Chapter 27:
Throbbing... That's what it was: a dull throbbing in his head caused by one wicked blast of electricity. Wizardmon's blast hurt like hell, leaving him a frightful body ache while his quarry was getting away.
How annoying!
Now he'd have to restart the whole tedious business of tracking down the magic-bearing nuisance again. It really was almost too much- even for the chance to get back into Myotismon's good graces.
Damnation, but his head felt like it was splitting! And that was saying something considering that the vast majority of his Rookie body was mostly comprised of his head. Carefully rolling into an upright position, Demidevimon opened his eyes and staggered to his feet only to see someone's set of shoes sitting there before him, blocking most of his view.
Big shoes filled by big feet which were supporting one heck of a big human. A human who was smiling with...
Fangs?!
Before Demidevimon could so much as open his mouth, he was grabbed and held upside down.
"Hey, hey, hey- careful with the digimon!" the virus screamed as one of his wings was stretched out almost to the breaking point. "Sheesh! Does it look like I'm made of elastic to you? I'm not-thank you very much!"
The Enforcer vampire smiled unpleasantly. "Digimon. You will come with me."
Demidevimon gulped. "Okay. fine, whatever." He feigned indifference as his right foot reached to summon one of his dart attacks. "Take this, mammothman!" As soon as it was fully materialized, however, his captor had it in his free hand, large fingers crushing the vial into a thousand splinters of glass. The rookie stared in disbelief as the wounded 'human' calmly plucked out the glass shards with his mouth, sucking in his blood like it was merely ice cream drippings. The wounds healed even as they were licked clean.
Humans could be vampires?!
"Hehehe.. um.. I hope you didn't take that mammothman remark personally. It was a meant compliment I swea---hey!"
Demidevimon found his vision obscured as he was roughfully thrust into a cloth sack.
-----------------------o---------------------------
Nicholas was just approaching Toronto University from the east when his hackles rose. Yellow eyes glowing softly, he quickly dove to the ground-- landing underneath a maple tree-- and motioned for the others to remain quiet. Natalie hugged the trunk while Wizardmon readied himself to give any sort of protection he could muster up. Before long they all heard a rustling sound followed by a dark shape alighting not far from where they were.
"De Brabant?" a male's cautious voice called out.
"Merlin," Nicholas blinked and moved out a bit so that he could be seen. "What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you," the dark-haired vampire stepped out into the moonlight as well, a thin smile on his face by way of greeting. In his right hand he carried a laptop briefcase. "We did have an appointment, remember? You ordered some special documents from me."
"Yes... but," Nick frowned. Was there something wrong with Merlin's eyes? He seemed overly anxious about something and simply delivering Wizardmon's fake identification documents just didn't explain his friend's nervousness.
"I've been keeping watch via the CN tower for what seems like hours. Do you have any idea of what sort of trouble is brewing in the city?" Merlin held up his hand and extended three fingers. "Three! Three of them are wandering the city-most specifically the Raven, your precinct, and the morgue--- and a certain warehouse on Gateway Lane."
Nick felt his fangs descend as a chill went through him. Merlin could only be talking about the Enforcers that Lacroix had warned him would take an interest in his digimon. But how had they found out about Wizardmon to begin with?
Of course- the attempted robbery followed by the show at the precinct. Add to that--- if the Enforcer's spies were on the ball and when weren't they? --- the call Myra or Schanke probably sent out after Demidevimon disrupted Jenny's party. His name would be bound to all of those so, yes, they were undoubtedly looking for him. More than likely the Enforcers had already been in contact with Janette and Lacroix. God knew he'd get no help from Lacroix-his sire would be happy to hand Wizardmon over to them. The digimon's childlike qualities would earn some sympathy from Janette, but that would undoubtedly be negated by her well-founded fear of the authorities. Nicholas rubbed his face with both hands. What to do? He sensed Natalie come up from behind him to study the other vampire a bit; likely committing his face to memory. While her main concern was for him, she'd really not had the chance to meet with very many of the vampire community that fascinated her so. It was a fascination he tried not to foster for her own safety.
"Nick?" Natalie asked, obviously ready to ask a slew of questions. But Merlin was not done. He cut her off, eyes on DeBrabant.
"I've got more news, but I don't know if it's good or bad. It's a message for your-"
"Hold on. "An increasingly frustrated Dr. Lambert held up her hands. "I don't like being kept in the dark-figuratively speaking. Someone mind filling in the blanks for me?"
She frowned as De Brabant shook his head. "The more you know, the more at risk you'll be, Nat."
"I think I'm pretty much knee deep in it already, Nick," Lambert retorted with some acidity. "So spill."
Natalie was right, Nick thought wearily. The Enforcers were bound to find out about her now, so keeping her ignorant of them would do her no good. "Enforcers are exceptionally powerful vampires whose job it is to keep the reality of our kind from becoming known to mortals," he explained with a sigh. "They aren't known for allowing much leeway and even Elders fear their power." He noted that Merlin flinched a bit at the mention of 'Elders'. Stepping a foot closer to Merlin, he let a deep growl issue from his throat. "You went to Lacroix!"
Retreating a step in the face of the older vampire's ire, Merlin ran his fingers through his hair in a nervous gesture. "I wanted to find out who Gennai was since he claimed to know your immigrant friend."
"Gennai contacted you?"
The computer expert watched with interest as a short 'child' came into his view- the selfsame being who he had created false identification for. A confused expression was filling the large green eyes as they looked between the Belgian ex-warrior and himself. So this was an artificial life form? How fascinating! "Hello," he paused and smiled while using the pseudonym to address the alien, ". Sven."
Wizardmon looked both hopeful and skeptical as he boldly stared back at Merlin. "What did he say?" the mage asked.
Natalie felt like demanding a program guide again. "Who?"
"Gennai," Wizardmon frowned at her interruption even as he explained, "is the Caretaker of my world. That he would be looking for me is extraordinary in itself for he usually only concerns himself with dire threats to the Digital World. I can't imagine why he would wish to speak to me, but it must be terribly important!"
Merlin nodded. "I think it is. The communication was filled with static, but he mentioned the need for haste, that the Digital World and Real ones were in danger, you were needed to deliver a message, and, a 'gatomon' needs something. and, oh yes, he wants you to contact him right away using the same line." He noticed that the digimon had gone a bit pale. "Are you okay?"
"Gatomon needs.?" Wizardmon leaped forward far faster than Merlin had expected the digital monster could and plucked the laptop out of the vampire's hands, growling as he struggled to open it.
"Hey-that's delicate equipment!" Merlin protested.
"Then open it," Wizardmon snarled, taking the three aback with the ferocity in his voice, "before I do so by blasting it open!" He felt Nicholas's hands take hold of his arms and gently apply pressure until the mage was forced to relinquish the computer back to its owner. "No--" Wizardmon started to say, but the protest turned into a sob. De Brabant hugged him from behind as Wizardmon panted for breath. "If something has happened to Gatomon--- !"
"I'm sure she's okay," the former knight said in as soothing a voice as he possessed. "Getting bent out of shape won't do anything but make you sick. Besides, if she needs something then she must still be alive, right?"
tbc
Throbbing... That's what it was: a dull throbbing in his head caused by one wicked blast of electricity. Wizardmon's blast hurt like hell, leaving him a frightful body ache while his quarry was getting away.
How annoying!
Now he'd have to restart the whole tedious business of tracking down the magic-bearing nuisance again. It really was almost too much- even for the chance to get back into Myotismon's good graces.
Damnation, but his head felt like it was splitting! And that was saying something considering that the vast majority of his Rookie body was mostly comprised of his head. Carefully rolling into an upright position, Demidevimon opened his eyes and staggered to his feet only to see someone's set of shoes sitting there before him, blocking most of his view.
Big shoes filled by big feet which were supporting one heck of a big human. A human who was smiling with...
Fangs?!
Before Demidevimon could so much as open his mouth, he was grabbed and held upside down.
"Hey, hey, hey- careful with the digimon!" the virus screamed as one of his wings was stretched out almost to the breaking point. "Sheesh! Does it look like I'm made of elastic to you? I'm not-thank you very much!"
The Enforcer vampire smiled unpleasantly. "Digimon. You will come with me."
Demidevimon gulped. "Okay. fine, whatever." He feigned indifference as his right foot reached to summon one of his dart attacks. "Take this, mammothman!" As soon as it was fully materialized, however, his captor had it in his free hand, large fingers crushing the vial into a thousand splinters of glass. The rookie stared in disbelief as the wounded 'human' calmly plucked out the glass shards with his mouth, sucking in his blood like it was merely ice cream drippings. The wounds healed even as they were licked clean.
Humans could be vampires?!
"Hehehe.. um.. I hope you didn't take that mammothman remark personally. It was a meant compliment I swea---hey!"
Demidevimon found his vision obscured as he was roughfully thrust into a cloth sack.
-----------------------o---------------------------
Nicholas was just approaching Toronto University from the east when his hackles rose. Yellow eyes glowing softly, he quickly dove to the ground-- landing underneath a maple tree-- and motioned for the others to remain quiet. Natalie hugged the trunk while Wizardmon readied himself to give any sort of protection he could muster up. Before long they all heard a rustling sound followed by a dark shape alighting not far from where they were.
"De Brabant?" a male's cautious voice called out.
"Merlin," Nicholas blinked and moved out a bit so that he could be seen. "What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you," the dark-haired vampire stepped out into the moonlight as well, a thin smile on his face by way of greeting. In his right hand he carried a laptop briefcase. "We did have an appointment, remember? You ordered some special documents from me."
"Yes... but," Nick frowned. Was there something wrong with Merlin's eyes? He seemed overly anxious about something and simply delivering Wizardmon's fake identification documents just didn't explain his friend's nervousness.
"I've been keeping watch via the CN tower for what seems like hours. Do you have any idea of what sort of trouble is brewing in the city?" Merlin held up his hand and extended three fingers. "Three! Three of them are wandering the city-most specifically the Raven, your precinct, and the morgue--- and a certain warehouse on Gateway Lane."
Nick felt his fangs descend as a chill went through him. Merlin could only be talking about the Enforcers that Lacroix had warned him would take an interest in his digimon. But how had they found out about Wizardmon to begin with?
Of course- the attempted robbery followed by the show at the precinct. Add to that--- if the Enforcer's spies were on the ball and when weren't they? --- the call Myra or Schanke probably sent out after Demidevimon disrupted Jenny's party. His name would be bound to all of those so, yes, they were undoubtedly looking for him. More than likely the Enforcers had already been in contact with Janette and Lacroix. God knew he'd get no help from Lacroix-his sire would be happy to hand Wizardmon over to them. The digimon's childlike qualities would earn some sympathy from Janette, but that would undoubtedly be negated by her well-founded fear of the authorities. Nicholas rubbed his face with both hands. What to do? He sensed Natalie come up from behind him to study the other vampire a bit; likely committing his face to memory. While her main concern was for him, she'd really not had the chance to meet with very many of the vampire community that fascinated her so. It was a fascination he tried not to foster for her own safety.
"Nick?" Natalie asked, obviously ready to ask a slew of questions. But Merlin was not done. He cut her off, eyes on DeBrabant.
"I've got more news, but I don't know if it's good or bad. It's a message for your-"
"Hold on. "An increasingly frustrated Dr. Lambert held up her hands. "I don't like being kept in the dark-figuratively speaking. Someone mind filling in the blanks for me?"
She frowned as De Brabant shook his head. "The more you know, the more at risk you'll be, Nat."
"I think I'm pretty much knee deep in it already, Nick," Lambert retorted with some acidity. "So spill."
Natalie was right, Nick thought wearily. The Enforcers were bound to find out about her now, so keeping her ignorant of them would do her no good. "Enforcers are exceptionally powerful vampires whose job it is to keep the reality of our kind from becoming known to mortals," he explained with a sigh. "They aren't known for allowing much leeway and even Elders fear their power." He noted that Merlin flinched a bit at the mention of 'Elders'. Stepping a foot closer to Merlin, he let a deep growl issue from his throat. "You went to Lacroix!"
Retreating a step in the face of the older vampire's ire, Merlin ran his fingers through his hair in a nervous gesture. "I wanted to find out who Gennai was since he claimed to know your immigrant friend."
"Gennai contacted you?"
The computer expert watched with interest as a short 'child' came into his view- the selfsame being who he had created false identification for. A confused expression was filling the large green eyes as they looked between the Belgian ex-warrior and himself. So this was an artificial life form? How fascinating! "Hello," he paused and smiled while using the pseudonym to address the alien, ". Sven."
Wizardmon looked both hopeful and skeptical as he boldly stared back at Merlin. "What did he say?" the mage asked.
Natalie felt like demanding a program guide again. "Who?"
"Gennai," Wizardmon frowned at her interruption even as he explained, "is the Caretaker of my world. That he would be looking for me is extraordinary in itself for he usually only concerns himself with dire threats to the Digital World. I can't imagine why he would wish to speak to me, but it must be terribly important!"
Merlin nodded. "I think it is. The communication was filled with static, but he mentioned the need for haste, that the Digital World and Real ones were in danger, you were needed to deliver a message, and, a 'gatomon' needs something. and, oh yes, he wants you to contact him right away using the same line." He noticed that the digimon had gone a bit pale. "Are you okay?"
"Gatomon needs.?" Wizardmon leaped forward far faster than Merlin had expected the digital monster could and plucked the laptop out of the vampire's hands, growling as he struggled to open it.
"Hey-that's delicate equipment!" Merlin protested.
"Then open it," Wizardmon snarled, taking the three aback with the ferocity in his voice, "before I do so by blasting it open!" He felt Nicholas's hands take hold of his arms and gently apply pressure until the mage was forced to relinquish the computer back to its owner. "No--" Wizardmon started to say, but the protest turned into a sob. De Brabant hugged him from behind as Wizardmon panted for breath. "If something has happened to Gatomon--- !"
"I'm sure she's okay," the former knight said in as soothing a voice as he possessed. "Getting bent out of shape won't do anything but make you sick. Besides, if she needs something then she must still be alive, right?"
tbc