Beastly

The man known as Jesse McCree came to the sprawling township seeking a cure for his ailment. Their wondrous blood proving to do the job of miracles and increasing one's longevity made it all the more sought after than even the most precious of gems! But he was in dire need as so many others had been, collapsing before the steps of their healing church where he would have thought his tale done.

Only that had not been the case, awakening in a medical ward of sorts. Tarps hanging overhead keeping him isolated from what he'd assume to be others though it was a sweet sound that had drawn his attention more than anything else. The voice of some heavenly being he'd assume in a form made physical as healer garbed in white made her way within.

That was how he met Angela Ziegler of the healing church and it was the day his life had changed.

It was not long after that he'd made a full recovery, any and all traces of his disease having vanished from his body and it was at this that he had been offered a place in their fair city. To be more exact it was his angel that gave him the choice, one he'd accepted without hesitation. He'd take up arms and adorn the attire of black that those who'd protect the church kept to, sanctioned and official in carrying out their duty.

He would protect the house that healed him, he would protect its walls and those within, and most importantly he would keep his angel safe and sound… But like most things in life this too was not to last. The blood that healed many was tainted with plague. A malicious sort of thing that ate at one from the inside, that changed them into something more than what they had been before.

What worried him most though? Was that he could feel it gnawing away, eating at him from the inside out. Every moment he'd been in proximity with his angel his eyes would linger on her, on her throat. The prospect of sweet crimson ichor within parching his throat with a need to sate this unending thirst. He'd hold back on it though his duty and devotion to the woman being so overwhelmingly powerful that he kept his senses. His wits sharp but dulling, deteriorating faster than he'd like to admit.

That is of course what brings one to the situation at hand now. This man that had been clad in the black garb of the church now knelt before her. Stiripped to his trousers and boots before this saint in white. Blue eyes scanning across his tanned back as his head remained bowed with his messy mop of brown splaying out against the floor. He was shaking, fearful, seeking help from her once again, and just as before she had welcomed him in with open arms.

"Dear hunter do not cower below. Rise will you not?" Accented words lulled him in towards herself, a hand propping up against the seat she'd taken while the other kept to her thigh. He'd try to stand but he found his legs unresponsive. Looking towards her apologetically she showed him nothing akin to scorn but rather the same kindness she continued to let shine from herself. Gentle pale digits brushing aside unruly brown locks before it settled proper against his cheek.

"Pl… ease. Run, run I— it ain't safe." Words forced themselves out from his lips as she'd insist on keeping him where he was. She'd need to be kept safe from any and all that would do her harm. And right now that may very well mean him.

"I will not abandon you herr Jesse, you will not turn under my protection." She could feel him flinch beneath her touch. She knew of his affliction, though he shouldn't be surprised. It isn't long until the strongest fall beneath their own might and he was no exception at this time. But he wouldn't become like them. Again she pet his cheek and in turn he'd let out a pitiable whimper.

Over time the hand that clung to her and the seat tightened its grip. Poking at her with nails that did begin to elongate, her audible and low hiss of pain all that alerted him to the sensation overtaking her. He was quick to pull his hands back to try and retreat. "See, I knew it, knew I'd wind up doin' somethin' like that."

Panicked he shot up, leaned himself back and away. In the light that flooded in through open windows of her private hall she could see his visage marred with hair and fangs and claws. A monstrous sight as he cowered back with claws clenched and digging into his palms drawing tainted blood. He was turning fast and wasn't sure how much longer he could force it back; watching her with predatory eyes and at the same time those eyes were filled with longing. Honeyed brown and piercing yellow as a ragged gasp drew from his throat.

He'd collapse to the ground again in pain as spasms rocked his entire being to the core. Clasping at his head he howled out in unparalleled pain and anguish over the continuation of his transformation. Choked back sobs and pleas for her to stay away left him when he could muster up the sounds for words let alone properly give them shape.

What was his angel doing all the while? The healing church's dearest saint? She stood from where she had been sitting and drew back to retrieve an instrument from the wall. Primitive and perhaps even medieval in its design it was a tool of the church nonetheless. A knout with metal barbs adorned at its tips laid out loosely in her grasp while eyeing the man-turned-beast. "Settle dear hunter, you are not to become like those you fight just yet."

Kind eyes scanned across the surface of skin again, icey blues looking across skin and fur as he'd claw against the stone floor. "I will keep you as you are, I will keep you here with me as you so desired." He was her hunter after all. No one, not even this plague, would be taking him from her. She'd force sanity back into him, anything to keep him with her. With that her arm pulled back to hold the tool high and above either of them. Poised to attack she lashed out with it, drawing deep tracks of red as it bit into his flesh, tearing in deep as he howled out aloud.

This was of course but the first strike, the heel of darkened leather boots adding pressure below the newfound injury as she gave another. Staining untouched flesh and fur in tandem as he was whipped once again. Cries of rage and confusion echoing between whimpers of pain as his angel delivered her retribution onto him. The flagellation continued for some time until his writhing settled and his breathing evened out. She once again sat but it was beside him on the floor when she did so.

"Hunter, good hunter, can you hear me?" The palm of her hand pressed across raw flesh that had already begun knitting itself back together. Another dosage of her treatment would be needed far sooner than she previously surmised. The glove adorning the appendage now holding red that seeped into the pristine white. "I am here to treat you and keep you close, but you too must be willing to continue."

It was slow to start, breathing coming to a steady-enough pattern as he swallowed again as a voice both his own and different drew from a fanged maw. "Y… es, loud an' clear." The twang of his accent ringing in his words, drawing a smile back to her lips at the results. "I— I ain't done just yet… Jus' lemme—"

"I think not, you have endured much and are earned your rest." Her tone was firm and unbending as she'd scold him. Sure he'd struggle to prop himself up but she gently applied some pressure to his neck, keeping him down with his head against her lap. Eventually he'd comply and lay where she suggested. "Ruhe solange du noch kannst, mein Jäger." Eventually he would. Beastly and deformed to put it lightly but still the same man who she'd care for.

And as the atmosphere of her chamber shifted to something akin to calm, serene even in some humorous way as she held onto her beastly hunter, she could not deny the twisted feeling in her stomach that did so sour the sweet expression on her features. A gnarled pair of wings acting as parody of the angelic, twisted and matted and so very wrong. Poking out from beneath the back of her church attire for none but herself to see.

She was not immune either to this plague, it did little in discrimination though there was no need to worry her hunter with such details. He has already dealt with enough tonight.


As I've gotten a question about the translation of Angela's words they are "Rest while you can, my hunter". Note I do not speak German myself I simply asked someone I know who does