Chapter 1: Vigil

Leda studied the smooth ceiling of above the bed, watching the clouds shift the moonlight. No matter what she did, she could not sleep. She sat up, her movement causing Paul to grumble in his sleep.

Over the years, she had witnessed time and time again the legendary lightness in which her husband slept. Each nightmare that she had had after their marriage had ended by her waking up in his arms, his concerned eyes looking down at her.

However, Leda didn’t want to wake him. She slipped out of the bed and quietly put on her robes and slippers. She would have dressed but the noise would probably wake him.

She blew a kiss at his sleeping form and headed to the door. As she turned the handle, she heard Paul murmur in his sleep. ‘Please, let him sleep,’ she prayed, standing mid-action at the door.

Paul rolled, immediately noticing the warm but vacant spot next to him. “Leda?” he whispered. He sat up. “Leda?”

He saw her by the door. “Leda, what are you doing?” He searched for a clock. “It’s three o’clock in the morning. Come back to bed.”

“I’m just going to the infirmary,” she said. “Go back to sleep.”

Paul groaned and got out of bed. “I won’t sleep if you are traipsing all over the palace, especially in your robe.” He ran a hand through his disheveled hair. “Let’s get dressed and we’ll both go. Okay?”

Leda nodded. She gave him a quick kiss and disappeared into her closet. Within minutes, both were dressed and walking toward the medical wing of the palace.

“I really didn’t want to wake up, Paul. I just couldn’t sleep.” She took his hand. “I’m sorry, but I had to get up and do something.”

He squeezed her hand. “It’s okay, Leda.”

They entered one of the patient quarters, passing through an antechamber before coming to the patient’s room itself. A tall man with sandy brown hair looked up from a clipboard, bowing to the couple. “Your Majesties,” he said softly.

“How is she, Dr. Cross?” Leda asked, standing by the edge of the bed.

“There has been no change of any kind, Princess,” Galen replied gently. “Lady Elara has been giving her energy boost four or five times a day, that I know of, with minimal improvements.”

Leda sighed. “Where is Elara now?”

“I had just sent her to bed,” Galen replied. “I found her here. She had apparently had been trying more energy boosts, but they are being to take their toll on her. Unfortunately, we are being to come to the end of our list of options.”

Leda looked up at the young doctor in shock. Slowly she turned back to the figure in the bed. Paul gently squeezed her shoulders from behind.

“We thank you for your candor,” Paul said.

Galen bowed his head slightly. “I sincerely wish that I could do more. It is hard for me and everyone else to see Lady Ilene like this.”

“We know,” Leda whispered, tears welling in her eyes.

“How is Adam taking this?” Paul asked.

“Not well,” Galen said sadly. “Not well at all.”

* * * * *

Adam leaned against the wall, thinking off the events of the past two weeks. All of Leda’s sisters had arrived at the Jovian capital in time to celebrate Leda and Paul’s twentieth anniversary, both of their marriage and their rule of Jupiter. Everyone had been so happy.

Then, Ilene, his wife, had collapsed the next day. By the time Adam had got her to the infirmary and Elara, she was already in a coma. Despite all the tests, no one could discover what had happened.

‘Thank goodness Adrastea is staying with my parents,’ Adam thought grimly. ‘She probably has no idea what is going on.’

The thought made him feel guilty. Adra was an inquisitive nine-year-old. She absolutely worshipped her mother and eagerly awaited each retelling of the battles of the Jupiter Sailor Soldiers. ‘How can I tell her that her mother may never wake up?’

‘What will I do if she doesn’t wake up?’ he thought, the image of his wife of twelve years appearing in his mind. ‘Ilene, you can’t let this be it. You just can’t leave me and Adra alone.’

“Adam, what are you still doing up?”

Adam turned and watched his sister-in-law, Elara, come down the hall. “Can’t sleep,” he replied casually. “You?”

“I just finished giving Ilene an energy boost,” Elara answered. “I think they are helping some.”

Adam pulled out of his misery to notice how exhausted the castle healer look. The deep, dark circles under her eyes and the new lines made Elara seemed far older than she was.

“Elara, I don’t think you should keep doing that. The treatments are only giving Ilene minimal improvement, and they are taking their toll on you.”

Adam paused before he continued. “Maybe you should stop the energy boosts, Elara.”

Elara studied her brother-in-law before shaking her head. “I can’t Adam. It’s the only thing that is actually helping Ilene. I have to keep trying.”

Adam nodded weakly. “I guess there is nothing new, then?”

Elara shook her head. “You will be the first to know, Adam, if something does. I promise you that.”

She touched his shoulder, her tired eyes sparkling with renewed intensity. “We haven’t give up, and we’re not going to, Adam. I promise you that as well.”

Adam squeezed her hand. “Thank you, Elara.”

She smiled. “I suggest you try to get some sleep. It would do you wonders.”

Adam smiled faintly. “You, too.”

With a final “good night” to each other, they headed to their respective rooms.


Vigil Leda studied the smooth ceiling of above the bed, watching the clouds shift the moonlight. No matter what she did, she could not sleep. She sat up, her movement causing Paul to grumble in his sleep. Over the years, she had witnessed time and time again the legendary lightness in which her husband slept. Each nightmare that she had had after their marriage had ended by her waking up in his arms, his concerned eyes looking down at her. However, Leda didn’t want to wake him. She slipped out of the bed and quietly put on her robes and slippers. She would have dressed but the noise would probably wake him. She blew a kiss at his sleeping form and headed to the door. As she turned the handle, she heard Paul murmur in his sleep. ‘Please, let him sleep,’ she prayed, standing mid-action at the door. Paul rolled, immediately noticing the warm but vacant spot next to him. “Leda?” he whispered. He sat up. “Leda?” He saw her by the door. “Leda, what are you doing?” He searched for a clock. “It’s three o’clock in the morning. Come back to bed.” “I’m just going to the infirmary,” she said. “Go back to sleep.” Paul groaned and got out of bed. “I won’t sleep if you are traipsing all over the palace, especially in your robe.” He ran a hand through his disheveled hair. “Let’s get dressed and we’ll both go. Okay?” Leda nodded. She gave him a quick kiss and disappeared into her closet. Within minutes, both were dressed and walking toward the medical wing of the palace. “I really didn’t want to wake up, Paul. I just couldn’t sleep.” She took his hand. “I’m sorry, but I had to get up and do something.” He squeezed her hand. “It’s okay, Leda.” They entered one of the patient quarters, passing through an antechamber before coming to the patient’s room itself. A tall man with sandy brown hair looked up from a clipboard, bowing to the couple. “Your Majesties,” he said softly. “How is she, Dr. Cross?” Leda asked, standing by the edge of the bed. “There has been no change of any kind, Princess,” Galen replied gently. “Lady Elara has been giving her energy boost four or five times a day, that I know of, with minimal improvements.” Leda sighed. “Where is Elara now?” “I had just sent her to bed,” Galen replied. “I found her here. She had apparently had been trying more energy boosts, but they are being to take their toll on her. Unfortunately, we are being to come to the end of our list of options.” Leda looked up at the young doctor in shock. Slowly she turned back to the figure in the bed. Paul gently squeezed her shoulders from behind. “We thank you for your candor,” Paul said. Galen bowed his head slightly. “I sincerely wish that I could do more. It is hard for me and everyone else to see Lady Ilene like this.” “We know,” Leda whispered, tears welling in her eyes. “How is Adam taking this?” Paul asked. “Not well,” Galen said sadly. “Not well at all.” * * * * * Adam leaned against the wall, thinking off the events of the past two weeks. All of Leda’s sisters had arrived at the Jovian capital in time to celebrate Leda and Paul’s twentieth anniversary, both of their marriage and their rule of Jupiter. Everyone had been so happy. Then, Ilene, his wife, had collapsed the next day. By the time Adam had got her to the infirmary and Elara, she was already in a coma. Despite all the tests, no one could discover what had happened. ‘Thank goodness Adrastea is staying with my parents,’ Adam thought grimly. ‘She probably has no idea what is going on.’ The thought made him feel guilty. Adra was an inquisitive nine-year-old. She absolutely worshipped her mother and eagerly awaited each retelling of the battles of the Jupiter Sailor Soldiers. ‘How can I tell her that her mother may never wake up?’ ‘What will I do if she doesn’t wake up?’ he thought, the image of his wife of twelve years appearing in his mind. ‘Ilene, you can’t let this be it. You just can’t leave me and Adra alone.’ “Adam, what are you still doing up?” Adam turned and watched his sister-in-law, Elara, come down the hall. “Can’t sleep,” he replied casually. “You?” “I just finished giving Ilene an energy boost,” Elara answered. “I think they are helping some.” Adam pulled out of his misery to notice how exhausted the castle healer look. The deep, dark circles under her eyes and the new lines made Elara seemed far older than she was. “Elara, I don’t think you should keep doing that. The treatments are only giving Ilene minimal improvement, and they are taking their toll on you.” Adam paused before he continued. “Maybe you should stop the energy boosts, Elara.” Elara studied her brother-in-law before shaking her head. “I can’t Adam. It’s the only thing that is actually helping Ilene. I have to keep trying.” Adam nodded weakly. “I guess there is nothing new, then?” Elara shook her head. “You will be the first to know, Adam, if something does. I promise you that.” She touched his shoulder, her tired eyes sparkling with renewed intensity. “We haven’t give up, and we’re not going to, Adam. I promise you that as well.” Adam squeezed her hand. “Thank you, Elara.” She smiled. “I suggest you try to get some sleep. It would do you wonders.” Adam smiled faintly. “You, too.” With a final “good night” to each other, they headed to their respective rooms.


Chapter 2: Realizations Jupiter's Gone