Storming the Castle
Aconite covered Leon and Ashley's mad dash to the castle, cutting through the hoard of Ganados with ease, her claws slicing them to ribbons until she was certain the other two were across the drawbridge.
"Aconite!" Leon called out as he and Ashley began to raise the bridge causing the Tyrant to lash her whip fist at the herd before jumping over just before the bridge sealed.
"You two unharmed?" she asked, knowing that the Ganados had been throwing hatchets and sickles.
She'd used her tendrils to block the majority of the projectiles, but some had gotten past.
"I'm fine," Ashley answered while Leon motioned to a cut on his arm.
"Me too, it's just a scratch. Come on," he ordered as they walked into the courtyard.
It was then that Leon's radio crackled to life.
Leon, what's your current location? I still haven't been able to contact Aconite.
Hunnigan's voice sounded, causing Aconite to smile at the concern in her tone.
"We decided to lay low in a castle, but it looks like it was a bad move. As for Aconite, she found us."
"Hello, Hunnigan, sorry for worrying you. The leader of this cult took a special interest in me."
Aconite greeted the handler, who sighed in relief.
It's good to hear from you, Aconite. And what did you mean, Leon?
"Well, it appears that this castle's also connected with the Los Illuminados. They must not get many visitors cuz they're giving me one hell of a welcome."
Leon grunted, eyeing the cult insignia on a banner hanging below a window.
Sounds bad. I have an idea, Leon, Aconite. I need you to-
The shriek of signal loss made Leon wince, holding the radio away from his head.
"What? Repeat, Hunnigan?" Leon demanded, only receiving static in return.
"Great. Just my luck." He sighed while Aconite's eyes narrowed.
"Leon, what are the chances that it's just a bad signal and not a jammer?" She mentioned as they made their way up the stairs.
"Not good," Leon admitted as he pulled out a rifle and took out two patrolling guards dressed in robes.
"Ashley, stay close okay?" Aconite told the younger woman who had been silent for the most part, receiving a nod.
Aconite found the catapults to be both annoying and ridiculous, who the hell had working catapults in this day and age?
Thankfully they were quickly taken out with a well-aimed shot to the fuel barrels.
When they reached the main gate, after passing the Merchant for a second time (and how did he keep popping up?), they ran into Luis.
"Leon!" the Spaniard called out as he jogged up to them.
"Luis."
"One, I see you found your partner. Good to see you again. And I've got something for you guys."
Luis said as he rifled through his pockets only to panic slightly.
"Uh...What?! Oh, shit! I must have dropped it when I was running away from them."
"Dropped what?" Ashley asked, her head tilting to the side while Aconite just raised a brow.
"A drug that'll stop your convulsions. Look, I know that you are carriers. You've been coughing up blood, right?" Luis asked, looking to Leon and Ashley.
"I'm not; Aconite was able to remove the plaga from me. She has an ability that she was able to consume the plaga. But she couldn't use it on Ashley."
Leon answered reluctantly, causing the man to stare for a moment at him and Aconite before his gaze turned to Ashley.
"And you?"
"Yes."
"Damn it! The eggs have hatched. We don't have much time." Luis swore, pacing.
"What are you talking about?" Leon inquired as Luis stalked off, Ashley moving to follow before Aconite stopped her.
"Let me come with you," Ashley requested as Luis shook his head.
"No, you stay here with them. Leon's better with the ladies. I'm sure."
"Why are you-" Leon began only to be cut off.
"It makes me feel better. Let's just leave it at that."
Aconite stared at him a moment before sighing.
"I'm coming with you, Luis. No argument. Leon can handle himself and protect Ashley just fine. You are not a fighter." Aconite barked as she gave a nod to her fiancée.
Luis turned to her and shook his head.
"No, it's better I go alone,"
"I don't remember giving you a choice, Mr. Sera." Aconite chuckled as she caught up to him.
"I don't think this is a good idea."
"I don't care. I'm coming with you. Leon, try not to get yourself killed." Aconite ordered, looking over her shoulder at him before taking Luis' arm in hers.
"Forward type, eh?" Luis muttered as he gave in, leading the way.
"You have no idea."
Aconite kept a mental map of the path they took through the winding, maze-like halls of the castle.
"You know this castle quite well, for a cop from Madrid, was it?" Aconite questioned as they stopped in a room where the Merchant once again popped out of nowhere to set up shop.
"Had to escape from it once, when I first arrived here. Remembered the path." her companion answered as he motioned to the Merchant, "You need anything?"
Aconite focused her gaze on him, unnerving the man with her crimson eye, before turning to the Merchant.
"Welcome stranger, what are ya buying?" the Merchant greeted as he waved his hand over his wares.
"Another shirt would be nice if you've got it. Two first aid sprays too." Aconite answered, picking up the two cans as the man chuckled.
"You're in luck, ma'am, I do." The Merchant told her as he turned to a box behind him and pulled out yet another thermal shirt.
"Thank you, though; I must ask where you get your stock. You've got enough for an army it seems," she stated as she eyed the weapons lying around.
"Trade secret. That'll be 15,000Pts."
Aconite pulled out the required about from her purse and ripped the torn shirt off before pulling on her new one.
"Aye!" Luis blushed, turning away while the Merchant just laughed.
"It's nothing you haven't seen before. I can't afford modesty on a mission. Do you need anything?"
Aconite grunted as she tested her movement in the new shirt. It was a bit big, but not cumbersome.
"Still, though," the Spaniard muttered as he turned back to her.
"Men," she scoffed.
"Let's get those pills, Mr. Sera. And you're going to answer some questions for me on the way."
Aconite declared as she left the room, the man trailing after her.
"Questions?"
"Yeah, questions. You're no cop from Madrid. You're lying to us, and I don't like it."
Aconite told him bluntly.
"I'm not lying, why would you think that," Luis asked when Aconite grabbed him and slammed him against a wall.
"You are lying, and I know because if the eye didn't tell you," Aconite growled, her crimson eye glowing, "I'm a B.O.W., and I can hear your heartbeat. There is a physical reaction when someone lies; the heart speeds up."
Aconite purred, raising a hand and turning it into her claws.
"And right now, your heart's racing like a mouse being toyed with by a cat. So who are you, Luis Sera?"
She demanded when she heard a gun cock behind her.
"Aconite, let him go," a female voice called out, a very familiar voice.
Looking over her shoulder, she saw a woman she thought dead, and still in a red dress.
"Ada," she greeted as she retracted her claws.
"How are you?" the Asian woman greeted as she stepped forward.
"Good, Leon and I are engaged," Aconite said as she let Luis go.
"Really? I'm glad, you two were adorable back in Raccoon City. I'll keep the flirting to a minimum."
Ada smiled, not lowering her gun though she knew it wouldn't do much against the other woman.
"I'd appreciate it. I take it you're still working with my father?"
"Yes, and we need him."
"He's your mole then, and you're after a sample of the plagas." Aconite concluded as she eyed Luis.
"You're correct on all accounts. Though he was also one of the head researchers of the plagas until he became disillusioned with Saddler."
Ada informed as she stood beside Luis, flicking her head for the man to leave.
Aconite let her virus ripple across the surface of her skin as the man just moved to a corner of the room.
"You should leave, Sera," Ada mentioned as she kept her gaze on the Tyrant before her.
"He's got a promise to keep. I'll let him go as soon as he gives me the pills to slow the progression of the plaga in Ashley."
Luis looked between the two women before stating, "I'll hand the pills to Leon, you two look like you have a lot to catch up on," and running down the hall.
"Tch, coward." Aconite scoffed as she cracked her neck.
"Aren't most men?" Ada offered, putting her gun away.
"True, most are." Aconite agreed, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Shouldn't you be trailing after him?"
"I have a message from your father."
Aconite sighed through her nose at that, relaxing her stance, knowing that Ada wasn't planning to fight her.
"And if I don't want to hear it?" she questioned.
"I still have to deliver it. If I may say something," Ada pulled a letter out of somewhere, offering it Aconite who took it with reluctance.
"What is it?"
"I've known your father for a long time, before and after he became a Tyrant like yourself," Ada began, folding her arms around her waist.
"And?"
"He truly loves you, and it cuts deep to know he's hurt you. He's never done attachment, in all the years I've known him, but you? You are the one attachment he has."
Ada said softly while Aconite snorted.
"Then he shouldn't have lied to me. He betrayed me, Ada." Aconite hissed as she had to keep herself from crushing the letter.
Ada said nothing, knowing that it wouldn't matter.
"But," Aconite sighed as she looked down at the letter in her hand, "I suppose I can at least read this once this mission is over. It's stupid, but I miss him, even after everything."
Aconite tucked the letter into a pocket on her pants before turning on her hunter's sense to locate Leon.
"Take care, Ada," Aconite waved as she walked away, tracking Leon through the castle.
Aconite walked into the main hall where a balcony overlooked and made her way toward the mural on the wall.
"This is missing several pieces. What is it with biohazard zones and puzzles?" Aconite huffed.
"Hehehehehe" a nasally, high pitched laugh sounded behind her, causing her to whip around.
About fifty feet behind her was a short man with sickly pale skin and hair, and venomous yellow eyes. On either side of him were cloaked figures dressed in the inverse of each other. The one on the left of the man was dressed in red with black trim, while the one on the right was in black with red trim.
Both had the cult emblem on their chests, and while she couldn't see their features, she knew both were B.O.W.s of some sort.
"Who are you? Napoleon?" Aconite snarked, eyeing the way the short man's face fell at the insult.
"Me llamo Ramon Salazar (My name is Ramon Salazar), the eighth Castellan of this magnificent architecture. I have been honored with the prodigious power from the great Lord Saddler. You are Señorita Aconite Wesker, one of the two agents sent to rescue Señorita Graham."
The man greeted with a bow, his voice grating on Aconite's patience.
"Si, me llamo Aconite Wesker. And you are a midget with two B.O.W. bodyguards who won't protect you from me."
Aconite snarled, hands turning into claws.
"My, you're a feisty one, just like Señor Kennedy. I suggest you take the advice he did not, surrender yourself, and become our hostage."
Salazar ordered, his guards stepping in front of him.
"Touch one hair on his head, and I'll shove my foot up your ass and use you as a slipper." Aconite threatened as Salazar turned to leave.
Aconite watched as he left, his guards following after when it became clear she didn't intend to fight.
'Better to wait until I know Leon and Ashley are safe.' Aconite thought as she turned back to the mural.
"The question becomes, to I try to seek out Leon, or wait here?" she questioned herself, maybe going with Luis hadn't been the best idea.
The choice is made for her when Leon and Ashley come through the door to her left.
"Aconite!" Leon said in surprise; when she hadn't been with Luis, he'd begun thinking the worst.
"Hey, have you seen Luis? We got separated when Ada popped up." Aconite questioned as they walked over to her.
"Mr. Sera..." Ashley began, looking to Leon.
"He's dead; Saddler got him." Leon finished causing Aconite to sigh.
"I see, Ada won't be pleased about that. He was their mole."
Aconite informed, Leon looking to her in shock.
"What?"
"He was the head researcher of the plaga apparently. But he grew disillusioned with Saddler and his cult. How he got into contact with Ada and my father and whoever those two are with, I'm not sure."
Aconite explained as she helped Leon place the missing pieces of the mural.
"Huh, and he didn't seem like a bad guy." Her fiancee said.
"I don't think he was, just manipulated."
Aconite stared up at the nest in revulsion; she wasn't the biggest fan of mutant bugs.
These Novistadors looked like crickets, crickets the size of a man with an appetite to boot.
"Leon! Aconite! Help!" Ashley shrieked, as one of the insects, grabbed her and took off.
"Damn it! Ashley!" Leon yelled as Aconite threw her whip fist, almost hitting the Novistador carrying Ashley when another took the hit, being devoured by Aconite's virus in an instant.
"That girl is a trouble magnet." Aconite hissed as she jumped onto the nest and began to destroy it while Leon covered her, taking her frustration out on the nest.
Finally, doing enough damage, Aconite fell back to the ground as the nest exploded, dropping hundreds of little tiny red, green, and blue gems.
Leon picked up a couple of each, mentioning that he'd found two lamps that needed the strangely already cut gems, and that the Merchant would pay a nice some for them. Particularly the blue ones.
Aconite nodded at the explanation before they followed Ashley's trail.
Hearing the radio crackle to life as they exited the nest Leon grab it in anger that surprised her until she heard who was calling.
I wonder if you can see me, Mr. Kennedy?
"If you scratch her, I'll break your bones," Leon growled at the image of the little man.
First, we'll see if you can make it this far. I'll be waiting.
Salazar taunted before hanging up, Aconite scanning area with Leon's binoculars and passing them to Leon when she spotted the midget, his guards. Ashley threw over the shoulder of one entering a building in the distance.
"Shit."
"We'll get him, and I'll make it painful," Aconite promised as they started making their way across the bridge to the clocktower.