Chapter 91: Hunting Gone A-Stray
Adrian continued to walk, unsure of where to go or what to do, until he eventually found himself in front of the Kuoh Town Hospital. With a deep breath, he trekked inside, going up to the intensive care area, and with a combination of shapeshifting and stealthy movement, he made his way to one specific room; one which housed a boy Adrians' age, with tanned skin, dishwater blonde hair, and dressed from torso down in bandages with machines hooked into him from his arms, nose, mouth, and right index finger. He seemed to be sound asleep, and as far as Adrian knew, he was.
"Hello Wesker," Adrian greeted the sleeping boy, "I know I haven't come to see you as much as I should have...but I'm here now...I just wish it were under better circumstances." Adrian pulled a chair up next to Weskers' bed, to better speak to him, "I wish you could actually say something back right now, so you could give me some actual advice...but...the day you went comatose the last thing you told anyone anything was to Sona, and you didn't want anyone to use the Tears of the Phoenix to heal you. I know your history with that stuff is bad, but if it could heal you, wake you up, I could really use your advice right now..." Adrian took a deep breath, preparing to tell Wesker everything, "...Zeus came back, he destroyed my house, killed off my hive and my mom, and out of blind rage, hatred, whatever you want to call it...I left Rias...her and the household altogether, because she didn't want me to go after Zeus. I mean, how could I just let that bastard slip by and get away with that??" Adrian paused, making sure his outburst didn't alert the nurse, and continued, "She even sent Katrina to try and bring me home, only for her to tell me she wants in...after she had me beat the shit out of her near death..." The feeling of almost killing his friend made Adrian sick, but he continued to speak to the unconscious Wesker, "I don't know if it's the fact I'm a stray now or what, but I have to kill Zeus, before he hurts someone else I care for..." Adrian hung his head, "...I guess right now I have no idea what to do...I love Rias, and the ORC, but if I don't stop Zeus, who's going to keep him from killing them too?" Wesker simply stayed motionless on his bed, the only sound heard was his heart rate monitor giving a steady beep. Adrian sighed, standing up, setting a pair of car keys on his blanket, resting his hand on them, "Also, since you're still sleeping, I took the liberty of repairing your car. It wasn't easy, or cheap, but I got it done for you, and will look brand new when you wake up..." Adrian made his way to the door, until he heard a faint metallic jangle, causing him to turn, and catch the pair of car keys in his hand, surprised to see Wesker, his glowing red eyes cracked enough to look at Adrian,
"Take my car...you'll need it when you go on the run from everyone...and hunting Zeus. But I will have to tell Rias about what's going on, because we both owe her that much." Adrian gave Wesker a stern look, but also gave him an affirmative nod, and he slinked out of Weskers room, making sure to go unnoticed as he left the hospital...
Meanwhile...
Katrina, Sub Zero and Raiden stood by Calvins' memorial, unsure of what to do next.
"So...do either of you know how I could possibly find Zeus?" Katrina asked her teachers. Sub Zero shook his head,
"It's impossible," said the Thunder God, "since he has both Sirzechs and my own ability to teleport, along with his own time travel abilities, he could be anywhere..."
"Or any when," added Sub Zero. Suddenly, a red and violet lightning bolt shot down from the sky, touching the ground between the three, and leaving behind a sealed envelope, addressed to Katrina. The War Goddess cautiously plucked the envelope from the ground, opening it, and reading the letter placed inside.
"'Dear Katrina, I know I will never earn your love again, but at least allow me to show you something...something special that you won't regret being witness to. On the back of this letter you will find directions on how to find me if you are interested. Love, now and always, Zeus.'" Katrina looked to Raiden and Sub Zero, unsure of what to make of the letter. She handed the paper to Raiden, who flipped the page to see strange writing.
"It's an incantation...to open a portal to another world...one that will close once you pass through," informed Raiden. Katrina took a deep breath,
"Of course it will close behind me," said Katrina, "because it's a trap."
"A trap with an invitation?" Questioned Sub Zero, "I'm not so sure..."
"Well I don't really have a choice," said Katrina, "I have to go!"
Back with Adrian...
The Stray Devil Virus walked over to a closed down two story building, where he kept Weskers car while it was being repaired. He walked to the front sliding doors, lifting them up, revealing the shining car like Adrian promised his friend, but he also saw someone standing in front of the car; a girl of egyptian decent in brown hooded robes.
"Cleo?" Adrian asked.
"Yep," said the assassin, "and we don't have much time. They're coming for you."
"Who's coming for me?" A blue magic circle then appeared behind Adrian, revealing Sona, Tsubaki and even Sagi.
"Hey Adrian..." Sagi said awkwardly. Adrian readied his blade and gear,
"I'm guessing you were the poor souls who came to either have me return to Rias...or simply kill me?" Sona readied a set of magic circles on her hands, Tsubaki readied her staff, and Sagi summoned his Sacred Gear,
"We're sorry Adrian," said Sona, "but we have orders from Sirzechs to bring you in...alive or dead." Adrian clenched his fist, ready to defend himself, until Cleo stepped between Adrian and the three devils.
"Adrian, go on ahead," said Cleo, "I'll hold them off." Adrian looked at Cleo as if she had grown a second head,
"Cleo, you're a human assassin, about to go against the next head of House Sitri, her queen and head pawn, all for a stray devil you barely even know. You realize that, don't you?" Cleo looked back at Adrian with a smile, extending her hidden blades from her sleeves,
"Consider us even for you sparing my life," she said. She then spun around, swinging her blades just in time to block Tsubakis' staff and Sagis' gear. She got into a fast paced duel with the Sitri queen and pawn as Adrian dashed to Weskers car, entering the drivers side and starting the engine, only to see Sona standing in front of the car, readying a blue magic circle, aimed directly at the engine.
"Adrian! This needs to end here and now!" Sona said, her tone severe. Adrian simply glared, revving the engine, giving her the only warning to get out of the way. "Don't hurt Rias more than what you already have!" Adrian released the brake, and peeled out of the garage, almost side swiping Sona with the car as he sped out, leaving Cleo to fight Tsubaki and Sagi as Sona took to the sky to follow him...
Elsewhere...
Katrina stood in a forested area, but not just any forested area; it was the same area she first met Adrian and Calvin.
"My! How the times have changed..." she said to herself. She stood in front of a large blue and purple vortex, courtesy of Raiden, her backpack slung over her shoulder, packed with clothes, snacks and petty cash. Katrina also had her phone in her hand, calling up Akeno,
"Hello?"
"Akeno! It's me."
"Katrina! Where are you? How is the search for Adrian?"
"It's...going better than expected."
"Great! How soon can you be home? This penthouse Adrian has is amazing!" Katrina bit her bottom lip,
"I...I don't know when I'll be home."
"What? But I thought you said..." Akeno paused on her end of the phone, and Katrina knew she figured out what was going on, "you're going after Zeus with Adrian, aren't you?" Katrina sighed,
"Yes." Katrina expected at least a sob from Akeno, but instead she was surprised to hear a giggle.
"That's awfully naughty of you to lie to Rias," Akeno said, "you'll get a thousand spankings for sure!" Katrina blushed as Sub Zero looked in her direction, hoping he didn't hear Akeno.
"Akeno! This isn't the time for that!" Said the War Goddess, clearly embarrassed. Her tone then turned somber, "There's a chance I might not see you again..."
"Don't talk like that!" Scolded Akeno, "I know you will come back. Want to know why? Because I would come back for you if I was in the same situation. Now go on out there, kick Zeus' butt, grab Adrians' nice and good, and come home!" Katrina let a bead of sweat drop at what Akeno said about Adrian,
"How about I don't grab Adrians', and we just say I did."
BOOM!
Katrina turned at the sound of an explosion, seeing a distant smoke cloud, the roar of an engine quickly following.
"Hey Akeno...I'm going to have to call you back..." said Katrina, pocketing her phone and preparing to jump as soon as she saw Weskers car barreling through the trees, with Adrian in the drivers seat, Sona flying above him, and a massive water serpent chasing the car.
"What the...?!"
"KATRINA!! JUMP ON!!" Shouted Adrian. The War Goddess jumped, and as she fell, she landed perfectly on the roof of the car as it shot through Raidens portal, the vortex closing as they passed through, leaving the serpent and Sona with Raiden and Sub Zero.
"Where did they go?" She asked, turning an irritated glare to Raiden and Sub Zero...
