Stardust // Reggie Mantle (3)

Chapter Fourty-Six

A few minutes later, Ethel was sitting on the bed, wrapped in a thin blanket. Jughead was standing opposite her, and Caia was seated on one of the chairs, nursing a small cut she had somehow acquired during the endless running through the woods.

"What are you doing down here?" Jughead inquired.

"Hiding. From the Gargoyle King," Ethel responded. Caia lifted her head in confusion. "I'm terrified he's gonna kill me for failing my mission."

"Mission?" Caia repeated. "What kind of mission?"

Ethel didn't respond, only wrapping the blanket tighter around herself. "Wait," Jughead began, taking a few steps toward Ethel. "You were the one that told Ricky to send that letter during prom," He surmised, the scoffed. "You led Betty right to the Gargoyle King and the Black Hood?"

Caia stood up, shocked at the revelation. Jughead continued speaking. "I thought you quit G and G," Jughead reminded. "After Betty saved you from the Sisters of Quiet Mercy."

Ethel slowly shook her head. Caia crossed her arms and made her way next to Jughead. "She saved me from the Sister's false king, yes," Ethel affirmed. "But, then I rejoined the true king in the woods after-" Ethel paused. "When I came back to him, he put me in charge of his lost boys."

"That Lord of the Flies gang that just chased Caia and I through the woods with spears?" Jughead inquired, motioning a thumb towards the bunker entrance.

"Lord of the Flies?" Caia scoffed. "More like demons from hell."

Jughead sighed, exasperated. "Ethel, you're playing G and-" Jughead took another breath, cutting himself off. "Alright." He took a few steps forward, pouting violently in Ethel's face. "You're gonna tell me now, right now, who the Gargoyle King is."

"I can't," Ethel refuted, tears running down her cheeks. "I can't betray his trust."

Caia threw her hands up in the air, exasperated. "Like hell you can't!" She shot back, also stepping forward. "You said he's trying to kill you!" She yelled.

Ethel shrugged, still whimpering. "He's- he's beautiful," she excused. "Despite it all, I love him."

Caia took a deep breath, trying to restrain herself from smacking some sense into Ethel's head. Caia glanced at Jughead, who seemed to feel a little for the girl.

"It's okay," He assured, setting his hand on Ethel's shoulder. "But you and the lost boys can't stay in these woods. You have to end this game." He paused, staring at Ethel before holding out his hand. "Will you?"

Finally, Ethel reached her hand up and took Jughead's. Jughead added his other hand on top. Caia, too, stepped forward and added her hand to the pile.

They had to end this.

*

Meanwhile, across town Reggie sat with Veronica. He had been a little wary of agreeing to this meeting, especially as he had only recently patched things up with Caia and he wasn't sure what Veronica wanted. Besides, he was also a little on edge considering he hadn't seen Caia all day, but he knew she was with Jughead, so he wasn't super worried.

"I asked you here because I'm pulling off my biggest con yet," Veronica explained. "And I need my best con man for the job."

Reggie leaned forward across the table as Veronica brought her coffee cup to her lip and sipped. "Haven't we learned our lesson about mixing business with pleasure?" Reggie reminded pointedly. "Especially now that I'm back with Caia, I can't risk anything."

Veronica hummed in agreement. She set her coffee cup back down on the table. "The business is taking down my father," Veronica explained quietly. She smirked and cocked her head. "So are you in?" She paused. "For old time's sake?"