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Kit ripped the torn clothing from her back, rather relieved to see her bra had also been sliced through. Gently lifting Stephanie’s unconscious body, he tore the contaminated clothes away and flung them into the nearest fireplace. A snap of his fingers started a blaze, and even Kit was startled when the fire turneda sickly green. Confirmation of the infection Stephanie was currently fighting. Kit had no idea it would have moved so fast.
He soaked cotton wool in the water and gently dabbed Stephanie’s back. The first piece came away a nasty yellow, which grew deeper into the same colour as the flames as he continued cleaning the initial cut. Kit was cursing because he guessed the darker tinge meant more infection.
Once he’d cleansed the first long gash, he began the second.
He noticed green fluid coming from the previously washed scratch as he finished the second and started over with that before moving on to the second again and then the third. Before attending to the new tears, the previous ones had to be cleaned again.
“Hell,” he mumbled. The poison was so fast-acting.
Finally, Kit was pulling the initial yellow puss from the wounds, and he ended up pouring two bottles of pure whiskey over the injuries.
Stephanie released a scream, even though she’d been unresponsive the entire time.
Guilt flashed through Kit, but he knew it had to be done.
He generously smeared her back with antiseptic cream and placed thin strips of fabric over it to let the skin breathe but also aid healing. Kit experienced a triumphant blast and knew The White Witch had won her battle as she joyously sent images of hugs and dancing at him. He congratulated her, and she flinched at the tiredness he was displaying.
Kit sensed her rummage in his mind quickly before withdrawing, and then soothing cool air swept over Stephanie’s back, which was burning up. Stephanie’s hair ruffled as if someone ran a hand over it, and then she disappeared before his eyes.
Kit leapt to his feet as he opened his senses and relaxed when he discovered The White Witch had placed Stephanie in her bed.A small bottle appeared next to Stephanie as he teleported to her room, and he picked it up.
Antibiotics. Well, they wouldn’t hurt.
Sitting Stephanie up, Kit put one in her mouth, trickled some water in and then rubbed her throat until she swallowed automatically. Once she’d done that, Kit laid her back on the bed.
Stephanie was running a temperature, and it worried him. He’d cleaned the worst of the poison out, but he’d treated nothing like this. There was a poultice that CeeCee made that would draw out infection, but he didn’t have any here. Kit couldn’t leave the inn to collect the ingredients because that would break the spell holding his prisoner captive.
Even as he pondered, Kit and The White Witch felt the intrusion simultaneously and quickly reacted to protect their home. A sharp slap around the back of his head sent Kit reeling as the presence withdrew with a loving kiss on his forehead.
“That was Wollscombe!” Kit exclaimed. “How are you in contact with her?”
The White Witch offered a tired denial, and Kit sensed the truth in her words. Somehow, Wollscombe Hall was well aware of what was happening and able to come and go as she liked.
Kit wondered why once again. His previous pondering had come up short. But he wasn’t surprised when, moments later, a jar appeared on the table next to Stephanie’s bed.
It was CeeCee’s poultice!
Kit sent gratitude and love towards his family home, unsure if Wollscombe would sense him, and opened it to spread the stinky mixture across Stephanie’s wounds. He placed the thin strips on her back again and settled in, prepared for a long night.
???
Kit yawned as he blinked in the bright sunlight streaming through Stephanie’s bedroom window. He was rather shocked to realise he’d drifted off to sleep. It was something he’d not needed to do often, only when he was drained to the point of no return.
“How long was I down?” Kit murmured as he glanced across at Stephanie.
The sheets were tangled around her, and she’d displaced some of the strips and angry red skin showed. A foul smell filled the room, and Kit immediately recognised the scent of infection. He’d stayed up most of the night caring for her, changing the bandages, and cleaning the wounds repeatedly. Even so, the poison still bled from her body. At one point, he’d got the book Wollscombe had sent him and was using some blank pages at the back to keep a diary of Stephanie’s injuries. It might help future generations.
CeeCee’s poultice was doing its job, pulling the poison from her slight frame, but the toxicity was fast and deadly, and Kit felt they were merely hanging on. Stephanie hadn’t regained consciousness all night, but her whimpers and cries of pain had stung Kit deeply. It angered him that her ex was such a bitter bastard. It was clear that the fiend lacked honour or morals. And Kit was developing a genuine hatred for him.
The White Witch offered him an image of three, and he guessed she meant he’d slept for three hours. Moments later, she generously sent him a burst of energy, which helped him feel rejuvenated. Kit dropped all the used dressings into the fire as he prepared once again to cleanse the poison from Stephanie. And Kit refused to acknowledge the brief surge of emotion as he gently cleaned the wounds and reapplied the poultice.
No, there couldn’t possibly be anything between them, he reassured himself. He was still tired, that was all!
Stephanie
Stephanie winced and her back cried out in agony as she shifted. She never slept on her stomach, so why was she now? Her mouth felt like something had crawled inside and died, and she sat up to look for water. Spotting a glass, she grabbed it and drained it greedily. It was then she became aware her top half was naked while she wore PJ bottoms. Anxiously grabbing the sheets, a cry left her lips as her body protested, sending sharp pain down her spine. Stephanie’s skin felt tight, and she was confused and wondered what the hell was going on.
Kit flashed into the room as she covered her breasts, and a look of relief crossed his face.
