I leave breakfast much too early, and come straight to protocol. I walk toward the windows, hoping to watch the Silver teenagers train before my lesson begins in half an hour. Being isolated and feeling alone has resorted in me having to watch someone dodge a target, to keep me entertained.

I look out the window at the training facilities. I expect to find Cal and Maven dodging targets and throwing fire but I see no one. It's empty. I realise I have no clue when they start training. So, I move to the next window, hoping they are just in another corner or the training hall.

I see no Silver teenagers and I find myself frowning. I turn, but something catches my eye. I try and focus my gaze. I then realise it's Sentinels standing in one corner of the track. But then another two figures catch my eye. One tall man standing beside the track, arms crossed. Another with long dark brown hair standing on the track, surrounded by the Sentinels. But then, the three of them lurch from their positions. Before I know it, they've cleared half the track already, sprinting. It almost looks like a race.

She's the fastest of them all. Sprinting ahead of the heavy Sentinels. Something's not right. I had seen all of the Silver's train in jumpsuits the colour of their house, yet this girl wears a deep Red training bra and tight pants cut just below the knees. Her long hair looks too familiar.

I step back.

It's Ava.

So many questions run through my mind. I haven't seen Ava since the feast, almost three days ago. I search for Daphne in the training hall, but my eyes can't find her. That worries me.

I look as close as I can, wondering if I could catch her attention. I never managed to thank her for catching me before I fell, or for everything after that. But I realise it might get the both of us in trouble. I sigh, frowning, and settle with watching.

From all the way up here, I see her skin is bruised and darkened. The right side of her ribcage looking the worst of all. I squint. Her face is cut and bruised, too.

I watch as she sprints, around and around the track. Then she's told to move to anther section. Five minutes blur by filled with metal, targets, fire, lightning and fist fights. I see Ava collide with the floor many a time. When she's being pulled out of the training hall, she's breathing heavily and sweating. I see blood drip from her face and new bruises already forming. I try and follow her shadow through the corridors, but lose her in the infinite hallways of this palace.

Not even a minute after Ava leaves, the doors to the training hall open once again, this time revealing Silver after Silver. Eventually they create groups among themselves, and start training.

I wonder for a moment if they had known Ava had been there before them. Being trained separately. Segregated.

I hear the door open behind me and feel Lady Blonos' eyes on me. I sigh, stepping away from the window.


After six days, I finally get into a routine. I wake at five in the morning, in a different room or cell each day. Eat, wash, then change. I train for an hour in the training hall, we begin with timed laps. The first one is always a steady jog, but every lap after, I'm forced to sprint. After that, it's weaponry or sparring, although I wouldn't really call it that. No abilities are used when I'm training, unless I'm told to use them. Then I train with two or three Sentinels, depending on what I'm doing. They sometimes back me into a corner, throw me across the room, or get me in my ribs or jaw. It's difficult to tell which House the Sentinels are from, and that's my weakness. I sometimes win the fights, but I sometimes lose. I always leave the training hall on time, either being dragged out, pushed, or if possible, I walk. I always leave a trail of dripping blood behind me. I always leave with old cuts opening on my face again and new bruises forming on top of old ones.

I always leave on time, a minute before the first teenage Sliver opens the doors to the training hall. It's like clock work, it's clever. Although I can't understand why they'd give me the same revealing clothes to wear everyday, yet not one Silver see's me or my many scars or bruises.

After a half hour with Daphne, I'm moved to another room with padded floors and large windows. I fight for hours, with and without my abilities.

I never see the king or queen. I never see the princes or Mare, even. A Red servant occasionally whispers something into my ear, from time to time. I see Daphne whenever I can, at night or at lunch. She's given books to read and paper to write on, she says. They haven't hurt her, I know they haven't. I told her to keep quiet and make no trouble. She promised she wouldn't, and she hasn't. I'm so proud of her. As long as I comply and do whatever I'm told, no one get's hurt. So, I do as I'm told. I walk through the halls of the palace silently and tiredly, everyday. I walk like a corps, in and out of rooms or rings or halls.

Yesterday, I was trained outside for a while, but out of the eyes of every silver. Every window blackened by a Shadow, bender of light. I took in all the fresh air I could before I was taken back inside. It was nice to see the sun again.

Being here isn't so bad. I'm fed bread and meat and fruit. Nothing is extremely different to when I was at war. Daphne is safe, but sooner or later I'm going to have to get her out of here. They tell me I don't have long before I'll be posted to a specific section on the front line. If I'm not here, Daphne will have no one, that will make her disposable to the royal family. That's something I will never let happen.

I'm lucky this morning, I get to see Daphne. I'm dressed in my usual uniform, but I'm also given a deep Red pullover with a hood. It's thick and warm and very specious. I wonder for a moment if I'm training somewhere cold today.

I'm walking though infinite hallways, a Sentinel at each side. We finally come to a stop at large doors, this must be her room. The doors open and I see Daphne sitting on the bed. Her eyes light up when she see's me and she jumps off the bed and runs to me. I have to stifle a grunt as she hugs me tightly, my ribs not yet healed. But I don't mind, I smile and hug her back. The doors close behind me and I sit on the bed with her. She shows me her note pad filled with drawings and some of her work. She hands me the books she had been given by the Queen. Most were about posture and how to be a Lady, but some were on Math and other subjects. Daphne frowns when I go through them.

"I don't understand most of it," her voice quiet. She smiles slightly then, "but I try."

"I know you do," I pull her into a hug. I exhale loudly and gently slip a piece of cake wrapped in baking paper, into Daphne's pocket.

I release her from the hug and her eyes widen when she realises what it is. I let my hand go to my mouth, indicating for her to keep it quiet.

"One of the maids managed to slip it to me," I whisper.

"You remembered," Daphne's eyes start to tear up. The look on her face make my eyes wet but I don't let the tears fall. She needs me to be strong.

"Happy thirteenth birthday, sweetheart," I whisper, a wide smile on my face. "You didn't think I would forget, did you?" I joke.

She laughs lightly, wipes her face and shakes her head.

"Ava," Daphne starts. "What are they doing to you? You don't look so good, your face..." she trails. "I've never seen you this bad. I mean look at your knuckles-"

I glance down at my torn hands, the skin bruised and broken. I can tell she's scared for me. I understand she's scared, she doesn't know what's happening to me or what's going to happen to her. It breaks my heart not knowing either. It takes everything in me to reassure her, but I know it's the right thing to do.

"I'm fine, Daphne," I say, holding her hand. "Everything's going to be fine."

I get a few more minutes with her before the door opens again, then I know it's time to go. I hug her once more and place a kiss on her temple.

"I love you," I whisper.

"I love you too," she says back as a Sentinel's hand lands on my arm, dragging me out of the room.

The doors are closed quickly behind me, then suddenly I'm standing in front of a fresh face. Black hair and warm, golden red eyes bore into mine. Looking through my green-grey eyes, as if he's attempting to read my mind. But he is not his stepmother, and he is not me. His memories and thoughts pass by, my gaze never wavering.

I bow sarcastically, unable to resist the temptation, "Tiberias Calore the Seventh," I say flatly. "A pleasure to finally meet you." I see the Sentinels step forward, ready to strike me for being rude toward the Crown Prince but, he raises his hand - stopping them. How nice, I could have snarled. He spared me.

"It's Cal, for now," he says with no bite. "And I wish I could say they same," he smiles secretively. I'm not making such a good first impression, what a pity.

He indicates for me to follow, and I reluctantly do but with a final glance at Daphne's door and a push of a Sentinel. Cal catches me looking.

"Is she your sister?" He asks, glancing at me as we walk.

I look forward, not bothering to look at his pale, muscular face. He already knows the answer to that question. He was there when his father threw a file in my face and announced I had no family, I had no home, and threatened me.

"Yes, she is," I say finally.

"She's your sister, yet you have no family?" I look at him. My eyebrows knitted together and my eyes narrowed. I can tell he regrets the decision of asking the question. I understand what he means, but I can tell he wishes he could go back and rephrase it.

"Only because we are not related by blood, doesn't mean we are not sisters," I say. "She's the closest thing I've ever had to family, so yes. She is my sister," I say softer then I intended.

There is a stiff silence between us for a moment, nothing to be heard except for heavy breathing and loud footsteps of the Sentinels behind me.

"I've been watching you train," Cal tells me. "Where were you stationed, Angelika?"

"It's Ava," my voice a razor. "Everywhere," I breathe, not bothering to look at him. "The Choke, at the front, the camps, to name a few. I was stationed by the water a couple of times."

We stop at grand doors. "Were you always a foot soldier, Ava?"

"Yes," I turn to him. Annoyed and slightly worried the Prince is digging too deep, I ensure my gaze is cold and emotionless. "Why?" I ask.

"It's strange," Cal turns to face me. "I've been to almost all of those stations, on Royal visits or training there myself. I've also overseen the training of Red soldiers yet, you wield more skill, weaponry and combat training then I've ever seen from a Red foot soldier."

I blink up at him once, twice, but offer him a smooth smile. My eyes narrow slightly, "Well, I'm lucky. I've been training hard here for almost two weeks, I must have picked up on a few things."

Cal nods in agreement, giving me a slight smile. He looks sceptical, he knows I'm lying. I've silenced him for now, it will have to do.

"Why are we here?" I look at the doors.

"You're training with me today," his voice changes, full of authority this time. I pause, looking up at the doors. I haven't had the pleasure of training with anyone except for Sentinels and Arlo. Now, suddenly everything's changed. Are they going to make me fight these people?

"Okay, but why now? It has to be past seven," although I have no watch, I can hear them inside the training hall. "That means a hall full of hormonal Silver teenagers, each with their own ability..." Cal's face is still. "Not to mention my blood is Red... Am I there to intimidate them? Fight them?"

"You will be training with me for today," he starts, a small smile on his face. He almost looks amused. "You will not be interacting with the High Houses. They will be in the centre of the room, focusing on their abilities. We will be moving from weaponry to physical training and so forth."

I sigh and look at the door, again. Tired, I don't argue with him. I can't argue with him, it will only cause trouble.

"Do you really think it wise to walk in there with me? Maybe you should enter and I'll follow thirty seconds after. Wouldn't want Lady Samos to be upset, right?" I joke. I see a glimmer of a smirk, but it vanishes just as quickly. I almost feel sorry for him, that is until I remember who he is. A Prince.

Dressed in my usual trainers, tight, cut off black pants and sports bra - luckily covered by the pullover I'm wearing, I push open the door. Cal, dressed in a jumpsuit the colour of his house, pushes open the other.

The entire room falls silent as we walk through, Sentinels never far behind.