AN: Merry Christmas everyone! Sorry for the delay. Please bear in mind that updates will be rather slow since I now have a full time job and other responsibilities. Other than that, hope everyone has a safe holiday!
*Chapter 10: Complications*
The next week of school brought about something that Rem dreaded more than having to begin studying for the midterm finals.
Snow.
Not much of it mind you, but enough to create icicles and thin lines of frost along the roads and sidewalks. Even after bundling up, Rem's teeth still chattered enough that they could possibly break.
Because of the upcoming midterm exams, Rem was more focused on them than worrying about the Warners coming to pester her. To be perfectly honest, the siblings hadn't really bothered her nearly as much in the last few days - possibly for the same reasons - but that didn't stop them from covertly watching her like a hawk. If they weren't the strangest things she noticed, Rem certainly caught wind of a juvenile rooster spying on her every now and then, mostly from within a limo. At first, Rem had the urge to flip off the vehicle but couldn't because Alice was tagging along every time she came upon it. Then one afternoon, the teen witnessed the Warners stepping into it before it drove off.
...Figures.
XXXXXX
Pinky and the Brain returned to the Rag and Tag Comedy Club after a thrilling hunt through the town's allies. Upon immediately setting back to work on the computers, a jingle alerted him to incoming video call from Castle Warner.
"Yes?" Brain answered.
"Brain? Oh thank gudness ve finally got through!" Scratchansniff cried with relief on the other end.
"Yeah, we've been trying to get ahold of you for hours!" complained Plotz.
"Is there a problem, gentlemen?" Brain asked tactfully, arching a brow.
"You bet your rodent butt there's a problem!" Plotz continued. "Those Dunlikus slimeballs have paid us a visit."
That certainly got the albino mouse's full attention.
"Indeed? Regarding what?" he inquired.
"It's those darn Missing posters!" Plotz ranted. "They got their dirty mitts on them, and now they're poking around in our business!"
"How so?"
"They claim to want to 'assist us', but it's all a load of rubbish!"
"I could not agree more, but what did you tell them?"
"Ve managed to hold zem off for a day, und simply told zem zat ve are eendeed lookeeng for our dear sister, but notheeng more." Scratchansniff explained.
"I see."
"But we had better do something quick, before they decide to really start interfering!" Plotz bellowed.
"Yes, of course." Brain said before turning to his left. "Pinky!"
"Right here, Brain!" the taller mouse declared dutifully. "NARF."
"Give everyone a call. We may have another problem on our hands."
XXXXXX
Back in his elaborate offices, sat Mr. Boardman. Although he was initially unworried about the vampire coven leaving him somewhat empty handed after their first meeting, it had been several days since then. Not once did he receive any correspondence from the Warners. They weren't returning the few phone calls he had actually made to them. Even though he now had a humungous pile of new information just waiting to be looked at. So there he sat moping around in his private office, twiddling around with his fancy pen set. A few minutes later, his secretary poked his head into his boss' office.
"Erm, Mr. Boardman? You have some...visitors?"
"Are they the Warners?" Boardman asked, sounding hopeful.
"Well, no."
"Then send them away. I'm not seeing any other visitors today."
"But sir, they seem to know the Warners. And they said they could make it worth your while."
That indeed was enough to at least pique some interest in the financier.
"...Well, alright. Show them in."
Stephen then motioned for the unseen entourage to enter. To Boardman's astonishment, they all floated somewhat gracefully into the room, very much like the Warners.
That and they were all sporting toothy and fanged grins.
Their leader, mostly concealed in a regal purple cloak, took off his hat and made a little bow to Boardman.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Boardman." he began. "My name is Umlatt, and these are a couple of my associates, Howard and Jack." He motioned towards the other two that accompanied who simply nodded their heads in acknowledgement. "I understand you recently had a meeting with some dear neighbors of ours. The Warners perhaps?"
If he had any doubt now, it was disintegrated the moment that Boardman realized that the men before him were vampires themselves. Quickly, he rose from his chair and became as hospitable as possible.
"Of course!" Boardman exclaimed excitedly. "Please, won't you sit down?"
"Don't mind if we do." Jack replied a bit rudely.
The three vampires took to the comfortable chairs in front of Boardman's desk.
"It's also my understanding that you wish to learn more about us." Umlatt purred as soon as he made himself comfortable. "Is that not so?"
Boardman couldn't help but feel another thrill of excitement course through his nerves. Yet, he quickly collected himself to show a sense of professionalism.
"Well, ahem, yes." he babbled. "Only at your discretion, of course."
"Please, it is not a crime to be curious about the unknown." Umlatt replied sympathetically and waving him off. "You'd have much less stake burnings that way."
Boardman let out a nervous laugh at the joke while Umlatt and his entourage emitted hearty chuckles.
"If that's all the case then, why don't you share the information you have given to the Warners." Umlatt continued. "In return, I'll exchange something that's quite worth its weight in gold and certainly much more than what the Warners offered you. Jack, if you'll be so kind?"
Then the vampire with the pointed angular sunglasses got up from his chair and leaned over to pick something up. A few seconds later, he dropped it with a thud onto Boardman's desk.
It was a medium sized leather case that appeared to be at least perhaps five hundred years old. Next, Jack opened the case, revealing seven volumes of books, also leather bound with foot long chains attached to them. Boardman's face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning.
"Of course, of course!" he drawled, smirking from ear to ear. "And to be perfectly honest with you, I can exchange more than what I did with the Warners."
"Indeed?" Umlatt replied, arching a brow in slight amusement.
"Oh yes. Much more..."
XXXXXX
The final bell rang on the afternoon of Wednesday, allowing Rem and Alice to be excused from class. They both noticed that none of the Warners were present all day long. It was the third time in two weeks.
"Gee, I hope none of them are sick." Alice fretted.
"With their high-end energy, I highly doubt it." Rem said.
The girls continued down the halls when a nun came rushing by.
"Oh, Miss Westwood." she rasped urgently. "Sister Margaret needs to see you in her office right now."
Both Rem and Alice blinked.
"Am I in trouble?" Alice sputtered.
"No, no, not at all." the nun insisted. "But it is important."
Alice nodded and leaned towards Rem.
"Just meet me in the courtyard." Alice whispered. "Hopefully it won't be long."
"Alright." Rem whispered, watching her friend scamper off behind the nun.
xxxxxx
It had been a whole hour and a half. Although Rem was content to wait a little longer, it was starting to get dark and colder. Finally, she went back indoors and decided to wait by Sister Margaret's office. On her way over, one of the other students hanging around in the halls called over to her.
"Hey, Roth! What's with Westwood? Did she get suspended or something?"
Rem stared at him a bit nonplussed.
"What are you talking about?" she asked.
"Saw her runnin' outta Sister M's office bawling like a baby and into the bathroom."
Instantly and without another thought, Rem darted to the nearest women's restroom from Sister Margaret's office. There she found the blonde teen standing in front of a sink and mirror with a flushed face and dabbing her eyes with scraps of toilet paper.
"Alice?" Rem cried. "Are you okay?!"
"Oh! Rem!" Alice responded with a start, her baby blue eyes had reddened from crying.
"What the heck happened?! Was Sister Kate lying about you being in trouble?"
"Well...no..."
"...They didn't pull your article from the school paper, did they?"
To be frank, Rem was nearly furious to see her friend this way. But Alice shook her head and her eyes filled with tears again.
"N-no...it's just..my mom had called...she..didn't want me to know while I was still in class..." she stammered, her lower lip pouting.
"...Know about what?" Rem replied a bit more softly.
"...D-dad was taking a bullet train...to a conference...you know, for work...it derailed...he's...still in surgery..."
Rem's features instantly turned gentle and pulled Alice into a hug before she dissolved into tears. Although she barely remembered them, Rem knew what it was like being faced with the prospect of losing a parent. Or both.
"C'mon, let's go back to the dorm." Rem murmured comfortingly. "I'll make some hot chocolate."
XXXXXX
Alice didn't show up for classes the next day. Both Rem and Sister Margaret insisted that it might do her some good to take a day to relieve some of the stress and worry over her father. Alice waited by her phone nearly all day in case her mother called again. When she did, she provided Alice with a bit of reprieve; her father was out of surgery and in stable condition but remained in the ICU. Her mother encouraged her to return to school and that she would give updates when she was able.
Rem was keen to avoid the daily news, whether via cable TV or paper. The bullet train derailing of course made some headlines, which made it harder for poor Alice to concentrate on her schoolwork. Rem gave her enough space in spite of still being pleasant about things. Of course, Rem couldn't avoid three certain people who were bound to pop back up on the radar. Or more realistically, popping up in the lunchroom.
"Boy, those midterm exams must be getting you and your lovely dorm mate down, huh?" Yakko quirked.
"It's a bit more complicated than that, Warner..." Rem hissed in annoyance before dropping her attitude and changing the subject. "You're pretty chipper about missing a few days."
"Oh sure." Wakko replied, amused along with his siblings at Rem's sarcasm.
"The housewarming party was a blast." Dot added.
"How do you keep up with your schoolwork?" Rem said, rolling her eyes.
"Would'ja like to join in on a study slumber party?" Yakko asked bouncing his brows up and down.
"I think I'll pass..."
Then suddenly, a thought appeared in Rem's head without her fully thinking about it.
"...So what's Anvilania like these days?" she blurted out.
The siblings stared at her intently, daring to believe that she finally remembered.
"Why, Rem." Yakko purred. "I don't recall we ever told ya that we came from Anvilania."
Rem froze once she realized what came out of her mouth. How on earth she managed to pull that from thin air? Especially the name of a country that she never of before...at least, she was sure that she never heard of it.
"...sorry...made a mistake." she muttered as she abruptly left the cafeteria in a hurry.
The Warners on the other hand were grinning rather triumphantly before Yakko lowered his hands behind his back for his brother and sister to give a high five.
XXXXXX
That evening when the trio returned to the Rag and Tag Comedy Club, they were in for a rather unpleasant surprise. Pinky, at the Brain's behest, had called the rest of the coven back to the theater as soon as possible for an emergency meeting. It must have been serious if they were being abruptly taken off trailing Rem.
"Alright shorty, let's have it." Slappy wheezed when everyone was assembled.
"I have received word from our caretakers that our old rivals, the Dunlikus clan, have been sticking their noses where they don't belong." Brain began gravely.
Upon hearing the name of their rival clan, the halls filled with hisses and growls of anger.
"Oh no, we're not gonna have another war, are we Brain?" Pinky fretted. "ZORT."
"We ain't got time for their schtick!" Slappy ranted, sounding thoroughly annoyed. "You can tell those yutzes to stick it and vamoose!"
"Yeah, we don't need to deal with a bunch of sore losers." Skippy added.
"While I wholeheartedly agree with those sediments..." Brain tactfully continued. "Something about Scratchansniff and Plotz' video call seemed odd."
"Like stranger than fiction odd, or Twilight Zone odd?" Rita asked pointedly.
"Either or; in the call, von Scratchansniff expressed that the Dunlikus were extending an offer of assistance with locating our sister."
That one really ground Yakko, Wakko, and Dot's gears, especially when one considers that the whole reason they were on this expedition to begin with was because of their petty nonsense. And knowing the Dunlikus' rather ruthless reputation as well as also talking into consideration that Rem was now mortal, there was absolutely no way they'd let either of them get near her.
"Oh yeah?" Yakko growled with a matter-of-fact tone. "Tell 'em they can go take a hike. We can get by just fine without 'em."
"And I very much don't wish to lay my eyes upon their terrible fashion sense." Dot added with her nose turned up.
"...No one said you had to." Rita commented with an arched brow.
"Don't mean to interrupt..." Bobby politely interjected. "...but I get the feelin' that these mooks are gonna come and do more sniffin' around. Should we speed this up?"
This suggestion put everyone in an uncomfortable position. Yes, von Scratchansniff advised to allow nature to take its course, but now they had a problem. Of course, the Dunlikus coven were poking around and up to no good, but so far, they hadn't seen any hard proof that either one of them were actually physically in the states. Not yet anyway. The worse they could conceivably do, is try and take over their castle; and in that event, Plotz and Scratchansniff could just as easily hold their own against them.
"Eeeeeeehhhhhh, let's keep our eyes peeled." the elder Warner finally said. "Unless they actually show their ugly mugs around here, we've got bigger fish to fry...and catch Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein on the tube."
"How's that goin' for ya, by the way?" Rita inquired.
"We're making progress." Wakko declared proudly.
"She managed to remember Anvilania without us telling her about it." Dot added cheerfully.
"That's good news, duh-definitely good news." Runt heartily commented.
XXXXXX
That weekend, Rem was left to spend it alone in the dorm after Alice departed Friday evening to Sacramento to be with her father in the hospital. Rem didn't mind being by herself, but it was a rather strange and alien feeling not having Alice around for two whole days.
With the rain and snow letting up, and the sun actually managing to peek out from the thick clouds, Rem decided to go out for a walk. It was more of a stress walk to relieve her mind of the impending midterms and Alice's personal problems, otherwise Rem would've stayed in the warm indoors. To her surprise, the weather was actually a bit pleasant which brought out more people to come and enjoy it too. Rem, ever the introvert, was keen to avoid the small crowds...and people in general. Naturally, her hopes of being left alone were suddenly dashed when a familiar voice broke the silence.
"Where are you off to, this evenin'?"
Rem nearly jumped five feet when she found Yakko having popped up beside her seemingly from out of nowhere.
"Are you trying to give me a freaking coronary, Warner?!" she cried.
"Why? You want one?" Yakko quirked teasingly.
Greatly resisting the strong urge to punch him right square in the jaw, Rem stormed past him.
...stupid, smart ass.
Yakko simply followed after her in quite a cheerful manner.
"Did I somehow strike a nerve?" he asked smoothly.
"Go away." Rem growled. "Ever since you and your...brood mates came, I've had nothing, but weird shit happen. Particularly at night."
"Why don't you tell ol' Yakko about it? Without the naughty language."
"I'd rather not...ow!"
As Rem fumbled into her bag for her bag pass, fully intending to get as far away from the elder Warner as possible, she gave herself a rather sharp papercut. Yakko's nose instantly flared the moment that the scent of her blood was carried into the air. Rem poked her finger into her mouth, slightly sucking the wound clean and wincing from the stinging pain when she noticed that Yakko had suddenly gone rigid.
"What's your problem?" she ranted, seeing him purse his lips together.
Yakko kept his mouth tightly closed to avoid having his fangs pop out and to keep himself from fully breathing in Rem's scent. But it was too late, the vampiric blood lust was live and loaded to something fierce. Rem cocked her head a little in confusion about this...'odd' behavior.
"...you sure you're okay?" she tentatively asked with slight genuine concern in her voice. "No offense, but you look like you're about to throw up."
Suddenly, Yakko zipped right up to the teen, seemingly fine, and intertwined his arm with her own.
"Who me? Nah!" he replied jovially. "Like I said, don't worry your little head about it."
"Um, okay..." Rem replied, still unsure of what to make of this situation.
Something about Yakko's demeanor put Rem off a bit. As if there was something ominous going on, and that her conscience was trying to warn her about it
"Why don't you tell me a little more about your Romania dreamin'?" Yakko continued in a smooth voice as they started to walk down the street.
(Now Playing: Slow, Love, Slow by Nightwish)
"There's nothing else for me to say." Rem replied in slight protest.
"Well you haven't really said anything about what happens apart from making Picassos outta them."
Rem rolled her eyes at the elder Warner's remark.
"Why the hell are you so interested?" she asked in a rant.
"Just curious."
"Has anyone ever told you that curiosity killed the cat?"
"Lot's of time...from a family member."
Rem scowled when Yakko winked at her. There was a silence before she finally started speaking again.
"...They actually started when I turned eleven." she murmured. "And they're always the same. I'm at this weird looking medieval - at least it looked medieval - castle, which for some reason, hand a lousy water tower, and a whole bunch of people fighting each other with huge ass artillery."
"Sounds like something out of Schwarzenegger flick; either that or Ridley Scott ." Yakko commented.
"What's the motive?"
Rem became silent as she went deep into thought.
Why were they fighting? It couldn't have been or just shits and giggles. The teen probed her brain, biting her lip as she did so.
"...Something about a puppy?" she said in a low voice, and more to herself than her companion. Then she winced when her head gave a sharp jab of pain. "Oww."
"You're gettin' warm, but eeeehhhhhhhh, I'd say take it one baby step at a time." Yakko told her kindly.
There it was again; the suspicion that he seemed to know more than what he was letting on.
"Seriously though, what's up with the whole puppy thing?" Rem pressed. "Did someone like try to pull a DeVille?"
"We're not a mouse factory, Rem." Yakko said disdainfully.
For some reason, Rem had the urge to stick her tongue out at him. Just when Yakko was distracted enough to have the blood lust wind down, it kicked back into high gear when the wind picked up and her scent got carried into the atmosphere again.
They then came upon a local park which had somewhat large promenade which was partly bordered with trees wrapped with twinkling popcorn lights. At the center of the promenade was an awning illuminated by Chinese lanterns. A small number of people had gathered around to enjoy a local band performing soft jazzy music. Rem nearly bolted when she caught sight of the gathering.
"Where ya rushin' off to now?" Yakko yammered, while trying not to lose his self-control.
"I. Don't. Like. Crowds." Rem hissed through her teeth.
"Aw, come on, it's not that bad. Care to dance?"
He got ahold of the teen's wrist, twirled her around, and dipped her in a very tango fashion. Rem was not pleased.
"...and I don't dance, Warner." she flatly told him.
"Now ya can't tell me you've never danced before, Miss Roth." Yakko replied in a slight admonishing tone. "You had to at least danced once."
Rem groaned, especially when the air turned more frigid as the sun disappear from the horizon. At this point, the teen's blood practically calling out to the elder Warner like a Greek siren or water in a desert oasis. Rem then noticed a charge in his demeanor and body language.
"...Uh, you sure there's nothing going on with you?" she asked again.
"Nope, nothin'." Yakko assured her. "Nothin' at all."
His voice suddenly - but slightly - changed, causing Rem to blink confusedly and lose her grip on reality for a moment.
...wait, what were we talking about?
Although almost every part of her being was practically screaming at her that something was terribly wrong about this, another part of her seemed to be hopelessly caught in a strange reverie. Instead of assertively putting her foot down and really insist that she could not and would not dance, especially in front of a bunch of other people, she allowed Yakko to slightly tighten his hold on her and twirl her around again.
"...um, I'm pretty sure I just told you that I don't dance." Rem muttered, barely retaining what little remained of her free will.
"Really?" Yakko leered. "You're doin' pretty good all things considered."
As he continuously twirled her around, and the slow jazz music melted into her ears, Rem's mind got lost in some rather...bizarre thoughts. They were akin to the nightmares she had, except this was somewhat pleasant. If the nightmares could be bad, unhappy memories, this was almost an intensely happy and joyful one. Like reuniting with a long-lost friend...and lover. It was weird to say the least. Nevertheless, it certainly made Rem want for nothing for just one fleeting moment and a welcome notion to escape from all her troubles. Yakko on the other hand, was now in full vampire mode with Rem's unique scent pushing all the right buttons. After twirling her just once more, he dipped her low towards the ground and bared his fangs towards the teen's neck.
That's when his conscience knocked back some sense into him.
...You dummy! You can't bite her now!
The pang from his inner voice of reason completely turned the 'off button' on his vampire mode in a rather timely manner. First of all, he needed her to fully regain all her memories and reawaken. Second, as much as the idea kinda irked him, Yakko had to consider the possibly that maybe Rem might want to stay mortal for a little while before turning.
Eventually anyway.
(End Music)
Yakko lifted the dazed teen, now blinking in confusion, back onto her feet. She almost literally couldn't recall the last minute that ticked by.
...what were we doing just now?
"Hey, Rem...you're not a bad dancer." Yakko nervously sputtered after audibly clearing his throat.
Rem, now back in full control of her mental capacities, narrowed her eyes, nearly glaring daggers at him.
"...whatever." she muttered. "Jerkass."
"You're welcome." Yakko replied cheerfully, although now he was making a better effort in holding his breath.
"I gotta get back to my dorm." Rem huffed after noting how dark it got. "Before the nuns start freaking out."
"Allow me to help you with that."
Before Rem could react, she suddenly felt herself scooped off the ground. She was not pleased.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" she ranted, outraged.
"You think I'd let ya go back home all by yourself?" Yakko replied suavely and bouncing his brows up and down.
"I can handle myself, thank you very much."
"As far as you know."
Before Rem could protest further, she suddenly felt herself clinging to him for dear life as he sped at ludicrous-speed levels down the road. Rem barely had time to breathe or blink before they finally came to the boarding school's front steps.
"Aaaaand here's your stop, Miss Roth." Yakko quirked.
The teen nearly fell to her knees when he set her down. Her pulse was going so fast that for a moment, she thought she was going to have a heart attack.
...Jesus Christ!
"...Thuh-thanks.." Rem rasped aloud.
"Don't mention it." Yakko told her with a grin. "Nighty, night!"
"...night."
She turned to face him, only to find the toon boy gone again.