She can taste the familiar copper twang of blood in her mouth. However out of all the pain she is feeling, that is the most insignificant. Her left ankle is twisted and the gash in her side feels like it is about to reopen again. Still Petra can ignore all that pain if it means freedom is close.

However, freedom seems faraway in this interrogation room with a man that wants her dead.

"Petra Ral, 24 years old and leader of the Southern Rebels," Silver eyes read over a file as thick as a brick. "At this point it would be easier to name what crimes you haven't committed against the empire."

"How about you tell me something I don't know?" Her brain screams that this is not the time for sass, but she doesn't regret her sharp tongue."

"That was supposed to be my line," He drawls as he runs a hand through black, inky hair. "You're smart and realize things won't last a year longer now that we've raided your main base, don't you?"

"Bite my ass."

"This information isn't useful to anyone, but you'll still get off with exile in the Northern Lands."

"Eat shit."

"Really mature. Never would have guessed this girl was the bane of our existence."

"I'll stop cursing when you stop this bullshit." Petra glared, hazel eyes burning brightly. "You said so yourself, I'm smart enough to outwit any of your generals. So don't treat me like a stupid teenager."

He flinched at those words for some reason. It wasn't obvious, but her words had affected him.

"If that's the case, then I'll guess I'll treat you like an adult," His voice audibly darken, sending chills down her spine. "Are you willing to give up exile for torture? We can make every breath of yours feel like fire, every step will feel like swords being driven into your feet, you will drown in thin air. Or maybe we should make you watch you mother die over and over again?"

His last threat made her gasp. She had never told anyone but Auruo about how that memory haunted her. He had died in action a two years ago, but they had recovered his body. How did an Imperial Soldier know?

Not important. Focus, Petra.

This stranger didn't seem to realize the impact of his words. It was a lucky guess. So she steeled herself, took a deep breath, and brought out the big guns.

"Don't act like you'll torture me. Torture takes time and for what? The useless information you mentioned before? Bullshit. You'll want to get my execution over with so there's not even the slightly chance of me being rescued," She looks up to stare the man in the eye. "I told you to stop treating me like a stupid teenager, and this is no better."

"You really are as clever as they say," Instead of being upset he seemed interested of all things. "The Fox of the South can't be fooled. No wonder you gained so many followers. A pretty face that has a pretty brain as well. People will rally around a figurehead like that."

"If you can see this, than can't you see why I wanted to make a change?" She adopts her leader voice, the one she uses for speeches and for discussing plans. "This is not the Empire my grandfather laid down his life for." Something in her ached for him to understand. Ever since she had been shoved into this room, she had shared a strange kinship with him, like a feeling of familiarity. And despite everything she was sure he felt it too. It wasn't the fact he was a potential way out, Petra felt that she needed him to agree with her very being.

The man blinks few times, studying her features. He licks his lips and replies, "You will be hanged at dawn tomorrow. There you go. No bullshit anymore."

Petra felt worse than she had during her failed escape that ended into hitting a tree.

"I see."

And before she could think of anything else to say, she was shuffled down to a cell room.

A.N. While I like the concept of reincarnation and soulmates, I feel like they would go through many different roles throughout their lives. Lovers, friends, and yes even enemies. Gives a certain bittersweet taste to two strangers feeling something but in the end not acting on it