Time is Running Out

Chapter 32

Xana, Rachel, Gemma, Alden and the unconscious-or-dead Joy finally got back to their lodgings-- the shabby little hotel.

"Now that," announced Rachel, "was tiring."

Xana sighed, not out of breath at all.

"How are you not tired?" cried Gemma.

Xana shrugged.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a black locket made in the shape of a bird-- an old walkie talkie of Tenala.

"What is that?" asked Gemma.

Rachel explained everything from Xana's identity to the makers of the walkie talkie.

Gemma listened without speaking a word.

"Be quiet," Xana snapped.

They shut up.

The locket crackled loudly.

"Hello?" Queen Rachella's voice issued from the locket.

Xana took a deep breath.

"Maggie," she said.

Queen Rachella did not reply, but there was a gasp.

Xana went on, "Rachella. Elena. Whatever name you like to be called now."

"X-Xana?" Queen Rachella whispered.

"Yes, Maggie. Elena. Rachella. Um... Clementine?"

"I'm fine with Rachell," said the queen.

"Okay. Rachell then," Xana said.

"But, but, but Xana, is that really you?" Queen Rachella cried. "Mirabella Xana Kagan Viona Arden?"

"Do not call me by the name Mirabella!" Xana snapped.

"Okay... Now I know it is you," said Queen Rachella. "Xana, where are you? Where have you been?"

"Rachell, I am in Scotland," said Xana quickly. "With Rachel."

"Rachel who?" asked the queen.

"Rachel, you tell her," sighed the Countess Xana.

"M-mom... It's me," said Rachel. "Rachel Danielle Sarah Helen Isabella Fiona Quadia Simone Georgia Juanita Arden. Your daughter."

"RACHEL?!" screamed the poor shocked queen.

"Yes, and the others are here too. Well... except Emma..." Rachel trailed off.

"What happened?" asked Queen Rachella.

Gemma told the queen, with the others cutting in.

"And so, we do not know where Emma is and Joy is probably dead," she concluded.

"H-how can you say those two th-things so calmly and matter-of-factly?" cried a dispirited and disheartened Rachel.

"Well, how is your mother supposed to understand me if I stutter and cry while I say it?" Gemma asked in her usual scornful and sarcastic way.

Rachel's temper flared up, but she squished it down. What was the use of getting mad?

"Well..." said Queen Rachella slowly. "That is a lot to take in, girls..." At last she said, "I need to think for a while."

As Queen Rachella thought over the matter, Gemma got more and more mad and annoyed.

"Xana, why did you call her in the first place?" she hissed.

Xana shrugged. "Well, what could I do?"

Gemma turned her back on Xana firmly. Xana rolled her eyes, annoyed but unaffected.

"I have finished thinking," said Queen Rachella suddenly which made everyone jolt up with surprise.

"ARRRGH!" screamed Rachel, shocked.

Queen Rachella sighed a heavy, long and annoyed sigh.

"So, how are you going to help us?" asked Xana, getting impatient.

"I had no idea you wanted me to assist you," said Queen Rachella.

Gemma and Xana both growled.

"Aren't queens supposed to be fast?" asked Alden.

Gemma and Xana growled again.

"Why are you making that horrible sound?" asked the queen.

Gemma growled a lot of times just to annoy Queen Rachella.

Queen Rachella sighed exasperatedly. "Stop!" she said.

"Nope," said Gemma happily.

Queen Rachella groaned.

"Well, sorry to interrupt your 'happy little chatting session', but are you going to help us or not, Your Majesty?" Alden asked, annoyed with all of them.

"No, because there is nothing I can do," said Queen Rachella, and she hung up.