Carpathian 16 - Dark Demon

think now is the time to stand on ceremony. If you are under the protection of our prince, then you are under my protection and a friend."

    Natalya snorted derisively. "You couldn't protect a wet hen right now, Mr. Charm, so knock off the flirting and let me work."
    Vikirnoff looked confused. "Why would I want to protect a wet hen?"
    Slavica covered her mouth with her hand and coughed delicately.
    "You're deliberately missing the point," Natalya said and sank down onto the mattress, her thigh brushing his.
    "I do not understand how or why you are comparing Slavica to a wet hen," Vikirnoff said with a small frown. "I do not see the resemblance."
    Slavica's giggle slipped out from around her hand. She hastily sobered and sent Natalya a quick look of apology. "Just lie back, Vikirnoff, and stay still. Natalya, you must teach me the chant that all Carpathian healers use when working."
    "I don't know it," Natalya admitted, feeling guilty and ashamed. Why, she didn't know.
    She had no reason to know the silly chant. "I'm not full Carpathian and have never lived with their people. I know very little about them."
    Vikirnoff's fingers caught her chin and raised it. Her gaze flew to his and held there when she wanted to jerk away. For all the severity of his injuries, he had surprising strength. I do not like you feeling ashamed. Why should you know something without ever being taught?
    Few know the heart of the vampire must be incinerated or he will rise again and again.
    Even fewer know how to separate mind and body to heal. And the number who know the sacred words of healing is even smaller .
    His voice soothed more than his words, brushing over her like silk, enveloping them with an intimacy that brought unexpected tears to her eyes. She choked back a lump burning in her throat and dragged her gaze from his. He was touching her in ways she couldn't comprehend and her reaction to him frightened her. She was terribly ashamed of her shrewish behavior toward Vikirnoff when he lay on the bed with his chest, thigh and back ripped open, all the while trying to soothe her.
    I am having trouble keeping chaotic emotions at bay, why should it be any easier for you? You have no reason to feel shame.
    His confession nearly brought on another rush of tears. Natalya bent over his chest, pressing the mixture of healing soil and saliva into the hole so close to his heart. Beneath her fingers, she felt his muscles grow tense. Flicking a nervous glance at his face, she saw tiny beads of blood on his brow. Her stomach protested with a quick rolling lurch. Her breath hissed out between her teeth.
    "It's good, Natalya," Slavica encouraged. "Vikirnoff teach us the words so we can help when Natalya attempts to heal you."

    Hurry . It slipped out, breathless with anxiety. Natalya bit down on her lip, but it didn't stop the worry in her mind from betraying her. She hated causing him pain, even when she knew she was helping him with the soil pack. Tell me the words and I'll relay them to Slavica. And tell me what the words mean .
    Kuńasz, nélkül sivdobbanás, nélkül fesztelen löyly. It means, "You lie as if asleep, without beat of heart, without airy breath.'" Vikirnoff coughed and there was a fleck of blood at his lips. He turned his face away from her to continue. Ot élidamet andam szabadon élidadért means "I offer freely my life for your life ." His gaze flicked over her briefly. You may not wish to continue .
    Just give me the words.
    O jelä sielam jŏrem ot ainamet és soŋe ot élidadet. Vikirnoff coughed again and dragged his torn shirt to his mouth. Natalya could see it was instantly stained with blood. " My spirit of light forgets my body and enters your body ." O jelä sielam pukta kinn minden szelemeket belső.
    Vikirnoff paused when she took the shirt from him and gently wiped his mouth. Her eyes met his. "What does that mean?"
    " My spirit of light sends all the dark spirits within fleeing without ." His hand fumbled for her wrist to hold her still. Thank you, Natalya .
    "You're very welcome. Give me the rest of it before you lose consciousness."
    Pajńak o susu hanyet és o nyelv nyálamet sivadaba means "I press the earth of my homeland and the spit of my tongue into your heart."
    "Basically the chant covers exactly the procedure for healing," Natalya said.
    Vikirnoff nodded. Vii o verim soŋe o verid andam is, "At last, I give you my blood for your blood." This is repeated while the healer is inside the body. It is a