Christ, how was I supposed to know shit would turn up like it did?
Feels like I'm going psycho again
And I might just blow my lid...
...'cause I'm runnin' in circles with my life...
-Lyrics performed by Eminem of 'My Life' with 50 cent and Adam Levine
Crimson Bonds Part 11
It happened so fast.
It happened so easily.
One moment the pretty little thing was alive and now the pretty little bitch was dead.
Running a hand over his short, brown hair, Mark stared with wide, green eyes at the still body of his latest conquest that remained naked and sprawled out across her mattress. She would no longer go on and on about how wonderful the Vampires were now.
After being lucky enough to have had the Hunter throw her a good round in her bed, the young woman quickly lost her beauty when she indulged him with more stories from her family's past highlighted with a rescue from a death camp. His interest had only been born of his desire for information on the Barton-Yuy Clan, but the little whore could not stop praising the blood-suckers...
...until Barnett... snapped. He snapped and so did the little bitch's neck before she could get so much as a scream out.
So fast. So easy. No more words... no more sounds at all.
Finally coming back to his senses, Mark closed his hanging jaw as he frantically clawed his way from the strewn sheets and blankets.
Dry washing his face with his shaking hands, he gathered his thoughts as best he could. He needed to think of who saw him leave the bar with the little witch. He had to get his belongings out of her house... he needed to check in with Septum.
A chill running down the beck of his neck at thinking about his boss, the Hunter scanned the room and hurried to gather his pile of clothes. Pulling on every article in haste, he thought it best to get what he came for. That would make his provider happy.
Barnett leaned over the corpse that continued to stare up at the ceiling in frozen horror as he took hold of the silver locket sitting on the nightstand at the other side of the bed. Stuffing it into his jeans, he hurried into the nearby den where journals, more pictures and other memorabilia that he had been shown waited for the taking.
One of the larger photos was captured in a snapshot from the recent graduate's cell phone.
Mark bit his lip and steadied his hand enough to send the capture to an email he had committed to memory and finished stuffing as many items as he could carry on his person, be it in his pockets or under his arm while being careful to not touch anything that he was leaving behind.
Then, when he took all he was able to manage, the young man began to take the stairs leading to the ground level while using his free hand to press and hold the button on his cell for the only speed dial line saved in it. At no surprise, the scientist answered on the second ring, "Septum."
"Hey, boss. Just checking in," Barnett greeted, pleased at how casual he was able to sound despite his growing nerves. Pulling the hood of his windbreaker over his head, he pushed his side against the front door to open it open without touching it, silently thankful that his hostess was the one to grant him access to everything in her home.
Frowning deeply on the other end of the line, Septum checked his watch as he walked the halls of his facility. "At three in the morning there, Mark?" he replied. "What's the matter? No new bed warmer tonight?"
Stomach churning over the question, the Hunter laughed nervously, "I had a good prospect but... she got cold feet." In his head, he muttered, 'And cold everything else.' Clearing his throat, he informed, "However, I did manage to find something that you'll find interesting. Are you close to your computer?"
Intrigued, Septum pulled hard on the chain in his hand and turned a corner as he picked up the pace. "I'll be there in a minute," he answered. "So you actually found a pair of loose lips that led you to information we have been searching for? I wouldn't have thought that anything would have come from Warsaw."
Taking the front steps two at a time in his descent, Mark slipped into the darkened back alleys of the stone houses that stretched out on top of each other. "I got more than I bargained for, too," he snickered. "My next check in will be in person since the trail's pretty much dried up after what I just collected. Besides, I could use a change in scenery for now."
Off in the distance, the sound of police sirens screamed through the night.
Shit. That little bitch made enough of a scream to have alerted someone.
Trying to keep his rushed breath from his voice as he began to run through the more desolate of streets, Barnett announced, "Gotta go, boss. I'll talk to you when I get back to the base." He didn't bother waiting to hear the man's response before closing his cell phone and taking a full on dash back to his hotel.
All the while, his free right hand clenched and unclenched in an unconscious longing to return to the feeling of having that pretty little thing's neck in his grasp as he squeezed her life from her. There was an entirely different adrenaline that came from watching that light go out in her wide eyes...
...he liked it.
Staring at his phone, Septum's frown deepened as he stepped into his office. The automatic lights inside turning on at his entrance, the scientist hooked a section of the chain in his other hand onto the steep hook at the wall beside his desk and took to his seat.
Fingers flying nimbly over his keyboard while his monitor came to life, the researcher clicked on the notification of a new message flashing in its bottom corner. Without pause, he hovered his mouse over the attachment of that email and fell back with a sharp gasp at the image that filled the screen.
"Well, well, well," Millers smirked darkly. "Hello, friends." The image of the Barton-Yuy Clan surrounded by children, men and women wearing what his knowledge of history recalled to be the shabby, pinstriped uniforms of concentration camp prisoners was most unexpected. A fascinating piece of the mysterious family's past.
Already, Septum was salivating to have his hands on whatever else Mark had obtained. His arrival would not come soon enough.
His foot running over the chain stretching across the floor now, he focused on what more information could be coming... and opted to forget about the sound of the sirens in the background that he had picked up at the end of Barnett's call.
* * * * * *
"And now, I turn things over to my guest of honor, Senator McAdams..."
Heero pushed himself off the couch to cross the room and turned the television off just as the Council woman's smiling face appeared on it. "I cannot stand another minute of hearing from her," he growled under his breath.
Propping his head atop his arms that were folded at the top of the chair that he was straddling, Duo stared blankly at the black screen. Standing and sitting around the furniture around him, the rest of his family was doing the same.
After more than a whole day and night of watching report after report following the congressional vote that was about to reshape the Human-Vampire Treaty, the Clan was still struggling to come to grips with it all. It was like a nightmare that they could not wake from... surreal and out-of-body for all of them.
Wufei bit his lip as he took a step closer to the edge of the loveseat where his wife was perched. Reaching with a scaly hand to take the smooth one stretched out on the arm rest, he squeezed. Not needing to use his mind reading ability, he knew that his Chosen was worrying over what this would mean for their children every bit as much as he was.
Swallowing roughly, Anna turned her head to peer up at him and put on a brave smile. However, the slight reddening of her whites gave away to the tears that she was holding back. The sight nearly undid Chang right there. Before he could dwell on it, his bride looked away to stare into space once more.
"We still have not received word from Treize or his family," Trowa finally spoke up in little more than a whisper that may as well have been a shout in the wake of the silence that had fallen.
Heero shook his head, "No doubt they are still dealing with the fallout. I would not be surprised if the whole Vampire Council is not gathered in one place working out how they could work to turn this around... somehow."
Nodding, Duo murmured, "I'm sure they'll get a hold of us as soon as they can. If nothing else, they'll have a better idea than any other creatures to what may or may not come out of all of this."
He peered over his shoulder, pausing in worry over the empty expression on his sister's face. "Hey," he called softly, "You okay, Anna?"
In little more than a breath, the redheaded Vampire whimpered as she replied, "I... I just can't stand the thought of any trouble falling on the rest of you for going into hiding with our kids. I wouldn't survive it if we all had to stand on trial before the Council because of the new laws-"
Midi cut her off with a stern but kind, "Not another thought of that, dear heart." Winking when the Siren locked gazes with her, she smiled, "We do not have a single regret in keeping our family together. We've come through a lot worse than this over the centuries. A simple vote is not about to separate us now or ever."
Draping an arm around his wife's shoulders, Barton grinned to their cousin, "She's right, Anna. There will be a way through this. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised of part of the reason why we have not heard from our friends is because they are busy working out how we can get around whatever may come our way."
Heero took up the free cushion beside his sister and wrapped her waist up to pull her close. "That which does not kill us, right?" he smirked. Brightening at last, the Irish Infected smiled and nodded as she leaned heavily against his side. Wufei chuckled softly, sitting on the armrest and burying his scaly fingers into her thick curls to rub the back of her head.
"What's another move, anyway?" Duo snickered as he moved to kneel before Anna to hold onto her free hand. "If we have to pick up and take up a new residence because of this, it's no big deal. After staying here for so long, we could all go for a change of scenery."
Laughing through her tears of a much happier nature that began to fall, the redhead wiped them away as she nodded, "Alright. Alright. No more worrying." Slowly looking to every face around, she sighed sincerely, "Thank you. I love you all... so damned much." Quiet chuckles made their way around and Heero leaned in to kiss his direct bloodline's temple.
Just as silence had returned to the room, the shrill ring of the vidphone pierced it to have the whole lot jumping at its abrupt sound.
At a quick look to the name appearing on the monitor, Trowa snorted, "Sometimes I wonder if Noin can read minds from across the ocean." Eyes growing, the clan huddled around the propped up screen when the Original accepted the call to reveal Treize's image.
With a sad smile spreading across his face at the sight of all of his friends gathered close, the Councilman snickered, "I do hope that I have not left all of you sitting waiting for me to contact you all this time."
"You happened to catch us at the right moment," Barton reassured. His own grin slipping away, he asked, "How are all of you back in the States... considering everything that is happening?"
Shrugging, Khushrenada answered honestly, "We have been better. But I have to admit that since having taken a while to discuss the matter over with the whole Council in my estate, there is a much brighter glimmer of hope than there had been earlier."
To the curious expressions watching him, he stated, "I cannot go over all of the details as of yet, given how sensitive the situation since nothing is finalized. However, I wanted to call and let you all know that whatever may come about with the registrations we will still be miles ahead of the game and none of you will have anything to fear."
Her shoulders relaxing in hearing that, Anna released a deep sigh along with Wufei. "Thank you, Treize," the Chinese Infected said quietly as he held onto his wife's waist. "No one here ever doubted that you would not do all you can, but it is still a relief to actually have such reassurance come directly from you." Khushrenada bowed his head.
"So... is there anything more that you can tell us?" Duo inquired. He grinned mischievously, "Any Senators that need to be taken out to help with any future votes coming up?"
Treize barked a laugh and shook his head, "You're lucky I know you're joking, Maxwell. Although I am sure Shinigami would love that chance to shift the odds in the Senate back in our favor, we all know that is not how we handle these challenges."
Deep in the back of his mind, the Hybrid could hear his alter ego grumbling in disappointment. "Sorry, buddy," he murmured, "I tried. He does makes a point, though." His family snickered.
A thought coming to her, Midi questioned, "Was Noin able to read any minds to know the identities of the Representatives who sided with McAdams? At least you would have an idea as to who you need to sway back to understanding our side of this coin in what stricter restrictions would mean for our kind and the rights that we should be able to keep."
"I wish I could say that my cousin was able to do that," the Councilman sighed. Slumping a bit with his mood, he frowned, "There are far too many thoughts floating when so many are gathered in one place. She had tried before the votes were cast to sort through them until she nearly lost her own mind in the process."
Wufei let out a small grunt. "I had attempted the same thing in a crowded room once," he said, wincing at the memory. "It is not... a pleasant experience. It causes an intense migraine sensation... from what I recall of headaches from my days of being a human." Shaking his head, he muttered softly, "Not pleasant at all."
Nodding, Khushrenada responded, "That is just as Noin had described it. She called off her power before she gave way to her feeling unwell." His demeanor shifting once again, this time to a burrowed anger, he growled, "I doubt that the cowards who had voted against us would appreciate to learn that there is a mind reader in their midst since they relied on a secret ballot to hide their identities."
Quickly catching himself, the Original blinked widely and reined in those frustrations again. "Forgive me," he apologized. "That is not very becoming of a dignitary. But this whole ordeal has been very... unnerving to my family to think that we have sat with these smiling, friendly mortals to now realize that we do not know who we can really trust."
That setting in, the Barton-Yuy Clan looked anxiously to one another. This did bring about a whole other level of perplexed uncertainty to their plight. Knowing who their friends could turn to was half of the battle when it came to the preservation of the Vampires' rights. Now even that was in shambles.
Anna held in a gasp that wanted to break when she felt a sharp spasm in her abdomen. 'Damn stress," she thought to herself.
The medications were working their magic if they were still causing cramps more than twenty-four hours since the injection. Her elevated tensions were only adding to their intensity. Still, at least they meant the possibility for some happy news in the light of all of the angst that had overwhelmed the family.
While she had managed to betray her shot of pain from the others, the redhead was soon aware that her husband had caught onto it by the way he soothingly kneaded her lower back with a scaly hand. She gave him a private, loving smile in gratitude.
"I do not know that I would be able to share the same room with so many who could be waiting to put a knife in my back while shaking my hand," Trowa bit out quietly.
Treize snorted bitterly, "Well, we will not have to worry about that when it comes to the votes to come regarding the Treaty adjustments. I have received word that we on the Vampire Council will not be a part of the assembly or the actual casting of the ballots since where we stand is perfectly clear. Only I will be standing to make an appeal prior to that."
It made sense... but it did very little to help the cause in the grand scheme of things.
"Worst case scenario, then," Heero opened as he folded his arms across his chest. "Let's say there is a real tightening around the registration laws that we cannot hide from. How will we be able to explain away the fact that we have not been included in so many check ins for so many years?"
The smile returning to his face, Treize explained, "We have other friends in high places who will be able to make up for that. Already, we are in contact with those individuals to adjust the history of the registrations without raising any alarms or suspect of the tampering."
Focusing on the braided immortal, he hinted, "I believe that you know of one of those helpers, Duo. You should recall her picture being posted on a missing person notice from your mortal days."
Violet-and-silver eyes widening, Maxwell instantly remembered hearing of his fellow Companion taking up employment in the high offices of legal records that contained data from around the world. "Crystal," he breathed. "I forgot that she was recently promoted in the IT department. But do you think she would have the time to clear everything up with our background?"
Khushrenada nodded, "She has given her word on it. Before she and anyone else of conflicting interests to Vampires are temporarily removed from those stations, she has the access she needs to work from wherever she can get to a computer."
More than all other encouragements that had been offered by their friend, that was the one to completely set the family at ease.
Grinning, Wufei stated, "I would like to offer her a hand in that if you get a moment to communicate with her in the near future. Our combined programming skills should make quick work the task. And I will make absolute certain that there will not be any fallback for Crystal or the others helping us out."
"I will be sure to pass that on," the Councilman smiled. "And I hate to cut this so short, but we will catch up again as soon as my family and I have had a better chance to sort through this mess."
Raising an eyebrow to Yuy, he chuckled, "I hope that your offer for a vacation out there is still standing. By the time we get beyond the worst of this, I can say on behalf of my loved ones that we could all use some time away."
Heero smirked, "You don't even have to ask, Treize. You're all more than welcome to stay whenever you wish." The rest of his clan nodded to second the sentiment.
Sincerely humbled, the Original sighed, "Thank you. Take care, all of you." At that conclusion, the screen turned black with the cut of their connection.
Rubbing her hands together, Midi said softly, "Well, that is very promising news." She looked over the weary, ringed eyes of her family and announced, "I think we could all do with a cup of tea." Winking to Duo, she giggled, "And some nice warm soup for you." Hurrying off to busy herself, the 'little mother' disappeared.
"Yep. Existence is already back to being somewhat normal," Maxwell snickered.
* * * * * *
Later that evening...
'Read it and weep, suckers!'
Completing the subject of his message, Mark clicked the send button on his phone with a smirk.
That was sure to get a rise out of his fellow Hunters when they learned of his find. He doubted that any of them had any faith in him bringing anything substantial to the table for their hunt.
Septum might frown on his bragging the matter, but Bennett didn't give much of a shit. He would be easily forgiven once the boss got his hands on the other souvenirs that he'd brought from Warsaw.
Mentally returning to the sights and sounds of that little bitch gasping for her last breath, Mark's fingers clenched and unclenched around the straps of his backpack as he made his way through the massive state-side airport. Long past was the shock and the panic over the memory.
Now, the Hunter returned to the memory of it for an entirely different reason... He went there to remember the power... the control that he wielded in the heat of that moment...
...he liked it.
And he wanted it again.
TBC...
Back to SkyLark's Fanfictions Page