It was a dark and stormy night. An unnatural haze lingered over England. In his bed, Alex Riderr shivered. For a summer night, the air was cold and the sky was black. It was almost as if something evil lurked out there in the shadows.
Alex rolled over, clutching his pillow, and tried to fall back asleep. But a worry nagged in the back of his mind. Something was not right. No matter how he tried, some ghostly force prevented him from sleeping. It made him uneasy. With a sigh, he rolled out of bed, pulled on his hooded jumper, and poured himself a cup of water from the pitcher on his nightstand. Quietly, he left his room.
The halls were silent as he walked in the dark. He did not know where he was going, or why, but his body seemed to move on its own accord. He was being drawn by an unseen power. Past his father's bedroom, past the dining hall, past the bedroom, and out onto the terrace. With the moon hidden behind thick clouds, it was nearly impossible to see in the inky black night. But something lying on the path to Alex Riderr's right made him gasp in shock. A body!
'what the fuckkk!' Alex shouted. He leapt over the terrace railing and onto the ground below, running toward the fallen form as fast as he could. Tree branches scratched at his skin and pulled at his clothes, but he paid them no attention. Heart pounding, he fell to his knees on the pathway and placed a gentle hand on the figure's heart.
Now that he was closer, he could see that this was a young Human from Cambirdge, a human looks of her, who appeared to be no more than about the same age as Alex. But she was in dire need of help. Her clothes were torn and bloody, and her hair was matted with slime. She needed the attention of a healer, immediately. Without a second thought, Alex picked up the wounded human and, cradling her in his arms, carried him inside to seek the help that was so desperately needed.
*****
'Her situation is severe,' William Riderr said in a worried voice. 'Whether or not she will live until morning is beyond my sight. My team of healers will do the best they can, but...' his voice trailed off.
Alex could sense his fear. There was a good chance the young human might die. 'Is there anything I can do to help?' he asked.
William sadly shook his head. 'Nothing the healers are not already trying. But it might help if you just sat with her will need to see a friendly face when she wakes up from her ordeal, and you are the closest thing she has right now.
'I understand,' said Alex. 'And I will stay with him for as long as it takes. I will not let her die.
With that, Alex turned and hurried to the room where the wounded Top Vampirehuman was being housed. He was surrounded by healers, all of whom wore the same concerned expression. They had washed his body and dressed his wounds with healing salve, but still the Human showed no signs of improvement. His breathing was shallow, and his pulse was weak. One of the healers turned to Alex with a defeated sigh.
'It will be an uphill battle,' she said. 'We have done all we can at this time. Now, we can only wait and see if he wakes.'
Alex nodded resolutely. 'I will stay with him through the night and keep watch as she sleeps.'
One by one, the healers left the bedside, the last one closing the door behind her. In the flickering candle light, Alex dipped a square of cloth in the bowl of warm water left by the healers, and gently used it to stroke the injured Human 's arms. Then, taking up the human's limp hand, he settled into his bedside chair and prepared to wait through the remainder of the long, cold night.
*****
'Where... where am I?'
Alex jerked awake with a start when he heard the words being spoken. He stared down at his patient, an immense wave of relief coursing through his body. The Human was alive! And from the looks of things, he was on his way to making a full recovery.
