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 Marcus Kanaan on Sept 20, 2020 14:51:43 GMT -5
There was a slight breath of relief when he saw the dark veins hadn't crept as far as he thought, yet it was only a matter of time. Perhaps they could drive away right now, find a place to hunker down and he could give this more attention, but it was far too much of a risk. In such a short amount of time, the venom had already traveled past her elbow. If they got stopped, if they couldn't find a safe place, they would have even less time.
It was now or never, and Marcus silently prayed that they lost the guards. Every second was crucial now.
Carefully reaching for that arm, he turned her hand over to inspect her palm as the truck's interior light turned on. He, too, heard the faint sound of the radio but his eyes hadn't lifted from her skin in order to know that Eddie was watching. That boy was more powerful than he had known, and he had more of Marcus' respect even if he hadn't voiced it. If Eddie hadn't of done what he had back there in the woods, there was no saying where the three of them would be right now. And that boy needed Isolde more than ever. These thoughts made his brow furrow in determination and he bit the inside of his bottom lip in thought.
As she quietly reassured the boy, he was mulling everything over in his head before she asked that question. Marcus hesitated to look at her because it was difficult to mask the unsure look in his eyes. "I'm...going to attempt something." Sure, that was comforting, yet he didn't have it in him to lie or hide the fact. "I need you to remain calm..." he added, drawing in a deep and slow breath. He made sure Sol was resting back against the side of the truck. "You might be tired after this, but you should be alright." Finally, his gaze drifted back up to her face, lingering there for a few seconds before he spoke again. "And you might have to drive."
Isolde could try and question that all she wanted, but the hand of his tattooed arm was already drifting to that injury to gently grasp her forearm. It would hurt, no doubt, but he had to physically touch it. His eyes shut and he bowed his head; his free hand moving to rest against the truck beside her as his voice was low and barely audible, "Sekhmet, sayidat allahab, 'ama alshifa', ya min taghasal fi hamam min aldam, falatkun hadayak eali 'ahmil al'alam waleaqa nizf juruhiha hataa taltayim. Aimnahha alsalam walsiha..." He was murmuring this over and over again. Just when Marcus feared the goddess' favor was not with him, he felt that tattoo begin to softly burn. The dark ink started to change, glowing a subtle red-orange as though there was a fire beneath his skin. Then, he jolted, holding himself up against the truck and she would physically feel that inkiness being forced out of her. It was anything but pleasant, but at least she wouldn't be alone in her pain. He was focusing entirely on the task of drawing that poison out of her and into himself, where the idea was that Sekhmet would dissolve it and keep it from his system. Whether or not that would be the case was another question he had no answer for.
Marcus gritted his teeth, his skin burning more and more as his breathing became labored. There was no telling whether he got all of the venom, but he would surely pass out if he continued. With a growl of pain, he finally let go of her arm; fingers wrapping around his own as the connection severed and the fire hot sensation slowly started to dissipate. Eventually, the tattoo dimmed to it's normal dull black and he wavered on his feet. He willed himself to stay upright.
Post by Isolde Thornton on Sept 20, 2020 21:01:10 GMT -5
The fact that Marcus of all people looked unsure ought to have been enough to make Sol anxious, but at this point, she was surprisingly calm. Perhaps it was because all her energy was being devoted to keeping her jaw locked and not letting herself weep. She forced herself to nod when he told her to remain calm. That much she could do. She let him guide her to lean her back against the truck, although she didn't understand why, if he was the one who was going to be doing the spellwork. Tired was the least of her worries, too. He needn't comfort her. In fact, she was far more concerned by his last remark: "you might have to drive." Not that she couldn't, but what was going to happen to him?
"Wait, what are you--" she began to protest, but as soon as his hand met her arm, she cut off with a sharp gasp as pain spiked through her. As he began to chant, magic began to burn the air around her and her mouth snapped shut, all protests vanishing. He might not have felt it immediately, but with the dark substance permeating her body, she was intimately aware of the goddess's energy probing through her. She was being judged. She prayed, silently, that she might be found worthy, if only so that she might continue to protect her brother. "Please, I know I am not much, but I have fought hard to make it this far. Please help me to have my freedom, if only for a short time. Surely you must understand the desire to be free, to finally act under my own will." There was nothing, for a moment, as the energy withdrew, and she thought she was being rejected. That was it. Scorned by a goddess and sentenced to death by her own father. And thn the tattoo began to glow, like a coal given air to burn. And burn it did.
Isolde's free hand flew to her mouth to stifle her scream as she crumpled, but it barely muffled the sound. In that moment, she understood why he'd had her lean against the truck. The cool metal behind her took the brunt of her weight, but with his free hand against the truck beside her, and the other holding her injury, there was no avoiding her forehead hitting his shoulder, hard. She was lucky (or perhaps not, given how it burned, white hot, in her veins) that he didn't stop chanting at the distraction. She couldn't un-curl herself, not while this was ongoing--she literally couldn't force her muscles to relax. Hot, silent tears ran down her cheeks as the goddess's bright fire pressed the poison from her system. Curled like that,she could see the darkness flowing towards the tattoo, only to vanish against its burning glow.
It was that burning glow that triggered the memory. She was covered in small cuts, with little shards of crystal glittering where they'd embedded in her skin. Her black dress sparkled with flakes of quartz. She'd hidden herself behind the massive raven statue on its pedestal in the hall; her thin frame was small enough to slide into the space, but she knew her father couldn't fit. She'd curled herself into a ball, arms wrapped around her knees to sob as her father's admonitions echoed in her mind.
"Useless good for nothing child! You've failed me again! Why even bother to waste my time if you're only going to ruin everything?"
She'd been weeping her little heart out when a voice called her name and her head snapped up. It was a boy she didn't quite recognize, although he looked familiar, somehow. He coaxed her out to the window seat, where she sparkled even more in the sunlight. Her memory after that was blurry: warmth from his hands, warmth from the magic, and a tattoo that glowed like molten lava. He'd said something to her that day. What was it...?
When he let go, only the injury itself and perhaps a half inch radius around it, were still blackened. The problem was, she could see the blackness lingering in the back of his hand, as well. She lifted her head as he pulled away, opening her mouth to tell him, when she saw him sway. All argument left her mind and she immediately moved to catch him by the elbows and support him. She was exhausted, like he'd said, and she felt as if her veins had been burning and suddenly left her cold, but she was still in better shape than him.
"Easy, easy..." she soothed, brushing his hair away from his forehead without realizing she'd done it. "Let's get you into the truck. I'll drive, alright?"
If he allowed, she'd help him into the passenger seat and shut the door behind him, then climb into the drivers seat. She was about to ask for the keys when the engine roared to life. She glanced back at Eddie, who grinned. Convenient.
last edited Sept 20, 2020 21:17:21 GMT -5 by Isolde Thornton
Post by Marcus Kanaan on Sept 21, 2020 11:21:38 GMT -5
He should have held on longer. Marcus knew it the moment he withdrew that it hadn't been enough, that it hadn't been long enough to draw the venom out. Although the fire in his veins began to subside, it still ached, his hand throbbed from the exertion and tension, and his head was immediately swimming. His body even shuddered with the remnants of that power, the disappearing warmth making him cold.
He felt like he failed her. After all of this, Marcus feared he completely messed everything up and she wouldn't get the freedom she deserved. She wouldn't get far enough away from that man who appeared to be selling himself to the darkness. There was a dull pain in his hand but he barely paid it much mind as he tried to keep himself upright; Sol's head against his shoulder a strange comfort and anchor to this world until she was pulling away. Marcus was attempting to focus his gaze upon her wound, trying to see it in the dark before those eyes slipped up to her own. She was brushing his hair away, and it stilled him, it consoled him instantly. All he could do was concentrate on her voice and her lovely face.
Where there is shadow, it also means there is light... She was that light right now. Despite his failure, despite his current plight, she was still there and alive. That was the light at the end of the tunnel.
All he could manage was a slight nod as he allowed her to help him into the truck. The last thing he wanted was to burden her- it should be him driving them away to safety, but for right now, Thornton's men didn't seem to know they were there. All she had to do was drive, in whatever direction. They had to get out of the state and to wherever Andrea was.
Resting back against the seat, he was already fumbling and fishing into his pocket for the keys when it seemed he didn't need to. For some reason, while struggling to stay awake, this made a light grin crack across his face as he looked to Eddie in gentle amusement. Yes, it was convenient. "You alright, kid?" he asked, his voice strained even while he was trying to hide his exhaustion and discomfort. It was probably the first time he actually fully acknowledged the boy. Perhaps it was because it was the first time he had the chance to.
Meanwhile, those dark eyes traveled back over to Isolde. Even if the venom- or most of it- was gone, she still had an open wound. He leaned forward, searching for the discarded medical kit before rustling around the inside for the roll of gauze. It should be gently cleaned and disinfected first, but it would be easier when they weren't in a moving vehicle. "Here..." he said tiredly, reaching for that particular arm of hers. He'd make it quick so that she could better concentrate on driving. He leaned over the arm rest and carefully wrapped the bandage around the dog bite securely.
Post by Isolde Thornton on Sept 21, 2020 21:16:54 GMT -5
"I'm good. You should sleep." Eddie grinned right back at Marcus as he settled into his seat, and Sol couldn't hide a smile of her own. It was good to see smiles on the two of them. She liked Marcus's smile...she'd like to see it more often.
In the front seat, Isolde had managed to pull out onto the road proper, but she was fumbling for the headlights. They turned on without her finding them, and she looked in the rearview mirror to find Eddie giggling behind his hand. The radio also changed--it whirred through several stations before settling on a classical station playing something soothing. The boy had always had a knack for technology and she knew he did things like this with the TV and his videogames, but she'd always assumed he'd used something else to charm them. Apparently it was just natural. Good to know. She almost wished she had a little more brainpower left to actually process that information. Or maybe it was better that she couldn't devote any energy to worrying about that. Yet.
"Alright maestro, that's quite enough, Sol scolded, although there wasn't any bite in it. Eddie stuck out his tongue at her, then turned to lay down in the back seat. She glanced over at Marcus to try and figure out what he was still doing awake, rustling around with something over there. Just as she did, she saw him reach for her injured arm. She hesitated as she considered how on earth she was going to give him her left arm and drive at the same time, but she wound up putting her right hand high on the wheel and twisting her body towards him so that she could loop her left hand under her right arm and hold it out for him. Thank the gods for cruise control. Speaking of which, she thought of that lovely lion-headed goddess tattooed on Marcus's arm. She cast her gaze to the stars for a brief moment, sending out a prayer: "Thank you. Please watch over us, I fear this isn't over yet."
Once Marcus had finished with her arm, she switched her left hand to the wheel and used her right hand to find his forearm and squeeze it gently. "Thank you," she told him softly, glancing over to meet his eye for a moment before she had to turn back to the road. "Now please, rest. I'll wake you when I need to switch." She squeezed his arm once more, then let go to keep both hands on the wheel. "I promise."
last edited Sept 21, 2020 21:17:31 GMT -5 by Isolde Thornton
Post by Marcus Kanaan on Sept 21, 2020 22:48:13 GMT -5
Yes, he should sleep. He should rest and gain his strength back, but there was still this lingering fear at the back of his mind. He was afraid of what would happen when he closed his eyes. Marcus never closed his eyes. He was always the one on alert, watching and taking care of things. It was never the other way around, and he didn't know how to adjust.
He also was never on the run, because he was usually the one doing the hunting. It felt strange being on the other side for once...
Marcus had still been grinning at Eddie's antics, but it had been more of a private smirk and he said nothing about it. Instead, he focused his attention, what little he had left, on wrapping up Sol's arm. He tried to be quick about it since she had to twist a little awkwardly, but he also wanted to be sure the wound was at least covered. There was just a brief moment of hesitation, however, because he noticed the black that still surrounded the bite. Then, on top of it all, the inky venom was also lingering in the veins of his hand. It would spread again in a few hours, he knew, but he refrained from sighing or saying anything about it. She had already dealt with enough, she didn't need more right now.
Resting back against the seat once more, he ran a hand down his face as if that would wake him up a bit more. It didn't, but the touch to his arm almost did. His head lazily lolled to the side so that he could regard her in the dim lighting of the truck. She was thanking him and instinct made him want to argue. Sure, he helped, but it hadn't gone as smoothly as it should have. "It's what I do..." he said quietly, the exhaustion very evident now despite how much he tried to hide it. For a moment, he almost turned his hand around, as if to reach for her own but he stopped himself. Eventually, his eyelids grew too heavy and he succumbed to sleep.
Post by Isolde Thornton on Sept 21, 2020 23:13:00 GMT -5
“It’s what I do,” he answered.
It was, wasn’t it? She’d gotten so used to thinking of the guards as her father’s eyes and ears, hovering over her and monitoring her every move, that she’d forgotten what they were originally there for: to guard and protect. The corner of her mouth twitched upward as she realized that what Marcus had said only confirmed what she’d already decided about him on gut instinct–he was a good man. He’d worked hard to protect them, laid out this whole plan on short notice, a truck, supplies, fought for them, been shot at and chased, all because he’d discovered what she was planning. He could have done any number of things, at that moment, but he’d chosen to help them escape.
More than that, he’d stopped to help her each time she stopped or stumbled. He’d made her injury a priority over his own safety in taking the time to heal her. “What I do,” indeed. She glanced over at him where he sat in the passenger seat, fast asleep. He looked worried, even now; sleep apparently hadn’t eased his tension completely. Her hand twitched on the steering wheel as she nearly reached out to take his hand, the instinct to comfort him hitting her hard. She frowned and turned her gaze back to the road. He wasn’t a child, he didn’t need her mothering him like that. What was she even thinking?
The road wound through dark pines and darkened towns, only the occasional blinding lights of gas stations breaking the monotony. She let herself drive faster on the empty country roads, eighty, eighty-five. She fell into almost a trance, her mind wandering as she watched the road vanish beneath her tires. Her spedometer grazed 90 before she caught herself and slowed down.
They were near the state line when she realized they needed gas. She glanced at the clock. 3:47 am. Reluctantly, she pulled into a small station, fishing a twenty out of her bra where she’d stashed it earlier to free her pockets for crystals. She was lucky the boys weren’t awake to see. She went in and requested the money be put on her station, then returned to fuel the truck. As the gas pumped, she watched Marcus and Eddie’s peaceful sleep. It put her a bit more at ease, seeing the two of them resting there in the silence of the summer night. She wished she didn’t have to ruin it.
She jumped when the handle of the pump jolted in her hand to signal she’d filled the tank. 19.97. Nicely done. She wasn’t concerned about getting her three cents back, so she simply returned the pump to its place, closed the hatch, and circled around to open the passenger side door.
“Marcus…? she called gently, resting her hand lightly on his shoulder. She didn’t shake him, hoping she could bring him back as gently as possible. He’d been through quite enough today.
Post by Marcus Kanaan on Sept 22, 2020 22:12:08 GMT -5
Somehow he slept. In truth, he probably had no choice considering he had quite literally drained himself of his energy. Yet, he still tried to fight it. Before falling into a deep slumber, Marcus felt himself drifting back to reality every now and then, and he struggled to open his eyes. He had no concept of time, no idea where they were going, however, he trusted her. Just as easily as she had trusted him. When he found her the other night, vulnerable in that spellwork and unaware of his presence, he could have made her life even more complicated. He could have truly sided with Thornton and followed through with the plan he had told him.
But he didn't.
It pained him to even think about. How could he have possibly thought to betray her even for a second? He thought he was a good soldier, that's why. He was an obedient dog just looking for praise. And yet, in the few seconds he managed to stay awake after drifting off initially, he watched her briefly in the darkness and knew he'd never be able to think such things again. His job now was to keep her and Eddie alive. That was it.
At some point, Marcus had fallen asleep again, and this time he remained deep in his rest until he subconsciously knew to wake as the car came to a stop. He vaguely heard the sounds of movement, the clinking of the fuel pump, and was already half aware when Sol was opening his door to gently urge him awake. He jolted a little but nothing extreme as he sat forward; dark eyes blinking before a hand ran down his face to try and wipe away the rest of his sleep. His hand was instinctively reaching for the sidearm holstered at his side still, but he wound up not grabbing it and unbuckling his seatbelt instead.
"Everything alright?" he was asking immediately, his voice raspy from sleep. After a moment, he saw where they were, he just wasn't sure where in the state yet. Clearing his throat, Marcus climbed down out of the truck to stretch his legs. "Where are we?" That was probably the most important question right now, besides needing to know exactly where they were headed.
Post by Isolde Thornton on Sept 23, 2020 23:01:10 GMT -5
She should have let him sleep, she realized too late. Watching him abruptly sit up and try to recall himself groggily to reality, she wished she'd just gotten back into the driver's seat and let him rest. He may have still looked worried, but at least he'd been resting. The tone of his voice as he dragged himself from sleep squeezed her heart uncomfortably. He'd pushed himself past exhaustion to help her, she could do the same. She owed him that much and more.
And you have pushed past exhaustion, the throbbing behind her eyes reminded her as it pulsed in time with the ugly thrum of the florescent lights above them. She really was drained, although perhaps not as literally as her...wait. What was he exactly? Companion? Friend? She wasn't sure. Did a label matter? She decided it wasn't important right now. What mattered was that they trust each other. She didn't realize she'd kept her hand on his shoulder until he was hopping down from the truck and she had to step back out of his personal space, blushing with embarrassment that she hadn't thought to do so sooner.
"We're alright, so far. Just needed fuel," she gestured to the pump, which made her feel even sillier. It was obvious why they were here, she didn't need to explain. She sighed tersely and mimicked his gesture, running a hand over her face. She didn't feel any better. "Gilead. Near the border to New Hampshire. Maybe 30 more minutes? I've taken the Northside Road this whole way to stay off the main highway. It's silly but...it made me feel a little better." She shrugged one shoulder and gave an apologetic smile. "Maybe that was pointless, but there wasn't anyone to tell me otherwise, so..."
She hadn't felt so insecure when she was doing it, but old habits were creeping in. She didn't know best, she didn't trust her judgement, she wasn't smart, or strong, or capable. Thirty years of being trodden into the dirt wasn't shed so easily as the miles of road. That would take time. She could do it, couldn't she? Gods, she hoped so. "Someone, anyone, everyone, watch over us. We have so far to go, and I am so small." She glanced up at the myriad stars again as she threw her prayer to whoever might listen. With a heavy sigh, she turned back to Marcus.
"Do you think you--" She was interrupted by a yawn that she couldn't stop, and had to cover her mouth and let it pass before she spoke again. "Do you think you could drive, just for a little while? Things were starting to get a bit blurry."
last edited Sept 23, 2020 23:02:08 GMT -5 by Isolde Thornton
Post by Marcus Kanaan on Sept 29, 2020 15:12:23 GMT -5
He should have been the one driving this entire time. There had been little choice in the matter, of course, but the guilt was not lost to him. Especially when she woke him up and would increase when she requested that he take over. Marcus was used to running on little sleep. It was strange if he ever naturally slept more than five hours a night. This had been different- there was a difference between exhaustion and lack of energy. Although he still felt that strangeness within him, he was at least more alert and not at risk of falling over.
With each passing second, he was pushing the grogginess aside and his eyes became more clear. There was a lingering ache in that particular hand, though, and Marcus tried to refrain from looking down at it. He already knew what he would see...and he didn't want to worry about it right now. He couldn't yet. What he did kind of notice was the fact that her hand had remained upon his shoulder for a few seconds too long, if only because there was a sudden chill on his skin under his shirt when she withdrew it. He'd blame it on his tiredness, but he felt this warmth beneath the collar and was thankful when she stepped back. Partially.
"No, no...that's good. You did well," he finally spoke, in regards to the road she mentioned she took. They were making good progress so far. Hopefully it stayed that way. The longer they could go without stopping somewhere for more than a few minutes, the better. However, there was that question of the venom still in his veins...and possibly still in hers. They were going to have to stop eventually.
He wasn't going to let it consume her further, just like he'd be damned if the coven got their hands on her or the boy.
That dark gaze lingered on her as her head tilted back to the star riddled sky, shifting towards the convenience store as she was looking back to him. "Yeah, of course," he agreed with a slight nod. "I'm...gonna grab some things first. Not sure how frequently we'll be able to stop." Realizing he still had that one pistol in the concealed holster, he removed the weapon and placed it into the glovebox before removing the harness. It was carefully tossed to the floor behind the driver's seat so as to not disturb Eddie before he was turning to Isolde again. "You want anything in particular? What about him?" A tilt of his head towards the sleeping child in the truck. The store wouldn't exactly have the healthiest of choices, but to have some snacks and waters wouldn't be such a bad idea.
After she had given her answer, whatever it was, he nodded and realized he was struggling with looking her in the eye. Old habits died hard, perhaps, but there were other reasons besides the fact that he had always been told not to, as a servant to the coven. "I'll be right back,"he promised before rushing towards the store.
Post by Isolde Thornton on Sept 29, 2020 20:14:20 GMT -5
Like him, Sol was having trouble keeping eye contact–not because she’d been taught not to, but because as soon as one old habit had kicked in, several more had followed. Look at your feet, at your hands picking your bleeding cuticles, not at the face of someone who is going to be disappointed in you. It’s better if you don’t see it in their eyes.
Marcus’s answer surprised her, and her head popped back up. Did he really think she’d done well? Or was he just trying to make her feel better? Either way, he didn’t really need to do that…it was nice of him. She bit her lip and looked back to the truck. Eddie was still out cold, it seemed. She was glad. He probably needed the rest, poor thing. He’d pushed himself too far tonight, both physically and magically.
She didn’t think anything of Marcus wanting to run inside, although she did watch him stow the gun, mentally marking its place in her mind. She wouldn’t be letting her brother anywhere near that glove box, but should anyone arrive and come for him…well. She might not have a lot of experience, but she had at least been taught how to load and unload a handgun. Perks of being the daughter of a notorious dark coven leader, she supposed.
She turned to Marcus with surprise, again, when he asked if she wanted anything. She hadn’t even considered asking him to get her anything. She looked past him to the artificial glow of the gas station, her lips parted to answer, but hesitated. What would be inside? Candy, tiny boxes of cereal, sodas, and energy drinks… all kinds of things they’d never been allowed. They’d been well off, obviously, everything they got was high quality…but they weren’t allowed little treats and “overly processed garbage.”
The corner of her mouth twitched upwards. It was a little rebellion, but somehow she still couldn’t shake the feeling that she was breaking the rules. “If you find any pop tarts in there, you’ll be his new favorite person. And… maybe something dark chocolate for me? If it’s not any trouble, that is…”
When he hurried away, she reached into the back seat and tugged out her jacket from where she’d tossed it before, grimacing when she hit sticky blood. She wanted what was in the pockets–a bloodstone, which she pressed to the surface of the car.
Cache toi, She murmured, and winced when a ripple of purple energy flowed over the surface of the car. She was sure that Marcus had already put a series of anti-tracking spells on the vehicle, and she’d already done several on herself and put another half dozen on Eddie and his clothes, but it couldn’t hurt to have one more layer of protection. She tucked the spent stone into her pants pocket, and ran her fingers over the slick surface of the vehicle’s paint, letting her eyes drift closed.
She could feel Marcus’s magic lingering there, although she couldn’t pinpoint precisely what he’d done. That would take more time and energy than she had. But the energy was comforting, somehow. Without thinking she brought her other hand up to touch–and then drew it back with a hiss as a shock rippled up her arm all the way to her collarbone and left a nasty ache behind her sternum. She looked down at her hand and grimaced. The veins had all gone black again without her noticing. Funny how she’d gotten used to pain after the way she’d grown up.
She sighed and climbed into the passenger seat, nervously locking the doors as she waited for Marcus to return. Once she saw him close enough, she’d unlock the vehicle to let him back in.
Post by Marcus Kanaan on Sept 29, 2020 23:57:07 GMT -5
Hopefully she would never need to actually shoot either gun they had stashed in that truck, though the thought of making sure she truly knew how to had crossed his mind a few times. If anything happened to him, it would at least give her and Eddie a slightly better chance when their magic couldn't help.
He kept thinking about something happening to him, about becoming separated from her, and he realized it bothered him more and more every single time. He had to stop. These thoughts would only lead him to a place he cannot go, somewhere he shouldn't ever dare to tread. It took him awhile to suppress so many feelings and thoughts over the years, and he was afraid all of that careful planning would begin to unravel more. Because it certainly had started to.
His life was forfeit once she was safe. He couldn't stay with her nor could he go back to the coven. All he would be able to do is run. He had to make it until then.
Pop-Tarts, she said, and Marcus couldn't stop the light grin that curled up the corner of his mouth. And something dark chocolate for her. "Sure," he said with a light nod. He was still unsure whether or not the boy trusted him, and normally he would claim that it was smart for him not to...yet maybe something, deep down, hoped Eddie did not fear him in any way. Initially, he planned to betray them, but that was so far in the past now. Perhaps, he was determined to prove it, even if just to himself.
It was only a few minutes later that he was leaving the store with a plastic bag full of snacks. He'd managed to find some strawberry Pop-Tarts for the kid and a dark chocolate Godiva bar for Sol. There were also a couple of water bottles in there, two small bags of chips, and dark chocolate Milano cookies. Oh, and a bag of gummy bears- his favorite, and always Haribo.
Holding a small coffee in his hand, he opened the driver's side with his free one, pausing for a moment. He immediately sensed that new magic, her magic, and he strangely found himself grinning again before climbing into the seat. Gently handing the bag over to her, he set his coffee in the cup holder while he loosened his tie. "There's a bar in there for you, but...if you really like dark chocolate-" Reaching in, he withdrew the cookies. "These are the best." For a brief second, there was this unfamiliar glint in his eyes, amusement perhaps, or maybe even nostalgia. His mother loved those cookies.
As he yanked the tie from his neck and threw it to the floor behind his seat, his clenched his jaws; fighting with his mind not to think about his family right now or the purple flames. No, he couldn't afford to think about any of that right now.
Retrieving the keys from his pocket, he started the truck up and pulled them back onto the road. "Do we...have a destination yet?" Where his tone had been uncharacteristically light just seconds ago, it was quickly drifting back to that quiet sternness. Marcus felt like he was getting too friendly, and again, he couldn't allow it.
Post by Isolde Thornton on Sept 30, 2020 21:24:47 GMT -5
As she unlocked the vehicle, Sol watched him hesitate with his hand on the door. She wondered why, at first, but she was distracted by the brief grin on his face. Yes, she definitely liked seeing him smile. It was such a nice change, to be able to see his heart a little more clearly. She’d been too smothered in fog and fear before to really look, but the more time she spent with Marcus the more she realized she had been missing quite a bit beneath the surface. She’d like to know more about him, now that their paths had intertwined. They’d certainly have plenty of time on the drive.
She automatically accepted the bag as he swung into the seat, paying more attention to him than to the food. She was oddly hypnotized by the motion of him taking off his tie as he spoke, and it took her a moment to catch back up to what he was saying. Her cheeks flushed and her stomach flipped as she met his eyes, and she set to opening the cookies right away to distract herself. She didn’t know what that had been, just then, but she knew by the way her skin was prickling she probably shouldn’t do it again. It reminded her of the tension in the air before a big spell.
She only allowed herself one more glance over at him as she bit into one of the cookies. Oooh… He was right. These were wonderful–crisp, and buttery, and just the right amount of dark chocolate. She sighed dreamily and leaned her head back into the seat. How did she live without chocolate for so long? She was going to eat herself sick the first week outside that house, she just knew it. Dark chocolate until her stomach hurt and coffee until her hands shook.
She popped the rest of the cookie into her mouth and was chewing slowly when he spoke up again. She jumped slightly at the sound, and a brief flicker of disappointment flared. Why did something seem different? Still, she needed to answer. She held one hand politely in front of her mouth so he wouldn’t see A-B-C cookies while she spoke.
“Not yet. She said she’d get ahold of me once we were out of the state. I think she must have used a map in her spell, somehow.” She paused to swallow. “I um, I think she might be using the state boundaries as a kind of built-in circle? It’s just a guess, but that’s all I could think. Unless she’s already watching, and just wanted distance between us and…him.”
Post by Marcus Kanaan on Oct 11, 2020 10:56:38 GMT -5
Marcus had forgotten himself, just for a brief moment, and he had to correct himself. Even away from David Thornton's gaze, it somehow still felt improper to act so friendly towards this woman, despite how easy and natural the idea of it was. Outside of that stuffy, dark manor, Marcus felt like he could breathe a little easier, that he could possibly feel normal for once even if nothing about this situation was. But it was wrong. It somehow felt wrong not to act the same way, with that same silent respect towards her. This was just another job, he kept reminding himself, and that was all. Once she and the boy were safe, he would leave.
This was just a job.
Still, it was hard not to look sidelong to her when she sighed, making it clear that the cookies were the right choice. He had to fight with himself not to smile even a little bit. Marcus supposed she never got such luxuries before, if any luxury at all, and he was glad he could offer a small one at the very least.
Dark eyes were back on the road as he continued in the same direction she had put them in. Perhaps it didn't matter which way they went, so long as they got out of the state...and then, somehow, Andrea would contact her. Marcus nodded even if not knowing made him slightly uneasy. A lot of this had been so last minute that they would simply have to adapt and figure things out as they went. "Alright," he said quietly. "We'll get into New Hampshire...maybe start going West. You just let me know." Until her sister contacted her, all he could do was drive, keep an eye on things, and ensure their safety.
He looked back over to her briefly. "You should try and rest. Maybe in the next state we can stop for a few hours." Although Eddie had been sleeping most of this time, with him and Sol switching off driving wasn't going to get them far without proper sleep. It would work for now, and he'd drive until he felt like he would pass out...but he also knew that venom was still in their veins. They were going to have to stop somewhere safe soon.
Post by Isolde Thornton on Oct 12, 2020 21:36:08 GMT -5
"Alright," he said quietly. "We'll get into New Hampshire...maybe start going West. You just let me know."
“Whatever she’s got going, it’s been muffling my communication spells. Usually, when powered by two witches’ intentions, they can cross the country with only a little bit of a delay. Like a cellphone.” She explained, and even as she did it she knew she was talking too much. Still…she trusted him, and she wanted to show it. He could know as many details as he liked. “Talking by dream was the last resort. It was supposed to be much more direct.”
He looked back over to her briefly. "You should try and rest. Maybe in the next state we can stop for a few hours."
She bit her lip and nodded. Sleep. It sounded amazing, but she wasn’t so sure it would come easily. Still, he was right. She should at least try. She glanced into the rearview mirror at Eddie, who was still sleeping peacefully, with his little hands tucked up under his head and his hair strewn all over into his eyes. She’d been bugging him to get it cut, but he liked it this way. Without thinking, she twisted in the seat so she could reach him, brushing that little bit of hair out of his face. She was too focused on her brother to realize she was brushing against Marcus and not just the seats.
With a sigh, she settled back into her seat, then propped her elbow on the middle console between her and Marcus, and her head in her hand. She winced slightly at putting the weight on her injured arm, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep sitting up straight. “Just…wake me if you need anything.”
It actually didn’t take as long as she would have thought for her to fall asleep. She was more than exhausted, after all, and after going, and going, and going for so long, her body was more than ready for a full stop. Now that she was finally letting her guard down, the whole house of cards was ready to fall apart.
The deeper into sleep she fell, the further down she slipped, until most of her torso was draped over the console with her cheek flat on the plastic. Her hand had slipped off the console and now dipped into Marcus’s space, lingering near his hip and the buckle of his seatbelt. Her other hand rested near her face, and she’d curled her knees up as close to her chest as she could manage, although they still fell away from the rest of her off the edge of the seat. Her hair had gotten mussed as she fell, just like her brother’s, and she was too far gone to care.
Post by Marcus Kanaan on Oct 23, 2020 10:42:26 GMT -5
Marcus nodded slowly. "Well, whatever she's doing, it's smart." He glanced over to her for a brief moment before his eyes were on the road again; the faintest curl of his mouth in an almost-there smile. "Just makes our job a little harder." The implication was there in his voice, though, that Andrea was doing well to remain so warded. It meant they were safe, wherever they were, and hopefully it remained that way. Marcus had to get Isolde and Eddie there...where Thornton couldn't get them.
'Just...wake me if you need anything.'"Sure," he said quietly, letting her situate and try to get comfortable. Sleeping in the car was never easy and he'd only been able to do it fairly easily because he had magically drained himself. Otherwise, it probably would have been impossible for him. They were going to have to stop at some point to try and get proper sleep and possibly drive for a longer stretch next go around. He just wasn't willing to risk it yet until they were at least in New Hampshire.
As she leaned in to check on her brother, he felt just the gentlest brush of her shoulder against his, causing his back to straighten a little more. Marcus forced himself to remain looking ahead, only catching her movements in his peripheral as she tried to find a position to sleep in. This was going to be a long trip for him. It was still almost surreal to be there with her now, to be running from the coven which had certainly put a large "kill me" sign on his back. Not to mention, Mr. Thornton would know by now that Marcus had betrayed him...a thought that, oddly, didn't seem to frighten him as much as the tension he felt when near Sol. A tension that had been there for years, feelings she was oblivious to and would remain so if he was careful. Emotions he wasn't even sure if he was justified to have.
Nearly two hours into the drive, the sun began to rise up over the horizon. Squinting against the light, he drew down the visor to shield his eyes before he dared a glance down to Isolde. She was so close again, having managed to find sleep at some point and he drew in a breath. There was hesitation before he removed his right hand from the steering wheel, attention flickering between her and the road as he carefully brushed away the hair from her face. It was just this strange instinct to do it- such a simple gesture that he would normally stop himself from doing were it any other time. A mere expression of affection that he was trained to never share. At times, he felt like he even forgot to smile, as though he were some programmed robot to stand there stoically, to never feel anything.
The problem was, he emotionally felt a lot, and it was why it was torture to be on duty in that house, to be so close to the family. Why it was torture now.
His hand moved to her own then, about to gently push it out of his space when he noticed the inky black tendrils beneath her skin. Lips mouthed an inaudible curse. Marcus had known he didn't get it all, but it was beginning to spread again, just as it was through his own veins because he had severed the spell before it could be complete. They'd already crossed over into New Hampshire, but he hoping to go at least another hour before truly stopping...and they were certainly going to have to. In truth, he didn't know if his magic was going to work a second time, but they'd have to try something.
Subconsciously, his thumb brushed over her wrist while he fell into thought until he finally blinked, and tried to carefully urge her hand beneath her head. A glance in the rearview mirror to see if Eddie was still asleep, he decided he would pull into the first motel they came across.