A/N The reversal process begins. John makes an appearance with grave news about the Temple. His darker side is revealed.
ELEVEN
"If the treatment makes you nauseous, take these. But only two at a time, and only four pills in total a day."
Aurelian shook out one of the pills, a mild painkiller, bit it into two halves and gave one to Ylerin.
"When will the surgery happen?" Aurelian asked.
"Two days from now, so the drug treatment has a chance to take affect."
Aurelian clasped Ylerin's hand. They were a little scared, but eager to try. Helen didn't blame them, the operation was complex and more than a little daunting. She had the idea of trying to correct the sensory paths in their brains. The blood vampires had altered the course electric signals in their brains took, diverting them to their pleasure and pain receptors. They had also increased the sensitivity of those receptors.
She wouldn't be able to completely undo the damage, but with Nikola's talents, she might be able to guide some of the strains back to their original pathways.
It still required open-brain surgery, and heavy anesthetics for the Sybarites. Something she hadn't wanted, but couldn't avoid. It was very risky.
When she outlined the procedure, Aurelian and Ylerin had engaged in one of their silent facial conversations, and eventually agreed.
"Either way, we will be reunited with the Lady."
Ah, of course, the Silver Lady. Helen had been poring over research and sending inquires off to all the Sanctuaries to try and determine what she was. Her initial guess had been a super-abnormal, like Kali and Kanaan, but she still hadn't been able to find any abnormal that matched the description of the Silver Lady. Perhaps she was of a species yet undiscovered. That was the likeliest possibility, considering they had no idea the Sybarites existed up until a few months ago.
Ylerin lurched forward unexpectedly, Aurelian grasping her arm to steady her. "There is a disturbance outside."
"Disturbance?" Helen asked in alarm.
"A shift … in energy."
Helen ran into her front courtyard, slightly out of breath. She felt weak in the knees, despite knowing what to expect.
"John."
"Helen." He smiled tentatively at her, his trench coat covered in a few dusty patches.
"What are you doing here?"
"To warn you. And also to apologize, for my hasty departure earlier."
She stiffened, taking a step back. "More news of doom on my doorstep? Some things never change."
His brow furrowed, contrition in every step. He held out his hand slowly, and when she didn't pull away, took her hand in his. "Helen, I came here as a friend."
Trembling, she gratefully sank into his arms when he embraced her, holding onto the comfort of someone who understood her and had seen as much as she had.
Nikola closed the window curtains with a snap, loathe to watch the sentimental reunion. He turned his attentions instead to the Sybarites. They had to be checked in on regularly, their systems were incredibly receptive to the medication, to the point where it could be dangerous.
Aurelian was sleeping, finding that the most helpful in dealing with the effects of the drugs. Ylerin was weak, woozy and restless, finding it harder to cope.
"It is worse than wine sickness," She growled. That surprised a laugh out of Nikola.
"I wouldn't know."
He took her hand, if only to help stop it trembling. She nodded gratefully back at him. Much to his dismay, it seemed as if they had grudgingly formed a friendship. It was this thought that had Nikola tap his throat and nod to her.
She raised an eyebrow quizzically, but he nodded again encouragingly before she could refuse. Weak, she acquiesced and coaxed a tendril from his mouth, delicately drinking it in. Her trembling stopped and she seemed more alert.
His foremost thoughts swam in front of her and she blinked in surprise. "You … and the doctor…"
Nikola cursed inwardly. He'd forgotten about that. He pointed to her warningly. "Not a word to anyone."
"This is a sad thing."
"Well, I don't judge you." In the end, Ylerin just smiled and shook her head at him. She took another half-tablet of painkiller and fell asleep.
Nikola stayed in the Sybarites' room. Hiding in the darkness where he didn't want to be found.
"Your temple has raised some alarm bells."
After her initial shock, John had to gently remind her that he had vital information for her to hear. She had the Big Guy bring some tea to her sitting room (he grunted with displeasure at the sight of John).
"You've been back?"
"Redundancy is something I live by. The destruction of the temple alerted some people to its existence. The wrong kinds of people. Every underground criminal organization want it for themselves. Some of these groups even deal in the trafficking of abnormals. It's a touch pathetic, really. They don't know what it is, just that it's important and they want it. But it's only a matter of time before they discover the temple holds the Chamber of Silver. And then you're in trouble."
Helen eyed him suspiciously. "How do you know about the Silver Chamber?"
"Like I said, it's only a matter of time. Your guests aren't from the only culture that worships that particular deity or derivations thereof."
Helen's heart sank and she tapped her teacup nervously. "What's it like right now?"
"The temple ruins are surrounded by a hired mercenary group, the Hargraves. Bought by the Blanco cartel, an organization I understand has given the Sanctuary network trouble in the past. They've set up a base of operations right on the ground – a hundred men strong."
Helen let out a low whistle. "They're very serious then."
Druitt stiffened, leaning towards her. "I know what you're thinking, Helen. It's a suicide mission. You'd be running into a warzone. It's not just the Blanco, there are at least three other crime lords that have teams scouting the area."
"Have they found a way into the temple?"
"Not yet," John answered uneasily.
"Then we have a chance."
Druitt hung his head, he knew there would be no way to talk her out of this. "You need me."
Helen shook her head, but Druitt held up a hand to stop her. "You need me, Helen. There's no other way you'll be able to get past them."
Helen sighed, rubbing her left temple. "We'll talk about it later. We can't do anything until Aurelian and Ylerin have their surgery."
John scoffed. "Is that what you're calling them now?"
Helen said warningly, "Those are their names … John."
Ylerin felt the air stir, the sound of footsteps on carpet … the faint sound of breathing and the acrid tang of adrenaline. She turned slowly from the window, where she had been watching the moon, to see a tall man approaching her.
"Pardon me, I didn't mean to disturb you," He said pleasantly. His manner was polite and friendly, but something about him unnerved Ylerin. He was too still when he wished, his motions too precise, his eyes flickered over all the places where her major arteries were.
He noticed her observing him, her mounting fear, and she could hear his heart beat faster. The smell of adrenaline grew thicker. He was getting excited.
He took a step forward, holding out his hand. "My name is John Druitt."
Ylerin didn't deign to shake it. She was sorely regretting leaving the room she shared with Aurelian. She was highly anxious that she was not at full strength. Druitt stepped towards her again, his voice almost a purr, his gaze intense.
"I didn't realize you were mute. It's considered rude not to respond, you know."
He had her backed up against the wall now, and Ylerin began to panic. There was something wrong with this man, there was a subtle difference in his scent, something neither Will nor Henry had. And he did not seem to have much control over his warring excitements.
"Perhaps we just need to become better acquainted…" Ylerin heard a cold "snick" and a blade appeared at her throat. Growling, she grabbed his wrist, but he was stronger.
Druitt chuckled, pushing the blade harder against her throat. He was toying with her, and seeing a small window of time, Ylerin inhaled sharply, drawing out his breath.
It curled out, inky black, and surprised, she cried out. The taint was in his breath, his very spirit, and she'd hurt herself more by trying to take it in.
Disturbed, then growing angry, Druitt gripped her jaw with his free hand. "What are you doing?"
"I could ask the same thing, Johnny Boy." Something hard collided into Druitt at considerable speed, causing him to fall to the ground. He looked up to see Tesla, transformed, with a bitter smirk on his face.
"You're upsetting my patients. Scram." Tesla's voice was deeper and more guttural, his eyes shining black.
Druitt laughed coldly, standing up and flexing his shoulders. Every movement dripped with menace. "Just saying hello to our new house guests."
"Well, visiting hours are over." Druitt's hand was around Tesla's throat in the blink of an eye. The tip of one of his talons was just tickling Druitt's eyeball a split second later.
"Don't." Ylerin hissed, feeling useless on the sidelines. Reluctantly, Tesla pushed Druitt off of him, flexing his fingers irritably. Druitt sneered at them and laughed.
"Well, wild beasts do run in packs, I suppose."
Tesla slashed Druitt's chest, blood streaking through his claws. Druitt slammed sideways into Tesla with enough force that he flew into the wall. Both snarling, the two men raced towards each other, delivering blows that would have crippled lesser beings.
Suddenly, a low keening ripped from Ylerin's throat, like a mourning dirge. The sound alarmed John, and he stepped uneasily back. She'd wake up the Sanctuary if the noise continued. It pierced through the night air.
"Run, Johnny. Run like Scotland Yard's chasing you again."
Druitt shot Tesla a murderous look, but did quickly step out of the room. Ylerin stopped the mourning call and looked about the room in shock.
"Are you all right?" Tesla slipped back into his more human form, helping her to her feet.
Ylerin made frantic hand gestures, knowing she lacked the vocabulary to properly voice her thoughts. "There is something in him … inside him? Something that should not be there. What is it? It is … it is…"
Nikola shook her gently. "Hey, slow down there. You'll hurt yourself. Don't worry about Druitt … we know. Long story. And he won't dare try to get at you again."
"No … he lives with fear."
"Now, there's just one thing," Nikola shrugged lightly, but his tone belayed something greater at stake, "we can't let Helen or anyone know this happened. You see, we need Druitt to be able to get back inside the temple. Loathe as I am to say, the man's talents are useful."
Ylerin's eyes widened slightly. "Why do you want to go back?"
"Your temple ruins are in danger. And – admittedly, I don't think anyone here wants to pass up the chance to learn more about the Chamber."
Ylerin shook her head in disbelief, and Nikola quickly backpedalled. "But you know, temple – doom, danger, rescue mission. That's noble … right?"
Ylerin looked at the door where John had left with a measure of distaste. "And we must cooperate with him."
"Better the devil you know."