Chapter Four: Daemon

Wyn's P.O.V.

When I woke up, I assumed it was still the same day. Which, it was. Leareth was sitting next

to my bed playing a happy tune on a recorder. It wasn't exactly merry, because you didn't have the

urge to get up and dance around like a drunken merry fool, but it wasn't precisely a love song. It

was slow and graceful, but happy. Like a lullaby. I found myself smiling, and having happy daydreams

and memories of Daemon. I hardly moved so as not to disturb the wonderful, peaceful music. Eventually,

though, the song ended and I sighed contentedly.

"Like it?"

"Love it."

"That one is a well known one. Sun and Shadow."

"Oh yeah, that one, from the Talia books..." I yawned.

"Still want to go to Moonstone Fortress?"

"I'd love to, if I wasn't so...sleepy...why am I...so..." I yawned between almost every word.

"Sleepy." I closed my eyes, and I saw Daemon lying in his bed, sweating furiously, all red in the face,

blankets piled on top of him, thermometer on the table beside him. It wasn't his room. He was saying

something. I couldn't quite make out what it was.

Wynter-Wynter-Wynter-

He was calling me. Me. I opened my eyes slowly.

"He's...sick....too sick..."

"Yes lovey, he's sick. Very sick. He's been struck by the Sweating Sickness. There was a

cure for it long ago, but it is no longer for no one has had it in over 1000 years. He's been struck.

He will not live."

"NO!" not now. Not when I couldn't be by him. Not when I couldn't comfort him in his misery.

"No, not now. Why now?"

"I'm sorry. But it's the way of the world. He has to."

"He's calling to me. He needs me. I have to get to him. I have to. You understand, right?"

"If you go, you can never come back. You would end our hope. It's either save one life, or

save many. What way do you choose?"

"Let me think for a while."

"Okay, that's alright."

"How long has he had it?"

"He got it the day you left. Mere hours after, you came here, 1 hour later, he's in the

hospital. Sick as a dog."

"How long does he have to live?"

"The doctors say a few months, He has exactly one and a half years to live."

"Oh, what on Haven and Earth am I going to doooooo!"

"I don't know. But you need to choose."

"Choose what?"

"Never mind...later. It's time to see Daemon. Silas!" Silas was there in a matter of seconds.

"Yes, love of my life?"

"Don't flatter me. Isn't it time to see Daemon?"

"Great Gods! It is. You coming too, Wynter?"

"Yes." and then, under my breath to Leareth, "when did he get so jumpy?" she chuckled.

"Later."

"Come along, come on." he left and I had to sprint just slightly, to catch up to him.

"So...how do you do this?" I asked.

"Oh, just some magic. You believe in it right? You have to believe to create."

"Of course. If I didn't believe in magic, how the hell would I have gotten this far?"

"Brilliant! You're absolutely right! How indeed..."

"What happened to the Silas I got when I first got here?"

"Oh, that was me worried sick. Cuz Daemon was sick...and I'm still worried, but I also had you

to deal with which made things worse, cuz Daemon was expecting the worse for you, darn near right,

also... this is the normal me."

"Like the normal Daemon..."

"Now don't you go gettin to attached to me. You need someone closer to your age. Some one

like Daemon."

"Really?"

"Positive. Here, step in here and...." moments later, I was at the foot of Daemon's hospital

bed. He looked up and I nearly choked on a sob, he looked so awful.

"Wyn..." his voice was raspy and horse. "You came. You came when I called. Are you alright?"

"Better then you. How do you feel?"

"Like Hell. The Hell. Wyn, I know you can do something...I don't know what it is...but I've been

having dreams. You do something and I'm all better. And we're together. Forever." I was on the brink of tears.

But as I always did, I held them back. Silas touched my shoulder.

"It's okay, your father can't know."

"I've grown to used to it though, it's a reflex."

"But-"

"Silas." Daemon croaked. "If she doesn't want to cry, she doesn't damn have to. It's okay."

I kneeled at the foot of the bed and crawled over to his head and sat down.

"Daemon..." I murmured. He reached up and attempted to stroke my cheek, but his hand went right through.

"Daemon..."

"Hm?"

"I got your note card." he smiled faintly.

"So?"

"I love you too."

"Thank you." then he dropped off to a fevered sleep.

"Wynter...time to go." slowly and reluctantly, I stood and walked back over to Silas and touched his arm.

Again, moments later, we were back in the room. I walked out silently. I walked to my room where Leareth was waiting.

"Leareth, what is the cure for the Sweating Sickness?"

"Th-there never was one cure. It was different for every person. And none of the normal things would have worked anyway."

"DAMN! DAMN IT ALL TO HELL!" I flung myself on my bed and willed myself to cry. The tears just wouldn't come. So I lay there,

curtains surrounding my bed were closed. I faced towards Leareth's shadow. She peeked her head in.

"Why is it you don't cry?"

"I told myself not to cry enough times that I just stopped. And I haven't been able to since my 5th birthday."

"Really? That young? How?"

"On my birthday, my dad slapped me hard across the face. And I just stood there. Didn't so much as blink. That infuriates him.

I find it quite fun."

"So now you can't cry even if you wanted to?"

"I've just tried. Nothing. Not so much as a runny nose even. I wish I could right now. Just sit here and sob my heart out for Daemon,

for me..."

"Why you?"

"I don't know...just because. I'm hungry."

"You should be. Jillan! Lunch please." a maid walked in, nodded and left. She returned a few minutes later with a hunk of cheese, a loaf

of bread and some cider in a pitcher. She set them on the table, then left.

Leareth wacked off a piece of cheese, broke off a piece of bread, and poured a cup of cider and handed them to me. I munched at them thoughtfully.

"Well, what were some of the cures?"

"Oh simple things. Sometimes it was just pile enough blankets on em, few days later, fine. Or, thrown in the snow, cold water...usually just the

way you would treat a fever. He's much worse. Those few who had it that bad, never lived."

"No, no no no no no. I will find a way to help Daemon. But first, I have a request."

"Name it."

"I want to know how I can see Daemon. How does Silas do it?"

"I was afraid you ask of that. Ask Silas. I don't know."

"He said it was magic. Nothing more."

"I'll speak to him." she smiled.

"Thanks." again, I felt very sleepy, very suddenly. I've got to find out what and how they do that...

was the last thing I thought before I fell asleep.

The next day, Silas greeted me after I got ready for the day.

"I have something to show you." was all he said.