"There is nothing we can do for her, Mr. Adonis"
"How can you say that? Meaning she will not be able to stand on her own?"
"I do not know how to address this kind of condition. My suggestion is management. I will give you some painkillers that would help suppress the pain in the leg. Other than that..." the doctor trailed off.
Adonis was deeply disappointed. "Knaxx, bring the carriage closer". He had no idea what to do next. Mrs. Pegg had been okay before he left for work that morning.
The doctor had told him about her blood pressure being high. [What does she think about?]. One day, Adonis walked into the kitchen, and Mrs. Pegg hadn't realized. She was deep in thought. He warned her to stop it, saying that she should come to him about it if she had any problems.
[I guess she continued to think]. It saddened his heart.
"It is here, Master Adonis.", Knaxx noticed that his mother had opened her eyes, but she was a bit slow in responding to people. "Mother, are you feeling a bit better?"
Mrs. Pegg looked at her son but didn't give him a response. That scared the hell out of Knaxx.
"Why isn't she responding, Master Adonis?". Tears filled his eyes.
"It will be fine, Knaxx. It will be fine". Adonis assured him but deep down, he was saying that to himself. Mrs. Pegg was the one holding the house and the farm together. He just took care of the accounts, but she took charge of the staff and the upkeep. Adonis didn't know what he would do without her.
As Adoni and Knaxx supported Mrs. Pegg, who was limping because of the excruciating pain in her leg, a woman was staring at them. It was uncomfortable for Adonis.
"Do you want something, Madam?"
"Oh! I am sorry for staring. No, I do not need anything but I was thinking... would you be interested in visiting Miss Jade?"
"Who?", Adonis left Knaxx with his mother and gave the woman his full attention. "Why should I meet this person?"
"She heals. It can be of help to you"
"You are talking of the mystery lady, are you not?"
"Yes. That is what some people call her"
"But this is a medical condition, not some-"
The woman interrupted him, "Just try and see. What do you have to lose? And if she eventually helps her, you would have gained a lot"
Adonis thought about it, [the woman was right]. "Okay. Where can I find her, please?"
The woman described Jade's house to him and he thanked her.
Getting back to the carriage, Knaxx asked Adonis, "She was talking about that lady with powers, right?"
"Powers? Hahaha". I guess so, and we are going to see her first thing in the morning"
"I am down for that", Knaxx said.
* * *
There was a knock on Jade's door.
[So early], Jade thought.
She had just come out of the washroom. Jade had never had a client this early, [it must be an emergency]. "Hold on... a minute please".
Adonis knew it was very early but Mrs. Pegg was suffering, and he couldn't bear seeing her in pain. The painkillers they had given them in the hospital didn't do much. Last night was horrible for Adonis, Knaxx, Mrs. Pegg, and even the workers that lived on the premises.
The door opened and Adonis' eyes fell on a beautiful lady. Her hair was thick and black cascading down her delicate shoulders. Her face, oval and sleek. He had never seen someone with such pure, natural beauty.
Catching himself, he said, "Good morning, Miss. Sorry to come here this early, but...", Adonis trailed off as both he and Knaxx assisted Mrs. Pegg into the room.
Jade saw the woman that couldn't walk properly. When she looked at the leg, she sensed death. "Set her on the bed over there. You both can have your seat"
"A lady directed me to you", Adonis began, "She said you can help us, Miss"
"Please, call me Jade. I will try my best. Tell me what happened to her though"
Adonis turned to Knaxx and nodded his head.
"I heard her scream from the kitchen. She had been strong even that morning but suddenly...", a knot formed in his throat, and he paused to swallow.
"Is she your mother?", Jade asked Knaxx.
"Yes, she is. Please help her, Miss Jade"
Adonis added, "The doctor said her blood pressure was high. I think it still is"
"Who is she to you?"
Adonis wondered what that question was for but still answered, "She is my home keeper. I have known her for many years. The woman is like an aunt to me"
"I asked that because I sensed sincere care coming from you. Now, her leg seems to be dying because I can perceive a foul smell from it"
Adonis and Knaxx looked at each other. They couldn't and haven't perceived anything, all this time. So, they didn't understand what she was talking about.
Jade didn't expect them to understand either but she told them because she felt they needed to know... especially because of what she was going to do next.
"What is your name, boy?"
"Knaxx, Miss"
"Knaxx, roll up your trouser, I need a little blood from your leg. I am glad you came as well, as I need a life source from a relative or better still, offspring".
Adonis was about to speak but stopped himself. [Let me see how this progresses. Anything funny, and we are out of here. I will manage Mrs. Pegg the way she is and employ another housekeeper], he thought.
Knaxx did as he was told.
Jade walked to a box near the table in the room and brought out two blades. She lit a candle and burnt the blades in the fire.
Using one of the blades, she cut Knaxx in the calf and fetched a quarter cup of his blood. Then, she used the other blade to cut several places on Mrs. Pegg's hurting leg, which earned her a scream from the suffering woman.
Screaming and whimpering have been the sounds that Adonis and Knaxx had been hearing from Mrs. Pegg for several hours.
"Stay still, Madam. Be strong, okay?. Let us begin"