The Scarlet Lillie

Dormant

Chapter 24
The room was dull. There were ratty curtains draped over the only window, a rack shoved in the corner, and beneath the window was an occupied bed. I stood up as straight as I could, and walked over.
She had her covers drawn up to her shaking chin, leaving everything else buried beneath the thin blankets. Her completion was the palest I'd ever seen. Her breathing was heavy, and ragged. Her hair was thin, and sprawled out over her pillow. This poor girl, I pitied.
Suddenly, her eyelids peeled open. She saw me, and confusion overcame her.
"Am I hallucinating again?" She asked in a raspy voice.
"No, I assure you, I am quite real." I replied. "My name is Scarlet, Princess of Perdania. Your brother came to work for me, and told me of your illness."
"Princess?" She let it sink in. "Forgive my appearance and manners, Your Highness."
I shook my head. "Rest easy. Please tell me of your sickness."
"It's awful. My head is always dizzy, and I have hallucinations. I can't get up, fed or bathe myself, or even sit up without fainting from exhaustion. I'm a burden to my family. I should be working with my mother, playing with my brother and watching him grow up. Instead, I can only watch him grow worried as each day passes." She croaked.
I placed a gentle hand on hers. "You need not worry about that. I've brought medicine that should help your health improve."
"That- thank you, so much. But, Your Highness, you should not be touching me; I don't know what would happen if you fell ill." She cautioned.
"I'll be fine." I replied. "You need only to worry about yourself."
There was a knock on the door. "Princess, you should come out now." Logan called through the door.
"Yes, I'll be out in a moment." I replied.
I returned to the girl. "You are going to get better. I assure you." I squeezed her hand.
I sucked in a breath, suddenly feeling a sharp tingling through my body.
"Princess!" Jenna cried out. She tried to release my hand, but something was holding us together. Just as suddenly, she gasped and fell back into her pillow, and I collapsed to the floor.
The door burst open and my guards sprinted over to me, Jenna's family on their heels. Isaac and Max knelt next to me, slowly easing me into a sitting position. Logan scanned the room, his weapon at the ready for any threat that may come his way.
"Princess, are you hurt?" Max inquired.
I rubbed my throbbing head. "No. I'm sure I'm fine."
"What happened?" Pemma asked, checking her daughter over.
"I'm fine, Mamma." Jenna muttered.
After getting me into a chair, I retold the events. Once I finished, the mother looked to her daughter again.
"Jenna!" Pemma gasped. "You're skin- it's not pale anymore!" She felt her forehead. "You aren't burning up! Princess, what did you do?"
I looked to Logan. We were both thinking the same thing: my powers had presented the self. They were no longer dormant. And I had just cured this farm girl.