Chapter 24: 24


    “Right this way, Your Majesty,” the nurse at the desk said as she led him and Brutus into Dr. Horton’s


    office. “Please take a seat,” he reached around until he felt the chair. Sitting down, he told Brutus toy


    down, and he did so at Nichs’ feet. He heard the nurse’s footsteps as she left the room, and then he


    heard Dr. Hortone into the room.


    “Your Majesty,” He heard the doctor’s voice. “How are you feeling?”


    “Same as always.”


    “Have you been eating?”


    “Yes,” not that it made him feel any better. It had been five days since he’d seen Dr. Horton, and he had


    been violently ill every day along with terrible headaches, cramping in both his stomach and muscles.


    “Good to hear. Well, I scheduled the ultrasound for a week from Monday.”


    “That is not why I am here.”


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    “Oh, then why are you here?” Dr. Horton asked with interest.


    “My eye,” he said. “There has to be something, anything we can do to restore my vision. I have heard


    that sometimes an organ transnt can help the blind see.”


    “Well, yes, that is true.”


    “Then let’s do that.”


    “It is not that easy, Nichs. There is nothing wrong with your eyes. The organ itself is fine and healthy.


    The problem is therge tumour pressing on your optic nerve. So long as that tumour exists, you will


    not see. And as it grows, it will only restrict your vision more.”


    “Then, cut it out.”


    “I cannot. I told you the location of the tumour in your brain has rendered it inoperable. I cannot cut it


    out without lobotomizing you.”


    “There must be something we can do. There is always something. How do you treat inoperable


    tumours?”


    The room was quiet, at the doctor thought. “Well, if you are willing, we can try chemotherapy. With


    radiation treatment, it might be possible to shrink the tumour, and if we can make it small enough, it


    might reduce the pressure on the nerve and possibly restore your vision.”


    “Alright, let’s try that,” Nichs said.


    “I must warn you there are side effects. Such as fatigue.”


    “I am already fatigued.”


    “Loss of appetite and nausea,” Nichs shrugged. He already suffered that daily. “Digestive problems,


    dry or sore throat or mouth, cough or shortness of breath, dry/red or itchy skin, and even hair loss.”


    “Yes, I am sure it is going to be miserable,” Nichs said. “When do we start?”


    ***


    “You did what?” Kinsley asked in disbelief as she sat next to Nichs at the table. Matthew was trying


    not to smile. Nichs had just told the whole family at dinner that he had gone and agreed to


    chemotherapy in an attempt to reduce the tumour in his brain that was causing his blindness.


    Everyone was concerned about the side effects and how Nichs would weather them. Personally,


    Matthew was giddy about the whole idea. The chemotherapy would mask the side effects of the poison


    he was slipping his brother. He was already showing symptoms, but as anticipated, the me was


    ced squarely on his illness.


    While Nichs was eating more than he used to, he still ate very little, so slipping the poison in his food


    was not smart. But Matthew had taken to sharing a drink with Nichs after dinner each night. They


    talked about the future and how Nichs was feeling. It was all a trick giving Matthew the opportunity


    to poison his brother’s bourbon. After drinks, Nichs would retire to his room, and so would Matthew.


    His room was right next to his brothers, and listening to Nichs get violently ill all night was like music


    to Matthew’s ears. Now, this Chemotherapy was like icing on the cake. It honestly could not be any


    more perfect.


    “Dr. Horton says that with radiation treatments, the tumour might shrink and relieve the pressure on my


    optic nerve. I might get my vision back,” Nichs said.


    “Radiation might also kill the healthy cells around the tumour,” Kinsley said. “Nichs, you are talking


    about irradiating your brain. You could end up doing more damage than good.”


    “Kinsley is right,” Samuel said, supporting her. “I do not think it is worth the risk.”


    “I thought you all wanted me to seek treatment?” Nichs snapped.


    “We do, but not if it is going to be risky like this,” his mother said. “It is not worth the risk.”


    “If I do not try this, I am going to be blind for the rest of my life,” Nichs snapped.


    “Being blind is not that bad, Nichs,” Naya said.


    “Says the woman who can see,” Nichs growled.


    Kinsley took his hand. “Nichs…”


    “Kinsley,” he stopped her short, “I want to see my bride,” he had effectively silenced her protest and


    made her cry. Matthew could not help but feel this was a reference to a previous conversation he had


    not been privy to.


    “Personally, I think it is a wonderful idea,” Matthew piped up. “I support your brother.”


    “Thank you, Matthew,” Nichs returned. Matthew smiled. Honestly, this was too easy. The throne was


    as good as his.