The Hidden World of Nitea [2 | The Other Realms Series]

Chapter Twenty-One

Eddie felt his rear end fall onto something soft. His bed. Thomas's arms supported his back as he prevented him from lying down.

"What the—"

"Before you say anything, just let me rest. I just need sleep—"

"No, no, don't close your eyes!" Thomas cut him off. Pure panic laid his voice as he muttered and cursed, unsure of what to do.

"Thomas," Eddie spoke softly.

"Oui?"

"Bring me to the guest room and ask for a guy named Jon."

"Can you walk?"

"Oui."

Eddie heaved his heavy body off the bed. He could not see anything. He dragged one foot across the floor. He wobbled.

"You can't walk. I'll get something—euh—sit."

Eddie heard Thomas scurry to one side of his room. The sound of plastic wheels rolling across marble grew louder. He felt something bump against his bed. His chair.

Thomas wrapped his arms around Eddie, lifted him, and seated him. Eddie leaned back as Thomas escorted him out of his room. A short while later, he heard a soft ping as the elevator opened its doors.

Thomas wheeled him into the elevator. "Which floor?"

"Second."

He heard a button being pressed. They arrived a few seconds later. The sound of a grown woman screaming in Italian greeted their ears. Eddie gulped—Letizia was awake. She must've caught Stella practicing.

"Who's that—"

"Don't let her see us," Eddie interrupted him. "Just take me to the guest room, far end. You've been there before."

Eddie's body jerked as Thomas pushed the chair forward. They passed by the music room. Eddie knew that Stella turned on the lights whenever she practiced. He turned his head to glimpse the scene that was brewing. He gasped.

He saw nothing but black.

"What is it?" Thomas murmured.

"I-I can't see. Everything's just black."

Thomas swore in exclamation. "You need help real bad, right now."

They reached a door a few moments later; Eddie could tell since Thomas stopped pushing his chair. He heard Thomas knocking on the door. He heard it creak as it swung open.

"Aidez-moi s'il vous plaît!"

"En anglais."

"Help me please!" Thomas repeated. "Where is Jon?"

"Jon is in the other room," a hurried voice replied. It sounded feminine.

Eddie flinched. Thomas had brought him to the wrong guest room! He cursed at himself for not being clearer with his instructions. Now was not the time to waste precious seconds.

Soon he was being wheeled to the other side of the second floor. Though their mouths were not far from his ears, Thomas's and Celestine's rapid dialogue devolved into a muffled cacophony. Alarm bells rang in his head. He had lost his vision; now he was losing his hearing. What sense would he lose next? Smell? Taste? Touch? He shivered at the thought of it. More voices mixed with the chaos as they neared the other guest room. Did Letizia see us?

The chair stopped once more. More voices, masculine ones, entered his ears. He felt pairs of hands supporting him as they got him to sit on a guest bed.