The inevitable week

[Leo]

(While some of the words that will be used are basic in language, a translation will still be provided.)

The time of year had come around once more and it was a season that would last longer than any of them wanted but knew it was coming. Some things were inevitable. Though the last few years things had been getting worse. Leo was glad that his boss had decided to come to the manor for the week for it would have been harder to deal with it at the Inn.

Leo was outside of the door of the master bedroom of the Marqués, pacing and waiting. His boss was already inside and should have already been prepared. "Tarde. ¿Dónde está él?(1)" He disliked people being late and for occasions like this it was made worst. He could have worn the marble with his pacing. "No me gusta," (2) Leo sai with a sigh. He would have gone himself to the house of the doctor but with the force of the last two years he was not wanting to take the risk. If things got too much out of hand he would need to take his role.

Servants were held in post along the hall and were keeping watch as well. It seeme forever until he heard the hurried voice of the head housekeeper. " Leo! El doctor está aquí!"(3) The older plump lady briskly walked down the hall practically dragging the doctor along by the arm. The doctor was carrying a cooling box.

It was such a relief. Leo left the door to approach the doctor. " Quickly Doctor. He has already started to bleed."

While Leo and the doctor went inside the room, the housekeeper took his place outside the door.


_{1- "Late. Where is he?"
2- "I don't like it."
3 - "Leo! The doctor is here!"}

[Casandra Lightheart]

She saw the carriage pull up and knew it was time weather she saw the Marques at all this week she was going to enjoy her time at the Manor she felt at home there just as much as at Claremout she really did need to get him to come visit her home. She packed nothing knowing there was already a wardrobe full of clothing at the manor that he had had made for her.

All she had was the clothes on her back a brownish wool dress split for riding her cloak She was mounted on Windrider already and road out to the carriage Kjay following beside her she smiled to the man finding it strange that he was so preocupied she rembered that the trip had only taken a little over an hour and was just going to follow the carriage.

"I'm going to ride today."

The man went through his pleasantries but again seemed very distracted, oh well she was not going to let his mood drag her down and she took in all the sites as they road to the manor.

When she arived at the manor house the only one out front was the plump older house keeper who nodded to her but kept looking off down the road. Now she knew something was up she took Windrider to the stable and waved off the stable hand as she unsaddled him and rubbed him down herself and then went through the side door.

She was almost knocked down by the house keeper running by her dragging a man after her. That got Kjay excited and he started barking she scilenced him with a look, she followed the house keeper and was suprised to find servants lining the halls and Leo paceing back and forth. Then she heard that the man was a Dr and then Leo said something about someone already bleeding? Now she was worried she saw Leo disapear into the room and the housekeeper take up position at the door. The color drained from her skin as she quickly made her way to the door.

"Please I am a healer as well what ever is happening I can help."

[Marqués del Stry]

While Leo had been outside in the hall waiting for the doctor, the Marqués was inside the room. It was a large room, with separated sections of it's own, like a miniature apartment.

The fireplace was alive, the wood crackling under the heat to keep the room at a temperature which was slightly above comfortable. Its light was one of the few in the room for heavy curtains were drawn over the windows. A lamp was lit here and there but the overall feeling of the room was dark and the smell of blood permeated the air.

Hands braced on the mantel and leaning over the fireplace he stood. Shirtless, the top had been discarded into the fireplace. What was once an carefully woven, fine white shirt had become a bloody tinder for the fire. The marble floor would have to be cleaned from the trail of blood that from the bed and to the fireplace. With every breath that the Marqués took fresh blood seeped out from the large tattoo that nearly covered his entire back. It only appeared during a season, to conduct it's purpose and go until its time came back again. Japanese in its design it was a rendering of a dragon and tiger caught in melee within a circle of fire. Words framed the outer rim. ( The tattoo covering his back )

With the loss of blood he should be laying down, but this was not the case. With a grunt one hand left the mantel and took hold of the pencil. Gripping it tightly he began to write on a strip of paper that was also on the mantel, speaking between clenched teeth. “Perdonaré sus maldades," words strained with effort. "Y nunca más . . . me. . . acordaré de sus pecados”(1)

Writing it over and again, it was during this that Leo and the Doctor entered into the room.

Outside the room . . .

Just as the Housekeeper had taken up her position she heard the words of the Lady Casandra and her eyes took on a bit of shock. . From her visit before, Casandra would recognize the lady as the one who had helped her prepare that morning with the two ladies. The Housekeeper took a step to block the door. "You should be out enjoying the Manor dear. I am sure there are many things here for you to discover." The shocked expression left the face of the Housekeeper as soon as she started to speak.

"I shall have your ladies brought to you ."


_{1 - "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." .}

[Casandra Lightheart]

She took a few deep breaths trying to calm herself she smelled the blood coming from the room and knew it had to be something really bad she tried to keep herself from pushing right past her and busting into the room she was serious about helping and from the smell she was going to need a few things she knew that they were in the saddlebag her herbs were one thing she always carried in the saddlebags never knew when you might need them.
She shook her head gently from side to side.

"No I do not need them called right now, I think I'm just going to go back outside for a bit but I will be back."

She forced herself to walk untill she was out of site and then took off at a run back the way she had come Kjay right on her heals. She rushed into the stables and grabbed the saddle bag taking her herbs out she went up to her room only slowing to a walk when she heard somone near her. She went in and started going through the wardrobe and found what she was hoping would be there a simple plain cotton dress something fit for the work she was preparing to do she stripped off her riding clothes and laid them on the bed pulling the simple cotton dress on and then braiding her hair before wraping it into a bun.

She tied the herb bag to her waist and ran to the kitchen taking a moment to catch her breath before she went in, she asked for and recieved two cups of tea and said her thanks before going back to the halway by Amadeo's room she stoped and placed the tray on a stand and grabed some valarian root out of her bag this store was already in a powder form and dosed the one of the cups she then continued down the hall and stoped back at the door.

"I thought maybe you would like a cup of tea."

She handed the dosed cup to the housekeeper and took the other one.

"I think we both need to relax a bit."

She sipped at her tea and waited the valarian root would take a while to take effect but it was the safest thing she had in her bags to make someone sleep. She sat down and looked at the housekeeper her concern on her face genuine.

"Just tell me he will be ok."

[Housekee]

The Housekeeper was about to have Casandra's ladies sent for when she heard that she would be going out for a bit of air. Once she left that was when she left herself relax a tad, but she did not remove herself from the door.

This was her station until relieved.

It was not long until she saw Casandra coming back - this time she had brought tea, and had changed her outfit. The white dress, the herbal tea - she had spent too much time around the former Lady of the House not to know herbs - it was all very peculiar. "Thank you," as she took the cup of tea and held it down to her waist. "Why do you believe that the Master of the house is not okay?"

[Casandra Lightheart]

She looked at her.

"If it is not Amedeo then why is the staff acting like this, I care for him and it would hurt me deeply were anything to ever happen to him. I can help."

She ment it.

"Please I'm sorry don't drink the tea, it has valarian root in it just tell him I am here and want to help."

[HouseAma]

The Housekeeper lifted her head when the Lady Casandra told her that the tea had been made of Valarian root. Perhaps it was fortunate, then, that she had not taken any of the liquid into her system. Looking down her long nose to the woman in front of her.

She had called the Master by his first name, surely that accounted for something. Looking down the hall she motioned for one of the servants to come forth and, once they had, she turned the tea cup over to him. He would wait until Casandra was done with her own.

"Señor Stry may be unable to speak with you at the moment." Hands free, they were folded at the waist. "I will let Señor Minguéz know of your request."

And she turned, opened the door to the room and stepped inside. The other servant - the one who took up the cup - stood in front of the door.

[Casandra Lightheart]

She passes off her cup to the man and looked at the older woman she was fighting back tears and doing a good job but she was sure her eyes were very moist from it.

"I'm sorry, I would never try to hurt anyone but I really do want to help him."

She heard her words and nodded.

"Then I will wait for Leo."

She sat down on the floor across from the door and drew her knees into her chest, she wraped her arms around her shins and placed her chin apon her knees and waited.

[Leo]

While the housekeeper was talking to Casandra outside, Leo and the Doctor had gotten the Marqués away from the fireplace and on the flat medical bed that was set up next to his normal bed. When they had arrived, they found him at the fireplace, writing on paper and muttering verse.

From their vantage point the bleeding looked bad for his back was nearly painted red, his pants stained, and a pool was developing at his feet. He needed to be laying down, not standing. Leo sighed and instructed the doctor to start setting things up for the transfusion. With the amount of blood the Marqués had lost already he was surprised that his boss was still on his feet. Then again, he had been able to do a few things lately that surprised Leo.

The doctor opened up his case and lined up the packets of blood that were to be used. Leo stepped over the blood and placed his hand on the paper. "Déjelo. Por favor." He spoke to the Marqués in calm tones. "Tu necesita dormir. Habrá terminado pronto."(1)

The Marqués stopped writing and his stance started to falter, but Leo was there to offer his support. Arm under his own he helped him to the bed. It was when Leo got him situated on the bed that the Housekeeper entered and made it known that Casandra was waiting outside in the hall. "Ama, help the doctor."

He was going to see about Casandra. Leo had blood on his hands so he wiped them on a wet cloth before he exited, slipping out of the door, not letting it open too wide before he closed it behind him.

"Casandra. I did not expect to see you. "

_{1- "Leave it. Please. You need to sleep. It will be over soon."}

[Casandra Lightheart]

She looked at Leo but didn't move.

"He invited me to come, please what is wrong with him I know it has to be Amadeo or no one would be acting like this, I keep trying to tell everyone I can help I'm a healer but no one will listen to me. I smell the blood..."

Her voice fell of and she just looked at him she was biting her lip trying to fight back her greatest fear that yet someone else she had begun to care for was going to leave her.

[Leo]

Right. He had forgotten that she was invited to come over this week and stay. Leo wrung his hands together and took steps closer to Casandra, a shadow of a frown as he reached out a hand for her to take.

"Do not stay there on the floor. Get up." Hoping that she would accept the hand. "What is happening is not my story to tell. You will have to get it from him. He will be alright, but I am afraid that there is not anything much you will be able to do for him. The doctor is initiating the treatment now."

Then he did frown. "I am not sure you are wanting to go in."

[Casandra Lightheart]

She took his hand and stood from the ground.

"I do not want anyone but him to tell me and yes I do want to go in that room. Leo I care for him, and it will hurt me more to wait out here then it will for me to see whatever is going on in there."

Her eyes pleaded with him.

"Please Leo."

[Leo]

She had said please, and he thought about finding a way to distract, or to persuade her from what she wanted. To him Casandra had a look in her eyes that said she wouldn't be put off that easily.

His hands were free and so he turned to the door. "I will let you in. You must be quiet. He needs to have his rest so he can recover."

And he opened the door and stepped inside, allowing her to come in as well. The doctor and the Ama, housekeeper, had finished and the Marqués was laying on the medical bed. Cloths were set behind his back and it was easy to see blood was filling the sheet. The Marqués was hooked up with a tube in his left arm, a bag of blood was attached to it. A cloth was on his head, made damp by cold sweat and his eyes were closed.

"He will continue to bleed throughout the day and night, as it goes. The doctor will be here to change the wrappings and to replace the bags once empty." he paused. "You do not have to stay, but if you insist we will be sure to have food brought here for you. You may use his bed if you wish."

[Casandra Lightheart]

Cas looked at Leo and smiled but it did not reach her eyes she didn't know what was in there but she was prepared for the worst.

"Thank you Leo, I promise I will not upset him."

She followed him in the door and when she saw Amadeo her breath stoped but she went forward she crossed to the bed.

"No Leo, I won't leave him."

She moved and got a fresh cloth for his head and replaced the one that was damp with sweat.

"I can do everything that the Dr can do now that the IV is in his arm, I also have herbs that may hep slow the bleeding nothing that needs to be taken internaly it would go on with cool compresses."

She moved a chair to sit beside his bed and ran her hand gently over his face and leaned clse s she could kiss his cheek and whisper.

"I'm here and I'm not going to go anywhere till you get through this."

She looked up at the Dr.

"Is there any reason that I can't use the herbs."

[Doctor]

The Doctor was not quite done but he was standing off to the side putting away new sheets and wrappings that were going to be used.

"If you want to be doing something for helping the Master I suggest you find something for him to drink to keep up his strength. He's always insisting on never taking anything." The Doctor had a slightly wheezed voice to go along with his appearance. "Something increase his own blood production. The faster he bleeds out the better."

Taking a look at the bag currently hanging. It should be good for an hour. He walked around Casandra and tapped it once or twice.

[Casandra Lightheart]

She nodded at the Dr.

"Tell the kitchen staff to have fresh teas and broth sent up every couple of hours, I will make sure he drinks it."

She just kept her eyes on Amadeo and prepared herself for long days of little sleep she smilied sadly at him.

"Oh Amadeo you could have just told me."

From what she was hearing this was not the first time this had happened.

[Doctor]

The Doctor finished and nodded at what he heard her. He had thought about staying as he was a doctor, but he had heard the earlier argument as well. How strange it was that the Master had found another who engaged in the healing arts. It could merely be coincidental.

"Can you change a bag?" If she did or not he went through the motions. "It's blood so when you remove the first bag make sure to remove the tube as well. Rather have blood on the floor then air bubbles in his veins." Like many a old person they did not think that younger knew what they were doing. "The bags and the tubes are in the chest here." It was a cooling chest at the foot of the normal bed.

He saw Leo and the Ama standing off to the side talking. The Lady Casandra might not know what she was in for. "Vámanos. Deje que ellos tengan su propio espacio.". He was for giving her some time to be with him.

"I will check back to help change the sheets." He ushered them out of the room.

As they were leaving Marqués started to stir, head moving from side to side, eyes squinting tight.


^{"Let's go. Let them have their space."}

[Casandra Lightheart]

She watched the Dr and nodded it had been a long time since she changed a bag and the refresher was apriciated, she looked at the chest and nodded. She heard him talking to Leo and the housekeeper she knew on word she knew he was telling them to leave, then he was talking to her about sheets she nooded at him understanding he would be back.

Then they were leaving and he stiring. She looked at him and placed her hand on his face.

"Amadeo, do you need anything?"

[Marqués del Stry]

The Marqués was slowly coming around, though he thought that he was being a bit delusional because he thought that he had heard Casandra's voice. Once again his body tensed, espeically when her hand touched his face. "¿Cariña? ¿Tu estás aquí?"(1) His eyes were opened partially and they were glassed over; looked feverish.

Perhaps it was due to the light, but for a moment he saw someone else instead of Casandra "¿Soy muerto?(2)"Pushed his arms down on the bed he attempted to sit up. There was strain to do so and Casandra would see the blood soaked sheets and possibly the marking if she looked at his back. Blood was still easing out. "Necesito más tiempo!(3)" Speaking through cletched teeth even his voice was strained. "No han pagado su pecado."(4)

Maybe she could get through to him.


^{1- "You are here?" 2- "Am I dead?"
3- "I need more time!" 4- "They have not paid for their sins."}

[Casandra Lightheart]

She under stood one word dead. She saw him trying to sit up and knew she had to calm him. She began to speak softly.

"Shhh try to relax Amadeo, I am here and I'm not leaving please lay down and I will change the dressings for you, your not dead yet and will not be if I have any say in the matter."

She kissed his forehead.

[Marqués del Stry]

The kiss on the head, the voice, all of it started to register. He then stopped trying to get up and simply was there, looking at her. Almost like he was seeing her for the first time. Then he knew who it was.

"Casandra?" His mouth moved but no sound came forth for a moment. He was wracking his brain to think of translations for the words in his head. "Where...is Leo? What are you . . .doing here?" Confused and his ego was starting to come into play as his voice grew stronger. "You should not be here."

He did not lay back down, the ball of his hand pushed against his forehead.

[Casandra Lightheart]

She looked at him and took a deep breath, he was going to make her pull the dr card she didn't want to.

"Your dr, your housekeeper and Leo all tried to keep me put of here and yet here I am if I am not to be here then where am I to be, I care to much to sit by and see you like this and not help when I know I can, I am shure Leo and the other are close but they decided to leave you in my capable hands, now please lay down so I can tale care of whatever that marking is on your back, you are making it bleed worse."

Her voice had a tone of athority that she only used when she was dealing with a dificult patient and here was Amedeo proving that he was going to bullheaded and try to get her to leave it wasen't going to work.

[Marqués del Stry]

He could be a very difficult patient when it came to having things the way he wanted. He always got what he wanted, he had told her that when they met. It wasn't that he was arrogant in that way, he only was determined.

Hearing that she wanted to take care of the imprint on his back the Marqués sat back away from her to conceal it. "You will not touch it. This is a thing you do not understand." Talking was not a simple task, and moving around a lot was not something he should be doing. Both activities wore on the body. A temperament did not help. Bleeding caused pain. Evidence of the wear was in his breathing.

A calming breath. "You can't help. Trying to hinder or slow it will only be making it worse." Scrubbing his hand through his hair he closed his eyes again.

[Casandra Lightheart]

She glared at him she was in full healer mode now.

"Amadeo lay down or I'll sit on you and force you to lay down, I know I don't understand but I was already told to do nothing other then your own DR would do make sure I change the blood drip and change the bandages, oh and make shure you keep fluids in you, I was told you would be stuborn."

She moved closer to him.

"I will not leave so stop being bullheaded and let me tend to that mark on your back, I will use only fresh water."

[Marqués del Stry]

The Marqués looked at her, and he almost laughed. Almost. And he would have if it had been a different time and place. This was here and he didn't laugh.

He met her glare and spoke in a calm, but firm, voice. "I said no." And he meant it. If she was going to change the bandages, as she said, he would have to get up from the bed, and now would be a good time to do so. Maintaining eye contact he moved from off the bed. There was no bandage wrapping on his skin, merely the absorption sheets on the bed. "You are a guest in my house, and a guest in my quarters."

Casandra had a good view of the tattoo upon his back and the blood that was coming from the lines - until he turned. His back was towards the wall and he supported himself on the ledge of the table. Not moving too far for he did not want to pull out the IV. "If you insist on wanting to touch my back while it still bleeds, god help me, I will remove you from the room myself." He never raised his voice, but it was firm.

"The rest of the duties you have taken on I will not stop. "

[Sponsored content]