Ai Hod Yu In

Chapter 34

It was dark by the time Clarke heard the horn. She was staring out the window of the tower, lost in her thoughts, when it sounded. She knew what it meant.

"The conclave must be starting," she murmured aloud, not quite sure if she was even talking to anyone as she said it. She felt numb at this point, which she supposed may not be the worst thing. Clarke was not afraid to admit that if not for Madi, she was not sure what she would be doing right now. The pain of another loss laid heavy on her shoulders, and her daughter was the reason she continued to stand at all.

Further into the room, Murphy rolled off the bed and began to walk towards her, "Cool. Do you see anything?"

She turned further in, giving the young man who had once been so far from her trusted friend a look. He scoffed at her, a half smile on his face, "Come on, what? A bunch of grounders fighting to the death to see who gets an AI built in their brain? That doesn't sound fun to you?"

"No, Murphy. Especially because of that thing that we literally just talked about a few hours ago," she told him with a glare.

"What, you don't want your little girl to have your ex in her head?" he joked to her. He must have realized it was too soon from the icy rage in her eyes at that comment, because he held his hands up and shrugged, "Sorry, too soon. But remember Clarke, Madi's only a baby right now. They wouldn't want a commander that young anyways. No one even knows about her blood. She's safe."

She walked over to the door, trying it and finding it locked. She banged on it a few times before turning around in defeat, looking at Murphy, "This has nothing to do with Madi or Lexa. We need to make sure Aden wins."

Just then, the door opened to reveal Titus. Clarke felt a moment of vindictive pleasure upon seeing the pain in his eyes. He should be in pain, just like Clarke would be if she allowed her walls to lower just a little bit. He was the reason Lexa was gone. He was the reason Clarke and Madi had been in danger in the first place. He should be in pain.

"What, you come here to finish the job?" Murphy asked him. Glancing over at him, she noticed he had moved to stand in between Titus and the cradle that housed her defenseless daughter. She felt a bit of affection for him as she realized that perhaps he would protect her daughter as well.

"No," the man said sadly, "I'm here to fulfill my vow to Lexa. Put these on."

He shoved a cloak in Clarke's hands before doing the same to Murphy. Murphy didn't hesitate, simply started to walk out. Clarke, meanwhile, took a moment to consider.

"Clarke, the door we've been banging on for the last 24 hours is open. Grab Madi and your bag. We're going," he told her. She felt anger fill her again, felt the other emotions rising up as well. She took the cloak and threw it at Titus.

"You killed your commander. How are you still free?" she asked the man, needing answers.

"I am the only Flamekeeper. Now, please. If you go now, you can slip in with the crowds arriving for tomorrow's conclave," he told her.

"You heard the man. All right, let's go."

"I need to see Aden first," Clarke demanded.

"That's out of the question. The natblidas have begun the purification ritual," Titus responded.

"That sounds kind of private, Clarke."

"Where?"

"Are you nuts? Seriously, have you lost your mind?" Murphy asked her after she had finished demanding answers from Titus, "What about getting Madi out of here?"

"That's what you're going to do," he gave her a look, and she rushed to respond to his unspoken question, "Look, I need to make sure that Aden is going to hold true to the things Lexa said. And you are right, Madi needs to get out of here as quickly as possible. I can't do both, but I can trust you. And I do trust you, Murphy. So I need you to take my daughter and head towards Arkadia. I'll be right behind you, I promise. I just can't leave yet. And she can't stay. Please, Murphy. Protect her."

"I will, Clarke. But you better be right behind me, because I do not do babies. And I most certainly am not a damn babysitter."