Ask not the sun why she sets

Horatio woke in the hospital to a gentle voice singing beside him.

Why she shrouds her light away

He turned his head slightly and saw Natalia sitting beside him. He didn't remember her ever being informed of his condition or being in the building at the time he collapsed.

And Frank would not have told her had she not showed up to work looking for Horatio to deliver some papers. Still,it felt good to know there was someone sitting there when he woke,and he closed his eyes to listen to the delicate voice.

Or why she hides her glowing gaze

When night turns crimson gold to grey

...

For silent falls the guilty sun

As day to dark does turn

One simple truth she dare not speak:

Her light can only blind and burn

...

No mercy for the guilty

Bring down their lying sun

Blood so silver black by night

Upon their faces pale white

... ...

Cruel moon, bring the end

The dawn will never rise again

Her voice seemed heavenly. But the song she sang was something he hadn't heard in years. Daylight's End was an old lullaby that Horatio's mother used to sing to get him to sleep. She sang it because not only did it get him to sleep for the first five years of his life,but it taught him love the night,when everything was quiet,for the day was filled with pain and tears inflicted by his father.

''...Natalia...?''

The brunette jumped slightly,and she looked down at the redhead. ''Are you feeling any better?''

Horatio sighed. He still felt weak. But he felt a little bit of strength coming back to him from his sleep.

''Not really...a little...but not much...'' He knew it wouldn't last.

''You were trying to tell Alexx something about someone...?''

''His name is Envy...He doesn't live with me,but even if I lock the doors and windows,he finds a way into my house...''

Natalia noticed Horatio was starting to get dazed,but he quickly fought it off.

''He's completely taken over...I'd fight him,but I never have the energy...'' Horatio's head swayed a bit,and he finally lay still for a moment before he turned his head to look at Natalia. He was growing tired again.

''That's enough. You need to-''

''-Wait...there's more...'' Natalia sighed. He wasn't going back to sleep until he finished his explanation.

Horatio loosened a bandage from one of his wrists and showed the woman his damaged skin. The brunette stared. It was still ripped open. The doctors didn't plan to stitch it up until the infection went away. The sight caused a tear to slide down her face.

On the wrist she held was shredded skin and blood smeared in layers upon layers. The middle of the wound all the way around his wrist was red with blood,and the edges of flesh and gashes surrounded the main wound were covered with puss.

''How...''

''...He...he restrains me a lot...He always manages to find the handcuffs...''

''That's what these are from?!'' He nodded.''Is there anything else I should know about him?''

''He's not human.'' Horatio tilted his head to the side to reveal two small puncture wounds.

He went to sit up and take the bandage on his other wrist off to show her something else entirely,but Natalia stopped him and wrapped the bandage around his already revealed wrist securely.

''I've seen enough,Horatio. Go to sleep. Please.''

She leaned over slightly and pressed a kiss against his forehead.

The broken redhead nodded,and he finally lay down to sleep. Natalia pulled the blanket up over his form. She gazed at his pale face and bandaged wrists. She remained unaware that the team was stepping out of the elevator as she was lost in the sight of her love in such a weak state.

A hand came down gently on her shoulder. Frank.

''I've never seen him like this before...It's almost heartbreaking...Did you see his wrists?''

''I...No...But the doctors did tell me why he's so weak...''

''Lack of blood?''

''How'd you know?!''

''The answer is on his neck...Frank,we need to go to his house and start looking for answers.''

''We will. It's already in the plans...''

Envy glared down at the unconscious figure resting in the hospital bed. His brown eyes were glowing blue,showing his hunger.

But he knew he couldn't feed from Horatio. If he tried,he'd kill the redhead. And while there was a strange thrill in killing someone by drinking their veins dry,Envy for some reason felt he couldn't bear killing his slave.

The vampire sat down next to the bed. He brushed a few strands of red hair out of the way.

He couldn't understand why Horatio hated him,or why he was constantly trying to work late. He remembered something Horatio had once said while he was feeding.

'Stop...Y-you're hurting me...please...stop...'

The words didn't make sense to him. He didn't understand them.

Frank slipped a pick into the lock of Horatio's front door. He turned it a few times and relished at the sound of the lock clicking and he turned the doorknob.

''You've been here before,I assume?''he asked when he turned to Ryan and Natalia.

''We both have,''Ryan answered. Natalia gulped. She prepared herself for what the house might look like inside.

''I was here about three months ago,''Ryan paused,''I remember what the inside looked like,but...'' He looked at one of the windows. It was clearly locked.

''But what?''

''Something tells me it's going to look very different...He has a basement. Someone should take a look at it.'' Frank pointed to Calleigh and Eric who were headed around back.

''They've got it handled.'' He pushed the front door open,and nothing could have prepare them for the condition of the inside.

''Oh my god...'' Natalia's heart skipped a few beats.

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Chapter 3's next.