Page 22 of Risking Immortality

“Of course, send her in.” Suddenly I feel self-conscious. Being laid up in bed all day can’t be a good look on me. I haven’t even brushed my hair.

“H-hi,” Erin says quietly, her eyes wide. Erin is a woman who wears her emotions on her face. Right now, she looks as scared as she did yesterday on the boat when my brothers carried me off in their arms.

“Erin, hello, come,” I say as animatedly as possible. Gesturing her to sit on the bed. The ache in my stomach is intensifying with every step she takes towards me.

“How… how are you?”

“Just fine. Turns out I have a stomach ulcer.”

“Oh, no.” Her hand reflexively jolts to my forearm. The brush of her fingertips on my skin cools the burning in my abdomen. That’s interesting.

“I’ll be just fine.” I smile, setting my other hand over hers. A pulse echoes through my body. It isn’t pleasurable, more like a calming ripple. The ache in my stomach disappears entirely.

“When I saw you being carried by your brothers with blood coming from your mouth—” Erin is unable to finish her sentence. A small sob escapes her throat. I must have spilled red down myself on the boat. And poor Erin believes it was my blood.

Leaning towards her, I take my hand from hers and cup her face. “Erin, I’m okay, I promise.” It’s a false promise, because I am far from okay, but I cannot stand to see the anguish on her beautiful face a moment longer.

The pulsing picks up speed and is now filling my chest. My body once again feels pulled to her. Erin is leaning into my hand. She must be feeling it, too. Our faces are inches apart, but in a second, Erin pulls herself away. The look of realization on her face stings me. “I-I have to go. I’m working tonight,” she stutters, clearly flustered. Probably very confused as to why she nearly kissed me. As far as I know, she is still with Mack. But, like me, I’m guessing her body is reacting to our connection.

“I’ll see you soon,” I reply calmly. “I will be setting up residence permanently in the penthouse.” I hadn’t decided that until this very second. If I’m to stand any chance of winning Erin’s heart, I need to be close to her.

“Right, okay. Great, okay… yes, so I’ll see you soon then.” Her rambling is delightful, and her pink-tinged cheeks are delectable.

“You will.” The smoothness of my voice melts her. I can see it. Something else to store away for later use.

The moment Erin is gone, I call for my mother, who unbeknownst to me had left the room. I swear, when Erin is present, my world is only big enough to see her. “Mother, call the doctor.”

She rushes to my side in a panic. “What happened?”

“I’m not sure, but I need to tell him. I think it’s important.” Like a flash of lightning, she is there one second and gone the next. I wonder if my parents have the doctor stowed somewhere in the house because he arrives mere minutes later.

“Victoria informs me you have something to tell me.”

“Erin was here. I felt the same pain when she entered the room, but then, when she touched my skin, the ache abated. I lay my hand on hers and the discomfort evaporated entirely.”

“Interesting.” I allow him a few minutes of silent contemplation. As much as I want to bark at him for an answer, there is no point. “I need you to tell me the exact context of the touch.”

Sparing no detail, I recount Erin’s visit. “What does it mean?”

“From what you have told me, Erin was experiencing a strong emotional reaction. When she touched you, it was out of concern. My best guess, and I am sorry, but it is only a guess, is that the concern she showed you was genuine emotion. Erin cares for you and that simple act of touching you was a balm to the side effects you were suffering.”

The doctor’s educated guess should provide me with relief, but it doesn’t. It just reminds me, once again, that I need Erin’s love to cure my malady. I can’t expect her to touch me like that every time I see her.

“What happens if I stay away from her? Keep my distance.”

“You will expedite your symptoms; of that, I am sure.”

“But if she isn’t near me, I can’t feel the pull, therefore no symptoms.”

“It doesn’t work like that, Amelia. Your body—your soul—will only cope for so long being away from Erin. No distance will sever the bond you have to her.”

“So I have only pain and suffering to look forward to. Fantastic. You can leave now.”

Bowing his head, Dr. Mendhi retreats. I’m royally fucked either way. If I get near her, I’m in pain constantly, but if I stay away, I will probably die quicker, or worse, suffer madness.

The room feels claustrophobic. I cannot sit in this bed a second longer. Ripping back the covers, I stumble my way to the shower. The water does nothing to soothe me, but at least I won’t stink. Hurrah for small wins.

Considering my mother or Marcus haven’t immediately come back to my room means they are peppering the good doctor with questions. That’s fine. It allows me some precious minutes alone.

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