HI! *waves both hands and dances around* I am about to give all of you a huge spoiler if you read my other story. There's also minor details that show you who the queen is too...

All rights to Kiera Cass, the best story-teller and writer EVER!

Chapter Four

I made it home by dawn- a.k.a. two hours in to our average work day. I felt sick. Why did it take so long for a picture to be taken? I knew that as soon as I walked in the house, all hell would break loose. Shelly would be disappointed; My adoptive sister, Gwen would be pissed that I went without her (because she is seventeen and quote 'ready for love'); Sydney would be furious; and Thomas, the eight-year-old fire rocket would be screaming and dancing while these reactions took place.

I decided the best way to avoid their inevitable anger and surprise at what I had done was to do exactly that- avoid them. Instead of heading inside the house, I went straight to work. I knew that I was supposed to have all of my sewing supplies with me at all times, but that wasn't going to happen... not today. As fast as I could manage with my newly stitched leg, I ran past my house and through town until I reached my first client's house. I walked up the large steps of their mansion and rang the doorbell, hoping they would let me in sooner than later. It was hot outside, and I'm not a big fan of heat.

Of course they took their precious time coming to the door, like always. I knew that they did it so they could be seen as superior to everyone else; I mean, they were Twos. I took a deep breath as one of the maids- Xio?- opened the door. I had to calm myself down before I did anything rash. There was no need to get on Mrs. Whisks's bad side.

"Oh! Miss Reed, we thought you would never show up. Please come in and take off shoes." she said.

A New Asian accent surrounded her words, and always made them hard to understand. I just nodded like I knew what she was saying and started towards the parlor, Lady Elise's favorite spot. As I rounded the corner, I wondered why she loved her sitting room so much.. and why she only ever allowed women inside.

"Took you long enough." Elise sauntered over, "What were you doing? You know I hate waiting. Things to do, people to see. Important, New Asian ambassadors to be precise."

I sighed, I didn't want to tell her the truth, but I knew how terrible I was at lying. "Yesterday my area was raided by the rebels. They killed one of my brothers and took the other. I was hit by flying debris, and I could barely get up this morning. Does that answer your question?" I said irritably, trying to hide my emotions and hide the one part of my explanation I left out.

"Oh sweetheart! I'm so sorry! I remember when my friend was taken during the last Selection. I was a wreck for weeks. It will get easier though, soon you'll just move on and- wait." she looked at me closely. I could tell from the look she gave me that she knew I was trying to avoid telling her something. "You haven't told me something. Spill."

I sighed. How did she always know when I was hiding something? Did it come from what she learned in the palace? Was it a skill I would someday acquire if i were Selected?

"I submitted my form for the Selection." I said defeated.

I watched as her face turned from curious and happy to annoyed and mad.

"You will not make it. You will get your hopes up, and you will get your heart broken whether you are Selected or not. I'm not going to be kind, dear. I will be honest, because that was how I was raised. You do not stand a chance. I speak from experience. The Selection was made for the richer, prettier girls with connections and talents. You would stand no chance." she declared confidently, though I could see the spark in her eyes when she said the words, the sadness that swayed inside her.

Her words hurt, and I knew that that was her intention. She wanted me to feel the pain she did when the queen won and she didn't. She was trying to force her helplessness and frustrations on me, but I wouldn't let that happen. The last Selection might have been about money and connections, but if I ended up being a contender, I would make sure to change that this time around. If I got the chance, I would let Prince Gerad see me, not some phony girl who would want the crown, or a girl that mysteriously liked everything he did.

"You watch. If I get picked, I will prove you wrong." I said to her in the most confident voice I could muster. "I swear it on my father's grave."

At that point, watching her snotty expression, I couldn't bear to be in the same room as her. I turned around and fled the scene, not bothering to look back as I slammed her front door shut.

I would make her rue the day she said those awful things to me. Whether she knew it or not, she just gave me another reason to fight for that crown.

It was only a matter of getting Selected.

I just gave all of my 'The One' readers a huge spoiler. If you spotted it (it was kind of hard not to), then you know that there are only two girls left in contention for queen in my other story.

Back to this story... Now she's determined. I wanted you all to see that although she is driven by revenge because of her brothers, she is also in this because she wants to prove everyone in the higher castes wrong. She wanted people to see that a Six could make it all the way, and Elise gave her that fire. Keep reading guys! I PROMISE next chapter will be awesome. ;)

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Thanks for reading!

-Property of Illea