9 A new mission

"So you are telling me that you have kidnapped the crown princess right form under the nose of two Kings and I am supposed to help you hide her?" The man named Mathew was pacing back and forth on the kitchen floor. "No, no, no, this would cost our heads Lio. This is too much." He stopped to look at his friend who was casually sitting over the counter, drinking water.

"Are you even listening?" He repeated when he didn't respond.

"Don't worry Thew. She will leave after she wakes up." He filled up the glass once again and walked out of the small kitchen.

"And where would she go?" This time Mathew's voice was barely above a whisper as the Princess lying on the couch came into sight. It was natural for him to lower his voice in respect even though she wasn't listening to him.

"That's her concern." Hellion shrugged and Mathew just stared at his side profile.

His nonchalant behaviour wasn't a surprise to him but it was the crown princess they were talking about this time. Even after listening to the whole story, he still didn't understand why Hellion saved her in the first place when apparently she didn't even ask for it.

"Wait!" Before Mathew could have protested over his sudden move, the damage was already done.

Hellion had sprinkled the water over the girl's face and it was more of a splash than a sprinkle as it emptied almost the whole glass. Mathew stood there, his eyes wide and his forefinger pressed under his teeth, waiting for the Princess to open her eyes and sentence both of them to death for the disrespect.

The eyes flickered a bit but right at the moment they heard an abrupt knock at the door. Hellion and Mathew's eyes met for a brief moment before both of them launched in separate directions, Hellion immediately picking up the girl while Mathew went towards the door.

"Johnson." Mathew mouthed towards Hellion after checking from the door hole.

He nodded in return and took the princess to the room, quietly locking the door after setting her on the bed.

After the sight was clear, Mathew opened the door with a lazy look feigned on his face. "What brought you here at this time Mr Johnson?"

"Get out of my way." The newcomer who seemed to be a man in his late forties pushed him aside and walked in. "What took you so long?"

"If you had seen the time, it's almost midnight. Were you expecting me to be at the door awaiting your unexpected visit instead of being in my bed dozing off?"

"Cut it. You won't believe what news I have bought for you. You would be thankful for my visit." The man named Johnson had a mischievous look dancing in his eyes as he stood there with his hands over his chunky hips. His beer belly was barely being held in by the buttoned up checkered shirt he was wearing.

"And what is it?" Mathew wanted him to leave as soon as possible because he wasn't sure how the princess would react if she woke up. What if she changed her mind and started screaming for help?

"Our Crown Princess has been kidnapped from her wedding ceremony." Johnson informed him with a crooked grin.

Mathew almost choked on his saliva when the man made himself comfortable on the couch where the Princess was previously lying a while ago. If it had been any other situation he wouldn't have believed what the man said but he had already witnessed the truth before the news itself.

"Must be a rumor." He kept his calm and denied it in an attempt to make his reaction seem natural.

"You know I always get the legit news from my sources." Johnson's expressions suggested he didn't like what Mathew said. "Of Course the news isn't spread out yet but you are lucky you have me.. Now it's your time to outshine that friend of yours."

Both Mathew and Hellion, who were listening to them from behind the door, knew which 'friend' he was talking about.

Johnson Silver had served as a chief detective for decades and after retirement he had taken the job of helping and training youth in this field mostly those who aren't associated with the police department or any renown agency.

Hellion and Mathew were one of those and had been affiliated to Johnson for years. Where Mathew learned everything quite fast and became Johnson's favorite, Hellion did the same but Johnson never really liked him because he never actually listened to him and always did opposite to what he was told.

It was due to this reason that Johnson only considered Mathew as his true student and he always wanted to see him more successful than Hellion. Maybe it was his way of proving him wrong and flexing his years of experience but he never quite succeeded in doing so as Hellion has always stayed ten feet ahead of them or anyone else.

"I…let's talk about it tomorrow. I am really tired at this moment." Mathew tried to change the subject before Mr Johnson could have started back biting Hellion as usual. He was unaware of his presence but Mathew wasn't.

"Are you out of your mind kid? This is a very serious matter and every one out there will be dying to find the princess. Can you even imagine the reward?"

Mathew was sure Mr Johnson will start drooling any minute upon the mention of the reward hence he decided to break his hope by straight off apologizing from this mission that could cost the life of his friend.

"I am already surrounded by so much work…"

Before he could have finished off his sentence, they heard a sound of something breaking from behind the closed door. Both of their necks snapped towards the direction, Mathew's being the faster.

His panicked eyes followed Johnson's scrutinizing ones and knowing the paranoid type of person he was, Mathew knew what exactly his next move was going to be.

He gulped.