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“You’ve disappeared on me again.” Erin’s hand has made its way over the table and it’s resting on my balled fist.

“Sorry, no, I’m here.” This whole zoning out thing needs to stop. I can’t keep getting in my head, not when she’s here.

“Are you sure? Do you need me to go?”

A pain sears through my chest. I grit my teeth, placing my free hand over Erin’s. Screwing my eyes shut, I stroke her hand gently, hoping the pain will pass soon. Suddenly, all contact is lost. I can’t even open my eyes to see if she’s leaving. Then I feel her by my side. She’s crouching down next to me. Her hands reach up and cup my face so very tenderly. Like the sun breaking through stormy skies, my mind clears, my body relaxes, and the pain fades.

If Erin decides I am not the one for her, falling into madness will be the least of my worries. I know now I cannot live without this woman.

Twelve

As far as Erin is concerned, I took a bit of a turn last night. She still thinks my problem is a stomach ulcer. As you can imagine, it utterly ruined the mood. I sent Erin home with a quick peck on the cheek and a promise to see my doctor.

My mood has never been lower than it is right now. I feel like I can’t do right for doing wrong. I get close to her, and it hurts, which in turn hurts her, or at least scares her. The look on her face as she tried to soothe me last night was unforgettable, and not in a good way.

Barging through my parents’ front door, I bark for the doctor. I know he’s still here. There is a flurry of movement, and sure enough, my family comes running. The urge to roll my eyes at them all is overwhelming. Why are my siblings still here? They all have lives to lead. Their presence isn’t solving anything.

“Amelia, what’s wrong?” My mother asks in her usual panicked state.

“Where is Dr. Mendhi?” There will be time for conversation later.

A door opens behind me and the doctor hurries over. “Amelia?”

“This isn’t good enough,” I bark. “There has to be some way to help stave off these infernal side effects. I can’t go half an hour without pain when Erin is with me, and it is seriously dampening the mood. How the hell can I woo her when she thinks I’m going to fucking keel over?” My voice is loud and commanding. I get that from my father.

The entire family is silent, and Dr. Mendhi is squirming. “There may be something,” he says reluctantly. I want to spit fire. Has he been holding back on me? If so, I am about to lose what’s left of my composure.

“What do you mean? Spit it out, man!” my father barks.

Dr. Mendhi’s eyes are darting from person to person. I have never seen someone look so uncomfortable. “Well?” I demand.

“Amelia,” he begins, but I cut him off. Advancing, I tower over the man.

“Speak, Doctor,” I growl.

“There is an experimental serum,” he chokes. “It’s possible it could help you with the side effects.”

“Why the hell haven’t you said anything before now?” Lucille hisses.

“Because it’s not exactly sanctioned.” Doctor Mendhi is visibly shaking now. Not surprising considering he has ten very pissed off Lochs looming over him.

“Illegal experiments?” my mother asks.

The doctor simply nods his head. Under normal circumstances, the Loch family wouldn’t be caught anywhere near something illegal, but as I look at my parents doing that wordless conversation thing, I know the lines are about to be stepped over.

My father steps forward. “I don’t care what you have to do, Dr. Mendhi, you look after my daughter. Is the serum safe?”

“So far, there have been no serious issues.”

“And what is the serum for exactly?” Jacob asks.

“We’ve been working on a cure for the fallen. To stop the madness.”

“A cure?” Mother repeats.

“Yes. However, the elders refused to grant us permission to carry out the experiments needed.”

“What experiments?” Aliah asks.