The rest of the evening passed uneventfully, an event in itself that seemed rare.
Truly, it seemed like hardly a day went by that something big didn't happen, good or bad. Derek, for one, was always at ease when there were the quiet afternoons when he could just relax and chat with his friends and family.
Today, King Adelaide and Prince Matthew provided the peaceful company for Derek, and although he was worried about what Alex had seen or may have seen in the woods, he was able to convince himself that it was nothing; a bird, or an animal maybe. It hardly mattered anymore.
Derek and Adelaide were locked in conversation, speaking of nearly everything under the sun. Meanwhile, Odette visited with Camille, who was also visiting, Adelaide's lovely and kind wife. They had been friends since they were young, and they remained that way through all the events of the past few years.
Alex seemed to be too thoughtful of what had happened earlier by the lake to pay any real attention to Matthew's foolish pranks and stupid comments. He eventually gave up, knowing that, as long as she was in this pensive mood, she would not react or respond to his mishief. One thing he could never deny: she was smart.
Matthew occupied himself by having Eli do his bidding. Like a loyal dog, Eli did everything Matthew asked. Normally, Alex would get angry at Matthew for taking advantage of her little brother. The fact that she wasn't was more disturbing to him than he would have liked to admit.
After a while, it began to bother everyone that Alex had spoken very few words. Odette was worried the most by her daughter's silence. Alex wasn't normally a talkative child, but when she did speak, it was with depth that was beyond her years. That night, she answered with only one or two necessary words, barely taking any notice at all.
Finally, it was time to go to bed, and Alex was more than willing, for once, to go.
As everyone began to settle down for the night, Odette and Derek were able to talk in privacy.
"Derek," Odette said from behind the wicker changing screen.
"Yes?"
"I think Alex did see something in the woods today."
"But what?" he asked, not completely sure – or at least, still in denial – about whether or not Alex had indeed seen something in the woods.
"I don't know, but I don't think she would have imagined it or made it up. She's not like that."
"I know," he admitted.
He was finally resigning himself to the fact that something could be wrong. And when it came to his family, something was always wrong. But still he wished he had some hope for things to be normal to cling on to. He knew Zelda, Clavius, or Rothbart would eventually come back in some way and cause a whole new wave of trouble for him and Odette. But for one of their children to be at all involved was something he prayed against every day and night. He didn't want another catastrophe for himself and Odette, and he didn't want his children to have to deal with the Forbidden Arts.
Odette didn't want anything involving the Forbidden Arts near her children. The only thing they should have known were the stories – nothing first hand. Ever. She dreaded the thought of having to go through another nightmare, and with Alex, Eli, and Joan, they would doubtlessly be dragged into it too.
"We'll keep them safe, Odette," Derek said. "I promise."
XxX
"Tonight's the night," Zelda snickered to herself, staring up at the castle. A few hours had passed since everyone went to bed. For the second time in a span of about seven years, she was glad that the old fool Rogers had shown her every square inch of the castle while he was in his lovesick daze.
She almost pitied him. Almost. Just like she almost considered allowing Derek and Odette to live peacefully after everything that had passed.
Since she had managed to create a new orb with the Forbidden Arts and absorb the power, she still had control of the powers to create, change, and destroy.
Tonight, she knew she had the advantage. She knew Derek and Odette would probably be sleeping by now, as would be the children, little what's-her-face, what's-his-name, and baby does-anyone-really-care.
True, the oldest had spotted her earlier that day, but the child had no idea what she was seeing, so it didn't matter. Zelda was counting on the fact that children had short attention spans and immediately forgot things, regardless of importance.
However, she was wrong. Alex remained very alert that night, barely sleeping. She thought it her duty to keep watch over her family that night. If her parents couldn't protect her, she would protect them.
Zelda had taken the form of a typical, faceless maid in the castle. She didn't even have to try to sneak into the castle. She simply walked in, as if she had been doing so for years and years. No one, especially not the foolish guards, even bothered to ask who she was – not that asking such a question would be of any service to them other than sending them to their maker.
After careful deliberation, Zelda had decided that the best way to take revenge would be to steal something Derek and Odette couldn't live without; their children. However, she had no intentions of dealing with three screaming brats for any period of time. So she was only going to take one, and the obvious choice would be the baby, Joan, Zelda thought her name was.
Joan wouldn't be able to fight back at all, and by the time her parents would hear her crying, it would be far too late.
Zelda crept her way into the nursery, a very easy task thanks to Rogers' previous gullibility. Silently, she opened the door and, like a cat, she quietly snuck in. She strode over to the cradle – no need to rush the moment.
XxX
Alex had no idea what time it was when she suddenly woke from a very uneasy and restless sleep. It seemed like whatever was in the woods was there, inside the castle.
Quietly, she opened the door to her room and hesitantly stepped into the hall.
When she looked across the corridor, she could see that Eli had not been up since he had been tucked in for the night –usually when he snuck out, he carelessly left the door open for all to see.
Looking to the right and down the hall, she could see nothing. It was totally empty; no signs of life, only stone, paintings, and tapestries.
To the left, she could see the door that led to the nursery. Oddly enough, it was open, something her parents never allowed. She knew they were careful with the safety of their children, and after hearing the stories of the Forbidden Arts, she could understand why.
But then, why was the door open? Who was in there?
It certainly wasn't her parents.
Derek and Odette were never awake this late, and if they were, they probably would have closed the door to the nursery.
Alex knew right then and there that something was very wrong. Quietly, she took her first steps down the hall, heading straight to where Joan was, not knowing who or what else was in there with her.
XxX
Zelda grinned slimily down at the sleeping infant. However, just as she was about to pick up the child, a figure appeared at the door.
For a brief moment, Zelda was startled. She was petrified, sure she had been discovered and thinking of the best way to escape.
But the moment quickly faded when she realized the figure was that of a child.
"Who-who are you?" the girl demanded shakily. Judging by the eyes and face, Zelda was sure this was Odette's first born daughter. The resemblance was uncanny. "What are you doing?"
"Shouldn't you be asleep, little girl?" Zelda sneered, forming a ball of red light in her hand. She quickly thought better of it, though. Even she could not kill a child. Truly, she had no idea what she was going to do with Joan when she had succeeded in kidnapping her.
Meanwhile, Alex had taken a few steps forward, not letting her face betray her fear, although her shaking knees were already doing so.
Zelda sneered at the child. She was brave and outspoken, like Odette, but the child definitely thought she was strong, a folly Zelda would correct for her.
Zelda quickly thought over a plan. She could try to change Alex's memories, but she wasn't totally sure she could do it quickly or efficiently. There was a chance that she would fail to destroy the girl's memories of that night. It only made sense to take Alex instead of Joan, who wouldn't remember and couldn't speak anyway.
Zelda through a seeker at Alex, who tried to get away, but wasn't quick enough.
Surprisingly, Alex didn't scream. She was far too busy trying to find a way down.
Knowing that an escape by the girl would be nigh impossible, Zelda allowed herself to revert back to her normal form and jumped on her own fireball. With Alex in tow behind her, Zelda opened the high window and flew out.
They disappeared into the night just as Joan started to cry.
XxX
Odette and Derek arrived at the nursery from the opposite way in which Alex had come.
As Odette tried to soothe Joan, Derek tried to figure out, or at least remember, why the window was open. He soon decided that neither he nor Odette had left it open. He suddenly felt very ill at ease.
Odette caught his mood, and knew immediately that something was very off about the circumstances.
Why was the window open, yet Joan was undisturbed, save for the crying?
"Derek…" Odette began, but trailed off. She had no idea how to put her fears into rational words.
"I know," Derek said, agreeing with her silence. "Let's check on Alex and Eli."
Walking down the hall, they could spot nothing wrong. Derek first checked Eli's room, and upon seeing his son fast asleep, he was satisfied and he closed the door. Next was Alex's room.
This time, the safety of his child was not so easily confirmed. The door was open, and she wasn't in her room. Odette and Derek searched the hall, and then, with the help of a few guards, the entire wing, and soon after, the whole castle, including the grounds outside, although it would be unlikely that Alex would be out there.
After finding no sign of his eldest daughter, Derek changed into some day clothes and enlisted some of the guards to form a search party. The rest of the guards were put on the highest alert, should the kidnapper – as it was doubtlessly a kidnapping - came back.
Odette was, for the most part, silent and scared. She knew Alex wouldn't have tried to hide from her parents at such a late hour. Alex didn't like to cause mischief in the middle of the night.
But she couldn't be gone.
She had to be fine. She was alright. It was just a misunderstanding. It was a fluke. She'd only gotten up for a moment…
Odette tried to convince herself of these things, but they were all quickly disproven when she searched the castle for a second and third time.
Alex was, indeed, gone.