Chapter 13

Monday morning, Avonlea was waiting in the Women's Room for the girls to arrive for their lesson. She was reading her lesson on her tablet to have it in mind, when the first lady entered. She looked up.

"Oh, good morning, Lady Petra," Avonlea said.

"Your Highness," Petra said, curtsying.

"You don't have to do that every time you see me, Petra," the Princess chuckled. "How are you liking your stay, so far?"

Petra smiled and took her seat. "I love the Palace," she replied. "It's so different than what I had imagined. And everything is amazing." She paused. "Oh, and I just wanted to thank you for taking the time in coaching us."

Avonlea smiled. "You're welcome. It's not like I had a choice in it, anyway. My father told me to prepare lessons two weeks before they announced the Selection. But I'm glad I accepted, anyway. It's fun to get to know you all."

Just then, a group of three ladies walked in and also took their seats. Five minutes later, all 32 girls were here. Avonlea was about to start her lesson when there was a knock on the door. Katia opened it, since she was the closest.

"Prince Alec," she said, curtsying.

"Sorry for interrupting," he said, more for his sister than for the girls. "Can I borrow Sonia, Marceline, Camilla and Aurelie?"

"Sure," Avonlea said and nodded to the girls who stood and followed Alec out of the room. "So," she said. "Today we are going to have a little history lesson. I want to see if you all know how we got here, and why." She paused. "Yes, Eris?" she said to the blonde girl raising her hand.

"Sorry to interrupt, but shouldn't we wait for the four girls?"

Avonlea shook her head. "I don't think they'll be coming back," she said. "So, who can tell me how and why Illéa was founded?"

-x-

After kindly telling the poor four girls that they would be leaving before lunch, Alec went to the conference room. He sat between his father and his best friend Christopher Brown, Silas Brown's son. He was following in his father's footsteps. Alec and Chris – 3 years his junior – had practically grown up together in the Palace.

"What's up?" Christopher asked. "You look awful…"

"Thanks, man," Alex said, rolling his eyes, and running a hand in his long hair. "Lots of things happened in a few days, and I'm already tired of this Selection."

"Tell me about it," Chris whispered back. "Dad told Bacchian to increase security in the Palace. He thinks something's brewing, but we're not sure what, yet."

Alec frowned. "But we already cut off three risks the first day. What now?"

Chris shrugged. "Not sure."

"Ladies and Gentlemen," Emperor Theodore said, standing at the end of the table. "Let us begin. Bacchian?"

Mikeal Bacchian, Head of Security in the Palace, stood and cleared his throat. "Thank you, your Majesty." He paused and looked at everyone around the table. All the Emperor's advisors were there, including the Empress, all called in for an emergency. "I've received information from my men that a lot is brewing in the Dark CyberNet," he started. "There is more and more data exchanged, and some of my men were able to decode parts of the encrypted messages. Clearly, they're not happy, and there was a lot of odd coincidences and other things that didn't add up, due the time they were sent and received. People are hacking Time. We don't yet know why, but the way I see it, something big is happening. And they're using the Selection to do it."

"Are there risks in the Selection?" a Lady advisor asked.

"Not withinthe Selection," Bacchian replied. "They're using it as a distraction, using the fact that everyone's eyes are trained on the Palace and Prince Alec to do their thing. They think we'll have our eyes on it, too."

"Did you find anything tangible that's happening?" another one of the advisors asked.

"People are missing," Bacchian said. "Minors under thirteen years old, mostly. And it's more than the usual one or two per month. It went up to five this past week."

"Who are these kids?" Alec asked, concerned.

"Mostly Six and Sevens, but there was a Three, too. A girl," Bacchian said. "We're still trying to figure out how they disappeared. We lost their data track, and then we continued to track them via face recognition on the cameras. But the guys are experts. The kids are always back to the cameras, and the guys wear balaclavas. One minute they're there, and then they're not. Either there are some blind spots between Cameras or they just vanish."

"But that's impossible," Christopher said. "People don't vanish in thin air. They have to be somewhere."

"Or they're using Invisibility Cloaks," Silas Brown said. "They're all over the Dark CyperTrade. They're made of NanoTech fabric that blend in with its surroundings," he explained for those who didn't know.

"Or they just vanished," Bacchian said again. Everyone was silent, taking in the news.

After a moment, the Emperor cleared his throat and everyone looked up to him. "What we need is an even bigger distraction," he said. "All this should be kept secret, of course. We need to keep the people's attention on the Selection and have experts dig into this affair." He turned to his wife. "What do you suggest we do keep the people's eyes on us even more?"

Empress Beatrix smiled. "We need a Ball," she said. "I'll send an invitation to the English King, the European Monarchs, and the New Asian Emperor. We'll hold the Ball in the Grand Ball room. HoloCams everywhere."

"What's the occasion?" Alec asked.

"The Selected ladies need some practice in organizing an event. Avonlea will coach them on this."

"How soon can we hold that Ball?" Theodore asked her.

"Two weeks."

"It's settled, then," Theodore said. "We'll take care of the distraction while you dig into the missing kids." He nodded once and then stood and left the room, followed by his wife. The others took their tablets and went to work in their respective offices. Alec and Christopher stayed behind.

"Chris, I have a problem. And I need your advice," the Prince said.

"What is it?"

"What do you do when your ex-girlfriend tells you she's pregnant?"

Chris's eyebrows shot up to his hairline. "What? You can't be serious."

Alec nodded. "Yep."

"What did you tell her?"

"Nothing. I was surprised. I didn't know what to say."

"Wait, wait, wait," Chris said. "You didn't even ask her for proof? What if she' just said that to make sure you don't eliminate her? She isyour ex-girlfriend." He paused. "Who else knows about this?"

"No one, so far. You're the only one I told. And please don't tell anyone."

"You should have her checked in with Dr. Marshall," Chris said. "Just to make sure."

"I can't do that. Not yet. If he knows, everyone will know. You know my parents and your dad and Bacchian have access to the medical files of whoever goes to Marshall. And then someone could slip and it's out. I'm not taking that risk."

Chris sighed. "So you're not going to do anything about it?"

"Not yet. We'll let the Ball pass, and then I'll decide what to do."

Silence filled the room.

"How far is she?" he asked.

"A month maybe. I don't know." He shrugged. "And don't ask me how it happened, because you know how these things happen. Apparently her IUD expired some time prior to-" Alec sighed. "You know."

Chris laughed. "You're such an idiot, you know that?" he said, punching him playfully in the arm. "Prior to you two having sex. You can say it."

"Shut up, Chris."

-x-

Alec wanted to miss dinner with all the Selected and have a one-on-one dinner with one of the girls. And the next one on her list was Catiena Reeves. Unfortunately for him, she was with some others outside, on one of the terraces. He would have to do that in front of everyone. Or I could send her a message through her Contacts, he mused. But no. You don't ask a girl out by message on your first date. He squared his shoulders and went outside.

"Lady Catiena?" he said, seeing her laughing with a group of girls.

A brunette young woman with long straight hair and emerald green eyes turned around. She smiled at the sight of the Prince.

"Would you like to join me for a date?"

She grinned. "Of course. Right now?"

"I was, hoping, yes," Alec replied.

She followed him back inside and they walked to the Vacuum. "Level 11," he ordered. Seven seconds later, they were on the 11thfloor and he led them to a terrace facing West, where the sun would set on the 'Dome's screen. She was wearing a black day dress with long sleeves made of Nano-Tech cooling fabric, paired with some black heel, her hair tied up in a high ponytail.

"Oh, wow," she said, seeing their table with candles. "Just us for dinner?" she asked.

"Yep. And since I wasn't sure what you liked to eat best, I ordered three different dishes to choose from."

She laughed and rolled her eyes. "Of course, you would," she said. "Where I'm from, it's eat what you get." She chuckled. "But thanks for the choice." She flashed him a smile, but Alex wasn't sure if it was genuine or sarcastic. He held out her chair for her to sit, and then he sat across from her. The trolley was next to his seat, and he uncovered the first level, showing three different plates with different appetizers. The first one was a Rubik's Cube avocado-tomato-cheese salad, the second one was geometric molecular petit-fours, and on the third one were aesthetically pleasing veggie rolls with two stems of chives on each one.

"What do you choose, tonight, Catiena?" he asked.

She looked at the three plates. "Oh God, I don't know. They all look amazing." She gazed at the food. "What would you suggest?"

Alec laughed. "If you can't decide, then I suggest we split everything in two."

Catiena smirked. "That's perfect."

Alec proceeded to divide everything in two and he placed the first plate in the center of the table. "So," he started, "tell me a little bit about yourself."

She chuckled, forking a piece of cubic avocado. "What do you want to know?"

"You were a Six, right? Tell me about your life."

She took a deep breath. "I wasn't always a Six, you know?" she said. "I had a happy life as a Two. Until my mother died, my father remarried and my Step-mother murdered him and tried to kill me, too." She shrugged. "She took all my family's money, and I fled. I'm now a 3D printing Engineer. Story of my life," she said.

"Wait. You're the daughter of Randolf Reeves? The most famous and wealthiest Nano-Weapons Specialist?"

"Yeah," she said slowly. "You knew him? I mean, sure, you must know everyone in the second Caste."

"I didn't know him personally. But my best friend used to admire your father. He's also a Nano-Weapons specialist." He paused. "What happened next?"

"Nothing. I'm just getting by, and surviving."

Alec wondered why his mother had put her on the list for early elimination. Didn't she know who she was?

"I'm sorry about you parents," he said lamely, not knowing what else to say.

"Thanks."

There was an awkward silence after that, and they continued to eat the appetizers. Alec then uncovered the second layer on the trolley and revealed 3 plates with amazing food. Three different kinds of meat – from real animal, not processed and 3D-printed – with different side dishes.

"Why are you doing this to me," she said, laughing. "I can't just choose!"

"Then we can split in two, again if you want," Alec suggested.

"Definitely." She waited for him to divide the food. "What else do you want to know about me?"

"Uhm, I don't remember if you had any brothers or sisters?"

"I have a half-sister. But Ambrosia's resemblance to me is too strong for her to be anything but my sister. Sometimes I forget who her real mother is." She smiled, thinking of the little girl. "I love her. But I haven't seen her ever since I left."

"How long ago?"

"I was seventeen, so that makes five years ago."

"You've been surviving on your own ever since?"

"Yeah. I doubt you could have done what I did," she smirked.

"I'd like to think I would," he replied. "But you're probably right. Life as Crown Prince is pretty sheltered. I have to sneak out from under my own mother's nose to get out of this place."

Catiena laughed. "And where would you go, Your Highness?" she asked playfully, her green eyes dancing in the sunset and candle lights.

"You'd be surprise I know my way out there," Alec said, taking offense – fake, of course. "I don't take the usual transport to get out. I have my own means of moving around," he added mysteriously.

"Oh, like what?" Catiena laughed, imagining him on a hoverboard or something.

"Here, I'll send you a picture," he said, blinking once. Catiena received the file on her Contacts – thank goodness she had been a Two with good Contacts to begin with – and she laughed.

"No way. You ride that?"

"Yep," he said proudly. "I have nine of those babies."

"Nine?" She laughed again. "Why so many?"

Alec shrugged. "Different sizes, different shapes, different speeds. Depends on where and what I want to do. Some are hybrids and don't make a sound."

"You're sneaky," she said, forking the last bit of the third plate in her mouth.

"You know what we can do?" Alec said. "We can take the desserts to level 3 and watch and old movie in the HoloCinema room. Or we can stay here, as you wish."

Catiena raised an eyebrow. "As much as I love this candlelit dinner, there's nothing like a good old movie while eating dessert."

Alec smirked and he handed her a dessert plate, taking the two others himself. "Let's go, then."

When Catiena saw what was in her plate, she grinned. "Oh, I'm taking this one for myself," she said mischievously. On the plate was a bouquet of 3D printed chocolate roses.

Alec chuckled. "Okay. That makes more for me, then."

They both laughed and headed to the HoloCinema room. He made Catiena choose the movie – "Roman Holiday" – and they ate their desserts while travelling back in time to Rome.

After the movie, he walked her back to her room, but he had trouble saying goodnight and ending the evening. He really enjoyed that evening with her, and he decided to cross her out from his mother's elimination list. She would stay a bit longer.

-x-

Walking down the hall to get to the Vacuum, he passed in front of Calliope's room. He stopped and was about to knock, but hesitated, his knuckles an inch from the door. She was talking to someone, so Alec listened in.

"You can't be serious, Dax," she mumbled, but loud enough for Alec to make out the words. Silence. She was probably listening to or reading a message. But who was she talking to? Who was Dax? Their Contacts were blocked inside the Palace Network. She wouldn't be able to communicate outside… "When?" she continued. And then silence again. "On it," she said, and then it was over.

Alec waited another couple minutes, but nothing else happened. He decided to knock.

She opened the door. "Hey," she said, smiling, and tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"Hey," he replied. "How are you feeling?" he asked as if he didn't hear anything before.

She shrugged. "Just tired," she replied, putting a protective hand on her belly, and Alec noticed that. Alec nodded, not sure what to do with her. "I'm going to go to bed okay?" She leaned in and lightly pressed her lips to his, lingering there. Alec kissed her back.

What the hell was he doing with his ex-girlfriend in his Selection? He thought walking away to his own bedroom…

Heyyyy! thanks for your reviews on Chap 12^^

I hope you liked this chapter too... ;) I'll try to have another one before Monday, but if not, sorry! Monday and Tuesday I again have exams...

anyway. Thanks for reading and staying with me! Next chapter will probably be a group date... ;)

Byeeee