CHAPTER 2

Prince Soarin is already seated on the largest of one of the largest and most beautiful chairs upholstered in maroon leather, having an impressive posture. The bright golden light from the outside falls on his back, making it look as if he wore a gleaming robe.

Right at that moment, I kneeled before him, not after I tried to make with my palms a rhombus, the sign with which were greeted the diamonds and the royalty.

He was already waiting for me with his palms crossed in front of his face, leaning his elbows on the table. A few strands of golden hair fall on his forehead right before his orange eyes, and the collar of his matte brown doublet is wide open, showing his bare throat. He looked so informal! Where were the fine and cold younger prince? Taking a closer look, I still was able to find dark circles under his eyes, even though his face was all covered in white-pale foundation.

As I got up, he narrowed his eyes: "I have been waiting for you, Light Flame. Or should I call you Enigel Garcia?"

I low my head, trying as much as possible to avoid his eyes. I feel as if his gaze would kill me. Fear aces me, sharp and sudden, like a thousand of flying spikes. Is he here to punish me for something I haven't done?

"How can I fulfil my service to you, your highness?" I ask, not sure how to proceed.

He narrows his eyes again, as if he was thinking about something. "I know who you are, Enigel, and I also know how much you mean to my family."

His family? What on Alphamundus?!

"I am afraid I do not understand, sire," I say with a bow, finally finding the courage to tell him this.

"As you might have heard, my father wants to pass the throne to a new generation, but he can only do this if he would be shattered. Do not worry it would be you, he has already found a suitable Shatterer to do this to him. Also, do not be sad," he continues, lifting my chin, "I would take good care of you, daughter. However," he moved his gaze to a distant fixed point somewhere in the atmosphere, "my father wants the throne to be ruled by the son who is also a father."

Oh, no, not this.

Silence.

"You see…", he started again, looking back at me with what I call a strange and also to-be-like-a-friend gaze, "I would be the one who would make a fine king because I have a child."

Oh, no.

I didn't say a word and didn't make any face.

Seeing he couldn't be my new friend and also my petrified, statue-like figure, he went on, sitting up straighter, as though I am suddenly much more interesting. "I know you are my son's half."

Oh, Great Creator!

As I don't realize what I am doing, I find myself shaking my head.

He couldn't know that. That was impossible.

"It's shocking, isn't it?" he says with a big smile, as though he was going to laugh, trying to relieve me.

I feel my face heat. "I…"

"Please, don't be afraid," he tried in vain to calm me down.

No way.

Only a fool wouldn't be, despite his words. Prince Soarin came here himself right in the main building of the Shatterers, the ones responsible for crystallites death, and he asked for me specifically. Prince Soarin, who was a citrine. I still have no idea what he told the Shatterers about me or his son, but whatever he said, he convinced them to let him collaborate with me, even though the attachments are strictly forbidden among the Shatterers. Being stuck in such a matter about his son, who was also my half, it would have been a thing about attachments.

Moreover, I was not so a great Shatterer, but just an ordinary one. If he wanted to hire one to do his dirty job, he would have looked for someone better.

However, nobody knows that I secretly disobey this law of attachments. Even though he cheated on me with my twin sister, I am still together with Rodrigo, my ex, after two years of break. Could the other Shatterers have found out about this, thus letting this collaboration happen? Or, maybe the Shatterers are afraid of the prince's authority, even if they are apolitical?

But what does prince Soarin want?

Unconsciously, I started breathing too fast.

Prince Soarin, the one who is to be crowned the King of Allessan d'Rio, has the power to grant me a place in the palace, to make me a knight. That was my former dream before I decided to become a Shatterer.

This was way back in the third year of the superior cycle of education when my life took an unexpected turn-around.

I draw myself up and look into the amber of his eyes.

I blink, confused.

"How could I not be? You are the prince and the future king, your majesty! You are a crystallite and I, well…" I was too ashamed to say it out loud. "I am the black sheep of this land," I told to myself.

"So? I still want to be your friend, daughter," he bursts, blinking multiple times, smiling at me nervously.

I didn't say a word after that. The prince, then, tilts his head to study me. "You are young, Enigel Garcia, and I know very well The Twelve Laws of the Shatterers. There are many restrictions, therefore, you shall be free after you will accomplish what I will ask you to do for me."

I feel my heartbeat like a hammer and my vision becomes a little blurry. No way. Could he know about me and Rodrigo?

"Well, your majesty, I would try my best to fulfill your orders, no matter the payment and no matter the conditions. My life hangs on you, especially that you, the king, and The Yellow Diamond are sent by The Great Creator. I work and live only for you, sire."

"Then, it is all settled. You are to help me find my son. I am a hundred percent sure we, together, will find him and bring him back home. And once we have done this, I will be crowned and he will be the Yellow Prince."

Hearing this, I bit my lip. He couldn't do this. He couldn't find Crypto. No matter what.

Noticing that I don't say a word, he went on: "As soon as my son will be crowned as a prince, you will become his consort. The halves have to be together in the end, haven't they? Moreover, I feel you are in love with him, even though I am sure you haven't seen him or spoken to him since you have both changed your bodies. Do not worry if you do not like to wear dresses and go to all sorts of balls, because I know Korag well and I believe, even though he is not your biological father, you still take after him. Therefore, you shall also be the next general."

Without thinking too much, I find myself asking impolitely: "But what about my father?"

"Well, your father shall become something better, after I will be crowned. He deserves it," he smiled warmly at me. "But first, after we shall find Crypto, you shall be freed from the order because I can feel it, daughter, you're in such pain because of the order."

Silence.

But I can't shatter anyone any more.

I barely dare answer, and yet I must.

"I do not even know how to thank you, sire," I stammer, keeping my head low.

"But?" His eyebrows go up.

"I am afraid I do not understand," I twist my hands together, so he can't see how they are shaking.

"Come on, please, tell me everything you have in your heart. I will not hurt you, daughter, I promise," his voice sounded so much like one of a father.

"I have always wanted to be a Shatterer," I have finally found the courage to tell him, with my eyes filled with tears, to remember what has driven me to become one.

"If I can't act and be how they expect me to, how they dream me, then I will become their nightmare."

I will never forgive those thoughts and this decision, since this is what made my life change.

"I see. I think I see," he remarks, feeling him very confused. He can't understand me. No one can. "Than, I will treat with the Shatterers to keep your Crimson Power, my dear," he announces.

I take a deep breath.

So be it.

Again, silence, trying to find some correct words to say. After a minute of hard thinking, I started: "If you say so, my king, so be it. I owe you my life, then," I said, with a low bow.

"No, please, what are you doing? He tried to stop me. I thought you want to be my friend. You are in my family now. You are my son's lover, my future daughter-in-law."

Is this some kind of dream, or isn't this the real prince Soarin? What on Alphamundus is going on? What is this?

I started to feel my head hurt as the world from below, and I become rather dizzy. What have I got myself into? Nobody has to know where Crypto is, who he is or what he looks like. He ran away from home when he was six and decided to start a new life, with a new family, a new name, a new appearance, and a new identity. I don't even know where he lives or how he looks like, even though I changed bodies with him some time ago, but I couldn't see his reflection in the mirror, and I don't remember his address. I also think he might have moved, maybe living all by himself. Even if I've kept in touch with him, I haven't seen his face, agreeing from the beginning that I will try my best to keep his past a secret. Though I have met him several times after I got back in my body, he wore, every time, a carnival mask.

"I am sorry, your majesty, but, please, can I be excused for a while? I do not feel so well."

"Maybe it was too much information for you at a time." He concluded, getting up. Alright, then. See you tomorrow," he smiled at me.

Just as he finished saying goodbye, I burst on the door, and ran away from the main building of the Shatterers, trying to calm myself down, catching as much clean air as I can in one breath. I was hyperventilating. What did I get myself into? What should I do?