26
Pain.
Pain defined his existence.
No.
The pain was not real, he was not in the real world. This was the Matrix; the pain was not real; he could overcome it.
…
Or not.
But he was alive, and awake… and tied down. Archangel opened his eyes, and groaned as light flooded into them. "Kuso…"
"You are awake." A French voice said with amused haughtiness. Archangel turned his head to the frenchman, unable to understand the English in his pain. The face he knew, however. "M-Merovingian-san…"
"So good to 'ave you back 'ere so soon."
"N-nani…?"
"Do you understand now?" The Merovingian replied in Japanese. "Hai," he answered softly, trying not to worsen his headache. "What happened…?"
"My minion Rafael found you and brought you here before the Agent could take his trophy."
"Trophy?"
"Your wings."
"My… my what!?"
"You are now the proud owner of a pair of wings."
Archangel stared at the Merovingian, then twisted to look behind him. Sure enough, snow-white wings had sprouted from his bare back. "What in…." He could not complete his thought.
"It is the Agent Jameson's work."
Archangel's eyes widened as his mind grew more alert. "You mean he did that to me!?"
The Merovingian nodded. Archangel tried to get up and found he couldn't. "Do you mind explaining why I seem to be tied down?"
"So you could not get away."
Archangel grumbled something in Japanese. "So I am to be bait, then," he stated flatly. "Not bait, exactly. A bargaining chip."
"To be used for what? And does it have to do with Poitin-san at all?"
"No, I 'ave forgiven 'im. 'owever, zere are still other things i want."
Archangel suppressed a groan. "And how will holding me help you achieve them?"
"You will see when the time comes."
More grumbling in Japanese, which, while uncomplimentary, was still polite. There was a soft knock at the door, as if made by a small fist. The Merovingian opened the door. "Yes, Molly?" Archangel turned his head to see a young girl -- a child still -- with black hair say politely, "Cain and Abel would like to know if they're allowed to train me to use assault weapons yet."
The Merovingian groaned. "I can't leave zose morons alone for more zan a minute… of course not, Molly. You are too small." Molly looked a little disappointed. "Are handguns okay?" He thought for a moment, and the nodded. "I suppose so." She brightened. "Thank you!" she cried gleefully before dashing off.
"Imagine... ze recoil would 'ave broken her shoulder!"
Archangel blinked. "She is… human?"
"Zere is something unusual about a human?"
"I would not expect a human child to reside in this place," Archangel replied before changing the subject. "You are going to use me against your two escapees, aren't you?"
"Perhaps."
Which translates to 'yes' in Merovingian-speak… kuso. This is not good.
***
Sekhmet had gone to visit the Oracle for a moment, returning with a plate of the cookies she had made with the intuitive program. "Hey, Marcus?" she called.
"Yes?" he replied
She smiled up at her transformed love, setting the plate down on the table in their small kitchen, giving him a gentle hug. "The Oracle told me to take these back. She wants you to try one." He looked at them, unsure. "Could I touch them?" "You won't know unless you try," Sekhmet replied. He reached down and tried to pick up a cookie.
Nothing. His hand passed through the cookie. "It is no use." Sekhmet's face fell. "Darn… I wanted you to try one." She reached out and picked up the same cookie as his hand came out. Instantly, it became real to the vampire.
Sekhmet's eyes widened. "Marcus…"
His eyes widened, unsure. Sekhmet hesitated, then tentatively raised the cookie to his mouth. He bit it, and then smiled. "I...can taste it." She grinned back. "Do you like it?" He smiled and nodded. "I helped the Oracle make them," she admitted a bit shyly. "You did an excellent job." he smiled.
"Thank you," she replied, sliding her arms around his waist and hugging him. He hugged her back and kissed her on the forehead. She smiled, leaning her head against his chest. "Thank you… for saving me again."
"It was...my pleasure."
"Marcus?"
"Yes?"
"Why did you take me away from him in the first place?"
"I could see you were not a killer."
"How… how did you know?"
"Your eyes. Your sunrises."
She looked up at him. "You… knew what I had been?" He nodded. "Again, from your eyes." "So, that human saying is true," she mused. He gave her an odd look. "They say that the eyes are the window to a person's soul," Sekhmet elaborated. "It's how I knew you wouldn't hurt me." He smiled at her, fangs unintentionally showing.
She reached up to gently caress his cheek. "I love you, Marcus…" "I also love you." he replied, smiling still. Her hand withdrew to slide around his waist as she rubbed her cheek against his chest, a semi-purr rumbling from her throat. He held her close, not even beginning to let her go.
"Marcus?"
"Yes?"
"Kiss me? Please?" She looked up at him. He brushed the hair from her face and kissed her lightly on the lips. She reached up, wrapping her arms around his neck and shoulders and standing on her tiptoes to kiss him back. He sunk deeper into the kiss, holding her tighter She replied eagerly, her tail sliding against his leg as she snuggled closer to him.
A certain navy-haired man stood outside the Oracle's door, a black trench coat wrapped tightly around his lanky frame, his face revealing no sign of the constant pain he was in as his back slowly healed from the theft of his wings. At last, he raised a hand and knocked twice.
The door opened before the first beat struck wood.
Rafael hesitated, looking at the program before him. At last he asked, "May I enter?" "Go right ahead." The Oracle replied. He hesitated once more before doing so, obviously not too comfortable with what he was doing. "Please, sit." She gestured to a couch along one of the walls
Rafael nodded and obeyed, using one of his hands to slide his ponytail off his shoulder and behind him. "Candy?" "No, thank you," he replied, working up the nerve to ask her what he had come to ask her.
She pulled out a cigarette and took a drag. "I can wait here all night."
"But I've not much time… Oracle… there is a girl, a human girl, in my care. She… she's plugged into the Matrix, but she resides in the château of the Merovingian. I…," it was hard for him to voice his fear.
"You're wondering if she might be taken over by an Agent."
He nodded. "I don't want to lose her… but an Agent in the château would be bad for us all, especially Molly." "It is a very real possibility, I'm afraid." The Oracle replied. "Is there anything I can do to keep that from happening?" he asked worriedly. "I… she saved me from deletion, and I don't want anything to happen to her."
"As long as Molly is tied into the matrix, she's software...her code would need to be reconfigured." She replied. Rafe bit his lip. "Is there a safe way of doing it?"
"You would have to ask an expert on altering codes."
"The Alchemist?"
She nodded. Rafe considered this, then nodded. "Thank you, Oracle." "Happy to oblige." she smiled. "A cookie for the road?" He politely declined. "I must return to him before my absence is duly noted…" Left unspoken was Rafe's suspicion that the Merovingian already knew about his little visit.
"Take care of yourself...and her."
"I intend to." Rafe nodded to her and turned to leave… then stopped as he saw Seraph barring his path.
"Hello."
"Seraph," Rafael replied, eyeing him warily.
"Your wings?"
Rage flooded the angel's face. "An agent," he spat. Seraph scowled. "I have heard of him... he is in town?" A nod. "Hit me and some kid called Archangel… forced wings on the kid; I got to him before Jameson could steal 'em."
Seraph thought for a moment. "Where did you last see him?"
"A rebel exit, bleeding all over the floor." Courtesy of me, he didn't add.
"I am curious to know the location of this exit."
"Going on an agent-hunt, Seraph?" Rafe dredged up the memory and told him.
"Something along those lines."
"Good luck. You'll need it."