17
Nicholas joined the men. Seated around the heavy oak table in the study, Connor, Julius, and Ronan discussed Alec”s behavior in hushed tones. Their faces were etched with concern as they considered the implications of his increasing aggression and detachment.
”Traumatic deaths can make it difficult for an immortal to adapt,” Julius mused, stroking his jaw thoughtfully. ”Especially one as violent and unexpected as Alec”s.”
Nicholas” thoughts drifted back to that fateful day, the memory still haunting him.
His instinct had been to run, yet he could not leave his brother behind. Twisting and writhing like a desperate eel, he tried to escape when one of the men reached for his pockets, but it was no use. A thick leather boot shot out, sweeping his legs out from under him and forcing him to the ground where he was held down with a foot to his back. The frustrated tears streaming down his face mirrored Alec”s own, and the helpless cries he heard from his brother tore at his heart. It took everything in him to collect himself when they finally released him, yanking him to his unsteady feet.
”Perhaps we should consider seeking a cure for Alec”s condition,” Ronan suggested, breaking Nicholas from his dark reverie. ”The Madness is not something to be taken lightly, and if left unchecked, it may lead to irreversible consequences.”
They said it. The one thing he could not twist time to change. The Madness. He could ignore it no longer.
”We could not find a cure when we needed it for Sophia’s mother,” Connor said flatly. The room grew still.
“We can try again, Connor,” Ronan quietly said. Nicholas did not miss the exchange between the two men, and Connor swallowed hard.
“All right then. We’ll try to find a solution. For Alec”s sake – and for all of us.”
As the group delved into ancient texts and lore, scouring for any hint of a cure, Nicholas couldn”t help but think about how much he was willing to risk for his brother”s well-being. He would stop at nothing to save Alec from the darkness that threatened to consume him, even if it meant walking a path fraught with danger—just as he had done for most of his existence.
A low, rumbling growl echoed through the air as Nicholas”s memory dove deeper into the past, his heart pounding with each agonizing moment. The heavy scent of damp earth and sweat mingled in his nostrils, and he could almost taste the fear that had once choked him.
”Thieves, hmm?” Bacon sneered, examining the trinket one of his men handed to him. He shook his head with a low snort, the disdain clear in his voice. ”We”ve been looking for you for quite some time. Master Denson will surely be pleased to hear we have captured the savages who stole his property.”
Nicholas clenched his fists at the memory of the cruel man”s words, feeling the same hopeless fury from that fateful day long ago. His brother had been wrongly accused, yet no one cared for the truth. The injustice burned like acid in his veins, never losing its potency even after centuries had passed.
”Please,” Alec whispered, his eyes wide with terror as he stared at Nicholas, pleading for help he knew they couldn”t provide. ”Nicholas...”
”Be silent!” Bacon snapped, backhanding Alec across the face, leaving a bright red mark on his olive-toned skin. ”You”ll get what”s coming to you, savage.”
As much as Nicholas wanted to lash out at the man, to defend his brother and himself from the undeserved accusations and violence, he knew it would only seal their fate. Their lives hung by a thread, and the choices they made now could very well decide whether they lived or died.
The memories still haunted him, and Nicholas feared they always would. As he stood by the window looking out upon the estate, his eyes fixed on Alec as he wandered aimlessly among the trees, his shoulders slumped and a troubled expression etched upon his face. A pang of guilt lodged itself in Nicholas”s chest as he watched his brother.
”Something must be done, Nicholas,” Julius said, pulling him from his thoughts. ”It”s clear that Alec is showing signs of the Madness. We should consider putting him under watch, for his own protection.”
”Is it truly that severe?” Nicholas asked, torn between concern for his brother and the hope that Julius was mistaken.
Ronan nodded solemnly. ”I”m afraid so. The symptoms are unmistakable – the aggression, the detachment… We can”t ignore this any longer.”
”Damn it!” Nicholas slammed his fist against the wall, cursing himself for not recognizing the signs sooner. He knew all too well the horrors the Madness could unleash – Sophia told him how the memories haunted her.
”Julius has a point, though,” Ronan added, gently placing a hand on Nicholas” shoulder. ”We need to tread carefully here. An immortal afflicted with the Madness, even in the early stage, is unpredictable. And with him jumping through time, we can’t control what he will do.”
”Then what do you propose we do?” Nicholas snapped, his anger fueled by fear and helplessness. ”Lock him up while my brother loses his mind?”
”Of course not,” Julius interjected, attempting to diffuse the tension. ”But we must be strategic in our approach. If he thinks we’re trying to lock him up, he’ll use a bloodstone and leave. We will never find him. Remember what happened with Connor”s wife. Alec is walking the same path, and it”s up to us to intervene.”
Nicholas felt the weight of responsibility settle upon his shoulders like a yoke, binding him to the fate of his brother. He had been the one to save Alec from the noose, to grant him the gift of immortality. But now, as he witnessed the darkness creeping into Alec”s eyes, he couldn”t shake the feeling that he had only managed to exchange one curse for another.
”Very well,” Nicholas said, his voice strained. ”I’ll do whatever it takes to save him. I owe him that much.”
”Agreed,” Julius responded, his gaze never wavering from Nicholas”. ”But we must act quickly. The Madness is relentless, and its grip on Alec grows stronger by the day.”
”Then let us begin our search,” Ronan chimed in, determination etched on his face. ”There must be something, some shred of knowledge in the books that can help us.”
As the three of them set out on their desperate quest, Nicholas couldn”t help but steal one last glance at Alec through the window, watching his brother as he grappled with the darkness threatening to consume him. And though fear and uncertainty gnawed at the edges of his thoughts, Nicholas clung fiercely to the hope that they would be able to rewrite Alec”s fate once more – this time, for the better.
The rain splattered against the window panes, echoing like a thousand tiny drums in the dimly lit study. Nicholas stood with his back to Connor, his gaze locked on the storm raging outside. He couldn”t help but draw parallels between the relentless downpour and the Madness that threatened to engulf Alec”s soul.
“Where is Sophia?” Conner asked.
“She’s with Genevieve. They’re on the internet downstairs in the lab. They thought they would be the most help that way,” Nicholas replied.
“Good,” Connor said. “Julius and Ronan are contacting our allies. Discreetly, of course. It tends to put the immortal world on alert when rumors of the Madness get around.”
Nicholas wondered how Connor managed to keep it together when his wife was afflicted. Now, with the reality that Alec suffered the same fate, he hated himself for the times he disagreed with Sophia over her decision. When it was over, he would go to her, and he would make it right. He understood now. Knowing he might have to end the life of his own brother—this time, intentionally—was one that nearly brought him to his knees.
”We must find a cure for Alec before it”s too late,” Nicholas said quietly.
Connor rested a reassuring hand on Nicholas” shoulder, the weight of his own past and the loss of his wife hanging heavy in the air between them. ”I know, Nicholas. We”ll do everything in our power to save him.”
Together, they began poring over the dusty tomes and scrolls that lined the walls of the study, their fingers tracing the words of immortals long gone. Time seemed to blur as they delved deeper into the lore, searching for any mention of the Madness and its potential cures.
”Have you found anything?” Nicholas asked, his eyes scanning page after page of faded ink and crumbling parchment.
”Nothing yet,” Connor replied, frustration creeping into his voice.
Hours passed, and as the storm subsided, so too did their hope of finding an answer. Despair threatened to take root within Nicholas, the gnawing fear that he had failed his brother once more consuming him. And then, almost as if fate itself were guiding his hand, Nicholas stumbled upon a passage that made his heart race.
”Connor!” he exclaimed, excitement surging through his veins. ”I think I”ve found something!”
”Show me,” Connor said, rushing to his side.
Nicholas” finger hovered above the ancient text, its pages brittle with age. ”Here, it speaks of a cure. It”s vague, but it”s a start.”
”Indeed it is,” Connor murmured, his eyes alight with newfound determination. ”Give it to me. Let me read it.”
Nicholas couldn”t help but allow a glimmer of hope to pierce the shadows of his despair.
”Nicholas,” Connor whispered, suddenly pausing in his reading, ”listen to this.” His finger traced over the faded ink as he read aloud, ”It is said that an Elixir exists, one capable of curing the Madness that plagues our kind. The key lies within the blood of a child born to two immortals.”
”Such a child would be exceedingly rare, wouldn’t it?” Nicholas mused, his brow furrowing in concentration.
”Yes,” Connor replied, his voice oddly quiet. ”It’s very rare. And most immortal parents guard their children fiercely, just as the Blooded Ones do.”
As they delved deeper into the lore surrounding the elusive Elixir, Nicholas”s thoughts turned to Sophia. She needed to know about their discovery and the hope it brought. With a heavy heart, he left the sanctuary of the library and sought her out. She was not in the lab, so he went elsewhere to search.
He found her on their balcony, her gaze distant as she stared out the window at the dusky twilight settling over the estate. She looked up as he entered, her expression worried.
”Nicholas, have you found anything?” Sophia asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.
”Perhaps,” he replied cautiously. ”There are rumors of an Elixir made from the blood of a child born to two immortals. It”s said to cure the Madness.”
”Then there”s hope,” she breathed, the weight of her fear momentarily lifting from her shoulders. ”Alec can be saved.”
”Perhaps,” Nicholas repeated, his tone more somber than before. ”But we need to find a child. And we have to convince the immortal parents to help us.”
Sophia”s eyes flashed with determination. ”You can convince anyone of anything.”
Nicholas wanted to share her unwavering faith, but the unsettling memories of Alec”s erratic behavior gnawed at him. ”I want to believe that as well, Sophia,” he admitted, his voice tinged with doubt. “I will do everything within my power to save him.”
As they stood there, the shadows cast by the dying light seemed to recede ever so slightly, replaced by a shared glimmer of hope. For in their quest to heal Alec, they would also confront the demons of their past and perhaps, in the process, find healing for themselves.
Sophia smiled, her hand finding his.
”Nicholas,” Leonard”s voice broke through his thoughts, causing him to startle and sit upright in the desk chair. The trusted servant approached hesitantly, concern etched on his lined face. ”I don”t mean to intrude, but something”s happened with Alec.”
Alarm shot through Nicholas, his eyes narrowing as he studied Leonard”s expression. ”What is it?”
”Earlier this evening, I found him wandering the grounds, disoriented and alone.” Leonard paused, swallowing hard before continuing. ”His hands were bloody, as if he tried to use the Bloodstone. I cleaned him up, but... I thought you should know.”
”Damn it all,” Nicholas muttered under his breath, frustration and fear knotting in his chest. He knew that Alec”s condition was worsening, but to see tangible evidence of it shattered any remaining hope he had clung to.
”Thank you for telling me, Leonard,” he said softly, his gaze drifting back to the darkening gardens. ”Keep an eye on him, please. If anything changes, come find me immediately.”
”Of course, sir,” Leonard replied, bowing his head before retreating back into the house.
Nicholas”s gaze drifted to the window, where the dark night sky seemed to swallow the grounds whole. He couldn”t shake the image of Alec”s bloody hands, the raw desperation etched into his brother”s face, and the fear that they were running out of time.
”Perhaps we should consider restraining him,” Connor suggested, entering the room. ”Leonard told me what happened.”
“No, wait—I’ve found something. Here,” Nicholas muttered, his finger hesitating over a passage, ”It says something about a child born to immortals... Could this be it?”
”Read it aloud,” Connor instructed, his voice tense with anticipation. But even as Nicholas began to recite the text, Connor”s eyes never left the pages before him, as if he were searching for something else entirely.
”According to legend,” Nicholas read, ”a child born of two immortals will possess untold power, their blood infused with the essence of eternity...”
”Keep going,” Connor urged, though his gaze remained fixed on his own book, his brow furrowed with concern.
”Although the child itself is not born immortal, the blood is blessed. Such a child, however rare, would provide the key ingredient for the Elixir of Ages, granting its imbiber relief from immortality...” Nicholas trailed off, feeling a chill run down his spine. The magnitude of their task weighed heavily upon him, knowing that the fate of his brother depended on their success.
”So it will make him mortal again,” Connor said curtly.
“And he cannot suffer from the Madness if he is mortal,” Nicholas added.
The older immortal”s fingers trembled slightly as he turned the pages, betraying his unease. His eyes darted from line to line, scanning the ancient script with an intensity that was almost desperate.
As they continued reading, Nicholas couldn”t help but notice the growing tension in Connor”s posture. Something was wrong, he realized, and it was affecting his uncle in a way he had never seen before. He tried to focus on the task at hand, but his thoughts kept circling back to Connor”s odd behavior.
”Connor,” Nicholas ventured cautiously, ”What is it? You seem... troubled.”
”Nothing,” Connor replied quickly, a little too quickly in Nicholas”s opinion. ”We just need to find more information on how it works. We”re running out of time, and we can”t afford any mistakes.”
The urgency in Connor”s voice only served to heighten Nicholas”s suspicions. There was more to this situation than met the eye, he was certain.
”Connor,” Nicholas finally broke the silence, his voice tense yet cautious. ”I know you’re hiding something from me. What is it that you”re holding back?”
For a moment, there was no response. Then, Connor took a deep breath, and his eyes, filled with sadness, met Nicholas”s gaze. ”I know where we can find a child who fits the criteria.”
”Where?” Nicholas demanded, his heart racing at the prospect of finally having the answers they sought. But Connor hesitated, evading his eyes once more. The corners of his mouth tightened, and his shoulders tensed.
”Trust me,” he said softly, his voice barely audible over the fire”s crackle. ”I”ll take you to the child, and we”ll get the elixir we need.”
Nicholas studied Connor”s face, searching for any hint of deception or ulterior motive. But all he saw was vulnerability and pain. It stirred something within him, a grudging empathy that pushed his doubts away.
”Alright,” he agreed, his voice barely above a whisper. ”I trust you.”
With that decision made, the two immortals set about preparing for their journey into the past. They moved with practiced efficiency, gathering the necessary items: an bloodstone dagger etched with runes, and a small vial of shimmering liquid ready to store the blood of a child born to two immortals. The weight of their actions, the consequences they could bring forth, hung heavy in the air.
”Remember,” Connor warned as he held sliced his hand, his eyes locked on Nicholas”s. ”Follow me. Do not ask questions or try to change anything. We cannot afford any mistakes.”
Nicholas nodded, understanding the gravity of their task. He stepped forward, leaving behind the familiar confines of the library and venturing into the unknown, ready to face obtain the elixir they needed, no matter what the cost.
As they emerged from the vortex of time travel, Nicholas felt his stomach lurch, his senses overwhelmed by the sudden shift in surroundings. He fought against the urge to retch, steadying himself with Connor”s firm grip on his arm.
”Take a moment,” Connor advised, his voice strained but steady. ”We both made it.”
Nicholas nodded, blinking away the lingering haze that clouded his vision. Slowly, their new environment came into focus. They stood on a street lined with quaint houses, each one a different color than its neighbor. The air was tinged with the scent of spring, accompanied by the distant cries of birds overhead.
”Where are we?” Nicholas asked, his voice unsteady. It was not often that time travel bothered him so much, and it did not ease his anxiety over what they were there to do.
”Somewhere I never thought I”d return to,” Connor replied cryptically, his eyes scanning the area, a hint of nostalgia in his gaze.
They made their way down the street, stopping before a cape-cod style house with a white porch rail and steps leading up to a cheerful red front door. A screen door allowed them a glimpse into the cozy interior, sunlight streaming through the windows and casting warm, golden light onto the hardwood floors.
”Wait here,” Connor instructed, his voice tense as he mounted the steps. Nicholas couldn”t help but notice the subtle tremor in his uncle”s hand as it grasped the railing. Whatever memories this place held for Connor, they seemed to weigh heavily upon him.
”Connor,” Nicholas began hesitantly, wanting to offer some form of comfort, but unsure of how to approach the subject. ”I want you to know that I appreciate your help in this. I understand the sacrifices you”re making for me and Alec.”
Connor”s gaze softened as he met Nicholas”s eyes, his expression pained. ”Just remember,” he said quietly, ”there are consequences to meddling with the past. We must tread lightly here.”
With a nod of understanding, Nicholas watched as Connor opened the screen door, stepping over the threshold and into the past.
The sound of laughter rang through the air as Nicholas followed and stepped into the warmly lit living room, the scent of baking bread and homecoming filling his senses. A woman, a vision of beauty and grace, appeared from the kitchen, her face lighting up with surprise upon seeing Connor.
”Connor! I wasn”t expecting you home so early,” she exclaimed, rushing over to wrap her arms around him. The longing in Connor”s eyes was impossible to miss, even as he returned her embrace.
”Joslyn,” he murmured, his voice rough. ”I”m on a working lunch, stopped by to pick up some files I left at home.” He gestured towards Nicholas, who still lingered near the door. ”This is one of my colleges, Nicholas.”
”Nice to meet you, Nicholas,” Joslyn said warmly, extending a hand to him. Her eyes sparkled with genuine kindness, and Nicholas couldn”t help but be drawn to her magnetic presence.
”Likewise,” Nicholas replied, shaking her hand. Suddenly, the strength it took for Connor to come here made Nicholas’s stomach lurch. He knew who she was. He took in the details of the room, the family photographs lining the mantel above the fireplace, and the cozy furniture arranged for conversation. It was clear this home had been built on a foundation of love and happiness, and it pained him to think of the heartache that must have followed.
”Here, let me introduce you to our boy,” Joslyn said, picking up a baby from his playpen. She handed him to Nicholas, who hesitated for a moment before accepting the child. As he cradled the infant in his arms, he was struck by the innocence and vulnerability in the baby”s wide blue eyes.
Joslyn and Connor shared a quick kiss and whispered endearments, their love for each other evident despite the passage of time for Connor. Nicholas watched over the child, regretful for the life that had been so tragically cut short.
”His name is CJ,” Joslyn informed him, her voice full of pride. ”He”s quite the little charmer, isn”t he?”
”Absolutely,” Nicholas agreed, unable to tear his gaze away from the baby. Connor Junior. CJ gurgled happily, reaching up to grasp one of Nicholas”s fingers with surprising strength. The gesture sent a pang through his heart, knowing the fate that awaited this innocent life.
As Connor and Joslyn continued their conversation, Nicholas found himself lost in thoughts of time and consequence. In his quest to save Alec, he had willingly stepped into a painful chapter of Connor”s past. He couldn”t help but wonder what price they would pay for their actions, and if the cost would be too great to bear.
”Would you mind watching the baby for a few minutes?” Joslyn asked, her eyes flicking back and forth between Connor and Nicholas. ”He’s about to take a nap anyway, you can put him in the bassinet if you want. I’m going to take a quick shower while he”s calm.”
”Of course,” Connor replied, his voice tight. Joslyn flashed him a grateful smile before disappearing down the hallway, leaving the two men alone with the baby.
Nicholas observed Connor closely as they stood in the cozy living room, the weight of their mission heavy on both their minds. He could see the tension in Connor”s shoulders, the way he clenched and unclenched his fists at his sides. It was clear that being here, in this moment from his past, was taking a toll on the stoic Keeper.
”Connor, I”m sorry,” Nicholas finally said, breaking the silence. ”I didn”t realize... I mean, I suspected, but...”
”Save it,” Connor cut him off tersely, but not unkindly. ”There”s no need to apologize. We”re here for Alec, remember?”
Nicholas nodded, his heart aching with empathy for the man who had chosen to revisit such a painful chapter of his life for the sake of another. As he looked down at the baby cradled in his arms – Connor”s son – he felt an immense gratitude toward the older immortal. To sacrifice so much for someone else spoke volumes about the depth of Connor”s character.
”Alright,” Connor said, taking a deep breath as he pulled a small vial from his pocket. ”Hold onto his heel for me, will you?”
Nicholas did as instructed, gently gripping the tiny foot to keep it steady. Connor produced a lancet from his pocket and, with practiced precision, pricked the baby”s heel. The boy let out a soft cry of protest but was quickly soothed by the gentle rocking motion Nicholas provided.
”Shh, it”s okay,” Nicholas murmured to the baby, his heart heavy as he watched Connor collect a small amount of blood into the vial. When it was done, Connor secured the cap and placed the vial back in his pocket, his expression one of grim determination.
”Thank you,” Nicholas said quietly, unable to shake the feeling that they were tampering with something sacred. But it was for Alec, he reminded himself. It had to be done.
”Let”s just hope this works,” Connor replied, his eyes lingering on his son for a moment longer before turning toward the door.
With a trembling hand, Connor took the baby from Nicholas and cradled him with practiced ease. His eyes were filled with pain, and his face seemed to age in that moment as he looked upon his son one last time. As gently as he could, he laid the baby in the bassinette, where the child”s soft breaths and innocent slumber belied the tragedy that awaited him.
”Come on,” Connor said abruptly, his voice tight with emotion. ”We need to leave.”
As they walked away from the house, Nicholas felt an overwhelming sadness for his uncle”s plight, understanding now that their shared bond went far beyond bloodlines. He couldn”t hold back his curiosity any longer. ”She was your wife, wasn”t she?”
Connor didn”t break stride as he answered, his voice hollow. ”Yes, and that was our son. He dies of crib death during the night. Tomorrow is the day that turned Joslyn to the Madness.”
”Connor—” Nicholas began, trying to console him. But Connor cut him off with a strained smile that never reached his eyes.
” We need to get back to Alec.” And with those words, Nicholas knew there would be no more discussion on the matter. They had both made sacrifices for the ones they loved, and they would continue to do so until their dying breaths.
As they vanished from one era and reappeared in another, Nicholas could only wonder what consequences awaited them for meddling with the fabric of time – and whether their sacrifices would ultimately save Alec or doom them all.