Chapter Three

"It's your fault…your brother…the way he is, having his soul stuck in that suit of armor…"

Edward lifted his chin, his golden orbs meeting a pair of jade. Aaron Lancaster…the only person he had told how he truly felt about everything. Yet here she was, hassling him again about how difficult it will be to make things "normal" for him and his brother. "I know."

Aaron's brows knit, "You also understand that it has been nearly nine years since he was last in his human body, right? And that the chances of him getting back into his body are near futile now."

Futile? Was it really futile to try and return Alphonse, his only brother, to his human body? "I won't give up." Edward muttered, shaking his head to reinforce his statement.

Her eyes softened sympathetically as Aaron stepped forward, tilting her head back slightly so she could keep her focus on Edward's eyes. For a moment she said nothing, made no movement save her long black hair that rustled slightly from the light breeze that brushed past them inconsistently. Finally though, she parted her lips, allowing a sigh to pass through her lips before she spoke. "…You don't know how to return his soul to his body, I know you don't; I can see it in your eyes, Ed."

Edward looked away, unwilling to believe that.

She always did know how to alter her tone to make it appear like she was consoling someone, but what she was really doing was stabbing them right in the heart…damaging their hope, pride, desire…

"Pride!"

I blinked a couple of times, only to jolt as something hit the back of my head. It felt like a hand. Probably was a hand. I frowned and lifted my right hand to rub the spot of my head that was beginning to throb. I heard someone beside me grunt.

"Pay attention."

It was Envy. My…"babysitter"…for the time being. He wasn't really good at the job, especially after two months of this life. But that was just my opinion, which didn't exactly matter in the environment that I lived in. Unless it was me. My own opinion mattered to me. "Pay attention to what?"

I was hit again for that response, harder than the first time. I made an assumption that Envy wasn't happy.

"What do you think, idiot?" he snapped, and stomped ahead of me on the dirt path we were on. "Abigail, our new Master, is replacing Dante." He summarized.

Oh yeah. I tilted my head back to stare up at the grey sky. Dante…My gut and conscious agreed that I didn't like the woman; having met her or not, it didn't matter. "Why?"

Envy looked over his shoulder, surprised by the edge in my tone, but he grunted a second later when he seemed to remember that my name was "Pride", thus why I would resent anyone who wanted to be my "Master".

I wonder if Envy knew that I resented him. And that I thought he looked like a palm tree. Seriously, his hair even had a greenish tint to it. Very odd. Kind of like his attire…and mine.

"Don't ask stupid questions. You know why," Envy finally said and looked away. I tilted my head slightly as he flicked a piece of black hair away from his face.

"That wasn't a stupid question."

"It is—"

I waited.

"—Because I already told you why while you weren't listening. Maybe if you were paying attention then you wouldn't have to ask!"

I grinned. Envy has a shorter temper than me, I think. But I kept that to myself just like the other things I thought of him. I wiped the amused expression off my face as Envy glared at me. I looked away. I had nothing to say. However, I did regret not listening to him, because now I felt…anxious? Yes, that was the emotion.

Envy said nothing more, just continued to lead the way. I enjoyed the silence. It was something I rarely experienced unless I was alone, but that wasn't something that happened often either. Envy said that I couldn't have time to myself because he said that it would be better if I didn't remember. I still don't know if that remark was said out of care, or just a command. Regardless, I had remembered some things. Like my old name.

I rolled my shoulders a bit, rubbing at my right shoulder where my tattoo was. I really didn't like the thing; I would prefer it if my skin was clear of any sort of mark. I had already tried cutting the tattoo out of my shoulder, but when my body regenerated, it just came back. It was truly a heartbreaking endeavor.

"Hurry up, kid!"

I looked ahead to find that Envy was a good thirty feet ahead of me. Was I really walking that slow?

To refrain from being locked out of the mansion, I quickened my pace to a jog, only to slow back down to a walk when I was near Envy's shoulder.

Ahead of us was a large colonial mansion. It is a nice place, I think. Lots of rooms for only four of us, well, five now. I frowned; this woman joining us better not take my room. Which was the largest in the mansion, I might add. No one else deserved it but me.

The outside of the mansion however, was not something I adored. The white paint was fading and vines encroached on the front door and windows. It was eerie, really, especially at night when the only thing that can be seen are the two faded lamps hanging near the front door on the porch. I would never tell anyone, but that is one of the main factors as to why I leave and come back with someone, although my conscious hates that I do it. But I always make up for it as soon as I set foot into the front entry way—a vast amount of space, it is—and make a dash for the grand staircase across the circular room.

I stopped beside Envy on the porch as he turned the handle to open the door, revealing a small group standing at the center of the room across from us.

The first to acknowledge us as we walked into the mansion was a young, pretty curly red haired woman whom I didn't recognize. I immediately assumed that she was Abigail.

"So there are the other two!" she chimed happily as she smiled at us.

I raised both of my brows and looked at Envy. He grunted and proceeded to continue toward the group. Gluttony stared blankly at us before he turned to waddle away with his giant index finger in his mouth like a baby. Envy had explained to me that he hasn't been the same ever since Lust was killed. He then further explained that my former self, Edward Elric, had been involved in the whole thing. Since I didn't remember that event, I decided to not believe him yet…my former self couldn't have been that much of an instigator, could he?

Wrath didn't do much either, but then again he didn't say much when I was in the room. Like I wasn't good enough to hear what he had to say. Or maybe he just didn't want me to hear him talk about me? I snickered at the thought. Apparently Wrath and my former self didn't see eye to eye on some things, but that was before I—Edward—died…I never did understand that whole event and I'm not sure that I ever want to.

"So, you're Pride."

I blinked and focused my violet hues on Abigail's green ones. I nodded.

She smiled, bending at her hips slightly to lean down closer to my face. I was offended by the action...like it was a condescending move, or something…insulting my height. So, I frowned.

"You have very pretty hair. Not like the others."

Well, that was one way for her to get on my good side. It made me feel special for her to say such a thing; regardless that I already thought I was better than the others. I remained silent and glanced at the only movement in the room; Wrath leaving. I then looked at Envy, who had rolled his eyes and had proceeded to stare up at the chandelier that hung from the high ceiling.

"How come he doesn't talk much?" Abigail suddenly asked and looked at Envy after she stood up straight again. She was even a little taller than Envy. I was glad for that; although I knew well that she was also taller than Wrath and Gluttony. I made a wild guess that she was at least five foot nine.

Envy grunted, "He's always been like that," he gestured toward me lazily, "Not that I care. I would prefer it if he kept his mouth shut."

I scowled; he always lumped me in with his hatred for my former self.

Abigail frowned and looked at me, "Will you talk to me, please?"

I shifted to rest my weight on my left leg; I seemed to be favoring it lately—like my body was sick of having to bare most of my weight on my right. "Okay." I said.

Immediately, Abigail's eyes lit up, like she had just won the lottery. She looked victoriously at Envy, "He has a nice voice. Why would you want him to keep his mouth shut?"

Envy barked out a laugh and rolled his eyes, not even bothering with a response as he turned his back to us and walked away.

I grinned. He was jealous.

Abigail then turned her pretty oval face toward me, "Pride," she began and placed both of her arms on her hips.

I tilted my head, and looked at what she was wearing finally. It was a simple green dress, one that accented her eyes very nicely…they reminded me of someone else's eyes…

"How old are you?"

"Two months old."

"The youngest here, then."

I didn't say anything. Wasn't it obvious?

"And you used to be Edward Elric."

I lifted a hand to brush my bangs away from my face, "That's what I've been told."

She chuckled softly before her expression saddened. I wondered why. "Do you know who created you?"

I shook my head, "No one does."

Abigail remained silent with an earnest look on her face. I assumed that she wanted me to say more.

"Envy found me in this huge place by myself. He said the place was completely destroyed and abandoned…" I scratched the side of my head, "He said I was lucky that he had been passing by when he had because the fire would've killed me without stones—" I paused to try and gather the whole memory. The pain that I had been going through at that time was more prominent in my mind than the events. "—he brought me here then. That's all I really remember."

Abigail nodded slowly. She seemed to understand why. "I'm glad that Envy found you."

I shrugged. I had been debating on whether or not it was actually good, because for about a month he couldn't look at me without scowling or speak to me without mentioning how much he hated me. I had to keep reminding myself that it was Edward he was talking about, not me. I just had his face and memories. Hell, it wasn't even my fault that I was here—I'm supposed to be dead.

She heaved a sigh and looked around before tying her hair back away from her face.

I tilted my head. Could I leave now?

"Well, that's all I was curious about…for now…" her brow pulled together as she lifted a hand to her temple and grimaced.

I frowned and watched her intently, unable to resist asking, "What?"

She shook her head and closed her eyes, like she was trying to concentrate on something and didn't want me to speak.

Neither of us moved nor spoke for a few long, awkwardly silent seconds before Abigail suddenly relaxed. She exhaled softly and opened her eyes to stare past me; her hand back down at her side. "…Another one," she said softly.

"Another one…of what?" I asked slowly, unsure of what to make of this.

Abigail suddenly looked at me, as if she was snapped out of some trance. "Homunculus," she continued, "There is one close to us."

I said nothing, still trying to figure out what she was talking about. Was she psychic or something?

She seemed to sense that she needed to explain, "I can sense when a homunculus is close by tapping into their mind. But not to read their thoughts…more like…see what they are seeing."

I raised my brows. So that was what must have made her so special, "…You have four in this house with you."

"I mean a new one," Abigail replied quickly, and turned to walk away from me toward a large window near the staircase. "Each homunculus has their own aura…it's what makes them so unique and makes them earn their name. I already know Envy's, yours, Wrath's and Gluttony's…" she said as she stared out the glass.

"What is this one then?"

"Confused…lethargic…"

"Sloth?"

She nodded, "We need to track it."

"Why?"

Abigail spun around. She looked hurt; like what I had said was coldhearted. "It needs help. Somehow the military has gotten a hold of it and is taking it somewhere—"

"Then we'll go."

I blinked and tilted my chin up to see Envy sitting on the balcony with a smirk on his lips. How long had he been sitting there? Abigail didn't seem surprised to see him there. I wondered if it was because of her homunculus sensor thing…

"'We'?" I asked.

Envy dropped from the balcony, only to land gracefully in a crouched position. I was never impressed; I could make that forty foot drop and be fine, too.

"You and Pride?" Abigail asked.

Envy stood straight and placed a hand on his bony hip, "Yup," he smirked, "Kid needs to make up for being too chicken earlier anyways."

I felt my cheeks burn as I looked down. It wasn't my fault that I was still against killing. My conscious didn't want me, too…

I could feel their eyes on me.

"Bring the homunculus back here," Abigail said after a few moments, "Alive. Four is a pathetic number; there should be seven of you."

At the edge in Abigail's tone, I lifted my chin to look at her. It was the first time since I had met her that she sounded so sharp about something…even her face had hardened.

Envy shrugged, "We'll bring back what we can," he stated as he started for the door; making sure to grab my arm as he passed by to drag me along.

Abigail folded her arms over her chest, "Good," she said, and just before we left, she added one more thing. "Don't get caught. But if you do, don't lead the dogs back here."

I frowned and looked over my shoulder as the door shut.

Dogs?

Author's Note: Sorry for the late update everyone, I have been really busy. But I will try to update more often now that I am back in school and have my writing class xD Note try. Lawl. Anyways, enjoy/review/dance/whatever. ;]