Danica
After making sure the unknown girl was going to be ok: even though it will take at least a couple of weeks for her to fully heal. I went to my father's study to inform him of the unknown girl's condition when Lucian, Griffin, Vladimir, and Dario returned with a badly beaten, bruised, and unconscious Thalia in his arms. Both my father and I ran to Dario to take a better look at Thalia and to assure ourselves that she was still alive.
In all my life I have never seen my father this angry, but the moment he assured himself that Thalia was indeed still alive. His anger was tangible like a living being.
In a voice trembling with suppressed rage, he said:
"What the devil did they do to her! Danica, send for the healers immediately. Dario, please take her to the guest room close to yours. Lucian, please fetch Willow so you can be with Thalia. Vladimir after you have brought the others back, please would you stay here as a witness to the conditions Thalia and the girls were found in."
Lucian left immediately after placing the lightest of kisses on the very top of Thalia's head. Dario just nodded and turned walking out of the study still cradling Thalia as if she will break any moment and he was going to lose her forever. Vladimir nodded and then he was gone.
"Griffin, please go to Skye and Rose and tell them that Thalia is back. But please try to let them know that they can see her in a few days but try not to upset or alarm them."
"Of course, your Highness. I will go immediately."
He gave me and Lucian one last look and he too left the study. I had already texted the very best healers in the whole realm but even I was not sure Thalia would make it she looked like she didn't have any more fight left in her. And honestly, who could blame her she must have been tortured so badly.
Dario
I wanted to take Thalia back to my house to make sure nothing could ever hurt her again. But I knew that would not be appropriate and she needed the healer more now than anything I could do for her. She was still in the tattered and torn dress which despite the shower of rain Vladimir used to wash away the salt was still dirty. As I placed her gently on the big bed, I just stood looking at her my heart breaking because there was nothing, I could do for her right now.
"Dario? I brought some clean dry clothes for her and a hair brush. I will help you get her into it and help you comb and braid her hair. It will be less of a shock for willow if she is at least dressed and in clean warm clothes and her hair is braided."
"Thanks, Dannie. I would love some help to be honest I am too scared to touch her in case I hurt her even more and I really don't want to see the bruises on her body that the clothes are hiding. I am barely keeping my rage intact."
"I get it, if you want, I will get her dressed and cleaned up while you wait outside and call you when I am done. I swear no one and nothing is going to take her or hurt her while you wait outside."
"You know me so well. Ok, I think that will be best. Otherwise, I might just commit murder before Dad passes judgment on them. Don't take too long though."
"I won't."
As I stepped outside and closed the door, I slid down to the ground shaking with rage and sorrow that someone so pure and good was treated so badly by people who were supposed to love her. I was so stuck in my head that I didn't realize that I wasn't alone anymore until I felt Logan's big hand rest on my shoulder.
"How is Thalia? Have the healers seen her yet?"
"No, not yet. Dannie is getting her into some clean dry and warm clothes, we both figured it was better for me to wait outside before I commit a murder or two. She looks bad Logan, they tortured her. She is so weak and she has multiple broken bones and bruises. They took advantage of her weakened state and tortured her repeatedly."
"They have been captured and will face their punishment and Vladimir went to town on the castle he literally burned it to the ground. I have to say I am kind of impressed by the guy."
"Where is he?"
"He went to see the girl he brought back."
"Ok, we really do owe him for this. Just do me a favor, for now, make sure that I am nowhere near Lord Marcus and Serafina."
"No problem little bro we got this. All you have to do is take care of Thalia now."
Just then Lucian and Willow came running down the corridor. Standing up I faced them as they came to a stop in front of me.
"Willow I am so sorry. I feel like I failed in protecting Thalia and somehow this is all my fault."
Willow stepped forward and gave me a hug I didn't feel I deserved.
"You wrong your grace. You brought her back and did everything in your power to save her. Lucian told me in what state you found Thalia. They did this to our girl, not you. So, I don't ever want to hear you say something so ludicrous ever again: Understood."
"Yes, mam."
Just then the room door opened.
"She is ready. You all can come in now the healers also texted, and said they will be here in about five minutes."
I let Willow and Lucian enter first as I could see Willow was anxious to see Thalia. Danica did an amazing job. Thalia's hair was braided and even though the bruises were severe, and stood out on her pale skin the fact that she was dressed in a pj's set, in the softest of materials made her look a tiny bit better.
"How could they do this to her!"
Tears flowed down Willow's beautiful face and as I looked over to my brothers, I saw the shock on their faces to see the horrible state Thalia was in.
There was a soft knock on the door and the healer came in. I was secretly kind of glad that one of the female healers came because in the state of mind I was in right now. I don't know that I would have been able to let a male healer treat her.
Both of my brothers and Lucian left the room to let the healer see and treat the full extent of Thalia's injuries. I was just thinking that I must leave as well just out of respect for Thalia (I mean it is one thing to see her half naked when she is awake and conscious and knows what the hell is going on and what might happen. But something totally different when she is not) but before I could leave the healer hastily grabbed my arm to stop me from leaving.
"Please your grace, you need to stay. She might need more blood and as she has already taken your blood and her transformation has started only you can give her blood if she needs it."
I nodded and just stood at the door trying not to look because the more her skin was exposed the worse the bruises got. Most of her upper body was covered in blue–black and purplish bruises.
After what seemed like forever the healer finally finished whatever the hell she was doing and spoke for the first time.
"I have placed healing herbs on her cuts and bruises, the transformation will heal the internal injuries and the healing herbs will speed up the healing of her bruises. But her recovery won't be fast. It will be a slow process and there is one more thing your grace. The injuries she sustained on her lower abdomen might have lasting effects she might not be able to bear children ever. I not saying there isn't a small chance that she might be able to have children, but from what I can see it would be highly unlikely. Whoever did this to her meant for her to not be able to bear children if she should survive."
The shock could be felt around the room. Danica began to cry and Willow's knees buckled, I barely caught her and lowered her down on the chair next to her. The statement the healer made; made no difference to me. I loved Thalia regardless but what would the fact that she might not ever be able to have children mean to her?
"One more thing your grace: I would advise that for at least the next year Lady Thalia not continue her work or training as a guard. I do not need to tell you that she almost died and even though she might heal there is still damage that will take longer to heal even Vampires are not invincible."
"Thank you for all you did. Is there anything else we should do or know to help her in her recovery?"
"Time! It will take time but she will make it time and patience is all that she needs right now. Love and support; her world will be different when she wakes up and her life will never be the same. That might be very hard for her to accept and deal with. I will leave now, if you need anything I will come at once."
The healer left and Lucian and My brothers entered the room again. I went to kneel next to Thalia's bed and held her hand ever so gently. As Danica told them what the healer said I wondered if when she woke up and learned all of this plus the fact that she will be a full Vampire will she still want me….