Facing the Wicked Witch

[losthunter]

After the rain let up, and Hunter was able to get home -- he spent the remainder of the evening reflecting on his current mood. He wasn't even able to finish any of the portraits that still needed some work, his mind clouded with thoughts at the Witch. And his father.

The thought of his father in the hospital was the one that bothered him the most. Especially since he had no information on how his father was faring -- thanks to the fact that he was denied access to the hospital room.

Come morning, his mind was made up. Hunter was going to talk to Kendra one last time and try to appeal to her somehow.

But he couldn't trust himself to meet her alone. And pulling out a phone number from the man he met last night -- Hunter picked up the phone. Then he called one William Kent.

Comments

[william_kent]

Wil doesn't talk a lot, but he has a strong sense of justice. "There's a middle ground between ignoring the problem and cursing someone."

[losthunter]

"His life is happier. He has said so himself. I don't count that as a curse."

"But tell you what. I will make a deal with you. You show me the middle ground... in 24 hours... and I will get his father out of the hospital."

"Don't..." It is all Hunter can gasp out. He doesn't want to see Wil caught on the other side of Kendra's magic.

[william_kent]

"I'm not making any deals with you." Wil's not going to make that mistake. From what Hunter's told him already, that can only end badly.

Hunter's condition seems to be getting worse, more than anxiety can account for, and Wil looks at him in concern.

[losthunter]

"No deals." Kendra's voice is the only thing left of her. Seriously, when he looks for again -- she is gone.

"It hurts..." Hunter whispers, trying not to call attention to himself.


It is like the tattoos have life to them. They are ebbing and moving against his skin. Hunter is trying to rub so much at his palm, where the rose bush is starting to bloom into new buds, that it is making his hand red.

[william_kent]

Wil's on high alert, not even able to smell where Kendra might have gone, but she's clearly not anywhere nearby anymore. He can't smell her or hear her.

Which means Hunter must now be his priority. "What happened?" he asks, attention drawn to the changing tattoo.

[losthunter]

"I don't know. She must have done something." Hunter has to grip the table with his right hand -- to stop himself from trying to scratch away the pain. His nails had scratched some flesh, and there is a little blood.

"It is like going up my arm..."

[william_kent]

"We've got to get you out of here." Wil hesitates, then reaches out to grab Hunter's arm, the one where the tattoo isn't changing (yet).

[losthunter]

"Good idea." Hunter leans on him, favoring the side of his body that isn't being affected. Yet.

He knows it is only time. All the tattoos are connected.

"I don't think a hospital would work..." That is his only concern.

[william_kent]

Wil tries to think fast. He knows a few magic-users who might be able to help, but he's not sure where they are at the moment. He could possibly take Hunter to the Justice League... but they might not be able to help either.

"Is there anyone we can go to for help?"

[losthunter]

"Man... I just don't know." Hunter does know a few magic-users himself. But they are not quite reachable at the best of times.

"Maybe head to my apartment?" He pulls out his wallet, to show Wil his address. It is only a few blocks away.

[william_kent]

Wil nods and starts steering them that way. This close to Hunter, he can almost smell the change, and he's concerned for what it might mean.

[losthunter]

Hunter is used to sticking to the side of buildings, and even does that leaning on Wil. It hopefully will reduce the amount of stares they might get.

"What did she try to get you to agree to?" He is trying to piece together what happened. And is getting his key out, so when they reach the door -- he can try to unlock it.

[william_kent]

"Doesn't matter. I won't take any deal she offers."

[losthunter]

"Just... trying to make sense of what she did." They reach the apartment door. Luckily, it is a studio apartment, so it is only one set of stairs to get to it.

Hunter's hand shakes when he unlocks the door. The studio apartment has a bachelor kitchen, living room and bathroom on the left side. Huge art studio and his bedroom to the right side.

He heads to the couch... just wanting to lie down.

[william_kent]

Wil helps Hunter to the couch, lowering him down. He's not quite sure what to do, and he keeps hold of Hunter's arm, watching the vine tattoo grow and blossom. "Has this ever done this before?"

[losthunter]

"It used to go through the seasons... when she gave me a year to find someone to love me despite the tattoos and markings." Hunter explained. He closes his eyes. "It didn't hurt like this."

"If this pain is this sharp when it reaches the tattoo on my chest..." He is barely able to have a clear head as it is right now.

[william_kent]

"We have to stop it." Somehow, Wil doesn't think that even amputation would stop it. Magic is funny that way.

[losthunter]

"I am open to ideas..." Hunter really doesn't think he is strong enough to bear the pain if it reaches the heart-shaped tattoo on his chest.

[william_kent]

Wil can only think of a few options. "Is it in your blood?"

[losthunter]

"Maybe..."

"The tattoos follow my blood veins."

"It just feels like there is something in my skin."

[william_kent]

This is such a weird thing to suggest to a guy who looks just like him, but the magical 'poison' is moving too fast to try anything else in time. "I didn't mention this before, but I'm a vampire. I can try to..." He doesn't finish the thought. Voicing it is too strange.

[losthunter]

"A vampire?" Hunter is not sure he heard that right. He doesn't seem upset about the revelation.

"Like Ruby." Yah, that name isn't helpful right now.

"Try it." He is not sure what finished the thought. But he trusts Wil.

[william_kent]

"Okay. Hold still." Wil rolls up Hunter's sleeve, searching for a point higher than the changing part of the tattoo. He's never fed on a human being before, and he's a bit nervous about it.

[losthunter]

"I will try." Hunter concentrates on trying not to thrash from the pain. So far, the living tattoo is mostly in the rose bush, which ends at the top of his forearm. The throbbing tattoos extend only slightly up his arm, creeping up slowly. If he targeted the wrist -- he would be able to remove the poison from its strongest point.

If he targeted higher -- like his shoulder joint, then that would be the best highest point at the moment.

[william_kent]

It hasn't spread very far, so Wil feels confident that if there is some sort of substance in Hunter's blood, it can be stopped at the source. He brings out his fangs, and hesitates only for a moment before biting into Hunter's wrist.