Deanna responded by nodding silently, her gaze dropping to the floor. James made a mental note to have a serious discussion with Tristan when he got back. He reached out tentatively, offering a small sign of solidarity. Deanna looked back up at him, her eyes lined with tears as she silently mouthed the words 'Thank you'. Before he had a chance to say anything else, a nurse approached them.

Nurse Sanchez: "Are you here with the hypothermia patient?"
James: "Yes…"
Nurse Sanchez: "There's good news and bad news. The good news is we were able to revive the patient. She's breathing on her own and her vitals are all strong. We're working on getting her body temperature back up to normal and are making very good progress. The bad news is that she's currently comatose. We're working on finding the cause but until we do, we won't be able to give you an accurate time table of when you can expect her to wake up."

Nurse Sanchez: "We're transferring her to the ICU right now, which is on the third floor. You're more than welcome to head up there, ICU's chairs are far more comfortable than the ones in here."
James: "Thank you."
Nurse Sanchez: "We'll keep you updated on her progress. The hospital cafeteria is closed right now, but if you're hungry there are vending machines on nearly every floor."

James: "Is she supposed to be comatose?"
Abigail: "Her soul is no longer residing within her body, it's still on the other side. If she and Tristan fail their quest, her body will die and her soul will remain in the underworld."
Deanna: "What about Tristan? What will happen to him?"

Abigail: "His body and soul are bound to one another in the underworld-whatever happens to him while he's there will manifest itself here when he returns to this world. Any injuries he sustains will be very much real. If he's killed while in the underworld, his body and soul will cease to exist in exactly the same way as if he were killed on this plane."

Abigail: "Mary's soul is also bound to his by means of magic, and his to hers. This was the only way to assure Mary would be aware of what was happening to her. Therefore, if she dies, he dies. Beyond that is a realm of which I know nothing."

James opened his mouth to speak, a thousand questions begging for answers fighting to be the first to be set free. Instead, he was interrupted by an unearthly low wailing that rattled the glass in the windows, stopping almost as suddenly as it started. He looked to Abigail and Deanna, wondering if he'd imagined the sound. He knew by the looks on their faces that they'd heard it as well.

The three of them turned in the direction of the ER where the wailing had started, just in time to see a flash of red and a vague impression of a human-form speed by. James was fairly certain it had been floating a good six inches from the floor, and his mind seemed to be repeating the word 'horns'.

Deanna: "What the hell was that?!"
Abigail: "Ker."
James: "Excuse me?"

Abigail: "Keres, the Hounds of Hades. They belong to the Furies and are said to be sent from the Underworld to track down mortals who break oaths or plot murders. However, they haven't been seen on this plane in millennia."
Deanna: "What's it doing here then?"
Abigail: "I have a feeling something we've done is responsible."

James: "Then we have to stop it. Abigail, are you able to fight this thing?"
Abigail: "I've not yet fully recovered from sending Tristan into the Underworld, but I will be able to help the two of you still."
Deanna: "Then let's go- that thing was moving fast. I'll drive."