Tainted 2: A Twist of Fate
Chapter 3
It was mind bottling. Heero told them that there had been some strange activity among the vampires as of late. The plan was simple; split into groups, find some vampires, and do whatever it took to retrieve information. The problem in the plan only occurred when the groups were finally determined.
"Do you really expect me to patrol with the likes of him?" Lita asked the group, crossing her arms over her chest. Serena just revealed to the tall brunette that she'd be walking the streets with the silent vampire, Trowa.
"You know how I feel about vampires. I would never stoop so low." Lita glared at Trowa, who slightly lifted his head to cast his eyes into the light of the room.
"A fighter should never allow their personal feelings to interfere with their duties…" Trowa stated plainly. The look in Lita's eyes darkened as she stared at the vampire. The anger in the woman was already building, and the vampire's comment only made it boil over.
"You shut the hell up. You don't know anything about me vampire." Lita now stood in front of the brown haired man, thrusting her finger into his chest. "The likes of you killed my parents. All you need to know is that IAM doing my duty as a fighter… and that's getting rid of you."
As she spoke, Lita lifted a fist above her head getting ready to strike the unmoving vampire.
"Damn it!!!! Enough is enough Lita!!!!" Serena said her voice stern with the woman as she yanked her friend back by her arm. Lita stared into the now hard eyes of the slayer. "Listen to me. I know it's hard for you to cope with what happened to your parents. But right now… you need to leave it behind. You're working with Trowa whether you like it or not… so DEAL with it." Serena then turned to the other who stood behind her in shock at her sudden control of authority.
"Anybody else have a problem with the way of things?" The group was silent as Serena now began to pace back and forth. "Good. So we're ready to go. The groups are as assigned: Amy and Quatre, Raye and Wufei, Mina and Duo, Lita and Trowa…" Serena sent a final glare at her friend. "…and Heero's with me."
Everyone nodded their head in some type of agreement, though some reluctantly, before they departed on their separate paths.
Raye took long strides through the alleyway, the entire time clutching her automatic bow and arrow. Her raven hair was tied into a low ponytail and her violet eyes were attentive. Wufei took long strides alongside her, easily keeping pace with the woman beside him?
"I just want you to know… just because I'm working with you doesn't me I trust you." Raye's voice was soft but firm. She heard a snarl come from the werewolf.
"Trust me… I can smell it… Among other things." A grin spread across Wufei's lips as he ran his tongue across his fangs. Raye turned a deep shade of red.
"Don't flatter yourself werewolf." With that Raye quickened her pace, attempting to walk away from the Chinese man. He stuffed his hands in his pockets as he continued with his pace. Every now and then he'd steal a glance at the raven haired woman walking in front of him. She was beautiful. And even though they'd just met, she had an attitude that Wufei liked. His grin grew wider as he sniffed the air.
So what he could smell the girl's distrust; that was just one among many. Sniffing the air around her… he could make out a faint sweet scent, the type that could make any man's blood boil. Wufei quirked an eyebrow as the scent became a little stronger. Raye's mild arousal seemed to settle on him as his onyx eyes darted in her direction again. He had become lost in his thoughts; So lost that he didn't hear the woman calling his name impatiently. The click of a weapon snapped him back to his senses.
As his eyes refocused he saw the dark haired woman and smiled at the scene in front of him. Raye held her automatic bow and arrow directly in front of Wufei's face, her finger ready to pull back on the trigger.
"Hey pay attention werewolf. I'm not going to baby sit you all day." Her words seemed send a light shiver down his spine. She removed the weapon from his face and proceeded down the alley. Wufei's grin widened as he watched the woman's retreating figure. He stepped into pace and allowed his thoughts to consume him.
Ami quickly scanned the pages of the book she was holding in her hands, every now and then pushing her square frame glasses further up her nose. She flipped the pages a few minutes longer, before finally tossing the object onto the marble floor of the library.
"This is completely pointless!! None of these vampire books have the information we could possibly want." The blue haired woman said, removing her glasses and rubbing her temples gently with her fingertips.
"There has to be something in here.. Something that could help us…" Amy turned to the blonde boy sitting at the table next to her. He focused all his energy and concentration in searching through his own book. After a while, he too reluctantly closed the book and leaned back against his wooden chair. The silence between them rose, before Amy finally broke the trend.
"I wonder how the others are doing in their search." She said, casting her eyes downward.
"I'm sure they're fine." Quatre whispered softly. She turned to him and gave him a small smile, which Quatre returned.
"So.. how did you meet Heero. I mean… how did you start working with vampires in general?" A large sigh escaped the blonde as he closed his eyes.
"Well Heero and Trowa are unlike any other vampires I've met. They actually save humans instead of eat them. I met Heero almost two years ago. I was doing some research in a city infested by rogue vampires." Amy focused her eyes completely on Quatre as he spoke.
"I learned that he was trying to exterminate them, so I figured I'd be able to help. During our investigation I was actually nearly turned into a vampire. But Heero saved me. I guess you could say I owe him my life. After that… I've been around ever since." Quatre shrugged his shoulders as he finished his story. He then turned to the blue haired genius.
"So how about you? How'd you end up working with the slayer of all people?" Ami cast her eyes downward.
"I guess we all have our own stories to tell hm? Well my story is similar to yours I guess you could say. My parents moved to America a few years ago. So I was basically left on my own. I didn't mind. I focused on my studies and kept to myself. " Ami shifted in her seat as she let her world spill from her mouth.
"One day I was going home from work, and I was attacked by a vampire. Serena did her usual job and killed it. But after that I realized that I could no longer pretend the world was safe and perfect. I started to look for the slayer. I guess you could say she inspired me to be a fighter. Eventually I found her. And at first she was reluctant to let me help her... but she eventually came through. She accepted me, and taught me everything there is to know about the business. " Amy smiled as she pulled a stake from her pocket and twirled in through her fingers.
"Interesting…" Quatre breathed as he watched the girl fiddle with the weapon. His cobalt blue eyes searched hers as she gave him a smile.
"It's strange…" Amy whispered softly. Quatre gave the girl a quizzical look.
"What is?" Amy's smile widened.
"Besides Serena, you're the only person that knows my story." Quatre let a small smile cross his lips as he stared at the depths of Amy's blue eyes.
"That's good to know…" He said through his smile as he picked up his book and began to flip through it's pages.
"You're right…." Ami said beginning to search through her own book again. "It is."
Mina walked briskly through the streets, every now and then eyeing a suspicious individual who may have looked at her the wrong way. It amused Duo how with every lustful glare the blonde received, he heard a bothered snarl from the woman, followed by the click of her gun's safety being removed. A small chuckle escaped the braided man as he quickened his pace to catch up with her.
"So weapon's specialists hm? Never thought I'd see the day where a woman held that title." Immediately he received a glare from the blue eyed beauty, sending a fearful chill down his spine.
"What? A woman can't do a man's job? Get real…" She said, turning her gaze back to the individuals walking the streets. A small smile crossed Duo's lips.
"I didn't say that." He whispered with a laugh. "But I do wonder how a woman of your nature landed into such a profession." Mina allowed her shoulders to fall as she let a sigh escape her.
"I was trained as a military soldier a few years back." She clicked the safety off of her gun as another man eyed her up and down. "I guess you could say some things stuck."
"Well how did you get into cahoots with the slayer?" Mina stopped in her tracks, her eyes darkened. She ran s slim hand through her yellow locks before she spoke.
"Why the hell am I even telling you my life story?" She whispered softly, casting her eyes downward. Duo stared at the blonde with warm blue eyes, allowing his voice to sound sincere as possible.
"Because I'm naturally curious…and I think…I'm the only guy who's really interested in knowing." Mina turned to Duo and saw him flash a small smile causing her to turn a cherry red. As they walked, the two momentarily forgot about their current mission and seated themselves on a park bench.
"I was assigned to a mission while I was in the military…class S top secret. Infiltrate a vampire colony, destroy, and that would be it. I found it ironic that Serena placed herself in the same mission. It's funny… we both thought the other was a vampire." A small chuckle escaped her as she spoke. "Somehow in the scuffle the leader of the colony and a few members managed to escape and they figured out who I worked for. When I returned to the military base I was stationed at was completely destroyed without a survivor left."
"Wow…." Duo breathed out. He smiled at her as he turned his head to stare into her blue orbs. "Well I find it Ironic that we both have similar backgrounds. I'm a military brat to. I just got tired of it,, and decided to find something new you know?" Duo said allowing his eyes to wonder into the city streets.
The two sat silently before Mina brought her gun out of her holster and began toying with it as her boredom consumed her. A grin spread across her lips as she glanced over to the man beside her.
We all may be more alike than we care to admit, Mina thought as she continued to toy with the weapon in her hands and began wondering how the others were doing in their own search.
The tall brunette tore through the streets, her anger still boiling over in undetermined proportions.
Why the hell do I have to work with him? Pompous ass is what the hell he is. I should just put a stake right through that dead heart of his. And I swear if he doesn't wipe that smug look off his face I'll…..
"Someone's still agitated and I must admit… it's very fitting…." Lita's green eyes narrowed as she turned to face the brown haired vampire behind her.
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't just kill you and get it over with." Towa grinned at her question, crossing his arms as he walked behind her slowly.
"Do what you feel like. But I won't say I'll be an easy target." Trowa said as his grin widened, flashing his of sharp vampiric fangs. She turned on her heel abruptly and quickened her pace. Trowa allowed his smirk to grow wider. He had to admit… the vampire did like the girl's attitude. It was very….attractive….As his thoughts began to develop, he could make out the obscene ramblings from the girl in front of him.
"Damn vampires…I swear none of then deserve to walk the night earth." She glanced back at the vampire behind her. "Not even the day walkers."
"Some humans fail to see that not all vampires are alike." The comment caused her to turn around in another flood of anger.
"YOU ALL ARE THE SAME!! BLOOD THIRSTY MONSTERS!! If I had it my way you'd all die in the morning sunlight."
A snort emitted from the vampires lips as he stared at her.
"I forgot how humans tend to take when they fail to understand." Trowa's voice was low and firm as he spoke to the woman in front of him.
"Shut up!!! You know nothing of humans; our feelings nor our emotions!!!" Lita's anger took control as she pushed the vampire against the wall and pressed her arm against his chest. His grin widened as the woman began to breathe heavily as her rage consumed her.
"How can you be so sure. Who's to say I wasn't a human once?" Lita now found herself lost in his eyes as he spoke. "You may not like it but not all vampires are the same. Not all of us are the monsters you depict us to be. Some of us are victims turned to the dark side against our will." Trowa's eyes no longer held the hint of amusement they once had; now Lita could see his pain. She removed her arm from his chest and took a few steps back.
"You were…."
"Human?" Trowa finished for her. "I was… until my mother turned me. I didn't want to be a member of the damned… but he did. She betrayed me, turned me, then let herself get killed." Lita felt a surge of guilt and sorrow fill her.
"Trowa…I…." He took a few steps towards her until he stood next to her. They weren't looking at each other. Instead they both focused on the swirling clouds in the clear sky.
"I don't want your pity. I am what I am and nothing will change that…I just ask that you understand. We all are not the same. Some of us do deserve to be trusted." Trowa's words washed over her, a lump forming in her throat. Lita watched as the vampire slowly walked into the crowd of people busing themselves with their activities. Her eyes softened as she watched Trowa's retreating back. A sigh escaped her, and a smile crossed her lips before she ran to catch up to the man who proved to be more than what he seemed.
"You haven't changed vampire prince…." Heero turned his Prussian-blue eyes toward the aqua-marine ones possessed by the slayer. The two had been scavenging for clues for hours now, and still nothing came up. A small smile graced Serena's pink lips as she looked at Heero intently.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean since the last time I've seen you.. You haven't changed. You're still the concrete man I knew." Heero quirked an eyebrow up as he stared at her.
"And you slayer… haven't changed much yourself…despite the company you now keep." Heero felt himself become trapped in her smile, the same as he had three years ago. If anything, the only thing that had changed was the softness in her eyes. As she looked at him, he could've sworn he saw the same emotion filled eyes that he'd seen the night they spent together so many years ago; The night in which their barriers fell and they allowed themselves to love each other as they knew they had. His ice cold gaze on the slayer softened as he became captivated by her appearance; The golden skin, the clear blue eyes, the golden blonde hair that once washed over his own skin. But that was a long time ago. She didn't want it now. She had mad that clear earlier.
Closing his thoughts about the slayer into the depths of his mind, Heero turned on his heel and continued with his investigation of the area.
Serena felt her heart tighten as she stared at the back of the vampire prince. Her smile faded as he busied himself with their search. She had only hoped that he'd look at her the way he had three years ago, the way that made her drop every wall around her heart. But she couldn't let him in; it would hurt too much if he decided to leave again. But she had to admit, she did miss him. That messy brown hair, that pale skin that was soft under the touch, those enticing eyes that she'd once become lost in over three years ago.
Serena tightened her hands into fists as her thoughts consumed her. As much as she wanted to, she just couldn't take the risk of letting him near her heart again, no matter how much she wanted the fulfilled heart she had three years ago when she was with him.
A sigh escaped her. It was just all too confusing.
"It seems weird to be back…." Heero's whispered word broke the slayer out of her thoughts. It was then she noticed the pair now stood in front of the abandoned building that was once the entrance to the vampire sanctuary; the same sanctuary Heero once dwelled in, the same sanctuary Serena nearly lost the vampire in, the same place where he'd once saved her. Without even realizing it, Serena stepped into the broken down building.
Inside, it could be seen that the wood was beginning to deteriorate. With each step the two took, the wooden floors seemed to creak under their weight. A puff of dust lifted into the air, choking the two momentarily.
"You think there are still some of them down there?" Serena asked, stepping into the middle of the room. Heero stepped closer to her.
"Maybe we should find out…" he said tapping his foot against the ground. Instantly, the area of the floor began to lower, just as it done three years ago. The two soon found themselves in the abandoned lower level of the all too familiar sanctuary.
"Wow it really has changed down here…" the slayer whispered, stepping off o the platform. She slowly walked around, eyeing the tarnished walls and the dust covered floors. There was broken glass decorating the floors, causing a crunching sound to echo off the walls with every step.
They slowly walked through the marble corridors, which lost their luster from previous years. With caution, the two peered around the corners slowly.
"You hear that slayer?" Serena turned to face the vampire prince, just in time to catch his eyes flash a blood red. Serena immediately withdrew a large wooden stake from her inside pocket, already knowing what Heero's sudden tenseness implied. Placing a firm hand on her wrist, Heero peered around the next corner. He was taken aback at the sight. Curious as to Heero's sudden stance, the slayer peeked her own head around the corner.
The door to a dimly lit room hung off its hinges, allowing a perfect view of the dark depths. In the center of the room, a group of shirtless vampires huddled around the other, their senses to far gone in the scent of blood which pooled around them. The duo heard the ravenous snarls of the paled vampires as the sound of flesh ripping off bone echoes in their ears.
"What the hell…." Serena breathed out as she took a few steps closer to the open door. Her yes became captivated at the sight of the vampires feeding off the pale human corpse that was sprawled on the ground. Though she tried to tread silently, the crunch of broken glass beneath Serena's foot rung in the vampire's ears, tearing them from their acts. They abruptly turned their blood red eyes to the slayer, each of them allowing a blood thirsty grin to form on their thin lips at the sight of her.
"Shit!!" Serena yelled as she turned on her heel and dashed back around the corner with the group of vampires quickly following behind her. She ran face first into the vampire prince.
"What the…" he began as the sight of the demented vampires caught his eye.
"No time!!!" Serena called as she grabbed his arm and dashed down the corridors. As she ran, she brought her watch to her mouth and began speaking frantically. "Girls get your asses to the old warehouse on the south side!!! We've got trouble!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Got it!" The voices of the four other girls echoed through the wristwatch communicator. Serena and Heero picked up their pace as the snarls of the vampires began to grow closer.
"Damn…" Serena choked out as she and Heero realized they took a wrong turn and now faced a brick wall. They turned to face the way they had come only to see it completely blocked by the troupe of blood thirsty vampires that stood in their path.
"Well now….I'll take the half on the right and you take the half on the left." Serena proposed withdrawing her stake from her pocket once again. Heero's eyes turned the same blood red as the other vampires and he twisted his mouth into a snarl, revealing his razor sharp fangs.
"With pleasure…" He growled. Just as the two took a step forward to their aggressors, the sound of the wall exploding behind them rang in their ears. The two immediately turned and used their arm to block the flying debris and dust that had come to life. The brick wall behind them now had a large, gaping hole, and through it stepped a tall, dark haired man. His dark blue eyes grew darker as he stared at the vampires, whose growls for blood only seemed to grow louder.
"Look like you too need a little help..." The man said as he rushed passed them into the mass of undead. Heero and Serena stood dumbfounded as they watched the newcomer battle the oncoming and relentless vampires that now made him their target.
"You two gonna' stand there or are you going to help me damnit!!" The man called as he staked a vampire in his heart, turning him to dust. With one glance at each other, Serena and Heero, too, rushed into the fight. Within minutes the mass of vampires was nothing more than a pile of dust.
"Aww look... One's trying to get away…" The dark haired man smirked as he watched the last vampire try and escape through the large hole in the wall. The man reached in his pocket and pulled out a small circular disk. He tossed it at the retreating vampire and in a puff of smoke, ropes encircled the frail body of the vampire entirely, causing him to fall to the ground.
"We can use him for questioning." He said with the flash of a smile as he walked over to the fallen vampire and hoisted him to his bare feet. He then turned to the slayer and vampire prince, who stood completely bewildered at this man.
"Who are you?" Serena whispered. The man hoisted the vampire on his shoulders. Running a hand through his dark locks he gave the beautiful blonde a dashing smile. His eyes lowered as he stared into the aqua-marine eyes of the slayer, completely forgetting about Heero.
"Shields…" The man whispered with a devilish grin. "Darien Shields."
Another chapter is finally up. I was doing good with the alternating days thing but then I just got caught up and lost my flow. Currently I'm in the process of moving… so once I get settled again I'll be able to start back up again with the daily updates.
Thanks for reading and thanks for the reviews.
Vegeta'sgirl89