| Chapter 69 Ana sat at Nick's desk, looking at his pictures. She'd been with him for a few hours now, and was trying to find something to do to keep from falling asleep herself. She picked up a framed picture and looked at it, smiling. Nick's adoptive family. She was amazed at how much his little brother looked like him, almost the spitting image. So the United States Government could do something right after all. No one looking at that family would've thought that Nick didn't belong. She sat the picture down, picking up the next one. She had to bite her lip to keep from laughing out loud. Nick and Brian together making goofy faces at the camera. Now that was a classic. Nick looked so happy and carefree. She hadn't seen that look on him in a long time. His normal posture now was one of worry and exhaustion. Ana knew he hadn't been sleeping well for some time. She knew he was having horrible nightmares, but he wouldn't discuss them with her. Just the mention of them unnerved him. She looked up when the door opened and Rowland came in. She placed her finger over her mouth and nodded towards the bed. Rowland nodded, "How is he?" he whispered. "Alright. I haven't seen any ill affects from the food," she answered. "Good, we found the servant that did it," he informed her. Ana's eyebrows raised, "Really? You get anything out of them?" The guard shook his head, "He refuses to talk." Ana put the picture down and sighed, "You know who did this, even Nick knows." "Yes, but we have no tangible proof. We can't just walk into Interstellar headquarters and start arresting people," he replied. "Why not? They deserve it just for what they've done with the Krystal," she smiled. "I agree, but we do still allow free trade," he grinned. "I knew that free trade law was going to come back to haunt us," she said. Rowland laughed, "You were what? Five when that passed?" Ana shrugged, "Six I think." The guard smiled at her and shook his head, he was about to say something when Nick moaned. Ana walked over to the bed, watching as Nick writhed, mumbling in his sleep. His forehead was damp with sweat, and his breathing erratic. Suddenly he flinched like someone had hit him, "No stop!" he panted. Rowland approached the bed, putting his hand on Nick's shoulder, "Your highness, wake up," he said in a stern voice. Nick flinched again, his eyes flying open and looking wildly around the room for a moment. "It's OK Nick, you were having another nightmare," Ana said, sitting on the edge of the bed. Nick sat up and ran a shaky hand through his hair. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself down before attempting to speak. "How long have I been here?" he asked. "You've been asleep for a few hours," Ana answered. He looked at her confused, "How did I get here? The last thing I remember is puking." "Your uncle brought you up," she said, "Are you feeling better?" "Yeah, I think so,"he said, standing up. "Your highness, we have the servant responsible in the dungeon," Rowland informed him. Nick nodded, "Are they talking?" "No sir," he replied. "Figures," Nick muttered, heading into the bathroom to check his appearance. He came back out a moment later, "Well, why don't we go pay them a visit," he said moving towards the door, Ana and Rowland following close behind. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I'm telling you there's something off," Kevin said, sitting on the edge of his bed looking at A.J. and Howie. "Like what?" A.J. asked. The older man shook his head, "I dunno, but there's something fishy about Mason." Howie laughed, "And you're just now noticing that? He's been giving Nicky a hard time since he got here." "That's just it though. Lately the two seem to be getting along," Kevin said. A.J. plopped down in the chair next to the bed, "And that's bad why?" Kevin thought for a moment, "I don't know, all I know is my gut says something's not right." "Maybe you've just got indigestion," A.J. said, "Ya know old people get that pretty often." "J, will you be serious," Kevin said, annoyed. A.J. shook his head, "Listen Kev, if Nick and Mason are getting along, let it be. Maybe they worked some things out? We don't know. Let's not go sticking our noses in where they don't belong." "I think J's right Kev. If Nick want's to tell us what's up, he will. Otherwise, let's just steer clear," Howie said. Kevin looked up at the two, "Ganging up on me huh?" A.J. playfully slapped his arm, "Naw, just talking ya down. You're to paranoid for your own good man." Kevin laughed, standing up, "I guess. What would I do without you?" "Be bored," Howie said, grinning. "And probably a hell of a lot more sane," A.J. added. "So true," Kevin said, heading for the door, "Let's go down and see Bri for a bit." The three headed out of the room and down the hall. The elevator opened before they reached it, revealing Mason and LaDonna. They were smiling and holding hands as they stepped off, not realizing the boys where there. When they both looked up, Mason immediately dropped LaDonna's hand. "Evening boys," LaDonna said, as they passed one another in the hall. "Good evening your highness," Howie said. "Lord DeGrafe," Kevin said, nodding. "Evening," Mason said, a guilty expression on his face. "So where are you off to?" the queen asked. "Going to see Bri," A.J. replied, "What are you guys doing?" Kevin immediately kicked A.J., glaring at him. "Damn Kev, what crawled up your....?" A.J. started, but was cut off as Howie and Kevin pulled him into the elevator. "Sorry your highness," Howie apologized, "We don't let him out of his cage very often." LaDonna laughed, as the doors closed. "God damnit J, do you even think before you speak?" Kevin asked. A.J. grinned, "Yup. I just wanted to see their reaction." "Reaction? J what the hell are you talking about?" Howie asked. A.J. rolled his eyes, "Don't tell me I'm the only one that saw the hand action there." "No, but what about it?" Kevin said. "I'm tellin ya man, if those two aren't knockin boots they will be soon," A.J. said as the doors opened to the medical ward, and he stepped off. Howie glanced at Kevin, "You think...?" Kevin shook his head, "I don't even wanna know man." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick stood in the middle of the cell, looking down at the servant. The man was on his knees, his face to the ground in front of him, visibly shaking. Nick bit his lip for a moment, wondering what to do. "Are you afraid?" he asked. "Y-yes your highness," the man replied. "Do you think I'm going to harm you?" Nick asked. The man looked up, then back down again, "I don't know." "Stand up," Nick ordered. Slowly the man got to his feet, his eyes still downcast. "You've been here since I arrived. You do good work, were you not happy here?" Nick asked. "Yes my king," the man said. "Your family lives here in the palace complex, have you not been taken care of?" he asked. The man looked up at him, "Yes your highness, we have." "Then why?" Nick asked. The man looked down again. "Was it money?" Nick asked, watching as the man shook his head. "You will address the king properly," Rowland admonished. Nick held his hand up to the guard and shook his head, then turned his attention back to the man, "Tell me why you did this." The man shifted his weight back and forth from one foot to the other. Nick stood patiently waiting for him to answer. Finally the man looked up, "I'm sorry my king, but they have my daughter. If I didn't do what they asked, she would be hurt." Nick glanced at Mason, "Who is they?" The man looked back down at his shoes. "I cannot help you if you don't answer my question. Who is they?" Nick asked again. The man sighed, "Interstellar." Nick looked up at Mason, "Release him and find his daughter. From this moment on, no one leaves the palace without a guard, I mean no one. Not the servants, their families, no one." Rowland nodded, leaving the cell. Nick looked back at the servant, "You are free to go. Your daughter will be found and returned to you." The man's mouth dropped open in shock, "You're letting me go? But what I did ... you could have died." Nick smiled, "But I didn't. I don't blame you for wanting to help your daughter. I understand. Now go back to your family." "Y-yes my king," the man said, bowing, then heading for the door, "Thank you." Nick watched him leave, then sighed. "That was very honorable of you," Ana said. Nick shook his head, "I couldn't punish him for that. Hell I did the same thing when Brian was taken." "Yes, but no one knows that," she said, walking down the hall with him. "I know it, that's enough. I couldn't punish him for something that I was willing to do too," he replied as they entered the elevator. "That's what makes you a good king," she said. Nick shrugged, "I dunno bout that." "You are a good king Nick. Not many would have done what you just did," she told him. Nick shrugged and stared at the doors as the elevator rose. "So what's next?" Ana asked. He bit his lip, looking over at her, "I think it's time I paid a visit to our friends at Interstellar." Chapter 70 |