Happy Halloween!
TW: I feel this is a pretty tame chapter? Burns? Typical malarkey?
Abandoned by Mother
The forest was dark.
Painfully quiet.
It'd only been an hour, but their chest hurt. Aching. Too tight. Spurring them onwards across the uneven terrain.
It was stereotypical.
Perhaps they shouldn't have run.
But they did.
And they weren't sure they'd be stopping any time soon, despite knowing how childish and idiotic it was.
What the Hunter had said was something they knew to be true. Had perhaps thought of at one point. A subconscious thing.
It was still painful.
Mainly to hear that a future she…
No.
A future they desired would not happen with him.
They didn't know how they would proceed.
Could they just cut off the feelings?
If it was something he didn't want, they would need to try.
Night had fallen.
D prowled the road between the terminal and the farm. Keeping his eyes peeled for any sign of the girls.
He'd yet to see anything. But as he neared the farm, he could smell them. Their scent winding through the air.
Still fresh. Still wild.
Why had they not shifted back?
He silently pushed open the barn door and stepped in. Able to see the feline figure curled up on the floor. Clothes bursting at the seams and mottled with mud.
It was a sad sight.
One he took no pleasure in knowing he helped create.
But this was in part his fault, wasn't it? When he could have kept her at a distance, he did not.
He shouldn't have obliged her.
Shouldn't have left such a thing unclear.
Should have made it clear from the start that he was not looking for a lover.
And yet…
Having informed their hosts beforehand, D thought it wise to apprise them that the girls had returned.
Explaining why they'd run off in the first place did earn him some judgmental looks from Fieri, but it did not change his stance. They needed to know, plainly, that D was not suitable for their desires.
He would not take that back.
Once the family was up to date, he went back to the barn and sank against the far wall. A place he could see the girls from if he wished to.
Quietly, he closed his eyes.
Sleep did not come for him.
Instead, he thought of how they should be at the terminal. Waiting for someone. But he also figured it didn't matter much. After everything, he wasn't about to disturb the girls.
He thought of how he could have prevented the entire situation.
Thought of how he could have better explained everything to the girls.
As the night wore on, the girls never moved. Waking. Looking about as if searching for him. Eventually settling with a soft snuffle. And finally, curling about Erembour once he made his way over to murmur small comforts and reassurances into their ear.
As morning broke, D wondered if he'd made a grave error.
The girls slowly roused. Looking generally confused. Eyes tired and bloodshot. But they stuffed their face into Erembour's dark fur before rising and casting him the most heartbroken look.
Something he honestly had hoped to never see.
And yet, there it was.
Had he not been one to typically grief boys for making girls cry?
Perhaps he should give himself grief.
The girls did not shift back for the entirety of the day. Nor that night when they traveled to the terminal. Although, it wasn't by choice if their vacant staring and frustrated huffing was anything to go by. The short nub of a tail and the hair along their back bristling in agitation.
Having long stripped out of their clothes and their armor loosened by Erembour, they stalked the outer edges of the terminal. Waiting.
It was close to sunrise when the Hunter came out. Telling them they finally had an estimate of when their expected person was to arrive.
Three days.
At least, if the message that had flashed across the screen of a console for less than a second was indeed for them.
But D would assume it was. If the eye was any sort of indication.
The next couple of days were spent with them roaming about the farm. Pestering their hosts until Fieri finally let them into the beast pen.
They were beyond ecstatic.
They would finally be able to witness them being fed tongue meat.
It was… freaky.
The cat beasts acted docile. Yowling as they practically shoved Fieri over with their rubbing. But once he threw the chunks of tongue into the field for them to catch, they turned rabid. Screeching and pouncing for their piece.
However, none of that really mattered when Fieri pulled them to one side and waggled a bit of grass in their face.
"Mraow?"
"This is the catnip."
Their head tipped to one side.
"The kitty drugs."
Oh!
Seeing them perk up in understanding, he led them into the barn where the beasts slept. Against the far wall, there was a wall-to-wall raised bed growing the kitty drugs. Irrigated. Provided a sunroof. And the cats were allowed to come and go as they pleased.
"Do you wanna try some? See if it does anythin' for you?"
Tempting.
Rhea wanted to.
Krista wasn't so sure.
Didn't that woman… No. That bitch technically drug them?
Drug Krista.
Rhea recoiled at the thought and immediately dropped the notion.
But despite Krista's grievances, she was still mildly curious.
"You don't have to," Fieri continued. "But I figure it might be like gettin' buzzed. Or make you dopey."
They were still conflicted.
"Tell ya what. I'll dry some out for y'all. Put it in a pouch. Y'all ever wanna try it, it'll be there. Sound good?"
After a moment, they nodded.
It wasn't like it was what Bella used. And if it was comparable to other people simply drinking alcohol, then it couldn't be bad.
Right?
They bid their hosts a goodbye. Promising to (hopefully) return.
Well…
As well as one could when one could only communicate through mewls and yowls.
But the girls did sincerely hope to see them again.
With their stash of grass tucked in their personal bag, they headed out. Racing D and the horse to the terminal.
They, of course, lost.
But it was still enjoyable.
But… they weren't supposed to be enjoying things like this. Were they? That wouldn't help to sever their love for him. It would only foster it.
Then why did he race with them in the first place?
Their head throbbed.
They'd been avoiding these moments. Not curling up to his side at night. Praying it would just go away while being a bother to their hosts to distract themselves.
It didn't.
'Let's just think about tonight. Feels later.'
'I just want to stop thinking altogether.'
'Tough shit.'
She released a huff that had D looking their way. And with another huff, they headed into the terminal. And immediately turned tail to circle around the outside before they were spotted.
Without a word, D went in.
They wondered if he hurt too.
But if he essentially told them to stop loving him, they figured he probably did not.
When the moon was high in the sky, there came a rustling from the trees.
The girls startled. Scurrying from their resting spot and up into the nearest tree. Not very quietly. But at least the tree wasn't missing any branches when they were done.
After some time, with plenty more rustling and a few manly exclamations, there came a figure. Stumbling out of the vine-laced trees.
A figure they recognized almost immediately.
Feeling phantom fingers crawl across their abdomen and chest.
Seeing sapphire eyes that looked so kind in comparison.
And finally, they heard the meek D explain that just because the Ds looked similar, it did not mean they were the same people.
They still wanted to be careful, as there was no way to know for certain that the man from her memory was not the same man from Puregon.
"Strange," he murmured to himself as he looked about. "I could have sworn I sensed someone here." Slowly, he turned on his heel. Eyes to the trees as he softly sniffed. "Smells… wild?"
They watched him continue turning about. Looking more befuddled with each passing second. Wishing he would just continue on.
He did not. He stood there. Staring up at the sky and trees.
"Hello?"
They recoiled further into the tree.
"I know you are there."
They eyed the next tree over and began calculating which branch would support a preferably quiet landing.
"Why not come out?"
Their muscles bunched. And with a near-silent grunt, they leapt into the neighboring tree. Clawed fingers wrapping about the branch they desired.
"Oh, this is becoming ridiculous. Reveal yourself."
For a moment, everything froze. Their mind narrowing in on the command. Compelling them to obey. To drop from the branches and show their face.
No.
The man waited a few moments. Continuing to observe the area before eventually murmuring, "Odd."
And then, D was there. He appeared out of the darkness without a sound and firmly grasped the man's shoulder from behind. Blade drawn. Tip pressed into the flesh over his heart.
And he looked absolutely petrified. His already pale face draining of color.
"Lord Laun."
"Yes," the Noble answered after a bit. "I am he."
"However, you are not the one from Puregon."
"Again, you are correct."
The Hunter sheathed his sword and circled about him. Critically studying the Noble without a word. Observing his clothes from head to toe.
Where they'd expected him to dress much the same, he was adorned in a thick hooded coat. Surely too warm for the environment, but perhaps it provided protection from the little bit of sun that could peek through the thick canopy.
"Did Anyd not inform you I would be arriving?" Laun pressed as he straightened the coat. Running his fingers through his tied hair.
"She did."
"Then…" He took another moment to look about. Searching. "Was it you I sensed? Where are the girls?"
"No, it was them."
"They did not come?"
"Considering their history, they seem to be moderately resistant to persuasions."
"Significantly, where I'm concerned."
The more the men talked, the more agitated they became. Hair bristling as they hissed out a warning.
With an alarmed jerk, Laun cast his gaze towards the tree they occupied. Looking taken aback and mildly horrified by their appearance. Finally, concerned. "Dear God, girls. What has happened to you?"
They did not appreciate the comment. Not knowing him enough to feel touched by the man's reaction. Nor feeling comfortable with his gaze.
They did not appreciate feeling like a freak.
But suddenly, there was understanding lighting his gaze. Sadness clouding it. "Mahisuta."
This piqued their interest. With a loud yowl, they came flying out of the tree. Bodily stopped from flattening him to the ground by D.
But they needed to know!
How did this Noble know their father?!
"Calm yourselves," D ordered gently, an odd combination that had their head spinning. "You'll not get your answer if you maul him."
Poor Laun looked so terribly lost. "You… you can understand them?"
"No," he answered immediately. "However, given time, I've come to understand their minds."
That… hurt them. For some strange reason. Perhaps because it was a reminder of why they adored him so much. He always seemed to know what they were thinking, even though he claimed much the opposite.
They brushed it to one side. Opting instead to jab at the Hunter. A not-subtle prod to ask the question.
"How do you know the name of their father?"
Old friends.
Of course.
Something they should have expected.
But it was a friendship fostered long before their birth. Long before the Noble took on a role he positively detested being part of.
Back when their Mother and Father were first meeting.
Laun did not explain more. Instead, he changed the subject to where they were traveling the next night. "I know Anyd said I would provide you with more answers. That I would tell you where you need to go."
A long pause.
"I must take you home."
The girls froze mid-step. Grey eyes wide in terror as they thought of Riedikke's last words. Of everything they'd ever been told would become home.
Where Krista wanted to back away, Rhea wanted to fight.
She would fight.
And D seemed to be of the same mind. Blocking their large form when the Noble turned a sad gaze upon them.
"Hunter, they must go."
"They will not."
Laun ran his hands through his hair. This time, pulling out the tie as he grumbled, "Are you telling me you brought them all this way just to toss it all away?"
"The girls will not be traveling to a home made by those who wish to use them."
Laun knew well how fearsome the Dhampir was. Had heard the tales and had seen his handiwork firsthand. But it did not prepare him for the chill that shot down his spine. Did not stop him from recoiling when those eyes pierced him through.
And did not keep him from whimpering at the blade suddenly poised to strike him down.
"I think we've… um…" He swallowed thickly. Taking a moment to readjust his coat. "We've come to a misunderstanding. I do not mean the home they claim. I speak of the home broken in twain."
Home.
But it'd not been their home in over a decade.
But it would perhaps give them answers.
With a yip, they skittered and hopped about. Running towards the exit before remembering that they wouldn't leave until the next night. So, with another squeak, they ran to Laun and grabbed hold of his coat.
"Sleee! Sleee!"
"It's still quite some time until sunrise!" he protested.
"Sleeeeeeeeeeeee!"
Perhaps they should all be thankful that the terminal was empty for the morning? And that no one was around to hear them screeching.
The atmosphere felt… choking.
Too heavy as their group traversed the forest. Ever closer to a place they'd not seen in a decade.
Hell, they didn't even know what it looked like other than what little memory they had of it. Which was likely not a good representation of what it should look like.
But it felt like they were coming upon something huge. Something bigger than they could fathom.
Neither of the girls liked it. The fur along their back bristled and itched, adding to their growing agitation.
Then, there was still the situation with D. With nothing to occupy them as they headed south, their mind (if not preoccupied by thoughts of this 'home') continually drifted back to the Hunter. Back to their turbulent feelings.
'First town we get to, we're gonna snatch up whoever looks good.'
'Whaaaaaaaa?'
'We're gonna… eat a meal with someone?'
Awesome.
Either they would make the person eating with them uncomfortable with their choice of food, or they would sit and stare as the other ate.
Sounds… pleasant.
'Good points.'
The silence was deafening.
'So maybe… just drink?'
What if they wanted them to drink something alcoholic?
Briefly, the woman Bella came to mind.
Unless it was poured by them or D, or D was drinking it or around, they would likely never try another drink of that nature.
'Damn.'
They didn't know what they would do besides talk.
Besides… would a Human even want to be around them? One look at their ears or even their eyes would probably send them away.
Maybe just them being so small and scarred would turn them away.
With a huff, they eyed their fur-covered body. Wondering what chance they would have when they looked like a giant malformed cat.
The house was… a sad sight to see.
Broken.
Gloomy.
Overgrown with a myriad of plants and weeds that took over the front lawn. Hiding the crater that they currently stumbled through.
Like a gaping maw, the entrance stood. Crumbling. Littered with plants and fungus-riddled wood.
Honestly, they still felt they were walking into something they couldn't understand. As if they were being consumed. And it made the house out to be something more terrifying than it should have been.
With D and Erembour at their side, they stepped across the threshold. A dull throb starting at the base of their skull.
The years had not been kind to the structure. Plants and clinging ivies wedging themselves into any available bit of space they could. Prying apart the wood laths. Sprinkled in plaster and drywall from the walls and ceiling.
Perhaps the rounds had done more damage to the house than had been immediately apparent. Or perhaps it had something to do with the climate.
Maybe both.
As it stood, however, they wouldn't be surprised if a few critters lived in their former home.
But as they crept into the hall where there was (somehow) an underlying scent of rot, they supposed they should be grateful the body of their father was nowhere to be seen.
Laun crept up behind the group. Sapphire eyes weary as he eyed the discolored section of floor and wall. After a soft sigh, he said, "Eddie cremated their bodies and scattered the ashes in the garden out back while you were being presented to the orphanage."
A small pause.
"Unfortunately, he was forced to wait a couple days until he was left alone."
That explained the smell… Somehow.
Not really.
Perhaps it was just their imagination.
But… why did they need to return here?
To stir up old memories?
Bring up bad ones?
The dull pain spread behind their eyes. If it became worse, and if stirring memories was the intention, then Laun would have his wish.
If only they were in their normal form.
Instead? Trapped. Again.
They reached out for the Hunter before stopping themselves. Feline face screwing up in pain.
He didn't want that.
The pain flared. Sparking behind their pinched eyelids.
Fuck it.
They grabbed for D without looking. Not realizing he was already there.
It wasn't fair.
But then… life rarely was.
He shouldn't act like he cares!
Yet… he did.
"Calm yourselves."
Ire flared.
How dare he tell them to calm when he was half the problem?!
They felt aflame. Eyes and flesh hot. Joints aching.
But nothing happened.
A small miracle.
But they snapped at him without thinking.
They just needed support.
Not to be told how to feel.
Not to be told to be calm when they were on the cusp of having a total breakdown.
They weren't sure why.
Why they were feeling overwhelmed by everything.
Perhaps they were being dramatic.
Playing it up too much.
It was desired.
Yet not.
They wanted to throw the biggest hissy fit the world would ever know.
They wanted to slink away and lick their wounds in silence.
Wanted to shout and ask why D didn't want their love.
Wanted to love him regardless.
And finally, they wanted their parents.
Wanted to know them.
Wanted to ask who they were.
What was so bloody special about them.
As far as they were concerned, there was absolutely nothing grand about them. Nothing worth all this trouble. And considering they couldn't even form a proper cat, it was highly unlikely they'd be able to suit the Council's needs.
It sucked.
But maybe they were just too self-absorbed and greedy.
Theatrical.
Crying for attention they didn't need.
Selfish.
A bad companion.
Gods, it was no wonder D didn't want their love.
They didn't deserve him.
They didn't have the right to love him.
The Hunter stood over the girls. Watching them sink deeper and deeper into their own mind. Wallowing in self-pity and anger. Something he'd noticed forming and increasing during their week-long travel to the home.
It was worrying.
He did nothing aside from observe.
What was there to do?
Comforting them was obviously out of the question.
It was probably too much.
Advising them to look elsewhere when they were already stressed was, admittedly, not his smartest idea. However, piling the return to her rotting home on top of all that stress was likely the breaking point. No matter how excited they seemed at first.
Now, they'd reached the point of unresponsiveness. Chest heaving as they crouched in the hallway. Breath rushing in and out. Hyperventilating as they attempted to straighten out their mind.
"Dear God, what is the matter?" Laun breathed. Watching. Unsure of how to move. How to act. Unsure if he wanted to attempt approaching as his skin prickled and tingled.
"I can tell you that it's a hell of a time for them to start remembering," Hand muttered.
"Remembering?"
"Y'know, that seal you had that fucker put on her mind all those years ago."
Now, understanding lighted Laun's features. A grimace taking over quickly. "I never wanted such a thing. However, the Council demanded it. If I hadn't… damn. They would have seen that it never occurred. It would have complicated things. Put me on their radar sooner."
Carefully, Laun kneeled down to gather the large body into his arms. Cradling their head. Rocking them despite their lack of reaction. "I wish Mahisuta and Charice would have run when I told them. And I will never know why they stayed."
D leaned against the weak wall. Observing the way Laun acted and silently concluding that he'd known the girls before. Perhaps even maintained a familial relationship with them.
Something he should have expected.
Or perhaps not.
The girls suddenly went quiet. Straining in Laun's hold until they released a sharp keening wail that stood his hair on end as energy danced across his skin. An uncomfortable feeling that left him wanting to drop them. "Does remembering always affect them in such a way? How can I help them?"
"You can't," said D as he pressed his left hand to their temple. Waiting for that rune to burn through their flesh. "You can only wait."
"Mama? Where are you and Daddy always goin'?"
"Huh?"
The woman, Mama, was in a sundress covered in blue and purple flowers. Something they thought funny considering it was night. But still very pretty.
She was seated in a chair. Soaking in the moonlight as their father tended the garden. But now, she cast her daughters a bemused smile and straightened up. "I don't understand. What do you mean?"
They huffed. "Yes, you do! When you and Daddy leave with Deedee, where do y'all go?"
"Oh!" Shame colored her cheeks a light pink. "Well, sometimes we have to work."
"On what?"
"Very important things."
"What?"
"Krista Rhea…"
Their lips pursed and their brows came down. Cheeks puffed.
For a moment, their mother mimicked the expression before seeming to remember that she needed to appear more mature. "If I thought you would understand or that you needed to know, I would tell you."
"But we never get to see Deedee anymore…" they responded despondently. "And Lon –"
"Laun," she quietly corrected.
"Laun only comes over sometimes! We miss playing with them!"
Gently, Charice pulled the girls into her lap. Fingers combing through the crimson tresses as she thought. "It's… complicated," she eventually breathed. "I wish that wasn't the case, but it is."
"How?!" they pressed. "Where do y'all go? What if we need y'all?!"
"Girls, not even Laun and 'Deedee' know where we go."
It… didn't make sense.
Not to them, at least.
"But… you're right. Should something happen, you should at least know where to look for us. Or where to come if you're in danger." Over her shoulder, as she lifted the girls into the air, she called out, "Suta."
Their father bound across the garden with a stumble and a curse. Muttering about the 'bloody begonias' as he came up behind them. Finally asking, "Is it time?"
"I think so."
"Alright."
Off they went.
Past the garden.
Far past the boundaries of the barrier.
And deep into the darkness of the trees.
They walked for a good half an hour. Stopping only once they came upon a gnarled tree.
It wasn't much to look at. If anything, it looked rather unimpressive aside. But it smelled… peculiar.
Like a normal tree, but metallic. With an underlying scent of antiseptic cleaner.
It burned their nose something fierce.
Smelled a bit like something burning as well.
"I'd forgotten 'Deedee' was still here. Wreaking his havoc."
Mahisuta chuckled good-naturedly.
Charice looked a tad worried.
Their father pressed his hand to the tree, and with a strange crackling and crunching sound, it sank in. Warping about his fingers before the bark began peeling backwards. Curling away from his digits until a shiny metal plate was revealed.
He pushed against it and the panel slid open with a hiss. And beneath that, there was a scanner that flashed green at his touch. Metal panels shuffling back and layering themselves to the sides until a dark chamber was revealed.
Something that was barely large enough to house the three bodies at its entrance.
"Alright, girls. Ready?" their father asked.
But it was a silly question.
They were more than ready to know what was there. What was keeping their parents from them.
Together, they stepped in.
The chamber, once closed, flew downwards with a quiet squeal. Speeding along for quite some time until it ground to a halt.
If they were honest with themselves, it was scary. Faster than anything they'd ever been in before.
And yes, something had definitely been burning.
Smoke clouded the air and choked them. Bringing tears to their eyes as they hacked and coughed.
"Mama? Daddy? What's that… smell?"
"Deedee being himself."
"Eddie?" Charice called. "Anything graphic in there?"
"No! Or… not anymore?"
"Let me rephrase. Is it safe to bring the girls in?"
"Oh! Of course! Just… let me… clear the air…"
They heard him grunt, and with a loud clunk, a whirring started up. Air clearing almost instantly.
"Alright! Bring them in!"
The door snapped open before they could even attempt to enter. The dark man standing in the entrance beaming brightly at the girls. "Hello, darlings!"
"Deedee!"
They wasted no time in launching themselves at him. Uncaring that their dress was being coated in… ash?
It didn't matter.
They'd not seen Deedee properly in months. And now, he was there. Smelling of something familiar and homey. Smelling of… burnt toast.
They closed their eyes and smothered themselves in his protective coat. Simply taking a moment to just enjoy the embrace.
But when they pulled back, he was gone. Something that made the memory stutter and threaten to fall apart once their mind realized the drastic change.
It continued, pain building behind their eyes and snaking around their temples. Sharp and shooting as they stared at the family home. Watching it flicker between intact and disrepair. Attempting to catch sight of the figures flickering in and out of existence.
It was disconcerting. Disorienting.
Honestly, they wanted to curl up and escape from reality.
But… this wasn't reality.
Was it?
Isn't it?
Their vision was distorting. Turning hazy about the edges and wavering as they looked about.
The home was nowhere in sight. Instead, it was a chamber they looked about. Tinged blue with all the liquid filling it and covering their face.
They couldn't move more than their eyes.
Couldn't breathe.
But they were sleepy.
Terribly sleepy.
Their eyes were already slipping closed, rolling back.
'Need to see.'
Open again.
Mama was there, face twisted with pain as she mouthed, "Don't fight, baby. Just sleep."
They did.
It felt like a bad dream. As if it wasn't real.
They were back in the home, holding a new stuffed toy that closely resembled their father's feline form. They loved it, but they couldn't shake the dream of the tube, and that bothered them more than the toy could distract them.
They could remember going to sleep in their bed.
They'd awoken in the tube.
They'd gone back to sleep.
Then they woke up in their bed.
It must be a dream.
But why'd it feel so real?
Deep in the house, they heard whispers.
Murmurs of a heated nature.
A rarity.
They were so very curious.
They pricked their ears, straining to listen even though they knew they shouldn't.
"There is only so much we can do, Suta! And we are running out of time!"
"I know."
"What is it this time?! Doesn't she know that we can't continue with the last bit without risking the girls? They could fall apart!"
"I don't know. She has not specified what we are missing. Or why she is bothered by the seals."
…
"They woke up, Suta. If that happens again, you know what could happen. If Mother doesn't help us, we will all die for nothing."
"I know, dear."
…
"I fear Mother… doesn't want them to survive."
"Suta!"
"I know. But I swear, I will find a way even if that is the case."
Krista Rhea whimpered.
Perhaps they should have been good girls and minded their parents.
Good girls shouldn't eavesdrop.
It was morning before the girls roused. Immediately searching out the man in black.
Not that they need to look far. And not that they could while pinned down by a heavy Demon.
The room was, despite the smattering of invasive plants and crumbling plaster, not much different from what they'd seen in their memory. Pink walls faded and teal bed smelling of must. But surprisingly comfy.
It did not negate the all-encompassing ache, however.
With a groan, they grabbed for D. Their mottled hand squeezing his.
"I know," he murmured.
And damn it all. They just wished they could talk.
They turned their sight towards the far side of the room where, propped in the corner like one of the many dolls there, Laun slept. Fangs peeking between his parted lips as he softly breathed.
"Nobles have no need to breathe."
They whipped about to stare at D as he tipped his head towards Laun. "It is likely he breathes out of habit. A subconscious action."
Weird.
"One can discover much about another person simply through observing them."
It made sense.
They wanted to point out the Hunter's own quirks.
It just made them sad again.
Sensing this, D was quick to change the topic. "Once night falls, we will find the tree. If you wish."
They wished.
They refused to leave without some answers.
Until then…
"Sleep. You're not wanting for time."
Sometimes, they hated how easily he could read them. But they did exactly as he suggested. Slipping into a near-dreamless sleep.
As soon as Laun awoke, they were tearing out the door and into the backyard, where the plants were just as overgrown as the front. But interspersed with vegetables still (somehow) clinging to life.
It was beautiful in its own right.
They passed it by.
And from there, Krista and Rhea tried desperately to remember which way they needed to travel. But knew they needn't worry so much. D appeared to remember for them, and he quietly led them deeper into the forest.
It seemed to take longer this time.
Perhaps because of dread.
Perhaps because their perception of time as a child and through the veil of forgotten memories was different from… reality.
But eventually, the tree rose before them. Still as gnarled and out-of-place as they remembered.
This was it.
They pressed their hand to the tree.
Nothing happened.
The bark did not peel away.
It did not crack and splinter about their fingers.
It just… treed.
As trees should.
But this had to be the tree.
It had to be.
'Please…'
They didn't want to debark the tree, but they felt they might.
'Please.'
The tree softly shuddered. Bark crawling and undulating beneath their fingertips with a sound akin to that of a thousand beetles skittering over one another.
They dared not move. Staring at it in awe as their hand sank down to that metal plating that opened with a hiss.
The bark was pulled back almost completely by the time they made contact with the scanner. And with a screech that'd not been present in the memory, the panels jerked into position. Straining with each little movement.
The elevator was not present.
It made sense that a machine that was not used in many years was just as likely to break down as a machine that had seen plenty of use.
"I almost cannot believe this is where your mother and father always brought me," Laun murmured as he stared into the pit. "It seems like so long ago now."
Without another word, face drawn into a somber look, the Noble grabbed hold of one of the cables and leapt into the shaft. Disappearing into the darkness.
Krista and Rhea eyed their padded palms, wholly certain they would not be able to withstand the heat from the friction. However, they were more than willing to try. Just as D seemed to offer his back to them, they grabbed hold and dropped.
And immediately regretted everything.
At the bottom, Laun waited anxiously for his companions to arrive. Thinking it was taking far too long for them to descend. However, once the yowling started, he knew the cause. Standing prepared to catch the girls.
They never fell.
It simply took them ages to lower themselves down along the cables without causing injury.
Another moment after they were out of the way, the Hunter landed with barely a sound and quickly dropped into the hatch on the elevator's roof.
"Is it open?" Laun asked.
There was a loud clang.
The screech of rending metal.
Eventually, D called back, "It is now."
Sksksksksks.
It didn't matter how down they'd been the past week and a half. They would forever enjoy the little glimpses of humor from the Hunter.
It was a laboratory.
Untouched by time.
Deeper in, D found a generator. Something that surely would have powered the elevator and door had it been running.
Better late than never.
At their questioning gaze, he explained that the door and scanner likely ran off a smaller unit in the event something happened. For instance, the tree. However, the bulk of the energy came from the machine he labored over.
Something he noted had been purposefully sabotaged.
The girls were definitely not ogling his arms and face as he worked.
Perhaps just a little.
There was something about the way he looked when he worked.
Ah, but they were supposed to be distancing themselves.
Another handful of minutes passed before the generator kicked on with a forceful chug.
Once.
Twice.
And it settled down into a quiet hum reminiscent of an idle computer.
However, as D stood and began wiping off his grease-stained hands, Rhea came to the conclusion that the Hunter could make the dirtiest jobs look good.
'Hell, he could be scrapin' shit off an' still look good.'
Krista physically recoiled with a disgusted noise. Even if a small part of her agreed.
Thoughts for another day.
Or never.
Together, they sighed. Also concluding that they were no good at following their own advice.
When they located him, Laun was already busying himself. Pouring over notes and papers and terminals alike with a speed that dizzied the girls. And at the center of the chaos stood the tube from their memory. Still filled with the blue-tinged liquid.
They wobbled their way to it and gestured at D. Tapping the glass. Asking without words what it was.
"It's a stasis chamber. Although, I am unsure of the type."
They chirped in response, wanting more of an explanation.
"For placing someone in suspended animation."
Oh. Yeah.
That seemed fairly obvious now.
But to what end?
They turned and snatched up the nearest paper.
It was a log.
It sounded like nonsense, but perhaps because they were overwhelmed.
Perhaps because they had no clue as to what they were searching for.
True, they wanted answers. Answers to all their existential questions and crises. Something they weren't sure was easily answered by scraps of paper.
They still had no idea where to start.
'We start on the next paper.'
D joined them as they began scanning through the logs. Tabbing down the lists in the computers to find anything regarding them. Together, they poured over every bit they could get their hands on over the next few hours.
Nothing.
And Laun looked on the cusp of losing his mind.
That wasn't to say the man was being overly dramatic. However, there was something about his eyes. Something that was beginning to look wholly unhinged and desperate.
It made Krista and Rhea glad that they'd gotten their episode out of the way earlier and were no longer feeling like the world was crumbling around them. Otherwise, they would likely be fairly useless.
Suddenly, there was a flash of azure light. Washing out the colors in the room before rapidly fading. By the time the girls and Laun turned about, the Hunter was in the midst of drawing a blade. His hand against the far wall.
They couldn't see what he focused on. Not until he wedged the tip of the knife into a hair-thin crack and pried a panel off the wall.
There was an immediate reaction, the rest of the panels around it toppling to the ground like a chain of dominoes.
And then…
Indigo fire.
It alighted the walls and floor of the corridor he'd revealed. Quickly turning the room they occupied into a furnace. Coloring D's pale face and toying with his hair.
He looked like a Demon.
A Prince of Darkness.
In his dark eyes, they could see his plan.
The girls yowled and lurched forward. Attempting to stop him.
But it was too late.
Without a moment's hesitation, D disappeared into the flames.
The floor was hot against the pads of their feet. Uncomfortable.
They didn't care.
"Girls, we need to go!"
'Bullshit.'
They were terrified for him. For Erembour. For Hand. But they had faith that they would return. Possibly even discover a way to dispel the blaze. So, they would wait.
"Girls, please!"
Despite his insistent tugging, they planted their rear against the near-scalding floor. Staring intently at the burning corridor.
And then, they were being hefted into the air like a babe. Squawking indignantly at Laun as he rushed from the room.
"Hush!" he bit out. Struggling to keep them in his grasp as he retreated towards the elevator. "Good God, you're just as bullheaded as your parents!"
Did they take offense to that?
Should they?
They didn't. Simply continuing their struggle against the Noble. Even as an explosion from D's direction rattled the walls.
"Mind me, girls! Sit still!"
Their movements grew sluggish, and each limb felt weighted down. Hindered by water.
"Nooooooo!" they yowled. Digging their claws into his arm.
"Please, listen to me!" he implored. With a grunt, he slung them into the elevator and blocked the exit the Hunter had made. Punching the only available button that weakly flashed.
With a screech that pierced their ears, the elevator took off. Rocketing towards the top faster than it should have until it slammed to a halt. Launching its two occupants into the roof with a sickening series of crunches.
While the girls were cradling their bleeding head, Laun lurched upwards. Gaze swimming as he gathered their crumpled body once more into his arms and rushing out the opening. He hurt, but he could move. Better than them.
Good God. They were bleeding so much.
He stretched them out and pressed his hand to the gash. Listening to the thundering explosions rocking the laboratory as the elevator creaked and groaned. Cables snapping with a sharp twang before eventually dropping the chamber.
Distantly, he heard it crash and crumple at the bottom of the shaft.
He was honestly beginning to fear for the infallible Hunter. And as the minutes ticked by with no sign of him, the larger that dread became. The more the girls despaired. Thinking they should have pushed past their own fear and kept a closer eye on his mark.
What if it had changed?
Started glowing from this little deviation and now he was burnt to a crisp in the bowels of their parents' lab?
They still had their faith.
Another handful of minutes passed.
The bleeding had stopped.
They lurched away from the smoking tree. Anxious energy forcing them to move and fret as they seriously considered dropping down to search for him. Singed fur be damned.
Just as they began creeping towards the shaft, there arose a clanging. Spurring them forward at a rapid rate. Laun quickly joining their side as they watched. Peering into the darkness.
The girls were the first to spot movement. Screeching in terror as the Dhampir came skittering up the side of the shaft. Body moving awkwardly. Unnaturally without the use of one hand.
They weren't sure why, but they'd been sure that he was a ghost or a failed experiment at first.
It wasn't until he flew out of the shaft, hair scorched and coat smoking, that they felt terrible for their first reaction.
While he appeared unbothered, huffing out a small breath as he dropped his findings to the ground, the girls were not. Immediately chirping out their concern, interlaced with low yowls, as they raised their hands. Afraid to touch.
Afraid to do nothing.
His face was warped by burns. One eye drooping and the corner of his mouth pulled into a permanent scowl. Skin blackened and raw.
Krista started bawling. Continuing to make loud, unintelligible cat noises because surely this was her fault that he looked so terrible and it all could have been avoided even though she knew he would heal but it didn't change the fact that it was probably superbly painful.
'No! Stop! We're not havin' another one this week!'
It was like she'd been slapped across the cheek. Or splashed with cold water. A calmness and clarity settling over her as Rhea focused on his hands.
His left appeared to fare better than his right, but it still looked terrible. Skin pulled taut, as scorched as his face.
Together, they wrapped the man in an awkward hug. Incredibly grateful that he was alive. Wondering what had happened to start such a violent chain of events. What had become of Erembour and Hand.
They would squeeze him harder if they weren't afraid of hurting him. Afraid there were burns they couldn't see despite how untouched his clothing appeared.
Gently, his hand pressed to their back. A small comfort as he remarked, "Your parents certainly did not wish anyone to find the contents of that room."
As if to punctuate the comment, Hand belched. Obnoxiously. Saying, "I never want to suck down that much fire again. I feel bloated. Do I look bloated?"
Sksksksks.
They squeezed him just a bit harder.
Where was Erembour?
"… if you're bloated, then I'm bloated."
And if everyone was alive, then everything was perfect.
With a bit of force, D nudged them back. They could see that his face was healing, yet he still grimaced. Teeth grit.
While he said nothing, they could see it in his brilliantly vermillion eyes.
Hunger.
Something they would gladly satiate if they thought he would take the offer. Although, considering his history, that was a hard no.
They doubted their fur made the proposal more appealing. But wondered if he had anymore capsules, as it'd been so long since his refill. They chattered at him, questioning him in the only way they could.
"I'll be fine."
Would he?
"He will be," said Hand.
If they said so.
The group traversed the rainforest back to the dilapidated house. During which time the Hunter explained that a few of the blasts had caught them. Thus the reason for his cooked flesh and marred appearance.
The haul he'd managed to save, while a bit scorched, was incredibly legible and daunting when spread out on the kitchen floor.
"Erembour."
The girls didn't know what they were expecting, but it certainly was not to see the Demon crawl from D's coat looking rather pathetic, explode into his larger form, and then proceed to hack up a number of logs and tablets dripping in saliva.
It was disgusting.
Krista absolutely refused to touch them while wet.
Rhea was willing to make the sacrifice.
As D sat with his mug of reconstituted plasma, he began pouring over the logs. Recordings detailing everything. From the girls' birth to their shortcomings. Things that needed improvement. Things that were changed.
If he were honest with himself, D did not like what he was reading. Did not like what was implied.
That the girls had been genetically modified.
Perhaps it should have been obvious, easily deduced considering the memory of them awaking in the chamber. But now, with concrete evidence in his hands…
He pressed the mug to his lips to keep from scowling.
There were sonograms.
Pictures of two tiny babes growing in a womb. Weeks labeled. Later, gender revealed. But something was off in the one labeled 'Week 20'. Something neither girl liked the implications of.
One babe was marked to be observed by 'Week 22'.
By 'Week 26', there was a very notable size difference between the two.
By 'Week 32', only one babe remained.
'Is this us?'
'Did I die?'
'You're here with me.'
'But I ain't got a body.'
Distantly, they could hear their mother. Telling them that a higher power decided they'd be stronger together.
They felt sick. Stomach churning as they passed the pictures over to D with shaking hands.
It wasn't fair.
Why couldn't they have been stronger together in their own bodies?!
They could have figured something out once they were older. But instead, the option was never given to them. This higher power just deemed they'd fail before giving them a chance to.
Rhea dipped into the Garden and plopped down at Krista's side. Squeezing the body with all the force she could muster without breaking her. And despite still being in the driver's seat, Krista hugged back.
"I almost wish it'd been me," Krista murmured after a time.
"I don't."
Crimson brows lowered over vacant eyes.
"Sis, as pissed off as I was at the beginnin', I don't think I'd wish this on anyone." A short pause. "Not anymore."
Krista's grip became just a bit tighter. "But it isn't fair that you didn't get a chance."
"And maybe you'd have been just as bitter as me."
True.
Someone would have gotten the short end of the stick.
Someone would have been unhappy.
"Rhea."
She snapped out of the garden with enough force to rattle Krista, but she stared up at D with a wide-eyed expression. "Mraow?"
How could he look so dour while looking so… normal?
"Are you alright?"
Was she?
She wasn't so sure.
She'd died, she supposed. And somehow, she'd been attached to her sister.
'Sis was right. I am like a damn parasite.'
Just as Krista was shouting at her to not think like that, D was saying, "You aren't. Your parents bound your Souls together."
But why?
"This 'Mother' they speak of," he started as he passed over a handful of notes. "She might be a deity. And she might be the reason behind your failure to thrive."
They looked over the notes. Quickly realizing that this set was more like a journal. Detailing Charice's pregnancy. Her despair.
Her fury.
Her resignation.
And finally, attempting to discover a way to bind the two souls together with the help of this 'Mother'. Something that was very obviously successful before the parents terminated their other child.
It was painful to read. Knowing she'd had a body at one point. Confirming it'd been forcefully ripped from her and their mother.
Whoever this 'Mother' was, Rhea wasn't so sure she liked her. And Krista was in the same boat.
Without thinking too much about it, they pressed closer to the Hunter. Taking as much comfort in his presence as they could for just a moment.
Laun found what he desired.
Notes that detailed their original biological makeup. That detailed the changes made to their genetics.
Now that he had them, he wasn't entirely sure what to do about it.
He wished Eddie were with him. For support and for clarity.
But one thing he was absolutely sure of?
The Council absolutely could not have this information.
"What does the Council want with her?" D asked after a long while.
The girls had settled down some time ago. Head pressed to his thigh as they idly scanned the notes. Appearing drained and overwhelmed. But they perked up just the slightest bit at the question. Just as interested in the answer.
In response, Laun paled considerably. Staring at the notes as if he could avoid the question by pretending he didn't hear it. When the Hunter's gaze became more intense, however, he became increasingly aware of the fact that there would be no escaping.
"They wish to use her," he answered vaguely.
Hand snorted derisively. "No shit. But to what ends?"
Now, the Noble ran a hand through his hair. Stressed. Frustrated. Sighing, "I would really rather you both hop on a transit to the Frontier. Get the girls far away from here. For the farther you are, the harder they'll fall. Until all that is left is some hopeless breath from a dying, broken cult."
The travelers stared at him. Eyes narrowed in disbelief and slight disgust. Refusing to play along.
"If I tell you that the Council aspires to resurrect the Sacred Ancestor, will that convince you to leave?"
A black look crossed the Dhampir's face. And while there was no spike in his aura, it was enough to send a chill up Laun's spine.
"I will take that as a negative."
The girls were wholly unbothered. Could sense his ire. But knew that it was not directed at them. They were only concerned about how this 'Sacred Ancestor' was able to pull such a strong reaction from the typically stoic man.
They patted him.
Slowly, with that terrible look still set upon his face, he dug his nail into the linoleum on the floor and etched out a drawing they'd not seen in months.
A face they'd not seen in their dreams in months.
The winged demon.
A creature that looked so like their beloved Hunter, yet entirely different.
A face that, for a reason they couldn't entirely fathom, absolutely terrified them.