AT THE SAME TIME
XAVIER'S POINT OF VIEW:
The moment the healer left, silence filled the room, thick and suffocating. My eyes never left Isabella's face, pale, fragile, far too still. Her breathing was slow, too slow. Then, she shifted slightly, a soft whimper escaping her lips.
"I know… I'm not the real one… don't hurt me… please…"
I froze.
Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it struck like a blade to my chest. Her fingers trembled against the sheets, her whole body shivering as if trapped in some nightmare. I reached out before I even realized it, brushing damp strands of hair from her face. She was cold, unnaturally cold.
"Isabella." I called softly, but she didn't wake up. Instead, she flinched, her entire body tensing.
Alastor stepped closer, his eyes sharp as he watched her tremble.
"She's shivering."Alastor said.
Adrian's arms were crossed tightly, his expression unreadable.
"What the hell does she mean by that? 'Not the real one'?"Adrian asked.
My jaw clenched. I had no idea. But the way she whispered it, the way she looked so small, so afraid someone had put this fear into her. She whimpered again, her voice breaking.
"Please… don't…"She whispered.
A deep, painful shudder ran through her, and she curled in on herself as though expecting a blow. Something in me snapped.
"You're safe." I murmured, gripping her trembling hand tightly. "No one's going to hurt you."
Alastor exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.
"This isn't just exhaustion… this is something else."Alastor said.
Adrian scoffed, but his usual irritation was missing.
"If she keeps breaking down like this, what the hell are we supposed to do?"Adrian asked.
I didn't know. But I knew one thing for sure, whoever made her this terrified, whoever made her believe she wasn't realI would destroy them. Her trembling only got worse, her breaths coming out in shaky gasps.
My grip on her hand tightened, but she barely reacted her mind was somewhere else, lost in something we couldn't see. Then, her lips parted, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I know… I know I'm not the real priestess." She breathed, her tone laced with pure desperation. "Please… don't kill me…"
"Isabella." Alastor's voice was firmer than mine, demanding her attention.
"I'm not the one… I shouldn't be here…" Her voice wavered, laced with panic, and then she whimpered, curling in on herself. "I didn't mean to take her place… Please, please don't hurt me…"
My chest tightened painfully.
"Who the hell is she talking about?" Adrian muttered, his arms crossed tightly, but even he looked unsettled.
Alastor exhaled, his green eyes locked onto her trembling figure.
"This isn't just fear." He said slowly, almost as if speaking to himself. His gaze flickered with something sharp, calculating.
Then, Isabella tensed violently, a broken gasp escaping her lips. Her hands clenched the sheets, her body shuddering as if she were being pulled into something something she couldn't escape. And suddenly, Alastor cursed under his breath.
"She's having visions."Alastor said.
Adrian's eyes widened.
"Visions?"Adrian asked.
Alastor didn't even look at him. His focus was entirely on Isabella, watching the way her body stiffened, her breathing uneven, her eyes moving rapidly beneath her lids.
"This isn't just a nightmare." He said grimly. "She's seeing something. Something dangerous."
A strangled gasp escaped Isabella's lips as she jolted awake, her entire body trembling violently. Her wide, glassy eyes darted around the room, unfocused and wild, as if she had no idea where she was.
"Isabella."I whispered.
She flinched. Her breathing was too erratic, her fingers clutching the sheets in a white knuckled grip. It was as if she was still trapped in whatever nightmare had plagued her. Alastor took a careful step forward, his expression uncharacteristically soft.
"You're safe." He assured her, voice gentle but firm. "No one will hurt you."
She didn't react.Instead, she pressed herself against the headboard, curling inward as though she were trying to make herself smaller.
The healer appeared, carrying a small cup filled with dark liquid.
"She needs to take this." She said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Her condition is worsening. If she doesn't drink it, she might not last the night."
The moment Isabella's opened her eyes and as soon as her eyes landed on the medicine, her entire body went rigid. Her breathing spiked, her hands clutching at the blankets like they were the only thing keeping her tethered to reality. Then she shook her head. Violently.
"N No." She groaned, voice barely above a whisper, yet filled with terror. "I-I don't… I don't want it—"
The healer frowned.
"It's not a choice-"Healer said.
"I SAID NO!" Her voice cracked as she tried to push herself away, her legs tangling in the sheets.
Adrian swore under his breath.
"She's too scared. She's going to make herself worse at this rate."Adrian said.
Alastor pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling sharply.
"She doesn't trust us enough to listen."Alsator said.
I didn't hesitate. Before she could resist further, I strode forward, snatched the cup from the healer's hands, and without a second thought, I sat beside her. Her entire body tensed, her wide, terrified eyes locking onto mine. I ignored the way her fingers trembled, how her breath hitched as I carefully wrapped an arm around her shaking shoulders, keeping her steady.
"Isabella." I said, voice low but firm. "You need to drink this."
She shook her head, a broken sound escaping her lips.
"No." She whispered. "I-"
Her breath hitched as I gently but firmly pressed the rim of the cup against her lips.
"Drink." I ordered.
She whimpered softly, trying to turn her head away, but I didn't let her.
"Isabella." I tried again, my tone softer. "I won't let anything happen to you. Just trust me."
Her lashes fluttered, her hands clutching weakly at my sleeve. She was barely holding on, and I knew she wouldn't last much longer without the medicine.
"Please." I murmured. "Let me help you."
Her lips trembled. And then, slowly, hesitantly she parted them. Relief crashed over me as I carefully tilted the cup, making sure she drank every last drop. She coughed slightly, her throat too weak, but she didn't fight me. By the time the medicine was gone, her body had gone slack against mine, exhaustion dragging her under once more. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, brushing damp strands of hair from her face.
"Good." I murmured, voice barely above a whisper. "That's it. Rest now."
She didn't respond. But as her fingers slowly loosened their grip on my sleeve, I knew, she had finally, finally let herself trust me. Isabella's breathing evened out as the medicine took effect, her body going limp against me. I carefully eased her back down onto the pillows, my grip lingering for a moment longer than necessary. She looked so small like this so damn fragile.
My jaw clenched as I pulled the blanket up over her shoulders. No matter what she believed, no one was going to hurt her. Not while I was here. The healer sighed, drawing my attention. Her face was grim as she set aside the empty cup.
"I was hesitant to bring this up before." She admitted, crossing her arms. "But I've heard rumors… about something called the 'System.'"
Alastor, who had been quietly watching over Isabella, snapped his head toward her.
"The 'System'? What the hell is that supposed to mean?"Alastor asked.
The healer hesitated.
"It's… a force. Or rather, something created by a person. A mechanism of control."Healer said.
A heavy silence settled over the room.
I frowned.
"Created by who?"I asked.
"I don't know." Healer admitted. "But whatever it is, it's not natural."
I glanced down at Isabella, my stomach twisting.
Was that why she was so afraid? Was she being controlled by something she couldn't escape?
Adrian exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.
"That… might explain why she keeps saying things like she isn't the 'real one.' Like she's being forced into something she doesn't want."Alastor said. "If someone is controlling her like a puppet, I'll tear them apart myself."
His words mirrored the burning rage rising inside me. No wonder she was so terrified. No wonder she kept trying to run. But she wasn't running anymore. She was here, under my protection. And I wasn't going to let whoever or whatever was controlling her take her away.