Chapter 32: Chapter 32

“Ow!” Ren complained and moved his head away from my hands. “That hurts, Rose. Stop it.” He hissed.

“It won’t hurt if you just stay still.” I scolded him and pulled a strand of his hair to overlap it with another. Ren let out a yelp and moved away from me. The moment he did, the platform that we were sitting on wobbled.

Ace looked furious as he glared at Ren. “If you won’t keep your butt still then I swear I will kill you if we ever survive this situation.” He said from the other side of the platform.

After we fell, we suddenly landed on this weird stoned platform that was perched on top of a pointed rock. The moment we landed, all our weight was focused on one edge that we all scrambled to our feet to distribute our weights to keep the stoned platform from falling.

Just imagine using a book and balancing the surface area with your finger. That is our current situation. Ren and I were sitting on the opposite side from Ace and Nate - with Nate sitting a little close to the center to keep us steady from the harsh winds that come from time to time. I can’t tell how long we were stranded, but it was enough for me to convince Ren to let me braid his hair.

And right now he was regretting it as he pouted at me after being scolded by PRINCE Ace. “See?” I told him. “You should have just stayed put and let me make your pretty.”

“But I don’t want to be pretty!” Ren complained.

“GET BACK TO YOUR PLACE RIGHT NOW YOU MUTT!” Ace yelled from their side. I gave Ren a look that proved my point. That he doesn’t have a choice.

Ren slumped as he went back to sit with his back to me. I started to braid his hair. “Why can’t you just play with your own hair?” He muttered.

“Have you seen my hair? I braid it like 10 times already! Yes, Ren. That’s how long we are stranded here.” I pointed out.

“But my hair is not fit for this!”

“True. True.” I nodded. “I personally prefer Nate’s hair. But sadly, he is waaaay over there and you are the only one accessible to me at the moment.” As soon as I mentioned Nate’s hair, he flinched.

“I prefer to have my hair untouched. But thanks for the compliment!” Nate yelled out from the other side.

“You’re welcome!” I responded. Our voices echoed as we exchanged words.

“Gee, thanks.” Ren grumbled. “Glad to hear that I am just a replacement.”

“Aww. There there.” I patted Ren’s head. “You’re still a good boy.”

“You’re treating me like a dog again!”

“Shh.” I shushed him as I continued to pull on his strands. His hair was too short to be braided but I was not going to give up on that. I will make him pretty! “Yeah no. I give up.” I dropped my hands tiredly. Ren’s hair was just not braidable. If there is even such a word.

“Yo, Nate!” I called out to the vampire, who flinched at the sound of my voice. I can only assume that he already knew what was coming. “Trade places with Ren! I’ll braid your hair and make you look pretty!”

“Hey!” Ren complained while Nate smiled nervously at me.

“No thanks!”

I pouted and started playing with the pebbles instead. It’s so boring! I grumbled and started throwing small pebbles in the air to kill time. But suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew and made the pebble fly and hit Ace’s head.

Oops.

Oh boy.

Not good.

Ace met my gaze tiredly. “Really? Can’t you do anything besides playing?”

“I did try to warn you guys that the ground was unstable. Now look. Here we are. On a huge seesaw of doom.”

“Wow, congrats. You almost did something right.”

“Geez. What a sour puss. I wonder what happened to that cute little PWINCE before.” I said and hinted about the time that they got turned into kids. “You know. The one with the chubby cheeks and - HEY!” I yelled at him that moment a pebble was thrown at me.

“Damn. I missed my target. I was hoping you’d choke on the pebble and choke to death.Then we can all enjoy some peace and quiet.” He says we're playing around with a few pebbles in his hands.

Oh he is asking for it!

“I’ll show you eternal silence.” I threatened him and grabbed a rock about the size of my fist. “Sayonara loser!” I hurled the rock at PRINCE Ace, but he easily deflected it with his sword. It flew up in the air and I suddenly remembered that I still had my wooden hook swords with me. I drew one out from the belt attached to my back and hit it back towards him.

Well that was my plan, but apparently, I am bad at aiming. The rock went flying towards Nate. Luckily he was able to dodge it with a yell.

“Really you two?!” He asked in annoyance.

“Yeah really.” Says Ace and gives him a pointed look. “That idiot was able to bring her own weapon and yet you forgot to bring yours?!” He pointed at me - currently waving my swords in the air like a lunatic.

“I have a knife.” Ren offered.

“That you lost somewhere.” I pointed out.

Ren pouted at me. “I am my own weapon.”

“Your weapon is becoming an oversized dog.”

“Your familiar is an oversized dog.”He says.

I opened my mouth to make a counter argument about it, but closed it again when I can form none. “Okay. That was good.” I admitted. I looked at Ace and Nate and placed my hands on my hips and squared my shoulders proudly. “I declare that our side be called ‘The Fun Zone!’”

“How about the no brainers club?” Ace suggested.

I pointed my hook sword at him. “Zip it. You guys are the grumpy side. All serious and moping.”

“I can be fun.” Nate says teasingly.

“You’ll see some flying hook swords at your face if you keep that up.” I told Nate.

“Leave them, Rose.” Ren says. “Those guys are just jealous because our side is livelier.” Ren smirked at them.

“Your side fell off the cliff first!” Nate says.

“And your side made us all fall!”

“If you’re so smart then why don’t you think of a way to get us out of here?” Ace says annoyingly.

“Oh I know! I can call out to Custard and send some help!” I suggested. Immediately, the prince's eyes were on me. All eyes widened with surprise.

“Can you even do that?” Nate asked.

I scoffed. “Yeah. Of course.” I said in a ‘duh’ tone. “See?” I gesture to our side arrogantly. “The fun side can be smart and can potentially save us all.”

“If you’re so smart then why haven’t you done it already?” Ace questioned with a raised brow.

This time I was speechless for a moment . Then I scratched the back of my head in embarrassment. “I just thought of it.”

“ROSE!!!!!” They all yelled at me.

“Hey! You guys know I usually don’t think! Just be lucky that I am here with you.” I hmphed and crossed my legs as I sat on the ground.

“Get on with it already!”

“Shut up! I am trying to concentrate!” I hissed at Ace. Thankfully he obeyed. I closed my eyes and reached out towards Custard through our link. I was able to connect with him through his eyes and saw that he was running through the forest.

‘Master? Master! I am coming to find you’ He says. For some reason his voice sounded strong and confident.

‘Custard? Where are you? Why did you transform?’ I was confused. Custard was his larger self and I really cannot remember how that happened.

‘This place is filled with spiritual magic allowing me to transform on my own.’

‘Great! Now, Custard, I want to ask you something. Head back to Thalia and send for help.’

‘I can’t.’

‘Why?’

‘Because I am already here.’

At that moment, I broke the link in order to warn the others. “SPREAD OUT!” I yelled in a panic as I remembered that last image that I saw from Custard.

“What?” The princes were all confused as they looked at me. The idiots. I hope they don’t blame me for what is about to happen next.

There was a loud howl as my familiar - now a very huge white wolf - emerged from the mist above us. He landed on the center of the platform with his tongue lolled to the side. ‘Here I am, Master!’ He said proudly and started to wobble because of the unstable ground.

“MOVE TO YOUR RIGHT!” Ace barked a command and we immediately followed as we ran to put our weights on the spot to keep it steady.

Custard whimpered and moved back. “TO ME! TO ME!” I yelled in a panic and ordered them to lend their weight to the spot where I am standing.

‘Master, this is scary!” Custard whined and started moving again.

“SPREAD OUT! SPREAD OUT!” Nate was yelling this time and we all ran in different directions just to even out the place. My spot started to lift and I looked back at them. “I need more weight here!” Suddenly, all 3 princes were in front of me. I let out a breath of frustration as I crossed my arm over my chest in annoyance. “Gee. Great. Leave your spot! I SAID MORE WEIGHT I DID NOT ASK FOR ALL OF YOU TO COME HERE!”

‘Master, you called?’

We all gasped as we saw Custard standing on the same ledge as we were. The platform started to dip down from where we’re currently standing and it was already too late for us to move.

Soon, we were falling. Again. And now this time, it really isn’t my fault.