Kitana: And here are the lover birds….
44
Alexander held his young daughter in his arms, her small hands wrapped round his neck tightly. Her eyes were closed but there was a lovely smile spread across her face, she didn't look no more than a year old. Her long golden hair fell down to her dangling feet. Her smile brightened as her father stroked her long hair.
He moved back cupping her face within his hands, he held such a love filled expression that showed he was greatly proud of his little daughter, "Father must you go?" she said, her happy childlike look disappeared revealing a face full with sadness.
Alexander sighed, "You know I have too," he said, his face changed to a beautiful smile, "And you also know that I'll be back in two weeks."
Alicia laughed; her big blue gems shone so brightly, "You'll be here for my birthday?"
"Of course and I have a big surprise for you then."
"My present?!" she beamed.
Alexander only grinned, "You have to wait and see," he touched her nose with the tip of his finger.
Alicia pouted, "Oh please daddy, can you not tell me?"
He wrapped his arms round her small body and laughed, "If I did that then it wouldn't be a surprise Alicia. It is only two weeks. Not that long to wait."
She nodded her head against his neck and giggled, "Yes papa you are right."
He kissed her cheek and settled her to her feet, her pretty small white dress fell to the floor just like her hair, she smiled up towards her father, "I'll be waiting when you get back father."
He gently patted her head and turned round towards the double door, his hand laid on the golden handle. He glanced back at the small child and smiled, "It's only for two weeks."
The young girl nodded her head almost understanding why her father had to go. She hated it, but there was nothing she could do, "I know papa."
He turned back round opening the door. He sighed heavily and walked out closing the door and leaving his child behind him.
Steve stood in the same room staring at the child, he knew it was a dream but if felt so real as if he could reach out and touch the girl. His heart broke for the young girl as soon as her father vanished from sight.
Sadness seeped through into those magnificent eyes of hers, "Papa," she whimpered regretfully to the door knowing that he couldn't hear her or even if he could he wouldn't turn back.
Steve bent his head almost feeling the exact emotions coming from the young Ashford. And he did know, but not as such a young age as her, but he knew how it felt to be alone with no parent. Like an empty hollow feeling trapped in his heart, sickening and nauseating, it just couldn't be discarded. He looked to the girl and saw the pure love within her, the way she frowned, the way her small body leant back, her eyes it was love and sadness mingled together giving him and her that painful ache in their hearts. She knew it was for two weeks, but she also had a sneaking suspicion that she would never see him again. She didn't like that thought, but it still ate away at her soul.
For she was too young to help her father. Even if something was going to take him away from her…forever…
"That was the last time I saw him."
Steve opened his eyes and realised that it was indeed a dream, but somehow it didn't stop the ache trapped in his chest. Alicia sat on the floor next to him stroking his hair, he looked up and she smiled. A soft movement of lips.
"I remembered I couldn't stop crying that night," her eyes were distant, "I knew deep down in my heart that he would never return to me."
"How did you kno-"
She smiled again, a bit bigger than before, "You spoke things in your sleep that no one knows about, apart from me. Also it's what the T-Veronica virus gave you."
He frowned.
"You see Steve, Alexia had the power of transformation. She had three stages of her transformation, but you have such a unique ability," her eyes shone lovely azure; "You can see things in people's souls and understand their pain. You saw a memory from my past."
His eyes widen, "So it wasn't a dream?"
She shook her head, "It didn't fell like a dream did it?"
"No," he whispered, "I could feel your pain so clearly."
Her face softened, "Then you understand me."
Steve smiled, "Yes," he paused, "I don't like it. It's too painful."
"It's only painful because you make it like that," she sighed, "If you can pull away from sadness then you can see more than pain and anguish. It's in your power."
He sat up staring straight into her eyes. She smiled already knowing what he knew, "You find it hard to hate me now don't you?"
"Yes, why?"
"Because you understand why I am who I am, and who you are."
"And what I'm I?" he asked, "I'm no human anymore and yet I am no monster."
"You're an Ashford Steve," she stood up reaching out her hand to him, "I do not understand why you don't accept it."
He took her hand and pulled himself up, "Because you don't understand me."
She laughed, "Try me."
He pushed back his copper-red hair and leant against the wall, "My father and mother died because of Umbrella. I died because of Alexia and you ask me why I don't accept being an Ashford?"
Alicia face softened, her eyebrows rose, "You have a point Steve, but that is in the past."
He pushed off the wall frowning, "Is that so?"
She nodded her head, "Yes it is."
He crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes, "If that's the case then why are you still on a quest for vengeance? That is too in that past."
Alicia frowned, "You are truly an Ashford."
"You didn't answer the question."
Her eyes flared white; her invisible force zoomed towards him but didn't hurt him. It was only a burst of warmth that flow over his body, "I don't need to answer to you boy!"
Steve moved closer to her pushing into the warm air, "Then who do you?"
She narrowed her eyes and moved to him grabbing his shoulders. She pushed him back into the wall, "No one! I'm my own master! I do not answer to anyone!"
"Like mother like daughter."
She swung the back of her hand across his face, "I'm not like her!"
Steve glanced at her wiping blood from his bottom lip, "Not much," he said frowning.
Alicia backed away, "I'm nothing like her!" she screamed. She quickly ran forward yanking him to her, "I'll show you my mother!" She pulled him to her bedroom door and shoved it open pushing him inside.
Steve stumbled inside, he stopped himself before falling, "Surprise!" she called from the door, "Now you can prove yourself an Ashford!"
He glared up into a bright white light; there was another room, a laboratory!
"Steve," whimpered Claire.
He ran up towards her but stopped, something invisible and warm blocked him to her. Tears ran down her face, she looked so tired and sick, "Are you ok Claire?"
Alicia appeared by her, "Of course she is Steve," she smiled, "What do you think of me? A barbarian?"
He frowned at her, "What are you going to do?"
"No, no, no Stevie-boy. The question is, what are you going to do?"
"What?"
She ran a nail down the side of Claire face, she didn't push in to cut her but she only did it to cause fear in the brunette, "So innocent you are Steve," she sighed, "Your hands are not tainted with blood," she leant down to Claire and gently laid a kiss on her cheek, "Well," she whispered, "Not yet."
"Stop it!" he cried, "Leave her be!"
Alicia moved up from Claire, "And I thought you understood me."
"Same here, but I was wrong."
"So you are," she smirked, "Come to me Steve and open your arms to the Ashford Clan."
He stood back, "Never," he said through clenched teeth.
She walked to the metal tray above Claire's head and picked up a slivery surgical knife. It shimmered under the white light. He watched her with narrowed eyes, "Don't be difficult Steve," her voice flowed across the air towards him like a warm breeze. He wavered and something inside wanted to see blood flow, to hear screams of pain and death echo out.
He closed his eyes trying to push the voice from his mind, "Shut up!" he screamed yanking his hair, "SHUT UP!" That hot heat ran from his body in circling him inside a warm invisible ball. The voices stopped, he looked up at her and started laughing, "You can't control me anymore Alicia."
She frowned, "You're a fast learner, but not powerful enough to penetrate my power," she smiled and glared at the straps that tied Claire hands and feet down. They unloosened releasing Claire. Alicia stared into Claire's eyes and smiled, "Here my dear," she handed the sharp knife to her, "Show Mr Burnside what you can do."
Claire looked at Steve and smiled, her eyes were dark almost lifeless. Alicia stroked her hair and laughed, "That's a good girl Claire."
Steve panicked, he sent out that hot wind towards Alicia but it only bounced back, "Claire!" he cried out, "Claire wake up! This isn't you!" he licked his lips, "Please Claire wake up! You can resist her!"
She turned to him again and smiled that beautiful smile, "its ok Steve Lady Ashford is a nice person."
She gripped the knife in her hand, she looked up at Alicia.
"That's it Claire," her voice was that same soft sound, hypnotic, "Do it."
Claire lifted the blade high in the light and plunged it down towards her gut.
"CLAIRE!" cried a helpless Steve.
Her eyes went pale, the brownness seeped away. Her smile faded into a plain expression. She glazed down at herself and saw blood, "Steve? What's going on?" She stared at her blood soaked hands, "Steve?" she whimpered glancing into his eyes.
Alicia walked round to her; she moved her hand toward the knife and pulled it out. Claire screamed as the pain rushed through her.
"Stop it!" he sobbed.
"You could of stopped it yourself Steve, but no, it is you that had to make poor Claire here suffer painfully."
Claire sat quietly, her body wavered slightly as the pain erupted all over her, "Steve," she whispered, "Make her stop," she glanced at him tears falling from her eyes, "Please," she begged.
"Alicia!" the heat rose up around him, the computers sparked and blew.
She laughed, "You can't pass through my power Steve. As hard as you may try to, you can not!" She held the blade out again to Claire, "Take it again my dear and finish it this time," she moved close to her ear and whispered, "Release that pain for good."
Claire wrapped her bloodied hand around the red shimmering metal, "Yes Lady Ashford."
Steve stepped back and closed his eyes, if he could not penetrate her mental shield around them, then he could enter Claire's mind. He concentrated hard whispering words and thoughts towards her.
'Claire!' his mind echoed, 'don't do this; resist her mind stop listening to the voice that is controlling you.'
He looked up at her and swore, he closed his eyes again building his hot power up and up, 'Claire,' he called out, 'You have to gain yourself mind back!' he relaxed letting his power flow through him, 'Please Claire I need you! Don't let her take you away from me again!'
Claire turned to Steve and smiled. He looked up at her waiting for her to speak, "It's ok Steve I trust Lady Ashford."
He fell to his knees screaming out her name. But she didn't notice, she pulled the knife high, "This is for the Ashford Clan," she cried shoving it down and into…
…Alicia!
The young Ashford cried out stumbling to the floor in pain. Steve immediately stood up and ran out to Claire. The invisible shield that blocked him was no more; he passed through grabbing her and pulling her.
But she stopped.
"Claire," he called tugging at her, "We haven't got a lot of time!"
"I know, but…" she let go running to the small capsule with the Counter-virus. She picked it up smashing it down towards the floor. He pushed away bits of the glass and grabbed the syringe. She turned too quickly and wavered on her feet, her gut spasm sending out a sharp ache around her body. She stumbled but was saved by Steve's arms.
He wrapped a hand round her waist, "Hold on!" he said dragging her towards the door. He used his heat and flung it out towards the door crumbling it into nothing more than a clump of broken wood.
He glanced back quickly not sensing any movement from the crazed Ashford and they ran out.
44
Alexander held his young daughter in his arms, her small hands wrapped round his neck tightly. Her eyes were closed but there was a lovely smile spread across her face, she didn't look no more than a year old. Her long golden hair fell down to her dangling feet. Her smile brightened as her father stroked her long hair.
He moved back cupping her face within his hands, he held such a love filled expression that showed he was greatly proud of his little daughter, "Father must you go?" she said, her happy childlike look disappeared revealing a face full with sadness.
Alexander sighed, "You know I have too," he said, his face changed to a beautiful smile, "And you also know that I'll be back in two weeks."
Alicia laughed; her big blue gems shone so brightly, "You'll be here for my birthday?"
"Of course and I have a big surprise for you then."
"My present?!" she beamed.
Alexander only grinned, "You have to wait and see," he touched her nose with the tip of his finger.
Alicia pouted, "Oh please daddy, can you not tell me?"
He wrapped his arms round her small body and laughed, "If I did that then it wouldn't be a surprise Alicia. It is only two weeks. Not that long to wait."
She nodded her head against his neck and giggled, "Yes papa you are right."
He kissed her cheek and settled her to her feet, her pretty small white dress fell to the floor just like her hair, she smiled up towards her father, "I'll be waiting when you get back father."
He gently patted her head and turned round towards the double door, his hand laid on the golden handle. He glanced back at the small child and smiled, "It's only for two weeks."
The young girl nodded her head almost understanding why her father had to go. She hated it, but there was nothing she could do, "I know papa."
He turned back round opening the door. He sighed heavily and walked out closing the door and leaving his child behind him.
Steve stood in the same room staring at the child, he knew it was a dream but if felt so real as if he could reach out and touch the girl. His heart broke for the young girl as soon as her father vanished from sight.
Sadness seeped through into those magnificent eyes of hers, "Papa," she whimpered regretfully to the door knowing that he couldn't hear her or even if he could he wouldn't turn back.
Steve bent his head almost feeling the exact emotions coming from the young Ashford. And he did know, but not as such a young age as her, but he knew how it felt to be alone with no parent. Like an empty hollow feeling trapped in his heart, sickening and nauseating, it just couldn't be discarded. He looked to the girl and saw the pure love within her, the way she frowned, the way her small body leant back, her eyes it was love and sadness mingled together giving him and her that painful ache in their hearts. She knew it was for two weeks, but she also had a sneaking suspicion that she would never see him again. She didn't like that thought, but it still ate away at her soul.
For she was too young to help her father. Even if something was going to take him away from her…forever…
"That was the last time I saw him."
Steve opened his eyes and realised that it was indeed a dream, but somehow it didn't stop the ache trapped in his chest. Alicia sat on the floor next to him stroking his hair, he looked up and she smiled. A soft movement of lips.
"I remembered I couldn't stop crying that night," her eyes were distant, "I knew deep down in my heart that he would never return to me."
"How did you kno-"
She smiled again, a bit bigger than before, "You spoke things in your sleep that no one knows about, apart from me. Also it's what the T-Veronica virus gave you."
He frowned.
"You see Steve, Alexia had the power of transformation. She had three stages of her transformation, but you have such a unique ability," her eyes shone lovely azure; "You can see things in people's souls and understand their pain. You saw a memory from my past."
His eyes widen, "So it wasn't a dream?"
She shook her head, "It didn't fell like a dream did it?"
"No," he whispered, "I could feel your pain so clearly."
Her face softened, "Then you understand me."
Steve smiled, "Yes," he paused, "I don't like it. It's too painful."
"It's only painful because you make it like that," she sighed, "If you can pull away from sadness then you can see more than pain and anguish. It's in your power."
He sat up staring straight into her eyes. She smiled already knowing what he knew, "You find it hard to hate me now don't you?"
"Yes, why?"
"Because you understand why I am who I am, and who you are."
"And what I'm I?" he asked, "I'm no human anymore and yet I am no monster."
"You're an Ashford Steve," she stood up reaching out her hand to him, "I do not understand why you don't accept it."
He took her hand and pulled himself up, "Because you don't understand me."
She laughed, "Try me."
He pushed back his copper-red hair and leant against the wall, "My father and mother died because of Umbrella. I died because of Alexia and you ask me why I don't accept being an Ashford?"
Alicia face softened, her eyebrows rose, "You have a point Steve, but that is in the past."
He pushed off the wall frowning, "Is that so?"
She nodded her head, "Yes it is."
He crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes, "If that's the case then why are you still on a quest for vengeance? That is too in that past."
Alicia frowned, "You are truly an Ashford."
"You didn't answer the question."
Her eyes flared white; her invisible force zoomed towards him but didn't hurt him. It was only a burst of warmth that flow over his body, "I don't need to answer to you boy!"
Steve moved closer to her pushing into the warm air, "Then who do you?"
She narrowed her eyes and moved to him grabbing his shoulders. She pushed him back into the wall, "No one! I'm my own master! I do not answer to anyone!"
"Like mother like daughter."
She swung the back of her hand across his face, "I'm not like her!"
Steve glanced at her wiping blood from his bottom lip, "Not much," he said frowning.
Alicia backed away, "I'm nothing like her!" she screamed. She quickly ran forward yanking him to her, "I'll show you my mother!" She pulled him to her bedroom door and shoved it open pushing him inside.
Steve stumbled inside, he stopped himself before falling, "Surprise!" she called from the door, "Now you can prove yourself an Ashford!"
He glared up into a bright white light; there was another room, a laboratory!
"Steve," whimpered Claire.
He ran up towards her but stopped, something invisible and warm blocked him to her. Tears ran down her face, she looked so tired and sick, "Are you ok Claire?"
Alicia appeared by her, "Of course she is Steve," she smiled, "What do you think of me? A barbarian?"
He frowned at her, "What are you going to do?"
"No, no, no Stevie-boy. The question is, what are you going to do?"
"What?"
She ran a nail down the side of Claire face, she didn't push in to cut her but she only did it to cause fear in the brunette, "So innocent you are Steve," she sighed, "Your hands are not tainted with blood," she leant down to Claire and gently laid a kiss on her cheek, "Well," she whispered, "Not yet."
"Stop it!" he cried, "Leave her be!"
Alicia moved up from Claire, "And I thought you understood me."
"Same here, but I was wrong."
"So you are," she smirked, "Come to me Steve and open your arms to the Ashford Clan."
He stood back, "Never," he said through clenched teeth.
She walked to the metal tray above Claire's head and picked up a slivery surgical knife. It shimmered under the white light. He watched her with narrowed eyes, "Don't be difficult Steve," her voice flowed across the air towards him like a warm breeze. He wavered and something inside wanted to see blood flow, to hear screams of pain and death echo out.
He closed his eyes trying to push the voice from his mind, "Shut up!" he screamed yanking his hair, "SHUT UP!" That hot heat ran from his body in circling him inside a warm invisible ball. The voices stopped, he looked up at her and started laughing, "You can't control me anymore Alicia."
She frowned, "You're a fast learner, but not powerful enough to penetrate my power," she smiled and glared at the straps that tied Claire hands and feet down. They unloosened releasing Claire. Alicia stared into Claire's eyes and smiled, "Here my dear," she handed the sharp knife to her, "Show Mr Burnside what you can do."
Claire looked at Steve and smiled, her eyes were dark almost lifeless. Alicia stroked her hair and laughed, "That's a good girl Claire."
Steve panicked, he sent out that hot wind towards Alicia but it only bounced back, "Claire!" he cried out, "Claire wake up! This isn't you!" he licked his lips, "Please Claire wake up! You can resist her!"
She turned to him again and smiled that beautiful smile, "its ok Steve Lady Ashford is a nice person."
She gripped the knife in her hand, she looked up at Alicia.
"That's it Claire," her voice was that same soft sound, hypnotic, "Do it."
Claire lifted the blade high in the light and plunged it down towards her gut.
"CLAIRE!" cried a helpless Steve.
Her eyes went pale, the brownness seeped away. Her smile faded into a plain expression. She glazed down at herself and saw blood, "Steve? What's going on?" She stared at her blood soaked hands, "Steve?" she whimpered glancing into his eyes.
Alicia walked round to her; she moved her hand toward the knife and pulled it out. Claire screamed as the pain rushed through her.
"Stop it!" he sobbed.
"You could of stopped it yourself Steve, but no, it is you that had to make poor Claire here suffer painfully."
Claire sat quietly, her body wavered slightly as the pain erupted all over her, "Steve," she whispered, "Make her stop," she glanced at him tears falling from her eyes, "Please," she begged.
"Alicia!" the heat rose up around him, the computers sparked and blew.
She laughed, "You can't pass through my power Steve. As hard as you may try to, you can not!" She held the blade out again to Claire, "Take it again my dear and finish it this time," she moved close to her ear and whispered, "Release that pain for good."
Claire wrapped her bloodied hand around the red shimmering metal, "Yes Lady Ashford."
Steve stepped back and closed his eyes, if he could not penetrate her mental shield around them, then he could enter Claire's mind. He concentrated hard whispering words and thoughts towards her.
'Claire!' his mind echoed, 'don't do this; resist her mind stop listening to the voice that is controlling you.'
He looked up at her and swore, he closed his eyes again building his hot power up and up, 'Claire,' he called out, 'You have to gain yourself mind back!' he relaxed letting his power flow through him, 'Please Claire I need you! Don't let her take you away from me again!'
Claire turned to Steve and smiled. He looked up at her waiting for her to speak, "It's ok Steve I trust Lady Ashford."
He fell to his knees screaming out her name. But she didn't notice, she pulled the knife high, "This is for the Ashford Clan," she cried shoving it down and into…
…Alicia!
The young Ashford cried out stumbling to the floor in pain. Steve immediately stood up and ran out to Claire. The invisible shield that blocked him was no more; he passed through grabbing her and pulling her.
But she stopped.
"Claire," he called tugging at her, "We haven't got a lot of time!"
"I know, but…" she let go running to the small capsule with the Counter-virus. She picked it up smashing it down towards the floor. He pushed away bits of the glass and grabbed the syringe. She turned too quickly and wavered on her feet, her gut spasm sending out a sharp ache around her body. She stumbled but was saved by Steve's arms.
He wrapped a hand round her waist, "Hold on!" he said dragging her towards the door. He used his heat and flung it out towards the door crumbling it into nothing more than a clump of broken wood.
He glanced back quickly not sensing any movement from the crazed Ashford and they ran out.