Chapter 6: You Dare Lie To Me!

"Is it ready?" a woman asked in the dark.

An old filthy woman who stood in front of a boiling purplish pot smirks at the woman. Her teeth were blackish yellow with warts all over her face. She grabs a small glass slender container and dips it into the pot. As she raises up the glass container, the purplish liquid inside slowly turns red to pure clear blue color.

The old woman hands it over to the other woman, "It is done, dear princess."

The woman was none other than Princess Eloise.

She takes the glass container and smiles, "Well done, Old lady Hama."

Hama bows to her, "You are too kind Princess."

"So? How should I use it?"

Hama rubs her hands together with her eyes closed but with a wicked smile, "A small pat on the wrist will significantly be enough.

However, if the person you want to be enchanted by wills is strong, then the whole bottle must be used."

"Hmm..." said Princess Eloise as she stared at the bottle, "Ras, pay her."

The man known as Ras pops up behind Hama and hands her a bag of gold. Hama takes it in with gratitude. As instructed, Princess Eloise dabbled a bit on her wrist. There was no smell, but she could already feel enchanting already. She smiles out, ready to take on the so call princess murderer.

"Let's go," said Princess Eloise, "We have only an hour left before my birthday celebration starts."

Ras nods and disappears into the shadow.

Princess Eloise turns around and looks at Hama, "I will come again when I am in need of your service once more."

Hama bows, "I look forward to future business with you princess."

On their way there, Princess Eloise servants each commented on how nice she smelled and how extraordinarily beautiful she is today. The flattery from her people made her egotism raise even higher. She couldn't wait for the celebration. The image of the unknown murderer falling on their knee before her, escalated her so much. She shivers just from the thought alone.

A few minutes later. Princess Eloise has finally arrived at the castle where her birthday celebration was being held. The moment of truth was just before her eyes. This unknown killer that is running around loose, is he real or fake. It is now time to find out.

Princess Eloise steps out of her carriage with Ras escorting her. Many watch her in awe of her beauty and charisma.

"How beautiful!"

"As expected of Princess Eloise."

"No one can match her!"

"A sight to die for indeed!"

<Keep the praising going, that's right. You all are nothing without me. Worship me like a god!>

Just as these thoughts run through her mind, a sudden chill passes down her spine. A gaze she has never felt before places itself on to her. Like a target with a bullseye. Princess Eloise instantly turned towards the gaze but nothing was there. Was she just imagining things?

She shakes her head clear and enters the ballroom. Men and women alike were falling for her charm and spell she had cast to herself from earlier. It was working like a breeze. Princess Eloise was confident that if the murderer was here, he would be charmed by her without fail. She walks over to the podium in her glamorous princess pink dress with white pearls.

"Thank you all for coming to my birthday celebration," said Princess Eloise with the most sincere smile, "Though it was a late notice, I am happy and grateful for all who came. Please enjoy yourself and stay as long as you like. I, Princess Eloise, princess of King Jahma, commenced my 16th birthday for everyone here!"

Everyone in the room cheered for her speech. Everyone but two. As soon as Princess Eloise arrived, Luna had changed out of her maid outfit into a black wrap clothing that covered her from head to toe. The only opening part was where her eyes were. Then go to Gear. He too was dressed in a similar outfit as her. Luna looks at Gear who was behind her. She smiles at him behind the wrapped clothing.

"Don't go off the plan this time," said Luna.

Gear smirks back at her, "Back to you as well."

In seconds, both had disappeared into thin air like magic. Princess Eloise was meeting and talking with the nobles around her. She prefers the commoners then them, but it'll have to do. As she spoke to them, the sudden chill from earlier strikes back her spine. Her eyes widened in fear but hid it behind her smile. She alerts Ras to be on guard. The next thing they knew, all of the lights went out. Ras held Princess Eloise's hand quickly.

"Please stay close to me princess," said Ras on full alert, "We don't know when they'll strike."

Silence answered him. A sudden bad feeling stirs inside his heart. As soon as the light came back on, Ras turned to the person whom he had grabbed. His face twisted in horror.

When the lights went out, Princess Eloise found herself in pitch darkness. Her mouth was suddenly covered by someone's hand and her hands were locked tight. She couldn't move nor make a sound. A blind fold was thrown over her eyes as she was pushed to ground.

Due to the commotion made when the lights went out, no one heard a single thing. Princess Eloise had no idea where she was even when the lights came back on. She was shoved into the floorboard beneath all of the people who came to her birthday celebration. No matter what she did or even tried to do, no one would know nor even hear her.

Ras' face was filled with horror. The person whom he thought had grabbed was not Princess Eloise but Luna who had already changed her outfit into a formal dress. How could this be?

He has never once mistaken Princess Eloise's presence as another person's. There was no mistake when he grabbed this hand, but this person was not Princess Eloise.

He gripped her wrist tightly as he growled out, "Where is Princess Eloise?"

Luna winces back in pain like a fragile woman, "W-what are you doing? That hurts!"

"Answer me!" he bellows out.

Tears escaped from her eyes as Luna fell on her knee, "I don't know what you're asking?! Princess Eloise is right there!"

Luna did indeed point to where Princess Eloise once stood.

He tightened his grip on her, "You dare lie to me!"

Luna cries out in pain, "Mommy! Daddy! Someone is bullying me!"

This caught everyone's attention in the room. They start to gather around them and whisper among themselves.

"Isn't that Princess Eloise knight?"

"Why is he bullying such a small child?"

"It seems like Princess Eloise has disappeared."

"What? So is he taking out his anger on that child?"

"That's not right. Even if he is Princess Eloise's knight."

Ras lets go of her hand and snarls at her. Right now was not the time to be dealing with a child like her. He needed to find Princess Eloise right away. He leaves in a hurry. Soon another man approaches Luna.

She turns and looks at him, "Thanks for saving dad..."

It was Gear. He too had changed out of his outfit. He looks at her wrist. It was swollen red.

His eyes narrow at the direction Ras left, "What a rough man."

"Could have saved me the trouble if you had acted before it happened," said Luna as she moved her wrist around.

"Sorry, I was still preoccupied with a huge package."

"Hmph... so everything is secure?"

Gear nods, "Let's go before they realize where she is."

Luna follows after Gear quickly. Ras gathered the remaining guards in the castle. He orders them to look for the Princess or else they will lose their head. Something caught the corner of Ras's eyes. He turned to the hallway and saw two shadows walking away in a hurry. He narrowed his eyes at the shadows and followed them.

Gear and Luna walk all the way to the opposite end of the castle and unravel a hole inside of the castle wall. They enter the castle. With a flick of a finger, Luna lights up the dark hole. She walks in front of Gear, leading the way. When they reached the end of the tunnel, a person with a glamorous dress while tied up was on the cold dirt ground.

It was Princess Eloise. Her pink flowy dress was dirt with soil in her struggle. Right above them was the ballroom where Princess Eloise once was. Luna flings her hand to make the fire go up towards the ceiling. She kneels down and rips off the blindfold. Princess Eloise looks at them, a bit scared, and a bit confused.

Luna leans near her, "Apologies for the rough treatment Princess Eloise. If anything, we wanted to end your suffering as quickly as possible."

Princess Eloise finally regains her senses and glares at Luna. She was a bit surprised when Luna said we. She only saw Luna and no one else. That was because Luna was purposely blocking Gear from her view. They were still in dangerous territory. There was no way of knowing when things would go south. With Gear having his memory loss, it would be more dangerous for her to see him then seeing her.

Luna was a young twelve year old girl. No would believe her words about a twelve year old girl kidnapping her even if she was a princess. A second later, Princess Eloise's eyes suddenly brighten with hope. A cold air ran past her back. Luna turns around only to be met with a blade coming straight at her.