Wounded Masses

The cathedral continued filling up with the wounded as Aoric ran around. He was tasked with carrying things, and he did so without question. Drinking water, hot water for cleansing the tools the nuns needed, dry and wet towels, sheets for people to lay on…

He was exhausted already after only an hour of work, but the wounded continued to arrive, and his work, as well as that of the nuns and the Sorcerer, only continued to pile up.

"This is insane, it's not even a red moon!" One of the nuns exclaimed as she handed over a pile of bloody clothes to him. "Burn these and bring me clean water and a towel." She said before turning her attention on the middle aged man lied down unconscious on the ground. He had large claw narks all over his chest, and the bone in his arm was sticking out of his skin and flesh.

Aoric nodded and dashed away. As disgusting as it was, and as much as the thick smell of blood in the air made him feel sick, he pushed those feelings and thoughts away, focusing on the task at hand instead.

He threw the bloody clothes into the burning pit of fire in the back room, washed his hands and arms, and once he made sure he was clean and dry, he grabbed the nearest pile of towels and a bucket of fresh water before hurrying back.

What was a red moon? He wished he could ask the Sorcerer about it, but he was just as busy as the nuns. Now wasn't the time for such useless questions. He would only cause things to slow down.

Once he delivered the water and towels to the nun, he hurried to the next person needing help.

"Water." She said as she tried to slow the blood flowing out. "Towels." Aoric dashed away once more.

A few hours later, once new wounded ceased coming in, things began to stabilise somewhat. There were shy of a hundred wounded. Aoric could hardly believe there were so many vampires, pureblood or not, in the city. It was quite frightening actually.

He leaned against the wall to rest for a few moments.

"Thanks." One of the nuns said softly as she handed him a glass of water. "Many died tonight."

Aoric nodded. "Humans." He muttered. The nun sighed. "They were innocent. Such monstrosity…" She walked away, dragging her feet as she stumbled over some bloody sheets on the ground.

Only the humans had died, or so he was told. Those caught in the crossfire. Those who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Bystanders, or friends of those attacked. People who lived everyday lives in this god forsaken city.

He bent down and took the bloody sheets of the ground. Now that the initial chaos had died down, the more experienced nuns were slowly taking care of the less important, nonlethal wounds. He couldn't help with that, but he could help clean the place up a little.

"Aoric." A voice startled him. It was the Sorcerer. He looked exhausted, blood stained his white robes. "There is a hospital down the street. Go and fetch the doctors, we need more experienced people for the wounded humans. The bats will heal on their own anyways."

Aoric nodded, put the sheets down and ran to the entrance.

The wounded were split into two groups: humans and nonhumans. Since no one had found any werewolves yet, the nonhumans were just half blood and pureblood vampires. The vampires got the least amount of care, just what they needed to so they could continue healing on their own. The humans were the focus of the nuns, and they were the larger group.

The cold air of the night hit his body as soon as he stepped out of the Cathedral. He shuddered, but ignored the cold and ran across the plaza, down the street to the large building that still had some light shining through its windows.

-

"Thank you for coming," Irene spoke up with a loud, clear voice. Her voice echoed in the large, underground hall. "I know such a meeting is unprecedented in the current age, and even before, it was rare at best."

The purebloods remained silent. They weren't here for the formalities, or the kind words. They were here to get the answers they sought. To learn who the killer was.

"First of all, allow me say this once again. Ava's death was a tragedy, and I will not allow such a tragedy happen again." She took a deep breath. This was enough formalities. It was time to speak of the important matters.

"I do not know the identity of the murderer yet, but I do have some new information. We have learnt what they look like, and how they travel across Vesporum. Our city is filled with hiding spots however, and it will take some time to bring their identity to light."

"Surely you did not call for such a meeting just to tell us this." One of the older men spoke up. "Please, Matriarch, get to the point. We are worried, our families are out there."

Two of the younger purebloods were quick to nod. Each of these three were leaders of prominent families, though the younger ones had come to power way too soon, when their fathers left the city in search of… well, something.

"Indeed, your families are why I called you here for." She spoke up. "I will offer a plan, one to keep the weak safe until we can take care of the murderer, once and for all."