27-Oct-2000

Demons by bonnejeanne & vonceia

Part 21

Not waiting for an invitation, Zechs moved to the man on his knees. He hauled Elvay up off the floor and slammed him, face first against the wall. Reaching inside his coat pocket, he removed a simple grooved restraint and pulled Elvay's hands behind his back. Working quickly, he secured the fallen priests wrists together tightly. "We are going to become very *close* for a short time," he growled. Leaning closer, he added. "Understand this. I regard you with the same amount of concern and feeling you had for the Sanc Kingdom and the people of L2... none." Moving back, he turned the man around and found his communicator. "Preventer Wind. Code Z, Subject Elvay, subset Zandor... captured. Units 2 and 3 are cleared to move in," he said to Operations at Preventer Headquarters.

Elvay's eyes widened. He shivered as he felt the all too solid hands of the ghost of Milliardo Peacecraft touch his body. Panting in fear as he looked into those dead glacier-blue eyes, he felt a sudden compulsion to speak. "Milliardo!" he said, suddenly. "I know that you are dead...but... y...you should know... Be warned! ... H...he's a demon!" Elvay whispered urgently, glancing at Duo then back to the 'ghost'. "Can't you hear me?! Duo Maxwell is... argghhhh!!!!" he tried, then squeezed his eyes shut. The whispered voices on the edge of his consciousness rose and crested into laughing and cackling inside his head. There was nowhere to turn.

Zechs grabbed the front of his robe pushed him against the wall again. "Silence," he said, simply.

Heero went to where Zechs was standing with Elvay. "Evidence," he said, looking at the man closely. He handed Zechs the recording from his personal device. "That should be enough, if not, just leave us alone for a few minutes."

"It will be enough, Heero." Zechs said, with a slight smile.

Moments later Preventer agents moved into the room, led by Monsignor Simon. The Monsignor looked around at all of the trappings in the room and sighed deeply. It was disturbing to him to find this hidden in the heart of consecrated ground. He saw Elvay standing next to Preventer Wind and walked over. "A moment, please," he said to Zechs.

Zechs nodded and signaled the agents to comply with the Monsignor's wishes. He, however, stayed close by.

Elvay opened his eyes, moaning slightly. Seeing Monsignor Simon, he felt the touch of the Accuser once again. "Ahhh!!! The Accuser comes! Simon... I have ...done ... so much... I confess!!! Robardi died by my hands! I strangled the life from his body. He was in my way! You, his toy, I thought were of no consequence...." he said, with a slight snarl. Then, Elvay chuckled, maniacally. "I was wrong on that one, wasn't I? You were more tenacious than your predecessor... My... rival! Did you know that I once thought to take you?"

Monsignor Simon took a step back, repulsed and shaken by Elvay's words. "My god," he said, softly as he watched and heard his own suspicions confirmed.

Elvay smiled, "I did, little blue eyed angel," he continued. " Ask Thomas... I nearly had *him*. Though the both of you were a little old for my tastes.... Arghhhhh!!!!" Elvay added, screeching in pain and revulsion as the darkness slithered through his soul. He looked up once more. "He's a demon... You are not safe! Duo!" he said, naming the presence.

Duo, close enough to hear the man's words, had clenched his teeth in reflex at the 'old for my taste'. He looked up and over at Monsignor Simon, his chin lifting.

Heero took a step forward, but Zechs placed a hand on his arm. Heero stilled, but his deep blue eyes flashed with murder.

Duo turned towards Elvay, his violet eyes cold, devoid of any hint of compassion for the man before him. He had one loose end to tie up, and he proceeded by sheer will. With his memories now almost entirely whole, the face in front of him caused revulsion and rage, but he kept it under control.

"Where are the books, you bastard?" Duo growled, stalking towards the restrained man.

Elvay snarled and panted. Then he blinked and hit his head against the wall. "Here!" he cried out, pitifully. "Concealed."

Duo approached the wall, hoping to hell that Zechs would pull Elvay out of his way or he'd be tempted to kick him out of the way.

Monsignor Simon moved back, watching and listening to everything.

Zechs took Elvay's arm and pulled him out of Duo's path. He didn't bother being gentle.

Duo examined the wall carefully, running his sensitive hands over its surface. He frowned slightly, then nodded, and there was a soft click, as a part of the wall slid back, revealing a small hidden chamber. The opening was filled with what appeared to be antique volumes, books of odd shapes and sizes. Duo stopped for a moment, staring at these books that he had not seen since he was eight years old.

He took a deep breath and pulled them out, cradling them against his body. He felt a mixture of emotions, seeing them. They still had the power to evoke remembered terror, but he understood what lay inside them now, as he had not so many years ago.

He carried the stack of tomes to Monsignor Simon and put them down at his feet.

"This is what I found in his luggage, when I was a kid, at the Maxwell Orphanage," he said, looking into Monsignor Simon's blue eyes.

Monsignor Simon bent down and picked up one of the books. Bending his head, he prayed for strength as the pieces of information fit together. He now had a clearer understanding of what had happened to Duo Maxwell while he was supposed to be in the loving arms of Mother Church.

Looking up at Duo, the Monsignor nodded, his face full of deep sorrow. Standing, he touched Duo's shoulder. "My dear son," he said, "There is not enough regret or apology in this world or the next for the evil that has been done to you. If it were in my power to do so, I would give you back what you lost. But I am not blessed with those abilities." He then looked deeply into Duo's eyes. " I feel that we are all joined here because the evil has touched each of us. Duo, I know it will never be enough, but this is what I can and must do." Turning, Monsignor Simon looked at Elvay. "Anthony Elvay," he spoke clearly into the room. "You have committed unspeakable acts and blasphemy against the Mother Church. As witnessed by those present, and the evidence in this room, you have defiled holy ground. You are hereby and forthwith excommunicated from the Church and are thereby stripped of all rights and entitlements granted to you as a member of the Ecumenical Council. So say us all?" the Monsignor said, tapping the device at his waist. "So say us all," said the other members of the Council through the speaker of the device.

Elvay looked up, hearing the words. Suddenly, he laughed. "Weak, pathetic fools!" he shouted, then felt the darkness press in on him once again. This time it came to him as glowing embers and ever shifting swirling mists. "No!!" he screamed in a voice that could only be heard inside his head.

Simon turned back to Duo. Taking his hands, the Monsignor smiled a sad smile, squeezing them tightly. "As I said before, should you need me, let me know."

Duo looked Monsignor Simon in the eye. "Thank you, sir, but right now I just want to go home. What will you do with the books?"

Monsignor Simon looked up at Duo and shook his head. "I have no idea," he said.

"Then may I keep them?" Duo asked quietly.

The Monsignor studied Duo thoughtfully for a moment. "Yes, you may," he said. "It is not the books themselves that are at issue. It's what is done with the ideas presented in those books. However, I feel that they would be safe in your hands."

"Maybe the books aren't evil," Duo said, "But they attract those who are weak enough to want power over others, any way they can get it. Unfortunately there are still a lot of people like that. I owe it to some... friends, to keep them out of the hands of those who would do as... he did."

"Then take them with my blessings," Monsignor Simon said. "Oh, I wish to tell you that Father Thomas is now on his way to L2."

Duo smiled, a genuine, almost radiant smile, for a brief few moments. "I'm glad to hear it," he said. "He's needed. Good people are always needed."

"Yes," Monsignor Simon agreed as his eyes moved around the room. "I agree."

"Excuse me, sir," Zechs asked. "Are you done with him?"

Monsignor Simon nodded.

The Preventer agents moved in quickly. In moments they had Anthony Elvay in custody and escorted him to a vehicle outside under heavy guard.

The once proud man was reduced to muttering unintelligible words to himself as he was whisked away to justice.

Duo's eyes flickered as the agents took Elvay out. He watched, and when the man was out of sight, his shoulders relaxed ever so slightly. He looked up at Zechs, catching his eyes and said, simply, "Thank you... I didn't remember a lot of stuff when I was here before. It took some time to work it out. I didn't know until Wufei told me, that he'd done things to hurt your family as well. I'm sorry, Zechs."

"No need, Duo." Zechs replied, touching Duo's cheek. "My family will rest peacefully now." He glanced at Wufei then back. "Justice has been served," he added, feeling himself relax a bit was well.

Wufei smiled slightly.

"I thank you," Monsignor Simon said. "Now, I will rest easier as well. Peace be with you all," he said, taking his leave.

Trowa, who had been standing next to Quatre, walked over to Duo and hugged him hard. "You ok?" he asked softly.

Duo nodded. "Yes," he said, and smiled. "I'm glad you guys were here."

Quatre followed his friend the clown and took a turn hugging Duo as well. "We wouldn't have missed it for anything," he gushed, deliberately sounding like someone at a party. Then his expression became more serious. He touched Duo's cheek. "You've been through a lot," Quatre said. "But I can feel you... getting stronger. You've always been one of the strongest of us anyway. But I'm glad you aren't trying to do it alone any more."

Duo laughed softly. "I think I've just been scolded," he said. "Although Quatre's always so polite it's hard to tell." He hugged the blond boy again and stepped back.

Quatre had a few questions about what they had witnessed, but he felt that this wasn't the time or place to get answers. He grabbed Trowa's hand. "Let's go find a circus somewhere," he said. "It's either that or take you shopping!"

"Sure thing," Trowa said, waving a gloved hand at the others in the room and following the blond Arabian.

Wufei looked at Zechs. "Thank you for coming when I called you," he said quietly. "It seemed right that you should be here."

Zechs took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I agree," he said. "And I thank you for calling me. I just wished I could have done more." He felt some of the tension and anger subside.

Wufei watched the tall blond for a moment. "What will you do now?"

Zechs looked down at Wufei and smiled. "I feel as though I can put all of the chains I've been carrying down. Practically speaking, I will probably get in touch with my sister soon. There are things about her family that she needs to know. But, even before that, I must tell you that because of you, I have found a great part of myself, Wufei, and I now understand the gift you have given me. No man can ever be worthy of the kind of love you have shared with me and worthiness does not matter anyway. I just know that you have made sacrifices and allowed me the time to understand myself and my actions." Taking Wufei's hands, Zechs brought them to his lips and kissed them, sighing deeply.

"Now," he said, closing his eyes briefly, "I have found where I left a great part of my heart, Wufei. I need to find out things one way or the other." Bending slightly, Zechs kissed Wufei's lips. "We will always be, but I think it's time for you to return to your heart as well, my love," he said, softly.

Wufei listened, his head tilting slightly to one side. "My heart led me to you, Zechs," he said quietly. "Remember that. But you are right, I have something I need and want to return to." Wufei leaned forward and kissed the tall blond deeply, with the unmistakable fire that was his alone. "Go, reclaim your heart," he said, drawing back. "Perhaps you will even teach him to find his."

Zechs nodded, as he thought of the man in the garden. He smiled and then moved quietly out of the room.

Wufei watched Zechs' graceful exit. He looked up to meet Heero's eyes and crossed the small space that separated them.

Heero's cobalt blue eyes scanned Wufei's dark ones, then glanced to the door. "How are you?" he asked, moving closer to him, now that they were almost alone in the room.

Wufei smiled slightly. "I'm okay," he answered quietly. "I'm ready to come home."

Duo walked up to the two and stood close, smiling almost shyly at Wufei's words.

"Hai," Hero said, then embraced Wufei tightly. Once again, he felt that sense of relaxation and peace that he had come to know as love. "What about Zechs?" he asked, concerned about the tall blond as well.

Wufei blushed slightly. "He's got things to settle... with Treize," he said.

Duo crossed the small distance between he and Wufei, wrapping his arms around the Chinese boy. "Let him," he said, resting against Wufei much as he had against Heero earlier, drawing strength. "Missed you."

Wufei returned the embrace, his eyes widening slightly. He looked over Duo's shoulder at Heero.

Duo stood back, looking down for a moment. Wufei said softly, "Are you all right?"

Duo looked up and nodded. "More so now," he said, looking from one to the other. He sighed.

"I got things to tell ya," he said quietly. "I'm glad you were here for a lot of reasons. Because I needed your help to get this done. And because you were here to hear his... confession - I don't think I'm going to enjoy retelling that part if I have to sometime. But when, when it happened... when I was a kid... I... I began hearing the voices of demons. I didn't remember when it started for a long time, or what made it start, they've just always been with me. So I figured I was crazy." Duo watched Wufei. "I was... I didn't want to tell you, or anyone, I didn't even want to tell Heero, really, cause I thought you would..."

Wufei reached up and placed his fingertips on Duo's lips gently. "I understand," he said, and his dark eyes were clear. "When we have time, I'll tell you about Meiran's ghost."

Duo's eyes widened and he nodded.

"What happened here, Duo?" Wufei asked softly.

Taking a deep breath, Duo looked from Wufei to Heero and back. "He... Elvay...has been playing with the occult, invoking demons and stuff, for a long time. But I guess to him it was kind of an exercise - he talked like he didn't believe any of it was real. Well, what happened... I'll give ya two versions to pick from. Either he was wrong, and it backfired on him, or he was right, and his mind snapped." Duo shrugged. "When you think about it, either one works just fine."

Wufei thought about what he had witnessed. "Hai," he said quietly. "Justice."

Heero watched Wufei and Duo closely. His dream was coming true. They were finding each other. 'Now we won't ever have to be alone again,' he thought. His eyes lingering on the Chinese pilot, Heero knew and understood what it took for Wufei to open up, let alone to speak about his deceased wife, Meiran. As for Duo, Heero knew that it would only be a matter of time before the braided pilot showed Wufei that most vulnerable side of himself which had captivated and totally enraptured his soul from the beginning.

Heero smiled slightly as he looked at Wufei, then at Duo. "Then, let's go home. The Wing is waiting."

"The... Wing?" Wufei said, glancing from one to the other. He smothered a laugh. Duo Maxwell and Heero Yuy were looking at him with almost identical expressions of innocence. Oh dear...

"Sugoi!" Duo said happily. He grinned. "Back to Duo's tiny little apartment..." he glanced slyly at Heero, a twinkle of mischief in his violet eyes.

Heero looked up at Wufei again. "We can do the big surprise when we get back," he said, patting Duo's back.

Duo's grin widened. He liked knowing something Wufei didn't know.

Wufei noted the word surprise and raised an eyebrow. "I see," he said.

Duo skipped over to the altar, wrinkling his nose slightly, and retrieved the fake artifact, which he tucked in a pocket.

"What *is* that thing, Duo?" Wufei asked, gathering up about half of the stack of books from the pile on the floor.

"It's a long story," Duo answered, rolling his eyes. "Which Heero will be happy to tell you on the way home," he added, and winked.

Wufei glanced at the person in question and tried it on: Heero Yuy, Storyteller. Ah ha.

"Hn," Heero said, sweeping the room with a last look, as Duo gathered up the rest of the tomes.

On the Demon Wing, Duo sat curled in Heero's lap, listening as Heero related the events that had taken place after the two of them had left Earth the last time. His lover's voice was soothing and Wufei's quiet attention slid across Duo's abraded nerves like cool silk, adding to his sense of safety and calm.

Relaxing bit by bit, Duo's eyelids dropped for a moment. His inner mansions seemed strangely empty and quiet... well, not so strangely. They'd been freed, his longtime mental companions, the hecklers, the instigators, the critics and reviewers with their taste for blood and sex.

We're all free, he thought. It was an odd sensation. Almost as odd as being bound and not knowing it, being protected from that shattering self-knowledge by...

Were you real? Duo asked silently, visualizing the empty darkness, no longer filled with glowing eyes and lashing tails. Or did I dream you, create you because I couldn't live with what happened? Are you gone because we found the mage's secret name? Or because I've healed enough to accept myself?

He'd told Wufei that it didn't really matter which explanation was true, they both worked. But listening with half an ear to Heero's telling, and Wufei's few brief comments, Duo asked the questions, knowing that there might never be answers.

What really happened?

Supported by the doubled sense of peace and safety, Duo opened up the mental box that had guarded his most firmly denied memory, and looked at it one more time.

Were you real, Astaroth? Duo thought, searching his memory. The recollection of the voice in his mind was as clear and distinct as it had ever been.

'What is real, darkchild?' the familiar timbre of cinnabar and midnight slid through his thoughts. The empty darkness of his visualization was no longer quite as empty.

'Astaroth,' Duo pronounced the name silently, feeling an odd sensation in his chest.

'Miss me?' the ebony demon asked, with a low, irreverent chuckle.

Duo didn't answer, but he smiled.

'Does this mean I'm still crazy?' he thought. 'Or that you are real?'

The master demon watched him with glowing eyes like barely banked fires. Duo sighed, knowing that, real or imagined, it was not in the demon's nature to answer a direct question plainly. And who could determine what reality was, anyway?

'Not long ago,' Astaroth mentioned, 'I gave you a memory. When you weren't ready for this one.'

Duo blinked, mentally. 'Shinigami.'

A year before the incident with then-Bishop Elvay, before Duo had come to live at Maxwell Church, he'd seen something he wasn't supposed to see. Shinigami... walking through the alleys of the colony, harvesting the souls of the dead. The god had seen him as well - turned to look with glowing green eyes that swirled with wisps of darkness.

'Was it real?' the ebony demon asked.

Duo had certainly thought so then. And later, after the massacre at Maxwell Church, he'd cried among the dead, believing he'd caused it all. His cries had seemed to stop the silent figure in its tracks then, and Duo had flung himself at the Death God's knees, only to fall through them like smoke. But the figure remained, watching him, glowing eyes weeping green mist as if in sympathy. It was then their silent pact had been made.

'I don't know,' Duo answered silently. He looked at the tall demon in his mind. 'I'll never know, will I?'

Astaroth smiled, baring ebony fangs. 'One day you'll know about Shinigami. But that day, I sense, is still far away, darkchild. As for us...'

'Yes?' Duo wondered, almost hopefully.

'We've been debating *your* reality for an eternity,' the demon returned. He laughed, and there was an answering mirth from the darkness.

Sighing, Duo smiled to himself. 'If you figure it out,' he quipped, 'Let me know.'

Whispers of amusement trailed out of the shadows, and Duo opened his eyes, to find both Heero and Wufei watching him quietly.

"What? Did I snore?" he asked.

"No, you smiled," Wufei answered, tilting his head.

"Hn," Heero confirmed, stroking Duo's braid lightly.

"No law against that!" Duo said. "And if there was... well, I guess I'd have to break it sooner or later."

End of Part 21 - TBC

What do you think?

bonnejeanne & vonceia

Please send comments to: bonnejeanne@yahoo.com or vonceia@yahoo.com

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