Chapter 15:
"Bloody Reunion"

August 4, 1915
Red Star Chemicals
Research Laboratory Headquarters

Alek could not deny that everything Dr. Barlow had said made perfect sense. Compared to her theory, his own assumptions seemed illogical. Idiotic, even.

"How could I have missed such obvious inconsistencies?" He wondered aloud. "I was fooled as easily as a child might have been!"

"Not to worry, Aleksander," Dr. Barlow reassured him. "The reason why you were tricked was because you had no reason to believe that Mr. Vost was anything but a decent man. I, on the other hand, am far too quick to point out the flaws in others. It's a bad habit of mine. Fortunately it also comes in handy at times like these."

"But why didn't you say anything earlier?" Alek asked.

"Well, I was planning to mention something or other, but then you brilliantly suggested that we ought to use Eliot Vost as a resource in order to derail the production of Black Star. I could not allow that opportunity to pass, so I chose to conceal the truth about Vost for as long as possible, until you could find more information about the weapon. That way, I would be able to keep an eye on Vost and I would notice if he decided to make a move."

Dr. Barlow's gaze shifted from Alek to Eliot Vost, whose face remained utterly expressionless. He resembled a statue more than a man. "I suppose the jig is up now, for both of us." Her face hardened. "I am afraid I cannot allow this to continue any longer. I wasn't positive before, but now I am certain that you know the whereabouts of both the princess, and your colleague, Dr. Chester Sullivan."

Vost's lips curled back in a sneer. "I have no idea where they are! You are nothing but a madwoman! This is a travesty. I demand-"

"Shush!" Alek ordered suddenly. "Do you hear that?" He whispered. "There's someone outside."

Sullivan and Dr. Barlow fell silent. Alek strained his ears and concentrated on the sound of footsteps in the hall outside.

"What is this place?" A muffled male voice asked. "There are certainly a lot of stairs here…it appears to be some sort of…laboratory." There was a pause. "Good gracious, you certainly are heavier than you appear!"

A different voice answered the first. "Oh, I'm sorry, is this a wee bit uncomfortable for you, sir? Well at least you're not walking with a bullet in your shoulder!"

Alek blanched. That voice… it couldn't possibly be who he thought it was…

"I swear, the second we get out of this barking place I'm going to kick that bum-rag Eliot Vost straight in the face!"

There was no denying it. It had to be Deryn. Without wasting another second, Alek threw open the door and burst into the hallway. He collided face-first into someone and stumbled backwards.

The moment he looked up, he realized who it was. "The man from the picture," he breathed, instantly recognizing the leader of the Animal Liberation Brigade by the scar marring his face.

"Blisters, Alek, is that you?" Came Deryn's voice from behind the man.

Alek stepped around him and was suddenly face-to-face with her. An enormous feeling of warmth built up inside of him. It was really her! It was really Deryn, safe and alive and right there, in front of him! Relief washed over him like a flood so powerfully that he felt weak at the knees.

And then that relief was replaced with a paralyzing fear, as if his heart had been frozen solid in his chest. Finally he had noticed the blood. The amount of it was shocking- her front was soaked with it, the bright red a shocking contrast compared to the stark white of the walls and floor. Deryn's face was gaunt and pale, and although she was smiling at him, it was obvious that she was in pain. She was leaning heavily on a man Alek soon recognized as Sullivan, and it was clear that she was barely able to even stand on her own. He had never seen her weaker or more vulnerable, not even when she had confessed to Alek her father's violent, fiery death.

"What's wrong, your princeliness? You look like you've just seen a ghost!" Deryn teased in a breathy voice, but Alek instantly knew she was putting on a carefree attitude to try and hide just how badly she had been hurt.

"Who did this to you?" Alek demanded through gritted teeth. A rage blazing hotter and more intense than any he had ever felt before had replaced the fear that had frozen him. Fury was building within him so quickly that he could not keep it contained. So violent was his wrath that he was shaking, his hands clenched into fists so tight that his nails dug into his palms.

This time, it was Sullivan who answered him. "That bastard shot her." He jerked his chin towards the man Alek had just bumped into.

Alek waited for no more explanation before unleashing his anger. The scarred man didn't have time to react before Alek was on top of him, his fists connecting again and again with his face. There was suddenly nothing in the world that Alek desired more than to make this man feel pain- unbearable pain, the same pain that Alek had felt when he had seen Deryn covered in blood, doing her best to pretend to be unharmed for his own sake. Every single blow sent burning pain shooting through his knuckles, but it was nothing compared to the fire blazing in his chest. Every blow he landed, every crunch that resonated through his bones, satisfied him unspeakably.

"That's enough, Alek!"

It was as if Deryn's voice had severed the thread connecting Alek to his anger. Suddenly, it seemed utterly pointless to hit this man. He stopped, breathing heavily, incredulous at what he had just done. He looked at his hands. They were still shaking, his knuckles bloody.

Then he looked at the face of the man he had attacked. The man was unconscious, bruised, and bloody- but still breathing. Alek expected to feel satisfaction, or fulfillment, or even selfish pleasure, but all he felt was a strange and lonely guilt.

"I…Sorry." He stood and met Deryn's eyes. She looked utterly shocked. "I suppose I lost my temper a bit." He confessed.

Deryn snorted. "I'd say that's a bit of an understatement." Her face broke out into a smile. "But I can't say that I didn't enjoy seeing you punch that bum-rag."

"I can't say he didn't deserve that," Sullivan agreed. He frowned. "How did you find us, anyway?"

"Well…we didn't." Alek explained. "We came to Eliot Vost's laboratory to examine something. Wait- you two were in this laboratory the whole time? This is your company! How did you not know where you were?"

"I've never been to this laboratory before," Sullivan answered. "I perform all the work for Red Star Chemicals in my villa. It was Vost's idea to build this place for the company scientists to conduct independent research." He sighed. "I thought perhaps Vost was involved, but I was hoping that I was mistaken."

"Indeed he is involved," Alek answered. "He and Dr. Barlow are in there right now."

"Well, have I got something to say to him!" Sullivan fumed. "Actually, what are you, an ex-prince, and Dr. Nora Barlow, the renowned scientist, doing here with my scheming business partner?" Sullivan asked.

"Dr. Barlow is holding your colleague at gunpoint and I came here to search this place for a way to stop the production of Black Star chemical gas." Alek paused. "But what I can't understand is what the leader of the Animal Liberation Brigade has to do with this. What would he want with a princess and you?"

"His name is Damian Vost." Deryn answered. "He's probably… working…. with Eliot. I think…that I need…to lie down…" Her words began to slur and without warning, she swayed dangerously. She dropped something- Alek was a bit surprised to see that she'd been holding a gun. Sullivan grunted, obviously a bit overwhelmed. He looked haggard himself.

"Let me help." Alek went to Deryn's side and, as gently as he could, he helped Sullivan ease her slowly to the floor. Alek removed his jacket and placed it beneath her head to use as a pillow. The blind kitten leapt from the jacket pocket as soon as Alek placed it on the floor, and the creature curled up on the floor at Deryn's side, purring. Deryn did not even seem to notice.

"This is not good," Sullivan muttered under his breath. "Her breathing is very shallow and she should have stopped bleeding already." He made eye contact with Alek. "I need you to put pressure on the wound. I'm going to fetch Dr. Barlow and see what she can do."

"But we have to get her out of here, to a medical doctor!" Alek protested. "Dr. Barlow doesn't have the same training or skills!"

Sullivan's face was grim. "Dr. Barlow is our only chance now. If we leave, it will be too late by the time we get to a doctor. If she doesn't get help here and now then she will die."

...

Deryn might be lying helplessly on the floor covered in her own blood, but that didn't mean that her hearing was impaired.

"You know, Sullivan," she said weakly, "it's a wee bit rude to say that some unlucky lass is about to croak when she's right in front of you. You ought to have a bit more tact, you bum-rag."

"There'll be plenty of time for you to insult me to your heart's content later." Sullivan retorted. "For now you'd best conserve your energy."

"But-" Deryn began, but Sullivan shushed her.

"That means keep your mouth shut." He clarified. "Wasting your breath on snarky insults won't do anybody any good."

He's pure dead wrong about that, Deryn thought. Nothing raised her spirits like some well-timed wit. But, considering the circumstances, she decided it might be better to shut her trap. If she did end up croaking, she didn't want her last words to be 'bum-rag.'

"Bring Dr. Barlow then," Alek intervened. His firm voice startled Deryn- she couldn't recall ever hearing Alek sound so severe. "Deryn," he said softly, shifting his attention from Sullivan back to her, "I've got to put pressure on your wound now, all right?" He knelt down at her side, finally allowing Deryn to catch a glimpse of his expression.

She had expected his face to be grim, his mouth a firm line and his eyes intently focused on her wound. She expected Alek to be determined to conceal any sign of weakness. But she was wrong. Instead of solemnity, his face was pinched in fear and uncertainty. He didn't meet her eyes. Gingerly, Alek placed his hands over her wound. His touch was gentle, but Deryn noticed that his hands were shaking. He was barely even touching her.

"Alek," Deryn murmured quietly, and he jumped at the sound of her voice. "It's not going to do much good if you don't press down harder. You're not going to break me."

"Right," he answered, still not looking at her. When he did apply pressure, it took everything inside Deryn not to shudder or call out in pain. Still, she kept her eyes on Alek. She was surprised to see that his lips were moving- he was repeating the same phrase over and over again under his breath.

"Es tut mir leid. Es tut mir leid."

It was German. It took her a moment to remember what it meant, but when she finally realized it, it made her heart swell with sadness.

He was saying I'm sorry. Alek was apologizing over and over and over again.

Slowly, Deryn reached up and tenderly placed her hand on his cheek, turning his face so he had to look her in the eye. When she realized that there were tears in his eyes, she wished she had the strength to comfort him, to wrap her arms around him and let him rest his head on her shoulder.

But she couldn't even manage to sit up. So she settled for words. "Don't be sorry, you dumkopf." She smiled at him.

"But this is my fault!" Alek exclaimed, his cheeks flushed and his voice choked with emotion. "I should never have let you do something this dangerous! I should have stopped you from going into that party. I should have been able to find you sooner! If I had just done something…anything…I could have kept you safe! I should have kept you safe!"

Tears cascaded down his face, but with both hands on her wound, he couldn't wipe them away, so Deryn did it for him.

"Alek, you barking moron," she sighed. "When will you ever learn? If you'd have told me that I wasn't allowed to attend that party in disguise I would have done it anyway, just to spite you. It's not your job to keep me safe. If anything, I should be the one protecting you! After all, I've proven over and over again that I'm the stronger of the both of us."

"But…" Alek continued, "but I had just been able to find you sooner, then maybe…"

"Oh, shut it Alek!" Deryn snapped. "Maybe I wouldn't have gotten shot. Or maybe you would have, or Sullivan would have, or maybe we all would have. This is just the way things turned out. Don't you dare underestimate me, ex-prince Aleksander of Hohenberg. If you think I'm weak enough to let a bullet kill me than clearly you don't know me very well at all! So just pull yourself together before I smack you!"

Finally, a smile broke through Alek's tear streaked face. "Deryn, you're the dumkopf." He grinned. "This is why I love you."

He bent down slowly, until his face was the only thing she could see, and then tenderly kissed her.

"I'm not entirely certain that this is what Dr. Sullivan had in mind when he told you to watch over the patient." Dr. Barlow's amused voice broke the silence.

Alek jerked away from Deryn so quickly that he nearly collided with the lady boffin. Deryn laughed when she saw how red his face was- at least, she tried to laugh, but coughed painfully instead. Her chest burned like she had been stabbed with a hot poker.

"Aleksander," Dr. Barlow ordered calmly, "Take this gun and go point it at Eliot Vost. Shoot him if he does anything. Sullivan is doing the same to his rather sinister partner. Hurry up now, before one of them does something diabolical." Alek wiped his bloodstained hands on his jacket, accepted the weapon, and stood.

"Well then, let's have a look at this wound of yours," Dr. Barlow began. "You were shot, is that correct?" Deryn nodded. Normally, she would have come up with some sort of snarky reply, but somehow it all seemed like a waste of breath now. "All right then," the lady boffin continued, narrating what she was doing. "I brought a pair of scissors from the laboratory over there; right now I'm simply cutting a bit of your shirt off so I can get a better look at it." Her hands deftly wielded the scissors as she snipped away at the bloody fabric.

Deryn craned her neck and tried to focus on the boffin, but her face was blurring in and out of focus.

"Relax," Dr. Barow ordered, putting a hand on Deryn's forehead and pressed her head back down against the makeshift pillow Alek had left on the floor. "I want you keep your eyes open, but focus on keeping your breathing slow and steady." She placed both hands on the wound and began to apply pressure to it once again. Her hands were much firmer than Alek's had been- Deryn felt tears form in her eyes but blinked them away.

Dr. Barlow turned and faced the direction Alek had gone in. "One of you, fetch me alcohol and clean fabric. Bandages, if you can find them in that room. Be fast about it!"

"Are you…going to take the bullet out?" Deryn asked, hoping that her voice didn't reveal how much pain she was feeling.

"I do not think that would be for the best," the lady boffin answered evenly. "I'm not an expert, and I would likely do more damage attempting to remove it. I could push the bullet deeper inside of you or rupture a blood vessel if I made even the slightest mistake."

"So… what…are you going to do?" Deryn inquired, doing her best to breathe deeply, but she couldn't help but take rapid, shallow breaths.

"Right now, the most important thing is to minimize blood loss. This is very important, so I need you to listen to me, Deryn. Your breathing is rapid, and your pulse is increasing, so it is very likely that you are beginning to go into shock due to blood loss. Try your best to take deep breaths, all right?"

"I don't….understand. What?" Deryn sputtered. Dr. Barlow's face was growing blurry, and her body was beginning to feel numb. Even though the boffin's hands were pressed against her injury, and the blood on her chest was warm, Deryn suddenly felt as if she were freezing.

"I'm cold," she stammered. "Why…why is it cold?" She shut her eyes- it felt nice to close them. It felt wonderful. She was so, so tired. Exhausted. She just needed to shut her eyes, just for a second…

"Deryn! Open your eyes this instant! I need you to stay awake!"

Her eyes snapped open. Dr. Barlow's face was too close- everything was too close. And Deryn felt like she was slipping away from it all- even though the she was so close, to Deryn, Dr. Barlow seemed miles away.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Readers, you may have noticed that I changed up the chapters a bit. Although there are now fewer, that doesn't mean I've deleted anything. I decided to do a little revising on spelling and grammar and also change up the formatting and put Alek and Deryn's perspectives back together again. (I know, I'm terribly wishy-washy) and I promise I will keep the format this way from now on. Hey, think of it this way: this means that each Wednesday, the chapters will be twice as long because they will feature both Alek's and Deryn's points of view! I apologize if this confuses any of you but don't worry, it shouldn't be too hard to get used to.