Vessel X OC/reader

Chapter 18

I wake up, feeling, not great, but fantastic compared to how I did. Vessel isn't beside me, which is a bit annoying. I guess it depends how long I've been out.
I weakly sit up, and look around. Empty. Fantastic.

A maid pokes her head in, presumably due to hearing movement, and her eyes widen when she sees me.

"Mistress, I-"

"Gaia."

"Gaia! Let me go and get Vessel."

She rushes off, and Vessel marches in, fully masked and dressed up. He looks me up and down, and kneels beside me.

"How do you feel?"

"Like shit. And you left me, asshole."

"I had to. You've been out nearly a week."
"What? I was in a coma?"

"Well, yes. You were poisoned, bleeding internally. Doctor expected you wouldn't pull through."

"I feel gross. I want a shower." I mumble, and he sighs.

"I can run you a bath." He says, and does just that. I get to my feet, slowly, but I wobble, and he wraps his arm around my waist to support me.

"Take it easy." He mumbles, and walks me to the bathroom. He helps me get my nightdress off, and lifts me into the bath.

"Are you okay with me staying with you?" He asks me, and I raise my eyebrow.

"Of course. But you don't have to. I doubt there's anyone gonna kill me in here."

He pulls his mask off, and I'm a little shocked. He's still handsome, but his hair's a mess, he's got dark circles as if he hasn't slept, and he's pale.

"A week in a coma, nearly died, and you're still the most beautiful creature on the planet." He says, sighing.

I go bright red, and smile faintly.
"Shoo. Come back in half an hour or so." I say and he nods, leaving.

I wash myself, and manage to climb out, and dry myself off. I brush my teeth, and sigh heavily. What a disaster. He returns, just as I'm throwing on a simple dress, and looks a little shocked that I'm standing by myself.

"Do you know anything at all that might be able to help me figure out who did this?" He asks me, and I try my best to think. "None of my guards seem to have a clue."

I bite my lip, and it hits me.
"Just before I drank the wine, a guard called you to talk. And when you came back, you told me he was only asking stupid questions. Maybe he was distracting you so that you wouldn't stop me drinking it."

Vessel nods.
"You genius." He says, and spins on his heel to dash off. He looks back at me, and helps me back to the bed before leaving.

A maid brings me in a drink and a bowl of hot food, and I gratefully smile at her, and try and eat.

Once I have a little more energy, I slowly get dressed, and wander through the corridors. I keep my hand on the walls to keep my balance, but slowly gain confidence. I poke my head in the hall, where Vessel is meeting with a guard.
Probably the guard. Everything is quiet, and I can't really eavesdrop. I can vaguely hear the bass in Vessel's voice, but it's way too quiet to make out the words.

"There's someone else involved, isn't there?" I suddenly hear, as Vessel seems to get more agitated. The guard doesn't answer, so Vessel gets out of his seat, and steps closer to the guard, leaving a few inches gap to threaten him.

"Isn't there?"

The guard remains silent.

"You ever heard how I get information out of people? No? You want to find out?"

The guard takes a deep breath.
"I don't intend to be tortured, Vessel."

"You put the poison in the drink. So tell me, who told you to do that."

"No one. Your fiancé is a heathen, sacrilegious bitch. Along with her psychopath brother, pathetic parents and eventually, so will her brattish little sister."

"Hey, fuck you!" I yell, revealing myself. Vessel's eyes dart in my direction, but he doesn't turn his head away from the guard.

"You should be resting. You don't need to he here. Get out."

I ignore him, and march up to the guard, shoving him with every bit of force I can muster up.

He smiles faintly, in a horribly disturbing way.
"How you feeling?" He asks, taunting me.

"I feel great. I'll be back to normal soon. I guess you suck at poisoning people."

"I don't. I was never intending to kill you. Not yet, anyway. I wanted to hurt you. Looks like it worked." He says, looking me up and down.

"Gaia, get out of here." Vessel hisses, and I can somehow feel his anger getting out of control.

"I deserve to talk to someone that wants me dead." I hiss back at him.

"You really are the worst of all five of you. Do you know that? Sin and evil, but pretty enough to seduce Vessel. A wolf in sheep's clothing."

I stare at him, in complete disbelief, completely unable to comprehend how someone that doesn't know me could hate me this much.

He quickly reaches into his pocket, presumably for his gun, but I'm scared stiff, and can't react. Not strong enough to fight back or run.

Vessel quickly grabs his pocket knife, and swiftly slashes the guard across his throat. There's blood everywhere - all over Vessel's mask and what's exposed of his face. The guard falls to the floor in seconds, and I cover my mouth to stop me screaming, but I can't muffle my crying.

Vessel turns to look at me, and tilts his head.
"He was going to kill you. What else did you want me to do?"

I quickly wipe my eyes and focus on not having a panic attack.
"I would still have someone to torture for information if you had left when I said." He says, sharply, looking at the lifeless body on the floor. I gag, but manage not to be sick, though I lose my balance a little. Vessel quickly holds my side, steadying me.

"Are you angry?" He asks me, suddenly, and I don't answer. I leave, as quickly as I can, and hide in my own room, locking the door, and sitting on the bed. I stare into space for a few hours.

There's a knock at the door, and I sigh, heavily.
"What?"

"Can I come in?" Vessel asks.

"Fine."

He steps in, and takes his mask off, placing it on the bed. He sits beside me, and sighs.

"Do you want to talk about it, or...?"

"No. I want to forget it and run as far as I can."

"You know I was protecting you. Right?"

"Mhm."

"But you're free to go. You always are. Just say the word, I'll get your stuff packed and get you home."

I think about it. Of course I do.

"I'm fine. I'm not going anywhere." I say, suddenly, and take a deep breath.

"I'm putting my security up as much as possible. I intend to still marry you in two weeks, if you'll have me. Nothing is going to ruin that."