Trust
Angel's muscles tensed ever-so-slightly as the state of deep pseudo sleep fluctuated with the entrance of clean, non-tainted blood into his system. Sweat beaded on his forehead and he shivered uncontrollably. Weakly, his arms rubbed against the mattress as the treatment slowly progressed. His eyes fluttered, their lids still too heavy with the sedated state to actually open.
"Easy Angel," Carlisle finished closing the wounds in his abdomen once more. The drainage tubes were replaced and thick, amber medication was injected into the wound tracks. He covered the areas with gauze and overwraps of compression dressing before moving to check the status of the treatment.
Tubing had been inserted into the arteries on the inside of both arms to allow his blood to be drained into a modified dialysis machine. Once the tubing was in place, his arms had been immobilized with splint boards and soft cloth restraints. Within the machine, his blood was cleaned thoroughly before being pumped back into his system. Just the treatment alone could send him into an irreversible systemic shock. Should it occur in his weakened state, it would quickly take his existence.
It was a process that had to be administered at a gradual pace and one that Carlisle used only as a last resort when other forms of drastic measure were not feasible. He kept a close watch on not only the treatment but also Angel's overall condition and the readings from the bank of specialized monitors. The cocktail being pumped into the tubes in Angel's neck was carefully controlled and modified as further medication and vital fluids were added to the stream. He pulled the feeding tube back slightly and reset its position to prevent clogging of the tube during the continuous active feeding cycle of fresh, un-tainted, sustenance that was required to prevent Angel's system from crashing with the stress of the dialysis.
"I take it drastic measures had to be used after all," Edward entered the room, letting the door quietly click shut behind him. His gaze scanned the scene before him, quickly familiarizing himself with what was taking place.
"His life-force had been tainted and compromised by the infection. The medication was not sufficient to clear it before it would have taken his existence." Carlisle again adjusted the flow of the active feeding. "We will know in four to six hours whether it was implemented in time to prevent complications." He eyed his son briefly, his gaze putting spoken word to the silence.
"Buffy is resting comfortably. She tired rather quickly once she had finished eating. I saw no need to stay with her as she rested."
"She needs to rest and regain her strength. I would assume there has been no return call or you would have mentioned it."
"No, but the text would come as rather suspicious being that it was from an unrecognized number even though she did state that she was the one who sent it. It doesn't surprise me that there was no immediate reply." Edward blotted Angel's forehead with the cold compress before folding it and putting it back into position. "He seems to be responding positively other than the fever, this dampened ataxic state and the overall weakness."
"He is handling the treatment far better than I expected with his system in the first stage of systemic shock." Carlisle moved to check the restraints as the influx of non-medicated, filtered blood weakened the sedated state. It would not lift fully as the specialized sedative was a part of the cocktail of medications being pumped through the tubing in Angel's neck. "He will remain in a state of pseudo sleep for a day or two post treatment so his system has time to rest and reset."
"Only responsive when there is active engagement," Edward finished Carlisle's thought as if it had been his own. He placed his hand against Angel's shoulder. The chill of his palm seemed to lessen the fit of weak restlessness and raspy moaning. "Calm, shh," He gave his shoulder a firm, comforting squeeze.
His awareness flickered. Weakly, his fingers rubbed against the mattress as the sedated state fluctuated. For a few moments, his eyes sagged open, their lids heavy with medication and exhaustion. His voice failed even though his lips moved in an effort to speak. He grimaced and feebly attempted to shake his head. The dampened motion only aggravated the discomfort as it shifted the placement of the feeding tube.
"Easy, be still and rest," Edward insisted watching Carlisle adjust the settings on the machinery. "Fighting it will only weaken you further." He blotted Angel's forehead with a refreshed cool compress. "Once you come off of this treatment, the pain will ease."
His body shivered continuously in reaction to the discomfort and systemic unrest brought about by the dialysis. Still well under the properties of the sedated state, Angel, even though he seemed to be semi-conscious, would not remember even being briefly aware much less the intense pain created by the treatment. However, the current reaction was a positive sign. It meant that the treatment was working and the influx of fresh, un-tainted life-force was clearing the infection at a slightly quicker pace than originally expected.
"Rest Angel, we will get you through this. Buffy is currently resting as well." Carlisle adjusted the settings and watched the monitor bank. Angel was gradually beginning to regain his strength as the remaining infection was flushed from his body. The flow of the active feeding was increased to be sure that his system had plenty of fresh sustenance. "He is progressing far quicker and with far less complication than I expected. The adjustment will settle him enough that he will remain comfortable for the remainder of the treatment. The dialysis should finish in about two hours. At that point I'll return and remove the unnecessary equipment. For now let's allow him to rest undisturbed."
Edward gave a nod and dimmed the lighting above Angel's head. He kept a reassuring hand on his shoulder until the increased treatment sequences overwhelmed the restlessness and he relaxed into a comfortable slumber. "You're in the best of hands, just rest." He adjusted the cool compress across his forehead before following Carlisle from the room.
He wakes as the world dies screaming,
All horrors arrive.
He wakes giving earth its bleeding,
Pure madness alive.
And He haunts you
And He binds your soul
And he loathes you
And reclaims it all.
[Lyrics to Song: Dream No More. Artist: Metallica]
He had removed her gag with the assurance that she would not blister him with forked tongue as she had for much of the time before it had been applied. Sustenance along with ample drink, he supplied her. He could not afford to allow any illness or malady to befall her before it was time for her to be of use to him. He knew that she still despised him and he could understand. She had more than ample reason to hate him; more than ample reason to want to extinguish his existence. And if his own needs weren't so important, he would have allowed her to do so without question shortly after he had ripped her away from all that she knew and loved.
Gruesome chaos rises upon a waspish moon.
Cleansing light brings eternal night.
Forces of evil plot to reign,
Stained the ground will forever be,
When all races meet their doom.
She would never trust him even though she had been grateful for the food and drink. Her tongue she kept tucked behind her teeth, relishing in the fact that if he tried to harm her that she had a weapon that would send him away. She believed not any word uttered by his lips. He was a demon, and she had learned well from her parents to never trust any word spoken by one who worked for the Dark Lord of Hell himself. Even at her age, she was wise to the manipulative ways of the underworld. She knew that her parents were out there somewhere, still alive, because she could feel it deep down in her core. So she would bide her time and keep her hatred visible so that he would never steal her light.
He sways in abyss returning
Inhaling black skies
He shakes with a torture burning
All lost in his eyes.
[Lyrics to Song: Dream No More. Artist: Metallica]
Four rings and the clicking of the connection set his stomach churning. This was the moment of truth. The moment when he would discover the fate of the Slayer and her family. There had been dire situations in the past but the weight of concern that permeated this particular occasion was enough to outweigh the others tenfold. After a tense few moments—
"Hello, Cullen residence, this is Edward." The voice was smooth and precise, certainly not what he had been expecting when Willow had given him the last name from her web search.
"Yes, my name is Rupert Giles. I was sent a text from this number earlier. A text that claimed to be from one by the name of Buffy." He kept his own tone business-like at least until he had determined whether the text had been legit and the parameters of the situation.
"Yes, finally a voice to go along with the name. Both Buffy and Angel mentioned your name as a possible contact that would need to know of their whereabouts. Both were injured quite seriously when they showed up on our doorstep almost a week ago. Dr. Carlisle Cullen, my father, and I have been providing them with medical treatment and both are now making positive progress toward recovery. Carlisle would have been the one to call you or return this call but he is currently busy managing Angel's care."
"They somehow managed to free themselves from the clutches of the Hunter, Kale." Giles worked the scenario over in his mind. Although it wasn't impossible to escape the clutches of one such as Kale, that sort of feat didn't happen very often. The fact that Buffy and Angel had been forced into the portal and then either were thrown or expelled from it by Kale told him that Kale was interested in only one. "Did Buffy mention her daughter Angelica?" He knew that if this call was legit then Edward would have heard the name and could provide an answer as to whether Angelica was still with her parents or not.
"Yes, she and Angel both have been adamant about the need to find and rescue Angelica from Kale before he uses her to open a series of planes to the underworld." Edward's tone was one of concerned certainty. "At this point, neither has been able to further that information as they have been recovering from injuries sustained during their apparent battle with Kale."
"I would assume that neither Buffy nor Angel now have a phone, and that would be the reason that the text was sent from this number?"
"Your presumption would be correct. They lost their phones during whatever skirmish ended them here. This is my phone but they have access to this phone or any other here as they are currently guests. As soon as Buffy or Angel are capable and feeling up to it, I will have one of them contact you from this number or," Edward gave him both numbers for Carlisle so that he would be able to also call and keep tabs as well. "I will check with Carlisle and see if there is a way we can provide them with phones at least temporarily until this situation is resolved."
"The gesture is appreciated. Cullen—the name sounds familiar however—. "
"It's no trouble at all," Edward sensed no deception from the other even over the phone. "The Cullen name is synonymous with a very old family crest. Carlisle Cullen is the founder and leader of a coven known as the Olympic Coven. We reside on ancient lands, home of the Quileute Indians and we take our sustenance from the animals that inhabit this forest around our home here in Forks, Washington. Carlisle has been the Head of Hospital at Forks Regional and also lead physician at Seattle Regional for many years, along with being the founder and leader of our family."
Vampires, well isn't that interesting,' He wondered how Buffy would handle that news when she finally made the connection. The dark race, contrary to popular belief, was a varied one. There were many different types and origins within the race of Vampire. Even though it would have come as a shock to some in his community, it did not surprise him that there were covens that chose to live amongst the normal populous and take sustenance from other sources rather than their mortal counterparts. Angel was similar in most aspects other than the way in which he satiated the hunger that all Vampires dealt with on a daily basis.
"There's no reason for concern. We are probably the tamest coven you'll find anywhere. No harm will come to Angel or Buffy while they are in our presence. Carlisle is one of if not the best physician around. They are in the best of hands at least until their injuries have healed sufficiently for them to continue in this mission to destroy this one called Kale."
"The main concern is the need to find Angelica before Kale can use her to open those planes Buffy mentioned. Of course, Buffy and Angel's health and well-being are important as well." His mind was already working on the next steps in this endeavor. Now, not only did they have a dangerous situation brewing with the threat of Kale using Angelica to destroy the known world but there was the problem of how to reunite the group so that the threat could be properly dealt with. "If Kale expelled them there in your area then that would suggest there to be more than one gate which would explain how he is moving between planes. If he is what we believe him to be, which is full demon although one of the lesser ones then his movements would be relatively unnoticed except to those who know what to look for."
"I am almost certain that Carlisle will wish to provide what assistance we can seeing as those who would be able to defeat this Kale have been guests in our home for nearly a week now. When Carlisle is free from taking care of Angel and Buffy, I will have him contact you and further information and details can be worked out at that time."
"The offer is greatly appreciated. Considering the circumstances and the strange events that have surrounded them, the extra help even if it is just from a medical standpoint certainly won't be turned down." Even though he still did not know enough about the Cullens and their coven to be totally easy with the situation, he could find no reason to distrust them at least at this stage. Something deep down, maybe sixth sense or just instinct, was telling him that they were going to need backup if they were going to have any chance of defeating Kale and getting Angelica back alive. He paused briefly to collect his thoughts before deciding to question Edward about the strangers that had shown up at the Magic Shop with questionable origins and intentions.
There was a brief silence before Edward continued, "The strange events you speak of, are they of such importance as to possibly place Buffy and Angel in danger during their time here?"
"Other than the danger from Kale, I can't say for certain if the two strangers that appeared earlier at the Magic Shop that I own pose a danger or not. The only information I have in that regard is that the two were overly calculating, cold, and kept their identities hidden behind heavy black robes, with cowls that were lined in red fabric. They didn't say much and disappeared along with another of Vampire origin, who myself and others here know, rather abruptly."
'Volturi. Wonder what scheme Aro is masterminding this time.' The possibility that those that Giles had described were Volturi or members of the Volturi Guard set the hair on the back of Edward's neck on end. "There is only one coven that bears those colors and wears the heavy robes. It is likely that those strangers were members of the Coven of the Volturi. It would be wise for you and those you work with to familiarize yourself with the background of the Volturi if it is research that you choose to use to delve deeper into this situation. Carlisle can give you more regarding the possible reasons for their presence. But, yes, consider them a threat until their motives are revealed. We will take appropriate measures here to ensure the safety of our guests."
"I will see to it that we are familiar with that particular Coven." There came soft tapping upon his office window. His gaze lifted from the pad and paper he had been using to take down details and information provided him to find Willow standing just beyond it in the library. Her expression one of curious impatience. "Edward, I must let you go for now. We need to return to the task of finding more information regarding Kale and those you have mentioned. I will await a call from Carlisle. Keep me posted."
"Of course, we will take care of those here." Edward agreed as the finished the last details that were necessary to complete the current conversation and he allowed the connection to sever. He stood then to locate Carlisle and the rest of the family. The information revealed was far too important and the consequences should action not be taken were too severe to allow it to remain a secret any longer.