Pairing: Elijah/Damon (M/M) belt, severe
Prompt for Gaylor ( )
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Mikaelson Mansion
Attic
Indy and Julian ran up the attic stairs, hearing the cries.
"Damon! Uncle Klaus, what happened?" Indy asked in shock. She stepped back when she saw Damon sitting up shrouding in a moldy blanket.
Julian stared at the other child. He walked over closer and touched the scars on her face.
"Hi, I am Julian...," Julian said, as the girl swiped his hand away.
"Don't touch me! I'm d-dangerous," the child said, shuddering in fear.
"Child, Ava, do not be afraid. We shall not harm you," Klaus said in a subdued tone. Where the hell was Elijah? He was good at collecting and calming lost children. Then, Klaus remembered the day he found Marcellus, his little warrior. He beckoned the girl closer.
Ava stammered, "J-Just let me g-go...Please, I did not mean to do that."
Her dark green eyes eyes rested a moment on Damon.
"You are hurt, my dear," Klaus noted. "What happened to you?"
Ava backed away as Julian said, "It's okay. They are nice here. Are you hungry?"
Indy looked down at Damien. "You lost your clothes."
Damon, now slowing recovering, smirked, "Yeah, I did. But did you like me as a wolf?"
Indy giggled and nodded. "Yes!"
Klaus glared down at his son, saying, "We'll speak of that shortly. Damon, go take the children and get dressed. I'll take Ava here and get her something to eat."
"I have some food," Ava said, quietly. She reached over and retrieved a cloth napkin with the remnants of pizza on it. "I don't like the crusts."
"Me, either!" Indy chirped. "I am Indigo. Want to come see our room? We also have two dogs!"
"You do?" Ava asked with excitement. "Can I see them?"
"Sure," Julian said, he took the little girl's hand carefully. "But Mr. Slithers doesn't like dogs so I told them not to come up here."
"Oh, that's good," Ava said.
"I see I won't be able to separate them," Klaus muttered. "Damon, you go. I'll see to the children. Ava, do you have any belongings?"
Klaus eyed Damon with concern. The boy's color was returning but he looked shaky and vulnerable in that old blanket.
Ava nodded and found her tattered cloth backpack hidden behind an old trunk.
Klaus gently took Indy by the arm as they started to leave the attic.
"What about him?" Ava asked, pointing to Mr. Slithers, who was again wrapping himself in the rafters.
"Oh, he's happy up here. Our daddy went to get him a cage, but he likes it up there. He used to live in a lab," Julian piped up.
"Oh," Ava replied, clutching her bag. She looked at Damon.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to take power from you," Ava stated nervously.
Damon wrapped the blanket tighter around him, he felt cold and weak.
Damon smiled, "Is that what you did? I thought you just knocked me on my keister."
Indy laughed and covered her mouth.
"Indy, come now," Klaus coaxed. The attic was dusty and dark. This was no place for children. "We'll figure out what happened later."
Ava waited as the others starting down the stairs and then followed.
Kitchen
Elijah came into the kitchen and found his children eating sandwiches with another child. She was wearing dirty clothes and eating with abandon. The dogs were on the floor beside her, hoping for some scraps to fall to the floor. The dogs had barked happily to see Ava, it was almost like they knew her.
Indy said, "They really like you."
Ava petted them. "I like them, too. I was never allowed near dogs, though...They had jobs to do."
Elijah noticed that there were scraps of colorful fabric woven into the braids. He had seen that style before...
"Hello, who do we have here?" Elijah said cautiously.
Klaus was leaned over the island. He poured more chips on the children's plates.
"Ava, this is my brother, Elijah. He seems scary, but he is harmless," Klaus quipped, giving Elijah the "we-have-to-talk" look.
"Nice to meet you, Ava. I like your braids," Elijah remarked as Indy and Julian hopped up to hug him.
"Daddy, Damon turned into a wolf and...," Julian blurted out.
"He what?" Elijah asked in surprise.
Klaus' mouth tightened. He ground out, "Yes, and he found Miss Ava in the attic. It seems she brought the animals back and she took power from Damon."
"Took...?" Elijah inquired, he handed a bag of pet supplied to the children. "There's toy dogs and treats in there. And some other things. Finish your meal and then you can take Andrei and Ioana outside. Right where we can see you."
"I'm done," Indy determined.
"But you didn't finish...," Klaus said, looking at her plate.
"It's fine, Niklaus," Elijah noted. "The new aquarium will have to be delivered. I ordered a large on."
Julian smiled, "Thanks, Dad!" He pulled out a chew toy and examined it. Andrei had already chewed up several stuffed animals, including Indy's rabbit. Sage had sewed it mostly back together, but the dogs needed to chew. They were used to hunting live animals.
The twins ran out the back down as Ava continued to eat.
"You said she took power?" Elijah pressed, sitting down at the stool around the island.
Ava looked up, tentatively, "It's why they tried to kill me..."
Klaus sat up straighter, asking, "Who, sweetheart? Who hurt you?"
"My f-family," Ava finally answered, going back to her chips. Klaus filled her plate more.
"They tried to burn you?" Elijah pressed delicately. "Why would they do something like that?"
"I touch power from one of them," Ava said in a voice barely detectable. "Mamā tried to protect me, but they took her away," Ava said. "They said I was a half-breed to start with..."
"Look at her braids, Niklaus," Elijah said. "Dear, were you with the Travelers?"
Ava's eyes cut quickly to Elijah and then Klaus. She started to shake.
"I have seen the dogs before at the camp. They were the leader's dogs...," Ava confessed.
"It's okay. I said we won't hurt you," Klaus said, getting up and putting an arm around her.
"We didn't call ourselves that. Just the family," Ava said. "They tried to burn our camper, but Mamā stopped them. She had great power and told them to go away."
"You said they called you a half-breed," Elijah questioned. "Why would they do that?"
Ava looked up with tears coursing down her dirty cheeks. Elijah noticed she had a spray of freckles under all that grime.
"My papa was like the man in the blanket. He was a wolf, too," Ava said. "But he never sniffed at me like that guy tried to. I thought he was going to eat me. That's why I weakened him, took his magic. He has a lot of it...and it made me feel cold."
Klaus' eyes met Elijah's. He said, "That is something I never heard of. I, too, was once half-witch and half-wolf, though I didn't know it at the time. Have you ever taken a life?"
Ava shrugged and wiped at her face.
"I don't know. There was a big fight when I escaped. I was burning and I ran away," Ava sniffed.
"The full moon is in two days," Klaus announced. "We shall see then."
Elijah grimaced, "She's too young. Maybe we could get Lucy or Bonnie to make a moonlight ring for her? My dear, please keep eating, you are as thin as a bird."
Ava nodded and started to munch on more chips.
Klaus paused, "How did you bring the birds and the python back?"
Ava swallowed and brushed away some crumbs on her lips with the back of her hand.
"I took power from two guys watching your house. They didn't see me," Ava said. "It was night and they are not cold like you."
"Cold? You mean vampires?" Klaus said, with a small smile.
"Granny used to tell me about your kind," Ava chuckled. "She told me that you were ab-bon...something big. I can't remember. But I know you are blood drinkers, but I am not frightened."
"Abominations," Elijah offered. "Do you know where your mother is now? She must be very worried."
Ava shook her head. "I was trying to find her, but they did something. It's blocked, but for a time I could feel her. Now, I am afraid she is dead, like my papa and granny. They killed him when I was little."
"I'm sorry," Klaus said softly. "My father was killed also. Why don't you stay with us a little while? We shall try to help you find your mum."
"And the Travelers are gone," Elijah confirmed. "You need not worry about them anymore. Did they send the other children off before they hurt you?"
Ava was astonished, "Yes! How did you know? They said a great reckoning was coming and it wasn't safe. When they tried to take me, that's when it happened...when my hands lit up and I took..."
Ava stopped and tugged at her braids with her fingers.
Elijah said, "That wasn't your fault, Ava. You are a very special girl. My son Julian also had some special powers. That's a good thing. We will protect you and help you in any way that we can. Now, can you tell us anymore about these men who were watching? What did they look like?"
Ava bit her lip, trying to remember.
"They were darker, like Julian and Indigo...The man called the boy, Luka, but he was bigger. Like older," Ava recalled. "They were witches and granny said witches were bad. I took their power and the birds flew away. I didn't see the snake until I came to that little house. Now, he's okay."
"Yes, he is," Klaus said. "They couldn't have gotten too close. Greta warded this house..."
"But Greta was working for the Travelers," Elijah exclaimed. "Travelers didn't consider themselves witches...per say. We should have someone redo the spells of protection. If Ava got in, so could those men. Call Lucy."
Klaus sighed, "You better cut them a check also. I look forward to the day that Damon can be our resident spell caster."
"About that," Elijah said. "Why in the world would he shift in the house? He could have put the children in danger. He's not in control of himself."
Klaus exhaled heavily, "I know, Elijah. I will deal with it. He's upstairs changing."
"No, it's my children he put in danger. You get Ava cleaned up and I will deal with my nephew," Elijah said. "This is unacceptable."
Elijah smiled at Ava. "Finish eating, dear. Niklaus here will look after you."
Finn, Sage, and Enzo came back and were playing with the twins outside. Klaus saw Ava trying to see.
"Come on, we can clean you off later. You can play with the dogs as much as you want here," Klaus said, helping her off the stool. "I need to make some phone calls."
***
Damon's Room
Elijah knocked on the door and didn't notice a response. He opened the door and heard the shower running. He detected a sour scent and saw the rough wool blanket on the floor. It smelled like dog to him.
Elijah picked it up and tossed it over the hamper in the corner. He loved this room with its old world style. Elijah mused that he should have kept this room for himself when Damon's voice broke into his thoughts.
"Elijah, I thought I heard someone," Damon said, coming out of the bathroom with a white towel wrapped around his waist.
"Yes, well, I just met little Ava downstairs. She looks around eight or nine, but she's so slight, it is hard to tell," Elijah said, standing by the dresser.
"Dr. Fell was going to stop by and check up on the twins anyway. I can ask her to come over tonight. That is one unique kid, I'll tell you," Damon said, standing near his bed. Elijah was in front of his clothes drawers. Water dripped from Damon's dark brown hair that curled around his ears. He had a feeling he wouldn't be going to get a hair cut tonight as he had planned.
"Yes, now that I think of it," Elijah started. "I did hear tales of witches who could siphon power from others. One of the New Orleans coven, the French Quarter coven, I think, was reputed to have sacrificed one. Now, this was in the 1900s, but they were said to have gained a great deal of power from it. I hope that is not true..."
Damon's eyes widened, "Yeah, 'cause that kid is in a lot of danger. I've told Elena a hundred times that she needed to be more careful. I know they would love to get their hands on a doppelgänger."
"You are now in that boat," Elijah said, leaning against the dresser. "With your power, you are now a threat and a great boon to any coven bold enough to attempt to capture you. I know Kol is planning on training you, but we should include Lucy Bennett in that. In addition, the child, Ava, mentioned that she took power from two gentleman watching the house. Our defenses have been breached."
"Oh shit, I mean, crap," Damon uttered. "That's not good. I haven't even tried warding. Guess I need to brush up on my latin."
Elijah grew more serious.
"You also need to brush up on your common sense. Why would you turn in the house? I can't imagine what you were thinking," Elijah said sternly.
Damon felt a sliver of anxiousness.
"I don't know. Julian was begging me and...," Damon said. The excuse seeming lame even to him. "It was stupid. I honestly don't know what the.-"
"Stop making excuses for yourself." Elijah frowned, "Damon, Julian is five. You cannot let children dictate your behavior. That's not good for them and in this instance, not good for you."
Damon couldn't help but rolling his eyes. "Hey, I know what you are thinking but I have a free pass. I think I'll take it now."
Elijah started to unbuckle his belt.
"Maybe from your father, but not from me. My children could have been maimed or killed. You are not yet in control of yourself," Elijah scolded. "Drop that towel and lean over the bed."
"No, fucking way!" Damon scoffed. Elijah vamped to him and grabbed him by the ear, leaning him over the bed roughly. "Young man, do not test me! Now, obey or you will regret it."
Damon growled and tried to push himself up, yet he was still weak from what the girl had done to him. The overhead light flickered and a ceramic statue on the mantel of the fire place shook."
"You see? You are like a can of gasoline ready to ignite," Elijah stated, loosing his belt with one hand and drawing it through his pant loops quickly.
"It wasn't my fault. Julian-!" Damon protested, struggling enough to loosen the towel from his waist. He tried to recall that second when he had given into the child, something was wrong there. But Elijah folded the brown leather strap and brought it down on Damon's damp rear end.
Crack!
"Fucccck," Damon howled. He hadn't even had a chance to dry off.
Thwack!
Damon tried to throw his arm back to protect his behind, but Elijah shifted him again, now pressing down on his lower back with his hand.
Damon howled as he got a third lick on top of the other ones.
Whap! The whack seared into Damon's bottom and he bit his lip hard.
Elijah moved to get a better swung.
Crack! Crack!
"Now, you keep your position or I swear I will thrash you every night for a week before bed," Elijah warned. "Test me, I dare you."
Damon turned back to glare at his overbearing uncle.
"You're a prick," Damon seethed. "But go ahead and do it. I don't care."
Thwack!
"I'm doing this for your own good," Elijah said, drawing back for another blow, this time lower across Damon's sit spots.
Crack!
Crack!
Crack!
"OWWWWW," Damon yelped, trying to move his feet. He started to cry, the belt feeling like a brand on his still wet backside. Elijah saw the red welts appearing and was surprised that they didn't heal.
Whack! Whap. Thwack.
"OHHHHH, my ass is on fire!" Damon heaved, tears and mucus now soaking into the rich throw on his antique oak bed.
"Watch your language," Elijah reprimanded. "You need to start behaving like a Mikaelson or I'm going to soap out your mouth."
Crack!
Crack!
Crack!
"Ahhhhh, whatever, man," Damon cried, curling his toes. The pain was sharp and then turned into a hot burning sensation. Somehow, it seems worse than that damn hairbrush that shut off his healing.
Whap! Whap!
Elijah gave Damon two quick licks on his thighs.
"S-Sorry," Damon sobbed, realizing that the old vampire really knew how to swing a belt and hard.
Whap! Whap!
Damon's behind sizzled and he recalled being in this position with Giuseppe Salvatore. He had gone riding with friends and the old man had wanted his help with something. When he returned his horse to the stables, Giuseppe was waiting with the strap. Giuseppe had grabbed Damon and screamed that he was "a worthless, idle ne'er-do-well." He had ordered him to bare himself and lean over a sawhorse while he whipped him in front of the groom and the other stablehands. They had at first laughed to see the master's son brought so low, but got quiet when Giuseppe did not stop. He finally left Damon almost unable to walk from the beating. They finally called for a manservant from the house to help him in. The bruises lasted for over a week and Damon vowed that was the last time he'd let his Father strap him. Soon after, the war between the states broke out and Damon left.
Crack!
"FF-ather, please. I-I did not k-know you r-required me," Damon yelled out, the years blending into one another in his mind.
Elijah paused, now alarmed at the red marks on Damon's buttocks.
"Damon, you are not healing," Elijah intoned, dropping the belt. He eased up his hold of the younger vampire. "It's me, your Uncle Elijah..."
Elijah tried to get Damon to raise himself, but he just wept into the bed covers.
"I k-know," Damon cried. "Just leave me."
Elijah tried again, but Damon pushed him off with his left hand.
Elijah picked up his belt and rethreaded it, now concerned.
"I'll send your father in," Elijah said softly. What had he done?
Klaus' Room
Finn flipped through the old grimoires as Klaus called Lucy and then left a message for Ric and Dorian. When he got off the phone, he looked at Finn.
"I don't know what else to do," Klaus admitted. "We should erect a fence, a better one. We should turn this place into a fortress. Your new house, too. I should have done a better job on our defenses. I've instead trusted a witch and left us vulnerable."
Finn shook his head, saying, "Niklaus, this is not your fault. This Traveler magic is old and different. If this child got in, perhaps it is because she is special. You said she can take magic from others. Perhaps she can absorb spells?"
Klaus stared at Finn in amazement. "Finn, I didn't think of it, but perhaps that is true. A child that is half-wolf and the other half a very special witch...But I should have realized that there were no Traveler children at the camp. Why did I not see it?"
"I do not know, Brother," Finn said. "But what would you have done if they died with their people? That is a heavy burden to bear."
Klaus sat on the couch near the chair Finn was in.
"My first son, Marcel, he always protected children...No matter how dangerous or foolish it was to keep them alive, he fought for them. I hope I would have done the same," Klaus noted. "But I failed him, in this regard, in the past. Dammit, it is always something."
Elijah burst through the door.
"Niklaus, Damon is not healing. I-I took my belt to him," Elijah said, faltering a bit. "I fear he is remembering his other father. Please, go see to him now."
Klaus looked alarmed and vamped to Damon's room. He found him in the same position.
"Your backside is scarlet!" Klaus hissed. "Oh my poor boy."
Elijah and Finn came in behind him.
"The thing that Ava did must have disabled his healing. I didn't realize...," Elijah winced, looking at the welts that stood out vividly on Damon's otherwise pale skin.
Damon turned and begged, "Get him out of here. Please..."
Finn frowned, "Elijah, see to your own children now. It looks like you did enough here. Need you strap him so hard?"
"I-I assumed it would heal," Elijah said weakly.
"Get out," Klaus roared, his face darkening as he struggled not to let his fangs come out. He had to stay calm for Damon.
"Son, let me help you," Klaus said, helping Damon stand. Klaus turned down the bed and put Damon in it on his stomach.
"I shall get some cream," Finn said, heading to the bathroom.
Klaus gingerly examined Damon's backside, checking to make sure there were no cuts. He gently ran his finger along a welt, filling anger pour through his body. He had trusted Elijah and now Damon was a mess. All the trust they had tried to build. Gone. Damon would never forgive them...
Finn brought a jar of cold cream and handed it to Klaus.
"He shall be well-bruised and in some discomfort until he heals," Finn noted. "Elijah could not have foreseen this."
"I do not care. He harmed my son," Klaus said shortly. "A spanking is one thing, but a whipping like this! I dislike the strap for this very reason...Blast him." He unscrewed the cap and started to coat Damon's scorched skin with the cream.
Damon moaned and shifted.
"Hush, it will help. Just give me a moment to rub it in. See, isn't that cooler? Finn, can you get him some blood?" Klaus asked. Klaus carefully worked in the cream and then slipped off his shoes. He got into the bed near to Damon.
"Tell me what happened," Klaus urged.
"It wasn't my fault. I was thinking back and Julian made me do it. Shift, I mean. I am telling you that I had no intention of shifting. Then, all of a sudden, I did it," Damon croaked out, turning his head to look at Klaus.
Klaus' heart broke to see Damon's blue eyes so filled with sadness.
"No, tell me what you remembered," Klaus implored. "Elijah said you were maybe thinking of Giuseppe?"
Damon started to cry and tried to turn his head away but Klaus stopped him.
"No, it's alright," Klaus said, getting a tissue from the bedside table and wiping Damon's face. "You can tell me anything."
"He hated me," Damon sniffed. "Giuseppe. He beat me for things that weren't my fault. A rumor or something he thought he told me to do, but never did. That day I must have blocked out until now, he whipped me for going out riding. He said I was supposed to go into town with him, but he wasn't even supposed to be home that day...I almost couldn't walk. That sound of his strap makes me sick. When I heard it today, I remembered."
Klaus ran his finger through Damon's hair.
"He was probably drunk, as well as cruel, like Mikael was," Klaus said harshly. "I will never let someone strap you again. I am sorry."
Klaus held Damon to him closely as he wept more. Finn brought in the blood.
"Lucy is here. Should I have her come up? Maybe she should examine him?" Finn suggested.
"In a few moments," Klaus said. He took the blood bag and fed it to Damon. "Another one."
Finn gave his younger brother the blood bag and then stepped out of the room. Lucy was speaking to the children now downstairs.
Damon drank the blood, but it didn't help the incessant throbbing in his backside.
"It still hurts like hell," Damon groaned. Klaus looked.
"Still not healing. Try this," Klaus said, biting into his own wrist. He fed Damon his own blood for a time until the boy pulled away.
"Thanks. That's a little better," Damon said, cuddling closer to Klaus. "Elijah must hate me."
Klaus kissed Damon on the forehead.
"Your uncle loves you, but he is stern and too strict at times," Klaus said. "He will no longer discipline you. I shall see to that. I won't have you afraid in your own home. I ought to tan him with his own belt for this!"
Damon finally laughed, "No, just mess up his room. That would really get under his skin."
"He does like things tidy," Klaus said, smiling slightly. "Now, try to rest. Lucy can examine you. I think that little Ava has reduced your healing. I am sure it is only temporary, but it concerns me. For a young witch to have the power to raise the dead. I've never heard of such a feat."
"Yeah, it's freaky," Damon agreed with a yawn. Klaus lightly covered them up with the blanket and closed his eyes. He should see to other matters, but he was suddenly so tired. And he had his son in his arms, he thought as he drifted off to sleep.
Living Room
Lucy leave the children playing on the floor with a puzzle. She took Elijah and Finn aside.
"I could do a locator spell with Ava's blood to try to find her mother," Lucy offered.
Sage came in with a tray of tea for the adults and juice for the kids. Enzo was brushing the dogs, glad to be able to avoid his lessons at the moment.
"That's a fine idea," Elijah said. "Where ever this woman is, we need to find her. If she, too, has this ability, many would seek to use it for ill gain."
Lucy chimed in, "There are forms of sacrificial magic that are said to raise the dead, for a time. It's a very old and dark magic. But I've never heard of it being used. The ancestors would not allow it, I should think."
"Yes, it seems like that would bring imbalance to nature herself," Finn commented, watching Sage get down on the floor with the kids. "But we also need to protect ourselves here. Can you do a spell to stop Ava from taking power from others?"
Lucy looked at the child, her beautiful face obscured with the scar.
"I don't know. I could try," Lucy conceded. "I could also try to heal some of her wounds, if she will let me. But I don't think I could remove that scar, it's too deep."
"Who would do this to a child?" Finn asked, his own eyes filling with unshed tears.
"I don't know. Monsters. Lucy, there is another matter. Damon's healing has been stunted, do you think you could make a healing mixture. I could call Pearl, but I think she has her hands full with the new vampire at the boarding house," Elijah inquired.
"Oh sure, that's easy," Lucy said. "But let me put up the perimeter spell first. You were right, there was nothing up when I came. It's almost like it had been sucked away. I didn't know that was possible."
"There were many things we did not know were possible," Finn said wryly, as he went down to help with the puzzle. "So many things..."
