Disclaimer: TMNT not mine, but everyone else is…as well as the phrase, "BOOGADY BOOGADY!"
…it's mines too.
…BOOGADY BOOGADY!
Chapter Two
"So, where are you from?"
She leaned in closer, her eyes reflecting that of sincere interest as she leaned on the back of her hand to peer into the face of the handsome vampire. And in response, Owen only blinked.
He had never really thought about that before…
In his mind, he literally drew a blank. He knew where he was born, but then what?
Yes. He was born in Salem, but do to his father's line of work, his family never stayed in one place for more than a year at the most. Even in his very earlier years of life, he was always on the move.
But then, even when he was finally able to form a family of his own, the longest he had ever settled down was for five and a half years. It would have been longer, but certain…complications…kept them from settling down completely; the same 'complications' that left him homeless, broken, without family and even worse (or at least, those were his feelings at the time) a vampire.
But now that he looked back at the experiences, he realized that there was still no place he could actually call his "home town."
That had the feeling of home at least…
So…what was he supposed to say without having the feeling of lying irk at his gut. He looked up at her hesitantly, watching as her eyes went from a deep blue to a dark green while peering into his face with a look of heavy interest. However, at her iris's unexpected change, he almost raised his eyebrows in surprise…almost.
'"Eye color: Varies'…Who would have thought that it was supposed to be taken literally?'
Nevertheless, she still watched him, waiting for the answer that, oblivious to her, he did not have.
"Well?" She prodded. "This isn't jeopardy, where are you from? Or do you not remember?"
Her eyes flashed with what Owen could only recognize as amusement. But still, he had nothing.
'Well, I have to say something, or else she'll begin to suspect me for sure!"
He had no other choice. He needed to say something, and fast; the entire mission was now at stake.
So, with one more cool (but forced) smile in her direction, he ran a hand serenely through his hair before replying.
"Well,…I-"
"It's starting!"
A youth's screech rung out before the crowd. He seemed to have just ran into the room from elsewhere only moments earlier.
Nevertheless, the reaction was instantaneous.
The room was immediately set into motion. The people closest to the appearing boy following him out of the room first while everyone else just followed in their tracks.
And like a cow to slaughter, Fai rose to follow the crowd as well.
"Come on, O'. It's starting."
She reached out for his hand, but he declined the offer, getting up instead and crossing his arms before following the crowd himself. Fai looked after him, not at all used to being disregarded so bluntly, but nevertheless, she shrugged it off.
The night was still young…she still had plenty of time to claim her prize of the day.
Smirking, she followed the tall black-haired man, silently observing the way his form tantalizingly snaked as he walked in his loose-fitting clothing.
Definitely a sex god.
Which only meant that she had to have him…
It was only a matter of time.
Trevor watched the people below from behind a giant shower of crimson. Things seemed to be going completely as planed, so far…
The masses gathered before his very eyes, each and every vampire showing an eagerness and enthusiasm that could not be seconded by the likes of anyone else. He scanned over the faces below, recognizing each and every one from his former associations with this particular crowd of people.
All of them, however, except for one…
"A…newcomer?"
He raised one red, bushy eyebrow at the occurrence. That was something you didn't see everyday. Black hair draped elegantly in the new youth's face.
Black hair?…Or was it purple?…Or was it blue?
Trevor smiled. Whatever it was, it proved very original. It seemed that in the different lights his hair was a different color, but still the same. Nevertheless, whatever it was, it suited the youth just fine.
Other than that, the youth blended right in; black on black, punk all the way. He was even adorned with the various spikes and jewelry the others wore as well…
Too bad he wasn't like the others.
Too bad he was just a bounty hunter in disguise.
Trevor watched as the guy's mouth expanded just enough to allow a bubble of pink to pop against his lips before finally sitting down.
And beside him sat his escort, of whom, Trevor knew very well.
"Fai, that harlot! She doesn't even know of whom she is associating herself with!"
Trevor grinned at her ignorance. This "newcomer" was no doubt a newbie Bounty-hunter, tipped off about this gathering by some partisan and chose to attend in hopes of scoring a few boundaries on his big night out.
Probably his first.
Well, tonight, Trevor, had other plans.
"Anthony, I want that guy watched. If he pulls anything, kill him. If not…"
Trevor turned away from the dark curtain, his long coat flowing around him as turned.
"Then I shall be attending to him myself."
Smirking, Trevor watched as the simple "stagehand" ran off to alert the others of their new orders.
And that he should; their own lives being at stake if things weren't done to Trevor's will.
It was then that Trevor paused in his musings to listen to the world just on the other side of the curtains. Yes, finally the auditorium was full, the buzz behind the curtain being enough prove of that.
Which was just what Trevor was waiting for. Sinisterly, he threw one last look between the curtains, eyeing the crowd as well as the "newcomer."
He was no threat, not with his guys watching him like a hawk. And hey, if the guy didn't try anything, he might just get rewarded for it…
Turning completely away from the curtains now, he vainly adjusted his coat and hair.
He had to look presentable if he was to appear before his adoring, and enthusiastic fans.
"It's go time…" he finally whispered, moving away from the curtains to his spot on the stage.
He would give a die hard performance, one that they would truly 'die' for.
Owen followed the crowd, peripherally aware of the girl following him but paid it no more attention than necessary.
He didn't want her to think that he was leading her on…Well, in the sense that she was thinking of anyway…
Nevertheless, he followed the crowd out of the swarming room and into the main one, seemingly much bigger and much more suited for larger swarm of vampires. This new room seemed to be a downstairs lobby of sorts, much bigger in contrast to the remains of the lobby he had seen upon walking in earlier.
Which made this place even more suitable for tonight's festivities.
Owen wasted no time in finding a seat, settling for claiming the closest fold-out chair available, but did not sit just yet. Instead, he scoped out his surroundings.
Even though the chairs seemed to be somewhat randomly distributed throughout the room, they still faced in one main direction, a curtained off stage. That, clearly, would be where the main speaker presented from, and upon looking around, he discovered that he was not the only one to come to this conclusion. Around him, the vampires quickly assembled themselves in their seating only to converse in hush tones about what they were about to witness tonight.
However, before he could completely scope out his surroundings, a female voice buzzed in his ear, interrupting his thoughts for maybe the zillionth time that night.
"Aren't you going to sit down?"
Her voice reflected that of impatience as Owen paid attention to everything, but her. Which, to her, was just unacceptable.
Meanwhile, Owen blinked at her voice. He had nearly forgot that he was in her company, but like everything else, he should have known that she wouldn't have let him forget her for long. Looking down at her, he observed her annoyance, and counteracted with a look of nothing but placidness before neatly shrugging.
"I guess now I have no choice." He joked, moving to sit.
However, it was then that everything seemed to happen at once.
There was a sudden and substantial poke at the back of his brain, a drilling sensation that he knew meant only one thing…
He was being watched.
"O'?"
For once, Owen didn't ignore her speech, turning to her as if to get away from the unseen pair of eyes, of which, he knew was on him.
'Well, if it's a show they want, then a show they shall have.'
If people were going to watch him, then he might as well give them something to look at.
Popping his gum, he finally sat, facing the direction of the stage as the girl next to him instilled his arm in her grasp. He took care of her accordingly.
"Relax, babe, it's staring soon." He stated cockily between snaps of his (now flavorless) gum and the smirk on his lips. Deep down inside though, his mind rebelled against using the impertinently tasteless phrase, 'babe;' equally as tasteless as the gum that he still chewed.
Nevertheless, he smirked, his outward appearance becoming exactly what his insides were rebelling.
Uncaringly, he easily snatched his arm away from her grasp only to cross it over his chest with the other. Leaning back in his chair, he heftily brought his foot up and down, landing it heavily on the back of the empty chair before him.
'If it's a show they want…'
Meanwhile he watched peripherally as she eyed him, clearly irked over his overall peculiar behavior, but she seemed to shrug it off soon after, settling instead for sitting back.
Owen "watched" and waited, smiling only after she had completely shrugged off his behavior, turning her attention elsewhere and to the stage. However, not too long after her attention did finally wander away did Owen find that his "admirer" was also sidetracked, the drilling on his mind dieing down as the single hawk of an observer finally looked away. However, he still felt a bit of a resonance of the drilling feeling on his brain, which only meant that he was still being watched but not to the intensity of his original onlooker. Nevertheless, Owen smiled, but it was hardly visible as the lights around him suddenly dimmed to that of an almost complete darkness. The smirk remained on his face even as the air around him seemed to hush at the darkness, sensing the upcoming debut of the well known presenter himself.
His amusement remained planted even as sudden beams of light sprung up from somewhere above and behind him, the two shafts of brightness wandering about the stage only a few moments before settling simultaneity on its center. It was then that the curtains finally opened, revealing he that was foretold to speak before them. However, that pre-knowledge did nothing to prepare Owen for who was truly behind the curtain.
But when he did see, his smile finally dropped for all it was worth shock took its unmerciful toll on his heart.
'Trevor?! He's the mastermind behind all of this?!'
Meanwhile, and on stage, Trevor opened his eyes only to grin as his audience applauded.
"Welcome!" He bellowed, his hands extending wide in warm devoirs. "Welcome my brothers in blood! Welcome my fellow creatures of the night! And welcome," It was here that Trevor seemed to shift in gaze, no longer over looking the crowd…
But looking the bounty hunter in the eye instead.
"Last but not least, Fellow believers of the true fellowship…Scholmus Adoratius Diabolo!"
Trevor thrusted a fist into the air, and at his exclamation the crowd seemed to go wild, responding in nearly one voice of damnation and to Owen's utmost disgust.
"Scholmus Diabolo!"
"Scholmus Diabolo!" Fai squeaked with bouncing excitement. Her hands clapped as she grinned. Meanwhile, Owen couldn't help but gape, not able to believe exactly what he was hearing, but believing it all the same since he was now amongst it…
'What in the netherworld have I gotten myself into…'
A heavy silence fell on the turtles, it being the only way they could express their new feeling resulting from having "overheard" the entire thing.
However, and like always, it was Michelangelo who made it his duty to break the silence, his voice expressing the collective thoughts of them all, of course adding in his own charms as well.
"Dude…if that's not freaky, I don't know what is!" He breathed. Meanwhile, Leo furrowed his brows in contemplation.
"Scholmus Adoratius Diabolo? What does that mean, Donny?"
Turning to his brother, he crossed his arms at his perplexity, leading the others to eye their brother for answers as well.
Suddenly falling under all of their gazes, Donatello resisted the heavy urge to roll his eyes.
'I may be a genius, but geez, I don't know everything!'
Nevertheless, and for his brothers' sakes, he gave it a go, drawing a bit of knowledge from a book he had read too long ago, in a subject that he had hardly found interesting at the time.
"Well, I'm no Latin buff, but I think it loosely translates to…The elite demon worshipers…"
His voice hung in the air as they all absorbed his diagnostic.
Demon worshipers.
Is that what they were? Is that why they gathered? To worship demons?
It was funny.
None of them really had the time to think about the existence of higher beings…before now.
With the coming of Owen came the coming of the understanding that there were, indeed, higher beings; Angels being the very source of his existence.
But Demons?
Did the 'higher beings' extend to the other side of the spectrum as well?
Well according to their new bit of information, it did, and it was a very active side indeed.
However, and as it was, this did not sit well with any of the turtles. How could it?
Hell?
Demons?
Satan?
Too much, too fast, too real…
"I don't like this."
Leonardo's somber voice sounded out against the darkness, the wind playing with his blue bandanna tails as he looked over the roof top and to the building Owen now resided in. "I don't like this at all."
And in response, Raph nodded, leaning over the roof top as well to join his brother in thought.
"Yeah, this is some freaky shit, like somethin' out of the X-files, or somethin'."
"Hey, do you think the X-files are real too?!"
Michelangelo's high pitched inquiry earned him nothing more than a hard stare from his primary-colored brothers, and response, he gulped.
"Ok, shutting up."
"You guys hungry?"
Both Raph, Leo, and Mikey turned to see their other brother sifting through his old and worn carry bag. Hesitantly they each stood, each one of them curious as to what he was up to, but still weary all the same.
…Until Mikey saw the sandwiches.
"Donny! You're the best!" He all but exclaimed, snatching one of the breaded delights and digging in, his former fears and troubles forgotten with the introduction of beloved food. Donny blinked at his brother's enthusiasm, but gave it no more thought, being all but used to his little brother's antics.
"I brought sandwiches." He stated the obvious, but nevertheless it was well received by the remaining two brothers. Their stomachs growled ruthlessly, dinner having been served too long ago…
"Donny, pass one over here. I'm starvin' bro!"
"Good thinking Donny! These are really good."
And as it was, both Raphael and Leonardo dug in as well.
Now seated in a row, and eating quietly, they all listened to the light breathing of Owen and the speech of some man none of them knew anything about.
However, as the rustling continued, Raph turned, his attention drawn away from the transmitter and to Donatello who, once again, rummaged through his bag.
It was then that he finally realize something.
Donatello had only brought three sandwiches…
"Hey Donny, what you gonna eat?-"
His speech was cut off, however, as Donatello finally seemed to find what he was looking for. In one fleeting motion, Donatello unsheathed the blood pack from the dark fabric of the bag. Wasting no time at all, he quickly brought it to his mouth, the plastic ripping under his wide teeth with no resistance whatsoever.
Raph watched as his brother seemed to ignore him, and instead, sucked lightly on the pack of blood now in his mouth. Sighing, he shook his head, his attention going back to that of the now babbling telecom.
"…Never mind."
Owen fidgeted in his chair, not at all comfortable with the situation or events around him, but having no other choice than to endure and listen. If he could, without fear of being called out, he would definitely have his IP in his fingers right about now. Flipping it, just for the sake of doing something that could distract him from…this…
Around him the crowd roared at the recognition of their infamous speaker, and in response Trevor seemed to grow in girth as he became swollen with self-righteousness.
"Yes, Cheer!" He edged. "Cheer for me, your brother in blood. Memorize my Face, my voice, my presence! Because I am your freedom!"
The air around Owen seemed to let out yet another roar of approval along with a murmur of curiosity, the vampires around him not at all afraid to express their now growing anticipation or confusion as it was.
"Our freedom?"
Fai's inquiry seemed to grow above the murmur only because it was right next to him. He watched her turn towards him, her eyes lighten from a dark green to a light blue and then to a milky white (with a slight remaining tint of blue) as they reflected her ever growing curiosity. Although this time he was better prepared for the change, he still had to admit that it did creep him out…
On the outside, however, he only shrugged at her gaze before turning back to the iniquitous Trevor, attempting to will her unsettling gaze back to the stage as well.
And as such, it worked. Her face turned almost simultaneously back to the stage again.
On the inside, Owen sighed. He really didn't like the way she watched him, so having her attention elsewhere was preferable, even if it was on Trevor.
Besides, it seemed as though Trevor didn't mind the "extra attention" at all. If anything, he craved it, continuing his speech at the audience's murmur.
"Yes. I am your freedom! But only If you join me…" He grinned, rubbing his hands together in anticipation for what he knew was coming. And as expected, the audience's response was almost immediate.
"Join you doing what? How do we know that you're not just bull-shitting us?" A male voice yelled from somewhere to Owen's left, which trigged yet another wave of murmuring amongst the crowd.
They knew of Trevor, just as they knew of Owen; his face being recognizable and known only through his reputation. However, that did not mean that they "knew" Trevor, just heard of him; Face and Rep, nothing more. Which meant that if they were going to entrust Trevor with such an important and valuable thing as their service, they would need proof of his…reliability…at lack of a better word.
However, it seemed that as always, Trevor was one step ahead of the game.
"Oh, skeptics I see. Well then. I guess I will just have to prove myself…Join me, your brother, your friend, and my comrades, you will join THIS!"
Owen reared back, as did the rest of the crowd as the stage and all of its occupants suddenly and literally burst into flames.
There was a moment of chaos as the vampires startled from their seats. However, over the chaos and over the shouting, a single voice sounded out, calming the storm with only four simple word.
"Lord Drakoc, I presume."
Everyone turned to the direction of the stage, only to witness the one they knew as Trevor widen his arms as if to embrace them all before lowering to the ground in a low kneel. Behind him, the fire that consumed the stage centered to one spot as a single demonic face seemed form amongst it.
But that was all.
Just as quickly as it had veered up, it went down, the fire smoldering and disintegrating to nothing right before all of their eyes.
Except for Trevor.
Trevor smiled as he watched their faces go from utter shocked to frightened and then to slow amazement in only a matter of seconds. Just as he had predicted, Drakoc couldn't resist making an appearance, but also as predicted, the demon did not have the energy back it up. Thus, the entire thing resulted in a burning stage, the Demon's presence being too much for the satin curtains, the stage and the Demon himself.
Although Trevor was left unharmed, the presence's sudden appearance left the stage smoldering, of which, it still did now…
Nevertheless, Trevor still smiled, his smirk smug as he watched the vampires stare at him and the smoking stage with stunned silence. He chuckled then, breaking the heavy silence while enjoying the sheer power that engulfed him as it did the stage…The true power…
"Is this enough proof of my sincerity? In three nights, we will rise just as you have witnessed tonight. We will rise up like the burning flames that consumed this stage, except…we will consume AVTech instead."
The crowd around him roared with approval, shouting what seemed to be Trevor's praises as well as their own eagerness to join his cause.
Owen gulped.
Whatever his thoughts of this meeting were before, it was all irrelevant now, his thoughts being thrown out of the window with the now shambled and burned stage.
All that was left was the unrelenting truth, a truth that he had been anything but expecting…
Anti-AVtech ranting? Yes.
Talk of revolution? Yes.
But this?! Demonic power and actual talk of overthrowing the ENTIRE AVTech CORPORATION, in a mere three nights?! Not at all expected!
Not at all.
He was at loss to say the least.
Nevertheless, Trevor still continued.
"Join our cause, and Drakoc shall join you as well. Come to the Docks in three nights and from there, we will take over this puny world one corporationat a time…"
His evil sneer was only seconded by the sneers of the vampires around him as they roared. Enthused, they chanted, their voices united to form one sound…
"Down with AVTech!!! Down with AVTech!!! Down with AVTech!!!"
It was then that Trevor finally left the stage, his task of gaining favor complete. However, Trevor's departure was hardly noted as the crowd evolved into a fit of speech, once again leading to a chaos of chatter. Nevertheless, the phrase "Down with AVTech" still flowed from the lips of the vampires like a new catch phrase amongst a bunch of preteens. Every repeat of the hideous phrase left Owen more and more convinced on what he had to do. Narrowing his eyes, he allowed the "O'" facade to fall for the first time that night, physically unable to bite his tongue any longer.
Not only were they basically attacking his way of life, but they also planned on attacking him at his heart…The AVTech corporation. Which lead him to one conclusion, and one conclusion alone...
"Whatever it is, I must stop it! This madness shall cease, and I will be the one to shut it up!"
"Did you say something?"
Owen turned, startled out of his anger at the female voice next to him. For a few moments, he didn't know what to say. He hadn't meant to say it aloud but he did, which could easily become his undoing.
Swallowing, he regained a bit of the composure he hoped she didn't see him loose.
Maybe if he played his cards right…
"I said…that I shall join Trevor no matter what the cost!"
Putting enthusiasm into the last few words, he acted his way out of the sticky situation. Grinning, Fai nodded wildly, completely ignorant of his true thoughts. It was then that she turned back to the giant crowd, of which, surrounded the both of them with bumbling bodies as they finally disassembled.
The "show" was over, and it showed. Every one rose form their seats and began to talk amongst themselves. He was just about to get up to join the crowd (something that he had never done until this night) but just as he stood, a heavy hand found his shoulder. Before he could even turn, a voice was in his ear.
A male voice, slightly accented with that of Old English…
"Our leader wants to make your acquaintance. I would advise that you do not keep him waiting."
Then, before he could even blink, that same hand seemed to whisk him away and deeper into the crowd. Finding his footing, he followed, his panicked mind keeping him from speaking against anything at the moment. All he could do was keep mum and follow the complete stranger, just as he was instructed to. His muffled mind hardly had time to grasp the man's speech before he was brought through a pair of satin curtains that up to a few moments ago, had matched the curtains on the stage. Slowly the sound of talking and chatting died down as he was pulled deeper and deeper in to the abyss of the unknown, and cold dark silence took its place. It was not until seeing the cold gray stones of the room and feeling the emptiness that was suddenly around him (the man had left almost as fast as he had come) that he was finally able to think.
'…Wait! Leader?! But, that means-'
"Sorry, to keep you waiting my friend, but I had some rather important…and sweltering, business to attend to."
Owen froze completely. His whole body went stiff at the sickeningly familiar voice. Slowly, he turned, his eyes going wide as they conformed what he already knew.
Dark coat?
Fiery red hair?
Big gun?
Disgusting smirk?
Definitely Trevor.
Meanwhile, that smirk seemed to grow (if possible) bigger upon observing the shock on the young man's face.
'Ah. Once again, my reputation precedes me…'
" So, your new here, I see. I haven't seen you at any of our former "get-togethers.""
Trevor's voice, instead of being cool and calculated was…friendly. Something Owen NEVER thought he would have witnessed…well, in his life time anyways.
And in response, Owen truly didn't know how to react. He nearly frowned in confusion. Why wasn't he being killed right now?
'Maybe all is not lost. Can it be that he actually does not recognize me?'
Nevertheless, and despite the hopeful thoughts, Owen kept his senses on high. Meanwhile the shock never really left his face, but only succeeded in going from absolute shock to just being taken back, to almost a deep skepticism.
Trevor watched him, he noticed, seemingly interested but not in the expected hate that would have been seen on his face any other time he addressed Owen.
Perhaps his cover wasn't blown after all…
And now it was time for his acting skills to take effect.
"Wow, Mr. Greystone, I can't believe I'm meetin' you…in person!"
Although he was smiling on the outside, he was rolling his eyes on the inside. Really, what a truthful statement. Almost an understatement, almost…
Meanwhile, though, he reached out his hand, and when the vampire took it, Owen made sure to shake it vigorously while grinning like an idiot, just as an admiring fan would do for his hero.
For his valiant hero.
'Oh yeah. What a valiant guy!Too bad he's evil, not to mention insane!"
Nevertheless, he continued to grin up until their hands' release, then he just stood there, not really sure as to where this was going, but anxious nonetheless.
Just as he was supposed to be.
"So…you wan'ed to see me for somethin'?"
Owen knew that he normally had a slight accent, his voice being affected by his roots in Salem and well as his prior experiences in England and London. However, now, when he spoke to Trevor, he made sure to loose the accent as best as he could. With that, he even found himself adopting a new one.
Kind of like the accent of a certain, red-banded turtle he knew…
He nervously watched the vampire before him, only to noticed that he was being observed as well.
It was as if Trevor didn't know what to make of him.
And in reality…he didn't.
'So familiar…'
Well, more than familiar. He could recognize that powerful essence anywhere. It was Owen's essence…but somehow…not.
This guys was too….different, to be Owen. Nothing was clicking together, which left Trevor at a temporary loss. He felt Owen, oh he definitely felt Owen, but everything was too wrong to be Owen. However, despite everything else, he knew that this kid was at least a Bounty Hunter. That much he could smell! But everything else left him at a level of perplexity that he could not battle.
On looks alone, this kid was definitely not the valiant, "goody, goody" vampire he loathed and hated. Actually…on the contrary. His choice in clothes and jewelry seemed to be rather…blunt…in nature. He was a rebel, just like the rest of his followers, the spikes and various other adornments paying witness to that. Standard accessories really; studded wrists bands, spiked neck bands. Silver chains…
However, one certain piece of jewelry did catch Trevor's eye.
"That's a nice amulet you've got there. May I ask, where you got it from?"
Trevor watched the vampire blink before looking down, as if discovering the amulet for the first time himself.
"My…amulet?"
Owen eyed the piece of adornment himself, not at all expecting the dangerous vampire, his well known enemy, to notice…
There was something special about the amulet though…something he did notice as well, which was one of the reasons he had chosen it from the bag in the first place.
'I must ask Mike where he got it from, but now, there's more important things to take care of.'
"Yeah, well, A friend gave it to me."
He replied curtly, shoving the conversation aside as he placed the talisman back onto his chest, but not before giving it one last stray glance. The colors seemed to shift in the dim light, very astonishing, but unimportant at the moment.
He let it go.
"You didn't bring me here to comment on my jewelry, did ya?" Owen remarked playfully. Nevertheless, he nervously crossed his arms.
It was difficult, he had to admit. Everything he did now he had to do because it was expected of him in the role that he played. In reality, he was actually rather apprehensive. Trevor was as much an enemy to him, as he was to Trevor. If all of his ideals and beliefs could be brought together into one essence, and then extracted to form its exact opposite, that extraction in its simplest form would be Trevor himself.
It was times like these that Owen found himself wondering how could he have ever allowed himself to be fooled by this rogue in the first place? All those lifetimes ago…
Nevertheless, this was the present and not the past. Therefore, he had to deal with the here and now, and not the unchangeable history.
No matter how…"abhorrent"…the events of 'then' seemed, or how they made him feel.
On the outside, he stayed in character despite his unbearable turmoil. He could not lose it now, he could not, for the sake of his company. He had the information he would have died for, and now all he had to do was get past Trevor, and everything would be all set…
Easier said than done.
However, before he could come up with something to break the uncomfortable silence, Trevor spoke, his voice still the same friendly tone it was earlier.
Except, this time, it was a little bit more eager than before. A bit more, inquisitive.
"Well, I was just wondering about where one could obtain such a striking piece of jewelry…However, on to real business."
Trevor seemed to go from lax and friendly to determined and austere in less than the blink of an eye, which, in turn, resulted in Owen catching up to the giant leap in tone.
No problem when you're speaking with the enemy.
"I am not one for wasting time, so I will be blunt." Trevor explained, dropping the formalities. He really should have done this before, but the amulet caught his attention like none other.
There really was something about that amulet…he just couldn't put his finger on it.
Nevertheless, he shook the odd feelings away before continuing. Being the busy vampire that he was, he really didn't have time for this anyways…
"As you know, AVTech's overthrow will be soon coming. And when it does come, Drakoc will finally get what he deserves. I will reign supreme as his one and only disciple, making me ruler of this sorry Earth. But I cannot do it alone…"
"…So, you want me to reign with you?"
Owen guessed at his motive, not at all understanding the reasoning behind it, but able to decipher where it was going.
And in response, Trevor smirked. Smart kid.
"Well, in a sense, yes. You won't be as powerful as me, however, but still I can give you a very preferable status for someone of your…experience." He breathed, his voice flowing and subtle like a poison on the wind.
A poison that Owen knew well.
"Status?" He asked, ignoring the all but obvious evil underlining factor while adding one of his own. Hey, he was "evil" now. Might as well play the part…
Trevor smirked. Owen nearly threw up, the hate he felt with that move alone made him want to kill the retch right then and there, but he didn't. Instead, he merely raised an eyebrow at Trevor's sudden answer.
"My leading General, second in command, higher in rank than all except me. How does that sound?"
Although his immediate mind screamed no, he did not let it be his guide.
A deal with the devil was still a deal, and it was meant to be thought over, pondered, considered…
Basically, to use to his advantage!
"The catch?" He asked knowledgably. Never can one achieve something preferable without there being some kind of repercussion in return, especially with this set.
"Just working with me in ruling over this miserable world. So, do we have a deal?"
Trevor extended his hand, his smirk matching that of his eyes. Cold, dark, evilly amused, but determined, as was Owen.
The back haired "teen" sharply eyed the extended hand, but made no move to accept it. Instead, his mouth extended into a rather lopsided grin before shaking his head in mock wonder. Standing outside of the situation (which was the only way he could get through it) allowed him to see the overall picture. And something was wrong.
"But you don't even know my name yet." Owen acknowledged, quietly (and feigningly) astonished. However, on the inside the warning bells were relentless. If he told Trevor his "name," that alone would be the end. It would surely give away his secret identity.
Trevor was already all over him analytically, prodding and analyzing his demeanor throughout the entire ordeal. He could tell. However, it was a warning that had to be ignored. He had to remember, here he was not Owen. He was O', a completely and totally different person. A person that was ignorant of anything that had to do with Trevor, besides the obvious. All O' knew was that this vampire, this famous vampire, was suddenly showing interest in him. Almost too good to be true, especially since the famous vampire knew nothing about him, one of those "nothings" being his name.
Therefore, Owen had to keep in character.
Agreeing to the deal's demands too hastily and not saying anything of his disbelief would have been just as perilous as actually giving his name, narrowing the fine line of "safety" even more.
But it was a risk he just had to take. Swallowing his troubles, he watched the vampire evenly, his lopsided grin never faltering from his features. He even kept the humor in his eyes as if the entire thing had left him tickled at it's absurdity. Quite a task to pull off, even for the millennia-year-old vampire, but a task that was still deemed successful.
Trevor chuckled at the kid's seemingly innocent statement before turning away. His feet were already in motion and heading for the room's opening before responding, his voice clear like crystal as it rang against the cold dark stones that surrounded them.
"There is no need for such formalities. You know me, don't you? That is all that is important."
Trevor reached the doorway, but before turning into the dark corridor beyond he turned back, looking the "kid" in the eye for the last time. "In the meantime, I recommend you think over my offer, thoroughly. I will be expecting your answer at our next meeting, three nights from now. Until then my friend, Diabolus fortune licet."
And with that, he was gone, leaving Owen alone in the darkness of the room, and the coldness of his own thoughts.
"Do you seem him?"
Raph's voice was that of the utmost impatience as he scanned the ground below, as did his brothers. It seemed as though the friendly "convention" had let out several minutes earlier, a rather large crowd exiting the building at about the same time. Now there were a few straggles, seemingly in conversation about the occurrence of that night, but no Owen. They knew that he had been held back, someone coming to him rather weirdly, asking him to stay behind.
Only to talk to the head lord himself.
"This…Trevor guy, bad news?"
"The badest."
Mike nodded as Donny answered his question.
"My thoughts exactly."
After their many years of going up against various villains themselves, it was no problem discerning the overall baddies from the ones that wern't just bad, but sinisterly bad.
And this Trevor was just that.
"Do you think he's in trouble?"
Mike looked to his brothers again, of whom were each a distance away from him, scanning the ground from various angles. Although his voice was quiet, trained ears still heard him. Although most ignored him. Nevertheless, the brother closest to him, Donatello, still responded, although his mind and eyes were elsewhere.
"Well, that would've been a good idea if we didn't have the transmitter. Mikey, we would have heard if something was up."
Both Don and Mike turned to the turtle-com/transmitter as it crinkled lightly. Nevertheless, Owen's light breathing was still audible on the com, meaning that Owen was just fine.
"Well, then, were is he-"
Mike's string of inquiries were finally cut off by a movement from down below. At the sounds, Mike as well as Don shot up to watch their fearless leader. In turn, Leo eyed Raph, meeting his gaze as well before falling back to the ground below in silent order.
Basically, the "order" was to be ready for anything.
However, their growing readiness and anxiety was squelched as a certain black haired youth stepped through the broken doorway and into a now empty street.
Donatello looked into his brother's faces, not at all surprised to see their wide grins, which he knew matched his own.
Owen made it out, without his cover being blown.
The mission was a success.
Now all they had to do was reap the benefits…
Looking up at their leader once more, he received a nod. It was time. Donatello began to clean up, placing all of the hardware back into his carry bag. Around him his brother dressed for the occasion, fedoras and trench coats being dispersed to demand. Just as Donatello had finally zipped up, the roof top was empty. His brothers were gone, already on their way to giving Owen a surprise visit.
That was the plan after all.
Sighing, he put on his own trench and fedora, warily scanning the roof top for any remnants of their own transactions. Finding none, he smiled as he strapped the rather large but light bag to his back before leaping down off of the roof itself.
Time to join the party.
Owen took a breath of crisp night air. It was good to be out of that stuffy old hotel, even if his mind wasn't at ease. He had a feeling it wouldn't be for a while.
How at ease could one's mind be after learning that what you had held as truth had been a gross understatement. This was all bigger than he had thought, which only meant that he had to turn up the heat. Starting now, things were going to change, starting with him. He needed to start training again…seriously. He couldn't remember the last time he had done some serious training, other than his lax morning and evening practices. In exactly three nights the devastation of the world would be at hand, and as it was, Owen was its only hope. Which only meant that he had to be at his peak, and he had only three nights to get there.
'What about the turtles? What are you going to tell them?"
Owen nearly froze in his tracks. His hands suddenly found the overly-large pockets of his pants as he nervously weighed the factors.
Above him the sky rumbled; a sprinkle would be inevitable, but that was the farthest thing on his mind…
The turtles were the main reasons behind why he was even here, but what would he tell them when he got back? He couldn't just say nothing, they would all be down his throat as soon as he walked in the lair. Especially Michelangelo. But to get them involved? That was out of the question. This was way bigger than he had even imagined, he could hardly handle it. How would three normal mutant turtles, one amateur vampire turtle and a regular human girl be able to cope?
His stroll startled to a stop as he pondered over his newest problem turned obstacle.
Meanwhile, as his thoughts grew and developed, unknown to him, the shadows around him grew as well. Too distracted to notice, he turned down another dark alley only to find that it was a dead end.
'Wait. What? I did turn down this alley, right, coming in?…Ug, my mind was so busy thinking about the meeting that I walked myself right into a dead end…just like my predicament."
Above him, the sky rolled.
He truly was at a dead end. If he went home, the turtles would definitely become involved. But what else was he supposed to do? This was all dangerous, too dangerous for him, not to mention the turtles. He could not get them involved.
Which only meant…
"I can't go back. Anything to ensure that they don't get involved."
However, and like always, Fate had other plans.
"Get involved in what?"
Like a snake from a sand pit, the voice snuck out too him, causing him to freeze.
He knew that voice. Almost too well, in fact.
"You know, one would have thought that after the last time, you would have learned not to spy on me, Michelangelo."
However, it was then that he was proven wrong again, for this time another voice piped up from the darkness.
"Who say's that he's the only one?" A Brooklyn accented voice countered, his tone playful as if the person behind it found the entire thing rather amusing.
'…Funny. I don't find this amusing at all. Actually, on the contrary.'
A small bit of rage built up in his soul, but still he was more annoyed than anything. He never took kindly to being 'watched,' especially without his knowledge. He worked hard on his skills; to have them bested right under his nose was more insulting that annoying, making it was one of the many reason he had chosen to seclude himself for so many years. However, now with the turtles, it seemed as though nothing was as once thought. His skills faced a challenge almost everyday, stretching his experience as well as his nerves.
Nevertheless, it changed him. He could tell. The changes were small, but they were there. Never had he been one to joke around, or even laugh openly, but it seemed that with them he was entitled too, only because everyone else was so open and free with their emotions. And that had changed him.
If that didn't then something else did, because back when he lived alone if he found any spies, they would have been dead before they could even speak…
"What are you all doing here? I thought I was supposed to do this alone." He sighed, feeling the anger drain away as it did a lot nowadays. Small water droplets began to fall from the dark sky, which also helped sooth his now falling temper. There was no sense in getting mad. They were already here so there was no sense in busting a vain because of it. The most he could do was face the fire and deal with it accordingly.
Turning away from the dead end of a brick wall, he faced the darkness that just forwent the large gap that was the alley's opening. However, and as it was, four shadows stood in that opening, four shadows that he knew well.
Nevertheless, and despite Owen's well sensed discontent the first form stepped forward, his blue bandana billowing wildly from under his low fedora. The cold storm-induced winds also played with Owen's amulet, sending it on a billow of escape before falling back in defeat, bound to the neck of the man who wore it. The entire transaction went ill noticed however, as Leonardo slowly stepped forward. Like a beam of light on a cold dark night, Leo's voice rung out in the dark alleyway.
"You should know by now that we never let one of our own face something like this by themselves. We are behind you, from start to finish."
"You are apart of this clan, and as such, your problems…are our problems."
Donatello stepped out from behind his brother, moving closer and closer to the now befuddled vampire. "How many times do we have to remind you?" He asked with a slight smile and shake of his head.
Owen could just be so anally stubborn sometimes, but then again, looking at his family, he fit right in.
Meanwhile, Owen seemed to sigh. Once again the turtles had managed to quell his independent spirit, only to fill him with the warm feeling of being apart of a "family" again.
Yes, he had definitely changed, but not much…
He still knew what he had to do.
Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he let it go, smiling a bit as he managed to shuffle his way past the "warm moment of bonding" and into the wet and cold night beyond. He had no time for this, not with only three days being between the world and destruction.
"Look this is nice and all, and I understand what you all are saying, but it's not that easy. So I'll just skip the general formalities and get to the real issue. This mission looks as if it is bigger than I had originally planned, thus for the safety of the clan…" He turned to them then to address them personally, but was surprised by the fact that they had actually followed him out of the alley. Nevertheless, he continued his gaunt, but turned to face them as he addressed them properly. "I must not get you all involved. These issues are much too…complicated, this time. Too big. I'm sorry, but I can't just get you involved with a clean conscience." He explained as he continued his forward trot but backward speech, effectively making him walk…well…backwards down the deserted wet pavement, only to have four silent dark bulky forms following him every step of the way. Quite obviously, they still did not seem to understand…so he clarified.
"Stop." He demanded, his voice definite against the pitter-patter of the rain as well as the roar of the heavens. And as such, his will was followed, all four of the turtles stopping at the sudden halt in his step, the outstretched pale hand as well as the fire in his voice. "Do not follow me anymore. You know what, do not follow me, ever again. I won't be coming home tonight. I think you guys can figure it out from there."
With one last backward glance, Owen turned away, shoving his hand directly back into his pockets. Although he began to walk away, he still reached out with his senses and was pleases to "see" that the turtles did as they were told, for once, and stayed put.
However, knowing the turtles, he knew they wouldn't stay put or quiet for long. And this time, he was proven absolutely right.
"Why is it that you think that we can't handle this? We're…resourceful. I think we can take a few vampires."
Raph's overconfident badger was unequivocal. But Owen couldn't help but offer a response anyways.
"Oh, this is definitely bigger than you. It's even bigger than me…" The last sentence was more a whisper of desperation than anything else. He really did have to do this alone, if even just to protect the turtles. But it was 'too big' even for him, "too complicated."
He really didn't know what he was going to do, but he knew whatever it was the turtles would not be involved.
Meanwhile, Fate had something else in plan. Although Owen's determination was stone strong, it could still be broken. Mountains don't last forever. And neither does the rock that construct it. Sometimes, all it takes is a small continuous force of water to erode the mountain, making it nothing but pebbles.
"Owen, we know."
Despite his gaunt and the fall of water around him, Owen's exceptional ears were still able to pick up on the hushed whisper that was Donny's voice.
"Understand what?" He yelled heatedly over his now cold shoulder. There was no way they understood, understood the predicament of the world and the weight it left on his lone shoulders. "You understand nothing."
His gaunt continued un-phased into the cold dark night.
"We know about Trevor."
Leo's voice sounded from the now nearby distance. Although his voice was nothing more than a sound on the wind, it was still audible which made it just as powerful as the storm above.
Owen halted, his eyes growing wide as he absorbed the atmosphere around him.
"We know about Trevor." How?! Exactly how much did they know? He reached back into his past, starting at the beginning of this entire ordeal when he first met the evil vampire lord. Back then he was nothing more than a harmless acquaintance, to him and his family.
Or so he thought.
Now, nearly a millennium later, Trevor's two-faced influence still resided strongly on his soul, the hatred reigned presentably in his heart.
The anger was one of his only weaknesses, and it all began with Trevor.
So to hear that they knew about the red-haired freak brought a shiver up his spine, and a cold steak in his soul; his secrets of weakness were unleashed.
How much did they know? How much did they know about his past?
Slowly he turned away from the empty road of solitude and back to the street filled with friends. He wasn't so sure how much they knew, or how much they thought they knew, but he did know that there was no turning back now. They knew too much.
Thus, making them just as obligated as he.
The waters journey down from the sky full-fledged now, wetting everything in it's path. Owen looked through the shower of rain droplet and to his friends just beyond.
With one statement alone, they had inescapably joined the loosing fight for mankind. Which, now that he thought about it, had been their fight all along.
Making them allies against the war within.
…..dies…just dies I don't know how I managed 'this' but I did. It nearly killed me, but I did. It's 5 in the morning…I have a busy schedule tomorrow, aka today, and there is no way I will be awake for it. The MOST you guys can do is review, lol. R and R, that's all I ask, and I will be a happy sleeping girl!
Oh, btw, it's all not over yet. A new chapter will be up ASAP!