A/n: I would like to give credit to LukaDaWolf; Lucy and Ev for translating the prayer Irina says into Romanian. It turned out amazing and because of them it's specific and has more meaning. I appreciate it and thank you both.
Also, this is the last laidback chapter before the action starts.
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Irina was in awe the moment Ethan Winters burst through the door, landing with a thud on the V Groove Hardwood floor. She was surprised that he was still alive, though he looked worse for wear. Something horrible must have happened to him.
"Welcome back Mister Winters," the Duke said in greeting. "How goes the search for your daughter?"
"Not good," Ethan answered with a snort.
Setting her book down on the table, Irina stood up and quickly walked over to him, leaning down on her knees at his side. Her eyes widened as she noticed the nasty wounds on each of his hands, almost as if he had been hung up like a butchered animal. In addition, there was fresh blood on the legs of his pants from another set of wounds. Irina wasn't sure how Ethan was up and walking around.
"Ethan, are you OK?" She asked as she put her hand on his shoulder.
"I think so," he answered. "I just need to catch my breath. Those bug women had me strung up like a fucking animal."
Irina raised a brow. He must have meant the daughters; Bela, Daniela, and Cassandra. She didn't interact with them much during the time she remained in the castle, but she knew they were not human. In a way, they were much worse than their mother.
"These wounds are deep," Irina mentioned. "Please allow me to dress them. The last thing you need is for them to become infected or bleed out."
Ethan shook his head with a nod.
Standing up, Irina got some supplies from the table and drug her chair over to the injured man, helping him stand so that he could sit somewhere other than the floor. As she cut the bandage from his left hand, he and the Duke continued their conversation.
"Don't give up just yet," the Duke said in encouragement. "If she is truly here, the Lady of the castle would have kept little Rose in her private chambers, would she not?"
"Dimitrescu?" Ethan asked. He grunted in pain as Irina poured first aid med over the wound. Irina uttered an apology and began to clean and rewrap his hand.
The Duke grinned.
"The very same. Why don't you take a look? Maybe you'll get lucky."
"I don't have much of an option," Ethan mentioned. "Even if Rose isn't here, the entrance has been locked. And the door in the hall outside can only be opened with four masks that are somewhere in this damn castle."
Irina hummed.
"I'm not certain, but I believe one of the masks is on the 2nd floor in the hall coming from the library. I've seen it once; the face of a smiling angel with roses in her hair."
