Page 39 of Legend of Scorpio
CHAPTER 12
While Scorpio raced off,Rebecca took longer to follow—because no way would she stay huddled in Scorpio’s room wondering what happened. She hit the bathroom for the clothes she’d stripped the night before, simple leggings and a long-sleeve shirt, to find them replaced with new undergarments, khakis, a T-shirt, and sturdy running shoes, all perfectly sized and totally her style.
“Thank you, Tower,” she murmured aloud because it seemed rude not to say anything. She dressed and exited, those few minutes she’d taken putting Scorpio long out of sight. She began trotting down the stairs, when suddenly she didn’t have to. The tread she stood on widened, and the handrail she held remained attached to it as it zoomed her to the bottom level. Not quite an elevator, but it worked. She stepped foot on the marbled floor in time to hear an explosion.
She raced out the pair of doors that swung open to reveal the dawning sky and immediately saw Scorpio sitting on the ground, holding his hand.
A hand dripping blood.
“What happened?” Rebecca yelled as she raced for him.
“Your company sent a drone to spy, and it didn’t like being captured,” his explanation, a calm statement that belied the seriousness of his injury. His hand had been shredded, the wound deep enough that bone peeked through the open and bleeding flesh.
“He needs a doctor,” she stated to Aries, who stood to the side with a phone to his ear.
“I’m fine,” Scorpio insisted.
“Your hand looks like hamburger,” Rebecca snapped, tugging at her sleeve.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting something to wrap around it and apply pressure. You need a hospital. Where’s the nearest one?”
“No hospital,” Aries stated as he put his phone away. “Just help him get inside. Scorpio can guide you from there to the Stardust room.”
“The what?” she blurted out.
“Stardust room,” Scorpio repeated as he stood with his dripping hand. “It’s next door to the portal room. Wanna come and see how a Zodiac Warrior gets patched up after a battle?”
“Are we talking about magic?” He might be injured, but she still had to move quickly to keep pace with his long stride.
“Of sorts. Given our affinity to the stars, chunks that fall to Earth can provide certain extras. The dust, for example, can be sprinkled on wounds to quicken the healing of it.”
“You’re going to dump some dirt on your mangled hand?” She tried to not sound skeptical and failed. She couldn’t help but be bothered by his casual disregard.
“Yup. Works like a charm,” he announced as they entered the tower. “It’s right beside the portal room, making it close for the missions that go sideways.”
“Portal room?” She felt like a child constantly asking questions.
“Where we arrived when I starbeamed us.” He inclined his head to a large arch carved with symbols.
She’d been unconscious for that, which meant she’d never seen this level with its grand foyer lined in arches and a staircase running up the middle. The floor gleamed, the white marble pristine but of a type she’d never seen, given its silvery flecks.
“What the heck happened?” she grumbled.
“I told you, your company sent a drone.”
“Was that what caused the explosion and injury?”
“Yup. I shot it down and retrieved it. Damned thing blew up in my hand. Guess they didn’t want us playing with it.”
“How do you know it was from Cetus?”
“Saw the logo before the kaboom,” he stated, entering through an arch with an exploding star above it. The room beyond looked more apothecary than medical clinic. It had a lounge-like chair that could recline and a wall of shelves filled with glass jars holding dirt.
Scorpio plopped onto the seat and lay his forearm on the armrest before he pointed with his good hand. “Grab one of the dust cannisters, would you?”
“Any particular one?”