You Don't Know What You've Got Till It's Gone

LOCATION the Serpents
TIME 23 ish
DATE 20th of October 2021
OUTFIT Link
TOPIC FOR @Eric ect.
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Victoria had screamed his name from the inside, Eric being the only reason why she hadn't pulled all her power to help Jack. The blood of her best friend still hanging thick in the air, and her heart ached for him. She had wanted to rip Anthony apart, skin him alive for that matter, but she also knew that it wouldn't change much. The serpents were a family, but the strongest survived and Anthony clearly didn't mean that Jack was fit to rule anymore. Victoria breathed out, catching the eye of Lauren, Pearl and Eric with a small nod with her head, to get them to come to one of the tables and sit down. The smell of the blood made her shake her head a little in disgust, even if it was anything but Jack's blood hanging in the air. She was worried, because she couldn't track Jack. There was no scent from the amount of blood painted over the cold ground outside, no way to find him since the idiot never carried his phone around. She looked up to the new crew that had gathered, looking at them shortly. "We need to trade carefully," she breathed out and licked her lips a little bit. "Jack is strong, we have to believe he will be fine," she looked over to Eric. Victoria looked over her shoulder, seeing Anthony close to the bar, before going upstairs to what was Jack's home. He didn't belong up there, it belonged to Jack. She turned her head back towards her friends. "No way they are going to let us go before they know where our loyalty lies."

Things had gotten out of hand, and everything was a mess. Eric had had to hold back both Victoria and Pearl from interfering in the fight that had been going on. A fight for the crown of being the ‘king serpent’. Eric knew that it would also have influence on his own placement in the serpents but making sure that no one interfered and got hurt was his top priority. Luckily Pearl wasn’t the fastest and didn’t stand a chance next to Eric, so he could quickly move her around to different places to make it take her a while to even get close enough to interfere physically. Pearl had occasionally gotten so tired that she couldn’t even get up from the floor he had put her on. Even though stubbornness could move mountains, stubbornness certainly didn’t get Pearl much longer when her leg said no.
None of them had liked what had been going on, because every single one of the serpents had liked Jack. Lauren had been the former right hand of Jack until she got so out of it that her spot was given to Eric. The turned werewolf had even been obsessed with getting home and make sure that Taylor would come looking for her, but Eric had also had to stop Lauren from leaving, because he knew that none of them would be allowed to leave. Serpents were about loyalty to the family – the family being the serpents and the family to each member. Which also meant that they had to show loyalty to Anthony even though it might feel dangerous.

Eric and Lauren spotted how Victoria nodded for them and Lauren helped Pearl up from the floor and threw her over her shoulder like a bag of potatoes to finally put her in a stool by one of the tables. Lauren sat down next to Pearl and pulled her closer so the siren could rest against her. Eric had trouble finding ease and mostly just stood up with both of his hands on the table, leaning over it a bit. Victoria spoke wise words. They indeed had to step carefully, because they didn’t know where they had the newly added crew. “I’ll see what I can find at the academy,” Lauren breathed out. After all, Jack was a teacher at the school and Lauren a student. There was a possibility that she could find him when he had recovered from the wounds he had gotten from today, though it would probably take some time before the wound, where his serpent mark had been, would be fine. Eric nodded, agreeing. He placed a hand on Pearls shoulder and shook her a little to make sure she wasn’t about to fall asleep of exhaustion. It was almost like shaking her a little made a couple of tears spill from the pretty eyes. The siren held her breath as she saw how the new leader walked upstairs as if he owned everything. It hurt, deep down in her stomach. “Agreed,” Eric said. After all, Victoria and Eric had been raised together and their train of thoughts followed each other quite well. He then looked towards Lauren. “You should probably text your mom and sister,” he spoke softly, hoping that no one would listen too greatly. Eric took a greater breath in as he noticed how Lauren looked down, somewhat underneath the table. She was clearly texting someone. He exhaled quite tired before he looked towards Victoria. “I’ll just text N,” he said quietly. He didn’t dare to bring Noa to close to the serpents anymore. It was way too dangerous and he really had to be sure no one would follow him or something alike to take her hostage or something. She didn’t deserve that. He straightened back up before he quickly texted Noa. Even though he wasn't much for it, he used some emojocons so the message would be texted a lot quicker. As soon as he had texted he deleted the conversation and changed her name to something boring. He didn't want anyone to find clues on his phone.

Victoria took a deeper breath in, "if we get to go to the academy by tomorrow" she looked at her cousin with a small smile. Victoria was a teacher as well, if anything she should be able to find him. "But if anything, we shouldn't expect him to be back to the academy at first hand. Even with powers like his, recovering from that is going to take time," she reminded the others. Even if Jack was strong, and he was used to a life of fighting - this was different, he couldn't just come home and recover, he was all alone and she hated that. Victoria reached over the table to place her hand on top of Pearls tabbing onto some of the siren's brainwaves to help her wake a little bit more up. They needed to be careful, if Anthony knew they were texting and warning people - it could end up badly. So, while they did, Victoria made it to the bar, up grabbing a bottle of whisky, listening in, Anthony returned making Victoria walk towards him while Eric got his texting done, "so what are you trying to accomplish here?" She asked crossing her arms a little bit, rather short in front of the human that stood before her. But she wasn't really feeling small, just scared of what had happened to Jack, what she felt towards this guy was anger."First of all why don't you step down and relax a little bit, unless you want to challenge me as well," he crossed his arms looking down at the shapeshifter that stood in front of him.

She growled a little bit, not intentionally, but out of anger, so he grabbed her in a quick movement by the back of her head and pulled her closer towards him. "Don't tempt me missy," he tightened his grip a little and she felt how her energy slowly got drained, then he threw her of him making Victoria fall to the floor. Calliope out to see if she could spot the cyrobird. But it was when Holden came up behind Lauren and saw she was texting, he grabbed her arm rather hard and forced her up on the feet. Holden took the phone out of the werewolf's hands, and then the demon crushed it and let the pieces fall to the ground. "If I see anyone, try to go against us, I will personally seek to make you pay for it - see here we value loyalty, and I want to be able to trust all of you, because in unity there is strength, you would be foolish enough to try challenge that." Anthony looked from the shapeshifter on the ground to the werewolf.

Lauren frowned a little. Her cousin might be right, they might not be allowed to go to the academy by tomorrow. She nodded a little because Victoria was correct. It would take some time before Jack had healed.
Pearl slowly looked up at Victoria and then dried her face from the few tears that had spilled from her eyes. She hadn’t even realized they had spilled. She sat more up and turned a little so her back rested against Lauren. Eric listened as soon as he heard Victoria’s voice. He knew that even though he was fast, he actually had to use it to make himself and her get out of possible trouble. As soon as he was done, he put his phone away and was about to approach the table where they had been sitting just a moment ago. On his way he was about to pass Victoria and Anthony when she was pulled in close for a moment. He tried not to react too much to it but he already knew that it was trouble When he let go of Victoria Eric did what he did best. He hurried towards her and spared her the fall by catching her and got her back up onto her feet. Meanwhile Lauren was caught texting. She sneered and growled as she was almost hanging in her arm and her phone was taken from her. Pearl almost fell backwards as her support on her back disappeared. Lauren had almost clicked send, but luckily the newcomers didn’t read it out loud. Trouble at SS, and that she was not coming home, and they had to be prepared for anything. Lauren tried to turn around towards the demon to kick him so he would let go of her, but the demon was so much quicker than her. He simply got hold of her leg. It was almost like time stood still. He gave Lauren a quick shake and it was like she lost all air in her lungs. She was then dropped like a sack of potatoes, and it was now visible how her shoulder had dislocated. As she finally got air into her lungs again, she wheezed and cried and tried to get up. Everything while Anthony was talking about loyalty, unity, and strength.

Naïve. There was a reason to why Pearls friends and company called her naïve, because anyone could almost tell her anything and she would believe it. So, she stood up, for a moment, it could almost look like she was about to challenge the new leader. But no. This was a pretty face in a dangerous town. “In unity there is strength,” she called out raising up her hand like they used to, symbolizing the serpents. Other serpents joined in, and an almost wicked smile appeared on her lips.

Victoria looked towards Eric taking a deeper breath in, it was first when the demon got a hold of Lauren and started shaking her. "Hey, that's enough, let her go," Victoria's eyes glowed up in a light green color from her snow leopard as she got back up at her feet. She didn't take her eyes of the demon, who didn't stop shaking her. Then she turned her head towards Pearl spoke up, the disappointment was clearly painted on Victoria's face. What the hell was going on here? She took a longer and sharper breath in, turning to Anthony. "Let Lauren go, she made a mistake," - "Mistakes are dangerous around here miss Fogerty," he grabbed the shapeshifter's chin tight, looking into her eyes. "She won't do that again," she breathed out looking directly into the human's eyes, tabbing into his brainwaves slow him down. At least make him a bit confused, enough to let her go and press his brows a bit together. "Is that true miss Martin? That you won't be more trouble for me," he walked over the werewolf that had been thrown to the ground. Anthony sat down in front of her, letting his hand trace over her arm up to her shoulder. "That is nasty, huh? Now answer my question," he placed his hand on her shoulder applying some pressure, "will you be more trouble, or are you going to do as you are told?"

Victoria turned her head towards Eric, not knowing what they should do. Her eyes caught Pearl for a brief moment before grabbing her brother's arm not sure what was going to happen. "Because I can assure you, if you fail to do so, I can and I will make your lives very problematic."

Victoria spoke up and for a moment Eric was about to shut her mouth. He knew Lauren was their cousin and all, but even though they had to defend each other and not just stand and watch another serpent get beaten up, this was something else. Eric and Victoria were almost as Siamese twins as they both looked at Pearl who spoke up with one of their mottos, saving her own ass. Eric was displeased with how he was going to react to the drama, which was unfolding, because he wished to help Lauren get out in general and get some help, but he also wanted to make sure that Anthony didn’t do harm on Victoria. Sadly, Victoria tried to speak on Laurens’s behalf when she said that Lauren wouldn’t do mistakes again. Eric could feel how he wanted to put a stop to all of this and simply put everyone in each of their corner to make them think things through before they did something stupid. No one was thinking clearly.

Lauren was laying on the floor grunting in pain almost not hearing what he said. Her eyes were closed completely in pain while he let his finger run over her arm. She couldn’t even feel it. She just felt pain. She hissed in pain as she tried to get air into her lungs as he commanded her to reply. The pain increased as he put pressure on her shoulder, and she breathed out harshly almost like she screamed silently. She panted a little and felt how sweat pooled on her forehead and spat formed in her mouth to protect everything from when she was going to puke in pain, because she knew it was coming. “Fuck you, Anthony,” she said and flipped him a finger before she spat towards his face, “Go to hell,” she continued, knowing that she dug her own grave, but she also probably saved the other from trouble.

Eric put a hand on top of Victoria’s as she grabbed his arm and with the telepathic ability from being a shapeshifter of almost the same family tree, he told her, that she had to remain calm, because there was nothing they could do unless they all wanted the same treatment as Jack.

She didn't do as he asked of her, which was indeed sad for her, because then he had to make a point. But as she flipped him a finger and spat towards his face, he used the back of his hand to remove the spit from his face, completely unbothered by it. But he gave Holden a nod, and the demon bended down to get a hold on the werewolf's arms in a lock, not caring about her shoulder hurting. The grib was tight and there wasn't really a point fighting the demon holding her. Anthony slowly got up lifting a finger, and yet another member walked closer towards him. But then he breathed out, clearly changing his mind. He looked towards the siren that had chosen to stand by him right away. "You my dear, come over here," he waved her a little over, meeting her half way and held out a hand for her to take - the one that hadn't whipped spit of seconds ago - and gestured her towards the werewolf. "Her left middle finger," he handed her a butterfly knife. "Cut it off, and show her the consequences of betraying her family," he spoke in a lower voice leaning towards the blonde siren's hair. "Or you can take a bite, what ever you want," Anthony taking a step back letting the siren do what she wanted to. He walked over to get his hand cleaned and a cloth for his face, while looking over his shoulder, making sure everything was done as asked.

We are seriously not going to let them do this, are we? Victoria took a deeper breath sending Eric a thought, having a hard time controlling the worry and anger that fueled her system. Especially seeing how the demon held Lauren. But things got worse as Anthony had told Pearl to do it, punish Lauren, what was this? This had nothing to do with loyalty, it had something to do with controlling people, and she wasn't having it. Eric She didn't know if they could do anything, it would put people in danger if they did. But could they just stand here and watch Lauren get hurt?

Lauren looked at Anthony with a quite satisfied smile on how he removed the spit, and even thought he didn’t look like he cared, she could almost feel how it pissed him off, and it pleased her soul, even though she was in pain. She noticed how he nodded towards the soul demon who had just ruined her arm and for a slight moment panic rushed over her as he grabbed her arms and locked them. Her right arm gave her shooting pain through the body and she gasped for air in pain. Her breathing got raspy as soon as he didn’t move around on her arms but just hold them tight. For a moment she tried to get her good arm out of the grip, but nothing really happened. It was pointless to fight against it.

While all of this had happened, Pearl had at some point put down her hand, and sat down on the table. She didn’t bother much of the hassle that happened around her, it seemed fair. She watched how Anthony got up from his squatting position. She tilted her head a little as he faced one of the members who approached him. It seemed like he changed his mind as he suddenly turned to her, and she blinked interested as he held his hand out, and she happily got up from the table to meet him halfway there, even though her leg buckled a bit once. She took his hand with pleasure and a gentle, but slightly wicked smile spread on her lips. She turned her attention towards Lauren who was being held onto the ground by the demon. Her left middle finger. It was almost like she was being hypnotized. Her eye started to focus on her arms, defining which arm was the left and then following the arm all the way down until she had found the middle finger. She shortly looked at the hand which was presenting her a butterfly knife. It wasn’t really because she looked that interested at the knife, but her hand reached up to take it from him. Show her the consequences. It was like music to her ears, and the sparkling eyes turned towards Lauren again. She felt how Anthony leaned closer, and for a moment she had to restrain herself just a little. Take a bite.

We can’t do anything without getting in trouble ourselves. I know this isn’t how things were with Jack… But Anthony is leading now. Things are different. We have to look out for ourselves. Eric didn’t like any of this. He hated it. He wanted this Anthony guy to be gone as soon as possible. He squeezed her hand a little as they watched Pearl’s movements. He made sure to hold onto Victoria and would even turn her if things seemed to be getting out of hand.

A crooked smile spread on her lips and she could almost feel water started to flow to her mouth. So, while she approached Lauren, she took her long blonde hair and swirled it around only to take a hair clip to fasten her hair. It also made sure that her serpent tattoo was visible in her neck. She started humming, which would slowly ease the tension in the room. With ease, she flicked the butterfly knife a little around before she used the demon’s shoulder for support to get down onto her knees. “Pearl, no!” Lauren hissed at her, hoping to get through to the siren. The simple thing about being allowed to take a bite of another had almost made Pearl’s heart sing. She opened her mouth, only to sing very few words, before she leaned down to Lauren and leaned in to kiss her, paralyzing the werewolf. The singing was preplaced with humming again and she waved the demon away. There was no use of the demon anymore. Pearl took Lauren’s hand and moved it up to her mouth only to put Lauren’s middle finger into her mouth and with a quick bite the finger was torn off. Blood splattered onto her, and Pearl’s heartrate started to speed up. She wanted more.

Victoria listened to Eric, he did have a point. But this wasn't what she wanted her time at the Serpents to be about, however they needed to play it smart. If she could just get access to her phone or someone outside of Southside - she was sure she could make it out the least dangerous way. Doing nothing seemed like the easy choice, the choice you took when you were afraid something would happen to your own ass - to be fair, they were. Jack will come through, I know he will. Maybe not today, but he will - we just have to play along for a little while, she took a sharper breath in, oh how she hated this. Pearl coming in closer towards Lauren, and the shapeshifter could feel all of her animals wishing to tear the siren to pieces. And Victoria, well she would bury the siren alive the next chance she got, that was for sure.

This was completely mental the way Pearl carried herself, Victora knew that the siren had lost herself to the temptation. Victoria turned her head to the side not wanting to see as Pearl lifted Lauren's hand up and did as she was allowed to. The smell of blood filled up the room, but you couldn't expect a siren not to want more once tasted blood. She knew this. She walked over to to Pearl, after having taken Eric's hand off her, just to make it over to Pearl and place her hand en the siren's shoulder. Mixing with the Pearl's brainwaves enough to put them in a state where she could put the siren to sleep, and let her collapse. But before Victoria could go to Lauren and help her, she was pulled back by someone from the gang, a hold of the top of her hair made her close her eyes in a pained expression. "Throw her down to the basement, take wolf girl with her as well, and give her a cloth for the wound - I've heard wolves heal quickly." Anthony spoke before looking over at the other shapeshifter. "You want to join them, or are you going to do as your told?" He asked Eric. Don't do anything stupid Eric - Victoria raised a brow, warning him.

Eric agreed with Victoria, that they just had to play along for a little while and then they would be able to figure something out. They just had to seem like they wanted to be a part of it. Eric was very aware of how Pearl was so easy to manipulate to do anything if people seemed to have some authority over her, but right now both Victoria and Eric should keep themselves in check. Having a lion as one’s main animal did however make him want to protect everyone, he considered family, this being the serpents, and not Anthony and his intruders. Victoria left Eric, and his telepathy was doing everything to tell her to be careful, both that Pearl nor Anthony would go for her.

Pearl look up as Victoria got close, and she was just about to open her mouth to lure Victoria closer, but it was like everything got blurry and before she knew of it, she passed out and collapsed on the floor. Erics heart started to beat excessively as Victoria was picked up. He felt like a caged animal – and some might even say he was exactly that right now. Everything in him told him to roar  and his body almost shivered from the angry tension. He raised his chin a little as Anthony corrected his attention towards him. “I don’t see a reason to join them,” he replied, “But what did Victoria do to be put in the basement?” he wondered, just being curious for the reasoning. He didn’t believe Victoria had been cross like their cousin. Victoria had simply asked a question and made sure Pearl wouldn’t do more damage than good.

Victoria could feel how her heart started to speed up, and it took her own powers to lower her energy levels enough to not attempt to fight back, just making herself tired enough to not act in any way that could get her in any trouble. "You do seem to believe I owe you an answer to that question mate," Anthony took a deeper breath in and narrowed his eyes by an inch before taking a step closer towards the shapeshifter. "She was close friends with Max... Jax? Jack, that's the one," he snapped his fingers and pointed towards Eric shortly with a wider smile. "So, If I was to assume anyone wouldn't be a good girl and sit her ass down, my first guess would be for her to do something stupid - but she is your sister right?" Yes, Anthony hadn't interviewed or spent a lot of time in here, but he had little birds around Southside that could provide him with needed information - if it was true or not was another thing. "So, maybe the question is, what makes you trustworthy enough to not throw your ass with them?" Anthony took a step closer up right in front of Eric looking into his eyes. "Do I have your loyalty?" His eyes didn't flinch away from the younger shapeshifter in front of him, far from - it took a lot to scare someone like Anthony.

Victoria clenched her teeth harder together and held her breath. Just play the game, it won't take many days before someone will get us out from here. She knew that if not Rafael noticed she was gone, Jack would hopefully be okay. Lucas would be worried about her not showing up - and she also had Cassian in her corner, Selene - there was more than enough people to help them break free from Anthony's grip - the question was rather if they would be fast enough. Despite, maybe the basement isn't the worst place for a serpent to snake a little around, she added reminding him that maybe she could get herself out of the basement if it came down to that.

Eric kept his chin high as Anthony mentioned that Eric seemed to want a reply to his question. Which was right. Eric wanted to know what Victoria had done wrong. Why hadn’t she showed loyalty? Victoria had asked what his business was and saved everyone inside from Pearl’s teeth. Somehow, Anthony believed that her friendship with Jack was reason enough. Incredible. Lauren had been Jacks former right hand before Eric. So everyone who was close to Jack was just targets? Funny, because everyone who was a part of the serpents were somehow close to Jack, because how else would they have gotten in? Of course, there were former leaders, but everyone was on good terms with the leader, right?
A soft nod left Eric, as Anthony figured out what the name of the former leader was and snapped his finger to point at him. Everything in Eric fought the feeling of lecturing Anthony about not pointing at people. It seemed like something he liked to do.
He assumed that Victoria wouldn’t want to obey whatever Anthony wanted, which was correct. But so was Lauren and Eric. To some point, Eric might just think a little faster, and was able to snake his way around the loyalty. But she’s your sister, right? It pained Eric, but he knew he had to say something which was hurtful to get on Anthony side.
So, why shouldn’t Eric just join his sister and cousin in the basement? Did Anthony have his loyalty. Anthony even approached Eric, and he could feel how his body tensed – wanting to fight. “I am loyal to the serpents and the laws. I’m not going to betray any serpent and I won’t let any serpent stand alone,” he inhaled deeply, “Hopefully we can agree that that means I’m also loyal to you,” he said. Never did his green eyes leave the human’s, even though he wished to check up on his family members and was worried about Pearls sanity.

Victoria took a sharper breath in, she did not like how much Anthony knew. It sure seemed like he had planned this longer than first thought, she got that from the range of information that left his mouth, knowing Victoria and Eric were siblings despite them not being blood related nor looking anything like one another. Which meant it was likely he knew Lauren was family as well, also made sense why he would want them in the basement in Victoria's option. If she had been the one standing where Eric was, she knew with herself that she wasn't going down without a fight - and she would bleed for that at some point. It bugged her when Eric said some of the rules, the rules had scrambled into noting when Anthony had picked a fight with Jack. If Anthony truly was a serpent, he wouldn't have. "No Serpent is left for dead," she spoke, knowing Eric would kill her for not shutting up. Anthony chuckled a little, taking a step back from Eric and turned to the pretty little shapeshifter. "No Serpent was left for death, I shred the tattoo from his skin before throwing his unworthy ass of my land," he took a step further towards the shapeshifter. He wasn't blind to the fact that she had made the siren fall asleep by one single touch, which also meant there was some power he could use to his benefit, he wanted that - even if it would take time to turn her to his side, he would gladly do so. Victoria held her breath, wildly disturbed by the news of Jack having lost not just his status but also had gotten the tattoo cut from his skin. "Take her away," he said to one of the guys, and nodded to the one holding Lauren as well.

Victoria looked at Eric shortly, because they both knew that the Serpents were the only family Jack had ever had, the first people to take him in. Even if Victoria was the only one aware of Jack having found some biological family, she had only met a few of these people well unless the ones she knew from the academy. But she had met one of Jack's brothers at Evelina and Dion's wedding. Victoria was dragged out to the back and down the stairs to the basement and thrown down the stairs so she took a tumble down the woodened stairs till she hit the cement floors, followed by Lauren, whom Victoria tried to at least get a softer landing. The door closed and locked. "Fucking assholes," Victoria mumbled before securing Lauren a bit seconds before she got up on her feet.

The shapeshifter looked around, letting her snow leopard's night vision kick in to find the switch. It wasn't much, but the two glowing lights had a small orange glow at least letting them see the room a bit more clearer. Victoria started to search around the smaller shelves to see if she could find something to clean the wound with, at least the basement weren't emptied out for stuff. Victoria found some rubbing alcohol, some fabric and some soil before walking back and sat down in front of Lauren, placing everything beside them. "I'm going to do the best I can to take care of this okay? I will put you to sleep, and you won't feel a thing," Victoria said not letting Lauren have a say as she placed her hand on her cousin's thigh sending signal to the brain to shut down. Victoria grabbed Lauren, making sure she was carefully placed on the floor. Then picking up the hand, taking a deeper breath in as she moved the soil to the wound. She needed to stop the bleeding, and she knew it could help with the risk of blood loss. But also knowing werewolves healed faster, she didn't leave it there too long, and with her powers to manipulate with soil, it was fairly easy to remove again. Leaving her for the next part. Cleaning the wound.

Victoria could feel the tears in her eyes burn, because she found this hard to do, it wasn't fair treatment of Lauren and she wished that she could get her some better help. She was worried about Jack, worried about everything. Getting the wound cleaned, and wrapped in tightly, mostly making Lauren look like she was wearing a big glove. Then just letting her sleep. Victoria had moved to the wall, having her arms wrapped around her legs, feeling the tears run down her cheeks. She feared the worst for Jack, what if he hadn't made it? She would never be able to track him down, no one would ever be able to find the body. She took a deeper breath in and looked up for a moment, collecting herself just a little bit, she had to stay strong.


Anthony had turned to Eric after the girls had been taken to the basement. "I like to see you loyal to me, but one must understand you and your little party were more than just loyal to Robin - Once I know you trust me, I promise things will become normal again," he assured. Anthony looked around them shortly before he clicked his tongue. "Will do you get the siren off the floor - and someone get this place cleaned up," he looked around. Landon one of the old members, walked up to Eric and took a deeper breath in, giving him the eye to if they should do anything. Landon was like most of the other serpents in shock over the events that had unfolded, even less fond of Victoria being sent to the basement.

Eric closed his eyes for a short moment as Victoria barked in with one of the rules, that no serpent was left for dead. He wasn’t going to discuss it with her, but Jack wasn’t left for dead, and besides from that, Anthony had simply skinned him from being a serpent. Jack was not covered by the rules the same way anymore. As Anthony turned away to look at Victoria, Eric had to fight every fiber in his body to not just jump at the guy and tear him apart like the fucking antelope he was in the eyes of his animals. Anthony almost said what Eric would’ve said, just… a whole other tone. Eric swallowed a lump in his throat as Anthony asked his henchmen to take Victoria away. He could hear how both girls were sent down the stairs like bags of potatoes.

Lauren was still paralyzed from Pearl’s kiss, but it didn’t mean that she wasn’t conscious. She could feel how her hand was pounding and how her whole body was trying to tell her to do something with her hand. Her eyes were red, and tears had been streaming down her cheeks, even more so when she took the tumble down the stairs. She was certainly going to get a lot of bruises from that, not being able to do anything on her way down. Lauren was sweating like hell and her eyes were slowly starting to move around, watching how Victoria was looking for bandages. Lauren forced a breath out as Victoria mentioned she was going to take care of the wound. She closed her eyes slowly as Victoria told her she would put her to sleep so she wouldn’t feel the pain of the cleaning. She appreciated that because she could still feel.

Eric raised his chin a little as Anthony returned the attention to him. What did he want? He frowned  a little as he started to talk about Jack again. He let his chin lower a little as Anthony promised things would become normal gain. He doubted that. First of all, Lauren couldn’t just grow back a limp and it certainly wouldn’t be the same without Jack. He clenched his jaw a little as Anthony asked him to take care of Pearl. Eric looked towards Landon who had walked up to him and gave him a slight pat on the shoulder. Yes, the two of them was going to clean this fucking mess up. Slowly Eric moved past Anthony and towards Pearl and went to pick her up. As soon as he stood up with the siren in his arms he looked towards Anthony. “Anything else?” he asked. If he had to do things for this man, he wasn’t going to walk twice for this dude.