The Breeder's Daughter

Chapter 25 | Lady Eva's Big Fat Neck

Thunder roars to life as we glide, the Grand Palace glimmering beneath us, stark against the night sky. A ball.

Of all the days in the year they could've held it, it had to be today.

My stomach churns at the thought, terrified by the idea of breaking into the palace during such a havoc of a party pulsing through out every inch of its walls. We'd never make it.

Correction, I'd never make it.
I'm a breeder's daughter, what do I know other than following orders, bound by an invisible social chain tying me to Mason Park that I can never escape.

At least not until the scan, and judging by the nonstop humans entering and leaving the palace doors, silly dresses trudging from grass-covered courtyards to fine linoleum and back out, I'd never make it to the scan part, let alone to a future beyond that.

Lana's face, hovering a few inches away from mine, snaps me back to reality, her face all business like.

"This isn't a time for daydreaming, focus." Her fingers snap a half inch away from my face, making me flinch in surprise.

"Do I have to repeat myself?"
Lana challenges as Ed steers the helicopter farther and farther from the sparkling palace lights, and closer to my end.

I shake my head. No, I know exactly what I have to do.

For the last fifteen minutes, we'd circled around the palace long enough for Lana to detail her new-born plan to the three of us, assigning us each a new role. A much deadlier role.

The helicopter lands too soon in a deserted patch not too faraway from the palace, trees surrounding us on all sides as we step into the light breeze outside.

We all exchange a last glance in the darkness then Lana motions for me to follow her and we part from the others, stealthily descending down the hilltop that overlooks the Grand Palace.

We're halfway to the palace now, my entire body trembling with fear with each step we take.There is no way we'll make it out.

"Stop fidgeting." I'm too used to Lana's blunt demeanor to retort, choosing to stay quiet instead.

"Seriously, it'll be easy."

"Easy? We have to snatch the pendant off a lady, from right under her nose. How is she not going to see that? What could possibly be so easy about that?"

According to a static voice Ed radioed earlier while we hovered in the sky, the stolen pendant was no longer kept in a safe box, but rather around something much safer, something much more likely to spot if someone dare to steal it again. The pendant was remolded with 24k gold and now hangs off Lady Eva's lovely fat neck.

I take a big gulp from the water in the tiny pack on my bag, hoping it'll help calm me down.

Lana's fast strides halt as she turns to face me,

"It's definitely not going to work if you continue doubting it so much,"

I must look as unconvinced as I feel, not to mention frightened,

"Confidence Stella. Have faith. It will work, we will make it work. Leave the hard part to me, I just need you to keep her distracted that's all."

Then in a much firmer voice,
"Got it?"

My eyes flicker to the lit up palace below, in a few minutes we'll have reached the deserted backyard of the maids wing; the first part of the plan.