{•Lynette•}

*dream*

My eyes opened as I saw I was in the hallway again.

However, there were no doors.

"Dream...."

I gasped and looked around.

The voice.... 

"H-Hello....?" I called out. "I-If you're looking for Dream, then... Maybe I can help...?"

"Forgive me...." he spoke, but as if through some filther.

I furrowed my brows as I turned and gasped softly.

There a the end of the hall, stood the hooded figure.

"Who are you?" I asked.

All of a sudden, something pulled my attention away from the man.

A baby crying...

I turned, but see him rush into a room.

"WAIT!!" I screamed, rushing over after him.

However, just as I ran in, I'm suddenly hit and caught in lare purple flames and it all goes blank.

*end of dream*

My eyes slowly fluttered open as I woke up, seeing I was still in the strange infirmary room...

I looked to my left and saw the flowers that were now droopy and wilting.

H-How long have I been asleep...?

"The lacerations still need some more time, but she's improving.... Just keep the IV line full, but don't overdo it too much. Humans need a limit with transfusions," a familiar voice said, making me look over. "Austin, Larisa and Billie managed to give enough blood to at least heal her more broken bones... Governor Damiano is offering to give some as well once he returns....."

My vision cleared some more as I looked to my side, noticing a IV tube in my arm, red fluid flowing steadily into it from a bag hung on the bed post.

Hands were suddenly checking the tube and I looked up to see a man with long black hair and olive toned skin checking it closely and adjusting something.

(Picture: Ethan Torchio of Måneskin)

Nearby the room stood....

"S-Shy..." I mumble, moving to sit up, feeling a little bit stronger now.

The man turned to me, looking surprised before turning to where Shy stood.

"Duchessa Shy... She's awake," he said, what I believe is an Italian accent in his voice.

She turned and joy flooded her face. That's when I realize Andrew and Shy were with her.

"Oh, Lynette!!" she cried with relief as she rushed to my side and carefully pulled me into a hug. "You're awake!"

I hugged her back as Andrew and Leda came up, holding my hand or standing near me.

"My good duchess," Andrew said, relieved as well. 

"We've been worried for many days...!" Leda said in relief, holding my other hand gently but firmly in her's.

"D-Days?" I asked as Shy and I pulled back and she helped me lie back down.

"A week and a half to be exact..... Your injuries were very severe, Lynette, you were even bleeding internally..... All we have to help you is our own blood, but it can only do so much...." She said, motioning to the blood transfusion I was receiving. 

"Its Billie's blood," Andrew explained. "I just gave some more..... Everyone is giving what they can to help."

"You are healing well, despite the slowness of it...." Shy said, holding up a mirror to me.

I nervously looked at the mirror in her hand, scared of what I could see after last time.

"Its a lot better than before, I promise you," Leda assured me, holding my hand. "Most of the smaller gashes and burns are even almost completely healed, and all the swelling has also gone down."

I looked nervously at her and gulped, hesitantly taking the  but relaxed at what I saw.

The swelling in my eye went down a lot, but there was still bruising around them. My broken lip was only slightly scabbed over but practically healed, and the burns have also healed as well the cuts closing up for the most part.

I was still a wreck, but compared to how I looked after I was rescued this is a major improvement.

I then looked up at everyone, Shy smiling and holding my hand as then I saw the man who was checking the IV standing nearby.

I looked at him curiously as then Andrew noticed.

"Oh, right.... Lynette, this is Count Ethan Torchio, he and members of his court are also part of the Royale Council as well," Andrew said. "They live just outside of town. Their leader, Damiano, is also governer of Obsidian."

The man bowed to me. "Duchessa Lynette... It is an honor to meet you. I only wish it were under better circumstances..." he said.

"H-Hi...." I murmured.

"You can trust them, I assure you. When we were escaping the Visigoth's, they helped us," Shy said.

I nodded as I took a deep breath.

"W-Where's Sebastian and Emerson?" I asked.

"They're discussing things right now with Priestess Genevieve and Austin," She said.

"They're alive?" I asked. "Wait, Genevieve is here?"

"She insisted, despite being kept refuge at Wismont Island with the other prisoners we helped free. Her husband is a part of the Royale Guard, since he insisted on staying with her...."

"T-The prisoners..." I said, suddenly  remembering.

"Only a few died in the explosions or were killed because they wanted to help fight or were captured, about 12 of them to be exact, but many others escaped the mansion before it was completely engulfed in flames, thanks to one of the prisoners," Leda said with a smile. "A woman named Ciara."

My eyes widen.

"She's safe, too.... She was one of the last groups who escaped, but she's safe," Shy said. "I made sure she was reunited with her husband and children, and now they're both taking refuge at Wismont Island..."

I was relieved to hear that as Shy rubbed my arm soothingly.

"Though we wish it never had to come to it, my duchess, you and Lord Remington's sacrifice helped many of us escape persecution that night," Andrew said,  but then pursed his lips. "Hyacinth, Julian and Bella unfortunately didn't make it...."

My eyes widen in shock. "T-They're dead?"

"They were fighting some rebels back at the castle when..... Ummm... T-The details aren't important for now...." Shy said. "You need to rest..."

"Shy, I can't.... I-I have to do something, please," I begged.

"You will, I promise you will," she assured, holding my hand "I promise, Lynette.... However, you need more time to recover.... All I ask is an extra two days, tops.... Please, do it for me......"

I took a deep breath and sighed in defeat, nodding. "Okay....."

She nodded in relief as then she turned to Ethan. 

"Ethan, can you bring some food and water, please? The duchess hasn't eaten in who knows how long, she can't continue only having water in her system," she said.

"Of course, Duchessa Shy," he said as he bowed and exited the room.

"He was a medical student when the plagues hit, that's when I changed him, his friends, and Leda," Shy explained. 

I pursed my lips and nodded as I picked up the mirror and looked back at my healing face.

That's when my eyes landed on the little X on my cheekbone and I stopped,  feeling my chest hurt.

"Lynette...." Shy said, making me turn to see her look worriedly at me.

"I-I...." I said, not knowing what to say.

She gave me a sad look before holding my hand. "I'm so sorry....."

I held back tears as I tried to keep it together, Andrew and Leda looking at me sadly.

"C-Can you at least tell me where we are?"I asked her.

Shy looked at me sadly, but nodded.

"Well... After we escaped the castle, we travelled underground for a while, since Sebastian knew of a backup plan King Buckminster gave him and him only in case the castle were to ever fall," Shy said. "Billie had been sent here beforehand to insure securing our more important belongings and such..."

I furrowed my brows as I looked around the infirmary room.

"Shy..... Where are we.....?" I asked.

She looked up at me, but gave me an assuring smile.

"Lynette.... Welcome to Warhol Manor...."

~~~~~

Picture: Emerson, Shy & Pepper ♥️♥️♥️

Hope you are all enjoying the story so far. Let me know what you all think so far! 🌻

🎶Currently in Sapph's playlist:

Fleetwood Mac "The Chain"

♡~ sapphire.