Chapter 1
I thought I was strong and nothing could move me from the path I was on. I thought that nothing could hurt me anymore, because I have been through it all. From court politics, evil kings and queens, powerful families and betrayal. But I was wrong. The last week has been the hardest week of my life. Not only have I had to wrap my head around what is changing and has changed, but also what Cal has done to me. I keep replaying our time together, from the day I met him when he was just a simple boy, to the time I found out he was a crown prince. I keep replaying the times he has saved me, the times I had saved him and the times we spent in each others arms. Nothing felt safer and I wasn't more sure of anything as I was of us. That we would survive this. Even in death, we would stay Cal and Mare.
This week has been the hardest week of my life. And what makes it worse is the fact that I have to keep moving, keep striking my enemies. Even if I love the one I need to strike down.
"Mare, are you ready. What is taking so long" Cameron comes through the door, barging in as usual. The girl needs to learn how to knock. She is dressed in the same gear as I am, her hair tied back.
"Yes, I'm coming" I say as I strap my knife to my thigh holster. My hair is up and im wearing all black too. Farley managed to get us some new clothes. Sturdy gear, probably used by Silver military. The pockets on these pants are enough to give you a headache if you forget where you put something. "Have you heard of knocking. I could be naked Cam" I throw her a sarcastic smile.
"Naked? Where?" Kilorn pops his head through the door, smirking. "Nothing I haven't seen before" he scoffs.
"You wish" I remark, blushing. The thought of Kilorn seeing me naked makes me cringe. He is like my brother. But at least we are speaking and joking. Without him, I don't know where I would be.
"Lets go" I say and push my way past them both and make my way down the hall. The boots that Farley managed to get us all are great. Although the shoelaces are a mission to do up, once they are on, the shoes support even the worst terrain. And the last week has been day after day of trekking and preparing.
Ever since Cal and Evangaline have taken over and declared their unity, I have made it my mission to stay away from any politics and deal with the war. Deal with the turmoil that everyday brings. I swore I would protect the Reds. My lightening is the only thing I can rely on anymore.
After I left Cal on the balcony, some of the Reds, including Farley, Kilorn and Cameron decided to find a new base. Some of the Scarlet Guard stayed at various sites, close enough to be able to report movement, but we decided to move further north, to an abandoned frontier. Slowly different members moved up to us and now there is about 60 of us. One of the old estates near the frontier is where we set up the main base. I get my own room, which is great, but the nights get lonely. I usually end up exhausting myself with situps, or I cry endless tears. Sounds so girly, but this week has been hard. It feels good to finally be able to go out on a mission. Save more reds.
We make it to the makeshift office, which is actually an old dining hall. Farley is there when we all enter, and everyone is working tirelessly, transmitting and decoding radio chatter. Anything that shows us movement from Maven or any of our many enemies. A week ago there was a message from King Tiberius Calore blah blah. I threw it in the fire. I told everyone after that, any messages from Cal are to be destroyed, that I didn't care. They got the point after that.
"About time you all made it. Blackbird leaves in 15." Farley says looking up from her papers for just a moment. "You remember what we are doing right. What the mission is?" she looks at us all, one by one. Cameron and I are supposed to infiltrate one of the silver camps while Kilorn helps load everyone on the plane. A couple of other volunteers are there to take the prisoners back and forth, but Cameron and I are the main attackers. Although Cal promised no reds would be hurt, we still feel its better to get them out of the grasp of some of the silver generals who are not so "Pro Red" or "Pro Scarlet Guard". Even Cal has enemies greater than me, some closer than he knows.
"We're ready. How many are in the camp?" I ask looking down at all the mess of papers. Geez, I work with slobs.
"25 Reds are in the camp. Apparently they have been treated well" Farley says, unconvinced.
"Yeah, I'm sure they are treated just fine, trapped in a cage controlled by douche silver generals" I roll my eyes at the thought. I know what it is like to be trapped by silvers.
"Be careful. See you soon" she says, not going in for a hug but showing me she is worried by smiling at me. Farley never smiles. I know she is worried when she smiles.
Cameron, Kilorn and I make our way to Blackbird. I hate flying. It always reminds me of the last time, when my eyes kept darting back and forth to the pilot seat. I was used to Cal being there with me. I shake the thought as we board the plane and strap ourselves in. We don't talk. We don't go over anything. There is nothing to say, because we know what we have to do. I'm not supposed to use lightning unless it is an emergency. I am supposed to just use my fighting skills. Once the guards are knocked out, we take 5 Reds and a time, away from the camp and to the Blackbird. The trek to the camp is a little far since we have to stop further away to not arouse suspicion, but, all in all the boots make me want to run. Its comfortable.
When we get to the drop zone, I lead Cameron and the others to the edge of the camp. Before we even get close I hear the buzzing. Its busy, people everywhere. Silvers everywhere. The confusion masks everyones faces, and I can see Cameron's eyebrows come together in confusion. I make a motion with my hand, telling them to stop. I need to go and see why it is so busy. This was supposed to be a small camp. No more than 100. Why does it feel like a festival that Mareena used to attend. In her previous life as a fake royal. I scoff at the thought.
As I make my way past the shrub, I find a lookout zone. Enough to see the vast field that the silvers have set up camp. I scan the crowd, look for generals. My eyes suddenly rest on a familiar face, a beautiful face, one that used to lay against the back of my neck while I heard his breathing as we slept. A face that kissed me in the dark nights and did things I still dream about. Spoke to me when it felt like no one was listening. Cal. I see his face and I freeze. This mission is going to be even more difficult than I imagined. Because the one person who I didn't want to see is here. Greeting the generals, in his perfect suit. Military cut suit, dark and sexy. I shake the thought off. He is not sexy. He is a traitor. I hate him. I remind myself. Not sexy Mare. I look back at Cameron who looks at me as if to ask whats going on. I shake my head and glance back at Cal. One week I couldn't last without seeing him. One week Mare. The thought angers me. I don't want this. I don't want to see him, much less steal Reds from right under his royal visit.
Cal. I shake my head again. How the hell do I get out of this. How the hell do I get out of this without seeing him. I know its impossible, but I push the sudden desire of seeing him away and remind myself why I am here. Cal wont get in the way. No. He has gotten in the way of too much already.
Lets do this.