For Him

15. The Assassin of Black and Red

"He will die."

Maxi stared numbly at his form in the one of the spare bedrooms...they had so many anyway and of course he would give her their bedroom and let her recover rather than bother her...make her worry.

His skin, beautiful and soft copper or bronze depending on the lighting was a little paler now and a light sheen of sweat speckled his forehead. His brows were furrowed in his sleep and his hands were clenched over the blankets, the skin of his knuckles growing white and Maxi wanted to cry aloud.

She couldn't.

"Riftan..." She choked through her tight throat, feeling her eyes burn as she recalled the burning sensation from within as she was gutted by fire and could not begin to fathom the agony he was in. "I'm h-here, Riftan." She leaned in close, resting her forehead against his shoulder as she clutched hand trembling in pain. "You're g-gonna be okay, y-you have t-to be okay, please, Riftan."

She could only kneel beside him, gripping his hand which was clammy with sweat and could almost tear the sheets apart in his ruthless grip. He was fighting. He was fighting so damn hard and all Maxi could do was pray and pray even though she knew he would never stop fighting. It was day five of fighting and she had to watch the last two days in silence, unable to leave his side.

But Ruth made it clear to her, no matter how much he fights, he will succumb to the poison slowly unless an antidote is given.

It made Maxi feel sick but how was she able to survive...

Unless the assassin gave her the antidote while he could. Did he not mean to give her the poison? Was it an accident-

No!

The cold, ruthless eyes...the smell that followed that belonged in church...incense! The dead smile and jeering as he healed her when she was a child a couple times-

Maxi's hands shook over Riftan's as a cold blast of air breezed past her and she trembled slightly, gripping Riftan's hands but refused to jump in fright when she looked up and the lighting from behind showed a shadow looming behind her.

She felt fear but not for herself but for Riftan and a burning rage simmered within her. She knew exactly who was responsible. She should've known...

He was never one to give up.

Swallowing tightly but she had to be brave, preparing her mana as she slowly stood up turning around, keeping herself between Riftan and the assassin. How she didn't pay attention to that evening when she strolled past him in the corridors towards the feasting hall and she had to wonder, before Riftan showed up, how close was she to death again?

He stared at her hollowly and she was reminded significantly of her father and she felt like an ant once again.

Or a rose being crushed slowly.

"Your husband is generous."

Maxi felt her skin grow cold, her hackles rising as she glared at him, watching the curtains of the window sweep by him as he stepped out of the shadows but he kept his distance from her and the bed where Riftan lay but Maxi never once took her eyes off him, her hands curled at her side, feeling the mana pool within her like a viper ready to strike.