Rhea chuckled and stood on tiptoe, but saw only an empty hallway. "Did someone come in just now?"

"What's it to you? Leave!" a guard exclaimed sternly.

Rhea tried to be patient. "Who else came here besides me? Have you seen Lily?"

"Are you deaf? Get out of here!" The man began to chase her.

Rhea felt angry and helpless as the guard shoved her backward. More importantly, she was baffled. Lily had headed toward the stairwell; she must have passed this way. They couldn't have let her in; the queen kept her in the dark, just as she was. Lily would have told her if she intended to go. Where else could she have gone?

Suddenly, the commotion attracted attention from within. A deep voice called from the other end of the hallway, "What's the matter?"

Rick appeared, looking stern and upset. One of the guards whispered to him.

Rhea wanted to approach Rick, but the guards prevented her. She shouted, "Rick, I have something important to tell Her Majesty!" Just as the guards were about to scold her, Rick said, "Let her through."

Immediately, Rhea ran to him. "Is Her Majesty going through with the experiment now?"

Rick frowned. "What is it you want to tell the queen?"

"It's about Lily," Rhea said, momentarily stumped by his glare. "Has she come through here?"

"Why do you care?" Rick sized her up impatiently. "If you have nothing important to tell the queen, I suggest you leave immediately. Or else." The unspoken threat hung in the air.

"When I was experimenting in the lab, I discovered Lily wasn't taking her task seriously," Rhea explained, wanting to avoid being dismissed. "I even saw her come this way, but the guards claimed they didn't see her. She might have snuck in."

"Snuck in?" Rick's stiff expression changed; his eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

"Lily won't give up easily; she's very sly. Since the guards didn't notice her, and considering her kickboxing skills, could she have found another way in?" Rhea watched Rick's expression, then glanced toward the room. She could only see the closed door, but she could hear noises from within.