The Silver Knife

Chapter 20

Melody had caged Laurina who was thrashing against the bars in vain, trying to escape. She regretted not listening to Lilith earlier but now she needed to find her before Melody does. She could imagine the doom that would arrive if she did not stop Melody, but she could not think of any way to escape.

Melody dat with Blaze on her lap, both staring at the helplessly trapped dragon who was trying with all her might to break the bars. Finally Laurina gave up and just slumped against the bars, exhausted. Melody laughed her cackling laughter and went back to stroking Blaze's head. She looked out at the changing scenery and saw the Serpent Gate. Laurina looked outside in horror as they passed the gates and into the Vales.

The carriage slowed down as it passed through the streets. People were gathered on both sides of the street, out of fear of persecution rather than respect. The carriage crunched on the gravel in the palace grounds and the driver jumped down and held the door open. In their disguise, the three of them looked as Melody walked down from the carriage steps with Blaze on her shoulder and something in her hand which was covered in black cloth. 

Melody hurried into the palace urgently and the three of them, who were standing at the palace gates followed her just like guards were supposed to. Melody walked with the three of them behind her as she entered her room and slammed the door shut. They stood outside her door and strained their ears to listen.

Melody was speaking in an abnormally quiet voice which made it even harder for them to make out the words. "Wait....there's spell." Eden said and touched the door. The metal bearings of the door shivered under his fingertips and soon sound began to amplify itself. They could hear her clearly now and they stood there and looked around the hallway.

The hallway was empty, Melody's room being in a bit of an isolated location in the palace. Probably because of security, but it was still a bit strange for Melody to keep herself isolated from the main centre of attention. 

Melody removed the cloth from the top of the cage containing Laurina. "Your master will never find you now." She hissed at the dragon. "I shall be crowned tonight and I would love to see you do my bidding after that. I'll find your master and mince her perfectly." Melody seethed and threw the cloth back just as Laurina lunged at the cage with her flames. Melody laughed loudly.

"Fool. You sold your trust to me. Now you are trying to escape. Are you actually thinking Lilith would want a traitor like you back? I might have framed you, but she won't know. She does not know it was me. All she knows is that you sold her out. Oh how a third person benefits from the loss of the others...." Melody said with a contented sigh. 

Lilith was boiling with anger and she would have blown her cover if Aiden had not held her back just as he heard the distant tapping of heels of the Stewardess on the stone. The three of the stood motionless as the Stewardess walked into the room and shut the door.

"Daughter, today we must be quick. You never know what this kingdom can stop you with....Rebellions are already being reported." The Stewardess said with a pompous air. "You'll make a great queen."

Eden snorted on hearing it only to be hushed by Aiden who himself was trying not to smirk as the Stewardess walked out. Lilith just stood with her back against the wall running plan after plan to get Laurina out of there before Melody decided to torment her any longer. She knew she had to be patient in order to not blow her cover, but seeing her dragon getting manipulated thus, she could not contain herself from stabbing Melody right that moment, had it not been for the fact that Aiden was holding her arm.

Their work for the day was to follow Melody around, posing as her guards. They needed to wait for any instructions from Lavera. However, unknown to them, Lavera was coming to the palace that evening to the coronation.