After the Betrayal (tags: James) AU fanfic

James tried to leave faster when he heard Eric call after him but the man caught him by the hand before he could escape. He reluctantly turned to face him, keeping his gaze lowered. It was all too much, especially after everything that had happened. His body tensed as Eric kissed his lips, the force behind it was almost enough to make his knees give out. James moved his hand up to Eric's chest, trying to push him away lightly as his hand rested on the muscles that lay there. When Eric pulled back, he stumbled back a few steps and covered his mouth with his hand. They stood in silence for a moment, both refusing to look at each other. "Eric...I must have hurt you so much all these years. I can't believe you didn't tell me sooner. Do you realize how much of a fool I've been? By the gods...." His words started out soft but the more he spoke, the more frustration and sadness showed through and the louder he got. His whole body shook and he hated this feeling in his stomach. James had never been one to hurt anyone. He had always tried to please as many people as he could and to find out that he had done something so stupid to someone he held so dear made him sick to his stomach. He felt like crying, like screaming, but he stood in silence.

James flinched as he felt Eric's hand rest on his arm and his stomach churned. He squeezed his eyes shut as he tried to push down his frustration, his body feeling like it was consumed in flames. There were so many emotions running through his that he worried the seals would break and he would be released once again. Though he was thankful they were still intact. If James had been let loose, he was sure that he would have lost control and would be physically hurting Eric at this point. He took a shaky breath when Eric finally stepped away from him and he finally got the courage to look up at him. His whole body felt conflicted between what he knew was right and what he knew was wrong. If he kissed Eric right now, it would only complicate things more, yet if he walked away right now, he would devastate him. He ran a hand through his hair and gripped it until his knuckled were white. "I don't know what to do anymore Eric...I can't do this..." He grit his teeth as he spoke, fighting the urge to just fall to the ground and give up completely.

James tried to focus on Eric, taking in deep breaths as he tried to control his emotions. "I'm sorry Eric, I'm trying.." He winced as a sharp pain shot through his body, causing him to fall to his knees. His wrist began to glow a bright red, blood spilling from the scars left by Daemon's blade. "Damn it, not now." James grit his teeth as the words slid past his lips and his eyes squeezed shut again. A loud cry left his lips before his body crumbled and he sat on his knees with his shoulder slumped as he stopped breathing for a moment. His body looked as if he had died in an instant, his skin pale and cold, his body loose and broken.

After a moment passes, a low chuckle erupted from James' throat, his spine slowly straightening as he pulled up into a sitting position. He cracked his neck and his eyes flicked open, revealing the blood red color that had been there only hours before. A devilish grin spread across his face and his gaze moved around the room, making a note of his surroundings as well as the man standing across from him with a terrified look on his face. "Eric....how nice it is to meet the man himself. You drive this little boy crazy." Laughter echoed through the room as James' body moved and he stood up. "I can see why though. You're pretty damn fine for a man your age." He took slow steps towards the man until they were only inches apart, his hand flicking up in an instant and gripped Eric's throat tightly, His eyes roamed the man's face, moving down to take in the sight of his bare chest. "It's too bad that I'm going to kill him. He won't get his last meal." He licked his lips as claws extended from his free hand and he traced one claw across Eric's jawline.

All of a sudden, the door burst open, revealing the same woman he had attacked only hours before. She looked perfectly healed as if he had done nothing to her and that irritated him. "Of course you would show up baby, I should have killed you when I had the chance." James rolled his eyes as he threw Eric's body aside like he was nothing, watching as he slammed into the wall before he turned to face Ariel. Irritation showed in every movement as he flicked his wrist, sending a burst of energy to push her against the door behind her. "Tell me dear, how come you look perfectly healthy? Last I saw you, you were about to bleed out all over that beautiful rug. Did you come back just so I can have the pleasure of doing it all again?" A grin spread across his face as he watched her, taking in each movement. He could see why James was so interested in her. She was so petite and beautiful, not to mention great in bed. He took a few steps towards her, making it seem like he was going to attack her once more before he spun around and stood dead center in the room, keeping an equal distance from the girl and the man.

"Looks like I'll get to make a show of killing this little boy. Once he's gone, this body will be mine and mine alone. I'll get to fuck you as much as I want sweetheart. After all, what's his is mine." His gaze glanced at Ariel out of the corner of his eye as he smirked. In the whole time that he was trapped, it was hard not to think of what he would do to that little angel when he was in control. He traced a claw across James' neck, slicing it just enough for some blood to drip out but not kill him instantly. After all, what would be the fun in that?
He couldn't help but grin at their reaction and he held up his hand. "If either of you take a step, I will not hesitate to rip out pretty boy's little heart here." His hand moved up and tore open his shirt, revealing his chest beneath it. He stared down at it, almost sad to have to destroy it in a few seconds. James traced a claw around where his heart was, poising his hand to be ready for action if need be.

Eric felt his breath leave him when James suddenly collapsed on the floor as still as death, "James?" He stepped forward and flinched as James suddenly sat up. "You're not James." He said quietly as he took in the dark red eyes, this really wasn't good...seeing James like this made him realize that he never should have said anything about his feelings. If he had kept his mouth shut they wouldn't be in this mess. At his words, he smirked "Well that's only because I work out, but if you let James go now...I'll consider not putting you down." He said with his eyes turning a dark yellow.

He hissed when the animal inside James gripped him by the throat, he was strong far stronger then Eric had realized but he wasn't going to back down from what he had said earlier. "You kill him...you die with him." He snarled, his fangs sliding down as he spoke. "I'm centuries old...I know what happens when you do that, after all you can't kill a part of you." He pointed out. He looked up as the door flung open to reveal Ariel, before he could make a witty remark the Kitsune threw him against the wall...hard.

 He grunted at the impact and looked up to see Ariel facing off against James, "That's probably not a good idea, you know I really hate rapists." Eric snarled as he stood up, freezing as the Kitsune started slicing James's neck. He frowned as the Kitsune kept talking, "Like I said, James dies then so do you and all hope of revenge dies with you." He said meeting Ariel's eyes. "You might want to brace yourself." He said apologetically before he shifted into his full form.

The house was thankfully fairly large but all the same it could barely contain a sea serpent that was at least fifty feet in length and twice as large to boot. Before James could move, Eric had wrapped his body around him restraining his arms to his sides so he wasn't able to hurt himself. "Whatever you're planning, I'd do it now." Eric snarled, his words barely comprehensible as he fought to keep James in place without causing too much damage.

Ariel held on tighter on James' wrist. He had made her a bit more angrier with what he said about the baby, but it only fueled her more. She glared up at him, not tearing her gaze from him. "I know you're lying about what James thinks about the baby, and I'm not going to let it get to me-Ah!" Ariel cried out as he pulled her against his body. She shrieked as she felt energy burst around her, keeping her from moving. Her grip on his wrists tightened as she kept her focus on healing him. She winced when he spoke next to her ear before growling in it.

Ariel winced as she let out a cry of pain as he bit into her shoulder. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to fight away the pain. Her grip getting tighter on his wrists. Suddenly the room got dark and Ariel took notice of the Serpent above them before it wrapped itself around them. Ariel groaned as her head tilted back at how tight the serpent's grip is. She then heard it speak and realized it was Eric. He told her to do whatever she was planning which made her look at him. "I'm doing it right now! It's just taking long cause he keeps fighting me!" She yelled before she groaned out in pain when the Kitsune started to struggle.

Her stomach got pressed further into James' body, causing her eyes to close as she tried to ignore it. The baby was going to be fine, everything was going to be fine..

Sharp pain entered her neck as the Kitsune bit her once more, causing her whimper. "Stop it!!" She yelled as she glowed and used more of her power on him.

James released his teeth from her neck and threw his head back as a scream erupted from his throat, echoing throughout the room. He was losing and that was something he hated. The only reason he had gotten out tonight was because of James' break down. But now that he had Ariel, she would be around to keep him contained so her precious little James would be safe. It disgusted him.
His body gave off a soft glow as Ariel's power surged through him, his screams disappearing as echoes throughout the room. He could tell that she was getting tired, but she was stronger than he had expected. Before he knew it, he was getting pushed back down and one last cry of agitation left his lips before he felt Ariel's mouth on his, more of her power surging through him. His eyes squeezed shut and his body stopped fighting as James began to take over once again.

He felt as Eric set them back down on the ground and pulled away, watching them carefully. James pulled back from the kiss, his eyes fluttering open to reveal his hazel eyes once more. He breathed a sigh as his body returned to normal, his gaze coming into focus as he came back to his senses. As he looked down at her, he noticed how dark her lavender eyes had become before her body went limp in his arms. "Ariel! No, no please no." James slid down onto the ground, never letting her out of his grasp as he sat on his knees. He moved his hand to feel her pulse, doing his best to ignore the blood that coated his fingers. Her pulse was faint and he cursed before ripping off the rest of his shirt and holding it against her neck to keep her blood contained. His hands shook as he held his hand over her chest, focusing what little energy he had left on healing her. A light consumed her body as he healed her, making sure to send in extra power to heal the baby as well. If she had lost their child because of tonight, he would never be able to live with himself.

Once he was finished healing her, he pulled back and looked over at Eric. His skin was pale and his body shook from the sudden loss of energy but guilt flooded his face more than anything. "I'm so sorry Eric....gods I'm so sorry." He turned his attention back to Ariel, cradling her close to his chest as he prayed for her to wake up.