Paradox Interluder (Usurper #2)

10

Alec clasped the cap on his canteen tightly, wanting to ensure all the water he just collected wouldn't seep out in their journey. What was supposed to be this emergency journey for two, was now for four. He had to conserve as much water as he could, despite this heat. He hated this fucking heat. He hated the sand constantly in his boots or in his mouth, tasting like gritty nothing.

What he hated most, though, was Kaid Al-Yami.

He should have killed him. In fact, he would have if his sister hadn't intervened. Even if it went against his mission, the man deserved to die. Hundreds of men with lesser crimes were beheaded or hung, yet this man walked free. There was still minor satisfaction when Alec was able to see the blood seep from his amputated hand. He only wished it had been his right wrist, his dominant hand that he had cut off.

Alec was a tracker, although his prey was now more human than animalistic. To him, they were one in the same. Trackers used to assist hunters in a good hunt, now, he had become the hunter himself. Alec didn't need to follow a trail of blood, a pile of bodies, or even minor footsteps in the sands to track this man. His scent was strong, diabolical...like sewage laying out in the hot sun.

When the Time Paradox happened, his stench was everywhere. Although, Alec was unable to pinpoint its origin at the time. His reversal of time touched every corner of the Continent, meaning the smell of his usage of Oblivion to track was expansive. The stench was so overwhelming, Alec believed it had been months until he could finally breathe fresh air. Some days, he almost thought Kaid was tracking him when he could smell the malodour in the wind.

It was most likely just in his head, though.

When he was scouting last night, he didn't imagine it. It was so close. Whatever he had used his Oblivion for, to sneak into the cave or possibly hurt his sister...there was no denying he was there. Rage had overtaken him. He didn't even care if his fiery accomplice set him afire. He would have let the fire burn his flesh if it meant making a scratch on Kaid Al-Yami.

What he had not expected was Jessamine's irrational behavior. He watched as she panicked over him. She laid in the pool of blood with him, as if it were an afternoon dip in the beach that Alec remembered they used to do as kids. While Alec had relished in Kaid's screams of pain, as the raven-haired woman cauterized his wound with fire...he saw guilt and fear in his sister's eyes. He saw pain.

If he were to hurt Kaid Al-Yami, somehow, it meant hurting his sister.

How it got to be this way, how the two strangers had intertwined like two trees with connected roots...he wasn't sure. Vrah did not give him many specifics, but had mentioned they must have hated each other. They had betrayed one another, and Alec knew of Kaid's betrayal in ruining the alliance with Lungor. Caladin had ruined that. Jessamine even confirmed that on the train that she hated him.

So why did she act like that last night? Act like this?

Jessamine sat under a shaded palm away from the sun, her body angled towards the small camping tent where Kaid rested in case she saw movement. She cradled her own knees, her feet firmly planted in the sand, and her head buried in a state of pity. Alec almost thought she had fallen asleep in that position but he noticed she rocked herself, as if trying to soothe whatever emotion overcame her.

"Here, drink," Alec spoke softly to her as he walked over, "you should stay hydrated."

"I'm fine," she refuted, but did glance up at him. Her eyes looked red, not as if she had cried, but as if she exerted so much more energy to prevent herself from crying.

"Jessamine, I..." he paused. He wouldn't apologize. No, they couldn't force one out of him, "I thought he was there to hurt you."

"I told you to stop. He stopped fighting you, you know that right? He wouldn't have hurt you," Jessamine shook her head, not believing that.