The Aftermath (Invite Only) (PG-13)

As the medi-witch filled in Zephyr's latest vitals, she looked over at his resting form. While they had seen many nasty results from the Dueling Clubs matches, it never failed to surprise her that these kids could do these things to one another. Be that as it may, there were some that made her smile. For example, Falcon Selwyn, the one Zephyr had gone up against, actually brought the boy in to get the help he needed following the match. It had been touch and go for a little while, but, with Morgan Lupin's help, Zephyr was on the mend. Replacing his chart, she checked the pillows that propped him up to help clear the residual water from his lungs easier as well as the bandage wrappings around his strong torso due to the nasty wound on his back that was quickly mending. Satisfied with them, she nodded to herself and headed for the door to the waiting area.

Seeing three girls, two of which she knew to be his cousins, she spoke softly to them, "You can see him now. He's sedated, but he should be coming to in a short time. If you need anything, let us know right away." Holding the door open for them, she nodded towards the fourth bed that was curtained off from the others around it.

Nervously Nyx stood next to her sister, her face a blank mask, but underneath she was close to tears, fearing for her cousin's health. She already knew that the duels at Hogwarts could get quite dangerous, but that someone from her family could be that badly injured had shocked her quite a lot. As the door opened, she tried to get a glance at her cousin, but the mediwitch blocked her sight and so she turned to the woman to listen to what she had to say. Nyx sighed in relief when at last they could enter the room and she immediately hurried towards the bed, pulling up a chair to sit right next to her cousin. He looked so pale and lifeless which scared her a lot and she glanced at her sister. "He will be okay, right? He has to be!"

Calypso's jaw was clenched whilst her fists were in balls, worried for her cousin but angry that the stupid mediwitch would not let them see their cousin immediately. Narrowing her eyes at the witch, she pushed past not daring to say thank you and her hands began to shake, lightly dancing on her cousin's cheeks. The lifelessness shook Calypso to the bone but she felt a hand in between her shoulder blades. ''He'll be fine, Nyx...He'll be fine. He's always been one to spring back to his feet in no time.'' Calypso struggled to say and let her eyes slowly pull away from Zephyr and took Nyx into her arms, willing to show weakness and fright in front of Zephyr's girlfriend.

~~~

Dahlia already had been kicked out from the hospital wing from causing a disturbance but in her defense, no one let her see Zephyr. No one let her protect him. Finally being let back in, she made it in time to see the mediwitch tell them they could see him. Letting his cousin's go first, she stared at their faces, taking in the emotions she knew they rarely showed but stood behind Calypso, her hand in between her shoulder blades as if urging her to reply to Nyx. ''He's a Mulciber right? He'll be fine.'' She mumbled, clasping Zephyr's hand whilst hiding her tears of worry, sitting at the end of his bed with the hospital report sitting on her lap so she could see what was wrong.

Thanatos shouldered some boy aside, not even caring that he knocked him to the ground, as he rushed to the hospital wing. Word about the duel had gotten around the school quite quickly and he had just heard about the disastrous state his cousin was in. Worry, fear and anger was making his heart beat faster and his breathing come out in pants as he pushed past the nurse and into the room. He could already hear his sisters behind a curtained bed and quickly moved towards them. "How is he?" Thanatos asked, quite out of breath, but his eyes were running up and down his cousin's still frame.

The Fellows watched as Zephyr's cousins and girlfriend came into his area and surrounded him in their own way. Theon sat on the opposite side of Nyx, Calix leaned against the back wall next to the head of the bed, Osirus stood near the foot of the bed with his hand resting on the footrail, and Eryx paced as he sent worried glances to Zephyr. When is he gonna wake up? He's sedated. It could be- I fucking know that! When?! Eryx, calm down. It could be anytime. Eryx let out an angry grumble as he pinched the bridge of his nose and continued pacing. Reaching out, Theon gently touched Zephyr's face before sighing softly to himself. Baby, you need to wake up now. Everyone is here to see you... Theon, I don't know that he can hear- I hear him... The moment his inner mind spoke to Calix, all four pairs of eyes were on his resting form. Zeph? Can you open your eyes? Why? You need to wake up, Baby. The others are here and they are worried about you. What? Here? What are you talking about? Falcon kind of raked you over in the duel. You're in the Hosptial Wing. The duel? Yeah, the fucking duel you lost because you had to go and nearly drown! Stop yelling... Slowly, Zephyr began to remember the duel and the fight he had put up against his cousin's fience. It was a good duel. You're kidding right? No, I'm serious. It was a good duel, Zeph. Even if you had yet another brush with the eternal sleep. Brush? Brush?! He fucking made out with it! Stop yelling, Eryx... Osirus gave Eryx a knowing glare to calm down to which the pale Fellow, crossed to the bed and leaned next to Zephyr's ear. His hiss was enough to chill anyone to the bone. Why don't you wake up, Zephyr? Zeph, the other are worried about you. Come on. Wake up for them.

As the feeling of someone holding his hand reached his slowly waking mind, Zephyr closed his hand enough to hold it in return. That's it, Baby. 'Atta boy, Zeph. No- Damnit! ZEPHYR, WAKE UP! The remaining Fellows all shied away from Eryx's outburst before telling him in their own ways to shut up. "Stop yelling..." Zephyr said in a harsh whisper as he relaxed his grip on the hand in his after squeezing it in response to the outburst only he could hear. Eryx went to snap about him speaking outloud, but Calix stopped him before he could reach Zephyr. It doens't mat- It doens't matter, Eryx! The only people that are here know about us and even if they didn't unconscious people say crazy, irrelevant shit all the time! Thanks, Calix... Don't mention it... The tension slowly lifted as small chuckles filled Zephyr's mind at the joke that Calix never really planned to make.

Thanatos glanced at his younger sisters and took them both into his arms for a second when suddenly, he heard his cousin's voice. "Zeph?" he jumped forward and leaned over the boy, peering down at his pale face with hopeful eyes. "Come on, damnit, wake up! You're scaring the girls half to death here." he snapped a bit harsher than he intended, but he also was quite worried, even if he wouldn't show it as openly as the girls.

Calypso held onto Nyx tighter than she had ever before, keeping her lips resting on her forehead before the sound of her brother rushing forehead caused her to move away. Instantly relaxing at his presence, she burrowed into his arms. A voice, despite being a whisper, met her ears and she immediately climbed onto the bed properly, peering  at her cousin, worry in her eyes. ''Brother, calm down..'' She murmured, leaning over to clasp her brothers hand, making him his anchor in this moment.

~~

Dahlia chewed her lip in worry, standing by the certain to let Zephyr's cousin past. Big family..She thought to herself, trying to distract herself from the constant worry swirling in her stomach. No luck. Hearing Zephyr's whisper, she almost wanted to crawl into his head and slap the Fellow's silly for daring to shout at this moment before realizing she'd most likely only have to hit Eryx. Taking a step closer, she brushed Zephyr's hair away from his forehead and whispered into his ear so no one could hear and made it look like she was just kissing his forehead. ''Wake up, my love...You have company. Eryx, shush..'' 

Hearing and feeling his bed move as The Fellows backed away to make room for everyone coming over to get closer to Zephyr following his speaking, he knew that he needed to open his eyes to calm everyone down. He felt a hand brush his hair away before the whispered words of Dahlia reached him and made The Fellows look at Eryx who set his jaw and moved to the sill of the window, muttering to himself. She certainly has a way with him. Shut the hell up! Keep it down or she'll find a way to beat the living shit outta you! Fuck you, Calix! Boys, enough... The gently pat on his chest, just to the right of his scar that peeked out from under his bandage, coupled with the soothing voice that followed, told him Nyx was there along with Calypso and Thanatos. Show them you aren't dead, Zephyr... Slowly, painfully slowly, Zephyr willed his eyes to open. The first thing his stormy eyes focused on was Calypso and then the others. As the faces of each one of those around him came into clearer and clearer focus, Zephyr managed a small smile before swallowing dryly and asking in the same tired hoarse whisper from before, "Hey, guys... How long have I been out?"