The Blood Prince

018

Nadia slowly enters the sick bay, she sees a number of doctors, both magic and non magic huddled around the bed where Xavier laid.

"What's the word?"She asks, walking over to see Xavier.

She sees him sweating, tossing in his sleep. His hands were gloved in thick, metal gloves that kept them from igniting anything further.

"He's refusing water. His body temperature is so high and yet he refuses water."one of the doctors says.

"Water will not tame the flame inside. He simply needs to release."one of the magic doctors says.

"He refuses to do that as well!"

An argument between all doctors ensues and Nadia rolls her eyes, walking to her brother.

"You poor boy."she sighs, digging around in one of her pockets.

She pulls a few large seeds from it and then closes them in her fist.

She opens it, and a tall stalk like plant grows from her palm.

She grabs it and then holds it before Xavier's nose as he mumbles in his sleep.

She snaps the stalk, waving the broken stalk below his nose a few times.

Suddenly his eyes snap open, and he gasps as he sits up, Nadia instantly gripping his head and forcing him to look at her.

He shivers as she speaks, wiping the sweat from his face.

"Xavier? Where are you?"she asks as his eyes begin frantically looking around.

"..i-i-im in the school. The school with the man. The man, the man from the sun. The sun is..hot, the sun is hot and the man from the sun- the school is the sun-"

He begins babbling about, frantically looking around as Nadia tries to calm him.

"Xavier, it's me your sister. Look at me."Nadia says.

"The school- the school is the sun, the sun is hot-it burns the school is the sun-"Xavier babbles.

"Xavier!"Nadia shouts.

"Your father became like this in his final days."One of the doctors says.

Nadia looks back at him angrily as Xavier continues to babble.

"Xavier is not our father."she says.

Then she slaps Xavier across the face.

He immediately shakes his head and gasps, looking at Nadia.

"Did you just strike me?"he asks, greatly offended.

"See? There he is."she says, forcing him to lay back down as he was still shivering.

"Xavier, you must release, and then you must drink water."she says, covering him with the blanket.

"What's happened? Where's my wife?"he says, looking around.

"She's well, you're well, you must drink water and release your flame."she says.

"..b-but the school-"he cuts himself off, seeing Nadia raise her slapping hand.

"No school. I'm here."he says.

"Exactly. Drink water."she demands, picking up a chalice and filling it with water.

She presses it to his lips but he turns away as the water touches his lips.

"Cold."he says.

"Xavier, you must drink the water."she says as his eyes begin to rapidly move around again.

"W-water is cold- the sun is hot, the school is the sun-"

Nadia sighs as he begins babbling again and this time she simply stands, tucking him under the covers as he babbles on.

"He needs only rest. Make him sleep again."she demands.

He continues to drone on about the school, and the sun as a magic doctor approaches, waving his hand over Xavier's head.

Almost instantly his head begins to fall back and his babbling continues till he falls asleep.

Nadia leans down, kissing Xavier's cheek before standing straight.

"Leave him to rest."she says, walking towards the exit.

The doctors follow.

....

I become annoyed, hearing Taron's footsteps behind me as I head towards my quarters.

I reach my room and stop, turning towards him. He stops a few feet from me and waits.

"Would you stop that?"I say.

"I cannot, your majesty. The kings word is law."he says.

"The king is not well. You should be tending to him. You will not follow me into this room!"I demand.

He sighs and then steps aside, waiting against the wall.

"As you wish, your majesty."

I huff and turn to the room, opening the door and entering.

I see the empty bed and I frown. I walk around the bed towards the bathroom, where the smell of burnt fabric was still quite noticable.

I walk towards the bath and then to the large, golden mirror.

I glance down at the bandages on my arm and sigh.

Seeing Xavier like that was heartbreaking. I remember how much pain was on his face.

"Tatiana.."I turn around hearing a faint whisper.

"Hear me...listen to me.."

"Who's there?!"I ask, looking around the bathroom.

"Listen to me..."

I follow the echoey voice till I'm on my knees, looking under the tub.

There, I see Xavier's crown.

For some reason it looked incredibly beautiful to me. The crystals were glistening, glowing even.

"Listen to me...hear me.."

I reach under the tub, pulling the crown from it. My hands tingle as I touch it.

"Listen to me...hear me..wear the crown.."

The voice was so tempting, almost seductive.

"Wear the crown...wear the crown Tatiana.."

I begin to crave the feeling of the crown on my head, and my hands slowly begin to raise the crown towards it.

"My lady-"

I jump, almost dropping the crown as I look up to see Taron standing outside the bathroom door.

"Please, do not do that."

"What are you doing in here?"I ask.

"You mustn't wear the crown. I must be sure you do not wear the crown. It's dangerous. Give it to me."Taron says.

He had a deranged look in his eye, something that spelled evil on his face.

I pull the crown back behind my back.

"I'll give it to my husband. You're dismissed."I say.

Briefly, a look of disappointment flashes to Taron's face.

"Very well."he sighs, backing out of the bathroom and closing the door.

I let off a soft sigh as I look at the crown again. Why did it want me to wear it?

......