Rowen kept a close watch on Joren as they followed him through the starry sky.
'Alecie better be alright.' He thought as they came closer to Skybax City. Joren landed lightly in front of the palace. He turned to face them as the Ronins and King Tales landed behind him.
"She is this way." He said as he led them into the dark castle. Instead of leading them to Alecie's room, he led them down a flight of stairs that entered into the dungeon. Joren stopped in the middle of the room and turned to face them.
"Well…Where is she?" Rowen asked.
"Wait here until I get back." He said. He then left as the group sat down.
"This is ridiculous." Cye said.
"I know but it's the only chance we have at getting Alecie back." Rowen answered. The group nodded, they all knew how much Rowen liked Alecie, even the king knew, and he wasn't too happy about it either. The group continued to discuss their current situation when Sakura thought she heard a sound. She stood up as Ryo looked at her curiously.
"What's wrong?" he asked her. Sakura slowly shook her head.
"I thought I heard something." She said staring into the dark passageway. She moved toward the passageway as Ryo got up too.
"Let me come too." He said as she turned to face him.
"No, I won't be long, just a quick look." She said. Ryo shook his head.
"No, we can't take any chances." He said.
"Ryo, I'm not going that far. Just a quick look and I'll be right back. I don't need you to protect me all the time." She said with a hint of aggravation in her voice. Ryo took a step back but said nothing. Sakura was still upset with her escort rule and she was determined to go alone.
"Be careful, and don't be gone long." He warned as Sakura nodded her head.
"I won't and I'll call you if I find anything." She said with a smile. Ryo gave her a weak smile in return as she walked into the tunnel. She looked to the right and left, trying to see in the semidark.
'I know I heard something.' She said as she walked farther into the tunnel. 'It sounded like voices. I could have sworn one of them was Alecie.' She walked farther and was about to turn back when she saw Alecie standing in a corner.
"Alecie!" Sakura said as she ran over to the princess. "Are you okay?" Alecie said nothing as she reach out and thrust a white cloth in Sakura's face. Sakura struggled as the smell of either knocked her unconscious. She slumped forward as Alecie soundlessly caught her. She set the female warrior up against the wall when Broadway appeared from an adjoining tunnel, holding the red gem.
"Good work." He said causing the red crystal to glow as the figure of Alecie dissipated to reveal Joren.
"Now that we have her, what is next?" he asked.
"You know where to take her." He said as Joren picked her up.
"Now all I have to do is meet you there with Ryo and the others."
"That shouldn't be too hard." Joren said with a smirk. Broadway gave a grin as he snatched Sakura's blue crystal from around her neck.
"What do we do with the princess?" Joren asked as he turned to leave.
"We have no more use for her." He said. "Meliara should have her in the room already; the Ronins can have her for all I care."
"Why don't you just perform your little ceremony on her now?" Joren asked.
Broadway smirked. "Because I want Ryo to see it. I want to see the look on his face when she attacks him, when she turns her back on him."
"You must really hate him." Joren commented.
"Ryo and his stupid armor of the inferno. He will not win this time. I'm going to make sure of that!"
Joren nodded as he turned and left with Sakura, disappearing into the dark. Broadway watched them go as he left to go and meet the Ronins.
