I am sorry this took so long. Life hit me hard as I worked on this and I just lost track of how long I worked on it. Without wasting your time, Here is chapter 25. The seriousness of the plot is going to start taking over.
After staying cooped up with Lucian in the house for the better part of two weeks, Roxas and Sora decided to take a chance and get some air. Both choosing to go to the woods in the back to go for a walk. Lucian is held by Roxas as the two leave the house and walk down the porch steps. The setting sun lining the neighborhood with an orange and red glow. They turn their backs to the sun and turn left at the end of Sora's fence. Heading straight into the woods, both aware of the two vampires following behind. If being followed meant hearing Demyx grab two tree branches and start singly speak that he was a tree and then not.
Attempted Kidnapping
Chapter 25
A glance back from the two as the trees began to thicken show Demyx standing at full height among the trees in a bright blue vest and jeans, a white shirt with what appeared to be glow in the dark green dye on the tip of his hair. Looked like a human blue light bulb following them with a very distracted bookworm on a table reading following him. Sora and Roxas exchange glances and return to their walk. Letting Demyx do whatever it is he was doing. The two keep walking with Lucian now being held by Sora. The wolf happily cooed at his boy and gently bounced him in his arms. The two year old responded with giggles.
"He keeps aging every 7 days. At this rate, we are going to have a 5 year old asking us questions." Roxas comments. "What will we do if he asks who his mother is?"
"Tell him the truth. Kairi is the one who gave birth to him." Sora held Lucian close. "I am not going to lie to him Roxas. He deserves to know who helped bring him into this world. Even if his dad is…" The brunet stops there.
"I'm a tree! Now I'm not a tree!" They heard.
"You aren't a monster and he is terrible at hiding." Comments the blond, staring straight at Demyx for a moment then back at Sora. "He knows we can see him right?"
"I mean...you did say he wasn't the brightest bulb among many of the vampires." Sora shrugs.
Roxas looks away, "I mean he isn't but you think he would attempt to hide, better."
"I'm a tree. Now I'm not a tree!" Demyx sings, passing them by. "I'm a tree~"
"I also knew him to be the...weirder one among them all."
Sora glances at Demyx, "He acts like a child."
"He is a child." Roxas grumbles, crossing his arms.
The brunet leans closer to Roxas, smirking as he says: "is someone getting annoyed by the company following us?"
"Please, annoyed isn't the term I'd use. I can handle a minor annoyance like that. What I can't handle is someone blatantly "sneaking" about but not actually sneaking. At least try." Roxas gestured towards Demyx. "I mean..I can see you Demyx."
"No you can't! I'm a tree!" The vampire child held two leafy twigs up to cover his face and only his face.
Roxas just held his head, "He failed his stealth check Sora."
Sora burst laughing, "He rolled a critical one." It makes Roxas burst laughing as well. "And failed his disguise check."
The blond covered his stomach with one hand. Using the other to cover his mouth. Both let the fit of laughter end. Still grinning as they look at Demyx.
"Now I'm not a tree. I'm a tree, now I'm not a tree!" Demyx goes on, crouched now with twigs in his hands still. "I'm a tree~!"
"Demyx, go home. You aren't as sneaky as you think you are."
The vampire child whines, "Yes I am."
Zexion's sigh got their attention, "Yes darling, you are so sneaky that I can't see the difference between you and the bark upon the trees around us." the sarcastic yet gentle tone says.
Demyx gasps happily and hugs Zexion back, "See! Zexion can't see that I am hugging him!" Demyx nuzzles his face against the bookworm.
"Oh no, a tree is snuggling me. Whatever will I do? How will I tell Demyx that I have snuggled with another." The vampire sighs.
With a gasp, Demyx 'revealed' himself; "Zex, it's me. I'm snuggling you."
Zexion let a fake gasp out and let Demyx snuggle him then let go. The vampire then went back to "hiding" between branches again. They keep walking but soon enough Zexion actually manages to pull Demyx away from...pretending to be a two vampires walking finally out of sight and out of earshot. Leaving the two alone with Lucian babbling at them happily. The young couple looked at one another then laughed at what just happened. Lucian laughs too and runs around them.
"Alright...well...that, was a thing." Roxas sighs, watching Lucian run in a circle around them. "Lucian liked the show at least."
"Lucian seems to like everything." Sora comments as his son stops behind him and peeks out.
"Tree!"
"Oh god," Roxas groans.
"I am gonna kill Demyx." Sora mutters, taking a deep breath. "Yes, there are many trees around us huh bud?"
"Maybe we should take him to that island. The one with the fruit trees." Roxas says. "I kinda wanna go back again anyways. That fruit was great."
"We may end up going back there if things keep progressing the way they are." The brunet picks Lucian up. "The pack had to move because of the hunters and vampires. Now..we have been found again. May have to move back there."
"I would say move across the ocean but...something tells me you guys don't travel far from home." The blond crossed his arms. "Bad experience or just scared?"
The brunet let Lucian nibble on his shirt, "More...due to the whole full moon thing we don't want to risk the idea that maybe one of us will kill any innocent humans."
With a scowl, Roxas released the breath he held in; "I personally wouldn't care if you all crossed over and killed the entire cult of vampires but hey...this...works."
It was silent for a moment. Lucian's babbles being the only sound among the gentle breeze around them. It was nice to enjoy silence. After the wind died down and Lucian focused on nibbling. Roxas spoke up again.
"Hey, when are we gonna play DnD again anyways? Is Ventus always this busy?" The blond asks.
Sora started their walk up again, "he is an accountant. He makes good money with the bank and is a personal accountant for hire on the side. He is rich and yes, is always busy." He replies. "But when we do meet up; always worth the wait."
"Does he know..about the pack?" The blond asks him. "Or does he think everyone is human?"
"Human. He doesn't know Riku is a hunter. Doesn't know what I am. Or that vampires exist. I'd rather keep it that way. Though...if things go as they do now, he may see me on a full moon."
"That won't happen and I won't let them put you or Lucian in chains again. That is barbaric." Roxas states, hands now in his pockets. "And the fact that your mother does that still? It isn't right. I know she is the alpha but…we know the island works. You can't swim as a wolf."
"But she is the alpha. Unless she steps down and puts me in charge, we can't do anything. What she says goes. If we go behind her back, then she has reason to not just disown us but promptly kill us to preserve the pack." Sora stops Roxas from continuing. "Yes it isn't treason but going behind her back will end poorly for all three of us. Lucian will be killed. I will be killed. So will you. So don't do anything behind her back until she gives the all clear."
It got quiet again but Sora knew Roxas was doing his best to keep his mind in line. He knew that the island idea did work thanks to being told what happened. He knew they couldn't swim when they transformed. The downside was that he was just in training to be the alpha and Roxas in training to be the healer. Until they were given the power that came with those roles, neither could do anything. The younger generation, like the older generation would bear the scars that the silver would create until a fresh mind took over. In all honesty though, they didn't have those things back on wolf island. They were put in when they were forced to move. The blond was correct. It was barbaric but effective. He looks down at Lucian and sighs. His son would have those marks soon.
"Are we really going to let him have those marks?" Roxas's voice asks, making him look towards the blond. "It isn't fair to him."
"Even so...I can't do anything. My mother is the alpha. I am beneath her." Sora held Lucian close. "I can only hope...that he is more human than what I am as he grows but something tells me I am going to be wrong."
"What if...I lie and say...we took a trip to the island and once again lost track of time?" The blond offers. "Then we can use that as a means to avoid that."
"My mother won't fall for it twice. Once, she can see but she knows me. I am careful. I don't go too far from my house during full moons." The wolf says. "If I suddenly start forgetting to mark that day, she'll suspect something."
"Fuck! This isn't...it isn't right! Lucian is...he isn't even..dammit!"
"This really does sound interesting." A voice had both stop and look around. "My sweet little brother...a father...to a monster."
Sora growls and looks around.
"Oh...it has teeth. My master is correct about you. You'll make a fine pet once she breaks that spirit of yours. At least...the spirit of you playing human."
Roxas took a glance towards Sora and noticed the golden eyes and long nails out. Even his teeth were bared out towards the woods with Lucian in his arms.
"Should you be holding him?" The blond whispers.
"Unless you plan to take him, I am not setting my son down," came Sora's reply, "when a corpse is so near."
"You wound me. A corpse? I am quite alive. You just can't stand that I can live forever." Steps follow that and soon Roxas is staring at Vanitas. "My master has allowed this meeting of my brother and this is how he greets me."
"Who the fuck are you?" Sora growls.
"That's Vanitas." Roxas tells him, grabbing his arm gently. "Your older brother." He gets a look from Sora but he is focused on the once broken man before them. "...she broke your mind. You acted like some...doll of hers. A plaything to her. How.."
"My master saw it fit to allow me the right to handle this properly. Oh wait, I forgot. You wouldn't understand the love my master has to offer. You are nothing but a stink bug." Van smirks, as if he had something above Roxas. "The love she shows me is nothing compared to your loveless life, you peasant."
"If being a broken, mindless puppet is love then I'll pass. I'd rather have a mind of my own than be a puppet." The blond spat back. "What do you want and why are you here?"
"I'll be taking that child for my master as well as my brother into her custody. By her right, they are hers."
Sora growls at his words.
"You are nothing but a dog that should have been hers from the start. If I can't take you in then your son will come with me." Vanitas says.
It was as if the world suddenly slowed down for them. Van was inches from Sora and managed to grab Lucian and push Sora away. All in a span of a few seconds too. Whatever Larxene did to Vanitas to allow such a moment of freedom gave Roxas a sudden realization. If this Vanitas under orders to take either Sora and Lucian or just Lucian. Then what would he be like if he was told to kill someone. It would only take a few seconds for him to do so. The brunet landed and easily flipped onto all fours, leaving dug in lines within the soil. Golden eyes locked onto a smirking Vanitas and crying, wiggling Lucian.
"What will you ever do now, baby brother? I have your son. You dare to defy me? I am above you in this line of succession, you mongrel." The dark haired man scoffs.
Roxas took the chance to slam his elbow into Van's side. Shocking the vampire enough to loosen his grip on Lucian. The blond took that chance and caught the toddler. Backing away quickly then turning to run towards Sora. The moment didn't last as long as he wanted. Vanitas recovered quickly and the only thing that saved Lucian from being taken again was Roxas turning away. He got grabbed instead.
"HAND THAT THING OVER!" Vanitas's growl went straight into Roxas's ear.
"Fuck off!" The blond slams his elbow again but this time, straight into Vanitas's nose.
It stuns him more and he gets dropped. Letting him take off towards then stop behind Sora. The brunet for some reason had stayed silent and still. Only for Roxas to notice that...his current boyfriend wasn't mentally there. What stood before him and a vampire puppet...was an animal. Sora was on all fours, glowing golden eyes and his nails were digging into the earth now.
"This is what you expect to stop me?! A mongrel!" growls Van as he fixed his nose. "My mistress will not be denied her right. Either let me take the child or I'll kill you and take both!"
"Like hell," Roxas spat at the ground to insult the dark haired brunet. "You can go kiss her ass for all I care."
The blond could only be surprised at the sudden laugh he received.
"You think that my brother is even here!? He is nothing but a foul abomination. He was born to be a pet. His son was born to be a pet and soon, my mistress will have an army under her control. You will bo-" This time Vanitas is taken by surprise by Sora.
The wolf lunged at him! Snarling as he dug one set of claws into the skin enough to have blood spurt out. A blood curdling scream rang off seconds after the vampire was pinned into the ground. Wiggling as his only free hand held the armed claw barely out of his face. Roxas didn't move until Vanitas started to speak but only at Sora now.
"You...monster! You don't turn on the hand…" He struggled to push the claw away from his face again. "That feeds you!"
All Sora did was snarl as he fought back against the hand that held him by the wrist. Even when Van lifted part of his other arm and punctured Sora's. He didn't even show pain.
"You can't even control a wolf you...stupid…" Vanitas spat in Sora's face but only got a snarl back. "Blond stink bug!"
"SORA!" Roxas yells, silencing everything.
Vanitas went quiet and the blond expected a blood thirsty beast to turn his fierce glare towards him. Instead, the brunet slowly turned to face him. Normal blue eyes, no claws...just a normal, clueless but distraught expression over what he just woke too. Slowly Sora got off Van and backed away. Clearly doing his best to ignore the blood on his hand as he walked towards Roxas again. The blond mentally sighed in relief.
"Just ignore him. I got Lucian. Let's just go back home." He says, hold a hand out.
"You won't leave!" Vanitas yells, struggling to get back up.
Sora went to turn but Roxas grabbed his hand to keep his attention on him.
"What did I say? Just ignore him. Lucian is here...he isn't with Van. He is with us. Let's go." The blond says. "We can go back home and just have some fun there. We can fix today."
"...I...hurt him…" Sora slowly spoke, looking at him.
All Roxas could do was let a sigh out, "yeah but our...your son was in danger. I would have lost it too." He got closer to the brunet, still holding his hand. "Just ignore him. Let him crawl back to his mistress as a sign that she isn't getting Lucian or you."
The blond took a moment to check the wound on Sora's arm.
"I have to patch you up anyways." He gently pulls on his arm. "Come on."
"You'll pay!" Van yells at them.
Roxas grumbles but has Sora hold Lucian.
"My mistress will break you!"
"Shut up and go to Hell!" Roxas screams back.
They left the woods and went back home. Seeing Aurora and Aerith waiting for them. Sora looked like a dog that was ready for a beating. Yet the two did nothing nor look disappointed. All the two did was move and gesture inside. Roxas let Sora go first and followed. Making sure they weren't followed by Vanitas. When Aeirth and Aurora were back inside, he took a deep breath and turned to face them.
"Can I explain what happened before you reprimand us?" He asks.
Aurora looked confused, "Why would I reprimand you? I heard a scream and thought my son was taken from me. I am aware of the vampires being here. Zexion has made it clear who it is as well." She crossed her arms as a distant look filled her expression. "It's my son...and the vampiress that stole him from me."
She glanced towards Sora.
"Baby, you didn't hurt anyone." She spoke, getting his attention. "It's okay."
Walking to his side, Aurora crouched down and put a hand on his leg.
"You did nothing wrong." She gently spoke.
The brunet looked towards her, "...I hurt my brother...I drew blood…"
"Baby, he has been dead for so long. What you saw wasn't Vanitas anymore." She whispers. "He has been broken down and built back up as nothing more than a vampire's puppet. His soul...mind...heart, it's not there anymore. The body looks like him but…" Aurora's voice gave away that she was on the verge of tears. "...my oldest boy died years ago. He isn't coming back."
"I will pass the word out Aurora," Aerith spoke up.
The alpha stood and nodded, wiping her eyes and heavily breathing out; "Please do. Also, spread word that we will be moving soon." She turns to face Aerith. "Our home...it's been compromised now. If the vampiress that took my son is here then we must leave. Spread the word but do so in the privacy of each house."
Aurora walks over to Aerith.
"Send word to Vincent. He is to guard Sora, Roxas and Lucian only from this point on. He can't be far from them. They are the future of the pack."
Sora looks towards her, confused.
"Roxas, Sora…"
"Yes ma'am," The two reply.
She looks at both, "From now on. Walk during the day. No night walks. Until we are all back on Wolf Island, we will no longer leave our homes at night."
"But the club…" Roxas spoke up.
"We will take the hit," Aurora spoke, silencing him instantly. "It is no longer safe for us here. The Secret Place will return to where it originally came from as will we."
Aerith left and shut the door behind her. Leaving the tense room and situation. Only for the blond to dare speak up, again.
"...something weird happened when Sora lost it on Vanitas and I have to ask about it." He says and sees Aurora waiting for him to continue. "I yelled his name out and honestly didn't think much since...he was acting on instinct but this time. It snapped him out of it."
Sora's mother looks at her son then at Roxas.
"It's true. I woke up over Vanitas." The brunet states. "I just...I lost it mom and yet, he brought me out of it."
"I think it has something to do with this...paopu fruit that we had. We each had one and took a bite from the other's and as we left. I saw some faint glow from them too." Roxas crossed his arms. "But...I also don't know if there is even magic in fruit. It honestly sounds silly."
"The paopu fruit we grow on that island. It has a myth behind it." Aurora says, walking to the living room window. "They say if you share one with the one you love then you are bound by fate to meet again but if you share it with your soulmate. A connection is formed. One that goes beyond the realms of understanding." She spoke, looking out the window. "Your souls...your hearts, your minds are able to have a connection."
Aurora turns to face the pair.
"If you brought Sora back from a state where not even me, his own mother can. Then I have nothing to disprove this theory." She crossed her arms. "You two have been connected on a level by that fruit. It's the only reason you can do that so easily without being slaughtered by my son."
"What? Why?" The blond looks at her, confused and frustrated. "What is so special aside from the vampire and werewolf blood in him."
"Because both races are so different, they clash often. Even in hybrids. The instincts of both are one but their traits don't always mesh well. I have seen Sora, in his blind rage tear trees down. Even after we managed to pin him, he has managed to scratch, claw and his like a true animal." Aurora tells him. "He didn't wake, even when we called his name. Yet you call out his and it works? What other proof is there?"
The room remains quiet.
"Exactly. Stay close to him. Stay close to Lucian." She orders.
"Yes ma'am." Sora and Roxas nod.