The Hunters

Chapter Five: Recovery

Veronika

Someone slowly shook me awake and I found Walter standing over me. "My lady how are you feeling," Walter asked. "I feel tired and sore but other than that peachy," I said with a bit of sarcasm in my voice. "Would you like to make an attempt at standing?" Walter said. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" I asked. "You are strong and never liked to wait around in bed that's the only reason I ask" Walter shrugged. I turned and put my feet on the floor. I pushed off the gurney and found my balance. I took a step and then another one onto my injured leg. I fell and caught myself on the table we kept in the middle of the room. Walter rushed over to me and pulled me up then helped me sit down in a chair. "Thank you, Walter," I said my breathing heavy from the fall and the pain. "Can I get you anything?" Walter asked concern washed over his face. "Can I get a blanket?" I asked Walter with a slight shiver. The room was cold in general but I seemed to notice it more now than I usually did. Walter walked over with a soft thick blanket in hand. I draped it over my shoulders and thanked him.

"Where is Marco?" I asked. "He should be resting but he could be up by now" Walter said. "Alright I'm going to check on him see if he's up" I said still holding the blanket around my shoulders standing up shakily. I took a couple steps and pain shot through my leg but I didn't care. I limped forward and open the door of the compound to go out into the library.

I made my way up the stairs to Marcos room and knocked on the door. The door swung open in an instant and I was pulled into a hug. "Woah okay, nice to see you too Marco," I said returning the hug. "Are you okay?" Marco said pushing me away to look at me. "I'll live Marco don't worry," I said my hair falling slightly in front of my face. Marco brushed the hair out of my face with my hand and I stood there somewhat shocked. When he hugged me it was nice and I only just now realized I didn't want the hug to end. Marco blushed at my surprised face and walked off quickly down the stairs and out of the estate. "Marco wait!" I called after him but he was already gone. I limped down the stairs and looked out the window to see Marco in my estates garden staring into the koi pond. I walked into my bedroom on the first floor and looked above my bed. A picture of my parents, my sister, and me hung on the wall. My sister and I were little in the picture and the small gold plaque read "In loving memory of Talia, Robert, and Charlie" I had read that small golden plaque too many times. I was the only survivor of a car crash when I was a toddler I was 24 now.

I heard Walter walk in and said "it's hard to believe it's been nineteen years" I rubbed my hand across my face where glass from the windows had scarred my cheek. The scar had faded but it was still noticeable everyone I ever went to school with asked me why I had a scar on my cheek sometimes I would even get bullied for having a scar on my face. I'll always remember my sisters scream as she leapt to protect me. She was probably the only reason I was alive. "I'll never forget Walter I remember how my sister protected me" I said look down at the ground. "Charlie was always protective of you always" Walter said I turned to him and gave him a hug. "Thank you, Walter," I said with a small melancholy smile. Walter returned the hug the man had raised me ever since my family died I only hoped I wasn't a burden.

I broke the hug and Walter walked out of the room sensing that I wanted some space. I walled up to the fireplace in the room and pressed a button that ignited a fire. I looked at the hearth where a locket that had my family's crest and motto on it. The crest was two crowned white lions on a field of royal purple and black and on the back of the locket the words "leones albi omnibus timeri et amari" the words translated from Latin to "White Lions should be feared and loved by all" I stared at the words, at my families history. "White lions" the words echoed in my head. I cut off the fireplace and left the room.

I walked out into the garden where Marco sat on one of the benches looking up at the sky. The sun had started to fall and it painted the world in a beautiful rose gold. Marco looked at me and stood up instantly. He looked nervous and shaky. "I- I'm sorry about earlier" he stuttered. "Marco it's okay" I said which seemed to soothe him ever so slightly. "I was so worried" Marco said shaking his head "I had a nightmare you..." his voice cut off. I looked at my feet and then instantly embraced him in a hug "it's okay that's not going to happen for a very long time" my voice cracked a bit but it was mostly consistent. I felt him wrap his arms around me. Marco was taller than me so my head was buried in his shoulder. Marco broke the hug looked at me with a certain glimmer in his eyes that I had seen before, it was mischievous. I looked at him with a questioning look "What are you planning?" I said. "You'll see at the royal gala next week" Marco said. I gasped "oh I completely forgot about the gala with everything that's been going on have we given the dragons parts to our contact?" I looked at Marco. "Not yet I was a little busy keeping you from bleeding out" Marco said with a laugh. "Yeah I suppose so" I laughed. We walked back inside as the night got cold in the City of Sundown.

"Good night Marco" I said as I opened the door to my bedroom. Marco returned the formality and went to his bedroom. I walked into my bedroom and stripped looking into the mirror to see how bad the burns and cuts truly were. I was glad Marco hadn't seen the bruises since they weren't there hours ago. The sore purple splotches were painful when I moved. My leg throbbed and I pushed through most of the pain I probably shouldn't be walking already but I did it anyway. I couldn't just sit in bed for days on end and I was surprised at the fact that Walter wasn't doting over me in fear that I might hurt myself somehow.  I put my clothes back on and walked over to my bed. I sat down threw my left leg up the cut radiating pain through my leg as it moved. After putting my right leg up I finally got settled and dozed off to sleep.