Chapter 23

December 27th 2309, Angeles

Michelle was in the report room, ready for the report. She wore a lavender colored gown. people were gathering around. Michelle sat next to Holliday and looked around the room.

She remembered that Kemi had left yesterday. Although Michelle had gotten so close to Holliday and Riley and that Kemi had been an aquantice, she still saw a friend in Kemi.

Just then Tiifu came along. She wore a dress in a bluish-purple fading into white and had a pearl necklace. The pearls were far apart and looked like they were floating on her neck. Although she looked beautiful, Tiifu's face looked like a storm cloud!

"What's wrong Tiifu?" asked Michelle.

"Oh, it's Emily, that's what!" snapped Tiifu.

"What do you mean?" asked Michelle.

"I skipped lunch today," explained Tiifu. "So, I went down to the kitchen to have a snack. I went down and had some grapes and then since there was plenty of time left before the report, I went back to my room to have a little nap. But when I woke up, the back of my dress and head was covered in melted cheese and chocolate!"

Michelle and Holliday were speechless!

"You sure it was Emily?" asked Michelle.

"Yeah," said Tiifu. "I saw her and her friends near my room when I got back from the kitchen and Emily was holding a small bucket, so they poured it on my bed and I slept in it! It took my maids what seemed like hours to wash all that cheese and chocolate out of my hair."

Michelle wasn't entirely surprised, Emily bullied the lower castes at school, and now she was bullying the lower castes here too.

And it wasn't just Tiifu who was having problems with Emily. The three girls heard Whitney standing in front of the quartet yelling at them.

They walked over to them. Whitney wore a sparkly light purple fishtail styled dress.

"You did this! I know you did!" yelled Whitney.

"What's going on Whitney?" asked Holliday.

"You know how my room has a joining bathroom?" asked Whitney.

Holliday nodded.

"Well Emily snuck into my bathroom while I wasn't there and booby trapped my hair dryer!" snapped Whitney. "After I took my shower, I started to blow dry my hair and it exploded on me causing my face to get covered in soot and my hair to get frizzy."

"No, I didn't!' snapped Emily.

"As clever as you were," said Whitney. "You left one piece of evidence at the scene of the crime!"

She held up a black hair.

Suzanne gasped and put a hand to her hair.

"I thought I told you to make sure nothing got left behind" growled Emily in Suzanne's ear.

"None of my maids have black hair," declared Whitney. "Suzanne has black hair and since she's one of your minions, you did it. I had to take another shower because of you! And it almost made me late!"

Emily still seemed unfazed.

"You can't prove I did it" she huffed.

"No, but I can kill you" declared Whitney.

Tiffany, Harper and Suzanne were taken aback.

"Get away from me before I call the officers!" cried Emily crossly.

Whitney and Emily were trying to attack each other waving their arms. Harper and Suzanne were trying to hold Emily back and Holliday was trying to hold Whitney back.

Just then Elaine came up.

"What's going on here?!" she said in a firm voice.

The girls all turned to face Elaine.

"Nothing Ms. Canes" said Emily with a nervous smile trying to sound innocent.

Elaine didn't entirely seem to by it.

"Wasn't lady Michelle's birthday embarrassing enough?" she asked. "We're lucky that fiasco wasn't filmed, but we are being filmed here and all ladies here are to behave like a princess." She turned to face the quartet. "Even those who aren't in the selection. Now get to your seats."

"Yes Elaine" al the girls said.

Michelle, Holliday, Tiifu and Whitney headed to their seats.

"I don't know how you can stand to go to school with them Michelle," ranted Tiifu. "First she poured cheese and chocolate in my bed and now she booby traps Whitney's hair dryer!"

Michelle sighed. "Last year Emily and Harper put ketchup and mustard on my clothes during P.E." she chuckled a bit. "So, I know what your going through Tiifu."

"I've seen Emily abusing the servants too," said Tiifu. "She's being bossy to them, calling them names, Bluebelle says she saw Emily look like she was going to give one a beating."

Each of the girls were interviewed.

"Now before we call it a night," declared Timothy. "Prince James has one final announcement."

"Thank you, Timothy," said James. He grabbed the microphone. "As you know the selection is down to twenty-six from the last couple months," he announced. "But on New Year's Day, I'll be choosing the girls who will move on to the elite."

Everyone in the room was quiet. All the girls held their breaths, they were looking hopeful that James would choose them.

"And that's the Friday report," declared Timothy. "Goodnight Illea."

Everyone in the report room got up to leave.

"Can you believe the elite will be starting soon?" said Holliday.

"I hope I'm picked" added Tiifu.

"I think we all know who is gonna be in" said Holliday pointing at Michelle.

"Me?" said Michelle.

"Yeah," said Tiifu. "You're the prince's favourite."

Michelle just sighed and looked away.

Little did they know someone was spying on them.

Count Neilson and the quartet were watching from around the corner.

"I'm gonna have to take matters into my own hands" declared count Neilson.

"What are you gonna do?" asked Harper a bit nervously.

"You'll see" said count Neilson.

That night count Neilson didn't go straight home.

He went out into the middle of the south of Illea and came up to an old rundown building.

Inside were two men.

"Who goes there?" demanded one.

"He's dressed up fancy," teased the other. "I bet he works for the king."

"I am count Asbjorn Neilson," declared count Neilson. "And I have a proclamation for you."

The two rebels looked interested.

"The prince is holding the elite in a few days," said count Neilson. "And I'm planning to usurp the throne so I can be the king. All I have to do is to get the prince to marry my daughter. But I would like you to gather some of your friends and raid the palace."

The two rebels laughed.

"And why should we help you?" declared one.

"If you help me, all you rebels will have a place in Illea" declared count Neilson.

One of the rebels held out his hand and shook count Neilson's hand.

"Deal" he declared.

"Good," said count Neilson proudly. "Now I'd also like you to kidnap any of the selectives you want."

Author's note; count Neilson is up to trouble. I hope Michelle will be alright. And soon the elite will be happening.