The City of the Broken (Prince of the Broken) (20 page)

“
The King told us that Seren Loneheart is never to come here ,Your Majesty. You can see the King alone ,but not with
her
. Miss Loneheart I’ll escort you out” says one of the guards.

“
Calix I’ll go. You see your father alone. Its important” I say, marching off so as not to suffer the indignity of being dragged out by a guard.

“
Are you sure Seren? I’ll come with you if you prefer. I don’t have to see Dad” says Calix.

“
You do. Please talk to him Calix. You must do something” I call, walking away with a tear falling down my face, my voice high and shaky with emotion.

“
Okay .I’ll go .If that’s what you want Seren” he says, disappearing into the King’s lair.

I wait outside
the palace for what feels like an eternity for Calix to return from his talk with the King. Its getting cold and I start to shiver .As well as feeling frustrated and bored for having to be patient, I feel nervy and on-edge. I’m constantly looking over my shoulder, expecting a Despair-Enforcement Officer to drag me off to jail just because I’m me and the King doesn’t want me here.

Finally I see Calix approaching. He walks slowly, not looking particularly satisfied with the outcome of whatever went on in the
Kings study.

“
Well?” I ask, my heart thumping from a combination of eagerness and dread of what Calix is going to say.

“
Well that wasn’t what I was expecting at all” says Calix quietly, as though reluctant to tell me what just happened. He looks like something is playing on his mind.

“
Don’t tell me, he’s now made family talks illegal in case they result in any form of contentment” I say sarcastically.

“
No Seren .I’ve never seen Dad like that before. He was coughing a lot and seemed short of breathe. He told me he was too tired to deal with me right now and for me to go away as I was the least of his problems. I’m really worried about him ,he seems very ill” says Calix ,looking upset and afraid.

“
Oh come on Calix ,he’s faking it. Its just an excuse so he doesn’t have to hear what you have to say. You know he’ll try any tactic to get his own way” I say ,not feeling slightly concerned about the King’s health.

“
He’d never fake illness Seren. Its weakness and he despises that above all else .I’m so upset, he’s the only family I have left, I cant bear to lose him” says Calix, sitting down lifelessly on the palace garden wall beside me.

He starts to sob and shake. I
’ve never seen him look this devastated.

“
Oh Calix no, please don’t cry. I’m sorry I didn’t take your Dad’s health seriously .Look I’m sure it’ll all be okay. You need to call the doctor. Do you know if the Kings receiving treatment?” I ask, putting my arm around Calix’s shoulder to comfort him and feeling guilty of accusing the King of faking his symptoms.

“
I asked him if he’s having medical intervention and he said no. Even though he has symptoms that he cant deny himself, he refuses to believe there’s anything wrong with him and said he wouldn’t have a doctor anywhere near him .He thinks medicine is for weak people .I just hope its just a cold or the flu and nothing serious that’s wrong with him” says Calix.

“
Why don’t you call a Doctor and have him just turn up at the palace?” I ask, trying to think of a way around the Kings self reliance and denial of help and care.

“
Its no good. He’d just refuse to see the doctor and it would be a waste of their time. I have never known Dad to be this sick before. In fact he’s always been so strong and in good health, its come on so suddenly” says Calix as we start to walk away from the palace.

“
Don’t think I’m not taking this seriously Calix, because I am, but I think that maybe you’ve blown this slightly out of proportion because of the shock. It was unexpected for you to find your Dad in a state other than his usual ultra feisty, stubborn self. You went into that room prepared for a fight, so that adrenaline you never burnt off may have resulted in this big upset. He probably just does have the flu like you said” I say, refusing to believe that the King could ever be defeated by an illness. 

“
Maybe you’re right. I did expect him to be full of his usual fiery temper, not an exhausted, coughing old man who just wanted to be left in peace .Everyone gets flu ,I was a fool for thinking that Dad could be an exception” says Calix, looking more relieved now that he’s convinced himself of our flu theory.

Chapter Seventeen.

We all fall down

The summer holidays are looming, beckoning me with open arms into relaxation, fun and freedom. I
’ve already switched into ‘lazy’ mode.

As I get to class I realize it isn
’t just me, everyone else is busy talking about their summer plans, looking zesty, care-free, relived of the burden of assignments.

At lunchtime Calix is nowhere to be seen. I guess he must be late. He never misses col
lege.

After hanging out with Jasmine all of lunchtime, I head back to class worrying why Calix hasn
’t shown up today.

I text him, just to put my mind at rest.
‘Hi. Everything ok? Why the no-show at college? Txt back ,S xx’

I’ve returned home from college. Its eight o’clock and still no reply. My stomach is aching from worry. I’ve even finished my last assignment just to give me something to do and take my mind off all my dark and wildly improbable thoughts which try to come up with answers as to why Calix, the usually one hundred per cent attendance student didn’t show.

I wake up much earlier than usual, its still dark outside but I feel so stressed and haven’t slept properly. I feel too awake and restless to lie in bed until my alarm clock sounds.

I check my phone, still nothing. Although its not like I wasn
’t expecting that, I’ve been checking it eagerly all through the night, assuming I must have missed the vibration that alerts me to text messages in the twenty or so minutes I managed to doze in the whole night.

College couldn
’t come quick enough today. I pace up and down, impatient, not knowing what to do with myself, which is worsened by the fact that I have got up early. I catch sight of myself in the mirror and see the results of my sleepless night. But I don’t care about such shallow and meaningless things as appearance right now. I’m so worried about Calix. I text him again, communicating my fears and agitation this time. ‘Calix please reply, I’m going out of my mind with worry. Seren, x’. Not relying on texts alone, I have left him countless voicemails. Sometimes I like hearing his voicemail message just to listen to his voice when I’m not with him.

If he doesn
’t turn up to college or text me back to let me know what’s going on today, then I’m going back to The City of the Broken alone to find him.

Hair brushed, dressed, and finally ready to go.

I rush to the college gates. No I am not waiting until lunchtime, I
’ll go into his class and find out if he’s there if I have to.

Fortunately, I see that Calix is standing outside the entrance of the college .He looks even more tired than me. It
’s the first time I have ever seen his perfect hair a mess.

“
Calix” I call running to him.

“
Oh Seren. I’ve been waiting for you, I’m so glad you are here” he says, his eyes looking sad and lost.

“
What wrong? Why haven’t you replied to my texts or answered any of my calls?” I ask concerned.

“
Sorry, I didn’t know about them. I switched my phone off” he says.

“
Oh. Well why did you miss college? I’ve been worried about you”.

“
Its Dad. He died in the early hours of yesterday morning. I spent all of yesterday talking to Doctors, crying and not knowing what to do, what to think” says Calix looking traumatized, shaking his head.

I realize his
eyes look puffy and red from crying, not just lack of sleep.

“
Oh Calix! I am so sorry. I cant believe it! I never thought your Dad would die. When you were missing it did cross my mind that maybe he was unwell and you were looking after him, but this is such a shock! How did he die”? I ask, feeling extremely shocked and surprisingly grief stricken at the loss of my number one enemy.

“
Heart failure, the doctors said. I should have done something Seren, I knew it felt too serious just to be flu. I should have forced him to see a doctor” says Calix, working himself up into a terrible state.

“
Well even if you had done that you might not have saved him. This is tragic Calix, but don’t blame yourself please” I say ,touching his arm to comfort him.

“
You don’t understand. I think I may have brought it on, worsened his condition. I hate myself Seren” he says.

“
Calix ,no! Don’t be ridiculous, he was ill. You didn’t cause this!” I say.

“
Oh but I did. Well he was ill already ,as you know. But in the evening before he died I went to see how he was, and he looked chirpier. And I started to feel relieved like I’d imagined all those serious consequences in my head. Because he seemed to be improving, I felt it was okay to broach matters concerning the city. As usual, he was defiant .Anyway, things got a little heated and I was so annoyed that I told him that he was punishing the city and the citizens and you and I because he’d lost Mum and he was bitter. I’ve never seen him look so hurt. He told me to leave him alone, so I did. And in the morning I felt really guilty about what I’d said, I thought I’d been really harsh so I went to make it up to him. I knocked, several times and he didn’t answer, so I just walked in. And that’s when I found him, lying dead on the floor. I stood frozen in the doorway ,hoping in my heart he’d just collapsed ,but I instinctively knew the truth. I ran over and called him over and over. And when I felt his pulse, my own breathe stopped and I shook violently. He was dead. My own father, my only family, gone forever” says Calix, recounting his tale in a combination of anguish, disbelief and tears. 

“
Calix!” I say, starting to cry a little myself.

“
Calix, it wasn’t your fault. Appearances can be deceiving, he was ill, we both know he was. It was nothing to do with what you said ,don’t you dare blame yourself .I know you’ve lost your family, but you still have me. Please don’t cry” I say, hugging him.

“
I know he could be so horrible sometimes but I loved him so much Seren. He was my Dad, I’ll never feel the same again. Everything is different now” he chokes.

“
I know, I know. Calix, I really don’t think you should be at college today, you need to go home so you can grieve and be at peace” I say, leading him away from the door.

“
I’m not staying. I only came in to see you Seren, to tell you what happened. Alfred’s in the car park waiting for me” he says, sobbing still.

“
Hey Calix ,do you want me to come with you to the City? You’ll feel lonely in the palace now your Dad’s not there” I say.

“
If you don’t mind Seren. Though I wouldn’t want you to miss college because of me.” he says, sniffing and wiping the left behind tear drops from his eyes.

“
No ,its fine. I’ll come. I wont miss anything important today and I don’t want you to feel you are alone.” I say, getting into the car besides him.

We drive to the city. Calix remains distant and slumped the whole journey and even Alfred looks saddened. Even though I resented the King, I still feel upset that he’s dead .I guess its always a revelation when anyone dies. When they’ve gone, you always see the good qualities, the personality that’s no longer here. The King had character. I cant deny he was a strong, charismatic presence. A feisty man who always knew how to get what he wanted. All of that, that bright spark snuffed out so quickly. When he was alive I only saw his negative traits, how he was a barrier to my happiness. I thought him an obstacle that could never be overcome, but now he’s gone. Eliminated as though he never existed at all. Calix is right. It will never be the same. Everything is different now.

The City is very quiet today. Still, peaceful. The citizens I see walking around are dressed in black, as usual. Their steps are slower and their eyes gleam with the astonishment o
f the unexpected death.

The only sign of drama here today is the huge headline displayed on a cinema sized screen in the centre of the city.
‘Breaking News: King of the City of the Broken is dead. Prince Calix in line to be crowned King’

Of course, I comp
letely forgot the Kings death will have a bearing on Calix in more ways than that of a son losing a father. Calix will now become King. What a great responsibility and weight for him to carry on his shoulders.

“
Calix, sorry if this is an inappropriate time to ask, but when are you going to be crowded King?” I ask, stunned by the headline.

“
Oh yes, that. The palace are arranging everything right now. The coronation and the funeral will be in the same week” he says not sounding fazed by this.

“
Oh Calix, I’m so sorry. This must be such a burden to bear. Losing your Father, being in the public eye and having the duty of becoming King thrust on you at a young age” I say, feeling sorry for him.

“
Yes it is. But I’ve been prepared for a day like this ever since I was a young boy. Obviously I never expected Dad to die so young and so suddenly, but these things happen and Dad would expect me to do my duty. The last thing he’d want is for me to start panicking and shunning my role as King” says Calix maturely.

“
Yes that’s true. But don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Its okay for you to mourn Calix. Don’t let the coronation overtake your paying the last respects to your Dad.” I say.

“
I’ll be sure to focus my attentions equally on the funeral and the coronation. As for mourning, I couldn’t think of a more appropriate city to do so. Its an everyday feature here” he says with a flicker of a smile on his heartbroken face.

We drive to the palace. Photographers wait by the gate to try and capture the broken Prince in mourning, but to no avail thanks to the blacked out windows on the Rolls-Royce and Alfred’s  decision to drive to the back entrance. Ever the loyal shield of royalty.

Calix is so gentle and sensitive, he really doesn
’t deserve all these bad things that happen to him.

We step out of the Rolls-Royce and walk together hand in hand into the palace. It really
does feel different in here. The staff are awkward and unsure of how to greet Calix. Subtle smiles fade quickly and Calix looks at the floor, avoiding eye contact with everyone.

“
Come on Seren, lets go to my room” says Calix in a frustrated tone.

“
Calix, do you really think I should be here? You know what your Dad’s feelings were about my being in the palace. Do you think it’s a little disrespectful for me to ignore his ban?” I ask quietly, hoping that I wont further upset Calix by asking this question.

“
Dad is dead now Seren, he doesn’t know or care that you are here. He cant feel anymore, all his anger, his bitterness, his obsessions are gone forever. The guards wont drag you out now. They are answerable to me now. Dad doesn’t exist” he says coldly, repeating his fathers absence as if to make the idea more real to himself.

“
Yes Calix he’s dead, but we can still honour his wishes and his memory” I say, feeling that I should still try and abide by some of the Kings wishes in respect.

“
Why? You didn’t care about honouring them when he was alive. You’ll just have to adjust to the situation. There are no Seren bans as of this moment and I shall let all the staff know this shortly. Right at this moment I need to reflect. I feel like I’m seeing the world anew, as a different person now. I was a son who followed orders before, now I’m independent, a man who has to listen to no one but who also has no one there for guidance, advice. Fatherly support, if he ever gave me that, died alongside Dad. Its selfish of me to think this, but I cant help but worry if I’ll be able to cope” he says, looking afraid.

“
Of course you’ll cope. Calix, you are the strongest and bravest person I know. You have sound judgement, a balanced perspective and you also have me and all the staff at the palace, as well as the citizens who I’m sure will be delighted that you are the next King. I know you’ll handle this huge task brilliantly” I reassure him, believing in him with every confidence.

“
I hope so Seren” he says doubtfully.

There is an emptiness here today in the palace. Like a dog that aches for his lost master, feeling like an empty shell, a purposeless existence is now all he has, so the palace felt like this today.

The flag is at half-mast and a domineering presence, that would cause me extreme anxiety in other circumstances is missing. Its better to be here
broken, than not here at all.

Calix is very introspective today, aloof and closed off. Not his usual talkative, sweet self but who can blame him? Maybe that
’s why his Dad made so many decisions, Calix could remain a little boy that way. Now he really does have to grow up, fast. It’s a sink or swim situation. This pressure coupled with immense grief would cause most people to have a nervous breakdown ,but Calix is not most people. He has an extraordinary ability to turn an impossible situation into a series of tasks, which when handled one by one become quite easily manageable. I admire him for that. The citizens have inherited a noble and brave leader, not to mention one who is kind and just. A relief I’m sure after years of putting up with a tyrant.