A/N Wow..this story is pouring out of me faster than I thought. Anyway…I'm going to label this chapter name as Night of the Hunter : Thirty Seconds to Mars The paralleling POV strain between Wesker and Angelica are from that song…I thought it was fitting and what not. Anyway…thankees to all that have read and reviewed. Means a lot when I see personal thing on there saying I'm not a complete idiot for trying to write this ha! ( Artichoke …cough…cough cough read her stories…they gewd…) ^_^ anyway…
Happy Reading,
Angie Burrows
Chapter Eleven
Leaning against the polished, marble pillar, Wesker's eyes searched for Birkin. Slowly scanning the room, the blue hues narrowed as they alighted on a couple just arriving through the wide doors. Annette was having a time getting out of her coat, William seemingly laughing as he helped remove the article of clothing. Albert sighed inwardly, drumming his fingers against the stone surface. Why had the idiot decided to bring his wife? It could be dangerous…
Lifting himself from the leaning position, Wesker let his gaze roam the rest of the room. It was a lovely sight of holiday festivities. Garlands hung from the chandeliers, a sizeable Christmas tree twinkling in the corner with feaux presents lying underneath. Spencer and Ashford were shaking hands in front of large projection screen; a random employee was getting the reel ready for the night's crowning display. Beautiful people in beautiful attire milled about with champagne glasses in hand, fervent waiters filling and re-filling as fast as the glasses were drained. In all, the night was going to be a horrid display of human pride and drunkenness. Wesker rolled his eyes, looking once more to the door. His breath caught in his throat.
Rising above the stairs was one of the loveliest visions he had seen in the room as of yet. Angelica stopped at the top step, her sapphire eyes roaming her surroundings. Flanking her sides were Lisa and Trent, but their dress compared nothing to the one she wore. The woman's shoulders were bare, a gauzy white silk covering in a toga fashion down one shoulder and leaving the other completely uncovered. The white chiffon glinted as it melted into black, like smoke disappearing into light. The dress was floor length, a tasteful slit coming just above her left knee for maneuverability. Angelica's blonde hair had grown since she had first come, and even though it was in a high pony tail on the top of her head, it flowed down almost to her waist. Her pale skin seemed to shimmer like her dress, her eyelids swept with silver wings of makeup. The woman looked like Venus….
Slowly the holiday music began to filter in the room, many couples moving out to the dance floor for an intertwining of slow dance. Slowly a smirk began to form on Wesker's lips, spreading into a devious grin. Squaring back his shoulders, he retreated from his lookout post. Moving into the crowd, Wesker had one thought on his mind: He was going to have a little fun before getting down to the dirty work.
…
Edward chuckled as he took a sip of the bubbly liquid in his glass. Everything was turning out wonderfully, and the evening was just beginning. Sitting in one of the secluded stage seats, the Ashford family head leaned over to his business partner, whispering lowly. "So have your little employees decided to 'fire' Marcus this evening as planned?" Spencer gave his friend a sidelong glace, disengaging himself from the air headed blonde that had been attached to his right arm most of the night. Picking up his glass that had been laid down on the wide arm of the chair, Ozwell raised it in answer to the question. "Indeed, everything is going as planned. By midnight tonight, James Marcus will no longer be a member of Umbrella….or anything else." Ashford looked pleased, his sight wandering amongst the crowd in awe of his empire. As he clinked his crystalline glass with Spencer, the two men took a hearty sip of the alcoholic beverage. Laughing quietly together, they both motioned to a nearby waiter for the cups to be re-filled. Tonight would be the birth of a new Umbrella Corporation….
…..
Oh how she hated the heels. Trevor and Trent had seemed relieved after she had finally arrived, bright smiles flashing in an attempt to hide the fear that lurked behind them. Now making their way into the room, the trio decided that time was something that had to be budgeted. It was about fifteen minutes until nine o' clock, and the projection video would start at nine fifteen. That gave the three of them about half an hour to feel out the room. Angelica had instructed the two to keep anybody important busy when or if they noticed Angelica herself had left. The plan was when the lights dropped for the video prompter for the new facility began to run; she would quietly slip back outside to the limo. There she would go back to the training area, go into Wesker's office, and retrieve the stolen files to clear Marcus' name. Then she would copy them and give the originals to Marcus himself, who had stayed behind to run some last minutes tests. The man was antisocial, and the fact he wasn't attending the party would make things a lot easier. Angelica would have to accomplish that in forty five minutes whilst the video ran and Ozwell gave his speech, and be back before the project managers were called on-stage…..
Checking the large, antique clock that loomed over the doorway, Angelica bit her lip in frustration. The chauffeur being late had cost her ten minutes…
Lisa moved to one end of the room after receiving the signal nod, and Trent moved towards the stage seats, engaging Ashford and Spencer in idle conversation. Angelica moved to the marble pillars on the opposite side, looking for Birkin and Wesker. Birkin and his wife had arrived minutes before she had, and now she noted that the pair had been seated in the dining area. Annette looked flushed from the strain of being out and about, her cheeks rosy with color. William seemed to have noted this as well, speaking quietly with her, then leaving to retrieve his spouse a drink. The music hummed melodically through the spacious halls, the private orchestra proving all their extravagant monies worth. Angelica leaned forward, straining to discern the various people in the crowd. She still couldn't find Wesker…
"May I say that you are a vision of perfection, Miss Burrows?" Turning swiftly on her heel, Angelica whirled to meet the owner of the voice. Wesker stood smugly to the side, obviously enjoying the rising blush that tinged at her cheeks. At least she knew where he was now…
The music swelled into a violin rendition of "What Child is This.', and before she knew it, Wesker's hand was at the small of her back. His steps forced her to take her own backwards, and into the ballroom floor. "Care for a dance, dear heart?" Angelica inwardly grimaced, knowing the time was becoming short….but there was no way out. His eyes seemed to dance as her silence, a hint of a smile curving at the corner of his mouth. Her back stiffened under his hand, her own arms wrapping securely about his neck in answer to the sneaky challenge. "Don't mind if I do…but didn't you tell me you weren't attending? Way to sneak up on a girl…" Wesker's smirk grew even larger, his feet moving fluidly along with the music. "I took care of my business ahead of schedule. I did not see any reason to deny myself the…pleasure of this evening." His hand lowered on her spine as he spun her form from him, the other running their fingertips up her side. The fabric felt smooth and light…so easy to tear…
Despite herself, Angelica could feel her skin bristle with a shiver. Goose flesh ran down her exposed back, the skin beneath his hand radiating warmth. She had expected him to be a problem…but not this type of one. Earlier the previous evening he had left her a present on her desk, and had told her that he had business to attend to… Little had he known that it had been her birthday as well, and despite the fact she was planning to pull a cat burglar act on him…..she had been thankful that someone had been kind enough to do such a thing. Angelica often wondered what type a man he would be if Umbrella hadn't sunk their claws in so early on…
Cocking her head to the side as he slowed his movement to a gentle waltz, the woman within his grasp sighed through her nose. Wesker's eyes looked into hers, locking their cold stare in a moment that would not soon be forgotten. He became lost…. completely lost in her curious stare, an intelligence moving within those orbs that not most women had. Her long hair spilled over her naked shoulder, its scent cloying and beautiful. It was like wildflowers…desert wildflowers… His fingers ran up her back, teasing the sensitive nerves of her womanly sensuality to excite him further. A heat waved into his system…a heat for this woman that had fought against his cynicism of power for so long. Angelica was defiant, but devious… Her eyes could tell it all. Lowering his face inches above hers, his trembling breath cascaded out of parting lips. Thinking in his mind, Wesker attempted to over run was his body was telling him to do…As if answering her pheremonal call with his thoughts. 'You don't know me…honest to God I will break your heart.'
Little had he known, she was doing the same. It was like a fast acting drug that her system was pumping, her heart pounding like a hammer against her scantily clad chest. Angelica fought the urge to meet his mouth, mentally shaking her head. He was the enemy…the one who was helping frame Marcus… 'I should tear you to pieces…'
Moving his hands to her slim sides, Wesker breathed out shakily, his fingernails digging into the expensive fabric… 'I would rip you apart..'
Angelica's eyes fluttered as darkness began to shadow downward, the music long stopped. 'I will break your heart, Albert Wesker…'
Wesker's lips moved downward as the shadows fell, hoping that even though his soul would be damned this evening, an Angel would still see some redemption in him…something worth desiring… 'If you knew…it would tear you to pieces..'
Her lips moved from fear and want, brushing against his as her arms tightened without her permission. In the back of her mind there was a part screaming for sanity, but confusion drove it away. 'I'll rip you apart..'
Blackness fell, engulfing the two and halting the room in the dead silence of confused people muttering. Wesker and Angelica could feel the breaths being shared, heat pouring in from their skin…
"Ladies and Gentlemen, within the next few moments, we will be showing you a comprehensive video entailing the brand new, Arklay Facility!" Spencer's voice rang out into the darkness, a small light now illuminating the dark room. As the projection screen became filled with images, a glowing beam glowed just enough for people to see. As the shadows dances and flickered, Wesker found his grasp now cold and empty. Angelica was gone….
Sighing as he passed a hand through his blonde hair, Wesker shook himself out of the hormonal stupor that he had been in. Straightening his stature, he looked at Birkin who had moved a few feet from him during the crowd's confusion. William had his head cocked to the side, a questioning eyebrow raised. "Distracted, Albert?" Wesker's lips turned downwards, feeling cold and dry from want of their denied affection. Growling as he turned his back on Birkin, the frustrated male stiffened noticeably. Looking back over his shoulder, Wesker's eyes flashed in warning. "I'm not the one you should be concerned about. Are you prepared?" Birkin took a deep breath as the video projection light began to splay across in the shadows. His eyes wandered briefly back to Annette, watching as his wife was enraptured by the splendid images of the new buildings ran before her eyes. His face contorted in emotion as she rubbed her pregnant stomach, her own features wincing as if uncomfortable position plagued her.
Averting his gaze, William Birkin nodded, forcing his hands into his pockets. The keycard that Spencer had slipped him to Marcus' private lab was flipped secretly between his two fingers. Looking up at his friend, the fellow scientist slowly nodded. His face hardened, emotion being erased from every feature. "Let's get this 'termination' over and done with." Wesker nodded, turning upon heel as he headed swiftly to the door. No one noticed. No one stopped them. It was as if things were falling into place upon a morbid puzzle. Or possibly an edict written upon hell's gates that James Marcus would be joining the mingle below. But either way….
Blood would be spilt that night.
…
Hiking up her skirts, Angelica ran as fast as her heels would allow..
Cursing as the air in her lungs became stale, the physically toned woman inwardly cursed that she had been lax on the treadmill as of late. Rounding the last row of many limousines, the woman frantically searched for the young man who had brought her in the first place. Surely enough…he had parked on the….very…last….row…. Waving her arms wildly, the female did not dare raise her voice to gain his attention. After a few seconds of comical gesturing, the oblivious teenager turned her direction. His eyes became large, and within seconds, the vehicle was roaring to her side. Opening the back door and throwing herself inside, Angelica huffed for the lack of energy. Pointing forwards as she saw two men beginning to exit from the double door, Angelica frenetically pointed towards the entering point of the drive way. "Go…fast as you can, Mr. Vickers. I have an important matter to take care of and I've wasted too much time." Saluting her once more as he did earlier, the young man floored the gas pedal, kicking up expensive gravel in the wake. As the engine whined louder, the young woman pushed the button to roll up the divider. Before the black glass was all the way, Burrows whispered hurriedly. "Knock when you are there, not a moment later. I have some changing to do…"
Cocking his head to the side, the curious adolescent fought the urge to try and peek. Instead he focused on his driving, and keeping the welling bubble of fear down in his stomach. At first he had been overjoyed at the boost in tip. But now…he knew there was something odd about the whole thing…. Straightening his jaw and tipping back his hat, Brad shuddered, attempting to shake off the fear. Maybe one day he wouldn't be able to handle some adventure…
But that was not today…..