The Seahorse and the Spice 🪼🎩✔

8: Children

Salem
I opened my eyes and looked around the room. I sat up and looked down at my stomach. I didn't believe them when I overheard them talking about the way I looked but as I looked down at my distended stomach that looked like I swallowed a pumpkin whole, I guess I would have to agree. I reached up and touched it, sending shivers all over my body because my hand was cold. I noticed that the fire was no longer burning like usual and my body ached all over. I reached up to scratch at something on my chin when I felt something that wasn't there before. I touched it with my fingers and was horrified to know that it was some sort of sore. I checked my arms and there were some there as well and even some on my stomach and legs.
Speaking of legs, looking at my right leg, I could see it was bandaged nicely. I wiggled my toes to make sure I still had feeling and I did, though it made my calf hurt from the cut. I looked around, unsure of what I wanted to do. If they were in my mansion, then that means that they've probably seen me with this stomach and even Andrew saw it. I shuddered at thinking about what might have happened then.
I suddenly heard something in my room and sat up straighter, looking around and listening. I heard some tiny laughter and gripped the sheets, afraid it was a ghost. Maids have told tales of strange happenings that go about the house... not that I was actually "afraid" per se, but a specter...
"Rah!"
"AAAAAHHHHH!!!!"
A child's laughter rang through the room and I looked around in a panic, trying to find out where the noise came from.
"What's wrong?!" a young man with fiery red hair said as he opened the door quickly.
"Ther- There's a ghost in my room!" I yelled.
The young man made a face and then I heard an 'oomph' sound as he bent over and looked like he was holding something.
"I'm so sorry, Duke Barma, my little brother got in here without my knowledge."
"Is your brother a specter, boy?" I snarled, putting my hand over my heart. "I nearly died of fright!"
"No, sir, he's just invisible. I don't know why he's even in your room... I'll just take him away."
The ginger walked toward the door when a child's face appeared suddenly and smiled at me.
"Boy! There's a child appearing on your shoulder!" I said, pointing.
The ginger turned to me and made a face, pulling something back and then he frowned.
"Xerxes, this is no time to be funny."
"But he's a funny person!" a young voice said with a giggle.
"That might be true but he's a duke and Mum has to look after him. If you keep scaring him he'll never be better."
"Excuse me, hellions, but I'm right here and can hear every word you say." I growled.
The young man looked at me with a very angry looking stare and walked out, slamming the door. I made a face at the closed door and looked around at my room. I felt like it had been years since I had seen it. I wonder how long I've been asleep? Well... asleep isn't exactly the word I want to use for what happened to me. I guess it would be more like how long have I been delirious?
The door opened again and that spicy maid that was my personal maid for all of five minutes walked in, pulling a tray.
"Good morning, Duke Barma, how do you feel?"
"Exposed, disgusting, and sluggish. Maid, what has happened to me? Why am I like this?"
"First of all, my name is Minerva, not 'maid'. Second of all, none of this is my fault. This is because you're an ass and a pretentious idiot... plus, an obnoxious cad."
I made a face. "Have you quite finished?"
"No. I find you repulsive and a disgusting human being... I'm done now."
"Now that that's been established, explain this."
"All I know is that Uma came up to my flower cart and said that I needed to come to the mansion quickly because you were cursed. I didn't realize you were hurt and had an infection until I got here and you were running a fever that hasn't gone down since yesterday... at poor Bastion's expense too."
"Who the hell is Bastion?"
"My oldest son. He was in here a moment ago."
"Oh, the red... what was with the little strange child with only a face?"
"Oh... X, my youngest. My children are... gifted."
"What do you mean?"
"They have gifts. Xerxes has the ability to turn invisible and he's at an age where he's a little precocious."
"I see." I looked at the tray. "Is that food?"
"Well, it's broth."
"What about food?"
"Broth is like food."
"No. Broth is what soups have or what you drizzle over meat. I want food."
"Well you can't have food. You've been half conscious for almost two weeks with a high fever and infection. We have to introduce food to your body gradually. Besides, I need to also put some ointment on your bed sores."
She uncovered the dish and brought the tray over to me. I looked down at the piss poor meal and lifted my hand to take the spoon. I tried to feed myself but my hands were shaking so badly that I lost most of the soup back into the bowl. I looked at Minerva? Yeah, Minerva, and saw that she was watching me calmly. I put the spoon back into bowl and crossed my arms.
"This is preposterous."
"I agree, milord. Would you like me to feed you?"
"It doesn't look like I have a choice at the moment. I'm sure you're loving every minute of my misery."
"Actually, I would rather be playing with my children than be up here with you and your whiny ass. I don't know why I even came back to help you." She said angrily, taking the soup bowl from me.
She dipped the broth and blew on it softly for me. I opened my mouth and she gave the broth to me. We were silent as she fed me until the bowl was pretty much empty. Even though it was just flavored water, my stomach felt satisfyingly full and I laid back on the pillows.
"I'd get plenty of sleep, milord. Your body needs to heal itself and recover from the ordeal it's been through. Would you like me to bring some books from your shelf over there to keep you entertained for the day?"
"No. I've read every book on those shelves. I remember them all and prefer not to go through them again."
"Is there anything else you would like to do?"
"We should get a paper every morning, so I would like to at least have that to read."
"I will see if the paper is about. I'll come check on you in a moment to put ointment on your sores."
I watched her walk out of the room and sighed, laying back on my pillows. Sleep overcame me and my eyes slowly drooped closed.