Dear God the only thing I ask of you
Is to hold her when I'm not around
When I'm much too far away
We all need that person who can be true to you
-Lyrics to "Dear God' performed by Avenged Sevenfold
Crimson Ties Part 85
The darkness fading from her consciousness, Anna crept back to the world of the living and existing at the end of her rehabilitating sleep. Before her eyes even began to open, a pair of textured lips pressed firmly against her mouth. Instantly recognizing the scent and hold that enfolded her heightened scenes, the redhead kept her eyelids closed as she returned the kiss that quickly deepened with a sigh.
When the tongue that had wrestled with her own pulled away, the Irish Infected finally blinked and took in Wufei's smiling face. "Now that's the way to wake up," she giggled, only to be stopped by a yawn that came over her. Chuckling, her husband leaned in to rub the tips of their noses in an Eskimo kiss that she reciprocated.
As he pulled back, Wufei asked softly to the heavy-lidded face that remained pillowed against his shoulder, "How are you feeling, love?"
"Never better now," Anna beamed, "Thanks to you, of course." Quickly taking in the surroundings of their brothers' living room, she quickly pieced together her last memories, only blurred images that had greeted her when she and her team returned from their time in Egypt.
She recalled ending up in her Chosen's arms as he wrapped her in the blanket that was still around her, drinking the last bit of blood she needed to recover from him before she fell asleep. But the details of time and place were lost to her at the time.
Her smile warming along with the feeling that filled her to the deepest recesses of her being, she commented, "Wow. You were worried about me enough to leave your work with your new toys so that you could pace the room in wait for my return? I'm honored."
Rolling his eyes, Wufei groaned, "Well, as much as I do so enjoy tinkering with gadgets, none of them are capable of the feats that you are when it comes to giving me real pleasure. Until I can create a machine that can pull that off, of course I'm going to be concerned for your well-being in the meantime." He laughed loudly at the light elbow to the ribs that earned him.
Quickly claiming his wife's lips in a much more intense kiss what they had shared a moment ago, he poured all of his true emotions of relief and complete devotion into the exchange. Considering how rare moments like this were between them as of late, Anna was all too happy to return everything given to her in fervor. The intensity was so strong that it shot right down to the tips of her toes to make them tingle.
Just when the flames of their desire began to ignite, the pair reluctantly broke away before they could be carried away at a time when there was still so much responsibility resting on them.
Once again resting the side of her head against her partner's shoulder, the redhead said softly, "I know that we have a lot of things to take care of right now, but..." Pulling the blanket tighter around herself, she requested quietly, "do you think that we could spend a little more time like this?"
A soft chuckle rumbling from his chest, Chang kissed her cool forehead before resting his own against it. "Nothing in this world would make me happier, my Celtic Rose," he whispered. Her brilliant smile returning, the Irish Infected closed her eyes and nestled closer against his chest as his strong arms tightened their hold.
Meanwhile, a few rooms away...
Looking on the handsome Vampire sitting just across from him, Trent blinked and swallowed roughly. Not sure of where to begin in getting to know his 'brother' better, he began to fidget subconsciously until he decided to fold his hands on the table between them.
In the back of his mind, he was glad that he'd asked his classmate and friends to join them in the main dining room. If he didn't have at least their familiar presences, this meeting could have been even more awkward than it was already starting.
Now that all of the initial introductions were out of the way and a brief overview had been shared regarding the battle that took place in the cave where Rosshe was recovered, there was a loss as to how the conversation should continue.
Clearing his throat, Trent finally broke the silence that had fallen by opening, "So... you're from Egypt, huh?" Even in hearing the question pass his lips, he winced and bowed his head with a deep blush.
At the other end of the table, Duo, Heero and Trowa were all good enough to hold back their amused smiles and spare the living any further embarrassment. Completely understanding how new this was to the newly established family, they sat back and gave Greyson the ground he needed to find his own footing.
With a kind smile tugging his lips, Rosshe folded his arms across his chest as he chuckled deeply. The slightest lilt of an accent in his words, he replied, "I am a native of the land, yes. I worked in many a trading shop when I was about eight years old in the streets there... nearly a decade before I was turned by one of the earlier Rogues not long after the Originals were established."
Lost to the past, his voice became more distant as he went on, "I had been lured into an alley late one night after closing shop by a beautiful young woman I had never seen before only to be bitten. She would have to have been an Original herself, as I do not have a single enhanced ability to my being. Most like her held a very profound contempt for livings and so would lash out at any easy target they could."
Shivering, the Vampire continued, "During my turning, I somehow managed to hide myself away... certain that I was going to die only to wake into my new existence. Much of my young life as an Infected I learned on my own what I was and how to care for myself. Ever since, I've made many an acquaintance and friend of my kind, but never truly settled into a clan. Traveling from place to place as I have most of my days, I never really stayed anywhere long enough to have my roots settle."
Relieved that his immortal 'sibling' had given him such a wide berth in a conversation opener, Trent's eyes grew along with the smile that curled along his lips. "That's amazing," he laughed at the ease of the tension that he had built up. "I can only imagine all of the things you've seen and the places you've been over the centuries." Shaking his head, he frowned, "I'm sorry that you had to deal with your early experiences as a Vampire alone, though."
"It served to make me strong," Rosshe commented, the grin warming in appreciation for the sincere concern in the mortal's voice and expression. "Had it not been for my testing my own limits on my own, I am convinced that I would never have lasted as long as I have alone; then the sickness came a couple of years ago."
Casting a glance at his friends down the table, Greyson bit his lip. That would have been the time Dorothy had been turned by Solo. The Vampires and Companion knew it as well, it was more than clear in the slight tension in their shoulders and exchanged stares.
Sensing that the former Hunter was having difficulty in bringing that matter up, Barton folded his own hands on the table and stated, "You understand now, since Dorothy had clearly acknowledged you, that your ailment was due to the tie between you being severed?"
The smile instantly washing away from his face into a deep frown, Rosshe cleared his throat to break away the lump that had formed there and nodded shallowly. "I understood what had happened the moment I fell ill," he all but whispered. "The thirst that came over me was so overwhelming that I feared I would lose myself and seek out human blood. So I hid in the caves deep in the dessert where only wildlife would tempt me, ease some of the hunger even if it would never truly be filled."
Silver-and-violet eyes widening, Duo gasped, "You mean that you've spent all that time dying in those caves... alone?"
A nonchalant shrug raising his shoulders, the Egyptian Infected met the Companion's gaze and answered simply, "The alternative would have been far worse if I surrounded myself with beings that I could easily destroy without knowing what I was doing."
His gold-and-brown eyes glassing over with the haunting memory, he reminded, "You saw what I did to your brave sister, Anna, even when she had the strength to stop me. If that were a friend of mine, another Vampire that could not break away... if that had been an innocent living..." Shivering, he stared down at the table as he muttered, "I never would have been able to exist with the guilt."
Maxwell trembled at the mental picture of how frail the Irish Infected was when she was finally able to restrain their new friend from drinking her dry... though she was not far off from being in grave danger of that. If the Reformer had gone and attempted to feed Rosshe, there was no way he would have been as lucky.
Once again, she had gone above and beyond to not only protect him but to preserve another life without thinking twice about her own safety. The world began to shift behind the wetness that filled his eyes at that.
Equally caught up in the same emotions in his knowing the story around Anna's move that was made to protect his Chosen, Heero only just managed to keep himself together enough to hold back the tears with a soft sniffle as he draped an arm around his lover's shoulder.
Working to change the subject to keep himself from becoming caught up, the Japanese immortal complimented, "It's remarkable that you were able to last as long as you had. Perhaps that was thanks to how you were able deal with your transformation on your own."
Blinking his growing eyes, Rosshe grinned at the praise bestowed upon him by the Original. Such a thing was a true honor to any Vampire, no matter their ethnicity or age. With a bow of his head, he responded, "Thank you. However, it would be wrong for me to take all of the credit. I have always felt strongly, for nearly the last two decades, that my Chosen was in the world and that our connection was a strong one."
He smiled wistfully, "Even if our tie was cut, Dorothy nevertheless remained my savior as I tried to keep the hope of our union in the forefront of my mind even when my wits were failing along with my health. The fact that she was still able to acknowledge me but a few hours ago only confirms how the bond between a Vampire and their Other can never truly be destroyed."
Their backs straightening, his new friends froze with wide eyes. "You... felt my sister?" Trent breathed, voice carrying his hope that he had heard the Infected correctly.
"I heard her voice," the Egyptian nodded firmly, unable to hide the love in his smile for his Chosen. "Troubled as she seemed, she is well." An audible sigh escaping him, Greyson's hands flew up to cover his face as he contained a stifled whimper at the surge of emotions that came with the incredibly reassuring information.
Midi entered the room with a tray of saucered teacups and a steaming pot of hot water beside a variety of spices, cream and milk. Quickly setting it down, she gently rubbed the living's shoulders as she passed by him to join her husband while the Infected were able to pick out the cups bearing the colored blood of their partners to sip from.
Not bothering at all with his fresh offering of disguised human blood, Rosshe moved to sit at his brother's side. Clasping the Hunter's arm to force their gazes to meet, his, golden eyes narrowed in fiery determination as he vowed, "We are going to find her and bring her back home with us, where she belongs."
"You're damn right we are," Duo backed, his own eyes narrowing. His family nodded their heads vehemently.
Sniffling, Trent brushed aside his tears and gave his 'brother' and friends a smile of appreciation and bowed his heads in agreement as well. With a deep sigh, he straightened himself and shifted the tray between himself and Maxwell so that they could both look through the many options of teabags to make up their drinks.
A thought coming to Rosshe as he reached for his cup, he murmured, "What has me confused is how it is I am as strong as I feel now? I was so close to death not long ago, even before those strange creatures arrived to take me. Drinking the amount of blood I did from Anna, I should still be dying of thirst as I am not yet officially tied to Dorothy."
Trowa was the one to speak up, suggesting, "My theory is that it's indirectly thanks to Duo. We're only now coming to understand how his blood affects our kind, including how rapidly it heals us. Though you did not drink right from him, a part of him is still in Anna. She must have taken that gamble along with making sure that he didn't have to chance what might have happened if he tried to feed you."
What curiosity he had already shown in the silver-eyed creature only grew when the Egyptian's growing eyes settled on him. Duo bit his lip as he lowered his drink from his lips, shifting uncomfortably at the sudden attention.
"Interesting," Rosshe muttered. Sitting back in his chair, he shook his head and frowned, "As much as it strengthened me, I still cannot exist without Dorothy for long. I may not hunger as desperately as I did, but I am still missing that most important fulfillment in my existence in not having her with me. Eventually, not even the blood that is sustaining me will be enough."
Settling his gaze on Trent, the Vampire reassured, "And what is more than that, I would gladly forfeit my own life if it meant knowing that she is safe." A grin spread across Greyson's lips again at that. The more and more he got to know this Rosshe, to understand how genuinely he loved his sister, the more the former Hunter was coming to really like him.
Arms stretched over her head as she yawned widely, Anna entered the room with Wufei right behind her as she greeted sluggishly, "G'morning, loves." The words were no sooner out of her than she was scooped from the floor into a fierce embrace.
Taken aback, the redhead quickly recovered from hanging limply in surprise in her brother's arms to close her enlarged eyes as she giggled and hugged him back. "Aw, no need to fret, Heero. I'm as good as new thanks to you and Wufei," she reassured, " I would have been in here sooner if I hadn't taken up a much needed, proper reunion with my husband."
Smirking, Chang gave his bride a playful swat on her buttocks as he passed by. "Of course," he drew out with a raised eyebrow when he peered over his shoulder so their eyes could meet, "if it truly were a proper reunion, there would not have been anything 'proper' about it."
To the chorus of laughter and snickers that filled the air, Anna groaned to her scaly partner. "Do not tempt me love," she warned. "We have guests, but don't think that would stop me from making a very bad impression of us if you make another suggestion like that." His head falling back to join in the rise of the laughter from the company around, Wufei shook his head in amusement and took a seat by their family.
Snickering as he finally lowered his sister to the ground, Yuy pressed and held a kiss against her cool cheek. "Thank you for protecting my heart as you did, dear one," he told her softly, voice thickening with emotion. Swallowing roughly and nodding, the braided Companion was already on his feet and beside his Vampire as an arm draped around his back.
Gently cupping the sides of her brother's faces, the Irish Infected smiled, "No need for thanks. It was only the right choice to make." Leaning in, she kissed their opposite cheeks and winked. Duo still gave her a tight embrace before he was completely satisfied that she was fine. He was rewarded in kind along with her bright laughter.
When they pulled away, Rosshe stepped up as he tentatively opened his arms. "I do hope that you would not mind another exchange of gratitude," he requested, a smile working across his handsome face. "Had you not thought as quickly as you had, I would not have lasted long back there."
"Of course," Anna beamed, throwing her own arms open. "I do love a good hug!" Giggling as she was scooped up by the slightly taller Infected, her eyes widened when he whispered to her in his old language.
Moved by his quiet praise and blessings for her selflessness, she would have flushed when he finished by calling her his 'brave one.' Tightening her hold, she replied just as softly and fluently in his tongue to reply, "It was my pleasure. I am just happy you are well and safe now, friend."
Stepping back, the Egyptian Vampire bowed deeply at the waist to her before returning to his brother's side. Once he was back in his seat and Anna was curled up close against her husband, he scanned the faces of the Originals and the Companion.
"I must say that simply seeing how all of you are, as the family that you have forged, I can clearly see what I have missed over my many years of wandering this world on my own," Rosshe complimented, a sad and wistful air in his tone. "Before, I thought little of the benefits in surrounding myself with more creatures like myself on a permanent basis, but you all have a very remarkable thing."
Gold-and-brown eyes narrowing, he declared, "While it may be Solo who holds my Dorothy for the moment, I have never stopped praying that she will be with me. I felt her once, only to have that taken away from me, but I will remedy that."
He bowed his head reverently to Trent as he smirked, "I have my own family to protect and love with all of my being now. My days of existing alone have ended as of this night while I look forward to what the future has in store for all of us together." Greyson chuckled, the anticipation radiating in his eyes.
Drawing a deep breath, the handsome Infected addressed his hosts to say, "Now, I do hope to have it explained how you all acquired your incredible abilities." He focused on the braided Companion to add, "And I truly look forward to understanding more of the mysteries surrounding you, Duo." This time when their guest focused on him, Maxwell was considerably more at ease in knowing that he would not have to go into his story alone.
Trowa rose to his feet, smirking, "That I will leave to my family, here, to answer. Lady Une and Treize will need to know about the new information that has been revealed through your drinking of Anna at once as we may now have a better way of helping those Infected that have lost their connection to their Others." Midi was standing at his side with a firm determination in her own face. Without another word, the paid disappeared from the room in blurs of themselves.
Smiling, he nodded firmly. "Ah," Heero smirked as he rested a hand on his fiancé's leg, "Well, in regards to my beloved Duo, that will require some time to discuss." The grin on his face warming at how his Vampire called him 'beloved,' Maxwell physically relaxed even more, leaning heavily against the Original.
Returning the lop-sided grin, Rosshe replied, "Then it is a good thing we have that time now." As they settled more comfortably in their chairs, the lot took turns in starting from the beginning of how they came to know the unique makeup of a certain braided living that had come into their existences to change them forever.
* * * * * *
Solo turned to face the shivering Other before him. Biting his lip to keep his fangs from growing in on account of his growing rage, he slowly stalked towards her until she could feel the breath he panted through his nose against the top of her bowed head. "What did you just tell me?" he gritted out in a low growl.
Tears filled Dorothy's eyes as she continued to stare at the floor, her tremors almost wracking her violently. "T-they're gone, sire," she whispered brokenly. "I don't know how or why, but Tim is dead and Rosshe and the rest of the team that we had sent to claim him are nowhere to be found. My gift is completely lost to them."
"Duo," the hybrid hissed through his teeth. Quickly turning on his heels, he walked towards his throne so that he could put distance between himself and his Seer before he did something he regretted. It was the only explanation to what had happened in that cave. Catalonia was blind to not only him, but to anyone around him at any given moment.
But there was more... there had to be a much bigger explanation to Maxwell's simply being around that left Dorothy blind to so many. And how was it that the other hybrid managed to arrive at that very spot at a time when Solo's Others were just about to close in on his most-desired target?
The fact that Rosshe had survived to remain a thought in Dorothy's mind was enough of a troubling nuisance. However, that issue was dwarfed by the new concern to just what Duo was capable of. The fact that he was still such an enigma, along with what attributes their cross-breed parents gave him was proving to be more and more of a frightening disadvantage.
Always believing himself to have been not only born but created by man to be the creature that he was, Solo believed himself to be untouchable. There were certainly no other beings that could stand up to him be they human or Vampire and so that clearly made him the one creature to stand head and shoulders over all others that the world had to offer...
... But what if he was gravely wrong? What if he just might have if not only a true equal in his twin, but someone who was even more powerful that he was? Had he underestimated what Duo really was in a threat against him?
Where as before this whole war and mounting of soldiers was more of a fun game to the blonde hybrid, he was now beginning to see that perhaps he should have known all along just how seriously he needed to take the matter to heart.
Fists shaking at his sides, Solo pulled in a few deep and calming breaths. Once he was able to ebb the rage that had built up in him, he slowly turned to face Dorothy once more. Seeing her wipe against her damp eyes to rid herself of the tears in them, the Seer sniffled to instantly put the last of the half-breed's anger to bed.
There was already the concern of how she had come to question him once. The last thing that he needed to do now was raise any further suspicion by lashing out foolishly.
Silently scolding himself for allowing himself to show the bit of frustration he had towards her, the blonde hybrid closed the distance between them in a rush and pulled her into a fierce embrace.
Gasping in surprise, Catalonia's wide eyes closed as she returned the embrace. "I... I'm terrified to think of how that.... that Vampire is still out there," she managed with a bite of disgust to the word 'Vampire.' Her head shaking, she asked in horror, "I can't see him anymore, but I feel like he is around somehow. What if he tries to continue to claim me?"
"That would never happen," Solo vowed, a growl in his words. Tightening his hold, he declared, "Nothing in this world would ever rip you away from me, my precious one."
Nodding shallowly, the Seer released a deep sigh of relied and eased in his arms. She truly believed her Master, that he would protect her and always keep her at his side.
And yet... there was still the nagging memory of how her name had been moaned by Rosshe when she found him in that dark, lonely cave. Just the thought caused her heart to twist the slightest bit. Instead of trying to reason with it, she forced it away as best she could.
There was still the great unknown to why there seemed to be something between her and the Infected. But Dorothy was not about to try and reason the possibilities. Nothing good came from Vampires. So whatever it was, this strange feeling, it did not soothe her.
It terrified her.
* * * * * *
"You're going to pay for this!" Sharon shrieked to her captors' backs as they walked away from her. Arms bound behind her back so that she could not call upon her electrified webbing, she struggled onto her feet to half-stumble as they closed the door to her cell behind themselves with a loud bang from the heavy lock when it fell into place.
Slamming the side of her lithe body against it, she cried, "This isn't over! Our Master is going to destroy every last one of you! Do whatever the hell you want with us, you disgusting monsters! it won't save you!"
On the other side of the door, Noin sighed heavily and ran the back of a hand over her brow as she turned to face her husband. Like Sharon, the other prisoners were awake and voicing their rage within their holding rooms. "Well, that's taken care of until we can bring the Others that have Vampires out in the world together." She gestured to Berber's cell behind them, adding, "At least we know of one of them already in Jacob."
Zechs nodded, "Yes." Casting a wary glance at the two most fortified chambers that bore the surviving Others, he frowned, "And we will need to find out how we are going to deal with that pair. Not only do we not know how to turn them back, but there's the matter of what will happen to them when they come to learn that their Chosen is..." His voice trailing off, his eyes grew at the sudden thought that came over him.
"Dear husband?" Lucrezia called softly, blinking as she tilted her head. "What is it?" She gasped when he suddenly spun to grip her shoulders with an elated smile.
Laughing, Merquise replied, "I might just have something. But we need to hurry and make certain on something." Rather than question, his wife nodded in attention and readiness. Leading the way, the Councilman shot their way through the basement in blurs of themselves.
At that same time, over in the next estate...
Treize and Lady Une were unable to contain their smiles after hearing of Rosshe's unique reaction to drinking Duo's blood indirectly, they met the faces of their messengers once again.
"Get Anna and Sally together at once," Khushrenada politely ordered the Bartons. "We start harvesting and distributing our blood immediately to our ailing."
TBC...
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