Unusual Happenings

Vilkas was getting worried. Garret was getting worse with every hour.

"I'm going to lose him."

"I can help." Serana said quietly. "Vampires are immune to poison. I'm going to try to filter out the poison."

"And if that fails?"

"I'll turn him."

"He won't last three days!"

"I'm a pure blooded vampire. It won't take three days."

Vilkas growled.

"Get out."

"Serana?" Garret asked. Serana brushed past Vilkas and knelt besides the bed.

"Hold on. I'm going to try to filter out the will hurt."

Garret cried out hoarsely as Serana bit down in his throat. After ten minutes, she pulled away. "Forgive me for this." She whispered. Then she bit down hard and Garret wailed. He seized and half hour later, Vilkas could smell the change in his mate. Serana wasn't done yet. She was chanting a spell, and held a vial to Garret's lips. Then Garret's eyes opened.

"What?"

"Sorry about the taste. Still haven't figured out how to disguise it. That potion suppresses most of the physical changes of vampirism. Your eye color, the size of your fangs, even the thirst."

"Side effects?"

"Harder to cure it. But the effects are permanent."

"So he just looks human." Vilkas growled. Garret sat up.

"She saved my life."

"By turning you into a filthy blood sucker."

Garret glared at Vilkas.

"Considering that both lycanthropy and vampirism are "gifts" from drastic lords and they damn the foolish humans that take them, you have no room to talk." Aela snickered.

"Don't think that I won't hesitate to end you."

"I'm not afraid of you. And if this is my fate, I have to accept that. Have you? Can you?" Garret asked. He didn't think Vilkas was serious but he wasn't going to take the risk. He hoped he would be reasonable.

Vilkas sighed. Of course, Garret was right, but he was never going to admit it.

"Now that you're well, I want you to get out of my room." Skjor shook his head as Garret got up and paused.

"Can the ladies leave the room please?"

"Garret, there isn't a part of your body that I haven't seen." Aela said, snickering when Garret blushed. Vilkas was surprised by the light pink flush across Garret's cheeks.

"It shouldn't be possible for a vampire to blush. That was some spell, Serana." Skjor said.

"Come on, Aela. Let's give Garret some privacy."

Vilkas handed over a stack of clothing.

"I'll have Tilma draw a bath for you."

"I'd appreciate it."

"I'll be back."

Garret swung his legs over the edge of the bed. He was still weak, and his physical injuries still hurt, but he was sure he'd be fine with rest. He took a minute to examine the wounds. They were still raw.

"Danica did all she could. The poison prevented her from healing it more. Serana went to get a healing potion. Want help?"

"Why are you being so nice?"

"Skjor and Aela."

"Two of the scariest companions."

Vilkas chucked.

"Yes." Vilkas wrapped the blanket around his shoulders and helped him to the washroom.

"Thank you."

"We need to discuss the mating bond."

"I know what needs to happen. To solidify it, we need to have sex. Can we wait on that."

"Skjor says that we have a month."

"That's enough time."

AN: So Serana mentioned that she was learning alchemy and necromancy from her mother and I got to thinking that she's actually brilliant judging by her magic wielding. The spell was two parts and is my own work. The potion followed by the chanting let Garret keep his eye color, his nose remained smooth and his fangs are retractable. His skin is still pale but not the "afraid of the sun" pale which explains the blushing.