Hey, Guys! Sorry for the funky programming in this chapter. Here is the new version that you can actually read!

Enjoy! "It's our nature. We destroy. It's the constant of our kind. No matter the color of blood, man will always fall."

Mare

We all sat staring at the monitor for several minutes. I imagine everyone at our table, as well as the whole country, was thinking of the consequences of her death. No one said it, but I doubt Iris died of "natural causes." Most likely poisoned, the news hadn't said anything about blood or gashes, perhaps a jealous silver girl angered she had prepared her whole life for the Queenstrial, all for nothing. I could assume the Lakeland VS Archeon War would now continue, I imagine it would only be hours before the war started again. The king of the Lakelands would jump to the conclusion of murder, just as I had.

"Does anyone not realize the coincidence that Iris was murdered the night before Maven's ball? It's almost as if he can't have his wife distracting him there. I wonder what he's up to."

I immediately began to feel sick. Cal was right. Iris was murdered today for a reason. I already have my suspicions. For the rest of our sitting, no one spoke, meagerly picking at our food, digesting much more important matters. We quickly got up to leave, Harrick had sat he was beginning to feel lightheaded.

But when we got into the car, Cal quickly glanced around the perimeter, as if looking for someone. After a few seconds, he handed me a piece of paper, which I assumed was our dinner bill. At the bottom, it read "I KNOW WHO YOU ARE"

"Let's go, quickly," I said.

"Good idea," Cal murmured, stepping on the pedal, sending us off.

We swerved around streets, still, my face appearing several times a minute, and Cal's every few. I hadn't noticed it before, but while my sign said "wanted alive," his said, "wanted dead or alive." At this, I shivered. Yet again, I asked myself why. Why did he want me back at the palace? What big plans did King Maven have for me?

As we progressed towards our location, I began to see changes. The banks were bigger, the apartments were larger, the eateries were fancier, and the wanted signs were much larger.

If I hadn't been mistaken, we were nearing the heart of Archeon, near the bridge. Sure enough, there it was gleaming in the night, contrasting the night sky, deeply. But instead of going over the bridge, to get to Whitefire, Cal veered left, into another region of Archeon I had never seen before.

It seemed to be an area of business, with large buildings all over the place, as well as a few hotels. But the biggest by far was what I assumed was the Adroma's. The building, was clearly larger than the gigantic Archeon Palace, towering fifteen stories, stretching several hundred feet across.

"Why are we here?" I asked incredulously. By the looks of the immaculate structure, only High Silvers, and wealthy common silver would stay here. No doubt every last one would gleefully execute me for Maven personally.

Farley gave a chuckle before answering. "I know it's hard to believe, but by staying at this hotel we are outsmarting Maven. He expects us to stay low profile, most likely not even entering the city until tomorrow afternoon. I have no doubt he has guards stationed around the outer edge of Archeon. He most likely also has bounty hunters hiding out in the woods, ready to tail us, attempting to find out our plans."

"If this is true, how have we not been caught yet? Harrick, have you been keeping us invisible this whole time?"

Harrick looked like he was about to answer, but Farley budded in "Of course not. He would have passed out by now. He kept us invisible just past city limits. Once we were the city he brought the illusion up."

"I see. You believe the best approach to keeping me safe is by surrounding me with bloodthirsty silvers, some of whom would kill at sight, simply to get the wretched signs down from their streets. If Harrick gets distracted for one second, trips even. I'm dead."

"First of all, even, no matter how atrocious you believe silvers to be, they wouldn't kill because they wanted a few signs off their streets-" said Cal, before being interrupted.

"Oh really," I said in a haughty voice. "In that case, I don't believe you know your own people," not bothering to look at him. "They kill for sport, not thinking for a second about the consequences. Because in the silver society there are none. We're the red-blooded, making us equivalent to flies compared to the silver gods, who believe reds are meant to be nothing higher than servants or gravely untrained warriors, whose only purpose is to die in a pointless war."

"You and I both know that doesn't apply to every silver in this city," Cal said sadly.

"It shouldn't apply to any. When they commit the actions that they have, they're not gods. They're not even flies. They're nothing." I said, in a strangled voice, tears beginning to slip. "This society, it needs to be corrected." shaking my head while looking straight off into the setting sun.

"I know," Cal whispered.

By the time our heated conversation was over, we were a few blocks away from the hotel, which I was still anxious about entering. But judging by the looks Farley was giving me, if I said one more thing relating to anything from the conversation in the car, she would have my neck.

I hesitantly got up from the safety of the car and trailed behind Farley towards the immense doorway of the colossal structure the silvers called a hotel. Walking pass the silvers surrounding the the doorway gave me chills, and as I glanced at a few of them, I wanted to retch right atop their finely polished shoes, which most likely cost more than a red makes in their entire life.

But we continued up the stairs, and into the vast room that surrounded me, filled by many hundred more silvers. It appeared to be a check in room, as well as a waiting area. I assumed many of the people standing here tonight would be at the ball tomorrow, dressed in their elaborate clothing poor reds sewed for them.

Farley began to shift from her usual personality into a woman I didn't recognize. She flamboyantly walked towards one of the receptionists, looking slightly drunken, although she was by no means intoxicated. She asked for three room cards, which the receptionist handed to her, almost looking worried about Farley's supposedly drunken state, although most everyone in the area looked drunken. Immediately, after turning from the receptionist, she dropped back into her usually stern personality.

Farley came back towards us, carrying the small plastic cards, and handing one to Harrick and one to me. She led us to a deserted corner and told us the plan.

"You may have noticed I only have three cards, there were only so many rooms left for all twenty- five of us to book. So Harrick, as our most valuable asset gets his own room, and Ella and I will be rooming together."

I stared at Farley, with a pure look of hatred glittering in my eyes. That left one room left and two people.

"And Mare and Cal will also be sharing a room because as Cal told me, he is her bodyguard. So don't get pissed Mare, you wanted this."

"You know after the car ride, you shouldn't have done-"

"I made my final decisions before the car ride."

"Very well," I said, attempted to not burst. "Where is Cal anyway?"

"He had to go park the car in the side lot, apparently only high silvers may park in the front, and he's carrying in our attire for tomorrow."

"Isn't anyone going to recognize him? He doesn't have Harrick with him."

At this, "Farley rolled her eyes, almost as if this was a joke. "Honestly, with the dress Maven sent you, no one will be able to see his face, it's so big."

I laughed for the first time in what felt like a very long time. "Say thanks to Maven," I said, smiling.

"Okay, everyone, listen. Ella and I are going upstairs, to check everyone's rooms, wouldn't want to find Sentinels hiding under any beds, now would we? Harrick and Mare, you guys can wait here for Cal."

"Aren't you worried about someone noticing you?" I asked, puzzled.

Farley shook her head, "Maven has dedicated all of his resources to you and Cal. No one will recognize us," she said turning to leave.

I turned back to Harrick, disguised as a young man with blonde hair and blue eyes.

"Your gift is extraordinary. You have no idea how many times it's saved my butt."

He warmly smiled, "Thank you. But you have also done me a great favor. You saved me from my life. You gave me a second chance."

"The thing is, there really was never a first chance. No one's first chance should be like the one you and I had."

After that, there was a silence between us, perhaps he was also having flashbacks of his previous life, for the most part, miserable like mine. I couldn't call this life the perfect, not anywhere near it. But for a twisted reason, I didn't know why, but I would never go back to The Stilts life.

By the time we were done recollecting, Cal had come over to the area where we were standing, with dresses and suits piled a mile high over his arms.

We went up the elevator to the eleventh floor, where Ella and Farley had previously searched the rooms. I said nothing to Cal, on the way to our room, I had nothing to say to him.

After swiping the key card through the slot, I walked into the room. It looked just as lavish as any room at the Rift, or Archeon. What I would do for my small bed back at the Stilts right now. Without looking back, I walked straight to the bed and kicked off my shoes.

But before I could climb in, Cal's warm hand grabbed my wrist, preventing me from laying down. I spun towards him, staring at his eyes. "What do you need?" I asked in an irritated tone.

"I need to tell you something."