Chapter 30: The Doctor's decision.

Caius's dark grey eyes shimmered in the dark carriage that was only getting its light from the moonlight coming in through the small window. He looked incredibly thin, like he wasn't being fed well. Freckles colored his whole face, and his dirty hair didn't look so dirty anymore - it just happened to be the natural color of his blonde hair. His feet were bare, and he was swinging them as he kept grinning at Raziah. Now that she studied him, he looked a little... lovely to her. He looked overjoyed, reminding her of who she once was. Something that simple had her cold eyes melting a little, and she didn't even know when she gave him the tiniest of smiles.

When he saw the smile perched on her gorgeous face, his eyes burned with jollity and he was almost jumping even when seated.

"You look somewhat like her. You're beautiful, just like Aunt Ana reads to me during bedtime." He added, swinging his legs even harder again.

"You must have a very caring Aunt then. How about your parents? What about them?"

"Aunt Ana won't tell me," Raziah watched as the joy in his eyes dissipated a little, and his effortlessly swinging legs lost their zeal, "But I know they're dead. She keeps telling me they would be back soon, it's been years since they left me,"

"I think you should listen to your Aunt. Maybe they're gone long because they're something very important that needs attending to."

"More important than their own son?" Caius rolled his eyes, "You all are just trying to make me feel better. I know they're long gone, and I already got over them. I didn't really know them much after all. My only family is Fabiana Lazarus, and she's more than I could ever ask for..."

Raziah's eyes dilated, "The doctor?"

Caius nodded, "I already said that,"

Instantly, Raziah whispered it to Felix outside who immediately took off to find Fabiana.

"And didn't your aunt ever warn you that it's not exactly safe to be with strangers even when they look like a character from your bedtime story?"

Caius chuckled softly, "Many, many times. But I never listen to her,"

And once again, He reminded her of something sensitive. Caius was a very energetic and carefree boy despite the way he looks, not hesitating to take her hands into his small ones, tracing invisible lines all over. None of them said a word to each other, but he constantly kept looking up and smiling at her. Caius already knew she was keeping him here, and the shadow of the male guard who was no longer there only meant his aunt might just be on her way now. Because of his illness, she hardly let him leave the house - and living in that cage of a house was killing him, even when he knew Ana was only doing it all for his own sake.

"Are you... heading somewhere unsafe?" Caius's small voice cut off the silence as he motioned to her sword.

"Probably." She replied.

"Is that why you don't want me to come?"

She nodded.

"Oh..." He mumbled sadly, "I guess that's why..." Then he sighed, feeling very trapped. A part of his brain was telling him to jump out of the carriage and run somewhere else where no one would find him, and the other kept reminding him that it was all for his sake. A startled look filled the boy's eyes when he felt Raziah's palm gently patting his head, staring down at him. She was using her other hand to comfort him since he was busy with the other, and the warm feeling of his dream Princess showering him even with a little bit of affection was enough for the grin and light to return to his eyes.

"It fits you," She murmured at him, the little smile back in her eyes, "So make sure you're always smiling."

For some reason, Caius's jaw dropped after hearing her say that. It was unexpected for him, and before Raziah could do anything - Felix was back with Fabiana.

"They're in there." Felix's voice was heard outside.

Fast footsteps approached the carriage before a light knock was heard. Raziah opened the small door, and there stood a very angry doctor with disheveled hair and a small bottle in her hands. Her attention was solely focused on Caius, who was only grinning back at her.

"Don't blame me, everyone forgets once in a while." He pressed himself closer to the princess.

"Exactly. Just like I forget my morality after I found the door wide open and circled the whole town looking for you, looking like someone that had Lost it!" She yelled back at him.

"We've all lost it one way or the other," He snickered.

"You idiot!!" She reached out to pull him out, but he was already folding his small body, squeezing himself to snow-white to find protection as he kept on snickering. Finally aware that there was an unmoving person with them, The doctor looked up and found the cold Princess simply watching them.

"Oh my." She fumbled, letting go of Caius.

"He somnambulated here, and we have somewhere we have to be right now,"

Fabia's eyes gave Raziah a quick once over, noticing the slight blood stain on the bandage around her arm. She needed to get it changed, and she needed another checkup or else her hand might get swollen-if it wasn't already.

"Where...are you going?"

"Erandell."

Fabia felt unease creeping up her spine. From the way Raziah was dressed, the sword lying between her legs, and the simple fact that they were going to travel in the middle of the night was enough realization. Things were surely not too good back at Erandell, "Your highness, it's either I stop you...or I come with you." If there was one thing Fabia had in common with Raziah, it was that they never beat around the bush. As a doctor, as a Lazarus descendant, her blood would drive her even if she wants to ignore or deny it.

"I've always wondered why they were found together most of the time," Raziah said plainly, but Fabia knew exactly who she was referring to. The two women she was referring to, "I'll warn you now, it's not safe back there," She added.

"I know how to protect myself." Fabiana stated.

"And if you die?" Raziah didn't even hesitate with the question.

"I have no regrets. Caius already likes you, and Kano found out where I kept my medicinal book this evening. Can I have a sit?"

Raziah peeked outside, "There are sword supplies in this carriage right? Can I get one?"

Felix blinked, confused.

"I'm coming with you all!" Fabia declared to the guard, unaffected by his presence.

"Are you sure about this, your Highness?" Felix turned to Raziah, stuck between awe and confusion. He didn't even know what to do anymore!

Raziah could only lean back on the chair, letting out a loud sigh. Something was bothering her, badly - and she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep up the cool and unaffected act. She felt very anxious and could feel slight waves of trembles shooting up her legs.

"Aunt Ria is gonna cry if she finds out you left without telling her, she's gonna cry cry cry!" Caius sang happily like it was something he was so very used to.

"She's not gonna cry," Fabia paused, "Okay Maybe she would, but she's gonna come running too. For now, let us let her sleep, okay?"

Caius turned to Raziah, ignoring his aunt, "Snow-white, what do you say?"

"I have no hand in whatever happens." Raziah proclaimed with her eyes open, slightly frowning at Fabia, telling her to rethink indirectly her decision but Fabia wasn't gonna bulge. In fact, she had already taken a seat next to the Princess, while a groaning guard had gone to get her a sword, a bunch of arrows, and a bow.

In the next few minutes, everyone was set to leave. Caius was now leaning on Raziah's shoulders, his eyes closed with a blissful look on his cute features. Then, the carriage began to move - and they were off to Erandell.

At the top of the castle stood a man-like figure.... with the most sparkling Ebony skin one could ever wish for. The moonlight captured his exotic red buttoned long shirt, dancing with the wind while his facial features were being hindered by the shadows. His pants were a lighter shade of red, and he was without any shoes with his foot firmly pressed to the ground.

Though one thing was clear about his inscrutable dandelion eyes, he was watching the leaving carriage stealthily.