The Shadow Kingdom

Chapter 13 - One Good Deed

The six-hour drive becomes a one-hour flight thanks to Augustus's G650. Adrian and I take a cab to the Western Psychiatric Institute after we land in Pittsburgh. Andrea is not the same as she was when I left her. They have her permanently confined to her room for her own safety.

"Did you come here often?" Adrian asks.

"At first, yes. Even though I knew she was crazy, she was still my mother." I reply.

Adrian and I wait for one of the nurses to come tell us if we can go see her. "Ms. Whitmore?" The nurse finally returns.

"Yes." I answer.

"I'm so sorry, but your mother is not in the best form today. She is more or less catatonic. Even if we did allow you to see her, I don't think you would find it very meaningful. She is no longer speaking at all." My shoulders fall in disappointment.

"Perhaps you could allow us to see her anyway." Adrian says. "The presence of a loving daughter might have a positive effect." He takes the nurse's hand and slips her a hundred dollar bill. "Don't you agree?"

The nurse looks around the room and smiles at Adrian. "Would thirty minutes be enough?" She asks.

"That would be lovely." Adrian replies.

The nurse leads us to Andrea's room, and I mouth the word "smooth" to Adrian. Andrea sits on the bed, despondent but not violent. The nurse leaves the three of us alone, and Adrian closes the curtain on the door window.

"Andrea? It's me again, Scarlett." I stare at her intently, but her eyes never meet mine. "This is my boyfriend, Adrian. He may be able to help you." At least, she's not calling me a demon. I allow Adrian to do what he came here for while I stand guard by the door.

Adrian takes both her hands in his. He closes his eyes and focuses on whatever damage might exist. Finding a sickness in a person's soul must be vastly more difficult than finding a broken bone or an open wound.

The white light appears. A few minutes go by, and there is no change. I am about to give up on the idea when Adrian begins to grunt. His breathing becomes more rapid, and sweat begins to pour down his brow. It is clear that this is taking a toll on him.

"Adrian..." I begin to speak, but he ignores me. The light grows stronger, and Adrian's physical state becomes dire. At any moment, I expect to see his nose starting to bleed or his skin turning white. "Adrian, if this is draining you too much, you should stop."

He doesn't listen or even speak. He only keeps struggling. His clothes are drenched, and his eyes are closed so tightly as though he is being whipped. "Adrian! Stop this! I don't want you to heal her if it means hurting you!"

And that's when it happens. Andrea and Adrian both suddenly gasp for air, and the light disappears. Adrian falls to the floor, weak to the point of death. I rush to his side and kneel down beside him. "Adrian, are you ok?"

He blinks a few times, and his breathing starts to return to normal. "I... I'll live, yes. Your mother?"

I turn my attention to Andrea. She looks as though she just woke up. She is holding her head in her hands as if she is suffering from a migraine. "Andrea? Mom?"

"Scarlett?" She speaks. She called me Scarlett. "What just happened?"

Merciful Mary! I throw my arms around Andrea, my mother, and she slowly does the same to me. I don't even bother to contain my tears. After all these years, I deserve the right to cry however I like! "Mom!" I shout. "How do you feel?"

She looks around the room, still confused. Immediately, I can tell that she is not the same anymore. Her skin is flush and healthy. Even her hair appears less grey. And her face is so much livelier. "I feel... good. I feel normal." I pull back to look her in the eye. "I'm sorry, I'm very confused. Where are we?"