You Are My Poison, You Are My Cure

Celphi swiped the mushroom away from his face and off my hand but it still remained tied to me. His movements shifted from swift and elegant to slow and unsteady.

‘Sigh. When and where did you pick that up?’ His voice was full of resignation.

He stopped and set me down on a small mound. I sat higher, while he rested below me with his back turned.

‘Did the poison affect you? Sorry! The fairies warned me. It didn’t seem to hurt me. I thought you’d be fine too. Oh no, please be alright!’ I babbled.

‘You’ll be okay yeah? Please tell me so!’

My apologies fell on his back, where angry rashes bloomed across his skin. They crawled from his neck and shoulders down. It looked harsh against his pale complexion.

‘No way! No! I am ever so sorry! I have done this,’ I nearly flung myself at him.

He turned, not angry, just weary. His fingers rubbed over his face slowly. The rashes around his lower lips and jaw looked very painful.

‘OH MY GOODNESS!’

Shame on you! You call yourself a nurse! 

‘What can I do? Is there an antidote?’ 

He’s half-reptile, right? Shouldn’t he have some kind of resistance?

‘Celphi, tell me what I can do to heal you? I will do anything. I will find you the cure.’ I desperately said.

I’ve caused pain to the sweetest man ever and I’ve ruined the face of the the most handsome man ever! I should just die.

’Did any of the insects contact anyone other than you?’ His gaze was sharp now, studying me.

‘I don’t think so. Magnus, the bumblebee one, kept me company. Tincy, the butterfly, used her wings to heal my foot. The moth, Nams, disappeared at some point.’ I explained quickly. His eyes landed on my healed foot.

‘Ah. So it begins. From now on, it will be an endless battle to keep you.’ His tone was solemn, too serious for comfort.

‘Keep me from what? At least answer that!’

But he ignored me. ‘Very well. Stay put while I take the cure from you. We don’t have time.’

That command grated. Celphi had always been a gentleman. Never forceful. Now, he knelt in front of me, eyes fixed on my legs. He leaned in closer, steadying himself against the mound. His face neared my foot, close enough to kiss it. Our eyes locked. Through his gaze, he silently asked for permission.

Permission for what? Curse this mental telepathy shit.

‘Stop it Celphi. Just stop. You’re scaring me.’

‘I just need a little bit of the antidote.’

‘I don’t have it. I will give it to you if I had.’

‘Thank you.’

Huh? He must have taken my stillness as acceptance.

‘Celphi?’

He edged closer, cornering me. I lashed out with a light kick. He caught my foot effortlessly. Heat raced through me at his touch. His usual gentleness burned into something feverish.

‘Sorry, Ina. I’ll make it quick‘

He bent fully, pressing a long kisses to my foot. The position was terribly suggestive.

‘What are you doing? Stop it!’ My voice pitched high, confusion wrapped in alarm.

A tiny whimper slipped out as he gave a playful lick before letting go.

*Whoosh*

‘I knew you were a pest the first time I saw you,’ an unfamiliar voice sneered.

Both Celphi and I turned.

Another human?

‘Yay! Another human!’ Relief bubbled out of me.

Wait a minute. Is he… fuming? Like literally? There’s smoke coming out of his nose and mouth. And some from his palm?

‘Are you here to take me?’ I asked, edging away from Celphi.

The stranger’s arrival gave me the chance to break free of Celphi’s grasp and kick myself away from that misleading position at least.

The man on fire gave me a head to toe, then dismissed me entirely.

Did he just ignore me?

‘You can’t take Ina from me. You’d have to kill me first,’ Celphi declared, stepping in front of me.

‘Yes. That’s the plan,’ the man said flatly, his pinkish red curls sparking embers.

‘Uh… Who are you?’ I tried peeking over Celphi’s shoulder.

‘…’

Why would he ignore me? Is there any seniority basis here? Like in some Asian countries? He is probably around my age. If it works the same as Earth’s. 

He looked very well put together. He also looked like he could explode at any point.

Oooff… No explosives please. Surely Celphi wouldn’t be defeated just by anyone right?

The rash on his back was already fading. Relief!

Well, except by me it seems.

‘Oh! Woah!’ I slid off the mound trying to get a better look of this stranger. Nobody checked if I was fine.

So that’s how you treat your princess around these parts huh? Can it be that he can't understand the language that Celphi passed to me? The fairies understood me just fine though?

‘Who are you? Please?’ I tried again, tilting my head cutely around Celphi’s side.

‘…’

Ok enough. I am not coming with you then.

‘Celphi, is he deaf? Why won’t he answer me?’ I tugged Celphi’s arm. He stayed tense, eyes locked on the stranger.

Finally, the fiery man exhaled with monumental exasperation. ‘I am Mede, head of reconnaissance for the Noble Aelysium. His royal highness, King Arye, tasked me to retrieve Princess Raiona.’

Oh, so that’s his job. Does he hate it? He sounds absolutely ticked off trying to explain just that. Or was he annoyed at me?

‘I’m not going with you. I’m not Raiona. And I don’t know anyone who can defeat Celphi. Just tell your king you couldn’t find her.’ I flapped my hands in dismissal.

That nerve must’ve been raw, because Mede erupted. Literally. Fire engulfed him. Like a super saiyan. Celphi didn’t hesitate. He scooped me up and bolted.

‘Very good job making him angry,’ he said coolly.

Uh-oh. Fireman had flown off, like a meteor rock that was blasted from earth to the skies.

‘What? I thought you were strong!’ I clung to him as the forest blurred around us.

The clearing just appeared as a small source of light as we sped off into the thick part of the forest that hasn’t been moved by earlier disaster.

‘I am, but I’m still recovering from your wonderful idea of poisoning me.’

’I am ever so sorry. Are you feeling any better now?’

‘I need more antidote. Put your cheek on my lips.’

‘Excuse me? How much are you planning to take from me?’

Does skin contact with me really heal him? He loves me that much?

‘All, if possible.’

The audacity. And he said it so sweetly.

‘Unbelievable,’ I muttered, but leaned in. His lips pressed to my cheek.

All while escaping at the fastest speed I’ve ever felt us move?

Wings thundered behind us, closing in.

‘What’s wrong with him anyway? Mayday, was it?’ I asked nervously.

‘Mede. He grew up in the same castle as you.’ Celphi finally pulled back, answering with a measured calm.

Oh yeah! Is he the angry fire bird Raiona mentioned in the journal? Surely he would know that I am not the real deal then?

Foliage zooming passed by us. If we were on earth, we probably broke all the speed restrictions ever applied on roads, even on formula 1 grounds. If they had a limit. Light broke through the canopy as we fled, giving me a chance to inspect his rashes.

‘Look! You’re healed.’

‘Yes. You bring both poison and cure.’ His smirk was maddeningly smug.

Cunning as ever, Celphi. And the one I know. I looked down and saw that the poor mushroom was still attached to my foot.

‘Don’t tease me! I still have my mushroom weapon.’

‘So you do. If it worked on me, it will work on others.’

‘Then why doesn’t it poison me?’

’It is toxic to most creatures. It does affect the stronger magical creatures but the effects vary.’ He explained.

‘But you…,’ he hesitated, ‘It might be because you may not be of this realm. That’s why.’

And I keep telling I am not from here! You hard headed egg.

’Is that how you knew that I would be the cure?’ I enquired.

His puzzled look shifted into realization, then a sly smile.

‘So, you’d have given yourself up as the cure if I’d asked?’

His audacity really was growing by the day. You’re lucky you’re cute…

‘Not a chance.’ I folded my arms stubbornly.

There we go. Eyes closed, lips thinly spread on his face. That chuckle, that soft, low sound I adored, escaped him at last.

‘You were infused with butterfly healing powder. That’s what I took from your face and foot,’ he explained, watching me pale in horror.

‘Ah. I’m… ’

That’s what you get for gawking at this man too much! Now you’re imagining scenarios. Ina you’re sick. How embarrassing…

Digging my grave, as usual. Getting us tangled in romantic messes. But Celphi’s always managed to make me feel comfortable by changing the topic or not furthering the talk.

‘Unless you were expecting me to do something else? You know I will give you everything.’ He said in a teasing tone but paired with an affectionate knowing gaze.

In that moment, I knew he wasn’t planning on avoiding romantic moments anymore.