Thanks to Crossfade's single Cold, I was able to finish this chapter and the next. XD Very good song BTW. Just a warning, tis another long chappie. o.O;
Disclaimer: I do not own Witch Hunter Robin, but if I did. . . .I'd be wearing a giant button that says "I own Witch Hunter Robin." Obviously I'm not wearing the pin, so I don't. Okay, I shall shut my trap and proceed to the story. Enjoy!
Chapter 6: Unexpected
It had taken them quite a while to find the street where their new home sat. Amon had found himself lost quite a few times and decided to enlist the help of Robin in finding the place. Unfortunately with even her help, they found themselves getting lost a few more times. Soon they found themselves at the street written on the map Nagira had given them; Robin's spirits lifting. She straightened up in her seat, peering out the window. Right behind what appeared to be an old farmhouse, was the small white house. It seemed very homey and Robin found it to be quite lovely.
Amon on the other hand, thought the house was an utter piece of crap. The siding on the house appeared to be falling off and the roof looked to be in no better shape. It was a one-story house, which appeared to also have a basement from what he could see. A small stairway led from the mailbox to the porch. To him, the only thing that remotely nice about the house, was the gate that went around the backyard. It seemed to be the only thing that remained intact.
He pulled into the driveway, double-checking the address written on the map and the address that hung loosely on the house, next to the porch light. 'Why did it have to match?' he thought to himself. This wasn't exactly Amon's type of place. The house looked like it should have been condemned; well at least in his opinion.
Once Amon parked in the driveway, he stepped out of the car and proceeded to the porch. He hadn't even bothered to tell Robin to follow. She quickly unbuckled her seatbelt and shot out the car, trying to catch up to the man.
Robin followed Amon through the front door, almost tripping over her dress as she tried to keep up. As they both entered, the smell of damp wood and mildew filled their nostrils. Amon flicked on the light switch, not expecting to see the inside of the house as nice as it was. It was nothing like the outside. The smell of wet wood and mildew appeared to be coming from a small area at the corner of the livingroom where the ceiling was leaking.
Both ex-hunters explored the house, observing every little thing about it. It appeared to Robin that the house had once belong to an older couple whom had moved out years ago. In one of the rooms at the end of the hallway, sat an old photo album, which Robin presumed belonged to the old couple. There were little notes written within the album, some quite odd. One that Robin found most intriguing was a caption underneath a picture of a small black-haired girl that read 'Taken by the Devil.'
Amon walked into a dimly lit room, the smallest of the three in the old house. He wasn't choosey when it came to his living quarters. His only requirements was that he had a place to set up his laptop, which he did. There was an old mahogany desk sitting under the small blinded window. A small lamp sat at the right top corner of the desk, the only light that was in the room. It appeared to Amon that this bedroom once doubled for an office.
He sat down the travel bag his brother had given him for his laptop. This wasn't his usual laptop, but an older model Nagira had been able to obtain from someone. Amon didn't exactly care for an older model such as this, but it would have to do. It wasn't like he could just walk into some electronics store and purchase a new laptop. Though he was slightly tempted to send Nagira to do so.
Robin was left to pick between the two bigger rooms. She decided to go with the room next to Amon's, which was better lit. A small crystal chandelier hung over the four-poster bed. The bed coverings were crimson, the same color as the jacket Robin was wearing. There were no draperies hanging from the bed, which Robin didn't mind. If she wanted them, she'd put them up herself.
She sat down at the end of the bed and sat down the bag Nagira had given her a few days earlier. He had given Amon and herself a bag to hold their things in. Seeing as they didn't have anything else with them besides their clothes, neither didn't seem to have much use for the bags. Robin didn't really have much with her, except for a few snacks and other little items Nagira knew she'd need while there.
After sitting there a while, Robin laid back onto the bed. She stared up at the ceiling, inwardly smiling to herself. Bits of moonlight that escaped from the draped windows bounce around the ceiling. Never had Robin found herself becoming so interested in something so minuscule. Perhaps it was because for the first time in weeks she felt safe.
Finally she had the peace she had wanted for so long. Even in the apartment where Amon and she stayed, not once had she felt safe. This house had such a serene feel to it, as if nothing bad could ever happen here. Robin was starting to love this house, even though she had only been there for less than one hour.
The sereness seemed to seep away as Robin began to think about Amon. She still hadn't told him what he wanted to know. It seemed every time she went to tell him, something happened to keep the truth from coming out. If it wasn't for the fact that she felt so exhausted, she'd go in there and tell him now. Though she didn't really want to go in there and get yelled at, which she knew would happen'I'll tell him later. It's not like not telling him tonight will make a difference.'
Robin felt herself giving into the sleep which she had tried so hard to avoid. Before she knew it, the girl had fallen asleep. It was good for once that she was getting some sleep. Ever since their escape from the warehouse those weeks ago, Robin hadn't slept well.
Amon stepped out of his bedroom and headed towards the room that sat next to his. The door was open, which meant Robin was unpacking. He walked in, not expecting to find the girl passed out on the bed. 'Yet again I can't talk to her. Well, I guess it's good she's at least sleeping.' The man walked back towards the hallway, slowly closing the door behind him. "Tomorrow," he said under his breath. Tomorrow he'd finally get the chance to talk to her, something he'd been trying to do for the past two weeks.
The morning had seemed to slip by Robin, for she woke up to a room filled with sunlight. She had never slept so late in the day and felt a little embarrassed for doing so. Surely Amon would be angry with her for sleeping for so long. Though Amon hadn't bothered to wake her up, so perhaps he had wanted her to sleep.
Quickly she sat up in her bed, not expecting to feel the sudden wave of nausea that had come to her. 'I shouldn't have sat up so quickly,' she thought to herself. Robin assumed the feeling would pass, which it did. She stood up and walked towards the door. As she opened the door, she felt the nausea sneaking back to her.
Amon was just stepping out of his room when Robin bolted right pass him, into the bathroom. He had nearly fell back, trying to avoid running into her. She had to be seriously sick to have ran by him so quickly. "Robin," he called in a slightly concerned tone.
Robin found herself doubled over the toilet, her left hand tightly gripping the edge of the sink. She had never felt so sick before in her life. It was taking everything within her to keep from collapsing into the floor. Outside Amon was calling her and she wanted to respond to him.
"I'm fine," she managed to choke out before vomiting again.
Amon stood next to the door, listening intently to the girl. 'She doesn't sound too good. Has she caught something? Maybe that food Nagira brought back last night was bad.' He tried to the doorknob, but it was locked. "Robin, open the door."
Even if Robin wanted to, she couldn't have dragged herself over to the door. She was now sitting on her knees in the bathroom floor, hugging the toilet. 'I bet I look so odd right now,' Robin thought to herself. "I can't," she whispered.
"What do you mean you can't?" Amon asked angrily.
"I don't think I can make it back to the door," she answered.
Amon mentally kicked himself for sounding so harsh. 'Geez man she's sick. Get a hold of yourself.' He reached into his pock for his wallet and pulled it out, searching for a credit card. This was one of the first tricks he learned as a kid, eventually moving on to more intricate tools for breaking into rooms with confidential files.
As he went to slip the credit card into the side of the door, the door opened. Robin stood there, holding a washrag against her pale cheek. Amon noted how unusually pale she looked, even more so than the previous night.
"I thought you said you couldn't open the door?" he asked quite annoyed.
"I couldn't when you first asked me. It took me a moment to get myself off the floor," she said, her cheeks blushing.
"Floor? You were in the floor?" he asked, his tone slightly quavering to one of concern.
"Yes, but I'm feeling a bit better now," she said with a nod. Robin tried to slip pass him, but he grabbed her by the arm.
"Wait," he said, pulling Robin towards his room.
Robin wasn't sure why he was bringing her in there, but it must have been important. He pulled her over to his desk. On his laptop screen was a picture a file, a file Robin had seen before. This file had been shown to her previously by Haze. She bit her lower lip, knowing what Amon was fixing to ask.
"Do you recognize this file?" he asked.
She didn't want to answer him. Confirming that she had seen it meant she'd have to finally tell him the truth. Robin reminded herself that she did say she'd tell him soon. Though she didn't feel very well. Did she really have to tell him now?
"Umm. . .it looks familiar," she.
"This file was just sent to me by Haze. It looks like the file contains records from that warehouse. I was looking through the file and came upon this," said Amon, clicking on one of the icons. A folder of archived chat sessions appeared on the screen. "Haze told me that SOLOMON agents often communicate this way now, believing that this is secure. Only top SOLOMON agents have access to it. During one conversation, that Stretten mentioned something about The Factory. According to him, 'Project Démos' was not dismantled. I assume Project Démos involved us."
"Démos. . .," Robin said to herself.
"It's a term developed by SOLOMON to classify dangerous witches. Witches that were considered world threats. When Father Juliano found out the multitude that your powers could reach, he classified you as a Démos. My question is, why name this Project Démos?"
Robin had always been around the SOLOMON organization and had not once heard this term before. Nor had she ever heard of witches that were 'world threats.' Was that even possible? Was she really that powerful to be classified as a Démos?
"A Démos is someone with unbelievable powers, one that SOLOMON fears could become out of control and kill the innocent. Were they planning on boosting your powers? If that's true, how can it even be plausible? There is no way those Factory scientists could have the knowledge to increase one's powers."
"You say it isn't plausible, but I was born wasn't I?" added Robin.
Amon grunted, showing he disapproved of Robin's correcting him. He was one with too much pride to be proved wrong. "Yes, but that was by Touto."
"But some of these men know of Touto's work!"
"And how would you know that?" Amon asked, looking at Robin curiously.
"Because Haze told me." She paused, knowing Amon was fixing to grill her. He surely wanted to know what else Haze had told her.
"What else do you know?"
Robin stared at the computer screen, trying to divert her eyes from the pair of grey eyes that bore down on her. It was now or never. "Those men have seen Touto's work and they can indeed increase one's powers." She turned to face Amon, her heart beating against her chest. "Just not mine."
"Not yours? Then who?" It couldn't be his, what would the point of strengthening his power be? He could heal himself. Though he felt he needed to ask. What if he had some other powers he wasn't aware of? "Was it mine?"
As Robin opened her mouth to speak, the doorbell rang. Amon turned towards the bedroom entrance, contemplating whether or not he wanted to answer that. Surely Haze nor Nagira would be visiting here. That would be foolish. 'Why now?' Amon thought to himself.
Robin stood up from her seat and headed towards the entrance, only to be stopped by Amon. "No, you're not going to answer that door," he said angrily.
"Why?" Robin asked innocently.
"Because you haven't answered my question."
She looked towards the entrance and then back to Amon. Robin felt a lump begin to form in her throat. He wasn't going to like what she was going to tell him. Amon would probably be mad that she hadn't told him sooner.
The girl walked back towards Amon's desk, leaning herself against the side of the it. She looked down at the floor, not wanting to look at Amon as she told him the truth. "It was neither of ours," she said sadly.
Amon stepped towards her, his face showing the perplexity that had arisen in him. "Then who?" he asked, pausing on his last word.
Robin winced, knowing what was coming next. 'He's figured it out. Amon finally knows,' she thought to herself.
"You're not, are you?" he asked, his voice slightly shaky.
She turned towards him, tears threatening to spill from her green orbs. It was taking all the strength within her to not breakdown in front of Amon. "Yes, yes I am," she said sadly. Robin felt sick as she saw the look of horror that had come to the man's face.
"Are you sure?" he asked panicked.
"Jaden and his men told me about the experiments and ran tests to be sure. I am indeed. . .pregnant," she choked.
Amon's horrified look soon set to one of anger. "How can that be? I mean, why not. . . ." he was at a loss for words.
"The scientists from the Factory wanted the strongest Orbo ever created, so they decided the best way to get it would be to use 'The Devil's Child' and another witch. Their plans succeeded, but now that I've escaped them they're determined to get me back."
Amon didn't even have to ask who the 'other witch' was. He already knew who that was. This seemed surreal to him and he started to wonder if he wad dreaming. . .or if he had died. None of this could have possibly been happening, could it?
"Their sole purpose of creating this child was to kill it after it was born. They would keep using us until they had all they needed and then kill us both. This would all happen without SOLOMON's knowledge, but fortunately there was a leak of information to Haze."
"So this is what you've kept from me all this time? Why didn't you tell me?" he said quite angrily.
"I was scared you'd be mad."
"Of course I'm mad! You keep something like this from me for so long. What were you planning to tell me? Once the kid was on the way!?" He knew how malicious he sounded now, but he did not care. Knowing she had kept something like this from him for so long had left a bitter taste in his mouth.
"Of course not. I. . ."
"And you were going to turn yourself in to SOLOMON so easily knowing you were pregnant!?"
Robin mentally kicked herself for thinking such a stupid thing. Had she really considered giving herself up with the child? She knew Amon must have thought lowly of her. The poor girl wished she had never brought up turning herself in.
"I'm sorry."
"Leave," he snapped.
"But Amon."
"Leave now. I don't want to talk any longer." Amon lowered himself into his chair, not even daring to glance at Robin. He knew if he looked back at her, he'd probably become angrier than he already was.
Robin nodded and slowly walked out of his room, closing the door behind her. The tears that had threaten to fall earlier now slipped down her cheeks. She couldn't hold them back any longer. Amon was furious with her now and she didn't blame him. Everyone told her that she couldn't tell him and then that she should. Did they realize he'd react this way? At least Nagira tried to help her out before.
The doorbell rang again, this time the visitor pounded their fist against the door. Robin ran over to it, hoping it was Nagira or Haze. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Nagira standing outside the door through the peephole. Quickly turning each lock, Robin unlocked the door and pulled it open to allow Nagira in.
Nagira glanced around him before walking in, making sure no one was watching him. He stepped through the door, smiling as he went to greet Robin. His smile faded as he saw the streaks of tears that were slowly drying on her face. "What's up kiddo?" he asked concerned.
Robin shut the door, locking it back. She didn't want to tell him that Amon was furious at her and that's why she was upset. Who knows what Nagira would go do to Amon. "Nothing," she said, wiping the tears away from her cheeks.
He shook his head and sighed. "Robin, I know something's wrong. You've been crying."
She walked towards the kitchen, totally ignoring the man. "I think there's a teakettle in here. Would you like some tea?" she asked, pulling open one of the kitchen cabinets. An old steel teakettle sat at the top of the shelf, which Robin pulled down and went to wash.
Nagira reached over and grabbed Robin by the hand, signaling that he wanted her to stop and listen. "Robin, you are ignoring me. What is wrong? Did Amon say something to you?" he asked, his voice slightly raising as he spoke his brother's name.
"He knows."
He looked at the girl pitifully. Now he understood why she was so upset. Amon had taken it the way he'd expected. Like an idiot. "So he yelled at you?" he asked, his fists clinching.
Robin nodded and sighed. "I expected him to be mad Nagira. I mean. . .we did keep this from him for so long. If I were him I'd probably be angry too." She flipped on the gas stove, setting the water-filled kettle onto the burner.
"I'm going to go talk to him," he said walking off.
"I don't think you should bother him right now," Robin said softly.
Completely ignoring what Robin had just told him, Nagira stormed towards Amon's door furiously. He banged his fists against the door. Nagira felt something catch the sleeve of his jacket. It was Robin.
"Nagira, I think it's best we don't bother him right now," she said, hoping to persuade the man. Robin wanted to avoid another fight.
"He may be mad, but he needs to handle this like a man. That doesn't mean LOCKING HIMSELF IN HIS ROOM LIKE A TEN YEAR OLD!" Nagira yelled.
Robin had never seen Nagira like this before. Amon's behavior seemed to strike a nerve in Nagira. Even though he was taking up for her, she didn't like seeing him like this. "Please Nagira," she pleaded.
The bedroom door flew open with a furious Amon entering the doorway. Nagira and Amon stood face-to-face, both glaring at each other. Robin stepped back from them, hoping they didn't start fist fighting.
"What do you want?" Amon asked through clenched teeth.
"I want to know why you're acting like a child?" Nagira said angrily
"I am not acting like a child," the younger man snapped.
"Really? So grown mean throw a hissy and lock themselves in their bedrooms?"
"I did not throw a fit!"
"No, you acted like a real man," Nagira said in a sarcastic tone. He looked back at Robin and sighed. "We need to talk Amon. No fighting, no yelling, just talking like men. Alright?"
Amon looked at Nagira suspiciously before stepping aside to let his brother in. Nagira took one last glance at Robin, giving her a quick wink. He stepped into the room, Amon closing the door behind him. Robin watched from the door, wondering what the two had just gotten themselves into.
Nagira sat down at Amon's computer whilst his brother sat at the edge of his bed. Amon looked angry, but there was something else that Nagira saw in him. He couldn't place it at first, but he finally realized what it was. Fear.
"What is it?" Amon asked slightly impatient.
"Amon, I know you're mad at Robin about hiding this. We didn't want to tell you at first, but every time we had the chance to something would happen. Robin got scared and she knew once she told you, you'd get mad."
"Of course I'm mad Nagira! You all kept this from me!"
"And I'm sorry about that. God knows Robin is too. Listen Amon, being mad about this is futile. You have more important things to think about. Namely an unborn child being hunted and its mother. What are you going to do? Have you figured that out yet? Or have you been too busy pouting over us not telling you about the baby?"
"I have not been pouting! You want to know why I'm so mad about this? Truth be told, I trust Robin. Never in my life have I trusted someone before like I do her. Yet she lied to me."
"And you've lied to her!" Nagira barked, the vein in his timple threatening to burst.
"Since when have I lied to her?" Amon shouted back.
"When you helped her escape from SOLOMON. You were reassuring her that she could trust you and yet you hunted her anyways. Don't you think her trust in you is a bit weary?"
"But I didn't hunt her. That must be obvious to you."
Nagira shook his head. Amon just didn't seem to get it. "You still broke her trust once by hunting her. She probably fears you'll turn on her again. I mean, from the way you're acting now I wouldn't be surprised if you did."
Amon turned away from Nagira, trying to ignore his brother. Nagira had spoken the truth, he did break the trust between he and Robin before. Could he really do it again? In the years that he had been with SOLOMON and the STN-J, not once had Amon ever found himself having to look out for someone other than himself. Until Robin came along. She was this burden that had entered into his world and ruined his so-called 'normal' life.
"She is but a child. Robin places trust in too many," Amon said coldly.
"And you place your trust in too few. Robin is nowhere near a child, only her age makes her as one. It won't be long until she's of legal age Amon." Nagira's harsh tone had slightly faltered as the fight had died down into a normal conversation.
"I don't place trust in many for a reason. There aren't many in this world that one can trust." Amon stood up from his bed and walked towards the door. He stopped in front of it and turned towards Nagira. "And if you would like to know, my trust in you is wavering quite refutably."
Nagira watched as Amon stepped out the door, wondering where the man was heading off to. He stood up from the chair and stretched out his limbs. Robin peeped into the room, checking up on him.
"Everything okay?" she asked softly.
"Yeah, everything's peachy," Nagira said with a sigh. He walked out into the hallway to meet her. She held a cup of tea on a little porcelain saucer for him. Nagira gladly took it, thanking her for going to the trouble of making it for him.
"It wasn't any trouble. I thought I should make you something while you were here. Are you hungry? There's a few snacks in the fridge that Amon bought."
The older man shook his head. "Nah, I'm fine. Heh, I'm scared that I might end up eating a snack that's really Amon's. Then he'd probably bite my head off," he laughed.
Robin slightly smiled, "I suppose you're right. Do you mind if we talk? There is something I wish to speak to you about," she said leading him towards the livingroom. "There's something I've been wondering about for quite some time." She sat down on the couch, waiting for Nagira to sit down next to her.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Well," she paused. "If I had the baby. . .and left it with Amon, do you think SOLOMON would just take me? I could always claim I lost it and Amon disappeared. It might stop the hunt against them," she said sadly.
Nagira looked at Robin in disbelief. "What are you talking about? You're kidding right? Turning yourself in would be stupid Robin!" He was beginning to think that Robin was going crazy.
"No, it would save Amon and the baby," she said firmly. "If I do that, they'll quit hunting Amon and he won't have to run anymore. It's my fault he's having to run in the first place."
"Robin," said Nagira, his voice trailing off. Even with the way Amon was acting towards her right now, she still was looking out for him. She showed more character than even he. "I understand what you're saying, but you can't go through with it. What if they take you and still hunt the both of them? SOLOMON will won't proof you know. You'll have turned yourself in for nothing!"
"I want to do this Nagira," she said, her voice cracking. "My options are either to turn just myself in or have them both die. If it wasn't for me this child wouldn't have been created, Amon wouldn't be on the run, and you wouldn't be getting yourself involved in all of this." Robin cupped her face in her hands. Tears were threatening to fall again.
"This isn't like you," Nagira breathed.
Robin slowly turned to him. "What?"
"You aren't being the Robin I met all those months ago."
She slightly grinned. "The Robin you knew all those months ago wasn't pregnant and was only running from SOLOMON," she said sadly. "It's hard to believe how much my life has changed over the last few months."
The alarm on Nagira's watch went off. He glanced down at it and winced. "Ah crap," he sighed. "I told Hana I'd be back by three and it's already three. Guess I better get going before she gives me an earful. She's already mad about the office." Nagira stood up and placed the teacup and saucer Robin had given him earlier, on the coffee table.
"What happened to the office?" she asked bewildered.
"Those SOLOMON agents destroyed the place looking for you two. I claimed you were just to strangers that stopped by my office one day and asked about 'witch protection.' Then I said you mentioned something about America and they're beginning a search there. So you guys should be safe for now," he said with a wink.
"Thank you Nagira," Robin said with a nod.
Nagira walked towards the front door and pulled it open, whilst stepping out into the smoldering heat. "I hate summer," he said to himself. Nagira turned back towards Robin and nodded. "You take care."
Hours passed before Amon returned to the house. Robin had been in the kitchen, moving things around to try and pass the time. She had been worried about Amon the entire time he had been gone. He had left no clues as to where he was going or if he would ever bother to come back. When he finally came through that front door, she felt relieved.
"Are you hungry?" she asked as he passed the kitchen. Robin stuck her head out the doorway to see where he was headed. He walked straight into his room and slammed the door shut. "Amon," she said sadly. 'He's still mad at me,' she thought to herself. She took one last glance towards his room and walked back into the kitchen to work.
The night has soon swept over the little countryside; the moonlight barely escaping pass the clouds that hovered in the sky. Amon stood at the window, peering up at the barely visible moon. On the outside he seemed calm, but inside was another story. His insides felt cold like ice. He had been thinking about Robin and the baby the entire night. Every once in a while he'd start to think about how the others had lied to him, but it seemed to not bother him as much anymore. Something else had begun to gnaw at him. The child.
This child Robin was carrying, would have powers unlike any ever seen in a witch. It would be more powerful than Robin and himself. That was something Amon didn't feel comfortable about. Having someone more powerful than himself being around him. What if the child's powers proved to be far too powerful?
Robin's Room
Robin laid in her bed, snuggled under the covers. She slept peacefully, only shifting around in her sleep every so often. The girl shifted onto her back, her face turned towards the wall. A shadow slowly stretched across the covers, blocking the little bit of moonlight that lit the room. Slowly the shadow reached to their side and pulled something out. It was a gun.
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That's the end of this chapter. Poor Robin. . .and maybe poor Amon. XD Don't worry, Amon won't be so reclusive in the next chapter. I know Amon and Robin seem OOC in this chapter, but that is on purpose. Under these certain circumstances, I don't think anybody could act like their usual self. o.O; Also some may think it's stupid of SOLOMON to use a chat room to discuss missions on, but this is a big organization with lots of security. Only skilled hackers and top SOLOMON agents could get access to the chat room. Thus why Haze has access. XD
Next chapter will be done soon. Currently working on it. It will probably be the longest chapter yet. A lot's going to be happening and we see the return of an old face. O.O
One last note. If you find that you must complain about my portrayal of morning sickness, don't bother. I am aware of when it usually starts, but I'm basing it off of the previous experiences of other family members. I research before I type lol.
Sorry for any grammatical errors. I spell check and go over this story many times, but still overlook errors. (I like to stick this in each chapter, in hopes that someone will not make fun of my grammar and spelling)
Preview of next chapter:
A new leader . . . . . Knocking on Death's Door. . . . . .Betrayal. . . .