A Sequel to ReCreating Hell
Chapter Six: The Secret Behind Sephiroth
By PasifikStar
His heart was beating quickly in his chest as sweat collected at his brow. His body felt unnaturally cold as shivers of fear rose up and down his spine. He had seen her face. That terrified face in his mind. Crystal blue eyes filled with fear as her pink lips cried out a silent scream.
*RJ!* his mind shouted. He called out his her name, as if begging her to reply and assure him that she was safe.
He had abandoned his bed, leaving the book he had been so engrossed in fallen on the floor, to the side of his bed, as he took off. Bare feet ran along the imported carpet runner that lined the hard wood floors of the hall way as blurs of family portraits were ignored.
He could see her door way up ahead and his arm extended. It was so far away. He could hear the screaming from her room. Her voice was high, tense, filled with panic and indescribable fear. "RJ!!" His body slammed into her locked door.
The thick, heavy oak budged forward and Hunter took another step back. He could hear her voice. She was screaming, no...crying for him. Bracing himself, he rammed his body against the door, finally breaking through. It swung open and he ran in.
"RJ!" he shouted. Hunter saw the light from the bathroom and ran towards it. His heart pounded in his chest as he ran through the open door way and froze.
A pale, ragged stream of smoke seemed to be coiling around RJ as the vampiress struggled against it in vain. Her eyes were snapped closed as tears of blood streamed down her flawlessly pale face, her mouth set in an open 'o'. "Hunter!!" she cried.
"Let her go!" the lycan-witch growled as he rushed forward. As if finally noticing him, the entity around RJ sharply turned it's 'head', revealing eerie large, hollowed out glowing green eyes and a gaping hole of a mouth. A gash between the head and the rest of the entity seemed to have severed it in half.
Coiling smoked hands shaped like claws were cupping RJ's face as solid fangs peeked from within the gaping dark mouth. Blood tainted their pure whiteness as it hissed at intruder. It seemed to quickly vanish in thin air, leaving RJ weakened and bleeding.
She suddenly felt as if she had been liberated from the choking confides of the spirit as she fell forward, sobbing. Hunter fell to his knees next to her and reached out. "No!" RJ screamed as she pulled away. Dark strands of wet hair framed her face as her pale shoulders escaped the hold of her robe. "Don't touch me! Get away!" she screamed.
"RJ! RJ, it's me!" Hunter shouted fearfully as he put his hand on her shoulder. "Stop it, RJ! Open your eyes!" He ordered as he held on to her shaking body firmly. "Open them!"
Still sobbing, the brown haired vampiress opened her blue eyes. Long dark lashes parted to reveal crystal blue ones filled with red tears. "Hunter...?" she choked out. He nodded slowly as he caressed the side of her face.
"I'm right here, RJ," he whispered reassuringly. "It's all right. He's gone..."
She pushed herself against him, blood tears pouring from the corners of her beautiful eyes as his arms wrapped themselves around her heaving shoulders. He pressed his head down against hers and gently kissed her damp hair. He brushed it aside and healed the bite mark on her neck as he rocked her in his arms.
"What's going on!?" a voice shouted from outside the bathroom.
"We're in here!" Hunter yelled, reluctantly lifting his head from RJ's. She was curled up against him, desperately clinging to his body.
Several figures rushed into the bathroom. "Hyne!" Rinoa gasped.
"Rinoa, the magic signature!" Quistis said as she paused outside the bathroom. Rinoa wasn't paying attention. She immediately fell to the side of her daughter and Hunter as Squall looked inside.
"Hunter, what happened!?" the elder vampire demanded as his blue eyes flashed red.
"Sephiroth," Hunter said, anger lacing his voice. His hand gently stroked RJ's head as Rinoa looked her over. "I came in and there was this...this THING around her body. She couldn't move and then when I rushed in, it disappeared. I don't know what it is...but that scent...I'd know that scent anywhere..."
"It was Sephiroth...?" Quistis said. She walked into the now cramped bathroom. "The windows were all closed," she sighed heavily. Squall turned to look at her and she shook her head. "There was no way in."
"Impossible..." Squall stated. "Then how did he get in?"
"Magic," Rinoa said from where she was sitting. "The air is filled with his signature!" she said, tears stinging her eyes as she watched her daughter bury her face in Hunter's shoulder.
"We'll ask questions later," Squall said, his voice deep and serious. He looked down at his daughter. RJ was trembling in Hunter's arms as she clung to him as if he were her last hope. He took a deep breath. "Quistis, can you get some of RJ's clothes. Rin...maybe RJ should stay with Hunter from now on?"
Rinoa looked up at her husband and narrowed her eyes. "I told you," she hissed as she stood up and faced him. "But you kept insisting to keep him away!"
"Not away! I just didn't want him sleeping so close to her!" Squall snapped. "Let's just get her to Hunter's room!"
"Hunter, can you carry her?" Rinoa asked softly as she turned to him. Hunter nodded. With extreme ease, he put his arms under her and stood up with her in his arms. Her head was still turned and buried against him.
"RJ...did you hear them?" Hunter whispered softly in her ear as he leaned his head down. "You're going to stay with me okay?"
A subtle nod was her answer as Hunter carried her out of the room. Quistis was holding RJ's pajamas that had been laid out on her bed. "I'm going to make sure RJ's comfortable," Quistis said as she followed behind them. "Do me a favor and call the others from the library?"
"Yeah, we'll get right on it," Rinoa replied as the tall blond followed her son and RJ. As soon as Quistis left the room, she whirled around and faced Squall. "Squall, I love you," she said in a stern voice. "But if something happens to RJ because of your stupid worries..." she threatened.
Squall kept his eyes locked on hers, watching the red flash through them as unspeakable anger filled them. "I'm sorry, Rinoa..."
"Sorry won't undo the pain she's feeling," Rinoa hissed. She shook her head and turned away sharply. "I don't know what else to say to you..."
"She's up against a vampire, Rinoa," Squall exclaimed. "I think I would know more about that and how to deal with it than you."
Rinoa gritted her teeth as she turned around and faced him. "And she's also dealing with strong magic, Squall!" she retorted angrily. "And I know for a fact that I know more about that than you do! Do you think I was just mentioning the issue of the knight for kicks? I was RAISED with issues on magic and knights. And RJ...RJ isn't just a vampire! You ALWAYS seem to forget that she's MY child, too. That's she's a SORCERESS."
"I never thought that RJ would have to face something like this," Squall snapped back as he threw his arms in the air, frustrated. "I thought that after we left the Gates, she would be fine! It's been YEARS. I thought she was safe."
"You always neglected her sorceress side," Rinoa said angrily. She narrowed her eyes. "That's why I sent her to the Academy," Rinoa said, frustrated. She had known that Squall and Laguna were both against RJ going to the Academy, but Rinoa insisted. "She needed to be with sorcerers sometime in her life."
"You say you know a lot," Squall snapped. "But why the hell hasn't any of helped!?"
"Because you don't listen to me!" Rinoa screamed. "I said she has to stay with her knight! You said she has to stay with him, but can't stay THAT close to him. You KNOW that she's most vulnerable when she's sleeping and that's the time when Hunter should be with her the most-"
"And about Hunter," Squall began. "You don't know for sure that he's her knight!"
"Yes, I do!"
"HOW!?"
"Because when she looks at Hunter, she looks at him the same way I looked at you!" Rinoa cried out. "I love you..." she stammered tearfully. "You're the only person I thought could save me when I needed it."
"And how did you know?" Squall asked, still in disbelief.
Rinoa ran her hand down her face, wiping away her tears as she turned around and headed towards the door. "I just did."
She left Squall alone in RJ's room. The powerful male closed his eyes and took a deep calming breath. He and Rinoa rarely screamed at each other. But how could see accuse him of pushing aside their daughter's safety? That was the last thing that would ever come to mind. RJ was a symbol of everything he had accomplished in life. She was the epitome of his life with Rinoa - a symbol of their love. How could let her get hurt?
*Am I being selfish?* he thought to himself as he leaned against the wall by the bathroom door.
"Yes," a voice answered. He looked up and saw Quistis there with her arms crossed over her chest. "Now, I KNOW you don't have something personal against my son," Quistis stated. "But I'm getting sick of you picking on him-"
"I'm not picking on him, Quistis-"
"Shut up, I'm not finished," Quistis snapped, quickly silencing the vampire. She stood at the door way to the room. "You know as well as I do that Hunter would never hurt RJ in anyway. He'd go against his own family just to make sure she's safe and yet you go ballistic on him for a mere kiss."
"Laguna said they were making out-"
"And if I recall," Quistis said. "You and Rinoa were caught by Laguna several times in the same position."
Squall narrowed his eyes. "Who told you about that-"
She raised her hand to quiet him. "That doesn't matter. And Ellone told us," she turned her head to look down the hall way. "We can't shelter them forever, Squall. We can just be there to support them."
"She's my daughter, Quistis. You wouldn't understand." Squall began, tiredly.
"I wouldn't understand?" Quistis asked, raising an eyebrow. "So what, you think that Seraphim is a boy? Squall, do you KNOW how protective Seifer is of Seraphim? But he doesn't beat up every boyfriend she's ever had!" *Just three...and they deserved it.*
"When RJ left, she was still a little girl," Squall exclaimed. "To me, she's still a little girl. And I just don't feel comfortable with Hunter being so...so..."
"You know, I can't change your mind," Quistis stated. "But whatever happens, you better be ready for it. And if you lay a hand on my son again, you'll pay. Rinoa and Selphie weren't the only ones who were doing work for Galbadia, you know."
"Hunter, I'm sorry for the way Squall's been treating you," Rinoa said to the young man who stood at the door way of his room. Behind him on the large bed was a still RJ. "Thank you for being there for her."
"It's no problem, Mrs. Leonheart," Hunter replied solemnly. "I'll stay with her."
"Thank you." Rinoa breathed once again. She turned around as the door closed behind her. Hunter took a deep breath and locked the door securely before turning around to look at RJ.
She was sitting up on the bed, leaning against the head board, dressed in pajamas. The thick blanket reached her waist as she sat there, staring at her hands. Quistis had helped her get dressed as Hunter went to get her some more blankets and an extra pillow.
"RJ?" he asked softly as he walked over to her. He sat down on the edge of the bed next to her. "Why don't you get some rest?" She nodded slightly and Hunter noticed how pale she had gotten. "Do you want a drink?"
"I'm fine..." she whispered. "He didn't take a lot."
"He still took something," Hunter replied intently. His right hand rose and cupped her cheek. "I won't leave you alone any more. As far as I'm concerned, we're officially joined at the hip."
A slight smile crossed RJ's pink lips as she nodded slightly. "Thank you for coming."
"Nothing could keep me away," he assured her. "All I could see was you as I ran towards your room," he told her as his hand stroked her cheek. Slowly color was filling them as he held her hand in his other one. "You look so scared...and when I got there, I just wanted to kill him."
"He just came at me," RJ whispered softly. "And then his arms were around me and his fangs were in my neck-"
"His arms...?" Hunter mumbled. "You mean he coiled himself around you..."
RJ shook her head. "No, his arms reached out from the mirror," she told him as she raised her own hands to show him. "And then wrapped around me. Then his face came towards me and I screamed."
The blond narrowed his eyes slightly. "Can...can you tell me how he looked like?"
RJ nodded. "He had white hair. It was long. His eyes were green and glowing and he wore dark clothes."
Hunter's eyes seemed to go blank for a moment as he began to lapse into thought. He had seen nothing but a shadowy figure coiling around RJ's trembling body. His eyes darted over to her. "Get some rest," he urged her, offering her a sweet smile as he leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "Just try."
RJ nodded slowly and laid down on the bed. Hunter pulled the blanket up over her chest and lifted his hand. He brushed back her thick, still damp, wet bangs. He brought his hand back and prepared to stand up. Immediately, RJ's hand shot out and grabbed his wrist.
Hunter turned and looked down at her. Large blue orbs were filled with fear and worry. "Don't leave me..." she whispered, her voice shaking slightly.
Hunter bit his lip and shook his head. "Don't worry," he assured her as he grinned. "I'm just going to change my shirt...your hair got it all wet when you fell on me."
RJ blushed and let him go reluctantly. She nodded her head and allowed him to stand up. "I'm just...scared."
"I know," Hunter said. He was heading towards the bathroom. "But don't watch me while I change! I know you were awake this evening!"
RJ's eyes went wide as a heated blush rushed to her face. "You KNEW!?" she gasped.
"It's hard not to know when eyes are burning into your back." he stated as he turned on the dim lights of the bathroom.
"Then why didn't you say anything!?" she complained.
She heard Hunter snort. "Hey, I can't blame you," he shrugged as he removed his shirt. RJ could see his reflection in the mirror and smirked. "I'm hot as hell."
She watched as Hunter looked at himself in the mirror. He flexed his arms and smirked at himself. She snorted. "Whatever!"
"What did the little crap head do now?" Seifer sighed as he fell back on the sofa. Quistis shot him a glare from where she was sitting next to him.
"He saved my daughter," Squall said. "Sephiroth appeared again."
"What!?" Selphie gasped. She sat up on the edge of her seat next to Irvine and Zell. "When?"
"A few hours ago," Squall sighed heavily. He was seated on a large chair across from Rinoa's. Her chair was vacant, as she had gone to bed already. "Hunter got there and scared Sephiroth off."
"How did he get in?" Irvine asked, confused. "I thought you upped the security here."
"I did," Squall assured him. "Quistis even checked the windows and said they were all closed."
"There was a strong magic signature there," Quistis sighed tiredly. "I have no doubt that he came into the room using magic."
"It's strange," Squall mumbled. "Each time this happens, I smell less and less of his blood scent. Practically none this time and last."
"You think it might be drowned out by RJ's scent?" Selphie asked. "I mean...he's been drinking from here, right? Is it possible to absorb her blood scent and cover his own so he can't be detected?"
"That's impossible," Zell said. "Vampires' bodies make the blood that they drink into their own blood. So even if he did drink from RJ, he should still smell like himself."
"Oh..." Selphie frowned. Her green eyes darted around the room. "Hey...where's Rinoa?"
Immediately, Squall's eyes went down and averted Selphie's. "She already went to bed."
"Went to bed?" Irvine asked. "During a meeting-oh...I see...trouble in paradise?"
"Whatever," Squall grumbled. He gave Irvine a look of warning before running his hand through his hair. "Why doesn't everyone go to bed for today? You guys have been stuck in the library all day. I'm sure your families would like to see you."
"Torch is already asleep," Zell said. "But I'd like to have dinner with my wife."
"I'm bushed," Selphie yawned. "C'mon, Irvy...let's check on Rinny and go to bed."
"Right." the much taller, cowboy dressed lycan agreed as he followed behind her.
As Selphie, Irvine, and Zell stood up to go to leave, Quistis looked at her wrist watch and then at Seifer. "Seraphim and Hunter are already in bed."
"I'm assuming from commander puberty's fowl mood that his precious princess is with your son?" Seifer asked casually. Quistis rolled her eyes and slapped his upper arm.
"He's YOUR son, too," she repeated. "And yes, they're sharing a room and will be doing so from now on."
Seifer raised an eyebrow and looked over at Squall. "You okay with that?"
"If Seraphim was sharing a room with a boy she wasn't wed to, would YOU be okay with that?" Squall retorted.
"Point taken," Seifer nodded. He looked at Quistis. "Quisty, you want to eat dinner?"
"I'll be in the dining room...do you want anything in particular I could ask the cooks to make?" Quistis asked. Seifer shook his head.
"At this point, I'll eat anything," he assured her. Quistis stood up from her seat next to Seifer. He was still holding her hand and as she rose, he lifted it to his lips and kissed her hand before her hand left his. When the tall blond female was gone, Seifer looked over at Squall. "You know that Hunter won't do anything to hurt her, Squall." he said seriously.
Squall nodded. "Part of me is actually glad that her knight is Hunter of all people," Squall admitted quietly. "Hyne knows what I'd do if it were some stranger."
"He's cocky and a smart ass, but he's a good little bastard," Seifer smirked. "He comes from a good family, if I don't say so myself."
"His father is questionable, however," Squall added, making Seifer frown. "But at least I know he's wearing those bracelets."
It amazed her how just a few hours earlier, she had been a helpless heap of a vampire, unable to breath correctly and in tears when she was now calm and relaxed. Her steady beating heart was a welcomed change from the rapid fear charged pounding that had attacked her earlier.
She looked over at the young hybrid next to her. Hunter was laid out on his back, wearing a loose, long sleeve, navy blue pajama top. The top two buttons were undone, exposing pale muscular flesh. His head was tilted slightly away from her and she could make out his heavy breathing as he slept.
Her head rested against his crocked right arm as she laid on her side, curled next to him. Slowly, her right arm went over his chest and placed her hand on his chest. She could feel his beating heart against her palm. "RJ," a gruff, tiredly voice sounded out in the dim room. "You have to sleep."
"I can't..." she whispered. "I don't feel like it."
"Close your eyes," he told her. Hunter turned his head slightly and lifted his left arm. RJ closed her eyes and felt his hand go over her eyes. "Sleep..."
"Hey..." she whined softly as an overwhelming wave of sleep washed over her body.
Hunter kissed the top of her head. "See you in the evening."
Squall opened the door reluctantly to their bedroom. The room itself used to be his less than twenty years ago, but now he shared it with the woman he loved. The woman who was angry with him. The heavy door opened without a sound and he walked in.
He turned around and locked the door behind him before turning around. He looked over to the massive bed and froze. A figure was sitting up on the far side of the bed. They were looking down at their hands as soft pillows were piled around them.
"Rinoa..." he whispered softly. He took a deep breath. "Why aren't you asleep? It's almost midday."
"I'm sorry." a voice said from the canopy bed. Squall paused.
"For what?" *Usually, I'M the one apologizing...this is kind of strange.* he thought to himself as he walked forward.
Rinoa turned her head and looked at him. Her puffy eyes showed than she had been crying. "I'm sorry for what I said earlier," she told him. "I can't believe I threatened you like that...what was I thinking? She's your daughter as well as mine...of course you'd never let her get hurt..."
Squall's eyes narrowed. "You had a point, too," he admitted in a low voice. "You're right...I hardly ever pay attention of RJ's sorceress side. I should take what you say into consideration instead of brushing them off."
There was a pause. "Are you mad at me?" a quiet voice asked. Squall was still standing a little bit from the bed.
"No," he replied after a moment of thought. "Rin, it's midday," he sighed. "Just get some rest."
"I can't sleep." she admitted.
Squall walked up to the bed and sat down on his side. He looked over at her. She was wearing a thin strapped, light blue, satin nightgown. Her pale skin clashed against their dark sheets. Rinoa's eyes were still downcast.
She felt a hand on hers and turned. Squall leaned over, placing his lips on her softly. "Just forget about what happened," he assured her as he parted. His blue eyes looked into her deep brown ones. "You made a good point. I'm sorry I brushed off what you were saying."
Rinoa nodded. "I have one more thing to tell you," Rinoa said as Squall continued to place soft kisses against her jaw and leading down to her tender neck. "Hunter's not wearing the bracelets."
"WHAT."
The tall blond yawned as he opened the door clad in loose jeans and a dark gray sweat shirt. As his arm stretched over his head, he froze. His heart stopped in his chest as two pairs of glowing red eyes settled upon him.
*Oh crap, they know about the bracelets...* was the first thought that ran through his mind. He swallowed hard. "Good morning Mr. Leonheart, Master Loire, sir."
"Where is my precious Raine Julia?" Laguna growled in a deep, throaty voice.
Hunter took a step back into the room as he saw the fangs peeking from the older vampire's mouth. "She's about to go take a shower...I was just stepping out so she could have some privacy, I swear!" he gasped, holding his hands up to ward them off.
Squall kept a menacing glare on the tall blond male who was slowly trying to get as far away from them as possible. "Why do you smell like her?"
All the colored drained from Hunter's face as Laguna's eyes grew wide and he was suddenly pushed against the wall by the iron grip of the largest vampire clan's leader. *I'm going to die...Hyne, I was just too beautiful for this world...*
"Good evening, daddy! Good evening, grandpa - WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" a female voice shrieked from the door way.
"Good morning, princess, did you sleep all right?" Squall asked as he studied her appearance. *Nothing seems out of place...no hickeys...no foreign scents...only a slight scent of Hunter...*
As he stood apart from them, mentally checking off notes, RJ had jumped in front of her grandfather and clung to Hunter. "Grandpa, stop it! Stop it! What's gotten into you!?"
"Why isn't he wearing his bracelets!?" Laguna cried out pitifully.
Hunter's eyes darted to RJ and narrowed. "This is all your fault!" he hissed under his breath.
"I'll take care of it!" she hissed back. She looked up at her grandfather. "You said you wouldn't hurt Hunter any more!" she cried.
*Oh, Hyne, here come the tears...* Squall thought to himself. He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms as his daughter's lower lip began to tremble.
At the mere sign of tears, Laguna backed down. His eyes returned to their usual passive color as his fangs recoiled. "But RJ-"
"You PROMISED!!" RJ sobbed.
Squall studied his father as the older vampire's world seemed to crumble as the first ruby tear slid from the corner of RJ's eyes. "RJ did you have something to do with the bracelets?"
*AH!! He knows me too well!* RJ froze in mid sob and sniffled. She looked down. "Yes..." she whispered quietly.
Laguna, still carrying a look of betrayal grabbed his granddaughter's hand and forced her to at him. "WHY?" he gasped. "He might...he might...do...THINGS..."
*Oh yeah, 'things'...how did you get to be leader of this family?* Squall thought to himself as he watched them.
"He won't do THOSE things!" RJ insisted.
Hunter rolled his eyes. *Psh...I haven't had a chance.*
"Hunter!" a voice snapped to their side. Quistis was walking down the hall, Seifer in tow eating what seemed to be a sandwich. She narrowed her eyes as she telepathically sent back *I think it's time you and your father had a 'talk'.*
Hunter tilted his head to the side and gave his mother a questioning look. *About what?*
*THE talk.*
Immediately, Hunter's eyes shot up and he shook his head rapidly from side to side. He looked almost afraid as he took a step behind RJ. "Did you have your meal yet?" Squall asked.
"You have to hand it to Zell's mom. That woman can cook," Seifer said as he bit into his sandwich. "No wonder he doesn't stop eating."
"Laguna, Squall...Rinoa and I would like to speak to RJ about what happened yesterday, if that's all right." Quistis said casually as she arrived next to the group.
Squall nodded. He looked over at RJ. "Tell them everything you can. We need to know as much as possible," RJ nodded. *I hate to admit it, but compared to this morning, she looks a lot better. She's not as pale...not shaking at all...*
"And Hunter, go with your father." Quistis said.
"Why?" Seifer asked, his mouth stuffed with the sandwich. Lettuce was hanging out of his mouth and Quistis rolled her eyes.
*Why did I marry such an uncouth man...* Quistis thought to herself. She looked at Seifer. *I want you to give him 'the talk'.*
"Whaf talf?" Seifer asked, giving her the same confused look his son gave her earlier as he chewed the last bit of his sandwich.
Quistis narrowed her eyes. *Why do they always put me in positions like this!? Ugh...* She mentally explained and Seifer's eyes shot up.
"Hell freaking no!" he gasped. "That is YOUR department!"
"He's YOUR son! It's YOUR job!" Quistis snapped, putting her hands on her slip waist. She narrowed her sapphire eyes at her husband's emerald ones. "Seifer..."
"Damn!" Seifer growled. He glared at his son. "How old are you?"
Hunter looked at him as if he were crazy. "Eighteen! Hyne, you don't even remember your own son's age!? What kind of father are you!?"
"What are you talking about? I'm a great father! I bet Laguna doesn't know Squall's age!" Seifer retorted proudly.
"Squall just turned 37 last month." Laguna piped.
Quistis and Hunter both gave Seifer a look and the green eyed lycan-witch swore under his breath. "Okay, I just don't care!" Seifer snorted. "And at eighteen shouldn't you already KNOW?"
"I do know! So I don't have to hear it from you." Hunter retorted.
Quistis then turned to her son and raised an questioning eye brow. "HOW?"
There was a long pause as Seifer and Quistis stared at their son, waiting for him to answer. RJ looked at her father and grandfather, unsure of what to do. Before Hunter could answer, Squall turned around and headed back up the hall in silence.
"Okay!" Hunter sighed. "I'll go with the old man."
"Stop calling me that!" Seifer snapped.
"I thought so," Quistis stated. She looked at RJ with a warm smile. "Let's get you some breakfast first and then we'll start."
"Thanks, Mrs. Almasy. Later, Hunter," RJ grinned. She paused before turning around and smirked. "And thanks for last night...you were GREAT." Quistis raised an eyebrow as the snickering teenager turned and walked away, leaving Hunter with a disturbed looking Seifer and a furious looking Laguna.
"Sir..." Hunter began as he looked at Laguna. "I can EXPLAIN."
RJ looked nervously from her mother to Quistis and back as they sat across from her amongst a pile of books and paper in the library. "Okay, baby," her mother told her softly. "We want to know exactly what happened yesterday."
RJ's eyes went wide. "Nothing happened," RJ sighed. "I swear, we just went to bed and slept!"
Rinoa raised an eyebrow and exchanged looks with Quistis before looking back at her daughter. "We meant with Sephiroth. Not Hunter."
Slowly, RJ's face heated up in a blush as she felt like slamming her head against the desk in front of her. "Oh..." she mumbled. She took a deep breath and nodded. "I got out of the shower and it was all steamy because I used hot water. The mirror was really fogged up so I wiped it...but when I looked in the mirror it was Sephiroth...not me..."
RJ shivered slightly and wrapped her arms around herself. Quistis was taking down notes. "Mirror...hmm...RJ, I don't know if you're aware of this, but all the windows were-"
"Locked," RJ nodded. "I know, dad told me to lock them all and never open them. I haven't opened them since the first time."
"What happened then?" Rinoa urged.
"I saw his eyes...I always see his eyes first. They freeze me in place and I can't move..." RJ breathed out. Quistis took note that RJ was staring to grow paler and her breathing became less and less even.
"Baby, take your time," Rinoa assured her. "Just relax."
"I'm fine, mom, really..." RJ insisted. She took, another deep breath and looked up at them. Her eyes seemed glazed over as she began to recall what happened. "I couldn't move and his hands came towards me..." she continued, extending her hands in the fashion that she had seen them come after her. "And they coiled around my neck..."
"Was he trying to choke you?" Quistis asked. RJ shook her head.
"No...he was holding me in place," RJ said. Her voice was now quivering. Her eyes narrowed slightly. "He pulled himself out of the mirror and I tried to scream. I don't even remember if anything came out, but then all I saw was his white hair flying around me...and I felt him bite my neck..." she whispered, touching the spot on her neck softly. "He bit me here..."
"Is that when Hunter came in?" Quistis asked. RJ nodded.
"I think he heard me and came," RJ said. "When he got there, I saw Sephiroth turn his head and then disappear..."
"Hmm..." Quistis mumbled. She looked over at Rinoa. "I think we should call in Hunter."
Seifer sat across from Hunter in silence. The younger of the blondes quietly sat there, casually staring at the wall across from him. It had been over an hour. *I'm way too old for this,* Hunter kept telling himself. *Why did mom even want him to talk to me about this?*
"So...tell me what you know and I'll fill you in on anything you might have screwed up." Seifer stated.
*Oh, Hyne...he's making ME start...great...* Hunter took a deep breath. "I don't know where to begin."
"Begin where you feel comfortable."
*Damn...* "Well...what do you think I should know?" Hunter began.
Seifer mulled over the question a few moments before answering. "I think you should know the basics before you move on. After your first few times, you'll get the hang of it and you'll be as good as your old man."
*Oh good Hyne!* Hunter nearly turned green as he wondered if he could get out of 'talk' by slamming his head against the wall and knocking himself out. *This cannot be happening!*
"You're inexperienced. I guess the Garden doesn't provide as much training as I had hoped for." Seifer continued.
"HOPED FOR!?" Hunter nearly shrieked. *What did he think I was getting myself INTO?!*
"By the time I was your age, I was already the best," Seifer bragged casually as he leaned against the couch. "Maybe you're just a late bloomer."
"I am NOT a late bloomer!" Hunter gasped defensively.
"No need to be ashamed," Seifer assured him with a smirk. "You're still young, you'll get plenty of experience. They'll be plenty of chances."
Hunter's mouth dropped. *Is he serious?*
"I mean...you can't get as good as me, or Kinneas, without practice. You need more experiences. More people. More scenarios and situations. You don't know what you can do until you're put into a certain situation." Seifer stated.
Hunter shook his head and shot up from his chair. "I don't tell me all of that! That's disgusting! And you're acting so casual about it! Does mom even KNOW about all of that? Ugh! I can't believe you even have the gall to SHARE this with me! I don't want to know about that sort of private information!?"
Seifer narrowed his eyes and sat up straight. "Private information? What the hell are you talking about?"
Hunter paused as he stood there, out of breath from his earlier outburst. He narrowed his green eyes and looked back down at his father. "What are YOU talking about?!"
"Using your lycan form in battle!" Seifer exclaimed. He quickly jerked his head back and gave his son a questioning look. "What did you think I was talking about?"
Hunter stood there in silence as his face slowly turned red. *Using my lycan form in battle...* Suddenly, all of his father's earlier words made more, less perverted, sense. *Oh, Hyne...if he realizes-*
"Ahahaha!" Seifer fell back on the couch, grasping his stomach as howls of laughter escaped his parted lips. "You thought...but I meant...and you think...ahahahaha! Wait until the others hear about this!"
"Don't you dare, old man!" Hunter growled. Regardless, Seifer continued to laugh at the expense of his son as Hunter fell back on the couch, growling as he pouted. There was a knock on the door.
"Come...come in!" a still in hysterics Seifer shouted. The door creaked open and Seraphim peaked in.
"Dad, mom wants to talk to Hunter," the tall young blonde said. She raised an eyebrow as she saw her dad slumped back on the couch, laughing like he did that time her Uncle Irvine tripped and fell down muddy hillside, breaking his nose and crushing his hat. "What's going on?"
"NOTHING!" her older brother growled as he sat up. He clamped his hands on his sister's shoulder and turned her around. "Where's mom?"
"In the library with Mrs. Leonheart and your GIRLFRIEND." Seraphim grinned in an obnoxious way.
Hunter rolled his eyes. "She is NOT my girlfriend."
"Yet."
"Exactly." Hunter smirked. Seraphim wrinkled her nose as he pushed her to the side.
"She can do SO much better than you." the younger of the two replied.
"And the Strife's son can do so much better than you, also." Hunter smirked. Seraphim froze.
"How did you know!?" she gasped as she whirled around. Hunter casually walked past her and brushed his perfect blond locks out of his face.
"Hey, I have my ways," Hunter grinned. *I heard the older vampires talking about it yesterday...they're always up to the latest gossip.*
"You better not tell dad!" Seraphim whined as her brother turned the corner. She grumbled.
She heard a voice behind her and winced. "Tell me what?"
"There you are, Hunter," Quistis said as her son walked through the door. He gave his mother a slight wave as he entered. Rinoa was sitting next to her and across from them was RJ. She looked up, large blue orbs rimmed with tears against her pale ivory skin. "Have a seat."
She pointed him to the vacant seat next to RJ and the young man sat down next to her. He reached out and took her cold hand. "Are you okay?" he asked softly. RJ nodded and leaned over, placing her head against him.
Rinoa elbowed Quistis. *See? See? And you said it wasn't too early to prepare for their wedding!*
*Rinoa...* Quistis sighed. *I swear, after all these years, you haven't changed.*
Rinoa merely rolled her eyes and sighed. "Hunter, can we ask you about what you saw yesterday?"
Hunter held his hand up. "Mrs. Leonheart, I assure you that I did not do anything inappropriate to RJ-"
"No, no, no," Rinoa sighed. She ran her hand down her face. "Yesterday with Sephiroth. What did you see? But I'm glad you didn't do anything."
"Mom..." RJ grumbled as she blushed furiously.
"First off, did you hear RJ screaming?" Quistis asked. "Is that how you heard her?"
Hunter slowly shook his head. "No...actually, I was laying on my bed reading that book you gave me," Quistis nodded. "And then all of a sudden, my body just froze and all I could see was RJ...she just looked...terrified..." Hunter mumbled.
"And then what?" Quistis asked.
"I just dropped the book and ran to her room...as I got closer, I started to sense a lot of fear...that's when I heard her screaming...and so I broke the door down and rushed in," Hunter said. He thought for a moment. "When I got there, RJ was wrapped up in this smoky haze..."
"Sephiroth?" Rinoa asked. She looked over at Quistis who nodded.
"Continue, Hunter." his mother told him.
Hunter nodded. "It had glowing green eyes and an open mouth...his fangs were sticking out... but even though he was just as haze, RJ reacted like he was solid."
"Quistis...what do you think?" Rinoa asked. "I mean...other than RJ...I don't think that anyone has actually SEEN Sephiroth the way we remember him."
"Why would RJ see Sephiroth as a solid but Hunter sees him as a-"
"Ghost," Hunter mumbled. Three pairs of eyes fell on him. RJ looked up from where she was nestled against his shoulder. "RJ speaks and connects to the dead. You said that you, dad, Auntie Selphie, Uncle Irvine, and Uncle Zell killed him. NO one sees him solid except-"
"For the one who can speak and connect to the dead...RJ," Quistis mumbled. She covered her face with her hands. "Hyne, it's so simple..."
"He's drinking from RJ to replenish HIS lost blood," Rinoa whispered. She paled and turned to Quistis. "He's using RJ because she has sacred blood like his."
"So he'll keep his ancient vampire powers," Quistis mumbled. "But WHY? Why would he return?"
"I don't give a damn about the reason," Hunter snapped loudly. Rinoa and Quistis looked back at him. "I don't care why he NEEDS RJ. I don't care why he's coming back. I just want him to stop attacking her."
"Hunter..." RJ mumbled as a warm blush spread through her face.
Rinoa smirked. "Hunter, I completely agree."
"But we do have to find out what's going on here." a voice said behind them. Rinoa looked up and smiled as Squall seemed to melt from the shadows of the dim library.
"He's right," another voice said. Seifer came in, followed by Selphie, Irvine, and Zell. "Selphie claims to have found something you might be interested in reading."
"Yep!" Selphie piped, pointing to the books that Irvine was holding. "I found something that might help. I looked up stuff on sacred blood and speaking to the dead, resurrections, and the like."
"See, Irvine," Zell smiled. "And you said it was a fruitless effort."
"I had my money placed on Hell's Gates." Irvine retorted proudly.
"Don't brush that off yet," Quistis said. She stood up and began to help Irvine with the books. "All right, show me what you got."
"Wait a second!" Hunter shouted. "What about RJ? Aren't you going to stop this!?"
"Hunter," RJ mumbled as she tugged on his sleeve. "You can't stop what you don't know."
"We'll find out," Quistis said as she opened the first book to a page that Selphie had marked. There was a wood cut print of a person looking into the mirror, but not seeing themselves. "And soon."