Chapter 11

Slowly, my consciousness returned. I could hear mumbled conversations and a muffled sob as the surrounding noises reached coherency. It took barely any time to identify the source of the sobbing and my heart broke as I realized she was crying.

I groaned as more of my consciousness returned. A frenzy of movement had me, again, unable to identify a singular noise until my face was clasped in soft hands, and a forehead was placed gently to mine.

"Verin? Darling?" Saninna whispered as her tears fell onto my face. "Open your eyes for me."

"Saninna" Lucifer chided. I hadn't heard his voice in weeks, and yet I still remembered it. "Back away."

"But daddy…" Saninna whined, wanting to stay beside me.

"Now!" He commanded. I stiffened as I felt Saninna begin to move. 

My hands moved instinctively, clutching Saninna's arm, pulling her nearly atop me. I wrapped my arms around her hips and buried my face in her soft stomach, my hair piling onto her lap. My sister was my biggest source of comfort; that bastard would be hard pressed to take her from me now.

"Verin" Lucifer chided. "Let her go. Lycher has to examine you."

I growled in warning before tightening my grip. There were many words I would have liked to say, but my throat felt dry and unused so, sadly, I said nothing.

"She has never gotten in the way, Lucifer." Lycher explained. "Let the kids be."

I felt fingers run through my hair, easing the tangles that had accumulated. A blissful sigh escaped my mouth while the warmth from her fingers traveled through my body, easing my mind along with the mats.

"Hey beautiful." Saninna said, pinching my cheeks gently. "Open those gorgeous eyes, yeah?"

I nodded into her and pried my eyes open. Everything was blurred. I clenched my eyes shut, and blinked violently to clear my vision.

It did not clear my vision.

I must have made a distressed noise given that Saninna soothed me, gently caressing my face and hair. 

"It's okay." She assured. "Can you sit up for me?" 

I grumbled as her arms moved, slowly lifting me. "I won't leave." She promised.

Before I could complain, I had been seated upright. My face was downcast towards my legs, as I leaned forward slightly to maintain my balance. I opened my eyes once more only to close them in frustration. My vision was still fogged.

Saninna placed a hand on my shoulder and moved me to lean on her before a glass was placed at my lips.

"It's water." Saninna explained. "Drink some for me."

I nodded and greedily gulped down the offered water, nearly choking in my haste.

"Slowly, you idiot." She chided, tilting the cup back, away from my lips. "That's enough for right now."

I nodded and leaned my head on her shoulder, feeling completely at ease with her.

"Can you look at me?" She asked.

I shook my head. "Blurry." I mumbled just loud enough for her to hear me.

"That's to be expected." Lycher said. I stiffened. They had heard me.

"Your body didn't take the remedy well." Lycher continued. "You nearly bled to death. It was a miracle we were able to stem the bleeding for long enough to get you through."

I trembled at the news. This, at least, explained the pain having bled into my unconscious mind. Saninna tightened her grip and placed a comforting kiss atop my head. 

"However," Lycher said solemnly, "the blood loss induced a severe fever, causing permanent damage to your sight."

My heart sank and I rubbed at my eyes with shaking hands; the news was grim.

"There is someone who can help, though." Lucifer chimed in. "His name is Damien, and he is rather good at finding solutions to the unknown."

"Is there no cure?" I asked, the words easier to say when I could hardly see.

"For your sight? Sadly, no." Lycher replied. "Your fever was so high, it should have killed you. This isn't something we've had to deal with before."

If the fever should have killed me, how was I still alive? No miracle was strong enough to bring back Ada, so how had I been spared? 

I opened my eyes and blinked a few times, hoping my vision would clear, only to be sorely disappointed as the cloudiness persisted. I lifted my head and looked at the blurry figures standing before me with squinted eyes.

"What will I have to do for Damien to see me?" I mumbled.

"Nothing." Lucifer assured. "He's actually already been by to see you. He'll have something ready for you in a week."

I nodded my thanks before waving my hand towards the door. There were too many gathered around me, so I was getting steadily more anxious.

"I have to give you a once over." Lycher said. A shape resembling him moved toward me.

I burrowed into Saninna's side in an attempt to become invisible and heard a slight chuckle at my action. 

"I get it." Lycher assured. I heard him take one more step before stopping. "You're still bleeding though, so I have to check any progress you may have made."

"No." I grumbled, wrapping my arms around Saninna and refusing to move.

"How about a bath then?" Saninna asked, voice soft and kind. 

I nodded into her shoulder and tightened my grip. I was not about to be separated from her. She brought me ease and comfort in a world I could no longer see clearly.

"Saninna, Lycher needs to examine him." Lucifer warned and I stiffened in her arms. 

"Lycher just needs to check the bleeding." Saninna argued. "I can do that in the bath."

"Saninna." Lucifer warned. I whimpered at his tone.

"Enough, Lucifer." Lycher chided. "Go on then. I'll have some light food brought in while you bathe."

I did not move, which did not seem to bother Saninna in the slightest. She placed an arm under my legs, lifting me into her arms with ease. She stood, carrying me, and made her way into the bathroom, closing the door with her foot. Only then did she place me on the ground.

I swayed slightly on my feet and was immediately held in place by her strong arms, giving me an opportunity to gather my bearings. 

"I need to lock the door." She said, holding me up with one arm. I heard the lock click into place and exhaled a sigh of relief. 

It was a flimsy lock on an even flimsier door, but it still eased my mind knowing it locked me away from the outside, and the creatures within my room.

"I have a towel and robe ready for you. " Saninna said, removing her hand and walking toward the tub. "I'll fill the bath. You should sit so I can wash your hair."

I nodded and watched while my sister's blurred figure began to fill the bath, as she had done before. 

I disrobed with haste and the moment the water was at a suitable height, I made my way in, shivering as an odd chill settled in me. 

"It's from the blood loss." Saninna explained, waiting for me to get comfortable in the warm water. 

"Why did I bleed?" I asked, shivering violently.

Saninna placed her hand into the water. Heat immediately surrounded me, calming my shivers.

"It was a poor reaction to the remedy." She explained, gaze averted. "It was too potent for you."

I accepted her answer with a nod, though I knew she was lying. Whatever the reason, I would look into it myself. 

I looked down at the water surrounding me and frowned as the once clear water was tinged pink with blood. I squinted up at Saninna and saw her figure shrug.

"It's okay." She said hesitantly. "None of that is new blood."

"New blood, old blood. What does it matter when it is enough to change the water's color?"

She sighed, but said nothing. She moved behind me and began washing the accumulated debris from my hair and scalp. Her nails scratching and kneading my scalp tenderly was so calming, I relaxed and closed my eyes to focus on the feeling.

"I am not angry." I said, once she finished rinsing my hair. "I am, however, confused and irritated. Not a single one of my questions is left unanswered, but each answer is filled with half truths and evasion."

"Sometimes" Saninna began, handing me a soapy cloth. "It's best to leave it alone."

"For you, or for me?"

"For you." She said, turning toward the locked door. "You'll learn everything in time. Just let yourself heal first."

Silently, I used the cloth to wash the blood off my body. I would get no more answers from her, this I knew. 

I finished and dressed lightly in a robe. Then Saninna opened the door and led me back toward my bed. 

I sat and slid my legs underneath the blanket, pulling up the sheets to cover myself further. I knew Lucifer and Lycher had not left; their blurred figures remained hovering near the bedroom door.

Saninna approached Lycher for a moment before trotting back to me and taking a seat on the bed.

"Bone broth and water." She explained. "I'll feed you until you can see again."

I begrudgingly nodded and obediently opened my mouth to the spoonfuls of broth she carefully fed me. 

"I have to check on-" Lycher began once I finished eating.

"No!" I cut him off. "I am alive. For now, you will have to suffice with that."

"If something happens-" Lucifer started, but one look from me silenced him.

"I have been surveyed constantly for weeks. I would like some solitude." I said, shifting to lay down. "And be warned Lycher: should you try and enter for a nightly exam, I will ensure Saninna bars you from entry."

'Verin, you have to let Lycher tend to you." Lucifer all but pleaded.

"I have to do NOTHING." I yell, anger and frustration boiling within me. "I have had NO control over ANY of my own actions thus far and I REFUSE to allow it to continue. Now LEAVE."

Lycher and Lucifer dawdled for a moment more before leaving, the door clicking shut behind them. 

I could finally breathe. With a relieved sigh, I laid down and closed my eyes.

"Thank you, Saninna." I mumbled as heavy exhaustion finally settled within me.

"Absolutely." She replied, petting my hair until I fell to sleep.