“That’s right, I learned something important,” I remembered. I had almost forgotten before Storm reminded me, “My life is in danger. It is difficult to explain how or why but I was going to ask you if you would be willing to guard me until the danger passes.”

“So I would have to stick around,” Storm mused, “I don’t mind but you know how I like my payment.”

That was easier than I had expected.“What kind of food do you want this time?” I asked.

“Rather than food, I want a personal chef,” Storm replied. He seemed completely confident he would get his way.

“That might be difficult,” I warned him, “I won’t be able to assign a chef to accompany you wherever you go but I can keep a chef in the castle exclusively for you.”

Storm deliberated for a few moments. “That sounds reasonable enough. But, if i have to accompany you anywhere else you will be responsible for making sure I have what I need.”

“Very well,” I promised.

“Was there anything else you needed?” Storm asked.

“Can you start right away?” I asked, “I want to check on Primera. I left her with Alois and if what you say is true we should keep a closer eye on her.”

“Of course,” Storm answered, “I wonder if anything interesting will happen.”

“Hopefully nothing too interesting,” I chuckled slightly and headed back to the headmaster’s office.

As we got closer, I started feeling something was off. Everything was too quiet. This wasn’t a particularly noisy area but my senses were telling me that this silence was unnatural. Not only that, but I saw no one else as I passed by.

When I glanced over at Storm I noticed that he was also tense. He stepped in front of me and cautiously opened the door to the headmaster’s office. My eyes widened when I saw what was inside.

The usually pristine office was a mess, and Alvis stood in the center of it with an expression of pure fury. Alvis had always been someone who was hard to read. The only other time I had seen him angry in any way was when Osmond had killed Mickey in the Pavilion.

“What happened?” I asked.

“Ah, Cassandra,” Alvis said, his voice perfectly calm despite his expression, “Would you mind explaining something to me? Tell me, why was a dangerous person left alone with Alois.”

“You mean Primera?” I asked, “She said she had something urgent to speak with you abou-”

I was cut off as Alvis shoved a piece of paper in my face. It was a ransom note.

“I, Primera, The First, have taken Alois the apprentice of the Great Alvis hostage. His life will only be spared if Alvis surrenders himself and serves the great royal family of Kalorvia. You have five days.”

Alvis watched me as I read the note. “I must admit, this is quite the interesting conversation,” Alvis scoffed, “I will have to meet this Primera to continue it. You will help me, won’t you?”

“Help you?” I asked. I barely stopped myself from stuttering. Alvis didn’t seem like the man I knew right now.

“Yes. Without your help I will not be able to recognize Primera when I go to visit,” Alvis answered, “I must admit, Kalorvia is bold for targeting me.”

“Let me just inform Queen Levina that I will be taking an emergency leave-”

“No time for that. I will send her a message,” Alvis interrupted and grabbed my wrist before glancing at Storm. “You can come along too if you would like. I wouldn’t mind the extra help.”

Storm smiled. “Sure. Seems fun. Besides, I am supposed to stick with Cassandra right now.”

“Wonderful,” Alvis said and handed them clothes. “Change into those quickly and come right back. There are spare rooms you can use in this building. Don’t try to back out or I will reveal what you have done and make sure you will lose your position as the tenth princess.”

He released me and I stumbled back a few steps before darting to an empty room to change. I couldn’t believe I had made such a huge mistake. I had let my guard down. Whether because I thought I already knew what danger was coming or because I had grown too overconfident didn’t matter.

My foolishness had placed one of my friends in danger. It made sense for Alvis to be furious. My thoughts paused as I realized what I was putting on. Servant’s clothing? I recalled how Alvis was a butler before. This was likely a natural disguise to him, right? I couldn’t help but doubt for a moment that he intended to actually have us become servants to the royal family of Kalorvia.

When I exited the room Storm was waiting at the door already fully dressed. “Don’t worry,” he assured me, “Alvis is no fool. He will save his apprentice and make Kalorvia regret what they have done.”

“You seem to trust him a great deal,” I commented.

Storm let out an incredulous laugh. “Trust? I don’t think so. I just know he isn’t the kind of man to let people push him around. They shouldn’t have threatened to kill Alois. I think it is a weakness of anyone who can’t die to fear the deaths of those around them.”

I froze as Storm’s words sunk in. “You’re right,” I agreed. I remembered Alvis’s reaction to a murder in the Pavilion and it suddenly took on new meaning for me, “I need to fix this.”