Chapter 62 The exit
“They can't do that,” Isabella protested as she paced around the room.
“They already have,” Lucien responded, sighing. “They're congress, Isabella.”
“I know,” she interjected. “It's just…” she stopped. “There has to be something we can do about it right?”
“For now, no,” he said through his teeth. “We can either lie low or they come for you. And that will be worse…”
Isabella shuddered, the thought of being burnt up on a stake running through her mind.
“It's not over until I say it's over.” He consoled, walking up to her.
Isabella shook her head. “Damien is ruthless, Lucien. He's going to try every means to stay on top. The throne is his endgame. He's not going to rest until he does that.”
“You think I don't know that?” Lucien's voice was cold.
“I…I'm not saying that.” She stuttered, stunned as to why he was cold. “I'm just…” She trailed, her voice shaking.
Lucien sighed. “I'm sorry, I shouldn't try to take out my anger on you. You've done nothing to deserve it.”
Isabella stiffened as he reached out for her, suddenly reminded of the Lucien who had made life a living hell for her.
“Izzy,” he sighed. “That came out the wrong way.” He reached for her, dragging her to himself. “I'm just overwhelmed.”
Isabella nodded, placing her hands on his shoulders. “I am too. But we need to find a solution.”
“What?”
She exhaled heavily, removing herself from his grip as she walked to the window. “Two things.” Her voice was resolute.
“I'll face the council…”
“No, you won't.” Lucien interrupted firmly.
“Yes I will, but that's the second thing.”
Lucien grimaced. “The first?”
“The first? I have to find a way to pin all these back to Damien. I didn't do it. There must be a loophole somewhere.”
“God, no.” He groaned. “Both your plans are risky, Isabella. I can't have you do it.”
Isabella chuckled. “First off, I don't think I'm asking for your permission. Second, it's the only choice we have.”
“Yes, you are right.” Lucien responded as though cold water had just been splashed on him. “You're not asking for my permission, but you're my mate. I cannot allow you put yourself in harm's way.”
He raised his hand stopping her from talking. “And second, there are better options. We just haven't found them yet.”
“And we're running out of time. We need to act fast, Lucien.” She choked.
“I'm out of the committee, but that does not mean I'm no longer king.” He gritted.
“But if we do not act fast, then soon, you'll be out of the committee and be stripped of your throne.”
“Fine.” Lucien acquiesced. “Let's hear what you have in mind.”
Isabella gave a triumphant smile. “Thank you. I promise, you won't regret it.” She hurriedly spoke as she hugged him in excitement.
“I've been framed before. Not directly by Damien but by Blackburn, Harlan…” she began when she had calmed down.
“Yet, Damien is still in the bigger picture. We just did not know it.” Lucien interrupted, nodding interestingly.
“Yes,” she nodded. “And we found it out, albeit by luck.”
“Okay?” Lucien urged, obviously impatient with how slow she was choosing her words.
“We're going to do the same thing, this time around.”
“Is that it?” He was disappointed. “Your trump card, doing the exact same thing we did before? Heck, we didn't do shit the previous time. It happened by accident.”
Isabella's smile faltered. “Yes, it did but it could still work this time around. It doesn't change it. As long as they've not changed their routines.” She said, more in a bid to convince herself than Lucien.
“Your plan is solid,” Lucien said, sighing. “But it's simple. Even the most stupid person will be able to figure that out, no offence to you.”
Isabella curled her lips. “None taken.” She folded her arms. “I know you think it sounds simple, but it's going to work in a way that nobody will be able to guess what's happened.”
“How?” Genuine curiosity laced Lucien's voice. “How do you intend to do that?”
“Victoria.” She said with a cunning smile.
“The Victoria Thorne?” Lucien asked with widened eyes.
“Yup, The Victoria Thorne.” She smiled. “It's going to be easy. She returns back home to Damien. Will be our eyes on the inside.”
“And you think Damien is stupid enough to accept her back?”
“Well, how about you bring up ideas instead of trying to discredit mine?” Isabella fired, stifling a sob in her throat.
“It's not an attack on you.” His voice was softer. “I'm not the only one going to poke holes in your plans. It needs to be solid.” He said, taking her in his arms.
“So, talk to me. What have you got?”
“Absolutely not,” Victoria said in horror. “He's going to have my head when he realises what I have done.”
“You have to do it.” Isabella rolled her eyes. “Its not like you have that much of a choice.”
“I know, I don't, but I can't. Please.” She turned to Lucien who sat on the foot of the bed.
“Your Majesty?”
Lucien shrugged. “She really is not asking you to do much. Just go back home.”
“I can't. At least, not to Damien. He'll have me imprisoned for life.”
“No he won't,” Isabella said pointedly. “He'll be too obsessed with trying to take me down, that he'll forget you exist.”
“Ouch,” Victoria flinched. “It didn't have to be that raw.”
“No it didn't, but it's the truth.” Isabella continued unapologetically. “Besides, you owe me.”
Victoria sighed in resignation as she looked from Isabella to Lucien. “You're not going to let this go are you?”
“No, I won't,” Isabella answered matter-of-factly. “He has plans to take us out. I won't rest, until I do the same.”
She nodded gravely. “What do you want me to do?”
“Go home.” Her answer was simple. “To Harlan's.”
“I should go to Dad's?” Victoria spun. “He's not a fool, Isabella. He'll know what I'm up to.”
Isabella shrugged. “Neither are you, Victoria. You're not going to openly tell them about your plans, are you?”
“I'm not stupid.”
“I didn't say you were.”
Both sisters glared at each other, daring the first one to make a move.
“Alright, that's enough,” Lucien spoke, breaking the silence in the room. The tension in the air was so thick that a knife could easily slice through it.
“You're going to do this, Victoria. We don't need much. Just find out where the moonlit blood is being stored.”
“How sure are you that it is at Harlan's?” Victoria responded, after what seemed like forever.
“Because Damien is not stupid enough to put it in his home. He could be raided at any time. We're not the only enemies he's made, you know?”
“And you think home is the best place to hide it?”
“I don't think so. I know so. All you need to do is keep your ears to the ground. You'll definitely hear something.”
Victoria nodded gravely. “And how do I relay the messages or my findings?”
“The same way you've been doing them here, back to Damien.” Isabella snickered.
“What…” she spluttered. “How…how did you find out about that?”
“I'm not stupid, Victoria.” Isabella sneered.
“No, you're not.” She reaffirmed. “I didn't send anything that shouldn't have been sent. I kept my own end of the bargain.”
“Which is why you're going to keep another end,” Isabella added.
“Keep up the facade. Fabricate something, Victoria. You're good at this. Why are you suddenly finding it hard?”
Victoria bit her lips, a million questions running through her mind. “When do I leave?” She asked instead.
“As soon as you can. It's an emergency.”
“And how long do I get?” She pressed.
“At most, four days. That's how long I have, so you should be back by the third day.”
Victoria nodded. “Okay,” she muttered as she walked to the door.
“You should forgive her. She's a changed person.” Lucien urged the moment the door closed behind Victoria.
“You don't know that,” Isabella pointed out. “Besides, she's my sister and she made my life a living hell.”
“Okay,” he shrugged. He obviously wasn't going to come between them.
“What's the plan now that Victoria is gone?”
Isabella smiled. The kind that made chills run down his spine.
“I stand before the council in two days.”
Lucien stared intently at her. “You sure experienced something different in the Red Walls.”
Isabella chuckled. “I'm not going to allow Damien have the last laugh, Lucien. He's not going to come for me and go unscathed.”
“Ouu, I'm scared.” He shook his shoulders, making Isabella laugh, despite the tension.
“Two things. Go before the council and defend myself, and then buy us some time to gather evidence.”
“That's three.” Lucien smiled.
Isabella rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”
Lucien drew her to himself, sniffing her hair. “The battle line is drawn, Izzy. We're going to fight as our lives depend on it, because it does.”