A/N: THANK YOU SM FOR 1K READS ❤️❤️❤️

Halo

When Halo woke up, two people were at his side.

Augus and Misty Hira.

His head hurt more than before. He lied in his bed, a cold rag resting on the front and back of his forehead. Misty was on his right, with Augus on his left.

He felt like he was seeing stars. All he remembered was that awful sight. Wanting to go up to Vaea and beat the daylights out of him. He wanted to rip Leilani off his arm. The thought alone made his head heat up. How snug the two of them were.

"You're awake, your Highness," Misty said, sighing with relief. "Its been over an hour. Do you remember anything?"

Halo stared at her flatly. "I remember everything."

Misty frowned, stuck with guilt from their last conversation. She was an accomplice in her sister's lies. "I'm sorry, Halo. I wish I could have warned you."

Halo chuckled to himself, finding nothing funny. He now had to endure seeing the love of his life and his brother in the same proximity. How wonderful. This would only serve as more motivation atop his injustices to throw Vaea in the palace dungeon.

"Why are you here?" He asked Misty. "If you are checking on me, I'm fine. I don't need anything from you, Miss Hira."

She sighed. "Don't push me away. Look, I don't agree with any of this either. Please understand, I can't oppose this. Vaea has my family under his thumb in Tenso. I have to go along with whatever Leilani wants to keep them taken care of. I never wished for her to betray you."

Everyone had their own agenda. Their own needs. Halo understood. He hated how understanding he was. He of all people knew how it felt to do things out of necessity. He couldn't stay mad at Misty.

"I know," he said defeatedly. "I don't hate you."

But them? I wish to never see their faces again.

"Miss Hira explained everything to me, your Highness. She said she wishes to see...the rebel," Augus whispered to him. "I did not know what to say to her."

Halo turned to Misty, shocked. "You want to see Malia?"

Misty nodded eagerly, turning to look at the door to check for eavesdroppers. "I made a change on the way here. I want in with whatever you guys are busy with. I'll help wherever I can, just give me a chance to prove myself worthy."

Augus had a cynical look on his face. Halo knew what he was thinking. Misty was Leilani's sister, and Leilani was planning to marry Vaea. Could she really be trusted?

"I don't think I can do that, Misty. I don't know where your loyalties lie." Halo said.

"With you, your Highness," her face fell with offense. "Is it not obvious? I have kept my mouth shut about everything. I have not told a soul and neither will my siblings."

Goddess. Halo completely forgot about Yunoa as well. They were loose ends. Soon it would not be safe to hang around here. He was suddenly panicked.

"What's keeping your siblings quiet?" Augus asked skeptically. "Neither of them owe any loyalty to Malia Lui or her crew."

"But they owe loyalty to Halo. Leilani feels awful about what she did to you. Which is why she is silent about Malia and everything that happened at the farm house. She is guilty as well, she housed three criminals. Deep down I know she's scared of admitting it to Vaea."

Halo didn't like this at all. He still had too much to lose. He had committed treason to the crown.

Sweat gathered on his forehead. Vaea couldn't kill him. It was against the law. But Vaea now made the law. He had nearly killed Malia. And Halo had helped her.

Augus could see Halo calculating his odds in his head. "Tell me my chances, Augus," he gulped.

"Life imprisonment, your Highness. And that is if the King has mercy. He will revoke your Princeship. He has reinstated Hanging as a punishment and so far, no one has been hung. Malia Lui would have been the first."

But now that might be me.

Halo sat up in his bed and shook his head. "Get me out of here, Augus. I won't spend another night."

"What?" Misty gasped. "Halo, what will you do?"

"Sneak me out tonight. I will write a note and convince Vaea I have left due to my broken heart. He thinks I'm pathetic, so he'll believe it."

Augus sighed. Halo knew he was stressing the poor Marshall out, but Leilani moving to the palace was not a variable he had foreseen.

"I will let you out. But first you will have to survive dinner with the King. He has specifically requested it."

Halo's nerves spiked. What if Vaea tried to kill him right then and there? He had no Finn. No Malia to back him up. He would be screwed to Hell and back.

Coming home was a mistake.

"The King only wants to announce his engagement to my sister," Misty tried to console him. But that was just as bad news. He'd have to sit there and pretend to be happy. Perhaps hanging would be better.

Halo turned to Misty, suddenly stressed and angry. "Do you wish to prove yourself still, Misty?"

"Of course, your Highness!"

"Make me an invisibility potion. I want to leave this palace by tonight. Then, I will ask Augus to bring you to where Malia and her friends are."

Misty's indigo eyes went wide. She nodded solemnly. "I have a secret case of potions with me in my room. Of course I'll help you, Halo."

"Thank you."

"So this is official then. You are running away again?" Augus frowned.

"What other choice do I have, Augus? I need to take down Vaea. If he kills me now, who knows what else this country will fall into. Did you know that Captain Jared is a part of his slave scheme?"

Augus stood up abruptly. "What? Of course I did not know!"

"He and the policemen. Finn recognized him and said that he was the one who trapped him in the warehouse at the docks. He cannot be trusted."

Augus had a feeling Captain Jared was being preferred over him. He simply had no proof of it. The King would give him special missions that Augus would have no knowledge of, nor would he have the authority to question it despite Captain Jared being second in command.

"That bastard," Augus bit out. "No wonder he acts so high and mighty. He is in the King's bigger pocket."

Halo scoffed. "Today is just full of surprises."

"Well then we cannot let this go on. I will do what I can-"

"Marshall Na?" The door to Halo's room swung open. And there he was. Standing in the flesh.

Captain Aldous Jared kneeled to Halo and quickly showed his respect to Augus. Halo's face dropped at the impeccable timing. "Apologies to disturb you all. Marshall Na, there has been a police sighting in Kahele of Malia Lui and an unknown assailant. We are to report there immediately."

Halo's face paled. No. She couldn't have been caught?

"Just a sighting?" Halo asked, clearing his throat.

Captain Jared sneered. "Unfortunately, your Highness. An assault victim has come forward to report her. She was in Kiribati yesterday and beat up a man in an alley. We are going to search the area. Since she still slithers around like a snake."

Nononono, Malia. What have you done?

Halo prayed to the Goddesses she and Finn were in that boat already.

Augus straightened and readied himself with a harsh clearing of his throat. "Let's go."

***

"Don't do this again," Sina said to them as they were seated around the mapped bunker table. Her eyes were sharp, Jack sitting next to her and matching her intensity.

It had been a while since Sina had been angry at her. Malia thought it was kind of cute, but couldn't show it in the moment.

"I'm sorry, Sina," she said, but was quickly cut off.

"Sorry?!" Sina blared. "Sorry?? We thought you two were captured! Or worse than that–dead! You were gone for a whole day, do you know how worried sick we were?"

"Sina even brewed potions so that we could go out and get you back," Jack said, making her feel worse. "You shouldn't do this again. We have no way of communication, no way of making sure the other is alive."

"Sorry we worried you lot, but everything is taken care of on that front," Finn said, his casual way of speaking ticking Sina off. She still had a pit of worry in her stomach and it was not close to going away.

"Are you not going to explain why it took you so long to get back?" She snapped. Malia and Finn turned to each other, the tension thick enough to be called a fog.

"It wasn't Malia's fault," Finn surprisingly came to her defence. "It was no one's fault really. We found crucial information and we had to make sure it got to Halo first. Then..."

"It was Captain Jared," Malia blurted, making Sina and Jack frown. "We found out he was behind Finn's kidnapping. He helped Vaea."

Sina and Jack were in shock. Malia explained how they reported it to Halo, the drunken wreck and had to wait for him to sober up. Sina found herself in disbelief when she heard about Leilani and Vaea's affair. And the fact that Misty knew.

"That is horrible." She shook her head. "That must have been so much to deal with. You guys could have gotten caught!"

"And what about the Prince? Is he safe where he is now that he knows Leilani is the King's woman?" Jack wondered. It made Malia stiffen. Finn saw this.

"We don't know the state of affairs yet," he replied. "Halo said he would keep in touch. We have to wait on his move."

"Which is too bad because it places us at a disadvantage," Malia said, looking at Sina. "I say we come up with a plan in the meanwhile. We need to do something about Captain Jared."

Sina understood where Malia was going with her words. "Well, since he's involved. He has to know where the people are being taken right? What was it called again?"

"The Forbidden City. That's what the merchant called it," Finn answered.

Sina thought for a moment. If the Marshall knew nothing about this, that meant he could act oblivious when it came to the plan.

"We need to lure him," Sina finally said after thoughtfully gazing at the map on the table. "And we need the Marshall's help. Let's trap Captain Jared and find out for ourselves where the Forbidden City is."

An uncontrollable smirk reached Malia's face. "Oh yes!" She squealed, pumping her fist. She held out her hand for Sina to take it but she stubbornly shook her head.

"I'm still mad at you for making me worry!"

Malia shifted the high-five to Jack and he too stubbornly refused it, taking Sina's side. Eventually Finn took her hand after feeling sorry for her, but Malia didn't feel any less excited.

"Let's get this wagon rolling!"

"Why don't you help with some chores around here instead?" Jack said mockingly. "Sina and I made torches for the entrance of the bunker so we don't run into walls when the train stops. Help me put them up."

Finn laughed at Malia's fallen and suddenly scowling face. Sina rose an eyebrow at him, he was enjoying himself.

"What's so funny? You're also helping. You live here too now," Sina scolded, making Finn's laughter awkwardly halt.

"Hey, I didn't do anything wrong," he defended, lifting his hands in surrender.

Malia grabbed Finn's hand, dragging him along as Jack stood up. "Don't question it, Finnland. Rule number one of this bunker is always listen to Sina!"

"You broke that rule yesterday!" Sina pointed out. Malia conveniently ignored it and snickered along with Finn as they went to help Jack.

***

Halo had no appetite at dinner. When he entered the dining room and saw Leilani seated closest to Vaea, it had vanished into thin air. He took a soft inhale to repress the vigorous emotions wrecking his spirit then and there.

I feel sick.

Vaea got up from his chair and smiled. "Prince Halo, we were only waiting on you. Do you feel better? Have the physicians tended to you with proper care?" He asked.

Halo was going mad on the inside. As if you care, scumbag.

Leilani and the other Hira siblings stood up to show respect as Halo kneeled to respect Vaea. "Of course, your Majesty. Do not worry about me, it was just a clumsy fall."

"It was dramatic, that's what it was. I am just glad you are well. Have a seat," Vaea gestured for him to sit.

Halo took a seat opposite Yunoa and Misty, on the other side of the table. He was all by himself in a long row of chairs, while Vaea was seated at the head of it.

He remembered when Finn was here. And that awful conversation Vaea subjected him to before trying to sell him off as a slave. Goddess, I hate him. I hate him completely.

His eyes drifted up toward Leilani. Her hands were on the table, close to Vaea's. Their fingers were brushing.

"I was told you have news, your Majesty," Halo said with a smile. He wondered if the hatred in his eyes was obvious. Surely Vaea knew.

He didn't actually. Vaea had never seen his brother feel betrayed, or angry. He had no idea how Halo felt at this very moment. Nor did he know what Halo was capable of.

Vaea stood up and raised his glass of pineapple wine. "Yes, great news. I'm sure Leilani has explained to you recently of her parents plots. And the overall truth, yes?"

Halo's eye twitched. He wanted to climb the table and toss every fork at Vaea. He was gloating. He was damned gloating!

He nodded with difficulty. "Yes, I have been made aware."

"I do hope you harbour no grudges toward me, dear brother," Vaea said ever so sincerely. "I could not be the one to tell you for various reasons. But I will marry this woman, and make her my Consort. It has been my dream since we were young."

Halo's head was going hot. If anyone touched him they would feel fire. He grit his teeth together in a smile and reached out for his glass of pineapple wine, raising it to Vaea.

"As your brother and Prince, I only wish for you to be happy, your Majesty. I want you to achieve all your dreams, especially this one. Huzzah!"

Vaea was taken aback. It was subtle yet obvious in his expression. He wanted Halo to weep at his feet and was unsatisfied that he was not getting the reaction he desired. Malia was right about him.

"I am truly appreciative of your enthusiasm, brother. Your support means the world to me," Vaea turned to the Hira siblings. "Do you know I would not have been here without Halo?"

"Prince Halo was always there for me. Even in my darkness. It was always the two of us against the world and our father, may the Goddesses' cradle him. When my father would lock me away in a dark room for being disobedient, Halo would steal the key to free me. When Halo would get beaten for not memorizing and studying what our father wished him to, I would comfort him. It has always been the two of us against everything."

Why is he bringing that up?  Halo felt empty hearing the words. He could not even keep up his smile anymore. The memories were so important and yet Vaea could throw them all away.

"Even when he abandoned me," Vaea made eye contact with Halo again, no softness in them. "Even when he left me alone to deal with everything. With the King's death, with my mother's disappearance, with the Elders plot against me. Even when I had to suffer through all that by myself, Halo had helped me. If he had not abandoned me, I would not have been able to become King."

Oh, this bastard!

"He even helped me with you, Leilani," Vaea smiled knowingly. Halo was getting heated again. "Who knows if I would have been able to ever fall in love with you if you had not been brought here to see Halo."

Leilani cleared her throat and awkwardly smiled. Oh, she finally had enough of his gloating? "That is good to hear, your Majesty. Let us eat now."

"Yes, let us eat." Vaea sat down and smirked. He was pleased with himself now.

Halo was no longer smiling. He looked up at Yunoa and then Misty. They eyed him uncomfortably, not able to hold eye contact.

They know she's making a mistake.

Halo got up from the table, causing all eyes to be on him.

"Where are you going? You haven't taken a single bite?" Vaea pointed out.

Halo feigned a pained expression and rubbed his stomach. "I am nauseous. I think it is best I lie down. I apologize, my King. I will have to excuse myself."

Halo left without waiting for a response. He just knew Vaea was smirking behind his back, smug that he got to gloat about everything. He would show him.

Halo stayed in his room the rest of the night, packing all his necessary belongings. As he draped a black cloak around him to prepare, Augus entered his room along with Misty, bringing a wooden case.

"Your potions are in here, your highness," Misty said, her voice just above a whisper. "I added the leaves of Duradero plant in a stained vial. There are only few, you must chew on them if you wish to prolong the effects of any of the potions. There's are potions of strength, visibility, speed and weakness."

Halo mustered a small smile, taking the case. "Thank you, Misty."

Her eyes were worried, glossed over with sadness. "I'm so sorry about tonight. And about everything. You don't deserve it, Halo."

Halo nodded and tried to mask his pain with determination. "The sooner I can get to Malia Lui, the sooner Vaea will pay for everything."

Misty stepped forward and pulled Halo into a butterfly hug. "Please be safe. And tell them I'll see them soon."

After Misty pulled away, Augus presented Halo with a small sack tied with string. "These are Communicators. I have paired all of them to mine, so we will be able to exchange information and you won't have to risk your life to come here any longer. There is one for you and each of your helpers. Make contact with me AS SOON AS YOU GET OUT OF KAHELE SAFELY."

Halo was baffled Augus got a hold of something like this. He took the sack with gratitude and kept it close to him. He wanted to hug him. "Thank you, Augus. At least I have you."

Augus nodded solemnly and started gathering all Halo's things. "Come, we must take leave."

Halo was leaving through the same route he used to save Malia Lui's life. The passage through the dungeon.

The shadows of the night flickered against the walls of the dungeon as they quickly hurried down the tunnel. Misty had stayed behind and left to her room, and only Augus was seeing Halo off. His heart was in his throat thinking of how he was playing all sides. If anyone discovered him, they would have his head for certain.

They reached the end of the tunnel, where Augus gently pushed the brick in the wall that opened the exit. It rumbled quietly, the earth lightly shaking. Halo braced himself, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a paper.

He handed it to Augus. "Its a letter explaining my disappearance. Handwritten." Halo answered as Augus' eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

Halo ducked into the forest, turning around as Augus pressed the doors shut again. "Good luck, your highness." He said, the frown on his face deep-seeded.

Halo paused in the darkness after Augus was lost to him. He took a hard breath. It was finished. No, it was just the beginning.

****

Dear King Vaea

My beloved brother. If you come across these words. Surely you know by now I have departed. I know you will be disappointed in me. Maybe even furious. But I will not leave you in the dark this time. Everything will be explained.

I have left Kukoa. I do not know when I will return. During our supper, you have made me realize something great. You truly do flourish without my presence. And it feels to me that I have no place in your story. You have everything you want, and I feel unfulfilled in the palace yet again. Perhaps this life was not for me after all. I revoke my Princeship, and wish to live freely.

If you loathe me for this, I understand. You must think me to be jealous. I'm sorry, but it is the truth. The palace now holds too many bad memories, thus I can no longer call it home. It is the place where the love of my life has gotten betrothed to my younger brother, the place where my father was assassinated, and the place where I was mistreated my entire life.

I can no longer stay in such a place. So this is goodbye.

Your brother, Halo

Vaea looked up from the paper and stared at Augus dead in the face. Everyone gathered in the throne room to discuss the Prince's 'disappearance'. A servant had found the letter on Halo's empty bed that morning. Leilani looked particularly unsettled by it.

Her lips were frowning. Vaea wondered why. Was she seriously sad he was gone?

"So that coward decided to leave again," Vaea scoffed. He swatted the letter to the floor. "What rubbish. He could not even be happy for me. He made everything about himself."

"He revoked his Princeship..." Misty muttered. "That means he was really hurt, right?"

Vaea rolled his eyes. "As if. Halo has never done anything right as a Prince. What has he changed in this country? What service has he done besides look pretty?"

"It just sounds like he wanted to steal your moment, your Majesty. He's upset you got everything you rightfully deserved!" Yunoa said, making Leilani turn to him disapprovingly. You're making it worse, her eyes said.

"Exactly, its good he resigned as a Prince. He was just taking up space anyways!" Vaea snapped, making everyone flinch.

Captain Jared stepped forward. "Do you wish for us to apprehend him for betraying the Crown a second time, your Majesty?" He asked. Augus clenched his fists behind his back, fed up with him.

Vaea was upset. Things were just getting interesting. And that coward decided to just leave. Halo robbed him from all his fun. Now he couldn't dangle Leilani infront of him. Now he had nothing to show for.

He ruined it.

"If we ever see that commoner again, Captain Jared....throw him in the palace dungeon."