Chapter 5
Rapunzel paced anxiously in the doctor's office. She needed to get Soley to talk to her but she wasn't sure how, short of standing out in the moonlight and attempting to heal someone. Needless to say, they did not need to add to their troubles and there had to be a better way.
"You're making me dizzy," Doctor Lebowitz said. He'd finally come around a few minutes ago and now was trying to get the pain in head to quiet down.
"Sorry," the Princess apologized and sat down. She immediately stood back up when Doctor Caldwell exited the private room where the kitchen staffer was being kept apart from the others.
"How is he?" She asked.
"Well he's better but I fear he doesn't have much time left. He's breathing is labored and he keeps fading in and out of consciousness," the doctor shook his head.
"What about the leeches? Have they given any clues?" Eugene wanted to know.
"Well whatever has infected the humans, kills the leeches," Caldwell shook his head again.
"Which means that in all likelihood, the illness will eventually kill those that are infected," Lebowitz shook his head this time.
"What are our options?" Rapunzel asked.
"Well I think the first thing we must do is assume our burn victim to be patient zero. He appears to have had it the longest, as his system seems to be suffering from the shock of the burns worse than most burn victims I've seen," Caldwell said.
"He gets it, passes it to my father, and then he passes it to the guard. Ok but that doesn't explain how his wife is immune," Rapunzel pointed out.
"It's quite possible she does have it. I've had her contained to their quarters on the palace grounds. She may not have any outward symptoms but that doesn't mean she couldn't spread it," Caldwell let them know.
"He's right. She could be the epicenter of this," Lebowitz nodded and immediately regretted it as the pain returned to his head.
"Then we get to know everything about them. Research their every move since birth if necessary," Eugene suggested.
"A wise course of action, Prince Consort Fitzherbert," Caldwell smiled.
"Hey I'm not just another pretty face," the former thief smirked.
"No you're my pretty face and you're coming with me," Rapunzel grabbed his arm and they headed toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Lebowitz asked.
"To tell my mother. Get the guards to sniff out what they can about this couple," she replied as the two exited the office.
"Are we really going to see your mom?" Eugene wondered, knowing that look on her face.
"You are. I'm heading down to the water. I might have an old friend who I can contact," she winked and he nodded. Placing a quick kiss on her lips, he dashed off to find the Queen while Rapunzel headed over to the former secret tunnel entrance. She didn't have any idea how to contact Soley's brother, Oseyan, but she figured going for a swim couldn't hurt. She slipped through the castle with ease as most of the staff had returned home and the guards were few and far between.
Slipping outside, she went under the large tree near the water's edge. She dipped her toes into the icy water and a shiver went up her spine. Here goes nothing, Rapunzel heaved a deep breath and slowly walked out into the water. Suddenly bubbles started to form on the surface and she didn't know if she should run or hold her ground. Something brushed up against her leg and she did all she could to hold in her scream. Then something tugged on her leg and in an instant she was sucked below the surface.
To Be Continued…