Chapter Twenty-Six

Something was happening.

Something felt off.

I had no idea what it was. I couldn't go beyond the walls around me, beyond what the chains allowed, but I knew something was happening outside. I could sense everything was off balance.

That morning, the Doctor came in. He sent his robed minions in to do their tests, then recalled them and sent them off to run the tests. That left us alone together. He stood there in front of me for the longest time, speaking in a low menacing tone. I didn't like his tone. I didn't like his posture. He stood like he was waiting to attack me. He was threatening, which was rare. He didn't often make the stupid mistake of threatening me, but he did that day.

He stood there for a while longer, even after he'd spoken. He seemed to study me, then slowly came forward. I growled and he slowed to a stop, then began his path to me again. I tensed, locked up my muscles in preparation for a fight. He was right in front of me, right in my face, a fucking bold mistake to make. I parted my lips and bared my fangs right in his face.

He didn't back down.

If anything, he seemed to enjoy the proximity. He sucked in a deep breath through his nose, and steadily blew it out through his lips before those lips turned up at the corners. I growled again and he reached up, placing his hands over the cuffs on my wrists. Through the red haze of my vision, with the sharp hearing of mine, I vaguely could make out some kind of words.

"Will... me from this... no longer... slave... set you... free... good boy, okay?" I paused at that, confused, because... words? Words made sense to me for some reason. I understood what he was saying, or at least, I got some semblance of an idea. I squinted at him, confused, and he hesitated, his hands over the cuffs on my wrists.

"Understand... me?" He asked. I nodded slowly, and he cursed under his breath, stepping back. I panicked, because for some reason, I needed him to follow through. I needed him to let me go. I knew I couldn't be chained forever. I knew I shouldn't be there. It didn't make sense to be there. I wasn't supposed to be there. I was supposed to be with someone else. With other people. I couldn't for the life of me remember who, but it wasn't these people in robes.

"Son of a bitch," the Doctor cursed, "I don't have time for this." He spun around and headed for the door and I panicked.

"W-Wai...!" I couldn't form the word I wanted, couldn't make the sounds I wanted, so I settled for roaring and that stopped the Doctor in his tracks. He spun around to face me. He said something, but I didn't understand what it was. I cocked my head, confused, then tried to speak again, but only growls and grunts came out. I couldn't form words for some reason. I was left gasping and whimpering in the end and the Doctor shook his head, said something else, then left the room. I wailed and dropped to my knees, jerking at the chains on my arms, but with no results.

I was left kneeling in the room, my head down as I felt tears welling up in my eyes. I felt the hot streaks on my face. I wanted to tell him to come back, I wanted to tell him I wasn't supposed to be there, that I was supposed to be with someone else. The person who smelled like spice. I had to be with them. I knew that somehow. I had to be with him. He needed me. I needed him. He was part of us. He needed to be here and he wasn't and it was both enraging and agonizing.

I tilted my head back and screamed for everything I was worth. I screamed until my throat was hoarse, until there was nothing left, except a few hiccups as I broke into a round of sobs.

I was so confused.

I was so scared.

Where was the person who smelled like spice? I needed him back. I needed him to wrap me up in that smell, wrap me in his arms. I needed that.

So I sat there and cried. No one came in to stop me or run tests or feed me. I panicked when there was no food and four hours after my usual feeding time, there was still no food. Now I had a whole new reason to weep. The tears came against my will, just flooded down my face as I scrambled on the floor and tried to scream for food.

No one was bringing it.

No one was coming.

I screamed and no one heard.

I paced now, stalked back and forth as I counted down the seconds that passed by with no food. My stomach twisted and growled. Inside me, my hunger was growing and becoming more feral, more desperate.

Suddenly a loud boom shook the room and I scrambled across the floor, shooting to my feet and facing the door anxiously. Another boom shook the room and I stumbled, but caught myself on my chains. I heard voices outside the room, heard people running. I tensed, waiting for someone to stop by the door, to come in and feed me, but there was nothing.

I stood there, muscles locked, body alert as I strained to hear what was happening outside. I heard what sounded like... a roar? A monstrous animalistic sound that echoed through the corridors outside. It was completely terrifying, sent chills rushing through my system, and yet somehow... I knew what to do?

I threw my head back and roared back. The sound echoed through the room, shook the chains attached to me and the walls.

I waited as it faded, waited to hear another roar, waited to hear anything.

Nothing.

No sound of running, no voices, no roar back, nothing.

A combination of fury and fear rushed through me. I parted my lips and roared again. The room shook and the sound rattled the door. My heart was pounding now.

Something was off.

Something was happening.

I strained to hear. I could faintly make out footsteps running down the corridor outside. A lot of footsteps. I cocked my head and listened. It sounded like the footsteps were growing nearer and nearer, so I threw my head back and roared again. The sound once more shook the room and the sounds of footsteps paused before beginning again, coming closer and closer to the door. I tensed, watching as the door remained closed for what felt like an eternity before it cracked open and I watched a red figure come into the room. They weren't wearing robes, but I couldn't tell what they were wearing, just that they were entirely red, along with the next figure that came in, and the next.

Five red figures came into the room and stood there, just watching me. I panted for breath, straining against the chains, trying to get to them, trying to get food. I paused, though, when a familiar scent hit my nose and I straightened for a moment before screaming as I recognized that scent.

Words couldn't come to me, just screams. I jerked and tugged at the chains desperately, but they didn't give.

The one with the scent came forward to come to me, and I strained against the chains to get to him, but one of the figures yanked him back and I growled low in my throat.

Who the fuck did they think they were to take away what belonged to me?

The red figures began to talk all at once. Their voices were nothing, but garbled nonsense to me, though, as I stared intently at the figure with the scent, who was facing me, watching me, clearly wanting to come to me because he fucking knew he belonged to me.

I roared and the figures fell silent, a couple of them shuddering at the sound that echoed through the room. I bared my fangs and lunged for them again, but the chains held me in place. I screamed and jerked desperately at the chains for a moment, fighting to escape while the red figures talked amongst themselves.

The one holding back what was mine let go of him, and that was his mistake.

The scented figure ran at me. One of the other figures screamed and another shouted, but it was too late. The scented figure was across the room and in front of me a second later.

He was so tall. He was taller than me. He was darker red than the others. And his scent, gods above, his scent. It was so strong, so vivid. I inhaled deeply through my nose, then blew out through my lips and watched as his features slowly came into view and I found myself staring up at a pair of strong blue eyes that glowed like headlights, even with the fluorescent lights above. His olive skin, his pink lips, his perfect jawline, his black hair that was loose and fell all to the left side of him.

"K-Keros?" I managed. Keros's eyes widened at that.

"Seven," he breathed. I went to reach for his face, but the chains didn't let me reach for him. I felt tears burn my eyes and Keros immediately reached up to cup my face in his hands.

"Ssh," he whispered, his thumbs stroking my cheeks, "It's me." I choked on a sob.

"Keros... Keros..." I couldn't find any other words aside from his name. I still wasn't quite sure how to form other words. Nothing else wanted to come out. Keros stroked my cheeks, leaning forward to touch our foreheads together and I sobbed his name.

"Ssh," Keros whispered again, "It's okay. You're okay."

"Y-You... K-Keros... find..."

"I know, I know, it's alright, you're okay. We're both okay, see? Not a scratch on me," he said, then paused as he studied me and he swallowed thickly at what was clearly not okay, "We'll get you to a doctor. We'll get you to Hades. Don't worry."

"S-S-Sorry-- c-can't--"

"Don't talk, you'll be okay," Keros said immediately, then turned to look behind him, "We need to get him down from here, right now." I frowned and looked past him, except my vision flashed to red the moment my eyes laid on the others and I couldn't make out who they were. A growl started in my throat and I bared my fangs. Another scream sounded from the ground and Keros turned to look at me, just as one of the largest of the figures came forward and snatched him back before I could bite him for intruding.

I snarled and jerked at the chains now, desperate to get Keros back to me, except the larger figure was holding onto him tightly and refusing to let go. Keros was saying something angrily, fighting against his captor. I screamed and lunged at them, but they lunged back. Keros said something else, then turned to me.

I couldn't tell what he was saying. I couldn't understand him. His words were garbled. But his tone was soft, his tone was gentle, and I relaxed to a degree, swallowing compulsively as I watched him get pulled away by the figure, who Keros turned on with anger. I growled as I watched Keros angrily speak to two of the figures, the tallest one and the shortest one, both of whom were arguing back.

I looked at the other two figures, who just stood there and watched me. Something about them was familiar, especially the larger of the two. Something about his scent was familiar, something about his whole demeanor was familiar, but for the life of me, I couldn't figure out how.

The shortest red figure said something that pissed him off, though. Whatever it was, the large figure on the side turned to him and said something I didn't understand. A second later, they were all arguing amongst themselves, completely drowning out Keros, who kept trying to come back to me, but no one was letting him and my fury was mounting.

Who the hell did these people think they were?

Keros was mine.

Fury lashed through me and I pulled at the chains again, harder this time, and I felt a bit of give in the chains. I pulled harder, growling low in my throat and I stepped forward. There was a sharp crack and I felt the chain on my left ankle loosen up and fall to the floor. Fired up by the victory, I pulled at the other chains.

Everyone was so busy arguing no one noticed my free leg.

I pulled harder and felt the other one crack and rattle to the floor. I could've laughed with triumph if I knew how to laugh anymore. I wrapped my hands around the chains on my wrists, standing with my legs apart and jerked hard. Two large explosions rang out and everyone whirled around in time for all my chains to fall uselessly to the floor. I bared my fangs in a smirk, flexing my claws out and rolling my head for a second to crack my neck from the soreness of being chained up.

Now I was free.

And I was starving.

I went for the smallest figure first. They would be easy to digest quickly, giving me plenty of time to take the other ones. I went after him, but the biggest figure snatched the smaller one up and moved him out of the way just as I would have had him in my claws. I swung around and roared, flashing fangs before I went to dive for him, but Keros got in my way. I pulled up short as his scent hit me in the face and I hesitated for only a second before I saw the biggest figure reach out to grab him and pull him back.

I snarled and lunged for him, except a strong grip caught the back of my neck and threw me across the room. Shouts rang out as I went flying across the room and slammed into the wall. I cursed as the chains went with me, whipping at my legs and head. I hit the floor heavily, but was on my feet fast as I whirled around to face who'd dared to fucking touch me.

I recognized the figure immediately.

There was a ferality to them that matched my own. A strength that matched my own, and a fury just as righteous. I growled low in my throat as I turned to face them and they faced me without fear. The figure behind him was yelling something and so was the smallest figure on the other side of the room. More yelling and I'd had about enough, so I went to attack the figure who'd dared to face me.

I was flipped head over heels a second later into the other wall. I bounced off and came charging back, swiping my claws at his face, but he reared back, then launched himself forward to grab me by the arm, swinging me around to throw me at the wall, but I clung to his arm and brought myself back around, twisting myself up to sit on his shoulders. I grabbed his head with the intention to twist it off and bathe in his blood, except he flipped me off his shoulders and onto my back on the ground. I rolled out of the way before he could stomp me. I scrambled back and whipped my arm around, taking with it the chain connected to it and it wrapped around the creature's neck.

Barking out a roar in triumph, I went to snatch the chain back and rip the fucker's head off, except he caught the chain and yanked me forward. I stumbled and he headbutted me right in the fucking head, sending me stumbling backwards. I caught my balance once more and swung around to attack him, but he blocked my attack and went for my gut. I ducked out of the way and came back for me, but he grabbed the chain connected to my ankle and yanked it hard, whipping my feet out from under me.

I hit the ground, then rolled and swung around, snarling at my attacker, who surprised me by snarling back. I heard voices from the other creatures, watched the smallest one get near the door with Keros in tow and my panic rose.

Forgetting my opponent, I went after Keros desperately. I managed to grab his hand, whipping him out of the grasp of the other red figure and hauling him with me. I wrapped my arms around him and stumbled back with him, breathing hard as he grabbed his arms around me. I could hear his voice, but couldn't make out what he was saying. He was saying something fast, and I could feel his hands pushing at my arms around him and I growled at him.

Why couldn't he just hold the fuck still for a second?

I needed to kill the intruders.

And then I was going to eat them and I would make sure to save some for Keros too.

With that goal in mind, I released Keros, only long enough to swing him around and throw him up against the wall behind me. He cursed as he hit the floor. I whirled around to face the four figures, who all turned to look at me, tense and ready for a fight. One of them said something in a rapid voice and the red figure I'd fought a second ago went to stand at the front of the group.

He crouched down low and made a gesture at me. I snarled and lunged for him, but he caught me against him and we rolled across the floor. I punched at his head, but he blocked and slammed my head into the floor, which resulted in one of the other figures screaming. I ignored it and focused on the attacker, grabbing a handful of his hair and slamming his head into the ground in return. Blood sprayed from his nose and I relished in it, parted my lips and let it spatter across my tongue.

Bloodlust renewed, I managed to heave myself up above the attacker, moving to grab their throat so I could simply rip their neck open and be done with it, but the fucker slammed his knee right up between my legs and I choked, falling over on my side, clutching myself as nausea and pain boiled up from my groin into my gut. The creature grabbed me and hoisted me up, throwing me up against the wall. At the same time, another figure came in through the door, then tried to dart back out, except the largest red figure grabbed him and hauled him back in. I recognized that scent.

"Get off me," Four was shouting, as I slowly began to zone back into the fight, "I'll break your fucking spinal column with my teeth, asshole!"

"I don't fucking think so," Keros's father muttered, his image coming into my vision. I blinked several times, confused as I watched Cerberus take form by Four, holding him by the back of his neck like a wet kitten. At his side was Blaine, trembling like a leaf as he knelt down by Keros, who was propping himself up onto his hands and knees, coughing up blood. The sight of his blood sent a rocket of fear through me and I jerked my head up to see Hannibal had his hand on my collarbone, pinning me to the wall. Just a few feet away, Akin was staring at us breathlessly, his hands shaking.

"Hannibal!" Akin exclaimed. Hannibal glanced at him, then turned those mismatched eyes onto me and I stared at him, confused.

"W-What...?" I looked back over at Keros, who slumped on the floor again, clutching at his ribcage. Meanwhile, Cerberus dropped Four when he heard Keros cough and whipped around. Four scrambled to his feet to get away, but Cerberus whipped back around and grabbed him, picking him up and throwing him across the floor so he went flying and slammed into a wall.

"What the hell are you doing," Cerberus demanded, whirling on Hannibal now, "Knock him the fuck out so we can get out of here!"

"Don't hurt him," Akin exclaimed.

"Tell him that!" Cerberus scoffed.

"Shut up," Blaine shouted, clenching his fists, then turning back to Keros, "He needs to see Hades, right now! He's got a busted rib cage and I'm talking all of them, Cerberus! Do something!"

"Trying," Cerberus called back, then turned to Hannibal, who grimaced, "Knock him out before he changes back! We don't have time for this!"

"You can't knock him out," Four said from the far side of the room and he reached into his pocket and took out a syringe that he tossed across the floor to land at Hannibal's feet, "He never stays knocked out for long! Just hit him with that whole thing and he'll be down!"

"And why should we believe you?" Cerberus demanded. Four glared.

"Cuz I've been helping him every day since he got here, but fine, fuck it, go for it, just try and knock him out and watch your son become puppy chow!" He snarled. Cerberus cursed and turned to Hannibal, who bent down and picked up the syringe.

"Don't hurt him," Akin managed, coming forward to put his hand on Hannibal's back, "Please." Hannibal looked at him, then looked at me and I bared my fangs at him as my vision flickered red, then back again. It was so hard to stay aware of what was happening. The entire time my vision was flashing from red to back again. It got even worse as Keros coughed up another blob of blood on the floor and Blaine made a sound of distress. I went to break Hannibal's arm off me, went to bite him right in the throat, but before I could even get to him, he sank the syringe into my neck and pushed the plunger.

A second later, my vision tilted and twirled and I felt myself sinking into a warm blanket of absolute nothingness. I moaned softly at the sensation, enjoying the feeling of just sinking into warmth and bliss. My vision flashed from red to normal again and I found myself laying on the floor, staring up at a white ceiling, vision darkening around the edges. I didn't pass out. I had developed a tolerance to the verti so it didn't make me pass out anymore, but damn did it feel amazing.

I felt someone's arms go underneath me, felt myself being lifted up, and I laid my head against whoever had me, closing my eyes and breathing out a long sigh of relief. I snuggled in close and let myself dream a little.

The dreams used to be about other things. I couldn't remember.

Now I just dreamt of food.

Food was all that mattered.

Food, and... And Keros.

Keros was even more important.

I hoped he felt better.

I certainly did. Even more so when a short time later, I found myself laying in a warm fuzzy bed. It felt weird being in a bed again. Part of me really liked it, but another part of me kept glancing at the floor, like maybe that's where I was supposed to be. Not here on the bed.

I blinked my eyes through the fog in my brain created by the verti. I looked around the room slowly, taking in the fact that there was stuff in the room. Like, actual things. There were paintings on the walls, a window that looked out over a walkway and flower garden. There was a mini fridge, a counter, a sink, and a couple of chairs. And sitting in one of the chairs was... Akin. He was slumped back in the seat, his head lolled to the side, his eyes closed as he slept. I frowned, confused by the sight of him.

This felt weird. Like a dream.

I pushed the blankets back, looked down to see I was wearing a hospital gown. I also noticed a few wires and shit sticking out of me, so I pulled them all out and swung my legs over the side of the bed. My vision flickered from red to normal again. I sat for a second, letting it straighten itself out until I was seeing only red. I glanced at the figure sleeping in the chair, then looked around the room.

Food.

I stood up and made my way to the other side of the room, opening up drawers and cupboards, trying to find something to eat. I opened the mini fridge and found bags of blood. Brightening, I snatched the bags out and ripped them open with my teeth and tilted my head back, pouring the bag down my throat. The liquid was cold and unappetizing, but it was at least something. I tossed the bag aside and went for another bag, tearing it open and pouring it into my mouth.

I heard shifting somewhere behind me, but ignored it. I had food and that was all that mattered.

"Seven, don't!" I spun around to see the red figure standing up and facing me. I scowled, confused, because I could understand them, despite the world being red. Usually when the world was red, I couldn't understand what was being said. Perhaps I'd listened to them speak too much before and learned how to interpret it now? I had no idea.

I didn't care.

I was hungry.

I growled and the red figure froze for a moment, then took a deep breath.

"Seven, it's me; Akin... And your Beast," he said, making me scowl curiously, "I know he hears me too. Both of you, listen to me." I growled again, but he didn't let up.

"I need you to put that down, alright? You shouldn't have anything in your stomach right now. We still need to run some tests--" I snarled at him at the mention of more tests. I was tired of tests. I was tired of being poked and ripped to pieces. I wanted food! I swung back around and swallowed the rest of the blood bag and went for another one, ripping the top off.

"I said stop!" Akin barked. I stiffened at that, then turned to face him. He stood strong and proud, not an ounce of fear within him. I growled in confusion. Why wasn't he fleeing or scrambling for the exit? Everyone always left when I was eating. I hated being watched while I ate. It just meant they were going to do more tests on me and I was sick of it.

"You're not going to eat anymore," Akin ordered, making me growl again, "I mean it. I said no more. You've eaten enough. Anymore and you'll get sick. Do you understand me? Nod if you understand." I glared at him and bared my teeth.

"And quit flashing your fangs like that," Akin added angrily, "I'm not the least bit scared. Put the bag down and get your butt back into that bed right now. I'm not playing here. Do it right now, or I'm going to get Hannibal in here to take care of it." There was hesitation now. I'm not sure why. I debated just finishing the bag and taking off, but for some reason, the idea of dealing with Hannibal was exhausting. Suddenly, as if something else had taken over my body, I dropped the bag and went to the bed, sitting down.

Akin seemed relieved and relaxed a little. He came over and started reconnecting the cords and wires back to my body again. I growled low in my throat, but he grabbed me by the jaw and forced me to look at him.

"I said no," Akin said firmly. His tone of voice was so sharp, so commanding. I swallowed the next growl down my throat as the door to the room opened and I tensed, looking over as my vision flashed from red to normal, then back again, but just in time for me to see that it was Hannibal coming into the room with Hades right behind him. As quickly as I saw them, they were nothing more than faceless red figures after they entered. I growled.

"Enough," Akin ordered. I obeyed and sat back on the bed, but eyed Hannibal and Hades warily as they entered the room.

"That's not good," Hades muttered, "He's still in Beast mode."

"He's been like this since we left the compound," Akin admitted grimly, "We're not... sure how to bring him back. Also, he uh... ate some of the extra blood bags." He pointed to the fridge. Hades threw his hands up in exasperation, but didn't say anything about it. He just slammed the fridge shut and came over to eye me. I glared at him and bared my fangs, only to get a smack upside the head from Akin and I whirled on him to bare my fangs at him right back, except Hannibal was standing right behind him and stared me down.

I closed my mouth and looked down at my feet swinging from the bed.

"At least he listens," Hades muttered, "They were probably in the process of training him."

"Training him?" Akin asked.

"To kill," Hannibal replied under his breath. Akin swallowed.

"Is... Is that why he won't come back? I mean, Seven himself?" He asked. Hades shrugged.

"Could be. We're not entirely sure yet. All we know is physically he's alright. Mentally, I can't say the same," he explained, "My guess? They were training him to stay in Beast mode for as long as he could and whenever he started to slip back into his regular state of mind, they would zap him back to try and gain control over whenever his Beast shifted in and out of focus. And the fixation on food he seems to have... Honestly? Reminds me of how you train a dog that is food motivated. You want them to do what you want? Feed 'em. Give 'em a treat every time they do what you want. And something tells me they loaded this guy up on crunchy little soldier meals... If what your numbered friend tells us is true anyway."

"That reminds me," Akin muttered under his breath, "Where is that brat?"

"Still in lock up," Hades answered, "He's only giving us information to help Seven. Otherwise, he's completely useless. No more information on this Mother person."

"Great," Akin deadpanned.

"Something about that was too easy," Hannibal muttered, "It was like they left the front doors open for us to walk right in and take him."

"She was probably hoping Seven would go Beasty on you and get you all killed," Hades admitted, "Except it looks like mama's plan backfired because the moment you came in with Keros, all bets were off. He's hyperfocused on both food and Keros, and honestly? I think Keros is probably our best bet for bringing back Seven from this Beast mode he's in."

"Yeah, except we have one huge problem," Akin said grimly, "Blaine won't let Keros anywhere near him. Or us for that matter. You saw him when we got to the hospital. I've not seen him so livid since the situation with Ambrosius. This is just..."

"Yeah, and the fae is awfully good at holding grudges," Hades admitted with a shrug.

"Then what do we do?" Akin asked. Hades looked at me and I growled low in my throat.

"Fuckin' pray, I guess."