Exton

Alise slowly opened her eyes. The badly swollen eye was open a slit now and she looked around the room. Judging from the light she could see between the blinds it was early evening, the sun would soon set. She turned her head and looked at Stoney, smiling when she saw and felt his hand under hers. She was still resting on her tummy and afraid to move. Her back felt better since she was off of it and Rowans compresses had taken much of the burning sensations away. She slowly pushed herself up a bit with her arms, “Raina?” She could see someone sitting in a chair on the other side of Stoney but couldnt tell who it was.

Rowan came quietly to the bed, “Hi, how are you feeling? Raina is sleeping. Can I help you?”

Alise whispers back, “I am so thirsty, can I have something to drink?”

“Of course you can. Ever had Gatorade?” Rowan returns from the kitchen with a glass, straw and squirt bottle.

Alise giggles, “Are you going to spray it into my mouth?”

“What? Oh, no..' Rowan smiles and sits on the floor near Alise. “The spray bottle is for your back, to make the compresses wet and cold again so we dont have to take them all off just yet. We will have to change the one on your chest tho. Here, just sips for now. Dont drink too much at once.”

Rowan busies herself tending to Alise. When she is satisfied, she sits again on the floor and offers Alise more to drink. They talk quietly and visit, becoming friends. Rowan getting Alise to tell her a little of her childhood and how her and Stoney met playing in the cemetery as children.

Motioning towards Stoney, Rowan says,“He makes a very handsome gargoyle...”

Alise laughs, “And a very handsome man too.”

Rowan smiles, “You should rest, Mortuis will be here soon, I think he wanted to speak to the two of you. And it wont be long before Stoney is awake.” She pulls the sheet up and gets Alise settled.