Once there was Darkness

Chapter 30

Part 2

“Let me test.” He dipped her blood filled boot in the pool. It bubbled and hissed wildly. “Can’t do that. Looks like we are doing this the old fashion way.” Rajaf began to mix together different things from his bag making a green paste. “Baby girl, this is going to hurt.” She screamed as he began working the paste into her wounds.

Kol wanted to die. He thought she was going to tear his garments off. With each scream, his heart stopped.

Violet collected Kessa’s uniform and ran from the room.

As much as Kol wanted her arms around him, he didn’t want it to be this way.

When he moved to let Rajaf have a better position to bandage Kessa’s hip, the box containing the chain fell from his pocket. Max picked it up handing it to him. They locked eyes for a moment. Max knew.

Once Rajaf was finished, “we need to let her rest.” He and Max left. Kol found a Bible and decided he would start reading to her. Much like she had read to him in the past.

He stroked her hair and she moaned. “Kes?”

“Yes, my king.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m afraid to look.”

“May I help?”

She tried to smile. “Thanks, my king.” He helped her up out of the floor. Instantly, she was light-headed. “Too soon.” He directed her head to his shoulder. It took all her strength not to be sick.

Rajaf came back. Kol held her while Rajaf cleaned and redressed her wound. “I soaked the bandages in the liquid. They didn’t react violently to her blood. Let’s see what happens.”

“Isn’t that too great a risk?”

“I don’t think she would think it was.”

It seemed to work.

“Let’s try this again.” He woke her. Her leg hurt like sin. It burned and felt like a swarm of bees stinging. She pulled her breath through her teeth. Kol stood at the ready to support her. She made it out of the floor. Already, she was covered in sweat and her head was spinning. Instead of allowing her back to the floor; Kol took her to one of Enda’s tables.

Kol woke to see Max with outstretched arms ready to catch Kessa if – when she fell. Kol was amazed that just after two days, she was up and walking.

She hissed, “we missed the boat.”

“He smiled a great big smile, “boats wait for me.”