[Automatic] (An Aarmau AU)

[Chapter 27] The Feeling Of Uselessness

Somehow, Katelyn and Aphmau had done it.

Not only had they escaped Shad the first time, but then they successfully broke into the castle and evaded his guards once again.

Not to mention they had also taken Nicole, who would be able to assist them in more ways than one. Shad was in a panic, even if he tried not to show it. I spent my entire childhood learning how to read people, and I could tell he was terrified.

Strangely enough, Aphmau was the one person who I was never able to read. Maybe it was because of my feelings for her, or maybe it was because of her strong exterior. She always was and still is a mystery to me.

My very favourite mystery.

After Aphmau's grand escape however, all the royal families got put on 'lockdown'. Which meant that we were always being watched by Netherian guards, even when we thought we were alone.

I have no doubt in my mind that Shad knew I had something to do with Aphmau's escape, but he had no evidence or proof to prove it. So I just had to lay it low and keep the attention away from me.

But after the second day the attention was away from me, far away in fact. According to my father riots had started in the poorer parts of town. Apparently these people saw Aphmau as some sort of icon and after Shad threatened to kill her they got seriously pissed.

I could help but laugh when my dad told me this. Even if he wanted to do something, Shad could not stop or touch our citizen. If he didn't it could be seems as a threatening gensture and could spark a war that even Shad didn't want to be apart of. He he could do was helplessly watch as hundreds of farmers overpowered his guards.

It made me immensely happy that Shads plans were quickly going down hill. He deserved it after crashing our party and threatening to kill my girlfriend if I didn't marry his daughter.

Girlfriend

What a foreign word on my tongue. We were never official, but I was going to ask her the night my father told me about the marriage treaty. Then she never showed up to dinner and that's when I knew she had heard what my father had said.

Then she disappeared and I couldn't help but think that it was all my fault. That maybe if I would have just begged my father for a little more time to think on it, that she would still be here.

But it's all said and done now, Aphmau is alive and that's all that matters. Her and Katelyn have Nicole and they are going to defeat Shad and everything it going to get better.

God, I have never felt so useless.

Xx

"News", Nicole suddenly said, "I have news"

Katelyn and I stood up from where we had been mapping out different routes into the castle. Nicole had declared about a half hour earlier that she was going to tune into the Netherian guards radios to try and hear any important information.

And so it seems she had.

"Aaron Lycan has declared a meeting for all royal families and Netherians to attend", she started. "It is speculated he has finally agreed to the marriage treaty or is being threaten in some way"

Katelyn and I looked at each other, wondering what that dumb Prince was getting himself into this time. He wouldn't be calling an official meeting if it wasn't for something incredibly important.

Something big was about to happen.

"Shad confirmed he will be attending", Nicole finished.

"That stupid genius", Katelyn said, standing up and walking over to our makeshift tent.

"He knows we have Nicole", she said, digging through her bag. "And he probably knows that we have been listening"

She pulled out her gun, checking how much ammunition she had left. "All royals will be there for sure, and so will most of the guards"

"You don't mean-", I said, also standing up. "You think this is when Aaron wants us to attack?"

"Exactly", she said, slamming a fresh clip of ammo into her gun.

Xx

Was it a smart plan?

No

Would it be a successful?

Probably not

But was is a plan?

Yes

No new information or new about Aphmau and Katelyn had come in for a few days, so I knew they must be just as stuck as me. I couldn't put off this marriage treaty forever, so I was going to give Shad exactly what he wanted.

I just hope that Aphmau and Katelyn got the news as well.

It was probably the dumbest thing I've ever done, but it was the only way to get Shads guard down long enough for Aphmau and Katelyn to sneak in and end this. Once Shad was dead no marriage treaty would matter any more.

Then our next problem would be Shads guards and his followers.

Despite most beliefs, not all Shadow Knights wanted to be Shadow Knights. A lot of them were just born into it with no choice as to what they got to be.

I know for a fact that here in Falcon Claw we have over a dozen of runaway Shadow Knights living among us. They're not spies and they truly don't mean Falcon Claw any harm.

They just want to lead normal lives.

And I of all people, should know how that feels.

Next chapter everything goes down.

2 chapters left my dudes.

-E.E