Pairing: Josh/Aiden (M/M) hand, consensual
"Where the wolf's ears are, the wolf's teeth are close."
– Volsunga Saga, c.19.
"Better to die with honor than live with shame."
– The Saga of the Jomsvikings, c.23
The Loft, Algiers
Home of Josh, Aiden, and Sara
"I talked to...just about everyone," Josh exhaled. He went on speaking in a rush, barely taking a breath,"I am first of all, exhausted. Secondly, worried sick about Hayley...And thirdly, relieved. Marcel said that he was on his way down as soon as he could get away. He wants me to look a file he is sending me. No shocker, but the trouble they had in Mystic Falls is probably connected. Who knew there were evil angels? I mean-."
"Josh, can you stop a sec?" Aiden interrupted. "You have to slow down."
"Yeah, you're right. I'm sorry," Josh yawned. "I'm somehow wired and really tired at the same time."
Aiden rubbed Josh's shoulders, and whispered, "I just can't believe Hayley is missing. You really don't have any clues?"
Josh shrugged, "Just that stupid feather...I kept it thinking one of the witches could do some sort of spell. God, sometimes I wish Davina was here. She would have probably found Hayley by now."
"What about one of the other witches? Can they help?" Josh shrugged. "I guess, it's just not the same. Father Sean is asking them for help now. But they can be fickle. How's Sarah feeling?"
"She was fine after a bath and a little soup for lunch," Aiden said, biting his lip.
"What? Tell me," Josh pressed, he knew there was more.
"Nothing. She was just really bratty today. She really wanted to go back to the 'big, pretty house', but when I told her that our friend was missing and it wasn't safe, she threw a fit," Aiden frowned. "I tried to talk with her, but she wasn't having it. I eventually just carried her to her room and shut the door. When I went in again, she was sleeping on the floor."
"Then, you felt bad?" Josh predicted.
"Yeah, I felt like shit. It was an improvement that she didn't hit me, but she beat the crap out of Wolfie. I thought she was going to rip his fucking head off, again," Aiden sniffed. Josh cleared his throat, and then couldn't hold it in anymore. He finally burst out laughing. Aiden rarely swore and to hear him describe the stuffed Wolf's predicament, struck him as amusing.
"It's not funny," Aiden tried. "Our daughter is a serial killer of stuffies."
He laughed when he looked at Josh.
"Come on, if she's sleeping, we should try to get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be crazy," Josh stated, still laughing. "Very crazier."
Aiden grew serious. "Don't worry. You'll find Hayley. I know that no one with a brain would mess with her. Many Crescents, not only saw her as an alpha, but as some kind of a queen. Our pack will help."
"I know," Josh said. "We are going to need everyone's help."
"But I have to admit at times like this, I am relieved Tommy is safe with Rebekah, Marcel, and Davina in Mystic Falls," Aiden admitted. "But babe, I'm worried about you. I don't want you mixed up in this."
"Too late. Now stop worrying about me or I'm going to have to smack your butt and put you to bed," Josh quipped.
"Oh really? My butt...You are lucky I'm not kinky like that," Aiden retorted.
Josh smacked the seat of his sweats and then yawned. "I'm sorry but I'm literally on autopilot."
Aiden kissed him goodnight and then felt the spot that Josh had smacked. It tingled and made him fell safe or something. He felt asleep shortly after Josh did.
Mystic Falls, Virginia
Marcel and Rebekah's House
Marcel flipped through the photocopies of the prophecy. Angels, demons, and now mermaids? His mind was spinning. Sure, he had heard stories of sightings of sea folk from the time he was a human. Most people assumed that sex-starved sailors were just letting their imaginations run wild. But now, Mary had told him, not only about Hayley disappearing, but that mermaid kids were living at her house.
"It can't be a fluke," Marcel said, putting down his drink.
"What? Talking to yourself again?" Rebekah laughed, coming into his office. It was late and she was in a robe and slippers. He leaned back in his office chair and patted his lap for her to sit on. She folded herself onto him and he hugged her tightly.
"Hayley is missing," Marcel said bluntly. "I got a bunch of calls and no one knows what is happening."
"What?" Rebekah said, getting up. "Our Hayley?"
"Yeah, um, the only clue left behind was a feather. Mary called and said there are two half-mermaid, half-angel kids who showed up there in the Bayou a while back who are talking about the prophecy. The Strix are mixed up with this," Marcel said, pointing at the page with the ancient text on it.
"You are leaving, aren't you?" Rebekah said flatly.
"I have to. I'm going to see if Elijah will come with me. He might be the only one who has any pull with the Strix, seeing as their whole mission is to protect his bloodline," Marcel said, getting up also. He leaned on his desk. "I'm sorry."
Rebekah turned, "No, Marcel. Go, get Hayley back. Why on earth would they take her?"
"She's the face of the Mikaelson Foundation now. Our first major charity project. We should have had security on her. Dammit," Marcel said, slamming his palm on his desk hard enough to cause the brown liquid in his glass to splash out.
"She is a Crescent, living amongst her people. No security team can trump that. She is strong and smart. I am more worried about her captors, than her," Rebekah said. She heard one of the girls start to cry. "I hate for you to go alone, but with five kids here, I suppose I can no longer tag along on these adventures..." Rebekah kissed him and told him to come to bed soon. Marcel nodded and re-read the prophecy again.
Before they left, he needed more information. What did these people want? Why would they come after Hayley?
Undisclosed Location
Same night
He had to get to these innocents before it was too late. There was no doubt in his mind that the trinity was up to no good, as it took one who was once evil, to sense true evil. Mikael winced as he recalled how hard he had hunted the three who had posed as his children almost 900 years ago.
"You were a different man, then," Mikael tried to tell himself. But the sentiment rang flat. It would be his actions now that spoke, not his mind. Only strong actions could undo centuries of brutality.
After the bombing where he had blown up many of the fierce Guerrera wolves to help his children, Mikael had gone underground. Still working for the Strix, he had tried to do good and be good, but then he discovered the Order of the Celestial Dawn. He read the prophecy and with horror realized their aim. He had to stop them, before they brought about the very end of the world. Mikael began to work even deeper undercover and now he was here. And it was time to put his money where his mouth was. He used a high-tech saw to cut through the wall where the young werewolf was. It only took Mikael seconds and soon he was face to face with Mason Lockwood.
"Mr. Lockwood, I have come to let you out," Mikael said briskly to the dirty, restless-looking werewolf in the darkened cell.
"How do you know my name?" Mason gasped. He looked at the older man who was in a military style outfit with a high-powered weapon and many other gadgets strapped to his vest.
"We need to free the young queen of the Crescents. Do you know where they are keeping her?" Mikael asked.
"Hayley? Yes, she was down the hallway. I can...um, smell her," Mason said shamefully. "I thought they were helping me, but these people tricked me. Now, I'm dangerous."
"I know what they did to you. I have an antidote. However, you may want to save it until after you free. The beast side of you may come in handy for the next part of this mission," Mikael shared.
"This sounds dangerous," Mason gulped. He was afraid he would turn again. He could tell this man was a vampire and vampires tended to trigger his new powers violently.
"We must hurry. I will open this door and then we must run," Mikael said. "There is no time for me to explain. If I don't make it through the next part, get the girl, find a way to the surface. And tell my family that it is better to die with honor than live with shame," Mikael spoke quickly, as he pulled out a tool Mason had never seen before. "Look away."
Mason averted his eyes and the bars of his cell were soon on the floor.
"What about the guards?" Mason whispered.
"There are already dead. I stole a few special tools from the Strix arsenal, enough to condemn myself five times over," Mikael smiled bitterly. "Now let us go. Quickly."
Mason took a breath and stepped through the cell. He wanted out of here so he could get his own revenge.
"I was a fool to trust the Strix. I thought my friend was being hunted by a hybrid and I let myself become one, but I never guessed I would have no control over it," Mason confided. His face burned at the memory of Kathy's betrayal. So much for true love. He should have been there for his sister-in-law and nephew instead of chasing happiness.
"A hybrid? Not my son Niklaus?" Mikael smiled. "This Strix have had some problems with their sires for many centuries."
"Yes, they lied to me, told me he was still hunting Kathy, but it was a lie. I worried for my nephew Tyler, only to find out that he is safe. And perhaps better off than he ever was with his own father, my brother," Mason said bitterly.
"I was the worst father a child could ask for and for many centuries I hunted my own children. I was intent on...Well, I was up to no good. By the time I came to my senses, it was too late, but I intent to make up for it now. You can make amends with your family. Do not wait too long, though," Mikael said.
"She should be in here," Mason said, pointing to an heavy, iron door.
Mikael frowned and kicked at the charred body of a guard on the ground.
"Blasted weapon also melted the key we needed. I suppose this is where my story ends. I am afraid that you will have to bang through this door in your beast form. I am going to trigger your curse and I know this is painful, but it is necessary," Mikael said.
"How do you know all this?" Mason asked in confusion. The older, blond haired man, seemed supremely confident about everything he was saying.
Mikael answered, "Oh, I was one of them. For many years, until I discovered their true aim was not only to bring down my family, but to end the world itself and then rise from the ashes as kings. There is no more disgusting group of monsters than these Strix. But even as one of them, I failed to figure out how they plan to achieve their ends. I am not quite sure what they intend to do with this girl, but like what they did to you, it shall not be pleasant. Here is the cure. Like I said, take it after you get her free."
Mikael gave Mason a glass vial of sparkling yellow liquid. It looked alive and almost alien in nature.
"Thanks. But how are you going to trigger me?" Mason asked with suspicion. He took off his shirt as it would just tear as he transformed into a huge beast.
Mikael's face darkened into his vampire form, his fangs extended and he bit into his own arm. Mason carefully wrapped his antidote in his shirt and set it to the side. Mikael bit into both of his wrists and let the blood drip down.
"But this is going to be a terrible death," Mason apologized.
"I know, but I have done worse to hundreds of thousands of humans. Mourn my passing not. The gods know most of my children will not," Mikael said with a wry smile. He approached Mason as if he were going to attack him. Mason's eye twitched and soon his bones broke and he was transforming.
"Raaaaaaaa," Mason howled as he bit into Mikael's neck a moment later and shook him like a rag doll. Mason slammed through the metal door as he tore Mikael's vampire form to shreds.
Hayley awoke from another nightmare into a real one
"What the fuck? What the fuck?" Hayley screamed. Her body ached and so did her head and the huge blood covered wolf-like creature eating someone in front of her did not help. The creature turned and sniffed her and then crumpled to the floor. Hayley looked around for something to hit the thing over the head with, but there were only pieces of metal from the remnants of the door, which were right by the thing. As Hayley stepped closer, the beast turned back into a man. It's hairy skin became smooth flesh and it seemed to shrink by half.
"Holy shit," Hayley exhaled. She stepped into the hallway, saw the fried guard and pieces of another guy. She dug through his body parts and picked up a gun-like object. Maybe this would help kill the thing on the floor?
Mason came to and saw the beautiful girl pointing the weapon at him.
"No, don't, Hayley. I came to rescue you!" Mason said, coughing, still on the ground.
"Oh yeah, you were the guy who gave me his t-shirt piece for my cut," Hayley quipped. "Um, thanks for the rescue. You wanna put pants on?"
Mason flushed and quickly put on his pants and t-shirt. The cure rolled out.
"This is the cure to whatever just happened to me. If you don't mind, I'm going to be very careful not to break this vial or I will be a freak forever," Mason said. "Now, let's get the hell out of here."
"Sounds good. Do you think this dead guy will care if I take his boots?" Hayley wondered.
"Nah, he seemed like a cool guy. I know his family from Mystic Falls," Mason said offhandedly.
"Mystic Falls? I should have guessed," Hayley said. "I have some friends there."
"Yeah, well, this guy said he was Klaus Mikaelson's father? That sound familiar?" Mason said as Hayley laced up the military style boots that she had pried off of Mikael's legs. One of which was on the other side of the hallway.
"Mikaelsons, huh? Yes, I guess Klaus is sort of my foster grandfather as I lived with his son, Marcel. But I never really met the guy. I did get involved with their family foundation...," Hayley mentioned. "Who are you again?"
"No one important. Let's get out of here. So any idea of which way we should go? None of this looks familiar," Mason confessed.
"Honestly, no. I have no memory of even coming in here," Hayley said. "The dead guy didn't give you any advice?"
"No, he just said 'go up' so I'm assuming we are underground," Mason said. "I guess we just pick a direction."
"Right. Let's try this way first. Can you see if there is anything else on his body that might come in handle. The guards all look charbroiled," Hayley grimaced. "What does that to a person?"
"I think maybe that thing in your hand. It can cut through metal," Mason said, as they started to walk. "Be careful with it. At least until we come across a guy who is not smoking hot."
The Loft, Algiers
Home of Josh, Aiden, and Sara
Early Next Morning, Sunday
"Marcel texted that he should be here within the day with Elijah. He's researching some stuff about this crazy cult that attacked the Mikaelson mansion in Virginia. God, it seems like bad new," Josh scoffed.
"I don't want you to go," Aiden said anxiously. "Not alone."
"I know, but we have to get Hayley back," Josh said, sitting up on the side of his bed. "I'm going to take a shower."
"No," Aiden whined. He reached over and griped Josh's arm. "Please."
"Aiden, you are acting like I'm going to disappear next. I won't. Now, let me go before I have to get firm with you, young man," Josh said with as much authority as he could muster.
"Get 'firm' then," Aiden said invitingly.
Josh pulled his young werewolf boyfriend over by the arm, he flipped him on his stomach and pulled down his sweats.
"You remember you asked for this," Josh said, hoarsely. Josh patted his trembling behind once lightly and then slapped both of his cheeks in quick secession. Smack! Smack.
Josh glanced over at the door. He had locked it earlier, hoping for some intimacy, though this was not what he had envisioned.
"Want me to stop?" Josh asked quietly.
"No," Aiden said. He sniffed. He was scared and felt out of control.
"Okay, then," Josh said as he walloped Aiden's behind a few more times.
Smack. Smack. Smack.
"Is that all you got?" Aiden snarled. Smack. Smack. Smack.
"Oh, you want a real spankin'?" Josh asked sharply. He sat and pulled Aiden over his lap, pulling his sweats down to his ankles.
"You won't hurt me," Aiden taunted. Smack. Smack. Smack.
Aiden's hand flew over his pinkened cheeks by reflex. The smacks were building up and it started to hurt.
"Oh yeah, boy, you won't sit for a week. Give me your hands," Josh demanded. Aiden folded his hands behind his back, sure he was going to regret this, but feeling as he needed it all the same.
Josh rubbed Aiden's rear and then popped him hard on the center of both cheeks.
Whack!
"Owwww," Aiden hissed.
"See, that hurts. You should have behaved yourself this morning," Josh teased, rubbing the spot he had just spanked.
Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack!
Josh held Aiden's arms tight as he began to kick his legs and squirm. He rubbed the sore spot and then went back to slapping the center of each cheek.
Slap. Slap.
Slap. Slap.
"Are you going to be good?" Josh asked, rubbing the pink areas.
Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack!
"No, not if you are leaving today," Aiden snapped.
Slap! Slap!
Slap! Slap!
"You better watch yourself before I send you to get the wooden spoon. Then, you really won't sit down comfortably," Josh warned.
"Just stay," Aiden begged.
Slap! Slap!
Slap! Slap!
Slap! Slap!
Slap! Slap!
Josh started spanking faster and harder without the breaks. He felt like Aiden needed an emotional release. He didn't stop until he finally heard Aiden break down in sobs.
Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack!
Slap! Slap!
Slap! Slap!
Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack!
"You had enough? You ready to stop fussing like this or do I need to spank you harder," Josh asked. Whack! Whack! Whack! Whack!
"I'm okay," Aiden cried. "I'm just scared."
Josh sat Aiden on his feet and let him rub his scotched and red bottom for a moment. Josh shook out his own stinging hand before bringing Aiden to him in a close hug.
"Baby,I'm not going to leave you guys. Got it?" Josh promised. "I'll be home as soon as I can."
Aiden sniffed more and finally said, "Yes, sir. I got it. I didn't really think you would spank me so hard."
"Oh, honey, that was not hard," Josh teased. "But I know what is...? Come on, join me in the shower."
"What if Sarah wakes up?" Aiden worried.
"She won't. Plus, I locked the door. It's like 5am. Come on," Josh coaxed.
Aiden nodded and followed Josh into their bathroom. He wasn't sure how or why but he felt a whole lot better. But everyone would feel better when Hayley was found, Aiden just hoped, they would find her safely.