Wolf's Cry Chapter 8:
Disclaimer: I don't own. D':
Well hello lovely readers! So I'm finally getting around to updating again since the switch from Fanfiction. I'm also very sorry that I left you all with a cliffhanger last time, and THEN started the lengthy switch. So please don't kill me? Also, I hope most of you (if not all of you from fanfiction) have continued to read my stories on here. If you have than I must say you are the best readers that have ever sat down in front of your computer screen! XD now I am pretty sure I've kept you long enough so to the story if you haven't skipped this already!
Time seemed to stand still as I stood there dumbstruck. It just didn't make sense to me. How could he be standing right here in front of me if he was dead? Or is this a trick? I narrowed my eyes at the thought. My mind must be playing tricks on me. But the curiosity was killing me. Slowly I inched toward the smiling figure with his arms stretched out, beckoning me to jump into them. I whimpered inside my head. Oh how badly I wanted to do just that! I stopped, looking long and hard at the person. It just had to be him! I shook my head at my silly thoughts and launched myself at him, effectively pinning him to the ground. I quickly buried my furry face into his neck when I felt strong arms wrap around me.
"Why were you thinking I wasn't real? I'm right here!" I heard the familiar husky voice say in a hurt tone. I immediately felt guilty for thinking that. Especially since everything and everyone in this realm can read my thoughts.
"I'm sorry it's just you're supposed to be dead, a-a-and this is just too much at once, Zack!" I whimpered.
"I am dead, Ri." I heard him whisper my old nickname. I closed my eyes. I knew it was too good to be true.
"That's why you're here. The Land of the Dead is pretty much in the middle of heaven and hell. It's the realm meant for dead immortal's. I summoned you here, because well we need to talk." he said stroking my ears. I shook my head in understanding, and rolled off to change into human form. As soon as I was human again I curled up on his side, looking up expectantly.
"First I just want to say my death wasn't your fault. At all. Get that through your thick skull before I continue." he said gently rapping the top of my head with his knuckles. I pouted nodding in agreement.
"Good. Now my memory is a little fuzzy so I'm going to explain what really happened the best I can. What I remember is I was standing in the field. We were waiting for Sephiroth and his army of vampires. I was standing there rigid as ever in wolf form worrying about you. I was so afraid that we would lose and Sephiroth would find you and kill you before I could do anything to hide you if I did die." he said voice low. The fingers in my hair stroked slowly and soothingly as he bit his lip. I prodded his side getting his attention.
"I think we have as much time as we need. Take your time, Zack." he nodded his head.
"As I said we were standing there waiting for Sephiroth. We were expecting his army to just come up the hill and into the field like a normal battle. But what we didn't expect was an ambush from behind. It was unfair I know, but that blood sucker is heartless. He didn't and probably won't ever care what happened to us that day. Two sets of his soldiers attacked the sides and back of our formation. Then Sephiroth and the rest of his army attacked the front. We had no chance. I fought as hard as I could and I was pretty sure I was going to make it out alive, but then I saw him approaching me with that long sword. I was fighting a losing battle. Besides, there were only a few of us who actually were strong enough to fight 'till the end, but he quickly overpowered the rest of us." when he finished he looked down at me. I'm pretty sure my amber eyes were shimmering with tears.
"How come your eyes aren't that gorgeous aqua anymore, Ri?" he said brushing my silver bangs out of my face.
"That's another thing I wanted to talk to you about, Zack. Ever since I killed Sora that night, my eyes haven't shifted back. Even in human form." I whispered afraid our conversation would fall on unwanted ears.
"No one told you? Ah, well, since there really isn't any parental influence on you anymore I guess not, eh?" he said. I looked at him in confusion.
"Once you kill someone who has betrayed the pack, your eyes won't change back. I thought you just killed something small before you came here. That's normal, but they should've changed back after about an hour or so..." he trailed off. I looked on in horror.
"Is there not any other way for them to change back? I mean Sora just didn't swear to the oath! He didn't do anything like, like expose us!" I said exasperated trying to find a way around this.
"It's still betrayal." Zack said softly, pity filled his blue eyes. I fell onto my back with a huff.
"You never know, Ri. They could change back some how."
"Most likely not." I said bitterly. My appearance was a big deal to me. Who would want something as ugly as me?
"I would." I heard him say. Oh yeah, I forgot everyone could hear my thoughts.
"Zack, I would love to stay here, maybe forever, but I really need to get back. Now that I have the information I can finally take over Sephiroth, and get my revenge." I said slowly standing up. Worry flashed over his angelic features.
"Riku! You can't go! He'll kill you in a heartbeat!" he said standing up swiftly, grabbing my shoulders.
"It's a chance I'm willing to take." I whispered looking down at my feet.
I heard a sigh, then felt gentle fingers grasp my chin, forcing me to look up.
"I trust you, Ri. Just," he sighed again, "don't get yourself killed." he finished, releasing me. I nodded solemnly, turning I gave him one last glance before walking the way I had come.
"Bye, Zack." I said crouching down in wolf form, and walking through the trees.
"Goodbye, Ri." I heard him say as his form vanished in the wind, like dust blowing away. I held back the longing feeling as I ran back, tracing my scent. I finally got back to the clearing where I had met Olette, but this time she wasn't there.
"Shit!" I thought remembering another question, "I forgot to ask Zack if that was him in the bed with me!" I sighed. Oh well, it was probably just my imagination anyways. Just something my mind made up to give me comfort through the night. Suddenly my eyes started to droop.
I was getting really tired all at once. I layed down on the grass as the drowsy feeling became unbearable. I couldn't stay conscious, closing my eyes I let myself drift away, into the comforting embrace of sleep.
Back at the castle...
Yuffie awoke with a start as she heard violent thrashing, and the sound of clanging metal coming from the bed right in front of her. She jumped out of the chair and gasped in fear, backing up to the wall. The werewolf had woken up, and he was not too happy about being chained up either. The young witch looked around hopeless, hands clasped to her chest. The master had gone out just a while ago to feed. He wasn't expecting Riku to wake up for awhile, so he left the girl in charge until he got back.
"Oh dear, what am I suppose to do?" she whispered in a panic. She couldn't summon a spell. It was absolutely forbidden in the castle. Even in an emergency. Axel said he would take care of everything. So none of the servants bothered with spells or magic from then on. Only the ones in training. Which was Yuffie herself. The girl let out a whimper as the boy arched painfully off the bed. He looked like a madman! His eyes flashed dangerously.
"You! Get me out of here!" he growled hopping onto all fours on the mussed bed, glaring harshly at the dark haired girl.
"I-i'm sorry s-sir I can't d-do that without my m-master's permission!" she squeaked, eyes wide as dinner plates. He howled enraged, fighting harder against the restraints. Then, the sickening sound of a chain snapping. He smirked evilly. Yuffie finally screamed, dashing out of the room at top speed. Many of the servants were awakened, coming out of their rooms with candles, most still in their nightgowns and slippers. Many were calling out to the girl, asking what was wrong.
She fled down the hall in a panic. The girl screamed once again when she ran head on into a hard chest. Axel pulled her off the floor quickly, grabbing her shoulders.
"What the hell happened?" he hissed shaking her. Yuffie was a sobbing mess.
"T-the w-erewolf! H-he's escaping!" she sobbed. The vampire let out an exasperated yell, shoving Yuffie into the nearest servant, he bolted down the hallway, bursting the door open into the dark room. His eyes widened as he saw Riku standing there in full wolf form looking rabid.
"What the hell happened to you, Riku?" he breathed.
"I know everything! You filthy bloodsucker! As soon as I kill Sephiroth I'm coming back to rip your throat out!" he snarled, biting the air aggressively. Axel frowned.
"No, you don't know everything. We have the same goal you dog. I'm after Sephiroth too, but I'm not sure you want to take over the entire vampire race. So tell me boy, what is it you're seeking from him?" Axel said, crossing his arms, he looked expectantly at the boy.
"Revenge." he growled, smirking devilishly. Axel raised an eyebrow.
"He looks like a fucking demon. I don't know what's gotten into him, but I think I kinda like it." he thought smirking back.
"Well, Riku," he purred the boy's name, "why don't we make a deal? You kill Sephiroth for your little revenge, and I get to be lead vampire? Sound like a deal?" he said waving his hand dramatically through the air while walking over to the seemingly calmer wolf. Riku sat down on his haunches, he thought for awhile before turning back to the redhead.
"Deal." he said giving a sharp toothed grin. The vampire smiled.
"There's a slight catch my friend," he said bending down swiftly, "you see, you sorta have to donate some blood. Not a lot. Just enough to seal the deal. You know what I mean?" he said running a pale hand down the silverette's throat. His smirk widened as he felt the thick neck vibrate with a growl.
"Okay." he retorted giving better access to his neck.
"In human form." he said, humor dancing in those poisonous green eyes.
"Fine." he snapped, willing himself back into a human. Shifting had gotten easier over the past few months. Probably from doing it so much, but Riku was still weak after every change. He fell limp onto the ground unable to move.
"I'm sorry, but it does take a lot of energy to shift!" he said grumpily as the vampire gave him a look that said, "Oh my God, seriously?"
Axel grabbed the boy by the chin, swiftly diving in he gave the pale skin a long lick before burying his fangs into the flesh. Riku gasped, screwing his eyes shut. He grasped the man's shoulders tightly, trying to hold on to sanity. He felt his claws grow, forming shallow welts into the redheads skin.
"S-stop." he whimpered scratching at the vampire's back. He could feel his own canines' sharpen. A few moments later Axel pulled away. He smirked wiping the excess blood of his lips.
"You idiot! Don't you know you could've forced the change on me if you had done that any longer!" he screeched, poking a sharp nailed finger into the man's chest.
"Your blood is sweet. I wouldn't mind draining you," he said getting up, "but I do need you to kill Sephiroth so it will have to wait."
"What the hell! Did you not hear me?" he yelled, flustered. Suddenly he was grabbed by the throat, and thrown onto the bed. Before he could get up he was pinned down.
"Yes, I knew that. I stopped, you're still human. Now, shut the fuck up. We have business to attend to, and I would really prefer you quit acting like a PMSing bitch." he sneered. He jumped off the bed, walking out of the room. Riku just sat there dumbstruck.
"I am not acting like a PMSing bitch!" he yelled running after the vampire.
"Oh hell no." Riku said, folding his arms. Axel shrugged.
"What? It's state of the art." he said putting out his cigarette.
"A fucking carriage? That's the 19th century's version of state of the art! What time are you from?" he said waving his hands around.
"Eh, let's see. I was born in 1796, and I think I died around 1816.[1] So I was about 20 when I was turned." he said thoughtfully looking at the night sky. Riku raised an eyebrow.
"What?" Axel snapped looking at the silverette.
"You're being a whole lot more open with me. It's making me nervous." he admitted looking at the vampire. He chuckled.
"Ah, Riku, have you not been paying attention? We have a deal. I stay to my promises. Now, we take the carriage, or you tell me a better plan."
Riku smirked dangerously. Axel backed up a bit.
"We're doing this my way then." he laughed like a mad man, grabbing the redhead's hand out of his black trench coat pocket. Riku ran forward. Looking around he saw nothing else less eccentric that could get them out of the estate fast enough.
"My God, did you plan on living like this all your life!" he exclaimed whirling around to the vampire. He shrugged his shoulders, sticking his hands back into his pockets. Riku let out a frusterated growl.
"What are you doing?" Axel asked bewildered as the silverette crouched down onto all fours.
"Shifting. What are you doing?" he retorted back. Riku hissed in pain as his bones snapped into place. Shaking out his long fur he looked up at the vampire.
"Well?"
"Well what?"
"Are you going to get on or not?" he said motioning to his back with his head.
"Me? Ride on the back of you? A mutt? I think not!" he exclaimed crossing his arms and putting his nose in the air.
"It's me or that dainty little animal you call a horse. Now tell me. Which one would get us out of here faster? Me, an immortal creature full of bone crushing muscle, or the little horse?" he snorted amused at the thoughtful expression on the man's face. He sighed in defeat, slinging one long leg over the canine's back as he he bent down low to whisper in the boy's ear.
"If any harm comes to me at all. You're the one being blamed, and trust me, I have connections. Far and wide. You hear me?" he hissed.
"Aye aye capt'n." he yipped rolling his eyes, earning a sharp kick to his right flank. Riku bolted off into the direction of the grand gate leading into the castle's front. Axel's eyes widened a little as he held on tightly to the skin at the base of the wolf's head. He felt like a jockey on a wild stallion the way Riku was building speed.
"You're going to fucking kill us!" he yelled as the wind whipped through both of them like a knife. The wolf turned his head to the vampire, showing an amused amber eye and part of a sharp toothy grin.
"Nah, just a little wind burn. By the way, what happened to the formal talk?" he chuckled turning back to watch where they were going.
"Don't I have to act less formal once we reach the city gates? People will get suspicous." Riku nodded in response as they flew past the tall gate.
"First thing we have to do is get you some more modern clothes. That means you'll have to act more like me. People will think you're weird if you dress like you do too. Then we'll have to get a hotel room for the next couple of days. We can talk out an official plan there, or go to a diner. Trust me, I've had a lifetime of both." he said slowing to a trot as they drew nearer to the city entrance. Axel looked confused as he slowly slid off the silky, silver fur of the wolf.
"What are those?" he asked.
"A hotel and diner? Oh wow, okay, um, well, a hotel is like a... let's see what did you all call it then? An inn? Yeah, it's like that. A diner is a place where you eat. Make sense?" he said. The redhead nodded, he knew about the hotel, but was still a little confused about the diner. Why not just eat at home? Oh well, humans nowadays.
"Okay, as you can tell we can still talk while I'm a wolf, but other's can't hear us if we use our minds. So from now on instead of talking to me out loud just use your mind like me. I can still hear you. Since we are both immortals the distance doesn't matter. If any one of us needs help just call for the other, okay?" Riku said running over the list quickly as he peeped around the corner of the long hedge covering the fence all except for the entrance itself. Axel scoffed.
"I think it is you my lad, who will be calling for the help." the redhead said, puffing his chest out slightly. Riku was suddenly in front of him with anger flashing in his eyes.
"Drop the formal talk your highness. I'm a city boy. I know my way around. Don't mess with me and my past and I think you'll be fine." he hissed, poking a finger sharply into the cold, toned chest. Axel was slightly peeved. How did Riku shift back so fast? That was what was worrying him. Was that normal? He brushed it off as the boy stomped through the gate, and into the dark dank city. Axel wrinkled his nose.
"This is where you come from?" he asked kicking away a few cigarette butts.
"No, I'm from somewhere else. I do city hop from time to time though. I usually can't stay in one place for too long anymore." he said walking towards a thicket of trees.
"Why not? Something happen? Where are we going? I thought we were going to find this hotel you were talking about." Axel said. Might as well ask questions why he could. Outside of his castle he was vulnerable. Besides his strength and fangs Riku was the only source of protection.
"None of your business. If I need to, I'll tell you, and we are. Just hold on. We have to skirt half of it before we can get through safely. These trees should hide us well enough until we get to the safe part of town." he said explaining quickly. Axel was beginning to get use to the quick right-to-the-point answers from the younger male. Riku didn't waste time slicing through the thick growth towards their destination. In other words Axel was barely keeping up, stumbling over roots, and getting smacked in the face with low branches.
"Where the hell are we?" he asked wide eyed as he stopped to catch his breath. Even the whole talking like a normal person was hard for him. He was just using examples of what he had heard Riku say in earlier encounters. Riku laughed with a wide grin, pushing past the last bunch of trees.
"The streets. Pretty much my current home." he said resting his hands on his hips, and gazing out at the twilight. The horizen was beautiful from here on the small hill that sloped down into a street, but then ran into a littered parking lot next to a damaged building.
"I'm not such a loner you know. So I can hook you up with an old friend of mine. If you'd like." Axel looked at him appalled.
"Excuse me?"
"I'm talking about clothes. Not relationships." Riku deadpanned.
"Oh."
"Come on." he said yanking the taller redhead towards the parking lot. The silverette took a quick left into an ally before letting go of the redheads hand. A harshly whispered "Follow me." reached the man's ears as the boy began to run down the ally. He easily kept up, only venturing as far as three paces behind the younger boy. Riku slowed to a fast walk, scanning the dark wall for something. Coming up to a door he squinted to see the faded numbers on the door. Deeming it the right one he rapped on the door in a series of complicated beats.
"Why not just have a security guard?" Axel thought as the boy finished with a bark. He tried not to laugh at that, but failed miserably. He burst out laughing as Riku growled at him.
"I didn't make it up!" he half whined half growled.
"It's still hilarious!" he laughed, wiping a couple tears away, but froze when the door swung open.
"Enter." came a deep voice from the dark corridor. Riku quickly grabbed Axel and pulled him close to his body as they stepped forward.
"Stay close to me. If we get seperated then our plan will be down the toilet." he hissed. Axel nodded. He was feeling a little strange. He wanted to grab the hand that was pulling his narrow waist to the other man's. No, that was wrong. Even showing a little affection would be bad. He kept his hands to himself as they walked down the dimly lit hall with the florinscent lights flickering rapidly overhead. Riku turned his head slightly, he could smell the security guard behind them. The heavy falls of his boots on the linolium didn't help ease Axel anymore.
"Look, I trust these guys' it's just... well they don't take kindly to visitors. Especially your kind. You'll get what I'm saying in a minute." he said in his mind, praying Axel would get it. He saw the redhead go rigid for a moment with eyes slightly wide from surprise, then he heard the reply.
"Remember my warning before we left the estate earlier, mutt." he said. Riku smirked. Axel was going to shit a brick when he met Razor.
Way too fucking late to reread. I will however go back later. So for now. Here you all are. Very late as usual, but I hope I made up for that in the length! Please comment.
[1] I was born and raised in Tennessee. I still live here and I love my state. So I decided to have Axel born on the year it was officially founded. I also wanted him to be 20 years old when he died. That's how I picked his birth/death date. For all who were curious. I think I'm also going to make Riku 18 or 19 in this fic.
Sorry for any mistakes. Point them out kindly, and I shall fix them. So, at 2:30 in the morning without much sleep I give you a pile of my brain. I personally think this is all just a jumbled up mess thrown onto a document, but oh well. Here you guys are. My crappy update. Enjoy with cookies my loves. -gives cookies-