I think I just wrote the longest chapter yet.

and you get to read it now :)


The maid put the teacups down in front of them and placed the plate of cookies on the middle of the table.

"So?" He asked and looked suspiciously at the tea. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

Instead of answering the girl in front of him eyed the two maid a few feet from them.

"You may leave." She said to them.

They made a small bow and left.

She took a sip of her tea. "It's about your birthday celebration."

He mimicked her but grimaced at the bitter taste. "Do I have to attend?"

"Yes," she just said. "It's going to be a masquerade ball."

He cocked an eyebrow at her. "Why?"

She let out her breath and put the teacup to her lips. "There is apparently going to be an attempt on my life." She said and took another sip of her tea.

He leaned back on his chair, a little put-off by her calm demeanor.

"Why don't we just call it off?" He said and glanced at the flower garden around them.

"Considering the announcement, we're going to make at the party, that would be very difficult." She said

"Oh yeah … that." He scoffed and leaned his head on his hand.

"Don't sit like that." His cousin scolded him lightly.

"Don't talk to me like that." He said and, almost automatically, straightened his back. "You're two years younger than I am."

She calmly took another sip of her tea.

"Then isn't it high time you started acting like it?" She asked, no hint of humor in her eyes.

He stood up agitated. "Why does everyone want to tell me how I should behave? I'm eleven! I shouldn't have to act like an adult!"

She just carefully put her teacup down. "We are the only two members of the royal family of Vlatava left, we need to uphold a certain standard."

"Standard?" He echoed. "You mean like how people tell me how to live? Seriously, they tell me how to eat, how to stand up, how to sit, how to walk, how to talk… Hell, I don't even like tea, but I have to drink it four times a day, at least!"

As he said the last part he accidently pushed the teacup, causing it to tip over and the tea to spill out on the table.

"Victor!" The younger girl scolded.

He flinched at the name and turned away from her. "And will you stop calling me that!" His angry voice echoed in the small pavilion, they were sitting in. "I really hate that name! I hate everything about this place! I never asked to be a nobleman!" He hissed over his shoulder.

"So, you want to leave … me?"

Her tone made him turn around.

She had sounded heartbroken, but she looked genuinely puzzled.

Was it because she didn't understand why he wanted to leave, or because she didn't know how to feel about it?

"Perdita, it's not like that … I…"

"Victor!" She said cutting him off. "I want you to understand, that you are my only family." She let out a breath. "And I think I would be very lonely without you here."

He signed and sat down. "Yeah, same here."

"Sit straight up, when you're talking to a lady, and don't mutter." She scolded.


He held the bowtie up in front of himself in the mirror.

He shook his head.

It didn't really look good on him.

"Wally?" His mother said.

He turned to her and smiled. "Yeah?"

She returned the smile and adjusted his jacket and placed a red rose in his breast pocket.

"You look so handsome…" she muttered. "If you grandmother could see you now."

"Yeah," he agreed while smiling. Then he took the mask he had put on the small table by the mirror and placed it over his face.

"What do you think?" He asked.

His mom hadn't stopped smiling.

"You make a very handsome Raven."

He looked at his watch.

"It's time to go," he breathed.

His mom tucked at his shirt a final time and took hold of your chin.

"I know that you are on an undercover mission, but you should still remember your manners."

He gave her a sly smile.

"I will."


She put the pearl earrings her mom had given her on. She was sitting in her mom's room by her mirror.

Her mom had tied her hair back in a bun with a white ribbon with diamond-like stones.

She smiled at herself in the mirror, imagining what Wally would do when he saw her like this.

Her mom was at some kind of therapy, so she was supposed to give David the key when she left.

Her mom's old jewelry box sat on the table in front of her. It was still open. And a green stone caught her eye.

She thought about just closing it for a second, but … her mom wouldn't know…

She reached down into the box and pulled out a necklace.

It was a white pearl necklace, like the earrings she had on, with a green stone, one shade lighter than her dress, embedded on a golden pendant.

She held it up in front of herself in the mirror. It would go really well with the rest of her outfit, and it wasn't like her mom would miss it for this one day, she had probably never worn it anyway, and this was her only time going to a royal ball…

She put it on.

It looked just as good as she thought it would.

She glanced at the clock.

It was almost time to go.

She took the little green purse she had bought to go her dress and left.

David was standing at his door, waiting for her.

His eyes grew wide in shock, when he saw her. "Where are you going dressed up like that, little lady?"

She smiled nervously. "Just … hmm … out with a friends of mine…"

Then she dropped the key into his hands and started walking down the hall.

"Hey Cinderella?" He called after her.

She stopped and looked at him over her shoulder.

"Remember, twelve o'clock." He smiled.


"You're going to be an hour late," M'gann said as they closed in on the Queen of Vlatava's castle.

"That's okay, drop us of in the garden." Wally said.

Artemis came him a funny look. "Why?"

"If we go in through the gate, there's going to be documentation that we attended." He explained.

"But they have guards at the garden entrance too." Robin said.

Wally smiled slyly. "I have a plan."

M'gann camouflaged the spaceship, as they flew over the gardens and slowed down at the edge of a forest.

Two lines came down from the ceiling and a hole appeared in the floor.

Artemis, conscious of the fact that she was wearing a dress, didn't really know how to get down.

In the end Wally wrapped an arm around her as they were lowered to the ground.

Wally gave her a look up and down and smiled.

"You look very beautiful." He smiled, oddly gentle.

"Thanks," she said, turning red.

It hadn't been just Wally her outfit had had an impact on, the rest of the guys' jaws had nearly hit the floor too.

Wally took hold of her arm.

"Here," he said and slipped a ring on her finger and slipped her hand around his arm. "I'm going to want that back afterwards.

Artemis looked at the ring. It looked old fashioned with green stones, that could be mistaken for gemstones

Then he led her through the garden by the pathways, almost like he knew where he was going.

Before she knew it, they were stopped by a guard, before entering the castle.

They could clearly see that the ball was being held just on the other side of the garden entrance doors.

"Are you guest?" He asked suspiciously.

"Yes, I'm the grandson of Baron Branigan of England, and this is my fiancé…"

"Why did I not see you go out?" The guard asked.

Wally put an arm around Artemis. "We've been out here a while." He said and shot the guard a sly smile.

The guard nodded with a smile, apparently getting what he was trying to say.

Artemis looked from one to the other, not getting it.

The guard stepped aside, letting them in.


The ballroom was packed with masked men and women, also a few without.

"Let's blend in," Wally whispered in her ear.

She nodded.

He led her to a table filled with finger food.

She smiled, knowing he would embarrass himself.

But oddly he just took a carrot stick and chewed on that and handed her one.

She took it, almost in shock.

"And who might you be?" They turned around to a young woman with dark skin and a thick Spanish accent.

She held out her hand for Wally.

"Wallace Branigan," he said and gently took her hand and kissed the top of it and gestured to Artemis. "And this is my fiancé Artemis."

Artemis glanced at Wally confused. Wallace? … and was that a British accent?

She nodded and showed Artemis her pearly white teeth. "I'm the daughter of the Spanish ambassador."

Wally nodded. "Excuse us, I think, I see…" he trailed off and pulled Artemis with him through the crowd.

"Wallace?" She whispered with a raised eyebrow.

He smiled. "You want me to introduce myself as Wally?"

She shook her head smiling.

Suddenly his movements got a little stiff. "9 O'clock," he whispered. "Queen Bee is here."

She glanced over the crowd. True enough, she was standing along the other wall without a mask, talking to a few men.

They stopped walking and stood along the other side of the wall.

"You okay?" He asked.

She nodded. "Yeah, just a little thirsty."

"I'll go get us something to drink," Wally said and lifted her left hand. "If a man, of any age tries to speak to you, lift this hand up and show them the ring, okay?"

She nodded, and he left.

Again, she had seen a side to Wally she hadn't seen before, she thought, as he weaved his way through the crowd of rich people. He acted like a gentleman at the moment, not that she disliked it.

"Hello, my dear…"

She turned her attention towards the man addressing her and froze.

It was Ra's al Ghul!

What was he doing here?


I almost feel evil for cutting it of here, but at the same time I think it's good as the really ball is just about to begin.

until next week :)