Chapter Seven: Relapse
It was late afternoon by the time the snow finally stopped. The clouds and wind persisted, however, keeping Lisa and Erik inside the house.
She was worried about him. He hadn’t eaten much since arriving and his cough and fever kept coming back faster each time the medicine wore off.
He was currently lying on the bed in his room, eyes closed against the headache pounding behind them. He was sweating and breathing hard, trying his best to stay focused.
Lisa brought him a glass of water along with another dose of medicine. The one bright spot of these was that one couldn’t overdose on them because they were made with all-natural ingredients, so she wasn’t worried about giving him too much.
“Now that the snow stopped,” Lisa told him, gently wiping his face with a damp cloth, “it should be easier for Medicus to finish.”
He couldn’t speak, but his thoughts came clear enough.
I’ve come all this way…all this way to find you…only to die here…
“You’re not going to die!” Lisa insisted. “I know that, in your time, people died from the simplest of diseases, but that doesn’t happen now.”
Jamie, who was standing watch on the headboard, using his Empath abilities to monitor Erik’s condition, said, He’s getting worse, Lisa.
She took his hand and felt him give a weak squeeze.
“You have to try to stay awake,” she told him. “It’d be bad if you sleep. You’ll go into a coma and it’ll be harder for Medicus to cure you.”
I can’t…
“Yes, you can,” she said.
Tears slipped down from the corners of his eyes.
Oh, Lisa…I am not strong enough…I’m sorry…
She could feel his mind drifting into the ether.
“Oh, no, you don’t!” she shouted. “Erik, stay awake!”
His mind has to be stimulated, said Jamie. Try making him remember something.
Lisa thought frantically. “Remember when we first met?” she asked. “Remember you thought I was an angel?
Angel…
“Yeah, remember? I saved your life. I gave you your first kiss.”
Kiss… She could feel his mind latch onto the word. A kiss…Angel…of Music…
He’s remembering someone from his past, but it’s not you, said Jamie.
Christine…
Images appeared in Lisa’s mind as he remembered. She could see a child being taken in by this mysterious teacher. She watched as the child grew into a young woman with a rich voice. She could hear singing, but not only the girl’s. Erik’s as well. She hadn’t known he could sing.
Then, she could see a man with the girl. She saw as Erik strung him up in the Punjab Lasso, demanding that Christine – the girl – spend the rest of her life with him in order to save the other man’s life.
And, also, she saw the kiss Christine had given him, causing him to free them both and escape the catacombs to look for Lisa.
“Oh, Erik, I had no idea…” she said softly. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
He didn’t answer, but Lisa could then hear the creaking of wheels and galloping of hooves.
She sighed in relief. “Thank Orion…” she breathed.
The wall came up and in came Medicus. Mistral, too, was there, standing outside to keep the elements out.
“I was surprised I could finish so quickly,” Medicus said. “It was fortunate I had all the ingredients I needed.”
I got to help! Mistral said proudly. I kept the snow away!
“Yes, she did.”
A vial of pale peach liquid levitated through the wall opening, though Erik was too feverish to notice.
Lisa caught it and undid the cork. “Erik, drink this,” she said, holding it to his lips.
He coughed a little, but did swallow the whole thing.
“Let him sleep,” said Medicus as Erik’s eyelids drooped and closed. “He’ll be recovered by morning, though he’ll be weak for a day or two.”
“I owe you one,” said Lisa, tucking the blankets around Erik’s body.
The stallion shut his eyes modestly. “I’m just doing my job. Come on, Mistral. Let’s get you home before your parents send a search party.”
“Oh, Medicus, I almost forgot…how’s Cesar?”
“Just fine. He’ll be coming back here soon. Goodbye, Lisa.” He nodded to Jamie.
“Bye.”
The two equines left, closing the wall behind them.
End chapter seven.
Back *~*~* Chapter Six *~*~* Chapter Eight