Nine days, I think with a sense of shock. I had been preoccupied with my creations and hadn't thought to keep track of the time, luckily a part of my mine did. Nine days. No one had come to see me since Carson came six days ago with a tray filled with a glass and two thermoses. I had gladly accepted the blood inside until I wondered what they might have put in it, but then the pain grew and I gave in. What was the worst that could happen? I don't think contentedness was one of the side affects that I had envisioned.
I twirl the pen in my left hand as I gaze at the picture I had been producing, it was pretty. Vampire senses had given me the ability to draw great detail into my art and I marveled at the results. I had used three pages in the nine days, the first one had earth as viewed from space surrounded by darkness with a bright spot for a sun. From the earth came a streak that grew bigger as it circled around, when the streak starts into space you can make out what it is. A Pegasus with wings of gold and a coat as bright as the sun. I had spent a day and a half making that.
The second was of Monif and Teric as I remembered them, their faces kind but their eyes blazing with curiosity. Then there is the third, I have nightmares of the day that I lost my Wraith and the morning after one of them I had an image stuck in my head. So I drew it. Most of the page is covered with a detailed corridor of a Hive that seems to go on forever, in the corridor is a Wraith with his back to me as he walks away. I put all the detail that I could into this picture because it is the last image I have of him before he left.
I slam the cover down with unnecessary force as emotions flood through me. I stiffen when someone clears their throat behind, turning around I see Sheppard studying me through the horizontal bars.
" How did you get behind me?" I asked rather rudely.
He smirks at me, " You were distracted, so I took advantage." he didn't really answer me.
" Why are you here?" my voice was distant as I turned back to face the entrance. He walked around before stopping in front of me.
" I was wondering if, and it completely depends on how desperate you are to get of this cell, but I was wondering if you'd be interested in joining my team." he sounded casual and totally confident.
I raise my eyes to glare at him waiting for him to say something like, " Sike!", but he seemed serious.
" Join your team? Would this be the same "team" that you were with when you returned to that planet?"
He grimaced at the memory, " Ya, that would be them. Except for the two men who were flying the Jumper. But Teyla, Ford, and McKay are."
" And you of course."
" That would be a given considering it's my team."
Sarcastic little-
" Why are you asking me? I would have thought that after my first impression I'd end up locked in this cell forever, or at least as long as you all lived which is long enough."
He watched me for a minute before saying, " The first time I saw you, I thought that you looked kinda sad and out of place. Like you didn't feel comfortable where you were. Then, on that ship, I knew something had happened because one) everyone in that room was pushed against the furthest wall, and two) you looked like you were... happy. I don't know how else to explain it, but you seemed relaxed and at ease."
I roll my eyes, " No matter how much I enjoy your version of those events, you still didn't answer my question."
He smiles, " Let's just say, that I'm a little curious to see just what you'll bring to the team."
" That it? Just curiosity? Why am I not surprised?" I shook my head with disgust.
" What?" he did a good job of sounding clueless.
" Don't play dumb with me, Major. I've had plenty of experience with your kind and this repulsive city." I knew that they just wanted to use me again, but since that mind control device no longer worked they had to use more creative ideas to sucker me in.
" My kind? Did you just call Atlantis "repulsive"?" he looked a little disturbed.
" Yes I did! The Great City of Atlantis! My own private torture chamber! You and those other Lantians think that it's just all right to starve me into madness! But hey, by all means, keep talking because your getting so far!" I threw my notebook in his direction and if it hadn't been for the field it would have hit him in the head.
I watched, my chest heaving and my head pulsing, as his eyes grew wide as he processed what I said. Something close to panic crossed his features but he quickly pushed it aside, " I think that there is a misunderstanding here, we are not Ancients for one." Ancients? What the hell are Ancients? But now that I think about it, they don't really act like the Lantians that I meant so long ago. Maybe the descendants have more smarts and more of a heart then their ancestors. I'll give them a chance to prove it.
" A misunderstanding?" I just wanted to confirm.
He grasped the chance, " Yes."
I nodded to myself, why not get out of here with permission? " Okay, Major, if your sincere and you truly are not Lantian, I'll give a chance to prove it to me. Then, if I decide to believe you, I'll join your little team to satisfy your curiosity. But, if I do not believe you, you must allow me to leave and promise that you will not follow me. Deal?" either way I was getting out of here.
Sheppard hesitated a fraction of a minute as he thought over my demands before he nodded and walked over to a panel on the side of the cell. He punched in a code and the I watched the field deactivate before the cell opened allowing me to leave. Slowly, I stand up and walk forward, stopping long enough to reach down and pick up my discarded notebook. Sheppard was preparing to turn around and lead me out when I put my hand on his shoulder to stop him, he stiffened but didn't over react.
I leaned up to get my lips as close to his ear as possible, " I just wanted you to know, Major, that I could have left anytime I pleased. The cell is guarded by a simple code, all I would have to do was fry that panel and walk out." smiling like a fool, I release his shoulder and walk past him before glancing over my right shoulder and eying the panel in question for a second. My smile widens as the cell closes and the field reactivates, Sheppard staring after me like I had just accomplished the greatest feat. Which, in his mind, I suppose I I just had. That's a weird thought.
Sighing, I slow my pace enough for Sheppard to catch up without having to run to do so. He didn't say where we were going and I really didn't care because honestly, I was a little more preoccupied with inspecting the people and city around me.
My memories of this place the first time were clouded by thirst and hatred, now I only had a slight burn in my throat and I wasn't angry allowing me to see everything this time. My thoughts were still dark toward the place, but I was willing to keep an open mind as long as no one tried to... keep me against my will.
Sheppard turned a corner and glanced at me to make sure that I was following before disappearing. I don't speed up to catch him but keep my pace steady as I round the same corner. My steps falter momentarily when I see heavy equipment placed around the large room that I have just enter, Sheppard is no where in sight but I hear voices coming from an archway that must lead to another section of this room.
Where have I allowed myself to be taken?
" You what?" the voice was startled and came from the other room through the archway, the voice also sounded kinda familiar.
Curious, I walk over a pear through to see Major Sheppard talking to a harassed looking Carson. Intrigued, I hide partly behind the wall and study them.
" Oh, Carson, relax. Besides, the only reason I brought her here is because it's been a few days since... the last feeding. I was wondering if you could spare a few bags."
Carson sighed, " Do you even know if she'll except bags?"
Sheppard shrugged, " No. But blood is blood, right?"
I could see, and hear, Carson struggling to resist the urge to answer him with a distinct "NO" but he knew that Sheppard wouldn't really be interested in the scientific version. Shaking his head and mumbling under his breathe about nothing in particular, he turns to a glass cabinet and picks up two blood bags and hands them to Sheppard.
He turns around toward the archway with the bags but stops when he sees me watching them. I smile, mostly at the fact that I was caught eavesdropping. Cautiously, I walk into the room until I stop in front of the men, I automatically eye the bags in the Major's hand as my throat stings at the wet scent.
I glance up at Sheppard and raise one eyebrow, " May I?" my voice sounds a little rougher, but only because my stinging throat had started to sear.
In answer he hands over the bags and I take them gladly, I feel my fangs extend in preparation. I open my mouth and slap one of the bags to my teeth, a small growl of pleasure issues from my chest as the red liquid slides down my burning throat. I drained that bag quickly and replaced it with the other. That bag lasted even shorter, but the blood that I got from them was enough to sooth the fire.
I retract my teeth before smiling, " Thank you, Carson. You truly do not realize just how much I needed that." I place the empty bags on a metal counter before looking at Sheppard, " Now what?"
The Major and Carson exchange a look for a split second before Sheppard starts the way we came. I followed, vaguely wondering if after all of this he was going to try and stuff me in that cell, but I stopped that train of thought when he turned right and walked in the opposite direction. I smiled and hurried after him, aware but not surprised by by my obvious happiness. It's been a while since I felt this happy. A jolt runs through my body as a realize this, the last time I felt this way was the night before my Wraith told me he was leaving.
My smile disappears and a scowl replaces. Why did I have to spoil everything? I look at Sheppard's back before I notice that he isn't in front of me anymore, he's twenty or so yards ahead of me and heading up some stairs to a second level. Swearing under my breathe, I increase my pace and jog up the stairs after him just in time to see him entering another room with a crescent shaped table with chairs lined up on one side.
I start in that direction when Sheppard takes a seat and looks at me, I notice his surprise at me being so far behind. Sighing as I enter the same room, I take the chair on his right-hand side before gently placing my notebook in front of me. We are not alone. Teyla and Ford are sitting next to a woman and that same man from the planet.
I turn my head slightly towards the Major, " Why are we here?" I hear accusation in my words.
" You didn't tell her?" the strange woman asks, her voice is soft and I can tell that she is the kind of person to choose each word carefully before speaking.
Sheppard winces but doesn't answer either question. Without thinking about where I am, I growl at him in annoyance. He stiffens but otherwise doesn't react. I roll my eyes before letting my head fall against the chair back.
Silence ensues, the only sound to be heard now is the even breathing and heartbeats of the five humans around me. I quickly become aware of another heart approaching, lifting my head so I can look I see Elizabeth walk in.
My eyes widen as the wall closes behind her shutting out the rest of the city, what a weird door. Elizabeth takes her seat at the head of the table and glances at Sheppard before looking at me.
" Well, since your here, I'll assume that you agreed to join Sheppard's team." her eyes narrowed at me and I resisted the urge to bare my teeth.
Sheppard spoke, " Actually, she didn't. She thinks that we are Ancients and playing some sort of elaborate ruse."
" Then why is she here and not still in her cell?" I ground my teeth together.
" Because I made a deal with her. We tell her the truth, and she'll tell us about her. Which, is why we were gathered here in the first place."
" And let me guess, we spill first?" the man said. He sounded rather stuck up to me.
" Yes, McKay, that was sort of the plan. Make her comfortable with the fact that we aren't Ancients."
Through their discussion Elizabeth just sat there thinking. Before McKay could say anything she turned to Sheppard and nodded her approval.
I looked at him as he sighed and turned my way, " Okay, here it goes. The people who previously inhabited this city did come to our planet after The Fall. Um, they lived in secret amongst us before dying off or ascending. That was ten thousand years ago, give or take. Since then we have forgotten only to rediscover their existence, and in turn rediscover this city." he seemed to have finished but maybe he was waiting for something. I glimpse into his mind to learn that he is waiting for something, me to ask a question.
" You keep referring to your people, what are they called?" I didn't want to flat out ask if they were from earth and give away my only advantage.
" Humans." I wanted to slap him.
"No kidding. What's your planet called?" if I was going to get answers like 'humans' why not ask?
He looked at Elizabeth before facing me again, " Truthfully, it has many names on many worlds, but we call it Earth."
I had been expecting the answer but a sense of giddiness still filled my body and mind at it being confirmed out loud. I smiled and nodded at the suddenly curious expression on all their faces, even Teyla showed recognition at the name even though she was a native to this galaxy.
" I guess it's my turn. On the Hive, I told those that I was with, including Teyla, that I had once been human. I suppose that I should fill in some blanks, especially since it would seem that that would be the reason why you are all here. To learn about me and my life, am I wrong?" I met their eyes in turn, none of them had to say anything as their silence was answer enough.
" Just as I thought. I was happy, I had great parents and I finally had a little sisters. Life was grand. One night, I stayed up which enabled me to hear the creak of floor boards outside my door. Curious as I was, I got up and opened my door to see a madman heading down that hall to my parents and sister's rooms. I distracted him long enough to convince him to take me and leave my family alone, he did. I was 17 when he took me and it wasn't until I was 18 that I knew freedom again. But in that time, he hurt me non stop. My only regret concerning him and my decisions is that in the end, I was not the one who got to kill him. Eric got the pleasure of that, but only to get to me. He and his mate, Sam, knew that I was dying and would die soon. So, they did what they could, with no of knowing for sure if I would survive they turned me.
I had only three days with them to learn how to hunt and survive before I was taken again. That is where this... disturbing, city comes in. I was placed in that cell and left to starve, my body was soon consumed in a different kind of fire. I soon lost my mind and all logical thought, only to be starved some more. I don't know how long I was in that cell but at some point I was taken to a planet and set loose along with a few dozen others. When I caught the scent of blood, I reacted. I knew they weren't human, but they also weren't animals, so I fed. I killed five before I regained thought, realizing what I had just done and that at the moment I was free of those people, I ran.
They left me behind, I know because I never came across any others after that. I was the only thing that had sentient thought on that entire rock. My best guess at the time is that I was there for around fifty years by myself, and I know it got bad because I was slowly losing my interest in blood and leaving a lot of survivors in my wake.
I had just found a meadow among the endless forest when something fell and crashed below me. I went to investigate and found a lot of debris, but I found a piece of a ship under a mountain of soil. I dug until I found the cockpit, then I dug more until I had the pilot. It was a Wraith. I know now that he would have healed himself but at the time I feared he would die, and with the other five that I had killed on my mind, I healed him myself. When he awoke a few hours later, he rushed at me and placed his hand on my chest. Nothing happened and this seemed to confuse him, but also please him. I was pleased as well but for a different reason.
I made him curious about me and he agreed to take me off that useless rock, when another ship came down we were both dematerialized and taken to his Hive. That was the first time that I met a Queen, and the first time that I wanted to kill someone other than Him. Somehow, I restrained myself and was welcome aboard.
I spent over nine hundred years with them before loneliness consumed me, but I devised a way to fix that. The next time that my Wraith visited me I nicked him with one of my fangs and stole three drops of blood. This is why: blood has DNA and DNA has genetic material. Genetic material is needed to create offspring.
Five months after that I became a proud mother to the first Wraith-Vampire hybrid. My Wraith wasn't to disturbed by what I had done, if anything he was intrigued. He took on the role of playing father for our son, Alexander. For the next eight thousand years life wasn't so bad, I had a family of my own. Than Alex went to a village before it was culled, he saved a young woman from being hurt like me. She was grateful even though she noticed his... inconsistency. Alex inherited my ability to disguise myself, granted he couldn't change his shape, just his appearance. I explain this because you have to understand why this ability was important. Alex had his father's build, he was slim and powerful, with a little of me mixed in for flavor. I would have to say that his eyes were one of his most distinguishing features as they were dark green but had those cat-like pupils. He had to feed both ways, life and blood, both of which he could get from me and his father. Another feature that I liked was his hair, a combination of natural red and Wraith white, which he grew out to out-do any Wraith.
This being explained, Alex had looked human when he entered the village and when he left, he stayed that way until he arrived at his ship. Unfortunately, the man he had stopped from hurting that woman had followed with a friend and after seeing Alex in his true form, killed him. The last thing he said was, " My mother is going to kill you,". In truth, I hadn't killed anyone since those five before," I sigh, " I snapped the friends necks from behind before attacking the murderer. I saved something special for him, I made him suffer. It wasn't long before he was begging me to kill him but I didn't, I waited.
After he finally did die, I went back to Alex's body and buried him, then I covered his grave in my blood which hardened and entombed him. I can say with absolute certainty that for the past thousand years I was not pleasant, the only one I tried to behave around was my Wraith because he wasn't quite himself after the death either.
Fifteen years ago, he left for some kind of mission. Three months past before the Queen visited me, she told me that they had lost contact and it was unlikely that he would return, alive. For a short time I went crazy and it was not blood related. I left the Hive and joined the human population, it some time to adjust to that existence, but not much. I went from planet to planet, village to village, staying no more than a day at a time. I would search the planet with my thoughts, but I never found what I had been looking for.
I find it rather ironic that the one time I stay two days is the day that you arrive at Teyla's village. You know the rest."
I looked down at my clenched hands not wanting to see the expressions on their faces, but I knew that the questions were coming.
Sure enough, " You said you healed the Wraith and that you made the man who killed your son suffer. How?" I glanced up to see Ford waiting for an answer, leave it to the military to ask such a question.
" Venom."
" Venom!" Elizabeth's voice conveyed her surprise.
" Yes. I can produce different kinds of venom. Healing venom, numbing venom, pain causing venom, and turning venom."
" Turning venom?" Teyla asked confused. Leave it the one person who wasn't from earth to be lost at the term 'turn'.
" If I were to bite you now and inject that venom into your body right now, you would turn into vampire."
Silence filled the room after those words and suspect that it would have continued unless the woman hadn't broken it with her question.
" You spoke highly of that one Wraith. He disappeared and you said that you would search the planet before moving on, are you looking for him?" I don't know why but she makes my skin crawl when she speaks like that.
" Yes, I was looking for him. And of course I speak highly of him, he was... different." I couldn't think of any other word to describe.
" Different how?"
" He wasn't like the others. I don't if it had to with the fact that the only other who was higher in rank was the Queen or if it was just him, but whatever the case he acted unusually separate then the others. For one, he had a sense of honor that even though it could be selective at times, was still there. He also had, no matter how twisted, a reasonable sense of humor. And he cared for our son, I hadn't known how he was going to react that at first but he slipped into the role of father rather nicely." my mind had wondered while I recalled what he had been like, I also felt my heart constrict at his lose. But before I could be hounded by anymore questions a section of the wall-door opened and a young man entered, " Dr. Weir, um, we're having a problem trying to detour Sgt. Bates ma'am. I was wondering if you were almost done and could deal with him?"he grimaced when he said Sgt. Bates, I glance at Weir just as she nods.
" I'll be right there. Just hold him off until then." she didn't sound excited at the thought.
I watched as the man nodded and left the room, the wall-door didn't close behind him. I turned toward Weir in question but she wasn't interested in me anymore it seemed because she was talking to Sheppard, " Could you take her to her new quarters?"
He signaled that he would and she stood up and headed out the opening without a backward glance. I stared after her for a moment before I noticed that the others had stood as well and were making their way to the exit, Sheppard moved to stand beside me.
" Sheppard? Who is this Sgt. Bates that had to be detoured?"
He shrugged, " He's our head of security, and we all agreed that it would be best not to tell him that we were... releasing you. He would have wanted to be present for this meeting and we suspected that it would not have ended well. Bates is a little... straightforward."
Understanding what had occurred just now I sympathized with Dr. Weir, no wonder she had she not looked happy. I heard Sheppard sigh behind me before asking, " Shall we?" they realize that your a native to earth and more powerful then them and a serious asset and then they treat you with respect.
I nodded and followed him out the opening, the stairs were to my right as well as the "main hall" and the Gate, ahead of me was the control center with people busily at work tapping at glowing panels. But I didn't really notice this area because of the panels, it was the dark skinned man standing in front of Weir that caught my attention. He was kinda short, with cropped black hair and eyes just as dark. He was arguing with Weir about protocols that needed to be followed, I remembered that John said he was in charge of security. And apparently not pleased that no one told him I was "let loose".
Sheppard put his hand on my shoulder and tried to push me toward the stairs, to avoid the infinite Bates no doubt. I pushed back. I moved out of his grip and walked toward the scene that was attracting not just my attention.
" Sgt. Bates, there is no need to worry." Weir sounded rather frustrated.
" 'No need to worry', there is a violent creature loose in the city!" his voice grated on my nerves.
I saw Weir's eyes flicker to mine and a flash of anxiety filled them, " Bates, perhaps we should finish this in my office."
" There isn't time! I suggest fully armed team searching the city in hunt of that thing!"
My eyes narrowed on the back of his head as I stopped behind him, " Thing. Fully armed teams. Are you really that stupid?" Bates whirled around with a start and his eyes widened in alarm. I saw his hand grasp his side arm and a strange mix of amusement and fury flooded through my body, without thinking I lashed out. I moved so fast that to everyone watching it would look like I hadn't moved at all, but the thin line of blood dripping from his ear to his jawline said otherwise.
I saw anger and fear on his features, anger at being "attacked" and fear because it was me who attacked.
" If you ever insult me like that again, a scratch will be the least of your worries. And I only hope that you are smart enough to not shoot me, stab me, or stake me, because all you'll do is piss me off."
Ignoring the expression on everyone's faces I turn around and walk back toward where John is still standing, I grab his wrist and drag him down the stairs. About half way down he seems to snap out of it and hurries me along.
" I can't believe you just did that. Not that I blame you, but I think that you just made an enemy for life."
" His life you mean. I'll by far outlive him." I couldn't resist the smile that came to my lips, sometimes I really enjoyed being immortal.
Out of the corner of my eye I see John smirk, " Must be nice." he meant it to be sarcastic but I took it in stride, " Yes, it is." John laughed beside me and stopped in front of a bronze door and a glowing panel with three crystals in it.
" Here we are, home sweet home." he waved his hand in front of the panel and a strange twing sounded a millisecond before the door opened. The room inside was plain with a bed, a chair, and a dresser. I walked inside but it didn't get any better, the walls were bare and the floor was just. Home sweet home, indeed.
" It's not much, but if you want to add a personal touch I'm sure we could find some stuff off world. Which reminds me, after you get settled you can literally join the team. Right now, we'll just be searching planets for trading partners and food supplies, nothing terribly exciting but still important."with that he took his leave and the door closed behind him.
Sighing, I glance around the room again before wondering over to the bed and falling on top. Realizing that for the first time in centuries, I'm actually bored. A growl rumbles through my chest as I close my eyes.