As soon as the sun set Zacharias appeared behind Bianca. "How did this happen?"
The doctor that had been more or less dragged to the ranch that afternoon looked up from his post next to Serenity's bed, startled by the sudden appearance of the oldest De La Cruz brother.
"She…, she fell señor. She came downstairs mid-day and I spoke with her for a moment in the kitchen. She was going back to bed but I heard she and Ginny scream only a moment later. Ginny … she said she scared the girl on accident at the top of the stairs and tried to grab her but missed and scratched her instead." Bianca stuttered and stumbled with her words, for the first time feeling fear standing next to Zacharias.
"Where is Ginny?" Zacharias snaps while moving to the other side of Serenity's bed.
"She hides in her room crying señor. Por favor…, la Niña did not mean to cause this." Bianca had never seen Zacharias angry before and felt compelled to protect the child from taking responsibility for Serenity's accident.
Zacharias sighed while running his hand through his hair. "I know Bianca, thank you for taking care of her. Please make sure Ginny is okay."
Although he already knew his lifemate's condition after a quick internal assessment, he turned his attention to the physician sitting by her bed. "How is she?"
"The wound was not that extensive Señor De La Cruz. I sutured the injury to her scalp but she has remained unconscious and unresponsive. I told your staff that it would be best to take her in to the hospital where I can run tests but they refused. I believe you will be more understanding and realize that valuable time has been lost waiting here. We must take her in now!" His self implied superior knowledge in comparison to the De La Cruz workers incompetence made him angry once again. He had wasted valuable time as a result of the men taking him from his patients at the clinic and consequently been forced into a long vigil at the ranch. Only the knowledge that it would not go well for him if he left and the young girl died kept him from leaving since she was a guest in the home of one of the most powerful families in Brazil.
Zacharias read the impatience in the doctor's voice and replied calmly and politely, "I thank you for your valuable time away from your place of business in an attempt to take care of our guest but I will watch Serenity myself for a few more hours and decide whether to follow your advice."
Bianca came back into the doorway with a sniffling Ginny by her side. "Bianca, please show the good doctor downstairs. My brother will be happy to provide transportation back to town and see to any cost that you feel is adequate for the time you have spent here." With that said, Zacharias directed the doctor to the door and Bianca touched his elbow to show him out. He shrugged her hand off visibly and walked quickly into the hall.
Zacharias directed Ginny with his hand to take a seat where the doctor had been sitting and walked swiftly to the bedside near Serenity. He stood looking down at her small pale figure beneath the sheets, almost forgetting Ginny's presence until she started to sob again.
"I am so sorry Uncle Zacharias… I didn't mean to … I am so sorry!" As she started talking she began sobbing harder and shaking her head while biting her nails. Within moments Rafael appeared beside her and Colby stood in the doorway obviously instructed to stay back.
Zacharias glanced at Ginny, "It is okay little one. It is an accident that could easily happen to anyone…, however, I may consider adding a lift after this day is over." He smiled slightly trying to lighten the girl's mind but succeeded in shocking her and his brother with his small attempt at humor.
"Will she be ok? Bianca said she is in a coma…"
"She will be just fine once she finds her way back to us." He replied more as a comforting hope to himself.
"Ginny let us go and help Bianca with dinner. She is very far behind with everything that has happened." Colby suggested while helping her from the chair.
The room stayed quiet for a short time after the girls left but eventually, Rafael and Zacharias looked over the bed at each other.
"Her spirit is not within her. It is seems further gone then Manolito's spirit was when he was poisoned." Rafael stated bluntly.
"If you believe her spirit has already crossed over, I will follow the same path and bring her back." Zacharias replied without looking up from Serenity's face and inspected the pale gold roots that were already showing beneath the black hair dye. To himself he muttered, "Why would she do something as silly as this?" then sighed audibly.
"You cannot do so my brother! Only a few healers, not excluding Mary Ann, have been able to visit the shadow world on their own accord."
"Do you not think me as capable to follow my lifemate into the next world and bring her back?" This time he looked up quickly with a challenge in his eyes.
"You know it is not that, but our brother's spirit was still partially in this world, and Serenity's body is just a shell right now. There is not even the tiniest thread of spirit to follow. We can only hope she can find her way back on her own"
