TAKE TWO, kotlc

Chapter 39- Arella

"Okay, now that is officially the worst plan you've every thought of," Oralia announced. "When?"

Sophie cracked a tiny smile. "Tonight, when it's dark outside. I've been trapped here long enough to memorize the Neverseen's shifts, and Jocelyn always passes by my cell at around eleven each night. We catch her there-"

"And rescue Braelynn," Oralia added.

"And then we get out of there," Sophie finished, letting the thin strand of hair she'd been braiding fall onto her shoulder as she stood up. "Happy now?"

"Yes," Oralia admitted begrudgingly.

"That's a terrible plan," Arella noted, turning to her husband with a menacing smile and admiring the Spyball she'd been given as a birthday present. "But we do have an advantage here, Adryan. They still think the Phaser girl is here-"

"And she's not," Adryan put in. "And that's a bad thing-"

"No no, listen to me. They still think Braelynn is here, and obviously my dear sister won't stop until she finds the girl. That buys us time. They also think Jocelyn will be passing by-"

"Which she won't," Adryan deadpanned. "Because she betrayed us-"

Arella scowled at him and continued, "Hush. They think Jocelyn will be passing by, which lets us know when and where exactly they'll be. It's perfect! Once we capture them, it'll lure the Phaser girl here- and with her, your sister -and then we have all four of them under our captivity. Happily ever after. Yes?"

Adryan raised an eyebrow. "Huh."

Arella beamed. "I still don't understand why Jocelyn would help them. After all, out of all of them, she seemed most loyal..."

"Princess," a voice called sourly from the doorway. "The people have found out."

"They've what?" Adryan and Arella said together.

The guard nodded. "Somehow, word got out."

"What word?" Arella demanded, stiffening. Surely, nobody could know about her circlet...

The guard shifted his feet uncomfortably. "Maybe, you should just come see yourself."

Arella practically stormed out of the room, to the balcony where it overlooked Atlantis- and she probably would've vomited if she wasn't in the public eye.

The elves didn't even have their Neverseen cloaks on- and they looked really mad. She knew that if they could band together- and had enough courage to do so -they could easily overthrow her and her forces. But no one had seemed brave enough to do so...

Now the elves had gathered below in the square, cloaks vanished, and yelling something... a kind of chant... what was it?

"They're saying you're Talentless, Princess," the guard said, his voice quivering. His eyes darted nervously to her head and then shot back down to his feet when he saw her withering glare.

"Get out," Arella spat through gritted teeth. "You- go help contain the crowd. Adryan- I want you to meet with the court and find out who did this."

As soon they left, Arella changed into the most discreet outfit she could find- thin leggings, an enormous, plain cloak, and knee-high boots, all in black.

The court wouldn't be able to find the traitor anytime soon- and she already knew who the traitor was.

Jocelyn. And with her, Braelynn.

And the best thing?

She knew just where to find them.