The Risen Queen and Fallen King (UNEDITED 'The Ruination #1)

~The Ferry

So, in the Heaven's, we have a festival celebrating the migration of the white butterflies. We formally know it as 'The Exodus'. The beginning of each spring, white butterflies flutter through the villages and across the kingdom to the far east of the Heavens. Luckily for us, they fly right over the castle and the main villages.

Normally for these kinds of events, the royal family is required to attend. But that makes for a perfect distraction.

Since I have never traveled, Jerny lends me an old doctor bag for my clothes and books, while my satchel holds my money.

'So during The Exodus, we can go through the town and to the ferry. No one will notice a thing once the butterflies come by.' Jerny's plan is almost fool proof.

'Xavier will meet us at the bridge. Then once we arrive you'll get on the train.'

So let me explain the bridge to you. It is not a literal bridge, it is more of a connection that separates the Hell's and the Heaven's. If you came to the Heaven's, a ferry would travel back and forth between the Heaven's and the coliseum. But the only catch, is it travel once a week.

Then there's the Hell's. Instead of a ferry, there's a train. I too, travels only once a week. And I know this will be my only shot. I will have no other chance.

Jerny and I maneuver through the crowds. He wears a heavy cloak of dark green, shadowing his face while I just keep my head down.

Darby and Dad are in the center of the festival, enjoying snacks of white chocolate pretzel monarchs and sugar flowers. People dress in white, with simple dress's and suits.

In this crowd, we could be easily spotted. But Jerny insist's no one should see his face.

I lean to the side, slipping past passerby's to get close to Jerny. "Are we almost there?" I whisper.

"Almost." He responds.

I have never been to the bridge, I've never been on the ferry. And I know if I were caught in such an act, the punishment would be severe.

Again, only chance.

The villages are adorned in decorations, and any minute now the butterflies will fly over the palace and the village. Normally, I would be very excited about The Exodus. Watching them fly across the sky, it makes me sigh, it's like a sense of freedom.

Not that I am not given that freedom. But they get to explore and see places I could only dream of.

I get so lost in my thoughts I slow down my pace. When suddnely I slam into Jerny's back, almost falling to the floor.

"We're here."

I look around Jerny, and in front of us is a dock. Floating among the clouds is the ferry, not very large, more mediocre. A man with slick mustache and hair stands in front of a wheel, looking at his watch.

It is nearly time. But there are too many people around, they will notice. I will the butterflies to emerge, the ferry can't leave before they fly above.

The man looks to us, a pair of goggles on his eyes. "Boarders?" He seems surprised someone has come to ride the ferry.

Jerny looks up at the man through his cloak, and the light of day shines through the shadow of his hood. "Yes, Fergus."

Fergus? He knows him?

Fergus looks from me to Jerny. "Alright, well hop on."

People look to us in the crowd, watching with curious eyes. Do they recognize me? Of course they do, they saw me only weeks ago at the ball.