M.D

I thought I'd wait a couple of minutes, sat down here on the stairs… His brain finally registered my bloodied clothes, the sword, and the smudges of dried blood marring my face. His eyes widened.

"Are you okay?"

"I'll live."

I unlocked the door to the apartment, opening the ward.

"There is a naked man on the landing," I said hoping to forestall any upcoming questions.

"I'm going to carry him into this apartment."

Pat threw the Chinese food into the apartment hallway and went down the stairs to get Derek without saying a word. Together we brought him inside and put him on the hallway carpet. I shut the door in the world's face and let out a breath.

I kicked off my shoes and turned the lantern switch. My shoes were bloody again. Oh well, nothing a lot of bleach wouldn't fix.

The tiny flames of feylanterns surged up, bathing the apartment in a comforting soft glow. Pat knelt to examine Derek's leg.

"He needs emergency care," he said.