Wake Me Up A Week Later

"Oh Incarni."

Guinevere whispered as she looked at the blood pooling around her in horror.

"Minerva.", I broke the silence, my voice barely above a whisper, "What do you see inside?"

Her response pierced through the heavy air, sending shivers down my spine.

"Death. Pure and unadulterated death. I had never seen anything like this."

I never imagined the AI was capable of expressing shock.

Dread clenched at my heart with a poisonous grip as I approached Guinevere, each step accompanied by the sickening squelch of blood against my boots.

"Let me, Mother.", I said, standing in front of the doors beside her.

Guinevere's gaze held a mixture of concern and fear, her maternal instincts urging her to protect me from the horrors that lay beyond.

She gave me a worried look, "Are you sure, Mordred? What if she is-"

"I'll be fine, Mother.", I cut her off and forced a smile, "She is bloody strong."

"She's probably trying to figure out how to look badass sitting on a pile of bodies."

I continued, forcing a hollow chuckle as I pushed open the doors with trembling hands.

The doors swung open soundlessly, releasing a stream of blood that reached my ankles.

The stench of blood and death assaulted my nose as I stepped into the huge room.

Each breath felt like inhaling the essence of death itself, my lungs struggling against the noxious fumes that filled the air.

My breathing became heavy, and ragged, as my eyes beheld the nightmare before me.

What I saw would be seared into my mind forever. 

A hundred bodies, some dismembered and others whole lay scattered like discarded puppets in a sea of blood that reached my ankles.

Each corpse told a story of agony and terror, their faces frozen into horrifying expressions of primal despair and rage.

Black claws like huge scythes, and black teeth that looked like needles stood out of the naked bodies twisted and morphed by the wraiths into killing machines. 

My stomach churned every time I stepped between the bodies as I tried to navigate through this swamp of blood and death.

Yet amidst the horror, my focus remained fixed on her.

Her back was toward me as she stood in the middle of the room, surrounded by bloodied and twisted corpses.

A dark aura of death surrounded her like a miasma as she swayed on unsteady legs, bathed in blood, her breath coming out ragged.

"Iris?", I called her name.

She froze and turned around.

"Mordred?", her voice was barely a whisper, raw with emotion.

What I saw broke my soul.

Her right arm was cleanly sliced off at the shoulder, a precise cut that only she was capable of, most likely a self-amputation in a desperate act of self-preservation

Her Deathwalker uniform was tattered and torn, shredded by the relentless onslaught of the wraiths. The fabric hung in tatters, revealing the horrors that lay beneath in stark detail.

Her body was a canvas of carnage. Deep gashes crisscrossed her skin, the torn flesh gaping open and revealing the bones underneath.

There were so many gashes that they almost covered her scars.

Rivulets of blood flowed freely from her wounds, mixing with the blood of the wraiths she was bathed in. 

Amidst the many horrific wounds were what looked like bite marks. Necrosis spread out of those wounds like a plague as what seemed like venom spread all over her body.

A gaping hole marred her torso, exposing her ribs and viscera to the world.

And her face...

A chill gripped me as I gazed upon the devastation etched upon her face

Most of her left cheek was torn asunder, revealing her jawbones and teeth and bloody lacerations marred her beautiful face.

Blood flowed down from her eyes like tears and her blue irises pierced through the crimson of her bloodshot eyes.

Despite the atrocities that wracked her form, Iris mustered a small, grotesque smile.

"Hey, love. Told you I'll be fine."

As she stumbled forward, I rushed to catch her, tears streaming down my face as I held her close.

Getting down on my knees, I cleared away a spot using my blood tentacles and carefully laid her down on the blood-soaked floor, my heart aching with each passing moment.

My voice quivered as I cradled her head gently in my arms, my tears mingling with the blood that stained her skin.

She managed a weak smile, "I beat my nightmare.", she whispered

"I'm just glad you're safe," she assured me, her words tinged with uncertainty, "Don't worry, love. She promised I won't die."

"What do you mean?", I asked softly.

Her expression grew cloudy, "I... I can't remember," she admitted, her grip tightening on my hand.

"Oh, yes. Jeko Hess. Kill that son of a bitch for me." she urged, her voice filled with determination.

"Was he responsible for this?", I demanded, anger simmering beneath the surface.

She nodded, "Yep. It might take a while for me to wake up. So get that little bastard for me."

A smile tugged at my lips, "I will."

Iris smiled, and she coughed up blood, her condition worsening by the moment.

"DOC!", I called out desperately

"Coming!", Dr. Casper Haytham jumped from corpse to corpse along with his team and arrived beside Iris.

"You better stay alive kid. No way you're dying after deleting a hundred wraiths.", Dr. Haytham declared firmly, determination etched on his face.

"A hundred and seven, actually.", Iris corrected and coughed out blood again.

"Fuck. I should stop speaking.", she muttered, her voice growing fainter with each breath.

Looking at me, she whispered softly, "Mordred, give me a kiss."

I leaned in and kissed her tenderly, tasting the metallic tang of blood on her torn lips.

"Wake me up a week later.", she murmured before closing her eyes, her breathing becoming shallower with each passing moment.

Frantically, I looked at Dr. Casper. His expression was grim as he assessed Iris's condition.

"This is bad.", he said, his voice heavy with concern.

"The venom has spread throughout her body, causing extensive damage."

He shook his head, looking confused,. "But wraith venom is usually fatal. How is she still alive? Even if she uses the no-dying trait of her stigma, it wears off after the strike. But venom is still slowed."

I looked at Iris and touched one of her exposed veins. I felt a familiar sensation, a feeling similar to my own blood flowing in my veins.

"Pendragon blood," I said aloud, realization dawning. "Iris took some of my blood for her experiments. It might be what's slowing down the venom."

Dr. Casper's eyes widened in understanding as he considered the possibility. Meanwhile, his team worked frantically to stabilize Iris's condition.

"You and Iris share the same blood type.", he confirmed, nodding, "Your blood seems to be protecting her from the wraiths and their venom."

 "Minerva! Teleport us to Althea immediately!", he ordered.

"Very well.", her voice echoed all around us, and immediately a bright green flash filled my vision.

The next thing I knew, we were in one of the private emergency rooms of Althea and a healer was escorting us out of the room.

"What's happening!", I demanded, shrugging off the healer and turning toward the Doc.

"We need your blood for transfusion and to neutralize the venom. And we need it now.", he quickly explained, gazing at me with his dark pink eyes full of determination.

I met his gaze with a nod of understanding, "I'll do whatever you say. Please save her."

"Of course I will.", he grunted and gestured toward the door, "Now get out and give me your blood!"

I nodded again and turned around after having one more look at Iris. 

An oxygen mask covered her bloody face, and her torn uniform was being carefully removed as they prepared to administer treatment.

Following the healer out of the room, I muttered.

"Please. You better not die, Iris."

*******

"You need sleep, Mordred."

Gawain's voice cut through the tense silence of the waiting area, his expression mirroring his concern.

He turned to Guinevere, "Say something to him, Mother. It's been two days and he hasn't slept a wink."

Guinevere offered a weary smile and shook her head, "It wouldn't make a difference, Wain. He's determined to stay awake until he knows she's safe."

With a sigh, she recounted, "I still remember when Morg was gravely injured after a battle. The healing took three days, and Arthur refused to sleep until it was over."

Her smile turned wistful, "Even after that, he stayed awake for the rest of the week, never leaving her side until she woke up."

I stared at her incredulously, "You... are talking about the High King?"

Guinevere laughed, "Oh it's true! Your father may be cold and ruthless but he has his moments."

"Bullshit.", I shot back, momentarily distracted from my worry about Iris.

She smiled, "You just have to see."

As we spoke, Artemis walked over to us, her face looking serious.

She bowed to Guinevere, "Your Majesty."

The High Queen nodded with a smile, "Good to see you, Miss Fray."

Artemis nodded back and turned to me, "We caught him. He was attempting to flee into one of the hidden corridors."

My eyes hardened and a previously suppressed rage resurfaced.

"Where is he now?", I asked in a calm voice barely concealing my anger.

"The Commander is interrogating him.", Artemis replied and grimaced, "Rather rigorously."

 I rose from my seat, and looked at her, "Take me to him."

She nodded, "That's why I am here. The Commander asked me to bring you."

I nodded, "Very well. Let's go."

"Mordred.", Guinevere called out. She looked serious and her eyes were cold.

"Please stay here, Mother. The Doc will come out with news anytime.", I told her and turned to Artemis.

"Let's go."