Cordelia is in worse condition than Kita originally thought.

It appears as though Kita's rescue was later in the attack than intended. He heard them hitting her with a shovel, but that must've been when she was flying away. They had caught her beforehand, something made apparent when Kita catches sight of her foot. Or, well, lack thereof.

The metal, V-carved band that was wrapped around her leg is gone. It appears as though the boys ripped it off, and in doing so, took the lower part of her leg and foot with it. She's laying flat on the pavement, in too much pain to even try and get away, and the sight is heartbreaking. Kita isn't that emotional, but it doesn't matter. He's already tearing up.

Kita's hands are dirty. He washed them before he left, but he's been handling a lot of chemicals and cleaning supplies today. He doesn't want to risk infecting or poisoning anything, which is why he stole the rag in the first place.

Kita lays the cloth out on the pavement, before carefully scooping Cordelia up in his hands. She's unconscious, which doesn't make him feel better at all. He makes sure to keep his skin away from any wounds, then moves her onto the shirt.

After Kita has her on the rag, he takes note that her leg is unsurprisingly still bleeding. Kita is careful when he scoops her up, swaddling her a bit before tucking her against his chest.

Holding a bird like this is so strange. It's probably like that for most animals that people don't really touch, though. Kita can't imagine holding a squid or something, that would also be crazy. Either way, it's weird to see a bird laying down instead of flying.

Kita resumes his trek back to the castle, the dark streets of Amarath that used to scare him no longer nearly as daunting. He's able to relax as he makes the trip, and eventually does reach the castle—his home, he reminds himself. He lives there now.

It's going on midnight, Kita was at his mother's for awhile, so he's hoping that nobody will be awake. That he can just exchange pleasantries with the guards and quietly tuck himself in his room for the night. No questions, no struggle. No obstacles, just going back to the safety of his bedroom and hoping Cordelia makes it through the night.

Unfortunately, most of these wishes are not granted.

"Where were you?"

Kita freezes at the voice from behind him, having just entered the castle. He was in the process of exiting the throne room, about to turn down the hallway that leads to the stairs, where the royal bedrooms are. Kita was beginning to grow optimistic at the lack of confrontation so far. He should've known better.

Kita slowly turns around and finds Alexis on the throne, leaned back with something in his hands. The castle is mostly dark, dimly illuminated by a few candles that have yet to be put out. Alexis is cast in darkness, the light behind him only giving Kita the faint view of a silhouette. He knows it's Alexis, though. For one, he'd recognize that guy anywhere. However, he also just sees better in the dark now.

It's weird not being able to see Alexis' expression, though. He also looks strangely... ominous. Waiting up for Kita in the middle of the night, Alexis doesn't usually act like that. Obviously he's always cared about Kita, and vice versa, but not to the extent of waiting in the dark for him like a disappointed parent.

"Um," Kita says, realizing that he actually wasn't even doing anything wrong or suspicious this time. He didn't sneak out or anything, he's been in the same building all day. "I was with my mom."

Alexis stands up, and this casts him in a bit of light. Kita takes note that his expression is impassive, Kita's valid reason not appearing to have done much. Alexis takes slow steps towards Kita, descending the stairs at a pace that makes him nervous. As Alexis draws nearer, he speaks.

"All week?" Alexis asks knowingly. Kita blinks at him, unaware his disappearance was noticed. Shit, Alexis knows Kita has been sneaking out?

Kita's eyes wander down to what Alexis has in his hands, something he was messing with when he was sitting on the throne as well. It's difficult to tell, but once Alexis is closer, stopping in front of Kita, the light finally hits the shiny object.

It's a crown.

"I was— Yeah, I was..." Kita does not suck at lying, okay? He just never does so, especially to Alexis, so it doesn't come easy for him at all. Alexis just quirks an eyebrow at him, a doubtful look on his face. Kita takes a couple steps back, trying to figure out what the hell to do. "Uh, visiting. I've been visiting her."

Alexis doesn't believe him, and it's obvious. Honestly, who would? Even if Kita's lies were believable, his delivery is not.

"In the middle of the night."

Oh, god. Kita hums an affirmative, visibly nervous. Alexis starts to look disappointed, which is somehow worse than whatever he was feeling before. Kita gulps, a guilty sensation already eating away at him. He really hates lying. Even ignoring the moral issue, which in this case is understandable, he just prefers to be honest with people.

"Well, whatever the reason," Alexis continues, phrasing it like they're moving on. Kita knows that Alexis can tell he's lying, though. Kita also knows that this will bother him, but at least he's letting it go for now. "It has drawn attention to our living arrangements."

Kita frowns at him. Living arrangements? What living arrangements? It's normal for married couples to live together! If anything that should help their case, since the papers are trying to make people doubt their relationship anyway.

Then again... it's not so normal to sleep in separate bedrooms. That's probably what Alexis is referring to.

Kita shrugs, "then I'll move into your room."

That will make it harder for Kita to hide his newfound vampirism, but it will also lessen suspicion. Alexis has been quite suspicious of him during this entire conversation, which is something that never happens. It's not a good feeling, and Kita would like for it to end as soon as possible.

This works, thankfully. Alexis' expression softens, appearing not to have expected that. He takes a step forward, now standing right in front of Kita. A couple moments go by while he gauges Kita's expression, which is sincere.

Kita feels nervous at being studied like this, but he needs to appear confident and trustworthy. So, he maintains eye contact until the resolve seems to completely leave Alexis' body. The guy relaxes, looking to believe Kita, or—more likely—at least let it go for now. Then, he's reaching up, and Kita just stares into his eyes until he feels something being placed atop his head.

"Good," Alexis says, making sure the crown is secure before taking a step back, leaning further away so he can really study Kita. Kita glances up at the crown on his head, though all he can really see is his own hair. "Are you ready to rule Amarath with me?"

Kita is not. Maybe if he was still human, he'd be more up for the task. However, unfortunately, he was turned into a vampire almost two weeks ago, and his life has supremely sucked ever since. Before he knew that, though, he did agree to rule.

Alexis might not have meant it literally, but that's how Kita takes it. "No. I don't know how to do anything."

Alexis just gives him a fond look, though Kita doesn't know why. Did he do or say something stupid? Usually Alexis only looks at him like this when he finds something Kita did endearing or amusing. Did he misunderstand?

"I'll teach you," Alexis notifies him. It actually makes Kita feel a bit better. Alexis is a good teacher, and learning all the little intricacies of the throne was something Kita was not looking forward to. However, if Alexis is showing him everything, it should all go smoothly.

"Okay," Kita says, tone more cheerful this time. "Then I will be."

Alexis just nods a couple times, somewhat slow, and studies Kita's face. They stand like that for a while, at least a full minute or so. Kita is about to break the silence, most likely to say goodnight or ask if he needs something else.

However, Alexis speaks first.

"Can I ask you something?"

Kita starts to feel nervous. Oh shit, are they about to circle back to what they'd been talking about before? About Kita sneaking out at night? Kita really has no excuses for that, so he's not sure how he'd handle the situation. Nervously, he replies, "s-sure."

"Why is there a clothespin on your nose?"

Kita honestly forgot that was there. He's not sure how, since it's in his line of sight no matter where he looks. At Alexis' words, Kita goes cross-eyed as he glances down at the wooden object keeping him from smelling Cordelia's blood.

Thats right, Cordelia!

Kita doesn't even answer Alexis' question, distracted now. Almost as if on cue, she begins stirring a bit. His eyes widen in excitement, happy that she's still alive. Those guys really did a number on her, so he was gaining more and more doubtful by the minute that she'd wake up.

Kita pulls her away from where he'd gently been clutching her to his chest, something Alexis must not have noticed seeing as he frowns, stepping away to give Kita more room and looking down at the rag, which Kita is in the process of unfolding, in confusion.

"Is that a bird?" Alexis asks, squinting down at her. Kita is reminded that Alexis' vision isn't as good as his, since it's pretty dark in here. Also, she's a black bird on a black rag, so she camouflages.

"Her name is Cordelia," Kita corrects, "some sh- uh, kids, hurt her. She needs help."

Kita hopes Alexis didn't catch his slip up. He almost called them what they were: shifters. This wouldn't have been incriminating in and of itself, but it would have raised a lot of questions. Thankfully, Alexis either doesn't notice or doesn't care.

"Okay. I can get her to the medical wing, but they don't have much experience with birds." Alexis notifies him. Kita just nods, not really caring about their lack of expertise in this particular area. Either way, they're medically trained, so she has a much better chance in their hands.

Alexis begins leading him that way, Kita lagging behind since most of his attention is on Cordelia right now. She's moving around a little bit, flapping her wings slightly, but she's still barely conscious.

There are only a couple nurses and one doctor still in the castle, due to it being so late. Still, when Kita and Alexis arrive, they get right to work. Kita sends one last, fleeting glance at Cordelia before he has to leave and let them do their jobs, in Alexis' words.