Chapter 48

Ivy Bonham, Three, Waverly

Ivy was sitting with Christian in the library, sitting beside him in a large armchair, Chrsitian in his own. Ivy was holding Christian's hand with one of her own, and holding open a book in her lap with the other. She had a small smile on her face, and had never felt more at peace in her life. Today was certainly a good day, and it could only get better from here.

Christian sighed, and Ivy looked up from her book, watching Christian carefully, "Is something wrong?"

Christian looked to her, "I- I don't feel right keeping us a secret."

Ivy wrinkled her nose in concern, "We can't make it public, I'm in the Selection-"

"But what if you weren't anymore?"

Ivy felt her heart skip a beat, "Ask to leave?"

Christian nodded, "Well, if you want to, yes…"

Ivy closed her book, and stared over no particular point over Christian's shoulder as she thought. She certainly wasn't in the fight for Ray's heart, and he seemed to know that. But was she ready to just throw away the safety net for Christian? Would they last? Or would they date for a few months before they grew tired of each other?

Ivy bit her lip, but remembered words her grandmother had spoken when she was little, and had been afraid of learning how to ride a bike for the first time, "Now, now, you can't be afraid of falling, or you'll never get anywhere." Ivy smiled to herself, true, it had been about the bike at the moment, but now it meant so much more.

Ivy looked back to Christian, and nodded, "Yes."

Christian perked up, and smiled in disbelief, "Really?"

Ivy nodded again, "Yes, I want to ask Ray to leave the Selection."

Christian smiled, and laughed, pulling Ivy into his chair and hugging her. Ivy laughed too, trying to pull herself from his arms to get a bit of balance. Christian stood, helping her steady herself, before taking her hand, and leading her out of the library.

"He's probably in his office…" Christian trailed off, "Or his room, or on a date. Wherever he is, we'll find him."

Ivy smiled, and squeezed his hand, stepping closer to him as they traveled the hallways. They approached his office, and knocked. To their delight, Ray called from inside, "Come in."

Ray seemed surprised when Ivy and Christian walked in, his eyes settling on their intertwined hands. "What can I do for you two?" He asked, though Ivy was sure he already knew the answer.

Across Ray's desk were files, computers with videos on them, and chats with someone named RIVER. The files and videos were of rebels Ivy had guessed, Ray had been preoccupied with them, finding them, ever since poor Eva had been killed.

Ivy felt Christian's eyes on her, and she smiled at him, then looked to Ray. She took a deep breath, then clearly, and confidently said, "I want to leave the Selection, I've fallen for Christian, and it's only right I tell you."

Ray looked between the two of them, and smiled, "I knew you two were perfect for each other. I mean, you can't keep your eyes off each other, and when Christian admitted he liked you, I knew it was already set in stone."

Ivy felt her face heat, and looked to Christian, whose ears were bright red, and he was staring at the floor as though he wanted to make Ray to take the words back if he thought hard enough.

Ray nodded, "Alright then, Ivy, I officially release you from the Selection." Ivy and Christian broke into identical grins, and they thanked him. "Just one thing though…"

Ivy and Christian looked to him, their grins faltering. Ray chuckled, "If you two ever break up, promise you'll give it another go in a few years."

Ivy laughed, and Christian smiled, saying, "I don't plan on letting this happiness go that easily."

Ivy squeezed Christian's hand again, then looked to Ray, "So, what now? Am- am I allowed to stay here to be with him?"

Ray thought for a moment, then nodded, "Yes, I don't see why not? I can arrange a different room for you, or you can keep your current room, if you like."

Ivy nodded, "Thank you, I'll keep my current room."

Ray dipped his head, then said, "Now, I don't mean to kick you guys out, but I need to get back to my work." He nodded to his desk, computers flashing, and papers waiting to be tacked to a pinboard like a crazy conspiracy theorist would.

Christian nodded, "Of course, but first-" He approached Ray, and hugged him, the brothers patting each other on the back, "Thank you." Christian finished, looking back at Ivy. Ivy smiled, and Christian's eyes brightened, shimmering.

Ivy offered her hand, and Christian took it, the two of them heading out of Ray's office. Ivy smiled to herself, she'd been smiling practically nonstop since they'd left the library. Today was definitely going to be the best day of her life so far.

Ray's POV

Ray was happy for Christian and Ivy, but it was time to get back to work. He'd been in contact with Mimi, and she was telling him her theories, and the faults in the castle's security systems. If she wanted to, Ray might actually hire her to be the Royal Security Manager when he became king. She was saying how people were on the inside of the castle, possibly a spy, or someone masquerading as a maid, chef, or guard to be getting all this inside information and access to Selected and maids that have been killed. Ray was agreeing, it had to have been. For the patrols to see no one enter or exit the castle to commit these acts, they had to have come from the inside, which was even scarier.

Ray sighed, and rubbed his eyes as he looked over everything. But not even a moment after he rested his eyes, the security alarm blared throughout the castle. A rebel attack. No, not now! Ray cursed, and stood, stumbling out of his office. There was no way he would make it to the main safe room, but maybe some of the smaller ones. Ray rushed to a nearby safe room, and scanned his finger print. But it didn't open. Ray tried again, but it didn't open. Ray groaned, someone must have found it sooner.

Ray rushed around, finding the next one, and found that that one was occupied too. Ray fought down the panic that was building in his gut. No, no, no. He had to find a safe room. But every one he tried seemed to be taken. Ray was too far from the royal safe room, but if he could find another room to hide in….

Ray found himself in the music room, and he immediately barricaded it with a rolling stand-up piano in the corner of the room. Ray turned just in time to see Kara holding a guitar. Both of them shrieked, and Kara sighed.

"Ray, what the hell? You scared me!"

"Sorry! You scared me! You couldn't tell it was me?" Ray replied, watching the guitar wearily.

Kara noticed, and put down the guitar. "No! In case you haven't noticed, it's dark in here! I turned off the lights so no one would think there was a person in here."

Ray hummed, "I guess you have a point, good idea, by the way."

Kara nodded, "At least you had the sense to barricade the door. I should have thought of that, but I'm not exactly thinking straight."

Ray ran a hand through his hair, "How are they doing this so soon after Eva's death? They must really hate this Selection more than I thought. They're desperate, I'm getting close to the end of my Selection, and they want to stop it. Now." Ray looked to Kara. "Have you found anything?"

Kara was putting the guitar back, she looked over her shoulder at him, "What?"

Ray's brow knitted, "You know, Endra was supposed to ask you if you'd help find information about rebels from the inside. I'm starting to think we have rebels in the palace on the regular."

Kara seemed surprised, shaking her head, "Endra hasn't asked me yet."

"Oh...she probably asked Brendan first, I asked her to last night, she must have wanted to ask today." Ray reasoned, shrugging it off, "Anyways, how are you handling everything?"

Kara scoffed, "How am I handling the knowledge that I could be killed at any moment? Not too well, but I have a few drinks in me; it helps." She paused, assessing Ray, "Why are you asking me how I'm handling it? How are you handling it?"

Ray heard an empty chuckle leave his mouth, "Not good. As you can see, I'm stressing, I'm trying to find these rebels. I can't let them get away with this."

Kara was silent, then she moved next to Ray, taking his hand, and rubbing his back, "It'll be okay, I know you'll find the rebels and fix this. I'll help."

Ray looked to Kara, relieved to hear that, "Thanks, it means a lot." Kara nodded, and Ray sighed, slumping forward. Kara was certainly warm, and she felt safe. It was nice to have this calm.

They sat in silence, and Kara eventually said, "So, have you made any decisions about who might win?"

Ray sat up, and sighed, "A few, but I'm not sure. Can I honestly tell you my top choices?" Kara smiled and nodded, not speaking, allowing him to have this moment.

"Well…" Ray sighed, he couldn't believe he was telling Kara his most confusing, and deep thoughts. "I was thinking it's really down to Evie, Jed, you, Akio, and Brendan."

Kara's brow rose, "First of all, that's most of us, and second of all, Brendan? Really? You could see yourself marrying him?"

Ray glanced to her, "Well, yeah, I mean, you know him, he's pretty great."

Kara blinked, "Well, yeah, but I figured with him being so anti-royal that he wouldn't be a candidate."

Ray shrugged, "Well, yeah, but, I think he's on the right side." Kara seemed ready to ask what that meant, but Ray continued before she could ask, "Anyways, you see what my problem is?"

Kara nodded, "You're not even sure where your heart lies. You know it's not Spencer, which makes that easier, but what about the others? How many do you love, if any, and how many would you be 'just okay' with marrying?"

Ray's brain seemed to freeze as Kara asked him this. "I-" he stopped, and shook his head, "I don't know."

Kara was silent, but for once, Kara seemed to carry no judgement with her, "I think that's your problem. You don't know what to expect from a life-long partner, so you don't know who can offer you that happiness."

Ray's head dropped into his hands. Why did this have to be so confusing? Why did he have to have stupid rebels hurting his Selection, making it all the more difficult to choose someone. What happens if he chooses a wife or husband and they are killed by rebels? Could he really risk losing the love of his life like that?

"That's it!" Ray gasped, head shooting up, and looking to Kara.

Kara jumped at his outburst, and she tilted her head, "What's it?"

Ray smiled at her, "Well, it's not a good thing, but I know why I'm afraid to choose; it's because I'm afraid to lose them."

Ray could see the wheels turning in Kara's head, "I'm….not following."

Ray sighed to himself, accepting his new realization, "I can't choose a person to love forever, because I don't know if I'll have them forever. Any second the rebels could take them from me, just as they've taken Camilla and Eva."

Kara's thoughts clicked together, "Oh, Ray, you can't be afraid of that. You think I was excited to leave my mom behind without my protection to come here? The people you love, well, you have to love them when you can, there's never a certainty in how long you'll have them."

Ray sighed again, "I know, now at least. I- I think I know what I need to do, at least to lower my heart's choices."

Kara smiled, and patted Ray's hand, "Good, maybe something good came from this rebel invasion after all."

Ray smiled at her, "So...you spend a lot of time around the Selected, more than you care to admit, what do they think of me?"

Kara scoffed, "Well, I certainly know how to listen, I've bartended for a while, you won't believe the stuff I'd hear." She chuckled to herself, then cleared her throat, "I know Brendan said that Jed is totally crushing on you, Spencer is kind of, well, preoccupied, and Akio is adorably confused in his crush with you. I also know that Evie really does love you, I think she's hoping fate had something to do with her getting chosen this second time around."

Ray nodded, this was all good information, some at least confirming what he already suspected. "And you? And Brendan?"

Kara sighed, and leaned back on her hands, crossing her legs. "Well, we're a bit more complicated, aren't we?"

Ray furrowed his brow, and leaned forward slightly, "What do you mean?"

Kara chuckled absently, "Well, I like it here, I won't lie, and I like you, but I'm not sure if I'm exactly queen material, and I'm not sure I'm in love with you, you know?"

Ray nodded, he wasn't sure if he was in love with Kara either. She's probably the closest thing he had to a true friend this whole Selection, was it possible it could grow? Or would it always just be friends?

"What about Brendan?"

Kara was silent for a moment, thinking through her answer, she sat up straight, and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well, Brendan is….Brendan. He doesn't like to open his heart, or tell people what he's really feeling. I've been around him this whole Selection and I've only caught a glimpse of the inner workings of his soul. He carries around the marble you know? The one you got him with the universe inside? I think he carries it for reassurance or something. He won't admit it, but I think he's starting to really grow fond of you, maybe more... I caught him working on a love song."

Ray's eyes widened in surprise, he knew that he had a crush on the rockstar, and that Brendan was definitely one of his top choices, especially since he was so good with the people, but he didn't know that Brendan may actually want to stay here….may want to stay with Ray. Kara seemed to be observing Ray, and eventually laid backwards, staring up at the ceiling, tracing the lines in the dark, barely visible.

Ray followed suit, and they lay together, silent, and thoughtful. Eventually they heard a knocking at the doors, and Ray and Kara both sat up, alert. They approached the door, weapons- guitars- in hand, and listened. The knocking turned into banging.

"Ray? Kara? You in there? It's Brendan, open up!" Ray looked to Kara, and she nodded, they removed the 'barricade' from the door, and opened it.

There stood Brendan, looking ruffled, but okay, as he took in Ray and Kara. He sighed in relief, then bitterly demanded, "What the hell? Ray your family has been worried sick! The rebels killed about a quarter of the staff, and I was left alone with your family and Jed in the giant safe room!"

Ray was almost amused Brendan had been stuck with them, but what he said triggered a more anxious side of him. "Wait, wait, a quarter of the staff? I thought the staff had all gotten into safe rooms! Why the hell were so many closed and locked, then?"

Brendan sighed, shoulders slumping, when the soldiers checked them they found rebels, armed with only knives, but apparently rebel spies had occupied all the safe rooms to cause maximum damage in the attack."

Ray felt as though his chest were suddenly being constricted by a snake. He couldn't breathe, and he felt sick. A quarter of the palace staff, wiped out by rebels. Lives. People. Families. Destroyed in a span of a few hours.

Ray dropped to his knees, and Kara and Brendan both rushed to prevent him from falling further. They fanned him with their hands, and hoisted him up. "Ray, come on, don't faint on us." Brendan half-scolded, half pleaded.

They lifted him out of the room, and half-carried him to the hospital wing. The nurses would want to examine him, of course. Kara was relaying the events of how they were both in the music room to Brendan, then when asked by palace officials, she repeated her statements, since Ray was being tended to.

Ray's head swam with faces, last names, some he didn't even know. Hell, most he didn't even know. They were his staff, and yet, he didn't know a thing about them; how sad was that? He sighed, he had to finish this quickly, either take out the rebels, or get married and meet them head on, at least not so many lives would be at risk, maybe the rebels would even go after Ray alone. Ray looked to the people around the hospital wing. He had to, for them.

Hey guys! Another chapter down! WHOO! Okay, so, I'm not sure what to say, just, wow. This is getting good. I'm excited to write the end of this story. 5 chapters and an epilogue left. For those of you who have read since the start, thanks so much! It's been such a journey.

Anyways, if you feel like it let me know what you thought of the chapter and any theories you may have on Ray, the Selection, Rebels, etc. I'm always curious to see all of them! See you in the next chapter~!