Daemon woke alone in the dimly lit room. His body throbbed with the dull pain that he had now grown a custom to , and still raged with fever. His dim golden eyes fluttered open as something tickled his nose.
Still dazed he grinned. At lease his last vision wouldn't be of the room that Witch had ripped his skin from his body. The room where he choose that his daughter's life was worth more then his. As least he would have this illusion, and a moment of peace before the darkness took him.
Wanting nothing more then the brief moment of comfort he slowly tugged the fur cover over him. Slowly noticed the soft satin sheets caressing his skin. Felt the overly stuffed pillows under his head. If he could have he would have thanked Jaenelle for this moment of kindness. Was certain he would never be given a chance.
His eyes closed once more and everything was still. His breathing slowed and all was as it was before he woke. Quiet , still and safe.
Lucivar carefully pushed the white painted door open. Silently hoped he wouldn't find his brother hadn't passed into the darkness. Prayed to the darkness as hard as he had done when he asked for a queen he would be proud to serve. Smiled when he saw how at peace Daemon looked. Not well , not in the least , but at least at peace.
He knew Daemon had woke. Knew because he was curled up on his side with the covers falling from his shoulder. Shook his head because he had doubted Karla, had doubted Morgahnn. Well he wouldn't doubt them no more.
Carefully he placed the silver tray on the night stand then ever so carefully sat on the bed sitting as close as he dared. As close to Daemon's back he could feel the heat of his body and knew his brother would need the realms best healer to rid him of the infection. He would need Jaenelle but that wasn't even a remote possibility , wouldn't be unless …….
The thought didn't have a change to finish forming before Daemon moved ever so slightly. Wanting to make sure his brother knew who was in the room, Lucivar tried to softly rub his brother's back. Tried to sooth him , comfort him. Stopped when the tears began to stream from his face. Stopped when he could feel Daemon's muscles bunch up under his fingers.
Fool. Idiot. He had seen his brother's back this morning . Had seen the blood glistening on it. Should have known that it would be painful to touch. Cursed himself for not thinking. He sighed and slid his hand over his brother's shoulder in the pretense of bringing the cover back tightly around him. Let his hand linger long enough for his brother to breath in his scent. Cursed again when Daemon began to Coughed and wheeze.
He couldn't help but cough . His brother's scent was strong and burnt like liquid fire pouring into his lungs. Felt like a thousand knifes stabbing his chest as he tried to breath. Daemon bit his lip from coughing again, bit it so that he wouldn't try to speak. Knew his brother wasn't leaving.
His bright gold eyes widened in shock and worry. Realized just being that close he was harming his brother. Harming the one person he didn't want to. Had to apologies. Quickly found the ebon gray thread tried to open a link with Daemon. Found it muted. Dropped to the gray, anger started to build when he couldn't open the link. Accented to the red. To both his and Daemon's birthright , cursed to himself. Tried on the lightest thread. Tried on the white…. Had to stop himself from stepping to the killing edge. Had to remind himself that anger had no place in a healing room. Had to force himself to remember that it would be deadly here.
Couldn't rein in his temper completely but he had to tell his brother that he would be fine. Would tell him at least that much. Couldn't say what he wanted to. Anger filled his voice, " what the hell did she do?"
Pain and fear fled as he rolled over and saw the red haze burning in his brother's eyes. Had seen that rage oh so many times when they were in Terreille. In a course whisper he slowly said, " nothing that wasn't hers to do."
Lucivar reined his temper in a bit more unsure if he had heard his brother correctly. " I'm sorry?"
" I serve freely. It's her right to…" he winced from how dry his throat was. Had to make this right for his brother. Had to. " protect the baby. I'm expendable."
"Like hell you are…" he got up and started to pace. Needed to move, " where are you Daemon?"
Out of all the stupid things ….. " Kaeleer." he said slowly…. At least he thought he was.
" right Kaeleer. Now when in Kaeleer who is law?"
He was dizzy , hungry and wanted fiercely what ever was on that tray. Knew it wasn't for him. " witch is law."
He stopped pacing. Saw how weak his brother was. Decided to push him just a little more. " Glade to see you brain is working. Now what are the three top laws blood live by?"
"honor, cherish, protect." he paused trying to force his voice to work continued, " serve, then obey."
" and if the third interferes with the first?" Lucivar looked at his suspiciously
Daemon took a weak breath. Didn't like where this was going. Knew better not to answer. Really wished he didn't have too. " if I wouldn't have obeyed. I would have killed her."
" no old son you wouldn't have."
" you weren't there!" he tried to yell. It came out in a cracked whimmper.
" No I wasn't . But I would have came if I had known. Father would have…."
" why should he care?…… he wanted me dead long before now."
"he's our father why…."
" I'm …." he started to say it really sure he knew. Whispered because he wasn't , " in the way."
He started to pace again. Then swore quite viciously. Protecting his brother from a witch who was not herself he had been prepared to do. Crossing a line that would have him on opposite side then his father. He looked at Daemon. Saw him scared and alone. Saw that he wasn't asking for anything. Wanted him to ask, " what do you want me to do bastard?" he meant confront their father or sit with him.
" you promised me something once…" he tried to draw a deep breath. Tried and couldn't.
" and what was that?" oh he had promised his brother several things over the years. All of them he meant and all of them he would do if his brother ask……
Daemon tried to sit up. Tried to have his say. " just make it quick."
" just make….." he looked at his brother. Decided his sister was going to spend the next ten years wishing she was a cold water fish. " Lay your ass back down. The only way you becoming demon dead is over my dead body."
" it's already been….."
" Damn it Sadi do I have to drag Karla up here? Believe me the only thing that has been decided is that your going to get two meals in you today and have a sleep web wrapped around you tonight." and that I'm going to have a long talk with the high lord sometime before daybreak.
" but."
Lucivar sighed. Knew his brother was fighting some kind of inner battle and knew by watching him that the ground wasn't even. " Witch isn't well Daemon. There were laws set up just incase of the matter."
" what laws?"
" the coven can be her voice till she is well. And believe me when the little darlings set the terms you better follow them."
" but Witch…. This is a family…."
" yes Daemon this is a family matter and right now you have more sisters then a man needs and more brothers then any sane person needs. along with a realm full of blood that are willing to listen to the coven because they are the coven. Now Lay back and you can eat some of your meal then tack a short nap till Karla decided you need to eat."
He meet his brother's gaze. Knew he didn't have a choice. Was sure if he complained his brother would force his mouth open and stuff the food down his throat. Decided to find out where he was first." where am I?"
" your at Karla's townhouse. Father thought you would be able to rest better here."
" ah." and now he looked around the room. He was a bit calmer, though still foggy. No …. not just a room he corrected a suite , an entire suite. Lavish hand carved white double doors that were open and led to the sitting room were to his left and to his right a single light wood door that was barely open revealing the bathroom. Then there just behind Lucivar was the glass doors that would open to the balcony.
His gaze turned as he followed his nose to the night stand that had the tray and covered dishes on it. Hopeful but still hesitant he asked, " is that ….."
" if you feel up to eating it anyways." Lucivar used craft to float it just over Daemon's lap. Then held the tray on air so he could try to eat.
He had been ready to eat. Wanted more then anything to eat, but memories bubbled to the surface. Daemon eyed the tray. couldn't remember how many times in the past three months Jaenelle had set one in front of him just like this. How many times she temped him only to find some creative way to cause him to cry out from pain when he touched it . He wanted to trust his brother, wanted more then anything to. Wouldn't make him go against his queen . Slowly he slid back down under the covers. Made sure his hands stayed away from the tray . Stayed away from what his body was screaming it needed.
" Daemon try to eat . Please." his heart stopped. He had seen his brother as a slave, had seen him kill . Had never seen him cower. Had never known his brother to be afraid.
" I can't , you know I can't….. Witch…" a war lord prince is expendable. I gave her my choice.
" father burned out the web. He did Daemon I swear he did." his voice broke. Not wanting for his brother to see that he was afraid closed his eyes to steady himself. Closed them then growled. He had to shape the battle field because he didn't like how his brother was reacting to anything. Wasn't liking the thoughts he was picking up , "Now eat or I will pour the stew down your throat and make sure you eat."
He looked into Lucivar's eyes. Knew that intent look. Knew his brother would hold his mouth open and force the food down his throat. He eyed the tray once more. Didn't see what he wanted. Cautiously asked, " coffee?"
" The healing brew will do you better right now." he saw the disappointment in Daemon's eyes. Leaned closer acting like he was telling him a secret, " eat some and I'll sneak you a cup full." it was a bribe he just hoped his brother would take it.
He sat back up slowly. Reached for the spoon , gave his brother one more glance. Watched him get up and dropped his hand. It was a test , he knew it. Looked around the room again tried to find the webs that were creating the illusion. Was sure this had to be some kind of illusion.
He watched his brother trying to fight some inner battle was sure he was loosing more ground. Wanted to curse. Wanted to drag Jaenelle here and force her to fix it. knew she couldn't . " would it help if I eat with you?" it always helped Jaenelle so maybe…. Just maybe it would help Daemon take a few bits.
" you … would?"
" yes old son I will eat with you as long as you eat. " he sat back down and found the gray communication thread. * Karla, are you able to check Daemon's chalice?*
* it's whole , or at least was when I checked…. Why?*
* he's too scared. I've never seen him scared.*
* he's feverish . Get him to eat then help him back to sleep. Once his fever is down he'll be back to snarly I promise. If he's not you can dunk him in the lake. I bet that will perk him right up*
He thought about it. Watched how slowly Daemon was eating. Watched how his hand was shaking as the spoon touched the stew. * might do that anyways.* then he closed the thread.
Lucivar sighed and called in a fork. Decided since it was going to be a chore to get Daemon to drink the broth , he might as well eat the meat . beside he didn't think Daemon would be able to eat anything that required more then swallowing right now. Or at least not till his nerves settled down a lot more.