Chapter 45: Claude and... Zero

by lightpathetic

ZERO flinched and screamed as scalding hot coffee was thrown into his face. He opened his eyes and blinked while trying to move and attack the bastard. Zero soon found that he couldn't do much of either as one eye was swollen shut and the other was sticky and almost blinded by blood. He was hanging from a frame by his wrists and his feet were shackled to the floor. He was immobilised. And if that wasn't bad enough, he realized that he was sealed as well, the coffee's insistent pain a grim indicator of this fact.

"Wake up sleepy head," cooed a familiar voice tauntingly. Zero gritted his teeth to stop them from shattering. The coffee was evaporating off his skin and he was naked in the cold room. His limbs were already numb which was why, he supposed, he didn't feel the results of the beating quite so much.

"Kita... You are the last person... I thought I would see. Didn't your career end in disgrace?"

"Thanks to you."

Zero was aware of someone approaching...

"AAAAHHHHH!!!!" Zero cried out and began to struggle anew as a punch landed on his nose. It was already broken and the pain shot through his body like a sword.

"I owe you so much." Kita spoke, through Zero agonised gasping, "I wish I could truly express my feelings, but there is a bonus if you are captured alive... regardless of the condition..."

"Where... am I?"

Kita smiled, considering the request. He decided there was no harm in saying.

"In a secure facility near where you were captured. This is one of the cells where they store the truly dangerous criminal. Charms shackles; steel plated walls and solid steel door. Still I want you to think about escaping. Hope is beautiful when it is crushed..."

"Why don't you hand me over?! What are you waiting for...?!" Zero yelled, trying to cover his fear. He didn't like this one bit. He was alone with a lunatic.

"All in good time." Kita again cooed in a false soothing voice, as his hand reached out to touch Zero menacingly, "The transport will be here shortly. We can't have a repeat of you first escape so everything is carefully planned, just for you. But before they arrive I want to work out a few of my frustrations. After all you are the attempted murderer of our king and you were responsible for my accelerated fall from grace. After so many years fighting to get ahead, you can imagine I am a little annoyed at you. Don't worry I won't kill you, but I will bring you very, very close to it."

"CLAUDE! Do you hear me?!" Seiren whispered frantically, pacing the storage closet like a caged animal. She did feel frustratingly impotent, but she couldn't leave. She had to distract Kaname. If Kaname found out about this...

"Yes, I hear you." Claude replied, getting out of his car and walking along the alley. He figured if he didn't answer the telephone she would just keep calling a work herself into a coma. Claude stopped and surveyed the lonely area with the high barbed fence. He was sure this was it. They would be carrying him out unconscious and badly beaten later in the day. Claude didn't need to "see" what was happening right now. "I am about to go in and get him. He is going to be okay. You just concentrate on your charge, Seiren."

"I don't know how you could have let this happen! I told you how important this is, yet you let him out of your sight! Claude, you should have told me if you weren't up to the task...!"

"Seiren, don't get hysterical. I made a mistake. We thought we were careful..."

"Well obviously you weren't!! How could you let him go into such a public place! With 'Secure One' feed cameras. Every law enforcement outfit saw him walk in there!!"

"Seiren I have to go. There will be time for recriminations later..."

"Don't fail me, Claude. I can't face letting Kaname down like this..."

"Seiren. Go keep an eye of Kuran." Claude offered, hoping to placate her, "I'll call you in five minutes."

Seiren hung up and leaned against a pile of boxes in the corner. She knew Kaname would be too distracted to bother with trying to eavesdrop. Still it would be very hard for him to pick out a muffled, whispered conversation and seeing as the building wasn't crumbling she had probably succeeded in her subterfuge...

Seiren tensed as her private phone rang. Relax, she thought, he probably wants her to fetch something. He shouldn't be finished for another hour.

"Kaname-sam...?"

"Seiren. I'm ready to leave. Have the car brought around."

"... Yes Kaname-sama."

Claude approached the facility coolly. There was no room right now in his mind for worry or blame. He kept his objective in mind focusing on the deceptively dimly lit steel door on the quite nondescript building. It could be a warehouse or a private members club or just another abandoned building, but Claude knew better. He knew that cameras would be watching his approach and he knew that guards would be sent to the door know in case there was an incident. Vampire facilities had to stay low key in order to remain a secret. But vampires could always find out where they were and getting in was easy. For a vampire...

Claude allowed his fangs to grow and his eyes glow with telling crimson. He also removed the charm he wore constantly from around his neck, pulling the band from his hair to let it fall untamed around his face. Claude nearly fell to his knees as the air itself seemed to pelt him with histories and futures. Distant and nearby persons' echoes flowed into mind causing bright flashes of information to spill into it. Claude groaned at the effort to concentrate on what was real, focusing on the small door ahead of him, forcing himself to block out the static around him. He had once gone mad with it all. He was so young then he barely remembered the ordeal but he did remember the day it ended. She was the only one that didn't just give up on him...

Dammit Claude, concentrate. You have to get inside.

Claude collected his wits as best he could and walked to the door. It would be best for all of them if this were over soon.

"SEIREN."

"Yes, Kaname-sama?"

"What's wrong?"

Seiren looked up in surprise at Kaname who was reading one of his interminable reports. He didn't even look up at her but was still scrolling, his eyes following the text. But Seiren wasn't fooled. That off-hand tone was Kaname's way of putting her at ease. He expected a satisfactory answer.

But why? She hadn't done anything to... Seiren could smack herself. That's it. She hadn't done anything. No updates on company and royal matters, no scolding, no suggestions on what he should do with the rest of his day. She hadn't even asked why the meeting ended so quickly. She never stepped out of line in public but when were alone, as they were in the back of the limousine she normally relaxed and became more familiar. But she had been so worried, her mind willing Claude to come through for her before Kaname checked the news. She could reassure him it was a hoax before he flew off the handle...

"Seiren?"

Damn! If he looks up from his report she was done for. He would know something was up and knowing him, he would automatically ask about Zero first and she couldn't lie to him. Trust was the foundation of their relationship. Seiren often felt she would die without it. But she would have to tell a half truth now. Her anger at Claude's carelessness intensified. Seiren swore she would definitely maim him when next they saw each other, but she had to admit he was by far the best person Zero could be with. She would just have to keep closer tabs on them. If, that is, Claude could remedy this. Otherwise...

"I'm sorry Kaname. I was thinking about your security arrangements for next week's visit to the Sudan. The civil war there has us in all sorts of bother, yet you insist..."

"Seiren, I have made up my mind," Kaname said, an affectionate half smile playing on his lips at what had become an almost daily protest from Seiren. She never gave up. She had probably resorted to sulking. "If you can't handle the security then say so. I will get someone who can..."

"There is no question of that, Kaname." Seiren answered almost testily. Her function was to protect Kaname. To have it delegated was unthinkable. "But so many Heads of States are backing out. No-one is really in charge there and after the French President's plane was shot down last week it is going to become an international conflict..."

"I'll look out for missiles, Seiren. Don't worry. I want to get these meetings over with. The sooner I get the representation sorted out..."

"The sooner Zero can come home."

"Yes."

Seiren was startled when Kaname raised his head to look at her and she forced herself to hold his hope-filled gaze. She could see in his eyes that Kaname was really suffering in all of this. He hated not knowing how Zero was, hated having him so inaccessible, hated having him be punished for his own mistakes. Seiren knew that Kaname had been taking Zero for granted but that was because he knew where he was, knew that Zero was always there waiting for him. His core, his anchor was only a phone call, a plane ride, a car trip away. Now there was this forced separation, having to hide their relationship after so long fighting for a right to exist, having Zero running for his life... Seiren knew those times she saw Kaname's hand shake while he looked away distractedly were when he was pining for Zero and her heart always ached that she couldn't protect him from that pain. Now she looked like she would fail him in the worst way. Seiren looked away uncomfortably. She could just kill herself for this situation.

"I understand, Kaname," Seiren almost croaked, "I won't complain anymore."

"Good. Stop sulking. I'm sure you will find a way to protect me. You always do."

"IS THIS him?"

"Yes, my lord. We have apprehended him at last."

"You have worked him over quite a bit. All this blood... Is he even conscious?"

"I am not sure. He did fall quiet after the last time he was bitten..."

"Bitten?"

"Well, yes. We had a bit of fun with him..."

"Oh yes. Well done. Will you excuse us? I want, uh, 'inspect' him in private."

"Of course, my lord um... What did you say your name was?"

"I didn't. Are you... demanding to know who I am?"

"Of course not!! No my lord!!" Kita replied quickly, sweat breaking out as he felt the oppressive aura intensify. He was doing very poorly to upset this pure-blood in the slightest way. The youth before him looked harmless but he knew that they all looked like that. Young, beautiful with cold, calculating eyes...

"Good," the taller vampire said, dismissing the other vampire with a toss of his long, curly, blonde hair, his clear sky-blue eyes already lighting on the rumpled form in the middle of the room, hanging from his torn wrists. He must be in so much pain... The youth turned away as if trying to collect himself. The urge to significantly worsen Zero's plight caught him by surprise. He had to finish this quickly before his instincts betrayed him.

"Don't make me repeat myself, Kita. I will let you know when I am finished."

"Yes..." Kita turned and exited closing the door. It was not like he could argue. He knew the creature could make him leave, could kill him, could do whatever it wanted. For the pure-blood to ask permission was unusual but very flattering. Kita felt sure it was out of respect for him, the detainer of the King's attempted murderer. His star was on the rise again. He would get his old job back. Hell, he would probably be promoted to the King's private detail. Kita practically skipped away from the cell. This was the best day of his life.

"ZERO. Zero!! Wake up!!"

Claude smacked Zero's face again. There was a pulse. A faint pulse, but a pulse none-the-less. If the kid would wake up, he could drink and they could get out of here. Well Claude had planned on Zero breaking out himself. He was still very protective of his cover for one. And two, he wanted the officials here to look so incompetent that they would keep the incident quiet, even swear it was a rumour. There was no way that anyone would come forward to Kaname Kuran and admit they let the fugitive escape from a maximum security facility. The convoy had saved their heads only because they were in transport and there was a "mix-up" with the chains. (Claude suspected Kaname was still recovering from the ordeal of losing his lover). But this time... even the highest nobles would call for their lives. Vampires were a... well... blood-thirsty bunch. If Claude broke him out then an external force would be blamed and it could become very much more public. The hunt would be on for Zero and an accomplice. Then Seiren would really kill him.

"Zero!"

Those bastards. They probably beat him almost to death. It was a good thing it was difficult to kill a vampire. Placing Zero carefully onto the ground, Claude pushed up his sleeves. He didn't want blood to get on his clothes anymore than necessary and certainly not his blood.

"Come on, Zero. I am sure this would work. No self respecting vampire's body passes up on fresh blood."

Claude cut himself on the wrist with one claw and pressed his hand to Zero's lips, the blood drizzling freely from his wound into Zero's mouth. His instincts will take over soon, Claude thought, hoped, as he watched his blood begin to pool inside Zero's mouth. Dammit, they had to...

Claude started as he saw movement. Yes! He leaned in looking at Zero lids wondering what gave him the idea. But saw nothing. Zero didn't even swallow the blood. It would soon spill over the side.

"Zero. You bloody pretend vampire. That's what I get for hoping an ex-human would behave normally. Now the scent of my blood will bring them..."

Claude pulled away suddenly as Zero's eyes opened, his breath caught in his throat. He got to his feet quickly backing away slowly. His instincts were going nuts. They were yelling get out of the room. But it couldn't be right, he had to be hallucinating.

"Zero?"

Zero sat up and brought his hand to his lips as he swallowed slowly, savouring each drop. Then he turned to Claude... Claude spun on his heel and ran for the door, but a hand reached for him and pelted him to the far corner of the room. Suddenly Zero was on top of him. His completely black eyes seemed to hypnotise, seemed to sap Claude of his strength.

"Your blood... is delicious. We need more. Much more..."

"Noooo!! Get away from me!! You are evil... evil...!!"

"Zero" laughed and plunged tearing at Claude's throat, drawing the rich elixir into its starved body. It had been so close to death, too close. But now everything will be as it should be. This body cannot be allowed to die.

to be continued

lightpathetic wrote this but these are not my characters – except Claude and Kita. They belong to VK.

*sigh* the next chapter will be longer...