Gloom in Gold: The Awakening

Chapter Sixteen

Silence.

"Erros, what the fuck do we do?" Miles growled anxiously.

"She needs blood." His head shot up, eyes ripped open. Erros quickly cradled her flaccid form, laying her head on Wrem's legs before falling to his knees at her side. "Maddox, Miles, Nolen. She needs your blood. Now."

None of them hestitated a single second before tearing the flesh of their arms open. They aligned them with one another, their blood coalescing into one as it met parted lips held open by Wrem.

Fellon knelt down next to Erros and pulled the ripped cloth away as the doctor took a closer look. He swallowed before instructing. "Fellon, apply pressure on here," he pointed to an especially deep cut.

He did as told, though it hurt his heart that he had to push into blood soaked tatters of flesh. Lilith's once limp body began to quavor, before shaking violently; broken sounds coming from her throat. Erros pushed the blood source away and she choked a mouthful of blood out. Every muscle in his body tensed, memories swelling up.

"Erros what's going on?" Miles voice showed he was about to loose himself in panic. "Come on, talk to me, man."

"She's drowning." Erros swallowed, his features becoming impossibly tense. All those years ago, it was so similar. The bloody cough, the drowning. But the outcome would not be the same. Not again. "Her esophagus ripped causing blood to flow into the lungs. Give me the cricothyrotomy utensils."

Nolen placed the box labeled with that to the doctor that frantically searched around in it. Quickly scraping on gloves he injected her with some liquid. He raised his shaking hand, eyes on her torn face. Not again. Barely a second later he placed the tip of the scalpel over the skin of her throat. "Hold her still," he aspirated before making the cut.

Eyelids ripped open, broken noise coming from her as layers of skin were broken through.

"Oh god," Wrem sobbed and frantically caressed Lilith's cheeks in an attempt to calm her.

Regardless of the big amount of narcotics he has given her she seemed to be in pain. Erros had no other choice but proceed anyway. The slit in her throat was covered in blackness, he could barely see it as he injected the two small tubes inside deep enough until he felt resistance. Lilith's body shook, attempts to sob only failed due to the lack of air.

Her lungs must be almost entirely filled with blood. He must get it out, only then she can begin to heal. He held the tube in his fingers that began shaking even more now.

"The blood has to be sucked out," he stated coldly.

Fellon took it with a pained expression. Maddox said his name and he shook his head. "I can do it."

He closed his lips around it and sucked as harshly as he could. Black filled the tube, black poured into his mouth and he pulled away. The suction he created made the blood flow out of her and partially into him.

Unmatching sweetness captured his senses. His body convulsed as he handed the tube back to Erros, biting into his cheeks deeply to flush down the urge for more. He leaned away, eyes squeezed shut to focus once more. Miles' conflicted gaze of concern flickered to him.

Erros released a breath of relief. "Thank you."

Fellon nodded as he calmed again. Erros leaned forward and carefully touched the area around her throat. The blood was still leaving Lilith's lungs but much slower now.

"Her lungs are draining," he informed. Erros set her an intravenous access and a syringe in her arm, injecting her with something to calm her. "She's ready for more," he informed and glanced at the three that gave their blood for her. "Over here," he said and gestured at an infusion bag as he attached to her access.