by RT Lucas
Singing along to the radio “...She’s all good loving at once” Shuggie grinned when he saw Teo’s name on the screen of his cell. Opening the text, he stopped singing and had flashed to her office immediately. “Teodora? Wit’s wrong lass?” She was as pale as a cadaver and her face was forlorn. What could have warranted a reaction in his stalwart, strong female? He would garrotte anyone that had upset his wife to be.
“You must sit, yes.” Teodora was unable to look at Shuggie as she rose from her own seat, pulling her hood up to cover her head and hopefully her face as she walked over to the large window.
“You know I was in the Institute where you were held, yes?”
“Aye” Shuggie was watching her like a hawk, her whole body language was uncharacteristically nervous around him. “The Commander saved us the same day – he found ye when he was looking for meh. You wer another test subject like meh – well, that’s what ah always assumed lass. Why, wit the fuck’s happened?”
“I was imprisoned, that it correct,” Teo’s eye were brimming with tears as she sucked in a breath.
Shuggie got up from his seat and pulled Teo to him, her tears were like bullets to his chest. “Aye, ah know that lass – hus summit happened?”
With a shake of her head, Teo pushed Shuggie away from her and turned her back on him.
“I wasn’t a test subject.”
“You weren’t?” Teo had never turned away from him in all the years that he had known her, and certainly not since they got together. “Then why were ye there?”
“I was employed there.”
“Wit were ye employed as?”
“Head of Department, yes.”
“Wit Department? Teodora fucking answer meh – wit Department?”
“Experimental Research.”
Shuggie stood still, but his world was crashing down around him. He echoed the words with a lifeless voice, “Experimental Research.”
“I was headed hunted when I was a surgeon of General Surgery. The Professor offered me the position of a lifetime and I took it. It allowed me to follow my dream of ground-breaking research and to discover the existence of Supernaturals – it was exciting and thrilling.”
Shuggie crouched both hands covering his head as he listened to Teodora. The ink on his body was swirling rapidly showing images of screaming faces and broken bodies all fleeting before pooling together to reform again. He let out an ear shattering scream, “Stop. Stop. Stop!” his fingers digging into his skull.
“You must understand Warrior, this was the chance of my career and to be offered such a prestigious post was exhilarating, yes.”
“Understand? I huv tae understand?” Shuggie rose behind Teodora, his full height towering menacingly over her as his hands curled into tight fists. “You,” he drawled slowly, “you have the nerve to tell me I have to understand how exciting and thrilling it was for you.” He spat out the last word with venom. “You wur the bitch that wis experimenting on meh – get a fucking kick oota cutting meh open an holding ma heart in yer hands?” he gave a disgusted laugh. “Jist like yer cutting ma heart an holding it, crushing it right now!”
“I was not aware you were Subject Ultimo and I was imprisoned for refusing to carry out any further testings on you.” Teodora’s heart was being ripped to shreds as the tears flowed over her cheeks, her back still turned to Shuggie, she couldn't bear to look at him.
“Do not call meh that – ever,” Shuggie snarled as he stood, his red eyes glaring into the back of her head. “Ah trusted ye – ah Gods, ah loved ye mare than life itsel’ an tae find oot ye betrayed meh worse than aw mah enemies aw rolled intae one? How cud ye let meh fall in love wi’ ye, knowing the evil ye huv done? Answer meh!!” Shuggie reached out and grabbed Teodora’s arm roughly, spinning her around to face him.
“I–I– never knew it was you, you must believe me, I was never given names, never laid eyes on any subject.” Teo’s eyes were avoiding Shuggie’s as he roared at her.
“Naw – aw ye ever seen wis mah internal organs aye? Bitch – Betraying bitch! Never bothered yer arse tae find oot who it wis ye were tearing apart – jist as long as ye cud dae yer fucking experiments – mah blood is oan yer hands!” Shuggie punched his fist into the wall at the side of Teodora’s face, narrowly missing her.
Teo closed her eyes tightly shut as her body jumped, her voice was low and sombre. “I am sorry Warrior, from the bottom of my heart, I am.”
“Save yer lies – ah cannae even bare tae look at ye.” As he turned to leave he stopped at the door, without turning. “Ye ne’er loved meh, jist wanted to salve yer ain conscience,” he said before he flashed away, needing to get as far away from her as possible.
“I love you, more than anything Warrior.” Teo collapsed into a heap on her office floor, curling her body into the foetal position as she lay and broke her heart.
CHAPTER THIRTY THREE
Shuggie was destroyed. He couldn’t believe how his world had collapsed with Teodora’s revelations. There was only one other person who would have been privy to that kind of information, and when he appeared in Xavier’s office, he was murderous. “How long?” his breathing was laboured.
Arching a brow Xavier looked up at Shuggie. “About nine inches – or are we talking width, cos it’s pretty damn big yeah.”
He of course knew exactly what had happened – Teodora must have confessed everything to Shuggie, and by the looks of it, things hadn’t gone well.
“Ah’m in nae mood fur games or shite. Ye huv always known.” Shuggie was in full combat stance, his fangs extended and bared as his lips pulled back.
“Shug, sit your ass fucking down and listen.” Nope, that wasn’t going to fly. Xavier stood up facing his lieutenant, his height advantage making the furious Scotsman look up to him. “She had no clue who you were – she was going to be killed because she refused to carry out any more experiments – fucksakes don’t be a hypocrite Shug, we’ve not led blameless lives, far fucking from it. She had the balls to tell you – deal with it.”
It was Shuggie who threw the first punch, but Xavier retaliated with a second, third and fourth, as the vampire was thrown heavy against the wall. Shuggie kicked out, connecting with Xavier’s balls and as he crouched forward he used his right fist to jab him hard under the chin, winding him.
“Dirty fucking Scottish bastard,” Xavier spat out with a molar then steadied himself, grabbing Shuggie by the throat and throwing him down, his back hitting his desk and splintering the oak beneath him. As he held him down by the throat. “Get a fucking grip man, yeah – it’s history. You’ve a whole future ahead of you with that female. Don’t make me beat you like a bitch over this, we clear?”
Shuggie snarled and elbowed Xavier in the lower abdomen, before twisting his body out of the larger man’s grip. “Hud a good laugh at mah expense wi’ the betraying cow did ye?”
Xavier upturned the broken desk and launched himself at the ancient vampire, rapid punches to his face which made his own knuckles bruise and bleed. “Talk about that female like that again and I swear to fuck Scotsman, I’ll tear your dick off and force-feed it to you, are we clear soldier?”
Shuggie was out of breath, but his fury was almost palpable. “Ah cannae trust the pair o’ ye. Ye know wit she did tae meh – her an that psychopathic piss-stain she worked fur. Ah wis tortured, almost tae mah true death an then that wisnae enough fur them – naw – they sliced meh open taking oot aw mah internal organs, even toying wi’ mah brain. So dinnae tell meh tae shut mah gob aboot the one female that meant anythin tae me!” Shuggie couldn’t think, couldn’t function anymore – he needed to get away from everyone. If he stayed around the Commander his wolf might rise without him being able to control it and one bite from Xavier would kill him. Flashing away from the Compound, back to his castle in Scotland, Shuggie barricaded himself into one of the guest rooms, not wanting to face the room that he and Teodora had shared just days before.
“That could have went better, I guess.” Xav
ier let out a long exhale as he looked down at his cracked knuckles. Not wanting to disturb the Doc, as he figured she had enough going on with her personal life right now, he grabbed a first aid kit and went in search of Alicia. He found her playing with Frazzle in the gym.
“Hey Sweetcheeks, how do you fancy playing nurse?” He grinned at her, holding up one of his damaged hands, and trying not to trip over Frazzle who had bounded across the floor to greet him, running in and out of his feet.
“Who the fuck did you beat up now?” Alicia threw the Tiger’s ball to the other side of the gym then approached Xavier, rising on her tiptoes she gently took his bloody and swelling hand in hers.
“This looks sore, where’s Dory? Her and Hugh being kinkeh?”
He laughed at her volley of questions, but was enjoying the attention. “I didn’t want to disturb them – anyway, I wanted a sexy little nurse to give me some TLC,” winking at her then wincing as her finger brushed over the heavily cut joints.
“Duck that hurt…right you sit down.” Alicia pointed to the pile of mats in the corner of the gym as she took the first aid box from Xavier’s other hand, giving out a whistle, Frazzle stopped running around his feet and looked up at Alicia. “Go catch your ball, Xavier is not a play toy!”
Once Xavier had sat down, Alicia crouched down on her knees and carefully started to wrap up his hand. “I ain’t no Doc but I’d say that hand is broken. Are you gonna tell me what happened?”
Xavier never lied to Alicia – and wasn’t about to start now. “I was trying to knock some sense into Shuggie.” Adding, apologetically, “and that new desk you got for my office? Might want to order another one, yeah?”
Looking up from her handy work, Alicia’s eyes met Xavier’s, “Hold the fucking bus…You kicked the shit out of Hugh and broke the desk…why the ducking hell would you do that?”
Xavier rolled his shoulders, his eyes avoiding hers. “Long story,” and as she gave him a look he knew he had to elaborate. “Shuggie had been imprisoned by a mad bastard years ago, and I went in to rescue him. I found Teodora at the same place and took her with me. She was due to be executed. Thing is, Teodora was a Researcher and responsible for a specific series of tests – and Shuggie was the victim of those experiments,” as Alicia was about to interrupt, he placed a finger over her mouth. “She didn’t know it was Shuggie, and up til today he never knew that Teo had worked at that fucking place. The only reason they needed to both know is cos they’re getting married.” Xavier looked down at Alicia. “Neither are blameless, but equally neither is to blame for what happened. They were both victims of that sadistic asswipe who ran the place, yeah. Anyway, Shuggie didn’t take it too well and needed to vent his shit out on someone, so rather me than someone else.”
“Well duck a fuck, isn’t this just one happy household, it’s like the Wiltons, are you hurt anywhere else?” Alicia’s eyes were scanning over Xavier as she checked for injuries and discreetly checking so see if the wolf had risen during the confrontation, there was no indication of wolfie so Xavier wasn’t angry. She just fell in love with him a little more as she realised how much respect he had for both Shuggie and Teodora.
“The Walton’s,” Xavier smirked, correcting her – damn but everything his female done just got to him. No matter how many times she got her references or phrases wrong, she was just fucking perfect to him. “Well, now that you’re asking, I did get hurt somewhere else.” His smirk was getting more wicked. “Shuggie booted me in the balls and they ache like fuck – maybe you could kiss them better?” He waggled his brows, then took her small hands in his and lifted her up to her feet.
“Nice try, but no pipe.” Alicia winked up at Xavier as she whistled for Frazzle, as he came bounding over to them. He knew the drill and lifted his paw to her hand. “All aboard Ali Airways.” She flashed the three of them to Xavier’s quarters.
CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR
Mabel sat cradling the ancient sword to her chest as she rocked back and forth on her heels, her manic laughter ringing out in the cold stone chamber of her throne room. Her minions cowering in the shadows, not wanting to incur her wrath. “He will beg me for this! A prize beyond vulgar monetary values! I am such a clever one, yes I am! Mabel is not to be trifled with!” She was talking about herself in the third person, which was never a good indication of sanity levels. She had discarded the last meat suit when she had returned back home, it’s disintegration beyond repair, and had chosen a similar looking human to use as her next suit. It was so fresh, she could almost still feel its slit neck bleeding. Almost.
“Talking to yourself again precious?” Tony drummed his fingers on the armrest of the god-awful looking throne, his lips curled into a smirk as he watched her in amusement thinking that she was whack job.
Mabel’s head snapped up as she heard Tony’s voice and then curled her new lips into a snarl when she realised he was sitting in her throne. “Get out – Shoo! Be gone!” She screeched as she felt a bout of indigestion in her stomach. Why she was inflicted with such malady whenever she seen him she would never understand. His muscular body was relaxed as he sat observing her, and his slicked black hair was stark against the white human bone of her Throne. “You can’t keep doing this – it’s my castle,” her voice was whining and she hid the sword behind her back, like a child who had stolen a candy from a jar.
“I am the Master of the fucking universe precious, I can go where ever I want, nice new meat suit by the way, why don’t you come here and wrap those lush lips around my cock.”
Scrunching her face up, aghast. “Eww why on earth would I want to do that? I’m not a cannibal.” She resumed rocking on her heels mumbling a tune under her breath, seemingly she had forgotten her upset at Tony sitting on her throne.
Tony leaned back into the throne, kicking his black heavy soled boots out as he crossed his ankles. “You’re a fucking weird bitch you know that Mabel!?”
“Am not,” she retorted petulantly, “and you...you are uncouth using such foul language in front of your Queen.” she stuck her tongue out at him.
Tony threw his head back, his booming laughter vibrated through the bare room Mabel referred to as her throne room. “Child, you call yourself a Queen?” Tony scoffed, yawing in bored tone.
Mistaking his insult for a compliment, she grinned happily. “I do look girlish, don’t I?” She did a little dance, forgetting she was hiding the sword until she heard the clatter of metal on stone behind her. “Oops!”
His dark brown eyes squinted as his mind took a moment to process what he was seeing on the floor. “Where the fuck did you get that?” His body was rigid as he rose, the leather trench coat billowing behind him as he stood towering over Mabel and the sword.
Scrabbling on her hands and knees for the sword Mabel looked up as Tony’s boot stood on the blade, just next to her fingers .“Move! Shoo…go away!” her whining continued as she tried to shoulder charge his leg away so that she could retrieve the weapon.
Kicking his foot out, Mabel went flying across the slate floor, he then bent down to lift the sword, palming it in his hands. “Why do you have his sword?” Tony’s tone was growing more sinister as the Primal being tested his patience.
Landing with a heavy thud, Mabel’s face screwed up. A group of her minions ran for their lives as they seen the interaction between the two escalate. “It’s my sword, not his, not yours – no, nope, no! And you can’t have it!” As Tony held the sword, inspecting it, Mabel held her arm outstretched and palm open, muttered, “Recurre Mih” and the sword ripped out of his clutches, returning to her hand.
“Magic Mabel, bravo, fucking bravo.” Tony clapped his hands in a mundane motion as he leaned against the throne.
“I want to know how you got your puny little hands on that now.”
As she stood and brushed herself down she tutted under her breath. “It’s not important how – what is important is…is...” What was important? She couldn’t remember! Tilting her head to the side, she looked at Tony as
though she had just seen him for the first time, her tone now welcoming and warm. “Tony! When did you get here? Coming to pay me a visit!” She skipped over to the dais where her throne sat, dragging the sword along the stone floor.
Here we fucking go, he thought to himself as one her many alter egos surfaced. She really was a fucking whack job but he kept her around for her uses and there was part of him that held back when her true powers came to light, only problem was that the mental bitch had no idea.
“Mabel, my precious, give me the fucking sword.”
“Oh I don’t think you procreate with it.” She held the sword up, inspecting it. “I wouldn’t want to put it anywhere near my lady-bits!” She gave a high pitched laugh followed by a rather guttural snort. “But you may have it if you want.” Just as she was about to hand the sword over to Tony, her eyes clouded over. “Get your dirty little hands off of my treasure, Usurper! There is nothing for you here – stop tricking me with your….your good looks and...and…your manly charms!” her face was contorted as she pulled back from him. As she leaned on the sword she gave a beguiling smile. “Tony! Have you come for your gift? See how benevolent your clever Queen is! Yes, Mabel is so clever and wily, yes she is!” Her constant personality swings showing the true extent of her insanity.
“Have you had your meds today precious?” Tony shook his head as Mabel rambled on in the third person, it was times like this that he just wanted to snap her neck to shut her the fuck up. “Yes my Queen, I have come for my gift.”