Strings of Fate

200- Healing and hunger Since Kiara probably isn’t up to braving the stairs and she really doesn’t want to be carried around everywhere, we decide to ask Dr Dae to cup to the bedroom. It’s actually kind of weird having so many people in here.

Bellamy is a fairly private person, he doesn’t generally invite people to hang out in his... our room. Dr Dae shuffles in clutching her usual bag. I'm surprised that Bellamy isn’t carrying it for her because it looks kind of heavy, but | suspect that she wouldn't hand it over anyway. | immediately greet her.

“Thank you so much for your help. Your contact has beca great friend and she’s a huge part of the reason we were able to find Kiara here.” | nudge Kiara gently with my elbow and give her a little smile. She looks very small and delicate in the oversized, mismatched clothes with her hair dripping down her shoulders. She’s so pale that the bruises on her skin stand out and look even worse than they actually are. Dr Dae givesa half nod of acknowledgement then turns to Bellamy.

“Out. The young lady needs privacy.” She demands. Bellamy leaves immediately, although I think | might hear him grumble something about women kicking him out of his own room which makesgrin.

Dr Dae is just as gruff as usual when she talks to Kiara. | kind of wish | had warned her to be gentle, but I'm not brave enough to risk offending the woman.

“Well then girl, I'll need to look you over which might be a bit uncomfortable and | will need to know details about what you are so that | can be aware of any other complications. | understand you have a second mark since you have multiple types of magic. Where is it then?” She asks firmly. Kiara looks up atwith pleading eyes.

“She was talking earlier, but since we got her out she hasn't said a word. | think she might be in shock or something.” | tell Dr Dae. Kiara squeezes my hand in thanks. The doctor grunts. I'm worried she’s going to try to pressure Kiara into speaking when she isn’t ready yet but | shouldn't have concerned myself. She just shrugs.

“Very well then. Point out where your other marking is.” Kiard points at a spot on her left hip. | didn’t really see it while | was helping her get clean as she was submerged in water most of the time. Dr Dae raises an eyebrow.

“Interesting. You must be something rare for the MRO to put it in such a hidden location. Let's have a look at it then.” She reaches out and Kiara flinches a little. Dr Dae pauses and waits for Kiara to meet her eyes.

“You're safe withchild. | just want to make you better.” She promises. Kiara relaxes so she must believe her.

Dr Dae lowers the edge of the shorts Kiara is wearing and her eyes widen in surprise.

“Oh, well it looks like you can take care of yourself anyway.” She remarks bluntly. | glance at the marking but | don’t recognise it. It’s a dark grey colour and looks like a really decorative X. | can see Kiara physically retreating into herself, curling her arms in around herself and lowering her head. Dr Dae just ignores her change in b*dy language and continues her assessment. Clinical and efficient. The first tshe touches Kiara’s arm the little girl’s head darts up in shock. She stares at Dr Dae who gives her a short nod. Kiara instantly relaxes and even smiles at the unfriendly doctor. | have no idea what happened but it seems like Dr Dae has managed to earn Kiara’s trust in the last twenty seconds. Interesting, she’s going to have to tellher secret. | mean, Kiara seems to trustalready, but something significant just happened and | don’t want to step on a land mine later and mess things up.

one o The rest of the ch*ck up doesn’t take too long. Dr Dae pulls out one of her secret not terribly legal potions that | now know cfrom Cam which actually makestrust them way more.

“Here girl, drink this. It should help with the pain in your ch*st and get that bruising to heal up a bit faster. It should 1/2 200- Healing and hunger.

also help with those stiff muscles of yours. Now, I'm going to need you to have three good meals a day from now on and to try to walk around for at least half an hour a day until you're back to normal alright.” She narrows her eyes at Kiarn who gives a determined nod.

“As for your voice, I'm sure you'll talk again when you're ready. Don’t take too long though dear, I'm sure your guardian here would love to talk to you properly.” Then Dr Dae winks. SHE WINKS at Kiara and smiles. Well then, T guess she can be sweet when she wants to. The more | see her the more | like this woman.

“Alright young lady, I'm just going to have a quick chat with the Alphas and then I'll head off.” She tells her. I'm too busy frowning at her use of the plural for Alphas to notice Dr Dae staring atpointedly.

“Oh for goodness sakes girl. Get a move on.” She rolls her eyes atand pokesin the arm. | get to my feet, disentangle my hand from Kiara’s and follow Dr Dae to the doorway. | smile at Kiara as | step into the hallway to reassure her that I'll be right back. | also make sure to position myself so that Kiara can still see me. Bellamy has been waiting on the other side of the door this whole tand he stands up straighter as we exit.

“Well, that girl has clearly been through a lot. She is very underweight and malnourished. Her muscles have seized up from spending so much tstuck in one spot. | suspect she was only able to move so far to follow the Witch due to the magic leashing her to the woman's side forcing her to follow.” She says “woman’ like it's a curse word and in this case, | have to agree. She continues her summary, “She is likely deficient in vitamin D from being stuck in the basement so long and | suspect she has the beginnings of a ch*st infection, although the smoke inhalation wouldn't have helped with that either. The potion | gave her should help with most of that, it basically will jumpstart her immune system and healing. She will probably be extra hungry for a couple weeks. Make sure she has plenty to eat, meals at least three times a day and snacks in between probably.” She pauses and rummages around in her bag.

“Here, drink this, both of you. Split it.” She order I'm already taking a sip of the greenish coloured potion before it occurs tothat maybe | should have asked what it was before drinking it. Still, | finish my half and hand it to Bellamy who also drinks it without question.

“Good, that should help take care of the smoke inhalation. Do try to avoid getting yourselves killed in the future.” She grumbles in a way | am beginning to realise is her way of showing affection.

“Now, as for the rest of it. | can explain how the Witch died. How the bitches victims were killed too actually. The girl did it.”