Disclaimer: I do not own anything concerning Red River. Red River is the work of Chie Shinohara. For the small True Blood-ish references, the TV series is the creation of Alan Ball.True Blood is based on Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse novels.

"I Want to Die"

No rustling sounds are heard around the palace. Some guards complete their shifts while others doze off. Yuri's horse, Aslan, whinnies softly as the first rays of dawn pour down through the stable's nooks and crannies. Kail and Yuri, after another intense night of passion, are still asleep. Nakia awakes with a knowing smile, yet on the back of her mind, she wonders why Uhri is taking so long to find the obsidian bottle. While she turns, Kikkuri bites his lip while looking at Ryui…

"I don't know, Kikkuri! She's never been like this before!"

Shala screams, exasperated. Hadi jumps from the bed. Ryui is slumped against the bed like a forgotten ragdoll, oblivious to her surroundings. Her eyes resemble two black voids and her hair is thinning. Tears roll down her usually cheerful face, then, proceeds once again to shake in anger and frustration. She looks at her twin sister and mutters something to her. Shala is on the verge of breaking down. Kikkuri hugs her tight.

"Shala, you need to calm down… remember the baby…"

Kikkuri tries to sooth her, yet the trembling hint in his voice won't go. Hadi grows desperate.

"We must summon Ilbani at once! We must also inform his majesty and Lady Ishtar!"

Hadi rushes to get dressed while Kikkuri still comforts Shala. Hadi comes out, so Kikkuri leaves the sisters to go to Ilbani.

"I'll go tell Ilbani now, after that go to his majesty's chamber, Hadi. Please let me know if anything else happens."

Hadi nods and holds Shala. Shala in turn holds Ryui while trying to ignore the dreadful language her sister is currently uttering.

"She's had a change of the humors… but worse! She won't eat, sleep…"

"She's probably pregnant and taking it worse than her sister?"

Ilbani throws a quizzical stare at Kikkuri. For all he knows, Kikkuri might be a little too overwhelmed about the prospect of having to look after two pregnant women (plus the possibility of both birthing twins).

"No! Shala is sure Ryui's not expecting. She keeps murmuring in a stupor…"

This time, Ilbani listens in, looking stern.

"All she says, over and over, is… 'I want to die'…"

"We need a physician, but more importantly, we need to know if anyone is behind all this."

Kikkuri runs to find a physician; Ilbani is left behind, racking his memory. He reviews the mental inventory of fetid waters forcefully expelled from the innocent and the unaware.

"Hadi, just because you've already intervened at the right moment for Yuri's sake it doesn't mean I welcome subsequent interruptions…"

"I'm terribly sorry, sir, but Ryui's ill and behaving strangely, we don't know why…"

Yuri gasps, moving away from Kail.

"How's Shala doing? Is Kikkuri all right?"

Kail looks straight at Hadi.

"Has Kikkuri summoned a physician?"

Kail appears cool and collected, Yuri begins to dress as fast as she can.

"I believe Ilbani has already found one as we speak, your majesty."

"Kail, I need to go see them. We need to know if anyone else is affected!"

"No, Princess Yuri! You must stay here with his majesty, we don't know anything yet!"

"I'm going with you, Hadi" Yuri looks resolute, but Kail motions her to stay.

"We wouldn't want another plague… Yuri, you don't know if you're really safe from this!"

Yuri heeds Kail's words, but her tenacity is a second skin. Kail knows this reaction too well now.

"It is best you wait for Ilbani's return. He might stop here to tell me more about the situation…"

Ilbani rushes in, Kikkuri is not with him… he presumably is beside Ryui and Shala again.

"Sir, our physician is frazzled. I suspect it is green water, but I hope I am wrong."

Yuri gasps again and her gaze travels from Kail to Ilbani.

"Green water…? Is this Nakia's doing?"

"Lady Yuri, we don't want to get ahead of ourselves and blame Nakia even when it's a strong possibility…"

Yuri is nervous. Rage is drawing on her features. Just when will Nakia ever stop?

"Sorrow elixir… others even call it 'death water'… Ilbani, we must be careful now. Before we know the Queen Dowager is to blame, we need to be sure how and why the green water reached one of Yuri's aides. That would be all for now, Ilbani."

Kail stands up and dresses himself. Worry etched on his statuesque face, he silently curses Nakia… in the hope that she is the one behind this. It must be her and not an omen signaling disaster.