CHAPTER 4
COME TO PUNISH ME...
"Were you expecting me to stay locked up forever, Nicholas? That I'd just lay down and rot? You know me better than that. I always find a way out. And nothing can keep us apart for too long."
"I-I didn't..." Wolfwood stuttered as he tried his hardest to regain himself. Merryl, Millie, and Vash were all surprised by his sudden demeanor. He looked positively terrified.
The stranger, Alex evidently was his name, brought one of his black claws up, and leveled one of the long, pointed fingers at Millie's neck. When Wolfwood saw the glinting metal of those claws, he sputtered. "Th-the Nightmare Talons!"
"Reforged, piece by piece" Alex cackled over Millie's shoulder. "And mastered once again by someone with the strength to use them." He pressed the tip of his talon against Millie's neck, causing her to flinch with pain.
"Don't touch her!" Vash shouted as he whipped his gun from beneath his coat. He took aim and fired, but in a flash of movement that put even Vash the Stampede himself to shame, Alex shoved Millie aside, barrel rolled across the ground, Vash's shots flying straight over him. He stopped at Vash's ankles and attempted to slash at him with his claws, but Vash hastily leapt aside, stumbling and falling onto his back.
Before Alex could press the attack, more shots were pointed at him, this time from Merryl, who had popped her multitude of small pistols back from their positions under her coat. But in a flash he was not only back on his feet, but in fact leapt high into the air, somersaulting over the head's of Vash and Millie, landing directly in front of Merryl. He grabbed her hands with his metal claws, and crushed the small pistols in his grip. Merryl had enough time to see the white toothed grin he flashed at her, and then blacked out when he slammed his forehead against hers.
"Now, Nicholas..." Alex hissed as he spun to face the wandering priest. But much to his surprise, as well as that of Vash and Millie, Wolfwood had fled the scene, and was already well down the street. "Get back here Nicholas!" Alex roared. He began chasing after his prey.
Wolfwood's attention was only on the street in front of him. All thoughts of his companions and even of the monster pursuing him were gone. All he could think of was putting as much distance between the two of them as possible. "You can't get away from me! I'll chase you to the ends of the earth!" Alex shouted from behind him. This only fueled Wolfwood's desire to get away.
But Alex had other plans. He once again leapt into the air, propelling himself with the force of his powerful legs. He did a perfect flip straight over Wolfwood's head, landing flat on his feet in front of him. Wolfwood ground to a halt, his feet kicking out ahead of him, sending him sprawling onto his back. He gazed up at the nightmare that stood before him, and tried his best to scramble away as Alex advanced.
"You can't run away from me, Nicholas..." Alex growled as he stared down at the object of his hunt. "There is nothing that can keep us from facing up to our destiny, together." He reached down, grasped Wolfwood's collar with one of those terrible claws, and hauled him to his feet, off his feet. He leveled one outstretched claw right before Wolfwood's eyes, ready to strike. "Time to join all your friends...in hell."
One bullet tore the tip of the claw that was about to stab Wolfwood away. Two more ripped the front of his shirt off, sending the priest back onto the ground, some shreds of cloth remaining in Alex's hand. Wolfwood took in the situation, and then uttered a silent prayer of thanks. Alex stood, dumbfounded until he turned his head and saw Vash, Merryl, and Millie running up to them.
Vash took steady aim, ready to take this strange man's head off if he had to. But then, much to Vash's surprise, Alex seemed to ignore him completely. He knelt down and picked up the piece of the claw that Vash had shot off, and examined it regretfully. He held up the damaged hand and narrows his eyes.
"Damn" he muttered.
"I don't know who you are, or why you attacked us, but there's got to be a way we can work this out" Vash said over his gun. But Alex just went on ignoring him as he matched up the broken tip to its claw. He frowned and grunted, thinking of the work he'd have to do to repair it. "Hey, are you even paying attention to me!" Vash shouted, losing his posture for a moment as he swung his arms in the air, trying to gain his enemies attention.
Wolfwood caught the flash in Alex's eyes, knew what was going to happen, and shouted.
"Girls, look out!"
But the words came too late. In a flash of motion, Alex threw the broken tip, and it landed in Millie's flesh. She gave a startled gasp and stared at the point sticking out of her hand. Her eyes went large, and she loosed a horrible scream. She collapsed to her knees, clutching her injured hand.
Vash turned to take aim back at Alex, but he stood up, his damaged claw raised up.
"There's venom in each talon" he said, a cocky grin working its away what little of his face they could see. "I'm the only one who knows how to concoct the antidote. Nicholas here can vouch for that."
"He's right Vash" Wolfwood was standing now. He faced his mysterious assailant, his face grim and determined.
"What?" For the first time the cold, confident demeanor of Alex wore away. He looked at Wolfwood, his shock evident. He looked back at Vash. "You mean to say that he's really Vash the Stampede?" His mouth hung open for a moment, then resumed its evil smile. "Ah...so now even the self proclaimed savior of the lambs is allying himself with murderers and outlaws...dammit, I love it!" He clapped his metal hands together in a clap of approval.
"What's it going to take to get that antidote?" Vash demanded, trying his best to look imposing, which was difficult, considering how confused he was.
"Give me what I want." Alex turned his glare back onto Wolfwood.
"No way!" Merryl started to say. But Wolfwood held up a hand, silencing her.
"No, Merryl. I have to do this eventually..." he stared at the ground, sighed heavily, and then looked back up at Alex. "Give her the antidote now. I'll go get my cross while you treat her..."
"And pit my talons against your cross while they are damaged? You know me better than that, Nicholas." He held one arm straight out to his side and pointed toward the mountains outside of the town. "Meet me there, on the summit of the cliffs, tomorrow, at noon. Come alone."
"If I promise, you'll give her the antidote now?" Alex grimaced and nodded his head. Wolfwood stepped forward, without hesitation, and held his hand out. Alex grinned wickedly as he clasped the Wolfwood's hand with his metal claw, and they shook briefly.
"You've sold your soul, Nicholas. And you know it." He stepped away from Wolfwood, walked over to Millie, who was laying on the ground, tears of pain staining her face. He jabbed her hard in the arm with one of his talons, and Millie screamed.
"Hey!" Vash shouted, jumping forward, but Alex silenced him as he stood.
"Only enough to keep her alive for another day. The full amount will come at the sealing of our bargain" he said over his shoulder. "The cliffs, tomorrow, alone. It will be an even trade off. One soul for another." He pulled his cloak closer around him and stalked off into the night.
"Don't you worry, sweetie. Its going to be all right." Wolfwood held Millie's good hand in his, stroking her skin gently. He was seated right beside her as she lay in her bed. Her injured hand was bandaged. She had fallen into a painful sleep, and even now her face was contorted, letting her companions know the agony she was in.
"Who was that guy, Wolfwood?" Vash said from his position, leaning against the wall. Merryl sat in a chair next to him, watching as her friend labored against the toxin in her sleep.
"He's a demon, Vash. Come straight from hell to punish me for my sins."
"Talk sense, will you!"
"Are you actually going to do it?" Merryl asked, breaking into the conversation.
"I don't have a choice. He meant it when he said he's the only one who knows how to make the antidote."
"Do you want one of us to come with you, just in case he has something up his sleeve?"
"I'm sure that he does. But I have to go alone. This is something I have to do, just him and me. I've put it off for too long." Vash and Merryl both looked at him, their minds confused, their hearts aching. They could feel the pain that Wolfwood radiated as they talked about it.
"What does this guy have on you?" Vash asked as he came alongside the bed to look at Millie.
"It's a long story, Vash. I don't want to tell it right now. You two better get some rest."
"Are you sure? I could watch Millie. You need rest. You'll need it tomorrow, I have a feeling." Merryl tried to sound more optimistic, but at the moment she had never dreaded the future more.
"No, its okay. I'll watch her. Please." Vash and Merry left without a word. Wolfwood remained seated by Millie's side, holding her hand. But his mind was a whole lifetime away. And instead of Millie's groans of pain, he heard the sounds of a gunshot, of a woman dying, and of two children's tears...
"Were you expecting me to stay locked up forever, Nicholas? That I'd just lay down and rot? You know me better than that. I always find a way out. And nothing can keep us apart for too long."
"I-I didn't..." Wolfwood stuttered as he tried his hardest to regain himself. Merryl, Millie, and Vash were all surprised by his sudden demeanor. He looked positively terrified.
The stranger, Alex evidently was his name, brought one of his black claws up, and leveled one of the long, pointed fingers at Millie's neck. When Wolfwood saw the glinting metal of those claws, he sputtered. "Th-the Nightmare Talons!"
"Reforged, piece by piece" Alex cackled over Millie's shoulder. "And mastered once again by someone with the strength to use them." He pressed the tip of his talon against Millie's neck, causing her to flinch with pain.
"Don't touch her!" Vash shouted as he whipped his gun from beneath his coat. He took aim and fired, but in a flash of movement that put even Vash the Stampede himself to shame, Alex shoved Millie aside, barrel rolled across the ground, Vash's shots flying straight over him. He stopped at Vash's ankles and attempted to slash at him with his claws, but Vash hastily leapt aside, stumbling and falling onto his back.
Before Alex could press the attack, more shots were pointed at him, this time from Merryl, who had popped her multitude of small pistols back from their positions under her coat. But in a flash he was not only back on his feet, but in fact leapt high into the air, somersaulting over the head's of Vash and Millie, landing directly in front of Merryl. He grabbed her hands with his metal claws, and crushed the small pistols in his grip. Merryl had enough time to see the white toothed grin he flashed at her, and then blacked out when he slammed his forehead against hers.
"Now, Nicholas..." Alex hissed as he spun to face the wandering priest. But much to his surprise, as well as that of Vash and Millie, Wolfwood had fled the scene, and was already well down the street. "Get back here Nicholas!" Alex roared. He began chasing after his prey.
Wolfwood's attention was only on the street in front of him. All thoughts of his companions and even of the monster pursuing him were gone. All he could think of was putting as much distance between the two of them as possible. "You can't get away from me! I'll chase you to the ends of the earth!" Alex shouted from behind him. This only fueled Wolfwood's desire to get away.
But Alex had other plans. He once again leapt into the air, propelling himself with the force of his powerful legs. He did a perfect flip straight over Wolfwood's head, landing flat on his feet in front of him. Wolfwood ground to a halt, his feet kicking out ahead of him, sending him sprawling onto his back. He gazed up at the nightmare that stood before him, and tried his best to scramble away as Alex advanced.
"You can't run away from me, Nicholas..." Alex growled as he stared down at the object of his hunt. "There is nothing that can keep us from facing up to our destiny, together." He reached down, grasped Wolfwood's collar with one of those terrible claws, and hauled him to his feet, off his feet. He leveled one outstretched claw right before Wolfwood's eyes, ready to strike. "Time to join all your friends...in hell."
One bullet tore the tip of the claw that was about to stab Wolfwood away. Two more ripped the front of his shirt off, sending the priest back onto the ground, some shreds of cloth remaining in Alex's hand. Wolfwood took in the situation, and then uttered a silent prayer of thanks. Alex stood, dumbfounded until he turned his head and saw Vash, Merryl, and Millie running up to them.
Vash took steady aim, ready to take this strange man's head off if he had to. But then, much to Vash's surprise, Alex seemed to ignore him completely. He knelt down and picked up the piece of the claw that Vash had shot off, and examined it regretfully. He held up the damaged hand and narrows his eyes.
"Damn" he muttered.
"I don't know who you are, or why you attacked us, but there's got to be a way we can work this out" Vash said over his gun. But Alex just went on ignoring him as he matched up the broken tip to its claw. He frowned and grunted, thinking of the work he'd have to do to repair it. "Hey, are you even paying attention to me!" Vash shouted, losing his posture for a moment as he swung his arms in the air, trying to gain his enemies attention.
Wolfwood caught the flash in Alex's eyes, knew what was going to happen, and shouted.
"Girls, look out!"
But the words came too late. In a flash of motion, Alex threw the broken tip, and it landed in Millie's flesh. She gave a startled gasp and stared at the point sticking out of her hand. Her eyes went large, and she loosed a horrible scream. She collapsed to her knees, clutching her injured hand.
Vash turned to take aim back at Alex, but he stood up, his damaged claw raised up.
"There's venom in each talon" he said, a cocky grin working its away what little of his face they could see. "I'm the only one who knows how to concoct the antidote. Nicholas here can vouch for that."
"He's right Vash" Wolfwood was standing now. He faced his mysterious assailant, his face grim and determined.
"What?" For the first time the cold, confident demeanor of Alex wore away. He looked at Wolfwood, his shock evident. He looked back at Vash. "You mean to say that he's really Vash the Stampede?" His mouth hung open for a moment, then resumed its evil smile. "Ah...so now even the self proclaimed savior of the lambs is allying himself with murderers and outlaws...dammit, I love it!" He clapped his metal hands together in a clap of approval.
"What's it going to take to get that antidote?" Vash demanded, trying his best to look imposing, which was difficult, considering how confused he was.
"Give me what I want." Alex turned his glare back onto Wolfwood.
"No way!" Merryl started to say. But Wolfwood held up a hand, silencing her.
"No, Merryl. I have to do this eventually..." he stared at the ground, sighed heavily, and then looked back up at Alex. "Give her the antidote now. I'll go get my cross while you treat her..."
"And pit my talons against your cross while they are damaged? You know me better than that, Nicholas." He held one arm straight out to his side and pointed toward the mountains outside of the town. "Meet me there, on the summit of the cliffs, tomorrow, at noon. Come alone."
"If I promise, you'll give her the antidote now?" Alex grimaced and nodded his head. Wolfwood stepped forward, without hesitation, and held his hand out. Alex grinned wickedly as he clasped the Wolfwood's hand with his metal claw, and they shook briefly.
"You've sold your soul, Nicholas. And you know it." He stepped away from Wolfwood, walked over to Millie, who was laying on the ground, tears of pain staining her face. He jabbed her hard in the arm with one of his talons, and Millie screamed.
"Hey!" Vash shouted, jumping forward, but Alex silenced him as he stood.
"Only enough to keep her alive for another day. The full amount will come at the sealing of our bargain" he said over his shoulder. "The cliffs, tomorrow, alone. It will be an even trade off. One soul for another." He pulled his cloak closer around him and stalked off into the night.
"Don't you worry, sweetie. Its going to be all right." Wolfwood held Millie's good hand in his, stroking her skin gently. He was seated right beside her as she lay in her bed. Her injured hand was bandaged. She had fallen into a painful sleep, and even now her face was contorted, letting her companions know the agony she was in.
"Who was that guy, Wolfwood?" Vash said from his position, leaning against the wall. Merryl sat in a chair next to him, watching as her friend labored against the toxin in her sleep.
"He's a demon, Vash. Come straight from hell to punish me for my sins."
"Talk sense, will you!"
"Are you actually going to do it?" Merryl asked, breaking into the conversation.
"I don't have a choice. He meant it when he said he's the only one who knows how to make the antidote."
"Do you want one of us to come with you, just in case he has something up his sleeve?"
"I'm sure that he does. But I have to go alone. This is something I have to do, just him and me. I've put it off for too long." Vash and Merryl both looked at him, their minds confused, their hearts aching. They could feel the pain that Wolfwood radiated as they talked about it.
"What does this guy have on you?" Vash asked as he came alongside the bed to look at Millie.
"It's a long story, Vash. I don't want to tell it right now. You two better get some rest."
"Are you sure? I could watch Millie. You need rest. You'll need it tomorrow, I have a feeling." Merryl tried to sound more optimistic, but at the moment she had never dreaded the future more.
"No, its okay. I'll watch her. Please." Vash and Merry left without a word. Wolfwood remained seated by Millie's side, holding her hand. But his mind was a whole lifetime away. And instead of Millie's groans of pain, he heard the sounds of a gunshot, of a woman dying, and of two children's tears...