Blue Crystal - The Heavy Price

Day 13

Fiona Viper and Ranger sat in the castle gardens. Tẽra the new queen had gone inside. Her new monster in laws talking with Griffith on the balcony of their room. Fiona didn’t understand what was being said but Ranger was listening in. The smoke from the funeral had died down. Fiona leaned her head on Ranger’s shoulder.

“What are they saying” Fiona asked Ranger.

“Let me listen.” he replied.

Then Griffith left and Drake came in. Ranger listened in.

“Griffith wants the Dragon Rider’s to fight against the queen. Drake wants his parents to help find his companion Jessica.”

“The newest earth girl?” Fiona asked.

“Yes. But his parents are lying to him. But I am not sure why or about what exactly. I can see the dishonest color on them.”

“You can see through walls?” Fiona asked with an impressed tone.

“Only the soul, not the flesh.” He answered.

“How does that even work?” Fiona asked.

Ranger was not sure how to answer.

“You are amazing.” Fiona said grinning.

She kissed him. After all the death and seeing as life was really short. She didn’t want to be beating around the bush waiting, hoping, she knew he was what she wanted, and she didn’t see any reason for her to delay the inevitable.

Irania another Mystic Healer came looking for Ranger to find him kissing the woman from another tribe.

“Ahummm.” She interrupted “We have been asked to help with the wounded.”

“I will be there soon.” Ranger responded.

Irania knew it was Fiona that asked the queen for their freedom. But she really didn’t like Fiona being with Ranger. She liked Ranger.

“I need to help with the sick.” Ranger told Fiona.

They both walked into the castle together. The smell of blood and flesh, met them.

Fiona decided she was going to start cleaning up the blood. It was everywhere. She decided one room at a time and the dining room would be the first place. She went to the kitchen and fetched a scrubbing brush, a broom, a mob and a bucket. She went to the sick bay and asked for disinfectant.

“Hi what can I disinfect things with?” she asked.

“Alcohol.” Shane replied.

She saw a skinless unrecognizable body on a bed, she could tell it was a woman. Her skin was ripped off and most of her hair was gone. Her face was not recognizable.

“Who is that?” Fiona asked.

“Rachael.” Shane answered.

“Rachael?” Fiona gasped.

Tears came from Rachael’s eyes but no words. She couldn’t even open her eyes.

“Do you know her?” Shane asked.

“Yes, we traveled together for a while, she was branded as a slave. After the person she arrived with, Chris, sold her.”

Rachael groaned.

“Chris killed Natrica. The one the queen buried in the tomb.” Fiona explained.

Rachael just cried. No words just faint sounds.

“I am going to call Ranger.” Fiona ran out and went to the other sick rooms.

She found Ranger healing some of the minor injuries. With those from his tribe that were still willing to stay in the castle after the attacks. They were helping heal those that were wounded.

“Ranger you must come, Rachael is badly injured. They found her and she needs your help.” Fiona babbled while leading Ranger to Rachael’s room.

When Ranger saw Rachael, his heart sank. He approached her but Shane stopped him.

“Who are you? You can’t just some in here.” Shane told him.

“Hey.” Fiona said.

“He can heal her. Let him heal her.”

Shane stepped aside and let Ranger do his thing. He held Rachael’s hand. Then he put his forehead on hers.

Right before their eyes her skin began to heal, and her body started to look more like Rachael. But then Ranger stopped.

“She is too weak. I cannot continue. But I will come again later to check on her.”

“What did you see?” Fiona asked.

“Villages dragged her behind a horse all the way into the City Point. She should be dead and she still might die. She has lost a lot of blood.” Ranger told Fiona.

Fiona went to Shane.

“What about a blood transfusion?” she asked.

“That would be great but how?” he asked.

“What do you need?” Fiona asked.

“Someone with the same blood type willing to donate. Needles, tubes, bags for the blood”

Fiona interrupted him.

“Why bags? Why not go directly. Someone sits next to her and gives blood.” Fiona asked.

“It’s risky” Shane said.

“I will find the things you need. You figure out how to test the blood types.” Fiona ran off.

She found Kerri-liana Jones. She was hiding in a broom cupboard reading her new book.

“You speak native. Come, I need blood for Rachael. She has been found and is in very bad shape. We need needles and hygienic tubing. For a blood transfusion” Fiona hurriedly explained.

Kerri looked at her.

“I can take us home now.” Kerri said.

“What are you talking about?” Fiona said.

Kerri looked at her while still sitting on the floor.

“The wizard told me how to get home.” She said.

“That’s great and I want to go home. But sitting in a cupboard is not taking us home. Nor is it going to help Rachael. So, get up, snap out of it and help!” Fiona said.

Fiona grabbed Kerri’s arm and pulled her to her feet. Kerri’s book fell out of her hand and landed on the floor.

“Natrica is dead.” Kerri said blankly.

“Yes, and Rachael will join her in the afterlife if we don’t help her.”

Fiona realized Kerri was in shock. She was not going to be much help. But Fiona needed to make sure Kerri didn’t now die too. Fiona pulled Kerri towards the sick bay. Keimoni saw her.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Kerri is in shock. I am taking her to the sick bay. You can help me. I need needles and tubing to save Rachael. She has been found and Ranger has healed her as much as he can but without blood she could die.” Fiona explained.

Keimoni picked Kerri up and carried her to the sick room.

“What is your name?” Fiona asked.

“I am Keimoni the queen’s Viden.” He replied.

“And you speak English?” Fiona inquired.

“If I kiss someone, I know everything about them, I have their memories and their knowledge like English.” He answered.

“Who did you kiss?” Fiona asked.

“Natrica.” His voice was different.

“The girl that was killed?” Fiona asked.

“Yes, the one the queen honored.”

“So, you know we are from earth?” Fiona inquired.

“Yes, all the English speakers are from Earth including our queen and her secret is safe with me. It is in my best interest that she stays queen.” Keimoni said.

In the sick room Keimoni put Kerri on her feet and walked over to Rachael. Rachael looked away.

“Who are you?” Shane asked annoyed by all the people in and out of the sick room.

How was he meant to work?

“Her boyfriend.” Keimoni replied in the queen’s language.

“Pull up a chair.” Shane replied.

Shane turned to Fiona.

“Have you found needles?” he asked.

“Nope but I found a Kerri in the cupboard. She is in shock. But now that she is here. I am on it. Have you found a way to test the blood?” Fiona asked.

“Yes, but now I need candidates.” Shane said.

“I think we should start with Earth people.” Fiona suggested.

Fiona went looking again. The language barrier was a problem and finding small things in a castle organized by aliens was challenging. But Fiona found what she needed and took everything to Shane.

He had been testing everyone’s blood to see who was a possible match, and who was not. He tested anyone willing whether earthling or native. He didn’t even worry about tribe. At this point in the evening the sun had gone down and Shane was working by candle light. Spice brought in an oil lantern.

Lakisha and James walked past.

“Hey you two. Rachael needs a blood transfusion. Please let Shane test you and see if you are a match.” Fiona said to them.

So, James was tested, and he was a match. Shane hooked them up and began the transfusion. Rachael tried to hide her face. She didn’t want people to see her all ugly and a mess. Even though most of her skin had grown back it was not all of it, there were still raw places, even on her face.

Spice came in and saw what James was doing.

“You can’t do that. You will kill her. James had only just recovered from magic poisoning.” She objected.

“What?” Shane asked confused.

So, Spice told him about James’ purple spots that turned him purple and explained how she healed him with magic from Kerri’s book. But she wasn’t sure if he was truly cured. Shane explained that without blood Rachael could die. If she gets blood, then Ranger can heal her more, maybe even completely. Finally, they agreed and then, Spice wanted to learn how to do a blood transfusion and how to test for compatible blood.