Of Plays & Ploys

6. Now: Life and Death

*this chapter contains sensitive & mature themes.

———

Joden reached into his pocket, pulling out a syringe and injecting it into Ilsea's arm.

"What are you doing to our Princess, Ovoamdian!" The archduke shouted. "Guards, seize him!"

"Haifs!" Lady Schorde shouted.
The burly man grabbed the two guards with ease, as though they were merely sacks of flour.

It was pure chaos. Everyone was shouting, some were crying, and a few were trying to pull Joden away from the princess. Only the foreigner stood his ground no matter how much they tugged; an anchor unfazed by the ocean's currents.

Finally, the princess seemed to calm down. She reached out to Joden with every bit of strength she had left.

"I owe you my life." She whispered.

And the room fell silent.

———

Leordak had never knew fear. He knew of joy, pride and power. Leordak valued his life, yes, but didn't fear losing it. Where life goes, death would follow - there's no getting in between them. There's no use fearing the inevitable.

Leordak met fear the night death threatened to pull him. Not for fear of his life but for fear he'd leave the world and leave his hurt sister behind. He knew love, yes, but never knew that pain could follow. He realized too late that love had requirements; that it had limits. Leordak desperately wanted Ilsea to cherish and respect him again; however, he'll always be part of her pain. If love came with pain, Leordak would gladly carry both twofold in place of his sister.

Leordak met terror when he watched his only sister fighting death, clawing at her neck for a breath of air. He knew terror when his sister could've left the world from an agonizing attack; writhing and screaming in pain right in front of him - and all he did was fall to his knees.

———

Sjane and Joden had been waiting for Leordak for hours before he finally stepped in. The prince returned with the scent of death; its fragrance dyeing his hands and clothes the deepest shade of red.

"... Did you get any new intel out of him?" Sjane asked Leordak cautiously.
"Nothing." He spat.

Leordak's hands were throbbing with hints of his bones creeping through his broken skin. He quickly unbuttoned his shirt, eager to get the scent of blood off of himself.

"Take care of yourself." Sjane said. "Smashing a wall isn't gonna do your sister any favors."

Leordak paused momentarily, fighting the urge to punch Sjane.

"Skull." The prince replied in a hushed tone.
"What?" Sjane said, puzzled.
"I was smashing his skull."

Sjane and Leordak looked at each other. What the fuck.

"She's alright now, the doctor said there's no longer a threat to her life." Sjane said.

Leordak glanced at Sjane. The idiot isn't doing himself any favors.

"Until I smash their leader's head in, there is a threat to her life!" Leordak shouted. "That doctor couldn't even tell what poison was used! He doesn't know what made my sister -" he chocked, tears threatening to roll. "We don't know what poison made my sister nearly suffocate to death."

Leordak was glad Joden had stayed silent; he didn't know what to think of him yet. What did he use on her? Why did he have the antidote, but wait until she's withering from pain to use it? Why did he have it in the first place?!