Southern Shadows' Veil's of Twilight
Chapter 16: Nathaniel's Illness

Nathaniel's once robust figure had begun to wane, his normally ruddy complexion now ashen, a stark contrast against the crisp white of his collars. It was during a leisurely ride through the Hartford estate that Elijah first took note of his brother's pallor.

"Nathaniel, you look unwell," Elijah remarked, pulling his horse to a stop beside his brother's. "Your color is quite drawn."

With a weak smile, Nathaniel patted his mount's neck, avoiding Elijah's concerned gaze. "I'm sure it's nothing. Perhaps the heat is more oppressive today than I realized."

But as days passed, Nathaniel's condition worsened. His once vibrant energy seemed to have been sapped away, leaving him listless and fatigued. It was not long before Isabelle and Rebecca, who had grown increasingly close in their shared worry, found themselves whispering in the Beaumont's conservatory, the air heavy with the scent of blooming orchids.

"Have you seen Nathaniel lately?" Isabelle asked, her voice laced with concern. "He is not himself, and I fear it is more than just the summer heat that afflicts him."

Rebecca nodded, her mind racing with the possibilities. "I have seen it too, and it reminds me all too much of what I’ve read in the journals. His symptoms... they mirror those described in the cases connected to Carmilla's ancestors."

Isabelle’s eyes widened, a fearful realization dawning upon her. "You think that Carmilla is involved in this? That she might be... causing Nathaniel's illness?"

"It seems impossible," Rebecca admitted, her hands trembling slightly as she held a cup of tea, untouched and cooling. "But the evidence I’ve uncovered cannot be ignored. It points to a pattern, and Nathaniel is fitting into it all too well."

Their conversation was cut short by the sound of approaching footsteps. Elijah entered, his expression fraught with worry. "Isabelle, Rebecca, have you noticed Nathaniel's growing fatigue? He barely touched his breakfast this morning, and he seems to grow weaker by the hour."

The women exchanged a glance before Isabelle responded. "We were just discussing his condition. Rebecca has found certain... similarities in her research that are concerning."

Elijah frowned, the creases in his brow deepening. "Similarities? To what?"

"To your Mother's illness, and to others before her," Rebecca said, her voice steady despite the gravity of her words. "And all these cases, they share a connection to Carmilla's family line."

Elijah's hands clenched into fists, his sense of reason battling with the burgeoning fear that gnawed at his gut. "Are you suggesting that Carmilla is responsible? That can't be. She has been nothing but kind."

Rebecca reached out, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "Elijah, I know it is difficult to consider. But we cannot ignore the facts. Nathaniel's health is declining rapidly, and we must act before it is too late."

The trio stood in the conservatory, the beauty of the flowers a stark contrast to the grim conversation they were engaged in. Nathaniel's illness had brought them together, united by a common goal to uncover the truth and save him from a fate that seemed all too familiar.

Days later the Hartford family gathered in the parlor with a sense of urgency clouding the air as Dr. Edwards, a man of science and logic, furrowed his brow in perplexity beside Nathaniel's bed. The young Hartford heir lay there, his energy sapped, his once bright eyes now dull and listless.

"I must confess, the symptoms are confounding," Dr. Edwards admitted, closing his medical bag with a snap. "It mirrors the illness of your late mother, and yet I can replace no cause, no remedy that avails."

William Hartford, whose face was etched with deep lines of concern, pressed the doctor. "There must be something you can do, Edwards. This is my son."

Dr. Edwards shook his head, his expression somber. "I have tried every conventional method at my disposal. I am sorry, Mr. Hartford."

As the doctor excused himself, Rebecca turned to Elijah, her voice insistent. "You see? It is happening again. The same illness that took your mother. I am certain Carmilla is at the center of this."

Elijah paced the room, his hands clasped behind his back as he struggled with the maelstrom of emotions within him. "I cannot believe that Carmilla would harm Nathaniel. Yet, I cannot ignore the evidence you've presented, Rebecca."

Rebecca reached out, her touch a grounding force. "Elijah, you must be on your guard with her. If she is what I fear, she could be dangerous."

Elijah paused, looking down into Rebecca's earnest eyes. He took her hand in his, the warmth of her skin a balm to his troubled soul. "Oh, Rebecca, there are times I wish it were you I was courting. But I am drawn to Carmilla, and it is my father's wish that I secure a relationship with her."

Rebecca's heart ached at his words, the tenderness of the moment wrapping around her like a shawl. "I know, Elijah. And I would never ask you to go against your father's wishes. Just... please be careful."

Their hands lingered together, a silent testament to the bond that existed between them—a bond that was now overshadowed by duty and the enigmatic presence of Carmilla.

Later that day, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Elijah found himself at Carmilla's doorstep. The pull to see her was undeniable, yet the seeds of suspicion had been planted, and they sprouted tendrils of doubt with every step he took.

Carmilla greeted him with her usual grace, her smile as enigmatic as the moon rising in the evening sky. "Elijah, what a pleasant surprise. To what do I owe the honor of this visit?"

Elijah hesitated, the words of caution from Rebecca echoing in his mind. "I needed to see you, to speak with you. Nathaniel is ill, and there are concerns..."

Carmilla's smile faltered, a flicker of something passing through her eyes. "Concerns? About me, I presume. Tell me, Elijah, do you share these concerns?"

He wanted to deny it, to lose himself in her allure as he had so many times before. But the image of Nathaniel, pale and weak, held him back. "I do not know what to believe, Carmilla. But I cannot ignore the fear that grips my family."

Carmilla stepped closer, her presence enveloping him. "Fear can be a poison, Elijah. Do not let it taint what we have begun to build together."

Elijah stood close to Carmilla, her words like a soothing balm to the turmoil within him. Her presence was intoxicating, a heady mix of mystery and desire that he found himself powerless to resist. As she spoke, the fears and suspicions seeded by Rebecca's revelations began to dissipate like mist in the morning sun.

"Let me ease your worries, Elijah," Carmilla whispered, her voice a melodious enchantment that beckoned him closer. "There is nothing to fear, not from me."

Elijah's resolve crumbled, and he found himself drawn into the orbit of her embrace. Their lips met in a passionate kiss, fervent and all-consuming. However, as their kiss deepened, Elijah could sense the underlying hunger within Carmilla, a primal need that threatened to surface. He pulled away, his breath ragged, the taste of her still lingering on his lips.

"I must go," he said, the words heavy with unspoken longing. "Please, take care, Carmilla."

With a nod, Carmilla watched him depart, the hunger within her gnawing at the edges of her composure. She needed to feed, and soon, but she would not—could not—allow herself to take from Elijah. Not yet.

Meanwhile, Nathaniel's condition worsened, his once-lively spirit now diminished to a mere flicker. Despite his weakness, he refused to remain confined to his bed, his pride as a Hartford driving him to maintain a façade of normalcy.

"I do not need coddling, Isabelle," Nathaniel insisted, pushing away the covers as she tried to tuck them around him. "I will not be bedridden while life continues outside these walls."

Isabelle's eyes were filled with worry as she observed the stubborn set of Nathaniel's jaw. "You must rest, Nathaniel. You are not well, and your strength is needed to overcome this affliction."

But Nathaniel was heedless of her pleas, his thoughts consumed by the magnetic pull that drew him to Carmilla each night. "I must see her," he murmured, more to himself than to Isabelle. "She calls to me."

As night fell, the irresistible lure of Carmilla's presence beckoned Nathaniel from the safety of his room. His footsteps were unsteady, his will ensnared by the enigmatic force that promised both solace and destruction.