Joanna wasn't the only one who had no idea where her brother was going when it was Sunday. Orathan, who was an entity that couldn't be separated from Elfric, was also left in the dark about the events. He was getting surprised himself by all the plotting that Elfric somehow managed to make.
'Where are you going?' Orathan stated, though he had a blurred answer. 'You aren't actually going there right now, are you?'
Rick caught on to what he meant, and the answer was no. He shook his head weakly as if Orathan were right there in front of him, talking one-on-one.
"We can't make an appearance until they demand it… or at least signal for it between the lines," Elfric stated as he scanned the crowded street. Sunday afternoons were always this crowded.
Commoners going out in an attempt to enjoy what little freedom and entertainment they were offered. The smiles on the children's faces as their tiny hands clasped their parents' hands while walking through the streets.
Most of the display windows of the few shops were crowded with mundanes wanting to catch up on what was happening in Lauxdale. You could clearly make out how they were divided in two. Some were eager and happy, admiring the courage these youngsters had to stand against the authorities, while others protested that this act of courage was a foolish one and would only make their lives worse.
Elfric couldn't blame either of them. They were both right if you looked at it from different perspectives.
'So where are we going?' Orathan's voice made Elfric snap out of his observation.
"Costume shopping."
'What shopping?'
"I have to look different," Elfric explained. He figured that there were no such things as costumes in Hell, or wherever it was Orathan came from. He couldn't help but picture that shadow form of Orathan in a maid costume. The image was hilarious to picture.
Elfric smirked.
'You know that I can tailor you if that's what you want,' Orathan uttered bluntly. 'Didn't you already know that?'
Elfric jolted to a stop.
"You can do that?"
'You can too. It's not something that requires much energy.'
"Why didn't you say that before?!"
'You never asked.'
Elfric sighed. Now there was no need for him to go outside this early. What he had planned was that by the time he got his attire fixed, the Rebels would have made a move by then.
"Guess now we have some time on our hands," Elfric stated. "Shall we find a place with a TV?" he smirked.
Earlier this morning…
"Do you think we can make this work?" Julian whispered under his breath to Scarlet.
"If only you'd shut up and listen to me, everything will go smoothly," she hissed without parting her teeth.
Her eyes scanned the façade as she approached the hotel—Casablanca Hotel—where her family was invited to attend the charity event that would take place there. The entrance extended meters on either side; the doorframe was lined with what Julian figured was real gold and silver.
Who would have thought that this is what their hard-earned taxes went to? He scoffed under his breath, trying to get his mind off of what they were doing right now. He looked down to see the outfit that Scarlet had provided for him as well as everyone else who was going in through the front door.
Scarlet… Scarlet Jones. Half Noble, her mother being a companion was what got her into this. She had seen both the good and bad in both worlds. Before she was given the title of her father's family, Jones, she was living with her mother in the slums just like everyone around her—Julian, West, David, and Mathews as well.
"Invitations, please, My Lady," asked the guard at the door.
Scarlet smiled, the smile never reaching her green eyes. Julian had to admit that she looked like a completely different person now that she was bathed and dolled up to fit the title of a nobleman's daughter.
"Here you go," she said, handing it over with a smile.
Julian had to swallow the disgust he felt the moment he saw the guard's cheeks flush. It took him quite some energy to keep his mouth shut.
Scarlet was well-focused on the task at hand. She saw the way he eyed the four men around her. Before she could give him room for doubt, she said, "They are with me. My servants—they came to lend a hand."
The guard gestured them forward. The line of Nobles behind her was long and only extending, and there wasn't time to ask for identification for each and every servant. Scarlet knew that—this wasn't her first time here either.
She heard all four of them sigh in relief as they got in. The moment they stepped forward, they were flooded by the warm light from the crystal chandelier that hung high above their heads.
They still held their breath as they walked forward with the crowd, passing through a narthex. A dome held high above them was completely covered in stained glass, making the ground beneath their feet a canvas for the colorful lights to play on.
"Now we head to the room that is given to every Noble," Scarlet whispered, hoping it was loud enough for her in-ear to catch and transmit to the others waiting outside the building for their turn to enter.
She looked over her shoulder—Julian, Keith, Margret, and finally Allen—were eyeing the insides with such awe. She figured they had never been inside such a grand building before.
"You all alright?" Scarlet asked.
They all nodded in unison, and she nodded back. She led the way to the elevator and up to the 7th floor, which was written on her invitation card along with a keycard.
"Stay low, heads low," West's voice buzzed in the in-ears of all five of them. "Avoid all CCTV as much as you can. No camera should get a clear view of your faces."
They didn't dare even to nod. Scarlet knew that this wasn't meant for her; even if her face wasn't recorded, she was known in social circles, so it was useless to try and hide.
The elevator dinged as they got to the 7th floor. They covered the way in long strides to get to the door. None of them realized they had been holding their breaths until the door to the room was shut behind Allen.
"No signals caught from the room," a voice said through the in-ear. "It's safe."
"Rebels," West's voice surfaced. "The job has now begun."