Page 92 of Sold to the Devil
I instruct the boys to watch for the healer's arrival and, if he doesn't arrive within the next few minutes, to urgently find another one. Then I rush after Carmen. I catch up to her as she stops running at the doorway of our room, a horrified gasp escaping her red lips as she remains motionless for several seconds before rushing forward to pull Aelys into a tight hug.
I step forward and stand in the doorway, unsure what to do with myself as I watch my wife sob, cradled in the protective, maternal arms of the matriarch Leroi. She slowly leads Aelys to the large bed and has her sit down, never once letting go of my wife, whispering comforting words to her.
Then her brown eyes cling to mine, tearful and so full of pain that my heart clenches.
What does Carmen know? What's happening to my wife?
I want to scream, to demand answers, but I can't move or speak. I also have no desire to worsen Aelys's distress by letting my worry or anger at my helplessness explode.
Luckily, the sound of people walking briskly in the direction of our suite makes me turn my head to look down the corridor and relief fills me a little when I see the healer arrive, accompanied by a nurse.
I notice the nurse tense as I step aside to let them into the room. She looks at my wife, her gaze settling on the blood that’s beginning to dry on her thighs, and I feel my heart stop for a second. She exchanges a glance with the healer, who nods gravely. My lips are pressed into a thin line as I refrain from bombarding them with questions, knowing the urgent need is to heal my angel.
The healer heads toward the wooden desk where he places his briefcase containing his medical equipment as well as the various magical elixirs I know he makes to treat his patients more quickly and effectively. As for the nurse, she cautiously approaches Aelys, who is still sheltered in Carmen's arms, rocking her tenderly.
“Oh, my poor child…”
The pain and compassion in her voice snaps me out of my trance, I begin to pace the room nervously, my fingers tugging tightly at my hair, my eyes fixed on the cold floor, desperate for answers.
“What the fuck is going on?” I ask in a tense, trembling voice.
But no one answers me. Carmen continues to gently stroke Aelys's hair while the nurse takes a clean, damp towel from the healer, who immediately steps back, as if afraid of frightening my wife if he comes any closer.
“It's impossible…” Aelys whispers in a trembling voice.
My head snaps up to look at my wife, surprised to finally hear her voice. She seems to know what's going on, I feel anger and frustration boiling in my blood because I don't know and no one is telling me. I watch as the nurse cautiously approaches her and asks if she can clean her up, to which my wife nods.
“Someone tell me what's going on! Please…” My voice breaks but again, no one answers.
Fuck, why won't they answer me?
“Tell me, my dear, since when have you been late?” My eyebrows furrow even more as I look at the healer, confused.
What the fuck is he talking about?
“I'm not,” my wife whispers again. “I got them a little over a week ago…”
I again try to ask them what they're talking about, but I'm ignored once again. I feel my anger rising, I don't know if I'll be able to contain it for much longer. I shoot a frustrated, pleading look at the healer, who finally seems to notice me, and he gently shakes his head, lips pursed in a pained pout, signaling that I'll find out soon enough. The sadness on his features doesn't help reassure me, but I sigh and nod curtly. My wife doesn't need me to lose my cool right now.
“Were they like usual, honey?” The nurse asks softly after clearing her throat.
I watch my wife closely as she frowns, trying to think before answering. Her eyes widen slightly, tears begin to fall even more heavily down her cheeks. My heart breaks further, I fight the urge to push the nurse away, as well as Carmen, and hug my wife. I don't know if she wants me to touch her. She shakes her head slowly, and her grip on the Leroi matriarch tightens.
“No… They were… Shorter and the blood was… Thinner…” Her voice breaks and she begins to sob harder, hiding her face in Carmen's neck.
I take a step toward her before stopping. I look with a painted expression at the one I consider my mother, silently begging her to let me hold my wife. I'm starting to get an idea of what this is about, but I don't want to believe it's true.
This is not possible.
“I'm so sorry, dear... It wasn't your period…”
My heart rate quickens as her words sink in, confirming what I was beginning to fear. My lips tremble as Aelys cries out into Carmen's neck. I can hear the pain mixed with despair in her cry, all I want is to take her in my arms and never let go.
Carmen's gaze locks with mine, full of pain, she nods gently before slowly letting go of my wife and standing up. Aelys hides her face in her hands, seemingly unaware that she's no longer in anyone's arms, her screams and sobs only intensifying by the second. I rush to the bed as soon as Carmen is far enough away and wrap my arms around her, pulling her against me.
She immediately presses her face into my chest and wraps her arms around my torso, crying and letting out whimpers of pain. I tenderly stroke her hair and rock her slowly, desperately trying to soothe her broken heart. I want to tear everything in the room apart and cry because I don't need to hear the healer’s and nurse's diagnosis anymore.
I know.
