The Goliathus Chronicles

Chapter 32- Infusion

/

Having experienced childbirth...twice, was nothing compared to this. Just hours before Ami had enjoyed a time of relaxation with Goliathus, although it had to be short-lived. The crows around the perimeter were now cawing loudly in warning...they sensed a vampiric presence out there whose identity was unknown at the moment.

Maybe this was not the best idea...to do this now...

Ami heard Goliathus, somewhere amidst the waves of pain that strangled out her other senses, but she could not respond. Her fingernails were cutting into his skin as she gripped onto his arms tightly, breathing hard and repressing the urge to scream. Every part of her felt as if it just might split apart. She felt his arms support her more tightly...and his growing anxiousness.

She concentrated on their union just a while before. Not wanting to go too far from the watchful guard of the Ring of Dark Fire, Goliathus had taken her to the children's discovery some time ago...a small cave quite near to the Facility. Whilst Jezelle had them distracted with eating (along with a very disgruntled Dinarius), they had sought out just a couple of hours together, something that was becoming harder and harder to do. Goliathus, as usual, had owned her in every sense of the word, he was a never-tiring lover and no matter how exhausted she became she could never get enough of him.

As usual the union was heated, crazed even...and for a third time some very familiar sensations caressed through her thighs and tingled their way up her spine.

I have a feeling...

A good one, I hope. He had grinned at her, still pounding into her slick warmth as he supported her against the rocky formation of the cave wall. Not entirely the most comfortable position, but the pleasure drowned out her lower back's complaints. She shivered as she felt him growl, his release near.

Mmmm...of course good...amazing actually...but that's not what I mean... Panting Ami found even her mind voice faltering as he prodded her to turn around and she did so, loving the feeling of his strong arms gripping around her midsection as he took her from behind. The last time...this...happened... she cried out loudly, the sudden and intense orgasm wracking her entire body and turning her legs into jello. Her contractions sent her otherworldly lover over the edge, and he roared out from his own climax, the sound reverberating throughout the cave.

Still panting and trying to find her breath, Ami leaned into his neck and kissed him there, lingering. Whatever thought she had just didn't seem to matter anymore. She was rather surprised, however, as even Goliathus seemed to have tired this time, or at least for the moment. He slumped against the cave wall, resting, but she also knew that part of his fatigue was mental. There was just so much going on that both of them were exhausted in every sense of the word. How much more could either of them take...or could Goliathus take, before his fragile sanity shattered? Her gaze then fell upon the talisman, which seemed to glow back at her in response. I hope you really can keep him in control.

Goliathus didn't seem to pick up on that thought. He slowly got to his feet and locked eyes with her, frowning then as he knew there would be no more delaying.

This will be hard for me. I do not like those things...at all.

Ami frowned herself, as she reached into her jeans pocket and felt the syringe. She had decided it would be best to get the deed done here, or at least started...while they stole some time together in the cave.

I know...I know. She reached forward and stroked his face, to which he closed his eyes, purring, always absorbing her affection like a sponge. But this will be me, my love. Not even I would let anyone else get one of these things close to you. Just look away.

Goliathus did so, turning his head away and sending his mind to some far off place. Ami withdrew the syringe from her pocket and examined it briefly, making sure it wasn't cracked or damaged in some way. She had to use a big needle, for skin as tough as his. The thought of causing him any pain this way worried her, it was nothing he couldn't handle, certainly, but the memory of it was the problem. Sighing slightly she took the rubber band and tied it tightly around the middle of his arm, near the elbow. Finding his veins was not a hard task, they bulged out quite easily. Hovering the tip of the needle over the exposed vein for only a moment she then plunged it in carefully with calculated precision. Goliathus jerked, and growled low, but he didn't attempt to pull his arm from her. Ami quickly pulled the plunger back, withdrawing a thick dark liquid that was more black than red. When the syringe was full she quickly took it out and put it on the ground beside her.

All done.

He turned slowly to look at his arm briefly, studying the darkened spot where it had stuck his vein. Not so bad...I guess.

I'll give you a lollipop later for being such a good boy. She chuckled at him, and he only huffed at her.

Well now, I guess I have to do this part myself, huh?

You do not expect me to handle that thing, do you? I am not so sure I even want to let you go through with this. For me, this is a prick of a needle, even if the memories are hard. For you, this could be pain like you have never known before.

But you know I have to do this, Goliathus. The pain doesn't scare me as much as the chance of losing my family does.

Clearly the heradus had no response to that, she was right, and he showed it with a slight nod of his head, sighing.

Ami gathered courage from some hidden place, picking up the syringe, and quickly injecting herself before she could get a chance to let her mind hesitate.

The first sensation was mild burning. But by the time the syringe had emptied, even she was surprised at how the burning quickly turned to a sensation much like fire, ripping its way through her arm and into her neck, and down the other side. Goliathus had quickly reached out to support her as she grew dizzy and slumped forward.

And so here they were now, with her clinging to him desperately, and his increased nervousness quite obvious. He was saying something again, trying to soothe her, but this was so mind-blowingly painful that she realized she was attempting to scream, but no sound was coming out of her mouth. The fiery pain was still increasing, she felt it now down her back, and two sharp pains ebbed there between her shoulder blades. It rushed down to her fingers, her toes, and back up to her nether regions.

Maniel? You...sure...about...this...?

Then the pain was in her midsection, stronger and stronger, blinding. Ami was not fully aware of her own movements, but suddenly there was the sensation that she was struggling, feeling moist clumps in her hand. Looking down she realized it was dirt and bits of stone, and her hands were bleeding, she was writhing and kicking out on the ground. Goliathus was frantic, holding her tight and rocking her against him, as Ami now screamed, and loudly.

/

Dinarius finished off his piece of liver, now feeling satisfied. He had gotten done squabbling with Solarus for that last morsel, who seemed to claim every piece of liver in the entire kitchen. I didn't know a kid could have such an appetite.

Vampire hunting is hard work, wouldn't you say? He grinned his toothy smile at him, and looked over at his sister, who had been eating slowly, lost in thought. She looked hurt and sad, clearly Trisha's harsh words were still affecting her. Solarus frowned, looking back to Dinarius. Are we monsters? We don't look like momma or nana.

Huffing, Dinarius shook his head. No, of course not Solarus. Calling a child a monster makes her the monster. Now you listen, never pay any attention to something like that. I myself have been called many things, and very few were nice, but I've never let that bring me down. And you shouldn't either. The both of you are very talented, smart kids, and I'm sure impressed with you.

Solarus beamed, his mood changing rapidly as usual, and his sudden hug caused Dinarius to blink down at him, caught off guard.

I'm so glad to have you for an uncle. He smiled again, then quickly hopped off his chair at the table. I'm going to see if I can find dad, I found a scroll that could be useful. It said something about mental blocking although I don't really understand what it means.

Mental blocking? Dinarius raised an eyebrow, that sounded awfully familiar, but he just couldn't place it. Yeah, well, good luck finding your dad. When he wants to go off somewhere and be alone...especially with your mom... he quickly cleared his throat. Well...yeah...just wait for them here, Solarus. You know you can't go outside anyway.

Suddenly he noticed Navius, tears brimming in her eyes as she stared at nothing on the table.

"Navi?"

She turned to him, blinking her large blue eyes at him which caused the a couple of tears to spill over, slowly cascading down her face. "Momma...she seems so far away. I'm worried."

Dinarius frowned. Not the damned infusion. I warned them...why didn't they fucking listen to me? He set the thought deep in his own mind, trying to keep the kids from picking up on it. They didn't, but Navius could still sense something was wrong. She was looking at him still, hoping for answers. He sighed, shaking his head at her.

I think your mom might have mentioned...about trying to become like us, remember?

Navi nodded, but her frown only deepened. But if she becomes like us, then Trisha is just going to call her a monster too.

Well who freaking cares? I told you, we're not monsters. If anything, we're superior to humans. In a big way.

Solarus seemed to like that idea. I'd say we are.

Solarus...

But it's true! Uncle Dinarius is right. We're not monsters and we're just better than those stupid humans.

Dinarius chuckled, but Navius didn't seem so happy with the conversation. Without either of them even realizing as they chattered on, she quietly slipped out of the kitchen.

/

Marcus heard the crows, who were still incessantly giving out their warning calls, and he silently cursed them. The spells must have truly gotten stronger, even his magic wasn't hiding his energy anymore. Drakkon, he wasn't sure where that useless asshole had gone off too, but he was all alone now. Fucking worm. Leaving me here by myself to deal with this, when you're supposed to be helping. Or maybe you're just more of a coward than you'd admit? One little taste of Dark Fire...and heh...off ya go, running away like a dog with his tail between his legs.

Marcus flashed his teeth in anger, and slowly stood up a few more inches from his crouched spot behind a boulder. In the distance, he could see the Facility. He could also see the black dots littering the perimeter, all over the place like a plague. Starcrow's white star glowed faintly in the dark, as he scanned back and forth, his feathery head constantly jerking back towards the center and in Marcus' direction over and over again, making the vampire nervous. He sensed something...knew he was nearby, which was unsettling. There was no way he was going to sneak his way in there now, in an attempt to kidnap that human Ami. Being that she was a weak mortal he could use her easily to manipulate the master heradus who had let himself fall to such a pitiful state as to love a human.

Pathetic fool, if you were still the Creeper I'd at least have some iota of respect for you. But look at you now, following your little bitch around and answering to her whims. You couldn't even kill that whore Patricia...who hates you with a passion. Hm, Patricia. She's tasty at least...

Marcus couldn't surpress the grin that spread over his features. He had seen the blue Chevy, heading down the gravel pathway and turning onto the road, and could smell this one's delicious blood, pulsing through her veins like sweet nectar for the taking. And take he had...after jumping in front of the car and causing her to swerve and crash into a sign post, he had dragged her stunned body from the wreck and plunged his long fangs into her neck, drinking deeply. Moaning she writhed and fought him desperately despite his overwhelming strength, but he just held her down, chuckling through his swallows. When he finally let her go, she was pale and clammy. He simply left her there, on the road. Sooner or later, Drakkon or one of the other Shadows would find her. Perhaps they'd even turn her into one of them.

Geh. I actually feel bad for her. Who'd want to be one of those things? Marcus shrugged, and with an irritated sigh knew he'd have to abandon his plans once again. The whistle was useless, he tried to use it again, but it seemed the demonic force was long gone, or at least greatly weakened. A shudder of rage coursed through him as he realized the implications of that. Without the demon...he was sure Goliathus would be far more troublesome.

More so than usual.

/

Ami? Ami? Wake up!

Her head throbbed like someone had pummeled it with a rock, that was the first sensation that came to Ami's mind as she slowly opened her eyes, the world starting out fuzzy then slowly coming into clearer view. At first, she didn't really know where she was, but then the memories came back in a jumble. The cave, the great sex...then, pain. Just a steady, agonizing, and quite unbearable pain.

Oddly enough that pain was gone. Her arm still throbbed a bit where she had injected herself, but the rest of her felt fine. In fact, she was feeling more energy than she had in a long time.

Well, I'm not dead.

That is not funny.

Gollie, you really need to lighten up, you know that?

What is this expression, "lighten up?" He gazed up briefly at the cave ceiling as if to see something there. Ami rolled her eyes, sighing, and looked over her arms.

I don't see anything different, do you?

Not really...except that your eyes are like mine now.

Huh?

Goliathus looked towards the opening of the cave and gave a jerk of his head, indicating they should leave. I will take you inside and show you.

Uhm...okay...

Ami wasn't sure whether or not she actually wanted to see what he meant, but then again, why should it bother her? She had been wondering, and trying to picture in her mind, what she might look like if she were actually to turn into a heradus. But some part of her human conscious seemed to reject that idea. It felt like a violation in the back of her mind...something impossible to describe.

Forcing herself to move she got up, slightly dizzy at first but the sensation passed quickly, she followed Goliathus out of the cave and they quickly went back inside. The crows surrounding the perimeter watched them. She wondered how much they saw of what happened in the cave.

They certainly don't miss anything going on, do they?

/

"Perfect." This was the one very sarcastic word that Dinarius uttered, as he looked over Ami himself in her bedroom mirror. Goliathus seemed pleased, she seemed bright and alert, and anything but ill. But the woman's once human eyes had turned into cat-like slits, surrounded by an unusual shade of blue...that reminded him much of the sky's pale color. He continued to pat her up and down, causing Ami to fold her arms and purposefully clear her throat.

"Is this a security check? Are you going to do a cavity search next?"

Dinarius gave a snort but didn't stop his careful inspection. "I'm looking to see what else has changed, Ami. I doubt it's just your eyes. You probably don't even notice what else has changed...internally, I doubt you're the same either. The digestive juices you have in your stomach now could probably burn through stone." Ami grinned, always amazed by the tidbits Dinarius released...he seemed to know a lot about his kind and the Mages. A lot more than Goliathus ever had, which struck her as both odd and depressing at the same time. That train of thought was lost when Dinarius suddenly lifted her shirt off before she could even blink.

"What the hell?"

"Uh-huh. See. Look at that."

Ami looked down at her belly, seeing an odd darkening of her skin there. What was that all about? She also noticed, with widening eyes, that tiny points of what seemed like spines were starting to emerge from her sides. "That's...interesting. I get the spines, but what's with the dark color?"

"That's a good question. But I'd wager it's a simple explanation...your skin tone is changing. We often have darker shades, as you've obviously seen. Grey is quite common...Navi's blue is unusual but somehow familiar...if there were more females they may have been that color." He shrugged. "Who knows? Some things I can only guess at."

Is there any more need for injections? Goliathus frowned then, gaining instant attention from the other heradus. This first one was...difficult.

Well that's a TAME way of putting it, oh wise leader. This is just a little teaser. Wait until the real transformation starts. And yes, you need to do it again. This is as far as the first infusion will take her. And you have to do it again soon, because otherwise, the effect will wear off, and the result will be that she will start to fall apart...literally. It's what happened to those animals...they started to rot from the inside out.

Ami stared into the mirror, frowning herself, but she seemed more disappointed than anything. "I would have hoped for more. Goliathus, we should do this again now."

"No, no, NO. Wait until tomorrow Ami. I don't think your body can handle another dose of heradus blood right now, in the same day. Besides didn't Maniel talk about doing this over days?"

No, his words, and I paraphrase, were to infuse my blood with hers, and then over days it will...well he was lost after that. He did not get a chance to finish. I think you are wrong, and the transformation will continue on, at whatever pace it is destined to do so.

Accelerate...eating habits... The fragmented thoughts were brief, and distant, but Goliathus realized quickly it was his father's voice. Had he found the energy to return for a time? He attempted to enter his mental plane, but the images were wavering.

What are you trying to tell me?

Ami...act...like you...eat...will accelerate...

Maniel sounded as if he were talking over a bad connection on a CB radio. Only bits and pieces of what he was saying were being heard. However Goliathus had understood the message.

If Ami wanted to turn into a heradus faster, then she was going to have to make a sudden and drastic diet change.

Goliathus relayed the information to Dinarius, who raised an eyebrow and then chuckled. "Oooo...Heradus 101? This should be interesting. Ami dear, are you ready to turn carnivore?"

"Huh?" She blinked at both of them helplessly.

/

Navius sat on the edge of the rocky hill with her knees drawn to her chest, close to the mouth of their little secret cave. Her nose told her that both of her parents had been in there, and in the air was a strange metallic tang of blood that was not familiar. It must be the infusion that Dinarius had mentioned...something that would make her mother more like them. But why? This was the lingering thought in the young girl's mind that would not go away. Why would her mother want to be more like them...and have the world think her a monster?

Oh Navi knew...she always did...that their mother was shielding her family from the "outside" world. She knew that since the day she could understand words and perceive the world around her, that momma was very different from other humans. Navi sighed, sniffling and trying to hold back the tears. To be honest with herself she didn't know why she was feeling so sad over the whole thing. Then she thought back, to all the odd events and situations with her father. He always seemed on the verge of...something. Navi had watched her father eat numerous times, with a ferocity that outmatched any other heradus she'd seen, even her little brother. In fact, at numerous times, he insisted on taking his food elsewhere and going out of sight. The wild frenzy in his eyes was sometimes beyond hunger...it was something else far more disturbing and she shivered at the thought of it.

That demon will go right back to your father...

Marcus' words still rang with eerie clarity in her head. The vampire had said her father had been possessed by that demon...just like Dinarius. But for some reason...it seemed for more of a dangerous situation with her father then it did with her uncle. Something was bothering Navius about it, but she couldn't quite place a finger on it.

At times it almost seemed...she shivered...it almost seemed like her father, once in a blue moon when perhaps he wasn't even aware...was looking at Ami in the same way he did with his food when he was hungry enough. But the creepy look in his eyes would quickly vanish in the next moment, and often she wondered if she had imagined it.

What did you do, daddy? It was something awful, wasn't it? Uncle Dinarius killed ten humans...but what about you?

The crows near her suddenly cawed loudly, as if protesting at her thought.

Navi! Navi! Go inside! Go! Not safe!

Sighing heavily again, she sprung from a crouched position and gently glided back to the ground, where she walked back inside without looking back at the cave.

/

"All right, that should do it..." Dinarius checked the freezer, but there was little more left, except for some kidneys that always seemed to be the least favorite item. He already had warmed up the rest. "Are you gonna go and eat us all out of house n' home, now?" Jezelle sighed, sitting at the table and running a hand through her wiry hair as she watched Dinarius piling what looked like a ridiculous amount of meat in front of Ami. "That poor chile. She looks more sick than hungry."

Ami cleared her throat, blinking newly formed cat-like eyes at them all.

"This is uhm...raw. I mean, not even medium rare or something...just raw."

"We're not particularly fond of cooking our meat, if you hadn't noticed." Dinarius quirked a brow at her. "Dig in, try it, see what happens." He shrugged. "You wanted to listen to Maniel...soooo...listen to him."

Goliathus stood at the far end of the table and staring at the offal, looking both concerned for her and also quite eager to snatch up any possible leftovers. Ami found herself looking at him as if half-expecting his over eager encouragement (since he always insisted that the heart was perhaps the most exquisite flavor in the world), but her mind remained silent. Sighing, she picked up a piece of...something...she wasn't exactly sure what exactly, and attempted to cut it into smaller pieces with a big kitchen knife. Dinarius snickered, but Jezelle quirked a brow at him and he quickly went quiet.

Ami speared a small piece and brought it to her lips. Thankfully, the meat was quite warm, and it did kinda smell rather good. She chewed slowly, and it in that moment she was pretty certain a pin could drop and she would hear it.

There was a funny sensation in her gut, and suddenly, her hunger grew. It was not a bad feeling per say, but one that felt quite difficult to ignore. So she took another bite, and something changed...the meat tasted different...it tasted better.

"Well you're not gagging or throwing up, so this seems positive..."

Dinarius, have you recently discovered the art of being an incessant pest? It is starting to irk me. Greatly.

The other heradus chuckled despite the clear annoyance he could feel oozing off of Goliathus. Chill, oh fearless leader. I guess I'm just trying to lighten the mood.

The mood here is quite serious...and nothing to joke about. I hardly see the amusement in this that you are gaining from it.

Seriously, Goliathus. What is wrong with you? I don't see why you're getting angry with me here.

A lot is wrong with me, unfortunately. But my main point, dear Dinarius, is that you now remain SILENT.

Huffing and bristling with irritation, Dinarius made sure to make contact with Goliathus and bump him aside as he quickly stormed out of the kitchen, the metal doors clanging loudly as he shoved his way through them. Jezelle, having picked up in the whole mental conversation, seemed to be worried about the tension between the two, but her attention was quickly focused back on Ami.

The meat was gone. All of it. Ami didn't look sick anymore, in fact, she looked downright healthy, her cheeks glowing pink.

"Wow. And to think I've been ordering my steaks medium well my whole life. What the hell is wrong with me?"

I tried to tell you. Goliathus smirked, but he also seemed somewhat miffed that she had in fact eaten everything.

Ami noticed, and grinning was about to say something sarcastic in regards to his never-ending appetite when a familiar burning pain returned. "Uh-oh..." She stood, and Jezelle immediatley reacted, grabbing onto her arm and shoulder. "You all right? What's happening?"

"I dunno...it's that pain...but it's in my back now. Can you get me a back scratcher or something? It itches like a bitch, too." The old psychic hesitated for a moment but then she complied, hurrying out of the kitchen and then returning a few minutes later. "Here, found one in the bathroom."

Ami reached over to her back and scratched furiously. "Damn! Worse than a thousand mosquito bites!" Goliathus quickly went over to her, pulling her shirt up again and examining her back.

Those bumps, they are bleeding now. I recognize this, though. It is a claw of a wing-tip.

"Oh Jeezus...oh lord...this is really happening to you. Are you sure about this?" Jezelle seemed incredibly uncertain in the moment, but Ami nodded through her gritted teeth as she scratched. "I know this seems scary and all, and yeah, I'm a bit scared myself. But at the same time, I know this is what I want. There are so many reasons, Jezelle, and the truth is, I don't think anyone else will ever understand. It's just who I am."

The itching intensified, and Ami was scratching so hard that the wooden handle of the scratcher was starting to splinter and break. Jezelle covered her mouth, shaking her head. "You've got to stop Ami, for gawd's sake the blood is running down your back now! Easy, easy, why don't I just look for some salve and we can maybe-"

Ami screamed suddenly, dropping to the floor. Goliathus hardly had time to react, as sharp spines suddenly erupted through the skin and lengthened into long, bony digits, completely bare as if she were some kind of skeletal dragon. Once it stopped, the pain seemed to leave her, but the skeletal structure of two half-formed wings on her back was a frightening and disturbing sight. Ami stood slowly, flexing her fingers and noticing the increased length of her digits, as well as the very wickedly curved shape her fingernails had taken on, halfway to that of true claws. Her breathing was slow and ragged now, and she clutched her abdomen occasionally from waves of pain.

Both Jezelle and Goliathus stared on, trying to find words. But none came.

Then once again, as if on cue, Maniel managed to come through into his son's mind.

Now, must be now. Another infusion.

But she...father...she has gone through so much already...

You...cannot...wait...will fall apart...now...or death...

Goliathus snorted, feeling the extreme urgency in his father's message even as his energy left as quickly as it arrived. He looked to Jezelle, forcing himself to speak out loud.

"You must find a syringe, Jezelle, and draw more blood from me. Ami will need it now, my father's warning was severe."

Goliathus wanted to bless whatever powers that be that somehow kept the old woman's sanity intact. She only hesitated for a second, then saying nothing, quickly exited once again and headed for the lab. Goliathus went to Ami and supported her as he led her from the kitchen, following.

Now, in this moment, your strength will be tested Ami. Both of ours.

She clung to him, panting and struggling to keep her feet moving. She saw in the corner of her eye her children heading for her, but Jezelle expertly diverted in her path and quickly hustled them into their room with a harsh warning to stay put, despite their protests.

Ami looked up at Goliathus, and smiled at him. He noticed her sharp and pointed canines, and her pale blue eyes were more alien than ever.

You are my strength, Gollie. Always.

/

End of Chapter 32.

It's gettin' good, huh? :) I sure hope you think so! I took some time on this chapter...and in case you were wondering about what's up with Dinarius, well...the mental battle with the demon has changed his personality somewhat...not as severe as with Goliathus, but...definitely noticeable. :( Please remember to review!