Forty Eight

The awkward silence that followed was broken shortly after, as Cole came back down the stairs carrying an empty stretcher, two nurses following him close behind. "Ah, Marian, and Camille, thank you," he said addressing the elder one, then the younger. They both gave me small smiles in greeting, and bowed their heads sightly towards Thane, before following Dorian into Elsie's cell.

Cole came over to put his arms around me from behind, resting his head on my shoulder as we waited for them to carefully move and secure her. It was only a few minutes until they came out again, the two nurses carrying the stretcher, with Elsie on it, still unconscious. They both seemed concerned for her, and eager to get her back to hospital, and Cole kissed me on the cheek before heading quickly back up the stairs to let them and Dorian out again.

The heavy door thudded closed, and Thane and I met each other's eyes, and he pulled me against him tightly, resting his head on mine. Our moment of solace was