Alien [Louis]

42 | H y p o c r i t e

"INTRUDER!"

The booming voice tore me from my dreams so suddenly that I jumped awake with a squeal. However, as soon as I opened my eyes and assessed the unpleasantness of the situation, I began to hope that I was still stuck in a dream. A nightmare sounded more appropriate, actually. My attention immediately focused on the long and incredibly sharp looking object being held in front of my face. Striking Blade, I realised with dread. It's a Councillor. Now they'll go and inform Klaru that I've escaped the cells. My heart jumped into my throat and all of a sudden it felt like I couldn't breathe but despite how afraid I was, I remained perfectly still, only able to stare at the deadly weapon hovering between my eyes. I only hoped it remained at a distance.

Beside me, Louis had also stirred. Out of the corner of my eye I could see him looking around in bewilderment. He pointed a finger at the Councillor. "Oi! I demand you drop your weapon this instant or I'll – Norkar?"

As soon as the spear-wielder had been identified, all my tense muscles relaxed and I blew out a relieved sigh. There was no getting my heart-beat under control though; it continued to beat at a hundred miles per hour. My gaze travelled up the length of the Striking Blade to find the male's scarlet skin dwindling down into its human likeness. Only once I saw the familiar face before me, did I begin to fully calm down.

"Your Majesty," Norkar greeted, like his intrusion had been nothing. He looked to me. "Earthling."

I offered him a weak smile as I attempted to pace my rapid breathing.

"Lower your weapon," Louis said for a second time, waving his hand up and down. "Thank you."

Norkar followed the order and stood straight with the weapon by his side. The blade stood a good few feet above him, making it look only the more terrifying. I could still recall the first time I'd laid eyes upon one; active and crackling with that deadly lightning. "You are lucky it was I on duty this morning, Sir. If it had been any other of Miss Klaru's men, they would have killed your human without hesitation."

Your human.

Louis nodded, unfazed by his fellow Junite's comment. "I am very aware. Bit unnecessary of you to shout that there was an imposter, however. Don't you think?"

Norkar looked bashful all of a sudden. His eyes briefly darted up and down and finally rested on the floor. "I, um... I didn't know how else to wake you, my Prince."

That was when I took the opportunity to observe our position. Louis and I had fallen asleep together on the window seat, in each other's arms. We had talked almost the entire night about Junito and the little details I'd missed while looking out at the burning sky.

"If you look closely to the east you can see the King's Star," he said while pointing off past the mountains. I squinted at the pastel pink area his finger was directed, trying to make it out.

"That one there?" I asked, pointing unhelpfully at a cluster of sparkles.