CHAPTER SIX
So sorry about the insanely long delay, I was busy with a few school projects and stuff. But I'm going to update faster now.
The waiter brings along a lingering silence that stretches out and wraps itself around them leaving no room to breathe. His perky smile wears out with the tick of the clock but neither woman looks away from the other. He tilts his head and turns away. Myka moves to hold Helena's hand but she pulls it away.
Helena's breathing is controlled. Her posture is constrained. Her face is blank.
Cancer?
Her mind is still processing what this means. Surely, Myka is exaggerating the prognosis. It can't possibly be that bad. She just saw her. Helena pauses to think how long it has been since their last meeting. She can't quite pinpoint the time frame but she is sure it hasn't been all that long and Myka seemed perfectly alright then. But then again Myka seems perfect even now, besides the telltale signs of a hangover and a late night out. And the circles beneath her eyes. And the pale color of her skin just slight enough that she had not noticed it before now. And the tremor in her hand when she flexes it open and close. And her clothes already hanging looser. It shouldn't be happening so soon.
It is Myka who breaks the stillness. She gets up and gestures for Helena to follow. Once they are outside alone in the parking lot with the sun scathing and high in the sky Myka takes Helena's hand and pushes her up against her car.
"I love you, Helena" Myka entangles her fingers with Helena's.
Despite the shock of it all Helena moves in and kisses her. It has been so long since she has tasted those lips but she hasn't forgotten. Her hands make their way to Myka's waist, her back and then Myka pulls away. Helena pauses stunned. Was this some ruse?
"We are not doing this in a parking lot,"
Helena nods.
They get into Myka's car. The road to the hotel isn't really all that long but Helena has a lot on her mind. She has lost her sense of time as the overwhelming feeling of impending doom finally comes crashing in.
"Are you dying, Myka?" Her words are a whisper, unsure if they want an answer.
The car comes to a halt at the red light.
"Aren't we all?" Myka chuckles half-heartedly.
Helena doesn't take her eyes away from the woman in the driving seat. Myka tries to ignore the stare but fails.
"Yes," her voice is raspy filled with unshed tears "I'm dying"
Helena doesn't miss a beat. "Then we are going to the Warehouse"
The light turns green but Myka doesn't press down on the paddle. She wasn't looking to be saved; she just wants to make the most of what she has left. The horns blare from the cars trying to overtake her but Myka remains still.
Myka is the only one sitting the hotel room with three pacing people.
She watches Pete switch between talking to Claudia and whispering with Helena. It seems her infliction has brought those two closer. At least it's doing something besides eating away at her insides.
Claudia nods at Pete and types something into her phone then looks out the window for a while. She seems lost. Afraid. Myka hasn't talked to her yet. All she knows is what she has overheard and what Pete has filled her in on.
Helena discusses options with Pete and debates the merits and drawbacks of different artifacts with Claudia. She leaves the room in frustration and when she returns Myka can see the bruise on her left knuckles.
They all ignore her; pretend that is she isn't in the room. This is what she was afraid of. She never wanted to be the victim and yet here she is sitting, waiting patiently.
When their pacing and whispering takes its toll Myka claps her hands together loudly. She has their attention.
"I am here you know,"
They all wait for her to continue.
"I didn't tell anyone because I didn't want this. This is exactly what I was afraid of. You are acting like the world is ending but it isn't. We've already seen that quite a few times, some of us have even caused it," she looks at Helena who's cheeks turn red "and this isn't what it looks like. There is nothing to be done. I want to spend the time I have left with you and my family and not like this on a perpetual wild goose chase. There is no wild goose," Myka doesn't hold back the tears streaming down her cheeks. "I will die and I will die soon"
Pete turns away. His eyes are red and Myka's words have confirmed all his worst fears. There is no cure.
Claudia had hoped that it wasn't as bad as she had assumed but this was it. The woman she had looked up to and confided in for so long was fading and there was nothing they could think of to save her.
Helena shook her head. "No, we have to go to the Warehouse. We will talk to Arthur, Mrs. Fredrick even the Regents if need be but I am not losing you. I am not going to let you die on me. We will get your medical records and Dr. Calder with take a look at them and see what she can do. In the mean time, we will all search for an artifact that can help and you can go talk to your parents and your sister. And once you are back you will keep fighting until we find you a cure"
You can expect the next update within the week. Sorry again for taking ages.