Sadie looked up at the sky and let out a deep breath,
It was almost time,
Dark clouds had been gathering since midday. Now there was nary a star to be seen. The moon was barely able to penetrate the clouds. A stiff breeze was rippling across the area, causing the water nearby to lap up against the sides of the ships and shore.
A moment later Sadie jerked around as she heard a branch snap behind her "Who's there?" she demanded.
"It's just us." Jackson answered as he stepped into the light, followed by Trent and Boris,
She huffed and shook her head "What are you doing here? I told you to stay away!"
"We couldn't." Trent said "We had to come."
"We came to help." Boris added.
Sadie frowned "Help? I'm trying to get your mother arrested."
"We know." Jackson said, taking a step forward "We can't let you face her alone." he sucked in a breath then let it out slowly "We, none of us, have been able to live with ourselves ever since that scene in the castle. It was wrong. Now we want to get her back."
Sadie looked from one boy to the next "Are you sure?"
"We're a team." Trent said with a definite nod "We stick together."
"No matter what." Boris added.
Sadie smiled "Thanks." then she grabbed the three boys into a hug.
"I don't know what this is, but I like it." Trent laughed.
The moment was interrupted as Bryan stepped up to them "They should be here soon."
Sadie nodded "Alright. So should Fiona and Hatchet." she glanced around quickly "Bryan, whatever you do don't say a word. But if I tell you to run... run."
He smiled and gave her hand a quick squeeze "Alright."
Barely thirty seconds passed before Fiona and Hatchet appeared.
"Boys." Fiona said in shock "What are you doing here?"
"Assisting." Sadie answered bluntly.
The three boys were standing around Bryan, pretending to hold him. The prince had his hands behind his back as if they were tied.
"Alright, Sadie." Hatchet snapped "What's the deal?"
Sadie crossed her arms "Being free from you." she said "I give you the prince, you release me from any connection to this crooked game of yours."
Fiona stared at the girl for a long moment, but Sadie's face showed no emotion whatsoever "How do I know you're not lying?"
Sadie shrugged casually "I guess you'll just have to trust me." her eyebrows lowered "But that's something you don't do easily, is it, Fiona?"
The woman stared at her as if trying to read what she was planning. But there may as well have been a brick wall between them "Give me the prince."
Sadie raised an eyebrow "Call off your goons first."
Fiona snorted "What 'Goons'?"
"The ones that are hiding in that ship." she pointed to a large ship that was floating nearby.
Hatchet's eyebrows lurched "How long have you been here?"
"Long enough." Sadie nodded towards the boat "Call... them... off."
Fiona let out a long exaggerated breath "Come out!" she called.
Almost instantly five men joined them.
Bryan's eyes widened. All were big, muscular and mean looking. But Sadie didn't seem effected in the least.
"Now, the prince." Fiona ordered.
"How do I know you're not going to pin everything on me?" Sadie demanded "I need proof."
"Proof?" Fiona scoffed "Take my word for it, Sadie, I don't want any more dealings with you. You're a wanted criminal."
"So are you." Sadie placed her hands on her hips, resisting the urge to look around "Where is the King, Queen and their guards?"
Hatchet groaned "What kind of proof?"
"That's for you to provide."
Jackson leaned over to Bryan and whispered "She's stalling."
"Where's your folks?" Trent asked.
"I wish I knew." The prince answered.
"Wait, look." Boris slightly nodded to Sadie's hands which were now behind her back. She was making several motions that Bryan didn't understand.
"Listen closely, Your Highness." Jackson whispered "Since we don't know what's keeping your parents, you're going to have to make a break for it." he was still watching Sadie's hands "Throw a punch, a real punch at Trent. Hard enough to knock him down, it's okay. Kick us over too if you have to and take off."
Bryan frowned "Are you sure?"
"We're used to getting punched." Trent nodded "At least I am. As soon as you take off, Mom and the others are going to follow you. Sadie's going to loop around another way meet up with you while we find your parents. Got it?"
"Are you sure it'll work?" Bryan asked quietly.
"If Sadie's involved, she'll make it work." Boris answered "Get ready. 3... 2... now."
Bryan swung around, whispering an apology as he laid a firm fist into the side of Trent's face.
"Hey!" Jackson shouted, making a grab for the prince, only to get his feet kicked out from under him.
Boris, who still had Bryan's arm was quickly flipped onto his back and then Bryan took off at top speed.
"What did you do?" Sadie snapped angrily.
"He... got loose!" Trent gasped as he got back to his feet "We couldn't hold him!"
"Oh you useless..." Sadie let out a deep growl "Don't just stand there! Get him!"
"We'll get him!" Fiona snapped, then with a smirk she added "And you can forget the deal!" then she waved to her men and they all took off after the Prince.
Sadie smiled slightly "Nice job." she whispered to the boys right before she ran off in another direction.
"Wow, that prince can punch!" Trent rubbed the side of his face.
"Forget it. We've got a job to do." Jackson said as he turned towards the castle "Come on!"
~*~*~*Sadie*~*~*~
Sadie cut through the trees quickly and soundlessly. She could hear the pounding steps of Fiona's men not too far away. She wasn't too worried about facing them. She was more worried about reaching Bryan in time. But her fear was for nothing, for not a minute later she ran headlong into him. The impact sent both of them sprawling on the ground.
"You make quite the introductions." Bryan chuckled as he got back to his feet.
Sadie laughed quietly "It's a habit." then she became stock still "They've stopped moving."
The two stood silently for a moment before Sadie suddenly spun around tackled Bryan to the ground the same instant a loud gunshot snapped through the air. The bullet embedded into a nearby tree.
"Now what?" Bryan asked.
"You don't do anything." Fiona's voice snapped "Just stand up slowly with no sudden movements."
Sadie sent the prince a slight nod to obey and they both rose to their feet.
"That's right." Hatchet growled "Now walk slowly towards the boat. And don't try any funny business."
~*~*~*Sadie*~*~*~
Jackson, Trent and Boris ran up the castle steps and banged on the door until a maid opened it.
"Where's the king and queen?" Jackson asked as he pushed through the door.
"Mind if I ask why?" The maid asked.
"It's important!" Boris insisted "Please!"
"They left." Danielle said as she stepped in the room "They found a note from Bryan about five minutes ago and left."
"Five minutes!?" Trent huffed "We were that close to them?"
"No time." Jackson said as he headed for the door again "We've got to go!"
"What's going on?" Danielle asked as she followed them.
"Nothing we can't handle." Jackson answered.
"Tell me! Please!"
"You don't need to worry!"
"Jackson Russell you tell me now or I'm going to follow you!"
Jackson froze mid-step and sighed "Sadie and Bryan are in trouble. We need the guards the king and queen have. Alright?"
"Oh..." Danielle nodded "Well go already!"
Boris snorted "Women!" then the three boys ran out the door.
~*~*~*Sadie*~*~*~
Sadie looked around as she and Bryan were led up onto the deck of the ship that the thieves had been hiding in earlier. She'd been on it many times in the past. It was used to transport the stolen goods from one place to another, or to rob ships while they were still out in the ocean.
She knew the five extra men who Fiona had with her. She's worked with them in times past. She knew where they were the strongest and weakest. She just had to figure out a way to hit their weak spots all at the same time. Then her attention turned to Bryan who was walking beside her. This hadn't been the plan. He wasn't supposed to be caught.
As if reading her mind, Bryan suddenly looked at her and smiled. Then he sent her a reassuring wink.
She stared at him for a long moment, then slowly her eyebrows lowered in determination.
"Alright," Hatchet said "Now stand all quiet like til..."
He was cut off as Sadie whipped around and landed a furious blow into the criminal's stomach.
"Omph!" Hatchet groaned as he hit the deck and slid.
Fiona's face contorted into rage "Cast off! Now!"
But everyone was already too occupied running at Sadie to hear.
"Bryan, run before you get trapped on here!" Sadie ordered.
"And leave you alone with this bunch?" he retorted "Not on your life!" then he quickly grabbed one of the advancing criminals and hurled him across the ship.
~*~*~*Sadie*~*~*~
"Well where are they?" Jackson huffed as they slid to a stop at the coast "How fast can a coupel of royals go?"
"Considering they're in a carriage," Trent stated "Really fast."
Boris and Jackson glared at him the promptly laid punches into his shoulders.
"We've got to find them!" Jackson said angrily.
"Uh..." Boris's eyes widened "How about finding the boat."
"What?" then other two followed his gaze to where the ship used to be.
"That can't be good." Trent mumbled.
"Ya think!?" Jackson shouted.
~*~*~*Sadie*~*~*~
"You were such a good thief." Fiona sneered "Too bad you had to blow it."
"I never wanted to be a thief!" Sadie retorted "You're the one who took advantage of a hurting child and turned her into a crook that you were just going to turn over to the guards later!"
"Oh you knew about that, did you?"
"It was hard to miss."
"Then why did you keep on doing it?" Fiona taunted "Why didn't you run away?"
"I was twelve!" Sadie shook her head exasperated "That was my home! I'd just lost my mother and was trying to get my father to look at me again!"
"But your father hated you." The woman continued "And he still does."
"I know." Sadie sighed "I was so angry at him for turning on me that I didn't realize that I had become the same way."
"But you didn't care." Fiona snapped "You became everyone's nightmare and it didn't faze you. Why the sudden change? Why not just continue being a thief? Why you could even become a pirate!"
"I don't want to be a thief anymore." Sadie replied calmly "I'm tired of stealing what I don't need. I'm sick of being looked down on. I want a chance to have a real life."
"And I suppose Mr. Prince made you this way?"
Sadie shook her head "No. He just brought me back."
A smirk passed over Fiona's face as her gaze flicked to something behind Sadie's back "Well, you can say good bye to you're prince!"
Sadie's spun just as a loud gun shot split through the air. Her eyes widened in horror as she watched Bryan jerk backward, his hand grabbing his shoulder. Then he went tumbling over the side of the ship.
"No!" Sadie screamed "Bryan!"
(… :o … yeah. What can I say? Thanks for all the favs follows, reviews and sweet comments everyone!
Laterz!)