Alex carefully poured a small amount of the ointment into his hand, the strange, shimmering substance reflecting the sunlight. As he gently applied it to Ivana's back, she shivered, a mix of relief and pain washing over her. The sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled patterns on the ground and adding a serene backdrop to the tense moment.
“Hold still. This should help,” Alex said softly, his voice steady despite the gravity of the situation. The black char on her back sizzled and hissed as the ointment made contact, slowly beginning to fade.
–
“C’mom stop moving,” she commanded.
Ivana bit her lip, her body tensing as the ointment worked its magic. “It burns,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“I know,” Sera replied, her hands steady. “But it’s the only way to draw out the poison. You’ll feel better soon, I promise.”
–
As he worked, Alex couldn’t help but marvel at her strength. Despite the immense pain, she remained composed, her eyes closed, focusing on her breathing. He couldn’t imagine enduring such agony and still being able to stand, let alone lead.
After a few minutes, the black char had significantly receded, leaving behind raw, but healing skin. “That’s the worst of it,” Alex said, stepping back to give her some space as she slowly covered herself. “You should start feeling better soon.”
Ivana remained silent for a moment, her breathing heavy. Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you, Alex.”
He nodded, feeling a rush of relief. “You’re welcome. Just rest for a bit. We’ll continue when you’re ready.”
“I wonder what's inside this,” Alex questioned as he raised the bottle to the sky, inspecting the strange inscription on it. It was a language that he had never seen or heard of.
“It’s… it’s…,” she began slowly, clutching her hands on her lap. “Sera’s blood.”
His eyes widened in shock as he slowly brought down the bottle and looked at her in disbelief. “What do you mean it’s her blood? But the stuff is crystal clear.”
“It is. Well, it was,” she began. “Human blood contains something that can counteract the devil’s poisoning. Nobody wanted to sacrifice their blood for me, until Sera volunteered. Her blood is collected and distilled carefully, leaving the plasma, and it's further refined until it becomes crystal clear. The inscription on it keeps the contents from reacting with the bottle; it’s some crazy magic.”
“Wow, Sera’s blood?” he muttered as he looked more carefully at the container. “What’s this devil poisoning?”
She sighed as she turned her face to the sky before looking back at Alex. His face showed a genuine desire to understand. She could ignore him, but she couldn’t ignore the fact he had helped her now. It wouldn’t hurt if he knew about it, and besides, maybe Sera had already explained everything to him. But what was really going on between them?
Seeing how she struggled to speak up, he added, “Well, it’s fine if you don’t answer. I don’t want to make you do things you don’t want to. You don’t owe me anything,” Alex replied. “Just take care of yourself.”
She shook her head. “No, I do. You deserve to know why I’ve been acting this way.” She took a deep breath, wincing slightly but continuing. “The devil’s poisoning… It's the after-effect of using my powers. It doesn’t hurt when I use a small percentage of my power, but when it reaches higher levels, it begins to burn, leaving scars on my back. Most people think my abilities are all gain and no loss, but the truth is, they come at a very high cost. The more I use my powers, the more I get scared, and it really affects my mood.”
YOU ARE READING
Royal Mystery
Mystery / Thriller"Have you considered her? Do you think she can keep it together?" "The queen?" Adrian nodded. "Yes, but there's little to ponder. Whoever's behind this won't escape unscathed." "Do you think she can confront them all with her demonic nature?" "She c...
