Chapter 3: Chapter Three
Derek still had nightmares, but they didn't interfere with his sleep as much as the first night. He probably could have slept for a few more hours if it wasn't for Zeek turning on the lights waking him up. Out of reflex Derek pulled the covers over his head and flipped Zeek off, not knowing it was him. Zeek started to laugh genuinely laugh. He hadn't been flipped off before and he thought it was hilarious. Derek, hearing Zeek's laugh, flung the covers off and apologized profusely for flipping him off. Zeek just waved him off and told him it was fine. Derek relaxed and smiled a bit since Zeek was still laughing his ass off. Once Zeek had calmed down Derek asked, "so are we going shopping?" Zeek wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and told Derek there was one thing he had to do before they could go. Zeek told Derek he needed him to apply makeup to some of the visible places where his skin wasn't his skin. "You need me to do what now?" Derek wasn't sure he'd heard Zek correctly, sadly he had. Zeek instructed Derek on how to apply makeup and everything. Derek found the entire thing a bit ridiculous and for once was grateful he couldn't laugh. When he was done applying makeup Zeek looked like a regular human with vitiligo. Except for his bleeding right eye. Zeek has aforementioned he needs a new one, but they don't have any fresh eyes lying around. He grabbed some sunglasses and put them on. They were dark enough to cover the bleeding eye.
Zeek rarely ever left the base for two reasons, he had to put on itchy makeup to fit it, and things had changed so much he didn't even recognize the country he once called home. They had a driver take them to a farmers market so Zeek could get the ingredients to help teach Derek to cook. Zeek loved the farmers market, it reminded him of when he was alive, really alive. As they wandered around Derek thought that Zeek looked like a kid in the candy store. He was completely different here than in the base. Zeek's usually scowling face was at ease. Zeek pulled Derek from stand to stand buying food to make something with. Zeek wouldn't tell him. They spent almost the entire day there, and by the time they were back in the car heading back to the base Derek felt physically exhausted, but Zeek was still full of energy. Derek figured that had to do with Zeek being a zombie.
Once they returned to the base Derek put all the ingredients away for later. Zeek was looking around then yelled down a hall, "hey Jax did you order the blood for the month?" Jax yelled back that he had. Zeek then yelled back," did you remember to get enough for the extra mouth that is Jitter?" Jax didn't respond. "Goddamnit, Jax! You know you're going to have to drink coconut water once it runs out. For a vampire, you have a piss poor memory!" Jax poked his head out of his room and fired back with why it was his responsibility. "Because you're the oldest. Just like it is Cerberus's job to make sure the werewolves get enough exercise so they aren't hyper chihuahuas!" Derek could hear Cerberus laughing in his room. Jax tried to stammer out a response but slammed his door instead. "Maybe I should make him drink coconut water for the whole month that would teach him. Then again he might actually kill someone if I did that," he shrugged, "guess I'll leave well enough alone." Derek didn't even consider the possibility that Jax or the other vampires would actually kill someone, or even him. The thought sent chills throughout his body. "Hey don't worry. Jax can't hurt section members none of us can. We all signed an agreement." Derek didn't remember signing anything, but then again he wasn't a threat.
Zeek let Derek rest for a while since he could see the exhaustion on his face. Zeek had to remind himself that Derek was only a human and had his limits. After Zeek turned up undead he remembered wanting to be a normal human again. All these years later and still he sometimes wishes that he would wake up in a hospital in 1777 and that this was all a dream. Realistically Zeek knew that this was all real, and big amount of wishing could change it. Zeek felt his humanity slipping away from him every day, and there was nothing to change that.
Zeek was jolted out of his daydreaming by Enoch slugging him in the shoulder, "I thought I smelt something burning. You were thinking again weren't ya?" Enoch chuckled to themselves and gave Zeek a smile. "The young ones don't understand what it's like to live for so long that you lose yourself. Hell, the human will never know what it's like. He'll be lucky to reach fifty here." They weren't wrong. Enoch had lived longer than Zeek and he was still kicking. "Just enjoy the little things, Zeek. That's what I do. If you can't find joy in one small thing. Then there's no hope to find joy in your entire life." Strangely Zeek felt both better and worse. Enoch gave Zeek a final smack on his back and left. Zeek watched them go and was still baffled that they were a prince from Hell. He sure didn't act like it.
Zeek went looking for Derek shortly after his talk with Enoch. He couldn't stop thinking about what they had told him. He needed to find joy somewhere. Anywhere. He went into Derek's room and found him sleeping. Zeek was tempted to wake him up to see if he'd get the same treatment as this morning, but he decided against it and let Derek rest for a while longer. After all, Zeek has ran him ragged for a good portion of the day, and Derek didn't even complain once. Maybe Jax was right and Derek was clean. Maybe he was just overreacting, but didn't he have an acceptable reason to? Zeek spotted Derek's laptop. He wanted to open it and find something to prove that his suspicion was right, but he didn't know how to use a computer. So that wouldn't do him any good. He shook Derek awake, he'd waited long enough and it was time to put Derek to work.
Derek couldn't believe that Zeek made all the food by himself, and a lot of it was made from scratch. Zeek instructed Derek how to make bread, noodles, and hamburgers. It took many attempts and even more hours to make them all right. Derek could tell Zeek was frustrated with him. "I never learned how to cook" Zeek just smiled and told Derek it was fine, everyone started somewhere. Derek felt for the first time that Zeek actually liked him, or at the very least tolerated him. The thought made Derek's chest tighten and he felt his heart pounding against his ribcage. This was a feeling Derek couldn't remember ever feeling. It was odd. Zeek waved his hand in front of Derek's face trying to get his attention. Derek shook his head and looked at Zeek who was telling him to get the table set. Derek nodded and hurried to set the table. Zeek watched Derek scramble around very confused.
Zeek made Derek stay for dinner and even made him serve everyone. Zeek almost laughed watching him carry the blood to Jax. Everyone was happy with their food which made Zeek happy. Derek again had cereal, which Zeek was less thrilled about. As everyone ate, their TV monitor came on with Helen apologizing for interrupting their dinner. "Hey, Helen what catastrophe has fallen into our laps this time?" Zeek had an off feeling but told himself that it was nothing.
"I'm so glad you asked Zeek. We just got a call about some terrorist cell plotting an attack on the white house." Zeek interrupted Helen yelling fake, "that's what I thought too until their demands included information about your section." Everybody looked at Derek except Zeek. Zeek stood up for Derek which surprised both of them. Zeek told everyone Derek hadn't been there long enough to know any specific information, and also he couldn't talk to tell anyone anything. Jax also pointed out that Derek had no phone. Helen sighed, "please don't jump to conclusions. This cell could be left from your previous human's betrayal. Jax, I'm sending you the information we have to get a team together and take care of this." With that, the TV went off, but everyone had lost their appetite. Some of them still looked at Derek with accusatory glares.
"Enough!" Zeek yelled and slammed his cast clad hands on the table with a loud thud, Helena could be right about the cell being from back then. We can't turn on each other or else we could get one of us killed." Everyone fell silent and slowly began to leave the table not saying anything. Once everyone but Derek, Zeek, and Jax were gone Jax whispered something to Zeek. "Hell if I know. Just respect my decision for now." Jax nodded and left Derek alone with Zeek. Derek signed a thank you and went to leave. "If you do somehow have something to do with this just know that I will make your death very long and very painful." Derek felt that tightness in his chest drop and all he could feel was fear.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone