15
Valkyrie stopped the motorcycle. "We're here," she said, looking up at the sprawling manor. Marcus slid off, shuddering involuntarily. "Marc, a favour?"
"Yes?"
"If we run into them… let me handle it?"
He stopped, and then nodded. "Alright." Valkyrie smiled. "Thanks. It's a family thing…" He nodded again. "Let us not delay any longer." "Right," she agreed, leading him to the side of the manor. "Hold on a moment," she whispered, before her body became insubstantial and slid through the wall. She opened a window for him and helped him inside.
He stepped after her, unholstering his characteristic pistol. She drew no weapon for the moment. "Dungeons?"
"She's probably in the lower sections... and they are considerably harder to enter."
Valkyrie gave him a look. "Consider who you're talking to." He chuckled lightly. "I believe there to be a trapdoor under the rug." "Which rug, lover-boy?" she asked. "We're in Frenchie's house, remember?"
He thought for a moment. "I cannot remember."
She gave him a look. "Well, then we'll have to take the long way, won't we?" "I do know the rug is one of the ones in this main hall, however." He gestured to the floor. She grinned and went incorporeal, sliding underneath the floor. Marcus waited cautiously, gun still out. She popped up a little ways away. "Found it!"
Marcus nodded. "Find the trigger?"
"Umm… help me out here."
"It should be a lever... or a statue... or something that looks moveable."
She dropped out of sight; after a few moments, she popped the lid. "Thank you." Marcus replied, bowing lightly as he rushed to the door. "Nothin' to it," she replied as he ran through her before she turned solid again. He halted. "Does that hurt at all?"
"Nah. Just feels really weird."
He gave her an odd look as he started to cautiously descend the stairs. Valkyrie ignored the look as she followed, toying with the purple ribbon tied around her right arm. They travelled quietly down the hallway, Marcus peaking into each window, to see if the cat girl was anywhere to be found.
Valkyrie kept an eye out for any of the Merovingian's loyal programs.
Finally, Marcus halted. "Sekhmet?"
A sleepy male voice with a trace of a German accent muttered, "Whazzat?... oi, Kätzchen. Wake up."
"Sekhmet? Are you alright? Who is in there with you?"
"Relax, Vampir," the same voice answered. "She's fine, but she's damn hard to wake up… Kätzchen, your boyfriend's here."
"Marcus?"
"It's me."
"Marcus!" A startled yelp from her roommate, and Sekhmet was at the door, her fingers coming through the window to try and touch his face. Marcus smiled. "Stand back. I'm going to try to shoot the lock off."
"Marcus!" Valkyrie called. "It's them!" She stared at the Twins. They advanced, quickly becoming immaterial and sliding through the floor. The female followed suit, smiling darkly at them. "Hey, boys," she said, sounding smug.
"Our sister graces us with her presence?" One smirked evilly. "For a short time only. So, have you two picked names yet, or is it still One and Two?" she replied sweetly. "One and Two." They began to circle her. Marcus pulled his gun. "Marcus," Valkyrie said. "Hurry up." She watched both One and Two carefully.
Marcus shot several times into the door, around the handle, and then gave it a swift kick. It cracked slightly, but held true. "It must be metal reinforced..."
"I'd help," came the German's voice, "but those damn werewolves took my gun." He shot a few more rounds. Suddenly, the twins lunged for their "sister", slashing deeply with their razors.
She dodged out of the way, slashing back with a razor of her own. They both dodged back, Two then coming in and cutting wide again. Marcus emptied his entire clip into the door, and then kicked once more. Still no good.
Sekhmet whimpered as she waited; Valkyrie ducked under his blow and struck at his stomach. A slash went across his stomach, which slowly started to heal...although not as quickly as other wounds did. The female ghost smirked. Her smirk was interrupted as another razor slashed at her back
Valkyrie let out a small cry, going solid. The wound stayed with her. The twins replied in kind, both solidifying and slashing out. She phased automatically, but her first wound still did not heal.
The twins also phased, chasing her wherever she went. The vampire kicked the door once more. "It's not working!"
Valkyrie tried to take on her older brothers, but she was younger, smaller, and not as skilled at fighting. One of the Twins… it was impossible to tell which… rushed forward and smashed his fist into her gut, while another elbowed her in the back of the head. The female groaned and tried to lash back out at her brothers, but she was reeling from pain. Another fist slammed out for her face, while her stomach was pounded once more.
She fell, trying to rise and fight despite her pain. A boot struck her face. Valkyrie groaned and lay still. They turned their attention to Marcus after smiling in satisfaction. "Marcus!" Sekhmet cried in warning. He raised his gun, knowing it would do him no good.
Schwarz drew Sekhmet away. "Don't watch," he said softly.
He emptied the clip at the incorporeal Twins, even tried to fight back, but it was to no avail. Fists struck him repeatedly, razor slashes covered his body, until, finally, the vampire collapsed.
Not once did he try to escape.
Schwarz watched all this with fury smouldering in his eyes. "You two will get what's coming to you," he said softly, holding the sobbing catgirl. They smirked coldly at the pair before dragging the would-be rescuers away... to somewhere. "M-marcus…," Sekhmet whispered. Schwarz stroked her hair, looking to the ceiling. "Will…"
"Poni!" Red cried as he burst into the cockpit. "Merv's got Schwarz!" Poni's head snapped to him. "What? Bloody fuckin' hell.." "I've gotta go back!" the Irishman added. He was scared. "Like hell ya do!" Poni barked back. "If I don't go, he'll kill 'er!" he snapped.
"'He'll kill 'er anyway... an' you too if you go." She retorted.
"But if I go, I'll have a chance t' save 'er…"
"Not if ya go alone, ya won't."
"But…"
"Poitin-san, hush," Archangel said quietly.
"Pyre, ya think yer ready for a field test?" The blond/red-head nodded. "Definitely." The two males looked at each other. "Field test?"
"Aye. She's been trained. Now we see if th' trainin's been put ta good use."
Red was lost, but he shrugged and gave up. Archangel walked to his captain. "Epona-san… do you wish for me to come as well?" "That depends...will ya be fine on yer own, Salvo?" The masculine young woman nodded. "Definitely."
Archangel bowed. "Let's go, then."
In no time, the four rebels were jacked in and on their way to the Matrix...and, most likely, into a trap.
"It looks like our sleeping beauties awaken." The Merovingian mused as his captives awoke.
Valkyrie sat up, rubbing the back of her head where she'd been hit, glaring at her brothers as she did so. "I was awake." "I am still 'alf right." He mused. They were both strapped to operating tables. Her eyes widened as she realised this, and she phased out of her bindings. "You are free to go," the Merovingian waved a hand dismissively, "so long as you do not attempt to free anyone."
She frowned. "And you're lettin' me go… why?"
"I 'ave no use for you."
"I feel so loved," she muttered, shooting the Twins a dark look.
"What are you waiting for? Leave. Shoo!"
She obeyed, walking by Marcus and whispering, "Sorry."
"No need to be...you did all you could."
She passed by Two on her way out. "This isn't over… brother." "We feel sorry for you, then," he replied. "Feel sorry for yourselves," she advised as she left.
"Well, now that ze riff-raff is gone, how do you feel, Marcus?"
The vampire said nothing. "You will be more talkative after your reprogramming... assuming I let you keep your mouth, of course," the Merovingian added ferally. "Prepare the chamber. Let's see if we can add some submission to your protocols." Silence followed this statement once more.