"Lucian, you have visitors," Raphael informed me first thing in the morning. He stared at us from above, scowling but more on to the werewolf sleeping without a care in the world beside me. Caleb and I were on our sides with him spooning me in his arms. He groaned from Raphael's intrusion, raising his middle finger at the angel.
"What's that?" Raphael queried with both confusion and annoyance.
"From now on this finger means Fuck you and Fuck off."
Raphael rolled his eyes. "It is devastating to know that Lucian is mated to an immature ruffian like you."
Caleb whined, burying his nose against my neck and thrusting his morning wood in between my thighs to bring our bodies closer to each other than they already were.
"Lucian, the hen is bullying me!!!"
Raphael yanked Caleb by his hair, aiming the sharp end of his spear to his face and ready to spike him like a fish in the ocean.
I sighed. "Please do not intimidate nor hurt this manchild. He is a treasure that must be protected and spoiled at all times."
"Pampering him would only worsen his unbearable and greedy attitude!"
"My my, what boisterous youth in such a fine and pulchritudinous morning!"
That manner of speaking...
I sat up, turning my head to the entrance of the grotto. Garrison stood there with a smile, holding his white and elegant parasol to shield himself from the slightly warm rays of the early morning sunlight.
He was taken aback by my rushed greeting. His parasol was dropped to the ground as he returned my embrace.
"Oh Your Highness, it is unbecoming of a prince to display your nakedness. You should be more au fait with your surroundings, especially with these carnal men around you."
His hug tightened. I couldn't bring myself to reply as words were stuck in my swollen throat. He placed his slender hand on my crownless head and stroked my back with his other.
"I have heard from the dragon twins of what had occurred. It is truly shattering to discover that one of our people took so many innocent lives."
"Yes..."
"Segreth should have known better. Our sole purpose is to spread life and become the source of it. What was he thinking?"
I swallowed, shifting to lean the side of my face to his chest.
"Yes..."
"You are blaming yourself for it, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Why so, my Lord?"
"It is my fault, is it not? They got involved in my dispute with the kingdom. If they didn't meet me, they would still be alive. If my parents only accepted my death, no Ancient would have been sacrificed. Queen Titia wouldn't have taken her own life. I am still alive yet I bring more death than any catastrophe."
Garrison gently peeled me away from him. He stared into my eyes, refusing to release my attention.
"The king and the queen have done unreasonable things to bring back their son at the cost of many sons, daughters, wives, and husbands. The late King Caspian made his decision to sacrifice his life to escape his duty. It is only natural for you to bear the burden. Feeling remorse only means that you are not like them. The only thing you can do now is to make reasonable outcomes for their unreasonable choices. Make their passing meaningful by making use of the life born from their deaths."
Was I strong enough to perform my duties? I was alone for eighteen years surrounded by people who kept me imprisoned in the darkness of my own oblivion. I recently found out the secrets of my birth and the souls residing in my body. I have stripped away my crown and declared my rebellion. They had faith in me yet I believe their trust was misplaced.
I slipped on my clothes that were handed by Raphael. Ikesha and Laeroth were waiting outside; both of them had relieved faces. They took me into their arms, Laeroth ruffling my hair on his turn.
"It is a great relief to see you, young prince. I see you have formed your own caravan, ey?" Laeroth queried, referring to the children, Elik and the other freed slaves, and to Raphael and the twins.
I would have to introduce Peaches later as soon as he showed himself. They wouldn't believe me if I told them that we had the reaper in our group. Water swirled and formed into Leviathan beside me. Ikesha, Garrison, and Laeroth became wary of him.
"You are all welcome to stay and have a meal with us. If you don't mind me asking, where is Lord Lucius and Master Aramastus?" Saber queried. I didn't notice that he was wearing a monocle on his right eye yesterday.
"We don't want to bother your tribe any further. We'll be taking the prince and his caravan with us. We need to find a new base," Ikesha politely declined before answering his question. "We got separated when we fought with Number VII because Number VIII appeared."
Crowley huffed. "I'm sure your brother is okay, prince. Something like that won't take him down. He has that vampire with him as well."
I nodded. I did not want to comment on my brother's well-being until I knew exactly what happened to him. He could be unpredictable because of the circumstances that he puts himself into which I could never understand as I never got myself involved in any convoluted affairs. Ever.
"I am coming with you," Leviathan said.
"What?! I mean..." Garrison cleared his throat, cupping his hands together in front of his stomach. "We do appreciate such a mighty and ethereal being like you to come with us but why?"
Was there something I should know that made them uncomfortable with Leviathan's presence? He didn't seem to be the type to cause trouble as long as he wasn't troubled.
"Lucian uncrowned himself. There is no way he can regrow his royalty and this subjects him into further condemnation. Uncrowning one's self is a heavy crime and not only that but he cannot control the immense power of the souls inside of him. His crown has the power of sovereignty. Without his crown he is a normal Ancient with meager mana."
Ikesha held her other arm in worry. "The Cauldron of Spirits bestowed a punishment to royals who unthroned themselves. You are dying as we speak, Your Highness, you are no longer immortal. You are a sick Ancient."
"Wait, we can't do anything about that? There must be something we can do!" Slade interrupted.
"Can we put fertilizers on his hair or maybe I could pick flowers and plant them on Lucian's head?!" Caleb suggested.
Slade hit his palm with his fist. "Dang, that's a good idea... I mean, I thought of that first you thieving mutt!"
"Keep your dumb ideas to yourself. You're not helping," Raphael reprimanded.
"That is why I am coming with you. I will act as his crown to keep him from dying," Leviathan explained.
Act as my crown? Would he be sitting on top of my head the entire time? I do not think I was capable of carrying him.
"You are too heavy for me," I deadpanned.
My half brother sighed. He turned into a swirl of water again without a word, flowing on top of my head before transforming into a crown with a silver frame. Each silver palisade of the crown appeared to be like a dragon's nail with blue crystals as their origin. Underneath the palisades were thin layers of red fin-like webbing with thin capillaries branched in their expanse. Veins rooted to my head; there was a surge of warmth that caused me to gasp as if I had taken my first breath after nearly drowning.
Another heartbeat joined me, strengthening my own weak pulse.
lub... dub...
Lub dub...
Lub dub.
"Lucian?" Sevor's voice managed to get through to my daze. All of them stared at me with worry.
"You don't look ghostly pale anymore. Are you okay?" Laeroth asked.
I reached up, feeling the pulsating crown on my head.
'Nephew?' Uncle Caspian called out. His voice was much clearer now compared to before.
'Uncle...'
There were so many things I wanted to say to them. I wanted to apologize, I wanted to thank them, and I also wanted to ask why they had to give their lives to me.
'Whatever you decide on doing, we will be with you all the way. You don't have to carry the burden all alone now.'
I lowered my head, gazing at my hands and then at everyone around me. The tenebrosity that engulfed me became a shadow that continued to grow and haunt me as I slowly unveiled the secrets they have kept about me. I have told myself over and over again that I deserved to live more than anyone else, but as soon as my brother freed me from the shackles of ignorance, the shadow following me continued to question: "Do you deserve your life?"
I chuckled, placing my hand on my throbbing chest.
'Please do not have high expectations for me. I am, after all, nothing but a spoiled brat.'
Uncle Caspian laughed. 'That you are.'
Murmurs burst in the midst of my conversation with uncle.
"Is that another chicken? Seriously, why can't you guys land normally?" Slade questioned, pointing at the burning rock heading straight at us from the skies.
"Oh crap, oh crap! We gotta get outta here!" Buck screamed.
"Wait, I'll try to hit it, maybe it'll crack and separate into smaller pieces!" Ziru said, already having his arrow pointed at the foreign object.
Rui smacked his hands away. "Idiot! If you do that it'll be harder to dodge that thing!
"Wohooooo!!!" Peaches howled. Dark matter whirled in the skies and he sprouted out of it. He raised his arms, stopping the blazing rock from destroying Tourmaline with his bare hands.
"What should I do with this?!" Peaches asked.
"I dunno, swallow it you moron!" Caleb shouted.
"Stick it up your ass!" Slade added.
Raphael and Sevor could only release an exasperated sigh. Peaches adjusted his hold on the rock, tossing it far away. He shielded his eyes with his hand to see where the rock would end up. Everyone jolted in place when a loud and destructive explosion occurred right after.
Saber hummed. "That direction...Hmm...Lord Laeroth, you are looking for a new headquarters are you not?"
"Yes, do you know a place?"
The chief inclined his head. "There is a sunken city in the ocean. If I may, Lord Leviathan?"
'Do what you want. My mother doesn't reside there anymore anyway.'
With Leviathan's approval, Saber proceeded. "I believe the city is still in pristine condition."
"Not all of us can breathe underwater though," Sevor reasoned out.
"No, the direction where the reaper sent the rock is where you can find the Phoenix's whereabouts. She holds the key to lift the sunken city from the ocean floor."
Caleb sighed. "Can't we just dig a tunnel and live there?"
"Dig a hole and die there," Slade retorted.
"No one is asking for your opinion, you lizard!"
"You're suggesting stupid things!" Slade snapped.
They were at each other's throats again. Garrison could only chuckle while Ikesha could only palm her face from the headache.
Laeroth appeared behind them, slamming his big fists on their heads.
"Shut the hell up you morons!!!"