It took a few minutes in the darkening night to really see who it was. The moonlight helped some though.

"Shh."

Prince Joshua?

I hated to admit it but 'shock and awe' returned. I didn't miss the impatient tone to his soft urging, probably less to do with caring about my fear and more about keeping his ass safe, because he looked pretty impatient and irritable as he knelt behind me, his eyes going from me to where the older policeman had vanished into the bush. Purple eyes. Purple tinged black hair. Strange.

I wasn't going to complain right now though.

"Good. You've stopped panicking. Jan." Prince Joshua seemed unable to look below my neck. I was dressed, I knew that much, so that wasn't it. Was it the blood? His cold eyes stubbornly stayed either on me or towards the opening in the bush.

He glanced down at my leg and someone else moved up, slowly, someone I hadn't noticed till right now. The other butler I'd barely thought of, apparently named 'Jan', slid over with a soft smile as he shrugged off his jacket and unclipped a suspender.

"Yes, Prince Joshua." He said softly, mildly, voice low. Jan didn't speak as he wrapped it around above the top of my calf, just under the knee, and unlike Prince Joshua seemed to not find a problem with the bloody leg.

When he reached for the man's shirt, tugging it shut and buttoning it up quickly, I almost slapped him out of pure reflex, coming out of my daze somewhat. His hands had practically grazed my chest while doing that, big top or not. "H...hey! No... I can do that!"

Jan ignored me. It was already done by the time I'd protested and he reached for something in his little backpack. I didn't know what it was- he hid it from me- but I was too embarrassed to care. He'd only covered up the cat on my PJs. How weird.

"You would have done it earlier then." How Prince Joshua managed to sound so damn cold when whispering, I didn't know, but he managed. Then he flashed me a smile that had absolutely no feeling in it. Why the hell was he here if he disliked me so much?

I supposed in some ways I couldn't blame him given how we'd met. I could still picture the look on his face when my Father had led me into that cellar, some two days back, and shown off his 'captured Princes'. Prince Joshua had probably been the one who'd really slapped it home for me how serious this situation actually was. He looked -furious-.

Now, he tugged impatiently at a piece of fern that kept brushing against the side of his face, throwing it aside, before slowly standing up and vanishing into the bush. Jan remained beside me.

"You passed the test. Congratulations." He murmured, very softly, as he peeled up the PJ bottoms and inspected whatever it was that made me bleed like that.

"Huh?"

"This'll hurt."

He wasn't kidding. I gritted my teeth, making a low sound of pain as something added to the burning pain in my calf, and when I saw a syringe flashing in the moonlight...

Truthfully, I almost fainted. I didn't like them.

"Breathe."

I tried, inhaling slowly, and it actually did help the light-headedness. As Jan rubbed my calf, numbness spread, and to my relief the pain started to fade away. He stood up and tugged me up with him.

"Try it."

I did and my calf collapsed. Apparently it didn't matter if it was numbed or not. Jan slid an arm under my shoulders and then, to my shock, hoisted me up into his arms.

"I can hobble!"

"Not quickly enough, I'm afraid. We've got to move quickly. Just let me do what I've been ordered to do." Jan smiled brightly at me and started at a quick jog, barely breaking a sweat even with me in his arms, surprisingly friendly given what the other butlers were like. I tried to keep an eye on the surroundings but felt still weird and cold, trembling even now, my body all too happy with the idea of giving up.

"What do you mean, test?"

"You didn't run back to your father." Jan responded, following some route I couldn't make out in the darkness, his eyes focused on the path ahead. He hesitated, suddenly, sliding behind a tree, and held me so close that I could hear his heart racing under his shirt.

We waited, my hands clinging to him more than I'd have liked to admit, but we heard nothing for a good three seconds. Then a head appeared, as annoyed as it had been before, Prince Joshua muttering, "You two walking?"

He started off once again and Jen followed close behind. I noticed that Prince Joshua was following a small path of ...tissues? Stuffed into tree bark? He kept snatching it out and into his pocket as he walked. I supped that explained why they weren't lost.

"I... of course not. Why would I go back?"

"I mean." Jan started again, softly, squeezing my body closer as he bent down to duck under a low branch. It was getting wilder here. "If you were not really on our side we'd have expected you to call to that officer."

"Would I?"

"With a bullet wound in your calf. Yes."

Wait. What?

My head span and for a moment I forgot to breathe again. Suddenly it made sense. It didn't hurt now, sure, but ... but I didn't need to feel it to panic. Jan seemed to notice and he stopped, freezing, his kind eyes locking into mine.

"You're in shock. Relax. It's not a problem."

Not a problem! I opened my mouth to protest but Jan started running again. Someone had shot me. And they were treating it like a -test-!

Some part of my starstruck side shrunk a little at that. Who cared if they were Princes? I had been shot. Shot! Trying to save their royal asses. And what? They decided it was a good -test-?

"Is that why you all ran off?"

"Claude noticed and decided. We agreed when we met up. Well. Not all of us. Prince Roberto wasn't impressed." Jan hesitated then gently lowered me down. "I believe you'd feel more comfortable on my back."

I suspected he'd feel more comfortable. Fair enough. "Is it too far to hobble?"

"I'm afraid so."

I reluctantly leaned against his back and was lifted up. Woah. My heart raced as he easily stood, arms tightening around my legs, stunned by the feeling of being held like this. How long had it been since anyone had carried me like this! Childhood? A decade? How weird.

Jan started off at a quick pace behind Prince Joshua, who was visible a little further on, barely seeming to notice me on his back.

It was odd riding someone's back like this. I hadn't done it for a very long time. I tried to not lean on him, at first, but that wasn't going to work for long.

"Relax." Jan seemed completely carefree about it. He didn't turn his head as he spoke but gazed ahead.

"Where are we going?" I muttered.

"Somewhere safe. Prince Joshua is following the directions now."

Is that what was happening? I could see Prince Joshua ahead a few feet, his feet crunching on the ground, his face slightly illuminated by something as he checked it. He swatted impatiently at a branch as it brushed against his face and Jan was quick to step to the side as it swung for us.

A wind gusted against us as we walked, strong and surprisingly cold for this time of year, and I shivered somewhat.

A car made me tense, suddenly, and I felt Jan's body pause. Prince Joshua also stopped ahead.

We didn't speak as headlights brushed against the bush, illuminating sections of it, but the car was at least fifty metres off. There had to be a road. Once the sound had vanished we continued onwards. This happened several more times, a car some distance off, and even the distant sound of sirens, but the few times we crossed a road there was barely anyone on it.

I realised only now that I hadn't thanked them. I leaned forward, voice soft, and said quietly, "Thanks. For coming back. For the trouble of it..." And for the trouble in carrying me. Shesh.

"You have some insight into your Father. It was worth the delay." Jan shrugged but he still smiled anyway. "There is no trouble."

"I didn't come back for you. I lost something." Prince Joshua must have overheard because he cut into Jan's words, suddenly, sounding annoyed and impatient with me.

"Did you find it?"

"No."

I wasn't sure what to make of him. Jan didn't say anything and so I took my cue from him, staying quiet, eyes ahead on the bush.

It wasn't a path and it was kind of amusing to watch Prince Joshua slide around bushes, shove at branches, flinch or jump as something smacked his back. I wasn't sure how Jan was avoiding these obstacles. Even with the moonlight, which was pretty strong, it was difficult to see the ground.

But being carried, having a warm back warming me, and slowly relaxing as I started to trust Jan wouldn't fall or stumble, it did lure me into a sleepy daze. It had to be getting late. How far were we walking?

"The others..."

"Aren't far off. Maybe twenty minutes ahead." Jan responded. He sounded tired too. I felt bad. He hesitated a moment and then slowly lowered me. "Let's rest a moment."

"Do you want me to walk?"

"Can you?"

I wasn't sure I could. Last time I tried it'd felt like walking on cooked spaghetti. And there was a slight throb in my calf now, a slow 'boom, boom, boom' that suggested whatever he'd injected into me was starting to wear off. I stood there as he stretched his arms, Prince Joshua crossing his arms and looking impatient, but Jan more or less ignored him as he stretched his limbs slowly.

"Then don't worry yourself." Jan didn't wait for my answer as he stretched one arm behind his head.

I sighed and found a tree to lean on. Weight on the calf did make the slow throb of pain get more vocal. I supposed they did have a good reason for needing me. I did know stuff about Father. That didn't change the fact that I felt bad about ...well, about this. I had some problems with just letting people do this. I'd tried a massage once and felt too bad that the guy had been working his butt off just to give me a nice massage.

Jan knelt before me and gently slid the Pj bottoms up, slowly, tugging his backpack to one side.

"Is it tender?"

He didn't need to ask. As soon as he touched I flinched, finding that touching was also not okay, and Jan nodded his head as he reached for the bag.

"Not another one..." I groaned, shutting my eyes, as something flashed in the light.

"You shouldn't waste it on the commoner." Prince Joshua's voice cut through the night. "Save it for us."

I half agreed with him. The other half, however, was kind of pissed off that he'd deny me any sort of pain killers just because I was a 'commoner'. Before I could stop myself the tired irritable part, which was suddenly jabbed with a painful squeeze of whatever the hell was being injected, snapped, "Yeah, let's all let the peasants ...OW... cushion the Princely arse. Ow!"

Jan laughed. He actually laughed.

I felt a bit mortified as Prince Joshua scowled at me and turned his back on me. Woops. "Um. Sorry. It... hurt."

"Mmhmm."

"Come on. If she can't walk, leave her." Prince Joshua turned and started off. Woops. I probably... should have ... not snapped at him.

Jan knelt in front of me and waited, patiently, till I gave in and slid onto his back. He seemed to be refreshed enough now and we moved quicker.

As we walked we crossed several fields. At least once I swore I saw the others, small figures walking on the other side of the fields, or a tiny light. I couldn't tell if they were the rest of the group or just my eyes turning a bunch of trees into the Princes and Butlers.

Princes and Butlers. Seriously. I still couldn't believe it.

When I'd planned this... admittedly not that well... I had pictured myself being the one leading the whole group. Stick in hand. Guide to them as I guided them to the ocean and onto a boat.

Instead I was at the back of the 'pack' and being carried.

Things weren't working out the way I planned. The weather didn't look that good either. I heard distant rumbles more than once and the gusts of wind were growing more frequent.

"Where are we going?"

"A safe place." Jan didn't say any more. I didn't ask. A nice cave? Secretly all fitted out for a Prince's expectations? I wondered if Prince Glenn had a secret hideout.

It was kind of sad that, by picturing the 'nice cave', I was picturing Batman's cave. The idea of Prince Glenn fighting crime by night was an interesting fantasy.

I may have fallen asleep several times. At one point I asked, "Is it far?"

"Yes."

"Then-"

"You're not a problem, Miss Sophia."

"Tell me if I become one. I'm not light." I felt so sleepy still, yawning even as I spoke, and apparently this wasn't convincing.

Jan nodded, not answering, his concentration on the path again as the thick bush emptied into an open road. He glanced one way and then the other, quickly jogging across the road, and back into the bush. I thought I'd smelt salt for a moment. Were we close to the ocean?

I yawned again, exhausted, head drooping against his shoulder.

I woke as gusts suddenly threw sand and salt against our faces, the smell of the ocean crashing against my senses, the ocean suddenly exposed as the bush vanished.

Woah. The beach.

"There. They're all here." Jan seemed relieved by that.

He nodded down the dark beach. In the moonlight I saw the small group of Princes and butlers. No boat. That would have been convenient. Just the Princes.

Oh well. At least we were at a beach. I hoped it was the right side of Oriens.

Prince Roberto took one look at the two of us and started up the beach, waving, his voice carrying across the sand as he called, "Hey, there you are."

"Shh." Jan hissed and Roberto froze, blinking, his eyes going from me to the leg. He frowned somewhat.

"I can carry my friend."

"Better to not move the leg too much." Jan's arms tightened on me, I swore, and he shook his head.

Prince Roberto frowned and opened his mouth to say something but then he shrugged, grinned, and started down the beach ahead of us. "Good butler."

Jan bowed his head.

I wasn't sure what to make of that exchange. I wasn't sure I wanted to ask.

When we reached the others, I was lowered down, and Jan kept an arm under my shoulders. I still didn't feel pain. Just shock.

"You all right?" Prince Wilifred's voice came across, soft, his body on the other side of my arm. I felt a hand grasp my arm gently from his direction. "I'm sorry I left you."

"Um. It's okay."

Claude didn't appologize, I noticed, just looked satisfied. Oh yeah. Good for him. It wasn't him that was apparently shot. Shot!

I still wasn't sure they were right.

"She's been shot." Jan spoke up.

"Her too?"

Too? I blinked, suddenly, as I saw how strange Prince Glenn's posture was. He was hobbled over, something pressed against his shoulder, Yu standing there and holding onto him. Woah. "Wait, you got-"

"The movies always make it seem like the good guys repel bullets." Roberto shrugged. "Luckily they weren't aiming."

"That's why we ran." Prince Wilifred said quietly, beside me, his hand still firmly on my arm. "If we'd known you had also been-"

"It worked out well." Claude cut in as Prince Wilifred trailed off. He didn't seem to be so ... cold toward me. He wasn't exactly a friendly ally, I could tell that much in the darkness, but at least he now knew that I wasn't trying to spy on them for my Father.

"We'll have to inspect the wounds when we reach safety." Prince Joshua said sharply.

"Um. Thanks for coming back." I said quietly to him and Jan. Jan smiled, Prince Joshua frowned, his face changing colour in the pale light of the moon.

"I didn't come back for you! I dropped something. Jan saw you."

"Yes." Jan agreed, though he winked at me from the side Prince Joshua couldn't see, a smile returning to his face. "Only we never found it."

"No." Prince Joshua turned away from us both and started down the beach, suddenly, sounding ...if it were possible... even more annoyed than before.

"Wrong way, Joshy." Roberto called. He laughed as Prince Joshua turned, suddenly, and Prince Glenn pointed towards the other side of the beach. He was trembling as much as I was. When our eyes met he actually smiled, a weak half hearted smile, which I took for 'yeah, I know. Hurts.'

Well. Maybe that wasn't what he meant. But it still was nice to be smiled at for a change.

I started down the beach, struggling as much as earlier, even with Prince Wilifred's hand on my arm and Jen's help. Jen hesitated, suddenly, and then said softly, "Sorry Prince Wilifred but would you mind..."

Prince Wilifred blinked, before standing closer suddenly, and lifting me up. Jen hesitated. I wondered if that was what he'd meant. He smiled after a moment's hesitation before bowing, moving ahead to follow after Prince Joshua, and Prince Wilifred started along the sand with me.

"Sorry." I was more embarrassed about this than with Jen. Wasn't sure why.

"It's okay. He was tired." It was hard to believe his kind words. Prince Wilifred's face was so cold and indifferent, even as he spoke these things, his eyes ahead. "It reminds me of a dream I had once as a child."

A dream? Carrying helpless women? Shesh. Did all Princes dream about the day they could carry a woman around?

I stopped myself there, forced my frustrated thoughts to freeze, because there was nothing nasty about the look in his face. I breathed out slowly and tried to relieve the tension built up. Okay. Calm down. I didn't have to be sarcastic about everything. He was just being nice.

People did that. People could be nice. Even if their face didn't give anything away. Even if they seemed as cold and indifferent as this guy.

Calm down.

Prince Wilifred didn't say anything else. We made our way across the beach, following the others, all of them moving far slower this time. I expected a cave or something. Instead we were at a rather fancy looking building, all modern glass, metal, bold lines, and I instantly felt kind of uncomfortable about it. The funny thing was, though, that the gardens were all untended, trees overgrown, trees unpruned, grass long and seeding away happily.

"Um..." I said, suddenly, as I stiffened. "Father knows all the holiday houses..."

"This isn't one of them." Prince Wilifred responded, moving up onto the grassy lawn near the beach, and continued, "I believe this is your Father's own holiday home."

"What!"

Now that he mentioned it... I thought I might have seen it once before. In a photo or something? The one he disliked in summer because it was 'too hot'. The climate down here wasn't too bad in winter.

As we came up to the door Jan called out, "Got it. Wait here." as the door swung open. He held up an arm and slid in, slowly, heading for the security system.

"Can he do that?"

"Apparently." As Prince Wilifred said this, he was lowering me down onto my feet, and the second Claude came across, he moved away, brushing his clothing down.

I wasn't sure what to make of him. Claude grasped my arm gently and held me upright.

Come to think of it. I wasn't sure what to make of Claude either.

Thirty seconds later... Jan had it cracked. Woah. What kind of butlers were these men? He moved around the house, doing something, before returning to the front hallway and shrugging. "Seems like he only had the basic security. No cameras."

"He doesn't like using this place in summer." I muttered. It had been designed by some famous architect and he only used it in winter every few years or so. "You'd know if he was coming here. The gardens would be fixed up."

"Then we'd have some warning." Claude nodded.

"Clear. Come in." Jan called from inside.

We slowly headed in, Claude assisting me, and I flopped onto a chair. There wasn't any pain yet but it was still like walking on cooked spaghetti. The leg just didn't like it.

"Prince Glenn's wound will require attention now. We'll be tending to him first." Claude said to me as he knelt beside me to glance at whatever Jen had done down there before standing. "Are you in pain?"

"Nope. Go for it." I waved him off.

He knelt, pulling another chair across, and carefully set my foot upon a cushion on the other chair. "Keep this leg elevated until I return. Prince Glenn is the priority for the moment but we will not forget you."

I flinched as Prince Glenn was helped inside. I swore I saw light shine right through his shoulder, as he passed a candle that was now lit, there was a bloody giant hole in the teenager's back... was that the bullet wound?

Woah.

They settled Prince Glenn down on the kitchen table on his stomach down the hall. I didn't see much though. Claude went through, pulling his jacket off and rolling his sleeves up, before sliding the sliding door shut between us and the kitchen. I heard someone call they'd search for candles, doors opening and shutting, the flash of someone's flash light reflecting here and there as curtains were closed.

I did hear what was going on. A lot of muffled noise from Prince Glenn. I felt awful for him. Seriously. He was the crown prince of this place and they'd shot him?

He wasn't that old either. It had to be a shock to him.

I leaned back, slowly, glancing at the clock. It was already midnight. We'd left at dusk.

I was exhausted.

Sleep only lasted for a few moments before someone woke me.

"Prince Roberto?"

"Robbie, Phi-Phi." Prince Roberto protested. He held out a drink of something, some kind of soda, which was warm. Must have been in the pantry. "It's warm but we're not turning on the power."

"Roberto." I muttered. Wasn't that what he wanted to call me? "And I'm Sophia."

"I'm Rob, Phia."

"Sophia." I jabbed a finger at him. "You're either Prince Roberto or Roberto. I'm not calling you Rob."

"You just did. I'll always call you Phia. Unless you prefer Pheebee. I came up with it while we walked."

"Never call me that." I couldn't help it. It was such ... teasing banter... that my entire body just relaxed.

The exchange made us both break out in grins, mine a little tired and strained, but his... as far as I could tell... was genuine enough. Roberto sat beside me on the ground, his legs crossed, cracking open a drink of his own. It was funny how comfortable I felt with this Prince compared to the others. Still, with the unshaven look and the dirty face, it might have been hard for anyone to assume he was a Prince at the moment.

"How's your leg?" Roberto asked, twisting in my direction, and he slid something onto the coffee table. A couple of swooshes later a candle was lit and the room was illuminated by soft warm candlelight that cut through the cold moonlight.

"I don't know. I haven't looked at it." I admitted. "I'm not passing out from blood loss so I think it's not as bad as Jan said it was."

In other words I didn't believe I'd really been shot. Maybe that had been another test. 'See if she freaks out and screams for a hospital.' I wouldn't put it past any of them right now.

Roberto's hands were gentle as he touched my ankle, slowly, and I blinked as a wave of heat flooded my face at the tiny contact. He frowned. "It looks messy."

"Flesh wounds bleed a lot." I wasn't sure if that was true but it sounded good. Opening up the can I took a sip of the warm soda and breathed out, slowly, relieved at the sweetness. It wasn't so weird to drink it like this. "Prince Glenn really got shot?"

"Poor boy." Roberto was trying to joke, I think, but his smile faltered.

"Is it that bad?"

"Apparently not. It went clean through the muscle. He's going to be sore for a while." Roberto reached up to run a hand through his hair, slowly, and there was a kind of tenseness in his face. "First of us to get shot."

"Last." I added quickly. I couldn't picture it happening again.

"Don't worry about it. It'll be a tiny scar when it heals and he'll have proof that he's a man. Win win. Glenny-poo will be popular with the ladies with that scar." I suspected he was trying to lighten the mood but it didn't work very well. Roberto drank his drink slowly, one hand still on my ankle, gazing towards the dining room door that was still shut.

Neither of us spoke a while. It wasn't something we could joke about. I felt awful. If Father hadn't...

I sighed and Roberto twisted in my direction.

"Hey, no depressing thoughts."

"I can't help it."

"It's against the morphine rules to be depressed. Shouldn't you be giggly?"

"I dunno. Maybe he didn't put morphine in me." I felt the first stirrings of hunger, all of a sudden, and realised. Huh. They were probably all hungry. And with gas bottles here I could cook. Having not smelt any food... no one had started yet. I asked though, "Anyone cooking?"

"Not yet. You hungry? I can get Alberto to cook."

"I'll cook something. Help me up?" When he hesitated I added, "I'll sit at the bench, you bring me stuff, and then I'll lean against the stove. I feel bad enough about what's happened as it is."

"As long as I get to try it before everyone else." Roberto stood up and held out an arm. "You're my friend. I asked first."

I didn't have the heart to tell him that wasn't how people usually made friends. I just let him help me into the kitchen, hobbling, and then used the bench to prop myself up while I stared into the pantry. Roberto lit a candle on the bench as I stared into the depths.

A lot of Oriens based ingredients. I honestly didn't know much about that stuff yet. But I could do some stuff.

"I thought I'd bring you stuff?" Roberto slid a chair in my direction. "Sit down."

"I need to know what's there first." I responded. Huh. Rice. Rice was handy. What else... "Um. Rice. The onions and potatoes. Salt, pepper, stock, spices..."

"What are we having?"

"Curry."

It made sense. It'd keep. Plus curry powder had a cooling effect and it was a good thing to eat in summer. I hesitated, staring back into the pantry, wondering if I could add more to make it taste better. Tinned tomatoes? Yeah. Coconut cream. Good stuff.

"Sit down. Order me. I'll be your good butler." Roberto insisted. I sighed, nodded, and relaxed into a chair.

"Okay. Bring me the entire spice rack." I ordered. To my amusement Roberto did just that, tugging it off the shelf, and set it in front of me. Okay. What did I need for a curry? This, and this, and this...

"What are you doing? I thought we were having curry."

"Yeah. We'll have to make the powder."

"Here. It's here." Roberto lifted a container out of the spice rack and his head bent in confusion. "See? Curry. Mr Curry Man brand."

"I like to make it." I stood up. It felt weird trying to sit down and do stuff in the kitchen. My leg didn't hurt right now so... what was the harm? "See? We use these and... um..." I grabbed the celery seeds. "That too. Then you grind it up in that thing." I pointed to the pretty mortar and pestle over the fridge.

"Can I do that?"

"Sure but it's hard work."

Roberto watched, fascinated, as I started to pour the seeds into a little frying pan. He frowned. "Are you measuring?"

"Sort of." Well. Not really. I just guessed. Guessing usually worked. With a quick switch of the gas I hesitated, hoping the tanks were still full, and breathed out as the state of the art gas stove lit itself. Phew.

I flinched as a distant rumble of thunder cut through the calm inside the house and glanced outside. The trees were having a great time bending in all directions now as wind danced around them. "A storm's coming."

"Yay. I love storms." Roberto smiled as he followed my gaze. "Summer ones are the best."

"Mmm." I wasn't sure I wanted to admit I hated the flash part of the storms. Noisy thunder was fine. I didn't mind watching the bolts of lightning either. It was the 'FLASH FLASH' that really bugged me. Breathing in I made myself concentrate on the frying pan. Roast it... keep roasting it... "Can you get the onions out? We don't have much vegetables but there's some onions and potato. And tins of tomatoes. A tin of coconut cream."

"Tinned tomatoes?"

"Unless someone went grocery shopping on the way here." I doubted it and wasn't surprised whentheberto shook his head. Nope. We had to use what we got. The spices seemed roasted enough in the light of the candle and I tipped them into the heavy stone morter.

I slid across to the bench, searching each cupboard as I shuffled along on my good leg, using teh bench as a prop. Chopping boards were... here. Knives were obvious on the bench. Once Roberto returned with a few onions and potatoes I offered him a cutting board and a knife. As I did I hesitated, wondering about how the hell we'd clean, but the distant rumble answered my thoughts. Oh yeah. Rain!

"Can you put a huge pot outside?"

"Why?"

"For water. To wash up." I explained as I started to cut the onion.

By the time Roberto had put a few pots outside ... I'd already started to cry. He seemed alarmed by this, staring at me, his usual good natured face dulling. "You... in pain?"

"No. It's the onion."

"Huh?"

Didn't he know that onions made you cry? I had a wicked thought and pushed the still mostly uncut onion at him. "Um. Can you cut it up? Carefully. The knife is sharp."

It took about thirty seconds, two tissues to get the tears of of my own face, and two rumbles of thunder from the approaching storm before Roberto was dropping the knife and stepping back, his eyes apparently stinging, reaching up to touch his eyes. I grabbed his wrist just in time.

"What..."

"Cutting onions makes you cry. Don't rub the onion juice n your eyes!" I was relieved when he lowered his hands. "It's normal."

"They do?" Roberto cocked his head again, curious, bending down to prod his still mostly uncut onion with a knife. "Why?"

"I don't know. Something to do with the toxins in them." I grasped a second cutting board and started on a second onion. "They'll stop when we cook them. If it's too much you can crush those spices."

"I can handle it." Roberto started again, knife slicing the onions in strange various sizes and shapes, keeping as far back as his arms would let him. He grinned suddenly, mid-onion, and held up the end of the onion suddenly in my face. "How about you?"

"H...hey!" I dropped my knife and waved my hand at his, trying to bat the onion thing away, my eyes already starting to smart and tear up. I nearly tripped over... standing on one leg wasn't so easy. Roberto got me just in time, a hand grabbing onto my wrist, yanking me back upright.

"Master Roberto!"

A voice cracked through the kitchen as the two of us stood at the bench cutting the onions as Roberto was about to shove another onion skin in my face. Someone moved between us, grasping Roberto's wrist, and something was pushed against my legs.

"She is to remain resting!" Alberto snapped. What a strange tone for someone who was a Butler! He looked angry as he stared at me, almost shoving me down, but as our eyes met an almost apologetic frown crossed his face. "Excuse me raising my voice, Miss Sophia, but you are injured. If you required food you needed only ask. We are all trained in cooking."

"She was hungry and offered. I wanted to taste her cooking." Roberto looked sheepish as he dropped the onion skin down on the table. "She seemed okay..."

"Did she?" Alberto's voice rose as he lifted my leg. He must have been expecting ... I didn't know, my leg hanging by a thread or something... because he didn't seem to be too panicked as he dropped it down carefully and stood back up. I blinked as he pulled his jacket up, rolled up his shirt sleeves, and pushed Roberto aside. "I will do this."

"I really didn't mind..." I started, hesitating as he started to chop the onion like some kind of professional chef, but it still bothered me a little. This was apart of the 'rich' life I hadn't gotten used to with Father. How there was always a servant or something ready to do the job we'd usually have done for ourselves. "I could cut while I'm sitting. Come on. Cooking is relaxing."

Well, it had been until Roberto started to torment me with onion skins.

Alberto turned to me, knife in hand, the onion already in amazing tiny slices in front of him. Wow. His face softened. He slid over the cutting board from Roberto, ignoring Roberto's protests, and offered a potato. "You'll soon receive some attention for your leg but if you insist..."

"Thanks. We were making a vegetable curry. Curry powder cools the body..." And it tasted good when it sat around for a few hours. So it'd be good tomorrow. My eyes went over the assorted tins we'd pulled out. "Plus without a fridge it won't go off or give us food poisoning if we leave it out."

"I see." Alberto nodded as his eyes went over the collection of spices I'd arranged near the mortar and pestle. "You make your own powder?"

"It smell amazing when you do it."

"It does." Alberto agreed. His eyes snapped onto Roberto, who was trying to cut his onion from a safe distance once again, and added, "Roberto, you should use your strength to crush the powder."

"I should." Roberto dropped the knife over the destroyed onion he'd been trying to slice and was pretty happy about moving towards the still hot seeds. "Yeah. You do the onion thing. You don't cry."

The three of us went more or less silent as we worked. I had to wash the potatoes in a bowl of water from one of the water bottles but they seemed clean enough once peeled and cut up. Alberto, rather than taking over all the work, seemed to be more interested in what I'd planned so... between the two of us, we seemed to come up with a recipe right there on the spot. I noticed he was much more obsessive over measuring than I'd been.

"Well, this is fun!" Roberto decided from where he was still shoving the pestle down on the spices. "It smells good already. How was Glenny-bear doing?"

"Prince Glenn will recover." Alberto responded. He flicked the gas stove back on and started to fry the onions in a large pot. "They are simply ensuring the wound has as little a scar as possible. A plastic surgeon will repair the damage further on."

I felt that niggling 'Yeah, you spoiled rich people' sense of annoyance all over again but... I supposed it wasn't that surprising. As my wound started to throb again my own good mood had started to vanish and I was less interested in trying to stand. That storm seemed to pass us by without so much as a drop of rain. Some part of me was kind of disappointed by that. The winds were still incredible outside though. I sighed as I sat back, feeling kind of tired and sore, more content to just watch Alberto take over the curry now.

"Master Jan and Master Claude are the best for first aid. You'll have to wait for them. I dare not touch your wound, Miss Sophia."

"I know." I nodded and pointed into the pantry. "Is there a snack or something?"

Alberto slid a hand into the pantry, his eyes going into it, before pulling out something that looked a lot like cookies. Oh boy. That was it. "Something sweet may be suitable before the meal. We should all rest soon."

Given that it was midnight when we'd arrived... yeah. Good idea. I dreaded to think what time it was now.

Munching on the cookie I watched the two of them work. Roberto more or less did what he wanted, avoiding Alberto, even trying to sneak cookies and more soda. Somehow they reminded me of a little brother-big brother combination rather than a Prince and his Butler. It was obvious he was tired- he kept yawning, his face red, eventually satisfied to just sit there next to me at the bench and watch Alberto do the work.

"The plan is to find a reasonable boat tomorrow." Alberto informed us both as he finally put the curry on to cook. He sat down and I saw a trace of weariness in his face as well. Poor guy.

"Are there many around here?" I hadn't really gotten much of a look... I wasn't even sure if we were on the 'right' side of the island.

"This is an area known for private beaches and condos. There may be but we may have to walk a little way." Alberto stretched out, slowly, reaching for his jacket. "The weather may be against us tomorrow. It may not happen."

"What's the weather?"

"A cyclone."

Woah. What? Had I become so distracted about this problem that I'd missed THAT.

"Seriously, Al?" Roberto had sat up straighter. He kind of looked excited. Good for him.

Alberto nodded. He stood and started to pour something into a teapot, barely having sat down for two minutes, the sweet aroma of some kind of tea filling the air. Returning he set the teapot before us and offered us each a small delicate cup. "Camomile."

"Thanks..."

I was going to lift it when someone cleared their throat behind us. Twisting around I saw Claude bow lightly towards us, his face shiny with sweat in the candlelight, but calm enough. "Excuse me. We'd like to work on Mistress Sophia for the moment."

"I see. I will make another when you are ready for bed. The curry will be waiting if you should be hungry." Alberto had already removed my cup.

Some part of me suddenly felt great anxiety about what was to come. Work on ... me? I glanced sideways at Roberto as my entire body suddenly filled up with the urge to run away from head to toe. Just what I hadn't wanted to think about. He blinked at me, hesitating, as if he'd caught on. "You want a friend to hold your hand?"

I tried to smile as Claude offered his arm and shook my head. Nope. Just that... it hurt already. "No. See you later."

Claude assisted me into the dining room. No one else, besides him and Jan, were inside. I had to admit I'd be pretty impressed with these butlers at another time. Right now...

"Everyone's gone?"

"Sleeping." Jan responded as he patted the table. "If you please, lie on your stomach, and relax. Is there any pain?"

"Just a bit."

He nodded. I cringed as another syringe appeared. How many of those nightmarish things did he have to flash at me in one night? Claude helped me onto the table and I lay there, head on arms, trying to pretend as if I didn't know he was currently... sinking... long metal ... needle... ugh. A hand stroked my back as someone told me to breathe.

Yeah. I'd forgotten about that part again.

"Can't we ... what do you want to do?"

"Clean it." Jan responded. He was still at my leg and I flinched as I felt that familiar 'squeeze/drag pain' of the needle as it shoved something into the tender muscle. Even numbed it was horrible. "The bullet may still be inside..."

Oh great. There really was a bullet. No wonder why he kept drugging my calf up. I felt panicky just thinking about it. I shut my eyes as a hand continued to stroke my hair. Was that ...Claude? No. It smelt like spices. I twisted my head to see Roberto peering down at me anxiously, his hand on my back, sitting on a chair. "Hey, buddy Phia."

"Sophia." I muttered. I cringed as I felt something tug at my leg, expecting pain, only to feel... nothing. Just the weird sense of my leg being tugged at.

"You'll feel some movement down here." Jan said almost cheerfully. "Relax. Claude and I are trained enough."

"To take out bullets?"

"No, to administer emergency first aid."

They didn't say much more to me after that. They mumbled to one another so softly that I couldn't hear a word of it over the winds outside. A sudden pounding of rain added to the muffled sounds in the room and Roberto twisted his back away from the leg suddenly, hand tightening on my back, his jaw tighter even through his familiar smile.

"That bad?"

"I don't like blood." He muttered.

"Oh." I didn't feel like I should be bleeding. How bizarre. All I felt was 'tug tug tug' inside my leg. "What are you guys doing?"

"Ensuring that there's no remaining debris in your leg that may cause infection. We don't want to take you to hospital. You know too much." Claude was way too light hearted for such a statement. I shut my eyes and shoved my head into my arms. Yep. It was nothing.

"Careful." Jan's voice was slightly louder, all of a sudden, and whatever he said next was muffled by a fresh rumble of thunder.

"I don't know how they do it." Roberto muttered.

" If you smell burning flesh please do not feel alarmed."

What! Roberto's head twisted away from the area, suddenly, and the smell of burning meat filled the air. It took a few moments for me to get that it was MY meat and I just about wriggled to my feet at that, or would have, but something was holding me down all of a sudden.

"Did you feel something?" Claude's voice called.

"No but I smelt it!"

"We warned you."

"What are you doing?" I felt Roberto's weight sink onto my back suddenly. Traitor! They were burning my leg and he was gonna help them?

"Ensuring you don't bleed to death. A dead body is equally undesirable."

Oh. That was nice of them. With ...a fire! Or something! I flinched, shutting my eyes, my mind giving me this horrific image of my calf all cut open, blood everywhere, and them holding a miniature blowtorch to the wound.

It took me a few long moments to realise that Roberto was standing up and that whatever had been going on was done. I glanced back, still with that horrible image in my brain, and was stunned to see a wound that ...wasn't as big as I expected. Blood was everywhere, sure, but it was being wiped away and not so much seemed to be coming out. The stitched up area seemed to be about the length of my palm. Not small but... not the giant gaping wound I'd expected.

"Is that it?" I blinked. "It wasn't..."

"The inside was worse, I must admit, but it was reasonably tame." Claude stood up straighter. "You should have remained seated with your leg elevated as I instructed. You'll be much weaker."

I already felt tired enough. Was that the blood? Or was it because it was... according to that clock... two in the morning? Still they didn't seem over-anxious. I breathed out slowly as I watched them slowly wrap up the wound over thick padding. "Thanks."

"They appeared to have been intending on disabling us. Not killing us. These bullets could have been far worse." Jan held up something still slightly red. It was the bullet, I realised. Wow.

I stared at the little sucker they'd fished out of me, this tiny innocent looking piece of metal that might have once been a bullet, stunned that it'd caused a wound so much bigger than it self. "Is that a normal size?"

"No. It's reasonably small. A normal sized one, for the police of Oriens, may have done a lot more damage." Claude was tugging gloves off his hands, slowly, but his eyes remained on the wound. "You are to remain resting and keep the leg elevated for now."

"Okay."

"I will not tolerate you going against this order."

Fine. Shesh. I nodded and went to swing my legs over the edge of the table but Claude grabbed my legs.

"I said, you must rest. I will carry you into your bed and you will call me should you need assistance to go to the bathroom."

It took a few seconds for those words to sink in. I flushed deep red when they did, suddenly, so embarrassed. Oh god. I hated this. Depending on someone for THAT. "No crutches around?"

"I would only tolerate a wheelchair- the leg should not support weight for as long as possible in order to ensure the stitches hold- and no. We have none. You will have to accept our help." Claude didn't flinch or get embarrassed. He just stood there, eyes locked in mine, waiting for me to disagree. When I didn't he smiled, bowing lightly, adding, "We've got many things to discuss with you. Your care and recovery is very important to us."

"Uh huh." Basically... don't bleed to death before they found out everything about Father. I supposed that was a fair enough request given all the trouble he'd put everyone through.

"I can carry her." Roberto's eyes were still fixed away from the dirty things on the table.

"There's no need for that, Prince Roberto." Claude slid an arm under my arms and legs, lifting me into his arms, and moving back. "Resting may be wise at this hour. Alberto will have this room cleaned and ready for dining in the morning. I am certain we will all look forward to breakfast in a fashion that is normal..."

"It won't need much..." I hadn't intended on saddling the poor butler with cooking all night. "The curry. I could-"

"Sleep." Claude's eyes fixed back into me. Uh oh. There it was. The 'try and argue this with me' look of steel. I sighed. Okay. Whatever. I was tired.

"Night, Roberto."

"Night, Phia." Roberto seemed to give in as well. He smiled brightly and ruffled my hair.

Claude carried me upstairs into a small bedroom. Halfway up the stairs I was already half asleep. As I was lowered into the sheets and tucked in, I sighed, somewhat comforted by the smell of lavender and the sense of being cared for... and pain free.

I sunk into the sheets, sighed, and shut my eyes. Tonight sleep was going to be easy.