For the Augusnippets prompt 21: Hallucinations and the Augustofwhump alt prompt "Guilt"
Shit. His hallucinations of Princess Cirilla are becoming worse, more frequent. Does it mean they are getting closer? Or is he going increasingly mad? Sometimes he only catches a glimpse of her from the corner of his eye - wrong, imagines to catch, because she cannot be there, no -, a shimmer of ash-blonde hair between the trees, a flash of vivid, emerald green eyes from among the bushes. Sometimes it is nothing but words whispered by the leaves. You took everything from me. I fantasised about going back, finding you and shoving my sword through your throat until your feathers are soaked in blood. I hate you. Other times the echo of her happy laughter as she dances on a wooden table in a barn. Then there are those that make him freeze for a moment, make him feel sick to his stomach. With blood, lots of blood. Dripping from her hands, bursting into his face. Or gushing from a deep, ugly wound in her cheek. Some hallucinations he cannot ever tell anybody about - for she is naked, with a red rose tattooed on her groin. He has not asked for this. Has never even thought about it in his most secret fantasies. She was just a little girl the first time he saw her, in Cintra when he carried her out of the burning city on his horse - the city he had ordered his army to set on fire. The night when the monolith fell and the earth opened up before his feet, when he feared his head was going to explode from her screams. Why is this happening? Is it some sort of strange punishment of the gods to tease him with what he can never have, what he would not even dare to desire? Aren't the persistent dreams of her enough already? But no, he probably deserves to be haunted and taunted by her also when awake.
"What's wrong, son? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Regis, the higher vampire. Sometimes it feels as if he can look directly into the abyss that is his soul. Is it possible?
"It's nothing," Cahir mumbles, shaking his head. Yet, his hands are shaking, too, as he continues brushing down the horse. Can Regis see it? Dusk has fallen but vampires have no problems seeing in the dark ...
"I believe I have something for you, my young friend. It calms the mind and lends deep, restful sleep. A tincture of valerian, lavender, lemon balm and a few other beneficial herbs. Add three to five drops of it to a cup of water before you go to bed. As soon as you get more rest, the other issues will get better also. I promise." With a smile through pursed lips, the barber surgeon presses a small vial into his hand. The glass feels cold, but smooth and solid.
"Thank you," Cahir says, his voice hoarse all of a sudden. Perhaps he can tell Regis about what is troubling him after all, one of these days? The vampire did a lot of bad things in the past, too, that he regrets. And he is a good friend.