He couldn't say he wasn't surprised, he really should have seen it coming. By the time Maxwell realised he was in danger Charlie her her elegant nails wrapped around his body. Her scarlet eyes held such raw emotion, he would have swooned were it not for the imminent danger.

...

She had led him to a secluded part of the property, an overgrown fountain still bubbling despite the ivy attempting to block its path. Charlie landed first, outstretching out hand to him as he approached. Usually it would be a seamless transition from bat to humanoid, his hand was supposed to hold hers. But it didn't change. In the split second he faltered she plucked him from the air like ripe fruit, an expression on her face that could only be described as euphoric malice.

"Sweet little Maxy." She sung at him, a single finger stroking the fur on his head. He was held against a cobblestone wall, wings outstretched.

"One for Wolfgang." A metal stake dug into the membrane of his wing, causing him to cry out.

"One for the child you left orphaned." Another stake on the other wing, now suspending him instead of her fingers. The stake burnt burning painfully against his skin, it must have contained silver.

"One for Lucy."

"One for the mother that lost her son fighting the devil you made."

"Another for the weeping mother who lost their child before it even got a chance to see its first birthday."

"Can't forget poor Woodie, who lost everything. His livelihood." Thunk. "Home." Thunk. "Friends." Thunk. "Family." Thunk. "Lover." Thunk.

The shiny pins littered his wings, the silver cauterising the wounds before they bled too much. Trying to struggle just sent waves of pain through him; his shrieking, lost to the ruckus of the hunt in the distance.

This was surely his demise. To be tortured by Charlie. He glared at her, only getting a smile in response, ruby eyes glowing in the moonlight. The countess spun one of the pins between her fingers, moving it towards his body. The tip irritated his waist as she held it there, her own hands steaming. "This one is for betraying my trust." This time Maxwell screeched as she pressed it deeper and deeper into his flesh. His body pulled against the stakes, only causing more pain to wrack through him. "This one is for breaking my heart." She sent one through his shoulder, the pain was unbearable. She shook his head between her fingers, taunting him. "Don't pass out on me. Pay attention Maxy. This one is the most important one." Pressing it against his chest, she ensured to go as slow as possible. She didn't want to hit something vital, she wanted him to suffer. "This one Maxy… This is for Winona… my sister Maxwell. My SISTER!" She pushed it as far as it would go, cracking deep into the rock behind him. His vision faded. Blood filling his lungs. He was powerless, completely vulnerable and exposed. Yet. She didn't kill him. No. She moved away, outstretching her wings. Bid him farewell and then she was gone, not even worth a glance over the shoulder.

...

When the king came to, he could see the faint colour change of the clouds that signalled daybreak. He could hardly breathe, pain making him numb. How long had he been there? Trying to move, Maxwell pulled on his limbs. A thousand daggers shot up and down his spine. (Damn it to hell that hurt.) It was almost sunrise. He needed to move. The process of trying to dislodge his wings took forever, the easiest way to break free was to tear his own flesh from the stakes. So, he tore through the membrane of his wing, freeing it from the glistening pins that held him. With that same shaking wing he worked at the other ones. His shoulder and waist, the other wing. Soon it was only the one deeply embedded in his chest. She had missed his heart, but he guessed that was her intention. His eyes filled with water, nothing had brought him to tears in centuries… The stake refused to budge as the sun peaked over the horizon. Its beams began to peak out from the hills, searing the skin and fur on Maxwell's body. At first it was tolerable but as it rose higher, so did the intensity of the rays. Soon it was causing smoke to rise off his body. Shouting in agony he pulled at the stake again, this time it seemed to melt away like ice in warm water. He fell, landing on the ground. Relief spreading through him. However, he wasn't done yet. He needed the shade. Maxwell tried to fly to a window but his wings were in tatters, there was no way that would happen. His next plan was a drain, there was one by the fountain.

The crawl was agony; a blazing fire within each and every fibre that moved. It was a miracle he made it into the sewers before the sun reached him. The haze of whatever was halting his transformation began to lift, a faint energy fluttering through his being. He'd make his way inside and make Wilson fix his wounds...

xX~~~Xx

Wilson had spent a good few hours keeping an eye on Willow, watching as she fell asleep to ensure there was no more water in her system. She had obviously reached her emotional limit, something that was likely partly his fault. He'd be gentler with her from now on. While she rested, Wilson took the liberty of dressing her burn. However, as he inspected her hands, he found no swelling or blistering. It was intriguing to say the least. She had only touched the log for a second, perhaps she was lucky and didn't actually get a burn.

"Mr Skitz please take her measurements while I look for Maxwell. If she wakes up while I'm gone, please keep an eye on her. Tend to her needs and alert me to anything concerning." The shadow creature nodded at his master and got to work as Wilson left the room. Now for Maxwell.

...

Wilson searched every room to no avail, he even began to search outside, checking the maze where the hunt took place. Maxwell had vanished, well and truly. It didn't sit right with Wilson. The heir was about to head back to his room when one of the ghouls approached him. "Master Wilson, master Maxwell requires your presence in your study."

"Thank you, dismissed." He had already looked there damn it! What on earth was this man playing at?! Wilson swiftly made his way to his study, (more of a laboratory really) annoyance prevalent in his being. This annoyance melted however when he saw the elder slouched in a chair, wounded. "What on Earth happened to you?!" Maxwell's head rose lazily, exhaustion in his eyes. Wilson made for his medical supplies, bringing them over to the injured vamp.

"Foul play. I was almost murdered."

"Well it's a shame they failed."

"Hilarious Higgsbury." Rubbing a salve into the wounds, Wilson noticed that they had been semi-cauterised. Such a wound was a trade-mark of silver weaponry, one of the only materials effective on their species. The wounds were not inflicted upon areas known to be fatal such as the heart or brain and his wings were in absolute shreds. Whoever had done this was either sloppy or wanted Maxwell to suffer.

"Were they a hunter? I can see they used silver."

"It was one of our own." Maxwell saw the questioning in Wilson's eyes, he wanted more of an explanation. "I angered Charlie years before she turned, it seems the wounds are still fresh after all this time."

"Charlotte did this do you?"

"Yes."

"I assume you want to make me do something about her then."

"Actually, I'd rather you not in this case." The prince looked up, cocking an eyebrow at the king.

"You don't want me to do something? Have you finally given up your blackmailing ways?"

"I'm afraid not. I'm still going to need your help to become a member of your father's council."

"Then she's receiving special treatment." Wilson's expression softened, a child-like curiosity spreading across his features. "You like her." Perhaps for the first time in a millennium or so, Maxwell could feet a heat in his cheeks.

"No, don't be absurd. I just... deserved what she did to me is all."

"Right. I'm sure the great and powerful Maxwell is as modest as his title suggests."

"Of course I am. In fact, enough about me. How is your prey?" His Willow... Foolish but brave.

"You don't actually care about her. You just want to change the subject."

"Can't say I didn't try." Hissing through gritted teeth, Maxwell adjusted his position. "How long will this take to heal?"

"Hard to tell. A long time I assume, they're deep."

"Don't tell anyone of my condition until I recover. Charlie may attempt a second strike if she knows I'm weak. Tell anyone who asks that I'm travelling." With a nod, Wilson stood, admiring his handiwork.

"You should feed and rest meanwhile, you've lost blood from what I can see."

"Understood."

"I'd like my lab back by the way, so get out of here." Wilson pivoted and began to leave, halting in the door way. "Where exactly did she attack you and with what?" Were her intentions to kill him? Why not just go through the heart if so?

"In the courtyard, with stakes. The strangest thing occurred."

"Hmm?"

"One of the stakes melted. I would appreciate if you investigated for me." Melting silver stakes? Sounded more than ludicrous to Wilson. Deep down this information made him a little excited, he loved to investigate. (Not that he would show his excitement to Maxwell.) Instead he gave a grunt and took his leave.


I've been unsure of posting chapters because I'm not happy with them/exam period at uni.

I think I'm just hitting some writers block and that's why I'm not happy, not actually the work quality itself.

Anyways; back to Willow next chapter!