Chapter Six
We arrived at Amanda's palace about an hour after the Trumpeters. This was plenty of time for the young Emperors to decide our fates and I was nervous. The limo pulled up to the front steps and we saw Mike and Amanda waiting for us. They were pissed to say the least. I looked at Lauren and saw that she was pale. I am sure I was the same.
"We are so dead…" She whispered to me as we got out of the limo.
"Evening King Mike, Empress Amanda. Do you think it is wise to be outside when your life is in danger?"
"Cut the act Cheryl. You two are in more danger if you talk. Please explain to me why nine Trumpeters have arrived at my door step an hour ago?"
I almost smiled but I knew better. I don't have a death wish, and with the look Amanda was giving me, she made me hope that I did.
"They were responsible of attacking the restaurant that we were at. They need to be on trail."
"Yes I understand that. But my palace?"
"Well it's the only place we can send them."
Very Well. The trial will take imminently."
"Like?"
"Tomorrow. I want them out of here by night fall."
"What! That isn't enough time!"
Amanda gave me the coldest glare ever.
"I mean, yes your Highness. Tomorrow sounds great." I replied with respect and a low bow.
I followed Mike and Amanda to the palace with my head low. Tomorrow wasn't enough time but I'm never going to say that to Amanda again. I don't need to see that look again.
Early the next morning we were awaken. The trial was going to take place at nine in the morning at the Clarinet Courthouse. I glared at my clock and sighed. It read 7:30AM. Jeez Amanda this is a little early, I thought mentally. I hope you're happy, I'm half awake and you want me to judge nine people, Trumpeters at that.
The group showered and dressed as quickly as possible. We met in the dinning room at eight in the morning. Amanda was already seated.
"Please come and join me."
We sat down in our seats and started to eat. I never was a morning person and this was no exception.
"We will be leaving at 8:45 for the courthouse. I want this trial to be done at eleven at the latest. Any questions."
"Jeez you really are Hitler's double." I muttered under my breath as I picked at my eggs.
The table got really quiet and Amanda looked at me. I blinked at her and the others. In all my life I have never said anything rude to Amanda and I was as surprised as the others.
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing." I apologized quietly.
Corey and Andy then took that opportunity to start arguing over the last piece of toast. The argument ended up in a brawl of fists that they playfully smacked each other with…right. Mike just shook his head at their antics and continued to eat. I sighed and picked at my eggs again. This was going to be a very, very long day. I hope Mike brought enough Advil for me too.
"You know what?" I said suddenly.
The Group looked at me.
"The trial would go a lot faster if we trial them all at the same time."
"You're the judge." All Amanda said shrugging her shoulders.
I smiled for the first time that day. This was the best idea that I've come up with since the time we built those clarinets that go higher, except those are in the secret compartment for emergence use only. Mike ordered this because our eardrums almost popped.
"Let's get going." Amanda said standing up. "Guards! Bring the prisoners foreword. We are leaving!"
The clarinets followed her out of the palace and into one big limo. Well, on the inside it had enough room to fit nine clarinets comfortably, along with a TV and a mini-nonalcoholic bar. When we were all seated, Katie began the conversation.
"Well what do you think? It's our latest model."
"Does it travel under water?" Lauren asked looking around.
"Even better, it flies!"
"It flies!" The rest of us asked shocked.
"Well duh! We had to improve something."
"You two have way too much time on your hands." Andy said shaking his head.
"At least we do something!" Snapped Stephanie.
To our surprise, the two blushed and looked away.
"What are you two blushing about?" Amanda asked curiously.
"Well we have done something with our time." Corey explained quietly.
"What?"
He mumbled something under his breath. We looked at each other than him.
"Come again?"
"We are…um…holding a fashion show…" He said louder this time.
We blinked once, twice, and then a final third time before laughing.
"Are you two serious?"
The two nod.
Lauren leans over and says something in Andy's ear. He pulls out his walled and opens it up.
"Pictures!"
The wallet was passed around and we looked at the pictures. They were actually nice. It was a lot of African people dressed up in the boy's outfits.
"So this is why you two wanted Africa!"
At that moment the car stopped. We looked out the tinted windows to the large building next to us. There were three identical versions of this building one in America, in Europe, and one here. It was a tall and brown building decorated with the finest designs that were offered. Mike made the design, but he made the rest of us build it.
We walked out of the limo and started to head up the stars. Amanda suddenly stopped, causing the rest to do the same.
"You okay your Highness?" I asked concerned.
"Yes…" She looked over to her left and smiled. "Your late."
The rest of the group turned and looked at the figure that Amanda seemed to be smiling at. She was tall with wavy blond hair and green eyes. She wore a black uniform with a cursive 'C' and 'F' embroiders on it.
"Sorry." She said in a British accent. "Our flight was delayed."
"Look its Emily Ruff!" Called Lauren with a huge grin.
The flute player had enough time to smile at us before everyone trying to hug her knocked her down.
"Ack! I cant breath!"
"Oh…sorry about that." We mumbled as we clamored off of her.
We let go of her and allowed her to breath. Which took awhile since it was five clarinets tackling her at the same time.
"What brings you to Asia?" Stephanie asked curiously.
"I have business that matters with Amanda."
"What kind! What kind!" We asked jumping up and down.
Hey it was really early for us. We were tired and that made us hyper.
"The kind that doesn't involve energetic clarinets. Especially one that has a court case starting up soon." Amanda said stepping forward.
We all stopped jumping and I smiled sheepishly at the Queen. That was my cue and I used it. Imminently news reporters asking questions about what happened last night attacked me.
"Ms. Cheryl, what happened last night at the Sushi restaurant?" One asked, shoving their microphone in my face.
See what I mean?
"Excuse me, I need to get through." I said politely, pushing my way through the crowd of people who I sometimes find to be idiots.
"But we need to talk with you. The public has a right to know what happened last night."
"Um…look! There is the King and Queen!" I yelled making them turn their heads.
"Where?" They looked frantically around for the two.
I knew that they were still outside talking with Emily so I used this opportunity to escape to my room.
"Wait! Ms. Cheryl we still have to finish our interview!" They yelled when they noticed I was gone.
"Take a number!" I called back.
I opened the door to my judge's room and stepped in. I walked over to the closest and pulled the two wooden doors open. Inside was a long sleeved black robe. I quickly put in on and let the sleeves roll down my arms, and covers my hands. I call this my Mickey Mouse robe because it reminded me of the Fantasia movie, I love that outfit, after putting on the robe and gathered up my hair and put it into a tight bun. When I finished there was a knock on the door.
"Come in!'' I called as I sat down in my desk.
The door opened a small girl walked in. She had short curly brown hair and hazel eyes. Her outfit was a pair of blue jeans and a blue shirt. In her hands was a medium size box with blue wrapping paper on it. She looked at me shyly and placed the box on the edge of the desk.
"Can I help you?" I asked kindly.
"I have a present for you." The little girl explained in a shy whisper.
"What is the special occasion?" I asked smiling.
"For your latest capture."
She then gave me a polite bow and left the room. I had enough time to call out quick thanks before she was gone. I pulled the box towards me and looked at it.
"I wonder what it is…" I wondered out loud as I pulled the wrapping paper off.
Under that was a normal brown shoebox. I started to lift the lid when I heard a quiet clicking noise.
Suddenly the room was covered in a thick smoke that made my eyes water and my throat burn. I jumped up so fast that I knocked my chair down. Coughing I tried to made my way to the door.
That's when I realized the gas was making me sleepy. I fell to my knees, clutching my throat and coughing. In the background I heard another click and a voice. The voice started out to be a mean laugh before they actually spoke.
"Greetings Ms. Cheryl! I hope you like our little present for you. We are sick and tired of your little group and plan to get rid of you once and for all. This isn't the last time you will hear of the Soprano Clan! Sleep well…."
At the end of the message I blacked out. I was filled with thoughts like, who is the Soprano Clan, what is their plan, and where in the world did I park again…
Oh wait I didn't drive…