Kidnapped by the Bad Boy - A Caleb Joseph story

Step 9: Quarantined with the Bad Boy

Gemori gasped, tossing his glossy ginger hair over a green shoulder. "He was bitten by a Barvin?" he cried. "Guards! Throw them in the dungeon at once!"

Caleb stood there, dumbfounded, clutching Donovan's unconscious body to his side. "You're kidding me! Dungeon? This man is seriously injured and requires immediate medical attention!"

Benson put a hand on Caleb's shoulder. "Father, these people are dear friends of mine. Can't we make this one exception?"

Queen Lareen scoffed. "The law of Barnemdu clearly states that anyone who has come in contact with a Barvin must be quarantined in the dungeon for at least two weeks. We cannot break this rule even for our son-in-law. Guards, take them away!"

Six men, clad in space suits and holding electric spears, marched forward to steer them out of the lavish throne room. Within minutes they were locked in a dank prison cell deep beneath the castle. The guards locked Donovan's wrists and ankles in manacles chained to the wall.

"You can't do this to us!" Caleb cried as the guards marched away.

Once they were alone, Caleb scrabbled to the far wall and whispered, "Elephathyria," but nothing happened. Frick. That only worked in the palace in Arlington.

That's when Donovan let out a weak cough. "What's happening to me, sweet cheeks?" he growled. "I feel funny."

Caleb exchanged a bleak look with Benson before kneeling at Donovan's side. He used a shred of Donovan's ruined clothes to staunch the wound on his shoulder, which oozed an allarmingly gray substance. "You were infected by a Barvin. Soon, you will lose your mind and become one yourself."

Donovan hissed. "Shit. I'm going to turn into one of those flying monkeys? Why are you locked in here with me, sweet cheeks? I don't want to hurt you." He stared deeply into Caleb's eyes and grasped his hand. 

"You should get some rest," Benson said. "You'll need all your strength to fight off the Barvin inside you."

Caleb held the bad boy's hand until Donovan's eyes fluttered shut and he drifted off to sleep.

"Benson, what are we going to do?" Caleb frowned. "He could turn into a Barvin any second."

"There's nothing we can do," Benson said. "We just have to survive in this prison cell for two weeks until the Queen and Gemori let us out."

"What's the deal there, by the way?" Caleb asked. "I thought Gemori was dead. And are you still married to Zephyr or...?"

Benson glowered at him. "Well maybe if somebody had written the sequel we would have the answers to questions like that. As far as I know Zephyr is still lost on Barnemdu, trapped in the body of a Barvin and pregnant with my child. And Mary Sue, well—" His face flushed red. "I love her more than life itself, but how can we be together when I'm married and a monster is expecting my child? And I'm only eighteen! How is this my life?" He hid his face in his hands.

Caleb sat next to Benson and patted him on the back. "I'm sorry, Benson. For what it's worth, I know that you and Mary Sue will live happily ever after." He thought it best not to mention that he didn't intend to ever write that happy ending.

"Really?" Benson asked with watery eyes.

"Really."

Benson wiped his tears away and smiled. "Please, call me Ben."

"Okay, Benson."

That night Benson slept curled in the corner farthest from where Donovan was chained to the wall. Caleb kept vigil over the unconscious bad boy. Donovan tossed and turned. A sheen of sweat covered his brow. 

"C-Caleb!"  Donovan mumbled in his sleep. He bolted upright with a start. "Caleb! Where are we?"

"Shhhh, you're alright. We're still in the dungeon on Barnemdu," Caleb calmed his voice to soothe him. He felt Donovan's forehead. He was running a high fever.

Donovon looked at him with half-lidded eyes and groaned. "Ugh. My stomach hurts. I need—I need—" He stared hungrily at Caleb's neck. Slowly, his eyes started to glow purple!

Caleb started to back away, but it was too late. Donovan lunged forward and caught him in a fierce embrace. His heavy iron chains clanked against the floor but did nothing to hold him back. He buried his nose in Caleb's neck and breathed in deeply.

"You smell... delicious," Donovan growled. 

"Get off me!" Caleb cried. Donovan's saliva pooled on his shoulder as he struggled to wrest himself free. He felt sharp teeth scrape against his skin—

Before Donovan could bite down, strong hands closed around Caleb's wrists and dragged him out of his reach. Benson had woken up just in time!

Donovan screeched in pain and fell on all fours. Purple light showed through his fingers where he clutched at his eyes. With a ripping sound, two massive black wings unfurled from his back.

"Focus, Donovan!" Benson yelled. "Remember who you are! Fight the Barvin off!"

"UuuuahahgGGHHHHH!" Donovan howled. His wings flapped experimentally, creating a gust of wind so strong that Caleb's curly hair whipped around his pale frightened face.

"Look at me, Donovan!" Caleb inched closer and pulled Donovan's hands from his face. "You're not a little boy scared to play with his hot wheels anymore. You are a strong, powerful, independent, handsome bad boy. We believe in you. I believe in you."

When Donovan met Caleb's eyes there was a hint of recognition. "You think.... I'm... handsome?" he choked out. His wings gradually folded back into his body. Then he collapsed in a heap, unconscious once more.