Seeing the retreating figures outside Elliot said, “You’re worried about Norman.”
“Would it be petty that I am?” the Lord questioned his friend.
“Certainly not. Being cautious never hurt a soul,” Elliot grinned picking up a brush from the side to see what it was before throwing it away, “Even though it’s been years since Norman has stepped down from the position he still controls authority in the south through his nephew’s connection.”
“Scheming he is but we all are. Me being the better one in it,” Alexander replied with a crooked smile making his friend laugh at his words.
“Katie has been getting into troublesome situations,” Elliot commented.
“So it appears,” Alexander murmured looking up at the ceilings.
He snapped his fingers to see the objects in the room rattle like an earthquake that was about to take place. Strong wind blew outside the house and it made Elliot wonder why he didn’t go with Oliver.
No matter how badass of a vampire he was, spirits spooked him. He saw Alexander stay still with his eyes closed for few minutes before walking out like he had been meditating. Once they stepped out of the house, Elliot lit the matchstick, throwing it at the house and soon the house caught fire, burning itself until there was nothing left but ashes and fumes.
When Alexander reached the mansion, he went up the stairs to see Daisy and Sylvia coming out of Katie’s room with a dress that was stained with blood.
“How is her wounds?” he asked.
“About that,” the lady pursed her lips, “She’s not letting us help her clean them,” his brows knitted closer hearing it.
Letting it be like that would lead to an infection. What was the girl thinking? He raised his hand to knock on the door when Daisy interrupted him,
“My Lord…”
“What is it?” he asked, his hand in mid air.
“Miss Katie is in a delicate mind right now,” the middle aged woman notified him knowing the man had his temper at times and it would be like mine stones if one didn’t know him. She didn’t know what exactly happened but when the girl was brought into the mansion she seemed liked a wreck and lost.
“Have a meal prepared and bring it up here,” Alexander said before knocking the door and stepping into the room.
Sylvia patted Daisy’s back with an assuring smile when the old woman gave a worried look towards the room.
“She’ll be fine,” Sylvia said in a hushed tone as they walked away.
Katie was sitting on the bed staring outside through the window when she heard the door open and close. Turning around she saw it was Lord Alexander who had entered. She stood up, putting her weight on her good leg.
“Lord Alex-”
She felt the Lord suddenly engulf her in a tight embrace, feeling his arms wrap around her body as though she would vanish if he let her go. She blinked as she heard Alexander exhale like he had been holding his breath all this while.
Holding on to him his warm, distinctive scent invaded her senses, making her forget things that took place in the recent hours. His presence drove away her fatigue and distress, instead bringing in the sense of tranquility to her mind.
“Lord Alexander?” she asked feeling him tighten his hold on her before loosening it but not letting her go.
“I was so worried,” she heard him whisper at the top of her head, “I am sorry we couldn’t get to you sooner.”
As they stepped back, she saw the worried crease that had formed on his forehead, “I’m glad you came before I could turn into a mummified doll,” she laughed awkwardly and saw a flash of anger pass through his eyes.
She knew he and others had tried to find her when she went missing, as that was what she understood by Sylvia’s words on the way back to the mansion. She didn’t want anyone touching her as it made her jittery, surrounded by dead bodies for almost a day had affected her mind but when Alexander touched her she felt safe.
“We need to clean your wounds to avoid any possible infections,” he said and was quick to catch hold of her wrist when she went to step back.
“It’s fine, it doesn’t hurt at all and is all dried up now,” she put up a smile but the Lord only stared at her before tracing his finger on the wound gently making her flinch with pain, “It hurts!”
Alexander looked pleased with her reaction, “Good. If it hurts, say it.”
She saw him size her up and down, and then picked her up in his arms, “Lord Alexander where are we going?” she asked alarmed with her eyes wide.
“To the bath,” he answered curtly while kicking the door and entering the bath, “I won’t do anything to harm you,” he said looking straight into her eyes, “I’m only going to clean and disinfect it, alright?”
“Okay,” she replied in a small voice. It was better to comply than him do something to prove his point.
Placing her on the island, he went to the shelves to retrieve a box with him. Opening it, he picked a bottle and the gauze roll out of it. Bringing a vessel filled with water, she saw him pour the contents of the bottle and stir it with his long index finger while she sat there quietly. Dipping a piece of cotton he turned towards her he took her wrist in his hand and dabbed the cotton carefully.
“Does it hurt?” he asked her and she shook her head.
Once he was done cleaning, he wrapped her hand with the gauze and securing it to make sure it didn’t fall out. She was more than embarrassed when the Valerian Lord pulled her dress up until her knees to clean the deep gash of wound that still hurt but with a stoic expression he cleaned and dressed the wound.
Taking her back to the room, he sat there until she finished her meal and went to bed to get some rest.
Seeing Katie slowly drift to sleep, Alexander got up ready to leave the room but stopped hearing Katie murmur,
“Don’t leave me alone, please stay,” she said half asleep.
He sat down on the bed and bent to place a kiss on her forehead.
“I’m right here,” he whispered.
