A/N:
Hehe, didn't expect an update this soon, right? o(^▽^)o
I changed covers, but I love the cover above too. It was a super kind act from an amazing friend and a huge animal-lover, AerynFrost . If you love reading a light novel full of humour, check hers out! ;)
xxx
Happy reading! ^•^
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"I will do it. I will be the hostage!" He shouted loud enough to overwhelm the battle noises.

The other two in the room ceased fire. Both turned around to face the disguise-less Gordon.

"Finally you've come to your senses," the lady in half open pyjamas commented. Although she seemed skinny on the outside, the muscles on her belly made her look really strong.

"No Gordon, we can run away together!" I insisted and pushed the armour back in his hands, but he didn't take it.

He gently shook his head. "It's okay Mir, I'm tired of running away. This place is an ideal shelter, I won't have to fear for my life for a while and I don't have to worry about money."

"Nathan, he's forgetting our mission. Say something!" But he only placed his hand on my arm, a sign for me to calm down.

Then he asked, "Gordon, is this really okay with you?"

"Yes, I also trust that you will come back for me."

"What if we can't make it back?" I argued desperately.

Gordon displayed a smile. "You will." His confidence silenced me.

"This is so touching. I think coward number one is growing up," Milady L. joined in and wiped away her fake-tears.

I rolled my eyes. "Tell us what you want." Nathan got impatient and for once I appreciated his get-to-the-point-attitude.

"That's right. It's very simple, infiltrate in the Ambassador's place, impose as his guards and steal a potion," she explained as if we're assigned to do some grocery shopping.

"I think we're missing some details here," my ex-jailmate voiced exactly what I was thinking.

"You can act with ease, because I will prison the real guards in the tower."

"Still lacking info," Gordon sang in a tease.

All of a sudden Milady L. lifted her arm and shot a button near Gordon's right ear.

"Shit!" He jolted, but instead of being frightened like with the nail clipper, this time he looked really pissed.

"This is for interrupting me, again," she smirked, disregarding a fuming gambling addict. I was shocked to see my (ex) co-prisoner's angry side. Even in this situation I can't help but to find it a bit funny.

The more I thought about it, images of the two of them bickering and an earless Gordon popped into my mind. Hilarious, maybe I'm even starting to like Milady L. "Gordon, are you sure you want to stay here?" I shared a concerned frown, while containing myself not to laugh.

"Yes," he waved it off, annoyed now.

"Gordon has a point, what kind of potion is it? And where do we find it?" Nathan asked the right set of questions to go back to topic.

"It's an antiserum for a magic-poison, also known as curse. I can never leave this world of clouds, or this place will fall apart." The clouds' ruler sighed, "I may seem like the most powerful woman in this universe, but it's all a facade. You know, I'm an offer, no, a puppet of the Ambassador. That's why I crave for freedom. I only feel alive when I dance, and even that is constrained. Every day I'm granted maximum 1 hour time to dance, afterwards I'm just weak and barely energetic enough to hold Cloudpark together."

"Why would he do that?" I questioned.

"To punish me," Milady L. responded sadly.

The sorrow behind her eyes tell me that they must have had some relationship. I guess rather than family, lovers would suit them better, a hate so deep can only be a product of an intense love.
It reminds me that she too is a woman, like the trapped Rapunzel.

"How does the serum look like?" Nathan asked further, showing no empathy. On second thought I really dislike his attitude, his whole military behaviour is disturbing. At first I assumed I was thrilled by it and even played along, now I'm sure my past involved some nasty feelings with military people or things.

"At places it's blue, at times it's yellow. In the heart of the ocean, the colour is red.
On the edge of a cliff, it becomes black. In a field of roses it paints purple.
With the dew of the grasses, it shimmers grey.
At noon, it radiates as an orange.
In the afternoon, the colour stays green.
To all revert back to a reddish colour at night,"
she recited poetically. "This is the only clue I got from him. I believe you'll recall this poem, when you see it. Of course you'll have to find it first."

"Noted," Juan's voice pulled me out of my trance. Seeing Nathan disordered, I understood we were both momentarily bewitched. Next to my side, Gordon's still gazing at Lucinda with glassy eyes. Should I wake him?

"What happened," I broke the silence. However, instead of waking the zombie-like Gordon up, I had put him to sleep and made him fall over his armour. I was just in time to catch his left arm and prevented a death-scene from happening. Not so sure if his genital parts survived the landing, but at least his head was safe.

"It's part of the curse. Only those not part of Cloudpark can remember the poem. Inhabitants and those who are regulars, like your friend here will fall into a deep deep sleep and forget all," Lucinda clarified and I was relieved that it wasn't my fault.

"How convenient for us that Gordon coincidentally volunteered to be the hostage...," Nathan remarked with a sarcastic tone. Another first, this night is full of surprises.

"Yes you're right dear, I've planned this since I've got the request of finding David's daughter," Milady L. added fuel to my burning curiosity.

"What?!" I think I might faint from this long night, filled with heart-shocking news.

"Not everything obvious, but I guessed that you would come. And when you were imprisoned with your friend, I schemed how to use him best in this plan. After I received that you came with him," she looked at Nathan. "I decided on you two to get the potion and coward number one to be my hostage."

"How do you expect us to trust you and your stories, now that you turn out to be such a schemer?" Glad that Nathan stood up for us, while I was still at a loss for words.

"I don't, but I have the whereabouts of your families, which I'm sharing áfter you bring back the potion," she evilly grinned.

Aaaarrgghh, this manipulative ballerina!