Her Sickness, His Cure

Chapter 7 (Part 2)

The hissing.

The creeping.

The pitter patter.

The slimy crawl.

My skin began to prickle and I wanted to scream for help but I couldn't. I couldn't scream in that darkness. The creatures just came closer and closer to me. I could feel them. I tried running but I knew there was no use. I shut my eyes and begged for someone to get me out of this place.

As I continued to pray and beg, the humming became louder.

The pixies!

They were still with me?

As I opened my eyes in the dark room, the tune made by the pixies became more intense.

But so did the slithering and the crawling of those terrifying creatures.

Amidst all the chaos and the humming there were distant voices as well. I couldn't hear them very well but I knew the voices wanted me to keep my eyes open and to embrace those creatures who couldn't physically hurt me.

"Couldn't hurt me? Are you crazy? They're right there!"

I screamed in my head.

"No they're not. They're not there. Open your eyes."

"Who is that? How are you taking to me?! Who is that?!" I screamed in my head once again.

"You know me Lilian now face those creatures. They can't touch you. They can't harm you. Trust me."

It said again. Not wanting to be trapped here any longer, I opened my eyes and stared at those creatures. All the snakes, the spiders, the unknown things that crawled close to my bare feet. I looked at them as I trembled in fear. Sweat dripped down my back. There were fresh tears in my eyes and I couldn't even breathe. I wanted to gag and run but the voice kept telling me to stay.

And so I did. I swallowed my fear and stayed and stared at them. My trembling only worsened but I didn't move.

As the seconds ticked by, my trembling slowly began to get less. And soon I couldn't hear anything from those creatures. It was like they became silent. I squinted my eyes and looked around the dark room. As the seconds ticked by, I became curious. Those creatures became less and less. They decreased in numbers. Twenty snakes became ten, thirty spiders became five and steadily, they faded away.

Like they were nothing.

I was left standing alone in the dark room which wasn't very dark anymore.

"Hello Lilian." I looked up at the Fae queen as she smiled down at me. The pixies flew away except for one. He sat on the queen's shoulder.

"You...." I gasped as I looked at Queen Aeval. "You were the...the voice."

"Yes I connected to you through the core. How are you.?" She asked concerned.

"Th..they weren't real were they?" I asked sardonically.

"No Lilian none of it was. Now you know."

"So there's really something wrong with me." I muttered.

"It's not your fault." The pixie waved a hand at me.

"Grendon is right Lilian. I don't think there's anything wrong with you. There are so many ways something like this could have happened." The queen said while she helped me up.

"Yes yes my queen." Grendon chirped. "Hey it might have been someone else. It could've been someone playing with you're head." He blurted out.

Everything stopped for a fleeting moment. Those words made me to fall back on the grass before Queen Aeval could properly help me up.

"Lilian is something wrong?" She asked me with worry.

"N..no my queen. I'm just really tired." I shook the thoughts away and faked a smile. I felt bile rise up to my throat as I connected the dots in my head. My hands began to get clammy.

No.

"Oh, yes yes. You must be exhausted now. I want you to go and sleep."

"Now?" I asked her.

"Yes, now. I worry your body will decide to shut down. You haven't slept in a long time." She said. I wanted to sleep but I just couldn't stay here anymore. I wanted to leave.

"Lilian, are you listening? You must sleep."

"Yes my queen." I sighed to myself, frustrated that I was ordered to rest. I really wanted to go home.

"My queen?"

"Yes Lilian."

"Thank you. Those should have been my first words. Thank you so much for helping me. And sorry for screaming so much." I said truthfully. The queen smiled sweetly and accepted my thanks.

"Now go rest. I'll inform my brother."

I thanked her once more and made my way to the guest room. All the way, those words haunted me. It couldn't be. That didn't make sense.

It just couldn't.

My mind came up with so many explanations but I refused to entertain them at the moment. I wanted to rest and leave.

Hopefully Kyle will agree to leave tomorrow at dawn.

~~~~~~~~~~~

India's POV

"So, your best friend doesn't know I'm in here huh?" I breathe out weakly. I couldn't move much so I remained where I was. At the far corner inside my cell. This was one of the worst experiences ever. I didn't even know how long I've been in this filthy cell. The only humane treatment I received was being able to relieve myself in the servants' toilets. I would be escorted my two guards so I wouldn't try anything. The first few times, I had to endure being watched by another servant as I relieved myself. She turned around of course. That was the only form of privacy the woman could give me.

Despite being closely watched, I was grateful to be able to use a toilet. Unlike the rest of the doomed prisoners. I didn't know why or who allowed me this small privilege.

Moreover, after this first eight days or so, I would receive real food once in a while.

Bread or hot soup.

I knew who gave me the second privilege.

As I groggily looked up, my eyes found Prince Timothy. Everything was quite blurry so I had to blink multiple times to clear my vision. I stared at the young prince as he ordered a guard to open my cell.

Was I finally free? Hope bloomed in my chest but it was quickly cut off. The guard only came in to leave a tray close to me.

There were big pieces of bread and a bowl of soup. Once the tray was placed on the ground, the guard walked out and locked up my cell again.

The prince looked at me for moment then he looked at his polished shoes.

"I don't make the rules here India." He muttered.

"But you didn't tell Kyle about what happened. He doesn't know that I'm here. Why?"

Instead of answering me, he just shrugged and waited for me to eat.

"I won't eat until you answer me. I'm not blaming you for this my prince. This isn't your doing. I just want to know why Kyle isn't aware of my current situation. You hid this from him didn't you?"

"Nope."

"I take that as a yes." I muttered while observing the tray before me. The smell of the soup invaded my sense of smell, making me yearn for it. With shaky hands, I reached for the bowl and brought it close to parched lips and drank the soup. The second the warm liquid touched my tongue, I realized just how starved I was.

The soup's flavorsome taste moistened my dry throat and mouth. I could feel the warm liquid travel down my freezing body. Leaning back, I sighed in content. Then I brought the bowl to my lips again and drank hungrily. I didn't care if I looked like an uncivilized savage. I only wanted the hunger to go away so I didn't care about keeping up my appearance. There was not much left anyway.

I fiercely tore the bread into smaller pieces and stuffed them into my mouth like a hungry beast, desperate to satiate my hunger.

"Why won't you apologize to the king?" I heard a concerned voice. I scoffed and continued to eat. I took my time before answering Prince Timothy.

"Don't turn this around young prince. I asked you a question first." He rolled his eyes and muttered incoherent words under his breath.

"What happened?" I asked again. "Did you two get into a fight?"

"Nothing happened. He just didn't deserve to know." The prince answered me quickly. I could only gape at his answer. Didn't deserve to know?

"Prince Timothy." I almost grumbled his name. What type of an answer was that?! Kyle didn't deserve to know about me?

"What?! He's been an asshole! I hate them!"

Them?

"Oh gosh." I mumbled before eating some more. My hunger was almost gone. Despite my pitiful, pathetic, disgusting situation, I was quite amused by the prince.

"Prince Timothy are you......jealous?" I whispered out.

"What is wrong with you?! I'm leaving!"

"Wait!" I called after him, wanting to know more.

"What?!"

"Just...just talk to me okay. Why does it have to be this bad? Why are you so angry? You're the nicest vampire I know and now you're suddenly punishing people by hiding important news from them?" I said feeling concerned about him all of a sudden. He wasn't a bad person. He wouldn't hurt anyone on purpose. That just wasn't who he was.

"Talk to me Prince Timothy. I'm the only one here for you right now." His eyes snapped towards mine and he studied me for moment. I gestured to my head, letting him know that he could read all he wants. He observed me for a long time and then walked out the dungeons.

"Please talk to Kyle I'm begging you!" I shouted at his back. He left without looking back at me.

I slumped against the wall feeling frustrated. I wanted to cry really badly due to everything that was happening. I considered apologizing so many times but I couldn't. My ego wouldn't allow me to do it. Why should I?

I already apologized for barging in and not following proper protocol. I won't apologize for voicing my concerns and asking questions about the safety of the people. A king should respect and hear what his people have to say. Zenas is better than this but his stupid secret is going to be his downfall.

I should have acted faster. God knows how many more people have lost their lives in the village due to this sickness. The worst part is that I couldn't help them because I was stuck in here. I covered my face and screamed into my palms.

Once I got my frustration out, I looked at the tray. There were still two pieces of bread left. I quickly took the bread and stuffed them inside my pockets. Since the young prince fed me today, I doubt he'll be able to do it again anytime soon.

Refusing to wallow in self-pity, I closed my eyes and tried to just fade into a deep sleep.

~~~~~~~~~~

Hours Later.

A certain tapping sound woke me up. It was constant and annoying. The kind of noise that would beat in your head when you're semi conscious.

I cursed myself as a rush of cold ran throughout my already freezing body. It was a wonder how I wasn't sick yet. Every bone and all my muscles ached to no end. I hope I would be able to walk properly when this was over. If this was over. Groaning, I forced myself into a sitting position and looked around.

Lo and behold, the lowly witch was blessed with the presence of our much revered king.

I groaned even more and turned around. Why the f**k was he here? Why did he take such pleasure in doing this? Why was this i***t not in trouble yet? Why wasn't anyone finding out that he was screwing up his job?!!

"Wake up!"

His booming voice made me a little nervous so I tried my best to sit up straight. My spine felt it would c***k due to my terrible posture and the cold. The slight tremble that my body was experiencing made me seem even more weak.

Nevertheless, I forced myself to look at the king.

"This is almost two weeks. I'm quite impressed witch. So stubborn, so defying." He clicked his tongue and took a seat on a chair which the guards brought in. I swallowed in order to reply but speaking proved to be a heavy task at that moment. My throat was completely dry.

And he knew.

That's why he smirked and handed me a bottle of water. At first I was hesitant to reach for it, thinking he might play a game and make me feel low. On the other hand, I had to drink water if we were going to talk. So I grabbed the bottle and drank just a few sips, wanting to save the rest for later.

"W..hat do you want Your Majesty?" I asked in a harsh tone. I just couldn't help myself. He was being a d**k.

"See? You never learn do you?" He chuckled and ran his fingers through his hair. "Two weeks in this filthy dump and still no change." He said. The thing which surprised me was he didn't say it venomously or with any anger. It was as if he was almost....... impressed? I wasn't sure. I was just angry and I was going mad in this place. It was shocking that I've been in here for two weeks.

"How long am I going to be here?"

"I would really like to kill you, you know. It's this kind of behaviour that would lead rebellions." He spat out with a growl. I flinched at the sudden change of tone. I was both wary and curious.

"Why did my question anger y..you so much?" I whispered weakly.

"Question? You demanded your king like you had so much authority. I should hang you in the middle of town and make an example out of you."

"I only asked-"

"Demanded." He gritted out. I noticed the veins on his face had become more visible and the way his hand twitched. Putting on a blank face, I searched for spells in my head in case I needed to use them against the king.

I moved back a little on instinct. King Zenas scoffed at my feeble attempt to move away from him.

"If I wanted to hurt you, I would have already done it witch."

"But you are hurting me. You've been hurting me for two weeks."

"Then we have different definitions of the word hurt." He said coldly.

"I wasn't rebelling against you." I muttered under my breath. Why would he even think something like that? "Don't you know Red Kingdom is my home?"

There was a long pause. I thought he was going to leave but he just sat there and observed me.

"Maybe." He murmured after some time. I looked up at him, hoping he would understand that this has gone long enough.

"Nevertheless I will not let it go unpunished."

"How long more Your Majesty?" I asked with a fake manners. Tears of frustration gathered at the back of my eyes. I hated this.

I looked at him and waited for an answer that never came. He stood up and walked out of my cell.

"Wait. How long more? Just tell me. Please." I whispered.

"See, you're learning to say please. Good witch." His lips stretched into a smile as he walked out of the dungeons.

I slumped back once again as I felt a few drops of tears on my palms. Blinking back the rest of my tears, I refused to let him get to me and instead focused on the bright side of our conversation. At least I got the answers I wanted all along.

There was a dangerous rebellion going on and King Zenas isn't strong enough to take them down on his own. He probably doesn't even know how to take them down or who was involved. Or how many of them are out there seeking the destruction of this kingdom.

Which was why I was at the receiving end of all his frustration.

I needed to get out of here.

I needed my partner in crime.

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Well, that's all for now. Till next week beautiful souls!