Vacuous Heart of Blood

Author: MoonStarDutchess

Chapter 34: We're Off to See The King, the Fearful King of Xing.

Disclaimer: I don't own FMA. I do own my idea.

"Di...Did . . . you just see what I saw?" Audrain stammered, grabbing onto the iron gate to stabilize herself. "Roy Mustang was . . . he just . . . she. . . ." Audrain tried to force her mind to process what it just saw, but it was overloaded. Roy Mustang didn't let people touch him. If they did, he either stared at them until they were no longer touching him, or moved so they weren't in contact.

"I. . . I . . ." If Rebecca's jaw wasn't attached to her face it would've been on the sidewalk.

"Are we dreaming right now?"

Rebecca straightened and backhanded Audrain across the face, knocking her off her feet and onto her back. She sat up and yelled, "Why in the hell did you hit me like that?"

"Did it hurt?"

"Of course it did!"

"You felt pain so we aren't dreaming."

Audrain sent a malicious gaze at her sister. "You're supposed to pinch! Not backhand!"

"Same thing. That's more vampire standard though."

Audrain pushed herself to her feet. "Let's try and see if you're dreaming now. She punched at her; Rebecca dodged.

"Um... We should go catch up with Riza, remember your plan?" Rebecca said and dashed off.

"Get back here you hornfloozey!" Audrain yelled and chased her sister.

-/-/-

"Hey! Lady Mustang! Hey, you forgot your gloves," Riza heard as she and Roy walked home. Riza turned and saw Rebecca running toward her at high speed, waving her gloves in the air as if it they were the most urgent thing in the world.

"Why in the hell...?" Roy said as Rebecca sped up. When Audrain practically skidded around the corner, Roy lifted Riza in his arms and jumped upon a nearby wall, right before Rebecca slid through the area they were standing in.

"You vampires are insane," Riza said, eyes wide.

Roy chuckled. "Don't forget, you're one of us too."

Riza gave him a sideward glance but said nothing.

Rebecca came to a stop and twisted around to look at them. "Nice jump, Lord Mustang Sir."

Roy jumped down—Riza still in his arms— as Audrain, calmly, walked up to them. Other than her hair being in disarray, she looked as if she'd casually walked there. Audrain snatched the gloves from Rebecca and handed them to Riza. "You forgot them. They looked expensive and we know how your hands can get cold so easily. We thought it would be best to return them as soon as possible."

"Thank you." She took the gloves with her free hand. Roy sat her on her feet and her arm moved under his coat and around his waist.

"And, we wanted to apologize for our sudden awkwardness back at our home. You caught us by surprise but we shouldn't have acted like that," Rebecca said. She took out a small sachet and removed a card. "We'd like you to call on us for tea or even to go shopping when you're permitted to…when you… um."

"When she can go out on her own," Roy said.

Audrain and Rebecca smiled; Riza knew they were forced because she'd found the need to perfect her fake smile through the years.

"Yes. That's right," Audrain said and handed Riza her card as well.

When Riza took the card, she could feel Audrain's hands shaking. If she was so nervous around Roy then when did she get the time to be engaged to him? Like him or not, they'd had to have talked more than five minutes to decide it. She thought about Roy and Audrain's personalities. "No, five minutes is plenty enough," Riza muttered.

"Did you say something?" Roy asked.

Riza blinked, looked up at him, and shook her head. "No. I didn't say anything."

He looked at her with a skeptical eye before turning back to the other two women. "What are you two up to?"

"Up to?" Audrain's said with a level voice.

"You wouldn't go through all this trouble to return gloves unless you were up to something."

Rebecca shook her head. "We know that her hands get cold and they were expensive. We weren't doing anything else so we thought we'd return them." Her brows furrowed and she sighed. "We apologized too."

Roy still didn't look convinced. "We're going now. You two behave."

"See you some other time. Thank you for your cards," Riza said as Roy led her away.

-/-/-

"Even when you're at full strength Riza, be careful around those two. They're up to something,"

"I will," she spoke verbally.

"You aren't going to argue with me? About being paranoid?"

"I figure you wouldn't tell me to be careful without having a valid reason." While Audrain struck her as friendly, she clearly had ulterior motives. Riza could feel it in her gut.

"When are you going to teach me how to defend myself? Learn to use my senses a bit more."

Roy chuckled. "You're already learning the senses part just fine. You can read the thoughts I send, you knew when to leave their home, and even got possessive."

"When did I get possessive?"

"You're arm went around me and squeezed. It's still there." Riza started to move but Roy kept her at his side with his firm grip. "I didn't say I wanted you to move away."

Riza nodded and nestled closer. He was warm, safe, and she felt strange. A good strange. The kind of strange one felt when something was so wonderful that it couldn't possibly be them experiencing it. She shook the silly thoughts from her head. As they approached their residence, Riza marveled at how different it was from her old home. When she first arrived there, she hadn't had time to give the house a good look.

It was tan stone and raised three stories tall. There were windows every four feet or so on the bottom floor, the windows becoming less frequent with each ascending level. There were no flowers outside-Christmas's garden was at the back of the house and out of view-, any blooming trees, and the grass was cut to perfection with not one wildflower in its mist. It looked more like a prison or official building than a home; yet, in the short time she lived there, she felt warmer in it. There were strangers there other than Roy, but she felt more among family. It didn't make any sense at all. Was it because they were all vampires? Even with the small interaction she had with them, she could tell they were more loyal than humans were. Granted, there were exceptions, but it seemed less so in vampire realm.

"Vampires don't fight among themselves very much?" she asked.

"Depends on what you mean by that."

"Do your provinces, cities, and so on ever fight?"

"You mean like a civil war?"

"Yes."

Roy chuckled and she grew annoyed. She didn't think there was anything funny about the question she asked. She wanted to learn more about her new culture and race.

"It happened once. Long before my grandmother was born. When the current king took the throne, people weren't happy because they thought he was too foolish. They wanted his older brother to take it."

"Why didn't he?"

"He fell in love with a Lycanthrope. The current king wasn't about to let his brother give up on his love, so he claimed it. People revolted but it was quickly shot down when the older brother talked to the group."

"Kings can't marry who they want?"

Roy shook his head. "Vampires are liberal but not when it comes to their royal family. "The queen has to have vampire blood and be humanoid."

"But Lycanthropes can remain human can't they?" If Riza remembered correctly, they only turned with a full moon.

"Yes, they can change at will." He grinned. "They don't need a full moon."

"Did you hear my thoughts again?"

"No, I just took a guess. Yes, she could've remained humanoid but the problem is the blood."

"You can't turn a Lycanthrope?"

Roy made a face as if he tasted something sour and shook his head. He stuck out his tongue. "I can't imagine a vampire biting, much less turning one. Their blood taste like a wet dog smells. As for their bodies, well they can't change into vampires because of their animal blood. Humans and witches are fine, but when you get into the realm of Lycanthropes and other beast type creatures, things get muddled."

"Fascinating."

"We have plenty of books about it. You can read them. There's a huge library in the house." They walked through the gates and Riza greeted the guard there, catching him by surprise. He nodded to her before they walked further inside the place. "I'll have to do that."

"Have to do what?" Christmas stood on the top step as servants hauled bags out of the house and loaded them upon a carriage.

"Riza wants to read up on society."

"Oh, well the castle at the capital will be a perfect place for you to learn."

"What do you mean?" Riza looked at Roy questioningly and saw he was just as confused as she was. She wasn't ready to go to a large city, but it was appealing at the same time.

Roy shook his head. "You've got to be kidding me?"

Christmas walked down to them. "I was trying to be cheerful about it. Look at things positively and they become positive."

"I've been told to do that my entire life," Riza said, "and it hasn't worked once. Take things as they come and deal with it. Plan if you can, and live life until you die. Well in our case that last part doesn't apply."

Christmas chuckled first, but then her face and demeanor turned serious. "I am sorry for what was done to you in regards to the dresses and all. I acted most unladylike."

Riza blinked, of all things she'd expected from the woman, an apology wasn't one of them. "Are you saying that because you're really sorry or because you're afraid of your son?"

Christmas's face turned serious and Roy's eyes widened.

"Roy has a wonderful heart and anyone that's afraid he'll kill them for a minuscule reason needs their head examined. That's especially true of his own mother." Riza didn't know what brought forth those words but she knew they'd been bubbling under the surface since leaving Rebecca and Audrain's presence. She thought about her mother for a moment before realizing that the woman she had pictured in her mind wasn't her mother. It was an illusion of what she wished she had. Any woman who left their child, any parent that did so, wasn't worth the titles.

Her outburst didn't faze Christmas in the least. "A bit of both."

"You mentioned the capital," Roy said. "That's my guess for your apology. Why are we going there?"

Christmas cringed. "The king sent for us."

When Roy's face went starker than it already was, fear rushed through her. Roy went after her when the Patarin had her, lost his eye, and hadn't gone as pale as he was right now. "The . . . the . . . king?"

Crap, he's stuttering too? This wasn't good. Apparently, the king wasn't someone Roy wanted to be around, which meant he was a man she didn't desire meeting.

"Yes, he heard about your marriage."

"Who in the hell told him? Usually this type of news never gets to the king."

"You'll have to ask him," Christmas said. A servant walked next to her and handed her a cloak. "I had the servants pack things for you and the things you bought for Riza." She got into the carriage and Riza looked at Roy.

"Couldn't we get there faster on foot?"

"You want to go?"

"We don't have a choice. From the way you looked when your mother mentioned the king, you wouldn't turn down the invite."

Roy forced air out of his lungs in a loud sigh. "Yes, you're right." He took her hand and helped her into the carriage. After they were in, the door shut.

"You asked about going faster on foot," Roy said as soon as the carriage started on its way.

"Yes."

"That's the exact reason we're not going on foot. It's faster."

Christmas adjusted herself on the seat across from them and opened the curtains to let in some of the soft moonlight. "I just chalk it up to having all those bags we can't possibly carry."

Riza laughed. They would easily be able to carry two each and make it there in no time. No wonder Christmas stacked the top of the carriage with bag after bag.

"How long will it take to get there?"

"Two nights," Christmas said. "It would be shorter but we have to rest the horses of course."

"How about the sunlight? You two won't burn but I will."

"We sparkle instead, remember?"

Riza elbowed him but laughed. "You'd look like Armstrong if you did."

Roy shuddered.

"These curtains block out the rays. When sunrise gets here, we'll close them." Christmas looked at her son. "Sparkle?"

"A joke," he said.

"You? You made a joke?"

Roy nodded. "Yes, I have the capability."

Riza reminded herself to ask Roy more about his relationship with his mother. She found Roy's sense of humour to be abundant and amusing, if the woman didn't even know he had much of one, their relationship was probably as strained as the one she shared with Amelia.

She half listened to their talking as she directed her regard out the window and at the countryside, marveling at the blackish hills that still managed to spark green trees up from their seemingly inhospitable soil. The environment repeated for a few minutes before the carriage moved upward, treating her to a view of the city. There was nothing particularly extraordinary about the buildings themselves, but the city's walls were pearl white and appeared as lustrous as the moon beaming down on them. On the right side of the city, a dark forest stretched far across the expanse like an evergreen ocean.

She shivered as the night wind picked up and hit her face and her eyes grew heavy. Though she'd slept so much since her changing, it didn't seem to be enough. In essence, she was like a newborn baby, needing over 15 hours for her body to sufficiently rest. Factor in Roy's attentions, as welcome as they are, and she was a walking vampire of exhaustion.

"You all right?"

Riza looked at Christmas and nodded. "Just tired."

"Why don't you get some sleep? You won't miss anything. The scenery is the same for the next few hours."

She figured Roy would know the area fascinated her. He seemed to know a lot about her but she knew so little about him. He was like a mystery waiting for her to unravel and she found she was up to the challenge of seeing every one of his emotions. Except intense rage. She'd seen that with Synnith and the Patarin. "I think I will." Riza cuddled in the corner of the seat, pulled her cloak closer, and closed her eyes.

-/-/-

Roy watched as Riza quickly fell into sleep and felt the foreign feeling of guilt wash over him again. He'd been a bit too active with her lately and her body wasn't recuperating the way it should. He'd take it easy on her from now on, at least until she started being able to shut her breathing on and off.

He took off his long coat. He moved closer and eased her body so it rested against him. When she snuggled her head against his chest, he covered her with his coat and kissed the top of her head before he remembered his mother was right across from him.

"What is it?" Christmas asked.

"Huh?"

"What is it about her? She's beautiful yes but you've been propositioned by more attractive vampiresses. More experienced ones that you don't have to teach. Yet you turn all of them down, swear off marriage, but then so many years later show up injured at my doorstep bonded and enjoying it."

"I told you, our bonding was accidental and neither one of us enjoy the bond. Do you know what those things consist of?"

"Vaguely. I've never cared to find out."

"You don't want to. They're bothersome."

Christmas folded her arms across her large chest and gave him her knowing look. "Bonding can't happen unless there's something deeper between the two vampires. I know that much."

"Just what are you trying to imply?"

"I'm implying nothing. I'm asking straight. Do you lo-"

"Don't even utter the word," Roy said. "I'm fond of her; I like her spirit; she's interesting, intelligent, and not at all bad to look at." He looked down at her and moved a strand of hair away from her face. "She was a nice looking human, but as a vampire she's getting more beautiful as the days pass. Her personality is strengthening as well. I can see the growth, and it's been intriguing to watch."

"I suppose those things would be strong enough for a bonding. It would be a good idea to talk to another set of bonded vampires for reference."

He snorted. "I have a better chance of tracking down Dracula."

"The king would know of a few."

Roy slouched. "And here I forgot about having to meet with him. Don't you say a word about our bond."

She quirked an eyebrow. "You think he won't notice?"

Roy groaned and buried his face in Riza's hair.

"You'll have to tell him how you bonded too. So why don't you tell me first. It'll be good practice for telling the king."

He raised his head. It was characteristic of his mother to use this circumstance to know more about what caused her obstinate son to bond. He didn't see any harm in telling her as long as- When he felt a drop in temperature and Riza's shiver, he pulled the coat over her head so she'd stay warm. When he felt the discomfort in her body ease, he turned his focus back to the topic. "If I tell you, you have to swear on your life you won't breathe a word to anyone else. Including the king. If we choose to tell our circumstances, it will be up to Riza and me."

She raised her right hand and made an X across her heart with her other. "Cross my heart and I swear upon my garden."

"Okay, I can trust that more than you wishing on your life. I'll tell you."