𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄𝐒

37. 𝗸𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗼𝗿

𝕾omewhere deep in the woods, Audrey took Rilynn and Chad as far away from Auradon. A turned-evil princess and her henchman, hiding from the VKs, stowing away their leverage.

It was the perfect place to watch the Isle kids scurry around Audrey's maze-like mice, searching for the cheese at the end of the maze. That's what it was to Audrey; it was all a game. She enjoyed watching Mal and her friend running around Auradon, desperately looking for their friends and trying to find Audrey to end this.

It's amusing.

However, it wasn't amusing for Rilynn; she was shoved into the pantry room after she was brought here. Chad had locked her in after Audrey magically pushed her inside after binding her to a chair. Rilynn had tried shouting for Audrey to let her go, but her screams were muffled behind the tape.

Rilynn looked around, looking for something to cut her loose, but there was mostly bread and food here. It wasn't like Rilynn could use anything in here.

Something bangs loudly against the door, shattering from the force; Rilynn screamed from behind the tape. She flinched and ducked as best as she could, afraid that whatever that was broke inside the pantry. Rilynn glanced up, heaving slightly but thankful that whatever that was didn't come inside. So, Audrey wasn't aiming at her to intimidate her.

"Wait, wait!" Chad cried out.

"Come clean, Chad!" Audrey hissed. "Where did they go?"

"I don't know!" He pleads like a scared cat. "I don't know, okay? I can go check for you. How about that?"

"Stay," Chad freezes at Audrey's sharp order. "It's about to get a little ugly."

Rilynn stared at the door worriedly when the two grew silent; she hoped Audrey wouldn't do anything she'd regret. But then the door swung open with a loud bang, and Rilynn flinched in surprise.

The chair squeaked, and Rilynn lurched forward when she felt the chair slide out of the pantry, she squealed. Rilynn's eyes widened in shock, but she froze when she found Audrey eye-to-eye with her. Audrey stared at Rilynn with a wild expression; her mouth pulled in a wicked smile.

"Had a nice nap, Lynnie? Dreamt your little thief would save you?"

"Mm!"

"I saw your little boyfriend and his friends. I have the perfect treat just for them. Don't worry, this time, you get to watch."

Audrey pointed the scepter in Rilynn's face; the princess shut her eyes and braced for whatever spell she would use. However, the tape in her mouth disappeared.

Rilynn stayed quiet for a moment, battling with her inner turmoil.

"Why are you doing this?" Rilynn finally asked. "This isn't you."

"Oh, this is very much me, Lynnie. I grew up. I realized that if I wanted something, I had to take it. I'm better than I ever was," Audrey heaves a sigh. She looked too happy for someone who just cursed all of Auradon. "For once, I'm the powerful one."

"Is that what you wanted? Power?"

"Yes," Audrey said sharply, turning toward Rilynn with a dark look. "I want it all. I want to be the most powerful queen Auradon has ever seen."

"What the point of being queen when you've cursed the entire kingdom?" Rilynn retorted. Audrey's eye twitched irritably, and the princess shifted uncomfortably. "I-I'm just saying. You turned your power against the very kingdom you desperately want to rule. What if no one wants to obey you after what you've done?"