Chapter 3
With the rent for the shuttle, Mal sent Wash, Kaylee, and Inara to buy fuel cells and mechanical supplies, he sent Zoë and Jayne to buy protein and some produce, and he sent Simon and River to stock up on some medical supplies that were needed. When everyone was back on the ship, Zoë and Jayne had some great news, they found a job. This job led them to Paradiso and soon they were on their way.
During the sit down meal, everyone kept glancing at the new member Ethan who ate without his wife. Inara kept looking at Mal, in a childlike plea to ask him why she was not there. It was River who spoke up by saying, "Pain ravishes her body which she tries to control," she looked at him and continued, "Bravery and strength goes unnoticed except by those who share a secret, part demon part angel, acceptance is difficult but love is not." And continued eating as if it was nothing while everyone was wondering what she was talking about. Only Ethan understood, but what left him wondering was the acceptance bit. He accepted his wife's secret… didn't he?
"Not you, the world." answered River. How could she know what he was thinking of? He looked at her and she smiled a smile that seemed to look through him. He picked up his empty plate and the plate he made for his wife. He placed the empty one on the tabletop and walked towards the shuttle where his wife was still writhing in pain.
She ate the plate of food and the trouble eased, somewhat, and the red coloring around her irises was less bright and less huge, but still suited her blazing blue eyes.
"What can I do?" asked Ethan, "How can I help?"
"There's so much that you've done already, I don't have anything else which you can help me with, thank you Zuì qīn'ài de." He had done a lot, he decorated the entire shuttle to the point where it seemed as if they've lived there for years, and he brought her a plate of food, lent her his shoulder to cry on, and didn't protest when her nails dug into his skin when the pain increased with each person closing in.
She didn't sleep through the night; the vulnerability of prey had enticed her senses and inflamed her brain. But after that, she was able to walk around the shuttle without feeling the hunger gnawing at her, much. She was able to sit down at a table and sift through some papers; she turned on a small radio to try to drown out her acute senses.
Inara was curious at the stranger's lock down in her room, she remembered her father telling her that if she wanted to enter the shuttle, she had to knock. It was strange for her because she was used to just walking into rooms whenever she liked, but didn't want to face her father's punishments for disobeying. Inara tentatively knocked on the shuttle door but didn't hear anything except the soft and faint music coming from the room. Inara opened the door when her curiosity got the better of her.
When she stepped through the doors and looked around, she was left breathless from the beautiful shades of violet, gold, red, and blues that decorated the shuttle walls and bed. She stared at a painting of a woman and child, hand in hand with their backs turned and the people in the painting looked at the stars which glistened throughout the night sky. As she turned to take in all of the sights harmonized by the soft music, she stopped cold when she met the Velia's eyes.
Her eyes shone a visceral red before she smiled and addressed the small wondering child in her shuttle. "You lost little one?"
"Uhm… I was just wondering when you would join you for meals."
"Don't know yet, probably when I'm in complete control."
"Control of what?" she asked.
"Control of myself," when she saw the little girl was still confused she said, "See, little one, I am very sick and this sickness is in control right now, I can't go outside if I'm sick, can I?"
"No."
"So when I'm better, I can join you and everyone else for meals and the like."
"Ohh… ok," she nodded, believing the half-truth that Velia told her. Inara's eyes fell to a beautiful old doll that had the initials MR on her foot. Velia followed her eyes and smiled when she saw the doll that Inara was looking at.
Velia got up from her chair, took the doll, and handed it to Inara saying, "Here you go, but let me tell you something about her." When she saw Inara's inquisitive look in her eyes, Velia continued, "Her name is Maddison, and she's magic."
"What do you mean?" she asked looking down at the doll in her small hands.
"If you tell her how you feel, she uses her magic to help you feel better. So that when you feel scared, or sad, or mad, she can make you feel happy." She explained, "I don't need her to help me anymore, so I'm giving her to you."
"Xièxiè, Mrs. Hallows." squealed Inara.
"You're very welcome," and as Inara was going out the door to show her mother and father her new doll, Velia told her, "See you soon." And Inara was gone, she could hear her running steps as she yelled, "Mommy, Daddy, look!"