The girl, Tera, lay in the middle of a small bed decorated in light yellow sheets with cartoon stars. Her parents knelt on the far side, holding her tiny hand, crying.
Kian stood on the near side, his hand hovering over the girl's heart, trembling.
"Mom and dad, I love you too… don't worry…Uncle Kian made the pain go away. It doesn't hurt anymore. Don't cry."
Tera's voice came out weak, breathy. But she didn't sound scared. Same as Xehelya, because Xal promised she would get better, just like her mother did right now.
His breath caught.
Her fingernails were dark brown, nearly black, and awful dark vines like marks ran over her limbs. The skin had taken on a grayish-pale tone, paper-thin and wrinkled like she'd aged decades. And her eyes, clouded over, ashen and glassy, stared in the direction of her parents, but not quite finding them.
She lost her vision.
The similarity hit him like a punch. Xehelya had looked like this during her, maybe worse… That same awful deterioration, wrinkled skin as if the life was draining away drop by drop until nothing remained.
Tears burned in his eyes. He puffed his cheeks and glanced up, forcing the tears to subdue, trying to focus.
"Please heal her…please…You did that before… why are you backing away now? Please, Kian, help her," Tera's mother's voice cracked.
Kian took his hand away from where it hovered over her chest. Gently cupped her face as he spoke, "You're a very brave girl, Tera." His voice was soft, tinged with sadness, gentler than Xal had ever heard it.
He turned to the parents and mouthed silently: It's time, and he stood up from the bed.
The mother's face crumpled. She got up from the bedside, stumbled toward Kian, and grabbed his arms.
"No...no…It's not. Keep your hand on her. She- she gets better when you do that, right? You saved her last time!"
"I'm sorry. It's too-"
"Wait Kian!" Xal's voice cut through. He moved forward, grabbed him by the shoulder, and dragged him to the corner of the room. Held up his wrist to remind Kian of the white thread that he hoped still existed.
"No. Not going to work. Stop making a scene, giving them false hope." Kian muttered through clenched teeth.
Xal's fists clenched harder, nails digging crescents into his palms for the umpteenth time. Kian refused to even TRY. Wouldn't even consider it.
He grabbed Kian's collar, pulled him close enough to register the exhaustion in those bleary, pale purple eyes, but ignored it. It's none of his concern. He had to convince him to try something, anything, so that this innocent girl could live.
"How the hell would you know it won't work? You said this is the first time…"
Kian was already shaking his head without breaking eye contact. The gaze that already held the absolute denial.
"Fuck- Then call someone else!" He hissed.
And then there was that tone that held no room for reasoning or arguing.
"No use."
Xal pushed him back and let go. Ran his hand through his hair, thinking desperately of any way to do something to protect her... from death.
Tera's mother was coming closer, desperation rolling off her in waves.
Kian stepped forward, leaving Xal behind, to meet her. Took a deep breath, straightened his shoulders.
"Ma'am, I'm really sorry. She's too weak this time, and the illness has already settled in her heart. You should use this time to be with her and make her feel not alone. I really am so-"
SLAP!
The sound cracked through the room. Kian's head snapped to the side, breath hitching, eyes going wide before he smoothed his expression into acceptance.
Xal froze.
Then she started pounding her fists against Kian's chest. Cursing. Screaming that he was a monster to just stand there doing nothing. The words devolved into accusations, murderer, killer, how could he let her daughter die, then all that rage crumbled back into begging.
He watched as Kian took it all. He didn't move. Didn't defend himself. Just stood there.
"Please, Kian… I will give you anything. Please save our baby."
The father's voice broke through, utterly devastated. First time he'd spoken from the moment he entered the room.
Xal stood as a statue made of stone. Unable to say anything. Unable to do anything.
"Mommy… where are you? Daddy?" She raised her small hands, reaching out.
Tera's small voice pulled everyone's attention back to her.
Her mother immediately let go of Kian, rushed to the bedside, taking one hand to hers while the father held on to the other. Ran her hand through Tera's hair.
"I'm here, baby, we're both here."
"Don't worry, mommy… it doesn't hurt anymore. Can you tell me the story of the mermaid again? I'm feeling sleepy."
A faint smile touched Tera's lips as Xal's quivered.
"Let's go."
Kian walked past him like a ghost.
What? This cannot be it!
Xal stared at his back as he walked out the door. This couldn't be over. Tera looked better than his sister had. There had to be something he could do to protect her.
He ran outside to catch up with Kian. Caught him by the shoulder, but this time roughly, spun him around. He stumbled, barely steadying himself before clutching onto his right arm.
"How could you just walk out, letting that kid die?"
Pointed at his wrist.
"This thread, you said, we could change people's lives for the better. Was that all bullshit? Or was it just to trick me into being the bodyguard to save your sorry ass!?" Words spat out as venom, burning anything in it's reach.