viggo said shaking his head and then running his hands through his hair. He was just thinking yesterday that this cold had happened at a convenient time since he wouldn't have to miss work because of it.

Sean enjoyed watching the man and wished to run his fingers through his hair. Instead he sighed. "You do not believe me?"

"Sean, part of my job is asking questions. It's how we learn. I'm not saying you are lying, but hell a dragon slayer from an alternate universe? I mean come on? Not even the crack heads I've arrested have had such colorful stories." Viggo said shaking his head. What was it about this guy that made him want to believe him so badly even though he knew this was all just a load of bullshit.

Sean began to pace the room. This man was not helping…why had the goddess sent Sean to him? Then again he might not believe a story such as this himself if the tables were turned.

"You must be shown, it is the only way you will believe me. I am a Zmey, Viggo. I too am what you would call a dragon but I am different. I can shape shift into more than one form, and among my talents I can also summon whirlwinds." Sean explained.

"Hang on a minute." Viggo said shaking his head. He had read this in folk tales. Read about dragons called Zmeys and even Lamias. Zmeys were good dragons, protectors who defended people against the bad dragons or Lamias. Viggo shook his head, Christ I must be going mad I'm starting to believe him!

"I will prove to you I speak the truth, Viggo." Sean said and began chanting softly. A whirlwind began to form in the center of the room picking up yesterdays newspaper and spinning it around.

Viggo stood there for a moment with his mouth dropped open. "Holy Shit! You've got to be fucking kidding me." He whispered.

Then as quickly as it began the whirlwind dissipated and then Sean said something else and as if this were some sci-fi movie Sean turned into a dog! Viggo stood there for a moment looking at the golden retriever in his kitchen and shook his head.

"I certainly need that coffee now." He said reaching for the pot and pouring a cup.

Then suddenly Sean reappeared. "Satisfied?" Sean asked.

"Uhhhh yeah." Viggo said taking a drink of coffee it was scalding hot but he didn't even notice…he was too stunned at what had just transpired in his kitchen.

*****

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