Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Dark Deceptions Revised ❯ Dark Deceptions Revised 2 ( Chapter 2 )

Last Chapter

Duo was seething in fury. How dare these . . . weirdoes think they can come up, kill not one, but two of his men, harm his friends, and think they can get away with it! Fuck that shit! It was time to pay Shinigami his due!

With one last flourish, Duo released a hidden catch in the rod. It lengthened into a staff, an arched blade emerging at one end. Twirling it above his head with both hands, Duo crouched low, his scythe poised and held steady as he waited for an attack.

He didn't have to wait for long. Two monsters lunged forward, arms held out and seeking. Duo swept low, lashing out with his scythe and slicing off three limbs. Spinning as he rose to his feet, Duo slammed his elbow into someone's nose. He ducked a punch then flipped backwards and over a kick aimed for his gut. He spun in one complete rotation, the scythe a blur of movement as it dipped and rose effortlessly in the hands of a master.

The God of Death, the Grim Reaper had come out tonight to play.

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Chapter 2

Blood arched into the night sky, splattering down to earth like black rain. Arms, legs, flesh, and bones littered the ground, muscles still twitching the horrific life. A black clothed figure blurred in and out of sight, chestnut hair shot with shades of blonde and red shimmering in the harsh artificial light as the individual flowed in a macabre dance of death. It was sick, it was twisted.

It was . . . perfect.

Heero stood back and watched with a hunter's perspective, his eyes gleaming with approval. As weak and fragile humans were, this being was flawless in his skill.

It was down to only one ghoul and the vampire. The figure squared off against the last remaining zombie, emotions flickering across his face as trails of blood dripped down his face. Heero held his breath, waiting for explosion of movement.

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Duo was sickened by the sight and stench that surrounded him. He heard the unearthly wails from the dismembered bodies as they still convulsed and shuddered. Two enemies were left. One was the freakish looking guy that took Bram Stoker's Dracula to a whole new level. And Janen. Or, what was once the man who went by the code name Janen. Now, he was a pale shadow of himself. A mockery of the exuberant man Duo had known and hired. Another of his men lay dead behind him, his throat crushed as he died defending Duo's friends and employers. The killing frenzy consumed him as amethyst eyes hardened with resolve. He'll put an end to Janen's misery and add one more body count to Shinigami's list.

Janen lunged forward, as did Duo. He bent low, coming up and swinging the scythe up in an arch over his head. He half-turned to the right, bring his beloved weapon down on an arm outstretched in a punch, severing it up to the elbow. Jagged nails lashed out, raking across Duo's chest and drawing blood. Duo dove to the side, coming to his feet and rotating, allowing his momentum to swing the scythe around and slicing off Janen's leg. He went down howling, flailing widely as he tried to rise. Haven't even broken a sweat, Duo placed his foot ontop of Janen's chest, leaning his weight down onto it and pinning Janen to the ground.

"Rest in peace, buddy," Duo murmured as he hefted the scythe above his head. He glared up at the last remaining foe as he felt the blade slice through flesh, the howls silenced abruptly, his eyes never leaving the face of the creature who was responsible for this nightmare.

The vampire clapped his hands as Duo straightened, fangs gleaming as he smiled. "Well done, mortal!" he applauded. "I haven't seen such a display of expertise for many years. And from a human! My, what a show you have given me. But, I'm afraid it all must come to an end. Move."

Duo shook his head, pointing the scythe menacingly at the undead, blood running along the length of the blade to drip onto the ground. "You're not touching them," Duo vowed. "Over my dead body."

The vampire smirked. "That can be arranged, dear boy," he stated. "You know, you are a very beautiful creature. So sensual in your movements. Perhaps, after capturing the female, I shall return to you. I always did have a soft spot for pretty little boys."

Duo snarled, hands clenched tight on his scythe. "You're not touching me or them!" he growled. "I'll kill you before that ever happens."

"Then come for me, my darling boy!" The vampire spread his arms out. "Show me what you've got!"

Duo charged forward, blood and hair trailing in his wake. He lashed out at the vampire, the blade slicing through empty air. Swearing, he lunged to the side, shifting to a crouch as he sneered at the monster. Claws scoured across his back. Hissing, Duo dove forward, tucking one shoulder inward as he rolled onto his feet. The scythe curved as his upper body twisted to the side, imbedding itself deep into the vampire's chest. With a victorious leer, Duo viciously yanked the weapon out. Poisonous blood sprayed into the air as the monster spasmodically on the ground. Instinctively, Duo stepped away from the deadly spray. He was covered in enough blood, guts, and gore. He really didn't need to add more to it.

With extreme self-satisfaction, Duo turned, scythe flung haphazardly across his shoulders as he walked away. It was the expression on his friends' faces, and those of the surrounding people, that made him pause. There was a sickening sound coming from behind him, as if something semi solid was being mashed together. Something like muscles and tissue . . .

"Marvelously done, sweetling. You truly are worthy of my attention."

Duo's lips parted in a soundless gasp, his eyes wide. ~No!~ his mind screamed. ~I killed you! I know I did!~

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~Let's end this,~ Trowa declared, shooting a glance at Heero. ~There's no way that mortal will win, no matter how well he fights. He doesn't know how to truly kill a vampire.~

Heero remained silent but nodded. The trio burst forward in a blur of movement, putting themselves between the vampire and Duo.

"Enough," Wufei proclaimed with calm dignity. "Justice has found you at last, Renaldo."

The vampire hissed and jumped back, eyes wary at the three hunters. Outnumbered and defeated, he knew he was on borrowed time. He snarled, his body lurching grotesquely as he shifted into a large black timber wolf. The sickening sounds of bounds crunching and tendons snapping filled the air along with horrified cries. Darting forward, he used his powers to call forth a hail of insects.

With a sneer, Heero sped forward to meet his attack, fingernails lengthening to dagger sharp claws. His first swipe missed, but his uppercut scored five bloody trails across the wolf's muzzle. In a blur of movement, Heero dodged lethal jaws over and over. He felt Wufei's movements and shifted, allowing the Carpathian hunter room to charge forward, his hand sinking into the cavity chest of the wolf.

The transformed vampire howled, his body forced to shift back. Wufei smirked as he jerked back his hand. In his bloody grasp was the vampire's black heart, the organ still pumping obscenely in Wufei's palm. Wufei jumped back as the vampire flopped to the ground and convulsed. Still alive, it blindly sought its heart. If it was ever returned, the vampire would rise again to reek havoc.

Trowa stepped forward, a bright blue ball of fire cupped in his hands. Wufei stuck the beating organ into the flames, incinerating it instantly. Finally, the vampire ceased its twitching. Without a second glance, Trowa passed the flames over the body, burning it until nothing remained but a small pile of ashes.

"Who gets clean up duty?" Heero said drolly.

"Since you and I fought the monster, I say Trowa," Wufei suggested.

Trowa raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. Using his vast Carpathian powers, he sent a mental compulsion out like a wave rippling in a lake, capturing the minds of all who witnessed the event. He erased what memories they had and replaced them with ones that dictated a crazed terrorist had attacked and ruthlessly killed random tourists before committing suicide by dousing himself with gasoline and setting himself on fire. He nodded his completion, the three hunters disappeared among the crowd of spectators.

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Duo growled under his breath, the headache he had for the past hour intensifying. He rubbed his temples as scours of police officers scurried around him. He half-heartedly heard their conversations and dispatches.

" . . . situation under control. Suspect's remains have been collected and witness reports taken . . . "

" . . . crazed terrorist reported to have killed five individuals . . . "

" . . . dude, he must have been on some kind of drugs 'cuz he was shot like twenty times . . . "

Duo wanted to scream. He wanted to cuss. Most of all, he wanted to tell all these fools that everything was saying was a lie. One big fat fucking lie! This had been no random terrorist attack! A vampire had appeared straight out a novel, zombiefied one of his own men, killed another, then had his heart ripped out by three weirdoes who set him on fire with flames that were blue! Blue, goddamnit!

~Duo, are you okay? You seem stressed.~

Sighing, Duo tipped his head back. ~That's because I am stressed, Quatre,~ he answered. ~None of this is making sense! Why is everyone lying? They all saw what really happened! So what's with the terrorist bullshit?~

~It was that one boy,~ Quatre answered. ~The one with half his face hidden behind his hair. He had a mental power that he used on everybody.~

~Let me guess, he brainwashed everybody into believing the load of bullshit they're spouting right now?~

~Yes. I could feel his touch in my mind but I put a block up to stop him.~

~Well I sure as hell felt nothing but the urge to commit myself into an asylum. How's Lena?~

~Taking it well. It's a good thing we listened to her and went along with everyone's tale.~

~It just doesn't make any sense, Kat. We know you and I have some sort of special ability in order to talk to each other like this. But Relena is as normal as you can get, given her circumstances. How could she have not been effected like the rest?~

~I don't know, Duo. All we can do is play along and figure this out when we get back to the suite.~

~That's for damn sure.~ Duo looked up as a shadow fell upon him.

"Can I get some last statements from you, Mr. Maxwell?" asked the police officer, a writing pad in his hands.

Nodding, Duo blurted out his story, mirroring everyone else's. He had just gone to get some cotton candy when he heard screams. When he reached Relena and Quatre's side, they were already under attack by five crazed individuals. While protecting them, one of his men was killed. Duo attacked when provoked and managed to get his charges out of danger. Afterward, they watched the leader of the group set himself on fire and burn to a crisp.

Silently, Duo fumed. Although his story was close to the truth, it wasn't exactly the truth. Duo had a motto in life. He may run. He may hide. But he never tells a lie. Those three idiots better be happy that they weren't forcing him to outright fabricate or else there would be hell to pay.

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"Good hunting, Yuy, Barton."

Trowa and Heero nodded as they watched from the shadows. Heero crossed his arms in front of his chest, his brow furrowed in deep thought. So deep, he didn't realize his friends were calling his name until Trowa nudged him with an elbow.

"What's the matter, Heero?"

Heero frowned. It was that feeling again. That voice whispering inside his head that told him he had missed something vital. Something essential to his very existence.

"Those three . . . the ones targeted by the vampire," Heero answered. "There was something about those three."

"The long haired one and the two blondes?" Wufei questioned, an eyebrow raised in curiosity. "They are a little suspicious."

"How so?"

"Well, the vampire ordered his underlings to fetch his lifemate and pointed to the two blondes. Obviously, he was talking about the female. Why would he believe a human female to be his lifemate, or a lifemate in general?"

Trowa offered a small smile to Wufei. "It really has been a long time since we've last hunted," he stated. "It's common now, Wufei, to find lifemates in human females. As long as the female has psychic abilities, she can be successfully converted to a Carpathian by her lifemate and live as a Carpathian herself."

Wufei's eyebrows winged up. "Truly?"

"Yes. My own mother was half human, half Carpathian until my father converted her by accident. He didn't realize what he was doing, but it can be done. Heero's grandmother was the first female human to be converted successfully."

"Is that so? Why have you never told me this, Yuy?"

Heero shrugged. "It never came up in a conversation," he replied dryly.

Wufei huffed as he crossed his arms in front of his chest, mimicking Heero. "So this blonde female could very well be someone's lifemate?"

"Perhaps."

"Then it is our sworn duty to notify the Prince and guard her until a ceremony can be done."

"How do we know for certain that she has psychic abilities?" Heero cut in. "For all we know, the vampire could have been deranged and desperate. I vote we watch from a distance. If she's targeted again, then we'll know that it is she who's drawing the vampires to her."

Wufei sighed but nodded his agreement, as did Trowa.

"It would be easier to instigate one of us to be around her personally while the other two guard from afar," continued Heero. "I'll get inside and work from there. Wufei, Trowa, you handle everything else."

Astonishment was plain for the two males, but they withheld their questions. They had hunted long enough with Heero to never question his orders. They were often so on the mark, it was frightening.

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Duo fell back onto his queen-sized bed, half his body buried among a mountain of pillows. He had just gotten back from numerous ceremonies celebrating the heroic deeds of Byouki and the sacrifice he made in the line of duty. Honors were held and commemorated for Janen as well. Regardless of the fact that, to the public's eye, he had sided with the bad guys, Duo managed to pull some strings and made it appear that Janen had been blackmailed and exploited. It however, made Duo himself seem even more tragic since he had been the one to put Janen out of commission permanently. The unfortunate superior who had to take down his own subordinate. The newscasters were having a field day with that one.

Duo pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. Today had not been his day. Hell, this week had not been his freaking week. He needed something to dull the headache.

He needed a drink.

Knowing he was on good terms with the bartender in the hotel's lounge, Duo jumped out of bed and made his way down to the lobby. As the elevator doors opened on the main floor, he was accosted by some of Vice Foreign Minister's head honchos.

"Mr. Maxwell!"

Duo almost groaned as he fought to not roll his eyes. One of Darlian's advisors had spotted him. Although Duo was the head in the security, he still had to at least listen to some of the guy's suggestions in the staffing. He pasted a fake smile as he greeted the thin, wiry middle-aged man.

"Walk can I do for you, Mr. Brennan?" he inquired.

"It was a terrible misfortune to your men, Maxwell. Terrible misfortune."

"Yes, it was Mr. Brennan," Duo gritted out. "Since we're two short, I'm already looking in to hire replacements."

"Actually, that's what I'm here for! I found the perfect gentleman to fill those empty shoes."

"Gentleman? As in, one? Sir, I need at least two."

"Yes, yes. I realize that, Maxwell. But this man has the qualifications of at least five men! In fact, I hired him has more of an assistant to you, Mr. Maxwell."

"What?!"

Duo's indignant cry echoed in the foyer. A faint blush painted his features as people stopped and turned to stare at him. Clearing his throat, he turned his attention back to the nosy, obnoxious, self-absorbed pig who thought it was his job to do Duo's.

"I'm sure you only meant well, Mr. Brennan, but I don't need an assistant. I am perfectly capable in handling any and all situations. Unless, for some reason, you believe otherwise?"

It was Brennan's turn to look sheepish. With a nervous chuckle, he adjusted his constricting collar and shifted from one foot to another.

"No! Not at all, Maxwell. You're work as been superb, as always. It's just that, now with all this publicity and responsibility, I thought it would do you some good to have a little time to yourself. He's already been approved, his background checked and cleared. I assure you, Mr. Maxwell, you won't be disappointed."

. . . TBC . . .