“He’s awake!”

Ehren barely registered Mavi’s statement. In fact, little of what had been said had registered with him after Akira had told them she was dying. She was at peace with her death too, but he was not. Her death would break him, much like Terra’s had if not worse. When a keening wail reached his ears he snapped back to reality. He looked up from the floor and glanced around the room. Everyone else seemed to have heard it too but were unsure what to do. When the caterwauling renewed, Ehren stood hastily and dashed to Askel’s room. What he found was both of the Eames on the floor. Askel had his arms wrapped around his sister who was sobbing hysterically.

“How is this possible?” Ehren asked the boy.

“I don’t know,” Askel replied quietly stroking Akira’s hair. “Please, come lift her onto the bed. She’s so weak.”

“How do you know she’s weak?”

“I can feel the curse,” Askel whispered. “It’s so strong. And she’s so tired of fighting. She doesn’t want to fight anymore. That’s all she’s ever done is fight. She can’t fight anymore, Ehren. Don’t make her fight anymore, please. I know it may kill us both, but we have to tell her it’s ok for her to stop fighting it. It’s ok for her to let go.”

Silent tears made their way down Askel’s face. Ehren didn’t know what to tell him. He wanted Akira to continue fighting but she couldn’t fight forever. He didn’t want to let her go but if Askel was right, he would have to. Ehren sighed and stooped to scoop Akira into his arms. It was only once she was in his arms that he noticed how light she had become. He glanced at Askel in concern.

“She can’t keep much down,” Askel told him.

Ehren raised his eyebrows in disbelief.

“The curse is making her physically sick,” Askel answered his unasked question. “It’s like she’s on chemotherapy or something similar.”

They fell silent as Ehren moved her to the bed. She was still sobbing but it had finally subsided to quiet sobs as opposed to the caterwauling that had brought everyone to the room in the first place.

“Is there nothing to be done?” Ehren asked the other occupants of the room.

No one said a word. Ehren turned to face them.

“Is there really nothing to be done?” he asked again. “Even if only to make her comfortable. Please, there must be something you can do for her.”