The time of the plague

chapter four

Bitter tears overflowed her cheeks as she tearfully blubbered to Julian," I just couldn't bear the idea that if I didn't kiss him and one day he never wakes up... he would never know how much I loved him. It would eat me up forever. I'm sorry Julian," 

.Julian sighed in agitation, "Well since you have the plague, it would be a good idea for you to stay in the same room as Lucio so that way the plague isn't being spread around the palace"

"Okay" she replied, looking down at the floor with guilt, "I'll go and grab a couple of blankets I have and we can go back to Lucio's wing" Vanessa said, picking up a few spare blankets that she sleeps with for comfort.

Julian opened the door for her and let her walk out, following behind.

Finally, they reached Lucio's wing as the nursing servants of the section, looked at the returning Vanessa and Julian with puzzlement. Coming out of Lucio's bedroom was Tilde, the leech dealer, who had finished administering the leaching of Lucio's infected blood.

Also perplexed by the appearance of Julian, she asked, "Doctor Devorak, do you seem to have any issue? Have you lost anything? It's quite late to do any more testing now Doctor, shouldn't you be off to bed?"

"No, Tilde. Unfortunately, it seems I will have to work overnight," Julian wearily responded as he nudges Vanessa forward to the dealer's view, "Vanessa... she didn't wear her mask today and came in contact with Lucio. So she's positive for the plague,".

Uncomfortable stillness halted the shuffling of manoeuvring servants as they stood frozen in shock from the announcement of another case.

Julian continued by bellowing out, "Servants, please safely with your masks, dress her in hospital gowns and disinfect all of her clothes. Put her next to Lucio, it's the only safe way to contain the plague from the palace grounds,".

Almost instantly, numerous servants approached the mermaid however Vanessa beckoned to the doctor, "Hey Julian, could I wear one of my own clothes? I hate hospital gowns, they're uncomfortable and I feel naked wearing them"

Julian, rolling his eyes, remarked "Nessa, there's no time to be fussy, you're not a child..."

Gazing with puppy eyes at Julian, she pleaded, "Please..."

Sleep deprived and frustrated, he responded, "Fine. Servants, get her a pair of her own garments, dress her and put her next to Lucio. Now, take her away..."

"Doctor Devorak when you say next to Lucio do you mean in the same bed as him or set up a bed next to Lucio's bed?" One of the servants asked as one of them left to go get Vanessa a pair of her own comfy garments whilst the others ushered Vanessa into Lucio's bedroom.

"Whatever works best, as long as she is settled and comfortable ,that's all that matters," Julian said trying to hide his frustration.

"Ok then," the servant said, walking inside the bedroom to go and help. 

As she entered Lucio's room, her perspective had completely altered since the previous times she had walked into the wing. Usually, Vanessa would be in a courageous mind set- aiming to stable the poorly Count and energise him to his normal self. Yet, that wasn't the case anymore- she was joining him in the suffering of the plague.

The words of Lucio vibrated in her brain with sound and fury, "I shouldn't be near you Ness. I don't want you to go through this...". Stinging tears of regret rolled down her cheeks as she blamed her impatience which ultimately put her in this situation that Lucio begged for her not to be in.

"Why couldn't I have listened to him? He wanted the best for me and I was supposed to look after him... I've ruined everything!" Vanessa thought as she helplessly cursed herself.

Cautiously, her guilt-ridden eyes met a sleeping Lucio, who she had only left an hour ago to rest; still and at peace as ever. 

The unmissable weight of her chest boomed as she suddenly felt sapped of her usual vivacity. Interrupting her trance like state was a firm touch of a hand upon her shoulders: it was Portia, revealed as she partially removed her plague mask- only showing her eyes.

"Portia, what are you doing here? I-" Vanessa mumbled in shock but was quickly halted by Portia who put forward her hand as a signal to stop talking.

Disappointed features fogged her normally upbeat blue-grey eyes, she rebukes harshly, "What do you think you were doing, Vanessa? Julian has just told me the news and I can't believe this! We all trusted you to be responsible and mature about helping Lucio. But look at you now, you caught the plague yourself and imposed danger in the palace walls. What were you thinking, have you lost your mind?".

Taken aback by Portia's furious reprimand, Vanessa was left speechless- feeling sheepish and ashamed.

Composing her anger, Portia shook her head but continued in a more gentle tone, "Now we must try and cure you both. We won't give up but we're running out of time. Servants..." Portia called to the surrounding maids who had finished adjusting the room, "Dress her and put her to bed immediately". As soon as Portia walked out the room, the servants commenced in attiring her in Vanessa's favoured silk dress that laid elegantly upon her figure.

The servants helped Vanessa into bed and wrapped her up in her blankets before leaving the room as they had done everything they needed to do. Vanessa curled up under her blankets and hugged herself as she began sobbing silently out of frustration of her actions and how she didn't listen to Lucio.