The Kingdom To Kill For

Chapter 5 - Suspicious

There was screaming in the wardrooms. And in the hallways, most parts crammed with different creatures as patients on trolleys, some tended by strained relatives and some alone. 

Persis was looking for the room numbers. The dull beige tile leads onwards passed identical doorways edged in grey. There are commercial prints on the walls - mostly about their academy achievements and excellent students taking on a medicine course, by their power gifted in nature together with the new technology they invented- Tasteful in the dull kind of way.

Room 303.

Persis entered the room. She decides to explore the place while the nurse stood at the bedside of her patient, taking her pulse, observing the respiration rate while the patient didn't speak. The room is as brimful of beauty as she expected in a suite. There are flowers, beautiful paintings, leather chairs, soft music, and large windows glass, giving her a view of the world.

After checking the patient, the nurse left, sterilizing her hands at the door before leaving. Persis sat next to Sekhmet and stared dejectedly at the ceiling.

"I can see you look fine," and she turned her head to Sekhmet, "and I am expecting someone else is here with you,"

"What do you mean someone else?"

"Do you know who saved you?" She was smiling in a teasing way.

"And you are expecting that someone who saved me will be here?"

Persis' lips wry into a thin smile as she slid herself into one of the nearest leather chairs from Sekhmet's bed. "Yes?"

Sekhmet sighed and said, "Prince Ryujin and his classmates were passing by the garden when they heard the commotion. And he made it in time to save me. Even if it is not me, he will be there to rescue anyone who is in danger."

Persis gives a slight nod. "He is indeed a prince," she agreed.

"How are you, by the way? You didn't hurt your wings?" Sekhmet asked. She wanted to change the subject and didn't want to talk about the Prince. She is grateful enough for the prince to save her for the second time, and wondered how to pay him back.

"Almost, but I managed to heal in a short time, but you, my friend, were delivered in the emergency room immediately for removing the toxic goo from that monster."

Sekhmet was silent.

When Persis saw her friend, who decided to keep quiet, she said, "And thank you, by the way,"she leaned over with her arms leaning on her knees,"I was worried sick that I can't even make it here to see you, until now. You were in a critical situation because of me."

Sekhmet met her gaze, "Hey, don't say that, no one is to blame for what happened."

With a heavy sigh, Persis leaned back on the chair, "For you to know, Professor Alduir is still in a coma. He received such damage from the attack and was stung by the poison."

Sekhmet was taken by surprise about the news, "How did it happen?" she asked.

"I don't know, no one knows," she said, crossing her legs to relax on the chair, "everybody assumes he was poisoned by the plant, and you were, too, right? and maybe, he was too weak to take the poison in his body,"

She gazed momentarily resting on the windows, wondering how and why it had happened that way before she turned to Persis with a slight frown.

"Have you ever wondered that there is someone out there who is trying to kill the professor?"

"I've only wondered if Ryujin is always there to rescue you,"

"Stop teasing around," she throws a pillow on Persis and hitting her on the head, "I'm serious,"

"I can see you blushed," Persis was laughing.

Sekhmet touches her cheeks and feels their warmth. She felt somehow betrayed by devoiding such emotion. "Stop teasing me,"

"I never thought I could see something this side of you, and you do like him." It's not a question.

"Don't be ridiculous," she shifted, as to avoid her friend's teasing gaze, her glossy blue hair spilling over her shoulder.

"Well, I'm not, but you are," she smirks, a playful light dancing in her eyes, "Have good rest, dear Sehkmet, I'll give you a copy of our lesson later."

She nodded, "yeah, thanks," and Persis left.

***

Ryujin didn't believe what happened two days ago. He isn’t convinced that it was just an accident. And it wasn't intended to hurt anyone, but to Professor, alone. It was like a bomb waiting in time to snatched him away only to show that the class was made to be the cover of its original intention.

He was standing at the shattered glass and glancing around the broken garden. No one is allowed to enter until the place returns to its original state, yet, he's here to gather evidence or any other parts to find the one who jeopardized the class and the Professor, especially to Sekhmet. The chopped plant was already removed and buried. He picked up a broken glass, which was once a bell jar for the plant. He studied the object for a moment.

"Looking for something interesting?"

In the blink of an eye, the tip of the pointed dagger was digging into a girl's throat. He doesn't even hesitate at the sight of the female.

"I'm no threat for you, crown prince," she said, hearing the sizzle as the strange blade absorbed the drop of blood from the pin prick wound in her throat. She could sense the air around him stirred with a prickle of warning. "I do not know," she continued, "that a dragon can kill a dragon, are you supposed to be a dragon prince?" she mocked.

"What are you doing here?" A startling hint of strain briefly flared in the prince’s blue-grey eyes. He stepped back, keeping away his dagger under his sleeve.

Despite knowing each other, he doesn't give a damn thing of who she is, and his senses are not that stable for a moment to attack that way.

He watched her skin heal the small burn.

"Just wanted to see this place, but you came here first,"

She was medium height and lithe, with red hair that fell to her shoulders. Her face was pale oval with eyes as red as fire and carved features. Her lips were full and tinted the color of dark matte.

Ryujin didn' say anything.

She crossed her arms under her chest as she strolled forward, studying Ryujin with a readable expression. She was amused, and at the same time, she was mesmerized by his looks.

"But, to tell you the truth, I wanted to see you, too, but I doubt she remembers you, it sounds sad, right?"

The prince didn't say anything at all, was spinning away, and heading out the door.

Heat rises to her neck and up to her cheeks, as her fingers curl into her palms. She muttered some foreign words with hate and disgust.