Euphoric: Chapter 5

"Already?" Aaric croaks. "Jesus, they haven't been in there long. Maybe twenty minutes at the most…" He seizes the opportunity to trail off, for Libra only seems to stand with minute interest; though this successfully assuages his fear.

"This way," Libra muses rather distantly as she turns back into the eerie room. The damned red light pours onto the floor like blood pooling from its host, anxiously clawing toward Aaric. He nervously squeezes his hands into fists over and over, hearing his skin catch and slip like pieces of thick leather. His breath turns shallow as Capricorn leads his venture to the rest of the order. The darkness covets Aaric, almost like a large blanket of comforting opaqueness. It's not long before his eyes trail to one of the vampires. Scor is the first to catch his eyes, lazing nonchalantly on one of the couches. He slowly runs a hand through his hair as Aaric and Capricorn step into the concentration of light, managing a pleased simper. What the hell is he smirking for? Is this amusing for him or something? Aaric frowns. But his blood soon runs cold as all 10 brooding eyes of the surrounding vampires narrow in on him. Gemini refrains from a malevolent snarl at the pathetic mortal. Virgo drifts behind the backs of the stationary members, hand slowly kneading at his jowl as he quietly re-evaluates the meeting.

"Virge this is ridiculous," Gem pleaded. Scor scoffed, soon muttering a comment under his breath. Virge's superior hearing caught the nearly inaudible words.

"Scorpio," he reminded. One word was all he needed. "Then let us discuss this. After all that is why we're here…"

"Adopting him into the order will cause us to stray from the path we've already paved! The VINIC?" Gem defended irritably. "Can we even afford a slip-up so far into the search—?"

"Slip-up?" Scor sniggered. "You're such a sniveling little bastard, you have no idea what Aaric is capable of, or if he would even be a slip-up."

"Scor," Virge repeated before allowing Gem the chance to rebel. "If you will? I'd like to get through this particular meeting without pointless arguing." Scor silently ended the dispute between himself and Gem, stifling an outburst. "Now, Gem proves a very realistic point. We mustn't forget that we aren't the only order out there." Scor shuffled in his seat. "The discovery of the VINIC is mandatory, and any evidence of squelching our chances will not be tolerated." Gem glanced at Scor with a haughty grin but Scor only seemed bored, racked with dull interest. "A few years ago this would have been a strong possibility, but now…" He threw up his arms. The four vampires contemplated, Gem glancing around to survey his fellow members.

Scor tongued his lip ring. "We've been taking chances for 300 years, and now we choose to stop?" he questions coldly. "It's bullshit."

"We weren't so focused on the VINIC!" Gem retorted.

"You didn't come until recently, Little Miss Dumb-ass, so I'm not listening to you!" Scor snapped back. "You haven't even been working on the mission as hard as the rest of us!" Scor's lips cocked with a playful jeer as Gem fought to control his anger.

"If I may," Libra began softly. The two bickering vampires settled instantly. "I agree that we would stray from our path, but, considering the VINIC, we have already lead ourselves audaciously down another path." She swept a lock of copper hair from her eyes. "Virgo created this order to find all of the zodiac, but we can't deny that taking this path is no longer our number one prerogative." She timidly reviews the three. "Gemini is correct. We will stray from our path. But only to follow a far more important one. I mean to take this path of finding the VINIC we must take chances and that's what we've been doing all along. Perhaps this path will cross the one carefully constructed by Virgo, but, for now, that is immaterial. The VINIC is our number one goal, and we're going to do anything to seize it."

"And Aaric?" Virgo questioned with intrigue.

Libra tilted her head and withdrew a breath. "There is strength in numbers. We have the numbers…so let's get the strength. Is it the worth the risk to increase our strength in order to better our chances at capturing the VINIC?"

"If we fail at training Aaric it'll only slow us down," Gem stated.

Scor coolly commented. "Gemini, did you not pay attention at all? There's more than one of us, so while the rest of us continue the search one of us will train Aaric. That way if we fail we won't be slowed much, and if we succeed we'll be stronger than before." Virge gave an assured nod toward Libra.

"Virge. Can we take the risk?" Libra asked.

Virgo's eyes strayed to Libra. "Let them in. I've made up my mind. I don't want to hear anymore arguments. I'm sure of my decision." Both Gem and Scor opened their mouths to protest but were soon scolded by the emerald daggers that are Virgo's eyes.

And now, with the mortal quaking in his seat, Virgo finally has the chance to eye the boy over. "Stand up," he orders, winding around the couch.

Aaric stands gradually.

Virgo eyes him up and down, looking over his lean body though arms look to have the possibility of sprouting muscles with proper training. It's good to be lean. You're faster. You won't get caught as easily. "Take off your shirt," he murmurs, hand still kneading his jaw with interest. Scor's eyes light up as he leans back into the couch, arms spread out over the back. Capricorn eases beside Libra, resting her head on the other's shoulder.

"What?" Aaric asks with confusion.

"Take off your shirt. Come on," Virgo repeats blatantly. Aaric glances to Scor who only shrugs, fiercely battling a smile. Aaric sighs and peels the shirt from his torso, hand clutching it tightly at his side. Scor bites his finger with a dignified smile of approval, jaws smarting with the pain from clenching them.

"Why am I doing this?" Aaric mutters, head tilting with displeasure.

"Quiet," Virgo orders. His eyes review the mortal's sun soaked skin, such a rare sight in the life of the night. His stomach is flat but with only slight evidence of any muscles. That will have to be strengthened. Soon Aaric's heart rate accelerates, finally realizing that the eyes of everyone rest on his intimate being. His eyes quickly look to Scor one more time. Scor drops his finger slightly and smiles, tips of his pearly white fangs poking out. Aaric's stomach flip-flops.

"Virge is this necessary?" Gem says. "His heart is simply radiating his scent, and some of us haven't had dinner yet." The vampire gives a challenging half-smile, eyes twinkling with malice and guilty temptation. He slowly leans forward. "We wouldn't want one of us to take a bite—" A sharp slicing sound soon echoes through the room, Gemini releasing an infuriated snarl. Aaric looks to the vampire with curiosity, watching his hand clap over a gushing laceration on his arm.

"Oops," Scor coos, twirling an incredibly sharp looking throwing star in his right hand.

"Bastard!" Gem shouts, snatching the first star from the couch arm beside him, red blood painting one of the blades.

"Scorpio!" Virgo booms. "Outside! Now! Capricorn look after the boy." He steps from Aaric, snatching Scor's arm on his way out. Aaric watches them leave with growing worry. Gemini grimaces.

Virgo throws Scor out the backdoor, following him out. Scor digs his feet into the ground, withdrawing deep breaths through his nose as he backs up into the brick wall. "What is your problem today, Scorpio? Hm?!" Virgo draws close with eyes ablaze.

Scor only stares him straight in the eyes, jaw rigid with anger.

"Hm?!" Virgo swings his arm around to hit his fellow member but Scor snatches the hand tightly. He reaches to hit him from the other side but that hand is grabbed too. "Whatever it is it isn't affecting your fighting skills. That's for sure." He drops his hands. "Scorpio, my friend, what is it? Gemini has been here for quite a long time now, and his comments haven't got to you. Why now?"

"Why not?" Scor mutters darkly.

"Scor." His friend's eyes dart away. "I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong."

"I can help myself. I don't need you."

Virgo sees through this façade with ease. "Is recruiting Aaric as an apprentice a bad decision? I won't have this negatively affecting my family."

Scor looks down the alley, eyes stinging. "No…" he says at last, voice choking. "Who will train him?"

He rubs his own jowl. "Scorpio what's the matter?"

"Nothing!" he snaps, purple eyes darting to meet his leader's. "For fucking sake, why does something always have to be wrong?"

Virgo watches his friend's faltering eyes, iris's flickering with inner resentment. "Alright." He steps back to give him room.

Scor nods. "So, who will train him?"

"Come back inside. We'll settle this in there." Virge confirms and walks back in to join the rest. Scor collapses to his knees once Virge is out of sight, fingertips digging into his skull as they rake through his hair.

"I can't…it's not possible," he murmurs. "I won't let it. I promised myself it wouldn't. Not again."

Aaric pulls his shirt back over his chest as Virgo enters, face looking rather exhausted. "Sir?"

"It's Virgo, Aaric. When you're in the order you don't need to call me by proper means."

Gemini leaps from his couch as Scor enters, hair whipped strangely from dragging his hands through. "Virge? Are you serious!?"

"Beginning today I don't want any more screwing around," Virgo continues firmly. "We want the VINIC now, or we're all fucked. Understand?" Scattered nods. Scor drifts past Aaric with face vacant. Aaric resorts to awkwardly continuing to stand, not knowing what else he can do. "Aaric is to be under close supervision of Scor at all times. And I mean—all—times," he growls. "I want him processed as if he were one of us. Scor, take him through first level analysis without turning him. I want to make sure we don't waste our time on someone who can't stomach this business."

"Understood," Scor mumbles. Capricorn has drifted to sleep, Libra nodding silently in agreement. Gem settles back down without another word but with great difficulty. Scor rests his jaw on his fist, eventually giving in and looking over at Aaric. It almost amuses him how innocent he looks, rubbing the back of his neck to make it look as if he has something to do so he doesn't simply stand there. He smiles. Then he frowns and looks off.

"You're all dismissed. I'll send schedules to your phones in a couple of hours. Expect to be booked." Virgo nods and then disappears in a haze of black smoke. Scor stands and nods toward Libra, Libra smiling faintly and waving though not enough to wake her sleeping friend.

"This way," Scor says to Aaric as he passes him. Aaric follows, but what other choice does he have. They go out the way they come in, though Scor must keep hold of Aaric's wrist as he maneuvers him through the blackness that leads them into the back alley. Once in the safety of a sunlight dipped alley Aaric hoots with joy, practically scaring Scor half to death. "What the hell was that for?"

"We did it! I'm in! I'm not dead!" Aaric laughs, spinning around. "Ahh, life! I will keep you with me!"

"You're crazy."

"And you're correct. This is so great!" Aaric catches up to his friend and embraces his tightly. "Thank you." Scor struggles momentarily, lips tickled by Aaric's hair and nose tempted by his scent. But then he relapses and hugs him back, virtually numb with temptation. Aaric's eyebrows cock with surprise, having guessed that Scor would shove him away in disgust. Though after several seconds Scor pushes Aaric away and turns around.

"Go on home. I'll get you tomorrow for training."

Aaric furrows his brow in slight annoyance. "Aren't you coming home with me?"

"Why the hell would I?"

Aaric pauses. "You know what? Just don't come at all. Just leave me the hell alone. In fact," he starts to backtrack. "Forget you ever met me! Hm? Sound good? I sure think it does!" He smiles, though inside his heart is engulfed by flames of hatred and depression. "Just go tell your fucking friend that I don't want to be a part of any of this! Because I can't deal with you anymore! I can't deal with your hot and cold anymore!"

Scor turns, slightly nauseated, heart diving. "Aaric…"

"No! Leave me alone, Scor! Thanks for saving my life! Having a nice life!"

"AARIC!" Scor screams as Aaric steps back onto the street, a car barreling toward him. Aaric turns slightly, face catching just enough to completely petrify him. Leaping forward Scor slices through the air with shadows tailing him, tackling Aaric onto the other side of the road before a gasp of shock can even escape Aaric's mouth. The car races past with car horn blaring, both men breathing hard, hearts purring in their chests. Aaric's jaw cocks and he stares into Scor's eyes, gasping in breaths. "That…makes two times…"

"…Come home with me," Aaric breathes.

"Okay."

He didn't have the strength to say no.