18. Hopelessly in Love

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Prince Cormac sat in the dining hall, a plate of breakfast before him. His mind was somewhere else as he ate away at his meal. Nothing hurt him more than knowing he sat inside this very castle, unknowing to the suffering below. The lies he's been fed was starting to taste bitter as the truth came out.

He stabbed the loaf of bread on his plate, recalling King's Rhett words. Every time he looked from his balcony King Rhett lies slowly started to take place in his mind. It was unknowing to Prince Cormac how the man could lie to his own son for years. What did he gain from doing so?

Did he think the Prince would mindlessly listened to his words. Stayed away from the place because he said the people inside were diseased? Prince Cormac knew then that he wasn't fit to be King. He didn't know the first thing about ruling or his people. He now knew what he had to protect, what he had to save.

Diseased. The word became a horrid lullaby to the Prince. How was loving someone a disease? He's seen it with his own eyes. The things his father had done. How the people still tried to smile, how the children stilled played through all the hatred the King threw at them. It was because they had someone like Phoenix.

Even the Prince came to know that love. Something he would never gain by staying here in the castle. How did his father expect him to become a true king if he kept such secrets from him? The truth was like a blow to the back from the sharpest of swords. It pained the Prince and the wound won't heal unless he changed the truth to something better, something that wasn't so hurtful.

The Prince decided on telling Phoenix the truth, thinking he shouldn't wait a minute longer. He didn't need to second guess what he felt anymore. Phoenix was all he could see beyond all the sadness he's seen throughout the kingdom. The boy was like a capturer. Taking a hold of Prince Cormac from the first time they met. Maybe it was fated that he snuck out that night, that Phoenix got hit in the leg with an arrow. It brought them together.

He won't fail Phoenix in what he fights for. And he won't fail him in what he felt. His emotions was set to a melodic tune that only played for Phoenix. The only obstacle was his father. How could he get him to change his ways? To break the walls and unite the Kingdom as one. Prince Cormac has set his mind, even the King won't be able to stop him, even when he's the biggest of obstacles. The people of Seridina deserved to be free. Free from the dominance that instil fear in them. Playing in the hands of King Rhett.

What could possibly allow his father to drive the Kingdom into such madness. As if the man could feel the venomous thoughts his son had against him, he walked in with heavy steps.

Prince Cormac suddenly lost his appetite. Looking up at the man who he's supposed to call a father, a King. The man who lied to him for years. King Rhett looked over to his son with burning flames in his eyes, wondering if the boy has grown a defiant backbone.

"Your coronation is getting closer." King Rhett said, taking his seat. He didn't sound happy. His son has not proven to be ready in his sight.

Prince Cormac 'hm-med'. He was making plans of his own. He knew that a week after his coronation he'll be wed with Princess Ximera. Prince Cormac has been thinking how to deal with that. He wasn't romantically involved with Princess Ximera. She was a beautiful girl and they both knew that their hearts didn't ly with each other.

The Prince knew where his heart ly now. Princess Ximera was a friend of his outside of the Kingdom. He was sure she would understand but it was his father that would would be angry with him. In all right, the Prince should be the one angry with King Rhett.

"Is there a reason I'm to be wed with Princess Ximera?" Prince Cormac asked. It was strictly political, but he didn't know why his father had the sudden agreement with the King of Laqum. He believe that it was just to bring peace with both Kingdoms.

The King glanced his way. "If you so desire to know. I'm after the one thing Laqum is good at."

The Prince was surprised King Rhett answered him. He thought about it. The Kingdom of Laqum was good at many things. The one that stood above all was their military warfare. Why would King Rhett need the strength of Laqum soldiers?.

"Why do you need the Laqum soldiers?" Prince Cormac pressed further. He had a gut feeling that whatever King Rhett was planning was nothing good.

The King gave him a look that told him to remember his place. The Prince was different than he was before. So, he kept his eyes lock with the King, not backing away from the brute force of the older man.

"I see you've changed." King Rhett spoke. Maybe he was wrong before, his son was becoming just what he needed. "I hope to see good from you once you're King of this Kingdom."

"I'll wash away the filth of this kingdom." Cormac replied. He'll remove all the hate his father instilled, remove Area fifteen and bring about a new kingdom.

King Rhett smirked, feeling proud of his son. Finally, he was able to see the son that would rid all the fifteens. He was even considering telling the boy about the secrets he so desire. The King decided he shouldn't rush things.

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Prince Cormac left later that day. His desire to see Phoenix was slowly growing. Was this what it meant to hold such feelings?, he wondered.

He hastily walked to their entrance, his heart beating with anticipation. He kept telling himself that everything would be okay. That Phoenix would accept his feelings. There was no more need to be unsure.

He was nearing the opening when he saw Phoenix putting back the bricks. A smile made its way to his lips at the sight of the boy. How he desired to jump into his arms. He watched as Phoenix made way to the Garrett District.

He wondered what business Phoenix had in the district. He followed the boy closely behind. Phoenix entered one of the many houses that were barely able to stand.

He heard a series of talking, trying to find a way to look inside. He knew it was wrong but he wanted to ensure that Phoenix was safe and he was also curious as to why the boy was here.

Cormac found a hole in the wooden structure. Pressing his face against the frame, he looked inside. His face paled at the sight, his heart felt like it was being squeezed inside his chest. He placed a hand over his mouth, trying to fight back the emotions that wanted to reveal themselves.

Cormac saw as Phoenix took a desperate hold on the man trouser. The man joining his lips with Phoenix. Cormac knew the face of the man looked familiar but with his feelings being crushed how could he possibly think straight.

He wanted to barged right in and break them up. Pull Phoenix along, but he couldn't when the boy wasn't his. He was a fool to think Phoenix was without a partner. Cormac ran off, going wherever his feet carried him.

He was pulling away at the bricks. Why wasn't he going back to the castle? Why was he going to Area fifteen? Cormac did want to see Phoenix but not under such circumstances. He was running by the time he was inside Area Fifteen. Cormac was like a whirlpool of emotions.

"Ace," he stopped only then at the call of his name. He almost didn't, forgetting the name he went by outside the castle. "Are you crying?" He turned to see Stella looking at him worried. He touched his cheeks to see that he was indeed crying.

"It's nothing," he replied, wiping away the tears. "I'm just...." He couldn't come up with a passable excuse.

Stella took a hold of his hand. "Like I'm going to believe such a thing when you're crying." She pulled him along to the sick house.

Stella attended to a few things while Cormac sat and tried to calm himself. I'm such a fool, he thought. The scene kept replaying in his mind over and over, hurting him even more and more.

"Here," Stella said as she handed him a cup. "Its tea." she informed him. "Let's hope its to your liking because that's all we have." she chuckled, taking a seat beside him. He took a sip. It was unlike anything he had a the castle, but it wasn't bad. "Now why were you crying? Did Phoenix do something?"

He hesitated before answering. "I just saw something painful."

"You'll see a lot of painful things here," Stella said. "Sometimes I wonder how Phoenix is able to keep such a strong forth after everything he saw growing up here."

"He grew up here?" He asked, taking another sip of the warm liquid.

Stella nodded, "he was born here," she responded. "I'm not sure if he told you but I'm not his real mother."

"He didn't," Cormac said. In fact Phoenix never spoke of himself and neither did he. "Do you know why he wants to help everyone?" He figured he should ask the one person who has known him all his life. Not everyone here had the will to help each other. What made Phoenix want to do that?.

Stella thought for a bit. "I think it happened when he was younger after a friend of his died." she spoke. "Phoenix would always hung out with this boy when he was younger. Though I forgot his name. It was always the two of them, playing and doing all sorts of things. I was surprised when I heard that he died."

"Phoenix was the one to find him. Turns out that he took his own life. It was a common thing here. The life here eats away at you, it makes you feel less worthy than you are." Stella continued. "Phoenix blamed himself for not being able to see that his friend was hurting. He then started running around helping people in anyway he could. He's been doing it for a long time. Thinking he could make up for the life he couldn't save."

"He'll help you even if you don't ask." He recalled Phoenix saying that the first time they met. "I'm surprised he's become so close with you. He's never kept a friend since then. Even though he's close with Siobhan and the others he always limits himself. I realized that when Siobhan came to talk to me. It's like your opening that part of him again. Like he's taken a liking to you."

Cormac shook his head,"I don't think he has. Though I'm fond of him."

Stella patted him on the back. "Just give him sometime. He'll come around."

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