Regius

by Nastasia Peters

  Believing they are smarter, better, wiser and more apt to take care of a country because their deity told them they were. Yet that same deity made sure the Palliums wouldn’t step out of their comfort zone and allowed the arrogant lap dogs to do all the heavy lifting.

  There was progress believed to have been made over the last years: the Palliums no longer neutral, the Regius without a King, the Civilians seemingly less and less aware of what was going on right in front of their eyes, the Altors demanding change but never a change within their own hierarchy. And then the Seers! Cowering away even though they held the greatest power available in this land. They could force the Altors to change their ways, show the Palliums that they weren't doing enough, and manipulate the Regius to move into the opposite direction. But no!

  "Dude." Galax blinked when Isa's voice pierced his dark thoughts, forcing him to tear his gaze off the Coliseum so he could look back at the pirate. "Easy there. Gotta be careful with that. You've been zoning out and allowing the pessimism to wash over you a lot these last couple of days." When Galax could only stare at the Ranger and remain stuck in a loop, Isa stepped closer and snapped his fingers before the Prince's face.

  "In." Galax breathed in as the pirate instructed. "And out..." He did so, taking his time and repeating this, allowing Isa to guide him through it. It had been happening more often and it was becoming harder for him to break out of it and find his way back to who he truly was. "If you think you can't make it, say so, and I'll swallow my pride and face my bastard twin and his whore of a girlfriend just so I can make sure you don't go on a killing spree." The pirate's eye twitched. "You look really out of it, man."

  Galax shook his head, finally able to grasp himself. "No, I'm fine. You've done more than enough."

  Isa smiled uncertainly. "It's probably for the best. What if you entered that doom mood and the only people around were Iso and Ivy." He pulled a large saber out of his belt loop. "I would probably take advantage and let you butcher them. I'd enjoy it too." The Prince gingerly took the weapon out of his hands.

  "I think you may want to consider working out those feelings you're harboring towards your family." Galax suggested, sliding the blade into the belt strapped over his back.

  "Says the guy whose weapon I had to confiscate before he would have killed me and the crew that was keeping us up in the sky, in a blinding rage." Isa deadpanned.

  "Mine are caused because I'm a pure Blue Blood that has been forced to repress his natural instincts for years and my girlfriend was kidnapped by my blood family whose mission in life is to conquer Zinc and destroy every living soul that won't let them." Galax raised an eyebrow. "The day you can top that is when I'll understand your frustration."

  "You're no fun." Isa waved his hand flippantly at Galax before turning and walking back to the spot Apnea had landed carefully, deep in the Meadows of Serenium. Galax hadn't asked the pirate to walk all the way to the Coliseum with him, but where he'd believed Isa to be careless and more selfish than he, apparently it wasn't so. If his history with certain Altors in that building looming before him hadn't been so heavy and great, Galax was quite sure Isa would have snuck inside with him to seek out Vervaine.

  The Rangers had done more than enough for him. Juglan had gone as far as ignoring his father's summons and thus tainting the truce they'd made many years ago. Flux would not even consider hearing the captain out until Galax returned to Pallium territory, or was dragged back. Had it not been for Lalani, Columbine's captain, Apnea would have been spotted days ago. There was a medallion created by the Seers that held the power to create an invisibility cloak. The item that had been hunted by those who knew of it for centuries. Even Galax himself had once thought about finding it so he could hide away from all and everything. Turned out the medallion had been found by Lalani's ancestor and passed down through the generations that followed. It had entered his mind to simply steal it from the Ranger before she handed it over to Juglan, but the pessimism, as Isa called his dark nature, hadn't gotten the best of him at that moment. These people had gone out of their way to help him get where he needed to be, and betraying them was not the way he wanted to thank them for putting themselves at risk. Were Flux and the Altors to find out that Columbine and Apnea had worked against them and helped the heir get away, surely those Ranger crews would be moved up to the top of the list that dictated they were a danger and had to be killed on sight.

  Galax was aware both Lalani and Juglan had an angle and saw something in him that would be beneficial for them sometime in the future. Rangers never did anything without a price. But while they would one day ask him to return the favor, Galax knew he would because without their aid, he wouldn't be here right now, able to figure out a way to have Solenum return to his side.

  Sighing, Galax waited patiently for the next step in his plan to happen so he could enter the Coliseum without being cut down by one of the soldiers. Although a pure Blue Blood, he wasn't stupid enough to believe he could take on all three Trainers and their students. Even if most of them were not fully trained, they'd be too many for Galax to take on by himself. He needed to empty the Coliseum of at least half of the soldiers before attempting to breach security and enter Vervaine's room. Even if she was on guard duty tonight, he'd simply wait in her quarters until her return.

  When he heard the skyship's motors come to life, Galax smirked and quickly dropped to the ground, laying flat on his belly and using the green flap of fabric given to him by the Rangers to hide beneath, blending in with the hills. They would still see his heart if they looked in this direction, but having trained with Solenum he knew the Altor vision wasn't as perfect as it had been made out to be. All their focus would be on Apnea as it flew on the opposite side of the Coliseum from where he was and if they couldn't detect the semblance of a figure that stood out in the fields, their eyes would never be drawn to this side and so they wouldn't see his blue heart. He felt an ache and hint of happiness all at once as he thought back on that day where he'd figured out Solis' blind spot. She'd been cutely upset with him and had nearly run him down to the ground to take out her frustration. He'd never met anyone as determined or brave as she was.

  He was glad when the shouts from within the Coliseum distracted his thoughts away from her and back to the present; he couldn't afford to lose control now.

  He counted four soldiers running out of the large stone building, weapons in hand as they rushed in direction of the ship that was flying tauntingly low and making its way straight for them. Galax smiled slowly when Apnea tricked them into running after it and away from the Coliseum.

  Standing up, he took off in a sprint, checking the top of the walls to make sure there weren’t any soldiers still standing guard there. When he saw none, he made his way straight for the Coliseum entrance, momentarily appreciative of Flux's teachings as he was faced with the large control panel that kept everything securely locked. He could escalate the walls, which he assumed the Regius did when they raided this place, but it would take too long and the soldiers would return before he'd be able to make his way within.

  He could rip the panel out, which he knew the Regius must have tried on numerous occasions as well, but unlike them, Galax knew it would only send the security system into a frenzy and set off the back-up lock-down. Destroying the electrical source wasn't an option either; he himself was the one that suggested they install two backup generators to feed the security system in case of a black out or multiple breach.

  Tapping in the code that triggered the eye scanner, Galax tried to be patient as it slowly appeared from the wall beside the control panel, occasionally looking over his shoulder to make sure the soldiers were still busy chasing Apnea. Once the device was ready to be used, Galax moved closer and allowed it to scan his eye. Before the robotic voice could ask him to state his name, he tapped in another code and grabbed the device to turn it over and reveal the microphone.

  "Override all systems." He whispered into it, watching the small screen on the panel come to
life and start deleting all settings installed by whichever Pallium had been in charge to set up the security system. Now he had five minutes to get to the tech room and stop the computers from sending a signal to the Pallium base.

  Leaving the control panel to do its job, Galax moved over to the large double doors and smiled when security had indeed been breached, allowing him to open them. Stepping inside, he quickly scanned the large circular opening that held the Altors training ground, making sure there were no soldiers before he sprinted as silently as possible over to the tech room located on the right side. He was again glad to find out all locks had sprung, allowing him to make his way inside with no problem.

  "Oh, no you don't." He murmured at the computer system that was coming to life. He stepped over to the master tower, reaching behind it and pressing the hidden button so the side of it would pop open. He crouched before it and reached within to pull free one small wire that would shut everything down.

  When the screens turned off, Galax sighed in relief and allowed himself a few seconds before continuing on with his mission.

  Although he hadn't intended to sit there very long, it was shorter lived than he thought it would have been when a noise reached his ears. Standing, he carefully made his way over to the door, peaking through the opening to view the courtyard. His teeth gritted in annoyance when the soldier walking across the training area turned out to be the Keeper. It seemed every time his life became particularly complicated, the dead speaker had to be present. He felt the 'pessimism' threatening to break free the longer he stared at the man and it only made him all the more angry now that he needed to waste time trying to calm himself down. How much easier would it be if he just gave in and killed him?

  Galax was pulled out of his dark thoughts, a noise of surprise escaping him when the door he was hiding behind was ripped open, and before he could really understand what it is that was happening, he found himself laying flat on the ground with a body sitting on top of him, holding him down. Enraged at having been bested, Galax allowed his strength to rush through and help him overpower the person believing they had secured a pure Blue Blood.

  "How naive!" He growled, hearing the boy grunt in pain when they rolled over. Galax's hands closed around the Altors throat, his knees settled on the boy's wrists and his legs were wrapped around the untrained soldier's own legs so that he could in no way try and break free. In those seconds, Galax knew he would kill the boy before the Keeper could rush over. He'd have enough time to push the dead Altor away and spring to action to fend off the dead speaker. But when the Prince's eyes locked with those of his victim, all the darkness that had ruled him for the past minutes dissipated.

  His eyes widened as he released the boy and when he stumbled off him and back, the Altor sat up coughing and trying to regain his breath.

  "Calycanthus." Galax whispered, his chest tightening and his own breathing becoming elaborate as he took in Solenum's best friend. Before he could truly grasp what he had nearly allowed to happen and how he could have let the strength rule him like it never had before, a blinding pain radiated throughout his entire body. Grunting, the Prince fell to his knees as he reached up to grab the hilt of the Keeper's dagger that had stabbed its way through his arm.

  "Get up." He heard Datura say to Calycanthus and when Galax looked up from the ground, he saw the Keeper push the boy behind him, purposely putting himself in harm’s way to protect him.

  Groaning in pain, Galax fought the faintness threatening to push him into the world of unconsciousness as he quickly pulled the dagger out, angrily flinging it to the feet of the Keeper. When Datura unhooked his second dagger from his belt, Galax realized that he had every intention of ending his life. The surprise that washed over him was nearly more overwhelming than the stab had been. The Keeper knew who Galax was, yet he would break the rules and kill the Regius heir for Calycanthus.

  "Wait." The boy spoke, grabbing Datura's wrist. "He stopped when he recognized me." His yellow eyes fixed on the Prince; Calycanthus took both daggers and threw them across the training ground, out of reach.

  "He knows everyone in this place, Cali." The Keeper growled. Galax had never seen those red eyes glare.

  "Not me." Calycanthus argued. "He isn't supposed to know me." When the boy was about to walk over to Galax, the Keeper seemed to display as much trouble in restraining himself as the Prince did. Calycanthus stopped him again. "You've told me since the very beginning that he shouldn't be feared." Galax couldn't see the boy's face, but his words seemed to help fade some of the anger Datura was harboring. "He stopped with me and if he is as good as you claimed him to be, then you know that he would have stopped with anybody else in this place as well." Calycanthus implored.

  The Keeper needed a while before he detached his eyes off Galax and turned his gaze to the boy, but when he finally did, he nodded at Calycanthus and allowed him to make his way over.

  "Are you okay?" The boy asked as he crouched down before the Prince and pushed away his hand to get a better look at the wound. Galax let him, dumbfounded at Calycanthus' kindness. He'd thought Solenum would be the most unexplainable between the two cousins, yet here he sat, corrected.

  "I'll be fine." Galax muttered uncomfortably.

  "He's a pure blood; it'll heal in less than a day without stitches." Datura told the boy. "Especially since he's given into his nature as of late."

  Calycanthus nodded over at the Keeper before returning his yellow gaze to the Prince. "What happened to make you flee?"

  Gritting his teeth, Galax stood, allowing the boy to help him do so. "I will tell you, but first you need to bring me somewhere private where your trainers won't find me." His heart began to race wildly again as he thought of Solenum. "If they know I'm here, they'll inform Flux and-"

  Datura cut in. "And apparently you don't want that." Walking over, the Keeper nudged Calycanthus aside and took over keeping the Prince on his feet. "Cali, go to the infirmary and get the kit to disinfect and bandage. Be quick before the others return." The boy nodded and did as was instructed, leaving the Keeper to guide Galax over to a room he assumed to be Datura or Calycanthus' quarters.

  "I apologize for nearly killing you." The dead speaker said.

  "I threatened something that is dear to you, apparently." Galax grunted out. The Keeper kicked the door open and carefully guided the Prince into the bedroom, releasing him only when Galax was sitting in the large armchair settled beside the bed. The inside of this bedroom was colder than the interior design of the Pallium garage's quarters.

  "And apparently we have something you think is worth using your cruelty for." Datura raised an accusing eyebrow down at the Prince.

  Galax grimaced at the blackness of the blood seeping from his wound. "Vervaine." He paused when Calycanthus rushed inside the room, tossing the medical kit onto the bed so he could lock the door behind him. "I need her to see something." He added absently, watching the boy open the kit and frantically get the necessary materials ready so he could tend to Galax's arm.

  Where Solenum was tall and thin, Cali was short and stoutish. But there was something scarily similar about them. Not just the red streaks in their hair or the yellow eyes; the way the boy moved and his body language reminded him terribly of her.

  Galax blinked out of his observation when the Keeper inhaled sharply. Looking up at Datura in confusion, he waited for the man to explain his sudden need to gasp.

  "The Light?" The Keeper murmured, his red gaze tearing off of the Prince's so he could peak over at Calycanthus. It took Galax a moment, but when he understood what Datura was getting at, he shook his head wildly.

  "Not him." He ground out. "Solenum." To his embarrassment, Galax nearly jumped when Calycanthus let the items in his hands crash to the ground. The boy stared at the Prince with wide eyes and an open mouth.

  "How do you know her?" Galax's heart nearly ached at the sound of Calycanthus' pained voice. Datura sighed and retrieved the items from the ground, taking over for Calycanthus and a
pproaching Galax so he could disinfect and dress the stab wound.

  "When she received your note, she ran from Lithium Village." Galax winced when the Keeper handled his arm a bit harshly. "She-" Growling, he slapped Datura's hands away and continued to take care of the wound himself. "I found her in the desert about to die from the cold. I brought her back to the Pallium garage and helped her get better."

  "Where is she?" Calycanthus pressed.

  The Prince looked up at the boy's concerned face. "She was kidnapped by the Regius."

  "What?!" Calycanthus shrieked, suddenly as animated as a person could be. Datura didn't allow him to freak out completely though, quickly rushing over to the boy so he could frame his face.

  "Kidnapped doesn't mean dead, Cali." The Keeper whispered. "If Galax is here and wants to use Vervaine, it means there is still a chance we may find her."

  "But Vervaine isn't here!" Calycanthus shouted.

  Now it was Galax's turn to freak. "What?!"

  "Your sister came here to ask the help of the soldiers to find you." Datura explained. "Vervaine is the only Altor that looks most like a Regius who isn't in Iodin City already." He guided Calycanthus over to the bed, forcing him to sit. "You know the protocol. When we reach code ten, all news must be delivered in person. The Regius heir missing equals code ten. Vervaine is on her way to inform the District Leader of your disappearance. Because-"

  Galax groaned, rubbing his forehead and closing his eyes, remembering to breathe so he didn't explode in fury. "Because if they do so by port phone or mail, the enemy might intercept or listen in on the message and find me before all you people can." He let out a noise of anger. "I know!" And he kicked the armchair once he stood. "You should have killed me when I asked you too."

  Datura offered the Prince a dull stare. "So you would miss out on meeting Solenum?" The Keeper smiled slowly. "Nothing and nobody has ever been important enough for you to risk your control and give into the strength."