i never asked to be saved [r], mortal instruments - Seren

[Yunalesca]

She let go of the breath she’d been holding as nothing jumped out at her and the brothers followed behind her. Her head turned to the sound of voices before Travis even gestured for them to be quiet, that there were others in the next room over. Her eyes flicked to him while her hand closed tighter around the hilt of her long knife. She wasn’t sure of what approach they would take, but apparently she wasn’t going to be the one to lead it. When Eli grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her back her breath caught before a growl nearly escaped her throat. She may be frightened, thoughts consumed with how wrong this could go, but being pushed behind a wall for her own protection irritated her more than anything else. She wanted to yell at him and shove her way past, but her mind calculated the damage it could cause to do it and so she stayed behind Eli.

She missed the looks between them and didn’t move until she was signaled, her blade coming to the ready as Travis was storming the room. She was on Eli’s heels as they entered, already seeing Travis pinning a Were, his stealth phenomenal in his heightened state of being due to the lycanthropy affliction. In her amazement she didn’t see the other Were coming towards them and might have fallen to his hands if Eli hadn’t been quick in slashing the man-beast, a well-placed threat following. The Were didn’t move as the Shadowhunter held his blade up to make his point clear. Her eyes flicked to the last Were in the room, one she suspected to be Maddox. As she looked at him he looked at her. To say she didn’t like the look in his eye was an understatement. It was a look of conniving, evil, and as though a plan was already forming in his mind. He was dangerous even as he stood outnumbered. He wasn’t one to square off against alone. All of that came in the one look before her eyes were torn away by Eli’s voice.

Normally she didn’t take orders well, but she felt somewhat shaken by how Maddox had looked at her like she were something to eat. She nodded to Eli and turned to the door, closing it firmly before throwing a bolt then etching a locking rune for good measure. It wouldn’t hold for long if Were’s came pounding on it, but it would buy them more time. When she turned back she saw the alpha’s gaze shifting between them as though he were trying to figure out their dynamic. “Didn’t get enough of a beating the last time you were here, Elijah? I assure you I can make your stay more permanent…” The alpha said, dragging out his name to make sure Eli knew he was aware of who he was. It wouldn’t take much with the brothers side by side. After having seen Travis in better light she was able to tell the family resemblance. She kept a firm grip on her blade as she stepped away from the door and closer to the desk of the alpha, though she pointedly kept a good distance should he try to come after her.

“Free Travis and we’ll go. We’ll consider not informing the Clave of your slip ups if you let him come with us.” She said, her voice projecting as she squared herself, braced for an attack if it should come. After she spoke she watched Maddox’ eyes shift to her, that hungry look in them again. It made her skin crawl, but she held her ground and refused to look away. He could look at her any way he wanted so long as he agreed to let Travis go.

“I care not for the Clave or what they think. It’s hardly a fair trade. He’s mine fair and square. Surely that wasn’t all you had to offer.” He mocked as something crossed in his eyes, too quick for her to catch what it was. Her brows furrowed slightly and her blade came up in the start of a threat. She didn’t come all this way to leave empty handed. She had given her word that Travis would come out and she would keep it.

“Someone you care nothing for is hardly worth your life.” She said without a thought and she watched the smile cross his face. The bad feeling she’d felt about him before was only growing now as she could see the cogs turning in his head. Her eyes stayed firm with his, but on the inside she was beginning to feel the first inklings of fear.

“I’ll give him his freedom,” he started, but she felt that wasn’t the end of what he was saying. “But someone else will stay. I get enjoyment out of hurting people and clearly physical pain does nothing to Elijah, but I wonder if emotional pain takes a greater toll. How would he feel if he got his brother back, but lost his love in return? I can smell him on you, don’t try and tell me otherwise. Travis for you.” He finished and she felt her world spinning. She felt like fainting, throwing up, and burying her blade into his heart all at the same time. She couldn’t even say she wasn’t with Eli, couldn’t deny it as she was feeling her chest tighten. She couldn’t give herself, but couldn’t leave without Travis.

[Serendipity]

He didn't like the look in Maddox's eyes as his gaze moved from him, then to Travis before finally focussing on Audrina. He knew that look, a look that said 'I'll eat you for dinner' and perhaps for Maddox it might have been in the literal sense. Eli swallowed quickly, refocusing his attention on the Were he held at sword point as the man shifted as if to move forward. Eli pressed the tip of his sword more firmly to his chest, piercing through the shirt he wore. He heard the male hiss as the silver blade touched his skin. "Silver. Hurts doesn't it?" Eli smirked, but his sarcasm was half hearted as his eyes flicked back to the alpha who was still looking at Audrina as though she was something to eat.

"I thought I should return the favor." Eli quipped with vehemence, adding a small shrug for affect. "Only seems fair." Though it became apparent that Maddox's attention was no longer on him. His jaw tightened as Audrina spoke, they hadn't discussed who would do the talking, but now that she was, he wished she wouldn't. Maddox seemed far too pleased for Eli's liking that she was the one doing the bargaining. He could speak over her if he wanted, draw Maddox's attention back to himself, though what he had to say to Maddox wouldn't help matters and could even make them worse. If Audrina had still been shaken from killing that Were she didn't show it now, she spoke loud and clear and sounded confident in what she was saying even if they all knew Maddox wouldn't take what was offered.

His heart rate sped up as Audrina moved closer to the alpha as she spoke, a sense of fear washing over him, if she got to close he might not be able to get to her before Maddox did. A quick sideways glance to Travis told him his brother was thinking the same thing but the two of them were frozen in place, one wrong move and the Weres they were detaining could have the upper hand on them and it would be all over. He caught his brothers gaze for a brief moment and something in his gaze must have alerted Travis to his discomfort because and he saw the other male tighten his grip on the dagger an press it further to the Weres throat. Eli forced his attention back to the downworlder he had in front of him and narrowed his gaze in warning, and tried to calm his racing heart.

Maddox's next statement turned his blood to ice, he had a feeling the wolf wouldn't just let Travis go with a threat of his own life on the table but he hadn't expected the male to offer a new trade. Travis for Audrina. "No!" The word was out of his mouth before he could stop it, his voice a strangled growl at the thought of what Maddox might do to her if she accepted the trade. He wasn't about to even let her think it, there's was no way it was happening. Something triggered a switch inside of him when Maddox turned a cold smile in his direction, and his expression showed all the things he planned to do with Audrina if he had her. "I'll kill you before you touch her." He snarled and slammed the sword into the Weres chest. Eli heard him take one last breath before his body went limp, skewered on his sword and jerked the blade out quickly.

He kicked the body aside before it could fall into him and darted in front of Audrina. Maddox growled in anger but showed no remorse for the pack member Eli had just slain. "You're a fool, Elijah and I'm going to take great pleasure in ripping you apart, but not before I make you watch me kill your brother and her... " The alpha stated darkly, his eyes narrowing to a wicked glint. "Though not before I have what I want." He added, looking through Eli and at the blonde half hidden behind him. Eli growled and lunged at wolf, but the desk was between them and Maddox moved fast, jumping back from Eli's blood soaked sword.

"You'll have to do better than that." Maddox laughed, though he must have known fighting it out in his office wasn't a good advantage for him because before Eli could leap over the desk to get to him, he rushed a door to his left and disappeared through it. Anger fueled, Eli went after him in hopes if catching him outside the door.

"Elijah! Shit." Travis cursed and did away with the Were in front of him, plunging his dagger into his throat. The body dropped to the floor sideways and he leapt over it to go after his brother. However he paused before he reached the door and turned his gaze towards the blonde. His thoughts on his brothers feelings towards the female had just been confirmed and he knew Eli would kill him if he left her on her own. "Audrina..." He said her name to get her attention and nodded towards the direction his brother and Maddox had gone. "We have to go after them,"

[Yunalesca]

To hear one would be given life in trade for your own was something that weighed heavy on the mind, and that was precisely what was happening to Audrina as the weapon in her hand wavered. How much are you willing to give? echoed in her mind once more. She had said at any cost, but this? She knew what he would do to her. He would break every part of her just to watch Eli suffer. Some costs are too great echoed Eli's velveteen voice in her mind as she was lost to her own thoughts. She didn't know how long she stood there without a reaction aside from growing cold and indecision crossing her eyes. She did not have to react however as Eli did it for her, further confirming his feelings for her and taking a stance in front of her. She wanted to say his name, say anything, as his body heat radiated off him and over her as he took guard. Her eyes lifted to Maddox' again and wished she hadn't, growing cold all over again. She saw it in those predatory eyes. Her fears of being raped, body and soul, would come to pass if he got his hands on her.

Everything was spinning out of control too fast for her to comprehend as Maddox dashed for an exit and Eli went after him without a thought. They could be led straight into a trap, but it couldn't come out as she was still too stunned to move a single muscle. Her blade had lowered at some point, likely when Eli stepped forward, but she looked down at it now in wonder. Audrina echoed a masculine voice in her mind, a pleading sound that she only realized to not have been imagine as Travis was in her line of vision and beckoning her to follow. Eli she whimpered in her mnd before snapping out of it. Her weapon came up once more and she started for the door after his brother, their pace brisk.

On the other side they seemed to be in the main processing part of the plant, steel everywhere and several levels of catwalks to oversee operations. Her eyes left the rafters and turned to the rom before her to try and find Eli. She could hear the sounds of battle, but wasn't sure where it was coming from. She started forward without another thought, half running toward the sounds of scuffling. Travis overtook her easily, his affliction giving him heightened speed. She pushed herself and yet she was still falling behind. Out of the corner of her vision she saw a half transformed Were coming at her, his intentions clear. She broke off her pursuit of Travis and turned just in time to glance the hefty body off her. His momentum played against him as she willed him over her, slicing up his side as she did so. She heard the familiar howl of pain as the silver of her blade infected the Were, poisoning him from the site of the wound. She didn't wait around for him to die, running after Travis once more.

"Eli!" She screamed for him as she saw him locked in battle with a Were. Where's Maddox?! she thought in fear before another form was detaching itself from the shadows, starting for Eli to gang up on him. She almost screamed for him again, her blade coming to bear as she prepared to intercept the attack, but the Were stopped unexpectedly and stared at her. As a sliver of light played over the Were's face her breath caught harshly in her throat. The second in command had made his appearance and was looking at her now as though he should know her. The moment the look crossed his face and his fingers began extending into claws she knew he remembered. "Shit," she whispered as Jarek bared his teeth at her.

"You! You slipped me poison! Your death will be painful, bitch!" He roared before he was coming at her with mind numbing speed. Normally she would stand her ground, but she would be bowled over if she did. She ran instead, turning on her heel and dashing for anything that would give her an upper hand. A higher level, something to slow him, anything. When she glanced behind her to see him she didn't notice the shadow detaching from the wall and subsequently ran into it. Her breath caught as arms enveloped her, squeezing her and making her weapon drop from her hand with a clatter. "I promise you will suffer..." Said the voice in her ear, throwing her down before she could struggle or make sense of what was happening. Her back hit the pavement hard, knocking the breath from her and nearly making her black out before an immense weight was on top of her.

"Eli," she coughed in a weak call before a knee was pressing down on her pelvis in more than just a gesture to hold her down. "He can't save you now," the voice came at her ear and she shuddered. Her runes flared to life as her hands came up and clawed at Maddox' face in an attempt at freeing herself. He roared in pain as her nails raked into his skin and drew blood. As he sat back and grabbed hold of his face her hand delved to her belt, freeing a blade. She moved to stab him in the ribcage, but he was faster and stronger. Even with her rune of strength burning he slammed both her wrists down on the pavement. She heard a crunch before a numbing pain shot through her right arm. She sobbed loudly as his weight came down on her again, clawed hands wrapped around her shattered wrist. She writhed in pain against him, trying to escape, but this only excited him more as his knee lifted and crashed into her abdomen. She coughed as the air was knocked from her again before gasping for it back.

Both her hands were held down by one of his as he brought the other to her throat and began squeezing. "I'm going to tear you up for that. I'll make him watch as I make you mine!" He said in her ear as she weakly called for Eli again. She felt the first few stars stinging her vision as her scope of sight narrowed. Less air was getting to her lungs as he began crushing her windpipe. Her legs writhed as she fought to get out from under him, gasping loudly as her eyes began rolling back.Was this what it felt like to die, she wondered. His claws bit into the skin of her throat as he squeezed. He was saying something more in her ear, but she couldn't hear it as she began losing consciousness from oxygen deprivation. Something wet splattered against her throat, bringing her attention about to see his face morphing into more of an animal. "You're mine," he said before his head was coming down, his nose brushing up her throat and making her quiver. Eli she screamed in her mind as she heard a snarl coming from Maddox. He was going to rip her throat out and infect her in the process.

[Serendipity]

Travis gave a small sigh of relief as Audrina snapped out of her thoughts at the sound of her name, there was no time to stand around and let her process what had just been said as Eli had departed after Maddox and there was no telling what he was running into on his own. The moment he saw her lift her weapon, taking a tighter grip on the hilt, he ran for the door and she was at his heels. When they emerged through the door Travis saw no sign of his brother, though with his heightened senses he could hear the scuffle up ahead and smell the blood already spilt, some of it wasn’t wolves blood. His eyes darted everywhere in search for his brother, scanning the upper levels and lower floors all at once, observing more than the human eye could in those few seconds. There were Weres racing over the upper levels trying to find their way down and more flooding in from outside, but there was no sign of Maddox.

Audrina’s scream brought his attention to one of the further parts of the building and found his brother locked in fierce battle with a Were who swung thick piece of steel at his brothers head. Eli ducked just in time and slashed at the Were’s ankles with his blade, but the sound of Audrina’s screaming his name distracted him and in that split second of hesitation the Were he was fighting landed a blow to his shoulder before he stumbled back. Travis saw Eli fumble for his weapon which he almost dropped with the blow to the shoulder, but he recovered through the pain and sprung back to his feet just in time to slice the Were through the stomach as he advanced on him once more.

Seeing several more Were’s flood in around Eli as he sent the first to his death, Travis sprinted forwards leaving Audrina in his wake, and only hoping she would follow. He didn’t see the Were come for her as he dashed forwards and drove his sword into an oncoming Were. He kept going, slashing away at bodies as he went until he reached his brother and took down two out of three Were’s he was fending off. “You’re an idiot.” He growled at the darker haired male before they were back to back in battle.

“Audrina...where is she?” Eli asked through ragged breath as he soon realised she wasn’t with his brother. He looked around quickly, barely fending off blows as his attention was focussed on finding a certain blonde. He couldn’t see her and panic rose in his throat and twisted his insides. He knew it had been dumb chasing after Maddox like he had and he’d regretted it instantly but before he could turn around and go back for Audrina and his brother he’d been surrounded by Were’s and had only thought to lead them away from the small office rather than inside it where they would all be trapped and outnumbered. “Travis, where is she!” He shouted at his brother, his voice rising in his sudden panic.

Travis, sensing his brothers panic pushed off from his brothers back and sliced his way through two Were’s blocking his way and with a quick glance behind to make sure Eli was handling himself he ran off back in the direction he’d come, searching the area for the woman his brother obviously cared for a great deal. He cursed himself for not keeping a better eye on her, but he’d seen his brother in trouble and everything else hadn’t mattered.

“Travis!” Eli shouted after his brother realising he was going and he was now left on his own. He wasn’t worried about being left on his own though, the Were’s were flowing in at a steady pace but nothing he couldn’t handle even with the pain in his shoulder and the slashes on his arms. He now had two more things to worry about other than his own skin, Audrina was no where in sight and now Travis was gone and he’d sworn to himself he would protect both of them. He really wasn’t doing a great job of that. I need to find her. The thought flooded through his mind, and with Audrina in his thoughts he pushed through the Were’s advancing around him, swinging furiously with his sword to cut through them.

Eli sprinted over and around the fallen bodies beside him, darting out of the way of on coming Were’s, his mind no longer on standing his ground and killing as many as he could but on finding Audrina. His brother too needed finding, but Travis wasn’t Eli’s priority at the moment and he had his own strength and abilities behind him to ensure he could handle himself on his own. “Audrina!” He called for her, feet pounding against the cement as he ran, making for one of the upper levels so he might be able to spot her better. He took the metal steps three at a time, leaping over the last few steps to the top. His eyes scanned the area below, frantically searching for any signs of her. He thought he saw her but before he could determine if it really was her, large hands grabbed him from behind, he tried to jerk his elbow back into their rib cage, but they were quicker and he was thrown forwards.

He’s sword dropped from his hands as he was thrown forwards and he only just managed to brace himself for the tumble down the stairs, curling his arms around his head and bringing his knees up to his chest as his back hit one step after the other. Eli grunted in pain as he reached the bottom and sprawled to a stop, his head hitting the concrete and he was seeing stars, bright white light blurring his vision. He pushed past the blurred vision and lifted himself to his knees, hands reaching for his next weapon of choice. Eli didn’t have a chance to select a weapon as he was dragged to his feet by the scruff of his jacket and a thick corded arm snaked around his neck.

His elbow slammed into the Were holding him and the grip around his neck loosened, though before he could duck out of the grip two more Were’s stopped in front of him, claws extended and snarling. One of the clawed hands came to the side of his face before he could blink, curled into a fist and connected with jaw. The shadowhunter struggled to free himself as the two Were’s pummeled into him whilst the third held him still, with a sense of deja vu forming in his mind. They stopped laying into him momentarily so the one holding him swung him around suddenly and his other hand came to Eli’s forehead, pushing the hair from his eyes but also holding his gaze steady on one particular spot. The other snickered, hoving off to the side, leaving him be for the time being.

Eli blinked through the sweat and blood, wondering what he was supposed to be looking at and staying still in the arms that held him, taking a moment to recover some of his strength. He saw her then and his chest tightened at the sight of Audrina underneath the large form that was Maddox. He had her pinned down, but in such a way it made Eli feel suddenly sick with dread. “No.” He gasped painfully, the Were’s arm still tight around his throat, barely making it possible to breathe. He stared at Maddox and Audrina, unable to look away even if it was possible to do so, frozen in the arms that held him captive and that were forcing him to watch something he feared most of all. “Don’t touch her. I’ll kill you. I’ll kill you, you piece of shit.” Eli cried as loudly as he could managed and twisted wildly in the Were’s arms before bringing his head back hard against a nose and heard it sickening crunch. His elbow slammed into his ribcage next whilst he was distracted with a broken nose and the arm around Eli’s throat loosened enough for him to duck out of the grip.

He stumbled forwards a little before finding his feet and racing forwards, one arm over his bruised ribs, the other pulling free a silver dagger. He didn’t get very far before hands were reaching for him, claws tearing at his jacket. The Were’s brought him down to his knees, the dagger falling from his grip and sliding across the cement. Fingers dug into his hair and brought his head up, a foot braced at his back and he knew that in this position it wouldn’t take much for him to break his back. He had no choice but to watch what was unfolding in front of him, causing bile to rise in his throat and a whimper leave his lips as he watched Maddox drag his nose up the side of Audrina’s neck.

There was a burst of furious voices coming from somewhere behind them, though the cries of pain and death that followed went deaf on Eli’s ears as his gaze found Audrina’s terrified eyes. All the bruises, the cuts and deep gashes from his battling the downworlders were nothing compared to the pain he felt inside his chest at the fear in her grey orbs and that he was helpless to do anything to stop it. “Let her go. Please. I’ll do anything!” Eli pleaded and he knew he would do anything Maddox wanted of him if it meant Audrina would be freed. “Just let her go…”

[Yunalesca]

“Shadowhunter blood is the most intoxicating of all. Smelling him on you is even better.” He was saying in her ear as she was fighting to stay alert through the stars blotching her vision. She might suffocate before he ever did anything to her and she almost felt that would be better than surviving what he intended. “Look at him.” He urged her, but she could barely hear him as she choked for air. Sensing her fading she felt the pressure on her throat lessen before he was forcefully turning her head toward Eli and making her look him in the eye. He was bloody and bruised, her chest caving at the sight. Only days ago she’d been wiping blood from him while he was unconscious. She hated seeing him look that way and fought to keep expression from her eyes. But when Eli yelled, pleaded for her release, she felt hot tears come down her cheek despite her efforts to be strong. She didn’t want to give Maddox the satisfaction, but she was afraid and hurting for Eli. She wanted to say his name, but the Were’s hand held her by the jaw too tight for her to open her mouth.

Kill him, use your strength! that foreign voice commanded in her head again, the mind splitting headache wracking her brain in the process. She whimpered as her eyes closed, unable to focus. She wasn’t strong enough, she’d already tried that. Kill him! the voice screamed again, making her eyes open and appear a little hazy as she lifted her gaze from Eli to look at Maddox sideways. His nose was just under her ear, but as she seemed to wake up he stopped moving. “Child of the Night. Vampires…” He hissed, nose lifting to the air after seemingly smelling vampires nearby. In his confusion she ripped her hands from his grip, her broken wrist catching fire as she did so, but she managed to ignore it. Her hand delved to her belt once more, grabbing hold of a silver blade in her left hand and stabbing it into Maddox’ abdomen. He howled in pain, hands grabbing around the hilt of the embedded blade as she started to wriggle out from under him.

Being true to his nature he wasn’t fazed for long. As she tried to move out from under him he ripped the blade from his stomach and threw it across the room. She reached for another weapon as his fist came crashing across her face. The moment the blow connected she fell back to the ground, dazed as blood started gushing from her nose. Her hand continued to reach for a weapon, but he grabbed hold of it and slammed it to the ground. “Do it again and I’ll break this one, too!” He yelled at her before kneeing her in the gut once more for good measure to get her strength completely sapped. “You’re going to pay dearly, blondie. Keep him steady!” He yelled to her then to the Were’s holding Eli. She started coughing as the blood from her nose filtered into her mouth, the taste warm and coppery. Something inside her craved it which in turn made her want to throw up. Maddox held her still working hand firmly down with both knees on her thighs, ensuring she couldn’t move. Where’s his other hand she thought but got her answer all too quickly.

She heard the sound of a belt buckle coming undone and opened her eyes, looking frantically for anything she could grab to hit him with. No, please…no she pleaded in her mind as he whipped the belt out from the loops and dropped it beside her head. He was pissed she’d stabbed him and was now going to do worse than just change her. He might have given her mercy in death before, but now he was going to make Eli watch as he took her against her will. She couldn’t meet Eli’s gaze as Maddox was yelling something again, her ears unhearing in her traumatized state. She never should have come. She should have been better prepared. She should have been a lot of things but none of them would save her now. Kill me… she pleaded to some god or angel. Anything but what was about to happen.

[Serendipity]

The fingers in his hair grew tighter and the foot in his back pressed further into his spine, a warning that should he move, struggle, do anything to get free it would be all over for him. A part of him wanted it, unable to bear to watch the scene unfold right in front of his eyes. He was aware of Maddox’s intentions, he would turn her as he had done his brother, but it wouldn’t stop there, not with someone like Maddox. Eli wanted to gag at the thought of what else would happen to Audrina tonight and night after night if the alpha got his way. It’s my fault...it’s all my fault, He whimpered in his mind. He should have never brought her along, should never have agreed for her to be a part of this. He would rather Audrina hate him for all eternity by denying her to come here with him then this...anything but this.

Seeing the tears roll down her cheeks as she was forced to look at him was like being sliced through the heart with a thousand sharp knives. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, The words stuck in his throat unable to leave his lips as he looked into her eyes, frozen in place. Eli’s eyes widened as somehow Audrina found her strength as Maddox became momentarily distracted and hope bloomed in his chest as the blade she tore from her belt sunk into the beasts abdomen. The hope that she would free herself from his clutches only lasted for a split second before his earlier despair took over once more. Maddox, angrier now than before, slammed his fist into Audrina’s face and Eli winched at the blow as though it had landed on his own face. “Audrina!” Eli cried and forgetting about the fingers in his hair, he tried to launch forward to go to her aid only to have his head jerked backwards and a foot slam into his back. Pain shot up his spine, blinding him and with a gasp he would have fallen forwards if it hadn’t been for the hand still in his hair, holding him up.

Eli barely heard Maddox giving orders to keep him steady and growled furiously as someone else knelt beside him, snatching his chin between their fingers, and another body knelt on his other side, taking his hands in theirs to keep him completely still. Blood seeped anew from the side of his mouth as the hand at his chin squeezed tightly. “Don’t you dare close your eyes. You wouldn’t want to miss the show,” A voice snickered in his ear and Eli snarled at him wishing he was free to rip the Were’s heart out with his bare hands. The other Were’s holding him steady all laughed and Eli thought he could sense their anticipation at what was about to unfold. “No!” He managed to choked out as he witnessed Maddox’s hand slip between their bodies and saw him free Audrina’s belt from her pants.

The alpha’s hand ran up Audrina’s thigh and he heard the males laughter and excited breath, he wanted to hurl, his stomach twisting violently. He saw Maddox’s hand go to his own belt and slip it free, saw his fingers at his zipper and Eli tore his gaze from the other male, finding Audrina’s face instead. Though he realised looking at her terrified expression, the blank look in her eye, knowing she couldn’t look at him was much worse. “No! Stop! Kill me! Kill me and let her go, don’t do this.” He didn’t recognise his own voice as the words came out in a strangled mess. “Don’t touch her!” He shouted and twisted in the hands that held him still. “Kill me instead. I lo- don’t touch her..” I love her, please. I love her, don’t hurt her! Eli’s words had trailed, the rest forming into his own silent plea. In his fear and desperation to free himself from the others grasps he didn’t have time to process the fact he’d admitted he was in love with the woman who was about to have the worst possible fate forced upon her in front of his eyes.

Maddox stopped and looked over at Eli, a disgusting smile on his lips and excitement in his eyes, but Eli by the look in his eye that his pleading was only making the situation more pleasing for him. “You’ll watch, listen to the bitch scream for you and you can do no-” Maddox never got to finish his taunting as out of no where a figure leapt down from one of the levels above and two knives landed in his back, one blade slicing clean through to the other side, right through his heart. Shouts of surprise rose up around him and he too blinked in surprise, wondering if it had really happened or if he was merely projecting an image of Maddox’s death because he wanted to see it. The six sets of hands holding Eli in place were suddenly gone and he fell forward with a grunt before he was scrambling on all fours to Audrina’s side.

Travis, after kicking Maddox’s lifeless form aside was already kneeling down beside the blonde by the time Eli reached her. He was oblivious to the sudden change in atmosphere, that the Were’s that had surrounded them, and the ones that had hold of him were now standing lamely off to the side unsure of what to do now their alpha had been killed. “Don’t touch her.” Eli snapped at his brother, and though he knew Travis wouldn’t hurt her, he didn’t want any more hands on her other than his own. Travis jerked back, but nodded and Eli missed the concern in his eyes before he was standing beside the two, prepared to attack any Were’s that came near.

Eli quickly pulled Audrina into his lap, the blank look still in her eyes and he wasn’t sure if he was even aware that it was all over, that Maddox was dead. He shifted her gently, ignoring his own aching body, so had her cradled into him, her head against his shoulder and his arms around her waist. “Audrina.” He whispered her name gently and smoothed back her hair from her face and then dabbed some of the blood from the side of her mouth away with his sleeve. “It’s alright,” He soothed softly. “It’s alright.”

[Yunalesca]

She’d shut down as she heard the clank of the belt and knew what was coming. Maybe if she willed herself away she wouldn’t even feel it happen. She wouldn’t come out of this being the same person as before, that much she knew as more yelling ensued, Eli’s voice filtering into her mind. Eli she thought in her mind before she heard a loud gasp followed by the weight on her legs being lifted off. Afraid to move she shut her eyes and stayed as she was. He would hit her again if she moved, she knew it. She felt the presence of someone beside her and shuddered away from it without complete control of what she was doing. He was toying with her, he wanted her to believe she had a way of escape, but she didn’t. A small whimper of fear slipped out as she felt hands on her and she was pulled into somebodies chest. “Don’t touch me!” She half screamed, tensing as fingers brushed at her hair. But when she took a breath to scream she smelled it, Eli’s scent that was so ingrained into her mind. It was his voice she was hearing and without hesitation her arms wrapped around him in an embrace.

She let herself cry in that moment, hardly believing he was holding her as only a moment ago she had been set to be raped by Maddox. “Eli,” she sobbed into his chest as her left hand clung to his shirt while the right came down from the embrace to hang limply beside her. She’d never thought she’d feel this good with Eli’s arms around her, but it was better than any other time before. “You’re hurt,” she murmured softly to him when her sobbing subsided and she remembered how he’d appeared. She was severely beaten herself, but she was more concerned for him than her own well being in that moment. She hadn’t heard what he’d been yelling to Maddox when he’d started running his hands over her, but she didn’t need to. The way he’d reacted alone made her realize how complicated she had let things get. For now, however, she wasn’t thinking about it.

Her hand left its grip on his shirt and shifted up between them to wipe away the blood, it smearing over her leather sleeve. She winced as she did so and was feeling that her nose was broken as well. It’s the least that could have happened she thought to herself before she separated herself from his shoulder and looked up at him. Feeling grateful all over again her good hand wrapped into his hair and she embraced him again with her chin on his shoulder. “Travis…Where’s Travis?” She questioned suddenly, hastily, remembering she had lost sight of him in the scuffle to get to Eli. She heard a shift behind her and half turned in Eli’s grip to see the younger brother sitting back from them, watching. Her eyes dropped then to the body of Maddox bleeding out a short distance from him, putting the scene together in her mind. “You…” She started softly, disbelieving. “Thank you, Travis.” She said quietly to him, pulling away from Eli to hug his younger brother now in gratitude. She wasn’t thinking of what all this meant, simply thankful it was over and they were all still mostly intact.

As she was hugging Travis she noticed something over his shoulder in the shadows. Her head lifted slightly and a familiar glint of eyes began shifting in the shadows, a Were beginning to take his animal form. She tensed up before she was finding her feet before either brother could make sense of what she was doing. She knew those eyes and remembered now how Jarek had also been lost in the scuffle. Her good hand wrapped around the hilt of a blade just as Jarek in half Were form burst out of the shadows and toward them. She tapped into what was left of her runes and started for the Were at full force, blade out and fear from moments earlier gone. She let out a yell before their bodies hit and her blade jammed into his abdomen. She heard him growl in her ear before he was spinning them and they started to stumble back. Her blade was relatively ineffective on the Were as each of their hands were closing around the others throat. In the fight for the upper hand Jarek stumbled over her feet and sent them both careening into a sheet of glass.

As they shattered through it she felt herself stop breathing and look down to see they had crashed through a blackened window that led into another part of the factory a level down. She couldn’t even think to scream as the ground came at them with great speed, then they hit with Jarek landing on top of her. Her head hit the pavement hard and sent her into blackness, the blade she’d jammed into the Were torqueing and fully infecting him with silver. She heard him sputter and couch, wet blood dripping from his mouth and over her face before she faded out.

[Serendipity]

Eli’s hold on Audrina only tightened as she half screamed for him not to touch her, he knew she was referring to Maddox and although it might have been a good idea not to touch her after what she’d been through he found he couldn’t let her go, he never wanted to let her go again. “Ssh.” He soothed softly again, resting his cheek gently against her hair and waited for her to calm down and to realise he wasn’t Maddox. Travis knelt back down beside them, his eyes still on the other Were’s in the room, though none of them were advancing towards them. “Is she alright. I’m sorry, I should never have left her.” Eli heard his brother say and his eyes moved to Travis’s and he shook his head slowly. “I should have never left her.” He corrected and turned his lips to her Audrina’s hair, pressing a soft, apologetic kiss to the blonde and black strands and closed his eyes, silently praying she would be alright after this.

His eyes came open as he felt her suddenly shift in his arms and his cheek lifted from her hair as her arms wrapped around him and sobs ensued. He held her silently, letting her tears soak through the front of his shirt, one of her hands clinging to him tightly as though she feared he would leave her. He continued to hold her gently against his chest for as long as it took, one hand cradling her head to his body as sobs racked through hers. He managed a smile when most of her sobbing subsided and she lifted her gaze to his face, he was already looking down at her, and announced that he was hurt. Her concern for his own well being over her own made his chest tighten, though not as painfully as before. “I’m alright.” He replied with a soft smile.

As she lifted her good hand to her own face to wipe some of the blood from her nose he winched with her, knowing it was broken and once again wishing he could undo all that had happened, wishing he had never put her in this situation to begin with. His breath caught in his throat as she embraced him once more, her fingers slipping into his hair and he brushed his cheek against hers so he could speak into her ear. “I’m-” He didn’t get to finish as she lifted her head from his shoulder and asked Travis’s name, obviously remembering why they were here in the first place.

Travis cleared his throat lightly to announce his presence and offered Audrina a small smile, it faded slightly as he saw her eyes fall to Maddox’s lifeless form, then his eyes widened as the blonde detached herself from his brother and twisted to wrap her arms around him instead in a brief hug as she thanked him. He was a little lost for words, not sure how to respond to her thanks since he was the reason why she was here in the first place, instead he hugged her back. Travis felt her tense at something over his shoulder and he too sensed that something was amiss, he still wasn’t sure what it meant now that he’d killed the alpha, but when he had he’d felt a surge of power course through him and he felt strangely different now.

Before he or Eli could comprehend what Audrina was doing and stop her, she was on her feet, picking up a nearby blade. She was charging the rogue Were behind Travis before Eli could reach to stop her. “Audrina!” He shouted her name, the panic he’d thought was gone now Maddox was dead, resurfacing as he realised what she was doing. Travis was there, helping him to his feet and then suddenly he wasn’t as something or someone tackled him from the side. His brother grunted and fliped the figure off of him with ease, growling as he whipped out the knives once more he’d retrieved for Eli. Eli glanced quickly to his brother, but knew he would be fine on his own, and raced off towards Audrina and the Were she was battling against.

He never made it to her in time before the Were over powered her, or she over powered him, Eli wasn’t quite sure, and they went tumbling through a window together. “Audrina!” He gasped and darted for the window, quickly he glanced down just in time to see her and the Were crash to the ground. They were both limp, the Were pinning her to the ground with his weight and it was hard to tell which was of them was still breathing or if they both were. Eli turned frantically around looking for the way down to the room below and took off immediately when he found it as fast as he could given his injuries. He only had a chance to glimpse Luke running towards Travis who was still fending off his attacker before Eli disappeared down the stairwell leading.

“Get off him, Jace!” Luke’s sudden appearance seemed to throw both Travis and his attacker, Jace, off guard and Jace loosened the grip he had around Travis’s throat. He’d jumped on his back when the Were had disarmed him. Though his grip had loosened, Jace didn’t let go of the Were’s neck and tossed a dark look over his shoulder at Luke’s figure. He couldn’t be sure, but he actually thought Luke was laughing at him. “Can’t bare for another of your kind to be killed can you Luke? This one was going after Eli.” Jace grunted as Travis tried to swing him off from his back.

“I don’t think Elijah will be too pleased with you if you killed his brother after they just went through hell to get him back.” Luke explained and did actually laugh at the expression of the younger males face. “This is Eli’s brother?” Jace asked as realization dawned and he quickly jumped off of the males back. Jace dusted his hands off on his jeans as he took a few steps back and shrugged a little as Travis turned an angry look his way. “How was I supposed to know.” He argued lamely.

“Travis!” Eli’s loud shouting caught all of their attention and three sets of eyes landed on the dark haired shadowhunter held Audrina in his arms but was struggling to keep standing, after all that had happened he barely had any strength left at all, the runes long since fading out. He was afraid he would drop her or send them both crashing to the ground. Travis was taking Audrina from his arms, not needing to ask, and Jace was at Eli’s side his arms slipping around his back to keep him upright. “She fell. I think she hit her head, but she’s still breathing.” Eli explained quickly, almost breathlessly and the concern was clearly obvious in his voice.

[Yunalesca]

”It was stupid what you did. A Were’s life is not more important than your own.” The voice echoed in her head as she dreamed. Or she thought she dreamed. She couldn’t be entirely sure as the voice seemed so familiar while it echoed off the walls of the dark prison she was in. She turned around wildly, trying to pinpoint where it came from. “Who’s there?” She called out, getting no response as she looked for any sign of life. She didn’t know how she got here and didn’t know how to get out. “Travis…” She breathed, remembering what she had been doing last. She had jumped after Jarek to keep him from attacking the younger brother, though now she couldn’t be completely sure he hadn’t been after her from the start. He’d remembered her despite the potion supposing to have wiped his memory of the incident. He would have mutilated her if he could have. Was this what happened when you died, then? Surely the fall had killed her. That was the only explanation for what was going on.

“You’re not dead, but your soul will be if you don’t wake up. You have to spit it out.”

“What are you talking about?!” She demanded of the voice.

“His blood got in your mouth. It will turn you. Wake up….Wake up!” The voice screamed in her head and sent her spinning out of control.

Audrina woke fitfully in someone’s arms. Forgetting her broken wrist or that she’d just fallen through a window she flailed, hitting whoever it was in the face and managing to roll out of his arms. She hit the ground hard, sobbing as her broken wrist crunched further from the fall and sending a shockwave of pain through her whole body. It’ll turn you, spit it out! echoed in her head again. She tasted the coppery substance in her mouth and remembered. Instantly her stomach began turning and she barely made it on all fours before she was wretching on the concrete, blood and stomach acid coming up. She heard someone say something behind her, but she couldn’t hear them as all she could think about was being turned into a Were. Remembering Jarek spitting up on her made her throw up once more, the liquid more yellow this time than red.

She tried to make herself heave once more to get all of it out of her system, but her body was too tired to, giving up and nearly making her collapse. Tears rolled down her cheeks in embarrassment and pain. She hated throwing up, hated it even more when she had an audience. For she realized now that there were several people around her, one of them inching closer and placing a hand at her back. Something was said in her ear, but she couldn’t hear it as her heart pounded in her chest. “His blood got in my mouth…I had…I had to get it out…” She managed before feeling sick to her stomach again. She couldn’t heave anything else up, but wished she could as she broke into a sweat and her stomach knotted up. Someone’s blood in her mouth made her feel ill, Were blood made her feel ill. She vaguely remembered how she’d reacted when Eli had cut himself, but this was entirely different. She was revolted by the taste of Were blood. She didn’t even take the time to think of how she could taste the difference.

As she came down from her panic she could feel the piercing throb up her arm from posting herself on her broken wrist. Instantly she sat back on her rump and clutched the hand to her chest, hissing through clenched teeth while breaking out in further sweats. She felt herself beginning to go into shock then, a cold spreading from her legs on up. Things began to spin as the effects of everything caught up to her body, a body that couldn’t handle it all at once. She moaned as her stomach churned and she felt as though she would fall over even in her seated position. She’d never felt this sick in her life. Even the demon poison had taken its time, progressing until it snapped her comatose, but shock was something she’d never felt before. But then she’d never gone through a window before either. At the thought her hand flew to the back of her head, then pulled away as she felt something sticky and warm coat her fingers. She brought her hand around to look and see blood, though she couldn’t tell if it was her own or Jarek’s. “I need…healing…” She murmured before her eyes began closing and she fell over into someone, someone she couldn’t define as her senses dulled to protect herself. “Eli…” She whispered as someone stripped her jacket off, it tattered and bloody, ruined by shards of glass.

[Serendipity]

Travis now had Audrina in his arms, she weighed nothing to him, then again he hadn’t exerted as much energy as his brother had. Unfortunately he had witnessed some of what Maddox had put them both through, though he hadn’t been able to get to them as quickly as he would have liked. It was gut wrenching to see that type of pain on your own siblings face, not a psychical pain but an emotional one that he could only guess hurt Eli more than any beating he could have been given. Even with that all over, with Maddox dead, he suspected the pain in his brothers heart still hadn’t quite faded away. So he held Audrina carefully, making sure to support her head and legs properly. Eli hadn’t taken his eyes off of her, not even for a second and knew that his brother wanted to be the one to hold her now.

Before any of them could decide what to do with her, clearly runes would need to be placed in order to heal her wounds, she was flailing in his arms, coming out of her unconscious state fitfully. Travis barely had time to lower her properly to the ground before she twisted in his arms and landed a well placed blow to the side of his face before rolling away from him. “Audrina…” Eli was crouching down beside her, shrugging himself free from Jace’s hold, as she began to retch on all fours. His hand was at her back, rubbing small circles there, unsure of what else he could do to help as she was sick.

“It’s alright, you’re okay.” Eli murmured softly as he continued to rub her back, seeing the tears roll down her cheeks. He wanted to shield her from view of the others, suspecting it would be embarrassing for her to be seen crying in front of everyone. As he glanced up at the others though, they had already turned away, giving the two of them some privacy though ready to help when asked. Eli shivered as the blonde explained she’d gotten some of the Were’s blood in her mouth, but nodded to show he understood. “It’ll be fine, I think you got it all out.” He reassured gently and goped he was right.

As she fell back onto her rump after seemingly throwing up all she could, Eli moved to give her a little space, not that he would have minded if she landed on him. He frowned as she lifted her face for a clearer view, she was pale and a layer of sweat covered her entire body, not to mention she was cradling her wrist to her chest. Small cuts marked her visible skin and he also knew she had a nasty bump on the back of her head. His concern for her health grew and he shifted closer so he could take a better look at her wrist as she brought her other hand to the back of her head where she was bleeding. “Hey…” He murmured quietly, “You’re made of some pretty tough stuff, that bumps nothing.” He assured gently, though she didn’t appear to hear him as she stared at the blood on her fingers.

She was going into shock he realised suddenly and his thoughts were confirmed as she announced she needed healing to no one in particular. He saw her start to fall and was there, catching her in his arms, his name slipping from her lips. “I’m here. Just relax.” He told her as calmly as he could and quickly shrugged off his jacket balling it into his fists before he sat it on the ground and carefully lowered Audrina the rest of the way down, his jacket acting like a pillow. “You need healing too,” He heard Jace say and felt a hand come to his shoulder, “We’ll take care of her,” But Eli was already shaking his head before the male could finish. “No. I’m fine, I’ll do it...I can do it.” He added more firmly as Jace crouched down beside him, his stele in his grip.

Something in his voice must have signalled the younger shadowhunter to stop and he nodded, moving away as Eli began stripping Audrina’s shredded jacket from her. He worked quickly, reaching to his belt for the stele Audrina had given him earlier that day, her father’s stele, and pushed up part of her shirt just enough so he could draw the healing rune there. Eli carefully took her injured wrist next and marked a second rune on the inside of her wrist, the closer the rune was to the injury the more efficiently it worked.

“Elijah...you need a healing rune or two yourself. Let Jace help you.” It was Travis’s voice cutting through into Eli’s mind as he wiped sweat from Audrina’s brow whilst waiting for the runes to take affect. “Fine.” He nodded though didn’t move from her side and he heard Jace sigh as he knelt back down beside him and took his free arm to mark him.

“We should get out from the open...just in case. My pack has most of the others under control out the front, but there might be others we’ve missed that are angry over the alpha’s death.” Luke explained to all of them and both Travis and Jace agreed. Feeling his strength returning thanks to the healing rune, Eli slipped his arms underneath Audrina’s legs and shoulders and lifted her up into his arms. “This way, there’s a room we can use.” Travis indicated which direction they should go and kept close to his brother as they made their way over, Eli guessed it was in case he might drop her.

[Yunalesca]

She was half in and out of consciousness when Eli gently laid her the rest of the way down on his jacket. She took in the scent of leather mixed with blood, his blood, and almost threw up again. Earlier she’d been oddly attracted to the smell, but after having Jarek’s filter into her mouth she just wanted to vomit. Blood had never been a thing for her. She wasn’t afraid of it, wasn’t afraid to lose it, but after being scared into thinking she could be turned simply by blood she felt ill around it. Her mind worked to block out the copper/salty smell in favor of the leather, something comforting to her. Her eyes remained closed as she felt Eli’s hand gently on her skin while he moved part of her shirt to place a rune. His touch alone was comforting, for she could tell it was his, but when the stele met her skin she groaned slightly. The burning flashed in her mind, part of her drawing back from it, but as she felt her cuts from the glass healing along with the soreness dissipate she was grateful for the mark.

As his hand carefully took hold of her wrist she twitched, drawing it back slightly but stopping as pain shot through her arm once more at the movement. She winced once more as another rune was placed and the bones began to mend. The fire raced through her blood, working its way from two spots now and racing to fix her broken nose. She was grateful it was just a burning sensation that numbed as it worked. If she could feel the bones actually being moved and melded back together she might have screamed. Her brows furrowed as the runes fought against the fever, but softened as Eli’s touch came back to brush sweat from her forehead. In her weakened state she longed for him, wanted him to stay close and keep an arm around her. Anything to remind her she was still alive and hadn’t died like she’d thought, or more importantly that she hadn’t been turned like she’d feared might happen.

When Eli scooped her up in his arms her head lolled into his shoulder as her eyes remained closed. Her body was working overtime to recover and the best way was to rest. Her newly mended wrist came up to rest on her abdomen while the other had a light hold on Eli’s shirt between her thumb and index finger as though it would keep him close, give him strength in carrying her. Her mind had mostly shut down to rest as they moved to another room, but one of the few thoughts that crossed her mind was slight amazement at how easily he carried her without jostling her too much. He’s always been strong a voice inside her reminded, flashbacks coming from the first time they’d met and how heavy he’d been. Upon discovery she’d learned it was muscle and not fat that made him so heavy. He wasn’t bulky like Alec, but he was muscled regardless. That much was evident in how easily he scooped her up after having been beaten by Were’s.

She heard gentle murmuring around her before a door closed and she was being laid down once more. The only difference this time was she was still in contact with Eli, her head in his lap as his fingers brushed at her hair. She stayed as she was for a few minutes longer before her eyes slowly opened. She was facing Eli’s abdomen currently and she shifted her eyes up to him, seeing a sort of relief cross his eyes as his hand stopped stroking her hair. “Don’t look at me like that,” she said softly but without the normal biting tone she used, her old self beginning to come back as she started to feel better. Her hand came up to his side and stroked it gently, not caring how it would look and not thinking about her want for distance at the moment. They’d had the shit kicked out of them and she felt they deserved a reprieve from their strained relationship. This was the real her that she kept under lock and key so she wouldn’t get hurt and she let him see a part of it now as a sort of thank you. “You marked me, didn’t you?” She asked gently, already knowing the answer. He knew how she felt about it, but he’d made a decision when she was suffering. She couldn’t blame him for it.

A small smile glimmered on her lips as she held his gaze, seeing him struggle with what to say and what to expect from her in that moment. “Just don’t make it a habit and I’ll try to stop falling through windows.” She said quietly to him as a sort of joke as her hand continued to run up and down his side, comforting her to be able to touch him without a care. “You’re going to need a shower again, and I’m not washing the blood off this time.” She joked once more before closing her eyes for a second, her mind tired from the events of the last hour or so. Too many emotions and happenings for her to sort through now. All she allowed herself was to focus on Eli and the warmth coming off him. “Your brother, is he okay? Can he leave with you now?” She questioned, eyes coming open once more as she spoke. The thought made her remember what he’d said before about leaving once he got his brother back. Would he do that now? She fought to keep the thought from her eyes as she looked up at him, but had to drop her gaze as she found she couldn’t do it. She still remembered what she had to do, why she’d come along on this, but thinking of him leaving made her hurt. It shouldn’t, she should be getting that distance for his sake, but it did anyway. Not seeing him stumble across her as she tried to hide from him or feeling him wrap his arms around her waist as they rode her bike again made her chest tighten. She cared for him and enjoyed his company whether she wanted to admit it or not.

[Serendipity]

Eli took care in carrying Audrina, pushing past the aches in his muscles that the runes hadn’t quite took care of, to hold her steady in his arms, not wanting to jostle her in any way. Her head nestled into his shoulder and he felt her fingers pinching into his shirt and wondered if it was a way to keep him close. He wanted to assure her that he wasn’t going anywhere and she was safe, but there were other ears in the vicinity and saying such things was probably best for when they were alone. With Travis walking beside them and Jace and Luke not far behind it would only cause more questioning looks from them.

Travis led them to the room he’d mentioned and held the door open for Eli to walk through, he paused in the doorway and glanced back at the others. “We’ll be fine in here, she just needs some rest.” He told them, hinting at the fact he wanted some privacy and was relieved when there was no arguments. Travis explained quietly that he wouldn’t be far away and one of them would come back in a little while to check on them. Eli moved further into the room with Audrina and the door was shut behind them. A quick glance around the room determined that there was no where to lay her down other than the floor, which wouldn’t be so comfortable, but what his only option.

He sat down with her against a wall and carefully arranged her head in his lap so at least she might be a little more comfortable. Gently he brushed her hair from her eyes and repeated the process, stroking her hair back as he looked down at her, her eyes were still closed and it gave him a chance to study her whilst she was resting. The cuts had faded on her cheeks, some even gone completely and her nose had healed too. Her features were softer when she was resting, she looked younger and almost peaceful. But he underneath that she wasn’t, he wasn’t sure if she would ever find peace within herself and it at his heart not knowing how he could help her with it and if it was even possible that he could.

Relief filtered across his features as her eyes opened finally and she was looking up at him, a soft smile tugged at the corners of his lips but didn’t quite form into a fully fledged smile. He was still feeling a terrible amount of guilt for even putting her in this situation in the first place, that he hadn’t kept a better eye on her, hadn’t stayed with her. He was just grateful that Travis had been there, that his brother had done what he couldn’t. You promised to protect her and you didn’t, you did nothing. Eli sucked in a sharp breath at the reminder and tried not to grimace at the guilt and pain it brought with it. He swallowed quickly, pushing those thoughts from his mind. He knew he should say something, but he struggled to find the right words.

Despite the heavy feeling of despair in his chest, he managed to laugh as Audrina told him not to look at her in the way he was and blinked and this time the smile fully reached his lips. It was definitely a sign that the runes he’d placed on her had worked their magic and she was starting to come back to herself, frustrating as she might be at times he wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. “I did,” He nodded as she then asked if he had been the one to mark her with healing, he was prepared for the scolding he would get and when it didn’t come he was uncertain if that was a good thing or not.

He blinked in surprise as she started to joke with him instead of giving him a tongue lashing and was a little lost for words. He chuckled and in the end decided to roll with it.“I give it a week. You’ll be falling out a window again, and I’ll be ready and waiting with a stele.” He grinned. “We’d make good team.” He said softly and his eyes dropped to the hand she’d brought up to his side, stroking it gently as he had her hair. This was a side of her he had only managed to glimpse once before, he’d hoped he’d seen it again, though he would have much preferred it be because she thought she was dreaming again. No walls, no tough front and no biting words...just this softer side of a woman who had crawled under his skin without her even realising it.

“No? I think we’ve evened the score on that front anyway,” He chuckled and shook his head lightly as he counted the times they’d both ended up in the infirmary since they’d met. The amusement filtered from his gaze as she stopped joking and asked a more serious question, a question regarding his brother. He suspected there was a bigger question behind the one she’d just asked as he remembered a time when he’d told her that he would head back to London once he had his brother. He also remembered he’d given her an ultimatum to make up her mind about them by the time he found Travis. He nodded quickly in answer of her question, but looked away, focussing somewhere on the other side of the room as he struggled with his thoughts.

“He can leave. He can do what he wants I guess,” Eli laughed without any humor behind it, recalling now what it meant that Travis had killed Maddox. He’d killed the alpha, and though Eli didn’t know much about werewolves, he knew what that meant for his brother. Travis was now the alpha of Maddox’s pack, he was suddenly in charge of a bunch of rogue Were’s. Eli sighed heavily and forced himself to look back down at her, and reached for her other hand which lay upon her chest. “He can leave here if he wants...or he can stay.” Eli continued softly, his words were more like thoughts spoken aloud. “I’ve realised something though...he’s grown up, he’s not the little brother I last saw back in London.” He murmured, his fingers gently curling around Audrina’s hand, his thumb gently stroking over her knuckles.

“How are you feeling? Any better?” He asked quickly, moving the subject off of his brother and what it meant for them now.

[Yunalesca]

Her eyes came back up to him as she felt him take her hand, his thumb running over her knuckles comfortingly. She felt warmth spreading from her hand on up. Despite all that had just happened she was comfortable in his lap. She could momentarily forget Maddox' hands on her with Eli stroking her hand now. She remembered thinking how she could always have this, but it was interrupted by what Eli was saying. He told her that Travis could do as he wished and she wanted to ask if that meant he would stay. She took a breath to say it, but he was changing the subject before she could get a word out.

"Better. Sorry you had to see me throw up. It's embarassing." She said, throwing her gaze from him as she did so. Her head dipped more into his abdomen then as though she were trying to hide her face from him. He'd seen more from her in the time they'd been around each other than any other person alive had. He'd been able to make her guard drop, made her want to be around him and sob his name when things went wrong. She trusted him and it was hard for her to digest even now as she willed herself to keep this easy existance.

Remembering how she'd cried for him as he'd begged for her release made her hand stop stroking his side and instead wrap around his back in a sort of embrace. "You can't blame yourself for what happened." She said suddenly, voice raising slightly so he could hear her as her face was half buried in his shirt. She'd seen the look in his eye as Maddox had forced himself on her as well as when she'd opened her eyes a few minutes ago. He had been relieved but pained as well. If she hadn't come along he would have never had to worry about her getting hurt, but he also likely wouldn't have succeeded. "We do make a good team," she added after thinking it. They'd needed each other tonight, needed each other now as they recovered from their injuries. Admitting she needed him was difficult, but she did at least acknowledge it to herself. Voicing it was a big step she wasn't sure she could make at this moment.

She pulled her head back from his abdomen, hand withdrawing from his back as she did so. She rose slowly from his lap then, but let him keep hold of her hand in assurance she wasn't leaving him just yet. She sat up next to him, facing him, and scanned the depth of his blue eyes. "You did what you could. They could have killed you. I don't blame you for what could have happened. I wasn't paying attention. -I- should've known better." She said quietly to him, disappointment in herself welling. She'd been running with blinders on as Jarek pursued her. She'd run right into Maddox' arms and she was beginning to believe it had been the plan from the start. He'd gotten Eli to chase after him then bided his time until she and his brother followed.

Her hand came up and brushed the hair from his face so she could see his eyes. As his forehead cleared she leaned forward and rested her own against his, noses brushing against each other. "I don't blame you." She said once more as her hand twisted in his so she could hold his in return. She had to let him know, couldn't bare the thought of guilt eating away at him. Her life had been changing ever since she met and for the first time she realized it had been shifting toward something good, something better.

[Serendipity]

He forced the thoughts about what he and his brother were going to do now that Travis was free of Maddox’s hold, they were thoughts for another day, right now wanted to focus on the girl resting in his lap. He still wasn’t quite convinced that she was okay, even though she stated she was at least psychically feeling better. She’d been through a traumatizing experience, they both had, but Audrina more so than he as she was the one Maddox had had his sights on. She might say she was fine, perhaps she even thought she was, but denial was just another part of someone going into shock. He wouldn’t push her into acknowledging that she wasn’t over what had happened, she had to find that out for herself; it could take days, weeks even, but he wanted to be there for her when she did.

Eli smiled softly as she turned her head into his abdomen, hiding her expression from him after apologising for his witnessing her throwing up. It wasn’t the most flattering condition one could find themselves in or have someone else witness. “You can’t scare me off that easily,” He murmured with a small chuckle, attempting to make light of the situation so she wouldn’t feel so embarrassed. “Don’t be embarrassed.” He reassured gently and stroked the back of her head now that it was turned into his abdomen.

His hand paused in its movements momentarily as she spoke again, her voice only slightly muffled against his shirt. He had no response to her comment and simply let his hand stroke the back of her hair once more. She didn’t want him to blame himself, but how could he not blame himself, if he hadn’t been so stupid rushing after Maddox as he’d done, leaving her behind, he could have protected her. Eli sighed softly, unconsciously chewing the inside of his bottom lip. His brows rose, snapping out of his own thoughts, as she stated that they did make a good team and he smiled. “I think so,” He agreed.

His hand dropped away from the back of her head as she began to shift, pulling herself up into a seated position in front of him, and it was hard not to notice how she purposely kept her hand in his an indication she wasn’t pulling away from his just yet. His eyes found hers as she scanned his and he wanted to look away when he realised what she might find in their depth. He shook his head slowly when she started telling him once more that he shouldn’t blame himself, he’d yet to state that he didn’t blame himself and clearly she’d picked up on that. “I could have done more.” He said quietly, not ready yet to take the blame off of himself.

Eli’s breath caught in his throat as Audrina lifted her free hand to brush the hair from his forehead and unexpectedly leant her own forehead against his, their noses lightly brushing. He felt her hand twist in his hand so that she was now the one holding it. His eyes closed briefly to steady his racing heart and in an attempt to hide some of the guilt from them. This willing display of affection from Audrina was something he constantly craved, but very rarely received from her. It always seemed to come so easily from her when she wanted it to and he’d often wondered why she made it so hard for herself in the first place.

Eli lifted his free hand to the side of her face and opened his eyes to look directly into hers, his thumb gently traced the curve of her bottom lip and then her upper one before moving to stroke her cheek bone. “I can’t help but blame myself. Audrina...if I think what might have happened, I’d never forgive myself…” He shut his eyes tightly holding back the well of emotion he felt as thoughts of what might have happened forced their way in. Eli cleared his throat quickly and forced them back down. He lifted his forehead from herself, replacing it with the press of his lips before turning his cheek against her forehead and closed his eyes. His free arm came around her waist in a gentle embrace, needing to have her stay close to him for as long as she would allow before he knew it would go back to how it had been before between them, and he’d have to keep his distance and remember not to push her too much.

[Yunalesca]

Her eyes fluttered closed as she felt his finger trace her lips before he brushed at her cheekbone. The gesture was tender and saved for lovers, or so that was what she felt of it. They hardly could be considered that, but still they touched each other now as if they were more than friends or acquaintances. She could lose herself in his touch, his voice, she found if she let herself. Despite all that she always remembered in the back of her mind the pain of loss and how she would lose him. It was obvious that he placed himself in a position to protect her, but some things he couldn’t protect her from. Don’t think of that now, she whispered in her mind before she heard the first rumblings of him speaking again.

When his voice filtered into her ears, the words wrapping around her, her eyes opened anew. She could almost see the scene play out in front of her after he said it and she grew rigid. She had been relaxed against him but seeing an image of Maddox coming down on her, marking her with his teeth, made her grow cold as Eli shifted. He wrapped his arms around her in an embrace, but she barely noticed as she shivered against the thought of what the alpha might have done to her. She’d been able to remove it from her mind for the time being, but now the train had left the station and the thoughts wouldn’t stop. She could almost hear her own scream in her ears before she removed her hand from his and wrapped both arms around him, one draping over his shoulder and the other around his waist. She took in his scent as her forehead came down into the crook of his shoulder, it calming her as she found it beneath the blood and grime that had covered him. “It’s not your fault,” she whispered as though she were trying to convince herself now. She didn’t blame him, she’d come on her own volition, but her mind was hurting for someone to blame besides herself.

She stayed against him for a time, letting his warmth filter over her and she almost clung to him. She was afraid to let go at first as she felt she would fall apart. She hadn’t let the seriousness of the situation set in and the moment she did she knew she would weep into his shoulder again. She’d already done too much of that and would prefer to do so in the privacy of her own room. She’d seek comfort to get away from it all, but she had to grieve on her own. The act may not have happened, but it was traumatizing none the less. What she had feared in coming on this mission had almost come to pass. She didn’t think she would have been able to live with herself either if Maddox had raped all innocence from her. She was a killer, a demon and vampire slayer, but there was still an untouched innocence inside her that he would have stolen away. He would have thoroughly broken her to the point where she may have considered taking her own life. The thought made her quiver slightly before she bit her lip. Strength is needed now, not pity she said to herself before she locked every thought away and took one last deep breath of Eli.

Her embrace loosened around him before she finally pulled back, though her hand now stroked the outside of his thigh in comfort for him and herself. She had a lot to think about later and would recall this moment in comfort when it all became too much. “We should go to your brother. If we’re here too long they’ll think somethings up.” She said, though in the back of her mind she knew they were already thinking that. How could they not with the way Eli had reacted and how she’d called for him. They weren’t Parabatai or siblings, that left only one other option. She had feelings for him and he’d assured the same toward her. The only problem was the danger in letting herself fully express them to him. Express them daily, every minute she was with him, instead of these little moments over a long span of time. She remembered thinking on how she could get him killed and that alone was a sobering thought. “Let’s go.” She said softly, her hand finally leaving his thigh as she scrambled to find her feet. Their moment was over and her mask started to come back into place, though she would cherish every memory of his touch.

[Serendipity]

Eli held Audrina close as her hand left his and she brought it around his neck and he felt her other arm wrap around his waist and his own went around hers, the other at the back of her neck as she pressed her forehead into the crook of his shoulder. He nodded as she said once more that it wasn’t his fault, though it almost sounded as if she were trying to convince herself of it too. If she wanted to blame him, Eli knew he would let her without so much as an argument, since he already blamed himself anyway. He’d come so close to losing her tonight and until now he hadn’t realised what it might have done to him or how he would cope without her in his life. Even if her presence in his life was slim at best, knowing she was alive would be enough.

He breathed in her scent as they held each other, not knowing when he would get the chance to do so again, and locked the memory of this moment away to reflect on later, when she went back to hiding behind her walls and he’d need reminding what it was like to be behind those walls with her. He sensed her pulling away even before she began to and loosened his hold on her so she could draw back from him, disappointed that their embrace hadn’t lasted as long as he’d have liked but he understood that they couldn’t stay this way forever. Her hand lingered on his thigh and he wondered if it was because she thought he needed more comforting or if it was reluctance on her part to pull completely away. Though he didn’t push his luck any further and kept his arms by his side, although it was tempting to take her hand again or brush away the hair that had fallen over her face.

They’d already been in this room together for quite a while and the others were probably starting to wonder about them and Audrina confirmed his thoughts by announcing they should find his brother before they all came looking for the two of them. He was sure the others already suspected that there was something going on between them and it didn’t worry him, though he knew it would worry Audrina. “We’d better,” He agreed and untangled his legs as she got to her feet. Eli pushed himself up and took one last look at her before he schooled his features into a neutral expression and moved towards the door. He opened it for her and followed her out, leaving the moment they’d created behind in the room as he closed the door.

Travis and the others weren’t far away and they all looked up as Eli and Audrina emerged from the room and made their way over. There were also a few members of Luke’s pack lingering in one corner waiting for instructions, though he couldn’t see any members of Maddox’s pack anywhere. Perhaps they had abandoned ship now that their leader was gone or maybe Travis had them locked up somewhere for safe keeping. “Luke’s going to stay here with me for a couple of days whilst we sort out the rest of the pack, some of them will need to be turned into the Clave.” Travis explained when he saw the question in Eli’s eyes. Eli heaved a dramatic sigh. “We came to get you out of here and now you’re going to stay?” He shook his head, but a smile tugged at the corners of his lips and he patted Travis on the back in a brotherly fashion.

“Guess it’s more complicated than we originally thought. I did kill the alpha and all that.” Travis chuckled and shouldered Eli playfully before his eyes traveled to Audrina who came up to stand beside the dark haired shadowhunter. “I hope you’re feeling better...and thank you.” Travis said, she had saved his skin before by going after Jarek who’d tried to attack him from behind.

“We should head off soon, Hodge is going to kill me in the morning when he realises I snuck off, and I’d much rather get some sleep before then.” Jace announced and nodded towards the exit.

“How did you know we were here, Jace?” Eli asked it wasn’t until now that he thought to ask the question, it hadn’t mattered before, though now he was curious. A wicked smirk came over the boys face, “I knew something was up, what with you two -” He pointed between Eli and Audrina, “Sneaking off to have secret meetings together and with Hodge, and there were hardly any shouting matches between you any more. I put two and two together and then tailed one of Luke’s pack members here.” He explained with a small shrug.

[Yunalesca]

Despite her concern for the others thinking something she stayed close to Eli as they started for the small group. Her eyes wandered and noted the bodies had been removed already, small pools of blood were all that remained to show anything had happened. She quickly averted her gaze from them before she would grow ill again. As she did so she became immersed in the short conversation the brother’s were having. Her brows furrowed slightly at the mention of Luke staying behind, her mind still not fully comprehending the gravity of the situation. Everything came at her in a rush as their conversation furthered, memory of Were protocol coming at her. She took a breath as she realized Travis was the alpha for killing Maddox. All because of her. The self blame she’d felt earlier came back as a roar in her ears as she stepped closer to Eli and felt Travis’ eyes on her. She brought her own up tentatively. “I should be thanking you, not the other way around,” she said quietly to him before the conversation broke off into something else. All she could think was that Travis should hate her. She’d put him in the situation whether he’d admit it or not.

She dropped her eyes before he could see her thoughts play out. She zoned out for a moment until she felt Jace talking about them, her eyes coming up again. “You just weren’t around at the right time.” She commented to the blonde, trying to pass it off as nothing out of the ordinary. The feeling of being responsible for Travis having to take over the pack was weighing heavily on her and she wanted out of the factory as quickly as she could. The smell of blood was still on the air and she was growing nauseated once more. “You okay to ride?” She said quietly to Eli, her gaze elsewhere, locking onto the spot where Maddox had tried to harm her and subsequently getting killed. She looked at the bloody stain for a solid amount of time before coming out of it again. “Let’s go.” She said to no one in particular, starting off toward an exit without waiting for anyone to follow. She had to get out there. Her anxiety was mounting.

When she got outside she took in a deep breath of air as though she’d been deprived of it inside. The air was clean and fresh, not a hint of blood or anything but nature itself. The anxiety lessened as she waited patiently for Eli, taking a moment to herself to gather her thoughts. She couldn’t think about all that had happened right now. He would see it, he would read her like a book and take her in his arms again. She couldn’t afford that even if she wanted it. She would break down if he held her again and he would take the blame once more. She couldn’t allow that to happen. This was hers to deal with alone and without his help. She heard the door open and pushed off the wall of the building, arms crossed around her middle as the cool air was finally taken notice by her skin. It was nearing the end of fall and would be a cold ride back. I need it to clear my head she thought as she refused to meet Eli’s gaze.

Her jacket was in shambles and wouldn’t have been much help against the chill anyway. She had a feeling she might be picking glass out of her back and arm for a week. She was almost afraid to go to sleep and wake up in the morning with knowing how sore she would feel. That thought made her wonder what her face would look like as well. The runes may have healed her, but odds were she’d look like she’d been punched in the morning with purple marks under her eyes and across her nose. She could already hear it from Isabelle and Alec, though they may chew Jace instead for sneaking off without them. Their team dynamic was strong and they didn’t particularly like being left behind.

[Serendipity]

“I’ll catch up with you tomorrow,” Eli said quickly to his brother and Luke as Audrina announced that they should get going and walked away from them. He should have known she wouldn’t be comfortable standing around inside a building where so much had happened to her, he hadn’t liked it much either and he figured the others had only remained inside so they were easily spotted when he and Audrina came out of the room. He turned his gaze briefly to Jace about to ask if he was fine finding his own way back to the Institute, but Jace waved him off before he could, obviously knowing what he’d been going to say. Eli gave them all a quick wave goodbye and took off after the blonde.

He found her outside, waiting for him, and he thought he saw something in her expression that had him stepping towards her. Before he could do or say anything she inclined her head in the direction of her bike and walked on ahead, whatever she’d been feeling she hadn’t wanted him to see it. With a soft sigh he followed her out of the compound, staying just behind her so she had a chance to clear her head a little more on her own. The fresh air helped to clear his own mind a little and he felt better for it, the smell of sweat and blood inside the factory had almost been suffocating and he was relieved to be outside and stretching some of his still aching muscles.

Her bike was still where they’d left it, a block away from the factory and during the brisk walk they were both silent, they both needed a few minutes during the walk to sort through their own thoughts. He wasn’t sure what an appropriate topic of conversation would be at the moment anyway and it was possibly better not to say anything at all. Audrina’s bike was in his sights as they found their way around the building they’d left it behind.

“I’ll drive, if you like.” He said, breaking through the silence as they neared the vehicle and he pulled his helmet from the handles. He saw nod once as he slipped it on over his head, he would have offered it to her if he thought she would accept but he knew she wouldn’t. He hopped onto the bike and waited for Audrina to take the seat behind him. When she slipped her arms around his waist, he laid his hand over hers at his abdomen, needing the extra contact and started up the bike.

---

Hodge was the only one waiting for them when Eli and Audrina returned to the Institute, either Alec and Isabelle had long since gone to bed or Hodge had ordered them to stay away, whichever the reason Eli was grateful. Hodge greeted them once they were inside and only asked if they were both alright before he left them, probably guessing that neither of them would be up for discussing what had happened. Eli lead Audrina out of the entrance hall and to her room. He hesitated in the doorway after she’d gone inside, he didn’t want to leave her on her own right now although she would need some time on her own to process everything.

“If you need anything, I’ll just be down the hall.” He told her before he left her to get cleaned up and hopefully get some sleep. He scrubbed his fingers through his hair on his way back to his own room and sighed. He glanced briefly back at Audrina’s room before he slipped inside his and quietly closed the door behind him. Eli headed straight for the shower, hoping the hot water and soap would help calm and relax him. He stripped off his dirty and torn gear then flipped on the hot water before stepping into the cubicle. He wasn’t sure how long he stayed under the spray, washing the dried blood off of his skin and hair, lifting his face to the spray and closing his eyes to block out his racing thoughts.

Images of Audrina trapped beneath Maddox kept slipping to the forefront of his mind no matter how hard he tried to push them back. A fresh wave of guilt threatened to bubble to the surface, but along with the added fury of seeing Maddox touch her had his hands balling into fists before he slammed his palm against the tiles and quickly turned the water off and got out. He dressed hastily in sleepwear and sat down on the edge of his bed, though he knew he was too wired to sleep yet.

[Yunalesca]

She was silent when they entered the Institute once more, merely nodding when appropriate to Hodge’s questions as she didn’t trust herself to speak just yet. When Hodge didn’t press for details and turned to leave she let go of a breath she’d been holding, relieved he didn’t seem concerned with their state of bloodiness and discord. She didn’t want to talk about what had happened with how she blamed herself for what happened to Travis and couldn’t shake the cold feeling she still felt from what Maddox had nearly done. She was fighting a battle in her mind to dispel the thoughts until she was alone and wouldn’t be seen breaking down, but they weighted heavy on her and she was losing that battle. Despite having made a point to be alone earlier she was feeling the opposite now. The closer they got to her room the more distressed she felt. When she was alone she wouldn’t be able to escape the thoughts and surely worse nightmares would visit her tonight. Nobody would be there to protect her from them as she screamed silently in her head to wake up. Even in his death Maddox chased her and tried to claim her as his. When she stepped through her door she nearly jumped at the sound of Eli’s voice behind her, the break in the silence sounding loud to her ears. She could only turn to him and nod before closing the door painfully. She wanted him to stay, wanted him to wrap her up in his arms again and whisper it would be alright, but she couldn’t allow it. He still blamed himself for what had happened and seeing her in a state of distress again wouldn’t help. She’d been weak enough for one day. Now was the time to be strong and handle this on her own as she always had before. She didn’t need anyone, or that was what she tried to convince herself once more as she moved through her room to the bathroom beyond.

Her clothes came off and were thrown in the waste basket, glass having ripped through them and blood staining them beyond repair. She spun the handle of the shower so the water came out scorching hot, it setting her skin on fire when she stepped in and the blood began to wash down the drain. She wished the ill feelings in her chest would wash away with it. Now that she was truly alone the scenes were playing out in her mind again. She recalled seeing Eli in a fight with a Were, Jarek chasing her, then finally Maddox pinning her down. As she could hear Eli’s pleading for her life in her ears she felt hot tears coming down her face silently. She let out a soft sob before wiping the soap from her hair and turning off the shower aggressively. He never should have pleaded for her like that. It only affirmed Maddox’ thoughts of them. She had no doubt he would have gotten creative in his handling of her after she’d stabbed him and Eli fought hard to get to her. If Travis hadn’t killed Maddox she had no doubt she would be dead now, or possibly worse. The thought alone made her shudder as she slipped into nightclothes, black cotton sleep pants and a tank. As she exited the bathroom while drying her hair she noticed the pile of Alec’s clothes still in the corner unwashed. She dropped the towel in the hamper and reached for the sweatshirt, throwing it on and letting the comforting smell of both Alec and Eli filter through her nose. She may still be upset with Alec, but his scent now brought her comfort when she felt utterly alone.

She didn’t remember sliding under her covers, but she couldn’t have slept more than twenty minutes before she was waking again with a cry. Her heart hammered in her chest as the image of Maddox shredding her clothes off her wouldn’t leave her mind. The strength she’d thought she’d had failed her as she began sobbing into her hands, her skin crawling as she could almost feel the Were’s hands on her still. He’s dead, she tried to remind herself but that only made her want to throw up, it triggering a memory of blood and the gasping sound he’d made as he died. She could feel her mind panicking in an attempt to shut down her thoughts, but it only sent her further into distress. Get a hold of yourself she screamed in her mind, making her sobbing stop for a second. Her heart still hammered loudly in her ears as she pulled her shaking hands from her face and looked to her door. Get up, get some air the first coherent sentence she could put together in her mind urged her.

Her bare feet slid from under the covers and touched the cool floor, carrying her to her door where she found the strength to turn the knob. Her still damp hair sent a shock of cold through her as she stepped into the hall, but found she couldn’t move any further. Walk, don’t think about anything her mind pressed and she obeyed. The moment she started to pass Eli’s room, however, she stopped. Her feet were planted and she couldn’t move again even as she told her feet to keep going. Eli her mind called, forgetting what she’d thought earlier about him seeing her in a state of distress. Her body turned to his door and her hand raised, knuckles tapping the wood quietly before she found her voice and weakly called for him. She could feel the threatening sting of tears again, but fought against them. She would not cry again. Her head found the wooden border around the door as she closed her eyes in a new attempt to fight the welling pain in her chest.

[Serendipity]

He didn’t remember lying back on his bed with his legs hanging over the edge and his hands folded over his chest, didn’t know when his eyes had closed as his body fought for sleep even as his mind tried to stay conscious for as long as it could. He knew what would come if he gave into sleep, but his body had exerted most of its strength and his battle to stay awake was quickly lost. His breathing, usually steady whilst asleep, became shallow and in quick succession as his mind tumbled into the events that had occurred only hours ago. His fingers twitched over his chest before they balled his shirt into them, clinging tightly to the thin material, his face contorting in pain as he lost himself further to the darkness.

“Don’t…” He mumbled whilst he slept. “No...me...Kill me.” Eli groaned out loud and tossed his head to the side, sweat beading over his skin despite the coolness of his room. Wake up. His mind screamed as the scenes unfolding behind his lids became more distressing. Maddox’s pinning Audrina beneath him, his cruel laughter as Eli begged him to let her go. Wake up. His mind coaxed softly this time, but his eyes refused to open, squeezing themselves even more tightly closed. He saw Maddox hit her hard across the face, his heart pounded furiously away in his chest as the Were then tore her belt from her waist, his other hand running up her thigh.

Eli gasped for breath, choked and woke up coughing, springing up from the bed in a flash as he tried to draw in breath through his choked coughs. He let the coughing rack through his body until they finished and sucked in a ragged breath, his hands wiping the sweat from his forehead before sinking into his damp hair and he leant forwards, bringing his elbows down to his knees. A strangled sob escaped his lips before he could stop it and he shuddered at the sick feeling twisting in his gut and the panic rising in his chest. Eli stood up quickly and moved hastily to the bathroom, turning on the tap over the sink, and splashed his face with cool water.

His eyes moved to the mirror as he turned off the water, but it wasn’t his eyes that gazed back at him. Grey orbs instead of blue, eyes that held terror in their depths and were glassy with tears. Eli jerked back, hands in his hair as he stared into those eyes remembering how terrified Audrina had been, remembering how terrified he had felt at the thought of anything happening to her, of losing her. ’I love her, please. I love her, don’t hurt her!’ His voice rang in his ears now with the silent plea he’d made to the alpha, his heart ached suddenly at the memory and one of his hands moved to it, covering the spot where the organ lay beneath and felt its rapid beat. The words continued to ring in his ears as he watched the eyes in the mirror looking back at him slowly change to blue.

Eli turned the water back on and splashed his face again then shut it off, and slowly walked out of the bathroom as the realization that he was in love with Audrina dawned on him. He had no idea when it had happened, he cared for her sure, but through everything he hadn’t thought they’d gotten close enough for deeper feelings to occur. She was always pushing him away before he could get too close, though there had been moments when her guard had been down. Perhaps it was in those moments he’d fallen for her and hadn’t realised, and it had taken the possibility of losing her tonight for him to become aware of how he truly felt. The tiniest smile began to turn up the edges of his lips before it faded and trepidation took over. He’d never been in love before, he had no idea how to deal with such feelings, and he’d certainly never realized it could hurt so much.

The sound of someone knocking on his bedroom door distracted him from his thoughts, though he had barely heard the knock it had been so soft. Eli looked towards the door, but he already knew who would be on the other side before the question could form in his mind. Several quick strides and he was there, opening the door to find Audrina as he knew she would be, on the other side. He frowned when he saw her, her head resting against the frame around the door as she’d waited for him to open it and she looked as though she might burst into tears. Seeing her in such anguish was like a knife twisting in his stomach.

Without a word, Eli took her by her hand and gently pulled her into his room, and folded her into his arms. He wasn’t sure how, but he knew it was what she needed, even if she wouldn’t admit it to herself or voice it aloud. He felt instantly more at peace with her in his arms, although there was still that guilt fighting to break through the surface. Audrina had assured him she didn’t blame him for anything, but he stilled blamed himself and it was a guilt he wouldn’t easily get over.

[Yunalesca]

As the door opened her eyes came up to his, the stinging still prevalent as she felt her heart breaking in her chest. It was over and seemed to be well, but still she hurt immensely at what had almost been done to her as well as what she'd caused. She didn't have to say anything it would seem as Eli took her hand and guided her into his room. Once she had avoided his room, had borderline hated it as she remembered what he'd said to her that one night, but now it was almost a comfort. They'd shared better moments here and being surrounded with that made the stinging stop for a second. She thought she'd gained better control, but when he took her into his arms she took in a deep breath of him and released a quiet sob. She'd told herself not to do this in knowing how it would hurt him in turn, but she couldn't stop herself as he held her. Her arms came around him in turn and her fingers took hold of his sleep shirt tightly, afraid he might let go or this was just a prelude to some horrible dream.

"I couldn't sleep. I wanted to, but the dreams..." She started in a pathetic voice while burying her head in his shoulder, the cloth growing damp from her hair. She'd never felt quite so vulnerable or pathetic as she did in this moment after seeking him out for comfort. She remembered how easily he had lulled her to sleep and kept her bad dreams at bay just by being close. That was what had made her come to him, made her feet plant themselves outside his door. Her body was beyond tired and already beginning to ache. It needed rest, but her mind was terrified of sleeping again as it knew the constant barrage of terror would come when her eyes closed. She -needed- him and was almost ashamed of it. Even in her youth she hadn't felt like she needed anyone quite like she did now. When Maddox had come down over her she hadn't imagined the damage it would do to her psyche, though she should have guessed. Her aversion to intimacy was well recorded and having someone force themselves on you wouldn't help. She was dealing with feelings of repulsion both of herself and Maddox. Part of her blamed herself for it happening at all, a twisted version of a victim taking the blame to make sense of a situation. But he didn't do it, her mind echoed though it only made her hurt more. She could see his face on her eyelids which made her cling to Eli a little tighter. When had she become so broken to behave like a child after a nightmare?

"It wasn't your fault." She said to him as she remembered the look in his eyes when he'd gazed upon her. The heart break, the disappointment in himself. She should be the one upset, not him. Though human nature made her want to blame someone, she couldn't blame him. Instead she had turned to blaming herself since Maddox himself was dead. Her fingers curled further around the fabric of his shirt as she took a breath, his scent enveloping her. The pounding in her chest began to subside as she felt soothed in his arms. She knew she shouldn’t even be in here now, but now that she was she didn’t want to go. Her eyes shut tighter as she tried to muster courage to admit she needed him, that she wanted to stay next to him. The hardest part was admitting she trusted him that much. She knew he wouldn’t try anything she didn’t want and she hadn’t allowed herself to trust anyone that much since her family’s death.

“Eli,” She breathed his name as she fought with her indecision. Don’t be afraid she thought in her head and remembered the nightmare she had just experienced. “I want to stay with you, just for a little while.” She finally came out with, her head having turned so her cheek was pressed against his heart as she was afraid to meet his eyes. He could say no and she would feel stupid. She knew if she stayed next to him she wouldn’t want to go anywhere else, that she might sleep through the night and into the day. There had been few nights in which she had actually slept soundly in a long time and her body was exhausted. Her only hope was that he might feel the same, but she was afraid of that as well. He was getting close to her. He had wrapped himself around her heart even if she couldn’t say it to him or herself. He was the thing that allowed her to sleep through the night. It had become something greater than she had ever wanted and now that she had a taste she wanted more.

[Serendipity]

One arm wound itself around her waist and the other lifted to the back of her hair as she pressed her forehead to his chest, gently he stroked her hair in a soothing motion. Eli heard her quiet sob, slightly muffled against his shirt, and arm tightened around her, reassuring her that he wouldn’t let her go until she wanted him to. This Audrina, too frightened to be on her own, to give into sleep because of what she’d find waiting for her in her dreams, tore at his heart. Eli was aware that there was things in her past that also frightened her and there had been times before when he’d comforted her, stayed with her so she could sleep without fear. He felt this was different, her despair now had nothing to do with the loss of her family at the hands of vampires and everything to do with something more precious being taken from her. Her will to chose who she was intimate with, it had almost been taken from her, lost forever at the hands of an immoral downworlder.

“I know,” He murmured softly and continued to stroke her hair, he understood that terrible things waited for her once she closed her eyes, they were there waiting for him too. “I know,” He whispered again as he felt her arms around him tighten, her fingers curling deeper into his shirt. His gaze moved briefly to his still open door before it dropped back to the top of her head, her face buried in his chest, though he didn’t move to close it, afraid his movements would break this moment. He closed his eyes and rest his cheek against the top of her head, he would hold her for as long as she needed him to and let her cry some more if she wanted. As tired as he was he felt he could stand there with her all night if it was required of him, although it probably wasn’t the best idea since they both needed proper rest.

He remembered how untroubled his sleep had been the last time he’d stayed with her and fallen asleep next to her. He hadn’t been restless and his bad dreams had been nonexistent, having her beside him had eased his troubled dreams away. Eli broke from his thoughts as he heard Audrina speak, and his chest tightened, they were words she’d spoken before in the factory. She didn’t want him to blame himself for what had happened to her, and she was trying to reassure him again of that, obviously knowing he still blamed himself. He didn’t respond and only tightened his hold on her a little more, he couldn’t tell her that he would always blame himself for putting her in that situation, he knew she wouldn’t want to hear it because it would only upset her.

When she spoke his name next his heart leapt to his throat, there was something in the way she said it, as though she wasn’t sure about what was coming next. He lifted his head and leant back slightly so he could look down at her, his eyes softened when they met hers. A hint of a smile formed on his lips as she announced she wanted to stay with him, if they hadn’t just been through what they had, both of them still shaken from the experience, he would have gladly pointed out that what she’d just said was an indication that she did feel something for him. But this wasn’t time for his ego to get in the way and say something as arrogant as that.

“Of course you can,” He said with a small nod and carefully untangled his limbs from around her, though his hand slipped down into hers, not completely breaking the contact. “As long as you need,” He added softly so she knew that she was welcome to stay for however long she needed. He tugged gently on her hand and lead her over to his bed. “I’ll sleep on the floor, beside the bed.” He felt the need to tell her as they stopped beside the mattress. It might have been too much to assume that they would sleep on the same bed, and he didn’t want to frighten her into thinking he’d want more than to just sleep and he guessed he also wanted her to know that he was nothing like Maddox, he wouldn’t take what was not offered to him, though he had, on occasion, stolen a kiss or two from her in the past.

[Yunalesca]

A breath she wasn't aware she'd been holding was released when Eli finally spoke and assured she could stay with him. As he separated from her she felt a chill as though he'd been keeping the cold away with his body, but feeling him take hold of her hand made her warm anew. Her eyes traveled down the length of her arm to where her hand was molded into his. She could have this every second of every day. Somewhere inside her she could feel that she wanted it, but most of her reminded that she didn't deserve it. She'd just had his brother turned into the alpha of the very pack who'd made him into one of them against his will. She would never be able to forget that and would feel remorse in her heart. She didn't deserve this, but Eli gave it to her anyway even after braving her cold exterior for such a long time. He didn't give up and she wondered now if she was rewarding him or making him hurt even worse in the long run. Don't think about that now she whispered to herself as she felt him guiding her to his bed. The last time she had been on it with him so close she had threatened to kill him and meant it. She couldn't imagine doing it now, not after everything that had happened. If anything she was on the verge of being willing to give her life for him.

She took a breath as he broke the quiet with his voice once more to offer her the bed to herself. Her gaze dropped to the rustled comforter indicating he had been sleeping before she came calling at his door. More guilt began to well up inside her though she fought desperately to keep it down. She wouldn't break down in front of him again. Her fingers tightened slightly around his as she gained the courage to look into his eyes at last. "I wouldn't take your bed from you, the floor hurts. Sleep next to me...like before." She said the last part as a whisper, bringing up the fact that she remembered waking up to him asleep beside her and her curled into him. It was the closest she had ever been to a man and she didn't feel ill towards it. It had been gentle and intimate, nothing to be ashamed of, she felt. It was entirely different from how Maddox had forced himself down on her, broken her bones to make her submit. At the thought he brows furrowed for a second and her eyes turned away from his so he couldn't see the emotion playing out. It's over she reminded herself before she slowly brought her gaze back to him. "I'm not afraid to be next to you." She admitted to him as something welled in her chest. You're afraid to be without him a voice called and she had to look away again. He couldn't see that from her either or he would know the intensity of what she felt. It would be cruel to string him along in this fashion.

Her hand slipped from his as she slowly and tentatively climbed onto his bed, letting him close his door and make the decision on his own. As she moved across the comforter and rolled his sheets back to crawl under she felt a mix of fear and excitement. Fear that he might expect something and excitement in being wrapped in his arms again if he chose to come beside her. She had come here to be close to him and that was what she wanted now as she slipped her legs under the covers and sat there with her eyes on her hands on the comforter. It was no different than last time, except last time she had woken to him beside her and not actually asked him to do that. She was feeling timid and coming out to ask him if she could stay with him was incredibly bold and brave for her. As she heard the door click closed she brought her eyes up to him, feeling like they belonged to a timid rabbit instead of herself. She was afraid of rejection and yet afraid that he might get the wrong impression.

He isn't that way her conscience called and she took a deep breath as he came closer to his bed. This felt so much more different than when they'd been together in her room, in her own element. This was his room, it smelled of him and reminded her of him. She wasn't the one in control here and that made her almost quiver to think. She'd given a lot of control over to him this night, biting her tongue and choosing to be a part of a team rather than argue for leadership. We make a good team echoed her own voice in her head and she dropped her gaze once more.

[Serendipity]

Eli was aware of the intimacy sleeping beside her would bring, he wasn’t afraid of it, it was what he wanted - had wanted for weeks now-, he was only worried that it would be too much for Audrina at the moment. She might think he’d read too much into it and possibly expect more from her; if this wasn’t Audrina they were talking about then such gesture’s may lead someone to think more would come from it, but Eli knew better. It was little steps when it came to this woman, little steps towards breaking through her protective shell, and he was learning that sometimes even a few steps back were necessary. She was hurting, frightened and hes suspected just as guilt ridden as he was and she didn’t want to be alone. She would let him in a little tonight so they could comfort each other and hopefully get some much needed rest, however tomorrow he was prepared for her walls to be up once more. It was frustrating knowing that it would happen, though he was coming to terms with the fact that she wouldn’t always be open to him and as much as that hurt, he had moments like these to reflect on, to remind him that if he was patient enough he could have them again.

“The floor is pretty uncomfortable,” He acknowledged lightly as she announced that it would be okay with her if he wanted to sleep next to her. His breath caught as she whispered the last part, bringing the memory back of a time before this when they’d been curled into each other in her room and he smiled a little at the fact that she remembered it too. His smile slipped as she looked away from him, something flashing in her eyes as she did but he was unable to tell what it was. Her admitting that she wasn’t afraid to be next to him was just a small weight lifting off his heart, he no longer had to second guess if she truly trusted him and he was pleased that somewhere along the line he had proven he could be trusted with the intimate situations they were often finding themselves in. He squeezed her hand in his and offered her a small smile before he turned to go close the door whilst she got herself comfortable.

He still had yet to actually say whether he would sleep next to her or take the floor, he realised as he shut his door and turned back to see the blonde slipping under his comforter. There was something about seeing her crawl into his bed that sent a swell of contentment through him, something that said ‘this is right and is how it should be’. Slowly he walked back towards the bed and his eyes caught hers as she looked up at him wondering whether or not he’d accept her offer. “Scoot over,” He instructed lightly, answering the question in her eyes, and he smiled when she did. Eli sat down on the edge of the bed first before he lifted his legs up and slipped them beneath the comforter next to hers. He then turned on his side so he was facing her and lifted his arm up in a gesture for her to move closer to him if she wanted.

He ignored his racing heart as he waited for her to move closer, he would never admit it out loud, but he was nervous waiting for her to make her decision. Audrina had a habit, like no one else did, of making him nervous in certain situations, he’d been a nervous wreck earlier that afternoon when they’d marked each other. He wondered now if subconsciously he knew then that he loved her and that was why he'd been so nervous, afraid he would hurt her in some way whilst placing the runes. You did hurt her, she didn’t want them in the first place. Just another thing you’ve forced on her lately. A voice promptly reminded him, almost turning his lips down into a frown before he pushed those memories aside.

Before she could make up her mind of which way she wanted to lay with him, Eli made it up for her reaching for her waist so he could pull her closer as he too moved more to the middle of the bed. Eli folded himself around Audrina once she was next to him and on her side and breathed in the scent of her hair, her head resting in the crook of his arm and just in front of his view. He suddenly needed this as much as she did as he fought with his guilt once more and how selfish he’d been over a lot of the things leading up to tonight. He’d thought he’d been thinking of her when he’d convinced her to mark herself with runes she disliked, but really he’d been thinking of himself because he hadn’t wanted anything to happen to her. It had anyway, also because of him, because he’d left her to go after Maddox, playing right into his hands.

“Comfortable?” He asked, he wanted to make sure the position they were in was comfortable for her and also he’d had to say something to distract him from the road his thoughts were headed.

[Yunalesca]

She watched as he seemed to pause at the edge of his bed, still not having fully said what his choice would be. Her eyes stayed low, just skimming the comforter, before he took a breath and spoke. Scoot over he said and she complied, taking another deep breath before she moved. Her arms and wrists ached as she shifted herself over for him to join her in the bed. Her heart was hammering as she felt his weight on the mattress, a strong huff of his scent hitting the air when he pulled the covers down over himself. Relax she said in her head as she slowly shifted herself down to the mattress, not sure of whether or not he would want her touching him. She could be content with lying on her back next to him, though that wasn't what she wanted. As she felt his breath across her skin she almost shuddered.

When his hand reached for her hip she almost jumped, her breath leaving her lungs in shock. The buzz she felt as his fingers wrapped around her sent her skin alive and her thoughts of anguish dispersing. She let him roll her into him as he ventured closer to her. Her head easily came into the crook of his arm, a slow exhale in an attempt to calm her racing heart when he was wrapping himself around her. Her eyes focused on the texture of his shirt, anything to calm her mind as it raced again. Memories of him holding her previously flooded her brain as his scent was washing over her.

His break in the silence made her bring her eyes to him. "Yes, thank you. Are you?" She asked in a quiet, timid voice. Though they had done this before she felt like it was new to her now. It had been intimate before, but this was a different kind. She was hurting and was beginning to feel he was the same. Though she's been telling him she didn't blame him he was blaming himself. She had invited herself but he still took the blame. As she thought of this her hands unfolded from their protective curling in front of her chest and one came to his chest over his heart.

It took all her strength to keep her eyes with him as her hand was pressed intimately to him. "I'm sorry for what I caused, for your brother..." She started but had to drop her gaze. Her guilt was returned and she couldn't even say that Travis was alpha now. Her eyes squeezed closed, brows furrowing as pain wracked her. Even with Eli so close, with her touching him, he couldn't scare away everything. Memories of what Maddox did hurt, but guilt was even worse. He may blame himself for what happened to her, but she blamed herself for his brother. "I'm sorry," she whispered again as her fingers curled into his shirt.