The Tears of a Prince - Chapter 256

He hadn’t felt that good in years, that sweet bliss, like nothing mattered. As he infused the thick purple smoke, like Alice and the caterpillar John got lost, his legs wobbled as he tried to keep standing. He followed Reina, barely able to see her back as she walked towards the unknown. A tavern, people like him everywhere, in need, broken, addicted. He chuckled, finding his situation hilarious. He had worked so hard just to ruin everything in just a few seconds. He couldn’t think about that though, not now, he was too happy.

John barely managed to sit in the old worn out stools of the vampire filled tavern, everything around him shaking in a very funny way. He looked at his companions, ordering drinks and heard the clashing of glass, filled to the brim. Without even realizing it he was drinking. The taste of the ale, cold and rich on his tongue while his whole body felt so light. Ah, this feeling, he had longed for it for so long.

He heard Reina’s voice. The girl was laughing, she was actually asking him a question but he was too far gone. He hadn’t wondered how Reina had gotten a hold of that drug, nor did he care that Mika judged them both for giggling like idiots, saying anything that came to their minds.

“There is a spider on the ceiling.” John mumbled, looking at the wooden roof, black spots in his vision like little spiders crawling on the walls on his body but he wasn’t scared, the tingling sensation felt good, the numbness of the limbs, everything was perfect in that moment.

“I can’t believe I will have to drag you both back to the palace afterwards.” Mika spoke to himself, drinking his beer silently as he looked at the other two. Reina was laid on the table, giggling, drinking her beer as if it was water while John had sat back in his chair, silent, wishing he could remain in this state forever. No worries, no troubles, no love. Simply a pleasant nothingness in his world.

While being drugged there was no Soran, no painful truth, no actual rejection. While he was like this he could be happy, free with no pain on his chest. No constant self hating.

“Where did you get it?” John asked Reina.

“What?”

“This drug?”

“I have many friends.” Reina said, half dazed and she winked at him. Her clumsy hands traveled in the pockets of her jacket, pulling out a small green puch that had a golden string on top. She tossed it at him, John barely catching it and he tried to examine it with his eyes. He couldn’t really tell what he was looking at, just a green ball, that was how far off he had been. He fiddled with the soft material and found the little strings, opening the pouch and seeing a bunch of the purple dust he had just inhaled before. His dark eyes widened.

“Take it, I kinda feel like you need it. But be careful with it. It could kill you. Don’t turn into an addict.” The girl told him, having no idea about his sorrowful past. John scoffed, knowing even in the state he was that he should return it if he didn’t want to be the one returning to an era he tried so hard to get out of.

He didn’t do it though, he just pushed it in his pocket, feeling its comforting weight on his body, thinking that he had found an escape from reality again, a way to simply forget. He wouldn’t do it too much, just when he needed it, he told himself, obviously lying.

Sitting there felt like forever and the effect of the drug never seemed to wear off. He was starting to feel thirsty and dizzy, the aftereffect of his action coming back in waves. Suddenly the sounds all felt too loud and the dim light was brighter than the sun. He flinched at the slightest thing that happened around him and Mika was the first one to notice that.

“I think it’s better for us to go.” He said, getting up and the young werewolf heard Reina whine. The red haired man though didn’t succumb to her whims. He grabbed John gently, getting him up and helping him walk.

“You know, I thought you were a jerk…” John mumbled as the strong wind of the night hit his face, the bustling noise of the tavern slowly dying out. “But you are actually kind of nice. I wish I liked you and not him.” he said and Mika blinked, looking at John with a baffled face but he didn’t say anything. A sigh escaped his lips as he kept walking, staring ahead until the gate of the palace appeared.

Reina was hopping around, obviously not affected in the same way by the drug as John and the moment they stepped inside the palace she ran off somewhere, disappearing from their eyes while her giggling filled the corridor.

“Take a shower when you get back. The drug is nasty.” he advised him and John nodded weakly, his eyes half closed. “Which way is your room?” Mika asked him, wanting to get him to his door. John looked up, blinking, a blank expression on his face.

“I don’t know.” he slurred and Mika frowned.

He decided to head straight, find a servant or a guard and ask them where John’s room was. He was unlucky though, the palace almost seemed as if it was deserted, everyone missing. He sighed again not knowing what to do when he noticed a white haired man walk by in a hurry, it was that friend of Kai’s, the thin one, Mika thought.

“Hey, you!” he called him, hoping he would stop.

It was Soran, stopping at the sound of the familiar voice, his dark eyes scanning the scene before him. John looked as if he was going to collapse soon in Mika’s arms as he smiled like a silly person. He frowned, displeased by the sight and moved closer.

“What did you do to him?” Soran asked John.

“I didn’t do anything. He just wanted to take drugs.”

“Drugs?” Soran exclaimed, looking at John with a worried expression. “Give him to me, I will take him to his room.” he told Mika.

“No!” John exclaimed, gripping onto the werewolf tighter.. “Go away.”