Outcasts

Chapter Eleven

We ran down the streets toward the palace. Not surprisingly, it was heavily guarded. After the "Security breach" We caused in Beiga at the hospital, no one was taking any chances.

"Okay," Cassie told us, "Ryan, go down that alley." She pointed to an alley. "Bree, that one." She pointed to another alley. "I'll go cause a commotion so you can get through. Then I'll follow you."

"You sure?" I asked.

Cassie nodded.

So on the count of three, me and Ryan ran down the alleys on opposite sides of the street.

There was the sound of Cassie yelling as I flattened against the mucky wall. I could see my breath forming clouds in front of me. Even though there wasn't as much snow here as there was at home, or even in Beiga, it was still cold.

I slowly crept forward, and I could see a straight shot of the palace. But there were guards lined up down the street. I silently cursed my bad luck, despite Cassie saying she'd get it taken care of.

I got to the corner of the alleyway, glad I wasn't wearing any bright colors. None of the guards seemed to be able to see me, but I still made sure to stay hidden.

The thought crossed my mind to just shapeshift into a bug and crawl in, but it was too easy to get smashed. Not bugs, ever.

I peeked around the corner of the building to find Cassie talking with the guards. What? She was supposed to cause a distraction!

Then the guard stepped away and just let Cassie past.

Double what?! I saw Ryan on the other side of the street. When Cassie caught up to where we were hiding, He shifted into a mouse.

Oh.

So I followed his lead and scurried up to her. She quickly stuffed us in her bag. It was kind of awkward being too close to Ryan... But I told myself not to care.

She walked for a while, then dumped us out.

"Hey," I said, shifting into myself. "That wasn't very nice."

"Ssh!" She scolded me. "I requested a private audience with Kile. But you have to stay in mouse form until we leave. Okay?"

"Wait, what?" I asked. "How are we going to get him out if how we got in was from the front gates?"

She shifted uncomfortably.

"Okay, Cassie. Spill." Ryan said. "Why are you suddenly able to tell anyone what to do, and they'll do it?!"

Cassie took a deep breath. Then began. "Get comfy. It's long."

"I don't care," I said.

" Okay. One day, there was a beautiful servant girl. She worked in the palace, cleaning and tending. No one knew she was a great mechanic, and no one knew she was secretly in love with the king. She always went out of her way to see him, and he did too. One day, he told everyone and proposed to her."

"Hold on," Ryan interrupted. "This sounds like a fairy tale."

"Just wait. Anyway, she had always wanted to be a mechanic. She invented many things, including many of which we still use. She was praised and paid bucket-loads of money. She never wanted her life to change. But one night, she... Got pregnant. But as much as she knew they would need a heir, she didn't want to have a child. She got distressed and began drinking unhealthy amounts. Then, she decided to devorce the king. He was devastated, but he wanted her to be happy, so he agreed. She ran away. Then she ended up giving labor... To twins. The second survived, but the first... No one knows. The labor lasted almost a week, and by the end of it, she was so tired she just drank and drank. But the company she invented for was still paying her for everything she did, and she lived in luxury. Some people think she gave the first daughter to the king to be heir, but no one really knows what happened. However, the king has failed to have any other kids. So unless he finds her, the second daughter will become queen when he dies."

"Okay," I said. "Nice story, but what does it have to do with any of this?"

She took a deep breath. "The servant girl invented Hover-cars."

I gaped at her.

I'm her daughter, the second twin. Unless we find my twin sister, I'm heir to the throne."

Chapter Twelve

"Wait, what?!" Ryan practically screamed. "You're loyalty and you never told me?!"

"Shh!" Cassie scolded again. "Audience with Kile, remember?!"

"How did I never know that?!" He whisper-yelled.

"I didn't want to tell you, okay? That's why I can always get out of trouble... And how I'm just automatically let in to the palace. I 'just want to visit my father.' Unfortunately, I've never spoken to him. And I don't plan to. He doesn't even know I exist."

"Cassie..." I said. I didn't even know how to start.

"It's fine, okay? Now, they're going to bring Kile down any second."

I was happy about that, but... Cassie! How has she been through so much?! And... How come she got the dad that was a king?!

I scolded myself for thinking it, but my dad left when I was a baby. My mom was just rotten. And yeah, she went though hard stuff, but so did I! I-

"Bree?!"

I spun to find Kile staring at me.

"Bree, what are you doing here?!" He screamed. "The athorities are looking for you... You're everywhere on the news! Bree... You're a wanted criminal for causing a riot in the hospital in Beiga!"

I winced.

"You realize that they could come in any second and arrest you?!"

I winced harder. "Look, Kile, this isn't going to make much sense... But I need you to come with me. Now."

Kile folded his arms. "What do you mean? You're a wanted criminal now! You think I'm just gonna step into your fancy hover that you probably stole?!"

Now Cassie winced.

"Look, Kile," Ryan tried.

"Who are you?" He inturrupted. "Why should I trust any of you?!"

I sighed. This was going to be harder than I expected. "Look. You're not going to survive unless you come with us. The incident in Beigia... They were threatening Ryan because he can shape-shift. We had to get out some how."

He shook his head. "My sister. Raiding a hospital. Would've never guessed." There was a bitterness in his voice I'd never heard before.

"Kile..." I said. "Please. We're trying to save your life. The other country is invading!"

"And where are they from?" Kile asked.

I couldn't answer, because no one knew where they had come from.

"See, that's what's so interesting! I want to be here and observe them!"

"They're going to kill you!" I shouted. "The Captain is planning on putting you in the second row! You're bound to be dead!"

He shook his head. "I don't care. I don't have anything to live for anymore, not after seeing you like this."