Butterfly Prince

by Britannica Tany

  The sound was terrifying—so horrifying—I hate guns, I hate them, hate them! “Is something happening to him?” the man asks as the woman moves towards Aiden and tugs his sleeves up to check his pulse. His eyebrows were furrowed now and his back arches up off of the bed. “Kael…no.” but his words came out as agonized moans. “Get Dr. Yung in here.” She demands. “Now!” the male doctor stares at Aiden’s jerking body before hurrying out of the room almost tripping over his feet.

  Even though he had fallen, he had seen Kael shoot his father—not once, nor twice—but multiple times. I didn’t want for you to do that. I didn’t want to hurt you in that way. I didn’t want to make you like me, your hands are meant to handle flowers…not guns.

  My Kael you must be in so much pain

  “You’re going to be alright, just rest easy, Aiden.” She says, holding his arms down to prevent him from knocking away the machines and ripping out the wires.

  You must be blaming yourself again…I told you not to do that

  “I—I—Dr. Yung is here.” The male doctor exclaims out of breath as he skids into the room. “Hurry over here, I think something went wrong!” she shouts panic lacing her voice as his blood pressure spiked and his heart rate monitor danced up and down. “Move away, these cases are common in recently shot victims.” Dr. Yung explains calmly, maneuvering around the bed and closer to his body.

  Please don’t over work yourself, just wait for me

  “Hold his arms for me.” Dr. Yung directs, the woman nods continuing to do what she was already doing.

  …always wait for me

  The darkness was fading and he no longer felt like his body was being attacked by tiny pricks, his stomach still hurt, but it was a dull ache now. In that split second of peace he thought about Skye and what she must be doing, what she would think if she saw him like this. She’d probably cry while scolding him. “You crazy idiot, what did I tell you? Huh! You never listen!” Yes…that was so like her.

  The last of the darkness splinters away as his body stills and he opens his eyes.

  “I wanted to announce this to the public,” Aiden blinks, the world a gray blur. “Just the other day, my father—your King—was pronounced dead.” That voice—coaxing, confident and kind. “I know it must come as a shock…I’m just as surprised as you all are.” Aiden squints wanting to rub his eyes but he still couldn’t feel his hands. “But my father did not die in vain and I will not taint his legacy, instead I will make it shine brighter.” The doctor releases Aiden’s arms as he tries to sit up. “Ka…e..l.” he says softly, squinting at the TV that was playing the news.

  “And thus I,” There was a searing pain in his lower abdomen as he strains to see the TV—to see Kael adorned with his robe and the crown of his growth. “My…Pri—uugh.” Aiden ends up hunching forward and hacking as he tries to call out to the Kael reflected on the screen. “I…” Kael begins again, his eyes glinting with a new found reason— “Will become your King.”—the reason to just be, the reason he was standing in front of all those people.

  Aiden thought he saw wings protruding from Kael’s back—big, beautiful, bright wings—before the medicine overpowered him and he fell asleep once again.

  Reign Part II

  “I will become your King.” The moment the words leave his lips, microphones are shoved in his face and camera’s go off. The flashes are blinding and Kael feels as though he’s been taken over by them. Flash after flash glinting off of his crown. He shields his eyes with the cup of his hand.

  Instead of having the conference inside the castle, he thought it’d be better to have it in the garden located on the royal estate, it would naturally create less public distress. “I’ll answer your questions one by one, so please refrain from rushing forward.” Kael says calmly as he lowers his hand from his face. “I will only answer those who will wait patiently for me to call on them.” Just like that the eager journalists take a step back, their microphones and camera’s lowering. Silence replaces the frenzy and light chatter could be heard. Kael smiles warmly. “Thank you.” He scans the crowd briefly before pointing towards the young man in the back. “You, what can I answer for you?” the man steps forward, his eyes were black and Kael shivered slightly. “I’d like to know the details of your father’s death, how could he have died in the castle? Was it of natural causes?” Kael maintains his complacent smile, not breaking character even when the image of his father’s bullet ridden body filled his mind. “I was meeting with my father at the time,” Kael would tell them part of the truth, but would leave out what was deemed controversial, that was what his mother advised him to do.

  “You can’t.” she said sternly. “You can’t, Kael.”

  “But mom the people deserve to know.” She shook her head. “If you tell them that, they’ll never trust you and they’ll think of you as a wild-simple minded fool.” He bit his lip to keep from saying anything further. “They’ll think you’re just like your father.” Her eyes shook with what he thought to be fear. “Do you understand?” she questioned and when he didn’t speak, she took his shoulders and lightly shook him. “Kael?”

  “Yes…I understand.”

  Kael straightens up tugging on the ends of his bangs and replying. “And I’d rather not recall the way in which he died…it’s only been a day…” his eyes prick with tears and he sniffs, the creases around his lips folding down. The man with black eyes stares him down as though he were searching for something else before retreating to the back of the crowd, seemingly satisfied with Kael’s response. “What about you ma’am?” he gestures to the woman up front. “Yes, I have several questions.”

  “Please,” he smiles. “Take your time.” She smiles back and Kael felt his shoulders relax. “Were you close with your father?” she asks and Kael hesitates before answering. “Well…” he clears his throat, glancing quickly at the news camera that was recording this entire conference. “My father…it’s hard to say that I was close with him since he was never around.” He clasps his hands together. “I watched him from afar, admired him from afar—I realized it takes a lot to be a King…” the woman was listening intently while scribbling something on the pad she held in her hands. “One has to take into consideration their family and their people…” he pauses as a wet tear glides down his cheeks. “I never understood my father and I will no longer have su—“ the tears come pouring down and he stares wide-eyed. “I’m sorry,” he wipes his eyes. “I’m so sorry.” He mumbles and the camera’s flash. “I won’t have the chance to ever understand him…” he finishes, turning away from the flashing camera’s and wiping his tear stained face. The tears took him by surprise but he expected them to come sooner or later. His father was still his father and somewhere in his memories he had been there. But his father had shot the person who had come through and rescued him from what was once forgotten. He hurries to wipe his eyes, rubbing his cheeks and straightening up. “Are you alright your majesty?” a reporter questions. “Should we call the conference off?”

  “His father died only just yesterday.”

  “He’s pretty strong to take on a conference so soon.” They begin to murmur and Kael smiles to himself before turning around with a confident expression. “I apologize for my uncontrollable emotions, but I will continue to take your questions, only a few more before I must begin my initiation into taking the throne.”

  To take the throne there were a simple lists of steps he must do before he was officially recognized as King.

  From Prince to King

  Step I: Educate oneself with the etiquette of a King

  Step II: Prepare your speech, it is expected of you to come across well informed of the country and its people

  Step III: Relax, take a bath with Jasmine petals, this step is not optional because the life of a King after his bath is racked with frustrations and stresses—for this moment you are to detox from the world

  Step IV: Know who you are and what type of King you are to be, this step is vital to how th
e world will view you

  Step V: Keep your relationships outside of the castle to a minimum

  Step VI: Begin your search for a Queen

  Step VII: Strengthen your mental capabilities

  Final Step: Embrace your role as King and the weight of your crown

  The questions continued on and the sun shone brightly in the sky as the last of the storm was sucked away into the clouds. “What about the bodyguard that you said was with you during the time your father was killed?”

  “Ah, yes, I won’t give out his name but he has also suffered.”

  “How so?” The reporter asks and Kael answers with a calm smile. “He was injured in the altercation.”

  “Is it life threatening?”

  “I pray for it not to be, but…” Kael pauses. “I’m unsure.” There’s a moment of silence before the reporter continues his questions. “Will you go to visit him?”

  “Well, as he has told me, I will first take care of my duties here before going over to see him.” Kael’s smile falters as he speaks. “I’m….worried, but I will try my best to maintain my composure.” He resurrects his smile taking a step back from the podium to bow. “Thank you all for your time, but it looks like it is time for me to go.” Kael lifts his head and smiles at them all and their camera’s all go off, the sound of their snapping shutters echoing around the garden. Kael turns away from them as he’s escorted away from the podium by one of his guards. Kael leans his weight into the man’s shoulder exhaling slowly and murmuring “Thank god.” The guard looks to him with a soft smile and whispers “The bath will be ready for you in a few minutes.”

  “Oh, you didn’t have to go doing that.” Kael says as the guard rushes to open the door for him. “You need it your majesty.” Kael chuckles lightly “That I probably do.” The door closes shut behind them and the silence fills Kael’s ears. It was so quiet—so eerily quiet. He stops in front of the door to listen to nothing, his throat clamps up and it’s hard for him to speak, to think. “Please say something…” he pleads in a hushed tone. “Your majesty?”

  “Please…I don’t—the silence—I hate it.” It reminded Kael of his childhood, all those years locked away in his room. “Are you having a panic attack?” the guard asks and Kael shakes his head. He just needed someone’s words, someone to listen to—a voice…Aiden. “I just….I need to..”—see him—“I need to bathe.” He takes a step forward and the guard rushes after him. “Are you sure? Do you want to sleep first?”

  “No…I’ll bathe, it’s part of my duty now.”

  “Your majesty…” they walk down the hall, turning to the left into one of the many master baths. The door was ajar and water could be heard trickling into the tub as it began to fill. Kael rids himself of his robe and places a hand to the sink counter to steady himself. “Are you alright?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Do you want me to sta—“

  “No!” he snaps and then his eyes widen and he turns around to apologize. “I’m so sorry, I’m just…not in my right mind right now.”

  “That’s quite alright.” The guard bows. “I’ll be right outside, so call if you need me.”

  “Yes, I will.” The guard steps out into the hall closing the door behind him. The silence once again took Kael by surprise, but it wasn’t as heavy because of the water pouring into the tub. He slowly lifts his head to look at his reflection in the mirror. His eyes looked heavy and a loose strand of hair fell into eyes. “Damn, I look horrid.” He grumbles unbuttoning his shirt and slipping it down his shoulders, it flutters to the floor and Kael just stares at it, a memory resurfacing with the image of crumpled fabric. He steps towards the shower door and takes a deep breath. “I’m coming in.”

  “Okay.” Kael steps aside as the door opens and Aiden steps inside. Kael smiles keeping his gaze focused on Aiden’s face. “Why…did you want me to join?” He asks, Kael shrugs. “Don’t people get closer like this?” Aiden can’t help but laugh. “Yeah,” his eyes drift to the side. “Closer.” A grin quirks Kael’s lips. “Can you hand me the soap, it’s behind you.” Kael points. “Ah, yeah.”

  Kael unzips his pants breaking his gaze away from his shirt and tugging his pants down. “This is…awkward.” He confesses, Kael raises an eyebrow. “Awkward?”

  “I can’t even look at you.” A sympathetic smile caresses Kael’s lips. “Look at me.” He commands gently and Aiden hesitantly looks up. Kael was staring down at the older with a look in his eyes that Aiden couldn’t exactly pinpoint the meaning behind. “Here,” After soaping the towel up, Kael hands it to Aiden. “Could you wash my back.”

  Kael pulls the last of his clothes away pushing his bangs out of his eyes and turning the water off and now it was completely silent. He dips his toe into the water testing the temperature before slipping all the way into the tub. He shudders from the change in temperature, stirring the flower petals around with his fingers. “I’m really curious as to how,” He begins again. “I would make love to you.” Kael closes his eyes, wrapping his arms around his body and resting his head against the wall. “Aiden…” he sighs his name, his heart hammering. “Are you sleeping? Don’t force yourself.” Kael says, his eyes still closed. “Aiden, I’m alright, but are you?” he slips deeper into the water, it reaches his chin. “Aiden…I love you.” He opens his eyes and stares at the blurred image of his body beneath the water. “I love you. I love you. I love you. Be alright.” His eyes loll to the side and the steam glistens across his exasperated features. “Don’t think of me too much…” his voice was growing faint. “Think of…yourself…” and then he fell asleep.

  ~*~

  Janus taps lightly on the room door, Francis and Jenna wait eagerly by his side. “We’re friends of an Aiden Kim who’s being treated here.” Janus says. “Ah, yes, a young man wrote your names down.”

  “Was it a… Kael Lennon?” the nurse laughs boisterously, her red lips opening wide. “Haha, the Prince? No, I think he was a friend…he had round eyes and brown hair, he was quite tall now that I think about it…”

  “Did he leave a name?” Janus questions wanting to know who this stranger was. “Aah, his name was Tie, Kay….Ai? I’m not sure.” She flashes a meek smile. “He said that Aiden would want to see you all.” Francis’s ears perk up and he looks to the nurse with a perplexed gaze. “Kai? Was his name Kai?”

  “As I said,” she laughs nervously. “I’m not quite sure, he just came rushing in.” How could he have gotten the news? Janus wondered glancing at Francis who was fidgeting in his wheelchair. Did Kael perhaps call on him because he didn’t want us to worry? “But he came in a few hours after Aiden was admitted, Aiden was escorted in by a few paramedics.” The nurse continues to explain and Janus bows. “Thank you. Which room is he in?”

  “Ah, yes.” She flips through her clipboard. “Room 307 on the second floor, go straight and then take a right.”

  “Thank yo—“ Jenna takes off before Janus can even get his thanks out. And thus that’s how they ended up here. Janus knocks once more and Jenna—who was chewing at her nails—reaches for the doorknob. But just as she goes to twist it, it twists on its own and Dr. Yung peeps his head out and smiles. “Well, I didn’t think I’d be seeing you all again so soon.” He greets and Janus chuckles. “Me either, Doc.” The doctor lets them slip inside and the door clicks shut behind them. “How is he?” Janus asks and Dr. Yung beams. “He’s fine, he’s sleeping pretty hard because of the medication, but he’s fi—“ Jenna brushes past him and rushes towards Aiden who was snoring on the hospital bed. She drops to her knees clasping her hand around his. “Oh thank god.” She mutters. “Thank god you’re alright.” Her eyes glisten with hot tears. Janus smiles sheepishly at the doctor before taking the handles of Francis’s wheelchair and wheeling him over to Aiden’s bedside. Francis stares at Aiden’s sleeping face and snorts. “Sleeping as always with his eyes half-closed.” He grumbles and Janus laughs. “Yes…just sleeping.” He leans over Aiden’s face and sighs. “You sure
had us worried.” He murmurs and Jenna nods, raising Aiden’s hand to her face and taking in a gulp of air before letting it out in one rush. A few moments pass as they all stood there huddled around Aiden, just watching as he slept before finding themselves a seat in the room. The TV was playing faintly in the background as Dr. Yung returned with several cups of water. “Do you plan on staying overnight with him?” he asks to no one in particular. “Yes.” Jenna is the first to answer. “I’m probably not the person he’ll want to see when he wakes up, but at least he’ll know that we were by his side.” Dr. Yung smiles at her words before nodding. “I think he’d appreciate that.” Jenna smiles softly, turning her gaze to Aiden and watching as his chest rose and fell.

  “Ah!” the doctor snaps his fingers a sparkle of recollection in his eyes as he exclaims, “That friend of yours—Kael—is it?”

  “Yes, what about him?” Janus asks sitting up in his seat. “Well,” Dr. Yung hands Francis a cup of water. “He was on the news a few moments ago, around the time you guys got here is when the broadcast ended.” Janus quirks a brow. “What was he on there for? Did you catch it?” Jenna was now staring at them, her eyes flickering inquisitively. “Well,” he hands Jenna a cup of water. “With the death of his father, it looks like the throne has fallen into his hands.”

  “Aaah,” Francis takes a sip of his water. “So his father really did die…” he murmurs and Janus shoots him a glare. “You thought I was playing when I said that?”

  “Don’t get all gung-ho about it, there was so much to take in, alright.” Francis places his water down, his gaze briefly resting on Aiden before settling on the room window. “Don’t you think we should also check in on….” He trails off. He didn’t have to finish that sentence, both Janus and Jenna knew what he was going to say. After a moment of silence, Janus finally says “Kael called, he wanted us to come here.” Francis snorts. “Trying to play the hero.”

  “I think he feels guilty.” Jenna murmurs voicing Janus’s thoughts. “I think….even if he wanted us to come visit him, he wouldn’t admit it. He’d want us to watch over Aiden…”