Silence & Shadow: The Iron Lotus Series 2 (A YA Steampunk Series) by Nicole Adamz & Brooke Chastain

Author:Nicole Adamz & Brooke Chastain [Adamz, Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Inkblot Publishing LLC
Published: 2020-11-22T16:00:00+00:00

***

Shìyán rolled over on her sleeping mat, shivering violently. Despite the warm summer air permeating the girls’ room, Shìyán felt cold and tired. Sweat beaded her brow, and she curled into herself. Her stomach pains had gone, but she still felt weak.

Mama stirred next to Shìyán, moving from the wall she had leaned against, and placed a hand on Shìyán’s face. The warmth from Mama’s skin soothed her. Jiā peeked at Shìyán over Mama’s shoulder; her face shadowed with concern in the dim light.

“Shìyán, how long have you been sick?” Jiā said, scooting toward her on the floor.

She stared weakly at Jiā and whispered, “Since before Zhēnzhū’s wedding. I thought it would go away, but it’s gotten worse.”

“Oh, my dearest girl,” crooned Mama, brushing Shìyán’s brown hair from her face. “You should have mentioned how you were feeling sooner. One of the doctors at Qi Infirmary would have treated you.”

Shìyán shifted her head, snuggling against the maternal gentleness of Mama’s caress. “I didn’t want to take away from the joy of such a happy occasion,” she explained.

Mama shook her head. “You could never steal our joy, Shìyán.”

Shìyán closed her eyes on a sigh, but she opened them again on an urgent thought. “Mama, I won’t be able to go to work today,” she said softly.

“Don’t worry, Shìyán. I already went to the hospital and told them that you and Mama wouldn’t be coming in today,” Jiā piped up, tentatively placing a hand on Shìyán’s covered leg.

Shìyán frowned and puffed out a small, pitiful sigh. “If you went, then that means you didn’t go to work for Aunt Mèilì today. I’m sorry to create so much trouble, Mama. Now the three of us won’t have an entire day’s wage.”

“It isn’t any trouble at all to look after you,” Mama said, holding her small, clammy hand.

Shivering, Shìyán hesitantly asked, “Can I have another blanket? It’s so cold.”

Mama looked at Jiā, and her sister immediately grabbed her blanket to cover Shìyán. She was tucking the edges around Shìyán’s prone form when the bell at the compound door chimed. Jiā scrambled to her feet and scurried toward the sliding screen door.

“That’s probably Uncle with the private physician he went to get,” Jiā explained.

The sound of the screen door sliding open and closed made Shìyán wince, and Mama put a hand on her brow. “You have a slight fever, but are there any other symptoms aside from being cold and fainting?”

Shìyán’s tongue pressed against the roof of her mouth, exploring the sticky and parched area. “I feel very thirsty, and I’ve been having stomach pains off and on.”

“Okay, I’ll have Jiā fetch you some water once the physician is here. I hate to impose on Qián like this, but I’m not sure if it is wise to move you yet. We’ll see what the doctor says after he examines you,” Mama said, apprehension tinging her voice as she stared at the screen door and the muffled voices behind it.

Shìyán’s hand tightened, tugging Mama’s attention back to her, and she smiled sweetly.

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