Faline

The sounds of his vomiting and bowels releasing aren't things I care to hear, but if I think it's bad for me, I can just imagine how bad and embarrassed he has to feel. Putting aside my own discomfort, I hold him while the older woman and her helper clean him up.

Seven inches taller than me, but he's hunching pretty hard. Ignoring the mess on the floor, I brace my stance to anchor him. Still slightly leaning forward, but not bending over. The water is hot yet his skin feels cold. Withdrawal at its finest. Dark brown eyes filled with pain glance at me before sliding away.

Nothing worse to a teenage boy than to be in a fucked-up embarrassing position in front of females. Kind of at a loss on what to do to make things easier, so I just try to get him to talk instead, get his mind off it.

"Kyle said your name is Kell, that right?"

A nod is there, but with it comes dry heaving. Crap.

"Alright Kell, don't move your head too much. Talk to me instead, okay? How long were you there?"

When he goes to shake his head, I stop him by stopping the movement with my hand. He groans. Alright, let's do this a bit differently.

"Kell? We're almost done. Whatever's in your system is being rejected by your body. It's going to hurt and it's going to take a while for it all to come out. Trisha here is going to give you something so you'll be able to sleep and get away from some of this pain. You have to fight through this Kell, you're stronger than it is. I will keep someone with you in case you need anything, okay?"

He groans again, I can see his diaphragm clenching hard as his insides try to rid everything from his stomach to his bowels. He's going to be dehydrated as hell, which will just make him feel worse. I don't see the bruises, but I can smell them.

Broken blood vessels far under the skin faintly show around the track marks on his arms. Moving my hands experimentally reveals his ribs hurt. Could be from his dry heaving or a previous beating. I'd be willing to wager a few bones are bruised. His wrists and ankles are raw, which makes me feel worse about what I'm about to do. Looking for her, Danica is directing multiple shower heads to wash away what we're all standing in.

"Danica, I need you to get a couple of people to help you take one of the single beds into a clean detox room. We'll also need a couple of sets of silk ties. Trisha, please tell me you have an IV set up thing and fluids we can get into him."

She nods. Thank God. The girl runs off while the older woman finishes cleaning him up. When she does, we move over to cleaner water where she also washes our feet thoroughly.

Grateful, I smile at her. When finished she runs off as well to get some new supplies. The teenager is leaning heavily on me, not sure if he's still conscious or not.

Sometime later, Danica returns saying it's done and holding the silk strips in confusion.

"Get Seth for me and I'll explain when we get to the room."

Nodding, she doesn't get far when he comes in before she can even go out. Knowing just what I need, we get the boy in the wolf’s arms to get him to the bedroom easier. I could do it, would just have to juggle and jar him to get placed right for it not to be so awkward en route.

Trisha is already in the room setting up the IV rack-thing. While she does that and Seth holds Kell, I get after the bed and attempt something that had popped into my head. Going through and explaining everything to both her and Trisha as I tear up the bed.

Earlier when looking through the rooms, I could tell that the way the beds are, they're stackable bunks. The barebones frame is a mixture of wood and plastic. Sturdy wood frame, plastic middle slats to hold the mattress aloft. Picture some older lawn or lounge chairs, something like that.

Doing some ghetto measuring, I cut out the strips where his rear end would be as well as the mattress itself. Since they're little more than cots, it doesn't take much. Once laid down, Kell is positioned so his rear end is poking through. Crude, but having a catch tub underneath spares messes. Hopefully.

The silk ties are used to tie him down just enough that he can't rip out his own IV. Firm with give, but not much. Using silk instead of leather since his extremities are already raw, and I don't want him to think we're tying him down to hurt him. It's called 'tough love' people.

Something is found to put underneath to catch any mess while I call for pillows. Stacking them specifically so his head is angled to the side, that way if he vomits, he hopefully won't drown in it. Still plan on having someone here to keep an eye on them all though.

Ghetto to the extreme, but hopefully it works. We do the same in Elena's room and get her hooked to an IV as well since she'll be going through the same. Tasha isn't set up with the bed yet but will be if she shows the same symptoms.

Trisha seems to like the idea, so we make a note to talk about similar setups in the other rooms. Not all, but a couple more. Maybe half-an-half. Twelve were brought in, and there are twelve detox rooms. Coincidence? Hmm.

While things quiet back down, I assign a body to keep an eye on the three humans. Trisha explains to them what they need to keep an eye and an ear out for while I get information written down. Going down the list of new animals, I'm going to lose half my kitchen crew for a little while.

I want to assign each new one with one already here of the same animal type to show them around. That's if they stay of course. One for sure won't be; he's too damn young. He can still stay close to Scarlett though before I can get him out of here.

Chandrika is in the air yet, being sixteen. Catch myself already assuming Elena will die, so I'm not counting her. Horrible, but realistic. Even if she does make it, she's going to be so messed up that I'm not sure what can be done.

Two males left, both animals. These two were the first ones I'd saved at that house and in the worst shape, aside from how Elena is now and Tasha when found. One is the Changeling, the other had been getting carved up, so I want to do him first. Would do both but I want the healer to be able to really look at each. She points out the door I want and it gets opened.

First thought is big. Not in overall girth, but height, same as Viskal at a few inches over six-foot. A runner’s body with thicker legs and thinner upper body.

Under all the blood, I get the scent of coyote. Similar to Maii, but this guy is a WereCoyote, not a Shifter. When I'd killed the bible freak carving into him, all I'd seen was his back, and hadn't looked for him when they'd been taken out of the house of horrors.

Light gold eyes look at me now, from a head laying on crossed arms. Stretched out on his belly, the bandage that had been over his removed brand is crumpled up next to the wall. His back still looks very raw but in the process of healing.

His long hair had been used to strangle and hold him, but now it's fanned out behind him, brown streaks visible now. Whole body is a patchwork of old and new injuries, I can tell he hasn't tried shifting either. His nose is bloodied and bent, there’s angry welt-looking things on his side that I can see, and I'm pretty sure his wrists and ankles are all raw exposed flesh.

He's just staring at me, so I step in, ignoring Trisha's restraining hand. Were-animals can kill Vamps one on one with no real trouble, especially one as new as I. His eyes are dulled, but clearly hold personality and fire. This one is no submissive.

The coyote’s light gold eyes are almost a mirror to my own, just several shades lighter. I go down to my knees next to him, water bottle held out to him. Feel a bit silly, but that's okay.

My gaze goes from his to his back, hand reaching out and hovering over it. The heat coming off him is like being close to a fire. Natural high body temperature from being what he is, combined with hot blood close to the surface trying to heal him.

Get the urge to cuddle close, but I refrain, quite easily. Pulling away from the raw skin, I lay the back of my cool hand against his cheek. Prickly stubble meets my touch, the tiny amount that always seems to stay and help keep the shadowed look.

He looks like the epitome of an older bad boy. Where all the others either look and or are young, he looks the oldest. I'd say late twenties, but it can be hard to tell with animals 'before' all the altering injuries.

Soon as he shifts, most of it should heal. A closer look at his hands shows crooked, broken fingers. Knowing males and their issues with pride, I don't offer to open the water.

"If you get up, we can get you out, looked over, and cleaned up. Don't know why you animals are so stubborn and not shifting to heal bones. Seems foolish if you ask me."

I pull my hand away, isn't until then that he moves to rise. Standing and backing away myself, his towel is seen under him, laying on it. Getting so used to the nudity around here that seeing his exposed rear end didn't really click.

When on his feet and facing me at the doorway, I frown. Muscled thighs are littered with burns and small brands, leading inward to inner thigh and groin. The thin strips of skin that are between the extended male bits and leg look to be just as raw as his wrists. Makes no move to cover himself, either he or they had shaved him smooth, so everything is quite visible. My eyes jump to his, still holding my frown.

"Will burns heal on you guys?"

A thick brow rises. Doesn't move to get his hair off his back so I either have a masochist on my hands or a tough guy. Lovely. Both are pains in the ass.

"You're not very old for a Vampire, are you?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

My arms cross as I move out of the doorway so he can get through, a haughty scowl in place as I ignore the lack of him retrieving his towel. Walks out as naked as the day he was born and acts like he's decked in a suit.

Trisha keeps her face blank and professional as we wait for his intake of water. The bottle gets handed off and we're on our way to the bathroom.

"Shower or bath?"

He shrugs massive shoulders. Great. I glare over at him as we walk.

"You're not going to be another pain in my ass, are you? I have enough of those around here. Simple enough question, so which is it?"

Eyes meet mine, anger filling them. I stop abruptly and face him, getting angry myself.

"Look, I know you went through hell. I apologize for that, all we're trying to do here is help. Can be all macho later, but for right now, quit being a dick."

Both he and the healer are looking at me while Seth and Danica hide smiles. Sniffing, my head raises and I continue walking. Each fall in eventually, Werewolf taking the ass end of our train again.

When we get to the entrance, I look at the coyote with a raised brow. Raising a hand to point at each opening at the ‘T’ junction.

"Shower or bath?"

"Shower. Please."

I dip my head and go through the appointed direction. He goes in with no more complaint, but when he sees that the wall ends and has the area opened so he could go to either without using the specific doorway, he scowls harshly. Light gold eyes flash at me, but I just grin at him, dipping my head once more before stepping out.

Seems childish, I know. But the whole purpose of asking was to give each a choice, not to prank or be mean. A choice that's their own and not made for them.

Guy can be grumpy all he wants, but hopefully, he'll see what was done. Trisha had followed us in and stayed when I left. Well, didn't exactly leave, just leaning on the ‘T’ facing out so it doesn't feel as if I'm watching him.