The house of rhapsody (Book 1 Of The Sanctuary and War Series)

Grief and Concern

Lily went to each patient two at a time. Lustrous blues could only look around the room at the chaos while she healed two members at a time. Seeing Zane moving from one to the next, soothing them one at a time. With all the blood, she knew it would be hard for the Old World vampire. But appreciating the effort nonetheless. When Elias and Temin finally herded in the last of the shade keepers, Lily looked on in horror. Some of them had severe injuries. A few were worse then that. A new wave of anger washed over her heart. Hunters could be so cruel! She fights back the tears trying to well up. Refusing to succumb to the emotions, a steely calm is forced instead.

Choosing to shove whatever she felt to the side, and instead tend to those whom were injured. Her eyes scanned both the grounds keeper and the keeper of record's for injuries from where she was healing two more patients. From the looks of it both were alright thankfully as they seemed to be trying to help with healing. Nodding silently, she increased her efforts. Looking over to Adelaide, the woman seemed to be doing what she was able to for the injured as well. For a moment, Lily could only stare be thankful for everyone's willingness to help.

A sharp stabbing pain interrupted her healing though. It was swift, lasting only for the briefest of seconds. But it was enough to bring her knees to buckling. Closing her eyes for a moment, taking in a breath and then opening them. Pushing past it, she continued to heal. She was coming close to her limit, and she knew it. Though when she looked over to a patient whom was nearby Temin, she felt her heart drop straight to the floor. The man looked lifeless. Lily's throat felt like it tightened up in that moment. A casualty. A death. Her eyes closed then opened, hoping the man wasn't dead. But the scene did not change. It was a fool's wish.

A fresh wave of tears wanted to well up only to spill over. But she holds them back fiercely. Movement to her peripheral vision catches her attention. Looking over for a moment, she sees Adelaide leaving the medical ward. Blinking, Lily was about to move on to the next two patients when Nefertari came in and started to issue orders for the exhausted healers to go and rest. Even ushering herself and Temin to go and rest or to attend the residents. Lily opened her mouth to protest, about to say she would be fine healing, but then thought twice before arguing with the elder. Sighing, she reluctantly stops and lets the lead healer do her duty.

As she was opening her mouth to say something though, Adelaide's voice could be heard. Turning around, she quickly walked out of the ward and went to locate the woman. Seeing her against the wall, Lily walked over to her calmly. "Are you alright Adelaide?" Her voice held a severe tiredness but didn't seem to notice since her focus was currently on Adelaide. Lustrous blue eyes reverted to their steel grey hues after a few seconds. And thin wispy veins began to appear from the edges of her collared uniform as these spread over the porcelain skin.

There was a sharp pain like a dagger being dragged from every inch, but would address this later. Right now she was more worried about her members.

Shantellias scrunched her nose at the smoke wafting all over the place. What a mess! "Rotten oven! Ya burned my babies!" She pouts a little bit, then turned her eyes towards the open doorframe to the kitchen hearing Niall's laughter, along with his comment. Behind the glasses, she narrows her eyes playfully, then smirks. "Yep. And I'll keep talkin' that way too. Not like they can get rid of me! And if they try I'm sure I can find something to prank them on." Her voice went from playful to matter-of-factly. Smirking, her head held high, there is a spark of daring in her demeanor.

"Besides that, I'm the oldest member here. You said your name was Naill? I'm Shantellias. Nice to meet ya." Grinning, she watched him waving his way through the smoke-filled kitchen, picking up one of the charred candies, tapped it against the metal counter, and tossed it. His remark though earned him a cocky smirk. "Imagine what else I can 'cremate' if given time." She cracks up laughing and shook her head. "But yes, help would be lovely. I'll even make a new batch of candies! I'm sure everyone could use some right now. So, what kinda supernatural are you?"Though based on his behavior, it narrowed down what he might be. But just in case, she wanted to see if he might tell her.

Shantellias felt bad that there was a strong possibility there were injured and even dead now in the medical wing. But she knew the danger of the hunters, at least for now, was passed. A creeping sense though sent a tingling sensation from head to toe. She knew what it meant. A supernatural was passing through the protective barriers, and apparently was traveling close enough to one of the hidden sigils to be detected. Then it happened a second time! She hoped whomever they were would be alright. Blinking, she went over to the doorway and called to an enforcer. Asking him to do a perimeter sweep outside, but not to go into the forest for now.

Going back beside Niall, she dries the pans if he washed them. Setting them onto the counter, she went over to the pantry to open the kitchen staff's secret stash. Smirking she waltzed back over to the kitchen island and set down the goods, looking at him. "Perks to being the oldest member here? I know where everything in this house is!" She cackles a little bit and sets out the items, then goes to the huge refrigerator to grab the ingredients used for her homemade candies. Next the set out the necessary mixing bowls and utensils. "So Niall, do you know how to cook?" She keeps the conversation casual.

Elias saw the dead, and it grieved him. One less supernatural being in the world. One fewer wonder. One less to excite the imagination and tell stories about parts of the world and life which had no compare. It felt sadder than the human death but Elias continued to feel both were tragically unnecessary. Where Temin wept for those she couldn't save, Elias committed their faces and what stories he did know of them to memory.

His wounds ached but the pain was nowhere near enough to keep him from helping. At some point, one of the other members of the house, a dark-skinned woman with an aura of command, helped coordinate efforts to save those that could be. Elias was grateful for the calm sense of competence and confidence she projected, as well as for all the efforts of the healers on his and others behalf.

The bear man, just a man now with blood on his hands and forearms, kept at it. He couldn't hope to match Temin, Nefertari, or any of the other dedicated healers. The strength of the earth which he could transfer a measure of was only enough to stave off death or buy an otherwise fatally wounded member enough time that a more proficient healer could reach them. Eventually, far sooner than he would have liked, Elias' spiritual reserves were simply drained. He could do no more and the effort he had exerted left him feeling nauseous, with a headache.

Lily was there again, out of the corner of his eye, and he turned a concerned look to Adelaide when she sprinted out. Elias didn't know what it was about and at this point? He simply got out of Nefertari and Temin's ways. They still had their work to do. There were no more bodies to bring in, at least. This he knew.

He went to the sink, washing the blood of his peers and their killers from his arms. Stepping out into the Hall himself, Elias saw Lily with Adelaide. Neither looked particularly well, with Adelaide looking paler than usual and Lily sporting some veins he hadn't seen before.

"Long night." He said quietly. "And longer to come for those now waging the second battle."

Being the battle to save the lives endangered by the first.

"Are the two of you alright?"