One more time

All traces of amusement faded from Storm's face the moment he stepped out and walked away from the lab. His dark aura shrouded him again, in a severely intensified level as all the painful memories he had tried to do away with came rushing to the surface with so much force he couldn't fight them.

Just as he stepped out of the building, a guard, who was patrolling at that time, halted and froze on the spot. He instantly lowered his upper body and remained that way until he was sure Storm was far away from his immediate surrounding. Only then did he straighten, after letting out a breath.

Storm walked back to the main palace, straight to the room where he knew Nicholas would be receiving medical attention. 

He walked into the room and paused by the door as his eyes landed on the boy. An unknown emotion flashed in his eyes for a millisecond before he shifted his gaze to the doctor, who just turned around to face him.

"Master," the doctor curtsied in the same manner as the guard.

"How is he?" Storm queried.

"He will be fine by morning. He has a fever and suffered from shock." The doctor reported.

"Conduct a complete check on him and get back to me," Storm instructed, glancing at Nicholas once more, before walking out of the room. 

Confused, the doctor turned around to look at Seth, who was standing in a corner of the room watching what the doctor was doing.

"Who is the kid?" The doctor questioned in a whisper, surprised at Storm's instructions. 

"Why are you whispering? If you are so scared of death, you shouldn't be sticking your nose where it is not invited. Do your job and leave." Seth answered in a loud voice that made the doctor widen his eyes in shock.

What has come over Seth? It was just a harmless question, which he usually would answer in a lighthearted manner, especially if he was the one asking. Why did it suddenly feel like they were quarreling? 

Instead of responding, he simply turned and continued with his job like Seth advised. Who knows maybe another word from him would invite something more severe.

Seth's face remained as rigid as ever. He didn't regret what he said to the doctor. It was better he minded his business, especially in a time like this. He, however, regretted the manner in which he passed the message. Doctor Ken was a friendly guy, who, so far, had not had a clash with anyone in the royal house. In fact, Seth related to him more freely than he does with other people.

So Seth knew he would be surprised by the way he responded to his question. But he couldn't help it.

Caught in between Elfin and Storm, Seth couldn't imagine what awaited him in the future. There was no way he could stop Storm from doing whatever he wanted. Also, there was absolutely no way he could fight against Elfin. 

Letting out a frustrated sigh, he threw his head back, resting it against the wall.

***

Back in his bedroom, Storm lay on his bed facing the ceiling. His mind was a mess. Different emotions washed through him, but out of them all, two were stronger and more prominent – anger, and envy. 

Anger because the torment from years ago, which he had successfully buried, was back. 

More anger because the person who put him through that tormented phase was still around him and still trying to control his life. 

And envy… Envy for that little, unconscious thing receiving treatment in his palace. He was just a sick little boy, yet he was blessed with so much organic love. 

Storm was envious of the boy, yet he couldn't bring himself to hurt him.

His expression quickly switched from a thoughtful one to an unhappy one when he felt a presence in the room.

"What are you still doing here? Don't you have better things to do than stalk me all day?"

"What can be better than stalking you? Nothing, of course." Elfin answered in a lighthearted tone, walking around until he came to stand beside the bed, opposite the side Storm lay.

"This is my bedroom. You are not permitted to be in here. Get out." Storm ordered in a firm voice, trying to keep the anger already boiling inside of him toward Elfin, at bay.

His words, however, seemed not to have any impact on the person they were directed at. He didn't move from where he stood, and didn't look like he was moving anytime soon.

But his expression turned deadly and he emitted a dark, threatening aura, which Storm picked up on as soon as it filled the room. 

Storm finally peeled his gaze from the ceiling and set it on Elfin. 

"Why didn't you turn the girl?" Elfin probed, his gaze and voice doing nothing to hide how pissed he was at that moment.

"I didn't invite you here. Get out of my room." Storm responded, looking Elfin straight in the eyes.

"Storm, why didn't you turn the girl?" Elfin probed again, ignoring Storm's words.

This didn't sit well with Storm. So he lifted his hand and snapped his fingers. As soon as he did that, Elfin evaporated into thin air.

Before he could breathe a sigh of relief, Elfin appeared back in the room, looking even more pissed than he was earlier.

"How dare you use my powers against me? Do that again and I will—" Elfin could not complete his words because Storm snapped his fingers again and he, once again, evaporated.

"STORM!" Elfin's voice echoed around the building just before he reappeared inside the room.  "Do that one more time and—"

Storm was about to snap his fingers again, but before he could do it, Elfin waved his hand, sending Storm flying out of the bed, and making forceful contact with the wall.