Chapter Nine: Farewell to Arus
The king sent the unrepentant prince back to his rooms. For once, there were no guards posted. He did not know if this meant he was going to leave within a few hours or if this was some show of good will but he was glad for it. The servants were ordered not to talk to him except to attend to his most basic needs. His bags were packed. There was little to do but wait. Lotor had watched the transport land several weeks ago. He had no doubt that a large attack fleet in space somewhere just out of the Arussian sensor range. The ship bore the Ninth Kingdom's symbol, a large skull. Lotor's heart was racing. He, for the first time in a month, left his suite. He ran through the Castle, avoiding all the servants, looking for Allura. He was desperate to say goodbye. He found her in her mother's suite. Someone had obviously told her that he was leaving today. She was a site to behold. She had found her mother's cosmetics and painted her face with blue eye shadow. Lotor burst out in laughter. Tears were running down Allura's face mixing with the powder making blue streaks.
"I will disguise myself as a Drule and we can go back to Korrinoth together." He shook his head and looked for a washcloth.
"The time for our games is over. You would hate my world. Korrinoth is dark all the time. Every morning we awake to thunderous storms. There is little sun. There are no colored leaves or white snow to jump in. There are no apples to pick. There are no tree houses to play in. Like a beautiful flower without sustenance you would wither away." He whispered as he carefully wiped away the make-up.
"You will come back and visit. Korrinoth is not so far for a Drule. I missed you so much. Mother said you were being punished for hurting the boys. The next time I see Philos, I will punch him so hard. When I am queen I will never invite him to the Castle." She offered back. Lotor, for the first time, realized that the princess had been kept in the dark as to what had happened to Philos that night.
"No. I have worn out my welcome here. Father will send me to an academy now." He seemed satisfied with the job and turned her back to the mirror. "There, little sister. That is so much better. You do not look good as a Drule. When I am older I will come back for you and make you my queen. I will build you a palace that can see all of Arus and high enough for me to see Korrinoth. "
"Now who is being the silly one? Korrinoth is in the next quadrant." She gave a small laugh.
"I am the grandson of a Wyvern prince. If I say it can be, it can be. We are beings of what you call magic." His hand traced her cheek. A finger found her bottom lip. "Pretty mouth." He leaned over and gave her a little kiss. It tickled. She giggled. "I have kissed you. Allura is mine." He desperately tried to recreate the elusive bliss that the simple act had given him before, but only a faint shadow of it remained. Perhaps, he had just dreamed it all. Lotor did not even bother to turn around. He heard the rhythm of the heartbeat of the man that was watching the scene.
"You were to remain in your quarters until the tranport's departure." The annoyed voice filled the room.
"Coran, how kind of you to escort me to my ship." Lotor said dismissively. Allura did not notice the dry sarcasm. She thought Lotor was always overly polite to Coran, nothing more.
"By your leave, your Royal Majesty." Lotor heard the man's hate for him in those words and his eyes narrowed. Coran extended his hand towards the door. He knew how badly Coran wanted him gone. Lotor had never been inappropriate to him so he did not understand why this man detested him so. Lotor touched her golden hair one last time and followed the surly man. As he left, he heard Allura start to cry again. He turned to go back but Coran grabbed him by the shoulder.
"This childhood romance is over. Drules and humans should not mix." Coran gave the prince a slight push forward. "You're a perfect example of what happens when they do, an abomination."
"I was wondering if you knew. The doctors at home are just as intrigued. I should not exist, but I do. It does not matter. One day I shall rule Arus by her side and you will have to bow down to me." Lotor grumbled back.
"Big words from such a small prince." Coran replied with more than a hint of disgust in his voice.
"I will not be small forever." The young boy snarled as he pulled away from the man's grip. An absurd smirk crossed the Drule's lip as they came closer to the transport. Coran knew that the Drule had smelled fear on him.
No, little prince – you won't. One day you will be a big, blood thirsty Drule who will throw his weight around this galaxy. You will conquer worlds and enslave populations because that is what your nature demands of you. You will disregard other's sufferings because everyone ignored you when you lay broken and beaten. You will come for Arus because it is the only place that you found love and peace. But when you return you will be beyond that – won't you? Better you die in one of your blood soaked arenas than Allura see what you will become. Let her remember the pretty angel that kissed her than the demon about to emerge.
The prince was surprised to see Haggar, not Magistrate Borak, waiting for him. Coran felt a shiver run through him as the beautiful woman moved toward him and the boy. She looked almost human until she flashed her pointed canines revealing her species. For a race that was supposedly nearly extinct the Wyverins seemed to be cropping up all over the place on Arus. Lotor walked more briskly, eager to join her. Haggar had always been kind to him for some unknown reason. She gave him many interesting things. Coran happily handed off the boy to woman, who pulled him close.
"My Prince, I bring you affection." Coran rolled his eyes as he politely dismissed himself. Haggar glared at him but returned her attentions to her prince. She saw concern on his face as she brought him onboard the transport. She was puzzled by it.
"I have failed father completely. He will surely throw me into the dungeons." He threw his head into his lap and pulled at his hair with a groan. The food was terrible in the dungeons and he was looking forward to his first real meal in months.
"Do not fear. Your father is delighted at these turn of events. For once, you have actually pleased him. To think, that his poor child, after being assaulted by humans has been banished from Arus. My, my…why would one be friendly towards such an uncivilized people. The whole trip to that wretched place must have been a terrible ordeal to suffer through. Enough to cause a diplomatic incident…that may not go so well for this planet." She went to smooth his hair. He grabbed her wrist. She sighed and let go.
"It seems I will be a footnote in their history books. I am the first Drule to kill an Arussian on their soil. What have I done?" He threw his hands into his lap. He looked so small.
"I'm afraid you will be more than a footnote. I think you will make at least a paragraph. The Arussians acted disgracefully towards you." She crooned. "The Drule Supremacy is not taking the assault against you and your confinement lying down…they may even look the other way if your father breaks the peace agreement."
"He is planning on conquering Arus. He really means to do it." The witch confirmed this. His father would have never offered reparations, it was all a lie in order to get Lotor home.
"It was your mother's world…does this sadden you? Maybe King Alfor will just agree to be his vassal and no bloodshed will come." Haggar gently offered.
"Doubtful, humans are very stupid." He gave a funny snort. "As to being my mother's world, what does that matter to me. I am a Korronnite." Tears fell down the boy's face. He knew his father would bomb Arus back into the stone age. The witch just stood there not knowing what to do.
"I know what you are feeling. It is easy to be seduced by such things. We are Wyvren. It is in our nature to love beautiful things we cannot have." She went to reach for him again. He looked so small, so lost. He growled as her hand approached.
"Witch, you forget your place. My father has not made you his queen" She sighed. She had meant to be maternal. The Drules's obsession with the concept of Jain's blood amused her to no end. Even as the court looked down on him for his genetics, they envied him for his hair for it marked him as an heir of the Empress Jain. It proved he was truly royal, descended from the greatest warrior that ever lived. The list was short over who could touch him. His parents, a high priest, a medical doctor, someone he has offered submission to, his harem, his children, and last but not least, his wife. Whores could touch him but she could not.
"Shoshi, stop being such an idiot. I get to play doctor on you today. Come with me boy, I will reset that nose of yours. We must keep our prince looking handsome." She said as she pulled him up and took him to the sickbay. She did not need to touch his hair as she fixed him up, but she did. The boy did not realize that they were descended from the same ancient warrior. He was as much hers as he was Althea's. She had brought that woman to Zarkon. She had supplied her with the elixirs to make this child possible. She had made sure the right genes had been triggered off to produce that head of hair. The prince would have never existed was it not for her magic. She was going to be Queen of Doom one day. If Zarkon could not give her what she wanted than maybe Lotor could. After all, an Emperor needed many kings and queens to rule the worlds under his control. By the time Lotor was finished, Korrinoth would only be one of many in his Empire. Her visions always came true.