Disclaimer: I don't own Noblesse.

Author's note: Since I'm moving next weekend and will only have internet access two weeks later, this will be the last update until then. Two more chapters to go. Enjoy!


Chapter 55: Morphine

Morphine, derived from the seeds of the opium poppy, is a capable painkiller. The drawback of dependency held doctors from prescribing it widely. Nowadays, morphine is an essential element of the WHO's graduated scheme for pain treatment especially for cancer patients. Modern drugs offer no intoxification and the question of addiction becomes pointless in medication taken permanently. While most patients suffer most under the nausea, this side-effect is treatable and will subside. Doctors are focusing more on the problem of obstipation that will not dissolve even under prolonged use of opiats.

Only when her jaw began to ache, did Hyun Ae realize that she had been clenching her teeth anxiously. From the corner of her eye, she threw a gaze at Crombel, who stood to her left, perfectly relaxed, hands buried in the pockets of his jacket. His mouth twitched with amusement.

She noticed a moment later that he did not smile because of her nervousness, but at the two men being brought into the room.

Cruor pushed the guards away bossily, as soon as he was through the door and bared his teeth at the other man who walked in behind him, smirking, greeting him with a mocking nod.

"As you see, they are alive and well", said Crombel.

Hyun Ae put her hand against the mirrored glass and watched them silently. She swallowed.

"Alright then", she said and turned her back on them. "I have chosen already."

"Excellent", began Crombel. His next sentence was inaudible against the noise of shattering glass.

A horned demon leaped through the broken window and struck Crombel down.

While the last shards still fell, Hyun Ae saw M-21 run towards her. Behind him, six guards and two scientists lay scattered on the floor.

He screamed something at her, but the fighting sounds right behind her rendered her deaf.

When she had finally made out the words 'help him', he was already dashing past her. Whirling around, she found M-21 forcing Crombel's finger open which held a syringe with a clear liquid.

A blast of white light blinded her for a moment. When she was able to see again, Crombel was standing next to the door, swaying slightly. His left arm was dripping with blood. He tipped his ear.

"Initiate emergency protocol", he choked and stumbled through the door.

On her left, the horned demon had transformed back into Cruor, who lay on the ground, writhing with obvious pain.

"You fucking idiot!", screamed M-21 over the ear-splitting sound of gunfire, ducking and pulling Hyun Ae down with him.

"To hell with the plan!", he snarled. "Doctor Choi, go and find some painkillers so you can get him out of here. I'm following Crombel."

He made a wide leap to the door, rolled off his right shoulder and ran after the scientist.

Hyun Ae threw a gaze on the red-head on the floor. She immediately realized that M-21 had been right and he was in no condition to walk right now. Through the slivered glass, she could see more guards kneeling in the shadow of the doorways, trying to shoot them.

She breathed deeply in and out and gathered her concentration. Darkness dripped on the guards like tar pitch, immobilizing them. They screamed in horror. Hyun Ae bit her lips until she felt the coppery taste of blood in her mouth, but she did not stop. The screams subsided.

She jumped to her feet and ran over to the cabinets lined on the walls, ripping the doors open, hastily reading labels.

Finally, in the third cabinet, she found a bottle of what she needed: morphine drops. She fell to her knees beside Cruor and helped him sit up. He was breathing shallowly, his skin pale and cold with sweat.

"Open your mouth", she demanded and let 20 drops fall on his tongue until she instructed him to swallow.

Her eyes darted over to the guards, they were not moving.

"Fifteen minutes until self-destruction."

Hyun Ae's head whipped up. She tugged at the werewolf, trying to get him to his feet. He moaned, but managed to help her. He shook his head.

"What happened?", he forced out. "Where's M-21? Where's Crombel?"

"You collapsed", replied Hyun Ae, pushing him towards the door. "We have to get out of here now!"

She threw a look over her shoulder and caught a movement at the other end of the room.

"Duck!", she screamed and shoved Cruor finally through the door. Bullets drove deep holes in the wall beside them.

"Where's the exit?", she panted, struggling to stand up.

"Two floors up in this direction", answered Cruor and grabbed her hand. He was recovering with incredible speed.

They ran, the guards hot on their heels.

When M-21 came to his feet, he caught a glimpse of a running person disappearing around a corner.

"You can't escape, Crombel", he growled, breaking into a sprint. "You reek of blood."

His heart pounded madly. The scent of sweat and fear was in the air. He was hunting again. His biggest prey. The one he had wanted to kill for an eternity. Finally, the hunt had begun.

A crimson void settled on his mind. His feet pounded the floor in rhythm with his racing pulse. The world had narrowed down to a few essential things. The scent of the prey. The hasty footsteps of the prey. Senses heightened to a nearly painful degree.

Shadows flitted past. A searing pain exploded in his left shoulder. It meant nothing. A voice spoke from above. The words were meaningless. The prey was near. Another corner and he would be able to see it.


Note: Surprise! The plan didn't even spring into action :P Hope you liked it anyway. Reviews make me happy!