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Chapter 130: Planes In Blood

Liam darted to his fallen friend and reached Nathanial at the same time Geoff did.

The Elemental carefully took his boyfriend from Nicholas and asked the Rottweiler, "The massage table?" Micah saw his eldest brother when Geoff stood, and gasped.

It was where Liam had wanted Nathanial brought the first time the pup passed out, and the reasons had not changed. He nodded. "Indeed." The healer ran his paw over the taller Dog's chest; it was not his heart that caused this, thankfully, but the new suspect could still pose a problem. Nathanial had greatly overused his magical energy. The table would still allow a thorough examination to verify that, and his medical bag was nearby. "Faelen, my bag is on the counter in the storeroom. Nicholas, Micah, I need hot water. Each of you fill a kettle half-full so it boils more quickly, and bring it to me." Those named dashed off, with Micah nearly knocking Dad over as the Rottweiler carefully made his way down the stairs.

Walter paused at the base of the stairs. "Good Lord. What happened?" He saw Nathanial in Geoff's arms, looking rather bedraggled, even in his unconscious state. "He ran out of chi? Or whatever it is that Mages have?" Dirk glanced at his playmate but said nothing.

Conor eyed his son angrily for another second before answering. "We don't know. He was unconscious when we came downstairs, but then a Balor Demon possessed him and attacked us." The Water Elemental glared at the elderly Demon Mage. "Someone whisked the damned book away before we could remove the threat completely, even though she brought the thing here in the first place."

That female snarled at him. "I'm not about to let something that valuable be destroyed for no reason. Nathanial was around it for hours earlier with no trouble. Even Garret had never showed any signs of possession before, and he's as weak as a Mage can get and still be a Mage."

Liam sniffed disdainfully as he followed Geoff into the gym. He called back over his shoulder, "Yet you said you had never allowed him near it. I agree with Conor; it has shown it is too dangerous to be allowed to exist." They rounded the corner by the mats. Everyone not otherwise occupied followed. Liam did not wish to fight with that female at the moment and switched to the important task at paw. "I think you are correct, Dad, but why did you jump to that conclusion?"

Walter raised his voice to be sure he was heard. He sounded most wry. "I've seen someone in that state often enough to recognise it, Liam."

That female snorted. "Nonsense. Mages can't use so much magic they put themselves in danger like this; the subconscious won't allow it. If you try to cast a spell that takes too much magic, nothing happens."

Geoff carefully laid his lover on the massage table and licked Nathanial's muzzle as he stepped away. "Don't leave me, Myo." His eyes brimmed with tears as he looked at Liam. "Save him. _Please,_save him."

Liam bit off a most snide response to the vile Demon Mage in the face of his friend's distress. "I shall. It is not an easy matter to help a Mage in such a fashion, but I have done so before. A variant of my medication will revive him, but that will greatly hinder his magic recovery afterwards." He ran through the ingredients it would require as he moved his paws over Nathanial. Between Mrs. Davis and this pup, he felt he worked full time as a healer; they created more work in a week than all of his other patients did in a year. Combined.

The Dark Elemental whimpered as he watched. "If it's just his...chi, couldn't we, uh, just give him some of our energy? If the medication will hurt him?"

Liam shrugged and moved aside so that female could cast her spells. She did so and copied the results into her notebook. He wondered what was contained on those pages, even should they be but a fraction of all her notes. "He is very yin-aligned." Would it take less time for Conor and Faelen to ejaculate and have their energy absorbed or for Liam to make a potion? Furthermore, chi was not magic, and energy acquired from a Spirit did not convert cleanly into chi. Would Spirit energy be closer to, or farther from, a Mage's energy? Liam snorted in his mind. Did that matter? After all, the question should be, 'Would it be closer to or farther from _Nathanial's_energy?' Liam glanced at the elderly Demon Mage.

She shook her head. "He's weakened. It's like everything in him has gone into hibernation mode. I can't even compare it to prolonged starvation, because there is no sign of cannibalization. He's just...shutting down."

The Ancient One shrugged, affecting indifference. "It is as my father said; he used too much magic and no longer has reserves to run his body. This is the first time Nathanial has passed out because of it, at least that I am aware of, but not the first time he has become greatly weakened. It would seem he does not have the safeguards you speak of when he goes into what he calls a heightened state or when this 'other' wakes." He turned to Geoff and ignored her for the moment. "I will craft the potion. He is in a precarious enough state that I would go with a certain potion than an uncertain transfer of energy." Liam raised his voice. "Conor, I would have you stay near Nathanial while I make a potion for him. Manifest and raise your power as you can. I will have Faelen join you once he..." Liam felt Faelen approach swiftly and altered what he was going to say. "He will join you at this time."

The Mist Spirit skidded around the corner. "Sorry, you still had a lot of bottles scattered across the counter. I didn't know what you'd need." Conor followed the younger Wolf. Faelen passed the bag to Liam and gently scooped Nathanial off the table. "You can still sit with us, Geoff; between Conor and me, we'll keep the balance yang, and your extra energy won't be a bad thing."

That was most accurate. Liam nodded and the three...four Spirits went into the showers. Dirk would not allow Conor out of his sight, especially with that female currently on-site. They turned on the showers, and Conor used his powers to turn the spray into a thick mist. Liam looked down at his bag, regretting he had asked Faelen to retrieve it, though he had not worked through all he would require at that time. Perhaps he still had not. He had six packets of his medicine with him; could he alter one to serve without making a new one from scratch? That would save much time. Yet he would also have to take care to ensure this medicine did not conflict with the one for Nathanial's heart.

Liam began to pace as he made a request of his father. "Dad, I had asked Micah to retrieve a half-full kettle of boiling water. Could you ensure he does not harm himself bringing it here?" The adult Rottweiler turned and jogged off.

That female looked perturbed. "You should be bringing him to a hospital, and hooking him up to life support, not sticking him in a shower with a bunch of men. You have three minutes to help him before I bring him in."

Liam shook his head. "Life support would give him time to recover on his own, but it would take much time. The stress of the hospital environment with all of its ambient pathogens and noises is not conducive to swift recovery. Besides, these are not just men; they are very powerful Spirits. They radiate energy, energy he can convert into a mostly usable form. It should easily maintain his condition without the trauma of mechanical life support systems." He pulled out the vials of Garret's blood. "I should not be long. Do you have the energy to run some more tests?"

She snatched the vials from him. "I'm checking on my grandson, first." She stalked around the corner and snarled in response to Dirk's warning growl. "Back off. I could've let that Marilith Demon kill you if I'd wanted you dead."

Liam heard no further noise from Dirk and turned his attention inward as he pondered the best alterations to make. He could limit the yin portion of the medicine, but not too much, as he needed to keep the potency high, and he would have to keep the medicine from drawing yang-aligned energy out of the heart. The heart was one of the great chi-producing organs and one of the most yang-aligned, too. A thought struck Liam; this would hinder Nathanial's production of magic for a time -- days to a week -- and the Mage needed to ferry people around the world in that time.

'World.' Unbidden thoughts of his short trip to Taipei sprang into his mind. He raised his fingers to his nose and smelt the lingering aroma of jasmine. The sight of Nathanial looking so...distant, nervous, even afraid_of him caused tears to spring forth. _'I don't want to be alone anymore. I have Faelen, both of my families, and a few friends now, but without Nathanial I could lose all but Bao and my current family. What of Aoife? Would my sons and Den be able to sire more children without me?' Those were painful things to consider, but even if he could keep all Nathanial had brought into his life the pain of losing the pup would cut deeply. 'As deeply as the loss of Muireann?' Liam did not know the answer to that.

That female walked around the corner again, and interrupted Liam's deep pondering. "He's recovering, if slowly. If this progression continues he'll wake up in two hours. That's if my tests are accurate." She had very similar problems to Liam when analysing Nathanial's blood. She was becoming as reluctant to say anything with certainty as Liam when it pertained to her eldest grandson.

If that was the case and he would wake in a shockingly mere two hours, perhaps medicine may not be the best course of action. Liam found himself feeling greatly uncertain and doubtful; it was a most unusual, and thus disquieting, feeling. How many times had he vacillated or completely changed his mind over the last few minutes? "Very well. I will give him some of my energy. It will not be sufficient to rouse him, but it should cut that time down to be a feasible endeavour." What was the best course of action? This? Perhaps medicine would still be best. No, not if it may risk Nathanial's heart, and the Mage had great need of his magic, too. Or did he? Was it not Liam's need, his need to see his -- Lowell's -- family that caused Nathanial to require vast quantities of magic? Was Liam_putting his needs ahead of his patient's? Yet Nathanial needed those reserves for _Geoff's sake, as well. If he could not maintain such a pool of magic, then Alpha McDougal would require his kin to return to Ireland. In such case they all had the same need for the sweet Akita's strength. The sound of Nathanial's laughter and the sight of the Akita going into raptures at the comic store on their collective date filled Liam's mind.

Liam shook his head. 'Duty. Naught else matters. I have a duty to treat my patient to the best of my ability, and all ramifications outside of his health are irrelevant. Aoife, Faelen, myself; all are not dire needs. No, they are not needs at all. Aoife is either pregnant or she is not. Finding out will not alter what already is. Faelen is bound to me; if he needs to return to Ireland, then I shall see him again in time -- however long that time may be, even if it be another life. I... I am not even worth considering if I need to speak to myself thus. Duty and honour before all else.'

The Demon Mage looked at him closely. "Do it if you're going to, Ancient One. Don't dither and fret when his life is in jeopardy. Pick a course, follow it, and live with the consequences."

Liam felt the corners of his mouth tighten. "I know. There are three courses I may take, and the potential ramifications are quite far-reaching." He sighed. He preferred the medicine because it would cause the pup's body to produce its own energy; there could be no doubt of its compatibility. The drawbacks were potentially severe, as Nathanial's body was already under great stress and this would add more. Would those stresses be more severe or less severe than accepting a Spirit's energy? Or Liam's? He had no way of knowing, and he was working himself into circles.

The Ancient One figuratively threw his paws into the air and said a quick prayer to the god of healing. 'Acesius Apollo, please guide me. I know not what course to take.' He put his medical bag onto the massage table before striding around the corner into the dim, foggy shower area.

Dirk stood two paces away from the other Spirits and peered through the thick mist in case the Demon Mage approached. Behind him, on the floor, lay a pile of fur and pelt. Conor and Faelen sat side by side with Nathanial lying cradled in Conor's arms and his legs stretched over Faelen's lap. Snow lay curled against Faelen so he could rest his head on his 'alpha,' and Geoff crouched by his father so he could gently rub his boyfriend's forehead. He could only tell where the two teen Spirits and the Mastiff were through other senses, not sight.

Liam stepped carefully around the legs of Conor -- to avoid stepping upon the hidden Mist Spirit -- and reached down to his dear, sweet friend. He could feel Faelen's worry and knew it was due to what the Wolf felt from_him_ more than all else.

Before he could reassure his love, Geoff asked, in a voice thick with terrified anxiety, "Where's the medicine?! You were going to make medicine! Is he...? Is it too...?"

Nicholas and Micah scampered into the change room and Nicholas called out, "We got the water! Sensei!?"

Liam raised his voice. "Put it aside for the moment." He turned to look blindly at the Dark Elemental. "I am trying something else, first. I believe the medication may put too much stress upon him." That female_was correct; the presence of the powerful Spirits _was helping the Akita, if slowly. It was a pity Alpha McDougal was not here with his copious emissions of latent energy. It did not appear there were new -- or amplified -- stresses upon Nathanial's body, and he was still yin, so taking some of the Ancient One's yang-aligned chi should not cause trouble.

Faelen reached over and intercepted Liam's other paw as he extended it, too. "Liam?" For once the Mist Spirit did not ask questions he did not wish to answer at the time.

The Monk could feel his love's energy swirling around his tan paw. Liam could not help but smile at the emotions he imagined he could feel therein. Perhaps... "May I ask for your help, my love?"

He need not see Faelen's visage to know what expression crossed over it. Worry faded from those blue eyes as they softened in an expression of love. The brow smoothed out, the drawn mouth curved upward in small smile, and the ears rose and pivoted to face the diminutive Rottweiler. "As always, my help is yours for the asking." A power as seemingly delicate as the vapour it was drawn from encompassed his paw and seeped into it, yet the flood of energy that surged up Liam's chi network was hardly nebulous or insubstantial.

It required much concentration, but Liam took that energy, mixed it with his own, and sent it down his other arm and into the unconscious Mage. In his mind's eye, the world flickered and he suddenly stood within the mental construct representing the gateway to his past lives. A fog-filled representation.

Faelen appeared by the door leading to Lowell's life looking quite surprised. "Liam? Why are we here?"

Before he could answer, Nathanial called out from the other side of his central statue. "Liam? Faelen? Where are we?" There was a slight pause, too small of one in which to respond. "I've been here before. When?"

The other two walked around the statue to see Nathanial standing by Lung's door. Liam could scarce believe the pup was here; he had so little energy within him that none of him should be able to move about. The Akita traced a finger over the paw of the Snow Leopard. "He was your...mentor?"

Liam padded over, followed by Faelen. "My si jo and adoptive father." Nathanial nodded; he kept his paw on Lung's master's and gazed up at the sorrowful face. The Ancient One continued and attempted to ignore the noise growing behind Lung's doors. "He rescued me from what promised to be a very short life upon the roads."

The Mage sighed and slowly turned away to speak directly to them. "You were an orph...?" He trailed off as he caught sight of Seff, the Laughing Jackal. The poor pup's eyes grew most large. "I-I..." He swallowed heavily and Faelen dashed over to hug him -- coincidentally hiding the sight of those doors from the trembling Mage. "I s-saw that before. B-Before Dad r-raped me. Before I a-abandoned..."

Dust fell from the edge of the desert stone. "Such a pretty tail."

Yoishi whispered from behind his door. "Sweet One, I love you."

The metal of Xun's gates creaked. "Never again, Seff." Liam's head felt like it was going to split as the presence of Faelen and Nathanial caused those lives and more to stir. The mental construct flickered around them and threatened to collapse.

The Mist Spirit scooped Nathanial up, carried him over to the central statue, and stood facing Liam's open library. The Ancient One staggered after them. Faelen rumbled, "Peace," and the fog filling the room lapped against the shaking doors. He began to sing Hestia's Cradle.

The song soothed all who could hear it. Even Nathanial curled up against the strong Wolf without trembling. Micah appeared to be right: the memories did return, but without the clout the Demon-induced nightmares once had. The Akita looked over at the Rottweiler with wide eyes; he pitched his voice low as to not disturb Faelen's continued singing. "You were...hurt? Like those other Ancient Ones? You said they were hurt by the Society and it caused psychological damage or something."

Liam grasped his friend's hindpaw. He struggled to think of how to answer the questions. "Yes. I was Jewish and the ritualistic mutilation of my body at that young age caused some past lives to stir. The pain of both...broke me. I...do not wish to discuss it, particularly when he is restless."

Faelen glanced at Xun's door, obviously wondering what the smith had meant. That was another thing Liam did not wish to discuss. To live such a long time meant he had a great many tragedies, regrets, and shames in his past. The ambient light around them dimmed again; he was running very low on chi. Hopefully, he would still have enough to run tests on Garret's blood.

Faelen lowered Nathanial's hindpaws to the floor. "Come on, Nathanial, we should leave. Everyone is worried about you."

They faded out. Liam sighed in relief and paced around the circumference of the room in a clockwise manner. More dust had been disturbed on his first life, and almost every door after it showed more signs of use. Such a tumultuous month. Most notably, Yoishi's and Lowell's doors showed much damage; at this rate they would rival Li for unrest. Liam paused by Lowell's life before leaving. The pedestal on the left -- the one reserved for the things that possessed the most meaning to the life in question, at least in the memories Liam was aware of -- held his family. He could not help but smile as he looked down on them. Faeden stood in the foreground next to Aoife; the Leaf Spirit had a paw pressed to her stomach and a radiant smile on her face reminiscent of the one that adorned Lorena's when she was pregnant. The smile mixed with tears, and Liam kissed the tip of his finger before tapping it to the head of his eldest daughter. "I am so sorry, my beautiful Muiry." His breath caught in his throat. "I love you." Liam opened his eyes slowly. He could feel Faelen's worry mix with relief.

Snow rose and moved away to sit with his back to them. Geoff watched the entity go in obvious confusion. "Snow?" Understanding dawned upon him and the confusion changed to near-fainting relief. "Nathanial!" He leant over and smothered the weak Dog in kisses.

The Akita croaked out, "Geoff?"

The Dark Elemental whispered, "Sorry. I'm so sorry."

Nathanial frowned and groaned when Geoff whimpered by his ear as Geoff's movement jostled him. "Ouch." He slowly shook his head, his attention on the Shadow Mastiff. "Um. Snow? Why--?" Snow's tail thumped twice before the Mastiff rose again and crossed over to the Plane of Darkness. "Snow?" Nathanial looked terribly hurt. "Why is he mad at me?"

Conor rumbled, "Later." He lifted Nathanial's legs. "Faelen, take Nathanial to his room."

Geoff bounced up. "I'll--"

A deep growl from his father stopped all four teens instantly. The Water Elemental growled again, and the water vapour in the room condensed into a few dozen large water balls. "Faelen." The Mist Spirit clambered to his hindpaws as quickly as he could and carefully took the Mage. Faelen beat a hasty retreat, the other two Markses fleeing in his wake as he swiftly walked through the changing room. Conor issued another order. "Dirk, turn on the light. I want to see my son's face when he explains himself." The Bone Spirit complied. Conor remained seated upon the tiled floor of the showers staring up at his son. "Well?"

Geoff was a picture of abject terror and confusion. "I-I... It's just that, well, uh. He needed me!"

Conor's lips curled up to show all of his teeth. "Needed you!?" Geoff recoiled as if struck. "How the fuck could you get that idea!? Faelen just started crying! That's it! Do you know what you put us through!?"

The teen quailed before the righteous wrath of his father. "It was_more_ than that. He..." Geoff looked over at Liam with an expression so tumultuous it was indecipherable. "It sounded like his heart had been torn out, like the night Muireann..." He obviously feared to continue in hopes that stopping there would spare his friend some pain. It did not. Liam felt the tears that had sprung up in his soul return in his physical eyes.

Conor's expression softened somewhat, as did his tone. "That is no_excuse, Geoff. You left without saying anything to us! We were _right there!_You could've asked one of the pups to try to get a hold of Nathanial or Garret! But _no! You had to run off to the Plane of Darkness with no fucking idea of how to get to Taiwan, or even where in Taipei they were! Damn it all, Geoff! Do you have any idea how many people live in Taipei!? Did you have any idea of what trouble you might be running into even if_you found them!? This is a gods-damned _Ancient One and...well, Nathanial_we're talking about! If _they were in trouble, what the fuck do you think_you_ could do? Nathanial stood up to Rolph and two Hades-spawned _Inquisitors!"_Liam did not terribly appreciate that epithet at the end, yet all of Conor's points were sound.

Geoff cried out, "I know, Da! I know! But tell me you'd do any different in my place! What if you thought Mom died and I was next!? And Gwen!?" Conor stopped, greatly taken aback. "I thought Nathanial died! I couldn't think of anything else that'd hurt Liam like that! And if--" A violent hiccup rocked the young Spirit. "If Nathanial died and Liam-- Liam was still in trouble." He turned his head to look over his shoulder at Dirk, hiccupping loud enough to create an echo. "If Liam died..."

Dirk turned his face away. "So would Faelen."

Ah. So Geoff feared to lose his lover, his best friend, and, well, Liam. Another friend. Geoff's body rocked with successively more explosive hiccups, but he met his father's eyes defiantly. "Tell me you wouldn't do anything_to try to--to save me and Gwen. Tell me you wouldn't grasp at _any straw to save Mo-Mom, even if it meant running off without Dirk into unknown danger."

Dirk glowered at Conor, but Liam could not tell if that was to say, 'you had better not,' or 'you know damned well you would.'

Conor could not meet the bodyguard's eyes. "I..." Conor's head drooped and he stared at his paws. "I'd do anything to save you, Geoff. I wouldn't be able to sit back and do nothing. You're my son; I love you. That's why I was so angry. I was terrified you'd get hurt."

Geoff crouched by his father and wrapped his arms around the older Wolf. "I was terrified, too. I love him. I love them. Faelen's my brother-- pretty much my twin brother, and Liam is one of my best friends.I thought -- I thought I'd lost Nathanial already, but he promised to meet me in the Dark if we ever got separated. And Snow might be able to bring me to them if he was still alive." Conor returned the hug.

Dirk smiled a little grimly under his helm. "Now that _that's_resolved, what happened, Sensei?"

Liam dreaded that question. His own juvenile behaviour mortified him. He was supposed to be beyond such insecurities and in control of his emotions. He sighed heavily. "I cannot answer that question adequately. Nathanial began acting fearful because of second thoughts over something he wished to show me, and his fear of me blindsided me. I felt as if my worst fears were coming true. I have seen similar fear in so many others, and I...thought Nathanial was treating me in that way, as all others do, as a...god, and if he did, I feared so would our friends. It is a loss perhaps as painful as Geoff dreaded. I cannot live alone as I once did. Not after finding friends so dear." Fortunately, none commented on such a foolish thing to dread.

Geoff released his father to stand and hug the Rottie. "I could never worship you, you stupid know-it-all_._ I know you too well."

Liam chuckled, gratified. "Who is calling whom stupid? One should easily grasp that you cannot be stupid yet know all there is to know." The teenaged Wolf grinned and prepared to continue the teasing banter, but Liam shook his head. "Nathanial needs you, and I need to speak to Mrs. Marks." He truly did not wish to spend any more time around that female, but there was work to be done.

Liam felt a large lump growing where Geoff's groin pressed against him: the Wolf's concern mixed with desire. His libido was truly remarkable and, unlike with Nicholas, it was entirely natural. Given, however, that he sated his libido with Nathanial's truly delectable ass, it was most understandable. Yet, tonight, after all the turmoil and sad memories, the Ancient One found himself certain he would forgo even that most tempting forbidden fruit, were it freely offered.

The amorous Wolf made his enquiry. "So, uh," He paused to hiccup. "Is Nathanial...?"

The Healer sighed. "He shall be fine, and his chi is closer to balance; however I recommend that Faelen sleep in his bed. I am not faring as well. My chi, what little remains, is grotesquely unbalanced."

Walter poked his head around the corner at that point. "Is everything going all right? It sounds like the lecture is over."

Liam stepped away. "Yes, Dad."

The Dark Spirit helped his father up from the floor. "I guess you want me to sleep with you, Liam?"

He nodded. "Indeed, though perhaps I should join my father in abusing Dirk, first. After, my work is done, of course."

The older Rottie's jaw dropped. "Wh-What!? Liam? I'm your _father,_for fuck's sake!"

Liam blinked and smiled mildly. "Yes, I am aware of that. I had just said as such. I fail to see the issue. Neither of us can become pregnant, and it is not even as if I wish to be penetrated by you; it is Dirk's seed I need in me." He sighed. The Ancient One just was not in the mood to tease or have sex. "It is irrelevant at this moment, however. I...just would be unable to enjoy it." Oh, how Muiry would have screeched had she heard that_exchange. Riling her up was far too easy to be truly entertaining, but at times he had succumbed to the temptation. Liam shook off the growing malaise. 'Priorities. Check on_ that female, then Nathanial once more. After that, I should see if I have the energy to conduct my tests on Garret's blood.'

Nathanial's voice echoed in his mind. *Faelen wants me to remind you that it's only been a bit over a week -- nine days to be precise. You should still let yourself grieve for your daughter.*

Liam's mouth twitched momentarily into a frown. *And you should be resting. Do not use magic until given leave or else you may do more harm to yourself. But thank you for your concern, and relay that message to my love, if you please.*

Geoff peered at the younger Rottweiler, still hiccupping on occasion. "You okay? Was Nathanial--talking to you?"

He nodded. "Yes, to both. Muireann occupies my thoughts at the moment, and it caused Faelen some concern. Nathanial relayed them to me."

Walter gently squeezed his son's shoulder. "I share his concern, Liam. I know grief manifests differently in different people, but I'm worried you haven't given yourself enough time to work through the grieving process." Dirk nodded.

Conor, too, spoke out, making the fathers' opinions unanimous. "I can't really imagine what you must be feeling," The Water Elemental shot an exasperated glare at his son. "But someone keeps giving me an idea of how much it would hurt to lose a child." Geoff winced and looked properly chastened. The older Wolf continued. "There shouldn't be anything left for you to deal with tonight; go lie down with Geoff, and grieve or sleep. It's not like he has anything else to do, since he's grounded anyway." The Dark Elemental wisely said nothing at that.

Walter released his son. "I know you don't tell me much about your activities, but what happened to put the two of you in this bad a state?"

Liam motioned for everyone to follow him. "If someone could make some tisane, it would be appreciated. I believe we could all use some." Geoff trotted over to pick up the still steaming kettles, and followed everyone as they made their way to the living area. He would check on Nathanial first while he answered his father's question. "I used most of my chi conducting tests on the Markses' blood. Nathanial went to Taipei to speak to his father and created another portal to bring me there that I may acquire some of Garret's blood for comparison. It was very taxing for Nathanial, so we were about to sightsee while waiting for him to recover. Events transpired that prevented the respite, and in the ensuing...mess, we both taxed ourselves beyond safe limits enough so that Nathanial collapsed." As expected, Geoff appeared to be blaming himself for his boyfriend's new troubles. Granted, he was to blame. They entered the living area, and Geoff slunk off to the kitchenette with his tail tucked between his legs. Liam shook his head. "I still have duties to fulfil. I have Garret's blood to test and the time permitted for that is very limited."

That female walked out of the utility room connecting the store room to the living area. "I can't do this tonight; I'm too drained to cast most of the spells. Give me Garret's blood, and I can cast a spell on the vials to store the blood until tomorrow." She rolled her eyes as Liam opened his muzzle to object. "Yes, the blood will stay here."

That was a very prudent course of action. Liam pulled his two vials out; she had presumably cast the spell on the two she already possessed. "That is good; I was unsure if I had the energy to conduct my tests, as well. I will put my thoughts in order and have Nathanial send them on when he can."

She nodded. "How is he?"

"Awake. He is resting with Faelen in his room so he may continue to passively absorb some more energy."

That female nodded curtly once more. "I'll check on him myself and say goodbye." She made her way to the pup's bedroom, and Liam followed. She snapped over her shoulder. "I don't need a chaperone to check my own grandson." The other adults went upstairs.

Liam affected indifference. "It is where I was going anyway. After seeing him, I would have joined you to try to start my tests."

They stepped into the room as she asked, "How did he keep you alive in the Plane of Darkness, anyhow? I must say it didn't look pleasant there."

There were no lights on in the room, but Liam could see well enough. Nathanial and Faelen lay on the bed, with Nathanial curled up against Faelen. Liam expected the two youngest Markses to be there, but they were absent.

Nathanial answered before Liam could. His voice sounded raw and faint. "A ward, sort of. I think it was more like a, um, well, a bubble than a ward. A bubble of another plane plopped around him. It kept the effects of the Dark Plane from affecting him, but I couldn't see how I anchored it so I couldn't figure out how to make it mobile. I think I'd need Agent Jay to look at it; I know I need someone to, because I'm not even sure if it was a bit from another plane or not. I didn't sense anything really unusual in it, and it didn't affect Liam at all. I know it wasn't this plane, because it just didn't 'feel' the same, so it'd have to be a...parallel plane or something, one very much like our world, if it_was_ another plane. I don't know which would be easier, protecting him from the elemental plane or pulling in a pocket of another plane." He tapped his muzzle in thought. "Well, since I seem to be able to move about the planes freely, and I'm virtually immune to their effects, it stands to reason that I could do a lot of things related to them magically." He fidgeted a bit. "Would that show up in my blood?" Then the Mage chuckled. "In any case, it should be all right as long as I don't run into an alternate version of myself. That never seems to go well in the comics, since they're always evil versions of the hero."

Liam paused in his stride as a sudden realization struck him. 'Other planes. They need not be elemental planes, nor one of the hells. The results I obtained from Nathanial could not be from one person. What if they were from seven Nathanials, ones in alternate timelines?' His mind raced through the data he had collected. When viewed from that perspective, he could place the seemingly contradictory information into a logical order though a few of the more or less ordinary ones were similar enough that he would need to re-examine his first thoughts to be sure. 'Seven. Why seven? Is it because some of his blood also rested within the seven ring ward? Perhaps, but it still leaves the question of which one is my Nathanial's blood?'

Nathanial sat up and winced as a he pressed a paw against his temple. "What's wrong, Liam?"

The Ancient One truthfully answered, "Many things, but nothing that currently occupies my thoughts. I may have just realized something that explains some of my test results...and may be the golden needle in our proverbial haystack." If all of these results were of a Nathanial, the child of Garret Marks and Lily McKay, then they may have far more information than they once thought. If that female could redo the tests and cast them seven times -- perhaps eight to be sure -- on his blood, then they could see if the abnormal macrophages were there. One of Liam's tests appeared to show so little magic in Nathanial's blood it could almost be from a Fur; would that be from a child of Garret Marks who had never been tainted, nor was a carrier of this 'Marks legacy'? What of the one showing a 'more vampiric than a Vampire' Nathanial? The son of a Garret who had no Marks resistance but was still captured by that Nosferatu? One who yet managed to sire a child with Lily?

That female snarkily demanded, "Well? Don't keep us mere mortals in the dark, Ancient One."

Liam stepped over to the light switch and flicked it on. "Better?" Her glower was most amusing. He did relent and relayed the theory the Muses had blessed him with. He concluded by saying, "With this, if I am correct, we can see how the Marks bloodline affects those carrying it, how being tainted -- if not outright Turned -- changes the blood of a descendant, and perhaps more. Nothing I found would indicate that the results were from a different person, so I think we can assume these Nathanials are born from the same sperm and egg, and all changes are a result of the environment of Garret or himself. It is an assumption, and still something to be mindful of as we examine our findings." It was as if they had identical septuplets raised in different environments to study, if not better.

The elderly Demon Mage's expression showed she immediately understood the ramifications. "Fuuuuck. That... Holy fucking shit. That's not a golden needle. I don't know what that is, maybe a divine golden needle used to repair the Fates' tapestry." She looked almost as bouncy as Micah with her tail wagging at top speed. "I'll go get--" She stopped herself and took a deep breath. "Tomorrow. I can't do anything right now. Tomorrow." She slowly inhaled and exhaled once more. "Damn it, I'm going to be too wound up to sleep." She walked up to the bed. "Let me check on you first, Dear, and then I'll head out." Faelen helped Nathanial sit on the edge of the bed before moving aside. That female cast her spells and jotted down numerous notes. Her tail still betrayed the excitement she tried to hide.

Geoff came in with some cups and a pot of tea as she moved away from the bed. He put them down on Nathanial's dresser and poured while shooting most woebegone glances at his boyfriend.

Nathanial went to stand but made it less than halfway up before plopping back onto his bed. The distortions in his chi would indicate he had a bout of vertigo. He slowly shook his head. "I'll see you to the door, Nanny. Thank you for everything you've done today; I'm sorry it didn't go very smoothly."

The younger Akita went to try to stand again, but that female_clapped a paw on his shoulder and held him down. "Don't be silly, pup. You shouldn't be getting out of bed. If I had my way, you'd be in the hospital right now." She sounded most reluctant as she added, "Though what he's done seems to have worked." Her tone became a bit brighter. "Regardless, you need to _rest. When I was your age, or even now at my_age, I'd jump at the chance to cuddle up with Wolves as hot as these. Escorting your grandmother to the door should be very low on your list of priorities in this situation." Both of the teen Wolves looked rather discomfited by whatever images flashed through their minds. It was truly amusing and not lost on _that female either. She chuckled and leant over to kiss her grandson's cheeks. "I'll see you tomorrow." She pulled out the vials of blood from her pocket. "I'm leaving Garret's blood on the counter in the store room."

Nathanial nodded. "See you then. I'm going to be home most of the day." She smiled and left the room.

Liam suppressed a heartfelt sigh of relief as she departed and took the proffered cup of tisane from Geoff. "What a day." The white-furred Wolf cringed but remained silent.

Faelen did sigh. "Shut up, Geoff. I don't even know how you're blaming yourself for most of this. I'd say she caused more trouble than _you."_The Elemental still said nothing, though his eyes spoke volumes of self-recrimination.

Liam knew he would incur some wrath for this, but he disagreed with Faelen, to a point. "That is difficult to parse. Most certainly, everything before and during tea was either her fault -- or yours, Faelen -- but after I went to Taipei, well, I cannot truly say who caused the most trouble." Rather than getting angry as expected, Faelen became overwrought with guilt and he stared at the Akita.

Nathanial hung his head. "I did. If I-I didn't show you that shrine, Liam -- I knew I shouldn't, I knew it, but I thought you'd find it funny, maybe -- then you wouldn't have gotten hurt, and Geoff wouldn't have run off, and I wouldn't have used so much magic. It's all my fault."

Geoff glomped onto his boyfriend. "No, it's my fault!"

Liam rubbed his temples. "Lord Hades take me now. I cannot wait for these years of teenaged angst and hormonal fluctuations to end, though I will likely die of old age before the Spirits fully mature. If I was fated to fall in love with one of my descendants, perhaps I should have done so with Den. He, at least, is past this stage." His monologue served its purpose and the protestations of guilt ceased. "Everyone shares blame for today's fiasco! That includes me. Perhaps the only blameless ones would be Micah, Nicholas, and my father, for Conor and Dirk certainly did not help things along." He waved at the bed. "Nathanial, Faelen, lie back down, or if you feel well enough to sit at the table, come up and eat. Supper was almost done before I left, so it should be finished cooking by now." Nathanial accepted Geoff's assistance and rose. "Fine. Eat, and back to bed." The Ancient One turned to Geoff. "I shall eat and then meditate. You will accompany me, as directed by Conor."

Nathanial drooped in his boyfriend's arms. "Are you sleeping with me tonight, at least?"

Geoff shook his head. "No. Grounded. Besides, Liam is really yang after healing you and needs my energy."

Nathanial looked absolutely crushed. "Um, well, c-can we all..." He looked at his bed and drooped more. "No, I suppose not." Fitting the four of them in a queen-sized bed would be crowded to say the least. Were they all Liam's size it would not be an issue, but the Spirits were quite broad across the chest and shoulders. It would be too cramped to be pleasant for long. Nathanial perked up a bit. "Could we sleep in Dad's room? His bed is big enough."

Liam shook his head. "Do not volunteer your father's property. If you asked and obtained permission, stressing you would not be having sex_in his bed, that would be fine, but there is no logical reason for the request... Though...we both _do require energy. We would get far more by sharing a bed with them." He shook his head. "It would be far more logical to ask Conor to sleep in Lily's room for the night, or even Garret's." Liam sighed. "If you are wanting sex, no. I am not in the mood. Get Geoff to fuck you after we eat, and then send him to Nick's room."

The pup sighed, too. "No, no sex. My head hurts too much, and I'm feeling very tired. I just want to be with Geoff."

Faelen put his paws on Geoff's and Nathanial's backs, and gently nudged them to the door. "Discuss this during or after dinner. It was ready almost an hour ago." They all plodded toward the bedroom door, Nathanial held close to Geoff's side, busy with their various thoughts.