Hey everyone! :)

Here's a chapter <3

I'm halfway through writing Kidnapped, and you know what that means...

TRAILER FOR MAELSTROM WILL BE COMING OUT SOON!!

I'm starting to get all my clips together, which mostly means recording Neidra and Caomh, as well as extra scenes, and have just selected the music for it!! I don't want to spoil it, but the composer is Jack Trammell (not the politician, if you Google it), and it's EPICCCCCCC.

Gahhhhh!

Chapter Thirty-One

~Thea's POV~

Angelique turns onto the main road off the gas station, nervously looking over her shoulder as if expecting a cop to barrel towards us at any moment. I'm personally still reeling from the appearance of Loki and the fact that I just had to attack a six-foot tall man who is probably more than twice my age. Videl may have complimented me, but I'm fairly certain he only complimented me because he was trying to shake out my nerves. It helped. A little.

"Where are we going?" asks Angelique, "I don't even know where to go."

"I thought we were going to Disney World," I say from the back seat. I had wanted shotgun, but Videl had reached the seat first, and there was no point in trying to argue my way out.

"No," says Videl.

"That sounds great," says Angelique, looking over her shoulder at me, "But I don't know how to get there."

"I'm sure there are signs," I point out, ignoring Videl's protests, "And there's probably a GPS in the car."

"I can't really do it when I'm driving," says Angelique as she accelerates, pulling in front of an eighteen wheeler on the interstate, "And I doubt Videl knows how to do it. If I had my phone with me, we could easily do this."

I roll my eyes. Then, I unbuckle my seatbelt and reach forward to where the screened panel is located between the two front seats.

"Hey!" snaps Videl, pushing my hand back,, "Go sit back down in your seat, we're going fast."

"Stop pretending to care," I say, "It's getting on my nerves."

"Thea..." says Angelique doubtfully, glancing at me with concern.

"I'm fine," I say, pressing various buttons on the screen and then finally finding the GPS feature, "Just don't crash right now."

"Oh thanks a lot," says Angelique, her eyes now fixated on the road. Videl's eyes are fixated on me, glaring at me, but I ignore him. Seconds later, we are on route to Disney World.

"Which hotel?" I ask, scrolling through all the hotel listings in Nearby Areas.

"The one where I can defenestrate you," says Videl.

"What the hell does defenestrate mean?" I demand.

"It means he'll throw you out the window," translates Angelique.

"Thanks," I roll my eyes at Videl, "Now what hotel?"

"I already told you," says Videl, "Whichever one-"

"Angelique!" I plead.

"Grand Floridian," says Angelique, "If we're going to do this, we might as well do it big."

"What's the Grand Floridian?" I ask as I set the GPS for the resort. Apparently, we are twenty minutes north.

"It's this really gorgeous, pretty expensive hotel," replies Angelique, "It's supposed to mimic a Victorian beachside resort."

"Now sit back Thea," says Videl firmly.

I only sit back because I don't want to get flattened if we crash, which not only would be a problem if we died, but it would also be a problem because Angelique would have crashed a stolen car.

As I buckle my seatbelt, I look out the window and watch all the palm trees on the side of the road. I've never been to Florida. Like North Carolina, it's much greener than New York, and there is something sticky in the air that makes it difficult to breathe, even though it's November. It's about four o'clock. Which means that within a day, I have nursed a broken wrist, avoided being killed by my father, fought off a trucker, and am now currently in a car my former tutor and a Velah who used to be my arch-enemy on our way to Disney World. Go figure.

Angelique turns up the radio, and begins to flick through the channels absentmindedly. Videl is slouched in his seat, his feat thrown up on the dash. Angelique looks like she wants to tell him to get off, but she doesn't say anything. Instead, she finds some rock song and turns it up extremely loud.

"Damn it, woman, are you trying to burst my eardrums?" demands Videl.

"What song is this anyway?" I ask.

"It's Lady Gaga," calls Angelique over the bass, "Poker Face."

The music is quite loud, but I enjoy it, and begin to sway in time to the beat despite myself. Videl groans and holds his hands to his ears. I suddenly remember that his hearing is much more acute than Angelique's and mine, so the current volume in the car must be agonizing.

Angelique rolls down the windows, which helps with the volume a little, and begins to move to the song, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel. Videl raises an eyebrow at her, but I see amusement and curiosity in his eyes. And besides, his boot-clad foot is beginning to tap the dashboard as we continue riding down the Florida interstate towards the Happiest Place on Earth.

*

~Nobody's POV~

Meanwhile, Loki veils himself in Davidson, rendering himself invisible. There is quite the commotion around him, but he ignores it. Closing his eyes, he touches the golden bracelet on his wrist, and feels the pulsating energy vibrating up his fingers, almost like a heartbeat.

            A brief image zips through his head. Thea, in a car, her short hair flying in the wind, her head thrown back as she sings. Just as suddenly, the image is gone.

            Loki curls his lip. He can't deduce anything from that brief image; there are thousands of miles of interstate, where Thea could have gone. As he walks through the streets of Davidson, he fingers both daggers that he had thrown at Videl and Thea. Something flickers in his mind, traveling down to his heart, and he shakes his head vigorously, trying to shake out the feeling.

            But that feeling is just as ephemeral as the image he has just seen of his daughter. Loki clenches his fists and then vanishes.

His prey has evaded him. For now.

*

~Thea's POV~

Like a two-year old, I begin to jump up and down in my seat as we pass under the purple and gold Disney World gate, or at least until Videl snaps at me to please shut up and act at least half my age.

            Angelique looks excited too, eagerly following the signs pointing to the Magic Kingdom Resorts.

            "We're going to the Grand Floridian," says Videl, "Not Magical Kingdom."

            "It's Magic Kingdom," says Angelique, "And the Grand Floridian is located with the other Magic Kingdom resorts, smarty pants."

            As we get closer and closer to the resort, Angelique begins to get a little twitchy. I'm the first to spot the resort, which is gigantic, white, and red-roofed. It looks a little like a beach version of a castle. "It's so pretty!" I exclaim.

            "It looks boring," says Videl.

            "Shut up, Videl," Angelique and I both snap.

As Angelique hesitantly drives up the drive towards the Grand Floridian villas, she says, "It's gated. I guess you're going to lie your way through?"

"No I'm going to use my charismatic wit and good looks."

"Yeah," I say. "He's going to lie."

Videl swivels in his seat to look at me through narrowed eyes. I smile at him sweetly.

Angelique drums her fingers on the steering wheel and chatters her teeth absentmindedly as she waits for the snake of cars to make it to the gate.

"If you act nervous," says Videl, "Then you will come across as nervous."

"I'm not nervous," says Angelique, "I just am-"

"Nervous," Videl leans against the back of his seat which sort of runs against my legs.

Ignoring my exclamations of discomfort, he says, reaches forward and puts a hand on Angelique's thigh. Even from back here, I can see her cheeks flush. I'm almost more shocked than I am squashed.

"How about this," I say as Videl and Angelique continue looking at each other, Videl unnaturally gentle but with his characteristic look of self-assuredness, and Angelique still blushing with her mouth partially opened, "How about once we get in, you two can get your own room?"

Videl snaps out of it and turns back to look at me, "I have a better idea. How about we get some quiet around here?"

"Fantastic idea," I say, "So I suggest you shut up."

Videl probably would have said something incredibly cranky, but at that moment, Angelique pulls up to the gate.

"Leave this to me, love," says Videl.

Angelique shoots him a fervent, still-blushing look and rolls down the window.

A friendly looking guard leans out of the gatehouse. "Welcome home, young lady, can I have a name?"

Angelique opens her mouth, but thankfully, Videl takes over before she can flub things up. Leaning over Angelique, he takes off his sunglasses so that he is staring right into the guard's eyes.

"There is a room under the name of 'Wheatley' for a double bedroom. We have all the accommodations we need for several days, and nobody will annoy us by entering said rooms or asking questions. We will be left completely alone. If you have to kick someone out to get us inside immediately, then do so. As far as you or anyone else is concerned, we do not exist."

The guard blinks for several long seconds. Then, he says, his eyes now clear, "Of course, sir. Here is your parking pass. Please feel free to park in self-parking or valet. Check in at the front desk. Have a magical day."

"That was bad," says Angelique, gunning the engine inside the gate so that I'm thrown back against my seat.

"I never said I was good," says Videl goodnaturedly, and then shoots her a wink, "And besides, don't all the ladies love the bad boys?"

"Not if the bad boys are squashing the adorable girl in the back seat," I say.

"You're not adorable," says Videl, "You are, in fact, the complete opposite of adorable. You're the reason that we are in the middle of a children's park in the first place."

"And I'm also the reason that you and Angelique met," I retort, "So I wouldn't complain."

Videl doesn't really know what to say to that.

*

"We are not going to the Magical Kingdom," says Videl. It's an hour later, and he's lying on his back on one of the two beds, his hat over his face.

It's a beautiful room, and even though I know Angelique wants to be mad at him for sneaking us in, I feel no regret whatsoever. It's a double bedroom, as Videl had told the gate guard. In the middle of the two rooms- one of which is a single and the one of the right side is a double- is a small living area and kitchen. It smells fresh and clean in here, and when I walk into the double bedroom that Angelique and I will be sharing, I spot three towels folded in three circles to form a Mickey Mouse shape lying on the bed. I can't help but grin. The decor is pastel-y and classic, and the walls are decorated with paintings and drawings of early 1900s inventions and landscapes, coupled with images of classic Disney horses. I recognize Prince Philip's white stallion from Sleeping Beauty, a merry-go-round horse from Mary Poppins, and Maximus from Tangled, which is my favorite Disney movie.

"It's Magic Kingdom," I say, standing next to Videl, who doesn't exactly seem to be admiring the architectural beauty of the Grand Floridian. Angelique, my only ally, is taking a shower in the adjacent bathroom. "And please? We are five minutes away, and I've never been and I really want to go! Please?"

I cannot believe that I'm begging Videl.

"No."

I also cannot believe what I am going to do.

"I will tell Angelique how you saved my life with the bear."

He groans, and lifts his hat off his head to peer at me through his hooded eyes.

"No. Stop-"

"I will tell Angelique about Leah."

Videl sits up suddenly.

"I will." I stay staunchly. "She thinks the only thing wrong with you is your annoying moodiness. Wouldn't it be a-"

Videl suddenly leaps up and grabs my arm. "Don't say that," he growls.

His sudden anger, although not exactly unusual, is a little bit confusing.

"Why not?"

"Because I said so, you irritating-"

At that moment, the bathroom door opens and Angelique walks into the room. She's wearing shorts and a tank top that covers only most of her stomach, and her long brown hair is dripping wet as she attempts to towel dry it. "Hey, what's for dinner? I can cook something up probably, but-"

"Videl thinks we should go to Magic Kingdom," I pipe up, because I'm pretty sure that Videl's jaw is halfway to the floor.

"Really?" asks Angelique, looking excited, "That sounds great!"

"Yes well," says Videl in his drawling accent. He is once again lying on the bed, looking as nonchalant as usual. "Thea was very much against it, but I thought it would be a lovely idea."

"Awesome!" Angelique is smiling. "I'll go finish getting ready."

The door closes. Videl turns over on his stomach and smirks at me. I smirk right back. We continue smirking until Videl rolls his eyes, "You just manipulated me, didn't you?"

"It worked," I say.

"I hate you," says Videl.

*

So an hour later, Videl, Angelique and Thea walk towards the main building in the Grand Floridian, where Angelique had told them (thanks to a hotel manuel she had found next to the TV cabinet and a little bit of Googling) the monorail for Magic Kingdom is located.

"What's a monorail?" Videl had asked.

"You'll find out," grinned Angelique.

Thanks to more of Videl's compelling, they have a magic band on each of their wrists, which would allow them into the parks. Angelique had explained that the Magic Bands work as room keys, credit cards, and passes onto the rides, all in one band.

Thea, who had insisted upon wearing the blue magic band, saying that it reminded her of Jack, is wearing the same pair of jean kapris and  nearly filthy t-shirt. Her fake name is Athena Wheatley, and Videl is falsified as her older brother, a Gabriel Wheatley.

"Why Gabriel?" Thea had asked, "It's not like you're an angel."

"And why Athena?" Videl had retorted.  He was trying to fasten the magic band on Angelique's wrist precisely five seconds after steadfastly refusing to do the same to Thea. "You're certainly not the goddess of wisdom."

"At least I'm not the god of idiotically awkward flirts," Thea had muttered.

Videl is dressed in the same outfit he had been wearing in Davidson, complete with ripped jeans that Thea comments look like shorts with extensions below the knees. Unfortunately for Thea, he looks ruggedly handsome, especially with his wild hair, fedora, and sunglasses.

Angelique is just as good looking. She, under the alliance of Rosalie Johnson, is dressed in plaid flannel- which isn't dirty at all- and jeans, accompanied by a baseball hat. Her role in their charade is ambiguous, although Videl had given Thea the evil eye and tried to smack the back of her head when the younger girl had suggested something slightly out of bounds.

Now, Angelique is saying, "Thea, hon, we need to get you a clean shirt. And preferably pants.  How long have you worn those clothes?"

"A while," says Thea, still looking around the immaculate lobby. It's stunning in here. Everything is decorated intricately, with pastels and high-backed velvet couches. Guests mill in and out within the four or so stories, and a paneled glass elevator rises and falls near the back. A small band plays on the floor above the ground floor, emitting cheerful, old-fashioned tunes from men wearing stripes and straw, flat hates.

"We're going shopping," announces Angelique, "I'm sure there's a gift shop somewhere in here."

"Why do we need to do that?" asks Videl crankily. He's getting a lot of admiring looks from surrounding girls, which both Thea and Angelique find distinctly annoying, but for very different reasons. "She looks fine."

"She needs better clothes," says Angelique, "There's no better place to get them than at Disney World!"

Videl mutters something about wasting time on midgets, but Angelique and Thea ignore him. Two minutes later, Angelique has consulted hotel signage and led Thea towards a large staircase on the left side of the building.

"I'm not going," says Videl, walking after them anyway, "This is stupid. I thought we were just eating and leaving. And besides, aren't there restaurants inside this big place? We can just eat here."

Thea's face falls, and Angelique notices.

"Absolutely not," says Angelique, taking Thea's arm and pulling her up the stairs. Videl is following them like a very reluctant guard dog. "We're two minutes from Magic Kingdom, and we are going to have a marvelous time. Right Thea?"

"As long as Videl isn't annoying," says Thea.

"I won't if you won't," taunts Videl.

"I swear," says Angelique, "You two act like siblings."

"Gag me," says Thea.

"Is that an option?" asks Videl.

"Shut up," says Thea.

*

~Thea's POV~

Shopping with Angelique proves to be an interesting experience.

I have never had an older sister, and the only reason Bryce had been interested in my clothes was if he thought they were inappropriate (they never were) but I assume this is sort of what it's like. While Videl slouches in a corner next to a stand of plush Mickey and Minnie toys, Angelique flits from section to section of the relatively large gift store. She reminds me of an exuberant fairy.

"I might as well get you a hat too," muses Angelique as she pushes past the hangers. "Come over here, see what you li- Hey, whatcha looking at?"

I glance at her. I'm looking at a stack of Duffy the Disney Bear stuffed animals. The bear is a light tan and his even lighter facial markings form the shape of a Mickey Mouse head. He's wearing a cute sailor outfit. For some reason, he reminds me of Princely.

"Aww," says Angelique, picking up one of the bears, "He's cute. Videl, look at this!"

            Videl peels himself off the wall, glowering, and then peers at the bear through narrowed eyes, "Adorable."

Angelique apparently notices the distantly wistful look in my eyes which I am trying to hide. "Videl," she says, "Let's get one!"

"Absolutely not," says Videl, "I'm pushing it by stealing clothes for her when she already has perfectly good clothes on now."

"C'mon Videl," says Angelique, but I take the bear from her hands and put it back on the shelf without looking at the Velah..

"I don't need it," I say as truthfully as I can muster, "It's just a toy, and I don't exactly need those anymore. What were you going to show me?"

Angelique glares at Videl, who pretends not to notice and goes back to leaning against the wall, and then says, "This. It would look adorable on you." She is holding a lilac shirt with tiny sequins dotting the front, which form the shape of (surprise) a Mickey Mouse. "It looks like your size. And get this sweatshirt too, just in case it gets chilly." She points to a gray sweatshirt with the word STITCH across the front, accompanied by a picture of the cuddly alien. "And it's soft." She pinches the fabric with the tips of her fingers to demonstrate.

"Okay," I say. I have to admit that it's a good idea. I look filthy.

"There aren't any jeans or pants in here unfortunately, but we can probably find some somewhere.

"All right," I say, "What about you?"

"I'm fine," says Angelique, tossing me a hat, "I haven't been with you guys for that long anyway."

"Oh c'mon," I say, "At least get something. I'll pick it out."

Angelique hides her smile, "Oh, all right."

While Angelique walks around the store some more, stopping to look at the huge collection of Disney trading pins near the cash register, I look through the apparel. The clothes are scattered around the store, mostly organized by character or color, so it takes me a while to find something perfect for her. It's a dark teal shirt, with a black design of Cinderella Castle emblazoned on the front, with the words WALT DISNEY WORLD scripted in elegant font across it. It's fitted, but comfortable enough, and I know Angelique will look beautiful in it.

Angelique approves of the shirt (even though I'm sure she would say yes to anything I picked out), and also gets the same hat as me (lilac, with more Mickey Mouse designs). Videl had already gone to the front desk earlier and programmed money onto our Magic bands (by 'program', I mean telling the lady at the front desk that we would have all of our purchased to some random selection of guests), so Angelique heads to the counter to pay. I follow her, not wanting to be stuck with Videl.

After Angelique checks out, trying not to look guilty and failing miserably, she beckons to me, "Let's change, okay? Oh, and Videl?" she calls to the Velah, who is walking towards us, "I got something for you!"

"What is it?" he asks warily.

Angelique rummages through her bag of purchase and throws something at him, "You're shirt's filthy too. Change into this."

Videl unfolds the shirt and I laugh at precisely the same second that he scowls. It's a gray athletic tank, with crimson letters that spell out BAD MOOD DUDE around a picture of a crossed-arms Grumpy.

He shoves it back at Angelique, "I'm not wearing that."

"Yes you are," says Angelique as-a-matter-of-factly, "It fits you. Literally and figuratively."

"And you need a new shirt anyway," I say, not even bothering to hide my chortles, "It'll look so good on you!"

"Why?" asks Videl, holding the shirt between two of his fingers, "Because it will expose my rippling muscles?"

"Yes," I say as sarcastically as possible, "That's exactly why."

"All right," says Angelique cheerfully as Videl contemplates the shirt and me with equal levels of disgust, "Thea and I are going to find a bathroom so we can change. Be back in a flash!"

When we emerge from the bathroom around ten minutes later, Angelique and I are still trying to keep straight faces and failing. I feel much cleaner and more comfortable in my new shirt, and have thrown my hair up. I've wrapped my sweatshirt around my waist, as the Florida weather is much different than New York, even in winter.

Apparently, Videl has already changed too, and admittedly, he does look really attractive in the tank top. He's nowhere near Thor, but he has a lanky muscular look that draws more than a few looks, including multiple hasty ones from Angelique. He's leaning against a marble column, his sunglasses on, and ignores basically everyone.

"What took you so long?" he demands as we reach him.

"We're girls," I say, "We're pretty and we take a while."

"I'm a boy," says Videl, "And I'm pretty."

"Yeah," I say, "Pretty annoying."

Angelique, who looks beautiful in her new shirt (fashion credits Thea), intervenes before Videl can think of a suitable retort, "Anywho," she says, "The monorail station is right next door. Let's go, I'm starving."

I follow her cheerfully, leaving Videl to follow us, looking more sullen than Eeyore.

The monorail station is right above the Grand Floridian's main entrance, on a concrete platform. There are two lines: going and coming. I don't see a monorail yet, but there are two tracks beyond the platform. I break free from Angelique and Videl and run up to the railing, looking back and forth eagerly down the tracks.

"Hey, get down from there before you fall and get a nosebleed and then we'll really be in trouble."

I ignore him, and I think Angelique shushs him because he doesn't say anything else.

It takes five minutes for the monorail to arrive. When it comes, it's a blur of silver and white, with a stripe of pink down the side. I've never seen a monorail in person, but I sense the pure energy radiating from it, electronic and radiant.

The doors open, revealing a small compartment with blue benches along the walls that look out of the monorail. I am the first one who is out of the holding gates, and I hurry eagerly into the compartment, Videl and Angelique following me. I slide onto a bench that faces backwards, then lean against the glass. I can see the other track, and just in time, because another monorail zips by going the other way.

Videl sits down next to me, with Angelique on his other side, and throws his arms out on either side of the bench, forcing me to sit forward unless I want to lean against him. His sunglasses are on, but given the way he is slowly rotating his head around, he is scouting out the monorail compartment. His nostrils are flaring; it must smell completely bizarre to him. I wonder if he's even been in a car before today, much less a monorail.

Angelique seems to be thinking the same thing, "Videl," she says in a teasing voice, "You know what we're doing as soon as we're done eating?"

"Going back to the hotel?" The way Videl says it makes it sound decidedly not like a question. More of an authoritative retort.

"No!" she exclaims, punching his shoulder (he barely notices), "We should go on the biggest, baddest roller coaster there is!"

"Ha, ha, ha," says Videl, resting his head on the back of the bench, "Absolutely not."

"Oh, you sourpuss," says Angelique, leaning back on the bench. Then, realizing that she is now leaning against Videl's arm, she begins to sit up, but Videl loops his wrist around her neck, gently barring her from getting up. Neither of them make a comment about the arrangement, but Angelique's voice is slightly more hurried now, "Well, we'll figure it out when we get there!"

"We are eating," says Videl firmly, "And then, we are-"

An announcement comes on over the intercom, "Please stand clear of the doors."

The doors swish closed on either side of us. Videl raises his eyes to the ceiling.

"Dear God," he says.

"I bet you're scared," I say, reaching out and poking the side of his face, right on his cheekbone. He rotates his amber eyes to stare me down, and I smile innocently, "I bet you are."

"I am not," he says, as the monorail begins to move smoothly down the tracks, "I'm just annoyed at you right now. Both of you, actually," he gestures to Angelique with his ring-studded finger that is currently wrapped around her neck ever so lightly. Angelique's eyes are very wide, as if analyzing whether or not she wants to stay in this position or not.

"Fine," I say, and then look out the window as the monorail begins to glide in a wide turn around a huge lake. The sun is beginning to set already, and the rays glisten over the water's surface. I can see four large buildings scattered around the edges of the lake, on the other side.

Angelique notices my look, and points to the building on the far left, "That's the Wilderness Lodge. The A-shaped one is the Contemporary, and then the Polynesian, and then the Grand Floridian."

"Are they the Magic Kingdom resorts?" I ask as the monorail continues its path  around the lake. We go over a path, and I see people walking below us, like ants.

"Yep," says Angelique, carefully avoiding Videl. "That's them."

"How many are there?" I ask.

"Hotels? Geez, I don't know. Twenty?"

"Does it matter?" asks Videl dryly.

"Yes," Angelique and I at the same time.

Two or so minutes later, the monorail comes to a stop. I can see forest green iron rails forming the Magic Kingdom station, and I can hear happy music coming from the park. Videl looks like he's about to pop his eyes out from rolling them so often and so hard. Angelique, however, jumps out almost as eagerly as I do, and we leave the tousle-haired Velah to follow us moodily off of the monorail, towards Magic Kingdom.

Thanks for reading! Please VOTE and COMMENT!!!

I'll try to respond to any comments/questions :)

Ily, Sierra <3