Vasili wanted to wring his Ram's neck. The damned thing was supposed to help him, but in this crucial moment, its wisdom seemed cloaked in mysticism. It felt like he was being served a heaping plate of genuine, USDA Organic, FDA Certified, 100% Grass-Fed, grade-A bullshit.
Letting his semi-real anger go in a huff, Vasili looked around and noticed that the bouncer, Demetri, was handing him an overcoat to cover up with.
Wanting to smack himself for his stupidity, he sighed and said, "Thanks man, I'm having a rough day.", as he tried to regain his dignity.
The bouncer gave a curt nod and backed away from the scene, leaving Vasili with the woman.
Mrs. Sanchez had started lightly humming a tune during their exchange about the overcoat, trying to make sure her husband didn't come out of the trance when she glanced back and noticed Vasili's gaze fixed on her.
She stopped humming, hesitant to even speak as she asked, "Sir Alpha? Are you going to take our daughter?"
Vasili realized his 'disarming' charm hadn't fully worked because she was still worried he would take her daughter away from them.
She didn't know Vasili, she had barely heard about Elias' club, and all she cared about was getting her family back. This was a wild situation for all of them.
Vasili spoke up, trying to get her to relax a little, "No. I will not be taking Maya?"
At his questioning inflection, she nodded and brought her daughter forward, standing her between herself and her husband.
Vasili looked back towards Elias and could tell just how bad he was fucking this up by the sheer anticipation on his face, he couldn't WAIT to be called into the 'game.'
Waving him forward, Elias spoke up, "Thank GOD! Sorry. The Dragos family respects 'interspecies authorities and pack relations', so I would have been grounded if I interfered."
Vasili looked at him with confusion, wanting to ask what this had to do with anything.
Elias nodded and took the hint by continuing, "This is Vasili. He is brand new, like, 'hasn't peeled the screen plastic off' new to our world, he metamorphized last night and he has been VERY confused ever since."
Vasili nodded awkwardly as Mrs. Sanchez and Maya stared dumbfounded.
Mrs. Sanchez asked, "HE!? Awakened last night?! HIM!?", while pointing up and down at Vasili's body, clearly disbelieving the statement.
Maranda spoke up, "The Dragos family physician tested him last night, while he was being 'born again'."
Then she stepped forward, grabbed Mr. Sanchez's chin, and looked him in the eyes for a moment before flashing her eyes a bright blood red, saying, "You can cease your song now, he will be conscious but unable to cause a further disturbance."
Mrs. Sanchez nodded and explained, "Love, this is Vasili, he is basically a 'regular civilian' with his level of knowledge. He doesn't seem to be a bad guy either, so, just try to relax and not fight the Alpha Vampire's compulsion..."
She had mentioned Maranda's level of power as a further deterrent, fighting one Alpha was suicidal, and fighting two was self-sacrifice.
While Mrs. Sanchez was caressing and comforting her husband, Vasili spoke to Maya, "Are you okay?", to which she nodded and said, "I think so. I don't really understand what happened."
She looked at her arms and legs, confused by the golden scales that now covered most of her body.
Mrs. Sanchez spoke, "Baby, it looks like you are a Chimera...", then when that didn't clear it up, she added, "It means that you are what people call an 'abomination.'"
Hastily adding, "We don't think like that though. Our parents-your grandparents-weren't exactly fond of our love, and they said so often. It is rare, but when two different species of creature mix, sometimes it results in a Chimera. We just didn't think it would happen to us."
She quickly hugged Maya, as she began crying loudly, making everyone in the room feel uncomfortable.
Vasili felt the bond between them strain and stepped forward to console her as well. Maya turned to him and seemed aware that she was sending distress through their bond.
"I'm sorry, I just...I just don't know what is happening. I thought I would be like mom. Then I could be a beautiful singer too," tears were rolling off of her cheeks as she continued, "Why did this happen to me? I just wanted to graduate high school and be like Taylor!"
Vasili stopped his approach and just watched as a mother comforted her daughter.
The Ram poked him, letting him know that he could help. All he needed to do was push some of his Essence towards their bond.
He reached inside and felt the tether, feeling the fragility of it because of how new it was. There was a pathway inside, a connection directly to each of them that seemed to grow in anticipation at his attention.
He focused and followed the Ram's instructions, pushing some of the energy flowing through him into her, which quickly made her stop crying and look at him.
Her eyes began glowing orange and flashing with sparks of red power.
Maya's emotions were being dulled slightly.
She was alive. She had her family and her Alpha.
That would have to be good enough for now.
Then he stopped, realizing what was happening by the blank look on her face. It wasn't what he wanted to do, he wasn't trying to numb her emotions like his had been numbed.
The Ram disagreed. This was not that. What he just did was remove the pain by making her feel her family and the bond they shared. It simply made her focus on the 'now'.
Elias spoke up, "Vasili, how do you know how to do that???"
Vasili shrugged and answered, "The Ram told me?"
Elias squinted in confusion, "Your 'instinct' was to manipulate your bond and share your Essence?"
Vasili nodded which made Elias scoff and shake his head.
Maya at this point was hugging her mom and dad, and thinking about her parents' aversion to her Grandparents. It was no wonder why they didn't approve, she "turned" and nearly killed someone.
Then it hit her, "Did I hurt anyone else?!", she said with panic in her voice.
After quick instructions from Elias, Cassie and Demetri took off out through the hole in the wall and went to retrace her steps.