*In the Twilight Realm, in Darena's Chamber, Jeff's P.O.V*
Darena has been laying in her bed for hours, looking paler than a ghost, her lips purple and veins black. A strong poison is cursing through her body, slowly killing her. She has 5 more hours of life if the poison doesn't stop circulating throughout her system. Albert and his father are working in the antidote. They are close to completing it, but they don't know if it will be able to cure the poison completely. Darena's chest doesn't rise much when she breathes, which means she's not breathing properly. I can't stand watching her in his state, so I leave my spot next to her and walk over to where Albert and King Alexandrian were working on the antidote.
-"How is it going?"- I ask Albert, looking straight into his eyes. They are filled with worry.
-"The antidote is ready, but we don't know if it'll work well enough to remove all the poison from Darena's body. But, it's this or nothing, so we have no choice but to try."- Albert replies, handing me a flask with a liquid that is whiter than white paint. I grab it and examine the antidote closely.
-"Is this going to heal Darena?"- Albert sighs.
-"It might. I already told you, we have no choice but to try. Nobody has ever been known to survive this poison. It's called Deathsting for a reason."- He replies, looking past my shoulder towards Darena. He smiles as he stares at her sleeping body, the same smile he had when he saw her for the first time.
-"Why did you ask for her hand Albert? I mean..." I lower my voice to a whisper. "I don't think it was for trade, right?"- Albert smirks.
-"Saw right through my lie, didn't you? Yeah, trade isn't what I'm after, I love her."-
-"I suspected that, which is why I decided not to let my feelings for her grow into something else. You're a good guy, she deserves you and you deserve her."- Albert smiles and pats my back.
-"Thank you Jeffred, you're not as much of an asshole as I thought."- He says, ruffling my hair afterwards. I roll my eyes.
-"Jerk. How are we going to give her the antidote? She's unconscious, she won't be able to swallow anything."-
-"By vein, I'll inject it into her body. Let's go and do so already."- Albert walks over to where Darena laid still, and half-dead as well. I hand him the flask with the antidote. Albert grabs an injection with a very thin needle and inserts the tip of the needle into the flask in which he kept the antidote. Then, he slowly pulls the back of the injection, filling the needle is full, Albert withdraws the needle from the flask and hands it to me.
-"What do I do with this?"- I ask, taking the needle in my hand and holding it in my shaking hand.
-"Just hold it while I search for a proper vein to infect the antidote." Albert replies, pressing the tip of his fingers to Darena's left forearm, where her veins were very visible. He presses his fingers harder on the vein he has been staring at for quite a while. "This is a good vein. Hand me the needle."- I give him the needle and watch as he thrusts it into Darena's forearm. When the tip is out of sight, he pushes the back of the needle, injecting the antidote in Darena's body. After the liquid is gone form the needle, Albert removes it and places a band aid in the spot where the needle pierced Darena. He then throws the needle into a nearby trash can along with the flask. I look at Darena, and realize that her skin has gained some color, and that her breathing was stabilizing itself.
-"Albert, she's breathing okay. And look, she seems more alive now."- Albert smiles.
-"The antidote is taking effect. She will be awake in a few hours. Also, she'll be weak when she does, but the poison will stop circulating in a matter of minutes. See Jeff, her veins are becoming green and blue again."- He says, patting Darena's head.
-"In how many hours will she be awake?"-
-"Maybe 3, but let her rest, she's still exhausted."- We both leave Darena's room and go outside, where we stay, laying down on the grass, watching the morning Twilight sky.
*In another place, dark and unknown, Unknown P.O.V*
-"So, what was she doing in The Prisons?"-
-"We don't know."-
-"Did she steal any information from ' The Library of the Unknown'?"-
-"It is said that she stole scrolls, but of what, it is not known."-
-"How was she found?"-
-"Alone, unconscious, dehydrated, and pale, blood dripping from her right ribcage."-
-"The blood, what was the color?"-
-"Black. She was shot with a Deathsting arrow. She might not last to midday."-
-"That's not good, I need her."-
-"My Lord, she's nothing but a mere human. Of what value could she be to you?"-
-"I need her, for what reason I have no need nor obligation to tell you."-
-"But Master I-"-
-"ENOUGH! Do not push the issue any further, and get me a cup of tea."-
-"Yes, Master."-
*Back to the Twilight Chamber, Darena's P.O.V*
Unconscious again, God dammit. I might as well have a record for the kind of shit. I open my eyes and find Albert and Jeff on either side of the bed I am laying in. They are both asleep, their hands holding their heads up.
-"You guys sure do look adorable we have you are asleep, did you know that?"- I ask, sitting up straight. They both jump on their seats and turn to look at me with wide open eyes and smiles that went from ear to ear.
-"Darena! Thank the heavens you're awake!"- Jeff says, hugging me afterwards. Once he lets go, Albert does the same.
-"I'm so glad that you're finally awake! And, we have lots to talk about."- Albert says, pecking my lips. I smile as I try to hide my blush.
-"I can already imagine. Wait... how did you cure me? The poison, it was Deathsting! How did I survive?"- I ask, rubbing my right ribcage, where the arrow hit me.
-"Albert and his father created the antidote, which saved you. They went through a lot to perfection it."- Jeff answers, looking at Albert, who was smiling. Are these two getting along now? I think cows are gonna start flying around soon.
-"Since when do you guys get along?"- I ask, too surprised to ask a more formulated question.
-"Ever since you were sick. We both agreed that it would be best if we don't let the rivalries between our Realms stand in the way of a good friendship. Plus, we don't get anything from being such fierce enemies, when we could just be good friends."- Albert replies, patting Jeff's shoulder afterwards.
-"Don't worry, we'll still fight, even if it's just as friends."- Jeff says, smirking. I smile.
-"That's good enough for me. What about my trial? When is it gonna be now?"- I ask, realizing that it was just the 3 of us in my Chamber.
-"There will be another Council to discuss that AND, the matters of your and Albert's union."- Jeff relies, raising his brows at Albert, who simply rolled his eyes.
-"Since I asked for your hand, The Council needs to discuss wether the union I'm requesting is prudent or not, and if it actually benefits either Realm in some way."- Albert says, taking my hand and intertwining our fingers together. We both smile. Jeff rises from his seat.
-"I'm going to go and, tell The Council you're okay, but I'll take my time. See you guys around."- He says and leaves the room, shutting the door behind him.
-"I wonder if he's got a girlfriend, and you?"- I ask Albert, signaling him to sit down on the bed with me. He immediately complies, and then pulls me onto his lap, his legs between mine.
-"I'm sure he does, we were talking before, and he wouldn't stop talking about this black and yellow haired person with golden eyes, and tanned white skin, so I suppose he does."- He answers, his arms wrapping themselves around my hips, pulling me closer to his body. I wrap my own behind his neck, my fingers tangling into his silky, long silver hair.
-"He's a good guy, he's simply an asshole. If Jeff changed that aspect, he would be a better person."- I say, kissing Albert's nose. He smiles.
-"Do you want to know why I asked for your hand?"- Albert asks, his forehead leaning into mine.
-"Because you didn't want Jeffred to do so."- I reply. Albert giggles.
-"Not just because of that, but because I am madly in love with you Darena, never doubt it. And no matter what happens," He lowers his voice to nothing but a mere audible whisper. "I will always be here for you, always Darena."-
-"Même dans l'obscurité?"- I ask, starring directly into Albert's eyes, which were both hazel. He smiles again.
-"Même dans l'obscurité."- Albert replies. He slips one of his hands into his hoodie's pocket and withdraws a small box from it. A purple bow decorates the top of the grey box. He opens it and shows me what's inside.
-"Albert, what are these. They're beautiful."- I say, taking one of the rings out of the box. It is silver with an amethyst decorating the center.
-"They are what will forever symbolize our union. Mine is the same as yours, but instead of an amethyst, it has an onyx. The stones resemble the Realm we come from, and the silver represents the resemblance and peace between both Realms."- Albert slides the ring I was holding into my right index finger. Then, he slides the onyx one into his own.
-"So, are these pre-engagement rings?"-
-"Yes, and The Council must now arrange the date for our union, and then, I'll be able to protect you at all times."-
-"Even if that didn't happen, I have faith that you'd still do everything, even the impossible to protect me. I've always known that Albert, ever since we met in high school."-
-"I know darling, I just like to remind you."- I peck his lips.
-"I never forget about it babe, just so you know."- Albert smiles and crashes his lips into mine in a sweet touch. I respond the same way, smiling in the process. We make out without interruption, until Jeff comes back and says from outside the room:
-"Guys, Council Assembly in 10 minutes, usual room."- Albert and I break apart, smiling as we leave the bed and head to The Room of Assemblies, holding hands tightly.
End of chapter 6
Mystery Nerd2019