Jules’ wrist in his hand and began feeling for her pulse. Jules felt feverish to the touch, and the three of us simultaneously recognized the reality of her condition at the same time. I didn’t think I'd ever forget the look on Maverick’s face when he realized his sister was dying. It was quite possibly the most painful expression I had ever seen in my life.
“How long have you felt this way?” Maverick asked. He took her from my arms and began descending the stairs, only pausing to look at the lipstick stain numbers on the wall.
“I started feeling sick yesterday, and by morning, I knew that it was the rejection,” Jules answered.
“Why didn't you tell us?” I asked. Although Jules seemed lethargic this morning, I didn't consider the possibility that she was...sick.
“Because I didn't see the point. Isn't it funny? It wasn't enough that my family rejected me. The vaccine had to reject me, too.” She laughed just as Maverick made his way over to the lab tables and laid her down gently. She still wore the wine-colored dress.
Maverick immediately began hooking her up to machines. His fingers fumbled and twitched, and it was jarring to see him so flustered. Usually Maverick maintained a calm composure, but now, he was like static energy reacting to every stimulus and allowing it to affect him. After watching him struggle to tape a monitor to her chest three times, I took it from his hands and applied the adhesive myself.
The doors to the lab opened, and in strolled Cyler who had six garment bags draped over his arm. “I don't get why we have to dress up for this fucking event,” he said with a growl, oblivious to the disaster happening around him. Allaire followed behind and, upon seeing Jules on the table, immediately jumped into action.
It took Cyler a moment longer before he realized what was going on. But even after seeing her weak body on the table and Maverick’s distress, it didn't quite hit him. “What's going on?” he finally asked.
For a moment, we all just stood there staring at one another. Several truths were right in front of us, but no one willing to admit to a single one. Maverick still didn't have a cure. Jules still was on the outs with her family. And we still were stuck in Ethros. Nothing about this was fair or right. And I knew that, in the end, it would absolutely destroy two of the men I loved. Then there was the selfish part of me, the part that craved a family and a friend. Why must this disease take someone just as I started to connect with them?
“I'm dying,” Jules said lightheartedly. She let out a manic chuckle before coughing again.
We all waited for Cyler's response, but after a few minutes, we realized that he was in shock. In my short time with their family, I'd grown to expect Cyler to be the man of action. Which is why I found his response to Jules being sick so jarring.
It was Maverick who finally broke the silence.
“No. You are not. Allaire, let's finish that code. We’ll test the first batch on Jules.”
Once they started moving, Cyler's shock finally wore off. He didn't say a word. He didn't react, other than glassy eyes and shaky fingers. He simply walked to his sister, sat down by her, and grabbed her hand. There was no hate or malice between them. I just wished that they could survive long enough to actually enjoy their newfound relationship.
Chapter Twenty-One
I didn't want to attend the execution. Jules getting sick changed everything. We were stuck somewhere between not having enough time and also having too much. Tallis wasn't expected until tomorrow, but Maverick’s tear-stained face hinted that Jules didn't have that long, and none of us were willing to leave her to die alone, despite her many protests.
"Do you even know how to apply makeup? You look like a raccoon,” she coughed out as I tried and failed to put on the metaphorical war paint Dominique sent over. Cyler, who was holding her hand and staring at the monitors, snapped his head up.
"Pretty soon,” I said, “you won't be able to speak. Do you really want to insult me with what little energy you have left?" I teased with a chuckle, making Jules break out in a weak smile.
I dug through Dominique's bag until I found pink nail polish. I showed it to her, and when she nodded in agreement,