Chapter 7: The Search
The Ball only days away, Lydia stood in her room cutting apart a dress she worked so hard to create. Barbara floated into room and took notice of fabric pieces across the floor. "Lydia honey, why did you cut you dress?"
"I'm not going to the ball." Lydia simply replied.
"Why?" Barbara questioned with concern.
"I decided to stay with my father," Lydia said, placing her things away.
"Oh Lydia, you have nothing to worry about." Barbara assured, floating by her side. "Your father wants you to attend."
"No." Lydia replied firmly then continued cutting the dress.
Barbara floated from Lydia's room and by the side of her husband. "Oh Adam, Lydia's not going to the ball."
"She'll come around." Adam said without worry.
Barbara shook head "No she won't, she tore her dress."
Meanwhile at the Brewster Estate, Mr. Brewster sat at the desk in his study while talking to one of many fashion designers hired for his daughter. "Tore her dress you say?" He repeated, leaning toward his desk.
"Yes sir." The Designer replied.
"Well then…" Mr. Brewster pondered, leaning back against his chair "that just means you haven't done everything to please my daughter."
"But sir, I -" The Designer spoke but was cut off.
"You are dismissed without pay." Mr. Brewster said frowning heavily. He rang the bell for security and two officers stood by the doorway. "Remove this untalented squanderer from my property." He ordered, waving a hand away uncaringly.
"You can't do that! You can't!" The Designer's protested anger echoed down the hall as he was being carried away.
Claire marched into the study with a pouted face. "Father, I WANT A NEW DRESS!" She demanded with a hard stump of her foot to the floor.
In the Forest, Beetlejuice and Jacques hid in the bushes waiting for their next victim. "How about now?" Beetle whispered, anxiously waiting to spring out.
"Not yet," Jacques replied in a whisper while watching the royal carriage down the path "Not yet… Get ready… Now!"
Upon that, Beetlejuice set off the explosives that were buried underneath the carriage and the horses yelped and galloped around in fear as the coachman tried to regain control. The surrounding guards scattered and withdrew their swords. "Protect the prince no matter what!" The Commander ordered.
Four guards protected the prince while others searched the cause of the explosion. The carriage tumbled and crashed onto the ground as the horses broke loose from their bounds and ran off.
Suddenly arrows shot from out of nowhere and hit two of the guards. One guard was hit in the neck and it instantly killed him. The other was hit in the chest and caused great injury. "Show yourself!" The Lead Commander shouted as he looked around and found no one. Then he too was struck by an arrow, right in the middle of his stomach, and he fell to the ground. "Is that all you got?!" The Lead challenged, scraping around in his own blood.
"No, I've got somethin' for ya" Beetlejuice replied, as he then appeared from out of nowhere, standing right in front of the Lead with hands lit a bright green, and took the guard's life.
The injured prince stumbled from the wreckage somewhat blinded by what happened and Beetlejuice quickly whacked the royal from behind with a tree branch. Jacques, who arrowed the remaining guards, leapt from a tree and shook his head at the pile of defeated soldiers, then looked to Beetlejuice with a grin. "Ok friend, let's take ze gold."
Beetle stripped the unconscious prince of all his expensive clothes and jewelry as Jacques filled their escape wagon. "We have it all." The Skeleton informed as he closed the hatch. Beetle threw the half naked prince into the mud and they left.
Hours later, the injured prince awakened and found himself nearly naked surrounded by dead guards and a damaged carriage. He searched around and found a sheet of fabric to drape himself, wrapping it around like a toga.
The prince continued route and finally arrived in his kingdom. He wasn't greeted with the usual smiles and cheers of his people; In fact, no one recognized him in such a dreadful state. He quickly learned the people were cold and unforgiving.
Some people simply ignored the prince while others frowned in disgust calling him horrible names as he walked the streets. "Hey, watch where you're going!" Claire spat, not recognizing the royal, after he accidentally bumped her.
"What's all this?" The Patrol Guard questioned as he approached.
"This trashy ghost tried to molest me!" The blonde girl claimed, pointing to the young man.
"I most certainly did not." The prince protested in outrage.
"IF YOU DON'T ARREST HIM RIGHT NOW, I'll TELL MY FATHER!" Claire warned.
"Yes Miss Brewster," The guard spoke, trying to calm the girl. But when he turned attention to the ghost, the ghost was gone.
On the other side of town,Prudence knocked on the Deetz family front door to deliver rather disturbing news. Lydia opened the door and allowed her to enter. "The Ball has been cancelled." Prudence informed, still trying to catch her breath from running.
"Oh?" Lydia raised a brow, no longer concerned about the event.
"The prince is missing." Prudence finished off.
Lydia gasped full of concern. "Since when?"
"This morning," Prudence revealed "His carriage was last seen on route from Aries."
"Oh my…" Lydia awed as she sank in a nearby chair "I hope he's alright."
"Me too," Prudence worried "How's your father?"
Lydia sighed sadly. "Not worse, but not much better."
"I'm sorry Lydia," Prudence said with a lowered her head.
Lydia placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's alright, I'm glad you're by my side with all this."
"Have you heard from Bertha?" Prudence questioned.
"I haven't." Lydia dreadfully admitted.
Prudence posed in thought. "Perhaps Bertha's working somewhere. Oh Lydia, I would like to see her again."
In the late evening, Lydia snuck from her bedroom window and journeyed into the forest to where her secret home stood. As she approached the house, she noticed flickering light inside. She cautiously entered the house and found a ghostly young man wrapped in sheets warming himself by the fireplace.
"Hi," Lydia spoke, giving a shy wave.
"Greetings," The ghost replied very humbling. He began to raise as he always did when approached by a lady, but he crippled over and flopped back on the floor.
"Let me help you, I have a small medical box in the cabinet." Lydia offered and rushed to the oak lopsided cabinet to open the box and begin treatment to his wounds.
"Thank you." The ghost replied. "Forgive my intrusion, I was not aware this home belonged to anyone. It seemed utterly abandoned."
"It's quite alright," Lydia assured "This is the secret home of two others and myself, but one is missing and I came to see if she came here."
"I pray that your friend is safe." The ghost replied.
She looked to him and extended her hand. "My name is Lydia Deetz."
The prince was taken aback when the girl didn't curtsy but instead offered a hand; and of course he tried once again to stand and give a gentlemanly bow but was too injured to do so. He decided to stay anonymous since the girl probably wouldn't believe his royal title. "My name is Vince." He said, taking her hand and placed a kiss on the back of it.
Lydia studied his features. His dark mysterious bedroom eyes which complimented his flawless spearmint green skin and long jet black hair. Vince studied her as well. Her lovely porcelain skin and dark yet gentle eyes of night that captivated him so.
"About your missing friend, what is her name?" Vince asked, to break silence and his luring stare.
"Bertha," Lydia replied as she made a bowl of broth and then gave it to him. "I know it's not much, but may give you some strength."
Since there was no spoon, Vince drank from the bowl. The broth was a little salty but he didn't complain. "Thank you." He said, looking to her with a kind stare.
"You're welcome to stay," Lydia offered as she stood heading for the door "I must take my leave. I'll be back tomorrow."
"I will care for the home while you're away Miss Lydia." Vince declared and Lydia walked into the darkness of the night. She soon after bumped into a familiar face.
"Lyds," Beetlejuice called as he floated toward her "What has you out so late?"
"I was searching for Bertha." Lydia replied.
Beetle formed an odd look "Don'tcha think it's a little dangerous for girl to be wondering alone at night?" He questioned and gave her a lit lantern "I'll walk with you."
"I can manage." Lydia refused.
"I'm not takin' 'No' for an answer." Beetlejuice said firmly.
Lydia said nothing and continued on her way. Beetle followed to her to the rear of the house where her bedroom window stood. She gasped from his sudden close embrace as he floated her to the window. She climbed inside her room and faced him. "Thank you, Beej." She said and Beetlejuice just shrugged. "Do you remember what Bertha looks like?" She questioned.
Beetle posed in thought for a moment "She's the tall one with a beaver smile, right?"
"Yes." Lydia replied, hesitantly. She hated when people described her friends in a gruesome way.
"And you want me to inform you of her whereabouts, is that right?" He concluded.
She nodded. "Yes."
"I'll do that," Beetle agreed and then pointed to her "but no promises."
"Thank you." She said gratefully.
"Yeah, yeah…" Beetle said with roll to his eyes right before he vanished.