Chapter 5

"I shall be wearing a burgundy dress with gold accents and a feathery mask for the ball!" Meredith's eyes shone, and Sophia giggled.

"I have not picked out a dress yet. I am still in a state of dilemma." Sophia sighed and paused. "What about you, Amelia?"

Both their gazes averted in her direction.

Her eyes were fixed on the revolution book, she'd been too engrossed to have heard what they asked.

"Amelia!" Meredith shouted. "If Beth sees you with the book, or worse—if Madam Collins sees you with the book, you shall get in a lot of trouble."

Amelia tried to suppress a yawn. She was tired of the ritualized lecture. "Challenge accepted."

"Challenge lost." It wasn't Meredith's voice.

Amelia gazed up, eyes connecting with Madam Collins'. She snatched the book and placed it in her underarm. "I shall make sure to burn this abomination, you delinquent!"

Amelia rose, her body shivering. It was all she had left.

Her guide to the human world.

A piece of her grandfather.

Suddenly, her corset became tighter, she began to sweat. Her wolf was triggered.

"Stay calm," she whispered to her wolf.

"Silly girl!" Madam Collins exclaimed. "Your mother told me about the stunt you pulled; how you wandered off the previous day."

"I'm sorry, madam." Amelia faked a smile.

Like spring in the desert, a thought escalated her mind, and Amelia could swear there was a bright bulb at the top of her head. The only way, she figured, to get the book again was to play gently. If she was to argue with the madam, she would destroy the book at that moment. "It was high time you seized the book anyway."

Madam Collins widened her eyes in bewilderment, it wasn't the reaction she had expected. "Very well, I am delighted you didn't throw one of your tantrums." Amelia could swear she heard a hint of disappointment in her voice. She scrutinized her for a moment before swinging to the dressing room.

Sophia and Meredith stood in sync. They held onto her worriedly. "Are you okay, Mel?" Sophia questioned.

"That book is your life!" Meredith added.

"I was expecting a fight!" Sophia widened her eyes.

"Are you alright? Were you swapped when you got lost in the woods?" Meredith's mouth dropped.

"Slow down, ladies," Amelia chuckled. "We're going to retrieve the book."

Meredith and Sophia gazed at each other, puzzled.

"We?" Sophia questioned her bulgy eyes in full display.

"Yes," she replied. "Madam Collins shall not be taking the book home. She wouldn't want to take the risk. We shall have to sneak into the shop when she leaves for home!" She exclaimed, balling her fist.

"How are we going to get the keys?" Meredith sighed.

"This is an awful idea, Mel," Sophia said in a voice vibrating with fright. She was one to chicken out from a strenuous quest.

"Ladies," Amelia whispered fiercely. "You said it, Meredith; the book is my life." Her brows furrowed, and her lips pursed.

Sullenly, the girls agreed in unison. "Fine!" Their syncs had been occurring way too often; it was starting to frighten Amelia.

"We shall pass through the window to get in," Amelia smiled, pointing at the window ahead, and the ladies shook their heads in disapproval.

The windows were dusty and covered with cobwebs. It wasn't the most pleasing or lady-like path to pass through.

"It is a terrible idea, really—"

"I shall help."

Their heads turned, and their mouths dropped. There was Beth. Her full tits were evident in the dress she wore, her hands were placed on her hips, and she had a smug look on her face.

"I said I should help you get in!" She repeated. "This is where you thank me."

Amelia rolled her eyes. "How can we be sure you're not here to sabotage us? I am aware that you hate me."

"You're right Mel, I detest you," she chuckled. "But I am in dire need of some fun right now. What better way than to steal an illegal book that could get us executed?"

The girls sucked in some breath in fright, and Amelia straightened her posture.

"I see your loneliness has become tiring."

Beth clenched her fist. She breathed in, out and faked a smile.

"Get to work, ladies!" Madam Collins yelled as she walked into the room.

It was normal, of course, for women to get on their toes and practice all sorts of homely duties.

***

"Are you certain we can trust her?" Sophia whispered to Amelia.

"You do know I can still hear you." Beth scoffed, and Sofia lowered her head.

They were currently at the edge of a wall, waiting for Madame Collins to close the shop. They'd informed their coachmen to wait a little longer.

"She’s coming!” Meredith half yelled.

There came the sound of a click; their hearts raced, watching as she locked the front door.

She peered around, and the ladies tucked in their heads. Meticulously, she bent and slid the keys under the carpet in front of the shop. She rose up and straightened her dress before wandering off.

“I told you she hides it under the carpet,” Beth smirked.

“Bravo!” Amelia replied sarcastically.

“Amelia!” Sophia stood frozen, and the ladies tilted their heads in her direction. She was behind them. “My mother would never countenance this. I am truly mortified. What if we get caught?

“That is the fun part,” Amelia grinned; she walked over to her side and placed her hand above her shoulder. “We shall be fine. Loosen up.” She chortled.

“You do know you’re a bad influence, right?” She joined the laugh.

“You adore me,” Amelia affirmed.

Beth reached for the keys under the carpet. It was going to be difficult figuring out which fitted into the front door. They stood behind her as she tried the first key into the lock. She twisted it twice, and the door opened.

“Such luck!” Meredith smiled.

Carefully, they tiptoed into the room.

“Where’s your necklace?” Meredith questioned as she jerked her head, and Amelia placed her hand on her bare neck. She surely missed the valuable jewel.

“I…I left it at home,” she lied.

“That’s strange,” Beth said, scrutinizing her closely. “Amelia Flower never stutters.”

“Amelia Flower wears her necklace, always,” Sophia added.

“And Amelia Flower says there’s a first time for everything!” she exclaimed, shutting out any other speculation.

After she found her way back to her country, all she could think of was the human.

He seemed like a proper gentleman. He’d even saved her twice. She couldn’t comprehend how he’d stolen the necklace; she was one to take notice of everything around her.

He was an expert, surely.

Lake had given her a reason to travel back to the human world; not that she wouldn’t have still gone back, but it was a perfect excuse.

Her family had been worried sick about her and had been close to calling some of the hunters in the country.

She figured that if she was to sneak into the human world again, it had to be a time no one would take notice of her absence, and the perfect time was at night.

“Found it!” Sophia yelled, snapping her out of her thoughts. Amelia’s eyes shone as her gaze connected with the book.

It was as she’d left it: antique and crusty.

“How did you acquire the book?” Beth questioned out of the blue. For the first time in years, Amelia was ready to answer the question, and shockingly, she was willing to tell her latest frenemy.

“My great great-great-great-grandfather passed it on to my grandfather, and he handed it to me before he passed away.”