Ink

Chapter 32

Klaus' POV
~
Klaus waits rather impatiently for Dr. Leona to return from the testing center with his blood results.

His fingers tangle themselves around different vials on the shelves as he wonders aimlessly around the lab.

One in particular catches his eye.

Lycan toxin

His fingers wrap around the vile and hold it up for closer examination. The thick yellow fluid slides back and forth as he lightly shakes the container.

This particular toxin was lethal to vampires. Klaus couldn't help but wonder what it would be used for.

When he hears the lab doors open he quickly places the vile back onto the self in its slot and turns around.

Leona renters the lab with a tray of blood samples and a strange look in her eye.

"You're not going to believe this, Klaus." She says while walking to her desk. She places the samples down and takes one vile from the array. "This here-" She says in reference to the vile."Is the answer to your problem."

Klaus peers at the vile. His blood sloshes around just like the Lycan venom. Although this blood is supposed to hold importance to him, he cannot see past the endless amounts of red cells and plasma.

"What am I supposed to be looking at?" He says, finally giving up.

Leona nearly laughs.

"I apologize Klaus." She begins."I always seem to forget that not everyone is as fascinated about science as I am." She points to the vile."Now, at first I was completely stumped as to what was going on inside of your body. Your contaminated cells are multiplying rapidly which is causing the deterioration of your mental state at such a fast pace."Klaus raises a brow."Upon further examination I was able to identify the true reason for this multiplication."

"What was it?" Klaus asks, no longer able to contain his intrigue.

"I have to show you." Leona takes a small amount of the blood and places in onto a microscope slide. After sliding it underneath the microscope she turns the neck towards Klaus."You're going to want to see this for yourself."

Klaus leans in and puts one eye through the microscope. He sees a sea of swarming cells.

"I only see my blood."

"Oh I almost forgot!" Leona says before she turns the magnification dial on the side. Moments later, one cell has been singled out."You have to zoom in further to truly see."

Before Klaus' eyes the cell begins to replicate. Before it reaches the halfway mark, a small, parasite like microorganism punctures the cell.

Klaus leans in further in fascination.

Immediately after the parasite enters the cell, it's venom spreads like wildfire, causing the entire cell to darken. Once the replication is complete, both cells are now infected.

Klaus looks up from the microscope with a newfound fear in his eyes.

"They're multiplying so quickly." Is the only thing he can manage to say.

"Too quickly." Leona replies."If I don't find some way to cease the replication process within a few days time you could completely succumb to the virus."

It is not so much fear that Klaus feels at this point,  but hopelessness. He was nearly overcome by an urge to see Alliana. If he was going to loose every sense of himself, he wanted to see her one last time.

He clenches his fists together."I cannot loose myself like this, Leona." He says. "Not now."

"I have a few ideas-" She begins warily."But I should warn you that they are dangerous and potentially lethal."

Klaus laughs."If we cannot stop this virus I will be no different. I am willing to try anything."

She can read the desperation in his voice. Turning from Klaus, she heads to the shelf filled with vials containing different hazardous and lethal substances. Klaus knows which one she chooses before she even addresses him again.

"Lycan toxin?"

Leona nods.

"It's just a hunch-" She says."But, I think it might be just what we need." She brings the vile over to the slide containing the droplet of his blood and unscrews the cap."If I take a small bit of this." She uses a pipet to take a small amount out and places it onto the blood."I have a theory that it will stall, if not completely stop the spread."

She places the slide back underneath the microscope and looks into it.

"Just as I thought." She murmurs.

"What?" Klaus asks.

"Come see for yourself." He once again peers through the microscope, only this time, he sees the ugly yellow liquid attacking his infected cells. It is not only fighting the virus, but, causing the cells themselves to die out at a rapid pace. "It looks like it's killing them."

"Of course I will have to do some dilution of the toxin in order to avoid this particular outcome, but-" She says. Klaus looks up and towards her."I believe I should be able to reverse this."

Klaus nearly smiles at that. Sure, it was the best news that he had heard today, but, if she did not figure out how to utilize the venom soon, he would die before he knew if the antidote was successful.