I smiled weakly, my vision still blurry as I reached out to touch his cheek. "Is want show now?" I asked. I was determined... I was determined to show him all of the hard work and effort I had put into it since we began. Sure, I had a piece of his soul in a locket around my neck - but the rest of it...the rest of it... I had... I had... crap... It was really had to concentrate. I furrowed my eyebrows. Did Nevin look paler than usual? Or was that just me?

"Eteri, that can wait." He grabbed my hand and squeezed it tightly. "You need to rest. Tiger Lillies are toxic. Very toxic. If I hadn't..." he trailed off and his head lowered and again pressed into my neck as he gave me a tight squeeze. "You would have died."

Died...I would have died?

I blinked slowly. "How can die if no soul?" I asked. Not really realising how macabre that sounded. I tried to push him away but didn't have the energy to. Instead I let him sit there holding me tightly as he steadied his shaky breaths.

"Don't say things like that."

"Okay..." I said. "Only if take Eteri to room...is where surprise is."

He seemed hesitant to allow me to move. "You won't stop till I do that, huh?" He gave a laugh, it was a mix between relieved and deflated. It lacked the energy and brightness his laughs normally had. He slowly lifted me and staggered, as though it took effort...it had never taken him effort to do this before. He took me to the room, one of the tendrils had taken the flowers, blanket and all and thrown them out the window before he set me on his bed.

"I'm not taking any risks." He said sternly, no doubt catching my expression. I had wanted to give them to him..and he just threw them away. No matter. The bed was comfy..."Satchel..." I mumbled in a scractchy voice. Nevin nodded and disappeared behind the curtain before returning, he placed it in my hands. I grinned weakly and looked up at him as he sat down on the bed next to me. Slowly rubbing my back.

<"Your soul is very...unpleasant t-to look at Nevin. But its not corrupt. I thought... if I could make it something more, without changing who you are..."> I fumbled around in the satchel, unaware I had switched back to my native tongue before I pulled out the vial and placed it in his hands.

"Your soul." I said before allowing myself to collapse onto his lap, I shifted my face so I could see his reaction. Would he like it? Would he see how beautiful it was?

"Want me put inside. See how feel?" I asked breathlessly as I reached out to press a fingertip to the corner of his mouth. "Smiling?" He looked so drained and said...and I didn't like it. Not one bit.