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Annals of Fear II	By : DeathNoteFangirl Category: Death Note > Yaoi-Male/Male > Mello/Matt Views: 5803 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note and I do not make any money from these writings

Chapter List
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Century was animated with his latest theory.   He had driven the Mini into the courtyard of the manor house, but had just parked up there.   It seemed empty.   The back door was wide open and so were two of the outhouse doors.   One of them was the stables, which Century had drawn up beside.   It was making Lauren nervous to think that someone could be standing, just out of view, behind that open stable door.    It was less than an arm's length away.    It was also worrying her that there was no sign of Mello and Matt.    She was just waiting for a break in the conversation, so she could suggest getting out to check.   There seemed no such luck.

"So wondering to myself, I am, what would cause those monks to be killed?   Brought the Holy Grail, the legend says, because it was old Glastonbury that had it.   But why kill the monks?   Abbots, yes, because they were like the generals of the monasteries, but the monks were just turfed out.   Besides, if they get the old Grail to safety, then why haven't they got themselves to safety?"   Century frowned.   "Legend makes no bloody sense.   Says that they each held the Grail until they died of exhaustion, then it gets passed onto the next one.   Fine, that is, if it's a relay race, all the way from Somerset to here, but not from Strata Florida to Nanteos.   Only up the mountain, it is!"   He shook his head.   "And besides, eight skeletons, there were, supposedly in that cellar.   One's dying of exhaustion, they all are, surely; not just the one holding it.   Hardly like he has more strain, is it?   It's only a bloody cup. Not like he's ring bearer going into Mordor or something."

"Century, should we...?"

"But there's one more thing that Glastonbury had." Century quickly moved his lollipop from one corner of his mouth to the other. "Well, said that they had, because it's hardly bloody likely that they had the real thing, is it now?   And that was the bones of Arthur and Gwenhwyfar. Different legends going on now here, isn't it?   The Welsh now, they're expecting Arthur to come back and save them.   No grave for Arthur, see?   Taken over the water to Avalon, to be healed of his wounds and then come back when Wales has most need of him. The once and future king.   But the old English, they want none of this.   Hope for the Welsh."   He shook his head. "Fuck off with that and find Arthur dead, get him buried.   Own his bones and own sovereignty of the whole bloody country. The Plantagenets knew that, which is why they staged his burial in the first place.   Old Henry Tudor now, he..."   Century stopped as headlights appeared, glimpsed past the yew tree behind them.   "Who's that?"

Lauren had half turned in her seat. "Drive around the courtyard, so we're facing it. Then we can see."

Century looked nervously at the distance between the front of his bonnet and the back of the house.   "Right." He checked his mirrors and positioned his hands, not at all a natural driver.   "Back first, is it?   So I can get some room on this."   He threw the gears into reverse and started to creep towards the tree.   It took him so long that Deontic's BMW had moved in beside him, before he was even close.   Fenian glared from the passenger seat.   Century sighed. "He doesn't need to be here."   Lauren's hand was on the door-handle, ready to jump out as Century stopped.   "Anyway!" Century said, decisively, "I don't think they brought the Grail.   I think they brought what they thought were Arthur's bones.   Thought they'd be safe from the English king, but forgot that they were bringing them into the one country where it was political suicide to 'prove' Arthur dead."

Deontic left by the driver's door of her car and hurried around between the two vehicles. Century unwound his window, as did Fenian.   Deontic opened her mouth to speak, but Fenian jumped in first.   "Is it a fucking plan that you've got this time, Century? Or are you just hoping that the ghosts will hand it on a fucking plate before your man turns up?"

"They found bones!" Century informed him.    "Arthur's bones, I think it is.   Going to find a sample and get the old thing forensically tested. Bet I find out that it was a Saxon warrior.   Fucking giant it was. Not going to get over here. Would have been the ancient remains of a Scandinavian or a Germanic..."

Lauren was staring at him in horror.   "You did not tell me that you were planning on going down there."

Fenian scowled, "He's not fucking going down there, that's why.   This isn't even the fucking case anymore.   This is him settling some historical fucking score with the English."

Deontic sighed, already looking around her. "Where are Mello and Matt?   That's all I want to know at this moment in time."   Her gaze fastened upon the open door of the outhouse across the courtyard.   "That's new."   Fenian followed the direction of her eyes. "That door was closed, when I was up here with Hal."   She hesitated, loathe to walk across there on her own.   Her head tipped backwards to survey the rooftops and the skies.   Her imagination already had the Gwrach-y-Rhibyn stalking the battlements.   All seemed silent.   The passenger door of the Mini shut with a bang. Lauren hurried around, in front of both cars, and Deontic quickly joined her.   They both, half subconsciously, skirted the kitchen window with a wide berth.

"Hello." Lauren called out, before they were within a few feet of the opened outhouse door.   "Is anyone in there?"

Deontic took out a wind-up torch and shone it inside.   It danced off the walls, before lighting up an army boot, lying prone on the concrete floor.    "Oh my gosh!" Deontic darted forward, yelling out, "Fenian!"   She and Lauren entered the outhouse.   The dimming torch picking out Mello and a pool of blood.   "Mello!   Mello! Can you hear me Mello?   It's Deontic." Behind them, car doors opened and closed, as Century supported Fenian across the cobblestones. Deontic called out, "Fenian! We need you! We need a paramedic!"

Lauren was already crouched over Mello.   Her face turned over his mouth, awaiting the warmth of his breathing, while her fingers fumbled under the fake fur of his hood, searching for the pulse of his jugular vein.    The torchlight diminished and was gone. They were plunged into darkness once more.   Outside, the comforting purr of both car engines went on.   Lauren spoke with steely authority.   "I think he's alive. I felt a breath."

"Lauren, move." Deontic commanded.   "Fenian is a paramedic.   Century, we need light.   Fenian, I'm getting a blanket and First Aid kit from my car.   Lauren..."

"Don't give me a job.    I need to find Matt."   Lauren backed out of the outhouse.   "Matt is my priority."

Fenian audibly gasped with pain, as he forced himself to kneel beside Mello.   "I don't need a fucking First Aid kit. I need an ambulance and some light."   He winced, hissing in his breath.   "Mello, you're a fucking idiot, but I'm keeping you alive anyway, because that's what I do.   Now are you hearing me?   Mello, are you fucking hearing me?"

"I'll back the car around." Deontic informed him, before scurrying away.   "Lauren, do not go into that house on your own!"

Century had his 'phone out and he pressed 999.   "Ambiwlas, os gwelwch yn dda."   Behind him, there was a choking splutter and it seemed that both vehicles were about to surrender their spark in spontaneous stalling.   "Cachi!"   He rushed to reach his, to rev the engine, but Deontic was already in her BMW doing just that.   She peered owlishly at him, with huge, frightened eyes, behind her glasses.   Century realised that he wasn't being asked for an address.    "Helô? Helô?" He spoke into his 'phone, then checked the screen.   His 'phone was dead again and his Mini's eyes had dimmed significantly.   He raced around the BMW, just as his car's battery gave up and the Mini grew silent.   "Fwc!"

"Century!"   Deontic called out, "Lauren has gone into the manor house!   I've got this still going. I'm going to help Fenian with Mello.   You're going to have to help Lauren."   Century stared at her, in abject horror. "I'm sorry.   I'll get help for you as soon as possible.    We'll get him to the hospital in my car.    My 'phone is down. I'll send help from Aberystwyth.   I'll come back for you. I promise."   A gunshot rang out from inside the manor house.    Century bolted, racing down, towards the yew tree and out of sight behind it.    "Century!"   Deontic dared not take her foot from her accelerator.   She looked from the tree to the manor to the outhouse, then yelled again.   "Century!   For fuck's sake!"

Against all expectation, Century came back.    His breath was in ragged pants.   He walked as if in a stupor.   His mouth forming the terrified words, "Elen Llwyddog, helpu fi! Elen Llwyddog, helpu fi!" He was heading, like a man already condemned, towards the open back door of the manor house.

"Century, no." Deontic gasped.   "You drive my car.   You come here and take my place.   Oh! Century..."   But he was already at the entrance and he stepped inside it, even as another gunshot shrieked through the rooms inside.   Deontic closed her eyes, but there was no time for horror.   She had to move herself.   She reversed, seeing Fenian in the doorway of the outhouse; his own expression stunned beyond measure.   Deontic manoeuvred her BMW right up to him, causing him to step back out of the way.   He disappeared again inside, crouched over Mello.   Deontic choked back tears, knowing that he would only have left him, if there was nothing more to be done.   "Oh God, Mello.   Oh God, not another one."   She bit hard on her lip, shaking.   Then a strange calmness fell over her, as if she'd crossed a line, where no more emotion could be suppressed, so it had to be expressed or dissipate.   She whispered, "Mello, if you're out there, help us.   If you're approaching this from the other side, help us.   Help us with Matt."

Deontic jumped, startled, as figures filled the manor's back doorway.   It was Century, with Lauren struggling in his grasp.   They spilled out onto the cobbles, both looking shocked.   A glance at Deontic preceded them both running, around the car.   She opened her window.    Lauren gabbled, "He's built a barricade."

"What?"

"Matt's barricaded himself in there."   Lauren bounced briefly on the spot, turning around, her movements jagged and jittery.   "He yelled, '¡Soy un héroe y no voy a morir como un perro!' and shot at me!   Twice!"   Beside her, Century was trembling so badly that he'd slid down the side of the BMW and was sitting against it, with his knees drawn in and his arms wrapped tightly around them.   Lauren mistook Deontic's horrified stare.   "It's Spanish.   He said, 'I'm a hero and I won't die like a dog!'"

Fenian bellowed, "Can I not be getting some fucking help in here?   That would be grand, you know?"

Deontic straightened, in a dead calm.    As Lauren raced around the bonnet, Deontic called back, "Fenian, is he dead?   Is Mello actually dead?"   The response was a loud scream from inside the outhouse.   Deontic tensed in reaction; her foot slipping from the accelerator.   Her car rocked and stalled.   She knew, with all the fierce dread inside her, without even testing, that the engine would now be dead.   A coldness spread throughout her body.    "Oh fucking Hell."   She slammed her hand against the steering wheel and turned her key, redundantly, in the ignition.   "Oh! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!"   She opened her door and stormed outside, slamming it shut behind her.    She strode into the outhouse, not wanting to tell Fenian and Lauren what she had done.   She came face to face with Mello, being heavily supported by Fenian and Lauren.   His face, in the semi-moonlight, was a ghastly, bloodless mask.   His eyes fluttered with the effort of consciousness.   His mouth was gaping in the silent semblance of another scream.   "Oh gosh.   Oh..."

"He said," Fenian hissed, through painfully gritted teeth, "to get Mail and then press the fucking detonator."

"My car is dead."

"To be sure, it is.   We just heard it go out."

Deontic hurried forward, over cobbles slick and sticky with Mello's blood.   "Let me have him, Fian.   Your back..." She shook her head.   "Get into the car."

"Just carry on." Fenian growled.   "Open the back of the fucking car. Go!"   Mello's head lolled, as the Slav passed out under the strain.   He was a dead weight against them.   Fenian and Lauren all but carried him out, his feet, encased in army boots, dragging across the concrete and cobbles.

Deontic ran ahead.   "Century, shift!"   She bellowed, as she rushed to open the rear door of her car.   "We're going to have to push this.   Jump start it again.   We'll get help."   She looked up, into the bright, panicked eyes of Century, as the teenager stood.   "Help Fenian now."   Century just looked lost, caught up in some private Hell inside his own mind.   Deontic considered the implications of him frightening himself into another heart-attack and softened.   "Ok, just stand..."   She didn't get any further, as Fenian and Lauren had reached their position, manhandling Mello between them.

Fenian roared with the agonising effort of the home stretch, rounding the opened door, to try and bundle the blond onto the back-seat.   The change of pace shook the Slav into semi-consciousness again.   He opened his mouth and screamed.   "I know how you're fucking feeling, Mello, but we're doing our best!"

Parched lips found the word, "Mail!"   It was barely a whisper, rasped out.   "My Mail, where...?" Then he slumped again. Lauren caught him, at the expense of being crushed against the hinge of the car door and the footwell inside.   She sucked in a gasp, but didn't cry out.   Century was suddenly galvanised into helping.   Fenian gratefully stepped back, his jaw shuddering with the effort not to scream in pain himself.   The palm of his left hand covered his own forehead, shielding his face from view with his forearm.    His other hand clutched his lower back.   Deontic rushed the couple of paces to his side, but she didn't know what to do when she got there.   Mello breathed, faint and failing words, "F..." He sighed, "Mail."

Lauren and Century guided him down onto the backseat of the BMW.   They both came out with hands and patches of their clothing stained with blood.   Lauren swallowed, leaning over him. "I know where Mail is. He's safe.   I'm going to get him. Trust me with Mail, Mello.   Trust me."

Century backed away, gagging, and staggered to the corner of the last outhouse. He left bloody handprints on the wall.   He didn't attempt to vomit. He just stood there, with his back towards them.   He finally sobbed out, "Shot, was he?   Bloody shot, is it?"

"I'm alright." Fenian lied. He stepped away from Deontic and waited for Lauren to get out of his way, before squeezing into the back of the BMW.   There was slightly more light out here, with the moon cleared of clouds, but not much.   "Just checking you over, Mello."   Fenian muttered, his own hurt telling in his tone.

Lauren was moving away from the BMW, heading towards the manor house again.    Deontic called after her, "Lauren, stop.   Let us get a strategy first."   She glanced at the shivering back of Century's shoulders.   Lauren had paused, close to the back doorway. She looked back.   Deontic made up her mind fast.   "Ok, here is what is going to happen." She gave herself a couple of seconds to review it in her mind, before plunging on.   "And I'm saying this with all trepidation.   Century, you drive my car.   You take Mello and Fenian to the hospital.   You get help for us."

The teenager turned, his face streaked with tears and terror, "Why don't we just grab Matt and all go together?"

"Because you've already told me that Matt had barricaded himself in.   Meanwhile, Mello is bleeding to death.   Did you actually see how much blood was on the floor in there?" Deontic gestured towards the outhouse.   "Time is of the essence here.   I know that we're in a phobic situation for you here and I'm sorry, but do you think you can get yourself together enough to drive my car down the mountain?    If Lauren and I push it, to jump start it?"   She caught sight of Lauren taking a step closer to the back door.   "Lauren, please wait on.   If Matt's behind a barricade, then he's not technically dying at the moment. Mello is.   We are going to need you to push my car.   I can't do it alone.   Fenian's back and Century's heart are both ruling them out of helping me. Once they are safely off, I'm with you in there."   She locked eye contact with the tall Finn. "Agreed?"

Fenian called out, "I've found two gunshot wounds.   I heard two more in the house.   I don't know what ammo he's got; but if it's six, then he's already used four."    Century turned away again.   "You're grand, Mello. You're going to be just fine. Stay with us now. Some fucking lovers' tiff, eh?"

Deontic strode decisively over to Century.   "Are you going to let him die, because you're too busy shitting yourself about the past?"   She reached up to grasp Century's shoulder, meaning to steer him towards the BMW; but as soon as she touched him, Century dissolved into long, keening sobs.   Deontic's voice softened into uncertainty.   "Iestyn, we don't have time."   She patted his back. "Please." She glanced across to ensure that Lauren wasn't straying into the house.   The woman stood in the back doorway, peering inside, but she was listening and not taking any more steps.   "Iestyn, I'm sorry, but..."

Century pushed away from the wall.   "You drive." His voice croaked under the weight of tears.   "Too powerful for me.   Can't control the Mini." He stalked past her, crossing between the bonnet and the outhouse wall.   He leaned with his hands on the bonnet, poised to push.   Lauren saw him and raced back to help.

Fenian yelled, "Whatever you're fucking doing, will you hurry up and fucking do it? Jesus!"

"Ok." Deontic exhaled and hurried to get back behind the wheel.    She closed the rear door on her foster brothers, causing Fenian to quickly move his foot out of the way.    "Century, you feel the slightest twinge, you tell us! Ok?"    He didn't answer. He had his head bowed.   Tears dripped onto the bonnet.   "I'm in gear. Push!"

Fenian peered over his shoulder.   "He should not be pushing."

"I know." Deontic replied, tersely, "And you should not be crouched in a cramped space, but what the Hell can we do about it?" The BMW rolled steadily backwards.   She turned the heavy car and managed to position it facing the gate, but it did not start.   Through her windscreen, she could see Century dripping sweat and gasping for breath.   Lauren stopped pushing to rub his back.   "Shit."

"I'll get out. I'll do it."

"Fenian. Just stay."   Deontic stepped out of the car.   "Century, I'm not messing around now. In."

Lauren looked at her, wearily, "It's a really tough car to push.   It would be better on a slope."    She released Century into Deontic's grasp and the Welshman was frog-marched into the driver's seat.     "I don't think he even knows how to jump-start."

"He has an IQ in, at least, the top 5% of the world.   He'll work it out."   Deontic marched around to the back of the car.   "Now let's..."   The BMW began moving.   With neither Lauren nor Deontic's hands upon it, and level ground beneath, it nevertheless inched away, picking up speed, as it passed over the cobbles.   Deontic shrieked, "Century!   Steer!"   Visions of it plunging over the edge assailed her mind.   The gate was open.   It had been so when they had arrived and it was still open now.   Lauren and Deontic just stared in disbelief, as the vehicle, with its dead engine, hurtled towards the trackway.   It turned too widely, then rectified itself, as the gateway approached.   Deontic held her breath, awaiting the inevitable crunch of metalwork on the wall.   "Shit, Fenian's in there.   In the back seat.   His parents died in..." She stopped talking, lest she tempt Fate or alert the entities to a possible outcome.   "Lauren, is this happening? Is there actually a slope that I can't make out?"

"I have no..." Lauren shook her head, unable to find the words to address this.   With just an inch to spare, between it and the drystone wall, the BMW made it into the trackway.    Both women ran after it, as it passed from view.   Just as they drew level with the yew tree, a welcome sound filled the night.   It was the purr of the engine kicking in, as the BMW moved down, away from the manor house.   "Oh. My. Freaking. God."   Lauren gasped.   "I don't even..." She slowly moved her head from side to side, trying to dislodge the irrationality of her reasoning.

Deontic nodded, in complete agreement. "There will be an explanation.   It will all become quite clear, once we've had a chance to work it out."

Lauren swallowed. "Matt."

"Yes." Deontic gathered her inner reserves of strength.   "Talk me through what you saw in there."

"My head is still trying to assimilate what just happened.   It's currently concluding that ghosts or fairies or whatever we've got up here just pushed your car out of here."   Lauren spoke, breathily.   "There's no slope, Dee.   Look!"

Deontic lifted her chin, "I do not wish to look right now.   You said a barricade."

"He's got furniture piled up, blocking the kitchen doorway." Lauren ran her fingers through her hair, turning to survey the dark house behind her.    "And Fenian is quite wrong.   Matt carries a Beretta M9.   He'll have 15 rounds to use."

"Wonderful."   Deontic tore her gaze from the trackway and let it sweep across the courtyard to the house.    "What side of sane is he?"

Lauren blinked, "Well, he's just emptied a few rounds into his husband and left him for dead."

Deontic nodded.   "Any thoughts on why?"

"None that make any sense when applied to Matt."

"Nor mine."   Deontic took a deep breath.   "There are plenty of ways in there, but he's armed and probably more insane than usual. I'm tempted to wait for back up."

Lauren looked pained. "Mello used his last bit of strength to tell us to detonate his bombs.   It must be important.   Maybe if we do that," Lauren paused, unsure of what she was saying.   "Maybe it stops?"

Deontic nodded, "Mello's running with Fenian's solution.    I hope that he gives him credit afterwards."

"He will."

"What did Matt shout at you again?"

Lauren's eyes flickered to the side, "He said, 'I'm a hero and I won't die like a dog!', in Spanish."   She shrugged.   "I don't know what that means nor if it's a reference to something."

Deontic grabbed Lauren suddenly and ran with her into the stable.   She peered nervously into the dark interior, willing her night vision to kick in more strongly.   They waited, but no sounds were heard.   She tentatively explored their space.   They were alone. Deontic eventually whispered, "It could well mean that he didn't shoot Mello.   In which case, who did?    And where are they now?    And was it the same person who killed Dion Williams and left his brother without his wits?    Were Mello and Matt trapped in here at the time, while Hal and I were here and could have rescued them?"    She balled her fists. "I have been so stupid!"

Lauren just bowed her head in the darkness.   "No. This house makes fools of us all."

Author's Note: This story is being discussed here: http://mrsjeevas.joharrington.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=11
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Annals of Fear II