The Prince and I - 36

“Spit it out,” I told Connor, feeling my anger raise again.

“I’m not going back. Ever.”

“Uh-huh. Right.”

“I’m not.” His voice was soft but the words were said with conviction.

“Why do I have the feeling your uncle might have something to say about that.”

“Oh he had a lot to say about it, including pointing out exactly what I’d be throwing away if I did what I was planning. I told him if things worked out the way I prayed they would, I’d be gaining something worth a hundredfold what I would loose.” He reached across the table to take my hand, his eyes locking on mine.

I tried to look away but couldn’t. There was such hope on his face. I wasn’t about to give in just yet however. “If that’s true why did you wait so long to come back?”

“My uncle told me how you’d reacted when you found out I was gone. I was afraid you’d never forgive me. And then, before I could find out one way or the other, things happened. Things with Aemornion.”

For a second I couldn’t figure out what he meant and then I remembered. “He tried to capture you again?”

“No. I was well protected for obvious reasons. He went after my older brother.”

“You have..? Never mind, go on.”

“Aemornion caught him unawares and almost succeeded. So we had to teach him a lesson.”

“Whose head rolled,” I asked, remembering a conversation we’d had a long time ago. I winced when he told me Aemornion’s had.

Connor squeezed my hand. “If it hadn’t, he’d have continued until he did capture one of us. There are still others like him out there but they’re not as rabid in their beliefs and they rarely if ever venture here.”

“So no one’s going to come looking for you.”

“I can’t say they won’t, but probably not. Anyway, once that was over I had to make a decision. Did I want to stay there and be a good little future heir to the throne, should both Sadron and my brother die before I did? Or did I want to take a chance that you’d let me back in your life?” He smiled. “It really wasn’t much of a choice.”  

“What if I say no?” I wouldn’t have. He was all I wanted in this world and I wasn’t about to loose it again, but I still wanted to hear his reply.

“Then I’ll pursue you like a lovelorn suitor until you change your mind.”

I grinned. “You would, wouldn’t you?”

“Indeed. I’ll plant myself on your doorstep, send you flowers and… and whatever it is human lovers give each other. Every time you turn around there I’ll be. I’m not a bad hand at poetry so I’ll declaim my poems to you day and night no matter who’s around.”

“There’s a word for that here. It’s called stalking. And it’s illegal.”

He clasped a hand to his chest. “Then I’ll suffer imprisonment until you pity me so much you come to set me free.”

Laughter bubbled up. I could barely say, “All right, all right, I give in. We can try again and see what happens.”

As soon as I said that he was beside me. He didn’t have to say thank you or anything else; his lips said it for him. From the kiss we moved on to other things, recapturing all the feelings we’d shared before he’d left.

In the weeks that followed—before Winter Break was over—we found a place with a bit more room than my apartment. Sadron refused to foot the bill which was no problem since Connor was hardly poor in his own right. Sadron did however continue to pay my tuition. I think he hoped I really would go to work for one of his companies when I got my degree. That is still up in the air but I’m considering it.

Mr Knight promised to come around when I needed him, despite the fact Sadron had terminated his contract. “I’d feel guilt if you flunked a class because I deserted you” was what he said but I suspect it was also the fact we’d become more than tutor and student. We’d become friends as well. Thankfully he and Connor hit it off immediately so there was no stress on that front.

And that is the lowdown on the Prince and I. Well ex-prince to hear Connor tell it but I don’t think you can become an ex one. He was born a prince and he’ll be one long after I’m dead and gone. For now however we plan to live each day as it comes and enjoy the hell out of the time we have together.

The End

The Prince and I - 35

“I was looking for you.” Connor’s look was guileless. But then he always had had the ability to make a statement seem both innocent and obvious.

I wanted to run, to get as far away from him as fast as possible before I got hurt again. Wanting to and doing were two different things however. My feet seemed frozen in place as I wet my lips and tried to reply. “Well you found me. Now… vanish… again.” Anger took over. “Go back to wherever the hell it is you came from and leave me the hell alone!” I whipped past him and was out the door seconds later, veering left and dashing past a group of girls heading who knew where. At least they’d cover my retreat.

I ran, trying not to fall on slippery sidewalks, plowing through the snow when I got to a park until I was so breathless I had to stop. Bending, I put my hands on me knees, gasping in deep breaths. I heard a soft chuckle behind me and spun around.

Arms enfolded me, lips found mine and we were back to where we had been before he disappeared. The kiss seemed to go on and on…and to be too short.

I broke it, pushing him away angrily. “You never even said goodbye.”

“I had no choice in the matter.”

“You forgot how to walk back down the stairs?”

Connor sighed. “Oh I walked down them and into the arms of three of my uncle’s bodyguards. Before I could do anything they whisked me away so to speak.” He wrapped his arms around himself and I realized he was shivering. No wonder either; he was wearing a light jacket and tennis shoes. Hardly gear for snow and cold.

I knew I was asking for trouble but I couldn’t let him freeze to death. “Come on, I don’t live far from here.” Taking off my thick scarf I handed it to him and he wound it around his neck, burying his hands in the remainder.

When we reached the apartment I headed straight to the bedroom after kicking off my boots and dumping my coat on the sofa. I came back with a thick sweater which I practically ordered him to put on. While he did I went into the kitchen and set water boiling for tea. I heard him come to the doorway and stop.

“You can come in. I’m not going to bite, or yell.”

“Promise?”

“Yeah, so stop hovering and sit down.” I heard a chair move and turned to see him watching me almost shyly.

“You haven’t changed much.” His gaze ran the length of my body and back to my face.

“You haven’t changed at all,” I countered. “You’re still a brat who thinks he can have whatever he wants.”

“That’s unfair and untrue.”

“Is it, Connor?” I put teabags in two cups, poured water in and handed one to him before sitting down across the table from him.

“I never meant to hurt you.”

“Probably not but you did. And if I let you back into my life you will again the next time you have to go back.”

Emotions I couldn’t read flashed across his face as he dipped the teabag. He took it out and tossed it into the sink then took a drink. “Hot,” he muttered.

“No shit.”

Setting the cup down, he began to say something and hesitated.

The Prince and I - 34

Three months later I had my GED. A month after that, kicking and screaming all the way, I was enrolled at the School of Mines. Alright so I didn’t kick and scream too hard. Mr Knight had a way of inspiring me to do my best while making certain he was one step ahead of me all the way. By the time I got my GED I realized I liked learning. It made me feel as if I was worth something to someone, even if it was just myself.

In all the time after I’d left the mansion I never heard one word from Sadron. Not a call, not a note, nothing. It was as if he’d dropped off the face of the earth. And when I thought about it I figured that was exactly what had happened, he’d returned to his own world. Of course I didn’t hear from Connor either, but then I hadn’t expected to. I was resigned to the fact he was gone for good and if he thought of me at all it was probably as the strange human who’d briefly helped him when he’d needed it.

During the first semester at Mines I worked my ass off to keep up with everyone else. Mr Knight was around to help me when I got really stuck.

I once asked him why and he’d just shrugged. “You’re a good kid; I want to see you make something of yourself. Besides,” he’d smiled wryly, “I’m being paid well to make certain you live up to Mr Daeronion’s expectations.”

I’d sort of figured that. Sadron must be putting out a hell of a lot of cash between Mr Knight, my rent and of course my books and tuition. I wondered what would happen when I got my degree and told him ‘Hasta la vista… Oh yeah and thanks’ and took off to make my own way in the world.

Even with all my hard work I did find time to make a few friends and indulge in a couple of quick hook-ups, neither of which did anything other than help relieve the stress of classes.

With the fall semester over I had three weeks to myself. Of course the first day it had to snow—and hard. I woke up to find at least a foot of the white stuff on the ground and damned near as much on the balcony outside my front door. For a few minutes I was pissed. Then I remembered what it had been like on the streets—with just a jacket over as many layers as I could fit under it—and realized I was damned lucky now.

I got dressed, bundled up and headed out to get some real coffee at the small café on the block behind my place. A guy I knew from school worked there so we got to talking since it was slow at the moment.

He chuckled suddenly and I asked why. “Looks like you’ve got an admirer.” Since he knew I was gay I figured it had to be a male and turned to see if I knew him.

“Holy shit,” I whispered, quickly turning away.

“Know him I take it,” my friend said.

“Used to,” I muttered.

“I have the feeling you’re going to again because he’s not leaving.”

“Where’s the back door?”

He grinned. “Too late, Richie.”

A hand gripped my shoulder and I turned slowly. Deep green, gold flecked eyes scanned my face as if searching for something.

I hated the slight tremor in my voice as I asked, “What are you doing here?”

The Prince and I - 33

For the next month I lived a solitary existence. Okay, that sounds pitiful I know but it’s not so bad actually. I found the local grocery store and stocked up on food almost to the point of hoarding. Then I discovered there was a library close by and I became a regular visitor. I think if my father could have seen me there, or sitting curled up on the sofa with a book, he’d have been shocked beyond belief. I hadn’t been a bad student but on the other hand I’d been no scholar either. Now I was reading anything and everything I could consume.

Then one morning someone knocked on my door. I figured it was the manager coming to tell me it was time to move, that the month’s rent Sadron had put up had run out. Instead I found a middle-aged man standing there. His hair was white at the temples and a pair of wire-framed glasses perched on his long, thin nose.

Figuring he’d come to the wrong apartment, or was going to try to sell me something, I asked, “Can I help you?”

“Richie Marino?”

“Perhaps. Who wants to know?”

“Mr Daeronion sent me. I’m your tutor.”

“Hang on a minute, who’s Mr. Daeronion?” And then what he’d said sank in. “You mean Sadron. I told him I wasn’t interested in his offer.”

“He rarely listens to people who tell him ‘No’.” The man peeked past me into my apartment. “That’s quite a stack of books you have there. Enjoy reading do you?”

“Yeah, and?”

“It means there’s hope for you yet.” He stepped forward, I stood my ground. “Richie you might as well let me in because I’m not going anywhere until you do.” He pushed his glasses back up his nose and waited.

I debated just slamming the door in his face but I figured he meant what he’d said so reluctantly I moved aside. He came in, introducing himself as John Knight.

“You know you’re wasting your time, Mr Knight.”

He ignored me as he looked through the books on the table. “Very interesting. You seem to have eclectic tastes.” Picking one up he opened it then said, “Tell me about Dylan Thomas.”

So I did, as much as I knew of him. I even quoted a line from one of his poems which had stuck in my head. ‘Though lovers be lost love shall not; And death shall have no dominion.”

He’d sat down while I was talking, listening with one ear I think while he chose another book that he quizzed me about next. That went on for the next two hours, much to my surprise.

Then he said, “You have a sharp mind, Richie. I know you resent Mr Daeronion’s sending me here but look at the positive side. I can help you get your GED and in the long run isn’t that a good thing?” 

“Yeah, I guess it is,” I replied slowly.

“Excellent.” He took a small pad of paper and a pen from his jacket pocket and began to write. When he’d finished he handed it to me. “We’ll begin with science so pick up those books from the library.” He smiled and got up. “I’ll bring basic test questions for each section with me tomorrow so I know where you stand and what area’s need the most work. Is nine in the morning too early for you?”

“Umm, no, I guess not.”

“Good. I’ll see you then.”

The Prince and I - 32

The woman who opened the door of the apartment manager’s office looked me over carefully before letting me in. I handed her the letter from Sadron then shuffled from one foot to the other as she read it. I was dead sure she’d do something a simple as tell me there was a mistake and no apartment was available.

She finished reading and smiled. “So you’re Mr. Sadron’s protégée.”

I nodded. As I said, I’d read the letter so I knew what was in it, which wasn’t much. Just an introduction which confirmed my status as a student he was providing for. The student part wasn’t happening but if he wanted to pay for me to live here for a week or two before he got the message I wanted nothing to do with him, well hell at the moment I wasn’t going to argue.

After she took a set of keys off the board behind her desk she led me up the outside stairs to the third level balcony, and down to the end. She unlocked the door, handed me the keys while she told me one was to the outside recreation area and pool and then left me to my own devices.

I suppose by normal standards the apartment was small, just a living room with a tiny kitchen off to one side, a bedroom and a bathroom. It was furnished which was good. Nothing fancy but compared to where I normally lived—to use the phrase loosely—it was great to have any furniture at all.

As soon as I’d put my clothes away I took a long, hot shower. I needed to relax, if I could, and try to put the past few days behind me. Unfortunately the bruising on my arm was a grim reminder of them but it would fade and with it, I prayed, my memories of… everything.

When I was finished I dried off, put on a pair of shorts, and fell into bed. After I went to sleep—which I finally did—I dreamed of elves armed with swords and bows chasing me, trying to drive me out of their world. I woke early the next morning vowing never to have anything to do with them, in reality or books or stupid games, ever again.

But I still couldn’t get rid of the empty place in my heart that for a brief time had been filled with hope and perhaps love.