Ever After: Chapter 8
Title: Ever After
Rating: PG
Summery: Securing an area for the Secret Service, Myka runs into Claudia who’s on her first solo case. Worried for Claudia, Myka is determined to slip back into her role as Warehouse agent just one more time. But her new job, the stubborn holder of a dangerous artifact and Claudia herself don’t make her job easy.
Note: Dedication goes to (incredibly patient) sunkrux, as this is her birthday present from me.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Warehouse 13, Mad Love or any of the fairytales used.
Previous Chapters: Chapter Index
Chapter 8: Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Wolf?
“What the hell is that?” Myka yelled, grabbing her gun.
“Um...that’s the big bad wolf trying to eat little Red Riding Hood a.k.a. me.” Claudia managed to get out.
“You look so pretty. You’re ripe just for me.” The wolf said, walking into the room.
“Where’s Ethan?” Claudia asked, only to have her question answered as his body was thrown at her by the wolf. She flung herself to the floor and then backed up to check Ethan’s pulse (with Myka keeping her eyes on the slowly advancing wolf) and breathed a sigh of relief. “He’s alive.”
“I wanted to have you first. Wanted desert before dinner.” The wolf turned to look at Myka, who was pointing her gun at him. “Seconds.” Myka shuddered and gave him a look of pure disgust.
“Myka, what are we supposed to do?” Claudia whispered, running over to her. “We can’t shoot that...” She trailed off, unsure exactly what to call the creature that was advancing on them. “I mean, some poor schmuck got stuck with that wolf just because I was nearby.”
“I don’t think he’s just some poor schmuck.” Myka said fiercely.
“What?”
“Haven’t you noticed that the fairytale book seems to chose what kind of fairytales match up to your personality?” Claudia thought for a minute and then nodded. “I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t have wanted to run into this guy, wolf or not.”
“But we still can’t shoot him.” Claudia pointed out. “Not while an artifact is possessing him.”
“No. That’s a last resort.” Myka admitted.
“I’m going to get the book.” Claudia whispered as the wolf inched closer and closer. “I don’t know - maybe it can’t help.”
“I’ve got your back.” Myka said. Unfortunately, Claudia’s back was just the thing the wolf was looking for, because just as Claudia turned he launched himself at her.
Myka intercepted him mid-leap, catching him and throwing him to the ground. His claws raked across her right arm, leaving deep cuts in it. She grabbed her arm, her face contorted in pain. It was only a few seconds, but the wolf took full advantage of her pain. He grabbed her and threw her across the room. She hit the wall and slid to the ground.
“Myka!” Claudia screamed, trying to go to her.
“Mine.” The wolf leaped at her. Claudia backed up and grabbed the book in the vault behind her. She swung it at him, spine first. It hit him directly in the face, making a horrible cracking noise and making his nose spill blood. He cursed at her amid growls but retreated a few feet. Claudia raised the book, preparing to hit him again if he tried to come near her. But this time he was too fast for her. He ran at her again and ducked the book, throwing her against the vault, one hand grabbing at her throat. The book fell uselessly to the floor. The wolf licked her neck, growled in pleasure and then opened his mouth to rip her throat out -
And was blasted back by a simultaneous shots from the Tesla and a gun.
Claudia lowered her Tesla and ran to Myka, who was lying on the ground holding a gun. Myka was already trying to get up, wincing as she did so.
“I’m okay, Claud.” She said, finally standing. She looked over to the man/wolf hybrid lying on the floor. “Is he alive?”
“I think so.” Claudia nodded. They carefully walked over to him. Claudia pulled out a pair of her electric handcuffs, and reached for one wrist, handcuffing him to the leg of an end table, which had been bolted to the ground. Midway through the process he woke up and launched himself at Claudia again, only to be slugged back into unconsciousness by Myka.
“He’s alive.” Myka confirmed drily. Claudia smirked and finished handcuffing him. Myka walked over to Ethan and gently began to shake him awake. He moaned and his eyelids fluttered. “He’ll come around in a minute or so and can take care of the dog.” Myka said to Claudia, who walked over to join her. “We should probably get to Larry and Connie.”
“Oh snap.” Claudia said, eyes widening as she remembered the frantic phone call she had gotten from them. “Yeah, we need to go. Like now. Right now.”
Myka nodded and ran from the room. Claudia went after her, then doubled back and picked up the fairytale book, just for safety’s sake.
*
By the time they got to the address that Connie had given them, they could see exactly where the dragon was. Smoke hung in the air, along with a strong smell of brimstone; the dragon’s strong roars rang in Claudia’s ears.
Plus, part of the wall had been torn out.
Without a word Myka and Claudia dashed up to the apartment, shoving their way through numerous people on the stairs. After they finally got to Larry’s floor, Claudia started trying to direct (or yell, depending on how you looked at it) people to get downstairs and out of the building while Myka began throwing herself against the door, trying to force it open. It was weak and it only took Myka two tries before she found herself sprawled on the floor of Larry’s apartment, looking straight into the face of the dragon.
It had backed Larry and Connie against the wall, but at Myka’s entrance it was distracted. While its yellow eyes were turned on her, Connie pushed Larry out of the dragon’s path and ran after him. They tried to make a subtle retreat for the door, but unfortunately the dragon saw them. It turned its head on them and breathed fire into their path. Connie and Larry ran backwards only to have the dragon swing its tail into their path - several sharp spikes glimmering on its tail. They backed up, clinging to each other. The dragon swung its tail several times, missing them just by inches. Myka and Claudia circled it, and just as the dragon raised its tail once last time, Claudia hit its chest with a blast from the Tesla and Myka fired a bullet at its head. The dragon roared in pain, turning to face them. Its tail, swinging as it turned, flew at Larry and Connie. Larry pushed Connie to the floor only seconds before the sharp spikes on the dragon’s tail hit his chest. He collapsed instantly to the floor.
“LARRY!” Connie screamed, shaking him.
“Claudia get them out of here!” Myka screamed. “I’ll distract the dragon!”
Claudia hesitated only for a second - she didn’t want to leave Myka by herself, but another scream from Connie brought her back to reality. She couldn't let anymore innocent bystanders get hurt. She ran for Connie and Larry, jumping over the dragon’s tail when it swung towards her, just as Myka fired another bullet at its head to distract it. So far, nothing was working against the dragon - its hide was too tough and it was too pissed off to do anything but try and attack its prey. Claudia wondered if Connie might be the only one leaving the apartment alive tonight.
*
Connie was distantly aware of Claudia calling her name, but she couldn’t hear her well. Her ears seemed to be muffled, just as her chest seemed to be tightened and her eyes seemed to be pouring unstoppable tears.
“Larry. Larry.” She said, shaking him. She knew he wasn’t going to wake up, but she didn’t see any other alternative. If he didn’t wake up then that meant he was - Connie closed her eyes, unwilling to accept the impossible but entirely true alternative. “Larry please wake up.” She pleaded. He didn’t open his eyes. He wasn’t breathing. He had saved her life by giving up his. Connie let out a soft shuddering breath and then leaned down to Larry, whispering something in his ear, her final goodbye.
*
Claudia had tried and failed to get Connie out of the apartment, even resorting so far as to try and drag her, but nothing she had done had made any difference. Connie refused to leave Larry, so Claudia had come back to Myka’s side to help her fight the dragon. But it was a losing battle.
Myka had run out of bullets, the Tesla was running out of electronic bolts and as far as Myka could tell, she and Claudia were both screwed. They were going to die, and an innocent bystander was going to die with them. Another bystander had already died.
They had failed.
Myka had failed. Again.
She had thought she could do this job again and she couldn’t, and now Claudia was going to pay for Myka’s mistake.
Myka grabbed Claudia and shoved her away from the dragon, trying to shied Claud’s body with her own, trying to delay her death by precious seconds. The dragon lowered its head so it was eye level with Myka and opened up its mouth. Inside, Myka could see fire, burning and shooting its way up the dragon’s throat, ready to kill her.
Rating: PG
Summery: Securing an area for the Secret Service, Myka runs into Claudia who’s on her first solo case. Worried for Claudia, Myka is determined to slip back into her role as Warehouse agent just one more time. But her new job, the stubborn holder of a dangerous artifact and Claudia herself don’t make her job easy.
Note: Dedication goes to (incredibly patient) sunkrux, as this is her birthday present from me.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Warehouse 13, Mad Love or any of the fairytales used.
Previous Chapters: Chapter Index
Chapter 8: Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Wolf?
“What the hell is that?” Myka yelled, grabbing her gun.
“Um...that’s the big bad wolf trying to eat little Red Riding Hood a.k.a. me.” Claudia managed to get out.
“You look so pretty. You’re ripe just for me.” The wolf said, walking into the room.
“Where’s Ethan?” Claudia asked, only to have her question answered as his body was thrown at her by the wolf. She flung herself to the floor and then backed up to check Ethan’s pulse (with Myka keeping her eyes on the slowly advancing wolf) and breathed a sigh of relief. “He’s alive.”
“I wanted to have you first. Wanted desert before dinner.” The wolf turned to look at Myka, who was pointing her gun at him. “Seconds.” Myka shuddered and gave him a look of pure disgust.
“Myka, what are we supposed to do?” Claudia whispered, running over to her. “We can’t shoot that...” She trailed off, unsure exactly what to call the creature that was advancing on them. “I mean, some poor schmuck got stuck with that wolf just because I was nearby.”
“I don’t think he’s just some poor schmuck.” Myka said fiercely.
“What?”
“Haven’t you noticed that the fairytale book seems to chose what kind of fairytales match up to your personality?” Claudia thought for a minute and then nodded. “I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t have wanted to run into this guy, wolf or not.”
“But we still can’t shoot him.” Claudia pointed out. “Not while an artifact is possessing him.”
“No. That’s a last resort.” Myka admitted.
“I’m going to get the book.” Claudia whispered as the wolf inched closer and closer. “I don’t know - maybe it can’t help.”
“I’ve got your back.” Myka said. Unfortunately, Claudia’s back was just the thing the wolf was looking for, because just as Claudia turned he launched himself at her.
Myka intercepted him mid-leap, catching him and throwing him to the ground. His claws raked across her right arm, leaving deep cuts in it. She grabbed her arm, her face contorted in pain. It was only a few seconds, but the wolf took full advantage of her pain. He grabbed her and threw her across the room. She hit the wall and slid to the ground.
“Myka!” Claudia screamed, trying to go to her.
“Mine.” The wolf leaped at her. Claudia backed up and grabbed the book in the vault behind her. She swung it at him, spine first. It hit him directly in the face, making a horrible cracking noise and making his nose spill blood. He cursed at her amid growls but retreated a few feet. Claudia raised the book, preparing to hit him again if he tried to come near her. But this time he was too fast for her. He ran at her again and ducked the book, throwing her against the vault, one hand grabbing at her throat. The book fell uselessly to the floor. The wolf licked her neck, growled in pleasure and then opened his mouth to rip her throat out -
And was blasted back by a simultaneous shots from the Tesla and a gun.
Claudia lowered her Tesla and ran to Myka, who was lying on the ground holding a gun. Myka was already trying to get up, wincing as she did so.
“I’m okay, Claud.” She said, finally standing. She looked over to the man/wolf hybrid lying on the floor. “Is he alive?”
“I think so.” Claudia nodded. They carefully walked over to him. Claudia pulled out a pair of her electric handcuffs, and reached for one wrist, handcuffing him to the leg of an end table, which had been bolted to the ground. Midway through the process he woke up and launched himself at Claudia again, only to be slugged back into unconsciousness by Myka.
“He’s alive.” Myka confirmed drily. Claudia smirked and finished handcuffing him. Myka walked over to Ethan and gently began to shake him awake. He moaned and his eyelids fluttered. “He’ll come around in a minute or so and can take care of the dog.” Myka said to Claudia, who walked over to join her. “We should probably get to Larry and Connie.”
“Oh snap.” Claudia said, eyes widening as she remembered the frantic phone call she had gotten from them. “Yeah, we need to go. Like now. Right now.”
Myka nodded and ran from the room. Claudia went after her, then doubled back and picked up the fairytale book, just for safety’s sake.
*
By the time they got to the address that Connie had given them, they could see exactly where the dragon was. Smoke hung in the air, along with a strong smell of brimstone; the dragon’s strong roars rang in Claudia’s ears.
Plus, part of the wall had been torn out.
Without a word Myka and Claudia dashed up to the apartment, shoving their way through numerous people on the stairs. After they finally got to Larry’s floor, Claudia started trying to direct (or yell, depending on how you looked at it) people to get downstairs and out of the building while Myka began throwing herself against the door, trying to force it open. It was weak and it only took Myka two tries before she found herself sprawled on the floor of Larry’s apartment, looking straight into the face of the dragon.
It had backed Larry and Connie against the wall, but at Myka’s entrance it was distracted. While its yellow eyes were turned on her, Connie pushed Larry out of the dragon’s path and ran after him. They tried to make a subtle retreat for the door, but unfortunately the dragon saw them. It turned its head on them and breathed fire into their path. Connie and Larry ran backwards only to have the dragon swing its tail into their path - several sharp spikes glimmering on its tail. They backed up, clinging to each other. The dragon swung its tail several times, missing them just by inches. Myka and Claudia circled it, and just as the dragon raised its tail once last time, Claudia hit its chest with a blast from the Tesla and Myka fired a bullet at its head. The dragon roared in pain, turning to face them. Its tail, swinging as it turned, flew at Larry and Connie. Larry pushed Connie to the floor only seconds before the sharp spikes on the dragon’s tail hit his chest. He collapsed instantly to the floor.
“LARRY!” Connie screamed, shaking him.
“Claudia get them out of here!” Myka screamed. “I’ll distract the dragon!”
Claudia hesitated only for a second - she didn’t want to leave Myka by herself, but another scream from Connie brought her back to reality. She couldn't let anymore innocent bystanders get hurt. She ran for Connie and Larry, jumping over the dragon’s tail when it swung towards her, just as Myka fired another bullet at its head to distract it. So far, nothing was working against the dragon - its hide was too tough and it was too pissed off to do anything but try and attack its prey. Claudia wondered if Connie might be the only one leaving the apartment alive tonight.
*
Connie was distantly aware of Claudia calling her name, but she couldn’t hear her well. Her ears seemed to be muffled, just as her chest seemed to be tightened and her eyes seemed to be pouring unstoppable tears.
“Larry. Larry.” She said, shaking him. She knew he wasn’t going to wake up, but she didn’t see any other alternative. If he didn’t wake up then that meant he was - Connie closed her eyes, unwilling to accept the impossible but entirely true alternative. “Larry please wake up.” She pleaded. He didn’t open his eyes. He wasn’t breathing. He had saved her life by giving up his. Connie let out a soft shuddering breath and then leaned down to Larry, whispering something in his ear, her final goodbye.
*
Claudia had tried and failed to get Connie out of the apartment, even resorting so far as to try and drag her, but nothing she had done had made any difference. Connie refused to leave Larry, so Claudia had come back to Myka’s side to help her fight the dragon. But it was a losing battle.
Myka had run out of bullets, the Tesla was running out of electronic bolts and as far as Myka could tell, she and Claudia were both screwed. They were going to die, and an innocent bystander was going to die with them. Another bystander had already died.
They had failed.
Myka had failed. Again.
She had thought she could do this job again and she couldn’t, and now Claudia was going to pay for Myka’s mistake.
Myka grabbed Claudia and shoved her away from the dragon, trying to shied Claud’s body with her own, trying to delay her death by precious seconds. The dragon lowered its head so it was eye level with Myka and opened up its mouth. Inside, Myka could see fire, burning and shooting its way up the dragon’s throat, ready to kill her.