by RT Lucas
CHAPTER FORTY
Shuggie had been gone for over a week on the mission Commander Raige had sent him on. Teodora Valdez was a robot for all intents and purposes. She worked, put on a fake face for Alicia’s daily check-ups, and then went to bed. She was always professional when at work, but when she was alone with her thoughts and without her Warrior was when the tears fell.
Xavier was either in a giving mood or so sick of her tear stained face that he forced her to take a week’s leave, handing the surgeon a return ticket to her native homeland of Spain. She was reluctant to take it, but deep in her heart Teodora wanted her mother’s loving arms around her, telling her everything was going to be okay.
Shuggie had called Teodora words she never knew he was capable of saying. Of course she would never tarnish her Warrior’s name, and when telling her parents about him she focused on the good; his smile and how it never failed to give her butterflies; how his eyes captured her from the moment they had met. Teodora’s mother assumed her daughter at the age of thirty six years was experiencing her first broken heart. Her parents knew only too well that their only child was married to her occupation, and they had accepted the fact that they were both ageing. Their time on earth was nearing its end and they would never be blessed with grandchildren – but seeing their only daughter distraught was heart wrenching for them.
Teodora baked and cooked with her mother, took long strolls and read with her father as she observed how happy they were, how they had grown gracefully old with each other. It was then she realised this was the last time she was going to see her parents. They put her tearful goodbye down to her current state of emotions, but Teodora knew otherwise.
Once back on the compound grounds, she alerted no one that she was home and slipped undetected into the medical Suite. Opening the fridge that she kept hidden, she knew which vial of blood she needed. She was determined in her mind. She loved Hugh MacAndrew with every fibre of her heart and if took an eternity to make him see that? Then she would give him it.
Teo ripped open a hypodermic needle packing then drew the red liquid into the chamber as she spoke into the empty room, “I love you my Warrior.” Her finger then plunged the syringe deep into her vein, flooding it with Shuggie’s blood. Her tall, slender body fall to floor as it started to convulse violently.
CHAPTER FORTY ONE
Shuggie was like a kid at Christmas when he arrived back in the compound – a kid who had found out Santa Claus wasn’t real and had sold all his toys on eBay! He should have been excited, but he was scared to hell of what the consequences of his last encounter with Teodora would be. He had had a lot of time to think whilst he had been away. When he left Russia, he made a detour to Italy to check up on his stealth team that he had placed to keep Martinez and his goons under surveillance. He’d been away for a fortnight and it had been the longest fourteen days of his immortality.
Yes, he had felt betrayed and angry about finding out Teodora’s past. The horrors that had been visited upon him at the Institute would have made a lesser male mad. To find out that the love of his life had been involved in that? Well, it might have explained his reaction but Shuggie knew that it didn’t justify taking his attitude out on Teodora. The Commander had set him straight on that – in the end she had become a victim of that psycho Tony just as much as he had.
And Xavier was right about how Teodora had paid for her crimes. She had dedicated herself to the unit from the moment she joined. She used her skills for healing and helping others. Besides, Shuggie knew his past was no clean slate. His hands were drenched in the blood of others and how could he be a hypocrite and hold Teodora’s past against her when his was so damn dark?
Scrubbing a hand over his face, he changed into a fresh suit, and palmed the intricate gold sgian-dhub in his hand. He had forged the small traditional Scottish blade with his crest with both their names beneath it. Taking a deep breath, he decided to walk down to the medical bay instead of flashing there. He needed the time to work up his courage and he didn’t know what kind of reception he was going to get from Teodora. He had his speech all worked out in his head, had practiced it a hundred times. He was nothing without his Teodora.
Opening the doors to the medical bay, his voice faltered a little when he called out her name. Clearing his throat, he said more clearly, “Teodora? Lass are ye here?”
The small hairs on the back of his neck stood up – something was amiss. His ink started to flow slowly over his body as his eyes scanned the large wing of the compound. “Teodora?” His voice louder, laced with an undercurrent of suspicion. “Teodo…Fuck!”
Flashing over to the far side of the bay, Shuggie crouched over the slumped body of Teodora, gathering her in his arms. “Teodora, lass – wake up!” He couldn’t sense a pulse and her body was cool to the touch, although there was sweat beading on her forehead. Her body was limp as though boneless, and her eyes had rolled back in their sockets. “Teo…lass…wit huv ye done?”
It was then that Shuggie noticed what was in her left hand.
“Ahh fuck naw!” he roared as he grabbed the empty syringe – again he asked the same question, but now he was overwhelmed with grief. “Wit huv ye done?!”
His precious Teodora had taken his blood into her body – it was the only explanation for the current state of affairs, and he knew the implications of that. She was dying. Because of him, she was dying and it was all his fault. He couldn’t save Mhairi and his four beloved children – he didn’t help save the innocent Petra’s life. This, though, this was his damnation. He had waited over two thousand years to find his One, and through his own blood he would destroy her. Blinking back the crimson tears that streamed down his face, he shook Teodora’s lifeless body like a ragdoll. “Naw, naw dinnae dae this lass – ye cannae leave meh!”
There was only one thing he could do. He had to change her.She had tried to start the process herself by injecting his blood, but he knew the type of vampire he was, and knew that it wasn’t enough.
Sitting on the floor, cradling Teodora in his arms, he ripped off his clothes before pulling Teodora’s scrubs off of her. Brushing back the damp hair off of her forehead, he kissed her as his bloodtears smeared her face. “Forgive meh, lassie.”
Shuggie lay back, holding Teodora’s naked body against his – skin to skin. He rolled over slowly so that his body was a cage for her, and he closed his eyes. The tattoos on his body started to move once more, slowly at first building to a frenzy as images and patterns formed then merged together, Shuggie’s muscles tightened and body was unmoving as Teodora’s body trembled. The ink was alive, and pulsing over the two as Shuggie let his own life–force feed into that of his beautiful female.
The strain was showing on Shuggie’s limbs as the muscles and veins bulged, and Teodora’s body was almost consumed with his ink – the petrol on water colours making her seem ethereal and other-world like.
Under his breath, Shuggie chanted in a dead language – an old prayer to bring life back to life his soul mate. The incantation could only be said once in an immortal existence, and could only work if the love was true and the souls connected. He knew it was a gamble, but it was the only chance he had of saving his Teodora.
“A bainrìgh na gile, A bainrìgh na greine, A bainrìgh na rinne, A bainrìgh na reula, A bainrìgh na cruinne, A bainrìgh na speura, Is aluinn do ghnuis, A lub eibhinn.
Ionnlaime do bhasa, Ann am frasa fiona, Ann an liu nan lasa, Ann an seachda siona,
Ann an subh craobh, Ann am bainne meala, Is cuirime na naoi buaidhean glana caon, Ann do ghruaidhean caomha geala, Buaidh cruth, Buaidh guth, Buaidh rath, Buaidh math, Buaidh chnoc, Buaidh bhochd, Buaidh na rogha finne, Buaidh na fior eireachdais, Buaidh an deagh labhraidh.
Is dubh am bail ud thall, Is dubh na daoine th'ann, Is tu an eala dhonn, Ta dol a steach 'n an ceann. Ta an cridhe fo do chonn, Ta an teanga fo do bhonn,
'S a chaoidh cha chan iad bonn Facail is oil leat.”
(Thou Queen of the moon, Thou Queen of
the sun, Thou Queen of the planets, Thou Queen of the stars, Thou Queen of the globe, Thou Queen of the sky, Oh! lovely Thy countenance, Thou beauteous Beam.
I bathe thy palms in showers of wine, in the lustral fire, in the seven elements,
In the juice of the rasps, In the milk of honey, And I place the nine pure choice graces In thy fair fond face, The grace of form, The grace of voice, The grace of fortune, The grace of goodness, The grace of wisdom, The grace of charity, The grace of choice maidenliness, The grace of whole–souled loveliness, The grace of goodly speech.
Dark is yonder town, Dark are those therein, Thou art the brown swan, Going in among them. Their hearts are under thy control, their tongues are beneath thy sole, nor will they ever utter a word to give thee offence.)
Teodora stirred underneath Shuggie, a sharp inhale of air followed by a weak murmuring. “Dinnae try tae move, Teodora, dinnae fight it.” He needed just a few more minutes for the ink to work, before he could let her move from under his protection.
Teodora felt as if she was suspended in the air, almost floating as a calm feeling washed all over her, electric pulses were jolting through her entire body. She could hear and feel her Warrior but his rough voice was fading away from her. She was content now as she saw a blinding light coming towards her. The plan to change herself into a vampire had failed as death called, and Shuggie’s voice was the last words she heard. She only hoped he could forgive her – she only ever wanted to give herself to him for eternity.
Stilling her body, with Shuggie’s broken voice guiding her she tried her hardest but a fire was burning inside her as if everything muscle and tendon were being stretched and pulled snapping and then pinging back into place this went on for what felt like forever then suddenly stilled. A warm sensation covered her from head to foot as she blanked out, her body stilling in Shuggie’s arms, her breathing shallow.
Shuggie lifted Teodora’s body gently and carried her through to one of the cots in the medical bay, laying her down. He placed his hand over her forehead as he checked her for signs of injury. “Lass, kin ye hear me?” The tattoos on her body were sinking into her smooth olive skin, and Shuggie was starting to worry that the transfer had not taken – that his transformation of her wasn’t completed.
Teodora could hear Shuggie’s voice but her body was immobilised. She was aware that she had been moved, her skin was highly sensitive all over and no matter how much she willed her limbs to move she couldn’t. She hoped that by blinking Shuggie would see it. She was exhausted, she knew that much, but was fighting to stay as conscious as she could for her Warrior.
Shuggie stared – he wasn’t sure…then it happened again! Teodora’s eyelashes fluttered and he could see her try to open her lips. It had worked, and his knees were about give way as he threw his head back roaring his joy. He covered her body with a blanket, and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Sleep, lassie – ye must rest.” Her body was still going through the change, and he would sit for the full twenty four hours until her body was strong enough to let her awaken. “Ah’m here, an no goin’ anywhere mah beautiful Teodora.”
As he sat at the cot side, he held her long slender hand in his, kissing the back and wrist, his eyes never leaving her. So engrossed in his vigil, Shuggie didn’t hear Alicia walk into the medical bay, calling out for Teodora.
The blood bag Alicia was sucking on slipped from her lips, bouncing on the floor at her feet as she walked into the medical suite to welcome Teo back from her parents…Seeing her in one of her own beds was not what she was expecting…Or a naked Shuggie!
“Duck a fuck Hugh! Get some fucking clothes on now is not the time to be getting kinkeh!” Alicia covered her eyes with her hand. “Why is Dory in the bed?”
Shuggie’s head turned sharply but his face was telling – still stained with dried blood tears, and his eyes heavy and drawn.
“Youngling…ah...she…” He couldn’t get the words out and stayed where he was, not noticing his nakedness, not caring. He would not be moved by Teodora’s side.
Alicia heard the turmoil in Hugh’s voice quickly peeked through her fingers and flashed away, arriving back within seconds with a t-shirt and sweat pants for Hugh. He was sitting straight, cradling Teo’s hand gently in his large one. Alicia with some difficulty managed to get Shuggie into his clothes as she stood behind him, wrapping her arms around his neck resting her chin in his shoulder. “She tried to change herself didn't she?”
Shuggie’s voice was so soft, a human would not have been able to hear him. “Aye – but how’d ye know, youngling?” his thumb brushing over the inner wrist of Teodora’s hand.
“She asked me to change her but I couldn’t do that to you, but when she left for her parents she seemed a little unlike herself.” Alicia remained with her arms around Shuggie’s neck.
Realisation hit Shuggie – in all the years he had known her, he knew that her parents and siblings were important to her – and he also knew that she must have made her mind up before she left the Compound. “She wis sayin’ goodbye tae them.” His voice still low. He was so in tune with Teodora, her body language, the nuance of her speech – that he was certain he was right. “She sacrificed aw she loved tae be immortal – tae be wi’ me.” Shuggie was beyond humbled. And didn’t he feel like a big shite for his actions in the past few weeks.
Alicia lifted her head placing a soft kiss on her best friend’s cheek. “She loves you Hugh…Did you have to intervene?”
Shuggie bowed his head, leaning his forehead on Teodora’s hand as he spoke, “Aye, ah did – she wouldnae huv been able tae dae it hersel’ – no wi’ the type o’ vampire ah am.” Sitting back up, he looked forlornly at Alicia. “She wis almost deid by the time ah found her”
Alicia patted Hugh on the head three times then took a seat on the chair to the opposite side of the bed where she took Teodora’s other hand and held it gently in hers. “She’s breathing Hugh, you saved her.” Alicia’s eyes roamed over Teodora’s form. “What will she be like?”
“Naw, youngling – she saved meh.” In that one simple statement, Shuggie told Alicia a million times how much he loved Teodora. Sitting back up, he looked over at Alicia for a few moments before answering. “Ah’m no sure, youngling – Ah’m a different breed tae you.” As Alicia looked puzzled, he explained, “Ye are vampire born, an on top o’that huv shifter DNA in yer blood.” Then he smiled softly, “an’ dinnae forget, yer one o’ a kind – a Sanguis-solis.” Reaching over Teodora’s sleeping body, he took Alicia’s hand in his free one, “But ah’m something very different tae ye, and most others too.” He stopped talking then unsure if Alicia really wanted the truth or was just making conversation as he sat by Teodora’s bedside.
Alicia squeezed Shuggie’s hand ignoring the fact he also said she was vampire born like Xavier had once stated putting that and the comment about Shifter DNA down to the fact that Hugh was just highly emotional and delirious just now. “Tell me more Hugh? I want to know all about you” She was genuinely interested but also knew he needed someone to be by his side at this moment in time.
Shuggie closed his eyes, taking himself back through the vaults of time to when he was still mortal. “Ah wis a Warrior o’ mah clan. Ah returned from battle tae find mah village had been sacked an mah family murdered.” He stopped abruptly, a crimson tear slowly meandering down his drawn face. “Mah four bonnie bairns slaughtered by a sword forged o’ my ain hands.” He opened his eyes to look at his hands as though he could see his dead children’s blood still upon them.
Alicia let out a loud gasp as she listened to Shuggie. “Oh Meerkats Hugh, I’m so fucking sorry for your babies.” Her little handle squeezing his large one tighter. “I can't even begin to imagine what you've went through for eons.”
Her words comforted him and he continued, “Ye remind meh o’ mah eldest daughter – Ailsa.” As he said her name, his voice was full of love and pride. “She wis fierce an intelligent,” his smile growing as he pictured his daughter in his mind,
“took shite from nae man or beast!” and then he looked back at Alicia, “an had the biggest heart tae those who earned her trust.” Shuggie’s smile started to falter. “Anyway, the elder of oor village blamed me fur the massacre happenin, an ah wis taken tae the village square, beaten an drawn an quartered. Mah guts were spilled oot, an ah could count mah heartbeats stopping. Jist as ah wis close tae death, the others left – darkness wis closing in an they didnae want tae be oot in the open incase the invaders attacked again.” He shrugged. The thought of the villagers leaving a bad taste in his mouth. “Ah didnae want tae die – naw afraid…naw that – jist ah wanted tae avenge mah family an dae right by them.” He looked over at Alicia to see if she understood what he meant, after her recent revenge on the Belcastro family for their murder of her own family.
“We are like four carrots in an in pot.” Alicia smiled over at Hugh, prompting him to keep talking.
Shuggie smiled at her malapropism but continued without correcting her. “Aye, well...” he sighed, “jist as death wis tae take meh, I heard a Celestial voice call oot tae meh – asking if ah craved death. ‘Course, ah said ‘naw’ bit ah wisnae sure ah wis hallucinating or even if ah could be heard – mah blood was mostly on the dirt beneath meh, instead o’ in mah body. Ah wisnae imagining it though – an ah wis heard loud an clear cos it wis then that ah wis approached. Frozen fingers lifting ma’ heid an tellin’ meh ah could be saved, if ah prayed to ‘Uriel, the Fallen’. Ah’d never heard o’ this person, bit ah did as ah wis bid. Only then did ah see mah saviour. He towered above meh, so pale he wis almost translucent an he hud the most spectacular wings of purest white singed wi’ crimson at the tips. His unearthly skin wis covered in markin’s that matched the red o’the end feathers showing scenes o’ a great battle between angels an devils. Ah wis enthralled as He looked at meh wi’ his coal-black eyes – an then ah seen his fangs. They were long an jagged – lethal, an aye ah wis afeared fur the first time in mah life, youngling. He spoke in mah heid tellin’ meh ah wis tae be the Immortal Warrior, leading His army against the Creator’s mortals. Ah couldnae believe mah eyes as mah spilled blood seemed tae be absorbed intae his skin, mah battles an tragedies appearing fleetingly o’er him. As his ensanguined wings enveloped meh inside them, ah felt Him step intae meh. Like ah wis taken o’er. Youngling, ah’ll ne’er forget the agony as mah insides burned wi’ ice-hot intensity. So many voices thunderin’ in mah heid. Curses, prayers – ah couldnae tell, bit they were gettin’ so loud ah wis sure mah brain would explode. Ah must huv passed oot, cos I dunno how long after that ah awoke an mah skin knitted the gither an wis covered in these elaborate tattoos.” He held his arms out straight and looked at them. “The Fallen that ah wis told tae pray to – Uriel?” he nodded hoping that Alicia was following him. “He was mah maker. Uriel wis an Archangel in Heaven who had defied God’s laws by layin’ wi’ a demoness Rakshasha – they kin change their shape an form frae ‘human’ tae anthin’ water, trees even animals. As a punishment he wis made Cruor Inficio-Infeci-Infectum – ‘vampire’ – damned tae walk the earth in darkness fur aw eternity, banished in the Heavenly Realm an accursed by mortals as ‘unclean’.”