All For Love

Chapter 13

Luka sat on a chair on the quarter deck of the Liberty. They had anchored at Docklands late yesterday afternoon to the news that the King was dead and a manhunt was now on for his nephew Félix who was accused of the crime. The same Félix he was supposed to be meeting tonight.

At the news of the King's death, Max had taken his leave with Kim and his men to go seek out remaining members of the resistance who would be in hiding. Max was grateful to Luka for coming to save him and offered him any assistance he could in the future if so needed.

Alya and Nino had considered continuing onto the Capital, but thought better of it after news of the King's death reached them, deciding to stay on the Liberty for now at Anarka's suggestion. They had just returned from a quick trip into the town, but the atmosphere was making them uneasy so they were taking refuse in their cabin for the night.

Luka scrapped his pocket knife against the wood in his hand, shaping it into something that resembled a flower. He had been working on it for quite some time now while his thoughts wandered. He was so focused on his task, he hadn't even noticed the sound of his sister's footsteps as she approached him.

Juleka didn't say anything at first, but watched him as he worked. She noticed on his wrist a snake bracelet she had not seen him wearing since their father died some years ago. There was an ever so slight glow about it that she was sure wasn't there before. She wrapped her hand around her own panjas bracelet and wondered if a strange small creature had also come to her brother as well.

"I remember when dad used to do that." She said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Whittling right?"

"Yeah." Luka replied, studying the petal he was shaping. "I haven't been practicing as much as I should."

Juleka smiled nostalgically. "I think I still have a little sail boat somewhere he made for me when I was like four or something."

"I think I do too." Luka replied with a fond smile. He held up the rose and checked it over.

"Is that for her?" Jules asked with a little smirk. Luka avoided her eyes, looking instead out towards the town. During the last few days of travel Luka had spent quite a bit of time with Socqueline. He couldn't really explain why except that it felt good to be around her and she was easy to talk to. When they arrived at Docklands his mother had been quite insistent that Socqueline was not yet well enough to be out on her own, and as much as she liked Max and Kim, she didn't trust them to know how to look after her if her health suffered a relapse.

Luka was secretly quite pleased that Socqueline so readily accepted his mother's invitation to stay on the Liberty a little while longer. Only because he was concerned for her safety and well being of course. Now with the King dead, there would be no shortage of spies on the lookout to kill any members of the resistance and he had this strong feeling of wanting to protect her.

"You like her don't you?" Juleka observed her brother's expression shift from the furrow that had been there to a softness in his eyes.

"I feel so fickle." Luka said, twirling the wooden rose between his fingers. "Not so long ago I thought..." He looked up at Juleka with a resigned smile. "Well, I told you about Marinette."

His sister nodded, crouching down beside him. "I get it. She was the first girl you felt something special about. But you know what, that doesn't make you fickle, Luka, it makes you human. So it turned out her heart belonged to someone else. Yours deserves one that you can call your own."

Luka rested his forearms on his knees. "I don't think I could risk my heart again..."

"Your heart wasn't for Marinette to take." Juleka reminded him. "She's in love with the Prince and their bond is stronger than anything I've seen in the charts. There was a strange comet in the sky the other night, and when I read the cards I am sure it was a sign. Something is happening, Luka. Change is coming and you need to keep the strength of your convictions. The Prince will need them and he will need you too."