CHAPTER 493: PLANS AND ALTERATIONS

Arabella burst through the entrance door right as poor Abigail was heading for the main stairs, startling her in the process.

"Lady Arabella!" she made her way towards the young woman, "Where have you been? Ada and I were worried sick,"

"Oh, I am sure Ada was worried!" Arabella barely glanced at Abigail. Instead, she looked everywhere around her as though searching for something or someone, "Where is Madame Morgana?"

"I believe she is still trying to locate Miss Allegra," Abigail stuttered, trailing behind Arabella who took the stairs.

"What in the name of the great witch Agatha is going on?"

It seemed Arabella needn’t go through the hassle of finding the witch since Morgana came to her. From the first floor she descended quickly, eyes strictly on Arabella.

"My pendulums indicate that Allegra is very near but when I tried to locate Silas in order to contact him, I couldn’t find a trace of the man despite all my efforts!" she finally reached the women on the ground floor.

"Yes, well, this is exactly why I came to find you. I-"

"Arabella!" Ada’s voice came from above, trouble already written all of over her face.

She ran in their direction, nearly tumbling down those steps, but upon stopping in front of Arabella, Ada immediately broke eye contact and bit on her lips.

Indeed, the darkened glare on Arabella’s features discouraged anyone from speaking or asking questions.

"I asked you for one thing and that was to keep your mouth shut for at least one more day!" she practically growled through tightened jaws.

"Can someone explain what the issue here is?"

However, no one answered Morgana’s enquiry as Arabella was too busy staring daggers into Ada while Abigail completely lost her voice in front of such development.

"I am truly sorry! Please forgive me! I thought I had to! I thought I was doing the right thing!" she attempted to take Arabella’s hand, but the latter yanked it back, "I was afraid you’d surrender yourself to save your brother," Ada cried.

"Well, as I told you before, no that was never!" Arabella put great emphasis on never, "My plan but congratulations! Because now, it might be my only chance at saving both my brother and husband!"

"What?" Abigail squeaked, clasping her hands over her mouth.

"I didn’t mean to cause trouble, I swear! I merely meant to help," Ada cried harder.

"Well, trouble you’ve caused, but not a lot of help," with that, Arabella turned her attention back onto Morgana, "Will you help me or not? I think I am going to need a lot of things in order to enter the castle and still be able to get them out,"

"I’ll do you one better," Morgana nodded, "I am coming with you,"

"No, wait please! Don’t go! Why don’t we wait for Lady Persephone and Katherine first and-"

"If you want to go run your mouth and ruin the only sliver of a chance we have at saving them then be my guest. I have no more requests for you. You may do as you please, Ada,"

Arabella did not wait another second and stomped her way to the door.

"Wait, then!" Ada ran behind them, "Then take me with you! I can be of help too!"

"There is no chance of that happening!"

"I will go if I please!" Ada stopped in her tracks, her expression very different, more confident and firmer, "You just told me that I can do whatever I choose to, so I am coming with you whether you like it or not!" her eyebrows furrowed, even in dire moments, Ada still had that ridiculous look that was more reminiscent of an angry pup than a woman.

"Have it your way," by then, Arabella had already opened the door, "But you know the risks. Don’t complain to me if you get captured,"

"And I...," Abigail caught their focus with her sweet and frail voice all of the sudden.

Arabella simmered, took a deep breath and addressed her, "If you want to help then wait before reporting the incident. That should give us enough time to be in Lustris by then,"

The three women left the property with horses before meeting who was waiting for them where Arabella had left her.

"Oh dear, you look awful," said Morgana.

"Well, I am lucky to be alive and that is all thanks to Lady Arabella’s effort," Allegra gave her a solemn nod, "But now I will need your help," she turned to Morgana, "Please tell me there is something that can allow me to walk under the sun without sizzling. And I will also need something to alter my hibernation cycle,"

"Well, yes of course, there is, but it will cost you," Morgana looked her up and down.

"I will pay whatever you need," Allegra was practically on her toes, eyes twinkling.

"I don’t want your gold, you silly girl!" the witch clicked her tongue against her palate, "Your senses will still be extremely sensitive under the sun, not to mention, this will have permanent consequences on your health in the long run,"

"I only care for fixing my mistakes," Allegra left no room for discussion.

"Although, I will need an ingredient which unfortunately can only be provided by fairies,"

Dread only deepened with every second they stood there, just talking. Despite those being important information, crucial to the unfolding of her plan even, Arabella’s tongue still burned, itching to tell all of them to zip it and start moving.

Even the beating of her heart deafened her to the sound of reason itself.

"Somebody is coming!" Allegra warned, her head snapping in the direction of the property.

"A vampire?" Ada asked.

"No, it’s...," Allegra’s shoulders relaxed, "The gardener?" her eyebrows furrowed.

Indeed, less than a minute after that, the thudding of hooves rode the wind to their ears before the silhouette of a man mounting a horse followed.

Even Edgar? What could he possibly want? Where was he heading if not coming their way?

With every stop they made, they seemed to rally more and more people along, forcing Arabella to make alterations to her plan in order to accommodate their number.