When The Night Falls Book 2 of When Good Things End trilogy

CHAPTER 26

I was a rambling mess the whole time I had the fever. I got an IV stuck into my bloodstream but it wasn't the same thing in comparison to eating normally. I had to walk around with it everywhere.
Laurent got better at understanding my random actions and muttering. When I got to frustrated with writing out everything I wanted to say he'd be the one I went to so that he could translate my thoughts to others.
My brain couldn't handle understand most of what had happened after the kidnapping. Let alone caring for whoever was responsible. Laurent took care of that for me. I don't need to worry about it.
Anticipation grew as the time crept closer to evening. The gathering with people could help me was soon. The blacksmith should be able to at least give us some information about the muzzle.
Will was the one who volunteered to come with me and Laurent. The others were back from another scouting mission so they were staying at the hospital for the night.
I miss Jules.
Dollia's a nice lady but I don't have any other girl to hang out with.
We made it the bakery were Laurents guild was centered around. A cute little cake was passed down the table as a random assortment of people sat down with us. I could feel my mouth water from the sugary smooth smell of cake and tea.
If was able to eat anything it would take a few days for me to be able to stomach something like that.
"Is it a hunk a metal with a hole drilled in?" An older man asked as he took the teacup he was passed.
I shrugged, not knowing how to check. The guy asked a few more questions before getting up to try and check for himself. If felt like he knew what he was doing as he looked it over.
Laurent shifted uncomfortably as the man took my head and tilted it. He pressed his thumb into my skin trying to get it under the mask. The only thing that budged was my cheek.
"Think you can cut the straps?" I asked and Laurent translated for me.
The man flicked at the material wrapped around my head. "Can anything get under their? Seems it's practically welded to her skull."
His comment made my heart sink a little deeper. Maybe a special tool could be made? I don't mind going through some pain to get this thing off me.
What about the lock? I motioned with my hands and Laurent voiced my thoughts. The others took a moment to check the lock at the top of my head.
It felt awkward having so many people around me at once. Everyone did their own thing, whether flicking the straps are trying to find hinges on the mask.
"Ok, give her some space," Laurent interceded after a long while. My head felt like it was going to fly off.
"Steady?" Laurent asked, laying a hand over mine from under the table as the others sat back down.
I nodded. My back sweating slightly. Would anyone be able to get this hunk of metal off me?
"Why not try picking the lock? We can find someone who knows how to do that just get it off," a woman spoke up as she crossed her armed and slouched in her chair.
One of the older guys poked at his cake. "You can just do that yourself, your skilled enough at stealing my locked up whiskey."
She waved him off sarcastically. "What? No, that wasn't me." Her glance my way seemed curious. "I can always give it a try?" She pulled out a thin pin from her curled black hair. "But what do I get out of it?"
I smiled at her suggestive gesture as she motioned for some sort of payment. She's a smart person.
Class surprised us all as he threw a pouch in her direction. She caught it a second before it hit her in the face and frowned at him. I blinked between the both of them as Class stuck his tongue out at her.
"Can we just get this over with?" Laurent sighed nervously. The mask was bothering him just as much as it was bothering me.
She counted the contents of the pouch and picked one out. Biting down on a gold coin her brown eyes brightened once she tested it.
"Anything besides the mask you need done? I'm skilled in many other areas of work."
She just wants more money.
"We can talk once you've done your job."
Skipping over to me she gently positioned my head up so she could get to the lock freely.
Silence.
A small click and the release of tension in my heart. The cold metal fell away into my lap.
It hurt to breath.
My skin felt raw as I grazed it with the tips of my fingers. I could tell I must not have looked like myself just from the way my skin felt. Turning to Laurent I watched for his expression, trying to gauge how bad I looked.
His smile meant everything to me even though I couldn't return it. My jaw felt like it could detach at any second.
"So what happened earlier?" I asked. My voice a grading rasp that I expected to be normal. It's not like I hadn't used my voice for an extremely long period.
Ezroth had decided a new kingdom was to much of an accesses. The fact I was crowned and officially recognized as I queen rub them wrong since none of them were there during my coronation.
Laurent proceeded to rewrap my hands with bandages as I sat on the bathrooms bench and stared at myself.
I know my skin will go back to its normal pale color but right now it was bloated and ash white. It looked like I was a drowning victim. My lips were a purplish blue.
"Can we leave?" I asked. The pain in my back still lingering even with the medication I took. Now that the mask off we can just head back to Phoenix Drop.
There's nothing much holding me back here anymore. I don't think I can go out and do anymore scouting for survivors. Whoever was left alive are probably dead by now.
I can't help out with the people in the hospital since Ein's there. I dropped my hands over Laurent's head and buried them in his soft hair. It's been a while since he's hugged me.
He hummed with a smile where he sat on the floor. My heart started to melt as he softly rested with his head on my thighs and his arms wrapped around me.
"We can go home. Rest. Sleep. Take walks along the beach." I continued listing off things I wanted to do together with him. The list span out into things I wanted to do with the others as well.
He was completely relaxed, listening on with his eyes closed. It looked like he had fallen asleep. His soft features melted into peace. I played on with his hair. Talking on even with the voice cracks I couldn't control.
"Let's get married," he drawled sleepily.
I giggled, knowing why he didn't remember
"Laurent. We already are."