But hold me fast, Hold me fast
Cuz I'm a hopeless wanderer
And hold me fast, Hold me fast
Cuz I'm a hopeless wanderer
-Lyrics to 'Hopeless Wanderer' performed by Mumford and Sons
Crimson Bonds Part 24
"T-twin?" Lucie breathed in disbelief. Closing her gaping jaw as those silver-and-violet eyes continued to watch her intently from behind a fall of long, blonde bangs. "You never mentioned that our target had a brother, let alone a twin."
Septum never tore his gaze from his Pet as he replied, "With reason. I wanted to have the people that I took on to believe me from what proof I included in my uncle's research as opposed to having the evidence right in front of them. It was the best way of guaranteeing that they would remain loyal to the hunt."
Peering over at his associate from the corner of his eye, he admitted, "And besides that, my handling of this one is personal. I did not want to risk anything happening to him should one of your own get the bright idea of having some fun with him when I want all of his suffering to be brought on by me."
Instructor H. Killed by the very Hybrid who was now in the scientist's clutches. More than anything, Aisley had to admit that revenge was an acceptable reason for Millers' secrecy. Hell, were their roles reversed, she doubted that she would have acted any differently.
Nodding shallowly, she murmured, "I understand." And truly, she did. What ire she'd originally had over not being informed of this development had completely left her.
All that was left by any means of feelings around this discovery was the incredible excitement to what having one of the only two Hybrids to ever exist meant.
"I'm relieved to hear that," Septum sighed, turning his head towards her so that he could look on her plainly to show his sincerity. "You're the last person in this world I ever want to wrong," he all but whispered, shaking his head as a deep frown marred his face.
A warm smile tugging her lips, Aisley reached over to squeeze his arm. Just for effect, of course. She still had him right where she wanted him... wrapped a half dozen times around her pinky finger.
His own eyes narrowing back at his prisoner, Septum demanded in a tone dripping with ice, "Say hello to the nice lady, Pet."
It was a tone that took Lucie by surprise, her eyes blinking widely while her spine tingled from the chill that had shot up through her whole being. Swallowing roughly, she twisted her head back to watch the captive.
His head still lowered at a half-mast, Solo's lips pulled back in a vicious sneer with a sharp hiss. Instantly, Millers reached into the pocket of his white lab coat to press something inside. Gripping his neck to reveal the thick collar around it that had been concealed by his hair, the Hybrid screamed in agony as he crumbled to the floor.
As he released his hand from his pocket, the hatred in Septum's eyes only grew.
Coughing and gasping, the blonde immortal pushed himself up onto shaky feet. His posture saggy and his face wearing a defeated expression, he stared at the floor at his visitors' feet and opened his mouth to obey his command when his captor bit out, "On your knees when you say it."
There was a moment's hesitation at that. In spite of the pain and how helpless his situation was, the creature continued to hold onto some of his pride. But in the end, he opted to take the path of least resistance and lowered himself to his knees. Bowing his head deeply so that they did not have to see his frustration, he greeted flatly, "Hello."
Lucie's eyebrows rose as a wicked grin spread across her face. My, but the power that Millers wielded in being able to command such a beast. She could easily see how having such a willing 'Pet' had its perks and entertainment value. "How were you able to find him?" she asked, slowly peeling her attention away from the kneeling hostage.
Chuckling deeply as their eyes met, Septum replied, "Amongst the items in my uncle's lock box that I had acquired was a tracking device. Imagine my own shock that after so many years a sub-dermal chip implanted in his skin still worked. Thanks to my Pet still being part human, it is forever a part of him until physically removed. The fool never even knew that it was on him when I took him."
"I wasn't aware of everything your uncle and those bastards did to me. All I knew was pain," Solo retorted in a brief slip of that pride getting the better of him.
He was sorry for it when the collar on him was activated to pulse hot shock waves coursing into every cell of his body. Wailing in agony as he collapsed back onto the floor, the torment lasted longer than the last just to make a point when it came to his speaking out of turn.
Finally removing his thumb from the remote, Septum smirked to the curled up being before him with a deep chuckle, "And all that you will know for the rest of your days is pain. You killed innocent men, women and children in your escape. You will pay for every one of them and any others who had suffered at your hands in your freedom."
Solo remained quiet and still on the floor, too afraid to so much as shift an inch when he had not been commanded as those words set in. More than that, his gut twisted at the guilt he had for those true innocents that he had been responsible for. But then there would only ever be one person to ever exist who would know how very sorry he really was for those acts.
"Please don't," a small voice whimpered behind the onlookers.
Gasping sharply at the unexpected plea, Aisley spun on her heels to find a lovely young woman with Hispanic features was sitting atop her bed in a tight coil of herself. Brown eyes reddened with tears streaming down her heart-shaped face, the brunette wore a bronze collar of her own. "He's suffered enough," she sniffled, trembling from the terror and worry that consumed her.
Just as his Hunter was turning back towards him for an explanation, Septum introduced, "Celeste. My dear Pet was slowly dying until he discovered that he, in fact, needed a Companion of his own. As of yet, I have not learned how they had come to know each other, but they were exclusively involved thanks to her being turned long before I came to meet them. I brought her in to serve as leverage to keep my Pet in line."
Leverage.
That 'motivation' the researcher had mentioned before. Again, Lucie nodded in understanding. Such was the way she had always known- do whatever it took to get the results they wanted. No matter who or what got in the way. Collateral damage was a necessary evil... not that anyone willingly linked to a Vampire or a Hybrid was considered of value to her or her fellow Hunters.
Now that she was completely invested, she demanded, "I want to know everything about them... and what you plan for them."
The corner of his mouth twitching, Millers chuckled deeply. He was all too keen on that burning desire in her eyes. He had her right where he wanted her, folded over and tied fast around his pinky finger for safe keeping. She was not about to question him or leave his side from this moment on. "Of course, dear. We'll pick this back up in my office."
* * * * * *
Wufei's furious typing came to a sudden stop, piercing his office with an abrupt silence.
"That's it," he breathed, onyx-and-gold eyes enlarged as he stared at his monitor. Covering his mouth with a scaly hand, he ran over the script that he had been solidifying to double-check his work. "That's it," he confirmed to himself in a clearer voice as he reached over to his vidphone and patched in a series of numbers.
After a couple of rings, Crystal Donson's face appeared as she smiled, "Hi, Wufei. How is the coding coming?"
Chewing on the inside of his cheek in thought for a brief consideration of that, Chang answered, "Actually, I think that I'm ready to update the full registry now. I just want to go over this a couple more times to feel confident about it, but I have a pretty good feeling that it's already as it needs to be."
Her own eyes growing, the Companion leaned close to her screen as she whispered excitedly, "You're kidding?! That's fantastic!" Practically bouncing in her chair, she smiled, "Well, give me a call as soon as you're ready to push it into the system. I'll be staying after regular hours tonight, so I'll be the first one to see it. If anything looks off, we'll be able to make whatever adjustments before anyone else had a clue."
In hearing that, the scaly Infected released the breath that he had unconsciously been holding. "That sounds good," he replied. "I'll call you back in a couple of hours, then." Exchanging their good byes, the two ended their call so that Wufei could get back to reading over the threads of seamless data on his computer.
* * * * * *
Anna was still glowing in pride over her daughter and the updated sculpting that the teenager had incorporated into their home. "This is absolutely beautiful, sweetheart," she praised as she lightly traced one of the many Celtic hearts carved into the hand rail banisters of the master stairwell.
"You really like it?" Carol beamed while being pulled into a tight hug.
Nodding fervently when she pulled back, the Siren cupped her child's face and rested their foreheads together. "I love everything you did," she grinned widely. "Thank you for the wonderful surprise."
She kissed the giggling Infected's cheek and turned on her heels to marvel over the fine details that she doubted even a professional craftsman could have produced... right down to the little twines that had been carved out to spell the initials of the whole Chang family.
Focusing on all of her loved ones standing by, Anna smiled, "Thanks to all of you for getting our home ready for me and Wufei since we were both so busy the last few days." Heero was the first to close in and embrace her tightly, soon followed by Duo, their cousins and the little ones as they piled into a group hug that had them all laughing.
The serenity was broken when the elder Vampires' cell phones all went off at the same time with their bright text notifications. Yuy, Maxwell, Trowa, Midi and Anna separated as they reached into their pockets to read the message sent to them.
"Well, that's good news," the braided Hybrid smirked. "I knew Wufei had it in him."
His sister giggled, "You and me both. Never doubted it for a second." Gesturing to her eldest four, she asked, "Would you all mind staying behind to keep an eye on the others so that I can go check on your father? You know he has had a lot on his plate with this programming, so he may need some moral support."
The two pairs of twins grinned at the opportunity. "No problem, Mom," John replied as he scooped a squealing Cai up onto his shoulder and winked, "We've got this."
Isabel offered, "Since Dad hasn't had time to see the place yet, we could set up a party before he arrives. It would be a real house warming celebration once it's official that we're home here when the registry is done." The rest of the kids gasped and nodded enthusiastically as they cheered their agreement.
"Now why didn't I think of that?!" Midi exclaimed, throwing her arms in the air. "I still have plenty of favors packed away that we could use to decorate," she thought aloud while she headed down the hallway with her voice drifting off, "Then I have plenty of animal blood to serve as punch, not to mention the noise makers and streamers from New Years..."
Snorting, Trowa warned his redheaded cousin, "I better get you out of here now, before you get sucked into the madness that is about to happen."
Duo waved with a feigned look of panic on his face as he urged, "Yea. Wish the rest of us luck back here, sis. We're going to need it." Quickly sobering, he smirked, "And send Wufei our best. Make sure he knows we all believe in him." Chorusing their own messages to their father, the 'wrist biters' raised hands up to wave and blow kisses.
Anna returned the gestures, promising, "Thanks, everyone. I'll be sure to pass all of that on." Barton lightly touched her shoulder to send their world into a whirl of light and swirling colors until they arrived in the emptied out living room of what was to be the former Chang residence.
In having just vanished from such a stark difference in living spaces, the Vampires could not help but stare around their surroundings. Whistling through his teeth, Barton murmured, "Wow. I forgot just how real our leaving this place behind is until now. We had a lot of good years here."
"Yes, we did," the Irish Infected sighed. Brightening, she shrugged, "And we'll have plenty of more good years where we are now. We already had a good start there, considering the last time we were in Virginia."
Unable to argue that sentiment, Trowa grinned, "Very true, cousin." Pecking her cheek, he said, "Be sure to include Midi and I in the well wishes for Wufei. See you soon." He took a step back and disappeared as they waved their temporary farewells.
The moment she was alone in the room, Anna turned on her heels and bolted up the steps to her husband's office in a blur of herself. Opening and closing the door in her wake as though a breeze had moved it, she materialized straddling her husband's lap with a bright smile for him. "Hi, love," she greeted, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I hope you don't mind some company."
Wrapping his scaly arms around her lithe waist, the Chinese Vampire chuckled deeply, "Mind it? I thought that you might notice I had expected it after I sent that text. I had my chair rolled away from my desk for your arrival." He craned his head in for a sound kiss and pulled away, raising an eyebrow as he smirked, "As if I ever mind your company. I appreciate your moral support."
Gently running a hand over the scales of his exposed collarbone, the redheaded Infected shared, "Well, you have our entire family offering the same. I'm just one representative of all of the luck and encouragement they're sending." Biting her lip, she half-purred, "Of course, there is something else that only I would be able to provide, in case you need that little something extra."
Chang growled hungrily, his fangs snapping into view seconds before he swooped in to bite the nape of her neck. Gasping, Anna's fingers dug into his shoulder blades from the rapture claiming her. Only containing himself enough to lean back from his drink to speak up, the immortal soldier snickered seductively, "Funny you should mention that since I have about thirty minutes."
"That's more than enough time," the Irish Vampire murmured in a rush as she hurriedly threw her red tank top overhead to discard it with a toss and moved in fast for a heated kiss that sent the rest of the world away and elicited a new flood of desire that took them over.
* * * * * *
Lucie breathed, "He can turn livings?"
"Companions, to be exact," Septum corrected from behind his desk. Folding his arms behind his head, he informed, "That was how he had managed to escape the base where my uncle worked in the first place. He saw an opportunity in a handful of people working there and took it as soon as he had the chance. My firm belief is that at one point he had managed to create a whole army of them to do his bidding."
Shaking her head, the Hunter was physically reeling over the prospect. An entire army of mutated creatures. The incredible position that such a thing would place its wielder. "So... you also think that his brother can enhance Vampires in the same way?"
Millers frowned, "It does stand to reason, considering their unique bloodline. Two halves of a coin. The frustration for me lies in not actually having him to confirm it."
His associated chewed on the inside of her cheek to mull over that for a moment. In little more than a whisper, she questioned, "And what would you do... if you do confirm it?"
Throwing his arms in the air overhead, the scientist laughed, "Sell them off to the highest bidder, of course! Could you imagine the new age of warfare that such a thing could produce if world powers came into play with them? But I would have to know all that there is to know about them first. Hence the barrage of tests and treatments to be able to appeal to the most interested and the wealthiest."
Another thought coming to him, he snorted, "Oh, hell, maybe it would be more beneficial for me to sell them off to science. Who knows what their makeup might be able to cure where modern medicine has failed. Taking a humanitarian turn would only garner me awards and further fame for my efforts. So, I lean towards that possibility as well."
Oh, they all sounded fine to Lucie. The more fortune and notoriety the better. Smiling from ear-to-ear, the Hunter's mind wandered to the many options that lay out to her now. All of those years of doing whatever it took to earn her place in such high favor with a man who had the pulse on becoming something great was all coming to be worth it.
Come Hell or high water, she had to find that other Hybrid.
"Solo, er, your Pet still has not revealed his brother's name?" she pressed. "Nothing that we may not need to rely on the registry to track him down with?"
Folding his hands before his face, Septum shook his head, "Not even under the most intense of interrogation methods has he broken into giving that much up. I can't tell you honestly if it's because he feels any connection to him or if it is only because he wishes to spite me. Either way, he refuses to talk." He snickered, "But it won't matter in the end once the Senate has all of their red tape set around the new laws."
His mouth opening in a wide yawn that he covered, rubbed the bridge of his nose. "On that note, I think that we should call it a night," he suggested. Rising to his feet, he commented, "I hope that you are no longer mad at me for the secrets that I had kept from you. You have my word that you now know everything."
Nodding, Aisley reassured, "And you have my word that it will stay between you, me and Berg." To add a bit more regard, she rounded the desk to embrace the surprised researcher.
"Thank you, Septum," she murmured by his ear. "I'm honored that you shared this with me." Winking to the wide eyes watching her as she pulled away, she made sure to keep a sway in her hips as she sauntered from the office... feeling that gaze boring in on her rear until the door slid closed behind her.
Sleep would still not be coming to Lucie, she decided as she made her way back to the room. Only this time it was thanks to her rejuvenated want for the hunt. First thing she needed to do when she returned to her quarters was sort through all of the notes on every place she had spent the last couple of years as the Barton-Yuy Clan's last known whereabouts.
* * * * * *
"All set, then?" Anna grinned as she finished adjusting the tank top and shorts that she had pulled back on.
Like his wife, Wufei bore a pair of bite marks in the side of his neck as he pulled himself back towards his computer. Sated and reaffirmed in his work, he smirked, "Yep." He patched the number now committed to memory into his vidphone as the redheaded Vampire leaned up beside him.
With a playfulness in her voice, the Siren said, "Good. Just don't fuck it up."
Chuckling, the scaly Infected's lopsided grin widened as their gold-rimmed eyes met. "Not a chance in hell," he replied confidently at the sound of the first ring over the phone.
Her back snapping straight, Anna slapped his shoulder, giggling, "Now there's the warrior Vampire I know and love." Taking a few paces back at the same time Crystal's face appeared on the glowing monitor.
Poised and ready within the confines of her closed off office, the Companion grinned in anticipation and cracked her knuckles. "Let's just get right down to business. I'm all set whenever you are, Wufei," she announced.
"Right," Chang nodded firmly. "Punching the save option now."
At that, his scaly right hand clicked once on his mouse to seal the command of his upload.
* * * * * *
Fifteen minutes later...
"Here they come!" Mao shouted to the rest of the family standing by in the living room at the outlined shapes of colorful light that had appeared in the doorway. Grabbing their streamers and noisemakers, the kids hooted and hollered as their parents flashed into the scene.
Covered by colorful confetti and paper, the new arrivals laughed at the shouted, "Surprise, Daddy!"
Taken aback, the scaly Infected bent at the waist to scoop Rosie up as he snickered, "Well, this is a pleasant surprise, everyone... but what is the special occasion?"
Anna smiled, "They wanted to give you something to celebrate after all of your hard work these last couple of weeks. So, this is a welcome home party since we're here to stay thanks to you." His onyx-and-gold eyes growing at that, the scaly Vampire opened and closed his mouth in an attempt to find his voice when his vision began to mist over.
Bending down again, Wufei pulled as many of his little ones into a fierce hug as his arms could manage to hold onto while the older children wrapped around all of them. "I love you all, you wrist biters," he managed amongst their laughter. Biting her lip to hold off her own tears, the Irish Infected squeezed his shoulder as the only part of him that was easily in her reach.
From their place in the further corner of the living room, Heero, Duo, Midi and Trowa stood by with smiles on their faces as they patiently waited to welcome their scaly loved one home. The sight of the desk and computer that had remained behind as the last pieces of furniture that now sat in the foyer was a most calming sight on their nerves.
And when their gazes locked with Wufei as he straightened himself back up, the grin and firm nod that he gave them verified that they no longer had anything to worry about. His tampering of the registry had been a success.
They no longer had anything to worry about as they could finally say that they were home at last.
TBC...
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