The Raspite Prince

I try to drift off to sleep, but people, as well as the doctor, come in and out, seeking medical aid for everything from a cough to more serious wounds.

I watch the doctor closely. She seems to truly care for everyone who enters. Since my restraints are removed, she keeps an ever-watchful eye on me, especially when we're alone in the room. I can't say I blame her—I did try to strangle her. I shrug it off because I'm used to it. Those who were around me on my own planet did the same.

One of the patients that comes in is a small boy with his mother. They are a bit of a distraction from all the noises and mediocrity. The mother holds the boy so gently and with so much love in her eyes. I can't help but be envious of him. It's obvious that the only fear the mother has is that her beloved child is sick and needs her to help him. He snuggles her, holding her tightly while the doctor sticks him with medicine to treat his illness.

I want more than anything to know what it's like to feel that kind of love from a mother. I replay their images in my head, pretending it's my own mother holding me. It's impossible, because my own mother could barely stand to be in the same room as me. I roll away, blinking at the wall, trying to go to sleep. My mind races in every direction.

My father had contacted my mother only a short time before the attack and told her that he would speak to her again the next night. It's been almost five days since she's heard anything. She has to be worried, about him at least. I'll bring it to Lieutenant Wolf's attention tomorrow. I need to contact her. I'm sure she'd like to know she's a widow. Even if she won't admit it, she'd be somewhat happy to know I'm safe.

Without meaning to, I picture Lieutenant Wolf—Patrick. Other men have been in and out of here, none of whom caught my attention as he did. His face and the expressiveness of it seems easy to read. What is it about him that makes me think of him this way? My cheeks get warm, and at first, I panic a little. I pull the side table over and slide its items to the side. The table is made of metal and allows me to see my reflection. My cheeks are bright red. I'm relieved and confused. I don't quite understand why. What is this emotion in me that he stirs?

I've never really paid attention to the opposite sex because my father was the only one around me. All my guards were female, to keep me from fulfilling the rest of the prophecy with someone not worthy or with someone who would use my powers for evil.

So much distrust has been driven into my head.

I recall the reflection of Patrick before he left. Did he look at me the same way that I did him? There was no recollection of him blushing, so perhaps he was merely sizing up a potential threat. I'm nothing more than complete and utter chaos in a pretty package.

I must stop whatever this is inside me that makes me so distracted by this man. I try to divert my focus, to sleep, but neither come easily. It takes forever to fall asleep, but I finally do.

The morning will never come. I toss and turn as faces of the people from the burnt-out ship pass through my mind—the innocent children who rushed past us and all those who had nothing to do with what the assassin had planned. Their deaths were fast, but even that idea doesn't comfort me. I hate what happened, and I hate myself for it.

My dreams drift back to Booravia. I feel the sunlight on my face as I sit in my bedroom window, looking at the garden below. I smell the flowers as a breeze blows upward, causing my hair to flow in the force of its embrace.

"Are you ready?" My father's voice comes from behind.

"You look as ridiculous as I do, Father." I laugh at the trader's clothing he had secured for us. They make him look like a little, round farmer. I've never witnessed him dress so plainly, and it's humorous to me. He poses and makes a funny face, trying to ease my anxiety of the upcoming trip.

"We must dress this way, or we'll be identified quickly." He smiles. With my guard at his side, we head out of the castle's secret exit, toward the shipping dock. I almost hear the laughter of my youth echoing from the castle's halls. I'll miss home terribly. No place will ever be the same. The idea of leaving home at all is so sad, but I knew what I had to do.

"Come now, Laoonica. It's time to board." With a deep longing in my heart, I take one last glance at the blue sun glowing upon the bustle of people loading and unloading trade goods. I turn away as we board the shuttle, which leaves as soon as we are seated.

"Father, will I ever be allowed to come home?" I desperately try to hold myself together. I can't afford to release too much. We wouldn't have made it this far if I hadn't kept myself together.

"I don't know, my baby girl. All I know is that I won't let anyone stop you from being you and use you as a weapon." He wraps his arms around me.

I open my eyes. My heart sinks as I begin to tear up. I'll never see my father or my home again. The reality is overwhelming. I notice, for once, that I'm all alone. I let my emotions all out at last while keeping an ear out for the door opening or footsteps coming down the hall. I'm a princess, and this behavior is less than presentable to the eyes of others, but the pain of my loss is unbearable. I don't want Patrick or any others to think I'm weak. I must get as much of it out as possible before he returns.

The sliding door goes up. I roll over to see Lieutenant Wolf.

"Good morning. Um, you know, you never told me your name." He has a sideways grin on his face. His morning greeting seems to make the sorrow of my night fade.

"It's Laoonica, Princess Laoonica, from the planet Booravia. But you can just call me Laoonica."

"Laoonica, I hope you were able to rest."

Why did he always seem to have that same dashing smile and a gleam in those green eyes? What is wrong with me? Stop right now, Laoonica. You can't trust anyone.

"Not really, Lieutenant Wolf, but I'm fine." I don't want to lie to him, seeing that I'm already keeping so much from him. No reason to hide simple things. The things I do hide from him won't be so simple for him to understand, and I have every intention of keeping it all to myself.

"Only my crew mates call me Lieutenant Wolf." He shakes his head.

"I'm sorry, Patrick; I'll try to remember to call you that," I say as I sit up. He's dressed exactly as he was the day before. I'm not familiar with this concept. I've never worn a uniform in my life.

"I put one of my sergeants in charge of my shift, so I can show you around." He holds his hands in front of him, moving them while he speaks. I've never seen anyone do this. Most people I'm around were trained to hold their hands at their sides, including myself.

"You mean guard duty, for a dangerous passenger." I roll my eyes toward the door. I expect more than just him to watch over me. No one comes in after him though.

"Guard duty, yes, but not because we see you as a threat. I informed the captain of what you told me. Since you already had an assassination attempt on your life, he felt that his finest should protect you. He insisted I keep my eye on you and everyone around you. I'm ordered to not let anyone else know who you are. Apparently, he already knew who you were and where you were from, but he hadn't filled me in on anything."

I smile a little. I'm curious as to whom the captain of the ship is. Could he have been there all those years ago when they came to visit or is he just somehow informed of my abilities?

"I'm sure if he knows of me, he's entitled to be somewhat protective." If I were him, in fact, I'd put me on a distant planet and never come back. At this point there is probably only one other person alive that's as afraid of me as I am—my mother.

"So, I'm sure you're tired of the med bay. Let's go have breakfast in the cafeteria, and along the way, I can show you around." He holds out his hand to help me off the bed, but I don't take it right away.

"That would be nice, thank you. Is there any possible way for me to get out of this gown?" I ask because I have the cover draped over my legs.

"Hold on just a second." He walks out of the room and returns with an ugly, grey full-body jumper, like the ones on the other crewmembers.

"It's not exactly what I'm used to, but I guess it'll work better than this." I say, tugging at my gown. I stare at him as he just stands there, not moving. "Do you mind stepping out while I change?" I may have been nude when he first found me; however, I'd rather not give him another peek.

"Oh, yes, of course, sorry." His face changes to a slight expression of embarrassment as he steps out.

I can't help but laugh. I inspect the disgusting thing that he handed me. It's laying on the bed, stretched out before me. I take off my gown and put the jumper on. I feel very strange in pants. It isn't customary on my planet for someone of my standing to wear them. I step up to the door and take a deep breath as it opens.

"Better?" he asks.

I shrug slightly, but this is not at all comfortable. "It's better than the opened-back gown." I'm trying so hard to be positive, yet I'm so out of place.

"Shall we?"

We leave the medical bay and head down the hallway. The floors are gray metal with grooves. I think it might be to insure steady footing for crewmembers. Strange baseboards along the bottom seem to have a bit of a suction to them. A piece of lint floats off another person, becoming sucked in before it has a chance to hit the floor. The walls are tan with stretched-out, oval-shaped windows that interrupt the dullness. The ceiling is a solid luminescent sheet, glowing above our heads.

Patrick seems amused by the enthusiastic way I take in all the new technology.