Disclaimer: I do not own the Night World Series.

Try It All

Chapter 4: All for Nothing

It was all just a huge waste of time.

The tests, the painkillers, the sedatives—all useless! Nothing worked. The failures of the human race never stopped surprising Lord Thierry. This was completely unnecessary and—to be blunt—stupid. Through in the back of his mind he knew he shouldn't bash at the clueless people, considering he didn't exactly have room to talk. For one, he was once one of them, and also his people had done just as many embarrassing actions. He was a leader; he had to see everything from all angles.

Just like at the current moment, Thierry had to consider all his options if resolution that would really be possible for the situation at hand. One of his best fighters was immobilized, completely down for the count! It was the most unexpected and dangerous opponent Rashel Jordan could ever lose to. She could arm herself to the chin with weapons, train for the highest skill of material arts, but none of that would ever protect her from an illness. This new sickness had the ex-hunter at her limits but she was showing that if death wanted her, he'd literally have to drag her kicking and screaming. It was all that could be heard from the hospital room not even five yards away from where Thierry sat. Thierry sighed from the anxiety. It was only a matter of time before—

The elevator stopped with a soft ding.

—Before Quinn would show up.

The doors of the elevator flew apart to prove the Leader of Circle Daybreak correct. There stood in the boxed space, was John Quinn, black eyes and all. Thierry had to give him credit though; his soulmate was in a hospital and he actually looked calm… with only slight hints of mad-as-hell.

"What happened?" he asked with stern authority practically rolling off his tongue. His eyes narrowed and searched the crowd, scrutinizing every face looking for anyone to offer answers.

"Well, it's sort of a long story," Mary-Lynnette replied over the silence, trying to give something to calm the guy down.

"I don't have the patience right now. Where's Rashel?"

"Just follow the screaming," David said from the chair next to Mare. On cue, a scream and the sound of shattering of glass could be acknowledged. "I told those docs to keep glass out of the room…" he whispered under his breath.

As Quinn made a stance to rush in the room, he was stopped by the blockade of a sandy-haired human. His eyes held a look of longing as he glaced at the hallway, which was quickly replaced with rage and annoyance. "Eric, get out of my way!"

"I will, but you have to understand that she is in a lot of pain and sedatives aren't helping—"

"—Then why the hell would you keep her here, let alone bring her at all?"

"Because witches can't cure anything if they're clueless on what is wrong." The two boys turned to see lord Thierry adding himself to the conversation.

"I'll find out," Quinn declared with a voice as cold as death, his eyes as black as his boiling anger. The one person he cared about more than anything was in torment and he hadn't dealt vengeance or made her better? The last thing he was going to do was lose his cherished soulmate to something like illness. With a swift maneuver past Eric, Quinn used his dark gifts to race towards the crisis ahead.


"How could he just ditch us like that? He had the map and phone! What the hell?" Ash screamed having a semi-hostile rant, as the group made it back to civilization. The sun was close to setting, and with it, the sky slowly faded to black. This hue brought quiet as the birds began to settle for the evening. It brought hope into Gillian's violet pupils, but the awaiting situation still left her heart heavy.

"What Rashel is going through is very bad, Ash. No one can even calm her down enough to say what's wrong. If they don't settle her soon, at how exerted she is, there's a chance her heart might give out from the excess pain," Thea explained.

Ash had to admit he felt grief for his friend, but in truth, he was a bit more concerned with making sure Mary-Lynnette stayed well. It really made him consider changing her into his kind. Doing so against her wishes would make her hate him, but maybe he could convince her, seeing that he already had once before.

James and Poppy followed quietly behind the others with hand-in-hand. To think about the past... what it was like to look at the person who meant the world to him and know she was about to slip from his grasp. It always caused James to feel his heart aching. He squeezed Poppy's hand. It made her aware of his fierce protectiveness taking a hold of his senses once more. She squeezed back to show to show him that period of trouble was resolved and is no longer there to hurt her. They said nothing of the Rashel and Quinn's situation. They knew better. Anyone could feel grief for Rashel's physical distress or Quinn's internal conflict, but until they had someone they loved in the hands of death like James, Thierry, Morgead, or even Galen, they would never truly understand Quinn's anguish.


This can't be happening. It can't be…

Rashel could always throw a powerful punch. Quinn knew when she wacked her fist into the doctor's gut, the guy wasn't going to be up for a while. He had walked into the white room to be greeted by Rashel's screams and nurses struggling. Rashel was wide awake— At least, he thought with taste at bitter on his tongue. Agony; he saw it. It flashed through her mind and forced her to squirm and fight. It was her desperate attempted to keep everything away from her— everything that was capable of more harm.

He only stood there for a mere second before moving into action. With the power of a pissed off bull, Quinn shoved all the nurses away, leaving Rashel to struggle against only air and sheet. His rage grew with every second his soulmate suffered with no salvation in reach.

His piercing black holes absorbed the shock and fear admitting from the physicians, his pride and authority ruled his reason. This was his soulmate! No one else should be putting their filthy hands on his soulmate! It was his responsibility to protect and please her. These damn humans shouldn't dare try to step on his territory of existence. What upset him most about what these humans were doing was that his soulmate was still in pain even after they had crossed forbidden ground.

"Leave us! I will try to calm her down."

That was all he needed to say to send everyone flying out of the room, leaving his alone with his whimpering, thrashing soulmate. With no time to waste, Quinn leaned down to get a grip on her shoulders.

"Rashel… Rashel, darling, I need you to look at me," he said in a calm voice, smooth as silk.

She wasn't responding to him; just moaning. She was currently out of energy to rampage, with was still, but tense. His teeth were grinding at the frustration.

Quinn's chest was swollen with swirling feeling, but mostly worry, desperation, and longing. She was shaken, just to make sure her eyes stayed open.

Rashel, look at me! Open your eyes. I'm right here. I'll protect you; just look at me!

The words echoed in the depths of Rashel's conscious, but her eyes clamped shut and turned away, as if refusing to believe it. Rashel, look at me now. He would never yell at her, but if she refuse to obey what was best for her, then Quinn would have to get stern. When her hesitate jade orbs coincided with his black ones, Quinn let himself sigh in relief.

The wry sight of her face caused his thoughts to stop and heart to skip a beat. All the anger and love he held instantly flared at the sight of her beautiful face, even if it was drenched in sweat and misery. She was always the most beautiful woman to him, and he was happy inside for that truth, but this distress that clouded her eyes just plain pissed him off.

Rashel, will you tell me what hurts? Please let me help you.

I… I…Quinn… the link was blocked with the sound of her whimpering. He hated seeing her in pain, and he's do anything to make it stop. He knew what would make it stop, but he couldn't do it here. It would cause too much suspicion, draw unwanted attention. It was a mistake to bring Rashel here, he thought to himself. At least, it was tried. His thoughts went to begin his new formulated plan.

He knew she would be against it, but stopping her torture was his top priority. As he stared into her eyes, he began to influence. With the strength of the soulmate principle and experiencing Rashel's mind first hand, his voice had the power to sway her thoughts.

My Rashel, my beloved, I know you're in a lot of discomfort but you need to listen to my words. I need you to sleep. Sleep… I'll be here for you… Sleep…

Rashel instantly felt groggy and closed her eyes, sobs subsided. The pain was finally numb.

"I love you, Rashel," he said aloud, forgiving that she wasn't going to respond likewise when the job was done.


The doctor was telling Thierry of Rashel's diagnoses, which was basically, "We have no clue what to do." Ash, James, and the others had eventually made it to the hospital and were told Quinn was in the room to calm the patient down. Everything was tense and silent until the door creaked open and Quinn returned the group. The tense atmosphere had been a volcano that exploded at Quinn's appearance. Every inch of the room was drenched with "How's Rashel?", "Is Rashel okay?", and "What can we do?"

The raven haired teen paid no attention to his friends. He already knew exactly how to take care of his soulmate, and their pity wasn't part of the plan. The doctor and Thierry approached, and he was the head of the conversation.

"I got her to sleep—"

The doctor cut in. "Oh, good! Now we can—"

"Don't interrupt me," Human. "I want to have her released so I can take her home now or tomorrow at the latest."

Everyone, even Thierry, was taken back by such a sudden, rash decision. Quinn's strong ability as a telepath disabled the doctor's ability to refuse his demands. He knew exactly what he was doing, and he wasn't going to let anyone tell him that they knew how to take better care of Rashel.

"I can have the paperwork ready early in the morning."

"Good."

"But only immediate family will be permitted to stay with her."

"I'm her boyfriend." Quinn didn't need telepathy to get what he wanted this time. His icy glare pulled the strings.

"Tha-That's fine."

Quinn nodded to the others acknowledging that his will had been done.


As the night grew older, the other Daybreakers decided to retreat back to the mansion for anxiety rest. Of course, Quinn stayed plastered to Rashel's motionless palm when they left. No one was too worried at the current moment; Quinn would take care of their friend.

"This must be really hard for Quinn," Eric commented to space. "I don't know what I'd do if something happened to Thea."

"From experience, I always did something irrational. I did anything I could, if I thought it would defend the one I cared about," Thierry added.

The ominous sting of silence had commenced once more. Quinn had never been in this situation before, because Rashel could always take care of herself and Quinn was always watching over her when she needed it. Now Quinn was almost powerless in the situation, and everyone knew he was going to act crazy if it would save Rashel.