Royal's Belonging

Bloody Water

Alexei POV

         I glance at my phone as it rings, interrupting a business meeting I was attending. I frowned, who would be calling me? Turning it to see the screen I grew concerned as Dominic wouldn’t call me when I was in a meeting unless it was important.

         “Excuse me gentlemen,” I say standing up, “I must take this. Do continue your work and we will meet again in two weeks time to discuss progress and changes.” With that I exit the room and answer my phone.

( A is Alexei, D is Dominic)

A: Is everything…

D: You need to come home!

A: What happened?

D: Long story, but I found our mate but Nic got angry and locked her in a cell.

A: Hold on, I’m driving home now. We will figure this out when I get there.

         With that said I climb into my car and speed out of my private parking garage. Questions are swirling in my mind. When and where did Dom find our mate? Is she ok? Why did Nic get so upset? Soon I realize I have reached home.

         Barely taking time to turn my car off, I hustle into the house to find Dom and Day nervously pacing in the Living room. I don’t see Nic anywhere but I just assume he stormed off to hunt and will be home soon. As soon as Dom saw me, he explained finding her and how Nic reacted to him bringing the girl home.

         “We can’t just leave her down there,” Dominic says, worry evident in his voice, “She is malnourished and injured. She will fall sick if left down there in the cold for to long.”

         “If she can’t survive the dungeon for an hour, she shouldn’t be here,” Nic suddenly interjected. We all look up noticing his sudden arrival and slightly disheveled state from hunting.

         “It has been over four hours Nic!” Dominic exclaims with a glare directed towards Nic, “She is probably freezing and sick by now, not to mention terrified. Plus we don’t know if she has woken up from the sedative yet.”

         “How long were you told it would last?” I ask, turning to him.

         “The guard said no more than 5 to 6 hours,” Dom replies, “It was a two and a half hour drive, and she has been down there for about four and a half hours… so 7 hours now.”

         “Why don’t we just vote?” Damien contributes, “All in favor of taking her out of the dungeon and treating her raise your hand.” He and Dominic raise their hands at the same time I do. We glance at each-other before turning to stare at Nic, who frowns back at us.

         “Fine, but I don’t want to hear or see her near my room,” He demands. Dominic promptly turns to leave, I assume to get out mate.

         “Wait,” I command, “Dom, you and Day go get a room near mine ready. Nic, go get medical supplies, water, and food for her, then you may go and sulk. I will bring her upstairs” With that I turn, not waiting for their response and hurry towards the cells.

         Upon entering the guards bows, “M’lord, May I show you to her?” I nod and follow behind, worried about her health. Reaching her cell I see her back facing us with her face towards the wall. I can smell and see the blood oozing from unknown wounds on her back.

         The guard unlocks the cell and retreats to his post as I kneel down to look at her more closely. I gently shift her into my arms seeing as she is still unconscious, from the drugs or pain I am unsure, although it is likely a combination of both.

         Picking her up, I make my way out of the cell and upstairs. As I pass the kitchen I see Nic gathering food and water for her. A first-aid kit is sitting on the counter. Continuing up to her room I hear him hurrying to gather the supplies. I can also hear Day and Dom in her room, presumably readying it for her.

         Dom opens the door before I can and I enter, heading towards the bed. I see the covers already pulled down for her and I carefully lay her down mindful of her back. I hear Nic setting the tray of food down, and glance over to see him approaching with the medical supplies.

         “Damien, go get cleaning supplies, a bowl of warm water, and several towels,” I say, still focused on the girl. “Wait, what even is her name?”

         “Anastasia” Dominic replies, “They didn’t give me any other names.” He moves to sit in the middle of the bed. “Here, lean her forward on me so we can get the dress off,” He said reaching out for her. I gently lean her forward into her arms as Damien returns with the supplies I asked for.

         I reached for a pair of scissors and slowly begin to cut the dress away. “Nic, I know you don’t like her,” I start, “But will you please help me get this off?”

         Sighing in annoyance, “Sure, what do you need?” He asked.

         “Can you wet a towel and use it to help loosen the dress,” I ask, “Some of the blood has dried and stuck it to her back. I’m worried of hurting her should I just pull the dress off.” He moves to sit behind her with the water next to us on a bedside table, damp towel in hand.

         I can see him shake slightly as he moves to press the towel on her back. After about 10 or 15 minutes we successfully had the dress off of her back. Finally taking a good look I feel nauseous. Her back is a veritable patchwork of scars both old and new, scabs, black and yellow bruises, missing skin, and areas old flesh that are ripped open and raw.

         “f**k”

         “Holy s**t”

         “Bloody hell”

         “Oh my god” We all exclaim at once. It was clear that any previous feelings have been replaced with pain, anger, and fear for our little mate.

         “I can’t look at this,” Damien says, looking green as he backs away, “I’m sorry. I haven’t feed, and that is horrible, and she’s our mate, and-and, I can’t.” He stammers as he retreats from the room. I look at Dominic and see he is close to tears while Nic look ready to kill someone.

         “We need to clean this and see how bad she is actually hurt,” Nic states, always the blunt one, “She probably needs stitches.” I nod, grabbing the cleaning supplies handing them over to him. He starts to clean her back as Dominic continues to hold her steady. We all try to ignore the little whimpers and cries she emits as Nic cleans her still bleeding back.

         After cleaning her, Nic and I trade places so I can stitch some of the deeper gashes. An hour later Nic and I bandage her back and I stand back so Dom can lay her down. It is only then we realize all of the other bruises, cuts, and blood covering the rest of her.

         “I’ll get more water,” Nic says leaving the room. Damien enters several minutes later with more warm water, no sign of Nicholai.

         “He told me to bring this,” Day told us, “I think he went to the gym to cool off.” We share a knowing look at this. Bringing the water over, he sets it on the bedside table and hands us both wet towels. Soon enough the three of us have the dried blood and dirt off of her.

         “I don’t think she needs any more stitches,” came my relieved voice, “I think we can just bandage her and let her sleep.” The others nod and she is quickly bandaged up and covered in a warm, fuzzy blanket.

         “What happens if she doesn’t wake up soon?” Dom asks. I see them both looking at me. It is times like these when I hate being the oldest. I have no clue what to do, It isn’t like I have had a mate before. Or even had to worry or care for someone like this, Vampires don’t get hurt like this. And even if we do, we heal differently, I am way out of my element here.

         “We might have to call an actual doctor,” I sigh realizing they were still looking at me, “I’m not sure what else she might need.”