Chapter 3

Magnus was seated in his living room, anxiously waiting for his friends to return home. Caterina and Raphael were still at work, while Ragnor had gone to meet with the smuggler.

He was on pins and needles with how eager he was to leave Edom. Infact, he had already packed what he needed.

It had been a week since their last big discussion on the issue. Ragnor was only just now able to get a meeting with Dravid, smuggler extraodinaire.

Things were becoming worse in the kingdom, if that was even at all possible. The king was being more of a dick than usually, everyone was feeling it. No one was safe. Not even his cronies and sympathizers.

The gossip in the streets were that his anger and frustrations with none of his five wives being able to give him a son, had reached its peek, and the idiot was now taking it out on everyone.

Magnus couldn't help but chuckle to himself. There he was, king, all mighty and powerful, dictating what everyone could and couldn't do, how many kids, if any you were allowed to have. The man had all the power, anything he wanted at the snap of his fingers. Everything, except what he desired the most...an heir. Maybe it was Karma, Magnus thought, karma for all his wickedness, all the evil he's delt his people. Magnus sighed, releasing a heavy breath. Everyone had their own problems he supposed. No matter how high or low classed you were...

We all have our own shit to deal with.

Magnus got up from his seat and began to pace around his living room. He couldn't help but let his mind wonder and fantasize about what awaited him out there, beyond the shores of Edom. Whatever it was, he planned on embracing it. He planned on being bold, open, and grabbing every opportunity that came his way.

He made his way over to the window, taking in the scene before him. The day was coming to an end, the sun setting, casting a beautiful orange and yellow glow over the city. Tartarus looked so peaceful and serene at that moment, one would've thought it was just like any other city in world...but it was a prison...the whole of Edom, a beautiful prison.

As Magnus watched the people, his people, scurry about, he couldn't help the sadness that engulfed his heart. Would he ever see them again? Could he ever return home? Did he want to return home? Ever since he could remember, all he's ever dreamt of was leaving Edom. And now, now that his dream was within reach...he couldn't help the sudden wave of sadness that he felt.

Maybe someday he could come back. Maybe things would change soon. Maybe.

Sighing, Magnus strolled over to the book shelf in the corner of the room. He picked up comic and went back to his place on the couch. Maybe he could keep his mind busy by reading until his friends got home. Now was not the time to reminisce.

Ragnor was the first to return. Magnus had immediately attacked him, wanting to know how his meeting with Dravid had gone, but Ragnor would tell him nothing. "Just wait until the others get home. I don't want to have to repeat myself." He had said, much to Magnus' annoyance.

"So, we're going to Amsterdam then?" Magnus asked no one in particular.

"Yes," Ragnor replied. They were all gathered around a white coffee table, sitting on cushions they'd placed on the floor. Raphael and Caterina had brought home dinner. It was Cat's turn to cook, but apparently she wasn't in the mood. Not that Magnus minded. The fried rice dish they'd brought was quite delicious.

"Thats the best they can do right now," Ragnor continued. "They have some contacts working on a cruise ship that travels to the Netherlands. The ship is currently docked at one of our neighbouring islands. Curacao to be more specific."

"Ok. So what's the plan then?" Magnus asked, before putting a spoonful of rice in his mouth.

"The plan is to get us to Curacao by way of a fishing boat. Then from there we board the cruise ship," said Ragnor.

"But won't we run into trouble on the cruise ship?" Asked Caterina. She was also busy stuffing her face full of rice.

"No. They'll arrange documents and jobs for us. We'll pretend to be Curacaoans working on the ship." Ragnor explained. "We will know our jobs and fake names once we get there."

"Ok. Well that's great," Magnus piped up. He couldn't contain his excitement. It was really happening, he thought, they were actually going to leave Edom. Finally. "So when do we leave?" He asked, hoping that it was soon

"In two days time. I've already paid them. I just need to take some photos to Dravid tomorrow for our IDs." Ragnor explained to them.

The rest of dinner, and the night, was spent excitedly discussing their trip.

The following two days were a hectic mess for the group of friends. It was spent tying up loose ends, packing, and saying their goodbyes without really being able to say goodbye. It was all a blurr for Magnus. Thankfully everything went according to plan, and they made it out of Edom safely. He and his friends were now dressed as waiters, serving in a bar onboard a cruise ship, the Seven Seas Splendor, heading towards the Netherlands.

Alec, Jace and Izzy were in a limousine on their way to Avalon. After some careful blackmailing on his part - about this being his birthday and how he should atleast enjoy it, if even just a little bit - Alec had managed to convince his parents to allow them leave the party early. However, though he was victorious in this endeavor, he still had to make a compromise. Apparently Jace, his friend and personal body gaurd, wasn't security enough for his parents, and he was forced to take along two more palace gaurds.

"So, what's this I hear about you going on vacation?" Jace asked. He was sitting next to Alec trying to open a bottle of champagne . Jace and Alec have been friends since childhood. Jace's father was the King's head of security and personal body gaurd. Jace had basically grown up in the palace. His mother had died during childbirth, and when his father died saving the king's life, the royal family had more or less adopted him.

"Yeah, I had a very intense conversation with mom and dad about it this morning over breakfast. Which reminds me, why weren't you at breakfast this morning?" Asked Alec, accepting the champagne flute Jace offered him.

"Oh, yeah, the king sent me on an errand. Sorry that I missed all of the fireworks though." Jace handed Izzy, who was seated on Alec's other side, a flute as well.

"Brother just told them that he was going on a long vacation with or without their permission," Izzy piped up. "They were livid. The whole thing was quite amusing." Alec snickered, sipping his champagne. He loved his sister's enthusiasm for drama and gossip. She knew everything that happened in the kingdom, no one's business was secret to her.

"In the end though, after all their bickering, they agreed...with a few demands of course." She finished, smiling broadly.

Jace raised an eye brow at Alec in question. Alec sighed, releasing a heavy breath and proceeded to lay the whole thing out for Jace.

"Well, here is the gist of it. You as my personal gaurd..." he said gesturing towards Jace. "...you're coming, and Izzy as well. Somehow, and without my permission I might add..." Alec scrunched up his face, frowning at his sister, "...she managed to convince our parents that it would be a good idea if she came along as well. Although I really wanted to go, alone, you guys coming I can live with. The main problem is that they are trying to turn my vacation into some big royal states visit with a whole entourage and everything."

Alec let out another frustrated breath. "I just wanted to travel for a while on my own, be Alec and not the prince before ..." He trailed off, both Izzy and Jace already knowing what he was referring to. They both leaned into him, resting their heads on either of his shoulders in a gesture of comfort.

"Don't worry big bro, no matter happens, we will make sure you have the vacation of your dreams. Won't we Jace?" Izzy looked across Alec to Jace, who nodded in agreement

Things were really not going the way Alec had planned. His parents were essentially trying to highjack his vacation plans. He hadn't even decided where he wanted to go yet and they were already talking about which heads of states family had good marriage ripe daughters he could court. Or which families had the most wealth and would be beneficial to them if both families were joined in marriage. The whole thing was becoming an annoying headache.

Alec didn't know how, but he had to figure out a way to get what he wanted. He just had to...for his own sanity and happiness.

The rest of the drive to the club was spent talking about more pressing issues, like who was planning on hooking up. Izzy's boyfriend of the month, Meliorn, would be meeting them there. Alec wasn't sure what Jace's plans were but he was definately on the hunt tonight.

As soon they entered the club all eyes were on them, people immediately recognizing the royal siblings. Unlike Izzy, Alec have always hated the attention. He just wanted to have a good time without people scrutinizing him or having everything he did being front page news.

They got to the bar and ordered a round of drinks. No one would dare to ask them for IDs, though none of them were twenty one. Perks of being the prince.

The music was loud and pumping with a heavy base causing the whole room to vibrate with each pulse. It was a nicely decorated place, Alec thought, though not his taste. Way too many bright neon colors. It felt like they were trying way too hard to appeal to the gay community. Well, atleast they were trying, he supposed.

"Guys, I just spotted Meliorn." Izzy said putting her now empty glass on the bar. "Don't wait for me. I'll find my way home." And with a wink and a devilish grin, she melted into the hoard of bodies on the dance floor.

"What does she even see in that guy anyway?" Alec asked when Izzy was out of earshot.

"Well, I guess he his kinda hot," said Jace with a smile and a 'I don't really know' look on his face.

Alec just shrugged and turned his attention back to the bar, ordering another round of drinks. He leaned on his elbows against the counter to give himself a full view of the room while he chatted with Jace. So far no one had caught his attention and he wasn't really into any of those who were brave enough to approach him. It was turning out to be a rather shit night, he thought.

"Dance with me." Jace suddenly leaned over and whispered in his ear, grabbing his hand and pulling him to the dance floor before he could even answer. Though this was the first time he would be dancing with Jace alone, they would sometimes dance together as a group with Izzy or their other friends when they went out, so Alec went along with it.

Jace pulled Alec to the middle of the crowded dance floor and wrapped his arms around his neck, looking up into his blue eyes. Alec placed his hands on Jace's hips, resting them there as they began to sway to the music. It wasn't a slow song, but it had a very sexy beat and he found that he quite liked the lyrics.

- Something lately drives me crazy -

- has to do with how you make me -

- struggle to get your attention -

- calling you brings aprehension -

- text from you and sex from you -

- are things that are not so uncommon -

- flirt with you, you're all about it -

- tell me why I feel unwanted -

- damn, if you didn't want me back -

- why'd you have to act like that? -

- It's confusing to the core -

- cause I know you want it -

- oh, and if you don't wanna be -

- something substantial with me -

- then why do you give me more? -

- Babe I know you want it -

- say that you want me -

- everyday that you want me -

- every way that you need me -

- got me trippin -

- super psycho love-

- Aim, pull the trigger -

- feel the pain getting bigger -

- go insane from the bitter feeling -

- trippin super pyscho love -

Alec was completely lost in the music, letting the rythm control his movements. He didn't even notice how close he and Jace had suddenly gotten. Jace pushed his body into Alec's, swaying his hips provacatively and grinding up against him. Alec felt a jolt electricity rush through his body at the intimate contact. He was about to replicate the movement when he remembered that he was dancing with Jace and snapped to attention. He looked down at the other man in his arms and noticed something strange in the golden eyes looking back at him. Before he knew what was happening, Jace was kissing him.