A FEW DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT, the Royal Family broke the news to the people. The Queen had made the day a rest day. Everyone wore their black outfits, mourning for the loss of their King. Though it was a downhearted day, the people did not let the loss of the King stop them from going out.
The Queen had continued to work, sometimes until dawn. She wanted to complete all the work she and the King needed to do. Small bumps formed on her once-perfect and delicate fingers. She had felt a few hand cramps and gave no attention to it. Her personal maid had to call the royal family's doctor often. Her request for black coffee also increased, worrying the staff but let it be.
The staff was given the choice to go home and enjoy the rest day but most refused, wanting to also carry the burden of the deceased King. They did their usual chores and assisted the family in whatever they wanted.
Athena wasn't any better. She felt guilty for her Father's death when she was supposed to be the one being targeted. She frequently requested for mango shake every time she felt hungry. That and some junk foods were her meal since that day. She laid in her fluffy and soft bed for the whole day. Her eyes were puffy and red from tears, but it didn't stop her from watching television, turning on her favorite show.
Elijah was the only sensible, functional, easy-to-talk-to person in the family. He inspected the security in the whole palace, making sure nothing would go unnoticed. He talked to each one of the staff who was held captive that day. They were lucky that they left quickly and left no injuries to the staff. The men who were devoted to the crown offered their help in finding out how Lord Timothy's cronies came in unnoticed.
Lord Timothy wouldn't talk about it when interrogated saying something about 'He was the rightful King'. His sentence was already decided when he killed the King since he conspired behind his back. He was sentenced to be killed. Though public execution became illegal, Regicide was still punished with death.
Henry imprisoned himself in his own room, often asking for food or drinks from the maids. Memories of him and his Father together flooded his mind. He tossed and turned in his bed. He wanted to get his mind off of some specific things for a while. He called out to his mother about leaving the palace for two weeks, returning until he was fine.
"Are you sure you will be responsible?" The Queen still continued to work.
"I will," The Queen paused her work and turned to Henry. She got up and placed Henry in her embrace. "Take Athena and Elijah. You guys must be exhausted, go visit Anthony too. He must be worried about you."
Henry gave a nod and walked out of his mother's room.
He then went ahead to fetch Athena who had a newly made mango shake in her hand with a metal straw. Oversized clothes that looked unwashed, hair that still looked healthy and silky despite being dry. "Wanna go to The Split Bean?, Athena nodded. She picked up a black, plain hoodie from her cabinet and slung it in her arm. She took out a leather sling bag from another cabinet and placed her hoodie in the bag.
She grabbed her phone, three books and turned the t.v off before closing her door, walking beside Henry.
They went ahead and fetched Elijah, who was surrounded with papers high and low. A crease in his forehead told Henry that he also needed a break. Henry knew that it was wrong of him to push all the work to Elijah. It took longer for Henry to convince Elijah for a break, reluctantly agreeing as long as he saw Alejandro.
They were on their way to The Split Bean cafe, seeking emotional refuge from the three. To Henry, Anthony was the only one with whom he felt safe. He hadn't thought twice when he slept beside him that night. He was tired and the situation hadn't sunken in him yet.
Stopping a few meters away from the cafe, Elijah hurriedly released his car belt and got out, Athena followed after.
Alejandro was outside, wiping down the windows, cleaning supplies beside him, and eyes filled with concern when Elijah got out of the car. Elijah's eyes looked unreadable. Alejandro opened his arms, welcoming Elijah, walking towards him, placing his arms around his shoulders, and engulfing Elijah in his embrace. Elijah returns the hug, hands on his waist before it travels up and down, feeling Alejandro's warmth and shoulders that were once tense, relaxed. The height difference between them didn't stop Elijah from straining his back and bent down, his face at the crook of Alejandro's neck.
They shared a few moments of feeling the other's warmth before releasing from the hug and Alejandro wiping the sad look from Elijah's face.
Eric came running out of the cafe, eyes quickly searching for Athena. Once he saw her, he slowly walked up to her, looking at her eyes for confirmation, and she gave a nod, Eric kneeled hugging her, matching their height, a hand on her head and the other behind her shoulder, completely surrounding her.
Henry didn't feel like coming out of the car nor doing anything, but he wanted to be beside Anthony once more. Hesitating, Henry got out of the car and took baby steps, slowly approaching the four, who were exchanging hugs.
The sound of glass shattering alerted all who were outside. Alejandro broke himself from Elijah's arms, quickly opening the door and running to where the sound came from. Alejandro froze, taking steps back, he pulled the broom from outside and walked towards a guy.
Worried, Henry walked into the cafe, hands began shaking, skin started sweating. Anthony was being held captive. "What are you doing here?" Alejandro shouted at the person. He looked familiar to Henry, thinking that their paths crossed once, and they did.
It was the same person who was threatening Anthony when they first met. The one who trashed the cafe. His name. Brandon. Anthony hadn't felt like walking about it so they never touched the topic again.
The guy's left arm was across Anthony's neck, holding him tightly, and a knife on his right hand prepared to stab him in the stomach. Brandon slowly scooted to a window and threw a rock he got from his side pocket on his jeans. He jumped out of the cafe and opened the door to a van that was parked beside it. He threw Anthony in and threw the door closed. Brandon got to the driver's seat, closed the door, and turned the engine on.
Henry ran back towards the door, trying to run after them. The van had sped up and was out of his sight in just a few seconds.
Alejandro scoured the place, searching for anything that could be useful for the police. Elijah searched around from where the car was parked. Not much was left from where Alejandro was searching. Going through the back of the equipment, and within the small open corners of the serving table, Alejandro spotted a phone, Anthony's phone.
"His phone!" Henry shifted his eyes from the outside to the phone in Alejandro's hand. He ran inside and stole the phone from Alejandro's hand, ignoring how he also pulled his hand, making Alejandro slightly wince. Elijah ran back beside Alejandro and grabbed him close, seeing that Alejandro was still shaking. Eric pushed a chair towards Alejandro, offering him a seat.
After all of them had sat down, while Elijah prepared them a drink, borrowing the cafe's equipment. Henry turned the phone on. The lock screen, a cup of coffee timely shot as the heat from the coffee gave a small fog. His eyes darting towards the single notification.
Voice Recording: 3:59…
"It's been recording," Alejandro gives an obvious remark.
"Can you open his phone?" Alejandro shrugged.
"We respect privacy," Henry got his answer. It would have been easier if it weren't a num lock. There are multiple candidates for the code.
Everyone sat down, surrounding a coffee table between them, and started to figure out the num lock for 20 minutes, giving tries like his birthday, favorite numbers, Eric's birthday, or Alejandro's birthday. They had time to think between the five times they did as the phone had to wait 30 seconds to try again.
"How about Henry's birthday?" Athena suggested.
"Don't be stupid," Henry scoffed. "Why would my birthday be his phone lock?"
"Maybe because he likes you," Athena sighed. "I don't know."
Heat crept up to Henry's neck. It wasn't like he was embarrassed because of the birthday lock, it was just because he liked him too. Was it obvious to everyone? He turned to the group who was smirking.
"You guys are so not subtle," Alejandro huffed. "Anyone can see it from a mile away."
"You failed to try to keep it within you, Henry," Elijah commented.
"You guys don't even see it yourself and it's almost sad." Athena gave the last comment before Henry stopped them and made them focus on what was happening.
"You try it, Henry." Eric passed the phone to Henry, whose hands were shaking. He held the phone, turned it on, and started to type in his birthday.
8293 , August 2, 1993
Typing in the last number, Henry's heart was beating loud. The phone unlocked as soon as Henry tapped the last number and everyone was speechless. Athena covered her mouth, smirking at Henry. Everyone wanted to react but remained professional.
Henry placed the phone on the table in front of them. Anthony's phone's brightness beamed and displayed a stolen picture of Henry, who looked peaceful. Everyone's eyes shifted to Henry. Some smirked, some smiled and some still acted professionally. Alejandro grabbed the phone from the table, searching for the voice recorder app.
"Here it is," he says. A few more taps and Alejandro finally plays a voice recording that sounded like the start of the conversation.
"Hey," a man's voice spoke. It was Brandon. At least it sounded like Brandon.
"Why are you here?" It was Anthony's voice now.
"Woah, no reason to treat a customer like that"
"Like you ever planned to buy a single drink from my cafe," Anthony sounded pissed. "What do you want now?"
"Do I really need that much hostility?"
"Obviously. You trashed the cafe nearly a week ago and luckily it was just the lights."
"Unfortunately, that guy was there. Who was he anyway?"
"I have no reason to tell you who he is."
"Right. Cause he is the Prince of Wares right?" Anthony didn't respond. Henry was anxious as to what happens next.
"Cat got your tongue?"
"So what if he is? It's not like we talk that much." Henry felt a pang in his chest.
"I've been keeping my watch on you for a week and I don't think you guys don't know each other."
"You are a maniac. And here I thought I would finally get rid of my past with…" He paused. "you. Why would you go and do that? Why the fuck are you doing this?!" Anthony had raised his voice. Alejandro flinched. The audio was loud and clear. Henry hadn't heard Anthony raise his voice to anyone, not that he needed to.
"Call me whatever you want, but scream for help or try to call for your cute little workers, they'll be next." A cock sound was picked up by the phone. It was a gun.
Anthony sighed. "What do you need? As long as you don't touch any of them or even Henry, I'll do it." Henry felt his heart clench. He was protecting them.
Brandon laughed. "Henry? So you are fucking." Henry clenched his jaw. "No wonder you were a slut for me, just for me—" Henry slammed his hand on the table, blocking the conversation from the phone for a second. Athena quickly grabbed the phone and paused it.
"I've heard enough," Henry pulled back his hand back to his lap. "We need to find him, and quickly."
"I called the police already. They're on their way." Elijah said. "But Henry—"
"I will find him even if everyone says no." Not hesitating to contact the Queen, he held his phone to call. "I'll call back-up and no objections."