"Father…" Pierre said relief flooding his body when he saw all was well.
Shades stood inside the room by the door. Sympathy on his face as he watched the young prince.
Pierre held his father hand whispering, "I know father. I know everything. It will be okay. I promise you. I will get justice for you."
The beeping of the machines continued.
Pierre waited for a sign, something but nothing but the beeping reminded him that his father was not with him. His eyes teared.
"Your Highness" Shades interrupted.
Pierre looked at him.
"I need to tell you something. Your father is awake. He woke up but, he was so distressed the doctor had to keep him sedated. The doctor feels he needs your mother" He said quickly before he changed his mind.
"What" Pierre asked shocked?
"It's true. Her Majesty and Joseph were informed. They were due to return but something happened to delay their arrival" Shades confessed.
"Father…" Pierre tears flowed down his cheeks as he leaned against him.
Shades felt his own eyes tear, but he forced them back. He had to be strong and keep his head to ensure the King and the Crown Prince safety. He silently prayed that Joseph and Clarisse would understand why he broke their confidence.
"Thank you" Pierre replied once he was calmer.
Across the Palace….
"I do not understand why we have to go down here. I hate the cellar" The young maid complained.
"I do too but we must, we need to find the box of documents the Crown Prince requested" The older maid stated firmly as they walked across the cellar.
"There are cobwebs everywhere" The young maid practically cried.
"Stop complaining" The older maid snapped in-patiently until they both heard a noise.
"What was that" The young maid asked terrified?
"I do not know" The older maid admitted as she followed the path the noise came from.
"Hello" The young maid called out.
Silence.
"Anyone there" The older maid added.
Silence.
The young and older maid looked at one another.
The older maid pushed the door open.
The young maid screamed.
Hotel…
Helena left with a packed bag once she received a message from Leo informing her of where to meet. She drove across Pyrus and into a small town, parking near an old farm and then walking the rest of the way to a near by pub as directed. She sat and waited with her bag anxiously. Not long after, a car pulled up and her phone made a noise. She looked at it, paid her bill and left. She walked up to the car and smiled when she saw Leo opening the trunk. He put her bag inside and she got in the car with him.
"Where is Alex" She asked concerned once he was inside?
"Safe. I did not want to take any chances" He admitted to her.
"Of- course" She agreed.
Before he could drive off, they were blocked in by several cars.
Helena paled as she looked at Leo.
"I planned for this. Alex is alright. I promise you" He reassured her.
"Thank you" She whispered as a tear escaped as she realized she would not see her grandson.
Men approached the car.
"Step out nice and slow" One man said his voice firm.
Leo got out as did Helena.
"Where is the boy" The man asked?
"Who are you" Leo asked not willing to volunteer anything?
Another man had approached Helena.
Both men looked at one another.
"Where is he" Antoinette asked as she got out of the car and approached their car?
"How could you" Helena snapped disheartened?
"How could you" Antoinette snapped as she glared at her mother?
"Safe" Leo replied.
Antoinette turned on him and threatened, "tell me where my son is, or you will spend the rest of your days in prison."
Helena gasped at her daughter threat. Her heart clutched. She could not believe her daughter was so far gone that she would risk her own child safety.
"I can do prison. I've lived in hell long enough anyway" Leo replied back calmly.
"Take him" Antoinette insisted as the men arrested him and took him.
Helena stood in shock watching as Leo was placed in the back of a sedan.
"You are not Palace security or the Police. Who are you? Where, are you taking him" Helena demanded to know?
"How could you choose him over your own daughter" Antoinette accused?
"I don't even know who you are anymore" Helena snapped angrily.
Lake House….
"Joseph…please…can we call Pierre and Motaz" Clarisse asked worried for her son and Rupert safety?
"Of-course" Joseph agreed as he took the phone out and she noticed for the first time in their years together his hands were shaking.
"Joseph…." She asked concerned as she touched his hand with her hand.
"I don't know how to protect you all. I…I do not know what to do" He admitted looking down ashamed.
"Oh Joseph...it's alright. We cannot know everything. Besides, that is why we are all in this together. We will figure it out together" She whispered lovingly.
Joseph looked at her his eyes haunted.
"What is it" She asked worried?
"I fear this has surpassed anything the Palace can handle on its own. Clarisse…we need help" He stated, and she knew he was right. They had no working camera. The Palace was at risk.
"What do you suggest? Do we contact Genovia police" She asked?
"No…I think we need the military" He informed her honestly.
"Are you sure it has come to this" She gasped shocked?
"Yes…" He admitted.
"We need to call Pierre" She said as she squeezed his hand.
Joseph dialed Pierre number.
Cellar….
"Get help" The older maid ordered the younger maid as they saw Hans tied to a chair, unconscious.
The younger maid ran as fast as she could.
The older maid walked over to him cautiously.
The younger maid ran up the stairs, out the door and down the hall as fast as she could. When she saw security men near- by she screamed, "someone help. Hans…I think he's dead."
The men ran with her back toward the cellar as one of them radioed Shades.
King Suite….
Pierre phone rang at the same time Shades phone rang.
Shades stepped outside of the room to answer.
Pierre quickly picked up.
"Pierre…it's me" Clarisse said as she held Joseph hand.
"Mother…thank God you are safe. Shades told me about Father" He admitted.
Clarisse and Joseph looked at one another.
"How is he" Clarisse asked concerned?
"He is calm" He reassured her.
"He woke up while I was away. I wanted to tell you both but…his heart. The doctor is concerned" She admitted honestly.
"I'm sure. The doctor believes Father needs you by his side" He said repeating what Shades had told him.
"We were going to go back but…it is dangerous, and I do not want to place any of you in any more danger" She replied hoping her son did not think she was refusing to come back. That was the furthest from the truth.
"Excuse me Your Highness. Is that Joe" Shades asked looking pale?
"It's my mother but yes Joe is with her I am sure" Pierre admitted.
"May I" Shades asked?
"Of-course" Pierre replied as he handed him the phone.
"Your Majesty, may I speak with Joe" Shades asked nervously?
Clarisse handed Joseph the phone.
Joe put in speaker so she could hear.
She looked at him grateful.
"What is it Shades" Joe asked nervously somehow, he knew it was not good?
"It's Hans. He was found in the cellar tied up to a chair and unconscious" Shades admitted.
Pierre looked at Shades horrified.
Clarisse gasped in horror herself.
"They are in the Palace" Joe said as he gripped the phone tightly.
"Joe, what do we do" Shades asked as he feared things were about to get worse?
"Lock down the King wing" Joe replied as he looked at Clarisse who shook her head in agreement.
"Her Majesty is calling in the Military for assistance" Joe shared.
Pierre mouth fell open.
"I understand" Shades replied professionally.
"Shades…" Joe began but did not have to finish.
"I will protect the King and the Crown Prince with my life" Shades vowed.
Outside the pub….
"I am his mother. He is not your son" Antoinette screamed angrily.
Before she could stop her-self Helena found herself striking her daughter in the face.
The shock sent both women into silence as they breathed heavily staring at one another.
"I hate you" Antoinette hissed as tears fell down her cheeks.
Helena did not reply. She could not. She felt her heart break more. But she could not condone this. She would not. Alex was a child, a little boy and he deserved to be protected not used.
Antoinette walked to the sedan quickly.
"Let Leo go" Helena finally spoke.
"Once I have my son" Antoinette spat without turning around. She got into the car and they drove off.
Helena watched in disbelief and fear as the cars disappeared from her vision. She stood in the road and thought, what I am going to do now?
Antoinette sat in the car silent as she replayed the way her mother looked at her, hit her. Something was not right. She had been too angry to notice or ask but at this moment, she realized it. Glancing over at Leo she demanded, "tell me everything you know about my mother and Hans."
"Why would I tell you anything" Leo asked as he glared at her?
"If you expect to see the outside world ever again you will not cross me on this" She threatened.
Leo remained silent.
"I am his mother. He should be with me" She insisted.
"He needs to be safe. By now, you must realize that the Palace is not safe for him" He replied forceful.
"He will be safe as long as he is with me" She tried to make him realize.
"You truly, believe that. Mabrey has done a job on you" He said in disbelief as he shook his head.
"Arthur is the only one who has been looking out for our future since I go here" She spat angrily.
"He does not care about you or Alex. How can you not see that" Leo asked incredulously?
"I see things perfectly" She snapped losing her patience.
"No, you see things selfishly. You have no regard for anyone. People could die" He snapped back losing his patience.
Giving up on getting any information from him Antoinette sat silently looking out the window. She refused to believe what he was saying. He was exaggerating. Arthur Mabrey was a lot of things, but he was not a murderer, she thought refusing to believe that it could be a possibility.
