Chapter 6 Of Death and Demons
Lucanis was pacing in his quarters. He and Rook had just returned from meeting with Teia and Illario. He didn't know how he could ever repay Teia for stepping up and helping, especially with how his cousin was acting. He was interrupted by a knocking noise. He looked up and saw Rook standing with a mug in her hands.
"Up for some company?" She held up the mug, "I made you coffee."
He walked towards her, and reached for the mug. Their fingers caressing softly as he took the mug from her hands. He brought it up to his lips, the strong aroma calming him. He took a sip, keeping his eyes on her.
"So? How is it?" She was practically bouncing on her toes like an excited puppy. It reminded Lucanis of how she would excitedly show him her drawings or a new magic skill when they were younger.
"Smooth, with hints of chocolate and hazelnut. I approve." Lucanis took another sip, "you known how to charm a man with his favorites, Rook."
"Yeah, well… still waiting to see if I can reap the rewards of that one day…"
Lucanis raised an eyebrow.
"Maker… ignore that I said that," Rook scrunched her face and shook her head, as if hoping to erase the line from reality. Lucanis thought she looked utterly adorable.
Spite agreed.
Rook walked over and sat on his cot. "Anyway," she said, looking up at him, "how are you holding up?"
"Better, once I kill Zara Renata." Lucanis sat down next to Rook with a heavy sigh. "It's my cousin I'm worried about. He's been careless at times, but never when his own life was on the line. Zara took down the First Talon. Anybody could be next. And my cousin doesn't want to think about it."
"He is acting a bit… unusual. I mean, it could be genuine remorse but… I don't know, something keeps wiggling in the back of my mind."
Lucanis hated to agree with her, but Rook's words were true. In his experience, they usually were. He took another drink of the coffee, and sighed, "at least Teia promised to keep an eye and ear out for him"
Lucanis felt Rook shift and scoot back in the cot. He turned his head to look at her. She sat cross legged, with her back against the wall. She patted the space next to her. Like he often did in their years working together, he obliged her.
"Arm," she said.
"So bossy."
"You love it."
He did.
He watched as she pulled a small jar from her pocket. Rook unscrewed the lid, and scooped out a small amount of oily balm with her fingers. It smelled of chamomile and eucalyptus. She grabbed his hand and smeared the balm against his skin. She started massaging it in, her deft fingers working the muscles of his hand and forearm. The purple of her magic crackling against his skin, warming it with each stroke of her thumb.
We match.
"Mierda, I have missed this," Lucanis groaned, letting his head fall back gently to rest on the wall. He closed his eyes, relaxing, just giving into to feel Rook's fingers against his skin. His mind drifted to evening spent in quiet company, of Rook applying her salves and ointments and healing magics to his aching body after particularly difficult jobs. Rook's voice broke through his nostalgic musings:
"Um… you do know we have more comfortable rooms, and infinite space, so, uh… why…?"
Lucanis lolled his head towards Rook and lazily opened an eye to look at her "why does a trained assassin prefer a quiet, unassuming spot with good choke points?"
"Right… stupid question."
"Besides, I'm close to the coffee."
Rook heard voices coming from the Eluvian room.
"Back, demon!," she heard Harding yel, "No further! Isn't standing up to them supposed to work?"
"Let Lucanis go! Don't make us hurt both of you." Taash threatened.
Rook walked up behind the pair, "what's wrong with Lucanis?"
Harding looked at Rook, "it's not Lucanis! It's the demon. It's taken him over- he's trying to leave!"
Rook looked at Lucanis, his back towards her. A hazy purple surrounding him like a mist. She watched as his figure turned towards them. Lucanis's once dark eyes now glowing a bright purple.
"Smells like… jam and brimstone."
Harding look horrified as she looked at Rook. "Rook! Do something!"
"I could. If you MOVE."
Harding stomped her foot and yelled at the man, "so you can take him where? Off a cliff? Or worse?"
The figure of Lucanis suddenly blinked, his eyes clear, voice back to normal, "how did… Rook? Taash? Ah…"
"You tried to walk through the eluvian in your sleep," Harding explained.
"Spite wanted out," Taash said more bluntly. Rook always did appreciate Taash's ability to mince words.
Lucanis pinched the bridge of his nose and grunted, "i need coffee."
Rook knitted her brows together in worry, "Lucanis… are you sure you're ok?"
Lucanis sighed, "this… could be better. It's hard for Spite to take control when I'm awake, so… I try to stay awake."
"You can't just stay awake forever. I think that would kill you!"
"Oh, it can," Rook interjected. "Sleep deprivation is a known torture technique. Very slow way to assassinate somebody, though. Roughly 12 days. If refreshments aren't give, the target will mostly die of dehydration first, though."
Harding's eyes widened as she looked at Rook.
"How do you even know that?" she squeaked out.
Rook shrugged, "Crow stuff."