Crystal makes her way into the guest rooms to check in on Alain. Belial wanted to make sure he got the best of care and she isn't about to let her down.

Alain is lying in bed on his stomach, white blankets curled up to the small of his back and kept carefully away from his back itself, covered with the scars of what appear to be several lashes from a cat-o-nine-tails. It's Monday morning, another grey morning, and he's been out for more than twenty-four hours now.

Aside from the gruesome display on his back, most of his other wounds are minor, save a bullet wound in his left thigh now under carefully wrapped bandages.

His eyes are shut, his brow knit into a frown, his breathing faster than a deep sleep's. He may be close to waking.

She had been careful about applying the healing magics. Too much would do more harm that good. For this round she's in to change his bandages and apply a salve to his back.

It's a nightmare. Alain feels as if he's plummeting into darkness, plunged into water beneath the ice, watching the single shaft of light overhead slowly close - that distinct feeling of death... He can hear Howe's laughter in his ear, his sardonic southern drawl, and the sound of a thousand whips cracking at his back. A gunshot goes off, a golden-haired angel plunges forward in death's swan dive, and he is jerked rudely back into reality.

A sharp gasp escapes his lips as his eyes open, his hand goes to his left side under his arm where his gun usually rests, and he rolls quickly in bed onto his right side, bright blues searching the room frantically, looking for the source, looking for Howe. In a moment he regrets his movement, wincing as he stresses the fresh scars on his back, and he curls into himself, leaning onto his stomach again.

Deceptively frail hands display strength in trying to keep him from reopening his wounds, "Easy, you are safe here." She had gotten very little out of anyone though the wounds are plain to see.

He presses his face into his pillow and draws in a shuddering breath that wracks him from head to toe, forcing himself, by degrees, to lie flat on his stomach again. He swears he can still hear that laughter. His eyes remain clenched shut.

"Who are you... where am I?" he asks in a soft hiss of desperation.

She goes about changing his bandages, applying a little of her magic to ease the immediate pain. " I am Crystal Nha?slal and you are at Onyx House."

Alain releases a very long breath, visibly relaxing, though tensing when the odd feeling of the magic enters him.

"That's right... Sid and Belial..." He trails off, and opens his eyes again to look at her. Eyes trail away while he considers a few things, and flicker back again.

"What are the damages?" Indicating his own wounds.

She was lightly applying the salve to his back. "Your back has been torn up, there is a gunshot wound to your left thigh and you were grazed on your right side and arm." Her eyes were gentle, "You've been through hell Mr. DeMuer."

He sighs again, quietly this time, and his gaze moves to an empty spot on the opposite wall while she works.

"...Belial... Sid... all the Blood leaders - are they okay?" There is an emptiness to his words, no real weight behind them, and he cannot feel where, inside himself, the concern even manages to come from.

She nods, "In as much as any of us are okay given the circumstances, yes."

Then he feels it. That dull ache, right at the core of him. Lisa's body in the street, mangled, bleeding. Her pretty eyes glazed. He turns his head to the opposite wall in a futile effort to rid himself, and croaks in a parched voice,

"Any messages left for me?"

"There have been a few visitors." She finishes wrapping up his back.

"The fighting, the casualities... It never gets easier to bare," she says softly, is she referring to him or something else?

"One does what one must," he replies emptily. His eyes do not move.

"Unfortunately." She moves to look at his arm now. "Too much bloodshed."

"What day is it?" He brings his other arm around to examine his left hand, testing his fingers one at a time. Right now feels like a good time for his right hand to be shaking, but it's as still as the rest of him.

"Monday. You've been unconscious since ..." She trails off.

He is silent for a very long moment.

"I need water," he says at length. "And a cane, so I can get up to use the facilities..."

She moves over to a nearby basin and poured a cup of water for him. "There is a cane by the bed." She walks back gracefully.

He accepts the cup of water and raises it to his lips. The first gulp makes him cough, and he sips the rest carefully. "Thank you..." His eyes do that flickering thing again, the eye contact ephemeral at best. "...If you don't mind, I'd like to be alone for a while."

She nods at the dismissal and tilts her head to the nearby orb. "Call if you need anything. Food is available should you feel up to it."

"Thank you," Alain says. He feels the knots tying up his stomach, but doesn't ask for the food. The hunger is a different ache to focus on, to keep his thoughts from wandering too far, or too deep.

"You're welcome," she whispers and moves out of the room . She keeps the thoughts to herself.

Once she is out, he struggles out of bed, both hands on his cane as he finds his feet. It's several minutes before they find the will to walk, but when they do, he steps across the room to the window and stares out. Something rages and festers within narrowed bright blue eyes, something he cannot bring himself to articulate.

(Adapted from live play with the lovely and talented Crystal)

Ten minutes later, after changing his decision twice, Alain leaves the cane out in the open, leaned against the wall beside him, as he leans on the windowsill and waits for her. He's found a black undershirt to put on to hide the scars for the time being, and buttoned his Oxford up over it and tucked it in. With only five minutes to spare, he realized he hasn't shaved since Friday morning and had to borrow the razor of a Trueblood guard named Cheer. He's whiskered still, but at least looks well-groomed now...

There's a scar on his arm, just below his right elbow, he realizes. He frowns at it, rolls down both his sleeves a little bit, and nods to himself, satisfied that he's done all he can to appear as well as he can.

No need to bring Lisa any more pain than she's already been through.

There is a knock at the door and he can hear voices in the hallway beyond. One is easy to recognize because it?s Lisa?s. She is thanking someone and then she?s stepping inside Alain?s room. She shuts the door behind her, smiling at Alain with relief written all over her face.

?You?re alright, I was so worried! I heard all the sounds, like a war going on outside and I just thought?? She thought the worst of course, that Alain had been killed during the outbreak. Large tears well up in her eyes and spill silently down her cheeks as she walks towards him somewhat hesitantly. Lisa is dressed in a simple cotton sun-dress, the skirt full and the top fitted. Her hair looks perfect and her light makeup flawless. But under the feminine wrappings Lisa looks exhausted, like she hadn?t slept since the last time she saw him. (Of course, she hasn?t.) ?Oh, Alain, I was so worried about you!?

And then, because she doesn?t know otherwise, she throws herself into his arms and hugs him closely to her. So happy to see him, so truly overjoyed; she?s overwhelmed and she can?t help herself.

"I was worried about you too, Lisa - you can't even imagine!" And for the first time in days, he smiles... but it stops the moment she hugs him. "Ooh... careful, I'm still a little sore... I'm okay, just sore..."

His arms settle about her waist, and he shuts his eyes and kisses her head and sighs through his nose. That torn, twisted heart that had turned to iron and dropped to his stomach lightens, fluttering back to his chest, as he feels overjoyed and relieved.

But Lisa is not nearly so content! She pulls a bit away staring up at him with a frown blooming on her face. ?You?re hurt! What?s happened?!?

But his relief is so plainly there for her to see that she melt?s back into him, this time incredibly gentle. She keeps her arms tucked around his neck but she is careful not to tighten her hold. ?Oh, Alain, I was so scared for you! And you?re hurt?! I had no idea! No one would tell me anything. I asked but all they would say is what a hero you are. You?re a hero, but no one will tell me why? I am just so happy that you?re?? Well, alright doesn?t really apply since she doesn?t know what?s happened to him. She feels anxious to find out, to see the extent of the damage. Unfortunately for Alain, Lisa wants the details.

?Howe did this to you, didn?t he?? She breathes it into his chest as she nuzzles her face against it.

"His men, anyway," Alain says with a sigh, tenderly stroking the hair on the back of her neck. "He killed a few of mine... and we killed a lot of his, and ran off the rest. His contracts are all gone, and he's in trouble with some very powerful people - more powerful than him. They'll see he doesn't give us any more trouble..." He doesn't quite believe it himself, but he wants to convince her.

He takes a step back against the windowsill, leaning to see her face, stroking the side of it. His smile is soft. It is faint and tired, but she's helped him find a little joy, and it's enough. "He gave your contract to a wicked man... and I killed that man, took it from him and destroyed it -- you're free now, Lisa."

Lisa smiles through sudden tears. ?Alain, you look so tired, and I know you are hurting. You should be in bed convalescing. Here, let me help you?? She makes a gesture for him to return to the bed. ?Maybe they will let me stay here with you for a few days?? She says thoughtfully as she looks around at the small room.

Alain?s been placed in the area reserved for recovering patients, in order for the healers to keep an eye on him. The room is small and rather sparsely furnished. Lisa doesn?t mind the lack of furniture but the size of the room is a bit daunting. No space for a cot. She hopes they will be willing to find her someplace to stay however. She doesn?t want to leave Alain.

?They seem nice, all these strange silver-haired and pointy eared beings. I do like that lady though, Bel. She seems very nice and so does the lady Indi. You seem to have impressed them all too.

?What happened Alain? Will you tell me?? Crystal blue eyes lift to those bright blues. He can easily see the play of emotions cascading over her face. ?I was so frightened, and there was no sign of Roland? please, is he alright?? Lisa has grown fond of him over the past few weeks and hates that something horrible may have happened to the boy.

"I'll sit," he offers gently as a compromise. One hand takes hers, and his left takes the cane, and he makes his way over to the bed to sit on the edge of it, without any painful noises (in spite of the quick spike of pain in his back from bending over). He breathes a sigh and smiles up at her, running his thumb over the back of his hand.

"Roland has been by to see me twice so far. He... sustained a scrape or two that night, but he recovered in less than a day, and he's looking after things for me right now. He's a hero himself - made a... very important delivery to this house that night, at great personal risk. I know knights are supposed to be brave, but that man never ceases to surprise me.

"These pointy-eared beings... they're elves. I think they prefer to be called Truebloods. This is Blood House Onyx... and these are the people I have been working undercover for. I'm sure they won't mind you staying here at all.

"As for the rest..." His smile flickers, thinking back to certain scenes that night. Lisa's 'death' that he still does not understand - perhaps it was an illusion? Howe's laughter, and Alain's torture at his hands... "...Howe hired an army of mercenaries several weeks ago, and I had to marshal all of my resources to fight them once I betrayed the lawyers. That was the cause of the big street battle you heard..." Alain grows quiet for a long moment, eyes falling to a patch of floor across the room from them. He licks his lips, his mouth dry.

"...Things happened that night, and in the four months I had to spend undercover, things that... I'll try to tell you, someday, but I don't know that I can." He looks up at her, squeezing her hand. "What I do know is that it's over now, and we're both alive, and we're here, together."

Lisa squeezes his hand back, leaning down to press a light kiss to his forehead. His words mean everything to her. ??we?re both alive, and we?re here, together.? They echo through her mind and bring a smile blossoming on her face. But she also notices his dry lips and immediately glances around.

?You need something to drink,? She comments, then nods towards the nightstand. ?Oh, there?s some water by the bed!? She pulls reluctantly away to get it for him.

?I?m so glad to hear Roland is alright.? Lisa says as she glides over to pick up the water glass. She is proud of the boy and will tell him so as soon as she sees him again. She picks it up and moves back to Alain, offering it to him as she gracefully kneels down beside his chair.

For a moment crystal blue eyes take on a distant look as she gazes up at him. Her thoughts play out in her expression, although she isn?t aware of it. When she?d first met him, he?d seemed so cold, so hard, so much like Mister Howe, in complete opposite of the boyishly handsome face. When he?d first taken her into his confidence she had felt an inkling of something familiar about him. It had attracted her to him like a moth to flame. As she has gotten to know him, she?s fallen deeply, madly in love with him. And now? he has given her everything. Her freedom she knows did not come at a cheap price, he admitted to her that some people died, and yet he did this for her! Her gratitude shines in her eyes as she takes his free hand in hers and gives it a light squeeze.

?Thank you, Alain. Thank you for my freedom!? Lisa murmurs then bursts into tears. She?d been holding them in for so long, trying to be brave for him and now? it all seems too much at once. But she?s free of that contract and he?s alive. She is so relieved and she?d never dreamed she?d be this lucky. Free and with Alain!

?I-I-I?m sorry, I just can?t help myself!? She says burying her face in his lap overcome with emotion she cries uncontrollably.

Alain is just raising the glass of water to his lips, when Lisa bursts into tears and buries her face in his lap. Hurriedly he sets his drink aside and runs his fingers through her hair and over her back, murmuring comfort and soothing nonsense. "Shhh... shhh..."

It is then that he realizes that his heart is still warm, still soft, though it has felt that way since he heard she was still alive, only minutes ago. There is not much left of it, he feels, but it opens itself to caring for her. It's a gentle, beautiful ache he thought he might never feel again, and it makes him sigh. "Come here..." He takes her by the hand and helps her up into his lap, and wraps his arms around her, stroking her hair and rocking her.

Lisa flows fluidly into his lap, no resistance given, she trusts in him to know his limits. She nuzzles her cheek to his chest as she curls in against him. She doesn?t want to hurt him so her touch is kept gentle and her hands stay loosely on his shoulders. Lisa fits Alain perfectly, like a tailored glove to a hand.

She strives to put a stop to her tears. She doesn?t want to cry and they certainly aren?t tears of sadness. Yet the relief is simply overwhelming and her joy nearly unbearable. She?s free from that contract and they are both alive; too much to have hoped for really. Lisa had not allowed herself to think that way, not once, so certain she was about her fate. Alain is her hero for having saved her, but he?s also the one who holds her heart.

His rocking helps to soothe and calm her. Crystal blues lift to stare up into his bright blue eyes, her love written in the depths. She gulps down a steadying breath, feeling heady and light headed from the past few days of no sleep and little food. Fingers stroke him as if offering a silent promise that he is indeed truly here.

?It all seems so surreal?? she whispers up to him. ?I-I-I? don?t know what is going to happen next, Alain and I feel that now I have everything *more* to lose.? She attempts to explain the myriad of emotions washing through her. She wants him to understand what she?s experiencing, she wants to invite him to do the same in return. She opens to him with the hope he will feel he can do the same with her.

Having not even considered their current outcome, Lisa hasn?t even begun to think about what tomorrow will hold or question where they go from here. But at the back of her mind, those dark thoughts are niggling, waiting for an opportune moment to strike.

"What's going to happen next to you," he says softly, fingers not stilling their comforting touches upon her face, "and what's going to happen to me... are up to you and me to decide now, Lisa. Having everything to lose is a symptom of opportunity."

Alain's bright blue eyes fall on hers. Caring and adoration are tricky things to separate from love on the surface, but that kind of warmth, at least, is there. "It's hard for me also, Lisa..." A soft frown adds years, suddenly, to the parts of his face that are still boyish. "Minutes ago, there was no joy in me... and I didn't know if I'd rejoice again, because I thought you were dead." He shakes his head. "An illusion Howe used to torment me. I..." His face falls, his eyes lower away from her... but they return to her, then, and there is a soft smile.

"...But I have you now. Someone I care for... someone who understands." His thumb touches her lower lip, and he kisses her softly, sweetly.

Lisa was going to make comment about Howe and his illusion; it tugs at her natural curiosity. But when he kisses her, she abandons her thoughts and loses herself in him. It won?t be until later when paranoia harkens back to this moment and she will wonder if she?s more of a liability to him than anything good. In this moment, however, Lisa finds solace in his lips and how gentle and understanding he?s been for her throughout this whole ordeal.

Lisa had given up on everything before arriving in Rhy?Din; she had been ready to throw her life away. She?d lost everything precious, to one tragedy after another. Almost as if the decimation of her life was being arranged, orchestrated. She had never thought to find happiness again, far less love, but here in his arms she feels both.

Lisa doesn?t question if Alain loves her. She?s not twisted things around in her head, nor has she presumed he feels the same. She simply gives him her heart without artifice or expectation, whatever he willingly returns she cherishes. His actions only enhance her feelings for him, for in her eyes she sees the purity of his soul and the profound ache of his heart. Alain carries inner demons and Lisa sees that. What she doesn?t yet understand is where did they come from? She knows this isn?t something he will easily open up about, but Lisa is a patient girl. She wants to be there for him and help him heal whenever he?s ready.

For now the warmth of him against her, the passion in their kiss steers Lisa?s thoughts off-kilter and towards far naughtier thoughts. She breaks their kiss breathlessly, pale cheeks flushing hot. ?Oh, my, Alain! You do know how to distract a girl! But, ah, maybe we shouldn?t? You?re hurt and, well?? Anyone could walk into the room? Lisa glances at the door then back to Alain. ?What if someone comes???

He blinks, suddenly, and then begins to laugh, shaking his head. "If someone came, they would apologize, excuse themselves quietly, and leave - they seem to think pretty highly of me around here."

He strokes her jawline tenderly, smiling at her. "There is plenty I could still do in private, even with my wounds... but honestly... I thought only to kiss you." And he leans back in, setting a soft kiss upon her chin. And pauses. There is a ghost of mischief in his smile.

"...But, what on earth did your mind get distracted to?"

Lisa blushes furiously and hides her face in his chest. ?Oh, nowhere, nothing, I was, ah, um?? Her words are muted and murmured, nearly lost in her closeness to him. She?s embarrassed now by how her thoughts had sidetracked. She works to recollect herself, but from her society getting caught in a man?s lap was considered pretty risqu?.

Poor Lisa, she doesn?t understand how cavalier Alain is about sex. That?s simply not how she was raised. Her background is far more conservative. She peeks a glance up at him, the bright red cheeks a dead giveaway. She smiles rather guiltily.

?I didn?t mean we should, ah? Copulate, Alain. I meant? what would they say if they caught us like this? Back home, people would be scandalized if they saw us right now.? Lisa attempts to explain. ?Besides? we wouldn?t want gossip, now would we?? Silly girl doesn?t realize that nothing anyone does will ever stop the gossip!

"There's always gossip," Alain sighs, "believe me." Not about to admit he reads Marc Franco's gossip blog with more regularity than the news!

His hands still do not cease in their caring attentions, fingers drifting in a light scritch all over her back. "Maybe we should go out for a walk. I think I need some fresh air... and a cigarette," he adds with an ironic little grin.

Lisa slides off his lap, gracefully sweeping her skirt in place as she stands. ?You really shouldn?t smoke while you?re recovering, darling. I have heard it slows the healing down some.? Lisa doesn?t know how true this is, for her it?s simply something she?s heard from her mother to her father over the years. She steps to the bathroom, checking her hair and makeup; the actions have a familiar air, something she just does because she?s a lady and it?s expected.

?Do you think we might ask them for a? cot? Or something? I?m afraid your bed is too small for both of us.? She calls out from the bathroom.

As if on cue there is a knock at the door and a Blood steps in. She?s tall and silver-haired, vaguely familiar to Alain. ?Hiya, I?m Rose, and you?re a hero.? She laughs, ?But ah, Bel said we should move you out to the bungalow by the lake. Said ya might prefer the privacy and that some chick would be staying with ya. So, anytime you?re ready, man? Me and a few of the boys can cart ya over.?

Lisa comes out of the bathroom and smiles to the Elven girl standing just inside the doorway. ?Why, that is very nice of Bel, do thank her for me!?

He is actually startled by Rose's words. He's been greeted this way a few times so far, but it still throws him for a loop. He looks over his shoulder at Lisa, and offers her a smile, and one to Rose.

"Nice to meet you, Rose... and now would be great, if you're able. Miss Jefferies and I were just thinking about taking a walk, so that works perfectly."

?Yo, Ms. Jefferies, glad to meet ya, just call me Rose? Rose says to Lisa before turning her smile on Alain. ?Ya wanna walk? Ah? Hold on a sec?? Rose pops her head out in the hall, ?He says he?s up for walking on his own.?

Whatever the response, it?s not heard by Lisa or Alain. Rose is nodding then she straightens and smiles back at Alain. ?Sure, if ya wanna try walking there that?s cool. I can take the pair of ya now. They already stocked the place so ya don?t need anything. Ya know, other than like your clothes.? She laughs. ?I?ll be waitin? for ya in the hall.? She steps out and shuts the door behind her.

Lisa moves to Alain?s side, slipping her arm through his and smiling brightly up at him. ?You sure you?re up to walking? That girl has made me worry about you all over again!? Her words are light, but he can see she?s serious. ?I am so grateful that we are here together, now! I just don?t think I could stand for anything else happening to you!?

"Oh, of course I'm up for walking," he grins at her, getting to his feet and pausing just a moment, hiding a pained expression. He had forgotten how much it can hurt if he's not careful, but the pain fades when he supports himself with his cane instead. "As long as we move slowly."

He frowns to himself, and half-mutters, "I didn't know they had a lake out here..."

Lisa winces when he does, but does her best to hide it quickly. She stays close to him, but makes sure not to add extra weight upon him. Letting him set the pace she follows him towards the door.

?It sounds marvelous doesn?t it?? She says, attempting to distract him and keep his mind off his pain.

She understands he?s a proud man and would rather suffer than be carried there, but she is very quick to adapt to his needs. Lisa keeps Alain?s slow pace as if it is her choice rather than his; ever so lightly resisting she doesn?t hold him back, but instead keeps a smaller pace. She knows he will adjust for her because that is his nature.

"I wonder if they allow fishing..." He trails off as, at last, he leaves the cramped little room that overlooks the distant sea.