grail of death and clockwork.

Chapter XII

With a quick intake of breath Dakoda mutters a silent curse at the sudden jolt of pain that shot through her head as she sat down on the step of the carriage.

"Dear lord that hurts," she pouts rubbing her forehead

"Well Dear child that is what you get for shooting a blank into your head, be thankful it was not a bullet or you would be dead, in fact, you are lucky you are not dead as it is. What were you thinking doing something as reckless as shooting yourself?" the doctor scolds as he swats her hand away to examine the wound.

"Well I won't lie I was fully Expecting to die Doctor Taylors, why else would I have aimed at myself and not him," Dakoda mutters sourly as the doctor who she had grown to know during her time at the asylum dabbed a cloth dampened with alcohol over the open wound on her temple caused by the blank. Dakoda lets out a hiss at the stinging pain and glares at the doctor.

"sometimes I think you enjoy this sort of thing to much doctor," she mutters through clenched teeth.

"maybe If you didn't find yourself in some sort of trouble every second month you would not be in this situation," he laughs wrapping a bandage around the wound.

Dakoda huffs and glances behind the doctor to where Scotland yard Officers Gabriel Langdon, Benedict Maloney and a few others -whose names Dakoda had long since forgotten- where loading Lord Watsons corpse into the back of a wagon.

"Virgil was killed, you probably already know that but I feel I must tell you," Dakoda whispers her heart aching.

"Yes I was aware, that must be hard for you, my dear," doctor Taylors mumbles cleaning up a wound on her left arm which she had not even realized was their till now.

"I miss him, but... now I feel conflicted, is it wrong of me to mourn my fiance and have feeling which I can not explain for another?" she asks her gaze locked on the officer as he spoke with Inspector Keeland and his other co-workers.

"It is not wrong of you dear, but be aware of what others might think, this society is not as accepting of that sort of thing as I am," he says. Stepping back he glances at her up and down,

"now other than that atrocious thing you are wearing is anything else wrong, any pain in your legs or torso? And other injuries I should know of?" doctor Taylors asks with an eyebrow raised his gaze settling on her wrists which she had face down.

"Well I did jump out of a moving carriage and injure my ankle about two weeks ago, and the scars on my hands from when I hurt them reopened a bit but other then that no I am fine," Dakoda mutters grinding her teeth and pouting.

"Are you sure child, I will look at the others soon but are you sure that it all?" He enquiries quietly,

"I would not like to say in the open like this," Dakoda whispers looking down to her hands as she claps them in her lap.

"very well, you are free to go talk with whomever you need to, make an appointment to meet with me at the clinic some time in the next few days ok?" doctor Taylors smiles stepping aside and allowing her to pass.

"thank you doctor," Dakoda murmurs with a stiff bow.

"do try and keep out of trouble from now on, my dear child, I don't Particularly like having to deal with you this often," he jokes. "Oh and I do believe that detective inspector keeland deserves an apology," he adds

"Yes, yes, so I understand, I will do that right away," Dakoda sighs, with a groan she limps away from the doctor and towards the group of men.

"Inspector Keeland, is he sufficiently detained?" she croaks as she approaches. All eyes now on her officer langdon dashes forward and wraps his arms around her for support.