Everyone was quiet as we all let the information sink in. When I thought about it, it all made sense now. Luke was the one that we were looking for. The only thing is, he is not exactly a traitor, just controlled by something that he cannot fight.
“Hang on, who attacked Luke in the greenhouse?” I asked. “I mean, the place was basically a mess.”
“He did that to himself,” Stella says. “As soon as he realized that Ferius was looking and hearing events of what was happening, he put himself to sleep to purposely stop Ferius from knowing of our plans. But upon realizing this, Ferius tried to take control over him. That was why the dose of the sleeping potion that he took was too much as to put him in a temporary coma.”
“I see.” Ace and I exchanged a look.
“Amy, there’s more,” Stella says. “The orb that should take us home. It’s in the castle along with Ferius.” Her expression dropped. “While we were escaping, he was saying something about going to our realm if...if we don’t surrender.”
“What!?” Now I got up from my seat and faced my aunt. “Do you...do you think that he knows where it is?”
My aunt cast a glance at Luke before shaking her head. “Luke never wanted to know where I specifically keep my valuables. But he does know that my vault is somewhere in my office. He’s probably looking there right now. I thought that he was only saying that because he wants me to have my own privacy, but I guess I was wrong. There was another reason.”
I ran a hand through my hair in frustration and then I remembered something more valuable. “Shit! The chalice is there as well.” I cursed. I swear, it’s one disaster to another. It just never ends!
“I feel like my sister is in there as well. Trapped.” Chace muttered.
“You mean Camille?” I asked. Chace nodded.
Oh, it’s just her…
I thought it was someone or something important. But just for show, I tried to look sympathetic to him. Why the hell is Camille in Thalia anyway?
“Amy, what exactly does the chalice do?” Stella suddenly wondered. “Why is it so important? I keep hearing you guys talk about it.”
“To be honest with you, Stella, I have limited knowledge about it as well.” I admitted. “But according to Serena, it has the power to break curses and spells.”
Right now, Stella was beginning to stare off into space again as if she were in deep thought. “Are you the one who’s in control of the chalice?”
“I guess so. I mean, my blood does the trick and only I can say the binding word.”
“Amy, in this world, the concept of lifting or breaking a curse or a spell solely depends on the owner of a magical tool. Ferius wants you to undo the curse that was casted upon him by our ancestors, right?”
“Yeah. And release his abomination of a chimera.” I pointed out.
“Ace?” Stella glanced at the elf prince, who then gave her a look.
“It’s PRINCE.”
“It’s ROSE’S sister to you then if you keep acting like that.” She frowned at him. “Back to the topic at hand, isn’t the chimera’s origin a result of dark magic?”
“Yes.”
“And dark magic coincides with curses, am I right?” At her question, Ace’s eyes widened. “And the chalice can lift curses. Which means….” She trailed off. A small smile appearing on her lips and she glanced at me and then at Ace. “Are you guys thinking what I’m thinking?”
I saw Ace smirking as well and saw how the two of them kept casting glances at me with a look that expects me to be on the same page as them.
I really have no idea what they were talking about, but to save face, I pulled my lips in a nervous smile even though I was clueless as hell.
What the hell are these two thinking about!?
“The chalice can kill the chimera!” They said.
“Ferius doesn’t know where I hid the chalice!” I said at the same time as them, thinking that it was the idea that they were talking about.
And now, I am embarrassed. And I feel even more ashamed especially when everyone in the room was looking at me. Even Viex, who was sleeping in Ace’s arms, cracked an eye open and rolled his eyes before going back to sleep.
I cleared my throat as I blushed. “T-that’s what I thought as well. I just wanted to test you guys. So, um...if that is the plan then we should go now and get the chalice. Before Ferius tries to find it for himself.”
“Right.” Ace muttered as he got up.
“Hang on. Aren’t you guys going to wait for the others to arrive first?” Chace asked.
“No.” Ace answered him. “It would be better if I go alone. That was it would be easier to sneak in.”
“Alone? Excuse me, but I am the only one who knows where I hid the chalice. And I am not going to tell you unless I come along.” I gave him a hard look to let him know that I wasn’t up for any debates.
“I’m going as well,” Stella spoke. “The entrance to the castle is frozen solid. You will need me to get inside.”
“Stella, it is dangerous.” It was Chace who spoke to her. “I should go.”
Stella was frowning at him. “Who do you think taught you how to control your magic? I did! Which means that I can perfectly protect myself and the others when needed.” She says before turning to Ace and I. “And I hope that I won’t have to hear the same excuse from the two of you as well. You need a winter fairy, right? You got one right here.”
Ace sighed and got up. “She certainly has your stubbornness.” He says before looking back at Stella and I. “Here is the plan. The two of you will have to go and fetch the chalice while I will be the distraction.” I opened my mouth to protest but he cut me off with a raise of his hand. “We still have to protect the orb, am I right?”
“But, Ace. You’ll be alone.” I said. I know that he has a point, but I still worry since I know that it won’t be just Ferius that he would be facing.
“No. He won’t be.” At that moment, Kellar decided to step up and join the conversation. “Javi and I will be with him.” Before, Kellar had a dead look in his eyes, but right now, we could see the determination in them.
“But, Kellar, we’re going against your family. And you-”
“I’m alright, Stella. You all of been more of a family to me than they have. It’s only right that I protect those that I hold dear. And I swore loyalty to the princess when she brought Javi and I together.” He says while offering me a small sincere smile.
“I’ll come as well.” Chace started to speak, but Ace stopped him.
“No. You stay here in case the others return. And when they do, we need you to inform them of what has happened.” Ace told him.
Chace frowned. “But my sister-”
“Chace, no offense, but we don’t really like her.” Stella blatantly told him. “But none of us is heartless enough to leave her in the mercy of the rogue king. I’m sorry, but I think staying here would be good since another winter fairy has to hold the fort, right?” She offered him a comforting smile. “The sun is up and we can’t have the dome melting or weakening.”
Chace pondered over her words. He seemed reluctant at first, but with another reassuring nod from Ace, Chace finally agreed. “Alright. Be safe. All of you.” He says. But as much as he tried to hide it, I could hear the bitterness in them.
He really wanted to come with us.
“Right.” Ace gave him a nod before gesturing at the rest of us to follow. “Let’s go.”
***
Going back to the castle without getting spotted was not an easy task as the sun was now up on the horizon. But thanks to Stella creating an icy mist, we were able to escape the dome without being spotted.
And it was also for Ace’s magic that trees were able to provide us with enough shade for us to stay in the shadows.
Rogues were still roaming outside. Some were lazing around and others were sleeping. Ace and Kellar rode on Javi while Stella and I rode on Viex on the way to the castle. As we got there, we used one of the nearest balconies on the second floor to sneak inside.
Stella unfroze the doors and we immediately ushered us inside while she sealed them back. One thing that is good about this situation is that there’s no way for the other rogues to get inside, but there is also no way for us to leave unless we have Stells with us.
Kellar and I unmorped our familiars as we headed for the door of the random bedroom that we were in. Ace held the doorknob and glanced at the three of us. “Get the chalice and find us, alright? And you,” He addressed Kellar. “Stay close to me, but if I find that you are a useless piece of baggage then I’ll leave you. Am I clear?”
“Ace!” I hissed a warning at him and lightly hit his shoulder. He simply lets out an annoyed huff as I asked my question. “Once we find the chalice, how should we find you?”
“Figure that out yourself. Maybe follow a trail of blood, bodies, or intestines that I will leave for you girls to follow?” I swear, even with the lack of light, I could see that Ace was considering the idea.
And I was pretty sure that with his personality, that he would actually do it. Even Stella knew that and was already grimacing at the idea.
“Please…don’t.” I whispered as I buried my face in my hands to shake off the gruesome thoughts.
“Princess, isn’t Custard a wolf? Maybe he can track us when the two of you are done.” Kellar suggested.
‘I can! I can!’ Custard says while wagging his tail at us happily.
“Right,” I told Kellar. “Custard says he can do it,” I confirmed.
Ace opened the door and Kellar headed out first while the elf prince kissed me on the cheek. “Keep safe and don’t do things that I WOULD do.” He says before he and Kellar left.
When I looked at Stella, she had a teasing grin on her face making me blush. “Not a word, Stella. This is serious.” I told her and saw her grin getting bigger.
“I can see that.” She smirked.
“I meant the mission!” I added.
Stella nodded her head slowly in agreement. “Sure it is, Amy. Sure it is.”
“Can we just go?” I huffed.
The both of us headed out of the room and into the hallway. The castle is usually bright during the day with the natural light coming from the sun. But because it was frozen and surrounded by ice, everything was dark. If we didn’t have Custard and Viex to guide us through, then I don’t think that we would have reached my room at all.
I got my whip ready at my side as we entered. It let out an eerie creak that made us all flinch in fear that someone might have heard it. I could feel the chill in the air as Stella readied to us her magic if ever anything comes out and jumps at us.
Thankfully, there was no one.
We went inside my room and immediately closed it behind us. The room was just exactly as I remembered it. It was fixed in a way that it always has been by my maids.
My mind began to worry about whether or not they were able to escape, but I immediately shook the thought away as we have more important things to worry about.
“Keep a lookout while I get the chalice,” I headed for my bed and started rummaging to the secret compartment. Once I felt the familiar form of it, I let out a sigh of relief.
Thank God. The chalice was still here.
But then I felt a hand grabbing my hand as I started to pull it towards me. I stifled a scream as instincts kicked in and I threw a punch blindly in the direction of my attacker before I got up.