A Battle of Pride and Desire

Chapter Sixteen

Conor and Liam barged in through the doors, waking Brigette from her slumber.

"Tomás, the boy's name is Tomás," Liam said breathlessly.

Brigette sat up straight on the bed and looked to the empty place beside her. Taran must have left.

"His parents?" she asked.

"They'll be here soon after their shift is over, they can't miss work," Liam said taking Taran's place on the bed.

Brigette sidled over to allow room for Conor who looked like he had run a marathon. Brigette's eyes hovered over the boy who was lying on the bed motionless. The healers had some bad news for Brigette shortly before she cried herself to sleep. They had done all they could and he had a 50/50 chance of living. The odds weren't in his favour and while the healers practically performed a miracle it still upset Brigette. There was no pain on earth worse than seeing your child die as a parent. Her grandparents were an example of that after her father died. They both died shortly after her father's passing from grief and while it hurt at the time she was happy now that they were together once more. Having a child die just defies the logic of nature, it's not right. And so, Brigette would continue her prayers to the Gods, one of whom she was acquainted with now.

"How's he looking?" Conor said, breaking the silence.

Brigette grimaced, "50/50 chance of survival."

"They're good odds," Conor answered. "Why don't you sound happy?"

"Because it's not 100," she said simply. "You guys can leave, I'll wait here. Taran is probably in his room."

"We can stay," Conor said instantly.

"No point," she said. "He won't know any better if there's three instead of one of us here," she gestured to the boy - Tomás. "You guys rest, I've just had a nap."

"Here," Liam handed her a piece of parchment. "The parents' address and names. Keep it."

Brigette wasn't sure why she needed it but took it anyway, nodding. The males left the infirmary and once they were out of sight, Brigette tentatively held out a hand to the boy. His hands were as cold as ice; Brigette checked his pulse on instinct. The pulse was slow but it was there and she let out a sigh of relief.

"May the Gods look over you, mind you, care for you," she whispered while holding his hand.

She allowed her body heat to transfer over to him, keeping a firm grip on his hand. She had been burning up in the infirmary since she arrived, her face and neck scorching. She held her free palm over her chest and burnt herself. She hissed and withdrew her hand in a nanosecond. Her necklace was heating up, the emerald was hot to the touch. There was no mention of this in the riddle, none. She wasn't sure whether or not she should take it off but she was advised not to remove it so she withstood the heat. Her entire body warmed with the contact and she hoped it would transfer to the boy. She stayed holding his hand as her body warmed. She stayed there until her eyes drifted closed and she entered the world of dreams with Tomás.

~~~

Sleep cascaded over Brigette in waves over the next few days. She missed all her lessons with Taran but didn't really care. When he had visited Tomás she had pardoned herself from classes until Tomás woke. That is to say he would wake up, she was determined not to believe anything else. Taran had reprimanded her, told her of the queen's anger, and still Brigette couldn't find it within herself to care. Whether that was a day ago, days ago, or a week ago, Brigette didn't know. Time was nonexistent in the infirmary with Tomás. The healers came every so often to check up on him, flashing white light and checking his pulse. Still, he had made no movement and Brigette was beginning to feel hopeless as well as helpless. She did not want to be a bean sídhe because if she were that meant Tomás had a 100% chance of dying. So she held his hand and held onto hope for days. His breathing remained slow and steady, at least he was breathing. Her necklace continued to heat, a beacon in the dark nights at the infirmary. Tomás's parents had been taking turns in visiting their young boy, their work not affording them the time off. Brigette considered it a special type of cruel that they must keep working during this time. She hoped this was one aspect of Magmella Taran was going to change when he became king. For now, all she could do was remain by his side, but that hope she continued to cling onto - it was weakening by minute. Juno had come the other day when she hadn't called for Her. Maybe if she called for her, she would come. She could definitely alter the fate of Tomás if She willed it. The problem was the anger She might feel towards Brigette, and she didn't want to make things worse. Time had slowed and days had gone by with no sign of improvement from Tomás. She had overheard the healers saying he was basically brain dead. Breathing, but that was his only sign of life. Soon, Tomás's parents would have to make a decision and Brigette didn't want that decision to ever reach their ears. She had met Tomás's mother, Croía, and she was so kind and lovely and just -
She needed to find a way to Juno.