Vacuous Heart of Blood

Author: MoonStarDutchess

Chapter 33: Subterfuge

Disclaimer: Don't own FMA but I do own my idea.

Riza looked around the area; a desire to take a walk sprung forth. The neighborhood seemed safe enough, and she could always call Roy if something happened. Even though she was cold— but not uncomfortable, thanks to the warm cloak, she wore — it was much better than keeping company with Roy right now. It would be good for them if they took a break from each other for a bit. It would keep any arguments from happening.

She rubbed her hands together trying to get some warmth in them, and turned up a street to her right. As she walked, she marveled at how the grey stone gleamed under the soft blue light emitting from the alabaster streetlamps.

"Lady Mustang!" She stopped and turned around. Who'd be calling her out here? Her mind stuttered with the realization she'd automatically reacted to her new address.

Rebecca walked toward her. She wore a simple short-sleeved dress, no cloak, no gloves, and showing no discomfort with the climate. Riza envied the skill of being able to regulate one's own body temperature. "Hello," she said when Rebecca stopped in front of her.

"What are you doing here? I didn't think Lord Mustang would let you out on your own so soon. Especially at this time since this is when all the vampires come out for their morning walks."

Riza wasn't about to tell her he walked off and left her there. It wasn't completely true either. It was just he didn't check to see if she was following behind him like a good little sheep…ire... She shrugged. "It seems like a safe neighborhood."

"It is. And besides, you're the talk of the town right now. No one will venture to touch you when they find out who you are, unless they have a death wish. Understandably, not many vampires have those."

She wondered if Roy would get protective enough to kill his own kind. He went after her when the Patarin captured her. Before that, he'd killed the doctor as payback. She shivered at the remembrance. Why couldn't she forget the incident? It was over!

"Hey, are you cold? Why don't you come to my house and have a cup of tea. I don't know much about Halflings but I know your kind has trouble with lower temperatures."

"I don't want to inconvenience you," Riza said even though a cup of hot tea sounded wonderful.

"It's no inconvenience at all. We rarely get any company so we have to go out to find intelligent conversation. Please come."

"Alright."

"Great! Audrain will be happy to see you and to know you aren't mad." Rebecca intertwined her arm with Riza's and they started up the street.

"Why would I be mad?"

"For what we did. We thought Lord Mustang might've gotten angry and took it out on you and then…Forbid the thought. It's probably good to get away from him for a while."

Riza pulled her arm away from Rebecca's grasp and shook her head. "He's not like that. In fact, he didn't show any anger after you two left. If anything, I was angrier than he was." Rebecca tensed and Riza quickly rectified her statement. "I'm not angry at all now."

"I suppose if the positions were reversed, I would've been angry as well." Rebecca stopped at the gate and opened it, letting Riza through first before entering herself.

Once inside the house, Riza had to hold back a sigh. It was so warm, in both temperature and ambiance. Thick curtains covered the windows by the door, blocking in any possible light that might enter. Soft glow of lanterns cast orange and red lights along the foyer.

Despite the welcoming atmosphere, a part of her brain was calling her an idiot. She didn't know these women well and she was in their house. From what she'd picked up from hints, Roy was a sought after man with the female populous. Jealous women were on the list of most fearsome and dangerous creatures. Right on the same threat level as black mambas and crocodiles. As if that wasn't bad enough, this would probably push Roy's anger level to the point he'd actually turn red.

"It's warm in here," Riza said. She needed to ascertain if she was in danger. "I'm surprise since it doesn't bother you to be cold."

"We still enjoy warmth. Our bodies retain it after all," Rebecca said and helped Riza take off her cloak.

She'd forgotten that Roy told her that once before. It also explained why he seemed to enjoy it when she cuddled up to him.

"Rebecca, have you—" Audrain came from a side room, "—Riza! It's so good to see you again."

"You too." They certainly didn't seem threatening. She'd been overreacting.

"I bet you're freezing! Let's get you inside the den. Rebecca, you should make some tea."

"Since when are you the boss of me?"

Audrain ignored her. "And don't forget it's your turn to do the dishes."

"I'm not your witch," Rebecca said.

"Perhaps not, but you're a word that rhymes with it." Audrain led Riza to a door on the right.

"Complimenting me won't get you anywhere," Rebecca said and left the foyer.

The first thing Riza noticed when she walked into the den was how simple it was. Considering the sisters' personality, she expected a more flamboyant decor in the room. Instead, everything was various shades of brown, from the walls to the small carpet in front of the fireplace.

Audrain guided her over to one of the chairs near the hearth. "I'm very surprised Lord Mustang already let you out on your own."

She sighed inwardly. Here we go again. This time she decided to tell the truth. . . . Well, some of it.

"I wasn't out alone. Roy and I were walking together. He took me out to get some clothing."

Audrain sat down across from her, a look of amazement on her features.

"What did you call him?" Rebecca asked as she carried a tray in the room and sat it down on the table.

"Pardon?"

"Did you just call him by his forename?"

"Yes, what's wrong with that?"

"No one calls him by his first name. I mean, I know you're his wife but . . . . Well . . . Well . . . . No one calls him his first name! No one. It's too casual."

Riza thought about all the people she saw interacting Roy, and realized it was true. Everyone called him Lord Mustang, or just Mustang when addressing him. Even Maes, whom she assumed was Roy's best friend, spoke to him with his surname. "Does he hate it or something?"

Rebecca handed her a cup of tea. "He's never corrected you on it?"

"No, never. Has he anyone that you've seen?"

"Well, no one has ever used his first name, so he's never had the opportunity to correct them. At least from what I've seen. I guess they don't have the guts to try it."

She'd hoped the question would clear things up, but it only bewildered her more. Roy could be scary but he wasn't evil enough to kill someone for using his first name. It was true that he had a fiery temper, but he also possessed exquisite control of it. Maybe they were afraid of his power rather than his ability to use it on them. She'd experienced his power first hand and could understand why people were frightened of it.

"I don't see a reason to stop calling him Roy until he tells me to."

Rebecca sat down and then leaned back in the chair. "I'm very surprised."

"I'm more surprised about the two of you getting married."

"Oh?" Though Audrain's tone wasn't threatening, it was too nonchalant for her liking.

"I only agreed to the engagement thing because at the time I didn't' want to marry and knew he'd never push the subject. Then you came along and caught us all off guard. I nearly fell over laughing when I found out."

"Laughing?"

"Please don't take offense, but you have lousy taste in men."

Riza hadn't been sure of what her "taste" for a man was before she met him; still wasn't sure if he was her particular "taste". She did know that she didn't like the implied insult toward him. "None taken."

"I'm grateful for you more than I can ever express so if there's anything I can do for you, let me know."

"Why?"

"Now I'm free to be with someone I'm compatible with."

That wording confused her. "You mean love?"

"Vampires don't love." Audrain's face turned serious. "Do you?"

"Do I love?"

Riza wanted to slap her face when a pitying look washed over her expression. "Do you love Lord Mustang?"

She didn't know how to answer her. She knew she respected him, wanted to make sure he was calm, worried about him, and felt guilty when she gave him a hard time but. . . . "Do you have to be in love to bond with another vampire?"

Rebecca and Audrain lowered their teacups to their saucers with perfect synchronization. As if they'd practiced it. "Bond? What modern vampire in their right mind would put themselves in a bond?" Rebecca said. "You'd be stuck with them forever."

"Yes, I'm very aware of that. Why do you think I asked if you have to be in love for a bond to happen?"

-/-/-

Roy sighed. Perhaps he overreacted to what Riza said. Actually, there was no "perhaps" about it. If Riza was walking behind him then he must have scared her. The odd thing was that he didn't feel any fear coming from her, nor did he want to feel it. Especially not if he were the cause. There were enough people afraid of him already.

"Is there anywhere in particular that you'd like to go? We have a huge library here, and I know you like to read." When she didn't respond, he stopped and turned around.

"Riza?" He turned in all directions to see if she was in the surrounding area. He made his way back down the hall to see if she was just walking much slower or if something distracted her. When he made it to the door, he looked at the guard beside it. "Have you seen Lady Mustang?"

"I wasn't aware you were married, Sir."

Roy hated it when people sidestepped his questions. "My wife was right behind me. Did she enter?"

"No Sir. There wasn't anyone with you when you entered the house. No one has entered since you've come through either."

"Fuck!" The guard stepped back. Roy stomped out the door and down the steps, paying no attention to where he was going. He hit his mother hard enough that she stumbled backward, Roy grabbed her by the arm to keep her from hitting onto the ground. "Where's Riza?"

"How am I supposed to know that? She's not with you?"

He muttered under his breath, in pureblood, and stalked off.

Troublesome females. She should know better than to go off gallivanting when she hasn't been a vampire for very long. She's going to end up getting herself killed and then where would I be. I'd be a large heaping pile of nothing. Doesn't she have any consideration for anyone other than herself?

He knew that wasn't a fair statement. She had spoiled behavior but she'd genuinely worried about him in situations she thought warranted it. She'd even gone out into the forest to find him when she sensed he was in danger. He'd be dead, they'd both be actually, if it weren't for her.

No. It wasn't that she didn't care what happened to them. She'd been so sheltered her entire life, by no fault or choice of her own, and just wanted to be able to go out and do something she wanted without worrying about the propriety of it.

But for now, she needed to stay near him. At least until he determined whom they could trust. That wouldn't be an easy task considering he didn't know many vampires in the area, and the ones he did know, hated him. They'd need to avoid the single, high society women. Especially ones around his age. He trusted Havoc to an extent, and from the way Breda conversed with her, he didn't seem to be much of a danger. Maes and Gracia weren't around, but he wasn't sure Riza was comfortable around Gracia. When he so much as mentioned any doctor, she'd shiver, look away, or change the subject.

Pinako was trustworthy and would be excellent to have around when she decided to make an appearance. Though she hadn't arrived with them, he wasn't worried about the witch. She'd escaped being burned at the stake by merely snapping her fingers. She could get out of anything.

For now he'd put his focus on finding his wife. He'd go look in Armstrong's dress shop since that was one of the two places he'd taken her. From what he could see, she wasn't at the fountain. She wouldn't go somewhere she wasn't familiar with. She wasn't that stupid. He made a face. Not stupid, but she was that daring and adventurous. Admirable traits if they didn't worry him to death.

That woman! She's already more trouble than she's worth! It's going to be hell to find her….Wait, no it isn't.

If his foot bent and would reach, he would've kicked his own ass. He could just ask her where she was.

"Riza?"

When he got no response, he reached out with the messages in a further radius. He felt her annoyance then heard her speak….

-/-/-

Riza felt the vein in her forehead twitch as Rebecca and Audrain laughed at her.

"Oh my, you have such a wonderful sense of humor!" Audrain said.

"Yeah, you should be an actress!" Rebecca said. "Bonded with Mustang!"

"What makes you think I'm joking?" she asked. Their faces went blank. Audrain tried to speak, but her voice just came forth with strange gurgles and grunts.

"We're bonded, and I want to know if love is required to do that? From one or both of the people involved in the bond."

"Wh… You're blood bonded with Lord Mustang?"

Riza wanted to jar their heads. She just nodded. She'd already stated it as bluntly as she could. Did they need her to do it crudely and say, "Yeah we fucked, and bonded with each other"?

Audrain sat back in her seat and looked at her sister. "No wonder he lets her call him Roy."

"Yeah. It's it amazing. I wonder if he calls her Riza. "

"I don't know."

Riza tilted her head as she regarded the two sisters, as if doing so could make her understand what they were doing. I bet they wouldn't do this if Roy were sitting here.

"Yes, speaking of that, where are you!" Roy's voice said in her head.

Riza looked around, for a moment forgetting that they could talk mentally. "Hey! That wasn't a thought directed at you. And how are you hearing me long distance?"

"Long distance? What in the hell do you mean by long distance!"

"Calm down," she said as sedately as she could make her mental voice. "I'm just having tea with Audrain and Rebecca. I'm safe."

"If you aren't with me, then you aren't safe.

"Stop being so possessive. I doubt Rebecca and Audrain are going to kill me."

She looked at the two women who had stopped talking among themselves and were now staring at her. She offered a small smile, pointed to her head and mouthed, "Roy." Then they looked at her like she needed to be locked up.

"Roy can talk to me mentally," she said.

They both shifted. "That's got to be creepy," Audrain whispered.

"It's not so bad."

"Riza, pay attention when I'm talking to you!"

"It's rude for me to do that when I'm with people in person," she said, aloud and in her mind. "You want me to put you on loudspeaker so you can talk as well?"

"You are just so funny Riza. So fucking funny."

"I know."

"I'm coming to get you."

"Spend some time on your own a bit. I like being here."

"Riza, you'd better—"She cut him off and addressed the two sisters. "I'm sorry about that. It was creepy at first, but now it's more annoying than anything." She decided not to reveal she was just learning how to use this method herself.

"Riza!"

"What! I thought I cut you off."

He huffed. "Don't get cocky. You're going to need a lot more experience before you can come close to blocking me."

"Stop being so clingy! Why don't you find something to do rather than bother me?"

She heard him growl. "I've been asking myself that ever since you bombarded my life. Fine! Go get yourself killed, I don't give a shit!"

She felt guilty the moment he "left". She had no right to tell him he was clingy when he was just worried about her. She was the one giving him trouble. She'd give him time too cool off from his anger again, then she'd find him, apologize profusely, and make it up to him somehow. She had an idea of what he'd want for the making up part.

She looked at Rebecca and Audrain and felt the room get colder. They were tense and fidgeting. Rebecca let a nervous laugh leave her. "Would you like some better tea? We can go get some."

Riza shook her head. "No, this is fine. It's just tea."

"Lord Mustang probably wouldn't drink that tea," Audrain said.

"He probably wouldn't since he doesn't care for tea." Her lips quirked upward for just a moment before flattening. "Um… he can't taste it." Why did they suddenly go from friendly to nervous?

"He can't sense the taste?" Rebecca asked.

Riza shook her head.

"But um…" Audrain made eye contact with her briefly, "…he tastes your blood doesn't he?"

"Only once in a while." Riza wished her hair were longer so she could hide behind it.

They both shifted again. When a loud knock pounded through the tension in the room, Audrain stood, looking thankful for the temporary escape. "I'll get it." She nodded to Riza. "Excuse me for a second Ma'am." She got to her feet and walked to the door with a wider stride than Riza noticed she used before.

Rebecca looked down at the tray. "Oh! I should get us some desserts. I got some great cakes." She stood. "Excuse me a moment please."

Riza nodded and watched her leave, but not nearly in as big of a hurry as her sister. More like she forced herself to walk slowly, making it appear as if she had something shoved up her butt.

After taking one last sip of tea, she sat the cup on the table. Though it would be rude if she left without saying goodbye, the sisters would probably welcome it. Now that she'd revealed the bond, they didn't see her as the same person.

She went out of the room and retrieved her cloak. After putting it around her, she pulled up the hood and left the home.

"Okay! I brought some… Hey, where'd she go?" Rebecca said when she entered the room carrying a tray.

"Where is she?" Audrain said as she walked to stand beside her.

"I don't know. She was here when I left."

"You lost her!"

She pursed her lips and looked at her sister without turning her head. "You can't lose a person! They get lost!" She walked over and sat the tray on the table before falling back onto the settee. "I can't blame her for leaving. Our reaction wasn't very good."

"Bonded though." Audrain folded her arms and shook her head. "It's just… What was he thinking? The poor girl is stuck with him for the rest of her life. Even if I were to marry him, I had the option of getting away, a divorce. I couldn't imagine a bond." She shuddered.

"He's not exactly someone any woman would want to be with forever."

Audrain chuckled. "Well we know of one dumb one."

Rebecca looked at her and laughed. "Taianna isn't a woman, she's her parent's precious little puppet."

"Riza clearly isn't someone that's dumb. She wouldn't just leap into this without any thought."

"He didn't seem to treat her poorly."

Audrain sat down across from her sister. "It's an enigma. I can't help but be curious about it."

Rebecca's eyebrow arched and her lip moved up into a snarl-like position. "Are you saying you want to poke around and risk getting set on fire?"

"I don't think I'll stick around long enough to get caught. I just want to watch them together for a bit."

"You nosy bitch."

"You in too?"

"Of course."

"After that we can conveniently loose contact. After all, we've been thinking about moving away from the city because father and the woman are here. But first, we'll have to apologize to her. We were just so surprised to meet a bonded woman and respect her dedication."

Rebecca leaned forward and chuckled. "And it looks like we have the perfect excuse to make a call very soon." She held up a pair of gloves. "She forgot these and these types of gloves are really expensive."

Audrain stood. "And we can't have them stay here overnight."

"Of course not."

"Then let's go."

-/-/-

Riza made her way back down the street towards the area where Roy left her behind. Was she considered some kind of freak now to those women because she was bonded? She liked them and had been happy that she might have future friends—when her body got fully used to being a vampire. Unfortunately, she could ascertain that wouldn't be the case.

And the way they spoke of Roy was unsettling. Everyone seemed to think that he was some sort of cruel monster that would keep her chained up. He'd been gruff with her, moody, but it was nothing more than the way she acted at times.

She looked up and saw a man ahead. He leaned against one of the stone pillars that braced up the black iron fences. When she took a few more steps, she saw it was Roy. He had his hat pulled low and tilted over his eye, attempting to conceal the bandage. He was no longer wearing his sunglasses. She stopped when she arrived next to him. He turned to look at her but didn't say anything. She didn't feel any danger emitting from him so she moved closer. She reached up, inched his hat upward and brushed his lips with hers.

"I'm sorry for what I said."

He leaned forward just a fraction, his mouth expressionless, and his gaze weighing her down with his soundless interrogation. "You all right?" He asked the question as if he already knew the answer.

"Yes, what makes you—?"

"I don't mean injured. I feel something is wrong with you." His arm moved around her waist and pulled her a step closer.

His shirt buttons became the one of most fascinating things she'd ever seen. "It's nothing important."

"Did they say something to upset you?"

She shook her head. "No."

"Don't lie to me."

Her head felt like it weighed a hundred pounds as she raised it and looked at his face. "Why do some people have such a poor opinion of you?"

He chuckled but the flash of pain she felt counteracted any amused feelings possibly present in his head. "Because I'm an uncaring, dangerous bastard."

"Not to me."

"You're different."

"Why?"

She felt confusion in him, just a flash before he slammed it back behind a mental wall. "Maybe it's because you haven't always been a vampire. Maybe I'll act like a bastard to you after a few years."

She let herself grin for a second. She didn't know why, but she didn't think that would be the case at all. "They acted different towards me after they found out about our bond."

He nodded. "In my case, vampires are two-faced. Respectful to my face, back biting gossiping mongrels behind my back. The fact you bonded to me makes you gossip and back-stabbing worthy by association."

"I see. Well, it won't be anything new. At least I have someone to share the misery with now."

He laughed. "That you do." He grabbed the edge of her hood and moved the cloak further over her head as the wind whipped through the area, knocking his hat off. Instead of moving to pick it up, he kept firm hold of her hood, pulled her towards him, and kissed her for a few seconds. He pulled away picked up his hat, placed it back on his head, then took her hands. "Your gloves."

She nodded. "I must have forgotten them."

He removed his, took her hands, and slipped them on hers. "A lot of body heat escapes a Halfling's hands so you need to keep them covered at all times. Be sure to always keep track of your gloves or keep an extra pair."

"Okay."

He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. "Let's go home."

-/-/-

Large flags hung down from the ceiling like stalactites, the faded grey fabric blending right in with the other shade of grey that dominated the hall like a strict master. The air smelled of the musky incense they used to ward off the vampires. He could taste it on his tongue; it dried his throat. What little light filtering in through the sheer curtains on the stain glass windows had been pre-filtered through the hazy clouds in the sky. His movements shouted each time he stepped upon the stone, joining the occasional rumble of thunder that foretold of an oncoming storm.

He straightened his collar as he turned the corner and came upon two wooden, and deliberately distressed, doors. He knocked and waited for permission to enter. When he received it in the form of the familiar, hate inducing voice, he entered.

Sweat appeared on his skin immediately as he stepped into a room resembling a greenhouse or jungle rather than an office. A large window loomed opposite him. The curtains were open and let in a dull light, but were not the source of the orange glow and the heat. That could be attributed to the various sized candles situated in strategic locations throughout the room. Plants were everywhere, the green an odd site to see after being surrounded by grey. The smell of roses and lavender permeated the area, turning his stomach far more than the incense had.

"I'm surprised to see you so soon. Things not going well on the borders?" He turned to the right and saw High Priest Anthrope coming around a bush that looked like a cactus, but was much too soft to be such.

"No, things are going fine for the most part. I thought I would come to give you some updates."

"Tell the truth," he said and smiled. "You wanted to get out of that backwater disgust for a while." He walked up and stopped at his left. He patted Compel on the shoulder. "I can't blame you. I would not have assigned this mission to you if I thought you weren't the most trustworthy man for the job."

Compel had to push down a grin at his words. Trustworthy only long enough to attain what I want.

He watched as High Priest Anthrope walked over to the window and began watering the flower boxes on the sill. "The Hawkeye girl, the vampires got her."

He paused and turned halfway to look at Compel. "Hawkeye girl?"

"Sir, did you not get my letter bearing the message about Lord Hawkeye's daughter?"

Anthrope put down the watering can and went over to his desk. He sat down on the plush red chair and went through a pile of letters, the tops cut open too evenly to have been done by a letter opener. "No, there is nothing here addressed from you."

"Perhaps you lost it."

Anthrope furrowed his brow as if he was insulted or disturbed. "There is no way I would lose it. No way at all. It must have gotten lost on the way here. Yes, that must be it." He opened his right desk drawer and lifted out a bunch of letters, stacked from biggest to smallest envelope and coded by the color. He looked through them and shook his head. "No, there's nothing here either."

He put the stack of envelopes back in the drawer and shut it. He removed a folded handkerchief from his pocket, unfolded it, wiped off his hands of nonexistent dust, and refolded it into a small square before returning it to his pocket. "What is the issue with the Hawkeye girl?"

"One of our men found her in an old cabin in the woods, changing. Apparently, a vampire hunted her down and took her as we were attempting to drain her. We found her again but she got away. We now have the witch that helped her."

"Then burn her."

"That is a problem High One. Lord Hawkeye has the witch and seemingly keeps stalling her burning."

"Is he letting her roam freely?"

"No, of course not but…"

"Then leave him be until he is finished. When you said she got away, I assume you mean daughter has been taken yes?"

"And changed fully, Sir. She is one of the lost ones."

Anthrope went back to tending to his plants. "Lord Hawkeye has a right to find her and end her himself if he wishes. For now, let him do what he wants with the witch. If he lets her go, you can track her to other witches perhaps."

Compel resisted the urge to argue. Right now, he wasn't in any position to challenge Anthrope's orders. Someday he would have that height, that closeness to god that Anthrope held.

"Has the poison been effective yet?" Anthrope asked, catching him off guard.

"We don't know yet, Sir. It has just been released across the borders."

Anthrope moved over to a small sink and refilled his watering can. "How many tries does this make?" He touched a small vine coming down from a hanging pot, a grin coming to his lips. Compel wasn't sure if he was talking to him or the plant. He answered to play it safe.

"Three, Sir. I'm getting quite frustrated. If you wish, I can reassign those at the borders. "

"No no, that won't be necessary."

"I wish I could be as patient as you are Holy One." For the first time, Compel really meant his compliment to Anthrope. He never was a patient man but truly believed it was a virtue.

Anthrope nodded. "When god wills it, we'll see them fall to their knees and beg to be blessed."