Listen up, There's not a moment to spare
It's quite a drop from the top, So how you feeling down there?
It's a cold, cruel, harsh, reality, Caught, stuck, here with your enemies...
You love the hate that we share- You want more (You want more)
But you'll get nothing from me... But enemies!
-Lyrics to 'Enemies' performed by Shinedown
Crimson Bonds Part 27
Broderick was going to have to repay his resource in a huge way for the information that had brought him to the new revelation that he now had confirmed for himself... there was no question in his mind now that there was a definite friendship between the Khushrenada-Merquise and the Barton-Yuy Clans.
Oh, it had taken quite a bit of digging on the Hunter's part to verify it for himself. But the evidence was there. It just took a skilled and patient eye like his to find it.
A photo taken from a paparazzi more than three decades before of Relena Peacecraft sitting at a main street cafe signing autographs for captivated living fans while Midi Yuy was smiling at the other end of their shared table. The image had been one of millions taken, but one of very few that had the Councilwoman joined by company outside of her family.
It had been quite the find, one that was almost long lost and forgotten in the shuffle of literally millions like it taken by amateur photographers trying to get a glimpse of the famous Vampires serving in the Senate.
Then there was a report gathered from the Infected's prison in Antarctica that during the course of Anna Yuy's stay there, Lady Une had requested regular updates of the guards' schedules. Such a thing would only have been done with an interest of when those shifts changed over. Only there was no breakout.
However, anyone and everyone who was aware of those openings would be able to slip in and out unawares. No doubt that had been information shared with her creator and 'brother,' Heero.
Once a piece here and a piece there fell into place, there were ties between each and every one of the two families. And bit by bit, the whole picture became all the more alarming.
Powerful, influential friends were good for anyone to have... most especially a Clan on the lam. Now there was little doubt that it was because of Treize Khushrenada and his brethren than Septum's targets had managed to stay hidden for so long.
What else would the members of the Vampire Council be capable of to look after them? Bad enough that there were some very real threats amongst those directly linked to the Hybrid.
Those close friends of his would quickly become the worst of enemies to Septum and his team. Now there was the very real possibility of some dire consequences to befall anyone intent to harm him should the Khushrenada and Merquises find them.
Leaning back in his desk chair, Dawson dry-washed his face with his hands.
This was a lot more than he had expected to find during his investigation. His three weeks of attentive research had certainly proved to be worth the effort. In one aspect, the result was a thrilling discovery and at the very same time, it was horrifying.
Something this big could not just sit. The Boss needed to know about this immediately.
Before he resigned himself to leaving his living quarters, Broderick was careful to save his data and seal away all of his printed pages in his storage folders. Removing the mug shot he had of Midi Yuy, he jotted down a new bullet at the end of her short list of handwritten background facts- *close friend of Relena Peacecraft.
Meticulous in securing the proof of his argument, the Hunter sealed up his laptop and briefcase. Pushing himself onto his feet, he made his way out into the hidden 'city' to seek out Septum for a private meeting.
* * * * * *
"I cannot thank you all enough... for everything," Midi sighed as she wiped the back of a hand over her brow to clear the strands of mouse brown that had fallen loose from her ponytail. "We all owe you so much for purchasing homes so that we had a place to come back to,"
Setting down the tray of fine china teacups that she had cleaned to the point that they were sparkling in the sunlight pouring in through the cafe windows, Relena smiled sincerely, "No need to thank us for that, dear. It's always been a bit of wishful thinking on our family's parts that you and the rest of your Clan would return to these parts some day."
Noin finished wiping down the long counter top of the U-shaped bar section to face her long-time friend and nodded, "It's wonderful to have all of you practically in our backyard again. Not that teleporting made seeing you while you half-way lived across the world difficult, but it was... different. Now it feels like home for us again, too."
The Latin Infected bit her lip as her brown-and-gold eyes began to shimmer at that. "'Aie, 'yer goin' te get the waterwerks started already," Anna giggled, her Irish dialect slipping out in her rush into the scene from the table seating area. "Easy der, little moder," she grinned, rubbing her cousin's back. "We always knew we 'ad de best of creatures te call our friends."
Swallowing roughly, Midi nodded as she leaned against the soothing touch. Unable to trust her voice, she moved in to hug Relena and Noin instead. Laughing, the Councilwomen gladly returned the gesture.
"It's not even opening day for a few more hours and I already have a tearful wife," Trowa snickered when he, Zechs and Treize entered from the kitchen area that they had just stocked up. "This is not a good way to get started." He laughed all the harder when his Other gave him a shot to the arm as she pulled away from the group embrace that she was enveloped in.
Folding his arms across his chest, Zechs appraised the warm, welcoming surroundings of the little restaurant and complimented, "Now having a chance to see the operation that you run, I understand how a lot of people have been waiting for a Midi's to come to town for some time now. You're going to be making many new customers in the area very happy."
The 'little mother' beamed, "That's the goal. I can't wait for tomorrow to get here." From the corner of her eye, she noted Anna adjust the height of a string of hanging crystals so that they easily captured the natural light and walked to her side. "I really appreciate your being here, cousin. I know these sorts of touches are not necessarily your thing."
Snickering, the Siren shifted her attention to a tall display of fresh cut flowers and spruced up the arrangement as she shrugged, "It is pretty... girly stuff, but I actually kinda like it."
With a wink, she added, "Besides, I'm all too willing and ready to help you out in getting this new baby of yours off the ground." She smiled brightly at the quick peck on the cheek that her sentiment received and announced, "I'll head back for the last box of table covers."
On her way back to her station at the far end off the room from anyone else, Anna paused to yawn widely at a sudden wave of fatigue that came over her. Her blue-and-gold eyes that had closed snapped open widely and the hand that had reached up to cover her slowly sealing mouth stayed in place.
Vampires did not know the feeling of being tired. However, it was something that the Irish Infected had experienced in the past several times over. Having had those moments, she knew that something was happening... she was just a little nervous about getting her hopes up just yet.
Peering over her shoulder to find that the others had all returned to their own tasks without noticing her, Anna bit her lip and picked back up in her own work.
Only this time, she mentally took note of any other tell-tale signs of what she had been silently praying for over the last few months.
* * * * * *
"Huh," John muttered to himself, turning his head from side-to-side as he took in his reflection staring back from the bathroom mirror. Wearing a pair of contact lenses that he had 'borrowed' from his uncle Duo, he marveled at how perfectly they covered up the gold rings of his irises, leaving only his natural blues behind.
By anyone's standard, he more than looked the part of any normal adolescent. He could easily blend in with the livings since he and his siblings were dodging being included in the registration and therefore without a silver band to announce that they were Vampires.
Perhaps more than any of the other kids, John was the most curious to walk amongst the humans so that he could understand their ways better.
Along with that, it would certainly be a wonderful inside prank that he could pull off now. Since coming across the Hybrid's secret stash of lenses, there were suddenly all kinds of possibilities laid out before him that had not existed before.
The sound of a knock on the door had the dark-haired young man of an immortal stifling a gasp. "Brother?" his twin's voice called from the hallway. "What are you doing in there? I'd like to shower sometime this year."
In a blur of himself, John removed and tucked away the lenses into the carrier that he stored in his bathrobe pocket as he yelled back, "Hang on., sis. I was just finishing up." Opening the door, he found Carol standing on the other side with her arms crossed an amused smirk on her face.
Shaking her pixie-short hair, the redhead teased, "You almost beat the record for the longest time cleaning up. I was about to call the authorities for help since I was afraid that something had happened to you."
Her other had snorted, rolling his eyes as he lightly hit her in the arm as he moved past her. "Yea, yea, yea," he groused back, though the small grin on his face gave away his own mirth. "What wrong with a guy taking more time than his sister in primping himself once in a while?"
"Nothing, if that sister is one who actually 'primps' herself," Carol giggled. "I thought that you would have noticed by now that I'm not exactly the type to spend hours dolling up."
Unable to get out of that one, John just laughed it off and shrugged, "Well, you got me there. Just don't go to Charles or Isabel with that. I'll never hear the end of their taunting if they ever got wind." The jab at himself seemed to cut him from the hook when his twin snickered and slipped into the bathroom behind him without another word on the matter.
At the sound of the door closing to his back, the young Infected frowned deeply to himself. He despised not being upfront with Carol.
They had been each other's support and confidants from their earliest days of existence. But this goal of his, to try and be normal even in light of the risk that was involved, was something that he had to keep to himself out of fear that it would get to his Mom and Dad.
If that were to happen, John was certain that he might never see the light of day again. But he had been able to have his time out and about. It was only right that someone else got their shot.
Rolling his shoulders back in having his mind made up, he ran a hand over his black hair and stuffed his hands in the pockets of his robe as he headed back to his room while silently contemplating the right time to sneak out.
* * * * * *
Septum fell back in his office chair, wide eyes staring at the documents and photos in his hands.
"This does prove... troubling," he admitted softly. Finally blinking, he managed a quietly praised, "I commend you in your hard work to find the truth behind your theory before bringing this to my attention, Broderick."
In the back of his mind, the scientist cursed himself for not considering the possibility that the Barton-Yuy Clan might have their own friends in high places... namely the World Senate. He would have to get a hold of his own associate behind the veil so as to be especially careful that Khushrenada and his family might not become aware that they were linked to the inevitable capture of his Pet's brother.
"Do you think that the hunt should be called off in light of this?" Dawson asked, never so much as flinching when the Boss snapped his head up with a mortified look on his face. Shrugging, he suggested, "At the very least I believe that it would only be right to give the rest of the team notice of this so that they can decide for themselves if they want to stay on. There could be some very real dangers involved now... not to mention the grave punishments that would come down if we were ever caught."
Chewing on the inside of his cheek, Millers lowered the documents in his hand and folded his hands before his face. His eyes losing their focus as they peered out ahead to nothing, he took heed to his Hunter's warning. "Yes, I agree that it's the right thing to do," he surrendered after a long pause.
He dropped his hands to his sides and frowned deeply, "As much as I hate the thought of losing anyone, I have already been reminded of the harm that can come from not disclosing such an important factor."
Broderick mulled over that, but did not push for more detail as to what his employer was referring to.
Lifting his gaze up at his brawny researcher, Septum asked quietly, "Is this enough of a concern that you're considering leaving? I wouldn't fault you if you did."
Whoever wished to go really did not matter in the end to him... not one of those linked to the search would be able to contact the authorities without taking on serious charges of their own. Besides, Millers had his ways of guaranteeing that they would never talk.
But then there were those like Broderick who he would have a particularly tough time 'taking care of'. They'd built a long history together over the course of their hunt. And it would be a shame to have to remove him from existence after the devotion and loyalty he's displayed.
"You should know me better than that," the brawny young man snorted, the corner of his lip curling up. Folding his arms, he stated, "It'd take a hell of a lot more than this to scare me away. If anything, this case just became a whole lot more interesting now that there could be all sorts of things to uncover that the Vampire Council has kept hidden from the livings."
'Ah. That is a good point,' Septum thought to himself. Perhaps most of his associates would feel the same. The fewer cleanups needed the better. And he had the reassurance of keeping one of his best agents on board as well.
Bowing his head, the scientist sighed, "I appreciate that more than I can tell you. As for the few that may stray, the challenge of finding our Hybrid is about to be cut down dramatically with the upcoming registration upload pointing us right to him. We will persevere."
With a glance over to the clock on his monitor, Millers said, "It's growing late and I am expecting the last of my Hunters in the field to return over the next couple of days. I would like to give them a little time to be settled in before calling everyone to a meeting so that I can inform them of this."
Relieved to know that the Boss was taking measures to give his fellow Hunters a chance to choose their future with the mission, Dawson nodded firmly, "Thank you, sir. I believe that this would go a long way for the rest of the team, enough so that I would be surprised if many left." He gestured to the folder of documents on the desk between them as he said, "I'll leave those documents with you, then."
Carefully tapping the papers so that their edges lined up, Millers neatly tucked them into the folder that they came from as he responded, "I will definitely take the time to read through all of this as soon as I return from my walk around the facility. After learning about this, I have a bit of steam to blow off." Opening the top drawer to his desk, he slid the report inside...
...exposing a little book that was also already tucked in there.
The simple looking hardback was nothing remarkable in its appearance. Its edges were rubbed off and tattered from age and regular handling. But Broderick's eyes went right to the embroidered gold letters that were etched into its cover. Written in German, he doubted that Septum was aware he could read the word 'Diary' before the drawer was closed once more.
A key was removed from the scientist's lab coat pocket to lock the contents, only verifying to the Hunter the importance of the contents in that little book. So, Bennett had in fact managed to confiscate the personal journal of a Holocaust survivor... a girl 'rescued' by the Barton-Yuy Clan.
Dawson made a mental note of where to find the diary for the day that he had an opportunity to get his hands on it. But there were more pressing issues that needed to be addressed before that was his priority. After all, his interest in taking anything from the man who had been as much his friend as he was his employer still left a bad taste in his mouth.
Given time, he would probably forget about the book altogether and leave well enough alone.
Satisfied with how their discussion had closed, the Hunter announced, "I'll return to my quarters, then. Good night." Turning on his heel, he headed for the door that slid open to him.
His hand reaching up to secure his desk key back inside his breast pocket, Septum called back, "Good night. Excellent work again." Broderick waved back and disappeared around the corner when he stepped out into the hallway.
At the closing of his door, the dark-haired researcher sagged heavily in his leather chair, sighing deeply. Stretching across his desk to take hold of his phone receiver, he placed it to his ear and dialed a number committed to memory with his free hand.
Things were about to get messy. Not that it bothered Millers at all. It was just something else to distract his focus on his target. Nothing that taking his irritated state out on his Pet wouldn't fix.
On the second ring of his call, the person on the other end did not even get to speak in greeting before Septum told them, "It appears that I may likely need your services, friend. You are officially being placed on stand by until I know for certain the names you will need to put at the top of your list."
* * * * * *
A couple of floors away...
Lucie reached the end of her patience for the day.
Growling, she tossed the short stack of papers that she had read over and over for the last couple of hours to have them fly and drift to the floor around her. Much as she wanted to slam her laptop closed, she was a bit more cautious with that. Folding her arms atop her living space table, she lowered her head onto them and released a muffled yell of frustration.
"I have to be missing something," the beauty insisted aloud to herself. The clock was ticking and of all the places that she had seen, none of the former residences of the Barton-Yuy Clan were standing out as clues to their current whereabouts.
The clock was ticking down to a matter of a couple weeks before the quest for the Hybrid became open season for the Hunters once the new registration was uploaded. Aisley was becoming desperate. There had to be a way she could get to him before any one else.
In her mind, she could hear the time slipping from her grasp. Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
Shaking her head, Lucie pushed herself up onto her feet and grumbled, "Tomorrow. I'll figure it out tomorrow." All that she needed was a good night's rest to start the day with a fresh outlook. Then it would all come to her.
Along the floor, amongst the snapshots of different homes belonging to her targeted 'family' was an image of the three sold mansions she had come across in Virginia at the end of her search in the field.
* * * * * *
Meanwhile... in another corner of the world...
"Thanks for giving me a hand in getting the kids to bed," Wufei half-sighed to his brothers. "With Anna helping out at Midi's for tomorrow's grand opening, I would have had a time getting those little wrist biters wrestled up on my own... even with my oldest four."
Snickering as they entered the living room together, Duo replied sincerely, "The youngest bunch sure were... spirited tonight." Raising an eyebrow to his scaly sibling, he chuckled, "Just goes to show that they know which parent means business between Mom and Dad." Heero bit his lip against the sharp laugh that he nearly let slip.
Chang huffed, an undignified expression on his face as he opening his mouth to retort when the soft click of his front door opening stopped him short.
Turning to watch as his wife entered the room, he and his brothers froze in panic at the sight of the shimmer in her eyes once she raised her head. "Anna?" he breathed. Set to close the distance between them, he asked, "What is it, love?"
A smile curled the redheaded Vampire's lips to show that she was revealing tears of happiness. In little more than a whisper, she answered, "I'm pregnant."
TBC...
Back to SkyLark's Fanfictions Page