Inevitable Dusk Prologue: Part 3

Prologue

3

“Move out of the way, you jackasses!”

Only a few minutes had passed when Acio returned, barreling along. He gripped the handle of a red wagon that bumped along behind him. Apparently, he had stolen it.

“I’m right here, Bolyern!” Acio called out. “You’ll be okay!” he added, elbowing a passerby in the face.

Bolyern tried to stand but collapsed. He clutched his stomach and clenched his eyes shut.

“I’m right here, man,” Acio repeated, much closer now. He hauled Bolyern up by the armpits and set him down in the wagon.

Acio was nearly two years younger, but he was much taller than his brother—as well as more muscular. Bolyern had always been chubby, but Acio picked him up as easily as if he were a kitten.

“We’re not gonna go to Doctor Ramel,” said Acio. “Too far away. You heard of Doctor Tama? We’re going to her. They said she’s real close, up on Eucalyptus Road. You okay, Bobo?”

All Bolyern was able to answer was a weak, “Mmph.”

“Hold on now,” said Acio. “We’re gonna hurry.”

Acio wasn’t exaggerating. As they raced along, the wind blew back Bolyern’s hair and felt pleasant on his face; it even eased his nausea. Minutes later, they clattered to a stop outside Doctor Tama’s tiny clinic. Acio picked up his brother and cradled him to his chest.

“Doctor Tama!” said Acio. He kicked the door. “Emergency! C’mon!”

A receptionist flung open the door. He was a kid, probably Acio’s age. He ushered in Bolyern and Acio while calling for Doctor Tama. The doctor soon emerged. She had her black hair up in a wispy bun, and there were lines at the corners of her keen eyes.

“Patient’s name?” she said, directing them to a small room with a bed covered in one of those paper sheets.

“Bolyern Alphonse Seward,” said Acio. His voice wavered at “Alphonse,” but then, Father’s very name—and one of Bolyern’s namesakes—always rattled Acio.

Her eyes widened and she did a double take. “Quick, tell me what happened.”

“I don’t know,” said Acio. “I found him at the docks. He’s real sick.”

Bolyern gasped out, “This.” He indicated the paper napkin that held the stained-glass leaf.

Doctor Tama took the napkin and shook it out beside the sink. The leaf clinked on the marble and glittered up at them. She hissed out a breath. Acio reached out to touch the glass leaf, but she slapped his hand away.

“You’re Bolyern’s brother?” she said with mild interest. She possibly hadn’t known Bolyern had a brother. Without waiting for an answer, she said, “Go get your parents.”

“I’m not leaving. Don’t you have a telephone?”

Her gaze slid to the shivering Bolyern. “Yes. In the lobby. I think you should stay out there.”

“Look here, lady—”

Her eyes flashed. “Your brother is very sick. These ‘illness charms’ are going around. I suspect that is what ails him. I’ll have to test it, but the poison—”

Poison. Bolyern had known this, of course, but she was speaking as though he couldn’t hear her.

Acio stomped his feet. “Shut up and help him then, will you?”

Doctor Tama shoved him out the door. “Call your parents.”

“I will, and then I’m coming back in here, you old hag."

She ignored the insult and grabbed Acio’s arm, pulling him close to whisper, “Tell them it’s important. Tell them to take a cab. Your brother might not make it through the night.”

Bolyern could still hear her. And for once, Acio was silent.

Acio waited impatiently, pacing and grumbling. It took Mom and Father over half an hour to reach Doctor Tama’s. They had taken a cab, because Father’s company car did not fare as well on the bumpy roads. They had forgotten to pay the cab, and the driver hounded them into the clinic. Father cursed out the driver and reached into his coat to shove a wad of cash in the man’s face.

“In here, Mr. and Mrs. Seward,” said Doctor Tama. She pursed her lips in a tight line before giving them a quick rundown of the situation, and she showed them the poisoned glass. “He can’t speak,” she said. “Were there any witnesses? Who gave this to him?”

“Witnesses?” said Father, uncomprehendingly.

“Our Almagata,” said Mom. “Quilliard. But he’s missing.”

Father nodded. “That’s right. We were about to send seekers off and—” He shook his head. “It’ll wait. Doctor, what can we do for my son?”

Tears gleamed in the doctor’s eyes. “We can make him comfortable.”

Bolyern lay on the exam table, his clothes piled off to the side. He was covered with a cotton sheet to preserve his modesty, but Doctor Tama lifted it off him to show his family the gravity of the situation.

Bolyern’s entire torso had turned purple. His face, however, was drained of color. His feet were swollen and puffy, and his chest heaved. He was unconscious but groaning and thrashing.

The nurse had started an IV, and Acio watched the bag, drip by drip. Bolyern was too sick to be transported, and Doctor Tama took Mom and Father to the side to talk to them. Too tired and too afraid to listen, Acio kept his gaze on his big brother. As the medicine entered Bolyern’s system, his breathing became gentler, and his body relaxed. Acio relaxed, too. Bolyern would be okay. He would have to be.

~ ~ ~ Acio woke sometime later to the sound of sobbing. He rubbed his eyes and, after his vision cleared, he found Mom, crying over Bolyern.

“Mom?” said Acio. His voice quivered. Trembling, he forced himself to stand. “Mama, what is it?”

Before Mom said it, he knew; Bolyern was dead.

Buy Here to Read More