Chapter 5- Legends and Confessions

Joy

Sunlight streamed through the window and blinded me momentarily. I sighed. It was supposed to be the perfect day with Fabian, but he was too busy worrying about Nina. As I thought of her predicament, I felt a prickle of unease, but I brushed it away. I decided that today was the day I would win Fabe back. Smiling, I went over to my recently bought accessories and sorted through the pile. I picked out an expensive designer dress and a limited edition clutch.

My movements woke Patricia and Mara up.

"Whoa Joy!" Mara exclaimed. "Where'd you get all this expensive stuff?"

"It looks like you won the lottery!" added Patricia.

"Sort of." I said. To avoid discussing the subject any further, I busied myself with the task of packing my bag for school.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Patricia and Mara exchange bemused looks, but soon forgot about the entire thing when the aroma of Trudy's pancakes filled the entire house.

"We'd better go down before Alfie eats them all." I said backing out the door. And, with the girls at my heels, we went down to breakfast. I noticed that everyone except Fabe was already at the table.

"Mmm, smells delicious Trudy!" Amber said.

"Why thank you sweetie." Trudy replied beaming. "Now you know I had hoped Nina would be here, seeing as this is her favorite breakfast, but…"

Fabian ran into the room cutting short Trudy's rant. "Morning Trudy," he said breathlessly.

"Fabian! So energetic this morning. I bet you've got something planned for that special lady of yours!" she winked at Fabian.

"Could you get me some more pancakes Trudes?" Jerome asked.

"Why of course dear!" and she bustled out of the room.

"Now quick, spill whatever you want to say before she comes back." Jerome said.

"Nina's in danger!" Fabian cried.

"What?" I asked incredulously. I had his word that he wouldn't harm her.

"I was reading about Egyptian legends when I found this." Fabian drew a sheet of paper from his pocket and started to read. "It is rumored that the descendant of Amneris will have magical powers that resides in their tears. When their tear is combined with the bracelet of Horus and mixed inside the cup of Ankh, this mixture will act as an elixir of life."

"So?" Patricia asked.

"So, Nina is a descendant of Amneris, and Rufus knows that. He will torture her until she gives up a tear!"

"But what's this bracelet of Horus?" Mick asked.

Fabian reached inside his bag and showed everyone a bracelet. "This is the bracelet of Horus, I found it in the attic. This must have been another item that the Frobisher-Smythes stole from the tomb."

"Hang on a minute! Doesn't Rufus need this bracelet for the elixir to work?" Patricia asked.

Fabian nodded. "Yeah, guess what else I found in my research? The Frobisher-Smythes were rumored to have a secret room in which they kept their stolen objects. Rufus must be looking for the object there, but what he didn't know is that the Frobisher-Smythes smuggled it into the house."

"So Nina's safe then! Without the bracelet, Rufus can't create the immortality elixir." Mara concluded.

Fabian shook his head. "Rufus is a madman, he might stop at nothing to become immortal. Who knows what conclusions he might come to! He might even try to spill blood!"

I felt that guilty part of me eat away at my mind. I felt my stomach start to flutter, and my knee trembled slightly, but I tried to ignore it.

"Hey Joy, you ok? You look as pale as a ghost!" Alfie remarked.

I concentrated on stopping my leg from shaking but it was no use, "It's my fault." I whispered sadly.

Fabian looked distressed. "Hey, its ok, it's not your fault, you didn't help kidnap Nina or anything."

I started to sob, "But I did."

Everyone looked at me.

"Joy, we all know you're jealous of Nina, but I hardly think that makes this your fault." Mara said, trying to comfort me.

My secret was bubbling up inside me like lava ready to erupt. "No! You don't understand." I choked. "Rufus-" the lava spilled over, and I spewed out the truth. "Rufus paid me to be seen with Fabian so he could take pictures and make Nina think that he still liked me."

"You what?" Fabian shouted. I had never seen him this angry before.

"What's worse is that I knew he would kidnap Nina, but I had his word that he wouldn't harm her, I swear. It's just that I wanted Fabian back so much, my judgment was clouded. I'm so sorry." I finished.

Fabian wasn't listening to my apology. "You agreed to Rufus because you wanted to get back at Nina?" he yelled. "You actually believed that he wouldn't harm her? Do you understand how much danger she's in right now?

"I'm sorry," I whispered again. "I'm sorry Fabe."

My eyes filled with tears again. So this is it. I've really lost Fabian now.

Fabian glared at me, "I can't believe you would resort to this Joy!" and he stormed out of the room.

Fabian

How could she? I thought she was fine with Nina and me, I thought she was my friend.

"Who cares about Joy right now?" I reminded myself. "You've got to figure out how to save Nina." Now that I knew Rufus wouldn't give Nina back, I needed a new plan. Think Fabian, think.

Mick came into the room. "You know mate, she's pretty upset."

I looked at him in surprise, "Maybe I shouldn't have yelled." I admitted. I sat down on my bed and rubbed my forehead. "It's just that I'm really worried about Nina."

Mick grabbed his football off his desk. "It's ok. We all are."

I followed Mick out of the house to school. All day I feigned writing notes in class, and tried to make a plan. By the time I had finished lunch, I had a pretty good idea how I was going to rescue Nina.