Chapter 190

Fear drove all feeling from my body. Then, at once, in a wave, in all came rushing back, and I was moving.

Mark had turned to lead us, but he was too slow. I already knew the way, so I started to run.

My little girl was sick. I had to get back to her side as soon as I could.

It didn’t make any sense. I was just there with her, eating cookies and having fun. She had seemed fine then, in good health. How could the illness set in so quickly? Usually there was at least symptoms before!

I needed to get back to her. My poor girl was probably as scared as me. She never understood why her body would just stop working.

I didn’t understand it either.

As I ran, two pairs of footsteps followed close behind. Nicholas had followed then. Good. If I didn’t have his presence nearby, I might fall apart when the time for waiting began.

“I’ve already called the doctor,” Mark alerted them as they ran.

“Good,” Nicholas said.

Finally, we reached the hallway of my room.

“Paprika!” I shouted as we came closer. The identification answer. “Paprika!” I said again, in case they didn’t hear me the first time.

One of the two definitely worked. They stepped aside as I came close. I shoved the door open, and Nicholas, Mark, and I flooded into the room.

Charlotte and the nanny were standing beside the bed. Elva was within it. Her cheeks were pale, and her hair was damp with sweat.

Only when I was at her side, did I stop to take a breath. I placed my hand to her forehead. She was burning up.

“Mommy…” she said, her voice so small and scared.

“I’m here, honey. It’s okay.”

“It hurts,” she said, and my heart cracked.

I looked behind me, seeing my heartbreak written all over Nicholas’s face.

Nicholas turned to Mark. “Where is that doctor?”

Mark brought his phone to his ear.

“It doesn’t make any sense,” Charlotte said. “We were having a tea party, and all of a sudden she collapsed.”

“I’m sorry,” the nanny said, sobbing into her hands. “I’m so sorry.”

It wasn’t her fault, but I couldn’t offer comfort to anyone but my whimpering daughter right now. I leaned into Elva. “Shh. It’s okay. The doctor will be here soon.”

Charlotte touched the nanny’s shoulder. “It’s not your fault. Let’s go, and give them some space.”

I gave Charlotte a grateful nod. Later, when and if the danger passed, I would apologize to the nanny and thank her for everything she did. But for now, my mind was too filled with fears and worries.

Elva lifted her hand and I quickly took it in mine.

“Nick-lass?” she asked.

“I’m here, Elva.” Nicholas stepped into the new open space with the nanny’s absence. He placed his hand on the top of Elva’s head. Elva closed her eyes, content for a moment, before the pain began and her eyes squeezed tight.

She sobbed and whimpered, and each tiny sound of pain and discomfort chipped away at my heart.

The doctor showed a few minutes later. Nicholas and I stepped back to let her work.

“Nick…” My voice trembled.

He pulled me into his arms and tucked my head under his chin. He was being strong for both of us, I knew, because, and though I’d never admit it, I felt the tremor in his hands.

We stood like that, unmoving, holding each other for a long time. The doctor checked Elva over. She asked her questions, then she asked questions to Charlotte and the nanny too.

When the doctor returned to Nicholas and me, her face was grim. “The nanny assures me she hasn’t missed any of her pills.”

“I swear,” I said. I’d been diligent with all of Elva’s treatments. She’d been doing so well since coming here, I wasn’t going to risk anything.

The doctor frowned deeper. “And I’m told the symptoms came quickly. I can’t make sense of it. There seems to have been no cause for this reaction. But that’s not possible.”

For even the doctor to be confused, sent tendrils of worry shooting out in all directions inside of me. The doctor was supposed to have everything under control. They were the professional.

“I’ll need to run some tests,” the doctor said. “Let me draw some blood for now, and give her what medicine I can. But we may need to take her to the hospital.”

“The hospital?” Fear choked my voice.

Nicholas rubbed my back. “We’ll do whatever is necessary.”

“Okay,” I said. “Yes. Thank you, doctor.”

The doctor nodded and went to draw the blood and inject the medicine.

When she had gone, I moved a chair to Elva’s bedside and sat there with her. Nicholas kept vigil, standing behind me, watching over us both.

Minutes, hours. I had no idea how much time had passed. I was in a trance, watching the unsteady, struggled breathing of my little girl. When she ached, I ached too. When she cried, I cried too. When she whimpered, it was all I could do to hold in a sob.

Nicholas placed his hand on my shoulder. That point of contact was the only thing that kept me from fully falling apart.

At some point, day slipped into night, and the light was gone from the windows. Charlotte came around and closed the curtains. She didn’t try to speak with me, though she watched, worried, from a distance.

Later still, the guards at the door began to speak to one another. I looked up, confused.

“I’ll take care of whatever it is,” Nicholas said, and started walking toward the door.

He only just arrived there, when Julian burst through the door, Veronica in tow.

“This isn’t a viewing gallery,” Nicholas said, stepping into their path. “If you don’t have purpose to be here, then leave.”

Nicholas was on edge, yet to speak so harshly to Julian and Veronica seemed unwarranted. Maybe he was more fearful than even I had realized.

Concerned like a father would be.

Fresh tears welled in my eyes.

“Piper,” Julian called to me. “You trust me, right? I swear I didn’t bring Veronica here to gawk. I just need you to trust me.”

I swallowed down my worry to find my voice again. “I do trust you.”

“See?” Julian said to Nicholas and then pushed him aside. He motioned to Veronica, bringing her closer.

“I’m sorry for the intrusion,” Veronica said as she came nearer the bed. Her eyes fell onto Elva and she stopped at once.

“What is this about, Julian?” I asked, firm. I wasn’t in the mood for games. “Elva’s very sick.”

“I know that, Piper,” Julian said. He wasn’t smiling. There was sadness in his eyes. “And I know even the doctor is confused. Which is why I thought Veronica could help.”

“Help… how?” I asked.

Nicholas returned to his spot behind me. I felt stronger for it.

“She can feel magic,” Julian said.

Magic? I looked up at Nicholas. His brow pulled together.

“How would that help Elva?” Nicholas asked.

“Don’t you find it strange how Elva has the best medical care in the entire kingdom but still mysteriously gets sick at the drop of a hat?” Julian asked. “As if someone is dictating when and how badly?”

“Life isn’t fair,” I said miserably.

“Normally I’d agree with you,” Julian said. “But in this case…” He looked at Veronica. I did too.

Her frown deepened as she regarded me. “I’m sorry, Piper. It appears that Elva is indeed shrouded in dark magic.”