| Chapter 76 The week after the attack was the worst week Nick thought he'd ever had. His days were filled with calls from the affected planets. Their leaders demanding justice. In between the calls, he started receiving anonymous death threats. They were never able to trace them, having bounced over several satellites in several systems before reaching heir destination. Rowland had stepped up security in the palace, and Nick was rarely left alone. He understood their concern, but was frustrated by it too. He could no longer take long walks in the garden by himself, which meant that he and Ana were back to where they started. Wanting so much to be with each other, but not able to do so. And then there were the dreams. Every night they haunted him, and scared him to death. He couldn't tell anyone about them. Somewhere deep inside he knew it had to happen ... that that was what he was here for, and if anyone found out, they would most definitely try to stop it. So he suffered alone, growing more solemn by the day. Everyone had noticed his change in behavior, but they attributed it to the stress he was under and the constant threats to his life. They didn't know the true reason, and Nick vowed that they never would. Brian was steadily getting better. As the week progressed he was finding it easier to fight the cravings, and his mood improved greatly. Still, there was a distance between him and Marie. She was still hurt by his actions, and he was at a loss as how to fix it. He'd apologized over and over, and every time she told him it was forgiven, but..... the distance between them still remained. A.J. had taken it upon himself to play the mediator between the two, telling both that it would just take some time, and encouraging them not to give up. Brian knew he couldn't. So much was happening, he knew he had to get better fast. He wanted his life back, and by God he was going to get it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Marie wiped Brian's mouth with a napkin and sat the food tray aside. "Thanks," he said, wishing for the millionth time that Cameron would let him out of his restraints. He hated the fact that someone had to do everything for him. Feed him, bathe him, scratch his itches. Although that last one had turned out to be quite humorous. You really find out who your friends are when you have an itch in a very undesirable place, and they have to scratch it for you. "Your welcome," she said, straightening his blanket for him. Brian bit his lip, watching her. She seemed to be doing everything she could not to look at him. Even when she was feeding him his supper, she had barely looked at his face, and when she did, he could see the hurt in her eyes. Marie rested her hand on the bed rail, and Brian was able to twist his hand around and grab her fingers, "Baby, please look at me." Marie stared down at their hands for the longest time before she looked up. The hurt in his wife's eyes brought tears to his own, "I'm sorry Marie. I know I hurt you, and God I wish it had never happened. I love you more than life itself. I would do anything for you ...... I'd die for you. Baby, if we live a thousand years, I'll still hate myself for what I did. I know I can't make up for it, but please .... can we try? I don't want this to tare us apart. I want us back to the way we were. Please, can we try?" His heart was in his throat, tears slowly sliding down his cheeks. Marie stared at him for what seemed to be a lifetime. He tried to read the emotions in her eyes, but couldn't. It was a mixture of so many things. But finally the emotions passed and he saw what he had been longing to see ..... love. Marie gently wiped the tears from his face, "I love you too Brian, and I don't want this to hurt us either. I'm sorry for being so distant. I just ..... you scared me, and I didn't know how to handle it. I never thought anything like that would happen, so when it did, I just .. I got scared, and angry. I'm sorry honey, I love you with all my heart, you know that don't you?" Brian smiled at her, "Yes, I do." She smiled, leaning down and softly kissing him. Brian desperately wanted to wrap his arms around her and hold her, but the reality set in when he tried to and his arms wouldn't move. Maire pulled back and giggled, making him blush. "Please, I just want to hold you," he begged, giving her his best puppy dog face. Marie considered it for a moment, then undid one of his arms, "Just one." He smiled, "One's all I need," he mumbled as he pulled her to him, their lips crashing together, his hand tangling in her hair. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick lay in bed staring at the ceiling. It had been a hideous day, and he was so tired. But he didn't want to go to sleep. He knew what would happen in his dreams, and couldn't handle going through it again. He glanced over at the Book Of Kings, lying on the table near the bed. He'd been so busy lately, he'd almost forgotten about it. He got up and retrieved it, opening it up to where he had left off. He knew there was no way he'd ever finish reading it, so he decided to try another strategy. Flipping to the back he went through the index, finding the king's with the shortest rule. Then he would flip back and scan that kings section. "Died," he muttered going to the next one. "Murdered ......... Died ......... Wait a second," he said, reading more closely. Nick settled himself better on the bed and started to read. "King Jatiel DeCossey ruled only two years. He fell ill with a mysterious disease, and having no heirs of his own to inherit the crown, adopted his nephew Micha Grenique ...... You can do that?" he asked himself, looking down to make sure he'd read it right. He had. "If only I had a nephew.. or a brother ....." he muttered, getting out of bed and walking over to his desk. He pulled out a piece of paper and stared at it. He sighed, knowing what he had to do. Picking up his pen he started to write , Dear Anthony ............ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LaDonna walked out onto her balcony and nudged Mason out of his thoughts. He smiled at her as she handed him a drink and sat down next to him. "Need I ask what has you so troubled?" she asked. He grinned, "I'm sure you know." She sighed and nodded, "I'm worried about him too. He's been so somber and distant lately. He used to talk with me, tell me his feelings, now all I get are sad looks." Mason nodded, "I've noticed. He's taking all this in on himself and he's not letting any of it out. How long before he breaks under the pressure?" The queen shook her head, "I don't know, and I don't know what to do to help him." Mason took her hand and squeezed it, "You are helping him by being so supportive. He's lucky to have you as his mother. And I'm sure when he feels he can, he will talk to you. He's probably trying to sort things out before he does." LaDonna smiled, "How can you be so sure?" "Because that's what I would do in his situation," he smiled. She gazed at him for a moment, for the first time noting how much Nick was like him. Mason looked over at her, "What?" "Nothing, just thinking," she said, looking up at the stars. Mason waited for her to finish, but realized she wasn't going to. He let it go and looked up as well. It'd been a long time since he had just sat and looked at the stars. It was something he and LaDonna used to do, and now they were getting back into the habit. "Donna, do you get the feeling that Nick's not telling us something. Not just that he won't talk to you or me about the stress, but that maybe there's something else bothering him?" he asked, looking back over. She stared at him and nodded, "Yes I do, and it scares me." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Nick folded the last letter and placed it in the envelope, then stamped his seal on it. Gathering the letters he placed them inside the Book of Kings for safe keeping until he needed them. He had only meant to write one, but quickly found himself writing to the guys, Ana, his mother, and to Mason. He wasn't sure if he would get the chance to say what he wanted to, and the letters made sure he could. He made his way to his bed and turned the lights off. It was the middle of the night. No one in their right mind would be up at this hour. Nick had to chuckle at himself, thinking he'd probably never been in his right mind. He still didn't want to sleep, but his body was so incredibly tired, there was no keeping from it. He rolled over on his side, his back to the balcony. Taking a deep breath he closed his eyes, letting himself start to drift to sleep. He was almost there, when something made him open his eyes. He blinked a few times, making sure the feeling in the pit of his stomach was really what it was. It was. Someone was standing on his balcony, slowly, silently making their way into his room. Nick stayed still, wanting the person to think he was asleep. He didn't recognize whoever it was, and by the time the person made it into his room, Nick's heart was pounding so hard it was all he could hear. Slowly Nick let his arm drop down the side of the bed. His hand stretched out and the sword he had hidden underneath flew into his palm. The person was in his room now, slowly approaching his bed. Nick pulled the sword up, hiding it under the blankets. Closing his eyes, he lay still .. waiting. He listened, over the beating of his heart, hearing the person round the bed to stand in front of him. He could make out the distinct sound of a sword being pulled from its sheath, and he had to force himself to stay still. Nick tightened his grip on the sword as he felt the person raise theirs..................... Chapter 77 |