Drive (The Badlands Series) Book 4

Chapter Twelve: The Queen Of Envy

The Storytellers entered the fourth castle, but this time the Queen of this castle was waiting for them. As soon as Emlyn and Stella jumped surprised as a wall slammed up from the ground and prevented the others from getting in. "Hey! Why'd you do that?" Emlyn asked, looking at the wall. 

"I know who you are and why you have come. I am well prepared to give you my green snake glass figurine; however, I have a test for both of you." The Queen said, and Emlyn and Stella shared a look. 

"What is the test?" Emlyn asked, and the Queen smiled.

"First, Stella, I need you to tell Emlyn the truth about how you really felt about Ginger. You know exactly what I mean, being the Queen of Envy." She replied, and Stella looked nervously at Emlyn. 

"Alright, so I was jealous of Ginger. I didn't trust your judgment Emlyn, even though I was right not to. I suppose it wasn't right regardless." Stella said, looking at Emlyn. 

Emlyn didn't know what to say; she was hurt. She knew Stella was jealous; she wanted, however, to give her the benefit of the doubt. Stella was right in the end. Ginger wasn't a friend to start, but did that make it right for her to be so anal about it?

"I don't know how to take that, Stella. I mean, I knew you were, but I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt." Emlyn finally said, "you didn't even apologize for acting the way you did and then just leaving." 

"I am sorry; I know I took the wrong approach. You, however, still can barely admit that I was right." Stella challenged, and finally, the Queen interrupted. 

"Emlyn, can you forgive Stella? Even though she was not only jealous but right." The Queen asked, and Emlyn glared. 

"I already forgave her, but that doesn't mean I can't be upset about it," Emlyn replied, and Stella rolled her eyes. 

"Just let it go; it's already over anyway; we have bigger problems than what happened over a week ago," Stella said, and Emlyn looked upset. 

"Wow, alright Stella, sure, forget all about it whatever you say, since you're always right," Emlyn said, crossing her arms over her chest. 

"Don't be like that," Stella replied, and Emlyn narrowed her eyes. 

"Not be like what? I'm matching your energy!" Emlyn challenged her; the Queen was now sitting on her throne, humor in her eyes as she watched the two lash out at each other. They were interrupted by Mystic blasting the door down. 

"Will you two quit your ridiculous bickering? You sound like a married couple!" Mystic said, and Sarah scoffed. 

"I am married, and Bob and I do not sound like that," Sarah said, and everyone looked at her like she was dumb. 

"Uh, yeah, you do," Stella said, and Sarah rolled her eyes. 

"Oh, shut up; you know what? I'm on Emlyn's side." Sarah said, putting her hands on her hips and rolling her eyes. 

"No one is taking sides, Sarah; we are all on the same side! You have to realize how stupid of a fight this is; the only enemy is Camilla. Well, and that bitch on the throne thinking this is funny." Mystic said, and everyone turned to look at the Queen of Envy, who chuckled. 

"If you were in my place, you'd think it was funny too." The Queen said, and Ginger chuckled. 

"She's right; it is kind of funny," Ginger said, and Mystic facepalmed. 

"It isn't, but whatever. Can we move on?" Mystic replied, glaring at Emlyn and Stella. 

"Alright, I'm sorry I was jealous, Emlyn, and I should have handled that situation differently regardless if I turned out to be right about her or not. I suppose I wasn't a hundred percent right anyway; she's not so bad." Stella said, and Emlyn nodded. 

"I accept your apology, and I'm sorry for calling you a jealous bitch." Emlyn said, and Stella looked confused. 

"You didn't call me that," Stella replied, and Emlyn bit her lip. 

"Oh, I uh must have just been thinking it," Emlyn said and chuckled nervously. 

"Very well, you can have the artifact." The Queen said, standing up and handing it to Emlyn, "I'm bored now, so you can leave."

The Storytellers left the castle, but tension still lingered in the air. Emlyn and Stella's fight sure did not end, but they pretended it did for the sake of everyone else and the unfinished journey. As they approached the fifth castle, they could only hope the test wouldn't be as difficult.