A Regent's Sacrifice – Chapter 3

Urshè arrived at the village and located Derek at almost the exact same time that Reid galloped through the gates of the Command Center to the First Vortex. 

Reid had been dispatched to the Command Center at the Gates of the Twelfth Vortex, the Vortex to Rament, by Marsyas to pick up a report concerning the disturbances that had been occurring at that vortex for the past nine months.

When Reid entered the Command Center, Jorell was in the process of sending yet another message to the Communications Center at the Twelfth Vortex.  Jorell was becoming highly frustrated, because the communications center at the Twelfth Vortex appeared to down and he had tried everything he could possibly think of to reset the electronic grids, but to no avail. 

Reid walked straight over to the Communications Center and Jorell, hearing heavy booted footsteps, immediately looked up.  He was visibly relieved to see his Lordship's brother-in-law.  "His Lordship has been trying to reach you for days.  What happened?"  It had been more than six days since Marsyas had sent Reid to the Command Center at the Gates of the Twelfth Vortex to retrieve reports Marsyas needed for the upcoming meeting with the assembled Commanders to the Vortexes.

"I was unavoidably detained at the Twelfth Vortex." Reid further explained, "Not only was Commander Ianscia attending a meeting at the Gates of the Sixth Vortex, but the night I arrived, one of the largest disturbances they've ever had rocked the entire area near the Twelfth Vortex.  The Communications Center there has been down ever since. The entire area has become highly unstable." 

"The meeting has already commenced, but I know he will not mind you interrupting it to give him the report," Jorell stated.

While Reid was on his way down the hall to the meeting room, Carey and Siathis were galloping through the gates of the Command Center. 

Carey followed Siathis as he rode all the way to the Command Center itself, not even bothering to stop and leave the horses at the stable.  Siathis dismounted and quickly helped Carey down. 

The two of them raced into the building only to be met by Reid as he was about to leave.  "What are you doing here, Carey?"  Reid asked while he looked at Siathis with a confused expression. 

Siathis pointed to the far end of the hall where he knew the meeting was going on and Carey, not bothering to reply to Reid, brushed past him on her way to the meeting room.  However, before she could reach her destination, Jorell stopped her. 

"Where do you think you are going?"  he asked.

"I have to see, Marsyas right now," she said, somewhat out of breath from the heated ride over.

"His Lordship is in a very important…"

"Carey, go on ahead.  I will handle Jorell and Reid," Siathis stated firmly.

Carey nodded then ran past Jorell as Siathis was confronted by Jorell and Reid. 

"What is going on?"  Reid demanded. 

Siathis glared at them as he folded his arms across his chest.  "Our Regent is in labor and his Lordship is needed at the Manor."

Two pairs of eyes widened in shock.  "I thought the Regent was not due for at least another month?"  Jorell commented nervously.

Reid was utterly shocked and stuttered before finally getting his thoughts together to form a coherent sentence.  "What?  My sister is not due…"

"Things have changed," was all Siathis would say.

Carey didn't even bother to knock but threw open the door to the room and became the immediate center of attention as all heads turned toward the doorway where she stood, eyes riveted on her slightly trembling form.

Jamal's eyes nearly bulged out of his head and he quickly stood up to go escort her out of the room.  What is she doing here?  Does she think she can just barge into this room while a meeting is going on?    

Marsyas had been in the middle of reading the report on the disturbances near Rament when Carey burst through the door and his eyes rested on her now, assessing her anxious demeanor.  Out of the corner of his eye he saw Jamal heading for Carey and raised his hand to halt his approach.  "What brings you here, Carey?"  he asked calmly.

Carey opened her mouth, but nothing came out; with all of the Commanders staring at her, including her newly acquired brother, Morgan, she nearly forgot why she rushed in.  She quickly swallowed and without a care for who was listening divulged the reason for her visit.  "Ari just went into labor and Grandmother told me to come and get you."

Marsyas dropped the bulky report he was holding and stood completely still, shocked to the core by her revelation.  "She is going to have the baby now?"  The words seemed ludicrous to him when spoken aloud and he shook his head to clear his mind.

Morgan started to stand, but quickly sat when he realized he would not be able to leave the meeting.  Even though Arianna was his sister, he would be required to stay and finish up with the rest of the Commanders; the price he had to pay for his new position.  "What happened?  The baby is not due for at least three or four weeks yet," Morgan said in a near whisper. 

Gasps and whispers went up among the Commanders and it was Ahmed who had been attending the meeting in place of his father who stood and reined everyone in.  "My Lord, Commander Sacren and Jamal can continue with the meeting and Jamal will bring you a full report later."

Commander Sacren rose and went to retrieve the report that Marsyas had dropped.  He bowed to his Chieftain and Marsyas inclined his head. 

"Yes, of course.  I will expect a full report by tomorrow morning, Jamal.  I must leave you now," Marsyas said absently as he hurried Carey out of the meeting room.

Ahmed sent up a silent prayer to the Lady that the Regent would deliver her baby without complications. 

Jamal gestured to Commander Sacren to take the floor as he went to sit back in his seat.  I pray that Arianna will be all right and that the baby is born healthy. 

Once outside, Marsyas peppered Carey with questions.  "What happened?  Was she over exerting herself?  Where was she when this happened?"

"No, she was not over exerting herself.  She was sitting on the sofa with Sasha when Grandmother and I came to visit and when she got up to look at the portrait the contractions started," Carey hurriedly stated.

Marsyas gnashed his teeth, frustrated and worried for his wife…so much so that he did not even think to ask what portrait Carey was speaking of.  "Is Derek there with her now?"

"He was sent for, my Lord," Siathis replied.

Marsyas nudged his horse pushing him to go faster.  "We must hurry," he said, feeling ill-at-ease over Arianna being alone without his brother there to help her through this. 

Derek and Nafrè were walking up the steps to the Manor as Marsyas came galloping through the front gates like a madman.  He rode straight up to the Manor and accosted his brother.  "Why were you not here sooner?"

Siathis immediately approached them.  "My Lord, now is not the time to have this discussion.  Your brother needs to tend to the Regent."

Marsyas huffed and followed his brother into the house where they both hurried up the stairs only to stop on the first landing when they heard an agonizing scream.  "My Goddess, what is wrong?" Marsyas bellowed.

Derek and Marsyas ran up the remaining steps two at a time and when they entered the bedroom, Katrina was mopping Arianna's brow with a towel that had been soaked in lavender water.  "The pains are coming ten minutes apart," she announced as she watched Derek pull a heart monitor from his bag. 

"The birthing tub must be made ready," Derek commanded. 

Carey was standing in the doorway, completely unprepared for how pale and disheveled Arianna looked, but she quickly answered, ready to assist in any way she could.  "I can get it ready.  Aggie and Nafrè showed me how."

Nafrè, who had been listening to the conversation from out in the hall, came up behind Carey and took her hand.  "Come, we will get it ready together."

Carey nodded as a tear slid down her cheek.

Nafrè led Carey down the hall and spoke soothingly to her as she patted her back in a comforting gesture.  "Do not fret, Derek is here and he will take care of the Regent.  There is nothing to worry about."

"I have never seen Ari looking so…I guess I didn't realize giving birth was…" her voice trailed off.

Nafrè put her arm about her shoulder when they reached the room where the Regent would give birth.  "Every birth is different, but Derek will help her through this."

In the bedroom, Marsyas rushed over to sit on the opposite side of his Grandmother, but Sasha was positioned there and she growled at him when he attempted to sit.

Having decided that the human was responsible for her mistress's pain, owing to the fact that she had heard Arianna cry out his name every time a contraction came, Sasha bared her teeth and stood her ground, a low growling sound emanating from the little dog. 

Theron had ambled up the stairs after his master and was sitting near the fireplace watching everyone in the room, but when he heard Sasha's growling, his ears perked up and he stared at her waiting to see what would happen next.

Marsyas pursed his lips and bent over to push her out of the way.  However, it was Arianna who reached out to her little companion and Sasha instantly backed down and went to lie at the foot of the bed where she glared at Marsyas and bared her teeth.

Marsyas immediately took note of his wife's paleness and trembling body.  He took her hand in his and began caressing her knuckles and when she turned her face to him he leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek.  "I am here now, my love."

Arianna offered up a weak smile to her husband and gripped his hand.  "I feel so tired and drained and I have not even begun to…"  Her voice trailed off as her bottom lip began to quiver. 

"Derek, why is she so weak?"  Marsyas asked through gritted teeth, fearing for his wife.

Katrina immediately stood up to give Derek full access to her granddaughter.  She walked to the foot of the bed and wrung her hands nervously.  What is wrong?  She doesn't…something is not right.

Derek licked his bottom lip as he took in Arianna's appearance.  Why indeed is she so weak?  I do not understand this at all.  "I have to examine her, Marsyas.  Let me do my job," Derek stated anxiously. 

Derek started his examination, lifting up the blanket that covered Arianna.  He placed the fetal heart monitor on her belly as he examined her.  His eyes could not believe what he was seeing.  She has scarcely started labor and yet the baby is in position.  He shook his head and exclaimed, "The baby is coming now.  She must be taken to the birthing tub immediately."

Marsyas eyed his brother, still not understanding why his wife was so weak, but he quickly lifted Arianna into his arms to comply with Derek's request.  He was not prepared for Sasha to begin barking at the top of her lungs and causing a fuss as she began pawing at him to put her mistress down.    

Katrina reached out and scooped up Sasha trying to comfort the little dog, even though she, herself was worried about her granddaughter.  "Everything will be alright, Sasha.  Calm yourself, little one.  The Goddess will watch over her."

Marsyas quickly carried Arianna into the room where the birthing tub was being filled and after settling Arianna into the seat, he quickly removed his robes and rolled the sleeves up on his tunic.  Arianna was barely able to sit up and listless. He could not fathom what was causing her sudden deterioration; it did not seem normal somehow for her to be in this condition at this early stage of labor.

The birthing tub was oval in shape, about four feet long and three feet wide.  It was filled with a water-like liquid that simulated the amniotic fluid of the birthing sack, making it easier for the baby to enter the word in an environment similar to the one in which it had lived for nine months.  At one end of the birthing tub was a place for the expectant mother to sit while at the other end was a seat for the physician to sit and monitor the baby's arrival.  The seat for the mother titled backward and was open in the middle to allow the baby easy access into the water as it was delivered from the mother.  Babies were delivered in this manner for hundreds of years in Eschevelae owing to the fact that it was a less stressful delivery on the baby and extremely comfortable for the mother.

Arianna grabbed onto Marsyas' arm when he knelt down beside the tub and he placed his hand over hers.  "Derek is here to take care of you.  Everything will be all right, Arianna," he tried to assure her and himself. 

She was trembling as another contraction took hold.  "Not ready…the baby is too early," she barely whispered through chattering teeth.

Derek sat down on the opposite side of Arianna, his hands massaging her swollen belly.  "Do not worry, Arianna…the baby will be fine.  A few weeks early is nothing.  I need you to take some deep breaths and when I tell you, I want you to push down.  The baby is right at the opening."  She has not been in labor long and the baby is ready to come into the world.  How could this have happened so fast?  Derek was stumped, but he remained silent as he watched Arianna.

Arianna began taking a deep breath, letting it out and starting over again.  This went on for some fifteen minutes as Derek monitored the baby's heart.  The time was right and Derek touched a lever in the back of the seat and it titled backward three quarters of the way.  "Push now," he firmly stated.

Arianna gripped Marsyas' arm, her nails biting into the flesh as she began to push, but if he felt her nails it did not show in his expression, instead he remained calm, his voice soothing.  "That's good, my love, keep pushing."

Derek was still massaging her abdomen as she bore down and when he looked down toward the water he nodded.  "That is good, keep pushing, Arianna…keep pushing."

Nafrè and Aggie were waiting behind Derek at the foot of the birthing tub, anxiously looking on.

Downstairs, family members were arriving in droves for the impending birth.  Morgan came in and quickly found Sandra.  "How is she?"

"Derek had her moved to the birthing tub."

"I don't understand.  She had another three weeks at least," Morgan said, frustrated.

"I know…Aunt Chrys is very distraught as well as Grandmother.  We just have to hope that everything will be all right," Sandra replied with a faint quiver in her voice.

Morgan sensed her unease and put his arm around his wife.  He looked across the hall at his mother who was pacing next to his father.  "I thought my mother would be upstairs," he said absently.

"Derek had everyone sent from the room except for Marsyas, Nafrè, and Aggie." 

Sandra looked over at Carey who didn't seem to know what to do as she kept biting her lip and wringing her hands.  She glanced at the door, and asked, "Where is my brother?  Is he still at the Command Center?"

"He had to finish up a report, but he will be here afterwards," Morgan said absently, his mind on his sister. 

"I hope he gets here soon, Carey needs him."

Morgan looked at his adopted sister, then back at his wife, but before he could make a move to go to Carey, he saw his brother Reid walk over and put his arm around her.  He gave a sigh of relief as he caressed his wife's back with his hand.  "Reid is with Carey now.  He will take care of her."

Sandra glanced across the hall and took a deep breath.  Thank the Goddess for Reid.    

Back inside the room where Arianna was about to give birth, Derek was still urging her to push.  "You must push again, Arianna, the baby is already in the birth canal."

Arianna was exhausted and every time she strained, she felt something in the pit of her stomach, something that was not the baby, something that made her extremely nervous as she tried to push yet again. 

"Arianna, once more, my love," Marsyas coaxed.

She looked up at her husband, scarcely able to keep her eyelids open.  "I am so tired, Marsyas.  I don't know where my strength went." 

Marsyas glared at his brother in an accusing manner, but when he turned his attention back to his wife, his expression was gentle and reassuring.   "This has been a strain on you, my love, but you must push, please.  Our baby is waiting to be born." 

Arianna's body shook as she bore down with all her might and quite suddenly the baby slid out into the birthing tub with such force that even Derek was shocked. 

"You have done it, Arianna…you have done just fine," Derek said excitedly as he watched the baby move in the water, pushing his hands and feet about, adjusting to this new place he had been born into.

Derek allowed the baby a few moments to adjust, then reached into the tub and slowly lifted the baby out.  The newborn slowly opened his eyes and took his first breath.  "You have a fine baby boy," Derek declared with a huge smile as he handed Marsyas the scissors to cut the cord. 

Marsyas wasted no time in cutting the cord and Derek placed the baby in his arms.  "He has the mark of the Lady," Derek confirmed after looking at his neck.

"Yes, a Guardian," Marsyas said proudly as he looked upon his son.  The baby boy was born with a head of curly ebony hair and grayish brown eyes. 

Marsyas gazed at his wife.  "You have given me a most precious gift, my love."

Arianna felt very strange, but somehow she knew it had nothing to do with the birth of her son.  Suddenly a contraction took hold of her and she started to shake.

Derek placed his hand on her belly and nodded.  "You must push again, Arianna, the afterbirth needs to come out."

"Yes, all right," she barely whispered.  Arianna could hardly keep her eyes open and after one final push, she expelled the afterbirth.

They say you know when you are about to die…when you are about to leave this world to enter life with the Lady; inevitably you know it is your time…you can feel it.  Arianna felt it as she looked up into the mahogany eyes of her husband.  She watched him as he was about to hand their baby over to Aggie to be properly cleaned.  "My son…I must see my son," she said in a weak voice.

Marsyas turned to her and leaning over, placed the baby on her chest where she placed a feathered kiss on his brow.  "My beautiful son," Arianna said almost in a whisper, her strength finally fading.

"You will have plenty of time to spend with him after we help you out of here and get you cleaned up," Derek said as he placed the afterbirth in a small box that Nafrè took from him, where it would remain until the moon was at its darkest stage, and then it would be burned according to custom. 

Arianna watched Marsyas hand her son over to Aggie and once again she felt the odd sensation rumble through her entire being.  It was as if an invisible hand was reaching into her body, tugging at her divine spirit.  She gazed about the room and her eyes widened as they settled on the robed figure across from her.  Tears immediately formed in her eyes as she realized why the Lady had come.  She began to speak, her words sounding confusing to those around her.  "No, my Lady, not now.  I have a son," she cried.

The Lady Isis opened her dark violet robe and beckoned Arianna to her.

"Please, my Lady," Arianna begged once more.

Marsyas had handed Aggie the baby and when he looked down at his wife to try to figure out whom she was speaking to, his eyes widened in utter shock.  "Derek," he bellowed.

Derek immediately turned around after closing the box containing the afterbirth and his jaw dropped in complete shock.  The watery fluid in the birthing tub was blood red as Arianna began to hemorrhage. 

The room turned into a scene of complete chaos as Derek quickly picked Arianna up and laid her on an examining table across the room, frantically trying to ascertain what was causing her to bleed so.

Seconds turned into minutes, but no matter what he tried, the bleeding refused to abate and in a moment of pure frustration he screamed, "What in the name of the Goddess?  Why won't it stop?"

Marsyas, who had tried to remain calm while holding his wife's hand, lost complete control after hearing his brother's outburst.  He grabbed Derek and began shaking him like a rag doll.  "Do something…anything," he yelled in a frenzied rage. 

Aggie was holding the baby and started to cry, holding the baby closer as she stared at her sister.  "Nafrè, do something."

Nafrè put the box down and ran out of the room, nearly colliding with her son, who stood just outside the room with Siathis.  "Azzam, his Lordship is uncontrollable.  The Regent is bleeding to death," she said in tears.

Azzam froze and it was Siathis who ran into the room and pulled Marsyas off Derek, while Azzam stood within the frame of the door his face ashen, his eyes filling with tears.  No my Lady, please do not take her.  Please.

Siathis held Marsyas until he calmed down somewhat while Derek went back to the table to see what he could do for Arianna. 

After some fifteen minutes, Derek managed to halt the flow of blood, but he knew deep in his heart she would not survive, her breathing was shallow at best and he held little hope.  "I have to consider a transfusion," he said wearily.

"A transfusion to replace the blood she lost?  She has stopped hemorrhaging then?"  Marsyas asked in an anxious tone.

"I think perhaps a transfusion might heal whatever is causing the bleeding," Derek replied absently.

Marsyas stared at his brother as did Siathis and Azzam.  They all knew there was no healing blood or life giving fluid to be used for her, only the Regent herself had the power to provide such substance.

In the midst of the pandemonium that had broken out in the household as word spread of what had happened to Arianna, Rashman arrived with Asad.

Rashman entered the manor with his nephew in time to witness Chrys running up the stairs, tears streaming down her cheeks.  "I want to see my daughter, now," she screamed.

Michael was right behind her with Katrina and he reached out to grab her arm.  "Derek is working on her, Chrys.  Give him some time to help her."

Chrys turned around on the landing, her face red, her hands curled up into small fists.  "Give him time for what?  She's bleeding to death and no one can help her.  I will see her now."

Rashman immediately put his hand over his heart.  My Lady, what has happened?  Surely you do not mean to take her from us now?

Carey was being held in Reid's embrace as they stood with Morgan, Sandra, and Rachel and Joseph who had joined them a short while ago.  She was crying as was Sandra and Rachel while the men held them close.

Morgan, Reid, and Joseph remained stoic, but it was plain to see the tears they held at bay.  Emotions were running high and no one spoke, too afraid to voice their fears aloud and make them a reality.

Ahmed was standing at the opposite end of the hall speaking with Ezra and when he saw his father, he quickly went to him.  "I was worried about you, Father."

Rashman shook his head to clear it.  "What happened here, my son?"

Ahmed's lower lip trembled in an unprecedented show of emotion.  "The Regent went into labor and after the birth of a baby boy, she began to hemorrhage.  Derek could not stop the flow, but it has abated somewhat now.  He wants to do a transfusion, thinking that it will somehow heal the wound that is causing this, but there is no such transfusion that will…"  Ahmed could not go on, his voice cracking as he spoke.

Asad stood in the middle of the hall, long brown priestly robes covering the Guardian robes he wore underneath as he did not feel entirely comfortable wearing the robes of a Guardian.  He scanned the hall which was filled with family members of the Regent and noticed how they all stared at him, not able to see his face, because he had the brown hood of the robe up over his head.  He slowly inched his way back toward the foyer.  He opened the door and after he closed it, took a deep breath.  Too many people for my taste. 

He turned around and noticed the statue of Isis in the niche and huffed.  "You asked me to come here only to watch her die.  How fitting that her son will not benefit from his mother's love."

Asad was about to open the door to walk outside when he noticed a blue mist form in the foyer.  He turned abruptly and when he saw the Lady Isis walk out of the mist he swallowed hard, dropping to his knees.

"You speak so coldly, Asad."

He looked up at her, his blue eyes hard, filled with hatred and anger.  "Why not?  She means nothing to me."

"This is your chance to redeem yourself, my young Shifter."

"How?" he asked suspiciously and with the tiniest flicker of hope. 

"You will offer your life saving blood to my Regent, for you were born of the first Shifter.  Your blood will heal her." 

"Why should I do such a thing?"  The glimmer of hope he had held suddenly vanished for there was no way he would even consider helping that woman. 

"The baby has not known the love of a mother.  You would deprive this tiny life of his mother?"

"I was deprived of my…"

"You were grown when your mother died, Asad."

Asad was about to argue when an image of his mother took shape in his mind and a single tear spilled down his cheek.    

"I could tell you that you will wander in Rament for all eternity…your soul in torment and darkness, but that would not be the lesson I hoped you would learn."

"I will offer up my blood, but I doubt they will allow me to…"

"You will be firm when you approach Derek and he shall not refuse you."

Asad stood up, but a thought suddenly entered his mind.  "You could easily heal the Regent."

"You would learn nothing if I were to do that.  No, Asad, you have a lesson to learn and I shall not interfere."

Asad exhaled and when he would have made another remark, the Goddess had vanished.  "Very well, but I shall reserve judgment on my feelings for this woman, the woman who my father favored over my mother," he gritted out.  He could not see what lesson he was to learn from this, but he would do it.  He remembered only too well the love of his mother and he could not condemn the tiny soul to a life of never knowing such divine love.

Asad walked back into the hall and looked up at the stairs.  He took a deep breath and started through the crowd right up the marble stairs until he reached the room where the woman who had screamed earlier was holding a baby.  He knew the Regent was inside this room and did not stop until he stood right in the doorway.

Rashman and Ahmed had watched Asad walk up the stairs and quickly followed behind him.  "What is he doing, Father?  What kind of chaos will he cause now?"

"Stop that, Ahmed.  Let us find out what the Lady has told him to do."

Ahmed's eyes widened in shock.  "The Lady?  You think she told him to…"

"Quiet.  Let us see," Rashman replied as they reached the upstairs hall.

It was Michael who put his hand on Asad's arm to stop his entrance into the room.  "Who are you?  What do you want here?"

Asad had been staring at the examining table where the Regent lay; blood was everywhere and he felt a knot form in his stomach as he remembered how his mother had died.  He took a deep breath and carefully pulled back the hood of his brown robe, his golden mane of hair falling free, his features finally coming into view.  "I am Asad Worsret Sama and I come to offer my blood to the Regent."

Derek and Marsyas quickly turned around and Siathis and Azzam walked closer to get a look at the young man.

"You shall not…"  Marsyas was quickly interrupted by Rashman.

"You must allow him to help.  It is the will of the Lady Isis, herself that he do so," Rashman declared.

"Why?  How can his blood help?"  Derek asked.

"My blood will heal her.  I am the son of Miklios, the first Shifter," Asad ground out.

Derek nodded his head frantically.  "Come then, we have not much time."

Marsyas moved aside to allow Derek to prep another table for Asad to lie down on, all the while his eyes never leaving the face of the man he had heard such terrible things about.  My Lady, will he really help?  I cannot lose my wife now, not now after waiting so long to be together.  Marsyas approached Arianna, who lay unmoving on the table, and gently brushed the hair out of her eyes.  My sweet wife, do not leave me and our son.  He needs his mother.  The stood there looking at her, the tears welling up in his eyes.

Derek quickly set up an IV for Arianna and hooked up one to Asad.  "I do not have the time to set up a monitor…"

Asad grabbed his arm.  "Just begin the transfusion.  I will know when it is time for you to stop."

Derek looked at the young man as if he were a lunatic.  "I cannot judge…"

"You do not have to.  I will know.  Start now before you lose her," he said anxiously, all the while the image of his mother remained engrained in his mind. 

Derek did as he was told and began the transfusion.

Everyone stood outside the door except for Marsyas who held Arianna's hand.  Please, my Lady, do not take her from me.  Please, I beg of you.

Derek noticed the change immediately as Asad's blood flowed into Arianna; the color had come back into her face and her lips were rosy once again, her breathing more even.

Asad's lips quivered slightly as his healing blood was delivered to the Regent and when his face broke out in a sweat and his body began to tremble he heard the Lady's voice. 

"Enough, Asad.  You have given enough."

He swallowed, his mouth parched.  "No more.  She has had enough," he said weakly. 

Derek quickly stopped the flow of blood into Arianna and watched the steady rise and fall of her chest, but she did not awaken.

He removed the IV setups and examined Arianna while Marsyas looked on anxiously.

"Why is she not awake?"  Marsyas asked in frustration.

"I do not know.  She seems to have slipped into a comatose state similar to the one she experienced after she was shot and had gone through the transformation."

"Do something," Marsyas growled.

"There is nothing to be done for now.  I am going to have Aggie and Nafrè bathe her and then let her rest in her own bed.  We have to wait and see."

Marsyas slammed his fist against the wall in frustration.  He had fully expected Arianna to immediately wake up and look into his eyes, telling him she was going to be fine, but instead she lay in a coma.  He never felt more helpless in his life. 

In the hall, Sasha paced the marble floor howling, the forlorn howls reaching out to everyone except her mistress. 

A Regent's Sacrifice – Chapter 4