A/N: I have come to a decision. I will not update this story unless I get a minimum of 4 reviews on the last chapter. Guys, I can see how many people read this. And every time I update this fic 31 people are notified right off the bat. So I think getting 4 reviews should be pretty easy. I know you all have lives, but I think if you have the time to read it then you have time to review- it only takes a second. I don't care how long the review is. So, now it's up to you wether I update or not.
Chapter 17-
How could this happen? How could this happen? How could this happen? The question repeatedly rolled around Ed's mind in jumbled chaos. He couldn't make himself move- that odd fear held him in place, staring mesmerized at the golden mist on the table. He couldn't remember a time when his thoughts and actions had been in this much of a tangled mess.
Behind him, the young hunter hadn't stopped walking, as deeply absorbed in his sadness as he was. Consequently, he walked right into Ed, jumping in surprise at the sudden contact and returning his attention back to the present. When he realized exactly who he'd just bumped into, he stumbled back with a scowl. The guy looked around to get his bearings, hoping to find an exit, when he found himself looking at the very same thing that had captivated Ed.
Was that what he thought it was? He'd been told what a soul would look like, but mere words could never capture the true beauty of actually seeing one. His eyes widened- if the soul was still here, then that meant that there had to be some poor human wandering around with no soul! He dashed forward, flying past the frozen vampire with a one-minded intent. He had to get closer and see what the soul looked like, so he would know who it belonged to. He slammed his hands down on the table and leaned forward, gazing at the soul's appearance- and he suddenly understood.
The young man looked back and forth repeatedly between the vampire and the soul. That explained the vampire's odd behavior, and also the reason why he hadn't felt the need to kill him. This vampire, who was really not much of a vampire at all, could be saved. His eyes lit up with the challenge- he would be the first Hunter to salvage a vampire! But… if the situation was truly like he thought it was, then that vampire couldn't stay here for much longer. Staring at one's very soul for too long would drive a person crazy.
He made a split-second decision to leave the soul behind and went back to the vampire.
"My name's Kevin," he said, wondering if the vampire could hear him. "You have to leave, now!" When the vampire made no move to do so, Kevin grabbed him by the sleeve and dragged him out of the room.
Ed felt the hand of the human, now known as Kevin, begin to pull him from the room. No! He had to stay, he had to do something! He wanted to destroy it once and for all, and stop living the awful half-life he was living now! Then he'd be a proper vampire and the Clan would have to accept him. He could live forever with Clan, just like he'd wanted to do from the very moment he'd joined it.
At the same time, some small, muffled part of him wanted to do the very opposite- it wanted to get his soul back, his memories back… and his humanity back. A part of him wanted to forget this entire mess and go back to living happily with his friends and family, like he knew he could. Well, maybe not happily per se, but content at least. Ed was stuck between choosing his immortality and his humanity, the world he knew or the dangerous possibility of a better world, and he hesitated for the smallest moment. That moment was all Kevin needed, and successfully pulled Ed out of the room, slamming the door.
The spell on Edward broke, the weird fear vanishing and his thoughts calming a little.
"What just happened…?" Ed felt slightly dazed. He looked at Kevin sternly.
Kevin shrugged. "Look, I know about your situation now. The Hunters can help you! You're not really a vampire at all, are you?"
Ed scowled. "…If you must know, I'm mostly vampire, thank you very much!"
"I thought so. You're really too short to be a full vampire anyway," Kevin commented thoughtfully. Ed twitched.
"WHO'RE YOU CALLING A RUNT SO SHORT THAT HE COULD GET LOST IN A TWO-PERSON CROWD AND NEEDS TO GO TO A FLEA FOR HELP?" Ed roared furiously, fuming.
Kevin paused. "…what?" he asked, genuinely confused. Was this some sort of side effect of a person being close to his soul that he'd never heard about?
Their heated discussion was cut short by a sudden scream, which was obviously human. Kevin gasped- there were humans being kept prisoner here! He had to liberate them. He shot off down the hall in the direction of the screams, unintentionally heading straight for the Factory. Ed sighed, knowing exactly what Kevin would find, and strolled down the hall towards the exit as well. He paused at the place the corridor turned, looking back at the doorway which led to the place where his soul was being kept. What on Earth was he going to do…? But he couldn't go in there alone- the spell would just come over him again and he'd be immobilized. So he simply left. He needed to choose, needed to decide what he wanted, and quickly.
Ed passed the Factory, pulling Kevin out by the collar of his shirt as he went.
"They're… the zombies, they're…!" Kevin cried, his eyes wide in horror.
"Killing and torturing hundreds of humans for their own sick gain," Ed replied. He could feel his usual, cold attitude coming back to him the further away they went, and it calmed him.
"And you Hunters wonder why we think you're on the wrong side," Ed finished. Kevin kept silent, absorbing the news. Ed was leading the way out, going back uphill to the doors he'd found earlier that day. He pushed open the doors and hissed like a wild thing when the sun abruptly hit his eyes. In all the 'excitement' he'd forgotten it was still day time!
Kevin blinked in the sudden light, watching the teen cover his eyes. Now that he could see Ed properly, Kevin noted his dusty black button-up shirt and trousers, black boots, and dirty golden hair. The vampire wasn't as old as he'd first thought upon meeting him- his actions were generally that of an adult, but appearance said he was much younger than Kevin had originally thought. He inwardly cringed at his mistake.
Ed moved back into the shade the door offered, his irritation level rising.
"Well, don't just stand there and stare, go back to your Hunter friends!" Edward scowled at Kevin and abruptly took off, moving away with his vampire speed so as to minimize the amount of time he had to spend in the sun.
Kevin smiled grimly. "I'll be seeing you again soon, vampire." He had learned many new things that night, about vampires, souls and the zombies- the Hunters had been terribly wrong about whom the real enemy was. Kevin stepped out onto the street, closing the door behind him, and tiredly rushed off to report to the Hunters.
"This is terrible!" the man frowned, watching the two young men leave the Factory.
"Did that not go to plan, Pride?" Lust purred, her lovely voice dripping with sarcasm.
Pride turned to face her, his usually placid expression livid with absolute fury. "The ex-alchemist was supposed to eat the Hunter when he woke, and then 'escape' immediately, so that we could blame the Hunters' deaths on the vampires! He was not supposed to leave the man alive to tell the story, and certainly was not supposed to find our Gate room and discover all the things the Gate has given us in return for its service! Who knows what he found in there!" Pride was having great difficulty in holding back his anger. Lust watched with some interest; the sin had never so much as lost his temper before, at least not in the presence of anyone else.
"Can it, old man. Why can't I just dispose of the Hunter before he can tattle?" Envy spoke, stretching his fingers to mimic suffocating someone, a deadly grin in place.
"Because then it will be obvious that we were the ones who killed the old leader, idiot. Either way, we have a new enemy to deal with- the Hunters will target us now," Pride quickly reigned in his temper. After all, he was above those worthless creatures that constantly lost their temper easily.
"Why would that matter?" Lust asked, giving him an indifferent look. "They are simply a bunch of meaningless rabble. Their knowledge of our supernatural world is patchy and incomplete, and they are easily defeated and disposed of."
"Because now both that damned Clan and the Hunters oppose us. What do you think would happen if they were to form an alliance? Regardless of their stupidity, the Hunters' weapons can still kill us. They are a threat. Envy, go meddle in their affairs and make sure they don't team up with the Clan against us," Pride answered, turning to stare at Envy.
"What? Why me?" the sin groaned, rolling his eyes childishly.
"Because you can disguise yourself, obviously. Go." Pride held in chin up with the air of someone who was unwillingly in the company of someone far less regal and educated. Envy scowled as Pride pulled his rank- the sin's rank was ever so slightly above his own, and Pride always managed to rub it in. Envy scoffed and reluctantly left.
"Now what?" Lust examined her deadly nails, swiftly losing interest in the boring conversation.
"We give them as little time to prepare as possible. Sloth!" Pride called authoritatively. A lovely brunette woman slowly came through the door in response.
"Move up the date of attack," he ordered, feeling triumphant.
"Pride, that only works if we ourselves are prepared," Lust warned, moving off the wall she was leaning on and leaving through the door.
"We are ready," Pride narrowed his eyes. "We'll obliterate the Clan and rule Amestris once and for all, beginning tomorrow at Midday!"
A/N: Just to clear this up, the 'zombies' are the Homunculi, but Kevin doesn't know their real name.