Disclaimer: I do not own Noblesse or it's characters; that right belongs to Son Jeho and Lee Kwangsu..
The silence in the wake of the videos was heavy. Only to be broken by a slight vibration followed by the bootup Jingle for a cellphone, which had everyone look confused before a familiar laugh filled the room. The laugh belonged to a person who was not even there at the current moment — drawing all their attention to the cluttered and abandoned coffee table where a screen was lit up with the image of the person's whose laughter was being heard.
Several pairs of eyes met, and a silent conversation ensued before Frankenstein strode over to the phone. He looked down at the small, rubber encased device, watching as the ringtone stopped and then repeated, causing him to frown a bit. He knew that they were related, had it from Fa-Ming's lips. So, of course, it'd make sense that they'd have each other's cell numbers. But he knew that the phone had been turned off.
Reaching down and picking it up, he swiped his finger across the screen, unlocking and answering at once. Lifting it to his ear, he heard a sigh of relaxation come from the other end. Deciding that now was opportune, Frankenstein turned towards the others and smiled.
"Hello! Delphi?" came Ik-Han's voice, a bit worried. "I was worried. Are you alright? Do I need to have mother meet you? How was the meeting with your acquaintance?"
Closing his eyes, Frankenstein replied, "Good evening, Ik-Han."
The long pause from the boy had him tensing.
"Chairman?" was the only thing that came over the line.
"Yes," he replied, again waiting.
"Uh...why are you on Fa-Ming's phone? Are you the acquaintance that she was to meet? I-is she... a-alright?" came his questions, worry lacing them heavily.
"I am. Fa-Ming is currently sleeping. She passed out," he replied, keeping his answers as short as possible.
"Oh...I am not surprised at hearing she is asleep, Chairman. She has severe insomnia. And if I have to guess by the way she was acting last night, it has been at least ten or more days since she last slept," Ik-Han said, pausing again. "But I was not aware that you... knew my cousin, personally."
He smiled at that. "I do. I met Fa-Ming when she was much younger, Ik-Han. Though I did not know you were related until she told me yesterday before going to meet you guys at Lunch," he said. "Is there anything I need to know about her to help ensure that she has a peaceful rest?"
Again there was a pause on the other end of the line. While waiting, Frankenstein pulled the cell from his ear and pressed the hands-free button, allowing the others to hear what was also said. It was evident by the soft sounds of fabric rustling that Ik-Han was thinking about how to answer his question.
"If it is you Chairman and the others at the house, then I feel comfortable giving you information on my cousin," Ik-Han said slowly. "She has Fibromyalgia so that physical contact can be excruciating for Fa-Ming. On top of that, she just hates having her personal space invaded, to begin with. So, if you try to touch her, please, wrap her in a blanket. Fa-Ming's insomnia is due to something traumatic during her childhood, leaving her with severe nightmares, from what I have learned over the years. But she won't talk about it."
Again Ik-Han went quiet on the other end of the line. Letting his blue eyes meet his master's, a small amused smile curling his lips, Frankenstein realized that Delphi was rather smart about what she chose to let others believe. Fibromyalgia was an excellent choice for not being touched though he knew after Rael touching her the reason for it, on top of the nightmares. A resourceful and inventive girl.
"Chairman? I am... glad that you were her acquaintance and are allowing her to stay the night there. I feared for her," Ik-Han said, his voice soft.
This drew his attention back to the cell phone he still held. He was glancing down at it, feeling a small wave of consternation at what was just said.
"Oh, Why?" He asked.
Ik-Han was silent for a few seconds more before replying, "Because I thought she would try to visit her father, my Uncle. That would be exceptionally toxic for her. He doesn't want anything to do with her. My Aunt, his wife, is confused by this. And the only thing I know is that the man hates Fa-Ming's mom, thus her. It eats away at her, as he is the only living parent she has. And she is stubborn enough to keep trying to fix that bridge."
He was nodding his head at no one in particular as he glanced down at the tablet he held in his other hand. Seeing Delphi shifting and moving on the bed. Her face scrunched up in discomfort as he recalled something he once heard her grandmother and mother talking about, concerning her father. Necessity and duty. Good reasons for someone to hate another person, and the result of a liaison.
This information was more than helpful, giving him the ability to plan because he didn't want harm to come to the girl before his master made his decisions.
"I understand. How long does Fa-Ming usually sleep after crashing from staying awake, Ik-Han?" he asked, turning it back to other concerns.
"Oh, a day, maybe two," he supplied. "Will... will you keep me informed? My mother worries about Fa-Ming. Sees her as a daughter she never had."
"Of course, Ik-Han," Frankenstein said, his eyes meeting red ones that were assessing.
A small nod, had him knowing it was time to end the call. Giving a slight nod back in response as Ik-Han yawned on the other end.
"I think it is time for you to go to bed. You still have classes tomorrow, Ik-Han," he said. Earning a grunt from the boy as the phone line went dead.
The room was once more silent as he pressed the button on the side of the phone to turn it off. He thought about all that they had learned, from Delphi, the videos, and now Ik-Han — wondering just how this would make things change. But one thing that bothered him significantly was the mention of an organization that was looking for Delphi, for her unique power.
He couldn't believe what he had just seen, even heard. It was improbable. And the only person who could further elaborate, well, they were currently unconscious in the lab below the house. The girl was a strange one. And didn't seem to like him that much. Not that it was much of an issue.
And the fact that she was important to one of Raziel's human friends meant that she had to be protected too. And the look on Frankenstein's face at that moment said that he was not about to let her leave this house, if ever. Which could cause a plethora of issues, if not outright problems? Her uncanny actions to him yesterday are still fresh in his mind. The way she had dodged not only him but Takeo as well. Like she'd known beforehand their actions. Then again, with new knowledge, it was probably an accurate assessment.
Glancing over to Raizel, he saw the Noblesse looking very lost in thought. Though his face was the same impassive mask as always. The slight tension in his body was the giveaway. He noted earlier that he had tensed up a lot as she was explaining the steps to how she could save him — not entirely understanding anything other than the sharing of blood in a contract because it had been what he had done to awaken the sleeping power of the werewolf inside himself.
Rael had taken her news the hardest. But Seira, Regis, and Karias had not seemed to be pleased by it either. The way she had turned a dark red under her natural olive skin tone was telling that she was not happy and very embarrassed by it. Her scent only made it more pronounced to his enhanced nose. Raizel had just looked at her, face shut down completely. Looking cold and distant. Yet not quite to the level, it did when he was angry.
This was going to be a huge mess. M-21 could just see it now, with the Union becoming more active, which brought him to the organization that was after her. Could it also be the Union? Her power would be useful, even if it were limited.
Tao was unsure of what to think or do. He knew that Ik-Han was good at hacking, hell it was how they had met. But the worry for the woman in the boy's voice was apparent. And the fact that he was worried she'd seek her father out to try and build a bridge where it sounded as if nothing could be made. Yeah, he had no recollection of anything from his past. Just like M-21 and Takeo. Meaning she understood being alone, having next to no one.
It endeared her to him. And he needed to get more information from her. This whole God or Gods are real thing was intriguing. The proof was in the videos, unedited, untouched videos. Which meant that the organization that had been mentioned in the last one, well he had a theory, but would say nothing, letting the others draw their conclusion until he could talk to Fa-Ming, no Delphi.
Smiling at the questions he had, Tao turned back to the screen that was still blank from the end of the last video. It was time to do some more research into the supernatural.
His thoughts were his own. He did not need what was being offered. But he knew that it would make the others happy if he took them, or a part of them. This did not amuse the girl, either. Indicated by how she had reacted. And for him to do such a thing meant that there'd be no other. Her information was very accurate. But having seen what happened when Rael had grasped her in his rage, left him in shock.
He had only left the mansion and Lukedonia once in his youth. Coming across humans who were being suppressed by stronger beings. He had felt a kinship bond with them. He was going so far as to annihilate the ones who were causing the problems. It had, of course, cost him his life force. But he had learned a lot from that small little journey to the outer world. It had been before Frankenstein and Muzaka had come into his life.
But now he had to think about this whole situation very carefully. Because this was a human life, though touched with power that was both natural and unnatural, and related to one of the human children he cherished. Just telling her was not an option. She needed him — the help he would provide by sealing her powers. But the boost to his own would only help shorten his life unless he took the second and third steps.
Closing his eyes, he felt exhausted. Wanting sleep, Raizel turned without a word and made his way towards the stairs and the room he had been given. It was a silent cue for the others to follow suit.
TBC!
