Chapter 20: Day 27

Rainbow swam from one corner to another, peeking with one out from a corner, and kept one eye behind her before she swam across the hallway. The walls once intended to keep enemy out of the palace. Now, they seem to have eyes etched into each and every cervix, watching her every move, suffocating her every breath. Needless to say, she did not sleep well these past few days.

Perhaps her grandfather was right. She should not have meddled with business within the councils. But she could not resist the chance to repay Turtle for what he had done. And now, she could not even visit her grandfather for fear they might target him instead.

Still, she had to visit him, or he might suspect something is wrong. So, she decided she would maintain her weekly visit schedule, just in case.

Lost in thought, Rainbow almost crushed herself head on with another SeaWing as she turned the corner.

"Rainbow. I have been looking for you."

It was Tidal. He said he was looking for her? Had he found out that she was avoiding her job? Or Whirlpool had told him about her? Was she going to lose her job?

"I just wanted to check up on you at the island where Turtle was moved but when I was there. I couldn't find you. The healers there told me they haven't seen you for days. Then, I tried talking to Prince Turtle, but he isn't giving me any response. He was awfully quiet there. Is everything alright, Rainbow?"

"No- I mean yes." She said, but his eyes stared right into hers. She knew she couldn't lie about it. "No. Things are not going well…"

She stopped. Wondering whether she could tell any of she knew to Tidal. But all he did was stood there, patiently waiting for her answer.

"Remember that the kingdom doesn't run itself. The dragons do. If the dragons aren't happy, so does the kingdom too." He flashed.

If there was anyone she could trust in this palace, it would be him. So, she told him about the servants who worked against her, the unjustly beating, ganging up from the princes and the possible threat against her and her family. She left out Whirlpool, for fear that he might be dragged him into target as well.

"I suspected as much, but I couldn't have to guess. For the other servants, those are definitely out of line. They will have me to answer for having such unacceptable behaviour. As for the princes, I will have to talk to them about the ambiguity in their rules… But are you certain about the threats against you and your family?" He asked.

Rainbow nodded slowly, not sure whether she had let on too much.

"In that case, I will make some arrangements. Rest assures that your family will be safe." He flashed in confident. "As for yourself, I will need you to lie low for the moment. I don't think anyone would dare make a move on you, but don't attract any unnecessary attention to yourself. Alright?"

"Thank you." She said.

"You can thank me by looking after Prince Turtle. With a little more discreet, of course. I hope he'll well soon." He took out a slate and said. "I got to go now. Duty calls."

Then, he was gone as swift as he came. Like a tide that cast a wave up to shore, washed away her worries and suffering as it rise and fall along the shore, even if only lasted a moment.

Before he left, he had mentioned Turtle. He must have not known that Turtle despise of her, or else he would have said otherwise. Should she tell him about it? She wasn't sure. Then again, Tidal had already gone and all she needed to do was to look after him, discreetly.

However, it's not like she had the luxury to do so. Mako had warned her about having done her job too well. Maybe she should just ruin this job. Just this one time, for the sake of her family. But Turtle was still sick, and if his sickness had got worse. He might need her. It's been three days since Turtle had pushed her away. It's probably about time to check up on him.

With that in mind, Rainbow grabbed her satchel, she readied herself to begin her journey towards the quarantine island. When she swam towards the exit, she saw a familiar green figure swimming into the palace. Their eyes locked on each other. She knew there was no escaping this. She gathered her breath and swam towards him.

"Tur- Prince Turtle?"

"Hi." Turtle said.

For a while, both of them said nothing. Rainbow tried not to avert her eyes to somewhere else while he was twirling his claws in silence.

"So you-"

"I'm s-"

Both of them looked at each other, waiting for the other to continue. But neither of them dare to spoke.

"I see you're well from your sickness." She broke the silence first and smiled. "Prince Turtle."

He winced a little, before saying. "Yes, I did. I'm alright now…"

Another pause.

"I'm sorry." He said. "I'm really, really sorry. I don't know what's going through my head. Maybe it was Whirlpool, he was drilling me all those nonsense before you came… I know you were just doing your job, taking care of me. You could have been just like other servant, ignore me while you do your job. But you didn't. You care for me when others wouldn't."

Rainbow sworn she could have just hugged him right there, right now. But with possible eyes around her, she had to resist that urge.

"I'm just happy that you are okay. And think so highly of me." She smiled. This time genuinely. "But Prince Turtle…"

She hated this part. She had wanted to delay this very occasion until the end of his punishment. The reason why she had been avoiding everyone, including Tidal, but especially more so with Turtle…

"I can't be with you any more."

"W-Why not?"

"Dragons are suspecting me." She said. She hoped such an explanation was enough, but he stared at her with a blank expression. She lowered herself to level her head against his before saying. "There are dragons thinking that I'm using you to… get ahead in life. Wealth, position, power. Or whatever they called it. And they want me to stay away from you."

"But I didn't think so. I didn't feel like being used. You never asked me of anything. I was the one who was demanding. And why should they care, they were the one punishing me in the first place." He said.

She felt her chest ached as she tried to draw breath. Turtle, ever so kind. Still so young. So naive.

"They think that I'm grooming you. So that, once you have grown up, you would take me as your-" Rainbow couldn't even finish her sentence as she felt so disgusted by it. She resented Prince Hammerhead for even planting such an idea into her head.

"Please don't leave me. I-" She felt his tiny talon against her snout. "Your face… You're hurt. Come, let go to my room. I can heal you there."

She felt the pull in her talon, but she knew it could not budge. Pulled with all the strength he could muster, with both of his talons, she did not move.

"I'm sorry Turtle. But I can't." She flashed in determination. "For my grandpa to live, I must leave you. And for your on good as well."

With a gentle tugged, her talons left his.

"Was it my brother? They told you to do this, didn't they? Or uncle Shark? Or was it my mother? The Queen?" He said. "Please don't leave me like this. Please."

But Rainbow swam past him. Flashes of light from his scales still shone against the wall as she took a turn past the corner and out of sight.