Song Suggestion: Seven Devils by Florence + The Machine

Cal

I'll never get used to Ridge House. It's so cold and metallic that I wonder how anyone or anything could possibly live here. After two weeks of mourning and the briefing in Piedmont five days ago, I had to make the trip in person for what Nanabel called a "wrinkle."

If there was ever any noise around Ridge House there certainly isn't now. Everyone wears black in the throne room. But it's Ptolemus and Elane that look most somber. Both look as if they've lost everything. With Evangeline's death, they probably have.

Elane, once vibrant and clever, appears drained of all life. Her ability gave her the advantage to shine as brightly as Evangeline's clothes, but since her death, Elane seems to no longer find the effort. I can understand why. She was the one to discover the body.

But Ptolemus appears slightly more aware of his surroundings. Though the way he stares ahead, dutiful in maintaining a look of power despite the loss of his sister, I can the pain he bears. I've seen this look only once before when Mare lost Shade.

Nanabel is already there. She wears her house colors. She is the only one not wearing black.

"Ah, there you are. We have something to discuss."

"Surely it's not something that you couldn't tell me over our communication system."

"Unfortunately it is," Nanabel turns to face Volo Samos. "We have a traitor amongst us."

"What?"

"Hardly," Volo speaks.

"Really?" Nanabel says in a calm voice. "First you deny that your Air Force, dozens of jets suddenly and inexplicably malfunction. And then eighty of our own is gunned down by Lakeland cowards who remain at large. And then the murder of your daughter. Tell me, one monarch to another, just how naive do you think I am? Because there is only one group or family that is capable of getting in and out of the Laris Airfields without being detected or suspicious."

"What you are suggesting could set off a civil war within my own Kingdom," Volo responds in the same calm and callus tone. "If what you think is true, then we have a greater ordeal than what we possessed two weeks ago."

"Iral has been against your rule since you first crowned yourself king. And within good reason."

"And that is?"

"What your family has done to theirs," I say.

All eyes turn to me. "Your Majesty, you had the former head of their family publically shamed not just in front of your court but in front of your allies, as well. In front of Reds and Newbloods alike."

"I fail to see where you're going with this. Salin Iral defied my direct orders and killed the wrong King. I merely stripped him of his titles and power. I granted him mercy."

"That may be but what of his predecessor? Ara Iral. Your son killed her at Corros Prison."

"But it is not just I that Iral may have a quarrel with," Ptolemus says. "The Scarlet Guard shares a hand in the death of one of theirs. Reynald Iral was one of those killed in the Sun Shooting."

"Which would give them all the more reason to betray us, considering our new alliance."

"And exactly what does this have to do with sabotage and the murder of my daughter," Volo says, no longer denying Nanabel's accusations.

"Who is the head of the family now?" Elane's voice surprises us all. Even Volo.

"Sonya Iral," he says.

It's like nailing in a coffin. Elane, Evangeline, and Sonya were all friends. Sort of.

"Why her?" Elane asks. But as she speaks I see something dark spark within her. I barely knew the three of them. Only that they formed their own little clique.

"Sonya is young," Nanabel says. "But she was the one to represent her family at Queenstrial. She was a ranking officer in Palace Security. And very close to her grandmother. She was the ideal choice."

"How do you know this?" Volo asks.

Nanabel gives a sideways smirk. "I make it my business to know everything."

"There is one other person who had the motive to kill my daughter," Larentia Viper says in low but regal voice. "And we all know her quite well." She eyes me up and down. "The Lightning Girl certainly has a habit of being there when weddings ago awry."

I tuck my hands behind my back, so as not to display my anger.

"Mare was with me when the raid began," I say. "And she helped bring down some of those jets. She helped save lives."

"So you've said. My point is that if we are going to entertain this notion that someone betrayed us and sold us out to that boy king, then it's best we approach this from all angles."

"There is more," I say.

I tell them about Maven, how he is pretending he has a strong alliance. How they are short on funds.

They listen intently.

"It seems we are not the only one with a crumbling kingdom," Ptolemus says.

"I have spoken with the Premier. And he is right. We gave your brother too much time to gather resources. And it's time we take this to his doorstep."

Volo looks to his left and right, eyeing what is left of his family.

"Pack your things," he says. "We're going to Piedmont."

I only brought one bag, knowing I would only be in the Rift for few days. But it takes Nanabel time gather her things, even though she is not the one actually carrying the bags.

I head to her chambers, we will be leaving on the same jet. Samos will follow suit tomorrow. The door to her rooms is slightly ajar and I'm about to push it forward when I hear a man's voice speaking in a hushed tone.

"We certainly have that that boy fooled. What a king he will be if he is so easily manipulated."

It sounds like Volo Samos.

"Careful of what you say of my grandson," I hear Nanabel say. "My word barely gives your Kingdom legitimacy. But with his, not even his followers will question you. In nine days the Nortan throne will be his."

"And what of your other grandson, where does his fate lie?"

"In the royal tomb next to his wretched mother."

"How could you be so cruel towards your blood?" Volo asks. Though his tone is not condescending but that of genuine interest.

"Maven was a lost cause the moment he was born. Elara made sure of that. When she killed Coriane, there was nothing we could do until that girl came along."

"Speaking of the Little Lightening Brat, she's beginning to become a problem. She's become too much of an influence on the prince. With her in the picture, it will be nearly impossible to guide him our way."

"I know. I've gained his trust, he actually believes I support the relationship. Give me some time and I'll have him on our side and Silvers will once again be on top. But after this is over we'll have to arrange something for her."

"Why wait that long? A battle is coming. No one would suspect anything if she was killed."

I can't listen anymore. I have to walk away or I won't be able to keep my temper under control.

I'm furious but more than anything I'm disappointed. Not in Nanabel, one of few family members I have left, but in myself.

My first instinct is to turn around. But I don't, instead, I make my way out of the estate.

And I wait.

When I finally get back to Piedmont it is both a relief and dread.

Nanabel is taken to a house on Officer's Row. No other place is suited for formal royalty. The fact that my grandmother will be so close to Mare makes me uneasy. But she's not foolish enough to try anything so soon or on a base surrounded by Scarlet Guard and Monfort soldiers.

I break away when it's finally appropriate. It's midday and I know exactly where Mare will be.

When I finally reach Storm Hill, they're in the middle of a break. Mare stands alone in the shade of a tree. At first, she doesn't see me when I approach. Her arms are crossed and she stares at the ground, lost in thought. But as I get closer she spots me and a confused look crosses her face.

"Cal? What are doing here-"

I take her by the hand and lead her further behind the tree for some privacy. Then I press her back against the bark and with my hands on either side of her face, I pull her to me.

I pour myself into the kiss. Trying to apologize, to show her that I believe in her, that I trust her and most of all that I love her.

Mare doesn't push me away but she doesn't kiss back either. Instead, her hands stay by her side, motionless.

When I pull away she blinks. "Cal, what are you doing?"

"You were right. You were right about everything and I should've listened. I just wanted so badly to believe her. That there was someone on my side. When this whole time it was you by my side. I'm so sorry, Mare."

"Cal," she shakes her head and slips away from me. She opens her mouth to say something but her eyes focus on something behind me. I look over my shoulder to see Davidson steadily walking towards us.

His face remains neutral. But I hear Mare take a deep breath.

"I have to go," she says.

She begins to walk away, but I reach and grab her wrist. "Mare I need you to be careful, they're going to kill you. You have a target on your back and when we go to finish this war that's when they'll make their move."

Something in her eyes changes. I want to put a name to it, but she seems...lost.

"We'll talk later, Cal. I promise."

She breaks away and walks towards Davidson. She's been doing a lot of that lately.

ANALYSIS

Does anyone remember way back when in chapter 11 when Mare told Cal that Anabel would never want equality?

Hehe…

And now Cal is in a bit of bind and he's not the only one, you'll see.

*more evil laughter*

Next chapter will get a little weird but I'll explain that later.

And guess who's POV we'll be getting in Chapter 33.

As for the the song choice, it very poetic to me. Some of you might know that this song was used in the trailer of Beautiful Creatures. I thought it was an excellent allusion. It's been awhile since I read that book, but I do remember that the main character Lena as well as her loved one were concerned of going dark. Her magic making her evil basically. I also remember that her family was filled with both good and bad people. So it resembles Cal in a lot of ways. But also because the song is titled Seven Devils. I want you to try and figure out who the seven devils are in this situation.

Now onto Chapter 31. Any suspicions you may have, specifically about Mare, will be confirmed!

Hehe, I'm excited.