Normal day part two
Izadora moved closer to the group. As they joke and laugh among themselves.
She can tell that the jokes are about Abigail and Adil "date" that they had that morning. Which to Abigail doesn't seem to mind, in fact making her own jokes about it. And firing some toward them as well.
Tally was the first one to notice. She is always the first to notice someone getting close. Raelle can but really does care anymore about being attacked or being approached.
"Sargent Dart" Tally said, stomping her feet to attention. Getting everyone to turn and see just that Izadora standing before them.
Everyone but Raelle stomps their feet. Making Izadora raise her brow at her. Something is off about her today. But what. She wondered mentally. But she couldn’t allow herself the satisfaction. She loves to think in her down time, so this she enjoyed but she did have a mission a reason for coming over here.
"I have a question. Raelle. Scylla is about to go into surgery. You haven't visited yet"
With a little cold demeanour Raelle replied, "from what I saw, she was in great pain, most probably placed under, to assist her. So, I think she wouldn't notice me being there or not."
"How can you be so cold? She was attacked and injured from said attack. And Is lying there with Libba by her side."
“Even with that troublesome news. I answer still stands”
“I get things have happened to-
Before she could finish that sentence Raelle shouted out, “ silence”. Her eyes were cloudy with tears. How dare she. She looked at everyone briefly, getting more angry at their understanding looks. She wasn’t sure what they understood but right now to see that just made this worse.
“You know of events that have happened to me, to a point. But that is all you know, you don’t know the impact that those events had. Did too me. You don’t know anything.”
They could tell she was on the brink of telling just what was going on inside her mind. But something, like everytime stopped her. But it almost like it wasn’t her that stopped it but something else. Something that knew that she wasn’t ready and still felt the pain, as if it had just happened.
“But why not see-
Once again Raelle breaks in. “Trauma is a terrible thing, it's all over the place. You're not sure what it hits. It just does and you just have to deal with it.”
She stepped away from them all. She can see their faces.
“You know nothing of what I went though. So don’t pretend to understand me. Or force me to do anything without understanding. You think I want to be away from her. At this time. Do you think I don't want to hold her hand through it all? To comfort Libba as well. I would love to, I really would.”
Tears started to sting her vision and in a whisper, “I would love too”.
With that she rushed off, not allowing them to see her crumble. From the looks they gave. How could she allow them to see her now?
Raelle rushed off after her little outburst. Her “friends” didn’t follow her. They could see the pain of Izadora’s words did. And everyone felt bad for agreeing with her at first. And now all of them understood a little more. Something was plaguing her mind. Stopping her from seeing them.
She hid behind the building, her rage and deep sadness opening her up to it. She started with all her strength punching the wall. She didn’t stop until her fits were covered in blood. Where moving her fingers pained her to tears.
A whisper in her mind, ‘may i come out know’
She paused in her action to punch the wall once again. Not caring if her hands were broken. She just needs to feel it. Something other than internal pain. This voice has been with her since that day of the slumber party. Helping her, in it own way. Almost a little comfort. That little comfort stops her this time.
She only replied, “do you not know where we are?”
‘No” the voice came through a little shyly.
“Where we are in a witch's place, our enemy is nowhere to be seen.”
They stay that way thinking. Until Raelle spoke again.
“If you carry on, you will burn through my seal. I understand what you're saying.”
She could feel the little comfort swell before hiding within her once again. Locked behind the final seal. Along with her deepest and darkest memories and pain like you can ever imagine. And a few extra scars that she could even remember at this point.
Yes, she could retell anyone what she went thought, like a robot. But to feel it, to relive it. Like she once did before the seals. Before her shiner mark. That was something she couldn’t tell or allow anyone knowing. Not many people could handle her pain she carries with her. And it is not just mental pain. Her body hasn’t healed from the slumber party. And might never recover fully. It's been years and still the pain is there like it was yesterday.
And since Scylla was injured, retriggering her. With on hiding spot, like her Shiner mark gives her. This was at the forefront of her mind.
Her mind was too twisted, too deep in this rabbit hole she did hear them walking close to her. She didn’t hear them call out her name. She didn’t even notice at first. Two strong arms pulled her away from the blood stain wall.
Without a word this person turns her around and into a side hug. An arm firmly around her waist, the other holding onto Raelle's right wrist. This person didn’t need to talk. Just slow started walking. Knowing where to go without asking.
Bearkiller was just like that. A silent understanding between them. One of the few that really understood her. The others being Nicta and Quinn. The two people that treated her after she was “saved” from the slumber party.
Everyone else didn’t really see how bad it was. Her father and his husband didn’t know. But over the years they understood it was bad. Really bad and that she was forever stuck with these memories. It wasn’t until Willa “death” that everyone got more of an understanding. Just how bad this was for her.
She stopping she finally looked around her. And noticed for the first time her surroundings. She could see her friends and Libba. And there beside her was Scylla. She looked pale. But even with her wanting to go over her feet didn’t move. Her mind twisted itself once again. She didn’t notice that Bearkiller was talking to them.
She only had one thing, it was Olly. She didn’t see it but he mouths Lt: Grey.
The next time she was with it. She was up a level. Her hands were shaking. That was the first thing she took in. she could stop looking at them. Unsure why for only a second before trying to move them. Remembering what had happened.
Other hand on her left side guided her to one of the beds. Words weren't really going in. But she could tell whatever they were saying was soft and caring. She sat down for the first time in sometime. She only then noticed how tried she was. But still her mind raced and sleep wouldn’t come.
The two of them stepped away. And everything faded away.
***
“How long has she been like this, Thelma”
“Not sure, I found her resting against a very bloody wall. Her hands shaking like they know. But I do think it was sometime.”
With a little sigh ask her another question, “where did you find her?.”
“Outback near the old pool house”.
“Ok, tell Sargent wick, she will have some that cleaned. But say nothing else. I will deal with Raelle here. She trusts very few.”
“I know, that's why I asked her brother. Olly who her doctor was. And I come straight away. Oh that reminds me, I want a word with you. Something to do with healing someone that has bad links.”
Lt: Grey fade paled. It all clicked in her mind. As she looked over at Raelle, she now got it, to a certain level.
“Thank you, I will.” and moved toward Raelle.
Understand that she would just be in the way. Made her leave heading toward the stairs.
****
Lt: Grey moved over to her and knelt down so she was eye level with her.
“I need to heal your hand, Rae”
She didn’t say anything. Just carried on staring into blankness.
She leaned forward and touched her hands. Sending a pain thought Raelle's body. Making her jerk back out of pain and suddenness than anything else.
She finally takes her surroundings again. This time she, really taking in her surroundings. Her stomach twisted. She was in fact in the infirmary. Tears started to form in her eyes.
“Want” she whispered out.
With a sad smile, “Your hands Rae, there hurt”
That made her look. Her hand was as she said injured. Covered in dry blood. She could also tell a few figures where broken. And that she had a few cuts along her knuckles and on her right wrist. Which also looked broken.
“Yes” was all she could get out.
Lt: Grey understanding. Moved closer once again. And gently this time took her left hand and started her work. It was simple, a few cuts and one broken finger. Her index. But it was an easy repair. After about ten minutes she was done with that hand.
She placed her hand down, satisfied with her work.
She touched her right hand, this time making Raelle wince.
“Where does it hurt”.
“I don’t” she cut herself off before continuing, “it ran up my arm. But the source, I can tell.”
With a serious look Lt: Grey spoke.
“I need to link with you” she could see Raelle twist with concern but so many other emotions. “But I need to do it openly. So no blocks on either side.”
Raelle just sat there thinking for a second. Before begrustly agreeing to Lt: Grey request. Unsealing the first shiner mark. Her scars appeared as normal, maybe a little more fresh looking. Which was a little concerning.
“I have to ask, why isn’t your shiner mark working normally”.
“Long terrible story. Short version, when I am not fully there. To lose within myself. It doesn't work “Normally”.
With a nod of understanding.
Lt: Grey started her link with Raelle. She didn’t see much that she hadn’t already seen. But that wasn’t why she linked with her.
It took longer for her to heal her hand and wrist but once she was done. She broke the link. And on seeing Raelle about to seal herself away again stopped her.
“You need rest, without. Your mask”.
There was a long pause before Raelle dropped her healed hand into her lap. She looked up briefly and could see something that she was needing. Openness without judgement. She looked away quickly and whispered.
“I can’t stop thinking”
Taking the bit Lt: Grey asks, “can’t stop thinking about, what”. She asks softly.
“I linked with Scylla before she was stable”. And whispering.
“What did you see?”.
Tears rolled down her face.
“Some memories that are normally sealed away.”
Nobbing with understanding. “Because you, linked with an unstable person. It broke down your shiner mark. And now you see them every time you see Scylla.”
“Not just seeing her, it's alway there. It does help that this witch plague is now on the playing field.”
She jumps up onto her feet knocking Lt:Grey back. But luckily she wasn’t injured. She watches as Raelle starts ranting about everything that has happened to her in the last few weeks. Pacing around. Lt: Grey quickly seals off this area.
She stayed off to the side. Following along as best she could. With any clarifying questions or knowing everything. But for the most part she gets it.
Scylla had been arrested, faulty and safe by Toot and her. Scylla was near to death once finding her. She sent her off to the Cession, for safety for her to be attacked anyway. And then everything else just added to it all.
She paused her legs, getting very weak. She had been ranting for the last hour or so. Finally her tiredness had caused, up, with her.
She stumbles a little before everything goes blank. Only hearing the rushing of footsteps. The only thought going through her mind was. It was more than one person.
*****
General Stone looked at them all. There had been fighting like crazy, even more so with their loss. Some of the Trim and followed them into fighting. Getting back home. Not allowing them to keep their sacred land.
Using farspeech she connect with teams, “defence, check in”
“Defence her, everyone is a counted for, shielding is up. And our weapon on the ready”
“Good, Attacking force. Check in.”
“Checking in, ready for you orders”
She connected with everyone. They had pushed to the lake that was a few miles into the woods. That butted up against the desert.
“I know, this seems like we're going nowhere. But understand something. Small steps still get you to your goal, it just takes longer. We have lost many in this fight. One too many i may say. But the enemy will see, by the end. This land was taken before they came here. And will not be taken from us. From the true protector of this land.”
She straightens her clothes, “release, the water.”
Her plan was simple.
She had slit the group up into two. Attacking and defence. The attacking force had found the Camarilla basics. And over the night. Created waterways. That would flood the area. That the only dry land was where the Trim and General Stone was.