Morose was the only way to describe Shane as he was suddenly on his knees in the Wizard's castle. Jas was still clutched tightly in his arms, and as the dust settled around him, it was all he could do to look up at the Wizard who stood before him, hands clasped behind his back, eyes wound with a look of extreme concern.
"I... I had to leave her behind... she dropped off from a ledge... with that thing weighing her down." tears pricked at his eyes, but his voice was surprisingly firm. Though if Jas would have been immediately pried from his arms it would have revealed his shaking.
"I see." the wizard responded somberly, looking away and into cauldron billowing with green smoke. Shane didn't have the energy to lose it on Rasmodius, he barely had the energy to get back up and stand. Things just felt a little numb, even with his niece clasped safely in his arms. He took a moment to look down at her peaceful expression, a bit of dirt on her face and a few scratches on her upper arms. His bones felt leaden, and his chest... his heart felt wide open, taking in the cold impact and realization that Laura hadn't come back with them. But his Goddaughter was here, with him, and safe. It didn't occur to him at all at that moment that this may have been Laura's undoing, but only that Laura had saved them was what he thought of. Never before had he seen someone fight with such skill, such loyalty, and ultimately with the commitment to sacrifice herself.
You never do know if someone means it until it happens... he quietly mused to himself, tears slipping down his dirty face. Rasmodius seemed to suddenly appear, causing Shane to start a little but in a fluid motion they were eye to eye, the wizard crouching to look at him.
"You three were sledding, in the Delten Mountains right outside Zuzu city. You went for a few days as a vacation. Laura and Jas were on a sled together when they got in an accident. Laura has yet to be found." now he raised up a small wooden bowl with some dark blue liquid inside that Shane wrinkled his nose at, the smell terrible. "This will replace those memories for her. And while I don't have the ability to heal her- I can channel her injuries into the ruse we will be putting up. You must comply, or I will be forced to wipe your memories as well. Lewis and I know what is down there, but it is better the town is left unaware of it. You will both go to Harvey's clinic and stick to that story for everyone including him."
"Why would you keep that information from them?" Shane snarled, glowering. If only he had known, there would be no way that he'd let Jas leave his side. Then again... Laura had known and... he forced the thought away.
"Olc was a very special circumstance, Shane." the wizards voice sounded a little strained, and reluctantly the serum was given to his niece, who seemed just eager to down anything causing Shane to notice her dry and cracked lips. But as she drank, her lips took on a slightly pale color instead. She began to shiver slightly and the wizard moved to pull a flannel blanket from one of his shelves, helping Shane wrap the small frame in it. He couldn't pull his eyes away, and it was then that the feeling of extreme relief went through him, that she was safe, not unharmed, but safe. He brought her face up close to his, taking in that sweet smell of her hair and kissing her forehead gently, tears slipping again. Unimaginable, that he could have lost her...
"Now you." and reluctantly, Shane lifted his face away from her and accepted the small bowl, not without a pained expression as he downed it quickly as though he were back in the bar taking a shot to numb away a different type of pain. Steeling himself against the taste, he felt the cold settle into his bones too, and he stood up, nodding to the wizard and taking off towards Harvey's.
He got there quickly enough, it was pretty dark with only the town lamps lighting his way but to his surprise there the lights were on in the clinic. It wasn't normal for Harvey to be there and awake this late was it? But as he approached he saw the door swing open with Harvey in the doorway, a look of concern etched into his features.
"Shane! Please, I got the call from the mountain hospital. They tell me she's stable enough but maybe she should stay here a couple nights. I'm sorry they had you take the bus and..." he drifted off, the concern mixing with an expression of deep remorse. A small pause took place between them before Shane shouldered past the doctor who seemed to just accept the aggression and followed him inside.
Gently, Shane lowered Jas onto a hospital bed, not thinking an examination table would be needed, and Harvey made no move to correct the action. Instead he stepped forward brandishing his stethoscope, listening to her heartbeat, breathing, and taking down vitals. From a cupboard he pulled out several blankets and layered Jas in them, and attached a small clip onto her index finger and a screen near her bed flickered to life, reading out basic vitals. Finally, he turned to look at him, and smiled a little half heartedly, sadness breaching his expression.
"Well, everything seems to be in order... for Jas. I genuinely hope that they find Laura. I know the whole town will be worrying for her." Shane only grunted in agreement, that small part of him hoping for... something. It's not like he was sure of her death, and there was no way he was accepting it yet. It may have happened... but... he just couldn't accept it yet.
"Anyways... Maru and I will be taking shifts. I'll just be right there." and he pointed towards an old wood desk sitting in the warm glow of a floor lamp. "Maru will be in about 6am to relieve me. But please, I do think you should go home and get some rest it's nearly 1 in the morning even now." which surprised Shane, who knew it was late but not that late. He stared at Jas, who slept peacefully unaware, and his heart ached. Finally, he stood up straighter and nodded to Harvey.
"Thanks, man. But, I swear I'll fucking kill you if something happens to her." he threatened, and he felt a small primal part of himself mean it. After gutting several of those monsters, it made him know. He would be capable of killing and anyone who hurt Jas was a monster in his eyes. Not that he doubted the doctor, but he just needed to blow off steam somehow. And Harvey seemed to know that because he simply nodded grimly. Glancing at her again, Harvey recessed to his desk, pulling out stacks of paper and began scribbling things down into what looked like Jas's file. Shane didn't stick around longer for pleasantries and kissed Jas on her forehead, smoothing her hair away from her face, and smiled. She'd need a bath but rest was more important for now. And surprisingly she wasn't in as bad of shape as he'd thought while they were searching. I mean, for a bit there he'd thought she was dead. Like he feared for Laura now.
Out the door he went, knowing the location he had in mind. He looked down at his finger, gloves probably left in the cave but there was the ring, a dim blue stone set into the wide silver band. No light, and no worry that Olc was still alive. But would that mean the death of Laura? He passed his fingers through his hair roughly, irritated with himself. Why would he be such an ass? Hurt her so much? He was sure that she hadn't sought out trouble, and considered how it had been mentioned that she was only trying to settle down. He'd had some run ins with gangs. Would he want to be blamed if they came for him? I mean, in that first year there had been a small occasion but Marnie didn't blame him. Just scared off the thugs with a frying pan and protected her family.
He sighed deeply, feeling terrible for not emulating his aunt and worried that there would be no amends to make. Her last moments... he could have said something. Anything. Watching her slip away into the darkness he had wanted to shout to her, tell her he loved her. It was only once faced with such a hard reality that it had crashed into him, the worry he'd lose the woman he loved.
Moving at an almost jog, he went to where he was sure he could reach it... the sewer. Maybe he could find Krobus and get him to let him back in. Something had told him the wizard would be of no help, more unwilling to let Shane alone back into that sub lair. He wasn't excited about working again with someone of the same kind that had hurt his family, but surely Krobus would know more about the situation or how to retrieve Laura... in whatever state she may be in. He shuddered lightly a flash of morbid thought, her body at the bottom of the cave crushed and broken. Even worse, the idea of her surviving the fall... and dying from her injuries. Shane concentrated on running now, doing his best to keep the thoughts from eating away at him.
Not quickly enough he felt, he was there staring into the sewer, pulling without much luck at the bars, frustration taking over him. If he could just talk to the brute, reason, and get a way back in. He could make it, surely he could. He still had the galaxy dagger on him and the way to where she fell... he could make it. Especially knowing how far it actually was. Might take a day or two like before but... he could make it. Find her, and bring her back... somehow.
"Krobus!" Shane shouted, only hearing an echo back with the pitter patter of light dripping.
"Krobus!" he called again, desperation tinging his voice for what felt like the millionth time lately. He growled angrily, shaking the bars enough that a bit of dirt began to sprinkle downwards, and he began just howling down the sewer entrance, feeling as though the thing was simply ignoring him.
"You fucking piece of shit! Open this fucking gate!" he shouted loudly. He didn't let up for some time before his head made contact with the metal out of sheer anger. Slumping down to his knees, he stared at the ground. A pitter patter of water, but not from the sewer. His own tears falling to the ground.
"I'm sorry, Laura." he said quietly, snot leaking now as well as tears, but he had no strength to wipe it away. He might have been able to make it. To grab her and Jas. He'd failed her, just like he'd failed his sister. Sweet alcohol called to him strongly now, just a few shots could at least help numb this pain. But resolutely, he shifted and placed his back against the bars and stared out into the inky darkness but knowing he could hear the ocean waves lap up onto the beach a little ways down. Not knowing what to do now besides wait and hope... that maybe he could get ahold of the brute somehow.