Post by ezeekial on May 31, 2010 2:30:14 GMT -5
He had finally convinced them to let him go, even after Serenity had given both the nurses, Doctor, and himself a thorough tongue lashing. Serenity was gone, and as he wheeled himself out the front doors of the Hospital and took a deep breath of the night air he began to relax. It didn't last long when he remembered what he needed to do however and began wheeling himself toward the hardware store. After he had made his purchase, much to the confusion of the clerk, he set the bundled item across his lap, gritting his teeth against the pain in his knee. Gripping the wheel grips tightly for a moment he stared at the package and his knee before setting off, rolling down the sidewalk. He wouldn't call Ser. If she knew what was running through his mind right now she would assuredly be screaming at him, or tieing him to her bed. That thought made him smile, if only just a little. Could be fun in the right circumstances.
Stopping at the front doors of Fang Bangers he looked at the sign and swore loud enough for a few passersby to give him looks, then began rolling on down the street. Old Town. Why the fuck had they moved down there? Was business that bad for them? Nah.. couldn't be. He ignored everyone he wheeled past, set and determined on one thing and one thing only. After passing under the overpass he looked around, never having traveled to this part of town before but easily spotted the Fang Bangers bloody sign down the street. Oh. A bigger building. Made sense to him. He shook his head at a hooker that offered him her services and kept going.
A low growl escaped him as he drew near enough to realize he wasn't going to be getting in. Not easily at least. His toe hit the bottom step of the entrance and he stared at it for several moments, controlling his frustration, his eyes falling to the bundle in his lap. Shaking his head again, though not at anyone, he looked up at the building, a side of his face lifting into a smirk. He was in there, he had to be, usually was. Uncaring of the trouble it may cause he took another deep breath, pulling his beast into himself further and when he exhaled in a rush, his beast lashed out. His power flowed out of him in waves, into the building, searching and seeking out it's target. Once it found him, the only one that could control him, Jared nudged at him, meaning it to be gentle, but the recent turmoil and stress he had been under made him off centered and the gentle nudge turned into an urgent push of power, desperate and determined.
**
Aydryan was on the upper floor of the new Fangbangers, contemplating the large open space and what to do with it. What he really wanted to do was withdraw entirely from the above ground world and seek solitude within the Catacombs among his own kind and those that served them. The incident with the twins and Remiel had truly upset him, but what was there really that he could do about it? He did not command Lions and even if he could suppress Serenity's wolf, half of her would still be out of control. Then he asked himself if he truly cared whether or not they kept their babies.
He knew that if it wasn't for the influence of Hikaru, their bond, he probably wouldn't. But with even that, he was sorely tempted to keep a very VERY distant interaction in regards to the pregnant shifters. He also was beginning to realize that with every decade that passed, his humanity was becoming less and less. It was becoming easier to simply care for only those that were within the intimate embrace of the Kiss. Everyone outside of that was of no benefit to he and his.
It was at the tail end of these thoughts that he felt the stir of wolf energy within the club. When he turned his focus upon it, that energy found him, brushing around and through him with the nervous intensity of a wounded animal. Aydryan recognized the signature of that wolf and immediately turned toward the stairs, following the invisible trail. As he went, he thought about the last few times that he and Jared had spoken. He and the Ulfric were the same in that they wanted only the best for their people. The disadvantage was that Jared at some time had learned to truly distrust his kind. Aydryan had learned to only be irritated.
Pushing open the doors to Fang Bangers, his singular gaze fell upon the wheelchair bound Ulfric. His expression was carefully neutral as he moved down the steps, noting the bundle that rested upon Jared's legs. When he reached the lower steps, his chin lowered toward his chest but his gaze remained upon Jared. He felt the man's distress and pain as an echo. As he had done once before, he attempted to surround Jared with the scent and calm of his own inner wolf.
"How can I help you, Jared?"
**
As soon as he knew he had Aydryan's attention, feeling the vampire drawing closer his head snapped up, following him as he moved through the building. The closer he got the more he panicked, his wolf whining at him and trying to run. Jared clenched his jaw as he forced his wolf down deep inside him, reigning it in. He tried for casual and knew he was failing, his elbows on the arms of the chair, his hands laying on top of the bundle that was wider at one end and almost a foot longer than the chair was wide. He had wrapped the damned thing in an extra shirt Serenity had brought him so it didn't slip or draw too much attention.
When the doors opened and Aydryan stepped out, Jared fought the urge to squirm having the Master's full attention. His mouth opened, indeed to state he needed help but snapped shut. Shifting his weight in the chair he straightened, his chin lifting and forced himself to meet Aydryan's gaze for a moment defiantly before he lowered it. Chewing the silver rings on one side of his lips and feeling the burn while he struggled with himself over what to say. “You offered to help me with my..” The word growled out, “injury... Before.”
He lifted his eyes again, his shoulders pulling back. He was a Marine dammit. He could do this. “I need to do it.. now.”
**
Aydryan pulled back his attempt to soothe, his was a faux wolf after all. Besides, he recognized that Jared was trying so very hard to do come to him, to ask...which was so very much against his nature. He had to respect that. For now he cocked his head to the side thoughtfully, already going over where this 'situation' would better be taken care of.
It wasn't a great leap of the imagination to realize that Jared had an axe across his lap. Aydryan's original idea had been less painful and dramatic, but...well... Jared had not asked for his idea. Hikaru's voice whispered in the back of his head that he should offer it any way which subsequently killed the growth of an amused half-smile.
He moved to lean against the side concrete support and lowered his voice to a smooth conspiratorial tone that only he and Jared would hear. "Yes..I did." Then the other night with the twins and Remiel came to mind, "Especially if it will allow you to control Serenity and her sister better." He couldn't mask the irritation that was there. He wasn't sure he wanted to. "However, I wasn't thinking of just chopping the offending limb off." Now he looked at Jared, ignoring the scattered humans that moved about the open area of Old Town.
"I was thinking more along the lines of local anesthetic around the knee, removing the knee cap, then forcing you to shift. Less traumatic, less painful. Don't you think?"
**
Jared reached up and ran his fingers through his hair his head dropping as he let out a short clipped laugh. No one controlled Serenity or her sister. Least of all him. He tangled his fingers in his hair a moment, feeling the tug at his scalp. “She's been... acting up while I've been gone.” More statement than question, but he felt it needed to be confirmed in some form or another. His skin had paled with his time in the hospital, and he had lost weight, adding on the dark circles under his eyes, it was clear there was something else going on.
Releasing his hair he roughly scrubbed at his face. “I'm not healing, Aydryan... Don't you get that? I told the doctor that. He wouldn't listen. Hippocratic oath or some fucking bullshit.” One hand lowered to the bundle in his lap before he looked up not exactly focusing on his face, his voice hollow as he spoke, “Did you know that a drill bit going through bone heats up above melting point? They have to keep it cooled with water to keep it from melting. They didn't bother.” His eyes finally snapped, focusing again. “ I have silver melted into my bones... I...” His jaw set, his face screwing up. “It's the only way to be sure to get rid of it all.”
He didn't want to have to explain it further. The Doctors couldn't figure out why he wasn't healing. It wasn't that he was healing slower for a shifter, but he was getting worse. The silver drill they had used had melted, coating the inside of the hole in his bone with silver. His blood slowly leeching that silver into his system. The Doctor had given him a matter of a month, and still they refused to remove his knee. Silver poisoning. He could easily handle the silver piercings he had, but inside his body... It was killing him.
**
Aydryan needed no further explanation. Who would know better than a shifter of what needed to occur. It was clear that Jared was suffering and slowly dying. Aydryan's usually stoic cool exterior started to melt, beginning with the expression in his eye and slowly outward to suffuse his body language. He could not allow Jared to continue like this and honestly, the man had never done anything to Aydryan or any of his people.
Holding up his hand to still any further words from Jared, he moved back up the stairs and ducked his head inside the door,speaking to someone for a moment. When he returned, a very large Samoan was standing behind him, waiting silently. Aydryan crouched before the wheelchair, reached out and lightly touched one of Jared's hands.
"I'm going to help you, Jared..but you must put your trust in me in order for me to do this well and to take some of the stress from you. This is what we're going to do." As he spoke, his voice was filled with genuine concern and his expression was clearly open, hiding nothing. "Tao here is going to take your chair and store in the office until this is over with. Hopefully, you won't need it any more and it won't draw anyone's attention. I'm going to carry you to the woods where we will do this. The earth will soak up the fluids and we're less likely to be bothered."
He stood back up slowly, watching and waiting to see if Jared would accept what was said. Aydryan's energy was there but discretely held at a distance from Jared and his beast. He would not force it upon the man, but let Jared decide if he wanted to be touched with it. "I cannot allow you to suffer this way, Jared. No one should suffer this way."
**
Jared tried not to jump when the vampire touched him, light as it was, an gentle and innocent touch, simple. He stared up at the Samoan for a moment, he couldn't help it, before his eyes moved back to Aydryan and he nodded slowly, his head lowering until he stood. His hand shot out first, grasping his wrist tightly for a second before loosening and he looked back up at him and swallowed. “The Lupanar. I'll show you the way.” His energy was constantly around him, he couldn't control it and it was attracted to Aydryan swirling around him tightly for a moment before flowing back around Jared at the touch.
He let go of Aydryan's wrist, almost as if it hurt to touch him, but that wasn't it. He hadn't meant to do that, a mumbled apology slipping out. Then he glanced around at the area. “Wouldn't it draw attention for you to carry me down the streets?” He shifted in the chair, eager to be out of it, and at the same time nervous and almost panicked at how it had to come about. “Doesn't matter I guess. As long as Serenity doesn't find out. Least till after.” He shifted the heavy awkward bundle in his lap and waited.
**
Aydryan did not react when Jared grabbed his wrist. He merely glanced at the hand and back to Jared as he listened to the injured wolf. Nodding, he turned his head to Tao, "Do not forget what I have ordered." Then he gave his full attention to Jared once more, "I have my ways of keeping us unseen and I know where the Lupanar is." He let that sink in as he bent and deftly and quickly hauled Jared up into his arms, once more cradling. "Just keep a good grip on that .... tool." Once Jared was settled and Aydryan was confident of his hold on him, he began moving swiftly to the streets. As they moved, he summoned the shadows to cloak them from prying eyes.
When he had to, he leaped over obstacles easily. His speed increased as he fell into the rhythm of running. Soon the town was left behind and they were surrounded by the gloom of the forest, the curious sounds of animals as they watched, then fell silent. Hills and gullies did not slow Aydryan, but where he might seem fast, Hikaru was faster still. The thought of his lover made him smile and he couldn't stop the link from opening and letting his partner be aware of what was going on.
Eventually, they came to the Lupanar. Aydryan didn't set Jared down onto the ground until he was near the now dead tree. The stone was broken, there was no power there, but he could feel a hint of rebirth near the tree. He placed the Ulfric down gently and stepped back, letting the wolf gather himself. "You should disrobe, Jared, you'll need unbloodied unsoiled clothes later."
**
Jared ground his teeth, his body tensing part from pain and part from Aydryan touching him. But he didn't struggle, letting the vampire cradle him against his chest. One hand held onto the bundle tightly, pulling it into the curve of his own body so it wouldn't knock against Ayd's knees, the other arm wasn't sure where to go, eventually ending up over his shoulders and behind his neck. His wolf paced growling softly as everything around them darkened, though Jared's lips remained tightly sealed.
Every bump and jar, though he knew Aydryan was trying to keep things as smooth as possible for him, hurt, the pain shooting up his leg occasionally drawing a small whimper or grunt from him. By the time they reached the Lupanar and Aydryan set him down there was a fine coating of sweat on his brow and he took several moments to simply just breathe. Eventually, he reached up and pulled off his shirt, tossing it onto the throne with a small snort. “Doesn't matter... I own the cottage down in the small valley. His head jerked in the direction of the cottage and leaned forward, beginning to unstrap the brace around his leg. This position showed off the extensive branded tribal design that ran down the front of his chest, arms, and back. With a pained grunt the brace landed on top of the shirt and leaned back against the tree taking a deep breath and pausing, his hands hovering at the waistband of his pants. With a small shake of his head he unbuttoned his jeans and slid them off, opting to leave his boxers on, shifter or not, when it came to vampires he preferred to have as much clothing as he could on.
**
Aydryan glanced in the direction of the supposed cottage, but of course did not see it. Turning back to Jared, he picked up the bundle and freed it of it's wrappings until the axe glinted in the moonlight. Muttering to himself, "So crude...but effective I suppose." Then he watched Jared disrobe. Brandings were a rare thing to come upon, especially artistic ones. Most brands that Aydryan had ever seen were scars, burns, the result of things inflicted on another. He had to put a mark of admiration for Jared in his mental book because withstanding such calculated markings was indeed strength testing. When Jared paused at the boxers, Aydryan smiled slightly and shook his head. Perhaps he would never get Jared to understand that he, himself, was not an inherently cruel person.
He took two careful steps toward Jared, lifting the ax. "Look at me Jared...let me into your mind so I can at least make the pain distant. It will also allow me to pull your wolf when the act is done. I want this to be as smooth and easy for you as it can be." His words were genuine as he stood ready.
**
Jared shifted himself, pulling his good knee to bend underneath him and spread his knees enough so that the ax had enough room to do it's job. Even as he did that he was beginning to panic and reached up and back behind his head, gripping onto the tree as if his life depended on it. He had caught Aydryan looking at his markings and explained it quickly through clenched teeth, trying to take his mind off what was about to happen, to keep his beast at bay from flight or fight.
He blinked up at Ayd, his eyes drawn to the ax he lifted. He had made sure they sharpened it in the store, much to the clerk's nervousness. For a second he couldn't take his eyes off the blade, his heart hammering in his chest. Taking a deep breath he tore his gaze away from the sharp blade and focused on Aydryan's eyes, his shields had been down the whole time, he couldn't seem to be able to keep them up lately. Adjusting his grip on the trunk he nodded, once, his jaw tightening in expectation of the pain, or Aydryan's power. “Do it.”
**
All it took was that moment, the meeting of eyes and Aydryan took Jared. The vampire rolled into the wolf's mind and took him to a deep primordial forest, a heaven for the beast. Lush green, falling waters and plenty of game. There were other wolves nearby as well, comforting with their calm energy, a pack. The scent of natural decay, rich earth surrounded Jared and drew him into its comfort. As soon as Aydryan saw the werewolf fall into the illusion, body relaxing.....
he swung the ax up and around in a wide powerful arc. The one eye he still had twitched slightly at the crunching thud of the blow and the vibrations that moved up the shaft and into his grip. He would always remember the feel and sound of that moment, of when he parted Jared with his leg at mid-thigh.
**
Jared met those eyes and... there was nothing... nothing but forest and woods, earth and loam. The pain in his leg was gone and he ran. Ran simply for the joy of running, jumping over the logs and ducking branches as he went. His body relaxed into the illusion, his eyes hooding as even the scents assaulted him. Vaguely he heard someone making a single chop at a tree, then his leg throbbed, and spiked. Tripping, he curled up amid the bushes and stared at his leg, mentally he didn't know what was wrong, though he thought it was his knee kicking in again.
Outwardly his body jerked, his body tightened and writhed with a strangled cry as soon as the ax bit through his leg, his fingers tightening on the bark of the tree. It was his body reacting on it's own, his mind still felt it, deep in the woods he had been set into, but it wasn't the full weight of it. His beast however knew something was wrong and perked it's head up from the grass, seeming to stare through the woods at something before bounding off, and up. As soon as it hit that wall it whimpered, the sound echoed through Jared's throat, an inhuman sound, completely wolf, escaping a human looking throat.
**
The blood gushed from the wound making Aydryan's brows knit with concern. He had to make Jared shift immediately or all of this would be for nothing. Then he felt the wolf hitting the edge of dreams, heard it within Jared's cry. He tossed the axe to the side and knelt beside Jared, hands moving to grip the man's face. "Jared...now...the time is now." He reached within the man and grabbed the wolf with metaphysical hands and yanked. He yanked until he felt the heat of Jared's body rising swiftly. Aydryan let his face go and stood up and back, still pulling, calling to the wolf within. <<Come to me...come to my call...>>
**
Jared's body jerked and writhed, thrashing against the pain, then stilled for a heartbeat when hands gripped his face, pulling at the wolf inside. The wolf crashed through that barrier and flowed toward the surface, pausing and wanting to retreat when the first bit of the pain slammed into him but another yank on the scruff of his neck had him dashing forward again, against the pain.
Jared threw himself away from the tree, going onto almost all fours with one leg missing as his body slowly began to contort and bend, the stump of his missing leg beginning to flow outward, forming flesh and bone. With the third pulling, the change became more insistent, then his body.. exploded. Clear goo covered everything in the area, droplets of it clung, along with other things that were or were not fleshy colored, though still transparent. In the middle of all this mess Jared still lay, his body covered in fur, larger than his human side, on /all/ fours. His head hung low and his breathing was hard and fast, slowly deepening and evening out before he lifted it and howled. That howl could faintly be heard by those in Old Town, clearer for preternaturals, and fainter to those in Uptown. Then he turned his head and fixed icy blue eyes on the vampire that had helped him. Waiting.
**
Aydryan watched intently, moved by the sheer power of a lycanthrope shifting, reforming limbs that were missing. He barely had time to throw his arms up to ward off the explosion of shifter goo, but still he was covered fairly well. Sighing quietly, he began wiping away at the stuff when he felt eyes upon him.
Looking up, he met those blue eyes, smiled and waved a dismissive hand..."Run...you're free...you're whole...continue to heal and go to those that need you so desperately." He looked around the area with a somewhat put out expression, "I'll clean up here...your clothes will remain on the .... throne. I'll bury the leg by the tree...sacrifice, yes?" Then he walked passed the werewolf and began digging a whole for the leg. He wondered silently what, if anything, would come of this moment. Where he might now stand with the shifters, being the evil vampire that he was.
**
Jared pushed himself up slowly, testing his new leg. It still ached a bit, but he figured that was because it was new, and had just experienced massive damage. Those husky eyes followed Aydryan as he moved to the tree, a part of him twitching as he began to dig at the base of it. He glanced out to the woods for a moment, his wolf and the human wanting the same thing, to run. But he turned back and crouched, inching his way closer to Aydryan's side. He stopped a foot away, his head lowering as he dropped on knee to the stone floor, one large clawed hand lifting to rest surprisingly lightly on his shoulder. “Thank you, Aydryan.” his voice, though muffled by the long muzzle was exactly the same as he had in human form. His eyes rolled up to look at him, meeting the lone eye before dropping again. “I owe you.” To him, Aydryan was his Alpha. The wolf recognized that much, the man respected it and in turn, respected the vampire. Trust would take time however.
**
Aydryan Underwood walked back to town, thoroughly disheveled and paying no mind to any he passed. Finally he made it back to FangBangers and made a beeline to the storage room. He was going to take a long shower with Hikaru and try to forget this evening....except for Dodge....and Pandion. He did check with Tao to make sure that he had carried the empty wheelchair inside as ordered. He kept looking at his hands which were filthy from digging in the dirt which turned to mud because of the goo. He would have to call a manicurist as well....the carefully maintained nails were ruined.
**
Jared watched Aydryan leave before going back and digging up the bottom of the tree, he removed one specific piece from .. his... leg, then recovered it. Staring down at that rather small piece of bone laced with silver, he growled, then reached up and slid it onto a branch, through the hole. A reminder. He could already feel something stirring in the tree, new growth perhaps but turned away from it and bounded out into the wood. It didn't take him long to find and take down the young buck, pulling it into a small hollow between two trees before beginning to feed. He wondered exactly how pissed Ser would be at him, but... she had wanted to keep him in the hospital. He didn't think she would understand, then again, maybe she would.
(To be continued...)
Stopping at the front doors of Fang Bangers he looked at the sign and swore loud enough for a few passersby to give him looks, then began rolling on down the street. Old Town. Why the fuck had they moved down there? Was business that bad for them? Nah.. couldn't be. He ignored everyone he wheeled past, set and determined on one thing and one thing only. After passing under the overpass he looked around, never having traveled to this part of town before but easily spotted the Fang Bangers bloody sign down the street. Oh. A bigger building. Made sense to him. He shook his head at a hooker that offered him her services and kept going.
A low growl escaped him as he drew near enough to realize he wasn't going to be getting in. Not easily at least. His toe hit the bottom step of the entrance and he stared at it for several moments, controlling his frustration, his eyes falling to the bundle in his lap. Shaking his head again, though not at anyone, he looked up at the building, a side of his face lifting into a smirk. He was in there, he had to be, usually was. Uncaring of the trouble it may cause he took another deep breath, pulling his beast into himself further and when he exhaled in a rush, his beast lashed out. His power flowed out of him in waves, into the building, searching and seeking out it's target. Once it found him, the only one that could control him, Jared nudged at him, meaning it to be gentle, but the recent turmoil and stress he had been under made him off centered and the gentle nudge turned into an urgent push of power, desperate and determined.
**
Aydryan was on the upper floor of the new Fangbangers, contemplating the large open space and what to do with it. What he really wanted to do was withdraw entirely from the above ground world and seek solitude within the Catacombs among his own kind and those that served them. The incident with the twins and Remiel had truly upset him, but what was there really that he could do about it? He did not command Lions and even if he could suppress Serenity's wolf, half of her would still be out of control. Then he asked himself if he truly cared whether or not they kept their babies.
He knew that if it wasn't for the influence of Hikaru, their bond, he probably wouldn't. But with even that, he was sorely tempted to keep a very VERY distant interaction in regards to the pregnant shifters. He also was beginning to realize that with every decade that passed, his humanity was becoming less and less. It was becoming easier to simply care for only those that were within the intimate embrace of the Kiss. Everyone outside of that was of no benefit to he and his.
It was at the tail end of these thoughts that he felt the stir of wolf energy within the club. When he turned his focus upon it, that energy found him, brushing around and through him with the nervous intensity of a wounded animal. Aydryan recognized the signature of that wolf and immediately turned toward the stairs, following the invisible trail. As he went, he thought about the last few times that he and Jared had spoken. He and the Ulfric were the same in that they wanted only the best for their people. The disadvantage was that Jared at some time had learned to truly distrust his kind. Aydryan had learned to only be irritated.
Pushing open the doors to Fang Bangers, his singular gaze fell upon the wheelchair bound Ulfric. His expression was carefully neutral as he moved down the steps, noting the bundle that rested upon Jared's legs. When he reached the lower steps, his chin lowered toward his chest but his gaze remained upon Jared. He felt the man's distress and pain as an echo. As he had done once before, he attempted to surround Jared with the scent and calm of his own inner wolf.
"How can I help you, Jared?"
**
As soon as he knew he had Aydryan's attention, feeling the vampire drawing closer his head snapped up, following him as he moved through the building. The closer he got the more he panicked, his wolf whining at him and trying to run. Jared clenched his jaw as he forced his wolf down deep inside him, reigning it in. He tried for casual and knew he was failing, his elbows on the arms of the chair, his hands laying on top of the bundle that was wider at one end and almost a foot longer than the chair was wide. He had wrapped the damned thing in an extra shirt Serenity had brought him so it didn't slip or draw too much attention.
When the doors opened and Aydryan stepped out, Jared fought the urge to squirm having the Master's full attention. His mouth opened, indeed to state he needed help but snapped shut. Shifting his weight in the chair he straightened, his chin lifting and forced himself to meet Aydryan's gaze for a moment defiantly before he lowered it. Chewing the silver rings on one side of his lips and feeling the burn while he struggled with himself over what to say. “You offered to help me with my..” The word growled out, “injury... Before.”
He lifted his eyes again, his shoulders pulling back. He was a Marine dammit. He could do this. “I need to do it.. now.”
**
Aydryan pulled back his attempt to soothe, his was a faux wolf after all. Besides, he recognized that Jared was trying so very hard to do come to him, to ask...which was so very much against his nature. He had to respect that. For now he cocked his head to the side thoughtfully, already going over where this 'situation' would better be taken care of.
It wasn't a great leap of the imagination to realize that Jared had an axe across his lap. Aydryan's original idea had been less painful and dramatic, but...well... Jared had not asked for his idea. Hikaru's voice whispered in the back of his head that he should offer it any way which subsequently killed the growth of an amused half-smile.
He moved to lean against the side concrete support and lowered his voice to a smooth conspiratorial tone that only he and Jared would hear. "Yes..I did." Then the other night with the twins and Remiel came to mind, "Especially if it will allow you to control Serenity and her sister better." He couldn't mask the irritation that was there. He wasn't sure he wanted to. "However, I wasn't thinking of just chopping the offending limb off." Now he looked at Jared, ignoring the scattered humans that moved about the open area of Old Town.
"I was thinking more along the lines of local anesthetic around the knee, removing the knee cap, then forcing you to shift. Less traumatic, less painful. Don't you think?"
**
Jared reached up and ran his fingers through his hair his head dropping as he let out a short clipped laugh. No one controlled Serenity or her sister. Least of all him. He tangled his fingers in his hair a moment, feeling the tug at his scalp. “She's been... acting up while I've been gone.” More statement than question, but he felt it needed to be confirmed in some form or another. His skin had paled with his time in the hospital, and he had lost weight, adding on the dark circles under his eyes, it was clear there was something else going on.
Releasing his hair he roughly scrubbed at his face. “I'm not healing, Aydryan... Don't you get that? I told the doctor that. He wouldn't listen. Hippocratic oath or some fucking bullshit.” One hand lowered to the bundle in his lap before he looked up not exactly focusing on his face, his voice hollow as he spoke, “Did you know that a drill bit going through bone heats up above melting point? They have to keep it cooled with water to keep it from melting. They didn't bother.” His eyes finally snapped, focusing again. “ I have silver melted into my bones... I...” His jaw set, his face screwing up. “It's the only way to be sure to get rid of it all.”
He didn't want to have to explain it further. The Doctors couldn't figure out why he wasn't healing. It wasn't that he was healing slower for a shifter, but he was getting worse. The silver drill they had used had melted, coating the inside of the hole in his bone with silver. His blood slowly leeching that silver into his system. The Doctor had given him a matter of a month, and still they refused to remove his knee. Silver poisoning. He could easily handle the silver piercings he had, but inside his body... It was killing him.
**
Aydryan needed no further explanation. Who would know better than a shifter of what needed to occur. It was clear that Jared was suffering and slowly dying. Aydryan's usually stoic cool exterior started to melt, beginning with the expression in his eye and slowly outward to suffuse his body language. He could not allow Jared to continue like this and honestly, the man had never done anything to Aydryan or any of his people.
Holding up his hand to still any further words from Jared, he moved back up the stairs and ducked his head inside the door,speaking to someone for a moment. When he returned, a very large Samoan was standing behind him, waiting silently. Aydryan crouched before the wheelchair, reached out and lightly touched one of Jared's hands.
"I'm going to help you, Jared..but you must put your trust in me in order for me to do this well and to take some of the stress from you. This is what we're going to do." As he spoke, his voice was filled with genuine concern and his expression was clearly open, hiding nothing. "Tao here is going to take your chair and store in the office until this is over with. Hopefully, you won't need it any more and it won't draw anyone's attention. I'm going to carry you to the woods where we will do this. The earth will soak up the fluids and we're less likely to be bothered."
He stood back up slowly, watching and waiting to see if Jared would accept what was said. Aydryan's energy was there but discretely held at a distance from Jared and his beast. He would not force it upon the man, but let Jared decide if he wanted to be touched with it. "I cannot allow you to suffer this way, Jared. No one should suffer this way."
**
Jared tried not to jump when the vampire touched him, light as it was, an gentle and innocent touch, simple. He stared up at the Samoan for a moment, he couldn't help it, before his eyes moved back to Aydryan and he nodded slowly, his head lowering until he stood. His hand shot out first, grasping his wrist tightly for a second before loosening and he looked back up at him and swallowed. “The Lupanar. I'll show you the way.” His energy was constantly around him, he couldn't control it and it was attracted to Aydryan swirling around him tightly for a moment before flowing back around Jared at the touch.
He let go of Aydryan's wrist, almost as if it hurt to touch him, but that wasn't it. He hadn't meant to do that, a mumbled apology slipping out. Then he glanced around at the area. “Wouldn't it draw attention for you to carry me down the streets?” He shifted in the chair, eager to be out of it, and at the same time nervous and almost panicked at how it had to come about. “Doesn't matter I guess. As long as Serenity doesn't find out. Least till after.” He shifted the heavy awkward bundle in his lap and waited.
**
Aydryan did not react when Jared grabbed his wrist. He merely glanced at the hand and back to Jared as he listened to the injured wolf. Nodding, he turned his head to Tao, "Do not forget what I have ordered." Then he gave his full attention to Jared once more, "I have my ways of keeping us unseen and I know where the Lupanar is." He let that sink in as he bent and deftly and quickly hauled Jared up into his arms, once more cradling. "Just keep a good grip on that .... tool." Once Jared was settled and Aydryan was confident of his hold on him, he began moving swiftly to the streets. As they moved, he summoned the shadows to cloak them from prying eyes.
When he had to, he leaped over obstacles easily. His speed increased as he fell into the rhythm of running. Soon the town was left behind and they were surrounded by the gloom of the forest, the curious sounds of animals as they watched, then fell silent. Hills and gullies did not slow Aydryan, but where he might seem fast, Hikaru was faster still. The thought of his lover made him smile and he couldn't stop the link from opening and letting his partner be aware of what was going on.
Eventually, they came to the Lupanar. Aydryan didn't set Jared down onto the ground until he was near the now dead tree. The stone was broken, there was no power there, but he could feel a hint of rebirth near the tree. He placed the Ulfric down gently and stepped back, letting the wolf gather himself. "You should disrobe, Jared, you'll need unbloodied unsoiled clothes later."
**
Jared ground his teeth, his body tensing part from pain and part from Aydryan touching him. But he didn't struggle, letting the vampire cradle him against his chest. One hand held onto the bundle tightly, pulling it into the curve of his own body so it wouldn't knock against Ayd's knees, the other arm wasn't sure where to go, eventually ending up over his shoulders and behind his neck. His wolf paced growling softly as everything around them darkened, though Jared's lips remained tightly sealed.
Every bump and jar, though he knew Aydryan was trying to keep things as smooth as possible for him, hurt, the pain shooting up his leg occasionally drawing a small whimper or grunt from him. By the time they reached the Lupanar and Aydryan set him down there was a fine coating of sweat on his brow and he took several moments to simply just breathe. Eventually, he reached up and pulled off his shirt, tossing it onto the throne with a small snort. “Doesn't matter... I own the cottage down in the small valley. His head jerked in the direction of the cottage and leaned forward, beginning to unstrap the brace around his leg. This position showed off the extensive branded tribal design that ran down the front of his chest, arms, and back. With a pained grunt the brace landed on top of the shirt and leaned back against the tree taking a deep breath and pausing, his hands hovering at the waistband of his pants. With a small shake of his head he unbuttoned his jeans and slid them off, opting to leave his boxers on, shifter or not, when it came to vampires he preferred to have as much clothing as he could on.
**
Aydryan glanced in the direction of the supposed cottage, but of course did not see it. Turning back to Jared, he picked up the bundle and freed it of it's wrappings until the axe glinted in the moonlight. Muttering to himself, "So crude...but effective I suppose." Then he watched Jared disrobe. Brandings were a rare thing to come upon, especially artistic ones. Most brands that Aydryan had ever seen were scars, burns, the result of things inflicted on another. He had to put a mark of admiration for Jared in his mental book because withstanding such calculated markings was indeed strength testing. When Jared paused at the boxers, Aydryan smiled slightly and shook his head. Perhaps he would never get Jared to understand that he, himself, was not an inherently cruel person.
He took two careful steps toward Jared, lifting the ax. "Look at me Jared...let me into your mind so I can at least make the pain distant. It will also allow me to pull your wolf when the act is done. I want this to be as smooth and easy for you as it can be." His words were genuine as he stood ready.
**
Jared shifted himself, pulling his good knee to bend underneath him and spread his knees enough so that the ax had enough room to do it's job. Even as he did that he was beginning to panic and reached up and back behind his head, gripping onto the tree as if his life depended on it. He had caught Aydryan looking at his markings and explained it quickly through clenched teeth, trying to take his mind off what was about to happen, to keep his beast at bay from flight or fight.
He blinked up at Ayd, his eyes drawn to the ax he lifted. He had made sure they sharpened it in the store, much to the clerk's nervousness. For a second he couldn't take his eyes off the blade, his heart hammering in his chest. Taking a deep breath he tore his gaze away from the sharp blade and focused on Aydryan's eyes, his shields had been down the whole time, he couldn't seem to be able to keep them up lately. Adjusting his grip on the trunk he nodded, once, his jaw tightening in expectation of the pain, or Aydryan's power. “Do it.”
**
All it took was that moment, the meeting of eyes and Aydryan took Jared. The vampire rolled into the wolf's mind and took him to a deep primordial forest, a heaven for the beast. Lush green, falling waters and plenty of game. There were other wolves nearby as well, comforting with their calm energy, a pack. The scent of natural decay, rich earth surrounded Jared and drew him into its comfort. As soon as Aydryan saw the werewolf fall into the illusion, body relaxing.....
he swung the ax up and around in a wide powerful arc. The one eye he still had twitched slightly at the crunching thud of the blow and the vibrations that moved up the shaft and into his grip. He would always remember the feel and sound of that moment, of when he parted Jared with his leg at mid-thigh.
**
Jared met those eyes and... there was nothing... nothing but forest and woods, earth and loam. The pain in his leg was gone and he ran. Ran simply for the joy of running, jumping over the logs and ducking branches as he went. His body relaxed into the illusion, his eyes hooding as even the scents assaulted him. Vaguely he heard someone making a single chop at a tree, then his leg throbbed, and spiked. Tripping, he curled up amid the bushes and stared at his leg, mentally he didn't know what was wrong, though he thought it was his knee kicking in again.
Outwardly his body jerked, his body tightened and writhed with a strangled cry as soon as the ax bit through his leg, his fingers tightening on the bark of the tree. It was his body reacting on it's own, his mind still felt it, deep in the woods he had been set into, but it wasn't the full weight of it. His beast however knew something was wrong and perked it's head up from the grass, seeming to stare through the woods at something before bounding off, and up. As soon as it hit that wall it whimpered, the sound echoed through Jared's throat, an inhuman sound, completely wolf, escaping a human looking throat.
**
The blood gushed from the wound making Aydryan's brows knit with concern. He had to make Jared shift immediately or all of this would be for nothing. Then he felt the wolf hitting the edge of dreams, heard it within Jared's cry. He tossed the axe to the side and knelt beside Jared, hands moving to grip the man's face. "Jared...now...the time is now." He reached within the man and grabbed the wolf with metaphysical hands and yanked. He yanked until he felt the heat of Jared's body rising swiftly. Aydryan let his face go and stood up and back, still pulling, calling to the wolf within. <<Come to me...come to my call...>>
**
Jared's body jerked and writhed, thrashing against the pain, then stilled for a heartbeat when hands gripped his face, pulling at the wolf inside. The wolf crashed through that barrier and flowed toward the surface, pausing and wanting to retreat when the first bit of the pain slammed into him but another yank on the scruff of his neck had him dashing forward again, against the pain.
Jared threw himself away from the tree, going onto almost all fours with one leg missing as his body slowly began to contort and bend, the stump of his missing leg beginning to flow outward, forming flesh and bone. With the third pulling, the change became more insistent, then his body.. exploded. Clear goo covered everything in the area, droplets of it clung, along with other things that were or were not fleshy colored, though still transparent. In the middle of all this mess Jared still lay, his body covered in fur, larger than his human side, on /all/ fours. His head hung low and his breathing was hard and fast, slowly deepening and evening out before he lifted it and howled. That howl could faintly be heard by those in Old Town, clearer for preternaturals, and fainter to those in Uptown. Then he turned his head and fixed icy blue eyes on the vampire that had helped him. Waiting.
**
Aydryan watched intently, moved by the sheer power of a lycanthrope shifting, reforming limbs that were missing. He barely had time to throw his arms up to ward off the explosion of shifter goo, but still he was covered fairly well. Sighing quietly, he began wiping away at the stuff when he felt eyes upon him.
Looking up, he met those blue eyes, smiled and waved a dismissive hand..."Run...you're free...you're whole...continue to heal and go to those that need you so desperately." He looked around the area with a somewhat put out expression, "I'll clean up here...your clothes will remain on the .... throne. I'll bury the leg by the tree...sacrifice, yes?" Then he walked passed the werewolf and began digging a whole for the leg. He wondered silently what, if anything, would come of this moment. Where he might now stand with the shifters, being the evil vampire that he was.
**
Jared pushed himself up slowly, testing his new leg. It still ached a bit, but he figured that was because it was new, and had just experienced massive damage. Those husky eyes followed Aydryan as he moved to the tree, a part of him twitching as he began to dig at the base of it. He glanced out to the woods for a moment, his wolf and the human wanting the same thing, to run. But he turned back and crouched, inching his way closer to Aydryan's side. He stopped a foot away, his head lowering as he dropped on knee to the stone floor, one large clawed hand lifting to rest surprisingly lightly on his shoulder. “Thank you, Aydryan.” his voice, though muffled by the long muzzle was exactly the same as he had in human form. His eyes rolled up to look at him, meeting the lone eye before dropping again. “I owe you.” To him, Aydryan was his Alpha. The wolf recognized that much, the man respected it and in turn, respected the vampire. Trust would take time however.
**
Aydryan Underwood walked back to town, thoroughly disheveled and paying no mind to any he passed. Finally he made it back to FangBangers and made a beeline to the storage room. He was going to take a long shower with Hikaru and try to forget this evening....except for Dodge....and Pandion. He did check with Tao to make sure that he had carried the empty wheelchair inside as ordered. He kept looking at his hands which were filthy from digging in the dirt which turned to mud because of the goo. He would have to call a manicurist as well....the carefully maintained nails were ruined.
**
Jared watched Aydryan leave before going back and digging up the bottom of the tree, he removed one specific piece from .. his... leg, then recovered it. Staring down at that rather small piece of bone laced with silver, he growled, then reached up and slid it onto a branch, through the hole. A reminder. He could already feel something stirring in the tree, new growth perhaps but turned away from it and bounded out into the wood. It didn't take him long to find and take down the young buck, pulling it into a small hollow between two trees before beginning to feed. He wondered exactly how pissed Ser would be at him, but... she had wanted to keep him in the hospital. He didn't think she would understand, then again, maybe she would.
(To be continued...)