A/N. I am so amazed! I just noticed that this story is at 95 reviews so far! Completely awed by all your support. Thank you!
The warehouse itself was not very well lit. Machinery hummed in the background, sporadically sputtering here and there, causing the already dim lighting to flicker.
It was fairly easy for the tall, darkly clad figure to move from shadow to shadow. Even if there was no shade to hide in, he could move quickly to find one further away. His speed was far faster than the human eye.
The chevalier noted a wall that extended past the reach of the dim light, keeping the other side sheltered in darkness. It would be the perfect place to hide and look about the room it opened into. With a blue streak only his own kind could see, the chevalier took his chance and moved toward the space.
Unfortunately it was his kind that had already detected his presence. The great, lumbering beast with mismatched glowing eyes began to move toward where it smelled something... delectable. This was not the kind of blood it was used to receiving and it began to salivate at the mere thought of its prize.
Hagi was too fast however, as he completed his path to the hiding space, he made a sharp turn to the right and wheeled around, facing his attacker.
Face as placid as a summer lake, Hagi slammed his right claw into and through the creature. Blood spurred from the wound and then gushed like a geyser as the chevalier tore the claw out.
The creature gave a wet sounding growl like cough as it fell back, already regenerating lung tissue and flesh.
The sound of metal being loosed rang through the air as the dark figure unsheathed his broad sword. Cold, slate-blue eyes calculated as he began to move, bringing the broad sword back in preparation to swing it across.
Kanade and Hibiki both had tried their blood against these creatures that had both color eyes- it had little effect. These creatures had to be decapitated. These creatures were created with Mary Frances' blood. What is it about her blood that makes these chiropterans so different? Especially when the blood from the other princesses created such weaker beasts?
Jagged rows of teeth gleamed pink as the long mouth opened, revealing a long pink tongue that came to a point at the end. It's skin wasn't a grey color like the ones Diva's blood made, and it didn't look like cooling lava like those made from Kanade's blood. These chiropterans were nearly black.
As he arched his swing and brought the blade across the nightmarish creature's neck, the final question echoed in his thoughts- Why are their eyes two different colors?
The head came to the cement floor in an unceremonious thud with blood spilling in a trail from the headless body. It rolled on its side, eyes open wide and tongue hanging out. The dark chevalier nudged the lifeless head with his boot as blood pooled beneath it. The eyes no longer glowed in their strange bicolor way... they were now both a familiar shade of slate blue.
Taking no further time to examine the creature, Hagi left swiftly. These facts could be pondered later on- when he wasn't after Argiano.
~0~
Monitors glowed in the otherwise completely dark room. Images of the mysterious princess in an epic battle with Smith's pride and joy were displayed on one as it flickered with the unreliable power source. Another depicted a dark figure with an unsheathed broad sword stained with blood as he inspected the now body-less head.
Glasses flashed in the dim light as they took in the other 4 screens. Three were for the tanks outside that housed 400 hibernating chiropterans each.
The warehouse itself had been modified in a haphazard way. There had been little time to modify anything as he knew it was only a matter of time before the Red Shield found him.
Smith had blocked off two rooms of the warehouse- one was for monitoring the creatures, the other was a makeshift office with a bed. One would sleep while the other would keep watch and do research. All their work had been compiled into 4 hard drives and one laptop computer that Smith had been taking notes on.
The other part of the warehouse was used to create and store hibernating chiropterans. The numbers that were in the warehouse weren't more than 20. Most were stored in the tanks where it was cold.
This storage part of the warehouse was not climate controlled- after all, they wanted the beasts to hibernate. There would have been more, much more, had they not been discovered so soon.
One question burned in the CEO's mind- If the Red Shield knew where to find them, why send just these two?
He pondered this as he stacked the four hard drives neatly in front of himself. It would not be the first time he bought his way out of trouble. He had hoped to be cutting this deal with Joel Goldschmidt- or someone with some kind of political weight, not a nobody chevalier and his career criminal daughter.
The door cracked as it was forcefully opened, the tall chevalier stood in the doorway that was now jagged, light spilling around him.
Light spilled into a previously darkened room. Hagi could smell the nervousness coming off the figure that shielded his eyes.
Even in the very dim lighting, Hagi could still see the man. Argiano no longer looked the part of a CEO. He was bundled up in a shabby, dirty orange parka and even dirtier sweat pants. The boots on his feet looked like they had only a few more weeks before they completely disintegrated.
"Welcome, Hagi," Argiano drawled in his heavy French accent.
The chevalier locked eyes with the man and gave a very slow nod.
"I did not expect The Red Shield to find us so soon," He continued, knowing the chevalier would not speak. His glasses flashes as his head turned to a monitor displaying Mary Frances tying his head scientist to the ladder of a storage tank. Smith had been badly beaten, but wore a wicked smirk.
Both knew they'd never get out of this alive, that was why they had chosen to take out at least The Red Shield with their deaths... but only these two had shown up.
The CEO turned back to face the as he was surprised to hear the man speak. "The Red Shield has no part in this. I acted alone, but Mary Frances followed."
Argiano raised a brow and quested, "Oh?" as he unwrapped a candy and popped it in his mouth. The tiny object melted away quickly as he thought up his next question. "So, how did you find us this time?" An eyebrow raised, he continued, "Did you torture my nephew?"
Hagi locked his cold, slate-blue eyes on the man and narrowed them in anger. "Your nephew has been given a fate worse than death. Raoul now serves Hibiki, but she has dismissed him."
Argiano's smirk deepened. Eternal life was no punishment- unless it was spent in prison. "I am glad that Joel Goldschmidt is still a bleeding heart and gives out such wonderful punishments. Perhaps he'll sentence me to life on a deserted island."
Hagi glared coldly and responded, "Joel was not there. Hibiki has punished him on her own volition." Argiano did not miss the hint of sadness that suddenly hung in the air. "You have no idea what it is like for him." Alabaster hands balled into fists so tight that the knuckles turned white. "Every moment he will want to serve Hibiki, he will think of nothing else. Her heartbeat will thunder in his mind, endless days and nights with no sleep. Rest assured, your nephew has been cursed."
The scruffy looking man at least had the decency to bow his head, if only for a moment, but Hagi still had not told him how they had been found out. "But you haven't..."
"How I found you is of little consequence," Hagi interrupted as he lifted the CEO off his chair and above his head by the lapels of his jacket. Argiano never saw the movement. "I will let you live if you answer my questions."
Argiano laughed through his tears and responded lightly, "I have been to prison once, I have no fear of death."
Hagi shook him like a rag doll for emphasis and added, "I can make it as slow and painful as I like. Answers."
Argiano sniffed as he swiped the grimy sleeve of his jacket under his sniveling nose. "Alright. Ask your question."
Neither the CEO or chevalier watched the screens now, they were busy in a heated discussion.
~0~
The smirk said it all, this princess was proud of herself. Even after she beat this piece of shit until he looked like a piece of shit, he still denied any knowledge of how she had been made. The laptop was now safely stowed in her cape, next to her heart. Now all she needed were a few candid responses and Hagi to return with the CEO.
The young woman paced as she thought of how to extract some information. Her face was like thunder as she strode back and forth in front if an empty storage container with her long cape flowing behind her in the icy breeze. As she turned in front of a release valve, she didn't notice the cape caught on the hand crank. She began to storm in the other direction and was completely shocked when something yanked her back and her feet came out from under her.
With a quick check to the laptop, Mary Frances gained her feet and stormed to the scientist who was now laughing like a hyena. Neither of them heard a hiss from the obliterated valve release.
She fired a hard slap across Smith's face and then spit in it for good measure. "Piece of shit!" she spat. "Tell me- how did you impregnate the woman? Hagi doesn't know. So tell me why there- in that country?"
Again he replied, "I don't know what you're talking about." His bloodied and swollen face twisted into what might have been a perverse grin before he added, "But I'll happily give you a demonstration of how babies are made..."
Another slap resounded and had the lead scientist spitting a tooth. "I oughtta kill you, ya pervert! I want to know what you guys did!" With a huff of resignation, she realized she was getting nowhere.
While she contemplated her next move, Smith contemplated his. The man was no fool and he also knew what lay ahead if he dared to think of getting out of this alive, both he and his conspirator would rot in prison. There was only one problem, his escape was wrapped in cellophane and buried in his pocket. With both arms bound, he couldn't get to it.
An angry grunt came from the man as he had no choice but to see how to would play out. The hazel eyes of the scientist were suddenly drawn to the sound of 'click' 'click' 'click'. The princess had decided to relax her nerves with a cigarette. Smith shouted as his eyes grew large with fear, "No DON'T!"
~0~
Hagi held the teary-eyed Argiano by the collar and coolly asked, "Where are your files on the princess Mary Frances?"
Argiano was clearly taken aback. All of the information he had gained about all the princesses- Why just her?
His confusion caused the chevalier to elaborate as he twisted the Frenchman around, securing him by the wrists from behind. His grip pulled the wrists into a painful angle as he elaborated, "You knew how to find her as soon as I did. It means you knew where she was all along. I'll ask again- where is your information on her?"
Argiano nodded to the hard drives stacked on the table and then tried to look over his shoulder to the chevalier. "There are only 4 hard drives, as well as the laptop. That's all."
Hagi still held fast, causing the CEO to grunt in confusion and pain. His even voice was right next to his ear. "Exactly where did you store the information that Collins gave you about her?"
Argiano scowled and scoffed, "Collins? Collins was dead before that girl was even born! What would he know... ahh- uh-ah..."
The CEO's wrists were near the breaking point. He quickly cried out, "There's a flash drive with files he gave me on how to build the facility... that's all that's on it... that's all he gave me!"
"How was the girl created?" Hagi growled. The man in his grasp was now breathing very fast and he could sense the man's life was ending- likely the candy he'd eaten was toxic.
A dark but weak chuckle left the man. "H - how do you think she- she was made? I'm certain you know as she is your daughter."
Argiano hit the wall with a heavy thud, cracking a few ribs in the process. As he lazily opened his eyes, a bead of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. The dying man barked out a weak laugh and said, "We had nothing to do with her creation- you know how she was made. You came here to learn what you already know."
Hagi snatched the 4 objects from the table and turned quickly for the door. The CEO was left to his tears on the floor- he would be dead shortly and the chevalier was wanting to leave with at least one living witness to question.
As the chevalier made his way to the entrance of the warehouse, thoughts invaded his head- accusations. Saya's angry expression, Kai's empathetic eyes, Hibiki's disappointment, Mary Frances' confusion... He had let his hopes raise from the ashes only to have them dashed again.
He didn't hear the explosion, he didn't see the fire surrounding him. He didn't care. The answer wasn't here.
~0~
Mary Frances allowed the lit cigarette drop from her gaping mouth as she turned to realize the hissing sound was coming from the supposedly empty storage tank. She couldn't register a thought other than, "Oh shit!" Before she had to make a massive leap, leaving Smith to a fiery death.
A few blue- streaked bounds and she felt something slam into her back and push her further toward the beach. The princess felt heat prick her scalp and the back of her neck, her fireproof cape protected all else as she landed sprawled in the snow. The icy sensation against her front versus the heat on her back was an odd sensation, to say the least.
After a time, she managed to pull herself to her knees and brushed the snow off her black cape and gave a quick check to the laptop.
It was perfectly safe and sound, she noticed, as she drew it out from her cape. The answers are certain to be on here, she thought as she slid back into the safety of the heavy cape.
A warm sensation to her back drew her to turn and see what was left of the warehouse. The blast had affected her hearing temporarily and she did not register the agonized howls of dying chiropterans. The place was nothing but a massive fireball and smoke atop melting snow- an eerie and gruesome sight. Dark silhouettes of lumbering beasts being burned alive dotted what was left of the makeshift facility.
With a cry, Mary Frances realized something very important, Hagi was still in there somewhere.
Wings burst from her he back as she shouted without quite hearing herself, "HAGI!" In a strong leap, the princess took to the air, thinking she could look down on the scene and find the chevalier easier. She didn't count on the amount of smoke.
Wings beat against the heated air that was nearly black with smoke, keeping the princess aloft. With a few huge coughs, she managed to raggedly call his name as she strained her eyes through the dark billows of smoke, but still had no luck. A resigned sigh came from the young woman as she allowed herself to float back down to the beach.
For a time, she took fresh snow into her mouth and let it melt before swishing out the ash and soot, occasionally looking back to the still burning warehouse and storage tanks. Eyes wide, she realized she would have to make the trip back alone and then have to explain how Hagi died to the Red Shield. Saya might be mad at him now, but when the information that had to be on this laptop was revealed, she would be devastated to know she'd lost him.
The princess drew her knees to her chest and pulled her cape around herself as she weighed her options. Before all else, she needed to feed, otherwise she wouldn't make it back either.
Brown eyes scanned the coast for any victim, human or animal, that might sustain her. Sounds were beginning to penetrate her healing ear drums. She could hear the crackle of the remaining fire and the waves lapping against the icy shore line, but something else drew her to look back on the destruction she had inadvertently caused. It sounded like wings.
Flames lapped at the darkly clad figure as his blue eyes flashed. Massive black wings carried him over the destruction below just as a plume of fire rose in front of him, but he paid it no mind.
Black locks of wavy hair flew wildly around his alabaster face as vibrant orange and red flames seemed to part around him like a curtain.
She came to her feet as he landed close to her, allowing his wings to vanish the moment his feet touched the ground. Slate blue eyes took in the ocean as he held the hard drives in his hands. Only one word sounded from the stoic man, "Smith?"
Mary Frances took in the man that she had been fighting along side of. Now that he was closer, she could see his hair was stuck together by blood, which also stained his clothes and botched his exposed skin. Ash and soot left signs as well on the normally very well groomed man, even his ribbon was missing. She could only stand with her mouth slightly open as she shook her head.
"Did you at least save the laptop?" He asked after he received no verbal response.
"Y-yeah,"she responded shakily as she pulled it from its place in her cloak. Without a word, he handed her the 4 hard drives and turned to the ocean. Without checking for a single witness, dark wings spread from his back and he took to the skies.
The young princess opened her mouth to protest, but was rather confused by his sudden thoughtless behavior- it was completely out of character. Witnesses would be drawn to the explosion like flies, and it was still light out- likely around 4 pm! "B- but Hagi..." she stammered in vain, but the suddenly careless chevalier was already airborne.
Giving a wary glance around her, Mary Frances worried her bottom lip before she too took to the skies. The pair could feed on the way, she supposed, but her mind was screaming with alarm bells and it wasn't due to witnesses- something was wrong with Hagi.