mikrokosmos

23: JADE GETS CAUGHT

Lyra Jade saw how the Prince's eyes searched for her amongst the crowd. But she was wearing a cloak, and so were other commoners. Jade didn't bother pushing herself to get to the front, she wanted the Prince to search for her.

When Prince Theodore couldn't find her, he looked at the Queen behind him. As usual, Queen Leila was sitting on her seat calmly, like she was used to seeing men hesitate to kill.

Queen Leila raised an eyebrow at Theodore as if telling him to do what he was told.

Jade did not even watch how Theodore created his ice lance, as she was preoccupied with undoing the knot around her aunt's hands.

Lyra Jade, I can see what you are doing, Theodore said. Stop it and just trust me.

Anger boiled inside Jade, all things she was trying to remember gone because of the scene before her. Fuck you. I won't trust you again, Lockhart.

Suddenly, Penelope stood up and punched Theodore in the face. The guards immediately raised their guns, making the crowd panic.

Jade raised her hand and flicked it upwards, the guns following her motion. One by one, the Royal guards fell on the ground as their weapons hit their heads.

"Hastings, you better know what to do. Please," she whispered.

Right as she mentioned him, Penelope turned invisible onstage, which meant that Hastings finally reached her.

On his ground, Theodore sent an ice lance aimlessly, as if trying to hit the two who were now invisible. After all, he must keep his act as the Prince who follows his mother's orders. The ice lance Theodore directed to the invisible prisoner stopped mid-air as soon as it was already inches away from him. In a second, one ice lance went back to him, hitting his forearm in the process.

Valentine, just listen to me. Theodore wanted to shout. He had no idea why the Queen suddenly wanted to kill her 3-year prisoner but he could feel that it has something to do with Hastings and the dire wolves escaping.

"Son, come with us." The King pulled him by his good arm, trying to protect him from the invisible attacks.

"Leave him be, my King." Queen Leila said while they hurriedly went down the stage, "Your son needs to capture those deserters."

"My son is being attacked by your House, Leila. You-"

Prince Theodore slowly removed his father's hold of his arm. "I'll get them, father. I won't disappoint you."

Before the King could object, the Prince had already fled.

Justin and Penelope found Lyra Jade and Reverie hiding in the alley they once hid in when they were bickering. Unfortunately, Penelope and Justin were still hit by an ice lance but no weak spots hit. Lyra Jade, on the other hand, was already knocked out due to exhaustion of using her powers without proper training.

"Oh, Lyra Jade..." Penelope knelt to cup her niece's face. "She finally used her mom's ability."

"But she still needs training, Mrs. Thompson." Reverie said, "By the way, it's good to have you back. Your family's waiting for you too."

Penelope smiled bitterly, "I made them wait for 3 years because of how stupid I was. That darned Prince was the one who caught me and placed me in that dungeon."

"Prince Theodore?" asked Justin.

The woman nodded. "I was just walking back to the Capital from Sturmfrei when he found me and immediately sliced my thigh with his sword."

"What happened in that dungeon, Mrs. Thompson?"

"The Queen asked me questions about Leila," Penelope said. "It was Astra hiding behind that crown all along."