A ring from a small jingling bell, another buyer, one with a heavy footing. Heather's suspicions of it being a man were confirmed when she heard the customer clear his throat. A sign of impatience. She hurried over and did not look up. The man scuffed and spoke:
"So this is where you work. Interesting." A familiar raspy voice with a hint of mockery that she hoped to not hear to again.
She turned around and faced the unwelcoming gaze of the man.
"And to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, Cassius?" Heather indulged annoyingly in the pronouncing of his name. He squinted his eyes to her daring once again.
"Do not flatter yourself. You owe me an apology," he spoke with determination, "once for when you bumped into me and ruined my passage and another for daring to speak my name so casually."
"I beg your pardon?" Rage slowly filled Heather's voice, "You were the one who had no clear awareness of your surroundings. You are in the need to apologise."
"Your lips soil my name, and your acts damage my pride" he snarled.
Satisfaction curved the corner of her lips, she was angering him.
"I couldn't care less. Besides what exactly should I be calling you, obnoxious man?"
Cassius scuffed and had detest written over his face. His expressions showed pure anger towards Heather's lack of knowledge. He would let this slide, only to give him time to think of a sanction. He calmed himself and regained composure before pulling out a paper and a clean white bag. He read out the details and provided the bag filled with jingling money, Heather needed to sign the paper in agreement: a transaction and a contract for medical purposes toward Princess Laeticia.
Before Cassius was able to brag like a cockerel or shame Heather, an agonising scream broke out. Heather and Cassius pivoted, alarmed by the sudden commotion outside the pharmacy. The main entrance slammed open, Clara and her sister Liliana carried in a wounded man, blood pathing down from his wounds. Heather reacted without orders being flown at her and rushed to clean a table in the back room where she had prepared the concoction for the Princess. Cassius stood confused like newborn pups. Heather got straight into action, she prepared herbs and medicine to ease the pain and disinfect the wound that appeared to be a deep wolf bite. Clara and Liliana put the dying person on the table, tore the lower part of his trousers to gain clearer access. As the three girls continuously worked with few words and seemed to use telepathy to know where they would step and who would act, Cassius stood silently watching them like hawks to prey, curious about the blackening of blood.
Heather burned a mix of herbs calming the senses and lowering the screaming making the room more bearable to all. She then went towards the wound, disinfected it and dressed it, simultaneously stopping the bleeding. The human man had fainted due to his pain and blood loss. Cassius had slipped away outside through the back door to recollect himself of the teamwork. Liliana, hands and dress covered in blood, went to the stand nearby and calmed the citizens as they had grouped around the alarming commotion. Clara found the name of the wounded and ordered Heather to find the rest of the family to bring them in:
"He's Gerald's father, Hopa Street, house 6." Desperation heard from Clara. Heather was still bandaging, her focus unwavering from the situation.
YOU ARE READING
The Hollows
Fantasi"People die every day. Yet the folk only seem to care when people die at the hands of a villain or of a superior and darker power." ~ ~ ~ After the death of one of her patients...
