Of Blood and Downfall

Chapter 21.

Mavis's POV:

I wake to the sound of running water and footsteps. It's difficult to open my eyes at first but when I do, they adjust to sunlight and a room I'm not familiar with. My body is resting on a twin bed with white sheets and wearing the same clothes from last night.

Last night.

There's dried blood on my jeans and most of it is scrubbed off my skin. I raise my sore arm up and examine the bandage dressed around the bite mark. The sleeve completely ripped off the rest of my top and nowhere to be seen.

A figure comes walking out of a connecting room which must be the bathroom. She must be a little older than me with blonde hair tucked into a slick bun and bright, blue eyes. She's holding a tray with a bowl filled with water and a small towel draped over her arm.

"You're awake." She smiles, exposing beautiful straight teeth. "I had a feeling you'd be from all the tossing and turning."

I sit up and lean back on the pillows for support. We are in a very large room with other beds spread out a few feet from each other. However, no one is here and resting like me.

"Where am I?" I question, rubbing my heavy eyes. I groan at the stiffness of my body and the ache of my head.

"Take these. They're ibuprofen." She holds out two circular pills in a small cup and a glass of cold water. Taking them silently, I toss the two pills into my mouth and wash them down with water. She places the tray on the table beside my bed and turns her back to me.

Before I can ask again, she answers. "You're in the infirmary room at the Du Pont estate."

"Excuse me?" I don't know why it comes out drastic, but she continues while folding a pile of towels on the bed across from me.

"The estate was used for wounded soldiers during World War II when Germany took over Norway. I and other nurses helped tend their wounds in this exact room." I can't see her expression but her back tenses.

I scout the area with large eyes, wondering how old this place really is and how many men—and women— have died.

"I was granted to stay here and have ever since. I usually tend for the workers and servants here, but it's been a while since I've had someone like you." She turns to me, and her smile says it all. It's weary and old and can tell a million stories. "I'm Valeria."

"Mavis." I tell her with a scratchy voice.

"I know." I open my mouth to reply but she continues to work on the towels. Returning the silence, I dip the towel into the bowl and wipe my face. It's refreshing but nothing is as clean than stripping out of these clothes and taking a long shower.

"Why am I here?" I ask her and she carries the stack of towels to a closet at the corner of the room. I see that there's large engraved double doors on the other side. I assume that's the entrance and exit to the infirmary room.

"Karden and Issy brought you here last night after the incident. You lost enough blood to pass out but not too much to have to do a blood transfusion. You were hooked to an IV for a few hours before I removed it."

Staring at my arm, I see the inner part of my arm bruised from hitting a vein. I glance out at the bay windows, facing a beautiful view and a garden below. The sun is out but it's just above the copes of trees.

"What time is it?" I ask her and she looks at the time on her watch.

"It's almost ten to four." She takes the tray away from the bedside table and raises her brows. "I'm sure you'd like to shower. I sent Isabelle out to get clothes for you. Don't worry I've washed them too."