The Secrets We Keep

Beauty and the Beast

*** Alice's POV ***

I take a deep breath. In. Out. In. Out. Okay I can do this. Just a few doors and then I will be there.

It's been a few days since I had the idea of stealing Belle's rose. Instead of mapping out every detail of what to do, I decided to go in semi-blind. I've just had this urge to get this rose. Now I realize that might not have been the smartest decision. I have triggered three alarms and I am pretty sure there is an entire army after me.

I look up and notice a vent. The vents! They all lead to the throne room where the rose is! Thank goodness I got the weekend that Belle and the beast were on vacation.

I drop my bag and begin to hoist myself up. The vent shaft moves easily and I hoist myself into the vent system.

"Has anyone checked down there?" A guard calls. I freeze. Crap I'm dead. I clamber into the vent. My foot hits the metal and it echoes down the hall. Everything in me freezes and I lay there motionless in the vent.

"Did you hear that?" Another guard whispers, much closer this time.

"We know you're in there!" The first guard yells. I glance down and see their shadows walking towards the little room below me. My bag! It's still down there. I try to use my magic to pull it up but I feel like everything I've ever know just went out the window. After what feels like an eternity of pleading, the bag levitates to my outstretched hand. I breathe a sigh of relief.

Now all I have to do it reset the vent shaft. As carefully as I possibly can I scoot it over to the hole where it should go. My hands shake as I place it. The corner of the shaft catches and it begins to topple to the ground.  About an inch off the ground my magic kicks in and it stops.

"Surrender or we will make you." The voice is right outside the room I'm above. They are going to see the shaft. I use every ounce of strength I have left to pull the shaft back up and shifts into place and I collapse into the vent.

"Alright we are coming in there!" A guard shouts. I watch as the break down the door and flood the small room. They search every inch and manage to never look up. I bit back a laugh as puzzled looks cross their faces.

"Sir the room is clear. Nothing has been moved or changed it must have been a rat."

"Alright men! Move out we have to find that girl." The guards slowly exit the room and continue to search for me. Ha. They'll never find me.

I turn around and look into the inky darkness ahead of me. I conjure a small ball of light and use it to guide me down the twisting vents. Every time I pass over a room I diminish my ball of light and wait as the guards scope the area. Once they leave I continue on my path.

Ten minutes goes by and I am still crawling around in this grubby vent. I haven't seen any rose room. All the vents lead to the rose room I know it! But why not now?

I sit back in the vent to collect my thoughts. This was supposed to be easy! Well it wasn't planned out. But it was supposed to be easy! I decide to crawl forward a bit and look down into the next room.

"Release the gas we know she's in there. Two ways this ends. We find her dead in the vents or we capture her. I have my men placed at every vent shaft. Tick toc little girl." The guard glances up and I shrink into the shadows.

So they are releasing poisonous gas to try to get me out? Well crap. I start to move forward at a quicker pace. But I still can't find the vent that leads to the rose room! I stumble blindly through the maze of vents.

My foot slips and I go face first through the vent shaft. I crash into a table and knock something with glass over. When I open my eyes the room is fuzzy and spins a bit. It takes a moment for my vision to go back to normal.

Pink and red light up the room. I stare in awe at the rose lying on the ground. Even looking helpless on the ground, the rose still is beautiful. I crawl over to it and pick it up. Finally I got it.

"Did you hear that crash?" A guard calls.

"Yeah let's go check it out. But it's probably that little dog."

"Just make sure the rose is okay."

I smile and disappear into my cloud of smoke. In front of me stands Jason and Sam both wearing puzzles looks.

"Look what I got!" I squeal and jump on Jason's back. He laughs and pulls me off. Once he sees the rose his jaw drops and he kisses me.

"Oh Allie I'm so proud of you. That one must have been so hard!" Jason smiles. "Alright now you need to get some sleep. It's almost two am. Sam and I were starting to worry about you." I nod and hand Jason the rose. Then I head to my room and crash on my bed.

*** Jason's POV ***

"Good save on us 'being worried'. Well what now?" Sam asks.

"We gather all of the magical objects and head to Neverland. Now help me." I snap. Sam and I begin to collect them and transport them to Neverland. 

I hold onto the rose as I transport myself to Neverland. Sam and I pop up inside the camp. All of the boys are asleep in their tents but Charlie sits on a log. He stares into the fire pit motionless.

"Are you coming boy?" I say. He jumps a bit and turns around.

"I thought you weren't coming." He smirks.

"Alice took longer then expected. Now lets go before we get any interruptions." Charlie leads Sam and I through the dense jungle to where he lies. 

I place all of the magical objects around his body. Sam and I begin to chant ancient ritual chants. All of the magical objects glow and surge their power into his body. Sam and I stop and watch. One by one each object goes dark. The last object does dark and we all stand in the cold night. Nothing happens for a long time.

"It didn't work!" I scream and punch the tree nearest to me. 

"Come on it's almost day at home." Sam says.

"Fine." I collect all the objects and transport them back to our library. 

Before I go I take one last look at him. His lips move. I freeze.

"Long time no see dearie." He smirks. 

Hey guys sorry this took so long. Oh and sorry that the chapter kept posting I keep thinking the publish button is the save button. I promise that I will try to do more regular updates! ~Kelly