Re: Two lost souls (closed to Blacksmith)

by **Blacksmith** November 25th 2012, 5:38 pm

It had been painful to Eric to find that his long-lost biological mother cared little for him, even seemed to despise him. It hurt him deeply, despite the fact that he had always vowed to live by himself and for himself alone; that he promised himself he wouldn't need such nonsense as motherly love or even parental affection in general.
In the short few weeks he had been here at Dominus he had come to know his true mother as a cold, professional woman with a sadistic streak in her sexuality and a strong fondness, perhaps even love, for Lilia.
But the thing that truly jabbed at him, the dagger in his heart, was the knowledge that Franklin Salters, a cruel monster of a man whose depravity knew no bounds, cared for him more than she did. He was the cause of all of Lilia's pain, the personification of her personal devil in this world, and even to Eric had been a tormentor at times. And yet here he was, watching over him at the sickbed. She wasn't.

Eric listened drowsily to the foul man's ramblings. When Salters moved a few stray strands of hair out of Eric's face, he felt the instinctive urge to move away from it and feel appalled, yet lay this urge to rest. His hands were rough and greasy, his movements rough, but they spoke at least of a modicum of concern for the boy. Even if it was only as a human weapons factory, he saw some value in him, considered him to be worth worrying for. And as much as Eric wanted to hate the man, he wanted to from the depths his heart, for Lilia, he could not. Eric continued to half-listen; it was of little interest to him what Salt was actually saying.
No. Wait.

Lilia? Dead?

Eric sprung to attention, his eyes opening wider, his heart suddenly skipping a beat. As Salters gave the details, Eric listened attentively. He soon began to relax again, displaying only an ambiguous calm smile on his face.
When Salt moved to leave, Eric spoke up weakly.

"I'd rather.....I don't want....vacation. I just want to get to work again...as soon as possible." He managed to utter, still breathing rather heavily. He needed to get back to his work. Back to the forge. Back to doing what he was meant to do. He knew now what he had to do, and how to achieve it.

"I want to make....the greatest weapons...the world has ever seen."

by **Chellizard** November 25th 2012, 6:51 pm

"It's a good thing you let us handle the trauma, Agent Karma."

"Doctor Snowden. Doctor Skyler Snowden, please." Stress was evident in this voice.

"Well, Doctor Snowden. It was in your best interest to let us handle her wounds. I'm proud to say she's alive... and stable."

"Well, I'm going to require the proper equipment set up in my home. I need it all. And she needs to be air lifted to my residence in Georgia. No way in hell is she staying here after that. She was supposed to only be touched by Eric Atman, not three other men.." She was trying her best to keep her voice from cracking. Tears were streaming her face, and she was having a hard time keeping her hands from fiddling with her dog tags.

"I don't think that's a good-"

"No!" she barked back, grabbing the doctor by the front of his coat. "I'll be damned if she stays here one more SECOND!" she barked. The doctor whimpered and shrunk back against the wall, his feet barely touching the floor. Unbeknownst to Skyler, Salt was lurking just down the hall, listening to their conversation.
-
Everything was prepared, and the helicopter was ready to airlift Lilia. She was being transported right now. Skyler, though, took hold of the broken pocket watch and hesitated outside of Eric's room. Salt had left five minutes beforehand, and gave Skyler a look that seemed sincere. She ignored it, though. Her hand reached, fingers trembling when she opened the door. Eric lay in bed, passed out and drugged to keep his body from feeling pain. She stepped to his bed side, keeping her presence as unknown as possible. She smelled like blood; his blood, and Lilia's. She also smelled like worry, fear, and stress. She sighed and shook her head and gently laid the pocket watch on the table tray next to Eric's bed.

"You can't hear me.. but I do love you. I think I know why you hate me, too.. But, not a day goes by that I don't think about you at least once.. I'm sorry I wasn't in your life from the beginning, but I gave you your best shot. I'm sorry.. I could've done something about it, but I didn't. I was selfish for thinking you would grow up fine without a mother's love. I know I grew up okay, but only because my foster mom was there for me.. I looked into the Atman family; they may be shiny and happy on the outside, but on the inside they're cold, and all about the money.. I wish I could go back and change things... For now, though? Good bye, Eric.. May you find peace and love.." As she spoke, a few tears passed over her eyes and she sighed. She pulled out the broken ballerina sculpture and left it as well. Maybe Eric would like it.

"Karma," came a rushed voice. "The helicopter is waiting.." Skyler hesitated, but then nodded and stepped away from Eric's bed and to the hallway. "Do me a favor.. I know you have a kid of your own, but could you keep an eye on him, Kat?" she asked, giving a broken smile. Katherine nodded and then saluted and walked Skyler to the helicopter. Skyler stepped up the shallow steps into the helicopter, and sat next to the bed ridden Lilia Ivanov. She sighed, tears flushing down her face while her hands gently cradled Lilia's. "We'll be home soon, and you'll be safe, baby. I promise." She sobbed, but it was muffled by the helicopter's massive propellers whirring to lift them off of the pad.

They were on their way home.

Lilia would be safe.

For now.