WARNING: Drama, Character death. (nothing major)

CHAPTER 10

First Kill

.

KNIGHT'S BASELINE

SANTANA.

.

"Has Spencer called you yet?" Hanna asks as she paces back and forth in the knight's baseline.

"She hasn't yet…" Santana replies while not taking her eyes off of the screen of her laptop. She has been reviewing last night's events. No Zero yet. She has thought that maybe while the commotion was going on at Ashford Academy, there is some part of Area 11 that has something going on. That was their plan. Half of the supposed to be guards for the event were distributed to the suburbs of Area 11 because they had expected the Black Knights to move. But there are none. That's why that stupid voice got into the control room. When Sebastian reached the control room though, he had found the guards knocked up and tied down. They said a black hooded man came into view and beat the hell out of them.

"Do you really think this is Zero?" Hanna once again asks, while browsing the TV Channels for any news of Spencer.

"This is absolutely A, Hanna. Blaming Zero would shut up Quinn. Last night wasn't the perfect timing to tell Quinn about A. Not yesterday, not ever." Santana says as she reaches for her temple and massages it. How she misses Quinn's hands right now. She shakes her head. Nope. She shouldn't be used to Quinn taking care of her. She was her knight, and she should be the one taking care of Quinn. "Zero would probably be rubbing this revelation to our faces if this was his work."

"Is Aria okay?" She asks to change the subject.

"Well aside from the non-stop questions as to where Spencer is, she is fine. She says my mom didn't buy the 'Aria-is-A' excuse, so I still have to be careful. At least my mom trusts you enough to let me stay here for a while." Hanna says as she takes a sip from the coffee Santana had offered her a while ago.

"Well I wouldn't buy it either if I was your mom. That excuse was C- at best" Santana chuckles at the thought.

Apparently, both Hanna's and Aria's mom had a feeling that someone was after their dear daughters. And A, being his/her mean self had decided to include Mona, Hanna's BFF, in the game. He/she had sent a police report to Mona and had asked her to either expose herself to the jewelry shop she had stolen a necklace from, or she exposes Hanna's police report—which is completely clean because according to A, Ashley, Hanna's mom slept with Wilden to clean her slate.

"And C is for Crap. " Santana added and she's pretty much impressed with what she said. But Hanna, however didn't catch her humor as she rolls her eyes.

"Where are the other knights?" Hanna asks while she looks around.

"Sir Nathaniel was assigned to take care of the media. Hardest job of all but you know how much he loves cameras. It's more of a strategy I think, 'cause he's the so called most handsome knight ever." Santana rolls her eyes at that. They had received a news that Nathaniel Macintosh already has a fansite and they have been receiving fangirl letters directed to the manor for the Knight of Seven.

"Rachel was back at the anti-Black Knights operations, you know how the rebels love drama in the Royal family. They thought this was a good distraction. And Sebastian…" Hanna looks at Santana as she waits for the explanation. "he was assigned to look for Peter Hastings."

"The Emperor is back from the homeland." Santana says and she sees Hanna shivers at the thought. Since the media was there, the whole world pretty much knows about the secret. And everyone is getting crazy about it.

Right then, the automatic door slides open and reveals a distressed Mike Chang came holding a pizza in hand. "Pizza for lunch?" He offers the two girls as he places the pizza at the table. Santana opens the box and gets one for herself.

"What do you have?" Santana asks as they all got settled at the couch.

"Not good news" And Santana could see Hanna slumps her shoulders and sinks herself in the sofa. Santana knew Mike has the greatest connection among all the knights. Mike continues to explain, "When Jason returns to Area 11, the Emperor had asked of him, says something about political stuff. Jason said that he still had something to work on, so the Emperor gave him time. Then, when he went back to the palace, the Emperor had told him that if he wasn't rising to the throne, seeing as he neglected his duties, he should at least be a good use to the Emperor. So the arranged marriage comes to the scene. It's the perfect bribe to Japan, the Emperor's son himself."

"What's the bad news?" Hanna asks completely oblivious to the gravity of the situation.

Santana sighs and leans back, as she feels her appetite slipping away, "It means that the Emperor doesn't have any idea about her wife cheating on him. And obviously, Japan didn't like the news either, talk about humiliation! This is gonna be rough."

BLACK KNIGHT'S HEADQUARTERS, ZERO'S QUARTERS

RED COAT.

.

"How did you escape your knight? Isn't she supposed to be at your side now that the palace is getting crazy?" Mona mocks Quinn as she enters Zero's room. Quinn is parading through the Black Knights hideout as Zero, the masked leader of the rebels.

"She's busy looking for Spencer. Red Coat helped me get out of the palace unseen." Quinn says immediately. "What the hell is going on?" Quinn asks Mona.

Red Coat smirks at herself. They didn't plan on blasting that revelation to the world, but it seems that fate was on their side. Quinn had used her Geass on most officials before to save Spencer when she had been put under probation because of the shovel-incident. That means, whatever happens, Spencer wouldn't be put behind bars. Unless the Emperor himself had made the move.

But she knew the Emperor, he wouldn't do dirty tricks with his own hands. She knew the Emperor was in Area 11, and had released an order to find Peter Hastings at all costs. Peter Hastings and Jessica Di Laurentis would definitely be dead as soon as they were found.

Jessica Di Laurentis. Pffft. She deserves this.

Red Coat smiles triumphantly. She's playing her cards well.

This is hitting two birds at one stone.

Killing Jessica and recruiting Spencer. She smiles at herself.

"Do you know how your father had met Jessica?" Red Coat asks as she walks towards Quinn.

"He… He met her when Brittania invaded Ohio." Quinn says trying to remember what her mother had told her. She wasn't really interested as to how they met so she didn't ask further, Red Coat knows this. Lady Jessica was nice to Quinn when they were in homeland. And Alison was Quinn's bestfriend, so she didn't hold any grudge on Lady Jessica.

"This is how they met." Red Coat says as she wraps her arms around Quinn's shoulders, she gently pushes Quinn down the couch and she walks in front of her kneeling when she reached the right spot. Mona walks behind Quinn and sits at the back of the couch right behind Quinn. She combs Quinn's hair with her hand as her other free hand hands Quinn letters.

"What's this?"

"Read them and find out." Red Coat says as she smiles while Quinn opens the letters.

"Russell had set an eye on Jessica before. Who wouldn't? She was so beautiful, you know? Even more beautiful than your mother. " Red Coat says and Quinn didn't even spare a glance on her because she was already reading the letters between Peter and Jessica. "It wasn't a problem marrying her because monogamy isn't really a thing you follow as a king. You're the king of the greatest Empire in the world, who would dare go against you?" Red Coat can't help the adrenaline rushing through her blood.

"But Jessica is a commoner, Quinn. A commoner." She puts emphasis on the word as if she hated it herself. "Well, that was about to change. Even your dearest mother has no say on what Russell does."

"Peter came into view. He was a married man but you know men. They wouldn't settle to one woman when they can actually have two." Red Coat says as she sees Quinn gasps while reading the letters. She looks up to Mona who was smirking too.

"While Jessica is betrothed to the Emperor, she's been seeing Peter Hastings."

Quinn shakes her head. "No…"

"Yes. Yes, Quinn! Can't you see how she has played your father? Telling your father she was pregnant with his child. Of course your father was ecstatic! He had brought Jessica back to the homeland, and everyone was happy!" Red Coat fakes enthusiasm.

"She's not like that…"

"Of course she is!" One more push…

"Alison knew about this." Red Coat says and she sees Quinn's eyes widen.

"How…?" Quinn asks slowly as she puts down the letters.

"She's a smart girl. And she found these." Red Coat points to the letters.

Quinn was silent for a while but both Red Coat and Mona waited. "Did Peter killed Ali?" Quinn asks and Red Coat knew millions of thought were running through Quinn's head right now. Better.

"Why don't you find out for yourself?"

KNIGHTS' BASELINE

SANTANA.

.

Mike was busy tracking Spencer. He had been asked to so he had no choice. They had plan that they should at least give Spencer a heads up before they rat their location to the Brittanian Army.

Hanna was busy browsing the TV Channels for anything. Santana had decided to let Hanna stay at the knights' baseline for a while. She is think that the Knights' Manor is one of the safest place right now.

Right then, Lord Jeremiah had entered the Knight's baseline. She stood up immediately and bowed curtly as a sign of respect. The Knight of One is rarely at the Manor but she knew there are big news that come with his presence.

"Santana." Lord Jeremiah calls out calmly, and Santana feels the panic in her gut. She knew about the whole thing and it was a crime holding out the information. Did the Emperor knew about it?

"My Lord." Santana answers as she walks towards the Knight of the Emperor.

"The Emperor had asked of you." Lord Jeremiah says and Santana slowly meets his gaze. "Seeing as the Knight of Two cannot be contacted at the moment, you were to answer in her position." Santana hated the calmness in his voice. It is something she envies sometimes, the ultimate ability to hide your emotions. It would really be useful at a time like this when she could feel her legs shaking.

"You are to look for Lady Jessica and bring her to the White House where the Emperor is waiting. Lady Jessica had been staying at Area 11 for a month now. A knight was assigned to her, and you know very well what knight duties are, so regardless of the Emperor's orders, her knight's loyalty resides with her, and so you shall expect a battle. Also, regardless of her reluctance, you shall handle her with care, she is still the Emperor's wife." Lord Jeremiah had laid out the orders as if it was just a normal mission assigned to her. She could hear Hanna gasps at the background.

"Uhmm… was the last part an order from the Emperor too?" Santana asks hopefully. Maybe the Emperor has still some reservations for his wife?

"No. I'm just reminding you." Lord Jeremiah answers with all the casualty in his voice. Santana slumps her shoulders. He turns towards the door and starts walking out. Though he stops by when the door slides open, "Santana, Mike." He calls out and the two knights stood straighter.

"This might be hard for you as you think of your comrade's feelings. But I suggest that you disregard them. You know how Brittania works. The enemy of the Emperor is Peter Hastings and him alone. As Peter's daughter, it is Spencer's reflex to protect him but she knows the rules. Peter Hastings had brought this to himself. It will be selfish of him to drag Spencer with him. Even Jason hasn't been harassed by the Emperor and Lady Judy is still treating him as if he was a part of the Royal family. He still has his knight and the Empire is still giving him protection over the media." With that, Lord Jeremiah exits the room.

Once the door slides close, the three had released a breath they didn't knew they were holding. They look around each other to gauge their reactions. Mike went to his laptop to search for something. And Santana shoot an apologetic smile at Hanna.

"Was that true? That Spencer will still be okay?" Hanna asks.

"Well the Emperor isn't the type to lash out. He attacks his enemies… only his enemies." Santana explains as she closes her laptop and grabs her gloves as part of her uniform. "But the Jason part wasn't true. As soon as this whole fiasco was over, he would be sent back to the Di Laurentis'. His knight would be given a choice to go back to the military or honor his words as a knight and protect Jason forever. We know that he's only given protection because of the image of the Empire." She downs her drink and wipes her mouth with a tissue.

"It would seem that Lady Jessica had changed her knight 9 months ago." Mike announces. Oh, so he was looking for the files of La—err… Jessica's knight.

"9 months ago, there was an ambush in Area 7, where Lady Jessica resided for the opening of the new Di Laurentis firm. Based off from the investigation, the assassination was ordered by a royalty." Mike informs.

"What? How is that possible?" Hanna asks in confusion.

"Lady Jessica is a commoner. Brittanian, but a commoner nonetheless. A lot of the royalties hated how she had that reserved privilege." Santana explains as she wears her gloves and walks straight to Mike's working spot.

"So… the Empress asked for the assassination?" Hanna asks in a whisper. She was in the royalties' territory after all.

Santana and Mike laughs a little at the accusation. "No. Lady Judy had long accepted that she has to share the Emperor. But come on, the title of the Empress is hers. The king has this privilege to marry whoever he wants, as many as he wants. It's like a natural thing you know? To spread his seed or whataver." And the three of them had a disgusted expression painted on their faces. Okay. Maybe she should have used a different metaphor.

"Anyway, the other royalties however, the Purists, who think that the Royal family bloodline should carry if not royalty themselves, at least an Elite, had ordered for an assassination behind the Emperor's back. Their point is, they were being "traded" to other nations as "bribes" for alliance. But here goes Lady Jessica, with nothing special but her looks, claims a seat in the palace. Though personally, I wouldn't say nothing. She came from a family of lawyers, she's really good with words. She had been assigned as a governor of Area 4, Los Angeles before, and look where that has gotten into now." Personally, Santana has admired Lady Jessica. Though she likes Lady Judy more because of the Empress' skills in the battlefield and in piloting a knightmare, still, she knew Lady Jessica was good in strategies.

Santana turns to the printer attached to Mike's laptop and looked at the paper. "Noel Kahn." She reads.

"He's the first born of Lord William Kahn who died on the said ambush."

"Lord William? Isn't he the brother of Lord Matthew, Lady Judy's knight?" Santana asks.

"Yes. The Kahns had sworn themselves to protect the Royal family, so most of the Royalties' knights were chosen from them. Well, the exception of Lord Jeremiah, since he's the finest of all the knights, so the Knight of One is rightfully his, and you, since Quinn is in favor of you." Santana nods at the information. So this Noel Kahn would most likely fight to death before Santana could get Lady Jessica from him. But still, the Kahs were loyal to the Royal family… that meant to the Emperor, right?

"Anyway, Noel Kahn is in the same age as you but he was trained since the age of seven so he probably has the advantage, weapon-wise, so I guess it'll be better to go after them with Guren so you might have a chance." Santana glares at Mike.

The Knights of Rounds were chosen before based from their combat styles. When guns were introduced, they were chosen based from their assassination skills. And during the reign of Russell Fabray, knights were chosen based from their ability to pilot a knightmare. Obviously, Santana aces that department already. She may have had self-defense classes before because she was an Elite, but she didn't really dwell on it. She was an Elite so she grew up in a close-fence mansion who at least have 20 guards. Her father is a Royal doctor and her mother is a military doctor, so whenever they go out of the mansion, they were escorted by finest military Brittania has.

"Hanna, I think you should stay here for a while just in case Spencer contacts you." Hanna nods and Santana heads towards the door. She contemplates on going to Quinn's room to check on her but her communicator rings and the sound of their cheerful engineer Holiday Asplund's voice blared informing her how excited she is because she had installed something new to her Guren. She sighs. Quinn would have to wait.

HASTINGS LAKE HOUSE

SPENCER.

.

"You should just leave me, Spencer." Spencer hears her father calls out as she looks out to the windows. Staying in the woods would probably be the best option right now.

"Oh yeah? And what's your brilliant plan after that?" Spencer asks as she turns to his father. She is torn really. She is wearing her uniform and the knight's emblem on her neck but here she is hiding a person of interest. This wasn't new anyway. She had hid a lot of evidence on Alison's death to the military.

"You're a member of the Rounds. This would drag you down, Spencer." Peter says as he looks to her daughter with distress.

"I think the moment you had decided to sleep with the Emperor's wife and act as if nothing happened, you had decided to bring all of the Hastings down." Spencer hissed. She hates her father right now, but that didn't stop her from saving his ass. She thinks it's the Hastings in her blood's fault. It's the thing that they wouldn't let the other member of the family be caught in a humiliation. She laughs at herself. Who is she kidding? The world has probably judged her father the moment it was broadcast last night.

"I'm a married man, Spencer. And she was engaged to the Emperor of the Empire. What do you expect me to do? Claim what was mine?"

Spencer looked at him in disbelief, "NO! I expected you to keep it in your pants and stay away from other people's girlfriends! You are a married man! Have you thought of what will this would have done to mom? To your family?" Spencer shouts at her father. Maybe it was wrong saving him. Maybe it was wrong running away with him.

She sees her father walk towards her and she took a step back. No more mind games. No more lies.

She hears a faint sound of siren and she whips her head towards the window. They have been found.

She moves quickly. She reached for her father's hand and heads towards the door. But the door opens on its own and a military officer came into view.

"Lady Hastings, are you alright?" The officer asks as she pulls Spencer into his side and separates him from her father.

"What?"

"We had received your message, saying you were being held hostage by your father." The officer says with his helmet on. Spencer opens her mouth to protest but she sees her father being pushed down to the ground by to officers in white.

She had sent a message? When on Earth did that happen? She turned her phone off and left it to the car after she had called Santana last night. They had transferred to Toby's truck and got away from anyone else. She even left the key to her knightmare at their house. She made sure they had no electronic gadget with them that will trace them to where they are now.

"Spencer!" his father calls out and she looks at him, even as she sees him struggle she could see disappointment in his eyes. and now her father thinks she had set him up.

"I didn't do it." She finally says as she tries to go to her father.

"You have the right to remain silent! Every word you say shall be used against you!" another officer declares. Of course Peter knows the SOP so he decided to remain silent. Spencer looked at the source of the voice.

Sebastian.

"Oh hello there, captain. Glad we made it in time." Sebastian greets Spencer with a devilish smirk on his face and Spencer had the urge to punch him. No wonder Santana hates this guy.

They were dragged outside the lake house and she sees a helicopter landing behind all the cars.

As Sebastian pats her shoulders and a few words of 'good decision' and 'knight duties' put together in some long sentences were given, she glanced at her father being escorted to the helicopter. He would be delivered to the Emperor, that, she was sure of.

"can I see the message?" she asks Sebastian. Sebastian looked skeptical, but he hands his phone. It was a picture of her mirror with a message written with a red lipstick on it.

SOS. Peter got me. heAding to our lAke house.

Spencer froze at her spot. "Captain, are you okay?" Sebastian asks but Spencer ignores him.

A.

A had been to their house and had written a message for the military.

She shakes her head. "Dad!" she calls out and starts running towards her father.

"Lady Hastings!" The officers had called out but she ignores them.

She runs towards the helicopter where her father was about to board. With the helicopters engine, she wonders if her father would hear her, but still she takes a risk and pushes herself towards him.

"Everything will be alright. I'll protect you." She says as she hugs her father.

"Take care of yourself, honey. And tell your mom and sister that I love them." She hears her father says and she was pulled by Sebastian.

She shakes her head. It shouldn't be this way.

AREA 11 CAPITAL

SANTANA

.

Santana roams around the city on one of the police motorcycle. The military had tracked Lady Jessica whereabouts at the capital so she was heading there. She had tried to call Quinn but she got no response. Maybe she is asleep. She sighs, everything is just so messed up.

A chime was heard and she clicked on her communicator placed on her left ear. "Yes?"

"Good afternoon, Santanita!" Holly greets and Santana chuckles at her.

"It seems that you have worked on your accent, Holly!" Santana says.

"Indeed! I think the accent is really great!" she says and Santana wonders if she was serious. She was born in Brittania therefore she had the English accent on her. But then when she became an engineer, she had been travelling across the globe because of the war. Since most of her crew were Americans, she has adopted their accent.

"Uhmmm… Is that the reason why you called, interrupting my search?" Santana inquires as she nears turns around a block.

"Yes! I want you to congratulate me in Spanish!" She says and Santana could imagine her with a bright smile on her face. Santana raises her eyebrow like it was the most ridiculous idea she has ever heard. If the Emperor had found out about her actions, the enginner would probably be fired for taking things slightly.

"Oh, Holly! Care for another lesson in proper social etiquette? You look like you have some time to kill." Santana hears April Rhodes, Holly's assistant in the background.

"I'll have to take a pass on that." Holly replies. Santana has heard that April could really throw a good punch. The Red Knight could never understand how the two of them got along sometimes, but they work perfectly well so she doesn't question it.

"On a side note, we had received a message saying that Peter Hastings had been found and so you better hurry up and find Lady Jessica."

"Is Spencer okay?"

"Yep."

Yep? Seriously? She was about to ask more when she had heard a gun shot that went to her side mirror.

"I may have to get back on you later. I think I found them." Santana says as she immediately ends the call. What the hell? She could have been shot there! But then again, maybe that was the plan. She doesn't have vest right now so she could really be in danger.

She sees a black-haired guy appear on the sunroof of the car holding out a gun in her direction. Noel Kahn knows how to aim.

"In the name of Holy Brittania, stop the car!" Santana announced. Noel then shoots and Santana immediately dodged it. Great. She didn't wear a helmet either, so her panic grows.

She keeps up with the car in hope that Noel had run out of bullets. Unfortunately, Noel had docked to reload and he was again aiming at her. She changes lanes by going to the left of the car where the cars are opposite in her direction and reaches for her gun that is at her thigh. She tries to aim at the car's tires and fires the gun.

It missed. She's a leftie and she definitely has the disadvantage, not to mention, guns weren't her specialty. She hates shooting. She hates killing. Her parents are doctors so she has major knowledge on person's vital points. Whenever she shoots, she always hits on legs to slow down the enemies if ever they are running, or miss their vital points when faced head on.

Among the horns blown by the cars she has been dodging, she hears another gunshot and it missed too. Only for a centimeters from her front tire. She knew using the civilians was a good strategy.

She was lucky.

She aims again. This time at the back seat of the car. Noel was there so Lady Jessica had probably dodged. She fires it and she was glad it didn't miss.

The mirror breaks and she sees Noel punches the mirror to break it completely. She takes the risk of driving near the car and hopes that her plan works.

As she nears the car, Noel has fired again and this time, it didn't miss her. She was shot in the arm and she had dropped her gun. She winced in pain but still managed to be closer to the car.

"Any death wish, dog of the Empire?" Noel hisses as he points the gun to Santana's head.

"Yeah. Tell Lady Jessica, Peter Hastings had surrendered himself to the Emperor." Santana shouts hoping to hide the nervousness in her voice. Lying will probably her only way out. She took a glance at Noel and hopes that did the trick. He was about to fire when he was pulled back by Lady Jessica.

"Is it true?" Lady Jessica asks and Santana kept herself from smiling. These people had been on run since yesterday. It will be a stupid choice to bring any electronic device with them to avoid being tracked. Of course they didn't know about the news.

"Yeah. He had hoped to save the life of Prince Jason." Santana says as she tries to keep up with the car. She hopes this is a good move. She knows Lady Jessica loves her son truly.

Later on Lady Jessica was pulled byNoel and Santana had hoped she had the chance to see Quinn before she dies.

But then, slowly, the car halts to a stop.

HELICOPTER

QUINN

.

She faces Peter Hastings and sees the confusion in his eyes. She immediately activated her Geass and a green-bird-like light shoot out of her right eye and went through Peter's left.

"Respond to my questions truthfully!"

After seeing Peter stand straighter, she knows the Geass is activated.

"Why did you hide the fact that Jason was your son?"

"I want him to rise to the throne someday."

Quinn's blood boils. So it was all about the throne. Just like she thought it would be. How predictable. "He was the second child. Frannie would've rise to the throne." Quinn explains.

"He ordered for an assassination before. The Late Princess had investigated about Jason. She was a threat" Mona who was maneuvering the helicopter says. And Quinn immediately turns to Peter. After Red Coat had tracked Peter Hastings, Quinn insisted that she would get the answers from Peter herself. She and Mona disguise in police uniforms infiltrated the squad headed by Sebastian. She has to admit that Mona is really an expert in disguise.

"Is it true? Did you order an assassination?" She turns to Peter.

"Yes." The bad side of using Geass is the victim only responds to the order itself. Without further questions, the victim won't elaborate. But still, Quinn will take what she could get.

"Did you order the assassination of my mother too?" The big question.

"No."

"Have you threatened Alison then?"

"Yes"

Now Quinn is definitely mad. so who's next? Her?

"Did you kill her?"

"No"

"Who killed her?"

When Peter didn't answer, Quinn really gets angry.

"You really don't know, do you?" Quinn says as if it was a statement rather than a question.

She's tired of all the lies, all the sneaking and scheming to rise to the throne. How sick people can be for power. It was unfair to Spencer to have him as her father. She is a decent girl and Peter… Peter is just…

She knows the Geass had worn off as she sees Peter narrows her eyes. "Princess! What are you doing here?" Peter asks in complete oblivion to what had happened. How she loves the Geass. The victim doesn't have a memory of the encounter under Geass.

"so you and Lady—No. You and Jessica had played the Emperor?" Quinn says with a sarcastic laugh.

"No… No…" Peter shakes his head and Quinn wanted to slap him. At this point, without the Geass he would still lie his way for an escape.

"This is all me. I just don't want more trouble so I hid the truth…" he tries to explain but none of it was getting through Quinn. She had heard the truth and nothing can change her mind. She points the syringe at him and sees him panic.

"Your Highness, please!" He begs. "I can explain!"

"You can't change the world without getting your hands dirty." She injects the syringe to his neck.

That was the turning point. Since that day, I've lived a lie: The lie of living. My personal history, a lie. Nothing but lies. I was sick to death of a world that couldn't be changed. But even in my lies, I refused to give up in despair. But now, this incredible power… it's mine.

COURT ROYALE

SANTANA

.

As she walks behind Lady Jessica, she tries to contemplate Blaine's actions. She knows she was losing blood but she has no choice but to deliver Lady Jessica to the Emperor. She knows Quinn would never do something against Brittania's rule, but will she stick by her side or will she turn her back on her?

"Is Jason alright?" Lady Jessica asks breaking her train of thought.

"He…" Santana pauses to choose her choice. "He is fine. The Empire is protecting him, my Lady." Santana says curtly.

Lady Jessica had lost Alison. It will break her if she loses Jason too.

They stop when they reach the door. Behind the door resides the court and the Emperor himself. She hates doing this. "I'm sorry, your Highness." Santana apologizes as she waits for the guard who announces their presence. She looks up to Jessica and sees her eyes welled up in tears.

The door opens and she could hear the crowd blasted into whispers. She stands straighter and puts her foot to the carpet. She puts her head up and walks with confidence. At the front of the court, she sees the Emperor, Quinn and Jason in their usual seats. The Knights of Rounds on their place at the left side, and the court panel at the right side.

She reaches the front of the stage and step aside as she waits for Lady Jessica. When Lady Jessica stands beside her, she sees Jason stands at his seat but his knight puts his hand on his shoulder, he then take a seat and waits for the Emperor's words. Santana kneels down with one foot and puts her right hand on her chest as a sign of respect to the Emperor.

Everyone was silent until she hears Quinn's voice. "Santana, you're bleeding."

She was silent for a while, shocked at the first words she hears. She looks up to see Quinn standing from her seat. She really hopes she doesn't walk towards her.

"You are granted permission to speak." Lord Jeremiah states.

"I went across Sir Kahn, my Lord. But it was treated, so I'll be fine." Santana replies.

Everyone was silent again until, "You have done well, Knight of Three." Santana hears the Emperor speaks calmly. Still, the icy tone was there, so she didn't take it as a compliment. "You may rise."

Santana stands up and walks to her place behind Quinn's chair. Quinn meets her halfway though. She can see worry in her eyes and distress. Distress? Why would she be distressed?

"What's wrong?" Santana asks as she puts her hands on both of Quinn's arms. Santana could see Quinn hiding something from her but Quinn didn't give in. "You're still bleeding." Quinn comments.

"I'll be fine. The bullet was pulled out. Is there something bothering you?" Santana asks going back to the subject but the door swung open and a troubled Sebastian came walking briskly towards the stage. Santana gestures for Quinn to sit down and Quinn follows without letting go of her hand. She places her hand on her shoulder to relax Quinn.

Sebastian kneels in front of the Emperor, the Emperor motions for him to stand. He stands and everyone awaits for his news.

"I'm afraid I brought bad news, your Highness." Sebastian informs and everyone erupted in whispers again. Santana glances at the Knights of Rounds and she sees Spencer standing there. It means that they had captured Peter Hastings. What is going on?

"Peter Hastings had was murdered!" Santana's eyes widen. She sees Spencer stood there frozen in her spot. She sees Mike wraps his arms around him to hold her in place. She knows how to read Spencer, seeing as she spends most of her life with her. She knows her friends is crumbling inside. She is torn to attending to her friend or standing by Quinn's side. her decision was made when she feels Quinn tightens her hold in her hand. She pats her shoulder to try to relax her, but she is shaking inside too.

"The order was to bring him alive!" Lord Jeremiah barks and Sebastian takes a step back.

"He was on a different vehicle, my Lord. Our men had said that Mr. Hastings was poisoned." Sebastian informs, sweat visible in his forehead.

"poisoned?" Lord Jeremiah disbelief laced on his voice. "The paramedics had traced it in his body. His lip was turned purple and—"

"Who poisoned him?" The Emperor spoke, and Santana couldn't detect anything besides his usual calmness.

"We don't know yet—"

"How could you not know?" Lord Jeremiah insists. One thing that Lord Jeremiah hates is the ignorance to ones responsibilities.

"We think—"

"We? Speak for yourself! You are in charge of the operation!" Lord Jeremiah shouts.

"I… I think that Lady Hastings did it." Sebastian said and Santana could feel her anger boiling up. Before she could answer, Quinn had stood up.

"How can you impose such a thing?!" Quinn cries surprising everyone in the room.

"She had direct contact to—" Santana knew Sebastian was just buying time but it was definitely a wrong move.

"And you didn't think that anyone from the officers did it? He could have poisoned himself!" Quinn screeches and Santana had to calm her down.

"do you have any proof that it was the Knight of Two who had committed your accusations?" The Emperor asks still not removing his eyes from Sebastian. And for once, Santana was thankful of the interruption. She puts both of her hands to Quinn's shoulders and ignores the pain from her arm. Her father would scold her for being careless again. It wasn't long ago that the same arm was shot, and now it took a direct hit.

"No—" Sebastian tries to look away but the Emperor has this effect on people the pulls them towards those silver, scary and cold, eyes.

"Then from this day on, you are demoted to Knight of Seven." The Emperor declares, flipping his wrist as if it wasn't a big deal.

Sebastian's jaw drops as his eyes widen. "Your Highness—"

"From now on, Lady Berry and Sir Macintosh will be promoted one rank. Effective immediately. Now get out of my sight." The Emperor hissed and Sebastian flinched at his words. That's three ranks demotion.

Knights of Rounds had the same privilege… But there is always a hierarchy. And to be humiliated in the Royale Court, by the Emperor himself, is the highest humiliation. Well second to the highest, because Sebastian is still a Rounds. Santana thinks maybe the Emperor is just taking it out on him. But to pass the blame on others for not doing your job is just a low blow, and the Emperor hates it.

As Sebastian walks towards the Knights of Rounds, Mike pulls Spencer into him, to prevent her from punching Sebastian. Nathaniel pats his back while smirking at him. Ha. This is a good turn. So after this, maybe Santana could order him around.

Santana turns to the situation at hand and sees Noel Kahn enters the court. Lady Jessica would still be given a proper court trial, and her knight would stand in her defense.

"You knew Jason was Peter Hastings's son and you still went to your marriage, is that true?" Lord Jeremiah asks Lady Jessica.

"No. I didn't know it until Jason's third birthday, when he was hospitalized and in need of blood." Lady Jessica replies.

"But were you seeing Peter Hastings while you were with the Emperor, or were you not?"

"I was." Everyone erupted into whispers and the Purists in the council had this smug look in their faces. Of course they had wanted to dethrone Lady Jessica and that two words itself did it. The Empress cheating on the Emperor? To think that Jason would have risen to the throne someday.

"When did Jason knew about his real father?" Lord Jeremiah turns to Jason's knight.

"It wasn't until two weeks ago, my Lord. We went to collect some of the Di Laurentis' property. In there, he found letters exchanged between Peter Hastings and Lady Jessica. The Young Master went to Mrs. Hastings to clarify the speculations and Mrs. Hastings had confirmed it." His knight answered calmly.

"Where are these letters now?" Lord Jeremiah asks and Santana feels Quinn tighten her hold again. What is going on? As the trial continues, she leans down to Quinn's ears and whispers, "What is going on? Are you not feeling well?"

She sees Quinn looks down at her lap and her free hand covering her mouth like she was disgusted of something. Santana thought it was the situation, but would Quinn react like that? She kneels down and lowers her gaze so she could meet Quinn's. "Please tell me what's bothering you, princess." She says, concern visible in her tone.

Quinn's eyes are teary and Santana watches as she closes them as if controlling her emotions. "Just hold me, please."

Santana obeys even with hesitation. She turns her attention back to the trial. She notices that it was time for the verdict of the king. Everyone was silent waiting for the expected banishment.

"Alison knew about this, didn't she?" The Emperor says in a low voice.

No one answered.

"She knew about this and was killed by Peter, isn't she?!" the Emperor shouts and everyone flinched at his tone. "Peter Hastings, that cunt! And you-!" The Emperor seethed looking at Lady Jessica. "You were planning on taking my throne for your filthy bastard!" The Emperor points his finger towards Jason. "You and your lover" The Emperor said, sarcasm and bitterness heard through his tone, now stood from his throne and slowly, took a step towards Jessica. "had probably killed my first wife, Judy too. Just so you could be the Empress."

"Your Highness, please! My father isn't like that!" Santana whips her head towards Spencer who was pleading to the Emperor. She pities her friend. She had just lost her father and she had to go through this. It probably is a possibility though. It was a good theory and knowing Peter Hastings, that man had valued the glory of his family's name more than his family itself so it wasn't impossible.

"Do you really know your father that well?" The Emperor hisses. He turns towards the Knight of Two. "You don't think I didn't know about the assassination he planned for my late daughter?" He shouts not directing his statement to anyone.

Santana sees her friend shakes her head in disbelief. "Knight of Two, I had always believed that a child shouldn't be judged by his/her parents' actions thus, I tell you, my respect for you and the acknowledgement you deserve are still well preserved." The Emperor declares. And Santana released a sigh of relief. If the Emperor had announced that in the Royale Court, then it was an evidence, something all of them could hold onto, that Spencer would remain untouched.

"How about the thought that it was a possibility that your own father who had set you up into Alison's murder, framing you so his golden bastard son could claim the throne for himself without worry of being arrested for the said crime!"

Somehow, Spencer was cleared of suspicion from Alison's murder. Santana doesn't know how but everyone working on Alison's case had cleared Spencer's name. And it wasn't because she is the Knight of Two.

He starts walking down the stage towards Lady Jessica. Noel Kahn stands in his might and sets foot in front of Lady Jessica in defense. He comes face-to-face with the Emperor, and at that moment, Noel Kahn had earned Santana's respect. Soon a loud slap was heard, and everyone gasps.

Noel Kahn was pushed aside and Lady Jessica was slapped by the Emperor. Lady Jessica has put her hands in her bruised cheek. Noel Kahn starts standing up but Lord Jeremiah, without anyone noticing, \ was immediately at his side holding his arm.

"You shall be banished from Area 11, Brittania's homeland, and all royal establishment across Brittania's colony—"

"You can't do that!" Jason protested, standing in his seat walking towards the two. "This is her homeland! And where else would she go? She is the Empress and without the Royal practice protecting her, our enemies wouldn't hesitate to kill her or worse-" Jason insists.

From that moment on, she knew she had seen the side of the Emperor, she didn't want Quinn to see.

The Emperor stood indifferently, and Santana sees him in a different light as he says those words, "You are dead, an impotent corpse existing behind a false guise of life. You were always been dead to me, dead from the moment you were born. Who gave you the fine clothes you wear and comfortable home? The food you eat and your very life? All of those, I have given to you, in short you are nothing to me because you have never existed. Yet you dare to speak such foolishness to me?! I couldn't care less if this whore are to be raped or tortured by my enemies!"

Everyone flinches at his tone. Even Jason's knight had to assist Jason before he stumbled back. The Emperor addressed the Jason and Lady Jessica, "Jessica, you are dead, therefore you are not entitled to any rights. I am sending you and and your bastard son to Romania. As consort, you should be used as bargaining tools! From now on, when everyone speak of Alison, she shall be remembered being born from her mother's death!"

If Santana was paying attention really close, she could have seen the silver-bird-like light fired from the Emperor's eyes that went directly to everyone's eyes.

QUINN'S ROOM

QUINN.

.

After the royal court trial, Quinn moves like a zombie. She had insisted she went to the nearest bathroom for she wasn't feeling well. After she sees Spencer breaks down in tears when she heard the news of her father's death, she felt that sickening feeling in her stomach. The moment replayed in her mind like it was on repeat.

She feels warm hands in her shoulders and she immediately turns around. She was met by Santana's waiting brown eyes filled with concern and care. She wraps her arms around her neck and buries her head into the crook of her neck, and silently sobs.

"Quinn, you have to rest." Santana says as she rubs Quinn's sides slowly. Quinn feels Santana's hand went to her back in circular soothing motion but it didn't lessen the pain she has in her heart.

"Is Spencer okay? I think I should see her." Quinn says as she tries to pull away from Santana. But Santana held her close gently shaking her head.

"She would want to be alone." Santana says slowly. "Hanna is at the Knights' Manor so she should be fine." Quinn would have stopped crying if she hadn't see tears rolling down from Santana's eyes. She tenderly lifts her hand and wipes her tears away, and it reminded her of the night Santana received the news of her mother's death. It didn't sink in to her first, but for three days she was closed off. Her crying was unstoppable and Quinn can't do anything about it.

Quinn feels Santana guides her to her bed. When they were settled, Santana slowly pushes Quinn down to her bed. "Please stay." She says as she tugs on Santana's hand. Was it selfish of her? To ask Santana to be at her side? Or should she send Santana to Spencer's side? She had taken Spencer's dad from her, she shouldn't take her friend too.

Before she could reconsider her request, she feels a dip in her bed and feels Santana by her side smoothly wrapping her arms around her behind the comforter. Somehow it fills the void inside her, somehow it gives her the warmth she craves for. As she wraps holds onto Santana's embrace, she feels something wet in her knight's arm and she instantly remembers that her knight was wounded.

"I'm so sorry." She mutters as she looks at Santana who has blank expression. She had noticed that Santana had managed to master hiding her pain from her facial expression.

Santana brushes strands of Quinn's hair and put it behind her ear. Before Quinn could process it, she feels Santana's soft lips into her forehead.

"Rest, my princess. Tomorrow is another day. You will need your energy."

Quinn nods as she pulls Santana into her and they both lie there. Quinn listens to Santana's breathing and it helped her calm her nerves and forget about what she had done and what had happened.

AN. Hi guys!

so there's a part here that gives away something big. So I hope you catch on that. :)

Also, just so we're clear. Quinn used her geass to clear Spencer's name.