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Sorry this chapter took so long to come out. I took a break from writing. But summer vacation is in 3 weeks so I will write a lot faster then! Ch.9 His brother cocked a eyebrow. "You don't look surprised." "I suspected it was you behind those incidents. I am surprised that you have the nerve to show your face around here. What do you want?" Seize smiled and pushed his fingertips together, his elbows resting on his desk. "The world of course. And you are the key to my victory. Your wealth, your power, your military." "And what makes you think I will give you those things?" Seize laughed lightly. "I have something you might want. My soldiers caught a young lady. She was trying to investigate one of my allies and I couldn't have that happening. I think she belongs to you." Treize's blood ran cold. "I don't know who you are talking about." Seize's eyes hardened. "Don't play innocent with me Treize. I know you too well. Why don't you come out of that castle of yours and we can negotiate. I have something you want and you have something I want. I think it would be a fair exchange." "How do I know you have her?" Seize reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a small silver chain. The necklace Treize gave Anne. There was no change in Treize's expression. But out of the range of the vid-com, his gloved hands clenched into fists. "What will it be Duke Kushrenada?" "Give me time to think about it." He said quietly. "Very well, you have 2 days. If you want to talk, meet me at the old, abandoned air-field 10 km from here. Come alone. I will be waiting." He started to turn away, but paused as he remembered something. "I suggest you don't try calling your Preventer friends. I have set up a intercepter that will record any radio signals. Goodbye, Treize." The screen went dark. The ceiling spun around for a while before slowly coming into focus. With out moving, Anne looked slowly around her. She was lying on what she assumed was a bed. The room she was in richly decorated. Paintings and tapestries hung from the walls and expensive furniture rested on the thick carpet. The bed she was laying on was large and soft. There was no one in the room. Anne sat up slowly. One hand went to the back of her neck and she winced as she brushed the lump there. It was then that she noticed that the necklace she wore was gone. Anne frowned. <They must have taken it. I will have to get it back. But I have other things to worry about now. > She got off the bed, her shoes sinking into the deep, soft carpet. She looked around for a way out. Anne tested the door, it was locked. She rapped on it gently. <Solid wood. The lock is made from thick steel. I couldn't force it open even if I had the right equipment. > She turned her attention to the windows. They were made from unbreakable glass and locked from outside. She looked around the room for something to break the glass, but the furniture was too heavy to be lifted. "Good afternoon." Anne whirled around, her hands moving into a defensive position. She stared at the person that just entered in surprise. <Treize! > She frowned as she took a closer look. <No, not Treize. > His voice was deeper and he looked older than Treize. His skin was tanned a deep golden brown by the sun and his eyes were a lighter shade of blue. However, besides these points, he resembled Treize very much from the gold military uniform to the elegant forked eyebrows. 2 soldiers bearing automatic rifles accompanied him. The man bowed. "Forgive me for bringing you here like this. I understand my men were unduly rough. Please accept my apologies." "Do you know who I am?" "Of course. You are Lady Une, Commander of the Preventers, former Countess and Colonel of OZ. Treize Kushrenada's ambassador to space, his bodyguard and his top assassin." Anne glared at him. "What do you want from me?" "From you? Nothing. I only needed you to lure Treize out." "You sent that assassin!" "Correct. You are quite bright." He took a few steps so he stood right in front of her. Anne held her ground. "Treize is a sly man. He couldn't be eliminated so easily. But he can't run forever. Once he is gone, the world is my to take." Anne looked at him like he was crazy. "Who are you?" He smiled. "I am Seize Kushrenada. Brother of Duke Treize Kushrenada." Anne stared at him in shock. "What? If you are his brother, why are you trying to kill him?" "He has what is rightfully mine." He paused slightly. "It's a long story. My father died before Treize was born. We were raise by my grandfather who disliked me and favored Treize. Things fell apart after the death of our mother. She was always trying to make peace between my Grandfather, Treize and me. Even though Treize was younger, he was as good, or maybe even better than me at everything. It didn't help that I argued constantly with my grandfather. I was banished to Brazil the when I was 15. I didn't loss all hope because there is one thing in my favor. As you know, the oldest son usually inherits all of the family's property. However, my Grandfather decided to change all that. On Treize's 18th birthday, he announced that the title of duke will go to Treize when he dies. There were members of the Foundation that opposed his decision, but he was the head of the Romeffelur then so they could do nothing about it. The will was to be written and legalized in one month. With a stroke of the pen, he was going to destroy my future. I couldn't allow it. I had partly expected this so I was prepared. I secretly returned to Europe. Luckily, Treize had left to fight a battle in space so I didn't have to deal with him. It was very simple to bribe a servant and slip poison into the duke's wine. The old fool didn't suspect a thing. The same servant brought the completed will to me. It all worked out perfectly. With out the will, Treize could not become duke while I am alive. The Duke was old so everyone thought he died of natural causes. But a person informed Treize of the Duke's death. I'm sure you know him very well, Zechs Marquise. Being a close friend of Treize, he was at dinner that fateful day. Treize tells him far more than he should know and he suspected foul play. Treize returned with out warning and raided my headquarters in Brazil. He found evidence that I assassinated the Duke. I had no choice but to eliminate him. His elite special Leo unit and my own mobile suit commando unit clashed in the jungle. I admit I underestimated his abilities. He managed to surround my unit and shower it with bullets while using his mobile suits' agility to dodge any return fire. I barely escaped. For two month afterwards, he tracked me to capture me. However, I always managed to stay one step ahead of him. I know I couldn't run forever so I faked my own death. I leaked false information to his agents that I was leaving for Europe on a hypersonic jet. The jet crashed into the ocean with me actually hundreds of miles away. My war with Treize was a horribly embarrassing incident for the family. It showed division in the main power of the aristocracy and weakened Treize's leadership. To prevent rumors and controversy, Treize destroyed every piece of data there is about me. It was surprisingly easy during that time. We were still young and were almost never seen in public. It was a simple task for the aristocracy to just pretend I never existed. But as you can see, I am very much alive and well. All these years, I have worked to stage a magnificent revolution to topple him. Everything he ever built will be destroyed in front of his eyes. Treize will pay for what he did to me." "I won't let you hurt him." Seize turned looked at her. He was partly amused and partly intrigued. <I could crush her with a single order, yet she still dares to defy me. Her eyes, they dare me. They challenge me. > He could never refuse a challenge. He pulled her against him and kissed her. Anne's eyes widened in shock. She moved so fast that Seize barely saw it coming. Anne shoved him away with her left hand even as she swung her right fist and slugged him on the jaw. Hard. Seize reeled back from the force of the blow. He grabbed her wrist as she took a step forward to deliver a second punch to his stomach. There was a shout from one of the soldiers behind him and the click of a gun being armed. "Stop!" Seize yelled before they could fire a shot. "All of you are dismissed." The soldiers hesitated, but bowed and left. Anne tried to pull her wrist free, but Seize only tightened his grip. With his free hand, he slowly wiped the trickle of blood that ran from the corner of his mouth. "I am Seize Kushrenada. No one crosses me and lives." Her eyes flashed like summer lightning. "I don't care who you are. I am not a person to be toyed with. You have no honor or integrity. You use kidnapping and treachery to win your battles instead of facing your enemy like a true warrior. You are nothing compared to Treize!" Seize smiled and let her go. "I like your courage. Why don't you work for me?" Anne gave him a look of disbelieve. Seize ignored the look and continued. "You joined Treize for a reason. What do you want? Is it money, or power? I can give you anything Treize can." Anne turned red with fury. "How dare you suggest that I am doing this for money and power!" Seize raised an eyebrow. "Then you really love him?" Anne's expression changed to surprise. "How did you-" "The observer sees better than the players. I thought it was quite obvious. But you are wasting your time, he will never love you back." "What are you talking about?!" "I think it's no secret that Treize loved many girls in his lifetime. He abandoned all of them, so what makes you believe that he won't do the same for you?" His voice mocked her. The shadow of doubt erupted once again in Anne's heart. "He does love me." But even she could hear the weakness in her voice. "One day, he will leave again and never come back. You will never mean more to him than his ideals. You are no more than a tool for him to be used and cast away. Look at how much pain he has caused you. Don't waste your love on him. Come with me. You can have anything you desire." He sounded kind, almost sincere. His blue eyes bore into her, hypnotizing her. "I can never forget him." Anne whispered. "Of course you can. He will be nothing more than a ghost in your memory in a few years. Once Treize is dead, everything he has will be mine. I am offering you a chance to start over, it will make parting less painful." Seize held out his hand. With an effort, Anne tore her eyes away from his. "No!" Seize shrugged, letting his hand drop back beside him. "I will let you think about it. I am sure you will make the correct decision." He turned and left. Treize pulled back the heavy silk curtain and glanced out the window. "Spies, everywhere. I am a virtual prisoner in my own castle." Turner observed the soldiers that lay hidden around the mansion before turning towards his commander. "What should we do sir? They could see every move we make. You are not really going, are you?" Treize closed his eyes. "If you had asked me 2 years ago, I would have not hesitated to say no. But now, I am not sure." "He will kill you if you go!" "Yes. However, if I don't go, another life would be lost. I won't sacrifice any more lives in order to save myself. Seize gave me 2 paths to walk, both of them will lead to a dead end." He looked up into the sky. <Wait for me Anne. > Seize chuckled as the door closed behind him. "How did it go sir?" Asked Hans. "I can get nothing out of her yet. But we have time. How are things at Luxembourg?" "Very quiet. It almost worries me. Treize Kushrenada might be up to something." Seize snorted softly. "He won't if he values her life." He said jerking his head towards the closed door. "I think you are putting too much at risk in this plan sir. What if Treize doesn't come?" "Then we have prove for our lady that he does not care for her. I am sure she would willingly provide us with some interesting information. If he comes, I will kill him. Either way, I have all of the cards now and Treize has none." Hans was silent. Seize smiled. "Don't worry. My plans never fail." Hans nodded obediently. "Of course sir." "Oh yes, take good care of our 'guest'. I find her rather interesting. We must show her that we are not barbarians." "Yes sir." Seize glanced at his watch. 24 hours before they are scheduled to meet. <I hope he comes. It would be a pity if he lost without putting up a good fight. > |