Star Crossed

Chapter 24

Eliz was gone by the time Cisco and Cait joined her. "Did you see someone?" Maia asked Cait. "Was someone else here? I tripped and I was going to land on my stomach but it felt as if someone caught me!"
Cait pulled Maia into a hug. "There, there! It must have been your imagination, dear. No one was here. But I'm glad you are safe. And so is the baby!"
Maia gave her a small nod. Maybe she had imagined it. But she was also glad that her child was safe.

Meanwhile, Kara and Winn found Eliz running down the corridor, they hid back and made even more noises. The woman ran, tears streaming down her face, screaming bloody murder. Once she had disappeared, Kara and Winn burst out laughing.
"That was so much fun!" Kara hollered, patting Winn's back.
"We must do it again!" Winn chuckled. "I'm so glad she's gone. She would have made a nasty Queen. Daxam is safe again. All thanks to your brilliant plan, Kara!"
"Aw, thank you! But it was also Cait and Maia's plan. We couldn't have done it without them. But I agree, good riddance. Mon-El deserves way better than that witch!"
"Hear, hear!" Cait called out loudly, running towards them. She gave Kara a big hug. "I'm so happy we did it!"
Kara nodded. When her eyes fell on Maia, she asked in concern, "Are you alright, Maia?"
Maia gave her a small smile. "I am. I tripped earlier but never hit the ground. I guess my child's Guardian Angel was watching out for me."
"I'm sure he was," Kara agreed with a kind smile. "He wouldn't let anything happen to your child."
Maia reached out to hug Kara. "Thank you, Kara. And everyone else. Thank you for all your help. I couldn't have done it without you. But we must leave now. Feels like we have been in here for ages. What if Ean and Mon-El are back already?"
"Let's go then!" Cait led the way out. Maia held onto Kara's hand, telling her how she put her hood up and chased Eliz. Kara was giggling as she narrated her experience of how she made noises like a witch.
Just as they all exited through the doors that led to Algand, someone smiled and leaned against the wall.
He had been called great many names, but never a Guardian Angel. But he liked that. The child in Maia's womb had his blood running through its veins. He would protect this child and every child with the blood of Am.
Dax-Am smiled and shook his head. He almost got caught when he saved Maia from the fall. But he was glad he hid before she saw him. Thanking Rao for his courage, he walked back to his courtyard, all the while laughing just thinking about how a bunch of children had chased away an evil woman eyeing Daxam's throne. Once again, Daxam would be safe... as long as that lovely Kryptonian walked this planet.

Mon-El had just returned from his trip. He had brought back sacks of Ice Melons. As soon as he jumped from Aermy's back, he took one out and handed the sack over to a footman.
Mon-El held it up for Aermy. She gave him a drool-filled grin as he tossed it up in the air. She let out a happy moan as she took the Ice Melon in her mouth and crushed it with her teeth. She then sat down, munching on it happily.
"Good girl!" Mon-El rubbed her head lovingly before telling Aermy's caretaker to give her as many Melons as she wished to have. Then he made his way towards the castle along with Ean.
His cousin carried a single Ice Melon in his hands as they walked into the castle. They were about to make their way into the Great Hall when they heard a booming voice coming down the stairs.
"I'M TELLING YOU THIS CASTLE IS HAUNTED! THIS WHOLE PLACE STINKS OF ITS OLDNESS AND GHOSTS! WHAT ELSE MIGHT THEY BE HIDING HERE?! CUTLERY MADE OF BONES? SOUP OF BLOOD?"
Mon-El couldn't control his laughter as he saw Eliz running down the stairs, all her servants carrying her belongings, rushing after her.
"YOU!" she called when her eyes fell on Ean. "YOU ARE THE REASON I EVEN EYED THAT BLOODY THRONE OF YOURS! AND I WANTED YOU SO BAD AFTER THAT NIGHT, YOU MORON! BUT THIS COUSIN OF YOURS WAS SO MUCH HOTTER AND... OH LORD! I WANTED HIM TOO! BUT YOU LIVE IN A LAND OF GHOSTS! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO RULE YOUR PEOPLE WHEN HALF OF THEM ARE GHOSTS?!"
"Well," Mon-El started, trying his hardest to put on a serious face. Eliz's little tantrum had brought everyone to the entrance of the castle. Mon-El cleared his throat and continued, "Dear Lady, as the Crown Prince of Daxam, I kindly ask you to stop disrespecting my cousin and my people, and get your ugly, most cunning and fake temperament out of my castle and out of my planet! Daxam doesn't want you here."
Eliz growled at him and launched herself on him. The guards had to pull her away before she could hurt Mon-El, but she had scratched his cheek with her sharp nails and Mon-El was left bleeding.
The King had witnessed all this. He let out a sigh and said, "Going against our utmost belief of maintaining peace, I am deeply hurt to say that Princess Eliz must depart from our land. She must be escorted and sent back to her planet with an envoy. And her father must be made aware of her behavior here. Zeb-An, make sure it's done."
The commander of Daxam's army nodded and gave the King a small bow before he gestured for the guards to take a screaming Eliz out of the castle. He had dealt with many women throwing tantrums, what was the worst this little girl could do?
Ean leaned against a wall and kneaded his temple. Maia was by his side, leading him towards the Great Hall to be seated. She knew that her husband's old tryst had come out in open. She could already see the disappointment in her mother-in-law's eyes. The King looked at Ean in disapproval before taking his cousin's hand and leading her to the Great Hall. But this was the time for her to stay by Ean's side. It hurt, but there was no way she was going to leave him now when the elders were going to question him about the nature of his relationship with Eliz.
Mon-El pressed a hand against his cheek and winced. It was bleeding lightly. When he saw a small handkerchief being handed over to him, he looked up to see it was Kara.
"I have a medkit in my bedchamber. If you want I could put some antiseptic bandage on your cheek," she said before walking towards the stairs.
Mon-El gave her a small nod and followed her. Just as he climbed the stairs, he saw Cait being summoned into the Great Hall and Ean's questioning was about to begin. He knew this was a serious matter, but Ean knew how to handle himself.
Following Kara quietly, Mon-El's mind drifted to the time when he saw Bar-Van coming out of Kara's room. Had they slept together? Was Bar-Van comforting Kara? He simply must know!
Kara gestured for him to take a seat. She then went to fetch her medkit from her bag.
Mon-El took a seat on the corner of her bed and looked around. Kara was back in few minutes, taking a seat besides him.
"This might hurt a little," she said as she peeled a bandage off its protective sheet and gently applied it on Mon-El's cheek. He winced. "I'm sorry," Kara said as she moved back.
Mon-El stood up and faced the mirror to see what Kara had applied. For a minute it looked pale white, but slowly the color was changing to that of his skin color.
"Whoa! How did this—?"
"Color blending bandage? Bar-Van's father had invented it." Kara smiled at him. "Doesn't look too bad. People will barely notice it. You should have been more careful of your lover though."
Mon-El rolled his eyes. "My lover? Ha! Just because you think she's my lover, doesn't make her one."
Kara frowned at that.
"Have you seen me kiss her? Or take her to bed? You accuse me of things I haven't done and you have the nerve to throw it in my face when I'm wounded."
"So you have never slept with her? Ever?"
"Do you want me to swear on Rao? Eliz was sleeping with Ean. Yes, I fooled around with her a bit. We were younger and immature. But I never slept with her!" Seeing as how quiet she was, Mon-El spoke, "It was always you, Kara... But you sure have something going on with Bar-Van!"
"What?! Barry is my best friend! I have nev—I mean, I have shared a bed with him, but all he did was hold me in his arms as I cried all night. Thinking about you!"
"So, you are not in love with Bar-Van?"
"No, you idiot!"
Mon-El kneaded his temple. "Oh Kara! I've been giving it a lot of thought and... I have realized that you are my... Kryptonite."
"Me?" Kara asked in surprise. She was his weakness?!
"No, I mean, my feelings for you. I've never felt like this about anyone in my life. I didn't know that there were these many feelings to even be had."
Kara gave him a small smile. "So you like me?"
Mon-El let out a chuckle. "Want me to write it in blood, sweetheart?"
Kara shook her head and opened her arms out wide. Mon-El stepped closer and pulled her into a hug.
"Rao! I missed you!" He pressed a kiss against her head as he held her even tighter.
"I missed you too. I'm so glad Eliz is gone. I didn't like the way she looked at you."
Mon-El pulled away from the hug. "Yes. I wonder what happened. She was screaming about ghosts."
"That might have been me," Kara confessed, sheepishly.
Mon-El raised a single brow at that, waiting for her to explain.
"You see, I was talking to Princess Maia about Eliz and she disliked her too. She told me about what Eliz did to your cousin. Then Cait joined our plan. She sent Eliz to Aldax telling her that you were waiting for her there. And then we scared her so badly that she ran out screaming."
Mon-El was quiet for a while, processing the information. Then he burst out laughing, rather loudly.
"My darling! You chased Eliz away! I'm so grateful. I was tired of that woman following me around and eyeing my crown!" Mon-El pulled Kara into another hug, before kissing her ardently.
"I want you, so bad!" He gently pushed her against the bed.
"Wait, wait! Not now. After all that happened with Eliz, what if someone from your family comes looking for you?"
Mon-El groaned. Kara had a point. He had to be down there with the rest of his family.
"Fine! Tonight. And tomorrow, we must leave for Hal-An and Zora's wedding."
"I have to talk to my parents about that. They would insist I take a chaperone along and might ask Bar-Van to go with me."
Mon-El frowned. "Not a chance! You are mine and I will be the one taking you there. I'm sure your parents will be more than happy to know I'm willing to be your chaperone."
Kara giggled and kissed his nose. "Then I'll see you tonight, Your Highness."
"Tonight, Lady Kara." Mon-El kissed her cheek and rushed to the door. He gave her a quick wave before disappearing down the corridor.
Kara sighed happily and went to lie on her bed. There was no way she was getting any sleep tonight.