My readers, I am so sorry I didn't' update on time! If you can find where I live, I give you full permission to slap me across the face! Thanks so much for sticking with the story, these next two chapters will either kill you or make you cry tears of joy!

Enjoy! "The power is in me and I don't want to let go. It feels better than pain."

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Mare

"I have to leave," I say loudly. I quickly stand up from my chair and half run out of the room. I practically sprint back to my chambers, desperately needing a bathroom. I manage to unlock my door at a new record speed, and dive into the bathroom. Retching up every last bit food I had ate for breakfast, I begin to cry. I scream in anger. He knows everything. He knows there are infiltrators in the palace, and he knows about Cal and I. He's coming to take me again, I might as well say this is my death sentence. I continue to scream, and begin to leach all of the electricity from my room, then from the hallway, then from the wing. Maybe I took out the entire palace's energy. It feels good to be in control of one thing, when there is absolutely nothing else you can control in this world.

After a while, I stop screaming, sure that enough people have heard my agony. Plenty of people have heard my screaming, I'm sure. But everyone who heard the sound is too afraid to come check on me. I sit on my bathroom floor in silence, staring at the door, thinking. Although I'm in a haze, I thought I heard a voice over an intercom say they would pay anyone a large amount of money if they checked to make sure I hadn't killed myself yet. No one ever came. I later find myself wandering towards my bed, peeling off the covers and sinking into them. The fine silk sheets feel nice against my bare arms.

A few hours later, while I'm still laying in bed, the power flickers back on. I scowl at the light bulb, using my electricity to overload and pop the bulb. I do the same with as many as I can feel in the hallways, and in other rooms. I then decide to completely short the power out all around the palace. If I have no light in my life why should they? If it took the palace staff a few hours to regain power from my first outage, it'll take days for them to regain this one. I walk out to my second-floor balcony, peering down at the soldiers training. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Farley, making wild hand gestures at no one in particular, continuing to offer gifts and money to anyone who checks on me. All of the soldiers pretend to not notice, they're scared of me.

I see one soldier walk up to Farley, and rip the letter out of her hands. They quickly read the message and then sprint away. I wonder who it was. Maybe Kilorn or Cameron.

*****

A few minutes later, I hear pounding on my door. Trying to scare them off, I flicker the bulb right outside my door, if it hasn't popped yet. If it had popped, sparks are flying out of the socket.

To no avail, they continue to knock. I send a spark at the door, not enough to kill, but enough to go unconscious or at least scare them.

Then the doorknob begins to melt. Cal. I look up at the doorway, just in time to see him burst through. He comes straight towards me and cups my tear stained cheeks.

"We won't let him take you, I promise," he breathes.

"You can't promise that," I say angrily.

"Look at me," he says pushing my chin up. "We defended Corvium, if we can defend an entire city, I think we can defend a single person."

"A bullet can kill a single person, but not a city. You know he has moles here, don't you? One of them could just pull me into a closet someday and kill me." I state quietly, with wide eyes.

"I promise on my life it won't come to that. I'll become your bodyguard if needed," he states matter of factly.

I look into his bronze eyes. Somedays I have no trouble looking into them and others I'd consider running a marathon instead of looking. "Will you? I mean, become my bodyguard?" I ask half joking.

With no hint of sarcasm or jest, he says "If you'd like me to."

I smile to myself. Oh stars, I'm falling for him again. After everything he's done, I still want him. This is ridiculous.

Instead of saying what I was thinking, "Thank you," I whisper.

"Maven knows about us." Cal acknowledges.

"I'm aware," I whisper. "He probably has security cameras in here, so faint I can't sense. Honestly, I'm surprised he hasn't come for me yet. His army is most likely still regrouping after Corvium."

"You know, Farley didn't want to anger you any more, but he also sent a dress," Cal spoke softly.

"Is it red?" I asked. Cal nodded at my question. "Maven used to tell me I looked alive in red. Perhaps red was just used to cover how dead I looked."

"I promise on my life." He says again.

"You can't, you can't," I repeated. Cal looked at me with those bronze eyes. Bronze eyes I'd usually melt in. "You can't. You can't save me. You couldn't save your brother. You can't even keep a promise." I accused in a loud whisper. "So many secrets. So many lies. You didn't even tell me it was you who invented the clicker." Cal paled to a near shade of white.

"I didn't want you to be angry," he mumbled.

"Just like how you didn't want me to be angry about the crown?" I snarl in a hushed tone. If my words made him hurt, emotion doesn't betray him.

"I don't- I," before he finishes, I get up to leave. As I walk down the hallway, I find several guards.

"You wanna put me in silent stone?" I scream at them. "Go ahead, I better build up my endurance for my return to the palace!"

*****

I walk out to the green space, where I had seen Farley with the soldiers. I find her in the exact same space, not having moved one foot.

"I'm sorry about the power," I say, from behind her. She turns quickly, not appearing mad, just frustrated.

"They don't blame you," she muttered.

"I see news gets around quickly here."

Quickly changing the subject, Farley asks "Would you like to see your dress? I assume Calore told you."

It was nearly a fact that everyone could see the boiling taking place in my eyes, but Farley ignored it. "I'd love to."

"It's just inside," she said, pointing to a door. "You can try it on if you wish."

I wandered inside at an agonizingly slow pace, avoiding the inevitable. A few moments later, my eyes came in contact with the deep red fabric. Complete lace sleeves, the body adorned with scarlet gemstones, most likely rubies. Lace accents ran down the skirt. The dress was gorgeous, I had to admit. The work of the stitches was like no other, nothing like any of the other dresses I had ever worn. Too many reds had slaved over making this dress. Alongside the dress, was a pair of simple black heels, not too high. Maven knew my tastes all too well. There was also two buckets of white paste and a mask. It was a masquerade ball after all. The mask leveled up to the dress easily. A base coat of silver, with gold studs around the sides. A single red tear ran down the right eye. I single tear ran down my right eye. It was all too grand. But I must wear it.

I stared at the dress, attempting to burn a hole in it with my eyes. I would have to wear that in one months time. In one month's time, I would be stronger, faster and far more lethal. I take the dress, to my room and try it on. Creepily, it fits me perfectly, the soft silk hugging me.

I exit the room and head to the fourth floor. I shouldn't be on this floor as much as I have been, I think to myself. I double knock on the door, not really knowing why I came here.

Just as Cal opens the door, I say "Do you think Maven will like it?"

After a good five seconds of staring, "Why wouldn't he? I'm sure he was there for every second watching over the seamstresses." Cal states.

"You're probably right," I murmur. "May I come in?" I question.

Without speaking, he opens the door wider and makes a hand gesture to come in. I tentatively walk in.

I sway back and forth between emotions with Cal. One moment I hate him with every fiber of my being and others I still feel something. Love.

Snapping from my daze, I quickly glance around the room. It looks the same as last time, not decorated more than a guest room would be.

"Is there a reason you're here?" Cal asks, trying to not seem rude.

"None in particular," I mumble, still analyzing his chambers. My eyes darts to the picture frame, the same as last time. Looking at that picture will never get old. I close my eyes momentarily, and when open again, I realize, from that picture. There will be dancing at Maven's ball. I bite my lip, knowing only a single person who can offer me lessons. He's standing right next to me, and there are some days I'd like to electrocute him.

"Will you teach me to dance, again?" I ask. I know Cal well enough to know he'll do this for me. Anything to redeem himself. Anything to temporarily stop the eating guilt inside of him. From what he's done to me.

He smiles tightly, "I'd love to, do you want to start tomorrow?"

I nod, "Tomorrow will do. Thank you, Cal." I murmur the last part. As I'm leaving, I hear the slightest whisper, so small I wasn't supposed to hear it. "Anything for you."

I waltz into my room, wanting to put a show on for the security cameras.

"Well? Do you like it?" I speak to no one in particular. Honestly, I probably sound like a total idiot to anyone listening outside. "I know you have cameras and microphones in here, Maven. So I decided to put on a performance." I play up my confidence. I really don't know whether there are security cameras in here. "I find it odd and disturbing you managed to create a dress that fits me so well," I continue on with my speech. "But I have to admit, I agree, red is my color." I twirl around in the garment to prove the point. "Have a good evening with Iris, Maven," I conclude, disappearing into my closet. I can only hope he has the decently to keep the cameras out of my closet and bathroom, I shiver at the thought.

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