Chapter 9
Donatello was glad that both Leonardo and Raphael were feeling better. At least Leonardo was. It had been a few days since the goddess had put them on bed rest. And Donatello was thankful that was over. Leonardo was still surly and angry, but at least the lair was quieter now that he and the goddess weren't fighting over keeping him in bed. Raphael was better for a few days until he had another violent nightmare, then it was back to square one. The goddess didn't seen too overly surprised about the outcome, which meant she knew that Raphael's body would not heal until his nightmares stopped. Which meant that Raphael was livid at the moment. He had of course sought out the sanctuary of his workroom, and thus far no one had bothered him.
He looked at the clock and realized that it was approaching midnight. He stretched but didn't feel tired, or rather he was so tired he was awake. He slumped down in his chair.
"Still up Donatello?" The goddess said as she walked into the room. He felt himself flush with excitement as a surge of adrenalin burst through him.
"Uh...yeah." Was all he had managed to answer. He was beginning to get tongue tied around her and he found it extremely annoying especially when his brothers all seemed to be able to talk with her easily, or fight as the case may be. The only time he felt comfortable was when he was talking about whatever it was he was working on. She picked up a gun that was laying on his workbench. He had grabbed two of them the last time they had battled the Purple Dragons. They were broken but he had managed to fix them. He had been more curious how they worked than of ever having any intention of using them. "Be careful with that, it's a high grade pulse beam. Basically can pretty much blast a really big hole in the wall."
She looked at the gun speculatively. She didn't really seem that interested in technology. She was extremely intelligent, but when it came down to anything more complicated than switching on a computer she was lost. He was used to being the only one who understood anything to do with computers, or technology in general or even science, but with her she could learn. If he explained something to her, she was able to process it and remember. It was peculiar the way she almost accumulated knowledge, processing and storing it almost like a computer. When he had asked her what the technology was like on her world she had laughed and said she was still waiting for them to invent indoor plumbing. Then she had put an elbow on his workbench and said, "My world is like a cross between a giant D&D game, with me as the dungeon master and Lord of the Rings."
But then he would get confused because according to her the last time she had been on Earth was during the early nineteenth century, but she was familiar with not only all of the latest technology, but she knew movies, music and books that had just been released, but she had already either read them, heard them, or seen them. When they had asked her how she had smiled and said it was a long story and left it at that. She put the gun back on the bench and leaned over his shoulder to see what he was working on. His heart started beating faster and his concentration slipped. He had begun soldering a computer chip into place and he burnt himself. "Ouch!" He yelped shaking his hand as he looked at the burn.
It wasn't that bad but the goddess gently took his hand in hers. "Sorry I guess that was my fault for distracting you. Luckily it's not too bad." Then she smiled and kissed his finger. He leapt up from his chair and backed away from her.
"Yes, um..thank you, it'll be fine." He said heart pounding in his chest, his face over warm from blushing. She smiled a half smile leaned against his workbench and crossed her arms. Suddenly all expression left her face and she almost seemed to grow paler. She uncrossed her arms and stood up straight. "What's the matter?" He asked concerned. But she just shook her head and left the room. He looked at the empty doorway in confusion. Then he felt guilty. Maybe he had hurt her feelings by jumping up like that, it was just she made him feel...he liked her, more than liked her, but Raphael liked her as well, but he didn't know her feelings. She seemed to like Raphael back and spent the most time with him, and oddly enough Leonardo, if you could call fighting spending time with someone. But then they were the two who seemed to require the most attention from her. On the other hand she seemed to flirt with them all equally, but he wasn't sure if it was out of some sort of habit, or if she really did feel something towards them. As these thoughts ran through his head he stood up determined to apologize. He would just tell her how he felt, which filled him with trepidation, but then he wouldn't be constantly thinking in circles, and he would finally know if he had a chance, or if she preferred Raphael.
He found her sitting against the wall in the living room. She was breathing quickly almost as if she were hyperventilating. A silent scream was ripped from her mouth as she doubled over in pain. He ran over to her kneeling by her side. She looked up at him in shock which slowly turned to horror. "What's wrong?" He asked fear and worry in his voice.
"Donatello, listen to me walk, do not run back to your lab and close the door, alright?" She said voice strained. Instead he picked her up and took her back to the lab. He hit the switch with his elbow that locked the doors. He put her on his worktable. "Donatello what do you think you are doing!" She managed to choke out through another wave of pain.
"You're in pain, a lot of it, I'm going to see if I can figure out what's wrong. I want you to..." But she grabbed his arm as he had tried to turn away.
"Donatello, I know what is wrong with me. I was trying to get you away from me so I wouldn't hurt you." She growled.
"Then what's..." And he stopped. She had been hurt, badly and had told Leonardo that she was cold because she didn't have enough blood in her body to keep herself warm. They had even discussed if she had been going out and feeding while they were eating, but it had slipped his mind to ask her. But it was obvious now that she hadn't been feeding. "You haven't been eating." He said voice hollow. He wasn't sure whether to be relieved or horrified.
"No." She said softly.
"But...you fed on us without killing us, if you needed blood why not..." Feed on the humans, even to him that sounded wrong.
"I can't feed on human blood Donatello. Believe me if it were that easy I would have already done it." She said tiredly. Another wave of pain struck her as she doubled over.
"Then...then." Realization struck him. He waited until the pain passed. "You need the blood of..."
"Magical creatures. And so far you four are the only creatures with any magical power that I have found." She said softly looking away from him.
"Creatures huh?" He said the thought out loud and then could have hit himself. It was not the time, but at least he now knew how the goddess felt about them. To her they were probably the freaks of nature they thought themselves. He had been a fool to ever think that a woman as beautiful as her could ever be even remotely attracted to a creature like him.
"Yes creatures. I am the goddess of magical creatures Donatello, I am as much a creature as you are." She said with a half smile. He looked at her in shock. Could she really think of them in that way? Her body began to glow, her eyes becoming a luminous green. "Donatello please go now before I end up taking your blood and hurting you.." She said through clenched teeth.
"No. If you need blood then take some of mine." He said looking at her.
She shook her head. "I don't want to end up hurting you Donatello. What if I can't stop, I don't want to kill you, I care about you too much to risk it." She said touching his face. Her touch was gentle and full of promise.
"And I care about you too much to see you suffer like this when there is no need. You should have told us, we could have..."
"What fed me?" She questioned. "Leonardo distrusts me enough without me telling him that I need to use you all as a food source to repair the damage the Syna inflicted."
"You saved Raph's life, and Leo's, we still owe you." He said conviction in his voice.
"You see it that way, Leonardo does not. If he found out you even offered..." Donatello shook his head and stood between her legs.
"Then we don't tell him until he gets his head out of his ass." He said angrily. He was furious that she had been in this much pain for a month all because Leonardo was acting like an distrustful jerk.
"Donatello," She said shaking her head. But he grabbed her face with his hands.
In the back of his mind he revelled in the feel of her velvety skin. "Do it, I know you won't hurt me. I trust you." He said to her. She pushed herself off his workbench. He backed up. She took a hold of his hand as she led him to his chair. She sat him down. He looked at her with confusion. She then straddled him, putting her arms around his neck. His breath caught in his throat. Her eyes were half closed as she looked at him. She leaned towards his neck and it took all of his control not to tense up.
"You have to promise not to tell your other brothers either, especially not Raphael. He already has too much to bear." Donatello felt his heart constrict. She did have feelings for Raphael.
"You care for him." He said voice oddly devoid of emotion.
"Yes." She whispered in his ear. "As I care for you Donatello." He managed to look at her face in confusion. She was looking at him with lust filled eyes. Her pupils glinted red in the light. She leaned into him and whispered, "I will try not to kill you." Then he felt the scrape of teeth, a stab of pain, followed by a torrent of pleasure. He gripped her tightly as wave after wave crashed into him. Her body was pressed against him, the feel of her skin against his own was like the sweetest ambrosia to his senses. The smell of her washed over him as she pulled from him a final wracking wave of pleasure. A groan of release was ripped from his lips. She finally pulled away but he noticed the red glint had not yet left her eyes. She put her forehead against his, eyes still glinting red. She had grabbed his shell and he heard it creak. She let go of it and seemed to struggle with herself. Finally the red glint disappeared and she looked at him concerned. "Are you okay?" She whispered.
"Um.." He tried to pull his brain out of the pleasure filled pool it was presently floating in.
"I didn't hurt you did I? You aren't seeing little black spots are you?" She asked concerned. He decided his tongue wasn't working so he just shook his head negative to both questions. When she went to move he held her still. When she had bit him within the chamber it had felt good, but not this good. He was trying to get his breathing under control. He looked down at himself. It wouldn't be long before she would be able to see the wet spot on his jeans. A blush flooded his face. "You placed yourself in a very dangerous position Donatello." She whispered to him.
He could agree with that. In a few minutes time he had went from barely able to form a coherent sentence around her, to having her sitting in his lap. "Yes." He said but he didn't think they had the same reasons for thinking this. "How much more blood do you need?" He asked trying to get his mind off of the fact her body was pressed against his.
"More than you could ever hope to feed me and still live." She said with a grim smile.
"Then I will give you what I can." He said to her touching her face. She nodded, got off him and pulled him to his feet. He wavered a little and she put his arm around her. "Your eyes glinted red." He said to her. He needed to know the signs of her needing blood besides her doubling over in pain. "And your body began to glow."
"My body and eyes glow when I get ready to feed, it is almost like a glamour that is thrown over my victim, making me irresistible to turn away or run from. If you look into my eyes you are caught. I can of course control the glamour, it is what enables me to control the amount of pleasure or pain my bite can cause. The red glint is an indication of my Blood Lust. Once my body reaches the point where it needs blood that badly it causes me great pain. I have been ignoring this pain and my Blood Lust has been growing worse. When my Blood Lust rides me it is harder for me to control the amount of blood I take as well as stopping myself from killing during it. Sometimes I have to change the desire to kill into a different desire." Donatello blushed. "You need to promise me you will not tell your brothers of this" She bit her tongue, blood welled in her mouth as she leaned into his neck and licked the bite marks. He felt his neck tingle and he reached up and felt his healed flesh.
"I promise." He said with reluctance, suddenly getting a feeling that this was a decision he shouldn't have made so lightly."Goddess?" He asked.
"Yes?" She asked as he managed to be able to stand without her assistance. He looked into ancient eyes and he realized he couldn't ask her what her feelings towards him were. Not yet. Instead he grabbed her and held her, enjoying the feeling of her. Instead he asked "Is the pain gone?" She paused before she answered. "The pain has lessened." She said finally.
"So it is not gone. Please let me tell..." He began.
"Donatello, I have already told you my reasons. But I should also not put you in the position of lying to your family either. If one of your brother's should ask you may tell them, but only if they ask." He nodded and had to be content. She may change her mind. "You had better get to bed Donatello." He let her go and he walked to his bedroom. He changed, lay down in his bed and fell into a restless sleep where dreamt of a body that felt like cool silk that slipped through his grasp.
The next morning Donatello awoke feeling more frustrated than he had ever felt in his life. His body burned with need which he found extremely uncomfortable and annoying. He could hear voices coming from the kitchen, which he avoided and headed straight for the bathroom where he had the coldest shower he could stand. As the water ran down his body he realized that he would have to talk to her. Her bite was too intimate to experience and not know how she felt about him. When she had bit him in the chamber it had not been nearly as intense. It had felt good, but it hadn't elicited the sheer physical response it had last night.
He reluctantly made it to the kitchen where Raphael and Michelangelo were sitting at the table while Leonardo was making breakfast. He didn't enter the kitchen yet, rather he watched from the corner of the wall. He didn't see the goddess, but he noticed that her mug was sitting out as Leonardo was heating water for her. She sat with them every morning holding Michelangelo's favourite mug. It was strange though because Leonardo was always the one who boiled and poured the water for her.
Raphael looked to be in an even worse mood than usual. Leonardo poured him a mug of tea and placed it in front of him. Raphael picked up the mug of tea and without warning stood up, turned and threw it in frustrated anger, screaming his rage, throwing the mug...right at the goddess. She was apparently as shocked by the outburst as everyone else. She managed to block the mug that sailed towards her head, but it shattered against her arm sending scalding tea and glass onto her face and arm. Raphael looked at her in horror as the scalding water produced angry red marks and the glass cut her face. A few pieces of the mug managed to imbed themselves into her arm. The silence in the kitchen was deafening as all were shocked into silence and immobility.
"Bad mood Raphael?" She asked calmly as she looked down at her arm and pulled out a rather large piece of white ceramic mug. Her burns began to heal and the blood on her face evaporated into a fine black mist. But her arm was still a bloodied mess that was not healing.
"I...I...didn't know you were there." Raphael whispered.
"Raphael!" Leonardo yelled at him. Both parties ignored Leonardo.
Donatello fought down the anger that threatened to overwhelm him as he walked angrily into the kitchen. Michelangelo had also stood up and was glaring at Raphael angrily. "So if you had have known I was there you would not have, in a fit of anger, thrown the mug at my head, instead you would have what thrown it somewhere else?" She didn't wait for Raphael to answer. "You could have seriously hurt someone Raphael, what if it had have been Donatello standing where I was instead, he could have been hurt all because you are having issues."
"Donny's not..." Raphael began. "What in the kitchen? He is standing right behind you, and was in the kitchen when I came in." Raphael looked over his shoulder and met Donatello's angry gaze. Raphael took two steps towards her. Her blood dripping to the floor disappearing into a fine mist as it hit. No one breathed.
She looked at her arm. "Well Raphael your aim is impeccable, you have managed to sever both major veins in my arm, and I cannot heal until I get all of the ceramic out, because I don't want to have to cut it all out later." She looked at Raphael. "I am upset because you could have hurt your brothers. I can heal such wounds, your brothers could after a time, but the point is that you have to control your frustration over the situation you find yourself in." She turned to walk away. Donatello could see Raphael gathering his anger around him like a defensive cloak.
"How would you even know what I have suffered through these past weeks?" He said in a low angry voice. She stilled. "Do you have any idea what it is like to be in almost constant pain day after day! To not even be able to do what you want to do because you can't. To not even be able to leave this damn place!" He shouted at her.
She turned around and faced him. Donatello's anger flared. How dare he even...but then he didn't know what she was suffering through. He had expected anger instead steady moss green eyes stared at him. She gave him a half smile."A rhetorical question does not need to be answered, since you already seem to know my answer." She looked down at her arm. "Do you guys have any tweezers anywhere?" She asked.
Leonardo angrily pushed past Raphael and led the goddess to Donatello's workroom. Raphael sat back down at the table under Michelangelo and Donatello's angry gaze. "I screwed up, I know." He said as he put his forehead against the table.
"You have no idea how bad Raph." Donatello said angrily.
"Understatement of the year Raph." Michelangelo said angrily.
"She'll never forgive me." He whispered. Devastation crossed Raphael's face. It was then that Donatello saw it. The thin cord of sanity that Raphael held onto was about to snap. If she turned away from him now, his mind would break. She was the only thing keeping him sane. Michelangelo and Donatello looked at each other both faces bearing the same look of pain that had nothing to do with anything physical. His brother needed her, but...so did he.
