Once Blanche was upstairs, her father turned to Sol. "I'll be having a meeting with the vampire king here later on, you will join me," he told the man in front of him. "When you two leave in the morning, I want you to keep a close eye on Blanche. She needs to get over this control issue If she is to rule after me." Sol nodded with the usual "Yes sir," before leaving and heading to his own room. He needed to dress in something a bit nicer, it wasn't unusual for him to be the one to join the meeting. Blanche was kept away from them or just out reading somewhere instead. Her father didn't care for her being near vampires, especially the king of them all but this would have to change. For now though, he would protect her at all costs.

Blanche had flopped herself face first into her bed once she was in her room, a loud groan being muffled by the comforters. She didn't want to do this, hurting anyone, especially one who was only doing what she was doing. It scared her though, she couldn't help but wonder if it was them someone had seen and the scream was Josephine getting 'dealt' with. She had to check on her, before the trip with Sol. That would have to wait though, until a little while later at least. Rushing out now would just cause more suspicion than she needed, going out at some point later is more of a usual occurrence with her. Everyone knew she didn't like being inside and would normally go out and read somewhere in the trees or something.

Laying there, Blanche got rather comfortable and closed her eyes as she let her mind slip back to Josephine. There were so many emotions that swirled around her and it made her feel nauseated, like when going on one of those really fast rides. She couldn't help but miss her terribly and regretted even leaving. She could have protected her but instead she thought of herself. Blanche gripped the sheets under her, squeezing her eyes to try and push that thought away. Why couldn't they have just ran away together? Sure it would be dangerous but she wouldn't feel this pain of being away from her. She didn't understand why she felt this way so quickly, especially for a vampire but she couldn't deny them or ignore them. Everything made her think of the other woman.

Thoughts were quickly interrupted at the opening of her door but she didn't move, she didn't want to. Instead she just let out an annoyed groan at whoever it was. "Not feeling bubbly today then, huh?" Sol chuckled, strolling himself over and sitting on the edge of her bed. He wore a pair of black dress pants along with a white button up shirt, a nice black tie that he hadn’t done up yet sitting along everything else perfectly, which she could only see from peaking out only to narrow her eyes at him. She didn’t reply but did roll herself over onto her back only to wince and roll back over. Blanche hadn’t checked her back, not being able to see it in the mirror and with the pain that she had laying on it she knew there was something wrong, not that she bothered to go try and check.

However, she didn’t quite need to as she felt her jumper being lifted up. Blanche groaned and tried to swat Sol’s hand away lazily, not that it did anything. “Wait there,” Sol muttered, concern laced in his voice. As much as she didn’t want him to touch her right now, she continued laying there with her hoodie up to her bra line. While she waited for Sol to return, she propped her pillow under her head so she could look around better. Josephine was at the back of her mind but she tried to think of anything else, it was the only thing to keep her sane. Sol wasn’t too long and soon came back into the room with a much better first aid kit than her own. “It’s not too bad and shouldn’t take too long to heal if you look after it, another wolf must have got your back with one of their claws,” he explained as he began cleaning it, knowing she wouldn’t be able to see it as it went down the middle of her back. It was a wonder she hadn’t felt it.

“Thank you,” Blanche mumbled, she regretted not having shifted last month and clearly came out worse from it. She was usually much more careful and calmer on a full moon and was usually one to come out with the least amount of injuries but this time it had been completely different, scars finally finding their way onto her soft skin. Blanche could feel his thumb brush over a certain spot on her back. There was a fading star shape scratched into her back, it was rather faint now and would soon be gone but Sol noticed it. However he didn’t say anything, clearing his throat and pulling her hoodie back down once he had patched up her back. It was something he could bring up later, afterall he intended to speak to her about something anyway.

Standing back up, Sol brushed his pants off and turned to face Blanche. Heaving herself up and turning to sit on the edge of her bed, eyeing up the man in front of her. It was rare for him to dress smart and it indicated a meeting of some sort. With one of the laws being broken she figured it was the vampire king coming to discuss it, she always kept herself away from said event and normally left to keep herself from being seen as per her fathers orders. “Still can’t tie it yourself, hm?” she chuckled, standing herself up and reaching up for his tie. “You do it better,” Sol replied with a chuckle of his own when really he just liked having her do it for him. Blanche rolled her eyes at the taller man and began working on the tie.

Taking both sides in her hands, she adjusted each end and tied it into a full windsor knot before tightening it up to his collar. She kept it a little loose but made sure it also looked neat and smart enough. “Is the vampire king coming?” Blanche ended up asking, looking up at Sol as she adjusted the hemming of his shirt. He gave a nod with a small smile down at her. “Gonna go read somewhere I can’t find?” he asked with a chuckle, she always had a way of finding a spot to read in where no one really found her and he couldn’t help but find it amusing. “Always,” she replied, turning away from him to glance out the window. She would definitely make it seem that way but in reality she was just going to check on Josephine. With her father coming over, it was the best time to do it and was her only chance for a while.

The knock at the main door had both their heads swinging that way. “I’ve got to go, see you later B,” Sol gave her a small smile before ruffling her hair and practically running off, knowing she would hit him for it. With a huff, Blanche fixed her hair before quickly rushing around to find a book. She needed to take one to make everything more believable for when she came back. They wouldn’t have long in the slightest but it would be enough to check on her and at least hold her a little while before letting her know she was going out of town for a little while.

Downstairs, Sol quickly met with Harden at the door before it was opened. Harden looked the two of them over, quickly realising Leonidas wasn’t with his daughter like he usually was. As much as he hated the both of them he was always civil as best as he could be with the vampires at these meetings and couldn’t help but appreciate her fiery personality. Not that he would ever admit that, she was still a vampire and he hated her just as much as the next one. “Thank you for coming, I see Josephine isn’t with you today?” he said but it sounded more like a question as he eyed up the other woman that stood beside him. She wasn’t a vampire he recognised so figured she wasn’t high up in ranks but he couldn’t be certain.

Either way, Harden opened the door fully to let the pair in. He guided them into his office which he had cleaned up beforehand. Any paperwork he had littered around was all put away in a safe under the floorboards, besides some of the paperwork he had sorted out for the whole meeting. Sol greeted the pair respectably, he had no issue with the species but was still uncomfortable with them being in his home, even if it would be pretty stupid trying anything in a house full of trained werewolves that would give their life to protect their alpha and home. Within the office was a table in which they could all sit at to be able to talk amongst each other properly.

Blanche could smell Josephine’s scent, it was faint but it was there which told her she wasn’t there but someone that had been rather close to her was. Not that she thought much into it, she was too focused on getting out. Picking up one of her favourite reads - ‘Of mice and men’ Blanche headed for her bedroom door, peeking around the edge to see if they were still downstairs, having a clear view of the front door from where her room was. Runing in jeans wasn't always the easiest but she would make it work. Being a werewolf she had more stanima than speed but was still faster than the average human and hoped it wouldn't take too long to get there.

‘Josephine was fatally wounded by our traitor last night,’ those words rang through her mind, shaking her up in a way only thunder could. She recognised the voice, not only from previous times he came here but also from last night. It was Josephine’s father. She felt her blood run cold and all colour from her face fell. It couldn’t be true, could it? Blanche shut her eyes again, taking a step back into her room. Blanche hadn’t even meant to listen but hearing the woman’s name had her lock into the conversation. She wasn’t dead, she refused to believe that and wasn’t going to stop her from checking and seeing for herself. However she made a mental note to grab some medical supplies just in case. She was sure they had some at the castle but knew she couldn’t simply go around looking for some, taking her own was her best bet.

Quickly grabbing her bag and placing the book inside, Blanche quickly checked around the corner, seeing them head into her fathers office. As quickly yet as quietly as she could Blanche headed directly ahead of her, heading into a different room that hadn’t been used in quite some time. It belonged to an old friend, a wonderful woman who passed away a few years back. She had taught Blanche a few things, medical wise. Her knowledge was rather extensive to a degree and it was something she could never forget. When her mother passed she was quite like a mother figure to her in a way. She was a fond memory and now and then Blanche would just sit in her room and read just to feel closer to her. Blanche shook the thoughts from her head, finding the first aid kit that she knew was still in there, slipping it into her bag with the book.

The only thing on her mind was getting to Josephine and quickly, not daring to let herself think for a second that she may not find her, that she may not even be alive. Blanche needed to make leaving look natural instead of just rushing out like a maniac like she wanted to. With a composing breath she stood out into the hall, bag over her shoulder as she headed back downstairs, her eyes set on the wooden door. As soon as she was out of sight, she was going to run and keep on running until any sign of the castle came into view. She knew the way and it was going to be quite the run but she’s run more before, at least this has purpose. She had all the motivation she needed to give it to her all.

Before she knew it, her hand was on the door, she opened it calmly and left with the same composure she was forcing upon herself. Blanche didn’t take so much as a glance back, heading straight into the treeline in the direction she needed to be in, mentally preparing herself for the run and the possibility it would be too late. Blanche growled at herself quietly for thinking such a thought. The vampire king had to be lying, he just had to be. Eventually, Blanche knew she would be out of sight and wasted no time, what started off as a jog turned into a full run, pushing herself to go as fast as she could. “Oh my little rose, I’m coming,” she breathed out to herself. She knew Josephine couldn’t hear it but it was reassurance to herself.

Sol closed the office door behind the four of them, Harden signalling for everyone to take a seat at the table. He sat in his own, with Sol sitting right beside him. The other two had their seats together exactly opposite, whoever faced who was entirely up to them. Clearing his throat, Harden adjusted his tie from side to side a little, he was wearing something a bit more formal than his second in command. A dark navy pair of dress pants with matching jacket alongside a white shirt and thin blue tie. Formal attire never really suited him but he still wore it when needed. It was a little hard to move in, his muscles pressing into the fabric but thankfully at meetings it was just talking, any proper physical movement would surely rip something. Hearing about the man’s daughter he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy for him yet it was short lived, quickly growing disgusted with himself. He had to be civil though. “We are sorry for your loss, I couldn’t imagine something like that happening to my daughter.” Was all he said before clearing his throat, they needed to get started.

“I’m glad you dealt with the traitor promptly. I wish we could do the same but unfortunately they have seemed to run off somewhere,” he started, a clearly frustrated look on his features. He hated that they had managed to catch their traitor while they had, it was a setback and he didn’t want them thinking that they were superior. Any cockyness from either of them and he wasn’t sure he would be able to hold himself back which was one of the reasons he enjoyed having Sol there with him. If any werewolf that could potentially hold him back was him and he trusted him to step in if need be. Not that it had happened yet, he just preferred to be on the safe side of things where he could.

Blanche must have pushed herself hard, she was no longer quite in the forest and could see the castle in the distance. She needed to be more careful now, anyone seeing her would be dangerous. The wolf pulled the hood over her head, casting a shadow across her features despite the now blaring sun. It was warm, too warm for her liking. She much preferred the rain, without the storm. Blanche slowed her run to a fast walk, heading around to the side of the castle where she remembered the secret gate being. Heading straight to the front would only arouse suspicion and the furthest yet closest she was to where she needed to head through was her only chance and not getting caught. Lying she was awful about but sneaking around was definitely a strong point, hide and seek was her favourite game as a child but simply because she would always win.

The gate was so close now and Blanche could almost hear the thumping of her own heart, everything was happening so fast and all the emotions were back, that nauseated feeling returning to her. There was no stopping now though, she was so close and she couldn’t let herself go without her eyes seeing Josephine alive. With that last thought, it was all she needed to quietly make her way in, the screeching of the gate causing her to wince and freeze in her spot. “Stupid gate,” she muttered to herself, shaking her head and forcing herself onwards. Climbing up to the balcony was definitely going to be more of a challenge than getting down. She couldn’t just jump up, the drop she made was relatively large and she would have to climb up to it from the ground.

Adjusting her bag again and rubbing her hands together, Blanche reached up, digging her fingers into the brickwork to try and get a steady hold while lifting herself up off the ground. There was no time for fear, all she needed to focus on was not missing any foot placement and getting to the top as quickly but steadily as she could. It was definitely the hardest thing she had climbed, much harder than a tree and she lost her footing a few times. It was frustrating and it felt like Josephine was so close yet so so far away. It took time and patience but soon enough the balcony was just above her. This was going to be a tricky bit. Blanche eyed the top of the stone railing, adjusting her footing for a moment before using it to launch herself up, quickly grabbing the edge of the stone work. Bricks crumbled slightly and fell onto the ground from her weight but she ignored it, lifting herself up and over the balcony railing with a thud.

Blanche pulled herself up off the ground and moved her way over to the doors. She wanted to just open them and waltz straight in but she knew she still had to be careful so did her best to peek through the curtains. All she could see from them was Josephine laid on the ground, with a slight tap against the glass Blanche slowly opened the door. "Josephine?" She called out quietly. Upon seeing the woman properly, covered in what seemed to be her own blood that was pooling around her, her heart sank even more. In an instant, Blanche pushed her way through the door and fell to her knees right beside Josephine, trying her best to avoid the blood. It was definitely a good thing she wore relatively dark clothing but not that that mattered right now. Swinging her bag off of her back and beside her, she reached out with a shaky hand to gently touch Josephine's stomach, it was where the blood sat the most and with how warm it was she knew it was fresh.

"I'm going to take a look, okay?" She said, her voice was gentle yet internally she was completely freaking out. She was filled with so much regret. "I shouldn't have left," she whispered before slowly undoing the blood soaked robe, a frown gracing her features as she did so. It was clear someone had tried to dress it, not doing a very good job in her opinion, especially if it was still bleeding so heavily. There wasn't time to dwell on that, she needed to help Josephine and that's all she had to focus on. At that moment, nothing else could matter. Without another thought, she reached out an arm, scooping it under the woman's legs with the other going behind her shoulders before carefully lifting her off the ground and standing as she did so. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there to protect you," she whispered, pressing a kiss against the vampire's forehead.

Blanche held her carefully, wanting nothing more than to press them both together but she couldn't, she didn't want to cause any more pain Josephine was most definitely in. She headed straight for the bathroom, being as gentle as she could when setting the woman down into the bathtub. It was much easier to clean than other materials and she wanted to help get all the fresh and dry blood off before sorting out the wounds to the best of her ability. She lifted a hand and brushed it through Josephine's hair, her eyes filled with sadness and regret. She hadn’t expected the next time she got to see this woman to be so gruesome but she would do everything in her power to make sure she healed. Her knowledge wasn’t extensive and there were things she was a little rocky at but she was going to give it her all.

Slowly peeling the bandages away, a sharp gasp passed her lips and her eyes widened at the horrific sight was a wonder the woman was still alive, the wounds ran deep, deeper than anyone could ever imagine. “Oh my sweet Josephine, what have they done to you,” she whispered, tears building in her eyes with more regret seeping in. This wouldn’t have happened if she stayed and she couldn’t help but let those thoughts eat at her. Blanche shut her eyes tight, taking a deep breath to try and compose herself. There wasn’t any way this wound would heal on its own, any movement would just open it without it being closed properly. This woman needed actual medical attention and it angered her that no one had done so. Especially her father, he seemed so sorrowful earlier and yet had done little to nothing in actually helping his daughter.

Without so much as a word, Blanche left to grab her bag only to run back and lock the bathroom door behind her. Not only to give them privacy but also just in case anyone walked in, finding a werewolf in their home, especially after the traitors would be a death sentence for her and she wouldn’t be any help to Josephine. Returning back to her side she placed the bag down beside the tub before gently leaning the woman forward so she could take the robe off. “I’m going to clean you up then try and suture those wounds up. I’ve done it a few times and while I’m not the best at it, it should give everything inside a chance to heal without you constantly moving and opening the wounds. I can’t have you dying on me,” she said softly, leaning Josephine back down one the robe was off. If the situation wasn’t so dire she knew she would be admiring the woman’s body, she wasn’t wearing anything under the robe but she refused to let those thoughts in, not until she was okay.

Harden raised a brow in suspicion at the vampire before him. Something was different, there wasn’t as much tension in the air as there usually was and he couldn’t quite feel the hate radiate off him. He wasn’t quite sure what was going on but kept himself on alert, one thing he hated about the vampires was not being able to tell their true intentions which made him incredibly uneasy. He could read his wolves like an open book most of the time, even the humans he could tell if their intentions were good or bad but with vampires it was completely different. Either way he appreciated the man offering his help, surprised by it for sure but also grateful. He had expected a snide comment or some sort of cocky expression but it was nothing but sincere.

“I appreciate that, thank you,” he replied, the words tasted weird on his tongue but it was also relaxing. If only the pair could always get on like this. He couldn’t help but imagine them joining forces for a second. They would be something to be reckoned with, they would be unstoppable. Especially with the humans. Harden shook his head to get rid of the thought, focussing on the situation at hand. “I’ve got Blanche and Sol,” he started, gesturing to Sol beside him before finishing his sentence. “They will be leaving in the morning and going around to the packs to see if anyone is missing. That way they can hopefully get a scent. If they aren’t part of a pack then things will prove more difficult but we won't rest until they are dealt with,” Harden explained. Leonardis knew about his daughter and the only vampire he had openly told her name to but when he realised there was a woman beside him he internally cringed.

Deciding to try and ignore his own little mishap he spoke up once more. “If you could get any information that would be greatly appreciated. Maybe from the person that saw the two together? Something that would help us find the traitor.”

Blanche could tell Josephine was in a hazy state, she wasn’t quite sure if it was from the pain or if she was dosed up on some painkillers. She hoped for the latter, not wanting her to feel any of the pain that such a wound could cause. She enjoyed the feeling of having the woman back in her arms, especially when she felt her head rest against her shoulder and didn’t quite want to let her go but she had to, as soon as the wound was patched up she could hold her again. Josephine’s whisper only made her frown, letting her hold her hands for a moment before grabbing her bag. Seeing her like this killed her and she wanted nothing more than to magically make her better but it wasn’t something she was capable of, no matter how much she wished for it. All she could do was patch it up to the best of her ability. As long as it kept it from constantly opening and bleeding and gave everything a chance to heal.

Hearing she had pulled through worse wasn’t comforting in the slightest yet she knew it was meant to be. The idea of the woman being around so much danger only upset her more. “Even if you will be, I’m here for now and I’m going to take care of you,” Blanche told her, brushing another hand through her hair with a small smile of her own. Kneeling by the tub, she let her eyes slip from the woman’s face down to her stomach, wincing at the sight slightly. There had been some pretty horrific wounds she had seen before, some even by her own claws but this felt different and hadn’t expected to see such wounds on someone she cared so deeply for.

Reaching for the plug, she placed the stopper in it before turning the water on while holding a hand under it for a little while to make sure it wasn’t too hot or too cold. With a small nod to herself, Blanche turned back to her bag, pushing up her sleeves before pulling out everything but the book. Looking around the tub and the room, her eyes set on a cloth, something she could use to wash some of the blood off of her skin. Blanche dipped the cloth into the warm water, lifting it up to Josephine’s face and ever so gently washing the blood away from her cheek. “Our fathers are having a meeting, I just had to come see you,” she said softly. She wondered if her father was telling the truth about the traitor being the one who did this to her but didn’t ask. She wanted Josephine to relax.

Once the blood was off of her cheek, she did her best to clean everywhere apart from the wound for now. Despite blood making her queasy, she couldn’t focus on that. Caring for the woman was all she cared about right now, anything else could wait. It took a little longer than she anticipated but soon enough Josephine’s skin was free from her own blood. The water was now a pale crimson instead of being the clear water it used to be. She couldn’t help but frown at the sight, “I know you said you’ll be fine but you didn’t deserve this, especially after such a good night,” she said honestly, reaching into the water to pull the plug out. Drying her hands off quickly, Blanche looked around again, finding a couple of towels. “I’ll go set these out on your bed so you are comfortable,” she spoke again, leaning down to Josephine and pressing a soft kiss to her lips, letting it linger for a moment.

Blanche hadn’t realised quite how much she had missed the feeling of their lips together until she initiated it, leaning down a little more to press their lips together into a more passionate one. “You are so intoxicating,” she whispered in a soft breath as she pulled away. Blanche stared at her for a little while, seemingly getting lost in those bright amber eyes of hers. Realising Josephine would most likely grow cold once the water was gone and quickly leaned down to press another, quicker kiss against the vampire's lips before heading into the bedroom, setting the towels down on the bed just in case any blood got onto the sheets.

She didn’t take long in the slightest and was quickly back by Josephine’s side. All the water was gone and so she placed another towel over the top of her, gently wrapping it around her as she slowly lifted her back up into her arms. Blanche coddled her close and simply held her for a moment. The water had the bleeding a little more controlled for now but any awkward movements and she knew it would start again. Taking her back into the bedroom, Blanche noticed the pill bottle on the nightstand this time and her internal question from earlier was answered. She was glad she wasn’t in pain, at least she hoped she wasn’t. Glancing to the bed and then back to Josephine, she sighed ever so softly. “I don’t want to let you go.”

Harden gave another nod as Leo spoke, leaning back into his seat. “Good good, hopefully they can give us some information,” he spoke with hope. The quicker this was sorted the better. Other things needed attention and they were just as important but he needed to be seen upholding the law, it was the only way to keep order. If he was seen slacking, it would just cause chaos and he refused to let that happen. He noticed the deep breath from the man opposite him, as if he was reluctant to say something. Harden raised a brow but was patient, waiting for Leo to spit out whatever it was he was going to say.

Not quite expecting the words that fell from his lips, Harden stared at the vampire before him, blinking a couple times as he let it sink in. He had been so wrapped up in the hatred he had for the other species that he hadn’t even considered that a possibility before. The humans were getting on his nerves and were killing more and more werewolves by the day, their numbers were slowly being reduced and Harden had been trying to think of a way to stop them. As much as he was glad they were also doing the same with vampires at the time but now he couldn’t help but wonder if joining forces instead of being at war would be better for everyone. Not only would they have a much better chance at beating the humans but it would be more peaceful.

With a slow and reluctant nod, Harden sighed softly. “For once, I think you are onto something there,” his voice was strained, almost like he didn’t want to say it but it was the truth. Thinking about it, this was never really his war to begin with, there had been many alpha’s before him and with the title being passed down to him so did this war. His hatred for vampires was something his father and grandparents ingrained into his very soul. It was more of a taught opinion on the other species rather than having his own. Yet here he was, doing the very same thing to Blanche. With a hard swallow, Harden looked down to his hands that were held together on top of the table. “Sometimes I forget why we are even at war in the first place but we can trial this, join forces and sort out our problem with the humans. I think we should still have some rules in place though, we don’t need unnecessary deaths.”

A soft chuckle slipped her lips at the mention of how dangerous it was, she knew the risks and they had played through her mind relentlessly but she couldn't have just stayed home constantly worrying about Josephine, she would have driven herself mad. "You are worth it, my little rose," she said softly, a smile tugging the corners of her lips. She would happily put herself into danger again if it meant she got to hold Josephine and take care of her. For a woman that she had only met last night, she had wiggled herself into Blanche's heart. It was a strange feeling but was one she welcomed.

Blanche raised a brow with a frown as she watched Josephine fiddle with her fingers. In her mind, nothing she could have done would have called for a wound like this. She could tell it was intentional, like whoever did it wanted to kill her and yet if they really wanted to they would have done so. With a wound like that she would be vulnerable and killing her would be easy. A low growl at the thought began bubbling in her throat but she managed to swallow it down, shaking her head at herself to get rid of those thoughts. She couldn’t get angry right now, she needed to focus. She didn’t mention it, not wanting to ask any questions and causing any more upset. She could tell Josephine was distraught about it and figured she would tell her on her own terms.

Standing there with Josephine in her arms, she exhaled a soft sigh and closed her eyes, leaning her head on top of the vampires own that was hidden in her collarbone. With a deep inhale, she let herself bask in their scent. While the metallic smell of blood was still there, she could now smell that intoxicating scent of hers with it. It relaxed her slightly and she was able to slow down instead of only caring about getting that wound sorted. That was still on her mind though and as much as she wanted to abide by what Josephine said, she knew she needed to start working on getting it closed. “As soon as I get you patched up and dressed, I’ll hold you until it's time for me to go again, I promise,” she said softly, closing the space between them and the bed.

Ever so gently, Blanche lowered Josephine onto the towels she had laid out previously, keeping the towel wrapped around her for now so she didn’t get too cold. The sun was still rather high in the sky and filled the room with its rays, making it warmer than the bathroom had been. “I’ll be right back,” she hummed as she spun and made her way back into the bathroom to get everything she had gotten out of her bag, returning right beside the bed in no time. Kneeling beside the bed for a moment, Blanche quietly hummed to herself as she laid everything out in the order she would need it, going through a mental checklist. “Saline, check. Gloves, check. Suture material and needle, check. Gauze, check. Bandages, check.” Blanche went through each one before nodding to herself and turning back to Josephine.

Blanche was nervous to say the least, she had done this a couple times on a few of the werewolves back home after a rough night. She had even stitched up her dad once but she was nervous every time, not wanting to mess anything up. The idea of potentially hurting Josephine made her sick to her stomach, as much as it would heal better and cause less pain in the long run she knew that getting stitches hurt. She just hoped Josephine was still numb from the painkillers she took. With a final swallow, Blanche smiled softly up at the woman on the bed and gently unwrapped the towel from her stomach, keeping it wrapped around her everywhere else, mostly so she was comfortable but also so she could concentrate better.

“I’m going to clean the actual wound now and then get started, then once I’m done you’ll be right back in my arms,” she reassured yet wasn’t sure if the reassurance was for Josephine or for herself. Either way, she picked up the saline solution and started by pouring a little over the wound, glancing up at Josephine to make sure she was okay before continuing. Making sure the inside of the wound was clean was vital. The last thing she wanted was to close this up and cause an infection. Then again she wasn’t even sure if they could get infections. The vampire world was a mystery to her and she barely knew anything of the other species. Which was all her fathers fault, constantly trying to hide her from everything.

Content with how clean it was, it was time for the tricky part and she grew more nervous. This was where she could mess up, this was where everything could go terribly wrong and each one rang through her mind. Blanche mentally cursed at herself for being like this, she needed to get a grip on herself and was failing miserably. With a shake of her head and a steadying breath she rolled her shoulders and looked over to Josephine once more. Leaning up, Blanche pressed a gentle kiss to the vampire's forehead with a reassuring smile. She couldn’t wait any longer, not just because of her nerves. She just had to get over them and help this woman that she cared so deeply for.

“I’m going to start closing it now, okay? Please let me know if it hurts,” she said, the last part almost in a pleading tone. Her eyes were full of worry as she looked at Josephine and it was clear she really didn’t want to hurt her but this needed to be done. With that thought, she turned back to her materials and picked up the things that would be needed. A gloved hand brushed against the skin just above the first of the deep lacerations. Replaying in her head exactly what she was taught, she threaded the needle with the suture material and eyed up the edge of the wound, she needed to make sure she went through each side at the same depth of the skin. Deep enough to keep it closed but neat enough so there was minimal scarring. However with wounds this deep there was bound to be some large scars.

With one final breath and another glance up to Josephine she put her full concentration into what she was doing, her eyes locked onto the movement of her hands and the wound itself. Inserting the needle perpendicular to the skin, she began closing the first one stitch by stitch. Using the curve of the needle to pass the suture through the skin, she made sure her wrist rotated to allow for the needle to pass through in an atraumatic fashion. With each motion, she replayed the words and teachings she was given, giving every simple stitch, her all. ‘Make sure you don’t pull the suture through in a straight line.’ A small nod as if she was listening to someone had her focusing more and soon enough the first of the wounds was done, it was her best work but she didn’t have time to admire that and instead continued on to the next ones.

Leo was right, there would be bloodshed without their rules. As much as the war was between the kings it had made their species grow to hate each other and if they were allowed to go around as they pleased there was only a matter of time until they were at eachothers throats. “Maybe we should draft up a set of temporary laws together, kind of the same but different. It could be like the masquerade we have but instead of it just being for the night, it's until we get the situation with the human’s sorted,” Harden suggested, looking up at the man in front of him as he waited for his answer.

His mind drifted to Blanche, if it wasn’t for her he would have never agreed to such a thing and as long as she is safe and no vampire puts their dirty mitts on her he was happy. Besides, it would be nice to get rid of this war, even if it was temporary. There would be much less to worry about and as much as he hated to admit it, he and Leo could make a decent team if they put their differences aside.