Princess and the Pea Chapter 7

Lucky number seven...

Chapter 7:
“Are you kidding me? Taking a nap while on duty?” Queen Lily furiously slammed down her fist on the courtroom table. “How could they do that to me? These castle guards…A bunch of useless people, if you ask me.”
“Your majesty, please calm down…” Her henchman quivered slightly under her feet.
“Right. I am deeply sorry. Please go wake those ignorant fools up.”
“But, your majesty…”
“What is it this time, Charles?”
“I’ve tried to shake them awake, but they didn’t seem to react. In fact, I’ve gotten a lot of people to try to awaken them, but it seems like they were under some sort of spell.”
“Spell? For goodness’s sake, is that Helen Crosby trying to take over our kingdom again?”
“I am not sure, your majesty.”
“Well, all I know is that Crosby has failed twenty-four times to take us over. She should know that our castle is 100% damage proof on the inside and guarded quite well. Humph, let’s see what she comes up with this time.”
“But what about the castle guards, your majesty?”
“Just put them in their rooms. The spell, if there is any, should fade within two hours. Bring the replacement guards to the grand door for guarding. They would do fine.”
“Yes, your majesty.” Charles bowed and left.
Queen Lily clicked her fingers and a servant came to offer her tea. She sipped the drink, feeling totally at ease.
But she didn’t know what was happening outside the courtroom. One by one, her servants collapsed to the ground. One by one, her guards, knights, and tutors fell prostrate to the ground. Then her henchman left. Charles, while doing his duty, suddenly felt drowsy and crumpled. His head made an audible bonking sound as it hit the linoleum floor. He closed his eyes and fainted.
Everyone closed their eyes and fainted.
A strange purple mist squeezed through the cracks of the courtroom door. “Queen Lily,” it seemed to say. “She must be here.”
Queen Lily was still sipping her tea when it happened. The purple mist surrounded her, and Queen Lily was too slow to react when it choked her, and finally, Queen Lily also collapsed. Onto the floor she fell, swiftly and quickly. Her crown toppled down from her head.
The purple mist made a chortling sound, and it changed its shape. Slowly, it became the tall, thin silhouette of Helen Crosby.
Helen cackled, and picked up Queen Lily’s crown. She weighed it in her hands for a moment, appreciating it. “That’s everyone,” she said out loud, knowing that no one would hear. “Everyone except Prince Samson.”