Becoming Calder(81)

I nodded. "Clothes?"

"I have some for you and me."

I stopped with my coffee cup halfway to my lips. "How?"

"I was supposed to burn the clothes from some people who've joined us over the years. I took them and put them under the floorboards." He looked down ashamed.

"For the love of the gods." I laughed. "You have a major problem."

Xander glared at me.

"You're like a squirrel," I said.

"Yeah, damn lucky for you."

I chuckled. It felt so good to laugh a little. It gave me some hope, and made me feel like my old self for a few minutes. Plus, I was on such a high from my night with Eden. Life seemed full of promise, despite my aching legs. I'd taken my punishment like a man and hopefully Hector was done with me. Maybe I was overconfident because of what we'd just gotten away with, but I felt it in my bones this was going to work. I'd sit on a jagged metal mat again if I had to, but by gods, this was going to work.

"What about clothes for Eden?"

"Kristi's going to bring in something of hers for Eden to borrow."

I chewed and swallowed. "We couldn't do any of this without Kristi. Talk about still owing someone in Elysium—"

"Kristi doesn't believe in Elysium."

I smirked. "Good for us." I went serious. "Seriously, though, will you tell her how much we appreciate this?"

"I do. All the time. You can tell her yourself soon enough."

I nodded. "So the only thing we really need is cash."

"Yes. I'll work out the details with Kristi once we're close to having what we'll need."

I nodded and we both ate in silence for a minute. "Hey, Xander. When I was in the cell and Mother Willa came in to tend to me, she said some weird stuff."

Xander rolled his eyes. "She's crazy and senile, Calder. I wouldn't waste too much time trying to interpret her ramblings." He glanced up as the door opened. "Your dad's on his way over here."

I looked back to see my dad walking quickly toward the table where I was sitting with Xander.

"Calder, Maya's had some sort of seizure. She's in the sick tent."

My heart dropped and I stood up quickly, leaving my dishes on the table and following him out the front of the hall. Xander was close behind me.

When we entered the small room, Maya was lying on one of the cots under a heavy blanket. I moved to her side and knelt down on the floor, taking her clammy hand in mine, and moving her bangs out of her eyes. "Maya, I'm here. How are you?" I asked gently.

Her eyes moved to me, but they moved slowly and alarm filled me to see how sick she was. I looked back at my dad and mom, standing at the end of the bed, Mom wringing a handkerchief in her hands.

"How long has she been like this?"

"She seemed to be doing well this morning, just the same cough," my dad said. "She had a seizure . . . and then—"

"Mom, go get Mother Willa," I interrupted.

"Mother Willa? I don't think Maya's in pain."

"Just go get her!" I raised my voice, then closed my eyes momentarily at the look of pain that crossed my mom's features. "Please. Maybe she can do something . . . anything."

My mom nodded, but it was Dad who left the room to go get Mother Willa.

Fifteen minutes later, Mother Willa entered the small room where we all waited; I was still holding Maya's hand. She moved to the bedside and stood there, simply looking down at Maya, sadness on her face.

"This child was never long for this world," she finally said.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I demanded. "We don't need your predictions; we need your help. What can you do for her?"

Mother Willa met my eyes. "There's nothing I can do for her, boy. Her heart is weak. It always has been. You're lucky you've had her for as long as you have."

I groaned. I felt stunned and helpless. How had this come on so suddenly? Was I not paying enough attention? Was I too caught up in my own world, focused on my own needs and desires, every waking thought on Eden?

"Move aside," Mother Willa said. "I can at least make the child more comfortable."

"She's not a child. Are you in pain, Maya?" I asked, my voice sounding extra gritty. I cleared my throat.

Maya's eyes met mine and she shook her head, no. "I just feel sleepy," she said, blinking her eyes in an effort to keep them open.

Mother Willa put her hand on her own chest and looked up as she inhaled a breath. Then she put her hand on Maya's chest. "Not enough air," she finally said. "Because of the heart. She will simply fall asleep."

I relaxed a little. "She just needs to sleep and she'll be better?"

Mother Willa shook her head, sadness in her expression. That sadness enraged me and made me feel even more desperate. I pulled her arm gently and she followed me a little way from Maya's bed, as my parents took my place at Maya's bedside.