Raphael hurried into the hospital, holding Damian’s arm over his shoulder as two paramedics helped carry him through the sliding glass doors. Luna followed closely behind, her hands clenched tightly in front of her.
“Doctor!” Raphael called out as soon as they entered. “We need help now!”
A team of nurses rushed over, wheeling a stretcher toward them. Raphael and the paramedics carefully placed Damian onto it. His body was limp, his breathing shallow, and his skin pale and drenched in sweat.
“What happened to him?” a nurse asked quickly, her eyes scanning Damian’s condition.
“We don’t know,” Raphael said, his voice tight. “One minute he was fine, and then… he just collapsed. He’s been like this for hours.”
The nurse nodded, her expression serious. She turned to the doctor who had just arrived, a middle-aged man with sharp eyes and a calm demeanor.
“Take him to the emergency room,” the doctor ordered, motioning for the nurses to move quickly. “We’ll stabilize him first and run some tests.”
“Doctor, is he going to be okay?” Raphael asked, his voice edged with worry.
The doctor gave him a quick but reassuring look. “We’ll do everything we can. But for now, you’ll have to wait outside.”
Raphael frowned, his hands clenching into fists, but he nodded. “Fine. Just… just make sure he pulls through.”
The doctor didn’t answer, already focused on Damian as the stretcher was wheeled through a pair of double doors.
Raphael and Luna stood there, watching as the doors swung shut, leaving them in a tense silence.
Luna glanced up at Raphael, noticing the hard set of his jaw and the way his hands were trembling slightly. “Sir…” she began softly.
Raphael turned to her, his eyes narrowing slightly. “What?” he asked, his tone sharp.
Luna hesitated, then shook her head. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Raphael sighed, running a hand through his hair. “No, I’m sorry,” he muttered. “I didn’t mean to snap at you. I’m just…” He paused, letting out a frustrated breath. “I hate not knowing what’s going on.”
Luna nodded, her hands twisting nervously in front of her. “I understand,” she said. “Master Damian has always been… strong. Seeing him like this is… hard.”
Raphael studied her for a moment, his expression softening. “You care about him, don’t you?” he asked.
Luna looked down, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Of course,” she said. “He’s my master. And… he’s been kind to me.”
Raphael raised an eyebrow. “Kind?” he repeated, his tone curious.
“Yes,” Luna said, meeting his gaze. “He’s not perfect, but… he’s protected me. He’s made sure no one in the mansion hurts me.”
Raphael tilted his head, intrigued. “How long have you been with Damian?” he asked.
Luna hesitated for a moment, then said, “I was brought to the mansion when I was 15.”
Raphael’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “15?” he repeated. “That’s… a long time.”
“Yes,” Luna said softly. “I’ve been there for three years now.”
“And before that?” Raphael asked, leaning back against the wall. “How did you end up with Damian?”
Luna’s face darkened slightly, and she looked down at her hands. “I was sold,” she said quietly.
“Sold?” Raphael echoed, his tone softening.
Luna nodded. “My stepmother… she sold me to Madam Elena, the owner of the brothel where Master Damian bought me,” she explained. Her voice was steady, but there was a sadness in her eyes.
Raphael frowned. “Your stepmother?” he asked, his tone laced with disbelief. “Why would she do that?”
“She didn’t want me,” Luna said simply. “After my father died, she saw me as nothing but a burden. Selling me to Madam Elena was her way of getting rid of me and making some money at the same time.”
Raphael let out a low breath, his jaw tightening. “That’s… horrible,” he said.
Luna gave a small shrug. “It’s just how things were,” she said. “But then… Aurora came.”
“Aurora?” Raphael asked, his interest piqued.
“Yes,” Luna said, a small smile tugging at her lips. “She was bought by Master Damian too, but she was different. She didn’t just look out for herself-she looked out for me. She treated me like a sister, even though she didn’t have to.”
Raphael crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. “So Aurora… she was your backbone?” he asked.
“Yes,” Luna said firmly. “She gave me hope when I had none. Without her, I don’t think I would have survived those first few years.”
Raphael nodded slowly, his respect for both Luna and Aurora growing. “And now that she’s not around?” he asked.
Luna’s smile faded, and she looked down at her hands again. “It’s hard,” she admitted. “But I know she’d want me to be strong. For her. For myself.”
Before Raphael could respond, the double doors opened, and the doctor stepped out.
Both Raphael and Luna straightened immediately, their eyes fixed on the man’s face.
“How is he?” Raphael asked quickly, his voice tense.
The doctor sighed, removing his gloves. “He’s stable for now,” he said. “We identified the drug in his system-it’s a powerful sedative, but he was given a dose much higher than recommended. It’s a miracle he’s still alive.”
Luna gasped softly, her hands flying to her mouth. “Will he recover?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“With rest and proper care, he should pull through,” the doctor said. “But we’ll need to monitor him closely for the next 24 hours.”
Raphael let out a relieved breath, though his expression remained serious. “Thank you, Doctor,” he said. “Can we see him?”
“Not yet,” the doctor said. “We’re moving him to a private room now. Once he’s settled, you can sit with him.”
Raphael nodded. “Understood. Keep me updated.”
The doctor inclined his head and disappeared back through the doors, leaving Raphael and Luna alone once more.
Luna turned to Raphael, her eyes filled with worry. “He’ll be okay, right?” she asked softly.
Raphael gave her a reassuring smile. “He’s tough,” he said. “He’ll fight through this.”
Luna nodded, though her heart still ached. “I hope so,” she whispered.