Colin's posts

She had been in the tub for only about 3 minutes, when Vincent returned and sighed quietly.

"Ahh, THIS is a welcome sight." he commented, before stepping up, stripping down, and climbing in once more.

"Right then." he said.

"I did what you said to do to Ashleigh." he told her.

"And it was NOT pleasant for her." he stressed.

"Now, may I ask WHY I did that to her?"

"That's fair." Vincent responded.

"Call me if you start to feel worse, or better, or if there's any notable updates." he told her.

"Will do." she replied.

Vincent then backed away from her and disappeared in a small whirlwind, appearing in the den of his manor. He looked around, wondering if Rowena had come back yet. So he took out his phone and sent a text.

I'm back home. was all it read.

"I intend to ask Rowena when I get back home." Vincent said.

He then paused for a moment, nodding slowly.

"I'll let you know more info when I have more info." he told her.

"How are Ash and Lindsay doing?" he then asked.

"I didn't run into either when I came here."

Rene returned the hug, and nodded.

"Anytime." he told her.

Meanwhile, Vincent had just finished doing what Rowena had told him to. Which was to say, she told him to 'chill Ashleigh', which he had. He took her temperatures down to where she felt like she was going to die, and then very slowly brought her back up to where she was still feeling cold, but it was tolerable now.

"Sorry." he apologised.

"I was just doing what Rowena told me to do." he told her.

"Said that she was going to do the same for Kelly, so... I have no idea what's going on, I just hope I haven't done anything to make your situation worse."

"Hmmmm." Rene mumbled.

"If HE can't, talk to ME." he told her. "I've had a couple of works published in the past. I might be able to help with medical journals, specifically." he said further.

"But Vincent is a far more published author in generally being published. So he'll be a better first choice to go to." he reasoned.

"Regardless, Ashleigh should be tended to as well." he then said.

"And I'll keep you updated on Kelly." he added.

"For better or worse."

"Got it." Rene said.

"...thanks for the help." he then said further.

"We had NO idea what was wrong, and our instruments aren't tuned to pick up on ancient parasites and the like." he continued, before pausing.

"Hm." he then muttered.

"I think you mentioned Ashleigh as well? Maybe?" he asked. "I just know SHE'S under the weather as well." he said.

"Same treatment for her?"

"..." he was silent as he took in the new scene, before sighing quietly.

"Well, her temperature seems a little high for her, but at least it doesn't seem like she's being cooked now." he said.

"All that's left is to see if this treatment took." he said further.

"....just... wait and see." he sighed.

"I REALLY hope this was worth it."

Rene nodded.

"Right." he said, quickly leaving the room and shutting the door behind him.

Once he did, he sighed and shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against the opposite wall, looking from left to right.

"...damn it, that did not feel good to do." he said.

"I just hope it worked..."

Rene was now sweating heavily as he looked at the temperature monitor. They had reached hypothermic levels a bit ago, and he was keeping Kelly in that state for as long as Rowena said to.

And every second that ticked by felt like an agonising hour to him.

"..." he was silent, clenching his teeth more and more tightly... and just as it seemed like Kelly was going to flatline, the 'timer' went off.

"KELLY!" he exclaimed, taking the ice away and looking at Rowena.

"You need to bring her up to temperature."

"...probably wouldn't, no." Rene responded.

He then made sure that the monitor that was checking her temperature and recording it was working properly, placed the orb above her chest, and allowed the mana to spill out onto her, and causing her temperature to start falling. Drastically.

Alarmingly.

"....forgive me, Kelly." he whispered.

"I do this to save your life." he said further.

Rowena could see how this was weighing on him. He was, essentially, deliberately hurting Kelly. But he knew he had no choice now.

He crossed his arms over his chest.

"...I don't like this." he said.

"But... I acknowledge that there's nothing we've been able to do. And she'll die for certain if she keeps this up." he lamented.

"So. I have no other choice but to put my faith in you, and this treatment." he finished, as they entered the room.

"Now. I assume I'll be administering the orb?" he asked.

"And essentially coating her body with it?"

"Huh." Rene muttered.

"I see. Well... fair enough then." he said, as they approached Kelly's room... and even ROWENA could sense the heat emanating from it. But the ice mana she was holding was staying strong. So far.

"So essentially drop her temperature to levels where it's unsafe." he said further.

"...how long?" he asked.

"For how long must she be in this state?"

"...." Rene was silent as he heard that.

"I..." he stammered.

"That's the only way, isn't it?" he asked.

"That treatment is dangerous and drastic, but it's the only hope that Kelly has, isn't it?" he asked further.

"It is." Rowena confirmed.

"How do you know so much about this, by the way?" Rene then inquired.

Rene was silent, before pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Ngh." he grunted.

"Great." he muttered.

"No WONDER our scans weren't showing anything." he said further.

"So how is it transmitted?" he asked.

"It's clear this is an internal one, yes?"