The Winged Alchemist: Blood Lines

Chapter Four: Contract

"What do you mean she left?" Alphonse cried out, leaning over the ticket booth and making the young woman behind it very nervous. She shook a little, backing away from his metal figure.

"She boarded the last train…I'm sorry, sir." She said quietly, unsure why she did wrong. Al grumbled and stared at the train that was now lurching forward.

"Where is this train heading?" He asked. His voice had lost its politeness and edged on brutality for information. She yelped in surprise of this.

"R-Resembool!" She cried out, catching the attention of passersby. Al bolted to the train as it began to move and he reached out to the last car, grabbing it as it built up speed. Security yelled for him to let go and to stop, but he only climbed on and entered the caboose. He had to get to Winry. He was worried about her state of mind, and worse, he was worried that when she got to her home, the killer would still be lurking, or worse. Not to mention the sight of her dead grandmother. That's enough to make anyone break down. One thing was for sure; Winry should not be alone.

. . .

Lee looked down at the body of Edward Elric and grimaced. She was still straddling him and his blood covered her head to toe and the smell was intoxicating. She wanted so badly to lap it up and devour him, but she knew the consequences. To break her contract would be to destroy herself, and she did not fancy a trip to Hell.

The only thing that truly held her back from feasting was the fact that she was already full. She attacked him brutally well and enjoyed it while she could. She was happy the kid was a fighter because it only allowed her to enjoy him all the more. But now that he lay dead beneath her, she just sat on top of him, trying to calm herself down and prepare for her next move.

Fuhrer Bradley had gone after the girl. She wasn't too thrilled with that, but she would deal with him later. "Damn homunculus always like to fuck things up…" She spat, licking her fingers clean. After another moment, she finally stood and looked herself over. Her outfit was very much red and she frowned. "I can't walk around here looking like this." She looked down at Ed's body once more and smiled. "I'll be back. You just lie back for a while." She left the windowless room, locking the door behind her. Making sure nobody was around, she quickly headed to the Fuhrer's temporary office where she stored her extra belongings. When she located an extra set of clothes, she went to the showers and cleaned herself up.

When Lee was fully dressed and her hair was neatly combed, she gave herself a look over and laughed. "How ironic it is that I love to wear white." She said. She had clad herself in a white, feminine fitting suit with a tie. She finished it off with a white pair of heels and exited the showers. She had to go back to the boy. His body wouldn't remain dead forever. No, the angelic blood running through his veins would soon begin to awaken and restore his form to a more glorious being. She didn't particularly look forward to it but she had to do what she was told. Only then could she be free.

Lee reentered the room and found herself raising her brows. She really had torn him to pieces. There was blood all over the room, some even on the ceiling. His head was dangerously close to being removed from his neck and his spine stuck out in a way that would make any normal human vomit. His limbs were frozen stiff with pain and his face was gaunt, as if he were screaming. But his eyes caught her attention and even disturbed her a little. His eyes were the color of his blood and very fierce. They had become glassed over, but the ferocity they held made her shiver. "You would have been a most excellent demon, Edward. Too bad, I might have liked you if you had been."

Using her magic, she made the room look as if nothing happened and cleaned up the boy. Position him so that he looked like he was napping, she found a blanket from the sleeping quarters and wrapped him in it. Once she was positive no blood would stain her bright attire, she flipped him over her shoulder and exited, heading for the basement.

It was oddly quiet in the building, not too many people crossing her path. Those who did never asked questions or gave her a second glance. They continued walking. Even when an arm fell out of the blanket and she left it to bounce with her walk, not a word was said. She grinned maliciously. She loved installing fear unto any living creature. It was what kept her going.

A presence of two people following her caught her and she sniffed the air gently, smiling all the more. This will be fun, indeed. She decided to let them follow her to the basement, looking forward to her play time.

. . .

Winry stared at the man that sat next to her. Less than 12 hours ago, he had cornered her, ordered soldiers to surround her and Edward, and had his men capture her, which led to unnecessary and frightening touching. But as she listened to him explain everything that had happened, she found herself forgetting those things, only keeping what he was telling her. She knew she had a terrible habit of wanting to believe anything but the cold truth, but she couldn't help it. Winry Rockbell had an inner coward, and it was her defense in situations such as this. It was the only thing she felt could keep her safe. At least, that's what she thought.

"I need to tell you about Edward. You see, Edward has become something that we are unfamiliar with and we only wish to help get him back to what he used to be." She looked away from him and he continued. "Last night, we were merely trying to protect you, Miss. Rockbell. He was unstable and threatening your life, as well as the life of my soldiers. I had to do what was best."

"But there was a woman who looked just like him! She had wings and they fought and…" She lost track of her words as she remembered the men that captured her and what they had been planning to do to her if they could get her away. The Fuhrer put a hand on her shoulder and looked straight into her eyes.

"Miss. Rockbell. Edward had turned on you and we rushed forward and intervened before he could harm you. We had to use force, which I'm ashamed to say looked quite rough but we only did so to save you both." The way he looked at her made her feel dizzy and she put a hand on her forehead. "He attacked you, Miss. Rockbell. After he had attacked your grandmother. He flew you to Central because I had troops already on their way to Resembool. Why he figured he could do what he was planning in the center of my military is beyond me, but I can assure you that Edward is in good hands now and will be treated until he is back to normal."

"Granny was shot by a stranger that broke into our house!" Winry shouted. Bradley caressed her cheek, wiping away her falling tears. He never broke eye contact with her and she felt her eyelids growing heavy. Her mind felt as if it was clouded and things no longer made sense. Her memory from the night before began to be misconstrued and she fought to think through the haze.

"I'm afraid not. Edward had gone after you and Pinako Rockbell was trying to save you. He killed her because she got in his way."

"No…that's not…" Suddenly, the image of Edward storming through the front door of her home and rushing up the stairs made her gasp. She remembered seeing Pinako running towards her, telling her to get away. She reached out to the old woman when Ed grabbed her and bashed her head up against the wall. Winry turned and had run out on her balcony, escaping on the roof when Ed had grabbed her and took off in flight, taking her to Central.

As Winry began to remember a false memory, Fuhrer Bradley smiled. His brainwashing had worked. She was now his pawn and everything would work out to his fancy. Edward Elric is mine. "Miss. Rockbell, why don't you rest? When you wake up, we'll be in Resembool and we can give your grandmother a nice funeral." Winry's eyes closed and she slumped over to the side, leaning against his shoulder. He laughed to himself. "Humans are so easy."

"Wrath, it seems we have a little problem." Bradley turned around to see Envy staring at him with a toothy grin.

"What is it?"

"Tin can hopped on the train that's right behind this one."

"Then take care of him. I don't need the younger brother's interference." He spat, making the green haired homunculus smile all the more.

"With pleasure." Turning around, Envy opened the door that led outside of the caboose and shut it. He jumped off the train and landed gracefully on his feet. The other train wasn't far behind, maybe 40 minutes or so. He decided to wait, planning out his attack carefully and trying to think of what he wanted to do with the younger Elric. Should he kill him? Envy loved the idea of ending Alphonse's life, but it would be better if Edward was there to witness it. No, he would do one better. He would kidnap him and bring him back to Wrath so they could decide together. And that way, Envy could enjoy himself that much longer. Either way, Al would be killed. He certain of that.

. . .

"Lieutenant, prepare yourself." Roy told Riza. They had arrived in Eastern City, but without much promise to their quest. Riza had attempted to gather some support, but somehow the Fuhrer had already worked his dark magic and left them alone. Not one soldier was allowed to accompany them. Riza had been ushered to stay back as well, but she would never leave the side of her Colonel. Despite the major setback, they set forth, armed with Roy's gloves and Riza's guns. He only hoped they would not have to use them, but nothing was for certain anymore.

The Colonel gripped the piece of paper he had read in his office earlier, hoping it would work. "Colonel?" She said, while parking the car. He looked at her and blinked.

"I made a warrant to search the perimeter for Ed. I have the full legal right to do so, he is my soldier under my command."

"I don't think that will work, Sir."

"It will to a certain extent. The small fry will have no choice but to point me in the right direction. But when we actually get close to him it will be an entirely different story. That is when we will most likely have to fight."

"What do you think is gonna happen?" She asked him. He gave her a somber smile and stroked her cheek, taking her off guard a little.

"Be prepared for anything, Lieutenant. And if I order you to run, than you run. Understand?" She stared at him with her ruby eyes and opened her mouth to retort, but all that came out was,

"Yes, Sir."

They exited the car, entering the building with an important stride. He flashed the warrant to the soldiers at the door and they let him in without trouble. Once inside, Roy was astonished to find the building almost empty. They headed for the Fuhrer's second office, his temporary home while in the East, and kept their eyes open for soldiers higher up on the food chain. But they ran into no one.

It wasn't until they reached the third floor when Riza grabbed Roy and shoved him into a dark doorway with her. Roy looked at her with surprise and gave her a dirty smile. "Lieutenant, I never took you to be this kind of woman." He said, impressed by her actions. She squashed his perverted thoughts when she clamped a hand over him mouth and glared out into the hall they had been walking in moments before.

"Now is not the time, Colonel. Look." She pointed out and he followed her finger to see the strange woman from the showdown in Central. His eyes widened as she walked by, a large bundle of blankets thrown over her shoulder. She was wearing a white suit now and her face was that of a smug villain. He glared out after her. As she walked, an arm fell out of the blanket…an automail arm. His breath caught in his throat.

"No…" The arm hung limply and bounced as she walked and he felt his face go pale. The hand Riza used to cover his mouth shook and she let it fall back to her side.

"They…killed him?" She asked, a little afraid of her own words. He felt anger boiling up fast.

"We follow her. NOW."

He pulled her next to him as they began to pursue the demon woman, staying back enough so that she could not hear their footsteps. They were led back down to the ground floor and ducked out of sight as she turned around, double checking to see that nobody was around. She had a smile on her face, making Roy want to set her on fire. He can't be dead! He thought rigorously. Once the demon woman felt it was clear, she opened up the door to the basement and began to descend the stairs. For a few minutes, Roy and Riza stayed put in the shadows, thinking of their next move. Riza looked at him in their tight space, their bodies almost pressed together.

"What do we do now, Colonel?" He looked into her eyes and tried to keep calm.

"We can't just leave. That was Fullmetal in that blanket. We need to know what the hell she did to him."

"But if she catches us…Sir, she's not human. Something tells me she could kill us with ease." She didn't sound scared, but certain of her words, making him swallow his anger to think of something. Unfortunately, nothing came to him. He slipped on his gloves.

"Let's go, Lieutenant." She eyed him suspiciously.

"Colonel…" He grabbed her face in between his hands and pressed his lips against hers passionately, kissing her long and hard before pulling away. Her face had reddened in the shadow and she stared at him in disbelief. He couldn't help but give her a small smile, letting her know that he noticed her kissing him back.

"Now, Lieutenant."

And so they descended the stairs after the demon, a gloved hand pulling her along as her other hand gripped a pistol, safety unlocked.

. . .

Lee laid Edward gently out on the stone floor, unraveling him from the blanket. He was still bleeding and she breathed in the scent of his wounds, licking her lips. She was growing hungry again and knowing she couldn't satisfy herself with him made her cringe. But that was the reason why she allowed the Colonel and his Lieutenant to follow her.

As she leaned against the stone wall in the shadows, waiting for the two morons to come down the stairs, she thought about how she had gotten herself into this situation. She remembered prowling around a city she had never been to when she sensed another demon nearby.

"It's not common for me to run into a brother." Lee spoke, her voice like velvet. She watched a man clad in a military uniform turn around, his face half twisted, his demon transformation beginning to warp his human body. She raised a brow at him. "It's rare for me to find a brother strong enough to possess a human. You must be quite the powerful bastard.

"I will take that as a compliment." He answered, ripping at the short, black hair that covering his scalp. He clutched the glasses on his face and crushed them, throwing them to the side as he began his change further. "But this is my territory, so I have to ask what the hell you are doing here?"

"I can sense a blood bath and I thought I would come to watch." He cracked his neck, his face distorting until his entire demon form took shape.

"You have impeccable timing. I'm about to kill a child."

"Sounds like my kind of viewing." She said.

He walked away from her to an alley where a young boy had entered. She jumped up onto the roof of a building and peered down, satisfied with her seating. She watched the demon confront the boy, a short blonde who looked to be in his teens, and soon after a fight began. The teen was an alchemist, making the brawl all the more interesting, but it didn't last long. Her demon brother tore into his torso and shredded him apart, his intent to kill apparent in his lust filled eyes.

But the air began to tingle and Lee turned around, her attention grabbed by another presence. She cringed. "An angel? Fuck!" She tried to dart away, but an invisible force held her down to the ground. She writhed, shrieking and hissing in anger as a woman with long brown hair and a gentle face descended from nowhere and landed next to her, her arm outstretched to hold her down.

"Despite the Hellion you have become, you have been chosen by a higher power to do fate's bidding." She said in a melodic voice. Lee struggled to break the hold on her, but knew the angel was far stronger.

"Bitch! Let me go! I do bidding for no one but myself!" She spat, her teeth bared and very sharp. The angel merely smiled.

"You will be tied to me, from here on, demon. And you will help me create the Dark Angel."

"Why would I do that?" The angel's force pulled her to her feet and she grabbed her by the shoulders, making her body freeze up.

"Because I have you bound to me until the deed is done." A glowing strand of gold surrounded Lee and absorbed into her body, making her scream out in pain. As she dropped back down to the roof, she rolled to the edge and peered down into the alley, watching the angel cut her wrist and bleed into the teen's wounds. The other demon had gone. She gritted her teeth, feeling the contract formed.

"Son of a bitch." She looked at the teen closer and glared. "I will enjoy the day I become free, for that is the day I intend to kill you and that angel."

"I really do miss the simple days." Lee said aloud, sensing the Colonel and Lieutenant down in the basement with her. They had just stepped off the stairs and had frozen at the sound of her voice. She smiled, remaining in the shadows a bit longer. Her hunger was making her chest throb and she hooked her eyes on the man first. "Colonel Roy Mustang and Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye. So nice to see you've come to check on your little prodigy. Too bad it was a grave mistake." She allowed her talons and teeth to grown sharp and she smiled wickedly from the shadows, Roy holding his hand in a snapping position and Riza gripping her gun in front of her.

"Show yourself!" Roy demanded, his voice booming in the cavern of a basement. "What have you done with Edward Elric.?"

"I killed him." She watched their faces grow pale and savored what was to come next. "Just as I am going to kill you."

. . .

Dun dun dun! Next chapter to come in a week or two! Edward will be revived, but that is all I'm going to tell you this time. Whether Roy and Riza make it out alive is for you to decide. And what of Winry and Al? What do the homunculi have to do with any of this? More to come. Review!