Disclaimer: I don't own Eragon or anything associated with the Inheritance Cycle.
Claimer: I, SussieKitten, own this plot and the story. Borrow or steal my plot, my original characters (Aksel) or story and I will report you. I also own my version of Saphira/Thorn's human appearances, and the universe and versions of the creatures I use in this story (hydras and chimeras in particular).
Warnings: Slash/Yaoi – meaning guy x guy action. Femslash/Shōjo-ai – meaning mild girl x girl action. Swearing or strong language. Supernatural creatures – there will be mainly elves, dragons, vampires and werewolves in this. Mpreg – meaning male pregnancy people! Mentions of semi-rape. Het – meaning mild guy x girl action. If any of this disturbs you, click on the "back" button. I won't tolerate any flames.
A/N A huge thanks to everyone that still reads and reviews to this story. It means a lot, you guys.
This chapter is dedicated to wonderful my beta Illyric, who is currently ill. I miss you and wish you a speedy recovery, my dear friend.
Word – word written in my language Andelan
OBSESSION
Part Seven; My Precious Possession
::September to October::
Eragon was prepared for the panic Saphira's statement came with. What he was not prepared for was the news of his apparent lock-up.
"What do you mean I can't go outside?!" Eragon protested.
Brom sighed tiredly.
"We aren't letting him anywhere close to you, and the best way to do that is to keep you locked up in your room."
"But why!? I promise not to go outside!" Eragon whined.
"He can easily find you if he's standing outside of that door," Brom said and nodded towards the door leading to the terrace, which coincidentally happened to be made of glass. "Inside your room, there are no windows or doors that he can see you through. It is vital that we keep your pregnancy from him at all costs."
"He's right, Eragon," Saphira said and bit her lip in obvious worry. "You remember what Thorn said."
Eragon flinched. Yes, he quite remembered what Thorn had said. When he thought about it, Thorn hadn't actually answered his question. That did nothing to make him feel better. And from what Saphira had told him, Thorn hadn't said much more to her either.
"But do I have to?" he asked again.
"For the sake of you and your child, yes," Brom said sternly.
Eragon bit his lip. He saw the logic in it, but the thought of being locked up for a month did not appeal to him. But when he laid a hand on his stomach, he knew what he had to do. He had gone this far; there was no way Murtagh was going to get a chance to kill his child.
::OBSESSION::
Saphira was worried. It had been a few hours since Thorn had sent her the message, and she knew that they would now be inside of Carvahall.
She ached to find Thorn, and at the same time she ached to murder his rider. Murtagh had no right to do this! All he had had to do was to stay out of Carvahall for another four months, and Eragon would have been out of immediate danger. Saphira knew that the instant Murtagh found out that Eragon was pregnant, he would be out of control. There was just something about him that made her worry. Granted, Saphira had never met a vampire before, but something struck her as different about Murtagh; he wasn't like the rest. And she didn't know if that was a good thing or not.
There was one thing she did know, and that was the vampire's odd possessiveness towards Eragon. She had seen the kiss they had shared. Murtagh had been staking his claim. But at the same time, she knew it wasn't on an emotional level; he was rather claiming Eragon because he could. Because he felt that he was better than everyone else.
And because of that possessive streak, Saphira was very worried about Eragon. She knew that if Eragon were to walk outside, Murtagh would seek him out. She knew how much Eragon hated to be locked away, no matter how much sense it made, and that just made her detest Murtagh even more.
"Saphira?"
Saphira blinked owlishly. Eragon sent her a half-amused look while he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Is something wrong?" he asked softly.
"Should you be out here?" Saphira asked and shot a quick look outside.
"Geez, can't I step out of my room just to get a glass of water?" Eragon said and walked to do just that.
Saphira bit her lip and followed him. He filled a glass with water and drank half of it before refilling it. He turned around and startled when he noticed how close they were.
"...Seriously?" he frowned. "I can't even go to the kitchen unsupervised?"
"We'd rather you didn't, no," Saphira said and pursed her lips.
Eragon's face hardened. He stalked past her and half a minute later she heard the door slam. Saphira sighed tiredly. She twinned a lock of blue hair around her finger as she walked soundlessly to his room. She knocked softly.
"Eragon?"
No answer. Saphira bit her lip and entered anyway.
Eragon was sitting on is bed, glaring at the opposite wall. One hand rested on top of his slightly rounded stomach while the other lay fisted on the bed.
"I hate him," Eragon growled.
Saphira closed the door behind her and leaned against it.
"I know. We all hate him," she murmured.
"No one hates him like I do!" Eragon exclaimed angrily. "He's ruined my life!! Why me, huh?! Why did he have to go after me, the bloody ghalack."
Saphira rushed over and crouched down in front of him. She softly caressed his cheek while sending comforting thoughts over their link.
"None of this would have happened if I had stayed at home, if I had stayed clear of him, if I had killed him when I had had the chance, or if I had ab-"
"Don't you dare say it," Saphira hissed.
She would not allow him to say that.
"This is not your child's fault. Do not blame him or her like that," she said sternly.
Eragon looked away, his cheeks burning in shame.
"Curse him all you want, but do not curse this child."
Eragon nodded softly.
"And I know you don't like the situation, but for your own sake, we would like you not to walk into the living room or kitchen without there being someone present," Saphira said and stood up. "I know it's frustrating, and that the chances of him knowing where you are are slim, but we can't afford to take any chances."
Eragon looked into her eyes. The brown orbs narrowed slightly before he nodded again.
"Murtagh is dangerous and he doesn't think he has anything to lose. Let's make sure he's not allowed to act on that belief," the blue eyed girl said and crossed her arms.
"Sure. I'll just stay right here," Eragon sighed.
Saphira nodded softly and smiled. Eragon sent her a tired smile back. She turned around and started to walk away. Her hand paused on the doorknob.
"Eragon?" she murmured.
"Huh?"
"If you had the choice, would you want to tell Murtagh of your child once he or she is born?" she asked in a near whisper.
Silence raged behind her. She looked over her shoulder and bit her lip.
"I don't know," Eragon said tensely.
Saphira sighed softly.
"I'll be back," she said and slipped quietly out of the room.
::OBSESSION::
Thorn stared at their hideout with obvious displeasure. It was a shack. A shack. He seriously wondered what was going on in Murtagh's mind.
Once they had gotten off the train, Murtagh had led them onto a bus and hadn't hopped off it until they were nearly outside of Carvahall. From there Thorn reckoned it could only be a two hour drive to Ceunon. Maybe Murtagh actually considered visiting Vanir? Thorn wrote a mental note to call Vanir later. They needed to get their stories straight.
"So, what do you think?" Murtagh smirked.
Thorn redirected his gaze. He gave his rider a cold stare. Murtagh barked a laugh and walked into the small house. Thorn wrinkled his nose and walked in after him.
It wasn't as bad inside as it looked from the outside. The kitchen area that had seen better days and the living room breathed dust. But even so, every wall was intact and the glass was still present in the windows. Thorn counted three rooms apart from the kitchen and living room. He truly hoped two of them were bedroom; he had no intention of sleeping beside his rider.
"I've seen worse," Thorn said dryly.
"Are you kidding?" Murtagh laughed. "The warehouse back in Dras Leona was a thousand times worse than this! This is a sanctuary in comparison."
Thorn chose not to comment.
"Murtagh, what are we doing here?" he asked as his rider slipped into one of the three rooms.
No answer. Thorn growled and checked the other two rooms out. He breathed out in relief when one of them was a bedroom. He put down his bag and stalked into his rider's room.
"Murtagh."
Said man rolled his eyes.
"Why do you care so much? Are you hiding something from me?" he asked and crocked an eyebrow.
"I want to know if you're back to kill Saphira's rider. Because if you are, I swear to God I'll -"
"Fuck, I know; you'll kill me," Murtagh snorted. "I'm not back to kill the brat. How many times do I have to tell you that, huh?"
Thorn just narrowed his eyes.
"Excuse me if I find you hard to believe," Thorn drawled.
Murtagh flipped him off. Thorn rolled his eyes and spun on his heel. He was halfway out of the room when Murtagh spoke again.
"You better go to bed early tonight. We're leaving bright and early tomorrow."
Thorn sent him a suspicious stare. Murtagh smirked and showed off his fangs quite nicely. Thorn winced mentally.
"We're off to see the magician," Murtagh finished happily.
Thorn sneered and stalked out of the room. He shouted that he was leaving over his shoulder and pulled out his cell phone. He needed to call Vanir, now.
As the phone rang, Thorn couldn't help but to feel that something was seriously wrong with Murtagh. He just hoped that nothing bad was about to happen.
::OBSESSION::
Murtagh didn't sleep that night; he had sat out on the porch and watched the sun rise. He had woken Thorn bright and early and had dragged him onto the first bus to Ceunon. He actually wanted to visit Vanir.
He and Vanir had never gotten along. They were like oil and water; they simply didn't mix. But if what Thorn said was true, and he had been to visit Vanir at least four times since his near-coma incident, then Murtagh wanted to know what Vanir suspected was wrong. Oh no, Thorn wouldn't come all that way just to pick up some blood; something else was going on. That Murtagh was certain of.
"Tag?"
Murtagh sneered at Thorn. Even though the bus was empty except a couple in the front and three teenage girls that were chatting nonstop, he really didn't like it when Thorn addressed him out loud.
"What?" he barked.
"Why are you so against mates? Is it because of the vampire in you, or something else?" Thorn asked quietly.
Murtagh wondered for a minute why Thorn wasn't chatting with him over their link, especially if this was what he wanted to ask. Murtagh rolled his eyes and pushed the thought aside.
"Both I suppose," Murtagh drawled. "Now leave it alone."
Thorn had been awfully chatty about mates lately. Murtagh had a feeling he knew why, and he wasn't too comfortable about it. But it was nothing he could do. If Thorn wanted to make Saphira his, then he wouldn't stand in the way. Even if he would get lonely over time, he had always had a feeling that Thorn would eventually leave him. He had just never suspected the redhead would leave because of a girl.
"But -" Thorn protested.
"Fuck, if you want to mate with the girl so bad, then go and get her!" Murtagh snarled. "It's not like I can stop you."
Thorn fell silent. Murtagh glared hotly out of the window and watched the landscape blur around them as they drove on.
"I'm not asking for my sake," Thorn said finally.
Murtagh stiffened. What? That was absurd; of course he was! Murtagh sent him a glare that told Thorn just this.
"I'm not," the hydra stressed. "I want to know why you're against being with someone for the rest of your life."
"Because I detest the thought of having to be depended on someone for the rest of my miserable life," the vampire growled. "There's a reason few or no vampires mate; we're not made for it."
"If it was so, then vampires wouldn't have mates," Thorn told him dryly. "You just have to be willing."
"Well, I'm not," Murtagh told him harshly. "Now drop it."
Thorn opened his mouth to speak, but Murtagh pushed the stop-button harshly and shoved him aside. Murtagh stalked off the bus and didn't even wait to check if Thorn followed him. The soft footsteps he could hear behind him and the dull beating of Thorn's heart told him enough.
There was one thing Murtagh had always detested about Thorn; the hydra was a very skilled liar. He could control his pulse and heart rate at such a precision that not even Murtagh, a vampire, could hear when he was lying.
Fortunately Vanir was a totally different case. And as they walked up to his house, Murtagh eagerly sped up. He couldn't wait to see what the visit would give him of information.
Murtagh didn't even get a chance to knock before Vanir threw the door open. The magician glared at him and stalked back into his house. Murtagh smirked and walked inside.
"What do you want?" Vanir asked sourly from somewhere inside the house.
Murtagh allowed the man's heartbeat to take him there. Vanir's heart remained steady, even if Murtagh could tell by the smells in the house that he was making a potion. A potion that could easily blow up or do worse if prepared wrongly. Then again, Vanir had always been horribly cocky.
"I hear Thorn's been visiting you an awful lot lately," Murtagh stated as he stepped into Vanir's kitchen.
The kitchen was larger than one would expect. There was two of everything; two stoves and a lot of cabinets and an extra small fridge. One of the two benches was filled with measurement cups, jars and a few pieces of paper. Vanir stood by one of the stoves and was sprinkling something into a bubbling pot.
"That's true," Vanir said and stirred the content slowly. "So?"
Murtagh cursed when Vanir's heartbeat remained steady. Could Thorn actually have been telling the truth?
"What have you two ladies been up to, then?" Murtagh drawled and sat down.
Thorn remained where he was; leaned against the wall beside the door.
"Chatting about your ungrateful ass," Vanir said coldly. "I've been trying to find out what's wrong with you."
"And?" Murtagh yawned; already starting to feel bored.
"I've found a blood type that you seem to be able to digest without having any side effects," the magician said and turned off the stove.
Vanir then put a lid onto the pot and put it into a basin of ice water. The water started to steam.
"Which?"
Vanir didn't even look back at him as he started to clean up.
"AB," Vanir replied two seconds before Murtagh had been about to ask him again.
Murtagh snorted.
"You have got to be kidding me," Murtagh drawled. "I've reacted badly on every AB person I've bit up until this point...or so you claim."
Vanir put away the last jar and glared at him.
"I tested the blood I've been giving you, every pouch is AB. Maybe it helps that it's AB negative," he said sarcastically.
Murtagh frowned. That didn't make any sense.
"Quit fucking with me," Murtagh said coldly. "There's no way."
The magician snorted.
"As much as I'd love to be fucking with you, I'm not," he drawled. "For the past two months you've been given AB type blood. The end."
The vampire shot a glare at Thorn. The hydra just shrugged.
"How the hell should I know? All I know is that we came to that conclusion, and since then Vanir's been giving me what he says is AB."
Something was still not quite right, Murtagh could feel it. He licked his lips.
"Every bag has been filled with AB negative blood? That's kind of hard to come by, isn't it?"
Vanir frowned. Murtagh noted that his heartbeat sped up for a second before going calm again. Interesting.
"I sent in a letter to the blood bank and asked to get as many bags of AB negative blood they had. I told them I needed it in an experiment. People don't ask many questions when they're dealing with magicians," Vanir told him dryly.
Murtagh chuckled softly.
"Why do I get the feeling that you're lying?" he asked with a pleased smirk.
"You're allowed to think whatever the fuck you want to," the blue eyed man said distastefully. "Was that all?"
"Actually, no," Murtagh said and stood up. "Figured out why I went into a near-coma yet?"
The hazel eyed man saw Thorn move out of the corner of his eye.
"You had been starving yourself," Vanir said darkly. "How long was it again, two weeks? That means that you missed five or so very important meals. Should that answer your bloody question?"
Murtagh opened his mouth to reply, but Vanir cut him off.
"That equal about two months without feeding for a more normal vampire, if you need something to compare it to. It doesn't sound that improbable anymore, does it?"
Murtagh sneered. Alright, so maybe Vanir had a point. Fuck.
"Fine, whatever," Murtagh said and shrugged. "Thorn, we're leaving."
Murtagh heard Vanir curse at him as they left. He chuckled and let the door slam behind them. Vanir cursed loudly and screamed how delicate his potions were. Murtagh replied by laughing loudly.
Ah, nothing felt better than to agitate Vanir, especially when the bastard deserved it.
::OBSESSION::
Two weeks went by and Eragon was now in the sixth month of his pregnancy. It embarrassed him to walk around with his stomach now. Even though it wasn't really visible under his hoodies and large t-shirts, it felt so much bigger! While he had been borrowing the old man's pants for some time, he hadn't felt the need to borrow any t-shirts...before now, that was. Brom had just laughed and given him a few of his old ones, something Eragon was very thankful for.
"You look so cute!" Arya said and pinched his cheek.
Eragon looked at her blankly. He did not feel cute. His bladder wasn't under his control, and while he didn't have cravings, some things didn't taste as good as they used to. He hated it. While this had been going on for some time, it only seemed to get worse as the months went by.
"Sis, you're acting odd," Aksel told her bluntly.
Arya just waved him off. Aksel stuck his tongue out at her.
"How're you feeling, Eragon?" Nasuada asked softly.
"Alright enough I guess, considering the circumstances," he replied.
"Ah, so they're still in town," Nasuada pursed her lips.
"Thorn says so," Saphira said and let out a sad sigh. "But apparently Thorn's rider didn't come here to take Eragon; he just wanted to visit that magician."
"And did he buy Thorn's lies?" Eragon asked softly.
"For now it seems like he has. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed, though," the blue haired girl answered honestly.
A few minutes later Arya and Nasuada said their goodbyes and left. Aksel walked off, murmuring something about seeing someone about a dog. Eragon just shook his head and motioned for Saphira not to ask.
Outside the October wind continued to howl.
Eragon sighed. At least he didn't have problems sleeping anymore. That still didn't mean that he didn't want to meet Murtagh ever again, even if he had somehow made it possible for him to sleep again.
"You need to lighten up a bit," Saphira said and sat down beside him. "Just think that in less than three months, all of this will be over."
"Sure, the pregnancy bit will be," Eragon drawled. "But that's when the whole 'shit, I'm a father!' part starts. And let's not forget that I need to stay away from the bloyean even more! Stupid prick!"
Saphira sighed softly. She gently caressed his arm while her other hand softly ran through his hair. Eragon could feel the tension slowly slip away.
"Just take one day at a time. You'll just feel worse if you worry too much about the future."
Eragon sighed again. She was right; he knew that. But even so, it didn't stop him from worrying.
Saphira opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the beeping of her cell phone. She frowned and pulled it out.
"It's Thorn," she bit her lip and answered the call. "Hello?"
Eragon watched as her eyes widened. Her eyes flickered around in the room, staring particularly hard at the terrace entrance.
"Got it. Thank you," she hung up.
"Saph?"
Saphira just took hold of his arm and took off. Eragon kept up the best he could as she dragged him out of the room, down the hall and pushed him inside the room he nowadays referred to as his cell.
"What's going on?!" Eragon exclaimed.
"It's Murtagh," she gulped. "Thorn called and said that he had taken off. He's here!"
Eragon felt his heart stop.
"No. No, no, no, no, no," Eragon muttered under his breath. "He, he can't be!"
Saphira closed the door firmly and sent him a desperate look. Eragon felt sick. He sat down on his bed, pulled his legs to his chest and wrapped his arms around them.
"I will have to let Brom know, and Aksel if he's still around. Actually, we need to hide him," Saphira cursed. "We have no idea what Murtagh will do if he recognizes Aksel as a chimera!"
Eragon tried to keep himself from shaking.
"You just stay here, alright? Do not leave this room under any circumstances. I will be back or send Aksel to you, okay?" she looked at him.
Eragon just nodded. Saphira was out of the room in a flash and closed the door behind her.
The brunet could feel the panic setting in. Why was this happening?! Why couldn't Murtagh just leave him alone?!? He bit his lip and willed himself not to cry.
::OBSESSION::
Saphira was trying hard not to panic. She had found Aksel wandering out of the bathroom and had sent him to Eragon's room. It hadn't taken much persuasion; just the mention of the vampire's name had made Aksel turn around and run in the direction she had come. She thanked whatever Gods had possessed him with the ability of being serious when he needed to be.
"Saphira?" Brom asked her as he stepped out of his study.
They were still in the hallway that ended in the living room and kitchen area. There were other rooms in that direction as well, like the library and Brom's bedroom. Saphira was immensely relieved that Brom hadn't decided to stay in that end. She feared what she would see if she looked out of the terrace entrance again.
"It's Murtagh," she licked her lips. "He's here."
Brom's face darkened instantly.
"Is he here for Eragon?"
"Doubtfully," Saphira answered. "I mean, not in a mate kind of situation. Thorn updates me on his task. So far Murtagh's still very against having a mate. I don't know why he's here, but he's not getting Eragon either way."
Brom nodded. He muttered words under his breath, but she was only able to catch a few of them. The few she recognized were not pleasant.
"Eragon is in his room?" the older man asked.
"And Aksel's with him."
Brom nodded gravely. He closed the door behind himself and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. Saphira's eyes widened when she saw tattoo markings. Brom had not only been a rider, but a very powerful one at that. Or else he would not have markings like the ones he had. Saphira examined them for a moment. Most of them were related to magic, but not the same kind that magicians wore. She was once again reminded that Brom had fought in a war.
"Then let's go and meet him," Brom said darkly.
Saphira nodded. Brom walked in front of her, and while he opened the door, she activated her vision. That vampire was not going to sneak up on them.
She gasped when she saw him. She had never really seen Murtagh up close, at least not while he was well. The only time she had gotten a glimpse of him was...she shook her head. It didn't matter. It was the first time she was fully able to see the proud tilt of his jaw and the colour of his eyes. She shuddered mentally.
If there was one word to describe him, it would be deadly.
She opened her mouth to let Brom know, but the old man was already walking towards the glass doors and was unlocking them. He threw them open and glared out.
"We know that you're there," he growled.
Saphira walked him behind him, never keeping her eyes off the dark form that was slowly stepping out of the shadows.
Murtagh had a lot of guts, trespassing like he was currently doing. When the light shone on his face, she was able to see the arrogant smirk. Not only did he have guts, he didn't care that what he was doing could be potentially dangerous.
"Murtagh Morzansson," Brom growled darkly. "You have a lot of guts trespassing on my ground."
"An eye for an eye, old man," Murtagh said and tilted his head. "You've trespassed on my ground twice in the past."
"The difference is that you know what you're doing."
Murtagh just smirked.
"If you're here for Eragon, you'll be sorely disappointed," Brom said darkly.
"Why? I know he's in there," Murtagh licked his lips and laughed. "And you're a fool to think that you can keep me out."
Brom stepped out of the doorway. The planks under him creaked slightly. Saphira remained standing in his place, to ensure that Murtagh wouldn't get inside if he somehow got past Brom.
"I can and I will," the older man smirked. "You will not step into my house and live, Morzansson."
"I recall you saying the same to my father," Murtagh drawled. "But in the end, it wasn't you who made sure that he didn't. No, it was me. I think I deserve something in return, don't you?"
"You're already made Eragon's life a living hell," Saphira snarled. "We will not let you come near him again."
Murtagh looked at her. It felt like her insides froze when her eyes met his. Even if they were hazel, they could just as well have been black; they were cold and radiated death.
"Oh really?" Murtagh actually looked amused. "Don't be so sure of that."
"Turn around and go back, Morzansson," Brom said coldly. "You will not enter my house tonight or any other day you might see fit to return."
Murtagh yawned. Saphira flinched at the sight of his teeth.
"You're only trying to delay the inevitable," the vampire smirked. "That boy will be mine."
"You will find that to be a difficult task," Brom said and chuckled. "You might even find that to be an impossible task."
Murtagh raised an eyebrow. He did not look convinced.
"Even if you only thirst for his blood, others lust for the boy himself," Brom crossed his arms. "Are you willing to rip him out of the arms of a fiercely protective mate as well as myself and a hydra?"
Saphira gasped. What was Brom trying to do!? She hurriedly redirected her gaze back to Murtagh. He had tilted his head forward, his long bangs falling over his eyes.
"Then so be it," Murtagh said darkly. "For that boy will be mine."
Saphira nearly stumbled when she saw his dark and shimmering eyes. She blinked and he was gone. Before her, Brom sighed and walked back inside. She watched him with wide eyes as he closed the doors and locked them tightly.
"Sir?"
"You never fight fire with water, Saphira. You always fight fire with fire," Brom told her softly and laid a hand on her shoulder. "But I think you should check on Eragon."
Her instincts won over her curiosity. In a flash, she had turned and was running to her friend.
::OBSESSION::
Thorn was pacing up and down the room. He knew he could have just as easily tracked Murtagh down, but he knew that he wouldn't arrive in time to make a difference. So therefore he had called Saphira the minute had noticed and had started to prepare some ass-kicking for his rider when he came back.
Thorn ran his hands over his face. If Murtagh had done something, oh, he would kill him! No, killing was too mild. He would skin him, slaughter him, drain him and then maybe he'd be merciful enough to kill him.
The creaking in the floor alerted him of someone's presence. Thorn stiffened and turned around. Murtagh raised an eyebrow. Thorn growled.
"Where were you?"
"Nowhere," Murtagh rolled his eyes and walked calmly in the direction of his bedroom.
Thorn was before him in a flash. He snarled angrily. Murtagh blinked.
"What's wrong with you?" Murtagh drawled.
"You're what's wrong with me," Thorn narrowed his eyes. "I believe you swore that you wouldn't go near Saphira's rider. What the fuck, Murtagh?!"
"Che," the vampire crossed his arms over his chest. "So I lied. What's the big deal?"
"The big deal is that I'm not going to let you kill him!!" the redhead roared.
"Who said anything about killing him?"
"Murtagh, I know you," Thorn hissed. "You want to kill him. I can see it in your eyes, for fucks sake!"
"Just what exactly do you see?" Murtagh tilted his head.
"I see the bloodlust, you demented psycho. They're black again, in case you didn't realise that," Thorn snapped.
Murtagh blinked in seemingly genuine surprise. He let out a snort and blinked again. Thorn felt a little more at ease when they turned hazel.
It didn't mean he wasn't still mad at him, though.
"What did you do, you freak?" the hydra growled. "Why did you do it?!"
"One question at a time," Murtagh yawned. "What I did? I believe you already know what I did. And why? I believe you know that too."
"Why, why are you obsessed with Eragon?" Thorn snarled angrily. "He's no different than any other kid out there!"
"Hardly," Murtagh snorted. "One; he's a rider. Two; he has the sweetest blood I've ever tasted. Pure addiction."
Thorn glared at him. Murtagh smirked.
"And I want more."
Thorn made sure to keep his heart beat steady. He had never heard such words uttered from Murtagh's lips before. It had always been 'they were fun; I wanted to play with them a little more' or 'I was interrupted, and you know how I don't like to leave things unfinished' before. Thorn really didn't like what he was hearing.
It also made him wonder if Murtagh knew whose blood he had been fed for so long.
"You're not getting him," Thorn told him darkly. "I won't let you."
Murtagh rolled his eyes.
"Thorn, I will have that boy, even if I have to go through you too," he told him bluntly.
Before Thorn could reply, Murtagh had slipped around him and was walking away. Thorn spun around and grabbed hold of the vampire before he could go any further.
"What?"
Murtagh glared at him.
"That boy will be mine," Murtagh hissed. "And I don't care who I have to go through to get him. Be it you, that old man, Saphira or even his mate. I will have him."
Thorn froze. What the hell? What had happened at Brom's place?
"Eragon's mate?" he had to ask.
"Yes," Murtagh drawled. "Didn't Saphira tell you? I do believe he has one now. Oh well, one more person for me to kill. What fun."
Thorn could only watch Murtagh twist his arm out of Thorn's hold and slip into his room. Thorn frowned.
Murtagh had sounded calm and collected, he had heard as much. But his eyes, they told another story. They had been black.
The hydra stalked out of the house and started to dial Saphira's number, half of his conscious on the house as he did so. Murtagh was not slipping away from him again.
::OBSESSION::
Murtagh slipped out of the window and jumped up on the roof. It was difficult to find a decent spot to sit, but once he found one, he could watch and listen in on Thorn in peace.
It was time he learned what was going on.
"Saphira, what the hell's going on!?" Thorn hissed.
Ah, so he had been right. Thorn was in touch with Saphira, and by the sound of it, they had only gotten closer since the last time. Interesting.
"He what?!" Thorn exclaimed quietly.
That was most likely Saphira telling Thorn how he had promised to get to Eragon at all costs. Though that didn't fit; Thorn already knew that. Maybe Saphira had mentioned how he had treated the old man?
"I'm going to kill him," the hydra growled angrily and started to pace.
Murtagh was almost tempted to give Thorn the green light. It would be interesting to see how he would try to do just that. Killing a vampire was no easy task; you had to know just where to hit and what to do. Murtagh had had to look it up himself. Even if Morzan had been weakened, he hadn't been about to take any chances. A nine year old against a thirty-something year old would have looked even less promising otherwise.
"How's Eragon doing? I swear, if Murtagh did something..."
Murtagh froze. It was understandable that Brom knew his name; he had stumbled across Murtagh and his father more than once, but Thorn was using it so freely! Like it wasn't the first time he was using it around Saphira.
This did not bode well.
"Good, that's good," Thorn sighed. "No complications or anything?"
Complications? Murtagh frowned. What the hell was Thorn talking about?
"Good...No, he's back now," the hydra ran a hand through his hair. "And he's acting weird, Saphira."
Weird, huh?
"Yes, weird! Like..." Thorn paused, glaring back at the house. "Say, you wouldn't happen to notice the colour of his eyes when you left did you?"
Murtagh frowned when Thorn nodded, looking as if he had been expecting the answer. What? Was Thorn implying that his eyes had been dark when he had left Brom's grounds?
"Just as I thought. I think..." he paused. "Well-"
Saphira must have interrupted him to have paused in such a place. Murtagh scowled. He wanted to know what Thorn thought!
"Yes, exactly."
What?!
"But if that's the case, you need to move on to plan B," Thorn said gravely.
There had been a plan A? Murtagh did not like sound of this. Thorn was on their side; that much was plainly obvious. But for what reason? Thorn would never deceive him unless it was for a very good reason. And Murtagh did not think that courting Saphira was a good enough reason; even in Thorn's mind that would sound weak. So, what was it?
"Alright. Contact me if anything happens, I don't care what time it is," Thorn said and slouched slightly. "Yeah, I miss you too."
Murtagh gagged. Alright, the conversation was obviously over. He slipped down the roof and landed softly on the ground. Then he slipped back inside the house and lied down on the bed.
He scowled up at the roof. What the fuck was going on? Murtagh wouldn't rest until he found it out.
::OBSESSION::
Eragon watched as Saphira entered the room again, putting away her phone and sighing as she did so.
"Saph?"
She walked slowly back to his side. She had walked out of the room the minute her phone had rung. And even out there, she had talked so softly that Aksel hadn't been able to hear what had been said. And since Aksel was a half-elf that meant that she had spoken in a tone that was almost lower than a whisper.
"Well, he's back with Thorn now," she said tiredly.
"Fuckin' prick," Aksel growled. "You know, I ought to just go for Eragon just to upset the dude!"
"Aksel, despite what we may say; we like you. Please don't sign your own death sentence like that," Saphira said and sat down beside Eragon on the bed.
Aksel rolled his eyes. While Saphira sat on the edge closest to the door, he sat on the other side. He continued to lightly tap his foot against the floor as he looked up at the ceiling. The foot barely made a sound as it hit the floor, thankfully. If it had though, Eragon would have killed Aksel in a nervous rage ages ago.
"The jerkwat doesn't even deserve Eragon," the blond male grumbled.
Eragon bit his lip. It was nice to hear that people cared about him.
"We all agree, but..." Saphira shook her head. "It doesn't matter. Thorn gave me some bad news, though."
Eragon felt his heart leap into his throat. He didn't know how much more bad news he could take.
"Murtagh knows that something's going on," the blue haired girl clenched her hands in her lap. "He was eavesdropping on our conversation. Thorn made sure he didn't hear anything vital, though."
The brunet put his head in his hands. Great, bloody great.
"Also, it seems that while Murtagh's consciously denying the bond, his unconsciousness is accepting it," Saphira bit her lip. "He's acting jealous and possessive."
"Great," Eragon drawled. "That's just what we need."
"It is!" Saphira exclaimed and took his hands in hers. "If we can somehow get him to accept the bond, then you don't have to live in fear anymore. The child would have their father too."
Eragon looked down.
"You know just as well as I do that Murtagh's not going to accept it anytime soon."
Saphira tightened her grip around his hands momentarily.
"He thinks you're mated to someone else," she said quietly.
Aksel made a loud choking sound. Eragon snapped his head up and stared at her.
"Brom said it, not me," Saphira pursed her lips. "And when he said it, Murtagh got all tense and his eyes changed. Thorn also told me that when the colour didn't fade until Murtagh consciously willed it away. He wasn't even aware of it! And then, afterwards, while Murtagh said he wants to, um, kill you; he said that he wanted you for himself. Somewhere inside of him something's breaking free, and it's you it wants."
"See, that's not comforting me in any way," Eragon told her bluntly. "In fact, what do you think about moving to Surda?"
"Oh, Eragon," Saphira sighed. "As a vampire Murtagh will probably always want to kill you; it's in his nature. But as your mate, he'll want to protect you far more than he wants to kill you. But -"
"No, let me guess; he just doesn't know it yet?" Eragon drawled.
Saphira just smiled.
Eragon groaned and flopped down on the bed. He found a pillow and buried his face in it.
"Kill me, and kill me now," he moaned.
"Thorn's going to keep a good eye on Murtagh from now on, though. Thorn isn't actually sure how Murtagh managed to slip away, but he's not going to let him do it again," Saphira's voice had hardened. "And from now on, Eragon, you're not going out into the living room."
"WHAT?!"
"She's right," Aksel piped up. "The dude's here and he's thirsting for your blood. We're not going to put it on display for him, especially now."
"If he somehow, God forbid, gets to you Eragon, call for me," Saphira said and wretched the pillow away from his face. "And when I say call, I mean call."
Eragon nodded. He knew what she meant. Besides, if his lungs somehow gave out, it was easier to shout mentally anyway.
"Now, are you still hungry for some dinner?" Saphira stood up.
Eragon shook his head. He doubted he'd be able to keep anything down.
"Okay. Aksel, you stay here until I come back. I need to talk to Brom."
Aksel nodded eagerly. When Saphira walked out, he pulled his legs to him and turned, facing Eragon more properly.
"You sure you're okay, though? I mean, this has been a pretty shitty day..."
The brunet sighed. He pushed himself up and rearranged his sweater.
"I'm not okay, Aksel, and I doubt I'll be for a long time," he sighed. "I just...there are times when I wish he was dead. But who am I kidding? There's no fucking way to kill a vampire."
"Of course there is!" Aksel rolled his eyes and snorted.
Eragon stared at him in shock. There was? Brom had never told him that.
"Yeah? Do you know how? Tell me!!"
"Whoa there, Eragon," Aksel said and put his hands on Eragon's shoulders. "I'm not gonna tell you how to kill your mate."
"What if I find myself in a position where I have to?" Eragon countered.
Aksel winced. He looked over Eragon's shoulder and his fingers drummed against Eragon's shoulders as he thought.
"Nah, sorry dude, I'm not gonna do it," Aksel shrugged and let go. "For one, I don't know every detail and two; it's not something I want you to carry on your shoulders. So, for now, all I'll say is that it can be done."
"No kidding," Eragon muttered darkly. "Or Murtagh wouldn't have been able to kill his father."
Aksel didn't comment.
"And if a pre-teen can know how, then so can I," the brunet growled and glared Aksel in the eyes.
The chimera shook his head sadly and crossed his arms. Silence stretched on around them, broken only by the soft sounds of their breathing.
::OBSESSION::
The night had fallen long ago. He hadn't left the house until he had been sure that Thorn had fallen asleep. And even then he had been sure not to make a sound as he left.
Murtagh sat in a tree facing the house, shielded by the few leaves it still carried and the darkness of the night. He closed his eyes and inhaled.
He could count four separate heartbeats, one distinctly smaller than the others. He brushed it off to be a pet of some kind. Most humans had pets these days; the disgusting creatures.
Murtagh jumped down from the tree and walked up to the house. He had no intention of breaking in; not tonight anyway. No, for tonight he just wanted to stake it out.
He had heard of vampires that were fascinated by humans. Personally, he found them uninteresting and just disgusting. They claimed his kind to be vile while they feasted on processed foods and inorganic things? Hypocrites. At least what he ate was organic.
And yet, he had been interested by a boy. A boy that on the outside looked as uninteresting as can be. Sure, Murtagh recognized traits that could describe Eragon as cute or attractive, but that was it. He was just another human. Or rather, he was just another human rider. To think that someone like Eragon was one of the privileged few to have a bond so special like a hydra/human bond. Amazing.
Murtagh chose to ignore that he was one of two proven vampires have had a hydra by their side since the beginning of time. He found that rather overdramatic; he was sure there were more.
He stopped his train of thoughts as he came to a stop. He had checked inside every window; and not one of the rooms had hosted Eragon. Interesting. They most likely kept him inside a windowless room. Murtagh sniggered. As if that could stop him.
He strolled to the back of the house; where he had been standing just hours ago quarrelling with none other than Brom Teller. Murtagh found it ironic that he had sought out the one man that could positively identify him; the one man he had fled from just a few months ago.
There was something interesting about Brom as well. Murtagh had seen him a handful of times in his childhood, and it was enough to make him wonder in the present. He could still remember Morzan's face the first time Brom had stumbled upon them. Morzan had never been quite the same again.
Back then Murtagh hadn't recognized the signs, but he did now. He wondered if Brom knew. Maybe, maybe not. It didn't really matter. It wouldn't have changed Murtagh's actions.
He felt a shiver run through him. Odd, that hadn't happened before. Murtagh raised a hand and laid it over his heart; his cold and still heart. And to think that even though it couldn't be felt; the heart pumped blood through his body. Murtagh knew; he had seen it in person. The heart of a vampire did beat; just too softly and slowly for others to notice.
A noise woke Murtagh from his thoughts. He jumped back into the shadows. He didn't need to strain his eyes to see what was happening inside the house, he was a creature of the night after all. A light had come on in the living room, but just the one. Most likely it was just someone coming to get something from the kitchen. Murtagh snorted and turned to leave.
But then he saw him; he saw Eragon.
Murtagh licked his lips. Never mind what he had thought before; Eragon was beautiful. And that was just why he had to have him; even if that meant killing him later. Fate was cruel after all.
He ached to step forward, to claim Eragon now, but he knew couldn't. He would without a doubt be noticed before he could come close enough. What a shame.
He turned to leave again when he noticed something else. Eragon's shirt, it seemed to fall strangely over his stomach as he stood in profile. Murtagh frowned. He watched as the brunet walked into the kitchen and disappeared. Thirty or so seconds later he came back, wiping the back of his hand over his mouth. No doubt Eragon had had something to drink.
Murtagh felt his eyes widen when Eragon's hand stroked his stomach and a half-smile bloomed on his face. Then Eragon walked across the living room and back through the door he had come. The lights flickered off.
Murtagh realised it now. He wondered how he could have been so naïve. It all fit now.
Eragon was pregnant.
And there was going to be hell to pay.
A/N I am evil, I know :laughs: But forgive me, please. I think the next chapter actually doesn't end in a cliffhanger, so if I can tempt you guys with that? :sweatdrop:
Since my beta Illyric is ill, I have asked dragonrider713 to take over temporarily. She was kind enough to do me that huge favour. Her kindness will be rewarded, mark my words. Hehe. The next chapter will therefore be beat'ed by her. I'm not sure when that will be posted, but hopefully in April sometime. But in the meantime, I'm going to try to get out DLG. The only reason I haven't posted this story yet is because I've been oh so lazy :sweatdrop: And busy, of course. Oh well.
But let's focus on this chapter. Um...what to say? Hmm. I apologise for the blood-fixation in this. You know, with the AB- comments and such. But AB- is a pretty rare blood type, so Murtagh has every reason to be suspicious.
And...that's about it, really. Good day to you all!
Andelan Vocabulary:
Ghalack – A swear word. Means "bastard"
Bloyean – The word for "vampire"