The King stretches in his seat rubbing his shoulders and continuing his “story.” “Like I’ve said before, she wanted to protect you,” he points to Aiden. “She came to me and begged that I let you off, she really didn’t want him to protect you.” His last words were directed at Kael. “She wanted for Aiden to live a free life not chasing after a Prince.” Kael shifts in his seat. “So I told her “of course, I’ll protect your brother” and then took her to bed.” Kael risks a glance at Aiden, his right eyebrow was twitching—he looked to be in great pain. “She was willing to let a complete stranger take control of her just for the safety of her little brother,” the King sighs in awe. “That’s deserving of respect.”
“Then why did you kill her?” Aiden asks through gritted teeth. “Well…for obvious reasons.” Kael stares at his father, edging him to go on. “One night—while your mother was away of course—we didn’t use safety precautions.” So, mom really didn’t know about this? Kael thought his mind racing. “I was wearing a condom, but who knows what that bitc—“ he stops short his gaze landing on Aiden. “I mean, who knows what she was planning.” he back tracks, a smirk tugging at his lips. Aiden remained still and emotionless. “And so a few weeks later she came back claiming that I had impregnated her.” He guffaws. “The nerve!” Kael scowls. “I told her I didn’t want it, to get an abortion, but,” he shakes his head as though it was the saddest thing on earth and it was sad but he seemed to be mocking the entire situation. “She said she was going to keep it, she even named it; don’t you want to know its name?” he looks between Kael and Aiden excitedly and Kael felt like throwing up. He wanted to flee from this castle and take Aiden with him and hide in the greenhouse. He could stay there forever and he wouldn’t feel like he was living in hell.
“Did you just take a picture!?” Kael shrieks making a mad dash for Aiden’s phone and yanking it out of his hand. Aiden lets him take it and watches him with a grin. “I thought you looked extremely cute with your lips pursed like that, I couldn’t help it.” He explains with a crooked smile and Kael shoots him a glare. “Come on, we have to go anyways.” He grumbles trudging towards the front door of the greenhouse. “Oh? Are we meeting someone?” Aiden asks following after Kael. “Janus invited us out on a little get together with Jenna and Francis.” Aiden’s eyes light up. “Really!?”
“Yep,” Kael was smiling now, the impromptu photo forgotten. “Micah’s coming too.” Aiden’s entire face glows as he slips into the drivers seat of the black Cadillac. “Francis’s still healing but Janus thinks the fresh air would be good for him.” Kael explains buckling into his seat and placing Aiden’s phone in the car cup-holder. Aiden starts the car, checking behind him and buckling in before backing out. “Yeah, it’s time he started moving around some more.” Aiden adds. “Mm, I think so too.”
“Its name was Harper—male or female being that she didn’t know the sex yet.”
Harper. Harper. The baby…my nephew or my niece…Harper.
Kael reaches for Aiden’s hand, it took some effort to pry his laced fingers apart, but eventually Kael held Aiden’s hand in his. The grip conveyed a simple and reassuring phrase: I’m here for you. Aiden glances at Kael and flashes a weak smile. The King watches this exchange with disgusted pity. “Don’t you want to hear the climax of my little tale?” He asks and simultaneously they turn to look at him. “Good.” He adjusts his crown, the light it once caught was now gone and the crown looked like a fading ornament. “So I couldn’t have another possible heir running around and the tabloids would catch fire…” he pauses and then chuckles at his own joke. “That was entirely accidental.” He apologizes with a sneer before continuing. “Anyways,” he clears his throat, the mood changing seriously. “The media would make a joke out of me, the headlines would read: KING CAUGHT WITH HISTORIAN or HISTORICAL FLING—something like that.” Aiden was biting his lip so hard Kael thought it would bleed. More than anything he was probably struggling to keep his anger and hate under control because Skye wouldn’t want for him to lose himself in such hatred. Kael wanted to feel his pain—what must he have felt in that moment? To receive the news of his sisters death…what was such a feeling of loss like? Kael knew that he would never be able to understand Aiden’s level of pain. “So I had to take care of it.” His voice turns sinister. “I planned it out from beginning to end—the gang, the fire, relying on you to lose your memory.” His gaze rests on Kael. “And relying on you to blame my son—the Prince.” His gaze moves towards Aiden. “It was all a cover up; the fire’s one purpose was to kill Skye and to kill the fetus growing inside of her.” His hands move beneath his desk. “It was a game of life and death, but such a game only has one King—that King is me and you all are, well…” his hands were moving again. “You’re only the pieces that get moved around and directed by me.” Kael had seen it, had heard the rattle of metal against wood and the clickclick as the safety went off.
Kael takes off across the park sidewalk towards Janus who was standing behind a bench on which Jenna was sitting. Francis was next to her, his wheelchair placed beside Janus. “Did you wait long?” He asks them plopping down on the bench between them. Francis looks to him annoyed and Jenna giggles lightly, her cheeks flushed with excitement. “We weren’t waiting all that long.” Janus says leaning over Kael’s head and blocking out the sun. Aiden finally reaches them, a cooler clutched in his hands. “I brought…” he huffs “…drinks.”
“Not bad, shortie.” Micah says coming up behind him and slapping him across his back. Aiden glances towards him with a glare. “Why are you here?”
“I came with…” he pauses glancing towards Janus before continuing. “I came with my boyfriend.” Aiden grins. “Oh finally acknowledged your homosexuality.” Aiden teases and Micah knocks him in his shoulder before jogging over to Janus and slipping a hand around his waist. Aiden places the cooler beside Kael’s feet before sitting down on his lap. Kael looks up at him with wild eyes. “What? Am I heavy?” Aiden asks wriggling on Kael’s lap and Kael sighs before pushing him off. “No, but we’re in public.” Aiden stumbles to his feet and Jenna rolls her eyes. “You two gross me out.” Francis grumbles, Jenna nods in agreement, her brown eyes glittering. It was truly a happy atmosphere; the continuous cool breeze passing them by and the laughter and chatter of the other park goers. “I brought soda, iced tea and water.” Aiden announces popping the lid of his cooler. “I’ll take a soda.”
“Iced tea.”
“Two sodas back here.” Micah says reaching over the bench. Aiden tosses out the drinks getting his own and squeezing in between Kael and Francis—Jenna was crushed to the side. “Watch it, don’t wanna crush my good leg.” Francis cracks and no one laughs instead they look to him with bitterly amused smiles. “Have you tried…walking?” Aiden asks cautiously. Francis takes a sip from his can of soda before answering. “Yeah, but it hurts like hell.”
“He can’t move it much unless he wants it amputated.” Janus informs and Aiden nods. “Let’s talk about something else! Not that your leg isn’t important, but just because right now is a time for us to be happy.” Kael rambles and Jenna looks to him with an agreeing smile. “I second that.” She says and Kael beams back at her. “Fine, what do you guys want to talk about?” Francis asks and Jenna begins to ramble out all that she’s had to dealt with these past few weeks. “The semesters almost over and class is hell, back to back tests and quizzes and the textbook is huuuuge!” Aiden chuckles and so do the other men. “You think I’m being overdramatic?”
“No, no, I get what you’re saying, I just haven’t been to the campus in a while.” Aiden says and Kael nods. “My lessons are back at home again.” He heaves a sigh. “I’m an old man, so university has already been done for me.” Janus teases and they all glare at him. “Shut-up, brother!” Francis snaps, leaning back to punch his brother in his gut. They all laugh and Micah goes on to talk about the new training process the men back at the building are going through. “It’s tougher, some talk about dropp
ing out and I laugh in their faces.” Janus nods, turning to watch Micah as he spoke. “I tell them it’s not that easy, this is their fate and they may as well accept it instead of running away from it.”
“I’ll be back soon.” Janus murmurs, a faint smile playing along his lips as he looked at Micah. He had the look of love, it was etched into his lips and sparkling eyes. “No need to rush.” Micah replies sweetly, Francis gags, grumbling. “You don’t need to worry about me anymore, go and be the boss.” He tosses his brother a reassuring smile and that spark of life had returned to his eyes. Jenna, Aiden, Kael and Janus all look at Francis as though he were the most precious thing on earth. “What?” he asks, his tone high with slight embarrassment. “Nothing.” they all say in unison before going back to talking about whatever came to mind.
The King pulls his gun out pointing it at the both of them. Aiden’s eyes go wide and a gasp leaves his lips. Kael jumps up from his seat and the gun goes to him—he could see down the barrel. “Now, I’m sure you know how this is going to end.” The King begins to say, that dark grin still on his face. “I couldn’t let you go running around, inquiring your little questions to the public and the media.” His finger presses on the trigger. “I love you my son, I hope you know.” Kael sneers. “Like hell you do.” He snarls and the King laughs sinisterly, the gun shaking in his hand.
Aiden and Kael were holding hands as they walked down the sidewalk, so was Janus and Micah while Francis and Jenna lagged behind talking about the old times and how things had changed so quickly within a span of eight months. “Did you know that he was the Prince?” Jenna asks and Francis shrugs his shoulders. “I went to the castle when he was younger and saw him in passing.”
“Then did you know all along who he was?” There’s a pause in their conversation as Francis’s gaze drifts over to a tree in the distance. “I guess so.” He finally replies and Jenna nods slowly, her eyes resting on the top of Francis’s head. She grips the handles of the wheelchair, steering him around the park. How this little boy had grown into this fine young man still amazed her every so often. He was growing even stronger from the pain—accepting it and learning from his mistakes.
Aiden swings their hands back and forth squinting beneath the sunlight. “Do you still do your lessons?” Kael asks and Aiden nods. “Yeah, but just at home, I go to the campus to get my lessons for each course for that month.” Kael whistles. “That’s a lot of work.”
“But it comes with the territory.” Aiden smiles kindly, his footsteps coming to a slow beneath a willowing oak tree. He looks towards the rustling leaves, his hand resting in his ashen locks. Kael turns to look at Aiden’s face, his eyes settling into a warm gaze, his heart thumping steadily. Aiden was beautiful—the light hitting the side of his face and casting a sweet glow across his features—absolutely beautiful. “I can feel you staring at me.” Aiden says without turning, his eyes still focused on the tree. “So what?” Kael tests and that’s when Aiden turns to him with a bright smile. “Nothing, just keep looking at me and me alone.” He said it so simply, so casually and so softly. Kael’s eyes widen—when would this man stop surprising me with his words? When would I grow used to them? Probably never. Kael chuckles dropping his head to stare at the ground. He wanted this moment—like many others—to never end.
“I’m going to make this quick and as painless for you as possible.” The King says and Kael scoffs, Aiden remained silent. “A shot to the head would end all things.”
“Why? Whoever wronged you for you to become like this? I never understood you, father.” The King lowers the gun, his expression flickering sadly before flickering back to demented. “You ask me these things now.”
“Like I had a choice in the past. You were always so busy…you never had time.” The King’s once hard eyes drift to the picture frame in the distance and his maniacal grin falls way into a frown. Aiden was reaching towards his back pocket, edging his gun out one finger at a time. “You know Kael…” his voice was also softer, sadder. Kael listens keeping his eye on Aiden who was now slipping his gun out of his pocket and holding it in his right hand. Kael’s eyebrows furrow. “…this position—as King—has opened me up to many things.”
“Like what?” Kael asks, biding time. “To the freedoms of being able to control people, but along the way I lost the trust of those close to me.”
“W-what?” and there it was that same cynical smile from before. “And it makes me sad to only realize that now.” He laughs to cover for his heartaches and Kael steps forward, flinching back when his father pointed the gun back at him. “Ah-ah, tread lightly my son.”
“Fuck you.” Kael spat, the curtains fluttering behind them. The King laughs again and he kept laughing only stopping when he caught movement in his peripheral vision. Aiden had taken his gun out now and was beginning to raise it towards the King. Kael knew what was about to happen, so in a last attempt to stop it all he dashes forward.
They were driving back to the castle now, their stomachs full and their hearts hammering. “I can’t believe Janus actually tripped!” Kael bellows and Aiden pulls into the driveway of the castle flashing his ID to the security guard before driving on. “He usually watches every steps he takes.” Kael adds and Aiden nods. “It was nice to see him not as stiff as he usually is.” Aiden says. “His clumsiness is coming through again.” Kael smiles. “He was always so patient with me…” Kael hums resting his head on the car window. His eyes follow the flicker of the castle entryway, tracing along the hills and looking at the sun as it slipped away from the blue, blue sky. “Aiden,”
“Hmm?”
“Did you ever think of what would have happened if Skye lived?” the question hangs in the air like a drifting ball of lint. “Yes…” he finally answers turning into the front doorway of the castle and turning the car off. “I always thought about that, it tortured me at night.”
“Mm.” Kael hums unbuckling his seatbelt and placing his hand to Aiden’s thigh as he leans in to kiss Aiden on his lips. “I thought that too…what if I didn’t lose my memories? What if I didn’t meet you?” he says, his breath fanning across Aiden’s lips. “But you did meet me,” he slides a hand up the side of Kael’s face. “And that’s all that matters.”
Aiden’s gaze moves towards Kael and a panicked “No, Kael!” rips past his lips as he pushes Kael out of the way and the echoing sound of the bullet ricochets around the room. There was a split second for Aiden to react—his body reacted for him—lurching him in front of Kael and shielding him from the bullet. He could feel it in his gut, burning through his skin. The King shook his head sadly as though he hadn’t meant to do that and Kael stared…his heart catching in its rhythm—where had the air gone?
Aiden looks down at his stomach pressing a hand to the wound and wincing when he saw his hand coated with dark blood. First the gun fell out of his hand and then he fell with it.
The World Stands Still
Kael’s heart was racing now, his voice stuck in his throat. He could see, his body could feel the thick air in the room, but he couldn’t think. He couldn’t process what just happened.
Aiden was shot.
His father shot…Aiden.
“Well…” the King begins to say looking at the smoking end of the gun and shrugging. “He was going for his gun so I had the right.” Kael’s eyes flick to the gunshot in Aiden’s stomach. The blood. There was so much blood—pouring, dripping, oozing from him. “A…Aiden.” He begins to say, falling to his knees and pushing Aiden’s bangs out of his eyes, his forehead was glistening with sweat. “I can easily explain this to the media.” Kael’s hands tremble down towards Aiden’s bleeding stomach. “I’m sure they’ll have their questions but I can always….I can always…” The King rambles on and Kael’s hand was moving towards the gun Aiden had dropped, reaching, reaching and then curling around the handle. “I’m sure he’s just hurt, he won’t die.” The steel was cool against his clammy hand and it was….reassuring in a way.
“K-Kael,�
�� Aiden croaks, but Kael had stopped listening, his brain had cut off and there was only an impulse to shoot the monster in front of him. He aims the gun at his father and without a second thought he pulls the trigger. That person was no longer his father, but a shadow—a thing. His father’s eyes widen in shock and the crown on his head comes crashing down. Kael watches as it falls, his hand pulling the trigger again and again until the King’s mouth opened so that he could cough up a spray of blood, his body dancing in the darkness. The sound of the bullets was the only sound that could be heard, as they rang shot after shot. Kael continues to shoot—his eyes wild as he screamed and screamed—until the clip ran out and he tosses the gun aside. He was still screaming, intangible words that sounded like mangled cries spilled from his lips. He collapses to the floor, dragging his bloodied hands down his face and crawling over to Aiden. He could hear the sound of his fathers body as it collided with the ground. But it had yet to sink in, the consequences of his actions. There was only Aiden—he had to get to him.
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