by Rebecca Ann
Victoria’s eyes widened. “You’ll be Monitoring people’s thoughts? Why? I mean, why are you doing this? It could be dangerous!”
“Because that way I have an in with Carmella, and we can better formulate a plan to bring her down. If she thinks I’m on her side, she won’t control me as much, and that will make it easier for me to go to District Fourteen where the resistance is.”
“I’m coming with you!”
I shook my head. I couldn’t risk her getting hurt on my behalf. Not again. “You can’t. It wouldn’t be safe. Besides, I don’t know when I’m going yet. I have to train first.”
“There you are,” Mark said as he came through the curtain. “Linds, we’re about to take off. Victoria, you might want to take your seat.”
“I’ll take you.” I waited until Victoria had a hold of my elbow before I walked out of the cockpit and down the aisle to where my parents and Lily sat. “Mom! Dad!”
“Lindsey!” Mom was out of her seat in seconds, her arms around my neck. “Sweetheart, we were really worried!”
“I’m fine, Mom!” As Victoria let go of my elbow and took her seat, I returned the hug. “I’ll tell you everything when we get to the palace, okay? Madalina has to check on a few things, and then we’ll head there.”
“You mean before or after you become a Monitor?” Mom asked. She’d snuck into my thoughts.
I rolled my eyes. “It’s complicated. I’ll be fine, Mom! Just sit down and enjoy the ride.”
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Mark’s voice came over the loudspeaker, “please take your seats. We’ll be heading to the palace in a few minutes.”
I sat down in the seat next to Victoria, resting my head against the back of it. I might as well enjoy this. In a few hours, I’d be starting training to become a Monitor. The first step in bringing down Carmella.
Chapter Twenty-One
VICTORIA
I stared out into the darkness with my arms folded as I swallowed the lump threatening to burst open since the conversation with Lindsey. Once again, she wanted to go off and play the hero. She didn’t want my help. I squeezed my arms tighter against me as Lily’s voice broke into my reverie.
“Victoria! There she is!” Lily bounced in her seat. “Princess Madalina! Her dress is so pretty! It’s pink!”
“It’s pink?” Sarah echoed from Lily’s other side. “Is she coming this way?”
“That’s great, sweetie. Settle down, okay?” I turned back to the window. Princess Madalina was the last person I wanted to see right now. Letting my arms fall to my lap, I rested my head against the seat. I hadn’t slept much on the ship here and doubted I would once we reached the palace.
I shifted, trying to get comfortable, but not even the soft leather seat could help me relax. This wasn’t a flight to an amusement park. It was a flight to slavery. A fight Lindsey wasn’t letting me help her with.
“Princess Madalina!” Lily called. “I like your dress.”
“Thank you, sweetie. What’s your name?” Madalina asked in that same cheerful manner she’d used talking to me on the net-screen a week ago. Had it really been that long?
“Lily Cooper, and this is my best friend, Sarah,” Lily answered. “My sister is Lindsey Cooper.”
“Ah. I know Lindsey. She’s a Royal Watcher.”
“And sitting right here,” Lindsey muttered from my right. Despite my exhaustion, I smiled.
“Madalina,” Elizabeth spoke up from my left. “I was hoping once we reach the palace Victoria could spend some time with me.”
“Of course!”
I wanted to sink into a hole at the gratefulness in Madalina’s voice. Was she pretending? Lindsey had said Madalina was on our side. Maybe she was. I couldn’t tell.
“It’s no problem. The program will help them!”
I turned away with a look of disgust, staring out into the bright natural light. It looked appealing right now. Fly off into the sun with no worries. No laws. No slavery. Just me and my light. Out there, I wouldn’t hide it.
“What’s gonna happen when we get to the palace?” Lily asked.
I didn’t dare turn around, not wanting anyone to see the anger etched on my face. It left me shaking and my heartbeat escalating.
“You’ll be taken to your apartment after you visit the palace. Tomorrow night, I’m hosting a party of sorts for all new arrivals. Once we reach the palace, I’m going to make an announcement.”
“That was so cool!” Lily squealed as Madalina walked to a seat to sit down.
“Madalina!” Shannon’s voice rang out from the seat in front of me. It sounded different than the others. Like she knew Madalina personally.
A pause and then, “Shannon?” burst from Madalina’s lips. “Oh, my goodness! I didn’t know you’d be here!” Her head disappeared from view. No doubt bending down to hug Shannon.
“See you later. I’m going to go see what’s taking so long.” She headed toward the black curtain Lindsey had taken me through and disappeared behind it.
“Madalina is my best friend,” Shannon said from a few seats down. “We grew up together. My mom was a maid in the palace.”
“Wow! How cool!” Lily chirped. “I’d love to be best friends with a princess!”
“Hi, everyone,” Madalina said as she exited the cockpit. “Mark just informed me that the engine stalled. It’ll be a few minutes before we can go to the palace. I need to go see if there’s another hover available. You’re welcome to come and walk around the docks.”
I groaned as I undid my seatbelt and got to my feet, following everyone off the hover back onto the docks. The docks were the last place I wanted to wait, but I held my head high. No matter what happened, I had my friends by my side, and together, we’d fight for our freedom.
About Rebecca Ann
Rebecca has been writing since she could remember, starting at age five when her grandma would tell her stories in her attic. And she was the boss of said stories! Her love of storytelling didn’t stop there and she loves to write clean fantasy and science fiction that focus on family and friendship!
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