A/N: Thank you so much to San Child of the wolves and theWingedwolfAlchemist for your reviews as well as Adri. Sorry that the last chapter was short, this one might be a little longer. So here is the next chapter, I kind of changed some of the characteristics of each character around. I might have gotten Basque Grand right, well in my opinion. Fuhrer Bradley is a little out of character, but I'm trying to establish that he's trying to be this nice guy in a sense. Here's the scoop as well, I realize how Ed became an Alchemist, but I am not sure on how anyone else did. So I'm kind of making this up as I go along. Obviously I'm using the anime reference to the exam and the manga for the rest.
Chapter 4
The deal
A mahogany coloured desk sat in the center of the office close to the tall windows. On the one side of the walls was a large map of Amestris. The square carpet was a rich crimson red. Akasha had to admit, this was by far a nicer office then Kirova's. In front of the desk were two black leather couches facing each other. Kirova's office was at least half this size, the carpet a triple brown mixed colour. A medium size pine desk with photos on the walls. It did seem inviting, but something that Akasha did not enjoy being in.
Fuhrer Bradley soon entered the office after the girls, his hands clasped behind his back. The girls soon realized just how difficult it was to read him. The aura seemed to be blocked and Nikki couldn't tap into his thoughts.
"Ladies, please have a seat," Fuhrer Bradley insisted motioning toward the arm chairs.
'This is a trap, this is a trap,' breathed Nikki moving toward the chairs.
'I know love, but we have to play it cool, we can not under any circumstances allow us to draw attention to ourselves.'
'…draw attention? Akasha, we've been caught, are you telling me…' spluttered Nikki.
'You know what I mean. I don't trust this any more than you do, but we have to keep as calm as possible,' Akasha instructed sitting down.
Fuhrer Bradley was already sitting down behind his desk, his elbows propped on the desk and fingers intertwined. He had a warm smile on his face almost fatherly. How he was now, he didn't seem overly threatening, but that still didn't bring down the walls the girls built.
"Well now, I believe the two of you need to do some explaining as to why you were in that building and where exactly the two of you are from," Fuhrer Bradley said coolly.
Akasha thought she could hear a bit of a cold, harsh tone in the way he spoke but never thought twice of it. In all honesty, she had no idea if she could truly trust this man like she trusted the Ishvalan's.
The silence grew more and more, Fuhrer Bradley wasn't saying any more to the question. Nikki began to get fidgety but her expression remained calm. She refused to show any amounts of weakness towards this man. Her eyes stayed trained on the man before her. There was definitely something…wrong and her instinct was to get out.
'We have to tell him something,' Nikki said all of a sudden.
'I understand we do, but how do we explain exactly why we were in that building? We're vampires and need to feed?' Akasha asked her voice holding attitude. She knew Nikki was right but how exactly does one tell a leader of the country that they are not exactly…human?
"If you're worried or concerned that someone is over listening to our conversation. Don't. This is all confidential."
'Oh yeah, like that makes it all the better,' sighed Akasha. "We're travelling from Dragoon, sort of a…sightseeing travel," Akasha lied.
"If you don't mind me saying so, the two of you seem to be at a very young age, possible in your teens."
Nikki broke her stare from Bradley to look at Akasha with wide eyes. She couldn't go back. She refused to go back to St. Vladimir's. She was sure that as soon as he figured out their age and where they are from he would send them back via escort for the guards. She also knew Akasha was in the same boat. Oh why did she have to say they were sight seeing? If he thought it wise for them to return to where they were from, Nikki would flee to another area.
"Well…uh…you see…" stuttered Akasha.
"We wanted a different over view on school options. Our old school wasn't overly bad but it was filled with the worst reps and dangers," Nikki jumped in causing Bradley's eyes to settle on a taken aback look.
"She is half correct sir, we decided to take a year off school to think things through. There have been some…concerns at our school that made us rethink our educational situation."
"It seems you two have been through a lot. But it still doesn't explain what exactly what you two were doing in the building."
"There seemed to be some…mystery noises coming from inside and we decided to investigate," lied Akasha.
"I am sure the guard there could have figured it out for himself."
"It technically wasn't audible to many."
Akasha gave a quick, sharp look to Nikki. This man wasn't stupid, he would have figured it out.
"Hmm? What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing sir, nothing at all," Nikki quickly responded.
"For right now, I'll accept that for an answer. Answer me this last question, how old do you expect me to believe you two are?"
"Both of us are fifteen years old."
"Where are your parents?"
"Dead," Nikki replied sadly.
"Not in my life," Akasha responded bitterly. It still hurt her for talking about her parents. A mother who was a guardian and gave her and her twin up for adoption fourteen years ago and a father who was an absent figure period.
"I do have one question for you sir."
"Hmm?"
"I want to inquire about becoming an Alchemist sir,"
This seemed to peek the Fuhrer's interest. "Becoming an Alchemist? Do you not think you are a little too young to be thinking of that?"
"I have studied for the most part of it," lied Akasha.
'Akasha what are you…?'
Akasha studied the man intently. She had read through many of the books at the school about Alchemists and them helping them being able to defeat the Strigoi. Her only chance at anything was get information from this man.
~Flashback~
Akasha sat cross legged on one of the many couches in the common room. A book lay open on her lap on a chapter talking about Alchemist and their ability to help in disposing Strigoi bodies. Her eyes were already going in and out of focus from reading through the pages. None of her classmates were even close to this part of the lesson.
Back in the middle Ages, there were these people who were convinced that if they found the right formula or magic, they could turn lead into gold. Unsurprisingly, they couldn't. This didn't stop them from pursuing all sorts of other mystical and supernatural stuff, and eventually they did find something magical. Vampires.
During that time, that was when their kind really started pulling away from humans, hiding out and keeping to themselves. That was the time when vampires truly became myth as far as the rest of the world was concerned, and even Moroi were regarded as monsters worth hunting. The Moroi's had their magic, but humans were starting to outnumber them. Moroi's sometimes had trouble conceiving, whereas humans seemed to have too easy a time.
The Moroi made a deal with the Alchemists. If the Alchemists would help Moroi and Dhampir's and their societies stay secret from humans, the Moroi would give them a golden flower tattoo made by Moroi blood, charmed with water and earth. The water and earth bind it to the Alchemists skin and give them the same traits Moroi have. They never get sick and will live a long life.
The career is a family thing-it gets passed down. Alchemists have to learn about Moroi and Dhampir's. They work connections among humans that let us cover up for the Dhampir's since they can move around more freely. They've got tricks and techniques to get ride of Strigoi bodies by a powerful potion.
For the longest time, Akasha never realized the quietness of the room around her. Usually the Common Room was buzzing with life, students chattering with each other. At the moment, it was quiet, peaceful and most of all; empty.
Groaning, Akasha stretched her arms over top of her head as she glared down at the book with disdain. There was nothing in the book where to find an Alchemist. It's not like they were mythical creatures or anything, they were humans, but the problem with humans, and you couldn't tell what they were hiding.
"This is senseless. Out of all the books here, they neglect to mention the whereabouts one can find them," Akasha fumed aloud. Alchemists were one of the hardest ones to find seeing as they never shown themselves to Dhampir's or Moroi's, they (the alchemist) viewed the vampires as evil creatures.
"The great Akasha Wolf, daughter of Marilee Wolf is giving up already?" a female voice with a Romanian accent asked.
Akasha laughed softly lifting her head toward the door to see a tall, lean woman with a raven-black mane of hair with pale blue eyes. She had a heart shaped face with purplish scars that look like someone had bitten into and torn out a part of her cheek on the left side. She leaned against the door frame with her arms folded across her chest.
"Hello Tasha, what brings you here to the Dhampir commons?"
"Come to give you a hand, you seem like you could use some advice, love."
"More than you know," Akasha replied moving a few books off the couch to allow Tasha space to sit.
Tasha made her way over to the couch flopping down next to Akasha without a care in the world.
Natasha Ozera also known as Tasha, was the aunt of Christian Ozera and the sister of his father's. They are one of the twelve royal families, or at least they were. Ever since Christian's parents willingly turned Strigoi, his family had been now ones to fear, they were almost disowned to say the least. She had come back to the school ever since Dmitri Belikolov started as a trainer/mentor for the students. Akasha looked up to her because she believed that Moroi's and Dhampir's should once again fight side by side.
Tasha eyed the book lying on Akasha's lap with mild interest. What caught her interest more was the bump growing under Akasha's tight tank top. Obviously she tried her hardest to cover it up by wearing the baggiest shirts and sweaters. Only now while in the privacy she didn't care. None of her peers knew of her secret growing inside of her, but somehow, Tasha could see past it.
"How far along?" she asked calmly like it was no big thing.
"Almost six months," Akasha answered with no hesitation as she rested her hand on her stomach.
"You are very lucky, but I sense that motherhood is no where near what you had in mind."
"Of course not, but I refuse on so many levels to end an unborn child's life. But I have to wonder, what do you know of Alchemists?" Akasha asked wanting to get away from her pregnancy.
"Hmm, it is interesting that you bring that up."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well I have heard from one of the other guardians that the Alchemists have helped Dhampir's and Moroi's in the aid defeating the Strigoi. They possess the ability to create a most powerful substance that can burn the Strigoi," Tasha summarized what Akasha just read.
"But where can one find them?"
"They usually come to you, they have their own orders to follow from their sources. No I have not met one myself. But others have. I do however know of a place where there are a large collection of Alchemists. A little different from what you are looking for, but they should be able to help."
"Where?" Akasha asked now fully curious.
"Place called Amestris, it's far from here but it'll probably be worth your time."
Akasha's eyes lit up with this news, this was excellent, now she could find a way to eliminate the Strigoi for good. "Tasha you are awesome."
"You're welcome. But take my advice, if you want to attempt this yourself, don't look for an easy fix. Take matters into your own hands."
~End flashback~
It never dawned on her before until now what exactly Tasha meant. She wasn't in search for an Alchemist, she needed to learn how to be on herself. To have the ability to do what the Alchemist could do, she could easily protect Nikki even more.
She knew by what she read in the books the Alchemists all had a flower like tattoo on the side of their faces. Being in the city for the short period of time she wasn't sure if any Alchemists here even possessed that tattoo.
For the longest time she kept her eyes trained on Fuhrer Bradley watching his every reaction. She could sense some curiosity coming from him, but she knew she had to keep her own at bay. Even when she did go to tell him more she had to make sure she didn't say too much, especially with her past.
"Actually, what I did mean to inquire about was, how does one become an Alchemist?" Akasha asked, eyes never leaving Fuhrer Bradley. She could hear Nikki in her head continuously wondering what she was planning. She needed to wait until both of them were in a secluded area.
"Are you sure you even want to consider this? Both of you are quite young to even be thinking of this," Fuhrer Bradley replied.
"We're ready to deal with anything. We've been through enough that both of us are up for the challenge."
"You do realize that as certified state Alchemists, you'll be on call if a war broke out?"
Akasha merely nodded, red signals were rising from Nikki but she had to ignore them. Regardless to all those going on, she needed to do this.
"I'll have one of my men escort you to the hotel for the night."
Akasha bowed her head with respect toward the man as she stood from the chair. Nikki followed suit mimicking Akasha's gesture toward him. Although she held a high respect for people, she couldn't for the life of her put her finger on why she so severely loathed the man and questioned why Akasha was even going through with this plan.
In moments Akasha and Nikki were once again being led through the still barren hallways towards the exit. The silence between the soldier and the girls was overly thick where one could almost cut it with a knife. So many thoughts raced through their minds. But it always settled on one particular thought: State Alchemist.
Outside finally the girls were back in the car and driven to the hotel. This city never ceased to amaze them. But neither one could wait to see what was next on the itinerary here. Buildings zipped by the girls as the car sped away from HQ, it was nothing like the last town they were in. Even though they had seen parts of it hours ago, it was nice to see it from another angle.
After some time the car came to a stop outside a building where a green flag sat on the building with an image of a lion.
"That's a little…interesting to say the least," whispered Nikki.
"You got that night."
"Here you both go, someone will come get you in the morning," said the soldier as he opened the door.
"Get us for what?" inquired Akasha.
"To take you to one of the State Alchemists. You'll be given better explanation in the morning."
"Sounds good to me."
The girls got out of the car and proceeded to the hotel. After all their travels, this was the first time staying in a hotel. Nikki went to sit on one of the couches while Akasha went to sign in. For the first time in the longest time, Akasha finally noticed the time. It was already three in the morning. It surprised her that she was able to function normally regardless of her being nocturnal or not.
Up in their room a few minutes later, Nikki crashed o the bed after letting her suitcase drop on the floor. The room wasn't all that bad; one double bed by the window with a desk by the foot of the bed. A couch in the middle of the room along with a table, the bathroom off to the side.
"This should do for now," Akasha sighed looking around.
"Compared to what we have been through for the past few months, this'll be well worth it."
"It's good to get our travelling in."
"Yeah," Nikki replied a little solemnly.
"You're still concerned about Rose and Lissa aren't you?" Akasha asked gazing over at her girlfriend.
"We haven't seen them since February and there hasn't been any given notification of their whereabouts," Nikki replied rolling on her side to face Akasha.
"They'll be all right, Rose is strong and can take care of herself and Lissa. Right now our obligation is to worry about ourselves," Akasha answered sitting next to her girlfriend and running a hand through her hair.
"I guess it's just from the constant travelling and the sleeping patterns among other things that I am continuously worrying about everything else," Nikki sighed now resting on Akasha's lap.
"We just need a good night's sleep that's all. Things will look better after our schedules get back to normal," Akasha assured.
"It better," mumbled Nikki.
Akasha smiled softly down at Nikki whose eyes were already starting to close. Sleep was a must for the girls, it was going to be a long day ahead of them.
A/N: All right, so like I explained how the girls are entering into the exam and everything else is going to be completely random. It's my look on how things progress, and I hope I do an excellent job at it.