by Dr. D
“Send out my order.”
Chapter 43
Dezi stepped onto the ship. The deck shook slightly under him with a wave, and his head started to spin. Dezi’s brows furrowed and he pressed his temple.
The wind was icy cold this early in the morning, and the sun didn’t even rise.
He had given Frank his share of money last night and didn’t walk into the inn until nightfall, fearing that clerk would recognize his face as the one that knights were looking for. He had gotten up when it was still dark and become the first one on the dock who waited for the ship to sail.
As more passengers gathered around the ship, Dezi breathed in more cold air and closed his eyes to relax, but he saw Acheron in his mind.
When the horse leaped forward into the woods, he had had an urge to look back. Acheron’s figure was small in the distance. But somehow, Dezi saw his eyes very clearly, and those eyes wouldn’t leave his mind. They were so black, like all the darkness of the world had gathered there, leaving the rest of the image plain and gray.
It must hurt to hold in so much darkness, Dezi thought. He almost wished Acheron would cry.
Dezi didn’t know how, but he was sure Acheron’s tears would be black and heavy; they would hit the ground, eat into the soil, and wind through the field like a river.
“Welcome.”
Dezi opened his eyes and saw the captain walking toward him. “We will be leaving shortly.”
Dezi took in a breath and nodded.
“But I was just told this morning that every passenger leaving needed to go through a quick screening.” The captain crossed his arm and shook his head. “Never seen an order like this before, but it shouldn’t take too long.”
Dezi’s lips parted, and he closed it again. He saw a group of knights approach the dock and scan the outer layer of the crowd. Their gaze stopped on a young man and they questioned his name.
Dezi couldn’t see the young man’s face, but he saw that he had blonde hair.
Dezi suddenly felt his heart beat in his chest. He lowered his head, slowly turned around, and headed away from the dock.
Just when Dezi was merging back into the pedestrians on the streets, he heard the knight shouting behind him.
“Hey, you!”
Dezi’s heart rose to his throat, but he didn’t stop.
“Stop right there!” The knights quickly pushed through the crowds and grabbed onto Dezi’s arm. “What is your name?”
“Frank …” Dezi lowered his head. He could feel everyone’s gaze on him, wondering what he had done to be chased down by the knights like this.
But the knight suddenly yanked down on the collar of Dezi’s shirt. Before Dezi could break free, the knight saw the unique marks on Dezi’s body and grinned. “You need to come with us, sir.”
Dezi gritted his teeth but didn’t dare to resist.
Hourly later, Dezi was sent back to the palace in Ushuocia. The guards brought him into a room and closed the door behind him. Dezi subconsciously scanned for Acheron, but only saw the princess sitting behind a desk.
“Your highness ...” He was ready to kneel down, but the princess reached out her arm and pointed at the chair. “Come over here and sit down.”
Dezi slowly rose and came up to her. The princess was writing something on a piece of paper.
“Sit.” She glanced up at Dezi and pointed at the chair again.
Dezi pursed his lips and loosely sat down on the edge of the chair.
She pushed the piece of paper to Dezi. “This is my offer to you.”
Dezi frowned with confusion, glanced down at the words, and almost slipped down to the floor. He grabbed onto the arm of the chair and stammered. “I … I don’t understand.”
Tatiana leaned back into the chair. “I need your help to make Acheron the next king.”
Dezi swallowed and looked up at the princess. “Why do you need me?”
“You must have realized it by now, Dezi, you are the only one that has Acheron on a string.” Tatiana stared right into Dezi’s eyes and pushed the paper forward. “So tell me, is this enough for your loyalty?”
Dezi looked down at the offer again. It was more than he ever dreamed of, even at the high of his ego. He expected to hear his heart race, to feel his stomach twitch, and to jump at the chance. But all he managed to accomplish was just sitting there with his mouth ajar.
“What seems to be the problem?” Tatiana frowned.
Dezi sat up and, feeling rushed by Tatiana’s slight impatience, he heard himself blurt out, “Where is he?”
Tatiana seemed surprised at Dezi’s question and gave Dezi a weird look, as if Dezi had just recited a poem and it was rather beautiful.
“He is not in here.” She stood up and led the way. “Follow me.”
Dezi walked behind the princess and descended lower and lower down the castle. The stairs were like a never-ending spiral. Eventually, sunlight lost his power entirely, and the only light sources were two torches hanging on the wall. The cold, wet air that clung to his skin felt like it was directly from the dark center of the earth.
Dezi couldn’t see much with the flicking flames, but it was clear that this must be the underground jail of the castle. It appeared to be vacant at the moment, except for one guard standing under the torches.
The guard greeted the princess and made his exit.
Tatiana sighed. “Please convince Acheron to come up with us.”
“You mean he is in the dungeons?” Dezi furrowed his brows and took down one of the torches to light up the way in front of him as he walked deeper into the dark tunnels.
“Dezi.” The princess hesitated, and then said, “Acheron was put into an underground jail alone after my aunt died. The only thing he had in his prison cell was a doll he called Baba.”
Dezi’s body froze, and he slowly turned to look at Tatiana with widened eyes.
“Two years later, when the idea of training living dragons was proposed, my mother sent him out to the dragon pit. He would be caged in with a dragon when the beast needed to be knocked out for its horns to be removed.”
“Acheron only knew a life like that, so he never even tried to escape, and I think that is why he came here. “
The princess looked around. Under the flicking torches were damaged bricks walls, crusty benches, and twisted iron bars. “I guess no matter how terrible,” she said, “if was familiar and something he knew he could handle, it could still be comforting.”
Dezi blinked hard a few times and walked in deeper without a word.
“I brought him back to the palace once I learned about him from Mathew. Mother couldn’t do anything once it was done.”
“Marriage, power, wealth. He is obvious to many make-believe concepts of our society. He didn’t even really respond much to language at that time. Mathew and I and tried hard to teach him. But it wasn’t until you showed up that he made the most improvements. He really seemed to recognize your voice the best.”
Dezi swallowed down a lump in his throat and turned to meet Tatiana’s eyes.
“The word marriage carries no meaning for him, and it must continue to be the case.” Tatiana studied Dezi’s face, looking for evidence of something that she had missed. “He will be my husband as far as everyone else in this kingdom is concerned.”
Dezi pursed his lips and kept on walking. He just wanted to find Acheron and make sure he was all right. He had seen meals left out on the floor, but they were untouched.
“I can promise you that I will never try to harm him,” Tatiana came to a halt, “but if you couldn’t swear to serve me, there is no need for you to keep searching.”
Dezi clenched his fist and spoke without thinking. “He needs me!” Then he froze in place, as if surprised himself that he almost snarled at the princess.
“He does.” There was sincerity in Tatiana’s tone. “And he deserves what he wanted.”
She stepped closer to Dezi. Her clear black eyes were lit up by the warm light of the flame.
“We all deserve what we wanted.”
Dezi looked into those eyes and was first reminded the darkness of Acheron’s eyes.
“I …” Dezi opened his mouth and remembered the offer. It was then that the excitement and relief washed over him. “I am your humble servant, your highness.”
Chapter 44
Acheron hid in the shadows, but his eyes followed Dezi’s figure under the orange light of the torch like a dying explorer looking at a mirage of paradise hanging over the bare and hostile desert.
Dezi suddenly stopped in his track as he felt the familiar gaze on his skin. He turned his head and looked into the darkness. “Acheron?”
The prince’s heart skipped a bit, and he ran deeper into the dungeon.
Dezi heard the faint rustles of Acheron’s retreat and started running in the right direction. “Acheron!”
The sound of Dezi’s voice made Acheron’s chest tighten. He ran until he had reached what seemed to be a dead wall. But the prince bent down and slid into the narrow entrance to the water jail on the bottom of the stone wall.
The water jail was a torture chamber that was filled with chest-deep water; it forced the prisoner to remain upright and awake. Acheron stood in the water cell, submerged his head under the ice-cold water and let himself be swallowed by complete darkness.
The current of the deep water was pushing him backward, but the hope in the bottom of his heart was pulling him toward the sounds of Dezi’s voice calling his name.
“Acheron?” Dezi reached the dead-end wall and paced around.
Acheron raised his head out of the water and saw the low stone entrance was lit up slightly by Dezi’s torch.
Dezi was looking for him.
Even the cold current wouldn’t contain the bubbles of warmth and hopefulness that started to simmer in his heart. Acheron felt the urge to open his mouth and call Dezi’s name.
But he shook his head and sunk back into the water. Dezi didn’t really want to see him again. Dezi didn’t come back for him willingly.
The prince tortured himself with those thoughts until the footsteps went farther away and the glow on the stone entrance dimed away. Everything went back to silence and darkness, with only the ice-cold current of the water dragging him deeper into the abyss.
For a moment, Acheron felt like he was deep down in the boundless ocean with no hope ever coming back to the surface.
And he would never see Dezi again.
The suffocation that was easing the pain in his chest suddenly gave his heart a fierce sting. Acheron stood up straight and popped his head out for air. He fixed his eyes on the stone exit and staggered toward it.
Just before he reached over to climb up, the torch suddenly lit up the opening, and Dezi’s face showed up on the other side.
“I heard the sound of water,” Dezi explained to the princess, who caught up with him, and he handed the torch to her.
Acheron stepped aside and saw Dezi lower himself through the narrow entrance and shudder at the coldness of the water.
The unexpected current swept under his feet, and he lost his footing. Dezi gasped and tried to reach for the walls, but the slimy and cold stones only slid under his fingers.
Acheron moved before he could think about it and took Dezi’s arms. Dezi grabbed onto the warm hand that lifted him out of the water and pulled the prince into his chest.
Acheron was dazed by the warm embrace. The freezing cold current and dense, dark air lost all its power. There was only the comforting presence of Dezi that took over Acheron’s sense.
“Acheron?” Dezi looked in the dark, but couldn’t see his face.
“Dezi.” Acheron tightened his arms around him and buried his face in Dezi’s neck.
Dezi let out a breath and relaxed his muscles.
“Is everything all right?” Tatiana's words came down from above.
“He is here.” Dezi raised his voice to answer and then turned to Acheron. “Come on.”
“Dezi …” Acheron didn’t move. The moment he had was too perfect, he dreaded any changes.
“Yes, I am here.” Dezi patted his back, trying to get him to let him go. “Let’s go up.”
Acheron’s fingers only tightened on Dezi’s arm.
The prince was afraid of what could happen under the daylight. He was scared to see the distaste in Dezi’s eyes and terrified of the time that he would have to let Dezi go again.
But time wouldn’t go slowly enough for him.
“Acheron.” Dezi lost his patience and raised his voice. “It is cold in here.”
The prince bit on the inside of his cheek and release his grip.
Dezi signed in relief, climbed up, and extended his hand down.
Acheron closed his fingers around Dezi’s hand and didn’t let go, even after Dezi pulled him out of the water jail. Dezi didn’t seem to notice and just lead him forward.
As the exit of the dungeon approached, Acheron closed his eyes and rested his chin on Dezi’s shoulder. He could feel Dezi turn his head toward him, but Dezi allowed him to clung onto him as long as he walk wherever Dezi went.
Eventually, Acheron could feel the sun on his skin, but he didn’t open his eyes. He could hear more and more voices, but he didn’t pay attention. Acheron focused every fiber of his being on savoring Dezi’s presence, his wonderful warmth and comforting scent.
Acheron initially thought he would rather not see Dezi again, because he was so traumatized by the pain of losing. He reckoned there would be nothing in the world that would be crueler than going through it again. But now Acheron realized that he was wrong. He did want to see Dezi again. Allowing the situation to replay a hundred times, he would still draw to the light even if he knew the flame would burn him to ashes.
Because what was worst was to have never met Dezi, to never know this contentment, this inner peace, this quivering and bliss.
He only wished the penalty for his greed would come a little while later just so he would have Dezi in his arms a bit longer.
“Your highness.” Dezi pulled his hand out of his and nudged him.
Acheron’s heart sunk, and he opened his eyes. Was his time up?
They were in a well-lit room with several other noblemen. Dezi sat Acheron down next to the fireplace and took off his wet clothing. The older men stepped closer to take off his bandages and readdress his wounds.
Acheron’s gaze followed Dezi, and he saw him wrap a towel around himself and turned around to look at him.
Dezi furrowed his brows lightly when he saw the prince’s expression and bent closer to him. Acheron met Dezi’s gaze and was dazzled by the tenderness in his eyes.
“You …” Dezi glanced at the old healers and reworded, “Is your highness hungry?”
The princess chuckled on the other side of the room, but she gave out the order to set up a table regardless.
After the healers were done and the food was set up, Tatiana turned to Dezi before she left. “Take care of the prince. We will be leaving for the capital first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, your highness.” Dezi lowered his head.
Acheron glanced nervously at Dezi as everyone left and the room fell into silence.
Dezi stood still by his side and seemingly was in his own thoughts.
Acheron felt fear grip onto his throat, and he reached for Dezi’s hand again.
Dezi closed his fingers around Acheron’s hand and looked into his eyes. Something in Dezi’s gaze was the same like the day Dezi looked into his eyes for the first time. It peaked into the darkness that caged him and looked at Acheron curiously as him and nothing else.
But something was also different. The darkness had faded away, and Dezi could see the secrets that matted on his skin and the curse that deformed his bone. He could see everything in all its filth and its glory, but his gaze still looked over it and fell on the young boy who was under there.
“Dezi.” Acheron gulped at Dezi’s attention and stood up to take Dezi back into his arms.
Acheron let loose and studied Dezi’s face. There was something different about Dezi. The dark clouds that loomed over him were gone. Dezi actually wore a light smile, and there was soft light in his eyes.
He took Acheron to the table and filled a bowl of soup for him. The prince sat down to eat it obediently but kept glancing up at the smile on Dezi’s face.
“Why did you hide from me in the dungeon?” Dezi reached over and touched the small scab on Acheron’s temple gently.
Acheron paused and said slowly, “I thought Dezi didn’t want to see me.”
“What makes you think that?” Dezi asked.
The prince dropped his gaze back down to his food. “I know Dezi doesn’t like me.”
“Who told you that?” Dezi raised his eyebrows, and then he shied his eyes away when Acheron looked up at him. “I never disliked you …”
After a few moments of silence, Dezi rubbed his cheek and murmured, “I like you very much.”
Chapter 45
“At the beginning of time,” Tatiana spoke with grace, “a brave man stood out at the time of crisis and led his people to defeat the dragons that invaded their homeland in five years’ time. He was made the first king by his people, and a large banquet was host to celebrate their victory.”
Tatiana was in an elaborate gown; it was in the royal purple with impressive gold embroidery. Besides her was Acheron, wearing a matching coat. On top of his black hair, there was a shiny crown. The stage of the arena was elevated and decorated for their appearance.
“Since then, every five years we honor this tradition. Today is about the devotion a king have to his people and the gratitude the people have for their king.”
The crowd cheered and applauded.
A fake dragon made in woods and paper was hung up. The cheering was replaced by a quiet excitement and anticipation. The audience’s attention was turned to the king, but Acheron didn’t move.