| Chapter 90 The control room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Everyone was staring at the screens wide eyed and in shock. The past Kings moved through the opposing army until there was no one left, then they disappeared. All that was left was burning fields and a shocked Celestian army that still hadn't moved. Mason moved to wrap an arm around LaDonna and pull her into a hug. Her tears seeped through his shirt and wet his skin. "My lords, something's happening," one of the techs announced. All eyes went to the man. "What is it?" Joseph asked. "The enemy ships have stopped firing on us. They're just sitting there," he said. Nathaniel glanced at Joseph raising an eyebrow. Everyone watched the screens, seeing the enemy fighters going back to their ships. "What's going on?" Howie asked. A.J. shook his head, "I have no fucking idea." "They're leaving!" Anthony said. Sure enough the massive ships were turning and heading out of the system as fast as they could. "Tell the commanders to call in their fighters and form up. They might come back," Joseph said. "Something tells me they won't. Not if anything like what just happened down here happened up there," Mason said. "My lords, lord Littrell is calling in," a tech said. "Let us all hear," Mason commanded. "Go ahead," the tech said. "We're coming in fast. Nick is hurt, have a medical team in the throne room and open all the doors, I'm not stopping this thing till we're in there," Brian said. "Brian, how bad is he hurt?" A.J. asked. "It's bad J," he replied. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Nick, don't close your eyes," Ana begged. Nick blinked a few times and opened them, staring at her. He was fighting for each breath, and blood was pooling around him. Ana looked at Kevin, "He's losing to much blood." "Maybe if we took his armor off we could stop it," Andrew suggested. "Good idea," Rowland said as he Kevin and Andrew moved to help Ana. They pulled the arm and leg armor off first, dropping it over the side of the transport. "How are we gonna get his breastplate off without hurting him?" Kevin asked. Ana bit her lip and looked down at Nick, "Hey, we're gonna take this off. It's probably gonna hurt." Nick nodded, trying to sit up for them. "No Nick, let us do it," Rowland said, as he and Kevin pulled Nick up to a sitting position. Nick winced, but didn't utter a sound. Andrew and Ana unhooked the breastplate and pulled it over Nick's head. "Sweet Jesus," Andrew muttered, looking at the group in horror, "It went all the way through." Kevin leaned back to see the blood spilling out of the wound in Nick's back, "Oh God." "Guys, we gotta stop the bleeding," Ana said, looking for something to use. "Here," Andrew said unzipping his flight suit and pulling his t-shirt off, handing it to her. Kevin and Rowland followed suit, peeling their armor off and giving her their shirts. Ana ripped them into bandages and handed some to Andrew. Together they applied them to Nick's back and chest and wrapped them tightly with some supplies from the first aid kit. Gently they lay Nick back down. Brian glanced back at them, "Hang on to him, we're almost there and I'm taking this thing all the way into the palace." Everyone looked at him like he was nuts. "Bri, are you nuts?! This thing won't fit!" Kevin said. "Yes it will," Brian argued, seeing the palace up ahead. Andrew stood up and moved to Brian's side, "It's gonna be tight Bri." Brian nodded, "You might wanna sit down and hang onto something." The group glanced at each other nervously as the palace drew closer. Brian turned and headed through the gates, "Get down and hang on!" he yelled as the main doors to the palace loomed in front of him. Everyone moved to the floor and held onto the transport with one hand, and Nick with the other. Brian took a deep breath, "God let this work," he muttered as he flew into the palace. He zoomed down the main hall heading for the throne room. "Move!" he yelled as a couple of servants came around a corner right into his path. They jumped out of the way just in time. Brian slowed a bit to make the turn into the throne room. He still bumped the door with the back of the transport, jarring everyone. "Sorry!" he yelled as he sat the transport down right next to the dieses the thrones sat on. Everyone crowded around Nick. "We're here," Ana said. "Get me up ........ to the ...... throne," Nick said. "Nick, there's a doc here, you gotta ...." Brian started. Nick shook his head, "Not now .....I need to do this." Ana saw the determination in his eyes and looked at the others, "Do as he asks." Kevin and Rowland helped him up and walked him to the throne, sitting him down. Nick leaned heavily on the arm of the throne and looked up. The council, his mother, Anthony, the guys and Maire were there. So was a medical team, and several guards and servants. He noticed a couple vid cameras floating above them all, catching everything. Nick looked over to a servant who was standing close to the throne holding his robe. He motioned him over and let him place his robe around him. Sitting there in only his pants and boots, he was cold. LaDonna moved towards him, tears in her eyes, "Nickolas, please let the doctor look at you." Nick shook his head, motioning the council to come forward. He had to do this quick, he didn't know how long he could stay conscious. He pointed to the book that Mason held in his hands, "Open it ........ there's a letter to .......to the council. Read it." Mason nodded opening the book and thumbing through the letters until he found the right one. Nick's seal was on it, making it an official declaration. The three council members glanced at one another as Mason broke the seal and opened the letter. He cleared his throat, To the honorable council and the people of Celeste, Being that I, Nickolas Carter, your king, have not chosen a queen, nor has had an heir to take my place on the throne, I am appointing such a person. I declare that this day, Anthony DeGrafe shall no longer be known as my cousin. From this point on, he shall be known as my brother, with all the rights and privileges that title bestows. I ask that the council approve this declaration and bestow this title upon one who deserves it more than I ever have. Anthony looked at Nick with shock on his face. Nick did his best to smile at the young man, then he looked to the council, "What say you?" The three men exchanged glances, all truly shocked. Mason stepped forward, "I vote yea." Nick looked to the two remaining members. Nathaniel nodded, "Yea." "I also vote yea," Joseph said. Nick grabbed the chair and winced as a sharp pain ran through his chest. He struggled to get enough air to speak. Finally he looked up, "Anthony come." Anthony moved to stand in front of the throne, tears already in his eyes. He'd never seen Nick this way, and just looking at him scared him. Nick struggled to stay in a seated position, with each breath came an awful gurgling sound. The bandages around his chest were soaked with blood, and it was dripping to the floor beneath the throne. "Kneel," Nick instructed. Anthony got to his knees, looking back up. The lavender eyes that stared back at him were full of determination and purpose. "I am resigning ...as king. I have done wh.......what I was sent here .....to do. Now it is .......time for a new king. Anthony DeGrafe .......do you promise .....to rule for the good of Celeste .....and not for ......for your own personal gain?" Nick struggled. Anthony's mouth dropped open, along with everyone else's in the room. "Nick, I can't ......." he started to protest. Nick leaned forward and placed his hand on the young man's shoulder, "You can. You were ......born for this. Follow your.....heart Anthony ........you will be a great king. Now ....answer the question," Nick smiled. Anthony took a deep breath and looked over to LaDonna and Mason. Both had tears in their eyes, and smiles on their faces. LaDonna nodded at him. Anthony looked back to Nick, "I promise I will do everything in my power for the good of Celeste, and never for my own personal gain." Nick smiled, pulling the crown from his head. With trembling hands he reached out and placed it on Anthony's head. He had to smile, it was a little big for the young man. Nick pushed it back a little, getting it off the boys forehead, "Then rise .....Anthony, King of...... Celeste, and greet your ...... subjects." As Anthony stood to his feet, everyone in the room knelt. Nick pushed himself to his feet, letting the robe fall off his shoulders. Anthony grabbed him by the arms as he swayed. "Remember what .... Frederick taught you. Follow ... your heart ...... and you will do well," Nick said. Anthony nodded. Nick gave him a small smile, then his knees went out from under him. Mason ran forward and caught him, easing him down to the ground in front of the throne. Nick fought for every breath, and struggled to stay awake. Marie and Cameron ran forward to help. Ana quickly moved to his side, gently touching his face, "Hang on Nick," she begged. Nick looked around, seeing his family and friends around him. LaDonna was kneeling next to Mason. She was holding one of his hands, but he couldn't feel it. His eyes traveled to his �brothers'. They were all huddled together, looking at him with tears streaming down their faces. Lastly he looked at Ana. She managed a smile, "It's going to be OK. You're gonna be alright, just hang on." Nick started to try and say something, when he stopped. A cool breeze caressed him. He heard a collective gasp, and everyone but Mason and Ana left him, backing up, fear on their faces. Nick watched as Frederick walked around and knelt next to Mason. The other kings gathered around him, all had smiles on their faces. Ana broke down in sobs, but still refused to leave Nick's side. Mason stared at his brother, the two seemed to be talking without words. After a few moments Frederick nodded, then looked at Nick, "It is time." Nick nodded as the kings moved closer, each laying a hand on him. He looked to Ana, catching her eye. I love you, he thought, just as King Marques Shotier looked at the others, "It is complete." Each king nodded, as they looked at Nick. Suddenly Nick felt a surge of power run though him. His body tensed for a moment and he cried out. Then just as soon as it was there, it was gone, and so where the kings. Nick looked at Mason, fighting to breathe, his vision blurring. He felt the man pull him into his arms and hold him. Nick turned his head, as Ana took his hand. He squeezed it, then closed his eyes. "No Nick, don't close your eyes," Ana begged through her tears. Mason felt Nick's body go limp in his arms, and pulled him closer, rocking him back and forth, and humming the lullaby he'd sang to him when he was a baby. Ana looked down, a cold chill running down her spine as Nick's mark dimmed before her eyes. She broke down, holding his hand to her chest, "Please Nick don't leave me .....I love you!" Chapter 91 |