Fates Intertwined

3. | 1849

"Lay her down." Lina instructed. Zyran, who held the girl in his arms, laid her down on the bed. Lina placed her hand against her forehead. "She's burning up."

"I can get a wet washcloth." Zyran said. But before he could move, her eyes opened. They were black, empty almost. "What the hell?"

She growled, almost like a rabid animal, and began to get up. But Zyran pinned her down, preventing her from flailing. He struggled but managed to keep her pinned.

"No, Zyran, stop!" Lina shouted.

"What?" He looked at her confused, grunting as he held her down.

"Get off. You're hurting her!"

"If I get off, she's going to end up hurting one of us." Zyran stated.

Nara ran forward. "Wait, Lina, you were in the occult, weren't you?"

"So?"

"So, use your occult knowledge." Nara said.

Lina looked back at the girl flailing on the bed, her eyes black and her teeth sharpened to a point. She looked at Zyran, at the necklace that hung from his neck. She snatched it.

"What are you doing?!" He yelled.

"I need it." She said. She held the necklace in her hands, whispering an incantation. Then she was wrapping it around the girl's, subject seven-eighty-two, neck. "Move!" She demanded, and the four of them stepped back as the girl let out a scream, her fangs retracting. Her body relaxed against the bed and the four glanced around at one another.

"Is she alive?" Nara whispered, scared to even talk too loud.

The girl's body began to convulse before she was leaning over the bed, throwing up.

"Oh, come on! I just did the floors!" Zyran groaned. Lina glared at him. "I'm not doing it again. One of you three can."

Eric rolled his eyes. The girl moved back to lay on the bed, her eyes still shut. She was breathing heavily, but then her eyes fluttered open.

They all took a slow step forward, leaning over the bed. Her brows furrowed as she looked around. "Where am I?"

"You're— You're in my house..." Zyran said unsurely, glancing around at the others.

"What?" She whispered. She attempted to move, but her face scrunched in pain. "Shit." She cursed.

Lina's gaze drew to her side. "Guys, she's bleeding."

"How do we stitch that?" Nara asked, looking around.

"You can't stitch it." The girl grunted. "I need blood. I'm not strong enough to heal."

The four looked around. Zyran sighed. "I'm the fastest to heal. I guess I'll do it." He walked behind the counter, picking up a piece of glass. He reached into one of the cabinets, pulling out a glass cup, and slid the glass against his palm. The blood dripped into the cup and when it was a quarter of the way full, he wrapped his hand in a hand towel and carried the glass to her.

She took it, swallowing every last drop she could get. Nara watched as the wound healed and the girl's breathing evened out.

"Woah... Freaky." Nara whispered, eyes wide.

"Now, who are all of you people?" She asked, sitting up in the bed.

"I'm Evangelina, but everyone calls me Lina." Lina held up her hand, introducing herself.

Nara was next. "Naraina, but you can call me Nara."

"Eric."

"Zyran." He inclined his head. "Who are you?"

"Aurora. My name is Aurora." She told. She twisted her legs to meet the floor and attempted to stand up, but her legs buckled. Before she could hit the floor, Zyran caught her.

"Okay, let's take things slowly." Lina said as Zyran helped Aurora back onto the bed. "Firstly, you need a bath. When was the last time you showered?"

Aurora only stared.

It unnerved Lina. "Okay, then. Zyran help her upstairs."

"I can walk." Aurora said, but the second she stood up, Zyran was picking her up. "I said I can walk."

"The second you take a step, you're gonna fall." Zyran replied. "Nara, go distract Mom while I take her upstairs."

"Sir, yes, sir." Nara saluted, then jogged up the stairs to find Zyran and Eric's mother. Eric, Zyran, and Lina took off up the stairs, listening to Nara as she engaged in conversation with her.

They walked into Zyran's bedroom, Zyran carrying Aurora into his ensuite. He set her down on the floor and stepped away only when he knew she could stay upright. Which took a few tries.

"Okay, so, you know how to work a shower?" Lina asked, walking toward the open shower with glass doors.

Aurora picked up a bottle of shampoo. "What is this?"

"That's...soap. For your hair." Lina said, taking the bottle back and setting it down.

Aurora nodded slowly, then looked around the room. "What is this?" She gestured to the room around them.

"A...bathroom?" Lina glanced at Zyran, who looked just as confused as her.

"How long have you been locked up?" Zyran asked, brows furrowed.

"Since eighteen-forty-nine." Their eyes bugged out of their heads.

"How are you still alive?" Lina asked.

"And how do you look so young?" Zyran stepped forward, ready to poke at her.

Aurora grabbed his wrist, veins appearing under her eyes only to disappear a second later. "I'm not a pet. Do not touch me."

"Noted." He nodded, eyes wide. She let him go and he took a step back. "Well, you two ladies can work on getting her a shower and I'll go, uh, get some clothes. Preferences?" He looked at Aurora.

"Black."

He nodded slowly. "Okay." Then he left.

"Okay." Lina clasped her hands together. "Let's teach you how to use a shower." Lina showed Aurora the workings of the shower, what soap to use, and gave her a towel. "Use this to dry off." Aurora nodded. "You got it?" She held up a thumbs up with a questioning brow raised. "I'll be just outside." Aurora nodded, then Lina left, closing the door behind her.

Aurora turned to the mirror, studying her appearance. For the first time, she could no longer recognize the girl standing in the mirror.