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Post by Gwendolyn D. Mattias on Jan 17, 2013 3:03:21 GMT 10
Gwen's breathing caught at Leon's blunt dismissal of her concerns. Her sight sifted downward ever so slowly as her eyes lost their focus. She fought the impulse to knit her brows together to show her frustration. She wanted to scream, but what was the use? All anyone cared about was their Image. The fact that she was a Mattias trumped all. Like the royal family here in England, it was all about appearances. She was a Mattias so she must be perfect. She was a Mattias, so she must overcome all obstacles. She was a Mattias, so she was above all the problems that only plagued those lower life forms around her.
Gwen internally cringed. She paled though he only chuckled, feeling as if he was laughing at her and her petty problems. “You're a Mattias after all” echoed in her mind after he'd spoken the words. A tear finally escaped her and she quickly wiped it away in guise of brushing hair out from in front of her face.
She glanced up expecting another scolding glance at her slip. His eyes were on the waitress who'd returned, and her shoulders slumped in relief that he missed it. Gwen would do anything get Leo to stop being mad at her. All she wanted was to gain his approval.
Gwen couldn't get her eyes to look up at the waitress when she set her lemonade down in front of her. Leon apologized again in her stead, and she resolved herself to her fate. That was the order of things in this family. Nothing she could say would change that. >>I “am” a Mattias”<< she told herself. >>So be it<<
The sound of Leonardo snapping his menu shut triggered a switch in Gwen's mind. It was like coming out of a trance of sorts. She shut the thoughts of the events away. She had the action down to an art. It was her defense mechanism of sorts that protected her from herself and the meltdown that would occur otherwise.
Gwendolyn smiled as only she could at the news of the feast that was to come. Although it was a complete reversal from a second ago, It wasn't forced or faked. It was genuine. It would have scared the shit out of her if she could be a third party to witness the workings of her mind.
Gwen looked up at the waitress as she took the menu from her brother and took pleasure in her startled expression. Gwen turned her attention to her brother as the waitress walked away.
“Yes, dear brother. I am a Mattias” She said matter of fact in answer to him. “The whole desert menu?” she asked, leaning back. “Death by chocolate and sugar overload.....” She let the words hang for a second, picking up her lemonade and taking a sip before finishing. “Splendid” she said with a giggle.
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Post by Leonardo K. Mattias on Jan 17, 2013 5:21:28 GMT 10
A brief smile came to Leon's lips as Gwen spoke. She was a Mattias. She was indeed. Even under the circumstances of scrutiny that had come years ago upon her creation, she was a Mattias. Leon refused it to see it any differently. He refused it with all of his powers as a Mattias himself. However, if Leon stopped and addressed that thought deeper and was willing to trek into the darker regions of his own mind, he would realize just how untrue that was when it came down to it.
Unlike the persona that he waved with a brilliant honorable flag, Leon's inner sanity wasn't nearly as pure. In truth, it was a shifting riptide that enjoyed sucking others in as well as its 'host', Leon's upper consciousness, when it could. He hated the man for it. He hated the man he called father for having produced a child outside of the family. It was a speck on the entire family! He despised the fact that the man had claimed so much perfection and gone and made such a large mistake. How dare he nip at Leo's own problems and then go and make a blunder like that! How dare he! Gwen's personality, age, and he like played into certain things, but when it came down to it, her very existence clashed with family beliefs.
No, Leon would never deal with this undercurrent that he managed so well that it never slipped into his upper persona. It would only look worse on the family if he were to clash that much harder. It could easily go public, and then the entire integrity of their family was at stake. Though he internally hated the man, Leon craved his father's approval to a ridiculous degree. This was what kept him in line. This was why he forged over a new persona and tolerated the things he did. It was all for Father that he would hold his tongue, play the nice guy... and only jab out at people when in the dark and when he was sure that they would be forced to hold their tongue. He would be the perfect person to everyone that was important, anyways.
"Mhm," was the smooth reply that escaped from Leon after that. As the waitress left, Leon couldn't help the remarkably cat-like grin that had come to his features. "Not a bad death really," he commented bemused before picking up his own drink and taking up a bit of it. Though we may have to work it off later his mental sigh escaped one side of his brain and darted towards the other.
A brief silence fell as Leon tried to figure out what to say. He could easily keep the conversation going with small talk if necessary, as he did with strangers or acquaintances. However, things he could ask were of common knowledge already as it was. He supposed he could go back to the conversation on school again, maybe. "I am surprised Father went with public school," he stated after a moment testing the grounds of the conversation once more. He himself had been sent to private school, but he was also the oldest and still somewhat expected to take over the company in his own time. What luck his other siblings had, sigh.
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Post by Gwendolyn D. Mattias on Jan 18, 2013 11:22:14 GMT 10
“Thats the way I'd like to go” She said playfully. Picking up her own drink an d sipping pink happiness. Gwen smiled, watching her brother sip his won drink, and think. His next statement had her choking on the lemonade. She put the glass down and reached for the napkin to cover her mouth. >>Really, Le?<< She glared daggers at him for a brief moment before she took a deep breath and cleared her throat.
“That all-girls nunnery of a school? Do you have any idea what they do to girls in those asylums?” She said with fervor. On the outside she had a neutral expression. The smile was gone, but she didn't look upset. She had what for her was a serious expression. Others would find the almost pouty face adorable, but Leo knew better. Gwen held up a hand to stop his retort. “No. Wait. Let me finish.” She said. “Fine, Villa Victoria Academy is tops in the country and all, but there was no way I was going there.” She paused at the sound of a cart being rolled to a stop before their table. She turned her head and gasped at the sight of an army (4) of wait staff pushing carts with all sorts of delights to their table.
The surrounding diners went silent before an uproar of finger pointing and conversation at the spectacle. The table was cleared of everything but the drinks and a long handled spoon, fork, and straw. Dessert dishes were crammed into every available inch of the table. Shakes in 4 different flavors. Pies in a half dozen varieties. An assortment of ice-creams, cheesecakes, and other delicacies.
Gwen waved the pies away and pointed at the chocolate deserts. There was German chocolate, Chocolate mouse, parfaits, puddings, and of course, the “Death By Chocolate”
Gwen's signature smile was back with a vengeance, her eyes literately twinkled as the food of the gods was placed before her. It was a generous portioned triangular shaped triple layered masterpiece. Red Velvet bottom layer, Chocolate fudge middle and white chocolate top layer. Between the layers was what her nose told her to be a chocolate truffle filling. The icing on the outside was a silky smooth triple chocolate butter-cream with a chocolate mouse netting. Dark chocolate shavings, chocolate chips and a drizzle of hot fudge decorated the top and sides.
“Oh my gosh!” was all Gwen could say. The forgot everything and everyone around her. Her hand reached for her fork and she pushed it through the cake. The layers sponged, showing they were moist and baked to perfection. Gwen brought the cake ladened fork to her lips, which parted eagerly, and bit down. “MMMMmmmmmMMMMMmmm!!!!!!” “Le! You have GOT to try this!!!” was all she could say. She looked up at her brothers, her smile ear to ear.
There in front of her was the most terrifying thing Gwen would ever see. A mask of fear and terror where her brother's face should have been. Her heart stopped, along with the world.
“Le?...”
Loud noises that hurt her ears. The feeling of falling. Screaming of dozens of people.
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Post by Leonardo K. Mattias on Jan 18, 2013 12:22:02 GMT 10
I would not like to 'go' at all Leon mentally sighed but smiled a little amused at Gwen's words. However, the atmosphere shifted drastically, and he found himself frowning as she referred to the school in question as not only a nunnery but an asylum. They were not Cath- er.. well... Leon wasn't Catholic, and nor was the family insane. In truth, Leon didn't know what he was. Father was a religious man, but Leon never quite understood the undertakings of worshiping something that could not be seen. It made little if any sense what so ever. But outside of that, the family was certainly not insane, and nor was the school. A scowl placed itself on Leon's features then and there.
He would have given a scrutinizing remark had not Gwen's hand gone up. It was a gesture that instantly silenced him not because Gwen was doing it so much that it was a habitual gesture of their father's. When the motion was made, he shut up, plain and simple. As she spoke, he raised his eyebrow inquisitively at her as she retracted her statement. A brief smile came to his lips once more. However, as she added in the 'but' he simply leaned back in his seat. He would have said something after her had not the carts of desserts arrived. Looking sideways and watching Gwen light up, he repressed a subtle laugh. He moved as was acceptable as the tables moved and as things shifted around to accommodate for the sight that was evolving before them.
Various plates were being summoned in every which way and set down in a mass of organized clutter. Leon's brown spheres bounced here and there taking in the sights of every sweet of every kind, and for a brief moment, he was a kid trying to figure out what he wanted. Honestly he had expected the food would come in sequences as course dishes were, but this... this would be fine as well. Looking up briefly to catch his younger sister's expression again, he hummed a little before looking downwards once more. Fishing up a variant of chocolate cake, he inserted it into his mouth finding the taste simply smashing.
Gwen's words caused Leon to look up again, and he chuckled a little. "I shall try it in a minute," he replied taste testing a parapet of sorts. However, just as he looked up again the spoon just parting with his lips, Leon's brown spheres met he eyes of a pale being who had just entered. Something in Leon screamed for the first time, and his fingers twitched dropping the spoon almost instantly. It was in that moment a large gun was raised, and bullets went flying.
Leon did not hear his own name. Instead, he found himself suddenly flipping the stacked table sideways and all too quickly lunging at Gwen doing his best to pull her down and cover her. Pulse racing, Leon was all too aware of the high pitched screams of the men and women around him and the roar of bullets that cascaded past. As if the blood of his ancestors was drawing itself forth, Leon growled deep in his throat. However, upon hearing his own sound, he flinched realizing that he had to keep control. The man had a gun and ---
Cutting straight into his thoughts, Leon felt a bullet ram straight into his right lateral muscle, and a sting that he had not felt before caused him to gasp and literally bark out some obscene word in Italian. "Guido!" he roared out above the call of bullets. Leon wasn't even sure how the man had managed to get in in the first place. His guard were right outside weren't they? What was going on? There was no answer from Guido though.
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Post by Gwendolyn D. Mattias on Jan 19, 2013 5:19:49 GMT 10
The world slowed in Gwen's mind as she became disconnected with her surroundings. Her eyes locked on her brothers. The expression on his face, one she'd never seen before. The deafening sound and muzzle flashes in her peripheral vision got her attention and she turned her head to look at it. The figure holding the weapon was blurred as her vision focused on the cause of the noise and light.
She gazed upon what she recognized to be a Desert Eagle Mark XIX with a high capacity magazine. She could see it extending past the grip. The nickel finish reflecting the bright muzzle flash as she stared, the round zipping past her head. The sound of the report was unmistakable. Her father had one in his collection and Gwen's photographic memory recalled it in detail. She also recalled the sound it made. It wasn't just a gun. It was a cannon. The .50 caliber AE (Action Express.) One of the most powerful pistols produced. In a human's hand, it would require two hands and the recoil would produce significant barrel flip. As she saw it discharge it remained perfectly still. The shooter was not human.
The muzzle flashed again and Gwen felt arms around her. She turned her head just in time to see their table toppling over and Leon's chest as he grabbed her and pulled her under him. The sensation of falling and a sharp “CRACK as the back of her head hit the edge of the bench seat on her way down. Her vision exploded into stars and then went black as she landed on her back with Leo above her.
When Gwen's vision switched back on a second later, Leo was on top of her while rounds were smashing through the table top and zipping past her and Leo. She heard him growl and then gasp as a bullet tore into his shoulder, just above where her head was. Blood gushed onto her face.
Gwen was numb. She may have described it as “Shell-Shocked” for a laugh in another time. She heard her brother gasp in pain and finally yell for Guido. Her eyes on the other hand dropped to focus on the hole in his shoulder. She could smell the silver, and she knew what it could do to him. She blanched, her eyes fixed on his wound.
She was still disconnected from her mind. Frozen with fear. She wondered what she should be doing. Should she scream? There was plenty of that going on all around her. --"Non dare mai il tuo nemico la soddisfazione"-- (Never give your enemies the satisfaction.) She heard her fathers voice echo in her head. She was in a memory of 5 years past back at the manor. The memory of her room perfect in every detail >>Che cosa devo fare, Papa. Ho paura (What should I do, Papa?. I'm frightened)<<. She asked him in her thoughts. She could see the man. Dark brown hair and perfectly manicured beard smile at her. He was in his robe and slippers, relaxing after a long day. He reached out and put his hand on her head. --"Non sai mai quanto sei forte deve essere Fino a che non deve essere così forte" (You'll never know how strong you have to be Until you have to be that strong)-- He said to her with a smile. “No Capisco” (I don't understand) she said. in a small voice she didn't know was audible outside her thoughts. Her father knelt before the 7 year old Gwendolyn and placed both hands on her shoulders. --"Sei una Mattias. Saprete quando sarà il momento"--(You're a Mattias. You will know when the time comes") He said and he stood and walked out of her room.
Gwen blinked, color returning to her face. The thousand yard stare gone as she recovered from the shocked state she was in. She looked to her brother, clear and determined. Waiting for instructions.
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Post by Leonardo K. Mattias on Jan 19, 2013 12:55:32 GMT 10
"Guido!" Leon's voice roared out yet again as his head jutted sideways trying to catch sight of the man or maybe Lucia. What he caught sight of instead were the pair of eyes now focused on him and his sister. Despite the noise and chaos around himself, Leon found his senses drawn to this being alone. This thing... Even if he refused to believe on most days, even if he respectfully declined his father's insistence that he study more into not only their own species but those of their rivals, in that moment Leon was now wishing that he had paid more attention. His senses screamed venomous words, and a feral understanding was searing into his bones. Something in him wanted to get up and kill that thing!
The muscles in Leon's hands twitched just under his skin even as they supported him from completely flopping on Gwen then and there, and his skin crawled with the compulsion to break away right then and there and go running straight at this creature with the gun. The pain in his shoulder was being blocked out by anger, and another feral growl escaped from the man threatening to let the beast within him take fold then and there. He would kill that thing. He would shred it to pieces for even daring to try and kill him! "LO uccido," (I'll kill you) escaped from those normally calm curved lips, and a scowl of pure viciousness had replaced everything on Leonardo's face.
He shifted upwards despite the roar of bullets that continued, and he found himself trying to reach for something to throw or use as a weapon. He would kill that damn thing that was raising his blood pressure and awakening a feralness he did everything to try and keep at bay. However, just as he was about to get up fully, Gwen's eyes caught his own brown spheres. She had come back to herself in strength, and it was enough to bring order back an all too quickly deteriorating mind. Protect Gwendolyn! This rush of feeling was cut back by the thought that penetrated Leon. First and foremost, he would protect Gwen. She was family. She was family. She was family. He would protect her first.
Forcing composure despite his rising pulse, Leon gave a nod. A stinging pain in his shoulder caused him to cringe briefly growling before calming. "We need to get out," escaped from Leon's breath before he shoved the table not too far off sideways and making it as more of a sideways shield. He doubted it would last long, but it would give them a barrier of some sort. "When I say-" Before Leon could finish the sound of bullets soaring out from another direction came to Leon, and his head jolted upwards expecting some kind of accomplice.
Instead, Lucia stood behind this new gun her tall domineering from spattered in a layer of crimson liquid even as she fired off rounds at the man that had started everything. "La morte!" (The death! / Death to you!) she barked out in her surprisingly butchered Italian speech pulling back on her trigger with ease before a reign of shimmering spheres went cascading at the man who had started it all. Blood spattered backwards, and the man was struck in the head several times but almost seemed unfazed. "Maestro Leonardo! Miss Gwendolyn! Spostare ora!" (Master Leonardo! Miss Gwendolyn move now!) Lucia called out, and suddenly Leon found himself making to pull Gwen up as quickly as he could before making a dash for Lucia.
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Post by Gwendolyn D. Mattias on Jan 21, 2013 14:04:16 GMT 10
The thunder and lightning that was the barrage of deadly silver being unleashed upon them was just insane. Handguns even with high cap mags still only have a limited number of rounds, yet there didn't seem to be an end or even a pause for a reload at all. All around there were pieces of debris flying everywhere at the bullets destroyed everything they hit.
Gwen didn't know how close her brother had come to “going wolf” right there in front of whoever was left in the restaurant. The gunman had his sights on Gwen and Leon, but not everyone would find the courage to flee. There were still people cowering under their tables, afraid to attract the attention of the killer.
Gwen's head throbbed with pain, but she knew it wasn't a bullet wound. A silver bullet to the head would have dropped her dead. She herd another round zip by her just fractions of an inch off her skin yet she kept her eyes locked on Leonardo's face, waiting for the commands from that she knew would come sooner or later.
Her heart should have been beating a million beats a minute, yet she remained calm when Leo warned that they needed to get out. Gwen sat up and continued forward to come to rest in a crouched position resting on her knees and hands. More shots rang out from a different location, but Gwen kept her head down and her eyes on her brother. He seemed to hesitate, and when Gwen hears Lucia's voice, she knew why.
She heard Lucia yell “Death” to someone and the bullet barrage that had them pinned down suddenly stopped. She heard Lucia's shout and jumped to her feet at the same time Leo did. He reached out for her hand and Gwen reached out at gave it to him.
The world looked to become unhinged and spun around just as her hand gripped Leonardo's Gwen gasped, her feet legs turning to Jello and giving out. The blow to her head must have caused a concussion that decided to rear its ugly head at the very worst moment. Gwen wend down but the had sense enough to grip Leonardo's had tightly and not let go.
"Go! Go!. I'll be okay" She yelled, desperate to end the nightmare. Gwen landed on hard on her knees, but pushed herself back up and regained her feet with the help of Leo's firm grip pulling her along. She did her best to stay on her feet, but the room wouldn't stop its clockwise turn.
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Post by Leonardo K. Mattias on Jan 21, 2013 14:31:47 GMT 10
Even if Gwen had let go of her grip, Leon's tight fingers were so compressed around her hand that it was questionable as to whether it would have done anything to slow down their flight and movement what so ever. Every muscle in him was all but reconfiguring in his body to make motion that much easier as he wound his way through the restaurant towards Lucia. However, his brain was still aware of Gwen's motions, and as she stumbled, he stopped waiting for her to regain her footing before realizing the dazed look in her eyes. Stopping yet again, in one fluid motion not even dictated by his own upper will he made to scoop her up carrying her then bridal style at full speed through the room his suddenly hyper jumped senses more than careful to keep her from hitting anything as he moved.
Just as they finally came to Lucia, the woman was stepping forwards and pulling out yet another gun shooting with two arms now. Looking back, she gave a brief smirk as if she were enjoying the brawl before speaking. "Abele è una macchina!" (Abele has a car, get in!) was all she called before looking forwards again and releasing a stream of bullets off towards her target. Somewhere in Leon's mind, he wondered where the hell Guido was and why Abele had been called to drive them away. However, he wouldn't fret on that for now. He would just get Gwen to safety and deal with it from there.
Just as they made it outside, sure enough a black van came barreling over, and a door was thrown open. In yet another fluid motion, Leon literally jumped into the van. As his body hit the seat, he found himself stunned for a moment before the door was somehow suddenly slammed shut, and the car drove away speeding off down the street. It was only after this that Leon regained even the smallest amount of humanity as his pulse slowed and fell into rhythm with the car. It was only in that moment that he realized the searing pain now running through his shoulder, and a more than pained sound escaped from him as he winced. Damn that had hurt.
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Post by Gwendolyn D. Mattias on Jan 23, 2013 2:49:44 GMT 10
Gwen couldn't understand why her legs wouldn't stay under her. Her mind was focused on what she expected her legs to do, Her vision was clear, making out everything in perfect detail, yet the world around her was in a constant motion as if she were riding the merry-go-round at the park. She cursed herself for being a hindrance to her brother. She should be running at his side, not lagging behind. Her hand was keeping its grip on her brothers, not that she needed to hold on, his own grip was painfully tight on her wrist.
She slipped on a spilled plate of some beef entrée that she would have easily avoided otherwise and braced for the pain of her wrist being wrenched and her knees hitting the ground, but the pain never came. Leonardo stopped ever so briefly allowing her to regain her footing. Gwen looked up at her brother, an apology at her lips, but found herself being lifted into his arms. She didn't know that though she felt clear headed to herself, it was not so on the outside. Her arms came up and locked themselves around Leon's neck. Gwen put her cheek to his chest and tried to hug as close as she could to be the least possible hindrance to him. “Mi dispiace” (I'm sorry) She whispered, not knowing what else to day. She was so ashamed at herself. Her eyes teared up against her wishes. Could she bring any more shame to the Mattias name? >>Mattias don't cry!<< She scolded herself, but some tears escaped against her wishes.
The world around her was a spinning blur now that her brother was free to move at his top speed. She closed her eyes, feeling the pangs of nausea start to build. The sensation lessened as she withdrew within herself feeling the safety of being in her brothers arms. The sounds of gunfire and mayhem drifting away into the background.
For a precious moment all was good with the world. Her body warmed at the thoughts and memories of the last time he picked her up. It was her 8th birthday, and he bought her the whole box sets for a bunch of the anime tittles she wanted. Her father wouldn't get them for her because more than a few were based on the supernatural, horror, vampires and zombies and stuff. He claimed it was un-lady-like, and that she should be into more girl-like things like dolls and pretty dresses.
Those things appealed to her also, but Gwen had more of that stuff than she cared for. She was drawn to the sci-fi fantasy world beyond unicorns and dragons and princesses and stuff that she felt were kinda boring. Her father almost balked at the gift, but Gwen's smile and supper excitement and literally jumping into Leo's arms was so damn adorable that he couldn't bring himself to say anything. She smiled to herself. Gwen had caught Leo completely off guard, causing him to back up and into a couch behind him. Gwen kissed him on the cheek and said “I love you” and “You're the bestest brother a little sister could ever have” a half dozen times before he was able to pry her off and put on the “too cool for that” facade he always hid behind. He wasn't fooling anyone. Gwen saw the smile play at his lips before he composed himself.
The warmth faded as she remembered how long it had been since then. He never did things like that any more. He kept his distance and she was the one who initiated any contact at all, grabbing his hand as they walked, or forcing him to acknowledge her as more than just another employee or business acquaintance. Like.. today.... She thought coming out of her happy place to focus on the present.
Her mind raced, replaying the horrific events of the last few minutes. She saw herself as a third person at the booth, as if sitting next to herself, recalling the atmosphere around her. She could hear the murmur of numerous conversations, most of which were discussing the progression of carts of dessert being delivered to their table. She saw herself take a bite of cake and then filtered out the events that followed. She concentrated on what she ignored the last time. The view from her peripheral vision at what happened next. The blurred peripheral view of Leo's eyes turning to look at the stranger approaching their table. The wait staff passing the man on their way back to the kitchen. The stranger stopping and a metal object being pulled out from under an open trench coat. The sound of Leo's spoon hitting the table as the flash and deafening sound of the gun starting to fire.
Gwen's vision cleared in her memory as she turned her head. The table bellow her starting to flip over. Her eyes had focused on the gun, but she could still see the gunman, although not clearly. Pale skin. Hand perfectly still albeit the obvious tremendous recoil of the high caliber rounds being expelled. Then her breath caught at the scent mixed with the stench of burned gunpowder. Her vision left the gunman, her body being pulled down by her brother's grasp on her body. The visualization stopped. As smart as she was, she couldn't wrap her mind around what just happened. She tried to remember which one of her books or movies the whole delusion was based from.
She came back to the present being jolted by her brother's body hitting the seat in the van. Her eyes opened and she tilted her head up to look at her brother. He seemed to calm for a moment before his facial features screwed up into a wince of pain followed by the sound of his pain confirming this.
Her mind then came to grips with the reality. >>This was no delusion. The fucker tried to kill us!.... but.... why?<<
Gwen let go of her almost death grip around his shoulder and allowed herself to be set down into a sitting position next to Leonardo. “Owww!” She hissed in pain herself as the back of her head made contact with the seat. She reached a hand to the lower back of her head and felt the congealed blood matting her hair and the lump on her scalp. Bringing the hand back to look at the blood confirmed she had a wound to her head. This explained allot and things cleared up quickly. She remembered hitting her head. Then she remembered her brother taking the bullet to his shoulder. Most important of all, she membered the scent. She reached up her other hand to wipe his blood from her face from the memory before her eyes darted to the wound on his shoulder.
Her face screwed up and her hand came up to cover her mouth. “Oh, Le..... you're hurt.” She said in a small voice. “Why did that vampire try to kill us?” She added, and the sounds of gasps from the other occupants of the vehicle made her glance in their direction before returning her gaze to her brother.
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Post by Leonardo K. Mattias on Jan 23, 2013 7:38:29 GMT 10
The kickback from the adrenaline was now running its course through Leonardo Mattias. The thing that had inspired the man to react in a way more deeply rooted in the feral fight or flight mechanism than in the upper level of consciousness was now revealing it had a bite of its own as he became aware of not only his own injuries but the headache coming on and the involuntary shaking of his muscles. A part of him still wanted to run, wanted to break lose as if he were a captive in the car rather than one of the "most important" people in it- Gwen being the other, of course. Leon wasn't even aware of the fact that Gwen had moved to the seat next to him. All he could focus on was his own issues then and there.
Another hiss came out as he reached behind with one arm to set a hand to his wounded shoulder. Suddenly said hand was burning and Leon quickly ripped it away from the wound the fingers of his non-hurt hand wrapping around these new burns. He was aware that he was shaking now more than he had been, but as his lips tried to formulate words nothing came. Gwen's words caused a brown eye to flash sideways at her, and it was only then that Leon realized she had moved beside him. Mentally kicking himself for not perceiving something so obvious, he let out a groan that came out more as a growl than anything. The question that flowed out into the air didn't make sense to Leon, and for a few seconds, he wondered if she was even speaking a language he knew.
The gasps were enough to cause Leon to tense, and suddenly he found himself looking forwards to find the faces of subordinates and the like staring at him. One of them, whose name Leon couldn't fathom past the throbbing in his head repeated the word 'vampire' in question, and it was only then that he realized what Gwen had asked. "L'Inferno se lo so perché!" (Hell if I know why!) he barked out in Italian not even realizing the language switch. It was his first language anyways, and at least half the people in the van knew what he was saying anyways.
It was only when he saw the startled looks on a few people's faces that he realized he had all but shouted it. Flinching at his voice after that, he let out another hiss of pain as the muscles in his shoulder twitched pushing the bullet wedged in them further down. A burning feel was coupled with it, and biting back more words was all Leon could do to keep from swearing. He was in pain, confused, and angry at it all because of it. The fact that his brain was taking up Olympic diving with every bump the car made among other things wasn't helping either.
"Qualcuno questa bullet fuori di me!" (Someone take this bullet out of me) he snapped shutting his eyes for a moment.
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Post by Gwendolyn D. Mattias on Jan 23, 2013 10:39:06 GMT 10
Gwen flinched back startled at his shouted reply. She frowned. She watched her brother writhe in pain next to her but couldn't know what to do. She knew the bullet was silver, she could smell it and hear the chemical reaction as it dissolved slowly in the wound. The silver would enter the blood stream and spread if left there too long. >>What do I do?... No one ever told me. Just said it was poison to us. Papa... What do I do?<< She asked yet got no reply. The knowledge was not there. She had nothing. Nothing but herself. No wise words spoken in the back of her head by family members in the past. There was only Gwendolyn.
That would have to be enough. She was a Mattias. She'd better start acting like one.
"Qualcuno questa bullet fuori di me!" Echoed in her mind after he shouted it. Yes, the bullet had to come out. That was the only thing that could be done. Gwendolyn looked from face to face at those around her. She didn't know them. They were Leo's personal staff, and they sat there staring at their master. That was no good. They were waiting for his orders and he was out of sorts and couldn't give any rational ones. She was just 12 years old and a child in their eyes. That was unacceptable. Gwen turned to Leo and leaned forward, placing a kiss on his cheek. She whispered softly:
“fiducia in me, mio fratello” (Trust in me my brother.)
Before turning to those that stared. Her features hardened, her eyes determined.
“mio fratello è inabile. chi comanda qui? (my brother is incapacitated. who's in charge here?) She asked with a firm clear voice. The subordinates looked at each other. A male in the back seat spoke up. “Io sono il dipendente classifica” ( I am the senior ranking employee.)
Gwendolyn did not hesitate. She turned around and grabbed the man with both hands, balling her little first in his shirt. The man hissed in pain as hairs were ripped from his chest when Gwen pulled him down to within an inch of her face. She glared at the man, her features a mask of anger and outrage. She took a deep breath and shook the man.
“Mio Fratello!!... secondo elemento di posizione più elevata della famiglia “Mattias”...è inabile. che è il responsabile qui??(My Brother!!.... -pause for effect- 2nd highest ranking member of the “MATTIAS”family. -she emphesized- Is incapacitated. WHO IS IN CHARGE HERE!!” She shouted, ending with a growl so feral, she almost didn't recognize it as her own.
The man paled “Sei tu padrona. ti prego di perdonarmi” (It is you, Mistress. Please forgive me) She released the man and turned to glare at each of the two In the drivers and passengers seat.
“Buono. Ora che ci siamo capiti.” ( Good. Now that we understand each other) She said, her features softening.
The rest was a blur. Gwen asked where they were going. They informed her the Manor was their destination and the doctor had been appraised and would be waiting for them. Gwen nodded and asked for a first aid kit. She wanted to look at Leonardo, but though he'd said nothing to stop what she'd done, she feared he would condemn her with a look. She couldn't take that right now. Her hear hurt something awful and the damn world kept turning from time to time. Gwen kept shaking this off as best she could. She was glad she was sitting in a vehicle and not walking. She was sure she would make a fool of herself.
A small kit was handed to her and she removed the the cold pack, snapped the inner glass vile to activate the contents and shook it vigorously. There was nothing more to do. She turned to her brother and put both arms around him in a hug. She gently pressed the cold ice pack to the wound on his back, resting her chin on his good shoulder.
“Spero di non essere in imbarazzo.” (I hope I haven't embarrassed you) She whispered into his ear.
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Post by Leonardo K. Mattias on Jan 23, 2013 11:15:51 GMT 10
Leon was trying to put the world together again. His head was swimming now, and though he knew he should have been giving orders, all he could do was sit there trying to make the world slow down for a moment. With each beat of his heart, he felt something in his back clench, and somewhere in him, anxiety stirred. He knew he should know what was going on. He was the man in charge, the one who gave orders. However, in that moment all he wanted to do was somehow tear into his skin and rip at it which he knew even then would do no good. He'd burn himself again at the last of it all. He had to focus, had to do something more, but he couldn't. How frustrating it was.
Gwen's motion was enough to make Leon stop for a moment, and his eyes flickered open as a result. Trust her.... Trust... Leon's brown eyes starred at Gwendolyn's, and though he tried to find the words, he finally gave up and gave a nod. She was a Mattias. She could deal with this... Doing his best to seal up his own lips to keep himself from contradicting her or anything, he gave a quiet word of understanding. He could hear her words but could no longer see her motions, his mind doing its best to keep calm despite everything. Damn it all he needed to do something... how could he just sit idly when.... ugh.... A roll of his shoulder was enough to send searing waves of pain through Leon's shoulder, and he gave in on that.. He'd wait. There had to be something done. There had to be a change.
Gwendolyn's shouting caused Leon's eyes to flash open, and all too suddenly he looked up violently as though a gun had just gone off. The man whose name still slipped past Leon in that moment, was being pulled down and was admitting defeat in that moment. For some estranged moment, Leon fought off a laugh. Despite everything, watching his little sister take control was still... funny to say the least...After a little, he leaned back as best he could despite his shoulder and shut his eyes. He listened and focused predominantly on Gwen's voice, and though its seemed to go in and out at various intervals, he managed to keep focus of it.
He wasn't sure when the cool had come to him, but as Leon became aware of it, he found it somewhat soothing. The hug was finally returned a little as best he could. At her words, he gave a brief half laugh. "Avete fatto bene, sorella," (You did well, sister) he replied quietly the strange horseness in his voice absurd in that moment.
As the van finally came to the Manor, it stopped briefly at the front gate to be let in before driving around the pathway to the front door. Standing outside the door beside what appeared to be a man in scrubs, the doctor, was none other than Nadia Mattias. The van door was opened after a moment, and a high pitched frantic "Kids!" Nadia squeaked out suddenly running forwards and towards the door. "Leo! Leo stai bene? Oh Dio! Gwen il mio bambino stai bene?" (Leo! Leo are you alright! Oh God! Gwen my baby are you alright?) she squeaked out her concern as a mother overriding everything she knew in that moment. She would have continued fumbling with words and being panicked if not for the fact that the doctor ushered her out of the way and got in the van.
Looking towards Gwen, the doctor frowned. "Sorry to see you again like this, Miss Gwendolyn," he smiled despite himself. He had been the family practitioner for years and knew more than a thing or two about werewolves. "Damage report, little lady?" he asked after a moment.
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Post by Gwendolyn D. Mattias on Jan 24, 2013 2:55:56 GMT 10
His arms slowly wrapped themselves around her and she stiffened in surprise as her breath caught. Her brother was... hugging her. “you did well sister” Leonardo praised her. She repeated his words to herself several times, treasuring them. Gwen's body seemed to deflate as she relaxed. The weight of the world came off her shoulders at her brothers words. He approved. He was proud of her. It was a long time since the last time he made that known to her.
“Sono contento fratello” (I am glad Brother)She whispered, her voice braking as she tightened her embrace a bit more. Gwen picked up her head to look upon his brown eyes with her own. Her eyes were welled with tears she refused to shed while still in charge. “aspetta. ci siamo quasi” (hold on. We're almost there) She said, and smiled for him. Gwendolyn eased him back into the seat, making sure the ice pack was wedged in place over his wound as the van made it through the Manor's gate. The Van stopped and the door slid open. Nadia pushed past the doctor and entered with the squeaky voice she had when frantic.
“Sono mamma bene. grazie a Le'” (I'm fine mommy thanks to Le') Gwen replied, turning her head to smile at Leonardo. There was no time for anything else. The doctor grabbed her mother shoulders and passed her off to a maid who ushered her back towards the manor. The doctor, classic black doctors bag in hand, climbed into the van. He looked at the employees for the person in charge. Two were looking at Gwen, the other inclined his head to her. The doctor understood immediately and addressed her without missing a beat.
"Sorry to see you again like this, Miss Gwendolyn," he said smiling at her. "Damage report, little lady?"
Gwen smiled, so happy to see the family doctor who'd taken care of her medical needs for as long as she could remember. “Doctor Giordano! You're a sight for sore eyes” She said rushing to her feet. The world spun and She tumbled forward into his arms. He caught her and immediately noticed the blood on the back of her head and all down her hair. “Miss Gwendolyn!” he exclaimed surprised, setting her down on the floor of the van.
“No! I'm fine. Go to Leo! He's been shot with a silver bullet.” She shouted, slapping his hands away. The Doctor's head snapped up to Leonardo on the seat. He jumped up and rushed to him. “How long!?” he shouted, leaning him forward to examine the wound.
“Five minutes, maybe more” Gwen answered giving her best guess.
“dannazione all'inferno. non c'è molto tempo” (Damn it all to hell. There's not much time) The good doctor shouted. “Everybody out! I'll remove it here” He ordered.
Gwen stood at the door staring at the doctor as the other three occupants filed out past her. The doctor gripped her brothers good shoulder with his hand and half shouted instructions to him. Gwen didn't hear. Hands gripped her own shoulders and pulled her away from the van. “Come, Miss Gwendolyn. Master Leonardo's in good hands. We must tend to your own injuries.” Gwendolyn's hand gripped the doorframe at the Manor and hung on.
“I'm staying with Leo. Let go of me!” She pleaded, but she was home. And here she was the lowest ranking family member. Her mother's orders were law here while her father was not present. Her wishes were ignored and she was dragged inside the Manor offering limited resistance unable to keep on her feet on her own.
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Post by Leonardo K. Mattias on Jan 24, 2013 4:24:14 GMT 10
Sometime during the drive, a small amount of silver came into contact with Leon's veins that were trying to figure out what the hell to do around the bullet. The cells didn't react at first to the poison but instead started to take it up avidly and pass it along through Leonardo's system.
The shift in the seat dragged Leon's clouded mind back to reality. He couldn't tell how much time had passed nor could he comprehend the fact that at some point Gwen had left his arms. As the world came back to him, he squirmed fingers fighting to try and find something to grab on to in that moment and only causing him pain in the process. A strangled growl escaped from him just in time for him to come face to face with the doctor. The man's calm eyes reflected back at the more than feral man at the moment, but there was no hurt expression for the aggressive look. Dr. Giordano knew the look a bit too well.
For as long as he had been a practitioner, the doctor had learned many things, for as long as he had been a Mattias doctor, he had learned not to expect the average. Wherein, some werewolves might have been more or less licking their wounds at the moment in pain and suffering- becoming less violent as long as they weren't threatened further, the poison that had probably seeped into Leon's veins was making him more feral. Those violent brown eyes, something Leon very rarely openly showed were testament to that. He'd not only have to remove the bullet but probably start a distillation of Leon's blood.
The werewolf's shoulder was gripped, and for a few seconds Leon didn't even realize it. "Ho bisogno di essere calmo, Leon. Le lesioni si aggrava se si---" (I need you to be calm, Leon, your injuries will get worse if you--) the doctor had started but Leon's free hand had reached up by then and seized the man by the shirt squeezing hard and causing his own knuckles to go white in the process. A tch sound escaped from the doctor before he took both of Leon's shoulders and shoved the man back. A startled pained look came to Leon's face, and the doctor was aware that this startled forced stop would only last for so long. Looking back, he gave more orders out before asking for restraints, a tranquilizer, and a myriad of other things.
Hours passed before Leonardo found himself coming back into the world. The smell refined smell of ethanol hit him first, and the pain in his shoulder came after. "Are you awake, Young Master Leo?" a voice came to his ears, and Leon's eyes snapped open finding himself staring at the ceiling of a while room- the manor's medical room to be exact. When they had moved him was lost on Leo, but he was vaguely aware of the fact that he had been in a car at any time before that- his mind struggling to piece together all of what happened in that moment. "Don't try and strain yourself," was the order. Leon stopped in an instant. The face of the doctor finally came into Leon's view, and he let out a sigh at the sight of the man. Of the many people he had ever come into contact with, this man had been someone Leon had instinctively trusted He was the only one of the servants who could get away with calling him 'Leo' for that matter, either.
"What..." Leon started but broke off again finding his throat sore and his entire body aching in protest against his own words. His shoulder throbbed and was sending small jolts of pain through him here and there but that was far from the worst of it at the moment.
"Do you remember being shot?" was the question that came forwards, and suddenly those memories flashed before Leon's eyes. The moment he saw the man, something in him had said something was wrong- the flash of the gun appearing before him and the moments after that streamed forwards like the rush of a waterfall, and suddenly Leon found strangled tears coming to his eyes. The doctor flinched at the expression his patient wore, and a quiet sigh escaped. "I see...." the doctor sighed softly shaking his head and moving to sit beside him. "It is alright to cry you know, young master," he noted after a moment.
Leon bit his lip and instinctively tore back into himself retesting away from the feelings that had once plagued him with such ease. Anxiety, fear, hate, and much more were suddenly trying to overtake Leon in that moment as his lips tried to find the smooth response that he was expected to say. He didn't want to get this wrong. He was a Mattias, and he was expected to take everything in a clear and civil manner. There was no time for stress, fear, and anger, and a Mattias was not to waste time on such matters. He was supposed to address what had happened and then say something amusing to make someone smile or something of that nature. Leo knew that. It had been expected of him at even the youngest of ages, yet why in that moment could he not find the words. Why was all that threatened to come out nothing short of a wail playing in the back of his mind.
As the silence ticked on, the doctor looked away. The Mattias children were almost like his own in a way, and he recognized Leon's internal struggles not just from the medication that had probably set him back a few paces but also from the questions burning into the still 'young' man ... who was going to be thirty in three years. After a few moments, the doctor managed to smile and shake his head. "I ain't gonna tell anyone," the doctor finished his previous statement looking with nothing short of a determined expression. Leon shut his eyes finding those ridiculous beads of water slide down his face. It was all he needed in that moment or so Leon told himself.
He was a Mattias, and that was enough... it should have been enough.....
Suddenly Leon's eyes snapped open again, and his entire body tensed. "GWEN!" he barked out suddenly giving it his all to try and sit up. Sure enough pain racked him, and a groan escaped into the air. The doctor sighed softly and made a gesture for Leon to lay back down again. Though he detested it, Leon came to quick terms that he wasn't going to just get out of bed right then and there despite how much he wanted to.
"She is alright- a bit of head trauma, but that will heal over quickly," the doctor stated pressing a hand on Leon's own. "I had one of my assistants come up and look over her while I dealt with you," he smiled briefly causing Leon to deflate a little. She was alright... she was safe... he'd managed to keep her safe.... He'd managed to keep her alive... And it was in those few moments that Leon had a spark of something- a desire to connect with some greater power and thank it for protecting her. However despite what the family said, he still wasn't sure of what could be out there and on a daily basis didn't reach for it. Thus when his mental hand reached up, it stopped briefly and retracted as instead he thanked the doctors that were there. "She and your mother wanted to see you as soon as you were awake, but if you would rather rest here for a bit, I could keep my mouth shut," the doctor noted after a moment.
Leon was quiet for a few moments trying to piece together what if anything he could even say to Gwen at that moment. Suddenly a thought came to him, and he understood what he had to say. "Gwen can come in..." he stated after that making more than a little sure he didn't say 'they'. He wasn't sure if he would be able to handle his panicky mother at the moment, but he had something to say to Gwen. The doctor nodded, got up, and started towards the door.
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Post by Gwendolyn D. Mattias on Jan 24, 2013 8:30:07 GMT 10
The seconds ticked by ever so slowly as Gwendolyn waited for word on Leonardo's condition. It was as if someone were playing the cruelest of jokes by slowing the clock down so that she felt she could fit a regular minute into each tick of the fake seconds with no end in sight. Just under three hours had elapsed since their arrival at the mansion from the horror that became of her almost perfect morning with her brother.
Gwen glanced at her mother then looked away and closed her eyes. She sighed pushing away the nightmare that were the memories of what happened which were there waiting for her in the darkness. Once back at the Manor her memories were less clear and in more of a haze. She looked to be out of sorts to those around her as her mind was preoccupied with worry over Leon and making sense of the madness of what happened.
Gwen was angry with Nadia for having her pulled away from her brother's side. He needed her, she was sure of it. Or maybe it was her needing to be near him? Even now these things were confused in her mind. ”Its Shock. You've had an extraordinary and traumatizing experience. You received blunt trauma to your head resulting in a concussion. Those two things went untreated until your arrival at the mansion. You'll probably suffer the effects for a while longer. She told herself, repeating the doctor's assistants words exactly as he told her in answer to her question on why the world kept spinning and why she felt “weird”. It was the only word she could use to describe her scattered thoughts and difficulty concentrating.
Her head wound was cleaned but no stitches were needed. Her advanced healing had closed the wound already. The various cuts and scrapes were all but gone and just residual bruises were left. She was issued a tetanus and anti-biotic shot just in case and sent away to the maids who relieved her of her bloodied and soiled clothes and bathed. Gwen wanted to be angry at that humiliating experience, but she wasn't. She understood that even though things were still at the moment, that the world could take another spin at any time and that being in the bath by herself could be dangerous. Still... to be treated like a 3 year old.... She shook her head again dismissing those thoughts as well.
Daddy's gift to her was ruined heap on the bathroom floor where she all but threatened the maids to leave be. They wanted to dispose of it. Gwen wouldn't hear of it. She would take care of it in her own way later.
Gwen was told that her mother ordered her to bed until her dizziness cleared up completely. She went quietly, not having the energy to argue, but every time she closed her eyes and relaxed her mind all she would see is Leonardo getting shot. The blood splattering all over her. And then the flight to the van and the escape to the mansion. She threw her covers off and dressed.
Gwen decided on something casual. She couldn't bring herself to wear another dress this day anyhow. She decided on just blue and denim with an unbuttoned shirt over long sleeves and sneakers. She managed to somehow look cute even without trying and went wait for Leo to recover from surgery, turning down all offers of help with walking. “I can manage very well on my own, thank you very much” She told them all.
Gwen opened her eyes and shifted her gaze up to look at her mother, Nadia. She was fidgeting, the toe of her foot tapping on the floor nervously. Gwen was glad for the thick lush carpeting that muffled the sound. It would have driven her insane by now if not. Nadia glanced at her and caught her staring. The frown she gave Gwen made her lower her gaze to her hands folded at her lap again.
Nadia did not want here there. She ordered Gwen back to bed-rest when she saw her enter the sitting room. Gwen refused and sat. Servants were called, but Gwen made it clear that she would not leave and that any attempts to force her would result in more patients for the doctor.
The thick sound proof door slid open and Dr. Giordano came into the room which meant Leonardo was awake. He closed the door behind him as Nadia stood and rushed forward to speak with him. Gwen looked up but remained seated. She wanted to jump up and rush past them both to get to her brother, but she wouldn't. It was not what a Mattias did. She would wait to be invited in.
“How is my Leonardo. Is he awake?” Her mother asked just keeping her voice bellow the squeak anxiety.
“The young master is awake and recovering. He is out of danger at this point. Leonardo is still in the process of regaining his memories and has requested that only Miss Gwendolyn see him at this time.”
“What is this nonsence! I'm his mother. I will see my son now.” Nadia said loudly to the man. “I'm sorry mistress. He young master was very specific that only his sister attend him at this time” The doctor replied with a practiced calm and inclined his head at Gwen. Nadia turned to glare at her. She was furious. Her face turned crimson with anger. Gwen noticed her mother's hands at her sides were balled into firsts and shaking. Gwen's eyes widened in surprise at this. She already knew she was at the bottom of her mothers favorites list, but the woman looked like she wanted to walk over and strike her.
“Thats rediculous! She's not even his real Si-”
“Nadia!!” The doctor Barked, cutting her off..
Gwen went stiff. Her breath caught as her hart rate shot way up. Her breathing turned shallow and labored. >> I'm... I'm... not..... real?<< She thought. But that was as far as her mind would let her go. She couldn't think past the word. Couldn't and wouldn't accept it.
The woman seemed to catch herself, her fists relaxing and her face blanching with embarrassment. “Very well then” was all she said in reply, stalking away from the doctor and stopping in front of Gwen. Nadia stared down at the girl, daggers in her eyes. Gwen couldn't look up her eyes cast down at her shaking hands.
“My son could have died because of you. I shall never forgive you.” She snarled at Gwendolyn. She turned her head and walked away and out of the room.
Gwen's mind was blank. She couldn't think. She blinked hearing the Doctor speak. She picked up her head and turned it in his direction.
Dr. Giordano took a step forward towards Gwen. “Miss Gwendolyn. Your brother has requested that you join him.” He repeated.
The exchange didn't sink in right away. All of Gwen's attention was on the doctor. She wanted to ask what her mother meant, but deep down she knew. There were other clues and slips of tung in the past that she ignored to protect herself. She shook her head and did what she always did. Pushed the thoughts away. >Leo... needs me< She said to herself to built resolve and stood slowly. She rushed forward when the room behaved itself. She was just passing the doctor when his hand caught her wrist on her way by.
“On your best behavior, young miss. Leonardo mustn't be handled roughly. The silver has done extensive damage that is resistant to his healing abilities. He is also trying to come to grips with his experiences. He must not be stressed” he stated bluntly so there would not be any misunderstanding. Gwen sighed. She couldn't tell him. She would have to just pretend she didn't know. She could do that, couldn't she? For him?. “I understand” She replied accepting her responsibility. The doctors hand released her, sliding the door open and she entered the recovery room.
Her hands trembled slightly as she approached the bed. Gwen smiled as his brown orbs met hers. She wanted to rush to him and put her arms around him and tell him how glad she was that he was okay. She knew she couldn't, but her body trembled slightly with the need to. She saw his bandaged torso and mentally gasped as a memory flashed in her mind of him getting hit with the bullet.
She pushed that memory away and smiled, happy to see him alive.
“Le'.....” She said and the rest of what she wanted to say got stuck in her throat at the realization that Leonardo was crying. Something she never in her 12 years had ever seen. She knelt at his bedside and reached out for his hand with both of hers. Tears escaped her, rolling down her cheeks, her smile wavered.
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