Maiden- Thanks so much to those who alerted and favorited this story! Just to clear up a few things, Vanessa, AJ, Joy and Jhonen are mine, Emma and Jac's Teen Titan Ocs. We're known as '3OfAKind' here on fanfiction.
Chapter 2
Violet eyes opened in disdain. Rachel had only been asleep for a mere hour, but she already grew restless. She raised from her bed, looking out at the dark world outside through a bay window. This was her life. Rachel had been locked away in this God forsaken room for nearly six years. The wicked old man was her only way of surviving, and her sister was his payment. The two had been orphaned at the age of twelve, leaving the sisters to fend for themselves. It wasn't long after the girl's mother died that Rachel fell ill. This is when they'd first laid eyes on Gene Co. Trigon, who at first the girls believed to be a kind man, had told the girls that Rachel had a rare blood disease. He'd offered the oldest twin medicine, but it came with a price tag about as much as a new house. Vanessa pleaded with the man to help her sister, and eventually agreed. But at a price. Vanessa didn't inherit the disease, so she went to work for Trigon to help pay off her sister's debt. But little did Vanessa know, she'd agreed to become an assassin. To repossess all organs that had payments that were past due.
At first, the younger rejected the compromise. But when Trigon pointed out that Rachel was all the family Vanessa had left, she'd reluctantly agreed. Rachel knew what her sister did, but didn't agree with it. She'd much rather die than see her sister a killer. But Trigon wouldn't take no for an answer now. Vanessa was extremely good at what she did. She was quick, deadly and efficient. Her only pay being Rachel's medicine and a place to live.
"Damn this blood condition." Rachel cursed, clawing at her arms in disgust. Her nails weren't nearly sharp enough to break the skin, and Trigon refused to give her anything blunt enough to do so. He knew if Rachel were to die, he'd loose his best weapon.
Rachel rose from her bed and walked over to her dresser. Pictures of her younger days adorned the marble surface. Richard, Garfield, Victor, Kori, AJ and Joy were her world before her mother passed and she fell ill. Richard, AJ and Joy suffered much the same fate as many in this city has. Rachel could only hope Victor, Gar and Kori were okay and healthy.
"What's the point anymore?" she asked herself. "Half my friends and my mother are dead, and my sister is a brainwashed killer now...so what do I have to live for?"
"How about a little hope, sis?" came a voice that Rachel knew all too well. Violet eyes flickered to her doorway to find an identical copy of herself standing over the threshold.
"Hope died along with mother." Rachel sighed, fingering a picture of her deceased mom. Arella was a breathtaking woman. Both her daughters inherited Arella's violet hair and ivory skin. Deep and wise almond eyes stared back at Rachel, as if trying to tell her something.
"I know how you feel, love." Vanessa whispered. "Sometimes I feel like this is all we have to look forward to everyday...I wish we could be free of this world."
"As do I, but unfortunately, I'm infected by our mother's genetics."
Vanessa said no more, leaving her sister alone to go shower off Victor's blood. She thought it best to not tell her sister about her latest victim.
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"Jhonen Moore." Vanessa muttered to herself. The digital readout on her wrist glowed with tiny green letters. Letting her know exactly where to go. She traveled into the worst part of town. It was known for drug deals and gangs, but Vanessa knew she could handle herself. And just in case, she always carried a small vile of sedative in case of attackers. She'd gotten some pretty disgusting looks from a few gang members but they knew well to leave The Falcon alone. She'd simply ignored their presence and went for her real goal. Near the edge of town sat a small little shack. It wasn't anything like what Vanessa expected. Outside the small shack sat a young man maybe a year older than Vanessa herself. He was quite handsome with thick blackish brown hair that reached the tops of his ears and hazel eyes.
"You have something that belongs to my boss." Vanessa called out. Not caring if the boy gave a chase or not. The boy simply looked up from the cigarette he was smoking and tossed Vanessa a plastic bag. Inside the bag was a rather beaten up looking liver. "Went the easy way, did ya?" she taunted, securing the organ in her belt pouch.
"Na." the boy breathed, exhaling a ring of smoke. "I just know a guy who knows what he's doin' in a lab."
"So you got yourself another transplant?"
"Nope. Had a liver grown for me. A friend of mine dabbles around in organ regeneration. He could probably end Gene Co. if it weren't for you."
Vanessa smirked, knowing this to be true. Trigon wouldn't be happy to know he actually had a competitor. "Besides, what your boss sold me was a piece of shit anyway."
"Gene Co. sells nothing but pristine merchandise." Vanessa snapped.
"Yeah, yeah." the boy laughed, taking another puff off the cigarette. "Everybody woulda died eventually anyway. Those second rate organs wouldn't have lasted more than two years if you had not cut the poor bastards up. So you really did them a favor."
"Just who are you?" Vanessa asked, not really liking the boy's tone.
"Jhonen Moore."
"Well Jhonen, I believe our business is done here." Falcon turned on her heel to leave, but was stopped when he called out to her again.
"I know about your sister. She's got hemophilia. My friend could easily give her the medicine she needs...maybe even cure her."
"How do I know I can trust you?"
"You don't. But seeing as you could easily do away with me if I'm lying, I'd say I'm better off tellin' the truth." Vanessa couldn't help the smirk that flitted across her full lips. Tins boy was entertaining; and though she was trying not to indulge in that silly, nagging, trickle of hope that he was causing. She fiddled with her scalpel, her fingers grazing over the blade but not catching on the sharp edge. She contemplated his words, looked up at the boy and caught his hazel eyes: they were honest, they were genuine; they matched how her sister looked at her.
"Fine. Tell me where to find your 'friend' and our business will be concluded."
"Hold ya scalpel, girly." Jhonen smirked. "I'm goin' with ya. Crowley won't do anything for ya unless I'm there."
"Fine. Just don't get in the way." Vanessa snapped, letting the hazel eyed man lead the way.
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Jhonen led Vanessa several blocks north, stopping outside what looked to be an electronic shoppe. The windows were boarded up like it'd gone out of business a while ago.
"Is this a joke?" she snarled, ready to grab one of her instruments and end the boy. "This ain't nothing more than a run down store!"
"Relax, babe." he held his hands in front of him in a mock surrender. "This is only a front. Can't have everyone knowing of this place now can we?"
"Just get on with it."
Jhonen nodded and produced a key from the pocket of his cargo pants. Once inside the dusty old shoppe, the two walked to the back, finding a reinforced steel door. Using the same key as before, Jhonen slipped it into the lock on the handle, turning it and causing a control panel to pop out beside the knob. He typed in a few numbers and the door opened.
The inside was a complete laboratory. Glass cases lined several shelves on the far wall, each housing some sort of organ. Everything from eyeballs to stomachs and hearts.
"Looks like you were good for something after all." Vanessa grinned, baring her teeth.
"Told ya." Jhonen laughed, calling out for his friend. Out from behind a curtain that was strung up halfway throughout the room, came a middle aged man with wild black hair and even wilder ruby eyes. He donned a white lab coat, but underneath were blue jeans with rips and holes. His chest was bare, showing wiry hair and slight 6 pack. Combat boots stained with blood fit over his feet.
"What'd ya want, boss?" the man asked, his voice raspy.
"Boss?" Vanessa asked, turning to the boy beside her.
"We used to run together in a gang before this city went to hell. I was the leader...I guess old nicknames die hard."
"So you're a street rat?" Vanessa stated, crossing her arms over her full leather clad chest.
"Call it what you want, babe." Jhonen shrugged, turning back to the older man. "This gal's sister has a rare blood disease and needs a cure."
"Can't do nuttin' without a specimen." Crowley responded, stuffing his fists into the pockets of his jeans.
"You want her blood?" Vanessa asked, a little unnerved.
"Well duh." the man drawled, rolling his ruby orbs. "Gotta analyze it to find out what I'm dealin' with."
"Fine." Vanessa spat, hating the idea of having to open Rachel's flesh. "I'll have it to you by tomorrow night. Trigon sends me on assignments every night at eight sharp."
"You know where 'ta find me." Crowley yawned, slipping behind the curtain once more.
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If there was one thing Trigon wasn't, it was an idiot. Gene Co. had security cameras and speakers on literally every square foot of it's building. Vanessa knew privacy didn't exist within these walls. So she'd have to come up with a plan to get Rachel's blood without her or Trigon knowing. The blue eyed girl laid unmoving in her spacious bed, running over different scenarios in her head. She groaned after about thirty minutes and ran both hands through her long violet hair. She felt a slight scratching sensation from her nails on her scalp. Sapphire eyes widened with an idea. She pulled her hands down quickly and stared at her ice blue acrylic nails.
Trigon had gotten tired of Vanessa's natural nails breaking, causing the girl to slow her work progress. So the man called for a manicurist once a month for fill ins. They were just the right length for her to hide a tiny needle underneath one. A wicked smile formed across her lips, leaping from her bed and rummaging through her dresser. She came to a box of thumb tacks, quickly pulling one of the needles from it's base. Using a bit of super glue, she secured the needle to the underside of her index finger.
Now, her plan could commence. She crept down the hallway to her sister's room, using the key she'd swiped from Trigon to open the door. Rachel sat upright in her bed, staring at the violet sheets.
"Rae?" she whispered, alerting the violet eyed girl. "You alright?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"I...uh... thought I heard something." Vanessa lied, hoping her sister couldn't tell.
"You're paranoid." Rachel deadpanned.
"Probably so." Vanessa replied, moving to sit beside her sister on the bed. "I'm just terrified of something happening to you."
Now was her chance, she grabbed hold of Rachel's left hand and squeezed hard. Causing the needle to puncture the tender ivory flesh. Rachel squeaked due to the sharp pain, jerking her hand away to see the steady flow of blood now coming from the wound in her palm.
"Oh my, I'm sorry!" Vanessa pretended to be horrified, moving to grab some tissues from the nightstand. "I just filed my nails and I guess they're a little sharp."
"That's okay." Rachel muttered, pressing the tissues to the wound. However, it wasn't enough to stop the bleeding. Drops of crimson fell from her hand and onto the floor. The younger sister reached for her belt and pulled out a clear tube. She opened the top and ran the roller top across her sister's cut, sealing it.
"What is that?"
"It's like a liquid band-aid. Seals anything instantly, sort of like super glue. It will eventually dissolve though."
"Oh, thanks."
"No problem. You should sleep, it's past five in the morning."
"I'll sleep when I feel like it." Rachel leaned back against the head board, closing her eyes. While she wouldn't be seen, Vanessa ran a small vile through the blood on the floor, collecting about an ounce. She slipped it into her pocket just as Rachel's violet eyes opened again.
"Shouldn't you be asleep? I mean you came home around two this morning."
"I'm fine." Vanessa smiled, trying to stifle the yawn she felt building in her throat. "I don't have to be up until seven tonight."
"Go to bed, Nessa." Rachel glared hard at her sister. Although she was the one in bed, vulnerable, the elder Roth still felt the need to be protective and authoritative towards her little sister.
"Fine, you don't have to look at me like that." Vanessa held her hands up in mock surrender, kissing her sister on the forehead and leaving the room, having obtained her objective.