The Tears of a Prince

Kai had told Ash to not follow him. Ever since that werewolf guy had appeared the prince was always pushing him to the side. Lun had told him they needed their time, they had been apart for a long time and Kai had been unhappy that's why Ash hadn't complained all this time but the truth was that he felt useless. Staying in his room all the time because he had no friends here, nor anything to do. Every time he stepped outside a maid would come and stick to him like glue, every time being a different one. 

Ash was not interested in women nor men. He was not actually interested in anyone. He had one thing on his mind and that was protecting Kai. His only responsibility and duty was to obey the man that had saved his life, gave him home and a roof. The young man hated looking at himself, his reflection showed a boy, someone who didn't match his age, starved and malnourished, dirty. Kai found him and changed all that, he made him feel like himself. He had grown stronger, taller, he was finally fitting his age. 

He would do everything for Kai, if he ordered him to go die he would. If he ordered him to fight and kill his enemies he would, no questions asked. That was why  these hours that the prince had seemed to forget about his existence he spent them training. Day and night, sweat dripping off his half naked body he would punch his punching bag in the small training room Kai had made for him or wield his weapons.

Ash had wrapped his knuckles, his shirt thrown away, his body shining from the sweat as he breathed hard, focusing on his target. He had actually ripped two bags opened by now so he had to be a bit more careful. He had anger in him, rage and he didn't know what to do about it. Kai had advised him to let everything go in here, never take it out on others because he would regret it. But every time he let himself free things would get ruined. His bags would rip open, his swords would break, everything would simply get destroyed so he was trying to keep it in. 

Too focused on his training he didn't hear the footsteps, he didn't notice the girl that was looking at him. She had already entered sitting at a side of the room, trying to somehow get his attention. 

Finally after a few attempts Ash heard her delicate fake cough and stopped, surprised. His eyes turned, blue like the dark night and looked at her, a frown on his face as he realized who she was. 

"What are you doing here?" he asked her, taking a deep breath. 

"I…" she mumbled, her face turning bright red. Well, he was very handsome, that was out of the question. A dark and mysterious aura, a deep voice and his blue eyes. She had never seen that color before. They weren't like Kai's bright like the sky but deep blue, simply amazing, she thought.

"Olivia, what are you doing here?" Ash asked her with a glazed look. He couldn't be more disinterested in her. 

"I…wear some clothes first, will you?" she asked him and he scoffed, getting to the little bench he had left his shirt. He first wiped himself before he wore the black shirt and walked towards her.

"FIne?" he asked her and she nodded, the blush still prominent in her cheeks.

"Let's go." the girl said. 

"Go where? Why do you even think that I would go anywhere with you? Are you insane?" he asked her, sounding a little bit more aggressive than he should.

"Take me there"

"Where"

"You know where!" She said, the young girl hitting her foot on the wooden floor of the practice room.

"I don't have any idea what you're talking about. Also how did you get here? Are you even allowed to talk to me?" he asked her, not wanting to get into trouble. Olivia was a pureblood, the only daughter of the head of the Night Division, he couldn't risk messing things up and making Kai look back.

"My brother brought me here. I told him I wanted to talk to you."

"Why would you even want to talk to me?" Ash asked her and the girl rolled her black eyes, sullen.

"I lied! I just want you to take me there."

"There where?" Ash exclaimed, raising his tone. He didn't like not having a clue about what was going on. 

"To the real world, the one outside the mansions and the palace, where you said bad things happen."

"You want me to take you to the Alleys?" 

"If that's what they called then yes." Olivia said. 

The Alleys was the place where ash had grown up. The red light district, all the bad rumored stores, the black market and Lun's business were located there. It was a dark place filled with corruption and death. The darker side of BloodBound. 

"No, there is no way I am taking you there." Ash said, intending to leave the room but Olivia grabbed his arm, stopping him. 

"Please, I don't want to be clueless about the world I am living in. I know I did not make the best impression with the things I said but I…I never knew anything else. I want to know now though, I want to see the truth." Olivia told him, seriously. 

"It's dangerous. You will get me in trouble if we are found out." 

"I will take full responsibility. I swear." she told him. 

Ash looked at her. She wore a white dress, long with tulle and pearls sewed on it. He frowned, knowing that if he took her to the Alleys like this they would get robbed and murdered instantly. What was he supposed to do? He wondered. She was one of them, one of the deluded royals that had lived in a bubble all their lives but at least she seemed willing to know, to see. 

"Please" Olivia added, wistfully. " I asked my father when I returned, he denied everything, even though I had seen those children with my own eyes so please…take me with you." 

"Fine." Ash agreed. "But you're not going dressed like this. Follow me.." he told her, leading the way and the girl smiled sweetly.