Miraculous Order Series: The Secret Battles of the First Box

Chapter 7: The Agreste Estate

Lila Rossi couldn't pinpoint what felt off. She had the miraculouses, all she had to do was get a cab to drive her out of the city or take a train. She just had to reach the Euro Temple, just a little out of the way from the Alps. Her gut was telling her otherwise. She had no doubts and questions - and Hawkmoth's plan was a charm. Even with a few setbacks, everything would go smoothly.

Lila called her master - the plan B was if she couldn't take the miraculouses herself, Zebra would do it. Her master had trained her to camouflage not just with her miraculous but in real life too. Lila suspected the only reason her master wasn't the one getting miraculous was that she had other ideas. Mayura wanted to take the miraculouses back and Zebra wanted to train Ladybug and Chat Noir and show off the world of the miraculous. For someone who blended in perfectly, her master hated it.

"Plan B" was all Lila said in the call. There was no response but Lila had a feeling she was there.

The student waited for her teacher at the park close to her home. She was reading a book under the shade. Lila kept glancing up, knowing her master would arrive at any moment.

"Chameleona" A figure with a long white coat and white hat greeted her.

"Master," Lila said, the book covering her mouth. The girl put two boxes with ancient markings beside her. The hooded figure took a seat and swished the boxes away.

"Master, is it normal if I...if  I feel guilty? Those two are hurting right now, they think they've failed.", Lila whispered, her fingers tips brushing the page just enough for it to turn to the next.

"If you didn't feel the tiniest bit of empathy, do you think you would be a good person?"

Lila didn't answer the question. She was a liar and a thief, to look at the bright side was dim. She didn't regret much what she had done, she just felt guilty - responsible for someone's pain.

"This is working out too well," Lila whispered, the truth at the back of her mind.

"Mayura's plans usually work out."

Mayura, the Holder of the Peacock Miraculous - Lila had been sure she had seen an amuk of hers. The apprentice wasn't surprised Hawkmoth was not working alone. Then again she hadn't seen much of Mayura either. Her presence was pretty well known and respected in the Euro Temple.

"Do me a favor, my apprentice, and go to the Agreste Estate," Zebra said out of nowhere.

"Excuse me?", Lila said, dramatically flipping the page of her book.

"Listen, Mayura and I have some history."

That wasn't hard to believe for Lila and she had to stop herself from rolling her eyes.

"She's changed. It's subtle but somehow she's different." There was silence, a sad one, but Zebra continued. "I have a bad feeling about this."

"You too, huh," Lila commented, her sarcastic teenage urges taking the best of her.

"Once you have a friend in the Order, Lila, maybe you'll understand." Zebra had never said her name before. The words hit like a knife smoothly cutting into Lila's heart, so painful she could almost feel it. Her master got up and left. Knowing the miraculouses were in safe hands, Lila walked away to complete the favor.

*~*~*

Zoe Bourgeois strolled through the airport with her mother. Her mom had been invited to her prodigy's newest fashion show. She had looked at the card and it was no less than spectacular. The idea to leave their peaceful residence in New York for the glimmering hotel of her father's was quite exciting. Zoe was fairly joyful to see her sister, Chloe, who lived with her father. Even though her parents were married, at times it seemed like they were divorced- who would live a whole ocean away from their loved ones?