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Story: The Eternal Muse

Isabel closed her eyes and shrugged. “I don’t know…all the sudden I just felt absolutely awful.”

“Can you get to the car to go to the hospital? If your cancer is flaring up, the sooner we get you there, the better. Or should I call an ambulance?” Melody punched 911 into the dial pad, but didn’t hit call quite yet.

Isabel thought for a moment. “The last thing I want is an ambulance bill eating up everything I’ve saved for Italy…grab my purse and I’ll head for the car.” She removed the blanket and stood, legs shaking under her slight weight.

Melody slung Isabel’s purse over her shoulder and returned to Isabel’s side. “Come on, chicka. I’ll help you.” With her friend’s strength holding her up, Isabel stumbled across the apartment and down to the car. “I don’t remember it being this bad last time, Izzy.”

“It wasn’t,” Isabel replied. Fear was beginning to claw its way down her throat and toward her stomach, intensifying the tremors that wracked her body. Had she been missing symptoms until they got this bad?

By the time the two women reached the car, Isabel slumped into the seat, exhausted. “Don’t worry, Izzy. We’ll get you to the hospital and hopefully it’s just a nasty flu and regular nosebleed.” Melody slammed the door behind Isabel, climbed into the driver’s seat, and peeled out of the parking lot as if Satan himself was on her tail.

* * *

Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. 5 October, 2006

The incessant beeping of the monitoring equipment was the worst part. Isabel reached for the earbuds that her parents had dropped off earlier that morning and slid them into her ears. Soon the sound of 80’s rock covered the unwanted reminder of her current stint in invalid jail.

With her eyes closed and music loud, Isabel didn’t know the nurse had arrived until a soft touch to her arm startled her. She pulled the earbuds out and frowned at the flustered nurse. “I’m sorry, Miss Frantz. I didn’t mean to startle you. You’re due for your next dose of pain medication, and the doctor should be by in a few minutes. Is there anything else I can get for you?”

Isabel shook her head and slumped back against the bed. “Do you know how much longer I’m going to have to stay?”

The nurse shook her head as well, an apologetic look on her face. “I’m so sorry, I don’t. But the doctor should have more answers when she gets here! I’ll be right back with your pain meds.”

Once the door had closed and Isabel was alone again, she looked at all of the flowers, cards, and balloons scattered around the room. Tears welled up in her eyes. Despite knowing how likely it would be, Isabel had really hoped she would never have to see the inside of another Huntsman Cancer Institute room.

The nurse and the doctor arrived at the same time, though the nurse only stayed long enough to administer the medication. Once she was gone, Dr. Alvarez sat down next to Isabel with a soft smile. “How are you feeling today, Isabel?”

“Better than I was. Just pretty tired.” Isabel closed her eyes and fought back the tears that threatened to run down her cheeks again. “Did you come to give me bad news?”

Dr. Alvarez smiled and shook her head. “Not this time, thankfully. While you definitely had some sort of episode, your blood doesn’t show that it was caused by your leukemia. So once you feel strong enough, you are free to go home. Get lots of rest, and if you have any more symptoms, you know what to do, okay?”

The relief which flooded Isabel’s body was warm and relaxed her muscles everywhere it touched. “Oh thank goodness! I was so sure you were going to tell me it had come back and I’d have to do another round of chemo. And I know how low the odds of survival are when it returns this soon.”

“I won’t tell you that you’re wrong about the odds, but you’re alright, my dear. Do you need us to call someone to help you get home?”

“I can do it,” Isabel replied, gesturing to her phone. “Thank you, Dr. Alvarez. You’ve definitely made my day.” Once the doctor was gone, she sent Melody a text and settled in for the best nap she’d had in days.

CHAPTER8

Vernazza, Italy. 31 October, 2006

Her letter was late. Sebastian sat back to observe the painting he’d been working on, frustrated that it didn’t distract him as fully as he would have liked. Surely it had just gotten delayed in the post?

Or…had he revealed his immortality too soon? No, that couldn’t possibly be it. She had already accused him of vampirism, so where was the harm in confirmation? His eyebrows knit together and his fingers tapped his knee. An ancient grandfather clock began to chime midnight and Sebastian jumped up from the chair. He swore he wouldn’t check the mail until “tomorrow.”

Well, now it was tomorrow.

Perhaps one minute into Halloween was not thebesttime to pass off his ‘vampire costume,’ but waiting until evening was out of the question. Clad in a ruffled white shirt, black pants which hugged his form nicely, and knee-high boots, Sebastian exited the castle and began the walk to the post box.

The air felt crisp and the light of the waxing moon made his passage easy. Rather than allowing himself to race to the box, Sebastian forced himself to enjoy the peaceful beginning of his favorite and least favorite day of the year. Surely the letter was waiting there, a gift for the holiday. The thought put a bit more of a spring in his step.

“Aren’t you out a bit early for All Hallow’s Eve?”

The voice from the darkness startled Sebastian and he stopped short, his keen ears turned toward the source of the sound. His lip curled up as he recognized the voice. “I could say the same about you, Remus. What are you doing out here?”

A lean figure dressed all in black stepped into view, his eyes blazing red in the darkness. “You know why I’m here, Sebastian. The same reason I’m here every year: to ensure that you make it to the family gathering. Everyone hassomissed you.”

“You act as if I can’t hear the sarcasm in your voice, Remus. We both know you’re little more than my glorified babysitter. Or more accurately, you’re Victor’s dog tasked with ensuring all the lost sheep make it back for the ceremony.” Sebastian straightened his shirt cuff, staring Remus in the eye.