obsession chapter 6

The sight of a potion vial must be infuriating. It’s inconvenient that he can’t speak. She hadn’t realized it before because there had been no need. For the first time since she began taking the Silen poison, Shariette felt a pang of frustration. Of course, given the current situation, Blanche’s decision to silence her was quite astute. 

“Sasha, if you let anything slip to the Noxian, it’ll ruin everything.” 

But being unable to speak didn’t mean she couldn’t manipulate the situation. Shariette deliberately swirled the vial, catching the Noxian’s attention, then opened it and took two swallows. “…!” 

[Safe.] 

She pointed at herself and made a circle with her thumb and forefinger. The man, who had been grinding his teeth and panting, hesitated. Shariette seized the opportunity, collapsing in front of him and ripping the gag from his mouth. 

[Antidote.] 

She took his free hand and placed it on her throat. His hand, large and calloused, engulfed her slender neck. She felt the thrum of her pulse beneath his scorching touch. 

[Attack. If. Feels. Strange.] 

Too many words. He won’t understand. As Shariette tried to simplify the message, the man, blinking heavily, slowly opened his mouth. Shariette noticed the cracked, bleeding lips. Can he even swallow? Should she have injected it? The worry was unnecessary. The Noxian tilted his head, his lips closing around the vial. His dark hair brushed her hand. 

[…!] 

He snatched the vial, threw back his head, and drained it in one gulp. The empty glass clinked against the floor. Shariette marveled at his willpower. He could barely move voluntarily, yet he possessed such strength. He’d rather die than be spoon-fed. At this stage, the antidote will give him approximately three minutes of clarity. His body and mind, saturated with drugs, would require far more than a single dose to fully recover. But for the sake of their plan, they needed to make the most of these three minutes. The sharp, predatory glint in the man’s eyes began to soften. 

[Feel. Better?] 

His first reaction was unexpected. The hand she’d offered for attack trembled and withdrew, as if he’d touched something forbidden. 

“…You.” His voice was raspy, strained. “Do you want to die?” 

[?] 

“You’re fearless.” His gaze, clouded with confusion, fixed on her throat. He flexed his hand, as if trying to erase the lingering sensation. An odd first response. Shariette scratched her head and fumbled in her pocket for her notepad. 

“Just speak. I can, ugh, I can read your, ugh, lips.” He rubbed his throat, the scent of blood thick in the air. Did he know lip reading? Excellent. Shariette opened and closed her mouth again. 

[You. Die. Addicted. Mind. Breaks. First.] 

“…Ha.” The Noxian let out a short, disbelieving laugh, followed by a low curse. He gestured for her to continue. 

[Antidote. Regularly. One. Month. Recover.] 

“That was the antidote.” 

[Yes. Three. Minutes. Now. Longer. Later.] 

“….” 

[Pretend. Drugged. Blanche. Suspicious.] 

“….” 

The pauses between his responses grew longer. The seconds ticked by in Shariette’s mind. Finally, he spoke. “That depends entirely on you providing a steady supply of… undoctored antidote.” 

[Yes.] 

“Why should I trust you?” 

[Don’t.] 

She hadn’t expected him to trust her. Not after what he’d endured here. Trusting anyone in this place would be foolish. 

[I. Will. Save. You.] 

She stated it plainly. 

[Force. If. Necessary. My. Potions. Don’t. Kill.] 

He stared at her, then asked, “That woman called you Sasha.” 

He remembered. Shariette nodded. He clearly didn’t suspect they were half-sisters. “Are you allowed to defy your master?” 

[Scolding. Not. Problem. Smuggled. Others. Before.] 

That was her first lie. “Alright, Sasha. Tell me what you want from me.” 

[Want?] 

“I don’t accept favors without something in return.” The concept was foreign to Shariette, who had witnessed Blanche’s life of unearned privilege. Want… she didn’t want anything. But she knew he wouldn’t be satisfied without an answer. As she considered, a forgotten thought resurfaced. 

[Latium.] 

“Argen’s sanctuary forest?” 

[Latium’s destruction.]