-Maxon-

I stayed on the roof for a little while after America left. There was no way I could trust myself down in the palace.

Knowing what had happened at America's camp had only made things worse. My father had told me that thousands would die, but that had felt so distant, far away even. But, for some reason this had hit closer to home. It wasn't clear to me why though; it hadn't been my friends and family I'd watched die or my home that had been burned to the ground.

So why did it matter so much to me?

I rubbed the place between my eyebrows with a sigh. That girl was a question that I wasn't even sure I wanted the answer to.

The attack ended soon thereafter. As I went down the stairs I could feel a knot forming in my stomach.

How could I face my father? I was so angry with him, and even though I know he hadn't lied to me, I felt like I had been tricked. He hadn't told me that so many people would die, only that this wouldprevent deaths. In truth, though, it was just as much my fault as it was his. I'd been so elated by the thought of my father treating me with respect, like I was an actual person to him instead of some pawn to be used for power.

I wanted to scream. How could I have been such a fool? How could I have thought that this law would actually fix any of the problems that this country had, when I reality all it did was worsen them? How could I sentence people to death and expect them not to die?

Stopping to lean against a wall I laughed at myself, it was a dark, bitter sound that reminded me of my father whenever he was in of his enraged stupors.

That thought scared me, and I instantly sobered up.

Squaring my shoulders, and straightening my clothes, I set off through the palace rubble towards my father's office.

I reached it quickly enough. Naturally, the area near his study was cleared of debris. I tried to carefully open the door, but ended up loudly slamming it open; I flinched from the jarring noise, then began to slowly enter the room.

My father was looking right at me. Other than the annoyed look on his face, he was his usual picture of royal elegance. "Maxon, how kind of you to grace me with your presence," he said flatly, before his face twisted with a deep scowl.

The anger rose up inside of me.

"Father," I said, but then had to stop because I was shaking. "Father," I started again, this time carefully reigning in my anger. "Why didn't you tell me about the raid on the camp outside of Angeles?"

His eyebrows shot up, and he cocked his head, perhaps I'd surprised him. I watched as an odd light glinted behind his eyes, and knew that he was carefully crafting his next words.

"Well, I didn't want to bother you with the rather boring details, Maxon. You have been working hard lately, and I didn't want to worsen it." He paused for a moment, something close to worry flashing across his face. "In fact, I think you could use a break."

"A break?" I repeated.

"Yes, it would be good for you. Perhaps a quick trip to New York, or a day at the beach –," his voice trailed off.

He wanted something, that, I was sure of. My father never gave me anything unless he could seek to gain from it. I was a moment away from flat out refusing, when I remembered America and Kel at the hunting lodge, and I saw my opening.

"Father," I started. I knew I had to be careful: if I brought up the old lodge he'd suspect something. "With the selection, don't you think it would be best for me to stay?"

When I asked that question, I made sure to turn away from him, he could always tell when I was lying.

"Yes, of course, Maxon. But, we could always just say that you're off on some important royal business. The girls shouldn't mind."

"Yes, but still, there has to be some place nearby that I can go to for a few days–," I let my voice trial off and hoped he wouldn't catch on.

"There is that lodge your grandfather built," father said thoughtfully. "But you wouldn't want to go there, it's old and drafty."

"Oh, the hunting lodge you mean? That sounds wonderful. I've actually been wanting to test out one of my new riffles, and what better way?" I tried to make myself sound genuine, but I had no way of being sure if he bought it.

"Are you sure, Maxon?" He asked.

I finally turned my head to look at him, "Yes, it sounds lovely."

"Alright, then, I'll have a maid and a cook sent with you–,"

"–No!" I cut him off, before I could stop myself. "I mean, no, that's not necessary. Just send along some food, whatever you can spare." I scrambled to try to fix the situation.

The king narrowed his eyes at me, "Maxon, are you ok? You've been acting strange lately."

I had to actively work to keep myself from pacing the floor. Get out of here, now!A small voice hissed at me in the back of my mind.

"Yes, I'm fine," I lied as panic began to rise in me. "I'll just go pack now. Thank you, father.

I stepped out into the hallway.

"Oh, and, Maxon," My father called after me, just when I'd thought that the worst was over. "You had better hope that your face heals before you return. I'm sure your mother will certainly be frantic."

"I–,"

"That is all," He said dismissing me.

As I closed the door and started off towards my room, I took a deep breath that I hadn't realized I'd been holding in.

I stood at the edge of the woods behind the palace, a duffle bag in hand. I wore plainclothes, or, at least, the closest I would ever get to plain clothes: A navy blue Polo, khakis and deck shoes.

My father stood not too far from me, still in his customary suit and tie. Surrounded by guards, as usual. One of them eyed my split lip and I quickly turned away.

"Goodbye, father, I'll see you in three days," I said as I began to waddle off, the weight of the bag nearly knocking me off balance several times. "Tell mother I said goodbye."

"Maxon, please reconsider letting the chauffer drive you; it could be dangerous."

I ignored him, much to his annoyance. I preferred to walk to the lodge; it was at most two miles away.

But, it was when I'd gotten a good distance away from my father that I stopped, the bag was proving itself to be a problem. I was about to pick it up again a start off when I heard my father talking to his guards.

"Follow him, he's up to something. Be stealthy, but if he catches you tell him that I sent you to make sure that he didn't get hurt. Watch him carefully, he's sneaky."

Then the sound of footfalls.

Muttering a curse, and slinging the duffle bag over my shoulder, I started off towards the lodge again and hoped that America and Kel hadn't been caught.

And, as for me, well, I was going to give the old king a run for his money.

I'm so sorry guys! I broke my computer and I don't know when it'll be fixed so the updates will be sort of all over the place 'till then, but I'll try to post another by the end of the week. And in other news, The Rebel has reached 2000 views! omg, I love y'all so much.

-FF