A/N: Sorry for the long wait on this. I am working on Chapter eight at the moment, thanks for waiting.
Chapter Seven: Disgust
Edward checked around Al making sure that no one was around. Al was on guard as well and they had decided that no matter what tonight, they didn't care how late it was, they were going to speak to Lily. They hadn't spoken to her and Maes's answers, hell even Havoc's had been vague. Roy hadn't even told them anything, just that she was asleep. Something was going on, Ed could feel it and he didn't like it.
He quickly dialed Roy's home number knowing even if Riza had kept him at the office he wouldn't be there at two am. It rang several time but finally some one picked up. The voice belonged to Maes and there was barely a hello. "Major Hughes don't hang up it's Ed," Ed said quickly.
"Is something wrong?!" Maes asked almost as if he'd come alive.
"No we just wanted to talk to our sister, we won't be held back this time. Either you let us talk to her or we're coming home." How was that for an ultimatum? Sounded pretty good to Ed.
Maes sighed. "You want to wake her up?"
"If we have too, some things going on that you're not telling us." Ed bit. "Stop jerking us around."
There was another sigh. "All right, if you really must I'll talk to Roy and have him call you back." The phone was hung up and Ed blinked. Call him back? But they were in the same house couldn't he just set the phone aside?
Ed and Al waited by the phone for half an hour before it rang, both of them whispering, asking each other what it could mean. Ed yanked it up before it woke anyone. "Hello,"
"You know calling in the middle of the night is one hell of a way to scare people Edward." Roy said sleepily.
"Sorry, look we just want to talk to Lily, we miss her." Ed admitted.
"She misses you too Ed, both of you." There was a pause, some hushed speaking. "Okay Ed don't talk too long, she's pretty tired." Ed waited and then he heard her voice but it didn't sound right to him. It sounded a little too quiet, a little hoarse.
"Hello big brother,"
"Why haven't you called us back, is something going on at home?" Ed asked.
"I haven't been awake Edward. I slept for five days."
Ed blinked a moment. Okay so that sounded…not good at all and he felt a little panic rise in his veins and anger that no one had told him anything before now. Mustang was going to get it when he got back! "What do you mean?"
"I got sick and had a really bad fever. I'm still not completely well but I'm better. Don't worry I'll be fine by the time you get home promise." She replied.
"Lily what are you sick with?" he half demanded. If she'd been unconscious with a fever for five days…She could have died and…It wasn't fair to keep them in the dark like that. Not even getting to say good bye to her…he didn't even want to think about it.
"She's sick?" Al asked softly.
"Strep throat and a sinus infection and the fever. It kind of hurts to talk I'm sorry."
Ed relayed it back to Al and Al took the phone from him. "Lily are you alright?"
Ed shifted remembering to keep up watch. Al talked to her a moment then laughed and handed the phone back to him. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing really, how is everything going there? Daddy won't tell me anything just that you were annoyed last he spoke to you before tonight."
"We're fine, busy with the assignment. Well I'll let you rest now, get better okay?" If he stayed on and he wasn't entirely sure that someone wasn't listening, this house seemed to have ears everywhere and knowing Lily she'd ask too many questions that might give them away. Oh he trusted her but if she was tired and sick she might not be playing with a full deck of cards.
"Okay, love you, call me tomorrow and I'll talk more."
"Sure, love you too, night."
"Night,"
Ed hung up the phone with more force than necessary. "That bastard!" he hissed. "She was sick and he didn't even tell us." He clenched his fist lifting it a little. "When I see him again-"
"He probably didn't tell us for a reason, think of the assignment brother and-"
"No Al, what if she'd…" He trailed off and turned away angrier than he'd been with Mustang in awhile. He just couldn't believe this… "We wouldn't have even gotten to say good bye. It would have been like it was with Nina…Not getting to say good bye or have a chance at helping her."
Al sighed and followed Ed. "Be reasonable brother, she's sick with illnesses we can't fix. Medicine and rest can though and she's got that. Colonel Mustang probably didn't want us to worry and focus on the mission. Lily will be just fine, you'll see."
"It hurts Al," Ed muttered as they climbed the stairs back to their room. "She's our little sister, I want to know if there's something wrong. We're her older brothers, we're supposed to protect her and families are supposed to tell each other things. It's like Dad doesn't know that."
Al paused. "Which one are you talking about?"
Ed froze upon the stairs. He looked over his shoulder. "Both of them."
"Excuse me but I couldn't help but over hear, is something wrong with little Lily?" A mans voice asked softly from down the hall. It was Mr. Carter. Since coming here, finding Anise gone, they'd been welcomed by Mr. Carter, her boyfriend. Ed instantly hadn't liked him but made no way of showing it. He didn't like how the man asked so many questions about Lily or so many about Mustang for that matter. He also didn't like how nice the man was to them, treating them as if he'd known them all their lives.
"She's sick but she's getting better." Al replied.
Mr. Carter frowned. "Sick…That's odd Lily's never fallen ill in all the time that I've known her…but she's a little kid and kids do get sick from time to time." The man became deadly serious. "Boys don't tell Anise about this. I don't like keeping things from her but if she knew it would only fuel her obsession to hurt Colonel Mustang and take Lily from the man again. As much as I would like to have Lily around this place with her Aunt is not where she belongs."
Ed's eyes narrowed. "Gee it almost sounds like you don't like-"
"Exactly. Anise is a beautiful woman and I do love her but I don't like the way she treats that little girl. I hate the ways she uses her, it's not right. What she's doing to Mustang should be done to him directly without the use of an innocent child and even that I can't agree with. I can't stop her though as much as I want too and have tried." He sighed. "You boys aren't really here on a mission appointed by the state are you?"
Ed nodded. "We are,"
Mr. Carter rubbed his chin. "One Mustang ordered then, to watch Anise…I can't agree with that either, pulling kids in to do the adults dirty work."
"What are you talking about; our mission is to keep an eye on the locals, look for any state resistant people who might want to cause trouble and report back. Anise was nice enough to let us stay here so we didn't have to pay for a hotel room." Ed shrugged. "Do we like her? Not really but we'd be stupid not to stay somewhere the company's kind and welcoming." He yawned. "Can we continue this later, I'm tired?"
Mr. Carter nodded. "Sure Ed, goodnight. I'll see you at breakfast, good night Al."
"Goodnight." Al replied and Ed led the way back to their room, locking the door behind them.
Ed flopped don upon the bed. "I'm going to sleep,"
"Sure,"
The next morning Ed awoke to a cloud of red and gasped, jumping up. A smile graced the beautiful face and a soft hand brushed his hair from his face. "Good morning Edward," Anise said softly. "You brother is downstairs."
"Do you always wake your guests like this?" He snapped.
Anise's smile grew. "Only the adorable ones." She said upon his bed, making him more than uncomfortable. "Breakfast is almost ready."
Ed nodded inching away as subtly as he could. Something was wrong here, very wrong and he didn't like the eerie feeling his senses were alerting him too. "When did you get in?"
Anise shrugged, resting her hand upon the blankets. "Early this morning. Daniel merely said hello before he had to attend a meeting in town, which leaves me alone with my company. I'm rather pleased about that. I'd like to get to know you and Alphonse a little better. Lily seems to truly love you boys as does Roy."
Ed nodded. "We love them too,"
Anise smiled and tucked her red hair behind her ear. "I'm glad," She paused. "Does that mean that you could love me as well?"
Ed smiled. "Maybe, you'd be our aunt now right?" She inched closer, nodding.
"I suppose I would," her hand reached out and touched his bare shoulder. "It's strange for a young man you have fine definition Edward."
Ed jerked his arm away. Was she really… No that couldn't… EWWW!
She giggled in a flirtatious, lecherous sort of fashion and pushed him back upon the bed, laying her body upon his. Ed began to tremble, feeling something stir he shouldn't. This woman was terribly older than he was, beautiful, but he hated her for what she'd done to his little sister, to what she'd done to his adopted father, and now she was crossing a line that should never be crossed.
"You're very beautiful Edward," she breathed, her eyes caressing his face.
Ed wet his lips. "What are you doing?"
"Admiring you," She replied and tipped her head to kiss his chin. "I am a woman who can appreciate beautiful and precious things."
"Really, then why didn't you appreciate Lily?" He countered, hoping that would displease her and she'd get off. He couldn't just hit her like he wanted, if he did that he'd lose favor and possibly be kicked out and thus lose the foothold upon his mission.
"Oh I do, I love her like she were my own," She purred. "And I want to love you too, but a little differently."
"How differently?" He asked trying not to sound revolted.
Anise smiled and met his lips briefly. "Care to find out Edward?" She whispered as her hands began to touch his chest.
"I have to pee," He replied desperately looking for something, anything to make her stop. This was so wrong, he didn't like it and madly wished Roy was here to kill her for this.
"It can wait," She replied, moving quickly, pinning him to the bed. It was then that Ed's mind said fuck it and he began to struggle. She giggled wickedly, holding him with ease proving that she had a hidden strength. "I think I like you in this mood Edward. Do I frighten you; are you scared you might in enjoy what I'm going to make you feel?"
Ed grunted and kept fighting her. "Don't know is child molesting one of your happy turn on's?" He bit.
Anise grinned. "It's not child molesting when you're so grown up."
He needed new tactics and thought as quickly as he could, his heart racing with fright. Suddenly he had it and though it sickened him, he played along and ceased his struggle. "Don't tell Roy?" He asked timidly.
Anise's green eyes lit with glee and smug victory. "I would never."
Ed faked a sigh of relief as she let go of his flesh hand. He reached up and cupped her cheek. "May I…" He trailed off looking away but not for the reason she took it.
"What Edward?" She asked trailing her fingers down his naked chest.
"I've had this thing see, in my head of what I wanted for my first time."
Anise sighed happily. "I see, and what is this little fantasy?"
"Let me tie you up," Ed asked meeting her eyes.
Anise looked a little surprised then wet her lips. "My a kinky one aren't you? Lucky for you I'll let you."
Ed smiled and shifted. She moved off him and lay down upon the bed. He worked quickly, getting her to move her arms above her head. "Shouldn't you undress me first?" She asked.
Ed shook his head. "I'm going to tear your clothes off, don't worry I'll fix them,"
"I see,"
"Turn over," He ordered. Anise did as she was told and Ed quickly transmuted the head and foot board to hold her ankles and wrists. She let out a pleased sigh and looked over her shoulder.
"Roy was right, you're pretty resourceful."
Ed grinned. "I do my best," He came closer and leaned down near her face and whispered. "Tell me something Anise,"
"Hmm?"
"Did you and Roy ever?"
Anise shook her head, eyes going half mast. "No, he wouldn't let me get close enough."
Ed brushed her hair from her eyes. "Want to know why?"
She shrugged. "Don't really care,"
Ed nodded and touched the collar of her dress, tugging upon it, wanting nothing more than to choke her there and then. "What about Lily?"
"Now that's vile,"
Ed lifted his other hand and yanked, tearing a little of her dress, enough to expose the upper half of her back. She gasped and giggled and his stomach wretched.
"I'll tell you why he won't let you close," He leaned close clapping his hands again then quickly grabbed a pillow and tore off the pillow case and gagged her so at least her screams would be muffled. "Roy could never ever touch something so wretched and inhuman; he's better than that and better than you ever will be."
Anise glared at him and tried to talk. "What was that?" Ed asked with a smile. "I couldn't hear you." She made a sound and he snorted, transmuting her clothes, undergarments and all away. He backed away keeping his eyes from her frame and upon her face. "And frankly I'm better than that and you won't tell Roy because you promised and well I really don't think the state looks to kindly upon child molesters especially since the one being molested was one of their prized state alchemists. See ya,"
Then Edward Elric ran from the room locking the door after snatching up his suitcase. Forget it; he wasn't staying here with that thing. He and Al could go else where.
When they arrived at a hotel upon the far side of the city, the slums in fact, Ed hit the shower, scrubbing his skin until he was raw, Al standing outside the shower. "What happened brother?"
Ed glared. "She tried to sleep with me!" He seethed.
"WHAT?!" Al shrieked. "She just said she wanted to wake you up and talk."
"Don't worry I took care of it and we're going to get her. She's going to be so damned she'll never get out of jail and never hurt Roy or Lily ever again!"
"What did you do?" Al asked hesitantly.
"Tied her up of course. Had to leave time for escape," Ed replied scrubbing his chin and lips as hard as he could.
Al shuddered. "If I could be sick I would. Are you alright?"
Ed nodded. "Yeah, mostly pissed."
"Are you sure?"
Ed dropped the soap and rinsed off. He was trembling a little still. "I'm okay, just disgusted is all. If anything she just set herself up to fall. I won't hesitate in telling everyone I know what she tried to do if she comes after us."
"K," Al replied. "You think we should tell the Colonel?"
"Not yet, I want more on her first." He grinned. "Besides Mr. Carter will want an explanation as to why we're gone and why she's tied naked to my bed."
"Naked?!" Al squeaked.
"What?" Ed asked. "I only transmuted her clothes away and I swear I didn't look."
Roy sighed, setting his book aside and smiled as Lily turned over in the hospital bed. She looked so much better, color returning to her cheeks. Her black eyes opened and she reached for him. "Daddy when can I go home?"
"Soon poppet," He promised.
"How soon is soon?"
"As soon as the doctor says it's alright."
"But I want to go now. I promise to be good." She begged so softly.
"I know, but let's just wait a little longer."
