The Demise Of Varick

[Captain Marcos de La Costa]

A Few Days Before The War...

It was not unusual for Kaori to wake up before the sun. Her eyes would flutter open as a content smile would pull at her lips, the soft warble of the morning dove bidding her a good morning. Some mornings her beloved would wake before her, while others she would beat him, but either way, he was always there with her. Whether he had already roused and was moving about the room to get ready to return to his ship, or he was still laying beside her for a little extra time sleeping (or even better, a day off with his family), he was almost always there. There was an exception, alas, during war-time when he was out at sea. That time, thankfully, was behind them, however. Her husband was home, healthy and just as much in love with her as she was with him. And it was so easy to start her day with the affirmation that he was to be a part of it.

This morning she was fortunate enough to still find him in bed beside her. That was her favorite way to wake, with the warmth of his body at her side and the luxury of being able to look at a face that was flawless. Everything about him was flawless, aesthetics aside. He was a war hero, a gentleman, brave and strong, an excellent (excellent) lover, and everything a woman could want in a husband and a father to her children. She took an extra few moments to thank both her Kami and his God that he was a part of her life and luxuriate in the comfort of his presence before pulling herself away to start the day.

The both of them had responsibilities outside of home. While Marcos was the captain of a ship, Kaori was the kingdom's High Scholar and the personal tutor of both Skye's prince and the charges beneath Lord and Lady Campbell. Their mornings usually consisted of getting ready to leave the house and helping Mary Beth if she needed it. Breakfast was always ready and while pleasant, not as pleasing as the more leisurely meal at the end of the day. Kisses to the children and to one another were never forgotten by either Captain or Lady de La Costa, and then they were off in their respective directions.

The day had not been too difficult. The children had done well in their studies and Kaori had spent an hour or so with Nathan to work on his swordsmanship. While the day had been sunny, there were clouds that could be seen in the distance, and by the time Kaori was home, the day had grown quite dark and windy, and there were occasional flashes in the clouds.

Walking in the door, Kaori removed her cloak, looking around the entrance hall. Her house was one of her favorite places to be, but it was more quiet than normal. Almost eerie. "Hello?" she called out, looking around. "Mary Beth? Chibies?" The maids were either in their quarters or running errands in town, for they were not there.

Kaori quickly made her way upstairs. The babies and Mary Beth were usually in the drawing room, but it seemed the lower floor was deserted. "Mary?" Kaori called, heading down the hall. All the doors were closed. Kay moved to the babies nursery and saw a shadow pass under the door. "There you are," Kay said as she opened the door. "Are the babies still napping? They-"

As Kaori looked up from turning the nob, she froze. She was frozen, the fear so cold it was painful. She thought for a second she might pass out, but the sight of the monster in her children's room made her remain conscious. He looked different out of his armor, but it was Varick nonetheless. It was unreal. He was not supposed to be a part of her life anymore. She didn't even dream about him any longer. Nothing could have prepared her for the vision that greeted her.

As the reality of the situation stole over her, she started to regress to a younger version of herself, scared, helpless and so very alone. She remembered the horror, the pain and how disgusted she was to even look at herself after the fact. And there he was... and he was holding Carrine.

"Shh, Kaori. You'll wake the baby."

Kay's eyes shot to Cal's crib to see him sleeping soundly. The horror of what he might have done to her children somehow forced the words, "What did you do to them?" out of her throat.

"Well, I've been observing you for a week, Kaori. You've let your guard down. But I suppose that's natural with your husband, now. Old tall, dark and handsome probably keeps you perfectly safe, doesn't he?"

"He'll be home any second now," Kaori whispered, a tear sliding down her cheek. What did he do to her babies? To Mary Beth?

"Actually, he doesn't usually get home until a couple hours after you, but who knows what could change, aye?"

"What did you do to them?" she asked again, staring at her beautiful daughter's placid face.

"Did you know your nanny follows a very strict schedule. Set a clock by it, you could. And at noon she always sets her tea and both bottles on the kitchen sill to cool so she can change a couple diapers or whatever she does at that time. So it was quite easy to drug her tea and then both the bottles." Seeing the panic in Kaori's face he started to laugh. "Don't worry, Kaori! I don't want them dead. I just used a little bit. They'll just be sleepy. I mean, really... this beautiful little girl would make a great snack, but I much prefer a more mature vintage, hmm?"

"Put her down," Kaori whispered, tears slipping from her eyes easily now.

"Of course, of course," said Varick, softly kissing Carrine's cheek. The sight of such a thing almost made her scream. "Mary Beth is sleeping in a chair downstairs," he said softly as he set Carrine in her crib. Kaori was not stupid enough to attack him while he was in arm's reach of her children. The attack wouldn't have been successful anyway. "I see your situation has changed. But not my feelings for you, Kaori. I still adore you as I always have."

"You've left me alone!" she argued, trying to make him remember he didn't give a damn about her.

He turned back to her and flashed that smile. "An oversight, Kaori. When you returned to your bloody institute security was too tight. Fortunately they were kind enough to let me know where you relocated." Laughing he said, "Oh, what do you think? Do I blend in?"

"What do you want, Varick?" she asked, hating feeling so scared and helpless.

"I always loved how you said my name," he said, his typically charming smile turning so cold as he slowly started to advance on her. "Oh, look at that. I hadn't noticed before now. You must love having children." He tsked, shaking his head. "Look, I'll do my best not to take as much as I did last time. Remember? When you made me so angry I almost killed you?"

She backed away from him until she hit the hallway wall, wishing she could crawl into it, her nails fruitlessly clawing at the wall behind her. "I'll fight you," she whispered.

"And I'll win!" he muttered as a very pathetic scuffle began. He was not even a foot away and Kaori's arms both struck outward to try and strike him. Quick as lightning, both of his hands caught hers, and before she could kick, he brought a knee up, just under belly. "Look at this, Kaori. You can keep fighting but I just spared your unborn baby, just like I spared your two little babies in their room. Fight me again, I'll kill one of them, probably the boy as I'm fond of the girl. Make me any angrier, I'll kill you, kill the boy and take the girl for my own. To be quite honest, I'm not so sure I'm leaving without her anyway. You'll have to try to convince me by being a good girl. You remember how to be a good girl, don't you? You behaved before..."

"Things were different there," she argued, but what did he care of her situation?

"Oh, Kaori..." he whispered, leaning forward and whispering into her ear as she tried to pull away. "Now you have so much more to live for. If you simply play along, maybe you'll emerge from this with some of it left."

What could the Nihonnin do? Every option was unthinkable, but she couldn't risk her unborn child, her son... and by the Gods, this monster would not have Carrine!

Kaori could barely stay on her feet as Varick grabbed her wrist and yanked her toward the steps to follow him. "One false move, and I promise you, Kaori, I'll keep you alive long enough to see your unborn baby bleed out of you, then I'll move onto the twins." It was hard to think up a plan when one existed in this much fear.


Marcos usually didn't make it home until a couple hours, sometimes three after Kaori. It always depended on what had been done during the day, where to stop and where would it be easier to begin at on the next day. As he walked from the port to a nearby stable, he would gather his things and mount Argento. It was time to head home, to see his beautiful wife and family. To greet and be greeted by Mary Beth and the rest of the house staff.

On the way home, he had noticed how dark the sky was becoming and figured another storm was on it's way or in the making. Either way, Turas Lan would soon see rain. As he made his way down the beaten path to his home, the first thing that struck him as odd was none of the outside lanterns had been lit. Hm.. maybe the grounds man was a little late and behind on his work. He'd see Argento to the stables where the stable keep took over from there.

Marcos decided to round the house to see if he could spot the grounds keeper as he made his way toward the front. With a slight frown, he shrugged it off and if the lanterns weren't soon lit, he'd just do it himself. He then entered through the front door and was about to call out but as his eyes lifted... another oddity struck him. The house was dim, as none of the lanterns or candles were lit in here either. His brows furrowed and he quietly shut the door behind him. He removed his cloak and hung it on the hook in the entrance hall.

As he moved further in, the Spaniard began to get this uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. The hairs on the back of his neck stood straight up and his dark eyes began to carefully scrutinize each doorway, hallway, as well as the rooms when he neared them. He reached one room only to find a sleeping Mary Beth and his brow arched even more. He neared her and whispered her name thinking maybe she had simply dozed off, but without any response...he knew she was in a much deeper sleep than usual. This would also alarm him and so he gazed upward, wishing he could see through the floor above him.

Carefully and quietly Marcos moved up the stairs that lead to the landing area. He stayed hidden by the partial wall and listened for any sound to indicate anything he needed to be aware of. He heard nothing as of yet and thought it safe to move further down to the door to his and Kaori's room. Leaning against the wall and not the door itself, he listened and again heard nothing. So he moved further down until he reached the next door that would lead to the small hallway to the children's rooms.

The door was left open... something that he nor Kaori did and he knew Mary Beth would know better. Just as he was about to take a step to cross the threshold, that is when he heard voices. Then he heard other noises like a scuffle...and by now, he had already oh so carefully removed the rapier from its sheath. He moistened his lips, his head tilted back to rest against the wall behind him and silently he said a prayer. He then boldly peeked around the frame of the door to see Kaori being grabbed by an assailant.

Suddenly his blood began to boil, his jaw tightened and his teeth clenched. His eyes narrowed and quietly..he moved forward. Before the man or Kaori would ever have noticed his presence, the tip of his rapier was pressed to the mans back. It was not pressed to the center, no... it was pressed to the spot where should he suddenly feel the need, it'd be shoved forward to pierce skin, cartilage and then his heart. In a very low and dangerously threatening tone, he spoke. "Senor... I will ask for you to remove your hands from MI wife...and prometo ... harm her or mi bebe...it is you I will watch bleed dry..."

Marcos's eyes would never shift, his body would never flinch, his breathing was calm, the arm that was outstretched and pressing the rapier's tip was as straight as an arrow. The invisible target was easily something he would have no problem aiming for and succeeding in reaching. There was a look in his eyes that if the assailant could see at this very moment, would very well have him doubting his next move should he dare to test this man. His lips would continue to remain in that thin somber line before he spoke once more. "Turn around...slowly...and suffer me, face the man who will gladly take your life."


At the moment Kaori heard her husband's voice, she instantly wondered how she could be so lucky as to have him come home early. How, of all the possible days he might be able to get home earlier than normal, could it possibly be this day? How lucky could she be? And in the next instant, she remembered there was no such thing as luck. As it had been on the day they met in a distant land, this was an intervention of Fate.

Kaori's eyes darted to the cribs, then back to Varick's face. For a split second he had looked surprised, but not scared. Kaori didn't really believe Varick was human enough to have an emotional range that might include fear.

The surprise disappeared and it was replaced with a rather amused smile as his eyes slid to the side. He couldn't see behind him, but he knew that there was a rapier in a very precarious position. Still holding fast to Kaori's wrist, he laughed. "So you would like me to release your wife, turn around, and then die? Surely, Captain, our Kaori would marry a man intelligent enough to understand that no man in his right mind would follow a set of instructions that would ultimately lead to his demise. That isn't a reward at all."

Kaori's chest was rising and falling rapidly as she tried to get around the mixture of abject horror and intense relief. Unfortunately, the relief was fading as she realized this wasn't over. The babies were in their cribs, and by the Gods, did they need to see a healer as soon as possible. Varick would not give up without a fight, and while Marcos was damn good, so was Varick. Simply using the words "our Kaori" was a tactic to anger Marcos. If Kaori had learned one thing from her father, emotions such as fear and anger could tilt the scales in the enemy's favor.

"You know, Marcos... I may call you Marcos, may I? I'll give you half of what you want. I'll start to slowly turn around, but I cannot yet release your beautiful wife. I can see why you married her, cutest little thing, isn't she?" He slowly started to turn, but his grip on Kaori's wrist tightened. "I do need to ask, though... Just how quick are you with that weapon? Quicker than it would take for me to, say, slam your wife into the wall? While I'm sure she would recover from her injuries, I doubt your baby would. Do you risk his life?"

Throughout Varick's words, he was very conversational about everything. He was mocking him. Kaori winced, knowing there would be bruises on her arm from Varick's grip. Her eyes quickly moved to Marcos, however. She was getting a bit more of herself back, her confidence bolstered by Marcos' arrival. She silently tried to tell him that while Varick might very well attempt to harm the baby, she would not let that happen. Marcos was playing his part in this. It was time for Kaori to step up and do her part: Keep their baby safe.


Marcos would continue to hold to his position. As the man spoke, he listened and let most of it roll off his back like water does to a duck. "Senor... not only did she marry a man with intelligence, but a man who as a last act of honor, is giving his enemy a chance to face the man that is about to end his life. I can easily change that if you wish and simply pierce this rapier just so." He replied as he had yet to retract the tip at all as the man stood there a moment, possibly debating.

" Y Senor... whether you decide to follow mi request or not... you will still meet your demise." Marcos said as he continued to steady his arm. With the rapier still held to the man's body as he had turned to face Marcos, the tip was now pressing hard to the man's chest over his heart rather than from the back now. "It seems as if it is your destiny is to die anyway... judging how I have yet to move mi weapon as you slowly turned, only for it to be still on the target I am aiming for."

"Call me what you like... it makes no difference. You have found yourself in a position you can not easily worm your way out of." As the man continued to talk, Marcos would allow him to think he was taking every word personally. In a sense, he was... but not to the point where this rambling would have Marcos lose focus on his objective. Marcos was a battle savvy man and knew that enemies... single men or armies, would use any tactic to take focus off of themselves in hopes to place it elsewhere. To give them that window of opportunity to strike based on the mistake made... which Marcos de La Costa would not and did not fall for.

At the remark Varick made on wondering how quick Marcos was, this made the Captain smirk. "Senor... if you are so bold a man... why don't you make the first move and find out for yourself." He replied to the assailant. "The only life here at risk.. is your own...and I am growing tired of your nonsense. Perhaps I should just end this now and rid the world of such a terrible excuse for a man. A man who has to prey on a woman that is with child. A man who is scared to face someone of equal strength, and well.. I would offer smarts.. but I am thinking you are lacking in that area mi amigo...for you chose the wrong house to venture in."

Varick may have been mocking Marcos in order to try and distract the Captain, but Marcos was smarter than that, so he decided to turn the tables. That he in turn would mock Varick...anger him...take his focus off of Kaori and the children so that a window of opportunity was given to Kaori to get away and let him deal with Varick. Hopefully Kaori would catch on to this just as he had at her hinting of her not letting the man harm the baby. That was something Marcos knew to start with, despite her clues with the looks of her eyes and the mouthing of lips. If there was one thing any living being with common sense should know, that was you did not threaten a woman who was a mother and used her children to do so.

[hotarokaori]

Varick: Varick's chest hitched as he silently laughed, looking from Kaori to Marcos with clear amusement. "Ah, so you're a gentleman, I see." The smile on Varick's face was very cold... evil as it fell on Marcos. "I must say it's no fun to hunt prey you can't take. And it just so happens I've taken your Kaori. Haven't I, Beautiful? Again..." he mocked them. "Again..." His face started to twist with an expression that might have been misconstrued as anger. "And again!" And it was then that he sprung into action. He didn't think he could emerge this alive, but that was not to say he was going to make it easy on the Spaniard. He had, after all, stopped Varick from getting what he had so patiently plotted for. The first part of the job was easy. Varick was very quick indeed. His arm holding Kay wrist rocketed outward, Hell-bent in throwing her face first into the wall and terminating the life of the unborn. He then focused on Marcos, trying to dodge the rapier, though quite certain he'd be unable.

Kaori: Kaori? She had been prepared for what he said he was going to do. Rather than obey Varick's powerful push, she managed to pivot on her ankle just enough so that her shoulder took the full force of the impact, thought at a price. A sickening pop was heard as Kay crumpled to the ground with a shriek of pain, her face contorted as her teeth clenched. The pain was blinding, lights flashing before her eyes as she battled to stay conscious. (d)

Marcos: The dark eyes of the Spaniard would not shift in the least bit. His body was still rigid and unmoving. His lips thin with a slight tug at one corner with the smirk he would come to hold. Marcos knew this man was a dead as the moment he stepped foot in this house. Varick obviously knew that now, as he had misjudged both Husband and Wife. That the two knew each other like the back of their hand and could easily read what was expressed on the face of the other. As Varick sprung into action, the dark gaze lifted, eyes would go wide and with the force Varick used to shove Kaori into the wall, this gave Marcos the force to shift his arm, flick his wrist and drive the rapier deep into the man’s chest to pierce the black heart. Marcos stepped closer, taking the man by his opposite shoulder, and with the last bit of exertion...drove the rapier deeper as he pulled the man to him. Marcos met the fading gaze of Varick with a fierce glare. His lips parted and the Spanish accented voice was heard. " I warned you senor... you will... and now have met your demise." He said coldly. "When your maker asks you who was responsible... tell him.. Marcos de La Costa... " He added before he pushed the man back violently and withdrew the bloodied rapier. :::

Kaori: Kay's breathing was coming in harsh gasps as she tried to push herself away from the body of her former rapist, glad he was dead, but too worried on other matters to rejoice. The arm that still worked moved to her belly, but there was no pain there. The pain was in her shoulder. She moved to feel for it, but it felt... wrong. Where her arm should be connected there was just flesh, no bone... and blinding pain. "Marcos," she gasped, her face still contorted. She was barely able to breathe, let alone speak. "I think my arm is... dislocated," she said, wishing she could think straight. The babies! She wanted to get up to check on them, fighting to get to her feet. She just needed a better vantage point to make sure they were still breathing. "My babies," she gasped, never feeling so pathetic and helpless... Well, not since the last time she met Varick, at least. (d)

Marcos: Marcos watched as the body fell to the floor. The man’s eyes began to close shut and his hand moved to the place where the rapier had pierced his body. Marcos stared down at the man, not feeling a bit of regret in seeing to his death and even spat at the man as he lay dying. Men like his disgusted the Spanish Captain. At Kaori's calling his name, it was like a switch. He shifted from the cold, calculated Captain to the caring and loving husband as he kneeled down beside Kaori. "Mi amor!...Tell me... tell me where it hurts." He said as his free arm moved to slip under her good one and help lift her to her feet. His eyes immediately going to her belly and praying she'd not say her stomach. As he helped lift her with one arm, his hand never released the rapier. It was very unlikely the attacker would make any last moves but still... He called out to see if any of the maids had returned to the house then sighed a breath of relief when she said it was her arm that pained her. He nodded and then glanced to the cribs where Cal and Carri slept and held Kaori up so they could both move closer to check them. :::

Kaori: She was grateful for the help, though drunk through her haze of pain. She saw the steady rise and fall of first Caliban, and then Carrine's chest. She then staggered to a chair as a maid came rushing up to find out what was going on. "Yer nanny is asleep on the- EEEEEEEEEEEE!!!" Her shriek was just as painful as a banshee's, but Kaori looked toward the cribs expectantly. Tears started to slip down her cheek s again as she watched them through gritted teeth. They didn't stir... "He drugged them," she said, her hand still gripping the area of her shoulder awkwardly, wishing she knew how to fix herself. "He said he did," she choked out through her tears. "They need to see a healer. Or - No!" She looked at the made intensely, saying, "There's an herbalist. She lives due east, not a mile away. Send someone or go your bloody self, just get us some help! Make sure she's told two infants have been drugged!" The maid didn't dare ask how Kaori knew this as she rushed off. She didn't mean to forget about Mary Beth, but through the pain and concern, not to mention the dead body on the floor, she couldn't really focus very well. "Marcos, I don't want the babies in here with him anymore," she said. "Help me move them to our room. Please?" Just the sight of that monster kissing her baby was enough to make her feel ill enough to vomit. (d)

Marcos: Marcos and Kaori moved closer to the cribs, he was supporting her with one arm while his other still had the hand gripping the rapier. After checking them, he helped her move to a chair. His eyes cut to the maid that entered and as Kaori finished giving a few details, Marcos spoke. "Send the stable boy... have him mount Argento... go .. now!" he exclaimed before he returned his attention to his wife. He nodded at her request. "You sit here.. let me get them.. but first." He said before he sheathed the rapier, then moved to take Varick’s hands and drag him out to the landing strip...then to the small hall near the study. He returned to the babies’ room after sliding the dead body out of her sight. His hands wiped clean on his breeches and with a baby in each arm, moved them to his and Kaori's master bedroom. Another maid came up by then to inform the household that help was sent after, but found herself staying beside the babies while Marcos helped Kaori to their room.:::

Ada: To say Ada was not yet established in her shop was a gross understatement. After finally sweeping clean every last surface of her shop, she began putting the earthen jars containing her protected and beloved inventory upon the inset shelves behind the long L-shaped counter. None of the apothacarist's tools had yet been unpacked, and boxes made her shop nearly unnavigable, save any but the spry healer, it seemed. Yet when the front door opened and the lad flung himself over an unfortunately placed crate, Ada had no choice but to say she was open for business. She listened to the message with a concerned look on her usually happily unconcerned features, and dove into a nearby box where she then dumped the contents out onto the counter and began nestling the appropriate jars within. She had no time to pack a bag or measure out smaller pots, but she was at least able to find her favorite mortar and pestle and a length of semolina -- lavender scented loosely woven cotton cloth that she used in lieu of heavy linen. She held tightly onto her box as she rode behind the lad back to the de LaCostas' manse. He helped her wrangle the box through the front doors, where she contemplated waiting to be shown into the lord and lady, and then decided, with two infants' lives at risk, would rather be called an ungracious guest than a poor healer. "Bonjour, my friends, I am here," she called out softly as she made her way up the stairs, the lad struggling to hold the box without toppling over backwards from its weight. *

Kaori: Kaori was grateful for the help. The monster was out of the baby's room, but not his blood. Not his presence. She could still sense it in the air, still feel his hold on her wrist. Sure enough, as she looked at her arm, she could see ugly purple and black welts where he had tightly gripped her. It disgusted her to see his mark left on her arm, proof of his interference in her life once more. He may be dead, but his marks would be there for at least a couple weeks. Once back in her room and seated on a chair she closed her eyes, battling the mental anguish. "You didn't have me this time... Never again..." she whispered, not even realizing she was speaking aloud. Looking up and seeing a mirror she was compelled to risk 7 years bad luck and tear it down, but no. He didn't taint her. Still, her reflection was not a sight that brought her any comfort so she quickly looked away, instead focusing on her babies. She didn't care if her arm never worked again. She just cared about them. She lost all sense of time when she finally heard a woman's voice on the landing, her eyes shooting to Marcos. Care nothing of an ungracious guest when Kaori was an ungracious hostess. She was in a little too much pain to attempt standing. (d)

Marcos: His eyes kept shifting from Carrine, to Cal and then his wife. He was kneeled down by the bed, speaking concerned words in Spanish to his two babies. Asking them to listen carefully as he told them what would soon be happening as someone was on their way to help them, as if they could really hear him. At the sound of the woman entering, his dark gaze lifted and he quickly moved to his feet. "Si! Senorita... por favor... the bebes... they are in need of help, of medicina..." He said as he moved closer to her and without thinking, gently took her by her wrist to lead her over to the babies laying on his and Kaori's bed. "Mi wife... she says her attacker drugged them...." He explained, but seeing as he knew little about the whole incident and how it started, he looked to Kaori to finish filling the woman in on just what had transpired. Meanwhile, he looked to the boy, nodded silently in thanks before growing quiet while eyes shifted between them all. Marcos debated on whether he should get Varick’s body out of the house completely now or wait... then decided he'd wait to see what was said and could be done for his and Kaori's children. :::

Ada: Her first priority were the twins, of course. She knelt down beside the bed as she listened to the story being told, each sentence picked apart and the information filed into separate places in her mind. "How long have they been asleep? Do you know when the poison was introduced?" she asked softly but firmly, leaning her head down to the little boy's chest and listening very carefully to the heartbeat. Slow, but steady, without any arrhythmia. Breathing was regular and skin was warm to the touch, but not hot. She straightened up slightly and reached forward to gently take the little boy's head in one hand, her other hand holding open the eyes and checking the pupils. She repeated the exam on the little girl, checking for rashes or other signs of toxin, and finding none. Despite finding no sign of poison, this in itself was a clue as to what had been introduced to their tiny bodies. She asked for a pot of water to be brought to a boil and went into her box to pull out the jars of herbs and her tools. Surprising them all, as she waited for the water, she went to strew herbs on the fire. The sweet scent of calamus rose first, strong but not overwhelming, with bass notes of warm masculinity. Lavender, with its spiky floral softness, emerged next. Healing was as much mental as physical, and though the body was dead, memories remained. It was best to purge those with the poison, and she did so with great efficiency. "You hit the wall, Madam Scholar? Was it straight on?" she demonstrated, "or from the front? The back?" *

Kaori: Kaori had looked to the maids in the doorway, quietly saying, "Look for the bottles or Mary Beth's tea cup. They should be downstairs somewhere. You, stay in case we need something." At this point Kaori looked pale, but still alert as she watched the woman with her babies. She was silent, barely breathing, wishing they weren't so still. Usually when Carrine slept her arms were up over her head, not at her sides as they were now. It looked so unnatural to her. When the water was requested, one maid rushed away as the other returned with the tea cup and both bottles. "The tea was spilled on the floor, ma'am, but there are still some dregs in the cup." She set down both bottles and the cup before moving back to the doorway. Kay's eyes closed as the sweet scents filled the room. When the question was asked they opened narrowly and she asked, "Hmm? Oh... Umm, more from the back of my shoulder. Around here," she said, reaching across to tap the area, but wincing and quickly recoiling the arm. She looked at her shoulder hanging uselessly beside her, and the odd sight of its positioning made her stomach clench uncomfortably. It looked positively revolting, but she hadn't a clue how to fix it and really didn't care to until her babies were seen to. (d)

Ada: "Aha," she said, with a nod. "Do not worry. It is painful now, but dislocated shoulders are not so bad when they are put to rights again." She went to where the items had been placed and picked up the teacup. She gave it a little sniff. Her nose was highly trained, even if she often gave off the impression of perhaps not being particularly wise. When she was at her craft, few were better than she. Also, mandrake had a distinctive scent, no matter what was done to it. Her nose wrinkled instantly in reaction. She was tentative to work with the substance at all because it was so dangerous, but she knew the scent, knew how to use its leaves, and had treated more than one intoxicated villager who thought to make a love potion by mixing it with wine. She carefully set the cup back down and turned to Kaori. "The good news is, I know what the poison is. Their nanny?" she assumed, but had not seen to the additional victim, "likely had a normal dose. The children, if they had received any more than what they have already, would have shown symptoms far more severe than they show now. Mandrake is an hallucinogenic in large amounts and can cause fevers and sweating. But in small doses, it causes deep sleep. I believe they will be fine, but I would like to stay with them through the night to be certain." If she had any doubts, they were not apparent in her face. She would not induce vomiting unless she thought it was dire, and the children were in no distress. "May I take a look at your shoulder now?" Ada gestured to a chair. She was barely taller than the Scholar, when she truly needed the advantage of height to make a perfect lever. While Kaori sat, Ada gently touched the top of the shoulder and the front. Already, the swelling was significant. If she did not put the joint back into place now, there would be permanent damage. *

Kaori: Kaori took her word for it, agreeing that it hurt like Hell now. The uncertainty of her children's well-being, however, was far more painful so she simply worked through the pain. Kaori usually handled pain much better, but she had been through an ordeal that had been far more trying mentally than physically. It had been a few years now since she saw Varick last (not counting her nightmares), and his appearance had brought her back to the darkest time in her life, when she had been aimless, scared and so frighteningly alone, teetering on the edge of sanity. She couldn't internalize the pain like she normally did. There was too much confusion in her brain for her to manage such a feat. The explanation of what was happening to the babies was listened to with a very careful ear, and when she said she wished to stay through the night with them, Kaori nodded vehemently. "Yes, of course. Anything. Please. I mean thank you. Of course." Of course, if the babies were well, Kaori supposed she should have her arm put right again. When she moved to the seat, the shift of her dress would easily reveal that her belly was starting to round in the early stages of pregnancy. She was quiet as she let Ada inspect her shoulder, her eyes avoiding looking at it again. It was ugly. She didn't need another peek to confirm it. (d)

Ada: Luckily, Ada was efficient enough to only need one exam. The swelling was indicative of where the injury was centered, though she could do nothing about bruises or swelling until the shoulder was mended. "This will hurt," she said, holding Kaori's arm by the wrist in preparation for slipping the bone back into the socket. "I will count slowly to five, and on five, I will push the top of your arm back in alignment with the socket." It was quite an easy fix, actually, but if anyone was watching, Ada would look nothing short of ridiculous trying to get leverage on anyone. She could see Kaori was haunted by her past, and perhaps had little care for herself at the moment. It was Ada's job to pay attention to all of her patients, from the lady's husband to the babes. "One," she began, slowly lifting the arm, straightening the elbow. "Two." She found a good angle, her left fingers touching Kaori's shoulder to confirm. And just after the "three," popped the humerous into the joint. Though the reduction would be phenomenally painful, as soon as the bone was back in place, the pain would cease immediately. Ada waited, just a moment, to ensure Kaori was with her so far. Then she slowly put the arm through it's motions, checking with the woman to see if there were any twinges of pain that might indicate muscle or tendon damage. *

Kaori: Marcos had decided to leave the room so he could get the filth of the rapist's body out of the house, recruiting both the stablehand and the groundskeeper for help. In the mean time, Kay's arm needed fixing. Oddly, when Ada told her there would be pain, Kay had softly whispered, "Good,"[/b[ in reply. She mentally prepared herself for what promised to be uncomfortable, steeling herself against the pain. She could do it. She had until the count of five to prepare. ... So it was quite a surprise when she heard herself yelp at precisely the same time she heard a rather disgusting noise that she never wanted to hear again. "GOD!" she exclaimed through gritted teeth, as she gasped for air, though the pain was already starting to drain away. "You said five..." she muttered, though as she inspected the arm nothing flared up. "It aches," she said quietly, "But nothing is making it worse." Though she could at least look at her shoulder without being compelled to lean over a basin. All the while she wondered why. Why did people have to be like that? Why did men like Varick exist? What would Marcos think of her, now having seen exactly what had tainted her so many years before? It wasn't right. Yes, Varick was dead. But at what cost? (d)

Ada: "If you had tensed, the bone would not have gone in, and we would have had to do this again." She slowly drew the arm down and placed the hand in Kaori's lap. Perhaps this made Ada less of a healer, but she had the sudden urge to draw this slight, exotic-looking woman into her arms and hug. She didn't, of course, but her heart strained in empathy. Who would poison two beautiful children? Who would harm a woman like this? Who would destroy what was obviously a very close and loving family? A monster, Ada thought. For she had never known terrible men, but even they would not inflict such deliberate and personal cruelty. Ada took a deep breath and let it out slowly. There was healing to be done, so much healing to be done! She pulled out the jars and stacked them on the nearby bureau, piling several fresh herbs into her mortar and rolling her pestle gently along until she had a thick herbal paste. She cut a length of semolina and rolled the past out onto the cloth, then applied both, paste-side down, to Kaori's shoulder. "I will leave more of this paste for you, if you would like to apply it to those bruises," she said softly. Up close, there was nothing but fresh, herbal cleanliness -- daisy, meadowsweet, iris, and arnica. For reducing inflammation, for healing bruises, for taking away pain. And lavender for peace. She cut another length of semolina and tied it into a sling for the woman's arm. "Come to my shop in two weeks, or visit Lady Aislin's infirmary. I am but an herbalist, after all." She stepped away again to fix a cup of tea. Having noticed the swell of pregnancy, she chose her herbs with care. Dried heads of chamomile and feverfew flowers were added to the cup, and she poured hot water over the herbs, allowing the mixture to steep before placing it in Kaori's hand. "I have often found sanctuary in my garden, my lady. But perhaps your sanctuary is elsewhere. I talk to my flowers when I need an ear that will not judge me. I weep to the daffodils, because I know their yellow heads will be smiling when I look up again. And I scream at the rocks, because they will hardly scream back. It is a lie in most cultures that the woman who is stoic against pain is brave and worthy of admiration. The strongest women I have known danced with delight and wept in fear, loved freely and laughed easily." *

Kaori: Well, at least Kaori had an explanation for the deception. And the truth of the explanation was better than, "Because it was funny." Now that the pain was less, she felt her legs were steady enough for her to go over to her children. Her hand softly trailed over Caliban's back before she leaned in to kiss Carrine on the cheek once... twice... three times, the last lingering as if she was using her kisses to purge Varick's from her daughter. She was compelled to scrub her daughter's face, but it was dismissed. Varick's kiss had been to upset Kaori. And it had worked. Friends such as Nathan viewed her as so strong... if he had seen what happened here... Seen her sobbing like a baby as she was manhandled by a monster. She wasn't as strong as she liked to pretend. Not in the least. She had returned to Ada's side so that her arm could be further treated. "I"ll return to you," she spoke quietly. "I prefer an herbalist, actually. Your treatments are closer to what I grew up with. I find a level of comfort in that," she said. She whispered a word of thanks as the tea was passed to her, though she didn't drink it just yet. She was worried about the baby. While her medical knowledge was not extensive, she had studied pregnancy a lot when she had the twins. She knew the placenta could possibly be jolted off, but was sure she'd have known that immediately. As near as she could tell, the baby was fine. With Ada's words, Kaori quietly said, "I have a hard time deriving comfort from anything that cannot answer my questions or dry my tears. I was alone so long that I find myself afraid of hearing my own voice without another to reply to it." She shook her head, shrugging, but wincing and regretting it a second later. Sighing, she said, "I'll figure out where I can find a level of peace. I just doubt I'll find it quickly." (d)

Ada: "That is a part of healing, my lady. Finding your place, hearing your voice, and understanding the response." She did not know Kaori well enough to speak further, though she had a suspicion, they would speak much in the future. Ada would never call herself a witch, but that was precisely what she was. Herbs and a slightly more earthy power gave her strength, an uncanny knowledge, and a sense not unlike her trained nose for what the future held. Too many friends, lovers, and those whom she considered family had passed out of this world too recently for her comfort. They, too, gave her strength, resilience, and even a sense of reservation that she had never posessed before leaving Embrun. "If you need anything, anything at all, please let me know. Do not spend the night staring at the ceiling, my lady, it will bring you no comfort." *

Kaori: She smiled at Ada, though it was tightlipped and mostly forced. "I have my husband. My friends. My books often distract me when I'm troubled, and while it seems more like avoidance than an attempt to resolve turmoil, I find myself in a better state of mind if I turn away for a bit." She suddenly looked startled and while their acquaintance had rather transcended the need for propriety, Kaori was a stickler (something that had bugged the former Duchess and current High Lady to no end). "By the Kami," she muttered, wincing as she remembered she wasn't supposed to say that out loud any more. "Forgive me. I'm Kaori Hota- Er, Kaori de La Costa, that is." She even bobbed up and down in a bloody curtsey. "Forgive me for not introducing myself sooner..." she said uncertainly. "Oh, umm, Captain Marcos de La Costa is my husband. He's... indisposed." Of course, considering there was a body to take care of and Mary Beth to see to. It would probably be apparent from Carrine that Marcos was not the father of the twins. Caliban looked very much like his mother, but Carrine had fair skin that had not come from Kaori nor Marcos. So many signs pointed at an uncomfortable past in this home. Yet most of the time Kaori was seen wearing an easy smile. It was an odd contrast to the reality of her situation, but even still... Kaori was normally a very genuine, very happy person. (d)

Ada: "I look forward to officially meeting him. When he has time." She smiled. "I am Ada de Sauveterre, my lady. Or just Ada. I have never stood much for formality." Which was easy for a peasant to say, actually, though she was unlike any other peasant. The curtsey she dropped was rather graceful, but still hurried. Ada was noble only in actions, after all. The children were lovely, something she had noticed immediately, but duties had her focusing on other matters. She studied Kaori briefly, ever so briefly. The woman had her garden with rocks and daffodils. Who was Ada to judge for retreating to the library when she retreated to the greenery? Everyone walked a different path, but they were all on the same journey. "I should set up a more formal area for making my medicines. My shop is still in disarray from my move, I am sorry, or I would be more prepared." Ada would quietly back out of the room, stopping for just a moment to take the box and its remaining contents to a quiet room where she could process her herbs into more poultices and teas. She saw that look from Kaori, and who was she to stand in the way of a worried mother and her children? *

Kaori: When Ada offered her name, Kaori took no offense. In truth, she didn't even think twice about it. She only stood on ceremony when others did, and it often made her feel much more comfortable when a first name was offered. "Likewise, call me Kay." With the apology, however, Kaori was quick to shake her head. "No, not at all! Please, thank you so much for coming without notice. Take the guest room across the hall. There's a large bureau in there, and a desk, of course." When Ada retreated, Kaori moved back to her children, simply contenting herself with watching them breathe, though wishing she could persuade them to stir. She never wanted to hear Caliban's laughter or feel Carri's hug so badly in her life. At long last she left the room to find Ada. She stood in the doorway before asking, "Would you like to stay in our room tonight? That is where the babies will be." She quickly added, "You will be compensated, of course. For your supplies and your time. I am even willing to donate some time to help you with your shop. I normally tutor during the day, but one of my students is away and lessons are going far more quickly without one of the catalysts of tomfoolery," she said with a slight chuckle. Aodhan, God love him, was a right terror when he and Roric put their minds to it! (D)

Ada: Ada looked up from where she was seated at the desk when Kaori entered the doorway. She stood up and nodded, smiling lightly. "Of course. It would not disturb your sleep so much if I am not constantly in and out of your bedroom. I am always willing to have an extra hand around the shop. There is so much to do. Also, I think I have a few things that you might be interested in." She was not speaking of her gardens, though how was anyone to know that? No, in truth, she spoke about the small library that surrounded her workroom, full of texts about herbal healing from scholars around the known world, in tongues she could not hope to decipher, but thankfully, her Teacher had been able. "Things have a way of coming together and to the right place when it is required of them. I have faith in this." Ada would stay no matter if she was compensated for her work. She never doubted she would be. But it was nice to hear, all the same. *

Kaori: Kaori smiled, not positive she believed Ada’s words, but willing to hope all the same. After all, she had seen and even experienced proof of that belief. Sighing, she said, “I am going to sit with the babies for a little while and wait for Marcos to return. Thank you very much, Ada…” Kaori offered another curtsey before returning to her bedroom to make sure the babies were well. She then had Emma pull out the old bassinettes so they could be brought up to the room. Carri and Cal were easily too old for them, but desperate times… Half an hour later both babies were situated and Kaori was sitting on her bed, unable to do much more than stare at her lap and wait.[/color]