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Post by Bryce Langley on Sept 20, 2010 14:35:34 GMT -6
While the hybrid grumbled, pawing at the abruptly empty space and curling in on himself to try holding in the lingering heat, the dark figures split up, one slipping through a patch of light to distract the winged boy while the other two stepped up to the slumbering naga. The taller of the two crouched, unsheathing a black painted blade while the other surveyed the room, keeping an eye on its comrade and the bird. Aiden was jerked awake by the feel of cold sharp metal pressed to his throat, a gloved hand over his mouth.
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Post by Coraline on Sept 20, 2010 14:42:59 GMT -6
Hermes was not as stupid as his wide eyes looked. He could sense the movement near Aiden, and he dove at the blackness, knocking the man aside, the blade clattering to the floor. His hands went for the intruder's face, his fingers arched like talons and clawing at him.
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Post by Bryce Langley on Sept 20, 2010 16:58:49 GMT -6
Aiden lurched up the moment he was able, grabbing the blanket from off his back and flinging it up to blind one of the attackers as he scrambled out of harm's way, his infrared vision picking out the warm bodies of the four others in the room. Oddly enough, he could pick out Hermes by heat signature alone, the bird-child burning hot compared to their human attackers. The one who had been trying to distract the winged boy lunged into the fray, attempting to tackle the hybrid, who darted to one side, rattle buzzing in warning as he hissed, teeth bared.
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Post by Coraline on Sept 20, 2010 18:19:35 GMT -6
Hermes found what he wanted, and tore at the intruder's eyes, ripping them from the socket. He spun instantly, lunging at another attacker, only able to see them by the sounds they made.
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Post by Bryce Langley on Sept 20, 2010 18:36:07 GMT -6
Hearing the injured man scream, Aiden jerked up, unwittingly baring his unprotected front as he sought out the source of the sound. The intruder took advantage of the hybrid's sudden distraction, unsheathing a long knife and lunging forward, intending to go for the former marksman's heart. Aiden's heat vision proved itself indispensable, catching the sudden movement and prompting the naga to shift out of harm's way, slashing his claws across the black-clad assassin's back. The man gave a soft hiss of pain, stumbling, but caught himself and whirled, blade darting for the hybrid's throat. Aiden managed to jerk back, but the sharp knife still caught his collarbone, slicing a thin line that began to bleed down his chest. He hissed, baring his teeth. Something clicked free of his jaw, long curved fangs sliding free to rest on either side of his tongue. When the attacker lunged again, the naga hissed, mouth opening wider than humanly possible to bring those monstrous fangs into view, a spilt-second warning before Aiden made his move. Like massive needles, the fangs sliced deep into the assassin's throat, the hybrid's claws puncturing through black fabric to score bloody lines down the man's shoulders. Hemotoxic venom, concentrated from being stored for so long, pumped into the intruder's bloodstream. A sure death.
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Post by Coraline on Sept 20, 2010 18:41:18 GMT -6
Hermes tangled with one of them, his movements flighty and jerky, and he was more than thankful that he didn't own a lot of things. He swung his fist, the man catching his hand easily and pulling him aside, swinging the bird into the wall. He hit with a silent grunt, and struck out with his feet, kicking the man and jumping on him. He knew human anatomy well enough to know that he wanted to go for the eyes, or the tongue. The bird kicked, feeling someone grab at his ankle.
There was a solid, and grotesque, snapping sound as the assailant snapped the bones in one of his wings.
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Post by Bryce Langley on Sept 20, 2010 18:57:52 GMT -6
It was that nasty, brittle-sounding snap that brought the former marksman to his senses, and he gave a soft gasp, shoving away the twitching body and clapping his hands over his mouth, feeling those blood-stained fangs slide up into his jaw and click neatly into place. "Oh God..." Behind him, the last able-bodied attacker glanced back over his shoulder, seeing one man blinded, the other convulsing on the floor, and decided it best to make himself scarce. Dropping the winged boy, the assassin bolted for the window, pausing only to slash the blinded man's throat before disappearing into the night.
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Post by Coraline on Sept 20, 2010 19:02:16 GMT -6
Hermes stumbled against the door, screaming in silence, his wing been snapped in two. It hurt, it hurt like he couldn't even describe. He shivered and tried to curl up, the pain overwhelming.
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Post by Bryce Langley on Sept 20, 2010 19:09:12 GMT -6
The naga was trembling, his breath quickening in fear as he tried to back away from the poisoned man's bloody twitching corpse, hands clasped tightly over his mouth. But a snake's scales are not made for moving backwards, and Aiden soon tumbled over, thudding down on his side with a muted yelp. Right next to the blinded man bleeding out on the floor. He lurched up, using his arms to back himself up against the wall, barely an arm's length from the winged boy's trembling form. "God Almighty..."
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Post by Coraline on Sept 20, 2010 19:11:22 GMT -6
Hermes took a deep breath and reached over to him, pulling the serpent into his arms and holding him close, despite the face that he was in such incredible pain.
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Post by Bryce Langley on Sept 20, 2010 19:52:42 GMT -6
Aiden stiffened at first, not expecting the contact, but quickly leaned into the bird's embrace, reaching out to pull the winged boy close as he fought to keep himself together. He used to kill people for a living, bullet to the brain pan from a mile away, but never so face to face. And those teeth... Dear God, he hadn't even known they were there. Just instinct, self-defense- He grimaced, realizing he could taste blood in his mouth.
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Post by Coraline on Sept 20, 2010 19:55:13 GMT -6
Hermes gripped him tightly. He almost prayed the snake's bodyguards found them, then maybe he would get medical attention before he went into shock.
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Post by Bryce Langley on Sept 20, 2010 20:15:46 GMT -6
The naga realized something was wrong with his winged friend, and forced himself to focus, sitting up to pull the boy into his lap. He grimaced at the limp form of the broken wing, the pristine white feathers ruffled and stained with blood, a thin sliver of bone jutting out into the open air. With gentle hands, he tentatively felt along the break, hissing in sympathy upon finding the bone not just fractured but crushed, splintered. "Damn..." Aiden sat up, swallowing down his panic to look the bird in the eye, a hand lifting to the boy's cheek to help the winged child focus. "Hermes, hey, you hear me? You got anybody ya c'n call? Someone 'ho c'n 'elp?"
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Post by Coraline on Sept 20, 2010 20:18:44 GMT -6
It was getting hard to focus on anything but the pain.
Hermes shook his head. There was a phone in his flat, but he never used it, for he had no voice. There was no one he could go to.
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Post by Bryce Langley on Sept 20, 2010 20:24:16 GMT -6
Aiden cursed softly under his breath, head thumping against the wall as he leaned back, bird cradled to his chest as he tried to think. Who did he know? Who could he call? He grimaced, gritting his teeth and thudding his head against the wall, purposefully this time, before slowly rising up from the floor, keeping the injured wing-child cradled to his chest as he moved over to his discarded jacket. A bit of fumbling, and he pulled out a small cheap cell phone. Only one number to call. "Don?"
{Note: Don, Jo and Lana will be able to track a chip in Aiden's phone -how Don found him in the first place-, so all Aiden has to do is call for help and they'll be able to find him. Of course, they'll come in a big black pickup with the engie tuned to the point it runs silent...}
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