Chapter 2: Tell One Tell All!
Figured id let you all know that you will kind of get a sneak peak at what Valerie is capable of as a Vampire here in amestris.
'mental speak between Edward and Valerie'
My face paled even more, if that was even possible, and my body went stiff. My breathing stopped, and I saw them all swarm me like a cluster of flies. I was lost in my own world after what Edward had said, and I wasn't sure if I would ever come out of it until I felt something hit my face. I snapped out of my trance, and my fingers felt where I had been hit. Hawkeye was standing in front of me, massaging her hand.
"I hope that hit hurt me more then it hurt you, Riza. You shouldn't hit me. My skins cold, and hard. I'm sorry… But, Ed, is there really a way to save me?" I turned my smoldering red eyes towards them, and before I could get a straight answer, I heard a click, and a knock on the door.
"Valerie, you're suppliers here…." Mustang whispered, and I got up and away from the group.
"Ah, thanks for doing this for me Hughes. How is Doctor Knox?"
"He's Doing good, Roy. He wanted me to find out what this thing was about. Blood Bags? Even I am just as shocked as he was." A tall man with black hair, square glasses, and stubble across his chin. He had chiseled features, and he seemed like a nice man in general from what I was sensing. I walked over to the two men, and I could hear the whispers from Edward and Alphonse. When I stood by mustang, I turned my head sharply, glaring at them. Edwards face went blank with fear.
"I can hear you, you know. Didn't you know? I have super heightened senses!" Then, I faced the man Roy called Hughes.
"Hello. My name is Valerie." I held out my hand in a friendly gesture and he shook it.
"Pleased to meet you. Names Maes Hughes. I'm in the Investigations Department here in Central." He turned back to Roy. "So what is all this about?" He asked, and then I saw it. He looked from me, to Roy, then back to me. He stared wide-eyed at my gleaming red eyes, and I thought for sure he was going to faint.
"Roy-"
"Hughes, I think you should take a seat. We all need an explanation from this young girl. This is one story you wont want to miss." I turned from the two men, and helped gather chairs and we all sat, Ed sat near me on the couch, and everyone else sat in chairs near me.
"Alright, I want you to tell me everything about what happened to you." Hawkeye asked quietly. "can you do that without breaking down?"
"I think so… I was sitting in my room, I had just gotten into a fight with my older brother. He had been getting into trouble, and if he got into one more fight… He was going to be arrested, and I would be put into a foster home. I didn't want that to happen, and when he got home, all bruised and bloody, and I just snapped…
"After that, he yelled, saying he was an adult and I couldn't tell him what to do. I told him that he was just like dad, and I got slapped. I ran to my room, ignoring his pleads for me to come back, and he was sorry. I locked myself in my room and cried. All I remember thinking was 'I wish I was anywhere but here.' I dozed off, and then I woke up in front of the Truth, and I asked where I was and who it was. It went into an explanation, told me to go to my new home, my toll was to be payed, and it took my humanity and my mortality…
"I begged to go back, but the next thing I knew, I was out like a light. I woke up here to you guys discussing what to do with me. I realized that everything the Truth said was real. If it wasn't, I wouldn't be pale as a ghost, and my eyes wouldn't be red. They would be blue." I put my head in my hands and sighed.
"Okay. But what did the Truth say about a cure?" Alphonse asked, his voice sounding shy and hollow.
"It said I had to find a cure within a year, or else I would…" And I broke, bawling in my hands like a baby. Knowing that if I didn't find a cure, I would die didn't make anything easier on me. Having to say it out loud would have surely made me run from the room. I felt metal on my back, and I turned to see Ed. My eyes grew wide when I saw his arm.
"And I thought I had it bad… Valerie, we are going to do everything in our power to help you. I believe the Truth wants you to get a Philosophers Stone… And that's what we are after… Don't Worry. You aren't alone on this." At those words, I wanted to wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him, I was that happy. But I held back.
"Thank you, Ed. You guys have been a big help. Now, if you will excuse me… I think it best if I leave for this one thing…" I saw the leather suitcase, and I could smell it, and I knew it was the one thing I had be depriving myself of since my arrival here. Hopefully I could contain myself long enough until I got to a place where human lives weren't in danger. But the closer I got to the large case, the more my body tensed, the hotter the burning sensation in my throat got. I could hear everyone… not verbally speaking, but mentally. And I stopped in place.
"Valerie…? Are you alright?" Maes asked softly.
"I can hear your thoughts!" I spun around a smile on my face.
"And you're happy about it?" Ed said sarcastically?
"Do you know what this means? If I go with you to find the Philosophers stone, I could help you! Reading people minds, I can tell what they are going to do next. Which means less damage being done in whatever area you may be in." I sighed. "But I'm getting ahead of myself. First things first… Feed…" A shiver went down my spine and I grabbed the case, and quickly popped it open on Mustang's big oak desk. I smiled and licked my lips and I heard someone gag at the look on my face as I eyed the blood. I picked up a bag, and opened the top, and put it to my lips.
It smelled delicious. Sweet and tangy, as though it were fresh from the human itself even though this had been preserved for months. And sadly it was cold. But I would have to do what I could with what I had. I sipped it slowly, testing what I could handle and before I knew it, It was gone. I licked my lips and sighed.
"I'm sorry… That must have been disturbing for you. But I just couldn't contain myself any longer. But, I think I can get by on a bag a day." I let my breathing even, and I felt the burning in my throat ease away slowly at first, but more and more as I breathed in fresh air. My gums weren't sore and aching anymore, and I felt more human then vampire now. I was guessing it was a good sign. I turned and looked at them, and smiled.
"Thank you…" I hung my head, and heat welled up behind my eyes. All too soon, they overflowed with tears of joy, and I walked over to the group. They all looked at me and smiled.
"That definitely helped you, Valerie. Your eyes aren't red anymore. They are blue." Alphonse said cheerfully.
"I turned and saw a mirror on the wall that I was sure wasn't there when I woke earlier. And sure enough, I stood there. My blonde hair cascaded around my shoulders and down my back to my waist, and color flushed into my face. I wasn't pale anymore compared to how I was earlier. Sure enough, I focused on my eyes, which were a bright sky blue. A smile formed on my lips, and I began to wonder.
"Guys, If I can read minds, what else do you think I can do? I've read vampire stories about those who can tell whats happening in the future, can inflict pain upon sending mortals a mere glance, and of course, the usual overpowering of a mind… Do you think-"
"Try something on me." Ed stood up, and let his jacket fall from his shoulders. I stared at him and felt my heart splutter and my breathing stop.
"Um, you alright?" He asked moving closer to me. All of a sudden, he was just there in front of me.
"Try something?" I asked skeptically, and Riza and Mustang looked worried.
"Anything. Just try something." He held out a hand, and I let my arms move from my side, and slowly trail up his sides and I breathed deeply. Suddenly he jumped and looked me in the eyes.
"Okay, that was unexpected. I just- I think I just saw-" He turned away for a moment, then turned back.
"Try more contact. I think you can put images into people mind." He instructed me softly. I placed my hands back where I had left off and trailed them up from his sides, up to his chest, and heard him sigh. I let my hand go up further, caressing his cheeks, and I saw him flush a little and I giggled. Then, I let my face go to his and he came towards me, and our lips met and I could feel a spark between us.
In one instant, it was like our minds were merging, and I was seeing everything he was, everything he went through, and he was seeing my life in my world, my time, who I was. I heard him talking.
'Valerie, you've had a hard life… I never realized'
'And I thought that I had it bad becoming a vampire. I think you guys had it worse then I ever have…'
We heard a grunt, and quickly separated. I saw the color in Edwards cheeks, and could feel my cheeks flushing as well.
"Well, while you were smacking lips, did you figure anything out?" Roy asked sarcastically.
"You are totally jealous colonel. You're mad that Ed got more action then you have seen lately…" I dropped on the floor laughing hysterically, making it a bigger deal then it had to be. Even Ed started laughing.
"See, Roy? I told you! You need to find a wife!" And with what Maes said, it didn't make this any easier to stop laughing, but I managed to get up, stifling my laughter. I finally gained my composure back, and I saw Mustang give me a death glare.
"Um… I can't control what I hear in your head. You control what you think, sir." I said, hanging my head. Ed placed his metal hand on my shoulder.
"Ed, what exactly is your-"
"My arm is made of auto-mail. From the best mechanic around, too! You know, maybe to get some sort of strategy-"
"Fullmetal, she isn't leaving my sight. Not until I know what she is capable of."
"Why not make her a State Alchemist?" Maes asked.
"Hughes, you know that females aren't allowed to take part in the State Alchemy exams." he snapped. Mustangs mood wasn't exactly all sugar and spice… mainly spice.
"Well, I am NOT staying cooped up here! It will get really old… kinda like- never mind." I quickly shut my mouth, knowing my smart mouth was going to get me in trouble, but I heard Ed laugh under his breath.
"How about we talk this through? Sir? Hughes? Can we speak outside? And Alphonse? You too. I think you are more sensible." Hawkeye glared at Ed and his jaw dropped. The four went out in the all and Ed and I sat on the couch.
"So…" he said.
"You enjoyed the kiss, I can tell… I don't know what was going on… I think-"
"I think you like me more then you are letting on." He smirked and relaxed. I quickly got up and straddled him, causing him to jump and go pale.
"I did enjoy it, if you must know. But, just so you know, you were the first guy I kissed." I grinned wickedly at him. "but I have ways of making men go weak in the knees. Back home, I was such a heart breaker. Everybody wanted me because they couldn't have me. I have a funny feeling its gunna be like that here, too. You want exactly what you can't have." I drew my finger down his throat, and then kissed his cheek, then trailed down to his neck and licked one spot and heard the boy- no, man- groan in pleasure. I quickly hopped back to my side of the couch, and saw him pout.
"Tease…" He grumbled.
"It's what I am good at." I said, crossing my legs.
No more then had I said that, the double oak doors to Mustangs office opened, and the four walked in, Mustang looking unpleased. I smiled.
"So, you didn't get your way, huh, Colonel?" I smirked my cockiest smirk at him, and he just glared at me.
"You win this time. But I want to see results. I want you to learn alchemy, and I can see if you are promising enough. If you are, I might be able to get the Furher to get you a position as the first female state alchemist in Amestris." He made his way quickly to his big chair behind the large, oak desk.
"Hughes, I need you to get a double supply of this blood for Valerie. If she's going to be with the Elric's, we are going to have to take plenty of precautions to be sure we aren't putting anyone in danger."
"Look, I've read enough on vampires to know all about the ways in which they choose to live. If I run out of this, I'll just drink off animals."
"And what if you don't have the heart to kill one of those innocent animals?"
"Just get the double supply… I don't need anyone getting hurt because of me not being able to have my animal predatory instincts kick in…" I grumbled, and Mustang seemed to perk up at my defeat.
"Brother…" Alphonse said.
"Huh…" Ed grumbled. "Well, guess we are going back home to Resembool until we figure out what we are going to be able to do with you."
"FullMetal… you do realize that if you can teach her proper alchemy and she can perform it, then you will have a vampire body guard, and you will have to help her search for the cure." He melded his hands together and grinned wickedly, placing his chin on his hands.
"Hehehe. I guess reading minds is an advantage, Edward. I like your mind. Its very... Interesting." I smirked at him, and he flushed bright red.
"Valerie... You aer going to use this to my advantage, aren't you?" he hung his head.
"Im holding my power above your head, Edward. Just remember that. And so our journey begins."