Zeus took Merva to an infirmary, and had her placed under emergency treatment.
He stayed out the room, watching as the healers did their work, and questioning one of them about all that was going on.
He did not want it to be that he had taken her out of his father's reach, and brought her back to it again.
It didn't make sense, all of Olympus was under his father's command, but he wanted somewhere a little bit neutral.
The healers exited her room, and he was let in. He sat by her bed and watched her unconscious form, wondering just how much they had put her through.
The door opened and a nurse walked in, wheeling in a medication trolley towards Merva's bedside.
She checked the positioning of the IV drip, and picked up one of the a vial of liquid medication she came with.
She prepared a syringe, and broke the seal on the vial with practiced ease, drawing out the liquid and injecting it into the drip.
Zeus watched her repeat the action on another one, and stopped her on the third.
The liquid in the little vial was green, and looked too wrong in his eyes.
"What is that?" He asked, stopping her from injecting it into the drip momentarily.
"Its a core power improving medication." She answered. "Its harmless." She assured him.
Her core power had been greatly depleted. Was what the nurse did not say, but they both knew that it was what she meant.
The healers acted like they did not understand what had happened to her, but everyone knew that only their ruler had such audacity to almost break someone, and only his son had the power to free that person. And so they had not asked questions.
She left the room once she was done.
And it was back to just him watching Merva, and wishing he had known earlier to save her.
*** ***
Minerva had left the facility once she was done to go find Serine, she was sure that Merva was safe with Zeus and wanted to give them some alone time. And so she went to the ladies quarters, High god Zoran appearing seconds after she was gone.
He took in the state of the entire building and the people within indifferently, stepping over those that were in his way as he went in.
One of the researchers grabbed his leg for support and he kicked him off, using a hanky from his coat pocket to wipe at the spot that was touched.
The researcher bowed to the floor in fear when he noticed who it was. Many others disregarded their pain and followed suit, bowing down to Zoran.
"Where is Alden." He asked, dropping the hanky on the researcher that had touched him and then dusting off his hands.
The researcher accepted it with grace and stood up. "I could take you there my Lord." He offered, wincing in pain as he spoke.
"No need. Just point the direction."
The researcher pointed it out, and went back to nursing his injuries while Zoran walked away.
"Alden." He called out when he got there, watching as Alden struggled to free himself from the people that had been piled on him.
Alden tried to bow when he saw Zoran, but it was impossible. He tried using his feeble powers to push them off, but it was useless.
"Did you finish my research?" Zoran asked, his ever stoic face finally changing.
"It would be a sorry thing if you were unable to, but I would understand. My son caused you Inconveniences after all." He said calmly, his head tilting as he waited for his answer.
"No my Lord, your son caused us no inconvenience, we were just unlucky for offending him." Alden answered fervently, fear marring his face.
There was a fleeting expression of amusement on Zoran's face, before his face assumed its original expression.
"It is good that he did not inconvenience you then. Where is my research?"
Alden pointed at the door ahead.
Zoran began heading towards the door, and paused abruptly. "Are you not coming?"
Alden struggled again. "I am my Lord."
Alden looked like a sorry sight, Zoran almost clicking his tongue. 'How can one be this useless?' He thought, freeing him with his power.
"Thank you very much my Lord." Alden said gratefully as he led the way.
Zoran was almost satisfied with the research. He nodded at Alden, watching as he bit his lips contemplating what he had to say.
"Do I have to ask you to say it?" Zoran asked, turning to look at the cauldrons filled with liquidized power and other things.
"My Lord?" Alden asked, hoping Zoran would repeat what he said, but Zoran was never one to repeat what he had already said.
He inclined his head towards Alden slightly, and Alden choked, but held it back.
His feet shook in fear, sweat gathering between his brows as he tried to remember what he was asked.
"I noticed something fishy with the lady while she was here." He begun, hoping that was what he wanted to know.
High god Zoran did not stop him, and so he took it as a favorable sign.
"There was much brain activity we noticed when she was alone, and after using spirit sight we got a little footage of a wispy shadow that followed her about like an aura." He said, a virtual screen appearing in his hand.
He showed High god Zoran the footage. "We tried to trap it, but were unable to. It seemed to have somewhat of an independent mind at times, but always ended up following her about."
High god Zoran glimpsed through it and looked at Alden. "Any other evidence to prove this?"
Alden nodded. "Yes my Lord. Just minutes before Lord Zeus..." He paused and cleared his throat violently. "Minutes before she was released, we noticed that she was wrapped in the shadow and talking to it." He said bringing up the footage.
High god Zoran watched the footage thoughtfully, and Alden wondered what his next course of action would be.
*** ***
The monitor beeped in the silence of Merva's hospital room, Zeus sitting by her side wondering when she would wake up as time slipped by.
"I am sorry." He whispered, wondering how he did not notice that she had been missing.
He blamed himself for her predicament, hoping that she woke up strong and fine.
The quiet made him drowsy, and he did not know when he dozed off while waiting for her to wake up.
Merva woke up and found Zeus by her bed side dozing off.
She sat up slowly, watching as the room lights shone on his sleeping face. She lifted her hand from her side and slowly reached for his face, tracing his features as he slept.
His brows bunched up as though he was in a nightmare. "Its alright." Merva whispered quietly, watching as his face eased back to comfort.
She smiled without thinking, her fingers going through his hair.
'Merva.' Minerva called as soon as she appeared, stopping when she noticed the guilty look on Merva's face.
'What did you do?' She asked in confusion.
She saw Zeus sleeping by Merva's ved side and snorted. 'Couldn't resist a handsome face could you?' She asked.
Merva retracted her hand and cleared her throat quietly. 'What happened?' She asked leaning back on her pillow.
'Serine is gone.' Minerva answered.
'Really?' She asked. 'How come? Is the barrier down yet?'
'Yes.' Minerva answered.
Merva looked alarmed, wondering what it meant for Minerva now.
'I will be fine. It doesn't affect me as long as I am in this bubble.' She assured her sister.
Zeus woke up while they were communicating telepathically.
He watched Merva, wondering where she was staring at with her full attention.
'Zeus is awake.' Minerva told her, looking at him.
"Oh." Merva said out loud, turning her face to look at him. "You're awake!'
"Yes." He replied stifling a yawn.
He looked at where she had been facing but saw nothing, and then turned back to her and smiled. "How are you feeling?"
"I am feeling okay." She responded.
Minerva made gagging sounds. 'Jeez, can you stop this. I am leaving, I don't like third wheeling.' She said getting up.
Minerva looked at her and nodded, trying hard not to blush.
'I will go outside for a while, and wait till you are done doing your PDA.' Minerva said and disappeared.
"Is anything wrong?" Zeus asked, wondering why she was looking at the air again.
"Nothing." She replied, looking at him and smiling. "Its nothing."
"Okay." He accepted, looking at the space once more.
"So how did find me?" She asked to get his attention.
He pushed his wonder out of his mind, and focused on her. "Serine found me, and told me." He said guiltily. "I didn't know, and thought that maybe something came up so you didn't come."
"Where is she?" She asked him.
"She said she had to go back. That I should tell you that she is sorry for not being able to tell you good bye."
The night went on, Merva saying thank you and Zeus asking for forgiveness.
They let it all behind them, talking about little things that had been going on while she was away.
He helped put Merva to sleep when he noticed how tired she had become, and sat by her bedside thinking of what he was going to say was his reason for taking Merva out of the facility.