Will you help me find the right way up
Or let me take the wrong way down
Will you straighten me out, Or let me take the long way around
I took the low road in... I'll take the high road out
I'll do whatever it takes To be the mistake you can't live without
Lyrics to 'The High Road' performed by Three Days Grace

Crimson Bonds Part 32

John reveled in another night out on the town. Well, maybe not the town that he was currently existing in, but it was a town no less.

For the next couple of evenings, the young Vampire was becoming bolder in how close he came to the mortals. And this night was going to be one of his most daring yet, for tonight he had determined that he was going to actually have contact with them.

A real challenge to reveal just how well he was able to blend in with them after many hours of observation. And if there was one thing that John Chang-Yuy enjoyed, it was a challenge.

Having come across a college campus in the suburbia that had drawn him in, the immortal stumbled upon the perfect setup for his first real appearance as a 'living' in the form of a game of touch football between a handful of the students.

The corner of his mouth tugging up into a smirk, John stuffed his hands into the pockets of his tan shorts as he strolled across the hilly field framed by tall oak trees towards the cheering and laughing band of classmates.

Upon his approach, he noted the beautiful young women sitting along the benches that had been hidden from his initial sight. Giggling while conducting a round of whispers amongst themselves, the audience watched the handsome players tossing the ball back and forth to score for their respective teams.

Once he realized what he was walking into, there was a moment of panic that overtook the Infected once he actually got enough of a whiff and sight of exactly how many humans had been gathered. Between the gamers and the observers, there were almost thirty in total.

And just as quickly as the elation to be recognized beyond his family had come on, it was crushed by a surge of panic. That was a lot more than the mortals just numbering over a dozen in the field that John had anticipated. Much more than he felt comfortable about approaching for his first encounter.

Quickly turning on his heels, the dark-haired Vampire began to duck away behind the closest tree when a voice called, "Hey! Who's over there?" His back straightening rigidly, he froze with a soft gasp. Closing his eyes, he quietly willed for whoever had spotted him to move on if he remained concealed for a little longer.

That bit of hope dissipated when his advanced sense of hearing picked up on heavy feet crunching along the thick grass towards him while another voice called, "Come on out, whoever you are. We don't want trouble any more than you do." It was a polite warning to a potential threat.

Mentally bearing himself, John shook his head in disgust with himself for so carelessly causing a group of humans concern. What else were they to think of a shadowy figure walking toward them only to rush to a hiding place when discovered?

Now he was trapped between a rock and a hard place... run and possibly send off alarms that a Vampire had been stalking a bunch of helpless students or reveal himself and try to diffuse the situation.

Swallowing past his restricting throat, he opted for the latter.

With a chagrined smile, he took a long step beyond the cover of the tree he had ducked behind and raised his arms to the three, blinking young men that paused only a couple of feet away. "Sorry, guys," he chuckled nervously. "I live in the neighborhood and was just walking through town when I heard your game and came by to check it out."

Their tensed shoulders easing as soon as they realized that they were only being observed by someone no older than themselves with warm, blue eyes, the built players grinned in relief. "No problem, man," the tallest of the trio smiled reassuringly, "Just so you know, you didn't have to go sneaking around like that. We don't bite."

'Not like I can,' John snorted to himself. Keeping a finger on the trigger to flee as soon as things became uncomfortable, he grinned, "Yea. Sorry about that. I didn't meant to interrupt, just maybe watch from the sidelines since I'm really into football and watch it all the time at home." The last bit was a true sentiment of his enjoyment of any sport he could take in.

Looking to his classmates, the shortest of the group on the end exchanged nods with them and offered to their visitor, "We could do you one better, since we're one man short on a team. Wanna to join in?"

Taken completely aback, the Infected's eyes grew in disbelief. "R-really?" he managed. "You wouldn't mind?"

On the other end of the threesome, the student who had been playing quarterback smirked, "It's no problem at all. Finding other night owls around here is a pretty tough feat. We'll introduce you to the gang and get you set with a position."

Stepping forward, the tallest in the center gestured to his teammate on his left then his right as he introduced, "This is Marcus, our boy with the gun for an arm is Donovan and I'm Steven."

"John," the Vampire was quick to smile, nodding in greeting. Caught up in having his dream of being seen by others in the world besides his own, he all but whispered with profound sincerity, "It's real nice to meet all of you."

That said, he was gestured to follow the lot back to the field where the others were watching in interest at the new face amongst their classmates.

One of the young women perched at the benches, the first to notice the mysterious guest, took a particular attentiveness to him. Brushing back a stray wisp of blonde hair that had falling from the clip holding her locks in a loose bun, she was unaware of the grin spreading across her face.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Meanwhile...

Duo sighed deeply in content as he folded his arms behind his head and continued to stare up at the master bedroom ceiling. Naked spare for his silver armband and the fall of his loose hair that draped his toned body here and there, he asked, "So what are you most looking forward to when we have our baby?"

Chuckling softly as he pulled his lover close against his side, Heero pressed a kiss against his Companion's forehead. "Having a little one of you running around," he answered. With a shrug, he grinned, "I think that having someone made of both of us... someone to carry on our lineage is a pretty incredible thing."

"Yea," Maxwell smirked as he rested the side of his head against his Vampire's shoulder. Losing the blush that he sported following Yuy's first comment, he smiled, "Are you hoping for a boy or a girl? Because I really have no preference."

His eyebrows raising in thought, the Original commented, "One of each would be really nice. Remember that there is a chance we're having more than one baby. Sally said that the probability was high since Anna is already prone to birthing multiples and she's been taking fertility medications on top of that."

Pushing himself up to better meet the cobalt-and-blue eyes watching him, the Hybrid blinked widely. "I never really thought about that," he replied softly. As that notion set in, he beamed, "Twins would be awesome! Between the two of us, we'd be able to handle more than one at a time..."

Then the possibility really took hold as his smile took on a more nervous nature. "...Um... at least I think we could," he snickered.

"Considering everything we've faced, I think more than one baby would be an easy challenge for us," Heero laughed. "But whether it is one or more and whatever gender they may be, I'll be perfectly happy."

Without hesitating, Duo responded, "Same here." Lowering himself back down, he closed his eyes as he settled himself against the cool, bare form of his husband.

Their existence would only be all the better for whatever was about to grace them in the very near future.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Broderick was worried.

Lucie was nowhere to be found in the cafeteria... which meant that she was not hanging around him as she would have at any other opportune time. Considering their less than pleasant encounter the day prior, the handsome Hunter was certain that she would try and patch things up between them.

But she was nowhere to be found.

Normally, Dawson would have taken great joy in not having to put on the smiles for the selfish little brat. Not this time. Something felt... off about Aisley's absence. There was no possibility that she was one of the handful who had decided to leave Septum's ranks to return to their lives as they chose to live them without the risk of the Khushrenada-Merquise Clan's ire falling upon them.

There were only eight that were in the process of packing their belongings and finalizing their reports for Millers before their departure. Lucie was not one of those to have come to such a choice. Leaving behind anything that she had started was not in her at all.

So where the hell was she?

'Up to no good, whatever it is,' Broderick thought to himself with a huff. And whatever that something currently occupying the boastful young woman was, he was sure that he'd find it out soon enough. Aisley wouldn't be able to keep it from him whenever they caught back up.

In the meantime, Dawson decided to relax and finally relish in not having the persistent Hunter breathing down his neck.

There was enough on his mind already in having to prepare himself for the farewells he would be exchanging with his friends who would be leaving before long. Suddenly, his fork abruptly ended its pushing his lunch around on the plate that he had barely touched, that little thought reminded him of why he would have begrudgingly taken to Lucie's endless prattle that would have distracted him.

He hated goodbyes.

*   *   *   *   *   *

Hours later...

The sun was just beginning to ride over the Virginian horizon when an elated John materialized in his room. Holding back a shout of jubilation, he danced around the space while throwing his fists into the air. He laughed, cheering quietly to himself as he patted himself on the back for his successful mission...

...his astoundingly successful mission, he had to admit to himself.

Oh, things could have gone very badly for the young Vampire at the rough start that he had when he reached the campus. But instead, he got away without raising any alarms and even made a few friends in the process.

It could not have gone any better.

With the exception of not having the chance to meet one of the young ladies at the benches before the end of the game so that they could be introduced.

Classes and an internship called her away not long after John was revealed to the band of classmates. And yet in those few seconds of their eyes meeting for a brief second, the Infected was inexplicably captivated by her.

Shaking his head, the raven-haired immortal's smile returned. Now that he had a story that he had built, there was no reason he couldn't make repeat appearances. He had taken on the identity of John Yang- a recent high school grad living in the neighboring suburbs who was taking a year off before choosing where to continue his schooling, enjoying walks through the campus.

There would be other opportunities for him to meet the beautiful spectator at one of those encounters. Possibly even that night, as the Vampire had fully intended to accept the invitation of participating in another late game.

Not only was he acknowledged in the world, but he had been accepted easily. Wonders never ceased.

A light knock on the door startled the handsome immortal before he became a blur of himself and reemerged in a new pair of shorts and a red T-shirt. "Yea?" he called. At the sight of his twin's face when she cracked an opening wide enough to peek in, he grinned, "Hey, sis. What's up?"

"Just checking to see if you were up," Carol smiled back, pushing herself further into the room. "It's our morning to help round up the wrist-biters for school," she announced.

Tired as he was from not having his rest the evening before, John knew that he would have a chance to nap before night fell again. Smirking, he raised a hand in a smart salute and nodded, "On it. I'll take care of the boys. They tend to look up to me, after all."

He gave a playful wink on his way past the redheaded Infected and missed her look of surprise as she watched him head down the hall with a lightness in his step.

Scratching the top of her tilted head, Carol muttered, ."Huh. I can't remember the last time I saw him this cheerful so early in the morning." Not about to question his ready, willing aid, she shrugged it off and took to the girls' wing of their floor.

*   *   *   *   *   *

It was an odd hour of the very early morning for anyone else to be awake.

And so it was the perfect time for Lucie to carry out her plan. Berg and his minimal staff would be sleeping soundly in their quarters, making her the only person alert with access to the lab and holding cells.

Slipping through the twisting catwalks without making a sound, adrenaline was pumping through Aisley's veins in anticipation. It had been a long time since she had been on an official Hunt... the closing in of her prey. But it came back to her as easily as riding a bicycle.

After all, this was what she was born to do.

Her blonde hair pulled up in a high ponytail, Lucie wore her favorite gear of dark jean shorts fitted with a utility belt of weapons, a simple black tank top and deep brown running shoes. Already, her right hand was twitching over the familiar feel of the handle to her sidearm at her hip. In her left hand, she clutched onto the folded paper that she had snuck out of her room.

Through the dimly lit hallways, the Hunter was able to navigate her way to the closed off laboratory with the same ease that she would have demonstrated were she blindfolded. Typing in the first door's access code, she followed the extra security measures for the following entrances until she walked down the corridor of clear holding cells.

Upon Aisley's entrance, the florescent lights turned on at the motion sensor that she triggered.

Curled up on the beds of their own rooms, Solo and Celeste started as they blinked their wincing eyes while unraveling themselves from their blankets. Ignoring the Hybrid, their captor moved for the Companion's prison and smacked the opened paper in her hand against the wall.

"I want to go here. And you're going to take me there," Lucie informed in a flat, cold tone.

Still coming out of her startled confusion, the Latin immortal's blue eyes widened at the image that was being held before her. Instantly, she recalled the three-mansion cluster that she and Solo had visited only once before... when they went to claim his brother. Though she had been lost to her madness the time, the memory was imbedded into her mind.

And that flash of recognition was all the confirmation Aisley needed. "So you know this place," she smirked darkly.

Peering over her shoulder, that wicked grin spread at the sight of the wide-eyed, horrified expression on Solo's face where he stood at the closest wall between them. "And here I thought that you never encountered your dear brother," she taunted in a sing-song.

His fangs growing in, the Hybrid hissed in warning, "Whatever you're planning, you're going to live to regret it if you so much as lay a finger on-" Stopped short at the item that was removed from one of the Hunter's pockets, his silver-and-violet eyes grew anew with a muffled gasp.

"Oh, I don't have to lay a finger on her," Lucie giggled viciously. If there is anything but compliance from either of you, one tap on the blade trigger here and your little sweetheart's neck will be severed by the clever collar you both wear.

Celeste's hands unconsciously reached up to the said band, her enlarged eyes meeting Solo's as her skin paled. Typing in the code to open the Companion's door, Aisley held a hand out to her and grinned, "Come along while the night is still young, darling."

Their gazes still locked, the blonde half-breed swallowed roughly and gave his partner a firm nod. Whimpering, the Latin immortal slowly made her way out of her cell to have a firm hand grip her arm.

Lucie patched into another command linked to Solo's prison that opened a circular hole just wide enough for an arm to pass through at chest-height.

Glaring at her Pet, the Hunter informed, "I want her to be able to transport us." She took Celeste's arm and forced it inside the cell as she ordered, "Bite her. If this does not work, don't think for a second that I will hesitate to end her existence."

Solo was not about to question that. Having suffered many times at the hands of the Spider, as he referred to her, he was well aware that she could and would carry out the deed if he did not do exactly as she said.

But then there was the threat that she could pose to Duo... not that he cared about his twin, of course. But he couldn't stand the thought of his captors getting what they wanted. That was the only explanation for his holding back for as long as he had.

However, Celeste had been thrown into this game of cat and mouse. And losing her was not an option.

Snarling, Solo growled, "Fine."

Carefully wrapping a hand around his lover's wrist, he bent down and sank his fangs into the soft flesh he brought up to his mouth before his Companion could get more than a sharp cry of protest out. Sending his essence into her, wielding it to create the right gift, he fought back the urge to drink more than what was needed for the deed.

Tears rolling down her face, Celeste sobbed as she nearly doubled over by the overwhelming confliction of emotions between the pleasure of his drink and the terrifying situation that they were facing. Rapidly blinking the shimmer from her vision, the light pouring from her blue irises came and went in a matter of seconds but left her eyes a two shades lighter than their natural hue to confirm the change.

Reveling over having witnessed the Hybrid at work, Lucie's nasty smile returned. "Good," she exclaimed, pulling the Companion's arm out at the same time that Solo's fangs retracted. Biting his lip, the distraught immortal closed his eyes and lowered his head.

Quickly sealing the wall at the tap of a few transparent keys, the striking Hunter grabbed her prisoner's shoulders and spun her so that they were facing each other. "Take us to the Barton-Yuy residence," she commanded.

Sniffling, Celeste began to shake her head when Solo urged quietly, "Do as she says, love. Just do everything she tells you." He could not look her in the eye, couldn't even raise his head as his fists clenched tightly at his sides in his helpless frustration.

"I would take his advice, dear," Aisley smirked, raising the remote between their faces to wiggle to remind her captive of her position in the turn of their chess game. "This will all be over before you know it so long as you obey."

Snapping his head up, Solo rumbled, "And if anything happens to Celeste, I promise to make you curse the day your mother ever met your father. I'll gladly go down finding a way to take you with me. No prison would ever be strong enough to hold me from that."

Lucie stood with a completely unaffected expression... but inside she shuddered at the animalistic stare to the violet-and-silver eyes locked on her. That almost inhuman voice sent shockwaves down her spine, tingling with every word that were spoken with deadly sincerity.

Though she had of yet to see what the Hybrid was capable of with the exception of mutating his Companion, she was not about to doubt his threat. Still, she was not about to give the satisfaction that she was at all shaken by the creature that looked more like a caged, wild beast than his mortal appearance.

Refraining from swallowing roughly, the Hunter focused back on the lovely young woman in her clutches and muttered, "Right."

In a blink, Aisley removed the long chain that had served as a belt around her waist to snap its end into the ring of Celeste's neck collar.

Wrapping the loose tie of the metallic rope around her hand a couple times, she nodded firmly, "Let's go. The sooner we are away, the sooner this will all be behind you and you can exist out the rest of your days with your partner in these catacombs."

Never before had the Companion teleported, and yet she knew exactly what she had to do. Such was the way of Solo's mutation. The talents they created came on as naturally as breathing came to livings. Sniffling, she looked back to her lover one last time.

With a sad smile of encouragement, Solo mouthed, 'I love you.'

Returning the gesture in kind, Celeste roughly dried her eyes and rolled her shoulders back.

Not about to risk angering her captor by risking glaring at her, the Latin immortal opted to stare at their feet instead. Concentrating on her desired destination, the memory of the sights, smells and sounds associated with the Virginian mansion cluster came flooding back to fill her senses.

At the closing of her eyes, the Teleporter brought on a brilliant light that engulfed the travelers. In the next second, they were gone at the fading of that brilliance.

Gripping the back of his braided head, Solo sank to his knees and released a moan of pain the likes of which he had not experienced before.

Completely lost at not knowing what would become of his soul mate and being unable to do anything to help her, he resorted to something that he had never tried before...

...he prayed.

TBC...

 

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