Chapter Text
With every breath that Victor Creed took, he cursed Nathaniel Essex. In the late February air, the man could practically see the curses as they left his mouth and dissipated in the howling wind. He was supposed to be in Tijuana, enjoying the women and cheap liquor but instead he was in the deepest crack of the Colorado Rockies, stacking crates into a wagon for a snake oil salesman.
“Gentle, gentle,” came a low, silky voice from behind him. The voice belonged to a man dressed in a dark blue suit, his pale skin contrasting greatly with the black color of his hair and goatee. He held his top hat at his chest as he watched his cart being loaded. “If those mix, they’ll become contaminated, useless. If they mix and jostle…well, you better hope you said your morning prayers today.”
Creed had had enough. He set the crate down with a growl and turned away, letting those around him—his own men and women—finish the job.
“I’m no slave and you ain’t no slave driver, Essex,” he spat at the man.
“Patience, Victor,” Essex replied and then frowned, seeing something that gave him pause. He dared to reach out and place a hand under the man’s chin. Creed pulled away with a sneer but Essex was resolute. “Easy. Let me see your eyes.”
Creed set his jaw and complied. Essex pulled down on the man’s left eyelid and looked into the golden brown of them, stifling a smile at what he saw. His pupils were beginning to go from circular to slits like that of a feline.
“Have you been taking the dosage I’ve given?” Essex asked, pulling his hand back.
“Already finished it,” Creed said.
“Already fin–.” Essex took a breath. “Victor, you are supposed to take this in small doses. Taking it all at once can result in…unpredictable side effects.”
“I’ll be fine,” Creed replied.
Essex knew he would be. In fact, he was counting on it. One doesn’t just give a volatile substance like Essex’s new ‘tincture’ to Creed without knowing full-well that they wouldn’t read the directions. To him, Creed was just another trial to see exactly what the effects would be on the man. So far, he had noticed the changes, from his eyes, to his growing canine teeth, and his fingernails, which now resembled claws.
“Now, when you’re finished, I’ll need you and your men to take a trip out east to check on the village.”
Creed’s eyes narrowed. “Why can’t you?”
Essex merely smiled and placed his hat on his head, walking over to his wagon, which was now loaded. “Why, I need to spread the good word about the miracle of Dr. Millbury’s Miracle Elixir!”
He produced something bound in leather and threw it to Creed.
“Be careful out there, Victor. And give my best to the village.” He then took the reins of the wagon and set off onto the road, the wooden wheels clacking with every rock they went over.
Victor nodded and watched him go, disappearing into the darkness. With his employer gone, he undid the leather binding and unrolled it. Tucked inside of it were rows of glass vials, a dark green liquid splashing inside.