Walking With Shadows [#Wattys2015] [Being Edited]

Silence

Even before he turned the corner, Loki could feel the heat of the fire burning through the door of Tassel's bedchamber. Wisps of smoke floated underneath the doorway. Loki rushed forward and frosted over the doorknob before reaching for it. He turned the handle and pushed, stepping back in defeat when he realized the door was locked.

"Of course it's locked." Loki said.

He looked around for something to break down the door when his eyes fell on the lip above the doorframe. Loki reached up and felt around for something to hold himself up. Grasping the edge of the doorframe, he pulled himself up and kicked the door with as much force as he could muster. The wood splintered, but it took another two tries before the door was completely down.

The intensity of the fire knocked Loki backwards. Billows of smoke rushed into his nose and mouth. His eyes began to water as he looked for Tassel. Loki could just make out the outline of a hand, reaching up out of the smoke. He squinted and felt his heart stop when he saw Tassel laying in the middle of the burning room. She was flat on her stomach, her head downcast. Her left arm was blistered from the flames that had clung to her skin. She appeared unconscious.

"No.." Loki said.

He hurried towards her, kneeling down so he could meet her gaze. Tassel's eyes closed, and her body fell limp. Loki slipped his arms underneath her as he hoisted her up close to his chest. The dark prince rushed out of the room, taking one last look at Anson's still body before he left.

Loki made straight for the healing room, ignoring the calls for help and the alarms that were blaring. People scurried down the halls with buckets of water in tow to try and douse the flames. Loki thought he saw the golden head of his brother shoving his way down the corridors, but the dark prince had one destination on his mind.

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The healing room was quiet, and Eir seemed oblivious to all that was going on around her. Loki tried to open the door, but it was locked from the inside. He slammed one of his fists onto the door, trying to grab the nurse's attention. Inside the room, the lights had been dimmed, and Eir was sitting in the corner chair, writing in some sort of journal. Her head snapped up, a look of confusion on her face. The healer walked forward, looking through the small glass window above the lock to meet Loki's panicked gaze.

"Open the door, Eir. Please, open it now!" he said.

She unbolted the door and slowly pulled it open.

"Loki, what's going on-," Eir gasped as she took in Tassel's form, "Oh my.."

"Eir, help her. Please." he said.

"Yes, of course. Get her in here." Eir said, moving out of the doorway.

Loki carried her new patient into the healing room. Tears threatened to pour down her cheeks. Tassel's head fell back limply over Loki's arm. Her eyes were closed, and her lips were parted, like she was on the verge of gasping for breath but never succeeded in doing so. Her left arm was a painful red, and blisters had started to form.

"Lay her down on the bed." Eir instructed as they passed into the patients' living quarters.

Loki set Tassel gently on the mattress. He cupped her face in his hands, willing her to open her eyes. Eir hesitated for a moment, watching the solemn moment as if she were an intruder. She touched Loki's shoulder and pulled him away.

"Go wait outside." she ordered.

"Eir, I can't."

"You must. I will try to save her, but you must let me," Eir said, her voice threatening to crack, "Please, go."