Two

December 24, 1994

Dhampirs rarely get sick. Even so, dhampir children, just like human and Moroi children, were prone to many illnesses. Janine didn't know what to do with Rose. Her temperature was high. She couldn't keep anything down. After a day of trying everything she could, Janine took her daughter to the court clinic.

The Moroi woman at the front desk looked at them sympathetically. Janine's clothes and hair were a mess. Rose was wailing and squirming in her arms. "Guardian Hathaway, what seems to be the problem with little Rose?"

"Fever, vomiting." Tears of frustration welled in her eyes. "It's been over a day and I don't know what to do."

The woman stood. "Come this way. Doctor Gregson will be with you in a few minutes."

Janine and Rose were left in the room. Rose was crying, curled in a blanket. Janine began pacing, feeling useless. She didn't hear the door open.

"Guardian Hathaway."

She jumped.

"Sorry to have startled you, Guardian Hathaway."

"It's fine." She looked worriedly from him to her daughter. She told him the symptoms of Rose's illness as he proceeded to examine the little girl.

An hour later, after administering medicine and fluids, Rose was sound asleep.

"She can remain in the clinic for the next twenty-four hours to be monitored, or she can be released with you. Either way, she should be watched."

She watched Rose's sleeping face. Her color was still wrong, but at least she was resting. "I'd rather not wake her. Can I stay here with her?"

"Of course. The chair reclines and I can get a blanket for you."

Even when she was wrapped in the blanket on the recliner, Janine took a long time to fall asleep. She was so afraid. She had never imagined that fearing for her child would be worse than the fear she faced when fighting Strigoi. She felt so powerless here. At least with a Strigoi, she knew the risks. With a child, it seemed the dangers were never ending.