Disclaimer: I do not own Resident Evil or any characters from the games, movies, or novels.

Chapter 5

"So far nothing from the police." Leon said as he set a mug of coffee down on his desk in front of Chris; the one actually sitting at it. Leon was on his feet and had been for the better part of their time there. "No sightings of someone matching her description and no body found. Did anyone call while I was gone about this or..." Chris shook his head. "I see. Well then I'm not sure what to tell you as of yet. All I know is that I'll keep looking."

"Thanks, Chris said, taking the mug. Although he didn't specify exactly what he was saying thanks for.

They sipped from their respective drinks in silence, each wrapped up in possible scenario's of what could have happened and would happen next. Not too many of which were pleasant.

"You're not going to get into trouble using your contacts to help me. I know you work for the government now, but..."

"Of course not. We're in this business to protect Americans anyway. Truth, justice and the American way." That last bit was spoken with a bit of the old sarcasm Leon was so fond of using. Of course he hadn't been doing much sardonic joking since Chris called him. Out of respect he'd mostly reframed from doing so, which meant he lacked his best stress relief. "Even if I would that wouldn't stop me. Claire could be in danger." He took a seat on the edge of the desk. "Just you try and stop me."

Chris gave him a weak smile of sorts in reply and set the mug down. He hadn't done much more than sip at it once or twice. "I'm sorry about this all of the same."

"Don't be. I'm not. Although I'd rather Claire be safe than..." He trailed off there, not knowing what would be the appropriate thing to say. They didn't know if she was safe or even... no they wouldn't go into the alternatives... not yet.

Silence descended upon the two of them for several minutes afterward, neither meeting the other's gaze. Neither wanted to entertain any of the terrible possibilities running through their minds, but they were each similarly unable to completely vanquish them from their thoughts.

Finally Leon broke the silence. "Come on, let's get something to eat." Chris looked up at him, his pending answer as plain as day on his face as he opened his mouth to reply, but Leon was already ahead of him. "It's not like you're doing any good here. We can't do anything until we have more to go on and that will take time. You said you didn't have lunch or breakfast and I know for a fact you didn't eat dinner. It's late, but there are probably a few places open. Come on, I'll pay."

Chris sighed and shook his head. "Alright, let's go. But if they find out anything they'll call you wherever we are, right?"

"Yeah, don't worry." Of course Leon knew his words were hollow. He was worried too. To say he and Claire were close was an understatement. There were something's you just couldn't go through together without forging some kind of bond and surviving a zombie infested city just happened to be one of them. They'd still kept in contact afterward, despite their going their separate ways in opposing Umbrella. In a way Claire meant just as much to him as she did to Chris.

'There he is,' Maxell Brent thought as his wolfish eyes locked onto his target. Chris Redfield was walking out of the police station he'd spent god only knew how much time in. He was with that blond son of a bitch he was with earlier. Oh well, one more to bump off. It didn't matter to him, one more body to dispose of. Normally he would have asked for more money for the extra trouble. But that creepy bitch, Hilda Krueger, had paid him more than enough for 10 individual targets, much less two at once.

"Hey, wake up." Maxwell elbowed his sleeping partner in the passenger seat next to him. He'd fallen asleep during their stakeout. They'd been sitting here ever since that damn Redfield and blond bastard had gone inside the police station. "It's game time. They're leaving."

" 'bout fuckin' time." Sam grumbled as he sat up and blinked to get used to the light. "Hey, who's that?"

"Don't know, don't care. He's in the way. We'll kill them both as soon as they stop somewhere there ain't no more cops."

"Wonderful," Sam muttered. He didn't sound very enthusiastic. In fact he seemed to be quite bored. Maxwell ignored him. In contrast to Sam working was the only time he felt really alive. Ironic that the only time he lived was when others died.

"You called for me mistress?" The reply to Alexia's two loud claps was almost instantaneous for a bowing maid entered the room barely a second later. If Claire didn't know better she'd have guessed the girl had been waiting just outside the room for her next instructions. She appeared be Caucasian and extremely well groomed. It was probably safe to assume that this maid was also the servant who cooked the meal and bathed her.

"We're finished here. Clean this up and then show Miss Redfield up to her room so that she may get some rest." Alexia said dismissively, as though the girl was barely even worth her notice.

"Rest? Have you forgotten? You're already given me quite a bit of rest already. I just woke up, damn it!" She was referring to her periods of time she'd been unconscious; a state she found herself spending more and more time in as events would have it.

"That is very different from sleep, which you have had none of. I have no desire to deal with you adjusting to a new sleeping pattern or readjusting for that matter. Teaching you proper etiquette is enough."

"Proper etiquette? What the fuck would you know about proper etiquette?!" Claire finally exploded. She'd been dealing with an entire meal full of Alexia's little snipes. She was forced to listen to how she held the fork the wrong way, the knife, and the spoon. How un-ladylike how she sat was. How uncouth her manners were, the noises she made when she ate, the proper way to chew food, all of it. It had to have been the most aggravating meal of her life. "You're one to talk, murderer! After all of the things you've done..." Again, in her anger, she'd been motivated to cursing.

"Language my dear Redfield, language." Alexia stood, getting up from the well carved and upholstered chair she had been sitting in. "While it is true I've broken some of your taboos, they are the taboos of lesser creatures. Yet civilized is still civilized. It is what raises us above the animals just as you and I are above the workers and soldiers of this world. So in my home you shall be civilized." Her tone, as imperious as always, seemed to demand absolute obedience.

"I'll talk and act how I want." Claire was fuming, not only at Alexia's mere presence, for that alone was enough, but because of the girl's attempt on trampling her freedom. Claire had always been what one would call a free spirit. She wasn't the wildest girl out on the streets by any stretch of the imagination. She was a Tomboy however; into bikes, hunting, guns, rock, and the like. She liked to be able to do as she pleased and have a sort of leeway; governing herself how she wanted. This was like an instinctual offense on her liberty. "I don't follow the rules of a 'lesser creature'." She taunted, throwing Alexia's words back at her.

While the cursing hadn't done anything to incense the Ashford this comment certainly had an effect. Her eyes widened, then she was on her feet in the next instant. She moved so fast Claire could barely keep track of her until she was already on her. Then she felt something strike her, Alexia's hand as it turned out, and she fell to the floor. "Don't you dare insult me or my heritage! I'm a Queen among man. I am not like the lowly filth you've picked up these 'habits' from. Never speak to me in such a demeaning manner again."

"What the hell are you doing to do to me if I do?" Claire said, although some of her words were distorted by her grunting in pain as she got back on her feet. Alexia had hit her hard. The woman was damn strong even in her human form.

"Do not forget that you are in my house and therefore will abide by my rules if you wish to remain comfortable. It will not require very much of my time or effort to lock you away in the basement again and again until you learn to comply. There are also more unpleasant things I can do in the meantime. You are in my power, whatever you may believe."

"Some equal," Claire muttered, glaring at Alexia. Yet she had to admit the woman was right about one thing. She was in her power.

"Your defiance is tiring, as is your uncouth behavior. Where and how were you raised? Did your parents teach you nothing? Or perhaps they tossed you on the street and let you raise yourself."

"My parents didn't raise me." Claire snapped; then, as though she were proud of the fact, she finished, "My brother took care of me as soon as he was old enough." While it was true he wasn't old enough to have taken care of her all of her childhood, he had been the one who was always there...almost always there. It wasn't like that anymore though.

"Ah, that explains it. Raised by a male. No wonder you act so much like one, and a bad one at that. Pathetic really. You dress like a boy. You act like a boy. You even eat like a boy; a very ill-mannered boy. With such pathetic rearing it is only natural that you should be damaged as you are. Maybe if you'd had proper parents things would have been different. They might have a reason not be ashamed of you... might..."

"Shut up!" Claire lashed out. She'd had enough. This woman was an absolute monster. She'd hurt god knew how many people and she planned to hurt more. She planned to kill Chris and manipulate her into a relationship; a relationship Claire wondered just how far Alexia would try to force her into. She'd already injected her with that pheromone manipulation... whatever it was. Juice? Enzyme? Formula? Whatever. It didn't matter. What did matter was its effect on her. Through the dinner she couldn't help but notice it. Despite her anger and bitterness towards the woman who'd been sitting across the table she'd also found herself admiring her. As much as she hated the woman's tone and words she couldn't help but be pleased at the sound of the voice... and physically... she was beautiful. Oh yes, Claire couldn't deny that either. On the outside she was exquisitely lovely and graceful. Inside though she was a devil; a creature of the most grotesque making. Now she was insulting Claire's brother and how she was raised. It wasn't so much pulling a trigger as the straw that broke the camels back and Claire was unloading.

Claire fist hit home, squarely striking Alexia's jaw and actually making her step back a bit. The woman's face showed clear surprise at the Redfield's gall, but that so far seemed to be the only reaction and Claire wasn't waiting for one. She was already yelling. "Just shut up you psycho. I may not have had 'proper parents', but I had something better. I had Chris and there's nothing I, or they, have to be ashamed of. Unlike you. I'd feel like shit to be your parents. You may have had a 'proper upbringing', or 'proper parents', but you're cruel! You're evil. You're the most hateful person I know! I'd consider it a mistake you were even born!" Okay that was a lame way to end her rant, even she had to admit. But she wasn't exactly thinking clearly as she yelled. She was simply venting her rage and frustration in the most readily available manner. After finishing she just stood there, breathing heavily and staring at Alexia. By now what she'd just done was sinking in. She'd just struck a being more than capable of killing her in a second.

Claire's eyes instantly went from Alexia, who was still eyeing her, silent and unmoving, to the knives on the table, and then back to Alexia. Even if she grabbed the sharpest of them she knew it would be pointless. If Alexia could survive all of the firepower she and her brother had brought to bear on her there was no way she could hurt her with just a knife. If Alexia decided to kill her... there was nothing she could do to stop her... or to help Chris.

Alexia however still hadn't moved. She simply watched Claire. Then she reached up with one hand and rubbed the place where the Redfield girl had hit her with two fingers. It looked as though she were almost stroking it. Then she lowered her hand and narrowed her eyes. For a moment Claire was sure she was dead. This was it. Alexia was going to abandon her plans and kill her. But the young Ashford did nothing of the kind. "When you are finished Angelica, take Miss Redfield to her room. Until then she is yours to keep track of. I would suggest you not try to leave your room tonight. I warn you attempting to escape will be pointless." Then she turned, opened the door, and stepped out. As she closed the door Claire swore she heard Alexia say, "Queens should be raised by queens or on their own, not by workers or soldiers." Then the doors were closed.

Claire sighed and out of the corner of her eyes she saw the maid, Angelica presumably, move again; getting back to her task of seeing to the mess and cleaning the plates and silverware. She'd been standing petrified at one end of the table until Alexia had left. Probably she'd been thinking the exact same thing that Claire had. Someone was going to die. Why hadn't Alexia done anything to her? Was it this whole idea of their being equals? No, it couldn't be that. Considering how she'd acted up to this point this bit of behavior truly was odd coming from her. Why? Claire had actually hit her. She expected an explosion, not this. Had something she said struck a chord inside of her or something like... why the hell was she putting so much thought into it? Best to leave what goes on in that monster's head alone.

Claire didn't say very much as she watched the maid work although her mind was in overdrive. Despite Alexia's threat escape was the one thing that occupied her mind and to get past those vines she would need one of those knives. But how was she supposed to get one? Angelica would likely notice if one was missing from one of the two sets and even if she didn't what the hell was Claire going to sneak it to her room in. This dress didn't exactly have very many pockets or other such hiding places. It was about as skimpy as they came. To tell the truth she was vaguely surprised Alexia had something like this. It didn't seem to fit her tastes.

Angelica eventually seemed to realize she was being watched and stopped in her work to turn to Claire. "Do you need something ma'am?"
Claire almost said no, almost. Then an idea came to her. She didn't need to steal a knife from one of the two sets being used. There had to be others after all. All she needed to do was get the maid out of the room. "Yes um... I'm a little cold in here wearing just this." Claire hugged herself, folding her arms as though she were indeed as cold as she said. Of course she wasn't. The temperature in the house made her feel quite the opposite even with her clothing lacking in anything resembling insulation.

If the maid found her request odd in anyway she didn't show it. She simply bowed. "I'll be back in a moment. If you would be so kind as to please stay here. Then she passed her by and exited out the same door Alexia had. As soon as Claire was sure she'd gone she rushed over to the kitchen drawers and began to open them, searching for other knives even remotely similar to what she'd been using during the meal. It wasn't hard. There were more than a dozen of more than a dozen different kinds. Claire didn't have time to pick and choose from them however and simply grabbed the one that looked the best for what she had in mind. Then she went back to where she'd been standing and laid it down in her chair. Then she scooted her chair in towards the table so the knife was no longer visible to the casual observer.

It didn't take long for the nurse to return, a very fine coat folded in her arms. "I believe this will fit, ma'am. If it does not I'll be glad to try and find you another." She unfolded it and held it out for Claire to step into; actually helping her put it on.

"Thanks," Claire said, wrapping it around herself. It wasn't exactly comfortable to be wearing something like this with the house being as hot as it was, but she had to play it up. The maid didn't reply. She simply bowed again and set back to work. The moment she reached the sink and began to wash their eating utensils, her back to the girl, Claire reached down into the chair and pulled out the knife. It was her good fortune that both sides of the coats interior formed two huge pockets. She easily put the knife in one of them. 'There. I'm ready for tonight. I'm getting out of here!'

"Is there anything else you'll be needing ma'am?" Angelica asked politely, pulling Claire's attention away from inspecting the room she'd just walked inside. Apparently this was the place she would be staying. Like the rest of the house it was lavishly decorated, with a huge four poster bed dominating the center. If this was a guest bedroom then it was certainly meant to impress.

"No, thank you though. I'll be alright. If you don't mind I'd like to try and get some sleep. I guess she's right I am feeling kind of tired." Claire was lying through her teeth, but even she was proud of how innocent she sounded. Maybe that came from being honest most of the time. She didn't like having to deceive someone, but it was necessary to getting out of her and warning Chris.

"Call for me if you need me. Goodnight ma'am." Then with that the maid stepped out and closed the door behind her.

Claire waited a few seconds, listening to the sounds of her footsteps growing fainter and fainter. Then she sat down on the edge of the bed. She couldn't leave just yet. She'd have to wait a bit before she could make her move. Then she would escape.