Xander's Cross, Oregon: a small town ringed with forbidding mountains and misty forest. The sky may be gray, but the townspeople are welcoming to people of all kinds...and things that are not quite human as well. Here the native shifters, aliens, werewolves, and witches live in peace. They have yet to find out the new business owners encroaching on the land are also vampires.
The peace has been broken by murder, however, and things in Xander's Cross are about to become quite a bit darker.
Welcome to your new home.
is it better to out-monster the monster or to be quietly devoured?
August 20, 2020
The mayor, Rowan Starkwood, was found dead less than a mile from his home. Rumors say his body was mutilated, but the state of the body has not yet been released to the public.
Post by Isolde Thornton on Aug 25, 2020 22:57:54 GMT -5
Isolde's bottom lip was bleeding, and she'd had to clip her nails to keep herself from picking them. Her fingers tingled from the jagged movement of her necklace back and forth on its silver chain. Every anxious habit she'd ever relied on had been used to exhaustion, and still it wasn't time. Two days. Had he meant two full days? Maybe he didn't actually mean tonight, maybe it was tomorrow night? She paced the room in the dim candle light, still tugging on her necklace.
She was fully dressed, although she'd 'gone to bed' more than an hour ago, and she'd chosen her one pair of tennis shoes to wear for ease of movement. Thankfully, they also muffled her steps back and forth on the rug. Her suitcase and Eddie's were lined up next to the closet where they'd been tucked away before and charmed to avoid notice. She wore a dark windbreaker, despite the summer heat: she needed pockets. Each one was filled with a variety of pre-programmed spells for light, protection, removing tracking spells, hiding footprints, everything she could think of to help them on their way out. But it was the large obsidian orb in her left pocket that was warm from her touch where she'd been turning it in her fingers for the last hour, ever since she'd put the jacket on. This one was the keystone to her trap around the house. Whether or not she'd need it, only time would tell, but she couldn't keep herself from returning to it again and again. This could be their saving grace.
Where was Marcus Kanaan ? Surely it didn't need an entire hour for her father to believe she'd gone to bed; she never did anything out of her routine. And besides, her father himself hardly paid her any attention, anymore. It was always other eyes, that watched. Often Marcus's, in fact. Had her father noticed something was amiss? She'd been careful not to do anything out of the ordinary the last few days, although she couldn't help smiling when Marcus met her eye at one point. Did she do that before? She wasn't sure. She didn't think he usually met her gaze, actually...But that was beside the point. What if he was in trouble because he'd tried to help her? Should she go find him instead of passively waiting? If her father had discovered him, his life was certainly in danger. She didn't know how much she'd be able to help, but at the very least she had to try. But she was probably overreacting and--
When she heard her door handle begin to turn, she stopped and immediately released both her necklace and the stone, putting her hands firmly at her sides instead. She breathed a sigh of relief, though, when she saw it was Marcus's silhouette outlined in the hall light.
"Thank goodness," she breathed. "I thought he...I don't know what I thought. I was worried about you."
Post by Marcus Kanaan on Aug 26, 2020 11:17:43 GMT -5
There was so much to prep for but so little time to do it, so Marcus had to be sure that he was as thorough as possible. As much as he had wanted to run to her the moment the household when to bed, he knew he couldn't. Especially not after last time. He had to be sure, and then undoubtedly sure that David would not suspect, that they wouldn't be found by him...like last time. The man thought they were leaving tomorrow, so hopefully he suspected nothing.
Yet it was impossible to stop the thundering beat of his heart inside his chest. He was, in a way, terrified...and Marcus Kanaan was never afraid. This would be different if it was just him, but it was such much more than just him.
By now, after so many years, he knew every creak in the floorboards, every loud step that shifted underneath any sort of weight, so he was able to avoid making much noise as he traversed through the manor. There was about to be a guard shift this time at night, and it was probably their best bet to get out with little detection. Still, he felt the comfortable weight of that pistol against his side, tucked beneath his suit coat and he found his way to Isolde's room.
Gripping the handle, he turned it to slowly ease the door open, coming to find her standing there ready to go. Lips parted to speak, but her own words halted him immediately, causing his back to stiffen. Those dark eyes staring at her face in soft bewilderment. 'I was worried about you.' It was like something wrapped around his heart and squeezed, but his mind was already wondering why. Why would he deserve any sort of concern from her, despite the worry he carried for her in return? It was enough to make him pause for a moment too long before he was able to stammer out a whispered reply, "I'm...I'm alright." It was instinct to ask if she was but there was no time. Neither was there time to second guess anything. They had to move.
Marcus rushed in for those suitcases. Normally he would carry both, but he was handing one off to her because he'd feel a lot more comfortable having one arm free just in case. Then, he quietly ushered her towards the door. "The boy...he is in his room?" Perhaps it was a foolish question, because once she was out in the hall and he carefully shut the door, Marcus was already on the move. He knew he didn't have to tell her to be careful or quiet- any sudden or loud noise would bring the whole house down upon them.
Thornton thought they were leaving tomorrow, not tonight. He kept reminding himself of that.
Post by Isolde Thornton on Aug 26, 2020 21:43:25 GMT -5
Isolde's lips turned up in the briefest of smiles when he said he was alright, but there was no more time for small talk. They had to move. She nodded; Eddie would be asleep in his room.
She took the suitcase from him without protest and followed him out of the room, already careful of her tread across the floor. She, like her companion, was all to familiar with the areas of the floor that creaked, or which doors were never silent. She'd lived with her father long enough to learn how to avoid notice. She did this all the time--it was just that now her life was on the line.
When they reached the room, she alerted Marcus with a brief brush of her hand across his shoulder as she moved past him into her brother's room. She set the suitcase at the foot of the bed and crouched next to the boy, sighing as she brushed his dark curls away from his forehead so she could place a kiss on his temple. "Sweetheart, wake up," she murmured gently, and wiggled his shoulder.
The child stirred and then sat up sharply, frowning at her and then at Marcus's form in the doorway. He looked back at her in question, but knew better than to speak. He was too wise for his years, and thanks to spending much of his time with Sol, he knew what kind of man his father was. It was easy for his wide and silent eyes to see the way things around him worked.
"I need you to put on your shoes, babe. We're leaving. Remember I already packed your bag?"
Eddie nodded and rose blearily from the bed, tugging his rumpled Minecraft pajama shirt back into place as he shoved his feet into his tennis shoes. Sol put her hand between the boy's shoulder blades and urged him towards the door as she snatched up the suitcase again. The child hesitated, glancing back at her.
"It's alright, Marcus is helping us. You can trust him," Isolde soothed him quietly, rubbing his back gently as she walked beside him. "Quick like a bunny, now, and as quiet as a mouse."
She and Eddie were out in the hall, now, and she looked to Marcus to guide them. She'd planned to steal one of the fleet sedans herself, but since he'd been the one to choose the day, she was assuming that he had more details chosen as well. Perhaps it was just in her nature to let others take the lead, too. It seemed only natural to her, even in the midst of her largest rebellion.
Post by Marcus Kanaan on Aug 27, 2020 11:12:48 GMT -5
Pausing outside the boy's room, he felt the brush of Sol's fingers along his shoulder, like soft electricity that shot through every layer of clothing to his skin and stilled him immediately. Maybe such a subtle thing shouldn't bring him pause, but it was the second time now, and those dark eyes watched her in silence as she went to Eddie.
Marcus made sure to keep an eye on the hallway before lips pressed in a firm line when the boy looked to him, as though he was unsure. Well, he certainly couldn't blame him. This had all started by accident and he had had every intention of alerting Thornton of his daughter's betrayal...and although he had, it hadn't been for the same reason. It was to protect them. To protect her. To lie to that man would have sealed his fate that very second. At least now they had a chance to escape.
That concern was flooding back, that strangeness around his heart clenching tightly while he watched the tired kid climb out of bed, gently urged on quietly by Isolde. He had seen everything, he had witnessed nearly all of it, all of what David Thornton had done and how he had treated his own flesh and blood...and Marcus had done nothing about it. He stood there in silence, with that stupidly stoic expression as if he didn't care. The realization of that was more painful than he'd care to admit, and he silently prayed that helping them tonight might ease some of that guilt.
He had to try.
Attention settled upon the boy's face for a moment, wishing he could, in the very least, offer him a light smile of comfort...but that mask remained. "Stay behind me," he whispered to them both. "Move when I move." There was no saying if this would be an easy walk right out of the house, but they also had to cross the grounds and make it near the coast where he had the old Tacoma lying in wait. Taking one of the sedans would get them found too easily. They needed something inconspicuous and not easily tagged, and he had taken care of it.
Down the hall they went, descending the steps slowly and carefully. Marcus could feel his heart pounding and yet managed to keep all other emotion except for determination off of his features. There was no time for anything else. They traveled towards the kitchen where he quickly paused to check around the corner. No one yet, and most of their issues would be outside the manor at this point. A wave of his hand, he guided them towards one of the side entrances to slip out into the summer's night. It was still warm but it would chill a little bit the closer they got to the water.
Pressing his back against the house, he turned to look at Sol for a moment before scanning their surroundings. "I have a truck by the coast. It's a short hike there, but we've gotta get off the grounds. We won't be able to stop." He wasn't just telling her what was about to happen, he was also making sure she was ready and willing to do this.
Post by Isolde Thornton on Aug 28, 2020 22:17:11 GMT -5
Isolde and Eddie did as they were told, moving close behind Marcus as he followed a careful path out of the house and to the woods. Focused on the sound of their feet and not losing their leader, neither of them noticed that the back door was left open behind them.
But the alarm system did. And so did the guards. It just took them a few minutes before the opening was considered unusual. It would have to be enough.
Isolde was focused on Marcus, her dark eyes never leaving his as she nodded once. She knew what he was trying to say, without saying it: this was the point of no return. She was ready, and she didn't plan to stop. Her heart was thrumming like a hummingbird. She could run for miles, for years, as far as it took; she could feel it in her bones. Anything to be free of this place, that man, these nightmares.
But when she took her first, crunching step into the underbrush, lights began to flick on in the manor house behind her. Their cold white outlines fell in harsh lines across the grounds, turning the shadows into the cell bars she had always known were there. Her breath stuck in her throat as she turned back to look. The house loomed, hungry, with towers like broken teeth against the hazy night sky. She could almost envision it rising on twisted legs to chase them, to swallow them whole once again. She should have known it couldn't be this easy. Her father would dig his gnarled claws into her as long as he could.
Eddie flinched closer to her when the sirens began, instinctively wrapping his hands around her middle and burying his face in her stomach. She dropped the suitcase in the brush and smoothed her now-free hand over Eddie's hair once, to soothe him, then held his head where it was, where he wouldn't be able to see what she was about to do. She turned to Marcus with a shaky smile. It was time.
"You might not want to look at the house, for a moment," she advised quietly, with a strangely guilty smile on her lips. She wasn't sure why she didn't want him to see. For the brightness? The violence? Perhaps she didn't want to show him what she had become, what her father had made her create. She, on the other hand, wanted to see it. Needed to, perhaps. These were her own invention, after all, a monstrous tool of death and destruction that had killed dozens of people and wounded more in her father's crusade. And now they would be turned against him. Fitting.
She turned to regard the house with cold eyes as she slipped her left hand into her jacket pocket and pulled out the obsidian orb. She stared at the house a moment longer than perhaps she should, watching people swarm like ants past the lit window. She wanted to remember. She hoped her mother had taken her advice and gone out for a late-night walk. With a slow breath, she clutched her hand into a fist around the orb and held it out toward the manor.
"Incendie."
She felt the black magic rush through her, pulled from her beating heart, through her veins, into the orb, out to the others. She was aware of every one of them in that split second it took for all of them to link. Each stone, each explosive, was part of her then. She was the destruction she created. She was in control. She felt their energy pulsing through her veins--a heady rush like nothing she had ever known--and then she let go.
Fuchsia flames exploded from a dozen locations. Windows burst from their frames in a cacophonous fountain of glass and flame. The wall of her bedroom was gone, now, only flame remained where her cached pile of explosive crystals had blown out the entire room. Fire licked upward, spreading rapidly both inside and out as it consumed more and more of the house. Smoke blacker than the night sky pooled in inky clouds as cursed objects and places burned. The acrid clouds seemed to glow with magic. Eerie purple light flooded the yard and erased her prison bars. Isolde had broken them all, every one.
An incredulous laugh bubbled from her chest as she watched what she had done. She'd never done it on such a large scale, and certainly never where she could watch in person. It was strange...the flames were almost beautiful. Beautiful, that is, until she heard the shouts of people within, and her euphoria soured. She'd hurt more people. Not innocents, perhaps, but nonetheless. The damage was done.
She broke her connection to the magic, and the flames burned blue and orange, all traces of her purple gone. Her smile vanished with it, and she quickly bent to pick up the suitcase she'd dropped, then turned to Marcus.
Post by Marcus Kanaan on Sept 9, 2020 23:18:34 GMT -5
Fuck.
He thought they had more time during the shift change. Had he taken too long? Had he overlooked something? Marcus was normally very thorough, but the situation tonight was something very different. He didn't do this very often.
The house lights were flicking on and he heard the shout of a nearby guard. They may not have known Isolde and the boy were gone, but they were about to find out and that something wasn't entirely right. Then the sirens started, and Marcus thought he was going to have to shoot their way out of this one. It was the last thing he wanted to do- he knew these men, he worked with them and might have considered them friends in another lifetime. They were men with families. Men like him, some with little choice in regards to their profession. Yet, what choice did he have?
He had made a choice, and he had chosen her.
Just as he was turning to regard her, Sol was telling him not to look at the house. Immediately, there was this dread at the pit of his stomach, noticing the smile, the strangeness of it. What are you doing, Isolde? What did you do? Marcus felt his breath catch within his throat. He wasn't watching the house because those dark eyes were on her, trying to figure out and understand what she had up her sleeve...and he couldn't be sure that he liked it. It wasn't often that this man got nervous, and she seemed to make it possible every time he was near her.
This time it was different. This time, he might have been a little more than just concerned.
Attention dropped to the orb within her hand, and even over the commotion that shrouded the house and the danger that was only moments away, Marcus heard that single word spoken from her lips. And he stopped breathing. The eruption actually startled him, drawing his eyes straight back to the house as windows and brick burst outwards, the explosions nearly drowning out the cries of the people inside as the fuchsia flames engulfed and grew.
His heart was immediately in his throat, and upon instinct, he took a step closer as he watched the chaos in front of him, as if he had been prepared to run in there to help whoever he could. It was late- how many people were still inside? How many of those things had she set? It seemed like the manor was beginning to crumble right before him and he couldn't calm his rapid breathing nor wash away the look of panic from his features. It was only when the fire seemed to change to normal did he slowly look over his shoulder at her, barely registering her words.
Now, his heart was thundering within his chest and he couldn't stop it. He was looking at her in the light of her destruction, the flickering flames casting their orange light across her face. Marcus saw her a little differently then, and the problem was, he wasn't sure how to feel about it. While he knew some of the things David had made her do, he somehow felt like she was incapable of harming even a fly. And now, she stood there, basking in the glow of the very chaos she had created.
It did something to him that it shouldn't have. He knew he should not have liked it, not even a little bit. It was beautiful and terrifying at the same time. She was beautiful and terrifying, and his mind was horribly conflicted.
Sol was probably waiting a few seconds too long for him to react, and he had been completely distracted by her that he hadn't been watching their surroundings. Fortunately, the sound of rushing steps from behind alerted him to the lone guard that hadn't been inside. As if time suddenly sped back up, Marcus blinked and felt the hard metal of the gun against the back of his head.
He didn't hesitate. Hands moved lightning fast as he grabbed the man's gun wielding arm, drawing him closer where an elbow slammed straight into his gut. He spun, bringing the guard with him, beginning to awkwardly bend the other's arm before the weapon was inevitably his. Everything took just a matter of seconds, and before his opponent could react, Marcus twisted his arm up behind him, slamming the handle of the pistol against the side of his head.
Fingers curled into the back of the man's suit jacket and was pulling him down, allowing him to slam the pistol into his face as he began to fall. The barrel was inches away from the guard's face when he hit the ground, Marcus kneeling there, and it was instinct to pull the trigger. The only thing that stopped him was Eddie. He didn't know why, but it was the last thing he wanted the kid to see.
"Move!" he called in a whisper. More shouts were getting closer, and he slipped the pistol into his waistband. Retrieving the other suitcase that had been discarded right before the fray, he was rushing past the two and taking the boy's hand in the process. Isolde would be able to keep up a lot easier. They ran into the brush and hopefully into the safety of the darkness. There was no stopping now, they couldn't even slow down because they had to make it to the coast, to the truck before anyone truly realized what had happened.
Post by Isolde Thornton on Sept 11, 2020 21:04:58 GMT -5
Isolde waited with growing panic for Marcus to move. For the first time, she could read his face, and the shock and horror she saw there cut her to the bone. She'd done that. She'd put that there. She thought, for a moment, that she might be sick. She'd always said she'd never kill willingly, the way her father did. But this...she needed to be free, and this place was a prison for more than just her. But it was Marcus's home. His family was here--his family was inside that fire. Her horror mirrored his, and she was opening her mouth to apologize, but Eddie's arms tightened around her as if he heard something she didn't. She looked up just in time to see the guard come out of the shadows and pressed the gun to Marcus's head. She was fumbling in her pocket for a spell, anything to help, but Marcus was already moving, making the fight look as easy as breathing, as smooth as a dance. Now it was her turn to stare, as he stopped with the gun aimed at the other guard's face. But he pulled it away. She let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.
When Marcus took Eddie's hand, the boy hesitated, but Sol nudged him in the right direction, and he took off at a speed that surprised her. Fear did strange things to a person, especially to a witch. She could still feel the magic crackling around in her ribcage like trapped sparks, giving her heart little palpitations that made her feel as if she weren't entirely part of this realm. But still, she ran off after the boys. She kept one hand in her pocket, turning over a few different crystals as she tried to guess what they would face next. She didn't have long to ponder--a dark shape launched out of the trees and hit her hard in the chest, knocking her off her feet and into the brush. She didn't have the air to scream, although the crash as she fell into a thorny bush was surely enough to alert the others that she was down.
She threw her hands up in front of her face automatically, just in time to block the jaws of the massive black dog that had tackled her. She felt teeth dig into her arm, and this time she did cry out, but she didn't let it stop her from bringing her knee up into the dog's stomach. The creature released her arms and she scrambled backward, shoving her hand in her pocket to find the sleeping spell she knew she had there. But it wasn't there--it had been in her hand when she fell, and was scattered among the useless stones at her feet.
Post by Marcus Kanaan on Sept 12, 2020 12:52:24 GMT -5
There were far too many things going on through his head then, and he knew if he allowed one of them to slip to the forefront of his mind, it would slow them down. He thought of his comrades, his family, any other innocents that might have been caught up in that house willingly or not. He didn't know, exactly, who was in there and he was trying not to think about it. He couldn't go back even if he wanted to, because he would certainly be killed for this betrayal. Isolde probably would.
No, they had to keep moving. He could worry about everything else after.
Yet, now he was becoming angry. Marcus thought this plan was solid enough but it was possible that Thornton had already been prepared, had already taken some precautions and it made his blood boil. This entire escape was already a major risk, and now it was ten times worse. Maybe if he had had more time to plan, if he wasn't hesitating with things, it would have gone more smoothly.
Then suddenly, Isolde was down. Even if she didn't scream, he heard the commotion, the beastly snarling and growls. The panic within him grew when he finally heard her cry out and he was dragging the boy back in her direction. It was dark in the woods but he saw her, he saw the black beast hovering over her- a dog that was clearly something else, something Other that sent a chill down his spine. Sol managed to free herself, attempting to scramble away and Marcus had no choice. He was pulling Eddie behind him before reaching beneath his suit jacket for his usually holstered sidearm.
The last thing he wanted to do was alert any more guards to their whereabouts, but her scream might have already done that...and the dog was ready to lunge at her again. Two shots rang out, echoing loudly in the woods, followed by the horrific sound of the whimpering creature as lead embedded into flesh. Marcus let out a single breath before parting from Eddie's side to rush to Sol. "Are you alright?" he asked quietly in this strange mix of panic and calm. She was probably hurt but he couldn't see it easily and he couldn't help her right now with men on their trail. "I'm sorry but we need to keep moving." He was slipping an arm around her waist to try and get her up to her feet just as he spotted the stream of several flashlights pouring through the trees. They were going to be surrounded at any moment.
His voice dropped, speaking to Isolde but never taking his eyes from the approaching guards, "You might have to take the boy and go. Keep heading East to the coast, you'll find the truck there." He couldn't defend them. He was one against too many, but he could at least delay the men and give Sol some more time.
Post by Isolde Thornton on Sept 12, 2020 14:19:56 GMT -5
Eddie didn't flinch at the gunshots or the whimper of the else-thing; he was still standing perfectly still when Marcus left him and went to his sister. He just watched the adults with wide brown eyes, until he saw the lights.
Sol watched those monstrous jaws and their too-many teeth approach her, fairly certain she was looking at her death. Dimly, she noted that the creature had a forked tongue. Her father's magic had twisted it past its nature, leaving it no longer a dog. Its jaws snapped shut just shy of her face as gunshots rang out around them, snapping the silence like bone. The creature fell limp as a marionette with its strings cut, and she grunted as she shoved it off her. Before she could shove herself up on her good arm, Marcus was hovering over her. His arm slipped around her waist, and she was able to use him to get up at least into a crouch when the horde of flashlights overtook them.
"I'm not going anywhere without you. I already told you that," she shot back in a sharp whisper. She shoved her free hand in her pocket, ignoring the pain in her forearm as she stretched the muscles there and scraped the wound against the jacket fabric. She knew what she was looking for--a light stone, one she could push past its limits to a bright flash. Hopefully, it would blind the attackers enough to--
A child's voice cut through the crash of branches and shouting of men. "Sol! Are these bad guys?"
It was Eddie, and several flashlight beams turned to illuminate him in an unsettlingly harsh glow, although his dark hair fell wildly into his eyes, creating a shadow there that frightened her. He looked so small, standing there in his child's pajamas. The guards were getting closer with every passing second.
"Yes, Eddie!" Sol called back, her voice thin in her terror. She didn't know why he was asking, but she knew the answer.
Eddie nodded in what seemed like slow motion as she felt the air around her thicken with magic. She covered her mouth with her hand to keep herself from screaming as it rushed past her. One by one, the guard's flashlights exploded in flashes of lightning and smoke. Sol forced herself to her feet and ran, tugging Marcus in the same direction as she trailed her arm off his shoulder, down his arm, held his hand for just a moment then released it as she reached her brother. Forget suitcases, she would get new books, new crystals, new clothes. Eddie was what mattered. She scooped the boy into her arms and kept moving, ignoring the screaming pain in her arm. Eddie screamed, and there were more crackling noises behind her, like a powerplant gone haywire. She didn't turn to look.
Post by Marcus Kanaan on Sept 15, 2020 21:17:35 GMT -5
Marcus felt like he should have known that beast existed. It made him wonder, in those few seconds, what else he didn't know. The Thornton guards weren't privy to everything, of course, but still. He could feel that strangeness, the heaviness of this skewed magic moments before he fired. The tension lessened as it died, but it didn't make any of this better. They were surrounded and Sol was refusing to leave. He needed her to run, he needed to do whatever he could so that they could escape and not fall back into the hands of that devil man.
'I'm not going anywhere without you.' Any other time he might have dwelled on that, it might have hit him deeper than he was allowing it to in this moment of danger and panic. He watched her face in the dark for a few seconds before the array of streaming lights began to hover around them and he froze. Eddie's voice was gaining his attention as his fingers curled tighter around the handle of the sidearm; his breath caught in his throat as the flashlights turned to the boy.
This was his moment. Their attention was briefly diverted, he could strike and take down as many as possible before they retaliated. The guards were distracted. However, as his muscles tensed, ready to spring into action, something else was happening.
For the second time tonight, Marcus was brought to a stunned silence. He felt the static charge, that near-suffocating feeling of strong magic in the air all around them. Those dark eyes widened as they watched Eddie, seeing the lights go out all around them and the startled responses of the men. Were it not for Isolde's lingering touch, urging him back up to his feet, he might have remained there for a few seconds more. A few seconds too long. But no, he was rushing right after the two, a hand at Sol's back to urge her to run faster if she could. Fortunately, the guards were too preoccupied with what Eddie had done (and was still apparently doing) and they would soon lose the trio to the darkness. Marcus tried to usher them through the trees towards the coast before they lost this chance.
His heart was in his throat, but he didn't falter. He never let his gaze stop moving around them, making sure they weren't going to be followed, making sure he didn't hear any approaching footfalls. For now, it was just their own in their mad dash from the estate, and hopefully there would be no more obstacles...even if this was just the beginning of it all.
Post by Isolde Thornton on Sept 16, 2020 22:27:25 GMT -5
Sol's breath came in sharp pants, her throat was burning, and the pain that had started at the bite was creeping its way farther and farther up her arm. She gritted her teeth against it, telling herself over and over that she'd had worse, that her magic and her father's experimental weapons had done far worse. But that wouldn't be the case for long. It was past her elbow, now, almost to her shoulder, and she felt her muscles give way. She nearly dropped Eddie, but he clung tight to her neck. The loss of balance was enough to trip her up, and she skidded to the ground on one knee. She hissed air out between her teeth but didn't swear or scream this time. She tried to wiggle her fingers on that arm, and barely got a twitch out of them in exchange for a flash of pain so intense it flashed white at the edges of her vision. She whimpered in spite of herself.
"Can you take him?" she asked Marcus in a voice that cracked. She wanted to explain, but she didn't want to frighten Eddie. She'd just have to take a look at her arm later after they were in the clear. That thing must have grazed a bone or tendon, she decided, trying to comfort herself. It would heal. And if it didn't...wasn't it still worth it to get out of this place?
Eddie smoothed a hand over her hair, trying to comfort her, and she almost burst into tears on the spot. It was only the knowledge that there wasn't time for a breakdown that kept her in check. "I'm alright, baby," she murmured and kissed his cheek. "Promise."
Post by Marcus Kanaan on Sept 17, 2020 11:09:01 GMT -5
The moment Sol stopped and fell, Marcus skidded to a stop beside her. He didn't bother masking the confusion and worry from his face this time. There was something wrong, not just some minor fatigue from the run. The problem was, they couldn't really address it right now. That was just going to make the need to get to the truck even more dire, and he was grinding his teeth.
Fortunately, there was no sign of anyone (or anything) following them. Well, that meant no one was close enough. Thornton's men were certainly still pursuing, he had no doubt, but the three of them were ahead and had to keep it that way. Still, all need to continue moving forward was tossed aside at the sound of her whimper. Then she was asking him to take the boy.
Something was definitely wrong. Marcus tried to look over her in the dark as she comforted Eddie but he could see very little. They just had to get to the coast, to the truck, and maybe there would be time to see what was wrong.
They couldn't falter now.
He nodded, gently urging the boy away from her after holstering his sidearm. Standing up, he hoisted Eddie into his arms and secured him with one, because his free hand was reaching for Isolde's (luckily the hand of her uninjured arm) to try and help her to her feet. Marcus didn't let go as he marched forward at a swift pace, jogging here and there. They didn't have to sprint so long as they kept moving, and he would do his damn best to ensure the two made it. Guarding and protecting- that's what he did, wasn't it? It's what he was good for. He was determined more than ever now.
"Almost there…" he whispered to the both of them a few times, attempting to keep spirits up. Every now and then, he'd look around them, bring them to a dead stop so that he could concentrate and listen to their surroundings. When he was confident they were okay, he'd continue on. It was maybe close to a half hour before they made it to the coast; the four door pickup sitting there on the side of the road in the dark. It was a slightly older Tacoma model in a charcoal grey...a vehicle that was quite popular in these parts, which meant it would be less noticable.
Now, his pace picked up. Rushing them to the truck, he placed Eddie down and let go of Sol's hand so he could retrieve the keys from his pocket. Unlocking the vehicle, he helped the boy up into the backseat before frantically looking for something in the bed. He already had a duffle packed with some spare clothes, along with a med kit and other necessary things. He grabbed the kit before opening the driver's side door. There was some rustling around before he retrieved a flashlight from the glovebox.
They probably shouldn't pause for too long here, but he was turning back towards Isolde with the light. "Let me see?" he asked quietly, wanting to see her arm.
Post by Isolde Thornton on Sept 18, 2020 21:49:41 GMT -5
Isolde had to use her good hand to remove Eddie's tight little arm from around her neck. He gave her a look almost like betrayal, just for a moment, but when he saw the pain on her face he looked frightened instead. She tried to smile, but wasn't anywhere near convincing through closed lips and gritted teeth. She was glad Marcus pulled her up, because she'd almost told them to just leave her where she was.
Almost there. Almost there. Almost there. Marcus's reassurances had her repeating it over and over in her head like a meditation as they hurried through the woods. She appreciated that it wasn't a sprint anymore--the pain in her arm was creeping higher, but the spread had slowed with her heart rate. She still didn't dare unclench her jaw even as it began to ache; she knew if she did she wouldn't be able to keep silent. She could do this.
Almost there.
Her grip on Marcus's hand started hesitantly but tightened as they went, and by the time they spotted the car she was hanging on with a vice grip. Her fingers were stiff when she released him so he could help Eddie into the car. She made sure the boy was buckled in and kissed his forehead before following Marcus toward the trunk, wondering what it was he was looking for. He was already moving back towards the passenger seat, so she trailed after him nervously. Was something else the matter? She jumped a little when he clicked on the light and was even more hesitant when she heard what he wanted. She wasn't entirely sure she wanted to see what that...that thing had done to her. But she wouldn't tell him no--and not just because she didn't think she could open her mouth without screaming.
She took a deep breath and held it as she raised her arm, wincing as it sent another flash of pain up her arm that she somehow felt in her teeth. A muffled groan hummed from behind the thin line of her lips. She could already see that the dark windbreaker was torn, jagged edges slick with blood, and something more viscous. Saliva? She swallowed hard, then pulled up her sleeve to see the damages. A clear crescent of torn flesh marked where the thing had sunk its teeth into her and pulled. The wound was bloody, but it wasn't the blood that worried her. A black liquid mingled with it, and the veins in her forearm stood out, swollen and dark as if they were filled with whatever foul substance was dripping out of her. The creature had been venomous. She looked up at Marcus in horror, the harsh white light of the flashlight making her look even more ashen. The dark circles that had been growing under her eyes for days were even heavier now, and tinges of grey were edging into her should-be-flushed cheeks.
Was that it? All this work to escape, danger to Eddie and Marcus, coming this far, was she going to fall to her father's disgusting creations even now? He'd sent them out after his children knowing that they were venomous, that their bite could be fatal. They were an acceptable loss. The thought made her stomach heave. But, a tiny bit of hope picked up in the back of her mind, even bleak as it was. Perhaps, even if she was a loss, Marcus would still be able to get Eddie somewhere safe. She might not make it to Andie, which hurt her almost more than the wound, but if she could at least make her death worthwhile, that might ease her heart.
last edited Sept 18, 2020 22:05:29 GMT -5 by Isolde Thornton
Post by Marcus Kanaan on Sept 20, 2020 12:58:01 GMT -5
He should have known it was going to be more than a mere bite. That beast hadn't been your typical guard dog, and the way Isolde was acting was making it clear to Marcus that something else was wrong. He was dreading it, he was fearing it, but he was mostly calm as he waited for her to draw up her sleeve so that he could have a look at it in the harsh light. Already trying to calm his heart from all t he rushing around, it was going to be impossible to do so now.
Marcus expected to see the bite mark, he expected to see the blood...but everything else was what he had been concerned about. He barely realized he wasn't breathing anymore. It was venom, a poison that would soon enough consume her completely the moment it reached her heart. When those dark eyes flickered up to her face, Marcus knew that Sol understood what this meant, too. They were both saying it without words and he was trying to not let the brief moment of panic in his eyes last.
He could fix this. If he tried hard enough, he could, but it would also leave them all vulnerable if he wasn't careful.
As if suddenly snapping out of a trance, he clicked the light off temporarily and tossed it onto the passenger side seat before swiftly shrugging out of the suit jacket. It had been a very long time since he tapped into this particular magic. It had been years, and he couldn't be so sure the goddess favored him with it anymore. He had become her warrior instead, he had become what his father wanted him to, and it was to appease Sekhmet's fighting side. Not the healing, not the softer and "weaker" side of her. Truth be told, Marcus was terrified right now, but if he didn't at least try, Isolde would be lost. There was no one else he could take her to. There was no time.
He had to try. It wasn't going to end this way.
"We need to get this off," he said quietly, beginning to carefully try and remove her windbreaker. It was probably painful for her, but he needed to get a better look at the wound and how far it had already spread. If they were lucky, the venom hadn't gone too far...which would mean less energy on his part. The last thing Marcus wanted to do was pass out on them, but if Sol was well enough after this, she might have to be the one that drove for a bit. He wasn't sure what this was going to do to him.
After helping her out of that jacket, he looked at her arm in the dark as he began to undo the cuffs of his button-down, then quickly started rolling up the sleeves. It might've been a bit unnoticeable with the lack of light, but there was an intricate tattoo upon his right forearm, one of the Egyptian lion-headed goddess that was far more than just skin art. It served a purpose, and he was about to find out if it still worked.
Post by Isolde Thornton on Sept 20, 2020 13:38:04 GMT -5
Isolde's already-raw upper lip was between her teeth again before she knew it. She could taste coppery blood in her mouth as she tugged at the skin, but she couldn't stop; she had to vent this energy somewhere and she wasn't going to scream. She wouldn't scare Eddie like that, even if she felt it welling in her, the pressure growing each time she moved that arm. She shifted anxiously on the balls of her feet as she waited for Marcus to say something about the wound, to tell her what they both already knew. This would be fatal. But he didn't--instead, he tossed away the flashlight and was reaching for the zipper of her windbreaker. What had that to do with anything? The poison was already in her system, being able to see the wound better wasn't going to change anything. Her confusion was obvious, but she did her best to shrug out of the jacket. She couldn't help a low whine as the wet part peeled away from her injured arm.
Without it, she was left in a sleeveless turtleneck, gooseflesh prickling up her arms in the nighttime chill. She would have crossed her arms over herself, but even that much movement would be excruciating. The black veins had crept up a few inches past her elbow as well as down into her palm, and even in the dim moonlight, she could see the darkening of other veins nearby as it spread. Marcus's movement drew her attention, and she couldn't understand why he was rolling up his own sleeve; surely there was no point in trying to keep his shirt clean of blood at this point? Just as she was about to finally speak up, breaking voice be damned, the lights inside the car flared to life along with some kind of classic rock song playing low on the radio. She jumped, but when she turned to look, Eddie was watching her with those big, dark eyes of his, with his arms wrapped around the 'neck' of the passenger seat so he could watch the two of them. Ah. He'd turned on the lights so he could see. The corner of her mouth quirked into a smile in spite of herself. Eddie held up his hand in the "I love you" sign. She returned the signal with her good hand and turned back to Marcus.
The tattoo on his arm caught her attention right away; the position he used to roll his sleeve had his arm extended towards her almost as if she were meant to see. Instinctively she reached for it, although she caught herself and stopped short. She wasn't sure why her first reaction had been to run her fingers over the surface of the art. Perhaps it was the magic imbued in it that drew her in? She pulled her hand back and shoved it into her back pocket to keep herself from doing anything foolish. How funny that she could worry about being awkward, even at a time like this.
"What are you doing?" she whispered, even though there was no one around to hear. At least that way she might not sound so close to tears.
last edited Sept 20, 2020 13:38:48 GMT -5 by Isolde Thornton