The Coming

CHAPTER 15 - REPARTEE

…Aspects have a slow metabolic rate and they cannot control their homeostasis well. They use as a food source the toxins from the air, the water, the ground or other aspects (with the exception of vermin) and each aspect species have evolved in such a way that they maximise the toxins uptake from their environment. Their metabolism is based on chemosynthetic pathways while some use the scarce sunlight as a secondary means of obtaining energy. Most of the aspects have to take minerals into their bodies in order to utilise them together with the toxins as structural components of their body...

Journal entry 01-03-33-02 from the Personal records of Ahien the Elder.

 By the time Io reached the infirmary, Cain’s condition had slightly worsened. She reached the chamber’s entrance where Paschal awaited her with a grim face. ‘How is he?’ she queried the old man. ‘He is dying Io.’ He said with eyes that could not meet hers. ‘What happened to him?’ She snapped as her expression hardened. Paschal’s unease grew even more when he finally met Io’s gaze. ‘He was poisoned.’ He said sharply. ‘Whoever did this to him must have come last sun-end, right before Anna returned to her post to tend the fire for the long dark. The symptoms started today. By the time we noticed, his condition worsened rapidly.’

Io nodded slowly her head as Paschal explained the situation to her. Finally she resumed talking. ‘What are you going to do?’ Paschal sighed. ‘Io there is nothing I can do. Cain died the moment the poison entered his body. It is just that his brain doesn’t know he is dead yet. I can’t save him. I can only relief his passing. He asked for you, I would suggest you go to him while you still can.’

          Io approached Cain’s bed and touched his forehead. His face was dirty from dried blood and sweat although Anna and Deppy did the best they could to clean him. His eyes were closed and Io could hear his forced breathing as his chest raised and collapsed in long and slow intervals. His skin was full of bruises while at some parts blood and pus oozed from open cracks. Io’s heart skipped several beats when she saw him being in this condition. She could tell that the man lying down right in front of her, the man she cared for, was not going to last for much longer.

          She sat next to him and touched his forehead with her hand. His face was on fire. Io reached towards a wide bench at Cain’s bedside and got hold of a large clay pot filled with the contents of a dew-sack. She placed it by her feet and then reached for the bench again in order to grab a long garment piece. She folded it, soaked it in the pot for a few breaths and then placed it on Cain’s face.

          Cain’s expression changed, to the better it seemed, and he opened his eyes. ‘I must be dead then, if an angel like you came to greet me.’ He told her with a croaking voice and Io could do nothing but smile. ‘Always the charmer, aren’t you?’ She said, then after a pause she went on. ‘You don’t look too good.’ Cain smiled bitterly. ‘Don’t worry about me. I am getting what I deserve. My only regret is that I had so little time to spend with you.’ There was silence for a few heartbeats. They just looked at each other. When Cain smiled at her, Io thought it was too much to bear. A single tear slide along her cheek, chin and neck. Cain tried to raise his arm towards her, but failed.

          ‘Don’t try to move, reserve you strength.’ Io told him and he complied. Then after a further pause, she asked him. ‘Cain, what happened?’ Cain looked at her and his face grew dark. ‘It was Karr. He did this to me for defying him.’ Io’s eyes split wide open. ‘I don’t understand Cain. Why Karr poisoned you?’ Cain let out a long sigh and talked again. ‘Io, please listen to me. There are things I need to tell you. Terrible things and we don’t have much time left.’ Io wiped Cain’s face again, and then he went on.

          ‘Karr is a danger to you. A grave danger!’ Cain coughed blood for a few heartbeats, then cleared his throat and went on. ‘He wanted you dead, wants you dead still. I think he believes that for some reason he can control the Den more easily if he gets rid of you.’ Cain paused and looked at Io apologetically. He couldn’t go on any further, he couldn’t tell her. ‘Go on. What and how you know?’ Io asked with anticipation. He hesitated only for a little longer, but at the end he had to tell her. He was not going to last for much longer.