CHAPTER NINE

The Cult

***

I opened my mouth to speak, but couldn't.

So I just stared, aware of the streetlight glittering off my vampire fangs.

And theirs.

Two others, aside from Wasp and me, who had been converted to the vamp-side.

I glared at Wasp.

He was glaring back at me. There was still no love lost between us.

I finally decided to speak. "Okay, so spill it sting-boy –why the hell'd ya do it?" I crossed my arms and waited. I couldn't wait to hear this!

I didn't expect to hear what he said, however. He said: "I didn't."

I blinked. "Come again?"

A big male robot stepped forward. He was mostly orange and red, with black and dark brown markings. His optics were orange, bordering on red, and everything about him screamed dangerous. I was immediately on-guard.

"My name is Hornet," He said, in a rough voice. "And this is my spark-mate," He gestured to the slimmer figure behind him. "Moth."

Moth turned out to be a drab-looking fem-bot. I'm sorry, but that's really it. She was brown, with some grey and black markings, and her blue optics looked sad. She was sad – she had lost something, but what?

"We have grudges against Fhantom as well," Hornet explained. "Not only did he convert us against our wills,"

Wasp coughed and looked pointedly at me. I pointedly ignored him.

"But he took something very precious from us both – something we intend to get back," Hornet said, meaningfully. "We won't stop until." He added.

"What did he take from you?" I wanted to know. I was looking at Moth, but Hornet was the one answered.

"That is not important right now," He replied.

I narrowed my optics, and read into their CPU's. I read deep – they were very good at blocking me, or anyone else. I'd noticed how hard it was to read vampire's CPU' – unless I was literally surrounded by them, like back on the ship.

Which posed a second question. "How do you propose we get Fhantom's attention?"

Wasp smiled suddenly. "Live bait."

"Great idea." I replied. Then: "Hey…" I glared at Wasp. I put my hands on my hips. "Wasp, please – why should I be helping you? I have a family that can help me take down Fhantom!"

"Yeah," Wasp said, with a smirk. "But none of them have the same problem with Fhantom as what we do. You and me, Hornet and Moth – we're all vampires, basically, because of what Fhantom did. Now, Butterfly Princess, you in or are you out?" He looked at me, his violet eyes imploring almost.

I gulped.

I glanced at Moth. She was looking at me. She hadn't said a word yet.

She didn't have to.

"I'm in." I said firmly. "What do you need for me to do?"

*

A few years ago, I could never have dreamed this was possibly. I wouldn't have dreamed I'd be a freaking robot, and a vampire one at that. I was married to two different robots, I had two kids, and I was about to take down the Decepticon who had made me what I was.

There was something seriously wrong with this picture.

I worried. I was worried about so many different Transformers now, that it was starting to take its toll on me, as I used my flying capabilities to get myself – and Wasp – into space. (Moth and Hornet were following close by, each equipped with wings of their own like Screamer and me).

I was worried about the Autobots – especially Bumblebee but, what can I say? When you're married to someone, you tend to put them first.

Which posed the question – did I worry about him more then Starscream, my 'other husband'? Having two spark mates was more trouble then it was worth – until I started worrying about Shooting Star and Honey Bee. And then Jetfire and Jetstorm, and Blitzwing, by association. Which made me wonder if anymore Decepticons were going to change sides – and whether or not we could trust them.

I missed Ironhide, and wished with all my spark that he hadn't died protecting me. It made me a tiny bit gladder I'd killed Lugnut the way I had.

I worried about Zikya, Wheeljack and their baby. I worried about my Bianca, Optimus and their baby.

I worried about Kelsi and Angelina, the humans.

I worried so much that, somehow, Wasp picked up on it.

"Butterfly, what is your problem?"

"I'm worried." I said truthfully. "About…everything."

"Focus, Butterfly, would you?" Wasp said, well, Waspishly, but then his tone softened. "Think about the mission at hand, and that alone. Don't let anything else enter your CPU."

I sighed. Yes, I can still breathe. Just as I can still eat human food.

Focus on the mission, and that alone. I wondered if this was advice Wasp had been given back in the day…

"If we get out of this alive, Wasp…will you join us?" I asked suddenly, as we drew closer to Fhantom's ship.

Wasp didn't answer, he was hanging onto my in my alte form as we exited earth's atmosphere (another thing I never even dreamed of). Then, I felt one of his hands gently run along my metal and, despite it all, I shivered.

I didn't know why.

"Yes – but I still hate Bumblebee. For many reasons."

*

"Fhantom?" I asked, as I stepped onto the ship. My scanners indicated that he hadn't abandoned the ship and, just as I'd thought, he came out of the shadows.

"Ah, Emma," He said in his silky smooth voice. "At last you have returned to me…" His fangs glittered. "My spark mate…"

"Yes." I replied, surprising us both. "I am yours, Fhantom." I made my voice sound as truthful as possible, and smiled at him, half closing my optics.

Fhantom also smiled, and walked steadily towards me. "My butterfly," He said smoothly.

Outside the ship, I heard Wasp's thoughts – he was annoyed for some reason, but that may have been because he had to wait for Moth and Hornet to infiltrate the ship and get whatever it was they needed to get.

"My dear," Fhantom said, reaching me and stroking the side of my face gently. It was all I could do not to stiffen. "I have such beautiful plans for us…I will rule as a king, with you as my queen…our sparklings…"

"Yes?" I asked, trying to keep the disdain out of my voice. Come on Hornet, Moth – what is taking you so long!?

"Oh, I have such plans for that, my dear," I hated how Fhantom kept on touching me like this. His hands ran down my shoulders, and then my sides. "I am sure you will like them…"

I focused on not panicking, and whispered: "Oh, such as?" In what I hoped was a seductive voice.

"Well…this and that, and that and this," Fhantom said, his hands resting on my hips.

I heard Wasp growl angrily.

I forced myself to remember my seductive smile. "Now?"

"Why wait?" Fhantom smirked.

"Why indeed?" I said, hoping that this was as far as we needed to go.

No way was I going to interface with him! Heck, I didn't even want to kiss him!

"Butterfly!" I heard Hornet's voice yell through my CPU. Thank Primus! "Now!"

"Well…" I said, smiling at Fhantom. "That would be nice, but I already have kids…why don't you take it up with my friend, Wasp?" My smile turned into a smirk.

That was the cue.

And Wasp crashed into the room, firing his stingers at Fhantom, who angrily retaliated.

It was like Wasp had been waiting for this moment.

I assisted Wasp, and together the two of us attacked.

Moth and Hornet must've taken care of most of Fhantom's subordinates, because we had no interference from outside forces.

The turning tide came when Fhantom managed to gain the upper-hand, and stabbed Wasp directly in the chest with a sword-like thing.

"Wasp!" I shouted, feeling my spark tear itself in two again.

Fhantom turned to me then, his red optics glowing with fury and with lust. "Fem, I will teach you what it means to be a vampire Decepticon!" He shouted, and lunged at me, pushing us both out of the hip and into space.

His mouth suddenly found mine, and tears leaked out of my optics as he kissed me. My CPU went into overdrive then, and I broke away from him, before flying back towards earth. Fhantom followed me, eyes burning.

Out of pure panic, I yelled: "Catch me if you can, vampire!" I spread my wings and took off, with Fhantom in pursuit.

Wasp is dead…Bee…Screamer…I NEED you both here…

But…did I want to put them in so much danger?

We were flying somewhere over America, and then I spotted someone.

Someone I'd hoped I would never see again.

Oh shit…

What did it take to keep this bad cop offline!?