“I-I will see what I can do!” I was disoriented, rowdy, and panting. I grabbed Alonso’s arms and pushed him towards the door. “Go and try to distract her while I handle this. Make sure she is facing away from the entrance… Yeah, maybe try to stir her towards Lance’s quarters… Anything! Just a sec.”
I rushed back to my frantic friends; Mary and Nadia whose faces were furrowed in intense worry, pacing from one corner to another. “Where is Roland?” I asked out of breath.
“He rushed to the tearoom!” I was already running in that direction.
“Okay, please do well to come next time!” Paisley’s voice rang as I approached.
“I will,” Mrs. Dolly remarked, her eyes flying to me as I opened the door to behold her and Roland making their way to it. She fixed me a knowing look as they walked past me while I stalled behind to hold Paisley from plunging out and seeing the Queen, which might lead to her spilling about our visitor.
“Hey!” I chortled nervously,
“Danika?” Her brows arched. “You look red, are you okay?”
“Yeah! I have been doing… strenuous work out there,” I said, chortling at the end.
“Oh, okay. Try to go easy on yourself. I was beginning to worry that you and your other friend left us alone until he returned and said he had to leave and would like to drop her off. I really enjoyed her company. What amazing friends you have there.” She came forward to touch my arm just as I felt someone try to link me.
I linked in hastily. “We are making our way to Lance’s quarters. Do whatever you can to get the sorceress out of there, please,” he told me.
“I am doing that right away, thanks,” I replied and chuckled nervously at Paisley afterward.
“Good.”
“Ehmm… Paisley, can you wait here for me, a minute? I have something I will like to show you.” I shrugged, giving her a lopsided grin.
“Really?! What did I do to deserve all this love from you today?” She jostled.
You have no idea.
I sniggered. “I think they call it friendship. Sit pretty and wait,” I ordered and dashed out. I hurried to the living room but didn’t see any of them. I searched around, yet don’t see anyone. Where the heck are they?
I hope by Gad, no one sees them. I can’t bear more strife in this house proudly orchestrated by me. I will die while awake.
I tried linking Nadia to ask where they were and jumped back when a door in the left part of the lobby I have never cared to find out what goes on within it opened and Mary and Nadia emerged, likewise jostling in fright when they came in contact with me.
“Oh, you scared us!” Mary said with her hand to her midriff.
“Me too!” I giggled. “Where were you guys? I was about to link you.”
“Well, someone saved our ass here by recommending we use the forbidden passage in this house,” Mary conferred, pointing at the door.
“There is a passage in here? Like a passable one?” I queried with a wrinkled forehead.
Nadia chuckled. “Yeah… Though it’s a secret one. I heard the head of the Omega maids talking about it some time ago and decided to check if it’s true today. It goes all the way to the eastern side of the mansion, from where one can drive through the other side to the gate without being seen.” She bobbed her shoulders. “Turns out it became our saving grace. Where are they?”
“They went to Lance’s quarters. I should tell him they are gone, right?” I eyed them and they nodded.
I linked with Alonso at once. “Hey, they’re gone… You can come back now.”
“Okay. Thanks, Munchkin. I knew I could count on you,” he replied, making my head swell. I’m glad I didn’t disappoint, all thanks to my clever crew.
“See you…” I cut off the link and faced them. “Hey, guys, thanks so much.” I winked at them with a broad smile.
“For what?” Nadia grabbed my hand and pulled me to one of the sofas in the corner to sit.
“For saving my ass today and always. I don’t know what I would have done without you guys. I owe you.”
“Well, you owe us to be frank. You owe us to become the next Queen so that all our efforts will pay off!” Mary said flatly, flicking her eyes about, as though searching for something.
An idea struck me. “Hey, guys, what if we go on a girl’s hangout one of these days? It would be fun.” I hadn’t thought about it before due to my tight schedule. But I reckon we all deserve I, t to cool off.
Nadia made an enthused sound down her throat and rowdily bounced her head, disorganizing her fringy curls. “I think it’s a good idea. But first of all, we need to nail this down, and then we will have a reason to celebrate. Which brings me to the next topic, where is she?”
“Who?” I asked flatly.
“The bee…” She leans in to say in a hushed tone just as the door flings open and Alonso and his mother walk in. Two of them flew up to their feet to bow and knot their hands before them in subservience.
The Queen’s eyes went lethal with fury as they landed on us by the corner. “What are you doing with these lowlifes, Danika? Sitting on the expensive couches, these stinking Omega idiots?” My stomach knotted in rage, something irrational ticking off my head at the reference to my friends as lowlifes. Idiots? Really?
“Mother, stop it,” Alonso’s voice rumbled lowly from behind her.
“Stop what?! Can’t you see what she is lowering herself to? Talking to smelling riffraffs! You know what? I think I will finally eat my words. For the first time in my life, I agree that Paisley would make a better Luna Queen to you than her.” She branded her long index red painted finger at me. “Imagine the impetus of you two!” She veered forth to hit Mary and out of impulse, I lurched forward to block them, lifting my eyes to meet hers squarely, my chest heaving more in angry pants.
“You will not dare to touch my friends, Theresa! What kind of despicable person are you? You derive so much joy from making others cower before you! Don’t you have a heart of love in you?” The furious words gushed from my mouth of their own volition.
I didn’t see it coming until the back of her hand collided with my cheek, sending me flying to the ground.
“Mother!” Alonso thundered, “How dare you hit my mate?!” When I flicked my eyes up in shock, I saw him towering above her, his body quivering, and knew he was going to do something rash if I didn’t stop him.
“You talk to me like that because of her?” Her body trembled. “Did you not see her disrespect me?!” she grated out, pointing at me as her eyes blazed with fury and disbelief.
“Don’t. You. Dare!” His shoulders hunched, the veins in his neck protruding. By now my friends have helped me up from the ground. I went to him and gently touched his arm and he vaulted back with an aggressive comeback, but upon seeing me, his anger died and his eyes softened. He twisted around to me, his palms cupping my face affectionately to check me out. “I’m sorry, baby. Did she hurt you?”
I shook my head, avoiding the daggers Theresa was shooting at me from behind.
“What is going on here?” I jumped back and literally fainted at the sound of Paisley’s voice from the entrance to the living room.
…