Masks
By: Starlight-x
Chapter 6

She was late.

Dorothy pulled up to her cousin's residence and smiled to herself. Oh, she wasn't late enough to anger Grandfather, but tardiness of any kind, no matter how small irked Une to no end. To top it all off Cala had outdone herself on the dress. Dorothy smiled winningly at the servant who opened the door for her, slipping off her coat and handing it to him, watching as his eyes flicked over her lightening fast before he turned away. Her smile settled into the corners of her mouth. Une ruled her household with sharp efficiency. Servants were not permitted wandering eyes, especially in regards to guests. That one had broken that iron clad rule was testament to Cala's skill. Dorothy smoothed one hand lightly over the fabric. The color itself was a far cry from her usual black gowns. This time Cala had chosen a light blue that perfectly complemented her complexion and hair. The design of the dress gave the appearance of revealing more then it actually did. Dorothy had found it rather more modest then most of Cala's designs.

"If I wear this out anywhere I'm positive I'll start a trend. As it is I'll settle for just seeing Une's face when she notices." Dorothy's smile turned positively gleeful.

"Dorothy, my dear, you've arrived."

"Grandfather." Dorothy held out her hands to the older gentleman, letting him clasp them and pull her closer.

"You look very pretty tonight. That color suits you."

"Thank you Grandfather." Dorothy pressed a light kiss to the old man's cheek.

"Don't go stirring up any trouble tonight my dear." The old man whispered as he released her hands.

"I'll do my best Grandfather." Dorothy blew him an air kiss as she turned away, scanning the small crowd.

The dinner party guests seemed to mostly consist of family members and close acquaintances of the family.

"I'm so glad you could join us this evening."

"Une," Dorothy turned and greeted her cousin's wife with a practiced smile. "You look absolutely stunning tonight."

"Oh, no." Une gave a wave of one of her gloved hands. "I couldn't even begin to compare to you. That dress is perfectly lovely."

"Why thank you. I'll tell my designer you thought so."

"Very well. Pardon me Dorothy, I really must go and mingle."

"Of course, don't let me keep you from your duties." Dorothy watched Une sweep away.

"I would beg you not to ruffle my wife's feathers this evening but I'm afraid I'm already too late." Trieze came up beside her and pressed a chaste kiss to her cheek in greeting.

"Une is so easy to rile." Dorothy sighed in satisfaction.

"I was afraid this would happen." Trieze shook his head slowly. "Try not to upset her anymore this evening. She's had such a short temper lately."

"I wonder why that could be?"

"If anymore servants quit I'm not sure we'll be able to replace them all."

"Tsk, tsk. Such a shame." Dorothy tugged lightly on Treize's lapel. "Are you absolutely certain she hasn't found out?"

"Behave." Trieze reprimanded her sternly, removing her hand from his dinner jacket.

"But where's the fun in that?" Dorothy pouted prettily.

Trieze just shook his head at her as he turned away to greet another guest.

"And when can we expect your next expose Miss Dorothy?"

"Mr. Rockefeller," Dorothy eyed the young man in front of her, her public smile coming easily.

He winced visibly. "Not Mr. Rockefeller, that's my father. Please just call me Tom."

"Tom, short for Thomas?"

"No, simply Tom."

"How plebeian of your parents."

"Yes quite." He agreed with her, not rising at all at her slight jab.

Dorothy frowned inwardly as she considered him. Tom Rockefeller wasn't a man familiar to her at all. Her train of though was interrupted as he spoke.

"But back to my original question, when can we expect your next article? I find them to be quite fascinating reads. There's nothing quite like finding out other people's failings to make one feel extraordinarily superior."

"I wonder if you would be quite so eager if you were the subject of my next story." Dorothy plucked a glass off the tray of a passing servant.

"I would consider myself quite honored to have caught the eye of such a beautiful woman." He bowed slightly but not before Dorothy thought she caught a glimpse of something dangerous flash through his eyes.

"Not to worry Tom," She stressed his name slightly. "I have my sights set on other prey. Of course I couldn't let you know anything more then that. It would spoil the surprise."

"Of course." Tom smiled, an affable look settling on his face.

Well, maybe this evening wouldn't be so bad.

0000

Cala sighed as she rubbed at her head. For the past couple nights she'd been focused on finishing Dorothy's dress and what little sleep she'd had had left her feeling muzzy and not quite as aware as she would've liked.

"The dress was a triumph. You my dear are an absolute clothing genius." Dorothy had been raving almost non stop since she'd come in.

Cala had managed to get through the conversation by nodding every once in a while and managing to keep an interested expression on her face. It was tough with her mind trying to wander off on these weird tangents.

"Hey, are you feeling alright Cala?" Dorothy was staring at her, hints of concern in her pale blue eyes.

"I think I'm just overtired from all the work I put into your dress." Cala waved a hand dismissively.

"Oh, going for the guilty angle are you? Don't worry darling, you'll get your reward." Dorothy leaned in and rumpled Cala's curls with her fingers.

"For now I think I'd just settle for a good night's sleep." Cala couldn't motivate herself to come up with a snappy remark.

Dorothy gave her a searching look. "You were serious." She gave the top of Cala's head another pat. "Why don't you close up shop for the day and sleep?"

"I was planning on that until you came over." Cala smiled dryly, taking the sting out of her words.

"You're still wide enough awake to be sarcastic, wonderful." Dorothy stood. "Well, I'll fill you in later Cala. Sleep well."

Cala didn't sleep well. Instead she was bombarded with dreams. A honey haired young woman intersected through them all.

0000

His business in the city was finished and there really wasn't any reason for him to linger any longer. It was unusual for anything to capture his attention. In fact he normally would've just ignored the call that had been reverberating through out what Odin had referred to as the 'psychic channel.'

It'd been a long time since he had experienced his own call and he still remembered the urgency that had compelled him to up and leave his old life to search until he'd found Odin. Even after becoming an Immortal he heard several calls from other new Immortals but this call was unusual. There wasn't purpose behind it, instead it seemed to be wandering, no destination in mind. At this rate regular mortals were going to be affected and that would mess things up. Heero stood up, settling his black baseball cap on his head and tugging his hoodie over that. Nothing said he couldn't investigate. After all it had been a while since he'd last seen Trowa.

Slipping through the shadows was harder to accomplish in the Upper side then the places he preferred to frequent. Still Heero blended until he came to Quatre's place. He didn't bother with the gate, scaling the wall while avoiding the security measures easily enough as he entered through a window into a long hallway.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Heero turned his head and saw a cat with familiar green eyes.

"Just stopped by for a visit."

"Heero."

The cat yawned widely and then started grooming itself.

Heero took couple more steps down the hallway, the air stirred slightly and Heero knew Trowa had joined him.

"Didn't expect to see you here." The Guardian spoke quietly.

Heero shrugged. "Did you know your new immortal is broadcasting free range right now?"

Trowa nodded. "It's only when she's sleeping though, and it really isn't a conscious effort on her part."

"So?" Heero prompted with the single word.

Trowa just shrugged in response.

Heero looked at him. "She's accepted the gift." He glanced around. "Where's Quatre?"

"Right here." Quatre materialized beside them. "Thought that was you. Nice to see you again Heero." His smile was a halfhearted effort.

"What are you doing about your protege? She needs to focus."

"Well, she really hasn't come to a decision about her gift yet." Quatre began.

"She's accepted the gift, otherwise she wouldn't be calling for her Guardian, consciously or not." Heero repeated firmly. "If she isn't taught to focus you're going to have even more trouble bunched at your front gate."

Quatre opened his mouth, closed and nodded slowly. "Of course you're right." He pushed away from the wall. "Excuse me."

"What's wrong with him?" Heero posed the question to Trowa.

"What isn't? He's tired and pushing himself too hard." Trowa gave his head a slight shake. "Have you heard of Dorothy Catalonia before?"

"Hmm." Heero's eyes narrowed. "Sounds familiar."

"She's taken an unfortunate interest in Quatre. That by itself wouldn't be anything he couldn't handle, but throw a new Immortal into the mix along with the Maguanac's and Hilde's amnesiac boyfriend and the stress levels climb."

"Chang?"

"Still on his sabbatical."

Heero snorted. "Of course."

Trowa shrugged. "He's doing what he can." Trowa's pupil's dilated suddenly and his head jerked to the side. "Someone's here."

"Perhaps it's your new Immortal's Guardian."

"No, it's trouble." Trowa's voice was sharp. "I have to go." He hurried down the hall without waiting for a response.

0000

Quatre stared into Relena's eyes. "It's simple, really. Focus on the fact that you need your Guardian, once it feels like you've focused then you simply call. For me I always imagined the call as a thread connecting me to the other person. Once you establish that then just give that thread a firm tug with your mind."

Relena closed her eyes, brow furrowing as she concentrated. "I think that worked." A smile tugged the corners of her mouth. "I don't feel quite so desperate anymore."

"That's good." Quatre beamed at her. "Just remember to pull that thread every once in a while. Not too often, you don't need to exasperate your Guardian before he or she gets here."

"So, do all immortals have Guardians?"

"As a general rule, yes." Quatre sounded a tad hesitant as he answered. "Have you ever heard of the old saying 'There's an exception to every rule.' Well, there's one person among the immortals who's the exception."

"Really? Why not?"

Quatre sighed, "It's not really my story to tell, let's just say he's an unusual case and leave it at that for now."

"Will I ever meet him?"

"Possibly. He's not one of the more social immortals. Generally he prefers to keep to himself."

"Will I meet any other immortals?"

"We don't have a yearly meeting or anything like that, but yes, you'll probably meet quite a few others over the course of your existence."

"How long have you been around?" Relena tucked a strand of hair behind her left ear.

"A while."

"That's not really an answer." She complained.

"Well, that's the best you'll get right now." Quatre smiled. "Didn't you know you're not supposed to ask a person their age?"

"That's a privilege reserved only for women." Relena shook her head at him.

"Well, too bad, I'm claiming it right now."

A commotion out in the hallway drew both of their attention. The next moment the door flew open and Rashid stormed in, seeming to fill the entire room. Behind him Asher panted into the room looking exasperated. "I'm sorry Master Quatre. He refused to wait. I was afraid he was going to make a scene at the gate so I let him in the house, but then he wouldn't listen."

"I claim the rights of my clan." Rashid rumbled, staring at Relena. She blinked back at him, eyes wide.

Quatre sighed. "It's okay Asher, thank you."

"There you are." Duo peered around the doorframe, before entering the room that was starting to feel a little overcrowded. "I've got some questions I wanted to ask you." He directed his comments toward Quatre.

"Duo, now's not the best time." Asher started, putting one hand on Duo's shoulder.

Duo shrugged it off. "I'm not leaving until I get some answers."

"You are the new immortal?" Rashid asked Relena. "Have you accepted the gift?" He spat out the last word and she jumped slightly, simply staring up at him.

Duo and Asher were arguing as Asher tried to usher Duo out of the room. Rashid was staring holes into Relena who looked like she wanted to simply disappear under her covers and out of his sight.

The noise level in the room was rising and Quatre had had enough. "QUIET."

That one word spoken with the entirety of his power behind it caught everyone's attention. Quatre let his breath out slowly. The feel of his power swirled around him like an invisible wind. He looked at Rashid. "I've never denied the Maguanac's their rights. I would appreciate some common courtesy in return."

Rashid met his gaze without flinching and gave a nod after moment.

Quatre turned to Duo next and saw him flinch back slightly. He dialed down his power output. "I'll answer what I can when I'm free. You're just going to have to wait your turn." Quatre met Asher's gaze for a moment, giving the other man just the slightest nod and watched as Asher led a now nonresistant Duo out and shut the door quietly behind them.

Quatre let the rest of his power bleed away and turned back to where Rashid still stood, strangely erect staring down at Relena.

"Would you mind calling off your Guardian?" Rashid asked more quietly. "I have no intention of harming either of you tonight."

"Trowa, it's alright." Quatre watched as his Guardian seemed to materialize behind Rashid. Trowa released his grip on the larger man and Rashid's entire body relaxed as Trowa took a step back. Trowa stayed visible, keeping his gaze pointedly on the larger man.

Quatre returned to his seat next to Relena. "Relena, this is Rashid of the Maguanacs. Rashid, this is Relena."

"Have you accepted the gift?" Rashid repeated his question, although without as much vehemence as the first time.

Relena just looked confused.

"He wants to know if you accepted Edwin's immortality." Quatre clarified.

Relena nodded once. "Yes, I guess I have."

The expression on Rashid's face altered just slightly. "You do realize that you have the option of not accepting it if you don't want it."

"No." Relena shook her head gently. "It just seemed too sad, all of those memories gone without anyone to even know they existed in the first place." She shook her head again, her head tilted slightly back as she met Rashid's gaze. "I couldn't do that."

"Very well, I will respect your decision." Rashid gave a stiff nod. "I'll not intrude any further."

"Trowa will see you out."

"No need, I can find my own way out." Rashid left without waiting for a reply. Trowa vanished after him.

0000

"What the hell was that?"

"Come along." Asher continued tugging Duo down the hallway.

"Did you see that?" Duo planted his feet, refusing to budge another inch. "The dude was glowing, he was freaking glowing."

"I heard you the first time." Asher said patiently.

"What the hell is he?" Duo gripped Asher's shoulders and shook him slightly. "What is Quatre Winner? He sure as hell ain't human."

A small snort caught his attention and he turned to see a young man in a hoodie leaning casually against the wall reading.

"Pardon me sir, but who are you?" Asher asked.

The stranger glanced at them for just the briefest of instances before looking back at the book he held in one hand. "Heero, I'm a friend of Trowa's."

"I see, excuse the slight disturbance, we've been a little off kilter this evening."

"Slight disturbance? He was glowing! How is that a slight disturbance?" Duo demanded, wanting an answer from someone.

"Get over the glowing. Be grateful he was only slightly irritated." Heero turned a page in his book. "That was nothing compared to what he could've done if he'd been really angry."

"How do you know?"

Heero stopped reading and met Duo's gaze. "Because I've seen him when he was really angry. Trust me, it's not a very pretty picture."