Discordant Note: Crescendo | TBATE

Chapter 174: To Heal Wounds

Darrin Ordin

"Uncle," Pen whined as I gently tucked her into bed, "That can't be the end to the story. There's gotta be more. You arrived at the scorpion's lair, but you won't tell me about the fight!"

I smiled slightly as I ruffled her dirty blonde hair. "Well, you'll just have to get a good night's sleep then. If you're good tomorrow at school, I'll tell you how we battled the monstrous scorpion!" I leaned forward, smiling sharply as I looked my daughter in the eye. "Your mom was there too, you know," I said conspiratorially. "She was the one who finally figured out its weakness."

Pen's green eyes–my eyes–sparkled with tired wonder. "Well, what was the weakness?"

I slowly stood, feeling an ache in my bad leg as I did so. I didn't let it show on my face, however. "You'll learn tomorrow night," I promised, my hand reaching for the light switch nearby. "I can't spoil it for you so soon."

I'd been telling my daughter old tales of my ascents through the tombs with the valiant Unblooded Party. Like the old epics of mythic heroes, I wove plotlines of intrigue and excitement that allowed us to connect more and more as the months wore on.

"Uncle," Pen said, only her green eyes peeking over the blanket, "Do you know when momma will wake up?"

My hand stalled as it snaked toward the light switch. I felt my throat clench as I thought of Dima, slumbering in a room not twenty feet from where we stood.

Except she might never wake up.

"The doctors said momma's really tired," I said, hoping my voice didn't waver. I needed to be strong for Dima. For our daughter. "She'll have to sleep for a long time before she's all better."

Pen's little brows furrowed in concern. "How long? They always say that. But not how long."

I forced my eyes forward. "A long time, my little fire." I inhaled a shuddering breath as Pen's eyes began to mist over, a child's confusion and grief overcoming her thoughts. "Tell you what, Pen," I said, holding her hand. "If you're extra good tomorrow, I'll get you that stuffed mana beast you've been wanting."

Pen blinked, seeming to forget the topic for the moment, her attention successfully diverted. "You promise?" she said slowly, seeming not to believe me. "Missus Danaver says that people can't break promises. So you need to promise."

"I promise," I said quietly.

"Okay," Pen said, sounding relieved.

Even after I shut out the light and my daughter slowly faded into a restful sleep, I watched with a crack in my heart.

Things had been hard since my final ascent. While I'd been saving up for retirement for a long time, Dima's medical services and the constant pressure from the highbloods I'd battled throughout my life made funds difficult. The other members of the Unblooded Party–which no longer included me–had chipped in what they could spare, but there was only so much they could do. Soon, I might have to sell my countryside estate to make ends meet.

But for Dima and Pen, I would do anything.

I quietly left Pen's room, closing the door behind me. The long hallway seemed to stretch onto infinity as I walked forward, intent on my own room.

But the talk I'd had with Pen penetrated my consciousness like a hot nail, my mind burning with pain. So when I reached a certain door, I found myself compelled to open it.

Dima lay comatose in the center of a large bed, her dirty blonde hair splayed out as it grew. Medical devices beeped around her as they provided her with sustenance and care, seeing her through a sleep she would never wake from.