A/N: I don't own anyone but my OC's…though I wished I owned the guys…*sighs*
The snow started to lighten as Dean rode harder towards town feeling his mount's hoofs pound hard against the ground. Something had driven him to mount up and face the harsh wrath of nature and towards town. He could feel….pain and suffering which was not his own. The vampire knew it was Brooklyn's as Alaric was hurting her, hurting her body and soul. The burning sensation started at his bottom then spread to the back of his thighs and it was then he had to stop as the agony burned to levels not even he could withstand. Even before he leapt off his horse, the tears were rolling down his face. His body slumped against the solid oak as the wind lifted and scattered his anguish cries.
Brooklyn sobbed in the pillows as Missouri was once again assuming the position of nurse. The older slave was internally disgusted with how cruel Alaric had been. The lashes across her back were red and irritated while the stitches had embedded deeper within her flesh. Infection loomed if Alaric didn't allow her to heal and it was that Missouri feared the most. Already hints of fever tingled across her skin. Missouri continued to run the cold cloth over her wounds then back in the water which was already a deep hue of crimson.
"Oh child," she whispered sadly. "You didn't deserve it this bad."
Her heart went out to Brooklyn as being Alaric's favorite also meant being his favorite to punish and hurt as well. Alaric stepped in with Adrian on his heels. The physician swallowed by a startled cry at the sight of the human slave. His rage had reached new boundaries this time and the victim was his slave.
"Fix her," Alaric said coldly without ever so much a glance over his shoulder. Adrian clutched his bag precariously to his chest and sat down across from Missouri. She watched the physician jump into action and pulled a syringe and small vial from his bag.
"Doctor Adrian what is that?" Missouri asked carefully.
"It is a very powerful antibiotic," he explained as he tightened the tourniquet around Brooklyn's limp arm. Adrian lightly flicked a finger forcing the thin blue vein to come forth and offer itself up for what he was about to give. Brooklyn didn't even wince at the needle piercing her skin and allowing the clear fluid to be pushed through. "I will have to return later to give the next dose."
The physician frowned as something caught his eye. Leaning down, he brushed back the strands of copper and put his hand to her forehead. "She has a fever," he looked up at Missouri and watched the slave pick the smaller human up with the slightest of ease and towards the bathroom. To Hell with what Alaric thought, the infection was taking hold of her body. Alaric sensed her heart was racing almost threatening to burst at times. The vampire realized he had gone too far with his abuse of the slave. He could only stand by and watch as Adrian and Missouri worked to keep the infection from taking total control of Brooklyn….Unless….
No, he vowed never to turn another human after Jenna. But he couldn't stand by and watch his prized possession slip through his fingers either. Alaric bid his time and waited until both had left and it would be then he did a little healing of his own.
The pain finally subsided within Dean's body and the vampire mounted back up still shaky all over. The snow stopped permitting him to see the outskirts of town ahead. He urged his horse on, feeling the stallion thunder across the open plain that surrounded town. He always did love this horse as Augustine had been his faithful mount since he was a colt. The large black horse pawed at the ground as they came to a stop in the main square. The cold didn't bother vampire or equine as they were the only ones about at the time.
"Dean!" The vampire looked up seeing Jessica approach on her roan mare.
"Jessica," Dean grabbed the reins as she hopped off. Her face was the picture of trepidation as she pulled him by the hand. "We need somewhere private as out here my brothers have spies."
Dean let her drag him into a small door which was a store house her family owned. She locked the door and closed the curtains leaving them in the dark. Jessica turned and faced her friend knowing the news she was about to give would upset him to say the least.
"Jess what is it?" Jessica bit down on her lip as she fought to find her voice. Dean looked down with wide anxious orbs as he waited for her to speak.
"William was visiting my brother," she blurted out. "It can't be good Dean."
"Did you hear anything they said? Did it concern Brooklyn? Please Jess if you heard anything…."
"No I didn't as they were in his chambers. But whatever it is it can't be good."
"When is anything concerning your brothers considered good?" Dean rolled his eyes.
"Dean this is serious," Jessica snapped. "Alaric is plotting something and it requires the captain of the guard's assistance."
"Easy Jess, I know this is serious," Dean paused before confiding in his old friend. "Dad's helping me."
"Your dad? Your dad, the same one who owns slaves, dad?" Jessica looked up with bewilderment.
"He told me about my mom. She was human, Jess. She was his soulmate."
Jessica covered her mouth at this revelation. "But your brother killed her after the bounty hunters found her and my dad."
She placed a hand on his shoulder and took him in her comforting embrace. "I didn't know Dean. I was a child and sent away until I was 18. I didn't know," she hiccupped back a sob for her friend. Dean gently pushed her back and sadly shook his head.
"Jess I don't blame you. I blame your brothers," he said with finality. "They destroyed my family and I'll be damned if Alaric keeps me away from Brooklyn."
"That's what I was hoping to hear," she grinned through her tears. "I will have my personal servant deliver a message in the guise of conducting errands for me. Alaric won't question it and neither will the other slaves. Nancy will come by tomorrow in the morning."
"Thanks Jess," he hugged her once again feeling hope return to his soul.
"What are friends for? Now if you can get that brother of yours to come out more often," she smiled at the thought of the younger brother.
"Who? Geek boy? Good luck getting him out of the library or study," Dean snorted.
"I'm sure if my name comes up he'll break away from those dusty old things."
Dean shrugged and left through the back door while Jessica went through the front, that way no one would suspect anything. He mounted Augustine and felt his faithful companion gallop towards home. He hoped Jessica could keep her spying secret as he feared for her safety if Alaric found out.
Adrian and Missouri had moved Brooklyn to the couch by the fire, hoping the warm gentle flames would make her more comfortable. A light blanket was draped over her naked body as she continued fighting the fever that now raged through her body. Adrian gave her another dose of antibiotics. The vampire couldn't help but to feel sadness for the lowly human. He didn't agree with the way Alaric treated the slaves, especially the red haired one, but he had seen what inciting his wrath would do. So he kept his thoughts to himself and continued to battle the infection inside her body.
"Missouri, keep cold cloths and packs on her body. I'm going to give her fluids," Adrian went to fetch his other supplies leaving the older woman to battle the searing heat of her body. Alaric stepped closer and knew he would have to leave sooner than later. He could help in the healing process on the way to the family estate.
"Master Alaric," Missouri said quietly. "The fever's devastating her body."
The vampire remained silent and looked down at the human.
"Missouri fetch more cold packs and water," Missouri stood and left leaving Alaric alone with the human. He sat down upon the foot stool and pulled a knife from his pants. His dark cold eyes watched the blade slice across his skin then waited for the blood to well to the surface. Turning the human's head, Alaric tilted his wrist letting the threadlike strands of scarlet gather then drop into her slightly agape mouth. He kept his wrist elevated over her mouth until the pale cherry hues of her lips were coated in thick warm crimson.
Alaric withdrew his wrist and licked the wound closed. The minute amount of blood would be enough to help her body's meager defenses fight off the infection. She was very weak but he could make the trip to Saint Louis comfortable for her until she was well. Missouri reentered several minutes later with fresh cloths and packs for her patient. She noticed Alaric standing over Brooklyn with his wrist at a strange angle. She wondered what happened in her absence as she approached.
"I have more cloths and packs Master Alaric," the vampire turned his head and nodded curtly. Missouri changed the water and dipped the freshly pressed linens in the bowl. He kept silent and slipped out his chambers and down the hall.
Ava caught the sight of the vampire alone and decided it was the time to tell him what she saw. The human slid out the door of the room she was cleaning and stopped in front of the vampire. Alaric glared down at the human as she looked up with innocent appearing eyes. His hands curled into two hard fists as his anger rushed towards the surface.
"Master Alaric, I observed your sister taking off in the snow towards town."
"She is my sister, she can do whatever she pleases," he huffed shoving the slave out of the way and marching down the hall. He didn't feel up to slapping or belting the human for crossing his path as he had bigger concerns at the moment. Ava seethed as the vampire stormed off refusing to hear her out. She would just have to find another way to get his attention.
William arrived in record time and entered through the back door where Alaric waited.
"Alaric what's the matter?" He saw the darkened expression in his friend's eyes.
"Brooklyn has an infection from the wounds on her back and legs. I fed her a small amount of my blood to help her immune system fight it off but I wish to leave for Saint Louis tomorrow."
"Consider my men ready for your command," William said as a thin smile crept up on Alaric's mouth.
"Be ready tomorrow night. I will have the slaves gather what I will need tonight and load up my vehicle."
William nodded and headed further in the house where he had an eye on one of Alaric's slaves. He knew his old friend didn't care as to them humans were nothing more than property.
Jessica arrived home and spotted William's mount in the barn. The alarm went off in her mind as she hurried inside. The sounds of grunts and cries reached her sensitive ears and she darted up the stairs two by two then down the hall. The vampire paused at the doors and peered through the small gap in the door to see not Alaric but William on the bed fucking one her brother's slaves. Jessica turned away disgusted by the sight and marched towards her brother's chambers.
As she neared the heavy set doors, Jessica stopped detecting a presence nearby. Quietly she crossed the hallway where a figure was pressed against the wall. The vampire lashed out snatching soft flesh and skin in the dark. A tiny voice yelped in surprise and pain as it was revealed to be Ava lurking in the shadows.
"What are you doing?" She demanded coldly.
Will Jessica figure out what the sneaky Ava is up to?