The Scarlett Maiden

Chapter Fifteen: Complete

A.N: So... Sorry this took so long, but this is 22 Microsoft pages, it took every moment and I'm proud of it. Sorry if it's too long, but I just couldn't find a place to properly cut it. 

Also... To the 42 of you who are reading... Thank you. I don't know who you are of what you think, but I would really love it if you commented. Screw votes. I want your honest opnion. 

But thanks even if you just read. I love seeing that someone out there enjoys what I work so hard on. 

                         Chapter Fifteen

Alana pulled back with the speed of a snapping rubber band, her eyes wide.  “What was that?”

I blinked quickly, getting to the standing position before I could think to sit up. “Mother.”

Alana frowned, but I didn’t stay long enough to hear her reply. I bounded up the stairs three at a time, not bothering to grab the railing for extra protection. I could hear Alana’s hitched breathing behind me, and for the first time since our meeting I did not care to look at her.

“What’s wrong?” I demanded, all but breaking the door with the force of my momentum. I didn’t even have time to properly examine the room before more was spewing from my mouth. “Are you alright?”

My father looked up at me, his expression more tense than usual but not panicked. “Rat.”

I exhaled heavily, the sound full of both angst and irritation. “A rat.”

         “Not just a rat,” my mother whined from the safety of her husband’s arms. “A large, disgusting vermin!”

My father shook his head, hugging her closer to him. “I threw it from the window, Anna, remember? You’re alright.”

         “But it bit me!” Her tone was growing increasingly shrill. “That disease infested parasite bit me! Oh, I’ll be dead by morning.”

I shook my head. “Mother, are you even bleeding?”

         “Yes of course I am! Do you believe I complain about everything? I need medical attention, I tell you!”

I ignore her, glancing quickly behind me. “Alana, could you collect the medical bag from my bedroom? Fourth down the hall to the left; you’ll find it above the wardrobe.” I hear nothing but the patter of footsteps, so I focus my attention back to the situation at hand. “Father, could you step away from her? I need to get a better look at the wound.”

         “Don’t you dare leave me, Alexander!” She groans. “Why is she here anyway? Isn’t it her day off?”

I work to control my expression as he takes a half step backwards, not releasing her non-injured hand. “I will never leave you Brianna, stop whining.”

I bite back a laugh, taking her free hand gently into both of mine. “What happened?”

         “Oh it was awful, Ethan, simply horrific! I was sorting through our newest mail, waiting for your father to come upstairs and I saw a package. It was addressed to you and I swear I was going to ignore it, but it was expressed all the way from Spain, and I simply had to know what it was–“

         “Was there a note, or just a rat in the package?” I interrupted, turning her arm gently so I could see the blood source.

         “Oh I don’t know, Ethan, I am far too roused to remember such details. I’ve been attacked for god’s sake.”