The Strain: Another Season
Episode 7
Author's note: Warnings – child decapitation, vamp on human torture with slash sexual overtones.
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Osculation
Chapter One
Black Forest Solutions Meatpacking Facility
The Master's underground chamber
Kelly and the Feelers sprint in, screaming and clicking. She has a silver wound across her torso and a bullet hole in her shoulder. They are still smoking.
'NOOOOO!' she yells. 'Not Zack!'
The Master is confused and looks at Eichhorst for clarification. He shrugs and says, 'He smelt part Hebrew to me.'
The Master removes the hood.
Tears are streaming down Keane Luss' face. His nose is running and he seems to have wet himself.
'This is not my son,' says Kelly definitely.
The Master looks accusingly at Eichhorst and roars his frustration. In his fury, he forgets even the blood meal and the insight into Setrakian's schemes that it would have brought him. He rips Keane's head from his shoulders, squeezes it until it pops and flits away in a blur before he does the same to Eichhorst.
Amsterdam June 1989
Setrakian recovers consciousness naked, gagged and bound to an operating table by wrists, ankles and neck.
Eichhorst's eyes are staring into his. Eichhorst's nose and hair tickle his face as his captor leans down and murmurs hotly in his ear.
'I'm sorry I'm not him, handsome,' purrs Werner Dreverhaven, pulling off a grey-blond wig and Eichhorst's prosthetic nose. He removes the contact lenses and regards his now-struggling captive proudly. 'He's in Berlin, with A229467 - your last surgeon...'
Dreverhaven undoes a wrist restraint and picks up the crooked hand. He holds it as a lover would and then lifts it slowly to his mouth and grazes a broken finger with his lips. '…Who didn't do a very good job,' he says significantly.
'You should have come to me instead, precious,' he smiles devilishly. 'I wouldn't have rushed it.'
Dreverhaven applies slowly increasing pressure to Setrakian's pinky until it snaps.
Setrakian bites down hard on the gag but a scream escapes, despite himself.
'Yes,' says Dreverhaven excitedly. 'Ye-es. That's it. Scream it out.' There's no mistaking that the doctor is getting off on his patient's distress. He watches until the sounds stop and the only indication of Setrakian's rage and pain is in his expressive eyes.
'But I'm not here to play with your hands.' He smiles slowly and, if possible, it's an even scarier smile than Eichhorst's. 'I'm here to break your heart.'
He stands back and looks at Setrakian. 'I thought you and your brother were twins when I first saw you. In fact, I hoped you were,' he says conversationally. 'Because then I could have claimed you rather than Thomas.'
His bottomless eyes travel leisurely over his subject's body. 'You should have been mine, not his. I would never have let you become so old and…' he brings his lips right up to Setrakian's gagged mouth, lingers there for a second and then whispers in his ear, '…flaccid.'
Dreverhaven retreats again – to the machines beeping and flashing all around the room. Setrakian hasn't noticed them before, his entire attention being focussed on his tormentor. The doctor caresses them happily and says, 'Look at all this new technology, Abraham. Imagine what I could have achieved back in Poland, if only I'd had access to such treasures.' He chuckles with delight.
He pauses, for effect. 'We are going to have such fun, you and I.'
'Come,' he leers. 'Let's play with my new toys. Together!'
The Master's underground chamber
The Master is still furious but after many hours and not a few blood meals, he has regained control. He calls Kelly and Eichhorst back to his presence.
My dear Kelly, I have decided what you must do. The father is the way to the son. I want him too, ultimately. You must play on your husband's animal desires once more. You have seduced him before. You must do so again.
As my chosen child, you have the power to mesmerise your Loved One. It will be at your command when you are in his presence.
He strokes her bald head. She leans into his caress, eyes closed, like a petted cat.
I am afraid you must relinquish this divine beauty – moulding you into my image. You must appear human again. Eichhorst will show you how. To his shame, he seems to enjoy aping the unevolved.
Eichhorst indicates a small alcove where he has set up another make-up station. A floor-length venous-red ball gown hangs beside it.
'You can even choose what hair you have,' says Eichhorst, holding a chair for her. And indeed, various colours, lengths and styles of wig are on display.
She reaches for a long, dark brown wig and strokes it. 'This is how I wore it when we first fell in love.'
She fingers the dress. It has a high collar but there are cutouts, notably over the décolletage.
'Where is Ephraim? How will I find him?' she asks the Master.
We will bring him to you.
'He won't come alone,' says Eichhorst apprehensively.
Then deal with the others. The Master snaps at Eichhorst, wheeling around to sweep out. If you can.
Kelly is still examining the dress. She removes her jumper and sits down. She reaches for some foundation and a sponge.
Eichhorst moves to leave but she grabs his hand. 'Stay!' she pleads. 'I've never had to put make-up on my breasts before.'
Author's note: I haven't specified which actor is playing Setrakian in 1989. At sixty five years of age, the obvious choice is David Bradley but the scenes with Dreverhaven would plainly be more aesthetically pleasing with Jim Watson! You decide…