Ivan Newlands cradled a red telephone between his ear and his neck as he spoke to the person on the other side,
"I just don't know about this...Why the sudden turn around?"
"I don't know. I don't even think I should be alive right now...It doesn't matter, will you accept my help or not, Ivan?"
"...How do I know you're just not working for...'Him'?"
"I swear on my grave, I am not working for James Marrs."
Ivan shuttered violently at the mention of his name. Still, he needed all the help he could get right now, being stranded in the middle of England with nothing but a stolen car and a few pounds on him... Sighing, Ivan, put a hand in his pocket and leaned against the phone booth,
"How did you even find me?" Ivan questioned, and there was a low chuckle in response,
"I always know where you are, you know that."
"Yeah, meaning you stalk me...Alright...What do you need me to do? How can you help me get Issiah back?"
"First things first. There are two more dragon riders-"
"TWO?! I'm not alone?!"
"Let me finish, Ivan. Good news, they are friends so they're easy to find. Bad news...One's a vampire...A very protective vampire. The other is human like you, he's actually no older than you.
"Jesus...How do you know this?"
"They don't call me Info-guy for nothing...Heh...No matter here's the address for the human, the vampire shouldn't be far behind him, literally...Just...Don't be surprised if the boy isn't there. One more thing. Dye your hair. Keep low, nothing too suspicious."
"Blue?!" Ivan asked happily, he's always wanted blue hair. Honestly, he didn't care what info-guy said, he was dying it blue.
"Ivan-"
"Blue it is!" He happily cut him off and info-guy sighed in response,
"Fine. But if you get caught in a week, it's on you."
"Yessss, alright, what do I need to know about the riders?" Ivan silently cheered as he clapped his hands like a child.
"The first one is Benjamin Greenbloom...I honestly think you were destined to meet him. I know it sounds strange...But I digress, the second rider is O...Atticus Noel. Now, here's what you should do. Go to Ben first. Like I said don't be surprised if he's not there yet, just say you're in his class and you're concerned about him not being there for a while."
"What? Is he a major class skipper or something?"
"...It's a long story. Maybe I'll explain it later."
"I have a feeling I'll never hear that story. But no matter, where does he live?"
"...Urg..." Atticus groaned as he wiped some vomit away from his chin.
"Still think getting drunk last night was fun?" Ben asked as he sat up on the trunk of Damian's car, leaning back on his good arm as he watched Atticus's misery unfold.
"...Bleh..." Atticus groaned once again, causing Ben to chuckle.
"No, No, it's 'Blahhh, I vant to suck your blood'!" Ben teased slightly.
"Don't mock my species with that foolish stereotype," Atticus muttered as he finally stood up off of the forest floor to dust his legs off. "My head is pounding..." He complained and Ben just shook his head before impatiently tapping his fingers against the metal car.
"Your own fault. Drinking all that beer and then eating that food that you knew you couldn't digest properly."
"Alright, 'dad' cool it with the lecture. I'm eight hundred years old, I do what I want...So, what's the game plan?"
"Unsure, Info-guy hasn't sent me anything yet."
"Is it wise to trust him? If I am remembering last night correctly, he worked for these people before, and even told them how and when to catch Firedrake, which you are taking oddly...well? I mean your whole family has been kidnapped and you're not a worried mess?" Atticus asked all at once and Ben just sighed as he finally jumped off of the trunk of the car.
"I am worried, but panicking isn't going to help anybody in this situation. we are down one man and we need to keep our heads and wits about us. So, the best plan of action is to wait." Ben pointed out to Atticus as Atticus let out another low gag. Gently Ben held Atticus's faded green hair back as the vampire gagged then vomited once more.
"Besides. We can't exactly go to war with you upchucking every five minutes." Ben mumbled as he gently patted Atticus's back, Atticus spat out bitterly as he stood up more fully.
"I think that's all of it...God, I need some blood." Atticus looked at Ben who just pulled violently on Atticus's hair that was still in his grip.
"Don't even think about it. I've lost enough."
"Ow! OW! I wasn't! You know I don't drink human blood. Urg. I think I have some boar blood in my bag. Jeez." Atticus fought as he got his hair out of Ben's grip and walked back towards the car. Ben sighed out softly as he followed. With a big frown, a part of him wished Twigleg was here with him now. Twigleg would probably know what to do. Twigleg was smart, unlike him. Twigleg...
Twigleg wouldn't have gotten caught...Because he's so small...
"WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE HOUSE!" Ben yelled out to Atticus as his friend started to drink from a blood filled water bottle. Atticus swallowed a small sip before grimacing.
"Why you heard fake Damian, all we'll find is an empty house."
"Or will we?! Twigleg! Twigleg wouldn't of let himself get caught with the rest of them! Knowing him, he might have hidden in the walls! He wouldn't have come out until he knew I was safe! He might still be back there!" Ben yelled out as the revelation hit him. Atticus let out a soft hum as his eyebrows went up in thought.
"It's...Possible, from the time I spent with him, he might have stayed out of sight...However, if they knew of him, they could have still taken him by saying that they had you as well."
"Yes. that's a possibility as well, it's a fifty-fifty shot. But if Twigleg is still in the house then he knows where they were taken and we can start from there." Ben pointed out and Atticus frowned a bit before shrugging in response,
"Alright. But, what if it's a trap and people are waiting for us?"
"We still have to try."
"... Alright. I'm driving, though."
"Fine by me."
Both of them got into the car and Atticus was quick to drive out of the woods and onto the road. They sat in silence as Atticus kept his eyes on the road. Neither of them spoke, till finally, after about thirty minutes on the road, Ben finally broke the ice.
"Are we going to talk about last night?" Ben softly asked and Atticus just sighed.
"I got wasted-"
"Not that. You know what I want to talk about. You almost killed him."
"Ben-"
"You almost KILLED him!"
"Sometimes that's what you have to do!" Atticus yelled out as he slapped the steering wheel frustratingly. Sighing out, he looked at Ben, his friend now frowning and looking down at his nails with sudden interest. "...I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled..." Atticus sighed.
"First time you actually apologized for yelling at me..." Ben mumbled and Atticus sighed out softly as he just rubbed his temples before shaking his head slightly.
"I messed up. Alright...You wouldn't understand what its like to be...What I am. I still have instincts, Ben. Truthfully, if you weren't there last night, I probably would have killed him...I was drunk and because of that, my instincts tend to take over tenfold. It's why I try to not drink." Atticus admitted softly and Ben just let out a soft sigh as he looked out the window, before back to Atticus.
"I'm sorry...I know Kuriana meant a lot to you..." Ben reached over and gently touched Atticus's hand, in response, Atticus gently held onto Ben's warm hand and just gazed sadly out of the windshield.
Kuriana, the last thing of Zenith's that was now gone. It wasn't fair, it truly wasn't fair, and it completely blindsided Atticus in every way imaginable. However, his mind a bit more clear, and his grief slowly subsisted just a bit, Atticus realized that he hasn't truly lost everything. Ben was still his friend, and he still had his three children all waiting for him when this gets done and over with.
"...You can let go now." Ben finally spoke after a few seconds of silence, Atticus quickly let go of Ben's hand.
"Sorry."
"It's alright." Looking forward, Ben saw the cloudy afternoon England sky slowly clear up, causing the sunlight to stream right into the windshield.
"AH!" Atticus screamed out as he quickly stomped on the breaks, luckily the street was abandoned, Atticus had his hands to his eyes as he hissed out in pain.
"S-Sunglasses! Hurry! I can't drive with the sun in my eyes and the hangover isn't helping!" Atticus yelled in pain as he kept his eyes covered.
"Hang on, I think there is a pair in the glove box." Ben quickly reached over and opened the glove box, that he realized he never locked the day before. Shifting through the clutter that was in the box. He knew he saw a pair yesterday, finally, he just took a good chunk of the clutter and put it on his lap as he cleaned out the box enough to find the sunglasses in the far back still intact. Reaching back there, Ben pulled out the glasses and handed them to Atticus. Atticus kept his eyes shut as he grabbed the glasses and put them over his eyes.
"Thanks..." Atticus muttered as he continued driving along the road. Ben let out a soft sigh as he started to pile all the clutter back into the glove box.
"...So is that how you figured out about who the fake Damian was?" Atticus asked as he looked at some of the stuff in Ben's lap.
"I found his real ID, his name is Ivan Newlands...But no, Info-guy told me, remember?"
"I remember almost stabbing Josh if that helps."
Ben just rolled his eyes and then leaned back in his seat still putting stuff away, he only paused when he came across what seemed to be an old picture. Atticus let out a sudden noise as he started to move around lifting his butt off the seat as he dug through the crack in between the seats finally finding what was causing his discomfort, he pulled out a carton of clearly hidden smokes.
"Ohhh, look what we have here, there are two left, you want one?" Atticus asked and he put one in his mouth, Ben just waved him off.
"I quit, but thanks for the offer..." Ben mumbled as he turned the photo over. Atticus shrugged and pushed the car's built in lighter in and waited for it to heat up.
"Look at this," Ben spoke up as he handed Atticus the picture.
It was clearly an older picture, it showed three boy's, two twins looking to be around thirteen years old and one smaller boy, no older than three himself. The twins were very clearly Ivan and Josh, only it showed that they both had natural orange hair and a pale complexation, though it was impossible to tell who was who. The three year old boy had thick curly brown hair that seemed to match Ben's own curly hair, only Ben's was black. One of the twins was clearly had the three year old in a half hug posing for the camera, while the other twin had his turned as his mouth was open, looking like he might have been talking to someone. Flipping the picture over, Atticus read the back.
Family Reunion, 2003
Josh, Ivan, and Joseph.
"Huh, wonder why he kept this," Atticus mumbled as the lighter popped out allowing him to light his smoke. Giving the picture back to Ben, Ben frowned as he looked at the picture.
"...I don't know..." Ben admitted, honestly out of everything in the glove compartment that he saw this was the oddest. Most things were things like game plans for the next hit, or stuff about his true identity. Maybe that's what it was, but it seemed so out of place.
"Eh, it just shows he's human, like you," Atticus spoke as he finally focused back on the road.
"You're human too, at least, you're half."
"Meh, give or take. I feel like I stopped being human once I died." Atticus admitted as he huffed out some smoke from his lungs.
"Yeah..." With a sigh, Ben put the picture back into the glove box and shut it before he looked out the window tiredly.
"...Why don't you get some sleep, you look like crap." Atticus asked as looked at Ben and noticed how oddly weak his friend looked.
"...Pull over..." Ben finally spoke up. Atticus just snorted.
"Why?"
"PULL OVER!" Ben yelled out socking Atticus in the arm. Atticus did so and watched as Ben shot out of the car. On the road on all fours, Ben started to gag out and retch. Atticus could only watch, cigarette dangling out of his mouth limply as he stared. Finally, Ben came back looking pale and clammy.
"Alright...I think I'm good..." Ben sniffled.
"Let me see your arm," Atticus demanded as he suddenly grabbed Ben's arm, he was gentle as he undid the sling and slowly started to pull back the bandages. Atticus gasped as an unpleasant smell hit his nose causing him to cough and wheeze. He didn't pull the bandage all the way off but he could see it was infected by the purple discoloration of the wound and the obvious pus leaking out.
"...Jesus Christ! AH!" Atticus cringed briefly before slowly wrapping the wound back up.
"I'm taking you to the hospital," Atticus growled out as he quickly went down the road.
"No." Was all Ben said.
"Yes! Ben that is infected, you could die!"
"And so could you! We are already one down, Orrick! I'm not going to the hospital until I know my family is all safe! I can push through this!" Ben fought back.
"...Ben...How long have you known it was infected?" Atticus responded to Ben's shout as he grinded his teeth bitterly. "...Since last night...I can't even feel my arm anymore." Ben admitted softly as he looked up at the roof of the car.
"...Dammit, Ben...I'm taking you to the hospital."
"Atticus, I love you like a brother, you know that, but if you bring me to a hospital I swear to god I will wear all silver for the rest of my damn life and make sure everything I eat has garlic in it! You are not taking me to a hospital!"
"Ben I'm raising three children, I hear that daily. Try again."
"At least...Let me go home and see if Twigleg is there, please."
Hearing the soft tone made Atticus sigh out weakly.
"Very well, then we go to the hospital! No, if's, and's, or But's. Understood?" Atticus growled as he finally continued driving.
"Fine." Ben agreed and Atticus let out a huff in response as he finally went back to smoking his cigarette. Letting out a shaky breath, he looked over to Ben who was now unconscious.
"Ben?" Atticus asked concerned for his friend, reaching over, he tapped Ben's shoulder, instantly Ben started with a jump.
"What!? What?!" Ben frantically looked around and then quickly let out a soft sigh of relief.
"..." Atticus decided to probably not press the issue as he frowned deeply and focused back on the road. Smoking the cigarette, he let out a sudden cough before just shaking his head.
Thankfully the Greenblooms weren't too far away after that, at ten minutes they parked out front the home and Ben hummed out softly.
"The front door is open...There's a wrench in the trunk." Was all Ben said to that as he got out and made his way to the truck that Atticus popped open for him. Atticus got out of the car and walked to the trunk, he watched as Ben seemed to have troubles holding the wrench up, it worried Atticus way more than it should have. With a heavy frown, Atticus grabbed the wrench from Ben's hand with ease.
"Just...Stay behind me, ok, buddy?" Atticus smiled at Ben who weakly nodded.
"Alright..." Ben mumbled rather tiredly as he seemed to wobble back and forth.
Atticus turned and walked forward, he could hear Ben's own footsteps behind him as they both cautiously walked inside the home.
Atticus cringed at the inside of the home. The whole place was trashed showing that there was, in fact, some sort of scuffle. The door was bent at the lock and what looked to be a footprint was in the middle of the door. The dining room was in complete disarray, the table flipped over along with all of the chairs. The couch was moved and slanted downwards, the coffee tables by the couch were overturned the table and one was even broken, clearly, whoever did this hated furniture.
Holding the wrench like it was a baseball bat, Atticus narrowed his eyes as he stepped forward.
"Twiggy? You still in here?" Atticus questioned as he searched around. Avoiding the living room, Atticus tried the stairs at first. Cautiously stepping up the stairs, he heard them creak under his weight as he did so. He was so into his own cautiousness that it never bothered him that he never heard Ben's own footsteps behind him. Breathing out, he heard it a loud and sudden shuffle from Guinevere's room.
There was someone still in the house, the shuffle was too large to be Twigleg's, instantly Atticus narrowed his eyes. Stealth be damned. Rushing up the stairs at a fast rate he rushed towards the room.
At the same time whoever was in Guin's room opened the door causing the two to rush at each other.
In all honesty, Atticus was not expecting Guinevere to actually come rushing at him. Before she realized it was even him, Atticus was met with a slap to the face, as almost expected at this point, followed by a weak push. Then a sudden assault of punches that honestly didn't hurt, she should stick to slapping.
"Oof. Guin, it's me!" Atticus yelled as she actually managed to throw a good punch to his stomach causing him to double over.
"Atticus?! Jesus, don't scare me like that!" She yelled out, Atticus stood up and rubbed his stomach, he instantly felt relief flood over him when he saw Twigleg clinging to her shoulder.
"How did you not get caught?" He asked Guinevere directly, she teared up slightly and sniffled weakly.
"I was at school when it happened. I don't know why they never came for me. Maybe they just thought that I only had two siblings. I don't know." she confessed softly. "Thankfully Twigleg kept me company, we were just thinking of what we should do, then you showed up...Where's Ben?" Guinevere asked, causing Atticus to turn to see nothing behind him.
"Ben?" Atticus called out towards the downstairs, nothing. Instantly he rushed downstairs, Guinevere behind him. Jumping down the last set of steps, Atticus crouched and looked around, seeing Ben on the floor made his still heart almost jump into his throat. Ben let out a low wheezy breath as he stared up blankly at the ceiling above him. Ben's eyes were glossed over as he looked up.
"Ben!" Guinevere screamed out horrified, Twigleg let out a loud gasp as he put his tiny hands to his mouth as he stared at Ben tears streaming down his face.
Atticus put a hand back to Guinevere stopping her from approaching Ben, getting down on one knee so he was at level with Ben. Bringing his hand up, Atticus brought his fingers up to Ben's eyes and gently snapped his fingers in different directions to try and get Ben to focus, but Ben's eyes never moved. Ben just started to shake horribly, thankfully it wasn't a seizure, but Atticus was smart, he knew shock when he saw it.
"Shit! Guin! Here." Tossing the keys to her, she caught them with ease. "Start the car and open the back door! Hurry, we don't have time!" Atticus yelled to her, she nodded numbly before slowly walking away. Atticus slowly and gently he scooted one of his arms under Ben's knees and pushed his other arm under Ben's shoulders. Gently with a simple and quick movement, he had Ben in his arms. Acting quickly Atticus turned and rushed out with Ben in his arms. Getting outside of the home, he could hear the car running as he rushed over. Guinevere had the back door open allowing Atticus to gently place Ben in the backseat and quickly got to the driver's side while Guinevere and Twigleg sat up front, both looking back at Ben worriedly.
"Nearest hospital, where is it?" Atticus demanded.
"Next to my campus, just go into the town, you can't miss it!" Guin spoke up never breaking away from Ben. Atticus could see the tears streaming down her face, biting his lip Atticus quickly drove out of the driveway and speedily made it towards the town, going way beyond the speed limit, Atticus let out a shaky breath and hoped that no cops will stop him. Hearing the car rev as he continued to go way too fast into the town. Seeing a light up ahead, he watched as it just turned yellow and narrowed his eyes.
"Atti-" Twigleg breathed out in shock as the light turned red and before they knew it he ran the light causing Twigleg to scream out fearfully as he did so. Thankfully avoiding any crashes. Atticus could see the hospital just up ahead and he quickly turned the car into the lot causing the tires to squeal as he slammed on the breaks in front of the ER. Getting out of the car, Atticus didn't bother with the door as he opened the backseat door.
"Sir, you can't park here!" A nurse stormed up to him.
"Please, you have to help us!" Guinevere panicked as she got out of her own side.
All Atticus had to do was take the bloody wrapping off of Ben's arm and show it to the nurse in a bit of a dramatic fashion as he gestured towards Ben. The look of horror on the woman's face was almost priceless as her eyes widened and her jaw dropped as she backed up shocked.
"Don't move him!" She ordered she turned and ran inside in a quick panic. They didn't have to wait long as she came back with a stretcher, four other nurses and an older gentleman who was clearly the doctor.
"Move." The doctor ordered as he pushed Atticus to the side. Three nurses put Ben up on the stretcher and tied him down quickly.
"How long has this burn wound been untreated for?!" The doctor demanded to Atticus who cringed as Guinevere sobbed out softly.
"...About a week now..."
"I don't know why you didn't take him to the hospital in the first place! That wound is horrid! It's infected anyone with a brain can see that!"
The nurses and the doctor quickly started towards the emergency room with Ben on the stretcher, Atticus watched them go, one burning question in the back of his mind as he stared at them.
"Wait! What's going to happen to him!?" Guinevere finally screamed, the exact same question on Atticus's mind. The doctor turned, they watched as he put his mask on as he stared them both down, finally, after a few seconds he spoke up,
" In all Honesty...His arm could have been saved if it was treated properly, there's nothing else we can do. I'm sorry."
Atticus only stood there numbly at the news his hands shaking and feeling oddly cold even for being dead, he felt cold and shocked as his hand silently went to his mouth. Guinevere suddenly collapsed next to him in a fit of sobs, everything that happened today too much for her as she finally just broke down and cried as hard as she could. Atticus could only look at her, unsure of what to do or say as she was on her knees, arms curled around her stomach as tears fell to the ground below her. Atticus could hear Twigleg crying as well, hidden somewhere on her. Finally, Atticus could only look up at the clouded England sky his mind, for once, blank at what to do. He could only say one word as he looked up at the sky,
"Why?"