DESCENT INTO DARKNESS
PART 2
By: Stacy L.
AUTHOR’S NOTE 2: In Hindu mythology Chandra is the god of the moon and Ushas is the goddess of the dawn.
* * * *
As they reached the end of their trek Jack drew to a halt staring in awe at the city that was stretched out before them. The buildings looked old, ancient…Daniel would love this place. As he thought of his friend he turned to check on him seeing Daniel was asleep in Teal’c’s arms again. He debated about waking him or letting him sleep then decided to wake him knowing Daniel wouldn’t want to miss out on the magnificent view.
He approached Teal’c and gently patted Daniel on the cheek saying, “Hey open your eyes sleepy head.”
“What…what? Jack?”
“Daniel you have got to see this view. You’re gonna love it.”
“Jack I’m very tired and…”
“Come on… Teal’c bring him over here.”
Teal’c did and Jack again urged Daniel to open his eyes and have a look at the city below them. Daniel grumbled but complied opening his eyes. The only indication that Daniel was interested was the sudden drop of his jaw and the way he tried to lean forward in Teal’c’s arms. Jack grinned as he said, “I’m sorry I woke you, but I just knew you’d want to see this.”
“Wow. Jack this is…this is amazing. There’s actually a city here.”
“Yep…come on Mehtar is growing a bit impatient.”
Daniel smiled then settled against Teal’c yet again still staring at the city below in wide-eyed wonder. As they entered the city Mehtar drew to a halt saying, “We must take him to the temple, for I fear the others may object to his presence. Come the temple is this way.”
They continued to follow Mehtar again stopping, staring in awe as what Mehtar referred to as ‘the temple’ stretched far above them. Jack shook his head as he questioned, “This…this is a temple?”
“Yes. Come.”
They followed Mehtar inside and once inside Mehtar led them to sleeping chambers. He said that they were welcome to rest here for the night and that he wanted to speak to Jack and Daniel alone. Sam and Teal’c nodded wondering why Mehtar wanted to only speak to those two. Sam shrugged her shoulders and accepted the offer of the bath for her private use. After she was bathed one of the priests tended to her injuries checking her over to make certain that she was not changing like Daniel.
Meanwhile…
Jack carried Daniel into the main hall where Mehtar said to meet him. Once there he settled Daniel on an ornate couch urging him to relax. Daniel shook his head saying that he couldn’t relax when he felt so much pain, causing Jack to become even more worried about his friend’s condition.
Mehtar joined them shortly, smiling before inquiring, “Are you both well?”
Jack shook his head still watching Daniel who only lifted his head briefly. Jack then asked, “Mehtar, how long does this…transition take? How long will it take for Daniel to change?”
“He will not completely transform until he ingests the life force that is needed to sustain him.”
“Life force?”
Daniel looked up at Jack as he provided the answer, “Blood Jack. I won’t change completely until I…drink… When that happens…”
Daniel broke eye contact unable to continue so Mehtar finished for him, “He will become a true vampire.”
“He… Why is he…why does he shake?”
Mehtar focused on Daniel watching as the young man drew his arms about him and attempted to ball up on the couch he was still perched upon. He then answered, “It is the hunger that is making him shake so, the hunger and the process of changing itself. A vampire needs nourishment often, especially when they are transforming, for it takes much energy and food to allow the changes to occur. Your friend has not yet feasted and his hunger is strong. It burns within. He is famished, but he refuses to satisfy his hunger so he is suffering the effects of the change more so than if he was to feed. It is the way the beast quickly gains control. If a new…”
“Recruit?”
“Yes if a new…recruit is bitten their hunger is strong. This is the way they are lured to feed and once they have done so, once they have ingested nourishment the change occurs much faster. Your friend craves it and needs it. He is battling the hunger that will consume him and curse him.”
“So what…how can we stop this…process?”
“Much depends on the will of the…recruit. We will keep him in this room. He will be restricted to two rooms while here. The priests can watch him, and the rooms can be sealed so that if he continues to resist he will have an advantage: one cannot feed if they cannot reach a food source.”
“What? You’d lock him in here…”
Daniel glanced at Jack before saying, “If he has to I’ll allow it, Jack.”
“What? Daniel…”
“Jack, I don’t want to become one of…them, and I’ll do whatever I can to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Jack saw determination in Daniel’s eyes and hesitantly caved nodding his head before focusing on Mehtar and asking, “What is this possible cure you mentioned?”
“The cure is based on a legend, an ancient legend of our people.”
“A legend? Is there any truth…?”
Daniel gazed at Jack with a knowing look. Yes there most likely was. Most legends had some truth behind them, or so they have discovered on their travels. Jack nodded before requesting, “Tell us this legend, Mehtar.”
Mehtar smiled warmly looking at both of his guests as he said, “It would be my pleasure,” then he began to orate the legend for Jack and Daniel, “There is a legend of a gem that is most beautiful. Its true color is aquamarine, but it has been said that it can change colors from blue to purple to sea green. The stone has been recorded in our history, an ancient tale of yore. There was but one all-powerful god who ruled this world a millennia ago. He was said to possess many powers. It was said that his heart was pure and his love true, but this one god was sad for he loved a woman he could never have. Her name was Ushas. She was an immortal whose beauty was radiant. Many said she was a most beautiful creature whose heart was also pure and true, but she was the goddess of the dawn and therefore unable to ever share her life with the one she loved above all others for Chandra was the god of the moon. Their love was tragic for the sun and moon can never shine at the same time. They loved one another dearly but were never able to do more than touch, for the sun and the moon are constantly in pursuit of one another.
It is said that when twilight appears Ushas weeps for the husband that must take her place in the night sky. Her tears are the stars shed for a love she can never truly be with. Chandra loved his dear wife and hated to see her cry so many tears for him each night. He could see her sorrow for he was surrounded by the stars that were but precious jewels that flowed freely from his wife’s eyes. Determined to make her happy Chandra set to work forging several stones. At twilight he would gather several of his wife’s tears and each dawn several of her rays. He would then forge them when his light was dimmest. On the night of the new moon he would work collecting her tears and her rays and drawing them together. He would fuse the gems in the sea creating what many have come to call Chandrakanta, the sacred moon gem.
When his work was complete he would gather a moon gem from the depths of the sea and cast it into the sky on the night of the full moon. The gem would shine brightly for all to see, so brightly that he was not needed to watch over the night for the gem was made up of the rays of the sun and tears of his love. It was on the night of the full moon that Chandra could go to Ushas and she could be with him. Ushas was very happy to be able to hold her dear husband close and love him. It was on that first night when he came to her that she stopped crying and shed no tears to create the stars. From that night on the moon would become covered in darkness once every so many years. This was how the eclipse came about.
The gems were many for he created many. It is said that he hid
many gems in the oceans and ponds of this planet. The moon gem has magnificent
powers. It is said that the moon gem has the ability to heal all, but can only
be found in ponds of the purest cleanest water. Rumors abound that they are
guarded by beautiful water nymphs and if one desires to retrieve them they must
risk spells being cast upon them. If one should choose to retrieve a gem one
must do so at
Jack found the tale quite interesting and hoped that it was true, for he didn’t want to leave Daniel behind on this planet and he didn’t have the heart to end the man’s life so he questioned, “Where can we find this gem?”
“Many have searched but none have been found. Many have given up the pursuit believing that it is all just legend.”
“And this is the only thing that could save Daniel?”
“Yes for I fear there is nothing else capable of reversing the curse that has been bestowed upon him.”
“Damn.”
Mehtar glanced at the young man sitting curled inward upon himself listening to their conversation. He had no doubt the man was in immense pain and that he was resisting the urge to satisfy his hunger, which by now was probably extreme. He shook his head sadly feeling at fault for not warning the visitors of the dangers the planet presented. He had to help them, but there wasn’t much else he could do. As the young man moaned in pain Mehtar continued feeling his heart aching for the truthfulness in his words, “He will continue to grow weaker until he feeds. Even now he craves and thirsts for nourishment. He resists his hunger, but he will not be able to hold back for long. Even now his senses grow ever stronger. Soon he will be able to smell the blood he must partake of to survive. When his smell grows sharper his resistance will crumble. He may not last the journey for he still changes.”
Jack glanced at Daniel noticing that he was now curled up against the wall with his knees drawn to his chest eyes now focused solely on them as shivers continued to wrack his body. Mid-way through Mehtar’s tale Daniel had left the couch to lean against the far wall. Jack had sensed that by creating distance he was able to resist his urge to feed easier, so he allowed his friend to move. As he continued to gaze at Daniel he gave him a reassuring smile trying to tell him with gestures that he would be all right.
Daniel spoke softly for the first time in a while, “Just leave me, Jack. Leave me here. I’m too much of a danger to the three of you. Leave me.”
“Daniel that’s not an option. I’m not leaving you here. We’re going after this rock and we’re going to heal you damn it!”
“Jack even he says it’s a myth.”
“And all myths are known for being tales right? Not a single truth lies in those stories, right Daniel?”
Daniel downcast his eyes knowing that wasn’t true for everything they have stumbled across since he opened the Stargate has been steeped in some sort of mythology or another. He glanced up as Jack continued, “See I’m thinking that if all those legends about Hathor and Seth and Ra are true then there’s a very good chance this story of the moon stone is true. I mean aren’t there any Earth myths that discuss this Chandra and Usher…?”
“Ushas and yes there are.”
“See, told you so… There are?”
“Yes Jack…
“Well there see, so why can’t this moon thingy be true?”
“Gem, moon gem Jack and because he said it’s been searched for but no one’s had any luck finding it.”
“So maybe they weren’t looking in the right places, Daniel.”
“Or maybe it really doesn’t exist and I’ll be stuck as a vampire for the rest of my life. I can’t live like that Jack. I can’t. If there’s no cure then I want you to kill me, destroy me before I hurt someone.”
“NO. I already told you that’s not an option, Daniel.”
“Jack…”
“Ah, no!”
Daniel opened his mouth to protest but as Jack held up a finger he closed it and sighed heavily, curling up tighter in a ball and propping his chin on his knees.
Jack watched Daniel as he again returned to compacting himself further and noticed another violent tremor wrack those strong shoulders. God, this had to work. It had to! There had to be a way to help Daniel, to cure him. There had to be!
Mehtar watched the two men, moved by the concern they showed for one another. He could see how much the older one longed to help the younger one and was amazed that the young one still had not feasted. The young one, Daniel, had been bitten several hours ago. He had to be ravenous by now, yet he refused to feed choosing instead to suffer the horrible shivers that starvation rent on the creatures that ruled the night. He found he desperately wanted to help these two and decided to tell them about the map. He spoke again, “Perhaps I can be of further service to both of you.”
Jack jerked his gaze towards the healer, as did Daniel.
Mehtar continued, “I…there is a…a map that is believed to have been forged by
Chandra in the
“
That was Daniel who seemed extremely curious about the cave
of light. Mehtar smiled warmly at him before continuing, “Yes there is a cave
believed to be located in the
“Anduruna…”
Jack gazed at Daniel as he heard the tone in Daniel’s voice that indicated he recognized the name. He quirked his eyebrows upwards as he inquired, “Daniel?”
“Oh…ah, sorry Jack. I…I know that name.”
“And?”
“Let me think…”
“Daniel we don’t…”
Daniel held up a finger to silence Jack’s complaints trying to focus on the word and where he had heard it before. It was in his studies back in college when he was assisting, “…Heaven.”
“What?”
Okay he was no fool. He could always tell when Daniel was on
to something and the man was definitely on to something right now. Jack shook
his head deciding to watch the brilliant young man before him puzzle through
the ever-elusive information he was trying to tackle. He loved watching Daniel
in his thinking mode. The man’s mind worked so fast as he calculated and
separated information searching for what he was trying to recall. He waited
patiently as the man’s mind began to process in rapid fire signaled only by his
sudden speech, “Heaven, sometimes represented as mountains. The lower world…the
underworld… Arallu… Ishtar of
Okay he was lost. No matter how often he tried to follow Daniel’s wonderfully active brain he could never trace a line from point A to point B and figure out just what the hell the man was trying to say until Daniel actually spelled it out for him…literally. He hated to halt the man’s thought process in mid-action but he was definitely becoming lost in a sea of information the man shouldn’t even possess so he interrupted, “Daniel…?”
Daniel jerked his gaze up as he questioned, “What?”
“You’re doing it again.”
“What?”
The man definitely looked perplexed. He smiled softly as he answered, “Telling me a whole bunch of nonsense. What is Aral?”
Daniel grinned as he provided the correct pronunciation before jumping head first into an explanation, which was sure to blow the socks of anyone who happened to be listening, “Arallu…and it’s Babylonian…Assyro-Babylonian to be exact.”
Oh here we go with the big words that took him several years to place as being names of ancient civilizations. Why the hell did they have to create such big words to give to different civilizations? Why couldn’t they all just be simple like culture 1, culture 2 and culture 3? He shook his head at the mystery of why people always selected names to give things that no one in their right minds would be able to say correctly then focused back on the young man who was way too smart for his age and said, “Okay…and?”
“Um…well, Anduruna is actually
Mesopotamian, but is also associated with
Oh boy, should he really tell Daniel to give him the short version of the explanation or not? Seeing the man’s brow furrowed in concentration as well as pain he decided to allow Daniel to give him the long drawn out version because the longer Daniel spoke the more he’d forget about the obvious pain he’s been in ever since those damned bastards attacked him. Okay, relax and be…patient. He could do that, he really could…but then he found himself speaking without thought, “Okay, okay this is all very interesting but what are you trying to say here?”
“Um sorry Jack…”
Oh no, oh shit…Daniel’s about to provide the short version courtesy of one impatient ass who spoke without thought and thus will be returning Daniel’s attention to the pain flooding his body in less time than previously. Damn it, why didn’t he just sit back and listen? He hated seeing Daniel in pain but it couldn’t be avoided and now that he side tracked his archaeologist by reminding him that he wasn’t comprehending a damned thing Daniel would offer him the shortest, easiest to understand version that would take less than ten minutes to explain. Damn!
As Daniel offered him a sheepish little grin he couldn’t help but return the smile still feeling guilty as hell for making Daniel give him the short explanation, which would draw his mind back to his pain in a few short minutes. DAMN! Deciding that there was no way to persuade Daniel into giving the long version again he nodded his head encouraging Daniel to continue. Daniel picking up on the non-verbal cue nodded before continuing, “Right…okay Jack. We’ll start with Anduruna. It’s an ancient name for the underworld. Uh, in Mesopotamian mythology it’s…it’s basically referring to heaven, a heaven where the gods play.”
“Where gods play? Interesting…and this Arallu how’s that come into play?”
“Arallu is Sumerian…”
“
“Assyro-Babylonian Jack.”
How the hell could Daniel even say those damned words let alone explain them? Damn! He shook his head in amazement still trying to make sense of what Daniel was saying.
Daniel could see that Jack was very confused so he closed his eyes to gather his thoughts together wincing briefly when pain snaked through his body. He shuddered as it felt as if a serpent were presently twisting in his gut and swallowed back the sudden urge to vomit all over the floor. He tried to block out the pain determined to remain focused and ignore the anguish the transformation was wreaking within. As he forced all thoughts of pain to the back of his mind and focused on the bits of information he was retrieving from his memory he opened his eyes finding that looking into the very concerned face of Jack O’Neill was keeping him well grounded. Thank God. Thank you, Jack, for being here with me. He forced a smile as he attempted to joke hoping to alleviate some of Jack’s anxiety, “Too much information?”
“Oh yeah just a little…”
“Sorry Jack.”
“But that’s okay, Daniel, that’s perfectly okay. If you want to spend all day telling me every myth you know you just go right ahead and I’ll keep up. I promise.”
Daniel smiled gratefully telling Jack with his eyes that he was very glad he was here. He then spoke saying, “That’s a big promise…sure you can keep it?”
“Oh yeah, Daniel, quite positive…”
“Jack, I really am sorry for overloading you with information that…”
Jack raised his hands to stop Daniel in mid-sentence as he softly reassured, “It’s all right, Daniel. I’m used to it. Go on.”
As the smile broadened Jack felt some of his tension ease hoping that Daniel would be so focused on his explanation that those lines of pain marring his brow would ease up some. Damn, his friend looked ready to collapse or scream for eternity. Shit! He swallowed hard as he felt Daniel’s pain clear to his soul. If he’d only been a little bit faster, a little sooner then he could have spared Daniel this torment. If only…
He focused intently on Daniel when he spoke his name and seeing the sudden worry in Daniel’s eyes made him realize he was projecting way more anxiety and fear on his face and in his body language then Daniel really needed to deal with right now, so he quickly worked on dampening that fear making himself concentrate completely on Daniel and urging him to continue by offering him another smile. Daniel seemed to visibly relax a little in response to that smile, which made Jack feel a whole hell of a lot better. He nodded encouraging Daniel to finish what he was saying. Daniel was more than a little happy to oblige, “Okay, Arallu is another word for the underworld. It’s the place where the dead are judged. It’s depicted often as a lower world or a mountain. Usually…”
Jack perked up upon the mention of mountains remembering that Mehtar mentioned the Anda something or other mountains. He quickly pointed it out to Daniel “He said mountains…”
“Yes he did… Anyway there are seven entrances by seven gates on the west. Arallu was said to be home to many monsters and demons. Arallu was the place where evil souls were sent…kind of like hell I guess you could say. The souls of the damned…”
Daniel visibly shuddered again as he mentioned that last thing and Jack could feel the response cutting him like a knife. Daniel probably believed that he was one of those lost souls now, for he had been bitten by a creature of the night whose only purpose was to spread evil throughout the land. Poor Daniel…God, they had to help him. He prepared to comfort Daniel when the man shook his head before adding, “Um, there was a watchman a…”
“Nedu,” provided Mehtar.
“Yes Nedu…also known as Neti, the Queen of Battles.”
“Oh great.”
“Yeah.”
“So, okay does… Daniel do you think this map could be in those mountains?”
“Yes.”
He felt suddenly relieved but didn’t let himself believe that everything was going to be all right yet. Daniel felt that the map could possibly exist but that didn’t necessarily mean that it did. He had to hold on to the hope that Daniel’s instincts were saying to him or he wouldn’t be of any use to Daniel. He glanced from Daniel to Mehtar as he softly spoke, “So we should go search for this cave then…”
Daniel moaned as more pain filled him. He was determined to keep any indication of his suffering from reaching his voice not wanting to further upset Jack so he schooled his features before forcing the words calmly out of his mouth, “Or you can do what I asked you to do originally and go home. Leave me here…”
“NO! How many times do I have to say it? NO! N-O! I’m not leaving you here and I sure as hell am not about to kill you either so you can just forget it! NO! We’re going to those mountains, Daniel. I’m not giving up on you, and don’t you dare give up on me. Don’t you dare!”
“Jack we don’t even know if this cave exists…”
“Daniel…”
Mehtar interrupted as he said, “It does exist. This much I do know for I have been there, but I cannot understand the writings. Perhaps you would have better luck.”
Jack wanted to jump for joy when Mehtar said he had been there. Instead he settled for focusing intently on Daniel and saying with determination, “The cave of light it is then. Thank you so much for all of your help. We really appreciate it.”
“Jack…”
“We’re going to that cave Daniel, and you’re coming with us…even if I have to tie you up to get you there.”
Daniel hung his head as he softly uttered, “You may have to tie me up just to keep all of you safe, Jack.”
Jack jerked his head up and stared intently into Daniel’s eyes hoping the man wasn’t serious, but he was. He was deadly serious. As Mehtar spoke he turned his head slightly refusing to break eye contact with Daniel. He listened as Mehtar repeated Daniel’s same warning not sounding happy about being the bearer of bad news, “He may be correct. If he continues to change at the rate he is he may not make it to the cave of light in time. He may attempt to…hurt you or the others. He is ravenous with hunger. He is resisting his need to feast. His hunger will be strongest at twilight. You may have to resort to restraining him in the nights for it is at night the vampire hunt and kill. He does not wish to harm any of you, but there will come a time when he will be unable to resist. You must be prepared if you are determined to set out on this journey. The cave of light is only the first step you must take. There are many other steps…once you find the locations of the stones you must journey to their locations. They will each be guarded by water nymphs. Water nymphs will not be your only obstacle for many others will arise as you journey to locate the great healing stones. The journey will take many nights. One cannot find the cave of light and find the stones in one night’s time. It will take many days, and you must remember that the stone can only be retrieved at midnight.”
“Daniel won’t hurt us he…”
“He may not be able to control his impulses. You must remember that even now he is changing. He will not become a full-fledged vampire until he feeds. Once he feeds then it will become necessary for you to restrain him, for you will no longer have a choice in the matter. Stay. I have something to give to you both. I will be but a few moments.”
Jack looked at Daniel who was once again curled tightly inward this time he was uttering small gutteral groans and Jack knew for certain that his pain was immense. He had to help Daniel. He had to! He glanced up as Mehtar returned noticing Daniel raise his head upon the man’s entrance. Mehtar held a box in his hands. He sat it before him then opened the lid continuing, “You must take this box with you for in this box holds all that you will need to keep your friend safe and keep yourselves safe during your journey.”
As the lid opened Jack’s eyes fell to the two sets of silver manacles the box held. He shook his head before uttering, “No, no, no…you want me to put those on him. No.”
“You may not have a choice. The vampire is a very strong creature and one who exists as half mortal and half vampire can be very unpredictable, as well as very uncontrollable. I am only preparing you for what you may have to do during your journey. Silver inhibits the vampire and their abilities. It will keep him weakened and submissive though the first few evenings he may thrash about and fight against the restraints you must not remove them. In this box remains a collar that you can fasten to his neck. This too may keep him from transforming completely. If he does feed and turns into a true vampire then his power will be greatly diminished by the collar. He will want it off and will possibly try to convince you to remove it, but you mustn’t. You must remember that though he is your friend and does not wish to harm you or the others in any way the vampire is a very powerful creature to resist. The evil will consume him and steal your friend’s soul if you do not save him. I can show you how to remove the restraints, but you must not tell him of how it is done or allow him to find the key.”
“I…I can’t…I can’t do this to Daniel. I can’t.”
He jumped as a gentle hand touched his right shoulder and Daniel’s comforting voice spoke so near his ear, “Jack, you have to do this. If I become a… If I change… I become dangerous to the three of you. You have to do this, Jack. You have to.”
Jack turned to look at his friend who even now was shaking where he stood. Hell, the man shouldn’t even be standing as much pain as he presently was in. He shook his head again and said, “No Daniel. I won’t restrain you. This is crazy!”
“Jack, you have no choice. Even now I want nothing more than to feed on you and Mehtar. Jack, I already have the damned teeth to do it. I can smell your blood. I can see the life force flowing within you both and my body craves it. I want to feed. I’m so damned hungry Jack. I keep fighting but eventually…eventually it will win. Jack, we have to do this.”
“No. NO!”
“Okay…if you can’t restrain me then at least put the collar on.”
“No, NO!”
“Jack…”
“No Daniel, no.”
Daniel turned to focus on Mehtar as he questioned, “Mehtar if the collar is placed on me will my friends have to use the restraints?”
“They may have to at twilight, but the collar should keep you well controlled.”
“They may have to? That means they might not have to resort to…”
“That is correct.”
“Okay then I want you to put the collar on me.”
Jack jerked his gaze upward as he demanded, “What? NO!”
“Jack there is no other choice here. If you won’t do it and he won’t do it…then I’ll do it. If that collar will prevent me from…then I’ll wear the damned thing until I no longer need it. Please Jack…you don’t understand how hard it is to resist…you don’t… You couldn’t.”
“You put that damned collar on and…”
“And what?”
“Don’t expect me to be happy about it.”
“You won’t be happy about it. You already aren’t, but Jack if that collar has the power to prevent me from hurting you or Sam or Teal’c then I’ll gladly accept it. I’ll keep the damned thing on for the rest of my life if it prevents me from turning into a…into one of those… Jack, please?”
“Daniel I can’t condone this.”
“I’m not asking you to. I’m only asking you to help me from harming you. If I hurt you I… Jack, I have to do this. Please.”
“Daniel…”
“If you don’t agree then leave, and I’ll have Mehtar put it on.”
“Daniel…”
“Jack…”
When Jack abruptly turned from him Daniel hung his head. He gazed at Mehtar who was holding the collar in his hands glancing from him to Jack and back again. He waited for a decision to be made. Daniel focused on him and nodded his head giving his consent for the device to be placed on him.
Mehtar said, “Once this collar is secured on your neck it will not be removable unless the one who secures it wishes it so.”
“And if I’m cured will it…?”
“It will remain until it is removed.”
“So if you place it on me then you have to remove it?”
Mehtar lowered his gaze before continuing, “Perhaps this is not a good idea.”
“Mehtar allow me to speak to my other two friends and see if they will help.”
Mehtar nodded before continuing, “The one who secures this collar around your neck is the one who has the power to control you. Even if you become a true vampire…they hold power over you and persuasion. I would suggest that you choose one who you trust not to harm you or use their power over you against you…”
Daniel nodded before saying, “Jack…”
Jack refused to look at him or respond to his name. Daniel tried again, “Jack, please…help me.”
“I am helping you Daniel, but I’m not about to place a damned slave collar on you.”
“Jack…”
“No Daniel.”
Daniel hung his head feeling disappointed in Jack’s decision but quickly focused on Mehtar again as he questioned, “May I go speak with my other two friends?”
“Yes you may. We will wait here for you.”
“Thank you.”
Daniel left the room wrapping his arms across his chest as his urge to feed continued to grow. Damn, if he didn’t do something soon then he would break down and feed. SHIT! He had to try the collar. If it could prevent his urges and could help him to remain somewhat controlled then he would try it. He feared that once the vampire part took hold and his transformation was complete that he’d really hurt someone. If he could prevent that from happening he would.
* * * *
AUTHOR’S NOTE 3: The myth of Chandra and Ushas is altered slightly to fit within the context and direction of the story. While it is noted in reference materials that Chandra and Ushas were husband and wife it is also stated that they were never able to consummate their union because the moon and sun never appear at the same time.
AUTHOR’S NOTE 4: The
fabled Chandrakanta stone is recorded in Hindu
mythology as being forged by Chandra in the great sea and greatly sought after
for its’ healing powers.
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