Three Queens of Cerberus

Chapter 3

Three Queens of Cerberus

Chapter 3

Ulysses’s POV

I wipe the sweat from my forehead as training ends. I enjoyed the workout; it was a wonderful distraction from reality. A man carrying a bag rushes out of the back door, hurrying down the stairs.

“Doc, what’s wrong?”, Baxter calls.

“Tie’s team is transporting, the Guardian said someone is hurt!”, he returns, not slowing his progress down the stairs.

Baxter takes off across the grounds, quickly catching up with the doctor. I follow, running up behind Baxter. “Is it Tie?”, I question. That would be my luck; finding someone that I feel safe with and can trust, only to have him die the next day.

“It’s not Tie, he’s transporting. Ulysses, when we get down here, I need you to stay back. Doc can’t help if he’s being swarmed.”

“Very well.”, I answer. If Tie isn’t hurt, why would I go to whoever they’re transporting? I don’t even know anyone else here.

We reach the river as several reptilian rise from the water, Tie shifts and I see him dragging the raft up to the side, but I can’t see who is on it. The two other reptilian on the raft are blocking my view as they help the one laying on a gurney. They lift the gurney, Tie grabs the front, lifting himself out of the water and guiding the gurney onto the bank.

Reynaldo. My heart skips and all the air leaves my lungs. He’s nothing but skin and bones, his complexion is grey, his lips a deep purple. I rush down the remaining stairs.

Tie catches me around my waist, lifting me off the ground, and pulling me back. “Beauty, he isn’t doing well. We need Doc to be able to get to him. Let us get him up to the clinic, okay? You can see him then.”

I nod, the tears spilling over my cheeks. Reynaldo is alive. “Is he going to survive?”, I ask Tie as he sets me back on the ground.

“I don’t know. He’s pretty bad, we’re going to do the best we can.”, Tie answers, looking back at Doc.

“Bax, hold his mouth open for me, boy.”, Doc calls to him. Baxter complies as Doc punctures his palm, squeezing his blood into Reynaldo’s mouth.

“What’s he doing?”, I ask Tie, still clinging to his arm around my waist.

“He’s a fae healer. Reynaldo is hybrid, he can draw power from Doc’s blood. It won’t save him, but it will help give him some strength.”, Tie answers.

“You saved him?”, I look up at Tie, studying his face.

“I tried, beauty. I don’t know that he will live. I can only promise he won’t die there.” I nod, wrapping my arms around him and accepting the comfort he gives, closing his arms around me.

Doc calls for the men to move him, and they start carrying the gurney up the stairs. I wipe my eyes and Tie places his hand on my lower back, guiding me to follow.

We cross back through the first floor and up to the wing the guards are on, straight to the third floor. I wait outside the room with Tie, listening to Doc give orders for stripping Reynaldo, and different items to be brought to him. The staff here move in and out of the room, bringing equipment and bags of iv medications.

Doc finally comes out. “You can go in now, Ulysses.”, he informs me before speaking to Tie. “Do you know if they were giving him anything?”

“I don’t believe they were; he wasn’t hooked up to anything, nor did I see any indication of treatments being done. I think they were just waiting him out to see if his body would heal itself.”, Tie answers.

“Yes, well… that certainly wasn’t going to happen. As you linked, he is suffering malnutrition and low blood count. The serum they were injecting him with, to prevent him from shifting, is not helping. We can get some blood going, it would be faster if you allowed Ulysses to donate to him.”

“Yes, I’ll donate to him.”, I agree immediately. Why would he be asking for Tie’s permission to use my blood?

Tie bows his head slightly, and Doc gestures, “Let’s get you settled in the room. We will draw from you and transfuse slowly to him. That will give you time to generate more blood, and his body time to recover.”

Tie sits across from me, watching the bag fill. He’s right here, but his mind is far away.

“What are you thinking?”, I ask, wondering where he’s gone.

“Nothing of any benefit here, beauty.”, he answers, looking over Reynaldo. Luka enters, dropping a large book in Tie’s lap.

“I didn’t find it, Courtier is being a prick.”, he announces before looking at me. “I apologize, Ulysses.”

“That’s alright.”, I have no idea who Courtier is, or what that has to do with the book being dropped on Tie.

Tie begins flipping through the book; he skims the pages so quickly; he can’t possibly be reading all of it. Luka stands, waiting patiently for him to find whatever they’re looking for.

The nurse takes the bag from me and hangs it, attaching the line to Reynaldo. She grabs another bag to attach to me. “Give her a few minutes. She’s not been eating well enough to have that much taken from her at once.”, Tie stops her without looking up from the book.

Luka grins at me when I scowl at Tie. “They’re drawing from you faster than they’re transfusing to him. Giving you a few minutes to regenerate what they’ve taken won’t slow your brother’s transfusions; you passing out will.” I nod to him, understanding the reason Tie stopped her.

“It’s here.”, Tie says, holding the book open to Luka, pointing at a specific portion of the page. Luka takes the book, carrying it out of the room to Doc. I hear them in the hall.

“We could try it, Guardian. He’s a were-creature, their bodies are much more fragile than you’re realizing.”, Doc tells him.

“I know they’re fragile, but no matter how much blood she gives him, he’s going to die. The damage is done, his body is almost entirely shut down. Blood bonding couldn’t even save him now. His body is too weak to take the hit from venom.”, Luka argues.

“Not even vampires’ bodies can withstand reptilian blood injected into them. It’s much too acidic. He’ll die instantly.”, Doc defends.

“Tiberius’s mother is dragon born.”, Luka continues.

“Yes, but his blood is still that of reptilian.”, Doc replies.

“What are you wanting to do to Reynaldo?”, I ask Tie directly. He knows what they’re talking about.

“His organs are shutting down; your blood can’t heal dead organs. There’s been testing in which micro-doses of reptilian blood being introduced shocks the organs into responding; which would allow your blood to begin the healing process. However, our blood can eat through organs entirely, if too much is administered.”

“What does your mother being dragon born have to do with it?”, I question. Luka said that like it changed things.

“My blood is reptilian, it’s extremely acidic. With my mother being dragon born, it also carries healing properties that are not found in reptilian. Meaning my blood will cause damage but increases the odds of proper healing when combined with yours.”, Tie explains.

“Reynaldo will not wake up without it?”

“No, he’s in really bad shape, beauty. I don’t know that he will wake up even with that treatment. It’s all we have though. Even dragonian blood won’t heal him. The damage is too extensive.”, Tie frowns. “I’m sorry, beauty. I would save him if I were capable.”

The tears spill over and I wipe them, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. “He’s dying?”

“Yes. We are slowing it, but he will die in the next day or so.”, Tie answers, I hear him moving toward me and feel his hand on my knee when he kneels before me. “Look at me, Ulysses.”, he coaxes softly.

I look up at him. He pierces his palm, and the nurses pushes her seat back away from him. He clinches his fist and smears the blood over his hand before opening it to me to show me the wound is healed, only the layer of blood remains smeared on his skin. He presses his palm down against the arm of my chair and I hear the sizzle. He lifts his hand and his handprint is burned into the arm, the blood ate straight through the leather and the cushion, exposing the wood beneath it.

“Reptilian blood carries the power of destruction, as dragonian carries the power of healing. Luka’s conjuring cannot withstand my blood, and vice versa. If my blood is diluted greatly by yours and it works, it will be extremely painful. If it doesn’t, he dies anyway. That is the Book of Vandergrift. He tested the uses of our blood and has exact dosages for doing what we are trying to convince Doc to do. Are you willing to let us do it, if Doc agrees?”, Tie waits for my answer.

What choice do I have? Reynaldo is going to die if we don’t try. I nod, “Yes. We can try.” Tie stands, kissing my forehead before turning to Luka entering the room with Doc.

“You’ve explained what you’re asking me to do?”, Doc asks.

“Yes. She understands and agrees.”, Tie returns.

“And you understand that this is not something I’ve ever done? If it works, it’s going to be horribly painful, and will cause a great deal of damage before your blood can heal it. If it doesn’t, it will kill him very quickly.”, Doc questions.

“Better he go quickly, than have it drug out. If there is a chance he’ll survive and wake, I want to take it.”, I assure the doctor.

“Very well. Conjure what I need.” It will have to be his conjuring that draws his blood in order for it to hold it. Luka reads off everything he needs conjured, bags, syringes, needles tubing, a line kit. Tie conjures it on the table for Doc.

Doc starts the new line for Reynaldo. The nurse starts drawing another bag from me. “I’ll need three more bags from her. We’ll run the first two, then mix Tie’s blood in the third. He has to have enough blood in him to prevent Tie’s from destroying everything it touches.”

A nurse enters, bringing Tie a drink and several different snacks. He squats in front of me, placing the snacks in my lap and offering me the drink. “Try to finish it. Your body is going to have to work harder; you need something in you.”

I nod, accepting the drink he’s opened. I pick at the chips while the bag is filled, and another is attached. Tie instructs the nurse to wait fifteen minutes between each bag filled. Time drags on and it feels like days before they’ve taken all they need from me; finally ready to add Tie’s blood and transfuse it.

I watch Tie conjure a cloth, holding it beneath his arm while Luka draws his blood. Doc and the nurse step away from them as Luka pops the cap off the needle and inserts it into Tie’s arm.

The blood is measured, and Luka injects it into the bag before passing it to Doc. I can tell he’s nervous by the way he keeps checking the lines and rolling the bag; waiting for the last to finish running. He looks at the book again before attaching the bag to Reynaldo. We watch, waiting for something to happen. Disappointment seeps into me when we see nothing for several minutes.

He suddenly jerks hard and starts convulsing. Tie and Luka conjure pads, and grab his arms to keep him in the bed, Doc rushes to the head of the bed. “Turn him, get him on his side.”, Doc orders, Luka and Tie comply and blood pours from Reynaldo’s mouth and nose.

His body calms and Reynaldo groans in agony. “That hurt, I know. If you can hear me, Reynaldo, my name is Doctor Halbert. You’re here in Vandergrift Manor with your sister. You’re both safe.”, Doc speaks soothingly to Reynaldo, checking him over.

“Don’t cry, beauty. It’s working, his organs are responding.”, Tie assures me and I wipe my eyes.

“He’s awake?”, I move a little closer.

“Not quite, dear. You can talk to him, see if it helps him calm down.”, Doc answers.

“Ray, can you hear me?”, I stand beside Tie, and he gives me room to reach him. I take his hand and squeeze. “We’re safe, Ray. On the outskirts of Tilmon.”

He squeezes my hand and Tie smiles, rubbing my back. “It’s going to be okay. Hold on for me, Ray. Please don’t leave me.”

He weakly pulls me toward him, holding my hand against his stomach. He hears me. I cry, relieved to get some response from him, but afraid it’s the last I’ll have. He’s still very sick. “It’s alright, Ray. You’re going to be okay.”, I force it to be true, he will be okay. Tie steps back more, pulling me in front of him. I push his matted hair back from his face.

“We can let him lay back now.”, Doc tells Luka before speaking to Reynaldo. “Reynaldo, we are going to lay you back. Ulysses is still right here with you.”

Luka slowly turns Reynaldo onto his back, Tie lifts him some for Doc to adjust the pillows that were flung with his convulsions. “Now you probably feel a lot of burning and soreness. It’s just what we’ve given you to get your organs going. Don’t try to shift, it will slow your healing.”, Doc instructs, nodding to me.

“Ray, don’t shift, okay?”, he squeezes my hand, pulling it up to his ribs. “Don’t leave me.”, he links, weak and barely there, but I hear him.

I lean over him, placing my forehead against his. “I’m right here, Ray. I’m not going anywhere. Just focus on healing now.”

“How…”, his link drops off. I try to press and get it open, but he couldn’t hold it.

“How, what, Ray?”, I ask him.

“Is he linking you?”, Tie asks.

“Yes, but he can’t hold it open. I don’t know what he’s asking.”, I answer, feeling helpless. Tie forces open the link between Reynaldo and I, using his power to keep it open.

“How did we leave?”, Ray’s voice in my mind is a little stronger with him not having to hold the link.

“When you hung yourself, they removed the vampire monitoring the floor I was on. Your lie worked. They stopped giving me the serum. I shifted and killed the Elder keeping me. Cain found me at the river, he brought me here and went back for you.”, I explain.

“Papa’s Cain?”

“Yes. His name is Tiberius Cain. You feel him? He’s holding the link open for you.”

“I feel him. How long were we there?”

“Three months.”

“You’re okay? What did they do to you?”, the concern in him brings more tears.

“I’m okay, Ray. You had it far worse than I. You’re exhausted, you need sleep. We can talk later when you wake.”, I’m not telling him now. It can’t be changed and it would only upset him.

“You’ll stay?”

“I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right here.”, I promise him.

“You can hear me, Cain?”, he questions.

“I hear you.”, Tie confirms, his voice carries his strength and brings a sense of peace in me.

“You’ll protect her until I’m well?”

“For all eternity, with all I am; you have my word. Rest, Reynaldo. You’re both safe.”, he assures him.

“I thank you, Cain.”

“Your father honors me, giving my name to his only son. He’s made you mine, I claim no debt.”, Tie dismisses, rather than accepting what he’s owed. I admire that in him, he is exactly what my father believed him to be.

“Do you know where it is safe for us?”, Ray asks, in no condition to be trying to find us a new home.

“I don’t believe in coincidence. I woke feeling restless and ventured off. I was led to her; then to you. I can’t say whether it was by your father, or by the Goddess herself, but you’re where you’re meant to be, Reynaldo. Your home is here, in Vandergrift Manor, until you feel led elsewhere. You need to rest. In your weakest moment, your brothers watch over you and your sister, as you will one day watch over them.”, Tie’s words ease the worry in Reynaldo. He feels assured by his presence and his certainty. No fear of where we are to go, or what to do next. Tie has taken all his troubles on his own shoulders and gives him a glimpse of the new life he has waiting for him. He nods his head ever so slightly, finally relaxing, and drifting off to sleep.

When I look up, Luka and Doc have left the room. Absorbed in the conversation with Reynaldo, I hadn’t noticed them leaving.

“You need to eat, beauty. I’ll have lunch brought up for you. What would you like?”, Tie asks as he closes the link to Reynaldo.

“I’m not hungry.”, I take the seat alongside his bed.

“I know you don’t feel hungry, but your eating habits are that of a teen prior to being able to shift. Your body needs much more than that.”, his words make me nervous. He doesn’t know I’ve only shifted once and I’m not familiar with the changes in my body.

“I’ll eat whatever you have brought.”, I don’t know how much I’m to eat, but I do remember my mother always ate three times what I could, as did Reynaldo. Tie is bossy, but he’s trying to take care of me. I appreciate his efforts, he never had to help at all.