ZACH PART THREE
Zach woke with a start in an unfamiliar room. A heavy blanket secured him snuggly in a strange bed. He struggled to push the blanket off and sit up. Clearly, his mother had put him here and “tucked” him in. She always pulled the blankets too tightly. She meant well.
“Young lord, please lay back down. You are not well.” A woman in nurse garb stood up from a wooden rocking chair and scampered over to him. She tried to place a comforting hand on his tiny shoulder, but she shoved her off. “Please, sir, you must lay back down.”
Zach tried to speak but his throat was so dry. It took him several swallows before he could form any words. “How long?” It was all he could say.
“Five nights, sir.” She picked up a glass from beside his bed and filled it with water from a crystal carafe. “You poor lad, your throat must be parched.”
Zach snatched the glass from her and gulped some water down. Unfortunately, it did not stay down. It spewed from his mouth, soaking the blanket just in front of him. He threw the glass across the room, but it didn’t hit a wall. Instead, it smashed to the floor.
The nanny gasped. “Now, sir, that was uncalled for!” She went to his closet and pulled out a small dustpan and hand broom. Shaking her head, she tsked while cleaning up his mess.
His little eyebrows scrunched together. Why was the water not staying down? He wrapped one hand around his throat. What little water that did soak into it, helped but he was still so very thirsty. What was happening to him?
“Stay in bed until I return.” His nanny rushed out of the room and shut the door behind her. As soon as the door closed, Zach got out of bed. He walked over to the carafe and sniffed its contents. It didn’t smell like anything. It was just water.
He slowly inserted his hand and dipped one finger into the liquid. His stomach churned when he opened his mouth letting a single drop drip onto his tongue. When it hit, he was racked with spasms throughout all his organs.
Zach cried out and hit the floor clutching his stomach. In seconds, the nanny was back with his mother in tow. She ran to her son’s side and knelt. “Oh, Zach! What is wrong?” She wrapped one hand around his upper arm. “Here, baby, let me help you back in bed.”
Reluctantly, Zach let his mother help him. She was the only one who ever truly showed him kindness. Indulging her from time to time couldn’t hurt. “Thank you, mother.”
A small smile spread on her lips. “Of course. Did you need any water?”
He shook his head. “No, Mother. I simply need sleep.”
She tucked him in again just as tightly as before. “Whatever you need, son. Sorina will see to your needs tonight.” She leaned down and kissed his forehead. “You are still warm. I shall send for the doctor tomorrow.”
“No, Mother. I will be fine. I just need rest.”
His mother nodded and left the room. Sorina reclaimed her spot in the rocking chair and began reading from her book. Zach rolled his eyes. It was probably a romance. How disgusting.
It took a while, but Zach finally fell back asleep. He wasn’t sure how long he slept but when he awoke again, it was still night. Sorina was no longer in the rocking chair. Someone else was. It creaked under the person’s weight.
Zach wasn’t afraid even though he knew who it was. He sat up in bed and stared directly at the cold man who’s eyes glowed red in the darkness of his room.
“Hello again, Zach. We have much to discuss.” This was the first night of many, that the cold man visited him.
