Daylight\\A.I. & C.H.

<:19:>

Calum, Claire and Veronica

"We need to think of a way to get him out of here," Claire grunts as she pulls Ashton's tight black jeans back on while Calum and Veronica work to get his shirt over his thick torso.

"Ashton," Calum groans, "You big boy, WAKE UP!"

"His heart is still deadly slow, he won't be waking for a while," Veronica states.

"What if he had blood?" Calum inquires, "Would that bring him to?"

"I don't know," Claire looks at Veronica.

"I don't know either," she shrugs, "I've only sired once before and he slaughtered a whole apartment complex after he woke up."

Calum looks at Ashton and leans away, wondering if he will recognize his friend once he wakes up. Will he still be Ashton? Or will he a crazed beast starving for human blood? Calum looks around the room, realizing that leaves him as Ashton's target.

"They're not all like that though," Claire says, "I've witnessed some. They were very lethargic and confused, not driven by the Hunger."

"I hope that's his case," Veronica sighs before looking at Calum. "Shall we try it?"

Calum swallows, looking over Ashton's thick figure, knowing he wouldn't stand a chance against him if he attacked. But then his eyes land on his face, the man he knows almost better than anyone because he finds true companionship in Calum, opening up to him in a way he can't with others. This is his best friend, his brother. He has to trust in that slow beating heart.

"Sure," Calum nods before he gets off the bed and stands away, watching Claire assess him.

She checks his neck, the puncture marks almost fully healed, the skin only slightly pink where the holes once were and his skin becoming warm again. Her finger gently lifts his already turned down upper lip, exposing his two of four soon to be sharp teeth, currently forming but not lethal. Calum's whole body clenches regardless. Lastly, she lifts his eye lid before she gasps, his natural caramel color almost matching the golden ring around his pupil.

"If we get him awake, they may not notice his ring, look," she waves them over to view his iris, obscuring their secret.

"Well let's hurry and try, his eyes turn green sometimes," Calum says hastily, stepping away again as Claire nods and punctures her finger.

A dark burgundy bead bubbles on her finger before she grabs Ashton's chin, pushing it down to open his mouth and expose his tongue to her. She reaches in and wipes the bead on his warm tongue; her chest tightening as she hopes this brings him back to her. The liquid begins to melt on his tongue and she pushes his mouth shut, watching his face intently for any signs of recognition or change.

Ashton's eye lids flutter before his jaw makes small slow movements, everyone going still as they watch with wide open eyes.

"Ashton?" Claire whispers and he moans, disgruntled.

His eyes squeeze together before he barely opens a lid, and grimaces. He moans uncomfortably as he grabs his head before trying to open his eyes again. Claire brushes his hair off his forehead as his eyes open more, relieving her as the caramel brown obscures the now permanent gold ring.

"Ashton?" she whispers again, her emerald eyes bouncing between his.

"Please stop yelling," he mumbles, "My head fucking hurts."

"Does anything else hurt?" she asks quieter.

"Everything kinda," he grumbles.

"He's not fully phased," Veronica says, "Its not safe to send him home, Claire, I'm sorry."

"I'll go with," Claire volunteers, "We have to get him out of here. And now."

Calum swallows and walks over, meeting Ashton's gaze before he grimaces again, "What is going on?"

"We have to get you home, Mate, can you walk?"

Ashton groans as he tries to sit up, grabbing Calum's hand when he offers it. He slumps over after dragging his legs off the bed and takes a deep breath. He grimaces again and leans away from Calum, grabbing his nose.

"Dude, how much cologne did you put on? Ugh," Ashton gripes before he drops his hand and lets Calum pull him to his feet.

"I'm not wearing any, Mate," Calum frowns at him.

"Can we discuss his heightened smell later," Veronica encourages,"We need to leave now."

"Where are we going?" Ashton slurs leaning heavily on Calum as he tries to focus on Veronica.

"Home," Calum says.

"I don't want to go home," Ashton protests before he looks around, "Claire?"

"I'm right here," she moves into his vision, "And I'm going home with you, too."

"We all are," Veronica says without emotion, making Calum and Claire smile.

Calum practically carries Ashton down to the House door, luckily having practice from all their drunken nights. The large House is scarce of most bodies, the Source's gone home to rest and the Vampyre's to their living quarters from the approaching sun. They move quickly, grateful at the lack of witnesses before they run into the guards at the doors.

"Morning," the fledgling guard says as they approach, eyeing Ashton suspiciously.

"Morning," the Vampyress's nod.

"He's had a little bit too much," Veronica address Ashton's state.

"Sup?" Ashton smirk's, his lids fluttering but unable to stay open.

The guard approaches Ashton and Calum, making Calum's palms sweat as he grips tighter onto Ashton's heavy body. The guard looks at Ashton's neck before he lifts his eyelid, looking at Ashton's iris. Everyone holds their breath, until the guard steps away, allowing the guys to pass.

Calum begins down the steps when the guard puts his hand out, blocking the women's departure, "Where are you two going?"

"To see Neb," Veronica lies easily, making the guard clench his jaw.

"Max won't like to hear of this," he scolds her.

"We're aware," Veronica states back, meeting his gaze and he drops his arm.

They thank him and meet Calum at the car, helping him get Ashton in the back seat. Claire joins him in the back, intertwining her fingers into his, making him smile before he loses consciousness again, lightly snoring as he rests on her shoulder. Calum starts the engine and exits the property, driving quickly to beat the sunrise and sensing the women's fear with each passing moment.