*...* denotes thought
~~~ indicates scene breaks or flashbacks
[...] numbers in brackets indicates footnotes at end of chapter
Author's notes:
[A] I am not an expert on ancient China, nor do I pretend to be. This is solely the (scary) creation of my mind as I do not have the time to research the subject as it properly deserves. I apologize in advance.
[B] I do not know anything about Meiran, so I am going by my own assumptions. If anything is blatantly wrong (physical description-wise), please email me and I will correct it.
[C] eh, Wufei torture/angst ahead
Embrace The Night Part 6
Earth, Sank Kingdom AC 199
The atmosphere of Earth, seen from the shores of the Sank Kingdom, was an entrancing, light blue canvas that was liberally dusted with the scattered wisps of fluffy white clouds. The sky was so tranquil, belying the vast void of space that lay just beyond the edge of the atmosphere, the total vacuum of physical beauty that represented the final frontier of exploration.
However, the attractiveness of the atmosphere was lost on two souls who were returning to the land they were calling home for the time being. Instead of concentrating their attentions on the heavens, they were admiring the perfection of the world that was within reach.
Zechs Merquise raised his titanium helmet off of his head, allowing his platinum mane of hair to fall freely down his back. As he stood on the cliff outside of the loading area that held his precious Gundam, he inhaled deeply, allowing the slightly salty tang of the nearby ocean to fill his senses.
Zechs smiled and closed his eyes as the sounds of terran life filled his hearing. The rousing calls of the shore birds mingled with the sounds of mortal activity from the humans who lived in peace under the rule of total pacifism.
Although no sound announced his presence, Zechs sensed the arrival of his partner and fellow Gundam pilot as clearly as if he had been introduced by a 24-gun salute. Without moving his head from its relaxed position, he addressed his long time friend.
"It's good to be home, Wufei."
The black haired Asian man stepped up until he was parallel with his lighter colored partner, his piercing ebony gaze focused on the glistening water. He nodded briskly at his partner, even though he knew the taller man wouldn't see the sharp movement. A grunt was his only audible response, silence slipping in between the two men.
The lull did nothing to disturb Zechs' inner tranquility; centuries had allowed him to grow accustomed to it. Instead, the blond was content to initiate his own monologue.
"The Earth's beautiful isn't it? In the months we've been gone, I have forgotten about the beauty of our home. Perhaps once this war is finished, we can go off and take a short vacation somewhere, just the four of us."
Wufei grunted again, his sharp eyes never wavering from the sight in front of him. He responded curtly with, "The war may end, but our work will not be over. It will never be finished. Not as long as one Khushrenada remains alive." The quiet determination and hatred did not go unnoticed, but did go politely ignored.
"Aa, but they are one and the same, aren't they? This war and our job. When OZ falls, the last Khushrenada will be left stripped of his political power, his protection utterly destroyed. Our oath will soon be fulfilled and our revenge complete."
The elfin beauty retreated back into his intrinsic silence, showing no reaction to his friend's impassioned declarations.
With one final, brief reprieve, Zechs turned away from the picturesque view of the bay and faced the beckoning palace. As he sauntered past his companion, he looked out from his peripheral vision and spoke, his voice low and husky.
"Are you coming?"
The simple question received a elegant shaking of a head, indicating Wufei's negative response. Wufei spoke up with, "I think I'll head down to the beach for a little while. I'd like to be alone."
Zechs turned his head sharply to look at his partner, his icy blue eyes quietly assessing. His mind mentally worked through layers of possible reasons for Wufei's sudden yearning for solitude. He slapped himself with his mental hand when he remembered what the date was.
Hastily he turned away and starting to walk off. Before he departed from hearing range, he called over his shoulder, "Don't linger too long, Wufei." The unspoken thread of advice hung heavily in the air.
Wufei continued to watch the distant horizon, his body held rigidly still, before abruptly turning to follow the path to the beach below the cliff side. He walked away heedless of the pair of lingering eyes, his back still rigid, his stride sure and confident.
Zechs watched him from the shadows until the pilot's proud figure disappeared from sight. The platinum haired man sighed and folded his arms across his chest as he allowed his shielded thoughts to linger on his partner.
*Wufei... don't dwell too much on the past... there's nothing you could have done to prevent her death...*
His heart filled with sympathy for his solemn partner, Zechs turned back to face the looming palace. With one last regretful moment of silence, he shrugged off the gloom and strode off to find his sister and the beautiful witch that now protected her.
~~~
Wufei walked along the dusty, well worn path that led to the private beach below. He felt the warm sunlight that fell onto his bare arms and shoulders, reveling in the heat that had long ago been a threat of destruction. Now it was once again something that he could wallow in, another part of his forfeited mortality that he had taken for granted.
The elegant Asian man reached the sandy beach, slipping out of his shoes, to allow his feet to feel the shifting grains of sun warmed sand slip and slide between his toes. He methodically made his way to a small cove that he had found on a previous journey to the beach. Slipping into the protected area, he perched himself on his favorite rock, a large flatly topped stone that rose from the sand like an obelisk.
Wufei closed his eyes and allowed his mind to wander, the crashing of the waves soothing to his ears after leaving the harsh mechanic sounds of the hanger bay where his precious Gundam Shenlong was stored. He slipped into his meditation trance easily, a portion of his mind remaining aware of his surroundings, the rest slipping into his inner thoughts.
Zechs' last words remained at the forefront of his thoughts, uncontrollable steering down the path of ancient sorrow and regret.
*Meiran...*
~~~
Earth, Ancient China, 586 A. D.
Wufei Chang, recently proclaimed chief of the Dragon Clan, calmly surveyed the visible lands of his home. A contented grin graced his normally stern visage, his dark, ebony eyes were sharp with awareness as he kept his watch over his people.
The nineteen year old emperor was barely an adult, having passed his tests of manhood not three turns of the seasons ago. His father had been a kind, generous chief, having led his people in more than five decades of peace and prosperity. He had wisely allied their small clan with the surrounding principalities, ensuring their protection and well being. A combination of a sudden illness and the loss of his beloved wife had taken the well loved ruler from his people, leaving his grief stricken son to take his place not two seasons ago.
Although young, Wufei Chang had shown an inner strength and an uncanny sense of morals that planted seeds of hope and belief in his people. The few times he showed his beligerence and the natural hasty tendencies of youth, he was often side tracked by his wise and loving wife, Meiran.
Such had not always been the case.
The two young adults had barely reached their fourteenth year before their parents had ordained it time to seal the betrothal pact made in their infancy. Although both children had loudly rebelled against the other, their parents had been firm, and in less than two cycles of the moon, they had been handfasted and then married.
Their parents, who had been life long friends, had felt sure that the two would instantly take to each other and meld like two long lost souls.
However, nothing could have been further from the truth.
They melded all right, like water does with oil. The constant battle for supremacy in the marriage had exhausted both the combatants and those close to them. As the months had passed, any hope for a peaceful reconciliation between the couple had dimmed and faded away.
A year of unhappiness had passed between the couple, their parents had been on the verge of granting the sought after divorce, anything to return peace to the ruling household. However, things were not as hopeless as they had appeared to be.
The two young warriors had banded together and defeated a horrible menace to their home, an intruding force of mythological proportions. Only by working together, mixing Meiran's grace and agility with Wufei's speed and cunning had they been able to defeat the terror and restore peace to their home. United in purpose, they had managed to solidify their tribe's claim to the Dragon Clan title, gain the surrounding empires' trust and faith, and most importantly, earned each other's respect. [1]
It had been the founding block in their relationship.
It had not been an easy journey down the road of marital bliss, not even after having risked death side by side. But slowly, oh so gently, the walls of resistance and pride had been worn down. And soon, youthful rebellion and initial detestation evolved into a deep and abiding yearning and ardor.
And after countless months of arguing and fighting, the two had given in to their feelings and fallen into a strong love. And none too soon.
It was only Meiran's love that kept the young noble from killing himself when his mother was killed in a freak accident. It was her support that kept away the darkness in the days that followed. She helped him to tread the waters of despair when his father also passed away, leaving the young boy alone and the burden of the clan's well being weighing down his shoulders.
Meiran had given him so much in the past, just as she continued to in the present. A soft cooing coming from the direction of his personal dwelling dragged Wufei's thoughts back to the present, his contentment spread.
His son had been born not three months ago.
A loud wail eclipsed the coos, a tiny demand for attention.
His daughter had come right on the heels of her twin brother.
With one last look at his peoples' domain, Wufei turned around and entered his personal realm. The site that greeted him caused his grin to bloom into a full smile, his black eyes twinkling with love for his small family.
Meiran looked up at his entrance and smiled back at her lord and husband, her arms full with two tiny infants. Wufei gracefully walked up to her side, reaching up with one hand to gently tuck an errant strand of silken ebony hair behind her ear. He was just about to plant a tiny kiss on her rosebud lips when one of his children started to cry again. This of course, set off the other one, a chain reaction.
Wufei took his daughter from Meiran's slim arms and gently rocked the tiny baby. He held her close to his heart, his arms creating a gently flowing cradle. His daughter fussed for a few more seconds before succumbing to her father's ministrations.
She blinked large, dark eyes up at him, the innocence of youth sparkling in the ebony depths. She cooed softly before her mouth stretched in a tired yawn. She snuggled into her blanket further, her head falling lax as sleep claimed her, her father's strong heartbeat thudding in her ear.
Wufei imperceptively tightened his grip on the tiny girl, before bending his head and placing a gentle kiss on her smooth forehead. He whispered down at her, "My little warrior princess. My little Nataku."
A dry chuckle from behind him turned his attention away from his daughter to see Meiran holding a nursing Kyuui. Meiran whispered, not wanting to disturb the babies.
"I can't believe I let you name our daughter that."
"Jealous?" he teased, one eyebrow shooting elegantly upwards.
She huffed in mockery, a disgruntled look on her face, although her eyes twinkled with suppressed humor. She continued to nurse their son when a sudden commotion outside caught their attention.
Wufei glided over to the twin set of cradles that graced the small nursery, setting his daughter down gently. With a shared, silent look at his wife, he left his house, ready to confront the source of the disturbance. His double edged sword, called a Gim, passed down from generation to generation of the Chang family line, was a silent but reassuring presence at his side. The thirty some odd inch blade a quiet menace and threat.
A large crowd of his people were gathered outside, all standing in a semi circle around something. Wufei couldn't see over the heads of his people, the object of their fascination hidden from him. However, some of his warriors noticed that their leader had emerged and they parted for him.
A group of five or six men were revealed to the calm chieftain's gaze. His sharp eyes quickly ran over the group, noting their slightly disheveled appearance. Dark stains stood out on their clothing, stains that suspiciously looked like human blood.
The men were standing in a tight knot, their backs to each other as they faced the crowd. A few of the strangers had aggressive looks on their faces, their lips turned up in challenging snarls. However, a man with mussed ginger colored hair stood with a cocky stance, his face had a confident if not outrightly smug expression plastered all over.
Wufei quietly noticed that the others seemed to regard this man as their leader. If he signaled them to attack, they would, despite being clearly outnumbered. Wufei quietly acknowledged his personal guards as they sidled up to him, their hands close and ready to their individual weapons.
Stepping closer to the strangers, Wufei called out in an even, confident tone. "Please state your name and your intentions, strangers."
The ginger haired man looked at the shorter man, his cocky grin firmly in place. With a sharp movement of his hands, he signaled the others to back down. The men did, their stances relaxing further. It was only then that Wufei caught a glimpse of the young woman who was standing in the middle of the group, her limp violet hair matted with blood.
The ginger haired stranger stepped closer to Wufei, despite the warning glares of Wufei's personal guards. With an elegant bow, the man lowered his head in a respectful gesture, before spreading his arms in a placating move.
"Please, sir. We are a wandering band of travelers who were set upon by a band of ruthless marauders. We are tired, hungry, and sorely in need of rest."
Wufei's immediate reaction was sympathy and worry, although his stern expression never changed. He gruffly repeated, "Who are you?"
"Ah, forgive me. My name is Navarre Khushrenada. These other men are my friends and family. The woman is my..."
Here Navarre paused, as if searching for the appropriate term to use. A gleam suddenly appeared in his green eyes, turning them into dark moss. "She is under my protection," he finished.
Wufei highly doubted it. It was more likely the woman was his concubine. But he was too polite to refute the other man's claim. "Where do you come from?" he asked, his tone a slight degree friendlier.
"We hail from the Byakko Empire. We were traveling through Sailo when we were suddenly attacked."
Murmers of aggreement flew through the crowd of Wufei's people, their understanding coming forth immediately. The Byakko emperor was known for allowing degenerates and those seedier members of humanity to dwell unchecked in his empire.
Wufei ignored his people's murmuring and he asked, "Are you asking for sanctuary here?"
For some reason, Navarre's companions found that statement highly amusing, although their chortles of hilarity were quickly cut off by his impatient hand. Navarre turned back to the young chief and said dryly, "If you are offering, we will not refute it."
Wufei nodded his head and his advisors suddenly broke away from the gathered masses. He inclined his head at another group of his people, even as he said, "Go to the public house where refreshments and ointments for your wounds will be supplied. We will decide in council whether or not you can stay."
The taller man bowed again, and Wufei couldn't help thinking that the gesture was make in mockery.
"As you wish."
Wufei moved back into his personal dwelling, his advisors hot on his heels. In the public greeting chamber, comments flew back and forth rapidly.
"Their story seems to check out. It is certainly understandable if they did come from Sailo."
"They were found traveling on the road that comes from the Byakko capital."
"There's something fishy about them. Five unarmed men and one woman? How can we trust them?"
"They could prove to be trouble."
Wufei listened to his advisors' prattle silently, keeping his thoughts to himself. Finally he cleared his throat, demanding their attention.
"So far their story checks out and they haven't given us any reason to not believe them. We will be hospitable and allow them to stay for awhile."
As two of his advisors stirred themselves and were about to protest, Wufei held up one hand and said, "We can't do any less. We are of the Dragon Clan and our honor code demands that we help all those who come to us with courtesy and compassion. Until the strangers give us reason to doubt them, we will allow them to stay."
With that, Wufei dismissed his advisors and headed to the public house. He entered the small dwelling and nodded at the group of strangers that were sitting around the flat table, talking quietly among themselves as they saw to their wounds.
He smiled at Navarre as he said, "We have decided that you may stay here as long as you like. We will grant you sanctuary and our protection against those that attacked you."
The taller man bowed low, his demeanor conveying thanks. He resumed standing and looked at the young chief. He said in a low tone, "You won't regret this."
~~~
Earth, Sank Kingdom AC 199
Anger swept through Wufei, destroying his meditative aura as he remembered those lies, those elegantly spoken words that had proven false. Twin tears, hot and salty, fell from his tightly clenched eyes, dripping down his face to drop to the sand below, momentarily darkening the bland granules.
*But I did regret letting them stay. If only I had listened to my other advisors. If only I had sent the strangers on their way...*
Forcing his thoughts of regret away, he returned to reliving the past. Today's date offered him no other recourse. The only method left to him to honor those that he had lived his mortal life with was in his remembering everything that happened, the good and the bad.
~~~
Earth, Ancient China, 587 A. D.
One year had passed since Navarre Khushrenada and his kin had arrived in the Dragon Clan's home.
One uneventful year.
The constant wars about the provinces of China had been quelled for the present, peace having settled in the principalities. Wufei and his people had enjoyed the lull, their lives filled with happiness and the everyday humdrum of life.
Navarre and his friends had stayed with the clan, lending their individual skills to the villagers. Eventually Wufei had discovered the scholar in Navarre, and the two men had shared many evenings passing the time away discussing the works of philosphers and the meaning of human existence.
They had grown close enough that Wufei had begun to consider the older man as his friend.
That had all changed.
Wufei had never questioned why Navarre had always come around his personal dwelling. Why all of their discussions always took place in his household, where his wife and two children also dwelled.
He had gotten his answer.
An answer he would have been happy to have never learned.
Wufei had received a distress call from a nearby ally, asking for his assistance. Unable to ignore the call, the young chief had taken his warriors, leaving enough in the village to adequately protect it, and had gone to the aid of his ally.
With his absence, his hidden enemies had decided to strike.
Wufei had returned home from battle, bloody and with a heavy heart. Although victorious, he was returning home with several dozen less men than he had left with. The battle had been fierce and he had lost many young warriors.
Too many.
However, an even greater tragedy was awaiting him in his home.
The returning warriors had topped the rise of the road that led into their village, ready to revel in the comforting embraces of their loved ones and prepared to give their condolences to those who had lost members of their family.
They were not ready for the loss awaiting them in their village.
They were not prepared for the loss OF their village.
Wufei and the others had taken in the complete silence of the village with dazed shock. The bodies that lay strewn over the ground, twisted in every conceivable way, great, bloody wounds gracing their necks, looks of horror and terror gracing their stiff faces.
The warriors had made their way into the village, their movements stiff and jerky. Wufei's eyes had swept over everything, noting that no one had been spared in the carnage. Men, old and young alike, women, and children were all among the dead. In fact, every single member of his clan left behind had been brutally slaughtered.
They examined the first few bodies, their own working automatically, their minds too stunned for comprehensive thought. Dimly they all noted that the bodies were completely drained of blood, the only visible wounds for most of the bodies were bruises that peppered the stiffening skin and the great bloody holes in each victim's neck.
Wufei's heart bled at the deaths of his people. Sorrow welled up, followed closely by anguish and despair. Lastly, anger, terrible fury, welled up, threatening to choke him. His vision started turning red, his mind grasping the reed of revenge like a lifeboat.
His mind suddenly jerked as a scream rendered through the air.
*Meiran!!!!*
The silence following such an anguished scream was terrifying.
He bolted forward on his warhorse, heading towards the center of the village where his dwelling lay. He left his warriors behind to start cleaning up the mess as he frantically made his way down the familiar path that led to his home.
He never saw the dark figures that slinked through the shadows towards his abandoned warriors.
~~~
Wufei entered his home, the smell assaulting his nose and senses first. The scent of drying blood cloyed the air; a sickly sweet odor that threatened his gut with nausea. Even the seasoned hard warrior he was, he still hated the smell and sight of blood.
With curt glances through the public living areas, his gaze lightly noticing the wreckage strewn around the rooms, the holes gracing the paper thin barriers of each room's sliding door, he made his way to the private areas of his home. Items, both personal and honored, were callously thrown about.
A deathly silence filled the nursery that held his children's cradles. Against his will, he entered the dark room, the windows having been slammed shut, keeping out the rays of the sun. The silence in the room was unnatural, every instinct in his body rebelling, pulling at him, telling him to flee the room.
He made his silent way over to the cradles, the only unturned pieces of furniture left in the room. His heart pounding with each beat, his eyes widened as he finally reached the first cradle.
He gagged.
Then he lost all of the contents of his stomach on the littered floor.
Tears of anger and anguish filled his eyes falling unheeded down his face. His teeth gritted together as intense agony and grief bolted through his system, desolation replacing the earlier anger.
His shoulders were heaving even though his stomach had long since been emptied. He lay, kneeling on the floor, his sword left on the ground, forgotten.
Several moments passed as he kneeled there shocked. The brutal mastery in which his children had been slaughtered had torn through him, destroying whatever vestiges of sanity remained in his mind after seeing the destruction of his village. The total lack of regard, the ignorance of any semblance of honor and human decency ravaged his soul, casting it into darkness.
A sudden noise at the doorway of the nursery brought his head up as he whipped it around, his hand automatically heading for his sword.
There, standing in the doorway, an entirely too smug expression on his elegant face, flesh and clothing marred with the crimson streaks of blood, was the killer of his children.
The killer of his village and his people.
The killer who Wufei had once considered a friend.
Navarre Khushrenada stood in the doorway, filling it with his large frame. His ginger colored hair was free from its binds, flowing over his shoulders, matted with drying blood. Wufei's blood boiled as he thought of the blood that marred the man's clothing, knowing it belonged to those he called his family.
However, the sight of the woman in Navarre's arms, unconscious, bleeding, and entirely too still, enraged him even further.
"What have you done?!!!" he screamed, his fury making his voice crack and break.
Navarre chuckled lightly, menace lining his tone. "I have done what I have wanted to do since stepping foot in your precious mortal village."
Navarre bared his teeth, revealing the blood stained teeth and the sharp, elongated canines.
Wufei sucked in his breath as he whispered one word, "Vampire."
"Yes. Now do you understand, little Dragon chief? Now that it's too late?"
Sudden intuition filled Wufei, knowledge of past mistakes and naive trust.
"Kisama! Those men you claimed jumped you and your family... you killed them didn't you? It was their blood that marred your clothing, not yours!"
"Yes. They were thieves, but those chose the wrong travelers to attack."
Wufei palmed his blade, waving it menacingly at the vampire. "Put Meiran down," he threatened, his voice steady despite the emotional pain that still lingered.
"And just what do you think you're going to do with that?" the vampire asked amused. "I can't be killed by mortal weapons."
"No? But you can't be hurt!" Wufei cried out.
Wufei, his logic blinded by his passionate rage, struck blindly, attempting to force the man to drop his beloved.
Navarre moved too quickly for Wufei to follow. All he knew was that one instant Navarre was in front of him, the next he was behind him, grabbing his arms in a powerful grip.
Navarre snapped Wufei's wrists, causing the enraged warrior to drop his sword, his hands no longer having the physical support to hold the heavy weapon. Wufei cried out in pain and thwarted fury as he felt his bones break.
"NOOO!!!"
Navarre held his body completely still, his physical strength completely outweighing the shorter man. Wufei could hear his sibilant voice in his ear, near his bare throat. Navarre chuckled triumphantly, his voice promising death.
"How does it feel, little chieftain, to know that your remaining soldiers are probably now dead?"
Wufei jerked his head at the question, his eyes wide with terror, something that was not lost on the vampire.
"Oh yes. By now they've been attacked by my family members, probably drained completely dry. But don't worry, little Dragon. Soon you will be joining them."
Wufei's throat was dry, his breath coming out in harsh gasps. Tears of despair and anger seeped from his eyes, his heart and soul crying out for those lost to him forever.
He whispered one word, "Why?"
The vampire holding him was silent for a moment before he finally answered. "Because we can. Because you mortals are so pathetic, so easily fooled. You must all pay for your naivety."
Wufei struggled in the iron grip, unable to do anything but strike with his words, his voice rising in tone and pitch with each frantic phrase. "But why them? Why innocents? Why my children! WHY, GOD DAMN YOU, WHY???!!!!"
Navarre shrugged his shoulders and said simply, "She wouldn't leave them, or you. So, I had to eliminate all obstacles in my path. I always get what I want. Always."
"She? You mean Meiran?!"
"Yes. The beauty wouldn't leave with me when I asked her, so I killed her children. And I will kill you. That way, she will have nothing to come back for when we leave."
"Leave?!"
Navarre chuckled and said, "Yes. She will be coming with us. I will keep her around as long as it amuses me, and then I will kill her. It was time to replace Nina anyway."
"I won't let you take her!!!"
Wufei struggled in the grip of the monster behind him, trying to swing with any part of his body that could inflict any type of discomfort, if not pain. Navarre just gave his irritating chuckle again and said, "You can't stop me."
Wufei froze as he felt Navarre's lips on his throat, felt the sharp ends of his fangs.
"Time to die now."
Navarre swiftly buried his fangs in Wufei's throat, tearing open the vein in his neck. Wufei cried out as pain lanced up his neck and back, as his blood ebbed from his veins into the monster who had destroyed his life.
Wufei felt the darkness creeping closer, promises of peace and quiet hanging in the air, tantalizing his tired soul and mind. His last thought before the shadows swallowed him up was, *I'm sorry, Meiran.*
~~~
"Oh, brother! There's another one over here! And it's still breathing!"
A harsh whine filled Wufei's ears, dragging his mind from oblivion to the harsh reality of the conscious world. Sharp white pain exploded behind his eyes as he opened them, attempted to focus on the two blobs that moved above him.
A soft, husky voice replaced the harpy's prattle. "Quiet, Relena. This one is still alive, but he won't be for long."
Wufei's vision focused on one of the blobs, allowing him to see long platinum hair and blue eyes. He feebly worked his mouth, but no sound emerged. The figure above him placed a slim finger on his lips halting movement.
The pleasant voice started up again, "Just blink once for yes, twice for no. Were vampires here?"
Wufei blinked once.
"Was it a man calling himself Navarre Khushrenada?"
Wufei blinked once again.
Cursing filled his ears, even as his eyes started to close tiredly. He wanted to succumb to the temptations of rest, but the voice dragged him out again.
"Come, my friend. You're the only survivor of your clan. Surely you don't wish to just give up? Surely they're worth the price of revenge."
Wufei's eyes opened again at that statement, a quiet fire smoldered in his eyes, a spark of life once again beginning to burn. The man above him chuckled at that, even as his words took an earnest turn.
"You have to choose, and you don't have much time. I can give you power. The strength to bring revenge and damnation to the ones who killed off your loved ones."
Wufei wet his lips as his weakening voice croaked out one word. "Justice..."
The man nodded, although the action was lost on the young dying chief whose vision was rapidly ebbing.
"Your answer?"
Wufei closed his eyes, his slowing mind sifting through his limited options. With the resolve of his soul, he made the decision to change his life forever.
"Yes."
~~~
Earth, Sank Kingdom AC 199
Wufei opened his eyes as he remembered his first meeting with Zechs Merquise, a vampire. Although not an Original vampire, the Triumvirate had granted him the power centuries before to grant the Dark Gift, as repayment for hunting down a former rogue Original who had turned insane.
It was only by use of this power that Wufei's life had been saved and he had awakened to the world he had chosen.
The world of the night.
The world of the vampire.
Swearing his immortal existence to wiping the Khushrenada clan off of the face of the universe, and thereby avenging his village and his slaughtered family, Wufei had joined up with Zechs and his slightly insane sister. He had learned everything he could of his new life from his maker, learning to control the blood lust and his Powers.
He had learned that Zechs had been trailing the Khushrenada rogues ever since he had been created. His sister had been attacked by a Khushrenada vampire and had been taken against her will. Desperate to follow her, Zechs had courted the night, openly seeking to challenge the vampires.
Another Original Vampire had found him first, informing him that he wouldn't be able to destroy the vampires in his current mortal state. The vampire had offered to grant him the Dark Gift to give him the power to defeat his enemy, sincerity and understanding lurking in his light blue eyes.
Zechs, having accepted, hunted down the vampire rogue who had his sister, but it was too late. He had already made Relena a Reverant, a creature with no mind of its own, helpless to obey the every whim of its master.
Grief stricken, Zechs had attacked the Khushrenada vampire, intent on destroying him. Cockiness had granted the older vampire over confidence, giving Zechs the much needed edge to destroy the vampire. However, with the vampire's destruction, another problem had arisen.
Reverents' lives are attached to their masters, if they die, than the Reverent dies within 24 hours. Not understanding, Zechs had taken his sister to the vampire who had made him. The small blond immortal had revealed to the fledging that he would have to make her HIS Reverent, if she was to live. [2]
Torn between losing his sister and letting her die, Zechs had taken enough of her blood and giving a small portion of his own, tying her life to his. Unfortunately, the time between the Khushrenada's death and Zechs's possession had destroyed part of Relena's mind, leaving her emotions in a constant state of agitation.
In essence, she was totally dependent upon her brother, her mind at the developmental stage of a young child. [3]
Swearing revenge on all those bearing the Khushrenada name, Zechs had been following the rogues for centuries. He had unfortunately been too late to prevent the tragedy of the Dragon Clan, but he had managed to save Wufei's life, granting the young noble a chance to avenge those he had once ruled over.
Wufei stared out at the rolling ocean, watching the ocean blue waves roll in and out. He face hid all of his sorrow and heart pain, steadily falling back into his normal mask of determination and impassivity.
Meiran and his two children only existed in his mind now, he didn't even have a painting to remember them by. It was their memory that kept him going, knowledge that after his blood oath had been fulfilled, peace would finally return to his heart.
In the beginning he had contemplated destroying himself once his vow had been completed. The belief that he might be able to join his beloved family in the vestiges of the afterlife had turned his thoughts down that dark path, but he had eventually given up on the idea. He had lived too long as an immortal to die now.
As much as he detested the aching in his heart, he also knew that he was afraid to die. He had grown to love moving through the decades, watching the evolution of humanity through the eons. He also knew that if he did destroy himself, he might simply... go out. His soul might have been destroyed by accepting the Dark Gift, and there was no surety that he would go on like mortals did.
He feared that oblivion of nothingness more than he did the emptiness.
Besides, he wasn't alone any longer. Zechs and Relena, although they got on his nerves now and again, were his family now. And even if his vow was complete, injustice still ran through the world. He would dedicate his immortal existence to the erradication of all those who were unjust.
Having come to his peace for another day, Wufei stood and made his way from the cove and back up towards the palace. He could almost sense the nearly forgotten smell of jasmine and sandlewood that had been Meiran on the wind. It was if her soul was pushing him towards the end of the goal, towards his eternal peace.
*I promise you, Meiran, I will finish what I have begun.*
~~~
Earth, Romefeller/OZ Headquarters AC 199
The shadowy figure left Treize Khushrenada's office and made her way up the winding stairs to her lair above. Once there, she opened the hidden panel and stepped inside. She silently walked over to the single chair in front of the fire place, lowering her body into the plush velvet.
On silent feet, her servants began to hover around her, seeing to her every silent wish. Their training had been complete, brutal and effective.
One with a hairbrush started to run it gently through the woman's long locks, careful to not pull on it. Another removed her simple black flats, rubbing her feet with gentle, circular motions. A crystalline goblet was placed in her hand, the firelight winking off of the expensive glass.
The woman watched with languid eyes as a pale wrist hovered over the glass, another reaching up with a knife. The servant slid the edge of the knife over the pale skin, allowing the welling blood to fall into the glass. When the goblet was half filled, the arm quickly disappeared, not a drop of blood out of place.
With a murmur of appreciation, the woman lifted the glass to her lips, taking a tiny sip. While she truly enjoyed the adrenaline that rushed through her system at a hunt, sometimes it was nice to take a break and allow her Reverents to care for her.
Draining the glass, she abruptly stood up, handing the crystal over to a hovering servant. She moved through the room to a closed door on the far wall. She opened the door and quickly entered.
The room was lightly lit by the dying sun, giving way to the seductive night. However, the woman's eyesight was perfectly adequate to see the other that sat in the room, quiet and demure.
The other turned listless eyes up to her Mistress, blank and staring, no will or comprehension lurked in the dark depths. The vampire chuckled, her voice low and sultry. Moving over to her side, the vampire trailed slender fingers through the dark locks of her companion.
The woman gave no reaction, her body held completely still. Her hands were clasped in her lap, relaxed and silent. The dying sun cast a fiery glow on the ebony hair that fell down her back, almost to the floor. The woman was clad in a soft linen shift, her figure neatly outlined.
The vampire's fingers took the woman's chin in hand, turning her unresisting face upwards. The vampire's eyes glowed softly red, as she exerted influence on the human's mind.
"Ah yes, little dragoness. Soon, you will play out your little part in this drama. Won't he be suprised?"
The vampire reached down and pressed a light kiss to rosebud lips. With one last chuckle, she released the woman's face and left the room, shutting the door behind her with a soft click.
As the sun completely set, dark shadows played on the still woman who used to be known as Meiran Chang.
TBC...
[1] I'm not going to go into great detail here about the past history of their rather frictional beginnings, rather, this could be groundwork for another fiction in the woodworks, say a side story?? let me know if I sparked anyone's interest
[2] Know who Zechs' maker is?
[3] Hmm, maybe another side story?
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