𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 𖥸 𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩 𝘼𝙣𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙨

02 | Trust Lost

The halls were dark as Pythios exited the training room in order to go make his nighttime check upon the redhead and see how she was doing. Having sparred with Gabriel for the previous three hours, some of the tension he had been feeling in the week since Ciaran's attack on Kyran had at last left his system. He was still in shock as to what had happened.

     The second in command had calmed down since the fight, but still didn't seem to be himself. He mostly stayed either in his room or in the gardens by himself, although Pythios had seen him once in the medbay, sitting next to Kyran in dead silence, watching her every move and studying each breath she took.

     In the week since everything went down, Kyran had opened her eyes, but was still unresponsive. Her sapphire gaze was glassy and dull, almost as if she were awake, but nothing more than a shell. She never spoke, never did anything but breathe, never even looked up from the floor when one of the court members came to visit her.

     She didn't even blink. It was as if she wasn't even there in the room with them.

     And Sīdereus . . .

     Pythios didn't know what had become of the snake since the events in the throne room. In all honesty, the copperhead was rarely sighted at all, obviously either wandering the palace on his own or hidden from sight whenever they entered the room. A few times, he had seen him curled up in his summoner's lap, hissing at the doctors to leave Kyran be or sleeping near her to provide comfort. The man could sense the uneasiness of the serpent, and could also sense the change in his mood since his human had fallen into her state. Whether it be the crazed state an animal fell into when their summoner passed or the fact that the snake was just protecting his human, Pythios didn't know.

     The torches flickered as he passed through the hall silently, heading toward the medbay where the girl was currently resting. He didn't know why he was going to visit her, but it just felt right.

     His footsteps were almost silent and his posture was stiff as he entered the medbay, taking in the condition and furrowing a brow as he took in the frightened healers. "What's going on here? Did another doctor get killed?"

     He could still recall the body that was laying on the floor a week ago, blood staining the clean floors without a trace of a suspect left behind. Who was behind all of this?

     Even as he asked the question, his eyes fell upon the body of the head doctor, laying at the foot of the bed. His throat was bruised as if he had been strangled, and his glassy eyes were open, filled with fear.

     On the bed laid Kyran, in her usual position staring at nothing but the air in front of her. However, he noticed that her face was tilted downward, toward the body.

     Now he was suspicious. Pythios didn't know who to believe if he was being honest. The guards said one thing, and the court said something entirely different. He already knew Ciaran's mind was set in stone and he wouldn't accept anyone else but Kyran as the murderer. He was hard to convince after all.

     But what reason did she have for murdering civilians? Her serpent had only one fang and she didn't have a single weapon in her position. It was like she was being framed . . . but by who? Who would try to pin the blame on a girl with such a wild personality?

     An angry hiss drove him from his thoughts, and Pythios turned around to see a couple of the nurses coming into the room, holding a thrashing, angry copper snake. Sīdereus. And he didn't look happy.

     They practically threw the serpent at Kyran, who didn't even blink when he hit her in the face by mistake. The snake hissed and nudged her face as if apologizing for hitting her, then turned to face everyone else and hissed very aggressively, arching his neck and glaring around.

     Pythios observed the sight with an unreadable expression, his narrowed eyes studying for any sign of a weakness. Any sign of a flaw that could be used against her aside from the obvious one. If what they said was true . . . that if Kyran was actually the murderer, he needed to have his guard up.

     A female healer tried to approach, but the copperhead didn't seem to like that very much, because he wasted no time striking her once she was in range. She let out a cry and jerked back, and Pythios saw with dismay that the snake had administered venom. He had made a strike to kill. There was some sort of crazed and angry look in his copper eyes as he hissed another warning, protecting Kyran. His body was coiled up in her lap, tooth out and ready to strike again.

     Pythios didn't know if he should leave and tell the Queen of what he saw, or simply stand by and continue guarding them. All the proof was right there and there was no denying that she was the one behind the murders. But then again, why?

     "Can you hear the sound of my voice?" He asked the redhead, keeping his voice loud and clear as he looked for any sort of a reaction from her. Anything. "It's obvious you're out of it."  

     Nothing. Not a single reaction came from the girl who was clearly awake, but also clearly not. When he spoke, however, the snake in her lap snapped his head to face him, mouth wide open and displaying that one fang with an angry hiss.
      
     Pythios didn't give the serpent any attention as he focused on Kyran, brow furrowed as he took a step closer. If the snake struck him, he wouldn't be affected by the venom. It was a gift from his deceased spirit animal after all.

     Sīdereus hissed again, another warning. Don't come any closer. Pythios sent the serpent a glare and slightly unsheathed his sword as a warning. If the snake even tried to attack him, he would be ready. He had never seen him so guarded before. Something was up, he knew. The snake never acted like this before.

     "Why so territorial?" He spoke aloud, his voice meant for the serpent before him who was swaying and hissing. "You know me. You know that I hold suspicions and also wouldn't hurt your summoner. You can relax now damn you."

     Sīdereus watched him suspiciously, still baring that one fang that was dripping with venom as he hissed once more. Kyran was still in the position she was moments prior, her eyes dull and her face drained of color.

     Pythios sighed as his hand dropped from where it was resting on the hilt of his sword, and he took a small step back. Maybe he should leave them in peace, see what the rest of the court was up to and discuss what they were planning to do.

     He was nervous, truly nervous to find out what they would plan. Now there was no evidence of anyone else committing the crime so it had to be Kyran. Whether or not she'd be put to death was up to the Queen, although he knew it was highly unlucky that she would kill one of her own bloodsworn.

     Sīdereus nudged Kyran's elbow with a worried hiss, amber eyes unblinkingly staring at his human as he looked for at least some sort of reaction. She didn't move.

     Pythios didn't know if he should pity or chaste the serpent. He knew that they had to do something about the state the girl was in. It was like she was a statue. No emotion in her gaze and no sign of life in her posture.

     Footsteps reached his ears and suddenly Gabriel was standing there, a disapproving look on his face as he eyed the body of the doctor and called for the healers to take it away. His eyes fell on Kyran and a flicker of emotion was there.

     "Still not improving I see," He said with a sigh. Deep down they both knew she wouldn't last long in that state.

     "Nope. What is Asteria planning to do with her? I honestly think she's the one doing it. There isn't anyone else suspected and she's been around the body the whole time. Her serpent has struck one of the healers moments prior and it was a blow to kill," Pythios informed, his voice laced with anger and irritation. He should have known she'd turn on them. She was a street rat after all.

     Gabriel stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Probably toss her back into the dungeons for at least two days until we sort out this mess. We shouldn't instantly convict her when there's the slightest chance someone else is behind her. For now I think it's best if we wait and see how this plays out."

     "Very well then," Pythios nodded reluctantly, taking one glance at Kyran before he looked to the healers carrying the body away. "We'll give her a week. A suitable amount of time for her to prove her innocence."

     When he got the nod of approval from Gabriel, he left the room to have a word with the Queen.