The Devil's Crown

XXXVII The Job Has Now Begun.

Joanna wasn’t the only one that had no idea where her brother was going when it was Sunday.  Orathan who was an entity that couldn’t be separated from Elfric was also left in the dark of the events. He was getting surprised himself from all the plotting that Elfric somehow got to make.

‘Where are you going?’ Orathan stated though he had a blurred answer. ‘You aren’t actually going there right now, are you?’

Rick caught on to what they're meant and the answer was no. He shook his head weakly as if Orathan was right there in front of him talking one-on-one.

“We can’t make an appearance until they demand it…or at least signal for that in between the lines,” Elfric stated as he scanned the crowded street. Sunday afternoons are always this crowded.

Commoners going out in an attempt to enjoy what little freedom and entertainment that they are offered. The smiles on the children's faces as their tiny hands clasped on their parent's hands walking through the streets.

Most of the displaying windows to the few shops were crowded with mundanes wanting to catch on to what was happening at Lauxdale. You got clearly mark out how they divided it in two. Some were eager and happy and the courage that these youngsters have to stand against the authorities. While others protested that this act of courage was a foolish one and would end up making their lives turn to the worse.

Elfric couldn’t blame either of them. They were both right if you looked at it from different perspectives.

‘So where are we going?’ Orathan’s voice made Elfric snap out of his observation.

“Costume shopping,”

‘What shopping?’

“I have to look different,” Elfric explained. He figured that there were no such things as costumes in hell or wherever it is Orathan came from. He couldn’t help but picture that shadow form of Orathan in a maid costume. The image was hilarious to picture.

Elfric smirked.

‘You know that I can tailor you if that’s what you want,’ Orathan uttered bluntly. ‘Didn’t you already know that?’

Elfric jolted to a stop.

“You can do that?”

‘You can too, it’s not something that requires much energy,’

“Why didn’t you say that before?!”

‘You never asked,’

Elfric sighed. Now there was no need for him to go outside this early. What he planned was that by the time he got his attire fixed then the Rebels would have made a move by then.

“Guess now we have some time on our hands,” Elfric stated. “Shall we find a place with a T.V?” he smirked.

~~~~

*Earlier this morning…*

“Do you think we can make this work,” Julian whispered under his breath to Scarlet.

“If only you shut up and listen to me everything will go smoothly,” she hissed without parting her teeth.

Her eyes scanned the façade as she approached the hotel. Casablanca Hotel where her family was invited to attend the charity event that would take place here. The entrance extended meters on either side, the door frame was lined with what Julian figured was real gold and silver.

Who would have thought that this is what their hard-earned taxes go to? He scoffed under his breath trying to get his mind off of what they were doing right now. He looked down to see the outfit that Scarlet has provided for him as well as everyone else who was going in from the front door.

Scarlet…Scarlet Jones. Half Noble, her mother being a companion was what got her into this. She has seen both the good and bad in both. Before she was given the title of her father’s family Jones, she was living with her mother in the slums just like everyone around her. Julian, West, David, and Mathews as well.

“Invitations please, My Lady,” asked the guard at the door.

Scarlet smiled the smile never reaching her green eyes. Julian has got to admit that she looked like a completely different person now that she was bathed and dolled up to fit the title of a Nobleman’s daughter.

“Here you go,” she handed it over with a smile.

Julian had to swallow the disgust that he felt the moment that he saw the guard's cheek flush. It took him quite some energy to keep his mouth shut.

Scarlet was well focused on the task at hand. She saw the way he eyed the 4 men around her. Before she could give him room for doubt she said, “They are with me. My servants, they came to lend a hand.”

The guard gestured them forward, the line of Nobles behind her was long and it only extended and there was time to ask for identification for each and every servant. Scarlet knew that this wasn’t her first time here either.

She heard all four of them sigh in relief as they got in. The moment that they stepped forward they were flooded by the warm light from the crystal chandelier that hung high above their heads.  

They still held their breath as they walked forward with the crowd passing through a narthex, a dome held high above them completely covered in stained glass making the ground beneath their feet a canvas for the colorful lights to play on.

“Now we head to the room that is given to every noble,” Scarlet whispered hoping it was loud enough for her in-ears to catch and transmit to the others that were waiting outside the building waiting for their turn to enter.

She looked over her shoulder, Julian, Keith, Margret, and finally Allen, were eyeing the insides with such awe. She figured that they have never been into such a grand building before.

“You all alright?” Scarlet asked.

They all nodded in unison and she nodded back. She led the way to the elevator and up to the 7th floor which was written on her invitation card along with a keycard.

“Stay low, heads low,” West’s voice buzzed in the in-ears of all five of them. “Avoid all CCTV as much as you can. No camera should get a clear view of your faces.”

They didn’t dare to even nod. Scarlet knew that this wasn’t meant for her, even her face wasn’t recorded, she is known in the social circles so it was useless to try and hide.

The elevator dinged as they got to the 7th floor. They covered the way in long strides to get to the door. They all didn’t know that they have been holding their breaths until the door to the room was shut behind Allen.

“No signals caught from the room,” a voice said through the in-ear. “It’s safe.”

“Rebels,” West’s voice surfaced. “The job has now begun.”