Chapter 14: The Good News and The Bad News
"We're finally here." Swan Odette said as they landed on the skirts of the town, right about at sunset. Her wings hurt, and her friends were tired. But they'd made it.
"Yes, but I don't believe she'd be happy to see you Odette. If she sees us before the party there is no reason she wouldn't call it a day and just...yeesh...or trap us…" Puffin admitted.
"As if zee bears, wolves, and zat cat is not enough, we have a psycho witch on our hands."
"Bears, and wolves and witches…oh my." Speed said.
"Yes, well how do we get in? And how can we let Derek see that I'm the real Odette, when another Odette, who he has clearly yet to find out is not me…is in front of him."
"Odette, I will go ahead and scout the place. It will be my service. I'll see what I can find to make a distinction, or see if I can indeed find a way to get us in. The people are barely arriving, make your way there in the shadows, and I will have a plan."
"Oh so now you are zee hero? What are we to do? Just play sitting duck?"
"Jean bob, people of this town might make a ruckus at the sight of a swan. Help her get there kept hidden from sight, and I will do the rest."
"Incognito. I like it." Speed said.
"Alright Puffin. Don't let me down." Odette said.
Puffin nodded and went off. He'd only have a little less than an hour before everyone arrived for the ball, and once again Derek would vow his love to the wrong girl. "Yeesh, you think a boy would learn." He said to himself. Then again he wondered how much this girl knew if her father was indeed Rothbart.
He looked around. Odette's room was right about here. He snuck close to the window sill. Locked. Still…he looked in.
"I want no loose ends Erebus. What could give us away? Is there anything? Can you see any future? My magic can let me see into the past but…" She played with the glow from her necklace.
"Only…something shiny…" Erebus squished his eyes.
"Shiny? What does this mean?"
"Well I'm thinking…" Erebus looked around and spotted the locket on the dresser. "Maybe the locket. If someone sees that and you have another one…"
"I'll be found out. Good…now get rid of it. I need to make sure everything is ready for tonight. When the Moon rises, and the Vow is made, should the Black Swan win, this body will be mine, and the White Swan will surely fade." She looked at herself in the mirror. "Maybe too my father can join me…when my magic is stronger. Until then…it will be fun playing Princess…or rather Queen for a while."
Puffin could not hear the words. But he saw Erebus move and take something from the dresser as the fake Odette left.
Erebus opened the window and put his paw out with the object hanging off of it.
"Be-rid of it she says…" Erebus mocks, half rolling his eyes. "While I do like talking…and my powers has it's benefits…I really am abused for my cognition. There. It is 'rid of'." He dropped it from his paw and it hit the mote with a faint splash.
Puffin waited until the cat retreated. The window was locked again, but he knew he had to get the locket. He dived in the water, and with a good three dives fished it out.
He flew around the castle. Nothing was opened. Not even in the evening daylight did anyone have a door open. People came in the front doors, but an inconspicuous entrance was yet to be found. He only spotted one, a large covered over window that was…rather new…but if it was just a window...it was likely as closed. The time was running thin. His mission had not been as successful as he'd hoped…but maybe…maybe Odette's luck in finding an entrance, with the help of three rather then just himself would do them some good.
He spotted Odette with the others, clinging to the dark shadows, as they crept around the wooded area of the grounds.
"Puffin what news do you have?"
"A good and a…bad my Princess."
"Well?"
"I have a way that might distinguish you from the imposter…but I cannot say I found a way in."
"That was my problem last time. These cool nights, leave all the windows closed in the castle."
"It seems one may be under construction, it is a weak proposal though…for if it isn't…"
"Show it to me, we have to try." Odette said as she heard the front doors close. Everyone was in the party. This was her only hope.