Eyes of the Shadows (updated)

Part 7: Infirmary

Once he got within the doors, he rushed to the faculty tower infirmary. "Get Professor Alberich!" the available nurses scattered. He moved her to an open bed and placed his head on her chest. She's alive.. good. He touched her bleeding hairline and winced.

"Is she alright??" Oleander stormed into the room, stopping opposite him. Sebastian's face was guarded.

"I don't... I don't know.." he was gently moving her hair out of her face. Oleander scowled.

He sized up Sebastian, walking towards the closet near the wall to grab a cloth for her forehead. He wet it in the sink nearby. "Lucky you were there to help... at least no one else will have to worry about that tree." Sebastian's breathing stilled, and he watched Professor Sorrel cautiously.

"Agreed." He stood up and moved around the bed between Oleander and Ophelia.

His eyes never left him. He held out his hand for Oleander to give him the cloth.

"I'll take it from here."Oleander's mouth began to respond before a voice echoed behind him

"You two have more pressing matters to attend to. Professor Sorrel, secure the pathways into town. Professor Sallow, send notice to the students. No one is to go anywhere alone for now. And make sure they're where they are meant to be." Professor Alberich swept in, a nurse trailing behind him with a glowing green potion. He didn't wait for the duelling men to answer "Leave us."

Oleander's eyes dart between the company in the room, slowly side-stepping his way out. Sebastian hesitated, looking back at Ophelia. Alberich waved him away "I promise as soon as she wakes I will send word." He nodded before slowly leaving the infirmary. The nurse tilted Ophelias' head back and administered the concoction. He scanned her bumps and bruises. How could this happen so close to his grounds? After a few minutes, she began to stir, her eyes fluttered opened then widened. She sat up in haste.

"Sebastian? Wher-OW" she clutched her head, breathing heavily.

"Worry not he's safe. Taking care of a few things for me." he turns and nods in the nurse's direction, prompting her to fetch Sebastian. "He brought you to the Infirmary. Try not to move too much it takes a minute, even with magic." He placed his hand on hers and coaxed her back down to lie. "What happened?"

Ophelia goes into detail about the night. All the while magic cloths and basins lovingly washed her injuries and applied plasters. As she was changing into sleeping attire behind a folding separator, she was about to bring up the bramble vines from when she arrived but was cut off. "I also wanted to mention..." Professor Alberich scowled worriedly

"I know... I already know.." he pat her knee.

"you do? how? when did you find out?" she looked up at him confused

"You'd be surprised at how easy it is to deduce these things. He's been most agreeable as of late." he let out a light chuckle and squeezed her hand.

"ah..wait what?" she dropped her shoulders and her nose crinkled.

"Professor Sallow. I don't usually approve of my staff mingling so to say. That being said... I ask you to be mindful."

She perked up defensively "He's a good man. He wouldn't do anything to hurt me." Her mind wandered back to her thoughts before. Whatever had happened in the past was no longer of concern to her. Besides, she had a past of her own.... it had been years.

"It's not you I'm overly worried about. I know you hold your own well enough." He let out a big sigh "I was there. When he came back for you, you were gone. I witnessed the anguish." perhaps he tried to forget her using someone else. "I didn't think he'd recover to be blunt. I care about both of you and I don't want either to be left empty like that again..."