Creeper's Captive
Chapter 23
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As the days passed a tense agreement...of sorts...had been successfully conjured by Alonus, between all of them. Trisha stayed close to Ami for her sanity, she didn't really want to be around the heradus and they chatted and ate meals together for several uneventful days. Ami was a bit surprised the vengeful woman was warming up to her but she figured it was a lot better than their last encounter so she made the best of it. Unforuntately about two weeks later Trisha became unwell and told Alonus as such. At one point she was feeling so bad she went to the house, stumbling, and took over the bed, not that Ami minded. She could find another place to sleep, but Trisha was feverish and pale, and Alonus became greatly worried.
The woman is sick, and the baby isn't developing well. She IS a breeder, but a weak match.
Ami could practically feel Alonus' sadness permeating her very soul. She reached out a hand entwining her clawed black hand with hers as the two of them sat on the log outside. Alonus we'll do everything we can. You have to stop acting as if you can fix everything. I know your pain. I'm here to help.
I know you are Ami. But if the baby does die, then she will too. OR vice versa. I won't tell Patricia this of course, but that is the unfortunate way of things.
Ami thought on this hard, as she briefly turned her gaze to the house, looking through the window to the bed. Sollie had decided he was going to help and sat in a chair next to the sleeping woman, flexing his little toes and watching her.
Ami gave a deep sigh. I know it's risky but the blood exchange, can Goliathus help her?
Alonus chuffed, shaking her head. He seems to have not even decided whether he will do that for you, let alone her. Besides she is too ill, doing that now would probably just fail.
At a loss, Ami got up from the log and looked towards the cave. Dinarius and Goliathus were talking in there, seemingly having formed at least some kind of friendship...or understanding at least. Ami was amazed at this but she was happy things were calm at the present time, at least for now. The crows were nearby but just being...well crows, and the wolves paced the perimeter of the area like guards but mostly just rested, hunted, and waited. Waited she supposed for Dinarius to call them should the need arrive. Kitsune looked most untrusting of the stillness, but Ami surely couldn't blame him. She knew there was hardly anything to suggest true peace had settled in...
There was a squeak and Alonus petted little Puvo who had landed on her shoulder. He could always seem to sense when she was upset about something.
Ami continued to stare at the cave. Goliathus?
There wasn't a long wait this time. He was getting better at talking, feeling less irritated all the time, which Ami was grateful for. That was another positive sign in her book.
Yes?
Trisha..she is ill.
Hm. Yes, I sense it.
Your mom says the baby isn't doing well either. Can you do anything to help her?
Goliathus' emotions turned to uncertainty. No, pet, I am afraid not. She will either get through this, or she will not.
But WHY is she sick, can you tell?
He sighed in her mind, but then Ami saw him at the entrance of the cave, and he swooped down towards her, landing with his huge talons sinking into the earth.
I will inspect her.
He said this in a way that Ami knew was meant merely to console her, and not much else. She sighed again and followed him back to the house.
Alonus was slightly alarmed as she saw her son trudging towards the door but she watched him in silence and followed the two inside. Surely she would watch over Trisha and make sure he didn't do anything untoward, but she also wanted to know what he could sense. Goliathus had a better scenting ability then she did. The simple answer was that he was a male, they were stronger in many, many ways.
He gave Trisha an olfactory assault near her midsection, and she did stir a little, but only coughed and buried her sweaty face into the crude pillow with a slight moan.
He snorted, and met eyes with Ami.
She has a virus. Perhaps influenza. The baby is putting much strain on her body. I also sense Trisha was drinking heavily at some point, her liver isn't as strong.
Drinking? Ami frowned wondering why, but she kinda did know the answer. Many turned to alcohol when stressed or dealing with huge problems...there was no doubt she was in a great deal of stress. Well I can help with this. Gollie if you can find some chickens I'll make her some soup. Uhh...I'll need carrots and potatoes too, all that good stuff. She needs proper, healing food and good hydration, that should get her better faster if it's the flu.
He gave her a slightly perturbed look but nodded. Alonus however, said she would find the other food, with a terse "just find the chicken" at her son's annoyed expression. He snorted again and took off quickly, probably just wanting to get the dull task over with sooner. Ami grinned at Alonus who chuckled and went in search of root vegetables. At the very moment Ami wondered where she would get it she heard Dinarius come swooping in.
Thought I'd give little guardian Sollie here a break and watch over her.
Thank you. Appreciated. Ami took Solarus and went to prepare some food for him, there were lots of deer carcasses around lately, and almost always fresh. But Ami had no complaints about this.
It was sure better than dead humans.
/
Goliathus flew around for quite some time until he found a farm, and a rather large one at that, with plenty of chickens. It was close to nightfall now and so much easier to hide. He crept around the old, rickety wooden fence perimeter and stayed near trees until he found the hapless birds. Quick as lightning he grabbed them so fast they didn't have time to even so much as squawk in protest as their necks were snapped. Oddly, he had a moment of wanting to eat one and so...he did. The feathers were annoying but the meat was strangely good. Not only that, the feet were especially crunchy and enjoyable. This thought made him feel entirely confused but he didn't bother to tell anyone that the deer were tasting better, too. It was a revolting mix of feelings and he didn't like it at all. He'd been eating animals for many, many days. He could still smell humans and still felt like hunting them...but he simply did not. Instead he'd go off and gut a deer. In fact, he found himself wishing Ami was still piling their offal for him like she had before so he could wolf it all down. That thought really shocked him. Feeling so confused he grabbed another chicken and took off towards home.
/
Back at the house Ami was already making the stew over the fire and had started with the vegetables Alonus had found surprisingly quickly. She too had to be quite discreet but numerous farms were out here, far off from their area, but still, plenty of produce was everywhere. Ami's mouth watered, getting proper food had been a rare thing with Goliathus before, but now with the other heradus here it was far more abundant. She was gonna eat a big bowl of this soup herself, but it still needed the chicken...
Here. Ami jumped back slightly from her crouched position near the fireplace. She glanced up, having not heard a sound when he arrived. I hate when he does that.
Two chickens were shoved towards her and Ami thanked him, even as he quickly left. Ami knew he was trying to keep a distance from Trisha as much as he could. It was better that way.
After butchering the chickens outside she finally had chicken and fat to add to the vegetable broth. The smells were so wonderful they made Ami think back to her cabin. To that fateful day she burned her near-perfect soup on the stove, fell asleep on the couch...and woke up to a shattered reality and an end of her normal life. It was a fleeting thought, however.
Hmm, this is good and ready. Alonus try and wake her, if you would. Ami got up and took a crude wooden bowl (Goliathus had carved her some kitchen items himself in the recent past and she didn't ask questions, just gratefully took the gifts) and ladeled some in for Trish then went over and tried to feed her some as Alonus supported her.
She was pale and trembling, but somehow managed to open her puffy eyes.
"Trish it's chicken soup. Here, try and get some down." Ami offered it and it seemed Trish gratefully took the spoonful.
"Wow. Just like my grandma's." She said weakly, but gave a faint smile. Ami handed her the bowl and she was able to feed herself, but as soon as she finished the small portion she refused more and passed out back to sleep.
Well she's a strong woman. I think she's gonna recover, I can feel it. Ami said, tucking the blankets around her.
I hope so. With your cooking she should. Alonus smiled warmly, truly grateful for her genuine efforts. And Ami...truly no woman can be stronger than you. Alonus left the room then to join the others at the cave.
Ami felt the tears tugging her eyes at such a compliment and wondered if it was true, but as she tucked into her own bowl of soup she realized that perhaps it was.
Because if she wasn't, surely, she wouldn't still be alive now.
/
Old farmer Taggart was well into his seventies, but still loved his work. After his back had recovered for the most part he was convinced to go harvest the corn with his son Jackie, and to try and forget the incidents at that crazy Facility for now. In truth, Jackie just wanted to get back to some semblance of normal life, but he knew his father never would. He had the sad thought that one day his dad was just gonna die at the hands of the Creeper, in some form or another, but he shook that thought from his mind and tried to busy himself with taking care of the crop. It was a good one, and meant good money for the farm, which they needed.
As Jackie headed deeper into the corn rows inspecting things, he heard a strange rustle. He looked around, half listening to his dad shouting at the combine harvester that wasn't starting for some reason. It seemed something was always breaking down on this farm.
Shaking his head he kept walking and heard it again, another rustle.
Jackiee!
Spinning around Jackie felt a forboding sense before he saw it coming towards him. Waving and coming in and out of view. It just couldn't be Billy, he was dead. And had been for years.
Jackie. Hey buttsniff, pay attention this time, kay bro?
The older brother tried hard to stop the tears but they came anyway. He just nodded. He had seen so many strange and very disturbing things in his life that he wasn't about to just ignore it or try to pretend it didn't exist anymore. He just nodded at the ghost of his little brother, with bloody shoulders and a torn up flannel shirt. Same exact clothes he had been wearing when that bat out of hell had grabbed him.
What you want, tadpole? He smiled at himself for using one of the many, childish names that they had called each other, all the time all those years ago.
Billy smiled, with arms folded. I became a part of him.
Huh?
The Creeper. That heradus creature. You met them right? And the mom, and the nephew...
Nephew? Jackie's jaw dropped. There's ANOTHER one?
Eh, it doesn't matter, bro. I'm just here to tell you that I'm OK. He took some part of my brain but it doesn't matter. I understand it all now. I'm with mom. He smiled, and Jackie felt more tears sting his eyes. I'm with mom Jackie, and I love ya. OK buttmunch? Go tell dad what I said, I'd appear to him but the ol' big wind would probably have a heart attack. Billy frowned then, the whole atmosphere changing. It's that priest whose bringing me here, so I can say goodbye, and so I can warn you. This dude, Barabas, says something else is awakening now. Something bad. Goliathus is getting better but there's another one out there...and he's bad news. I hate to bring this bad news, Jackie, but it's best you and dad stay out if it. Things are gonna get worse...way worse.
Jackie frowned now too, and felt fear rising as hairs stood on end along his arms. Oh shit. Not something worse. Worse than the Creeper?
Yeah. But guess what, the Creeper might be the only one who can deal with this guy. Look Jackie, I gotta go. But find that Jezelle pyschic lady. She might be able to tell you more.
And just like that Billy's ghost was gone, as if he had never even been there. Jackie nervously rubbed his fingers together while he stood there in the gently swaying corn, looking back towards his dad and wondering how he was gonna tell him all of this.
He decided in the moment that he simply wasn't going to. No, this crop had to come first. He sighed in relief as that damnable combine harvester finally started and heard his dad give a little whoop of victory at getting the cantankerous machine working.
Thank the stars in heaven. He didn't want to have to deal with this Creeper crap right now or a new threat or whatever his brother was talking about. No...not now.
/
Trisha awoke to find herself on the little bed in the old house, and next to her on a crude nightstand of sorts was another bowl of soup, still steaming. She gave a faint smile and sat up woozily, grabbing the bowl and surprising herself with finishing it rather fast. Damn but Ami was a good cook, truth to be told she'd never had such good chicken soup in her life.
Oh Trisha, are you feeling any better? You seem to be.
Almost involuntarily she jerked a little and looked over to see Alonus sitting nearby in a chair and leaning forward, relief and hope in her eyes.
"Yeah uh...I think so. Quite hungry, actually."
"I can get you more then." Alonus walked over to take her bowl and ladel her more soup.
"That was intense, whatever it was...geez I haven't been that sick since I was like ten and had a nasty case of strep throat. I remember Darry he was only about eight but he stayed by my side the whole time telling me funny or gross stories-" Trisha stopped herself, shook her head and tried to finish the soup, but now it was starting to stick in her throat.
All I can say is, your pain is well understood, Trisha. We've all been through such terrible pain. Alonus looked at her sadly, arms folded in front of her. And my son, too.
Trish nodded but it seemed she just hoped Alonus would stop talking about it. Lying back down she sniffed away a few tears. I wish Darry's ghost would just come talk to me again.
Why? He did speak to you before, with Barabas.
I miss his voice already. I don't want to forget anything about him. But as more time goes on, some things are fading away. Why does it all have to fade away, Alonus? I think I envy one thing about you heradus creatures...having such a long existance. We humans have short lives. It all seems so unfair sometimes, especially when someone has to die so young. Darry was only nineteen. He was my whole world, and I don't know if I can ever get past his death.
She felt then, her body enveloped by large, warm wings and strong arms, and Trish just cried into the shoulder of the mother of the one who killed her brother.
And it was the strangest, most confusing thing she had ever felt in her life.
/
Okay Dinarius...I didn't know YOU could draw so well, too! Ami was smiling, sitting in the cave with Dinarius who was drawing pictures for her of what their old home looked like, a beautiful, giant catherdral surrounded by a small, secluded town of some sort. He was also trying to remember details of other heradus he could remember. Meawhile, Goliathus seemed to be occupying his mind with making more weapons and it seemed he was trying very hard to ignore the fact that Ami and Dinarius were so close together with his breeder's rapt attention.
There was one called Oranus, who I think may have been auntie's great grandmother, but I don't remember much of her, I was very young. She was a dark blue though, with long blonde hair...
Dinarius did his best to draw her for Ami, who was marveling in awe at the pictures of the past being shown to her. Ami just couldn't grasp that at some point quite a few of these creatures existed, it seemed like another alternate reality or something.
She was good with herbs, and was a great healer. The humans that knew us considered her a kind of medicine woman, they even revered her like some kind of nature goddess. That was pretty common actually, to be considered like gods to humans...
While he drew, Puvo was on the table quivering his little nose and pushing colored pencils towards his master each time he needed a new color.
Blue, very blue, and her eyes I think were green-
Goliathus grunted. I was treated like a god by many tribes. He said, interrupting the other's mind speech.
Oh? Dinarius looked up at him, and so did Ami. He curiously cocked his head. Do you remember much about that?
Oh yes. It was a good memory. He smirked, tapping his claws on the table he crouched upon. The Aztecs considered me a dragon god. They raised human men for sacrifices. The leader would feed me their hearts, sometimes still beating. He grinned wider. Very tasty. During those times, things seemed better for a time with humans. I could be feared, but also respected.
Dinarius looked both amazed and disgusted with that revelation. He narrowed his eyes.
Seems to me you like the thought of eating human hearts, still.
The other snorted slightly but was working on the dagger again, carving something very detailed. He didn't respond to that and Dinarius shook his head and went back to his drawing.
Ami listened to him continue on about the family lineage but she was only half hearing him as she stared at Goliathus, who finally met eyes with her again after several long minutes.
Is he right? Is it still happening?
He didn't answer.
Goliathus?!
Here and there, Ami. Here and there. Mostly though I have tried to manage on deer, cows and whatever else you are all subjecting me to. What more do you want?
Ami got up and walked over to him slowly, taking the dagger out of his hands and putting her arms tight around his neck. His eyes widened slightly in surprise at this but he liked the contact and nuzzled into her hair.
Dinarius definitely noticed and stared at them, but said nothing.
She didn't let go for a while. This made him chuckle just slightly, she could feel the slight rumble in his chest. Do you want to go off somewhere again? Hm? Something you are wanting from me?
Ami pulled away, looking into his eyes. She tried her best to keep the conversation between them private especially when she could feel Dinarius watching carefully at her back.
Yes. I want you to take me off somewhere for an entire day where you can have your way with me in every position possible, At this she felt his rumble grow deeper, more growling in a way that was anything but unpleasant and his whole body seemed to shiver at her revelation. But also what I want from you is to try harder. You do realize you just admitted you've been trying to eat more animals? The fact that you are at all is...well...it's incredible to me. No one went out there and had to coax you to do it either. You just did on your own. It's something, Goliathus. Can't you see that you're stronger than you think you are?
He gave quite a snort. You're an odd little human. Admittedly, I have not known anyone to be like you.
She grinned. That's a good thing, right?
Yes. So you want a day together? Then let's take a day together, Ami. I would love to get away from them all and just have you and I again. He purred. And little breeder, your body is screaming out to me. How can I ignore it any longer? He made a snuffing sort of sound and drew her in close, nearly squeezing hard enough to take the breath out of her lungs but not hurting her really. His growls and purrs sent absolute shivers down every nerve of her body. Whatever you want me to do, I would be glad to oblige. The images of erotic and mischievous behavior he then sent through her mind made Ami blush intensely and she was very glad this was private, or at least she hoped to god it was. She'd be mortified if Dinarius picked up on any of it, and on that thought, she quickly broke the contact with a quick look behind her shoulder, as if to remind the other, very aroused heradus that his cousin was still there.
He chuffed in annoyance, but went back to his work for the moment.
I promise you. This will happen. Let me talk to Dinarius.
Ami turned around and finally went back to the table while Puvo gave a single, confused chirp in her direction.
It's ok cute little bat, all is well, I promise.
Ami what's going on? I could tell you were having some hidden conversation there, is he demanding you go off again with him? Dinarius stood, as if ready to shield her.
No, no. I actually told him I wanted an entire day together. And look before you say anything, he has admitted to really trying with the animals. I'm seeing progress! She smiled, so hopeful.
Dinarius sighed. Yeah maybe. But you also heard he still likes the memories of those sacrifices. Which suggests he hasn't stopped completely.
Things take time, Dinarius. I love Goliathus, and I can't give up on him, I just can't.
So, what? You really want to risk an entire day with him? Is that safe?
I've uh, I've been living with him for a long time now, if you hadn't noticed. And he's not killed me or anything...
Except he raped you more than once, and hurt you pretty bad on that hill...Ami LISTEN to yourself. You are justifying his behavior, even trying to overlook it. You are allowing this guy to manipulate you! Is that love? Is it?! Dinarius, with folded arms, was grimacing and trying to control his breathing.
She frowned. You seem to think you can claim to know what he's feeling, or what I'm feeling. If you love someone, Dinarius, you don't give up on them. So yeah, I think this really is love.
For YOU maybe. But he still calls you breeder. Like you're a brood mare. I don't think he loves you, only thinks he does. Maybe all he loves is having his little living possession to do with as he pleases. Dinarius snorted and walked away suddenly, leaving the cave. Puvo didn't follow at first, just looked at Ami. If a bat could express sadness, he was showing it for sure.
Puvo don't you worry. Go to your master where you belong.
The bat may not agree with him. Says he is jealous. Goliathus grinned at the furry critter. He is right, smart bat.
Ami chuckled. Goodness is that so? Huh, animals are always smarter it seems...they just know things. But yeah maybe he is a bit jealous. Dinarius is a great guy but he sees himself a failure. That young girl he couldn't save, remember? Alonus told me.
Hmm. Well that is my cousin' s own internal battle. We all have them, I suppose. In one form or another. He watched as Puvo finally left the cave, and Ami took this moment with him alone to embrace him into a kiss, which this time he accepted rather eagerly.
Off into the sun, little human? Where should we go, to have this day together?
Wherever you gods like to fly to, hm? A hidden cave somwhere? A desolate mountain where no one can find us or see us? She grinned. Oh mighty dragon god, I think you can imagine something good.
He grinned widely and nodded. Many hidden homes, many mountains. I know them all.
/
Author's notes- Whoo! Well goodness this is going in interesting directions. I could have made it longer but decided it delays the chapters too much. If you are enjoying, please leave a review. I don't think it will be long before next chapter is up, although I may need a few weeks. Finding time to write with a full time job isn't always easy but I do love it regardless. If you haven't read the comics btw, go read them. This chapter gives a little nod to that awesome story.
And holy hannah...JazzyHands02 HOLY CRAP I love your ideas, and your Corbin character. YES PLEASE WRITE IT. You have permission to borrow my characters, if you like. And if I ever do write the Navius Chronicles I just might put her in it somehow, I'll have to brainstorm on that one. Thank YOU for great reviews, readers! You make my freaking day. Happy grinning Creeper faces for all!