I know I haven't updated in a while and I'm sorry. Things have just been crazy. A few reviewers asked what happened to my relative, cancer. I'll leave it at that since I can't even find myself strong enough to type it out. Thanks for all the support though, guys. Your reviews leave me smiling like crazy sometimes and it's helping me a little to get through this time. Thank you to all of you amazing people who review! :)

Since I didn't really get much feedback on the Maxon chapters, I'm going to post it as bonus content once I finish this story. If you'd like me to rethink this, I need to know! For now, I think it's best to just stick with my decision though. Let me know what you guys are thinking.

And yes, this is the chapter where you find about King Clarkson…don't hate me! It will get better later in the story, I promise! Don't give up on this story after reading this chapter, but you know that I couldn't just let everything be perfect for America and Maxon. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it and remember…it will get better!

A loud alarm woke me up. Adrenaline started running through my veins with each beat of my heart as my body prepared itself for a fight. I slipped on some shoes and grabbed my robe–which I'd started keeping beside my bed for quicker access–before rocketing out of the door.

A guard grabbed my arm and began pulling me in a direction that I wasn't meant to go.

I yank my arm out of his grip. "I'm supposed to go that way." I growled, pointing over my shoulder to make my point clear.

"No," he grabbed my arm again and started walking, tugging me roughly along with him. "King Clarkson requested that you be brought to a specific room, Lady America."

I froze. What did King Clarkson want with me?

The guard's grip was too strong for me to break this time so I simply followed. I refused to kill the guard, or knock him out, since he wasn't intending to hurt me or anyone else. He was just doing his job and there was no way for me to stop him without injuring him.

He dragged me all throughout the palace before coming to a stop and opening a secret room with a press of his hand against the wall. He shoved me inside the hole in the wall and as soon as he did, the doors shut.

It was pitch black inside now and I couldn't see a thing. I felt along the wall so that I could make my way down the stairs without tripping too much. After several minutes of nearly falling on my butt, I finally saw a light. I rushed toward it as quickly as I could, the stairs finally ending as I entered a small dimly lit room.

It looked like a servant's safe room, a simple bed and utilities in the room. There was water but no food set aside in the corner. As well as a door near the back which, I noticed, had a dead bolt secured firmly to it.

I looked around and my eyes finally landed on King Clarkson.

I stiffened. The guard had told me that the King had wanted me in a special room but I never would've guessed that he would actually be in the room.

I curtsied as was necessary but the king scoffed so I straightened and stared at him just as hard as he was staring at me. The ice in his eyes was somewhat frightening but I wouldn't back down, keeping my gaze steady and even with his.

"I want to make a deal, America."

I narrowed my gaze and loosened my robe so that I could do something if he tried anything stupid. I would drop the robe and fight if I had to. I knew that the King beat Maxon, but I doubted he'd ever been in an actual fight. I had no doubt in my mind that I could beat him if it became necessary.

He noticed something in my eyes and his gaze narrowed. "Don't even think about it." He tapped his foot to his left and I froze for a second time. Right by his feet was a whip.

I crossed my arms over my chest and met his eyes firmly. "What do you want?"

"I want you."

"For what?" I asked, not allowing him to see the fear that threatened to overwhelm me.

"I want you to assist me with my army. I know of your fathers training and your report on our army has revealed things that even I didn't notice. Right now, we are weak. I need someone who can inspire as well as cause fear in the men who guard the palace and the soldiers who are going to be transferred to New Asia. If you accept this offer, you will be given residence here at the palace along with a position of power. You will also be the first female in the army for centuries."

"Why would I want to lead an army?" I asked.

He grinned. "I thought you might say that. Do you love your family, America?"

I didn't say anything but there was no stopping the fury that flooded through my body. I couldn't mask the rage and the King took notice, chuckling softly.

"If you don't accept my offer…Well it would be a shame for a group of 'rebels' to attack your province, wouldn't it? I've heard that they are targeting the families of the Selected. They like to leave quiet a mess behind as well."

I lunged forward so that we were toe to toe. I didn't blink or back off as his hard gaze met mine. He was determined and I knew there was no way I would be able to get out of this. "If you even think about hurting my family then you won't live long enough to regret it."

He laughed. "There would be nothing you could do to stop me, you ignorant stupid girl."

My fists clenched at my sides. "If I choose to accept your offer, I want a contract that ensures my family's safety as well as financial security for the rest of their lives–including the lives of any children that any of them may have."

He nodded, as though he'd suspected I'd demand as much. "Of course."

My shoulders slumped and I bowed my head, finally ending our staring contest by backing down. "Then I guess I don't have a choice in the matter. I'll do whatever you want as long as you can ensure that my family will never be harmed–by anyone. If they get killed–hell if one piece of hair is plucked off their freaking heads without consent–then the deal will be off and I will do everything in my power to kill you. Understand that?"

He nodded. "So, we have a deal?" He held out his hand.

I shook his and gripped as tightly as I could manage. "We have a deal as long as you hold up your end of the bargain."

He grinned. "Good. Now take off the nightgown and turn around."

I froze once more. "What?" I hissed angrily.

"It is necessary for each one of my personal workers to go through a whipping. To ensure that you know the punishment you'll face if you are ever disobedient.

I growled but did as he commanded, even taking off my bra so that he wouldn't try to tear it. I walked about five steps away and then turned and kneeled on the floor, my back to him. I put my hands on my knees and braced myself for the pain of the lashes about to come.

I felt each sting of the whip, unbearably harder than any lashes my father had ever given me. It was a living hell, each strike bringing fresh waves of agony through my body. It was literally like living in hell, my back burned with a fiery wrath of the King. I couldn't do anything to stop him. I just had to stay in the same position and take each lash.

I didn't dare cry out. I was done being weak. I wouldn't cry again, never.

When I really thought about all the things that had ever made me cry, I realized something. I'd rather deal with the physical pain of a whipping than the emotional pain of having my heart broken.

God, Maxon. I'm sorry for that stupid fight. So, so sorry.

I thought of my family, knowing that once this was over I wouldn't ever see them again because the King undoubtedly had something up his sleeve.

I sat there for what felt like hours until finally the blows stopped coming. I just shuddered, my back bleeding and raw. The skin on my back that had been left untouched by my father would have new scars on it once my wounds healed. The cool air only made the agonizing pain in my back seem more intense as it throbbed along with the beat of my heart.

"Good job." King Clarkson threw a black box at me, one I was all too familiar with. "Patch yourself up. As of right now, you are dead to your family, friends, and everyone else but me. Tomorrow, I will collect you and take you to get your hair cut so that if someone sees you within the palace that might recognize you, you will look different. You will be required to wear a uniform that I select every day and you will wear a hat every day to help hide your face. You will not speak to anyone that you know within the palace unless it is absolutely necessary and you will avoid them at all costs if possible. Tomorrow, we'll select a new name for you since America Singer died in a rebel attack on the palace."

With that, he laid the whip down and I heard a door open then close before I was finally left completely alone.

I grabbed the black box, careful with my movements so as not to agitate my wounds further and got to work treating myself as best I could.

Tomorrow, America Singer would be announced dead.

Tomorrow, my family wouldn't know I was alive.

Tomorrow, I would become a completely different person.