Orynn followed behind Aoife as Eromaug led them to the room that his Eternal was being kept in and as they entered through the doorway, Aoife's nose wrinkled of its own accord as her senses were assaulted by the stench of necrotic flesh.
It was a smell that clung to you,the sweet rancid stench of imminent death and she knew right then that she was going to have her work cut out for her. She was incredibly grateful for the memories of the harsh training she had received from both her mother and grandmother as they dragged her around to the elderly community, helping where they could.
If she hadn't developed a strong gut in this time, then she would have spent most of her adult life gagging and vomiting over some of the wounds that they had to see to as part of the services that their family offered to the wider community.
They hadn't been known as the most proficient healers for nothing.
Eromaug paused in the doorway at the far end of the room and jerked his head towards the room beyond.
"She's through here." He intoned flatly as they filed past him silently.
Aoife took one look at the woman's pale and clammy complexion and stopped herself from swearing out loud just in time.
"How long has she been like this?" She asked with a forced lightness as Eromaug watched her carefully.
"A few days now. You were not ready to deal with even considering saving her from whatever this is."
Aoife risked a glance towards him and tried her hardest to keep the scorn from her voice.
"She's in quite a bad way, you know. You should have let me know just how badly…"
"And would that have changed your reluctance, little witchling?" He sneered, "All you were concerned about was the fact that she is my Eternal…not the fact that she is very much human, as are you, just with a hint of Daemon blood inside of her."
Aoife lowered her eyes as the truth of his words stung her. He was right, if she was unable to save Lexi then she had no one to blame but herself.
She reached for the sheet that covered her and tentatively pulled it back, inhaling sharply at the ferocious red mottling that wormed its way across her chest. It was blatantly obvious that the infection was traveling through her bloodstream, but what she needed to see was what was under the dressing.
"Can you save her?" Orynn's shaky voice rippled into her mind.
"Honestly, I don't know. This is the worst case I've ever seen and trust me when I say that…" She replied mentally as she pulled the dressing back and swore loudly.
"Oh sweet fucking Goddess…" She breathed before whirling to face Eromaug furiously, "Who did this to her?! Do you have any idea what they've done?! This…this barbaric practice was outlawed long ago for a fucking reason…this could kill her! "
"That's precisely why I fixed you and brought you here so that you could make this right." Eromaug answered flatly, his eyes narrowing at the insolent fury that she was directing towards him, "I did not do this and nor did I ask for it to be done. The perpetrator is being dealt with for her part in this."
Aoife clicked her tongue and hissed in frustration, the sound almost snapping Eromaugs last thread of patience as he reigned in the urge just to end both Aoife and Orynn's life on the spot and simply grovel to Hecate to fix things yet his pride would not let him. Not yet anyway.
"I'll do what I can, but I cannot promise that she will come out of this without any permanent damage. The infection is pretty advanced and the wound site is right above her heart…honestly I'm amazed she's still alive." she muttered furiously, "THis is going to take days, if not weeks to fix."
"She's a fighter and possesses a will stronger than titanium," Eromaug replied coolly as he watched Aoife shrewdly, "I doubt very much that she will allow herself to succumb to something as simple as an infection."
Aoife snorted contemptuously in response and didn't bother to gratify him with a verbal reply, instead closing her eyes and placing her hands over the inflamed skin, wincing as she felt the heat that radiated from Lexi's chest.
"Orynn, I want you to stand next to me and watch." She hissed sharply into her mind, "I don't want that bastard to know the extent of your skills but your magick should be able to feel the movement of mine with us being so close. The very nature of our magick means that it is intuitive and intelligent, sometimes going against our will because it knows better. That is what it means to tame our magick. To be at one with it and for both you and it to trust the others instincts."
Orynn said nothing but stepped closer to peer down at Lexi's vulnerable state. His heart ached for her and to see her this way terrified him. She was bonded to his mother and if LExi died…then so would she.
His gaze hardened as he clenched his fists at his side,
"If you need anything to help you fix this Aoife, tell me. I don't care what it takes, I will find a way to get you it." Orynn said firmly as he felt her silent agreement before she allowed the magick to flow from her freely and he chirruped supportively.
He watched with interest as he could sense rather than see it force its way through the afflicted areas of her body and he glanced across at Aoife as her breathing rate increased and she swore under her breath.
His eyes flicked up toward where Eromaug stood silently, his brows creased in concentration as he watched Aoife work and if he wasn't mistaken, the faintest trace of worry flickered in his eyes.
What Lexi really needed was her mates here with her. They would be able to lend her their strength through the mate bond, but Orynn knew without a shadow of a doubt that Eromaug would never let that happen.
To him, Lexi was a possession and a means to an end. Eternal or not, the most important thing to the Daemon Lords was securing their Realms and what better way to do that than to have a host of heirs at your side.
Orynn's chest rumbled without warning as he allowed his emotions to get the better of him, causing Eromaugs eyes to lock onto his briefly before Orynn resumed his attentive gaze as Aoife worked.
As soon as Lexi was better, that was it. There could be no more waiting. Both her and Bella's life depended on it.