by Rona Go
Gilda stood up and instructed Hugh, "You need to do something!"
Hugh approached the bed and sat beside Xavier. He held out his hand and Xavier reached out for it.
"Promise me something, no matter what happens you will not allow Jonah to seal her fate," Xavier whispered.
"What?" Hugh asked looking at Xavier perplexed.
"Don't deny it. We both love her, Hugh," Xavier said. "You wouldn't want to see her live the kind of life Aunt Gilda does, would you? You will not let her seal her fate, promise me!" Just then, Xavier stood up again. He let go off Hugh's hand and clasped both his hands tightly around his knees, quivering hard. "Hugh!" he muttered painfully.
"Yes, I promise!" Hugh said, enveloping Xavier in a hug. He felt Xavier's body shaking against him. He could sense a faint and dreadful foreboding from Xavier.
In a matter of minutes, Xavier was soaking wet from his own sweat. And when the chills had passed. Xavier slowly lowered his body back to bed, closed his eyes and fell asleep out of exhaustion.
Gilda took Hugh aside and reprimanded him, "I don't know what both of you are playing at. But it will cost you Xavier's life. You are definitely not the healer who had touched him."
"I don't know what you are talking about," Hugh said. "There's no other healer."
Xavier stirred and he awakened again. "I want to see Jonah!" he said dreamily.
"X, go to sleep so that you will regain your strength back," Helen said.
"Jonah!" Xavier said one more time.
"It's the girl?" Gilda said knowingly.
"Jonah is his girlfriend," Hugh said exasperatedly. "Naturally, he will want to be with her!"
Xavier bolted up and began shivering again. He allowed himself to lie on the bed in a curl, his body still trembling uncontrollably.
Helen could no longer help herself and cried. She took Xavier in his arms and held on to her son long after his ordeal was done.
"Hugh, please fetch the girl," Helen said.
"Before you leave, give the habak back to me," Gilda ordered.
Chapter 27
The Guesswork
Jervais has to be there too. Hugh was convinced that Jervais had to come along. He needed to see the amazon not just Jonah. Although, in his mind, he was totally persuaded that the new greatest healer was Jonah, however that happened, no other cover up was better than to have two possible healers at the same time.
Let her do the guesswork… Hugh chuckled within himself.
Hugh had his own guesswork earlier as well. He had been thinking of a way to outsmart Gilda. He figured when Gilda asked for the habak back, she was really intent on finding out if Jonah was the new healer. The problem was he was not sure if he gave Gilda the half that he had the jeweler made or the genuine half.
Hugh did not have time to compare as he split the habak in two again. The resemblance of the markings was very much alike, it was so difficult to tell. In his haste, he just had to eeny, meeny, miny, moe and bet on the half that looked the newest and gave the darker and ancient one to Gilda. That wasn't an easy feat for him. It was like dismantling a bomb and cutting off the blue wire, not really knowing if it will stop the whole thing off or blow it off right in his face.
In this case, the timer was still ticking and Hugh just had to warn Jonah about it. Not that it would make any difference if Gilda got the authentic half, for he had seen how Jonah had reacted to the habak the last time she touched it. Anything can happen to Jonah. In fact, anything worse can happen to her.
Hugh was skeptical whether to ring the bell or not as he stood by the front door of the Blood mansion. He realized he had already wasted so much time and Xavier must be in so much pain.
Hugh was just here a moment ago and it hadn't been a welcoming experience. Being in the house of the once greatest healer with her kin gave him the chills. If it were not for Helen and Xavier, he wouldn't have been here and picking Jonah up, hopefully with Jervais, too.
As it turned out, Hugh did not have to ring the bell. The door opened as a house help carrying two black, bulging trash bags, came out and almost collided with him. They both jumped at the same time.
"Er—" Hugh began, scratching his head and moving his eyes to and fro as he could not really concentrate on a thing. "I came to see Jonah. Is she still up?"
The helper put the bags aside and invited Hugh in. She left him in the living room and then retreated to a wide staircase leading upstairs.
The whole atmosphere was so heavy for Hugh. No matter how well-lit the huge house was, with its emptiness and Brice's urn, the whole place still had the touch of spookiness in the air.
I hope she gets Jonah immediately… Hugh whispered to himself. He couldn't bear to face one of Jonah's siblings. Although, he did not mind facing the amazon because he needed her to accompany them back to Xavier.
Hugh couldn't silence his nerves any more. He stood up and paced back and forth. He was on edge, so ready to scamper with Jonah if she showed up.
But when Jonah appeared followed by the house help, all Hugh could do was foolishly smile at her. And the urgency of his visit vanished momentarily from his thoughts.
We both love her… Hugh recalled Xavier telling him. It was just the kind of wallop he needed to awaken to the reality that he was indeed beginning to feel something really special for Jonah.
"Hugh?" Jonah asked surprised. Although, her brows were raised in a cautious and nervous manner, she was also returning the smile at him. "What's wrong? What brought you here?"
When Hugh's own brows met, he needed not say anything anymore. Jonah seemed to have that knowing that it was about Xavier.
"I'll get my purse," Jonah said.
Hugh grabbed Jonah's arm and stopped her in her tracks. He approached her and came nearer until he was almost whispering in her ear. He had almost forgotten what he was about to say because of the scent of wild flowers coming from her."We—" he stammered. "We need the amazon, too!"
"Why?" Jonah asked looking at him, their nose almost touching. "We are not—Jervais and I still have an issue to fix."
"Until now?" Hugh asked. He got the idea that it had something to do with Jervais preventing Jonah from making the careless move of almost sealing her fate when Brice was almost dying. He could just imagine how Jonah would react if he fulfilled his own promise to Xavier not to let her seal it no matter what. He looked around him for a moment, "I can't explain it here. But we need the amazon."
"Besides, she is not here. She's at the hospital looking after Jemmah. But I can send her a message to follow us," Jonah replied. She grinned at Hugh teasingly, "Stop being mysterious, Hugh! Why do you want Jervais to come along? What's with Jervais—"
"Jervais?" A voice said from above them. It was Jane from the top of the stairs. Without breaking eye contact with Hugh as she came down the stairs step by step, she continued, "Jervais is at the hospital with Jemmah. I am on my way to relieve her now."
Hugh backed away a few feet from Jonah. He was faltering as he averted Jane's gaze and clearing his throat at the same time.
When Jane reached both Hugh and Jonah, she wrapped one arm around Jonah's shoulder protectively and said, "What's wrong? What do you need Jervais for?"
"Jane, there's no more time to explain now!" Jonah said and broke away from Jane's arm. She dashed for the stairs and added, "Just tell Jervais to go directly to X's house. I will be waiting for her there. And Hugh, please wait for me in the car."
Hugh nodded obediently. Without a word, he quickly exited the house and waited for Jonah in his car. He was so glad he didn't have to wait for Jonah inside. He would rather have his blood consumed by mosquitoes and other insects than share the room with Jane Blood. He could not just point his finger on it, but she reminded him of Rebecca Blood in a way.
On the way back to the Lively mansion, Hugh told Jonah about the habak and his sneaking suspicion about Gilda. If it had been possible to drive in circles, Hugh would have done that. And if it were possible for Jonah to walk to and fro,
she would have exactly done it as well. Both did not know whether to stop, go back or proceed to the mansion. However, the car just glided slowly towards their destination as if it had a mind of its own. And the drive had never been so short before, Hugh calculated. It felt like he had just driven to the next house when in fact acreage of land separated both properties.
Hugh stopped the car just in front of the porch. He impulsively reached out for Jonah's hand and squeezed it.
"We know the habak's effect on you," Hugh said. "But no matter what will happen, don't admit to anything."
"Of course! Why would I? I am not the new healer. I did not kill my mother," Jonah replied strongly.
Hugh squeezed Jonah's hand again and blurted out, "That's my—the spirit, girl!" Before any one of them could fathom what he just said and notice that both of them were blushing in the dark, Hugh was swift to get out of the car and Jonah followed.
It was the first time Jonah was able to get inside the Lively mansion. She was not surprised to find that the interior was almost like her own house. The whole neighborhood had been designed exactly the same. Only the ones who were acquired by new owners had contemporary renovations on them. But there were a few, including the Blood and Lively mansions, which still maintained the same design of affluence.
The living room boasted of a high-ceiling of about thirty feet. Although, the antique gold, candelabra-style chandelier had probably never been used much for a decade, the arms were beautifully crafted with clear crystal pendant and matching Capiz shell shades. The grand staircase leading to the second floor was on the right corner. And Jonah was quite sure, the little dark corridors beyond the living room each led to the kitchen and the study just like her own house.
Hugh dragged Jonah to the second landing where Xavier's room was. This is where the difference lay. While Jonah's house had bedrooms occupying the space upstairs, Xavier's place had a huge family space which could be as large as a ballroom floor. The whole package was another ambience altogether. It was like stepping into a cozier home and a fun station, complete with a home theater, shelves full of books, a billiard table, cozy settees and colorful floor cushions everywhere and in one corner was the coolest Wii gadgets and stuff section.
"It's mom's idea," Hugh said, seeing how impressed Jonah was with the whole play room set-up. "She never liked the house. This is where Dad, Mom, X and me mostly spend time together—minus her. I would give you a tour but—"
"I know," Jonah said and followed Hugh as he moved towards Xavier's room.
Xavier's room, Jonah found out, was not a regular boy's room. It was more like a guest room in her own home. Everything was polished and perfect. There was an oil painting of a mother and child in one wall. No sleazy posters of sexy girls. Not even a sports or a car poster. No paraphernalia like a book or a CD or a shirt lying on a chair or anything that could pertain to Xavier. Even the bright-toned colors did not seem to suit Xavier at all.
"This is his idea," Hugh whispered in Jonah's ear.
"No way!" Jonah said looking at Hugh dubiously.
"It looked different before he got sick," Hugh informed Jonah. "But he redesigned it with the weird idea—"
"That I would not be leaving any mark of me at all," Xavier finished the sentence for Hugh beneath the covers. He raised himself up in a sitting position and pulled a pillow to put behind his back. He smiled at Jonah. His face was pale, his eyes were swollen and his lips were slightly cracking.
"X!" Jonah burst out and ran towards Xavier.
"No!" Xavier uttered suddenly. "Stop right there!"
Jonah was already beside him by the bed when she stopped. "What—"
"Just do as I say," Xavier pleaded. "We cannot risk you getting weak because of me."
"So, why in the name did you want me here?" Jonah demanded. She sat on Xavier's bed.
Xavier moved away from her just a little. "I just want you here," he said. "I want you here."
"X, please!" Jonah begged. But she did not dare move towards him anymore. She did not want Xavier to use any more of his energy arguing with her than he needed to.
"Jonah—" Xavier spoke her name slowly, as if tasting its syllables rolling through his tongue. "I beg you. I just want to see you. There's nothing else you need to do. Besides, Dr. Moore dropped by and gave me a very powerful antibiotic I should have already fallen asleep. But I don't know, I wanted to wait until you're here. And now, maybe I can rest." He smiled a little and yawned. He took the pillow behind him and lay his head on it. He did not take his eyes off Jonah, then blinking once… twice… three times… he closed his eyes.
Nervous and with a lot of fearful ideas which were running through her head, Jonah shifted her position so that she was looking down at Xavier.
"X!" Jonah whispered frightfully. There was no reply. Then, she threw Hugh a panic-stricken look.
Hugh instantaneously came forward. He, too, was looking alarmed.
Chapter 28
Kidnapped
Xavier stirred gently as Jonah impetuously placed both her hands on Xavier's chest feeling its slow rising and descending. But Hugh briskly seized them away, pulling Jonah to her feet. However, it was too late. The familiar feeling within Jonah's stomach had smashed through her, coming in harder.
"Woman!" Hugh cried out belligerently. "Can't you not do what you were told? If hands only grow back I could be cutting these off now." He raised both of Jonah's hand which he was grasping with just one of his own and flashed them right in her face.
"This is not the right time to scold me," Jonah told Hugh. She smirked slightly before she keeled over towards him. "X!"
"For goodness sake, what were you thinking? He is fine. He is breathing. He is only asleep," Hugh replied in between gnashing his teeth. He carefully backed Jonah to the wall. With his own weight supporting against hers and one hand around her waist, she was able to stand on her feet. "Think of yourself and the smite." Then, with his other free hand Hugh slowly pressed Jonah's hands down to her wrist at certain points, as if freeing her stuck blood to flow freely through her veins again.
"What now? You're not doing acupressure on me, are you?" Jonah asked feeling the tingling sensation all over her body. With their closeness, she felt Hugh's warmth almost consuming her. His outdoorsy, fresh-fabric scent was even drawing her closer to him and giving back her strength little by little. And as Jonah held on to Hugh with her head against his shoulder, she saw Xavier's smiling face as he sang his favorite song, his bold and vibrant voice, echoing through her head.
"This is all too romantic but you need to fix yourself, Jonah," Hugh urged Jonah gently. "Any moment now, she will arrive! You can't afford to be vulnerable now. You need your strength back."
"You are such a big flirt, Hugh!" Jonah replied. "And a lousy one too!"
"Okay, since we're at it, let's just continue dancing," Hugh said. He swayed Jonah slightly to his right, then to his left. Then, he whirled her around, carrying her on her feet.
It was even perfect timing, as Xavier's voice rang in louder and louder in Jonah's ears. She began to snicker. And hearing her own laughter was also bringing back her alertness.
The door opened and Gilda entered the room. Jonah and Hugh abruptly froze. Both could not see the expression on Gilda's face with the light behind her back. The outline of her body shone brightly especially at the topmost part where a few strands of her white hair escaped her neat coiffure. Coupled with her trademark menthol scent hovering through the air, her daunting presence filled the whole room.
Gilda walked directly to Xavier totally ignoring both Hugh and Jonah who stepped aside. Mumbling to herself, Gilda ran her hand a few inches above his head down to his chest in a blessing.
Without leaving her position by the bed, Gilda turned her head sideways until her bluish-grey eyes rested upon Jonah's face. Gilda said, "You are much younger than I expected. Are you the seventh child?"
Jonah was glued to her place transfixed. She just glanced at Gilda. However, she could not thin
k of anything to say to the woman.
Gilda's eyes had looked glassy all of a sudden. Her eyeballs seemed to leap out of their sockets making Jonah feel Gilda could read the emptiness of her brain and the next word that she was still conjuring to come out of her mouth. It was odd but Jonah could almost feel something deep inside her that could seemingly be magnetized by Gilda like a walk-through metal detector to a pacemaker, not really knowing what effect to expect. Jonah knew that somehow Gilda knew.
"She is the youngest of seven," Hugh answered for Jonah.
As if Gilda did not hear what Hugh had said, she just resumed to assess Jonah with her eyes. "Is my dear boy, Xavier, okay now?" she asked.
Not knowing what to say, Jonah avoided Gilda's eyes and directed her gaze at Xavier, who was already sleeping comfortably and breathing normally. Jonah even detected what to her was an impish grin on his lips.
"He has some color now," replied Hugh. There was a minor change to the color in Xavier's face from the pale tone he had to a soft pink one.
"You must have laid your hands on him," Gilda concluded, addressing Jonah. She shifted her whole body so that she was facing Jonah face to face.
"The antibiotic was probably very strong," Hugh reasoned out.
With a mixture of nervousness and foolishness on Jonah's part, she chortled, only to suppress it instantaneously. "I'm sorry! I —" However, Jonah was not able to finish what she was going to say as Gilda lunged dangerously towards her.
Gilda gripped Jonah's wrist in one hand and pulled it towards her. Then, she took the broken habak and placed it on Jonah's palm. She closed her free hand around Jonah's fist with the belly chain and did not let go.
"This was your mother's," Gilda said. "I ought to return it to your family where it belongs."
Hugh and Jonah held both their breaths waiting for the effect of the belly chain to hit Jonah like a scourge.
