Begin!

~Karen's POV

The next day I had to confide in Bea after hearing the news about Ernest. I knew she would understand and she was as shocked as I was. And once I told her, she brought Dewey and I straight to the Duchess. Bea seemed on edge hearing about Olaf possibly working with my cousin. I suppose she had every right to think that since she was there when Olaf went off the deep end. She would know the danger of the situation better than I would.

"We have reason to believe, ma'am, that my brother Ernest Denouement is conspiring with Count Olaf," Dewey explained.

R gave us a shocked look. "That's a very serious accusation, Dewey. Do you have proof?"

Dewey presented the evidence he had stolen from Ernest's office. R read over the documents without speaking for several moments as we waited for her verdict. Once she was done she slid them over to Jacqueline for her to view as well. We watched as R sighed heavily and sat down in her desk chair, looking desperately like she needed a strong drink.

"As if we didn't have enough problems…" She mumbled. "You weren't able to verify where he is going?"

"Unfortunately not."

"I should have guessed. I don't mean that as a slur against you Dewey, you did the best you could. I am grateful that you managed to obtain these. Take them back to where you found them quickly. We can't risk Ernest noticing their disappearance."

Dewey nodded and took back the documents before leaving the room.

"I'm sorry that we had to bring such terrible news," I said.

"No Karen you are better off bringing this to my attention than hiding it."

We watched as R stood and paced around the room for several moments before adding, "This schism will be the death of me."

"Mother! Don't say that," Jacqueline shouted. We had never seen her lose control in front of her mother before.

"Jacqueline, quiet." R commanded, "You know as well as I do that with each loss of a member of our group, the closer we get to losing everything we worked to achieve. If we're not careful you might have to take up my position sooner than you anticipated. I ask you to prepare yourself for that outcome no matter when it arrives."

Jacqueline shut her mouth and didn't protest any more. R then remembered that Bea and I were still in the room.

"Beatrice, do you have any idea what Olaf might be planning? Any guesses are better than none."

"Oh… um… well you sent Lemony into hiding for now but I doubt that's going to stop Olaf from trying to find him later. I think he's going to come after me though."

The question of why Olaf would choose to go after Bea instead of Lemony crossed my mind for a moment but then I remembered the answer before Bea even stated it for R.

"Why do you think that is?"

"Because Olaf doesn't need to kill Lemony if he's already killed me," Bea said, "My death would hurt Lemony far more than his own. And I don't doubt that this is still true even after we've been apart for some time now."

R considered this guess carefully. "If you are certain then I recommend caution. You are a very capable volunteer Beatrice, you handled the Dr. Orwell situation with ease despite her eluding capture. And you brought the issue of Gregor to my attention without hesitation, regardless of your own bloodline. You've done much for this organization for your years of dedicated service; losing you would be a terrible thing for more reasons than one. And you Karen, you have performed your job exceptionally as well. Thank you for bringing me news of your cousin. This situation needs a delicate approach. Ernest assists in the running of Hotel Denouement; he knows how valuable it is to us and we can't afford to lose it now or ever."

"Then what are we to do about him," I asked.

"I will see to it in whatever way I can. I have much on my mind at the moment with the other issues currently plaguing us. You are dismissed ladies, I must speak with Jacqueline in private about other matters to attend to…"

Whatever she meant by that I couldn't help thinking it had something to do with why Emsé went off the deep end at the opera house too. Bea and I quickly left the room and started walking away together.

"Ernest wasn't my favorite of your cousins but he didn't seem the type to turn traitor," Bea said.

"How do you think I feel? My own family could fall apart from this," I replied.

"My family isn't doing much better…" I heard Bea say quietly.

"What?" We stopped walking. "What happened? Ike, Hector, Gregor, are they alright?"

Bea looked conflicted for a minute before saying. "Come to my place tonight after hours. I have something I need to tell you…"

Later that night while Bea was telling me about the horrors that Gregor was creating in his lab and how the organization planned to stop it, we didn't know that at the same time the meeting that we were discussing earlier today was already in progress…

~Normal POV

"Were you followed Ernest?"

"Naturally." Ernest replied. "But I was able to elude them. It's a pleasure to see you, Olaf."

Olaf grumbled at him. "I hate being in hiding."

"I can see that." Ernest said looking around the dingy hideout that had been chosen and brushed down part of his nice suit as if he would get dirty simply standing in this place. "However, I do have news that will brighten your day. But first are you intending to offer me a drink? It's only polite for your associates."

Olaf glared at him before getting out a bottle of whiskey and pouring him a glass.

"Thank you, whiskey isn't my usual drink but I'd hate to be rude to my new business partner," Ernest said before taking a sip.

"Cut to the chase. Why did you want to meet me?"

"I know what happened at the opera house-" Within seconds Olaf had a knife to Ernest's throat.

"Choose your next words carefully, bellhop. They could be your last…" He warned.

Ernest's calm demeanor did not waver. "I am here to help you out with that. You see, I live at the only location in the V.F.D. that gets news faster than the headquarters itself. I am quite capable of getting information about certain people's locations… All you would have to do is agree to work with me. I've been duping my family for years and I've no reason to suspect they know what I'm up to. I have connections in lucrative places… I can get you allies, even people to do the dirty work if you ask. Are you willing to listen?"

Olaf continued glaring at him but slowly put his knife away. "Talk. Before I get bored and put you down myself."

"I was regrettably unable to find the whereabouts of Lemony-"

"Never say that name in my presence!" Olaf shouted, while spitting in his face.

Ernest paused to wipe his face with a handkerchief. "My apologies, I did not know. I would think that you would be more angry with his accomplice."

"And why would I give a shit about Beatrice? She's a means to an end; a pawn to destroy him."

"Because my sources tell me that it was in fact her dart that night."

Olaf stared at him in silent rage and disbelief. Ernest watched calmly as he proceeded to take the bottle of whiskey and throw it at the wall in anger; it smashed into many pieces and the liquid inside was now running down the wall onto the floor.

"Are you sure?! It was her?!"

"I am quite certain of what was reported to me."

"How!? Why!? Tell me what happened after they ran!"

"Le- er he told her he would take the fall for the crime. I know nothing more than that, I'm afraid."

"Of course he did…" Olaf growled. "That bastard would do anything for the broad… But killing him is a waste of time. Beatrice is the one I'm after no matter what happened. I need to know how to get to her."

Ernest smirked. "And that's precisely what I wanted to hear. She'll be going to a masquerade ball on May 15th starting at 7 in the evening at headquarters. She's going to be dressed as a dragonfly; wings and all, quite a fancy costume-"

"I don't care about her taste in clothing."

"You should, since that's how you will identify her when you sneak in."

Olaf blinked. "Oh… right."

"Once you're inside, you're free to go about your revenge however you wish. Now about the reason why this happened-"

"I don't need you any longer so shut your pompous mouth and get out."

Ernest continued, "I was going to talk about what caused this whole ordeal and I think it'd be very much in your best interests to hear it. It's about the sugar bowl."

Olaf groaned, "Fine! Get on with it!"

"What happened to Emsé? Did she not escape with you?"

"We split up halfway across the country. She wants Beatrice dead more than I do. I have no idea where she went."

"Hm. I shall see if I can contact her at some point. I happen to know why the bowl was stolen according to my brother's records."

"It's just a bowl," Olaf replied.

"Ah, after a certain point it will be far more than that. And it will be highly beneficial for our side of V.F.D…"

Olaf couldn't help getting curious. "What do you mean?"

"Gregor Anwhistle has been disowned by his family members, and the reason why is quite fascinating…"

~End of Chapter!