A Mouse & The Fallen Star

Chapter 16. One room. One chaise lounge. One person.

"Holy... The lassie is pure burnin' up! Master! We should notify Doctor Harold! Now! How come ye'r still here?"

Albert's voice was the last thing Luc expected or welcomed on a quiet morning. He couldn't tell if Albert was shouting or not, but it didn't matter. He had just gotten out of a long trance. One that had taken almost all night. Luc never had the luxury of sleeping, so these trances were his lifesaver. Either them or dying of boredom when there was little else to do.

The weight on his body reeled Luc back to reality. He looked down. The girl was lying on his chest in the same manner he had put her the night before. Her face turned to the window while her skinny arms spread out on two sides of his body. Luc's left hand was in the girl's long hair.

They were on the chaise lounge together, under her thick blanket. The girl felt piping hot. Her complexion had taken on a darker shade of pink.

She looked peaceful if not for her abnormal breathing. The girl inhaled and exhaled rapidly, like a small, wounded animal. Occasionally, she wheezed. Gigantic beads of sweat formed under her hairline, soaking a spot on Luc's shirt.

Luc had thought he'd known everything about human physiology, wounds and diseases, but in that moment, he realized that his knowledge didn't help one bit.

Her sickness, as common as it was, threw him into perturbation. There was nothing he could do.

Mortality was still a foreign concept. Luc didn't think he could ever get used to it, but he had witnessed enough. Its power and perfect design. Everything must turn to ash in the end.

Luc turned carefully so the girl could roll off of him. "Call Doctor Harold now," he said. "But I have to go. You stay here."

"Go where, Master?" Albert's eyes were as wide as two pewter pots. The man knew his master's schedule. There was no appointment or errand this early.

Luc redid his tie while checking his reflection on a cabinet's glass door. "To the hotel. It's been a few days since I checked on it. I want to make sure we're still on schedule for the grand opening. It has to be done one week before the Election—"

"Ye'r joking, right? Master, ye can go there anytime! How come now? They will bring ye the reports! At least see what the doctor says first!" Albert's voice was thick with worry.

Luc always found his humanity entertaining, but today, he was just not in the mood. Whatever had happened here, in this room and inside him, should never have happened.

He needed to get out.

"Albert, am I the master, or are you the master?" Luc winked at Albert, whose mouth still gaped open, and turned the door handle.



It was a beautiful Monday morning. After Sunday Mass, life had gotten back to its normal pace.

Luc's cane tapped rhythmically on the cobblestones. Normally, he would whistle.

However, a deep frown took over his face today. Luc had passed many acquaintances without even realizing it. His ancient mind swirled. There were many dark corners of it he would rather not visit.

By this time, the doctor should have already finished his diagnosis and left. The girl should have received her medicines and been on her way to recovery. Everything should be fine. Unless...

No, there would be no "unless". Luc had seen many slaves who suffered much worse survive.

There would be no "unless".

Checking his pocket watch, Luc walked faster. His company was not far from Earlington Palace. He should stop by and see them. The Gang of Fly Rinks should all be there, in their fanciest outfits to discuss "important national matters".