Chapter 6: Past Hauntings





This flu just does not want to go away! Argh! Oh well, at least I don't have marching band at the moment that would not be good. Anyway, here's the sixth chapter and I think I'm actually finishing these faster than I can post them. ^_^ Well, please do review and thanks to everyone that does.





Chapter 6: Past Hauntings

"Rai!" Derek came careening into the American's office and straight into a startled Rai, sending them both to the ground. Not even bothering to allow them time to stand, the vampire pushed himself up slightly so that he could meet the wintry blue eyes before speaking. "We don't have to be apart anymore Rai!"

"What are you talking about Derek? I was just about to leave; couldn't this have waited until we got home?" Rai was still stunned at the blonde's sudden appearance and could only stare up in confusion at the other.

"No. Here." Derek thrust the book that he had found at the library into Rai's hands and reluctantly stood so that the brunette could also get up to read through the marked page in the text.

Rai sighed as he took the book and walked around his desk to take his seat. He noted that Derek had followed him and was now watching over his shoulder and he attempted to block this out as he quickly scanned over the page. After a moment, Rai looked to Derek with a raised eyebrow. "Where did you get this Derek?"

"At the library. Don't you see it? Our relationship was never a concern with the Council."

Shaking his head, the necromancer shut the text and spun around to face Derek. "Are you trying to tell me that some random rogue vamps are imitating the Vampire High Council just so they can kill me? From what I understand, the Council would hunt down these rogues even if I was their target."

Derek was about to argue when another voice from the shadows cut into their conversation. In a flash, Rai's gun was in his hand and he was glaring in the dark corner nearest to the windows. "Show yourself now or I promise your death shall not be a pleasant one."

"No need to overreact Mr. Maxwell." From the darkness emerged a figure shrouded by a midnight-hued trench coat and a matching wide-brimmed hat. As he glanced up, Rai caught sight of a few wisps of white hair and crimson eyes that met his with a cold smirk. "I am only here to speak with you concerning these rogues."

The necromancer snorted in distrust. "Are you one of their agents then?"

"No, I am not. Allow me to introduce myself." The vampire bowed as he removed his head, confirming that his hair was indeed white but his face was not a day over twenty. "My name is Ruen, a representative of the High Council."

Rai's eyes narrowed as he contemplated Ruen's claim and even though he could feel the ancient power radiating off of the mysterious vampire, the brunette needed more confirmation. "Can you vouch for him Derek?"

Derek nodded. "I can. Ruen works for the Master of the High Council."

Ruen flashed what was supposed to be a charming smile at Derek before turning a cautious eye to Rai. "Is that good enough for you necromancer?"

"Back to formalities are we?" The American seemed to consider the question for a brief moment before inclining his head in agreement. Rai lowered his weapon but as the vampires noted, still kept it gripped tightly in his hands. "Fine. I believe you but pull something stupid and you'll regret it. Now what do you want?"

Flipping some hair out of his eyes, Ruen leaned against Rai's desk. "I suspect the same thing that you want. My master had originally not planned to speak with you for a while yet but considering Master Asgaroth's discoveries we decided that the time to act was now. So, to continue, we will refer to what you had stated, the Council most certainly are not pleased with the rogues and would do anything to be rid of them. They have committed a crime in using the High Council's name to account for attempts in murder. We see this as a punishable felony even if it is your life that they are after."

"Well, don't I feel loved." Rai muttered sarcastically. "So what do you want me to do about it?"

"Form a temporary alliance with us and we will work together to be rid of them. You must admit that they are a pain in both of our sides."

"Then what will happen afterwards?" All eyes turned to Derek. "What will happen after we are rid of these rogues? Will the High Council turn on us and try to separate Rai and I themselves?"

Ruen smirked but shook his head. "No. We adhere to the laws Master Asgaroth and your relationship if quite legal in our eyes. Although, I cannot guarantee that attempts on the necromancer's life won't be made after the truce is over. After all, you, Mr. Maxwell, are also another thorn in our sides."

Surprisingly, Rai chuckled. "Good to know that I'm succeeding at my job." His eyes sparkled in amusement as he pleasantly replied. "Alright, Ruen, we have a truce until this is solved. Although, please do warn your master that he should not try to use this alliance to kill me. I am sure that he and I both know that I have the will and strength to destroy him if necessary."

The vampire shuddered at the sudden crest of energy that rolled over him and obediently nodded. "I shall give him your message." Replacing his hat, Ruen once again melted into the shadows and he was gone.

"Are you seriously planning on working with them?" Derek breathed, eyes following Rai as he went through his desk, collecting any papers he needed before placing them in his briefcase.

"I am." He stood, giving Derek a confident smile. "Don't worry about it Derek. I can take care of myself."

"But this is the Council you're dealing with! Not a normal master vampire!" The blonde protested, coming to stand directly before Rai.

Rai closed his eyes with a sigh. "I realize that Derek and I know how to deal with it." He opened his eyes and locked them with the other's. "You would think that I have lived this long and not know how to deal with your Council?"

Derek grunted and crossed his arms. "Until today I may have thought otherwise, Taranthiel."

Silver-blue gems widened in shock. "How do you know that name?" He held up a hand before Derek could answer. "Never mind." Rai chuckled sullenly and waved a hand in dismissal. "Those books sure are resourceful little springs of information aren't they?"

"That they are." The blonde gripped Rai's shoulder tenderly with one hand as he used his other to tip Rai's face up. "Why did you never tell me your true name and power?"

"Because that name was never meant to be uttered again. I am no longer Taranthiel. I left that long ago when I chose the path of a necromancer." Icy orbs laced with bitter laughter. "And would you truly have believed me if I told revealed my true power? Would you have stayed with me? Too many have left me out of fear for what I am truly capable of."

Derek sighed, considering the information before replying carefully. "True I may have been frightened to a certain point when I had discovered what you can really do," he held Rai tightly as the necromancer tried to squirm away from him, "but I also love and trust you. Therefore, nothing about you could ever drive me away from you." The pale-haired vampire smiled as the one in his arms quieted and then stilled. Raising one elegant hand, Derek ran it gently through Rai's hair. "I do love you Rai and I always will."

"I love you too Derek." Rai could feel the stinging of unshed tears but he forced them away and buried his face in Derek's shoulder. "I missed you, you know that?"

"Hmm." Tilting the porcelain face up to meet his, Derek laid a feather soft kiss on his lover's lips. "We should probably hurry. Wufei may be getting impatient."

"Gah! Wufei!" Grabbing his briefcase from his chair, Rai took Derek's hand and dragged him out of the office and down the halls. He paused, breathing deeply as he came to another door. "Wufei." Peeking his head inside, the American frowned when he saw no sign of his partner. "That's strange. Where. . ." He jumped back as a thing whistling sound caught his sensitive ears and not a second later, a large knife was lodged into the wall where Rai had been but a second ago.

"Why do I get a bad feeling about this?" Derek muttered mockingly, pulling the blade from the wall and flipping it in his hands. After a short study, the vampire's eyes widened.

Rai raised an eyebrow in question. "What is it?"

"This insignia, it's the mark of the High Council. Do you think that Ruen lied to us?"

"No." Both watched as Ruen stumbled into the room, clutching his side. "We did not."

"Well well, our little messenger boy has returned." Rai stalked forward, grabbing Ruen by the collar of his shirt. "Did you do this? And where the hell is Wufei? Do not lie because I will know and it will cost you your life."

Ruen winced in pain as the brunette shook him roughly. "I did not do this. It wasn't the work of the Council. As for Wufei, the rogues took him. I tried to stop them but for some reason I could not."

"What do you mean you couldn't? You're old enough and powerful enough to handle nearly six younger vampires by yourself." Rai snarled out, eyes bleeding fully silver in warning.

"I realize that necromancer but there was just something about their auras. It was as if there was an outside source increasing their powers. I was fortunate to get away." Ruen coughed and a trickle of blood escaped his mouth. "Please, is there anyway that you can heal me?"

"You cannot heal yourself?" Derek asked, peering at the wound on Ruen's side. He frowned in concern when the red-eyed vampire shook his head and grimaced painfully again. "Rai?"

Rai sighed and laid the vampire on the ground gently. "Fine but this is only because we are going to need you to help us now." Concentrating, the man slowly began to transform and when his spell had died down, an elven- mage sat in the place of the human pilot. Rai immediately began an incantation and with a dull glow, the wound mended over and the flow of blood clotted and came to a halt. "There. What?"

"Taranthiel." Ruen breathed, sitting up in alarm.

"You're people do seem to know my old name quite well." Rai remarked with a hint of sarcasm. "Where have you heard it Ruen?"

The white-haired vampire opened and closed his mouth a few times trying to force words out before he finally found his voice. "I-I was there. I was there with you all those years ago when you had become a necromancer. I had been one of the first that you had tried to save."

Rai's forehead wrinkled with puzzlement as he thought back to his first few years as a necromancer. Suddenly it hit him and the elf brought one hand up to forced Ruen to meet his eyes. Seeing the frightened expression only increased the impact of the memory. "What happened? They were emerald once."

"I don't know but I can assure you that I was as equally distressed the day that my eyes turned red and my hair white." Ruen relaxed visibly.

"No wonder I did not recognize you. And your ears. They are those of a human's now." The elven lord traced one lobe to emphasize his point.

Ruen nodded sadly. "They were the last to go. I guess that turning into a creature of the night has that effect on elves." He reached up, touching Rai's ears longingly.

"I am so sorry my friend. I should have been able to save you that day." Rai whispered softly, all his feeling of anger and hate for the vampire in front of him melted away into regret and sorrow.

Shaking his head, Ruen offered a small smile. "No, you chose correctly in saving those children. Besides, I had asked for you to do so. If you had not, I would have had a harder life than I do now, knowing that they were all slaughtered because of me. Besides it is in the past and there is nothing that we can do now." He chuckled. "And we should talk of more pleasant things. After all, it has been several centuries since we last saw each other."

Derek watched with curiosity as his lover and Ruen spoke in hushed tones before they both stood and turned to him. Rai was the one to speak. "Come. We must solve this quickly or we may never locate Wufei in time."

"This could be a lure though Taranthiel. Perhaps they intend to use Wufei as bait rather than a sacrificial example." Ruen offered, trailing after his two new companions.

"I do hope so. For Wufei's sake and theirs." Rai replied, not even bothering to shift back into his human form as they climbed into his car to speed back to the necromancer's apartment.





T.B.C.





Wow, I'm amazed that some people actually would read it this far! Lol, please review and until next time.