Collaterals

Not Alone

A/N: Ran a little late today; my bad. Busy month! As usual, feedback and conversation in general are always encouraged! 

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"Who goes there?!"

"Haitham—" Leila started in realization.

With his neck craned as though to get a better glimpse of their assailant, Haitham called into the darkness, "Show yourself!"

And so the Diviner stepped past the beige drapes.

"What—" Haitham recoiled. He sighed, the knife clattering atop the nightstand. He spoke as he crossed the distance, "In all the times of night, honestly, must I have visitors when all— oh. I'm terribly sorry. Who...are you?"

He frowned as he looked over the Female Diviner, now looking up at him in distaste. Almost apologetically, he let go of the hood he'd all too comfortably reached for and snatched aside, taking a step back as she pulled her hood up once more. Haitham looked between the Diviner and Leila, "Oh. Yours, then?"

Leila nodded. Who did he think it was?

Haitham shook his head. "This night is proving..." he gulped as he walked back to his bed, throwing a glance at the Diviner. "If my sister has displayed enough control to perform an execution come tomorrow afternoon, Diviner, then I dare say she may be left alone with me for the night, no?"

The Diviner did not move. Leila could only scarcely make out how the Diviner's lips twisted into an even deeper frown. Slowly, her chin turned, looking to Leila. Hiatham muttered what could've been a curse, sitting onto his bed once more as Leila nodded to the Diviner.

And so the silent woman turned, disappearing past the beige drapes and leaving them alone, the click of the door sounding through the room. In the moment it'd taken for Leila to turn her head, Haitham had already taken a sip of his drink. The Princess only watched with dismay as she fetched the pamphlet from the pocket of her robe and tossed it onto the nightstand. Haitham looked to her, a moment, before picking up the pamphlet, unfolding it with one hand. 

He cringed as he tried to read through the darkness. Leila looked to the candle by his side in focus. One breath, another, then— the flame burst alive, rushing far higher than Liela had intended for it to.

"Oh!" Haitham yelped as, instinctively, he tossed his drink onto the flame.

It only served to further feed the flames, now rushing to the ceiling. Leila smirked as she watched her brother shake his head, setting the cup down before he wringing his wet hand out, muttering, "Cocky. Simply cocky."

"I thought to better your reading experience."

"Oh, how very considerate," he threw her a look as he reached for a handkerchief, taking it to his hand until he was dry before discarding of it and returning to the pamphlet. He snorted, "Execution by Means of Divine Flame: A Guide and History." Haitham looked up at her,  waving the pamphlet in the air, "They handed you this?"

"After the council meeting."

His face darkened as though in memory. "I see. Well..." Haitham handed her the pamphlet, "I surmise you're more than prepared, then?"

"To take a man's life?"

"Five men," Haitham corrected. 

Blood slowed in her vessels, the night's air suddenly all too cool atop her skin. Leila clutched the armrest to her side.

Five must fall.

"Five men?"

"Did you not think to pay a visit to the dungeons?" The rising panic gnawing at Leila's chest must've manifested on her face because Haitham straightened, tone almost calming as he amended, "Perhaps it is for the best you did not. Best their kind only be seen in chains on a pyre."