Page 50

Ignatia

Days in the hospital are just too long… and too frightening…

No one knows if Amias is going to wake up. He went into a coma, and needed tubes in his skin to deliver the potions.

It's a week later. I've been coming to the hospital in an oversized hoodie with my hair up so I can come in discreetly. In the hospital, Amorette and Amias’ father Bruce, and Erasmus check on Amias' everyday.

Amorette has been a mess for the past few days, bawling her eyes out as she buried her face in Bruce's shoulder.

Other people, like Glaide, have checked in as well.

I watch from afar in the hallway and ask the nurses about what state he's in.

On the seventh day, it's the same situation. Amorette's in tears as Bruce makes circles around her back. Erasmus is standing up beside her and staring at Amias. I stand in the hallway.

Amias is still in a coma, with a feeding tube and a ventilator.

Many nurses in pink scrubs, families of patients and doctors rush by me in the hospital full of white and pink walls. I spot a blonde nurse I've seen tending to Amias before. I step in front of her, catching a whiff of cleaner with her movement. "Is Amias alright?" I murmur.

She flinches before her gaze softens. "He should be. We are doing our best to make sure he does wake up at some point. He seems to be healing though."

I give a curt nod, quickly biting my tongue. "Good."

I stare at the window to Amias' room for a few minutes, yearning to be next to him. To talk to him. To embrace him. To kiss him.

I just wish I knew for sure if he was going to be okay. It's frustrating that Godusa hasn't given me a prophecy yet. I can't lose him.

I've lost enough already.

"Amorette has told me what happened. If it weren't for you, he would've died in the fire," the nurse adds. "You're really a hero…"

I don't bat my eyes in her direction. I keep my gaze on Amias. It doesn't feel like I'm a hero with the state he's in. "I tried."

“I wonder how you did it. Carrying someone his size, escaping the dreamscreechers…”

“Huh?” My brows perk. How does she know?

“We noticed the bite marks on his arm.” She smiles softly. “It's truly impressive how you were able to save him from that all while escaping a fire.”

I bow my head. Seems like she hasn't considered that I might be a dreamscreecher too. It never occurs to anyone. “Thank you. I just… had a gun on me and shot at them. Scared them enough.”

"Hello ma'am," a feminine voices trills. Another nurse in pastel pink scrubs comes up to me, one that I had just seen in Amias’ room. "You're the woman who saved Amias, correct?"

I scrunch my brows together. "I guess. Why?”

"The royal family wants you in the room," she nods her head over in their direction.

"Why?" I whisper, whipping my head towards the window. Amorette waves me over, with the husband and son looking on tiredly. What do they need me for?

"They just want you to join the family." The nurse reassures me.

I stare at the family once more, still uncertain of why they would want me there. Eventually I make my way to the room.

My heart pounds the first step I take in the pastel pink room. My teeth dig into my tongue as my sneakers click on the floor. Will Amorette know what I am?

Amorette's eyes are still wet from crying but nonetheless, she smiles meekly. "Welcome, sweet eagle.”

I bow my head. "Amorette…"

She sniffles, gripping tight to Bruce's hand beside her. "Why don't you come in? You keep waiting outside."

It's not like I can tell her that I don't want her to find out I'm a dreamscreecher. "I want you to have some family time with him. I don't want to barge in. "

She frowns. "You saved his life. You are family now. Take a seat." She glances over to a seat beside her.

My head aches from fear but I keep my mouth shut. I slowly make my way to the seat and sit. I’m not sure why she’s accepting me so quickly. We barely know each other.

But slowly, my heart stops racing. At least she can't seem to tell I'm a dreamscreecher.

Bruce raises a brow at me, seemingly confused. Erasmus turns over his shoulder but doesn't react before looking back at Amias.

"Bruce, Erasmus. This is the woman who brought Amias out of the fire." Amorette says, turning to Bruce. “She saved our boy's life."

I slump into the chair, as Bruce's eyes widen at me. "Oh, wow…"

I gulp. "Yes…".

"I can't thank you enough," he says, directing his eyes back to Amias. "I can't imagine what would have happened if he hadn't gotten out."

His voice seems empty, almost meaningless. His expression is blank, as if dissociating from everything.

I don't blame him.

"I don't know how to repay you," Amorette whispers. “I owe you more than I can give.”

I slowly nod. We're not sure if he's going to make it. It feels too early for gratitude. "Thank you. I don't need-"

"Don't thank me. You risked your life back there.” She slowly turns back to Amias. “I'll do whatever you want me to do to repay you.”

I follow her gaze, watching his chest go up and down.

I didn't expect this closeness with Amorette, but she is already a better mother than my own real "mother." At least she's happy to see me.

“Is there anything you want?” Amorette asks.

I twist my lips at the question. Honestly, I don't think I can truly ask her for anything that I really want. If I could, I'd wish for Amias to wake up.

Unfortunately that's not within her power. “I don't care about repayment. I just want Amias to be safe.”

Amorette’s lips purse before forming a smirk. “You know, I sense a connection between you two.”

I look up at Amorette. “Huh?” Dreamscreechers have been refused to have soulmates. Why would Amara gift a kingdom she hates?

“Not a literal one. More of a motherly instinct thing.” Her eyes glow pink and my heart jumps. Fuck, she'll know now.

I start to get up from my seat, when she sets a hand on mine, her eyes back to blue. “Sorry. I wanted to see if you had a soulmate bond somewhere. I should've asked.”

My body still tenses. “Do I?”

“No, which is just what I was hoping.”

I quirk a brow, sitting back down next to her. Still no recognition of my abilities. “Why?”

Her eyes shift between Amias and I. “You've known each other before the fire, haven't you?”

“Well…” I shrug. “Yes.”

“Are you the woman he had accidentally slept over with that one time?”

Heat floods my cheeks, recalling that time Amias freaked out because of her call. “I suppose.”

She chuckles. “You seem like his type. He's always liked women like you.”

Her statement excites me more than it should. “Really?”

“Yeah. You should see some of his celebrity crushes growing up. Many of them look just like you.”

I raise a brow. What's a celebrity? “Is that a good thing?”

“Of course,” she smiles. “I mean, he always liked the athletic type, which you definitely are. The brunettes in particular. And you saved him too? He's probably head over heels.”

My heart skips. Well that's good to hear.

“What do you like about my son?”

“A lot of things.” The words just fall out of my mouth. I don't have to even think. “He's very sweet, caring and a great listener. He also likes to challenge his own ideas, which is strangely unique.”

“He definitely does,” Amorette chirps.

I titter. I never expected I'd be talking to her just so casually.

“Have you two made it official?”

“Not yet.”

“Why not?”

I'm not sure if I should mention what happened in the garden, with being interrupted by Vasilisa and such. “Well… I just… I'm not sure if he feels the same…” A good excuse.

“Oh trust me. He does.” She shakes her head. “That night when I called, you already had him smitten.”

My heart jolts. “Really?”

“Yep. Even though he didn't say it directly, I could hear it in his voice.” She glances back at Amias, a sudden glossiness coming back to her eyes. “He's certain that you're the one. Be confident in that.”

I huff. That's only if he wakes up. What if he never does?

I don't think I'll ever come across a man just as sweet and courageous as him.

“Yes. We'll see.”

◆◆◆

The next day, I came back to the hospital early. The star was barely up by the time I walked out of the shelter.

In the hospital, I walk up to the front desk, which was nearly a small room blocked off by a large wooden desk stained in pink. The blonde nurse that tended to Amias is talking to one of the ladies there.

"Excuse me?" I say.

The ladies look up, the lady at the front desk turning her blank expression to a smile. "Yes?"

"Is Amias okay?" I murmur, keeping my eyes on the nurse.

She nearly jumps, a grin spreading across her face. "Oh! Great news! He just got out of his coma last night!"

My body stiffens. "Really?" My voice squeaks.

I look down the hall a little ways as the nurse rambled on.

Without listening to her, I dash over past nurses and patients to his room.

I run up to the window first, as he's talking with one of the nurses.

He's sitting up, his eyes half open like the week long coma wasn't enough rest. Most of the tubes are no where to be seen.

My chest feels like it would explode any minute. I can't tear my eyes away. My feet rush me through the door without command.

He's alright! He's alive!

He snaps his head up and his face brightens. The nurse moves aside as his jaw drops. "Clara!"

My mind is racing. My vision blurs. My body is shaking and I can't tell if that is a good thing or not.

It doesn't matter.

I refuse to think as I rush and nearly leap to his side. He quickly wraps arms around me and I nearly barrel my upper body into him. Being this close, I can't help but lean in and kiss his soft lips.

It's a quick but thrilling touch. I bring my hands to his cheeks, wanting more of his sweet touch. It's the best feeling. How can lips be this perfect?

As I pull away, heat creeps up my face again.

Amias gawks back at me, his cheeks flushed with color. “I… missed you too.”

We stare at each other for a moment longer, before Amias pulls me in by the chin for a second kiss. This time I grunt from surprise, but immediately accept it.

Soft gentle kisses, full of love and sweetness. It's just us. In our own perfect loving world, accepting each other's affections. Free from the horrors of the world. Free from the idea of losing him.

I place a hand over his chest to feel his pulse. He's alive. His heart's racing and he's alive.

Before I can get a bit rougher, a voice interrupts, bursting me out of our world. “I don't want to interrupt this emotional moment but…”

I look over my shoulder to see the nurse standing with her teeth clenched. “I would not recommend you make out with a patient just waking up from a coma.”

I bite my tongue and clear my throat. Maybe I got a bit too much into it. “Apologies.”

Amias chuckles. The gentleness is still there even when it's distorted by soot.

I raise a brow and turn back at him, our noses almost touching. He cups the back of my head, letting me down to his chest.

His heart thuds against my cheek. He's okay. He's alive. I actually saved him. I don't need to worry about losing another loved one.

He's here on Adoro and here to stay.

Here with me.