Bea adjusted her mask and looked in the mirror. She was garbed in a short, buffy-tan dress, with very long sleeves, pink leggings, and plain black boots. Her dress had black spots on the sleeves and was covered in faux buffy-tan feathers. Her mask resembled a mourning dove, which was ironic because the event she was attending was a joyous one. "Your costume looks good, Bea," She turned to see Dandelion, dressed as a buzzard, with a brown doublet, black shorts, white tights, and white boots. His mask resembled the grotesque, naked head of a buzzard, and he wore a cape with a very high collar, also in brown. Like Bea, his doublet had very long sleeves, resembling wings. "Your costume is nice too, Dan D," She smiled, and Dandelion nodded. "We'll blend in, which is perfect for our mission." Bea's smile faltered, and she nodded. They couldn't get distracted, the mission was at stake.
"I've got the target in my sights," Maize whispered into her headset. She was looking through her scope, into the house, where her employer said the target would be. "She is currently getting ready for some kind of event." She continued, watching Scarlet from her hiding place. "This is the Red Queen's descendent?" Maize thought, with a frown. "She doesn't seem like royalty."
Bea watched the party-goers dance around the ballroom. She watched Scarlet, clad in a luxurious white gown, wearing a swan mask, dance with Rod, dressed as a tree. She noticed, out of the corner of her eye, Dandelion watching the entrance vigilantly.
"Dancing sure works a thirst huh?" Scarlet asked, turning to another party guest, who was dressed as a flower. The stranger didn't respond, but she did hand Scarlet a pint glass of something. "Oh! Thank you!" Scarlet beamed. "What is it?" The stranger cocked her head slightly. "Something...special for Her Highness," The stranger replied, smiling as Scarlet drank the liquid in the pint glass. "Her Highness?" Scarlet murmured, frowning. "You...must've mistaken me for someone else..." The stranger watched as Scarlet's movements became unsteady, and her speech became slurred. "I don't...feel very...well..." The stranger rushed to catch Scarlet as she hit the ground. "Sleep well, Your Majesty," The stranger hefted Scarlet over one shoulder, and leaped out of the nearby window. 187Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XzxJxzo5g
The party was in chaos, and everyone was panicking. Bea and Dandelion sprang into action, going upstairs, where Scarlet was spotted last. "Just as I suspected. Scarlet was drugged and kidnapped." Dandelion muttered, crouching to pick up a pint glass in his gloved hands. "What about Rod? What'll we tell him?" Dandelion rose, meeting Bea's eyes. "The truth."
Maize watched Scarlet's slumbering form, a triumphant smile on her face. "The mission was a success!" She whispered, grabbing a knife, and walking over to her. "Shame to cut your pretty hair, Your Highness," She murmured, grabbing the long red tresses, and shearing them. "But it's for the best." Maize repeated this process, until Scarlet's previously waist-length hair, was now neck-length. "The sedative will wear off in a few hours," Maize whispered into her headset. "But for now, the Queen sleeps, unaware of her destiny." She frowned, rummaging in her bag, and pulling out some clothes. "After Her Majesty wakes up, she'll need these. If I take her to the castle in her current clothing, the mission will be at risk." Maize muttered, sitting next to her.
