Chaos

Fiery Hate

Howard had also taken refuge within the building before me. I inspected his arm within the gym as I interrogated him. The bite would likely be cause for an infection or mutation. Since I don't know much about the substance right now, I cannot ascertain what effects I should expect from a bite. Given how he responded earlier, it is likely he might develop something like an infection.

"How does it feel?" I asked him. I observed the teeth marks at a distance: Deep, irritated (likely infected) and bleeding profusely.
"Like acid and fire swirling all throughout my arm, my spine feels hot", he huffed. His face was red and he hunched over as if he couldn't physically straighten himself. I carefully repositioned him in a better posture and ran my fingers along the bones jutting down his back. He was pained by my feint touch.

"I'm going to have to apply a little pressure, try to endure", I told him blankly.
I applied slight pressure along his spine. It was entirely swollen and filled with a mysterious liquid, like lactic acid. When I approached his lower back, he lashed out at me. It was sudden, but I was prepared for it. He attempted to strike my face with his elbow, however, I caught it and held it there tightly.

I held his arm there- his eyes were devil red and mouth frothing with blood. It was horrific. I stared at him calmly until he came to his senses. Howard's eyes blew wide with realization, awaking from his instinct. Sorrow, regret... and tears, filled his eyes.

"What- I... Oh god, Chaos, I'm sorry, I don't know what happened-"

"I'm fine."
I let go of his elbow and Howard held it in his hand, bowing his head with guilt. I continued with my diagnosis in my head: This 'injection' causes increased, inexplicable aggression and strength. Far too strong for the weak capillaries in the eyes and gums, causing the blood to burst from them.

"What is this? Do you know how to make it better?" Howard questioned. His eyes were filled with desperation, dark circles accentuating his distress. He lost a lot of blood today.

"No", I answered truthfully.
I needed to know the origin and synthesize it myself to make it into a vaccination of sorts or a counteractive virus. Most of the samples I received thus far had spontaneously combusted, leaving me with regular blood to work with. Howard slumped impossibly more, I straightened him again, instigating another attempted assault.

"I may be able to help you within The Void, it will help with the ongoing investigation", I suggested. I stood up and offered a hand to Howard, which he took sorely, standing up with a grunt or two as the group filtered in the building.

"Howard! Are you alright??" Kower rushed over leisurely. His eyes were blown wide as they scoured the now infected looking wound. Simple bandaging would do no good, blood kept spurting from it. I had Judith, a recent appearance, hand me military grade psuedoaneurysms and duck tape to hold things together until we got to The Void.

"If you'll please step aside, Duke Kower, I might be able to help", I asked coldly. My eyes strained to focus on anything but the blood and the panic rising as his life drained from his face. It was exhilarating to watch but I hadn't the time to relish in the hysterics. Everyones heart, except that of Boak, Yuik, and Azrail was racing slightly faster than normal.

Kower moved to sit beside his boy as I approached Howard.
"I need for you to hold him down", I asked.
"What?"
Kower acted too slowly, and so when I bared a needle in approach to the wound, Howard tried to strike me again. This time though, the aggression was difficult for him to rein in, his eyes were straining to roll back and his throat was veined purple. The toxins were suffocating him and it was a good chance he was probably allergic. Or regressing into a Curséd.

I held him in a headlock and squeezed my arm around his neck until he passed out. I let him go then and injected the psuedoaneurysm into the wound, wrapping the tape over it thickly.

"What's happened to him, what are you doing?" Kower asked frantically.
"Due to the fragility of the investigation-"
"What's happened to Howard!" Kower repeated in distress.
"I cannot answer that", I cryptically answered. Zombification was the most accurate comparison I could provide and left it at that. I was hauling Howard up but Kower took him up by the arms and cradled him.

"Where will you take him, how can you heal him?" Kower seemed conflicted as he stared at his sons bleeding face. He clearly did care for Howard so why is he such a manipulative fiend when Howard was conscious.

This show of affection was... unprecedented to say the least. I could perhaps make an ace with this opportune vulnerability.

"Chances of a cure is irresolute, we will have to take him in for testing, I cannot compromise with the process of recovery", I deadpanned. Judith took the explanation from here. She also handed me a moist cloth so that I might wipe away the acidic blood from my shoulder and mouth.

The ointment on this cloth was soothing and smelled wonderful, it seemed to melt into my skin and heal whatever the problem was there. I'd have to ask about this substance later.

For now, the time for my meeting was approaching. We decided that, against Duke Kower's insistence, Howard could not return home, and will be quarantined within The Void until further notice. We suggested that Kower Cecas might have monitored visitations, but even that was unsure.

This endeavor is sure to build a sense of debt and collaboration to the Cecas Division for future- once all the heirs have become the successors. The Cecas were renowned for knowledge and research facilities. I might be able to take advantage of this.

Kower was the last to leave the gym; Judith took the samples to safely store them in the so called 'Void', which was really my office. There was no facility, I was smart enough to operate on my own. It was safer to secure information when you're the only one that knows everything- not that they would know that. She was going to take Howard with her to confine him for when i returned but instead, I took him with me to the meeting.

And so I sat down cross-legged on a plush couch in the upstairs resting area, alone with Howard resting on folding-chair, bound with rope. Azrail stayed a little while with me until the wolves arrived.

"Will you be alright?" he asked me.
"I'm unharmed and armed", I responded. He nodded and then awkwardly asked me...
"And... mentally?"
"Is this important?"
"I suppose it is." His face looked pained by the question. I had a feeling that this was a foreign topic for him, feelings wasn't a typical concern for Diathyst Parents.

"I'm mentally exhausted and hungry", I truthfully sighed. I rested my back against the cushions, which was way too comfortable and inviting for a gym. Patrons would rather laze around on this than train their muscles.

Azrail stood up and walked away behind me. I thought he was going to leave now. Instead, he came back with a black cup, with a metal straw sticking out of the top. He held it out for me to take.

"I don't like processed blood."
I wanted to refuse but I was a bit hungry from the fight- the ivy in that wolf's blood shredded my energy. Azrail beckoned me to take it from him again with a slight shake of the cup. The smell was intoxicating and I struggled to hold my resolve whilst in my blood lust.

I took it and sipped slowly before handing it back to him. He silently stayed with me until the Roya Pack entered the room.

I hated three things in this world: waiting, processed blood, and my penitent father.