Esteban woke up around noon. Isa and Shuriki were eating their lunch out on the balcony when he got up to find them. Shuriki motioned him over and pointed to the vacant chair beside her wanting him to join them. He made his way to the table and cautiously took a seat.
"Good afternoon, Sleepyhead. About time you woke up," she teased, setting a plate of light, flaky reineta and molleja in front of him.
Esteban felt dazed and shaky, but his stomach grumbled, so he took a bite of the fish and had to try not to moan at how good it tasted. It had been a while since he'd eaten.
"You're working too hard," Shuriki noted as she took a bite of beef pancreas. "You need to slow down, pace yourself. Your health is important. The last thing any of us need is for you to end up ill or worse."
"I'm fine," Esteban mumbled behind a mouthful of grilled fish. "Getting old, I guess."
"We'll remedy that soon enough," she replied, pausing to take a sip of freshly made coconut milk.
Esteban wanted to know what Shuriki meant by that, but felt too nervous to ask. He decided it was likely better if he wasn't aware of her plans. At least he wouldn't have to feign ignorance if things went wrong.
Isabel seemed to be under the weather. She kept using her fork to push around and play with the food on her plate, but she wasn't eating it.
Shuriki noticed too. "Something wrong, little princess?"
Isa hugged herself as doing so would alleviate her pain. "My head and my tummy hurt really bad, and my throat stays dry no matter how much I drink. I'm so hungry and thirsty, Mamá, but nothing I drink or eat helps..."
Shuriki reached over and put her hand on Isabel's forehead to make certain she didn't have a fever. "No worries, darling. I known what to do."
Esteban suddenly felt uncomfortable as he watched the witch bite into her own wrist and offer it to his cousin. Isa was quick to accept, clamping her small mouth around the wound to drink the crimson that leaked out. Esteban wasn't sure whether to get up and leave or stay and watch. It was as if he was witness to some platonic ritual reserved soully for a parent and child, an ancient, sacred act he had no right to observe or even be privy to.
Isa took three large, long gulps then sat back and licked her lips. Shuriki ran her tongue over the bite letting the antitoxin in her saliva clense, disinfect, and fully close the wound on her wrist.
"Better?" Shuriki asked.
Isa nodded. "Mucho mejor. Gracias, Mamá."
"Pozhaluysta, rebenok. Now, run along. Papá and I have some things to discuss."
Isabel did as she was told, though not before going over to the witch for a hug, which Shuriki gave the princess willingly without reproach. Esteban sat there dumbfounded as his cousin skipped through the solar and off down the hall. Only then did it occur to him that he was once again alone with the one he both loved and feared most in the world.
Esteban stood up to excuse himself, but all Shuriki had to do was raise one hand, and his entire body froze. He attempted to flee, but all of his muscles contracted and clenched while his bones suddenly felt hollow, and his legs locked in place. Esteban considered it a miracle he was even able to remain on his feet.
Shuriki swayed a bit when she first stood up from her chair. Esteban saw her grasp the edge of the table to help steady herself. He kept trying to fight her hold on him as she took a moment to compose herself and regain her full strength.
Her tone when she spoke was a blend of amusement and nonchalance. "Stop struggling. It won't help. We both know you're no match for my magic." Esteban swallowed the lump in his throat. Sweat broke out along his brow and ran down the back of his neck as Shuriki made her way towards him. "I told you before...I'm not interested in or intent on causing you harm, Esteban." Her voice softened to a whisper as she came to a halt right in front of him. "I'm your wife and I love you dearly. All that I am, all that I have, I owe to you, my boy. Isn't that what you desire? Aren't those words what you've always wanted to hear?"
Esteban turned his head when she met his eye. He couldn't stomach the feel of those emerald orbs. They pierced him in ways that no sword, spear or arrow ever could.
Shuriki's lips pulled back in a smirk. His gaze flickered from the floor to her and back when he saw a hint of fang. "Well, I guess it's true what they say. Be careful what you wish for. You might just get it."
She relinquished her hold on his body.
Esteban stumbled releasing a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He somehow kept his footing despite what'd transpired and made his way to the nearest exit Esteban slammed, locked, and bolted the mahogany door behind him before leaning against it.
He knew the heavy wood and its metal fastenings wouldn't keep Shuriki out if she truly wanted to get in, but having a barrier - no matter how thin - between them made him feel some semblance of relief - albeit barely.
Silent tears burned his eyes and barely audible sobs shook his body as he sank to the floor. Esteban couldn't understand why or how his life had become such a nightmare. Oh, he'd made some terrible choices through the years, but he'd been a decent child. Who had he angered and what had he said or done to deserve this treatment? All he'd ever wanted was to be loved, respected, and heard. Nobody had listened to him. If they had...
Esteban shook his head. There was no sense in pondering what might've been. He'd made this bed and he'd have to lay in it. Shuriki would never let him or Isa go. They knew what would happen if he or his young cousin tried to leave. There was no way out for either of them that didn't end in death or innocent people suffering the harsh consequences of their actions.
Esteban pulled his handkerchief from his coat, dabbed at his eyes, and wiped his face. It wouldn't do for others to see him disheveled. He was still chancellor. It was up to him to set an example for the others serving on the palace staff.
Fortunately, he'd retreated into the washroom. There was a basin full of fresh water, soap, and a cloth set out on the counter. He used them to clean his face and rest of his body.
Shuriki was gone by the time he finished bathing. He figured she was likely off in some other part of the palace torturing some other wretch unlucky enough to cross her path.
Better him than me, Esteban thought as he hurried into his office.
He had work to do and barely enough time to get it done. He didn't need her breathing down his neck, looking over his shoulder, or any other nonsense that would make his job more difficult than it already was.
While Esteban was busy chancelloring, Shuriki was in her room observing the Nuñez boy and his cohorts through her silver hand mirror. She'd been keeping a close eye on them for quite some time, calculating all their possible moves and listening in on their conversations.
The witch hissed at the images reflected in the polished glass resting in her palm. The harbor master's daughter was more intelligent than she had any right to be for someone of her social class. Shuriki berated herself for not executing Rafa de Alva back when her first reign had begun. No. Instead, she'd shown mercy to the de Alva bitch at Esteban's request, and now Alacazar's grandson was about as much of a pain in her royal ass as his predecessor.
Shuriki waved her hand. The images dissolved and she placed the mirror back on her vanity before resting her chin on her hands.
So Nuñez, de Alva and their imbecilic friends wanted to do things the hard way? The witch's lips curved up and back into a wicked smile. So be it.
Shuriki grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill from the ink pot on her desk and began penning a letter. Those fools had underestimated her for the last time.
