Post by Zen on Oct 12, 2022 8:56:30 GMT -5
Turn 2762, Mid 1st Month
It had been late when someone had come running to find Haliya. Vasheera kept her brothers from listening in on the conversation, as the look on the runner’s face was a serious one. Liyami slept through the commotion, thankfully. After a short while, their mother informed them that their father was in the infirmary and she was going to see him. She was trying her best to make it sound like it was nothing too serious, but Vasheera didn’t think her brothers bought it anymore than she did. Vasheera told her to go and that she would stay with her siblings. The three of them slept little that night, not knowing what exactly was happening, but she did make sure they all stayed in bed.
In the morning, she charged Vahalish with looking after the younger ones so she could go check on their parents in the infirmary. He wasn’t pleased about being left out, but she was proud he was mature enough about the situation not to argue. Before she left she went into her father’s office, into the cabinet she’d stashed the wine the captain had given her. She stood there for a long moment, considering. Would she ever get a better chance? She didn’t even know what happened yet, but… if he was already hurt or sick, then… it could turn any possible suspicion.
She closed her eyes tightly as she considered all this, wondering where all this cold calculation was coming from. It wasn’t her. She didn’t want it to be her, at least. But maybe she was more like her father than she cared to admit. Planning a murder, covering her tracks… she let out a soft, desperate laugh involuntarily as she looked at the wine bottle in her hands. She didn’t know what it would do, exactly. She hadn’t asked, the captain hadn’t told her. He’d just said a cup should be enough, though it would act faster the more he had, obviously. She thought it would be better if she didn’t know what to expect… she couldn’t prepare, couldn’t brace, her reactions would be more genuine. She shook her head, laughing softly again. This was insane. Taking a deep breath, she clutched the bottle to her chest and turned to leave.
When she got to the infirmary she was led to her father’s bedside where her mother had fallen asleep in a chair, her head resting on the side of the bed. Vasheera woke her gently and the two women stepped away so as not to disturb Vashemin’s slumber.
Haliya rubbed at her eyes wearily, “The healers say he’ll be alright, but…. His hand was stabbed clean through. He was… he was at Kagan’s….” Vasheera knew very well what that meant. He’d been gambling. Haliya didn’t want to say so, to admit out loud he might be regressing. “He was accused of cheating… the man who did it is being held….” She rubbed a hand over her face, “Vashemin… he won’t… he probably won’t regain full use of his hand… but he’ll be… he’ll live, he’ll be alright.”
Vasheera pulled her mother into an embrace as the woman’s voice wavered, though it was made somewhat awkward by the bottle still held in one hand. “Everything will be okay, mother,” she reassured her softly, but firmly, “You should go back and rest. Tell the boys, they’re restless and wondering. It isn’t so bad, they can take it.” Haliya looked back to Vashemin’s bed at that, looking reluctant, “Don’t worry… I’ll stay with him. I’ll have someone send for you if anything changes. But it’s not life threatening.” She offered a small smile, “So don’t worry so much, alright?”
Haliya sighed, “I wish I could be stronger, like you.” She reached out to grip Vasheera’s free hand briefly, and noticed the wine, “... did you think you might get bored?”
Vasheera laughed lightly, and her mother actually cracked a small smile, “It’s for father.” She fought hard so her smile would not waver, “His favorite. I thought it might bring him some comfort.” The lie did not sit well on her tongue. She hated lying to Haliya… but it was necessary. It wasn’t all a lie, but that was small comfort.
“Yes… good. I’m sure it will help,” she continued to stare at Vashemin’s sleeping form for a long moment before pulling herself away, “I suppose… I’ll check in later then.”
Vasheera watched her leave before making her way to her father’s bed and claiming the chair her mother had so recently occupied. There was a cup on a small bedside table and she reached for it, staring into it for a long silent moment before opening the wine to fill the cup, setting it back on the table to wait. She turned a critical eye to her father’s form. His injured hand was wrapped in so much bandaging it looked half a club. Stabbed clean through. He must be in quite a lot of pain… they’d surely dosed him with fellis. Numbweed only did so much, on a wound like that, she doubted it would take enough pain away to give comfort enough to sleep.
It served him right for falling back into his old habits. She watched her father’s face for a long while, looking strangely peaceful. He had to have fellis in his system or surely there would be some discomfort in his features. She thought of everything he’d put her through, everything he’d put Haliya through, strengthening her resolve. She thought of everything he would do if she faltered, if she failed and let him live. She had no doubt his dissatisfaction with his new lot in life would lead him to attempt some plot or another to continue to destabilize Mavros, that he would find ways to cause problems for the Hold, new problems that could be blamed on their new leadership. She didn’t know how far he was willing to go to try to get his old position back, but she wouldn’t be surprised by any move he made. It was better for everyone if he just… if he wasn’t around anymore. As long as he lived, he would be a threat to her, to her family, to her home.
She didn’t know how long she sat there watching him until his eyes blinked open blearily. She sat up a little, remaining quiet until he finally focused a hazy gaze on her. His mouth twisted unpleasantly as recognition dawned in his eyes, but before he could speak she reached for the cup of wine, held it out for him, “I brought you some of your favorite wine, father. From your office.”
Vashemin growled softly at that, reaching for the cup with his good hand, his voice vaguely slurred as the effects of the fellis hadn’t all worn off yet, “Bouttime… th’wine they mix th’fellis with’ere’s swill.” He took a long drink and laid back, eyes closed, as he enjoyed the taste. Vasheera tried not to look too expectant. She didn’t know how fast it would work… she doubted he had even had enough yet. If she could get at least two decent cups into him… that should be enough, surely. She didn’t notice at first that he was looking at her again, until he spoke, “What’re you lookin’ at s’hard girl?”
She blinked in surprise and shook her head slightly, “Sorry, father… it was a rather sleepless night. Everyone was worried for you.”
With a grunt of acknowledgement, he drank the rest of his wine and held the cup back out to her, and she steadied herself as she reached to fill it again. She couldn’t be too eager, nor too hesitant. Just be normal, Vasheera. Her father was rather naturally suspicious. She didn’t need to do anything to encourage him. He took a small sip but laid back again, grimacing, “Get th’healer. Need more fellis. Shardin’ pain....”
She didn’t hesitate to flag a healer down, who consulted another healer about his fellis dosage and agreed to mix a little in with his wine to take the edge of the pain off, at least. He downed the rest of the cup quickly after the fellis was added. Vasheera shifted, wishing she’d asked how long it would take to start working. She didn’t know if she wanted to be around when it did, but she had told her mother she would stay with him. “How are you feeling, father?”
“What sorta stupid question’s that?” he growled, not opening his eyes, “My shardin’ hand was stabbed. How d’you think?”
She drew in a long, slow breath, as her own anger flashed briefly, “I… was only wondering if the fellis was helping.”
He waved his hand lazily at her, “If all you’re gon’do is yap, you can get back t’your precious brats and leave me be.”
Her hands clenched into fists as she took another deep breath, but thought perhaps that was the perfect excuse to leave. So she stood, taking the bottle with her, “As you wish, father.” She didn’t look back as she made her way out, but wasn’t entirely sure where to go either. Haliya would question her if she went back home. And what should she do with the rest of the wine? She didn’t want to dump it somewhere, not yet, not until she was sure she didn’t need it anymore, but she couldn't just carry it around the halls either, looking like some drunk. She clutched it to her chest and let her feet take her where they would, feeling suddenly lost. She’d done it. She’d given her father poisoned wine. When she again became aware of her surroundings, she was near the docks. She paused to look at the few ships still in the harbor, rather than out fishing, considering for one mad moment finding the captain and asking him more about the poison he’d given her. But the Storm’s Eye wasn’t in the harbor. Taking a deep breath of sharp, salty air, she turned and made for her family’s quarters. She would put the bottle back for now, and then… she didn’t know. Should she go back to her father? If she didn’t, her mother probably would, and she didn’t want Haliya there when the poison took effect. But how fast would it start working? And he was already in the infirmary… would the healers be able to save him?
She almost didn’t notice her mother sitting at the table when she walked in, too lost in her thoughts, “Vasheera?” She jolted to a stop in shock, the bottle slipping from her fingers to shatter on the stone floor. Haliya was up instantly, “Shells, I’m sorry, let me just get-”
“NO!” she nearly screamed, her hands held out to stop her mother from getting any closer. “I… you should be resting, mother. Let me clean this up. Please… go lay down.”
Haliya gave her an odd, searching look, frowning, “Perhaps you need the rest more, dear heart.” Vasheera shook her head stubbornly and hurried to fetch something to clean up the wine and glass with before her mother could move.
Haliya tried to approach to help once more but Vasheera kept herself in the way, “Really mother… just let me.” Could the poison affect someone who touched it rather than ingested it? She hadn’t a clue, but she wasn’t going to let her mother risk it.
Haliya sighed and stood nearby, clearly uncomfortable with not helping, “Your father… has there been any change…?”
Vasheera shook her head, “No… no, he’s fine. He woke for a while… he was thankful for the wine. But then the pain started coming back so they gave him a bit more fellis. He was drifting off when I left.”
Haliya frowned, “Why did you leave then? I thought you were going to stay with him? Maybe I should-”
“I’m going back shortly, mother, don’t worry,” she interrupted, “I just wanted to bring the wine back. Well… father… he was afraid someone might pilfer it while he was asleep. You know how he is about his wine.” Another lie. How easily they came to her lips. He was protective of his wine, that was no lie, but he’d told her to do no such thing.
Her mother sighed again, hugging herself lightly, “Vasheera… do you think….” The way her words trailed off had Vasheera looking up at her curiously. Her eyes were bright with unshed tears, “He’s… he’s gambling. He’s going back… isn’t he?”
He had barely been around since the election results had been announced. Vasheera had no doubt he’d been out gambling most nights since then, but her mother had done her best to ignore and deny it. She didn’t know what to say to comfort her. It will be over soon was not something she could say. Instead another lie leapt to her lips, as she smiled softly, reassuring, “I’m sure he’s just upset over the election… once he settles, it will be alright.”
Haliya wiped quickly at her eyes, clearly willing to latch onto the lie she so badly wanted to believe was true, “Right… you’re right, I’m sure. Yes. Silly of me.” She laughed, but it lacked sincerity, and Vasheera quickly finished cleaning up before she had to lie to her about something again.
“I’ll just take these rags out with me and head back, then,” she assured her mother, “Please try to rest.” If the poison worked, more heartache would follow for her, and Vasheera wasn’t looking forward to that, but it was necessary. It was necessary to set her free.
Unsure what else to do with them, she tossed the rags and glass all into the sea, scrubbing her hands in the salty water until they were red and raw. Would it be enough? She didn’t know. Maybe she would end up dying from the same poison as her father. Wouldn’t that be poetic? She forced herself up, not at all wanting to return to the infirmary. If the poison hadn’t begun its work yet, she didn’t want to be there when it did, and if it had… she didn’t want to face it. Right now, she didn’t know. Her father could still be alive and well, or he could be dying, or he could be dead. It was a nearly blissful state of unawareness. But it would end sooner or later, and she needed to be at the infirmary before someone was sent running to her mother to tell her that something had gone terribly wrong.
So she went, though she couldn’t quite bring herself to hurry. It had been nearly two hours since she’d left him. Would it work that fast? Would it take all day? A sevenday? There was no backup, no second chance. The bottle had shattered. It had to work, she didn’t know what she would do if it didn’t. When she finally reached the infirmary, everything seemed normal. She made her way back to her father’s side and sat in the chair that was still there. It was while she was sitting there that she realized something was off. She watched her father for a long moment before she realized he wasn’t breathing. His chest wasn’t rising. She pushed to her feet, unsure what to do, but realized after a moment where she was, and what would be expected of her in this situation, “Help… help! Help, someone! He’s not breathing!” She turned, seeking the nearest healer, rushing over to them even as they were moving to see what was wrong. She clutched at the man’s arm, trying for desperate and afraid, “Please, help him!”
She hugged herself as she stood back, as another healer joined the first, and couldn’t look away from her father’s lifeless body. Their words were nonsense in her ears as they spoke urgently with one another, began pressing on his chest, breathing into his mouth. She jumped as someone took her gently and led her away, murmuring something in a comforting tone that was just a meaningless buzz in her ears. She was sat down, someone was holding her hands, but looking at the face across from her, it wasn’t familiar. She saw the lips move but the only thing she could hear was the thudding of her own heart in her ears. The stranger left her there and she simply sat numbly as it began to sink in. Only when, finally, someone returned to tell her what she already knew, was the finality of it made real.
“I’m so sorry, Vasheera… your father has passed.”
The hot tears that were suddenly blurring her sight and weaving their way down her face were real. She had killed her father. It was suddenly hard to breathe as the weight of that fact settled on her fully. She choked on a sob and buried her face in her hands. How could she still feel anything for that man? How could she feel guilty? How could she feel so heartbroken that he was gone? He was a horrible father… but he was still her father. She gave herself over to the tears, not just for her act. She missed the father he could have been, the father he had shown he could be to her younger siblings these last several turns, and the father she only vaguely remembered from before Haliya came into their lives. She had felt loved then. Stupidly, perhaps, but she had felt it. She mourned the family they could have been if only… if only he had been able to see everything he had, instead of everything he didn’t. And she mourned for herself, for what she had become in order to be free of him. There was no going back from this. She was stained forever by this sin. There’s no denying I’m yours now, is there?
