-+Requiem+-

Chapter Eleven

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“No.”

“Arkaia…”

“I said no, Ryce. I’m not going to let some second-class mind healer potentially kill Crimson!” I shifted uncomfortably in the sofa-chair I had been placed in. We had left the party early, the only reason we were able to do so without insult probably being because of me, and now we were back at the manor missing only Ikuma who had stayed behind to represent the family. At least he still had the Blooding with him in case anything went wrong.

“You know as well as I that he’s the only one qualified to do this that we can get a hold of if we want Crimson sans multiple personalities before his introduction!” I was growing more and more uncomfortable with the way the conversation was heading. All this talk about my insanity made me feel even worse about it, not that that was their intention. I knew they were just trying to help me and I wanted Nightshade gone but at the same time I just wanted to sweep it all under the rug and never think about it again.

Nightshade’s restless stirring wasn’t helping me either.

Arkaia growled and continued his pacing, slowly wearing out the carpet with his intensity. It had been going on like this for a while now. Ryce would point out how there was only a few, select choices that could be made and Arkaia would reject every one of them. Even though this whole thing was about me I didn’t think I’d be allowed to make the decision myself. Arkaia was far too worked up for that.

“Growling at me won’t help anything. A decision must be made.” The more I thought about it the less I wanted to wait for this to be over with. With everything that had happened and with all of the things I was going to have to deal with, a small reprieve would be very welcome indeed. I understood Arkaia’s concern about the ‘second-class’ mind healer but it wasn’t as though everyone could be first class. The whole ranking system would be moot then. And just because he wasn’t first class didn’t mean that he couldn’t get the job done.

I’ll admit that I don’t know a damn thing about him or mind healing but it’s not like he can mess me up anymore than I already am, right? At least I didn’t think he could. I really didn’t want to think about what would happen to me if he did manage to mess up. Though, looking at Arkaia, I really wouldn’t want to be him either.

Actually, since Arkaia looked like he’d kill him if he even made the slightest mistake than the man would be an idiot to even consider taking on the job if he wasn’t sure he could do it. If all else fails the mind healer’s sense of self preservation should prevent him from damaging me even further. Growing excited about potentially getting rid of Nightshade I wanted to tell Arkaia to let him go through with it but right now he and Ryce were currently engaged in an argument that was growing louder and louder as time went on.

“No one’s had to deal with this before—he won’t know what he’s doing!”

“Listen to yourself, Arkaia. No one has had to deal with this before—that means no one will know what they’re doing!”

“There has to have been treated cases of multiple personalities before! Get one of them!”

“None of them have ever been a Blood Count! You know that Crimson’s biological differences leave them all on equal ground when it comes to this!”

I watched them with growing fascination, not having seen either of them get this worked up before, and wondered what they were like if someone was in actual danger. I didn’t think I ever wanted to be privy to it. Infirite was also watching them, a growing frown on his face, and although he wasn’t joining in I knew this bothered him as much as it did them. I didn’t know exactly why this was but it made me secretly happy to know that he cared about my safety and well being.

The Bloodings were pacing restlessly along the couch beside me. They didn’t like anything that could be a potential threat to me and I sincerely hoped that they didn’t get as bad as Arkaia and his over protective habits. The one good thing about them was that they would obey me and back off if I asked them to, which was more than I could say for either of the brothers right now.

Really, it had only been what—four days—since I had awoken as a vampire? A week since my family had died? There was so much going on with my life that I could hardly keep up with it anymore and if there was a way to even potentially get rid of some of my problems then I was damned well going to take it.

“Arkaia.” I said, trying to get his attention. My voice got lost in the midst of their arguing though and I wondered if they were deliberately ignoring me since with a vampire’s hearing they damn well should have been able to hear me. Infirite glanced over at me as I spoke so I at least knew that I could be heard. The problem was getting the attention of two arguing brothers.

Growing annoyed with them I finally did what I knew would get them to stop if they really were that concerned about me—I bit myself. Blood welled up in the wounds I had made on my hand and flowed over, puncturing the air with its scent. It was enough for any vampire to stop and pay attention. Arkaia and Ryce were no different.

Their argument came to an immediate halt, so much so that it was actually funny, and soon after Arkaia was taking my hand from me and looking at me like I was crazy, which I was. Ryce was blinking so rapidly, completely focused on my hand that I wondered when the last time he fed was. I certainly hadn’t meant to start any hunger pangs for him.

He quickly got a hold of himself though and gave me the same look that Arkaia was. Infirite, on the other hand, was still frowning and I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. It was always hard to tell what he was thinking.

“Crimson…?” Arkaia licked the blood off of my hand and as my eyes traveled down the length of my arm I frowned. I didn’t like the way he was holding it. It was like I was being treated with reverence. Even if everyone else was going to treat me like that I didn’t want Arkaia or the rest of the Malibrookes to follow suit. They were supposed to be my family, weren’t they?

Taking my hand from him I rubbed the place I had bitten and wondered if I shouldn’t have done something else instead.

“Crimson?” He kneeled down in front of me with concern plain on his face. I really wanted him to stop it but now was not the time or place; first things first.

“I want this over with. I want Nightshade gone. I want my mind back.” And my sanity. “Please, let Ryce hire the man.” I didn’t care who he was anymore. He could help me and that was good enough for me.

“Crimson, the risks for this are high. You’re still weak from before—if something goes wrong it could kill you. If this is about how others will see you your introduction can be pushed back, for as long as you need. I don’t want you taking unnecessary risks.” The way he was now was vastly different from how he had been at the party. Sure, he had shown me concern and paranoia but I had only felt them through his body or maybe through the bond we had as Sire and Childer. His expression had been stoic throughout almost all of the party, un-changing like a true aristocrat. The only times I had caught glimpses of emotion was when he was looking directly at me or at another Malibrooke.

I guess for people like him emotions were meant to be private; something kept between family members and safely out of sight of others. I didn’t like that. I didn’t want to be restricted to showing my emotions only within the manor. If a Blood Count is so revered then they’re just going to have to deal with it, won’t they? If a Blood Count doesn’t even have to bow to royalty then who are they to tell me I can’t show emotion?

I was getting off topic though and Arkaia was waiting for an answer.

“From the sound of it it’ll be risky no matter when it’s done or by whom. If you’re right and my magic did automatically protect me then wouldn’t it be better to do this while I can’t feel pain—while it’s still damaged? It doesn’t matter what others think as long as I have my mind back. Please, can’t we just get this over with?” I knew I was manipulating him but I didn’t care. I needed this. I needed some form of control in my life, even if it was just to risk it.

Taking a moment he closed his eyes as if wishing that I’d suddenly change my mind. I said nothing to placate him and when he opened them again I could tell how much he wished this didn’t have to happen, that it had never happened in the first place. I appreciated the sentiment but my mind was made up.

“Alright.” He gave in and finally let me have what I wanted. It had taken a lot for him to push aside all of his concerns and desires in order to let me have this bit of control in my life. Although his intentions weren’t always clear, he was a good man.

“Thank you.” Sitting on the edge of the sofa I put my arms around him and hugged him. It was the first bit of physical contact I had could remember initiating. It was the first time I was actually able to comfort someone since Infirite wouldn’t accept my sentiments.

“I’ll contact Lord Kinjol immediately.”

Soon after Lord Kinjol had arrived I was feeling significantly less confident about my sudden and brash decision. I hadn’t expected Ryce to call upon him so soon but judging by the way he frowned when one of the servants informed him of the mind healer’s arrival, he hadn’t expected him to come right away either. Arkaia now looked like he was going to have a heart attack or go on rampage; I’m not sure which, but it made me even more apprehensive when he slipped behind his aristocratic mask. I couldn’t tell what he was planning.

When the man was led into Ryce’s office I took a moment to take him in his appearance as I had neglected to do earlier. He wasn’t dressed as fancy as the Malibrookes were but he wasn’t exactly shabby looking either. Having just come from a royal ball he was clean shaven with his hair neatly in place, but there was just something about him that said although he could look good when he wanted to he wasn’t used to being on the ‘high class’ end of things.

“Lord Malibrookes.” He paused, giving a slight bow. It seemed a little showy to me, but I still wasn’t up to date on vampire mannerisms so I let it pass. The others, on the other hand, were so stoic that I could talk to a statue and get a better response.

“Lord Kinjol. I must admit I wasn’t expecting you so soon.” There was nothing in his voice that gave away what he was thinking or feeling; nothing for Lord Kinjol to grab hold of and use against him. I could see that it made him uneasy.

“I apologize, Lord Malibrooke, but the message sounded urgent so I came as quickly as I could.” He fidgeted a bit when Ryce didn’t respond in the way he thought he would.

“I thank you for your promptness.” Ryce looked to Arkaia and waited for him to respond. Arkaia was the one that had to introduce me and although he had reluctantly agreed to this I knew he didn’t want to go through with it. The mind healer’s sudden appearance had caught him off guard and, putting myself in his shoes, I would want nothing more than to get rid of him too.

“Lord Kinjol, I’d like to introduce you to my childer, Crimson Nightshade.” His voice was hard and cold and I stood up when he said my name. For some reason I didn’t want to be sitting when he was allowed to acknowledge me.

Kinjol’s eyes lit up once Arkaia was finished speaking and he turned to me so quickly that I tried to take a step back from him, only to run into the sofa. Arkaia growled quietly as he focused in on the man, glaring at him with such venom that it looked like he would snap and attack him if he made even the slightest move against me. Lord Kinjol didn’t fail to see this.

Moving slowly he approached me with caution and stopped a few feet away. The others were watching his every move, so much so that it made me more nervous than if they were acting normally. Strangely enough he didn’t meet my eyes as he greeted me, instead dropping down to one knee and bowing lowly.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Lord Nightshade.” Being referred to as Lord was a strange thing to hear and it made me uncomfortable as did his bowing. I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. Should I be saying something in return…? I looked to the others for guidance.

Arkaia moved foreword as did Ryce, now watching his brother, but my Sire was able to stop himself before he did something to Lord Kinjol. Placing a hand on his shoulder Ryce took over, something I was grateful for with all of the tension mounting in this room.

“Lord Kinjol, I trust you understand the silence that is needed for this meeting and about anything concerning Crimson.” The mind healer rose and turned to Ryce, nodding empathically.

“Of course Lord Malibrooke. I wouldn’t dream of betraying your confidences.” He was a little too excited for my liking, as though he was only showing exuberance because he had gotten to meet ‘The Blood Count.’ It made me nervous that he was only here because of that and that he might go through with this without actually knowing if he can do it or not. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so eager about this…

I knew Arkaia would kick him out gleefully if I asked him to, but I really wanted to end this. Nightshade hadn’t stopped shifting since I had asked Arkaia for this and had grown tense ever since he had entered in the room. He was just like my Sire in the way that he seemed ready to attack and kill at any given moment.

I had to keep him under control.

“You will be held to that.” He paused for a moment to let the seriousness of the situation sink in and to let Lord Kinjol know that didn’t even want to know the repercussions to breaking his promise. “Crimon has multiple personalities. We need you to merge them back together, can you do this?”

He looked at me and I looked away. I was uncomfortable with anyone else being told about Nightshade, about my weaknesses. It didn’t matter that he was the one that could potentially help me.

“I haven’t dealt with multiple personalities before but I have dealt with the insane—which of course has no bearings on this case.” Arkaia growled at him again and I crossed my arms, fidgeting with nervous apprehension. Kinjol cleared his throat. “Yes, well, I’ll see what I can do.”

That didn’t build any sense of confidence in me. It made me wonder if he even knew what he was doing—if he was even a doctor at all—but Ryce was the one who suggested him and I just couldn’t believe that he would purposely hire an idiot. He was far too intelligent for that.

Lord Kinjol turned to me and made a sweeping gesture towards the sofa. “Please, have a seat Lord Nightshade. At times the mind will forget to keep muscles taunt when it’s being probed.” He smiled as though he were making a joke but there was something about the way he said it that made me nervous.

I could see Infirite moving closer even as I sat back down, sending the Bloodings scattering to get out of the way. When the mind healer approached they hissed and screeched at him and I saw his eyes narrow with interest before he pulled back with nervous apprehension. I didn’t get it. I didn’t understand why he had changed expressions so suddenly—the others didn’t seem to have noticed it either.

Telling the Bloodings to back off I focused on stopping myself from completely freaking out and running to hide behind Arkaia. The pull the go to my Sire was strong and I felt that it was the same way for him. Ryce was the only thing holding him back but if something went wrong I doubt anyone would be able to pull him away.

“It will be alright, Lord Nightshade, just relax. Close your eyes and clear your thoughts.” He placed two of his fingers on either of my temples and I almost jerked away from his touch. I really didn’t like him and Nightshade was on the verge of taking over, pushing on the edges of my mind. He had better work fast.

Closing my eyes I listened to his voice as he directed me on what I was supposed to do; just sit there and not fight his intrusions into my mind. I did this, despite my increased misgivings, and clenched my teeth as I felt him working his way inside. Nightshade was barely under control now and I felt it slipping fast. If he didn’t hurry this up I didn’t know what my other personality might do to him.

I had no idea what he was doing but as he roamed through my mind but images of my past started to come up; of Mayfield, of my home, my family, and of the night of their death. Things that I had forgotten or had been hidden from me were at the forefront and I didn’t know what to do with them. I was starting to get a headache.

My whole body was stiff as though I had just ran a huge marathon the night before. There was a pressure on my chest that disallowed me from getting up. It made it hard to breathe and as I tried to sit up an unfamiliar hand was placed on my chest and I was pushed back down.

Panicking slightly I opened my eyes but saw nothing but darkness. I had no idea where I was or who was with me and it terrified me to think about what had happened. The last thing I remembered was being thrown into the basement and waking up to my father summoning something with his spell book. After that there was nothing but pain.

It didn’t hurt now. I couldn’t feel any pain but I knew my body was still sore or else it wouldn’t be stiff like this. Who is it that’s with me and what did they give me to get rid of the pain?

Someone was speaking and I focused in on them as best I could.

“The wounds he sustained and the damage done to his magic core requires the immediate attention of a healer. There’s none in the area we can take him to without it being reported and moving him again is too much of a risk. He’s dying.” I drew in a breath when I realized they must be talking about me. “The only choice we have is to turn him or let him die.” There was a pause before another person spoke. My mind was getting foggy but I tried to focus in on what they were saying.

“I’d prefer not to force anyone into this but it seems I have no choice.”

There was nothing about them that stated that this was my savior or that they didn’t intend to hurt me so I attempted to play dead as they touched me. My mind was still in a fog, probably induced by the pain and power, and it was getting harder and harder to think. I had to focus though, because there was no telling who this person might be.

“Such a sweet scent you have, my Nightshade.” A voice echoed through my mind and the sound of it made me shiver involuntarily. I didn’t know who it was but the tone of their voice held a sense of danger to it that put me on edge; I wanted to get away from them.

A tongue licked a line down my neck and I froze, wanting to move but not having the energy to make my body do so. Lips soon followed and I felt a sense of fear and dread coming over me. “But I bet you taste even sweeter. Soon your dark fire will be mine, my pet.”

Tiny spikes entered my neck with needle like sharpness and I knew they were supposed to hurt but they didn’t. I couldn’t feel any pain and now that they were in I could feel only pleasure coming from the wounds. My hands moved automatically and grabbed whatever they could reach, clinging to the fabric they found against a smooth, flat chest.

It was the memory of my turning, of things I wasn’t able to remember before, and I wondered why I was remembering them now if the mind healer was only supposed to be forcing my personalities back together. Just as I was thinking this I could almost physically feel when he passed over a locked door on my mind. There was a feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach and before I could say anything the door was ripped off its hinges and in came flooding wave after wave of pent up pain.

All of my injuries that I had thought were all gone, the damage done to my magic core, came in throbbingly clear and I reacted instinctively by shoving the mind healer away from me. There was so much pain. I had been numb for so long that I had forgotten just how much pain there was and it was tearing my mind apart. I could no longer tell what pain was actually happening and what was in memory, everything was mixing up and it was all too much for me to handle.

Once again I did the only thing I knew I could do; I screamed.

-+Nightshade+-

The pain was unbearable but I forced my way though it, shoving it aside to focus on more important issues. I used my instinctive will to survive to take control and focus on the threat that was before me. Crimson was a fool to try and go through with this and now look where it had gotten us. He should have known I couldn’t be gotten rid of so easily; I was a part of him just as he was a part of me.

Lord Kinjol’s eyes were laughing at me but were covered up by mock horror. I didn’t know what type of fool he was but I would not tolerate this attack on my person. Before Arkaia could even get to him I was up and had him flying across the room in a blink of an eye.

The pain made it hard for me to focus and my body was growing weak but that didn’t stop me from grabbing hold of what I knew was my magic and forcing it to come to life despite its damages. It was a risky move but the immediate threat had to be eliminated. I would not allow him to harm Crimson any further.

Already the Bloodings were all over Kinjol, biting and tearing at him with their claws, teeth, and magic. Arkaia and the others came up beside me, asking me if I was alright, but I ignored them. Of course I’m not alright, you fools.

I shooed the Bloodings off and once they had moved I sent the magic I had been building up directly at the man. For a moment his eyes were a smoldering black before he was engulfed in a sea of flames that quickly consumed and destroyed every inch of him. His screams gave me satisfaction even as my consciousness started to leave me. The usage of my magic had used up what little energy I had left and as I collapsed into darkness I didn’t even have time to tell Arkaia to keep his hands off of me.

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Author’s Note: I don’t feel like posting the links to the pictures here so I’m leaving the link to my photobucket account and giving out the guest password: Super_Crim. There’s nothing on the first page so check the albums and sub-albums.

http://s548.photobucket.com/albums/ii330/Crimson_Nightshade/

Jess: I can’t remember if I created them before or after Crimson, but it was a long time ago.

memorietrail: Of course there is, and thanks for the review.