“I already did and texted you the password.”
“Do you know how they got through the fence?” Again, I looked over my shoulder, then headed for the riding meadow.
“I didn’t see anyone approach the fence. They must have been rerouting the feeds of the cameras somehow.”
“Of course, they were,” I said, more to myself than her.
“But I did some diagnostics on the northeast fence of the 24th Ward and found a malfunctioned cable that seems to have gone unnoticed for months.”
“How was there not a system alert?” I asked.
“The last system upgrade had some glitches and this appears to be one of them. We’ve received other system alerts to malfunctioning cables, but this one never triggered an alert.”
“Is there a way to make sure an alert isn’t triggered now?” I stepped up to the wood fence, rested my forearms in the top slat, and gazed out into the open meadow. I thought I should ride before talking to the Queen; it always centered me.
“I’ve manually deleted the malfunction. Now, everything appears operational,” Christine said, sounding proud of herself.
“Beautiful. I’ll take a look at what you sent, and let me know when Victoria is spotted again.” I hung up the phone, with Victoria dominating my thoughts. It seemed she was safe—for now. She’d better come up with a plan quickly, however, because Queen Dorothea was losing her patience—what she’d done with Piper and Constance was proof of that.
As much as I wanted to go for a ride, I needed to stay focused and find out the Queen’s plans.
11
Victoria
As tired as I was, I’d stayed up with Mina into the early hours of the morning, talking about everything that came to mind. We sat at the picnic table outside to avoid disturbing everyone who was trying to sleep. After a while, Kale came outside and coaxed us to bed.
Inside, there were sleeping bags arranged on the floor for everyone Kale had brought home. There were three bedrooms: one for Kale’s parents, one for his little sister, Ariel, and one for him. I learned he had given up his room to Mina when she arrived. When he was home, he slept on the couch.
I awoke to the smell of sizzling sausage. I’d spent the short remainder of the night in Kale’s bed, cuddled up with Mina. I glanced around the room, sunlight backlighting the blue curtains. I was alone in bed—alone in the room.
Kale’s bedroom was small and cluttered. A partially opened closet door revealed his clothes on hangers and piled on the floor. He had a desk with a computer, surrounded by electronic devices, computer pieces, and cords. Other than a nightstand, he had no more furniture. But there were stacks of well-read books with tattered covers along the free wall space.
I got out of bed and sat down next to a book stack with a hardcover that caught my attention. I removed it from the stack and flipped through a few pages, then glanced over at the new book on top.
These had to be from the old world. He must have been collecting them for years. His collection was nothing compared to the Queen’s, but he certainly had more than most people—especially these types of relics from a forcefully forgotten world.
“Do you like them?”
I looked up to find Kale standing in the doorway. “If you know me at all, then you’d know—”
“And I do, so I know you do,” he said, not allowing me to finish my sentence. “I’ve scavenged many abandoned sites out here and collected every book from the United States I’ve come across. I have no interest in the books of today.”
“Are you saying these are all from before The Rift?” I asked, closing the book in my lap.
“Every single one.” Kale smiled and sat beside me. “I got this one from the old city of Las Vegas. It’s gone through a number of transformations and was abandoned for a few years. It has these huge and crazy looking hotels along its main street, many of which are still there. I found this book in the pyramid. I learned a valuable lesson that day of not blindly reaching into any enclosed spaces. I was stung by a scorpion and seriously thought I was going to die.”
“Were you alone?” I asked.
“In the room, but not on the mission,” Kale said, taking the book from my lap. “I made it to the rest of my party, unwilling to leave this little guy behind. I had gone through enough trouble to get him.” He flipped through a few of the pages, not reading, but remembering—and then placed it back atop the stack. “You hungry?”
“Starving,” I said. The smell of the cooking food was making my stomach growl.
“Then let’s get you some breakfast.”
At the breakfast table, I was introduced to Kale’s mother, Natalie, and his little sister, Ariel. Ariel was three years younger than Mina and they seemed to have hit it off since her arrival.
“Welcome, Victoria,” Natalie said. “We’ve heard so much about you, I feel like I already know you. Take a seat. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so I hope you like eggs and sausage. There’s bread in the basket.” She gestured to the covered basket at the center of the table.
All her words were kind and considerate, but there was something about her tone and body language that said otherwise.
“Thank you,” I said, taking the empty seat between Mina and Codie. “It all smells so delicious.”
Natalie brought over a steaming pan and plopped down a scoopful of scrambled eggs and a few links of sausage. The others at the table already had food on their plates, though Codie was nearly done. Kale reached over to grab a slice of bread and then joined Gabriel on the couch.
“I hear you had an eventful night,” Natalie said once the pan was back on the stove. “And another one of our storage sheds is gone.”
“Mom, I told Dad I was sorry about that,” Kale interjected.
“I know you did. It happens.” Natalie gave him a weak smile and then turned back to me. “Your sister has been a delight to have here. Ariel is also quite fond of her.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” I said. “Thank you so much for taking her in.”
“What was done to her was awful—just awful. Our community would not stand for such behavior. A man like that would be taken out into the desert and stoned.”
“He deserves it,” I said, meeting her hard gaze head on. Master Ramsey was a monster, and he deserved that and more.
“Are you going to live with us too?” Ariel asked.
“No; I’m just visiting,” I said, not really sure what else to say—not sure what my future held.
The door opened and an intimidating man with an unruly auburn beard stepped into the house. His beard and thinning hair matched Ariel’s, which contrasted Kale’s and his mother’s light brown hair.
“Good everyone’s up,” he said in a deep voice. “It seems we have a lot to discuss. Ariel, why don’t you show our newcomers around outside.”
“They were just finishing up breakfast,” Natalie said.
“Victoria, this is my father,” Kale said. “Frank.”
“They can finish, then we can get down to business,” Frank said and hovered around the table until the kids were done and out the door.
12
Victoria
“So, you’re the infamous Victoria,” Frank said, taking a seat at the kitchen table. “I wondered if I’d ever have the chance to meet you. Kale has mentioned you quite a bit. And I must admit, you are a beautiful girl.”
I looked down at my secondhand clothes that didn’t fit and the grime covering my bare skin and felt my cheeks get warm. I’d been through so much the past few days, crashed late last night, and was dragged straight to breakfast this morning without even a look in the mirror—I knew I looked horrendous, dirty and disheveled. Frank’s comment made me feel more self-conscious.
“Of course she’s a beautiful girl,” Natalie said. “What did you expect?” She seemed determined to stand. “But let’s not forget she does nothing but get my son—our son in trouble over and over again. And now the target on her back has been transferred to ours.�
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“I’m not forgetting anything,” Frank said. “I understand we’re in a delicate situation, but we have leverage here. And soon we’ll have even more.”
“Mom, it’s not her fault,” Kale said. He was seated beside me and held my hand under the table. At least I had an ally.
“Perhaps you’d like to go outside and check on the kids,” Frank said.
“No,” Natalie snapped. “You’re not kicking me out.”
“Fine, then sit and contribute or stand back and be quiet.”
Natalie looked like she’d just been slapped, but didn’t argue as she pulled out the free chair between Gabriel and Frank.
“Okay,” Frank said, resting his forearms on the table and leaning forward in his chair. “I need full transparency. Victoria, you gave Kale evidence that Princess Amelia is still sick with no signs of recovery as the Queen has claimed. And Kale, you are still in possession of this evidence. Is that correct?”
“Yes,” Kale said.
“Where is it now?”
“Safe,” Kale said harshly.
“That is not total transparency,” Frank replied, glaring at his son, noticeably irritated.
Kale glanced over at his mother and then at me before reaching into his pocket and placing a thumb-sized device on the table. “It’s all here,” he said.
“How about evidence of the others?” Frank asked.
“Yes.”
“What others?” I asked.
“Your sisters,” Kale said.
“The clones,” Natalie said, sounding like an intentional insult.
“Yes, we all understand that.” Kale stopped for a moment, glaring at his mother, then continuing. “It’s not enough to just have pictures of Princess Amelia. Those in the palace thought she was dead, but not the rest of the Kingdom. There needs to be evidence of the switch if this information is to be damaging.”
“I didn’t take any pictures of the other girls,” I said.
“I know,” Kale said. “But I’d taken some before everything went south, during my time serving in the palace. Some of the girls even posed for me.” He seemed quite proud of himself.
Frank reached across the table for the small device, but Kale snatched it back up.
“No,” Kale said, adamantly. “They’re to remain in my control. Victoria trusted them with me—and I’m not going to betray that trust.”
Frank held his palms up. “We’re all family here and family doesn’t betray one another.”
“Is that the only copy of what I sent you?” I asked Kale.
“Yes,” Kale said.
“Then all we have to do is give that little thing to her.”
“She’s not going to believe that.”
“The files are backed up, aren’t they, son?” Frank asked.
“No,” Kale said. “I couldn’t take that chance.”
“Then what are we supposed to do?” I asked.
“Go back and beg for the Queen’s mercy,” Natalie said, which certainly didn’t lack sarcasm.
“The Queen has no mercy,” Frank said. “The way I see it, you only have two choices. You can never return to Westeria, though you may need to go further than here. But if you’re determined to go back for those girls, then you need to go in with indisputable leverage.”
“So, I don’t need the files?” I asked.
“The files will get you into the palace, but they won’t get you out,” Frank said. “After you turn over the files, you need something in your possession the Queen still wants. That’s the only chance you have of leaving the palace alive.”
“And I suppose we’re all sitting here because you know what we need to get.”
“Of course,” Frank said, sitting back and smiling. “The same thing you wanted but couldn’t manage to get on your own.” He paused like he was anticipating an interruption. When no one interrupted, he revealed his big idea. “Princess Amelia.”
I looked around the table to see if anyone else seemed surprised. Nope. It seemed to be just me. “And you want to help me rescue her?”
“If we work together, we can rescue her from the Queen’s prison and bring her here,” Frank said.
“The Queen will want her back,” Kale said. “What’s the long-term plan? The Queen won’t stop to get her back and as soon as she does, we’ve lost our leverage. She’ll hunt us all the way to Easteria.”
“No; she won’t,” Frank said.
“How do you know that?” Kale challenged.
“What has this all been about? More than anything, the Queen wants a healthy successor to perpetuate her family name. She’s never going to get that from Amelia. If we keep her secret, she gets her successor, one she can mold to her heart’s content. She’s not just replacing Amelia for the Kingdom, she’s replacing her for herself. Pretty soon, the real Amelia will no longer exist to her. She won’t want the reminder. She won’t come for her.”
“If Queen Hart truly forgets about her real daughter, then she won’t really be leverage anymore, will she?” I asked. “What will keep her from coming after us then?”
“She’ll still be the official successor to the throne,” Frank said. “As long as she’s alive, she’ll be leverage.”
“And how long will that be?” Natalie asked. “In her condition.”
“How should I know how much time she has?” Frank said. “I doubt her doctors do. But regardless, once we’ve parted ways and Dorothea has the new princess she’s yearning for at her side, she won’t come for Amelia.”
“How do you know that?” Kale asked.
“How can anyone know about anything?” Frank countered. “Sometimes you just have to believe. This is how I believe the events will play out. They’re not absolute, but I believe they’re our best chance for success.”
“Amelia needs to be freed,” I said. “I couldn’t stand seeing her locked away in that room. And you’re right, I couldn’t save her. There had to be another secret passage to get her out because there was no way to get her up the spiral staircase I’d found. Even if a few people could carry her up, there was furniture, her wheelchair—things that would never fit up those stairs. There had to be another way out.”
“Or in,” Frank said.
“She’s not there anymore,” Gabriel said, speaking up for the first time since sitting at the table.
“Stands to reason,” Frank said. “But the last place she was seen is still the best place to start looking.”
“How do you know?” I asked Gabriel.
“Prince Byron went down to the room the morning after the Choosing Ceremony—Bethany led him—and they found it empty.”
Bethany had figured out the way to Princess Amelia from the clues I’d given at our last dinner together and had shown Prince Byron. But Queen Hart had gotten there first. I hoped Princess Amelia wasn’t gone for good. I didn’t see what help I would be now, but I needed to make sure I remained useful in this mission.
“What if her old room doesn’t give us any clues to where she’s been moved?” I asked. “And how are we getting into the palace? It’s not like we can just drive in the front gate until we have the Princess safely in our possession.”
“We’ll talk more about that later. Another associate is on his way,” Frank said. “When he arrives, we’ll start to put that plan together.”
“I don’t want to sound ungrateful or anything,” I started, not sure if I should even finish my question. I glanced over at Kale and he looked as apprehensive as I was feeling. He squeezed my hand under the table. Everyone was looking at me, waiting for me to finish, so I did. “Why are you doing all this to help me?”
“I’m not doing this for you,” Frank said and glanced over at Kale. “I’m not going to sit back and lose another child.”
“I told you, I can handle this,” Kale said.
“I don’t want you back in that palace,” Natalie said. “You’ve taken enough risks already. Who’s to say you’ll make it out the next time?”
“It’s a
risk I’m willing to take,” Kale said, sounding so confident in me, it hurt.
“I’m not,” Frank said, and stood up, pushing his chair back. “I have a few things to take care of, so take some time to relax and we’ll reconvene to plan the infiltration of the palace when my associate arrives. Sound good?”
“Sure,” Kale said. “I’ll show Victoria around in the downtime.”
“I’d like to wash up,” I whispered into Kale’s ear.
He laughed as we got up from the table and showed me to the washroom. He gave me some clean clothes, but they were still his, so they weren’t close to fitting. But I wasn’t going to complain if I was able to get myself cleaned up.
The tub was nothing like the one I had at the palace or lady Ramsey’s, but it was clean and had warm water. I lay in the soothing water all the way up to my chin until I almost fell asleep. As I felt my face slipping into the water, I figured I’d better get out. I dried off, got dressed, and dried my hair. I finally recognized myself in the mirror and looked normal again. No fancy dresses. No professional hair and makeup care from Kimera. Just the me I remembered from before I’d received a message from the Queen that turned my whole world upside down.
When I ventured into the main living area of the house, Kale was entering from the front door.
“I was just outside with the girls,” he said. “How do you feel?”
“Much better,” I said. “Do you have any smaller shoes? The clothes aren’t a big deal, but the shoes are uncomfortable.”
He looked down at my bare feet and considered my request. “I think my mom might have shoes that’d fit. Her clothes might fit you better too, I just didn’t want to ask.”
“You don’t have to,” I insisted. “Your clothes are fine.”
“I’ll see what I can find,” Kale said and disappeared into his parents’ bedroom.
I was about to follow him, then thought better of it. When he emerged, he had a pair of black flats dangling from one hand and offered them to me.
Royal Replicas 2: Royal Captives Page 7