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Post by Echo Ashaelyr on Sept 29, 2011 5:38:37 GMT -5
Echo moved back against the wall to allow Curse to reunite with his son. She was lost in thought, reviewing what she had determined of the state of Curse's wounds, and mentally flicking through options. An idea came to mind of a spell procedure that could help, allow the mediwizards to do their own healing much more effectively.
When Max left the room with Amelia in tow, Echo stepped up to Curse's bedside, pushing a small side table next to him.
"Good to have you back with us Curse," she smiled warmly, gripping his hand in hers for a brief moment. "I'm going to try something, all I need is for you to relax, and don't move. Everyone else, best you give me some space." While she waited for them to comply, the scarred witch conjured a small glass vial and scalpel, placing them on the table.
Taking a deep breath, Echo pulled off her glove, revealing her twisted, blackened hand. She took the scalpel and drew it across her palm. Black blood seeped sluggishly from the wound into the waiting vial that she held. Once she had filled the tiny bottle, Echo cast a fast mending spell on her hand and pulled the glove back on.
Echo set the vial in the center of the table and drew a spell circle around it with her wand. Runes glimmered and melded as she continued the complex spell, adding layer upon layer of runes and flowing script. Finally the vial was enclosed in a dome of glowing runes and as she finished the spell, they sank into the blood and vanished. Now the black blood was deep violet.
"Trust me please, Curse." Echo met his eyes firmly, and then without warning pulled down the bandage on his shoulder. With the open wound revealed, Echo took the vial and tipped it over his shoulder. Five drops fell into his flesh before she placed the vial back on the table.
Placing her hands over the wound, aware she was hurting him unfortunately, the woman closed her eyes and concentrated on using wandless magic to cast another spell. After several long moments, she opened her mismatched eyes again and smiled.
"Good, the magic took. What I did was spell my infected blood with a decay marker, so it won't infect your healthy tissue, and it'll dissolve in a short time. It's now attacking the remnants of dark magic Mosrael's spell left in your wound - that's what's preventing it from healing properly and blocking the mediwizards. It's like I..." she frowned. "Like I made the parasitic demon properties in my blood attack the dark magic in yours. It won't heal it, but as it cleans out the dark magic, it should allow the mediwizards to heal you."
Echo shook her head regretfully. "I don't think there's a quick fix for mending something as severe as your shoulder, but given time and therapy, I think now with that dark magic out of the way, you should heal eventually. Of course, I'm not a healing expert though." She shrugged, dispersing the vial and scalpel with a wave of her wand.
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Post by Elle Callahan on Oct 1, 2011 20:37:48 GMT -5
Oh, the glamorous life of medical professionals. It was a job where you were bragged about how many hours (or days) you worked without sleeping. Dogging bodily fluids was considered a top skill coveted by many mastered by few and food was coveted more than wealth. Then, after a long period of time of dashing about saving lives you were given a week of respite that was more often than not spent being on call. Lucky for Elle Callahan she was still a student and thus on call more than anything. But really, Elle loved her job. She truly did but sometimes she loved rest more.
Glorious rose scented steam wrapped the small bathroom in it's heat. Pink tinted bubbles lazily floated in the air as hot water rushed into the large tub. This was Elle time. All she asked for was thirty minutes to soak in the hottest water she could stand and forget about everything. Forget that little Max Kameren was still missing. That the man she was crushing on was trying to keep his older brother from going insane and that she knew nothing. Not a word. The waiting as tormenting her, like a thousand tiny needles pricking her skin hard enough to sting, light enough not to draw blood. Yet.
Elle had just slid beneath the bubbles, her heavy lids shut when that all to familial blue light burned the edges of her lids. She didn't need to hear the voice to know it was a summons. Yet, the words were different this time.
Urgent: All healers report to duty. Multiple injuries, including poisoned victims... Kameren boy found... a personal message had been attached to the report. Her expertise with the Kameren family was noted. But it went beyond that. Elle Callahan had a personal relationship with that family.
Hair wet and uncombed, Elle arrived at St Mungo's in the closet outfit she could snatch. She paid no one much heed, except for information. Pulling on a set of healer's robes, she headed off to Alex's room. He was the most urgent case at the moment. What if they were too late and the poison claimed another victim? What was it with death and Kamerens? Did they have a special sent that lured evil things to them?
Elle stormed into the poison ward, not caring that the doors slammed behind her. Heart thudding, she paused slightly when she saw Max Kameren leaning into a window. Merlin, the boy was alive. One worry gone. A quick glance showed that he was healthy. If a bit dirty. Elle stopped about to talk to Max when she noticed out of the corner of her eye Alex Kameren. Not in bed.
Slowly, Elle snorted out a breath trying to calm down. This was not a moment to panic or lose her temper. If she yelled he'd just yell back and refuse to budge. Which would of course get them no where.
Shaking her head, Elle placed her hands on her hips and stared Alex Kameren down. Her eyes flashed with ire.
"Better than you if you don't sit down before you collapse. A knock on the head is all you need now." She said sarcastically.
"Really, grown men make the worst patients," Elle said with a wry smile as she glanced at Max. It was then that she noticed the woman who stood next to him.
"Hello, Elle Callahan, healer in training to this lot. You must be Max's mother. Great kid. If you'll excuse me I need to make sure the arse won't faint." With that, Elle slipped into Alex's room. Heart pounding she was just thankful he was still alive. Although she was furious that he was out of bed, secretly she was glad. If he was well enough to crawl to the window he'd survive. Especially since he had the foresight to pull on pants. Sad panda. It would have been...the stress was getting to her. Professionalism. No dirty thoughts. Really medical gowns needed to be lengthen or revamped entirely. The ill fitting gown was showing off Alex's upper half to distracting perfection.
"Don't go girly on me and faint, I'll be forced to leave you on the floor." She repeated again as she conjured a better bed. The gurney was awful and would just be an excuse for the stubborn mule not to lie down. Fool.
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Post by Curse Kameren on Oct 2, 2011 3:24:55 GMT -5
Curse's eyes followed Max and Amelia out the door, and even through the pain it could be seen he was relieved. Max was safe, the entire trip was worth it. Curse had won another difficult battle, but barely. And this time, he'd hurt someone he hadn't intended; Alex was in the poisons wing because of him.
"Good to have you back with us Curse," Curse nodded at Echo as she stepped back up to him. His head turned to Arianna, and he met her eyes and smiled. Seeing her here now all but confirmed that he wanted to marry her. "I'm going to try something, all I need is for you to relax, and don't move. Everyone else, best you give me some space."
"What are you doing?" Curse's emerald eyes lingered a bit uneasily when he saw the scalpel in Echo's hand. She better not touch him with that; what good would that do to heal his laceration? His bandaged right hand gripped the bedding, still growing a bit worried as Echo worked; he was in no state of mind to comprehend what she was doing, the pain was fogging his mind. He grasped for Arianna's hand, loosely entwining his fingers with hers. "Echo - "
"Trust me please, Curse."
"Well I was going to - ah." Curse grunted with the pain of Echo's concoction making contact with his wound. He grit his teeth and bit back any cries of pain, bearing it for the sake of the others in the room. He squeezed Arianna's hand a bit forcefully, letting go as soon as he realized what he was doing. "S-sorry," He met Arianna's eyes warmly for a moment, though it was obvious he was trying to hide the pain. A strange rush went through him with Echo's procedure and he suddenly felt overwhelmed, his mind fading in and out of reality.
"...something as severe as your shoulder, but given time and therapy, I think now with that dark magic out of the way, you should heal eventually. Of course, I'm not a healing expert though."
"That's just what I need, more bloody therapy." Curse mumbled quietly, his emerald eyes drooping closed as a wave of exhaustion fell over him.
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Post by Max Kameren on Oct 2, 2011 13:57:43 GMT -5
"Alex?" Max's dark eyebrows disappeared into his messy hair when he heard the clatter coming from his uncle's room. What the heck was going on in there? He'd heard about the procedure Alex was undergoing from overhearing his father, and Merlin knew Alex shouldn't be throwing things around in the condition he was going to be in. The antidote was like going through all the pain of his dad's long illness in one go.
“I’m… heeerre.”
Max smiled, putting a hand on his uncle from the other side of the glass. He heard his mum shift uncomfortably behind him; good, she should see the hell Curse and Alex went through to get Max home safe. He could tell his mum was mad at his dad, maybe this could help her see how hard they fought. They almost didn't make it back, but Max was completely unharmed.
“You ok? How…s Curse?”
"I asked first. Are you okay? You look like crap."
"Max." Amelia nudged her son in the back, chiding him for his rudeness.
"What? He does." Max glanced back at his mum, then back up to meet his uncle's green eyes. "Dad's awake. Dr. Bonham says he'll be fine as soon as they figure out how to close his shoulder up. What about you?"
"Better than you if you don't sit down before you collapse. A knock on the head is all you need now."
"Elle!" Max practically jumped on the small healer with a long-limbed hug. "I was wondering where you were! They had Nurse Julie helping dad, Merlin knows the poor lady's terrified of him."
"Really, grown men make the worst patients."
Max chuckled, stepping back from Elle and catching her glance at Amelia. "Oh, right. Elle, Alex, this is my mum. Mum, this is Alex, my uncle, and Elle. She's our doctor besides Dr. Bonham." Amelia smiled sheepishly and nodded, but didn't speak. Max took her hand; she was a bit overwhelmed by everything, he could tell. This was a whole different world she hadn't experienced before; Max himself had been overwhelmed when he was first introduced to it as well.
"Hello, Elle Callahan, healer in training to this lot. You must be Max's mother. Great kid. If you'll excuse me I need to make sure the arse won't faint."
Max laughed as Elle entered the room, approaching the window again to watch Elle try to soothe the savage Kameren. It was really quite funny to Max, watching his father and uncle cowed by such a tiny woman. No one got Alex to obey, besides Elle.
"Don't go girly on me and faint, I'll be forced to leave you on the floor."
Max grinned, watching his uncle through the window. Amelia stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Max, darling, should we head back to your father's room? I'm sure Peter's wondering where we are." Max shrugged, taking his mum's hand and walking with her back to his father's room in the critical ward.
His father was unconscious again, that was the first thing Max noticed. Or was he? His hand moved in his aunt's, his long pale fingers entwined with hers. His bandages were off, the wound exposed to the rest of the room. It made Max a bit sick to look at, so he tried to keep his head down.
He crossed to his aunt, putting a lanky arm around her lower back, where it was easiest for him to embrace her from his height. "He'll get better soon, I'm sure." He met his aunt's dark eyes with a smile.
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Post by Arianna Blackthorn on Oct 2, 2011 15:23:11 GMT -5
All around her was chaos. Green robes fluttered and swished as maddened healers bustled about. People bleed, cries of agony filling the space. Yet, Arianna felt removed from it all. Little reached her mind. It was all a dim blur as if a thick fog separated everything from her, protecting her. A soft, distant voice penetrated her bubble.
"He's alive," "Bad shoulder injury, but they're working on him right now."
Swiftly air escaped Ari and her shoulders heaved. Thank Merlin. Still hysteria filled Arianna threatening to pour out in a mad giggle. So much had happened. It was just too much.
"He needs you, Arianna, even if he tries to push you away. Are you up to this? Because he needs you more than ever, I think. Max and Alex do too."
Strong arms gripped her shoulders, pulling her back from the edge. Now was not a time to give in to weakness. The headmistress was right. Her family needed her. Ari squeezed the woman's hands in thanks. With a deep breath she straightened her shoulders, firmed her lips and pulled away only to find her hand grasped by a small soft one. Max. Arianna's heart filled as she smiled down on her little nephew. A quick glance showed that he was alright.
Ari watched as Amelia scooped up Max, crying over her son. It was a sight to see and Ari couldn't help but share a smile with Peter who also stood watching. Together they went to Curse's room as Max told them how his father had defeated the dark lady. So, Morsel was dead. A perverse pleasure bubbled inside of Ari. Loss of life was tragic but she couldn't truly feel sorry for the woman who had almost destroyed her family.
It was not long before Arianna was before the door that led to her love and yet she hesitated. What if the man on the other side was no longer her Curse? Had the battle changed him beyond recognition? Would he still wish to marry her now that he had Max back? Questions tormented and yet, Ari walked through the door her eyes worried.
Tears formed in her dark orbs at the sight of a still Curse Kameren. He was so white his blood almost looked red instead of pink. Emotion nearly knocked Ari over, all she could do was stare as her life flashed before her eyes. Memories of Curse Kameren played in her head. She did not hear Echo's question.
A wry smile formed on Ari's lips when Curse woke up issuing demands. Oh how she wished she could see him wake up forever, but she knew now more than ever how short life was. Their days were numbered and it terrified her. One day this man would leave her. It could be tomorrow or ten years from now but it would be far sooner than most. Life was unfair. Green eyes met black and Ari smiled that secret little quip she saved for him. Darkness was gone, his eyes were laced with pain but he was whole.
"I'm going to try something, all I need is for you to relax, and don't move. Everyone else, best you give me some space."
Arianna did not move away from Curse, but instead headed to his good side, standing as close to his bed as possible. She was not going to leave his side while the demon hunter experimented on him. If their curses reacted to each other someone would have to contain it. Might as well be the rune expert.
Ari winced as Curse grunted with pain and he squeezed her own hand. That answered that question. He wasn't weak despite all that blood loss. With her free hand, Ari cupped Curse's face.
"Shh, you're going to be alright, love." She whispered gently.
"That's just what I need, more bloody therapy."
Ari breathed out a short laugh, shaking her head. The man had to have the last word. She watched as he closed his eyes their hands still entangled.
the door opened again and Amelia and Max entered. Ari smiled weakly at the pair before turning back to Curse. She would not leave his side. Then a small arm snaked around her lower back.
"He'll get better soon, I'm sure."
"No doubt," She agreed smiling at her nephew.
"He's far too stubborn to do otherwise." She'd never forgive him if he died before he married her.
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Post by Alex Kameren on Oct 2, 2011 15:29:56 GMT -5
"I asked first. Are you okay? You look like crap."
“Hah.” He breathed a short laugh, tapping gently on the glass where his nephew rested his hand. “Easy… to s-ssee you’re a… Kameren. ‘M fine.” His eyes went to the woman hovering behind Max. She looked vaguely familiar, but he was sure he hadn’t seen her before in his life.
"Dad's awake. Dr. Bonham says he'll be fine as soon as they figure out how to close his shoulder up. What about you?"
Alex allowed some of the tension to drain from his face, he’d been worried. Curse wasn’t invincible, though at times it seemed he thought he was. Alex had been afraid he wouldn’t make it this time, with all the blood and the magic he’d used. He shrugged at the boy’s question. “Curse found the antidote.” And even if it weren’t to work, he wasn’t worried. It would have been worse to allow Curse to die because he was afraid of death himself.
"Better than you if you don't sit down before you collapse. A knock on the head is all you need now."
Alex had closed his eyes, dropping into a half-doze. Getting to the window and talking had exhausted him as the poison rushed through his system, trying to defeat the antidote. Elle’s voice brought him back from the haze, he opened his eyes and watched as Max introduced his mother. He shifted, leaning against his shoulder and raising his head from the glass. He gave a small, polite nod to acknowledge Max’s mother.
"Don't go girly on me and faint, I'll be forced to leave you on the floor."
“Hah.” He laughed again, just a short, harsh sound in the silence of the room. He turned away from the window where Max and his mother were departing, slowly making his way to the bed. He sat on the edge, glad to get his bare feet off the cold floor. Alex offered Elle a lop-sided grin, feeling more loopy from the pain potions as time went on.
“I-I’ll be fine.”
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Post by Curse Kameren on Oct 6, 2011 1:59:32 GMT -5
"He'll get better soon, I'm sure."
"No doubt," She agreed smiling at her nephew. "He's far too stubborn to do otherwise."
"I'll be up in no time," Curse mumbled lowly, the corner of his mouth turning up in a tired smile. His good hand gently released from Arianna's grip, gently cupping his son's cheek. "I'm glad you're alright. Dunno what I'd do if she hurt you." Max smiled, putting a hand on his father's good arm. He was the link between his father and his aunt, a caring hand on each of them. This felt very right to him, the three of them as a family. "How's Alex?"
"They got him the antidote. I think he was drugged." The tired light in Curse's features dimmed for a moment, and Max could see he was figuring something in his head; something about the drugs, Max guessed by his reaction. "Dad, don't worry about it. He'll be better soon too. Worry about you for once."
"How about I worry about you." Curse's eyes opened slightly and he smiled at his son. His hand fell back down to the bed as his green eyes wandered up to Arianna. His Fiancee. He took her left hand, kissing her lightly on the back of the hand. His fingers paused for a moment on the ring on her finger. He was glad she'd found it, though a little curious how she had. "Are you alright?" He asked her curiously, his thumb caressing her smooth skin on her hand. He hadn't had the chance to ask yet; He was sure Arianna would be shaken by this, by everything. In the midst of a tragedy hitting their family, Curse and Arianna had decided to take the next step in their relationship. Would she still want to marry him after the adrenaline died down? Would she accept the terrible things he'd done? Would she understand how he felt no remorse?
"Kris." Amelia was sitting in the chair next to Peter in the corner of the room, looking a bit uneasy, she kept her blue eyes steadily on his eyes, trying to avoid the sight of his open wound and many scars. Maybe it wasn't Arianna Curse had to worry about upsetting.
"Amelia." He replied evenly, his eyes sinking closed again.
"I think Max should come home with us tonight."
"What? No!" Curse's bed shook slightly as Max turned to his mother, his face stubborn. "I'm not leaving dad in the hospital. I'm not leaving Alex."
"I agree." Curse nodded weakly, his eyes opening and meeting his son's resolutely when the boy turned to him for backup. His son didn't need to stay here and watch him suffer.
"I... think he should stay with us for a while." Max tried to protest, but a look from both parents told him to be silent.
"We can talk about it later."
"No, no we don't have to." Amelia's brow furrowed, her hand clutching the chair as she pushed herself up. "He could have died, Kris. You could have died."
"Amelia, we can talk - "
"I'm not putting my son in harm's way."
"Amelia - "
"Kris, you don't get a say in this - "
"AMELIA. We will talk about this later." Curse pushed himself up, glowering at the mother of his son as his dark pink blood dripped down his shoulder freely. The sudden motion and raise in volume sent another rush through Curse, and his face paled.
The mother and father stared each other down, their son looking between the two worriedly. He loved his parents and wanted them both in his life. "Mum - "
"Max." Curse's tone was a warning, telling Max not to argue. The boy fell silent. "We can discuss it later. I can't right now." Curse let himself fall back down, his chest rising and falling sharply from the exertion. The tension in the room was suddenly thick.
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Post by Arianna Blackthorn on Oct 13, 2011 18:49:46 GMT -5
It was over. The nightmare had been shattered and dreams pushed away. A little part of Ari was dazed, shocked even. Curse had succeeded! It wasn't that she didn't have faith in him, she very much did, just a part of her couldn't help but worry that he would not make it back. The odds had been stacked against him. This was no ordinary foe. This woman had ensnared his senses and enslaved him, driven him to the point of madness and he defeated her. Awe filled Ari as she watched the tender interaction between father and son. Her breath caught in her throat as visions of their potential children paraded in her brain. The kids they may never have.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes," That simple word almost proved to much to say as it was nearly drowned by a breathless sigh. Now, she was alright. He was safe if not well. Work would wait. Everyday Ari would be here for Curse, to let him know that she would not leave him again. She'd have done it even if he hadn't proposed to her. Did he still want to marry her? Had it been a rash mistake for him? Would this be a long engagement? So many questions. All Ari knew was that she would do what ever she had to for a future with this man. For how ever long they had left. Not a second more would be wasted mired in worry.
"Kris."
What now? For just a second, Ari had forgotten that her, no their, muggle family was in the room. Arianna loved Amelia to pieces she just had terrible timing. First interrupting her dinner date with Curse in her apartment and now her invading this private moment. Then again she probably had a right since she slept with the man first...who was better,...best not to go there. Ari turned slightly to face the frantic mother of Curse's son. Apprehension and fear was evident in her features.
"I think Max should come home with us tonight."
Immediately, Ari stiffened as tension spiked. If something wasn't done this could turn into a world war and Ari was unsure if Curse would come out the victor and it wasn't because of his wounds either. A part of Ari agreed that a hospital was no place for a child but Amelia was being unreasonable. Max just suffered a trauma and while Curse was currently coherent he might still die.
"Peter get your wife out of here, before she kills him." Arianna's soft voice cut through the tension. Or before she strangled the woman. Couldn't she see past her own agenda to see how much her words were hurting Curse?
"I will watch Max, make sure nothing happens to him," Without seeing if her words appeased the mother, Ari turned back to Curse.
He had to calm down. His heavy breathing and rising chest was not helping his shoulder.
"Shhh, it'll be alright. Peter will pound some sense into her," She cooed as she gently cupped his face.
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Post by Curse Kameren on Oct 13, 2011 21:20:13 GMT -5
"I'm not putting my son in harm's way."
"Amelia - "
"Kris, you don't get a say in this - "
"AMELIA. We will talk about this later."
"Peter get your wife out of here, before she kills him."
Curse and Amelia both flashed Arianna a warning look, and Peter as he moved to help. They were loved ones and an important part of their son's upbringing, but they were not Max's parents. This was between Curse and Amelia, and no matter what condition they were in the matter of their son's well-being was the first priority. There was one thing they did both see eye-to-eye on; the hospital was not a place for Max. After the trauma he'd endured, they needed Max in an environment where he felt safe. Curse's home was destroyed, so it was Amelia's flat for the night. Where he would be living, and with who, would be a matter of discussion after Curse was healed. Amelia was afraid for her son, and that was understandable, but Curse wasn't in the condition to argue.
"I will watch Max, make sure nothing happens to him," She cooed as she gently cupped his face. "Shhh, it'll be alright. Peter will pound some sense into her."
"Ari, stop. He's going with Amelia tonight." Curse shook off Arianna's comforting hand and watched Amelia as she turned to go.
"Max, come on. We're heading home." Amelia took Max by the hand, and the boy's other hand tightened on Curse's instinctually.
"No, mum, I'm staying with dad."
"Max." Curse sqeezed his son's hand in return, giving the boy a hard look. "Go with your mother. We can talk about where you'll be staying after I'm out of the hospital." Max looked about to protest, but under both of his parents' glares, he yielded. He let go of his father's hand, leaning on the bed to kiss Curse on the cheek before following dutifully behind his mother towards the door. "I'll see you soon, kiddo."
"Love you dad," Max's lip quivered for a moment, but he pushed the emotions back. The trio of mother, son, and stepfather quietly left, closing the door behind them.
"Love you too." Curse ran a hand through his hair, sighing tiredly.
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