He nodded, and once he was alone with her, he knelt beside the bed.
"Why are you here, Wulf ?" Dr. Lakis asked. It was the first time she had ever used his name.
"I'm not sure. I just wanted to thank you again."
She blinked her tear-filled eyes and appeared to age another ten years. "This isn't the bad part," she whispered. "That comes later when our bodies fall apart while we're still alive. If we're lucky, our organs fail quickly and we die. Otherwise it lasts for hours and is excruciating."
Her words tore through him as he thought about Cassandra going through this. Of her in even more pain than she had been in when Erik was born. "I'm so sorry."
Dr. Lakis didn't take pity on him. "Just answer me one question?"
"Anything."
Her gaze bored into his with its molten heat. "Do you understand?"
He nodded. Yes, he knew what they went through and he understood why Daimons became what they did. Who could blame them?
Dr. Lakis reached out and touched his hand with hers. "I hope your son is spared this. I really, really do. For his sake and for yours. No one should die like this. No one."
Wulf stared at the hand that now had wrinkles and age spots. A hand that had been as smooth as his just a few hours ago.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" he asked.
"Take care of your family and don't let Cassandra die alone. There's nothing worse than going through this on your own."
Her family returned to the room.
Wulf got up and left them to their loved one. As he reached the door, Dr. Lakis stopped him.
"In case you wanted to know, Wulf, my name is Maia."
"Safe journey to you, Maia," he said, his voice deep from his repressed emotions. "I hope your gods are far more merciful to you in the next life."
The last thing he saw was her son falling into her arms and weeping.
Wulf left the apartment and headed back to his own. By the time he reached it, his anger was smoldering. He entered his room to see Cassandra lying asleep with Erik beside her.
They looked so beautiful like that. She was a young woman who should have the rest of her life ahead of her. She had a baby who needed to know his mother.
Most of all, Wulf needed her.
It couldn't end like this. It couldn't.
He wouldn't let it.
Grabbing his cell phone, he went back to the living room and called Acheron.
To his surprise, Ash answered it on the first ring.
"Are you back?" Wulf asked.
"Apparently so."
He ignored Ash's usual sarcasm and went to the matter at hand. "Have you any idea what has happened while you've been gone."
"I know, Wulf," Ash said in a sympathetic tone. "Congratulations on your marriage and Erik."
He choked at the mention of his son. He didn't bother to ask Ash how he knew about either event. Ash wouldn't answer and everyone knew the man was a freak.