MATE AND HIS LOVER 11

30. Not Sure Anymore

Helena, feeling her fever intensify, thinks to herself, "Give me a break." She's here to save someone, but it appears she might need some saving herself. "H-How about we visit the core first, before deciding on this?"

Ethan holds her tighter against his chest. She swallows, moistening her parched throat. Her body's heat feels like she's about to burst into flames. Ethan says, "What's there to discuss? You want it. I want it."

"Mortimer, please stop joking. You're scaring me." Her knees give up. He holds her upright in his arms. Ethan can't tell if he was joking or not. Part of him is aware of the reality, but whatever else he feels seems equally real.

Helena struggles to stay conscious. Her biology is not built to experience heat. Blood flows too fast for her veins to keep the pressure. Nerve ends overdrive, turning her mind into jelly. Muscles tense, burning up all her energy. "Mortimer, I think I'm going to faint," she says, her voice weak. The side of her face angles to his chest for support. Even keeping her head up is strenuous.

Ethan picks her up in his arms. He remembers now — the promise he made.

He takes the compass from her, and continues to follow north until they reach a fiery hearth that he knows is the Wayport's core. He gently puts her down on her feet. Helena takes out a small bottle from her pocket.

A string of red fire comes for her, moving like a hypnotized snake. She lifts up the bottle and the string is swiftly sucked into it. After putting on the cap, she hands him the bottle, and conjures her staff to send out the signal.

The Supreme Sorcerer, Alyssi, brings them out of the Wayport. Seeing Helena weak, everyone hurries over to her. "I'm fine," Helena quickly says, "it was a little... hot inside, that's all." She cannot let herself be examined by anyone — they will know what's happening to her. "I need some rest."

Ethan hands them the bottle. "I'll take her to the guesthouse."

The Council Hall has a small residence at the back for visiting dignitaries to rest. Ethan takes her into one of the rooms and lays her down on the bed, and lies down next to her.

Helena remembers the young boy who once lived two streets down to her home. About a decade ago, a contagious curse was killing off little kids. They called it the Black Cold. Fever. Shivers. Pain. Those were the symptoms the infected showed, just like Helena is feeling now. At the time her mother refused to let Helena and Fiona outside, even to play in their own garden. Both the girls hated it, furious over the isolation and boredom, and fearful that the curse might sneak into their rooms in the dark of the night.

What are the chances that Fiona and Helena are once more suffering together? But Helena's mom is not here with her now to keep her safe. All Helena has is... She wraps her arms around his tighter.

"It's okay, it'll be over soon," Ethan says, fighting off his inner demons, and feeling sorry for her. Wasn't it only a short while ago he assured her she had nothing to worry when his eyes turn black, and that he would never hurt her? Maybe he jinxed it. That's why his promise is put to test this soon.

BY THE TIME Helena had woken up, Ethan had left her side. Stephanie comes over to the bed from the chair. "How are you feeling?"

"Good. Fiona?"

"The Council found a cure. Fiona's symptoms are in remission."

Helena breathes out a sigh of relief. She glances at the empty space next to her on the bed before saying, "Mortimer?"

"He stayed with you through the night. Left only an hour ago. What's with you and him?"

"What do you mean?" Helena says, trying to buy some time to think up an answer.