The Winged Alchemist: Blood Lines

Chapter Two: Tricked

"What are you going to do, Edward?"

"I have to keep going."

"Why don't you come home?"

"I don't want to drag you into this. Not again, Winry."

Edward had been talking to Winry on the phone for over an hour. He told her everything that had happened, not caring that it was confidential. He didn't even care if the line was tapped. He just wanted to hear her voice. It made his head hurt less and a smile creep on his face. But as the conversation began to drag, the more Winry sounded worried, and that made his temporary pain reliever wear off. Not to mention, he was worried about her. If the military knew everything, they would definitely want to get all the information needed. And Winry would make an excellent source.

"I'm already into this, Ed! And I'm scared! Granny's even scared! I don't know what to do…" Her voice was cracking and he knew she was close to crying. He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck before leaning fully against the wall. For a moment, he stayed quiet, partly because of a group of soldiers walking by and partly because he wasn't sure how to answer her. When he had the pay phone to himself again, he exhaled slowly.

"Please promise me you'll stay in Resembool. I will come get you if things get out of hand, ok? Just don't worry." He tried to sound reassuring, but he knew his voice was betraying him. He felt nauseous thinking about anything happening to Winry and Pinako. He clenched his metal fist that hung at his side and closed his eyes. "I have to go. I'll call you if anything changes, ok?"

"Be careful, Edward…I love you."

"Love you, too." He hung the phone up and rubbed his face with his flesh hand, trying to calm himself down. "I just want to be normal."

"Normal will never suit you, Edward Elric. Not anymore." He gritted his teeth and opened his eyes up to see Sabina standing before him. She was adorned in a flowing white gown and her long hair fell gracefully around her shoulders. It was a chestnut color, the same as her eyes. She looked as solid as a normal person and it startled him. She smiled at him. "I know you wish for things to be what they once were, but I cannot grant you this. You are meant to be the chosen one."

"Chosen one…Sabina, I don't want to be the chosen one." He told her. Her smile didn't falter.

"You cannot choose your fate. You must keep going forward. Just as you promised Winry."

"Cheap move, using my own words against me." He spat at the angel. She stepped closer to him, placing a hand gingerly on his cheek. A tear rolled down his face, colliding with her flesh and he leaned into her touch.

"Do not give up, Edward Elric. Your willpower is what stands in between your sanity and the blood of the demon."

"Fullmetal, what are you doing?" Ed jerked his head up, Mustang standing just feet away staring at him. Sabina was gone and he sighed, walking away from the Colonel towards his dorm, flicking the tear from his cheek.

"Nothing. I'm going to bed, now." He didn't look back, but he could feel Mustang's eyes following him. Great, now Colonel Bastard is gonna worry. Just what I need. Entering the dorm proved no better. Once his door was shut, Alphonse had bombarded him with questions, wanting to know what happened and why he had been gone for so long. But after Ed ignored him and crawled into bed, the suit of armor gave up and sat at the single desk in the small room, staring out the window. It was a full moon, and the sky was perfectly clear, allowing the stars to twinkle freely down on the streets of Central.

. . .

Winry Rockbell wiped the sweat off her brow as she sat back and surveyed her work. She had just completed a brand new automail arm she had started the night before and smiled at it. Next to Ed's automail, it was one of the best pieces she had done. She stretched out her muscles, yawing loudly. Sleep begged her to go to bed and give in, and she would finally oblige its request. She didn't care for staying up over 30 hours, but she always felt good when she completed a project. She stared at the wall clock and wasn't surprised to see 3 AM staring back at her.

Deciding to clean her work station later, Winry flipped off the lights and headed up to the main level of the house, closing the basement door behind her. She crossed the living room to the next set of stairs, climbing them slowly before reaching her bedroom. Once inside, she threw off her dirtied clothes and slid into sweat pants and a large t-shirt. It was one of Ed's and it still smelled like him and she crawled into her bed, enjoying the scent as she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

But after an hour, she was startled awake by a terrible banging downstairs. Winry stumbled out of her bed and leaned heavily against her door, trying her best to wake up and be alert as she heard a blood curdling scream. Her eyes widened and in an instant, she was wide awake. "Granny!" She flung the door open and darted out to the stairs, freezing at the railing when she saw Pinako lying on the floor, a pool of blood surrounding her still frame. Above her stood a man dressed in black, a ski mask over his face and a pistol clenched in his hands. He looked up at her and she gasped, running back to her room and slamming the door shut. The killer's heavy footsteps pounded up the stairs as she ran her hands through her hair in panic. He kicked at the door a few times, making her yelp as she looked around the room, trying to figure out what to do.

She grabbed her favorite wrench and headed for the sliding glass door that led out to the balcony. Carefully, she climbed up on the outer railings and hoisted herself up on the roof as her door was smashed and the man entered. Body trembling, she crawled to the other side of the house, looking for the easiest way down. She could hear the man cussing at her sudden disappearance, but she knew it would only be a matter of time before he figured out where she had gone.

Sure enough, she heard a grunting as he climbed on the roof. She had reached the lowest part of the roof and held her breath, jumping down to the ground. Landing with a small thud, she took off running into the night, unsure where she would go. Gunshots rang out behind her and she screamed out, a bullet whizzing just shy from her left cheek. She ran faster, determined to get away and find a safe place to hide. She thought of Ed, wishing he had come home. She cried out into the night.

. . .

Edward bolted upright in his bed, waking out of a dead sleep. His chest heaved as he sucked in large gulps of air and his hands trembled violently. He looked at the clock on the wall, the face lit up by the light of the moon. It was 3 AM. He knew his dream was real. He knew Winry was in trouble and Grams was going to die. It was too vivid to be just a nightmare. Moving quickly, Ed jumped out of bed and threw on his clothes. He was about to reach for the door handle to head to the nearest phone when his gut churned. I'll never make it even if someone drove me…a phone call would only make things worse….there has to be a faster way. He thought frantically.

"Brother, what's wrong?" Al asked him from the corner of the room, his glowing eyes big with concern. Ed's golden orbs fell on the window and he took in a deep breath, knowing what had to be done. He had to use the power he was cursed with.

"No time to explain." He went to the window and wrenched it open, then climbed on the ledge. Without much thought, his ebony wings sprouted from his back and he stretched them out, filling the room easily. Al gasped, realizing something was terribly wrong. Ed jumped, taking flight into the night as Al called after him.

"EDWARD!" Ed only sped up.

"Please let me make it!" Everything around him blurred as his inhuman blood pumped through his veins, his speed faster than a military jet. He felt disoriented, but did not stop. He had to save Winry. He had to save Pinako. He had to make it in time. Soon after he took off, his body naturally slowed and he was above the cemetery near his childhood home. But he had come too late.

He heard the gunshot coming from the direction of the Rockbell house and knew Pinako was dead. He let out a frustrated cry and beat the sky with his wings, pushing himself to make it to Winry in time before the killer caught up to her. His eyes narrowed as she jumped down from the roof and began running towards him. Swooping down, he swiftly wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up as the gunman began to shoot at them. He flew higher and higher until the clouds covered them. Winry was shivering in his arms and he held her close, flying away from the house. As soon as he knew they were a safe distance away, he dipped back below the clouds, relieved she was breathing normally. She never lifted her head from his chest and he kept silent, only wishing he could have made it to save her grandmother.

He felt her tears soak through to his skin and he frowned, feeling his own eyes water. They were closer to Central now and his instincts told him to keep going. He wondered if he should go get Al, but he was frightened at how much he didn't want to land. Something isn't right…Sabina! He called out to the angel in his mind and suddenly she was flying next to him, her eyes meeting his.

"Follow me." She spoke, taking the lead. He did as she was told, making sure Winry was holding on alright. She had fallen unconscious and he pulled her close enough to him so that his chin rested against her forehead.

"Where are we going?" He asked her. They were flying directly over Central now, and he could see the dorm building.

"A sacred place." Was all she replied and he gritted his teeth. He didn't want to fly anymore. He wanted to be on the ground again. He wanted to find a comfortable bed to tuck his Winry in and find the man responsible for the death of Pinako so he could rip him apart. "You should not have such thoughts. They will only enrich the demon blood that flows through you."

"Not my fault." He growled. She looked at him to say something when suddenly she was gone, her body dispersing in a blinding light. Ed froze, his wings flaring out to steady himself. "Sabina!" He shouted, unsure as to what had just happened. He looked around him frantically, crying out when a bullet penetrated his left wing. Letting out a roar of anger, he pushed himself to fly up once more, avoiding the now oncoming spray of bullets. Winry was awake again and she clung to Ed fearfully, squeezing her eyes painfully tight.

"ED! What's happening?" She cried out. He winced as his wing began to heal.

"I don't know…just hold on!" There had to be something he could do to get out of there. Down below him he could hear shouts from soldiers ordering other soldiers to shoot. He looped around, his skin growing black and hard. Winry shrieked, frightened at the sudden change. Ed looked at her and gave a grim smile. "I'm going to shield you with my wings. Hold still." He said it gently and she nodded, burrowing tightly into his chest as he wrapped his wings around her and die-bombed the attacking soldiers.

What happened after took place in a blur. Edward swooped back down to earth and collided with a mass of people, knocking them down to the ground with a bone shattering crack! Once his feet touched the ground, he set Winry down and stood in front of her, his wings continuously shielding her. The military men stared at him with fear and held their guns up, unsure if they should shoot or run. He bared his teeth, uncaring of who saw him. He was in his demon form and ready to fight. Hands clung to his back and he felt Winry crying on his skin again and his anger faltered a moment.

"At ease, men." Edward felt his hackles rise at the sound of Fuhrer Bradley's voice and watched the man step forward, a hand clasped behind his back while the other was up in a halt. His uncovered eye opened and a smile crept on his face. "Good morning, Edward. So nice to see the real you." He sneered. Ed growled louder.

"You bastard!" His voice was gravelly and unlike his own. "You planned this!"

"I suggest you release the woman and come with me. There is much to be discussed with you. And much to be planned." Edward's eyes widened and he realized he was trapped. Around him, men were holding guns, netting, and a large cage was nestled nearby.

"What do you take me for, a wild animal?" He asked, angry at the sight of the bars.

"Clearly, you're no longer human. But if you can prove to me you can still act as one, we won't have to use that cage. All I need is cooperation."

"Like Hell."

"Really." The sound of hundreds of guns being switched from safe to ready to fire made his shoulders go rigid and Winry let out a small cry. He looked up, wondering if he would be fast enough to escape. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." Bradley chuckled. "I've given orders for them to shoot at free will if you try anything, and though the bullets may not have an effect on you, she is a different story."

"What do you want from me?" Edward asked him. Bradley stepped forward.

"Just a little help on the field of battle."

"I won't be your trump card."

"I'm not giving you a choice." Bradley clapped his hands twice and the front row of soldiers parted, allowing a path to clear for someone that was walking towards them. Ed watched curiously as a woman stepped forward, clad in a black trench coat with her black hair tied back in a ponytail. Her eyes were a cold grey and Ed shivered, knowing right away she was different. She stepped to Bradley's side and bowed to him.

"Fuhrer." She spoke softly. He nodded and she smiled, turning to Ed. Ed watched in horror as silver wings burst from her back. No! She can't be! How is this possible? She held them out threateningly, as if challenging him, but he kept Winry covered. She walked to him, her steps calm and planned. "Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist. Are you surprised?" She asked him.

"Who are you?" He demanded. She bowed slightly, mocking a usually polite gesture.

"I'm just like you, Ed. I am a Dark Angel. But I was born this way. You see, the Fuhrer found me and trained me so that I could assist our country into victory." He glared at her.

"You are no Dark Angel. Only one can exist in the world at a time. You're nothing but a damned demon!" She shook her head with a chuckle.

"But how can you be so sure, Edward? I look just like you!" He furrowed his brows.

"Liar."

She smiled lavishly, making his skin crawl. "I knew you weren't stupid, dear child, but you should know that I can still destroy you. You are far from your true strength and your weakness stands behind you. That makes everything far too easy for me." He glared at her through his blackened bangs.

"You touch her, I end you. I end all of you." She chuckled.

"Is that a threat or a promise?" Her skin began to turn silver and her pupils grew into slits, the irises changing into a bright yellow. Suddenly, her teeth and nails had grown wickedly sharp much like his own and she hunched over.

Ed smiled back at her, copying her motions. "You want a fight. You've got one!" They collided, talons and teeth ripping at flesh and blood flying. Soldiers who were in the way were shredded to pieces without notice and Bradley fled farther back to avoid the same fate. Winry turned away, attempting to run.

She winced at the sound of the fight behind her and ran as fast as her legs could carry her, but footsteps began to follow her. She shrieked out, realizing it was the Fuhrer himself chasing her. "No! Stay away!" She told him, but he only caught up to her faster. He reached out to her and she ducked down, coming to a stop and making him trip over her. She would have laughed given the right circumstances. It was far too clumsy for a leader of a country to do, but he was already up and facing her with a look of pure hatred and humiliation. She swiveled on her heels and darted the way she came, knowing in the end she would be caught. Soldiers were catching on and began to surround her. She began to panic. "EDWARD, HELP!"

Ed heard Winry's cry as the strange, demonic woman bit down on his throat. He screeched, clawing her head to try and get her jaws to release him. She was strong and would not move and he fell to his knees, her teeth sinking in deeper. Blood pooled around him and he felt himself grow dizzy. He was losing to a demon.

And then, she let go. He fell to the ground, Winry's cries growing louder, the sound of men grabbing her and laughing at her pleas following. He covered his bleeding throat with a large, clawed hand and choked on crimson. The demon before him kneeled down and grabbed his chin in her hand, forcing him to look at what was happening nearby.

Not only were the soldiers capturing Winry, but they began to toy with her. As two of them held her arms behind her, two more were running their hands over her body, feeling her breasts, her stomach and then her lower extremities. Her face turned beat red and she squirmed away, their fingers pressing harder into her flesh. Edward fumed at the sight of their violations and he screamed. His wound started to heal at an accelerated rate and he kicked the demon in the face, feeling slightly alarmed she wasn't fighting him any longer. But that no longer mattered. He lunged for the group of men and tore out their throats, ripped open their stomachs, and watched as they bled to death.

Bradley smiled wider at the sight before him as his men were brutally torn apart, the Elric becoming more vile and evil. He took in a deep breath and began to clap his hands as the last soldier was destroyed. Edward turned on him and flared his nostrils. "Congratulations, Edward. You've passed my test. You've proven to me that you're barbaric and perfect for war."

Ed paused at these words, looking down at his bloodied claws. Recognition of his actions flashed before him and he shrank back down to human size, his skin returning to its natural color. He clenched his fists and realized everything had been made to turn out the way it had. He slowly turned around to face Winry, only to see her cowering away from him, tears rolling down her face and cries escaping her sweet lips. He reached out to her pleadingly, sorrow staining his eyes and a frown creasing his lips.

"No, Winry! Please!" She curled up in a ball on the ground, sobbing hysterically.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" The words cut him like a knife and he let his arms fall. His chin touched his chest as he allowed his head to droop.

"Fullmetal. It's time to accept what you really are. A monster. You have nothing to lose at this point." Bradley said with a hint of enthusiasm. The woman had changed back into her human form and held no expression on her face. She walked over to Ed and kicked him to the ground, straddling his back as she pulled his arms behind him to keep him subdued. He didn't fight her; he lay motionless, his stare void of any life. She leaned down to his ear and whispered loud enough so that only he could hear her words.

"Do not fear, Edward Elric." The words were foreign to him, especially coming from her. But he didn't try to understand. He let her haul him back to his feet, his wings having folded back inside of him. She dragged him easily to the Fuhrer and stopped. "Let's go Fuhrer, Sir. I believe we can begin." He smiled like a kid who had received the sweetest candy the world could offer.

"Take him to Eastern HQ. And don't let Colonel Mustang or any of his men have any access to the boy. He's yours."

"With pleasure, Sir." She pulled him next to her, a frown replacing her mock enthusiasm as she turned away from the man. As she walked the Elric to a waiting car, she watched as Winry ran toward the dorm building and she knew she would seek out the younger brother. She secretly hoped she could reach him without harm, but nothing was certain. All she knew was the façade she had to keep up until the timing was right. Until she could take down the Fuhrer and destroy the Dark Angel, the world would be in for a rough ride.

. . .

Alphonse had run straight to Colonel Mustang, but by the time he had reached him, it had been too late. As he entered the office, they were barred in, unable to leave the room. Hawkeye had withdrawn her pistol and aimed at the door, but the sounds of many other guns made her falter. Mustang shouted in rage as he stared out the window, unsure whether his eyes deceived him or not.

They watched Edward and the stranger fight, and then witnessed Ed's breaking point as he easily tore the soldiers. Alphonse turned away, crying out at what he had witnessed. "How can this be happening? Ed would never—"

"He's losing the battle within himself, Al. He had been since he killed Hughes." Roy said through clenched teeth, refusing to look away from the scene. Edward had been captured, almost completely willingly, and was taken to a waiting armored car. Winry took off toward the dorms and he stepped forward. "Something's not right."

"Colonel, blast us out of here! Use your flames! I have to help my brother!"

"I can't." Alphonse towered over the man and screamed.

"WHY NOT?"

"Because doing so would only make matters worse!" He shouted back at the teen, his commanding tone overtaking his voice. Alphonse took a step back and fell silent, waiting for an explanation. The Colonel lowered his voice and squeezed his fists tightly to attempt to keep calm. "We have to cooperate for now so that we can find out what the real plan for Edward is."

"Sir?" Hawkeye looked at him in question while holstering her gun. He kept his eyes closed as he spoke.

"If we do anything rash, we will only be detained or even killed. But cooperating will give us the grounds to find out what the hell is going on. The Fuhrer will no doubt block us from obtaining information, but I have more connections than he cares to admit. We stay cool and maneuver ourselves in. Only then can we save Edward. Bradley won't kill him if he wants him for war…but something tells me that isn't the whole reason."

The three looked at the door as the sounds of retreating men reached them. Hawkeye approached the door and slowly opened it, surprised to see they were free to go. She looked back at the raven haired man and he nodded. "Lieutenant. I want you to retire for the night. Go straight home. Say nothing and pretend nothing happened."

"Yes, Sir." She quickly followed orders, vacating the room with caution. Roy looked at Al.

"Go to Winry. Try to calm her down the best you can. We are going to need her if we want to claim your brother's sanity." The armor nodded slowly.

"Ok." Roy faced the window again and clasped his hands behind his back.

"This is going to get a lot worse. Chances are warfare has nothing to do with this." A growing suspicion began to form in his gut. "Bradley, what are you planning?"

. . .

Many unanswered questions. Who is this demon chick? What happened to Sabina? Why did Ed give so easily? What will Winry do? What's being planned?

The answers are to come, my friends. In the next chapter, Ed will find out the truth behind the woman who holds responsibility over him, Winry will reach her breaking point, and Mustang will come dangerously close to finding out the real truth. But what will happen when Bradley becomes even more involved?

I have so many plans for this story. Review!