Chapter 4: Second Night of Winsol

Chapter 4: Second Night of Winsol

Lizaveta

As she woke up, Lizaveta had the feeling of an empty husk, dried and hollowed out. She sat up in her bed, putting a hand to her forehead, and looked around. The room was empty save for a few massive bouquets of flowers that were standing solitary on the floor or on some surface or another. She slowly pushed back the blankets and threw her bare legs over the edge of the bed. Her shift had ridden up in the evening, and was damp with old sweat. Blanching, Lizaveta stood on shaky legs, wondering why she was so weak.

She couldn't remember all of the events of the night before and this worried her. Looking at her hands, Lizaveta saw the ornate band of precious jewels and furrowed her brows. She remembered that this was a present from Stephan, and that it wasn't spelled, but didn't know if the weakness had come before or after receiving it.

"Lizzie?" The door opened a crack and the dark haired head of her brother popped in. Lizaveta adjusted her shift and wrapped her arms over her breasts, feeling a little immodest.

"Yes?" She snapped testily. Luther sighed but put a hand over his eyes.

"You're feeling better then?" He inquired.

"Much. Is Jaenelle here?" Lizaveta asked in reply. Luther shook his head, keeping his eyes covered.

"No but Angeline is. I'll send her in." He said. Before Lizaveta could protest, Luther was gone and the door shut swiftly behind him. And before Lizaveta could let out her sigh, the door burst open and Angeline strode in. The Eyrien shut the door using Craft and walked up to Lizaveta. Her Opal Jewel glittered in the dim light, as opals were prone to do, but that unnerved Lizaveta a little.

"How do you feel?" Angelina asked.

"A little weird." Lizaveta replied hesitantly.

Talk to me like this. Follow me down. Angelina said over the distaff White thread.

Why? Lizaveta replied, over the White.

Jaenelle noticed something odd. Just follow me down. We'll take this slow. Angeline replied, this time over the Yellow.

Should I be worried?

Maybe. Angeline answered honestly, sliding her way down the Tiger Eye. Lizaveta was silent as her throat tightened.

Can you hear me? Angeline asked, still over the Tiger Eye. Her face was expressionless and her tone, even on the threads, were calm and sure.

Yes. Lizaveta choked out. She felt herself receding and was alarmed by the sudden force of Angeline's psychic presence in her mind.

Oh sweet Darkness! She has no shields! The cry of outrage rushed at Lizaveta from the blood Opal, slamming into Lizaveta's raw and exposed inner web. Her Birth Rite Red flared up in response to shield her, but there was no answer from the Black.

When Angeline finally realized what she was doing and pulled away, Lizaveta was reeling on her feet.

"Someone!" Angeline called out and helped Lizaveta to her bed. The door burst open and, much to Lizaveta's surprise, Gregory bolted into the room.

"What's the matter?" He questioned, getting to Lizaveta's side in a matter of moments.

"She has no shields. Her inner web is exposed. Her Red jumped up and rebuked my Opal, but her Black didn't respond." Angeline explained, her tone now losing its strength and warbling a little.

"I had thought this was going to happened. I had prayed that I was wrong." The feminine voice came from the doorway but Lizaveta was too exhausted to turn her head, though she knew who it was.

"Enough Rhys! She's weak." A sharp remark spoke up from beyond the door, and Lizaveta flinched.

"Lizaveta," Jaenelle's voice swam closer and it caused the room to spin. "I need you to answer something for me, and I need you to answer me honestly." Lizaveta shut her eyes against the bucking room just as Jaenelle sat down on the bed at her feet.

"Okay." Lizaveta said through clenched teeth.

"I need you to reach for your Black, slowly. Do you want my help?" Jaenelle said. Lizaveta nodded and felt the lightest brush of a psychic thread swell next to her inner web. Lizaveta reached out with her Red and felt a little relief. She had seen Witch before, had held her hand to descend to the Black during certain fragile lessons, and it was always a comfort to be in the hands of someone so powerful, though Lizaveta could also see how that would be frightening.

"Let us take a trip." Witch said. Lizaveta nodded and felt Witch pull on her a little, tugging her downward.

"We mustn't spiral or else I could lose you to the Twisted Kingdom." Witch, with a little touch of Jaenelle, said.

"I'm scared." Lizaveta finally admitted.

"Don't be. You are a daughter of my heart, I would not let one of my children go to that place." Witch said, her face still stern despite her comments. Lizaveta nodded, but kept her psychic grip on Jaenelle. She had never been to her reservoir of power before, had only seen the tube-like cavern that had her webs stretched across it. So when Witch paused, Lizaveta was almost unnerved not to see them.

"Well." Witch said and alarmed Lizaveta. This was not something she had wanted to here.

"Look child." Witch said, urging Lizaveta forward. Lizaveta peered forward and saw a large basin, a dark liquid sitting still inside of it.

"What is that?" Lizaveta questioned.

"The power of your Black Jewel, or the psychic manifestation of it. There is another of about this size that contains your Red and two smaller ones that hold your own psychic energy in both the Red and the Black. This should be moving, reacting to your psychic presence and reacting to the rest of the world." Witch explained. A sudden terror filled Lizaveta.

"A-am I b-b-broken?" She asked, her lip quivering as she tried to keep herself together. Loosing her hold this close to her own inner web could cause problems.

"No. You are just unable to tap into your Black Jewel. You still have a small reserve that you were given during your Offering. You just cannot harness your Black Jewel." Witch replied. Lizaveta felt her nerves fraying and squeezed Witch's hand.

"I want to go back." She whispered.

"One moment child." Witch said, and then went still. Her face was calm but stern, like she was listening to something. But Lizaveta could sense nothing and the still sheen of the black liquid frightened her. Finally, Witch gathered what she needed and then began to move away from the edge. She pulled Lizaveta upward and soon, she felt herself reaching through the haze of her inner webs and back into the physical world. She jumped a little when she saw a close-up view of Andulvar's face.

"What?" She squawked and sat upright.

"Just checkin'." He replied and backed away. Lizaveta looked around and saw Jaenelle stand to move closer to Daemon. Rhys leaned against the far wall, looking like he was ready to jump out of his skin.

"What's wrong with me?" Lizaveta asked.

"I don't quite know. There is a tangled web of black roots that has compromised your inner shields, leaving your inner web exposed. There is also a cap on your Black Jewel. It doesn't feel permanent, but I could be wrong. It feels like it could become something much more sinister. And as much as some of us would like to blame Lord Tremont for this, event, Prince Gregory is just as suspicious and I have found no trace of anything malicious on the gift he gave her." Jaenelle explained. Fighting the urge to look over at Gregory, Lizaveta instead turned the band on her finger and stared at the rotating gems.

"Excuse me." A lilt voice spoke up from the doorway. Seven pairs of eyes turned and the small serving girl wilted under the stare.

"There's a Lord Tremont here to see the Lady." The young woman stammered.

"I'll see him in a moment. See him into the entrance room and get him a refreshment." Lizaveta said. The woman curtsied and backed away as quickly as protocol allowed. When she was gone, the others immediately turned on Lizaveta.

"You're going to see him after this?" Andulvar exploded. Lizaveta gave him a dark glare but said nothing.

"I agree, I do not think this is wise." Rhys growled from his position against the wall. Lizaveta turned her stare on him and narrowed it.

"I don't think this is any of your business." Lizaveta retorted. Rhys snarled. Lizaveta snarled back.

"Lizaveta." Jaenelle's voice was commanding and Lizaveta turned, a little shamed at her behavior.

"Do you want to see him?" She questioned. Lizaveta hesitated to think over her answer.

"Yes." She said evenly. Jaenelle nodded and took Daemon's arm.

"Then escort us out and you can have your day with him. But bring Andulvar with you, seeing as how you are still ill." Jaenelle replied. Lizaveta bowed her head in response.

"Of course Jaenelle." She murmured.

Stephan

Seeing Jaenelle and Daemon walk out of Lizaveta's bedroom made Stephan's pulse leap in his body. Still, he controlled his features as he bowed when they walked by. Luther had already started making him uncomfortable as soon as he walked in, making Stephan wonder if they had any idea. But here was the Ebony Witch, if she snubbed him, he would know something was wrong.

"Good day Lord Tremont. Do take care of Lizaveta, she still isn't feeling well." Jaenelle said and smiled at him warmly. Stephan relaxed and returned her smile.

"Of course my Lady." He said and bowed again. After them trailed an Eyrien woman, walking a little too briskly to be seen as relaxed. She turned for a moment and snarled at the man behind her.

"Come on Rhys." She snapped. Stephan looked on in silence as the wild man the Priestess called Traitor walked by. His hands were hidden in his pockets and he didn't look at Stephan as he passed, but with his hay-colored hair pulled back, Stephan could see the sharp cut of his face. There was a feral familiarity between him and the Priestess. Stephan shivered in the wake of the Traitor and turned to see more people walk out of Lizaveta's bedroom. The Eyrien male known as Andulvar walked out in front of Gregory and Lizaveta, she being draped daintily over his arm. She looked a little paler, something Stephan had thought would be unlikely, and her face was a little drawn.

"I will see you for dinner then?" Gregory said. Lizaveta pulled away and patted Gregory's hand before stepping away.

"Of course. I may take a nap so please, send me a little notice before dropping in on me." She replied. Gregory smiled, bowed, and snatched her hand back to place a light kiss on it before skittering away to avoid her swat. Stephan's blood boiled and he was tempted to trip the Prince as the man walked by.

"Tremont." Greogry said tersely as he passed.

"Your Highness." Stephan said graciously and bowed in an exaggerated fashion.

"Snarly males." Lizaveta sighed after Gregory had disappeared.

"Well we snarly males do raise our hackles when a Lady suddenly falls ill and we have no idea what ails her." Stephan replied as he turned to her.

"So I see." Lizaveta said with a smile and sat down on one of the lush lounges in the room. Stephan sat across from her, finally looking at the small platter the serving girl had brought in earlier.

"Would you like some tea?" Stephan asked, gesturing to the small teapot that steamed from the platter.

"Did you really come here to serve me tea? I had no idea men would go to such lengths to fuss." Lizaveta quipped. Stephan smiled, genuinely enjoying her wit.

"Actually, I heard that fresh air does wonders for any sickness. I wanted to see if you would take a light walk with me around the rose gardens." Stephan said.

"Absolutely not." Andulvar hissed. Both Stephan and Lizaveta turned and found him standing in the nearest corner with Luther.

"My, I hadn't realized you could throw your voice Lizaveta. That was a marvelous trick." Stephan said and looked back the Lizaveta, who rolled her eyes and sighed.

"I would love to. But, unfortunately, I think we will be followed by both the snarling one and the sulking one." She said.

"As long as I am in your company, I think that will be fine." Stephan replied.

"Are you alright Lizaveta?" Stephan inquired. He, as promised, had kept the walk light, and Lizaveta had managed to keep her brother and the Eyrien at some distance. Still, as they made their way through the garden, Lizaveta became flushed and a little dizzy. They came to a small fountain and Stephan offered that they sit and relax a while.

"Just feeling a little dizzy." She answered as she perched herself on the edge of the fountain.

"I'll go get a tonic from Jaenelle." Luther offered and scurried away before she could refuse.

"Uh. I love Jaenelle but if I have to drink another tonic, I think I'll just stay in bed from here on after." Lizaveta muttered. Stephan chuckled and pulled a flask out of his jacket pocket.

"Here, drink this. It's my own specialty that gets me through some of the more tedious meetings I have to go through." He said. As Lizaveta took it and unscrewed the top, Andulvar jumped forward, ready to knock the thing out of her hands.

"Did you even probe it?" He demanded. Lizaveta glared at him, a blush deepening her already flushed face.

"Oh shut it Andulvar. It's fine. I'm sure Stephan would love to poison me right in front of a raging Eyrien male." She snapped. Out of defiance, she knocked back the flask and drank its contents, handing the emptied container back to Stephan. When she realized what she did, she looked at Stephan apologetically.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Stephan! I drank it all. Sometimes I can be so childish." She said. Stephan smiled and replaced the flask back into his jacket pocket.

"Nonsense. It was a tonic I had made up for you especially. I was wondering how I was going to get you to drink it all." Stephan replied. As he talked, he kept his hand in his pocket and vanished the flask, calling in an identical one that held the dregs of a tonic he had made, and poured out, hours earlier.

"Sneaky, sneaky." Lizaveta muttered. After she spoke, her face changed and Lizaveta seemed to be in the throes of mild discomfort.

"Lizzie? Are you okay?" Andulvar reached forward and put his hand to her forehead.

"She looks fevered." Stephan said.

"What was in that tonic?" Andulvar snapped, turning on him.

"Nothing unusual." Stephan sputtered, looking back at Lizaveta. She had closed her eyes and beads of sweat started appearing on her skin.

"Go. Get. Jaenelle." She hissed through clenched teeth. Andulvar gritted his teeth and looked back at Stephan.

"Keep her here. If she's any worse or gone when I get back, I will kill you, no questions asked." He threatened and then dashed off, running back the same way Luther had gone.

"Are. You. Trying. To. Kill. Me. Stephan?" Lizaveta asked.

"No. If I could have my way, I would keep you with me forever Lizaveta." Stephan answered honestly. Lizaveta smiled and leaned on him, tucking her head into the space where his neck met his shoulders.

"I. Thought. So." She said and tried to steady her breathing. Stephan held her with one arm and stroked her hair with his free hand.

"Why does this always happen when you're with me? Can't you faint when you're with Gregory? Then I could have you all to myself and not have your bodyguards think I'm trying to harm you." He said. Lizaveta coughed out a small laugh.

"I. Would. Rather. Not. Faint. At. All." The last word was forced out in a short breath and Stephan shushed her.

"Just relax right now Lizaveta. I'm sure your brother is on his way back with reinforcements who are going to shove me off and steal you away." Stephan said. Lizaveta made no reply and Stephan covertly checked to see if her breathing was still steady and strong. She was most likely asleep.

Stephan was worried. He had mixed the day's dosage of powder in with the liquid spell. He had wondered if that would damage Lizaveta but it only seemed to be having the same effect as yesterday, which was worse on Lizaveta's already weakened body. Now he had no idea what came next.

"Don't you want to be with me Lizaveta?" He asked absently as he ran his fingers through her hair.

"Of course Stephan. Forever and for always." Lizaveta murmured. Stephan smiled, twisting a lock of her hair over his finger.

"Then be with me Lizaveta. Only I can make you feel better. Everyone else is just in the way." He whispered.

"I will not be separated from you." Lizaveta said forcibly, strange for her exhausted state.

"No, no you won't."