Chap 4 Poison

"Kali? Is something wrong?" Murtagh asked.

They were sitting at the dinner table. The day had flown very quickly for Eragon. He had met many new people and was thrilled to have company that understood him. Luka had quickly taken a liking to Okapi and Eragon and Luka had quickly taken a liking to each other. He sat beside her with Kali and Murtagh opposite him. Galbatorix sat at the head of the table.

Kali looked up from her untouched plate, "No," she said pushing the plate away from her. "I'm just not very hungry."

In Eragon's opinion, there was something wrong with her. He might just have met her but even he could tell she never acted like she had all day. She had been very quiet that afternoon, occasionally rubbing her back as if it hurt her.

"You've been acting very strangely today," her father commented.

"I'm fine," she insisted. She was quiet for a few minutes while everyone carried on eating. "I think I'll go to bed." Without waiting for an answer she got up and left.

Murtagh and Galbatorix watched her leave before Galbatorix said, "What happened?"

"I don't know," Murtagh replied, "She's been like that since she fell in the bathroom. I don't know," he said frustrated as he threw his knife down, "She's just so stubborn! She won't tell me!"

"She fell? When?"

"When we showed Eragon his room after you huffed about Ajax," Murtagh replied, "But she was fine for a while. I haven't exactly seen her do anything strange."

"I've seen her rubbing her back occasionally," Eragon stated.

Murtagh looked at him for a second, pondering, "But nothing happened to her back."

"She fell when Shruikan was running after her," Galbatorix replied, "Look, she might be back to herself by tomorrow. If she does do something then we'll see but maybe it's just because she is actually tired. She's been running all over Alagaesia while she's been pregnant and she hasn't stopped all day either. Let's see what happens tomorrow."

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"KALI!!"

Eragon bolted out of the bed as he heard a door slam. The sun was streaming in through the window. There was an urgent knocking on his door. He quickly opened it and saw Murtagh looking panicky. "Have you seen Kali?" he asked quickly.

"No." Before he could say anything else, Murtagh was running down the corridor. He quickly followed him to Luka's room where he was knocking frantically until she opened.

"Have you seen Kali?" he repeated.

"No. Murtagh wait!" she yelled as he stared to rundown the corridors. She and Eragon ran after him until they reached a huge black door. Murtagh flung the doors open. Galbatorix was inside the throne room looking at a map that hung on one of the walls. He turned as the sound of the doors banging open.

"Where is Kali?" Galbatorix asked when he noticed she wasn't with Murtagh.

"I was hoping you would know," Murtagh said loudly, "She was gone when I woke up, she won't answer me and I can't find her because her shields are too strong."

Galbatorix looked at him. "Then we have to wait. No, Murtagh!" he said just as Murtagh opened his mouth to protest, "We have to. She'll come back eventually."

"Goodness knows when that would be!" Murtagh yelled.

"Go and have breakfast. Maybe you'd think rationally afterwards," Galbatorix stated. Murtagh looked like he wanted to retort back but withheld it and stormed out. "You two had better go with him."

Eragon and Luka stared at each other for a second before following Murtagh to the kitchens. Any servant that got near him, he snapped at and he refused to eat anything. Eragon and Luka ate quietly as they watched Murtagh fume.

He must really love her, Eragon mused.

From what Thorn's told me, he does. And she him, Saphira stated, they love each other so much that they get into too much trouble for their own good. They are worse than you when they're together.

Goes to show what people do when they are in love, Eragon smiled.

At that moment a servant boy stepped towards them. "Milord," he said to Murtagh, "the king wants to see all of you in the throne room when you've finished. He says it's urgent that you go straight after you're done."

"Thank you," Murtagh replied. The boy scampered off before they all stood and made their way back to the throne room.

"We have a problem," Galbatorix stated as soon as they walked in, "There are two dead guards. They were found this morning near the forest."

"Oh, no," Murtagh clutched his hair in frustration, "She could have come to me, for god's sake!"

Eragon was confused beyond compare. Beside him, Luka have a look of confusion. "What are you talking about?" she asked.

"Kali's dragon side needs blood to survive but it has to be humans or her mate's blood," Galbatorix said as he started to pace, "From her mate she would only need a mouthful but from humans, she would have to suck at least two people dry. Murtagh is her mate so she wouldn't have to kill anyone if she drinks from him."

Eragon and Luka felt sick. "So, is she like a vampire?" Eragon asked. He had read the books on hydras, vampires and phoenixes the night before.

"No. But it's similar," Murtagh stated, "She has to drink at least once a month." The throne room door slammed open. Kali marched in, her hands covered in blood and her eyes locked on Murtagh. "Kali?" he said slowly.

"Murtagh," she smirked as she kept her pace. Her eyes were turning black and her canines started to elongate as an alarming rate.

"Kali," Murtagh started to back away from her, "Stop it."

"Why? Am I scaring you?" she asked tilting her head slightly but not stopping. Murtagh backed away faster. "Sweetie," she said with a sweet smile, "You know I don't like fast food." Murtagh's eyes widened and he bolted for the door. With impossible speed (even for an elf) she blocked his way and jumped on him, bringing them both to the ground. Eragon saw Galbatorix whisper something before Kali flew off Murtagh. She smashed her head against the wall. She slid down, leaving a trail of blood. She moaned slightly before the purple mist started to shiver around her. When it disappeared, she had old, scarred whiplashed, cuts and burnt marks all over her body.

"Murtagh?" Galbatorix said slowly.

"That's more than I've ever seen her have," he whispered. He slowly stepped forward. Kali opened a blurry golden eye.

"I feel like hell," she said quietly, letting her head drop back. She shifted slightly making her shirt ride up.

"Kali, what is that?" he said as he saw part of her abdomen was black. He looked closely and saw it was spreading.

"It's nothing," she protested weakly as he started to pick her up. She felt too weak to move and her head hung limply.

"You should take her to the infirmary," Galbatorix stated as he saw her black stomach, "I've never seen anything like this."

"No, please," Kali begged as the group made their way to the infirmary, "I don't want to go there. Nayara will kill me. Please."

"Honey, stop," Murtagh demanded as he indicated for Eragon to open the door. "All your glamour's are down. You're scaring me." They went in. White single beds were pushed against the wall. None of them were occupied.

"You again!" a woman in her thirties came up to them; "I have had just about enough of you two in here!"

"Nayara, please, keep quiet," Kali whispered.

Nayara looked shocked. "Bed now." Murtagh quickly placed Kali on the nearest bed. Nayara saw the blackness spreading over her stomach and quickly removed her shirt. Kali had the leather piece on. The black was spreading towards the middle of her abdomen and up towards her lungs. She gently touched where it was black and a scream tore out of Kali's throat. Tears were falling from her eyes as she tried to get up but Murtagh pushed her back down. "For how long?"

"We think since yesterday," Galbatorix replied, "But we're not sure."

"Alright, I need everyone out."

"WHAT-!?"

"NO MURTAGH!" Nayara screamed at him, "You want to be with her, I know that, but I can't have you hovering over me like you always do. For once, do what I ask of you."

Eragon touched his shoulder, "It wouldn't do any good if you stayed. Whatever she has is serious." Murtagh took a deep breath as he looked at Kali while letting the others drag him out of the infirmary. Once the doors were closed Murtagh collapsed to the floor.

"Why didn't she tell me?" he said brokenly as he let his back rest on the wall beside the door. Eragon and Luka took a seat on the floor, next to him.

"Because stubbornness runs in both sides of the family," Galbatorix stated staying standing, "And if it doesn't go her way...well you know what happens."

"Yes, but it's one thing to be stubborn; another to refuse when you need what is offered," Murtagh sighed. No one could come with a good reply so they stayed quiet. Hours passed. Murtagh was pacing, Galbatorix was leaning against the wall, Luka was staring at the wall, thinking and Eragon was conversing with Saphira.

The infirmary doors opened and Nayara stepped out before closing the doors behind her. Everyone was looking at her. "We found out what was causing the problem," she said holding out a small glass jar. Inside it was two huge black thorns. "The thorns were in her back but we have a problem. We don't know what type of thorns it is and we don't know if there is a cure or not."

"What do you mean?" asked Galbatorix.

"The thorns are poisonous but only for those with magic in their blood," Nayara stated, "An ordinary human could be pricked with it and nothing would happen. The poison spreads by eating away magic. By eating the magic it feeds off her energy; that is why she is so weak. Kali's dragon side and magic is making the poison spread faster as she is very powerful."

"So what do we do?" Murtagh asked.

"I want to make a few more tests but you can see her if you want," she opened the doors to let them in.

Murtagh rushed inside and quickly took Kali's hand before sitting down on a chair. The others sat down around her. Kali smiled weakly. She looked deathly pale and the blackness now covering her ribs made her look even paler. "So, what's wrong with me?" she asked feebly.

"The thorns from your back are eating your magic and your energy," Murtagh said quietly. "Nay doesn't know if there is a cure."

She held his hand, "Don't worry so much. It'll be the death of you one day."

"Look who's talking. The one laying on the bed looking like death is knocking on your door." Murtagh fell quiet for a second, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Kali sighed slightly. "I don't know. All I remember was waking up last night going to check on River and Ajax and then being thrown against the wall. I don't know what happened in between that."

"You attacked two -," Eragon started. Galbatorix hit him over the head to shut him up.

"What! No!" she looked at Murtagh in panic. He looked away from her, "What did I do?!" she asked a tear trickling out of her eye. No one answered her. "By the fountain?" she whispered.

"No," Murtagh said slowly, "By the forest."

Kali stared at him, "I did something by the fountain. That much I can remember. There are guards patrolling the fountain at night, right?" she looked at her father.

"I'll be right back," Galbatorix said before walking out.

"Please, not more than two," Kali prayed quietly. Another tear leaked out of her eye.

"Hey," Murtagh said gently as he wiped the tear away, "It's going to be fine. It's not that bad. Your father will come up with a good excuse."

"It's not the hanging I'm worried about, Murtagh. It's the fact that I can't remember anything. I can't remember what I did," she cried. Murtagh sat on the bed and held her as she cried, not letting her go even after she stopped.

The door opened again. Galbatorix looked at Murtagh pointedly. "I'll be right back," he said, gently lowering Kali to the bed before disappearing.

I don't understand, Eragon, said Saphira, Oromis never mentioned anything even close to this and elves know everything about plants.

I don't know, Saphira. They are in hidden in the forests and don't come out. Maybe, over time it grew outside of the forests.

Kali looked at Luka and Eragon, "Both of you must think I'm horrible. Killing people for no reason."

"You have a reason," Luka stated.

"I don't think you're horrible," Eragon answered, "But I don't think that I want to see you feeding off people. I'll just leave the room when you do."

"Same," Luka replied.

Kali laughed slightly, "Well, you'd have to leave in a hurry when I do. I'll try to give you a heads up but it comes and it goes as it pleases and sometimes I can't call Murtagh quick enough."

"That's great," Luka said sarcastically, "I'm going to become Kali food just because I can't run fast."

"Stand up for a second," said Eragon getting up himself.

"Why?" Luka asked before standing. She squealed as Eragon picked her up.

"Hmm," he said thoughtfully, "Relatively light," he threw her up slightly before catching up again. She yelped slightly. "And with elven speed I run relatively fast." He looked at Luka. "If you fall behind, I'll carry you," he stated as he put her down.

"Thanks," she replied quietly.

Kali had a small smile on her face before the door opened. Murtagh and Galbatorix can in along with Nayara. "How many?" she asked. No one answered. "How many?" she whispered fiercely.

"Nine," Murtagh replied quietly, not meeting her eye.

"Nine?" she said in disbelief as she sank back into the pillow and starring at the ceiling. Suddenly a dangerous smile appeared on her face, "Oh, dear," she said sarcastically as she looked at Galbatorix, "What is daddy going to do?"

"Kali-"

"Father," she replied still smiling.

"Her shields are up," Murtagh said quietly. Nayara handed him a bottle filled with a stony grey liquid. Kali growled menacingly as he neared her with it. "I'm going to need help," he insisted.

"No magic," Nayara said quickly as Galbatorix opened his mouth. He sighed and walked over to the bed. Kali eyed him warningly as he neared, her head following his direction; away from Murtagh.

Once Galbatorix was on the opposite side of the bed, Murtagh moved forward. Kali's head snapped towards him and Galbatorix used his chance. He pushed her back onto the bed and held her down, one of his hands going to her jaw. He forced it open while Murtagh quickly opened the bottle. Kali snapped at her father and tried to throw him off. She clawed his face leaving four bloody lines on his cheek. Murtagh poured the liquid in her mouth and covered it before she could spit it out. She stopped struggling, looking at Murtagh with fierce eyes but she refused to swallow. He started to rub her throat. Kali whined slightly before she swallowed the grey substance. They got off her quickly as she closed her eyes.

She opened them slowly and looked at Murtagh before looking at the place where he had sat not five minutes before. She looked again. "How did you get there?" she whispered. She looked around the room. "Why can't I hear or feel anything?" she started to panic.

"Honey," Murtagh touched her shoulder. She jumped slightly by the contact. "We had to give you the drug."

"What?" she looked at Nayara, "Give me the antidote." Nayara just shook her head. "Please," she said on the verge of tears, "I can't feel anything. I'm going to go insane. Please, please, please, please," she begged breaking down. Murtagh hugged her, letting her cry on him. When she finally calmed down she saw Nayara was looking guilty. "What's wrong?"

Nayara looked at all of them. "She's killed nine people because her dragon side is weakening. She would be killing more if she hadn't gotten control and even then, her dragon side is taking over to replenish the energy she is losing by the poison. Yet, her dragon and human side are intertwined, letting her know when she kills and when she's normal, am I right?" she asked Kali. She nodded her head.

"I don't understand," said Galbatorix. Everyone else nodded except for Kali.

"She knows when she kills but the poison is weakening her dragon side and magic, making that side take over without her knowing. That is why she can't remember anything and why her glamour's have gone," Nayara explained. She looked at her hands for a second. "I don't know what types of thorns they are. I have never seen them before nor do any of the books I possess explain what they are. There are no plants even similar to this. And as far as I know, there are no herb or plants that can heal it and magic is out of the question; it would just make her weaker."

"So there's no cure?" Luka asked.

"I'm still trying but there is nothing I can find," Nayara answered.

"What happens if we don't find a cure? Would it just destroy the magic?" Murtagh asked.

Before Nayara could answer Kali beat her to it. "Yes. It destroys the magic," she replied staring at something no one could see. "But by destroying it, it might damage the human half too." She looked up to see all of them staring at her. She gave them a small sad smile. "Whether or not it damages anything, it won't matter. Either way...I'm going to die."

N/A: Dun…Dun…Dun. Ohh oh. What will happen?