ST: Chapter 3! Enjoy!
Duo: (looking worried) What that's it?
ST: Hey! Even I get short of time once in a while! So enjoy the reprieve!
G-Boys: (Start partying!)
ST: (Whispering) Acutely, I though I'd give them a break! But just wait till later! (Evil grin)
Seraphine sat in the car, her arms folded tightly across her chest ad Duo looked over at her one of his hands on the steering wheel, the other hanging outside of the car.
"It'll be good to see Quatre again." He said, trying to make some conversation.
"I didn't want others involved, Duo." Seraphine said her voice tight. :Hell, I didn't want anyone involved in the first place.: She thought.
He sighed, "Seraphine, we need help. Quatre is the only one I trust who has the resources to help us. Hell, you know he'd help you in an instant!"
"That's not the point!" Seraphine flared as she looked away, "I don't want him to know about me!" She said defeated. Duo looked over at her, and waited. Seraphine closed her eyes; "Quatre was the first person to call me human." She said softly, "He was the first person to see me…as a person…and not as a monster."
"You're afraid if he finds out what you are, he'll hate you." Duo said as Seraphine looked up out the window, the glass reflected her eyes didn't soften that look of sadness in them. Duo sighed as he looked back at the road, "I don't think you're giving him enough credit."
Seraphine looked over at him confused as he continued. "I mean think about it. Out of all of us Gundam pilots, Quatre was always the most understanding, and compassionate one." He looked over at Seraphine, "Which is why I was surprised when you told me that I was the only one who know about you, all those years back."
Seraphine half smiled, "If you hadn't have followed me to Barge…" She said.
Duo looked back to the road, as memories of long ago seeped into his mind.
"Seraphine!" Duo screamed as explosions went off all around him, as he firmed his lips. He knew he had seen her run this way and took off after her.
"Where in the hell did you go?!" He demanded, "If we don't get off of this…" He rounded the corner, and whatever he was going to say died on his lips as his eyes widened in horror.
Standing before him was the most horrific sight he had ever seen. Seraphine, her back was to him, riddle with bullet holes as blood seeped out, leaving a trail of red against the dark black of the space suite. She never turned around, and the OZ solider before her shook with fear as he kept squeezing the trigger of the now empty weapon in his hands.
"You…" Her voice hissed as she took a step toward the solider, her body not registering the wounds. "I remember you."
"This can't be!" The solider cried out, "You were terminated! Everything from Project Anibus was destroyed!"
:Project Anibus: Duo thought, :What the hell is that?!:
"You can't kill…" Seraphine hissed "…something that's already dead!" Duo never saw her move, the next thing he knew Seraphine was behind the man his back pressed into her chest as she pined him and jerked his head to one side exposing the tender part of his neck. "Now tell me!" She shouted, "Where are the files!"
"I don't know!" The man wailed in fear.
"I don't believe you!" She spat, "You were the solider left behind to destroy everything and make sure that I was dead!" She snarled, "You know where they are." Her eyes hardened, "If you don't tell me…" Suddenly Seraphine's eyes changed, they became ice blue with the pupils slit like those of a cat's as she curled back her lips to revile to lilly white, and very sharp fangs, "…then I will have to find out myself!"
With that Duo stood, frozen in horror as Seraphine snapped her head down and saw her bite the man on the flesh of the next. His mind finally registering what she truly was. The man struggled for a moment longer then fell limp in her arms, as Seraphine tore her mouth away from his neck and laid him down. Duo saw the wounds close up through the holes of the space suite. She looked at the man a moment longer, then she spoke and to his surprise there was sadness in her voice.
"You have seen the face of the beast, Duo Maxwell." She said evenly, startling him as she looked up her eye back to normal and pain etched in them. "Now the question becomes…" She said as she rose slowly, "…what will you do?"
:What would I do?: Duo though with a half smiled, :I lost it is what I did. Completely became unglued, so much so that Seri had to haul my hysterical butt out of Barge."
He looked over at Seraphine, who was simply looking out the window. :She told me everything, after that about herself, and Project Anibus. She told me that that was the first time that she was forced to drink human blood from an unwilling person, which I would believe. Despite everything else that she is, Seraphine isn't a cold-blooded killer. She wouldn't kill for sport.: He sighed, :If Quatre is going to help us, he should know everything.:
"You're thinking." Seraphine said softly.
Duo smiled, "Reading my thoughts again?" He asked.
"No." She said, "You just got really quite, and the only time you do that is when you're thinking."
Duo smiled a little then his smile faded, "If he's going to help us, Quatre should know Seri." He said
"Absolutely not." Seraphine said emphatically.
"It's not right to keep this kind of information from people on the mission." Duo said.
"I know!" Seraphine flared a bit, "It's just…." She stumbled, helplessly as she looked away.
:It's just that you consider Quatre to be a close friend.: His eyes softened, :You're afraid of being alone again.: His eyes looked forward and hardened a bit. :That won't happen. So long as I'm alive, you won't ever be alone. That I promise you.:
* * * * * *
"Duo!" Quatre greeted them smiling as he hugged his friend. Seraphine watched as she rose from the car. Her eyes softened; there was something different here. She saw a great sadness hinged around those aquamarine eyes.
:Thoes aren't Quatre's eyes.: Seraphine thought as she walked slowly over to the pair her heart aching. :What's happened to him?:
They laughed for a moment then he turned and Seraphine saw his eyes widen. She smiled gently at him, "Hello Quatre." She said.
"Seraphine…" Quatre said as he walked over to her, his eyes never leaving her.
He got within a bear arms length of her, and Seraphine's eyes softened. "Quatre…" She whispered, "Why is there pain in your eyes?" She asked as she gently raised her hand and touched the pads of her fingers to his cheek.
Gently Quatre grasped her hands, "I…" He whispered, as tears filled his eyes. "I…" Seraphine looked at him confused, and suddenly Quatre collapsed on Seraphine, his face buried into her shoulder as he sobbed horribly, crying as if he has lost everything dear to him in the world.
Seraphine brought her arms up around him holding his shoulders as she looked at Duo confused, Duo simply looked at Quatre his eyes softened in sympathy…and something else. Seraphine looked at his gaze, it almost seemed…. wistful.
Seraphine released one arm from the boy and held it out to Duo, he looked at her for a moment as she looked at him. :He's hurting, Duo.: She sent to him, as Duo looked at her. :For whatever reason, he needs his friends to comfort him.: Hesitantly Duo took a step to Seraphine, unsure. She waited as he took another and finally reached out for her hand. Seraphine drew him to the embrace as she held him in one arm and Quatre in the other; Duo simply raised his arms so that was holding him and the other, Seraphine.
They stood like that for a while, until Quatre got himself under control. He gently pulled away from Seraphine and Duo whipping his tears away with the back of his sleeve. "I'm sorry." He whispered, chuckling a bit. "I'm not sure what came over me."
"It's alright." Seraphine said with a smile, "It looks as if you needed it." She looked over at Duo who simply patted Quatre's shoulder with sympathy in his eyes. She narrowed hers.
:You know what this is all about, don't you?: She asked Duo, who looked at her his blue/violet eyes helpless.
:Yea.: He said as he looked away from her. :But it's not my story to tell.:
Seraphine nodded, she understood. If she wanted to know what was happening, she'd have to hear it from Quatre.
She smiled, at the blonde "It's wonderful to see you again, Quatre." She said as she smiled and cupped his face, "Looks like you've grown." She chuckled, "I have to look up now to look at you!"
Quatre laughed as he blushed a little. The statement had been true, the last time she saw him he had about around her height if not a little shorter. Now he topped her by a good two to three inches. He looked back over at her, his blush fading a bit. "You look great, Seraphine." He said, and smiled. "You look like you haven't changed a bit!"
Seraphine's smile faded a bit, "Glad to hear that. That means I didn't get fat!" She said with a chuckle. But something in her laugh and the sadness that surrounded her eyes spoke differently. Quatre's brow furrowed.
:Something's wrong.: He thought, as she saw him looking at her she looked away.
"So how's Rashid, and the rest?" She asked, not looking at him.
"They're well." He said with a smile, "All anxious to see you again." His eyes softened, "We're all eager to hear what's happened to you over the last three years. It was like you had just dropped out of the universe."
"No…" Seraphine whispered as she looked over to the sunset the old pain returning to her eyes. "Not yet."
Quatre looked over at Duo, concerned who looked at him with worry as they both looked back at Seraphine. Suddenly she turned around and smiled, "So tell me," She asked, "How's Trowa? Is he out?" She chuckled, "You two were always inseparable…."
"Trowa's…. gone." Quatre said as he looked down, and immediately Seraphine's smile faded.
"Gone?" She asked, confused as she saw Duo gingerly put a reassuring hand on Quatre's shoulder. She looked at them as Duo looked up at her, "What do you mean, he's gone?" She asked stunned.
"We…parted ways about two years ago." He whispered, the pain still evident in his voice.
"Oh, Quatre." Seraphine said as she walked over to him and grasped on of his hands, "I'm so sorry."
Quatre seemed to shake his had once then looked up at her with a happy expression that she knew was forced. "It's alright." He said, "It's in the past, and besides…" Suddenly he gasped as Seraphine stepped closer her arms coming up around him and held him tightly.
"Don't." She whispered, as she closed her eyes tightly, "Don't fore yourself to feel something you're not." She said, "It's not right, and it's nor fair to you."
Wordlessly Quatre raised a trembling hand the grasp her shoulder, as tears threatened to overwhelm him again "I'm…sorry." He whispered.
"What for?" She asked, as she pulled back from him to hold him at arms length, as she gently whipped the tears from his eyes and rubbed his arms gently "Do you want to tell me about it?"
"I…" Quatre began as he looked past her and his eyes widened.
Suddenly Seraphine felt darkness close in about her. Immediately her senses came on line as she whirled around to see….
"Trowa!" Duo whispered his eyes wide with surprise.
Standing at the gate was the green eyed, Heavyarms pilot. He looked at the trio, his eyes emotionless.
"T…Trowa?" Quatre whispered, stunned all his emotions churning.
"It's good to see you again, Quatre." He said softly, as he looked down. "I was…" The young man began, "I was hopping…. that we could talk." He lifted his eyes again.
Seraphine's eyes narrowed, :This isn't right.: She thought as she looked at the young man. Something wasn't quite right about him, as he began walking over to Quatre, his green eyes shown pain.
"I've…. missed you." The young man whispered as Quatre gasped, tears in his eyes. The young man reached for Quatre, when to Seraphine's horror she realized what was wrong. He had no aura!
"No!" Seraphine screamed as she interposed herself between Quatre and the creature, shoving it away her eyes blazing as her commanded her sword to appear as she took up stance glaring at the creature.
"Seraphine?!" Quatre cried out, "Wha…what are you doing?!"
"Duo, get Quatre out of here!" Seraphine shouted, as the creature straightened to look at Seraphine angrily. "This thing isn't Trowa!" She shouted as she firmed her lips, "It's an undead!"
"Shit!" Duo cursed as he gripped Quatre by the shoulder, "C'mon man! We gotta go!"
"Wait!" Quatre cried, "What's going on here?! Why's Seraphine treating Trowa like an enemy!?!" Confusion assaulted him as he looked at Trowa.
"That's because it's not the Trowa we know!" Duo said as he tried to pull the young man away, "that thing, ain't human!"
"What?!" Quatre demanded.
"What do you want here, Childe of Cain?" She demanded angrily her eyes showing no fear to the creature before her.
Slowly the thing straightened and raised it's head, it's green eyes looked upon the young woman standing before him, with sword in hand glaring at him with no fear. "Interesting." It said, "That a mere human is able to detect my true nature." He crooned as it laughed, a chilling sound that echoed through the heart and souls of all humans present.
"Answer my question, and I will kill you quickly." Seraphine snapped.
"You?" It asked, "Kill an immortal?" It laughed again, "How vain you are, human."
Seraphine smiled, "And how stupid you are," She whispered, "For not recognizing me!" She screamed as she launched herself at the creature, who was only barely able to avoid her sword. It looked at her with wide eyes as she flashed her ice blue ones up at it.
"No!" It cried, "It's not possible!"
Angrily Seraphine launched herself at the vampire again, but this time he wasn't so lucky. The blade caught him in the arm as he cried out in agony as he clutched the wound as it dripped with blood. Stunned he looked back up at her as she took in the length of the blade with a cruel smile.
"Pure silver." She pointed out, "A blade forged and blessed by the priest's of faith." Her eyes hardened, as she pointed, "This blade is more than enough to kill the likes of you."
"How can you be doing this?!" The thing cried out, "You're one of us!"
Angrily Seraphine pressed the edge of the blade into the things throat, it's eyes widened in fear. "I am nothing like you!" She spat, "Answer my question!"
The think looked at her, then laughed. "If I don't tell you, you'll kill me." He crooned, "If I do tell you, either you'll kill me or they will." It mused.
"They?" Seraphine asked.
The creature smiled up at her, "They who command me."
"Command you…?" Seraphine whispered, as her eyes widened, "You're a creation of project Anubis!" She whispered in horror as the thing looked at her, and smiled.
"And you are Lillith to us," It crooned, "Mother!" It spat as it launched its self as Seraphine. She dodged the creature her eyes hardening. "Why do you fight your children?!" It demeaned "You should be helping us!"
"Never!" Seraphine snarled, "I, like you, should never have been born!" She screamed as she arched her blade down and cleaved the young man's chest. He cried out in agony, screaming as his eyes flaired….evil….yellow. Pupils slit like those of a cat's, fangs exposed from parted screaming lips as it fell forward, blood gushing from the wound into the thirsty ground.
Seraphine stood over the man, for a moment panting heavily. :If this thing was created form project Anubis, then…:
"TROWA!" Quatre's agonized cried called her back to the here and now, startled Seraphine turned around to see Duo barely holding back terrified, and hysterical Quatre.
"Damnit Duo!" Seraphine swore as she started over toward the two, "I told you to get him out of here!"
"I…" Duo called as he looked up, his eyes wide. "Seraphine, look out!" He screamed.
Seraphine didn't even have time to turn, as she felt the knife rip through her flesh as, and puncture her lung as she gasped once in shock as she looked down and saw the silver glint of the knife sticking out of her chest.
"I was mistaken." The thing crooned into her ear as she felt the blood well up and trickle out form the corner of her mouth. "You couldn't have been one of us." It snarled as it twisted the knife as Seraphine screamed in agony. "We are not so easy to kill!" He snarled as it pushed her of off the blade so that she landed face down on the ground, her blood pooling around her dormant form.
"NO!" Duo cried out in agony, "SERAPHINE!"
"No." Quatre gasped, "Trowa, how could you?!"
The thing looked up at then and smiled evilly at Quatre, "It's because you are weak." It hissed as Quatre gasped, his eyes wide. "You weren't strong enough to face your fears with me." It looked down at Seraphine, "And you weren't strong enough to save the friend you love!"
"No!" Quatre cried out, "That's not true!"
"Damn you!" Duo spat as he interposed himself between Quatre and the monster, as he poised a gun at the creature.
The creature simply looked at Duo and laughed, "You think that will help you?" It asked.
"Quatre." Duo hissed, "When I start firing, you run for it." He whispered.
"No, I can't!" He whispered tears streaming down his face, "This is all my fault!"
"Damnit!" Duo shouted, "Don't you get it, this thing was after you and Seraphine was trying to save you!"
"No one can save you now, Quatre Rebarba Winner." The creature sneered as it began walking over to them. "Anyone foolish to try and save you will end up…." It smiled viscously, "Just like your friend."
"Bastard!" Duo snarled, as the thing laughed then suddenly it gasped as the point of a sword broke though it's chest as it screamed in agony.
"Now I know, you are not Trowa Barton!" Seraphine's voice rang out as she lifted the creature up on her sword as it's agonized cried echoed through the moor. "He would have known better than to turn his back on me!" She screamed as she flung the creature off her sword as it crashed into one of the stone pillars by the gate with a sicken thud.
"Alright!" Duo cried out, joyously "Kick its ass, Seri!"
"Duo!" Seraphine snapped, "Water!"
"Gotcha!" Duo pulled a metal vile filled with holy water from his pock and tossed it to her as she caught it in mid air.
Seraphine rushed the thing again as it climbed shakily to it's feet and she ran it through with her sword piercing its heart as it cried out again it's eyes wide as she glared at him, her Royal Blue eyes, now a piercing ice blue with the pupils slit like those of a cats and her parted lips exposed to lily white fangs.
"No!" It croaked, "It can't be!"
"It can." Seraphine snarled as she twisted her sword as it cried out in agony. "I'll see your rotted corpse in hell!" She screamed as she flung the holy water into the things face. It screamed clawing it's face as she pulled out her sword and whirled around taking the creatures' head with her final stroke.
"Yes!" Duo cried out as Seraphine calmly cleaned her sword off on the front of her pant legs, as she held it out to the side it simply vanished.
"Seraphine!" Quatre cried out as her shoulder tightened as he rushed over to her, as she looked down at her wound, her head bowed. "How?" He whispered, as he saw the wound looked more like an angry scratch than it did the gaping stab wound that he had seen. "This wound…."
"Quatre…." Seraphine whispered as she grasped one of his hand, he looked down at her still bowed head. "I'm so sorry."
"Sorry?" He whispered, "Seraphine?"
Wordlessly she looked up at him, and Quatre gasped. The eyes that looked back at him weren't Seraphine's eyes. The two pools of deep Royal Blue were now a pair of iced, steel blue. Her pupils were slit like those of a cat as she looked up at him, pained.
"My God!" Quatre pulled away from her as Duo came running up and stopped short.
"Oh, shit." He muttered, as he looked form Quatre to Seraphine and back again. "This could get messy."
"Wha…. what is this, Seraphine?!" Quatre asked his voice on the edge of hysterical his eyes wide, pupils dilated.
Seraphine looked at him sadly, "This is the truth Quatre." Seraphine said, "I am, what you see before you." Her eyes begged for understanding, "I am like that creature I just killed. A child of darkness," She looked down a little, "A childe of Cain. Forever cursed to feed of the blood of the living." She looked back up at him helplessly. "I'm a vampire, Quatre."
"No!" Quatre whispered, "It's not true!" He shouted.
"Quatre look at me!" Seraphine demanded as he gripped both his hands, "This is me! This is all of me!" Her eyes softened, "This is what I always have been, please try to understand." Her eyes pleaded, "You considered me human once, and you're friend…please, as my friend…. try to understand."
Quatre simply stared at her for the longest time, this was too much to see something that looked like Trowa try to kill him, stab Seraphine…it was all too much. His vision faded as his eyes closed.
"Quatre!" Seraphine cried out as she caught him as he fell easing him to the ground, her eyes wide with worry.
"Well," Duo said lamely, "At least he took it better than me."