This is happening. This is real.
Well, that gets the adrenaline pumping. It’s like I’ve just taken a shot of caffeine, my senses on high alert, my muscles energetic, my eyes seeing everything.
We reach a corner. I know that one of the back entrances cuts through the wall perpendicular to us. Our first real danger. The door might be guarded, or might not. My father likes to mix things up with his security, more for his amusement than anything else. I poke an eye to the side, catch a glimpse of a red-garbed guard, duck back. In the split second of vision, his black double-holstered belt stares at me like two black demon eyes.
But we have weapons, too. And the guard will be bored, wishing he was going to be attending the upcoming party inside, giving us the invaluable element of surprise.
“There’s a guard,” I hiss at the others.
“Want me to take him out?” Trevor says, making me think it is better that he’s with me and not Adele.
“No. Thanks. All guards are instructed to first raise the alarm if they spot an intruder. Apprehending the intruder is secondary. We have to ensure he doesn’t have a chance to do that. Any ideas?” I ask.
“I’ll scale the building, and while you rush him from the side, I’ll drop on him from above,” Trevor says. “Simple and clean.”
“Simple? Sounds like a disaster.”
“You got a better idea?” Trevor says.
“I’ve got about ten better ideas. Like I could toss something out onto the lawn and when he goes to check it out, we jump him. Or I could make a little noise to draw him over and then we club him in the head.”
“There’s still a good chance he’ll alert other guards before he goes to check,” Tawni says, tapping her teeth with her fingers. “What about this? I provide the distraction.”
“With what?” Trevor asks.
“With me,” she says.
“Bad idea,” I say, right away thinking about what Adele would say if she knew we were using Tawni as bait. What were you thinking, Tristan?!
“You were the one who said I have a role to play in all this,” Tawni points out. Why do I always open my big mouth?
“You do, but not like this.”
“She’s got a point,” Trevor says. “She’s the only one who might just look like a normal sun dweller partygoer. If they see you, they’ll freak out, because you’re supposed to be locked in your room with a mild case of mental trauma. I look as much like a sun dweller as a hunk of coal looks like a diamond. That leaves Tawni.”
“I’m doing it,” Tawni says, sounding more like Adele than herself.
With a toss of her head she throws back her long, white locks, bats her eyes, and then strides from behind the corner. I fight off the urge to spring from our hiding spot and charge the guard when she says, “Oh my gosh, I’m so glad I found you.”
“Ma’am, you’re not authorized to be here,” the guard says professionally.
“Don’t I know it,” Tawni replies. “You see, I seem to have gotten turned around somewhere. I was on my way to the party and then I made a left. Or was it a right? I can’t remember. In any case, I’m hopelessly lost. Can you by any chance direct me?”
“I’m assuming you have an invitation?”
“Of course, silly, how do you think I got through the front gate. It’s right he—well, that’s funny, I had it right here in my hands. I must’ve dropped it somewhere on the lawn. Can I trouble you to help me find it?” Flawless. That’s the only word for it. Who knew Tawni was an actress? Her tone of voice, the light way in which she requests help, and I’m sure her body language, too: it’s all so disarming that even the most well-trained guard wouldn’t feel threatened by her approach.
“Well, uh, I shouldn’t really leave my post…”
The fish starts to swim away.
“Oh, please, sir. They won’t let me in without it and I would be devastated if I missed out on the best party of the year. I might just give you a little reward for being my hero, too,” she says flirtatiously.
She wiggles the bait one more time.
“Well—I—uh—I suppose I could help for a few minutes, but then I have to get back. Now where did you say you lost it?”
Hooked!
My muscles tense in preparation for violence. “I got this,” Trevor whispers in my ear.
“No!” I shoot back. All we need is to fight over who takes out the guard that Tawni has practically gift-wrapped for us.
“Just around this corner, somewhere on the lawn, I expect,” Tawni’s voice rings out.
When she rounds the corner, her feet tangle together and she tumbles to the grass, crying out as she falls. “Ma’am, are you okay?” the guard says before coming into view. He passes us, not noticing our forms hidden in the shadows. His entire attention is on Tawni. A damsel in distress and a potential reward. “And where are your shoes?”
As he bends over to help Tawni up, I rush him, molding my fists together like a club, which I bring down on the back of his head. “Oof!” he says, but then collapses face first on Tawni.
“I get the next one,” Trevor says, striding up.
“Get him off me,” Tawni squeals.
“Gladly,” I say, pushing him off with the toe of my boot. “You did awesome, by the way.”
“I did?” Tawni says, accepting a hand from Trevor.
“Not bad at all,” Trevor adds, pulling her up.
“I was scared to death,” she admits. “But it was kind of thrilling at the same time.” She tucks a wayward piece of hair behind her ear.
“Time to take this operation inside,” I say.
After dragging the guard into the shadows cast by the building, we tiptoe across the lawn to the now-unprotected entrance. I open the windowless iron door, silently praying there’s no guard just on the other side coming to relieve the now unconscious doorman. The red-carpeted hallway inside is empty, save for the familiar ornamental wall sconces positioned every few feet.
I move inside, holding the door for Tawni, who holds it for Trevor. “We’re east of the throne room,” I say quietly. “Follow me and I’ll try not to get us all killed.”
“Thanks for that,” Trevor says.
Due to the sheer size of the place, there are a number of paths that can be taken between any two points, so I’ve got some choices to make. We could cut through the kitchen and risk a meeting with a stressed and angry knife-wielding chef, where it’s likely that a broken plate or clattering pot will alert half the subchapter to our presence. Or we could take the long route through my brother’s and my adjoining bedrooms where we might bump into a maid or steward who decides to scream upon seeing us. Or we could take the fastest and most direct route down the main hallway, through the grand foyer, and into the government wing, where we will likely butt heads with at least a dozen guards, have to dodge an army of servants, and possibly face my greatest arch nemesis, Mrs. Templeton, the palace housekeeper, more loyal to my father than even his most trusted advisors. Not someone I hope to see tonight. I opt for a more creative route.
Halfway down the hall I cut to the right, past a set of double doors, behind which is a lounge room with large flat-screen teleboxes on all the walls, and dozens of plush lounge chairs around the edges. It’s where my brother and I used to spend our evenings sometimes, watching the best entertainment the Sun Realm has to offer. Those days are long past.
Although I think the route I’ve chosen is the safest path, we’re completely exposed now, with nowhere to hide if a servant or guard happens to turn the corner at one of the many cross hallways that intersect the long hall we’re making our way down. Or they could suddenly exit one of the many carved-oak doors that flash by on either side. As luck would have it, we make it to the end unseen, having worked our way to the northernmost point of the east wing. And it’s here where I do the unexpected.