Carrie heard a knock on her door as she zipped up her dress. "Yes?" She asked, swinging open the door. The guards from earlier were on the other side. "We are here to take you to dinner." One of the guards said plainly.
After being led through the castle, Carrie was herded into a large room with a long table in its center. A guard pointed at one of the head seats. Carrie sat. The guards left.
Moments later, the woman from the Nightmare Realm swept into the room. As she glided into her chair she smiled at Carrie. Queen Ingrid was beautiful, no doubt, but something about her smile was unsettling, like under her beauty lay a cruel and unstable personality.
"Welcome to The Castle of Thunder Carrie Lockwood." Ingrid said grandly. "Why are you treating me like an equal?" Carrie said carefully. "Well, I treat guests well!" Ingrid replied cheerily. But Carrie was not in the mood. "Guests like Eve?"
"Please, the BlackBane hasn't gotten the pleasure of killing her yet."
"But you will kill her, and Odessa and Aren and James and Me."
"Yes, yes, yes, yes and no."
"Why?"
"Because nothing kills a rebellion like making its leader into your champion."
"I would never."
"But you would if it meant saving your friends. That's it with you hero types."
"Champions can't wear these bracelets forever. And when they come off, my hands will be on your throat."
"Funny. Let's see how funny it will be when you and everyone you love is in the Nightmare Realm forever!The mad Queen screamed, losing her composure.
"I have to know, why?" Carrie asked.
"Why what?"
"Why treat the fellow MEs horribly?"
"They were put here to serve Stormae. We took them away because they took the glory of serving us for granted."
"If I was to be your champion, why were there two attempts on my life?"
"A test."
"I'd like to go to bed now."
"Wouldn't you like to see your friends?"
As much a Carrie didn't trust the Queen, Carrie went with her to the dungeons. First they passed Eve and Odessa's cell. "Dess? Eve?" Carrie called. "Carrie!" Odessa yelled. Then seeing Ingrid, she dropped her happy look. Eve moved to the bars. "Carrie it's not-" Eve was cut off by a piece of plastic sliding over the bars, soundproofing it.
Next the found James. "Hey Hot Stuff!" James called. The Queen frowned. James smirked. "She's gonna kill you for sure Queen Ingrid." The Queen pulled Carrie to the cell containing Aren. "Sorry I was a jerk when I left the island." Aren said. "It's okay." Carrie replied. Aren studied the Queen's face. They moved to the cell in the back. In it, a dark haired girl fought against her restraints. Seeing the Queen sent the girl in a rage. She picked up a broken nail a tried to stab Ingrid, when her manacles shine blue for a moment before the girl dropped her weapon and drooped. "I'm Violetta, by the way!" The girl called before falling asleep.
The Queen led Carrie to her room where she collapsed on the plush sofa. She grabbed the remote and flicked on the news. "And for more interesting news on the AWOL celebrity, Phoenix was spotted in Densville, North Carolina about two days ago. The press has been franticly searching for answers on why she has gone missing." Carrie turned off the tv. She had bigger things to worry about. Tomorrow there was to be a ball according to Ingrid. As Carrie saw it, A perfect opportunity for a jailbreak.
