Re: The inevitable week

[Casandra Lightheart]

She looked at him. And glared back she was just as stuborn as he was right now but she knew that with this much blood loss she could not leave him standing very long she moved to quickly change sheets ment for absorbstion and then went to him to help him back into the bed.

"I will make you a promise if you will make me one. I promise not to touch your back not to even try to touch it untill this whatever it is over, but you have to promise me that you will stop being bullheaded and accept that I care about you and am going to see you through this, try to stay calm and stop exciting yourself."

She looked at him and leaned over to brush the hair out of his face and smiled softly.

"It would take you physicly carying me out of this room to get me to leave it now please can we come to an agrement?"

She moved to get a cup that had water in it and walked over to the bed.

"Now drink, it will not do to have you dehydrated they are going to bring up some broth for you soon."

[Marqués del Stry]

"I do not doubt that you care for me. What is in doubt is your ability to follow instructions and do the things which you are told." He did not speak in an undermining manner, nor was his voice raised. The Marqués merely spoke and, once the sheets were replaced, sat back down upon the bed.

"What I tell you to do, I do not say it to harm but, it is for your own good." Spoken as he looked at her. "If you want to help you need to listen to what people tell you, especially in situations that are strange to you, and not think that you know what is best."

He took the cup. He felt like he could go back to sleep, or rest, but he would not do that at the moment. "In the end it may save you from things you are not ready to experience."

[Casandra Lightheart]

She looked at him and nodded.

"You are right I don't understand what is going on here and from your reaction and the fact that that mark was not there the last time I saw you with your shirt off it has to be special. Again in this case I will trust your judgement I will not touch it, but please help me understand, let me in."

She sat back down in the chair.

"I am ready for more then you know, I am stronger then you can know and I have gotten that way because of things that people thought I was not yet ready to experience."

[Marqués del Stry]

The Marqués drank the glass of water, looking to the door as he did so, wondering if the others were stalling for a purpose. They were very prompt, and now they seemed not so.

With a sigh he put down the glass. "It's part of a curse." Turning his head to watch her. "I murdered the woman I was suppose to marry and her lover in cold blood after I found them together the evening before we were to be wed. Their action was considered treason for it broke against an alliance that had been in the making for years; and they were both subject to death. It was not for me to take life, but I did, and I am thusly punished. "

Pushing both hands on the bed he turned so she could see the mark that covered his back, the dragon and tiger facing off inside a ring of fire with four markings on the outside. "Love, life, pain, and death. That is what it says. Once a year, for every year of the life I took, I shall bleed until life runs out and feel not only my pain but that of the dead. It is a curse Casandra." He moved to rest back against the sheets. "If you touch it while it still bleeds you will take on the pain."

For a moment he was silent. "You don't have to remain in the chair. If you still want to stay in here you should use the bed. It's more comfortable."

[Casandra Lightheart]

She listened to his story and kept eye contact while he told it there was nothing in her eyes but understanding and compassion after the initial shock She looked at the mark on his back but fought her natural urge to try to touch it to clean it.

"Now I understand, thank you for trying to protect me from the pain."

After he laid back she set the cup aside and kissed his lips.

"I do not wish to leave I told you I was going to be here to help you through this, now lay down and rest and I will do the same."

She crawled up into his bed and laid on her side facing the hospital bed he was on so that she could keep an eye on him as he slept she would need to change the bag soon.

"When you are stronger I have things to tell you as well."

After what he had told her it was time to tell him who she was protecting.

[Doctor]

A few moments later the Doctor came back into the room - he knocked before opening the door. Following behind him was the Ama and she carried with her a tray, and on that tray was a soup tureen fill with creamy asparagus soup and two bowls. There also was a Cucumber and Pomegranate Salad. This was placed on a small table.

The Marqués seemed to be sleeping. The one who spoke was the Doctor. "I see that he's resting. How are you holding out Child?" He called her Child because he was old enough to be her father. "Get rest if you need it. Someone is always outside that door if you need to go out or need anything."

He went to check on the bags.

[Casandra Lightheart]

After he went back to sleep Cassie had gotten up and changed the bag so the one hanging was a fresh bag, and she had hung it right no airbubbles and a stedy drip. It was clear that she had also changed the bed sheets.

"Yes he just went back to sleep and I am holding up fine, we have come to an agreament and I know about the mark and what it is and why he has it, I know not to touch it and he knows that he has to eat and put up with me for the week."

She looked at Marques and smiled.

"It took us facing off and him threatening to physicly remove me from this room himself but it will be fine now."

She took the tray from Ama and set it on the table by the hospital bed. She turned to her and smiled.

"Thank you and can you ever forgive me?"

She knew that Ama would know what for and she didn't need to repeat it.

[Ama]

"There is nothing to forgive Lady Casandra for it is already forgotten." The Ama said as she stood aside while the others went about business. There had been no harm done in Casandra's earlier attempt to enter and there was no need for anything to be done about it.

"Eat your food. He should be back to himself in a day or two."

Somewhat. She knew that he had other things to take care of this week.

[Casandra Lightheart]

She smiled at the woman and nodded at her as she sat in the chair and ate the food that had been brought.

"Thank you Ama, can you see if you can find me something with no sleaves, it is rather hot in here.

She finished eating her food and then moved to Amadeo and changed the cloth she had put on his head.

[Leo]

The two in the room had left, the Doctor and Ama, and some time passed before Casandra's request was fulfilled and someone came in with a change of clothes for her. It wasn't a lot of time, maybe a half an hour, nothing more. When the door opened this time it was Leo coming into the room; with him was a change of clothes for Casandra.

He approached the bed where she was with a smile, it always helped to lighten to mood in a situation like this. "You would think I knew how to dress a woman. I brought a change of clothes for you. Something you can sleep in (picture to the right) and a robe if you think you need it." he was here because maybe she would not change with him here. He laid the night gown on the bed, the robe, undergarments. She could always rummage through the Marqués' closet if she needed something else to wear.

"I think I may crack a window. How are you holding up?"

[Casandra Lightheart]

She returned Leo's smile and stood from the bed she had only been there a few short hours but it seemed like longer.

"Thank you."

She took the gown from the bed and went to the bathroom had Leo not been there to watch over him she would have changed right there. SWhe came back a short time later and sat in the chair the sleavless gown showed a still healing puncture wound on her left shoulder about the size of a quarter.

She came back out and sat down in the chair next to the Marques' bed.

"I will be fine, worrying about him takes a bit out of me but I am glad he is resting."

She brused the hair away from Amadeo's face and kissed his forhead.

[Leo]

He knew she would have to go elsewhere to change, though she could have pushed aside modesty and changed a bit away. Once she had gotten up to leave for the bathroom Leo took advantage of the opportunity to go to his Boss.

Checking to make sure Casandra was gone, he took a small white disc from his pocket and slipped it into the Marqués' mouth. The disc was no bigger than then nail on his thumb and quickly dissolved. When Casandra had returned Leo was at one of the windows and had slightly cracked it open.

"What happened to your shoulder?"

[Casandra Lightheart]

She looked at him. "I intervened in a goddesess' affairs and got hurt."

She smiled.

"In all seriousness my friend Venis was acting very strange a while back and her family and I decided it was time to intervene, she got mad and splintered a table I was in the way. She got a shattered jaw out of that evening that I had to heal."

She looked to Marques' again and leaned close to him as she reached for a clean washcloth and wiped his face and then replaced the sweat dampened one.

"Leo, what was that that you placed in his mouth?"

Yes she had seen it she took healing responsibility serious and she had been able to see them both the whole time she changed had she thought Leo would hurt him she would have stopped it she had even given him a chance to tell her he had given him something but when he said nothing she asked.

[Leo]

Leo smiled at Casandra. He knew that he may not have gotten away with it, but he had been able to do his task without the questions or having to displace her.

"Some things are better left unanswered. The gown looks good on you. He will be happy to see it. "

Marqués hadn't eaten his food yet he saw. When he woke up he knew that he would. "You should get some rest. It will be a few hours before he will wake up again." If she was checking, the Marqués seemed to be breathing easier now, though his heart beat was slower. Possible signs of a deep sleep. Or something different.

"Take care of your arm."

With that he left the room.

[Casandra Lightheart]

She was not so easy to put off but she would ask the Marques later she was not in the mood for an argument, besides whatever he had given him seemed to be helping him sleep.

"Thank you."

She smiled as she left making the coment about her arm. She would wait to sleep untill she had changed his bag again. Checking that he was doing well she kissed him softly on his lips.

"Sweet dreams."

She found a brush and took her hair down brushed it out, pulling back the covers on his bed she climed into it and layed down on her side facing the hospital bed Amadeo was resting on and she fell asleep.

[Marqués del Stry]

It was during this time that he slept, and slept, fading in and out of conscious awareness of what happened in the room around him. He trusted the people he was around during this time and knew that they had good intentions. No harm would purposely come to him while he slept.

Sometimes he dreamed, and at others there was nothing. When he did dream it was of the day he had killed his betrothed and her lover; then the other deaths would play. He could remember every name and every face. Remember the look in their eyes as they were about to die. The Marqués had been a different man once he had been cursed: Private, alone, and keeping company of only a few. Then, she had come along and taught him to trust and that it was okay to love. And love he had.

Then she was taken away from him and anger rose in his heart once more; and with it a need for vengeance. Now, another woman was threatening to take the anger away.

The hours passed and it was into the night before the Marqués woke up again. the room was lit with lights to enable visibility while keeping it dark enough for sleeping. Opening his eyes he saw Casandra laying upon his bed and he smiled. Anger had gotten the better of him earlier. She had only been trying to help.

Pushing up slowly and quietly he moved off of the bed and set his feet upon the ground. It had been hours and the bleeding had come to an end and he now felt sticky from all the sweat and blood. He was not going to wake Casandra, or bother getting anyone else. Time alone in the shower would be good.

Therefore, he slowly made his way to the bathroom and eased the door closed to a crack.

[Casandra Lightheart]

She had not been sleeping well when she thought she was going to lose him she became scared she knew that she had hidden the fear it was the worry that came through but the fear had been worse.

Her dreams were plagued with visions of those she loved and cared for disappearing one by one till she was alone again.

The Marques had been gone from his bed probably about ten minutes when she sat bolt upright at first she didn't know where she was then she remembered when she saw the blood soaked hospital bed but where was he. For a split second she thought she was still dreaming then she heard the water in the shower he should not have gotten up on his own that was what she was there for.

She got up from the bed and moved to the bathroom door seeing it was open just a crack she took a deep breath and opened the door right now she was here more as a healer then a woman who cared for him and if anything happened she would never forgive herself.

"Amadeo, what are you doing you should have woke me if something was wrong."

[Marqués del Stry]

There was a sliding door to keep the water and heat in the shower, so it was not a bother if she came into the bathroom. It was a bathroom suite, with space to move around, even two stout cushion bamboo chairs with a small table between them in one corner. On one of the chairs were the bottoms of the clothing he had on. Brightly lit, a persons eyes would have to adjust from the main room to this one. The feel of the room took on an Aztec feel of tan, cream, and dark orange. A wall plant was seen here and there but never appearing out of place or in the way.

Like in any bathroom, when someone was running a lot of hot water for an extended period of time, the room tended to get warm and even humid. This room was no exception.

The Marqués was standing in the shower, hands placed on the wall in front of him for support and leaned over, the water hitting at the back of his head and flowing downward. Though the water was in his ears he still heard her.

He didn't bother lifting his head to speak, or even moving from his position in the shower. "Nothing is wrong Casandra." Perhaps something was wrong, either that or he had been asleep longer than he realized for he thought he would still be bleeding. Though it had stopped, he was still weak and did not fully possess the amount of blood needed for full function.

"I had need to feel the water. I did not mean to wake you. "

[Casandra Lightheart]

She looked around the bathroom she had not paid attention to it before as she had been keeping her eyes on the two of them out in his main room.

"Leo gave you something while you slept I'm not sure what it was but he told me some things were best left unanswered, what ever it was seemed to help you sleep."

She moved further into the bathroom.

"You have lost to much blood and not eaten anything for you to be up and moving around if you are finished we should get you sitting down and eating at least."

She looked around and found a towel for him to dry himself off with.

[Marqués del Stry]

He was hungry and he had all the intentions on eating. After he got out of the shower. Standing was not a task that he could do for too long of a time and she presently heard the water in the shower turn off. If she were looking at the shower she'd see the blurred image stand up right before he slid the door back. Not all the way. His hand pressed against the opposite wall to give him support and she could see him from the chest up, wet and water dripping off his hair.

"Thank you. I am hungry." When you could not remember the last time you ate, it was time to eat. He took the offered towel with his other hand and pulled it into the shower. "I will eat."

He disappeared inside the shower for a moment and then stepped out, partially dry and the towel wrapped around his midsection. She would have to excuse the fact that his hair was still wet. "You must excuse me. I have need to use you to get back to bed."

[Casandra Lightheart]

No she was not looking she was standing very close but her back was turned to the shower her hand was streched behind her for him to take the towel.

"Good there is food by the bed, for you to eat."

When she heard him come out of the shower she was there by his side.

"There is nothing to excuse Amadeo that is what I am here for right now."

She let him lean on her and walked with him slowly out of the bathroom grabbing a second towel on the way out.

[Marqués del Stry]

Any other man might have taken that statement to mean something different, but he knew what she meant in her words and did not think that she was so easily turned from one thought to another in matters of health. There would be time for other thoughts later. At least he had done her the favor of washing the blood from off of the wound.

With Casandra's help he was able to make it back to the bed, his own bed and not the hospital one. He preferred his own since he was not bleeding anymore. It was big enough for the two of them to lay comfortably and still have room to stretch. He had taken notice of the gown he wore and he smiled, trying not to cringe from the pain, as he sat upon the bed. "Thank you. I would have you share the bed with me if you would." His voice lower than normal. "I do not know of the thing you say Leo gave me. I'm not aware of it."

He didn't know of the substance Leo had given him. "But if it was not for Leo's help than I do not know if I would have been able to survive these years since the curse. It has been seven years now. It is my belief that I am not intended to survive to see it to it's end and yet I remain."

[Casandra Lightheart]

Once she helped him into his bed she brought him the food.

"I'm sorry the soup is not warm anymore but I didn't want to wake you."

She had turned her back to him to start removing the dirty linnens from the hospital bed his words made her breath stop for a moment and she turned to him.

"I would like nothing more then to share your bed with you."

She knew that he wasen't wanting anything from her this night but company and even if he had she would still have joined him.

"Whatever it was it helped you I am glad that you have had at least one friend to help you with this over the years."

She moved to the other side of the bed and pulled the covers back to get in the bed as she listened to hs words.

"I am glad you have survived, if you haden't I would never have met you and you are a wonderful man Amadeo perhapse you are ment to break my curse."

[Marqués del Stry]

It did not matter if it were cold or not. He had eaten cold soup before and survived, this would be the same. Looking at her as she worked and then sat down in the bed with him.

"Two acursed souls. That can never be good." Though he smiled when he said it in hopes that she would take it on a light note. "You don't have to be doing this. The cleaning and caretaking. Someone else can do it for you. "

With care he pushed up and closer to her before he started to eat the soup. "Leo really is like a brother to me. Tell me Casandra, what is your curse?"

[Casandra Lightheart]

She looked at him and smiled softly.

"I know I don't have to but I don't mind taking care of you."

She moved closer to him so that they were sitting side by side thier arms touching yes she had butterflies in her stomach again.

"I'm glad that you have him."

She then turned her head and looked at him.

"I not really cursed just really bad luck it just seems like I am."

She reached up a hand and touched his face.

"I am more scared that I feel anything for you then you know, every man I have ever cared for or loved has left me in one way or another. Two by death, one disapeared and the other one still lives but he broke my heart he was not what he seamed to be."

She looked down.

"When I first saw you like this I was so scared you were going to die the only thing I could think of was making sure I did every thing I could to keep that from happening."

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