Bite Me

Chapter 13: Secrets & Unanswered Questions

AC 201. 20. June

2000 hours [8:00 pm]

Earth - Sanc Kingdom - Peacecraft Mansion

Duo Maxwell watched in horror as the events played out in slow motion mere feet from his wide eyes. Quatre's screams pierced through the fog of confusion and terror in his mind, but as the newborn vampire turned and set his bloodthirsty sights on Trowa's warm neck, a tingling spark flew through Duo's muscles. A hot flush came over his skin and his hands curled into fists as the now familiar feeling of shifting tensed his entire body.

Duo was just about to shut his eyes in preparation for the instinctive shift, but a flash before his vision distracted him as Heero darted to Trowa's aid, his pale skin almost invisible in the moonlight, his figure a blur as he flew by the shocked shifter.

A hollow gasp, followed by a pain filled howl escaped from Trowa's mouth as Quatre's small, but extremely powerful body pinned him to the cold ground beneath them. The vampire's sharp, white fangs glistened above Trowa's quivering neck and Quatre's wild eyes softened for a split second as he breathed in the shifter's familiar scent. But the memory was not enough to override the thirst for fresh, warm blood stabbing through his mind. Quatre's fangs had just pierced Trowa's delicate skin, giving the vampire a taste of his seductive blood, before Heero pounced on his newly made "offspring."

In an instant a strong arm around Quatre's waist had hurled him backwards into the soft earth he had emerged from moments earlier. Heero placed himself between the hungry vampire and his fellow Preventers, a pair of strong palms halting both parties.

"What the fuck is going on Heero?" Duo took a step towards him, but Heero's glaring eyes stopped him dead in his tracks. "Duo, stay back. You too Trowa." Duo's limbs still trembled with adrenalin, but the warning was unneeded for the other Preventer. Trowa's entire body was stiff and unmoving, a foreign look of fear on his usually stoic face.

"Duo!" Everyone's attention turned to the petite female frame running towards them. Hilde's face was flushed and confused as she grew closer to the odd looking situation, her gaze fixed on Quatre's trembling figure.

Heero grimaced and his brows furrowed. "Do not move, Hilde," he ordered through clenched teeth. The woman stopped where she was, but held out a small white box towards Duo and Trowa, her eyes staying fixed on the two dirt ridden vampires before her. In a soft voice she murmured, "First aid kit."

Heero rolled his eyes, lowering his hands as the tension began to lift. "A first aid kit?" He scoffed, though Duo grabbed it from her, giving Heero a disapproving glare while searching for a bandage to cover the two, already clotting, bite marks on Trowa's neck.

Duo inched towards Trowa, who had still not moved an inch, and placed a bit of gauze against the small wounds. "You okay, Tro?" Duo whispered, but his fellow shifter did not answer, he just kept his eyes glued to Quatre, Trowa's own blood still shimmering on his lips.

Frustrated, Duo turned his attention back to Heero. "Tell me what is going on," he growled, his inner shifting impulses racing through his muscles. With a rough sigh, Heero took a step towards his braided companion, but this movement caused Quatre's new found calm to break and he pounced yet again towards Trowa. But this time Heero was ready, throwing him to the ground with one strong push, his dark eyes finding Quatre's bloodshot ones. "Stay," he commanded, his fangs emerging with a sinister pop. The newborn vampire nodded slowly, and with a painful wince, pulled his own fangs back into hiding beneath his sore gums.

Heero spun to gaze at the three Preventers staring at him. Hilde, nervous, Duo, angry, and Trowa still in shock. "Now is not a good time for explanations."

"Hell no, Heero, not this time. I want answers-"

"Duo." His glare was piercing. "I am not negotiating." Before Duo had any time to respond, Heero had already stooped down to Quatre, grabbing his arm and forcing him to stand. "Let's go, Quatre." Within seconds Heero was heading away from the Peacecraft grounds at a pace no ordinary human could keep up with. Quatre hesitated for a mere second, his eyes softening as he gazed sadly upon the three people before him. People he knew to be his friends in another life. But then, as if there was an invisible line attaching him to Heero, he took off in the same direction as his siring vampire.

Duo let loose an animalistic growl from his throat. "I'm going after them."

For the first time since Quatre's attack, Trowa moved, placing a strong hand on Duo's quivering shoulder. "No. Let them go."

"What?" Duo turned towards him, a frown on his face. "Don't you want to know what the hell happened to Quatre?"

Trowa pursed his lips, emotions Duo had never seen glistening in his green eyes. "Isn't it obvious? Quatre is...a vampire."

The braided Preventer shrugged off Trowa's hand. "But don't you want to know how? Know why?" Duo's voice escalated as his frustration mounted.

Hilde placed a soothing hand in the middle of his shoulder blades. "Maybe Trowa is right. We all need time to cool off, to clear our heads."

Duo clenched his fists at his side, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves. He turned to her, grabbing her hand in both of his. "Hilde, I understand. But...I can't lose Heero again. They could already be gone-"

Trowa turned his attention to the couple, his expression back to its normal, stoic state. "They won't go far."

"How can you know that, Tro?" Duo muttered, his shoulders slumping as the vigor slowly drained from his body. All he could think about were the moments when Heero had been torn away from him in the past.

"Quatre's state is too vulnerable to travel. It would be too difficult," Trowa stated in a monotone, his eyes shifting sadly to the ground from which the vampires had emerged. He then added in a whisper, more to himself than anyone else, "They may not be human, but...they loved us in one life. Maybe they can still love us in this one."

AC 201. 21. June

0630 hours [6:30 am]

Earth - Unknown Location - Merquise Estate

Milliardo Peacecraft sat uneasily in the plush leather chair behind the intricately engraved wooden table he used as a desk. His entire body was still except for the quivering in his right leg caused by the steady tapping of his booted foot against the carpeted floor. He stared intently at the gold leaf frame in his hands, the picture of a young Relena Peacecraft staring happily up at him beneath a thin layer of glass.

Several wraps on the door finally brought him back to reality. "Milliardo? May I come in?"

He opened his mouth to speak, but having not spoken in quite sometime he found it difficult to find his voice. After clearing his throat he replied gruffly. "You may."

The thin, elegant frame of Lucrezia Noin slipped into the room. Her hourglass figure slightly hidden beneath her tomboy-ish riding outfit, dirty from her morning ride about the grounds. She moved softly around the desk to where the platinum haired man had been perched for over twelve hours. "Milliardo? It's a beautiful day outside," she placed a calm hand on his shoulder and he gazed up at her with little expression. "Why don't you get out of this room for a bit?"

Quietly he reached for her hand, removing it from his shoulder, and giving it a tender kiss. "Thank you, but...no."

Noin furrowed her brows, her calm state dissipating quickly. "You can't stay locked up in here forever. Are you going to let guilt eat away at you for the rest of your life?"

With a gruff sigh he let her hand fall and he turned his attention back to the picture of his baby sister. "Who's to stop me?"

"Me!" Noin placed her palms on either shoulder this time, looking straight into her fiancee's silvery blue eyes. "You had no control over Duo Maxwell's infection. It wasn't your fault, so you can't let it get to you!"

"But you are so wrong, Lucrezia." He pulled away from her, standing and walking towards a large window that looked out upon Noin's stables. "I may not have given the order, but I sent my hounds to the Sanc Kingdom. No one deserves infection against their will. You of all people should understand that."

Noin's eyes fell for a moment as her memory raced. "I know, Milliardo. But it's in the past now, you can't do anything about it. Duo is one of us, and you need to let it go."

Milliardo watched as the sun rose over the land, filling its valleys and hills with shadows and warm light that glistened against the morning's dew. He sighed and turned to her with a forced smile, "I know."

Seeing right through his facade Noin's rosy lips parted to emit a small laugh. "I'm glad to see you're trying." She made her way towards him, wrapping her arms around his torso affectionately. Milliardo hesitated for a split second before returning the hug, kissing the top of his fiancee's inky black locks.

"I still wonder how Cyrus could make such an obvious mistake, attacking Duo and all. Doesn't he recognize any of the Preventers yet?" Noin mused as she closed her eyes, reveling in the man's embrace.

Milliardo's body stiffened, but not enough to give him away. "Yes...well Cyrus is a protective man. His instincts sometimes get the better of him...protecting his pack and all."

"But still," Noin raised her head to gaze into Milliardo's rigid features. "Mistaking Duo for a trespasser? And not even in their own jurisdiction...it seems strange to me."

The long haired man swallowed once before answering, keeping his eyes locked with hers as to reassure her. "I already spoke to Cyrus about it. He is aware of my disapproval. But there is nothing more I can do...like you've been trying to tell me." His lips twitched upwards into a smile, this time trying to make it seem as natural as possible. She grinned back at him, and relief fluttered through his tense muscles.

"Would you like some breakfast? I'm sure I can find something in the kitchen for us," she wondered, any concern regarding their conversation gone from her dark eyes.

With a small sigh he nodded in agreement, just happy that she hadn't pressed him with more questions regarding Maxwell's suspicious attack. He hated not being able to share everything with his soon to be wife, but this was his burden to bear...he just hoped that it would be the only burden he would have to bear ever again. But knowing Treize...this was just the beginning.

AC 201. 21. June

0730 hours [7:30 pm]

Earth - Sanc Kingdom - Peacecraft Mansion

Duo Maxwell peeled open his sleep filled eyes, a deep orange glow assaulting his vision from the many large windows wrapping Quatre Winner's suite, the bedroom he had fallen asleep in several hours earlier. Stretching his sore muscles, he rolled over to face a statue-like Trowa gazing out upon the sunset illuminating the Sanc Kingdom.

"Tro?" At Duo's voice, the tall man turned, a willowy finger resting against his lips and pointed to a still sleeping Hilde on the velvet chaise lounge across from the king size bed Duo currently occupied. He had almost forgotten that the three had fallen asleep in each other's comfort after a long night of debate and conversation in the Winner Suite. They had slept the entire day away and now the sun was sinking yet again, and Duo's adrenalin began to race. Soon Heero and Quatre would be rising from their own daytime slumber.

"Trowa-" Duo started again, his voice now a low whisper as to not wake his female coworker. Trowa's green eyes widened slightly and he sighed in annoyance, almost as if he could read Duo's impulsive thoughts. He walked towards the bedroom door and motioned for Duo to follow him into the hallway. Closing the door, he gave Duo a pointed look.

Leaning casually against the wall, Duo gave him a sly look. "What?"

"You're not going over there." Trowa's face was half hidden by his bangs, but nonetheless intimidatingly unyielding.

Duo raised his eyebrows in an innocent manner and shook his head. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Trowa's scowl did not waver. "Duo."

The braided man matched his scowl in a mocking fashion. "Trowa."

Trowa snorted in an irritated retort. "You're going to go to Heero's apartment. Where he is harboring a newborn vampire thirsty for fresh, human blood. And this sounds like a good idea to you?"

Duo took a moment to contemplate this, rubbing his chin for effect. "Yep, sounds like something I would do."

Trowa's eyes rolled to the ceiling and back to Duo with a look of annoyance. "Technically you didn't answer my question."

Ignoring his remark, Duo started down the hallway towards the mansion's kitchen, his stomach suddenly grumbling madly. "I don't know why you're so worried, Tro. It's not like anything bad could happen. Heero will be there."

With a sigh Trowa followed. "How do you even know that's where they'll be?"

Duo spun around, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. "Why Trowa, you yourself said they wouldn't go far! And besides, that's the only place they could go, Heero has his coffin there." Duo started walking towards the kitchen again, but gave a small laugh and then added, "Well, it's really more of an industrial size trunk, but you get the idea."

Trowa's exposed eyebrow quirked up in curiosity. Of course vampires would sleep in coffins, or large trunks, or whatever. But he hadn't actually thought about it until now. His Quatre would have to sleep in a coffin from now on, all day long. That was really going to put a damper on their sex life. Trowa shook his head, following Duo once more, how could he be thinking in such a manner? This was not a thing to be joking about. And besides, at this point how could he even be sure that Quatre and he would ever be able to share a bed, or coffin, ever again?

"Duo, I just want you to be careful," Trowa said with some concern in his voice. Ever since Duo had been infected, his fellow shifter had felt somewhat responsible for him.

Upon reaching the kitchen, Duo rooted around in the large, stainless steel refrigerator until he emerged with an apple between his teeth. Taking a large bite, chewing for a thoughtful moment and wiping a bit of juice from his lips he faced Trowa with a grin. "When am I not careful?"

Trowa narrowed his eyes in response. Duo shrugged his shoulders. "Okay, okay maybe I'm not always as careful as I could be, but you can't count this past week! Crazy shit has been happening, that no one, not even you, could have seen coming, Tro."

Trowa had to admit that Duo was right. The recent events had been unforeseeable, but chasing after a bloodthirsty vampire, even if it was Quatre, seemed insane to him. Although his idea of insane and Duo's idea of insane were, it seemed, impossibly different.

"I want answers." Duo bit off another chunk of apple. "I'm going whether you approve or not."

Trowa shook his head in disapproval, but Duo was a grown man, even if he rarely acted like it, and could make his own decisions. But an impulsive spark led him to grab a small knife from atop a chopping block between the two men. With a flick of his wrist he spun the blade in his skillful fingers, grabbing the handle and making a small incision in the palm of his hand.

Duo, with a mouth full of apple, gave Trowa a concerned glance. "What are you-" But before he could finish his question, the taller shifter had grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand against the blade to create a matching laceration.

Pulling his hand back in shock, Duo shot Trowa with a bemused, wide-eyed stare. "Ow! Trowa, what the hell?"

Without explanation, Trowa reached for Duo's injured hand and pressed the two small cuts against each other. For a moment the braided man still looked at him incredulously, but slowly he began to remember what he had learned about shifters sharing blood and thoughts. Trowa gave him a soft, but meaningful look. "Just in case."

Retracting his hand, Duo nodded in understanding and gave his counterpart a small smile. "I'll be careful, Tro. I promise."

Trowa's only response was a curt nod as he watched Duo leave the mansion, a hopeful gate in his step, but trepidation in his mind as to what exactly he was going to encounter when he reached Heero's apartment.

AC 201. 21. June

0800 hours [8:00 pm]

Earth - Sanc Kingdom - Civilian Apartments

Duo had built up a sense of accomplishment and confidence during his trek to visit Heero's eery, and quite possibly deadly home. But now, having arrived at the building, the pitch black nighttime and the ominous silence were beginning to get to him.

"It's Heero," he muttered to himself as he hesitated at the apartment building's entrance. "Just Heero...and Quatre." His paranoid whispers didn't provide himself with much comfort. As he swiped his Preventer card through the scanner and entered the dark building he repeated Trowa's words in his mind, a somewhat soothing mantra. Be careful, be careful, be careful.

It wasn't until he was standing in front of Heero's front door that he began to wonder if visiting a vampire's private home that was sheltering a bloodthirsty newborn was a crazy idea...even for him. With a gulp he reached his knuckles out to rap on the door, but when his hand made contact with it, the door swung open several inches to reveal Heero's dimly lit entryway. Everything was still and silent, which made Duo even more nervous.

Slowly he took a step forward, not enjoying the feeling that he was becoming the character he always yelled at in horror movies that went into the creepy room alone only to be murdered by the psychopath hiding on the other side of the doorway. Instinctively he reached for the Preventer issued gun in his shoulder holster, something he was now glad he had decided to take with him as a precautionary measure.

His fingers had just began to grip the firearm when the front door slammed behind him and mere milliseconds later a cold, granite hard arm snaked its way around his shoulders pinning him to his attackers body in a vice like grip. His gun arm was seized equally as quickly, his pistol dropping to the floor, no help to him now.

Duo's voice caught in his throat and the only sound he could emit was a small gasp as the sound of fangs emerging made his heart skip a beat. The sharp teeth of his attacker skimmed the soft skin of his neck and his entire body tensed.

He had fallen right into the arms of a hungry, newborn vampire, and the only thing running through Duo's mind was where in the world was Heero Yuy?

to be continued...