Chapter Twenty-Six: Deadly Blood
The day finally arrived and the trio along with Kai and Gerda waited near the castle gate for the couple. The warm summer breeze blew across Mathias's skin calming his nerves as he breathed in the sweet aroma of Elsa's scent which tingled his senses as he turned his head and looked at her. To him she looked absolutely stunning as the afternoon sun glistened off the ice on her dress. The sounds of laughter could be heard from the distance and Mathias brought his attention on the edge of the town and waited for any signs of them.
"Come on, where are are you two?" He asked himself as he scanned the area. He finally caught a small glimpse of their reindeer Sven running out of the forest with Anna and Kristoff on his back.
"Oh, here they come!" Olaf shouted in excitement as he jumped from one leg to another. The sound of hooves got louder and he saw the seer excitement on Elsa's face as they drew nearer. No one could mistake the sound of Anna's voice as they could now hear her more clearly. Elsa could contain her excitement anymore and dashed forward startling Mathias as she ran past him shouting her sister's name. Mathias stood next to Alice holding her hand as he watched Elsa run to meet them halfway and decided to wait at the gate for them to arrive. Anna slowly got off of Sven because of her little "passenger as Mathias liked to call it every time she comes down the stairs in a slow pace" and watched the two sisters reunite since their departure for their honeymoon.
"Welcome home Anna." Mathias said when the young woman finally got to the gate. She laughed softly and walked closer and hugged him which surprised him a bit but he hugged her back being careful not to hurt her. It was only brief as they let go and Anna began telling them about their honeymoon just not in detail much to Elsa and Mathias's relief till they reached the study.
"So…. what did you guys do while we were gone?" Anna asked mischiefly as the other couple froze in place and looked at each other nervously. Kristoff gently nudged Anna and gave her a playful glare.
Now leave them be, remember the all times we had together before we got married?" He asked in a playful tone.
"Why yes i do and this is what i got from those wonderful times." Anna replied pointing at her swollen stomach causing Kristoff to laugh a little before Anna kissed his cheek. Elsa and Mathias gave each other a confused look but decided not to say anything to them. The entire night they talked, Elsa telling them the events that took place and Anna was more than overjoyed that Hans almost got it handed to him on a silver platter.
"Ohh, i wish i was there to see the look on his face!" Anna said as she stood up with difficulty which alarmed everyone except Alice.
"Anna take it easy." Elsa said as Kristoff helped his wife sit back down in her chair. Mathias watched closely in case something happened as Alice sat next to him looking at the floor but everyone knew she was listening to everything going on around her.
"Elsa i'm fine really." The younger woman protested as she finally got comfortable in her chair. Elsa narrowed her eyes at her little sister and Anna immediately quieted down knowing she wasn't going to win this argument. The room fell silent after that and Mathias began to feel anxious as he looked around the room as if expecting something to happen. His eyes moved to Elsa as she got up announcing that everyone should get some rest and he took his cue and picked up Alice who slightly protested for a moment.
"No funny business!" Anna shouted as the trio left the room and Alice was confused for a moment till she finally caught on and immediately went scolding Mathias.
"You can't be doing such things with her, you two aren't married." Alice exclaimed which shocked the couple and Mathias' mind finally clicked, understanding what she was implying.
"NO, NO! We done no such thing!" Mathias protested completely embarrassed by the way this was heading. He looked at Elsa for some help but she was too shocked by both Anna's and Alice's words.
"Damn" He thought as he he continued to carry the young girl to her room with Elsa in tow. He bid the little redhead goodnight and gently closed the door before sighing in relief. He turned around to see Elsa stand near the wall across from him and he could see the hurt in her blue eyes as she looked at him. Mathias quickly became worried when she began to walk away from him.
"Elsa wait." He called out but she continued to walk away. He dashed forward trying to catch up to her.
"Mathias, leave me be." She said without turning around and Mathias stopped at the coldness of her tone but he relaxed when she continued with a much calmer tone.
"I-I just need to be by myself for now. Now before you get any wrong suggestions it's not you, it's just the way my sister is implying in embarrassing as it is and i need some time. I'll see you in the morning Mathias she said as she walked away leaving him alone in the hallway as she turned into a corner down another hall. Mathias flared his nostrils letting all the air he been holding in out and began to walk to his room mumbling to himself about the human females.
Anna was taking a night stroll since she could sleep and didn't want to bother Kristoff so she left him in there room. She explored some of the empty rooms only to see most of them the same except for one the physician's room. She cautiously stepped in and looked around and noticed he wasn't there so she continued. Everything looked the same to her since she found out about her pregnancy but that wasn't it that wanted her to explore this room it was the bloody rags on the desk and remembered the events that took place while they were gone and wondered why the rags were still here and not disposed of. She picked up the rags and quickly let go as they still felt somewhat damp and looked at her hand and saw blood on her right hand and quickly tried to wipe most of it of to no avail and quickly left the room in a hurry not noticing the physician's body in the shadows in the other side of the room.
The castle halls were sickenly quiet as Mathias walked around with a sense of uneasiness in the back of his head. As he turned a corner he noticed a small crowd of people near one of the doors with some guards there keeping them away. One of them was Jonathan and he hurried over to investigate.
"Jonathan!" He called out to his friend and the older turned to his direction his face grim and Mathias began to worry.
"What happened?" Mathias asked when he finally got to him and the other guards. Jonathan tilted his head toward the door and mathias looked but didn't quite understand till he smelled a corps in there and his eyes narrowed as he looked back toward Jonathan.
"The physician died but by the looks of it he's been dead for a while. One of the castle staff found him lying on the floor." He explained and Mathias began to wonder.
"May i take a look around in there" Mathias asked pointing in the room and the older guard nodded and followed him in. The first thing he noticed when he walked in was the body and he slowly approached it as a familiar sensation coursed through him. and he quickly looked at his friend.
"Did anybody touch him or anything in this room?" He asked and the guard shook his head and Mathias sighed in relief as he continued to in spect the body. He sensed something familiar and as he got closer to the body he could feel a little bit of it coming from the corpse.
"Hey Mathias your back is glowing!" Jonathan exclaimed in shock as he watched the scene before him. Mathias' finally registered what it was and quickly stood up as he felt another source near him and looked at the desk to see his old bandages still there.
"Oh no…." Mathias said to himself and jonathan heard it and became worried.
"Mathias, what is it?" He asked and Mathias quickly ushered him out the door and called the other guards to him. Jonathan and his fellow guards were confused by his actions till the taller man began giving commands.
"NO ONE ENTERS THAT ROOM!" He shouted and began to run the opposite way with jonathan lagging behind. He began to wonder what got him so worked up till Mathias stopped and looked at him.
"Jonathan i know how he died. It's the bloodied bandages on his desk." He said confusing the guard.
"How can blood kill someone kid, i had blood on me many times and it hasn't killed me yet." Jonathan said and Mathias narrowed his eyes at him and he froze.
"That is my blood, you seen my back glow when i got closer to the corpse. It's the energy in it that my body responds to.. a reaction. Normal people can't handle it and would die if they got in contact with it." Mathias said remembering what happened to the humans when that weapon of there's detonated on a populated area and how it affected the survivors afterwards.
Jonathan was shocked by the revelation and nodded when he finally caught on to what he was saying.
"What would you like us to do then?" He asked and Mathias began pondering on suggestions before an idea came to him.
"Burn them. Destroy anything that has blood on it even the corpse but don't touch it, do it carefully starting with clothing and get some of your guards to check on the staff incase they touched anything." He said and Jonathan nodded before leaving but Mathias stopped him again.
"I need you personally to check on a friend of mine in town. Her name is Abigail, i have a feeling she touched my wounds on the way back that day i got injured." Jonathan nodded again before leaving to give out orders and Mathias hurried to check on Elsa and inform her of the situation.
Elsa didn't have anything to do so she stayed in her bedroom. All she wanted to do was sleep the day away knowing she was going back to work the next day. But she knew too well that someone would worry and try to get her out of her room and she already knew one person which was her sister. There was a knock on her door and she groaned as she turned away not bothering to answer.
"Elsa, i need to speak to you." She was surprised it was Mathias instead of Anna but she still wanted to sleep more so she closed her eyes and tried to shut out the knocking at her door.
"Dammit i'm gonna count to three and this door is coming down!" He yelled behind the door and Elsa guessed he was bluffing and decided to wait to see what he'll do. seconds later the door flew off its hinges and fell to the floor causing the young queen to jump off her bed and stare at Mathias as he stormed in glaring at her. She cursed at herself for thinking he would do such a thing and looked up at the man in front of her.
"Now you have my attention…." She said gesturing to her broken door and Mathias huffed and continued to glare daggers at her.
"What seems to be the problem?" She asked him tiredly. Mathias gave her a look of curiosity and quickly got started explaining. She was more awake now when Mathias started to tell her about what happened to the physician and how he got the guards to check all castle staff. Mathias knew of some of it's side effect and one was massive hair loss and reached into Elsa's hair and combed it down and was relieved that she was fine. She looked at him quizzically and decided to explain.
"It's one of the signs if someone got it." He explained and he left with the queen on his tail.
"Where's Anna?" He asked her not bothering to turn around. She looked at him in disbelief and quickly got in front of him stopping him.
"You think my sister infected?" She asked him and Mathias remained silent and Elsa looked at him shocked.
H-How would she be able to get infected the door door was shut the entire time hasn't it?" She asked him and he shook his head.
"The door was opened sometime last night. It's possible your sister went to see if he was there and got curious of her surroundings. She didn't know she couldn't have possibly known about it then, none of you did." He said as he walked past her in hast. Elsa stood there thinking about he said then the fear and dread took over and she hurried to catch up now worried for her sister and her unborn child. They reached the door and Elsa was the first to knock.
"Anna you in there?" She called out but there was no answer and this was unsettling for her and she could tell it was bothering Mathias as well as he seemed ready to break another door.
"Hey guys, what are you doing outside my room?" Kristoff asked as he walked towards them. Elsa was about to ask him about Anna but Mathias already lost patience and kicked the door down and stormed in surprising both Elsa and Kristoff. Elsa began to to rush in but stopped when she heard Mathias' voice telling them to stop. Kristoff was angry but it quickly diminished to confusion and brushed past Elsa into the room was shocked to see Anna still in bed and Mathias kneeling down next to her with his back glowing blue as he looked at her in worry. He snapped his head in their direction as Elsa tried to approach her sister.
"Elsa don't just stay back" He commanded as he looked at Anna again as she began to groan weakly. She slowly opened her eyes and he could see they were slightly unfocused and turned his attention to the other two.
"Elsa go get the guards in here, Kristoff, you leave the room." He said and Elsa rushed out but Kristoff stayed for a moment.
"W-What's wrong with her?" He asked him and Mathias stood up and faced him fully.
"Anna been infected by some energy that flows through me. I Maybe immune to it but her and many others aren't and it will slowly killed her." He said and Kristoff's mind went blank for a second.
"What about the baby?" He asked and Mathias looked down at Anna who still laid in her bed.
"It's not infected yet so there's still hope of saving them both, but i need you out of the room." He said as he turned away from him. Kristoff balled up his fists and glared at the taller man.
"And just how are you planning to do that?" He asked him and Mathias turned his head slightly and gave a small smile.
"I'm gonna try to absorb the energy out of her body, it's the only way i can save her." He said and truthfully he had no idea if it would work or not but he didn't have other options and he wasn't about to let this woman he had known to call a friend suffer from his doings. Elsa got back with jonathan and three other guards in tow.
"Jonathan, get them out of the room and no matter what you hear don't let them come in here." He ordered and he nodded before escorting the queen and the mountain man out of the room. Once they were out he sat on the bed and tried to wake up Anna.
"K-Kristoff is that you?" She asked weakly and Mathias chuckled slightly as she was now fully awake but not strong enough to do anything.
"What are you doing here?" She asked a bit startled and Mathias just looked at her with a calm expression.
"Did you go in the physician's room and touch anything by any chance did you? And don't lie i can feel the energy in you." He asked her and she slowly nodded and still wanted answers. She went to sit up but found it difficult and Mathias helped her and leaned her against the headboard. Her body felt weak and this scared her as she looked to Mathias for answers.
What's happening to me and what energy are you talking about?" She asked as she began to talk and Mathias knew there wasn't much time.
"Lets just say you're slowly dying and the only way i can save you is to absorb the energy that's slowly killing you." He told her bluntly and she began to panic.
"H-How is that possible i was fine last night." She said and she seen Mathias' eyes widen for a second but it was replaced with the look of determination.
He reached out and gently began to pull on the right side of her shirt exposing her shoulder and she looked at him in disgust and was about to smack him but he stopped her.
"I need direct contact and i only need your shoulder to do just that." He reassured her and she calmed a bit but something in the back of her was was going off telling her it was a bad idea but she ignored it. She looked at him with determined eyes and moved her head exposing more of her shoulder to him.
"Do it!" She said and Mathias was hesitant at first and looked at the young redhead.
"This is going to hurt, please forgive me for this." He said as he lounged his head forward jaw open and clamped down on her shoulder, teeth piercing through her delicate skin as blood began to run down the side. She screamed in pain when he clamped down with such force and Mathias slightly flinched but still kept his grip on her shoulder.
Everyone turned their attention to the doorway when they heard Anna's scream of pain and Kristoff went stop Mathias but the guards grabbed him and held him in place. They didn't notice Elsa slip past them and entered the room and gasped at the sight before her, Kristoff came in no sooner after she did dragging the guards with him as he quickly became enraged by the sight of what Mathias was doing to his wife.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, YOU'RE HURTING HER!" He shouted and tried to stop Mathias but the guards got a better grip on him and Elsa helped by freezing his feet to the floor. A strange noise filled the room and the guards stopped along with Kristoff as they watched Mathias suddenly let go of Anna and took a few steps away. Elsa quickly became afraid of him when she saw his eyes were hazed with a slight glow of orange and the blood that was dripping down the sides of his mouth before he unleashed a triumphant roar that boomed throughout the room causing everyone to cover their ears. His back stilled glowed a light blue but it was much brighter than before and only seconds later did the light die out and he gave a loud cry before falling to his knees. Everyone stood still and looked at the man and both horror and disbelief before Elsa slowly approached him and cautiously reached her hand out and rested it on his shoulder.
"E-Elsa?" she heard and looked at the bed and saw Anna slowly move a bit but Kristoff stopped her because of the still open wound. A cackling sound was heard and she turned her attention back to Mathias he was now looking at her tiredly before finally collapsing to the ground with a groan. She couldn't believe what had transpired and looked back to her sister who was getting checked on by another physician and looked at Mathias' unconscious form with a small smile.
Jonathan, get Mathias to his room he needs his rest." She ordered and the captain and a few others helped pick him up and hauled him back to his room. Once they were gone she hurried over to Anna and hugged her being careful to not touch her wound.
"You had me worried." She choked out as she began to cry not caring who was in the room at the moment. Anna gently pulled her off so she was looking her sister in the face as she wiped some stray tears out of Elsa's cheeks.
"Mathias saved me." She said and began to look around searching for him.
"Where is he?" She asked as she looked at Elsa then to Kristoff.
"He collapsed after he did his thing on you and the guards carried him to his room for some needed rest." Elsa said as she stood up and looked at the doorway pondering if she should visit Mathias and see if he was okay and looked at the newly weds as they cuddled with one another and decided to give them privacy. She left quietly left and went to Mathias' room. Once she got there she already seen that he was still unconscious and sat on the chair next to his bed and began running her hand through his dark brown hair.
"Thank you Mathias, you saved my beloved little sister." She said as she kissed his forehead and left the room quietly shutting the door. She didn't notice mathias watching her with a small smile as she left and turned around and still exhausted from the recent events. Soon he began to doze back into his peaceful slumber.