Creatures of the Dark

A few hours later, the party was forcefully ended by the attack of a rogue group of angels. Many of the guests had disappeared further into the palace for safety, and everyone who stayed to fight, Damian included had been split up. Damian at the moment was nursing a wound in a back corridor, having got there to do some healing.

Belle meanwhile, had been summoned by a maid at Damian's request, she was still in her white wolf form limping through broken walls and glass looking for any scent of the others. She had left Elliot in their rooms with a guard protecting him on Damian's orders, and she was somewhere near the dungeons of the palace. She was beat up pretty badly, poorly healing blade wounds in her side and chest.

Alessia choked at the ash and dust that filled her lungs - eyes squinted blearily to try and search for light in the smoke filled room. Between gun fire, spears and explosives the once bustling party hall now lay in ruins with columns broken on the floor and areas of wall and roof collapsed in. Moving her hand to the side, she cringed as the feel of the open wound she had accidently touched, trying not to scream. Her own blood marred across her face, deep bruising along her lower jaw - having been knocked out and thrown in a blast.

Damian tried to reach out to her with his ability to make sure that she was okay but he didn’t have the strength to. Instead he pushed himself to his feet and went to find who he could. He was thankful that his daughter was with his parents

Alessia wandered through the Smog, keeping her head low so she wouldn't inhale the dust. Albeit, unsuccessfully, having to stop after only a handful of steps to gag.

Damian managed to find some of his guards and together they managed to clear some of the dust and debris trying to get back to the ballroom to look for Alessia.

Meanwhile Belle had found Alessia, and she nudged her side with her nose she had remained as a wolf to try and keep out of the smog and dust

"He doesn't have to, no.. but I don't take kindly to anyone coming onto my land and causing trouble."

----
Rylee grabbed a jacket on her way out. Frankie and Nate following along.

Alessia jumped, inhaling sharply in surprise at Belle's nudge. Wide eyes glancing down to the wolf at her side, almost sobbing with the relief that she had found a living being among the bodies.

Belle whimpered softly in agreement she had been happy to find her this time, before she nudged her in the direction she could smell Damian. She wanted to make sure that they found him at least.
_____

Hayden and Alice both walked with Rylee pulling her into conversations with ease

Alessia curled her fingers into her fur to give herself something stable to ground herself with. Trying to calm her breathing as she walked, gripping a little tighter every time she took in a body.

Belle nudged her in comfort and to keep her moving, she was small for a wolf so she was able to stay just below the smog using her sense of smell to follow Damian’s scent trail and they soon came across his guards, both on the floor only one alive

Alessia moved her hand up to stifle a heartbroken sob, having quickly become close to the two guards. Lowering herself down to kneel beside the guard whom was still alive, reaching out to take their hand. Squeezing it tightly.

“The king…” he whispered. “He’s wounded…that way…” he pointed to the direction that Damian had gone. “I’ll be fine…”

Belle looked between the two nuzzling the guards other hand before she pulled a broken tapestry down and draped it over the dead guard as a sign of respect

"Get yourself to a healer. I'll be there to check on you soon." Alessia assured softly, swallowing thickly as she pushed to her feet and went in the direction the guard had pointed her in.

The guard nodded. “Be careful my queen.”

Belle walked alongside her looking around for any changes or any scents that could cause them to be in danger

"Damian!" Alessia called, voice hoarse. Taking large steps to try and not stumble over people.

Damian had managed to sit himself down on a piece of fallen wall near the bottom of the corridor, he was covered by darkness but he was definitely hurt using his hands to try and pull little shards of metal out of his side. “Alessia!”

She let out a trembling breath, hurrying her footsteps until she dropped onto her knees beside him. Her hand instantly moving to press on his bleeding wounds and stem it.

Damian relaxed against the wall when she got to him. “Are you alright?” He asked, looking her over for any dangerous injuries.

Belle moved to sit nearby watching them and keeping an eye out for danger.

"I don't know, I don't know." She mumbled, moving one hand away to pick the other bits of metal from him. The dark blood that matted her hair, marred her face, now dribbled down her neck

Damian checked her over finding the wound in her head easy enough, he didn’t care for himself just her.

"Stop fussing over me. Stop it... I need to sort you out first, we need to take it in turns."

"As you wish." Damian told her and his eyes caught Belle's. "Are you alright?" He nodded when she nodded to him. "Elliot will be fine."

"Focus on your breathing, not on talking."

He smiled softly doing as she said

"We need to get you to a healer, there isn't- there isn't much I can do. The wounds have to be cleaned and they won't stop bleeding." She stressed quietly.