East of the Sun, West of the Moon: A sci-fi retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Jodie Seibert

Author:Jodie Seibert [Seibert, Jodie]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: beauty and the beast, fairy tale retelling, east of the sun west of the moon, romance, science fiction, fairytale retelling, young adult
Publisher: Criss Cross Press
Published: 2017-11-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

The bright lights of the medical center revealed every bruise and scrape on Xenos’ exposed skin as he lay, silent and still, on the diagnostic bed. Atara and Ozara sat to his left, clutching each other close; Varda sat to his right, hands clenched together.

They sat there as time passed, and every once in a while one of them would reach out a hand to stroke Xenos’ brow or leg. There wasn’t much of him they could touch. Both of his arms, wrists, and hands had multiple fractures, but they were nothing compared to the fractures of the ribs and sternum, which had led to myocardial and pulmonary contusions, or so they had been told. Either one of those injuries to the heart and lungs could be fatal, but the latest medical scans had revealed the contusions were not as deadly as doctors had feared. The three girls had wept with joy at the news, and had stayed in a circle of comfort for a long while, arms around each other, grief still fresh and mixed with relief. And now they kept vigil at his side as he slept, watching over him, listening for every quiet breath and every beep of the monitor as his heart beat on, as if it was daring death to come and take him.

Days passed, and Xenos fell in and out of consciousness. Doctors and other medical personnel came in and out of the room as his three daughters watched and waited. A steady stream of visitors came as well, bringing well-wishes and plants.

On the day after the accident, Varda’s sisters spoke to each other and to Varda, and by that night Varda realized they had not mentioned their usual topics of conversation, of gossip and gowns and gems and galas.

It was the third day that Xenos finally spoke more than a few words.

“My daughters,” he said, his eyes moving from face to face to face, his own face stiff, as if it was remembering the pain.

“We’re so sorry, father,” Atara said, as tears began to flow down her cheeks.

“This is our fault,” Ozara added, as she began to cry as well.

“How could this be your fault?” he asked. His voice was quiet and careful, with pauses between each word.

“We wanted our old lives back so much, we never really thought of the cost to you,” Ozara said.

Atara nodded as she wiped away her tears. “We never wanted to think of the cost to you. We both knew it was dangerous, and we ignored the danger.”

“Varda saw the danger,” Ozara said, sighing and shaking her head.

“And then she went out herself to find the missing cargo, and spent all that time bringing it back,” Atara said, and she turned to stare at Varda. “You never did tell us how you found it, when father was unable to.”

Varda sat for a moment in silence.

“It is not my story to tell,” Xenos said, as he too looked at Varda.

“It is not my story to tell, either,” Varda said.

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