HIDDEN PALACE

"W-Where would they take us?"

Mady's voice quivered. She was looking at Aella and Abigail who was sitting on both of her sides.

They were passing by a dark tunnel. It has been an hour since their ride and no one, even the teachers, has said anything about where were they going.

"I don't know too, Mady," Aella answered, clinging her hands on her friend's shoulders.

Adrianne looked at the two. "They will take us to the hidden castle," she answered while taking a deep breath.

Aella and Mady looked at Abigail with curiosity in both of their eyes after her answer. "Where was the hidden castle?" That was the question running in their heads.

To answer that, Adrianne tilted her head to the side. The hidden castle used to be her favorite place in the past. She built that place to keep her secrets safe. But she didn't know that there were three traitors leeching her out.

Adrianne doubts that they already unraveled all the secret rooms in that place. After all, she was the one who designed that.

But she knows that she can't say that to others. A bright smile lingered on her face, "I just read it in one of the books in the library, hehe," Adrianne answered followed by a hearty laugh at the end.

The two girls nodded at what Abigail had said. Yet silence followed the conversation afterward.

Aella hugged her black teddy bear tightly. A few more minutes had passed before the bus stopped in front of a black gate. The children looked out the window and saw a huge mansion in the middle of the woods.

A Spanish-inspired mansion was standing proudly with its majestic arched windows and properly colored walls.

They were lowered one by one by Mrs. Belva. "Kids, follow them. We will go inside and stay there for a while until the headmaster told us that the school was safe already." The woman announced as she ushered into the mansion.

Adrianne took a glance over the huge wooden door. Old hardwood chairs, and floors decorated with a swoosh and laced filled her sight.

The kids who were walking around slowly and deeply admired the paintings up above. As if the heavens opened up, but not to welcome, but to condemn. A large chandelier hung just in the center of the whole large living room.

In front of it was an extravagant stair, with red carpets. Some furniture was old, while some were new-looking and more intricate.

Aella and Mady, together with the other kids said their admiration about the whole place. While, Adrianne grinned on her mind, as she listens to the praises of the kids. She should say her thank you as they preserve the natural beauty of the place. Oh, and please take note of the sarcasm in that part, Adrianne rolled her eyes.

They followed Ms. Belva. The woman took them straightly at the long dining table. The kids were in joy, as drinks and food were already set on the table.

"Take your seats, I know that you all are hungry after the long drive." The woman smiled as she served the food to the kids who were now eating peacefully.

***

After resting for a few hours, the kids were left alone inside a huge room. Silence prevailed the whole place. Others were sleeping on the floors while some were sitting silently in the corner, just like Adrianne.

"I want to go home," Aella uttered silently. Covering her face with the stuffed toy she was holding in her tiny hands.

"I don't want to be here anymore, I want to go back to Mommy. I want to go home." Mady agreed as her eyes traveled upon the whole place.

"Aella... Abigail…" Mady continued as she held her friend's shoulder. Even her eyes were teary as well.

Adrianne bit her lower lip. Her eyebrows formed a straight line. Her forehead wrinkled as she looked around. She can feel that whatever was happening to them was not a good thing.

The girl stood up from the chair. Adrianne went to the window, peeking at the small corner where the light was visible. She saw some Vampires guarding the outside area.

"We need to get out of here," Adrianne announced. "We are not safe in this Place." She uttered as she went in the middle to gather the attention of her companions.

"What are we going to do, Abigail?" A girl asked from far away.

Shaking her head, "I don't know. But one thing was for sure, we need to get out of this place as soon as possible," Adrianne answered.