They Do Exist

They Do Exist (22)

Layla’s POV

I paced back and forth in my room. We were about to go into war with the same man who had killed my grandfather.  Killed him because of his power to control the weather—the power that I now possess.  No one had come to fetch for me since the attack. Everyone was busy doing their elfy duties. I had a feeling that I was just going to be kept hidden, protected, away from the fight because my grandmother asked them to keep me safe and watch over me.

But would Abby sit by and watch her friends fight without her? Would she sit and allow the man that killed her husband—my grandfather—to breathe another breath every second, to continue to control her rightful kingdom? No.  She wouldn’t.  She would fight. She would make that awful man regret the day  he ever messed with our family. And that is exactly what I planned on doing.

But how to sneak myself into the army, so that no one would know I was there? That was a whole different story.

I left my room and tried to look innocent as possible as I wandered around hoping to find a place I could receive information. When I reached the courtyard I saw two men in armor jogging off in a certain direction.  So I decided to follow, secretively of course.  They marched through a hallway and down a flight of stairs until they were underground.  I stared in awe at the massive underground armory they held here. There were giant rooms filled with suits, weapons, and other shiny things that I had probably never seen in my life. I could hear Gabe’s voice booming and shaking the stone walls. The two men opened double doors to a giant room filled with other men in armor.  At the front of them was Gabe, sided by Coop and Will.

“Roman declared War the second he decided to bring fire to our lands—to harm our people, to destroy our belongings, our homes, our families!” He roared and the men before him cheered wildly. “We will make him regret that decision!” More cheering from the crowd of gold armor.

“We will attack on the fourth’s night, when the autumn moon is at its brightest and fullest! I will lead you men into battle and bring down a man with venom in his name, with death on his hands—the death of my people! Now who’s with me!?” The men all stood up and screamed a battle cry.  Gabe smiled at his men, but I could see the fear in his Caribbean eyes.  The doubt.

I frowned slightly, before sneaking out the way I had come.  A plan was starting to form in my head, and I knew from that moment on that there was no going back.

*

*Knock Knock Knock*

 I went over to my bedroom door. It had been a day since I had spied on Gabe and his men and I had a solid plan develop in my head.

“Hey!” Alana stood smiling at me. 

“Oh, hey.” I returned the smile.

“We need to get you ready for tonight!”

“Tonight?” I questioned, obviously oblivious to what she was talking about.

“You mean you haven’t heard?” She frowned.

“Heard what?”

“About the festival ball!” She cheered, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

She skipped gracefully into my room, and twirled before looking at me.

“It’s the festival in which Gabe will be crowned King, and everyone gets to let loose and celebrate before we attack Roman at the sky nymph castle!”

My mouth formed into an ‘O’, and Alana took this as the chance to grab my hand and pull me into the bathroom.

“Now take a shower and scrub real well. I’ll go get the maids. We’ll get you looking like the princess you rightfully are!” She cheered, lightly shoving me into the bathroom and shutting the door before I heard her voice humming and walking off away from the door.