Chapter VII
Ives entered with an apathetic look, the area was busy as a hospital should be.
People coming in and out, many wouldn't make it out alive and those who did will live to die another day.
Isolde went to the receptionist to make the necessary inquiries.
"Sabine Carpenter." Isolde said, a few clicks on her keyboard later and the female receptionist gave the relevant information. "Intensive care unit – Room 5."
Isolde got a pass that allowed them to see the patient there. In the elevator, Isolde apologized.
"I apologise, Master Ives. I didn't warn you in advance, I know you may dislike this sort of places." Isolde turned to face Ives and bowed deeply in apology.
"It's okay. I don't mind, it isn't like I have anything worth doing anyways." Ives checked his watch and cursed the day's slow grind.
They arrived at their destination, a woman laid down on the bed, sleeping peacefully, there were numerous medical devices hooked up to her sunken but beautiful frame reading every ounce of her bio-data.
Seeing her mother resting, Isolde felt hesitant to disturb her so she left to converse with her mother's doctor on the development of her health.
"Master Ives. Will you be okay here?" Isolde asked, her eyes glistening with worry and a subtle hint of fear and anxiety.
Ives only nodded in response and sat beside the bed while Isolde headed for the door, she stood there for a little bit watching before leaving.
Ives in the meantime pulled out his phone and looked through a picture of his own mother. He remembered watching her cook from behind. Holding her hand as she walked him to school before leaving for work. Both of them cuddling together in the bed at night. Then a picture taken with his anut's family popped up and a rush of rage ran through his body. They were all together smiling even his younger self and Curtis were holding eachother at the shoulder for the family photo, this was months before his mother died and he entered the hell that was their family.
Ives hated them with every fibre of his being that was why he chose to leave their recompense for last to personally come up with the most gruesome thing he could for their torture.
Ives put his phone away and gathered himself, he closed his eyes and breathed in deeply though he couldn't stop the unconscious reflex of clenching his fists.
"Are you okay, Dear?" A feminine voice suddenly called out to him. He stopped his mediation abruptly and turned to face Sabine Carpenter - Isolde's mother.
"Yes. Sorry. Your daughter will be with us shortly." Ives reassured her and she relaxed though she was still visibly on edge. Her hands ruffled her bedspread uncomfortably as she thought inwardly.
Ives studied her features. Smooth caucasian white skin. Ocean blue eyes nestled within a lovely teardrop shaped face with a long blonde hair running down her back. She was a mirror copy of Isolde herself though more mature but more frail and fragile even while she worried Ives felt a strong urge to comfort her in some way.
"Are you unwell?" Ives asked her.
"Umm.." After stuttering for a bit, she meekly answered. "Yes."
"How long?" Ives abruptly inquired. Sabine turned to face him with a horrified expression.
Ives calmly explained his reasoning. "You have the face of someone who is waiting for death and from your expression I don't think Isolde knows yet. Does she?"
Sabine narrowed her eyes and smiled painfully.
"A few weeks if I am lucky but I don't think I will be. I never am." Then with a more somber tone, she begged Ives. "Please be merciful with her. I know her father has done your lot wrong but I swear she has nothing to do with any of this." As she said this, large drops of tears fell down from her eyes unto the bedsheets then the heart monitor blared and suddenly Sabine began to cough violently.
Ives moved with haste and held her up, returning her to a more comfortable position before lessening her fears.
"I am Isolde's employer not her owner."
Sabine calmed down immediately and the blaring ceased after a bit. She shook a bit before falling into Ives' arms in tears whispering out. "Thank you." Repeatedly. Ives allowed her this luxury that their lives had most likely not been an easy one.
"Should I call a doctor?" Ives didn't want anything of this sort to repeat itself while he was here but Sabine refused.
"No." Sabine refused, her mood now much more brighter. She remembered the times when Isolde would come to visit her with injuries and scars but that wouldn't happen again while she was with Ives.
Sabine held his right hand and gripped it tightly, no words were exchanged but a million meanings was carved into this simple gesture.
"Marcille" Sabine whispered. Ives jolted at that name and Sabine sensing his discomfort explained apologetically.
"Sorry. She was my husband's aide before he left us. You just feel like her."
Ives brought out his phone and showed her a picture of his mother.
"Is this her?" Sabine suddenly smiled widely about to answer before her face paled with horror.
Ives heard a click then a warning.
"Make a move and I will blow your brains out!".