Maji Born

22 - Bad Head Wounds Deserve Bandages

The alley swam as Eirian wrestled her vision back into focus. He head was splitting with pain. She reached up, steadying herself against the brick wall beside her, and felt the back of her head. Her dreadlocks were matted and sticky with blood. The brick that had hit her lay beside her.

Slowly she pieced together what had happened. She had been hit in the back of the head by someone. That explained the headache. She stood shakily, using the wall for support and feeling nauseous with the sudden change in gravity. There had been three attackers. Lavinia. Where was Lavinia?

Eirian glanced around the alley searching desperately for her friends and coming up short. The attackers had taken her.

Eirian stumbled up the alley and back into the street, ignoring the shocked looks from passersby. Eirian knew where the Duke's Estate was in comparison to her location. The worse part was that it was only about two blocks south of where she was now.

She felt disoriented, unsure of the time of day or how long she had been unconscious. Lavinia could be only a short distance away or long gone. By the light, it looked like it could have been minutes or hours. At least the sun hadn't set. That was a good sign.

She stumbled, catching herself against the wall to her right, she could see the glitter of the selwin exterior of the Estate. She just needed to make it to the end of the street.

It felt like she was moving in slow motion as she made her way across the street. She slammed her body into the door. Energy expended she slid down to sit against it. Her vision swam and she closed her eyes. She raised a fist weakly and banging it against the doorframe. There was a click as the lock unbolted and the Duke appeared to her right.

"Heavens!" he said, "Devarak come here."

Seconds later Devarak was by her side, crouched over beside her. He scooped her up, cradling him against his chest. He stumbled over the threshold with her.

"Bring her over here!" a voice-guided from the foyer. Zehara.

Eirian found her voice, mumbling into Devarak's chest.

"Lavinia. She's been taken."

Zehara, who stood by the waiting settee, swore and headed for the open front door.

"I'm going after her," she said, running out before the others could stop her.

Eirian peeked through half-shut eyelids as a dark-haired man rushed after Zehara. Devarak glanced at the door, an anxious look crossing his features. Eirian could tell he wanted to follow them.

"Go," Eirian said quietly. "I'll be okay."

Devarak gently lowered her onto the settee. A maid appeared with a wet cloth and bandages.

"I'm not going anywhere." He took the bandages from the maid. "Thank you, I've got this." 

The maid nodded and retreated from the room. Eirian could see the Duke hovering in the doorway.

"What happened," Devarak asked. He knelt and began carefully dabbing at the wound at the back of her head. Eirian winced and gave a small whimper. "Sorry," Devarak said, wetting the cloth in a small pot of water. Crimson rippled through the water like paint. He gently brought the cloth back to her wound. 

"We were on our way back from the University. They jumped us a few blocks over." Eirian said. Talking seemed to distract from the throbbing in her head. Devarak lifted her dreads.

"Ah. Eirian. This is quite the cut." He sighed. Eirian knew what he was getting at. "Just do it. They were starting to get in the way anyways."

Devarak nodded and from somewhere on his person withdrew a small knife. Eirian closed her eyes as he cut away her dreadlocks. Once it was done he wrapped a bandage around her head, tying it tightly. Eirian glanced at the carpet below the settee. Her dark hair lay in a messy pile at Devarak's feet.

"I think they are taking her back," Eirian said. "They bagged her. I saw that much before I blacked out."

"That seems likely. Someone tried to kill Zehara. It's a good thing she's been trained for that sort of thing." The Duke said. He sat at the end of the settee looking weary. Eirian's eyes widened.

"Will Zehara be alright on her own?" Eirian asked glancing at the Duke. "She must be tired from her fight."

"She'll be fine. She's trained for this and she has someone with her. Some boy from the University."

"I hope they find her," Eirian said, shutting her eyes to block out the tears that were filling her eyes.

The Duke patted her ankle, "She will and Devarak will make sure of it." He nodded at the open door. Devarak hesitated.

"Go. She's fine. You did a great job with the bandages. I can take care of the rest. Go save your friend."

Devarak glanced at Eirian, who smiled and nodded.

"Bring her back safe."

Devarak squeezed Eirian's hand. Then he stood and turned. Exiting her field of vision. She heard the front door slam as he left the Estate.