Welcome to Gaia! ::

The ride to the Lab was shorter than he remembered. Granted, Hazeline was a careful driver and they had stopped along the way. Occasionally, the white frei would try to move his arms; perhaps in an attempt to make himself comfortable but…Rivener’s grip held firm. Sighing, Xiu ignored the Sigel’s questions and turned his eyes to the road instead; Xiu did not feel up to answering questions just yet.

Nevertheless, when the truck had entered the Lab’s parking lot and the Italian woman had got off to open the door on the passesnger side, the white frei practically shied away from Alex. He did not want to see this strange doctor. Who knew what would happen to him? Would they…put him out of commission like all those failed experiments Xiu had read about in science fiction novels or …would the doctor experiment on him first? The woman’s words ‘It'll be over soon, Xiu’ did not help in alleviating the Frei’s worry.

And Lazarus? What would the Sigel think? He had left the lab reluctantly after Lazarus had sort of pushed him to Hazeline and now he was returning to the lab in disgrace. A different kind of fear from the one felt in the park gripped at Xiu. The fear of letting someone down.

Lazarus was expecting them as the trio walked towards the entrance of the lab, Kyou had informed him of their sudden visit and asked him to wait for them by the door. He wasn't sure what was going on, but judging by how Kyou was reacting, it certainly seemed very serious. Opening the door, he gave a grim glance at Xiu who was being held like a criminal by Rivener, feeling even more puzzled by the second. What bothers him more was how pale Xiu looked. He was already quite pale from the beginning, he never thought Xiu could get any paler. It was as if all the blood had drained out from his body.

"Kyou is waiting for you in his room." he gestured, sensing the air of urgency, he took the lead and hurried them through the empty lab. "Come with me."

"Oh, you're here! That was fast!" Kyou exclaimed from behind a huge book as the group entered his office. His brow furrowed though when he spotted the white Raevan. Standing up from behind his seat, he hurried towards Xiu. "What exactly happened?" his voice worried, laced with fear. "You weren't very specific on the phone." he said, looking at Alex for an answer. "Does Hazeline know about this?"

Worried, the unsuspecting doctor moved forward and reached out a hand to closer inspect Xiu.

Despite his reluctance, the Frei found himself being led by Rivener towards the entrance of the lab and upon seeing Lazarus there, the white frei visibly paled. He did not want to be seen like this. He was not a criminal! He was-

Pale wrists trembled slightly as they tried to wrench themselves free of the Sigel’s grasp. This was not happening! He did not want to return to the Lab in disgrace. He had…he had wanted them; wanted Hazeline, Lazarus, everyone to be proud of him!

“Not like this, Rivener….please…,” pleaded the white frei.

The blue rune flickered and dimmed as the exertion took yet another portion of the frei’s dwindling strength and Xiu was forced to remain quiet once more. Panting slightly, Xiu was horrified to realize that now; he was actually depending on the Sigel’s hold on him for support as they made their way towards the doctor’s office. The night could not end fast enough…

"Oh, you're here! That was fast!"


Exhausted blue eyes lifted to see the person whom this strange voice belonged to and Xiu observed the doctor as a prisoner would observe a trigger happy guard and as the doctor approached him with an extended hand, the frei made a feeble attempt to back away. He did not know this person; he did not want to be examined by a stranger; not in such a compromised state as this. The intervention of Alex therefore was a welcomed one. Xiu listened as the Italian explained what had occurred and felt shame threatening to overwhelm him again. Xiu envied those that were capable of passing out in situations such as these. The sudden touch of Alex’s hand on his shoulder however, made Xiu look up bewildered. Stone grey wings shifted as the frei turned to face the other.

"It's your turn now, Xiu,"

"to tell us your side of what's going on, so we can understand."

"No one here is going to hurt you, I promise! We're here for you kiddo, so let us help you, okay?"

There were no lies behind her words, no hidden meanings. This human was sincere. She intended to help him.

He should help her help him…

“T-The Hungry Ghost Month…,” said Xiu hesitantly. “It has been severely draining me…and I can’t feed without…placing the humans in danger…,”

…

“I did not want to worry Hazeline,” Xiu then continued after a moment’s pause. “I-I thought if I could just hold out, everything would be fine. I did not expect this to happen,” said Xiu in a voice that was now barely above a whisper. “I-I got scared. For my family and…of myself…,”

Xiu lowered his head. “I-I’m sorry…,”

"He... what?" Kyou gasped in surprise, withdrawing his hand from Alex's grasp. "L-like a vampire?" he asked, bewildered. Directing his eyes back to the white Raevan again, he noted that his rune was flickering rather dimly. This was not good. Without asking anymore questions though, he listened to Xiu's explanation of what was really going on.

"It's alright." he gave a reassuring nod to Rivener, there's nothing wrong with worrying about someone's welfare. Rivener has a kind soul.

Taking a seat at the edge of his desk, Kyou contemplated the entire situation for a moment quietly. So circumstances like these can affect a Raevan's diet as well. "I had..." he began, "...a hunch of what was going on, about the hungry ghost month." he said, motioning towards the book he was looking at before titled 'Traditional Chinese Festivities'. "It is a time where the gates of hell are wide open and the deceased are free to visit the land of living from the lower realm." he explained, looking at Xiu. "I had theorized that Xiu's inability to feed was because of the bad spirits that are roaming around. Am I right? Xiu? Do you see or sense the bad spirits? However, I did not thought that this would change your diet entirely."

Lazarus had moved to a side of Kyou to give him some space. He felt bad for Xiu as well, it must've sucked not being able to feed properly. Unaware of Xiu's embarrassment directed towards him specifically, he frowned at the younger white Frei. Lazarus was trying to imagine how weak Xiu was feeling when he caught Rivener's silent message. Brows still furrowed, he smiled wryly and nodded gently, agreeing that this was indeed a terrible situation for Xiu.

Just a little bit, Lazarus floated closer towards the Raevans as he listened to Kyou's explanation of the situation.

Xiu bit his lips as the Rivener chided him for his actions. Feelings of wanting to lash out, defend himself, explain what led him to his actions swelled and threatened to burst forth from the frei’s mouth but Xiu stopped himself. What good was that going to do? It was not like…he was in any position to have a say in it. With his hands bound behind his back, his rune barely glowing and bloodlust to boot, Xiu suspect that he’d present a very weak argument. In any case, the Doctor was speaking and Xiu tried to follow the doctor’s words as he explained about the Hungry Ghost Month.

When Dr.Kyou mentioned about being ‘like a Vampire’, Xiu visibly winced as though he had been slapped hard. He was not a vampire! H-He was not a bloodsucking monster. Pale hands clenched themselves as the frei bore with the explanations as well as he could and when the Doctor had finally directed a question at him, Xiu nodded glumly. “Yes, that’s true, sir,” said Xiu in a small voice. “I am capable of detecting malicious thoughts or intention,”

At the sight of Lazrus floating closer to listen in on the conversation, Xiu turned away from the Sigel’s gaze.Looking hapless and weak in front of someone he had admired was a bitter pill to swallow indeed.

The Italian woman was walking over. Puzzled, Xiu had not had time to react when he felt her hands cupping his chin. This was then followed by a gentle kiss to his brow. Xiu blinked; surprised. He had not expected that from Alex. Blue eyes lifted to eye the Italian woman as she spoke words of comfort which ended with a gentle pat on the cheek. Then, she was gone. No doubt giving the doctor room for whatever was to come next; a thought which worried Xiu.

“What’s…going to happen to me now?” asked Xiu quietly with just a trace of fear and apprehension in his voice.

Good question. Xiu would need to feed, and soon too, judging by the dimming glow of the rune. Or else he'd end up like Gage, which Kyou sworn to not let it happen again. He was quiet again, his thoughts racing to find a solution to the current situation. If he can't feed on his usual diet, then he had to feed on his current diet!

"I got it!" he said, pounding his fist into his palm. "I have an idea that might just work. Don't worry Xiu, we'll fix you." face determined, he got up. "Rivener, follow me." he motioned at the younger Sigel.

Exiting his office, he walked across the laboratory towards the double doors at the very end. Turning his head around occasionally to make sure that they are following him. Crossing his fingers, he sure hope this would work. Passing through the doors, he headed towards the next set of doors located further down the corridor to his right - Tsu's office. Tsu always keep his office locked, good thing Kyou has spare keys. Fishing the keys out from his pants pocket, he opened the door and turned on the lights. Without hesitation, he headed in a bee line towards the silver industrial refrigerator.

"Xiu is in desperation to feed, since he couldn't feed on innocence due to the malicious ghosts... there is only one thing left that he could feed on." Kyou said as he opened the fridge to reveal frozen blood packs inside. Grabbing one, he tossed it towards Lazarus.

Getting caught on Kyou's idea swiftly, Lazarus let out a soft "Oh." as he quickly got to work heating up the blood pack with the palm of his hands. Pushing and rubbing all over the pack gently to make sure that it melts nicely.

Closing the fridge, he took a seat on Tsu's desk and faced Xiu, brows furrowed in worry. "I know this may seem disgusting, drinking blood. But this is the only way that we could save you now. If you go on starving like this... who would know what would happen to you?" Kyou's voice cracked a little bit as he spoke. "Think of your friends, think of Hazeline."

"Here." Lazarus spoke softly, extending his hand with the blood pack towards Xiu, the blood flowing gently and emanating a warmth from Lazarus's hands. "Take it."

Rivener had guided Xiu into the room after Kyou, watching everything with interest. Dr Kyou seemed to have found a solution, and Rivener's spirits lifted. Xiu would really be alright then? How wonderful! Smiling, Rivener waited for Xiu to accept the pack Kyou had handed Lazarus. It was fairly clear to the Scorpion what waited in that pack: blood. Bloodpacks! What a great idea! If Xiu was ever hungry again, he could just get a handful of these and they could keep him going until the dark foreboding month of the ghost was done.

...Only for some reason, Xiu refused. The white frei had seemed so eager at first, so happy to finally have something to feed on! Rivener could feel the Raevan in his hold lean forward towards the pack! An instant later, Xiu collapsed on himself, shying away from the offered solution, whispering that he couldn't do this.

Riv's temper flared. He bared his own fangs and shifted his grip to hold both of Xiu's wrists in one strong Sigel palm. The other hand ripped the bloodpack out of Lazarus' hands and all but shoved it in Xiu's face. With one clawed thumb, Rivener tore a hole in the plastic outer layer and the liquid inside began oozing out, making a small mess on the floor as it dripped. "EAT Xiu, or so help me I'll force-feed it to you!" The Scorpion was dead serious, yanking on Xiu's hands to make sure the white frei was paying attention.

The front door opened, was followed by a shy voice calling out from the lobby. Rivener didn't call back just yet; he had a suspicion Xiu didn't want to be seen feeding on this particular food, and if he hurried he could finish before Hazeline got here. "Do it quick and she won't have to see. Quickly, Xiu."

If Xiu had thought drinking blood while being restrained was bad, the proposed idea of being force-fed by Rivener while being restrained was galling. The white frei shuddered involuntarily as his hands were jerked by the strong Sigel. What made matters worse was that…the others were in agreement with Rivener’s threat. Terrified and disbelieving blue eyes shifted from the Doctor, to Lazarus then the door as the voice of Hazeline could be heard, calling for him. It was all Xiu could do to not call out to his guardian; to tell her that he’s fine; that she need not worry for him.

The doctor was moving towards the door now, telling the frei that he’d stall Hazeline while Xiu fed.

…

Leaving him to the might and mercy of two rather short tempered Sigels. Xiu watched with quiet apprehension as Lazarus approached him, telling the white frei that he’d die if he did not feed. Xiu did not want to die…

With obvious reluctance, the white frei leaned forward towards the pack. Now that the blood was actually before him, his throat felt…unnaturally dry. Closing his eyes, the white frei braced himself and gave the blood pack a tentative lick. This was then followed by another, and another. Soon, Xiu was drinking the blood from the pack in earnest. Twice the white frei nearly chocked as the warm red liquid flowed down his throat but the frei could not stop. The taste! The sensation! If his diet could be likened to food, Xiu would have likened the innocence to that of a slightly chilled, lightly flavoured vanilla pudding while this…this was entirely different. Xiu’s eyes glazed over as the frei fed. This was…darker, richer…headier…

A trickle of blood flowed from the torn pack, glistened and fell, staining the white robes of the frei with droplets of red; but Xiu did not care. Clumsily the frei continued to go at the blood, not caring if there were others watching; giving in to instinct just as Lazarus had told him to do…


The apparent change in diet had not only changed the frei inwardly but outwardly as well. His once blue rune had glowed weakly as the frei leaned forward to take his first taste of blood. Then, as the frei fed, the rune dimmed, faded to a lifeless grey, pulsed weakly and for a few horrifying seconds, nearly flickered out. Then, it was coming back stronger, brighter, but…a different colour. Now, a warm red glow was emanating where the once blue rune was and as if to mirror its change, blue eyes were no longer blue but blood red…


The blood pack was now empty or at least a lot flatter than it initially was. Satisfied that even Rivener could not fault him now, Xiu pulled back. There was a slight tinge of disappointment that there had not been more blood but…Xiu had to show the Sigels that he was in control of himself.

His rune pulsed and its red glow caught the white frei’s attention. There, was an uncomfortable silence as the white frei took this in along with his blood speckled clothing. Then, in a slightly strangled voice; “Rivener…Lazarus…wh-how did this happen?”

How could he possibly see Hazeline now?


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Hazeline turned to face the voice who had called out her name. A young man was making his way towards her but…Hazeline stared at the Doctor quizzically… he had horns?

“Umm…yes, pleased to meet you, Doctor?” said Hazeline taking the offered hand and giving it a distracted shake. “And yes, I am Hazeline, Xiu’s guardian. … Xiu, he is alright isn’t he? Alex said that he’d be here,”

The young lady stared worriedly about. There was no sign of Xiu or Alex anywhere. “Xiu, may I see him?”