Here you go. I'm so happy y'all like this story!
Thanks to ArmoredSoul, Solece, JOJO, watergoddesskasey, emma134, and Kylria for reviewing! (Yes, I like to list my reviewers! Bite me. If you happen to be a vampire, I mean that literally... And not because of Twilight! I've always thought vampires were cool. I'm rambling again... Sorry!)
Solece: I tried to make this chapter a little bit longer. Hope it's better!
JOJO: I'm glad it made you happy! And don't be embarrassed about not knowing the terms. Honestly, I didn't know them at first! OC means 'other character', as in not originally in the story. OOC means 'out-of-character' behavior for one of the main characters. A Mary Sue is a created character that is too perfect, to say the least.
Kylria: I like twists, too!
A/N: I'm not sure of the exact flight time from the U.S. to London, so I guessed. Sorry if it's wrong. I also don't own rights to the song mentioned in the story.
Agents were dispersed throughout the plane, though most were in the front. No one sat in Wendy's immediate vicinity, but she felt eyes on her occasionally; nevertheless, she ignored the feeling and kept reading. She'd dealt with it before.
For some unknown reason, Abe couldn't stop his gaze from wandering over to Wendy. He tried not to let his gaze linger, though he wondered what she was up to. However, Liz caught one of his too-long looks and got his attention.
"You know, it's okay if you want to go talk with her," she said.
"With whom?" Abe replied.
"Wendy. Or you can invite her to sit with us." He chewed on his bottom lip, something she had never seen him do. "It's all right. We'll be fine. Right, guys?" Johann gave a terse nod and Hellboy muttered a 'sure.'
"Fine." He stood with a grace all his own. "Thank you," he whispered to Liz as he walked by.
Wendy heard someone moving her way and looked up, only to look down again when she saw it was Abe. He was obviously uncomfortable. She almost didn't breathe, she was so worried at what he might say.
"Would you…would you like to come sit with us?"
"Um…no, thank you. I'm just…catching up on some reading," Wendy replied.
"May I sit here?" He gestured to the seat across from her.
"Sure." He adjusted his breathing apparatus before he sat down, not sure what to say. She shifted in her seat and he caught a glimpse of the book cover.
"What book is that?" Her face turned red. I'll have to make her blush more often. She's cute when she's embarrassed, he thought. Whoa! Where did that come from? He shook his head; she held up the book and ducked her face behind it. The large tome was the exact one from which he had read earlier. When he remained silent, she peeked over the top at him.
"I just wanted to learn about myself," she whispered as she set the book back in her lap. "I—I want to know what I am, what all this means, and how…how I could be killed." She didn't look at him during any of this. The finality in her tone saddened and angered him at the same time.
"Why would you want to know that?" he finally asked. She shrugged.
"I guess in case I turn rabid or something. If I'm not safe to be around." Abe took the book from her hands swiftly. "Hey!" He held a finger to his lips, and she ducked her head again when some of the agents, including Liz, looked back their way.
"What did you learn?" he asked quietly.
"A true nymph can only be killed by a beheading. It didn't say anything about half-bloods, except—" she swallowed; "—except what you told me." He didn't leave, as she thought he would. He just shifted and set the book in the seat beside him, far away enough for Wendy to stand if she wanted it back.
"What else did you bring?" She just stared at him. "You picked up more than one book in the library." Nodding, she handed him two volumes.
"On werewolves. I wanted to be prepared."
"Understandable."
"I'm keeping my mind blocked," she said, changing the subject. His hands stilled their flipping of pages.
"That's good."
"I, uh…haven't heard anything recently." It was a blatant lie.
"What did you hear?"
"But I—"
"You lied." She snapped her mouth shut and glared at him.
"And if I did?" He sighed at her defiance.
"Please don't become angry with me." Her expression softened.
"I'm sorry."
"Will you tell me what you heard?" She blushed and stared at her hands.
"That you like it when I blush. Before that, you were blocking you mind like I block mine."
"Oh." Wendy stared out the window at the fluffy white clouds below and around them.
"I've been having some thoughts I probably shouldn't be having."
"I could tell that from what you were looking up. That's why I took the book away from you."
"You mean how I could be killed? That's not what I was talking about."
"Then what?" She pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Ich habe mich nicht gern."
"What?"
"'I don't like me.'"
"Why not?"
"Can we talk about it later? Like, when we get back to the BPRD?"
"Sure."
"Thanks." Her voice was quiet and rough, almost sensual, though Abe was sure she didn't intend it that way. His traitorous body responded, but, thankfully, she didn't notice. Or, so he thought. "Why do you consider it traitorous?"
"Because—" He didn't have an answer.
"Do you prefer men or something?"
"NO! Where did you get that from? I'm not like that!"
"What then? Am I so repulsive that you call your body traitorous if it reacts to me?" He looked away, not wanting to see the pain in her eyes that was so evident in her voice. "I'm sorry I displease you." She picked up her bag and the two werewolf books. "I just want you to know that I didn't ask for any of this. If I could change everything, I would." With that, she stalked to the back of the plane, getting as far away as she could without being in storage.
Abe stood and picked up the last volume in the seat beside him, before making his way back to the others. He was very aware of the stares from various agents, but he ignored them. Hellboy and Liz watched as he resumed his seat by Johann, who seemed to be engrossed in a novel.
"What's going on?" Liz asked.
"Yeah. That was the weirdest outburst ever," Hellboy added.
"What all did you hear?" Abe asked in question.
"Nothin'. That's why we're askin'."
"I'm not sure what happened." It was a lie and they knew it, but they didn't press him. Thankfully, the tome in his hands was on a variety of mythological creatures, so he opened to werewolves and refreshed his memory. All the while, he thought, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it the way it appeared. It was a mantra he hoped Wendy would hear.
Enough already! came the reply in his head. It startled him enough that he jerked.
"Blue? Is something wrong?" Hellboy asked. The trio's eyes were on him.
"No, I'm fine." He got quizzical looks, but nothing more. With that, he looked towards Wendy, his cool, dark gaze meeting her fierce glare. I'm sorry—, he thought again, but was cut off.
I heard you the first thousand times!
How are you doing this? She cocked an eyebrow.
You have the book. You tell me.
Why can't you just tell me? She shrugged her shoulders.
I'm guessing it's the same way I'm hearing your thoughts. And by the way, yours aren't the only ones I'm hearing.
Who is it? He couldn't help the jealously that coiled in his stomach, though he didn't understand it. Her indifferent look turned glare once again.
Now, don't be getting jealous, Fishboy. I thought you'd be happy. I repulse you, remember?
No— The 'Fishboy' comment cut, and she knew it.
Stop.
Not until—
Enough! She closed her eyes as if she was holding something back. Stop, please. Don't make me feel worse than I already do.
I'm not trying to— Her eyes flashed open and he mentally fell silent.
Thank you. It was the last thing he heard from her until they landed in London.
--
The flight took between 7-8 hours. Everyone had at least dozed for a little while. When they landed on a secret airstrip, they were met by a group of men in black suits and two large black vans, large enough to hold Hellboy and more than six people. It looked as if, normally, they would hold around 15 people. With few words, they opened the doors of one for Hellboy, Liz, Johann, Abe, Wendy, and two of the London men to hop in the back. Everyone else was in the second van. As they moved off, one of the men handed a folder to each of the five agents. In the folders were detailed outlines of what had been seen and what needed to be done.
"As you can see," the other man began, "we have located a pack near Buckingham Palace. The full moon is close, so we need you to flush them out as soon as possible."
"Where will we stay?" Wendy asked.
"In the palace." Her eyes nearly bugged out.
"Do we get to meet the queen?" The man shrugged.
"It is a possibility."
"Most likely after everything is over," the first man added. She was giddy, but took a calming breath.
"Cool." She sobered slightly. "Will we see any of the guard?" Both men shrugged.
"Most likely," the first man said. She nodded and remained silent.
"Why?" Do you know someone in the guard?" Abe asked from beside her; he had taken the chance to sit beside her, hoping she would talk again. It was her turn to shrug. Tell me? He asked mentally.
No. And she ignored him the rest of the way.
Uh-oh. Wendy's evading again...
What does it mean?
Find out soon!
Please review!
A/N: I want to thank those who've given me ideas for Finally Free. I still haven't gotten far, so any other ideas are welcome. I've got an idea of where this one is going, but you all are welcome to give input if you want to. :) Everyone's welcome in my world. As weird as it may be... Heeheehee, you have NO idea...