Blessing
In
Disguise
Here's the chapter again.
This chapter is going to be reasonably short. Possibly a two parter, not sure. Depends on the flow.
Moving on.
xxx
Gurgling twisted a stomach relentlessly. A toilet lid flew open. Alliahnna, green a a leaf, threw herself it and vomit erupted. She buried her head inside the toilet, choking and heaving as her stomach muscles tensed. Elizabeth held her hair behind her head, massaging Alliahnna's back at the same time. "There you go...breathe and spit, breathe and spit…" She cooed comfortingly. Alliahnna's hurls halted briefly, letting her catch her breath. Her whole face was green, blue rings under her eyes. Just when she thought she was done, the world spun and back in the toilet she went. Elizabeth moaned woefully for her. This was the fifth time this week, first time for that thursday, Alliahnna has had to make a mad dash to the restroom to regurgitate a breakfast she barely touched.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks - Alliahnna despised the very thought of food. Hearing the word made her want to scream until her voice broke. Monday, she was in the gardens by the fountain and the smell of flowers made her sick. Tuesday, the restroom and water were her best friends. Wednesday to Thursday morning, Elizabeth has been on site to watch over her while Ciel and Sebastian attended a meeting at the Funtom Company. That whole time, Alliahnna hadn't stopped vomiting, and was having a series of violent outbursts for nothing in particular. The servants walking down the hall on the first floor made her explode in a rage. Everything bothered and annoyed her, she can't eat for fear of throwing up - not that starving is helping, and she's scared to leave the house because bathrooms aren't portable. Now, here she is on thursday morning, hair held by her best friend, throwing up water that had lemons in it.
"Easy now! Stand slowly…" Elizabeth lifted her by the arm and shoulder, looping her arm around her neck. She helped Alliahnna to the nearest study and sat her on the couch.
Elizabeth insisted on sending word to Ciel and Sebastian. Just to give them a courtesy heads up about what's going on with her. The more she insisted, the more upset Alliahnna became. "Don't bother with them!" She would snarl. She'd quickly correct herself and say, "Don't bother them!" Elizabeth slyly tried to pry. Afraid something was wrong with her and the boys. Alliahnna caught on to her before he first word left her lips, and shut her down. Elizabeth created three pages worth of notes on her strange behavior. Ciel and Sebastian's too. For some reason they weren't...communicating like they used to. I hope everything's alright.
Agni entered with a tray of hot oatmeal. Honey and mint leaves to help with her stomach. Soma brought a pan of water and rags. Elizabeth heard they were being allowed to stay in the Phantomhive guest house while in England. She had to tell them what was wrong with Alliahnna, praying they'd be able to help. So far, nothing was working. Finnian and Bardroy kept in close proximity in case she needed something right away. Mey-Rin was sorting the foods that made Alliahnna react the least. She was a mess.
"This should help." Agni blew on tiny spoon of oatmeal. Alliahnna choked it down. She's sure it's delicious. But right now it was like swallowing a bullet laced with honey and mint. "How are you feeling?" He placed fingers at her chin. Her skin was sagging. "You look weary."
"I feel weary…" She groaned, lying to the corner. "I want to sleep all day and never move. I feel like I'm getting worse rather than better."
"And lets not forget how you slipped walking upstairs." Mey-Rin threw in. How can Alliahnna forget? She slipped on the first step. "The more we try to help, the worse she seems to feel." Mey-Rin, for an impulse she can't describe, looked at her feet, "And I think her feet are swollen."
"Someone please tell me what's wrong with me!" Alliahnna begged loudly. "Send me a sign!"
"Then I guess it is a good thing I decided to make the trip to England myself." Heads snapped to the doorway. Smiles brightened the room tenfold. Esmeralda kept her promise and made a second trip to England. "Hello, everyone." She giggled.
"ESMERALDA!" Soma, Mey-Rin, and Elizabeth cheered. Mey-Rin and Elizabeth bombarded her with loving hugs.
Soma kissed both her cheeks, happy to see her. "It does my heart good to see you again, Esmeralda!"
"Likewise, Soma. I'm sorry I missed you when I was last here." She entered the room with him. "Agni!"
"Lady Esmeralda…" He kissed her hand. "Wonderful to see you."
"It is." Esmeralda cast a sympathetic stare to the dying Alliahnna.
"Hi there…" Alliahnna groaned, forcing herself to sit up. "Glad you made it." Alliahnna recently read letters from Esmeralda saying she couldn't wait to visit England again. Her previous visit was so short. She wanted to come and see the sights, experience some local cuisine. Alliahnna paid for a fare that she could use at her discretion to ride a ship to their port. She chose the perfect time. "How's Zephyr?"
"Ten times healthier than you, it would seem." She put a hand to Alliahnna's forehead. Warm, but not feverish. The light food, trash bins, water - "Stomach flu?"
"Or something worse…" Alliahnna lied back, feeling another round rising. "What is it when the sweet smell of flowers makes you sick, but dung does absolutely nothing?"
Esmeralda stroked her chin pensively. An aversion to smells. "Are you racing to the bathroom a lot?"
"Yep." Alliahnna moaned.
"Waking up in the morning feeling dizzy?"
"Right again." Elizabeth answered.
"The slightest thought of eating sends you looking for the nearest trash can?"
"It is as if you were there." Soma slapped his hands at his hips. "Do you know what is wrong?"
Esmeralda licked her lips, laughing dryly. "I think so…" The whole room leaned toward her. "But I'd rather a specialist makes a determination." She motioned a hand at the door. A female nurse entered the room. Her short blond hair hid under her cap. Alliahnna and the others gazed at her nervously. "This is Mildred from the local hospital in Paris. She and I became good friends after I had Zephyr. I think she can help you."
"Bonjour, Lady Alliahnna." She curtsied.
"Bonjour…" She nodded back. "Help me with what?"
"We'll see in an hour or so." Esmeralda promised. Mildred nodded confidently, setting up her briefcase to get started. "Let's give them some privacy." She motioned her hands, corralling everyone out the door. Agni comforted Alliahnna with a pat on the leg. He's sure she'll be fine. Soma and Elizabeth resisted the flow, trying to rubberneck and see what was in the case. Once the door closed, Mildred was able to begin working.
"Lady Alliahnna, if I can have you disrobe?" She politely requested, opening the case.
"Why?" Alliahnna unsurely started unbuttoning her shirt. Cream, large cotton swabs, a stethoscope - "What-what is all that for?"
"Relax, My Lady." She cleared the coffee table, cleaning it with a disinfecting wipe. "This will be smooth."
xxx
Five minutes, ten minutes, soon well past a half hour passed before their eyes. Esmeralda passed the time with a novel she's been dying to read. Agni sat by the door, meditating and praying for Alliahnna's good health. Soma and Elizabeth nibbled their nails to the root, pulling at their hair. Mey-Rin, Bardroy, and Finnian paced obsessively. Mr. Tanaka waited idly for that door to open. He's lost half the family he's adored because he was inattentive. He would not make the same mistake with Alliahnna.
The door opened. Everyone shot to their feet, gathering to the exiting nurse. Esmeralda closed her book. Mildred leaned to her ear, whispering inaudibly. Soma, Agni, and Elizabeth strained their hearing, and tried to interpret by Esmeralda's body language and nodding. Esmeralda thanked her and sent her on her way. Mildred bowed to the gaping crowd, strolling casually on her way. Heads exchanged confused stares, not sure at all as to what had happened.
Esmeralda exhaled in a sort of peace, rising to her feet. "That was fun."
"What was?!" Elizabeth gasped. "Is Alliahnna alright?"
"Alliahnna is fine, like I said." Esmeralda reassured her, putting a hand on her shoulder. Soma and Finnian looked like they were going to break down in tears. "Come on. Let's go see her." Esmeralda led. The group stampeded, hungering for answers.
Alliahnna winced, babying her lower extremities as she slipped back into her clothes. "Everything alright?" Esmeralda standardly asked, earning a truculent stare. "I thought so. Wasn' so bad, was it?"
"Depends on what you mean by bad!" She snapped. Huge cotton swab that was. "Well? What'd she say?" Alliahnna pressured her. "And please tell me it was worth the...intrusive prodding?" Soma and Finnian blushed madly. They wondered what the occasional yelping was.
"It was." She assured her.
"Well?" Mey-Rin nagged.
"What's the big secret?!" Bardroy rumbled.
"No secret." Esmeralda sat beside Alliahnna. "Mildred said she'll need to run final tests back at her office, but she's very confident in her diagnosis."
"Then she's not dying?!" Soma whimpered. "Or has an incurable disease?"
"On the contrary. Alliahnna been given a great blessing."
"I don't...understand…" Elizabeth approached, lifting a brow. "How is vomiting a blessing?"
"Her throwing up is morning sickness. She has an aversion to food and is emotional because her hormones are all over the charts." Mey-Rin can attest to that, but failed to see the point. Soma and Bardroy were about to lose their minds if the huge secret isn't divulged in the next two seconds. "The water and everything else is just dehydration from vomiting so often."
"WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH ME?" Alliahnna roared.
Esmeralda laughed heartily, bobbing her hands for Alliahnna to calm down. She thinks she's tortured her friends long enough. Was fun while it lasted. "About...nine months from now...you're going to be a mom." She pat her thighs.
The room went dumbfounded. Beady eyes with dots passing overhead. "I'm sorry...what?" Alliahnna's head plunked sideways.
Esmeralda held her hands, placing them to her heart. "You're pregnant."
To be continued.