Royal Threat

by Michael Pierce

We stopped close to the tree line, but stayed within the shadows and relatively out of sight. The sprawling lawn lay before us along with the top of the windy drive, ending at the brick-front estate and extended garage. I remembered the elegant collection of cars Duke Mackenzie had.

  Then we all turned to the sound of an engine and sticky tires on asphalt. A sleek black limousine came into view, followed by another. Both stopped on the roundabout, close to the garage. The front door of the estate opened and two guards, along with several well-dressed attendants, emerged. What looked like palace soldiers spilled out of each limo, followed by a woman in a pinstriped business suit and high heels, but she was too far away to make her out.

  “Is that the Queen’s assistant?” I asked.

  Gabriel produced a pair of binoculars and brought them up to his eyes. “She doesn’t look like Tabatha. She looks like… you.”

  “What?” I gasped, reaching for the binoculars.

  Gabriel handed them over and I looked for myself. The woman was headed inside, but I got a glimpse of her profile when she glanced around before disappearing through the doorway.

  “Bethany? What the hell are you doing here?”

  11

  Victoria

  “Are you sure that was her?” Kale asked and stole the binoculars away from me.

  “I’m sure she was one of us,” I said. “Piper and Constance don’t look like that anymore. But there are also the three girls whom we thought died at the Choosing Ceremony. It could be one of them.”

  “What should we do?” Kale asked Gabriel.

  Something’s going on. We should go in there,” I said.

  “We should definitely not do that.”

  “Agreed,” Gabriel seconded. “At least not until we have some idea of what they’re here for.”

  “And how are we going to find out that information from way back here?” I argued.

  “We can move closer; get a better vantage point.”

  “I’m going in,” I said and moved past the tree line and onto the front lawn. The limousines looked like the Queen’s, the soldiers accompanying her had palace uniforms, and she had the gait of a woman in charge—not a prisoner. A negotiation was happening and I felt I should be a part of it.

  “Victoria, what are you doing?!” Kale called from the trees.

  I didn’t turn to acknowledge him in an effort to keep from giving away their position. But then Kale was jogging after me.

  “You’re not doing this alone,” he said. “If this isn’t the stupidest thing you’ve ever done, then—”

  “Then stop following me,” I said, refusing to slow. “Duke Mackenzie hasn’t killed me yet and he’s not going to kill me now. And I’m sure your father would have issues with him killing you as well.”

  “I’m not worried about me.”

  Once we reached the driveway, the front door of the estate opened and the same two guards stepped out. They didn’t yell, approach, or point their rifles in our direction—they simply stood to attention before the doorway.

  “I’m here with my sister,” I said, trying to project strength and confidence.

  “Follow me, m’lady,” the guard on the right said, his voice sounding an octave too low to be natural. “Your sister is awaiting the Duke and Duchess in the library.”

  “And my father is a good friend of the Duke,” Kale added.

  “If you say so, sir,” the guard said, but didn’t prevent Kale from joining us.

  Kale grinned at me like a fool as if he’d succeeded in some great feat. I wanted to slap him, but restrained myself to uphold a professional appearance.

  The first guard led us through multiple hallways, past large and pristine rooms. The second guard kept pace a few yards behind. And when we reached the library, amidst six palace guards, I saw who I’d come here for.

  “Victoria, where are the others?” she asked. “And what are you doing with him?”

  “Bethany?” I asked, still unsure.

  “Of course it’s me, silly,” she said, igniting a radiant smile. She stepped past her guards and hugged me.

  The embrace was awkward—or at least it felt so on my side—something I never felt with Bethany, even from the first time I met her. The awkwardness reminded me of… Eleanor.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked.

  “To negotiate your release,” she said, her smile never faulting. “How are Constance and Piper?”

  “Excuse me,” a voice said from the doorway. “May I announce the Duke and Duchess Mackenzie of the 23rd Ward.”

  I spun around as a female staff member disappeared from view and Duke Mackenzie entered with the Duchess… his wife… but it couldn’t be…

  She looked at me, but not with much recognition. I’d only visited once when I was very young. I didn’t really remember the house. And I wouldn’t have remembered her either if it wasn’t for her being included in pictures at the Ramsey estate.

  “Aunt Violet?” I was lost for any more words.

  Now she really looked at me. “Victoria, is that you? My, how you do look like our Constance… or did.” Then she noticed Bethany. “How alike you all look.”

  “Isn’t this an interesting reunion,” Duke Mackenzie said. “So you must be Bethany.”

  “I am,” Bethany said.

  “And this is Frank’s son, Kale. I don’t think he’d approve of you being here regarding the circumstances. And as such, I don’t think he’d mind some non-permanent punishment.”

  “You can try,” Kale challenged.

  Duke Mackenzie boomed with laughter, pushed past us, and took a seat on one of the leather couches. Aunt Violet followed, accompanied by four guards of their own who took positions around the perimeter of the room.

  “I don’t understand,” I said. “Does this mean Lady Ramsey’s here?”

  “She is,” Aunt Violet said. “Since you lost her the estate.”

  “I didn’t—”

  “Before we dive too deep into the Ramsey family drama, what is the meaning of this meeting?”

  “Where are the girls?” Bethany asked. “I instructed for them all to be brought here. So far, you only brought Victoria.”

  “First of all, I did not bring Victoria. She seems to have miraculously arrived when you did,” Duke Mackenzie said. “Secondly, I don’t take well to instructions, especially in my own home.” Then he turned his attention to me. “You didn’t arrive with your better half?”

  I shook my head.

  His expression grew dark. “So why are you here?”

  “I’m here for the girls you stole from the Queen,” Bethany said.

  “So you’ve already been to see Duke Ramsey?” Duke Mackenzie asked.

  “No; the Queen knows you were the one who took them. I am here to get them back.”

  Duke Mackenzie very slowly swiveled his head back to me, the intense gaze of the hunter I met in the cabin when he killed my four captors. “Where. Is. Ramsey?”

  “Dead,” I said.

  “What?” Aunt Violet cried. “I don’t believe it.” Then her gaze lifted, fixed on an object behind me, her eyes becoming glassy.

  I turned to see what had her so transfixed and found Lady Ramsey standing in the doorway, her face awash with disbelief.

  “Is this true?” she asked.

  I nodded, unable to speak.

  After a moment, she walked past Kale and wrapped her arms around me. I winced as her firm hug dug into the welts on my back. Her body trembled, then she was crying on my shoulder.

  “Are my girls okay?”

  “Yes,” I said, trying to keep from crying myself.

  Duke Mackenzie whispered something to Aunt Violet, who wiped her tears and rose from the couch. She approached us and persuaded Lady Ramsey to let me go. She gave the former Duchess of the 24th Ward a hug, then led her out of the library. Aunt Violet closed the French doors, then returned to her place on the couch.

  “It seems we have quite a situation here,” Duke Mackenzie said.
<
br />   “You may not have our Constance,” Aunt Violet said. “The Queen was going to dispose of her, so we took her back. She belongs here with her real family.”

  “Where is she?” I demanded.

  “That’s no concern of yours,” Duke Mackenzie snapped.

  “It is every concern,” Bethany said. “It’s my entire reason for being here.”

  “Then I’m sorry you had to make the long journey just so we could tell you ‘no’ in person. A phone call or messenger drone would have sufficed.”

  “The Queen wanted to send an ambassador to prove her goodwill and that all you have done can be forgiven if you reciprocate that goodwill here today.” Bethany paused before continuing. “I do not wish to take them back by force, but if it comes to that…”

  Duke Mackenzie was unfazed, almost amused. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

  “I left you for Queen Dorothea as instructed,” Duke Mackenzie said. “She has her successor; she doesn’t need the others. I can understand you being sentimental, but not the Queen.”

  “You will not threaten us in our own home,” Aunt Violet spat. “Please leave. We have nothing more to talk about. Constance is ours and if the Queen is so desperate to have her back, then she will have to come here herself.” Aunt Violet stood, ready to storm out.

  “What about Piper?” Bethany asked.

  “She’s not here,” Duke Mackenzie said.

  “Where is she?” I chimed in.

  He looked like he was about to give some sarcastic answer, but then confidently said, “Duke Hendrix.”

  “So she’s in the 22nd,” Bethany said.

  “I can’t say that’s where he took her, only that she was given to him. What he’s done with her afterward is unknown and out of my hands,” Duke Mackenzie clarified.

  “That’s disappointing. Weren’t they the family with whom they originally had an eighth clone who died?”

  Duke Mackenzie shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m not privileged to as much information as you might think.” He stood to join his wife. “I think we’re done here. And since you brought her to me, I’ll keep Victoria too.”

  “The hell you will!” Kale protested, brandishing his firearm and settling the barrel in the Duke’s direction.

  This created a predictable domino effect of aimed weapons in multiple directions.

  “What did I tell you about pointing that thing at me, boy?” Duke Mackenzie chided. “You better be ready to use it.”

  “Kale, what are you doing?” I gasped, seeing the laser dots on his chest. “Put your gun away.”

  “The Duke here is not keeping you, Victoria,” Bethany said, calmly. “Everyone, lower your weapons.

  “Even if he did,” I said, glaring at Duke Mackenzie. “I’d kill him just as I did Ramsey.”

  “Is that so?” Duke Mackenzie sounded intrigued, taking a few steps toward me. “How exactly did you manage it?”

  “Don’t come any closer,” Kale warned.

  “Duke Mackenzie,” Bethany said, trying to gain back control of the room. “I don’t think you’re grasping the full situation.” She held out her hand and one of the soldiers placed a folded manila envelope into it. “You may want to look at this before dismissing me completely.”

  He snatched the envelope out of her delicate hand, opened it, and pulled out what looked like photographs. His expression hardened as he flipped through the photos.

  “We decimated all the teams the Queen sent into the Outlands,” he said angrily.

  “Not all of them,” Bethany said.

  “What is it?” I asked.

  “I suppose this would also concern you,” Mackenzie said and passed Kale one of the pictures.

  I looked, but quickly realized he’d been talking to Kale. The pictures were of his family’s camp and the one Duke Mackenzie gave Kale had Frank and Ariel in the frame.

  “No!” Kale exclaimed, squeezing the picture until it crumpled and tore.

  “The rebel threat will be removed and the Queen will return to full power,” Bethany said. “She is offering you a pardon in exchange for the girls. You would be wise to take it.”

  12

  Victoria

  “Why not just bring the full strength of her army down here and take them back by force?” Duke Mackenzie asked. “Why would she be giving me another chance?”

  “She gave Victoria a second chance, did she not?” Bethany turned to me.

  “She still has her agendas,” I said.

  “All good negotiations are beneficial to both parties involved,” Bethany said. “The Queen does not believe you to be a rebel, but misguided by a very influential individual. You’ve been an important servant of hers for many years, which she does not take lightly. I am offering you your redemption.”

  “She cannot have my Constance back,” Aunt Violet cried. “She belongs here with her family.”

  Duke Mackenzie put an arm around her and kissed the side of her head.

  Kale’s skin had turned white. He was still clutching the crumpled picture of his father and little sister. “You’re just targeting him, right?”

  “The threat will be removed,” Bethany reiterated.

  “But what does that mean?”

  “It means the Queen will do whatever’s necessary.”

  “Bring her up,” Duke Mackenzie said to Aunt Violet, who adamantly shook her head. “Do it!”

  Aunt Violet glanced at Bethany, then over to me before deflating and exiting the room.

  “You’re making the right choice,” Bethany said evenly. She didn’t seem to care one way or the other. This emotionless side of her was haunting—reminding me again that something was very off with her, upholding my doubts that it was even her at all.

  “There are no such things as right choices,” Duke Mackenzie said. “Only choices, then we have to live with them.”

  “I’ll be back,” Kale whispered into my ear, then made his way for the French doors, but he didn’t make it through.

  “Where are you going?” Bethany asked.

  “I—I have to do something,” he said. He couldn’t have sounded more vague or guilty.

  “I need you to remain here with the group.”

  “Can I at least make a call?”

  “No,” Bethany said and held out her hand.

  “No,” Kale echoed, though he returned to my side.

  Bethany didn’t press him to turn over his phone, content he wasn’t putting up more of a fight.

  A few moments later, the French doors opened and Constance and Aunt Violet entered the room. Aunt Violet had a protective grip on the back of her daughter’s neck, leading her to stand between herself and Duke Mackenzie. She wore a long cream-colored dress that looked more like a heavy nightgown than a dress. Her eyes met mine and they screamed. I could relate to how petrified she was. I wanted to actually hug her and reassure her things would be alright. If she hadn’t hated me from the first moment we met, we might have been friends.

  “Constance, how are you?” Bethany asked.

  “Reliving the same nightmare over and over,” she said with her usual sharp tongue. “How’ve you been, Bethany? You seem… different.”

  “If you haven’t already been told. I’ve negotiated your release.”

  Constance glanced back at the Duke, then over to me in disbelief. Aunt Violet squeezed her neck harder and Constance winced. To test if what she’d just heard was true, Constance pulled away from Aunt Violet and Duke Mackenzie. Aunt Violet fought to keep a grip on her, but when Constance broke free, her parents—captors—didn’t forcibly pull her back. Constance turned and stared her parents down as she backed away, until she came to be standing beside me, opposite Kale.

  “It seems you weren’t lying,” Constance said. “Can we go now?”

  “I want to confirm that Piper isn’t being held with you,” Bethany said.

  “No,” Constance said. “I haven’t seen her since we were taken from the palace.”

  “Then I will b
e paying a visit to Duke Hendrix,” Bethany said. “If there is nothing more, then we will take our leave.”

  The Duke and Duchess remained silent, their soldiers motionless in the background. Duke Mackenzie looked murderous, but didn’t do anything as Bethany ushered us out the doors.

  Before she exited, Bethany stopped and spoke without turning around. “The Queen will be most pleased to have you back on her side.”

  “You’ll come back home, sweetie,” Aunt Violet called from inside the library. “The Queen will not keep you forever. When she’s done with you, you’ll once again be ours.”

  “Don’t count on it,” Constance said as we all rushed for the front door.

  Constance, Kale, and I led the escape through the estate, and I almost couldn’t believe it when we’d made it to the roundabout. I hadn’t realized I’d been holding my breath, so I let it out with a long sigh. My body was shaking.

  Constance and I looked at each other, both recognizing the subtle signs of pain the other was in.

  “I don’t understand what happened, but thank you,” she said.

  “The three of you can get into the first limousine,” Bethany instructed.

  “I don’t think I should—” Kale began, but was quickly cut off.

  “You will join the girls in the first limo. There isn’t much time.”

  “Time for what?” I asked.

  “Get in,” Bethany snapped.

  Constance wanted out of there more than anyone, so didn’t hesitate to climb into the back of the head limousine. Kale looked less sure, but followed her inside. I went in third, then was pushed aside by two soldiers climbing in.

  “Bethany, are you coming?” I called just as another soldier stepped up to the door and slammed it shut.

  “The rest will take the second car,” the soldier sitting directly across from me said, sounding not quite reassuring.

  I peered out the back window just as Bethany and her remaining soldiers reentered the estate.

  What is she doing?

  As we followed the roundabout and began our descent of the steep driveway, gunfire broke the silence from inside the house.