Joseph's mouth was dry and a bang as the front door shut drew their attention. Sarah had come in. She ignored the look Joseph was giving her. She grabbed a jar from the tiny sink.
"I'm going to need help purging these things, but I'll catch one so you can take it back to be studied. Your people have scientist who will want to study it?"
Joseph nodded thinking of Gregori, Shea, and Gary. If this was another mutant parasite then they would need to study it. Sarah and Joseph got to work. Joseph shed his body again and went inside Cole's body. He began herding all the parasites towards Sarah's healing light. Many were purged instantly, but some slipped deeper into Cole's flesh. Each one burrowing holes into flesh and bone. Both Joseph and Sarah were exhausted by the end of the healing session. There were still too many parasites left and they seemed to be multiplying again. Gale supported Joseph as he swayed with weariness. Then the other man held out his wrist to Joseph.
"Take what you need, it is the least I can do for you, for what you are doing for my sister."
Joseph hesitated. He knew Cole would be upset, but it was also her brother's right to offer. Joseph nodded his thanks and distanced the other male's mind from the act. He bit down on the soft flesh of the Gale's wrist and drank some of his rich blood, but he made sure he took only what he needed before sealing the wound. Then he turned back to Sarah.
"We need to take her to another healer. There's too much damage for you and me alone to heal." Sarah bit her lip and glanced at Cole's pale face. Joseph could almost see her thoughts. Cole would be very unhappy to find another Carpathian hovering over her, but better that than her dead. Sarah nodded.
"We will all go," Gale said, Sarah and Maria nodded their agreement. To his little sisters he said, "Come on, get your warm clothes on."
Maria and Sarah nodded obediently. They both quickly changed in warm pants and soft cashmere sweaters. Then a warm coats and snow boots completed the look. Gale grabbed a coat and went to carry Cole, but Joseph stopped him.
"We don't want you to get infected." Joseph carefully set aside Cole's mask and wrapped her up in the cloak. It would at least prevent the spread of parasites, but he knew that one of the older males would have to come back here and purge the blood leftover on any of the surfaces, just to be sure. Joseph let the others slip past him using his body to protect them from Cole's blood. Then Joseph followed the little family out into the cold air and he reached for Skyler's mind across the common path of communication.
Sky?
Joseph! Are you okay? She could no doubt feel his panic and fear.
I'm fine, but Cole needs your help.
Who's Cole?
The boy you treated. There were parasites in his body you missed. He felt Skyler gasp in shock and shook her head no in denial. There hadn't been any parasites, she had looked.
That's not possible. I was very thorough.
Obviously it is because she's being eaten alive by them!
She? Joseph sighed, he hadn't meant to mention that, but he supposed if she was going to heal Cole she'd find out soon enough anyway.
Yes, Cole is a girl. Her sister had an illusion over her. That's not important. You need to call your aunts, Gregori, anyone. I can't get rid of the parasites and they are doing more damage than usual. Where should we go?
The birthing chamber, was her instant response.
Why there?
Because the soil is clean.
Skyler, she's more Jaguar than Carpathian.
Yes, but she has some Carpathian genes in her; I almost could feel it, which makes me think the soil will help.
Joseph couldn't really argue with that so he then lead the small band through the woods to their destination. They quickly made their way down into the tunnels to find candles already burning casting warm flickering light across the cavern. The smell of incense also permeated the room creating the affect was one of peace and tranquility.
There were three women and three men waiting. Joseph knew all of them. The two sisters were Tatijana and Branislava Dragonseeker. Beside them stood their lifemates, Fenris Tirunul or Fenris Dalka and Zev Hunter. Out of the corner of his eye, Joseph saw Gale stiffen. His nostrils flared like he was trying to draw in the scent of a strange new predator. Joseph supposed they would be new to a Carpathian Lycan hybrid. Next to them stood his best friend Skyler and her lifemate Dimitri. Joseph nodded a stiff greeting to them all and laid Cole down in front of them, but didn't back away from her. His body refused to leave he exposed with all these men so close. The women knelt down around him and their lifemates all seemed to stir. At that moment weapons that were still strapped to his waist came alive. The ripped themselves free from their sheaths and straps only to zip towards the men. Before the men reacted the weapons bounced off a blue barrier that materialized out of thin air. Only Dimitri seemed unsurprised by the attack. The other two men crouched protectively over their lifemates.
"Cole, it is alright, they are here to help, we are safe." Gale said loud enough for everyone to hear and cooed the words at her. "Our sisters are safe."
Sarah and Maria voiced their agreement in soft murmured words that Joseph couldn't quite catch. At first nothing seemed to happen, then the weapons clattered to the floor and a gasp of pain escaped Cole's lips.
"Where's Gregori?" Joseph asked. Cole's pain was clawing at his mind and choking him. She was being eaten alive and he could feel as if it were his own body.
"Right here."
Everyone whirled around to see Gregori stride into the chamber with Mikhail walking behind him. The Prince bowed his head to Gale and Maria. Then he smiled at Sarah, a clear sign of recognition.
"It's good to see you again Sarah-." He stopped mid-sentence when he caught sight of Cole's still form before him. Her sister's illusion no longer masking the fact she was female. Then he chuckled and gave Gregori a pointed look. "Looks like you were duped thrice my friend."
Gregori growled then surveyed the women around him. "If there are parasites the woman should not be working."
Skyler and Sarah snorted at the same time.
"I will not stand aside when my sisters needs my help. Even if I am not strong enough, I need to see what you do so I can then replicate it if this is ever happens again." She then held up the jar containing the blood and parasites and gave it to Gregori. "You might want to study the creatures."
Gregori carefully took the jar from Sarah's hands and inspected the contents. Then he set it aside and began to work on Cole. Gregori gasped when he stumbled upon Cole's old injuries and the shock of someone other than a Carpathian surviving such wounds rocked him to his core.
Mikhail, this child has been tortured or at the least mauled. He shared with Mikhail the scars he had found and how they had been healed.
A vampire's handy work, was Mikhail's bleak reply.
Mikhail, this child should be dead. She may have some of our genes and those of a Jaguar, but even our kind would struggle to survive this. At the very least she should have bled out if not gone insane from the trauma.
Her sister must be a miracle worker.
The sister is only eight years old, these wounds are about four years old. She would have been four if that's the case.
Stranger things have happened, my friend.
Gregori shook his head then went to work. The healing dragged out for hours. The parasites seemed to have far more intelligence than they should. Several spread out into various ends of the body chewing and ripping away at flesh, trying to do as much damage as possible. Then others would find dark places to hide reproduce. In the end it took everyone present who was able to, to heal Cole's torn body and completely purge the parasite invasion. Gregori sighed in exhaustion when they all finally returned to their bodies.
"She will need blood or everything we have done will be in vain."
Mikhail was about to offer, but Joseph stopped him. "I will do it."
Gregori watched as Joseph cradled Cole's body to his own. He opened the vein near his heart. To Mikhail Gregori asked,
You don't think-?
She's his lifemate? Mikhail chuckled darkly. I hope so. That woman will test him sorely and then maybe the rest of us will finally have some peace. She will make it, won't she?
Of that I don't doubt. Her will is strong as is her connection with her family. They seem to have a permanent connection that is always open.
I've never heard of such a thing outside of lifemates.
Joseph whispered softly, "Drink Cole, if not for yourself then for your family who still needs you." At first nothing happened then Cole's lips slowly parted accepting the life giving blood. Once Joseph was sure she had enough to replace what she had lost he stopped her and closed the wound. Then he commanded her to sleep.