DECEIT-behind the scenes

Chapter 22:Raven

"The quarters," I pointed towards the right.

"The workout arena,"

"The cafeteria,"

"The interrogation room,"

"The torture room,"

"The dungeons,"

"The library,"

"The lounge,"

"The garden,"

"Wait, garden?" Sage questioned curiously, "You love gardens!"

"Not anymore," I said in a monotone voice.His smile faded.

"Oh, ummm, ok...I guess preferences change over time, right?" he said, a little crestfallen "you really have changed a lot..."

I rolled my eyes, I needed to stay unaffected by him, I am no longer Maria, and yet he was still able to make me cry- I cant let the past catch up to me.

"Hey, did I do anything stupid when I was drunk, my teammate told me I was with you..." he asked out of the blue, a little worried.

"Huh, oh n-n-nothing at all, we were only talking for a while, b-b-beside, it was just me scolding you!" I stammered.Wait, was I just stammering?Oh gods.

He gave me an odd look before uneasily nodding his head.I think it's getting hot in here...

"Your quarters are beside James, on the third floor, I sent my men to write your name on the door, now if you excuse me, I have to dye my hair red again! Thanks to you I had to make up stupid excuses in front of the Elites" I said sternly.

"I will meet you tomorrow, to discuss PLAN CROWN!" I finalised.I wanted to butcher James, why did he have too include him?

***

The next day

"Where does the tunnel lead," I asked slowly, pointing a tiny dagger at the sprawling figure under me.

"I-I-it , it leads to the village bakery-" he stammered, pathetic.

"You think I can be fooled that easily!" I asked in anguish.

"I SAID ANSWER ME!" I yelled in frustration, my dagger digging into his right arm.

"It leads to the- the castle, I was sent to spy on you by the queen herself!" he said in defeat.

"But, even if you kill me, it's no use, the queen will be the cause of your destruction!" he said with a sinister smirk.He really had the nerve?

"Dispose of him!" I yelled.Throwing my knife onto the table.

The men in the room yanked him up and carried him to the torture room. He dare cross me?Join my gang and then play a game with me!

"Raven, it time to change PLAN CROWN and discuss it," James said, carrying a tiny notebook in his hand, ruffled through the pages with a pencil in his other hand.

I huffed in exhaustion.

"Okay, lets go," I answered before striding towards my study room.

My study room was located right beside my own room, decorated with a mahogany desk and a leather sofa on the one side and a large discussion table on the other. Complete with a cherry red carpet and large book shelve. The room spoke royalty to anyone that had permission to enter.

I entered the room to find Sage lazily sitting ON my desk and Tara on the sofa.WAIT, what is she doing here?

"Tara, I said no, you are not going to be a part of PLAN CROWN!" James yelled furiously.

I nodded my head in agreement.

"Why are you here?" I asked in a threatening voice.

" I want to be a part of the plan sister!" she answered earnestly.

"Do not call me sister!" I replied icily. "Leave, you are not a part of this!"

"NO,I AM A PART OF THIS!" she screams defiantly. Startling me and James.

Sage remained unchanged and mostly uninterested in the conversation.

"We need two ladies and two men, ladies that look lady like may I add," he said casually, "We are going for a diplomatic meeting- not a war, this girl looks the most lady like in this whole gang."

"And yes, I have spoken with the other Ravens, none of them fit, 4 people are coming, thats it." he said in finality, "Its like a gala, with other people and I am not planning to make a fool of myself."

I gritted my teeth.

"So, this is the plan, we are going to represent the Dead forest and some of the people residing in it, it will be filled with all sorts of nobles from different places. It is actually not for political reasons and its only held as a party for the crown princess but they say its for 'the betterment of the people', its called the Betterkingdom Gala and we will stay with the royal family for a week." he said sternly.

"It starts tomorrow and I expect you ladies to wear gowns, also, you have to come up with the plan of killing, I just take you in so thats the only thing I am going to do!" he said, pushing his hands up.

"Got that covered," I said with a smirk, "Verovoin poison, kills with no traces,"

We all smirk deviously.This is going to be fun.

"Also, I want to dye my hair, blonde, can you get that arranged James?" Sage asked seriously.

James nodded.

Why does he have to do that?