Faction Before Blood: My Faction is My Blood

by Lunaschild2016

She was the bastard of a Daunltess and an Erudite. The product of a teenage affair that turned deadly. Now she returns to what she has always felt was her home faction, Dauntless. She has a mission that vows to complete or die trying. Too much and too many are at stake if she fails. A certain ruthless leader vows to make sure that her dying never happens. Eric/oc, AU, No War T/M

2. Chapter 2

A/N: Not another Eric story you scream. Well to bad, he haunts me until I fill his coffers with more fan girls and guys. He is a greedy bastard. I am going to attempt a darker Eric and a darker OC and story. I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter. As always I love reads and reviews. I will be resuming work on Hardlines and Catching Silver after this weekend and when my parents head back home from a week long visit. Maybe that was what inspired darkness….parents. Just kidding (sorta kinda maybe). Hope enjoy the next bit

Also this is an edit that I am finally getting around to doing. No big changes but hope you enjoy.

Chapter 2

Zoe

I made my way to the dorm to shower and change and realized I had forgotten to eat but shrugged and made my way to my locker and bed. Tris looked down at me from my bottom bunk and frowned but didn't say anything. I appreciated that more than I could say and resolved to help her out how I could. They were cutting this year and she needed to make it. Her parents being who they were would make her a target as well as the fact that she had a secret. I made it my business to know who was being targeted. I couldn't do my job unless I did. I would have to think about what I could do to help her for stage 2.

Edward followed me over to my bed and sat down on it. "You ok?" he asked softly and glared at Peter as he walked in and over to his bed.

"Peachy, just needed to blow off some steam. I am going to jump in the shower really quick." He nods and lays on my bed to wait for me.

I open my locker and start to pull out everything I would need. When I open the locker though I find a note, a large folded sketch paper and a box of food with some fruit, a sandwich, some tabasco sauce, and a piece of chocolate cake. I frown and open the note.

'You didn't make dinner. Make sure to eat. Don't get piercings until after fights. Here is a sketch I made, offer still stands. E'

I feel my stomach do a small flip but internally cuss myself out. I open the sketch it is a pretty big paper. He has drawn the figure of a woman's collarbone and above the chest area along the swell of the breast, the back and hips. The pattern is the Samoan tribal tattoo swirls and patterns.

The colors are black and faded black melding into each other. Within the tribal swirls and lines are faint images. I make out the dauntless symbol and some of the manifestos scattered throughout the entire design. I examine it closely and realize it isn't just the Dauntless manifestos but also the Erudite ones and then there are also the other faction's symbol which is the most surprising, especially coming from him.

It would take a very keen eye to even make them out they are hidden so well and are almost made to look as if they are watermarks. Faint and only visible from certain angles. There are also symbols for strength, beauty, change and love all through the tattoo. It would only be on one collar bone, well actually just below it to follow the curve from the breast swell and up onto the shoulder. But the hips and back would have broken swirls of it.

Each one moved along my natural curvature and where it would be. On the back part that goes up into the neck from across both shoulders are the words 'Faction before blood. My faction is my blood'. On the hip part on one side are the words 'It's all one heartbeat to the next' and finally on the other hip is 'I once had strings but now am free'.

My heart catches at how he has put in all of the things I could ever want to put in but really starts beating when I see the words of my father at his death. He was there so he knows it from that but why would he put it in the tattoo if he did not recognize or remember me? Either way I love the entire design. It would look both feminine and strong. The only addition I could make is a flower, a lotus one actually.

I put the drawing back carefully and left the food in the locker for the moment. Then I grabbed my toiletries, night clothes and new underwear. I put my gear in neatly and strapped my skateboard to the top of the locker to hold it in place.

I went to the shower and couldn't help but sigh when Peter stepped in and took one beside me too. I quickly toweled off, dressed and brushed out my hair. I braided it still wet so hopefully it would be manageable when I woke up. I put everything up where it needed to go and grabbed my music player and headphones. Lastly I grabbed the box of food and went to my bed.

"Feel better?" Edward asked still lying on my bed.

"I don't know. Peter said he wanted me back and I don't want him like that but.." I shrugged but didn't finish. I stretched out beside him in my bunk and opened the box.

"But you love him and care for him. Only he won't understand you just want to be friends?" He finished for me and I nodded.

Edward watches as Peter walks by to his bunk opposite me in his towel.

Peter gets to his bunk and drops the towel and gets dressed right there, staring at me the whole time. I had already looked into the box when I saw him come out in the towel but I meet his eyes and I am sure he saw the pain in my eyes. I felt drained.

"Wow, he really is trying hard isn't he?" Edward asked worriedly.

I sprinkle a little hot sauce on my sandwich and the rest on my cake. Edward takes some fruit and frowns in the box.

"Eric got that didn't he?" He asked very softly.

"Yeah, don't know why though. Maybe he just wants to make sure I won't die on our first day." I can't help the smile that comes to my face or the flutter in my stomach at Eric's actions.

"Maybe. Lauren said she has never seen him smile before besides with his best friend and never ever at an initiate. Just be careful if something does develop with him. I don't want to see you hurt again." He frowned at me.

"Nothing is going to develop. He is a leader and I am an initiate. Also I don't date and you know that. I am certainly not going to do it during the most important four weeks of our lives." I sigh wishing that it wasn't all so complicated. I just don't want to feel anything for Eric when he would probably just end up hating me because of my mother.

I eat some cake and a little bit more of the sandwich. "I can't eat anymore. It all just tastes like sawdust right now. I am going to throw this away."

I get up and make my way to throw the box away and I see Eric in the doorway. He tilts his head at me and gives a small smile then blushes. I realize I am in a tank and underwear only. I smile at him and for a moment I am rooted to the spot just looking into the abyss of his eyes. I shake myself out of it.

I sign "Goodnight and thanks" and walk to my bed.

"Lights out remember training tomorrow at 8am. Be ready to work" He calls and looks at me one more time as I crawl over Edward into my bed. I am sitting against the headboard and fiddling with my music player.

"You want to sleep here tonight Edward?" I smile over at him sadly.

"I miss her." He frowns.

The lights go out and when I look back Eric is gone. I sigh and lean into Edward. "I know you do. I do too. Stay here and maybe it will make us both feel better."

He nods then we scoot down and crawl under the scratchy covers and blanket. The bed isn't really that big and we have to maneuver a bit.

"This isn't going to work." He growls. "Switch sides, I will get against the wall and lay on my side. It will free up more room."

"Fine, but you get up before I have to feel your morning wood." I grouch.

"Zoe!" He yells and I giggle. "Brat." I can hear his smile and he wraps his arms around me. I feel him hug me close and inhale after we get settled again. "You smell good, you always smell good." He mumbles and I smile a bit.

I yawn and look at my watch then set the alarm "6:00?" I ask.

"If you want your coffee you better."

"Ok, night Edward."

"Night Zoe"

I fall asleep to the newly downloaded music that is programmed into my music file and the rising and falling of Edward's chest behind me. When I dream though, it is of the haunting abyss of steel grey and blue eyes and a hand on my waist.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

ERIC

I knew the moment I saw her that there was something familiar about her. I saw the streak of blue and flash of red hair. She landed and would have been ok had it not been for the grinning Candor boy that purposely landed on top of her.

I saw him lying on top of her and was pissed. Mainly because I didn't want to have to deal with some fucking couple in training. There was also something else that pissed me off about it that I pushed down immediately, calling myself ridiculous.

"Son of a bitch! You did that shit on purpose!" Then I heard the unmistakable sound of something being hit hard enough to take the wind out of a man and the baritone out of his voice. I would have almost chuckled if I didn't feel his pain a little bit.

"Fucking hell Zoe. You didn't have to rack me."

"You're lucky I didn't fucking do worse to you Peter!" Well at least one initiate had some spirit and maybe even some skill? Stranger things had happened. Then there was the fact that they obviously aren't a couple and that pleased me for some reason.

I got a better look at Zoe. She had multi-colored red hair. Never settling on one shade as the sun and shadows play out in it. It was coming out of her long braid, like it wouldn't be contained any more than she would. I couldn't make the color out completely but her eyes looked to be a beautiful blue color with flecks of deeper blues and ice blue.

She wasn't bad on the eyes at all with her tan skin and firm body. She didn't have a lot in the tit area a good handful but that wasn't a big deal to me to be honest. She had some nice curves with an almost hour glass figure. Whatever she did in Erudite she at least kept fit.

She made her way closer to the front and I saw that same Candor guy shove his friends away and go after her. I tensed thinking there might be a fight but he just went back to trying to get her to stay by him.

"Get fucking back here Zoe. Don't go up there with them." The punk said sneering at the Dauntless-born around. I turned to glare at him. Fucking punk. I am minutes away from just tossing him over the ledge as our first jumper until the girl jerks away from him and anger flashes on her face. She straightens out her hand and throat chops him the grabs his head and knees him in the face and pushes back to his friends. Inside I am feeling smug as shit and even proud of her.

"You forget I am not your girlfriend Peter, we barely even went out. So before your Candor smart mouth gets you into any more trouble, you better remember whose roof you stand on. Touch me again and I will throw you off." She yells at him and I so want to applaud her right there. I can see some of the Dauntless-born appraise her as worthwhile.

"Excuse me for fucking caring Zoe." He growls out as he shoves his chick friend away from him as she tries to examine his lip.

She moves away again and the Dauntless-born smile and clap her back. She pulls up even with Uriah Pedrad and his two friends Marlene and Lynn. They introduce themselves as well all wait for the others to get off the train.

"Zoe is it? Nice going there. My name Uriah, this lovely lady is Marlene and that is Lynn." Uriah smiles that cheesy Pedrad smile. Not even registering he just insulted one of his friends. But Zoe picks up on it right away. With her raised eyebrow she calls him on it.

"Hello Uriah, Marvelous Marlene and Luscious Lynn." And winks at Lynn who checks out her ass after throwing back her head and laughing. Well I guess that answers what way that girl swings.

"Wow! A bad ass, gorgeous, none stuck up Erudite! Now I have seen everything." I inwardly agree she is nothing like the Erudite I knew.

"Someone had to call Uriah's bad game out." Even Uriah smiled about that.

"Did you really date a Candor? That Candor?" I think we all are looking at the punk and trying to figure that out. How does an Erudite even get with a Candor?

The guy just didn't know when to stop and he was still winking at her. "Good fucking gods. You would think he would take the hint from me basically almost killing any chance he has at offspring and a knee to the face. And yes we were technically "boyfriend and girlfriend" within the confines of school. Not like we saw each outside of it except for this one rave I snuck out to go to and he followed me to it."

I take a moment to process that. He definitely needed to stop. He just looked desperate by now. The fact that it wasn't even real dating doesn't even need a second thought and that was just even sadder. The fact that this girl likes raves is pretty cool. Very unlike an Erudite.

"Oh so it was like a grade school boyfriend girlfriend thing? Well that isn't any fun." No shit Sherlock probably why he isn't a current boyfriend.

I see her register I am there and recognize me. Not many remember me from Erudite so this merits watching. She doesn't show fear though, doesn't show contempt or anger either. I see a bit of respect and trying to distance herself from the trouble asshole was causing.

"What is it Peter." She growls at him through a clenched jaw.

"Don't get all sassy with me. I am just trying to make sure you don't do anything stupid." Gods I am fucking tired of this punk. Let me just get this shit over with and get on with our day.

"Gods give me strength to NOT throw Hayes off the roof." She says with raised hands and eyes to the sky and I think you and me both baby.

Everyone laughs at that though.

"Enough! Everyone listen up. My name is Eric and I am one of your leaders. If you want to be in Dauntless, you will jump."

The punk grabs her waist and pulls her back into him and is looking around him giving off a possessive glare. Keep it cool, keep it cool. Not your business, even if the sight of his hands on her is making me feel like I need to rip him in half.

I half listen and answer to questions about what is down there but I am watching her face and body language. She wants to hit him but won't because she doesn't want to seem disrespectful. Interesting.

Then I hear her lose impatience in general and snap out at all the bullshit questions. "Does it fucking matter what is down there for Christ's sake!"

I tilt my head trying to figure her out and am not paying much attention to everyone else.

She sighs and looks around then changes her tune back to respectful but with still impatience for stupidity. Or maybe that is just how I feel and am projecting.

"Didn't mean to say that out loud but it doesn't make it any less true. You jump or you don't, simple as that. We are all here for a reason and it sure as hell isn't to sit around braiding hair and singing songs about love and peace. You choose Dauntless. What the fuck did you expect? So as the saying goes, put up or shut up."

Inwardly I gulp and I already know. I know I am going to have to watch myself because she has caught my attention and she has just become the biggest mystery I never wanted to solve.

Fuck! Logan is not going to let this slide if he even gets a hint that she has caught my eye. Who the fuck is this girl? Why does she seem so familiar and why do I feel so fucking guilty looking at her?

"Christ Zoe why can't you..."

Ok, I have had enough. Who the fuck does he think he is?

"She didn't ask you Candor did she? I am inclined to join her in thinking throwing you off the roof would be a good thing." I jump off the ledge to follow up on that. Then I see her break free and run towards me? Well now that is a fucking new one. No one runs to me only from me.

"Sorry I spoke out of turn Sir. I will completely volunteer to be your first patsy or will fully comply with any other punishments you feel necessary for disrespecting a superior."

I like her attitude and sass even when she is being respectful. Her eyes are mesmerizing as she begs with them. What would they look like begging me for something else? Maybe I will come up with a punishment for her, something that puts us together alone? I tilt my head and look her up and down and start to smirk until the shit glares at me like I am taking his girl.

"Zoe..."

"Candor, I won't warn you again." I stare him down and motioned her forward so I can cut the punk off from going near her again.

I hear her sigh in relief. "Thank gods"

Then she runs to the ledge and leaps up spinning around before she is even all the way up. I can't even help it I grin at her as she winks and then throws herself back yelling and laughing.

I shake my head as I hear her muttered "Dammit" when she reaches the bottom. Candor steps up and I put my hand out.

"No you don't get to go next Candor. You go when I say you go, dead last." I sneer at him.

He still didn't learn to keep his mouth shut when he started making comments about that stiff that defected. I didn't give a shit about how she felt, just that he opened his mouth one more time and he shouldn't have.

Finally it is just us two. "You need to watch yourself Candor. We don't put up with bullshit, bullying or backtalk. Got it?" I got in his face.

"Yes." He glared at me back. Fucking punk. Let's see how you like me come fighting time.

"Yes what?" I let my voice and eyes become the menacing voice of the killer I could be and he cowers back a bit at that.

"Yes sir."

"Get the fuck out of here." I wave my hand in dismissal and when he jumps I go down the stairs and slip in at the back of the group.

I already missed most of what was going on with Four and the group. I take notice and am pleased that Zoe hasn't been bothered again. When we start the tour I hang back like I always do. I am bored but this is where I have to be for right now.

Apparently there was some sort of issue with the Candor girl Zoe is walking with given their conversation.

"You want to know why I was shaking my head at you when you were trying to crack wise. It's because it was not exactly the smartest thing to do. We are low on the totem pole hear and he obviously has some rank. We are expected to be soldiers Chris. We can't back talk or argue with them. That shit doesn't fly and your smart mouth could get us all in trouble if the mood strikes them."

"So? We can say what is on our minds it is a free faction. And how would talking back get YOU in trouble if I am the one that does it?" The little candor bitch snaps out. Why did it always happen with Candor's? Did honesty cause common sense to just disappear?

Zoe stops and looks at her like she crazy, not that I blame her.

"Are you shitting me? How about because we will all be held accountable for each other. You talking back may get us all laps or worse. Look, I am prepared to accept laps, extra shit, whippings, hell even death for standing up for what is right. But I am not about to step into that just because you can't hold your tongue when needed Chris. You aren't Candor anymore. That went out the door when you spilled your blood on the coals. Yes, you can be honest and yes you can joke around when it is called for. But you can't just open your mouth and say anything because you think you have the freedom to. You can take my advice or not. Call me a bitch or not, but it is true."

She is right about all of that. What she expects to be whipped for I don't know, that is an old punishment and only used in the rarest of occasions. Not that I wouldn't hesitate to use that if needed, just not on her. And death? What did she expect to have to do here? I frown when that last thought occurs and there is the damn guilt again. Why is she causing these things to go on in my mind for fucks sake? I see her smile sadly at the Stiff but then they both smile when we reach the Pit.

"Beautiful isn't?" Zoe asks in an almost sigh looking around and I move closer to hear.

The stiff nods with a smile.

"I used to go to these raves hosted by Dauntless and Amity of all things, they were pretty freaking epic. I always wondered what the dancing would be like here in the compound. There is something freeing about letting your primal instincts take over. Whether in combat or in dance, it's all just one heartbeat to the next."

I gulped a bit at that scowling from the feelings this girls was causing in me. I never looked at it that way. And she is right it feels good to let instinct take over during combat or fist fighting. To let the rhythm take over your body and give yourself over when dancing.

'It is all just one heartbeat to the next'. It is the life's blood of the faction and I completely get what she is expressing. I run a hand through my hair and think about the last rave I had been to. Wonder if she was there somewhere lost in the crowd. Wonder if we ever danced close not caring who we were dancing with.

I am so lost in thought I miss what the conversation turns to but I pick up on the next bit.

"Don't let her fool you. She was top of her class. I heard you speak several languages." The blonde Erudite says. And she just walks on a knowing smile on her lips. She has a small dimple right at the edge of her mouth.

"Do you?" If she wanted to tell you she would, I want to rage at the nose.

"Demandez-vous si je parle en langues ou tout simplement ce que je peux faire avec ma langue?" Wow! Well that just got me hard. Not only was her fucking accent perfect but she just made a super suggestive joke. I want to laugh at the look blonde erudite transfer has.

"You can speak another language! You speak French? What did that mean?" He asks in awe and is probably just as turned on as I am right now. He can just fucking forget that right now though.

Ah hell that look on her face is shiver inducing. Such wicked intelligence and slyness. I have a feeling that seeing it when she is plotting something far less innocuous it will be shiver inducing for a totally different reason.

"I said Are you asking if I speak in tongues or just what I can do with my tongue?" The blond boy's get wide and it is no less hard on inducing to hear her say those same words in English.

She started laughing so hard she snorts and then snorts again. It is adorable and sexy. I can't get over the image of what she can do with her tongue though, inspired by her words. I was always a sucker for French. Too bad no one I hooked up with here was smart enough to understand basic English much less French.

She laughs so hard bent over she doesn't notice me approaching or the others taking off.

"You need help initiate? Should I take you to the infirmary?" I can't help but start a conversation with her now that she is alone.

Candor waits for her at the Chasm and I catch up to her.

"No sir, sorry for bothering you" I finally get someone to automatically show me real respect and not fear and it is the last fucking thing I want from them. Fucking figures.

"Did I say you were bothering me?" I ask her wanting to get a real conversation going.

"No sir you did not." Throw me a bone here Zoe. Fine I will ask about numb nuts. Who is looking back at her with longing still.

"What's his deal?" I point to him wit my head.

She frowns shaking her head. "I don't know. We 'dated'" She uses air quotes for the dated part, "in school but never did anything or went anywhere. He would basically hang out up there with me. He followed me to a few places I went to outside of school but he wanted something I didn't and he cheated. He demanded a relationship from me and then betrayed me. End of story."

How could have anyone cheated on her? Who would be that crazy, especially when the guy is still hung up on her? And is she telling the truth about her not having insisted on a relationship? I hope she doesn't turn out to be one of those loose girls. I would hate for her to degrade herself like that. Hypocritical of me sense that is the only type of girl I ever had encounters with.

"He obviously doesn't think it was the end. How long ago was that?" What is going on with me? I am getting pissed about something that isn't even my damn business.

"We haven't been together for more than a year. I saw him at school still but that was it. I am not sure why he thinks he has a right to tell me what to do or put his hands on me. Maybe he thinks because we knew each other there it will pick up here." She must not see what I see, that boy is head over heels in love with her.

"Would you have thrown him?" I don't know why this is important to me but it is. I don't want her to see me as a dick because I would have thrown him. Or maybe I am already predicting that I am going to make the shit's life miserable.

"Honestly, yes I would have." She smiles at me in a genuine way that shows her dimples plainly, then her demeanor becomes serious and I tense up. I knew her openness and friendly demeanor couldn't last with me. So I prepare for her to realize she is talking to the most hated Dauntless member much less leader.

"I need to apologize for my lack restraint and respect on the roof. It wasn't my place to call out the idiots up there and I am sorry." An apology is not what I expected in the least. I am oddly pleased and proud of her very obvious ethics when it comes to knowing how we have to behave and hierarchy.

"I can forgive you for your loss of control this time. Now back to your Candor boyfriend. She growled at that making me chuckle. "You won't mind being paired with him to fight when it comes up?" Maybe I can offer to help train her. It would allow me time to study her more and I think I would enjoy getting her on the mat.

"Why would I mind? I won't learn unless I fight and I wouldn't mind getting in a few hits on him." She looks ready to go to the mat right now.

I don't answer because we reach the dorms. Four has already given his speech about the dorms and the bathrooms. I continue into the dorms and stand looking at the bathrooms and frown.

Were they always this fucking open? I watch as she finds a corner bunk closest to the bathrooms. I could see her calculating as she chose that set of bunks. It was the perfect distance from her bed and the showers, allowing for a shorter walk after taking a shower. It was also a good defensive position so to speak. Her back is protected by a wall and she has a perfect view of the entire dorm room and the entry doors.

I lean against the wall and watch who takes beds immediately around her. While I am glad she has the stiff above her and the candor chick beside her I want to growl when I see her lovesick candor take the bottom bunk directly in front of her.

When it comes time for the initiates to change I try not to look. I really do. She is just fucking stunning. She doesn't care that she is practically naked in front of the others and when the stiff looks uncomfortable and hesitant; she makes a curtain for the stiff but doesn't get behind it herself.

I control my breathing looking at her. I didn't do her justice in my appreciation of her earlier, not by half. Beauty wise her face itself is stunning. Thick lashes frame her mixture of cobalt and ice eyes. Full lips made for kissing but a bottom lip that is so enticing. She has a smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks. She also has multicolored bruises on her stomach that leave me feeling rage boiling until I see her look at them and smile with pride. She got them in some way she is proud of and I know I have to find out how she got them.

I step in between the punk and her when the kid stands there looking at her in a way that makes me want to bash his head against the cold concrete ground. After she dresses she takes down the makeshift dressing curtain and makes her bed up military style.

"Got a coin I can use?" She asks the blonde erudite with that mischievousness in her eyes again.

I smile at the reference and have to roll my eyes at the obvious lack of knowledge from a supposed Erudite. Guess he couldn't be bothered to learn anything of importance of his faction of choice.

"You know so you can check the bed is so tight you can...oh fuckin never mind." She gives a dismissive wave and growls at him in annoyance.

"I can hear your cursing all the way over here Zoe!"

I watch as her face becomes completely animated in recognition and I stiffen at the obvious joy and affection that takes over her features.

"Edward!" She shouts the name of another Erudite transfer and runs to him. She jumps up and wraps her arms and legs around him as they both fall laughing to the ground. I feel my blood boil but what the fuck did I expect? A girl like her not to be taken?

"Shit Zoe! I still have bruises from the other night!" Whatever made him hurt apparently still has a smile on his face.

"Fucking great." I mutter and make my way to pass them on my way out.

"Oops. Sorry." She jumps up and holds out a hand to help him up and I just stand there looking at them. The boys look of complete adoration of her and I can't help but want to strangle him.

"Everyone take your old faction clothes to burn with you and meet in the dining hall after." I yell at everyone and even I can tell any cold emotionless tone I might have gone for failed. I can't help but comment on the couple. "Well you two looked comfy."

The two grin at each other but she shakes her head in a negative, denying that they are not obviously a couple.

"Sorry Sir. We knew each other from before. Where is Mayra, Edward?" She looks around frowning and I see the guys face fall. Maybe they aren't a couple; for now.

He frowned and shook his head. "She went Amity. I couldn't ask her to come here because of me. And no matter how much we tried to help her with the fighting she just couldn't do it."

"Oh Edward. I am sorry. I knew she would have a hard time. She just loves you." She pulls him into a hug and I move a just a bit. It is obviously a shared loss but I still want to listen.

"It is fine. We go where we have to go. At least we still have each other right?" He hugs her back tight and buries his head in her neck. I can feel my eyes narrow at him. She might not see him as a potential anything but he obviously may not see it the same.

"Right! Like I told you when we were ten, friends till the end. Come on." There is obviously a large bond and I sigh. That isn't something I can overcome and why do I even care?

"Let's go burn some shit, eat some shit, ink some shit and then hit some shit; In that order!" She winks at him and I can feel my head tilt at her choice of language and priorities.

Where was this girl when I was in Erudite? Why couldn't I have found someone like her when I was being ridiculed for not being the perfect erudite boy? How does a punk like him get to have a girl like her?

He gives a mock salute and they grab their clothes. They pass me and I school my features as she looks at me. She is still smiling but this time at me. My body moves on it's own and I watch as they toss their old clothes without even stopping to look at them burning or saying goodbye. They just move on as if they could care less, maybe they do. I know it was a gleeful experience for me to watch the blues turn to ash.

I don't follow them into the dining hall right away. Instead I lean against my favorite set of rocks in the pit and take out my tablet phone and check emails and messages. There is one from Jeanine but it is about the projection of fear serum needed for the next stage.

I roll my eyes and scoff at her attempt to put a foot in the door for that stage. We aren't going to give in to your demands anymore you evil bitch, I think. At this point leadership could give a shit less about her personal hunt for divergents. Not after what she did to Amar.

My old mentor and instructors image comes to mind and I feel a wave of grief threaten to drag me under. His blood isn't on my hands but I feel as if it is. I had informed Jeanine that I believed he was helping Divergents and she had practically foamed at the mouth when his name was mentioned. I didn't turn him over like she wanted, he had done that himself. I can remember the moment he had done it and every second of the horror I witnessed.

My eyes travel to the pathway to The Chasm. He had arranged for all of leadership and a few of senior members to be there and had arranged to turn himself to Jeanine personally with a few Erudite guards. He didn't turn himself in though. He proudly announced he was in fact Divergent.

That our society was being lied to about them being threats. They were not threats because of them not belonging to a faction. In fact he insisted it was quite the opposite. I wanted to scoff but I had always trusted him before and I chose to listen well to what he was saying. He told us all that he could have chosen three factions, Erudite being one of them. He and Jeanine had shared a look there and stayed silent for a time. Her eyes had flashed with murder and rage while his had been sorrowful.

The moment passed and he continued to say that he could have chosen any, but he stayed with Dauntless because he belonged here and only here. When a divergent makes a choice, he said, it is not an idle choice or one done a whim. It a choice made with conviction and dedication because they truly mean it.

"Faction before blood." He said looking at us, at me. His eyes softened a bit when he made eye contact with me. Like he was trying to tell me that this wasn't my fault. That I didn't just sign his death warrant by informing on him. I couldn't believe it then and I still can't. Then his gaze hardened as he looked at Jeanine again. "Faction before blood, but my faction is my blood. And here my blood will stay until my blood returns."

I heard a maniacal shriek from Jeanine but it was already too late. Amar had thrown himself into The Chasm. He chose to die for his faction to show just how wrong we all had been. Any real chance Jeanine had of convincing leadership to go along with her plans died with him that night. That night I had been redeemed and damned all at the same time.

I shake myself out of my dark thoughts and head in to get lunch and meet up with Logan. Who said he was apparently listening to the most amusing initiate he had ever heard and told me to get my ass in there now. I smiled because I had a feeling who the initiate was.

I enter the dining hall and as always it never fails to amuse me when it goes quiet as I walk in. Seriously, how is this the warrior faction when they are cowed by a look from me? Not that I am fucking complaining. I live for this shit and I use it to my advantage regularly.

I glance around the room and sure enough, Zoe is sitting in the table right in front of Logan. I see her look up at me then around at everyone and smirk briefly before looking back at her plate shaking her head. Of course she would see what everyone else doesn't. I am oddly really pleased I don't inspire the same reaction from her. I make my way to the line and pick up some lunch, sticking with a burger and fries. I do grab a slice of cake and head to grab some hot sauce and ketchup. When I am reaching for the last bottle a hand shoots out too.

"Excuse me, forgot the most important nutrient." drifts to my ears and I turn to see Zoe. Why am I not surprised. I can't help but smirk at her and raise an eyebrow.

"I believe I was in line first Zoe" The only reaction I get at first in her eyes is shock and then pleasure. She likes that I know her name and I sigh inwardly. Yep, Logan is not going to let me live this down at all.

She gives me that adorable fucking grin with the dimple at the corner of her mouth. "Sorry, my bad. My steak won't be the same without it but the blood flavor should be enough." Seriously where were you before now?

I want to pull her back to me but settle for tapping on her shoulder and handing over the bottle. Surprising myself for damn sure.

"Take it, and then pass it to my table after." I turn around to hide the smile I have on my face

"Thank you Sir."

"Don't mention it." I can't help it as I turn around my eyes are full of laughter and I smile. An actual smile and in public. Fucking Christ there goes my reputation.

I walk to the table and feel her following behind and I take my seat next to Logan who looks at me. "What was all that about?" He immediately sets on me.

"I don't know what you are talking about." I say blandly.

He starts to speak again but he stops when we hear Zoe come back to the table and he nudges me. "You gotta listen to them, fucking hilarious. And the girl; if I wasn't in love I would fucking be all over this girl."

"Got your ass burner?" Her Erudite friend asks laughing.

"Yep, now I can eat in the way God meant for us to eat." I can't help but grin and chuckle a little as I listen to her answer and Logan nods his head. 'Told you' he mouths.

I see he is hell bent on us eavesdropping the whole time and I don't mind. But it is going to be difficult for me to school my features.

"Eww, did you just put hot sauce on your chocolate pudding?" The youngest Pedrad almost girly shrieked at that. Even I had to wrinkle my nose and Logan smirked at me.

"Sweet and spicy. Never done that before?" She pauses and I guess the others are telling her no. "Don't know what you're missing." She mutters and I feel her tapping my shoulder. I swear I might as well not being wearing my black t shirt and vest. I turn around with a grin on my face and she hands me the bottle.

"Any good?" I ask before I can stop myself and point to her pudding. Somehow I know that wicked and wonderful gleam is coming before it appears.

"If you like to walk on the wild side." She grins and shrugs and it is the sexiest thing I have ever heard. I turn back to my food and Logan has a shit eating grin on his face.

"What was it you said this morning Eric?" He laughs, grin still in place.

"Fuck off." I say laughing and my ears are caught by an incredible sound, her moaning in pleasure.

"Mmmm. Fuck that is good! So fuckin glad to get perfectly cooked steak."

I have never been as jealous of a fucking piece of food as I am right now. I groan and Logan laughs more. Why are we listening in again?

"Cooked? It's still bleeding." Lauren shouts in disgust. Seriously why ruin good steak by burning it? I am so with her on that. I douse my burger, fries and without even fucking thinking, my cake.

"Are you serious Eric? Wow, well hand it over I gotta try it too." Logan smirks at me.

"Exactly! Still moo'ing. Perfect temperature." She sounds in heaven and amused all in one.

"See what I told you? You should have heard them earlier. She has a saying…" he trails off and gets happy when he hears one of the girls speaking and his eyes get full of anticipation.

"What?" Lynn laughs.

"What what in the butt butt." She laughs as she says it and I get uncomfortable under my nonexistent collar.

Logan and I break out into laughter drawing the stares of the others further down our table.

"Dammit! I forgot I was stealing that from you!" Zeke yelled.

"The saying you were going to tell me about?" I ask and take a bite of the cake. She is right, the spicy cuts through the sweet and definitely makes an impression. Sweet and spicy is my new favorite thing. Kind of like her. Wonder what licking this off her would be like.

"Dude." Logan says to me taking a bite of his own cake.

"I know. Where was this and her my whole life." I say without thinking and Logan claps his hands together in glee.

"This four weeks is going to be great." He trails off speaking and we eat while listening to our lunchtime entertainment.

"As long as you remember my royalty will be due. One rum and coke for each use of said phrase." She is so sassy. I wouldn't mind buying her a few drinks.

"How about a trade instead of buying you drinks every time?" Zeke asked.

"The court will hear your presentation." I grin and eat a few fries.

Zeke snickers and replies "I'll take you zip-lining."

"Boring! Been there done that. Like at least twice a week." She blows a raspberry and I frown. Apparently she has been doing a bunch of things an Erudite would not do.

"How do you get up to the top?" Ok Mr. Lack of common sense they are called stairs.

"Elevator." Or not…

"How? I disable the generators when we leave." Well that is interesting. I take a bite of my burger.

"What like hot wiring an engine is hard? Or do you mean the spark plugs you take when you leave? Cause I figured that shit out first thing. Never mess with a girl that can fully take apart and reassemble engines."

"Could she be any hotter?" I mutter and I see Logan agreeing.

"Marry me Zoe? Please just marry me right now." Join the growing line of her suitors shithead.

"No way, I get dibs on her." That has to be the chick that was checking her out on the roof. And she as well as the others can eat shit for all I care. I am already contemplating getting to know her better myself.

"Didn't I give you a paper ring when we were nine? I think that makes you mine before anyone else's." I fucking knew it! Her friend is so going to go after her.

"Yes you gave me and every girl in the class one for valentine's day. But I traded mine in for a baseball glove. I think that voids that out." I laugh at that and Logan is watching me closely. I shrug and continue eating.

"Tell you what Zeke." she moans again and I shift uncomfortable and trying not to get turned on. Logan laughs full belly style.

"Seriously who knew eating could be so fucking hot." I growl and mutter, and he smirks.

"Tell you what Zeke. I have the materials to do something known as bungee jumping. I will kindly allow you to arrange an outing for said activity for the use of...ummm three uses of my phrase."

"She has not? Who would she get the bungee cord from?" I look to Logan who shrugs.

"Don't look at me. She found out what it was and started dragging me off to do it." Her friend says resigned.

"But what is it." Lauren asks.

"You take this long 'bungee cord' and secure it to the top of the bridge out at the Amity fishing farms. The other end you secure to your ankle and you leap off. You get to the end of the cord and it snaps into place jerking you back up and then you fall again. I have been trying to perfect the release on the snap the second time and then diving in the water." I have to give her props, jumping off that bridge is still gutsy as hell even with the bungee cord.

"Want we should join?" Logan asks knowing what my answer is going to be. I love adrenaline stunts and if she has the shit to do it. I will be talking to Zeke to arrange this and soon.

"So freaking a deal!" Zeke exclaims.

"Yeah, we will be having a talk with Zeke" I agree.

"Good, one thing I failed to mention though."

"Uh oh…" I mutter when I hear that mischievousness again.

"Oh shit that is one wicked grin." Uri gulps and Edward nods. I pop a fry into my mouth and grin.

"You knew she was going to say something didn't you?" Logan nudges me and I shrug.

"It usually means trouble." Her friend mutters and I hear him wince.

"It's not that bad this time. What I forgot to mention as part of payment, I will require a bottle of scotch or whiskey too. I can't jump into freezing ass water without proper protection."

"Where were girls like this when I was an initiate?" He mumbles and I glare at him.

"Back off!" I growl in warning and he smiles at me knowing she is already under my skin.

"You just want more whiskey Zoe." Edward says.

"You say that like it is a bad thing?" I hear her say in a mock offended voice. She is so going to be trouble.

"It was a bad thing when you decided we should do drunken sparring three nights ago. I swear my ribs are black you beat the shit out of me so bad."

"Drunken sparring? Damn we have to get in on that." Logan eats more cake.

"We shouldn't be listening to their fucking conversation." I grumble.

"So don't, but I sure as hell am going to."

"You shouldn't have lost the coin toss and had to take the shots. Not my fault I have better aim." She quips back to him. Competitive too. I sigh and eat some more cake. I am already addicted to her way of eating it and listening to her.

"It is when you spent all your time in the live round labs firing off any kind of gun they brought in. I had to attend classes unlike some spoiled princess'."

"Maybe training will be interesting." I lift an eyebrow.

"You Edward are a poor sport and need to move on from the neuro-stim in the dick incident."

I almost choke on my food. Logan and I instinctively grab our crotches. Those bitches hurt no matter where they hit.

"Damn! That had to hurt!" Logan yells and I turn to look back at the table to see her looking back at me too. She winks at me and I fucking blush like a schoolboy and cause Logan to laugh when I turn back around.

"Hmm, me thinks there be an audience Edward the Excellent."

"You know I hate that rhyme shit because I can't think of anything for your nickname and I got the neuro dart in the dick for using your real name." Her friend growled out. What is her real name?

"I give you a single use." She says imperiously.

"Fine...Tenacious Trinity." I freeze. Why does that name sound familiar? I think I did know her from before but not sure how. Either way I love the name. Why doesn't she use it?

"Trinity?" Uri asks and I already know that she isn't going to like being asked about it.

"I said he could use it one time not you. I do know about a certain event that comes up soon. I am not opposed to a little friendly fire."

"She knows about capture? Might have to join you this year." Logan shrugs and I nod.

"I need to make sure she is on our team." I mumble. I better not let Four know I want her though cause he will take her just to spite me.

I hear her laugh and smile myself.

"I don't care for the name. It was given to me for a shit reason by an even shittier person. Don't ask and I do mean that." She has pain in her voice and I want to know why, there are so many things I want to know about her.

"Don't look now but Peter is making his way over again."

"This fucking punk better not put his hands on her again Logan. I swear to gods I will end him." My eyes turn stormy and Logan tenses looking back.

"Zoe...can we..."

"Go away Peter." She growls.

"We need to talk Zoe."

"Fuck it!" Logan mutters and we both get up. He is faster than me though and already has him by the throat. I see her absently rubbing her wrist where he grabbed and more bruises. Probably from earlier. I see that and start hoping Logan crushes his windpipe.

I look her over and notice her attention on me in an appraising way. I feel myself liking her checking me out.

"I believe she said go away initiate. Are you going to listen this time?" Logan demanded. I am still looking at Zoe when I see her using sign language 'I am fine' she signs to whoever she is talking to. She notices me and then signs to me 'sorry, thank you'. I nod but don't sign back. She grins and turns to look back at Logan and Peter.

After Peter nods he understands he heads out but not before looking back at her an expression of longing and hurt. She looks down at the table and frowns.I want to shake her telling her not to feel guilty about the little shit.

I see Logan watching her rub her wrist still and he turns red in anger. Milla had been beat up during initiation and he has never forgiven himself.

"I told you he is still hung up on you Zoe." Her friend shrugs. And I see her eyes lose the guilt and flash with anger.

"Then he needs to get over it. He made his choice when he picked getting his dick wet over a relationship. And HE was the one that insisted we be in a relationship. I didn't set that shit on him, he gave ME the ultimatum. How is it I am the one at fault for just upholding what he begged for in the first place?" I can only look at her in wonder. No girl I have ever known has not wanted commitment from me. Here is someone I would gladly think of it with and he had just tossed it away. His loss is my gain.

"Don't look at me. I told him he was stupid and that you weren't a normal girl." I can see her friend looking over her with affection and I want to slap him and hard.

"Let me see." Logan says after standing her up to take a look at the bruises.

"Huh, guess that was from the roof and just now. Thanks for that, the bruises will be fine. I have worse on my stomach from this guy's kicks to it." She shrugs it all off and her friend smirks at her in pride for something.

"Drunken sparring huh? Names Logan by the way another of your leaders." Well Logan didn't waste that opportunity to get us sat at her table and talking.

I take a spot where I can see her face and feel my breath quicken when she takes a bite and closes her eyes and sighs in pleasure before talking again. I see Lauren frowning at me and Zeke looking very uncomfortable. Fuck it I don't care. It's not against the rules to date an initiate but it isn't like I am just yet anyways.

"Yeah I guess for us it was like Candor or Dauntless. We got a bottle of," she uses her fork to motion in the air "whatever it was, probably the cheap shit whisky. We pour a couple of shots take a coin and try to make the coin in the shot glass. If you make it the other person has to drink theirs and yours and if not you do the same. Once the shot has been done you spar, we used to spar until 5 minutes elapsed. Then we went to first blood. Then we changed it to last standing."

"Who was left standing your last time?" I can't wait to see her fight.

"First round was me, second was Edward. The last time we knocked each other out. Double KO!"

She makes an uppercut motion grinning. "Woke up in the gym the next morning hungover as shit and still wearing our sparring gear and everything. His girlfriend at the time made sure we wouldn't drown in our own vomit I guess. Covered us and left us there to sleep." She laughs at the memory and I see Logan grin and looking at me knowingly as I glare at her friend and the looks he is giving her.

"How did you guys learn to fight?" Zeke asks.

"Reading at first. When I was ten I dragged Edward to the archives and pulled out a bunch of martial arts movies to watch. Bruce Lee, I was obsessed with him."

"Was?" Edward snorts out and she playfully shoves a carrot in his mouth and he spits it out.

"Told you about your prey food. Keep it to yourself." She laughs and as always it is genuine and lovely.

"Nutrients necessary for your eyes EDWARD! Besides it helps to keep my ass from getting any wider than it already is." Your ass is fucking fantastic, I think. I remember her in her underwear and almost feel my fingers itch to grab it. Logan reads my look plainly.

"I didn't hear the guys on the roof complaining when they said that they would 'tap that'." Her friend winks at her and I know he is telling the truth. I am going to have to work fast here.

"Hmm. Well if they are anything like Peter they wouldn't know what to do with that." I smirk at the burn.

"Hey! I resemble that remark." Starting with the youngest Pedrad, I think as I frown.

"Anyways we both learned mostly from movies, books, vid files. Finally I was taught by someone to defend myself and then I taught Edward." He rubs her back and smiles at her in a sad way, as if he knows she is feeling pain about something.

"Will be interesting to see you guys fight then." I say thinking out loud. I won't kick his ass but I might pair him with someone that will do it good for me. I scowl at his arm that slips around her waist.

"We look forward to them." She says and nods.

"You guys don't mind that you will have to fight each other?"Uri asks quietly. He must not like the fact he will have to fight a friend.

"No why would we? We know there will be no hard feelings and if he even thinks about going easy on me I will be pissed. Same for him. It isn't like we haven't ended up bloody and with broken bones before. I mean I don't care to have broken bones but they are a necessary evil. You learn from every match you have and every match you watch." They both agree on that but I don't like the thought of her having anything broken. Although I am pleased to know she will go full throttle and not try and take it easy on anyone. Then I would be pissed at her.

"Speaking of some things Edward. What item are we on for our agenda? There was burn some shit, eat some shit..."

"Ink some shit and hit some shit are last. But we did say we wanted to get more gear so we won't have to keep wearing stinky clothes." He said grinning.

"Sounds good. You and Lauren still want to be our guides? I might even let you go all girly on me Lauren and convince me to buy something besides work out gear and pants. But no really tall heels. Don't give me weapons you don't intend me to use." I sigh, there is a story there judging by her friends paling. Luckily Lauren asks for me.

Lauren smirks "Do I even want to know?"

"At a rave some guy thought he could get what I wasn't offering and I disagreed, violently." She takes a drink and I feel my fists clench at the thought of someone trying that with her. "The horror, the horror." She turns to her friend joking to break the tension.

"I love you Zoe. But even I have nightmares about that and I knew he had it coming after trying to..."

She elbows him hard and looks at Lynn and Marlene. She obviously doesn't want them to have to hear that so it must have been really bad. Logan looks at me and I nod. He is thinking the same thing. I have a feeling his next stop is to investigate Zoe. I hope I can talk him out of it. I don't know why I just feel it is better not being done.

"The girls don't need to hear that part Edward" She says softly and I can't help but look at her with a growing affection that I feel.

"Oh yeah..sorry."

"Ready to roll?" Zeke stands up and she smiles at him.

Lauren grabs her hand and her look of panic is priceless.

"Girl stuff first, clothes then salon."

"I'll meet you at the tattoo parlor if not before. Then we can go hit up the skate ramp if you want." Her friend says in amusement. She pales and looks panicked at the thought of doing the dreaded girl shopping trip. Her friend hugs her and I watch as she sends me a pleading look as she is dragged away.

"Please. Need next adrenaline fix."

She is going to be fun.

Logan and I watch her go and Zeke turns back to us looking over me appraisingly. "Should I warn Uri off now or later?" He asks softly so Edward and his brother can't hear.

I don't answer but let my eyes do the talking. Logan decides to answer "Now, if you know what is good for him. Was she right about the spark plugs on the generator engine?"

"Dead right, and about the hot wiring if I am thinking about it now. I have the only key so that would be the only way to start it." He turns to Edward "Does she really know how to take apart and put an engine back together?"

Edward smirks with pride "Want to hear a funny story?"

How we all ended up walking to the pit together I don't know. But we did and gathered around a cluster of rocks as Edward started telling his story.

"She was always a rebel in Erudite. Her…." He stops and clears his throat as if searching for a word "...parents loved her to death but she was a handful. Fucking smart as hell too. Anyways, we were 13 and a leader had ticked her off so bad she decided she was going to get even by pulling a prank on that person. She didn't even hesitate when she came up with it. Mayra and I get roped into it right away. So first she hacked into the security systems and fed an image of the previous night and had Mayra set up on her laptop in a tree acting as a lookout. She also gave her a system that she personally setup to bypass certain areas we needed to access but also execute complex commands with one button. It kept Mayra safe but she still felt useful. Otherwise she had the means to use her tablet phone with all the same programming."

"How was this not noticed? I mean they do sweeps.." I started to ask but he shook his head interrupting me.

"I'm telling you she is scary smart. She never let anyone know just how smart she was because that would be giving away a tactical advantage. At eight she was already thinking like a Dauntless."

If she was that smart and that dauntless she is probably on Jeanine's radar. I bite my lip in thought thinking about stage 2. We don't report results to her anymore but I am still nervous about it.

"Anyways she helped the guy that made those systems set them up. Henry was not smart enough to do it on his own." I snorted at that, yeah he was pretty useless. I had thought his security system was a lucky shot. Now I know why.

I see Logan calculating again. His mind was always looking for ways to eliminate Erudite influence and how beholden we are to them for their technology.

"So what was the prank." Zeke asked smiling.

"We snuck into the Erudite vehicle garage where she located the leader's car and took it apart completely. Front end to back end, it all got taken apart. Then she had borrowed a repulsor lift that allowed us to carry all of the weight and snuck into a very secure lab. I won't say which because I honestly don't know. I just know nobody was supposed to know about this lab."

I feel myself pale because if it is the one I am thinking about then she could have been killed right there. Not even fucking joking but shot in the head that second and for what, a prank?

"Anyways, we get in and she assembles it back completely. Turns on the engine to make sure it is running and then programs the music player. It would only play a singer named Billy Idol and the only song was 'Rebel Yell'. It has been her theme song ever since. We got the hell out of there and went zip lining to work off some of the extra energy we had. Whatever that place was it made a big statement. They increased their security and other procedures. I think she did it on purpose because she looked really fucking pleased when they asked Henry to upgrade everything, I knew she had probably wrote the code for that entire upgrade program. I didn't ask though. Plausible deniability is always best when it comes to Zoe and her schemes." He finishes with a laugh.

I laughed but inside I am kind of freaking out. Who was Zoe really and why would she want to mess with Jeanine?

We make our way up to the shops and I break off from the others and find my way to the stores the girls were likely to be at. I am rewarded with a glimpse of Zoe trying on dresses and my breath catches. I catch snippets of what is being said and I hate to hear that she doubts how freaking amazing she looks. I walk away and make my way to The Chasm to think.

I need to ask myself what it is I want here. I am a pig when it comes to women and I am not ashamed of it. I get what I want and I move on.

Zoe is not going to be the kind of girl that will settle for that and she doesn't deserve it. She didn't seem to mind not having to commit to get physical so maybe we could work something out. I just needed to figure it out and fast. I felt like I was working against some kind of clock and this was too important to drag my feet on.

I realize it must be time for Zoe to meet up with the others so I go to find them. Lauren had said Zoe went to put everything up in her dorm, she was alone and Peter came to mind. So I said I would make sure she was told where to go.

When I get to the dorm she is on the floor with her locker open and is so absorbed she doesn't hear me come in or crouch beside her. She is organizing her locker and is completely focused.

I just sit there watching her as she puts her workout gear in order by day. One outfit per day right on top of each other. I try not to blush or look too much at her sexy as hell underthings. I look over her bath stuff as she organizes it and I am sort of surprised it is so tame smelling. Now that I think about it though, I thought I caught a whiff of the freshness of mint and spring morning rains when she had brushed past me on the roof.

I pick up her skateboard and look it over to give myself something to do and allow myself to talk to her finally.

"I don't think I have ever seen an initiate's locker so organized before." She looks up at me and smiles, her bangs falling into her eyes a bit.

"Well that must be frustrating to handle. Do they know where they are? I mean locker inspections and all that?"

I snort and roll my eyes and something catches my eye so I put the board down "Apparently not." I mutter and pick up the shoe polishing kit and quirk an eyebrow in question at her.

"What? You guys don't do inspections of gear?" She frowns at me and I can't help but chuckle.

"If I thought they wouldn't completely fail at it I would push for it. Bad enough I can barely get them to understand simple instructions." I roll my eyes and put the shoe kit back into the locker.

We sit in the quiet for a few minutes as she finishes and locks the locker. She picks up her board and stands and I rise along with her. I don't think she notices she did it, but she follows my movements closely with her eyes and licks her lips briefly. A faint look of something dawning on her crosses her eyes and her breath hitches in her chest. I want to ask her what she is thinking of but the look disappears quickly.

"Zeke said Lauren sent you here and I thought I would show you were the parlor is." I say simply.

"Thanks" She nods and moves around the dorm room on her board a bit before hitting the bumpy corridor and getting off and popping it into the air with her foot, catching it expertly.

"These roads need to be repaired." She shrugs and I laugh.

"They aren't really made for skateboarding." My grin makes her smile too.

"Or human passage..." She muttered after she almost twisted her ankle in a hole in the walkway and I catch her. We stand there talking like that.

"Just don't run down them in the dark. And you get to know them after a while." I laugh.

"They might cause issues on drunken sparring night, you realize this don't you."

"Initiates aren't supposed to be drinking anyways." I sigh this out. I don't want her doing drunken sparring during training at the very least. We both realize I am still holding her as we look down and I let go reluctantly and we step away from each other and start walking again.

"Not even when a member is present to keep an eye on us?" I bet she gets what she wants when she uses those puppy dog eyes.

"Not really, but it isn't like it doesn't get ignored anyways." I growl out trying to fight the urge to kiss her right there.

"Ok, I promise no excessive drunkenness from me. A few rums and cokes barely faze me." She shrugs.

"How about just no double ko's and almost drowning in your own vomit. I am all about pushing limits but..." Maybe if I can make her compromise she won't need to rebel.

"It was mostly to rebel, but… nah...I can't even pretend." She rolls her eyes in amusement, stopping herself from telling a lie "Don't want to lie and you would call me on it."

"Damn straight." I chuckle ruefully.

"What are you thinking about getting done as far as a tattoo?" I ask quietly not wanting the members to hear me. "Please don't tell me some shit like birds. Or roses..." I shudder at the thought of her wearing something so ordinary. She laughs and her bangs fall in her eyes and she tries to blow them out of the way again.

I reach over and move them out of the way for her as she smiles at me with dimple on display again. "No, nothing like that. Edward and I had talked about getting matched ones but that was when his girl was going to be here too. I think it would be too weird and people would assume..."

"That you're together. Yeah I have to admit I had thought the same when I saw you two." I don't think it will be long before Edward realizes how he feels for her.

"Nope I think we have too much dirt on each other. Has to be some mystery right? Besides we bathed naked together as kids, you can't come back from that" She grins at me but I can't smile back.

"If you say so." I mutter frowning. She is oblivious but then again he may be too.

"Have you ever seen the ancient Polynesian tribal art? I want something in that style. That means strength, protector and fresh starts." She goes back to the tattoo topics.

"You had a bad start?" It again makes me wonder why she is so familiar and what could have happened to her.

"We all have our demons." She whispers faintly and there is nothing that I want more than to tell her I will fight those demons for her.

"I could do you." I look over at her to see her answer to my offer of doing her tattoo. She goes red and I wonder why.

"Do me?" She grins and blushes looking away. Yes, I want to say, that too.

"Your tattoo that you want. I learned how to do tattoos and have some equipment. I have drawn a few, my own included." I laugh instead and playfully push her shoulder.

"That would be good. If you don't mind where I am getting it done." She goes red again and I think back to her in the dorm changing.

I clear my throat "If you are uncomfortable.."

"Have you seen the bathroom and sleeping quarters? If I was I would have to get over it quickly. It isn't likely any of the guys are going to go out of their way to not look."

"They should." I growl because I know it won't be just Peter trying to ogle her.

"Shoulda, coulda, woulda. Sorry, I need to stop being a smart mouth. I made myself that promise I would curtail that here." She frowns.

"I haven't said anything. You will know when I don't appreciate it." I smirk because I actually love her responses to shit. It makes me think or makes me laugh.

"Kind of hard not to pick up on that. But you have to be how you are. Lives are on the line and all." There it is again, her saying something that makes me think. I don't want to have to be a dick to her but I know at some point in training I am going to be…going to have to be.

"I don't necessarily like being a complete asshole." I hear her snort and I look over to her and smirk as she grins. "Ok I like it. Just not with certain people. I heard what you said to that Candor girl. While we do try not to target everyone unfairly because of one person's actions it can happen. I would never whip you though." I say not even wanting to think about that with her. Not the kind of punishment whippings anyways, the other playful kind just might be fun.

"I am expecting lots of laps in my future though, it is inevitable with the lack of common sense in this group." I laugh at her prediction and grin.

"Maybe so." We get into the Pit area and make our way up to the parlor and when we get around more people and I put on my intimidating aura.

"I would like it if you helped me with it, the tattoo. And I draw too so maybe two heads would be better than one?" She shrugs and I smile at her.

"You draw? You have any sketches?" I ask quietly as we near the corridor the parlor is off of, she shakes her head and has a sad look pass over her face.

"I had what was on my back. 'I had strings but now I'm free'...'" I stop her and pull her into the little alcove that is dark and has less people around. She only comes up to my chin and I look down at her as I press her against the wall using my hand on her waist.

Where the fuck has she learned my quote? I had just gotten that shit inked onto my ribs seven months ago.

"What does that mean? Because all day you have said things and I have to wonder why you are saying them? How could you know some of the things you say? Things I think myself. If I didn't know better I would think you were reading my mind." My jaw clenches as I try to control myself. She is truly shocked by my words. Still how can she grasp things I only learned by the hard fucking way?

"I say them because they are either true or I have experience with them. Sometimes, though rarely, it is to diffuse a situation. What thing specifically are you referring to?" Her eyes were full of pain, pain for me? That can't be fucking right.

"The puppet strings." I frown "Why do you even know that quote?"

"We all have demons, Eric, even Pinocchio." She replies softly. One thing is for sure, she knows pain on a personal level. But she also knows something of my pain. How I don't know but I don't care.

I start to pull her to me my hand moving under her jacket and tank and tracing the outline of her pants. The feel of her skin on mine electrifying me. I see her gaze go to my lips and I feel her breathing get heavier matching my own. She looks up into my eyes and whatever she finds there has her pulling back gently.

She shakes her head as if to clear it and I let her move away from me. "I should go." She clears her throat "Could you tell the others I just wasn't up to it? I'm just going to..." She turned around then and walked away as fast as she could and I let out a sigh.

I go tell Lauren brusquely she wasn't feeling well then head to the my apartment and slam the door. Whatever she saw in my eyes it didn't make her fear me as a person. Maybe the attraction we both felt.

Even now her laugh and insights are haunting me. I remember the tattoo and I grab my sketchbook and start to work. First I draw her body without being graphic and I start to design the ancient Polynesian tribal style.

With lines of swirls that come to points in some places and form symbols and patterns in others. It isn't one continuous tattoo instead I break it up and have it follow the lines of her curves that are burned in my mind. That beautiful spot just above the breast where it formed the swell of the breast part I placed one set of swirls to go up to the shoulder skimming the collar bone. The others I had along her hips into the small of her back and along her shoulders and into the back of her neck.

When I am done I stand back and look at it. In the swirls I had created hidden symbols of the factions and the manifestos of Dauntless and Erudite. I also included a bit of my maze pattern. I made sure to include some of her own words in there. 'It's all one heartbeat to the next', and even the quote that had caused us to have that moment. I don't know why I included one and I frowned looking at it, I didn't remember physically putting it in there. It was Amar's last words. 'Faction before blood, my faction is my blood'. I thought about erasing that but didn't. It felt right somehow even if I couldn't explain it. I folded up the paper and looked at the time. It was dinner time so I made my way down.

I joined Logan and Milla who were already sitting with Lauren and Zeke. Edward was already there with the other three dauntless-born initiates and I sat my tray down. Logan looked at my plate and saw I had replicated what Zoe had for lunch right down to the damn pudding. He smirked at me.

"Lauren was telling us what Zoe had said to Four when she jumped and found out it was a net at the bottom." He grinned and Milla looked amused too.

"Do tell." I say sarcastically. I hear the others snicker. I shoot a glare at them and Edward narrows his eyes at me. "What?" I close my eyes as I realize what I just walked into.

"What what in the butt butt." Zeke immediately shouts. I hear chuckles around me and I even grin a bit then shrug.

"You owe her the damn royalty not me." I saw as I douse my steak with tabasco and the pudding too.

I hear someone spitting out a drink and see Lynn coughing her drink trying hard not to look at me. I sigh and shaking my head. Whatever I don't even care that I am showing just how much she got to me. "So are you going to tell me what she said Lauren?"

"She yelled out Dammit! That was disappointing!" I grin because that sounds like her.

"She told Four she half expected there to be a big pool of icy cold water or that there would be a wind turbine running that made the person think they were falling for forever. When really they were just above ground the whole time. I about pissed myself laughing at Fours face of disbelief." Everyone laughed and I chuckled.

"Yeah I bet that was a sight." I smirked.

"You should hear what the other initiates as saying about her. She apparently has people hero worshipping her for not only the way she continuously beat the ass of that shithead Peter, but also shut down the Candor girl. Nobody wants to be stuck doing shit punishment jobs because a candor won't learn they aren't there anymore." Zeke says.

"She is going to hate that shit. The hero worship I mean. She hates ass kissers and she hates attention being on her." Edward shrugs.

"Where is she?" I ask and see everyone grow uncomfortable.

Lauren shrugs with a frown. "We went to the dorm to find her and she wasn't there. Four said he knew where she was and that she was fine but wouldn't say."

"Fucking number boy, just has too…FUCK!" I kick the empty seat across from me and look over to where I see Four sitting with the transfers. Peter isn't there. "Peter isn't here either but I am sure she is just fucking fine right!" I growl.

"She's fine." Logan says pointedly looking at his tablet phone. He looks up and nods at me then I feel mine get alerted. I take it out and look at it, she is in the training room. I nod and continue listening to the others telling stories but my mind isn't on that right now.

I still watch the door to see if she is going to come eat. Dinner is well past and she still hasn't come. I excuse myself and walk over to the line. Fuck if she is going to pass out cause she isn't eating.

I grab a box and put what they have left which isn't much. I did manage to snag a piece of cake. I look at the box and think I better leave it in her locker or something and I will leave a note. I write out the note and use my key to unlock her locker and put the box, note and sketch in there. I walk out and intend to head back to my apartment but find myself walking to the training room.

I walk in and she is oblivious just as she was in the dorm. I move back into the shadows and watch her as she moves. She is beautiful in her form. She isn't the strongest at her punches but she has some pretty mean kicks. Her punches and jabs are meant to throw someone off from her next kick attack. I just get lost in watching her until we are both interrupted by none other than the punk, Peter.

"Why are you in here Zoe? Lights out is soon."

"Fuck it all Peter just leave me alone already." She growled and hit the bag harder than before as soon as she heard him.

"Look, whatever it is you are going to exhaust yourself before tomorrow. Just come to the dorm and get a shower and come to bed." God damn I am going to kill him. I am going to fucking break him in half.

"Come to bed? You are un-fucking believable Peter. You think because I am here" she punctuates with kicks and jabs "and you're here that I am going to" windmill and butterfly kick, 1,2 punch "jump in bed with you?" She leaps into the air and does a spectacular spin kick. Damn I love watching her.

"I didn't before and I for damn sure won't now. My first time is not going to be with the likes of you Hayes. You had your chance and you blew it. You demanded we be in a relationship first. You set the rules but you didn't want to play by them." Her words don't register with me at first because I am caught up in the heaving of her sports bra clad chest. Then it registers finally.

She's a fucking virgin? How is that even possible? What kind of moron let her go? Then I roll my eyes at myself. Well obviously that fucking moron.

"I fucked up and I let you go. I know this Zoe." He walked towards her his hands up pleading with her. "I saw a chance to get some and thought you would never find out. I thought you wouldn't really even care and that if I just got it out of the way I could wait like I wanted us too."

"What were you even thinking Peter? What guy demands to wait until they get married? You demanded that Peter, not me. I was fine with taking it that next step. Thank fuck I didn't though. Because at least when you broke my heart I didn't have to look back on that." She picked up all of apparently newly bought gear and started to walk out and I frowned.

She isn't a quick lay by a long shot. I need to back off at the very least until I figure out what I want from her.

"I want to be with you Zoe. I want to try again." He sounded like he was in pain and I thought good. He broke her heart for something stupid.

She stopped in her tracks at that and I almost lost it. Please baby don't fall for that. Please. I pleased with her in my mind, something inside me feeling like it was tearing.

"It's too late Peter. I loved you once but not anymore. We are two different people now Peter. You're better off not getting close to me anyways. People end up dead when they do." I should be relieved but I can't. The pain she showed earlier was nothing to what ripped through her then when she talked about people ending up dead.

"Zoe..." Peter called out. He actually dropped to his knees and started hitting his hands on the ground.

"Fucking stupid! Fucking stupid sack of shit! Gods dammit!" He stopped and sat there for a minute until he nodded. "I'll get her back. I'll get her back when I show her I can be number one." He said bitterly and got up to walk out.

Once they were both gone I walked into the hallway and stood frowning as I looked down the hallway. He isn't going to get her back like that and not likely ever. She meant what she said about not wanting him like that. She does still love him though I could tell that along with the pain in her voice.

I would have to watch out for Peter. If he got desperate enough he might do something really stupid to her or someone else.

I did figure out one thing for sure. I wanted her at least physically really badly. Maybe even in another way other than physical. I just couldn't act on it until I let her get to know me better. Somehow we had shared pain in our lives. Not directly shared but at least of the similar kind. That alone made me want to get to know her just as much as I wanted her to know me.

I walked to the dorms to call lights out and watched as Peter followed her out of the shower. She was dressed in a tank and undies. I could feel myself growl when I saw Peter drop his towel looking right at her.

I saw her picking at her food laying sitting against the headboard of her bed with Edward stretched out beside her. I couldn't tell what they were talking about but she looked sad and Edward looked worried. Then he looked at me and saw me staring. He frowned and said something to her and I knew it had to be about me.

I saw her shaking her head and taking a few more bites. Then she was getting up and walking towards me and where the trash can is. She threw her box away and looks at me. I give her a small smile and I can't help but blush because I know she isn't trying to do anything by sleeping in just a tank. She looks amazing and not just because of the lack of cloths.

She smiles at me softly and for a moment we just stare at each other, just like before she ran off. She doesn't run this but she does sign 'goodnight and thanks'. I want to do something, say something. But the moment is gone and she turns and crawls back into bed, crawling over her friend. It looks like they are going to stay that way for a while and I hear him faintly say he misses his ex. I try to push down my anger at him being like that with her.

"Lights out! Remember training tomorrow at 8am. Be ready to work" I yell out. My eyes still on Zoe until I flick the lights off and watch for a moment more then head back to my apartment. When I get there Logan makes his way up.

"Here, take this." He hands me a glass with some whiskey and we go into my apartment. "Figured you would need it."

I nod and kick off my shoes and we settle on my couches as he fiddles with my tv.

"What are you doing?" I ask as I take a sip.

"Pulling up the control room footage from the dining hall at lunch. Thought you might get a kick out of her humor. She reminds me of you enough. You and your damn Erudite brain." He smirks at me.

"You and your Candor mouth." I smirk back at him.

We watch and I do enjoy the way she talks but I don't like the easy camaraderie between her friend or how often he hugs and holds her.

"I need to know something Eric. I need to know what you are going to do if you find out she is Jeanine's kid." He looks at me staring daggers at me.

I stiffen at this. "Do you know she is?" I glare back at him.

"I am pretty sure she is. But I need to know if she is, can you handle it. Because if you can't then you back off of her and stay away." He demands and at first I am pissed.

"She looks nothing like her. Why are you sure she might be?" I stall with my mind whirling.

I fucking hate Jeanine with everything I am. Her lies and promises of power were just fucking weak when it came down to it. I would have fucking gone along with it too. Just bought right into those fucking lies until she turned on all of us that had followed her.

"I looked into her and the other girl. She was adopted and not in any kind of legal adoption. It was all very underhanded. It also had all kinds of clauses for things that were to be allowed done to her. Nothing was spelled out but you can bet it wasn't pretty."

"She fucking experimented on her own kid?" I ask disgusted. Of course she fucking would. Why am I acting surprised by this?

"Do you think she wouldn't?" He scoffed at me and tossed back his own glass of whiskey and poured a bit more from the bottle he had brought.

I toss mine back and hold it out for him to pour more "I shouldn't be surprised. I thought I recognized that name, Trinity. I heard it once when she was talking about an experiment. I didn't put it together with it being a person though." I drink deeply. "You know when I was showing her to the parlor, she responded to something I asked. I asked her about her drawing and if she had sketches. Stupid really because of course she didn't have anything. She just said she had what was on her back and then quoted and I shit you not 'I once had strings but now am free'. I should have put it together with all the other things she hinted at, mentioning we all have demons." I take another drink and he watches me.

"Then in the training room.."

"I know." He nodded, cutting me off.

"You know what?"

"Max and Four were watching her. With great interest. Four hasn't found the internal camera I placed in there yet. I heard what she said about people ending up dead around her." He stopped and looked off. He was holding something back.

"What were they saying Logan?" I leaned forward and demanded.

"Just…that if you found out about her you might hurt her because of who she was the daughter of. Four thinks she needs to be protected from you and Peter." He looked away.

I threw my glass against the wall. "Fucking Tobias! You sack of fucking shit!"

I jump and pace but then whirl around and start punching the wall again and again. Until I finally stop and lean against it. "I don't fucking care that she is her egg donor. That girl is nothing like that bitch. Not Zoe, in fact I would bet that she goes out of her fucking way to be nothing like her."

I turn around to face him and he nods. My chest is still heaving and my nostrils flared in anger. "He is right that we need to watch out for Peter." I nod and Logan runs his hand through his hair agreeing with me.

"Yeah, he doesn't seem the most stable. I looked at the roof shit, and he just did not get the hint at all. Even if he doesn't hurt her, that candor chick might try to." He drains the glass he has and walks to the door after leaving the glass near the bottle.

"Don't drink all of that. I am going home to Milla." He smiles at her name.

I make a whipped sound and he smirks and points to the screen where I had paused the vid file on Zoe smiling at something. "Yeah, yeah. Point taken."

After he leaves I sit looking at the screen for a bit more and drink just a bit more whiskey. After a while I turn off the tv and put my boots back on and head out to the Chasm.

When I get there I sit off to the side away from the corridor doors or the bridge and just listen to the rush of water far down looking at my hands and thinking.

It's about 2am and the sounds of the compound are still making any sounds stand out. I was in the middle of wondering if Zoe is still lying beside her friend or if he went to his own bed. Something tells me he didn't. I can't even blame him, even if the thought is driving me crazy right now.

Steps coming from the corridor with the training rooms and dorm area sound and I watch as if summoned Zoe walks to the bridge. I back into the shadows with a frown.

She stops and on the bridge and just stands there looking down, her face is filled with pain and I see tears on her cheeks. She is wearing the leggings and tank top and tennis shoes as if she had to get dressed in a hurry.

The silence is broken as she begins to sing. Her voice filled with sadness and tears. Even with all of that or maybe because, it is beautiful and haunting. The words worry me especially when her throat catches on calling herself a sinner and giving up. I can't bear to watch if this is what this is. I don't move right away in case I am wrong. I just listen to her song but I am ready to move if I need to stop her.

Looking up from underneath
Fractured moonlight on the sea
Reflections still look the same to me
As before I went under

And it's peaceful in the deep
Cathedral where you cannot breathe
No need to pray, no need to speak
Now I am under all

Oh, and it's breaking over me
A thousand miles out to the sea bed
Found the place to rest my head

(Never let me go, never let me go
Never let me go, never let me go)

And the arms of the ocean are carrying me
And all this devotion was rushing over me
And the questions I have for a sinner like me
But the arms of the ocean deliver me

Though the pressure's hard to take
It's the only way I can escape
It seems a heavy choice to make
But now I am under, oh

And it's breaking over me
A thousand miles down to the sea bed
I found the place to rest my head

(Never let me go, never let me go
Never let me go, never let me go)

And the arms of the ocean are carrying me
(So cold and so sweet)
And all this devotion was rushing out of me
And the questions I have for a sinner like me
But the arms of the ocean deliver me

And it's over and I'm going under
But I'm not giving up
I'm just giving in

Oh, slipping underneath
So cold and so sweet

In the arms of the ocean, so sweet and so cold
And all this devotion, well, I never knew at all
And the questions I have for a sinner released
In the arms of the ocean deliver me

(Never let me go, never let me go
Never let me go, never let me go)

Deliver me

(Never let me go, never let me go
Never let me go, never let me go)
Never let me go, never let me go)

Deliver me
(Never let me go, never let me go)
Never let me go, never let me go)

Deliver me
Never let me go, never let me go

And it's over
I'm going under
But I'm not giving up
I'm just giving in

Ah, slipping underneath
Wooh, so cold, but so sweet

Her voice breaks as the last note leaves her and her tears fall again. I am about to get up and walk to her but she starts to speak.

"I made it Daddy. I am sorry it took so long to make it here to say goodbye. They changed the age and it took me a bit longer."

My breath catches in my throat and my heart stops. Her father was a Dauntless? Jeanine and a Dauntless but who?

"I know you didn't want me to have to Daddy but you have to know it was always going to be me finish it. I have to. She has to be stopped. So I will be brave and strong and if I have to I will embrace the darkness inside me. She can't destroy anyone again Daddy. Your sacrifice can't have been in vain." Her sobs break my heart and she starts again "She has hurt so many people. But I need to ask you Daddy, if I fail…can you find a way protect those we love. The new family we have here and the old. Tris and her family, Edward, Peter, Lauren, Uri and Zeke, Lynn and Mar…Four..keep them safe. Don't let them be turned into the zombies she wants to make them all. And if you could, if I can't before I die, can you find a way to let him know you and I never blamed him. He was never second best. Not to you or me and he will not be for the lucky person person he gives his heart to. I will try and help him if I can. I can't ask him to help Daddy not after what she did to him. He is still in such pain and I can't do anything to change that but I can make sure he doesn't suffer anymore."

She pulls something from her waistband and I see a shining of light on metal and I start to rise slowly. "Faction before blood, our faction is our blood. Now your blood returns Daddy. And I swear by the blood I leave here tonight if I have to slit the bitches throat myself I will end this. Even if I die trying."

She holds her hand out over The Chasm and lets blood fall, then the knife after. Now I know why she looked so familiar. She is Amar's daughter and she has come home. She knows about me but doesn't blame me, more than that...maybe even cares for me.

Her words about being second best make my heart feel like it was going to break. I had thought he saw me that way because of Four. But he never did and neither does she. Now the looks that Jeanine shared with Amar made a bit more sense. How had what obviously been love turned to hate so quickly? He had chosen to stay with Dauntless. Did he know she was pregnant or did he find out too late?

I can't make my body move to go after her even though my eyes follow her movements. I stand there staring at the space she once occupied before I finally move.

I walk to the bridge and stand there for a moment. I pull a blade from my vest and make my own vow. "Faction before blood, my faction is my blood. Now my blood joins you both. She will not die if I can help it. She will not fight alone. Your sacrifice is not in vain Amar. I promise you all this with my own vow."

I cut my palm just as I did four years before and let it drop into The Chasm to join hers. I tear a bit of my shirt to stop the blood and walk slowly back to my apartment. I enter and mechanically put a bandage on the cut and then get ready for bed. Training has just taken on a whole new meaning for me and I needed to be ready for the next few weeks to keep my promise.

I fall to sleep with her haunting voice singing sadly, her cobalt and ice blue eyes dancing with laughter.