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Holden reappeared in the room where he found Amanda. He scanned the room, while sniffing for her blood. He ran up to a spot where he smelled Amanda's blood. "Damn it, it's only her hand." He said picking it up. He looked around the room for the rest of her arm, but he was noticing that there was more then one person's blood in the room. He tried to weed out the other smells to find Amanda's arm. After thirty minutes of looking he finally found the rest of her arm. He quickly teleported back to Amanda. "Solomon here I found her arm." He said looking distraught.
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Solomon looked over as Holden held the parts, "Let me see the cut areas." He frowned as Holden turned to show him, "It'll be difficult, but I think I can do it. You're going to need to recut her shoulder, I can't do it with it being healed." He took the limb and hand from Holden, placing them in the exact spot he wanted them.
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Holden ran to the kitchen to grab a knife, he cut her stump. He sat down on the chair and looked at her blood on his hands. "I can't believe I let this happen." He said in a whisper. "She's just a baby, I... I wont let this happen again." He said looking up to Solomon, with gray exhausted eyes.
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Solomon didn't answer, however he swiftly pieced together Amanda's hand and arm to her body, closing his eyes as he focused intently on her wound. He's only done a few reattachments, but they were to his own body, and therefore they were not very difficult. He prayed he had enough power and could get this right, for Holden. He held the pieces together, trying to revive the cells in her arm and hand, but quickly discovering that would not work...in fact, there was nothing isnide her arm, save for the bones,blood vessels, nerves and muscles. "Son of a bitch..Holden.."
He removed his hands, dragging them along his face as he tried to think of a solution. "Ugh, I..I don't know how to get around this. There's..nothing in there, except what you see. No cells, no blood, nothing. I can't revive something that's not there." His body tensed as he became angry. He had to do this for Holden. He had to find a way. |
Holden stared at Solomon blankly, he didn't know what to say. He was pale in the first place but he was paler seeing his sisters blood on his hands. "I will kill her for this." He said looking down at his hands.
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Solomon closed his eyes, quickly sorting through the hundreds of years of information to try and find a solution. Without a word, he quickly moved her arm from the stump, remembering she was still bleeding. He stuck his index finger into Amanda's shoulder, and his pinky into her arm, not really concerned with her hand at the moment. He had a few hours to work yet..as long as Amanda could hold out. "Holden, I need you to be really careful, and try to do this for me. You need to go into her bone marrow telepathically and tell it to reproduce red cells at a tripled rate. I'll take care of the water so her blood doesn't get too thick for her heart." He would do it himself, but he couldn't multitask like that yet.
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Holden closed his eyes and entered Amanda's mind. He went all through her body until he reached her bone in her arm. He told it to start tripling its red cells. He opened one eye "I think I got it." He said closing his eye again to concentrate on Amanda.
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Solomon nodded, double checking his work as Holden went through it, "Very nice, send the signal through her entire body. I'm going to need a lot of blood flow for this., then stop once I remove my hand from her arm." He waited until Holden had done so, directing the blood through her body and over the floor to her arm to get the living cells in there. He would eventually repeat this for her hand when he was finished with her arm. Once he had a sufficient amount of fresh blood in her arm, he removed his fingers and placed the arm up against her shoulder, sending her body's repair system into triple overtime. It was risky, but he was sure Amanda would be able to handle it. She was a strong girl after all.
After a nerve wracking few minutes, the arm was completely reattached like nothing had ever happened. He quickly moved to her hand, repeating the maneuver. All the while, he was simultaneously manipulating the water in the air, sending it to her bloodstream to keep it at the right consistency. A few more tense moments and he was done. Solomon was white as paper when he was finished. He was going to need massive amounts of fresh blood to replenish his strength, but for now, he would have to wait. He had to make sure Amanda was going to be okay. He moved his hand over her heart, closing his eyes as he listened to her heartbeat. "She's...stable..weak, but stable. Don't move her though..." Even though Solomon didn't require oxygen, he still sounded a bit...out of breath...and he certainly looked much more frail than a few minutes previously. |
Holden kept his eyes closed through the entire ordeal. "I wont, I will clean up the blood and I will wipe her memory when she wakes up." He said looking at the amount of blood on the floor. He looked up at Solomon with his gray eyes, "Go rest, I got this." He said trying to get the smell of his sister out of his nose. He stood up and went over to Solomon, "Thank you." He said placing a gentle kiss on his cheek. He looked back to Amanda. "She's so young how could I let her get hurt?" He asked himself as he punched himself in the stomach with TK.
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Solomon shook his head, "I'll take care of her memory, Holden. Not to insult you, but you've never done it before. You could cause serious damage," his tone shifted, as if he had personal experience from it. He shuddered slightly, placing his hand over Amanda's forehead as he worked through her memories, removing anything to do with Jalcynn; replacing them with the memory of Maggy putting her to bed and her falling asleep shortly after.
Afterwards, Solomon simply let himself lay back on the cool floor feeling rather dizzy, closing his blackened eyes, "Please don't hurt yourself Holden. She's alive, there's almost no difference in her arm and hand, and she won't remember anything. It'll be alright." |
"It isn't alright Solomon, if I wouldn't of found her when I did she would be dead. Do you know how small child caskets are?" Holden asked raising his voice in anger. He was shocked that he said that out loud. "No Holden you didn't just say that." He whispered, he backed up and sat in the chair. He hoped Solomon wouldn't call him out on that last bit of information.
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Solomon unfortunately nodded, "Actually, I do." A realization hit him. He sat up, giving Holden a worried look, "What are you talking about Holden? What did you do?" His tone was clipped. He wanted the truth and the flat out truth..no half truths. He knew Holden would be able to pick that up.
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"I um, when I was 17 I adopted a friends child, because she died. The child had the same disease as her mother. Her name was Abby, I treated her like my own child up to the day she passed away. It was the day after my 18th birthday. I didn't talk much with Amanda until that day. The casket was so small it was horrible seeing Abby in that casket, it was so small. When I saw Amanda half dead I instantly saw her in a casket. That's why Amanda can not leave my sights anymore." He scoffed "I was a father once and now I am again." Holden said not looking up to Solomon. "He's disgusted with me, I know it."
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Solomon flopped back down onto the floor, "I see. You know, regardless of anything that you could've done for her, Abby would've died nonetheless. I'm not trying to be heartless Holden, I'm simply stating a fact." He shrugged a bit, closing his eyes again, "Things happen that are out of our control, no matter if we're human or vampire. After about 200 years of being proven that consistently, you learn to just accept death; no matter who it may be, and move on."
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"I didn't challenge the doctors prognosis. I should have, yes there is nothing I could of done but I could of not just laid down and taken it." Holden said looking at his blood covered hands again. "Your starting to regret being with me aren't you? I have so much emotional baggage... I... Wait how do you know how small a child's casket is? He asked looking down to Solomon.
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"Holden, I would never regret my time with you. Like you always say, 'we all have baggage'. It can't be helped. Shit happens on a daily basis." He looked up to Holden, "I had two sisters when I was still human. My oldest sister died of Pneumonia. Back then, the caskets were..rather tiny compared to today's. It was..almost..I don't know how to describe the shape." And so he drew out the shape in the air, "..like that. My other sister and I were 6, and she was 9. She was very short though, compared to Hayden and myself." He tensed slightly for a moment before relaxing. "I remember helping my father dig the hole...and helping him lower her in after the family said their final goodbyes." He sighed deeply, there were many more instances when he had witness the death of a young child, but the one of his oldest sister was of course, his most personal.
Solomon rarely ever mentioned his family; not even Alicia knew he had sisters, not to mention, almost no one in the vampire community did at that. He watched Holden's expression as he processed the information, "Believe me, I know how you feel at the moment." |
Holden listened intently, he got up and walked over to Solomon. He kneeled down, "I'm sorry." He said as he hugged Solomon. "I forget you are a lot older then me, and that you have seen a lot. I'm sorry I was so selfish, I just can't stand burying any more family." He said looking to Amanda. "Will you tell me about your older sister?" He asked as he laid down next to Solomon.
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Solomon wrapped one arm around Holden as he hugged him, "Don't worry about it Holden...sometimes I forget myself." He let him go to allow him to lay down, "Lorelienda?" He smiled a bit, "She was such a cute little girl. She just..had that face, you know? Not to mention, she had such bright, caring, green eyes while my other sister and myself have blue eyes. Unlike Hayden and I, she had brown hair, rather than black. Not really sure how that worked out, but you know what? She was just too damn cute for anyone to really care. She was such a sweet girl, always helping out someone.."
He frowned, his expression becoming distressed, "Karma has hated me since the day Hayden and I were born...I don't know why. Lorelienda did not deserve her fate..and to think, in just 9 years, she would've been immune to the disease.." He sat up, bending his knees and bringing them up to help him stabilize as he rested his head on his knees. He turned his head so he could look at Holden, "I remember, one day, I was out in the field with dad..but..what I was doing I simply can't remember..either way, she came out wearing my overalls and one of my dirty shirts..while it was..'wrong' for a girl to dress like that back then, it was just way too adorable. Mainly because my pants were actually just right for her. Very strange that girl.." He was silent for a moment, trying to recall the particular moment as he realized his memory was so choppy, it sounded fake and awkward, "The only thing I hate about being immortal, is after so long, no matter what you do, you always forget something...and in my case, it's my family, even though everything else is crystal clear in my mind. Perhaps is my own psychological block to keep me from dwelling..who knows. Either way...I wish there were cameras back then..I would've loved to get a photo of that..it was so hilarious." He chuckled slightly, closing his dull grey eyes, "I wonder how..." he trailed off. |
Holden smiled as Solomon told him about his sister. He laughed when Solomon told him about the overalls. "I can help you with that Solomon. If you can somehow show me that memory I can paint or draw it for you. It would have to wait until we get back to England, because my stuff is there. But you should let me do that, so I can at least do one thing for you out of the hundreds of things you have done for me already." He said as he sat up and looked at Solomon.
He looked at Amanda and regretted the three years that he didn't care about her. "I don't know why I hated her for three years, Abby would be nine now. I have a picture of her." He said as he pulled out his wallet from his pocket. He pulled out the picture and handed it to Solomon. "Seeing her was the highlight of my day back then, just seeing those almost lavender eyes made my troubles wash away, and the way she said daddy." Holden said putting his hand over his heart. "Then she died, I put all of my effort into making Amanda happy. You wanna know something? Amanda walked into my room one day when my mother was gonna hit me with the lamp again. She jumped in front of me and told mom not to hit me. It was so sweet her sticking up for her screw up of a brother." He said with a smile. "I was so afraid that mom was gonna hit her or something, that I told Amanda that mom was just helping me with something and I shooed her away. I couldn't stand it if she got hurt because of me. She may be my sister but I consider her my daughter, is that wrong of me?" Holden asked looking at Solomon. |
Solomon listened to Holden, glancing at the photo, "She's adorable." He shook his head slightly, "It's not wrong Holden..." He pondered over his offer to paint Lorelienda, but found he did not like that idea. He would almost rather forget about her like the rest of his family. "You're not a screw up Holden; your mother was."
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Holden sighed, "I guess the years of abuse still has its hold on me." He said with a small smile. "I should probably get her cleaned up, and I have to clean up Maggy, unless Alicia has taken care of that." He said knowing Alicia was listening on the other side of the wall.
Alicia walked into the doorway, "Well you are getting good at that, and yes I got Maggy cleaned up and Amanda's room to." She said with a smile. "I don't know what I would do without you Alicia." Holden said with a smile. "You would probably be dead, well actually dead." She said as she sat down on the chair. "Probably." He said with a slight laugh. He stood up and walked over to Amanda. He checked her heartbeat and it was normal, he looked at Solomon, "You can go and feed, if you want." Holden said with a smile. |
Solomon sat there for a moment, "I will tonight." It was always easier to feed at night. Finally he stood, brushing off his clothes, even though he was still covered in blood. "Another set ruined..." He was going to make a comment about going around with out any clothes, but felt it was a bit too soon for such a thing..not to mention Alicia would go running. "I guess I'll shower first.." he looked to Holden, waiting to see if he wanted to join. "I would suggest it, you don't want her waking up and seeing you covered in blood."
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"True but it doesn't make much sense since I didn't bring any clothes." Holden said looking at his bloody self.
"Holden you are so stupid sometimes." Alicia said as she disappeared. "That was uncalled for." He said as Alicia disappeared. "Its the truth." She said handing Holden a set of clothes and handing Solomon a set of clothes. "There from England, now you two go take a shower, preferably separately but I know that wont happen." Alicia said with a wink. "And I will take care of Amanda since she is a girl." She said slightly perturbed at Holden. "Well I guess I will join you." Holden said with a wink as he teleported to the bathroom. |
Solomon laughed at Alicia, "You're too good to us~" He took the clothes and teleported the the bathroom with Holden "We're saving water Alicia..get off our backs" And with that, he blocked her from him mind and Holden's, to spare her so to say.
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Alicia shivered at the thought. "My ass you two are saving water." She said as she picked up Amanda.
*** "I feel a little better." Holden said with a smirk, he turned to Solomon and gave his a kiss on the lips. He looked at his watch, "I need to go to the bank. By the way you never said if you liked my pants before." He said with a slight frown. "Alicia how is Amanda?" Holden asked as he left the bathroom. "She's good she is still sleeping and I'm back at your house and don't worry everything is fine." Alicia said gently squeezing his brain. |
"I'm sorry Holden, I didn't really notice..a lot going on." He pulled on the fresh clothes, swiftly tying up his tie as he followed Holden, "They did look quite amazing."
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Holden smiled, "Thanks, I knew you would love them. I need to go to the bank but I don't wanna leave Amanda." He sighed. "Will you stay with Alicia and watch Amanda for me while I do a few errands?" He asked as he walked out of Alicia's house.
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"I won't let her out of my sight." He gave Holden a hug and a quick kiss. He teleported to Alicia and Amanda, leaning up on the wall. "Did you need to feed or anything? I'll watch her for awhile.."
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Holden smiled and went to the Corvette, "Dad what have I told you about leaving the keys in the car?" He smiled as he noticed an envelope with his name on it in the passenger seat. He grabbed it and opened it, "Oh my god dad I can't believe you did this." He said grabbing the set of keys out of the envelope. He quickly got out of the car and went to the garage, he opened the door and saw a Lamborghini Aventador LP70-4. "Oh my god, you didn't have to get this for me for my birthday dad." He said with a smile as he got into the car. Holden started the car and peeled out of the garage and driveway.
"No I'm good mom and dad always had some bottled blood in the fridge." Alicia said looking up to Solomon. "His dad did not do that." Alicia said as she saw the car in her head. |
Solomon nodded, a sly smile at his lips, "He did...you know, sometimes I worry, with Holden having all this money. He's..a bit frivolous with it. I mean, he just up and bought a car in London, he demands he pays for the repairs to my garage and that he'll replace my cars, but..I don't want him to. I could care less about those other cars..it's my..Jaguar that I want back." He sighed a bit, running his hand through his hair, "But, I don't want to tell him 'No' and have him feel insulted."
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"Pfft Holden isn't frivolous, well except for the car in London. Anyway he uses his money to help when someone needs it, I know you don't need help with the finances, but it is just his way of doing things. I know when he gets back to London he is gonna buy another car so that Amanda will be safer in it. But I don't know if you figured this out, Holden is the type that would literally give the shirt off of his back to someone in need." Alicia said looking at Solomon. "There was this one time we came across a bum and Holden gave the guy $200, and he knew the man was just gonna buy booze with it, but Holden thought better of the man. Sometimes his innocence is a breath of fresh air, but sometimes I feel he is gonna be taken advantage of one day." Alicia said.
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"Perhaps he already is being taken advantage of. Jaclynn is very cunning, Alicia. She killed his father, nearly killed his sister, and it plotting to kill you and myself. I don't think she's aiming to kill Holden, but rather, make him suffer, and eventually have nothing but pennies...or loose his damn mind. I don't know how much more of this he can take."
He frowned slightly, "I thought that turning him would get her to leave him alone, but it's only making it worse. She knows she has much more time to do what she needs to and will stretch it out and make him suffer for a long as possible before finding it necessary to kill him." As he spoke, his tone shifted, as if..he knew much more than he was stating. It was a hard thing to not notice. |
"He would loose his mind first." Alicia said with a sigh. "I think she has been doing it longer then we think Solomon. Holden told you about Abby right? She didn't die of a medical disease, she died from a mystical one. I think she has been planing this for years." She said with a frown. "I think that if we don't get rid of her soon, it will end him. And that is something neither you or I could live with." Alicia said with cold eyes.
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"But why? I hadn't known Holden back then...you yes, but him, not so much. I mean, I've seen him with you..so what's her goal?" He sighed a bit, watching Amanda closely. She was stable, at least, but he had no idea if or when she'd wake up.
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"I don't know, but I know someone who will." Alicia said, "Jasmine?" She asked looking to the corner where she knew Jasmine would appear.
"Yes Alicia what do you need?" Jasmine asked as she appeared. "When you were showing him the changes, what did you see?" Alicia asked. "He will bring peace to two families." Jasmine said looking at the child on the bed. "Oh she is the one." She said very cryptic. "What two families? And what do you mean she is the one?" Alicia asked slightly covering Amanda up. "The animal, and the vampire. She will help him obtain that goal, as will you, and Solomon." She said looking to Solomon with light green eyes. "You Solomon have a great future just like Holden. Alicia you will become powerful to." She paused for a second and inhaled deeply. "Holden has the gift of Clairvoyance, as well as elemental, there is one more but he will find that out soon." Jasmine's eyes turned white as she disappeared. Alicia sat there flabbergasted. "I hate it when she is fucking cryptic." She said looking to Solomon. |
Solomon tuned her out as she spoke, and when she disappeared he opened his eyes, "She's wrong you know..." Even though he spoke as if he was going to continue, he would not. After a moment he added, "Jaclynn could care less about the relationship between us and the beasts; in fact, she prefers it the way it is." He looked off to the side, his hands going into his pockets.
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"I know, but I also know that there is something else Jasmine isn't telling us. She normally wouldn't come right out and state it she would of given us clues or something to what Holden's powers are." Alicia said looking at Amanda who was starting to wake up. "I can tell there is something that you know Solomon, I don't care if you tell me or not but as long as you protect Holden." She said smiling at the now awake Amanda. "Hey Amanda, how are you feeling?" Alicia asked.
"Wheres Holden?" She asked rubbing her eyes. "He went to run a few errands. Are you hungry?" She asked helping Amanda sit up. Amanda nodded, she looked at Solomon. She got up off of the bed and went over to Solomon. She gave his legs a hug, and gave his a smile. |
Solomon smiled, crouching down and giving Amanda a hug as well, "Maggy must've worn you right out, hm?" He stood, looking to Alicia, "I just happen to know her very well...I've had many run-ins with her before." He contacted Holden via telepathy, "Holden, Amanda is awake, but you should finish your errands first, she still seems fairly exhausted."
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"Mmhmm." Amanda said as she grabbed Alicia's hand.
Alicia smiled and headed to the kitchen with Amanda. "Ok Solomon." "I'm almost done I just have to stop one more place." Holden said as he turned into a parking lot. "Does she have any thing showing that her nerves are bad?" He asked as he went into the store. |
"I'll have to watch her closely...she's going to go eat with Alicia right now. She'll let me know if she notices anything with her hand." He watched as they left the room, "Holden will be back soon..he's got one more stop."
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