SHADOWS AND SPIES
668 Words
CHAPTER 6
It was just past midnight when Arabelle slipped out of her chambers, cloaked in dark velvet, hair tucked beneath a hood. The moonlight was silver and sharp, slicing across the marble floors of the eastern wing.
She moved like a shadow, silent and swift.
Darius had passed her the message earlier that day — written on torn parchment and hidden inside the pages of a book on military strategy.
> The informant will be in the abandoned chapel. Midnight. Come alone. Trust no one.
The abandoned chapel was a crumbling remnant of Elvaria’s past — tucked behind the rose gardens and hidden by overgrown ivy. No one used it anymore. Which made it perfect for secret meetings… or ambushes.
As Arabelle crept past the final hedge and stepped into the moonlit courtyard, she spotted the chapel’s silhouette. Its tall stained-glass windows were cracked and dusty, the once-glorious spire now leaning slightly to one side.
She paused.
Every instinct told her this could be a trap.
But every ounce of her fire reminded her: You’re not the girl who hides. You’re the girl who fights back.
She pushed the door open slowly.
The inside of the chapel smelled of old ash and moss. Dust floated in the air like tiny ghosts. A single lantern flickered on the altar.
Then she heard it — a rustle of movement behind the pews.
She stepped forward. “I was told someone here had answers. Don’t waste my time.”
A figure emerged from the shadows. Cloaked in black, face half-covered by a scarf. Tall. Broad. But no weapon drawn.
“You came,” the voice was low, male, but careful. Controlled.
“I’m not known for following orders,” she said. “Who are you?”
The man tilted his head. “A friend of the crown. And of peace. Let’s just say... I don’t enjoy being ruled by shadows.”
“Then why are you hiding in one?”
He ignored the jab. “You’re being watched. Closely. Lord Harland is not what he seems.”
She tensed. “That man’s been circling the throne like a hawk since I could walk.”
“He’s not alone. There’s a faction within your court—nobles, soldiers, and even a few advisors—who believe Elvaria should rule alone. No alliances. No treaties. They’ve been slowly turning your father’s council against the peace talks. Sabotaging from the inside.”
“And Darius?” she asked quickly. “Is he safe?”
“For now. But they’re watching him too. He’s not their priority, though.” The man’s voice dropped. “You are.”
Arabelle’s heart thudded.
“Why me?”
“Because you’re loud. Disruptive. Respected, whether they admit it or not. You have influence. And you’re in the way.”
She took a step forward. “If they’re planning something, I want names. Dates. Evidence.”
The spy shook his head. “If I give you too much now, you’ll be silenced before the sun rises. But I’ll leave you with this.”
He reached into his cloak and handed her a folded map — hand-drawn lines, marked tunnels, guard routes, and a red “X” beneath the palace library.
“This tunnel leads to their meeting place. Tomorrow night. Midnight. Go alone. Or not at all.”
Arabelle stared at the map.
When she looked up again — he was gone.
No sound. No trail. Just empty pews and a flickering lantern.
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Back in her chambers, Arabelle locked the door behind her and sat on the edge of her bed, map clutched in her hands.
Lord Harland. Sabotage. Secret meetings beneath her own palace.
She was in the center of something far more dangerous than a diplomatic alliance.
She wasn’t just fighting for her freedom anymore.
She was fighting for the crown.
And as she stared down at the map, she smiled faintly to herself.
Let them come for me. I dare them.
To be continued....
- Writer
