The Portal

V 5.1 Amadum's Blood

Hannah woke up scared. Groping in bed, she realized she was alone. She walked stretching herself to the curtains. She pulled the curtain back a little bit and saw that Amandeep's glow was already leaving the sky. Startled, she realized that she had slept in all the afternoon. Still in her white dress, now partially wet by her own hair, she opened the bedroom door to make the little bell ring and alert her maid.

She felt the burning in her arm and remembered that she was wounded. With the movement, the cut had started to bleed again. She had fallen asleep with a small towel pressed into the wound. Now it was soaked.

Damn.

Her stomach growled. She had barely eaten all day. When Berta arrived, she asked her to come back with a snack and a bottle of whiskey. While waiting, she went through her things until she found the kit she was using for sewing lessons. It was ironic that she would resort to such methods. It didn't take much effort to cure Enzo Yezekael a few weeks ago. But healing herself was another story.

She put water on her face and cleaned the wound. Then, took a new towel and placed it on the table on the balcony. When Berta arrived with the food, she hid the wound in a shawl and asked to be alone. The girls should be in the main hall. After an exhibition like this, they would be her eyes and ears. They needed to know what others were talking about and what Joshua's version would be.

She poured a shot of whiskey and stretched the towel next to the meal brought by Berta. Hannah tried to decide what she should do first, but with the blood dripping with every movement, it would be necessary to close the wound to eat in peace. She was preparing to begin when she heard a knock at the door. Berta had already left with orders not to return. The others didn't used to knock, but after the tension of the morning, they might be more cautious.

It would be good to have some help to do this, she thought, getting up. She had already closed other wounds before, but it was not easy to do in herself.

She opened the door without thinking and could not avoid the surprise that took her voice.

- Mr. Rariff! - she greeted. His eyes turned away from her face. She could see that he immediately realized that she was wearing what seemed to be a nightgown.

- Miss Maël... I... Forgive me for bothering you... - he seemed confused, but soon his expression changed. – You are hurt!

Damn. Blood drips down her forearm, forming a thin line to her hand.

- Ah, it's nothing... - She hurried to say, trying to hide the arm.

- I must take you to the infirmary - He said, seriously.

- It is not necessary...

- You are bleeding! We need to take care of that wound...

- They must be very busy with Miss Ainsley... - she answered, desperately looking for a reason not to go. - Really, it's just a superficial cut...

- I insist, Miss Maël... - but now his gaze was fixed on the wound. He looked at her in amazement. Exhaling, resigned, she opened the door completely.

- Mr. Rariff, come on in.

He entered, without taking his eyes off the blood. She closed the door. Now, she was angry. What a disaster!

What an endless day!

Noa pointed out the obvious.

- Your blood.

The blood was dark and dense. Small particles glowed in the wine-colored liquid. She waited.

- So, it's true - said Noa. - The legends are true.

Yes, the legends were true.

If an entire ancestral clan was exterminated. If an entire lineage were to disappear... The blood of the last descendant would indicate its rarity. The legends, however, did not get right exactly what the blood would look like. Some said it would be black, others claimed it would have purplish tones, some even believed it would be thick as a jelly.