"Luciano." Helen dropped the brush in her hands immediately, rushing to him. "Don't move, just lay still." She held his shoulders, gently pushing him back on the bed. 
Luciano grunted, trying to get up from the bed. "No, my prince. You have a deep wound on your chest. Please don't make it worse." Helen rushed her words, trying as much as possible to stop him from standing. "Stay still. I'll inform the others that you're awake, the physician has to know." Helen moved away from the bed and rushed out of the room.
She came back a few minutes later,this time around with Nikolai, The Queen and Mabuse. 
Mabuse did a little check on him just for a few minutes. "He's surprisingly getting better." He said to the Queen, a few seconds after he was done with Luciano. 
Queen Ariel heaved out a loud sigh of relief, placing her palm on her temple. "Luciano." She rushed towards him, ready to wrap her arms around him in a comforting hug when he raised his hands at her, making her stop immediately. "Luciano?" Her lips twitched when he glared hard at her. She blinked repeatedly in confusion and rolled her palm into a tight fist, feeling highly embarrassed.
"Ermm.." Mabuse cleared his throat, breaking the tense silence in the room. "We need to leave him, he needs a lot of rest now, so he can get fully healed."
"Okay." Ariel replied in a small voice and glanced at Luciano one last time before walking out of the room.
"Nikolai stays." Luciano muttered when they all turned to leave. 
Nikolai heaved out a sigh of relief, happy he was allowed to have a few words with him. "Hey, how're you feeling?" He sat on the wooden chair beside the bed, staring directly at him in concern.
"Worse." Luciano scoffed, shaking his head slowly.
"It'll get better brother." Nikolai tried to reassure him, trying not to think of the problems they still had. 
"Where's Eleanor?" Luciano asked in a plain voice. Nikolai already knew he had nothing else to say when he permitted him to stay. Too bad he doesn't plan on telling him where Eleanor is, he knows he wouldn't be able to hold it in. He'd probably throw a tantrum about going to bring back his lover.
"You should rest more like Mabuse instructed Luciano, you need it."
"You're really not going to talk?" Luciano asked, quirking his brows at him. He scoffed and turned his face away, staring at the window.
"Take enough rest Luciano." Nikolai said lastly and stood up, exiting the room.
*
Gwendolyn walked out of the room, letting out a small yawn. She has been in all day, sleeping since she has literally nothing to do. She made her mind to leave and maybe see Nikolai, just do something with her day. She was starting to miss Eleanor greatly, if she were here she wouldn't be so bored. 
She heaved out a small sigh, shaking her head. Climbing up the stairs she headed to Nikolai's room. She stopped when she reached the second floor, taking a deep breath, ready to continue again but froze when she heard voices in the unfamiliar hallway. 
As much as she wanted to walk away, minding her own business, curiosity got the best of her and she moved to the hallway as quiet as she could, leaning against the wall. Hiding from the eyes of the unknown speaking. Her breath hitched when she sighted two familiar faces whispering to each other. “What about the other two, I don’t like them.”
“who?”
“Gwen and Nikolai.” Gwen moved away, leaning against the wall when she heard the reply. Immediately she realized they were worse than she thought.
“you want us to eliminate them?” Her eyes went wide in shock on hearing the reply.
“Obviously, yes.” Her heart skipped a beat again. Different thoughts ran through her immediately, were they the cause of all that has happened. Gwen didn’t wait to listen any further, she moved away quietly already forgetting why she was here in the first place. She ran down the stairs, heading back to the room. She slammed the door hard and bolted it locked, moving away from the door to the bed. . She slammed the door hard and bolted it locked, moving away from the door to the bed. Her breaths were coming out in pants as she sat on the bed, staring into space. Shaking her head she stood up from the bed, trying as much as possible to stop the fear that threatened to envelope her. She knew thinking all about fear wouldn’t solve the problem. She needed to do something to keep them safe.
Gwen paced around the small room, trying to come up with a plan. She groaned when she discovered she was completely out of ideas. She palmed her head upon realizing it would have been better if Eleanor was here. But she knew she couldn’t wish for that, it’s her problem she needs to face it herself.
Heavens! Did she really think her love story with Nikolai would go smoothly with no problems?
“Hmm..” Her hands went to her jaw when a thought clicked in her head. She should tell Nikolai, they were in this together. Unfortunately, she worried about him. He definitely has a lot going on now and doesn’t need anymore problems.
But, maybe she should tell him. His life is also in danger and he needs to know, right?
Totally confused and without settling on an idea she walked out of the room, head to Nikolai’s room.
“Hey, are you okay?” He asked as he opened the door, letting her into the room. Sometimes she hates the fact he reads her so easily and could sense even the slightest emotion.
“Yes, I’m fine.” She replied, flashing a quick fake smile, walking into the middle of the room. “Well…” She rubbed her arms, looking around the room, trying as much as possible to avoid eye contact with him.
“Luciano’s awake!” Nikolai said, stopping her from speaking any further.
“Oh really! That’s great news!” She tried as much as possible to feel happy for him but the thoughts of what’s actually happening made her shiver in fear.
“Yes, I feel so much relief knowing he’s fine.” Her lips stretched into a small smile seeing how happy he was. “What is it you wanted to say?” his brows arched as he stared at her with a knowing look.
“Well….I..” She stood and closed her eyes, heaving out a deep breath. This was her chance to say, but she feared seeing the happy look on his face vanish. She let out a shaky breath before speaking. “Ermm.. I just wanted to… uhmm…”
“Is something bothering you Gwen?” He asked with a look of concern.
She twitched her lips to the side, staring at him for a while before replying. “Ermm..well… no, I’m fine. I’m good, I just…” She stood and heaved out a loud sigh, smiling widely at him. “I just missed you.”