Chapter 13
‘I don't want to keep joking about my life.’
Asmodeus hugged his legs, his chin resting on his knees.
‘I don't even know what to say… talk about the needles…? Ask how long until ice-cream…?’
‘Do I cry?’
‘Do I laugh?’
The door creacked open.
They found Asmodeus curled into a ball, staring at a wall.
He seemed unusually quiet.
“Asmo, what are doing, child?” Cassandra's voice betrayed her.
“...”
Asmodeus just continued to stare at the wall.
Vincent and Cassndra exchanged a glance.
“Puffer fish, what are you thinking so much about?”
Asmodeus hesitated a moment, trying to get a better look at his parents.
‘Mom's eyes are red. And dad is doing his fake smile.’
‘Something's definitely wrong…’
‘Am I that sick?’
“Dad… mom… how much longer do I stay here?”
There was a moment of silence. Neither wanted to speak of the bad news.
Cassandra sat beside her son, instinctively patting his head.
“Just a bit more sweetie. We can probably leave tomorrow.”
‘What do I usually say at this moment? Ice-cream? Yeah, I might think of that.’
“...”
“...”
“So two more days until ice cream…”
That sentence finally got a churkle out of his parents.
“That's what you were thinking of puffer fish?”
Vincent sat beside them.
“What else would I be thinking of?”
‘Will they doubt it?’
“Of course you would be thinking of that.” Vincent added.
‘Great, they didn't.’
The silence kept getting longer. None of them knew what to say.
Finally Asmodeus broke the silence.
“Anyway what did the doctors say?”
The parents exchanged another glance.
Vincent decided he would be the one saying it.
“Hey puffer fish, don't be shocked but they need more blood tests…”
“Why again? I don't want needles…”
Stolen novel; please report.
Asmodeus quickly hid in Cassandra's arms.
“You always say that sweetie.”
“Because there are always needles.”
“Well, the kid's got a point Cassy.”
Asmodeus spoke from Cassandra's arms, his voice too low.
“Mom… dad… am I that sick?”
The question caught them off guard. Neither knew how to answer it.
Asmodeus looked up, both his parents seemed distressed.
‘Oh no…’
“Nevermind… I… don't think anythings's wrong… I mean…”
He couldn't find words in time.
“Asmo,” Vincent continued, “We don't really know if it's really bad. Even Dr.Nathan wasn't so sure.”
“That's why they want to do a biopsy tomorrow.”
“And what is that?”
“Sorry sweetie, it means more needles.”
“Damned human wants to poke me…”
Asmodeus puffed his cheeks.
Churkle churkle
“It's okay sweetheart, it won't hurt that much.”
“How do you know?”
“Because… Dr.Nathan assured that he'll try to make it not hurt.”
“But he's still gonna poke me. Can't they take as much blood as they want at once?”
“Kid, I or your mom don't know a thing about medicine… so you are asking wrong people.”
“Damn.”
***
That morning was what Asmodeus hated the most.
He was currently on top of a cupboard. Pulling on his heart monitor's wires.
While Vincent was trying not to laugh.
“Why are you poking me now if the biopsy is at 10 am?”
“Because we need a fresh sample of blood.” The nurse replied calmly.
“Use a blade if need blood. Don't use needles.”
Vincent lost the battle and burst out laughing.
“Sir it's gonna hurt more than the needle.”
“I'm not afraid because it'll hurt. I'm afraid because it's a needle.”
“...”
“...”
“...”
“Asmo… that is not how fear works sweetie…”
“That is exactly how fear works.”
“Sir please come down. You are tugging on the wires.”
Vincent was currently weezing.
“Vincent stop laughing.”
“Cassy, I'm innocent.”
“Hey puffer fish, why did you choose the cupboard?”
“Vincent how is that question helping us?”
“Because Lucy chooses it.” Asmodeus answered from top of the cupboard.
“Asmo stop copying a cat.”
Twenty minutes later, after several failed negotiations, one attempted escape, and an unreasonable amount of bargaining, and Vincent almost falling down laughing, the nurse finally managed to collect the blood sample.
***
10:02 am
Asmodeus was currently sitting between Vincent and Cassandra, freighting with his heart monitor's wires.
Cassandra had it as such so Asmodeus won't run away.
“Good morning Mr. and Mrs. White.”
“Good morning.” “Good morning.”
“How are you feeling, Asmodeus?”
“Betrayed.”
“Excuse me?
Anyway I'll explain the procedure and you may ask any questions you have.”
Asmodeus immediately raised his hand.
“Yes?”
“Can we not do it?”
“We need to do the biopsy.”
“Damn.”
Nathan glanced at the clipboard.
“The procedure itself is fairly simple. But since his platelet counts are quite low, we'll have to give you a platelets transfusion.
As for the biopsy, we'll collect a sample from the back of your hip.”
“The what?”
“The hip.”
Asmodeus froze. Nathan continued.
“We'll numb the area first—”
“The HIP?” Asmodeus interrupted.
“Yes.”
The room fell silent.
Asmodeus stared at Nathan.
Nathan stared back.
Cassandra immediately sensed danger.
“Sweetie?”
“Why the hip?”
“Because that's where we usually perform the biopsy.”
“But why?”
“Because it's safe, accessible and provides a good sample.”
“Can you not?”
“Asmodeus, what exactly are you worried about?” Cassandra asked.
Asmodeus opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.
“No reason.”
“Then what's the issue?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you panicking?”
“I'm not. But the butt is a conserning choice.”
Nathan's expression fell.
“Asmodeus, I assure you that this is a medical procedure.”
“That's what everyone says before the chapter starts.”
“What chapter?”
“Nothing.”
Nathan gave a confused look but continued nonetheless.
“Very well. We believe the problem may be related to your bone marrow.”
“And that is?” Vincent asked.
“Bone marrow is the tissue inside your bones that produces blood cells.”
“The biopsy allows us to collect a small sample and examine whether your marrow is producing blood cells properly.”
‘Do vampires have bone marrow? Or at least a working bone marrow?’
“And what if my marrow isn't working properly?”
“Then we'll know what to do and we can take next steps.”
“It won't involve any needles though, right?”
“It does involve a needle.”
“How big is the needle?”
“It'd be better if I didn't answer that question.”
“So a meter thick?”
“Excuse me? In diameter? NO! ABSOLUTELY NOT!”
Vincent almost choked.
“Vince you are not helping.”
“What did I do now?”
“Dr.Human?”
“Nathan”
“Anyway, what exactly are you searching for in that sample?”
“Right now we know that your blood counts are unusually low. The sample lets us know if the problem is in the marrow or elsewhere.”
“You transfused blood in me yesterday, how do you know that those counts won't show up?”
“The transfusion goes into your bloodstream but we are taking the sample from your bone marrow.”
“What about… plates?”
“Plates?”
“You know, plates? Won't they be in the transfusion that you gave me?”
“... you mean platelets? No we only used RBCs yesterday.”
“I see.”
“Anything else?”
“Not really. That's all I had.”
“Alright then. I've explained you the procedure and answered your questions. Now please sign this consent form.”
Nathan slid a form across the the table to Asmodeus.
“What happens if I don't sign it?”
“Then we cannot proceed with the procedure.”
“Oh.”
Asmodeus quickly signed it.
“Kid, why did you ask if you were going to sign it anyway?”
“Cause I wanted to know.”
“Well alright.”
“Please change into this gown.” A nurse provided him with a hospital gown.
“Why? My current clothes are comfortable.”
“Perhaps, but we need to access the biopsy site.”
“The HIP? I hate humans.”
“Sweetie, stop speaking like you aren't a human too.”
“But I'm a vampire.”
“Stop reading so much fantasy.”
‘Crow, I broke our non-existant promise, and said it out loud. I'm not sorry, crow.’
“Please come inside.”
“Dad, mom, tell Lucy I fought till the end.”
“Asmo…”
“All the best kid.”
“Vincent, stop encouraging him.”
***
Asmodeus was given a platelets transfusion.
“Please lay down on your stomach.”
“Sure.”
“Oh, you are pretty cooperative now.”
‘Well my parents aren't here are they? I don't really need humor now.’
“But it's still scary.”
“Don't worry, you'll only feel a bit of pressure.”
“Just get done with it quickly.”
Nathan nodded.
“Then I can cover my butt.”
Nathan sighed.
Anesthesia was injected. Asmodeus heard the tools behind him.
‘I don't wanna see them.’
“You'll feel pressure.”
“I don't know what that means.”
The biopsy needle entered his hip. It felt weird. Like something pushing against him.
Though he did know it was uncomfortable.
‘What is that? It's like wanting to crack your bone but it doesn't crack.’
“That's it. Don't get up for a while. Then you can go about your day.”
“When can I expect the results?”
“It'll take several days. It'll first be sent to the lab and analysed over there.”
“So you're gonna leave me on a cliffhanger.”
“...
I'll be leaving now.”
“Coward.”
The nurse dressed the area. Asmodeus was to lie there for a while, but he had other plans.
‘If Crow exists then dad should know. After all Crow called dad his grandson.’
‘I gotta ask dad.’