Okay so all the italic are words from the actual book. The words in bold are my words. Being the narrator. Anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter! I don't own Red Queen! Obviously...

Badwolf711: Thank you! And the wait is over!

Ashara POV:

"All of you have come to honor my son and the kingdom, and so I honor you!" Tiberius shouts across the room. To be honest I zoned out most of the "Death to the Scarlet Guard" and the whole introductions. Everyone knows who everyone is.

"I honor your right to rule. The future king, the son of my son, will be of your silverblood, as he will be of mine. Who will claim their right?"

That's when people started "claiming" Queenstrial. Leaders of houses stood up to claim Cal and sell their daughters to the King. The thought makes me sick, wondering how it would feel to be handed off like, like a, like a Red. Then again, I know that Tiberius won't give me away, I'm too valuable. I know it, he knows it, and so does everyone else.

"Then it has begun. Lord Provos, if you would." And Queenstrial began. Provos, telky, shows her power. Then the electricity starts, it doesn't last long, but nobody is controlling that lightning without thunder. (**wink wink, nudge nudge**)

"Rohr, of House Rhambos. Strongarm" I've heard of Strongarms, I've never fought one myself, but they could snap me in half.

Heron of House Welle comes next. She's a greeny, not very impressive but useful especially when food could be low.

A nymph of House Osanos. I don't remember her name, nor do I care. She won't be chose, Fire and Water don't mix. Water would kill fire, and Tiberius won't let that happen.

Swifts and shadows, pass by quickly. Oblivions won't make the cut, the girl is barely 12. It was when it was Evangeline's turn that I pay attention. I hope we could be friends, I don't have many and we got along decently when we were younger. Also, she's extremely powerful.

That's when it happened. The new red servant. I don't know exactly what happened, but the Red she almost electrocuted Evangeline, she fell against the electric shield. She should be dead, but she's alive. All silvers and reds alike looked in awe and confusion at the Red girl who survived. Everything happened so fast and next thing I knew, I was in my room while she was being interrogated.

I took off my dress and changed into something more comfortable, unlike most of the girls here, I don't have to wear a dress everywhere I go. I don't see royal people that much and I'm not surrounded by cameras as much as Cal or Maven is. Though, there are people who want to know about me. Is she even still alive? Why does she have gold blood? What is her ability? Questions, questions, questions. Maybe the public will get their answer, maybe not. I change into grey sweatpants and a white shirt. I tie my hair up and put a gold ribbon in my hair.

There was nothing for me to do and I can pretty much roam the castle on my own, I don't need bodyguards, bodyguards need me. I run all the way to my personal workout room. (So I imagine, her workout room is like the a small room where the bad guys work out and fight. It's dark and grey and there are a lot of heavy duty equipment, that's what I imagine.) I'm there alone, probably dealing with the little lighting girl. I set up my black, it's the toughest, punching bag and kick the living shit of it. I feel like I haven't worked out in forever, I'm definitely losing some tone. I kick, punch, beat that bag until my hands bleed gold. I quickly cover up my wounds and run back to my room.

On my way, I ran into Evangeline. Surprised she's still walking.

"Princess, so who do you think won Queenstrial?" she asked the question as if I knew the answer. I didn't know, for I all I know it could have been the fucking 12 year old. I don't know, and after everything with the little lightning girl, I could care less.

"I don't know, um, I guess you. You were the only decent one."

"That's rude towards the other girls, don't you think?" This isn't the Evangeline I met long ago, she wasn't intentionally trying to make everyone hate me, right now she is. Maybe it's jealousy, maybe it's fear, but I know when someone is plotting against me, the king, Cal, Mother, or Maven, and they don't always end up alive.

"Okay..." I start to walk away she talks again. God, that's annoying.

"Ashara, what's your ability? If you even have one?" I stop dead in my tracks and turn towards her. Okay, bitch. I see how it is, you know I really hoped we could've been friends, now eh.

"Well, I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you." Literally. I'm serious, if she knows my ability, Tiberius might just have me kill her.

"That's code for: I don't have one." she snickered and soon the other Queenstrial girls came into the hallway. Ugh. They looked like perfect princesses, fitting because one of them will be the next queen.

"Gold blood and yet no ability. Maybe the Red in you overpowered the Silver. Oh wait that's impossible, Reds can't overpower Silver." She spoke louder when the Red servants were walking past us.

"With no ability, you're useless. Disposable. Why are you even here?" Even if I didn't have an ability, I am not disposable. I could kick her ass with or without my ability. Matter just helps make it end quicker, for her sake.

"You know what? It doesn't matter, we'll all see it, if you have it, when we're training. Good day, princess." She used the word princess like it was supposed to insult me... mission accomplished.

I walk away back to my room, ugh I wish I killed her instead of her great-grandfather. No, I wish I didn't kill anyone. I wish that I was the innocent little silver girl that those other girls are.

I sit on my bed and think about the little lightning girl. The one that my mother is is interrogating as we speak. She's Red and she isn't dead. She should be dead. I wonder what's going through her mind, she's probably as scared as everyone else in that room. I wasn't, I was shocked, not scared. I have nothing to be scared of... other than Tiberius.

I lay on my gold sheets and sleep for what feels like two minutes, but was actually two hours. Lucas Samos, my personal favorite guard, knocked on my door to bring me to... wherever I was supposed to go.

"Lucas! How are you? What's up?"

"I'm good, princess. Just so you know, I will no longer be your personal guard."

"Were you ever my personal guard. I kind of just thought that you had nothing better to do so you claim you're doing your job."

"Shhh, they can't know my secret. Anyways, this will be the last time we walk together."

"This is sentimental, I think I'm going to cry." I obviously fake cry and act all offended and sad.

"Well, this is you. Good day, princess. And tell me what happens in there."

"Will do."

I walk into the throne room. Tiberius sitting on his throne, mother on hers, Maven on his... chair, and Cal on his chair. Family meeting. Super.

"Great, Ashara, you're here. Sit we need to talk to someone." Tiberius' voice echoed through the throne room. No one was in it. As far as I knew.

"Oh shit, what did I do now?"

"Ashara, for once this isn't about you. It's about the Red girl." my mother's voice made me turn my attention to her.

"The one who should be burnt to a crisp?"

"Yes. Now, sit."

Me being obedient I sit down next to Maven, like always. That's when the lightning girl came in. She was dressed in a long-sleeved white shirt and black pants. The shoes are black oiled boots that rise to her knees. They are plain, but don't have one fabric of red on it. Lucky. She looks down at her boots avoiding our eyes.

"You will kneel." The Queen murmurs, her voice as soft as velvet.