Five minutes.
That was the time frame Mica had given to Octavia.
Whatever she was doing, she needed to be done in less than five minutes because that was the only amount of time she'd be able to hold Becca off.
Octavia walked towards the door with a
tray of food, but as expected, the guards
stopped her from entering
"Ma'am Becca asked for some food.
And she asked me to wait until she's
back" Octavia explained calmly, hoping
that'd work.
The guards looked at her with scrutiny.
"Go in the first one finally opened the
door and she bit her lower lip as she
walked in.
Thank goodness.
Her eyes drooped at the sight in front of
her - the Master lying on the bed.
His face was looking pale, his eyes gently closed like he was asleep and it
marveled Octavia that even in his
condition, he still looked so handsome
and powerful.
She tried getting a grip of herself as she
set the meal on the table and went
straight to the bed.
She sat on the chair in front of it and
brought out the antiode from her pocket. She looked at him.
Oh! Would this work? What if she only
ends up killing him faster? Would she be
able to forgive herself for it?
When he comes awake, how would she
be able to make him stay awake so he
doesn't go back to sleep?
Can she do all these?
Oh! The clock was ticking. She should
be having less than 3 minutes left.
She opened the bottle in her hands and
poured a little quantity on the cap.
Then, she took it close to his lips but
paused; can she do this? Good lord!
Her hands shook as she brought the
cap close to his lips and finally, drooped
a little of it there.
She took another drop and rubbed it on
the edge of his nostrils and that wasit.
It was time for the miracle.
She breathed heavily, her heart beating
like a party drum as she watched into
his face with so suspense.
Octavia had never been so nervous in her entire life never.
Slowly, she saw his lids move and her
lips parted open in surprise.
Oh!! It was working!
Everything spurred up in her body.
His brows arched slowly and he let out
some muffled groans. He seemed restless - calmly restless.
Octavia knew how it worked.
Her hands shook in front of her as finally, his eyes went slightly open. And in a weak voice, he called.
"Octavia?"
Octavia's eyes dimmed the moment he
called her name. Oh, goodness! She can
do this. Of course, she can.
His forehead was looking all sweaty
already, his eyes opening and getting
closed again. Even a blind man could
tell how restless he felt, the pains he
was going through.
"Octavia.." He called again.
"What're you doing here?"
His voice sounded like that of a person
who was being hypnotized.
Well, of course, that was how the antidote worked.
It's possible he might not even recall this incidence as soon as he's awake.
Nervous Octavia kept the bottle on the
floor and fisted her hands in front of
herself. Goodness! She was too nervous.
"M... Master" she called dazily.
The clock was ticking. And she was
running out of time. Oh! She needed to
act really fast.
"What happened to me..." He groaned
and turned his head uncomfortably.
"Who attacked me?"
Octavia swallowed the heavy lump in
her throat.
"We...We don't know yet, Master" she answered.
He groaned again and turned his head
sideways. He was looking so tired and
his eyes..they were looking heavy.
"Why am I awake?" He asked weakly.
"I need some rest".
His eyes were trying to drift back to sleep.
Whaaaat????
"Master.!" She called in fear and touched his arm.
"C...Can you hear me? Please...open your eyes".
Khalid's temperature increased as more sweats formed up on his forehead.
"What is it, Octavia? Why are you disturbing me?" He asked huskily, his face expressing all the discomfort he felt.
"I'm.. trying to help you, Master. Please..you must stay awake" she answered with a shaky tone.
Khalid was silent for a few seconds, his
head turning uncomfortably on the bed.
"What're you doing to me? He finally asked gruffly.
"I shouldn't be feeling this way".
Octavia gulped nervously again and touched his hand.
Oh! She couldn't stop being nervous.
"I gave you an antiode, Master" she said.
"An antiode that can heal you. But if you
go back to sleep, it won't work. And that's the reason I need you to stay awake... please. I...I went through a lot trying to get this antidote. Don't let my efforts be in vain".
Khalid forced his drooping eyes to look at her. He couldn't see clearly, but he was sure of the pathetic look on her face
"Get away from me" he groaned and turned his head again.
"I don't want you here. I want to be alone".
"Please..." She whimpered.
"I promise to leave as soon as you make it work".
"I'II punish you for this, Octavia" he mumbled.
The effect of the antidote was being
excess on him. He could hardly take it.
His lids were too heavy to stay open
and helplessly, they tried going close.
"No!"
Octavia gasped and jerked his arm and the lids went open again but barely.
"I need this antiode to work, please... Help me" she whimpered.
Khalid turned uncomfortable again and
slowly, the lids started going close.
He just couldn't help it.
"Master.." Her voice shook, her eyes glistened with tears.
"Please..don't do this".
Khalid couldn't stop his eyes from going
close. And in his weak state, his breathless voice, he asked:
"Why is it so important to you?"
Tears spilled from Octavia's eyes as she
stared at him and in a cracked tone, she
answered:
"Because it killed my mother".
Khalid's hands fisted.
"I tried helping her, but she ended up dead. Please...I won't be able to forgive myself if I kill someone else with it".
She wept profusely.
Khalid could hear everything, but couldn't react again as the overwhelming sleep took over him.
His eyes went shut.
*
*
*
To be continued!