Part 1: Allegiance

Joel counted the number of squares in his wallpaper for the hundredth time. He was certain there were fifty-five, but that didn't count the ones behind his bed and wardrobe. It was a habit, he knew. Every time something bothered him, or upset him, instead of getting angry he'd count. Whatever was around him that grabbed his attention would do. For now, it was the peculiar little green squares spaced out against a white background along his walls.

What upset him? Everything.

Estella was gone. That much was certain. It had been three weeks since The Rebel League's raid on the Stone Industries factory and their encounter with the Shadow King and nobody had heard from her. Joel could still hear the ringing in his ears from when the King had blasted them all away with a flare of energy. None of them could do anything but watch as their leaders, Harley and Estella, had fought for their lives against an unbeatable foe. Eventually, the King had worn them out, but at the same time one of his apprentices, Shadow Knight, had released the barrier keeping the team out and allowed them to surround the King. Unfortunately, for a reason that Joel was yet to know, Estella had agreed to join the King and they had both disappeared, along with her dad and Shadow Knight. Now, the team was back in their little worn out house, still figuring out what to do next. Without the help of Estella or Harley, it was up to Joel to call the shots.

There was no time to grieve.

Joel's door opened slowly and he looked up to find Ruby, his girlfriend, poking her head in.

"Hi." She said, stepping in and closing the door behind her. "Mind if I sit?"

Joel nodded silently and Ruby sat beside him on his bed with her hands in her lap. She was wearing a lovely pair of dark blue jeans with a brown jacket and ugg boots and her light brown hair was spun into a messy bun on top of her head. It must've been cold outside, but Joel didn't notice. He was still wearing his green jumper and black trackies from yesterday.

"Do you want some lunch? I'm making sandwiches." She asked, with a pleading look in her blue eyes. For weeks, Joel had been trying to eat as much as he used to, but recent events had left his stomach turning constantly. Ruby had been doing her best to cheer him up, and sometimes it worked. Other times, he was just too wrapped up in self-hate.

He sighed. "Sure. Sorry for being so lazy lately."

"It's fine." Ruby replied, getting up and heading for the door. "Join us in the kitchen in ten? We're having a meeting."

Joel nodded, not really paying attention, and spent the next ten minutes guessing how many arrows he could fit into one square. The smell of Ruby's sandwiches eventually wafted into his room and involuntarily carried him into the kitchen. There, Ruby and her sister, Thea, sat in silence at a large wooden table of dark oak. The rest of the house had varying shades of the same wood, creating a forest cottage theme.

"Is this it?" Joel asked, looking around to see if any of the other rooms were open.

Thea nodded slowly, her purple eyes ringed with dark shadows. Most likely due to lack of sleep. "The rest of the team is busy. Kira and Tristan are down at the new greenhouse by the forest; Briannon went back to her old base a few hours ago to collect some things and Ella's gone back to The Crime Lords to try and convince Wills to change his mind."

"Why?" Ruby asked.

Thea swiped her black fringe away from her eyes. Joel noticed that it had grown a bit since the battle, and it now hung down to the base of her neck. "After Stell was... taken, Wills ran off to try and find them, remember?"

Joel could recall seeing his ex-leader and Tristan disappear into the bush shortly after they had all followed Harley outside the factory. It already seemed like ages ago.

Ruby nodded and rested her chin on her elbow.

"Well," Thea continued. "Apparently he plans on assassinating Anthony. Of course, that was his plan beforehand, but now that the King is involved he's taken it as a challenge. Ella's trying to persuade him to join the team, but it's not working."

"Naturally." Joel grunted. "He won't listen to anyone once he makes up his mind."

Ruby sighed. "What about Harley?"

Silence. The three of them looked down steadily, as if a bad memory was resurfacing. Joel remembered how distraught his best friend had seemed after seeing his girlfriend vanish and not been able to do anything.

"As far as I know." Thea said quietly. "He's back at Woongarrah. In the bush."

Joel frowned. "The treehouse got trashed. Tristan told us."

"Oh well." Ruby sighed. "He's not back yet, and he probably won't be back for a while. Which means we need to handle things around here now."

Joel looked at his untouched sandwich in front of him, deciding that he wasn't hungry. "What can we do, though?"

Thea shrugged and Ruby avoided his gaze. Since the battle, the Rebel League had done nothing productive except go on a few heists to snag money and food. Also plants, occasionally. Joel was just about sick of it, which was unlike him. His whole life had revolved around random stealth missions and thievery, but lately the thrill had been missing. There was no enjoyment anymore.

Joel stood up, much to the two girls' surprises. "All we know is that the Shadow Court is seemingly unstoppable. Especially now that Estella is with them, as far as we know. What are we supposed to do to stop them?"

"I don't know!" Thea snapped. "If we knew, don't you think we'd be acting already!"

"Enough." Ruby stood up and held her arms out between them. "Yes, we're all  tired and frustrated about this, but fighting won't solve anything!"

Joel scoffed. "All I ever do is fight!" He then stormed back to his room, ignoring the hurt look that Ruby had given him, and slammed the door.

Thea stuck her tongue out as the sound echoed through the house.