Demitrius, now a man of sixteen, sat beside a window smoking a thin
cigarette that he'd bummed off of one of the bodyguards who followed him.
They were dismissed seeing as he was in a secure wing. He drew in the
nicotine, inhaling for the umpteenth time in his life. He did not
particularly like to smoke, but the danger and rebellion soothed him.
The door threw itself open, and Demitrius hid the cigarette behind him. He turned, afraid the smoke in his mouth would leak out his nose or something. A growl escaped him as he bared his teeth. It was Adea of the Immortals. Good Gods, he wanted her to leave him be.
"Demitrius, I-"
He released the cloud of smoke in her face to silence her. She coughed a bit, mainly from the surprise, waving her hand in front of her face. She glared frigidly at him in her dress, a beautiful, flowing, princess gown looking like something from the sixteenth century England. He smoked freely in front of her now, attention out the window again. His outfit was professional, a private's uniform with many military badges, pins and advancements on it. He hoped to be in a general's outfit one day, just like his father.
She growled some, but remained as outwardly calm as she could. It was ladylike. "Demitrius," Adea began, angrily, "I do not appreciate you leaving pictures of naked women in my room-on my bed, no less!"
"Well, I figured you'd like them considering you're nearly a man and all," he stated.
"What?!" retorted Adea, advancing slightly. "For Gods' sakes I told you: me and Ike were curious and wanted to try on each other's clothes."
"Yeah, he's gay too, so that explains it."
"I'm NOT gay!"
"Well, you do wear the pants in your relationship, don't you?" he asked, standing near her with a cocky grin.
"No! I'm more a woman than ANY of your chamber maids!"
"Ah, but are you more a woman than Ike, dyke?"
She tackled him, now punching, kicking and thrashing. They rolled around on the floor for dominance, wrestling violently, but were interrupted when two knocks rapped upon the door-
"Demitrius, are you present?" asked the studious voice of his father.
Adea gasped and rolled off, standing quickly, as did Demitrius. He threw his cigarette butt out the window, hoping desperately that he'd burned her with it.
Sutton entered, one arm elegantly behind him. He smiled. "Why, Ms. Adea, I did not know you were in here. You look absolutely darling as usual," he said, a professional Southern accent lingering in his voice. He kissed her hand maintaining eye contact.
She thanked him, also smiling. She loved how sweet he was-and knew why her father kept close tabs on him. This man must have made a great friend.
"Sir, may I inquire your wish?" Demitrius asked, still stiff as a board.
"To discuss matters of promotion in my office. So, if you would feel so inclined to, please meet me there."
He exited after that. Demitrius lit another cigarette, looking at Adea. "He likes you," he said.
"Good. It'll leave him room to hate you," Adea muttered, "Don't you want to go discuss promotion?"
"What? And pass up meeting a real dyke? Hell no!"
She groaned. She hated that he couldn't talk to her without arguing. "Gods, shut the fuck up."
Demitrius glared. "Don't talk to me that way!" he shouted.
"Why not? You deserve all the fire in Hell!"
"Oh, shut up. We're both men here." he muttered. Adea tackled him again. Some things never change.
***
Adea sat in her room, brushing her hair after a bath. She heard a knock at her door, and pulled a heavy brocade robe over her flimsy night gown.
"Come in," she allowed, and smiled as Artemis walked in. Her father walked over to the vanity where she sat. He was not smiling.
"Let me see your arm," he sternly commanded. Hesitantly, Adea offered her left arm, wincing as Artemis yanked back the robe sleeve. "Did Demitrius give you this?" he demanded, staring at the red burn on her pale forearm.
Adea shook her head, but couldn't think of a good excuse. Artemis took her small hand in both of his. "I'm going to Villard for a few months, at most," he told his daughter. Adea frowned. She hated when he went away. "I've asked Sutton to keep an eye out for you, plus Antony and Cassius will be here to watch you." They were Adea's guards.
"Will you be back for my birthday?" Adea asked. She would turn sixteen in three months.
Artemis nodded. "I see no reason why I should be gone," he reassured her, smiling. "But will you be in one piece?" Adea blinked in surprise, laughing a bit. Why wouldn't she be? Artemis frowned. "I mean it, Adea," he said, "Demitrius and you have never gotten along. I am worried about you."
"I'm fine, Father," she reassured, smiling, "really, I am."
Artemis smiled. He knew Adea wasn't as ladylike as a princess should be, and that it was partly because his wife had died so long ago. Adea tried hard, he could tell, but it was harder for her. She didn't have a woman to look up to, plus the only friends she had were Demitrius and Eisenhower.
"I will see you in a few months," Artemis said, kissed her hand gently before walking out. "Eisenhower," he greeted as the brunette raced by him.
"Hi Artemis!" he greeted, running into Adea's room. He tackled the young princess onto her bed. Eisenhower hugged Adea tightly, laughing. "Oh, Blondie!" he squealed, "I'm in love!"
"Really, Ike?" Adea asked, laughing, "Again?" The prince nodded happily. "Horse Trainer?" she asked. Lately, it had been Adea's goal to set Ike up with her horseback riding trainer, Daryl White. Ike nodded again. Ah, naivety was bliss.
"Ike, can you put this under Demitrius' door for me?" Adea asked, handing Eisenhower an envelope.
"What is it?" Eisenhower asked, grinning devilishly.
"A love letter," Adea replied, "Be sure he gets it tonight."
***
Demitrius counted the pushups as he lowered himself each time. He was alone in his room, having ditched his father's 'royal son watcher' earlier. He was shirtless with sweat glistening off his pectorals.
Two hasty knocks rang upon his door, followed by an envelope slipping under the door's frame. Demitrius lifted himself into a sitting position. He, breathing rate lowering, crawled and took up the eloquent envelope, his long, dark hair falling loosely to his shoulders. He didn't usually receive messages; that was his father's thing. He searched it over for any indication that it was his. It had to be. His name was on it. Excitement raced through him. Maybe he'd been accepted as a general! He opened it and read-
Sweet Prince-
I have long watched you from a distance in awe by your books and personality I want, if nothing more, but to meet you, so I may dote upon you awhile longer, my sweet. Meet me at the Captain's Wing, where the hallways meet at 6 o'clock tonight.
In the dark always,
Your Secret Admirer
How exciting indeed! This woman sounded simply wonderful-especially to want to dote upon him! He would have to go.
Six o'clock rolled around, but Demitrius had waited where the hallways met since nearly five-thirty. He looked down both hallways. No one. Sighing, he lit a cigarette and leaned against the corner, digging his foot into the ground nervously. He dropped his head against the wall.
He inhaled sharply when a hand came around from the other side of the corner and squeezed him through his pants.
"Hey, you."
That was NOT a girl's voice! Demitrius whipped around and fell against the wall across the hallway. He gaped. It was Andrew Harris, one of Ike's many male friends.
"Sorry, I'm late. Couldn't find the meeting place," said Andres in a whisper, advancing toward him. Demitrius froze again and moved further across the wall.
"Well, you're moronic. YOU set up the meeting place." Demitrius explained, sounding calm.
Andrew laughed and pulled out a note. "You mean to tell me, I wrote this to myself, knowing you'd be here?"
Demitrius took it, read it and gaped. It was the note he had, but signed his name. He was set up! By Ike, obviously. "I have to go," he muttered quickly and ran down the hall.
***
Demitrius walked into Ike's room to his fraternal twin and Adea laughing. He grabbed Ike by the hair and violently pulled him down and punched him hard on the back. He cried out in pain. "How dare you do that, Ike! I don't care how gay you are-do not EVER assume I am!" Demitrius shouted and kneed him forcefully in the chest.
"Demitrius, stop being a prick!" she yelled, grabbing his hair and pulling him away from his brother, "I did it!" The prince turned to face her, infuriated. His violet eyes glowed with rage.
"You fucking dyke!" he yelled, grabbing her frail wrist and twisting it around.
Adea screamed in pain as she felt her wrist snap. She brought up her knee into his gut. He staggered back and caught himself. She charged at him, wrapping her arms around his waist and ramming her against a wall.
"Guys, stop!" Ike cried, wiping a hand across his face. Two light knocks rapped upon the door and the doorknob jingled, preparing to open. Demitrius and Adea pulled away from each other and stood straight up, as Sutton's figure appeared in the room.
"Demitrius, there you are," greeted the Wizardian king. "You are late to your class."
Demitrius bowed his head, respectably, "I apologize, Sir. I will be there momentarily. I was merely distracted by-"
Sutton raised a hand to silence him. "First lesson of today as Prince is never give an excuse for when you're late. Your business as king is more important, and you answer to no one that you choose not to."
"Yes, of course, Sir," Demitrius agreed. Sutton smiled and nodded at the other two to excuse himself. He then left. He turned and glared at the other two. "Don't you ever pull a stunt like this again!" He walked out after that, his guard right behind him.
Ike ran to Adea. "Are you alright?" he asked, taking her arm.
"I'm fine, Ike!" she exclaimed, angrily.
"Are you-"
"Would you leave me alone?" she fumed and ran out. She saw Demitrius walking down one end of the hallway, and on the other side of the hallway was Sutton, walking with his Captain of Orders. She looked back at Demitrius and her eyes fell on the back of his body. Narrowing her eyes, Adea charged and jumped on him, punching the back of his neck. His outcry even startled her. It was loud and very awful. It was the sound of pure pain. He collapsed and Adea fled.
The door threw itself open, and Demitrius hid the cigarette behind him. He turned, afraid the smoke in his mouth would leak out his nose or something. A growl escaped him as he bared his teeth. It was Adea of the Immortals. Good Gods, he wanted her to leave him be.
"Demitrius, I-"
He released the cloud of smoke in her face to silence her. She coughed a bit, mainly from the surprise, waving her hand in front of her face. She glared frigidly at him in her dress, a beautiful, flowing, princess gown looking like something from the sixteenth century England. He smoked freely in front of her now, attention out the window again. His outfit was professional, a private's uniform with many military badges, pins and advancements on it. He hoped to be in a general's outfit one day, just like his father.
She growled some, but remained as outwardly calm as she could. It was ladylike. "Demitrius," Adea began, angrily, "I do not appreciate you leaving pictures of naked women in my room-on my bed, no less!"
"Well, I figured you'd like them considering you're nearly a man and all," he stated.
"What?!" retorted Adea, advancing slightly. "For Gods' sakes I told you: me and Ike were curious and wanted to try on each other's clothes."
"Yeah, he's gay too, so that explains it."
"I'm NOT gay!"
"Well, you do wear the pants in your relationship, don't you?" he asked, standing near her with a cocky grin.
"No! I'm more a woman than ANY of your chamber maids!"
"Ah, but are you more a woman than Ike, dyke?"
She tackled him, now punching, kicking and thrashing. They rolled around on the floor for dominance, wrestling violently, but were interrupted when two knocks rapped upon the door-
"Demitrius, are you present?" asked the studious voice of his father.
Adea gasped and rolled off, standing quickly, as did Demitrius. He threw his cigarette butt out the window, hoping desperately that he'd burned her with it.
Sutton entered, one arm elegantly behind him. He smiled. "Why, Ms. Adea, I did not know you were in here. You look absolutely darling as usual," he said, a professional Southern accent lingering in his voice. He kissed her hand maintaining eye contact.
She thanked him, also smiling. She loved how sweet he was-and knew why her father kept close tabs on him. This man must have made a great friend.
"Sir, may I inquire your wish?" Demitrius asked, still stiff as a board.
"To discuss matters of promotion in my office. So, if you would feel so inclined to, please meet me there."
He exited after that. Demitrius lit another cigarette, looking at Adea. "He likes you," he said.
"Good. It'll leave him room to hate you," Adea muttered, "Don't you want to go discuss promotion?"
"What? And pass up meeting a real dyke? Hell no!"
She groaned. She hated that he couldn't talk to her without arguing. "Gods, shut the fuck up."
Demitrius glared. "Don't talk to me that way!" he shouted.
"Why not? You deserve all the fire in Hell!"
"Oh, shut up. We're both men here." he muttered. Adea tackled him again. Some things never change.
***
Adea sat in her room, brushing her hair after a bath. She heard a knock at her door, and pulled a heavy brocade robe over her flimsy night gown.
"Come in," she allowed, and smiled as Artemis walked in. Her father walked over to the vanity where she sat. He was not smiling.
"Let me see your arm," he sternly commanded. Hesitantly, Adea offered her left arm, wincing as Artemis yanked back the robe sleeve. "Did Demitrius give you this?" he demanded, staring at the red burn on her pale forearm.
Adea shook her head, but couldn't think of a good excuse. Artemis took her small hand in both of his. "I'm going to Villard for a few months, at most," he told his daughter. Adea frowned. She hated when he went away. "I've asked Sutton to keep an eye out for you, plus Antony and Cassius will be here to watch you." They were Adea's guards.
"Will you be back for my birthday?" Adea asked. She would turn sixteen in three months.
Artemis nodded. "I see no reason why I should be gone," he reassured her, smiling. "But will you be in one piece?" Adea blinked in surprise, laughing a bit. Why wouldn't she be? Artemis frowned. "I mean it, Adea," he said, "Demitrius and you have never gotten along. I am worried about you."
"I'm fine, Father," she reassured, smiling, "really, I am."
Artemis smiled. He knew Adea wasn't as ladylike as a princess should be, and that it was partly because his wife had died so long ago. Adea tried hard, he could tell, but it was harder for her. She didn't have a woman to look up to, plus the only friends she had were Demitrius and Eisenhower.
"I will see you in a few months," Artemis said, kissed her hand gently before walking out. "Eisenhower," he greeted as the brunette raced by him.
"Hi Artemis!" he greeted, running into Adea's room. He tackled the young princess onto her bed. Eisenhower hugged Adea tightly, laughing. "Oh, Blondie!" he squealed, "I'm in love!"
"Really, Ike?" Adea asked, laughing, "Again?" The prince nodded happily. "Horse Trainer?" she asked. Lately, it had been Adea's goal to set Ike up with her horseback riding trainer, Daryl White. Ike nodded again. Ah, naivety was bliss.
"Ike, can you put this under Demitrius' door for me?" Adea asked, handing Eisenhower an envelope.
"What is it?" Eisenhower asked, grinning devilishly.
"A love letter," Adea replied, "Be sure he gets it tonight."
***
Demitrius counted the pushups as he lowered himself each time. He was alone in his room, having ditched his father's 'royal son watcher' earlier. He was shirtless with sweat glistening off his pectorals.
Two hasty knocks rang upon his door, followed by an envelope slipping under the door's frame. Demitrius lifted himself into a sitting position. He, breathing rate lowering, crawled and took up the eloquent envelope, his long, dark hair falling loosely to his shoulders. He didn't usually receive messages; that was his father's thing. He searched it over for any indication that it was his. It had to be. His name was on it. Excitement raced through him. Maybe he'd been accepted as a general! He opened it and read-
Sweet Prince-
I have long watched you from a distance in awe by your books and personality I want, if nothing more, but to meet you, so I may dote upon you awhile longer, my sweet. Meet me at the Captain's Wing, where the hallways meet at 6 o'clock tonight.
In the dark always,
Your Secret Admirer
How exciting indeed! This woman sounded simply wonderful-especially to want to dote upon him! He would have to go.
Six o'clock rolled around, but Demitrius had waited where the hallways met since nearly five-thirty. He looked down both hallways. No one. Sighing, he lit a cigarette and leaned against the corner, digging his foot into the ground nervously. He dropped his head against the wall.
He inhaled sharply when a hand came around from the other side of the corner and squeezed him through his pants.
"Hey, you."
That was NOT a girl's voice! Demitrius whipped around and fell against the wall across the hallway. He gaped. It was Andrew Harris, one of Ike's many male friends.
"Sorry, I'm late. Couldn't find the meeting place," said Andres in a whisper, advancing toward him. Demitrius froze again and moved further across the wall.
"Well, you're moronic. YOU set up the meeting place." Demitrius explained, sounding calm.
Andrew laughed and pulled out a note. "You mean to tell me, I wrote this to myself, knowing you'd be here?"
Demitrius took it, read it and gaped. It was the note he had, but signed his name. He was set up! By Ike, obviously. "I have to go," he muttered quickly and ran down the hall.
***
Demitrius walked into Ike's room to his fraternal twin and Adea laughing. He grabbed Ike by the hair and violently pulled him down and punched him hard on the back. He cried out in pain. "How dare you do that, Ike! I don't care how gay you are-do not EVER assume I am!" Demitrius shouted and kneed him forcefully in the chest.
"Demitrius, stop being a prick!" she yelled, grabbing his hair and pulling him away from his brother, "I did it!" The prince turned to face her, infuriated. His violet eyes glowed with rage.
"You fucking dyke!" he yelled, grabbing her frail wrist and twisting it around.
Adea screamed in pain as she felt her wrist snap. She brought up her knee into his gut. He staggered back and caught himself. She charged at him, wrapping her arms around his waist and ramming her against a wall.
"Guys, stop!" Ike cried, wiping a hand across his face. Two light knocks rapped upon the door and the doorknob jingled, preparing to open. Demitrius and Adea pulled away from each other and stood straight up, as Sutton's figure appeared in the room.
"Demitrius, there you are," greeted the Wizardian king. "You are late to your class."
Demitrius bowed his head, respectably, "I apologize, Sir. I will be there momentarily. I was merely distracted by-"
Sutton raised a hand to silence him. "First lesson of today as Prince is never give an excuse for when you're late. Your business as king is more important, and you answer to no one that you choose not to."
"Yes, of course, Sir," Demitrius agreed. Sutton smiled and nodded at the other two to excuse himself. He then left. He turned and glared at the other two. "Don't you ever pull a stunt like this again!" He walked out after that, his guard right behind him.
Ike ran to Adea. "Are you alright?" he asked, taking her arm.
"I'm fine, Ike!" she exclaimed, angrily.
"Are you-"
"Would you leave me alone?" she fumed and ran out. She saw Demitrius walking down one end of the hallway, and on the other side of the hallway was Sutton, walking with his Captain of Orders. She looked back at Demitrius and her eyes fell on the back of his body. Narrowing her eyes, Adea charged and jumped on him, punching the back of his neck. His outcry even startled her. It was loud and very awful. It was the sound of pure pain. He collapsed and Adea fled.