* * *
An hour later, I was finished debriefing with Jay and Willow. Both had either an astounding poker face, or they'd heard these types of stories a fair deal in the past. I had explained everything exhaustively the first time round in the hopes they'd have fewer questions at the end. I'd been wrong. It turned out to be for the best, because it took all my debriefing time for Doc Mike and the rest of the team to decide what to do with Wraithbane and to determine how infectious he was.
Provided there was no liquid exchange, bites, or scratches, it would be reasonably safe to visit him. I was there as soon as I was released from primary source investigation. That's what they'd called the interview. The investigation in general was far from over, with two people gone revenant and Wraithbane on that path himself, but for now I was allowed in the room with him.
Illness makes people look small and frail, and Wraithbane was no exception as he slept on the infirmary bed. Being so contagious meant he got an entire room to himself, but it was a room which had hard walls and a scary number of warding spells all around. It wasn't a place to get better. It was a place to stay until death came, and after that, to bar up and refuse admittance.
Wraithbane shouldn't have already lost weight, but his whole presence was lacking. Maybe it was the faint black lines in his forearms. Maybe it was the gloss of sweat over his skin. Maybe it was the cloth restraints pinning his arms, legs, and torso to the bed.
“Is he asleep?” I asked.
“Induced. It'll slow the rate of the disease,” Doc Mike said.
“Disease?”
Doc Mike began talking, explaining it all in a clear relatively non-technical manner, soothing yet firm. I hardly heard a word. What I gathered was basic.
The restraints would keep Wraithbane human as long as possible and prevent him from hitting, biting, or spell-casting. They'd done things to help him, a lot of things, a very long list really. Too long of one. It bore resemblance to the phrase ''toss it at the wall and see what sticks''. Of blood vines and revenant change, they knew only what had been recorded, and that was essentially what I had already seen firsthand.
A lot was uncertain and up to Wraithbane. How long he'd last. How he'd behave. If he could have visitors. But one thing was absolutely certain: even with treatment, he would die. Within hours.
The way Doc Mike kept repeating this last bit made it seem less and less real. Wraithbane dead. Didn't seem possible. I couldn't imagine it. That it would happen so quickly. This morning he had been alive. He'd been angry with me for falling into a trap by being reckless. I should have died yesterday for my stupidity, yet he wasn't stupid and I hadn't messed up. Yet here we were.
Here we were.
“Call me if he wakes up,” I said to Doc Mike.
Doc Mike laid a hand on my arm, stopping me from leaving so soon. “Where are you going?”
“I saw two people die from this. I'm not letting it happen to him.”
“You and Wraithbane have a unique bond, but nothing can prevent this, Brandy. I understand that it will be difficult for you. We aren't giving up, but you cannot hold yourself responsible for him or what will happen. Not in any way.”
“I'm not holding myself responsible. I just...there's something that can be done for it. I know that there is.”
Doc Mike shook his head but didn't argue.