The Search for Life

Chapter 5

Teki drifted in and out of consciousness until he became aware enough to wake. He felt the warmth of a bed before he saw it, and when his eye fluttered open, he found he was in his room. He sat up among the white sheets, his white button down matching and his black slacks contrasting, and swung his legs over the side of the bed. His ankles were still horribly sore from where Eko had bound him, and his muscles were exhausted from spasming so much, but other than, that he felt alright.

Well, physically alright. Teki felt that his cheeks were cool and hot at the same time. Dabbing them with this fingertips, he discovered that both of them were wet. Why did this happen every time? He wondered. Wiping his face dry, Teki stood and went for the door. Next to his bed a piece of paper caught his eye.

"Immediate vomiting and muscle spasming

Minute 1: muscle spasming increases

Minute 2: muscle spasming slows as paralysis takes over

Minute 3: full body paralysis

Minute 4: heart rate increases to over 180 bpm

Minute 5—"

Teki cast the paper aside, wanting nothing to do with his brother's so-called research. He didn't need to read a sheet of paper to know what happened. He sighed heavily and slid the door open, making his way out of his chambers and down the hallway. He kept his head down so no one would see him.

Halfway to his destination, however, he was stopped. "Yo, Teki," a friendly voice called. He looked up to find his childhood friend Rico. Rico was the only friend his parents had approved of when he was younger, though their friendship was not entirely build on parental approval. "Good to see you back."

Teki certainly didn't look good. His entire being felt empty and his face was despondent.

"Hey, one of these days, would you want to go throw some cans at some beggars to remind them of their station in life? It'll be just like old times."

"No, I think not," the prince said sullenly, trying to get out of this conversation as quickly as possible. "I'm much too busy for such games these days. Growing up came with its responsibilities, you know."

"Oh," said Rico. "Well, do you have time to strategize ways to take over the world? That could be counted as productive."

"No, I don't have the time for that either. When I do plot, it's going to have to be serious," Teki replied.

"Oh," Rico said again, his cheerful mood taking a hit. "That's too bad," he said. "But I get it. If you ever find the time, hit me up."

With a curt nod, the kid ran off and Teki watched where he had left. With a lingering fatigue from the sleep and the poison, the young prince continued on towards his destination and prayed to no one in particular that he would not be stopped again.

When he reached the room he had wanted to reach, he was frankly shocked that he had hadn't been stopped by anyone else. After all, it was a long way from one end of the castle to the other, and with his return, he had been expecting more interruptions. But there he was. He knocked politely once or twice before entering without a word. When he opened the door, he faced someone he had recently seen.

Her hair was as black as always, and her eyes as crystal blue. Though he had seen her wear the blue dress of his memories, she wore her characteristic black that day. She was covered from the neck down in the dark cloth, save for her ivory fingers which jetted out like bony rocks in a dark sea. She had a delicate and graceful way about her, though this connoted more danger than beauty, and she held herself like anyone who was capable of murdering an entire room of people with her bare hands. Of all of his family members, Teki knew his mother was the most dangerous.