A Royal Secret
The Dream 1
It’s the nth time I’ve had the same dream, and I’m beyond frustrated. Who wouldn’t be, dreaming of a massive devil dragging you into hell, where there’s nothing but darkness and fire? .
Maybe my ancestors committed some colossal sin, and now I’m the one paying for it.
The evening light streams through my curtains as my mother barges into my room, her voice sharp and businesslike as always
Anna
Cai! You still sleeping like a pig? Cai! wake up!
Anna
We are going to your new school
Anna
And don’t do anything illegal out there. We can’t afford to switch you to another school again.
I roll my eyes, throwing myself back onto my bed.
Cairo
What do you mean, can’t afford?
Cairo
You’re literally the richest person in this district—not to mention, this is one of the wealthiest districts in the country.
She glares at me, unfazed. Mom’s a businesswoman, the kind who doesn’t just run empires—she commands them. She oversees the port, the very lifeline that connects this city to the rest of the world.
Of course, there’s the other side of her business too, the dealings with the “down world.” You know what I mean.
I’m not supposed to talk about it, but secrets don’t stay secret for long when you’re her kid.
She says, exasperated now,
Anna
This is the last time I’m warning you—no more killings.
Cairo
Come on, Ma. You’re knee-deep in this stuff. Why not let me join in?
Her face softens, but only slightly.
Anna
Because you’re thirteen, and you can’t just do things like this for fun.
I snap, crossing my arms.
Cairo
She wanted to hook up with me. I didn’t like her. She smelled like garbage.
Mom pinches the bridge of her nose.
Anna
Cai, for heaven’s sake, if you don’t like someone, just... disable them or something. I could’ve arranged for a transfer if you’d asked. But before we even get into that—what did you do to your driver?
Anna
Unbelievable. You want to drive yourself, I get it, but you’re thirteen. Thirteen, Cairo!
She throws her hands up in frustration.
Anna
“I don’t want to hear any more of your petty excuses. You already have seven murder cases under your name, not to mention the countless attempts. I can’t keep cleaning up your messes!”
Her words hang heavy in the air, but I couldn’t care less. The fire from my dream still smolders at the edges of my mind, fueling me.
Cairo
Where am I going this time? Not to Europe!
Anna
No, not to Europe, but somewhere else.
She says, her tone clipped.
I press, narrowing my eyes.
Anna
I can’t tell you. I don’t want you escaping from there.
And with that, she walks out of the room, her heels clicking against the floor like an executioner’s drumbeat.
Fine. It doesn’t matter. I’ll escape from wherever she sends me—like always. Months, maybe weeks. She should know by now I’m unstoppable.
I pull on a pair of cargo pants and head down to the basement, shirtless. I like being shirtless. No one’s opinion matters anyway.
Comes a cheery voice from the far corner.
I mutter without looking up. He’s always hovering, always trying too hard to be friendly. Mom’s right-hand man, her so-called most trusted. I tolerate him—because she does. But if they ever get married? I’m out of this house for good. I don’t need to witness their PDA on top of everything else.
Sebi
At least wash your face,
He says, still trying to sound like some kind of father figure.
Cairo
None of your business!
I yell back, glaring at him.
The Dream 2
The basement is my sanctuary, a space built for one purpose: training.
Whether it’s shooting, fighting, escaping, or hiding, this place was designed for it all.
And I’ve mastered hiding—it’s my best skill. Though, honestly, it’s also my least favorite. I don’t want to be the one who vanishes when things get tough.
I want to be a fighter like Kai or a shooter like Salman. Those two—they’re Sebi’s left and right hands, always one step ahead of everyone else.
I load bullets into my gun, the smooth clicks filling the still air, and set the targets in motion. They whir and slide unpredictably across the space.
This is where I push myself. As each target moves, I calculate: where will it be the moment my bullet hits if I shoot now?
That split-second prediction, the perfect timing—it’s what I thrive on.
But as I fire shot after shot, my mind drifts, pulled back to the dream.
It always starts the same. Someone asks for my name, their voice cold and indifferent.
They tick it off a list like I’m inventory, not a person. “Follow,” they command.
The first few times, I fought back. I mean, I don’t take orders from anyone—not in real life, not even in a dream.
But after a while, I stopped resisting. It wasn’t worth the struggle. I’d follow, quiet and calculating. And then… nothing. A blank space in my memory, like my brain refuses to recall what comes next.
But I know how it ends. It always ends the same way.
I’m dragged into hell—or something that looks like hell. Darkness and fire all around me.
The sharp voice jolted me, and my next shot went wide. I didn’t have to look back to know who it was.
Kai
Don’t waste bullets. They’re precious,
Kai said, his tone laced with that usual mix of authority and mockery.
I lowered my gun just enough to glance at him.
Cairo
Bullets aren’t your concern, Kai.
He smirked, leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed.
Kai
You don’t need to know what my concerns are. That’s for me to worry about.
Kai
If you’re here to train, then train.
Kai
Otherwise, go back to bed and keep dreaming—like the school kid you are.
His words ignited something hot inside me.
Without a second thought, I raised my gun and fired.
The bullet hit the wall far from him.
Kai didn’t flinch, just chuckled.
Kai
That the best you’ve got?
I fired again, closer this time, but still missed.
Sebi’s voice rang out, sharp yet calm, like a parent gently scolding a child.
I froze, turning to see him at the stairs. His eyes were steady, piercing.
He said softly but firmly.
Reluctantly, I lowered the gun, my chest heaving. I glared at Kai, who stood there, calm and smug as ever.
I hated him for it. And I hated Sebi for commanding me.
Kai
You’ve been here an hour and still haven’t hit a bullseye?
Kai said, his lazy smirk cutting through me.
Sebi said, his voice gentle, but with a quiet authority.
I felt like I could spit fire and reduce them both to ash.
Kai ignored Sebi, his grin widening.
Kai
You should start packing. We’re leaving in 2 hours.
Cairo
Ask the butler to do it
Kai
Do your own things, at least the basics,
Sebi said softly, his tone laced with patience.
Sebi
Yelling won’t get you anywhere, sweetheart.
His words, as kind as they were, only made the fire inside me burn hotter.
The Dream 3
The ship’s engines hummed steadily as I stepped aboard, glaring at the polished floors and pristine corridors.
My fists clenched at my sides.
Cairo
A ship? Seriously? You couldn’t have gotten a jet instead?
Cairo
It’s faster, more comfortable, and doesn’t make me feel like I’m stuck in a tin can.
My mother said sharply from behind me. Her tone was enough to silence me mid-rant.
She walked past, her heels clicking against the metal floor.
Anna
This isn’t a vacation. And maybe if you showed a little gratitude, you wouldn’t be so unbearable to deal with.
I huffed, slinging my bag over my shoulder.
Cairo
I don’t see why we couldn’t just—
Sebi interjected, his voice soft but firm, like a balm over the tension. He placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder.
Sebi
You’ll like it here, Cai. I even arranged a training room for you—a big one. Should keep you occupied.
Sebi
Yes, sweetheart. I figured you’d need a way to let out all that energy.
Kai chuckled from the corner, leaning casually against the wall.
Kai
I’ll show you. Not like you have anything better to do.
I followed Kai through the narrow corridors, my annoyance simmering but curiosity piqued.
The training room was bigger than I expected, with reinforced walls, targets, and even a sparring area. My fingers itched for a weapon.
Kai drawled, crossing his arms.
I muttered, grabbing a set of throwing knives from the rack.
As I trained, I could feel Kai’s smug presence looming, his gaze irritatingly calm.
My throws were precise, but every time I missed a mark, his chuckle grated on me.
I snapped, hurling a knife toward the target.
He said lazily, leaning against the wall.
Before I could retort, a loud, metallic clash echoed through the ship, followed by distant shouts.
My heart froze as the sounds of panic and chaos grew louder.
Kai moved toward the door, his relaxed demeanor replaced by sharp alertness.
The ship jolted violently, and alarms blared.
My instincts kicked in, and I reached for my gun just as an explosion ripped through the training room.
The force threw me backward. My vision blurred, and everything became a cacophony of noise and searing heat.
The last thing I saw was Kai’s face, his wide eyes locked on mine as he lunged forward, his body shielding me from the blast.
A sharp, burning pain tore through my shoulder, and the world went dark.
Mom, I want to show you I’m capable.
Sebi, I’m not just a child...
Kai… I don’t need your protection. I can protect myself.
The thought jolted me, and the stillness shattered as the sounds of chaos came rushing back—screams, bullets ricocheting off walls, the groaning metal of a ship on the brink of collapse.
My eyes shot open, and I gasped as pain lanced through my shoulder.
I croaked, blinking to clear my vision. He was there, crouched beside me, his face pale but his expression focused.
Blood dripped from a gash on his forehead, but he was still holding a gun, his body angled protectively toward me.
I called again, louder this time
He glanced at me, relief flashing across his face for a split second before urgency took over.
He barked, his voice steady despite the chaos around us.
I followed his gaze to a hatch just three feet away. A trapdoor.
I tried to move, but my body protested—pain blooming from my shoulder and head, making my limbs heavy.
Kai snapped, already pushing me toward the hatch.
With his free hand, he wrenched it open, revealing a narrow ladder that led to a small compartment below.
I didn’t have time to think. Kai practically shoved me in, his hand firm but careful on my good shoulder.
I slid down the ladder, landing awkwardly in the cramped space. Seconds later, Kai followed, sealing the hatch above us.
The space was suffocatingly tight, dimly lit, and filled with the low hum of machinery.
I realized with a start that we were in an escape submarine—a last resort for situations exactly like this.
Kai didn’t waste time. He stumbled to the controls, his movements slightly shaky, and began prepping the sub for launch. I slumped against the wall, my breaths shallow and uneven, watching him.
I asked, my voice trembling.
Cairo
Where are they, Kai?
I pressed, panic rising in my chest.
His silence said everything.
Kai finally turned to me, his expression grim.
Kai
We don’t know. The ship… it was hit hard. Sebi ordered me to get you out. Your mom…
He hesitated, the words heavy in the air.
Kai
She told us to protect you. That was her last order.
I stared at him, my chest tightening until it felt like I couldn’t breathe. Guilt clawed at me, sharp and unrelenting. This was my fault.
Cairo
I didn’t… I didn’t even say anything to them,
I whispered, my vision blurring with tears I refused to let fall.
Kai crouched in front of me, his hand gripping my good shoulder.
Kai
Cai, listen to me. Right now, we survive. That’s what they’d want. Got it?
I nodded, but it felt hollow. My thoughts were a mess, bouncing between my mother’s sharp voice,
Sebi’s warm smile, and the last moments of the ship exploding around us.
The sub shuddered as it detached from the ship, Kai expertly guiding it into the depths. The chaos above grew muffled, the sounds fading as we descended.
I wanted to focus on the silence, to let it calm me, but the pain in my head and shoulder was unbearable. My vision swam, and I could barely make out Kai’s face as he called my name.
His voice was distant, frantic.
But I couldn’t. The pain and the guilt were too much.
My last thought before everything went black again was Kai’s face, bloodied and bruised, and the echo of my mother’s voice telling me to be better.
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