Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ Seduction of the Darkness ❯ Chapter 7: Emotions Clash ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter 7: Emotions Clash

 

Hellfire dressed in a long flowing dress of the deepest red that swept the floor with veils attached to her wrists. She brushed her hair until it was smooth and silky and swept it away from her face. She opened a small compartment in the skirt of her dress and slipped her double-barrelled revolver into the hidden holster, along with a small dagger in case she couldn't reload in time. After slipping on a pair of flat boots, she opened the door and went to see Vincent. She was still unsure as to how to go about her mission. She stopped at the door to his room.

 

`Vincent?' she called. She received no answer and gently pushed open the door. The crimson-clad gunman was staring out the window in deep thought. Hellfire approached him and laid her hand on his uninjured shoulder. He looked up at her beneath his lashes before he raised his head, taking in her attire.

 

`I wanted to ask you what information I need to salvage for this mission,' she said.

 

Vincent looked at her.

 

`I know I need to find out about Deep Ground's next attack, but you didn't tell me what I needed to know.'

 

`What would that be?' the former Turk asked.

 

`Well, I understand that this is their next target, but what else do I need to know to carry this out properly?'

 

Vincent searched her eyes and then nodded, understanding what she meant. He sat up and looked her straight in the eyes. `You need to find out where their spies are in order to get the information you need. You have to infiltrate their stations and get them to trust you well enough that they tell you what we need to know.'

 

Hellfire nodded, understanding her mission. He'd always been good at clear and concise explanations. She rose to her feet and turned to leave the room.

 

`Hellfire.' Vincent sprang to his feet and she turned to regard him. `Be careful.'

 

`I'll do my best.' Hellfire gazed at him briefly before she turned and walked out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

 

It was a long and agonising five hours. Vincent sat on his bed, looking out the window every half hour for a raven-haired, crimson-clad woman. He knew she could handle this alone, but he still didn't feel at ease with the whole idea. Hellfire had only been with AVALANCHE for a few weeks: she still didn't know half of what they did…or what he was. But there was a strength and determination about her that he admired and cherished. He remembered her soft hand on his chest as she ran her fingers along the ridges of his scars…He shook his head. No, he couldn't have feelings for her. It would only lead to heartache and suffering. But as hard as he tried to ignore those feelings, they were growing stronger with every passing day. It angered him deeply: he didn't want another person sacrificing herself because of him.

 

The rapid staccato of boots caused his head to snap up, his eyes flying to the door. It sounded like someone was running up the stairs to the tower. He rose swiftly to his feet and walked to the door, his hand straying to his trusty shotgun. His eyes narrowed as the boots pounded across the floor. There was a loud and frantic banging on the door before a voice he recognised shattered the silence and his hand dropped to his side.

 

`Vincent! Unlock the door!'

 

The former Turk unbolted the door and a flurry of red and black streaked through the door. Hellfire slammed the door shut and slumped against it, looking as though she'd run all the way to return to the tower.

 

`What's happened?' He saw she had her revolver out. Loose tendrils of raven hair framed her face and her eyes were wide.

 

`They were more guarded than I thought,' she panted. `I barely escaped.'

 

`What happened?' he repeated, his voice cold from anxiety.

 

`I managed to infiltrate a group of soldiers who offered to buy me drinks in the local tavern,' Hellfire explained. `I asked them a few questions while flirting with them. I managed to find out that Deep Ground have spies stationed at every corner of the city. They've been keeping surveillance for the past month.'

 

He listened intently, concealing his anger at the thought of her flirting with the enemy even though it was necessary for her to show discretion while carrying out her mission.

 

It shouldn't be of any concern to you as to how she obtains the information, he silently told himself. You know what will happen. Focus on the mission. Hellfire ran her hand through her hair and continued.

 

`When I asked them about the attack, they grew suspicious and demanded to know if I knew you. I told them I knew nothing, but they wouldn't buy it and they tried to take me to an interrogation facility. I managed to wound them before they raised the alarm. They also know that we're going to try and stop the attack from happening. They have an inside informant.'

 

Vincent closed his eyes. It was what he'd feared. `Anything else?'

 

`Not much except that this attack is going to be an all out raid.' Hellfire fixed him with her gaze. `They're still searching for you, and they're going to tear Kalm apart to find you.'

 

The former Turk rose to his feet and stared out the window, loading his shotgun. Hellfire looked at him aghast.

 

`What the hell are you doing?

 

Vincent didn't answer as he jacked the shells into the magazine chamber and clicked the weapon closed.

 

`You don't honestly think you can take on Deep Ground, do you?'

 

`I'll do what I must.'

 

`But Vincent, they've got a whole battalion waiting for you. There are Deep Ground stations all over Kalm! Some of their spies even reside with local families. They'll kill them if they get even a wisp of knowledge that you're here.'

 

Vincent holstered his shotgun and adjusted the cloak around his shoulders. `They won't.' He walked to the door only to find the young woman blocking it. Vincent glared at her.

 

`I would advise you to get out of my way.'

 

`I'm not letting you go out there,' said Hellfire firmly. `You're risking a lot as it is coming back here. Don't let the blood of hundreds of people be on your head because of a reckless act.'

 

`You don't tell me how to do my job, I won't tell you how to do yours,' the gunman said flatly. `Get out of my way.'

 

`It's nearly dark! They'll be patrolling the city by now. They'll be more aware of your movements.'

 

`I know what I'm doing.'

 

`You're risking other people's lives here!'

 

`Get out of my way, Hellfire.'

 

`No!' She tried to wrestle his firearm away from him. Vincent struggled with her, amazed that she could match his strength. She pushed his arm back and dove for his gun. In a burst of speed, Vincent instinctively swiped at her. Hellfire flew across the room and into a wall. She lay there for a few moments before staggering to her feet. The former Turk realised what he'd done and held out his hand to her.

 

`Hellfire-`

 

`Don't, Vincent.' Her words were clipped with icy anger as she got to her feet. `Just don't.'

 

`I-`

 

`Go and do what you have to do,' she said, her voice still in that clipped tone. `Go ahead and get yourself killed.'

 

`Hellfire…'

 

`JUST GO!'

 

Vincent saw she wasn't going to talk to him. `Fine.' His voice was cold as he said it. He turned to walk out but turned as he felt her gaze on the back of his neck. She fixed him with a searing glare. But her eyes were bright with tears.

 

`Why are you doing this to yourself?' Hellfire disappeared into her room, slamming the door, leaving Vincent in the hallway hating himself.

~*~

 

Hellfire didn't speak to him for the next three days. Vincent couldn't blame her. Every time they crossed paths, she gave him briefings on her mission, her voice as toneless as an obedient robot. And whenever he came into the tower, she either had her door locked or immediately went out into the streets. Every moment was tense, and the former Turk hated himself for causing the rift in the first place.

 

He entered his room after a long day of surveillance and glanced across the hall. Hellfire's door was wide open, but she was nowhere to be seen. Sighing, he sat in his accustomed place on the bed, thinking of the young woman. He didn't think it was possible, but this rift between them only seemed to intensify his feelings towards her. Every time she went out, he wondered if she was going to return gravely wounded or dead or not return at all and it caused him to go out frequently to see if she was in trouble. And afterwards hate himself again for hurting her.

 

It was only when they had that argument that Vincent realised just how deeply she cared for him. He wondered if she'd felt this way for a long time or if the feelings only started to develop recently. He frowned to himself: why did he care so much about this? Why was he even concerned of what she thought? He didn't have the answer, but he had a strong feeling that whatever was going through his heart when he saw Hellfire, it was getting stronger.

 

His reverie was broken by a loud noise and he glanced at his phone. He'd received a message from Hellfire. He read the words again and again, the message causing his heart to stop:

 

MEET ME IN YOUR ROOM AT EIGHT O'CLOCK. WE NEED TO TALK.