Wrath of the Sea Queen

by Cynthia Woods

  "Sleep well, Caeli. I'm right outside if you need me."

  Of course, Vin had no idea that the reason his message did not reach Caeli was caused by anything other than the fact that she was sleeping.

  "It's going to be a long night, Ben. Would you be a dear and help me with this cart?" Salma said quietly after Vin was out of earshot.

  Apela and Max were in the lounge when Vin slumped in and walked over to stare out of a window facing the sea. Max had crept out of bed to wait with his father. He was eager to know about his new friend; but all Apela would tell him was that Caeli was sick. This bothered Max, so he offered to take her a glass of water to help her feel better. Vin overhead the offer and turned around, suddenly remembering Caeli's request.

  Salma and Ben walked by in time to hear Max's question and understand Vin's reaction.

  "It's ok. I took care of it, Vin," Salma told him silently, watching Vin return unhappily to his vigil at the window.

  "Max, what makes you think water will make Caeli feel better?" Salma asked, her own curiosity aroused at the boy's uncanny insight.

  "Pretty Caeli is a Sea Goddess. Didn't you see her eyes? Sea Goddesses need water. Water helps," Max returned with conviction. He honestly believed Caeli to be one of his fairy tale characters. He stubbornly stomped his foot and refused to admit otherwise when Apela again tried to correct him.

  "Well, it doesn't hurt to let him think that, does it?" Ben asked, feeling bad that Max's well intended offer met with such harsh rejection.

  "I suppose not," Apela conceded.

  "Max, it is very nice that you want to help Caeli, but she is very sick. I don't think a glass of water is going to fix her this time. I am going to check her blood so that we can find out what is making her sick. Then we will know how to make her better," Salma explained, also taking pity on the boy's hurt feelings.

  Max intrigued Salma. She asked Apela if he would agree to let her test his and Max's blood while she was testing Caeli's sample. She said the request was simply out of curiosity about Max's ability, but Salma was more than curious about Max's unusual tendencies. Salma wanted to know if it might have anything to do with his bloodline. However, she could not explain that part of it to Apela. Salma merely explained that she wanted to know if Max's special talent could be detected in his blood work. Apela readily agreed.

  Max, on the other hand, was hesitant. He did not like the idea of having a needle stuck in his arm. Salma promised him that it would not hurt more than a tiny pinch and, when he was done, Max could watch the machine run the tests as long as he promised not to touch it. That was enough of an enticement to get Max to agree. Afterward, he complimented pretty Dr. Salma on how good of a doctor she was and how little of a pinch he had felt.

  "What was that really about?" Ben asked when he and Salma were alone in their room a few minutes later.

  "I am curious about Max's heritage," Salma whispered.

  "Salma, it's not polite to invade their privacy like that. Don't you think you should tell Apela what you are testing first?"

  "That's not what I mean, though I have wondered if Max is Apela's biological child or not. Max doesn't look at all like him. No, I am wondering if Max is carrying one of the bloodlines. His talent is very strong for someone so young, so I suspect that it must be inherent rather than acquired. However, I don't think I should tell Apela until I have proof whether or not Max is gifted by inheritance," Salma explained.

  Ben agreed. He helped Salma get all of the tests running in their own room, and Max soon joined them to watch the process. Nearly forty minutes later, Salma was content that everything was working to her satisfaction, and she left Ben in charge of the equipment.

  "I need to get back to Caeli now. If I don't, Vin's impatience will get the better of him, and he will go sit with her so that she is not alone." With a parting kiss from her husband, Salma headed back to check on her niece.

  Salma returned to find Caeli sitting on the floor by the bathroom door.

  "What are you doing?"

  "I was hurting so bad that I felt sick again. I couldn't find the trashcan. And I'm so thirsty," Caeli explained. Salma had moved the trashcan away from the bed earlier and mistakenly left it across the room, and Vin had not returned with the promised water. Caeli had called both Vin and Salma for assistance. When neither answered, her last resort was to crawl, since she was not able to walk. Caeli had attempted to reach the bathroom in between the waves of pain racking her body. She had only just made it to the bathroom door a minute before Salma returned.

  "I distinctly remember telling you not to get up for any reason," Salma chastised as she helped Caeli up and into the restroom.

  "I didn't want to make a mess," Caeli offered as justification.

  "Bah, poor excuse! I said not to get up for any reason, and that's exactly what I meant."

  "I'm sorry, Salma, but you weren't here. Nobody answered when I called. I thought I could make it on my own." The pain in Caeli's voice softened Salma's next words.

  "I didn't hear you call. I don't think Vin did either. He would have been in here in a heartbeat if he had. The state you are in, perhaps you only thought you called us. Regardless, you should have stayed in bed. I can tell you are going to be a difficult patient. I shouldn't be surprised with as much influence as Vin has on you." Salma helped Caeli move into the bathroom.

  "Vin says his influence is good for me. I completely agree," Caeli tried to carry the banter, but could not muster enough energy to make it genuinely amusing.

  Her stomach chose that moment to heave again, though it was painfully empty as she hung her head wearily over the commode. The muscle spasms her body endured only caused Caeli more pain during this episode. By the time it ended, she was sweating again and lightheaded. Caeli could barely raise her head without assistance.

  Salma wiped down Caeli's face and arms with a wet washcloth twice, and then a third time as she noted the relief it provided. Then she retrieved the bottle of water she brought with her when she returned to the room and handed it to Caeli. Salma wanted to keep her fluid level up to prevent any further dehydration.

  As her niece was again tormented with pain, Salma tried to figure out how Caeli was even conscious. The medicine should have knocked her out. Salma made the decision to give her one more dose. If it didn't work this time, Salma would not give her any more. So, as Caeli lifted the water bottle, Salma deftly injected her arm yet again.

  "Not again, Salma," Caeli protested weakly.

  "This is the last time, Dear."

  Caeli was grateful for the water that Salma gave her. Her throat cried out like the victim of a sandstorm in the Sahara. She wanted to flood it with water.

  "Whoa, don't drink so fast. You can have as much as you want, but take small sips or you will end up regretting it. I am sorry I can't fix this yet, but hopefully that last shot will ease your pain. Once the pain eases, then the nausea should subside as well. Come on. Let's get you back to bed."

  After Caeli was situated and seemed to be feeling slightly better, for the moment, Salma pulled a chair over and placed it beside the bed. She watched as Caeli continued to sip from the water bottle. Salma noticed how the weight of the bottle caused Caeli's hands to shake and her frustration to grow.

  "Give me that bottle. I will refill it for you in a while. Close your eyes and try to relax. Let the medicine do its work," Salma instructed Caeli in her professional voice.

  "How is Max?"

  "He is fine. Why do you ask?"

  "I think I scared him at the arena," Caeli said.

  "How?"

  "He heard me cry out, Salma. Did you know that he has a special talent? He heard us talking on the plane."

  "Well, talent or not, he is no worse for it. Max seems to have taken quite a liking to you. I think he may give Vin a run for his money when it comes to worrying about you," Salma smiled as she told Caeli how Max described her as a Sea Goddess.

  "Where is Vin?"

  "He is waiting out in the
lounge."

  "Is he very upset with me? I only wanted some water."

  "Upset? No, but he is very worried. Luckily, he is wise enough to heed my advice and stay out there so that you will rest. You, on the other hand, are not doing as you've been told. Please, Caeli, stop worrying about everyone else. The only thing you should be thinking about right now is getting well. You need to rest for that to happen," Salma advised.

  "Well, at least I am not the only person you irritate. I really like your aunt. I suppose she might suffice if you don't change your mind."

  "You leave Salma out of this!" Caeli replied to Rika's proposed threat.

  "I will be happy to if you accept my offer. In the meantime, with her watching over you tonight, I will remove the ban I placed between you and your man. I think your aunt will do well enough to keep you apart while you take some time to reconsider your options. There is no need for you to suffer like this, Caeli. I can cure you. There is still time to save your baby."

  Caeli could tell that Rika's presence retreated after those last frightening words. Instantly, her pain eased a considerable amount. Had Rika been making her pain worse this whole time, like she did at the arena? Caeli wondered how she had become so weak in such a short time. Now that she thought about it, Caeli favored the notion that Rika might have had a hand in her swift decline. It was too much for Caeli to sort through alone. She closed her already drooping eyelids. Turning slowly, Caeli moved onto her side and laid her hand on the empty pillow where Vin would normally have slept beside her. She needed a different perspective. Caeli needed Vin.

  Seeing Caeli begin to drift off, Salma pulled a book out of Caeli's suitcase, made a comfortable place on the chair, and began to read. Caeli, however, fought not to succumb to the chemicals racing through her body and darkening the edges of her mind. It seemed to Caeli as if falling asleep would endanger her further. It was an odd feeling, and Caeli had no idea what triggered it. Yet, it was strong enough to make her resist the pull of the drugs Salma had given her. Caeli needed a distraction to occupy her mind.

  "Vin."

  "Caeli. I'm here. How are you? What do you need?"

  "I needed to hear your voice, if only like this."

  "You can hear me in person if you prefer. I will be right there."

  Vin turned in a rush from where he stood at the window in the lounge. He had been waiting anxiously for a chance to see Caeli. In a breath, he crossed the lounge and stood only a few steps away from his hotel room door. He stopped outside at Caeli's request.

  "You better not come inside. Salma will get upset. In fact, she will be mad if she finds out that I'm talking to you now. She wants me to sleep."

  "Then you should listen to her. Salma said you needed to rest. That's the only reason that I agreed to stay out here. She believes that I will disturb you."

  "I'm sorry. Not only have I totally ruined your vacation, but I also got you kicked to the couch for no good reason. I can't sleep," Caeli said in a drowsy voice.

  "Don't be silly, Caeli. You had no way of knowing this would happen. You certainly can't stop whatever is making you sick, and Salma has a way of getting what she wants, especially when it involves her professional opinion. There was nothing you could have done to prevent this," Vin replied.

  "Maybe I could have, but I didn't. Then she helped me for a few minutes, but I wouldn't accept her terms. I thought I was… but then I kept getting worse. She made me better and then worse again just to prove her point. The water helps, but it reduces the effect that Salma's medicine has on me. I am so glad that you're here, Vin. I can't believe you came all this way for me. Talk to me, Vin. I can barely keep myself awake," Caeli's mental voice softened as she found it increasingly difficult to continue.

  "Don't fight it, Honey. Stop rambling and go to sleep. You need to rest," Vin encouraged her.

  "I'm afraid to sleep, Vin. She scares me." Caeli tossed out the thoughts as they came to her increasingly fuzzy mind.

  "Who scares you? Surely you're not scared of Salma?"

  "Rika."

  Salma must have been right about Caeli's mind being clouded. Most of what she said did not make sense to Vin.

  "Honey, you're tired and confused. There's no reason to be scared. Let yourself sleep. I'll watch over you while you rest. I won't let anyone hurt you."

  "You never would. What would I do… without you?" Her thoughts began to fade.

  "You'll never be without me, Caeli. Now, please, try to sleep." Vin desperately wanted to be by her side. Surely Caeli would rest better on the comfort of his shoulder; he certainly would feel better having her securely in his arms.

  "But how…how will you know… if she's in my mind? How will you…" Caeli's eyelids fluttered. She could not finish the thought. She could not hold out any longer. Nearly forty eight hours overdue and with a bit of pharmaceutical assistance, sleep finally overtook her.

  "Caeli? Are you all right? Caeli?" Vin called when she did not respond.

  "She's ok, Vin. The medicine has finally knocked her out. It might have worked sooner if you had not been chatting with her," Salma responded.

  "You overheard?"

  "Yes. Next time, at least make an attempt to keep the conversation between the two of you. Now do you understand why I do not want you in here?"

  "Yes. Caeli will find a way to stay awake if I'm in there. Heck, she still managed it even though I was out here. I shouldn't have doubted you. I'm sorry, and thank you, Salma."

  "You're welcome. Now, get some sleep yourself. I will let you know if I learn anything or if her condition changes," Salma once again assured Vin that she would provide Caeli with the best care possible. Although Vin knew it to be true, he needed to hear it in order to help him get through what would be a long night away from Caeli's side.

  Even though she had not truly slept since Friday night, the pain still woke Caeli each time it hit. Enduring such bouts used up what little strength she might have regained during the brief rest in between. Salma monitored Caeli's condition for almost two hours before she noticed the difference after the next wave of pain roused Caeli.

  "It feels like your fever finally broke. Are you feeling any better?"

  For the last ten minutes Caeli had been awake, she appeared to be free of any strong pain.

  "A little; I wish it was gone for good. I don't know how much more of this I can take," Caeli replied feebly.

  "Hopefully, you won't have to wait much longer. Those tests results will give us some answers by breakfast. Then I will get you fixed up and this will all be a bad memory before you know it," Salma assured her.

  "Do you think I could have another glass of water please?"

  "Sure." Salma refilled the water bottle, and then she helped Caeli sit up and sip at the cool liquid.

  It reminded her of the time that Kent drugged Caeli. The effects of the drug were diminished when she drank water and again when Salma bathed Caeli's arms and face with water. Salma had figured out the solution back then and saved Caeli's life. Now, Caeli again turned to water as a curative. Salma understood that it was more than coincidence; it was part of Caeli's gift.

  "Caeli, since you seem to be doing better, I don’t want to give you any more medicine."

  "Thank goodness. I don't like being forced to sleep like that. It's frightening. Waking up is like trying to crawl out of an oil-coated swimming pool with mittens on your hands and feet. Doing that when you are already in pain is like having a tiger slice out your guts while you're making the climb. It is not a pleasant experience, and I prefer not to repeat it," Caeli replied with a modicum of determination.

  "I know how much you dislike strong medication, but it was necessary. The water you were drinking was countering what I had already given you. I had to give you much more than I normally would have."

  "I understand, but I don't have to like it. Do you think Vin is asleep?" Caeli wondered.

  She missed the comfort of having him at her side. He had always been able to put her at ease no m
atter if she was sick, upset, scared, or otherwise troubled. Vin was always her cure.

  "I hope so. He has to get up soon to go to the levee with Apela," Salma answered.

  "I did promise to help with the levee, but I am going to tell Apela to go without me. You need me here, and Salma is probably going to have you hauled off to a hospital at some point. I want to go along with you."

  Vin had not been sleeping. As he lay on the couch resting his eyes, Vin maintained an open connection to Caeli so that he would know immediately if she needed him. He had been listening to her conversation with Salma, but he responded so that only Caeli heard him this time.

  "Don't do that, Vin. They need your help. This storm is going to be very bad. I can sense it. I will be all right with Salma for a few hours, and you won't be too far away. I already feel much better than I did. Besides, I doubt Salma will even let me out of bed. She will likely have me resting and will hover over me most of the day."

  "That may be true, but saying that you're feeling better after you were hurting so severely still leaves you in a lot of pain. I can feel it, Caeli. And that brings me to another issue. You called for Salma, instead of me, at the arena. I assume that you were trying to keep me from worrying about you again. I appreciate what you were trying to do, but please don't do that again. My heart felt the pain of being crushed in a vice when I saw you in such distress on that floor, especially after the intensity of the pain that Salma described. It nearly knocked her over." Vin gently chastised Caeli out of a deep concern for her.

  "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you, but I didn't call Salma at all. I called you, twice. Salma arrived after the second call. She said you didn't hear me," Caeli answered.

  "Really?"

  "Yes. And when I called both of you earlier, while Salma was out of the room, neither one of you heard me. Salma said my mind must be playing tricks on me; that I am not really calling out. I'm sorry, Vin. I really thought I called you. I did try."