Atlantis (A Waterfire Saga Fanfiction)

Chapter 16

At that very moment, Neith and Orfeo entered the bedchamber. 

Alma quickly stood up, dismissing the memories of her horrid dream. 

"Make sure to keep your distance,"  Orfeo explained.  "I do not want any of you to get sick.  I, however, am immune to this illness, due to Eveksion's protection." 

Orfeo stared at Alma's mother for a brief moment before glancing in Aeneas's direction. 

Aeneas seemed to be under a deep form of slumber and the twitching had miraculously stopped. 

"He lost consciousness again,"  Orfeo realized as he moved to observe Aeneas more closely. 

"How long did you say that he was walking with a limp, Neith?"  Orfeo questioned. 

"Ever since he returned from his travels..."  Neith trailed off, speaking through her handkerchief. 

"Alma, did he twitch while you were alone in the room with him?" the mage continued. 

Was that simply my imagination or did it truly happen?  Alma pondered, unable to decipher what her mind had imagined and reality. 

"Yes,"  she replied after a few seconds. 

"Good gods,"  Orfeo sighed, a look of desperation plastered on his face as he ran his hands through his hair in defeat. 

Neith and Alma stared at the mage, concerned and immensely worried. 

Alma somehow managed to find her voice through the thick amount of tension in the atmosphere of the chamber. 

"This sickness...that my father has..." Dare she ask it? "...is it what the Egyptians are fleeing from?" 

Orfeo looked at her and nodded. 

Fear crept over Alma like a thousand thorns. 

"This illness...what is it?"  Neith inquired. 

Orfeo spoke: "It is most commonly found in younger people such as infants and children, but many adults have it as well.  The hospital in Elysia is overcrowded with people suffering from this.  No one knows the cause of it but, if not treated, it can cause paralysis or..." 

"Or what?"  Neith pressed. 

"or...even death." 

Alma's eyes watered and Neith gasped. 

After a moment, the mage continued: "Many people experienced headaches, dizziness, fainting, a limp as they walked but eventually the symptoms grew more serious..." 

"How many survivors are there, Orfeo?"  Neith uttered. 

Orfeo sucked in a sharp breath before mumbling the following:  "Very few." 

"Have you healed anyone with this?  Please, can you at least try to help my husband?"  Neith pleaded. 

"Of course I will help him," the mage assured as he placed his hand onto Aeneas's chest. 

Immediately, Aeneas's eyes flickered open, his consciousness returning. 

Aeneas glanced around, confused. 

"Is he is healed?"  Neith hoped. 

Orfeo nodded, "There is a chance that the illness could return but we must pray to Eveksion that it doesn't."