Poison

Azriel's PoV:

"You're really big," said Cal in a small voice as Az held her against his chest while flying. Her voice made him smile.

"Thank you for your observation," said Az softly, smiling down at her.

"Did I-" she seemed oddly confused and that's when Rhys explained that she was fever-talking. She had probably said what she was thinking and that made him want to laugh. He would probably have if he wasn't worrying about her dying.

They winnowed right outside the House of the Wind and Cal started to cough wetly. They rushed inside. He felt warm liquid on his chest and when he looked down, he saw blood running down her mouth.

"Oh shit, no," gasped Azriel, as Cal's head fell heavily against his shoulder again, her eyes rolling into the back of her head as she passed out again.

"What happened to her?" said Feyre frantically, trying to rouse her sister. Even though he knew he should have, he refused to let go of Cal, still holding her to his chest.

"She needs to lie down," said Amren calmly. "Preferably on a bed."

Rhys grabbed Azriel's arm and directed him towards one of the bedrooms. Azriel set Cal down gently on the bed, tapping her cheek tenderly. He was careful not to touch the fracture on her jaw.

"Cal?" called out Feyre, shaking her gently. "Cal, please wake up."

Amren sat down on the edge of the bed, placing her hands on both sides of Cal's face. Az knelt down beside the bed, holding Cal's hand in both of his.

A blue glow spread across Amren's palms and Cal moaned, her eyes fluttering open.

"This wont do," said Amren, disapprovingly gliding her finger over the fractured jaw. Just then, a snap resounded from the point and Cal cried out. Az grappled with himself to not reach out to her and tell her that it was okay, that she was safe. When Amren had removed her hand, Az noticed that the swelling was gone from her jaw and only a small bruise remained.

Feyre climbed onto the bed on the other side of Cal, gently unwrapping the jacket from around her. She gasped when she saw the knife sticking out of her stomach.

Amren examined the knife and then looked at Rhys who was standing at the back, his eyes dark.

"I will need bandages," said Amren. "I cant heal her, she doesn't have the energy. And the poison will disrupt the healing process even if I try."

"There," said Rhys and three rolls of bandages appeared on the bed in front of Amren.

"Hold her head," ordered Amren to Feyre who obliged, putting her palm on Cal's forehead and pressing her head down on to the pillows. "Make sure she doesn't move," ordered Amren to Az and he held down Cal's shoulder with one hand while still holding her hand.

Amren pressed a thick wad of bandages against Cal's stomach before yanking the knife out in one quick motion.

Cal threw her head back and screamed. Az could feel her shoulders almost arching off the bed but he held her down firmly, hyper aware of her squeezing his hand as if that was the last thing grounding her.

Blood flowed freely from the wound on her stomach as Amren pressed onto her stomach tightly, staunching the flow. As Amren squeezed the wound, Cal cried out again and Feyre shushed her.

"Its okay, Cal," said Feyre in her ear. "Its okay. You're okay."

Amren finished tying the bandages and lifted the knife to eye level, stroking the blade with her hand, studying the poison.

"You're feeling stomach cramps," said Amren, looking at Cal who nodded. "Muscle cramps?" Cal nodded again. "Mor, can you please stay with Cal? The others, I need to talk to you. Outside."

Azriel let go of Cal's hand reluctantly as Mor took his place, calmly talking to her.

They stepped out of the bedroom and Amren shut the door before looking squarely at Rhys.

"She won't make it," said Amren, folding her arms in front of her chest. "It's a very potent haemotoxin, the kind found in snakes. I can't cure her with magic, she won't recover from it. She has little to no energy."

Azriel felt dizzy and he had to hold on to the wall for support.

This couldn't be happening. Cal couldn't die. Not so soon.

"No," said Feyre, her voice frantic. "There has to be some other way. She can't- she can't die."

"Theoretically," said Rhys, his eyes far away, "can haemotoxin be treated?"

"There can be an antidote," said Amren. "But there is no time for that now. She is already vomiting blood."

"What happens if somebody gave the same poison to a fae?" asked Feyre suddenly.

"Nothing," said Amren. "I mean, he will show signs of the poison working, but within an hour, the signs will fade and he should be fine. Just like an infection in fae as well as humans. The blood fights against the infection until it is abolished. But human blood does not naturally have the potential to fight off snake venom like fae blood does."

"So, fae blood can be used like an antidote?"

"Theoretically. But not in Cal's case. Her body cannot make the cure even if we supply her with fae blood. She will need the synthesised cure systemically. So it absorbs into her system and tackles the toxin."

"So, if I took that haemotoxin, then I wouldn't die but my blood could save her?"

"Theoretically, yes."

"Then we have our answer."

"I should do it," said Azriel without hesitation.

"Are you sure?" asked Feyre. "You don't have to. She is my sister, you know. She is my responsibility.

"Yes but-"

"I think it should be Azriel, too," said Rhys, giving an understanding nod to Az.

"Are you sure?" asked Feyre. "Be-" Az saw Rhys looking directly at Feyre and something seemed to transpire between them. Feyre's eyes widened in realisation and she nodded.

"Alright then," said Feyre. "I think in this case, your blood will be better for her."

"We have nothing to lose," said Amren, not knowing what transpired but Az knew that she was too clever to not join the dots. "Here is the knife." Amren handed the knife to Azriel. "Cut deep, the venom should properly enter your system. You will feel the symptoms like cramping and muscle aches. When the symptoms subside, you will know the cure has been synthesised. Give your blood to Cal then."

Azriel nodded at Amren and sliced his forearm with the knife, making the gash as deep as he could. The sting lasted a few seconds before it faded into a dull throb.

"She will be alright if she gets Azriel's blood, right?" asked Rhys.

"No promises," said Amren. "Theoretically, yes. But we have never done this before. We don't exactly know the consequences. I have told you what I know based on what I have read from literature."

"How much blood do I need to give her?" asked Azriel, watching as the wound began to heal.

"I can't say," said Amren. "The moment her body tastes the cure, she will take as much as is needed. And it won't be a one time thing, I think. Based on what I have read about treating haemotoxicity, you have to steadily keep giving the antidote every six or eight hours, at least three doses. Can you do that?"

"Yes, I can."

"Good."

They entered the room and saw Mor talking actively with Cal. Cal looked paler than before with purple bags under her eyes.

"Cal," said Rhys, walking up to her, putting his hand at the side of her head. "I am so sorry. I thought you were safe and I- I wasn't careful enough."

"It isn't your fault," said Cal calmly, shaking her head. "Ianthe is a bitch."

"You really pissed her off, didn't you?" Rhys chuckled at her.

"I did," said Cal proudly. "I told her that since she couldn't bag the strongest High Lord, she is going for the stupidest one."

Rhys laughed but Azriel noticed Feyre stiffening at that.

"Tamlin isn't interested," said Cal, looking at Feyre. "He thinks I was Rhys' pawn in getting you out of Spring Court. I mean, he doesn't think that, but Ianthe is trying to convince him. Ianthe is doing everything to prove that Rhys is a monster."

"After all of this is over," said Rhys, a warning evident in his voice, "I will rip the Spring Court to shreds. They had no right to treat my friend this way."

"Please don't hurt Lucien," said Cal gently, "he tried to get me out. He was the one getting me food before Ianthe stopped that. Even Tamlin was ready to get me out because I wasn't well but Ianthe interfered."

"Ianthe didn't let you eat?" Rhys' voice was barely a snarl and any trace of humour was gone from his voice.

"No," said Cal simply. "She put a spell to stop any human functions to make sure I wouldn't pass out from lack of food. It's a good thing my body had stored enough. I don't even know how long it had been. Lucien got me food for I think the first three or four days and then he was stopped."

"You haven't eaten for more than a month?" Mor's voice was horrified and Azriel felt a red hot blaze of anger brushing across his insides.

"No. But at least I didn't die." Cal laughed a little but no one else in the room could find the humour in this. Azriel felt a small pain starting to form in the pit of his stomach and his arm where the poison had entered his body through started to throb.

"Do you want some food now?" asked Rhys tenderly.

"I am hungry," said Cal softly. "But I don't think I could eat. Everything is hurting."

Azriel felt an intense pain rack up his insides and he stifled a groan. He sat down on the edge of the bed, afraid that he would fall if he kept standing.

"Just take some rest," said Rhys, patting her cheek. "You will be alright. We will make sure of that. You mind if Azriel keeps you company while you get better? He has nothing better to do actually, and somebody should stay here with you."

"I don't mind," said Cal. "But the spymaster has nothing better to do?"

"Not really. The borders are relatively peaceful now. He will get back to his usual duties in a few days."

Cal nodded and furrowed her brows as if deep in thought. Azriel felt his chest close up a little, as if there wasn't enough space to breathe anymore.

"If you need anything," said Feyre, "just send word, okay? I will come back in a few hours anyway."

Cal nodded and they left the room. It was only Azriel and Cal.

"Are you alright?" asked Cal, giving Az a concerned look. "You look a little- peaky."

"I am good," lied Az and then, as if in response to the comment, he felt like his stomach was twisting in on itself. "Do you need something? Water?"

"My mouth is dry," said Cal, "although it tastes funny."

Az got up and helped Cal up as she sat up against the headboard. He held a glass of water to her lips and she drank thirstily.

Immediately ten seconds later, she vomited up the water along with some blood. Azriel had predicted this and had put a piece of cloth in front of her mouth, making sure she didn't create a mess.

"I guess I can't drink water yet," said Cal, her voice sounding a little like dry paper.

"Rhys has already removed the spell," said Az, "you should be able to eat and drink in a few hours."

Azriel suddenly felt the urge to vomit and ran to the bathroom, blood pouring out of his mouth. He cleaned his lips and realised that his forehead was clammy with sweat.

The poison was working.

"Az," said Cal as he stepped out of the bathroom, "are you really alright?"

"Well," said Az, deciding to tell her the truth. At least a part of it. "You know you have been poisoned, right?"

"I am aware of it." She put a hand on her stomach, as if the pain was a reminder.

"Well, there was no cure for it. Except fae blood. As in, fae blood can cure the poison. So, I took a little bit of that poison and now I am waiting for my blood to make the cure so I can help you."

"Then that means-"

"That I am a little unwell because the poison is causing similar symptoms. In most likely half an hour, the symptoms will subside and the cure will be there. I will be fine."

"But, you're in pain."

Cal's voice was so soft that Az almost didn't hear it. He wasn't even sure if she had said it to him or to herself.

"So are you," said Az simply, sitting down beside her on the bed.

Cal cried out suddenly, clutching her stomach, her face scrunched up from the pain.

"Shh," said Az, putting his hand over hers on her stomach. "Just breathe. It will be fine. You will be fine."

Az was surprised at how this was all he did when he wanted to wrap his arms around her and keep her there until all the pain was gone.

"Why are you doing this?" asked Cal, slowly relaxing.

"Because I am the one that gave you the potion," lied Az. Even though he was lying, he realised that maybe he was right. "If the daematis had read your mind and found Velaris, Tamlin would have attacked and Rhys would have taken care of it. But when you shielded the information, they knew you were hiding something. So, in a way, I sentenced you to whatever you went through."

"You did not sentence me to anything, Az. I did it out of my own volition. And more importantly, Velaris is safe. You surely don't regret that, do you?"

"I regret putting you in harm's way. I should have talked to Rhys when you told me about the interrogation. I should have checked in to make sure that you had gone home."

"This is not your fault, Az."

Az felt another ripple of pain across his stomach but the intensity was less. The pain was slowly starting to fade and he realised the cure was closer now.

"I am sorry you have to go through this," said Cal, reaching up towards his sweaty forehead. Her hands did not reach until Az realised what she was doing and bent slightly forwards. She stroked his forehead and cheek, looking into his eyes. "I am sorry I am so much trouble."

"You're not trouble," said Az calmly, steadily meeting her eyes. "And I am not sorry for going through this. I am helping you. Isn't that what friends do?"

"But you're in pain. For me."

"And that's okay. Because you shouldn't have to go through everything alone."