A Night with You (2)

Athena gasped as the chill of his body seeped into her own. It was like being wrapped in a freezing void, and every instinct screamed at her to break free.

What kind of poison...

But his arms were unyielding, locking her in place with a strength that didn't match his condition.

This body is so weak, she thought, frustration mingling with panic. Far too fragile compared to my assassin's body in my previous life.

She strained against him, trying to create even a sliver of space between them, but it was futile. His hold tightened further as if she were his lifeline, his last tether to stability.

"Mors," she called softly, her voice trembling as she tried to mask her fear. "You're freezing. Let me help you."

He didn't respond. His face was buried against her shoulder, his breath shallow and uneven.

The icy cold of his body now felt almost alive, creeping into her own warmth like an insidious force. She could feel his pulse faintly through his chest, erratic and fading.

What is happening to him?

Athena's thoughts raced, torn between the need to comfort him and the urgency to free herself to act. She focused on steadying her breathing, her mind reaching for any solution.

I can't overpower him like this. My body isn't trained for such force. But maybe...

"Hold on," she whispered, more to herself than to him. "I'll figure this out."

Her assassin instincts flared to life, even in her weakened state. She began to carefully test the limits of his grip, planning her next move while assessing his condition.

The strength in his arms, and the unnatural cold radiating from his body, were not ordinary signs of illness.

This is no ordinary man. And this is no ordinary sickness.

Athena swallowed her fear, resolving to endure the cold a little longer.

They say kissing Sleeping Beauty will awaken the beauty," Athena murmured to herself, a wry smile playing on her lips.

Without hesitation, she leaned down and kissed Mors, her lips brushing against his icy cold ones. But nothing happened. His pallor remained ghostly, and his breath stayed shallow.

She frowned. "What if I put more pressure?"

A hint of mischief flickered in her eyes as she bit down gently on his lips, enough to leave a tingling sensation.

To her surprise, Mors groaned faintly, and his arms loosened slightly around her.

Seizing the opportunity, Athena slipped out of his grasp, her heart racing as she heard him murmur, "Cold..."

His body began to tremble violently, and his words came out like a desperate plea.

Athena's moment of triumph turned to alarm. His condition was deteriorating fast, and she couldn't afford to waste time.

She hurried to the communication panel on the wall and pressed a button.

"Head Steward Arison Drake, please report to the master's quarters immediately!"

Moments later, Elder Arison arrived, his steps eerily calm for the urgency of the situation.

The faint whirring of servos followed his every movement, and Athena's sharp eyes caught the glint of a cable trailing discreetly behind him.

Her suspicions were confirmed, Arison wasn't human but a humanoid robot.

"Young madam, is there a problem?" Arison asked, his tone perfectly even.

Athena gestured toward the bed, where Mors lay trembling and pale. "His temperature is dangerously low. Something is very wrong. Check his condition immediately."

Without a word, Arison moved swiftly to Mors's side. His synthetic hands scanned the major general's body, faint lights flickering in his fingertips as data poured into his internal systems.

"The master's core temperature is dropping rapidly," Arison reported grimly. "We must act now."

He pressed a button on his wrist, summoning the estate's medical team. Within minutes, a team of medics arrived, their faces tense with urgency.

They carefully transferred Mors onto a floating stretcher and rushed him out of the room. Athena followed them closely, her expression a mix of worry and determination.

They arrived at a high-tech medical facility within the estate, where Mors was placed in a glass-encased medical cabin.

The machine hummed softly as it began to run diagnostics and stabilize his condition.

Athena stood by, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her mind raced with questions, but she forced herself to remain calm. This was no ordinary illness, she was sure of it.

As the medics worked, Athena's gaze never left Mors's pale face. What secrets are you hiding, Major General? And what have I gotten myself into?

Athena barely slept the night, her nerves strung taut until the doctor finally delivered the news she desperately needed to hear.

"Major General Mors is out of danger," the chief doctor had assured her. "He's stable now, young madam."

Only then did her body relax, the tension unwinding like a tightly coiled spring.

Exhaustion overcame her, and she drifted into a light, restless sleep on the couch beside Mors's hospital bed.

When Athena woke, sunlight was streaming through the wide windows, painting the sterile walls with a faint golden hue.

She blinked a few times, adjusting to the brightness. A soft, plush blanket had been draped over her, a small but considerate gesture from someone on the staff.

Sitting up, she stretched her stiff limbs and inhaled deeply, trying to shake off the lingering weariness.

Her gaze instinctively went to Mors, still lying motionless on the hospital bed. He looked better, less pale, his breaths more even, but the sight still sent a pang through her chest.

Her musings were interrupted by a gentle knock at the door. The head maid, Dorothy, entered with a warm smile, carrying a tray of food.

"Good morning, young madam," Dorothy said softly. "I've brought you breakfast."

Athena nodded, her voice hoarse. "Thank you, Dorothy."

She sat down and began eating, but the taste was strange to her.

The flavors of the interstellar cuisine were not yet something she could fully appreciate, and after a few bites, she set the plate aside, her appetite fading.

Shortly after, the estate's chief doctor arrived to update her on Mors's condition.

"His vitals are improving steadily," the doctor reported. "We're running additional tests to ensure there are no lingering effects, but he's recovering well."

Athena gave a small nod of acknowledgment, her expression unreadable. "Thank you for your efforts. Please let me know if anything changes."