One way I really hope this ends. After the smoke has cleared, Nic is still alive and everything is okay for at least a few seconds. I couldn’t think of a better title
All he could feel was the overwhelming sense of feeling everything again. He felt the cold air on his skin and the lingering exhaustion throughout his entire body. The sky was clouded in dark dark storm clouds and the thought came to Nic that he should get up and find shelter, but he couldn’t bring himself to do just that. He could hardly wrap his mind around what had just happened, how he was still here.
Kyan had possessed him. He thought that he was fairly certain of that, but after, he had no idea. How long had Kyan been living in his body? And how had he been dispelled from him? How was he even still alive? Was he really alive?
There was a flurry of breeze then and Cleo was kneeling right beside him. She looked as if she hadn’t groomed herself in a solid week and as if she hadn’t slept for longer, but she was alive so that must have counted for something.
“Nic? Nic! Nic, please say something.”
He opened his mouth just enough to speak. “Cleo?” he said, igniting a fit of coughing that felt as if it were pulling his lungs out of his chest.
Cleo’s cheeks were wet with tears in an instant. She put a hand to his face, carefully pushing aside strands of hair without saying another word.
“What happened?” he managed to scratch out. He pushed himself up to sit up before quickly falling back down.
“Stop!” Cleo said urgently, putting a hand down on his shoulder to keep him down. “Don’t strain yourself.”
“What do you remember?”
He inhaled deeply and exhaled, his chest shaking, as he tried to remember. The last solid thing he remembered. They were in the pit, and Ashur… “Kyan- he possessed me… I don’t remember much after that.”
She gave a simple nod, but she seemed almost relieved.
Just behind Cleo came two other people who only proceeded to assure Nic that he needed more answers to what had happened, although he wasn’t sure that he wanted every detail. Jonas and Princess Lucia stood behind Cleo.
“Glad to see you’re well,” Jonas said with a weary smile.
“I think well is stretching it a bit,” he replied.
“You’re alive aren’t you?” Lucia said. “I wasn’t even sure you would make it.”
“Guess I’m just lucky.” He reached his hand up to Cleo’s shoulder. “Help me up.”
Cleo pulled his arm around her shoulders and slowly stood up. Jonas came around and helped him up as well, and even though his whole body trembled, he managed to stay on his feet with their help.
“We should get back to the palace,” Jonas suggested.
Nic wanted to ask where they were exactly, but he thought if he tried he would pass out. He leaned on Jonas most of their journey, but Cleo never left his side as they made their way to the Limerian Palace.
When they reached the palace, they were escorted inside. They made their way to the throne room, and as they walked in, Nic could feel his strength ebbing away. In a moment, Cleo had run to meet Magnus in a warm embrace that, not so long ago, Nic wouldn’t have thought the prince capable of. Lucia went first to a cradle from whence she lifted a small bundle from, a child. There was a baby? Lucia’s? He might have contemplated it more if his blood wasn’t rushing in his ears.
He didn’t feel his grip on Jonas’ arm going slack, but lucky enough for him, Jonas did. He heard someone say his name just he felt himself begin to slip away. Jonas caught him by his arm before he fell, but he thought he felt another pair of arms assisting him. His chest rattled with each breath. He felt the cold floor underneath him, his upper body resting on someone. He pulled his eyes open with effort and staring down at him was Prince Ashur. Nic opened his mouth to speak, but was quickly stopped before he could get a word out.
“Don’t speak,” Ashur commanded. “Save your energy.”
There were a hundred things Nic wanted to say. Instead, he simply lied there, staring up at the prince. Ashur pushed a lock of Nic’s hair aside and his fingers stayed there, simply running over his fiery red hair, a description that he would no longer welcome.
He heard a rustle behind him and looked back to see Jonas getting to his feet. He looked around and saw Felix was among their group as well Amara. Where the others had gotten to, he could only hope. Everyone was safe right now thought. Cleo was safe and happy, Ashur was alive, and he was here with them both. He looked back to Ashur and found his eyes still trained on him. Nic found his eyes beginning weigh down, the little energy he’d had quickly running out. He took Ashur’s hand in his and pulled it down to his chest with no resistance from the prince. His eyes fell closed with the warmth of the prince in the cold throne room.
When Nic next awoke, he was under blankets in a soft bed, sweat dripping off his skin. He turned his head and found sunlight shining through the window. Had he slept through the afternoon? Was it morning? He slowly pushed himself up, trying to banish the nightmare from his memory. That was over. Maybe things wouldn’t be exactly okay, but that was all over.
He pushed the blankets off of himself and pushed his legs off the edge of the bed. He pushed his hand through his hair, soaked from a cold sweat. He was only wearing a simple shirt and pants. He looked around but couldn’t find any of his other clothing or his shoes. He walked out of the room and found himself walking down the cold corridors of the Limerian palace. A maid came around the corner, and as soon as she saw him, she came forward almost worried.
“Are you all right?” she asked, and it occurred to Nic that he must have looked like death.
“The princes and princesses are at breakfast right now if you would like to join them,” she informed him.
He nodded. “Thank you.” He went on his way to find the dining hall and the maid went on her own way. As he reached his destination, he heard the subtle sounds of conversation and silverware. He walked through the tall doors and found everyone from when he’d first arrived seated at the table set with food.
Magnus was first to notice his presence. “Come to join the living at last, Cassian?”
Nic walked further in, but he wasn’t entirely sure if he would be able to stay on his feet. He found Cleo among the group first and she smiled brightly at me in a way that required he return the glance with a smile of his own.
A chair pushed back against the floor and Nic’s gaze flew to Ashur. “Nicolo.” Ashur moved first, walking around the table and stopping only when he was just in front of Nic.
Nic felt his heart race, but he just stared back at Ashur. These feelings had been muddled in his head from the start, but this… what was he supposed to do? He felt so many things jumping around in his head and he started to lose his balance. Ashur rushed forward and caught him as he slowly regained his balance. He looked at Ashur and could feel a blush dusting over his cheeks. He held onto Ashur and stepped closer. He leaned forward, pressing their lips together lightly. He pulled back and thought that if he hadn’t been holding onto Ashur he would have fallen by now.
With just a soft and comforting smile, Ashur lead Nic to the table where they both joined everyone for breakfast.
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