WHAT--
WHAT KIND OF POWER IS THIS?
CONTENT ADVISORY
THIS EPISODE CONTAINS DEPICTIONS AND/OR STRONG IMPLICATIONS OF THE FOLLOWING: NON-CONSENSUAL BEHAVIOR
THE EXCRUCIATING PAIN DISAPPEARED ALL OF A SUDDEN...
I CAN BREATHE SO MUCH BETTER NOW.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS,
BUT I WAS SO STARTLED THAT CASSIS' POWERS COULD NEUTRALIZE THE POISON INSIDE MY BODY.
IF I HADN'T STOPPED HIM, ALL MY EFFORTS WOULD HAVE BEEN FOR NOTHING...
WAIT...
HOW COULD I HAVE FORGOTTEN?
SHE COULD HEAL ANYONE BY KISSING THEM.
HER HEALING POWERS WERE EVEN STRONGER WHENEVER SOMEONE ENGAGED IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY WITH HER.
SYLVIA HAD A POWER JUST LIKE THIS.
I FORGOT ABOUT THAT PART OF THE NOVEL.
THAT'S WHY SYLVIA WAS FORCED TO BECOME A SEX TOY FOR MULTIPLE MEN FROM DIFFERENT FAMILIES.
HOWEVER, I DIDN'T REALIZE THE POWER RAN IN THE FAMILY...
IS THIS HOW...
...HE CAN IDENTIFY POISONOUS PLANTS, TOO?
I'M FINE. I WON'T DIE THAT EASILY.
I TOLD YOU ALREADY.
I'LL PROTECT YOU UNTIL YOU MAKE IT OUT OF THIS HOUSE SAFELY.
WHY DO YOU KEEP SAYING THAT TO ME?
I'M NOT YOUR BROTHER.
OBVIOUSLY, I KNOW THAT!
I ONLY TOLD CASSIS THAT HE REMINDED ME OF MY BROTHER,
SO I COULD GET CLOSER TO HIM.
I CAN'T BELIEVE HE THINKS I'M ONLY HELPING HIM BECAUSE OF ACHILLE.
THEY DON'T EVEN LOOK THE SAME.
I JUST DON'T WANT THIS STORY TO END IN TRAGEDY BECAUSE OF CASSIS' DEATH.
I'LL PROTECT YOU.
OH.
I KNOW THAT.
I DON'T WANT DEON...
...AND CASSIS...
...TO THINK THAT ACHILLE IS MY BIGGEST WEAKNESS.
YOU'RE NOTHING LIKE MY BROTHER.
SO DON'T FLATTER YOURSELF.
I FEEL OFFENDED.
SERIOUSLY...
WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
I THINK...
IDIOT.
...THIS IS THE FIRST TIME...
...I'VE EVER BEEN HONEST WITH MY FEELINGS.
I FEEL WARM.
YOU SHOULD REST UNTIL YOU'RE FEELING BETTER.
ROXANA.
EVER SINCE THAT DAY...
WHAT A LOVELY EVENING.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
...I FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE SEEING HIM FACE TO FACE.
IT'S EMBARASSING.
THAT SOUNDED SO TACKY.
WHY DID I GREET HIM LIKE THAT...?
It's So Awkward.
I CAME TO GIVE YOU THIS.
IT'S IN SOME KIND OF CODE I CAN'T READ.
JUDGING FROM HIS REACTION,
IT MUST BE GOOD NEWS.
ARE THOSE POISON BUTTERFLIES?
?!!
WHY ARE THEY HERE?! I NEVER CALLED FOR THEM!
IS IT BECAUSE THEY TASTED HIS BLOOD WHEN I FAINTED?
IT SHOULD BE FINE SINCE THESE AREN'T THE KILLER ONES, RIGHT?
I THINK THEY WANT MY BLOOD.
DAMN IT, HE'S TOO SMART FOR HIS OWN GOOD.
I DOUBT IT.
THEY ONLY DRINK MY BLOOD.
HM...
WHY IS HE LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT?
ROXANA.
THERE'S SOMETHING THAT I NEED TO ASK.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU...
...AFTER I ESCAPE?
Roxana Chapter Draft 23 tells of Roxana's astonishment as the poison in her body is neutralized by Cassis's power, and her decision to stop him. She recalls Cassis's familial healing power, Sylvia's story in the novel, and his ability to detect poisonous plants. A promise of protection, an Achilles comparison, and a shy confrontation unfold between the two, followed by a coded note and poisonous butterflies escalating the tension.
