IN A FEW DAYS
XAVIER'S POINT OF VIEW:
The castle was quiet. Too quiet. I stood outside Isabella's room, arms crossed, watching the flickering candlelight inside. She hadn't woken up since I brought her here. It had been days, and yet she still slept her breathing steady but worryingly shallow. I hated it. Isabella was many things stubborn, frustrating, impossible, but she was never silent. I ran a hand through my hair, sighing. Just as I turned away, the sound of heavy footsteps reached my ears. My mood soured instantly. I already knew who it was.
"Alastor."I muttered.
The high priest strode down the hall, dressed in his ever perfect white robes, green eyes sharp and unreadable. His presence alone felt like an intrusion. I stepped forward before he could get any closer.
"What the hell are you doing here?"I asked.
Alastor didn't even flinch.
"Checking on her."Alastor said.
I scoffed.
"She doesn't need you."I said.
"She belongs to the temple."Alastor said.
I felt my hands clench.
"She doesn't belong to anyone."I said.
Alastor's gaze flickered to the door behind me.
"Then move."He said.
I didn't. Neither of us spoke. The tension between us was thick, suffocating. He might've been a so called holy man, but I didn't trust him not for a damn second. Then a soft noise came from the room. Both of our heads snapped toward the door. A weak, shaky breath. A rustle of sheets. Then Isabella opened her eyes.
"W-What…?" Isabella's said.
I pushed past Alastor and threw the door open. There she was. Sitting up, her dark hair tangled, her pale hands clutching the blankets. Her wide, light blue eyes darted around the room in sheer panic. Her chest rose and fell too fast, like she couldn't breathe. I took a step forward.
"Isabella-"I said.
She flinched. That single movement sent something sharp through my chest. She looked like a trapped animal, eyes darting between me and Alastor like we were both enemies.
"I, where-" Her breath hitched. She gripped the sheets tighter.
Alastor spoke first.
"You're safe."He said.
She turned to him, eyes going even wider. Her face paled. I could see the exact moment she realized where she was.
"No." She whispered.
And then she tried to run. I barely caught her wrist before she could stumble off the bed.
"Whoa stop Isabella." I said, voice firm. "You'll hurt yourself."
She struggled, weak but desperate.
"Let go."She said.
Alastor reached forward as well, but she recoiled like he'd burned her. Her breathing became erratic. Too fast. Her whole body trembled, panic written in every inch of her. I exchanged a glance with Alastor. For once, he looked just as lost as I felt.
AT THE SAME TIME
ISABELLA'S POINT OF VIEW:
No. No, no, no. My hands trembled as I stared at the glowing screen only I could see. My stomach twisted, a cold dread settling deep in my bones.
"Updated Affection Levels Xavier: 42% Alastor: 15%." System said.
No. My chest tightened. My breath hitched. My vision blurred at the edges. The numbers had risen up. The numbers were never supposed to rise. A sharp ringing filled my ears, drowning out the voices around me. I clutched at my chest, gasping. I couldn't get enough air.
"Isabella?" Xavier's voice.
Distant. Concerned. A hand warm, steady gripped my wrist. I jerked back instinctively, barely processing who it was. I needed to leave. I needed to go. But my legs wouldn't move. My arms felt too heavy. My heart was hammering, pounding against my ribs so violently it hurt.
I couldn't breathe.
""I-" My voice barely came out.
Alastor was saying something too, his voice lower, more careful. But it was muffled, lost beneath the sound of my own ragged breathing. The room spun. The air felt thick, suffocating. A sudden wave of dizziness crashed over me. My body swayed. And then I collapsed.
Somewhere in the haze, I heard them both call my name. Xavier's voice was the loudest.
AT THE SAME TIME
XAVIER'S POINT OF VIEW:
My heart nearly stopped. One second, she was gasping for air, trembling like a cornered animal then the next, she just collapsed.
"Isabella!"I shouted.
I lunged forward, catching her before she could hit the floor. Her body was limp in my arms, her breathing shallow. Too shallow.
"She's burning up." I muttered, pressing my hand against her forehead.
Her skin was ice-cold and burning hot all at once. Alastor knelt beside me, his expression unreadable except for the sharp concern in his eyes. He placed a careful hand on her wrist, checking her pulse.
"Her body is getting weaker." He said grimly. "She's been pushing herself too much."
I clenched my jaw.
"Then why didn't she say anything?"I asked.
Alastor shot me a look.
"Would she?"He asked.
…No. I swallowed hard, adjusting my grip on her.
She looked so small like this, her face pale, her breaths coming in weak, uneven gasps. Footsteps pounded against the floor as the castle's healer rushed in, a woman in her fifties with sharp eyes. She took one look at Isabella and frowned deeply.
"This is worse than I expected." She muttered, already pulling herbs and bottles from her satchel. "She's severely exhausted and malnourished, too. When was the last time she ate properly?"
My hands tightened around Isabella. Too long ago. The healer sighed, shaking her head.
"I'll prepare medicine immediately. We need to lower her fever first." She looked at me. "Lay her down. She needs rest."
I hesitated, but eventually carried Isabella to the bed, brushing a few damp strands of hair from her face. Alastor stood stiffly at the side, his hands curling into fists.
"She wouldn't have collapsed if she had stayed at the temple."Alastor said.
I shot him a glare.
"And yet, she ran from you."I said.
He exhaled sharply but didn't argue. The healer worked quickly, grinding herbs and mixing medicine. I stayed beside Isabella, watching her breathe too fast, too unsteady. I had never seen her like this before. The room was unbearably quiet except for the soft clinking of the healer grinding herbs. Isabella lay motionless on the bed, her breathing slow but uneven. Her face was too pale. Too still. I barely even noticed Alastor standing beside me until he exhaled, his voice quiet but firm.
"I think I like her."He said.
"What?"I asked.
Alastor's green eyes remained on Isabella, his expression unreadable.
"I'm not sure when it started." He admitted. "But when she collapsed just now I realized I didn't want to lose her."
I tightened my grip on the edge of the bed.
"You think now is the time to bring this up?" My voice came out sharp, barely restrained.
Alastor finally looked at me, calm as ever.
"You would've figured it out eventually."He said.
I clenched my jaw. Of course I knew. I had seen the way he looked at her, how his usually unreadable expression softened ever so slightly when it came to her. But hearing him say it outright? I hated it.
"She doesn't belong to you." I said.
Alastor didn't flinch.
"She doesn't belong to anyone."He said.
My hands curled into fists. I was annoyed to see him around her. Damn priest. The healer cleared her throat, breaking the tension.
"I don't know what's going on between you two, but if you're going to fight, at least wait until she's awake to yell at each other."She said.
I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair.
Right. Isabella was still unconscious. That was what mattered right now. Not whatever Alastor thought he felt for her. He wasn't going to take her from me. Not now. Not ever.