Chapter Seven
Logan and Fury moved through the city of Voltera as quickly as they could. Since it was past midnight,the crowds had mostly gone back to their hotels and to their beds for the night, the two men were able to get through town rather rapidly. Eventually they arrived at a large building, or perhaps a couple of buildings it was hard to tell from the outside, that appeared to have been built sometime in the Renaissance period. Logan paused for a brief minute to sniff the area.
"Stripes is in there, I'm certain of it." He said
"All right then" Fury responded "Let's go in and get her." Logan nodded and the two men set off
When the pair got to the large wooden door they suddenly noticed a pair of figures on either side of said door.
"Sorry, we're closed now; you'll have to come back some other time, if you want a tour." One of the figures said
"That's all right we're not here for a tour." Fury said "we're looking for a young woman. She's an American, she has brown hair with a white stripe in it, goes by Rogue, have you seen her?"
"No, we have not" one of the men, at least Logan and Fury assumed they were men said
"But if we do we'll let you know" the other added
Then there was a loud noise as Logan summoned his adamantium claws "Don't lie to me bub" He growled "I know she's in there, and if you've hurt her I swear I'll gut you like a fish"
"I'd like to see you try" one of the men fired back Logan took a step forward but Fury stepped between them
"Wait a moment, surely there's no need for violence."
"What do you think you're doing?" Logan growled at him
"You're too close to this Logan, let me handle it" Fury responded softly trying to make sure the Italian men didn't hear, but since said men were actually vampires, it didn't work.
"Look gentlemen, it's like this. Rogue has gone missing, her school has asked Logan and I to look into her disappearance. I should also add that Logan is a mutant and has tracked her scent to this location. He's convinced that she's here. So, please just let us take a quick look around and if we can't find we'll leave without a fuss, all right?"
For a moment no one spoke then one of the figures spoke "I will ask Aro if he will allow you entry, wait here" and then said figure turned and walked into the building
"I hope you know what you're doing Fury" Logan said, he didn't like the way this was going at all
"Trust me, Logan" Fury responded
Logan didn't reply verbal although if Logan's glares could kill, Fury would have been blasted into little tiny pieces
Aro was sitting in the courtyard trying to think of something to do to relieve his boredom when a male voice said from behind him
"Master, we have some unexpected visitors"
Aro turned around said "Really Santiago, why are you bothering me with such trifles? You know how to handle things like that."
"They're here for Annalisa" Santiago replied
"So soon, who are they, how do they know she's here?"
"One of them is a mutant named Logan; he identified the other man as Fury. They claim they were sent by Rogue's school." Santiago explained
"Does this Logan have black hair and metal claws?" Aro questioned
"Yes, master" Santiago replied
'Typical' Aro thought to himself the one time I actually want their input my so-called brothers are not to be disturbed. Marcus wasn't even in Voltera; he had gone off into the countryside to hunt. Hunting was just about the only Marcus ever expressed interest in anymore. Caius was busy with his mate, doing Aro didn't really want to know what and Aro also knew that disturbing them would cause far more harm than good. Nope he'd have to make this decision on his own.
It was difficult though, Aro found himself torn between jealousy and a feeling like gratitude an unusual combination to be sure. On the one hand, Aro was seething with jealousy at the fact that this…thing had usurped his rightful role in Annalisa's life; Annalisa saw Logan as the father she'd never had and Aro hated that. On the other though, he was grateful that Annalisa had someone looking out for her, and the fact that Logan had come all this way suggested that he really did care about her and for that Aro was grateful. So in other words, he was jealous that Logan and Annalisa had developed a father-daughter type of relationship and on the other, he was grateful that she had a bond with someone at the same time. Yes, Aro was well aware that didn't make any sense and no, he didn't really care.
In the end, it was the presence of Nick Fury that made Aro's decision for him. He knew from Annalisa's memories that Fury was the head of S.H.I.E.L.D., America's super (and lesser known) spy agency. His disappearance would undoubtedly draw attention from a lot of people particularly ones higher up in the American government which was something that the whole vampire community had been trying and for the most part succeeding in avoiding for centuries. So Aro decided to just let them in for a few minutes and send them on their way as quickly and quietly as possible.
"Send them in" Aro ordered 'quickly, before I change my mind' he added to himself
"Yes, master" Santiago responded, he seemed a bit surprised by the order but hid it fairly well
After what seemed like forever to Logan, the cloaked figure returned
"You may enter" he said and held the door open for them
"Come with me, Aro wishes to speak to you both" he added once Logan and Fury had entered the entrance hall
"Whatever" Logan muttered under his breath; he didn't know who this Aro person was and he didn't care, he just wanted to find Stripes and get of this place. There was something really wrong with these guys and Logan didn't like it, not one little bit. For starters they're eyes were red and sinister looking, their skin was unnaturally pale (although Rogue's was almost as pale as theirs, Logan however wasn't going to admit it even to himself) the biggest thing for Logan though was their scent, it was very sweet, too sweet in fact and he was certain that it wasn't human. He did not share any of this with Fury however, for one thing he couldn't do it without being overheard and the other he didn't trust Fury. Besides Fury wasn't stupid, he didn't need Logan to tell him that something was wrong; he could figure it out for himself (ok, maybe not the scent thing but still)
Soon, though not soon enough for Logan, they arrived in the courtyard
"Greetings, welcome to Voltera" Aro said
Logan braced himself, sure the guy looked too frail to hurt a fly but he'd learned the hard way not to be fooled by appearances plus he wasn't alone there were a few others with him and Logan thought they all had the same red eyes and pale skin as the two that had escorted them into the courtyard but they gray cloaks made it hard to be sure.
"Let's just skip the pleasantries, where's Stripes?" Logan replied
"Stripes? I thought you were looking for a young woman, not a runaway dog, perhaps you should go check the pound" Aro responded
"It's a nickname, you dumbass" Logan growled, he was really not liking this guy. The gray cloaks stiffened as one, they clearly did not appreciate hearing their boss called a dumbass
Fury sighed "Logan, let me handle this" then whispering he added "don't you realize that insulting someone you want to help you is not a good idea? You really need to work on your diplomacy skills"
Logan responded with a mere "hmpf" diplomacy he thought I don't need any damn diplomacy; I need to get Stripes out of this place
"As I assume your man at the gate told you where are looking for a missing young woman, we have intelligence that has lead us to believe she is here somewhere, so if you just let us search for her then we can all go our separate ways."
"…Very well, you may search but Santiago and Afton will accompany you." His plan was to have Santiago and Afton led the two men astray for a while and then finally to Annalisa's chambers but by the time they arrived Felix would have moved Annalisa somewhere the group had already been and Sophia would have removed any sign that Annalisa's chambers were used. It would be a bit difficult to coordinate but he was confident in his people's abilities, particularly with Chelsea's help
"Thanks but we can find our own way." Logan said and turned to leave the courtyard but found his path blocked by two of the gray cloaked figures
"I insist that you take them with you" Aro said, his patience was running thin. He didn't like Logan at all and was finding it harder and harder to suppress the urge to bite him. He knew however, that if Annalisa found out about it, she would never forgive him and that thought stopped him cold. "Do you men have a search warrant?" Aro asked knowing full well that they did not
"No" Fury reluctantly admitted
"Then I don't have to allow you into my home at all and I'm certain that you know that as well as I do." (AN: I am not Italian and I am not familiar with Italian laws so I'm just assuming that they have restrictions against unlawful search and seizure just like American law does (allegedly))
"Those are my terms, you may take them or leave them but decide quickly" Aro said
Logan growled while Fury simply looked at him with an expression that said 'it's your choice, Logan'
Before he had made up his mind however Rogue, accompanied by Felix again, or more like still, entered the courtyard and asked
"What's goin' on in here?"
'Annalisa' Aro thought 'I love you, but you just ruined everything!'
Logan turned and said "Stripes, there you are, I've been worried sick about ya."
Rogue was really surprised to see him "Logan?" she said "what are ya doin' here?"
Logan ran his gaze up and down Rogue's body checking to make sure that everything was still there and still intact "came here lookin' for ya. It ain't like ya to just take off like that, I was worried something had happened to ya, did these people kidnap you" by the end of that sentence his tone had grown considerably darker, promising pain and maybe death if the gray cloaks had hurt her.
Rogue smacked her forehead, she'd known there was something she had forgotten to do "No, Logan these people haven't done anything to me." Before she could continue any further however Logan cut her off
"Good, then let's get out of here before they do" and he grabbed her arm but Felix grabbed her other arm
"She's not going anywhere with you!" Aro yelled. Internally panicking at the idea of Annalisa being taken away from him again
"Hold up, none of ya'll has the right to make my decisions for meh" Rogue shouted, now she was getting angry at Aro, Felix and Logan
"Look, it's late, we're all tired and irritable, and it doesn't look like Rogue's in any immediate danger so why don't we get some rest and decide what to do in the morning when we're thinking straight." Fury suggested
"Ah, like the sound the of that plan" Rogue replied almost immediately
"Oh, I suppose" Aro said with a long suffering sigh
Logan growled and his hands clenched into fists and he still hadn't retracted his claws
"Logan" Fury whispered in his ear "if it'll make you feel better, I'll station my men around the perimeter if they take to Rogue out of here, we'll know and be able to follow them, all right?" despite the whispering Felix (thanks to his vampire hearing) was able to hear Fury quite clearly although none of the other vampires could. Felix decided he would share this bit of info with Aro as soon as they left.
Logan meanwhile nodded albeit grudgingly "we'll be back first thing in the morning" he said firmly his expression daring anyone to try and argue with him. No one took him up on that dare
"See you in the mornin' Logan, sleep well" Rogue said
"You too Stripes" Logan replied. He and Fury turned to leave before they had gone very far however Rogue spoke again
"Logan" she said and he turned to face her
"Thanks for comin' it means a lot" she said with a small smile
Logan returned her smile and responded "anytime kiddo" and then he and Fury left
As Aro watched that scene his fists clenched even though he tried (and failed) to quash the feeling of envy that rose in his gut at the obvious affection Annalisa had for Logan. Fortunately for him Annalisa didn't see it and neither did Logan, although Aro didn't care what he thought, it was Annalisa's opinion that mattered. Aro swore that he would not let those two take Annalisa away from him even if it meant he had to kill them both.