| Chapter 33 "So, what is there to do around here?" Nick asked. Anthony shrugged, "Same stuff as home, just different scenery." Nick laughed, looking up. They were sitting in a large park, the shield shimmering above them. Several schools of fish swam around the shield, seemingly attracted to it. "I'll say. I've never seen anything like this. I love it," Nick said. "I'm more of a land person myself. Give me Tumacer any day," Anthony said. "Tumacer? Is that in Novaduel?" Nick asked. Anthony shook his head, "Mardica. I love the mountains." "Ohh, then why do you stay in Cystaleia?" Nick asked, as they got up and walked down the path. Anthony sighed, "I didn't want to leave Aunt LaDonna and Uncle Frederick. They gave me so much, I felt like I owed it to them to stay." "You know they love you like you're their own," Nick told him. Anthony nodded, taking a deep breath, "Nick, would you rather me leave?" Nick stopped in his tracks, "No, of course not. What gave you that idea?" He shrugged, "I dunno. I just thought that you might not want me there. That maybe I reminded you of what you'd missed with them." Nick put his arm around his cousin, "You do. But that's not a bad thing. I can see how much they love you. How much my mother cares for you, and it makes me happy. I'm glad that you came into their lives after I was taken. You filled a spot in their hearts that was empty, and you still do. I am their son, yes, but we missed out on all the parent child experiences. They weren't with me when I was sick, or when we got our first record deal. They didn't travel with me through Europe, or watch me make a fool out of myself more times than I can count." Anthony snickered. "What I'm trying to say, is they did all that with you. I've said it before, you are their true son in every way that makes a family a family. I have my own family on Earth that I love and miss very much. And I'm blessed to have a family here that loves me just as much, but Anthony ..... you deserve to be king, not me," Nick said. Anthony's jaw dropped open, "Nick, you can't say that." Nick nodded, "I can. I know my father was preparing you for the job. You've grown up here, you know how things go. I don't. I'm more an outsider here than I was on Earth. I don't know all the customs, what's considered proper or not. Dude, you were born for this, not me." "Nick, you're not an outsider here," Anthony protested. Nick laughed, "I'm the king. Do you think they're gonna tell me when I do something wrong?" Anthony smiled, "Good point. But why talk about this at all. I could never be named king, even if something happened to you and it went through the lines of succession and war between the Counts." Nick shrugged, "Just thinking I guess. That maybe if there was another way .... maybe things could be different. The right person put in the job so to speak." Anthony shook his head, "The right person is in the job." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Howie laughed watching A.J. with a crowd of children. They had gone to the shopping center, and had quickly drawn a crowd. Everyone knew who they were, and asked them to sing and sign autographs. A.J. had found a store that sold hand puppets and was putting on a show for the small children. Leave it to A.J. to find something entertaining to do. Howie had given his translator to a local, who was translating A.J.'s show to the crowd. He laughed and clapped as the show ended, and A.J. tried to tare himself from the kids. The local gave him his translator back, and the two were back to shopping in a few minutes. "Miss the old puppet days huh?" he asked. A.J. grinned, "Man, I didn't realize how much til I started. That was just ... fun." "It's been a while for us hasn't it?" Howie asked. "Yeah, I can't say that the last year has been fun at all," A.J. said, looking through the window of a shop. "Well, you know touring is stressful," Howie said, following him inside. "I know, but dude ... when was the last time we all just had fun? Not counting this little adventure we've been on for the last month and a half," A.J. said. Howie laughed, "I'm not sure I'd even call this fun. More like exciting chaos." "Well it is Nick that got us into this. Captain Chaos himself," A.J. said. "That's King Chaos, get it right," Nick laughed. A.J. jumped, turning around, "Dude, don't do that. You scared the shit outta me!" Nick grinned his goofy grin and looked over the clothes in the shop. "J, you gonna buy anything or you just waistin time?" A.J. shrugged, walking over to the women's section. Howie glanced at Nick, "Um when did he start wearing women's clothes?" Nick shrugged, "Don't ask me." "Shut up you two and come here," A.J. said. They walked over and A.J. held up a dress, "What do ya think?" "Um well, that's nice J, but I think the red one goes better with your eyes," Nick teased, as Howie burst out laughing. A.J. groaned, "It's not for me you ass. It's for Ana and Marie. For the dinner tonight, or did you forget?" "I didn't forget," Nick said, suddenly taking more interest in the dress. Howie looked at A.J., "He forgot." A.J. nodded. Nick looked at them, sticking his tongue out. "I like the purple," Howie commented. "You would dude," Nick laughed, walking up to the counter and talking to the clerk. He made arrangements with the clerk, and then they were out the door. "Man how do you know you got the right size?" A.J. asked, stepping into the transport. "All I had to do is give them their names. Everyone's sizes are kept in a like a computer or something," Nick answered. "That's creepy," Howie said. Anthony laughed at him, "How else do you get the right fit?" "Lots and lots of trial and error," Nick laughed, as the transport took off. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Brian stood on the balcony of his room, looking out over the city. He took a deep breath, looking down at his still bandaged hands. He'd spent the night in the hospital, and was released early in the morning. He and Marie had spent the majority of the day in the palace. Not that he minded the alone time with her, but he wanted to see the city as well. But Marie had promised him that if he took it easy today, they would go out tomorrow. He looked up, watching in amazement as the hugest whale he'd ever seen slowly swam by the shield. "It's a Bluenuk," Marie said, coming up behind him and wrapping her arms around his waist. "That thing is huge," Brian commented. Marie laughed, "That's a baby. The mother is over there," she said pointing. Brian looked over, his mouth dropping open, "Wow." "It's rare for a mother to bring her calf this close to the city," she said, "I guess this is your lucky day." He laughed, turning to face her, "Everyday I get to spend with you is a lucky day." Marie blushed, "Bri" "I'm serious. I feel like the luckiest person in the world," he said. She laughed, "And how many girls have you said that to?" "None," he told her. "Oh come on. I know you had girlfriends on earth," she said. "But none that made me feel like I do when I'm with you," he said. She grinned, "It's the Angel in you." Brian shook his head, "It's the Angel in front of me. I love you." Marie smiled, her eyes lit with happiness, "I love you too," she said, leaning in and softly kissing him. After a moment she pulled back, "Now, um ... we need to take these off and get ready for the dinner." Brian groaned, "Do we have to go?" She laughed, "Yes we do. Now let's get the bandages off, then we can get a shower." Brian raised his eyebrow, "Ohh shower, that sounds fun." Marie rolled her eyes, "Come on silly." "Oh I go from hero to silly huh?" he asked, walking back into the room. "You're a perfect mix of the two," she replied. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "....and then he just went off in a tirade. It was pretty funny in a morbid sort of way," Ana laughed. Kevin chuckled, "I bet. Even when Nick was really angry about something, it all came across as a big huge whine." Ana giggled, pulling Kevin over to a bench and sitting down. "Thanks for letting me tag along," she said. "No problem," he said, watching the people walk by. "I know spending the day with me wasn't your first choice," she went on. "Now who said that?" he asked, looking at her, "Ana, I had fun. Besides, I know Nick wanted to talk with Anthony, and that left you hanging out with the �love birds.'" Ana laughed, "Yeah, I got the feeling they wanted some alone time." Kevin shook his head, "Don't take this wrong. I mean I love my cousin, but damn already. He's like the energizer bunny, for God's sake!" Ana put her hands over her mouth and burst out laughing, "Oh I know! You wouldn't believe some of the things Marie tells me!" Kevin put his hands up, "No, please. I don't wanna know. I already know to much about my cousins sex life by just being in the next room, I don't need details." Ana took a sip of her drink and sighed. Kevin nudged her, "Pinny for your thoughts?" She smiled at him, "Nothing. Just that ... Marie and Brian... they have ..." "What you want?" he finished. She nodded. "Trust me, we'll do whatever we can to help," he said. "That's just it Kevin, you can't. No matter how many times you guys sneak us around to be with each other, it's still something we have to hide. Don't get me wrong, I'll take the sneaking around over nothing at all, but ..." she said. "But it's no way to live," he said. She sighed, "I just want to be as open about it as Brian and Marie are, ya know?" Kevin laughed, "Well maybe not that open, but yeah I get ya." Ana smiled, "They are kinda oblivious to the fact there are other people around most of the time." "That's what love does though. Makes you blind to everything but that one person. Nothing else matters," he said. "You sound like you speak from experience," she said. He shrugged, "I guess. There's always been this one girl that I seem to go back to. We break up for a while, but then we always find our way back to each other." "So, are you with her now?" Ana asked. Kevin shook his head, "No. We were together for about a year, then the tour started and all the hype. It's hard keeping up a long distance relationship, so we called it off a few months ago." "I'm sorry," Ana said. "Naw, it's OK. I mean, she's still my best friend. We always call and talk. I wonder what she thinks about me �being in hiding'?" he mused. Ana patted him on the knee, "I'm sure she's worried about you. You know, we can send a message to her if you want?" "Naw we don't have to. Besides, that would kinda blow the whole, being in hiding thing now wouldn't it?" he smiled. "Yeah, I guess," she said, then laughed. "What?" he asked. "I was just thinking that it's to bad you aren't part Angel. I know several girls here that would sooooo be your type," she teased. Kevin laughed, "Yeah, Bri gets to keep that on his side of the family. Oh well." Ana stood up, "You sound so disappointed," she laughed. "Don't take this wrong," he said, getting up and following her, "But I'm kinda glad about that. I'm not sure I would've taken it well if I was." Ana laughed, "And you think Brian did?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Your highness, please come in," Count Dumal said. "Thank you for inviting us to your home Joseph," Nick said, leading the group inside. "It is an honor to have you," Joseph said, "Please come into the dinning room, dinner is ready." The group followed him and took their seats. Ana took notice that her seat was directly across from Nick. This was completely unusual. Usually the host sat across from the guest of honor. "My lord, there seems to be a mix up in the seating arrangements," she said. Joseph smiled at her, "No Miss Coland, there's not. That is your right place." Ana nodded to him and took her seat as Howie pulled her chair out for her. Nick glanced at her, Do you think he know's something? he thought. Ana raised her eyebrow slightly, biting her lower lip. "Count Dumal, you have a beautiful home here," Brian said, sitting down next him. "Thank you Mr. Littrell, it's been in my family for generations," Joseph replied. Brian laughed, "Please just Brian." Joseph nodded, "Brian it is. I was told of the incident yesterday, I trust you are feeling better?" "Much, thank you. I just feel for the piolets family," Brian said. "As do I. I can't imagine anyone wanting to do his highness harm," Joseph said. "Well there has to be someone, otherwise it wouldn't have happened," Kevin said. "But how do we know it was the king they were after? It could have been you guys," Marie said. "Us? Why would someone want to hurt us?" A.J. asked. "Because you're from Earth," Nick said. "Yeah, and so are you," Howie noted. "But I'm not an Earthling, there's a difference," Nick said. "The king is right. I hate to say, but our planet doesn't hold Earth in the highest of regards," Joseph said. "With good reason," Ana added. "But you can't blame an entire planet for something only a few did," Brian said. Ana, Marie, and Joseph all exchanged glances. "I'm afraid we can," Joseph said. "Guys, we haven't had the best experiences with Earth, and not just because of Nick," Ana said. Marie nodded, "I see it everyday at the hospital." "See what?" Kevin asked. "The addicts," she answered. "Addicts?" Nick asked. "Yes your highness. It seems quite a few years ago we started importing certain things from Earth. One of them being a drug we call Krystal. We brought it in for recreational use, but we soon found out it was highly addictive. There is a large portion of the population that uses it, and we cannot make it here. We tried, but for some reason, we cannot duplicate the original," Joseph said. "Who's responsible for bringing it in?" Kevin asked. "The main company is called Interstellar Distributors. They are run by a board of trustees," Joseph said. "Can't you just shut down the company? Stop the shipments?" Howie asked. "And risk a quarter of the population going into withdrawal?" Marie asked. "Damn its that widespread?" A.J. asked. "Possibly more," Ana said. "We hate what it does to our people, but it's grown so big, how do we stop it?" Anthony said. Nick rubbed his eyes, "So when I cut all ties with Earth, I'm gonna have a big problem." "Yes my king you will," Joseph said. "Unless you find some way to solve the drug problem before you do that," Ana said. Nick sighed, "How the hell do I do that?" Chapter 34 |