(Jack's POV)

The great gates of the city slammed shut behind us and we made our way into Vellhaven. Merchants hustled around the crowded streets desperately trying to put wares on display for the nobles who would surely come later. Drunks wandered away looking for holes to fall into a sleep in. Whores and courtesans, unsuccessful in their endeavors, groaned as one and followed after the drunks. Amidst all of the clockwork confusion, neither Alice nor I could tear our eyes off of the stone castle that housed the crystalline burrow, and a bejeweled snake.

The dull unease that had haunted our entire journey hardened into raw anxiety, neither Alice nor I spoke, hardly even glancing in each others directions as the confrontation with my father approached. About halfway down the main street she ducked into the alleyway aimed towards the richer sector of the city.

Good luck She said. I only tersely nodded.

Completely alone I walked the final few miles in solemn silence. I desperately tried to think about what two-faced monster I would have to become in order to preserve my father's good graces, or what awaited me if I didn't.

I reached the gates to the castle, and the guard nodded me in with a look that appeared to be… sympathy. I ignored it and tightened the cloak around myself, the dark iron blade bouncing against my thigh. I threw the doors open and walked into the entryway carelessly, as any servant would expect of a notorious assassin, but carefully and quietly slipped into the throne room.

The crystals somehow seemed brighter, and that made the serpent perched on his throne seem darker. He rose from his golden seat and opened his arms in greeting, his upper lip pulled back in a mix between a smile and a sneer. He glided down and embraced me widely, pulling me in a little too hard.

"Ah my son I have missed you, come let us walk." I masked any worry I had at his behavior and followed behind him. He threw the throne room doors open and strode out, a pleasant smile cast across his face. I followed behind him, anxiety evolving into raw terror. My heartbeat sped up and I desperately wanted to dash across the entryway and out of the doors, but I knew he would strike me down before I had even made it halfway.

He swung left and flew towards the residential sector of the castle. He made a right then two lefts, hallways blurring together we walked for what felt like miles until we arrived at a familiar door. The door to my mother's room. Confused I looked up to the Emperor, and he rested a palm on the handle.

"Your mother would like to see you, to see what her little boy has done." He threw the door open and gently guided me inside.

The room was the same as I remember. Flowers rested surface and every fabric was strung in their likeness. Tables and shelves covered every inch of floor surrounding the walls and a big rug at the foot of a four poster bed. On the bed, beneath the duvet, were two immobile mounds.

"Go introduce yourself Jack." The Emperor said, his voice giddy as if he were a child before winters eve. I slowly stepped towards the still silent hills in the bed. Time slowed down and I could hear my heartbeat and feel my fathers stare on my shoulder.

After what felt like an eternity, I reached the bed and threw the blanket aside. I saw my mother's face first. She was beautiful even in sleep, and the lines in her face didn't quite seem so deep, but she was pale. Too pale. It was then I noticed the purple and blue lines around her neck, and the rough garments of a prisoners robe draped across her limp form. I fell backwards throwing my hand over my mouth. I ran into the bathing chamber and retched until nothing remained, and the tears fell across my face. I turned around and my father leaned silently against the door frame, a barrier between me and my mother.

"You forgot someone." He said softly, and walked over to the bed. He threw aside the blankets to reveal a second form just as pale as the first except it was only half the size. She looked less peaceful as her mouth still pulled back in the shape of a scream, and dried tears still rested upon her puffy cheeks. The bruises on her neck matched my mother's but they seemed even larger on her.

I leaned over to retch again, but there was nothing left to give. I was empty. I turned to face my father, the murderer, the assassin, with a fireball brewed in my hand. There was no light in my eyes as I stared him down, and threw his death.

He caught it with ease and extinguished the flames with a glance. I then noticed tears on his face too.

"You seek to kill me as well? Just like you killed your mother and sister? I told you what would happen if you disobeyed, if you and that Whore still tried to resist me! You knew the consequences and their blood is on your hands! Yours! You killed my family! Jack Sentan, I want you out of my castle this instant, the only reason you are not hanging right now is because I can't bear to see another of my kin claimed by that cursed rope... Out! Out now you damned traitor! If you stick your head in this castle again I will tear you to pieces. Now, I need to grieve."

I sprinted past him, tears finally stopped, but leisurely walked the rest of the way out of the castle, dreaming of the day when his blood with spill across that crystal floor and I would be wielding the blade.

The doors to the house purchased with my blood money flew open of their own accord and I stormed in. The house was seemingly deserted, but I knew better and stomped down the stairs not caring who heard. Let them yell at me, see how they call with a blade in their throats.

Silence fell and the band of Spera looked up at me from around a map with looks that ranged from pity to fear. I could stand fear, it was pity that I couldn't handle.

"Send me somewhere with Imperial Soldiers I can kill." I ordered. The room melted slightly, and an elderly woman spoke quickly.

"Are you sure you wouldn't like to rest, you've been gone for several months." I shot her a glare and she back down.

"No now."

Ashryver and Alena glanced at each other, Ashryver shot her a questioning look and Alena nodded softly.

"Well the revolution in Spera is in full swing, but it is being met with heavy resistance. The rebels have unified and are attacking the soldiers in killing fields, but the superior technology of the imperials is making resistance futile. We need someone to go down there, and help turn the tide." Ashryver explained.

"Excellent, I'll leave tomorrow." I said with an emotionless voice, and turned to leave.

Alice rose from the corner of the room, where I didn't even notice her sitting, and she caught my shoulder.

"Jack, are you sure you want to do this?" She asked, her voice full of that insufferable sympathy.

I shook free of her grasp. "I've killed before it won't be hard to do so again, at least this time I'll have a reason."

"That's not what I'm talking about. We can benefit the rebellion from here, just by being alive." I caught her hidden warning.

"I'll be fine, I have magic in my blood. They won't stand a chance." I explained.

"I know that. Can we at least stay a few nights to rest up, I've quite enjoyed having a house, room, and most of all a bath."

"You are not going" I commanded. "It's far too dangerous." I have lost too many people I care about today.

"Ha, says the boy I knocked flat on his ass. I'll go with you wherever you go, all I'm asking for is for a few days."

My heart warmed slightly, but I stilled feared for her. She was powerful and strong when she was focused, but she's been taken far too many times. "Alright, we leave a week from today. Where specifically are we most needed."

"Somnium" Ashryver said. "The capital of Spera. The city is divided between revolutionaries and soldiers, the battles have been raging for a week."

I nodded tersely. "Well then Alice, let's go to war."

Author's note- This chapter has been planned for a while and I'm quite happy with how it turned out. I feel like I really captured the Emperor's character and have done a bit more with Jack. Alice is still on her way, but you'll see more of her later.