Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Curse of Dark Shadows ❯ Chapter Four ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter Four:

Tired as he was, Duo Maxwell still appreciated the savage beauty of the violent storm surrounding him. The bright bursts of lightning allowed Duo to see the aged, sturdy trees bend to near hurricane-strength winds. The relentless pounding of heavy rains and the deep, booming thunder, matched the furious howls of the wind. The dark sedan rocked beneath the onslaught of nature's overwhelming force.

Every sense was heightened, Duo's breath grew ragged, and his blood raced madly through every vein. The storm was terrifying, electrifying, simply too incredible for words.

It reminded him of Heero Yuy. Fascinating. Dangerous. And impossible to stay away from.

Duo turned his gaze towards Collinwood. On his previous attempts, some powerful force prevented him from reaching the dark, forbidding mansion. This time, it seems he wasn't meant to leave.

//Well, Heero, it looks like fate's thrown us *both* a curveball.//

Duo pondered his options. He could spend a cold, uncomfortable night in his malfunctioning car, or he could brave the elements and seek shelter at Collinwood. A wry grin stretched across his face as he realized there was *no* choice: the mysteries of Collinwood and the mysteries of Heero Yuy were a sirens song he was unable to resist.

***

Heero knew he wouldn't sleep this night: instead he sat in one of the chairs by the tall windows in his room, watching the powerful storm rage across the lands below.

He was rather glad now his room did not overlook the cliffs. The tragic story of Jamison Du Pres, his doomed love and violent death were fresh in Heero's mind. He shook as he remembered his dream of Duo as Jamison.

//Some things never change. I only hurt you, time and again. I only wanted to love you, Duo.//

Lost in troubled thoughts, Heero continued to stare, unseeing, into the violent night.

***

Thirty minutes fighting the storm, and Duo Maxwell had only traveled half the distance from his car to the mansion. The furious rain pelted him mercilessly, the gusting winds enveloped him in bitter cold, and he stumbled through the flooded pathway now caked with mud. Some of Duo's hair had come out of his braid and was now plastered to his face, and in his eyes.

A fierce gust sent him sprawling to the pavement. As he struggled to regain his balance, Duo suddenly sensed an unearthly presence. Looking around wildly, he only saw the battered trees and relentless rain. Another blast of lightning lit the sky, allowing him to see the imposing manor, his only safety from the deadly storm.

And there it was, the evil he sensed, perched upon a turret. A snow-white owl, largest he had ever seen, eyes sharp and cold, staring into his very soul. Duo recognized that steely gaze as that of a ruthless predator; and he was the prey.

Duo tensed as the owl ruffled its feathers then slowly flew off the turret. The darkness and the rain combined to hide the creature from his sight. Instinct told him the attack was coming and he threw himself to the ground, barely in time to escape the sharp talons that nearly clawed into his throat. The impact of the fall caused Duo to lose his grip on his gun. It skidded across the pavement, and then washed away in a rushing stream of floodwaters. He scrambled towards the heavy trees, hoping the foliage could provide protection. Duo's heart raced madly as he sprinted towards the forest. He was almost there when his feet gave way, ankle twisting as he slipped heavily to the muddy ground.

The fall saved him from the second attack, though this time the talons raked across his left shoulder. Duo attempted to stand, but fell back in pain; his damaged ankle couldn't bear his weight. The white bird perched ominously upon the nearest tree, releasing a piercing shriek of victory.

Duo moaned over the unfairness of it all. He was so close to reaching Heero, so close to making sense of his conflicting angers and desires.

***

"Spencer!"

The anguished cry startled Heero out of his light doze. A vivid image of Jamison Du Pres crying out for him…...Spencer?.…..shot through his mind, and before he knew it, Heero was heading for the door.

In his dream, Jamison Du Pres was in danger. His longhaired, violet eyed love. The man who was somehow connected to Duo.

Oh, God. *Duo*!

Heero rushed down the darkened stairwell, not even stopping for a candle to light his way. In his haste to reach Duo, he never noticed the dark haired man lurking in the shadows. Heero raced through the mansion, heading straight for the front door. He knew, just *knew* the danger was there. Heedless of his own safety, Heero flung open the door and threw himself out into the storm.

***

Duo would never again stare into blazing blue eyes full of vitality and determination. He would never again hear those dark, husky growls of information and lies. He would never, ever, have the chance to tell Heero the truth.

//I love you, Heero. I don't know how, or why, but I think I always have.//

Duo could only wait as the deadly owl prepared for its final, fatal attack.

***

Heero rushed into the storm, surrendering to and taking strength from the raging elements. Racing down the driveway, he came to a crashing halt at the terrible sight: Duo, fallen, helpless...and the palpable evil radiating from the threatening, sharp-talon owl.

The howling wind somehow carried Jamison's whisper to his ear.

"Save our love, Spencer."

Hoping to draw the attack upon himself, Heero cried out, "Duo!"

Two sets of eyes turned on him, both full of longing and intensity. The amethyst eyes were warm and accepting; the clear blue eyes were possessive and devouring.

Heero took another step towards the fallen man, but stopped when the white owl reacted angrily with a sharp shriek. He cursed himself for not grabbing his gun before leaving the mansion.

However, Heero Yuy was always dangerous, one-way or another. He carried a switchblade in his pocket and throwing knives in his boots. All he had to do was get in range. And if that bird of prey wouldn't let him near Duo, maybe there was another way...

***

Duo was caught between relief and horror. Relief at the sight of Heero, brave and deadly even when battered by the furious rain. Horror as he watched Heero walk towards the threatening creature.

Duo released a silent gasp as he saw the owl relax as Heero made his way, slowly, calmly, towards the tree it rested on. The owl seemed almost mesmerized as it watched the approach of the silent, blue-eyed man. Heero paused beneath the tree; to Duo, he seemed to be considering his words carefully. In a smooth, reassuring tone, Heero asked, "What do you want from us?"

The large owl continued to stare at Heero; its gaze was in turn hungry, loving and sad. If he didn't know better, Duo would say the creature was lonely.

Duo decided to test his ankle while the owl remained distracted. He staggered to his feet successfully, but his grunt of pain caught the owl's attention.

With a furious screech, the owl dove from the tree, on a direct path for Duo's throat. Duo knew he wouldn't evade the deadly attack this time, so he tilted his eyes up to Heero: he wanted one last view of the handsome, fascinating man who confused him so.

The vision he saw was pure, unadulterated menace: Heero had spun towards Duo the very moment the owl attacked. Eyes glazed with a feral brightness, Heero crouched, right hand unbelievably fast, the glint of steel racing towards Duo. But instead of Duo, it was the owl the knife cut through, cleaving through feathers and muscle. It wasn't a kill; the wounded creature managed to dive into the deep foliage, the bloodstains already washed away by the rain.

Duo forgot about the former threat to his life; he was too busy staring at Heero, who had gone deathly pale and fallen to his knees. Duo realized Heero was in shock. He stumbled over to him, placing both hands on Heero's shoulders.

"Heero? We really need to get inside. We're both going to freeze to death out here."

Hesitantly, Heero looked up at Duo. The rain had darkened and lengthened already dense, lush lashes that framed those brilliant eyes. The words were almost a whisper.

"I...I could have killed you just then, Duo. It was *that* close."

Duo moved his arms beneath those of Heero, helping him rise to his feet. The two exhausted men swayed together, ignoring the rain, wind and cold that still surrounded them. Duo leaned into Heero, taking the weight from his twisted ankle, plastering his tiny body against Heero.

"Heero, you *saved* me. You tried to turn the attack towards yourself, and when the owl came after me, you didn't hesitate. You did what you had to do. Thank you, Heero."

The two men stood there silently for a moment before heading towards Collinwood mansion. The storm finally started to relent; the rain ended by the time they reached the front door.

"Ferocious owls and creepy mansions. You turn *everything* into a hazard, Duo." Heero groused. "Aren't you gonna hit me now?"

A sudden wave of happiness washed over Duo. He squeezed Heero as they headed up the long stairwell to the bedroom. A quiver of excitement belied Duo's usual tone as he replied, "Heero, this is going to be my best vacation, *ever*!"

***

Cristoff McTeer emerged from the deep shadows and stood before the painting of Relena Peacecraft. The placid beauty Heero saw during the daylight hours was gone; in its place was a cold fury.

When Cristoff spoke to Heero earlier, it was in a garbled monotone. Speaking now, his voice was honeyed and smooth. "Relena, they are both exquisite."

The frozen blue eyes from the painting came to life in a blaze of anger. Cristoff enjoyed taunting Relena; long ago, she made him what he was; yet now he was free. She remained trapped in the painting, able to affect this world, but not be a part of it. At least, for now.

If Cristoff had his way, she would *never* return. Especially now, just when things were getting interesting.

As Cristoff's thoughts turned to the two beautiful men upstairs, the mirror hanging near Relena's painting was slowly filled with trails of blood. The blood flowed into a message:

Heero is MINE! Do what you want with the other.

Cristoff laughed. Secretly, he was deathly afraid of Relena, and with good reason. But it would never do to let *her* know that. He approached the mirror and gently licked at the blood until every trace was gone.

"Thank you, Relena. That was quite wonderful. How kind of you to satisfy my hunger."

Cristoff left the house, heading towards Eagle Hill Cemetery. The need for sleep was overwhelming and complete. As he slipped into the safety of the coffin, one last thought raced through his mind before he surrendered to unconsciousness.

//Which toy do I play with first?//

-TBC-