[SICARIO]
"How long?" Hawi asked as she looked at Mbali and that was when Eldie knew that something had to be wrong. The Lycan who never once recorded any days of pain or even being bedridden was suddenly seeking help? That was alarming.
"What?" Mbali asked confusedly. This was all just not making sense. She had seen Hawi crave for the worst of chaos over the years but this time, there was no desire to cause trouble in her eyes.
If anything, she seemed to want to save someone or something, which was not making any sense because Mbali could have sworn that she just had a fever and a terrible day. It was understandable given how much stress they all had been subjected to when they fought in all these bottles.
Eventually, they were bound to break down, but was that really it for them?
"How long have you been feeling like shit? I know you wouldn't let them bring you to infirmity unless it had to be serious and overwhelming for you. So how long?" Hawi asked.
This time she stared at Mbali like she was studying a book, looking for any signs of distress outside what she could already see. She wanted to know if Mbali was okay or if she was way past the point to be saved.
That shit would break her heart, but Hawi had to check either way.
"About thirty hours," Mbali said.
Hawi sighed, right before a portal opened and through it came a tired Lycan warrior. He looked like he had been in deep shit his entire life and had paid for all his messes. The warriors looked scared, and that in itself worried Mbali too.
"Zane?" Mbali asked as she struggled to get up. However, that didn't seem to bother her like her warrior who was here instead of being in Greyson. It was the worst that could happen to her and her team.
"I'm sorry, Enforcer Lihle. We have a problem and you need to come with me back to Greyson," Zane said, making Rukiya turn to look at the man.
It had taken her a moment but she realized that he was one of the Lycan warriors who had been dispatched. This was getting crazy and she wasn't sure she would like whatever was going to come from his mouth.
"Hold on... What happened?" Mbali asked, at the same time that Hawi spoke.
"Malika... This is about her, right?"
Most of the time when someone died, the person they were linked to would feel so much pain and be vulnerable. Hell, Greyson was actual proof of that all, so what was all this about getting stronger?
"What the fuck does that mean, Rukiya?" Mbali asked as she forced herself off the bed and began getting ready to leave. They wanted to stop her but they also knew that she had to show up.
If not for her sister then for her warriors. Oh, how Mbali loved those Lycan warriors. They had been the only family she ever had for years and years, and she wouldn't let them be in harm's way, not if she could fix them up.
"Malika is a protector, Mbali. She knows the pros and cons of it all. Unlike her allegiance to Hawi which is duty-bound, her allegiance to you is something that not even the strongest of swords can forge or tear apart.
"You are her greatest strength and her greatest weakness. She knows people will want to come after you if they know that you are the sister of the great protector. So, she already has a spell on you, one that will keep you safe from everything including Hawi, if ever the time comes.
"Your sister loves you to death, literally. Your protection spell is stronger because her breath is fading and you will notice your power increasing too. No matter what happens to her, you are safe.
"You hurt because the power is all too sudden, which means that your sister is fading, and fast. You can either save her or leave her there, but she wouldn't want you to feel pressured," Rukiya said, making them look at her like she was insane.
"Maybe she was hanging around Hawi too much, right? But then what else could there be?
"Are you even hearing yourself right now? Love? Oh please," Mbali asked, the confusion on her face was so evident.
"I grew up with Hudhayfah stepping up to be my father in more ways than one. I learned a lot from him. For now, go. Go check on your warriors. You can take Elodie too, she is worried about Malika.
"Just know that no matter what happens your sister would never blame you," Rukiya added and Mbali sighed.
She wasn't sure if this was real or if Ruru was making it all up. But then this wasn't the time for them to play make-believe. Perhaps that was why Hawi didn't try to stop them when they went through the portal that Zane had come through.
"Take care of each other there, we'll be fine," Hawi said and they just nodded before they went in, leaving Hawi and Ruru in Sicario.
It was all good, save for the part where the psycho and her mate were alone.
And unsupervised.
Such a terrible thing to do to humanity, right?