IF ANYTHING COULDN'T GET ANY MORE AWKWARD, things just did. I couldn't believe it. Why were we here? Aside from the staff. It didn't make any sense. Lilly's hand gripped my hand even tighter. I wanted to turn and run back outside, or even grab my bow.

"Make sure you take their weapons. I won't allow that in my castle, only my guards are able to keep weapons." She said and smiled as she came closer to the five of us. Avangeline whimpered, and I felt bad, I wanted to let her know that things are okay. "Maybe get them cleaned up too? Before they get some rest. After all, I want them to look perfect." The Evil Queen said.  I arched a brow, and I was curious to know what she was talking about. Though, I couldn't stop my bug mouth from running off-

"-Perfect for what?" I snapped. "You have your staff, now let us go!" I demanded, I felt a cold sting from my face, and I rubbed it. There was a smell of iron, and my hand was  dotted with a drop of blood on the center of my palm. She slapped me. With magic. I would curse her myself, if I could. Chronic seemed to be unable to move, and I wanted to move. Though, I can't either. She also immobilized us.  I guess she was stronger with her staff than she is without. I haven't seen Chronic used a magical item, except he has a necklace. Maybe that has some magical properties on it or the like.

"Oh,"she made a few ticking sounds with her tongue and shook her head as she stroked her staff and came face to face to me. "You see, that's the thing. I can't do that. You've stolen the Queen's property. Now you must pay for your own sins." She snarled, and raised her hand, I flinched as she did not slap me across the face.  "No no, slapping you would not just do. Stealing my staff and intending to keep it raises the latter." She smiled. "There are many things that you need to understand before I kill you." She added, and lowered her hand. 

"What do you mean?" I asked, Eric placed his right hand on my left shoulder. I had a feeling he was supporting me, but something about Queen Zamaria made me feel uncomfortable.

"I mean, I shouldn't kill you yet, but I'm not going to let you go." Zamaria said with a sleek smile. She looked over to Chronic, and then to Lilly. "Your James' kid? What are you doing back here at Gandor?" Zamaria asked, she seemed to be shocked that Lilly had wanted to come with.

"I've come with Salaria. You can't lock her up." Lilly protested in her sweet ten year old voice.  I still don't know how old she is, I should probably ask her before I might not have the chance to. It bothered me, not being able too ask her, but I didn't want to ask her right now of course. " What about me?" Lilly continued, "I need someone to look after me.  I didn't feel my mouth open, but Eric looked at me,  and gestured to me that I should close it. I wiped he saliva from my bottom lip, and frowned.  Lilly's persuasion seemed to unsettle me, I couldn't help the feeling that I felt responsible for her now. She probably is making me watch her until she feels that she could ever trust me.  The Queen stepped back and pondered for a moment, and tapped her shadow colored boot on the ground. It echoed in the silence, and she traced the staff with her index finger slowly. 

Watching her reminded me of a time with my brothers, when I've asked them to play a game of "Hide and go Seek," when they would tap their chins and come up with other things to do. I arched my brows with irritation.  The Queen was beginning to get on my nerves. 

"I don't see a problem with it, perhaps..." as she thought she looked at me, and cleared her throat.  "You two could be my servants!" She replied rhetorically.

"WHAT?!" I jumped at her,  and she flew me back at the front doors, and my body was 'glued' to the wall.  There was a force that prevented me from moving. Chronic jumped, but restrained himself from fighting, Eric, Avangeline,  and Lilly all stared at me, and then glanced back at the Queen.  I knew what they were thinking, at least I was pretty sure I had a really good feeling- I shouldn't get her on her bad side. 

"It would be either, you working as my servant, or you can rot in the dungeon, and be hung upside down by chains an bleed out slowly. Allowing the blood drip from your legs out of your head!" She took a moment to gather her breath and looked at the other four in front of me. Lilly looked at me with fear, and I noticed the look in her eyes.  I did.  She was either scared for me,  for her (which would be selfish, but understandable), or for all of us.  I am scared for all of us, my hairs across my body tingled with a horrified vibe.

"Guards!" The Queen called.  At least a dozen of them came marching in from the East Wing, and the West Wing. 

"Yes your majesty?" The Sargent replied.

"Take Lilly, and Salaria up to the Guest Floor, and the rest could be held in the Hold for now until I figure out what to do with them. 

Before I knew it,  I've watched my friends pass out, just before everything else around me went black as well.  I glared over at the Queen with an evil stare, just before my vision turned blurry.  My body dropped, I weakly winced in pain as I curled up, and a couple of guards picked me up and took me upstairs. I left the Main Lobby, and had only seen darkness once again. I wondered how many times I'll have to pass out to get my revenge.