T H I R T Y

Iris was choking out excuse after excuse, whatever his mind came up with on the spot, with hopes that the situation wasn't as grave as it settled to be.

But the weight of everything, just everything, was starting to nudge the truth out of his mouth. However, he swallowed the lump and clutched his throat. He'd never let it out. Arlo could figure it out, but he'd never tell.

Eventually, Iris was cowering next to his bed while his dad demanded he removed his hands from his neck.

Arlo aready knew the truth, he did deep down. But he wanted his son to be honest with him. He bent down in front of Iris and grabbed his elbows.

"Tell. Me." Arlo looked into Iris's eyes with a stern stare, but within his seriousness he showed Iris that he could trust him. That it was okay to tell. Even though the truth wasn't necessarily okay to be okay with.

Iris shook his head and diverted his eyes. He flinched lightly when the King moved his hands from his arms to grip his shoulders.

"I know what you're doing, Iris. You're only going to get him in more trouble for lying."

Iris widened his eyes and swallowed another lump. Except this time it wasn't the truth, but another lie he wanted to confess. Iris suddenly leaned forward with desperate eyes.

"Dad, please, please don't do anything to him. It was all me, I forced him to do it. Please don't hurt him."

It seemed that the prince's whole life was a climb to a climax of disasters. When something cherishing occurs, life recoils and throws him on a downward spiral. He could only get dizzy so many times.

Arlo noticed far too lucidly the affects of the game playing in his son's life. His begging and pleas were too loud to ignore, anyway. They were so surreal, it shocked him.

The King sighed and loosened his hold on Iris. "As a King..rules must be carried out," When he witnessed Iris's eyes grow wider than their priceless china, Arlo noted that he should have arranged his statement better. "But Kai is-well he's..just someone I'll bend a few rules for."

The feeling of relief has never been so crucial to his mentality. Iris looked down and slumped his shoulders. They had been so tense they hurt when they dropped corresponding to his ease.

Everything after than was a blur of political talk from Arlo. Punishment-in which Iris wished with all his heart was only a long, long lecture-was definite. He followed his dad to his door where more dreading moments were shared.

The King didn't have to call a servant to search for Kai at all, as the vampire was sitting near the door silently.

He looked up at Iris with hooded lids and then at Arlo.

The King hardly made eye contact with him. "My study. Now." He said in a declaring tone that made Kai shudder. He may have dominance, but the King had authority. And a lot of it.

The vampire nodded and slowly stood up. This explains why he couldn't find the King when he sought out for him. He was already half way down the corridor when Kai was on his feet.

Iris expected him to say something, anything, but he didn't even spare a glance at the prince before he started catching up to Arlo. He wasn't mad at him, not in the slightest, even though he made Iris think that. Kai was just silent and obedient.

Over the years of being owned by a royal family Kai's seen what 'punishments' did to the vampires. They were fearful, as though they weren't vampires at all, they'd beg for mercy. That only encouraged the people who inflicted the pain. Kai has witnessed enough public executions to know a single plea can fuel an entire stadium with hollers.

So, he stayed quiet, and he stayed respectful. Making peace with demons was far more better than fighting them; to him anyways. And always.

††

The King's study was cold when the two entered it. It was far smaller than his office, which was home to the long wooden table and many meetings took place there. While in his study, it was his own personal place for minor conferences.

Arlo sat behind his desk while Kai took a seat on one of the hard leather ones right in front of it. Kai's eyes trained on his hands despite Arlo's penetrating gaze trying to lure them to connect with his.

The silence was a wave falling over them like a blanket. It was stuffy and uncomfortable and left an anxious feeling in their stomachs. While under the wave, everything after was unpredictable.

The clearing of the King's throat cut through the silence. "We're doing this professionally, okay?"

Kai nodded, still unable to meet Arlo's eyes.

"The death of one of my village people, I presume that was you?"

Even when he looked up, Kai didn't greet Arlo. "I didn't-"

Arlo quickly put a hand up, silencing him, "Professionally, no excuses. Zero of them. I just want to truth, Kai."

The truth. Kai looked back down at his hands and squeezed them. And after a long pause, he came clean.

"The villages are part of this kingdom, and this kingdom is like a home to me. I'd never intentionally hurt anyone..and Iris-" Kai sighed, he couldn't finish the sentence.

The King listened with a tilt of his head, a small but pitying smile wore his lips. He leaned forward and crossed his arms over his desk.

"Kai, I know you-well at least I believe I do-and what I believe is that you're a good guy. You have condolences for the civilian?"

Kai looked up and warily met Arlo's gaze. "Yes, sir."

"And your testimony is something I will trust?"

"Well, I hope it is, sir."

Arlo's smile grew before he shadowed it with a serious line of his lips. "Kai, I won't hurt you..and if I may be honest I don't think I can. But that doesn't mean you will be off the hook so easily."

"I understand, sir. I'll make peace with anything you give."

"Then, I am demoting you from being my son's body guard. You will serve as you were when you first arrived here."

Physical punishment might have been better.

Kai stared at the King, unsure if he understood him correctly.

"So, that means-"

"It means you won't be able to see Iris for a while. Not not ever again, just until I decide you can."

Yeah, something physical would've been better. Kai leaned back in his chair, baffled by the punishment. He didn't think something like this would affect him so much, but he was foolish to think that. It hurt. A lot; not being able to see Iris.

"I understand, sir. When does this start?"

"Today. Whatever objects you own and have in your room, take them because you'll be staying in the guard's sleeping quarters again."

"Okay, sir."

"Good." Arlo stood up and walked around the desk, motioning for Kai to stay where he was. "I'll be right back."

When the door to the study closed, Kai was engulfed in frustration. He ran his hands down his face and sighed heavily. Of course he was relieved he wasn't sentenced to the punishment written in the rules-which was death. But the King gave him something that was going to be challenging to cope with.

Kai let his hands drop from his face when the door reopened and be glanced over his shoulder. The King motioned for him to come over and he followed.

"I'm giving Iris his own little punishment. He's expected to get a lot of work done for a long while," Arlo then directed Kai's attention to the other vampire standing next to him. "This is Carver, he'll be watching over Iris's room."

Kai had enough common sense to know he ordered a guard because of him. He really wasn't able to see him again.

For now.

Kai nodded at the guard and turned back to the King.

"You can stop by your room, get your belongings if you have any, then meet me in the training hall."

"Yes, sir."

While they all walked down the stretching hallway, only Kai stopped when they walked past the prince's room. He watched the King and the other guard for a few seconds before entering the room. He hoped Iris was still there, still possibly waiting for him. But it was quiet and empty. He didn't have very many belongings, actually he had nothing besides his clothes-which the mansion technically provided.

Kai gathered whatever he had and met the King in the training hall.

"Kai!" The vampire was greeted with a hug by Cyrus. "You're back to being our leader, I heard." She smiled brightly at him, her fangs shining .

"For a while," Kai stated quickly. He'd do anything to shorten his time away from Iris, even though being back with the first class guards already started feeling amazing.

"It's a convenient time," Arlo piped in as soon as Cyrus backed away, "with all the commotion about the new vampires and everything..practice is all one needs."

Something hopeful sparked in Kai's eyes, "If we must train, Iris would participate wouldn't he?"

The King smiled at him, "Yes,  with Carver." The hope vanished, "That is if he does. With the work I gave him he won't be asking to train any time soon. Anyway, the rest of the day is yours." With a farewell to the guards, Arlo and Kai's replacement left again.

Almost every vampire that was lingering in the training hall came and surrounded Kai.

"It's amazing to have you back." One female exclaimed while gleaming at him.

"Okay, you guys are being over-dramatic. I was the prince's body guard for three years, but that didn't mean I never visited. I mean, not even a week ago did we train together." Kai glanced at Cyrus, who was one of the many circling him.

"That's true. But at least now you'll get to hang out with us some more. Training or not."

Kai smiled at the female guard. He had to admit he knew he wasn't going to be sulking as much since he was with his fellow guards. He looked over at another one when she spoke up.

"So what happened? The prince doesn't need a body guard anymore?"

"Oh, he's not going to come and round house kick me this time, is he?"

Kai chuckled when a male guard covered his face, a priceless memory flashing in his head. "No and no. It's just...the King was right. There are people out there who we need to be prepared to face. Time is critical, so even though it feels good to be back, it's not to sit and listen to how your lives have been."

Cyrus clapped suddenly, "Well said, sir. I couldn't agree more."

The male hit her arm playfully, "Please, you're going to be the first to start bawling your problems out to him."

The circle of vampires erupted in laughter, Kai included.

"What-that's offensive!"

"No, it's the truth."

Kai didn't know what was worse in that moment. Realizing how badly he missed being a part of the first class guards, or realizing he missed Iris already twice as bad, and it hasn't even been two hours yet.