| Chapter 43 Brian followed the guard down the massive hallway. He glanced out, seeing the twin suns beginning to set. Marie was still in with Nick, and from the looks of it, would be for some time. He sighed, turning his attention back to where he was going. The guard led him to a small parlor, opening the door and stepping inside with him. Brian was surprised to see Devon sitting in one of the chairs, waiting. He turned when Brian walked in, smiling at him, "Hello Brian. I trust you're feeling better today." Brian blushed, nodding, "Yeah, I am." Devon pointed to his ear, "I've got a translator today, so you don't have to worry about speaking our language." Brian sat down, "Oh OK. Um Marie is busy with a patient right now.." Devon waved his hand, "That's fine. Actually I came to see you." Brian was a little shocked, "Me?" "Yes, see I have tickets to a nachtk game, and I was wondering if you'd like to go," Devon said, brandishing the tickets in his hand. "What's nachtk?" Brian asked. Devon thought for a moment, "I believe your baseball compares to it." Brian's eyebrows went up, "Oh really, sounds cool. When is it?" Devon looked at his watch, "In about an hour. If we leave now we can make it." "Oh OK, let me run and get a jacket and I'll be ready," Brian said, getting up and heading out of the room. Devon smiled, nodding to the guard still in the room with him. This was to easy. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ana held the cloth to Nick's head as he moaned. "This isn't working," she said, looking up to her friend. Marie bit her lip. Normally the drug she gave Nick would knock the person out, letting them sleep off the headache, but it wasn't doing that with Nick. He had woke up after only being asleep for an hour, and was now in worse pain that he was before. Marie walked around the bed to the door, "I'll go down and get something else. Just try and keep him comfortable until I get back." Ana nodded as she left the room, shutting the door behind her. Marie walked swiftly down the hall, trying to think of what else she could give Nick. "Hey baby," Brian said, bounding up behind her. Marie jumped, turning around, "You scared me!" Brian smiled, pulling her into a quick kiss, "I'm sorry. How's Nick?" She shook her head as they continued walking, "Not well. I'm going down to find some more medicine for him." She looked down, seeing Brian had his jacket with him, "Where are you going?" "Well, your brother came by and he wants to take me to a nachtk game. Can I go? Please, please," he begged, batting his eyelashes dramatically. She laughed, turning the corner, "Yes, go have fun, but Bri..." "What?" he asked. "Just um, be careful OK. I know he's my brother and all, but um, I just feel like something's off," she admitted. He smiled at her, leaning over and softly kissing her, "I'll be fine. See you later," he said, turning and bounding down the hall. "Oh and Bri.... no Manwa at the game," she teased. He waved his hand, laughing as he turned the corner at the opposite end of the hall. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Ana, it hurts," Nick said, clutching his head. "I know, Marie went to get you some different medicine," she said. Nick moaned as another white hot searing pain coursed through his head. He rolled around in the bed, trying to find some position that offered even a little relief, but he couldn't. He finally sat up, holding his head with both hands and rocking back and forth as painful tear after tear streaked down his face. Ana sat next to him, pulling him to her so he could rest his head on her shoulder. She gently rocked him, running her fingers through his hair at the back of his head. "Shhh, I know," she whispered. Nick wrapped his arms around her, holding on for dear life, "God, please make this go away," he cried. Ana glanced at the back of his head, wondering if he was really talking to God, or just using the expression. Nick looked up at her and smiled through his tears, "Yeah, I'm really talking to Him." Ana smiled, gently pushing his head back down to her shoulder and continued rocking him. Nick closed his eyes, letting himself be lulled by the gentle rocking movement, and the feel of Ana's fingers in his hair. He felt someone outside his door, but didn't bother to move. The door opened, and Ana turned to see LaDonna come into the room. Ana didn't know what to do as the queen came in and sat on the other side of the bed, so she continued rocking. Nick let one of his hands fall from Ana's back and reached over to take his mother's hand. "The medicine's not working?" LaDonna asked. Ana shook her head, "Marie went to get some more." "Nickolas, why don't you lay down," the queen suggested. Nick shook his head, turning his face towards Ana and closing his eyes. The queen and Ana exchanged glances. LaDonna could see the fear in Ana's eyes, knowing that if it had been a member of the council or anyone else for that matter that had came in, she would be in serious trouble. Ana saw compassion in the queens eyes, and that let her relax somewhat. Nick moaned, causing the two to turn their attention back to him. He was trembling, as more tears escaped his lavender eyes. LaDonna pulled one of the blankets up and covered Nick's back. Nick held on to Ana tighter as another wave of pain shot through him. He tried to focus on anything but the pain, finding it hard to do. He blinked his eyes, brushing his eyelashes against Ana's neck. Her skin was so soft, and her hair smelled of Tsars Might. Nick leaned into her more, letting go of his mothers hand and bringing his arm back to hold Ana. He could hear her heart beating, mixing with the sound of his own in his ears. He cringed as another sharp pain hit him, and felt the familiar lightheadedness that always came before he passed out. Ana looked down as Nick suddenly went limp in her arms, "Nick?" LaDonna reached over and moved Ana's hair out of the way so she could see his face, "I think he passed out," she said. LaDonna helped Ana lay Nick back down and pulled the covers over him, then she reached across the bed and took Ana's hand. "You must be careful. If you were seen just now... there's not much I could do to help you," she warned. Ana nodded her head, "I understand, but I can't let him suffer like this without helping him." LaDonna stared at the young woman, seeing much of herself in her, "You love him," she stated. Ana looked down at Nick's face and nodded, tears stinging her eyes, "With all my heart." The queen squeezed her hand and smiled at her as the door opened and Maire came in with the doctor. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "This is unbelievable," Brian said, taking in the arena. He felt like he was back in Rome during the times of the gladiators. There were thousands of people in the stadium, all chanting for their favorite team. The game turned out to be similar to baseball, but was full contact. There were no words to describe the spectacle going on down on the field. Devon smiled, "I'm glad you like it." Brian nodded, taking a sip of his drink before returning it to the drink holder. He looked around, spotting the bathroom up the stairs. "I'll be right back," he said, standing up and making his way out of the seats. Devon grinned to himself after he was gone. If only all things in life were this easy, he'd accomplished his goals a long time ago. Brian made his way in to the crowded bathroom and waited his turn. When he was done he walked over to the sinks to wash his hands. He caught someone approaching him out of the corner of his eye, and looked over. The young man staring at him looked rough. Like he'd spent the better part of his life, living on the street. "Hey, you want some sparkle?" the man asked. Brian stared at him confused, "Some what?" "Sparkle, blue, you know Krystal," the man said, annoyed. Brian looked down, seeing the vial the man was holding. It was full of a clear blue liquid. "Um, no thanks," he said, quickly drying his hands and walking around the man to the door. That's when the man saw his mark. "Well bless my stars! You're the kings friend, the mixed one!" he proclaimed to the entire bathroom. Brian sighed and nodded, still backing his way to the door. "You tell the king that if he ever want's any, I have the purest around. That's right, Jimmy Csar is the one to call. You tell him that," the man said, pointing at Brian. Brian nodded, leaving the bathroom and quickly finding his seat. He sat down, still shocked. He'd never had anyone offer him drugs like that. Devon looked over at him, "Hey, you alright?" Brian nodded, "I uh, I just got offered drugs in the bathroom." "Oh, well you get big crowds of people together and the dealers come out of the woodwork," Devon said, dismissing it as if it happened all the time. "I guess," Brian said, focusing back on the game. Devon glanced over, "You didn't take any did you?" Brian stared at him, "Of course not." "Good, that stuff is really bad. It takes one time using it and you're hooked," he said, shaking his head, "I've seen so many friends hit rock bottom on that stuff." Brian nodded, "I can't see why people would ruin their lives, just for a feeling that doesn't last." Devon shrugged, turning his attention to the game below, a plan forming in his mind. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LaDonna walked down the hall, headed to her office. She sighed, feeling him walking behind her, "Yes?" "My queen, how is Nickolas?" he asked. She walked into her office, leaving the door open for him, "He is resting now, but you didn't come here to ask me that did you?" she said, turning to face him. Mason stared into her blue eyes, until he couldn't take the daggers she was sending him any longer and looked away. He sighed, walking over and picking up a photograph of Frederick, staring at it. "Mason, I have things to do, so if you don't mind..." she said, taking the picture from his hand and placing it back on the desk. He grabbed her wrist and held it, "But I do mind. I wish to speak with you." LaDonna pulled her hand back and glared at him, "Then make an appointment, I'm busy." He laughed, stepping closer to her, "I remember a time when you would have dropped everything to see me." "Don't," she warned, turning around so she wouldn't have to see his face. "Don't what my queen? Remind you of a time when you were happy? Remind you what a mistake it was to go back to him?" Mason said. LaDonna turned around, "I asked you before not to bring this up. What happened is in the past, and that's where it stays." He shook his head, "I can't keep it there LaDonna. You know what we had, how can you dismiss it like it was nothing?" She bit her lip and blinked back tears she wasn't aware were there. She looked up at him, "Because the person I fell in love with isn't the person standing in front of me. I loved Frederick, not you." Mason nodded, "I see. So is that why you came to me? Why you spent every moment you could in my arms? Because you loved him?!" LaDonna jumped at his outburst, quickly going over and shutting the door, "You idiot do you want someone to hear you?" Mason shrugged, "Maybe I do. Maybe I'm tired of this lie we all agreed on years ago. Maybe I want people to know the truth?" "NO! You can't Mason. You gave your promise that no one would ever know, I'm holding you to that," she said, desperately. Mason sighed heavily, walking over to a mirror and looking at himself. "Everyday I am reminded of what I promised. Every time I look in the mirror and see this," he said, gesturing towards his scar, "I remember it all as if it were yesterday." "Mason, please drop this," LaDonna said, "It's been twenty years." "Twenty one to be exact," he said, turning back towards her, "Funny coincidence, that's exactly how old �your' son is." LaDonna's eyes went wide and anger flashed in them, "Don't even go there." Mason laughed, heading for the door, "You can't ignore me forever. Sooner or later the truth will come out, and when it does, who do you want telling him the truth? You or me?" he asked, leaving the room. Chapter 44 |