*Eva*
I weakly stood up from the hospital bed and wandered across the room to the window. The sun was setting on yet another day spent in a hospital room.
I knew I should be grateful, though. I couldn’t say that things weren’t improving slightly. Since I was able to move around on my own, I was able to move out of the wing of the hospital dedicated to critically ill patients and into one a little less sterile looking.
The colors of my new room were warr, and it looked more like an apartnt as opposed to a hospital room.
I still wasn’t free from the machine that was constantly feeding Rion’s blood into . Its tal bulkiness and insistent beeping was more than enough to remind that I was still extrely ill.
As the weeks slowly turned into months, I felt as if my sanity was going along with the ti. I gazed out at the orangey-pink sky as if it could tell what to do.
At least if I did undergo the risky surgery, sothing would co of it. I wouldn’t have to wait around for my body to heal itself.
I shook my head hard. Although Myra and the other healers believed that removing the First Witch’s bones was the only way to save my fading life, I couldn’t just give in because I was going crazy in this facility.
I knew the risks involved. Myra had gone over the procedure with in more depth, and there were many possible complications that could lead to dire consequences.
“I understand completely why this is a difficult decision for you,” Myra said to one day when I decided to voice my concerns to her.
I nodded glumly. “It’s not that I don’t trust you guys,” I said quickly. “I just... I have a lot to lose now.”
Aster and Tarik’s sweet faces flashed in my mind.
Myra gave a compassionate, sad sort of smile and then her expression beca thoughtful. “Perhaps you need an outside perspective on your situation,” she said. “Oftentis, counsel from a group of unbiased individuals could help you to see your predicant more clearly.”
I mulled that over in my mind and nodded. “That does sound like it would be helpful,” I said. “But who should I consult?’
The next day, Jasper led up the steps leading up to a large glass building covered in vines and flowers. We were greeted by a frail old woman in a simple off-white dress made of so kind of silk material.
She ushered us inside, where we were greeted by the wise spiritual leaders of Celestial City.
Jasper and I sat cross-legged before them. “Thank you for agreeing to counsel ,” I said in a low, shy voice, feeling slightly intimidated to be in the presence of such wise people. “I have been suffering from a grave illness for so ti now, and am uncertain about undergoing a risky surgery in order to heal.”
Jasper squeezed my hand. I sent him a grateful smile in response.
It was the withered old woman with deep blue eyes who spoke. “Oftentis when faced with trials, we are tempted to search for outside solutions.”
Jasper and I glanced at each other with confusion.
“In doing so, we forget to look inward, unaware that the answer has been with us all along,” said an elderly man seated next to her.
“Your ailnt is within you, young one,” said the youngest of the group, an elderly woman with long white hair. “Perhaps so too is the answer to curing it.”
I nodded, only kind of understanding what the wise leaders were proposing. “But how should I search within for the answer?” I asked.
The woman in the center with the blue eyes answered. “By setting yourself away from all earthly distractions,” she said in an airy voice. “Open your mind and soul to insight through ditation and prayer. Only then will the answer reveal itself.”
The spiritual leaders led Jasper and into their ditation room. It was a gorgeous chamber with marble flooring and luminescent vines against the walls. Intricate patterns swirled along the far wall where the altar sat, symbolizing the balance between nature, magic, and ti.
The large, shimring altar was embedded with gems of various colors. The sculpture was in the vague likeness of a human, with leaves and vines surrounding the dynamic form. Simple, velvet cushions circled the altar, inviting guests to sit and partake in a session of introspection.
In the following days, whenever the hospital would allow it, I ca back to the temple to lose myself in solitary ditation and prayer.
It was difficult at first. I was riddled with so many worries and fears that for many days, that was all I was able to think about. Eventually, I cleared my mind and focused solely on those closest to , the sole reasons for my existence.
Naturally, the faces of my boys were the first and most frequent in my mind during these spiritual sessions. I loved them so much, they were my entire world, and they were still so, so young.
They needed . I had to survive for them.
And then there was Jasper, who I was going to marry, hopefully soon. He dedicated himself to and was already a wonderful dad to both Aster and Tarik.
I loved him so much.
Then there was Daphne, who was already a dear sister to . And of course, Rion. It felt like only recently that I’d been reunited with him. He had already sacrificed so much just to keep alive.
I breathed deeply as the spiritual leaders had taught to do, letting myself get lost in the gentle breeze outside and the clean, floral scent inside the ditation room.
Then, very suddenly, the answer beca clear like a reflection in a pond coming into view for the first ti once the water settled.
While the hospital staff was doing a lot of work to keep alive, it was still my body that was doing most of the work. It was my body’s innate magic that had carried this far, along with Rion’s devotion and support.
Ever since this illness befell , I had been subconsciously viewing my powers as a curse, rather than a beneficial part of . I needed to trust in myself and in my magic.
I couldn’t give in to the healers’ uncertain cure. I was stronger than that.
I burst out of the temple. Jasper stood up quickly from where he was waiting on a bench outside and hurried toward , his expression alard.
“What’s wrong?” he asked at once. “Are you feeling alright? Do we need to get you back to the infirmary?”
“I’m feeling great,” I told him, wrapping my arms around him and realizing that I hadn’t been able to honestly say that for quite so ti. “Yes, I do need to get back to the infirmary, but I’d like Daphne and Rion to et us there.”
Jasper was confused but didn’t question as we made our way back to the infirmary. Rion and Daphne were already there, waiting anxiously with Healer Myra, who looked equally curious. They all waited for to speak.
I took a calming breath before lifting my chin. “First of all, I want to thank all of you for doing everything in your power to help heal,” I began, looking to the floor briefly to gather my courage. “And while I am grateful, I am well aware now more than ever that I have the most control over what happens to , despite what science or even magic says.”
This seed to just cause the group to beco even more confused and nervous. Truthfully, I wasn’t even sure if what I was saying made any sense, but it felt true in my heart.
“That is why I have decided that I will not be going through with the surgery,” I said firmly. At everyone’s widening eyes I quickly added, “This isn’t giving up. It’s quite the opposite, really. I am choosing to trust in my powers and in the potion that Rion is helping you with.”
Myra was the first to speak, stepping forward and not quite able to completely hide her shock. “This definitely cos as a surprise, but I do respect your decision, Eva. We will continue to do everything we can.”
I felt my chest twist with emotion toward the healer who had quickly beco my friend. “Thank you, Myra.”
“I will provide as much blood as is necessary,” Rion declared.
Tears pricked at the back of my eyes, but I held them back. “Thank you, Rion.”
True to his word, Rion continued to faithfully donate blood multiple tis a week, even though it seed to take a lot out of him. I was grateful for his supernatural healing abilities, but there were still multiple bruises on his arms from each ti blood was drawn from him.
It caused guilt to twist in my chest. The healers wondered if they weren’t going away as quickly because so of his magic was being taken as well.
It was easier to be optimistic after deciding that I wasn’t going to have the surgery done. I thought a lot of it had to do with the fact that the decision had given my agency back. I wasn’t leaving the future up to just fate.
I was going to fight as well.
I was grateful that the boys were spending a lot of their day at the Queen’s Academy while I was recovering. Not only was I extrely proud of them for getting invited to enroll in the prestigious school, but I found it to be a healthy distraction for them.
They were already so mature and empathetic that I knew that they were worried about . They shouldn’t have had to deal with adult concerns like those.
***
It took months, several long months, but I was finally starting to feel more like myself. I wasn’t napping as much, and the doctors were happy with my sudden improvent.
“These are the best numbers we’ve seen from you since you were admitted, Eva,” Myra said, her warm brown eyes lighting up as she looked at the numbers flashing on the screen.
“I’m actually feeling strong,” I told her.
Daphne threw her arms around , her bulging tummy pressing into my side.
“This is truly miraculous,” Myra said. “Based on these numbers and your current state, I think it’s safe to say that we can officially discharge you in just a couple of weeks!”
Daphne stepped back as Jasper took in his arms and kissed my cheek, his eyes lighting up his entire face.
“Thank you for agreeing to donate more blood in order for us to study it, Mr. Stormfall,” Myra said, turning to Rion, who was hugging Daphne fiercely upon receiving the good news.
“I am happy to do so after all you’ve done for my sister,” Rion said, but then he frowned. “I only ask that you keep silent about the true source of Eva’s cure. I would hate for word to get out and cause others to attempt to exploit my blood for its power.”
“Yes, of course,” Myra said, her eyes widening. “Please rest assured that our patients’ confidentiality is of the utmost importance to us here at the Celestial Hospital.”
Rion nodded and then shot a relieved grin, which I wholeheartedly returned.
***
A couple of weeks later, I stood with Jasper in front of the Celestial City Cathedral, where we were planning our simple and intimate wedding ceremony.
Tarik tugged on my hand, his large gray eyes widening with amazent as he pointed up at the impressive building. “You’re really going to get married here, Mama?”
“Yup!” I told him proudly. I smirked down at him. “Does that make a princess?”
“No,” Aster said firmly, looking up at with an almost stern expression.
I couldn’t suppress a giggle. “And why not?”
Aster shook his head at . “You can’t be a princess because you’re a queen, Mama,” he said decisively.
I smiled and smoothed a hand over his hair affectionately. “Aww, thank you, Aster.”
I glanced up at Jasper, who was staring down at adoringly. I blushed under his intense gaze.
“What do you think?” I asked with a smirk. “Am I your princess, or your queen?”
Jasper smirked right back and took in his arms. “It doesn’t really matter,” he said with a shrug. “You can be whatever you want since I get to have you as my wife.”
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