Chapter Twenty-Eight

Entry

One thing I've discovered: if you don't talk to anyone, you never fight. But they will yell at you, so be warned. 

Phoenix

--

Phoenix glided through the ballroom, drinking in the scene before her. The night was still young; the party concentrated in the Throne Room, ready to spread through the castle as time passed. Food bursting from glass plates ordained long tables. Waiters handed out drinks in tall glasses with gold rims. In the center of it all, the Royal family sat nestled on the dais.

The event was a visual feast. Dresses of yellow, periwinkle, and evergreen swirled around as people moved from company to company. Tailcoats and suits were embellished with colorful flowers and ties that matched their partner's appearance. No one dress stood out; it was a sea of rarity. 

With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Phoenix gazed over to the tables with abundant amounts of ravishing food. She peeked to the back wall where Greyson stood on guard duty; they locked eyes. He assured her with a nod. 

Phoenix let her hands fly and an even coating of ipecac syrup onto the food below. Greyson had bought it from the Highlands, claiming to know the owner from when he was a child. 

Okay, focus, next step.

Phoenix bumped into a royal waiter to cause a small commotion. While the waiter wobbled to regain his balance, Phoenix slipped some syrup into the drinks.

It seemed that the Royals thought themselves to be above death, that an assassin could ever reach them, and therefore not a threat warranting severe security. Ipecac syrup was odorless and not fatal, so it would go undetected. Now to wait. 

It only took twenty-five minutes for the chemical to clutch its first victim. A woman's delicate frame was ordained with a light blue feathered dress, contrasting nicely with her dark skin and plush lips. Green throw-up was hurled out of her mouth and splattered all over her company. Everyone scurried away and formed a quarter circle around her, gasping and murmuring, yet none offered help. 

Across the room. 

This time an older man threw up on his own formal wear. Phoenix's heels clicked towards the exit in a rush! Everyone was beginning to get a whiff of the situation, and they were realizing it smelt foul. The King rose from his throne, his face morphing into pure rage as he saw everything unfold.

Soon, everyone who ate from the third table was throwing up- over fifty percent of attendees. Sick and healthy people alike stepped in puddles of accumulating vomit in a panic. Those with strong stomachs rushed out the doors to flee. Good. This was calculated chaos. 

One last hope. Please let the King be merciful when he figures out it was Phoenix who stole the Burning Stone. Now. 

Phoenix looked at the dais and realized that the family was talking to the guards and an advisor, but none of them were sick. Her eyes surveyedf the crowd. There. The waiter who was supposed to deliver the royal drinks never made it--he was busy hurling his guts out instead. Why had he eaten while on the job?

Everything was okay, the royal family would still have to be moved to another room. This was the prepared hitch, everything was manageable. 

Phoenix planted herself by the Throne Room entrance and watched as hordes of people climbed over each other to rush out of the room. Some screamed, the smell and hurling sound too overwhelming. Greyson crept up next to her and both waited for the royals to be escorted out. She touched her shoulder and took off the identifying, sparkling cape, discarding it on the floor.

Soon, the skirt was detached, and Phoenix remained standing in a bodice and comfortable pants. Finally, she could blend in with the other guests and staff.

Everyone who could fled out of the room, escaping the horrid stench and colorful mess. The guards marched up the dais to protect the royal family. A small smile perked up Phoenix's lips at the glorious scene. 

Some people bent over at the tables, some just knelt on the ground waiting to hurl again. Others fled, cries escaping their throats. Rage and disgust filled the royal family's features as they scrambled to figure out what to do. 

Then, something Phoenix didn't understand happened. 

The people who had escaped the Throne Room came sprinting back in. They pushed past Phoenix and scrambled to dive deeper into the chaos, the room filled back to its original occupancy. 

Phoenix stopped one of the people running back inside and asked, "Why are you back here? Why aren't you trying to escape to vomit?"

The woman looked up to Phoenix in horror, "I am trying to escape." 

She covered her nose and dove further into the room. 

Greyson and Phoenix exchanged a look. 

People were still throwing up, the royal family was making to leave, and people were flying back inside the room. Why were people coming back inside? No time! The crown came first. If Phoenix didn't move now, she'd lose the royal family.

She scanned for the royal family among the crowd. A couple of guards ushered the royal family off the dais, unnoticed by the hysterical crowd. 

Greyson and Phoenix followed far behind the royal family, weaving through the sick and scared, their shoes squishing as they walked through piles of growing vomit. The royal family was traveling in the back of the room, making their way to a wall, where a side tunnel was open and waiting for them to enter. The royal family got to the tunnel and one by one they ducked their heads and disappeared into the darkness. 

"Greyson, once we get the crown, leave without me," Phoenix said as the passage greeted them.

The only sign that Greyson heard her was a crook of his head.

"Take the kids and leave. I'll stay behind and take the blame."

Before Greyson had time to respond, Phoenix gently pushed him into the narrow tunnel, Phoenix right behind him. Little light graced them. 

Closing to the end of the tunnel, Greyson and Phoenix halted and crouched in the tunnel's shadow to get a better look inside. Staring beyond the tunnel and into a bright room, Phoenix could make out a single guard escorting the royal family- it would be easy to take the crown by force.

Phoenix briefly studied the four family members and noticed that the Prince stood close to the Queen, like a puppy hiding behind its mother, holding his mother's hand. Phoenix's breath hitched and she hesitated for a second, thinking of how Lucas did the same with her. 

Phoenix's heart raced as the royal family shuffled to the back of the room instead of towards the door. What was stopping them from escaping? A loud bang! of a gunshot echoed throughout the room. 

The guard protecting the family was dead. 

Phoenix struggled to lean forward over Greyson's shoulder and find where the shot came from, until she heard a click.

A gun was pressed into the back of her scalp.

"You're next."