Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Something About Him ❯ Mental Breakdown ( Chapter 9 )

A/N:

This chapter will start off with personal looks into both Katan and Jason's inner feelings instead of focusing on just one, because it is important for the reader to understand what's going on in Jason's head even though it is actually Katan's chapter, and it will switch to just Katan after the beginning.

 

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Chapter 9

Mental Breakdown

 

Katan sighed deeply and sat back in his chair. He was already regretting what he was about to do. He didn't have much time to dwell on that though, as the door to his study opened, and Jason walked in. He was dressed in another of Mark's outfits, the shirt looked uncomfortably tight on him.

 

“You sent for me, master?”

 

“Yes…Jason…I got some news on your sister. I thought you'd want to know…”

 

Jason didn't miss the fact that Katan was visibly upset, and he braced himself for whatever news was coming.

 

“I'm sorry Jason, she was sold about 3 days after you were, to a slave trader, who then auctioned her off. I'm still looking, but once a slave goes at auction it's nearly impossible to track them down.”

 

Jason's knees buckled, suddenly unable to hold him, he dry heaved as he hit the floor on his knees, suddenly thankful that his pain meds had made his stomach too upset to eat breakfast. His whole body began to tremble and his tears flowed freely. He felt like he was a shattered lamp that had been poorly pieced together and was now crumbling. He began gasping for air, unable to get enough oxygen through his sobs.

 

“NO!” he screamed, and the anguish Katan heard in his voice was heart breaking.

 

Katan rushed to his side, pulling him into his arms and letting him sob into his shoulder.

 

“Shh, shh it's ok.”

 

Jason's trembling worsened, and his crying got harder “It's not okay! Kara! I was supposed to protect her!”

 

Katan tightened his grip on Jason. He had never seen anyone fall apart so much so quickly. He reached in his pocket, and brought a needle to Jason's arm, wasting no time in sticking him with it.

 

Jason pulled back abruptly. “What the fuck did you do to me?!”

 

“Shh, it's just a mild sedative, to calm you down.”

 

Jason fell back from his knees onto his butt. His breathing slowed, and his hyperventilating stopped. His trembling decreased significantly. Katan scooped him up and carried him into his bedroom. He put him in his bed and tucked him in.

 

“Rest now.“

 

Jason looked so small and fragile as he lay curled in his bed, trembling. Katan wanted nothing more than to comfort him, but he knew that right now there was nothing that could be done, and sleep was the biggest mercy he could grant him.

 

Katan returned to his office, determined to find this girl, even if he had to call on every connection and favor he had.

 

Later that evening….

 

Katan emerged from his study, exhausted. His head hurt from eyestrain, and his voice was hoarse from all the phone calls he'd made. He wandered into the control room, where Daryl was monitoring Jason's room with the mansion's security system.

 

“Any luck, Master?” Mark asked as he hopped to his feet to allow Katan to sit down.

 

“Not really. I have someone paying a visit to the auctioneer, in hopes that he would know who the buyer was.”

 

“Master, you look awful.”

 

Katan gave a weak smile.

 

“Thank you, Mark.”

 

Mark grinned sheepishly, and began to massage Katan's shoulders.

 

“Mmm Mark…I do love how talented those hands of yours are.”

 

Mark smiled.

Katan glanced at the monitor.

 

“How has he been?”

 

“No change, Master… he hasn't even moved from that spot, but he's been awake for hours. I tried taking him his dinner, and he wouldn't even acknowledge me….I think he's in shock.”

 

Katan nodded. Perhaps in the morning he'll be better. For now, all we can do about his sister is wait.

 

“You should go to bed , Master, you need your sleep.”

 

“Yes, you're right. Make sure he is watched at all times.”

 

“Yes, Master.”

 

Katan lay in bed for a long time, but he couldn't sleep. He kept replaying how pathetic Jason looked, remembering how upset he was, and it made him sick with worry.

 

What is wrong with me…the boy is beautiful but I'm getting much too emotionally involved with a slave.

 

Katan remembered what Mark had said about the similarities between Jason and her, and he could picture both their eyes in his mind, and his heart shattered when her face appeared in his mind's eye. He hadn't been able to picture her from memory in a long time, but there she was, clear as day.

 

Julia. His beautiful Julia. They had been high-school sweethearts, and in college he finally popped the question. She wasn't a vessel, she was just an average human being from a humble background, if it weren't for her distant aunt's money she would not even be able to run in the same circles as he did, but he was crazy about her. Her bronze colored hair that spilled over her shoulders. Her slender figure. The attitude that made her so right for him. She was spunky, but gentle, until you messed with someone she cared about, then she reminded him of a mother lion protecting her cubs. And then there were those eyes. His eyes. Such a unique shade of blue there were maybe a handful of people in the world that possessed them. Most of all, she was so full of life! She made him feel as if he hadn't a care in the world. He brought her the greatest joy he'd ever known. But, as all things in the universe must balance out, she also brought him the greatest sorrow he'd ever known.

 

While they were still in college she was close to graduating and her aunt passed away unexpectedly, and her will had not allowed for Julia's continued schooling. If she didn't come up with the money by graduation they would not give her the degree until the tuition was paid. She could have come to Katan. She should have come to Katan, but she was too worried about him thinking she was using him for money. Instead she went to Katan's best friend. He too was in university with them, and his project had been granted a special grant from the medical institute, so he was permitted to pay people to test his drug. It was revolutionary. A drug that could grant people the powers of a Vessel. Julia chose to be given the power of healing. Her tuition was paid for, and she had this new gift to share with the world. She, unlike the Vessels whose natural abilities were to heal, gave her powers freely. She frequented the children's hospital, curing ailments of all sorts. Of course the powers did not come without a price. They never did. She developed the normal temper and heightened emotions; that Katan could live with, it made their fights a bit more difficult, but he was willing to work with that, as it also made their love much more passionate.

 

What couldn't be lived with, however, was the terrible side effect the drug had. It did not manifest itself until 2 years into their marriage. She miscarried their child 8 months into her pregnancy, and when she underwent a series of test to discover why, they found a large tumor growing on her brain stem. It was inoperable, and every healing Vessel he took her to was unwilling to try to heal something that serious.

 

His best friend offered to try to find a cure, but Katan was furious with him for experimenting with her in the first place, and would have none of it. Katan stood by and watched helplessly as attempt after attempt to help her failed. The cancer spread, and those beautiful eyes turned dull, lifeless, and filled with so much pain. There were days she would beg for death. And when finally she did die, a part of Katan died with her. As he buried her body in the ground, he buried his humanity deep within himself.

 

He began to indulge in some of his darkest desires. Things that to this day made him sick to his stomach to recall. He never forgave his friend. They became mortal enemies, and to this day remained as such. That friend's name was Tobin Crane.

 

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Katan's worry grew over the next few days. Jason remained in bed, in the same position. His eyes looked distant, and all of Mark's attempts to get his attention proved useless. For three nights in a row Katan lay awake worrying. His worry led to remembering, and his remembering always brought him back to his dark place, despite his best efforts not to think about it. He hoped that Jason would never know about the dark underground of the Vessel world. Prayed too that his sister was also spared from it, but as hard as she had been to track down, he feared she may be right in the thick of it.

 

When he awoke on the fourth day after a 2 hour sleep plagued by painful dream memories, Katan was determined to pull Jason out of the shell he had retreated inside of. This was, after all, supposed to be the first day of his training.

 

Katan marched into Jason's room, unhooked the IV they had set up to keep him hydrated, and scooped him up. Jason didn't react at all as Katan carried him into the bathroom and dumped him on the shower floor. After a few seconds of the cold running water, however, Jason jumped up and retreated as far back as the shower would allow.

 

“That's freezing, you ass!” His words lacked enthusiasm, but were clearly angry, Katan was happy to see any emotion besides sorrow on the boy's face, if even for a moment.

 

“You need to snap out of it now. Shower yourself and come down for breakfast.”

 

“I'm not hungry.”

 

“It wasn't a request. Today begins your training.”

 

“What happened to my three days?”

 

“They are up.”

 

“It's really been that long?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Jason's stomach gave a loud growl. “I guess I am hungry.”

 

“You'll find clean clothes in your closet, they will suit you better than Mark's things.”

 

With that, Katan left, and Jason began to shower.