The Pain of Wounds
"How sharper than a serpents tooth it is to have an ungrateful child"
5.00 am 1st November 2003, a mansion somewhere near New York
At this early hour of the morning it was still dark but that didn't bother Richard. His eyes with their green sclera and catlike pupils saw just as well in this weak light as a normal human at mid day. Thus he was able to enjoy his favorite breakfast, a nice raw juicy steak from which the blood dripped as he bit into it. Heavy brows met in a frown as he felt some drops trickling down his chin. He wiped it off with the back of his hand and felt the bristles. It would be time to shave soon and shower. Keeping himself well-groomed was important. It helped him to bear a little less resemblance to a werewolf.
Slightly pointed ears twitched as he heard the creak of the floorboard and his nose picked up the faintest scent of jasmine. Slowly the room lit up as Fushido Takeda adjusted the light being careful not to hurt Richard's sensitive eyes. Being an empathic she could feel the pain and emotions of others and that may have been one of the things that made her a gentle and compassionate soul. Richard Svensgaard gave her one of his usual broad smiles, the effect only slightly marred by the prominent fangs.
"So nice to see you looking so beautiful Kami not like this scruffy werewolf."
Kami was beautiful, a young Japanese woman of almost ethereal beauty with all the elegance and grace of that people. Her dark eyes glinted with amusement as she gave him a slight bow in acknowledgment of the compliment. She frowned slightly in disapproval of Richard's breakfast but then gave him a nod to show she accepted his unspoken apology.
"It's nice to see you too Richard-san. You alone I find human amongst these people."
Any good humor Richard had been feeling promptly washed away. A tear may or may not have formed at the corner of his eye as he remembered happier times. Hank patient, gentle, wise and playful who had nursed him back to health and been the friend he needed. Logan gruff, violent, harsh but underneath it compassionate and the one who had taught him so much. How to fight and how not to be frightened of the savage side but to accept it and tame it. Other faces, Scott, Jubilee, Ororo, Xavier, Remy, Jean who he missed so much. A family who had replaced the one he lost and was lost in turn. Kami felt Richard's pain and grieved also.
A ball of multi-colored light floated into the room and hovered above the table, pulsating and spinning before finally bursting in a scintillating storm of sparks. The mood lightened as the innocence and simple joy of Annalise once again entered their lives. She seemed to glide rather than walk and even Richard could not hear her arriving. Once she was there it was impossible not to notice her however. The kimono like robes she wore were a literal rainbow of every imaginable color and contrasted strongly with the simple black and white half smiling and half frowning mask she wore. As always her long auburn hair was swaying in an unfelt breeze and the glint of blue eyes from the masks eye slits shone with joy.
"Do you like the taste of purple Richard? It is my favorite but I like orange too. Which do you like the most Kami?"
"I don't think we can Conundrum although you might be able to. If I could though I think I would like green the best since I find it calming and it reminds me of nature."
"Mine would be red like the nice steak I just had. Come over here though sister because I've got something for you."
Richard held out the wooden block and it promptly floated over to Annalise. With the slightest shimmer it seemed to slowly but surely dissolve before reforming into a perfect if miniature replica of a castle. The detail was exact down even to the smallest arrow slit or battlement. Carefully Conundrum set down the castle and looked up at her brother and best friend awaiting there reaction. Fushido and Richard clapped their hands politely and Richard flashed his sister an approving grin. The castle was a thing of great beauty and it was a shame that it was promptly broken by the flying spine.
Conundrum through up her hands and gave a gasp of dismay while Kami shuddered as she felt the other woman's sadness. Richard simply growled deep in his throat and displayed his fangs for once resembling the beast that was his namesake.
Mantichora simply chuckled and strutted into the room feeling very pleased for destroying Conundrums creation. To put it plain and simply he was a bully and Conundrum presented him an easy target. It was almost as amusing as watching the slow death throes of the animals he tortured. Mantichora met Richard's gaze and simply sneered displaying his own impressive canines. The frill of spines at his shoulders quivered slightly, an unspoken threat which indicated that they might shoot across the room at a moment's notice. Those spines were deadly too, tipped with a neurotoxin that could paralyze or kill a victim within minutes. These spines combined with his vaguely leonine appearance, dermal armor plating and savage claws made him a very dangerous being.
"Aw did I break your little castle Connie? Now why would I go and do a mean old thing like that? The answer is because it's fun," Mantichora's voice resembled gravel in a cement mixer.
"You play a dangerous game chum. My sister could easily tear you apart on a molecular level. You would be a pile of dust right where you stand and do you know what? We wouldn't lift a finger to stop her."
Mantichora leaned in close to Richard and laughed right in the feral's face. Richard kept his face carefully expressionless and fought back his tide of rising anger. He didn't want to give this bully the satisfaction of knowing that he was getting to Richard. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Kami had already left the room probably sensing what was going to happen. Richard didn't blame her at all, with Mantichora the further away the better.
"You know Mantichora you're just not worth it."
With that Richard got up and deliberately turned his back on his aggressor stifling a yawn as he did so. Predictably this enraged Mantichora and with a snarl a spine was released hissing through the air towards Richard's undefended back. The spine never reached its target as it was plucked from the air by a gray-furred hand. Richard heard Mantichora gulp nervously and allowed himself a moment of amusement. Like most bullies Mantichora was a coward at heart. The moment passed and Richard felt pure anger. He had just been saved once again by the man he loathed with a passion.
"Really Richard that was most foolish of you. Haven't I taught you better than that?"
"McCoy, I suppose I owe you my gratitude. Thanks," said Richard in his iciest tone.
"You're welcome." McCoy's smile didn't quite reach his eyes and from his posture Richard knew he had succeeded in offending him. At least that was one positive thing he had managed this day. McCoy made no further comment but turned towards the quavering Mantichora. The mutant wisely made no move to defend himself as McCoy's fist slammed into his chest with the force of a sledgehammer. Thrown across the room by the force of the blow Mantichora slammed into a wall to lie dazed on the ground.
McCoy's leap easily carried him across the room and he knelt beside his downed victim placing Mantichora's own spine at his throat. The yellow eyes seemed to glow with bestial triumph as McCoy paused for a moment to enjoy his victim's terror. He pressed lightly with the spine not quite pricking the tender skin and when he spoke his tone was harsh.
"The interesting thing Mantichora is that like the scorpion you are not immune to your own venom. I just need to apply the tiniest pressure and the toxin will enter your bloodstream bringing paralysis in minutes and shortly afterwards death by asphyxiation. Do you know how terrifying it is not to be able to take a breath and know that you are going to die knowing that the minutes until you black out will seem an eternity? Give me one reason why I should spare you for your foolish attack on Svensgaard?"
"P-please, m-mercy, I-I'm sorry, p-please," Mantichora's voice was a nearly inaudible whisper. For long moment's McCoy simply glared down at his victim but finally relented and threw the spine aside. Rising he pointed towards the door and Mantichora wisely left the room feeling lucky to still be breathing.
In an instant McCoy was all smiles once more and he turned to Conundrum. Embracing her in a gentle compassionate hug he kissed the cheek of her mask. She giggled in delight and conjured up another globe of multicolored light which pulsated and emitted a melodious humming noise.
"How magnificent my dear. Now why don't you just go off and play while I have a little talk with Richard."
"Yes daddy," said Conundrum and she glided out of the room creating a small swarm of butterfly like lights which weaved in intricate dances around her head.
McCoy gave one of his rare genuine smiles as she left before turning to the still seething Richard. Loping across the room he placed a comforting hand on the ferals shoulder and chuckled as Richard angrily shrugged it off. McCoy shook his head in seeming sorrow and gave a weary sigh before speaking.
"Richard, I really don't deserve this treatment from you. I'm not a monster despite my looks and I've never treated you with anything less than kindness. Didn't I save your life all those years ago when you lay bleeding and dying in the gutter? Didn't I reunite you with the sister you thought lost forever? Didn't I just prevent you receiving a nasty injury from Mantichora? Richard I've protected you, cared for you, treated you like a son and yet a little respect or even love is just too much to ask from you? Tell me Richard what have I done wrong?"
"How can you just one minute be about to kill a man and the next want to play happy families? You are a monster McCoy, a ruthless sadist who performs perverted experiments on innocent humans, kills for his own amusement. Oh yes I saw the blood on your shirt last night. What did this one do McCoy? Have the misfortune to meet a bastard like you and pay the ultimate price?"
"I will forgive you this once Richard but you should be aware. I've killed men for saying less than what you just got away with. I care for you enough to tolerate a hell of a lot but my patience has limits. Look just try and at least be civil if only not to upset your sister."
The slap came as a surprise and even though his fur absorbed some of the impact it still stung. Snarling McCoy raised a fist but then stopped himself realizing that this would just confirm what Richard had said. Instead he simply allowed him to turn and leave hurriedly as if fearing his imminent demise. McCoy simply watched with some sorrow as Richard left. Why couldn't Richard just accept that McCoy was genuinely fond of him and that he was the closest thing to a son that he had. Why couldn't Richard accept that with the help of Maeve McCoy was finding emotions in himself he had thought he could ever have. How sharper than a serpent's tooth indeed.
Maeve paused in her reverie as she remembered times long past. The reminiscences were bittersweet but she had loved Keats. She had visited him many times giving him inspiration for his poems by her tales of lovers past and other poets long ago. He had written a very special poem just for her which she had been the cause of her decision to spare McCoy. Yes she had loved Keats enough to grant him the quick merciful and painless death he had longed for when he was slowly dying of tuberculosis. She was glad he had gone without pain but he hadn't known the price he was asking of her. She tried to pretend they were just cattle and indeed some of them were but she took no pleasure from ending lives. She just tried to make it as quick and painless as she could even use her telepathy to bring them into euphoria.
"My name is Maeve and I have been succubus, Leanan-sidhe, Queen of Air and Darkness, vampire. The muse of poets and musicians and artists who brings death but also inspiration to her victims and is both loved and feared. No-one asks what price I must pay in my heart when all the men I have loved lead short but brilliant lives. They love not poison that do poison use. I have no choice if I am to survive and I can't change what I am but how I wish I could."
She paused again as she felt his presence drawing closer with her mind. He was as troubled as she was and had his own sadness. She quickly concentrated on visualizing joy and soon everyone within miles around felt joy within their hearts although they knew not why. Still Maeve felt no joy of her own. The door opened and McCoy was there and seeing him gave her some joy.
"How goes thy day mine hirsute amour?"
"He still hates me Maeve. Apart from that I've contacted Mr. LeBeau and he will assist us with our little task if the price is right. On this happier note let's see if we can cheer ourselves up."
Maeve smiled and patted the bed besides her invitingly and McCoy needed no words to realize what she was suggesting. He grinned happy to oblige and in the next hour or so, the joy they felt made them forget all about their earlier troubles.