The Darkest Cure ((#Wattys2015))

Chapter Four

The pain was excruciating. Every time Lakena took in a breath, each movement she made, however small made her body shiver in pain. She'd screamed her head off when she'd been layed out on the floor, and again, when Lucien flashed her upstairs.

Aeron stayed as long as he could, but Sabin, Paris, and Gideon had been forced to lock him in one of the cells of the dungeon. Cameo sat in a chair next to the bed as Lucien tore away the burned fabric from his sister's back. Cameo helped by removing her dagger, sword, and boots.

Lakena groaned and began to whimper. Reyes grabbed her hand as he sat opposite Cameo.

"Lucien, are we going to put her out?" Death paused in his cutting and tearing. He hadn't thought about it.

"Can we?"

"I should have a few darts left," Paris replied. Whenever Lakena was out of control with bloodlust, or when she couldn't control whatever demon resided inside of her, Paris pumped her with horse tranquilizer. Three to four darts usually did the job of knocking her out long enough for the demon to crawl back into whatever hole it came out of, but on bad days, when nothing would calm the raging demon, six were needed. A shot full of tranquilizer was in each appropriate room, just in case.

"Go get them," Reyes told him. Promiscuity nodded and didn't protest the command and quickly returned with a shotgun in hand. Sabin had followed him in. Doubt's gaze flickered from Death to Promiscuity to the unknown demon.

"What's going on?" he said to no one in particular.

"Paris, just give her one." Paris nodded in response and emptied the shotgun of tranquilizer darts.

"What is he doing?" Sabin demanded.

"This is so she will not be in pain. We need to get the metal out of her back so she can heal properly." Sabin cocked his head to the side.

"I like the sound of that," Gideon said as he entered the room.

"She might die," Cameo's voice was sadder than usual, and they all wanted to shoot each other; they thought of it as mercy killings. Lakena whimpered, and Cameo took her hand.

"We have to take a chance, damn it," Lucien said. Paris held the dart in one hand and smoothed the hair from Lakena's face with the other.

"Kena, this is going to help you sleep for a while, okay honey? I promise it won't hurt that much. It'll just make you go to sleep," Paris moved her hair from her face and

"It hurts so bad. Kill me..." Lakena's voice was small and weak as she spoke. Her breathing was fast and shallow; Sabin cringed at the pain her voice. Gods, Reyes would be soaking up all the pain, and his demon should be sated. At the moment, Kena seemed to be possessed by Pain and Misery's voice.

"Honey, it will make you go to sleep. Soon you won't be in pain anymore. I promise. Just go to sleep, pretty girl," Promiscuity cooed.

"Nooo... Hurts too much..." Lucien sighed and nodded.

"Find him," she mrumured. "Find my warrior..." Paris stiffened, but he talked to Lakena as he pushed the dart's needle into her arm, tapping the vein. With the power of Paris' voice and the tranquilizer, Lakena's eyes began to close. Two seconds later and she looked to be asleep, but with a furrowed brow and a set to her face.

Even in sleep, she could feel the pain, said Reyes' demon in a sad voice. He shook his head.

You have what you wanted, now leave the poor woman be, he thought.

"Don't worry, Kena. You'll be good as new when you wake up," Cameo said. Paris nodded to Lucien and Reyes to get to work; Amun was standing in the corner of the room, his face twisted. Paris met his eyes, but the look they shared went unnoticed, save by Sabin.

Who was Lakena talking about? Sabin had a feeling that Paris and Amun knew something the others didn't...