Listen up, there's not a moment to spare
It's quite a drop from the top, so how you feelin' down there?
It's cold, cruel, harsh reality
Caught stuck here with your enemies
-Lyrics to 'Enemies' performed by Shinedown
Crimson Bonds Part 73
Nancy McAdams closed her eyes and took a deep breath to gather her strength before slipping out of her car. Briefcase in hand, her heels clicked with every step on her way to and up the front steps of the Capitol building.
A fresh coating of makeup covered the dark circles under the Senator's eyes and the stress lines on her face that were particularly more profound than usual thanks to her restless nights since her daughter's departure. The mid-January chill didn't resonate through her distracted mind as she reached the main entrance. Walking past packs of her assembling associates, she missed many of their greetings.
Standing by the doorway leading into the gathering hall, the Khushrenada-Merquise Clan noted the change in the usually confidant and alert woman. Already well aware of what had their legal adversary in such a shocking state, the Vampires silently watched her move right past them without so much as a glance... just as she had with everyone else as she remained lost in her own world.
"You know, I can't believe I'm about to say this," Noin began quietly as turned to face her family, "but I actually feel bad for her. Regardless of how she's attacked our kind, I wouldn't wish the loss she must be feeling on my worst enemy."
Rubbing his wife's back, Zechs nodded, "Everyone knows how important Nancy's kids are to her. One can only hope that there is some way she and Angela will be able to come through this with their relationship intact."
Treize sighed as he took in the faces heading into the assembly hall, an uncharacteristic case of nerves setting in at the anticipation of what was to come. Ever at his side, Lady Une asked him softly, "Are you alright, dear?"
Snorting, the Vampire Council head met her gaze and shrugged, "As well as one can expect under these circumstances, I suppose. In all of the days we've existed, this is one of the biggest challenges our kind have had to endure... and our relations with the humans won't ever be the same once this counter argument begins."
A warm smile spreading across her face, Relena reassured, "And fortunately for all of us, we have you to oversee it. Not one Vampire would ever say that you're not the right person for the job."
Quatre cleared his throat and added, "Well, speaking on behalf of your human supporters, I know they'd agree with that. Whatever happens, we're all standing behind you." His wife and 'in-laws' smiled in appreciation for his words.
"Thank you," Treize grinned sincerely. Eyeing his loved ones as he drew his wife close against him, he murmured, "That means more than I could ever tell you."
A familiar voice called through the growing crowd, "Ah, there are my good friends." Making his way through their fellow delegates, Senator Eric Dobson was all wide smile and open arms, as he always was towards the Infected.
Exchanging firm handshakes with each member of the Clan, he inquired, "And how was your holiday break? I do hope that you were able to find a way to enjoy it, in light of the terrible unfolding of what happened here."
Lady Une responded, "It was actually nice and quiet, thank you, Eric. And yours?"
"Oh, it couldn't have been better," the round man snickered. His grin fading, he checked around to make sure no one was listening as he covered the side of his mouth and whispered, "To be honest, I've been dreading having return and deal with the snakes in this Council that are conspiring against you. I'd much rather be back in the presence of more pleasant company."
Shaking his head, Zechs commented, "I wouldn't call our challengers snakes. Everyone is entitled to how they feel." He gestured to his gold armband, stating, "We just happen to disagree with the registration laws."
Dobson sighed, "You are all far better creatures than most." Brightening, he concluded, "Ah, well enough with that difficult matter. It's a new day in the Senate with all the promise to make the world a better place for everyone. I'll see all of you inside." With a lightness in his step, he spun away and joined the last of the representatives filtering into the hall.
For most of the morning, the Vampires had received kind words of support such as Eric's from the world delegates. It was reassuring to all of them that they had so many still in their corner. Now, only time would tell how many of them would stay there when the counter to Nancy's law was presented.
Seeing the end of the line to the parties entering the atrium, Treize muttered under his breath, "Here we go." Centered on the entryway into the room where history would once again be made, he took the lead and took sure strides through the doors.
* * * * * *
Lucie couldn't sleep. But then, she assumed that anyone in her predicament would have a hard time resting peacefully. Years of working her way up the chain through whatever means necessary had finally paid off in landing her with a man who was about to become one of the wealthiest in the world.
And now all of that might be ripped out from under her because of a little brat.
There was such disarray when she returned to the base that the Hunter's request for footage from the botched escape was put on hold by Septum's command. Not that Aisley blamed him. Editing together the recordings of Solo and Duo at their full force for the potential bidders to see was just as important as finding a lead to where the girl was, if not more so.
Doctor Berg was put to task, working around the clock to finalize his reports so that their wealthy, powerful parties of interest would be falling over each other to shell out top dollar. The sale had to happen soon and quickly before they were discovered...
...Of course, if they could find that girl, there wouldn't be the threat of that. She remained a loose tie that had to be cut off before she became trouble.
Growling, Aisley kicked her covers off and shot off the bed that she was lying in alone at the moment. She changed into shorts, a brown tank and running shoes in record time to storm off for the lab while pulling her hair back into a high ponytail.
The dimly lit catwalks were no challenge for her to navigate, her whole surroundings lost to her dark thoughts and in seemingly the next instant, she found herself entering the observation tower hub. Standing behind a furiously typing Berg, Septum read over what was being written into the report to guarantee his approval when the doors slid open to his lover.
"Lucie?" the researcher frowned as he took her in. "What are you doing up at this hour?"
Closing the gap between them in a couple of long strides, the blonde young woman insisted, "I want access into yesterday's surveillance footage. Find a station that I can work at and leave me to it. There has to be something we missed with that girl."
Millers was taken aback by her abrupt order, his enlarged eyes blinking. "I told you I have it covered," he replied. "My friend's covering the whole Outback as we speak. She'll be killed before she can get far. I should be receiving a call at any minute to confirm as much."
Her hands balling up at her sides, Aisley spat out, That call's not going to come unless you give me the access to those recordings. I know other things had to be worked out first, but this can't wait any longer." The whole time they spoke, Berg never so much as paused in his typing... no doubt thinking of protecting his own hide by not getting involved when he was busy with his own assignment.
Chewing on his tongue to hold it, Septum knew better than to argue with her. His attention had been divided in so many directions in the immediate aftermath of Broderick's failed plan. The fact that it was going on eighteen hours since anyone had seen the orphan that he'd kidnapped hadn't escaped him. He should have had that call from his henchman by now.
With a short sigh, he nodded firmly, "Fine." Walking to the emptied desks fixed before a wide screen, he informed, "I'm not about to take any chances on the prisoners, so my usual night crew is stationed on watch at the holding room's doors, so you have the room and all the stations at your disposal."
That said, he fired up the computer and his fingers flew over the keypad to punch in the access codes required for the archived footage. A quick tutorial on which files had what angles of the cameras later and Angela was rolling a chair up to study the recordings.
"Okay," the Hunter muttered under her breath when she was left to her own devices. Picking out one of the first clips she liked, she stayed glued on the screen and asked quietly, "Where the hell are you?"
* * * * * *
Yawning widely with her arms stretched overhead as she sat herself upright in her 'bed', Emma took in her small, narrow shelter. Beyond the mouth of the cavern, the first streaks of sunlight were brightening the sky.
Relieved to know she was getting the early start to the day that she had hoped she would, the girl made quick to take a long swig of water from a canteen, pack her blanket and stepped to the edge of the cavern for a better view of where she was. It didn't take long for her mouth to hang open with a wide gasp when she took in the valley of varying sandstone formations and rocks.
Primarily red in color with the occasional brown and green highlights from shrubbery, the land that was impossible to make out under the shroud of night was now a captivating sight. Off between some of the gullies, lakes and springs of fresh water could be made out. Miles wide and long, any Australian would recognize the oasis amidst the otherwise flat land of the Outback.
"The Rainbow Valley," Emma breathed. Though she had never seen it for herself, she knew enough from word of mouth, maps and pictures that she had come across during her years on the streets. And for the first time, her heart skipped with excitement...
...She was smack dab in the middle of a popular sight-seeing resort.
With only one road accessing the valley, it was a big draw for campers and hikers. Eventually, someone would have to make an appearance to potentially help her. Until then, she had access to water and shelter to see her through.
Carefully descending to the ground, Emma took to walking about for any signs of life beyond her own.
* * * * * *
Angela sighed deeply in content as she pushed her empty plate and glass that had been filled with orange juice aside. "I can see how you have a successful chain of restaurants with recipes like this, Aunt Midi," she praised. "That was one of the best omelets I ever had."
Giggling as she took up the dishes to walk them over to the nearby sink, the Latin Infected smiled, "The secret key is the right spices. I'm glad that you enjoyed it." She turned on the water and began to clean the stack of pots and such that had accumulated in her breakfast preparation
The 'little mother' peered over her shoulder to the living at the table, asking, "How are the clothes that I picked up for you? I could always make another run into town and pick up whatever you like."
"You're too much," McAdams laughed. Gesturing to the woolen, tan sweater that she was wearing along with the equally new jeans that fit her like a glove, she reassured, "I love everything and really appreciate all of the trouble-"
Midi's grin returned as she replied sincerely, "No need for thanks. If there are two things I always did enjoy, they're shopping and sewing." Her hands working in blurs of themselves, the dishes were cleaned, dried and set neatly aside in a couple of blinks.
Sitting herself across from her neice, she insisted kindly, "Now, you keep up a good front, but I can tell that you have a lot on your mind. Tell me what's gnawing at you, dear."
Blue eyes blinking widely, the intern froze for a breath before she relaxed and snickered. "John did warn me that you don't miss much," she commented. Frowning, she bit her lip and dropped her gaze to the table surface.
With a sigh, she shrugged, "I still can't help worrying about my Mom. I don't agree with her beliefs anymore, but I never meant to hurt anyone... least of all her. Hopefully some day she'll come around to an understanding."
"I hope that for the both of you as well," her Aunt said softly. "Even though I may not be experienced in what it's like to be an actual mother just yet, I'm more than confident that in time your mother will come around to accept you and your place in life now. Any real Mom puts their children's happiness before their own."
That was how Angela had felt all along, too. It was just a relief to hear it come from someone else. It was going to take time, but she felt better that eventually things may turn around for the better between her and her mother.
Clearing her throat, the living gazed up to the gold-and-brown eyes watching her and whispered, "Thank you." Subtly brushing aside a wandering tear, she shifted gears to inquire nervously, "Do you think that Anna would be able to accept me... even when I'm the daughter of the enemy?"
"The enemy?" Midi frowned deeply, her head tilting. "Why, Angela, we may disagree with your mother's view of our kind, but no one in this family would consider her an enemy for standing by her beliefs. She is more than entitled to that, just as we would like the same right to defend what we believe in."
She righted her head, smirking, "As for the first part of your question, I can tell you in all certainty that Anna will love you like one of her own. You recall how easily Wufei took you in?" McAdams nodded enthusiastically. "Well, my darling cousin will likely welcome you in faster than even that."
Angela grinned widely. She was already looking forward to meeting the Irish Vampire simply based off of what John and Charles had said of her. But now appreciating the blood bond that they shared, the law student was all the more anxious to find her extended Mom.
Of course, that would only happen when Anna and Duo were found. Focused back on what she had to do, McAdams climbed to her feet. "I better get back to work," she proclaimed, already set to return to her research as she began to turn for the kitchen doorway.
Rushing into the space before she could step out, a frantic Heero all but shouted, "We have to move. Crystal just called to inform us that our location was picked up. We're going to have a pack of Hunters closing in before long."
Caught by complete surprise, Angela stammered, "N-now? Where are we going to go?"
"Trowa already has a site in mind," her Uncle answered as he gripped her shoulders to calm and center her as best as he could. "John is getting your things. We have to be sure that nothing's left behind that we need."
Gathering up her nerve, the intern nodded and ran to the living room where Charles was a blur of himself, joined by Heero and Midi as they sealed up the files, computers and other gear while Trowa and Wufei took rounds appearing and vanishing with whatever was ready to be transported.
Head whirling from the rush of the cleanup, Angela scanned the floor to note a fanned out bunch of folders that had slipped beneath the couch she had been stationed had. Hurrying to fall on her knees before the sofa, she pulled the reports into her arms just as John materialized with a suitcase in hand. "That's everything!" he called.
To her wonder, the living took in the emptied surroundings of the abandoned, rundown estate. Her family of Vampires gathered around in a circle at either side of her, John held onto one arm and Charles the other. "Hang on tight, everyone," Trowa told the lot.
Off to the side, the living gasped at the sight of the front door being kicked in when her vision was then filled with an array of brilliant, colorful lights.
* * * * * *
"Duo, I know we haven't exactly been on the best of terms, but you have to listen to me," Solo insisted. Sitting in the closest corner to his brother's cell as he had been for the last few hours, he frowned deeply, "You're letting your worry over your babies and Anna take over your head. If you don't seal up your rage, you're only going to spiral more out of control."
Blinking, Maxwell remained perched on the edge of his cot and tilted his braided head. "What are you talking about?" he asked in that hauntingly innocent voice. "Shinigami was the one who got in the way of our escape. He just wanted to play with a few of those Hunters by bashing their skulls in."
Unlike her lover, Celeste was as far as she could be from her brother. Curled up in a tight ball beside her bed, she shivered at the sentiment that came out as a cheerful sing-song. "Duo, there is no Shinigami," she insisted, straightening herself just enough that she could have his attention drawn back to her.
Shaking her head when empty violet-and-gold eyes settled on her, the Companion went on, "There never was a Shinigami. You made up a name to cope with the fact that you have a power and ability to kill. But as dangerous as you can be, it doesn't define you unless you let it."
Her lover nodded, "Celeste's right. I've always accepted who and what I am... and I don't think you ever have. Not completely, at least. That's what's set us apart when it comes to tapping into our blind rage. Now it's consuming you because you've been in denial all this time while everything you care about has been taken away."
Growling in another snap in personality, Maxwell's face turned into a hardened scowl as he glared dangerously at his twin. Chest heaving in pants, his hands gripped the edge of his cot, the metal frame squeaking in protest against the force of his hold. "Maybe I like this," he smirked darkly, timbre deep and rumbling. "I need this."
"At times, yes," Solo replied, "I won't argue against that. But you need to understand how to control it." A bark of a snarl erupted from Duo with a sharp bite of his fanged teeth.
Undeterred, the blonde Hybrid took a deep breath and resumed his calming mantra, "Imagine a box. Put inside of it all of your anger and then your fear. Seal the box and lock it away until you need it.... Imagine a box. Put inside of it all of your anger and then your fear..."
* * * * * *
Standing behind the podium of the stage set in the perfect middle of the round Senate atrium, the silver-haired Moderator announced, "That concludes our debriefing of matters to be settled within the next few months. Without any of them being pressing issues, I would like to open the floor to any more pressing disputes that have not been mentioned."
"There is one such concern," came the immediate reply from the section filled by the Vampire Council. Mutters filled the air and all eyes fell on Treize Khushrenada as he rose to his feet. Shoulders back and head high, the immortal informed, "We will need to revisit the recent amendment to the registration laws for a countervote."
In his chair near the top of the ring, Senator Dobson's jaw fell slack. Nearer to the floor level, Nancy McAdams' eyes closed as she sighed. The clamor of whispers rose to a near roar while the Moderator looked on the Councilman in his own surprise.
Clearing his throat, the gruff man at the center of it all called over the noise, "Order!" Instantly, there was a hush over the room once more as the representatives and the civilian audience in the high balconies waited intently for whatever was to come.
The Moderator folded his hands behind his back and bowed his head to the Vampire a few rows above his head. "Councilman Khushrenada," he began kindly, "an appeal to an law is more than permitted under the Senate guidelines to open a second vote. You are aware that one such guideline is presenting a new element to the legislation that had not been brought to light in the original debate. Should it be enough in my eyes, I will reopen the case."
Nancy swallowed roughly, staring ahead into a void. Her heart hammering in her chest, she was already quite certain to what Treize was about to bring to light for another vote to counter her great accomplishment. And when that happened, by the rules of Senate appeals, she would have to fight him yet again.
Several rows back, Eric's own heart was pounding out of panic for an entirely different reason. Though Septum no longer needed trackers to potentially find his Hybrid, perhaps Khushrenada's stand was based on a slip on his part that revealed the presence of a mole. What if they were onto him all along?
Opening his arms out to his sides, the human asked the head of the Vampire Council, "As one who has been through this process many times and is aware of the rules, what new light do you have to shed on this matter?"
Treize answered loud and clearly, "Moderator, what I chose not to disclose in the original argument was out of concern for the safety of a handful of our own. What should be considered a great blessing has also proven to be the potential downfall of one Vampire. This is because through evolution, she and her Chosen were able to conceive children naturally."
At that, the crowd around him exploded.
TBC...
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