The Four Protectors

Thirty Six

3rd Person POV

Outside, the sun burned high in the sky and the end still wasn't in sight. Cassius could feel fatigue seeping into him. His eyes burned in an effort to keep them open.

And of course, sloppiness came with consequences.

He misread his attacker's next move and Desmond couldn't move fast enough to stop it from happening. He was thrown against the wall, far from Desmond, hard enough to hear bones crack in his legs. He heard Raphael's howl of distress but he could pay it no heed with the pain assaulting him.

The vampire prowled toward him, intent to finish the job. Cassius struggled to get his paws underneath him. Desmond was desperately trying to reach him, shouting his name, begging him to get up and fight, but Cassius couldn't keep his eyes open.

This was really how it was going to end, wasn't it.

Only it wasn't the end. Cassius opened his eyes to find a beautiful, powerful, white tiger standing before him with a dead vampire at her feet. Then, to his even greater surprise, she shifted back into her human form.

She was completely naked, her eyes burning, and her voice guttural as she spoke to him.

"You do not die," she growled.

Before he could hold her there and signal for Azriel, or any other warlock to knock her out, she shifted into an eagle. She flew back down the hallway before Cassius could get in a word. He sat back with a sigh as the pain continued assaulting his mind.

But for a second, seeing her there, he'd felt nothing but awe.

She'd been beautiful, powerful and downright terrifying.

"Cass stay awake alright," Desmond, demanded.

Raphael guarded them as Desmond helped him up, half-carrying, half-dragging him into the infirmary. Azriel's eyes widened in fear before gesturing rapidly to an empty bed. Desmond set him down and Cassius groaned at his utter lack of gentleness.

"Hold still love I have you," Azriel said warmly.

Cassius felt his wave of magic begin to fill his body and almost moaned out loud. Azriel turned to Desmond for an explanation just as Raphael came rushing in.

"Is he going to be okay," Raphael asked.

"He's fine. Nothing I can't handle," Azriel replied calmly.

"She saved him again," Desmond said quietly.

"Who? Wait was that Catherine," Raphael asked in shock, looking back to the door like she'd still be there.

Before they got into the whole story, Laura came rushing out of the potions lab that directly connected to the makeshift infirmary that had been set up. Her eyes scanned the room until she found them and she came rushing over. Her worried gaze went to Raphael first and she only began talking when she found him as fine as he could be under the circumstances.

"We've modified the cure and we think it'll work if we disperse it through the air," she said.

"So how exactly are we doing this," Desmond asked.

A plan was formulated, and Cassius tried his best to concentrate through the numbing pain. He, Raphael and Desmond would fight a path up to the rooftop. Azriel would gather a few warlocks beside him and they'd cast a ward of sorts that would temporarily prevent circulation of air through the ward. Laura would disperse the cure through the air and Azriel would then drop the wards once the fighting ceased.