Clarence was nervous, shaky, as he made his way through the streets of Whitechaple. He knew most people didn't believe him about vampires, but the Guard of Priwen would at least hear him out. He hoped they would, at any rate. If Jonny- Reid, he reminded himself, was a threat, and had somehow eluded the Guard, he had to tell them. ...Didn't he? Crossley tried to suppress a shudder as his mind went over another what if? 'What if he's still Jonny, behind the shadows, blood, and teeth? Wouldn't telling the Guard doom him?' He shook himself roughly, he'd get nowhere like this. Find Priwen first, then, once he had more information, Clarence could worry about it.
He'd finally been directed to where the main force of the Guard was. Now that he had found himself here, he found himself apprehensive. Priwen were serious vampire hunters, would they listen to him? Or laugh him out like everyone else? Clarence forced himself to go up to the door of the building, and knocked before he could lose his nerve. He was surprised when a massive bear of a man answered the door. Crossley managed to stammer out, "I-I'm here because I have information about a vampire."
The man gave him a curious look, before backing out of the doorway, and beckoned him inside. The massive individual looked over the mousy, shaking man who had sought out the Guard. "I'm O'Connor, the second in command for the Guard of Priwen." He closed the door, and guided the man further in, leading him to the kitchen. Beamard sat the man down at a table, and handed him a cup of tea. "Now, who are you, sir, and what information do you have about a vampire?" The Priwen lieutenant sat across from the nervous man, his own cup of tea in hand, patiently waiting. Something about the man was vaguely familiar, but he couldn't figure out why.
"My- my name is Clarence Crossley." He wrapped his hands around the cup, letting the warmth of the tea ground him. The man took a sip, the flavor was light, calming. He let himself relax some, and took a few minutes to gather his thoughts. He took a few more sips of the tea, before setting the cup down with a click. "I know someone who turned out to be a vampire," Crossley started, slowly looking up at the man. "He claims he's only taken one life as a vampire, and said he's still himself, still my friend, but..." His grip tightened around the cup until his knuckles were white, "But I don't know if I can trust him. Even after he protected me when another vampire tried to kill me. And still I can't…" Clarence trailed off, his voice cracking. "Can't bring myself to believe him, not after I saw that officer tear a soldier's throat out during the war."
Beamard's expression softened at what the man had said, and folded his hands in front of himself. "I am sorry to hear that, Mr. Crossley," he said, voice low. "Both that you were attacked by a vampire, and for what you witnessed during the war." He gave the man a chance to collect himself before he continued trying to gently obtain the information the shaken man had been trying to share. "Now, are you up to sharing the name of the individual who you found out was a vampire?"
He let out a shuddering breath, and let go of his cup, clasping his own hands. Clarence's head bowed towards the table as he spoke in a hush. "Jonathan Emmet Reid, my best friend." His head jerked up in shock as he felt something wet on his face. Crossley slowly placed a hand to his cheek, surprised when it came away wet. When had he started crying? A broken sob left his throat, "Jonny, my best mate, he's-" It was truly starting to sink in, now that Jonathan, his friend, the one who had been his best man during his wedding, was likely gone for good, replaced by a monster with his face. It was little wonder he broke down, crying.
The Priwen lieutenant felt for this man, but had to ask something before he decided how to handle this. "Mr. Crossley, forgive my asking this while you're in this state," Beamard caught the distraught man's attention. "But when did you learn this?" He noticed the man fishing around for a handkerchief, and pulled one out, offering it to him.
Clarence took the offered cloth, doing his best to mop up the tears he'd shed. Once he managed that, he was able to answer. "Last night, or this morning, depending on how late it was."
A hum left O'Connor, and he nodded to himself. "And I take it Dr. Reid looked like a little horse, on top of displaying vampiric abilities?" When Crossley startled at that, offering no more than a surprised nod of his head, Beamard gave him a warm smile. "The Guard has been aware of Dr. Reid's status as an Ekon, the type of vampire he is, for nearly as long as he's been back in London."
He stood, and gestured for Clarence to follow him. "Now, at first, Priwen thought him a threat, like any other vampire." Once he was sure the smaller man was following him, Beamard walked further into the building. "However, he's defied what we expect Ekons to behave like, time and again." He gave the man a quick glance over his shoulder, seeing the confused expression on his face. "Well, perhaps it's best you talk with the boss, McCullum, he can explain things a bit better, Mr. Crossley." The man let an amused smile cross his face, "Including how Dr. Reid wound up a tiny talking equine."
Clarence could only trail after the man, a very confused "What?" slipping from his lips, as he allowed a tiny flicker of hope to spark in his chest, that maybe, just maybe, what Jonathan had said was true.
A loud series of knocks pulled McCullum from his sleep. The man-turned-pony groggily sat up, batting away the covers. He pushed away the curtains, squinting at how bright the early morning sunlight was, more so to one who'd gone to bed not long ago. An irate growl left the hunter as he rolled out of bed, shuffling along looking for his clothing. "Whatever it is, it better be bloody important!" He hollered at whomever was banging on his door, far from pleased to be woken up so soon.
O'Connor's voice sounded from the other side, "I've someone who I think needs to talk with you boss. And I don't think it can wait too long." He motioned for Clarence to give him a moment, before he slipped into Geoffrey's room, his bulk blocking the man's curious gaze before he shut the door softly behind him. Seeing the head of the Guard groggily stumbling about looking for his clothes, hooves clopping loudly caused Beamard to stifle an amused chuckle. He moved over to McCullum, handing him one of the pairs of pants suited for his current form.
He snatched the pants in a hoof, and began the process of getting them on, without his tail getting stuck in a pant leg, and through the hole in the back for it. McCullum hunted around for a shirt after he got his pants done up, glaring at his second every so often. "Well, what's so important you had to wake me up?" He found a clean shirt, and threw it on, a muffled curse everytime a button slipped from the odd grip of his forehooves.
"Someone came in to report Dr. Reid as a vampire." Beamard stated. He watched his boss, expression carefully neutral. "Do you remember the man who'd stand around in the West End at night, handing out pamphlets about vampires, and going door to door to try and spread information about them?" He noticed as the equine stilled, turning to stare at him.
Geoffrey nodded, watching his lieutenant for any signs of this being a joke. "Crossley, or something like that, aye?" At Beamard's affirmation, he turned to give the man his full attention. "Alright, what abo-" He cut himself off, one hoof messing his mane as he groaned. "Feckin' hell, don't tell me that tosser's the one who came to report Reid?" He ran his hooves down his face as a muffled "It's too early for this shite," left him.
The lieutenant cleared his throat, recapturing Geoffrey's attention. "I'm afraid it's a bit more complicated than just that, sir." As the pony looked up at him, O'Connor's expression softened. "The man's full name is Clarence Crossley, sir." He threw a quick glance back over to the door. "He claims to be Dr. Reid's best friend." The man rubbed at his chin, "Now that I'm thinking about it, I think I've seen him in the hospital a number of times for treatment when I stopped by to see Gertrude."
The hunter turned around, marched over to his bed, grabbed his pillow, and promptly shoved it to his face to muffle a scream of exasperation. McCullum let the pillow drop as he moved over to his desk, and slumped into his seat. "That would be Reid's feckin' luck." He lightly massaged his temples with his hooves, a sigh leaving him. "Aye, he's likely telling the truth about being the leech's friend." Geoffrey had an inkling of what might need to be done, and pulled a number of files over to himself, placing the ones he'd thought would be needed first on top. "The reason you saw him in the hospital was because Reid mentioned helping his friend Clarence try to recover from something that had happened to him, not my place to say what." He leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "And now, we need to do what exactly, O'Connor?"
Beamard looked at the tired posture of his boss, he hated having to do this to him so early, but the sooner they nipped what could turn into a very serious problem in the bud, the better. "Mr. Crossley seems to have issues with vampires because of an attack he witnessed while fighting in the war, sir." The man crossed his arms, head tilted in thought, "He also seems genuinely upset because he believes the good doctor can't be any different from other vampires." The man reached up to give his pet rat, Francach, a quick scratch on the head when he peaked out of the man's coat collar. "Despite the fact Dr. Reid saved him from another ekon last night, knowing the risk it posed."
"Feck," Geoffrey said softly into the quiet of the office, as another sigh escaped him. "Alright, since you said it happened last night, I assume that means he also knows about Reid's current issue?" When O'Connor gave him a nod of affirmation, McCullum propped his forelegs on his desk, resting his head in one hoof. "Show Mr. Crossley in, may as well let him know that despite the odds, Reid's not the monster leeches tend to be."
He gave his boss a nod, before retreating to fetch Clarence. He opened the door, pleased to see the mousy looking man still there. "My apologies, Mr. Crossley," Beamard said, and he gave the man a soft smile. "The boss was asleep, as like most of the Guard, he works nights." O'Connor stood back to let the man enter the leader's room. As he entered, the lieutenant added, "Oh, by the way, he had a bit of a mishap recently, so the boss will look a little off."
A sharp snort left McCullum, "Aren't you the comedian, today, O'Connor?" He gave the man an unamused glare, before turning his attention to the surprised, thin man looking at him in shock. Geoffrey leaned forward in his chair, and propped his head on his hooves. "So, I've been told you found out both the fact Reid's an Ekon, and his current problem of being cursed to be a tiny talking horse, Mr. Crossley?" He arched an eyebrow as he watched the confused man gape like a fish at him. The hunter waved a hoof at Beamard, "Can you bring one of those chairs over for our guest, if you would?"
Clarence sat down hard in the chair that was brought over to him, still trying to wrap his mind around the scarred, talking equine giving orders. "You- I don't- What?!" He managed to stammer out, half-believing this was some sort of fever dream or hallucination. The man sagged, dazed from the overload of information and what his mind could accept for the moment. Crossley held his head in his hands, "What is even going on? Why do you look like…" He trailed off, head slowly raising from his hands as things slowly started to piece together. "Whatever you are, it's just like Jonny."
"Aye," Geoffrey gave the man a nod. "That would be because I asked Reid to help me sort through some things the guard had that were…" He trailed off, and rotated one hoof in a circle as he tried to think of a way to phrase it. "Of questionable safety," McCullum let one hoof tap against the desk. "This is not the first time I've wound up in a situation like this. First time I don't even look remotely human anymore, though." A snort left him. "I'd asked Reid for his help, because I figured if something did turn out to be magical or cursed, his being a lee- an Ekon, he'd have a better chance of resisting it." The hunter gestured to himself, "As I think you can see, it didn't quite work out for either of us."
He mashed his hands to his face, trying to understand just what was going on. "So, wait, you, the head of the largest vampire hunting group in London, not only asked a vampire to help you sort through magic items," Clarence asked, voice steadily gaining in volume and pitch. "But invited him into your base, why?" His voice cracked in the end with confusion.
"Perhaps, sir," Beamard started, "it might be best to start with the beginning, how you met Dr. Reid, and what led to you changing your mind about him." The large Priwen second said, making his way out of the room, "While you do that, I'll go fetch a pot of tea for Mr. Crossley, and some coffee for you, sir, I imagine this retelling will take a bit of time."
McCullum nodded, "Aye, you do that." He turned his attention back to the man sitting in front of him. He looked far from peak health, but he still looked better from what little he could remember of the man from the Guard's time stationed in the West End during the epidemic. "Now, let me tell you about how I met Reid during the Skal Plague last year, and how that bastard has flown in the face of nearly everything I thought I knew about how leeches act."
"So, wait," Crossley sat slightly more at ease in the chair facing McCullum's desk now, after the long story. He picked up his teacup, sipping at it while he gathered his thoughts. "You're telling me Jonny took out whatever was the source of the plague last year, which had a supernatural origin?" The man was still having a hard time processing what he had been told, and read in the reports. "All this, after being a vamp- sorry, Ekon, for about a month?" Clarence sat his tea down, and ran a hand through his hair in a nervous gesture. "And he was telling the truth about only having killed one person, on accident?"
The hunter nodded absentmindedly to the frail man seated across from him, sipping at his coffee while he filled out a number of forms he had left for the last minute. "Aye, that's right. Reid's been a better man than a number of people I could name, and he's been a damned leech for the last year." McCullum moved the finished sheet to the correct pile, and pulled the next one over, tapping the butt of the pen on the desk as he looked up at Crossley. "Add the fact he's been responsible for handing out medicine, for free, to people in districts that would never be able to pay for it, let alone the fee to see a doctor, and well…" He trailed off, letting the man think over the information he'd been told.
Clarence's leg bounced with nervous energy as he turned everything over in his mind. "But…" He looked up at the pony behind the desk, seeing him watching him. "But what if it's all some plot to get everyone to let down their guard?!" Try as he might, he just could not wrap his mind around the idea that a vampire could do good, could be good. "He's immortal now, he's got how much time to wait out any plan he has?" A thought struck him as he looked over at the annoyed expression on the equine's muzzle, and Crossley backed away as far as he could in the chair. "What if he's mesmerized you?" He whispered, horror in his voice.
He grit his teeth, ears pin against his head in anger as he resisted the urge to slam his hoof down onto the desk, glaring at the man. "Leech mind tricks do not work on me," McCullum ground out. He sagged when he saw the real fear he'd caused on Clarence's face. Geoffrey sighed through his nose as he tried to rein his temper back. "Look, Mr. Crossley, I'm going to tell you something I omitted from the story." He leaned back, and crossed his forelegs over his chest. "Something that only my captains and lieutenant know." He tipped his head back to stare at the ceiling for a moment, gathering his thoughts before he looked back at Clarence. "I told you there was a point during the epidemic I was sure Reid had a hand in it." He rubbed at his muzzle, ashamed of how blinded he'd been. "And I told you once I stopped being stupid, I realized he couldn't have been responsible, he wasn't even in Britain, let alone London, when the problem started." McCullum tapped one hoof against the chair. "What I didn't tell you was what caused me to re-think my opinions about Reid."
Slowly, he sat back properly in his chair, nervous about another outburst. He cautiously picked up his cup, sipping at his tea, before he could find his voice again. "What-" Clarence's voice cracked, and he coughed for a moment, and took a drink of tea so he could try again. "What caused you to change your mind?" He wrapped and unwrapped his hands around the cup, just for something to do.
Geoffrey leaned forwards, resting his forelegs on the desk, "Like I said, I was convinced Reid was in part responsible for the Skal Plague, so, I set a trap for him." His ears drooped as he stared down, forehooves gripping each other. "I had UV lights set up, doused him in orichalcum powder, which burns leeches and slows their regeneration, cut off any escape routes, and had the help of the most powerful relic the Guard has." He tilted his head up to look at Crossley, eyes full of remorse. "I'm not proud of what Priwen did to get Reid there, or that I forced him into a fight while he pleaded that we didn't have to do this, that we were both fighting to save the city."
A sigh left McCullum as he leaned his head on one hoof, idly rolling the pen across the desktop with the other. "But I was so sure I was right. I was the strongest I had ever been." He gave a self-deprecating laugh, "I was a fool, and you know what? I fought my hardest, trying to kill him, while he was just trying to survive and incapacitate me." He held his forelegs out, staring at the frogs of his hooves, "All that, and he still won," The hunter turned his gaze to Clarence as he let his forelimbs fall to the desk. "Reid had me on my knees, and I spat at him, told him to kill me, because if he didn't I'd never stop hunting him." A snort of wry humor left the stallion as he shook his head before refocusing on the man. "And you know what he did? He let me go."
Geoffrey leaned back in his chair, looking over the man that said he was, or had been, Reid's best friend. Whether or not that was still the case remained to be seen. "That's what it took for me to stop being an idiot, Mr. Crossley." He tapped his hoof in a slow rhythm, waiting to see what the man would do. "So, while I may not have personally known Reid the man, I do know Reid the Ekon, and he has shown he is someone my troops and I can trust. That London can trust." He ran his hoof through his mane, and took a sip of his coffee before he addressed the man again. "I know you have your issues with leeches, Mr. Crossley, nearly everyone here in the Guard does too." He placed the cup down with a soft clink, "I can't tell you what to do with this information, or what to think about Reid, but…" He sighed, and looked at the frail individual, "If he's even half the man he used to be before his turning, I'd say it's a safe bet he really does still consider you his friend, Mr. Crossley." He folded his hooves over each other, head tilted slightly to the side. "Was there anything else?"
He shook his head as he slowly got to his feet, "No, Mr. McCullum." Clarence stared hard at the equine seated at the desk for a moment, "Actually, there is one thing, do you know if his mother knows?"
"Not for sure, no," Geoffrey shook his head, "But I think he meant to visit her last night, left as soon as he could once the sun went down." He scratched at his chin. "If he was ever going to tell her or that toff butler of his, he'd have done so yesterday."
Clarence looked at the curtain hiding the window, almost as if he could see the Reid Manor if he tried hard enough. "I see, well," he was silent for a moment. "Thank you, Mr. McCullum for at least hearing me out, and not tossing me out like most would." He slowly made his way out, mind preoccupied. "You've given me a lot to think about." The door closed behind Crossley with a click.
He shook his head again once his surprise visitor had left, pushing himself away from the desk and dropping to the floor. He began slowly padding back to his bed, hoping to catch what sleep he could, and that maybe, just maybe, he'd helped Reid and Crossley with that talk. Lord knows the leech could use some more friends he didn't have to hide from.
It had been hours now, since he had been to the Guard of Priwen, to report Reid as a vampire. Only to be told that not only did the Guard know about him already, but he wasn't considered an issue by them. Clarence had sat in his home, trying his best to put aside his fear and hatred for vampires, and think critically about everything he knew about Jonathan and his actions since his return to London.
Afterwards, he had to admit despite Reid's forced change to an ekon, and it was forced, from what he learned, very little about who he was as an individual had changed. He was, where it mattered most, the same old Jonny. The friend who had gotten his nose broken protecting him in school from a pack of bullies, the same friend who had been the best man at his wedding. ...The same friend who had been there for him and taken care of him after Venus had been arrested for trying to kill him with poison. Even as a vampire, he had been there for him and had been trying to help him recover from both what the war and his wife had done to him.
Jonathan had still been there for him, even knowing that should he be found out- Well, Clarence didn't know what Jonny thought might happen, but he'd been a right arse to his friend when he did. Even though he'd done nothing but try to help him. Ekon or not, Jonny was still his friend. Which was why Crossley found himself standing on the steps of the Reid Manor, a bit before sunset, knocking on the door before he could lose his nerve.
The door opened, and surprise briefly flickered across Avery's face. "Master Clarence, what an unexpected surprise, what can I do for you today?" He'd not seen Jonathan's friend in some time. He wondered what had caused him to come here now. Especially with his… vocal displeasure for vampires, and the young master's current condition. Though, given what he'd heard of other Ekons from Jonathan's story the other night, perhaps it was not unwarranted.
"Hello Avery," he said, a shaky smile on his face. "I um," he looked over his shoulder, making sure no one was paying attention to them. Seeing no one watching them, he turned back to Cork. "I need to talk with Jonathan once he's up." Clarence rubbed one of his arms, his smile turning brittle.
Avery kept his face carefully blank. "I'm afraid Master Jonathan's not seeing anyone at the moment, Master Clarence." He began to close the door as quickly as he could without seeming rude, "If there is nothing else-" He startled when Crossley placed his hand on the door, trying to get it to halt.
His face crumpled, a guilty look taking the place of his brittle grin. "Look, Avery, I know, about Jonny." He stood there, head bowed. "He saved me last night, despite, well…" Clarence mentally shook himself, looking up at the butler. "The point is, he saved me, and I was- was less than gracious about it." He ran his hands through his hair just to do something with his nervous energy. "And I'm here because I wanted to apologize to him." He looked up, pleading, "Please, Avery, I just want to talk with him if he'll see me."
The butler looked at Crossley closely, thinking carefully. He sighed, and stepped back, opening the door fully. "Come in, Master Clarence." Once the man had entered the Reid Manor, Cork closed the door, and turned to give the man a stern look. "Now, I know you are Master Jonathan's friend, however, if you are here to cause him harm, I will throw you out of the home."
"I swear," Clarence said, looking miserable, "I just want to talk with him." He stood in the entryway, shoulders slumped. Crossley gave a cursory glance up in the direction of Jonathan's room, hoping he hadn't chased off the one friend who had still been there for him after the war.
Avery gave him a look, "Very well, you may wait in the kitchen or the parlor, if you like, just be aware Madame Emelyne is in the parlor at the moment." The man turned to resume his duties. "Master Jonathan should be awake soon. I shall ask if he wishes to see you then."
Jonathan awoke with a gasp, scrambling to sit up in his bed. He put a hoof to his chest, half-expecting to feel his heart start pounding in his chest again, given how he was hyper-ventilating. He took a moment to take some slow, deep breaths to calm his nerves. Once he'd calmed down, he noticed that he'd bloodied some of his pillows yesterday while crying. The ekon's ears drooped, "Oh, so last night did happen…" A sigh left him as he worked the cases off them to see if the blood had reached the pillows beneath. "Damn, it did get to the pillow." Jonathan poked at the dried rusty patches, then shook his head and got out of bed.
As he quietly clopped about the room, getting ready to start his night, he was pleasantly surprised to find the suit that had been damaged in the fight yesterday was not only clean, but the tears had been mended. A soft smile crossed his muzzle, "Bless Avery, the man doesn't get near enough praise for all he does." He managed to get his vest buttoned up as a knock sounded. A quick glance with his blood-sight told him it was the loyal butler he'd just been thinking of. "Come in Avery, is there something you need of me?" He blinked, letting his eyes fade back to normal.
"A few things, Master Jonathan." It was still strange to see the man he'd helped raise so casually using abilities he'd kept hidden over the past year, let alone as a little horse. Though it was nice that he wasn't hiding as many things from them now. "First, your mother seems to be having a rather good day, so far, and has requested you join her for a meal. Even should yours be in a glass." A slight smile graced the old man's face. "Second, I can see you've already found your suit, I took the liberty of having it mended." Cork's face adopted a more serious expression. "Third, Master Clarence has asked to see you, if you are willing."
He worried his lip with one fang, thinking. On one hand, he was hopeful that his friend wanted to talk. On the other, Clarence had made it plain how hurt he was that Jonathan was an ekon, and had hidden it from him. He paced around the room, trying to get his thoughts into some sort of order. "Did he say why he wanted to talk?" He glanced over to the faithful butler, gaze curious, but cautious.
Avery nodded, but kept his expression stern. "Yes, he said he wanted to apologize to you, Master Jonathan." The butler also gave the pony a look, both fond and exasperated. "He also mentioned you saved him last night, but not how, or from what. Though I imagine that's how your suit got damaged." He walked over next to the ekon, and in a rare display of affection, placed his hands on his shoulders. "Master Jonathan, I know you have been through more than we can imagine, but do try to be careful." Cork gave the equine's shoulders a quick squeeze, "It feels like we just truly got you back."
It felt like his throat closed up, overwhelmed by the unexpected sign of care. Jonathan rapidly blinked his eyes in an effort to keep from crying as he nodded. He coughed, clearing his throat. "I will, Avery, I promise." When Cork stepped back, the ekon quickly grabbed a handkerchief and dabbed at his face to make sure no blood was staining his fur. "Now, where is Clarence?"