"No!" Peach's hand flew to her mouth. "It can't be!"
Before Rachel could reply, the doctor and nurses had arrived with the stretcher. They stopped the bleeding and carried Rachel to the infirmary for emergency treatment.
The Princess still stood in the hall, hand on her mouth. It couldn't be. Mario...? Shaking the thought from her mind, she walked to the great hall and found Toadsworth there, busily ordering the furniture moved for the next night's event. She took him aside.
"Toadsworth, I want the Night of Legends postponed until Monday."
Toadsworth looked puzzled. "But it's too late. The invitations were sent three months ago. Everyone will arrive tomorrow evening as planned."
"Put them in the guest rooms for a few nights. The budget can handle that."
"Yes, but..." Toadsworth frowned. "I thought Rachel handled the scheduling."
"She does, but she's been injured by someone. That's why I want tomorrow night postponed." She quickly filled Toadsworth in on the incident. "I want all guards on full alert, but keep it quiet, OK?"
"Yes, Your Highness," said Toadsworth with a bow.
The Princess left the hall and began walking back toward the kitchen. To get there, she had to pass through the janitorial section. Cleaning closets lined the walls for about twenty yards down the hallway. She began walking through the section.
Suddenly, a hand shot out from behind her and clamped over her mouth. An arm encircled her waist and pinned her arms to her sides. Before she could do anything, she found herself in a cleaning closet with a gag in her mouth and a rope around her waist and arms. The arm came from behind again and clamped around her throat, choking her. She struggled mutely but could not escape.
Then she caught her breath as a gleaming steel blade rose in front of her in her mysterious assailant's white-gloved hand. It moved until its tip rested over her heart with more pressure than she would have liked. She heard heavy breathing behind her. The Princess closed her eyes and waited for the knife to plunge into her heart. This was the end, and there was no way out.
