Star Crossed

Chapter 23

Getting rid of Eliz was necessary. Both Kara and Maia had made up their minds. But when Kara went to meet Princess Maia later that afternoon, she noticed Princess Cait was there as well.
"You!" Princess Cait called as soon as Kara stepped into Princess Maia's room. "Kara Zor-El, you are a genius!" Cait pulled her into a hug and patted her back.
"I told Cait of our plans," Maia explained, gesturing for Kara to take a seat.
"And we have to do it!" Cait grinned as she leaned against a desk. "And guess what's the best place?"
"Aldax?" Kara asked, knowing very well what the Princess was planning.
"Yes! Ladies, we are going to get rid of that witch and my dear cousins will finally be free of her!" Cait started pacing the room. "But the three of us cannot do it alone. I don't trust Ean and Mon-El with our secret. But we do need help."
Kara's eyes widened as she remembered something. "How about Winn and Cisco?"
"The guards?" Cait asked, rubbing her chin with a thumb. Those were the same guards who had accompanied them to Aldax before.
"Please tell me that place really isn't haunted," Maia spoke just as Kara was about to answer.
"Even if it is, it's not like the ghosts would hurt us," Cait said, confidently. When she notice Maia was looking at her in confusion, Cait shook her head and said, "Ladies! WE will be the ghosts! Us and the guards! All we have to do is bring Eliz to the castle, make scary noises and let the haunted castle do its job!"
"But how will we even get her to Aldax?" Kara asked.
"You leave that to me!" Cait said, confidently. "We meet after lunch. All three of us will carry torches and go after Eliz enters the place. The guards come with us. Winn and Cisco. No one else. Not even Barry can know, Kara."
Kara nodded quickly. There was no way she would involve Barry in this plan. He was too noble to chase a woman away by pretending to be a ghost.
"I'll take my leave, ladies! Wear your most comfortable dress, in which you can freely move. Strictly no corsets!" Cait grinned at them as she made her way to the door. "I'm going to talk to Eliz, convince her to go to Aldax after lunch. Kara, I want you to go talk to the guards, they listen to you more than they listen to me. And Maia... can you make sure Ean leaves the castle?"
"I'll ask him to fetch me something from the town." Princess Maia smiled at the two girls in front of her. "I cannot thank you two enough! You have no idea how happy I am that you are helping me chase away the woman who wants to sleep with my husband."
"Well, she's rotten," Cait said, nodding lightly. "She needs to leave."
"And we will make sure she never returns to Daxam ever again." Kara smiled proudly as she said that. "We should go now."
"Let's meet near the hallway that leads to Aldax after lunch. Maia, stay with Kara. And Kara, tell Winn and Cisco to bring a Den's bell. Townsmen use it during the day of the spirits, it's very creepy!"
"Will do!"
Mon-El and Ean were having caf together, talking about an alliance for Cait when Maia joined them.
"Your Highness," she greeted Mon-El with a curtsy. Then she did the same for Ean. "Husband."
"My Lady," Ean said with a quick bow. "What brings you here?"
Mon-El simply bowed his head a little and greeted Maia with a kiss to her cheek. "Dear Princess, would you be so kind to join us?"
"Mon-El, caf is not good for the baby!" Ean said with a frown.
"How am I supposed to know that?!" Mon-El shot back.
"My Lords," Maia spoke quickly, knowing they would be distracted soon. "Would you be so kind to fetch me something from the town?"
"Whatever your heart desires, my love." Ean went to her side and touched her elbow gently.
"I have been craving Ice Melon for some time, but I don't know if we get them here. Would you be so kind to get some for me?" Maia smiled shyly.
"An Ice Melon?" Mon-El asked, scratching his chin. "I'm sure they grow in Sirencester. It would be a bit cold there now. And it will probably take the whole day to go there and get back here. Unless you fly a dragon, that is."
"Can I do that? Can I take Aermy?" Ean asked, hoping Mon-El would let him ride his dragon.
"No! There's no way I would let you ride my Aermy!" Mon-El shook his head and plopped on a chair. "But I don't mind giving you a ride there. Aermy loves Ice Melons, too! Finishes one with one big bite. It would be a treat for her. And of course, for the Princess, too."
"You are most kind, Your Highness." Maia gave him a big smile. "So, shall I expect some Ice Melons by this evening?"
"If we leave now, then yes," Mon-El answered, gesturing for Hal-An to get Aermy out. The guard nodded and was about to leave when Mon-El stopped him.
"Hold on! I'll walk with you." He turned around and gave Maia a short bow of the head. "Well, Princess, we will see you this evening. Please take plenty of rest. Ean, I will be waiting near Aermy's courtyard."
Mon-El left the young couple alone to say goodbye to each other, he walked with Hal-An and said, "I want you to leave the castle by the time I return, Hal. You have a wedding to prepare for!"
"Your Highness, I have decided to ride out the night before the wedding. I cannot leave you unprotected, forgive me."
Mon-El rolled his eyes and moved his jacket aside to show Hal-An the sword he was carrying. Since he would be inheriting the Sword of Gand on the day he was crowned King, Mon-El had to practice carrying one around. He didn't mind carrying his own sword since it wasn't heavy, but he knew the Sword of Gand would be heavy not just in its weight but also in its name.
Hal-An let out a sigh. "Is there anything I can do to convince you to let me stay?"
"No! Go away; be with your bride. That will make me happy." Mon-El gave him a bright smile as he walked away to the courtyard.
Aermy had been waiting for him. The blue ball of fluff, like Mon-El loved calling her, came running when she saw him. Aermy was never chained and her courtyard was big enough to house five dragons her size.
"There she is!" Mon-El called as Aermy bent down her head to bow before launching herself at him for a hug. Mon-El hugged her head and gave it a gentle pat. "I need to fly to Sirencester, little one. We are buying Ice Melons for you and Princess Maia."
Aermy let out a playful squeak and nudged her head against Mon-El happily. He let out a laugh before asking her to bend down so he could climb her back. Once Mon-El was seated, he saw Ean running towards them. Aermy waited patiently till the other Prince climbed on top of her back. She had known Ean for years, he was a scaredy croscat! She would sometimes playfully blow fire at him and he would run screaming his mother's name. She did that because it made Mon-El laugh, and Aermy loved making her master laugh.
"Ready, little one?" Mon-El asked, rubbing her neck. "Let's go!"
Aermy ran a little before she gently lifted off and flew towards where some of her favorite treats were. She knew Mon-El would buy her many, and she would give some to the little boy who toddled around her all the time now.
Kara was waiting for Princess Maia near the Great Hall. Both Winn and Cisco were with her. Bar-Van and Kal-El were at the library since Bar-Van knew how to read Daxamite and was reading Kal-El a story of the old Kings.
When she saw Maia hurrying towards her, Kara asked, "Are you alright, Princess?"
"I am well, Lady Kara. We must hurry!"
The four of them made their way towards the entrance of Aldax. Princess Cait was already waiting for them there, with a torch in her hand.
"Pray tell, did it go well? Have the Princes left?" Cait asked as soon as she spotted the others.
"I have requested them to get me an Ice Melon from Sirencester," Maia replied with a big smile.
"You are smart! It would keep them away for hours! Unless they took Aermy!"
"I saw Aermy fly away earlier," Kara called, remembering seeing the blue dragon fly from one of the windows.
Cait let out a loud sigh. "Well, Aermy is fast but knowing Mon-El, he would make sure she gets rest before flying back home. Sirencester also has a tavern that serves their special beer. I'm sure Mon-El and Ean would only be returning tonight."
"Your Highness, if I may?" Winn asked. When he saw her nod, he continued, "Where is Lady Eliz?"
"Inside. I told her Mon-El called her in for a special meeting!" Cait grinned as she gestured for the others to join her.
"And she fell for it?" Kara asked out of curiosity. "She didn't think even once that this place is abandoned?"
"Luring men into forbidden places is her thing," Cait replied in disapproval. "That's what she did to Ean."
Maia winced loudly. "I can't wait to get rid of that woman!"
"Neither can we!" They head a booming voice behind them. It was Cisco. He was grinning sheepishly. "Apologizes, Princess, Princess, Lady Kara."
The Princesses and Kara burst out laughing. "Let's do this!" Kara called, leading their small party.
"Where could she have gone?" Winn asked, walking besides Kara.
"Knowing her, it would probably be a room. Cait, is there a bedchamber here?"
Cait nodded to Kara. "Yes! There's a very big bedchamber in the middle of the castle. Unless Eliz got lost, we will find her there."
The gang began to walk ahead. It was Maia who spotted Eliz first, since she heard a voice calling out Mon-El's name. "Look! She's there!" the Princess whispered, pointing at the figure that disappeared down a corridor.
"We must split!" Kara called. "Cisco, I want you to go with Cait and Maia. Winn, come with me. We can scare the woman even more if we spilt up."
They all agreed to Kara's plan and spilt apart.
Winn and Kara took a different route that connected the corridor Eliz was in. Kara knew this because this was where she had gotten lost. She wondered if she would see that kind man again.
When they spotted Eliz, both Kara and Winn grinned at each other before making noises. Winn moaned like a wounded animal. Kara let out an eerie laugh like a witch. It even spooked Winn a little.
Eliz had heard them. She jumped and stood with her back against a wall. "Who's there?! I demand you to show yourself!"
From the other end of the corridor, Cisco was banging on a door. Cait had the Den's bells that Cisco brought along and she was using it. But it was Maia who had taken this very seriously. Her dress had a long hood on. It was all white and she made Cisco shine a light through the corridor and she walked down it.
Eliz was crying as she tried to hide somewhere. But the second her eyes fell on Maia, who walked down the hallway with an eerie glow behind her, she almost peed herself.
"NOOOOO! SPARE MEEE!"
Maia was thrilled. She loved scaring the hell out of Eliz, so she began to run. Eliz ran as well, Maia chasing her. But Maia's leg got caught in something and she was about to fall. She gasped when she felt herself being pulled back.
Clutching her tummy, she leaned against the wall to see who had saved her from a nasty fall, but no one was there!