Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Willing Slave ❯ Chapter 9

Part 9

"Wufei!" Treize whispered. He gathered his lover's body into his arms and gave him a small shake, afraid he might hurt him. "Wufei, wake up!"

Groaning and shuffling from the darkness made Zechs and Noin step closer. "Get that kid up, Treize," Zechs said. "Or else we're all going to have problems." He grabbed his mask from the floor and slipped it back on.

I'm sorry, my love, but there's no time to be gentle. Treize took a deep breath, raised his hand and, hoping he wouldn't be transformed into something helpless, slapped Wufei once. "Wufei, wake up!"

"Mi lu," Wufei muttered, rising out of his sleep. "Jing zi." He opened his eyes, complete with pupils again, and sat up, holding his head in one hand.

"Wufei, what happened?" Treize asked, eyeing the glowing circle and orange lines.

Another shriek came from the dungeon, making all of them pay attention. From deep within the shadows, bringing with it a metallic sound, two dark forms limped forward, dragging bloody limbs over broken bars and manacles. The mangled, twisted bodies of the two assassins slowly stepped towards the living, steam rising from their boots as their skin and blood touched iron. Their bodies didn't bleed so much since most of their blood now pooled in their extremities, leaving them gray in some places, red in others.

"How on earth...?" Zechs gasped.

"Don't freeze up," Noin said through clenched teeth, but it wasn't clear if she meant that for her husband or herself. "Don't panic."

"Wufei, what happened? Can you stop this?"

"Wo bu...zhi dao," Wufei mumbled, wincing as if he was in pain. "Wo bu...zhi dao." He repeated it over and over until Treize gave him another shake.

"Wufei, look at me," Treize said. He locked eyes with his sorcerer and lay his hand on his cheek, trying to calm him down. "Something's happened, and you have to stop it."

"An-another spell," Wufei stumbled. "Their blood must have been--been enchanted. This was a trap. They were meant to die."

"Sacrifices?" Zechs wondered, taking a step back.

"Necromancy," Wufei confirmed. He sat up and looked over his circle, staring at the orange light inside. "I've seen this shape before."

"Can you close it?"

"If it were just my circle, yes, but then I would leave us vulnerable to that spell held inside. I'll have to change the marks...the wax just barely held it in. Can you keep those things busy?"

"How did I know you were going to ask that?" Noin muttered.

"Just work fast," Treize said.

Wufei nodded and picked up the charcoal. Where he wrote, the lines glowed, and what he erased turned to smears. "Nataku...I need the new letters--" he broke off as he looked back down. His dragon lay on the ground, neck stretched out with her eyes closed. He stroked her back, and she gave him a small whimper.

The blast, it must have hit her just as hard. "It's all right," he told her. "Just relax. I'll handle this." But if I can't reverse the gate...if only I could--"No, I will need you, Nataku."

"Hurry up!" Zechs yelled. He slashed hard at the first body, but it acted as if it didn't even feel the gaping wound in its chest. Noin cut off the arm of the corpse before her, sending a spray of corrupting flesh and bone against the wall, but the thing just came forward while the hand twitched on the floor.

*ch'rp*

"I know you're tired," Wufei apologized, picking her up, "but if you don't do this, believe me, you're not going to get any sleep." He moved her around and lay her at another point of the circle, lining her snout up with the largest symbol.

"What're you doing?" Treize asked, sparing a moment to stare at Wufei.

"Something insane," the sorcerer answered. "It's a transport spell, I'm sure of it, but it's automatic. If I can just...make...contact..."

"Can you turn it off?"

Wufei lay his hands on Nataku's wings. "Not from this side." He leaned down closer. "Come on, just one breath of fire. Just one."

She gave a little puff of smoke and whined.

Wufei looked back up at the battle. Zechs and Noin were fully engaged in trying to keep the corpses back, but...something was happening.

The head on the larger corpse fell backwards, sliding down its back with sick, wet sounds as the gash on its chest bubbled and pushed more flesh outward to form a face without eyes. The other body shrunk as a new arm grew from the putrid stump, dripping body tissue.

Noin gagged and leaned back, expecting her enemy to continue at the slow pace. Instead the one closest darted in suddenly, slamming into her and sending her flying across the room. Zechs stabbed his sword deep into his target, then turned, afraid he might see his wife dead. Instead the still standing corpse knocked him to the ground so hard his mask cracked. Taking a deep breath, Treize brought his sword up and moved to cover Zechs.

He can't do anything with that thin blade, Wufei realized. Without another thought he yanked hard on Nataku's tail. She screeched and sent out a jet of fire so hot the wax vaporized. The flames connected the two rings of magick, and in that instant, Wufei reached into the circle and slammed his hand on the burning daggers and blood. The black flames melted into his hand and vanished, leaving a red sear on his skin.

Along the wall, every torch flared back to life with natural orange flames. Wufei drew back from the heat, clutching his hand close to his chest, and snatched his dragon closer. The remaining wax, the candles, and the orange light exploded, leaving no trace of even the coal smears on the dusty dungeon floor.

"Did it," Wufei whispered.

"Wufei!"

Afraid to look, he did.

He'd cut the strings, but the puppets were still moving.

Something heavy hit the door, then hit again and once more before Wufei raised his hand and threw the bolt aside. At that moment, the door burst open and two figures charged in. Heero spotted the animated bodies and brought his sword up before he knew he was moving. Trowa dashed behind them, leaping over one extended arm. His long dagger sliced it off, but the flesh immediately acted to replace it, drawing from the stomach and leaving a gaping hole there.

"What on earth?"

"It was...a trap," Treize said between heavy breaths. He dodged to the right, barely escaping a powerful blow to his head. "Wufei destroyed the spell, but these things are still moving!"

"I can see that," Heero replied. He ran forward, rolling under a punch that broke a chunk of stone from the wall, and took off the body's legs from the knees down. The body fell backwards with more weight than it should have had, but it only rolled on its front and moved around on all fours.

"Aim for the head!" Trowa yelled, slicing off his target's head while Treize sliced it in half.

Instead of it falling, however, the cut sealed up while the eyes and mouth reappeared on the gray stump of the neck. It caught Trowa's arm and swung him backwards into Treize, sending both of them next to Noin, who was slowly getting on her feet again. Zechs threw his mask aside, unable to see from it anymore. With his sword gone he flung handfuls of iron at the pair.

Screaming in pain, the automatons shied away as their skin burned, bringing forth an awful scent that sickened every living thing in the room. One of them noticed the open door and ran through it, followed quickly by the other. As what had once been Alex passed by Heero, it knocked him aside, sending him reeling into a pile of iron.

"Oh no," Heero breathed, trying to stand. "Duo!"

Down the hall, the two slaves leaned closer together as they felt the floor rumble and heard heavy steps running towards them. Quatre started to stand, but the sound was coming too fast and he knew it. Dust drifted from the ceiling as cracks appeared, created by the shaking.

"Guards..." Quatre tried to squeak, but it only came out in a shattered whisper.

Duo shook his head, trying to think past the rising fear. "We can't risk calling the guards..."

"No, Duo." Quatre couldn't tear his gaze from the things now in sight. "They were guards."

Duo followed his look and froze. "Oh my God, what are those things?"

Bloody and mangled, those things stopped when they heard him. The one on all fours tilted curiously, but the one without a head leaned forward so its eyes could see. "Sl'ves..." it gurgled.

Duo tightened his grip on Quatre. "That voice..."

"F'r O," the other answered through its stomach.

For a few seconds, nothing happened. The corpses regarded only the slave in black, staring with sagging, watery eyes. Duo and Quatre held perfectly still, not breathing, afraid the slightest motion might set the monsters off. Duo let out a small breath, and the bodies took a step forward.

*thump*

"Duo, be quiet," Quatre whispered.

*thump*thump*

Duo shut his eyes, but his body started trembling. The movement seemed to be a cue for the former assassins to come closer. "It's them," he said.

*thump*thump*

"Duo...stop."

"It's them...why?"

*thump*thump*

"We're going to have to run for it," Quatre said even though he knew it was a hopeless thought.

"I can't even remember a prayer." Why can't I remember?

*thump*thump*

Quatre tried to pick Duo up, but the other boy wouldn't move. When the blonde slave looked up again, the monsters were only a few feet away. He could see every severed vein, every torn muscle, every bone warped within the dead skin. He pulled the cloak around his shoulders and lowered his eyes.

Sister Helen, I'm so sorry...I promised I'd remember...the Our Father...

"Duo!" Heero screamed from the other end of the hall.

...who art in Heaven...that was it...hallowed be thy...

Duo opened his eyes not an inch from the mess of corruption and screamed.

Two red blurs passed Heero, who was blown backwards by the sheer force of power coming from the other end of the hall. He landed flat on his black pants and turned to see the two dead bodies splatter on the wall on either side of the door. Inside the doorway stood Zechs, whom Heero figured must have been the first to recover, only now his uniform was a mess of gray matter and pink coloring. Heero grabbed the only torch in the hall and pushed it against the nearest body, eliciting another scream as it thrashed its barely connected pieces. He tossed the torch on the other body, and after a moment all that remained were piles of coagulated blood and burnt bone.

"Heero!"

The prince ran back to the pair on the floor, falling to his knees and putting his arms protectively around his slave. "Are you all right? Did they reach you?"

Duo shook his head, but he kept his face firmly buried in Heero's shirt. His shoulders started to shake and low muffled sobs echoed down the empty corridor.

"He didn't even touch them," Quatre murmured. "He just screamed."

"What happened?"

"They went backwards so fast...it all happened so fast."

"Little one?" Trowa asked, startling them. He knelt beside Quatre and allowed him to crawl up into his arms. "Are you hurt?"

"No," he answered. "But it's a good thing I went to the bathroom earlier..."

Trowa chuckled and stroked the blonde's hair. "Agreed."

Boots tapped on the tile, and Heero spared a moment to see Treize carrying Wufei in his arms. The sorcerer hung limply, one arm over Treize's shoulder while his head lay against his chest, breathing shallow. The small dragon lay nestled on Treize's other shoulder, her tail curled around his throat. "I know we have more work," he groaned, letting his polite veneer slip away in his exhaustion, "but may we put our slaves to bed first?"

"Good idea--" Trowa started, but Quatre threw his arms around his neck and clutched him tight.

"No, Trowa, please! Let me come, I'll be quiet! I promise."

Duo backed away a few inches, tears still streaming down his face. "Heero...let me stay with you, please. I don't want to be alone."

Heero hesitated, then nodded and swept his crying slave up into his arms. "All right, they can rest on the chairs there. And I still need Wufei to lift any protection spells on Duo's work."

For a second, Treize considered protesting the prince's commands, but as he opened his mouth, Wufei stirred in his hands.

"It's all right," he mumbled. "I can do that. But afterwards, I think I'll pass out."

Treize nodded and looked at his two officers. Noin limped up to Zechs, who had given up trying to wipe the mess from his clothes. Noin noticed Treize's glance and glared back. The mask of military discipline disappeared in light of exhaustion and ill humor. "What else?" she griped, knowing there'd be something.

"Find someone to clean that up," Treize said. "And go to bed. That's all."

She gave him a half-smile. "Okay. Right away, sir."

Trowa moved to ask Quatre if he didn't mind being picked up, and to his satisfaction he found that his slave had fallen asleep on his arm. He wrapped the blanket around Quatre before cradling him like a child and carrying him after Treize and Heero.

Left behind, the two officers stared at the splatters on the walls, floor and ceiling. "Let's get that batch of troops we were yelling at earlier," Noin sighed. "They can clean this up." She stared at her husband and grinned despite her weary body. "How do you feel?"

He quietly reached up, plucked a bit of corpse from his hair, and sighed.

"I should have kept the mask on."

*

At first Heero wasn't sure where to set his quietly sniffling slave, but he noticed Trowa easing Quatre onto a padded chair in the corner closest to the desk. Trowa tugged his black cloak around the small shoulders, forming a make-shift blanket that threatened to swallow the blonde up. The prince walked to the chair besides Quatre and lowered Duo into the soft seat, stretching the chair's woven covering over him.

"Heero?" Duo asked, sitting up and putting one hand on his master's arm.

"It's all right," Heero reassured him. "I'm not leaving. Calm down."

Treize ignored the other chairs and carried Wufei to the table with all the stolen goods. "Has Dorothy been here?" he asked the guards.

"She has," came a cool voice from the window. Still dressed in her costume but without the mask, Dorothy climbed in over the sill and stood by table. "Everything's there." She laughed at Treize's confused face. "It's much cooler outside than inside, and there was more then enough room to sit."

"Let me down," Wufei whispered, but Treize only bent far enough so that Wufei could lay his hands on the various pouches and containers. Realizing he wouldn't be allowed to stand on his own, the sorcerer sighed in resignation and glanced over the pile. "Could you push those things to one side?"

Feeling cooperative, Dorothy swept everything to the end of the table and waited while everyone watched.

"That one," Wufei said, pointing at a green pouch. "Set it aside."

She pushed it to the empty space, and a moment later five other items joined it. Wufei stared at each one, ignoring the curious looks from everyone else, and dropped his burned hand on top of them. Three seconds later, he brought his hand up to Nataku, who slurped an invisible something down her throat.

"All done," Wufei told Treize.

"That's it?" he asked.

"See," Wufei smiled despite his headache. "I said it would be no problem."

"If you're finished," Heero started, "then one of you can tell us what happened in that dungeon."

Not even moving to lay Wufei down, Treize kept him in his arms as he started his report. He glossed over the messy details, but the relief etched in their collective faces showed him the exclusion was appreciated. The memory of those undead things was bad enough.

"Hold on," Trowa said, holding one hand up. He found a sheet of scribe's paper in the desk, took out a quill and dipped it in a little bottle of ink. "Repeat that part."

"They said, 'false guards will strike as the meteor falls and return the unclean protection to the dying dragons'," Treize said so that Trowa could get it all down. "They said the purpose was to take 'this kingdom, and another, and another. And to take the Chinese sorcerer'." He tightened his arms around Wufei, who couldn't help a tiny noise rising up from his throat. Treize gave him an apologetic look and loosened his hold.

"Did they say anything about this meteor?" Heero asked.

Treize shook his head. "Wufei asked, and they said very little. Only that it was a 'bloody hammer of light' dropped by a 'family of hearts'."

"Anything else?" Trowa looked up.

"Just that the master is 'the tiger' named 'O'."

"Is everything a damn riddle?" Dorothy said, sitting on the edge of the table.

Wufei gave a humorless chuckle. "Not quite. I think I know who the tiger is. I met him briefly after I left my clan."

"Another sorcerer?" Heero asked.

Wufei nodded. "I hadn't thought he was a necromancer, though. Laoshi O has a tiger fetish, but he isn't very creative with his spells. At least he wasn't when I saw him."

Dorothy tilted her head. "Is that trick with 'magicking' blood pretty common?"

Wufei didn't bother to correct her words. "No...using death in so cavalier a manner...is dishonorable. And rare. Someone must have shown him how."

"This 'family of hearts'," Trowa said softly.

"Is there anything else?" Heero asked his sorcerer.

Wufei shook his head. "Just a fight and some sorcery. Nothing relevant."

Heero turned his attention to Treize. "That's all. I'll fill you in on what we find out later, and I'll send Sally to your room right now."

Startled by Heero's consideration, Treize smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Your Highness." With a small tilt of his head, he took his leave of the group and disappeared from the library. One of the Maganacs shut the door behind him.

Heero moved to his mirror. "Sally."

The reflection turned dark, followed by a surprised "mmph" and a thud. Candlelight sparked somewhere out of sight, giving him a dim view of Sally's face. "Yes, Heero?"

What the...? Heero shook the thought away. "Go down to Treize's room. Wufei could use your attention."

She gave him a look that clearly said what, now?, but she didn't argue. "Yes, sir."

Heero waved the mirror off, but just as his reflection began to return he heard an irritated curse in a voice that was definitely not Sally's. He blinked once, then realized what the earlier thud had been. Poor Une.

Back in his seat, Duo forced down a few breaths of air, choking on a handful of final sobs before wiping the back of his sleeve across his face to get rid of his tears. The steady voices and relative quiet eased his emotions back to a reasonable level, and he yawned once, stretching his tired muscles. Hard to believe that stretching over Heero's lap for hours could be so tiring. Or that thirty seconds of blind terror could be exhausting.

"Well, shall we begin?" Dorothy asked. She pulled a chair the table and straddled it, leaning over the wooden back and opening a purse.

Trowa and Heero opted to remain standing and watched as she dumped a few golden coins onto the table.

"That's it?" she sighed. "Damn, this one was hard to get, too."

"The one's that were spelled would probably be the most valuable," Trowa noted. He picked up a green bag and popped open the top. A tiny slip of rolled paper spilled out, and Trowa scooped it up before Dorothy could. Ignoring her angry grunt, he opened it and then promptly gasped at the contents.

"What is it?" she asked, leaning closer.

Grimacing, he turned it towards her. Rendered in agonizing minutiae lay a sketch of Her Royal Majesty Queen Relena...sans clothing. Her hair was a bit too long and her eyes were off-center, but it was all unmistakably her.

"Duo!" Dorothy yelled, holding the distinctive bag up. "Who'd you get this off?"

At her voice, the thief cringed and yanked his blanket to his throat, using it as a shield between him and the assassin. "Uh...some guy in a chicken outfit!"

Silence. They all looked at each other to see if everyone else had heard the same thing. Even Quatre looked up in surprise.

"What?" Heero asked.

"He had big white feathers," Duo clarified. "An' red ones mixed in, and his mask looked like a chicken beak."

"I think he means a Sank bird of paradise," Quatre said. "It would look like a chicken on someone...um, too...big...for the costume."

"But Noventa was the only one wearing one!" Dorothy protested. Her eyes widened when she realized that could only mean one thing, and her voice dropped to a whisper. "Noventa? Oh my..."

"He's old enough to be her grandfather," Trowa winced.

Even the guards looked sickened.

"I'll get rid of this," Dorothy grumbled, stuffing it somewhere in her clothing. "And pluck him, while I'm at it."

"Wow," Duo murmured. "I didn't think Trowa could ever look upset."

Quatre smiled broadly and gazed at his master. "I know...it's wonderful seeing him like this. He's usually so cold...especially after he wears that awful black mask."

Duo nodded, then froze. He sat straight up and stared at Trowa, eyeing his entire costume. He bit his lip. Maybe...but would he be allowed to say anything right now? To a king? But he had to find out, or else he'd be in big trouble...

"Duo, how'd you get all this without being seen?" Trowa suddenly asked.

Duo blinked and stared stupidly for a moment before he could think up a decent reply. But shouldn't he--oh, that's right. He's an assassin, not a thief... "Oh...a lifetime of practice. Besides, no one was watching me..." He closed his eyes. "Trowa?"

"Yes?"

"What kind of mask were you wearing at the dance?"

The young monarch gave him an odd look, but he pulled a scrap of black cloth from his pocket and held it up. "Just this." His eyes narrowed as Duo shrank back into the blanket. "Why?"

"Um...the black pouch..." Duo squeaked. "On the table."

Trowa looked down. "Which one? There are several--" He stopped as he noticed exactly which one in particular and quietly scooped it up, turning the bag over in his hand. He opened it, looked inside, and quietly drew the string shut again. Without another word, he put it back in his pocket.

Heero smirked as he walked over to the table. "Duo, you didn't...?"

"I didn't know it was you, honest!" Duo glanced over at Quatre, trying to gauge his reaction.

The blonde seemed stunned, with his blue eyes opened wider than usual. "He...picked your pocket?"

Trowa paused, then nodded once.

A snicker came from the corner, and they all noticed one of the Maganacs shaking with stifled laughter. The other could hide it better, but even his face turned a light shade of pink.

Trowa gave Duo a harsh look. "All right, you didn't know. Don't do it again."

Heero couldn't help his soft laughter as he leaned over the table and picked up a wooden bamboo case. "And what was in there, brother? A picture of your fantasy?"

Trowa gave a smile that did not reach his eyes, reminding everyone in the room why it was best to stay on his good side. "No, just a list of monarchs I have yet to visit late at night."

Dorothy grabbed a bag and overturned it. Bright red rubies dropped out and spilled on the floor. "Silly me, I thought one prince would be enough for you." She took two of the larger stones and tossed them to Quatre and Duo, who caught one each. Something to keep them occupied.

"Like your queen is enough for your tastes?" Trowa said.

Dorothy smiled.

Heero opened up the case and narrowed his eyes. "Wufei said Laoshi O has a tiger fetish?"

They all looked up. Trowa nodded. "What'd you find?"

Heero dropped the box, holding up a roll of paper sealed with red wax and a tiger paw imprint. "I think this is what we're looking for."

"Which one of you stole that?" Trowa asked.

"I think that one's Duo's, too," Dorothy said. "You picked up a lot, thief."

Duo, pleased at the praise, grinned. "I've got a reputation to keep up."

Heero broke the seal and stretched the paper out. "Sp. Failed. Give guards bug. Duke."

"Duke?" Duo wondered. "Failed what?"

"The assassination attempt," Quatre answered. "I wonder what the next mission is."

"Duo--?" Heero started to ask, but his slave knew exactly what he wanted.

"I took it out of Septem's pants."

"How'd you know it was him?"

"I heard him talking during the dance. He's got a really weird voice. Couldn't miss it, even with a mask."

"Then the duke would be Dermail," Dorothy said. "Grandfather."

Trowa stared at his brother. "Is this the proof you wanted?"

Heero nodded once. "Yes. This is it."

"Now what do you do?" Duo asked.

"He might be a duke, but he's still my subject," Heero said, his voice devoid of emotion. "I will summon him here, along with the rest of Romefeller."

"There's still Oz to think about," Trowa warned him. "He's got his own personal army mixed in yours."

"With any luck, Zechs and Noin should have a list ready for me."

"Not to mention that they're actually J's subjects, not yours."

"That should change in a few days."

"Heero..." Trowa, becoming impatient at his brother's stubbornness, grabbed a bag only to drop it as something squirmed around in the velvet. "What on earth? It moved!"

Dorothy frowned and took out a small knife. With a little flourish, she sliced the top of the bag off and let out the black scorpion hidden inside. "Ugh. Nasty." She grabbed the back of the tail with one hand, the two pinchers with her other, pulled, and then flipped the two parts casually out the window. "We get those all the time in Sank. Rotten little bastards."

"Someone was expecting thieves," Trowa nodded.

"No, I think that was intended for one of us later tonight. Check your beds before you go to sleep."

Quatre gave a little squeak, but Duo smiled at him. "Relax, those are easy to kill."

"You've seen those things before?"

"I woke up with 'em all the time."

"Do you remember who had it?" Quatre asked.

"I don't think that was mine," Duo admitted.

"It wasn't," Dorothy said, flipping her hair back. "I took it from one of your guards."

"I think it's safe to assume that was plan two," Heero said.

Trowa looked up. "To be delivered by Oz guards."

A knock on the door startled all of them, so everyone with a weapon drew while the slaves curled up on their seats.

"Who is it?" Heero demanded.

"Just me, Sally. It's urgent."

After a nod from Heero, the guard closest to the door opened it, then locked it again when Sally stepped through. She hesitated when she saw all the sharp, pointy bits of steel aimed at her. "It's just me!"

"What did you want?" Heero asked as they all lowered their weapons.

She glanced sideways at the guards and Dorothy. "Can I speak freely?"

Heero nodded.

"It's about J...I just came back from Treize's room..."

*

"I can stand on my own," Wufei said. "Let me down."

Treize ignored his slave's tired voice and booted open his door, stepping in and kicking it closed before he walked to the bed. He lay Wufei on the blankets and gathered the two pillows up, stacking them behind his lover before he allowed him to lean back. Still, even though he was half-upright, Treize had to put his hand on Wufei's chest to force the boy to keep still. "Don't move."

"But Treize--"

"Either you don't move, or I will tie you to the bed," Treize warned him. "Don't argue."

Wufei read the muted frustration on his master's face and gave in, laying still when Treize stood up. "I'm not that tired, though."

"Then don't sleep," Treize said, choosing not to bicker about that. "Sally will be here soon anyway, so it's probably best if you stay awake until then." He undid the buttons on Wufei's overcoat and opened it, slipping it off and out from under him. Treize then moved to take off Wufei's pants, but the sorcerer balked and grabbed at his master's hand.

"Treize! Sally will be here!"

"She's a healer," Treize tried to keep his patience. "Besides, it's not like she's never seen you before."

"But I was unconscious at the time," Wufei said.

Treize stroked his cheek and smiled. "And now you aren't. Now hush." He finished stripping his slave but conceded by laying a thin sheet over his lower half.

There was a knock on the door, and before either of them could answer, Sally walked in, yawning as she shut the door again. "Y'know, sane people wait until daylight before doing weird shit."

"What?" Treize wondered.

"That way they don't bother their doctor all hours of the night," she griped. She dragged the spare chair from the side of the room to the bed and plopped down, bringing her bag on her lap. "What happened?"

"Nothing serious," Wufei complained, but no one listened to him.

"His hand is burnt, he's got a fever and he was unconscious for awhile."

Sally spotted the hand with the red mark and seized it, laying it palm up on the mattress. "Oh, it's nothing to worry about. Don't move," she said, glaring at her patient. She took a small jar out of her bag and sprinkled the contents on a bit of cotton cloth, then pressed it into the burned palm and began to wrap gauze around it, holding it in place.

"That'll kill some of the pain," she told them. "It should heal fast, but don't use that hand for a week or so." She then lay her hand on Wufei's forehead and shook her head. "Mm, you do have a fever, but it's not bad. The usual should keep that down. Do you need a cloth for it?"

Treize shook his head. "I have one by the wash basin."

She nodded. "Now, you said he was unconscious?"

"Only for a few moments," Wufei said.

"But why?" she asked.

"The second spell came through so fast it slammed into my own spell. Since that was connected to me, I received the backlash. I felt...everything."

"Everything?" Treize asked.

Wufei closed his eyes and lowered his head. Treize put his hand on Wufei's, trying to reassure him, but the sorcerer wouldn't say anything else.

With a sympathetic wince, Sally stood. "He probably just needs a lot of bed rest," she said in a soft voice. "Can he take the next few days off?"

"Of course. I shouldn't have made him do this so soon, but we had no choice."

"I understand. I'm not surprised he passed out, though. His fainting spells have been getting worse and...worse..." A strange expression crossed her features. "Treize, how many times has he fainted lately?"

Treize tilted his head. "Now in the dungeon, before when he put the wards back up, then again at the garden."

She frowned in thought. "I know those wards are tough to keep up, but still. He should have recovered by now. He shouldn't be fainting with every spell."

"I managed to keep the illusions up at dinner," Wufei said in a sullen voice. He didn't even raise his eyes.

"Yes, shallow spells that don't take much effort," Treize said. "That's why I let you in the first place. Sally, what are you getting at?"

"Mm. Maybe nothing, but I want to be sure. Hold on." She turned and went to Wufei's trunk, kneeling and looking through the assortment of charms and gems.

"Watch it, you could trip something!" the sorcerer snapped, but she didn't acknowledge him.

After half a minute she stood up with a clear ball of crystal in one hand. Careful not to drop it, she carried it to the bed and held it out. "Wufei, take it."

He continued to stare at the bed sheets.

Treize frowned, his anger rising at the refusal. "Wufei?"

This time Wufei screwed his eyes shut and shook his head.

"Disobedient little slave," Treize whispered, his voice harsh. "Do I have to fight you to make you well again?"

"Treize, please." Black eyes looked up into blue. "Please don't make me."

The officer leaned back. For Wufei to plead like that, and in front of Sally no less, made absolutely no sense. He made no movement, didn't turn his head again or cry, he simply stared at his lover.

Treize shook his head once. "I'm sorry. You must." He picked the crystal globe up from Sally, turned Wufei's hand over and placed the ball in the open palm.

"Well?" Sally prodded, not waiting a second.

Treize lay his hand on Wufei's arm. "It's all right," he murmured. "You know I love you."

All the fight left Wufei, and he lowered his head even more. With a droop in his shoulders, he concentrated. A faint light sparked in the globe, then grew in strength after a moment. Treize and the doctor waited, but it didn't burn any brighter. Wufei hissed painfully as he fought to pour more energy into the ball, but nothing he did helped any. After another few seconds, the light faded again.

"You can usually make that thing shine like a star," Treize said, taking the ball away. "Now it's hardly a candle."

"I'm just tired," Wufei insisted. "I've been casting spells left and right, and especially after that burst on the roof--"

Treize set his fingertips on Wufei's lips, shushing him. "Don't lie to me. You should have recovered almost immediately. You should have regained all your lost magick. But you haven't."

"I think he is regenerating energy," Sally said. "But he's not receiving any of it. It's pouring into someone else. In fact, I don't think Wufei has enough for another spell now, or else he'd be hiding his scars."

Wufei drew his hands back self-consciously, but didn't respond.

"But where's that energy going?" Treize wondered. "Can't you tell us?"

The sorcerer only twisted the sheet in his hands.

"He's likely forbidden from admitting anything," Sally shook her head and smiled ruefully. "Well, it explains a lot. A hell of a lot."

"What does?"

"Isn't it obvious?" she asked. "Wufei's been keeping J alive."

*

"You're serious?" Heero whispered.

Sally folded her arms. "Of course. But I don't know why he'd do it. J can't even get out of bed, what's the point of extending that kind of life?"

"You only see him once a day," Heero said. "He might not be as weak as we think. I think it's time I had a talk with him."

"But you'll be asking him to kill himself," Dorothy gasped.

"He should have been dead days ago. And a crippled sorcerer is no use to me." Heero stepped close to Duo and took his hands, lifting him to his feet. "You need to come with me."

"We'll finish going through the bags," Trowa said a little too quickly, finding a fast excuse to stay put.

Dorothy smirked, but she kept her comments to herself. "I'll help, but then I must get back to Miss Relena."

Quatre quietly stood up, wrapping the cloak tight around his shoulders, and walked over to Trowa. He nudged under one arm and leaned hard so that his master had to hug him close. "I'm right beside you," he murmured.

Trowa took a deep breath to settle his racing heart and gave him a little kiss on the top of his head. "I know, angel. Want to open one?"

Quatre nodded and shook three small knives out of a white bag. "Knives?"

"Duo!" Dorothy gasped, grabbing her knives. "How the hell--!"

Duo snuggled against Heero. "Sorry, I didn't know it was you! It was hard to see everything."

Heero smirked as he whisked Duo out of the room, away from the irate assassin.

*

Duo's spirits, high from his successful work during the masquerade, gradually diminished the farther Heero took him. Although he could still hear the musicians and the dancers in the distance, they met fewer and fewer people in the hallways until they were completely alone in a part of the palace Duo did not recognize. After a few minutes of walking, they came to a small wooden door cut into a corner and hidden in deep shadow. Heero reached forward and grabbed the handle, turning it three times to the right and once to the left. There was a satisfying click as something fell into place and the lock opened.

Duo cringed when he heard the door creak on rusty hinges. "What is it?"

"Stairs," Heero said. "Narrow, and steep." He seized Duo's hand, twining their fingers together. "Don't let go of me. I don't want you getting lost or falling."

Duo frowned. Heero's skin was cool, almost clammy. "You scared?"

Heero shook his head. "Just nervous. You'll see why."

After the first few steps, Duo realized Heero had not exaggerated when he said steep. The door shut behind them, and neither of them could see anything in the sudden pitch black. Duo put his hand on the wall and came up with a wooden beam running along the cold stone.

"Can you feel the railing?" Heero whispered.

Duo nodded before he remembered Heero couldn't see him. "Is that this long thing on the wall?"

"Yes, hang onto it. If you start to fall, it'll hold you up."

"How far do we have to go?"

"Not too far. Not far enough." Heero tightened his hold on Duo's hand, squeezing hard enough to make him wince. "Don't be afraid. I'll be right by you the whole time. Just don't touch anything or get close to the king."

"Heero, what's down there?" His soft shoes slid along one of the steps and he grabbed the rail. He didn't slip, but the sudden pounding in his chest did not help his confidence.

"It's J's personal laboratory," Heero answered. "I don't know exactly what he has, he'd never let me know, but I don't think I'd want to know." He sighed and forced himself to continue moving. "I hope this is the last time I ever come down here." Burn the damn place out once and for all.

"Spreading lies about me again?"

Heero halted so fast that Duo bumped into him. When they looked down, they saw a thin ray of green light gleaming from the cracked door at the foot of the stairs, and the high pitch of metal creaking against metal made them wince.

"Well, come down, boys. No use staying up there."

Duo squirmed every time he heard that thin, mocking voice. It sounded unnatural, as if the monarch spoke out of a metal tube. Heero put his arm around Duo's waist, drawing him forward when the slave tried to back up. Before he could place his hand on the door, however, it was pulled open from the inside.

"Really, Heero, you probably have that poor boy thinking I'm going to eat him. I would have thought that was your specialty."

Duo sniffled at the crude joke, made more emotional by the surging adrenaline and the unfamiliar territory. Still, he wiped his eyes and allowed Heero to tug him into the laboratory. A sick smell nearly drove them back, nauseating Duo who coughed violently for a moment.

The green light didn't penetrate even halfway across the room, leaving most of the area obscured in shadows. All they could make out nearby were dark silhouettes of tables and odd shapes, some of them moving, most not. Small flames reflected underneath glass beakers and vials, creating glowing colored liquids that bubbled and vaporized.

Across the room the king's body blocked some of the light, which apparently came from whatever he was manipulating. Duo could see he was dressed in white, which surprised him since he expected J to be covered in blood stains, but he also noticed the lack of one arm and the hanging useless sleeve.

Duo glanced back and forth from the king to the door, then frowned. "How'd he open the door?" he whispered to his master.

"I didn't," J replied smoothly. He gazed over his shoulder, the light glaring off the glass over his eyes, and smiled. "You did."

Confused, Duo looked at Heero, who didn't reply.

"Oh, you haven't told him yet." J's smile turned into a grin. "Since when do you have such a high regard for other people's emotions?"

"You know why I've come," Heero stated.

J's smile vanished. "True." He turned back to his work. "It won't be long now. Wufei is powerful, but even he can't stop the reaper. I didn't think I'd need so much time, but...light the torches, Heero."

A snap of Heero's fingers and the torches lined along the wall burst into flame. Duo waited for his eyes to adjust and took a look around. The fires and liquids were the same, only now he could see more of the glass contraptions that distilled and gathered gases and fluids. Wooden tables held dissected animals, most of them rotting with age, which told Duo what was releasing the unbearable odor.

On a close table he could see three severed arms, all in varying state of decay. The most recent still had its skin, but it was turning green and warping. Another was nothing but a mess of muscle and veins colored black and clinging to bone. The third was a mere skeleton, polished white. Each lay half submerged in a tub filled with violet water, and each of them twitched, the fingers curling into an occasional fist before relaxing again.

Duo edged closer to Heero, but he couldn't help his curiosity. The opposite table held a jar filled with clear water and two tan orbs connected by a string. When he stared, the orbs opened, revealing eyes in skin upturned as if they were dead. Worse, they blinked.

Of course there were more ordinary items, knives still covered in gore, trays and innocuous jars lined on clean tables, but these could not compare with the shelves lined with bottles labeled bats scream, basilisk gaze, dragon breath or ravens omens. Cobwebs covered almost everything, adding to the thick dust that lay even on a skinned snake that wriggled in its own blood.

"Heero..." Duo whimpered, shutting his eyes and standing close.

The prince drew him farther into the lab, guiding him past the worst displays until they stood near the king himself. "What was so important you had to force my sorcerer into silence?"

J chuckled and held something up before them. "This...my Zero."

*

TBC...