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Tapestry - Chapter 10
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I found my way to the kitchen, my mind busily turning over all the little details I needed to consider before I could take Wufei and escape this place. Practically speaking, I needed to ensure we both had outerwear and transportation; and that, nicely enough, had just been provided by our host, along with my perfectly sized boots.
Gods. I glanced down at my feet and shuddered again. Right. They were perfect; perfect fit, perfect look, perfect comfort - just .. perfect. Gads. Made just for me, hmm? I didn't want to spend much time dwelling on that - it was just a little too ... personal.
Once we were dressed and riding, though, we'd need a good escape route. Fortunately, the horses were perfect vehicles for escape - they were able to negotiate terrain that cars and motorcycles couldn't. I smiled as I turned the corner, thinking of the look on the last OZ commander's face when my team and I fled into the woods on hunters, jumping across his patrol cars and over a six foot bracken hedge before we disappeared into the forest. That stupid man had commandeered as many armored vehicles as he could, and positioned them to cut off our escape, yet we still rode right through his line and into the woods.
Yes, horses were perfect for the job.
But now I heard murmurings floating from the kitchen in a voice that sounded like Treize's - and that couldn't possibly be good. I was worried. Treize left me in Dr. White's care, and had taken off looking for Wufei. If he was talking now... well ... apparently, he found him. I tried to move as silently as I could, but my boots continued to make those small, annoying clicking sounds on the tiled floor of the hallway, not exactly giving me the advantage I wanted.
It really didn't matter. The first thing I saw was Treize and Wufei, standing together outside the kitchen, and it was patently obvious that neither one had heard me clatter down the corridor.
Treize was leaning on the wall with one arm, his body bent toward Wufei, his full attention centered on the boy, murmuring softly to him. Wufei, for his part, was literally boxed against the wall; with his head down and his eyes almost closed, he looked utterly lost. Treize's expression, though, was rather warm, slightly possessive, and very sensual. He touched Wufei's face gently, smiling at him, then lifted his gaze to meet mine, smiling openly at me.
"Ah, Ms. Po! And did Dr. White like what she saw?"
Gahh... Dr. White may have liked what she saw, but I was having a hard time with the scene in front of me. Pushing down a sudden, acute desire to yank Wufei out from under his arm and dash out the door, I turned my best 'everything's just super' smile on Treize and said insincerely, "Oh, absolutely, she did. She said I was in excellent shape."
"Wonderful!" Treize exclaimed, straightening as he looked at me, his hand dropping away from the wall and out of Wufei's personal space. "Would you like to see the horses now, or not? We will be leaving tomorrow, so if you'd like to see them, it does need to be rather soon."
"She did warn me not to overdo things," I continued, heedless of what Treize had just said, so intent was I at keeping my 'healthy' appearance in front of both of them. "But of course I'd love to -"
And then it hit me. My smile frozen in place, I asked, "We - we're leaving tomorrow?"
"Yes," Treize confirmed, nodding. "I don't believe Wufei likes the cold weather very much. Hence, if you'd like to see the animals, we really should be on our way."
Hoping my disappointed expression properly covered my shock and dismay, I sighed and said, "I suppose this means we won't be going to the opera on Friday ...?"
He chucked. "We shall, you and I. Possibly Wufei, if he feels better."
"Ah," I said, cursing my mind for being too slow and unable to come up with a better response. It wasn't what I wanted to hear, and I was having trouble controlling my body language and expression. Gods - leaving? He was probably going to drag us off to that island Dr. White mentioned for a while, and that meant no escape attempts - at least until I figured out where we were. And then I was going to the opera with him on Friday? Alone? Better than dragging Wufei along, but still ... simply the idea gave me chills. "Well. Since we're going to leave tomorrow, I'd really like to ride a bit today." I smiled up at him, trying to project the image of hearty good health. "If I may, of course."
"Of course, Ms. Po," Treize responded. He looked at me, and again I had the feeling he was seeing - or hearing - more than usual. Ridiculous, I chided myself. People can't overhear someone else's thoughts. It's just your paranoid imagination running rampant again.
Turning from me, Treize leaned toward Wufei again - who had not moved from his position next to the wall - and asked, gently, "Are you coming, Wufei?"
"I don't see why not," Wufei murmured, closing his eyes briefly, as if what he was seeing was too much to bear.
"Good boy," Treize said, smiling, and playfully stroked Wufei's chin. A gesture any father figure may have made; but somehow, watching him, that's not how it came across. Again, I had to push down this immediate urge to slap his hand away - where is that feeling coming from? gods, if I'm not careful, I might actually DO it - and stand there quietly, watching him caress Wufei. Surprisingly enough, Wufei didn't react to that touch at all; he didn't shove him away and he didn't try to avoid him by turning his head.
Something was very weird.
"Come with me, please," Treize said, eyeing me as he smoothly moved away from Wufei. Calling over his should as he walked through the kitchen to the back door, he asked, "You do want a coat, ne?"
"Oh ... ah ... yes, yes, I do," I stammered, shaking myself. I was still watching Wufei - who was in shock of some kind, I realized - and I moved closer to him, looking from Treize's retreating back to Wufei's stunned expression.
"Wufei," I said quietly, leaning down to get a better look at his eyes. "Wufei, what's wrong?"
He took a deep breath and refused to meet my gaze, keeping his head bowed. "I ... I am," he finally said, a small tear squeezing out of his eye and trembling on the corner of his lid. "I was ... so ... wrong ..."
"What are you talking about?" I whispered, alarmed at his obvious distress. "You weren't wrong - your instincts were right! Believe in yourself, Wufei - trust yourself. You know what's true-"
"No, I don't. Not anymore. I never even believed-" and suddenly, he stopped talking completely, closing his mouth and staring at the floor, as if he realized he had said too much already.
"You believed enough to continue to try."
"No, I did not," he said, his voice rising in volume. "I was here because I believed that by killing that man, I could avenge my wife's death - and now I've found out that I was WRONG!"
I winced, wishing that he wasn't so loud with his declarations - Treize was bound to hear him, and in some ways, I knew he would take what Wufei was saying as a victory.
" ... and I don't even understand what she believed. I don't know why she believed it. I don't SEE this justice - where is it? what is it? I don't even think it exists!" He panted a little, his eyes wide and haunted as he finally looked at me.
"You're trying to find justice in this world, Wufei?"
He looked at me for a long moment before responding. "No," he said evenly, "I never was. My ... my wife did. Nataku. She died for it." He took a deep breath and looked away. "I should die, too."
"But she knew what justice was when she died, didn't she?"
"She thought she did," he mumbled. "She could never ... never answer my questions ..."
As I leaned toward him, Treize's voice caught me unawares, drifting through the room. "All is ready! Come out when you are." I looked up to see his silhouette, backlit from the light streaming through the windows for an instant before he disappeared through the side door.
"Then you will do her a great disservice if you die before discovering what that 'justice' is she died for. Sometimes, there aren't words to describe what you know is true in your heart."
"It isn't in my heart," he said softly. "It never was. Why do you think she died fighting your forces instead of me?" His expression was desolate, lost. "I should have been the one out there. I should have ... but I wasn't. And now I -"
He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing, his voice barely audible, his eyes closed, "- now I have nothing left."
"No, that's not true." I shook my head firmly and put my face directly in front of him, forcing him to look at me. "You have the memory of your wife, and the potential of your people lives within you-"
"I have my shame for them," he broke in, his hands and body trembling slightly. "I have failed all of them - all my ancestors."
"No!" I said with more emphasis. "You have their potential within you. You did NOT shame them - you carry them with you."
"I have shamed them," he said, his jaw clenched. "I have .. FAILED. Strength determines justice. I have failed completely - and against an innocent man." His face grim and expressionless, he said, "We should go. He's waiting." Abruptly, Wufei pushed away from the wall, inhaled deeply and stood up straight, swiping at his face with the back of his arm. "Come."
In one motion he was off, striding across the kitchen, taking the same path Treize had taken, his back straight and still, shoulders back. I watched him and wondered; how was I supposed to persuade him to come with me when he persisted in believing that Khushrenada was innocent? This had to be one of the most frustrating rescue attempts I had ever been involved with - forgetting for the moment that I was a prisoner, too, it was incredibly frustrating when the person you were trying to rescue didn't want to be rescued. In fact, I was quite sure that if I tried to take him by force, he'd fight me.
I sighed and trotted after him.
Treize was outside, waiting for us, speaking with one of the farmhands. He was wearing a handsome leather jacket and leather gloves; the farmhand was bundled against the chill, a muffler around his face and nose obscuring his features. There was something vaguely familiar about him, though what it was my overworked mind just couldn't place.
"Here you are, Ms. Po," Treize said pleasantly, holding out a fur lined beige leather jacket for me. Wufei had taken a coat from the peg next to the door before he went outside; when I saw that, I wondered what I was going to wear.
"Why ... thank you," I said, turning and dipping my arms into the sleeves, shrugging into the coat. Treize helped, settling the garment around my shoulders before taking his hands away from me. I kept my gaze lowered as I pulled the zipper closed and dug my hands into the pockets of the coat, breathing a little faster until he stopped touching me. It was very strange; I couldn't remember being so acutely aware of anyone touching me, ever. Every time he even came close to me, it was as if an electric current jumped from his body to mine, short circuiting rational thinking on my part for a while.
"Here, Ms. Po."
Soft leather gloves were gently pushed into my hands. I turned, looking up into Treize's smiling face. "We wouldn't want your hands going numb, now. Then you couldn't ride well at all."
Was there a double meaning in that? I wondered, staring at him. "Ah, thank you, Treize - my hands were getting cold."
"My pleasure. Now, if you please - would you both come this way." He gestured to a small flagstone path leading from the house to the paddock, nodding at Wufei and me to precede him. I gave him a small smile and walked toward the barn, Wufei next to me. Treize followed close behind.
"We are having guests for dinner," Treize said evenly. "I do believe I shall have to ask you both to stay in your rooms. Perhaps. I'm not sure yet." He raised one eyebrow, giving us a significant look. "Just a warning."
"Oh," I replied, trying to appear as noncommittal as possible. On the one hand, it would be interesting to see what type of people he dined with; but on the other hand, that situation could become extremely uncomfortable, especially if he entertained my former superiors. I would not enjoy sitting between officers and generals I had abandoned in favor of the resistance. They would feel no compunction, and would poke and prod until they drew blood or a reaction from me - and at this point, I'd probably opt for the direct route, and attack them with my bare hands.
"Yeah. Right."
I frowned and looked over at Wufei. He gave Treize a black scowl, obviously not believing what the general said. "We'll be put on display, just like every other God-damned time."
"Wufei," Treize said, gently reprimanding. "Language. Please."
He twisted his lip and continued to scowl, but obeyed and closed his mouth. I glanced at both of them, then turned my attention to the barn. One of the farmhands led that handsome roan I saw earlier that morning out of the stable, already saddled and bridled. Treize walked over to his horse, murmuring softly as he stroked the animal's shoulders. The roan arched his neck and swung his large head over to Treize, nuzzling, looking for affection and snuffing his jacket just in case there was food hidden somewhere.
Treize chuckled and scratched behind the roan's ears for a moment, then gathered the reins in one hand and mounted him in one easy, swift motion. Looking absolutely dashing on the back of his steed, Treize gazed down at Wufei and me and smiled. Touching his heels to the roan's flank, Treize lifted the reins and guided the horse away from the barn and out to the meadow at a slow canter.
I watched him leave, remembering the easy way he swung over the horse's back. Only someone who was an accomplished horseman could mount and take charge of his horse so easily.
"What would you like?"
Shaking my head, I blinked and turned, looking right at the farmhand that brought Treize his mount. "Um ... what do you have? I'm an experienced rider, so -"
"Two mares. One gelding. One two-year-old colt."
"....Trowa...." Wufei murmured softly, staring at him.
"I'd suggest the gelding for you," he continued, speaking to me, not reacting at all to Wufei's quiet outburst.
A beat passed as I looked at him, astonishment and delight at finding an ally in the enemy's camp spreading through me. It's Trowa ... "Of course. I think I can manage that."
Nodding, he gestured to both of us. "Come with me, please." He turned and walked back to the barn, not looking behind to see if we were following.
Following? Are you kidding? I could hardly contain myself from stepping on the back of his boots, I was so excited to see him. He was the missing gundam pilot - the one that Treize wasn't sure was dead or alive, and here he was, very much alive and walking us right into the transportation center of the estate.
I looked over my shoulder, to make sure that Wufei was following us - which he was, just not moving as quickly as I would have liked. He seemed distracted and distant; and given the impossibility of Trowa and what he represented, I was surprised that Wufei wasn't demanding to know how he had managed to slip onto the property undetected. I turned my attention back to the missing gundam pilot as we stepped into the shadows of the stable, leaving Wufei leaning on the paddock fence, watching a spirited black colt stamp and paw the ground.
Trowa turned to me once we were safely inside the barn. "We can't kill him," he said with no preamble. "He has some sort of failsafe set up with one of Septem's old machines. Something about filling the atmosphere with plague."
I stared at him, my mind spinning, completely dismayed. "What - what are you saying? That he would release a plague on the world if someone tries to assassinate him?"
"Hai," he nodded, moving in between the stalls to claim the large gelding at the far end. Snapping a lead rope on the bay's halter, he clucked softly and led the horse to me, handing me the lead line. "All we could find out was that it's based on the volcanic principle - and that Treize has it set to discharge if he dies." Brushing the flank of the horse, Trowa looked up, his gaze meeting mine, just so insure his words sunk in. "There is no antidote."
"That's - monstrous," I breathed, horrified beyond words that someone would set up a system to eradicate all life after their death.
"It's smart. The military is under his control, it's true - but because it's peacetime, he's not as safe as he once was. People once inclined to fight the war now have other targets to consider; hence, the weapon. It insures his safety. Otherwise, we would have killed him by now." He glanced at me, his green eyes sharp and clear. "Don't tell Wufei. Treize hasn't told him."
"I won't," I said, shaking my head. But gods, I wanted to - because faced with that information, how could he possibly insist that Khushrenada was an innocent man? Innocent people do not plot to kill the rest of the world. "He doesn't need to know. But, listen - there is something you need to know. Khushrenada is planning on taking us away tomorrow, supposedly to an island. Wufei's been there before-"
Trowa nodded briefly. "Yes, we know he is. We also know where the island is. It's difficult to reach, and nearly impossible to get there undetected."
"Well - shouldn't we get out of here before then?"
"I don't see how you could get free," he said as he threw a blanket over the bay's back. "We can't get you out. We were fortunate to get in here ourselves."
" .... no escape ... you can't get us out...?"
Staring, I tried to assimilate what he just told me. My face must have telegraphed my disappointment - a word that does NOT convey the chagrin and discouragement I felt. I could hardly believe it - we had motive and opportunity, as neither one of us wanted to be a prisoner, and we had the horses and the clothing - and we couldn't do anything about it.
"No. But you can still be of use - you can provide us with an insider's line." Somehow, he answered my unspoken thought. Trowa tossed the saddle on the bay's back and tightened the girth, then straightened, reached into his pocket and pulled out the cutest little cellphone I'd ever seen. It was so small that it fit comfortably into the palm of my hand, and so thin that turned sideways, it almost looked like a credit card. "It's satellite. Routes through six different lines before reaching us. Don't use it unless you have to," he warned. "We're going to try to set up direct communication."
I nodded, admiring the phone, wondering where I was going to store it. It wasn't much of a trade, in my opinion - a cellphone for freedom - but at least it was something. "Thank you," I murmured, stuffing the phone in my pocket.
Trowa continued saddling the bay, speaking rapidly, his eyes constantly scanning the barn, on guard. "Treize seems to be enjoying the challenge in peacetime. He will let you do almost anything - as long as you're not caught, even if he knows you're doing it. It's all a game to him."
I blinked, because Trowa had unwittingly hit on one of the issues that made me uneasy. "You're absolutely right - he is treating this like a game. I don't understand him at all," I confessed, watching him check the horse's hooves, picking out small stones. "He doesn't react like a normal person."
"He isn't a normal person," he replied, patting the bay's flank and releasing his hoof. In response, the horse stamped one foot, apparently eager to get on with whatever we were going to do. "He can do almost anything he puts his mind to. He is more dangerous than any man alive, and he knows it. I believe he will grow bored with this, and find another pursuit soon."
Gods ... he'll get bored with - this? "I don't like the sound of that."
"Neither do I," he replied, looking at me with eyes that were much too old. Something clicked inside my head, insisting that Trowa wasn't even of this age; I pushed that feeling away, annoyed that urges as illogical as that were still running around in my mind.
"Here," he said, handing me the reins.
I took them, accepted his leg up and vaulted into the saddle. Settling comfortably as he adjusted my stirrups, I shook my head and frowned. "Trowa ... considering that Wufei and I seem to be one of his 'playthings' now ..." I left the rest unsaid, thinking about what that meant in context - it was a nervous, disquieting feeling.
I shuddered and tried to shuck that feeling away. "Duo contacted me at the house - he asked me to call tonight. I will if I can."
A laconic nod was my response. "Then do so. However - so that you know - I don't believe Treize will let Wufei go, even if he changes the game. I believe he will take Wufei with him."
Normally, I wasn't afraid of information; I always said that it was better to know something than not know. You could prepare for the worst, and you had a better chance of succeeding by understanding your enemy's plans. Trowa's thoughts, though, were enough to depress me - especially since I thought I understood Wufei a little more now.
"I - I think you're right," I agreed, deliberately checking the girth one more time, not looking at him. "And Wufei would not leave, even if given the opportunity. He - Treize - has done something evil to him. I've been trying to reach him, but ..." I trailed off, thinking about that conversation with Wufei in the hallway before we came outside. Hopeless, a little voice inside my head insisted. He's hopeless .. he'll never leave.
Gods, I hate that voice.
"Wufei is living in hypocrisy. He does not know what he believes, or why." Trowa shrugged. "He is intelligent enough to know it, and to question his doubts. That makes him easy prey."
"I know," I sighed. "But ... but we can't just leave him ..."
"Even if you take him away, part of him will be left here anyway."
"I know," I repeated, feeling more depressed by the moment. "When we leave, we'll fight that battle. But - but it doesn't appear that we'll be leaving anytime soon."
The gelding stamped and tossed his head again, shying a little to the right, impatient to leave and stretch his muscles. Trowa looked up at me, a hard, inscrutable expression in his eyes.
"Be careful," he warned. "He loves having you here because of the danger. As long as you are not caught, you can get away with anything - but if you are caught, he will not be easy on you. It means you no longer qualify to play the game. Wufei has not yet been caught - even though he knew about the communications patches - about everything." He looked at me calmly. "You're living with the devil."
I stared back at him - and that strange feeling that had been moving inside me positively resonated when he said that. Involuntarily, I drew my hands back, pulling up the slack in the reins, not even sure how to respond.
Trowa held the reins under the gelding's mouth and led him forward to the wide stable doors. "Wufei's chosen his horse from the pasture. He's taken the black colt - probably because it's dangerous." He squinted up at me, a measuring stare. "His rules are meant to be broken."
I was watching Wufei, a cold feeling in my stomach. "He's going to get killed, in one way or another - "
"He's going to try, but he won't be."
"No," I said, understanding and alarm slowly dawning. "Treize ... he won't permit it." I remembered something Trowa had said before, and stared at him. "Communication patches? ...what, in the house?"
"Hai," he answered, nodding. "And any longer, and he will be suspicious. He already is, of course. He let me know that he knew I wasn't the man he hired." A small smile on his face and a glint in his eye showed his satisfaction. "But I haven't been caught."
"Nor will I be," I responded, drawing the gelding's head around. "Take care, Trowa. And tell Duo that I'll call - tonight, if possible."
"It will be possible," he said, nodding toward the house. "There are men from the phone company in front of the house now. He is daring you to be caught." He moved away from the gelding, giving it a smack on its flank. "Go, now."
My horse leaped forward, trotting into the paddock. I pulled up, taking my bearings, and looked back at the house. Well - I certainly couldn't see anyone from the phone company on the property.
Turning, I watched Wufei at the far side of the paddock on the black colt. He looked striking; he was wearing a traditional white gi with a white outer jacket, and was riding a black horse. No saddle for him ... probably because it was more dangerous that way. It also appeared that he was going to stay in that paddock, as well. Probably right where Treize told him he could ride.
My eyes narrowed as I thought about that. On the other hand, Treize hadn't told me where I could and couldn't ride. I looked over at the barn one more time. Can't get us out of here, hmm, Trowa? Well ... we'll see. Maybe we won't need your help.
I urged the gelding forward, maneuvering him away from the paddock where Wufei was riding toward one of the outer paddocks, next to the forest. The bay needed no encouragement, practically jumping out from under me in his eagerness to run.
That feeling of power - the sensation of flying with the horse as he cantered across the paddock - was exhilarating. It was freedom, pure and simple. I caught a glimpse of Treize on his roan as I rode to the high paddock; he was leaping fences effortlessly, the horse lifting himself well above the obstacle. I could have sworn that the man looked over at me, too, and smiled before guiding his horse to another part of the meadow.
Whatever. I didn't care. I had a fast horse, a long paddock and a forest beyond it - I was going to explore, find a way out of here and take Wufei with me, all before nightfall.
Or so I thought.
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I had been riding for about fifteen to twenty minutes, just getting used to the horse and training him to respond to my cues, when I spotted the path. It was obviously little used; in fact, it appeared to be abandoned. Part of the path was actually in the meadow itself, while the rest went off into the forest and ended ... somewhere else.
Somewhere that wasn't around here. Somewhere that could take us off the property, and away.
I looked around, turning in the saddle to look over my shoulder, and saw no one. Not a soul was around me now - no one to know where I went, or what I was doing ...
That's all I needed to know. I immediately set my horse on the path and drummed my heels into his sides. He snorted and took off, bounding away, surefooted and swift.
I leaned over his neck, encouraging him, keeping a firm grip on the reins, and steered my horse into the forest. There were a lot of small, whippy little branches around; fortunately, they were just at the beginning of the path, where quite a bit of overgrowth had crept quietly back and tried to reclaim some ground.
Ignore them. Just keep going.
I set the bay at a fast canter, almost a gallop, seemingly a headlong dash through the trees - and it felt wrong somehow, rather like something was watching us, waiting for us to make that one fatal misstep, one small flaw -
Ridiculous, I told myself. It's your overactive imagination again. You didn't see anything coming in, and it's dense enough away from the path - there's nothing here. But I reined the bay down to a slow, controlled canter, and then down to a fast trot, keeping my gaze fixed on the trees.
The gelding was acting strangely, too, shying and tossing his head every few strides, as if he felt something. He danced over to the left, clearly trying to avoid something on his right.
"Whoa, whoa," I whispered softy to him, "there's nothing there - look, there's nothing there, see, it's just --"
I stopped speaking aloud when a glimpse of what was causing him to shy and start and act nervous made my breath catch in my throat.
It was a wolf ; and not the sleek, glossy kind, either, but one that was skinny and malnourished - and, more frightening than that, one that seemed to have no fear. It growled low in its throat; white flecks of foam dripped from its muzzle, and it took several careful steps toward us.
The gelding was getting harder and harder to control. My hands were sweating inside my gloves. I tried to bring his head around, putting every ounce of knee pressure into directing him away from that animal. He responded sluggishly, finally allowing himself to be turned away from the threat, back the way we came.
I turned to look at the wolf; and at that exact moment, it decided to come after the horse and attack him, its lips curling back to expose long canine teeth, its eyes rolling. Immediately I drove my heels into the gelding's flanks and shouted, "Go!" as loudly as I could - and the gelding whinnied, panicked, and literally jumped down the path, pounding back toward the meadow.
So much for my bid for freedom.
I barely had control over my horse, and was concentrating just enough to keep my seat when the wolf leaped toward the gelding's hindquarters. His claws were extended and his teeth bared, and a horrible, snarling noise roiled after us. It flashed across my mind at that moment that this wolf, along with being starved, was probably also rabid.
Damn, this really was not my day. I shouted again and tried to drive the horse to run faster, faster, heedless of the branches mercilessly whipping us from every side. And just when I thought things couldn't get any worse -
- a shot rang out, an explosion of sound and fury from my left side, one that deafened me and rocked my world.
That was it. The gelding was completely panicked; he reared, screaming, twisted himself in the air and took off toward the meadow. I screamed as well, unable to keep my seat nor my wits about me, and found myself tumbling head over heels in midair, only to slam into the ground hard enough to drive all the air from my lungs.
Gads, that hurt. My entire body hurt like hell. I hit the ground hard enough that it jarred my teeth and I literally saw stars. I lay there, sprawled in the bushes, panting, pain flaring through my backside and into my back, and hoping against hope that the wolf wasn't going to come back and finish me.
Something rustled in the underbrush behind me. Staring up dizzily into the canopy of leaves, I saw Treize trot out from behind a large tree, a hunting rifle slung under one arm.
"Are you all right?" he asked, looking at me.
Oh gods. I was stunned, but not so far gone that I didn't recognize what just happened. Now I was caught - not necessarily in an escape attempt, but close enough, in the exact position Trowa warned me about. Rescued by the very man I was trying to flee. I tried to roll over, and groaned. It hurt even to breathe.
"I ... I think so ..." I tried to focus my eyes on him. He had nudged his horse even and looked at me, unsmiling, for a long moment.
I looked back and inwardly cringed. Something in his eyes frightened me, to the point where I looked away and tried to roll in the opposite direction, hoping to get some purchase on the ground so I could stumble to my feet. Unfortunately, all I got for my efforts was a facefull of bush - a small evergreen bush, to be exact, its tiny needles dropping everywhere.
"Saa, don't do that ... let me see."
Blearily I turned my head. Treize had dismounted and was by my side in a moment. He knelt next to me, slid one arm under my back and supported my head as he started to check for broken bones.
"I should have warned you," he said evenly, feeling down the length of my right leg. "Some of the animals here carry rabies."
"Oh," I murmured, staring up at the trees, wondering how on earth this situation could possibly get worse.
"It's been a terribly dry season," he continued. As he spoke, he unzipped my coat and lifted my shirt gently, then took his hand and pressed on my ribs.
Well, that's how things could get worse. He put his hands right where I had been bandaged before. Right where my ribs had been broken before. Pain lanced through my chest and struck my brain; I gasped before I could stop myself, drawing a raised eyebrow from Treize.
"Nothing seems to be broken - although I think you will be sitting for the rest of the afternoon." He looked at me, a small smile on his lips, his eyes still assessing. "Dr. White would kill me if she found out what despicable care I've been taking of you."
Without another word, he scooped me up from the ground as easily as if I had been a child and carried me over to his horse. I stifled another gasp, but this one wasn't from pain; even though there was nothing sexual in the way he examined me, or even in the way he was carrying me, there still was this tight, electric feeling from him that made things sensual no matter what.
His horse whickered quietly and eyed me with distrust.
"Stay, Prometheus," Treize murmured gently. The roan snorted, but stayed in place as he was told. Treize put me on the front of the saddle and stowed his gun on the side.
I shifted uncomfortably; really, sitting was the last thing I wanted to do, especially sitting on a horse - but it seemed I had no choice.
"Pro - Prometheus?" I stammered, shifting my weight again.
"Hai. I have always liked that story - are you familiar with it?" he asked as he swung himself into the saddle behind me, curling one arm around my waist and pulling me close to his body.
Of course, he did that to make sure that I didn't fall off - but it didn't really matter why he did it, because every nerve along my spine fired simultaneously, letting me know that someone with a huge presence had just pressed himself into my back.
I had trouble finding my voice. "..hai. Isn't he the person who brought fire to humans?" I was pleased that once found, my voice didn't tremble a bit.
"Correct," Treize said, pulling his horse's head in the general direction of the mansion and urging him forward. "And the gods punished him forever." I could feel his chest rumble as he leaned forward and murmured in my ear, "Comfortable?"
"H - hai. I'm ... f -fine ... thank you," I whispered. I was sure my heart was going to pound its way out of my chest, it was beating so fast. All sorts of implications were dancing around in my head, not the least of which was what, exactly, he was going to do once he took me back to the mansion. Prometheus had displeased the gods and had his liver eaten out every day, only to have it grow back whole and new each night. I knew I was in trouble now.
The delicate smell of roses clung to his coat, engulfing me. His arm circled my waist, a firm, tangible reminder of who was really in control. I held onto his arm in lieu of the horse's mane, praying that he wouldn't let me slip off.
We rode in silence back to his land. As we left the forest, I had an excellent view of the house and gardens - and there was a white truck in front of the house. A truck from the telephone company, just as Trowa had predicted. I shivered and stared at it, fervently wishing it would simply disappear, and that the man behind me would, too.
Not a moment later, Treize leaned forward and spoke into my ear, sending move shivers down my spine. Granted, he probably needed to lean closer to me because of the wind - but he also put his soft lips next to my ear and murmured suggestively, "I think we should go inside now. Hmm?"
Oh gods - don't panic. Of all the attacks he could consider using against me, this one had to be the most effective - if for no other reason than my own relative inexperience and my involuntary reactions to him. I squirmed a little in the saddle, but had no luck in dislodging either his arm or his lips. "Hai," I said, staring straight ahead.
I felt him shift his weight behind me, and realized that his attention wasn't simply on me anymore. He reined in Prometheus, slowing his pace, and very obviously looked to the right. I turned as well, simply to see what had claimed his attention so easily, and saw ... Wufei.
And he was glorious to see, too - Wufei, clad in white, in stark contrast to his horse, riding bareback, urging his mount to jump some of the larger fences. He was leaning forward, completely unaware of his audience, stroking the colt's neck and talking to him - that was obvious, as the colt's ears were swiveling back and forth.
"Magnificent," Treize purred, his chest rumbling against my back. I had been admiring Wufei, as well, watching him control the colt with nothing more than his hands, leg pressure and his own will; but all that evaporated when I heard Treize's response.
"That is one of my favorite colts," he continued smoothly, patting Prometheus' neck as if he had been speaking about his horses all along. "This roan sired him. None have ridden him but Wufei, and Wufei had never ridden before he came here." Urging his horse on, lightly touching the roan's flanks, he murmured, "A virginal experience for both of them, ne?"
"Ah," I replied, swallowing, feeling rather stupid at not having a better answer and slightly freaked at his observations. He knew that, too; I could almost feel him smile as we trotted right up to the side door of the mansion.
He dismounted quickly, taking the reins and dropping them in front of his horse. I turned to thank him and to slip out of the saddle, very anxious to drop to my feet and become independent. I was leaning down toward him when he reached up and swept me off the saddle and into his arms again, carrying me into the house.
"What? No, no, Treize, you don't have to-"
He cut me off, smiling at me with cold, assessing eyes. "Nonsense, Ms. Po. You had a nasty fall. I'm certainly not going to take any chances with your health again." I was cradled against his chest, my legs dangling uselessly over the crook of his arm, my head back against his shoulder.
"But I can-"
"- just rest, Ms. Po. We'll talk in a moment."
He carried me effortlessly through the kitchen and down the hallway. Now he was seriously invading any personal space I thought I had; never in my adult life had I ever been handled so much by one person, and it was all I could do NOT to make a scene. I looked up at him, completely spooked, to see a satisfied smirk on his face.
That's when I realized he was taking me to my room.
I actually tried to wiggle out of his grasp, but had no luck. "I ... I think I'll be fine now," I said, feeling more alarmed by the moment the closer we drew to the door of my room. "Really. I - I'm sorry I was such a burden to you."
"Oh, you're quite welcome, Ms. Po." He swept into my bedroom, opening the door with one hand and carrying me sideways through the doorway, his eyes glittering. Before I had time to think about it, Treize strode over and in one swift motion deposited me on the bed, sat down and leaned over me, holding me down by my shoulders, his face inches away from mine.
I couldn't move, and at this point, I could hardly think - all I could do was stare helplessly up at him and feel how completely vulnerable I was. Aside from the fact that he had pinned me to the bed, his gaze was the most powerful, analytical look I'd ever seen. There was no doubt in my mind that I was seeing the real Khushrenada; calm, deadly, and totally in control.
"...and you were no burden," he continued, his gaze boring into mine. "I'm simply glad that wolf was shot before he came any closer to my horses."
Breathing quickly, my eyes widened in response. He ... what?
"Don't worry, Ms. Po. I will take very good care of you." A quick flash of white teeth and a small smile made me tremble in spite of myself. "I have no intention of taking advantage of you, either. You're ... not my type," he finished, completely remorseless.
Now I was staring at him, feeling equal amounts of incredulous relief coupled with mortification and adolescent pique. What ... does he mean, I'm not his type...?
"Do be more careful," he continued, enunciating each word in a slow, even voice. "A compromising position for you now would be ... possibly devastating."
His gaze pinned me to the bed as easily as his hands, slicing my weak defense away and sinking into my psyche. There was no mistaking his meaning. I felt the blood drain away from my face as I looked at him and realized that I was inches away from something that could devour me, should he be so inclined.
He smiled again, a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Stay here until you feel better. Dinner will be brought to you. Good evening, Sally." He brushed a few strands of hair away from my cheek, still smiling with that cold, analytical look, keeping one hand on my shoulder; then he rose and casually walked to the door and left, as if it we had just had a pleasant chat between two friends.
Gods.
I lay on the bed and panted, staring at the ceiling for long moments, not even daring to look at the doorway. I had had a narrow escape - but only because he chose to let me go.
It took another five minutes before my hands stopped shaking.
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Tapestry - Chapter 10
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I found my way to the kitchen, my mind busily turning over all the little details I needed to consider before I could take Wufei and escape this place. Practically speaking, I needed to ensure we both had outerwear and transportation; and that, nicely enough, had just been provided by our host, along with my perfectly sized boots.
Gods. I glanced down at my feet and shuddered again. Right. They were perfect; perfect fit, perfect look, perfect comfort - just .. perfect. Gads. Made just for me, hmm? I didn't want to spend much time dwelling on that - it was just a little too ... personal.
Once we were dressed and riding, though, we'd need a good escape route. Fortunately, the horses were perfect vehicles for escape - they were able to negotiate terrain that cars and motorcycles couldn't. I smiled as I turned the corner, thinking of the look on the last OZ commander's face when my team and I fled into the woods on hunters, jumping across his patrol cars and over a six foot bracken hedge before we disappeared into the forest. That stupid man had commandeered as many armored vehicles as he could, and positioned them to cut off our escape, yet we still rode right through his line and into the woods.
Yes, horses were perfect for the job.
But now I heard murmurings floating from the kitchen in a voice that sounded like Treize's - and that couldn't possibly be good. I was worried. Treize left me in Dr. White's care, and had taken off looking for Wufei. If he was talking now... well ... apparently, he found him. I tried to move as silently as I could, but my boots continued to make those small, annoying clicking sounds on the tiled floor of the hallway, not exactly giving me the advantage I wanted.
It really didn't matter. The first thing I saw was Treize and Wufei, standing together outside the kitchen, and it was patently obvious that neither one had heard me clatter down the corridor.
Treize was leaning on the wall with one arm, his body bent toward Wufei, his full attention centered on the boy, murmuring softly to him. Wufei, for his part, was literally boxed against the wall; with his head down and his eyes almost closed, he looked utterly lost. Treize's expression, though, was rather warm, slightly possessive, and very sensual. He touched Wufei's face gently, smiling at him, then lifted his gaze to meet mine, smiling openly at me.
"Ah, Ms. Po! And did Dr. White like what she saw?"
Gahh... Dr. White may have liked what she saw, but I was having a hard time with the scene in front of me. Pushing down a sudden, acute desire to yank Wufei out from under his arm and dash out the door, I turned my best 'everything's just super' smile on Treize and said insincerely, "Oh, absolutely, she did. She said I was in excellent shape."
"Wonderful!" Treize exclaimed, straightening as he looked at me, his hand dropping away from the wall and out of Wufei's personal space. "Would you like to see the horses now, or not? We will be leaving tomorrow, so if you'd like to see them, it does need to be rather soon."
"She did warn me not to overdo things," I continued, heedless of what Treize had just said, so intent was I at keeping my 'healthy' appearance in front of both of them. "But of course I'd love to -"
And then it hit me. My smile frozen in place, I asked, "We - we're leaving tomorrow?"
"Yes," Treize confirmed, nodding. "I don't believe Wufei likes the cold weather very much. Hence, if you'd like to see the animals, we really should be on our way."
Hoping my disappointed expression properly covered my shock and dismay, I sighed and said, "I suppose this means we won't be going to the opera on Friday ...?"
He chucked. "We shall, you and I. Possibly Wufei, if he feels better."
"Ah," I said, cursing my mind for being too slow and unable to come up with a better response. It wasn't what I wanted to hear, and I was having trouble controlling my body language and expression. Gods - leaving? He was probably going to drag us off to that island Dr. White mentioned for a while, and that meant no escape attempts - at least until I figured out where we were. And then I was going to the opera with him on Friday? Alone? Better than dragging Wufei along, but still ... simply the idea gave me chills. "Well. Since we're going to leave tomorrow, I'd really like to ride a bit today." I smiled up at him, trying to project the image of hearty good health. "If I may, of course."
"Of course, Ms. Po," Treize responded. He looked at me, and again I had the feeling he was seeing - or hearing - more than usual. Ridiculous, I chided myself. People can't overhear someone else's thoughts. It's just your paranoid imagination running rampant again.
Turning from me, Treize leaned toward Wufei again - who had not moved from his position next to the wall - and asked, gently, "Are you coming, Wufei?"
"I don't see why not," Wufei murmured, closing his eyes briefly, as if what he was seeing was too much to bear.
"Good boy," Treize said, smiling, and playfully stroked Wufei's chin. A gesture any father figure may have made; but somehow, watching him, that's not how it came across. Again, I had to push down this immediate urge to slap his hand away - where is that feeling coming from? gods, if I'm not careful, I might actually DO it - and stand there quietly, watching him caress Wufei. Surprisingly enough, Wufei didn't react to that touch at all; he didn't shove him away and he didn't try to avoid him by turning his head.
Something was very weird.
"Come with me, please," Treize said, eyeing me as he smoothly moved away from Wufei. Calling over his should as he walked through the kitchen to the back door, he asked, "You do want a coat, ne?"
"Oh ... ah ... yes, yes, I do," I stammered, shaking myself. I was still watching Wufei - who was in shock of some kind, I realized - and I moved closer to him, looking from Treize's retreating back to Wufei's stunned expression.
"Wufei," I said quietly, leaning down to get a better look at his eyes. "Wufei, what's wrong?"
He took a deep breath and refused to meet my gaze, keeping his head bowed. "I ... I am," he finally said, a small tear squeezing out of his eye and trembling on the corner of his lid. "I was ... so ... wrong ..."
"What are you talking about?" I whispered, alarmed at his obvious distress. "You weren't wrong - your instincts were right! Believe in yourself, Wufei - trust yourself. You know what's true-"
"No, I don't. Not anymore. I never even believed-" and suddenly, he stopped talking completely, closing his mouth and staring at the floor, as if he realized he had said too much already.
"You believed enough to continue to try."
"No, I did not," he said, his voice rising in volume. "I was here because I believed that by killing that man, I could avenge my wife's death - and now I've found out that I was WRONG!"
I winced, wishing that he wasn't so loud with his declarations - Treize was bound to hear him, and in some ways, I knew he would take what Wufei was saying as a victory.
" ... and I don't even understand what she believed. I don't know why she believed it. I don't SEE this justice - where is it? what is it? I don't even think it exists!" He panted a little, his eyes wide and haunted as he finally looked at me.
"You're trying to find justice in this world, Wufei?"
He looked at me for a long moment before responding. "No," he said evenly, "I never was. My ... my wife did. Nataku. She died for it." He took a deep breath and looked away. "I should die, too."
"But she knew what justice was when she died, didn't she?"
"She thought she did," he mumbled. "She could never ... never answer my questions ..."
As I leaned toward him, Treize's voice caught me unawares, drifting through the room. "All is ready! Come out when you are." I looked up to see his silhouette, backlit from the light streaming through the windows for an instant before he disappeared through the side door.
"Then you will do her a great disservice if you die before discovering what that 'justice' is she died for. Sometimes, there aren't words to describe what you know is true in your heart."
"It isn't in my heart," he said softly. "It never was. Why do you think she died fighting your forces instead of me?" His expression was desolate, lost. "I should have been the one out there. I should have ... but I wasn't. And now I -"
He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing, his voice barely audible, his eyes closed, "- now I have nothing left."
"No, that's not true." I shook my head firmly and put my face directly in front of him, forcing him to look at me. "You have the memory of your wife, and the potential of your people lives within you-"
"I have my shame for them," he broke in, his hands and body trembling slightly. "I have failed all of them - all my ancestors."
"No!" I said with more emphasis. "You have their potential within you. You did NOT shame them - you carry them with you."
"I have shamed them," he said, his jaw clenched. "I have .. FAILED. Strength determines justice. I have failed completely - and against an innocent man." His face grim and expressionless, he said, "We should go. He's waiting." Abruptly, Wufei pushed away from the wall, inhaled deeply and stood up straight, swiping at his face with the back of his arm. "Come."
In one motion he was off, striding across the kitchen, taking the same path Treize had taken, his back straight and still, shoulders back. I watched him and wondered; how was I supposed to persuade him to come with me when he persisted in believing that Khushrenada was innocent? This had to be one of the most frustrating rescue attempts I had ever been involved with - forgetting for the moment that I was a prisoner, too, it was incredibly frustrating when the person you were trying to rescue didn't want to be rescued. In fact, I was quite sure that if I tried to take him by force, he'd fight me.
I sighed and trotted after him.
Treize was outside, waiting for us, speaking with one of the farmhands. He was wearing a handsome leather jacket and leather gloves; the farmhand was bundled against the chill, a muffler around his face and nose obscuring his features. There was something vaguely familiar about him, though what it was my overworked mind just couldn't place.
"Here you are, Ms. Po," Treize said pleasantly, holding out a fur lined beige leather jacket for me. Wufei had taken a coat from the peg next to the door before he went outside; when I saw that, I wondered what I was going to wear.
"Why ... thank you," I said, turning and dipping my arms into the sleeves, shrugging into the coat. Treize helped, settling the garment around my shoulders before taking his hands away from me. I kept my gaze lowered as I pulled the zipper closed and dug my hands into the pockets of the coat, breathing a little faster until he stopped touching me. It was very strange; I couldn't remember being so acutely aware of anyone touching me, ever. Every time he even came close to me, it was as if an electric current jumped from his body to mine, short circuiting rational thinking on my part for a while.
"Here, Ms. Po."
Soft leather gloves were gently pushed into my hands. I turned, looking up into Treize's smiling face. "We wouldn't want your hands going numb, now. Then you couldn't ride well at all."
Was there a double meaning in that? I wondered, staring at him. "Ah, thank you, Treize - my hands were getting cold."
"My pleasure. Now, if you please - would you both come this way." He gestured to a small flagstone path leading from the house to the paddock, nodding at Wufei and me to precede him. I gave him a small smile and walked toward the barn, Wufei next to me. Treize followed close behind.
"We are having guests for dinner," Treize said evenly. "I do believe I shall have to ask you both to stay in your rooms. Perhaps. I'm not sure yet." He raised one eyebrow, giving us a significant look. "Just a warning."
"Oh," I replied, trying to appear as noncommittal as possible. On the one hand, it would be interesting to see what type of people he dined with; but on the other hand, that situation could become extremely uncomfortable, especially if he entertained my former superiors. I would not enjoy sitting between officers and generals I had abandoned in favor of the resistance. They would feel no compunction, and would poke and prod until they drew blood or a reaction from me - and at this point, I'd probably opt for the direct route, and attack them with my bare hands.
"Yeah. Right."
I frowned and looked over at Wufei. He gave Treize a black scowl, obviously not believing what the general said. "We'll be put on display, just like every other God-damned time."
"Wufei," Treize said, gently reprimanding. "Language. Please."
He twisted his lip and continued to scowl, but obeyed and closed his mouth. I glanced at both of them, then turned my attention to the barn. One of the farmhands led that handsome roan I saw earlier that morning out of the stable, already saddled and bridled. Treize walked over to his horse, murmuring softly as he stroked the animal's shoulders. The roan arched his neck and swung his large head over to Treize, nuzzling, looking for affection and snuffing his jacket just in case there was food hidden somewhere.
Treize chuckled and scratched behind the roan's ears for a moment, then gathered the reins in one hand and mounted him in one easy, swift motion. Looking absolutely dashing on the back of his steed, Treize gazed down at Wufei and me and smiled. Touching his heels to the roan's flank, Treize lifted the reins and guided the horse away from the barn and out to the meadow at a slow canter.
I watched him leave, remembering the easy way he swung over the horse's back. Only someone who was an accomplished horseman could mount and take charge of his horse so easily.
"What would you like?"
Shaking my head, I blinked and turned, looking right at the farmhand that brought Treize his mount. "Um ... what do you have? I'm an experienced rider, so -"
"Two mares. One gelding. One two-year-old colt."
"....Trowa...." Wufei murmured softly, staring at him.
"I'd suggest the gelding for you," he continued, speaking to me, not reacting at all to Wufei's quiet outburst.
A beat passed as I looked at him, astonishment and delight at finding an ally in the enemy's camp spreading through me. It's Trowa ... "Of course. I think I can manage that."
Nodding, he gestured to both of us. "Come with me, please." He turned and walked back to the barn, not looking behind to see if we were following.
Following? Are you kidding? I could hardly contain myself from stepping on the back of his boots, I was so excited to see him. He was the missing gundam pilot - the one that Treize wasn't sure was dead or alive, and here he was, very much alive and walking us right into the transportation center of the estate.
I looked over my shoulder, to make sure that Wufei was following us - which he was, just not moving as quickly as I would have liked. He seemed distracted and distant; and given the impossibility of Trowa and what he represented, I was surprised that Wufei wasn't demanding to know how he had managed to slip onto the property undetected. I turned my attention back to the missing gundam pilot as we stepped into the shadows of the stable, leaving Wufei leaning on the paddock fence, watching a spirited black colt stamp and paw the ground.
Trowa turned to me once we were safely inside the barn. "We can't kill him," he said with no preamble. "He has some sort of failsafe set up with one of Septem's old machines. Something about filling the atmosphere with plague."
I stared at him, my mind spinning, completely dismayed. "What - what are you saying? That he would release a plague on the world if someone tries to assassinate him?"
"Hai," he nodded, moving in between the stalls to claim the large gelding at the far end. Snapping a lead rope on the bay's halter, he clucked softly and led the horse to me, handing me the lead line. "All we could find out was that it's based on the volcanic principle - and that Treize has it set to discharge if he dies." Brushing the flank of the horse, Trowa looked up, his gaze meeting mine, just so insure his words sunk in. "There is no antidote."
"That's - monstrous," I breathed, horrified beyond words that someone would set up a system to eradicate all life after their death.
"It's smart. The military is under his control, it's true - but because it's peacetime, he's not as safe as he once was. People once inclined to fight the war now have other targets to consider; hence, the weapon. It insures his safety. Otherwise, we would have killed him by now." He glanced at me, his green eyes sharp and clear. "Don't tell Wufei. Treize hasn't told him."
"I won't," I said, shaking my head. But gods, I wanted to - because faced with that information, how could he possibly insist that Khushrenada was an innocent man? Innocent people do not plot to kill the rest of the world. "He doesn't need to know. But, listen - there is something you need to know. Khushrenada is planning on taking us away tomorrow, supposedly to an island. Wufei's been there before-"
Trowa nodded briefly. "Yes, we know he is. We also know where the island is. It's difficult to reach, and nearly impossible to get there undetected."
"Well - shouldn't we get out of here before then?"
"I don't see how you could get free," he said as he threw a blanket over the bay's back. "We can't get you out. We were fortunate to get in here ourselves."
" .... no escape ... you can't get us out...?"
Staring, I tried to assimilate what he just told me. My face must have telegraphed my disappointment - a word that does NOT convey the chagrin and discouragement I felt. I could hardly believe it - we had motive and opportunity, as neither one of us wanted to be a prisoner, and we had the horses and the clothing - and we couldn't do anything about it.
"No. But you can still be of use - you can provide us with an insider's line." Somehow, he answered my unspoken thought. Trowa tossed the saddle on the bay's back and tightened the girth, then straightened, reached into his pocket and pulled out the cutest little cellphone I'd ever seen. It was so small that it fit comfortably into the palm of my hand, and so thin that turned sideways, it almost looked like a credit card. "It's satellite. Routes through six different lines before reaching us. Don't use it unless you have to," he warned. "We're going to try to set up direct communication."
I nodded, admiring the phone, wondering where I was going to store it. It wasn't much of a trade, in my opinion - a cellphone for freedom - but at least it was something. "Thank you," I murmured, stuffing the phone in my pocket.
Trowa continued saddling the bay, speaking rapidly, his eyes constantly scanning the barn, on guard. "Treize seems to be enjoying the challenge in peacetime. He will let you do almost anything - as long as you're not caught, even if he knows you're doing it. It's all a game to him."
I blinked, because Trowa had unwittingly hit on one of the issues that made me uneasy. "You're absolutely right - he is treating this like a game. I don't understand him at all," I confessed, watching him check the horse's hooves, picking out small stones. "He doesn't react like a normal person."
"He isn't a normal person," he replied, patting the bay's flank and releasing his hoof. In response, the horse stamped one foot, apparently eager to get on with whatever we were going to do. "He can do almost anything he puts his mind to. He is more dangerous than any man alive, and he knows it. I believe he will grow bored with this, and find another pursuit soon."
Gods ... he'll get bored with - this? "I don't like the sound of that."
"Neither do I," he replied, looking at me with eyes that were much too old. Something clicked inside my head, insisting that Trowa wasn't even of this age; I pushed that feeling away, annoyed that urges as illogical as that were still running around in my mind.
"Here," he said, handing me the reins.
I took them, accepted his leg up and vaulted into the saddle. Settling comfortably as he adjusted my stirrups, I shook my head and frowned. "Trowa ... considering that Wufei and I seem to be one of his 'playthings' now ..." I left the rest unsaid, thinking about what that meant in context - it was a nervous, disquieting feeling.
I shuddered and tried to shuck that feeling away. "Duo contacted me at the house - he asked me to call tonight. I will if I can."
A laconic nod was my response. "Then do so. However - so that you know - I don't believe Treize will let Wufei go, even if he changes the game. I believe he will take Wufei with him."
Normally, I wasn't afraid of information; I always said that it was better to know something than not know. You could prepare for the worst, and you had a better chance of succeeding by understanding your enemy's plans. Trowa's thoughts, though, were enough to depress me - especially since I thought I understood Wufei a little more now.
"I - I think you're right," I agreed, deliberately checking the girth one more time, not looking at him. "And Wufei would not leave, even if given the opportunity. He - Treize - has done something evil to him. I've been trying to reach him, but ..." I trailed off, thinking about that conversation with Wufei in the hallway before we came outside. Hopeless, a little voice inside my head insisted. He's hopeless .. he'll never leave.
Gods, I hate that voice.
"Wufei is living in hypocrisy. He does not know what he believes, or why." Trowa shrugged. "He is intelligent enough to know it, and to question his doubts. That makes him easy prey."
"I know," I sighed. "But ... but we can't just leave him ..."
"Even if you take him away, part of him will be left here anyway."
"I know," I repeated, feeling more depressed by the moment. "When we leave, we'll fight that battle. But - but it doesn't appear that we'll be leaving anytime soon."
The gelding stamped and tossed his head again, shying a little to the right, impatient to leave and stretch his muscles. Trowa looked up at me, a hard, inscrutable expression in his eyes.
"Be careful," he warned. "He loves having you here because of the danger. As long as you are not caught, you can get away with anything - but if you are caught, he will not be easy on you. It means you no longer qualify to play the game. Wufei has not yet been caught - even though he knew about the communications patches - about everything." He looked at me calmly. "You're living with the devil."
I stared back at him - and that strange feeling that had been moving inside me positively resonated when he said that. Involuntarily, I drew my hands back, pulling up the slack in the reins, not even sure how to respond.
Trowa held the reins under the gelding's mouth and led him forward to the wide stable doors. "Wufei's chosen his horse from the pasture. He's taken the black colt - probably because it's dangerous." He squinted up at me, a measuring stare. "His rules are meant to be broken."
I was watching Wufei, a cold feeling in my stomach. "He's going to get killed, in one way or another - "
"He's going to try, but he won't be."
"No," I said, understanding and alarm slowly dawning. "Treize ... he won't permit it." I remembered something Trowa had said before, and stared at him. "Communication patches? ...what, in the house?"
"Hai," he answered, nodding. "And any longer, and he will be suspicious. He already is, of course. He let me know that he knew I wasn't the man he hired." A small smile on his face and a glint in his eye showed his satisfaction. "But I haven't been caught."
"Nor will I be," I responded, drawing the gelding's head around. "Take care, Trowa. And tell Duo that I'll call - tonight, if possible."
"It will be possible," he said, nodding toward the house. "There are men from the phone company in front of the house now. He is daring you to be caught." He moved away from the gelding, giving it a smack on its flank. "Go, now."
My horse leaped forward, trotting into the paddock. I pulled up, taking my bearings, and looked back at the house. Well - I certainly couldn't see anyone from the phone company on the property.
Turning, I watched Wufei at the far side of the paddock on the black colt. He looked striking; he was wearing a traditional white gi with a white outer jacket, and was riding a black horse. No saddle for him ... probably because it was more dangerous that way. It also appeared that he was going to stay in that paddock, as well. Probably right where Treize told him he could ride.
My eyes narrowed as I thought about that. On the other hand, Treize hadn't told me where I could and couldn't ride. I looked over at the barn one more time. Can't get us out of here, hmm, Trowa? Well ... we'll see. Maybe we won't need your help.
I urged the gelding forward, maneuvering him away from the paddock where Wufei was riding toward one of the outer paddocks, next to the forest. The bay needed no encouragement, practically jumping out from under me in his eagerness to run.
That feeling of power - the sensation of flying with the horse as he cantered across the paddock - was exhilarating. It was freedom, pure and simple. I caught a glimpse of Treize on his roan as I rode to the high paddock; he was leaping fences effortlessly, the horse lifting himself well above the obstacle. I could have sworn that the man looked over at me, too, and smiled before guiding his horse to another part of the meadow.
Whatever. I didn't care. I had a fast horse, a long paddock and a forest beyond it - I was going to explore, find a way out of here and take Wufei with me, all before nightfall.
Or so I thought.
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I had been riding for about fifteen to twenty minutes, just getting used to the horse and training him to respond to my cues, when I spotted the path. It was obviously little used; in fact, it appeared to be abandoned. Part of the path was actually in the meadow itself, while the rest went off into the forest and ended ... somewhere else.
Somewhere that wasn't around here. Somewhere that could take us off the property, and away.
I looked around, turning in the saddle to look over my shoulder, and saw no one. Not a soul was around me now - no one to know where I went, or what I was doing ...
That's all I needed to know. I immediately set my horse on the path and drummed my heels into his sides. He snorted and took off, bounding away, surefooted and swift.
I leaned over his neck, encouraging him, keeping a firm grip on the reins, and steered my horse into the forest. There were a lot of small, whippy little branches around; fortunately, they were just at the beginning of the path, where quite a bit of overgrowth had crept quietly back and tried to reclaim some ground.
Ignore them. Just keep going.
I set the bay at a fast canter, almost a gallop, seemingly a headlong dash through the trees - and it felt wrong somehow, rather like something was watching us, waiting for us to make that one fatal misstep, one small flaw -
Ridiculous, I told myself. It's your overactive imagination again. You didn't see anything coming in, and it's dense enough away from the path - there's nothing here. But I reined the bay down to a slow, controlled canter, and then down to a fast trot, keeping my gaze fixed on the trees.
The gelding was acting strangely, too, shying and tossing his head every few strides, as if he felt something. He danced over to the left, clearly trying to avoid something on his right.
"Whoa, whoa," I whispered softy to him, "there's nothing there - look, there's nothing there, see, it's just --"
I stopped speaking aloud when a glimpse of what was causing him to shy and start and act nervous made my breath catch in my throat.
It was a wolf ; and not the sleek, glossy kind, either, but one that was skinny and malnourished - and, more frightening than that, one that seemed to have no fear. It growled low in its throat; white flecks of foam dripped from its muzzle, and it took several careful steps toward us.
The gelding was getting harder and harder to control. My hands were sweating inside my gloves. I tried to bring his head around, putting every ounce of knee pressure into directing him away from that animal. He responded sluggishly, finally allowing himself to be turned away from the threat, back the way we came.
I turned to look at the wolf; and at that exact moment, it decided to come after the horse and attack him, its lips curling back to expose long canine teeth, its eyes rolling. Immediately I drove my heels into the gelding's flanks and shouted, "Go!" as loudly as I could - and the gelding whinnied, panicked, and literally jumped down the path, pounding back toward the meadow.
So much for my bid for freedom.
I barely had control over my horse, and was concentrating just enough to keep my seat when the wolf leaped toward the gelding's hindquarters. His claws were extended and his teeth bared, and a horrible, snarling noise roiled after us. It flashed across my mind at that moment that this wolf, along with being starved, was probably also rabid.
Damn, this really was not my day. I shouted again and tried to drive the horse to run faster, faster, heedless of the branches mercilessly whipping us from every side. And just when I thought things couldn't get any worse -
- a shot rang out, an explosion of sound and fury from my left side, one that deafened me and rocked my world.
That was it. The gelding was completely panicked; he reared, screaming, twisted himself in the air and took off toward the meadow. I screamed as well, unable to keep my seat nor my wits about me, and found myself tumbling head over heels in midair, only to slam into the ground hard enough to drive all the air from my lungs.
Gads, that hurt. My entire body hurt like hell. I hit the ground hard enough that it jarred my teeth and I literally saw stars. I lay there, sprawled in the bushes, panting, pain flaring through my backside and into my back, and hoping against hope that the wolf wasn't going to come back and finish me.
Something rustled in the underbrush behind me. Staring up dizzily into the canopy of leaves, I saw Treize trot out from behind a large tree, a hunting rifle slung under one arm.
"Are you all right?" he asked, looking at me.
Oh gods. I was stunned, but not so far gone that I didn't recognize what just happened. Now I was caught - not necessarily in an escape attempt, but close enough, in the exact position Trowa warned me about. Rescued by the very man I was trying to flee. I tried to roll over, and groaned. It hurt even to breathe.
"I ... I think so ..." I tried to focus my eyes on him. He had nudged his horse even and looked at me, unsmiling, for a long moment.
I looked back and inwardly cringed. Something in his eyes frightened me, to the point where I looked away and tried to roll in the opposite direction, hoping to get some purchase on the ground so I could stumble to my feet. Unfortunately, all I got for my efforts was a facefull of bush - a small evergreen bush, to be exact, its tiny needles dropping everywhere.
"Saa, don't do that ... let me see."
Blearily I turned my head. Treize had dismounted and was by my side in a moment. He knelt next to me, slid one arm under my back and supported my head as he started to check for broken bones.
"I should have warned you," he said evenly, feeling down the length of my right leg. "Some of the animals here carry rabies."
"Oh," I murmured, staring up at the trees, wondering how on earth this situation could possibly get worse.
"It's been a terribly dry season," he continued. As he spoke, he unzipped my coat and lifted my shirt gently, then took his hand and pressed on my ribs.
Well, that's how things could get worse. He put his hands right where I had been bandaged before. Right where my ribs had been broken before. Pain lanced through my chest and struck my brain; I gasped before I could stop myself, drawing a raised eyebrow from Treize.
"Nothing seems to be broken - although I think you will be sitting for the rest of the afternoon." He looked at me, a small smile on his lips, his eyes still assessing. "Dr. White would kill me if she found out what despicable care I've been taking of you."
Without another word, he scooped me up from the ground as easily as if I had been a child and carried me over to his horse. I stifled another gasp, but this one wasn't from pain; even though there was nothing sexual in the way he examined me, or even in the way he was carrying me, there still was this tight, electric feeling from him that made things sensual no matter what.
His horse whickered quietly and eyed me with distrust.
"Stay, Prometheus," Treize murmured gently. The roan snorted, but stayed in place as he was told. Treize put me on the front of the saddle and stowed his gun on the side.
I shifted uncomfortably; really, sitting was the last thing I wanted to do, especially sitting on a horse - but it seemed I had no choice.
"Pro - Prometheus?" I stammered, shifting my weight again.
"Hai. I have always liked that story - are you familiar with it?" he asked as he swung himself into the saddle behind me, curling one arm around my waist and pulling me close to his body.
Of course, he did that to make sure that I didn't fall off - but it didn't really matter why he did it, because every nerve along my spine fired simultaneously, letting me know that someone with a huge presence had just pressed himself into my back.
I had trouble finding my voice. "..hai. Isn't he the person who brought fire to humans?" I was pleased that once found, my voice didn't tremble a bit.
"Correct," Treize said, pulling his horse's head in the general direction of the mansion and urging him forward. "And the gods punished him forever." I could feel his chest rumble as he leaned forward and murmured in my ear, "Comfortable?"
"H - hai. I'm ... f -fine ... thank you," I whispered. I was sure my heart was going to pound its way out of my chest, it was beating so fast. All sorts of implications were dancing around in my head, not the least of which was what, exactly, he was going to do once he took me back to the mansion. Prometheus had displeased the gods and had his liver eaten out every day, only to have it grow back whole and new each night. I knew I was in trouble now.
The delicate smell of roses clung to his coat, engulfing me. His arm circled my waist, a firm, tangible reminder of who was really in control. I held onto his arm in lieu of the horse's mane, praying that he wouldn't let me slip off.
We rode in silence back to his land. As we left the forest, I had an excellent view of the house and gardens - and there was a white truck in front of the house. A truck from the telephone company, just as Trowa had predicted. I shivered and stared at it, fervently wishing it would simply disappear, and that the man behind me would, too.
Not a moment later, Treize leaned forward and spoke into my ear, sending move shivers down my spine. Granted, he probably needed to lean closer to me because of the wind - but he also put his soft lips next to my ear and murmured suggestively, "I think we should go inside now. Hmm?"
Oh gods - don't panic. Of all the attacks he could consider using against me, this one had to be the most effective - if for no other reason than my own relative inexperience and my involuntary reactions to him. I squirmed a little in the saddle, but had no luck in dislodging either his arm or his lips. "Hai," I said, staring straight ahead.
I felt him shift his weight behind me, and realized that his attention wasn't simply on me anymore. He reined in Prometheus, slowing his pace, and very obviously looked to the right. I turned as well, simply to see what had claimed his attention so easily, and saw ... Wufei.
And he was glorious to see, too - Wufei, clad in white, in stark contrast to his horse, riding bareback, urging his mount to jump some of the larger fences. He was leaning forward, completely unaware of his audience, stroking the colt's neck and talking to him - that was obvious, as the colt's ears were swiveling back and forth.
"Magnificent," Treize purred, his chest rumbling against my back. I had been admiring Wufei, as well, watching him control the colt with nothing more than his hands, leg pressure and his own will; but all that evaporated when I heard Treize's response.
"That is one of my favorite colts," he continued smoothly, patting Prometheus' neck as if he had been speaking about his horses all along. "This roan sired him. None have ridden him but Wufei, and Wufei had never ridden before he came here." Urging his horse on, lightly touching the roan's flanks, he murmured, "A virginal experience for both of them, ne?"
"Ah," I replied, swallowing, feeling rather stupid at not having a better answer and slightly freaked at his observations. He knew that, too; I could almost feel him smile as we trotted right up to the side door of the mansion.
He dismounted quickly, taking the reins and dropping them in front of his horse. I turned to thank him and to slip out of the saddle, very anxious to drop to my feet and become independent. I was leaning down toward him when he reached up and swept me off the saddle and into his arms again, carrying me into the house.
"What? No, no, Treize, you don't have to-"
He cut me off, smiling at me with cold, assessing eyes. "Nonsense, Ms. Po. You had a nasty fall. I'm certainly not going to take any chances with your health again." I was cradled against his chest, my legs dangling uselessly over the crook of his arm, my head back against his shoulder.
"But I can-"
"- just rest, Ms. Po. We'll talk in a moment."
He carried me effortlessly through the kitchen and down the hallway. Now he was seriously invading any personal space I thought I had; never in my adult life had I ever been handled so much by one person, and it was all I could do NOT to make a scene. I looked up at him, completely spooked, to see a satisfied smirk on his face.
That's when I realized he was taking me to my room.
I actually tried to wiggle out of his grasp, but had no luck. "I ... I think I'll be fine now," I said, feeling more alarmed by the moment the closer we drew to the door of my room. "Really. I - I'm sorry I was such a burden to you."
"Oh, you're quite welcome, Ms. Po." He swept into my bedroom, opening the door with one hand and carrying me sideways through the doorway, his eyes glittering. Before I had time to think about it, Treize strode over and in one swift motion deposited me on the bed, sat down and leaned over me, holding me down by my shoulders, his face inches away from mine.
I couldn't move, and at this point, I could hardly think - all I could do was stare helplessly up at him and feel how completely vulnerable I was. Aside from the fact that he had pinned me to the bed, his gaze was the most powerful, analytical look I'd ever seen. There was no doubt in my mind that I was seeing the real Khushrenada; calm, deadly, and totally in control.
"...and you were no burden," he continued, his gaze boring into mine. "I'm simply glad that wolf was shot before he came any closer to my horses."
Breathing quickly, my eyes widened in response. He ... what?
"Don't worry, Ms. Po. I will take very good care of you." A quick flash of white teeth and a small smile made me tremble in spite of myself. "I have no intention of taking advantage of you, either. You're ... not my type," he finished, completely remorseless.
Now I was staring at him, feeling equal amounts of incredulous relief coupled with mortification and adolescent pique. What ... does he mean, I'm not his type...?
"Do be more careful," he continued, enunciating each word in a slow, even voice. "A compromising position for you now would be ... possibly devastating."
His gaze pinned me to the bed as easily as his hands, slicing my weak defense away and sinking into my psyche. There was no mistaking his meaning. I felt the blood drain away from my face as I looked at him and realized that I was inches away from something that could devour me, should he be so inclined.
He smiled again, a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Stay here until you feel better. Dinner will be brought to you. Good evening, Sally." He brushed a few strands of hair away from my cheek, still smiling with that cold, analytical look, keeping one hand on my shoulder; then he rose and casually walked to the door and left, as if it we had just had a pleasant chat between two friends.
Gods.
I lay on the bed and panted, staring at the ceiling for long moments, not even daring to look at the doorway. I had had a narrow escape - but only because he chose to let me go.
It took another five minutes before my hands stopped shaking.
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