Chapter Three

Zephyria ran across the room to see why her sister had screamed.

"No Zeph, get back," Brenna instructed, slamming the door before she could see, and locking it as well.

"What's wrong Brenna?" Their father's voice was just barely audible above the blasts outside.

"Zeph," Brenna said softly, so he wouldn't be able to overhear. "The guards are dead." She covered her mouth, muffling the scream. "We need to get father out of here. There's no possible way he can fight the intruders while he's this ill." she turned back to their father. "Nothing, father," she said. "The fighting just scared me, that's all."

"Bren, I am not going to leave you here. You are the Prince's fiancée and therefore your life is of higher value. You take father a go." Zephyria knew it wasn't her sister's way of being though and she would never allow it.

"Screw my life value," Brenna snapped, making Zephyria stare at her in surprise. "No one is staying behind. Neither of us can get dad out of here alone, so we go together." She swallowed, glancing to where he sat in his chair. "Even together I don't see how we can possibly get him out." A bang on the door made them both jump.

"Brenna! Zephyria!" It was Jesse and Christophe's voices. Brenna raced to the door and let them in before locking it again.

Zephyria look back at their father who was now passed out on the chair. She felt the tears rise; the same tears she pushed away when that dreadful announcement was made at dinner. Had that only been two hours ago? She wished she had been able to tell everyone her true feelings.

Brenna wasn't holding back the tears; they slid down her face. "We have to go," she whispered, trying to stay brave. "Jesse, you're a servant here. There are secret passages, aren't there? Out of the palace?"

"Yes," he said slowly. "There's one behind the fireplace in the room next door, if we could get there."

"Speaking of getting to other rooms, how did you get out of where you were, Christophe?" Zephyria smiled at the idea of him avoiding the intruders. "Navigating to the next room with father will be a difficult task might I add."

"I think, with the four of us, we can manage," Brenna said, wiping away her tears. She went over to his side. "But we have to get him awake first, unless-" She turned to the men. "Unless you can carry him in the chair. He's been ill, he shouldn't weigh that much."

"I will be look out and if you want Bren, you can guide them the right direction," Zephyria said quietly.

"I doubt that will be difficult to do," she said dryly. "I think we need to go, now." The two men lifted up the chair with Lord Henrie in it. Brenna slowly opened the door, and the only thing in sight were bodies. She swallowed at the sight, before turning to the others, and gestured for them to follow."

.The five of them made their way out into the hallway and into the other room without any trouble.

Jesse walked over to the fireplace. None of the others saw what he did, but a moment later, an archway had opened up in the wall. "Follow me," he instructed. The hallway was light by a small lantern; it was quite narrow and the chair Lord Henrie was in barely fit.

"Oh no," Brenna said, noticing this. "What are we going to do now? Christophe, Zeph, Jesse, any ideas?"

"What if we work together and carry him through the passage?" Zephyria asked as she tried to figure out it four he could carry her father's weight. "If the boys grab his top half and Bren, you and I grab his legs we can get him I think."

Brenna thought for a moment, and was about to speak when the door to the room flew open, and several men stormed in, pointing what must have been weapons at the group. "Don't move, and you won't be hurt," one of them growled, stepping forward and grabbing Zephyria by the arm.

"Let her go!" Christophe hissed, taking a step forward, only to be shoved back by another of the men.

"Just listen to them so you don't get hurt," Zephyria spoke quietly and swiftly to the others, fearing she may only have a little time to tell them this.

Another man grabbed Brenna. "I think we'll take these two lovely ladies with us, shall we?" he sneered.

They were about to drag them out of the room when someone groaned. Brenna snapped her head back to where Lord Henrie's chair sat, forgotten. His eyes were open, just barely, and he was staring around the room in confusion.

"Father," Brenna whispered softly, wishing that he had stayed unconscious so he might have had a chance to get out. But once the men found out who he was, well, there was a chance they wouldn't let Christophe and Jesse escape with him.

"He can't fight them off, he is too weak right now and they have weapons," Christophe said softly to Jesse. "Any ideas, friend?"

"Not at the moment, no," Jesse told him, watching Brenna. She had a calculating look on her face, like she was going over a plan in her head.

And she was. Before she had time to have second thoughts, she slammed her foot down on her captor's boot. He yelped and released her, giving her enough time to yank a sword out of the bin next to where the fireplace had been, before Jesse had opened the passage. The men that had been holding Zephyria released her and started towards Brenna.

Zephyria, following her sister's example grabbed a sword. She knew that there should be enough of a distraction with her and Bren wielding swords. Their only hope now was the boys making it out alright with Lord Henrie.

But they hadn't gone, instead choosing to grab weapons of their own and standing in front of the girls. Brenna groaned, glancing over at her sister. Could the two of them somehow manage to get him through the passage, without Jesse and Christophe?

The men laughed at them. "You're outnumbered, kids," one of them said. "Even with the old man I doubt you could fight us. Besides, he's not looking too well, is he?"

"You might as well give up," another spat at them in total disgust. "If you give up no one will get hurt. So what do you say? It isn't that hard. Just state your name and position in the palace."

"I am Nora," Brenna lied, dropping the sword. "I am naught but a maid here. This is my sister, Lilith, our brother, Jesse, our cousin William, and our father, Lukas. We are not people of importance." The others were surprised at her calm lying. None of them had ever seen her lie before. "All I ask is you let us leave, so we can get our father to a doctor. Please." She bit her lip, praying that they would believe her.

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Well, there you go, the next chapter. Hope you enjoyed it. Please leave a review and tell me what you think.