Our first Archie POV! Sorry the chapters have been shorter.
In this chapter, most of the gang is looking for our Princess, we get our first Selected elimination and our first meeting with the queen for a couple of the guys. Where could Betty be?
As always, let me know if there are any mistakes or if you just want to rant :). I really enjoy hearing from you! I hope you enjoy! 3
Chapter 7
Archie
I led the small group we'd gathered through the palace trying to get back to the council room. "I think this is the way."
"You think? Very comforting." Cheryl snorted from behind me. I shook my head.
"Who knew the royal family was in such good shape because they can't afford elevators." Veronica huffed as we climbed, like, the fifth set of stairs. Yes, I'd said it was the third floor, but we'd taken a wrong turn and ended up in a turret at the top of the castle, which was a spiral staircase that we had to climb back down again. Cheryl and Veronica had abandoned trying to keep their heels on and were just carrying them.
"I don't think money is the problem." Jughead replied. "Probably more like the architecture is sacred or something."
"Still!" Veronica cried as we finally reached the top of the flight of stairs. "I've seen more of the palace in the last five minutes walking up stairs, then I have since I got here a couple days ago." I'm not sure what got me appointed the leader since both Cheryl and Veronica had been actually living here, whereas I had just visited before.
"Seriously, why am I leading?" I asked them. All of our eyes fell upon Cheryl.
"Don't look at me! My family doesn't exactly have a great track record with the Cooper family. Something about ancestors or something. I don't know the full story."
"So what, you're just not invited over? As the royal family's cousin?" Jughead asked, skeptically.
"I think it's because Alice is afraid that we could overthrow her from the throne. What with their family's past and family issues, it probably wouldn't be that hard." Cheryl shrugged.
"And your family would seriously do that?" I asked in surprise.
"Don't underestimate the power of family. If you do, you'll get burned." Cheryl turned and started heading down the hallway, sliding her heels back on as she walked. I exchanged a look with Veronica and Jughead who both looked as baffled as I did. Jughead looked like he was trying to hold in a laugh.
"Well? Let's go, you neanderthals!" Cheryl called over her shoulder. I offered Veronica my arm for balance as she tried to put her heels back on and she took it. After they were on, we headed off after Cheryl. "Cousin?" She asked, as we approached a figure listening at a door in the shadows of the hallway. When the figure looked up, we all took a step back in surprise. It was Fester Belmont, from Thronhill. "Fester?" Cheryl snapped. "What the hell are you doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing?" He countered.
"Listening into a top-secret meeting? Do you know what repercussions could come from this?" Cheryl cried. "You have just disgraced our entire province. As the daughter of the mayor of Thornhill, I will make sure you are punished accordingly when they inevitably kick you out, myself."
"Lady Cheryl-"
"What is going on out here?" We all turned, probably with 'deer in a headlight' expressions on our faces, to find none other than the queen standing in the now open door. We hadn't noticed her because we'd been too caught up in Fester.
"Archie?" I looked to see my dad looking at me, confused.
"Dad! Um, we were looking for the princess?" It came out sounding like a question.
"Is one of the rules not, 'you can't seek out the princess; she must seek you'?" A woman asked.
"Sierra, I can handle this. Thank you." The queen said. The woman, Sierra, stepped back.
"Was that Sierra McCoy?" Veronica whispered to Jughead and I.
"Must be." I replied, trying not to make too much movement in my lips. She nodded, then glanced back at the queen. I could tell she was getting ready to take control of the situation.
"Your Majesty, our sincerest apologies. We had no intention of disrupting your council meeting. I was just hoping to speak to Princess Elizabeth about a fantastic idea these two boys have come up with while they were talking to me. I insisted they tag along as it was their idea. I hope you can forgive us." Veronica looked apologetically at the adults standing in front of us.
"Let's not forget this miscreant." Cheryl cut in, glaring at Fester. "We caught this hoodlum trying to eavesdrop on the council meeting."
"What?" Queen Alice turned her sharp gaze to Fester. "What is your name?"
"Fester Belmont from Thornhill." Cheryl answered for him. "He has disgraced our entire province and will be punished accordingly once he reaches back into Mumzie and Daddy's power. I'll see to it myself." She promised, still glaring at Fester.
"That won't be necessary, Cheryl. Your parents are in the meeting room. You children are dismissed." Queen Alice said. "Fred, Fester please." My dad nodded and took Fester by the arm.
"Son, I'll probably be home later tonight." Dad told me.
"Oh, I actually stay here now. Since I'm one of the Selected and all." I corrected him.
"Right! Sorry, it must've slipped my mind. Call your mom then, just to check in." I nodded.
"Fred, you are welcome to stay here as well tonight, or as long as I need you. You already do anyway." The queen told him.
"Thank you, Alice." He nodded and then led Fester back into the room. I nudged Jughead on my side as Veronica, Cheryl and I bowed or curtsied to the queen and he quickly followed suit.
"As for you three, I don't know where Elizabeth is at the moment."
"Thank you anyway, your Majesty. We're sorry for taking up your time." Veronica apologized again. Queen Alice nodded and then turned back into the room, closing the doors behind her, swiftly. "Oh my god." Veronica let out a huge breath the second the doors were closed.
"I just made literally the worst first impression ever in front of the queen." Jughead sighed.
"Don't worry, bro. She'll get over it." I tried to reassure him, but Cheryl and Veronica snorted.
"Doubt it." Cheryl said.
"Why?" I questioned.
"Okay, not a conversation for the halls, so can it." Veronica shook her head and started off in the direction of the stairs again.
"Where are we going now?" I asked her.
"Think about it. Out of all the people in this palace, who does Betty feel the most comfortable with?" She asked.
"Oh my god, you're a genius, Veronica." Cheryl strutted over to meet her. I glanced at Jughead, who didn't understand either.
"What? You guys haven't heard about a special friend of hers from her past?" Cheryl cocked her head to the side.
"I'll answer my own question." Veronica smiled. "Those of us here and Toni, who we know she's not with any of them."
"Kevin Keller." Jughead said suddenly.
"Look at you go, Hardy Boy." Cheryl nodded her approval.
"Kevin Keller?" I asked Jughead. "You mean, one of the Selected? How would he have a past with Betty?"
"Kevin's dad is a general guard here, so Kevin basically grew up here. Once General Keller remarried Sierra McCoy though, Kevin went to live with her and her daughter in Seaside, I believe her daughter is Josie McCoy, who I'm sure even you two have heard of." Veronica filled us in.
"Josie McCoy? You mean the lead singer of Josie and the Pussycats?" I asked.
"She's done some solo work too." Veronica nodded.
"So, Betty and Kevin are close?" Jughead asked.
"They were best friends from what I can remember." Cheryl offered. "Of course, that was a couple years ago. I doubt Toni even ever met him. They're probably just catching up."
"We need to find Betty." I pointed out again.
"We will." Veronica said confidently.
