"Please, no need to explain, my darling," she purred softly, taking the glass from his hand and sipping the warmth before returning it back to his hand. "I understand everything now. I do wonder who she is though. Is that something you would tell me, George? Who is carrying your son?"
George's eyes widened and his glass began to shake in his grip. "Eya, I'm not sure... What I mean to say is-"
"What do you mean to say? You look pale, have a drink." Eya leaned in closely, gesturing to the drink as she crossed her fingers and waved them in a circular motion over it. For half a moment, the liquid swirled and darkened before returning to its natural look. As it did so, George's eyes never left Eya's gaze, the man locked on her face to try and see what to expect.
Shakily, he took a sip from his glass, Eya's smile twitching as she leaned away. "George?"
"How do you know?" He managed to croak out, taking another swig to try and ease his nerves. His arm shook with the swallow before he placed the drink down. "Who told you?"
"I know many people, George. I thought I could trust you. I thought you loved me. You know this will break Kia's heart, don't you?"
"Don't you dare bri-" George's volume began to rise, but was cut off as Eya pressed her finger to his lips.
"Shhhh, George. No one is supposed to know I am here, do you understand? Now, I am going to give you a chance. Who is carrying your son? And maybe I'll spare you." Never once did her smile falter as she caressed his lips and around his jaw.
"George, I'm waiting," she purred, gesturing to his glass. "It will start working soon, you know."
Sweat had already begun to drip down his forehead as he spoke, his body shaking more with each passing moment. Horror played across his vision as he sat speechless, staring at his wife as the reality of what she was doing sunk in. His mouth cracked open, his head shaking back and forth in disbelief.
"E... Eya, my love... Eya you couldn't have..."
"You're losing precious time, love," she interrupted and grabbed his jaw. "Now tell me. Who did you have an affair with?"
"I can't... Eya you must listen," George begged, only to find himself starting to gag, body seizing forward. "E... Ey... E..." His hands grabbed at his throat, clawing against the delicate skin as he fought for breath. His fingers dug against his airway as though he could open it through pressure. His arm reached towards in desperation.
"Oh George, you had your chance. I'll find her myself," Eya chuckled. "Isn't revenge so sweet, my love? Now we can both be happy. No more stress, my love, and now Kia won't have to watch you walk away, mmm?"
No response came from George, his body going limp against the back of his chair, hand hanging beside him. Reaching out, Eya gently pulled his eyelids down, something eating inside her, her stomach beginning to grow sick against the numbness in her mind.
"Sleep well."
Moving her hand around her body, Eya seemed to fade off once more. Lifting her head, she strode out of the throne room, passing by the oblivious guards. Step, step, step. No one could hear her steps with the cloaking magic she used, but she heard the steps in her head. They echoed, like the ticks of a clock as the numbness warred with an understanding of what she'd done. George was gone, a necessary step to ensure the safety of all.
A necessary step.
Wasn't it?
Eya entered her room, her body appearing as she glanced into the mirror. Her eyes seemed darker than she remembered, the edges not as white as she thought they usually were. The longer she stared, the more they seemed to return to normal. How odd-
George. It hit her so hard that she careened back into the bed, her body sinking onto the mattress as her knees bumped into the frame and she threw up.
"George..." His name came as a whimper between her lips as her emotions rushed through the numbness, breaking past it like a tsunami. "What have I done?" Her voice cracked as tears began spilling down her cheeks. She lifted her hands to her face, gazing at the weapon she used for such destruction. How could she have? No, no this wasn't what she wanted. Surely there was another way. Surely she could have still achieved what she wanted without killing her husband. This wasn't what she had wanted to do!
"No, no... No there must be another way," she sobbed, staggering to her feet. Her steps became erratic as she paced in her room, digging her fingers into her hair and tugging as though the pain may help her find a solution. But he was dead, and she knew that. He was already dead. There was nothing more she could do. Unless- Could she bring him back?
No, no that was ludicrous! Her steps became louder and faster, her mind screaming at her in a mix of regret and attempts to convince herself that what was done was done, and it was the right answer. Right? Of course, of course...
No! It was the dark magic. She shouldn't have- But to bring George back she'd need to access it again and maybe then she could make it right. Yes, yes, she'd make it right by bringing him back and erasing his memory of what happened. No one would need to know. And if she did, she could have some essence of control. Of course! Then she could bring him back, find out who the woman was, and end it there. Everything would be fine!
Her body shook all the harder and she threw a panicked look into the mirror, her eyes seeming to fade between darkness and normalcy as her mind fought for the truth. She needed this; this was what the prophets meant to do of course! She just had to bring him back and it was as though none of this happened. No harm done in the end! It was how it was meant to go.
She repeated the thoughts in her head over and over as she rushed to the door, opening it and moving through the hallway towards the throne room. George. His name rushed through her mind in waves. The tears continued to stream down her face, Eya wiping them with her palm as she hurried forward. Just a little further before...
Her heart sunk as her world came to a halt, Eya starting to turn the final corner in time to see Ian stride into the throne room. No...
It was too late...
She was too late...