I do apologize for the long wait on this update. Imagine just in the last chapter I thought this was my fastest updated story.
I hope you enjoy.
X-_X-_XReVengeful Heart Chapter Seven
X-_X-_X"Serena," Mina said uncertainly. "Are you sure this is really the right thing to do?"
"No," said Serena with a slight laugh. She had felt jubilation over her choice since she had finally made it. It was something proactive, and she dearly felt like she needed to do something, anything. "I don't think any choice is the 'right' one at this point, Mina, I just think it's helpful."
"But what if Amy doesn't tell you anything?" asked Mina, stepping forward. "What if you get captured? What if you get punished?"
Serena acted like she was considering Mina's questions while continuing to stuff a few of her borrowed clothes into a simple duffle bag, along with a few other common necessities. She didn't want to have to do this conversation with Mina. They were in her borrowed room, the room that what becoming hers, and Serena was desperately trying to start her self appointed mission with as little from Mina as possible.
"I believe that I won't get caught," Serena said, trying to assure Mina. She closed the bag and secured the zipper.
"And if Amy doesn't tell you anything?" Mina persisted, taking Serena by the shoulders. The final moments of darkness were fading from the sky and it in turn was turning a pale gray.
"She will," Serena said. "Mina, this is something that's vital. I have to do this for us, all of us."
"All of us?" Mina asked. "Even Wufei and Heero, even the vampires that we hunted and killed?"
"Yes."
"Serena," Mina seemed a little speechless. "This may seem weird but I'm proud of you."
"It doesn't seem weird at all," said Serena, hugging Mina. "What we talked about, Darien and the rest of that, if I can do something to change that it's up to me to do it."
"I can't say I understand you," said Mina. "I've never heard that call to do the impossible, but if anyone can do it it's you, Sere."
"I have to go," Serena said slowly and carefully. "I'll see you in a couple days at the most."
"O.K." Mina replied. "Good luck."
"Thanks."
X-_X-_XPluto looked up from the miscellaneous pile of papers on her desk, a sigh escaping her lips. She didn't like the numbers on the papers, and she didn't like being left to deal with beaurocrats.
"You're working too hard, Pluto," said a voice, husky and quick.
Pluto turned her head a fraction of an inch, a small smile adorning her stern features, looking up at the sandy haired woman who had appeared in her office. "Thank you for your concern, Uranus."
"What's with the pleasantries?" Haruka asked, stepping further into the room. "Could it be from an additional strain or two?"
Pluto dropped the papers in her hands, as well as all the pretenses. "What are you after Haruka?"
"What are we after, you should mean," interrupted a melodic voice from the other side of Pluto.
"Neptune," Pluto nodded.
Neptune stepped from the right and walked in front of Pluto's desk, both her and Uranus still in official uniform. Uranus spoke "There's been a few things that appear to have been left out from our earlier briefings Pluto. We need to know what."
Pluto stood up, knocking her chair back. "I am in charge of this organization!" She yelled. "What I choose to tell and not tell you is at my own digression, not either of yours!"
"When Silver Alliance was started," began Haruka, her fists clenched at her sides.
"It was a team and not an organization, Setsuna," finished Michiru.
"You will not brow beat me," Setsuna said angrily, pointing her finger at the both of them. "I am your commander."
"You need to start acting like one," retorted Haruka.
Michiru put an arm on Haruka's, pulling her back slightly.
"Setsuna," said Michiru, as placating as possible. "What the hell is going on?"
X-_X-_XSerena smiled carefree at the people hurrying around her. Blending in was the best choice when sneaking up on an organization like Silver Alliance and it was easiest to do something like that on the crowded city streets that surrounded Silver Alliance headquarters.
She had disguised herself adequately for the occasion, the only way anybody from Silver Alliance would recognize her was if she walked right into him or her. Which was pretty much her plan. She had taken her hair out of its traditional style, braided it and left pieces hanging around her face. She donned a pair fake glasses and attired herself in earthy tones, shawls and jewelry, in a fashion very much different than her own.
She had her duffel bag slung over her shoulder and walked as calmly as she could towards her self set Lagrange point. Her mission was to arrange a meeting with Mercury at her usual lunch café. It was simple, and it would work. Silver Alliance didn't have surveillance on civilian properties.
The only ways they would know she had been there was if Amy reported her, or if Raye read Amy.
The café was dubiously named 'The Frozen Hope,' its cheery personality belied the assorted connotations that the title aroused. Her target, her friend, was in the back; a cooling cup of tea posed next to her lips, and her small frame obviously relaxing from the first half of yet another day of strain.
Serena sat down in the seat across from her without a word.
Amy wasn't the sort to be startled out of her relaxation, or to drop her teacup in an incompetent show of surprise. Quite the opposite she acted as if Serena was an expected guest. She put her teacup down, adjusted her clothing and crossed her arms and looked directly at Serena.
"You're being hunted," Amy said softly, pushing her cup to the edge of the table smoothly.
"Hunted?" asked Serena with a grin. "A few days vacation and I'm being hunted?"
Amy continued as if she hadn't been interrupted. "You were moved three days ago from the missing in action status to a black list status. I'm obliged by my position to bring you in on site."
Serena stopped grinning and got very serious. "The only way they'll know I've been here today is if you tell them."
"Or Raye reads me."
"Why would she?" countered Serena.
"I have the feeling," said Amy slowly. "That you know exactly why the same as I."
"You're wrong," said Serena. "I know more."
"It's not equal of Pluto to keep us all in the dark," murmured Amy. "Why are you here Serena?"
"I need you to extract that information that Pluto's keeping everyone in the dark about, and I need you to do it anyway possible," Serena said, her eyes carrying a tone of pleading.
"You're asking me to betray my allies, like you have, because for once in my memory our leader has had an indiscretion of information?" Amy hands clasped neatly in her lap began to shake.
"I never betrayed you, Amy," Serena said leaning forward. "I swear."
Amy remained quiet.
"You feel it like I do," said Serena, waving her hands exasperatingly. "Silver Alliance has barely been around a decade, we can't rest solely on that. I need you to help me. Amy. Remember what it used to be like? Everything's changing and I need to do something about it."
"I'm only helping you," began Amy, her eyes were wide and she was portraying the feeling of making herself perfectly clear. "Because I don't want Pluto to make a mistake that will cost more lives than she can comprehend. I know that even if you betrayed what you once stood for you can still achieve more than most of us can comprehend."
"What if you giving me the information was a mistake," asked Serena. "What if you ended up helping the enemy?"
"I'm not."
"How are you sure-?"
"Drop it."
Serena sat back and acquiesced. "You're uncannily stern all of a sudden, Lady Mercury."
Amy sighed and refrained from speaking while her waitress picked up her forsaken teacup and was sent away. "I can blame it on either this being a stern situation, or the stress I'm under. However, Serena, I'm simply tired. Tired of life."
"Oh Amy," Serena started to say but was cut off as Amy promptly got up from the table.
"I'll see you at The Club when I'm done work, Serena."
X-_X-_X
Quatre handed Trowa his drink before settling in his own armchair with a warm tea of his own. "What's going on Wufei?"
They were all seated around the ornately decorated living room. Wufei had arrived to the house in a flurry of activity and had demanded that they all come at once to the parlor where he could speak to them all at once. It was slightly after the nights peak, so they were all able to assemble with little disagreement.
Wufei, who was leaning against the fireplace, a shadow with glowing eyes, replied with a slow lamenting tone. "There's a war brewing."
"Obviously," Heero replied in a monotone. From his complexion it was easily discernable that he needed to feed.
"I am aware that we all already know that, Yuy," said Wufei sharply. "However my information is pertinent to that."
"What's going on, Wuffers?" asked Duo, leaning into the conversation. Mina sat next to him, obviously uncomfortable.
Wufei through a disparaging glare at the braided menace but continued. "I know now what malicious plot is unfurling, it's much larger than we had thought."
Heero nodded. Quatre looked contemplating over his tea.
"Instead of the Lycan tribes breaking free like we thought was going to happen," said Wufei. "And the human trade coming to an end and Silver Alliance launching a final assault against the Unnatural arenas they could access in the confusion. There's going to come about a radical shift in hierarchy."
"We were already aware that there was certain vampire lords attempting a hostile takeover," said Heero. "The reason I retired from my post."
"They're working together."
"What?" Trowa's eyes widened.
They were all aware of the numerous problems with the Unnaturals underground empire: the Lycan's break from slavery, the wars amongst the vampire lords, the cracking down of organizations like Silver Alliance, and the shift of outside influences concerning all the issues. However never before had a problem amongst the underground consisted of both the vampires and lycans, two enemy factions, working together towards a goal.
"I have discovered this night that the leaders of the lycan rebels are working with certain vampire lords for a joint takeover," Wufei said.
"How can such a thing be viable?" Quatre asked. His legs were crossed underneath him, his innocent face was contorted in a visage of confusion.
"Worse off the lycan princess that is heading this campaign," Wufei smirked. "It's Relena."
Heero Yuy froze. "What could she possibly want from doing something such as that."
"Ever since her father died she's been unhinged-," Wufei began to say.
"Her brother? Can he not control her?" Heero demanded.
"Since his transformation he's not been at liberty to advise his sister," Wufei said simply.
"Who would have thought the moment we all separate ourselves from the world of ghoulies and ghosties and it goes to shit," Duo remarked, slouched on the couch.
"What can we do to stop it?" asked Quatre.
"Stop it," Wufei looked incredulous. "The only thing we need do is protect ourselves against the backlash of this chaos."
Mina looked as repulsed as Quatre at that. She didn't say anything however Trowa put a hand on Quatre's arm to prevent him from speaking. Duo lost his excited grin.
"There's no way that six can make a difference in the multitude of change," Trowa said quietly.
"Relena's seeking out all her old allies," Wufei said, almost smugly. "She'll be coming here."
Duo stood up, quick too. "We can't be here when the pretty pink princess gets here," he said, nervously. It was suddenly as if he expected yet another person to come crashing through their windows.
"She's not likely to find Heero that quick," said Wufei.
Heero had been for the most part quiet. It wasn't quite shell shocking news for him. Though there was a certain uncertainty that came with knowing the two races were going to be working together.
"Did you happen upon what the other races think of this?" asked Heero, looking at Wufei.
"The fae have disappeared. They are determined to stay out of this."
"The vampire lord leading the rampage is who we suspected?" Heero continued.
"Yes," said Wufei. "Darien Damascus."
"That slick bastard just doesn't give up," growled Duo, still standing.
They all looked at each other for a moment. "If Relena will be seeking me out that there's no point in moving away from here, she'll only find me quicker," Heero said.
"What are we going to do about this war?" asked Quatre.
"Nothing," Heero answered this time. Raising a hand to Quatre's protests he continued. "At least for the time being."
"Mina and I will need to go somewhere," said Duo. "Relena will execute us if she finds us."
"You'll stay," growled Heero. "Relena wont touch you on my domain."
"There's going to be much death," said Wufei. He looked around the room sternly.
"My people have gone into hiding," said Quatre. "It's going to be a massacre."
"I'm going to tighten the wards," were Wufei's only parting words.
"It's a good thing Wufei found this out when he did," said Duo. "It doesn't help us much but it does help."
"You called him Wufei," murmured Mina faintly.
Trowa looked directly at Heero. "You know we're going to be involved in this is some way, shape, or form."
Heero's eyes hardened at Trowa's blunt and sure-footed words. "What I know is no business of yours."
Trowa shrugged, his mug sat empty on the end table next to him. The calming scents of left on the mug were doing nothing for this room.
"When does the human return?" asked Heero. His eyes were looking at Duo but it was obvious the question was for Mina.
"Serena," said Mina. "Should be returning in the morning, or tomorrow evening should things take longer."
Heero nodded.
"If," Mina continued, her voice a small shaking comparison to Heero's. "She shouldn't return within forty eight hours she won't be returning."
"When she arrives back no one's to leave," Heero looked about the room. "Is that understood?"
"Of course, Heero," said Quatre in an odd tone. Gathering Trowa's mug and his own he left without a word and headed in the general direction of the kitchen.
Trowa looked from his lover, that day clad in the traditional wear of his people, to Heero. "Whether you like it or not it seems like we're all quite connected with destiny these days."
Heero grunted and got up to leave the room. Trowa smiled. When Heero was gone he turned to look at Duo and Mina.
Duo looked strait back. "He'll regain his humanity yet."
"You have something up your sleeve?"
"Of course."
Trowa laughed. While the world was on the brink of chaos and destruction it was still quite easy to laugh at life's little ironies.
X-_X-_X
Serena ducked the hat she had just donned further down on her head. Her clothes from earlier had been discarded and her bag was carefully his in the entryway to the downtown club she was now entwining herself in. 'The Club' was not a club that Serena, Amy, and the other girls may have hung out at regularly like someone may have derived from Amy's departing remark had she been over heard, but another club further downtown. It was all the hint that Serena required.
Serena scanned the crowd for Amy and wasn't disappointed when she spotted the blue haired girl sitting at the bar in a smart suit and scanning the crowds as well. Serena made her way towards her.
"You didn't think we'd be spotted?" asked Serena, eyeing Amy's suit.
"I didn't worry," said Amy, with a small smile, "This won't take long."
Amy had a very thin manila folder in her hand and Serena reached for it. Amy avoided her hands. "First I need something from you."
"I thought so," Serena hesitated. "I assume you want to know if I found Mina?"
"Did you?" asked Amy, her voice coming clear even over the throbbing music.
"Yes," answered Serena.
"Is that all?" asked Amy stubbornly.
"She fell in love with a lycan," said Serena shortly. "She didn't get kidnapped, she ran away. She voluntarily transformed into a lycan at the last moon peak."
Amy gasped and Serena refused to look her in the eye. She reached for the folder again and succeeded in taking it out of Amy's limp hand.
"She wouldn't," murmured Amy, Serena caught the gist of her mutter.
"I gave her my blessing, they're in love."
"Ironic, considering Mina's interpretation of love," Amy said.
Serena nodded, opening the folder.
"You were right," Amy said, her voice a wobble. "There's a lot of something going on and that folder is at it's core."
"Thank you, Amy."
"Serena," Amy said suddenly, shifting. "The next time we meet it's very likely we'll be forced to behave as enemies, sooner if Raye manages to read me."
Amy stood. "Goodbye my friend."
Serena watched Amy leave the club, not saying a thing. She opened the folder and scanned it quickly. Her eyes took in the travesty that was emblazoned very bluntly with the words her eyes were perceiving. She closed the folder, her tensed hands bending it.
The next moment she was out the door, her bag slung over her back, and headed back to what was quickly becoming her home.
X-_X-_X
When Serena opened the door Mina was hurrying her way out of the parlor, her smile bright, and tugging Duo behind her. Trowa too was coming from the parlor though Quatre was just popping his head out of the kitchen entrance obviously sensing her myriad of emotions. Heero was in mid stride down the staircase.
Mina hugged her and Serena barely managed to make her body function enough to hug her back. She opened her mouth, the devastating news fumbling from her lips.
"Darien is trying to win a war and take hold of the Unnatural Empire by using genetic modification," she looked horrified at the others.
"He's planning on spawning a child of lycan and vampire blood!"
X-_X-_X
I actually have a lot planned for the next chapters so you may find another one sooner than usual.
I haven't proofread this chapter so I apologize for any mistakes.
Thanks for reading,
AnimeSiren
