Step Inside the Circle Part 4
Kahn was sitting on Wufei's bed, watching with the sort of wide-eyed curiosity that only a canine could manage as the Chinese man pulled clothing from his dresser and shoved it into a bag.
Wufei worked quickly - the back of his neck was prickling, as though he were missing something important and, given the rather odd events of the past couple days, undoubtedly dangerous. Part of him couldn't help wanting to strangle one Duo Maxwell for ever getting him involved... and the other part was yelling at him to hurry up.
Heaven only knew what Duo was getting himself into at the moment!
He was distantly aware of approaching sirens as he turned and grabbed a photo from his nightstand. He paused to stare down at the girl's image, smiling back up at him...
BBBRRRRRIIING!
He looked back over his shoulder and yelled, "Can one of you pick that up?" as he hurriedly shoved the girl's photo into his bag. He hoped Quatre and Trowa wouldn't weird out whoever was calling him. Hesitating only a moment, he grabbed a battered-looking old bag that clanked as it moved and shoved it into his backpack.
As he turned back to his dresser, though, the door behind him slammed open, and Trowa rushed in with a pinched, worried look on his face. "There is no more time. Come on - we have to go."
"What?!" Wufei jerked, stunned, as Trowa ripped the bag from his hands and zipped it closed. "But I'm..."
"That was Duo on the phone," Trowa continued, pulling Wufei from the room with a vice-like grip on his upper arm. "His house has been attacked - they think by some form of fire serpent. It could be anywhere - it is probably coming here next. Now, come on!"
"A what?!"
Trowa snorted. "That was my reaction, too. You heard me." He yanked harder on Wufei's arm as the man struggled to free himself.
Wufei jerked his arm free, scowling. "Can you wait just a frickin' moment!" He pulled away and grabbed for Kahn's leash. "Come here, boy! Come on, Kahn!"
As he struggled to get the leash onto the overexcited dog, he asked, "Where's Quatre?"
"Outside." Trowa moved to a window and peeked out, worriedly. "He's our best chance, if it really is a fire serpent..."
"Gwydion!"
Cursing, Trowa dropped Wufei's bag and ran out the door.
~*~
Duo was still rubbing at the back of his head as he and Heero sped down a darkened street in the Japanese man's SUV. "You didn't have to yank my braid - I was coming, anyway."
Heero spared him a glance. "They could all die if we don't get there fast enough. You were moving too slowly."
Duo turned to him with a scowl. "I'm giving you decaf next time. You've gotten nastier, if that's even possible."
"Don't you dare..." Heero bit his words off, as though it took an extreme act of will to do so. "Duo," he continued in a measured, calm voice, "things have happened that you cannot possibly imagine. If I have been short with you, it is because I do not wish to see them happen again. I am not trying to be unpleasant."
There was silence for a long moment. Duo watched the other man's profile, illuminated by the red traffic light overhead. "You were the one he told me about, weren't you? The guy that bastard forced to watch as he..." Duo shuddered. "That was you."
"Yes, it was." Heero's eyes narrowed. "I learned how to hate that day."
"I'm sorry," Duo whispered, looking away. He didn't know what to say. "Turn right here, and he's... oh dear God!"
The car skidded to a halt, and both young men stared in open awe at the scene in front of them.
~*~
Hooded and skulking in the darkness, Quatre was in his element.
Many people who met him were shocked that such an upbeat, buoyant individual could be Bean Sidhe. They could not equate his bright, cheerful face with the image that he now exuded from every pore of his black-cloaked body.
He was no longer the smiling, sympathetic person he'd been all day at the Pub; Quatre Bean Sidhe seemed to be at least a foot taller than his modest 5'8" and much broader. Darkness seemed to swirl around him as he called on the shadows and felt the marking on his body responding.
It was a liberating feeling, to free the darkness he kept inside.
He felt his enemy approaching, and he stepped out of the shadows, casting the cloak aside as an unneeded prop. He was shirtless underneath, the tattoos on his skin slowly bleeding out into visible smoky blue trails over his bare skin that swirled into in a complicated pattern from their anchor points, twin serpent knots inked over his navel and in the middle of his lower back. The Eagle spread over his shoulder blades shimmered. As he closed his eyes and whispered one last call to the darkness, the blue wheel of life adorning his forehead flashed brightly.
His eyes as he opened them again seemed like solid stones - a dark, glittering blue to match the heart of the pulsating tattoo on his forehead. And as he stretched out sinewy arms, stretching fingers bearing long, darkened claws, he flashed a menacing, dark smile. His short, blond hair stood up as though blowing in the waves of darkness that caressed his body like a lover.
The Banshee could take many forms. The Eagle Warrior, though, was perhaps the most powerful of them. Quatre alone of any Banshee who had been born for the past five hundred years could take that form, and it was for that reason that he was called Bean Sidhe.
He could feel the serpent approaching, shrouded in darkness. Quatre smiled. Why bother letting it hide its face? He waved his arm - as though the darkness were his personal cloak, the night swirled, and his enemy was before him.
~*~
Heero could not tear his eyes from the creature. "Duo, do you know how to handle any firearms?"
The Tuatha De similarly was having trouble looking away. "I, uh... yeah, of course I do! This is hunting country."
Heero finally tore his gaze away. "Very backseat, then. Arm yourself and stay close to me, you got that?"
Duo turned to look at him. "We're all getting through this, Heero."
"I hope so." Heero turned back to look at the creature in the road ahead of them. Though it seemed unaware of their presence for the moment, he knew that would not last long, and he cursed his stupidity at letting the others go off on their own. What could he possibly do without somehow compromising them...
Suddenly, the darkness swirled, and Heero smiled for the first time that night.
He could see Bean Sidhe waiting ahead in the darkness.
~*~
"Gwydion!"
Quatre's eyes zeroed in on his enemy - the fire serpent was an ugly thing, pitch black save for eyes of red fire. He could hear other people on the street yelling, but he didn't look away. He would have to trust them to Trowa.
He held out one clawed hand and let some of his power gather there. "Halt."
The word, though softly spoken, cracked over the street like a shot. Quatre was gratified to see the serpent falter for a moment in its approach; he gave a dark smile.
It had been a while since he'd last faced such an enemy. He tensed - the attack would come any moment now-
With an ear-splitting scream, the serpent's jaws opened and fire spewed forth, like a private version of Hell. Quatre's own battle cry rose in a keening wail as he threw himself into the air and, evading the fire, spun to land behind the creature. Before it could even begin to turn to face him, an expression of utmost hate contorted Quatre's face, and he slashed at it with his long claws.
Black blood boiled on the street.
~*~
Trowa forced himself to look away as Quatre engaged the creature - knowing the blond, he would not have engaged the enemy alone if he didn't think he could handle it. But in the meantime...
He could see why the Banshee had called for him - there were people out in the street, scared people. And if they panicked enough to blunder into the fight... Trowa's features hardened. Both Duo and Wufei would be extremely upset to see anything happen to these people. He reached into one of the many pockets of his coat and pulled out a small pan flute.
As he lifted it to his lips, the snakes on his wrists began to dance again.
~*~
Wufei stared in horror as Quatre easily evaded the monster. He was transfixed - it was impossible, what he was seeing, and yet it was there...
His terror lifted, though, as a sound drifted over the serpent's screams, softly at first, but then stronger, more insistent. It was a gentle melody, and it touched his heart and spoke to him.
Somewhere in the fogged recesses of his brain, the flute melody sang with Trowa's soft, lilting voice: There is nothing here... This is all but a fantastic dream. You are tired, so tired...
Growling, Wufei rubbed at his eyes and tugged at Kahn's leash. He'd been over that argument already, only he hadn't been so kind as to use the word 'dream' for it. This was a nightmare, if he'd ever had one. "Trowa... get out of my head!"
The lilting voice in his mind chuckled lightly.
Growling and fighting the insistent voice singing in his head, Wufei edged out his door and around the grisly scene before him. He tried not to look too carefully; Quatre's gleaming flesh was liberally splattered with blood that seemed to evaporate off of the glowing patterns that covered his flesh. He hoped none of it belonged to the blond. He could just barely see a car beyond the fight, and Heero and Duo climbing out, both armed with dangerous-looking guns. And Trowa about halfway between, flute still at his lips. Several of the trees along his street were on fire, painting the whole scene in red and gold.
It was a vision Wufei could have easily done without.
He tore his eyes away as he watched the serpent's tail finally connect with Quatre and send the Banshee flying into a building with a loud THUNK. He had to get to Duo...
Kahn began growling, though, and he looked down at the beast. "Kahn, what's..."
Howling broke out around him, and Wufei's blood ran cold as four large dogs slunk out of the darkness, their eyes fixed on him.
He dropped the leash.
~*~
Quatre groaned as he forced himself to his feet yet again. The serpent was weakening, true, but it was still bloody strong! In fact, had anyone BUT a banshee taken that blow, they would not have risen again, and he knew it.
The serpent was turning away; Quatre's heart flew into his throat as he saw Heero standing protectively in front of Duo, just beyond the creature. Keening again as he burst into a run, he threw himself at the beast, claws digging into its back and through its thick, hard scales.
The serpent's blood sprayed over him again, and he ignored it as it burned on his skin. There had to be a way to destroy it!
~*~
Kahn growled and crouched between Wufei and the strange dogs, while the Chinese man backed away slowly. In all his life, he'd never seen animals this large, nor this menacing. With shaking hands, he pulled his bag off his shoulder and struggled with the zipper. He'd sworn once that he would never again use a weapon in anger. Sworn to her.
But...
Growling and howling, the strange dogs attacked, all leaping for Kahn.
Hearing the German Shepherd yelp as one of them managed to bite jolted Wufei back into action. He opened the backpack and reached for the old, embroidered bag he'd stowed there.
~*~
Heero saw Quatre jumping for the beast again, but still brought his weapon up to his shoulder. The Bean Sidhe was not infallible; he was just another warrior, and was no doubt already weakening from the prolonged fight. Especially against such a formidable foe - even the Sacred Eagle would be hard pressed to defeat it.
Cursing, he threw the gun to the side. He knew damned well that the weapon would have been of little to no use against a serpent; he just didn't want to use anything more... specialised in front of so many people. But since Trowa seemed to have them all well in hand, it was definitely worth the risk. Running back to the car, he threw himself at the case in the backseat and opened it, pulling out two blades that glinted in the firelight-
"Wufei, no!"
Heero spun just in time to see Duo take off running towards the fires and the serpent at their centre. "Fuck!"
Flipping the swords in his hands and feeling the power within him rising to the surface, he ran after the Tuatha de Danaan, and sent a quick prayer up to the Goddess: 'My Lady, let him survive this so that I can kill him!'
~*~
Duo's world narrowed down to the hounds surrounding his best friend and pet. He could hear Treize's voice in his mind, an endless, hellish repeat of the same words: 'I fed his still-beating heart to my hounds while his man looked on helplessly, did you know that?'
Something swiped at him, but he ducked beneath it, not bothering to even glance at whatever it was that had nearly taken his head off. There was fire everywhere, but it seemed to dance away from him as he approached, evaporating away as the dancing tattoos on his wrists and arms came back to life. Duo paid it no attention.
Kahn was in pain - he could hear the dog's voice clearly, and one of the hulking, ugly hounds was slipping past him-
Without stopping to think, Duo skidded to a halt and brought up the rifle he'd taken from Heero, sighting and firing faster than he would have believed possible.
There was a yelp of pain, and blood flying on the air-
Duo was forced to dodge as something swung at his head again. Growling, he looked this time; the serpent was bleeding heavily as it threw Quatre off its back once more, its steps lumbering and awkward, but it was still moving. Its tail was coming up and flying at him with bone-crushing strength. "Holy shit!" He ducked and rolled.
Heero was quite suddenly between him and the beast. "Stay back!" he ordered roughly, bringing up his blades, even as Quatre once again leapt into the air, his voice a terrifying wail as he attacked.
Duo turned back around, choking on the smoke that filled the air. He could just see Wufei, something glinting in his hands as he avoided one of the huge hounds. Kahn, clearly favouring one leg, still stood between his friend and the attackers. Duo's heart leapt into his throat, and he stumbled awkwardly in that direction.
~*~
Trowa's music faltered - he felt someone hiding nearby. With a sick feeling in his heart, he knew who it had to be. "Greine, he's here!"
"How astute."
The druid spun around, light flashing in his hands as it stretched and solidified into a solid staff that gleamed in the darkness. Stepping out from behind a house was Treize, though he looked much more the part of a Formore King now than he had in the light of day. A patch presumably covered where one eye would have been missing, and he limped awkwardly with one leg that clearly appeared to be longer than the other. "I'm surprised you dare to show your real face, Balor," he spat angrily.
The Formore laughed - and continued closer, forcing Trowa to back away. "Did I hear you rightly that Greine is here? Perfect. He will be able to watch again..."
A high-pitched yelp cut off Treize's gloating, though, and Trowa smirked. "Awww... that sounded like one of your precious doggies, you bastard. You might have to change your plans if you thought you could feed Duo to them."
The gruesome smile on the Formore's face slipped, and he glared. "Step away, Gwydion. Get in my way, and I will be forced to kill you." He stepped forward.
Trowa swung the staff around until its base pressed against Treize's chest. "And why would you hesitate? You'll kill us all; I'd prefer to go down fighting. If you've got what it takes to kill a High Druid, that is."
Another shot rang out, and another dog's yelp sounded. Behind Trowa, Quatre and Heero were closing on the serpent, its tail twitching feebly as it attempted to flee, its legs no longer obeying the command to move.
Treize cursed and attempted to dodge past, but Trowa moved faster, his staff whistling through the air as it flew to connect to the Formore's back and send him sprawling. "Turn and face me, Balor!"
Treize pushed himself up from the ground looking even more amused than he had before. "You wouldn't want to harm a family member, would you, Trowa?"
A faint glimmer of unease showed in green eyes before Trowa mastered himself. "You are no relation of mine, Formore..."
"Perhaps not by blood, no," Treize said casually, dusting off his clothes as he stood, "but I am your sister's husband, boy. Haven't you wondered where she ran off to?"
~*~
Wufei winced as he threw off the last of the dogs, wiping blood andsweat from his forehead with his by now extremely dirty shirtsleeve. He knelt, still fighting to breathe, and reverently wiped the two sais in his hands on the grass, staring at them with a haunted expression.
A whine and a cold nose reminded him that something else was still close by, and he looked up with a small smile. "Good boy, Kahn - you were magnificent," he rasped out, patting the dog on the head. The dog licked his hand.
"Wufei!"
He looked up - Duo was running towards him, a rifle still held in his hands, and several things finally made sense. As the man skidded to a stop at his side, he threw him a grin. "Nice shooting, Maxwell."
Duo fell to his knees at Wufei's side and forcibly turned the Chinese man to have a good look at him - he was sporting several wicked-looking cuts and gashes, though thankfully nothing that looked too bad. And in his hands...
Duo winced as he saw the sais. He knew their significance. "I'm sorry, Wufei. I'm sorry for all of this, God, I'm sorry..."
"Maxwell." Duo looked up to find Wufei staring down at him with an infuriatingly neutral expression on his face. "Shut up. I sincerely doubt you decided to send a fucking dragon looking for me."
"Dragon... Quatre! Heero!" Duo spun around, starting back up on his feet. He stopped, though - the beast was no longer moving and, before his eyes, was quickly burning to a fine ash and billowing black, acrid fumes under the watchful stares of its two combatants.
He turned back and knelt down again, reaching out to pet Kahn, who whimpered at the touch, but still tried to hobble closer. "Kahnnie... Shit, I've got to get you two out of here! Wufei, can you..."
Wufei was already back on his feet and looking for his hastily-discarded bag. "I'm fine, Maxwell. You worry about the beast; I can take care of myself."
Duo slung the rifle over his shoulder before kneeling to gently lift Kahn and, turning back around, head for the car.
~*~
Trowa's eyes were stinging from the smoke - it was billowing in their direction and, he belatedly noticed, conveniently hiding the two of them from everyone else's view. He glared hatefully in Treize's direction. "My sister has more taste than to take up with the likes of you."
"Look who knows so much," Treize taunted. "Do you realize - that makes that adorable little girl you failed to protect... your niece? How touching."
Trowa struggled for control. It was impossible! It was ridiculous! It was...
It was true. The more he thought about it, the more he knew in his soul that Treize was telling the truth. "Impossible!" He blinked, and in that short time, Balor had risen to his feet and was standing no more than a few inches away.
Trowa didn't have time to worry as a fist connected with his stomach, and he stumbled backwards in pain, clutching at his mid-section while calling up his power reserves. With a feral yell, he charged at the other man.
~*~
Heero looked up, confused. The beast was dead, so why would Trowa still be fighting...
He could vaguely recall hearing the druid yelling his name during the battle, but not what was said. "Quatre."
The Banshee looked over at him, clearly not focusing. "Hm?"
Heero turned, trying in vain to see through the thick smoke on the street. "Where is Gwydion? Focus, Quatre - we have to find him."
"Gwydion?" The Banshee stumbled slightly as he attempted to turn.
Heero cursed and lunged to catch his friend before he could collapse. Looking down, he finally saw the extent of the damage done to the blond, and he shuddered. "Goddess, look at you..."
"He's this way!" Heero's head came about - Duo was darting into the smoke. "Heero, over here!"
"Go, I've got him," Wufei said. Heero started - how did the man get so close to him without his noticing? He nodded, though. As Wufei took hold of a barely-conscious Banshee, he turned and ran for the darkness, as well.
~*~
Trowa staggered back, wincing. He had to stay out of the Formore's reach! He was frankly confused - Treize should have been showing at least some signs of the power that resided inside of him, yet he was resorting to taunts and purely physical attacks, luring him in just close enough...
Why?
He dived out of the way as Treize attacked again, rolling neatly back up to his feet and twirling his staff as he began chanting. His eyes gleamed in satisfaction - the ends of the weapon shimmered and melted, reforming into wicked-looking points. Still chanting, he swung it over his head.
Treize rushed at him again, but he ducked out of the larger man's reach and stabbed up at him.
The Formore grunted in pain, but to Trowa's amazed gaze, the sharp edge bent and broke against Treize's chest. A hard strike to his elbow forced him to release the staff.
Trowa rolled out of the way, furiously blocking as Treize continued his assault with a sickly gleam in his eyes. He scrambled for the staff, gripping it tightly in his hands. He didn't understand - it should have run the man through...
"Trowa!"
He felt his stomach drop into his toes - what under the Lady's Great Heavens was Duo doing there?! Heero should have gotten him away...
"Ah," Treize sighed, satisfied, "just who I wanted to see." He turned and growled as he broke into a run, raising a fist that, Trowa knew, was strong enough to crush a person...
"My Lord! Catch!" Without stopping to think, Trowa threw the staff straight over the Formore's shoulder.
~*~
Duo was damned fast; Heero had to give him that. He'd outdistanced Heero by quite a bit as he ran, and reached the combatants ahead already.
Heero watched in horror. Treize was...
A blurry flash flew over the Formore's shoulder.
Duo caught it carefully in his right hand. A staff? Heero stared and pulled one of his swords. Power poured into his hands as he drew back and threw with all his might.
~*~
Duo barely had time to think as he whirled the broken staff in his hands. One of the edges was crushed, but the other...
The flames at his wrists danced and flashed as he screamed and lunged.
He opened his eyes again, and stared in disbelief.
Treize was impaled on the end of the staff in his outstretched right hand.
There was a whirring thud, and the Formore screamed - a blade, still shimmering blue with power, was sticking in his shoulder.
Duo felt sick. He yanked back and heard a sickeningly wet sound as the staff came free. Blood was flowing freely from the wound to Treize's side, but the man reached over his shoulder and yanked the blade free, cursing and dropping it almost immediately. "Greine!" he spat, stumbling back.
Duo suddenly found that he was flanked on both sides. Heero was on his right, his other blade bare in his hands and also glinting with power. Trowa was on the other side, a dagger in either hand. Heero growled out at the Formore, "Leave. You are beaten, Balor."
Treize growled low in his throat. "If it were that easy, boy, your Prince Lugh would have managed it. But he's dead, isn't he?"
Heero's glare darkened and he started forward, but Trowa reached out and caught him by the shoulder. "No! That's what he wants. Do not get within his reach!"
"Leia was right, young man, you are smart," Treize acknowledged. He backed away. "I'll give her your greetings. Farewell, for the present."
"No!" Trowa yelled, but it was too late. Laughing, Treize simply vanished.
Duo began shaking almost immediately. "Oh my God! Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God..."
Trowa and Heero exchanged concerned looks over the Tuatha De's head before they each wrapped an arm around his shoulders and lead him back towards the car. They could hear sirens in the distance; they would need to be far away before they got there.
Duo would never believe it in the future when they told him about it later, but the entire battle lasted mere minutes.
TBC...
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