Love For Hire

It took twice as long to get home from the hospital. Nausea kicked in as soon as they got in the car. It was like the motion was
wreaking havoc on Nicholas. They had to pull over four times to let Nicholas get out so he could get sick on the side of the
highway. By the time they reached the palace, he was so sick and weak that Stephen and Octavius had to carry him from the car
through the house to his room on the third floor.
They got him to bed, and he was out as soon as they laid him on the mattress. Kinsley brought the blanket up and tucked him in
to make him comfortable, although she was not sure he would even notice. He looked dead lying there in the bed.
Kinsley left the room and went to find Naya and Teegan. The three of them would spend the rest of the day planning the
wedding. Nicholas would never notice she was not with him.
***
Nicholas heaved as he knelt over the toilet. He had woken with the sudden need to be violently ill. The muscles of his body
trembled with the strain. “Nicholas,” he heard his brother’s voice and then footsteps as Matthew came into the room. “I see you
are not doing well. I thought I’d come to see if you were awake.”
Nicholas voided his stomach once more and then laid his head on his arm, draped over the edge of the toilet. He heard the water
turn on, and then he heard something clank. Matthew’s hand touched his shoulder and helped him sit up. Then Matthew took his
hands and guided them to the glass he was offering him.
“Here, some water to wash away that nasty taste in your mouth,” Matthew said, his hand gripping Nicholas’ coaxing him to lift the
water to his mouth. The rim of the glass touched his bottom lip, and Nicholas began to drink.
Nicholas made a face. “It tastes weird,” he complained weakly.
“That is just the vomit in your mouth. Keep drinking,” Matthew said as he forcefully tipped the glass, forcing Nicholas to drink
every last drop. “There we go,” he said happily as he took the glass away. Nicholas heard the glass as Matthew placed it on the
counter. “Let’s get you up off the floor,” Matthew said, and Nicholas felt his brother pull his arm around his shoulders as Matthew
snaked one arm around Nicholas’ waist and heaved him up off the floor and onto his weak, unsteady feet. “So, undignified to find
the Crowned Prince on the bathroom floor.”
Matthew helped Nicholas back into bed. He laid back as his brother took hold of his ankles and lifted his feet up onto the
mattress, getting him on the bed fully. Nicholas rolled onto his side, his arms hugging his stomach. He had sharp, burning pains.
The cramping was so intense. It hurt.

Matthew stroked his sweaty hair. “Do not worry, brother. You are not alone. I will be by your side every step of the way.”
***
Naya opened the door to Nicholas’ private room and let herself inside. Dinner would be served soon, and she wanted to see if
her son felt up to coming down or if she should have the staff bring his evening meal up to him. She closed the door and walked
over to the bed where Nicholas lay sleeping soundly. She almost had not the heart to wake him. Maybe she should not. Naya
decided to leave and let him rest.
“Is it time for dinner?” She heard Nicholas ask.
Naya stopped and turned to face him; he still lay there with his eyes closed. “I thought you were asleep. How did you know I was
here?”
Nicholas rolled onto his back and opened his eyes. He stared straight ahead, and she was not sure she would ever get used to
that vacant look in his eyes. “I could smell your perfume,” he confessed.
“Yes, dinner will be served soon. Will you be coming down?”
Nicholas groaned as he sat up in bed and placed his feet on the floor. “I will come down.”
“Will you eat?” She asked.
He shook his head. “Probably not, but I will socialize.”
“Do not come down on our accord. If you want to rest, no one will blame you for not coming to dinner.”
He chuckled. “Every day, I am one day closer to death. So long as I have the strength, I will spend as little time in this bed as
possible. I am going to live what little life I have left,” he then snapped his fingers, and Brutus jumped up from his doggie bed in
the corner and walked over to Nicholas. Naya watched as Nicholas stood up and took hold of the harness bar Brutus wore and
then made his way around the bed to her side. “Now, shall we go down for dinner?”
Naya smiled. She admired her son’s strength and conviction. “Well, then let’s join the others.”
***

Kinsley sat at the table, enjoying her meal, while Naya filled Nicholas in about the plans for the upcoming wedding. She looked
over a few times to see Nicholas looking weary. He had not eaten a thing all day, and if she was, to be honest, his lack of
nourishment was starting to concern her. In the short time, she had known him, Nicholas had lost weight.
While everyone spoke, Kinsley noticed how Nicholas slowly slumped, and his hand went to his stomach. Every once in and while
he’d flinch like he was in pain. His hand went to his stomach, and Nicholas sucked in a sharp painful breath as he leaned
forward. Kinsley placed her hand over the one he still had on the table. “Nicholas, are you alright?” She asked, bringing an end
to the conversation around the table.
“I think... I should go back... to bed.”
“Octavius!” Samuel yelled, and the servant appeared almost instantly. “Please take Nicholas back to his room.”
“I can make it myself,” Nicholas said, standing up. He stepped away from the table, and his knees buckles. Octavius flew across
the room and caught Nicholas as he fell, preventing him from hitting the floor. He hoisted Nicholas back onto his feet with
Nicholas’ arm draped around his shoulder and his arm around Nichola’s waist, keeping him upright. “Then again, maybe a little
support would be acceptable.”
Octavius walked Nicholas out of the room, and Kinsley looked at those still around the table. “I think he is getting worse.”
“Yes,” Samuel agreed. “His health certainly has taken a downward turn.”
Naya tossed her napkin on the table. “We should call Dr. Horton.”
“Darling, I am sure it is just a side effect of the therapy. It is to be expected,” Samuel said, reaching out to take his wife’s hand.
“There is nothing the doctor can do. Nicholas just needs to rest.”