Chapter 8: The Sister in the Shadows
"Find the king!""
Victor's voice echoed through the library.
Two guards rushed into the corridor.
Madeleine grabbed the note from the table.
"The chapel. We have to get there.""
Elizabeth shook her head.
"No. That's exactly where he wants us to go.""
Sophie looked at her.
"Why?""
"Because the royal vault is beneath the chapel. Gabriel knows the crystal has awakened. He will try to destroy whatever is inside before you can claim it.""
Victor picked up the telephone.
"Isabella? Are you still there?""
A woman's voice answered.
"Yes.""
"Where are you?""
"At the northern railway station.""
"Stay there. We're sending guards.""
"No!""
Her voice became urgent.
"Victor, listen. The people following me aren't ordinary soldiers.""
Victor looked toward Madeleine.
"Who are they?""
"Men wearing the royal crest. They're trying to take me back.""
Sophie moved closer.
"Isabella?""
There was silence.
Then the woman spoke.
"Alexandra?""
Sophie closed her eyes.
For the first time, someone had called her that without making it sound like a royal title.
"Yes.""
A shaky breath came through the telephone.
"I've waited twenty-four years to hear your voice.""
Sophie swallowed.
"I don't know what to say.""
"You don't have to say anything.""
A brief pause.
Then Isabella whispered:
"I have something that belongs to you.""
"What?""
"The truth about our father.""
Elizabeth stepped closer.
"Isabella, where is Adrian?""
The woman's voice changed.
"Mother?""
Elizabeth began crying.
"Yes, sweetheart.""
"You're alive?""
"I am.""
Another pause.
Then Isabella said something that made Elizabeth sit down.
"Mother, Adrian died last night.""
Madeleine covered her mouth.
Victor looked toward Sophie.
"How?""
"I don't know," Isabella answered.
"I found him in the old house outside the capital. He had been stabbed. Before he died, he gave me a letter.""
Sophie gripped the telephone.
"What did it say?""
"That Gabriel wasn't our only enemy.""
A crash sounded from the far end of the library.
Victor turned.
"Everyone down!""
A bullet struck the window.
Glass exploded across the carpet.
The guards returned fire.
Madeleine pulled Sophie behind the heavy oak table while Elizabeth crawled toward the fireplace.
"Who is shooting?"" Sophie shouted.
Victor looked through the shattered window.
"Royal guards.""
"But they're supposed to protect us!""
"Not all of them.""
Another shot hit the wall.
Victor pulled Sophie toward the side entrance.
"We need to leave.""
Elizabeth grabbed Madeleine's arm.
"Take the underground passage.""
Madeleine nodded.
"There's an exit beneath the old chapel.""
Victor looked at her.
"You knew about that?""
"I was raised in this palace.""
She turned toward Sophie.
"Stay close to me.""
They hurried through a narrow passage behind the library shelves.
The guards remained behind to hold off the attackers.
The corridor smelled of damp stone and old paper.
Madeleine led the way.
Elizabeth followed, carrying the telephone.
Victor walked behind Sophie.
"Are you all right?""
Sophie nodded.
He glanced at her.
"You don't have to pretend.""
She stopped.
"Do you know what's strange?""
"What?""
"Yesterday, I was worried about paying my brother's school fees.""
Victor looked confused.
"Your brother?""
"Daniel. He's seventeen. He's waiting for me to come home.""
Victor's expression softened.
"And now?""
"Now I'm being hunted by soldiers, my mother is a stranger, and my sister is somewhere near the northern border.""
Victor gave a small, humorless smile.
"Welcome to the royal family.""
Sophie almost laughed.
Then she remembered something.
"Victor?""
"Yes?""
"If Isabella is our father's daughter, does that make you our brother?""
He hesitated.
"Apparently.""
"And you knew nothing about us?""
"No.""
He looked ahead.
"I wish I had.""
Sophie studied him.
For the first time, she saw the frightened young man beneath the prince's arrogance.
"Why were you so cruel to the servants?""
Victor looked down.
"Because I was raised by a man who taught me that everyone below the crown existed to serve it.""
He paused.
"I thought that made me powerful.""
"And now?""
"Now I think it made me blind.""
They reached the end of the corridor.
A narrow staircase led upward.
Madeleine stopped.
"We're beneath the old chapel.""
Elizabeth approached the stone door.
"Wait.""
She pressed her ear against it.
Footsteps.
Several men.
Then a familiar voice.
"Search every room. The king wants the documents destroyed.""
Victor drew his ceremonial sword.
"Stay behind me.""
Sophie looked at the door.
Something was wrong.
The pendant beneath her collar had begun glowing again.
She placed her hand against the stone.
A faint green line appeared.
Then another.
A hidden inscription emerged.
Only the daughters of the first blood may enter.
Madeleine stared.
"That's the royal vault.""
Sophie pressed the pendant into the indentation.
The door opened silently.
Inside was a small chamber filled with shelves and ancient chests.
At its center stood a stone table.
On top lay a crown.
Not the golden crown worn by Gabriel.
This one was made of silver, with three emerald stones embedded in its front.
Beside it lay an open book.
Victor approached.
"Is that the original succession record?""
Madeleine nodded.
Sophie opened the book.
The first pages contained the names of ancient kings and queens.
Then she found a page bearing two names.
Alexandra Elizabeth Bellgrave.
Isabella Rose Bellgrave.
Beneath them was a handwritten statement.
The daughters shall rule together. Neither shall inherit without the other.
Sophie stared.
"Together?""
Madeleine read the next line.
"The crown was created for two heirs.""
Elizabeth stepped closer.
"That's why the crystal awakened when you touched it.""
Sophie turned.
"What do you mean?""
"One daughter alone cannot claim the throne. The crystal is waiting for both of you.""
Victor examined the crown.
"Then we need Isabella.""
A small click sounded behind them.
The stone door began closing.
Madeleine turned.
"Who opened that?""
A man stepped into the chamber.
He wore a royal military uniform.
A scar ran down his cheek.
Victor recognized him.
"General Marcus.""
The general raised his weapon.
"Your Highness.""
Victor pointed his sword.
"You're supposed to be protecting the palace.""
"I am.""
"Then lower your gun.""
General Marcus smiled.
"Unfortunately, my orders come from a higher authority.""
Madeleine stepped forward.
"Who?""
The general looked at Sophie.
"Your father.""
Sophie shook her head.
"Adrian is dead.""
Marcus laughed.
"Not that father.""
He raised his gun.
"The king.""
Victor moved first.
He lunged at the general, knocking the weapon aside.
A shot exploded against the stone ceiling.
Madeleine screamed.
Sophie grabbed the ancient crown and pulled it away from the table.
Marcus struck Victor across the face with his pistol.
Victor fell.
Elizabeth rushed forward, but the general shoved her against the wall.
"Where is the second princess?"" Marcus demanded.
Sophie clutched the crown.
"Why do you need her?""
"Because the king has spent twenty-four years searching for both of you.""
"To kill us?""
"To make sure the old succession laws can never be enforced.""
Marcus reached for her.
Sophie stepped backward.
The crown began glowing.
Three emerald stones illuminated the chamber.
The general froze.
"What have you done?""
A deep vibration shook the floor.
The ancient book opened by itself.
Pages turned rapidly until they stopped at the final entry.
A line appeared in emerald light.
When the sisters stand together, the guardian's deception shall end.
Marcus looked terrified.
Then he dropped his weapon.
"Impossible.""
He stumbled backward.
From the corridor came the sound of approaching footsteps.
Someone was running.
A woman's voice called out.
"Alexandra!""
Sophie turned.
A young woman stood in the doorway.
She had dark hair, green eyes, and a small scar beneath her chin.
She wore a black leather jacket and held a silver bracelet.
The other half.
Sophie stared.
The woman stared back.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then the stranger smiled through her tears.
"Hello, sister.""
Sophie felt her own eyes fill.
"Isabella?""
The woman nodded.
But before Sophie could embrace her, Isabella looked toward the general.
"Where is Gabriel?""
Marcus swallowed.
"He's gone to the chapel.""
Isabella's expression changed.
"Then we're already too late.""
She stepped inside and placed the second bracelet beside Sophie's.
The two emerald charms connected.
A brilliant flash illuminated the chamber.
The crown began to glow brighter than ever.
And beneath the stone table, a hidden compartment opened.
Inside lay a small silver box.
Isabella looked at it.
"That's what Adrian died protecting.""
Sophie opened the box.
There was a letter.
A photograph.
And a royal seal bearing the name of the person who had ordered their separation.
Sophie unfolded the letter.
The first sentence made her blood run cold.
My daughters, if you are reading this, then I have failed to protect you from the man who is supposed to be your grandfather.
Madeleine stared.
"Your grandfather?""
Sophie looked up.
May you like
The truth was beginning to emerge.
And it was far more dangerous than anyone had imagined.
