American Asia

A Palace of Problems

A Palace of Problems

Asia

This palace is amazing. A guard gave me a tour of the place, but the biggest surprise came after that.

I came out of the last room they were allowed to show me, where I was met by Carter, back to her usual long dress and crown over a pinup of curls.

“Hey Carter. Where’s Helix, I need to thank him for saving my life. And punch him again for tearing my favorite shirt,” I added, plucking the torn fabric away from my arm.

“Ugh. Daddy took him away again. Down to questioning, he says. Like they’re not going to use the drip method until he screams for his dead mother just to get him to talk.” her eyes filled with tears after she said ‘questioning’ in a very mocking tone.

“NO!” I screamed. I ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time, took a sharp right at the top, and raced down the hallway toward the door marked, “study” that I hadn’t been able to see. I shoved a hairpin in the lock and turn it until it was mangled. Frustrated, I pulled back my high-heeled converse and slammed my foot into the door, right next to the handle. The door hit the wall with a tremendous bang before it bounced back. I stopped it with my hand. Sure enough, Helix was there, lying shirtless on a metal table, strapped down, with water dripping onto his forehead. His eyes were closed. I let out a shriek through my locked jaw. I took out the pocketknife I always kept in the pocket of my bra, flipped it open, and hacked through the armholds on Helix’s thin wrists. I grabbed his head and pushed it out of the way of the drip. He opened his eyes.

“I wondered if you were coming, princess, I was waiting for you to break down that door. Where’s Carter?” Helix smirked, breaking free of the other restraints and vaulting off of the table. I gaped at him.

“You were waiting for me? What for?” I screamed. He shrugged.

“Backup,” he said simply. I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah right. Hmph. Princess,” I mumbled, not wanting to admit that I liked him too. Carter came running in and her jaw dropped.

“Oh, My, God. What. Did. You. Do! DAD!” she screamed, and all the fighting stopped. I punched the guy I had by the throat one last time and let him drop to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Helix snickered.

“Caterina! Go, you were not to be aware of this process,” a middle-aged man said, brushing off his suit. Carter dropped her shoes, which she had apparently taken off during her flight up the stairs.

“Daddy. Why are you doing this? Helix isn’t bad! he might be a little sarcastic, but that’s not against the law, is it?” she asked, voice rising.

“I mean, I just met Asia, and I’m hanging out with her, why don’t you care about her? She could be a threat, she keeps a knife in her freaking bra!” she ranted.

“It’s for self defense!” I exclaimed. At that, Helix burst out laughing.

“This is the funniest argument I have ever heard!” he choked out over gasping breaths. I shook my head.

“Why do you care more about Helix than you do about me?” Carter’s last question had huge effect. There was a ringing silence.

“I don’t, Caterina--”

“If you did care about me, you would call me what I want to be called!” she screamed, “My name is CARTER!” A beautiful but severe-looking lady stormed into the room yelling, “WILL YOU BE QUIET? What in the name… “ she stopped short with her mouth open.

“Darling? What is all this? Who are these people?” she gestured to me and Helix.

“Um… Love, this is Asia… um… Caterina, I mean, carter, help me?” he begged sheepishly. Carter grinned at her father.

“Mom, this is Asia Jackson, adoptee of Darryl and Diane Jackson, and this is Helix Choi, orphan son of Catlin and Setyl… “ Her voice cracked and faded. Helix let out the breath he was holding and extended a hand to the empress of China.

“Hi. I’m Helix. It’s nice to meet you,” he said, strangely polite.