Richard looked through the door to the bedroom. His mother looked peaceful for the first time in a while, but it was at the cost of being sedated. They hoped that the Naki consciousness inside her would be more contained that way until a cure could be found. He turned to leave but was startled by another person in the room. He hadn't noticed his sister sat in the shadows by the bed.
“Louisa! I didn't see you there!”
“Please stop calling me that,” she said, not turning from her vigil of her mother.
Richard moved into the room and put his hand on her shoulder. “Sorry, Eve. You startled me, is all.”
She flashed him a small smile before turning back to the bed.
“Where's Dad?” she asked.
“Still in Naples. The meeting went well, but one of the people he hoped to see was out of town.” Richard sat on the edge of the bed and took his mother's hand. “He thinks there's a good chance that this person will see the Light and want to help spread the Illumination.” Richard was surprised by the lack of response his good news provoked. He looked more closely at Eve and saw the worry on her face.
“Sis, what's wrong?” he asked.
She didn't answer him.
“Hey, Lou… I mean Eve. I can see you're worried about Mom, but she'll be fine. We'll find a cure. You'll find it. I believe in you.” He lifted her chin so he could look her in the eye. Her eyes welled with tears as she tried to speak.
“I… I can't see her any more,” she stammered as she pulled her head away from Richard. “All I can see is the… the snake.” Tears now streaming down her face, she pushed past Richard and ran out of the room.