16. The Sentence

3.01.20

Kody's POV

It's completely dark wherever I am. I can distantly hear the sound of James's voice, but I couldn't reach it. It was almost like I had a 50 pound weight strapped to my chest that was pulling me down. I could smell my own blood, and I wanted to vomit but couldn't because I didn't have control of my own body. I could taste the plastic of the tubes going down my throat to help me breathe.

"Kody! My son," I heard my father cry from above me. He was weeping sadly, and I wished that I could get out of this void to comfort him.

"I'm so sorry!" Gosh darn it, now James is crying too.

"What happened to your parents?"

"I killed them," he responded casually. 

"Kody," a devine voice sounded from deep in my mind.

"Yes?" I responded into the void. Why was I talking to a voice in my mind? Suddenly a figure barged in white appeared before my eyes. When the blinding light faded, I was face to face with a beautiful woman. Her eyes were still shining a breathtaking silver, and her hair, which was so blonde that it appeared white, fell perfectly down her shoulders.

"My beautiful son," she cooed softly.

"What are you talking about? My mother left me alone years ago."

"It's time that you know the whole truth, Kody. My light is slowly fading; I need you to step up."

"Step up? What are you talking about?"

"A long, long time ago my mother sent me to earth to find someone to fall in love with. When I met Mace, my future came together. We spent our time with each other in secret, but eventually his parents found out about me. I was chased away from him, and once I lost my pursuiters, I escaped to my mother. I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy just as my world fell apart.

"My family's enemies found our hiding spot, and they were relentlessly attacking. I sent my little baby boy to live with his father praying that he would be safe. I barely escaped with my life, and my enemies have been chasing me. If I had known that they knew where my son was, I would have protected him with my life. Kody, you're my son, and I'm the goddess of the moon."

My mouth hung ajar. "So you're telling me that I'm the prince of the moon?"

"I guess I am."

"I can't believe this!" I shouted. "I need to tell James!"

"I only have a little bit of my power left. I can send you back, but it will take a while, and I probably won't make it. Also, I can't promise that James will still be in the castle. I know that he won't forget you, but he may not be beside you when you wake up because he can't."

"I don't want you to die, but I need to go back to him. I need to be on Earth to love him."

"Understand that when I die, you will take my powers and responsibilities."

"I understand... I want you to teach them to me."

"I will. We have six months before you can awake anyways."

"Let's do it."

James's POV

I was holding tightly onto my beautiful Kody when a loud crash was heard. I looked up to be face to face with the police. "Was it you that killed them?"

"Yes."

"We won't put you in jail because you're clearly messed up in the head to kill your own parents, but get out of this kingdom."

"Who will run it?"

"Natalie."

"Fine, I guess. Don't hurt Kody."

"We'll do whatever we want."

I didn't have much energy to fight their words. I woke up Mason and we walked out together. "You're welcome to live with me," he offered.

"I need to stay in Carbuos in case Kody needs help."

"So you'll just live on the streets?"

"Yes."

***

(Three months later)

I ran away quickly from the angry middle-aged man chasing me. I caught a glimpse of myself in the reflection of a window while running, and I looked so different. My hair was long, unkept, and blowing in the breeze. My skin was still pale, yet slightly more sun kissed from being in the sun for a long time. In my dirty hands I held a loaf of bread that I had stolen. I have done this a million times before, but this is the first instance that I was caught. I became one with the streets, and my feet guided me every step of the way. Unfortunately, the bread man was quick on his feet, and he pounced on me with a lot of force.

I fell to the ground underneath him, and his rough voice muttered darkly, "Don't try to run, boy, the police will be here soon."

Despite his words, I still tried to wiggle my way out from underneath him. "I'll give it back if you just let me go!" I begged.

"You answer to the law, adolescent baboon."

The police rounded the corner, and the man only got off of me as they were detaining me. "Thank you, sir, we've been looking for this thief for a long time."

"It was my pleasure," the man responded before wandering off.

"Prince James, darling of the people, degraded to stealing bread," one of the police officers sniggered.

"We must do what we have to to survive," I responded smoothly.

"Well I guess that you'll be surviving in prison for six months," another declared, and I stiffened. If I thought that the Carbuos streets were horrible, the prisons were so much worse.

"Please don't take me there!" I whined loudly, but I was already being loaded into a waiting cop car. No one responded to me, and I was stuck in the car. It was too hot back here, and I could see the world zipping by the car. I could smell death, drugs, and alcohol mixed in with the leather, and it made me want to jump out just for the fresh air. I could hear the police in the front talking distantly, and they were discussing my sentence. "...Sentence... Prince James... Too short... Too long... 4 months..."

Were they going to put me in that hell for 4 months? Maybe I could make it, but I wouldn't be able to greet Kody whenever he woke up. Tears came to my eyes, and I let them fall to the floor because I couldn't wipe my face with my hands. When the car slowed to a stop, I was forced out of the door and bundled into a small room. After I was thoroughly searched and my weapons were taken from me, I was escorted to a cell. There was another person in it, and my heart rate increased. I was forced into the room, and my handcuffs were finally taken off.

"What're you here for?" my cell mate asked from the other side of the room.

"I stole a loaf of bread, but I have a suspicion that I'm actually being blamed for murdering my parents."

"What're your parents so important that the police care?"

"I don't know, it was really stupid."

"You should be fine here, kid. Remain invisible, and no one will bother you. Whatever you do, don't put yourself out there. You'll be torn apart in seconds."