PART 1
The thief stealthily scaled the palace wall and slipped in unseen through an opened window as everyone slept. She looked around the dimly lit room. There it was. The object she came for. A firey orange gem was on a pedastal in the center of the room. This was the legendary Flame Gem. A large, multi-faceted, egg-shaped stone, forged by the gods themselves, and said to hold extraordinary powers. It would fetch a hefty price on the black market.
"Oh, you are a beauty," Cassandra said to the gem. She took a step toward it when suddenly she heard a noise behind her. Quickly Cassandra ducked into the shadows and waited, silently and unmoving. She watched closely as someone else entered the room through the opened window. Cassandra recognized the other thief immediately. She stepped out of the shadows.
"Autolycus," she said,"What are you doing here?" Autolycus turned to look at the girl. "Cassandra," he said,"What can I say? Great minds think alike." He moved towards the gem. "Not so fast, big brother," Cassandra said grabbing him by the arm,"That gem's mine." "Not anymore," Autolycus said. He took another step forward. "Autolycus!" Cassandra said again. He stopped suddenly. "Don't move," Cassandra said.
Autolycus looked at his sister in confusion. "Why not?" he asked. "Because of this." Cassandra crouched down beside him and Autolycus looked down at her. "What is it?" he wondered. She blew away a thin layer of dust that had accumulated on the stone floor. "This switch," said Casandra,"If you had stepped on it poison darts would've shot out from the walls killing you instantly." "What are you talking about, Cass?" Auto said,"I don't see any switch."
He crouched down beside her. "Look, it's right here," Cass said. Sure enough there on the floor in front of them was a small switch. "There's another one," Cass said,"And another." Autolycus looked in the direction she pointed and saw that there were several of these 'switches' scattered across the floor. "Not only that," Cassandra continued,"But if you had moved that gem you would've set off an alarm waking up everyone in the palace and that cage up there would've come down trapping both you and the gem inside."
"Well, then how do you suggest we get the gem without setting off the trap?" Autolycus asked. "You're asking me?" Cass said,"I thought you were 'the King of Thieves'." She was being sarcastic and Auto knew it. He just gave her a dirty look. Cass smiled at him. "Watch and learn, big bro," she said. Cassandra skillfully navigated her way around the 'switches' to the gem. Then she reached inside her belt pouch and pulled out a rock which was about the same size and weight as the Flame Gem.
Carefully Cassandra took the Flame Gem and put the rock in it's place all in one move. "You're pretty good, Cassie," said Autolycus,"I'm impressed." "I learned from the best," she replied,"And don't call me Cassie." she back-flipped onto the window ledge and made her escape out the window.
"Cassandra!" Autolycus called her name but she didn't hear. He turned around and as he did he stepped on one of the switches in the floor. Just as Cassandra said poison darts shot out of the walls. Luckily Autolycus saw them coming. Immediately he dropped to the floor and rolled out of the way. Unfortunately he rolled into the pedastal, knocking the stone to the floor and setting off the alarm. The sound of dozens of bells rang out in a deafening clamour echoing throughout the palace. "Oh, this is just great!" Autolycus said as he rolled out of the way of the falling cage and got to his feet. He went back to the window and looked out in time to see his sister retreating into the darkness beyond.
Autolycus was about to go after her when the door flew open and two guards entered the room accompanied by thier king. "Arrest that man!" shouted the king. The guards grabbed Autolycus by the arms and took him from the room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PART 2: Partners In Crime
Cassandra hadn't gone far when she heard the sound of ringing bells. Instantly she knew that Autolycus had set off the alarm. She stopped running and turned back towards the palace. She knew that if she went back now she too would be arrested and of course, if they chose to search her, they would find the Flame Gem.
Cassandra stood staring at the palace, debating on whether she should go back or not. She of course didn't want to be caught but, for some strange reason, she couldn't bring herself to let Autolycus take the blame for her. After all he is her big brother and, though she hates to admit it, she loves the big jerk. "You are going to owe me big for this one, Autolycus," Cassandra said as she headed back towards the palace.
***************
"I tell you you've got the wrong man!" Autolycus was saying. The guards were leading him to a cell. "Yeah, yeah. That's what they all say," said one of the guards,"Get in there!" They pushed him into the cell and slammed the door behind him. "And don't even think about escaping," said the guard,"No one gets out of here...alive." They laughed as they walked away. "Well, this is a fine mess you've gotten yourself into, Autolycus," he said to himself. Autolycus walked over to the heavy wooden door and peeked through the bars on the small window. There were two guards standing just outside the door. There was no use in trying to get out that way. He'd only be caught and thrown back in jail.
Autolycus began to pace back and forth trying to come up with a plan to get himself out of this one. He started to talk to himself again. "When I get my hands on that sister of mine I'll-" "You'll what?" said a familiar voice. Autolycus turned around to see Cassandra standing in the cell behind him. "Cassandra, how did you get in here?" he wondered.
"Through there," she said pointing towards the ceiling. Autolycus looked up. High above thier heads was an opening big enough to crawl through. It was the only source of light in the miserable cell. "Well, that's great for getting in here," Autolycus said,"But we want out."
"Don't worry I've got a few tricks up my sleeve," Cassandra said to him. Autolycus looked at his sister for a moment. "Why'd you come back, Cass?" he asked,"You were home free. You could've taken the Flame Gem and run." "Well," she said,"For some reason I just couldn't bring myself to let you rot in this grimy hole. Even though I should leave you here."
"You can't leave me here," Auto said,"I'm your brother." "Exactly why I came back," Cass replied. Just then the cell's door began to open. "What's going on in here?" said the guard. Apparently he had heard the siblings talking.
"Nothing," said Autolycus. "Don't give me that," said the guard,"I heard voices in here." "Voices?" said Auto,"Oh, that was just me." "You?" said the guard. "Yeah, I was talking to myself," Auto replied. The guard seemed sceptical about this. But said,"Well, just keep it down in here." Then he left.
Autolycus looked around for his sister but didn't see her. "Cass," he called softly. She dropped down in front of him from somewhere above startling him as she did. Autolycus jumped. "Don't do that," he said,"Where were you?" Cassandra flashed him a mischievous grin. "Like I said," she told him,"I've got a few tricks up my sleeve."
With a flick of her wrist a grappling hook appeared in her hand. She tossed it up through the opening above and hooked it on something. "I see I've taught you well," Autolycus said proudly. Cassandra smiled at him again. "I'm surprised you didn't think of it yourself," she said.
"Well, I would have," said Autolycus,"But they took everything when they put me in here." "Everything?" Cassandra said arching an eyebrow at him. "Well, almost everything," Autolycus replied,"After all, I am the King of Thieves."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PART 3: Sibling Rivalry
Autolycus and Cassandra made thier escape into the woods beyond the palace walls. "Thanks for getting me out of there, Cass," Auto said. "Hey, what are sisters for?" she said to him. "Good question," Auto teased. Cass smacked him in the arm. "Ouch," he said.
"Come on," said Cass,"We'd better get out of here before those guards discover you're gone." "Yeah, let's go," Autolycus said. "Hold it right there, big bro," Cassandra said as she grabbed Auto's arm.
"Cass, what are you doing?" he asked. "This is mine," she said reaching inside his shirt. She pulled out the Flame Gem. "How'd that get in there?" Autolycus said.
Cassandra looked at him. "Oh, you're real funny," she said. She put the gem into a pouch on her belt. "Hey, wait a minute," said Autolycus,"Why do you get to keep the gem?"
"Because, my dear brother, I worked hard to get this baby," Cass said. "So, you're just gonna take the gem and run, huh?" he said. "That was the idea," she said.
"You won't even share the wealth with you big brother?" Autolycus said pretending to be hurt,"And after everything I've done for you." Cassandra looked at him again. "Uh-uh," she said,"That guilt trip won't work on me."
"It won't, huh?" Auto said. "Nope," she replied,"Besides isn't it enough that I broke your sorry butt out of jail?" "You'd think it would be," said Autolycus,"But you know me." "Only too well," said Cass,"I don't know why I didn't just leave you in there."
"Because you love me?" Auto suggested. "You wish," said Cass smiling at him,"Now come on. I think I hear someone coming."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PART 4: Caught In The Act
Cassandra thought she heard a noise. "Shh!" she said to Autolycus, "Do you hear that?" Autolycus listened for a moment. "Hear what?" he asked. "Shh!" Cass said again. "Cass, what are you talking about?" Auto said,"I don't hear-"
"I think I see something!" said a voice in the distance. Apparently the palace guards were getting closer.
"Let's get out of here," Cassandra said as she turned and headed deeper into the woods. "Right behind you, little sis," said Autolycus. The two of them ran through the woods in an attempt to get as far from the palace as they could. "Hey, Cass! Slow down!" Autolycus called after his sister. She stopped and turned around.
Autolycus was hunched over with his hands on his knees out of breath. "What's the matter, Auto? Getting too old to keep up with your little sister?" Cass teased. "Very funny," he said.
She walked over to stand beside him. "Come on, bro," Cass said,"We're not out of this yet." She grabbed Autolycus by the arm and began dragging him through the trees.
They hadn't gone very far when about six of the palace guards stopped them. The guards came out from behind the trees directly in front of the siblings with thier weapons drawn. "Hold it right there!" said one of the guards.
Cassandra and Autolycus stopped dead in their tracks. They were about to turn around and head back the other way when about a dozen more guards came up behind them accompanied by their king. The two were surrounded.
"Well, Cass," said Auto,"You got any more bright ideas?" Cassandra didn't get a chance to respond before the guards grabbed them. "Put these two in the dungeon!" said the king,"And this time see to it that they don't escape!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Part 5: Jail Break
Part 5: Jail Break
Cassandra and Autolycus were taken to the dungeon and put into a cell together. As soon as they were alone Autolycus turned to his sister. "Well, what's the plan for getting us out this time?" he asked.
"Why do I always have to come up with the plans?" Cass asked, "Why can't you think of something this time?" Autolycus didn't say a word. He just began to pace back and forth in the cell.
The siblings were silent for a few moments. Then suddenly Cassandra had a though. "I've got it!" she said excitedly. "Well?" said Autolycus, "Are you gonna tell me what it is?"
"Of course," she said, "It's so simple." She told Autolycus the plan. He smiled at her. "Cassandra, you're a genious!" he said. Cass smiled back. "That may be," she said, "But let's just hope this works.
**********
Autolycus peered out the tiny widow of the cell's door. "Ok, the gaurd's right outside," he said. "Good," said Cassandra, "Let's do this." "Right," said Autolycus.
He moved away from the door. "You know this is all your fault," he said loud enough for the guard to hear. "My fault?!?" said Cassandra, "You're the older sibling here. You're the one who's supposed to set a good example for me!"
"I can't believe we're related," said Autolycus, "If we ever get out of here I swear I'll kill you!" Cassandra had to stifle a giggle at that comment. "Don't over do it, bro," she whispered to Auto.
Part of the plan was to pretend they were fighting so the guard would come in to see what was going on. The siblings continued arguing louder and louder. Finally, after about ten minutes of this the cell door opened.
"What's going on in here?" the guard demanded as he entered. Autolycus began explaining that it was just good old fashioned sibling rivalry. He also demanded to be put into a separate cell.
Meanwhile, Cassandra had sneaked past the guard grabbing his keys as she did so. The guard turned around to face her. "What are you doing?!?" he demanded. "Nothing," she replied.
"Good," the guard said, "I've got my eye on you two. Now, knock it off and keep quiet!" With that the guard left the cell, slamming the door shut behind him.
Autolycus looked a Cassandra. "Well?" he asked. "I've got the key right here," she said. Cass held up the key she had removed from the guard's keyring. Autolycus smiled broadly.
"Cass, I could kiss you!" he said. Then he did just that. Cassandra wiped her cheek where her brother kissed her. "Thanks," she said, "Now, what do you say we get out of here?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
MORE TO COME!
