Chapter Twenty-Four
When she’d said she’d find trouble in her sleep, she hadn’t meant it literally.
“I felt something unnatural.”
Laura waited for her to continue…
“And?”
“There was a very strange fluctuation, so I went to look, and I found a place with a very unnatural energy,” she repeated.
Laura didn’t think there could be much considered natural if what she referred to was anything to do with those who’d captured them.
“And you–”
“Me?” Laura cocked an eyebrow.
“Yes, you were there. You had–”
“I’m very solidly nowhere,” Laura assured.
The girl cocked her head, her eyes glazing over in a far-off look.
“No, you’re definitely there.”
“Where even *is* there?” Laura sighed.
The last thing Laura remembered was going to sleep after Evelyn left. Currently, she stood in a frigid isolationism-style dream, waiting patiently as Cecil–focused on something Laura couldn’t see–held her hostage.
She literally couldn’t wake up.
It was nice to see she was alive and well, but Laura drew the line at visits with terrible omens.
“Blood… fur..”
“*Fur*?”
“No… not quite.”
*Sigh*.
Laura sat down. It was like talking to an addict..it would be better to let her gather her thoughts.
Cecil rambled more.
“The moon..the full moon is bright on the blood on the grass–*Oh!*”
Laura startled as Cecil came within an inch of her face. The girl’s beautiful features were back to her normal giddy, her eyes clear.
“Something's coming, and I don’t know where exactly it will be. But the battle will be fierce–and bloody–”
“So you’ve mentioned.”
“*Hm*.. something is coming,” she repeated, lines forming as she scrunched her face, cocking her head, “and it looks like you’ll know where to find it–since you’re right in the middle.”
“Right in the middle of *what*, Cecil–”
“I’ll come find you soon,” she interrupted, nodding in self-affirmation, “I’ll get it faster that way.”
“Get *what* faster–”
“Okay! I’ll see you when I’m finished here!” She clapped her hands, her giddy expression clearly not hearing a word from Laura’s mouth.
“*Wait, I need you to*–”
*Pop*.
Laura blinked, bolting upright, scanning her surroundings. Her room stared back at her.
*Great*.
Now on top of other things, she gets to stress over whatever *‘thing’* Cecil referred to. *Didn’t she mention the full moon?* If so, she had a little time…
Speaking of time.
Laura glanced at the clock. Its face showed just after twelve. It was close to time for lunch.
Light footsteps came from down the hall, stopping just in front of her door as if summoned.
Laura scrubbed her face, flopping backward.
“Come in.”
The door opened and shut. Laura didn’t bother to acknowledge the body at the side of the bed.
“Time to get up. Queen Lana will be hosting lunch outside today.”
*Fun. I get to deal with this Georgia heat and a group of bitches*.
*Wait*.
She shot out of bed, startling Hannah and herself–forgetting the girl’s presence.
This could be a good opportunity to present her notes to the queen.
Laura pulled a clean pair of joggers, heading for the bathroom to shower.
“Oh, no you don’t.” Hannah snatched the fabric from her hands.
“This occasion requires a dress, Ms. Laura.”
*Ugh*.
She audibly groaned as she was *shooed* to the shower, her feet feeling sore already…
Laura stepped from the shower to see Evelyn seated neatly in the chair she’d occupied earlier. This time dressed in a red sundress, with matching rope-detailed sandals.
“You’re back.”
“You’re late,” Evelyn said, crossing her legs as she settled in.
Laura glanced at the clock.
*Shit.*
Hannah swooped in, practically throwing Laura in a yellow sundress before assaulting her with a hairdryer. Laura definitely didn’t want to be late to lunch and then ask the queen for a favor in return.
Evelyn seemed to pick up on her frantic state.
“Don’t worry, no one will bat an eye at you arriving with me.”
Laura tensed.
That was another thing, gathering more attention than she needed.
But she didn’t really have a choice at the moment if she wanted to offset offending the queen.
*Sigh*.
Laura was eventually released by Hannah, allowing Evelyn to lead her from the room and down the hall.
The heavy scent of shifters grew, as they approached three massive arched doors in the rear of the castle, all propped open to allow the outside breeze to flutter through the halls.
Laughter came from the other side, and as they crossed the threshold Laura was greeted by a scene from a fairytale.
On the rear side of the castle, where Laura had yet to venture, sat an expansive concrete patio, elaborately decorated with rows of round tables covered in thick white cloths. Elegant floral arrangements sat neatly center each table in a coordinated array of colors.
A throat cleared, pulling Laura from her gaze.
“Oh.”
She bent, doing a formal courtesy. Evelyn said nothing, a peek at her showed she held her courtesy, eyes to the ground, silver hair masking her face. A peek forward showed the queen, dressed beautifully in a long, flowy, dress, casually observing them–as with the other women who silently waited for the reproach.
It didn’t come.
“Please find your seat, ladies. Thank you for joining us.” Her hair, pinned to one shoulder, lifted in the direction of the breeze, giving the queen a more ethereal look as she continued to consider them.
Laura and Evelyn stood, moving further onto the patio.
Laura noticed the name plates then, as Evelyn weaved gracefully through the tables to find her spot.
Laura did the same.
..And would’ve traded her place for a spot next to the trash can.
“What are you standing there for, *mutt*? The queen is staring.” The annoying hiss came from a turd in an orange dress.
Laura plopped down, only because continued standing would create more attention than necessary.
She suppressed the urge to backhand the satisfied smirk of the turd, as it twisted to converse with the woman beside it.
Chatter gradually resumed to its previous volume, as Laura watched the queen. She seemed to be making rounds at each table–each seating a total of four candidates.
Laura pursed her lips. How could she separate the queen from the others?
Laura inhaled. A sharp pain dug into the soft of her forearm. She twisted to face the virtuous expression of Sophia–innocently fluffing her orange dress.
“Remember, don’t embarrass the pack. When the queen comes, I’ll do all of the talking, and you..just stay invisible.”
Laura’s jaw ticked. Not a *‘Hey, you!’* or a *‘Laura’.* Nope. This bitch had to go and extend her claws into someone else’s arm to get their attention.
She snapped a finger in Laura’s face. A small growl escaped.
“You think you can make that face because you breathed next to the Roseford girl?”