CHAPTER 38

The day was getting late, and Mordecai had found himself wandering into Moxxis bar, with nothing better to do. As he plonked down on a barstool, Moxxi placed a bottle of rakk ale in front of him.

'Such a sad face' she purred, as if she was getting joy from his weary mood.

'Such a heartfelt comment from such a heartless bitch' he countered, in no mood for her games. He took a long swig from the bottle. Moxxi remained un-phased by his mood. The pairs once torrid love affair was just another grain of sand in the desert to her.

'Your new playmate grown tired of your sulking already has she?' Moxxi snickered, leaning forward on the bar so as the show more of her bosom than the hunter cared to see.

'No' he snapped. 'she hasn't. Not that its any of your god-dam business'

'Well, then honey, what are you doing in my bar?' She showed no sign of offence.

'Dont flatter yourself, I'm only here for the grog' He turned away from her, surveying the room quickly. Thank god there was a free booth at the back, he thought to himself. He needed a place to think for awhile. Maya and Lillith were still with Montayva, and he felt completely useless to her. It was eating away at him. It wasn't that he minded the fact that she was such a independent woman who had no trouble taking care of herself. But more the fact that the other two sirens could be there for her, when he couldn't. A loud bang caught his attention, as Lillith burst through the bars heavy door. She was leaning over the bar, talking with Moxxi. It was when he noticed Moxxi nod in his direction, that he realised she was looking for him. She turned, and he noticed the few small bloodstains on the front of her shirt. His mind filled with panic, and he jumped up, striding quickly towards Lillith.

'Whats happened? She ok?' He asked, but Lillith didn't give him the answers he wanted.

'I think you better come and see for yourself.' She explained, 'But its not good, I'll warn you now'

'Fuck' He muttered under his breath, to which Moxxi raised her eyebrows in amusement once again.

Maya was still sitting beside the younger siren. Both their markings glowed as the blue haired siren fed the other any extra energy she could spare.

'We've been at it for nearly four hours now' Lillith went to lift up the bed sheet 'And this is what's happening' Mordecai felt his heart skip a beat as he approached the bed. Her wound hadn't changed abit, fresh blood till oozed slowly.

'Nothing! Nothings happening! How can that be?' He kneelled down beside Montayvas sleeping figure.

'I dont know!' Lillith admitted 'When she was shot, it took her half this long to heal. She hadn't woken up, so I took her bandages off, and, well, you know' Maya lay Montayvas hand back on the bed, and took a deep breath.

'I'm wrecked' Maya admitted 'I dont know how much more energy I can spare her'

'Its like she's absorbing all this energy, but its not doing her any good' Lillith was quite puzzled as to why it wasn't working. Montayvas eyes flickered open. Mordecai was immediately beside her.

'Whats... what's going on?' She breathed weakly. Mordecai leaned down, kissing her gently, stroking her hair as he did so.

'We dont know.' He said hesitantly 'You're not healing' He watched as her eyes widened, and she tried to push herself into a sitting position wincing as the pain came flooding back.

'Ouch! Dammit, what's happening?' Montayva looked towards the other two sirens 'How long has it been?'

'Just over 4 hours' Maya said, sitting on the edge of Bricks bed.

'That long?' Montayva whispered, glancing around the room. Mordecai didn't possess her ability to read moods, but even he could see the distress etching itself across her face. She closed her eyes, and took a deep breath, forcing back the panic that tried to engulf her mind. 'I felt the energy you guys were feeding me' She kept searching through her brain, trying to make sense of things.

'So we were doing it right?' Maya asked.

'Yes. You cant not do it right' Montayva shrugged, Mordecai helped her into a better sitting position.

'Could it be infected? Like Brick suggested?' Lillith offered more suggestions, and Montayva leaned forward to lift the now blood stained sheet. She didn't say anything, but her eyes widened as the horrid gash gaped back at her.

'It hasn't healed at all has it? It's almost like, like a human wound' Montayva was quite puzzled. As a siren, she healed alot faster than regular people, as well as having received two doses of insta-health.

'Even the insta-healths should have taken affect by now' Mordecai added.

'I just dont understand where all the extra energy has gone to. It cant just escape into thin air' Montayva said 'I even feel weakened still' She rubbed her eyes as she said this. Mordecai at on the bed beside her, and wrapped his arms around her. He wanted to offer her some comfort in the only way he knew how. She relaxed against him, and sighed.

'Guys, dont worry. I will be fine, its not that bad of a wound. It's just bizarre that its not healing like it should. But its not getting any worse, so, please dont worry' she pleaded. Lillith realised that by all of them worrying about her, would only end the poor kids brain into overdrive.

'Well, maybe we can try some more insta-health?' Lillith suggested 'We'll get your wound all cleaned up and covered again, then rest for a few days, see how that goes.' Maya nodded in agreance, but there was nothing else that they really could do.