The Master of Chateau le Loup
Chapter Eight
Relena walked downstairs, feeling as though she were committing adultery in the worst sense. Her parents had invited a man a little older than her, and not married, over for dinner. He had no lover to speak of and the dining table had been set up for her to sit near him and get to know him better.
What on earth were her parents thinking? She desperately hoped that Heero's elusive entourage would not choose this night to check up on her. She frowned when she thought about how Heero would handle the news. She could barely imagine.
Even as she sat down numbly in the living room she tried desperately to find a way out of the situation. There were the typical excuses: she felt ill, she was pregnant, her husband wouldn't approve, she didn't approve.
Dear God, what was she even doing here? She should have known her parents weren't trying to save her even though she had known all along she didn't want to be saved anyways. She just wanted time think for Christ's sake!
Her palms began to grow hot and sweaty and she wrung them together. She should have known! What kind of parents lured their own child into a trap? They both knew she did not believe in society's quiet acceptance of out-of-marriage relationships. They were so quick to give her away only to have her back?
Heat began to sear her hands as she froze. Now, that didn't make any sense. What did this supposedly eloquent bachelor have to offer that Heero did not? There had to be something. They had sold her off to the highest bidder but now something better had come along and with Relena's homesickness brutally warped into dislike for her husband (leaving her no way to argue if the time came), they had an excuse to move her towards another man.
But her father! How could he ever approve! "How could he?" she whispered aloud.
Relena stood furiously, long dress swirling about her feet as she strode over to the fireplace. It was all starting to come together. But God, how her hands were burning!
"Of all the devil's doings…" she muttered in a bitter voice.
How could her own father do this?!?
Instantly, flames burst forth from her palms and she cried out in shock. The flames shot towards the fire and ignited it further.
"Relena?!"
Her mother and father came into the room with a strapping man dressed to kill along with them. Relena was beyond relief when she noticed her hands had not been burned and her palms were no longer harvesting flames.
"Are you all right? We heard you cry out, my dear!" her father exclaimed.
Hearing his sweet voice caused Relena to bristle into anger but she made sure to keep her palms far away from each other. She turned around. "Yes, yes, I was foolish to stand so close to the fire. A log snapped and some flame came out towards my dress. I was just taken by surprise. Look! No damage done."
Her mother bought the story instantly but her father frowned, hearing the fake lilt in her voice. Something was deeply upsetting his daughter in a way he had rarely seen. He feared she was onto their plot. He had been so stupid to ever agree to his wife's plans.
"Good then," he continued. "This is Treize Khushrenada. He recently moved to France and purchased land close to the sea. He's a very wealthy businessman."
Relena held out her hand dutifully but lifted her chin to show defiance. "It is a pleasure to meet you Monsieur Khushrenada."
As the sturdy man lowered his lips leisurely to Relena's delicate hand, a shadow from the window disappeared, the hint of a braid snapping behind the retreating figure.
"Perhaps you have heard of my husband, Monsieur Heero le Loup as he goes by."
Treize straightened up and looked curiously over to her parents who both found something extremely interesting in their decorating at that moment.
"Yes, I have heard of him but was unaware that he had married. I half expected him to live out his life alone."
Something in Treize's voice was not sincere and Relena smiled wryly. Treize was probably one of her husband's kind. The lie he just told was a good lead.
"Well, maybe he had to submit finally to the idea that there is that one perfect match out there for everyone," Relena nearly sang, her smile all-knowing.
"Yes, perhaps he did," Treize continued cryptically. "And you believe this?"
"Of course, monsieur! Do you?"
Ah, and there was the question. Treize had no way out now and he knew it.
"Relena, shame on you, what a forthright question to a guest! I do apologize Monsieur Khushrenada; Relena never did so well with etiquette."
"No, no," he said quickly, clearing his throat. "I do believe that. However, I am not so sure we get it right the first time regardless of the insight we think we have."
Relena took a step back and studied him closely for a moment.
"Shall we head into the dining room?" her mother asked instantly, the tension rising to a level even she noticed.
Relena felt something pull slightly on the back of her dress and hesitated. She could smell the sea instantly and felt a slight breeze on the back of her neck. She froze. "Y-yes, give me just a moment to warm my hands again. They feel like ice."
"Are you well?" her mother asked severely.
"Of course, mother, the winter is setting in, that is all. Please, go ahead."
The three left reluctantly, both talking to Treize and apologizing in low voices. As they shut the parlor door, Relena let out a heavy sigh.
"Quatre, that had best be you."
As she turned the man materialized in a small burst of wind from an undistinguishable direction. The blond man nodded, his eyes piercing the doorway as though he was watching through it.
"Tell me you heard all that I did," Relena said quickly. "He is one of us!"
"Yes, he is. I have known Treize for as long as I can remember. What he is doing back in France is beyond me. The man was banished years ago."
"For what?"
"Conspiring to kill Heero's parents."
Relena put a hand over her mouth. "We must warn Heero!"
Quatre gave her a slightly condescending look. "I am sure Lady Une contacted him. They were lovers long ago; I suspect it never truly ended though he was forced to leave."
"And she was not?"
"She ran."
Relena looked slightly downward. That would explain why Relena had been left behind at a young age. "I thought my father…"
"Lady Une had many lovers. Treize was the most consistent. They did all their dirty work together, whether it was their own scheme someone hired them."
"And when Une killed Heero's mother?"
"She was hired by a man named Dakim. Relena, you should not have exposed yourself like that. It gave Treize a lot of information he should not have."
"I need to stay and find out his intentions. You need to go and warn Heero."
"You need to go back to him, Relena. If he finds out I let you stay here with Treize I think he have a fatal heart attack."
"Even if it was a fatal one he would survive it," Relena said in a strict voice. "My parents said he leaves for the coast tomorrow. I have to stay tonight and try to figure out as much as I can. And I am the only woman around so I am the only one fit to accomplish the task."
Quatre raised an eyebrow. "Did you just admit to having the wily ways of a female? I thought you were one to deny those stereotypes."
"I found that one to be of benefit and would only deny it for my own vanity and image."
Quatre shook his head and then seemed to still, as though listening. "Oh no…"
"What?" Relena asked urgently.
"They will be waiting for you in the dining room. Go, find out what you can. I need to return to the mansion at once."
"What in the world is going on?"
Quatre closed his eyes as though in pain but was gone before he answered her question.
"Damn it!" Relena cursed avidly. She picked up the front part of her hem and hurried out of the parlor and straight into danger.
(O)(O)(O)
By the time Quatre had arrived he feared it was too late. Duo was bleeding profusely and Heero was in a constant state of changing between a raging man and a deadly wolf. The entire living room was in shreds, everything was broken and Quatre nearly gave up hope when he saw moisture around Heero's eyes.
"What did you do?" Quatre exclaimed as Heero turned and broke another painting.
"I merely told him what I saw to prepare him for the worst."
"And what did you see?"
"Relena with another man. Treize of all people. She was flirting with him."
This statement caused Heero to collapse. "She…has…" he stopped and put his face into both hands. "To be the…wrong one."
"No!" Quatre exclaimed. He rushed over to Heero. "She never flirted with him. I was in the room the entire time! She caught onto him. She cornered him, in front of mortals no less."
"She was not wearing her wedding band!" Heero roared as he stood up, throwing Quatre aside.
"She spoke of you and introduced you as her husband!" Quatre yelled over Heero's rage.
This stopped Heero and he reluctantly turned around. "You speak the truth?"
"Duo left before he could make the correct assumption."
Duo harrumphed and crossed his hands over his chest. "I saw the way she held her hand to him."
"The woman had just shot flames from her hands! She was trying to recover with a lie!"
"What? Flames?" Heero demanded though his strength was lacking. He seemed to be fading quickly.
"She figured out that her parents had betrayed her in luring her back home. She kept wringing her fingers together," Quatre explained. "Something violent sparked in her eyes as she continued to brood and the next thing I know I am dodging flames from her hands. She called out in alarm and that is when Treize, along with her parents, entered the parlor."
Heero slowly sank down into a shredded couch. "So she is alone with Treize right now. That must mean that Une is not far away either…"
"You are in no condition to be going after her," Duo finally cut in. He seemed to be healing quickly but when Quatre looked at Heero he began to see spots of blood on his shirt where he hadn't seen any before.
"Heero!" Quatre exclaimed. "Oh…no…Heero…"
Heero closed his eyes and tilted his head back against the top of the couch. "Leave me in peace."
"Fuck," Quatre hissed. He had never cursed in his entire life. "You actually thought she had abandoned you."
"What else was I to think?" Heero rasped.
"If he dies, Duo, the blame is turning to you."
"He has been falling apart since she left!" Duo yelled back. The temperature rose for a brief moment before the braided man whirled around and slammed his fists into the wall, shattering holes into them where he did so. "I just wanted to end his pain already! Do you realize she has been gone for over two weeks?"
"Of course I do!" Quatre shot back. "I am going to fetch Relena. You try to keep him as alert as possible. There is only one way to undo this."
"Quatre! If Treize is here, Heero's right, Une is around, too. What if this is some sort of trap?"
Quatre put a hand up to his forehead and thought as rapidly as he could. "It would be just like them. Separate the two of them and let our fate take care of the rest so none of us could interfere. Call Wufei to you. I will send Trowa ahead. Their plan will only work if Relena cannot get to Heero in time."
Duo turned and looked at Quatre. "This was just how Heero's mother died."
Heero groaned and rolled his head to the side. A tear slid down his cheek and he squeezed his eyes shut. "No…"
Quatre turned away from the sight and found Trowa standing mere inches from him. The taller man instantly placed his hands on each one of Quatre's shoulders. "Look at me, little one," he murmured so no one else could hear.
Quatre looked up, tears beginning to fall. "We cannot lose him, Trowa."
"And we will not."
Quatre narrowed his eyes just slightly. "I do not understand…"
Trowa bowed his head for a moment and squeezed Quatre's shoulders. "Come with me for a moment," he instructed as he led Quatre out of the living room. He shut the door that was slightly off its hinge and then reached out, uncharacteristically, to run his hand down his lover's face. "I will take the form of Relena. I will take the obvious way back to the manor. Une will come after me and that will give Relena a chance to make haste on another road and reach Heero in time."
"No, Trowa, no! Not this way!"
Trowa smiled softly. "I already have you, Quatre. No one will ever take me from you."
"You told me you would never lie to me," Quatre said in a quivering voice. He held tightly to the hand that held the side of his face as though he could keep Trowa by mere force.
"You will know where to find me if anything happens…"
"Trowa, do not do this. I am begging you…" Quatre choked.
The taller man brought his lips against the blond man's forehead and lingered there for a moment, inhaling the calming and familiar scent. He closed his eyes and moved to rest his head against his lover's. "Everything will turn out as it should."
"That is not very reassuring. Do not give me reason to resent Heero and Relena at the cost of you."
"Quatre, look at me," Trowa commanded. The man reluctantly replied. "Without Treize by her side I will be able to stop her and put her out of our way for a while. We need to take this opportunity or we are all finished. I am asking you to put a little more faith in my ability."
"Why do you always have to put it that way?" Quatre lamented.
Trowa smiled softly. "Fetch Relena and alert me as to when she is on her way back. I need your help in this, love."
Quatre shook his head and sighed. "You are going to be the death of me."
"Yes, but is that not somewhat comforting?"
Quatre chuckled just slightly and sighed again, heavier this time. "Very well. Just one last thing."
"Anything," Trowa said with all the conviction in the world.
"For every injury you sustain that is an entire month of staying at my side."
Trowa bent his head and whispered a kiss over Quatre's mouth. "For every injury I sustain I will prove my resilience to you that many times over…" he murmured huskily.
"Both or none," Quatre said with no real strength behind his words.
Trowa kissed his mate's mouth harder and pulled the smaller man towards him suddenly, fitting their bodies together perfectly. "Both it is."
Quatre was relieved to hear it but the moment Trowa released him he was also gone. It was time to do or die.
(O)(O)(O)
The door to the house swung open and Quatre strode in with a warrant in hand and two "officers" at his side. Treize immediately recognized Quatre though tried to show no signs of it as the blond stormed into dining hall.
"Monsieur Winner. What is the meaning of this intrusion?" Relena's father asked, flustered.
"I need Madame le Loup to come with me immediately. Your husband is on his deathbed and requests your presence immediately."
"Deathbed?" Relena nearly shouted, standing abruptly. Her tea spilled over and her plate nearly toppled to the floor.
Quatre looked her square in the eye. "This is absolutely no jest, Madame," he said in his gravest voice. "By law, you are required to be at his side within the next few hours. I have the warrant for your arrest should you disobey your husband's final request."
"Quatre surely…"
"Your time is running out. I suggest you take the horse we have provided and go!"
Relena looked around, flustered and then strode out with Quatre and the other guards which each took their coin at the door and walked off. Relena slammed the door closed. "Quatre, what in the world?"
"Relena, I mean it, he is dying. He thought you had betrayed him and when a mate betrays another…well…death is the only outcome in that case. Besides, he has been fading away ever sine you left. He is only hours away. You must go to him immediately and take the farthest left road when you get to the forest. Please, you must make haste."
"Oh God, this is all my fault…"
"This is no time to think that way. You are his only hope. Go! Now!" Quatre yelled.
Relena mounted up on the thoroughbred and tore off through the cobblestone streets, heart racing. She felt tears stinging her eyes but everything was happening too suddenly to actually cry. She was too flustered to feel deep emotion. Except panic. She held tightly to the reins as she felt the first snowfall in France begin to descend upon the land. It was going to be a very long ride home. She closed her eyes briefly and reached out the best she could without truly knowing how to do it.
Heero, hang on, I am on my way!
Back on the porch, Quatre closed his eyes and lifted his chin slightly. She is on her way, Trowa.
(O)(O)(O)
Relena tore down the dirt path, the horse's flanks shuddering with power and speed. Her hair had come undone and was whipping back in currents as it snapped through the wind. She sat forward, straining to look over the horse's head to see how much further.
Suddenly, the horse reared up and toppled over, taking a frightened Relena with it.
A feminine voice chuckled. "That was just too easy…almost like last time…" she murmured as she walked up to the panting horse, struggling to stand up with its rider still slightly seated. "Hm, you do look very much like the wolf's mother used to. Same…gentle features…but mine nonetheless."
Une circled the girl that had finally come free from the horse and was lying unconscious. "I should feel remorse for killing my own flesh and blood…but, my dear, there is something not even blood can undo. And unfortunately you stepped right into the middle of it. You should have stayed far away from le Loup. Granted, it seems I may owe him something for sparing my life when I was sadly carrying you. Well you made up for it," she laughed. "Maybe in the next life. Rest in peace if that is even possible for you."
Instantly, the image of Relena faded and in place of it was Trowa, standing calm and reserved. "I cannot say the dirt is the most comfortable place to lie down but thank you anyways."
Une backed up, her eyes wide with panic. "N-No…"
Trowa tilted his head just slightly. "Not what you were expecting I presume?"
"Where is she?" Une demanded, hands balling into fists.
"Where she should be; with her husband."
If Une's eyes could have gone any wider, they did. She looked around frantically as though to find the girl. "You will pay dearly for this."
Trowa smirked. "Believe me when I say that I would be very disappointed if you did not get in about ten or eleven good hits."
"You will be dead by the time I finish with you!"
"Ladies first," Trowa spoke with an elegant bow.
With that, Une pulled a sword with a black blade from her hip and charged a weaponless Trowa with a vicious scream.
(O)(O)(O)
Relena dismounted even before the horse stopped. She had found herself approaching the back of the mansion and ran, dress torn, hair wild, and face wet and cold into the house. She headed straight for the living room first, figuring it would be better to check there before running up to the study.
She nearly tripped to a stop as she took in the sight of the living room. Everything was destroyed. The door was slightly off its hinges, the couches were torn to shreds, the paintings were all smashed. Bricks were missing from the fireplace, there were holes in the walls and on the floor, and all the windows seemed to have been blown out. Relena gasped when she saw an ashen Heero sunken into one of the couches. He was barely breathing and he had tear tracks on his face.
Duo stood in the corner, eyes molten in anger. "I will stand guard. Let me know if he passes." As the man walked by he put a hand on Relena's shoulder. "This is exactly how his mother and father died."
Relena put a hand over her mouth, gasping aloud as anguish overtook her. Heero seemed to stir at the sound of her voice and his head lolled to the left so he could try to look at her. "R-Relena?"
Relena tried to open her mouth to speak but couldn't even find the words. She nearly collapsed onto the couch as she hurried over to him and began to run her hands over his face and chest. She grabbed one of his hands and tried to warm it though hers were just as cold and stiff from the freezing ride to the chateau.
"I am so sorry," she whispered. She put her forehead against his as tears began to fall onto their intertwined hands. "If I had known… Oh, Heero…." She continued to stutter to a stop every time she tried to open her mouth.
"You…you are alive?" Heero rasped.
"Yes, I am right here! I am here with you and I will never leave again. Oh, Heero, there must be a way… I am not too late! Right?"
Heero closed his eyes and tried to moisten his chapped lips. "There…is…was…something I have…been wanting to say…to you…"
"No! Do not say it. Please, not when you are like this. When I am the reason you are this way. No, you stay quiet. Try to regain your strength. We are both going to make it through this just fine. You just need rest. That is all. I am here to watch over you now."
Heero tried again in vain to moisten his lips but could barely manage. Relena could no longer hold herself back. Without any hesitation, she brought her mouth to his and kissed him as fiercely as she had been kissed the day they had met.
She ran her fingers through his hair and buried them deep as she tilted her head and fastened her mouth more securely. Heero groaned low in his throat and relaxed as Relena lingered against his mouth and then repeated several small kisses upon him.
"I love you," she whispered painfully. "I love you."
Hearing those words at long last, Heero closed his eyes and finally submitted to darkness.
(O)(O)(O)
AN: Well, I know what kind of reviews I am going to get. But I welcome them all!!! My internet has been down for several days so I apologize for that. And in light of the first snowfall of the season, I give you this chapter to enjoy. Forgive any editing errors, and thank you very, very much to: R'Lena, Amulak, Sunflora200, amber3392, Trinara, Death'sFlowerGarden, katherine, LoisLane95, hieiashke, Fields of View, Reignashii, Jessica, SAGA123, Lurker, Nihal, lolopptt, hashiba42, Mini Nicka, Sailor Tiamat,, heaven'sgirl, RedLion2, The Honest Reader, silver-eyed, LadyIncant, Purdy, aidenrae, EmpKaylenatye, 4everfanfic, flaming-amber, Animouse03, wingfang585, WindCloud, and Morrighan of Crimson and Sable. I took to heart each and every one of your guy's comments. Thank you so much for the support!!!
