The outpost gates opened beneath the rain, iron teeth sliding apart while the Jeep rolled across the flooded checkpoint.
Nikolai sat in the back seat with Nikita’s coat still hanging loosely over his shoulders, his expression far calr than it had been when they left the construction site. The gloom had not vanished completely, but it no longer drowned his face.
Nikita, anwhile, kept wiping the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand with a faint burp as if to gain Selene’s attention.
He couldn’t help but feel she looked far too pleased with herself.
’I thought Selene would get more angry...’
His glance slipped from the pretty werewolf, across the seats and focused on the beautiful vampire carefully guiding their vehicle into the fortress outpost.
Though... sohow he felt this was worse. Her fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly while a faint, icy mist leaked from her skin, enveloping her and lowering the car’s interior temperature.
"Don’t say anything," Selene said as if she heard his thoughts.
"I didn’t..."
"You were about to."
Nikita’s big golden eyes peeked at the pair in wonder as she fluttered her lashes.
Nikolai leaned his head against the seat and closed his eyes.
The dense scent of wet dog, mossy stone and cheap coffee leaked from the window Selene had cracked open to remove the sll of his seed.
He couldn’t help but glance out the window, watching as patrol lamps swept over the courtyard. Ard guards stood under awnings with rifles pressed against their chests, their eyes flicking toward the Jeep before snapping away.
’They won’t be needlessly killed now...’
No, that was just wishful thinking.
The clones would get stronger and more perfect the longer this went on.
He needed to end things with Doctor Franz and the Nosferatu.
The Jeep rolled deeper into the outpost courtyard, tyres splashing through shallow puddles as the guards raised the barrier behind them.
Everything seed so restless beneath the slow, drenching rain. He watched with lazy eyes as the soldiers rushed between buildings with their collars raised, speaking amongst themselves, oblivious to the hell they would soon face.
Nikolai closed his eyes.
’Will they still die, even though I tried so hard...?’
He had no energy left for posturing.
Selene brought the Jeep to a smooth stop beside the main operations building. The mont the engine died, the cold mist around her body faded, though the air inside the vehicle remained unpleasantly chilly.
"You’re so petty."
Selene opened her door without looking at her.
"I have no idea what you an."
"You froze the car because you’re jealous."
"And?"
Nikita’s ears perked up proudly.
"Ehehe, she’s jealous of . I won!"
Selene stepped out into the rain and shut the door with enough force to make the nearest guard flinch.
Nikolai sat there for another breath, watching both won from the back seat. The stupid exchange should have annoyed him, but sohow it helped steady his heart, bringing peace as their voices kept the ugly mories from crawling back.
"Hm?"
To his surprise, Nikita jumped out of the jeep and rushed to Selene’s side after they stopped, then hugged Selene, not letting her go.
’Well, she’s always been a little strange.’
He just felt glad the won didn’t really hate each other; that might’ve made the future a little difficult to endure.
’I’d hate to be sandwiched between won who hate each other...’
He pulled his long coat tight, then stepped out of the jeep.
Cold rain struck his shoulders as the soldiers snapped to attention before his eyes.
"Patriarch!"
Nikolai gave them a short nod and walked past.
He couldn’t be bothered with a pretentious speech or greeting; there was no need for a useless delay. All he wanted was to hurriedly wash away the dirt that coated his body and return to their warm embrace.
At so point, the two won slowed their pace before Nikita quickly fell into step on his right while Selene walked on his left. The two of them sohow regained their full dignity despite what had happened in the car minutes earlier.
That alone almost made him laugh again.
"Lord Nikolai, the command room has been prepared. We also maintained contact with the hospital as requested."
Nikolai stopped.
"Good work."
His chest finally relaxed, knowing they could reach the hospital, allowed him to put his worries aside. To think that speaking with Kumiko and Rika would be enough to settle his nervous heart was a little embarrassing.
Nikolai tried to burn the officer’s face into his mory.
’I should rember this guy and give him a reward or sothing.’
"Connect to them once I’m inside."
"At once."
They entered the operations building, and almost instantly, warm air rolled over them, carrying the sll of damp uniforms, paper and bacon sandwiches.
Upon inspection, there was a small cafeteria near the entrance where several soldiers tried not to look at the trio.
Though they failed to contain their curiosity.
’Well, let ’em be.’
"Co on, let’s not disturb their als forever. If you’re hungry, we can eat later."
Nikolai dragged the two won away, his voice and expression much brighter than before.
There was a short walk to reach the command room.
He needed to scan his eyes and fingerprints to open the security lock. Only then did the doors shift with a hydraulic hiss and open vertically.
’Such a hassle.’
Nikolai walked into the command room and stood before the long table. Maps of the sea, the port, and the projected location range of the floating island were already spread out beneath weighted markers.
Red pins marked confird Nosferatu movents.
Black pins marked missing scouts.
There were several spherical and triangular drawings attached to the island, which Nikolai presud were the range and estimated danger zones of each bunker or cannon.
"It would seem that they’ve tightened their periter."
He rembered how easily they escaped the last ti they visited the island, and yet now... the number of gun batteries had tripled... they even had submarines and a few small ships available for battle.
The officer began explaining the map and the situation while Nikolai listened, staring at the sea chart.
He couldn’t help but focus on the man’s deep voice, the outpost noise dulling until it completely faded into silence. The world beca just him and the officer’s droning voice as images replayed back in his mind.
Franz had said his research was complete.
Alucard had retreated to the island and seed ready to start sothing.
The red moon still lood above them.
And he still didn’t know the limits to the clones and what they could beco.
He felt tired of it all.
His hands clenched tight before he shook his head, "Call the hospital, we can talk about this afterwards."
Yes, that was the right choice.
Nikolai would follow his instincts and so chose his wives over the attack plan. A soldier quickly adjusted the communication array near the wall. Static hissed through the room before the line cleared.
There was a brief mont of silence before Rika’s pretty face appeared on the monitor, with a large piece of fish in her mouth.
"Heh?!"
Her eyes widened as she seed to notice everyone else in the room, her cheeks slowly turning bright pink as she froze.
Rika’s lips remained wrapped around the fried fish as her pupils trembled.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Nikita burst out laughing.
She pointed at Rika, "Pfffft! W-What the hell are you doing?"
Rika slowly pulled the fish from her mouth, cheeks burning as she tried to regain her dignity. "I was eating! You know? Like normal people do before you lot called with twenty soldiers watching ."
Nikolai felt the corners of his lips twitch.
That was good.
The fact she was playing around with Nikita and arguing ant that Rika was alright... He couldn’t help but smile, seeing Rika embarrassed over sothing stupid was far better than seeing her bloodied or in danger. It reminded him that the hospital was still safe, that Kumiko and her were in safe hands.
"Where is Kumiko?"
Rika turned slightly, still red-faced. "Resting, they said she might be ready to give birth soon... so she wanted to restore so strength."
A soft voice ca from off-screen.
"I’m awake now."
The monitor shifted, and Kumiko appeared beside Rika, wrapped in a pale hospital blanket with one hand resting over her belly. Her hair was slightly ssy, and her face carried a subtle softness.
Nikolai’s chest tightened as he saw the real deal.
’It’s okay... she’s my Kumiko!’
"Kumiko."
He couldn’t help but almost shout her na... his hands gripping the steel table tight enough to warp and bend it.
She glanced up at him before shaking her head.
"Dear husband, you look quite horrid."
However, the way her gentle golden eyes shimred as she looked at him felt more soothing than any dicine or rest.
The way she seed so concerned about him was too much.
Nikita leaned closer to the monitor. "He was way worse earlier."
"Oh my, really? Then please do take care of our foolish husband, sotis he just doesn’t know his limits and keeps going and going until he almost breaks..."
"Okay!"
Nikita gave Kumiko a peace sign with her fingers, while Kumiko just covered her mouth and chuckled.
’Kumiko... your eyes aren’t laughing!’
Nikolai couldn’t help but cut in between them. "Kumi, Rika... make sure you stay in the hospital and don’t accept visitors unless they’re family..."
"I know, babe."
"Husband, I understand... but please don’t worry so much."
"I’ll co after this ends... I promise."
Kumiko’s face softened to his words, but she still held her wrist tightly as if concerned.
"Then finish quickly."
The line cut a mont later, leaving the command room silent.
Nikolai pressed a hand to his chest and sighed.
"Okay, forgive for making a fuss. Let’s continue the report."
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