The Heir of Night

21

After quick goodbyes and thanking the High Lord and High Lady for their hospitality, Nyx took Theia by the arm and winnowed them back to the village. They ended up in the sitting room of the house. Theia stumbled slightly when Nyx shoved her slightly so he could winnow away. She reached out and grabbed his wrist, earning a harsh glare.

"What?" He snapped. Theia pulled her hand away as though his words burned her, tucking it against her shirt. She opened her mouth, unsure what to say. She thought perhaps telling him that whatever happened last night didn't count for anything was too harsh, but why did she care about his feelings? She closed her mouth and stepped back, watching as Nyx rolled his eyes and winnowed back to Velaris.

She stood in place and stared at the place he had stood long after he left; long enough to feel ridiculous for worrying about him. He was as harsh as she was, he didn't deserve her sympathy. Taking in a long breath, Theia turned and marched up the stairs. Today, she would confront her mother about her negligence. Theia would demand to know why she cared so little about the efforts that Theia put forward. Her stomach twisted just as the doorknob did, and she stepped into the bedroom.

Maia was laying on the bed on top of the blankets, Madja beside her in a chair. Theia's mother had her eyes closed, her chest rising and falling unevenly. Even from the threshold, Theia could hear the rattling breaths. All rage fell into a whirling pool of worry and guilt.

"What's wrong with her? She was completely fine yesterday," Theia spoke through broken breaths. Her wide eyes shot to Madja, who was holding Maia's hand.

"Her body accepted the meals and elixirs for a month, but she was gaining weight too rapidly. Late last night, her body began rejecting all medicines and foods. This can happen when a body is too far degenerated and heals too quickly. Often, when one is too close to the edge of death, their brain causes them to be lucid, entirely awake and mobile, but it is simply a surge of energy before the brain shuts down."

The world fell into pieces around Theia as she took in the words. Her eyes fell to her mother, serene while Theia was not. She laid there as though she were sleeping like any other night, but this could be her final one.

"I don't understand. She was fine, Madja. She was speaking to me, she was walking, she went downstairs. Why did you not tell me?" Theia spoke, unable to catch the breath that escaped her lungs too quickly. She wasn't even sure the healer could understand her. Her body shook violently, knees threatening to give out. She had been drinking and kissing the damn Heir of the Night Court while her mother was falling apart.

"Theia, please sit down, dear. You're going into shock," Madja instructed, standing from her seat. Theia's mouth went dry, her eyes darting between the older female and Maia. All of her hard work, and her mother chose to die when their lives were getting better. She couldn't tell if it was rage, terror, dread, or despair. Her emotions swirled within her like the snowflakes in the wind outside of the window. She couldn't lift her feet, she couldn't take a step anywhere.

"Theia," Madja spoke again, louder this time. Her voice sounded like she was miles beneath water, a distant call lost to the mountains. The healer caught Theia as her knees gave out and a cry left her.

"No!" Theia shouted, trying to shove the healer away. Madja tightened her grip and dragged the female to the edge of the bed. For someone who seemed to have lived for a millennia, Madja was strong. Theia bit down on her tongue when her body hit the mattress, blurry eyes set on her mother. Maia still breathed, but for how long?

Theia had given her entire life to this female; she had neglected herself to keep her mother alive. Theia had done it on her own, and as soon as she accepted help, Maia is giving up. The rage flickered up through the depths of Theia's chest and she crawled forward, gripping Maia's forearm.