Moonstruck

| Chapter XVI |

It's the next day and Envy and Ash is getting into the Vianna Knights uniform and heading out of the inn.

"You remember the plan, right?"Ash questions, side-eyeing Envy as she huffs comically. "Yeah yeah." She waved, but then her eyes go dark, seemingly in doubt. "...But, we're gonna be fine, right?" Gulping, Ash looks down, gripping the horse's lead. "...Yeah." He affirms, even though he isn't sure himself. Envy smiles anyway, and nudges his arm as she starts walking out. Ash follows behind, rehearsing in his mind how the intrusion could go. He could die, and Envy would have to find a way out. Or Envy could die, and Ash would have to find a way out safely. Or they could both die or both live. He was thinking too much, and he knew it. But he couldn't help it. The possibilities were endless and Envy was terribly inexperienced. Ash sighed. There's nothing much he could really do except move forward and pray for the best.

They both get on their horses and ride to the castle, thoughts heavy. By time they get there, they put their horses somewhere other knights won't spot it—a complete obvious corner—and walk to the gates of the castle. The two knights guarding the castle said nothing, recognizing the uniforms and letting them in. One Knight's gaze lingered a bit, but was removed as soon as Envy noticed with a sharp and scary gaze. The pair quickly walked into the castle's official property, First step, Done!

The castle was smaller than Keljamt. the walls were an enchanting lilac with chandlers hanging from the angelic painted ceiling. Knights stood around every entrance and exit, faces blank and bored. Envy looked down to the carpet, seeing the dark purple fur decorate the white tile. The Castle was pretty, Envy thought. But all the purple made her wanna puke.

They stepped into the castles walls, looking around the unfamiliar territory. Ash immediately snaps into action, nudging envy's hand and walking to one of the actual knights. "Hey! Uh, we're new hires, and we're stationed at the dungeon?? Can you do us a real big favor and point us to the direction..?" Ash asked, voice kind and charming. Envy blinks. the knight looks up, eyebrows raising. Caught off guard, maybe? "Ohh new hires! Yeah, The dungeon is in the southeast hall. Make sure all the cells are locked and the hall is clean." The knight directs, pointing. Ash nods, sending a wink her way. "Thanks for the help!" The Knight blushes, turning her head and going back to dozing off into space with a small smile. "Huh- I guess all that charm and charisma comes to use sometimes." Envy thinks.

They both start walking to that hall, and Envy's nerves finally catch up to her as she sees the actual prison guard. They were still quite a ways away, but the plan snaps into mind as soon as they catch her sight. This would be the first time envy has ever taken a life. Envy looks over to Ash, and sees his serious expression. Turning his head, looking at envy he nods. Envy nods back. They know what they need to do. As they grow closer and closer to the guard, envy gets a better look at him. And he is...no doubt, stronger than Envy. Dude was buff- at least twice the size of Envy's slim stature. She gulps as the man starts to eye the both of them. "Who are y-" The man's deep voice is interrupted as Ash quickly runs at the man, successfully tackling him to the ground. Ash maneuvers himself to successfully lock the man in a full body lock. Ash then, as quietly as he can, yells, "Envy!" Jumping, Envy takes out her sword and holds it above the guards neck- But hesitates.

Just for a second.

But a second was all that was needed to make the man scream. Envy snaps back into reality, and stabs the mans throat, killing him instantly. Ash gets up and grabs the circle of cell keys from his belt and runs into the dungeon doors, Envy following hurriedly, realizing that they don't have much time.

As Envy runs through the halls, She notices no dead body's or horrid smell, unlike keljamt's. The walls were a dark concrete, and prisoners silent as they looked at the sprinting pair.

Ash surfs through keys and keys as he runs through the hall of the dungeon. Then, they come across the biggest cell of them all. There was no window, just a large, cement door. Envy looks at Ash, as Ash looks at Envy. That must be them! Ash picks the biggest key in the ring and opens the door, pushing it open immediately. Envy looks up. Ash looks up. They both freeze.

"Ash!! Envy!!" Princess Samantha gasps.

They couldn't respond.

The sight behold them put them in a state of shock.

Taylanie's skirt was lifted up to see a rag wrapped around her severed limb, and half of Sam's face covered with a white patch over her eye. Envy covered her mouth, feeling sick. "Oh my god-"

"You both have to leave NOW." Sam said, her voice shaken but serious. "Sam what-" Ash starts, but Envy finishes. "Ash... we have to leave." And she was right. They've already completed their mission. Checking if the Princesses were okay. They were not. Even so, they've completed their mission and were to head back immediately. Ash angrily interjects, "We can't just-" Envy lays a shakey hand on Ash's wrist, looking up at the knight with a pale face and watery eyes. "I..I'm scared," She admits, eyes watering. "There's no way...No way in hell that we'll make it out here alive if we try to save them." Envy quavered. "W-we have to go." Envy finishes, looking up at Ash. As much as it pained emvy to make the decision to leave his friend and crush in the face of danger, it was better to stick to the plan. Ash looks at his shoes, conflicted. "En-"

"HEY!" A voice ripped through the air, and everyone's head whipped in the direction of the voice. "WE NEED THE ROYAL GUARD HERE NOW." The voice was definitely where they left the body. Ash bites his cheek. They heard his screams. Sam pulls at her chains. "If you kick the wall over there hard enough, you should be able to make a small hole to crawl out of, escape NOW." Envy looks at the wall. there's no way the both of them could fit in there and crawl fast enough for both of them to escape.
One of them would get caught. "We can-"

"Envy go." Ash says, turning to close the door behind them. Envy interjects immediately. "There is no way-" "Remember what i told you!" Ash interrupted, voice shaken. "THAT DOESNT COUNT!" Envy yelled, tears falling. Before Ash could even respond, Sam yells "Envy LEAVE. There's not much time!" Envy pauses, eyes shifting between the wall, Ash holding the door closed, Sam pulling against her bounds and Taylanies unconscious body. Loads of footsteps came sounding down the hallway. Both sam and Ash yell, "Envy LEAVE!"

—᭄᭄

After deaming it time to take action, Makai sits up out of her bed. She takes the letter and her knife and puts it in one hand. She looks at the door, and then uses her right hand to pull down her dresser, landing down with a crash. she lets out a piercing scream, and the doors to her bedroom slam open, two knights running in. "Her excellency!! Are you alri-" Makai quickly stabs one in the chest from behind, holding him by his torso. "Be a dear and deliver this Letter to the Vehementi kingdom?" She smiles. The knight is stunned as the injured struggles to catch his breath with a knife lodged in the gap of his ribcage. "Well?" She says, using her two first fingers to hand the blood stained letter to the unharmed. The knight looks around, conflicted. but the Queen smirks. No matter how wrong the request is, he cannot disobey his Queen. No matter the circumstances.

The knight hesitantly takes the letter, and the Queen drops the other knight onto the floor, heaving as he grips the area the knife was just plunged into, slowly bleeding out onto the floor. "Hey~!" The Queen calls, making the uninjured knight look up. "This never~ happened! Okay?" She teased with a smile. The knight purses his lips and nods, running out of her room with a tail between his legs. Makai closes the door and drags the body into the corner of the room. she then sits on her bed, looking out the window, and waits, feeling successful.