"Ida, what's the boy's status?"
"He's being transported to the safe house. Derek and Neesha are guarding him."
"Neesha? But isn't she busy with - ?"
"It's important that she witnesses what's going on."
"...You're right."
"Was there a reason for this call?"
"No, it's just... I'm unsettled. He might get attacked on the way here, or the safe house might get attacked after he arrives. We'll all be fighting with our lives to keep him alive - what if they get past us?"
"Vain," Ida said. "Veera."
Veera cut herself off. It was rare for Ida to use her actual name.
Veera.
She was used to Vain, the name everyone in the base addressed her with because that was her favoured personality trait when undercover. People rarely thought that the vain had skills behind their mask of self importance.
"You're usually the calm one...anyway, no one will get to him. You will protect the boy," Ida said with absolute certainty.
Veera took a moment to collect her thoughts. "Yes. You're right. I will."
Her phone vibrated.
"We're approaching," Derek said.
She glanced at the monitor and saw the car pull up. "I see you."
Derek came with the boy behind him, suitcase in tow. Veera had her gun ready just in case anyone tried to attack them.
Neesha came in last and gave Veera a nod while saying, "All clear. I'll go to the back and make sure that it's covered."
Veera locked the front door of the safe house. She stood with her back to it and finally got a good look at the boy whose father was hell-bent on destroying their country.819Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURGef5ZBGK
He was tall for a fifteen year old kid. He had brown hair like his dead mother. Sharp nose and hard mouth like his father.
And steely grey eyes that belonged to no one else.
"Prince," Veera said with a nod.
"Don't call me that," he said softly. His hand on the suitcase tightened until she thought the plastic might crack. "My father is causing enough trouble to last ten life times. I'm ready to burn my name off the family tree."
"Kid, you already did that," Derek said and patted the boy's shoulder. "No need to get worked up."
The boy looked at him, back at Veera, and nodded. "I'm sorry."
"It's alright," Veera said. "It was my fault for mentioning it."
After receiving the call from Emperor Thandisry's son, they fought tooth and nail to bring him to safety. After witnessing what must have been a bloody battle, he was bound to be a bundle of nerves.
"Let's get you settled in."
Veera started up the stairs, pausing for a moment when the boy didn't move. She waved a hand and continued walking. A second later, she heard the wheels of the suitcase twirl.
"Do you need help with that? It's probably heavy."
"It's not heavy at all," she heard him murmur.
He tossed the suitcase onto the bed with little to no effort. When he saw her raised eyebrows, he smiled slightly. "Derek gave me this suitcase when he reached my rooms, looking all bloody and torn up. I remember hearing people screaming and gun shots going off behind him.
"He stood there with a suitcase and told me to bring whatever I wanted, since the suitcase could block any tracking devices that might be on my stuff."
The boy flipped the latches and unzipped the suitcase. He gave her another stare before revealing what was inside.
The suitcase was empty.
"But I didn't plan to bring my past with me."
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