Halo: Heroes Awakening

27. Blue Moonstone

Halo

"He tried to kill me, Augus! He actually stabbed me—oh Goddess, I can't--"

Halo heaved a massive cough, which threatened to spill the contents of his stomach as he toppled to his knees in his room. Augus held him up by the arms tightly, trying both physically and mentally to keep him together.

"I-I couldn't warn you, your highness," Augus muttered regretfully. "Someone recognized me when I took the victims of the warehouse to their homes in Kiribati. My guess is that it is the same policemen that carried Finn out of the palace. They informed the Prince of what happened, and he must have tied us to the docks."

Halo's heart beat faster against his chest, and there was a sharp pain that went through him. It was no longer the lingering pain of the blade. It was his nerves. The waves of anxiousness threatening to make him lose it all.

He still couldn't believe it to be true. But now it was undeniable. Vaea was a villain. And he had hurt his own brother, even threatened to do worse.

"Do you think he knows about Malia?" Halo choked out, turning to look back at Augus.

"If he did, I doubt we would be alive like this, your highness. I have no doubt the King would skin us alive for helping the traitor."

Halo squeezed his eyes shut. He hated this feeling of being afraid of someone he loved. It reminded him of the darker parts of his father, and it even reminded him of times with Consort Finui, his stepmother. But Vaea was supposed to be different.

"I-I can't do this anymore," Halo heaved. "I have to get Leilani and her siblings out of that place and to the bunker as well. We don't know if they're safe. What if I do something wrong and he goes straight for Leilani... to use her as leverage or something?"

Augus nodded. "Yes, it is best you protect her, your highness. Vaea is unpredictable, you don't want to find out too late what he's truly capable of. But you have to go alone, if I come with you again he'll be even more suspicious."

Halo nodded, feeling like a boulder was lowering onto him. Going for Leilani would be one thing, but getting her to listen would be a mountain to move on its own.

The palace nursed patched him up, cleaning his would and rolling a bandage around his shoulder. It hurt to move his arm, and he wondered how long it would take to heal. He just knew when Finn heard about this, he'd want to kill Vaea even more.

Halo set off with a barouche, knowing that there'd be enough seats for Leilani and all her siblings, along with their necessary luggage. He practiced lines in his head, knowing he'd need to be persuasive because Leilani was as stubborn as a mule. And lately, it seemed like she didn't trust him at all.

Whether it was before he dumped Finn into her hands or begged her to not kick Malia and her friends out, Leilani had a grudge. And Halo wasn't so sure it revolved around their failed love affair anymore.

He remembered her crying. Her voice was pain ridden, yet it was deeper than heartbreak. It was fearful. Halo had no idea how to convince her to be honest. He only hoped that showing her exactly what Vaea was capable of would be persuasive enough.

Halo checked behind him frequently to ensure he was not being followed. The events that transpired had made it certain they were being watched and couldn't trust anyone. Halo had no clue how they were going to get Vaea off the throne without him discovering their motives.

The Hira farmhouse came into view, the afternoon sun blooming over the healthy sugarcane fields. Halo leapt over the fence again, running as fast as he could to their porch. He knocked on the door, trying not to sound urgent.