Red hot momma
Velvet charmer
Time's come to pay your dues
Now you're messing with a son of a bitch
-Lyrics to 'Hair of the Dog' by Nazareth
Crimson Ties Part 39
"What a beautiful gesture of a gift," Sister Helen breathed as she gingerly held the glass pendant around Duo's neck in her fingers. As it was turned in her grasp, the deep red blood inside glowed white in the light it captured to give off a rainbow of rays. "I couldn't imagine a more perfect way of your being welcomed into your new life."
Still beaming even an hour since he was graced with the glistening bulb, the braided teenager gazed down on it and shook his head, "I know. It's... pretty overwhelming, to say the least... especially the whole presentation." Chuckling, he added, "Hell, even Wufei cried a little."
From the nearby dining room, Chang's voice yelled, "I was not crying! I had something in my eye!" Maxwell snickered, shaking his braided head in amusement.
Midi brushed back a few wisps of her hair as she stepped into the kitchen to find a small army working together in washing and cleaning the dishes. "Oh, you dears are just too kind," she giggled. "You really don't have to go through all of this."
Peering over his shoulder as he continued to soak the gold serving trays, Alex smirked, "It's the least that we can do. Besides, it's all part of our making sure that we keep getting invited back to enjoy more meals here." Sylvia, Mueller and Catherine nodded vigorously as the brunette laughed.
Trent, in the meantime, kept his back to the Infected and went on drying everything handed over to him. Because his friends had insisted in staying to lend a few hands in the cleanup at the end of the party, he had to play along in keeping up with his put on demeanor of graciousness.
In reality, of course, the young Hunter wanted to be anywhere but in that mansion. He needed to get away from the wary glances that Duo would shoot him whenever they were in the same room since their talk. He wanted to be home to sort his thoughts out...
...He wanted to forget how perfectly kind the Vampires had been towards him and how touching their gift to Maxwell was.
Out in the emptied living room, Heero found his sister finishing up in vacuuming the carpet. As the machine was silenced, he smiled, "There you are."
Since the presentation of his Other's gift, the rest of the evening had gone in a blur to Heero as he saw to his visitors. Everyone that had come to the estate wanted to have a chance to talk with him and Duo, keeping him too busy to catch up with his sister following her speech.
Anna spun to face her brother at his greeting and a brilliant smile lit her face before she ran to throw her arms around his neck. Catching her, Yuy pulled her into a fierce embrace, kissing her cheek.
The intense wave of emotions that had been building up pulled him under again as he rested his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes against the tears that were prickling behind his eyelids. "I love you," he breathed. "I wouldn't have survived all these years to be with Duo if it hadn't been for you."
Wiping away a stray tear of her own, the redhead breathed, "Love ye, too, Heero." She pulled back to swat his arm, giggling, "I wasn't s'posed te cry again tenight, ye brat."
Quickly collecting herself again, the Irish Vampire took a deep breath and smiled, "I promised I'd had no intentions of leaving your side after you turned me. And whatever little I did to help you through the years was nothing compared to how you saved me that night... and many others."
There was no need for further elaboration to what evenings she was referring to. Clearing his throat, Yuy nodded.
Gently brushing another tear from her cheek with her free hand, the redhead vowed quietly, "I swear that I'll love and protect Duo every bit as much as I love and protect you." She was rewarded with a wide smile of appreciation from her brother before he pecked her lips and pulled her into another tight hug rather than try to trust his voice at the moment.
Over his shoulder, Anna watched as Meiran silently slipped away from the estate. Her gold-and-blue eyes narrowing briefly after the raven-haired Infected, she paused to put on a smile as she pulled back and gazed down at her skirt and sparkling tank top. "I have to get home and into some normal clothes," she snickered. "Cute as this outfit is, it's a little too girly for my normal taste."
Heero laughed, "I knew that it had to be bothering you." Not about to let her out of his sight without another embrace, he held her tight and whispered, "Thank you for everything, dear sister."
"It's been my pleasure," the redhead replied softly. Lowering her arms, she gave the other Vampire a wink before she flew from the room and out the front door in a blur. Amused by her anxiousness to change, Yuy shook his head with a soft chuckle before he went on to spend some time with Father Maxwell, Sister Helen and Treize's family.
* * * * * *
Slamming her bedroom door closed behind her, Meiran huffed as she sat down on the edge of her bed. Hands gripping onto the comforter beneath her in tight fists, her narrowed eyes stared forward without really seeing what was before her.
That had been... difficult, to say the very least.
As well as the beauty had played her role for those watching her, she simply could not stand to be in that estate any longer. If she had, she risked giving into her urge to lunge at that braided mortal and drain him of every last drop of his blood before even Heero had the chance to stop her.
Meiran's lips curled up in a vicious grin at that lovely daydream... the image of Maxwell lying cold and dead at her feet while her fangs dripped his precious life fluid... the sound of the horrified screams of the people and creatures that loved him... the feel of Heero's heart breaking into thousands of pieces just before it was mended when that so-called bond between them was permanently severed.
Yes, that was the sort of celebration that she would have enjoyed.
At least she looked amazing in her velvet dress. That must have given Yuy something to think about.
Suddenly, the swinging doors of her large window were blown open with such force that the Vampire jumped to her feet with a sharp gasp. Black-and-gold eyes widening at the sight of the two curtains flapping back and forth from the blow, she noted the lack of any wind beyond. There was not even the slightest shift in the bare branches of the trees.
And there was only one explanation for that.
Glaring heatedly, Meiran turned on her heels to find Anna leaning against her closed door with her arms folded across her chest. Already changed into snow boots, blue jeans and a white tank top beneath an unbuttoned orange-and-tan, short-sleeved flannel shirt, the redhead smirked, "Alone at last."
"What the hell do you want, you little bastard child?" the dark-haired Vampire snapped as she stalked close to her unwanted visitor.
This was the absolute last thing that she needed to add to her already unpleasant day. About the only good thing to come from this visit was that there was no need for airs since no one else was around. There was no love lost between them. So, there was certainly no point in acting otherwise.
Standing as they were, only about a foot apart, Meiran could see the grayish, round freckles on the Irish immortal's cheeks shift as a lopsided smirk curved her mouth as she twirled the end of her long ponytail in her fingers.
"I've been waiting for a chance to talk to you one-on-one like this ever since Duo came into the picture," Anna began. "There are a few things I want you to hear directly from me, and I am only going to say what I need to say once."
Her arms falling to her sides, she continued with a snort, "That was quite the act you put on tonight. But I'm not about to buy into it. Centuries of you wanting nothing more than to be linked to an Original aren't about to be undone in a few days... especially for a creature as self-centered as you."
The dark-haired Vampire's lips twitched in the snarl that it wanted to form into. Just managing to keep her face calm, she snorted, "And how could a creature as lowly as you have any idea how an Infected of prestige like myself works? I'm sure that by now you've heard that I plan on taking a long vacation from here to give Heero his space."
"You forgot to mention Duo," the Irish Vampire reminded, an eyebrow arching high on her brow. "Since they are tied, you cannot consider one without the other any longer."
Growling deeply, Meiran snapped, "That human has not been turned into a true Companion yet!" At the sight of the fangs that grew past the glaring redhead's lips, she stopped herself, eyes growing briefly at how she had allowed herself to lose control of her anger.
Anna's fangs remained in plain view as she gritted through her teeth, "And don't believe for a moment that my little brother's choice to remain a human for now means that there is a chance for you to step in his place. You know the only way that Heero's bond could possibly be broken, which brings me to what I have to tell you."
Slowly stepping forward until their noses were nearly touching, the redhead growled, "If ever so much as a hair on Duo's head is harmed and you had anything to do with it, I will personally end your existence."
Her own fangs growing in, Meiran warned in a low voice, "Be careful when making such a threat, little girl. I promise you that I am not one to go down quietly. You may be a worthy opponent, but I hardly think I would bat an eye lobbing that head of yours from its neck."
Chuckling deeply, the Irish immortal responded, "Pose any clear threat to my little brother and you'll have your chance to try. But you also know that I'm far from the only one who has Duo's best interest in mind. I just wanted this opportunity to let you know exactly where I stand." With a heated glare, she hissed, "You've been a thorn in my family's side long enough. Heero will never be yours."
"And how is Wufei, dear?" the short-dressed Vampire asked, the corner of her mouth curled up in a nasty smirk. "I see that guilt of his is still keeping him at your side." The icy glare returning, she warned, "Creatures living in glass houses should not throw stones, you know."
Had she not known the tomboy, Meiran would have missed the slightest shift in those gold-and-blue eyes locked onto her gaze to know that she'd successfully hit the nerve she was after. That nearly unnoticeable reaction made her grin only spread further along her face.
Struggling to keep her shallow breaths measured and fists from clenching, Anna smiled, "My husband knows that he is free to leave me any time he wishes, and yet he freely chose to remain. And I promise you it's not out of guilt. Our situation is nothing at all like your sick obsession over Heero. If you had any understanding of the word 'love,' you would know that what Wufei and I have is real."
Though the words came out sure, the doubt was there. Meiran knew it.
With a snicker, the raven-haired vixen whispered, "You go on telling yourself that." Again the eyes on her shifted. Oh, she had hit her mark perfectly. No one dared to challenge her without being attacked in return.
"My patience is wearing thin with you," Meiran growled. "Now that you've passed on along your threat, are we finished?"
Anna's eyes narrowed as she snorted, "I wish that were the permanent case. But in this case, yes, we're done. As I told you, this will be the one and only warning you'll have from me. Leave Heero and Duo alone, or you really will not want to know me."
Retracting her fangs, the redhead grinned without a hint of sincere warmth in her expression. "Have a good trip, Meiran," she said coldly as she purposely brushed shoulders with the other Vampire on her way past her. The second she was away, the Irish Infected was gone in a swift blur with the window panes slamming closed behind her.
Finally free of that low-life's presence, the former lady in waiting slammed her fist through into the wall with a howl of an enraged scream. Panting heavily through her boiling anger, she paced the floor.
That little bitch! Who the hell did she think she was making threats like that to her?! To her, a Khushrenada!
While Meiran was happy with her little jab against Anna and the validity of her marriage, it was not near enough compared to what the raven-haired Infected wanted to do to her. Her little challenger would pay for her nerve... every bit as much as that braided mortal of a brother of hers!
It took a bit more pacing before the Vampire was able to calm herself again. All in due time. Everything would work out exactly how she wanted it in time.
Staring at the massive hole that she'd created in the wall, Meiran released a puff of air in a sigh. There would have to be a little remodeling of the bedroom before her family came home to notice that. It would raise questions that she could not afford to have come up now.
The timing of her holiday couldn't have been better... and at the same time, it was not coming soon enough.
* * * * * *
Anna materialized again on her brothers' enclosed back porch. A whimper escaping her, she slapped a hand over her mouth to silence it as she fought to keep her wide eyes from watering. Meiran's words were just used in an attempt to get back at her... and they were successful.
Somehow that monster had picked up on that seed of doubt and did her damnedest to make it grow into a vine that would strangle every ounce of certainty that the redhead held onto involving her relationship with Wufei.
From beyond the room, her husband's voice called softly, "Anna?" Quickly pulling herself together, the Irish Infected turned herself just as her scaly partner stepped out onto the porch.
A small smile brightening his face in finding her, Chang greeted, "There you are. Heero said that you went home to change and-" He stopped himself, wide-eyed when his wife threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.
Stunned for only a moment, Wufei held onto her just as tightly. Frowning, he asked by her ear in a near whisper, "Is something wrong, love?"
Anna pulled back, shaking her head as she laughed, "Everything's fine. I just needed a moment alone with my husband." It was as close to the full truth as she could provide him. And the truth was that she really was already feeling better just being with him... she always felt better whenever they were together.
Relieved, the scaly Infected claimed her mouth with his own in a sound kiss before he took her hand. "The last of the guests are about ready to leave," he informed. "We should see them out along with the others."
"Lead the way," the redhead smiled, squeezing his hand when he turned to head back to the door. Swallowing roughly, she bit her lip and silently willed the tentacles of those vines from her mind.
* * * * * *
An hour later, Trent returned to his apartment. Kicking his boots off just beyond the front door, he shuffled to the lone bedroom without bothering to turn the light on before he collapsed onto his bed to stare up at the ceiling.
Fatigued emotionally and physically as he was, the young Hunter couldn't find peace in his mind to even think about falling asleep. Scared in knowing how Maxwell was onto him, he silently feared what might happen if his braided acquaintance were to have him followed. His whole team would be exposed and prosecuted, if not worse.
Jumping at the sound of his cell phone ringing through the silence, Trent sat upright in a bolt and reached into the pocket of his jeans. On the small screen of his phone, a familiar number glowed. Sighing deeply, his shoulders sagged. This was the one call he'd been dreading.
He used a little more force than he'd meant to in opening the flip and holding its receiver against his ear to greet weakly, "Hey, Hilde."
"I was hoping that you would be home by now," his fellow junior smiled over the line. "There was no way that I could sleep until I heard everything about the party and how we can attack-"
Frustrated, Trent gripped his cell phone roughly as he cut her off with a gritted, "Yuy and his family are off limits. There's no possible way we could strike them without the world knowing about us and our clan. I can't go into the details, but there's just no way around it."
A long silence followed before Hilde's quiet voice insisted, "Are you really certain of that?"
Burying his free hand in his short hair to grab onto it, the Hunter snapped, "Yes. Sorry that I'm being so short with you here, but it's been a long night and I'm a little more than pissed off by the circumstances."
His friend muttered, "Got it. I can understand why you're so upset, then. I won't bring it up again." The disappointment was dripping in her tone, but there was also sincere acceptance in it. "Try and have a better rest of the night, then," she offered kindly. "We can meet up tomorrow night to just hang out to get your mind off of it, if you'd like."
With another sigh, Trent lowered his hand from his head to free the hairs that it was pulling on. "Yea, I'd like that," he replied tiredly. "Thanks, Hilde. I'll call you in the afternoon then." At the end of their exchanged 'good nights,' he closed the flip of his cell phone and fell back against his mattress to peer up at his ceiling once again.
Disappointment was an understatement compared to what the Hunter felt. To have a whole 'family' of Vampires right within his grasp while knowing that there wasn't a damned thing he could do to remove them from the face of the planet, as was the ultimate goal of his clan, it was incredibly maddening.
And yet, at the same time, Trent couldn't help but think back to Maxwell's sentiments towards his blood-sucking friends. Was there really any merit in his suggestion that there was good in them? Acts like the gift presentation from the Infected were nothing more than more put ons to winning the living over, weren't they?"
Groaning, the teenager covered his face with his hands. What a way for the night to end, having to deal with the object of his affection as he did. There were few people who really got him the way Hilde did. Now, he could only hope that she wouldn't think less of him for not going along with their wishes to destroy their enemies.
Peace. That was what Duo had said he wanted between humans and Vampires alike. If such a thing were even possible, it wouldn't be easily obtained, considering how many mortals there were in the world who shared the same disgust for the vile Infected as the Hunters.
But... was that something that Trent was willing to give a shot?
Could he forget what had happened to Dorothy, his sweet sister, that easily?
Just the thought of his younger sibling's brilliant smile and bubbly laugh brought tears to his eyes. Lowering his hands from his shimmering eyes, he curled onto his side and bit his lip to muffle the sob that broke from deep in his chest.
There was no evidence to prove that Dorothy was one of the first victims of the Vampires that were on a rampage of killing humans that were considered little more than missing persons following their disappearances. But in his heart, the Hunter knew that those filthy walking dead were responsible.
His sister was gone forever thanks to them.
Maybe Yuy and his family were not directly tied to the deaths that seemed to only grow in number, but they were cut from the same cloth regardless. And as lost as Trent was without Dorothy, he wanted every Vampire to at the very least feel the same grief if they could not all be destroyed.
Silent tears fell from the Hunter's closed eyes until he finally fell into a restless sleep, the wish for vengeance ever present- even in his dreams.
* * * * * *
"I am sorry, but I still can't see him."
A deep sigh filled the simply lit room. "Well, that was to be expected. You have been unsuccessful in your attempts for months now. Continue with your usual task. The moment you have a sound prospect, I want to be notified immediately."
Vigorously nodding, the visitor replied, "Of course." Seconds later, the sound of the door closing after them resonated through the air before another deep sigh followed.
This was beyond aggravating. He did not simply vanish from the world, even though his seer had yet to pick up on even the slightest hint to where he might be. The time would come when he would be discovered and brought in to face his destiny...
And not even God would be able to save the rest of the world when that day came.
* * * * * *
"It's been so good having these last few days with you," Sister Helen smiled widely as she embraced Duo tightly. Stepping back, she giggled and enfolded Heero in her arms, commenting, "And you have been all too kind a host to us. Thank you for having us stay in your home."
Yuy hugged her back with a sincere, "You're both more than welcome to stay with us again whenever you please." A few feet back, his siblings and cousins gave the priest and nun bright grins and waves after having had the chance to extend their farewells to their guests. At that, they turned to give the four in the entrance way of the mansion their privacy.
Patting his swelling belly with one hand while the other held onto a large container of leftovers, Father Maxwell approached the Vampire. "Midi is going to have me fattened up before long at this rate," he snickered. Shrugging, he smirked, "But that is something I suppose that I will just have to suffer gladly."
His free hand stretching out, the priest said quietly, "It was good meeting you, my boy. Sister Helen and I can now rest assured that Duo is in good hands with you and your wonderful family." Winking, he added, "You can also be certain that we will be taking up the invitation to see the two of you when we have the opportunity."
Taken aback once again at how easily the old man considered him a normal person, Heero cleared his throat against the lump that had formed in his throat. Accepting the offered hand in a firm squeeze, he nodded firmly, "Thank you, Father. I want you to know that I really appreciate our talks this weekend."
Shifting to face the braided teenager, the priest gave him a one-armed embrace. "Go easy on him, son," he urged softly by Duo's ear. "There are few creatures as good as this one."
His violet eyes widening at the advice, the Other swallowed roughly with a shallow nod when they pulled back. Clearly Sister Helen wasn't the only one onto the reasons behind his hesitance when it came to being turned into a true Companion.
With the last of their parting words exchanged, the two visitors secured their coats and headed out into the cold air for their car. Closing the door behind them, Heero grinned wistfully, "I have to say they're remak-" He was stopped mid-sentence when he turned to find his mouth claimed by Duo's in a kiss...
...and not a kiss of the chaste nature that the few they'd shared had been.
Feeling his Chosen's tongue dancing with his own, the Infected gasped with wide eyes before his mind caught up. Those golden eyes closing with a moan, Yuy latched onto Duo as tightly as the arms around his own body were twined.
To Maxwell, he felt like he was flying and falling at the same time as the kiss heated up, their hands nearly clawing into each other out of a desperate need to hold onto the only thing that was keeping them on solid ground.
At the need for air, the braided living pulled his lips away, reluctantly. Panting, he smiled at the cobalt-and-gold eyes that opened to stare at him in disbelief. "Just wanted to thank you again for everything this weekend," he smirked, shocked as how steady his voice was when his insides felt as though they were all but liquidating on him after that scorching kiss.
It was as far as Maxwell was comfortable with for the time being. But what it had awakened... there really was the start of something there that he'd never tapped into before. And his bravery was rewarded with a brilliant smile that made him weak in the knees all over again.
"Like I said," Heero shrugged, "I'd do anything to make you happy, Duo." Blushing, his Other ducked his braided head. With a soft chuckle, the Infected took his hand and led him back to the dining room to rejoin the rest of their family.
Grinning widely, Duo squeezed the cold hand in his own as he reached up to wrap his free fingers around the glowing bulb hanging from his neck.
That kiss was another huge step for him. And the more of those he had, the more he was certain he would be ready to take the full plunge into his role as a Companion. It was only a matter of a little more time.
He would be sure to heed Father Maxwell's advice.
* * * * * *
The following afternoon, the Yuy's, Chang's and Barton's were gathered in Treize and Lady Une's living room with their friends for the Preventer's meeting. For this discussion, Quatre was invited to sit in so that he might know some of the things that had transpired over the last weeks. After all, there was still the explanation for the level of protection that had been assigned to him as well as Duo.
Seated beside an anxious Relena, the scientist looked about ready to jump out of his skin from anticipation as he'd never been able to sit in on a meeting of this nature before. Everyone, for that matter, was a bit on edge as the Commanders took to the front of the room to face their small audience.
Drawing a deep breath, Treize began with a small smile, "I appreciate all of your patience with the odd events that have gone on since our last gathering. And we are going to get right to the point with this as we have a lot to talk about."
TBC...
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