Page 14 of Whispers of the Dragon
Desperately, she tried sitting up to look alive, but her grandmother was already flinging open the door.
“Almost noon?” she asked, hoping she didn’t sound as bad as it had felt to speak.
The look on her grandmother’s face told her it did. “Oh, no, no, no, no.”
Still, she tried to play it off, getting out of bed.
“No, you’re not going anywhere.” Grandmother pointed a strong finger at her to keep her in place.
“Really, I’m fi—ahh-choo.”
“Is everything all right?” Ryu asked, appearing out of thin air at the door like he lived here now.
“No, it is not. Eira got herself a cold from the rain.” Grandmother began her scolding again as she carefully tucked her back into bed without touching her. “I told you it was going to storm and to get back, but you never listen to me.”
With a serious look, Ryu walked into the room. His eyes scanned her complexion, and it wasn’t in the way they did before when he’d studied her scars; it was with concern and concentration. “You look like you’re running a fever.”
“You could always tell with her cheeks,” Grandmother agreed.
“I’ll get you some water,” he said right before leaving.
She tried pushing back the blanket again, knowing what was coming. “I feel okay, Grandma; I promise.”
“Nope, you need to stay right here till it passes.”
That was what Eira had been afraid of. She could stay in her bed when she was sleepy and night came, but she hated it during the day, knowing what demons always waited in her sleep. She had been grateful every morning to leave it and dreaded when the time came for her to enter it. To stay here all day for consecutive days was, for lack of a better word … a nightmare.
“I’ll head to the market to get you some medicinal tea.”
“I can go,” Ryu offered, returning with a glass of water.
“Shouldn’t you be on your journey home by now?” Eira asked, giving him a not so subtle hint.
“Eira!” Grandmother scolded her of being rude before turning to Ryu. “That is so nice of you to offer. It’s hard for me to make it to the market these days.”
Ryu smiled, unbothered by Eira’s words. “Of course. I don’t mind at all.”
“I’ll go make a list of the things you need to get.”
Eira’s eyes turned into slits at him when her grandmother turned her back, and she waited until she disappeared into the kitchen before she spoke. “What are you doing?”
“Going to the marke—”
“No.” Eira gave him a look. “What are you doing?”
“Let me make this easy for you.” Ryu took a seat on the edge of her bed again, making himself comfortable. He then lowered his mask a bit more. “I am not leaving without you, Eira. Once you’re better, youwillbe going back home with me. So, get used to me, darling—you’re going to see a lot of me.”
With each word he spoke, Eira’s mouth had dropped further and further. Right when she gathered enough of her thoughts, she went to speak, but Grandmother’s voice could be heard yelling from the kitchen.
“Ryu!”
When a now satisfied Ryu got up to leave at his cue, Eira tried to find her voice again.
“Shh, darling,” he shushed her rather lovingly. “You’re too sick to speak. Drink your water and feel better. I’ll be back soon.”
Too sick to speak …Eira’s mouth only dropped somehow more as she watched him walk away proudly.
…try too stunned to speak.
