Nb: Hello everyone, here is the next chapter and I hope you enjoy it! =) You can find the uncut version on Ao3 as normal, thank you for reading!
'The practice of love offers no place of safety. We risk loss, hurt, pain. We risk being acted upon by forces out of our control. '- Bell Hooks
(Alfred's Pov)
Alfred was worried, very worried. He gripped Robert's hand tightly as he marched towards where Alexia slumbered. His mind raced.
...
Earlier that morning, while Robert was still asleep, he made his way to his private office. He was going to head up to the main part of the island where his normal office was, he knew he had neglected his work badly since he brought Robert down to his private estate. But when he entered his office, he had found another letter placed upon his desk.
Once he had opened it and read it's contents he knew that nothing really mattered anymore, that there would be no point in returning from his private residence.
He had two objectives now, one was to awaken Alexia as planned and the other was to ensure Robert's safety by any means.
He still had a handful of men he could trust, he still had his private jet. But he no longer had time to spare and knew that he needed to act as quickly as he could. He picked up the brief case that he kept by the side of his desk and began to fill it up.
He picked up the revised contract he had made for Robert and folded it neatly into his brief case, he also stuffed the brief case full of money and poloraoid photographs. Finally he placed in various medical records and results for the experiments preformed on the Island.
"Alfred? Brother? What are you doing?" Alexia questioned him in a shocked tone.
"I am creating a bargaining chip, sister." He answered as he continued to fill the brief case with as much as he could.
"But Brother.." Alexia began in the softest of whispered.
"Dorson will be able to leave unharmed if he exchanges this information for his life." Alfred spoke over Alexia. "This information will be enough to ensure his survival, I am sure of it!"
"But Alfred...What happens if he doesn't want to leave?" Alexia inquired in a gentle tone.
"He must! He must.." Alfred lowered his head and shut the brief case with a loud slam.
...
(Robert's Pov)
Robert was still a little groggy and half awake as Alfred led him through to where Alexia resided. Robert was a little excited, but also a little nervous about finally meeting Alexia. Alfred had being very vague and declined to answer any questions that Robert asked and the two walked together in silence.
Robert was worried about Alfred, he did not look well. Alfred was naturally pale, but he had looked sickly when he woke Robert up. There was a restless and jittery movement to his walk and his eyes seemed unfocused and distant. Alfred clutched the brief case so tightly that his knuckles were white and whenever Robert offered to carry it, Alfred simply shook his head.
Whenever Alfred became aware of Robert's concern, he would simply smile at him weakly. That scared Robert the most. Alfred seemed so troubled, so frail when he tried to smile. Robert had seen sadness in that smile, a sadness so deep that it pierced his own heart whenever he looked at Alfred.
Robert knew that something had gone, or was going horribly wrong. Alfred had instructed him to bring the Remmington into their room and store it safely for when they returned from visiting Alexia, he had also shown Robert where he had stockpiled various medications and first aid kits.
Robert wished Alfred would tell him what was going on, but at least he knew that he could protect Alfred to the best of his ability. He had no intention of doing anything less.
He was dimly aware of Alfred's voice and was far more worried about the tone of the other man, rather then what he was saying. Alfred spoke slowly, softly, as though he was addressing a distant audience.
"I always maintained the story that she was in the Antarctic base, you know. So in the event another 'Raccoon city incident' occurred, the fools would destroy the wrong place. It was just another precaution that I had no choice but to take. To ensure Alexia's safety. So I placed many red herrings, just in case there was ever anyone who would try to find her. But..But.. In reality, I made certain to keep Alexia close to me."
Alfred trailed off into silence for a few moments. For what seemed like an eternity to Robert, all that could be heard was the sound of their footsteps. Eventually Alfred spoke again.
"Dorson?" Alfred said in a quiet tone as he stopped in front of a large reinforced door. "...I...I hope you are ready to meet my sister."
...
The first thing Robert took note of when they entered the room was a surgical table that was adorned with heavy restraints. Under the table there seemed to be grating that looked as though it was well rusted, or perhaps stained with the same substance that lightly coated the operating table. He also noticed what seemed to be a work bench on the far side of the room, it had various tools placed upon and around it. The most disturbing one was the bone saw that was displayed in an almost trophy like way upon the bench.
Robert noticed that there seemed to be a large tank like container in the opposite side of the room, he wondered what it's purpose was. From his vantage point it seemed as though all the other objects were built around the tank, as though whatever was in the tank could observe the room.
He looked around for Alexia and could not see her, he had almost expected her to skip out of the darkness in a lab coat and welcome him to her domain. But he and Alfred were the only two people in the room, that was clear to see.
Alfred walked past him and beckoned him with his free hand as he walked over to the tank, Robert followed him and stood by his side. He did not look at the tank, but watched Alfred's expression as the other man placed the brief case down gently. Not once did Alfred move his gaze away from the tank. He placed a hand against the glass and smiled a weak ghost of a smile.
When Robert turned his attention to the tank, his face now inches away from the glass, he saw her.
She was in a flowing purple dress that billowed around her hourglass form gently, her long blonde hair was teased by the gentle movements of the liquid within the tank. Her face was still and peaceful, tranquil and regal. Long eyelashes kissed delicate and high cheek bones, and her full lips were formed into a soft smile.
At first Robert thought she was a doll, suspended and preserved as a tribute to a long dead queen. But he noticed the woman's eyes flickered under her lids and the soft rise and fall of her generous chest.
He realised that he had finally met her, the queen of the castle, Alfred's beloved Alexia.
...
"I have looked after her, guarded her, for so much of my life." Alfred whispered as he gazed as his slumbering sister in adoration. "I have felt lonely for so many years, Dorson. Lonely because she was my whole world, my only reason for ever existing. The only thing I lived for was to see her awaken, I only drew breath in the hope that one day she would open her eyes.
But my cruel queen had kept me waiting for so long.. In order to stay sane, I had no choice but to..Pretend that she had never left me.. So, Dorson.. Do you understand, why I reacted the way I did when you asked me who she was?"
For Robert, everything clicked into place. "You were trying to protect her...Like you always did. I just..Asked the wrong thing at the wrong time. Is that why you kept everyone at arms lengh, Alfred? So you could devote yourself to protecting her."
Alfred nodded. "Yes, Dorson. For her I have sacrificed so much, and I will give so much more.. In the hope that she will bless me with a smile when she wakes up. I am telling you this, Dorson, because I want you to know how important she is to me. That I can never leave her side."
Alfred turned to look at Robert with a sad smile. "Alexia and I were born together, and we will die together.. But she..Is no longer the single most important thing to me. You are the only other thing that matters."
Alfred wrapped his arms around Robert and whispered in his ear. "So for today, I want you to love me.. And only me. I do not want this to be about Alexia and her games, I do not wish to think of her at all.. I want you for myself.. And only for myself."
Robert thought of the night before and how tender, how romantic it was. "But..Alfred.. Didn't last night mean anything?" He asked in a hurt tone.
Alfred shut his eyes. "Dorson, you have no idea how much last night meant to me...It was.. The most magical night of my life... But Alexia was still there.. In the background, in my head...And now.."
Alfred let out a brittle and weak laugh before he continued. "Now...There is no time left.."
Before Robert could reply, could question, Alfred pressed his lips against his with a sudden level of aggression that surprised him. He did not push Alfred away and instead pulled him closer, as he felt Alfred's hands remove his shirt he heard the distraught echo of Alfred's words in his mind.
'There is no time left..'
...
(Alfred's pov)
After they had gotten dressed, Alfred reached into his brief case and pulled out the revised contract. "This is your contract, you have seen it many times." He spoke in a clear and steady voice. "I want you to take a very good look at it, Dorson."
Robert looked visibly confused, before he could speak Alfred talked over him.
"With this contract, your life is bound to my will. Your life is bound to mine for as long as I see fit. I want you to remember our contract, Dorson. I want you to remember it as you take this brief case and make your way to the private jet I have prepared. I want you to remember with each step you take.."
Alfred smiled softly. "...The day I gave you back your life."
Alfred ripped the contract in two and allowed the pieces to float to the floor in silence.
(Chapter end)