Vessel X OC/reader

Chapter 16

I quietly eat my breakfast opposite Vessel, and despite us not saying a word to each other, it wasn't awkward. I can't help but regularly glance at his handsome face, and then get annoyed with myself for being in love.

"I was uh... I was gonna go out dress shopping today." I say, quietly, and he looks up.

"No need. Our traditions are a little different. I pick the dress."

"You? Oh, Jesus. Seriously?"

"Relax. I know what will look good on you, Gaia."

"You do?"

"Mm. Everything will."

I roll my eyes and smile to myself.
"So how are you deciding?" I ask, and sip some orange juice.

"Based on what looks best on my bedroom floor." He replies, with a poker face, though I can see him fight a smile as I nearly spit out my orange juice.

"Fucking teenager." I mumble, in response.

He finishes his food, and washes his hands in the kitchen, before taking my plate and washing it too. I watch him carefully and sigh. Jesus, he's hot.

He takes me glass, and glances at me for a moment, raising his eyebrow.
"I know that look." He says, pretty confidently, and I don't respond.

He nods for me to stand up, and I do as I'm told. He leans in to kiss me, but there's a knock at the door to the dining room, and he grumbles under his breath.

He quickly grabs his mask, puts it on, and leaves without saying a word. Jesus, okay then, bye.

I chew my nail, and stare into space, feeling anxious and overwhelmed. Wedding soon. Fuck. I go into the kitchen, and smile slightly at a glass of wine on the kitchen side with a rose beside it. It's still the morning, but fuck it. I drink the glass of wine, and walk around the garden for a while, before returning.

I wash my glass up, and Vessel walks in to the kitchen, and raises his eyebrow.

"You been drinking wine again?" He asks me, and I raise my eyebrow, confused.

"Don't act stupid." I say, and laugh.

He looks at the rose, and sighs.
"Wasn't me. You must have an admirer."

"Of course I do." I say, and flick my hair, throwing on my pretend confidence for kicks.

"Of course you do." He agrees, and lifts my chin up, kissing me gently. "Probably Mateo." He says, recalling him being slightly flirty.

"What did you have to go for?" I ask, drying the glass, and putting it in a cupboard.

"One of the new guards was asking me some stupid questions. Waste of my time."

I sigh, heavily, sharing his frustration.

"We can always pick up where we left off." He says, quietly, placing his hands on my hips, and pulling me closer.

I look up at him and grin. I step on my tiptoes to kiss him, but go faint, and fall back slightly. He quickly grabs my waist, and stares at me blankly - I assume there's concern, but I can't see underneath that mask.

"....Gaia?"

Once I get my bearings again, I smile at him faintly.
"Sorry, I don't... I don't know what that was."

"You just went dizzy?" He asks, and raises his eyebrow. "There's no chance you're already pregnant, is there?" He asks, and I bite my lip.

"I don't think so. God, I hope not." I joke, and he smiles slightly.

"Maybe... lay off the wine. Please. Even if you're not pregnant, it won't be helping anything."

I nod, and pour myself a glass of water and chug it, hoping to counterract the dizziness.

He takes his mask off, and watches me carefully, and I smile at him.

"It'll just be dehydration, or something." I say, trying to reassure him, but he doesn't look much happier.

"You should go and get some rest. I have a lot to do, anyway." He says, firmly, and I fold my arms.

He ignores my attitude.
"I'll take you up. In case you go faint again." He mumbles, and he walks me to his room. As we get near the bed, I quickly grab his arm, wobbling slightly, and knock both of us onto it.

"You went dizzy again?" He asks, looking worried, and I grin.

"No." I say, and kiss him.  He kisses my back, but sighs, looking a little annoyed.

"Idiot. You worried me."

I roll my eyes, and climb off of him, lying flat on my back. He leans over, kisses my forehead, and gets to his feet.

"I'm going to deal with some things. Get some rest." He says to me, as he grabs some papers from one of his drawers. He looks back at me and raises his eyebrow.

"Sure you're feeling okay?" He asks me, and I sit up, slightly.

"Yeah, of course. Why?"

He glances around his chest of drawers, presumably looking for a mirror. He fishes through my makeup bag and hands me one. I look at my reflection and my heart sinks. I'm pale, with a yellow tinge, looks as if there's cold sweat on my forehead and I have dark circles.

I wince a little bit, and he puts his papers down.
"Maybe we should get you in with a doctor."

"Nah, I don't get ill. Maybe I slept funny or something."

He gives me one last look, before grabbing his stuff and leaving. I decide to get a shower, dry off, and get into a comfortable night dress. I look at my reflection in the steamed up bathroom mirror, and wipe it with my hand.

My heart stops. In the reflection, behind me, is a masked man, wearing all black. He's clutching a knife, holding it near the side of my neck.