| Chapter 70 Brian stretched and opened his eyes. It was early morning, the suns hadn't even made an appearance yet. He wondered why he was suddenly wide awake, then he noticed him. Brian glanced around the room, seeing Marie was no where in sight. Silently he hoped she had gone back to their room to get some much needed rest. He sat up in the bed and ran his hand through his hair, "How long you been here?" he asked quietly. Nick shrugged, "Awhile." Brian stared at his young friend, the moonlight coming through the window and giving him an eerie glow, "What's wrong?" Nick looked out the window and bit his lip, a trait Brian had come to know as Nicks way of stalling. "Lights on, dim," Brian said, blinking as the lights came on in the room. "Damn Bri," Nick blinked, "Warn me next time." "Sorry," the older man said, adjusting his pillow, "So you gonna tell me what's bothering you, or do I gotta pull it out of ya?" Nick sighed, looking down at his shoes, "They tried to kill me last night." Brian sat straight up in alarm, "What?! Who's trying to kill you? Are you OK?" Nick held his hands up, "Calm down. I'm fine." "Damn Nick, you don't just walk in here and tell me something like that," Brian said, "Give me a heart attack why don't ya?" "Sorry B," Nick said, with a half grin. "Now tell me what's going on," Brian demanded after he got his heart back under control. "Interstellar. They kidnaped one of the servants daughters, made him put asparagus in my soup. I got sick, but it wasn't enough to really do any harm," Nick explained, "I just can't figure out why they're doing it." "Trying to kill you?" Brian asked. "No, toying with me," Nick said, shaking his head. Brian rubbed his face, "Wait. You said they tried to kill you, now your saying they're toying with you? I know I'm blonde Nick, but I'm confused." Nick laughed, despite the seriousness of the conversation, "They're doing both Bri. What they did last night wouldn't have killed me, even if I ate the entire bowl and had seconds. I think they're playing with me. Trying to, I dunno, throw me off something. Kinda like if they keep me worried about what's gonna happen next, then I won't see whatever it is that they're really doing." Brian nodded, "K, that makes sense. So what do you think they're doing?" Nick stood up and walked over to the window, peering out, "I don't know, and that's what scares me." "So what are you gonna do?" Brian asked. Nick turned around and leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest, "I'm going to see them." "What?! Are you nuts Nick?! That's like walking right into their trap," Brian protested. "I don't have any other choice Bri. I have to show them that they're wasting their time. That whatever it is they've got cooking, I'm gonna find it, and I'm gonna stop it," Nick said. Brian sighed, picking at a stray thread on his blanket, "I understand that Nick, but this could be dangerous for you." "I know," Nick said, walking over and sitting on the edge of the bed, facing his friend, "But staying here and just waiting for what comes next. I think that's even more dangerous." "I don't like this Nick. I've got a bad feeling about it," the older man said. Nick looked down at his hands, not wanting to meet the two blue pools of concern staring at him. "You've got a bad feeling too, don't you?" Brian asked. Again Nick bit his lip, and silently nodded. Brian reached out and grabbed his arm, "Then don't go." Nick looked up, "I have to." Brian shook his head, "You're the king, you don't have to do anything if you don't want to." "Bri, I have to do this. It scares me, yes, but everything in me tells me this is why I'm here," Nick explained. "Why you're here? Are you talking about the prophecy?" Brian asked. The younger man shrugged, "I don't know. No one even knows what the damn thing says ...but I feel it in here Bri," he said, covering his heart with his hand, "Dad told me to lead with my heart, and this is what it's telling me to do. Right or wrong, good or bad, I have to do this." Brian stared at him for several moments, then finally nodded. "I wish I was well enough to go with you," he said. Nick smiled, "Not this time bro. You concentrate on getting better. You can't help me now, but I know you will in the future." Brian raised his eyebrows, "Did you see something?" Nick half smiled, getting up from the bed, "I've seen a lot of things Brian. Now get some sleep." "Nick?" Brian said, stopping him from leaving. "Yeah?" he asked. "Be careful," Brian said. Nick nodded, "I will man, I'll come see you after I get back," he said, turning and walking out of the room. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick stared out the window of the carriage as it meandered through the city. The streets were busy, people on their way to their jobs. As his carriage passed by, many people stopped what they were doing to watch it. Probably wondering where I'm going, Nick thought. He sighed, wondering what in the world he was going to say to these people. He looked over at Rowland. He was scanning the crowd, looking for any signs of danger. Always the consummate guard. When the carriage stopped, it was to soon. Nick still didn't know what to say. I mean what do you say to a company that's made it it's goal to hurt you? Nick waited as several guards surrounded the carriage before he stepped out, Rowland right behind him. Several people in the street bowed as he walked past them to the large office building. "Well, this is it," he muttered to himself as he walked into the large lobby. He noticed the secretary behind the desk, and walked up to her, "I'd like to speak with the person in charge." She looked up from her work, her face going pale as she quickly dropped from her chair to the floor, "Your highness! No one said you were coming," she stammered. Nick motioned for her to get up, "That's because no one knew. Now, if I could see the person in charge please." "Yes, right away," the woman said, quickly making a call and then leading Nick and his guards to an elevator. Nick bit his lip as the elevator rose to the top floor. "You're going to make it bleed if you don't stop," Rowland whispered, giving Nick a smile. "Sorry," Nick mumbled, as the doors opened and the group stepped out. They were lead down the hall and into a large office. A young man sat behind a desk. He immediately got up and bowed, "Your highness, it's an honor to have you. Please go right in." Nick walked past the man and through the large double doors. It was a large office, making his own at the palace look small. The guards positioned themselves in various places around the room, Rowland staying beside Nick as he approached the desk. "To what do I owe this unexpected visit?" the portly man behind the desk asked. It did not go unnoticed that the man failed to bow to Nick, or address him properly. Nick stood in front of the desk, looking down at the man. He had to be in his early fifty's, his hair greying. The man looked at him impatiently. "You do know who I am?" Nick asked, annoyed at the man's attitude. The man stood up, "The crown tends to give it away. Now, what can I do for you?" "You can start by showing your king some respect," Nick seethed. "Oh forgive me," the man said, bowing. Nick waited a moment before he gestured for the man to get up. When he finally did, it took the man a couple of tries to get back on his feet. Nick took the opportunity to walk around the man's desk and nose through the papers he had laid out. He could tell the older man was greatly annoyed by this, but he kept quiet. "So," Nick said, looking at several holograms on the wall, "care to tell me why you're trying to kill me?" The man looked stunned, but covered it quickly, "I don't know what you're talking about." Nick laughed, "Really? That's interesting considering my guards retrieved one of my servants daughters from a house belonging to this very company. Care to explain that?" "Your highness, I have no idea what you're talking about. We are a law abiding corporation ..." the man started. "That makes its money from the downfall of it's own people," Nick spat, "You are nothing but drug pushers and bullies." The older man's face turned red with anger, "And you are nothing but an outsider!" Nick had his back to the man, and was thankful for it. It gave him a moment to will away the emotion that heartless statement brought up. Nick cleared his throat and turned around, "I may be an outsider, but I am still your king. Do not mess with me. Whatever it is you're planing, it would be wise to stop, otherwise you're company, and it's people will feel my wrath. Is that understood?" The man glared at Nick for what seemed like hours. Then a small smile formed on his face, "Crystal clear, my king." Nick tossed the papers he was looking at back on the man's desk and headed to the door. "By the way your highness, how is your friend doing?" the man asked. Nick turned back. "Tell me, has he detoxed yet, or his he still addicted?" the man gloated. Nick could feel his blood pressure reach the boiling point. With a sweeping gesture of his hand, the man flew into the wall behind him, knocking the breath out of him. Nick crossed the office in two steps and wrapped his hand around the man's throat, squeezing for all he was worth. "If you so much as mention any of my friends, I'll kill you myself you son of a bitch!" Nick said through clenched teeth. The man gasped for air as Nick held on for a moment longer, before letting go, and letting the man drop to the floor. "Stop what you're doing before this turns ugly," Nick warned, storming out of the office, his guards following behind him. The man struggled to his feet, rubbing his neck, "Oh, you don't know how ugly it is, you little prick." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ana ducked through the opening to the cave. Nick had disappeared as soon as he had returned, and she was worried about him. Rowland told her what happened, and she knew he would be here. Only the two knew of the cave, and Nick went there to think. She spotted him sitting on the ground in front of the large painting, staring up at the image of himself. Even from a distance, she could see his tear stained cheeks, and the utterly lost look in his eyes. Slowly she walked towards him, kneeling down next to him and placing her hand on his shoulder. He didn't move, just kept staring up at the painting. After a few moments he took a shaky breath, "He's right ya know. I am an outsider here," he said in a small voice. "Nick," Ana chided, "You are not. You belong here." He shook his head, looking down at his hands, "I don't belong anywhere." "That's not true," she said, trying to get him to look at her. He sniffed, finally wiping his face, "It is true Ana. I'm to Celestian to fit in on Earth, and I'm to human to fit in here. All my people see is a freak. I don't look like them, and I grew up on the one planet they despise. There is no fitting in here," he argued. Ana reached over and took his hand in hers, "Not all your people see you as a freak. They see their king, Nick. Most of them adore you." He shook his head, "They adore me because of the prophecy." "They adore you because you are a good king,"she corrected. Nick sighed, knowing there was no point in continuing with the conversation. Ana was a lot like his mother, she wouldn't let him degrade himself. Always lifting him up, and telling him how much he meant to her, and to the planet. "I'm sorry Ana, I'm just tired. It's hard acting like I know what the hell I'm doing all the time," he said. She smiled, "We don't expect you to know everything Nick." "Yeah, but you know what I mean," he said. "Yeah," she agreed. He lay back, suddenly to tired to even sit. Ana looked down at him, "Are you alright?" He nodded, "I'm just really tired, and I can't sleep." "The dreams?" she asked. There was that look again, overwhelming fear. Nick nodded, adverting his eyes. "Tell me," she pleaded. He shook his head, "I can't. I can't even bring myself to say it." "Maybe if you talk about them, it'll help?" she suggested, concern deep in her eyes. Nick shook his head, "I can't. I'm afraid if I say it out loud, that somehow it'll happen." "What if it's the future you're seeing? There may not be a way to stop it," she said. He sat back up, "I can't Ana, I don't even want to think about them." Gently she reached up and brushed a few stray hairs from his forehead, "Alright, but you know I'm here anytime you need to talk." Nick smiled, "I know. I don't know what I'd do without you." Softly he cupped her cheek, pulling her in for a kiss. As the kiss deepened, their hands found their way around each other. Nick pulled back, staring at the beauty in his arms. He smoothed her hair back, then unzipped her jumpsuit. Ana let the material fall from her shoulders, and sighed as Nick planted soft kisses down her neck. She pulled on his shirt, and he raised up just enough for her to pull it off, then he went back to his sweet torture. Carefully he lowered her down to the cave floor. Nick tugged on her jumpsuit, and she raised her hips, allowing him to pull the garment off. "You are so beautiful," he murmured, as he gazed at her. She smiled, and reached for him. Nick let her pull him down, welcoming her tongue into his mouth. He let his fingers glide over her skin, barely touching it. Ana moaned as he ran his hands up her arms and interlaced their fingers. "I love you so much," Nick said, staring deeply into her eyes. Ana smiled, her body tingling at the words spoken, "I love you too Nick, always." Chapter 71 |