Hello, anyone who finds their way here. I hope you're enjoying the story! If you are, a review is appreciated but not necessary. I'm mostly amusing myself here, and placating Choir!Genesis, who flings my books wildly around if I don't supply him with M-rated fic regularly.

No kiddies allowed, Squeenix owns most of these people, the angst continues and likely will forever. We all good? Let's mosey.

WITH THE DEAD
Chapter 22

Zack knew he was dreaming, but it was more than a dream. Like sepia-toned photographs indicate the distant or near past, there was a quality to what he was seeing that spoke of long, long ago. The colors were not different, it wasn't that, but the people he saw were dressed unlike their modern counterparts; their clothing was well-made, but clearly all made by hand, consisting of animal skins or fabrics that were easy to weave. Some of the garments were decorated with elaborate designs or beadwork, and some of the people wore metal jewelry, like the first figure Zack really focused on. The boy started, realizing the necklace this young man was wearing was the one he himself had around his neck, the one Wyrm had given him.

This is definitely the past…

Zack touched the locket at the same time the stranger did, the latter bowing his head toward a small fire burning in the center of a circle drawn in the dirt. Zack couldn't understand the words being spoken, but the young man (who Zack noticed was very handsome) seemed to be in a trance of some kind, swaying slightly on his feet. The low flames began to burn blue, then bright white, like writhing ghosts of themselves. A surge of energy seemed to burst out of the fire into the starry sky and cool night air, and the shaman slumped, but was quickly supported by another man, whose face Zack could not see.

"She will recover," the young man said, sounding weary but pleased.

"Thank you, Lord Galen," exclaimed voices of people beyond Zack's view.

Galen? From the story?

"My love, you must rest now," the faceless man murmured, intimately stroking the shaman's hair and back.

"I will, if you are with me."

"You know I always will be."

What a nice dream, little one. But I'm afraid I must wake you now.

zackzackzack

Zack sat up in his bed, in his familiar dark room, and if his heart still beat it would've been pounding. Instinctively, he mentally reached for Angeal and Genesis, but the tendrils of his thoughts instead found an also-familiar, but feared voice and indulgent chuckle.

Your papas are asleep, little one, and will remain so for now, thanks to a little nudge from me. Isn't it nice to be connected to me again instead? You truly belong with me, you know.

W-What do you want? Zack mentally kicked himself, even his telepathic voice sounded terrified and frail.

I think you know. But I know also you need some coaxing to return to my side, so I shall provide that. Go to the window.

Zack winced a bit as he pulled back the heavy blinds; it was late afternoon but not yet sunset, and his eyes were still sensitive. He actually blinked several times at the object left on the bottom pane of the open window, disbelieving his eyes, desperately not wanting to believe them. There, bound neatly with a bow-tied ribbon, was a short cutting of sleek silver hair. He knew without touching it, would've known without the floral scent it carried, who it belonged to. Only one person on Gaia had this exact hair. The boy's stomach twisted into a knot, and his eyes immediately flooded with tears.

Oh, my little one, Dagan cooed. I'll be along in just a moment to comfort you. And you will come with me now, won't you?

Seph…please, please, leave Sephiroth alone, I'll do anything you want –

I know you'll be good for me. The rest, we can talk about later. Come outside.

Zack, trying to stop crying, quickly pulled his pajamas back on, deftly eased himself out of the second-floor window, and landed on the grass. Before he could wince or shield his eyes from the dwindling sun, Dagan's tall figure was blocking the light from him, Dagan smiling with seeming affection and drawing the boy close to him. Desperate to spare Sephiroth as much as he could, Zack cooperated, even hugged back, which prompted the vampire lord to hum happily and nuzzle his face against the boy's hair.

My precious one, how I've missed you. You'd like to go see your friend, wouldn't you?

Please. Please let me see him. Zack hoped Dagan wasn't reading his thoughts too deeply, as he was vowing to himself that he'd do anything, trade anything to save Sephiroth. The thought of his shy, secretly-sweet former general in the hands of Dagan and Geraint made the boy almost sick. Please…

Of course, my dear. Go to sleep now, I'll wake you when we get there.

Zack wanted to protest, but it was clearly not a suggestion. He was hoisted up by Dagan, held in the parental way he only really liked Angeal doing, and felt tiredness fall over him like a heavy blanket. He closed his eyes against Dagan's chest, over the place where supposedly a heart had once beat.

zackzackzack

"I'm checking the kitchen again. That's a normal place to leave a note, right? Like, on the refrigerator?"

Angeal answered with a calm he was forcing himself to project, lest Genesis, who was clearly mentally teetering on a cliff, completely lose it and become a wailing mess. They both knew that that happening would be no help at finding Zack, and Genesis was fighting hard, keeping himself busy in order to stave that breakdown off.

"Good idea," was what the younger said, even though they'd practically torn the house apart looking for something they both knew, in their shattered hearts, they would not find.

Angeal had contacted all the vampires he was friendly with, starting with Merrick, to put out the word that Zack was missing, and all of them had immediately promised to search in their respective areas for the boy. He also notified the Council, who said the head Enforcer would be on this case personally. Neither sire knew or knew of any of the Enforcers by name, but Draven's serious and resolute tone clearly implied that this was being taken seriously and given the highest priority.

As Angeal stood in the living room trying to think of what else he could do – join the search for a nonexistent note, try to reach Zack mentally and get nothing in response again – Genesis came out of the kitchen, said "No note" with an expression and voice vacant and flat, then immediately burst into loud, painful-sounding sobs. Angeal hardly noticed the distance he had to travel to pull his lover into his arms.

"Babe, it's gonna be okay, we'll find him."

"He has him, we both know it, we're just not saying it, that monster h-has my baby…"

Angeal's embrace would've hurt a normal human, it was so tight, but Genesis huddled into it gratefully, believing at the moment that without it he'd be falling into a million pieces. For his part, Angeal's arms and hands moved over the redhead almost roughly, almost frantically, not to hurt but to be sure at least Genesis was still here with him, could be touched and cared for and comforted, all while doing these things in turn comforted Angeal. When the younger's tears were felt on his neck, Genesis, though still crying, squeezed Angeal back.

"I know you're right, 'Gealy. We'll get him back. But how?"

The lovers were too distraught to think what happened just then was so convenient, it could've been right out of a play, even theatrical Genesis. The never-used, old-fashioned doorbell rang, hard, just once. Genesis ran the short way to the front door, Angeal right behind him. Neither expected it to be Zack, Zack wouldn't ring the doorbell of his own house, but they hoped it would be good news of some kind, and if it was instead danger, Angeal wouldn't let Genesis face it alone.

The door was thrown open without the residents' usual caution, and there in the evening dim, porch light glinting off of a crooked pair of bifocals, stood a man shorter than both of them. Well, not precisely a man in the human sense, it was a vampire, but he possessed none of the gothic or romantic elegance most in the community carried, and was instead dressed casually in an old-looking brown suit and a lab coat that also looked like it had gotten a lot of use. The stranger's brown hair was messier even than the night wind could've been responsible for, and the face was not ugly, not handsome, just plain.

Also unusual for their kind, this one had not been transformed shortly before or after becoming an adult, but in middle age. He was not young, but would never be old.

"Genesis and Angeal," the man said before either could get a word out. His voice sounded like he didn't often use it. "I'm sorry we haven't met before, at a happier time."

"Who are you?" Genesis said sharply, a far cry from the gracious host he usually was. "Do you know where Zack is?"

"The name of mine you might know is Malfidus."

Genesis swallowed back what might have been a burst of hysterical laughter. Zack had built up this figure in his mind as a giant intellectually and physically, would he be disappointed at this rather sad, hunched creature?

"Please come in." When the guest obeyed, Angeal shut the door. "You're that bastard Geraint's friend. Have you come to taunt us, or try to tell us we'll never see Zack again?"

The scientist squinted for a moment at the venom in his words, then sighed. "He was my patron, yes, but he'll not be again in the short time he has left to live. For years, I happily failed at making the sedative he requested of me, and in doing so could keep putting off his terrible plan. But finally I succeeded, my fool assistant in excitement told Geraint, and when I refused to give it to him, he overpowered me and stole it. In penance for my failures, I wish to help you, and to keep my promise."

"Your promise?" Angeal echoed, a bit calmer now.

"To my old friend, Gast Faremis." Malfidus smiled weakly as the pair were visibly startled. "We were friends from his childhood. Our interests and my vampirism spread our paths far apart, but we kept in touch, and when he fled from ShinRa, he knew he likely didn't have much time left, while I have more than any man needs or deserves. He knew from my warnings that many of our kind wanted and would want Sephiroth, and made me promise I would never let him be transformed."

"Thank you," Genesis said softly, his eyes shining wetly.

Looking sad, the scientist shook his head. "Don't thank me, at least not yet. Using the latest technology, some that surpasses even ShinRa's, I've been able to keep an eye on him, to an extent. About 12 hours ago, two Turks assigned to guard him radioed their superior that the general was leaving ShinRa grounds in a very uncharacteristic hurry, and would not tell them why or where to. Less than two hours later, the Turks' lifeless bodies were discovered, and Sephiroth reported missing."

Genesis swayed on his feet. Angeal quickly moved to hold him up, and felt the redhead trembling with rage. There was only time now for the most rapid mental exchange between them about this terrifying development.

Both my babies, now –

We'll find them, Gen, and kill the ones who took them, I promise you…

We will, even if I have to destroy the whole planet to do it.

"I believe I know which of Geraint's hiding places they are using," Malfidus said. "I'd be glad to take you there."

The couple asked for only a moment to grab their swords, and bid the scientist lead the way.

agzagzagz

Zack awoke with his eyes still closed, the room's soft light that reached his eyelids partially blocked by the body that was cradling him. Relief washed over him, it must have been a bad dream, because he was being held to a flat breast and drinking familiar-tasting blood, while its source was infusing him with calm and love.

I hope I didn't scream or anything. If I did, I would've scared Gen.

No need to worry about your papas right now, little one. You are where you belong.

Just as rapidly as the relief had, panic and horror struck every nerve in Zack's body. Not a dream, it hadn't been a dream, and this wasn't Genesis but Dagan. The boy reflexively swallowed the blood still in his mouth as he pulled away, giving only a millisecond's thought to wishing he had spit it out instead, and struggled as too-strong arms contained him.

"Well, it was nice to watch while it lasted," Geraint laughed. He was standing right in front of them, blocking most of Zack's view, and briefly stroked Zack's cheek before the boy turned away. "Maybe once the baby gets used to be being with us, he'll let me feed him that way too."

"No! Let go of me!"

"Sssh." Dagan didn't seem to mind Zack's struggling and patiently wrapped him in a hold that locked his arms to his sides. "Relax, little one. Remember, you agreed to come with me."

Zack in an instant went still. "Sephiroth. Where is he? Can I see him, please?"

With a smug chuckle, Geraint stepped back. Zack barely noticed the room, which was an ornate bedroom dominated by black and silver, the main features being the couch Dagan was holding him on and the big canopied bed about 15 feet away. Laying serenely on the silk coverlet was none other than the Silver SOLDIER himself, fully dressed except for his boots, which had been placed neatly on the floor. Zack had never seen Sephiroth asleep, so he had no way to judge, but to his horrified mind, his old friend looked unnaturally still.

"SEPHIROTH!"

To be continued.
Yes, cliffhanger, had to to get this chapter finally up! : )