Culling

Part II • Chapter V

After we were locked in this room, I thought I would go crazy from the waiting.

I just focused on Sang, hoping with all my might that McCoy would act rationally. As time went on I could feel her nervousness, which didn't me happy but it wasn't the end of the world.

Then I felt her terror and the urgency of her situation.

Our reactions were instinctual, but it was unfortunate that I could not help with an aggressive assault. There were others in our group more equipped for that. I had never hated myself more than at that moment.

Silas' speciality is pain manipulation. There are a lot of particulars, but to put it simply; if he concentrates enough he can cause himself physical pain, and he can also suppress it. Generally, Silas will use his ability to push himself past the point of endurance. Not a good habit to get into.

I personally loathe when Silas uses his abilities because he tends to go overboard until his body physically cannot function anymore. For while the pain might be suppressed, he physically still takes on the damage. It's a dangerous power to have, and one that Owen and I have to keep a close watch on or it can be lethal.

However, today I found myself more than grateful for his particular ability.

That didn't stop me from being horrified from the knowledge that Sang suffered for even a moment. As a medical professional I knew of Jade's abilities, and heard the reports of how it worked to destroy a person's body from the inside out.

The kind of death that Jade had was nothing in comparison to the pain of her many victims.

As for Luke and North:

North can break through most any defense, blockade or shield. It does not matter if its presentation is physical or mental. As a plus, his ability comes with a side-effect - if he attacks at the right moment he sometimes can redirect a person's attack back to them. Depending on the strength of whatever it is North is against, the backlash can be catastrophic for the receiving end.

Meanwhile, Luke can create an impenetrable psychic defense. No variation of telepathy, mind-reading and mind-control will work against him and he can see through all forms of hallucinations and deceptions.

Jade's abilities relied on being able to get into her victim's minds and spirit, and owning everything about them. If she was able to get into Sang too deeply before North could have interceded, then it would have been too late for him to have launched an offensive.

I really wanted to give Luke a cookie.

But then again I didn't want to hurt North's feelings either, since he was also a hero of the day and he also deserved something.

I was so grateful to them both. Even now Luke, as exhausted as he must be, was still working as he kept our emotions from overwhelming Sang so she could rest.

Even though I had begun the rebuilding process on a cellular level, it would be a day at least until the pain died down enough to where I'd be comfortable letting Sang not touch Silas. Then another day before the negative effects that Sang felt from Jade's attack wore off entirely.

Silas and Luke were both going to be exhausted by the end of this. What to do? Clearly we'd miss a few days of training, and I dared Hendricks to say a word about it.

I got up from the couch I had been sitting on and made my way to the medical supplies that Karen had smuggled into the room for us. Earlier I had set them on the coffee table, expecting the worst.

Right now I had to do something with my hands or else I'd go crazy. I grabbed a few bandages and disinfectant solution. I noticed earlier that Owen had a nice looking cut on his forehead and who knows what else. I made my way over to his seat.

He watched me warily as I approached. "What are you doing, Dr Green?"

"What does it look like I'm doing, Owen?" I set some of the supplies on the table closest to us and dabbed some disinfectant on a cloth. "It's your turn to have some doctoring done."

"Go away, I don't need it." Owen dodged my hand as I reached for his head. Oh, it was going to be like this, was it? I did see how he brushed off Kota earlier. Clearly he wanted me to let him wallow in pain while he mentally and physically punished himself for something that he had no control over.

Well, Owen Blackbourne, it wasn't going to happen. Not on my watch.

A sulking Owen was not something our group saw every day, but after a day like today I didn't blame him. However, we didn't have the time for this right now. "Owen, you need to get fixed up because you know that Ian is going to hear about this."

That got his attention. He hated his father with a burning passion, after all. This was the best way to distract him away from the guilt he was feeling until I had the opportunity to talk to him privately.

Owen's wounded expression steeled over at the thought.

"I don't have to tell you, he is probably already now trying to plot out the best way to use Sang for his best interests during the next two weeks. He's not stupid, he knows he can not break a blood-binding. He will have no choice but to try to make the best of the situation now." I pointed out as I cleaned the cut. "I know that you knew it would happen, but are you mentally prepared?"

Owen narrowed his eyes in a displeased way. An expression he normally wore when he and I spoke about Ian. "I suppose I have to be, don't I?"

"I wouldn't be surprised if gifts start arriving first thing tomorrow morning. Now that it's done, you know he's going to try to outdo other families for the role of best in-law." I finished bandaging his head and sat back on the couch next to Kota.

"We aren't engaged to her yet." Owen pointed out, he was really a stickler for that little detail. I knew that he had really wanted to make a big deal about proposing to Sang in some romantic way when we were not stuck in a life or death situation. He felt that Sang deserved that. I had a feeling that Ian would take that option out of our hands.

Owen brought a hand to his forehead as he continued his line of thought. "However, we might as well be. He isn't going to differentiate on a technicality. He's going to find some way to use the news to gain ground politically. I'll need to talk to Miss Sorenson, I need to tell her that she's in no way obligated to cater to him. He won't do anything under public scrutiny, and murdering family tends to look bad. He can rot in hell for all I care. I have to be nice to him, she doesn't."

Kota pushed up the ridge of his glasses and interjected. "He'll probably play the part of the thrilled father-in-law. As far as Ian knows, he has everything to gain from this move. There's nothing standing in his way for what he wants once the games are over."

He indicated towards Owen, "We already know that he expects you to be killed during the games. Once you are out of the picture, there's no way he'd leave Sang's survival up to chance. We need to pay special attention once we get into the arena. You two are his biggest obstacles right now. Plus, we knew that this would happen eventually."

Owen rubbed the back of his neck. "Yes. I knew it would happen eventually, I took all this into consideration before we decided to the blond-binding. Even with the threat of him, Sang is still far safer bound to us than she would have been left to her own devices. I just didn't want to see his face at all."

Wow, Owen must really be feeling out of sorts to be this open in front of the others. Sure we've all had conversations regarding our families and shared details of our lives among the group, but Owen generally was more tight lipped than most. Especially on the topic of his father.

I clapped my hands once to bring the attention in the room to me. "I doubt that we'll be getting out of here for a few hours at least. Owen, you should go to bed and rest up."

He looked at me as if I had grown a second head.

Well, alright then. I could see that that would be a losing battle. "If you aren't going to do that, at least go shower and change. Doctor's orders."

Owen stood up and pulled off his shirt. "I suppose you are right. When I get back we'll have to discuss the plan. Remember, I still have my interview scheduled for tomorrow."