The Master of Chateau le Loup
Chapter Eleven
Heero couldn't move. Something in his gut twisted to the point of excruciating pain. His eyes went flat and lifeless as he stood, helpless to move or respond. This was somehow his fault. He should have found a way to…to what? Where were the signs? The indications that something had been awry?
Hilde brushed a pale hand over her thick eyelashes; bowing her head before the one she called her lord. "He told me to report to you on my findings regarding the escape of Treize and Une."
Relena shot up out of her seat, her long dress swishing through the painful silence. She grabbed onto Hilde's sleeved arm and looked into her dark eyes. "Now is not the time to fret over those two. Come, you have had a long journey here and I implore you to eat something before we continue this."
"You are his wife?" Hilde whispered.
Relena just nodded, and with a soft smile she reached out and dried a wayward tear. "I hold no ill will towards Duo, you must understand that and above all, you must believe me when I say that. His courage to right his wrongs and to protect the ones dear to him makes him a saint in my eyes." Relena's smile grew bolder, her pink lips parting and her dimples giving way to a younger looking woman. "Please, come with me."
Heero heard the power laced with her request. The healer in Relena was stronger than any he had ever met. He, himself, was compelled to go with her even though she had not even spared him a second glance yet. He felt her in his heart, in the air he breathed.
Hilde sniffed and bowed her head. "I do love him," she whispered as they walked out of the den.
Relena stopped the short-haired woman and held her firmly with both hands. Hilde reached up for support, holding onto Relena's delicate wrists. She was ashamed to look into Relena's eyes but upon the request to do so, she relented.
"I love Heero more than life itself. It is a love deeper than the ocean and I know what kind of pain comes with that sacrifice. Duo did what he had to do for himself and now you need to do the same, for yourself. He would never forgive himself if you did not."
"I know…I just…I…" Hilde growled in frustration. "What is wrong with me? Why am I the problem?"
Relena smiled a knowing grin. "That, my friend, is easily explained. We are amongst barbarians and it is the only form of civil preservation we have. Alas, I found that you can only fight them so long before you have to stoop to their level and become one of them. You are stronger than I, holding out as you have. When you are ready to stoop, Duo will be ready to welcome you."
Hilde broke out into laughter but that only caused a further onslaught of tears. Relena pulled Hilde into a companionable hug. Relena felt tears burning behind her own eyelids as she thought of what she and Heero had been through, what they would have to go through before they would truly be happy together. Treize and Une hung heavily over her conscious. Sometimes she would dream at night that Heero was lying dead beside her and she was forced to wait until her time was up as Treize and Une smiled down at her.
So lost in her thoughts, Relena barely knew to let go of Hilde when she tried to pull back. Hilde wiped her tears quickly and sighed heavily. "You have a way of putting all blame onto men."
"I am a woman of high society; that is all we were trained to do. This way, the chef here is God himself in the kitchen. You eat to your heart's content and then I will have a hot bath for you and a bed with plenty of handkerchiefs to cry into. We will talk tomorrow when we can accomplish the most. Tonight is one for healing."
Hilde nodded and sighed heavily, her shoulders rising and then falling as though under great strain. "Very well. I can show myself from here."
"Of course."
Relena watched the woman walk down the hall. She held her chin up and kept her shoulders square. Good woman. It was not easy doing the right thing. It rarely seemed to be even bearable. Relena took her turn to retreat from the hallway and returned to the den. She took a moment to stare at Heero's form looking out of the window. One arm was propped against the sill, his head resting on the cushion of his forearm. He seemed younger somehow; more vulnerable than usual.
"I should have seen it."
Relena put her hands on her hips. "Yes, since deep down we all knew he had good intentions." Her voice was clearly sarcastic but there was a soothing touch to it; a balm to ease the blame.
"Duo has never been so violent. Especially towards women. Towards someone I cared about."
Relena could almost see the waves of despair, confusion and frustration coming off of Heero in a steady ebb and flow. She walked slowly towards him, giving him time to decide if he wanted someone near or if he wanted his space. In the end he turned and took her into his arms. Relena let her arms wrap around his waist as he tucked her in close to his chest. His heartbeat was too fast, she mused, as he lowered his head atop hers.
"You can only blame yourself so long before you realize that there was no helping this and that Duo would not want you acting this way."
"What way? Worrying over him whilst holding my wife in my arms? It would seem you do not know him so well after all."
Relena felt his sad smile against her head as he inhaled the clean scent of her hair. He groaned aloud and pushed her back against the sill just slightly. Relena's hands tread lightly to his narrow hips.
"Now is not the time," Heero reasoned.
"I agree; I must say I like this dress far too much."
Heero pulled away and looked into her eyes. "You do remember what he did to you, do you not? How afraid of him you were afterwards?"
"Yes, Heero, I remember. I will never forget. But I forgive him and it is my turn to remain strong while you and Hilde come to terms."
Heero frowned. "I will not have any of this feminist nonsense in my presence nor will I be swayed by the prospect of your…tempting body, to let my thoughts go." Despite his chaste words, his eyes seemed to have a will of their own, roving approvingly over his wife's figure.
Relena pulled herself away slightly. "Very well then. I suppose I shall just retire then to our bedchamber. I believe a bath is waiting for me."
"I lied; you are a not a witch, you are the spawn of the devil himself."
"Of course, dear."
(O)(O)(O)
Heero sat, staring into the fireplace. Damn Relena, what was she thinking? This was a time to panic, to find Duo and stop him from his foolish and dangerous mission. This was a time to punish Hilde for her childish irresponsibility and disloyalty to her mate.
Heero flinched. Punish her? Dear God, barely weeks ago Relena was in the same position. Perhaps Relena was right, maybe all female mates were on a level above the males, just waiting to give in when they could no longer stand the frustration. No, Relena was right; this was not Hilde's fault. No more than their relationship problems had been Relena's.
But, Heero, surely he had some fault in the situation. He had never been a good friend to Duo. He had always been the one to push the braided man away. Could this have been avoidable if he had listened and cared a little more often?
No. Duo's struggle was with his mate. Not with who listened or who cared.
Damn Relena. Would that woman always be right? The image of her soft, curvy body dripping wet and glistening instantly invaded his worried thoughts. As soon as the erotic image came to mind, his nervous tension eased and gave way to a new kind of a tension.
A tension he could alleviate.
Heero almost physically jerked in realization. So, that was the little minx's idea behind her subtle seduction. Damn her thrice over.
For knowing exactly what he needed.
Heero stood abruptly and not even seeing his way, strode up the huge staircase off of the main entryway and made his way up to their bedchamber as she always called it. He had a hard time not calling it his since he had slept in that bed since he was but a boy. Ours. The word had infinite power.
Heero opened the unlocked door and made sure to fix that error immediately by locking it behind him. Relena's long hair spilled over the edge of the bath as steam rose off the one arm she lifted to lather with soap. She did not even turn her head to face him. Heero leaned back against the door, arms folded, as he watched her slowly soap her forearm and dip it back into the water. He could handle that. What he could not handle was when she gracefully brought one leg from the depths of the bath into plain sight. Heero's body reacted swiftly and forcefully.
Steam seemed to crawl off of her shapely leg in seductive tendrils, coiling slowly into the air that he was drawing into his body. The air smelled like lavender soap and rose water. Floral. Clean. And almost innocently erotic.
Relena released her leg into the bath and sat up slowly, her back slightly turned to him so he could see the smooth lines of her shoulder blades and just a hint of her swollen bosom. She peeked over her shoulder and then looked down at it. "I have a hard time reaching my back. Would you mind lending me your aid kind sir?"
"Not at all," Heero barely managed. He was no longer properly thinking. Or thinking at all. Just feeling and reacting instantly. He paced over to her, throwing his shirt off over his head and kicking off his boots. He took the soap from her hand and tucked her hair over her shoulder. Slowly, his breath burning in his lungs, he pressed a kiss against her petal-soft skin just between her shoulder blades. He burned a series of kisses in a line from the base of her spine at her neck and then down along the tiny ridges before working in the soap and rinsing off the skin with care.
They were both breathing heavily by the time Relena turned in the tub and brought her mouth to his with little hesitation. Heero was quick to haul her out of the bath, soaking wet and deposit her directly onto the coverlet of his expansive bed.
"I told you it was in your best interest to move my belongings into your bedchamber," Relena murmured in a husky voice.
"I shall never doubt your judgment on furniture placement again," Heero groaned as he covered her body with his own. A low moan escaped his throat as Relena worked on freeing him of his last garment. He was losing control fast. He could hardly breathe; his one thought on her hot, moist body beneath his. Her hands gripped his back, the feeling of cold metal, a sharp contrast from her wedding and engagement rings, sent a sharp pang of possessiveness through him.
"I love you," he confessed breathily as he lowered his head to her neck and lower still.
"I know," she gasped. "Even though the wind could blow me away."
Heero sighed heavily with frustration as he nuzzled the valley between her breasts. "It was my last defense against your siren ways."
Relena laughed and gave up all hope of teasing. Twining her fingers into his hair, she willed her husband, lover and friend to do what he wished.
(O)(O)(O)
Wufei sat back and slowly removed his glasses. Two black orbs stared heavily out the window. He felt soft, feminine hands rest against his shoulders.
"Eyes are the window to the soul, until you are me, in which case they are a mirror and you are forced to see the darkest, ugliest side of yourself possible," Wufei said in a voice that pitched low with sorrow and remorse.
Nitaku's hands tightened on his shoulders. "No, my love, your eyes show others who they truly are. You did not send Duo to his fate."
"I took my glasses off. We were fighting. He looked right into them; knowing he should not have. In that moment, I knew that was when he made his decision to seal himself."
"Wufei, yes, he did see what he was and he did not like it. He did not like it before he saw himself and when it did it was just…confirmation of what he was already thinking of doing."
Wufei turned to look at his pale, beautiful wife. She smiled sweetly at him, looking past his jet-black eyes. She loved to stare into his eyes. So unique. Just one color. All of it. Black. She saw his goals, ambitions, hopes, fears and desires all in one instant and he never once tried to hold it back from her. She could see past the mirrors and into his soul.
"You know it is not right to blame yourself. Duo had to do it."
"If Hilde would just realize her responsibility."
Nitaku straightened up and delivered a scolding look. "Duo never treated her as a mate should have; I hardly blame her."
"When Heero and Relena were having their troubles I almost forgot that Duo and Hilde were going on their second century of conflict. They both need closure."
"Yes, they do. But what I am more interested in is how Treize and Une got free and how Quatre actually let Trowa take such a beating."
Wufei's laugh was caustic. "Believe me, my flower, that Quatre did not let Trowa take that beating and the battle between Trowa and Une was nothing compared to the one Quatre and Trowa had afterwards."
"I can hardly imagine." Nitaku seemed distracted suddenly, her mind changing gears almost visibly. With a sigh she confessed, "I do wish I could meet Relena."
"She will convert soon if she has not already. Then you can meet her."
Nitaku tucked a straight strand of hair behind her ear and turned to the stove of their small kitchen. "I love you, Wufei. Please, do not do anything too risky. We barely came out alive the last time we ran into dark times."
Wufei could not keep himself in his seat as he walked over to his Asian wife and wrapped his arms around her trim waist. "No, I promise, nothing like that will ever happen again. I intend to keep you far out of danger and then I have no chance of losing my level head."
Nitaku leaned back against his strong frame and sighed heavily. "When will Heero be sworn in as our leader?"
"After Treize and Une are dealt with. Unfortunately, he will remain the informal leader until then. We cannot risk convening until all threats are removed."
"All threats?"
"I have a feeling Dekim is behind this. Again."
"He claims to be part of the Church; a mortal. That would prevent him from knowing any immortals personally so he would not have contact with Treize and Une…"
"Mortals are easily fooled by a persuasive story. I am almost sure he authorized and organized their release from confinement."
"Poor Heero."
Wufei nodded. "I can only imagine," he sighed. "At least he is no longer alone."
"But now he has everything to lose again." They both said the last word simultaneously and Wufei dropped a reassuring kiss to his mate's head.
"You worry too much."
"You never worry."
"I have no need to worry."
Nitaku nudged his ribs with her elbow. "You frustrating man, make yourself useful."
(O)(O)(O)
"Stop pacing."
…
"Quatre, I mean it."
…
"Stop pacing or I will take this bracelet off."
"You take that bracelet off and so help me, I will kill you." There was no humor, no trace of amusement in the accusation. Quatre nearly meant it.
Trowa sighed and threw himself back onto the couch. He hated the feeling of being restricted in a body. He was starting to feel claustrophobic and on top of that, with Quatre pacing before him in his usually comfortable, rustic cottage setting, and was beginning to feel anxious.
"Why would Duo do such a stupid thing?"
"Quatre, it was not stupid. He was becoming a threat and he needs to place himself in a secure location until Hilde can help him."
"Daft man," Quatre muttered his curse as he stopped pacing only to cross his arms and tap his fingers with fierce repetition. "Certainly there was another solution."
"We all know there was not."
"It is all his fault anyways. He could not control himself for one moment; not even for Hilde."
"Quatre, sit down, please. You need to relax. Everything with sort itself out."
"We have no leader. Duo is down for the count. Treize and Une are at large. Is there anything not to worry about?"
"Heero has invited us for dinner. He says that Relena has converted and that he would be delighted to have us over along with Wufei and Nitaku, when he gets the invites to them."
"Relena? Converted?" Quatre exclaimed, sitting down at last.
"Yes. And her powers are unlike any we have heard of. She can destroy, use elements, and her healing abilities are above any of the healers that have ever been born to our kind."
Quatre sighed and sat back. "Well, all right then, I suppose that is one thing I can get off of my mind."
Trowa raised an expressive eyebrow, his green eyes sparkling just slightly. "I am afraid to ask just why that would be on your mind of all things."
Quatre threw a haughty glance over his shoulder to the man sitting beside him. "I have half a mind to seal you away as well."
"Good thing you have another half that knows that if you did that you would only be doing a disservice to yourself."
Quatre growled softly, deep in his throat. Literally growled. "Like you would not care in the least."
"Is this going to be another power struggle?"
"Power struggle? Ha! You do not even comprehend the meaning of a power strug—!"
Trowa's mouth was uncharacteristically hard and unyielding against his lover's. "Enough," he murmured as he pulled away. "Heero plans to strategize the destruction of Une and Treize at the dinner. We need to have some ideas to contribute."
"You mean to distract me."
"Any way I can," Trowa answered honestly. "I am near sick with all this negative attention."
Quatre sighed and attempted at smiling. He needed to lighten up. He needed to stop stressing over every tiny detail. But, Quatre was a Winner and Winners worried. His father had told him that.
"Very well, shall we head to the study?"
"The couch is hardly suitable there."
Quatre threw a strong gust of wind directly into Trowa's face before he stood and stalked to the study. Trowa felt a laugh bubbling up inside of him, but he held it there, as he often did, savoring the feel of happiness. Of contentment. Quatre's eyes already looked less shadowed.
Growing somber at that thought, Trowa stood, laughter dying. He wanted to eliminate those shadows before Quatre had a real reason to start worrying.
Wufei had felt it too. The sharp spike of power, of evil. Une and Treize were a big part of whatever was going on, but they were not all of it. Something else was the driving force behind their intent. Wufei suspected Dekim but something didn't sit well with Trowa.
Dekim, despite all his hatred of Heero had steered clear from Odin during the man's rule. Steered clear because Dekim owed the man his life and bitter as he was, he harbored no ill will towards the Yuy legacy, only embarrassment. With Odin dead, Dekim had grown to become power hungry and desperate, for he too had been hunted. He knew that to be the hunter was to be saved from being the hunted. That was Dekim's role in the plot, Trowa was sure. The medium. So, who had been the driving force behind the actual murder of Heero's parents? That was their man. That was their enemy.
Trowa wished his powers had been stronger. He could feel evil, sense it, hold it, touch it. But evil was just an idea and it owned no face.
Somewhere, in the vastness of space there was a crouching, plotting beast waiting to destroy the last link holding their kind together. The green-eyed being, pressed a solid hand against his throbbing forehead.
Evil might not have a face, Trowa mused. But the enemy did. And he was going to do everything in his power to find that person and bring them to their demise. For he, above all of his companions, understood the full gravity of the crisis that would be their species separating, losing their union. He had experienced it once. Back when he was too young to even take the form of a man. Back when their kind was powerful and abundant. It had only taken a single betrayal to send the world into chaos, to destroy the bond between all of their kind. He had watched in horror as a child was born unto a male and female that had separate mates. Watched as the one sacred law between them all had been broken. The child was evil.
By the time the child was only nine or ten the Yuy family ascended to power and rooted the child out as the source of their people's growing hatred, fear and anxiety. Evil tainted the air, the air Trowa had never been forced to breathe in. Master Yuy had forced the child deep underneath the earth, sealed away for all time…
Trowa jerked suddenly, inhaling sharply, taking in the subtle tinge in the air. Something was off. Wufei had called it evil. Quatre was not himself. Heero was rumored to be giving into guilt. Nitaku seemed to be succumbing to her fears slowly, subtly. Duo had reached the end of his rope. It has happening all over again. It had been happening. Treize and Une splitting from their people's union. Dekim leaving the group. Families slowly going their own way. Mates unable to find each other; dying slowly without their other half. The hunts, the suspicion.
"Trowa?" Quatre murmured, leaning out of the doorway to the study. "Is something the matter?"
"Quatre, do you remember when I told you the story of the Division of our People?"
"Of course, I wrote it down for the archives."
"The evil child, what was its name?"
"Her name," Quatre corrected gently. "Her name was Mariemaia."
"Mariemaia," Trowa whispered, the name seemed to poison the very air around him. "She is the one behind this."
"But she was sealed away long ago…" Quatre's voice died off and he swallowed hard. "Only her mate could unseal her and she was born out of sanction."
"So was Relena. That does not mean that they are destined to a life alone. A body is of very little consequence, just as the blood that runs through it."
Quatre's eyes widened and despite the fact that his mouth opened to speak nothing came out. Trowa's eyes darkened as he looked at Quatre. He felt his human heart suddenly begin to pound with fear, with painful memories.
"This no longer concerns just Heero and Relena. They may be the first targets, but she works her hatred into everyone. She is evil Quatre and she has influence over each and every one of us."
"Trowa, what are we going to do?"
"We have to find the one that can defeat her."
"What can possibly defeat evil itself?"
Trowa sighed heavily and shrugged. "What else? Good."
Goodness. Purity. Light against the dark. Was it possible one of their kind was that flawless?
"Say that it is Mariemaia behind this and that we need to find her opposition. How could we ever hope to find absolute good? That is inside a person."
"Exactly," Trowa agreed. "That is why we are going to need to contact Wufei."
(O)(O)(O)
AN: Yay! The joys of college and how much time it demands. I hope this chapter was a satisfactory one. As always, your reviews are very, very, very much appreciated and I ask that you forgive any slight grammatical errors. I was torn between, wait a few days to proof read it or just post it. I'm going to post it. Probably soon I will repost with a more thoroughly edited version. I appreciate the feedback and happy February to everyone! Thanks for the fantastic reviews from: Saga123, blissful trinity, Niebezpiczny Ksiezyc, Danielle, Death'sFlowerGarden, whitefang585, Angelwing507, flaming-amber, Rach, Mini Nicka, 4everfanfic, Purdy, sanctuary, Kou Haruko, Sailor Tiamat, hieiashke, EmpKaylenatye, Reignashii, LadyIncant, silver-eyed, WindCloud, Jessica, Native-Chick-Pea, Trinara, AngelicRoses, Alaskantiger, Oyuki, heaven'sgirl, Morrighan of Crimson and Sable, hashiba42, Uruwashii Inochi, Animouse03,