Chapter 36 - This means war
Ariadne
Ariadne's world was nothing but hazy colors and sounds. She had never felt so nauseous in her life, and the distinct taste of some kind of metal lingered on her tongue. Chloroform? It would explain the pounding headache she had. She blinked hazily, worried that her vision was going, only to realize that it was just after twilight. There were figures in front of her, but they were just as hazy as the rest of her world. She was tied to something, her arms stinging from how tight the ropes were.
After blinking a few times the figures came into focus. There was Debbie (not surprisingly), a woman, and a vampire. Could this be the witch that Adda and Alcide had told her about? "This is just great." She sighed as she let her head fall back forward. "Figures your crazy ass would have something to do with this." She directed the comment towards Debbie. If she was going to go down, she was going to go down with a fight. She just hoped they didn't hurt Adda. She shut her eyes against the mental image of Alcide's smiling face. No, she wouldn't go down without a fight.
Eric
Something was horribly wrong. Eric knew it the moment he felt Adda's panic and fear. The sun was still out, but she needed him, he could feel it. His body was heavy as he threw his legs over the edge of the bed. He could feel her pain now, crippling and then... nothing. That was worse. He could feel blood drip down his neck from his ears, but he didn't care. He needed to get to Adda, he couldn't feel her, and he feared the worst.
When he opened the door, he was confronted by Godric and Pam. "You can't leave." Godric said calmly, his power over Eric lacing his words.
"She needs me."
"Yes, you, not a pile of your remains." Godric said as he placed a hand on Eric's shoulder. He might not have been able to feel Adda, but he could feel Eric's panic. "Rest up and go after her at sunset."
For hours Eric sat perfectly still, blood dripping from his ears. His nails dug into the carved wood of the armchair, and even when Adda came and went, he was forced by Godric to remain still. The moment the sun was down, Eric was gone, running through the streets, not bothering with a car. He could feel Adda the moment she awoke earlier, and he could still feel her pain. When he traced her, he was surprised that it lead him to the old church. Instead of finding Adda, he noticed Ariadne tied up next to the witch. He knew it was her the moment he saw her, there was no question. He could sense Adda, but couldn't see her. He did however smell Alcide who must have been closer. Carefully and quietly making his way towards the wolf, keeping his eyes on the girl in the middle of the clearing. "Where is Addaleigh? Do you have a plan?" He would help rescue the she-wolf, knowing Adda wouldn't leave until her friend was safe. He just hoped Adda was okay.
Alcide and Addaleigh
Alcide was tense when Eric approached at lighting speed, not sure of friend or foe, for a moment until he recognized the scent, turning to confirm it was the sheriff. He was as on edge as Alcide felt. He shifted back into his human form so he could better communicate. "Addaleigh is on the other side in the brush, ducked down. She has her cell phone on her and we're in communication by blue tooth if she see's anything that can help. Right now I don't have much of a plan since I don't know what we are dealing with, with this witch. Debbie I can take out and the vamp I don't know but I'm sure I can use a branch to make him into a pile of goop. I just don't want to risk Ari being hurt."
His hands clenched then unclenched with tension and worry. "She's pregnant with my child. I can't risk her being hurt."
"Oh Shut up you little man stealing whore. I plan on using my bit of magic to make Alcide mine again." Debbie said crossing her arms.
The witch, a red headed woman with fierce green eyes circled around the tied up were eyeing her as she felt out her energies, speaking in a low but clear Latin incantation. She stopped when she reached the front of Ari her hand hovering above her stomach, "This one is not only Alpha, but will be the perfect sacrifice. She is with a pure child."
"She's with a what?" Screeched Debbie as she glared at Ari, her eyes traveling from her face to her stomach and back again.
"Bitch I am gonna enjoy gutting you! He said he didn't want kids! Now you both go and do this shit!" she was beside herself with anger, hyped up on v.
The dark hair vampire was quite through the exchange, but spoke up with a hand raised to silence the irate wolf. "Shut up, once the spell is done you can have and kill her any way you like, we just need the words cast first and to drink a small amount of her blood, after that she is all yours."
Eric
Hearing the exchange from the witch and her minions, Eric tensed. He grabbed one of Alcide's arms to keep him from attacking. "Godric and Pam were right behind me, they should be here soon. I suggest you summon your pack. She can out power us, but we can stop her if we outnumber her." With that he was gone from Alcide's side, searching the other side for Adda. He could smell her now, more importantly, smell her blood. He felt rage bubble under his skin. He would make sure he killed one of them himself. Preferably the witch who dared harm his human.
After a few minutes of searching, Eric found her crouched behind a tree. With a small sigh of relief, he lifted her into his arms without warning. "You always seem to be in harms way." He mumbled into her blood soaked hair. He pulled away to examine her face and make sure she was okay. She seemed alright enough, but her head was pretty banged up. He kissed her lightly before biting into his wrist and holding it to her lips. "Drink up, you'll need some extra strength since I'm positive you'll refuse to sit this out." His free hand cupped her neck, his thumb running up and down the length. He hadn't realized how worried he was until he had her again. He would do more than kill that witch, he was going to make her suffer. "And I thought Bill Compton was annoying."
Ariadne
"I'm sorry, but did that crazy bitch just say what I think she just said?" Ari asked half in shock. Debbie's little rant just confirmed it. Ariadne was pregnant with Alcide's baby. That only gave her more incentive to fight. She wished her and Alcide had marked each other already, then she would be able to sense him, to make sure that he was okay. "Don't you think you're taking your obsession with my mate a little far?" Ariadne asked with a raised eyebrow. She turned to the witch with the same expression. "And as for you... Are you completely insane? Who the hell does sacrifices anymore? You should really consider and alternate hobby.. knitting maybe?" She gave the witch a smirk. It probably wasn't the best idea to provoke them, but she just knew Adda and Alcide would get to her. Until then, she had to keep the witch distracted.
Alcide and Addaleigh
Alcide hadn't even thought to summon the pack, thinking this was purely a personal matter. The pack would want revenge for the harm of their pup, and to help their alpha. It was a solid idea and he was glad to have the clear headed advice when his own mind was focused purely on his mate and his unborn child. Alcide watched as the vampire left to find the brunette, his attention going back to the fireside.
He couldn't howl to alert his pack, so instead he dialed one of the more trusted and loyal pack members, Remmy waking him up; "Rem, we need the pack's muscle. The witch that hurt the boy is here, we've got her in our sights, and she has Ari. She has one of ours."
"I'll assemble them Boss, we've got your back." Remmy advised before hanging up.
Now for the hardest part, to wait. If they didn't get here in time he would die fighting to get Ariadne to safety. She was the good thing in his life and he couldn't loose her.
Adda was startled when her feet left the ground as she was pulled up by Eric, her mind dizzy with the altitude change. She was glad for his arms, glad he was here and safe. She made a small sound of contentment as he held her, his words cool against her fevered skin. Her fear started to subside some, no longer in hyper drive, she hadn't realized she wasn't just feeding off her worry but also his. Now that he had her in his arms relatively safe she was a mix of her own emotions and his peace.
She drank his blood, coppery and odd at first drinking blood again, but as it had before the more she drank the better it tasted. Her wounds began to heal and her mind went from a roaring pain to a dull ache.
Pulling away she licked her lips and smiled a small smile, "Thank you for coming Eric." she said squeezing his hand before releasing it and looking back to the field.
"So we still haven't made a move yet, what are we waiting for?" Asked the new arrival to their side, Pam.
"Ari's pregnant so any wrong move and she and the baby could be in danger."
"I smell more dogs coming this way, I guess the cavalry has arrived." Pam said crossing her arms as she assessed the situation. "Eric do we have a plan?"
Debbie was about to take the knife she had and stab it straight through Ari's stomach when the ginger witch held up her hand with a murmured words which halted the woman in her tracks; "Enough you little loud mouth bitch, I have work to do. You've done well in getting me this sacrifice and that's the only reason I'm not using your unpure self. Don't make me regret my decision. You may have her after the ceremony. Now... you vampire, we have company in the woods, take care of it with the wolf, I can't have anyone disturbing my work."
The vampire smirked dark and dangerous as his eyes flitted to the two places in the woods where the groups were. "With pleasure."
There was no time, the fight had begun, debbie was heading after Alcide, and the Vampire was running towards Adda, Eric, and Pam. The witch was circling Ari chanting a spell to purify and transfer her energies.
Ariadne
The second the witch said something, Ari's sense of smell kicked into overdrive. She could smell wolves, her pack-mates to be more specific, and she could smell Adda's blood as well as vampires. Just how many there were, she wasn't sure of. Her focus was switched however, when the witch began chanting. She started to feel odd, like a stone was in her stomach, and was steadily getting heavier. Ari gritted her teeth against the unpleasant feeling as she glared up at the witch. "You can mess with me all you want, but if you hurt the pup, I'll fucking kill you." She hissed, eyes livid.
Ariadne had known a few witches in her day, even befriended a couple. Luckily, she had always been observant. "Alcide, if you can hear me you need to break her circle!" Ari screamed out over the sound of fighting in the woods. She knew without it, the witch would be powerless, which is why she probably needed vamps and wolves in the first place. Only, Ari had no idea what her circle was made out of. "Look for out of place stones, or hidden pouches of herbs!" She added, although her last words were chocked thanks to the pressure in her stomach growing.
Eric
It happened too quick for Eric to notice. The enemy vampire was lunging towards Adda, and Eric wouldn't get to her in time. He felt a swell of panic before Adda was swept off in a blur just before the strange vampire would have gotten her. Eric's eyes turned towards the trees. On one of the higher branches, Godric stood, Adda in his arms. "I've been opposed to violence for quite some time, but I'll keep her safe." He said calm as always. Eric nodded thankfully towards his maker before turning towards the new vampire. With fangs bared, Eric charged him.
Over the sound of fighting, Eric heard Ariadne's words. "Pam, help him destroy the circle, then bring that bitch to me." Eric hissed as he narrowly avoided being hit by the unknown vamp. Turning on his heel, he managed to sink his fangs into the man's arms. He was going to enjoy ripping his head off.
Meanwhile up in the tree, Godric held Adda tightly so that she wouldn't try to do anything stupid. "I'm sorry that you can't help, but if you were in harms way it would only distract Eric." He said, voice serene.
Alcide and Addaleigh
Immediately Alcide set off to break the witch's circle, but it wasn't easy when he was attacked by the familiar sandy brown wolf that was Debbie. She bit into his neck and he reared tossing her from him.
"I didn't want it to come to this Debbie" He growled, body tense as they circled.
"You should have stayed with me! You left me for her!"
"I didn't leave you for her!" He snapped, "I left because your a v junkie, your weak, and at first I felt bad for you, but you've gone too far. You are trying to kill an innocent woman, and whats more an innocent baby Debbie. You leave me no choice!"
"Fine then!" She raged before lunging at him going for the jugular. He dodged left from her dive knocking her with his paw to the ground, she striking back quick on the offense as he stayed on the defense. Her claws found purchase across his muzzle and he growled deep striking back and pinning her. Despite his rage, he couldn't kill a woman, no matter who or how fucked up they were. He was lucky when two of his pack arrived to take over, lowering their head in respect to him before they pounced to hold down the wriggling Debbie.
"Go on and help her." Cathy Larrity, Kent's mother, signaled. "We've got her."
He gave a nod of thanks before heading off. He could smell the fish and herb pouches that were around, small mesh bags creating the circle. He stamped the first out throwing it away into the woods after having ripped the mesh, and set to finding more.
Adda squirmed at first not sure who had gotten pulled her from the ground into the trees. When she realized it was Godric who held her away from the fray she relaxed some. He was right to hold her tight because she wanted to jump down and help Eric as the vampire attacked. However he had a point, she didn't want him being distracted.
"Fine." she conceded, holding to him for support and balance up on the tree branch, as she watched the fray bellow.
The other vampire was in Eric's grasp, Eric having taken a sizable chunk from his arm. It didn't seem to phase the guy as he rounded away, with a gloved hand pulling out a silver knife from his hip.
"Eric! Knife on the right!" she screamed down, scared for the worst. If he was stabbed too deep he could get silver poisoning.
The witch halted in her ministrations as part of her circle was messed up form both sides. The wolf and female vampire seemed to be making head way. She tried to throw up a defensive spell but with so much chaos it was next to impossible. She stood in front of Ariadne glaring up at her.
"Do you know what you are doing? You are ruining your moment to become part of progress and history. We are ascending to a higher form of being, we are becoming more evolved and your needed, you life is worth this moment. Your death means so many brand new and wonderful lives in a world were sups are the leaders with shared powers. Do not stand in the way of this!"