Chapter Four
Bella sat in her room, punished for leaving the castle without permission. She sighed and got up, sneaking down to the room with the prisoners. She opened the door and walked in. Alina was asleep, snuggled up against her brother. She glanced around to see if anyone was awake.
Holly grabbed Bella from behind, forcing her to her knees. Bella gasped as her arms were pinned behind her back. "W-What are you doing?"
"Seriously? Why are you doing that?" Charles asked, fully awake and holding his sister still.
"She's the one who brought us in," Holly growled. "Now. Tell us who you are."
"P-Princess Bella, younger sister of Queen Luxa."
"Let her go Holly…"
Holly sighed. "No, Artemis. We need to get out of here. We need to find Butler."
"Is he a large man with no hair?"
"That's Butler..." Artemis gasped standing up.
"He...He was kidnapped by the Gnawers." Bella winced as Holly's grip tightened.
"Who are the 'Gnawers'?"
"They are large rats. Now can you please let go?" Holly released her. Artemis sighed, rubbing his eyes.
"I can help you rescue him." Bella offered. Artemis looked at Holly.
"Should we?" Holly shrugged.
"He's your butler."
"Alright... you can help us..." Bella nodded.
"Be ready in an hour." She turned, slipping out of the door. Holly looked at Artemis.
"Well, we're getting what we came here for."
"Yup..." Artemis nodded. Alina suddenly woke up, rubbing her eyes.
"Did something happen..?"
"Shh..." Charles said quietly, kissing her head. "Go back to sleep."
An hour later, Bella stepped back into the room. She looked different though. She was in jeans and a shirt, her long blonde hair was pulled back, and she had an amazing looking sword on her hip. "Ready?"
"I have a question," Artemis said, face an emotionless mask again. "Can we have my friend's weapons back?"
Bella tossed a bag onto the floor at his feet and raised an eyebrow. "You think I didn't consider that?"
"Never mind..." Artemis sighed. Charles was watching quietly. Holly silently removed the weapons and belt, strapping them on.
"Ready?" Bella repeated.
"Yes." The girl nodded and led them out.
"Don't make a sound," she warned. They walked through the castle and to the courtyard successfully. A few bats, a giant rat, and the man who had taken Alina and Charles stood waiting.
"What took you so long, Bella," the man hissed.
"Calm down, Arien. I'm here aren't I," she snapped back. Artemis raised an eyebrow slightly but stayed silent. Alina was close to her brother, scared of the giant rat and the man.
"Alright, now to divide everyone up," Bella said.
"My wings are working," Holly said. "I'll fly alone."
Bella nodded. She pointed to Artemis and Charles. "You two will be riding with me, and the girl will ride with Arien. Ripred will run below us."
"Wonderful," Ripred muttered. "Because you know how I love to run."
"Oh suck it up," Arien's pitch black bat snapped.
"I don't like flying..." Alina whimpered.
"It's either that or ride on my back," Ripred said with a rodent smile. Alina whimpered again, scooting closer to Charles.
"You need to pick quickly, please," Bella said, glancing nervously at the door. "My sister will notice my absence soon."
"Flying..."
"Thank you." She mounted up. "Everyone on." Artemis and Charles climbed on behind Bella. Alina looked at the bat, a terrified look on her face. Arien offered her a hand.
"It'll be safe. I promise," he said with a friendly smile. Alina whimpered again, but took his hand, getting on behind him. "You don't have to look if you don't want to." Bella took off and Arien followed along with Holly. Alina kept her eyes closed, face buried in Arien's back.
They flew for a few hours before Arien landed beside Bella.
"Can we get off?" Artemis asked.
"Of course," she said. Artemis got off after Charles who was looking at his sister who still hadn't moved. Her hands clutched tightly to Arien's shirt and face buried in it.
"We're on the ground," Arien whispered, gently touching her hands and slowly loosening her fingers. Alina let go, feeling kind of embarrassed as she slipped off the bat, landing on the ground. She stumbled slightly. Arien put his hands on her waist to steady her.
"You alright?" Alina nodded slightly, slipping out of his reach and over to her brother. Arien turned and started a fire, beginning to cook dinner.
"You alright, Alina?" Charles said softly as she buried her face in his chest.
"I just feel really embarrassed..." Charles nodded, kissing the top of her head. Bella sat on the edge of a cliff, taking down her hair and brushing her long hair. Holly sat next to Artemis. Artemis was quietly staring into the fire, lost in thought.
"Night," Alina said softly and closed her eyes, beginning to fall asleep. Charles kept his arms tightly around her, thinking.
"You alright?" Holly asked Artemis.
"I'm fine," Artemis said, icy blue eyes focusing on the Elf now. She raised an eyebrow.
"Right..." Artemis sighed and laid back, arms behind his head. Charles was looking at Arien.
"I don't think we properly met when you found us…" Charles smiled slightly, still holding the sleeping Alina.
"I'm Arien Morgan. I'm in charge of watching Bella," he pointed to the girl who was still sitting on the cliff. Charlie nodded slightly.
"I'm Charles Ranson and this is my sister Alina Ranson. And she's in charge of me, but I don't believe you believe that," he chuckled slightly. Arien laughed. He handed him a plate of meat.
"She seems scared a lot." He handed out the rest of the food. He tried to give some to Bella but she shooed him away.
"She's not so scared back in New York... around technology and stuff she acts like the ruler.. a lot of the people at school actually look up to her..." Charles said looking down at his innocent looking sister who was still sleeping quietly with her head on his chest. Charles smiled slightly and took a bit of the meat.
"Well, she shouldn't be afraid here," he said. "I won't let anyone happen to anyone."
"You just have to get her to like you and you'll see the real her," Charles laughed softly. Arien smiled, then looked at Bella and sighed.
"Something wrong?" he asked looking at Bella as well.
"She isn't acting like herself and I'm worried."
"Oh... Is it okay if I go talk to her?"
"Be my guest," he shrugged and went back to eating. Charles grinned.
"You have to take Alina then," Charles said gently picking his sister up and placed her beside Arien. She almost immediately snuggled up to him, head lying gently against his chest.
Charles grinned. "You have to take Alina that," Charles said gently picking his sister up and placed her beside Arien. She almost immediately snuggled up to him, head laying gently against his chest. Before Arien could argue, he quickly made his way over to Bella and sat down beside her.
"Hi! I'm Charles Ranson," he smiled softly at her.
Arisen opened his mouth to argue but it was too late. He let out a sigh and leaned against a large rock, trying his best not to move so that he wouldn't wake the girl.
"Shut up, Ripred," he snapped as the rat let out a wheezy laugh.
Bella didn't turn. "Hello," she said, continuing to play with her hair.
Alina was beginning to wake up from hunger. "Charles..?" she said quietly.
"How are you?" Charles asked, leaning forward slightly to try and see her face.
Arien was talking quietly with Ripred about strategies and didn't notice the girl waking.
"Fine," her voice was monotone.
"Charles..?" Alina said a little louder, rubbing her eyes and beginning to sit up.
Charles nodded, looking down over the cliff's edge. Bella sighed.
Arien finally looked over. "No. I'm Arien."
"Where's my brother...?" she asked beginning to get confused.
"Something wrong?" Charles asked, turning his head to look at him.
"Over there with the princess," he pointed.
"No." She stood up and took a deep breath. She then jumped off the cliff.
"She... just jumped off that cliff.." Alina gasped, eyes widening. Charles' eyes widened in horror and disbelief. Arien didn't react at all. Bella suddenly flew off on her bat.
"I have no words," Alina said quietly, drawing her knees to her chest. Charles let out a sigh of relief and laid back, thinking.
"Come. We need to rest." Arien poured water on the fire putting it out. He handed out the blankets and leaned against a rock to keep watch.
Holly took Artemis's hand, pulling him off to the side. "We need to talk."
"Talk about what?" Artemis said raising an eyebrow.
"I don't trust these Underland people," she said glancing at Arien. "I remember reading about a story where the fairies had a war with them when we were first forced underground. We made them move here..."
"How else are we going to get Butler? We have no idea WHERE Butler is!" Artemis hissed.
"I know but I want to get out of here as soon as possible."
"How are we going to do that?"
"I don't know. Let's just get some sleep."