"Now, take a deep breath in," Sir Khan whispered as he did it himself. A long pause later, he said, "And one long breath out."

Sir Khan guided James through his reiki session. The latter sat on the red velvet sofa with his eyes closed, breathing deeply. The former spread his hands towards James with a serious look on his face.

Then, Sir Khan's fingers shot up into the air. They drew imaginary symbols with decisive, fast strokes. "Cho Ku Rei," he whispered repeatedly.

I was curious as to how that worked—if it did. It certainly had a charming effect on me, causing a tingling and warm sensation in me while I watched.

It stopped snowing, and it started raining. The gentle melody of the falling water over the leaves and wood outside created an alluring backdrop.

"Dai Ko Myo," he whispered as he drew a different symbol with steady fingers.

I made a mental note to ask him to teach me, but I had to focus on the task at hand: revising the fifty or so case files from patients with multiple sclerosis and other degenerative illnesses that Sir Khan had kindly let me borrow on his computer.

I turned my face forward. Sitting in front of a large screen, I opened every single report, scanning, bloodwork file, and the like. I was used to such a reading task when I worked in Mercy Hospital, back in Purple Rock.

I sighed and clenched my teeth when I reached halfway through the patients' files since I couldn't find what I was looking for: a pattern to justify the differences between the regular, good old sclerosis and other degenerative illnesses, and the pandemic striking my home colony.

Why did all the data show barely any differences besides the speed at which the symptoms appeared and killed the patient? Not to mention the alarming skyrocketing numbers.

Sir Khan's melodious, serene voice stole my concentration when he whispered to James, "Now that the symbols are in place all over your chakras, tell me, son: what ails you?"

I tried to block their voices out of my head. Concentration was key.

Besides, James' issues weren't meant for me to hear, I guessed.

"My health, bullies, my father, as usual. Nothing changes." His whispers were lower than Sir Khan's to the point I could barely hear him. His trance-like state caused his sentences to be shorter and incomplete sometimes. "Vanes... sa."

Oh. Vanessa? Who was that woman?

Anyway, I shouldn't be listening in. I glued my eyes to the screen as I put on my small headphones.

After I put on some instrumental music at a low volume, I made an online search for how things were going in Purple Rock. My frown deepened when I read the latest news in the most popular newspaper there: cases were rising to 56% of the population.

Besides the increasing numbers, which sickened my body and soul, all tourist-related businesses were shutting down. Of course, tourists didn't want to get infected.

An economic disaster was only one of the first pieces to fall in that large-scale domino effect. Would the colony get quarantined? If so, I would not be able to go back and save my father.

I swallowed hard. I had to concentrate and give it my best shot, since I only had a couple of months left until my deal with my father would expire.

Furrowing my brow at the screen as I read the rest of the patients' files, I jotted down some quick notes in a notebook I had brought with me since I went on that quest. Many patients who had taken turmeric and honeysuckle together for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties had experienced some improvement.

Some others had taken ginseng and reported many benefits. They could combat fatigue and increase energy levels. They also improved memory and attention. It also has got anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, neutralising harmful free radicals in the body. Some studies proposed that ginseng had immune-boosting properties, helping the body resist infections.

That was great! So, ginseng must have stimulated their central nervous systems as well as helped them combat any aggression from the illness on their immune systems. Now, we were getting somewhere! I needed more herbs and combinations of them that showed improvement in those areas.

A shrill, bell-like sound collided with the gentle melody flowing into my ears. I was so knee-deep into the issue that Sir Khan's singing bowl startled me.

"Everything alright, Miss Tan?" he asked.

I turned to him, taking off my headphones for just a moment. "Yeah, sure." I flashed a smile and went back to work.

I would not crack the code to a cure in a day, so I decided to stretch my body and have a look at James' files.

If only I could make him happy by solving that issue for him!

Opening the imaging done to his spine the day of the accident—a CT scan and an MRI—I could tell that their medical tech had been far behind ours, in Purple Rock. It was like watching an old show on television. The quality of the images was much lower.

Those were roughly taken two years prior. There was a newer set of images of the same type, but taken a year ago, which didn't show any significant changes. Healer Lee's last report hinted at the near impossible chances that James might've been able to walk again.

My hand reached for the cursor to inspect whether any other files could be there to provide a more exhaustive analysis, but none were available.

"That's weird," I whispered.

I caught Sir Khan's and James' attention even though I didn't mean to. "What is?" Sir Khan asked.

I turned my face to them, locking my gaze with theirs.

"Oh, I'm sorry if I interrupted you," I was quick to say. "I was wondering why healer Lee didn't require more tests from you, James."

"He said he had done all he could do and told me to do rehab. That was it," James said. "I've been stuck there ever since."

"Didn't he mention the possibility of performing a myelography?" I asked, raising an eyebrow with incredulity.

He raised an eyebrow and sat up. "No. What's that?"

"Myelography involves injecting a contrast dye into the spinal canal, followed by X-rays or CT scans. This technique can highlight the spinal cord and nerve roots, making it useful for detecting abnormalities in the spinal canal. Besides that, I suggest performing an electromyography and nerve conduction study. It can be used to assess nerve function. It involves measuring the electrical activity of muscles and nerves and may be employed to evaluate the extent of nerve damage associated with a spinal cord injury. Before giving the patient any verdict, one should exhaust all diagnostic options first. He didn't."

"I don't speak doctor or healer, but I understand that these tests could confirm my lesion... or allow you to see a way to help me."

"I want to speak to your healer and reprimand him," I said with a grunt. "How dare he confirm such a condition without a myelography, an electromyography, and a nerve study?!"

"Now, let's not get heated up, young lady," Sir Khan said. "We do have the technology to perform those, but I strongly suggest approaching healer Lee with an open mind and understanding."

"I know." I sighed. Sir Khan reminded me of my father. "I can be a little hot-headed sometimes."

"Well, now that the reiki session is over," Sir Khan said, "why don't we go back to your home, James? I'm sure that this young lady needs some rest after so much work."

"It's not my home," James replied in a warning tone. "I used to have one when I got a job and moved out, but my father forced me to go back."

Sir Khan sighed. "He's worried about you."

"There's nothing to worry about," James insisted with a glare. "If anything, going back only makes my life more miserable."

I bit my lower lip. Living under the same roof as a person who pitied him and another who had hated him ever since he was born must've been exhausting and demoralising.

"I could take some fresh air, but I'm not really tired," I said, trying to brighten the mood. "We could do some sightseeing, if you're in the mood, James."

James clenched his teeth as he stared at me.

"What? You don't want to go out because you might meet some bullies?" I asked in a defiant mood. "I'll show them how we do things in Purple Rock."

He shook his head.

I knew that kind of reaction. "Are you apprehensive about being defended by a woman?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, it's not that."

I softly inclined my head to one side, waiting for an answer.

"It's raining," he said. "Why not leave it for some other time?"

I nodded, but I was sure there would be no other time. I understood why, but he honestly didn't think he could hide forever, right?

Sir Khan sighed deeply. "James, I'm gonna talk with your father about this issue. Will you come?"

"Fine," James said in a raspy, low voice.

As I stood up, so did Sir Khan. When I turned, I bumped into someone. Strands of long hazel hair floated around me. A pair of green eyes found mine.

"I'm awfully sorry!" a young woman said as if she felt silly. "I wasn't looking. I'm sorry, m'lady."

"Oh, I'm sorry too," I replied with a smile, which she returned.

"Mia Tan, this is my cleaning maid, Rosa Biene," Sir Khan said. "Rosa, this is Mia Tan, a healer from Purple Rock."

"It would be best to hide my true identity as much as possible, Sir Khan," I said.

"Oh, sure. But Rosa is the most trustworthy person you can find here, I promise, young lady... although she is a prostitute."

What?!

"Nice to meet you, Miss Tan," she said with a curtsey.

"Please, don't. I don't belong to the nobility," I said. "Nice to meet you too, Rosa."

"Sir Khan, I've told you a million times," Rosa told him. "I'm not a whore. I'm bisexual and I don't believe in traditional marriage. It's like owning a person."

Sir Khan sighed. "These young people today..."

"I see. In Purple Rock, many youngsters are like you, too," I said.

"Cool!" Rosa's eyes widened. "It's nice to have someone who finally understands. Traditional men and women usually shun us, free spirits, here."

"I don't treat people differently for any reason." I smiled at her.

"You must be either a saint or extremely naïve. Which is it?" Rosa asked as she raised one of her lush eyebrows.

"Neither."

"Good to know." She winked at me with a cheeky smirk.

What an interesting new acquaintance I had just made! I was comfortable with her, as if we had been friends for long.

"You got a nice waist, hips and... tush—please, excuse my language," Rosa said as she indecently stared at my physical attributes. "I'm not coy at all and I don't beat about the bush. Would you like to–"

"Rosa, don't," Sir Khan warned her.

Rosa eyed his employer with an amused look. Then, she turned to me and said, "If you ever wanna see me, just come to the pub round the corner, down the street. I live there."

To be honest, I didn't believe she wasn't a prostitute. Those golden earrings with emeralds must've been quite expensive—just like the necklace, made with the same materials. Her dress was of fine orange silk. Who would wear those when going to clean a nobleman's home? She was making some money on the side—and the pub might just be a brothel, possibly.

"Anyway, Rosa," Sir Khan said, "may I count on you being discrete as regards Miss Tan's identity and colony of origin?"

She nodded. "Sure, no problem. But why?"

Sir Khan took some air in and said with mild hesitation, "She's... a special guest of the Lord Commander."

I hoped that white lie would be enough to sate her curiosity—at least for the time being.

OOO

Later that evening, the Lord Commander's home staff summoned us all to have dinner. James and I arrived right after the Lord Commander himself.

He motioned us to sit beside him on a long table.

The dining table was a pinnacle of opulence. It was adorned with an expensive tablecloth boasting intricate embroiderings. Silver cutlery gleamed under the soft glow of the chandeliers. Bohemian glass wine cups awaited the nectar of Chateau Excellence, a superb and expensive wine that the Lord Commander savoured.

Centrepieces of champagne-pink roses graced the table, their petals unfolding like whispers of luxury, while the ambient light danced off the flickering flames of meticulously arranged candles.

James wheeled his way to the Lord Commander's left. They exchanged a nod while I neared the seat next to James.

"May I sit here, my lord?" I asked.

He nodded.

"Now this is a nice surprise," a cheeky male voice said from behind my back.

I turned immediately to see who spoke. A tall young man stood right behind James and I. His spiky and dishevelled, blond hair and naughty smirk gave him the air of a troublemaker.

"Thiago Hernández, the only son of a friend of my father's from New Paris," James told me. "He's staying with us in Two Dawns to finish his postgraduate course on how to be the perfect jerk."

Thiago chuckled. The way he scanned my entire body from top to bottom made me shiver. His eyes burnt my clothes with excessive attention, corroding my intimacy with lust as he softly bit the tip of his tongue with his pearly white teeth.

I sat in my designated seat.

Patrick came in. When his eyes landed on Thiago's pose and smirk, he said with a glare, "Don't get your hopes high. She's not for you." He walked fast to the Lord Commander's right. "She's not like Rosa or the other girls."

Wait. Rosa?

"What can you possibly mean by that?" Thiago asked with sarcasm.

Then, he got closer to me and swiftly cupped my chin. "She is gorgeous like no other, especially with this blue hair." His voice became a ruthless whisper as he went on, "She looks scared of me already. I love that."

As he towered over me, his face came closer and closer to mine, sending a reeking wave of cheap alcohol my way.

I was about to slap him when a firm, male hand grabbed Thiago's wrist. A husky, growl-like voice which sent a shiver down my spine said, "Don't you dare."

When my eyes travelled up that arm and met James', I saw a starving wolf with blood-shot scleras, hungry for trouble.

Helly, my sugar cubes!

Stay tuned to witness Thiago's cockiness and James' protective mode! 😉

XOXO

Mar