Butterfly Prince

by Britannica Tany

  “Why?” Aiden asks buttoning up his pants and jumping to his feet. “My father wants to discuss something with me,” Kael shrugs. “Don’t know what though.”

  “Mmm, maybe you can get some info about Skye out of him.” Kael snorts. “Lets hope so, but I think not.” He walks over to Aiden bending down to pick up the olders shirt. He helps Aiden by slipping it over his head where it almost gets stuck. Kael’s cheek puff with laughter as he tugs it over his head. Aiden’s face magically appears as the shirt hangs on his shoulders, he wore a scowl as Kael continued to laugh. “Your head’s getting big, baby.” Kael teases, Aiden continues to glare, his hand wrapping around Kael’s wrist and clutching it tightly. “You’re cute when you glare.” Kael teases, amused tears pricking his eyes. Aiden yanks him close, their chests pressing together. Kael’s smile falls away and he stares back at Aiden. “What time do you have to be back?” he asks tilting his head and placing Kael’s hand to his hip. “…soon…” Kael replies quietly, his voice a mere whisper. “How soon?” Aiden questions, tilting his head as their lips drew closer. “Just…soo…” Kael trails off as Aiden’s lips fall over his.

  His eyes snap open and gray light fills his vision. He blinks several times turning his head slowly to look down at Kael who was lying across his arm. Aiden relaxes, closing his eyes once more and praying that the dream would return, but of course it didn’t. So instead he stares up at the ceiling, his round eyes staring fixatedly at nothing. The weight and warmth of Kael’s head resting on his arm strangely made Aiden sad. He had told himself that he wouldn’t tell Kael that something had gone wrong, that he would keep smiling. But in the end…he sensed that Kael already knew something and so he started leaving hints and telling him things that foreshadowed the inevitable. Aiden turns his head to stare softly at Kael. He uses his right hand to reach over and run his fingers through Kael’s dark locks. “Pretty…” he mumbles, the word comes out in three distinct syllables. He drags his fingers down from Kael’s hair to the bridge of his nose and then to his lips. He listens as the younger breathes, a soft exhalation that came every six seconds—Aiden would count because even the breaths Kael took were beautiful. The panic attacks seemed to have disappeared, vanished just like that with the death of Kael’s father and maybe that was what was holding him back…his father. Aiden tilts Kael’s chin towards him and stares longingly down at his closed eyes. His lashes weren’t long, but they did curl out like the ends of a butterfly’s antennae and his eyes looked like crescent moons when closed. Aiden could feel Kael’s breath ghosting across his lips and he’s tempted to steal a kiss from him and wake his sleeping Prince. But on the surface of his heart, he does not want to disturb him, he only wants to stare and remember. He could feel his arm going to sleep, but didn’t care, he didn’t want to wak—“Aiden…” Kael calls out to him softly, his eyes still closed and his lips slightly parted; was he sleep talking? Aiden completely stills so that he could hear Kael, but the younger says nothing else, instead he turns his head away from Aiden, his nose scrunching up. Aiden’s eyes were momentarily wide before they crinkle at the corners as he smiles. He leans towards Kael’s ear and whispers, “I love you.” And the phrase has a sort of magical affect as the pain in his side becomes nothing but a dull throbbing. He sighs turning his head to look at the wires and machines keeping his blood sugar leveled and his heart beat steady. I don’t need any of this he thought. All I need—Kael groans again in his sleep and Aiden smiles—is him.

  ~*~

  Micah was pacing up and down the office that belonged to Janus, but had been untouched ever since the day Francis was shot. The walls hung with his awards and university certificates and some framed pictures of when Francis was younger. Micah had his fair share of time looking at the pictures and wondering what Janus was like when he was younger. Was he the same? Or maybe he was timid and shy, the outcast…Micah wondered these things because he was in love with him. “And to think that I once despised him.” He hmphs to himself, his feet stilling as he thought about what would become of this place. The recruits were good, they knew what they were getting into, but would the training and recruiting system change once Kael was actually enthroned. Would there even be a need for a protection system? This worried and yet made Micah hopeful. Lives wouldn’t be put in any further danger, but people could lose their jobs—such as I. He heaves a heavy sigh jumping slightly when there’s a tap on the office door. He clears his throat and calls, “Come in.” the door creaks open and a short figure slips inside. “I have a message to relay.” The young man—Gene—says with a bow. Micah makes a shooing motion with his hand, gesturing for Gene to lift his head and go on.

  Gene straightens up and then says in a quiet voice. “Kai has returned…” Micah’s eyes widen and he doesn’t speak for a moment as the words sink in. “What…?”

  “Well, he never really left, but he just kept missing his training dates and classes because of what happened to Francis.” Gene explains, his tone somewhat dry. “Go on.”

  “He came back just yesterday, he told me to go to the hospital.”

  “What for?”

  “He wanted me to meet with Francis.” Micah’s dark eyebrows shoot up. “So did you?” Gene shakes his head. “I couldn’t, Francis didn’t want to see me…”

  “What about Janus, did Janus talk with you?” Micah asks and Gene nods. “Yes…he did.”

  Janus stares wide-eyed and flustered as Gene stands in front of him, his dark eyes sucking Janus in like a black hole. “Can I help you?” he asks shakily and Gene nods. “You must know why I’m here.” He starts and Janus blinks and then it hits him. “Aaah, Kai, am I right?”

  “Yes…”

  “Francis must have not wanted to meet with you, for you to be coming to me.” Janus deduces and Gene nods. “So why are you here?” he asks and Gene begins to explain that Kai had left the city for Dalian—the southern, more rural area of Melia and stayed there for a while before returning. “He was contemplating suicide, Janus.” And a look of horror flashes across Janus’s face. “Suicide?”

  “He couldn’t live with what he had done and for a while he wasn’t talking and…” Gene stops himself, realizing that he was getting choked up and that if he kept going on he would end up crying. He pauses, takes a deep breath and continues. “Just once, please let them meet.” Gene begins to plead. “Kai has done a lot for Francis and I know by doing that won’t change the past or magically heal his leg, but,” Gene clenches his fist. “At least.”

  “Gene,” Janus says his name sternly, any expression of warmth and worry gone from his face. Gene stares back into his eyes, waiting, watching and hoping. “My brother…has been through a lot and so has Kai—they’ve both suffered hell, but I can’t change anything—I can’t force him—unless it’s what he wants and if Francis doesn’t want it.” Janus shakes his head. “He’s done. I believe he’s already ended things with Kai and as much as it may sadden him, he’s gradually moving on.”

  “But that’s impossible! They’ve shared so many memories, when I first met Kai all he talked about was Francis.” Gene hurries to say and the cold look in Janus’s eyes is replaced with sympathy. “I understand, trust me I do, but you must understand and Kai must understand that whenever Francis sees him, all he can think about is the fact that he may never be able to dance.” Gene shrinks back. “Dancing and Kai were two things that coexisted together—to Francis they were one—and he loved them both. But now, the person he loved has taken away what he loved to do…”

  “…”

  “I appreciate you trying…but, it’ll take some time.” Janus squeezes his shoulder before brushing past him to return to Aiden’s room.

  Micah stands with his arms crossed over his chest, his left foot tapping. “Did you tell Kai?” he asks and Gene nods. “He says he wants to give up being a bodyguard, that he can’t do it.” Micah bites his bottom lip. “Knew it…” he chews on his lip as he thinks. Janus was busy elsewhere, his second best man—Aiden—was hospitali
zed and now the trained recruits were dropping out like flies. It wouldn’t surprise him if Gene said that he was also leaving. Micah stops nibbling on his lip and looks up to lock gazes with Gene, the young guard was staring back at him, his gaze unwavering. “Do you—“

  “If you’re going to ask me if I plan on leaving, then no, I’m more levelheaded than that.” Gene cuts in matter-of-factly. Micah nods in approval, his tall stature towering over Gene as he steps in front of him. “Thank you.” He spoke with the gratitude of not a higher authority, but of man that was truly grateful to have been understood. Gene bows once again before dismissing himself. Micah watches as he goes and then allows himself to crumple in the seat Janus so often sat in. He couldn’t handle doing this for the rest of his life and now he could fully admire Janus’s strength and perseverance. “Geesh,” he huffs, pushing his black bangs out of his eyes and turning in his seat so that he could stare out of the window.

  He could sense it—the start of a new era—a better one, one full of hope and trust. But as always, an era can only begin with the loss of something precious

  …

  ‘These wings shield a shattered soul,’ that’s how I’ll begin his story; I’ll pull in my future readers by depicting Kael’s personality and then comparing him to that of my younger brother. They’re alike in…some, very few aspects. But I can find their similarities, especially in the way that they call me ‘sister as though there is no one else but me for them and it makes me feel very special. Today the king and queen sat with me to discuss the content of my book *sigh* I simply told them that it would almost be like a new journalistic approach to writing—a diary aspect. And that I would include all that I discussed with them and all that I took note of. Some of the guards are quite rude…

  Anyways, I’m learning how to get around, Kael’s the greatest and cutest little tour guide! But back on track, I already have a bit of an excerpt from the beginning of my book: These wings shield a shattered soul, the delicateness of each feather as they spread is hypnotizing and wonderful. That is the personality of Melia’s young Prince, but soon he will burst from his cocoon and spread his wings.

  A bit…artistic now that I read over it, but we’ll see how it goes.

  Skye K

  ~*~

  Kael was awake now and was in the bathroom as he changed his clothes and quickly showered, wetting his hair in the process. He quickly dries off and then changes into a new pair of underwear, slipping back into his clothes from yesterday, but as he was tugging on his shirt, the door creaked open and Aiden slipped inside, wrapping his (cold) hands around Kael’s stomach and yanking him back. Kael’s eyes widen and he gasps. “Hey, that’s cold Aiden!” He yells struggling to get out of the older’s grip, it was a tad easier this time due to the meds Aiden had just taken which made him a bit lightheaded. Aiden chuckles closing the door behind him with his foot. Kael hears as it clicks shut and then he spins around to glare at his boyfriend. “Aiden,” he warns, but Aiden only grins taking a single step forward and hooking his hands to Kael’s hips, the younger shudders. “…cold…” Aiden smirks, hunching slightly forward so that he could plant a kiss to the middle of Kael’s chest. “Has being in bed made you horny?” Kael questions with a knowing grin and Aiden nods. “Maybe…but I also miss touching you…”

  “Really…?” Kael’s eyes flutter as Aiden’s tongue slips out to lick along his nipple. “When I touch you…I feel at home.” Kael’s head droops forward and a sudden moan falls faintly from his lips, Aiden begins to say something else, but stops abruptly when his throat clamps up and his stomach churns. He pulls away from Kael as though he had just tasted something vile and he covers his mouth with the cup of his hand. The lust in Kael’s eyes flickers out and he begins to panic. “H-hey,” he catches Aiden—who was about to fall—by his shoulders and straightens him up. The expression Aiden wore, twisted Kael’s heart and made him feel sick throughout his entire body. “Aiden, hey,” But Aiden had stopped listening a while ago and his fingers were no longer cold but burning hot. His eyes were moving from side to side and the panic began to take over. “Oh my god, oh my god, Aiden.” The older’s lips twitch, but not a single word came out. Kael makes this broken sound as he rushes to get Aiden out of the bathroom and back onto his bed. “It’s gonna be alright,” he promises pushing the older’s sweaty bangs out of his eyes. “I’m gonna get the doctor and he’s going to take care of you, he’ll—“ there was a tight grip on Kael’s arm that stopped him from talking. He looks down at Aiden who was clutching him by his bicep and shaking his head. His lips part and a single word drifts from his lips. “Stay.” His nails dig into Kael’s skin. “Stay.” He repeats, this time sounding more desperate as he begins to cough. Kael looks around, words flying from his lips as he tried to make sense of things. What’s going on? What’s wrong with him!? He presses the emergency button on the side of Aiden’s bed and anxiously waits for the doctors to arrive. He glimpses the clock, it read 9:45AM. The door to the room swings open and Samuel comes rushing inside. His eyes first land on Kael and then they drift over towards Aiden. Kael doesn’t have to be told to step aside, his body does it on its own.

  An hour or so later, after being taken to a different room and X-rayed, Aiden was wheeled back into his hospital room where Kael and the others sat waiting. The atmosphere had completely changed and no one said a word, they just listened to the screeching of the wheelchair wheels. Kael looks up and his gaze lands on Aiden who had somehow gone through a transformation within the hour. His complexion had grayed and his body seemed smaller than before, but he still wore a lax smile as though he were the only one in on a joke. “Everyone’s so tense.” He chuckles, but no one else joins him in his laughter. Janus is the first to speak. “What’s wrong?” he asks, the question was directed at Samuel. Samuel swallows, rubbing his fingers across the skin of his wrist nervously. “What is it?” this time it was Jenna, she had risen up to her feet and was glowering between them both. “Don’t sugar coat it, don’t give me some “he has to take his meds” bullshit.” She fires out and both Francis and Janus knew that she had, had it and she wanted the truth and now. Aiden sighs and he reaches out to take her hand in his, but there was no romance in it, just a friendly gesture. “Jenna,” he says her name softly and the anger in her eyes fades away. “It’s a little infection…that’s all.” He explains squeezing her hand in his. “It’s nothing to worry about.” I’ll be fine—he wanted to add those last three words, but couldn’t. Jenna stares down into his eyes and begins to shake her head. The expression she wore said “you’re lying” but she said nothing. Janus glances at Francis who was nibbling on his nails, a habit Janus didn’t realize Francis had until now. He steps towards his brother and grips the handles of his wheelchair to keep himself steady. “Aiden’s telling you all the truth,” Samuel begins to say. “It…is an infection, one we dreaded him getting, but—“

  “So you’re saying it’s your fault?” Francis interjects. “No, I mean, it’s not—“

  “It is your fault. If your lazy asses would have properly disinfected the tools or whatever the hell else you’re supposed to do, then Aiden wouldn’t de dyin—“

  “Francis.” Aiden doesn’t shout, but his voice quiets the entire room, they all turn to look at him, Kael still hadn’t spoken. “Please, lets not start this.” Aiden presses his fingers into the temple of his forehead. “I just want some air, so yes, Samuel, I’ll take you up on that offer of going out to the hospital walking grounds.” Aiden begins to stand up. “And I don’t need this, I’m fine now, just a little dizzy, but fine.” He moves away from the wheelchair and uses Jenna’s hand to hoist himself up, she slides a hand around his back and helps him the rest of the way. Once he’s standing up straight he lets her go and smiles gratefully. That was the sweet smile she had fallen for and her heart twinges just slightly before she moves away from him. “Well…we’ll head out first.” She says, taking Samuel by his arm and leading him towards the door. Janus begins to push Francis,
but stops to glance back at Kael who was staring vacantly down at his lap. He bites the inside of his cheek to keep from speaking, because what was he to say? So instead, he wheels Francis out of the room leaving Aiden and Kael alone.

  It’s quiet and this time there is no beating heart or nervous laughter, there is only silence. Aiden stood beside his bed, his eyes resting on Kael’s depressed figure. “Stale Kael,” he calls, but the younger doesn’t even flinch. “Kael…” Aiden tries again and there still was no reply. So with a frustrated tug at his hair, he walks around the end of his bed towards where Kael was sitting by the window. “Please, don’t ignore me.” Aiden pleads, his voice breaking over the words. Kael looks up this time and Aiden couldn’t read his expression, couldn’t discern the flicker in his eyes and that freaked him out—scared him to death, not being able to know what Kael was thinking. “You.” The word croaks out of Kael’s lips. “You didn’t. Tell me.” He spoke in pauses, his eyebrows furrowing. “You acted like nothing was wrong.”

  “I didn’t want to hurt you.”

  “You smiled and laughed like you were okay and you lied.”

  “Kael, I…”

  “You lied and that hurts, Aiden, but if I were to suddenly lose you without knowing the reason why,” Kael licks his lips. “I couldn’t—I wouldn’t be able to bare that.” Aiden reaches forward to touch Kael’s cheek, but stops midway. “So…tell me, even if it’s painful, even if you know it’ll hurt me…” Kael looks into his eyes. “Tell. Me.” Aiden’s eyes begin to water and he quickly looks away before Kael could see him cry. He sniffs, clearing his throat and taking a moment before turning to look back at Kael. “I’m sorry.” He murmurs and Kael shakes his head. “Don’t apologize, just hold me.” Kael forces a smile onto his face, a sad smile, but a smile none the less. Aiden hesitantly reaches forward, his trembling fingers curling around Kael’s shoulders and then he’s leaning down and into him, his frail arms wrapping all the way around Kael’s neck and pulling him close.