The Bastard Prince

10 Killing the prince.

Should he be worried?

Micah stared out the window of his room. Everything was quiet out there. There wasn’t much movement as everyone has already gone to sleep.

 The night was thicker than usual tonight as if it was an omen of evil things to come.

He paced to the bed still casting his eyes to the duke’s house. He should be getting on to sleep so that he could better serve his prince in the morning. But he couldn’t bring himself to sleep. Something just didn’t feel right.

The man he had taken to the princess’s room. He had been…well maybe it was none of his business what the princess did with a servant, but it was the man’s interest with the prince Dominic that worried him.

Micah sat on the bed, thinking. Going over the man’s questions.

Why would he want to know about prince Dominic’s room?

He hadn’t thought much about it at the time when he asked. But now that he had time to think about it. It was rather strange.

What did he want with his prince?

They weren’t suspicious questions but his interest of which room was the prince was rather suspicious, especially when the person he should be worried about was the princess. She was the one he was there to see.

No…

Micah got to his feet and ran to the house when his worry got the better of him. He was only going to check. He entered the house, making an excuse that he forgot to give the prince his night medicine. The guard at the door believed him since the prince has been sickly of late. He walked to the room designated for the prince. He used the key the prince had given him and entered the room.

He came to a relieved stop as he stared at the prince’s shock of silver hair on the pillow. As always Dominic left the bedside table light on as if he was scared of the dark. The light cast shadows around the room, but illuminated his face perfectly.

He was sound asleep. Not wanting to disturb him, Micah retraced his steps and walk out of the room pleased that nothing has happened. He locked the door behind him and made his way out of the house.

“I’m paranoid,” he said to himself shaking his head.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

He left, Karic thought as he emerged from the shadows from the corner of the room. He should be thankful of the prince’s male servant’s protectiveness or he wouldn’t have been able to make it into the room.

The door was locked, and the windows were shut tight. There was no way he would have been able to come in even with his talent for getting into very protected places was that good. He couldn’t go through locked doors even if he tried.  

He walked to the bed, and stared down at the prince.

He looked so peaceful in his sleep. It was a shame that he had to do this to him.

“Dominic,” Karic said. He did away with the title, because there was no use to call a man by his title when he was about to die.

 Dominic opened his eyes, and stared at him. He didn’t seem shocked that he was there.

He just stared at him, blinking slowly.

“I thought you were going to see Bella tonight?” he asked still not moving.

“I did,” Karic said.

“And?”

“And I have to talk to you about her,” Karic said standing up. He moved to the large window, and opened one side. “Let’s go talk.”

Dominic seemed to freeze in place, paling a little.

But he got out of bed, and searched for his shoes under the bed. He wore lose white pants and a matching shirt.

The moon shone bright as they walked out of the house through the large window and headed straight to the forest that lay a distance away. Karic looked around him, hoping no one noticed the prince. He stood out like a sword thumb with his silver hair, and white attire.

But no one saw them. They made it to the trees disappearing inside the forest. Karic didn’t know exactly where he was taking him, only that he wanted to be as far away from the house as possible.

“Stop there,” he said when he thought that they were deep enough. He pulled out a rope and tied the prince’s arms, and then his legs. He sat him down so that he wouldn’t fall.

“Why are you doing this?” Dominic asked staring up at him.

“I am doing this for your sister,” Karic said. He stared down at Dominic seeing the confusion in his eyes.

He pulled out the knife he had stuffed in the back of his pants and knelt down close to him.

“I wouldn’t do this, if it wasn’t for her,” Karic added feeling he had to make it clear that he wasn’t dying in vain.

“Make it quick,” Dominic said looking away from him.

Karic gripped his head and sliced a chunk of his hair of, and then run his knife along the line of his neck, cutting into the skin – blood ran covering the white shirt in red.

He sheathed the knife, and stared at Dominic as he gasped for air. He swung his right fist knocking him to the ground. And then he turned and left.

He walked a few steps, stopping to look back at Dominic. He watched as David leaned down to stare at the fallen prince.

He wasn’t hiding himself this time as he watched Karic’s handy work.

Karic had known he was there the whole time. He even knew that he had been there when he went to see Bella.

Fear swirled in his stomach at the thought of what Phillip might do with that knowledge.

He shook his head, hoping that killing Dominic will be enough to protect Bella.

“Well done,” David said as he caught up with him. “Saw you take away a souvenir. Hand it over. Phillip will want to see proof.”

“You witnessing the whole thing is not enough?” Karic asked through clenched teeth.

“No,” David said with a shake of his head.

 f**k…Karic thought as he handed the hair over.

“There is a good boy,” David said easily sidestepping Karic as he blindly lunged at him. “Careful. I can easily chain you to a wall next to your mother. I am not as merciful as my father or brother.” David laughed walking away.

Karic watched him leave, feeling like screaming. He ran to his room, not wanting anyone to see him, because when the prince is discovered missing they will be looking for anyone who was out walking at night.

He didn’t want to be arrested, not when Bella was still vulnerable to Phillip. He needed to be there to protect her.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Phillip watched as David walked into his room. He couldn’t sleep. All night he waited to hear an alarm from the guards, as Killengly was discovered dead.

But nothing. He wasn’t sure when Karic will decide to do it. Or if ever.

But when David didn’t return from watching the bastard. He knew…

The anticipation had felt like a drug in his veins…wow…he felt like a mastermind – like a chess player watching his pieces move and execute his plan.

God, it felt so good.

“Is it done?” he asked getting to his feet. He pulled on the silk robe he was wearing. He was naked underneath it except for his underwear. He loved how it felt gliding over his skin, like a woman’s touch.

“It’s done,” he said smiling gleefully. “Took him out with one slice of his knife. And he got this too.” David extended his hand, and Phillip did the same. His brother dropped silver hair into his palm. He stared at the strands wondering what Karic wanted to do with them.

Was it a soldier thing to keep a souvenir? Phillip asked himself. He wasn’t a soldier so he didn’t know.

“Are you sure he’s dead?” Phillip asked his face pulling into a frown.

“I saw him with my own eyes. There was blood everywhere. There is no way he could be alive after that kind of blood has left his body. He killed him, I promise you this,” David said with conviction that Phillip nodded.

“I knew he would do this. That woman must mean a lot to him,” Phillip turned away taking a deep breath. “It’s going to be sweeter when he sees me with her. He will burn with rage when he knows that I am touching her, and f*****g her the way that he wants to.”

“He was with her this evening,” David added.

Phillip turned to him so fast a few strands fell from his hand.

“Are you going to waste those? I would think you might have some use for them later,” David said pointing at the hair on the floor.

“Of course,” Phillip said his voice sounding strained from the rage that boiled inside him as he imagine what Karic and Bella were doing. He wondered why she ran away from dinner. She had been going to see him.

Fuck…Phillip felt saliva froth at the edges of his mouth as his anger grew inside him. He wanted so much to let it out. But he pushed it to the deep recesses of his stomach. He’ll deal with it later. But now, what to do with his? He asked himself lifting the hair to see it in the light.